Time for Manchester City to go Dutch?

What is wrong with Manchester City? Is it the manager, is it the reported disharmony in the camp, or is it simply – this is going to take time. I would argue that it’s the later, but if results do not improve in the Premier League Roberto Mancini may not have a future at Eastlands. Manchester City need time to gel, but is Roberto Mancini the man do achieve long term success at the club? The man that everyone is looking at is Guus Hiddink. If Manchester City decide to part company with the Italian, there will be only one name on their short list.

Hiddink says he rejected offers from both Liverpool and Manchester City in the summer, because he did not want to return to club management.

“In the summer City and Liverpool both came to me with an inquiry,” Hiddink said.

“But at my age I don’t want to manage a club again for seven days a week over three years.”

Manchester City have denied Hiddink’s claims. They deny talking to Hiddink and have offered their support for manager Roberto Mancini.

“We strenuously deny that we have ever spoken to Guus Hiddink or any other manager about the possibility of succeeding Roberto Mancini,” Vicky Kloss, City’s chief communications officer, told the Sunday Mirror.

Does Guus Hiddink now have itchy feet. He claims he denied the job because he did not want to return to club management, so why come out with these claims now. If he is trying to unsetlle Roberto Mancini it will take more that this, but the Manchester City board may not take much convincing that he is the right man to lead City to suceess.

What does Guus Hiddink possess that Roberto Mancini does not? Hiddink has a unique ability of focusing a team on their goals. With South Korea he set out the goals of being the most successful Asian team ever in the tournament. The team played for their manager under the goals that were set. When he came to Chelsea two seasons ago, he united the dressing room. There were reports that players were ready to leave, but he settled the ship and won the FA Cup. Had the Dutchman been in charge at the start of the season, who knows how far Chelsea could have gone that season. In contrast Mancini is a colder manager. The way he has dealt with Craig Bellamy was ice cold – quick and calculated. There is nothing wrong with these methods but when a new team is being formed, Hiddink would offer more flexibility in his management style – which could lead to a happier camp.

As well as this, Hiddink would play a brand of football that would excite the Manchester City crowd. A lot has been made of Manicni’s cautious tactics, and his desire to play three holding midfielders. Hiddink would allow City to express themselves by releasing the shackles. At Chelsea, he managed to get Flourent Malouda playing at the level Chelsea expected and they have reaped the awards of this. This was because he allowed the player to be more expressive, less constricted to the wing. If the City players were able to play a more expressive game, force their style onto teams,  they would begin to dominate the Premier League.

Guus Hiddink’s rhetoric suggests that he is open to offers of a return to club management. Is Guus Hiddink the right man for Manchester City? Yes he is. Is Manchester City the right club for Guus Hiddink? Yes it is. The two would suit perfectly –  Hiddink would bring a brand of football to Eastlands that would excite both players and fans. He is not gung-ho, instead emphasising the importance of direct ball play. Hiddink has proven he can be successful in England, and IF Manchester City were to part company with Roberto Mancini, there should only be one man they look to.

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