How long can Mancini keep his world class bench of forwards happy?

Since the influx of money into Manchester’s less successful club, City have become better and better, securing a place in the Champion’s League last season and looking more than capable of challenging for the title this season, if not going the whole way and winning it.

Yet with such a fantastic squad, especially in terms of forwards, just how long will it be before rumours of discontent begin to surface at Manchester City? We have already heard about poor Carlos Tevez’ tragic eating disorder as a result of the stress he encountered over the summer when looking for a move – perhaps he should ask Kolo Toure for advice on dieting in the future. One would wonder just how long it will be before others start to suffer various mental stresses when they begin to question their lack of playing time.

Top of that list would appear to be Mario Balotelli who has made no secret of his dislike for all things English except parking fines apparently and Super Mario has failed to feature in the last two City games, having to make do with a place on the bench. The way Aguero and Dzeko are playing, it seems his I Pad is a good investment. The young Italian is prone to outbursts when things are not going his way, and the lack of playing time he is currently experiencing could well prompt another one.

Tevez will now tell anyone who will listen that since his wife and children have moved to Manchester he is much happier and more settled and is more than willing to play for Manchester City. Quite what his girlfriend makes of this is anyone’s guess, and in reality the lack of offers from other clubs may have more to do with this but the fact remains he is a world class striker and is well suited to playing in the premier league. When welcomed back into the fold by Mancini who offered encouragement despite Tevez missing a penalty, and was impressed by the link-up between compatriots Tevez and Aguero.

Aguero has settled into life in the premier league sooner and easier than anyone had expected, scoring a hat trick on the weekend, looking sharp and more than capable of being the player of the season and the something special City lacked last season. In the form he is displaying, it would be hard to consider dropping Aguero, but just how well the Argentinian will do in the winter months when the games are piling up will be the real mark of his quality.

For someone who won the player of the month award and who has been scoring goals for fun, Edin Dzeko will have been confused to find himself on the bench this weekend. Whilst Mancini would maintain this was to rest him before the Champion’s League tie, it is more than possible that in reality he wanted to see how well Aguero and Tevez could link up with a view to this being his first choice strike partnership. Dzeko is the type of player who will score in speights, and could well go a good few games without a goal, and may well lose his place in the first eleven should this happen.

Clearly injuries and suspensions will also have an effect on this, and should Manchester City end up playing the 60 odd games they expect, there will be time for everyone to get minutes on the field. However, there is always going to be a first choice pairing of strikers, and they will be the ones picked for the big games, and expected to score the goals that matter. Just how well the two that are not the chosen ones take this remains to be seen, and just how much trouble they, and other

players who fail to make the starting line-up cause may well have a big effect on the morale of City, and will test just how good Mancini’s man management skills really are.

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