Thaksin time for Eriksson as City make Scolari approach
Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra may have become impatient with Sven Goran Eriksson over the lack of 'success' at the club this season yet he still wants the Swede to take his team on a tour of Asia before Philipe Scolari takes the helm.
Personally I feel that City have made great strides under Eriksson this season. Their campaign may have tailed off slightly in recent months but that is only because they were punching well above their weight at the start of the season. After all in the early stages it was the blue half of Manchester who were topping the table and there were serious claims that they might well go on to claim a Champions League spot.
All that early optimism has long evaporated but City are still clinging on to a top half finish but that ain't good enough for our Thaksin, oh no and now he's looking to bring in 'Big Phil' to ahem, 'Phil' the soon to be vacant managers post at Eastland's.
Scolari has been asked - I can only imagine very nicely - by Shinawatra to make a decision before the European championships as to whether he will take the role as City's coach next season.
Before the end of the Euro's though there is the small matter Man City's pre-season tour of Asia which takes in Thailand and Shinawatra wants Eriksson to stay in charge of the tour as it visits his homeland.
Now for me this seems a little strange seen as the players themselves must know that only weeks after the tour they will be under the guidance of a new manager, be it Scolari or not. Sven doesn't really have a say in the matter and such is his craving for cash - as we saw with England - I highly doubt that he will resign before the tour if it means missing out on a few grand of his salary.
Still, the way that Shinawatra has handled Eriksson has been absolutely disgraceful, all you have to do is look at the banners which the City fans took to Anfield at the weekend to see how they feel about Sven. It was heartwarming to watch the traveling support singing the Swede's name, something which during his time at England could he only have dreamed of and it is sickening to think that once more a manager who is appreciated by the fans is about to be thrown to the gutter by an ungrateful owner.
Personally I feel that City have made great strides under Eriksson this season. Their campaign may have tailed off slightly in recent months but that is only because they were punching well above their weight at the start of the season. After all in the early stages it was the blue half of Manchester who were topping the table and there were serious claims that they might well go on to claim a Champions League spot.
All that early optimism has long evaporated but City are still clinging on to a top half finish but that ain't good enough for our Thaksin, oh no and now he's looking to bring in 'Big Phil' to ahem, 'Phil' the soon to be vacant managers post at Eastland's.
Scolari has been asked - I can only imagine very nicely - by Shinawatra to make a decision before the European championships as to whether he will take the role as City's coach next season.Before the end of the Euro's though there is the small matter Man City's pre-season tour of Asia which takes in Thailand and Shinawatra wants Eriksson to stay in charge of the tour as it visits his homeland.
Now for me this seems a little strange seen as the players themselves must know that only weeks after the tour they will be under the guidance of a new manager, be it Scolari or not. Sven doesn't really have a say in the matter and such is his craving for cash - as we saw with England - I highly doubt that he will resign before the tour if it means missing out on a few grand of his salary.
Still, the way that Shinawatra has handled Eriksson has been absolutely disgraceful, all you have to do is look at the banners which the City fans took to Anfield at the weekend to see how they feel about Sven. It was heartwarming to watch the traveling support singing the Swede's name, something which during his time at England could he only have dreamed of and it is sickening to think that once more a manager who is appreciated by the fans is about to be thrown to the gutter by an ungrateful owner.
When Jose Mourinho was given the boot by Roman Abramovich there was uproar at Stamford Bridge and the strong feelings between of the fans both towards Jose and the actions of the board remain. There was no sign that dismissal was on the cards, a draw against Rosenborg wouldn't lead to calls for his head from any Chelsea fan after back to back titles and a couple of domestic cups in the bag but Abramovich called time on Mourinho's reign because of his overwhelming desire to get his own way.
Now it seems that the same mentality is one which Shinawatra possesses and the axe is about to be wielded on yet another popular manager.
Jose seems likely to have the last laugh with attractive jobs seemingly becoming available in the European leagues, perhaps Sven too will be able to stick two fingers up to Shinawatra if he too moves on to bigger and better things.
Now it seems that the same mentality is one which Shinawatra possesses and the axe is about to be wielded on yet another popular manager.
Jose seems likely to have the last laugh with attractive jobs seemingly becoming available in the European leagues, perhaps Sven too will be able to stick two fingers up to Shinawatra if he too moves on to bigger and better things.
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