Straight-talking Pearce won't change

Stuart Pearce insists honesty is the best policy as Manchester City boss.

Pearce earned widespread praise for his condemnation of Bernardo Corradi’s dive during the latter stages of last weekend’s Manchester derby defeat at Old Trafford.

Although Corradi, now back at home in Italy as he starts a two-game ban, has attempted to defend himself, TV replays appeared to provide conclusive proof referee Graham Poll was right to show the striker a second yellow card.

Pearce certainly thought so, which was why he offered such a forthright opinion immediately after the game.

“I will always back my players but people would have thought I was an idiot if I had said Bernardo hadn’t gone down too cheaply,” reflected the former England skipper.

“Sometimes, I go to supporters’ meetings and people ask me whether I think I am being too honest. I would like to think not.

“I don’t feel I am criticising my own players, just giving an honest answer to questions.

“It is down to the other managers if they want to be more honest. Some sidestep questions, the majority answer them fairly openly and honestly. That is for them.

“I have to make sure I have a group of supporters and a chairman that are proud of the manager of their football club and the words that come out of his mouth.”

Corradi’s dismissal means he misses Sunday’s Premiership clash with Tottenham through suspension, as does Ben Thatcher, who collected his fifth yellow card at Old Trafford.

With injury concerns surrounding Micah Richards, Claudio Reyna and goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson, Pearce may be forced to field a much-changed line-up as City look to defend their unbeaten home record.

As he heads into January’s transfer window with a limited budget to reinforce his squad, Pearce can only envy the funds available to Tottenham counterpart Martin Jol.

“Outside the top four, Tottenham are as big as anyone,” he observed.

“The fact they can go out and spend £10m (€14.9m) on Dimitar Berbatov and £5m (€7.4m) on Pascal Chimbonda gives you an indication of the size of the club they are.

“Their supporters would have had aspirations about breaking into the top four at the start of the season. That is exactly the kind of club we need to be chasing.”

After a rare failure by his defence last weekend, Pearce is looking for significant improvement from Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin as City look to keep Berbatov quiet.

The Bulgaria international has already reached double figures following his summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, although the goal tally is no surprise to Pearce.

“When you are paying for someone of his age, stature and goalscoring ability, it takes a lot of the gamble away,” he said

“There are not too many players you pay £10million for without being able to put your hand on your heart and say they will be successful.

“It is at the other end of the market that you are on a wing and a prayer.”

With the ongoing takeover talks unlikely to reach fruition before the end of next month, Pearce is not expecting a sudden cash injection as he finalises his own recruitment plans.

However, he is grateful for the cash he will receive.

“I know where we need to strengthen but getting players with regard to the budget might be difficult,” he said.

“The one thing I can guarantee is the chairman is doing everything he can to make my life easier in the transfer market.

“No matter what finance he tells me is available, I know he will have stretched themselves as best they can.”