Abu Dhabi - From Mark to Mancini

Much has been made about the billions in bailout money that Abu Dhabi has provided to Dubai. So, when we're talking a few piddly hundred million, it shouldn't be too much of a big deal. But there you would be wrong, because the Abu Dhabian's want a return for their money. They have proved it in the past with shrewd investments, timely, and lucrative - and with supposedly the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, they don't mess around.

So what to do with the quandry of Manchester City. The return would be claiming a place in next season's champions league. The intangible value of having Etihad beamed to millions as well as the other obvious benefits would be fantastic. However, with an investment in players of 200m+ sterling, Sheikh Mansour wants returns today and not tomorrow - and so the man that they had faith in when they took over, didnt deliver in time. While progress was being made, those draws were not success enough. If they had turned from draws to wins, there wouldn't be the headlines of the sacking of Mark Hughes and the appointment of Roberto Mancini.

And so to Mancini - although very successful in the Italian gamed both as a player and as a manager, he has limited experience of the Premiership. Could the appointment of Mancini be an inspired one for the future of Manchester City and the investments of Abu Dhabi, or is he really 3rd choice to Mourinho and Hiddink - who both didn't want to drink from the poisoned chalice. The Abu Dhabi royalty have a penchant for Serie A football, so they will know the risk they are taking.

As far as Abu Dhabi goes, the investment in Manchester City was a gamble, and now that the chips are down, here comes another gamble. No doubt more money will be available but for now the hot seat belongs to Mr Mancini. Good Luck to you My Friend. Let's hope the stress is worth the 9 million pounds.