UNDER-FIRE Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has admitted his expensive new recruits are still two months away from forming a cohesive unit, as Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wrote off any hope of the title going to Eastlands.
Manchester City’s collection of new signings – and they have still to accommodate Italian striker Mario Balotelli and expected Aston Villa midfield capture James Milner – suffered a mediocre start, with only a superlative display from new England goalkeeper Joe Hart earning a draw at Spurs.
Mancini’s predecessor Mark Hughes did not last until Christmas last year before being axed and Mancini said: “I don’t want six months. I want time to put together the players to play well.
“I don’t know the new players. It’s a joke – I saw them for only two days. We never worked together. It will take one, maybe two months to make it work. We can improve every day if we work together. If we don’t work, it’s difficult.
“I am excited. Frightened? No. I’m not in fear because we have a good team. I know my job very well. It is normal that, if a manager doesn’t win, the club may sack him. But not in this case, because we will win.”
But after his side outplayed City at White Hart Lane, Spurs boss Redknapp said: “I wouldn’t tip them to win the championship from what I’ve seen today. They have a long way to go.”
Mancini may have seen the last of Craig Bellamy, who is weighing up a six-month loan to Cardiff. Bellamy suggested earlier in the week that he would be open to a move to the club he supported as a boy.
Cardiff manager Dave Jones, who has allowed Bellamy to train with his squad on many occasions, failed to deny the story and said: “Nothing has happened yet. But the situation is in the mix with everything else.”
Bookmakers stopped taking bets on the move last night. Bellamy said: “I have always wanted to play for Cardiff. I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.”
He has stated he wants to spend more time with wife Claire and their three children at their mansion, a mile from the Bluebirds’ Vale of Glamorgan training ground.
Bellamy would take a huge pay cut at a club whose finances are now stabilising after a recent £10m injection from Malaysian shareholders.
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