For this season at least, has the Manchester City manager given up on the stand-in defender?
Last night Roberto Mancini preferred to play Micah Richards at centre back than Stefan Savic.
Richards has of course played there many times, but is really a full-back nowadays, and the decision said a lot.
Right now Mancini clearly feels like he cannot trust the £6 million Stefan Savic in such an important game.
Even with Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott out injured, the Italian felt he could not risk partnering Savic alongside Kolo Toure.
Was it the right decision? Well City won, so it’s hard to argue there.
But for Savic, he should not expect to be thrown back in next game, away at Stoke City, of all places.
He has, to his credit, helped City to two clean sheets in the four league games he has started in 2012, at home to Fulham and Wigan, but played a part in the club’s Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool.
His other two league starts came in the narrow 3-2 win over Tottenham, and the recent 1-0 loss away to Swansea, when Swans substitute Luke Moore headed home a simple header from close range.
The goal was one which Kompany would likely have dealt with had he been on the pitch, and added to Jermain Defoe’s Spurs goal as one which Savic should have done better on.
Kompany should be back to face Stoke, but if not, Mancini will carry on with Micah Richards in the position, if last night is anything to go by.
Richards is a player whose defensive qualities have at times been questioned by Mancini, so his lack of faith in Savic at present is quite revealing.
There are, however, some indications which point to Savic potentially becoming a success, starting with the two clean sheets he has contributed to.
The Montenegro centre-back can take encouragement from Chelsea’s Serbian Branislav Ivanovic, who took a while to settle, before forcing his way into becoming a regular, and league title winner under Carlo Ancelotti.
Next season he will be more settled, as he adjusts to the pace of English football, and may even have a Premier League winners medal under his belt.
But right now, it is looking like Roberto Mancini has given up on him- there is no room for error in this year’s title race, and he may not get another start this season.
Do you agree, or do you think Savic will still play a role this season?
image: © joncandy
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