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Roberto Mancini makes his first mistake as Manchester City manager

Posted by Cathal Breathnach on December 26, 2009 | 11 Comments

Craig BellamyTwo goals, three points and a clean sheet. Good start for new Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, however the Italian has already made his first mistake since entering the hot seat at Eastlands.

Mancini’s decision to leave Craig Bellamy out of his starting line-up this afternoon was big error in my opinion which will no doubt lead to further speculation in tomorrow’s papers regarding the future of the Welsh international.

Bellamy, 30, has already been linked with a host of club’s following the departure of his fellow countryman Mark Hughes from the club last weekend. The former Liverpool striker was reportedly upset at the club’s decision to sack Hughes and there was even talk that he had handed in a transfer request at the club.

We all know by now that when things don’t go Bellamy’s way, he’s certainly not afraid to walk away from a club. Even though he did come as a sub with twenty minutes to go against Stoke City today, I firmly believe that Mancini’s decision to start Robinho ahead of Bellamy may have further implications.

Harry Redknapp appears keen to bring Bellamy to Tottenham during this upcoming transfer window and it has to be said, you couldn’t blame Craig if he did decide to make the switch to White Hart Lane, given the fact he would be almost guarenteed first team football in north London.

There is no doubt that Bellamy has been one of, if not the best player in the Premier League so far this season, which makes it all the more strange why he wasn’t played from the off today. It will be interesting to see how this one pans out over the coming weeks.

Comments below please.

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Comments

11 Responses to “Roberto Mancini makes his first mistake as Manchester City manager”

  1. Darren
    December 26th, 2009 @ 5:10 pm

    His knee mean he can only play 1 game a week ….we have 3 in 7 days and he will be playing away at Wolves on Monday ……..you do the math.

  2. Blewmoon48
    December 26th, 2009 @ 5:10 pm

    A hysterical load of nonsense.

  3. stretford blue amsterdam
    December 26th, 2009 @ 5:19 pm

    i happen to think that he started with robinho because our next game is away in two days and bellamy is a much more consistant performer away from home so he just might be saving bellamy for a tougher test at wolves given the state off his knees.

  4. Craig ini Salford
    December 26th, 2009 @ 5:40 pm

    Exactly…3 games in 7 days, Bellamy has a temperamental knee…so manager does the sensible thing and plays Robinho (he was absolutely abysmal by the way…I won’t shed a tear if he leaves in January)

    Which game suits Robinho better?
    Stoke at Home or Wolves Away???

    Need I say more?!?!?!?!?

    Why not TRY and print a story with substance instead of trying to rile fans with an obviously superior knowledge of the game?

    Or get yourself a job at The Sun

  5. CCCracker
    December 26th, 2009 @ 5:55 pm

    Robinho won’t be playing away at Wolves so smartly Macini played Robinho at home to encourage him and saved Bellamy for Wolves away. Therefore Mancini’s decision is intelligent.
    Don’t be influenced by the press painting everything in a bad light. That press is just dying to turn everything against City, so don’t play their game. Like it or not, Hughes is now history. So let’s keep the team encouraged and the momentum increased, and with a little luck there’s no reason we can’t be in the European Cup next year. Let’s fix on that and don’t look back. Forward with City!

  6. steve
    December 26th, 2009 @ 5:58 pm

    Bellamy’s a 100% on board. I mean honestly did you see the way him and roberto interacted. Not much malice there. And when Bellz came in, was he anything but his usual magnificent self. Of course Not.

    No Fuss. Just a load of press horsesh*t.

  7. citizen Sid
    December 26th, 2009 @ 8:45 pm

    See the vultures have started circling already, 2 bit journo who cant write anything constructive so sowing the seeds of discontent instead. Nothing better to do at Christmas?!

  8. John Flint
    December 27th, 2009 @ 10:43 am

    Yes well said I was at the game yesterday and there was nobody being negative about the new manager .Its only the press thats trying to upset the apple cart .Bellers will play at wolves and put your money on him scoring ,so to all the british press go find someone else to piss off because it aint working at City .CTID

  9. Fantasy Football as a Way of Analysis, Vol. 4 | Football Corner
    December 28th, 2009 @ 11:37 pm

    [...] 3-0 defeat of Wolves tonight. Following City’s victory over Stoke, Cathal wrote that Mancini had made his first mistake in dropping Craig Bellamy so that the most expensive man in British football, Robinho, could make a [...]

  10. tommy
    January 9th, 2010 @ 1:02 pm

    nooooooooooooooo bellamy stay

  11. tommy
    January 9th, 2010 @ 1:03 pm

    sorry wrong bellamy

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