ความคิดเห็นที่ 21
Blues duo backing Sven
Chris Bailey
9/ 5/2008
TWO of City's senior stars have urged Thaksin Shinawatra not to ditch Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Darius Vassell, already on the staff when Eriksson arrived, and Gelson Fernandes, for whom the Swede paid £2m during his summer spending spree, have firmly backed their boss.
"I didn't know what to expect this season given there were so many changes last summer with new players, new manager and new staff," said in-form forward Vassell, who was named Thomas Cook Player of the Month for April just minutes after Swiss international Fernandes pocketed the March prize.
"If you look at this season as a whole, I think we should all be happy that we have improved and done better than we expected and that is a positive.
"We spoke about our aims at the start of the season but no one really knew what would happen given the newness of the side. Obviously our big ambition was to get into Europe if we possibly could. We knew that it was a long shot because the side had only just been put together but we felt if we went with that mentality then anything could happen. The way the table has finished I think we can be reasonably pleased; it is certainly something to build upon."
Vassell could point to his old team Villa, Portsmouth, Blackburn, West Ham, Newcastle and Spurs as other Euro hopefuls, who also found it hard to sustain winning form over a long campaign.
And he admitted that blips in consistency were par for the course for those outside the Champions League places.
"We know the season started well and that we played some great football but all teams below the top four have their ups and downs in a season," he said.
"But no matter what we have done this year we should never be satisfied and always strive for that little bit more and that's how we feel. A team and club as big as City should always be pushing for a higher place in the league.
Talk
"There has been a lot of talk about the manager's position recently. I am one of those who wanted him to come here when it was clear he was in the running last summer. I was glad he came and I am pretty sure that if he stays he could do even better in the next season.
"Consistency comes from the manager, it's the team, it's the players that are brought in, it's the staff appointed. They all have to combine. It would be difficult if we had to start all over again as opposed to keeping the whole thing moving in the right direction.
"To a certain extent as players you get used to end of season chopping and changing. You have no choice in the matter and have to accept things as they come.
"A lot of professional footballers like to moan about this and that but at the end of the day we are doing something that we love so you cannot complain too loudly. You have to get on with it.
"We have one last game at Middlesbrough and we want to go out on a high especially after the way it has gone in the first half of the campaign. It would say a lot about us if we could win on Sunday and perhaps send a few more people away for the summer with a smile on their face.
"Just like the rest of the season we will go out at the Riverside and try to do it for the manager, ourselves and the fans and that will not change."
Fernandes, whose move to City and frequent appearances in the Premier League have helped him nail down a place in Switzerland's squad for this summer's European Championships, has similar views to those of striker Vassell.
He also believes that the side has largely met expectations and points out that there are several young players who can only improve together given time and right backing.
"The Premier League is the most competitive in the world and you never know what to expect, it is a long and difficult season and you cannot expect to win every game," said the 21-year-old.
"There are periods when you are up as a team and periods when you are down and I think we have done a good season for our first year together."
What do you think? Have your say.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1048995_blues_duo_backing_sven
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