Why what City really need now is... Craig Bellamy

By Simon Mullock

Published 12:27 04/02/11

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When Roberto Mancini took over from Mark Hughes as manager of Manchester City, he inherited a problem he vowed would never be repeated.

Hughes had allowed Joe Hart to go to Birmingham on a season-long loan such was his level of confidence in No.1 Shay Given and understudy Stuart Taylor.

He felt, quite understandably, that a goalkeeper who had already played for England and had designs on going to the World Cup needed to continue his footballing education uninterrupted.

On his arrival at Eastlands, Mancini immediately recognised the folly of a decision that gave City no opportunity to recall Hart should an emergency arise.

Yet even before Given suffered a dislocated shoulder at Arsenal during a goalless draw that meant City needed to beat Tottenham and West Ham in their last two games of the campaign to qualify for the Champions League, it had long been a cause for concern for Mancini that the Irishman’s sky-high standards had slipped slightly because his place in the team was absolutely assured.

After refusing to agree to Birmingham’s attempt to squeeze £1.5million out of them to grant Hart an early return to the club that actually owned him, City were given permission to recruit Martin Fulop in a loan deal from Sunderland.

The Hungarian performed admirably in his two appearances, but City failed to finish in the top four.

Mancini said a lesson had been learned.

That’s why Given has been forced to sit stewing on the substitutes’ bench for most of the season, despite his pleas to be allowed to leave on loan.

But Mancini’s resolve to keep Given against his wishes makes the decision to ship Craig Bellamy out to Cardiff for the season even more mystifying.

Mancini hasn’t got much time for Bellamy and the feeling is mutual.

But failing to have an emergency call-back clause inserted in the agreement with Cardiff now looks like an act of negligence by the City manager.

Even before Adam Johnson suffered the ankle injury that will sideline him for a minimum of three months, there have been times this season when City have needed the Welshman.

Mancini obviously felt Bellamy was more trouble that he is worth, but his team have missed his arrogance and attitude.

Perhaps David Silva and James Milner will be asked to play in the wide midfield positions while Johnson recovers.

Mancini’s only other alternatives at Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jo.

Wright-Phillips asked for a transfer last weekend and has obviously fallen out of love with the club.

And if I was asked to name a team of the worst players ever to feature in the Premier League, Jo would be its captain and manager.

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