The Swede has watched with a sense of interest and bemusement while a series of clubs in the Premier League and Championship have fired their managers before the half-way point of the season.
Chelsea, Spurs, Bolton, Saturday's opponents Wigan, and Derby have all decided on a change of boss even though two of the men axed - Sammy Lee and Chris Hutchings - were only at the start of their tenure as top-flight managers, with the ink hardly dry on their contracts.
Eriksson would not be drawn on individual cases but believes that the English game has moved, perhaps irretrievably, towards the revolving managerial door policies associated with more hot-blooded footballing nations.
"I am not surprised by what has happened because I worked in Italy and Portugal for many years and changing managers quickly over there is very normal," he said. "What does surprise me a little is that it is happening in England because I always felt fans and directors here had more patience than those in the Latin part of the world. Perhaps we are becoming Latin here too!
"When things go badly it is very hard to sack the chairman, or all the players, so who is the third part of the equation? The manager. Football has always been like that. Supporters and directors think it will make things better.
Patience
"To build a club these days, you need both money and patience, so perhaps it is only the really big clubs who can afford to give a manager time. But even then, if the results are not coming, there will be a temptation to change.
"Going out of the Premier League is an economic disaster for clubs so they will do what they think is best to stop that happening - whatever club it is." Despite the insecurity of the job, Eriksson still believes the plus points of the manager's lot in life far outweigh the minus and that top players, virtually all them independently wealthy by the time they hang up their boots, will not be put off going into the coaching side of the game.
"I think many of the active players will still want to stay in the game when they finish because it is a fantastic job," he declared. "There are risks to it of course but it is still a great thing to do and the rewards of being the manager of successful team are very good."
Strangely, the fixture list mean that City's next four league and cup games are all against teams with managers who have arrived at their new clubs since the start of the season.
In fact, on Saturday, against Wigan, Eriksson will be opposite Steve Bruce for the second time in six weeks. The Blues then play Spurs twice and Bolton.
He accepts most of the old scouting reports will have to be scraped as the new men put their own imprint on things.
"In Spurs case with Juande Ramos, we have had time to see how they are playing and I watched them on television against West Ham, but when it comes to Wigan I don't have a clue how they will line up under Steve Bruce," said Eriksson.
"It is his first game and I don't know what ideas he has at this moment. I don't know if that is an advantage to him or not, because he has already managed a Birmingham side against us who did very well. We will have to wait and see."
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God I love this Man...
Good old Sven, you tell England who the next manager is? You was so good yourself. and let us know when you win anything mate! keep up all that talking mate.
Sven, unless Steve Bruce has changed his footballing philosphy over night, he will get 11 men behind the ball and hope we get sufficiently bored to let them sneak a goal. Then if we win he will do an interview afterwards were he says something like "we deserved something from this game." Teams who set out to bore, frankly deserve nothing.
Off subject a bit,at work a really good scouse friend of mine,who also happens to be a fanatical Liverpool fan has started getting a bit up- tight when it comes to talking about football.He was fine when City were crap,
but now we're doing good,and he slowly realises this aint another false dawn,it's got his back up.He accuses me of being smug(I'm not)and jokes about me being a glory hunter,after 34 years of supporting City.Has anyone noticed this amongst their mates?
At the start I said to myself to relaxe and see Sven and his team work on gelling and playing to a certain system and style of play. It would take half a year for Sven to see what players are able to cope with the standards he recuired. Results were not too important, the building was. And in January players would come in and go out, same again in the next summer. And from than on we would see the new ManCity under Sven.
What happenend was a great start, beating scum as well and we never were out of a top 5 ranking. COMS became a fortress as well and the press had to eat their words. And I enjoyed the relaxed way living up to the next game. Up until a few weeks ago, when I found out I did put results above the style of play. We are in the top 4 and I want us to hang in there at least until January when hopefully a few more assets are brought in that might make us even better. Gone was the relaxed feeling towards games, I just wanted results never mind the way we play. I even read a few on here that actually start moaning a bit when City narrowly manage a win, why Sven is not playing certain players, that atmosphere at COMS is less electric than it was 1 or 2 months ago?
Do we already expect Sven to have gelled his team, formed a definite style of play and by now should challenge the so called top 4? It would be unrealistic to think that way, but does it come with putting results above style of play? Sometimes I get the impression the players are hanging on to the top 3 position and unbeaten run at COMS in a way it undermines the style of play.
Anyone reckognize this? At this moment I want to go back to "lets play Wigan, show them some good football, show the progress we make every week, and if the result is good it is a bonus", But it's hard when you are still 3rd in the table.
(sorry for the long version and mistakes; Dutch ...)
The Right to Reply...
with Sven`s club record? Are you trying to be jokey or just ill-informed?
In any event, he talks more sense than you do.
A very fine post Eric and you voice my sentiments exactly. Have followed City for longer than I care to remember, but it has only been during the last couple of months that I have been getting so uptight before each game and I have definately developed a "win at any cost mentality" God its doing my nerves no good at all!
Everblue
Over here
Eric - great post and a bit of a reality check for some people is definately in order! Lets not run before we can walk - can anyone actually remember last season?
Shaun, at your desk: Too true they are all over the place, and they call us bitter blues, RAGS, Scousers, Brummies, Yorkies, Cocknies have all had a pop at me recently - ranging from The bubble will burst to being called a glory fan. I remind them that even if the bubble bursts, we will have more points, wins and goals than last season (that shuts them up) and 30,000 in division 3, glory fans - your having a laugh. Feel free to feel a bit smug (we deserve whatever good fortune comes our way) but not too much or you will be acting like a RAG. Ask your mate at work where his 'amazing Scouse wit' has gone - Harry Enfield got them so right!!!!
CTID
Eric, the way I see it is. I don't think that City have stopped trying to play good football its just that others now know City's style and are trying to break things up and give us less space and time. The players are still trying to learn and adjust to this style of play and it doesn't always click together, but they always keep at it. The example of this was on Saturday, they kept patient and true to their style despite the calls to 'lump it up'. The fact that we are solid enough to get results is brilliant. Remember most of the home games so far have been against 'leser' opposition and there is almost an expectancy to get results against these and this is reflected in the crowd, where they have often sat back and been patient too. Attendances are rising, atmosphere is not falling and I'm sure especially in the games where we're up against sterner opposition the atmosphere will rise as well. Admittedly there is a general poor atmosphere in COMS (same at new grounds all over the country) that needs looking at but I don't put this down to the style of play.
Righr to reply,
This is my reply to you i would rather have Sven as our manager over old bacon face any day of the week,oh that was really exciting stuff to watch last night wasn't it and the way the ponytailed diver celebrated his stuffy goal just sums up why we call you RAGS.
Dave, Bury: I remember 12 months ago, grey skies, grey football, a nutter waving his arms about like a traffic warden on speed on the side lines, Corradi, Barton, not scoring in 2007, Blackburn, Wigan.... thats it I am off to slash my wrists who is making me think about this!!!!
CTID
wrong to reply,
you're wrong to reply.
and i bet you didn't make it to watch your world beaters go top of the league last night that they have had much practice in but only won once or twice... were you?
Eric, Dutch, 32 years and still here:
you do like to talk deep, and so do i.
first four games were mind blowing, even thought we didnt deserve to lose to Arsenal or beat the rags. but i for one had admit, i was in doubt i was watching City.
good old KK style of play made me feel that in his first two years incharge, and now you could see where this is going:
we played exciting football under KK but not often we got the results. where under Sven we seem to play ok football (still Sven's ok is a very good football, so dont get me wrong) but still getting the results.
Do i want to see us playing great football and be in the bottom three, or an ok football and be in the top three.
i made my mind up and i watched us against Redding, i was screaming at Geo for missing the chance, i knew i just wanted us to win it, just the three points, doesnt matter how.
A goal is a goal, a goal is a three points, three points are a place in top three, and a top three is a champion league, champion league means world wide exposure leading to spreeding the blue word across the world, with it come money and fame and with that reputation that forces players like Kaka, Messy, Alves and Bufon to come and play for us.
Thus with these exsiting football comes. so for now am happy with the three points.
If we loose playing 4-5-1 against a team like Wigan or other bottom dwellers I think Sven will ditch it and go 4-4-2. He just doesn't have the fire power at the moment. Sven is a fan of playing 4-4-2 and is a big believer in it. He wrote a paper on it for his degree (according to his biography). If Sven gets to the January sales in 3rd/4th/5th spot I expect 3/4 top class players in January to go with Bon Jovi. I hope Bianchi is croked and will come good as I would love to see him and Bon Jovi play together. Also if Johnson is fit would you play him or Gelson?
Eric; City started the season more creative until ALL other Prem teams were alerted to the magic of Elano in particular. Without his creativity, we are not a side to entertain, - not yet, but we have developed a great team mentality.
Shaun: I'm getting exactly the same reaction from mates who have seen me as easy pickings for 30 years. Being an old bugger I have seen most, L'pool in 2nd Div, Rags stuffed regularly '67 - '75, etc but as Bob Dylan said, "The times, they are a changin", those that are first will later be last. SAF dont delay your retirement, Rafa keep on being arsey, Grant don't get your coaching badges, etc.
The Latin influence and Boardroom mentality was already present when Sven was in Italy, Fiat at Juve etc. Sven did very well at Lazio who had been in the shadow of Roma for years but the Chairman there 'had a few Lira' and Sven bought wisely.
The massive achievement in Italy around that time however, was Maradonna dragging Napoli to the Title with little or no financial backing.
CTID
Been a Man City fan since childhood. Not for any more rational reason than that they wore the same colours as my favourite Swedish team MFF, but as a youngster this was maybe the logic to follow. This year my support has been revigorated, not because of a Swedish coach in charge, but because they play smart as well as attractive football, which does not necessarily always go together, and there seems to be more of a thought behind what the players are doing on the pitch. If patience is indeed the key to success in this game I for one can not wait to see what 2008 brings. Hopefully it will blow our minds and have the Reds crying.
With regards to Wigan Sven,the Wigan team picks itself,they have maybe 4 reasonably average players and the rest are no mark journeymen who will be working there socks off to impress the new Boss.Heskey will play up front on his own and Micheal Brown will be kicking lumps off Elano.Apart from that I can't help you!
The Right to Reply
How ironic it is that you have chosen a Pseudonym which is the complete opposite of the position taken by your bacon faced bully manager who never gives anyone the right to reply e.g. the BBC, match officials ex RAG players etc who he refuses to engage in conversation with because they may not agree with every word he says.
I would chose a manager like Sven over Taggart any day as he is a decent guy who never slags off anyone to the media, unlike your Rudolf.
PS 1 - 0 City sucka
Dave,Bury.If you want to remember how it was last season go to the Newcastle web site at the BBC 606,Wrong players picked,Wrong tactics,Players played out of position,Crowd chanting "You dont know what your doing".Deja vu Our club last season,Joey Barton must feel at home.
Eric. What I noticed from last Saturday (and I think wil happen from now on at home) is the away team keeping 11 men in their own half and us having to find a way of breaking them down. I thought we played well last Saturday as we had to keep the ball in there half and try and get a half chance from somewhere. When they got the ball we reacted quickly and got men back. I don't think we're going to see another game like the ones against Newcastle or Boro but it won't be becuase of our style of play, it will be becuase the other team will want to try and get something from the game.
Shaun, At My Desk:
listen, I've been called a glory-hunter on this site by other City fans despite my 27 years (start of the 1980-81 season) of pain.
I guess I was glory-hunting that cold night I went to watch City take on the massive Huddersfield...or almost knocked myself out at the back of the north stand against the world class WBA...and I was certainly only glory-hunting along with all the other City fans who turned world beaters Crystal Palace into a sea of bananas and set up shop on their pitch one fine sunny Croydon afternoon.
Lets all go to Barnsley or Grimsby or Stoke eh? Bloody holes. Tons o'glory!
I'll get mi coat.
Shaun at my desk
I work in Sale and am surrounded by rag fans. Like you I've noticed how the comments have changed. At the beginning it was all "Yeah wait till the bubble bursts". they were in heaven when we lost 6-0 to Chelski but now we've put that behind us with a series of brill results and we are still 3rd they have tailed off and now they are getting to desperation state by trying to accuse us of being like another Chelski and buying success. I usually point out to them that bacon face has spent half a billion quid over the years and only ( extremely luckily too) won the European cup once. After this weekend when we tonk Wigan and they if they are lucky scrape a draw with the red sh*te ( as my Everton supporting other half calls them) we'll be ahead of them in the PL which means I'll be in on Monday with My City Bobcap and scarf proudly worn.
I too have found myself wanting us to play like we did against the barcodes every game but I also realise that we are so far ahead of the expected schedule that I must not get too carried away. I'm just enjoying every minute of it and looking forward to our team growing in stature and quality.
Another reality of the modern game is that loyalty (on the part of coaches and owners) has gone out of the window.
The good Doctor brought Sven in from the cold, as it were, and many of us - I hold my hand up - thought WTF!!!
But if he keeps showing us (and the football world) that he's still got it at club level I worry that one of the big Spanish or Italian sides will try and poach him. When we produce top players and have a top boss at the helm, it will always be a worry. And what Sven has achieved in his first few months with City... is truly astonishing.
Allardyce had all summer and no shortage of money to put a squad together and Sven had about 10 days, a good phone book and a VCR.
We are comfortably in 3rd, while poor Sam is hearing the worst chant imaginable for a manager ("You don't know what you're doing!") Sven's a genius at club level. I'm sure this is not going unnoticed around the world of football. I hope he sticks with us for at least the 3 year plan!!!
Weve bin a latin club for the past 30 years.