Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini: Manager of the Season?

With the final whistle blowing at full time, the scoreboard reading Manchester United had drawn away at Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, the blue half of Manchester roared in ambitious hope. City, lie in second only as a result of goal difference, and the plaudits must go to Roberto Mancini who has thrust himself as an early contender for the manager of the season award.

Many critics have argued that Manchester City should be winning every game of the season what with the squad available at the manager’s disposal. But on the flip side, Mancini has had to cope with money driven egos and rifts within the squad. And to this date, he has done admirably to dismiss ever-growing reports of infighting. The brawl between Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure, reminiscent of their days of turbulence at Arsenal, was seemingly on the verge of media exaggeration, until Mancini intervened with necessary assertiveness. The result? Toure seems to be putting in his best performances in a City shirt, delivering consistency at the back, whilst Adebayor looks set to depart Eastlands.

Tevezgate was also thought to derail City’s title hopes, until Mancini persuaded him to remain at the club amidst concerns that his heart laid elsewhere. With Mancini’s personal intervention along with the club’s owner, Tevez is intent on seeing out the rest of the season, and if his performances are anything to go by, then Manchester City are right in title contention. The manager oversaw the potentially calamitous situation with calmness befitting his manner off the field, and this has clearly had a positive effect on the displays produced by his jewel in the crown.

However, perhaps most importantly, Mancini’s formation has clearly rattled football’s purists, but his defensive attitude has seen his side concede just 9 goals away from home, whilst his side also boast the best defensive record, both home and away in the league. With two defensive midfielders in Barry and De Jong, Mancini surprised everyone with a tactical move to advance Yaya Toure further forward having been entrenched as a defensive minded midfielder at Barcelona, a move many ridiculed. But Toure’s drive has seen many accurate comparisons with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, and with goals coming his way, Mancini’s decision borders on genius.  

Roberto Mancini has been undeniably astute in the transfer market, and his squad seems to be the strongest out of the title contenders. However, it was remarkable that prior to the win against Wolves, they had not beaten a side after going a goal down all season, a statistic that must be improved if they are to challenge United’s attempt to match the Invincibles. Welcome to the blue half of Manchester, Roberto Mancini.