Mass exodus?
Last updated: 4th May 2008
He has given them dignity, his press conferences were fantastic, he didn't moan at referees, when they played badly he accepted it, and I just feel he has been a real force for Manchester City.
Henry Winter
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Henry Winter told The Supplement that if Sven was to be axed it would be ridiculous and could lead to a mass player exodus.
City chairman Thaksin Shinawatra looks set to offload the Swede despite a fine first season at the helm of the team.
Having rung the changes and brought in a handful of new players, the former England coach has rebuilt the team, style of play and success of the team.
The Daily Telegraph's Chief Football writer, Henry Winter cannot quite believe what is happening at Eastlands.
Winter told The Supplement: "You look at City's progress under Sven Goran Eriksson - last season he did the trolley dash around Europe, he brought all these players in - some we hadn't even heard of - he dropped a few ricks and then he just got them going.
"He's been absolutely outstanding - you look at City now and they look like a team who are playing for their manager, who are playing a system they understand, it's almost 4-2-3-1.
"There's creativity, with Martin Petrov who has been outstanding.
"Obviously the clubs terrific Academy have banqueted great players for Sven to use and City, I feel sorry for City fans because often they were the laughing stock and Sven stopped that.
"He gave them dignity, his press conferences were fantastic, he didn't moan at referees, when they played badly he accepted it, and I just feel he has been a real force for Manchester City.
"And then you've got this guy, it's irrelevant if he's from Thailand or Timbuktoo or Telford, the fact is that he has come in and disrupted this good work and feel good factor that Sven has brought in.
"Clearly there is a lot of unrest in the dressing room."
Despite being his dignified self, Winter knows that Eriksson is angry that he may be given the boot after what he believes has been a great season for City.
"He is absolutely livid because what this season has done has certainly in English eyes rehabilitated Sven Goran Eriksson after what happened at the World Cup with England.
"Yet this season Sven has been force for good. I just feel if I was someone like Richard Dunne I wouldn't want to commit myself to this chairman if he's actually not going to be committed to this manager.
"If I was Richard Dunne I might think about my future."
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