'Eriksson deserves better than ungrateful Thaksin'
Thursday, 01 May 2008 17:20
Sven-Goran Eriksson's future is increasingly unclear
What is going on at Manchester City?
This supposed decision to sack Sven-Goran Eriksson is nothing short of ridiculous.
Now, I'm far from being a fan of listening to the opinions of celebrity supporters. They have little or nothing to add to the views of any normal fan, the only difference being that they have a recognisable face.
But you can't help agreeing with the views of Noel Gallagher and Ricky Hatton on this one - both of whom have come out in support of the Swede.
The Oasis guitarist branded club owner Thaksin Shinawatra "a disgrace", and now Hatton - who might be tempted to head down to Eastlands and lump the owner one to make him see sense - has joined the party.
The popular boxer, also an outspoken City supporter, described the apparent decision of Shinawatra "a disaster".
"It's a bad time to be a City fan," he said.
"It's been our best season in 30-odd years but it wouldn't be Manchester City if it wasn't stressful. The chairman has his reasons and he's a very astute businessman but I think it will come to be a very unpopular decision with a lot of City fans."
Too right, Ricky.
It's funny how times have changed - now everyone is on Sven's side.
It seems only a year ago (oh, hang on, it was) that Eriksson was being lambasted by the press for being a money-grabbing manager - picking up a hefty paycheque from the Football Association while sitting around doing nothing.
He got the City job 12 months after parting company with the FA and even with the opening-day victory at West Ham United he couldn't shake off some of the doubters. The first win over another United - this time the slightly better-known one from just up the road - changed all that.
And you'd think a repeat performance at Old Trafford would have earned him the freedom of the city (well, everywhere except Salford maybe). But no, it apparently adds up to a P45 if you work for Shinawatra.
It seems the only man in the blue corner of Manchester that doesn't buy into the love-in with Sven is the only one that really and truly matters in the whole affair - the owner.
The problem that City fans seem to have here is that their money man has little or no clue about football.
It is plain to see that what Eriksson has achieved this season has been nothing short of incredible, even if recent results have not been quite up to the sky-high standards set early on in the season.
As if a first double in 38 years over neighbours Manchester United (who are reigning champions and top of the league, no less) wasn't enough, Sven's men were realistic challengers for a European spot until about a month ago.
Most City fans would have guffawed at the suggestion they would achieve anything other than Premier League safety. Instead they will find themselves in the top half of the league, ahead of a couple of teams that, as much as you may think their fans are deluded, had Champions League ambitions (yes, Spurs and Toon fans - I'm talking about you).
Eriksson's personal life may have caused him all sorts of bother as England boss, where apparently these things matter almost as much as what happens on the pitch. But at club level, the same kind of scrutiny does not apply and the Swede has shone when left to get on with what he does best – coach.
His contact list reads like a who's who of European football - from some of the best scouts of young talent in Scandinavia to the head honchos in Serie A, Sven knows them all.
Undeniably a bit of a charmer (just ask Nancy Dell'Olio and Ulrika Jonsson), he's schmoozed with the best of them and he should be reaping the rewards. He should be getting pats on the back from a grateful owner of what before was a mediocre team, underperforming for one of the country's most prestigious clubs.
Eriksson has brought in players of the calibre of Elano and Martin Petrov and has added elements to the games of young players in the City squad - most notably goalkeeper Joe Hart and defender Nedum Onouha - that they never had before.
But he has got none of the recognition because the squad's development has been the wrong way round - they started the season at a sprint, and have slowed to a canter. You can't help thinking this would not even be an issue if the first few results and the last few results had been reversed.
Makes you wonder, as Noel so eloquently put it, "what the *@#$ Thaksin's advisors are telling him". Maybe it's all part of a Masterplan?
Alistair Potter