Mancini gives up on Bridge u-turn

May 10, 2010

Roberto Mancini has revealed he has given up trying to persuade Wayne Bridge to reverse his decision to make himself unavailable for England.

Bridge pulled out of the England set-up because he felt his presence in the same squad as John Terry could be potentially divisive after the pair's off-the-field problems.

The Italian tried to talk him out of the decision and England boss Fabio Capello hoped he would be on the plane for the World Cup in South Africa.

But Capello has been boosted by the return to full fitness of first choice left back Ashley Cole, who had been in jeopardy of missing the tournament after picking up a knee injury.

Mancini dropped the left back for the game against West Ham playing Sylvinho and putting Javier Garrido and youngster Greg Cunningham ahead of him on the bench.

It was seen as a possible farewell gesture to Sylvinho, but Mancini said he may yet land another year's contract – with the extra Europa Cup workload in mind.

“Sylvinho is a fantastic man and a fantastic player who always works very well, and we will have to see about next season,” he said.

Mancini will now head for Abu Dhabi later this week to put the finishing touches to City's strategy for success next season.

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Bert Trautmann's FG42 , The Eastern Front of Manchester (10/05/2010 at 10:35)

Mancio has given up because Bridge won't be here next season. Why concern yourself with someone else's player? I can see Garrido staying as backup for the new left-back.

kevin cairns, morecambe (10/05/2010 at 10:48)

Good

I am the one and only, Tameside (10/05/2010 at 11:08)

Roberto should have played his strongest team against WHU and not a team littered with aged players whose careers are almost over. So much for giving youth a chance as they are potential the future not the likes of under achieving bad buy Viera.

Spurs get hammered by Burnley and we could not even create a clear chance against Harry's men. In a nutshell failure! Top 4 was there for the taking and oh goodness those defeats against Man U. The honeymoon is over.

City Slipper, Manchester (10/05/2010 at 11:41)

Sylvinho is not good enough.

This is one position where we definitely need to spend money. A left back please Mr Mansour.

Phil Neal's Laxative, Somewhere in Baden (10/05/2010 at 13:05)

With the best will in the world, Bridge has been a major flop at City. I really can't see him rebuilding his international career with this type of form, so it's pretty academic whether he boycotts the national team or not: he won't even be on Capello's radar.

Here's hoping Bobby signs a first-rate LB in the transfer window, or strengthens sufficiently in other areas to allow either Barry or Lescott to take over the LB berth. I really don't want to see Bridge being undone by average wingers again next time round. Not exactly rocket science!

Red Rob (10/05/2010 at 13:11)

Come on Team Bridge we are right behind you!

tueartsoverheadkick, manchester (10/05/2010 at 13:11)

2 fullbacks please, both sides bobbings!

moss side refugee in pembroke, pembroke dock (10/05/2010 at 13:46)

I am the one and only,Tameside--------You are the one and only what? Prat?

John Quambo, salford (10/05/2010 at 13:51)

Bridge is a mile off being good enough for england! He should be sold in the summer along with every other defender we have apart from Kompany and Lescott.

Newquayblue, Cornwall (10/05/2010 at 13:52)

I don't like to whinge (too many foamers already) - but seeing WB turn away from the cross Spurs scored from is REALLY upsetting - if you're not prepared to take one for the team in that situation (& only minutes left) - I am afraid something is VERY wrong - its not the same as getting skinned or making errors - its much much deeper. No doubt RM noted that - CTID

moss side refugee in pembroke, pembroke dock (10/05/2010 at 14:11)

It was interesting to see that a few hundred rags staged a Glazers out protest before the Stoke game.A FEW HUNDRED,what about the other 70 odd thousand,where were they?Probablly in the superstore buying overpriced merchandise and boosting the cash cow that your club has become to the Glazers (praise be their name).The fact is that these 'fans'don't give a toss about Newton Heath or who owns your club and as long as they are prepared to spend on inflated ticket prices and fill your ground there is no way the Glazers will ever be forced to sell.

BI POLAR BLUE getting better (10/05/2010 at 15:19)

'BRIDGE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR CITY LET ALONE ENGLAND'
Please somebody tell me if im talking rubbish, from what iv seen this year Wayne Bridge can only hope to be City's no2 left back next year never mind going to the World Cup. We must really look at the left back situation, Sylvinho and Garrido must go and we need at least 1 World quality left back. We fans dont care if we spend 400m its results next year we all crave. UP THE BLUE BOYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

moss side refugee in pembroke, pembroke dock (10/05/2010 at 16:02)

Just seen on Sky sports news City are third favourites at 9/2 for the title next season,they also interviewed six rag fans,2 irish,1 scotsman,1 cockney 2 of indeterminate birth,says it all!

Andrew Shaw (10/05/2010 at 16:26)

We should keep Bridge. We are trying to build a squad. You do that by getting a good basis, which we have got, and adding to it which we now need to do. Let go the players who are constantly injured like Petrov and some players who aren't going to cut the mustard like Richards and replace him with an absolute quality right back who can defend, not just attack (i.e. not Lahm) and get in an absolutely quality left back. Bridge then drops down a notch. Don't sell Garrido. He may be dreadful at defending but he is technically excellent and will do a job in midfield on the left in the Carling Cup. Assuming we sign the German defender and we get Hart back, we can afford to let some of the fringe, out on loan, out of contract players to leave. And replace them with top notch players who are going to challenge the existing first team and bench. Particularly a play maker, a left winger and a centre forward. Then a couple of squad players should give us a much improved line up next season. Arsenal will be much better next season. Spurs and Liverpool won't. Which means we have to become about 15 goals better at the front, 10-15 better at the back and 16-20 points better overall. If you traject from where we were four years ago to where we are now, that is some quantum leap but we are most certainly going in the right direction.

Andrew Shaw (10/05/2010 at 16:28)

As for Bridge as an England left back - I wouldn't take him. He's not been good enough this season but if he had a chance of going and he's turned it down then more fool him. He won't get another. He'll have to explain to his son why he didn't go when he's older. It's all a bit pathetic really.Too much testosterone and not enough brain cells.

Premchamps 2011 ( never giving up the faith ) !, Whitefield (10/05/2010 at 17:02)

I never could understand what all the excitement was about when Hughes purchased Bridge, as if the best bargain this side of the January Sales !

He was never a great addition to the squad, how could he be when he was only the Chelsea '2nd' choice left back.

Yet another White Elephant purchase by the 'great manager' Mark Hughes, along with Santa Cruz and Toure.

Bristol Blue, Bristol (10/05/2010 at 17:56)

Good to see that Bridge is thinking of England - he is not good enough. Indeed we need a new left back nevermind England.

Factilicious, looking at what`s in front of me (10/05/2010 at 20:19)

Mancini along with everyone else should mind their own business. He`s not interested end of, and I don`t blame him one bit. England are dross anyway

boy blue, burnage (10/05/2010 at 21:21)

I am a fan of bridge's But for what i have seen this year He has been far from good. He really needs to pick up his game for next season, But having said that the same can be said for many of the squad this term.
As for Bridge going to the world cup!!! I think his decision is the correct one, There could still be some unrest between Him and Terry that may spread through the squad and cause a divide within, Add that to the fact that he is playing below par. WELL DONE BRIDGE. imo.

Stuart Booth (11/05/2010 at 03:10)

There is a reason Bridge sat on Chelsea's bench. It is the same one that will have him sitting on our bench next year: he just is not good enough for a starter on a top team.

peter cooper (11/05/2010 at 06:02)

bridge is utter garbage and has been one of the worst signing hughes made along with toure, RSC, silvinho we must have a decent right back and central defender to join kompany with lescott going to left back

Stevie Gerrard's backpass, Manchester (11/05/2010 at 10:07)

'BRIDGE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR CITY LET ALONE ENGLAND' Please somebody tell me if im talking rubbish
BI POLAR BLUE getting better
10/05/2010 at 15:19

You are not talking rubbish. I would rarely criticise any of our players, but Bridge is one that I have criticised after nearly every game he played. He has been a liability all season. He is slow, in a 2 horse race he would come 3rd. His positional sense is shocking and has a glass knee. Get rid ASAP, the worst MH signing by a country mile.

Pivo, Manchester (12/05/2010 at 00:59)

At the end of the day does anyone really care whether he does a u-turn or not? This is a guy who has barely stopped an opponent crossing the ball into our penalty area all season. You only have to cast your mind back to last Wednesday night and Spurs' goal for the perfect illustration of why we should get rid.

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