I'm not impressed in the slightest. They are still yet to buy a top class proven consistent player. Each player they have bought has a setback which is why they got them in the first place. They are going to isloate and upset the players that did well for them last season like Ireland and Robinho and they still need to start playing away from home. If City win the Title next season I'll eat my hat. I'd be shocked if they even came 5th.
Relax other than Barry (who I would have preffered to Mascherano) all they have done is buy players who teams were willing to let go for ridiculous prices. The problem for City is that these players all seem to have attitude problems or other issues. I mean just look at their attack... Bellamy - kick off merchant Adebayor - whinger Tevez - will expect first team football which is why he moved Santa Cruz - will expect to be first choice and will need to be when retuning from such a lay off So they have to keep them happy and they just won't. Then you have Robinho, Barry, De Jong and Ireland who will all expect to play as well. But how can they at the same time as the four above? Not to mention SWP has already moved once to find first team football and won't be happy about finding more bench time, Petrov is hormonal at times, Johnson could find his way back in if he gets back to fitness and Elano is still there (Milan should really sign him to replace Kaka). Given is obviously the one world class proven player with no strings they bought and he has no one to fight for his place with so that was a smart move. The defence? Bridge - good solid LB sensible. Kompany - excellent potential and already a very good player Toure - didn't have his best season and needs to find his form to justify the fee, but he could. Richards - not a RB and was adapting into one of the best players in the league at CB till Sven left. Dunne will fight for his place if they keep him, good honest pro and if he isn't good enough he will just keep going until he is or he feels he has to leave. If they keep everyone happy by some miracle then they could possibly break the top 4 but I just can't see it. They certainly won't win the league unless the standard drops significantly. Too many arrogant cooks will spoil the city broth.
And lazy! It's true though, many of the players seem to have a large set-back that almost over-shadows their real skills.
If you asked me who amoung them would I take at Liverpool to be in our first team. Given/Reina - Either would be fine. Kuyt/Ireland - Ireland is potential an incredible player and he was the young player of the season last year for me, not Young. Barry/Mascherano - Barry is a much better footballer but I am happy with Mascherano as a player for now because he and Alonso compliment each other so well. If we lose Xabi, we are in serious trouble unless Rafa pulls off a masterstroke. I can't see a player in the world who will baby sit Mascherano and show the class of Alonso. Robinho - I'd take him for our left side but only because we have very little there. To be honest although Benayoun and Riera are not as talented, they do at least between them bother to turn up away from home, so once again even the quality has its draw backs. If Robinho sorted his head out to be able to play away as well as at home, he'd be frightening.
I really like Riera on the left though. I would take Barry, Ireland, Richards, and Given. So basically the same. If you lose Xabi, you'll have to find a replacement quick--And Alonso is basically irreplaceable in my eyes. If there's one player in the world that I want at Arsenal, it would be Alonso.
In Riera we have a player who can beat a man and make something happen and score the odd goal, it was his first season so that has to be taken into account but he was hit and miss. When he is hit you think, dear god he is as good as anyone but when he is miss.... well... Alonso is the missing piece at Arsenal as far as the midfield goes. You need another Sol Campbell to play next to Vermaelan, someone who is dominant in the air especially and well built to handle physical confrontation. Hangeland would be perfect because what you basically need is a "Hyypia". If you find a Campbell (i.e all above the above with pace) then you've done it again!
It is a lot to ask though, haha. So, a tall striker, air-dominant centreback, and a defensive midfielder with the best vision in the game?
Pretty much. Playing Wenger for a minute... Fernando Amorebieta is a fantastic centore back and he impresses me every time I see him. Very strong, very dominant in the air and on the floor and if he played for a bigger club (no offence Athletic fans of which I am one) he would be getting more attention. With Albiol, Pique and Puyol all in the Spanish national team he has little to no chance.... for now. The tall striker? Well I'd stay in Bilbao if I could and go for Llorente. No one would be a better replacement for Torres than Llorente but I doubt he would come and sit on our bench knowing full well he'd just be watching Fernando game in game out and I respect him for that. The perfect fit (and I have to believe that Wenger is tempted) is Hoarau. 25 years old, tall, elegant yet dominant. He has the feel if you like of an Arsenal player and yet is a different option to anything you posses. Think Bendtner is he had more about him. The only reason I couldn't see Wenger interested if the words not for sale at any price were uttered to him. Hoarau is a name we will come to know much better in the future I'd say. As for the holding midfielder similar to Alonso, if you find him you tell me. Felipo Melo was somewhat like him but other than that I'm stumped. I did see a good player for Parma who I'm surprised hasn't done more by the name of Dessena. He seemed to have a bit of Xabi about him. Seems I'm not the only one that rates him either.... Another name I'd be remiss to forget is Javi Martinez. He seems to be the succesor to Xabi and he is a quality player, but I didn't like what I saw when he and Camacho came up against Muamba and Cattermole. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw1VEl9gzWE
i think you really overrate the problems man city will have. seems easy enough for them to play a 4-3-3. three of robinho, adebayor, tevez, and santa cruz start up top and three of barry, de jong, elano, and ireland start in the midfield. whoever gets left out of being first choice(for me it'd be santa cruz and probably ireland, maybe elano) would still get starts to rest the other guys and get regular action as a sub. sure guys like bellamy and swp might not be too happy with limited roles, but neither guy is good enough to really have a starting role for an epl team trying to finish in the top 4, so i don't see why that would be a huge deal.
