Thursday, January 21, 2010

Mancini - 'I need players'

That is the message from Roberto Mancini this morning from the comments in Gazzetto dello Sport that have been widely picked up here in the UK:
"I need players," Mancini was quoted as saying in Gazzetta dello Sport. "Perhaps Real Madrid will give me Gago, maybe Milan [will give me] Flamini..."
The link with Flamini surfaced earlier this week of course, but the Gago link is a new one. The benefits of adding Flamini to the squad are obvious, with his versatility being a key asset and the fact that the midfield is the one area that has been really stretched and overworked so far this season. The Gago one perhaps less so though. I don't particularly know much about the player so will defer to JPB on this.

The links with both Flamini and Gago have also been reported by the MEN (Flamini and Gago), with the Flamini link looking quite solid (it even suggests he could arrive in time for next weeks second leg against United).

The most obvious question is quite where either (or both) players will fit in. Whilst de Jong and Barry have been virtual ever presents, the central midfield area will have a very congested look with more additions given Stephen Ireland and Patrick Vieira's imminent return.

I took a look at this after the arrival of Patrick Vieira, so throw one or two more into the mix and Mancini will have some very frustrated players on his hands and does either potential arrival really improve the options available to Mancini?

vote it up!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Flamini can do an excellent job at either left- or righ-back.

clevblue said...

I was thinking the same as anonymous, Flamini at LB and somebody plus Vieira to give DeJ and Barry a break to recover, or at least prevent injury that could keep one or the other out for the season. Ireland can play forward and central to open up defences.
Next Wednesday preferably