Sven-Goran Eriksson: The Players' Best Friend, or Worst Enemy?

As a dedicated and sometimes vociferous fan of Manchester City, I am often in heated debates with fans of other clubs and, less frequently, with other City fans.

There was a distinctly unpleasant mood in the air this summer however that led to a rare moment of serious concern for my own safety. The other party was a group of Manchester City fans!

Ignoring for now what we know of the massive changes that have occurred at Eastlands in the last few months or so, let me take you back to the close season.

There was a dedicated group of Blues fans marching on the club in protest at the imminent departure of Eriksson, they weren't happy and uniquely, in my memory, the club's fans protested BEFORE a decision had been taken.

I took a different stance to them and spoke about these things freely, wrote a few blog items etc. making the point that I didn't think he was worth fighting over, that as a manager his methods were flawed and his abilities overrated.

In simple terms I though he was too lax and the freedoms he offered players were too great.

My argument was that when we visited Middlesbrough and were humiliated 8-1, he had no way of changing things, no new ideas and could not motivate players to change or improve. I also focused on England's loss to Brazil where he seemed unable to make any change for the better and, in my eyes, accepted the loss as a fait accompli.

It was in a Pizza Hut of all places that a conversation I was having was overheard by another group of Man City fans, and I was told to either shut up or they would "see me outside". And they were serious.

I carried on my conversation and as I knew that some other friends (two prop forwards and a massively structured centre half) were about to join us I didn't really fear for myself, but the intent in the other fans was clearly there.

The other table, to our amusement, emptied very quickly once ours was filled (literally) but it has left a shadow over football conversations since.

I bring this up now because I feel more than a little vindicated in my opinions then and now.

The negative atmosphere under Eriksson at MCFC has been the subject of a fair few articles, with reporters grasping on the changes once Mark Hughes took charge. No more open door policies, no more eat what you want and turn up if you feel like it attitude. Football under Hughes is serious work, under Sven it was "lets all be friends".

England players are now saying that under the Swede they weren't performing, as they were in a circus where football wasn't the highest priority!

What a damning statement from a player about a manager.

The changes in management for Man City and England have brought in more controlling and ultimately professional regimes and both teams have improved beyond measure (in England's case SGE's successor simply continued the trend laid out for him).

When Eriksson was first installed as England manager the players raved about the man management skills of their new boss, and they claimed that they had never had it so good—similar at MCFC.

Now in the cold light of day and with time to consider what could have been, both sets of players see things differently.

So perhaps Sven-Goran Eriksson is more trouble than he's worth?

Certainly for me in Pizza Hut.