Nedum on his way

After seeing Nedum's interview on Soccer AM yesterday, it seems clear to me he is on his way out of the club. Normally so measured, positive and even intellectual for a footballer, his anti-regime comments were not those of a player looking to step up his challenge for a place next season.

The very fact he has let his guard down suggests he thinks there is nothing left to protect in his City career - which is a great shame. You can understand Nedum's frustrations. Here is a rare thing in a player nowadays - a lifelong fan of the club he plays for, and you feel he has had more resilience in fighting for his position than other players might have done when found in the same situation. With almost all the in-coming managers of recent seasons, Nedum has found himself at first unfavoured only to win back his place on the merit of his solid performances.

You would have thought, had he not been plagued by injuries throughout his young career, he would have gone on to establish himself as, not only a City regular, but possibly, and by virtue of regular football, an international contender for this summer. But it wasn't to be, and now, with the constant influx of replacements, he evidently thinks it is the end of his City career.

I do think his comments were born more out of frustration than by clear thought though. To suggest he was on the brink of a first team return under Hughes is a little fanciful. He did have injury problems under Hughes, as he has had under Mancini, yet he still has featured more often under Mancini. To suggest Hughes may have been on the verge of putting him in is also sadly unlikely, because in the last weeks of Hughes' time at the club, he had already spoken of trying to sign more defenders in January - in an attempt to shore up the area that ultimately cost him his job. Had Hughes been trusted with more money for defenders over January, Nedum may well have been in an even worse situation.

Part of his frustration may have also been from the perceived decline of his generation this season (something that hasn't just happened under Mancini, but Hughes also - it is easy to blame it on the person in charge when it comes to a head). Ireland ('the best player I have ever played with') has had a tough season, but I don't think anyone could argue his performances have merited his inclusion - he is undoubtedly an outstanding talent and one I would like to remain at the club, but it has been a difficult season for him to say the least - again, slightly surprisingly, Ireland blamed Hughes for his form when Mancini arrived.

Micah has also been drifting in and out, but he has had his share of injuries since Mancini's arrival, and probably looks a bit more assured when he has played. Although he is not quite his generation of academy graduates but very much a part of them, Shaun Wright-Phillips is the only player to actually decline under Mancini - still a pacy threat from the bench, he has gone from a Hughes-favourite to a squad player very quickly. The fortunes of all his contemporaries will undoubtedly have affected Nedum - as it stands, there doesn't appear to be much hope for them - but to be so outwardly anti-Mancini is probably missing the point a little. Although, to be fair to Nedum, we don't know what goes on behind the scenes.

Finally there were his words about Lescott, saying Mancini cost him his World Cup place by declaring him unfit for the final two games even though he had just returned to training. Realistically, having not played for months, Lescott had an incredibly slim chance of making Capello's 30 even if he had managed two games towards the end - other players had made their claim by then (Dawson and King in particular). So, for Mancini not to involve a partially-fit Lescott in our biggest game of the season is hardly surprising.

I can understand Nedum's frustration - he has put so much into the club - work and emotionally - but I thought it was a shame he had to publicly defame the management. I have great respect for him and I do think he will become a top-class player if he gets regular football, but I'm afraid he may be looking to get that regular football away from City next year. I would love him to stay, but with the prospect of further centre-backs arriving, this could be one fight too many for him. Either way, if Mancini doesn't like him, as Nedum suggests, I think it is safe to say it is reciprocal.

You can watch a clip of the video over at Bitter and Blue.