Birmingham City defender Matija Nastasic tipped to surpass Nemanja Vidic... - The Independent

Kevin Keegan believes Manchester City have unearthed an opponent effective at being better than Nemanja Vidic in fellow Serb Matija Nastasic. The 20-year-old has been one of many stand-out performers for City this year and seems certain to partner skipper Vincent Kompany in key support for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea. Keegan has undoubtedly been impressed with the A12million signing from Fiorentina. "I love him," said Keegan. "He has are available in and played as though he's been there for ever. "That Mancini put him set for his debut against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu tells anything to you you need to know about him. "In five or six years time you might see him developing right into a Vidic. He can become a whole lot larger than Vidic, who has probably been the most effective centre half in this country the past five or six years. "The major test can come next time when people have had a good look at him. They will take to and find out where his weaknesses are and what he's bad at. "I haven't seen too many at the moment." Nastastic may be the one good from Roberto Mancini's summertime signings, with Maicon, Javi Garcia, Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair all failing continually to have the effect predicted. That bad hiring policy is one of the reasoned explanations why Mancini's tenure as City boss is reported to be in question, even though he was accountable for ending a 35-year trophy drought when he won the FA Cup in 2011 and followed that up with last season's important Premier League title success. "In any other sport it'd be absurd to question anyone who has gone right into a soccer team, won the first prize in 30-odd decades, then won the league in the most exciting year ever," said Keegan, speaking at the Soccerex Conference in Manchester. "Europe was a disappointment. But Europe was frustrating for Manchester United and Chelsea. You get that. "You will make stories around them all you want. Is it right? No. Manages to do it occur? Yes. "The media can say that it has not worked because he ordered five players and the title wasn't won by them. they've taken a step backwards that looks. "But some of those players could be better next year. "I don't think there should actually be described as a question of such a thing happening to Mancini." PA