Friday, January 15, 2010

No guarantees for Robinho

"How much a player cost is not important," said Mancini. "What you pay only matters when you are in the act of buying someone.

"The important thing after that is the player working hard and playing well.

"Before the game at Middlesbrough, Robinho had a problem with one of his muscles and he didn't train for two or three days.

"But it is possible he will play tomorrow, although I do feel sorry for the attacking players because I have five or six really good ones and I must decide who is going to be on the bench."
>>Mancini on Robinho.

Robinho finds himself in a tricky situation at the moment. With the form of others, plus his own inconsistent showing he doesn't deserve a starting place, yet without significant playing time he isn't likely to get himself out of the funk that he is in.

As we are witnessing with Carlos Tevez, there is no substitute for a consistent run of games to find your rythm and rediscover your form and Robinho's best football came when he had precisely that.

Competition is so fierce though, and the stakes so high with important games coming thick and fast that Robinho isn't likely to get the opportunity of regular football. A great player to have on the bench of course, but whilst he is not match fit (and looking a little overweight?) are we going to be able to get the best out of him? Or does it even matter given the options we have in attacking positions.

vote it up!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

We dont want him playing hes a liability . Mancini should keep up the good work and leave lucas,s brother on the bench ! The left back gets exposed everytime he plays and although he has got a few tricks up his sleeve we hardly ever get to see them ! When was the last time robinho actually had a good game for city ? I for one cant remember ,we need to get rid of this waste of space a.s.a.p , if anyone will have him .

Danny Pugsley said...

How about playing him through the middle alongside Tevez?

He would be more involved and carry more of a threat, and definitely benefit from Tevez's form of late.

Anonymous said...

The only problem i have with that is the other options we have up front look a lot better to me ! Tevez - adebayor ! Tevez-bellamy ! Tevez - santa cruz or even Tevez_ benjani ! Robinho just looks far too lightweight and lazy to me . He may be allright in the spanish league but in the prem you need to have all ur outfield players working hard . Its not a coincidence that when robinho doesnt play we look a far better side .