We Support Garry Cook!

The sacking of a manager is a gradual process. As a team’s fortunes decline, the Board is under the obligation to start considering and preparing for the replacement of the manager. Part of that process is talking to potential replacements, hopefully doing so in a confidential way (though this cannot be assured). It would be poor work indeed if the Board fired the manager and then, and only then, began the process of finding a new coach. That just aint the way it happens.

And Man City has done no differently than Chelsea (remember those ‘secret’ discussions with Sven?  And the ‘covert’ meetings with Jose?) before Ranieri was given the heave-ho. And remember Liverpool’s discussions with Klinsmann when Benitez was under pressure, which came to nothing but were just-in-case discussions.

Now we’re not too keen on Garry Cook. The former Nike exec is not a football man and has a number of stumbles. But on the replacement for Hughes, he did what he was supposed to do: Mancini was waiting in the wings. It doesn’t matter  when the decision to sack Mark Hughes was made, on 8th December of 16th December or some other time. The point is when the decision was made, the replacement was available.

Mission accomplished