Well ... I don't remember anyone complaining about Sven's ability to get through the qualifiers, and there's no doubt that England were unlucky in the last three major tournaments with injuries to key players. But I mean: did you actually watch any of England's 'performances' in the last World Cup? No pace, no width, no passing, no movement, noone up front, while Eriksson 'calmly and studiously' sat on the sidelines apparently believing his team were potential worldbeaters. If he's really as good as you're making out (and given that you concede City might not make the UEFA Cup, it's seems you're not too sure either) why on earth did he stay unemployed for so long?

Jonathan Vause, Quanzhou, China

It is incorrect to state "Yes, he had money to spend (£40 million on eight players), but so did Martin Jol." Jol was not given the choice; the so-called Director of Football decided who he would buy irrespective of Jol's requests or preferences!!

Mike Rossiter, Phuket, Thailand

Watching Man City this season is like watching Brazil. In addition to some of the players Sven has brought in (Elano/Petrov) we have some excellent youngsters coming through - such as Richards and Johnson; both incidentally given their chance by Pearce (or the Touchline Jester as he was 'affectionately known at CoMS). There are others on their way. But it's the style of football that is so impressive. Supporters of other teams have told me how much they enjoy watching us play. Matthew is probably underestimating Sven when he doesn't htink he'll get us in to Europe - perhaps not this season, but players now want to come to our club. We have Sven for 3 years - I'm sure he'll give us very strong foundations for the future. And as the article says - he's a quiet man - who is polite and gives honest assessments of our play and that of our opponents.

Ian - Man City supporter, Bristol,

He's given Man Ciy great hope again and has bought some great players whilst keeping young talent such as Richards and Ireland but the 6-0 defeat shows that he's not a great motivator.

Trahearne , Southampton, Britain

and elano's amazing

Trahearne , Southampton, Britain

6-0

Come on admit it! Avram Grant is one of Europe's finest managers.

LOL

Andy, St. John's, Canada

Reality at last! SGE did as good a job as England manager as all before him except Sir Alf Ramsey, but then he didn't have to guide England through qualification for World Cup '66.

SGE will achieve for City the unthinkable, especially when compared to the past few seasons of mediocrity, where the only certainty was that relegation was looming if not last season then definately this year. However, when SGE arrived within a few weks all talk and thought of that scenario was banishes and suddently the faithfull were thinking of European qualification..

Two or three more astute signings from Sven in January will almost certainly ensure a top 8 placing at the end of the season - or even better. CTID

ANDY10, Port Erin, Isle of Man

Excellent ,fair and timely article. It really is time the record was set straight on Sven.

It may just be that the so-called 'top 4' need to realise that their status is not a given... watch out for City , Pompey and Balckburn over the next 3 years..and I wouldn't write off Everton either

Dom Griffiths, Manchester, The North

SGE is a gentleman and a football scholar of the old school.Open to unfounded complaint by young bloods with no knowledge of the world.
They are too arrogant to admit thier stupidity.
Study the team club history in 3 different european leagues by SGE and draw a rational conclusion that he would also be a winner in the Premier.
The baying pack at his heels in August were fools, judge him and us after a full season, What has happenned up to now is a bonus but not by luck.

Feed the goat, Manchester, UK

Totally agree. Hope Sven is reading and hope the 'golden generation' (!!!) finally realise how they let him down, not the other way round.

Claire, Herts,

What wonderful timing.

If city get beaten 6-0 every time somebody talks up SGE, then I personally volunteer to write an article glowing in its praise of the man every 7 days.

Jon Leigh, Southern, France

Umm ,do the finest managers teams lose 6-0 to a non flair side like Chelski????

david j., jersey,

This is exactly the conclusion all sensible people have come to years ago. Eriksson is a top quality manager. His results are second to none - in any club (or country) he has represented.

Anyone who actually studies England's record under Eriksson will find that he has achieved more from the material available to him than anyone since sir Alf Ramsey. His results in competitive matches have been outstanding. On a good day England should be a top 10 team, but let's face it - England is not the best team in the world.

The three quarter final defeats (all three against another great manager - Luiz Felipe Scolari) are unfortunate, but certainly no hanging offence. As for his personal love life... well that is his personal business and has nothing to do with performance on the pitch.

I can't believe I finally read this in the Times. Eriksson has not exactly received too much appreciation from these pages before. Will you please tell your colleague Mr Lovejoy to read your article...

Andy, Richmond, UK

Man City's average final position since the 38-game Premiership began in 1995 has been 14th. They have historically scored an average of 1.1 points per game.

So far this season, Man City are in 3rd place. They have scored an average of 2.2 points per game.

SGE has long been an above-average coach. He showed it with England, and now with Man City.

NM, MK, UK

He's an example to all our children. Particularly his loyalty and integrity. People all over the world were flocking to their TV screens to relish the entertainment shown by Eriksson's England!

jo, york,

SGE is living proof that most football journalists really do know absolutely nothing about the game.

Steve Lamb, Manchester,

people didnt think about football only his personal life but now he is showing . what alot of idiots are out there . good luck to him . and should be bye bye McCaren

chas, coventry, uk

Great article, sums up Sven quite nicely. But you will still get journalist who cant hack being wrong, unfortunately.

eastlandsblue, Manchester,

Sven is enjoying life in Manchester in more ways than one. The transformation is nothing short of remarkable. His combination of treating people with dignity, calmness, confidence, positivity and tactical sense have fused a failing group of players (bar a few) with a talented group of young foreigners - and it seems to have worked. Of course Dr Thaksin's money has allowed him to do this, but Manchester Ciy (like any other Premier League side) were never going to compete without investment. Good to see the press finally accepting he knows what he's doing, although reading this article, you'd think the sunday times has been behing him al the way...

Steve, Stockport, Cheshire, UK

Bravo!!!

Kristofer, Malmo, Sweden

Thank goodness for Mr. Rudd's honesty
Let the manager get on with encouraging his team to play football.
How & who he gets into the sack with is none of our bussiness. How good his team is performing is.
English players are good, some overpaid, and some mediocre.
Thank U again for openning the eyes of all those hypocrites. Pls, you hypocrites, admit that U are wrong. You hypocrites - you can criticise but you also must admit when you are wrong.
Be brave and most important be honest.

johnyang, Bangkok, Thailand

English fans need to learn the difference between "being good" and "being famous". I think Eriksson understood that many of his players (and their partners) were famous. He also, much better than the supporters, realized that few were very good.

Anyone ever hear of Tim Borowski? Watch Germany play sometime and see how he plays midfield. You will be impressed and you don't even know to whom he is married.

Germany Tar Heel, Boston, MA, USA

It was not that Eriksson was wrong for England, it was the over paid prima donna English players who were wrong for England. How many goals did Rooney score for England? He probably 'scored' more yellow and red cards.

george, london, uk