Who do we think will be in and out of Eastlands in January, then?
I felt at the start of the season their full backs were weak and they still look pretty average. Maybe another centre half in and move Toure to right back? Or do they need proper full backs, i.e wing backs like your Maicons etc.?
It will be interesting to see what formation he decides on using during his time there, I didn't see the game on the weekend but I managed to see a bit of his Inter side in his last season and I rarely recall the use of wingers. Could we see a diamond being used, similar to that of Chelsea's, with Robinho playing the 'trequartista' role? In his Inter side, the full backs were the providers of width, no offence to Bridge, Richards and Zabaleta, but they're not your flying full backs with flashy technique, they're solid, workmanlike players who are solid squad players, but nothing more, at least for a side with aspirations.
I've not read too much about the Mancini situation, but is he seen as a long term investment, or is he simply a stop gap until the summer, where the window for managers will be much more open? I personally saw him as a stop gap, I think he could surprise a few people, but I can see him doing a similar job to that of Ramos at Madrid last year. He'll get things back on track, get a few much needed players in, attempt to lay some foundations but probably won't be the man who the club see taking them forward in the long term. I think he's an underrated coach, but I don't think he was City's number one target, nor do I believe that he was the ideal coach to take the club to where they want to be, but I'm no expert.
Fergie certainly has him in his pocket now...
