Hill: I'm disgusted by Mancini's axing

Trigger happy ... Roberto Mancini is on his way after one 'poor' season. Source: Jon Super / AP

So, almost twelve months to the day since Roberto Mancini danced his victory jig, after Sergio Aguero netted that incredible late winner against QPR to seal Manchester City's first title in 44 years, the Italian is gone.

Even writing that opening paragraph, I am shaking my head in disbelief. .  

Football managers in England normally get the sack for one of several reasons: relegation, failure to challenge for honours, off-field indiscretions and fan discontent are the main ones. Mancini is guilty of none of the above.

Honours:

Premier League champions, 2012

FA Cup winners, 2011

Community Shield winners, 2012

Premier League record:

2009-10, finished fifth

2010-11, finished third

2011-12, champions

2012-13, in second place at time of Mancini's sacking

Match record:

Premier League: 133 games, 82 wins, 27 draws, 24 losses.

FA Cup: 19 games, 13 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses.

League Cup: 9 games, 4 wins, 1 draw, 4 losses.

Champions League: 12 games, 3 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses.

Europa League: 16 games, 10 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses.

Community Shield: 2 games, 1 win, 1 loss.

Overall: 191 games, 113 wins, 38 draws, 40 losses. Win percentage: 59.2 per cent.

Even in a season when City under-achieved, they were still good enough to finish second in the Premier League (albeit a mile behind United) and reach the FA Cup Final for the second time in three years. Europe was a disappointment, but when you consider Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund were in the same section - both of whom went on to reach the semis, and Dortmund the final - that failure can be explained, if not excused. Especially as City are still novices at the Champions League game.

Rumours abound that Mancini had "lost" the dressing room - and City certainly played like a team that had lost faith in their leader at Wembley, putting in a performance so lackluster in the 1-0 loss to deserving winners, Wigan, it was almost an insult to the 30,000 who traveled, myself included.

But that display came on the back of a week of speculation and innuendo regarding Mancini’s future. A week in which the face of Manuel Pellegrini loomed large on the back of every newspaper in the UK, when every journalist worth his salt was telling us that the former Real Madrid coach was headed to Etihad Stadium. Truly, only Rafa Benitez could empathize with a coach receiving such shoddy treatment at a club still in the hunt for major prizes.

Pellegrini was even forced into a denial post-Wembley, saying no deal had been concluded, but it will be a huge surprise if he isn’t confirmed as the new boss within days.

Mancini has had his critics throughout his four year stay at City. On occasion, I have joined the chorus. In the early days, his teams were uninspiring, cautious in the extreme, and it was difficult to see the turnaround in fortunes that happened last year.

Then, we were treated to an early season exhibition that remains some of the best football I have seen a City team play in years. Opposition outfits were not just beaten, they were steamrollered…Spurs copped five, United were hit for six, both on their own patch … and although a major wobble almost handed the title to United, City blazed a trail to the finish line, and few would deny they were worthy champions.

Mancini had an unlimited supply of funds of course, but it still needed to be spent correctly - and the acquisition of Yaya Toure, Aguero and David Silva in particular proved to be inspired purchases.

The veneer started to fade though, even before a ball had been kicked this season. Mancini was frustrated with the lack of summer arrivals, and with Robin Van Persie going across town, he desperately sought to man the barricades with a flurry of late summer signings, most of whom have turned out to be flops.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man United	37	28	4	5	43	88
2	Man City	36	22	9	5	31	75
3	Chelsea	37	21	9	7	35	72
4	Tottenham	37	20	9	8	19	69
5	Arsenal	36	19	10	7	31	67
6	Everton	37	16	15	6	16	63
7	Liverpool	37	15	13	9	27	58
8	West Brom	37	14	6	17	-4	48
9	Swansea	37	11	13	13	-1	46
10	West Ham	37	11	10	16	-10	43
11	Stoke	37	9	14	14	-11	41
12	Norwich	37	9	14	14	-18	41
13	Newcastle	37	11	8	18	-22	41
14	Southampton	37	9	13	15	-11	40
15	Fulham	37	10	10	17	-13	40
16	Aston Villa	37	10	10	17	-22	40
17	Sunderland	37	9	12	16	-12	39
18	Wigan	36	9	8	19	-23	35
19	Reading	36	6	10	20	-26	28
20	QPR	37	4	13	20	-29	25

But is the Italian to blame for that summer stagnation when he repeatedly pointed out its potential folly? Is he also to be blamed for the constant undermining of his position in the media - no doubt helped along by the leaking of information from inside the club? What of the oft-quoted long-term plan, whereby Mancini would oversee the building of a coaching infrastructure that would eventually see City produce its own stars via the Etihad Academy?

Like all managers, he has his faults. His man management was, at times, questionable - particularly with regards to Mario Balotelli, and some would say, Carlos Tevez. But the return to form of Tevez was a key factor in the title win, and the Argentine has behaved impeccably this term. Footballers respond well to strong leadership, and Mancini was clearly the man in charge - until recently that is.

His demeanour of recent days has been of a man who knew he no longer had the support of his superiors.  But as the manager who brought the good times back to Manchester City, he surely deserved longer.  

City look to be heading down the same road as Chelsea with regards to managers. The message is - win, or else. As a lifelong supporter, I’m disgusted by the decision, and by the sounds that emanated from the 30,000 at Wembley on Saturday (even in the face of that miserable display in front of them), most of my fellow fans were in agreement.

For all those wonderful memories Roberto - the FA Cup win, the derby thrashing of United, and above all the title win - sincerely, "grazie".  

But it is way too early to be saying "ciao".

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