Al-Khateeb: Rate of Foreign tourists coming for recreational purposes soars 600% in 5 years    Saudi Arabia participates in OIC anti-corruption agencies' meeting in Qatar    Saudi Arabia implements over 800 reforms to drive rapid transformation    Al-Jadaan: Painful decisions were part of the reforms, but economy overcame them    Al-Swaha: Saudi Arabia is heading towards exporting technology in the next phase    Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire appears to hold as Lebanese begin streaming back to their homes    Al Rajhi: Saudi Arabia sets revised unemployment target of 5% by 2030 "300,000 citizens employed in qualitative professions"    Imran Khan supporters call off protest after crackdown    Five survivors found day after Red Sea tourist boat sinking    Russia launched a record number of almost 200 drones toward Ukraine    Al Hilal advances to AFC Champions League knockout stage despite 1-1 draw with Al Sadd    Saudi Arabia unveils updates on Expo 2030 Riyadh master plan at 175th BIE General Assembly Riyadh Expo Development Company established to oversee strategic planning, operations, and legacy development    Saudi FM attends Quadripartite meeting on Sudan in Italy    Best-selling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford dies    Cristiano Ronaldo's double powers Al Nassr to 3-1 win over Al Gharafa in AFC Champions League    Al Ahli edges Al Ain 2-1, bolsters perfect start in AFC Champions League Elite    Most decorated Australian Olympian McKeon retires    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    'Pregnant' for 15 months: Inside the 'miracle' pregnancy scam    Do cigarettes belong in a museum?    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Mancini needs time to change Manchester City fortunes
By Rob Harris
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 22 - 12 - 2009

With plenty of money at his disposal, Manchester City's new manager Roberto Mancini now needs time to turn the perennial Premier League underachievers into title contenders.
Mancini takes over from Mark Hughes, who was fired Saturday despite City being sixth in the Premier League standings, the target owner Sheikh Mansour had set before the season.
Eighteen months earlier, Sven-Goran Eriksson was dumped by then owner Thaksin Shinawatra despite delivering the top-10 finish that had been requested of him.
Patience has long been in short supply at the underachieving club which lives in the shadow of powerful neighbor Manchester United.
While Alex Ferguson has lifted 25 major trophies in 23 years at United, City has had 14 different permanent managers – including Mancini – without winning anything in the same period.
“Comedy has always been at the heart of what this club is all about,” Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook said last month. The former Nike executive was referring to a billboard poster taunting United about Carlos Tevez's summer defection, but it could apply to City's decision-making in recent years.
Hughes claims that Mancini's appointment had been decided long before Saturday's announcement, despite just two league losses this season – fewer than any top flight club.
Hughes has given Mancini an immediate route to glory by setting up a League Cup semifinal clash with United in January. But that competition, which delivered City's last major title in 1976, is low on the priority list.
When Mancini was formally unveiled at City's stadium Monday, Cook is likely to be pressed on whether Champions League qualification - by finishing in the top four – is now Sheikh Mansour's primary target for this season as a return for his massive investment.
Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho warned Mancini that the Premier League is very different from Serie A.
“It will be a great and special experience for him to test himself in a very different reality to Italian football,” said Inter Milan coach Mourinho, who won two league titles with Chelsea. “The Premier League is completely different to what he has known so far. Mancini is a good coach and has an owner who spends a lot of money.”
Since buying City in September 2008, its Abu Dhabi owner has splurged more than $330 million on talent. As Mancini presided over training in the Manchester snow Monday, he will have been figuring out which areas of the squad need strengthening in the January transfer window.
Cash shouldn't be a problem. Finding the players might be for the Italian manager.
As Hughes himself pointed out three days before being fired, the frailties are primarily in central defense.
Mancini will have to quickly reunite a group of players hastily assembled by Hughes and stunned by his departure.
His experience at Inter Milan will certainly help.


Clic here to read the story from its source.