DEVELOPING: Mancini Out At Man City

Not that this is a surprise or anything, it was just time for the other shoe to fall...

A year to the day that this happened...
((HT: BPL/ESPN))


And only a few days after this happened...
((HT: thefacup))


Roberto Mancini is officially out at ManCity...

After winning the Premier League title for the first time in 44 years last season, expectations to repeat and compete were huge. But too many losses and draws to teams at the bottom of the table (QPR and Southampton) and offensive inconsistency combined with questionable substitution patterns and not getting anything done other than Maicon at the Transfer Window pretty much adds up to Pellegrini becoming the 1-to-3 favorite to take over at the Etihad.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said in a statement released by the club: "Roberto's record speaks for itself and he has the respect and gratitude of owner Sheikh Mansour, myself and the board for all of his hard work and commitment over the last three-and-a-half years.

"He has clearly also secured the love and respect of our fans. He has done as he promised and delivered silverware and success, breaking the club's 35-year trophy drought and securing the title in 2012.

"I would like to personally and publicly thank him for his dedication to the progress that he has overseen and for his support and continued friendship."

Brian Kidd takes over for the last two games of the season...

MANCINI'S RECORD

Premier League: 133 games, 82 wins, 27 draws, 24 losses. Win percentage: 61.7 per cent.
FA Cup: 19 games, 13 wins, three draws, three losses. Win percentage: 68 per cent
League Cup: Nine games, four wins, one draw, four losses. Win percentage: 44.4 per cent.
Champions League: 12 games, three wins, four draws, five losses. Win percentage: 25 per cent.
Europa League: 16 games, 10 wins, three draws, three losses. Win percentage: 62.5 per cent.
Community Shield: Two games, one win, one loss. Win percentage: 50 per cent.

OVERALL: 191 games, 113 wins, 38 draws, 40 losses. Win percentage: 59.2 per cent.

Here's the early reports:
((HT: Sky Sports))

FA Cup: Wigan Knocks Off Man City (VIDEO)

And you can go ahead and start the talk about Roberto Mancini not even getting on the team bus and going back to the Etihad and just leaving now...

A Ben Watson header in extra time gives Wigan their first title in the 81-year history of the club and reinforces that Roberto Martinez is an absolute magician with the resources he's given (about 53-million versus the 300-plus-million Manchester City gets to play with)...


It all started with the sending off of Man City's Pablo Zabaleta- his second yellow...


Now, Wigan faces the first relegation who was an FA Cup champ... they're three points back with two games to play...

And, according to the Guardian newspaper's Jamie Jackson, Mancini is already gone...

Malaga boss Manuel Pellegrini has apparently already told his players he's heading to England and midfielder Isco may be joining him.

As an addendum, here's Gus calling the game winner...
Ian Wright is clearly pleased that Man City took it in the chops...
((HT: Fox Sports))

OSG Prem: Man City Implodes, Then Explodes... Gets Title

It was set up all for Manchester City for their first title in 44 years...

All they had to do was beat relegation candidate Queens Park Rangers since it was assumed that Manchester United was going to beat Sunderland.

Which they did...

Man City had a 1-0 lead in the second half when QPR captain Joey Barton had a meltdown of biblical proportions...
((HT: SkySports))


Then, QPR scores twice for a 2-1 lead a man down with a lot of time left...
Man City then gets goals from Dzeko and Aguero in stoppage time for a game denying Manchester United their BPL crown...

Both sides finish with 89 points, but the Sky Blues win on goal differential...

In the relegation battle, Bolton Wanderers' loss ensures their demotion to the Championship. QPR stays.

Here's the moment where Aguero scored... gotta love the split screen...
First with Ian Darke and Macca...
((HT: ESPN/youtube))


Macca gets bonus points for honesty being an ex-player...

And now Martin Tyler...
((HT: SkySports again))


Here's the recap-recap...
((HT: FoxSports/Premier League))

OSG Prem: Man City Wastes Opportunity, Relegation Tightens

((HT: Premier League/ESPN))

Sunderland gave Manchester City fits at the Etihad Saturday, so much so that for 80 minutes manager Roberto Mancini was driven crazy by a team asleep at the switch.

It took two goals in less than two minutes to get the 3-3 draw, but the whole day seems to be symbolized by enigma Mario Balotelli and his hissy fit during a free kick...


And for his postgame interview, Mancini let everyone have it...
As well he should have for a team that everyone chalked up a win for against a middle-of-the-table team...
((HT: Premier League/MCFC/youtube))


The teams at the bottom of the table continue to impress and play with urgency. Bolton took care of Wolves to solidify the latter's fate for relegation. QPR and Wigan also won against Arsenal and Stoke.

Wolves are six points behind Wigan, QPR, and Blackburn. Rovers have a game in hand until their match with ManU Monday. Bolton have 29 points.

But does Aston Villa realize that they're only five points north of being demoted...??? That's the question...