Shambles at City- Shinawatra needs to listen to fans

So today’s reports are suggesting that Manchester City have approached Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari to take over as their manager after Euro 2008. What a strange, mad mind that City’s owner has. It’s official- football has now gone mad.

Since arriving in a wave of publicity, Thaskin Shinawatra has helped overhaul one of the English game’s sleeping giants. After finishing a mere 4 points above the relegation places in 14th last term, the Thai businessman assumed control in July and installed former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson into the Eastlands hotseat.

A summer spending spree, which saw a host of players including Elano, Martin Petrov and Gelson Fernandes arrive gave City fans optimism that a top half finish could be achieved. That was the aim set out by Shinawatra as part of a ‘5 year’ plan for City.

And they started well. 3 successive wins, including a derby victory over Manchester United, saw City sit top and by November, they were 3rd. While it is true to say that they have fallen away out of European contention since Christmas after a run of 9 wins in 21, they still sit in 9th, which is an excellent return after a poor time last season.

So, the top half target achieved with a squad made up of a lot of new faces, who naturally would dip in form at some point. The first league double over Manchester United completed since season 1969/70, giving fans bragging rights over their neighbours.

Good enough for the owner? Apparantly not. Eriksson has been told he’s out the door in the summer, Shinawatra unhappy with results. Now, he is either a very naive man when it comes to football if he thought that City could possibly remain challenging at the top in his first season, or he simply knows nothing. To challenge at the top takes stability.

Look at Manchester United and Arsenal. Alex Ferguson had a sticky spell at first, but United stuck with their man and look at them now- on the verge of a 10th Premier League title under him, 5 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, a Cup Winners Cup and potentially a second European Cup. And he’s been there since 1986.

Similarly, Arsenal appointed Arsene Wenger in 1996 and under his guidance they have won 3 championships and four FA Cups. Even when they go through a tricky period, they stick with their man, knowing he will deliver.

Now, I’m not saying City could be compared to those big guns but stability is the key. Everton under David Moyes finished 4th in 2004/2005, then battled relegation the following season. The board didn’t panic, stuck with him and are now on the verge of Europe for the second consecutive season.

The loyal fans of City made their views clear during their game with Liverpool last weekend, and radio phone ins and internet forums have been bombared with fuming supporters demanding the retention of the quiet Swede. If given time, he could turn City into the global force Shinawatra craves.

Its time for him to listen to the people who pack into the City of Manchester Stadium- forget Scolari and stick with the man who has restored pride to Manchester City.