Robinho: We Have Made It A Top Five Robinho has revealed that he feels Manchester City could become unbeatable, if they were to add John Terry to the ranks at Eastlands. The Citizens have gone on a spending spree this summer, capturing Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Gareth Barry with Terry heavily tipped to be the next player to sign. All of which means that City have now become a top class club and turned the so-called ‘top four’ into a ‘top five’, according to Robinho. “There is no longer a top four,” the former Real Madrid man told the Sunday Mirror. "We have made it a top five. “From this season, we have to go in with the mindset we're one of the very best clubs,” he insisted. The forward also admitted that he was pleased Tevez had signed from Manchester United, but he warned City not to neglect strengthening their defence. "I'm delighted we've signed Tevez. He is a world-class player and it would be fantastic for me to play alongside him,” added the Brazilian. “While I've always urged the club to sign players like Tevez and Kaka when there has been a chance, I also know you have to build from the back. “You can have the best attacking six players in the world, but unless the defence compliments it, then you will not win anything.” The speculation that England captain Terry could be the next player to make the move to Eastlands refuses to go away and it is a move that Robinho thinks would complete the team. "I have said before, when you build a house, you start from the bottom,” he explained. "If the players we have signed and the players we may sign all work well together then, on our day, we can become unbeatable - and not just in England, but in Europe as well.” Robinho also insisted that with such an embarrassment of riches now at Eastlands, City must be regarded as a top club. "All the top clubs have players competing for places, and we now have to look at ourselves as a top club,” he concluded. “People will need to start taking us very seriously.”
They bought a defense and a keeper when I wasn't paying attention? I thought they only brought in four strikers this off-season. And yes, I know they're in the running for John Terry. But there's no way that Terry leaves Chelsea. John Terry is Chelsea.
^ When we do the predictions, City will be in the top 5 for me. That's having a great off-season for a team that sucked last year. It's like Bobcats immediately joining the likes of Celtics, Lakers, Spurs, Magic in one off-season.
But basketball is different. All the players (most of them) play in the same league so they have a better chance of fitting in to the team. Each team in the Premier League plays differently, and each league is different. You can't just put a bunch of world class players together and expect glory. That's why national teams have so much trouble using all of their talent. Look at England. We have a fantastic squad that could seriously challenge for the world cup but we've been stopped over-and-over again. Spain were the same until they won the Euros. Netherlands have amazing players and they can't get close to any silverware.
I would argue against England having a "fantastic squad." Money isn't the only reason why English players don't leave England.
Your clubs are performing at the highest level of any country in the world, but your clubs aren't led by Englishmen. Arsenal is led by a Frenchman and has three Englishmen on the first team (two of whom have 8 and 1 career appearances), one of whom could be loosely considered a regular. Chelsea is managed by an Italian and has three English first team regulars. Liverpool has a Spanish manager and three first team regulars (I'm counting Johnson) from England. Manchester City have a Welsh manager and five first team regulars. Manchester United have a Scottish manager and six first team regulars. Basically, the money pouring into the Premiership is killing English football in my opinion. A majority of the starting positions at the top clubs in the country are going to foreigners and the jobs left are on teams that aren't playing the technically sound football players need to win big on the world or continental stage. Overall, this significantly weakens your squad. Furthermore, your national team regulars, with the except of Beckham, are all in England. This could work as it did for Italy in 06 if the Premiership focused on superior tactical or technical play, but its more about speed and strength. If England can curb the investment in foreign players and focus more on making sure English natives are playing at the highest club level, this can be fixed. Until then, you'll need a perfect storm scenario to be seriously competitive internationally. And for the record, yes I know I am opening myself (and this thread) up to a shit-storm hijacking. And yes, I am a fan of the US National Team (and we're in that perfect storm category as well).
I wouldn't use the fact that you're American to counter your argument. That would be a complete cop-out. I'm at work but I'll give a lengthly response later in the day or when I get home.
