I was at a lunch yesterday with a very well known football correspondent who writes for the national press. His view is that Ancellotti is a cracking bloke and a good manager, but is a bottler in the big games and should, if not will, be replaced at the end of the season. I had harboured the same thoughts up until the last one, but now I have doubts as to whether he really is that good? His ability to really motivate the team and man manage was also an issue called into question. Inter last year - bottled Man u this season - bottled There are others, but these are five games where he simply got his tactics wrong and disappeared...I have vivid images of JM on the touchline at the San Siro animatedly orchestrating our demise while CA stood there with his hands in his pockets. I think he's a great coach, and love the guy much in the same way I loved Ranieri, but unfortunately the comparisons don't stop there... Personally I would like to see a manager see his contract out, as I don't remember one doing so, but I also want us to be inspired by someone when things aren't going right and I'm not sure that he's got the stones for it... I'm not into the merry go round at SB, but I'm starting to believe that it is time for a change, not just mangerially but also in the way that Roman runs the club as well. A man that wins the double in his first season should not be marginalised in his second by transfer policy that is out of his control and the sacking and hiring of his back room staff at a whim....but that's another story...
Ranieri saw out his 5 year contract and didn't win a toffee. Nice bloke and all that but not really up to the job. Carlo fluked the double last year which makes him look a better manager than he actually is. A lovely guy but not the man to rebuild the team.
I could be wrong but I believe he had been there for four years under Bates and Roman let him see out his last year before bringing the Special One in.
