December 23 - After managing to notch up only two wins out of eleven
consecutive matches this season as the manager of English Premier League
football team Manchester City, perhaps it was not all that surprising
that Mark Hughes was unceremoniously sacked by the club this week.
What could be more surprising is what potentially drastic changes incoming
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini may have planned for the football side.
He'll come into a team that is still smarting from Hughes' quick exit, but one
that is well aware that drastic changes are needed.
Mancini, an Italian manager renowned for shaking things up wherever he goes, is
expected to take a hard look at the team and its players in order to turn its
fortunes around. As such, there is much speculation at online sports betting
sites about Man City players that may face the chop.
One leading sportsbook for instance has already posted odds about which players
may be the first to be axed from the premiership team. Leading the way is 11/4
favorite Robinho, then 3/1 second favorite Craig Bellamy, 4/1 shot Roque Santa
Cruz and 16/1 shot Shay Given.
Many of these players have failed to play up to their large salaries and Mancini
may be primed to 'trim the fat.' A spokesperson for one betting site was quoted
as saying: 'The exit doors could soon be open at Eastlands. The question is
which one of the under performing stars will be the first to leave?'
Another question Manchester City fans will be eager to have answered is how much
autonomy Mancini will have in his quest to right the toppled club. After all,
Hughes was only at the club for 16 months, which most football experts will
agree is too short a time for them to make their mark.
