Can Manchester City really challenge the top four, or even, win the title? Okay, well, we tried to entertain this question at the beginning of last season and turned out to be quite a downer for all the hype. This summer, Manchester City have gone on a spending spree (again!) and many people are refusing to be drawn to entertaining that question again- but times do change, and its about time they are given a serious consideration (if not deliberation) about their capacities to reach the higher echeleons of the Premier League this season. Of course, we could only analyze all this by viewing the squad that they have right now.
Goalkeeping
Let's not kid ourselves. Goalkeeping is an important function and area for any team, this is where the essential leadership of the team comes in, the final backbone that the entire team knows they could rely on. City headed into last season with Joe Hart, an untried, untested England hopeful as their first choice but things have definitely changed now. Not that he did any badly, but City needed experience and an established figure to stick between the posts and in came Shay Given. He's 32, and for plenty of years, he has been THE goalkeeper in the Premier League who time and again had bailed Newcastle United out of misery. Many rate him as one the Premier League's best, and if the 'big four' never gave him chance to have a crack at the spotlight many people thinks he deserves, then City might well be the place for him.He has made a sterling start to the season and you'd naturally expect him to continue on that. And for all those who'd think it might dent Hart's promising development, he was immediately loaned out to newly promoted Birmingham City, so that he would get the regular playing time that he desires. And to back Given up, the team brought in Stuart Taylor, another experienced face, a second choice keeper at Aston Villa previously. So no harm done eh? Smart move. Full marks for the goalkeeping department. (Come on, they can't get Buffon or Casillas YET can't they? Given is good to start with).
Defence
Hmm...Well. If I had written this few weeks ago, I'd say on the basis on the defence that there's no chance City could be champions or frontrunners in any possible way this season. But hey, again, times change. Look at the depth in defence now, and its delightfully good. Instead of going for highly rated defenders from overseas, Mark Hughes has concentrated in bringing in experience Premier League campaigners with proven standards to shuffle up his defence. The final 'Invincible' from the Arsenal team that won the league title in 2004, Kolo Toure has arrived to shore up at centre back- and he will be partnered by another new arrival, England centre back Joleon Lescott- who has arrived after a much-maligned transfer saga from Everton. Current captain Richard Dunne might depart the club though after his error-prone performances last season, and knowing that he will no more be a first choice defender for the club. Nedum Onouha is a reliable centre-back who could come in to cover for Lescott or Toure during troubled times. England prodigy Micah Richards meanwhile will take up the mantle at right back, but he is also able to shift to the centre should his services be required there. Defensive midfielder Vincent Kompany is also able to play in that position. And the competition for Micah's right back slot is another skilled, honed player- Argentinian right back Pablo Zabaleta.At left back meanwhile- if Wayne Bridge, who arrived from Chelsea during the winter, feels that he owns the role for sure, the arrival on free transfer of established Brazillian left back Sylvinho (who won two Champions League titles with Barcelona) would definitely keep Bridge on his toes. See, there's competition everywhere. And well yeah, lets not forget- there are Tal Ben Haim and Javier Garrido as well, not that they are going to see much first team action though.
Midfield
Ah, here we come. They say football is won with midfield battles. City basically play a 4-2-2-2 formation, with two central/holding midfielders and two wingers on either side covering up the midfield. Here, they have wealth. Gareth Barry, the established England midfielder purchased from Aston Villa, will be a regular feature in that central role, with his first choice partner being Stephen Ireland, City's best player last season. And then, the wealth of back up. Michael Johnson, a true England hopeful; and Nigel De Jong and Vincent Kompany, both considerably talented defensive midfielders are both available for services. Then, off to the wings. Shaun Wright Phillips will be a fix in the right wing, and Brazillian samba wizard Robinho will be a fixture on the left wing, drifting in as the game goes on. So what if they need a winger to cover up? Ireland could move into one of these roles, given that City have many other options in the centre, and of course, seasoned Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov, who is back after an injury ravaged season and is raring to get going.
Attack
City are simply spoilt for choices here. Emmanuel Adebayor has arrived from Arsenal, and the towering Togo-ese will definitely be the central target man for City this season. Partnering him in attack would be Carlos Tevez, who has established himself firmly after two successful seasons with City's fierce derby rivals, reigning champions United. And Roque Santa Cruz, the Paraguayan who has arrived from Blackburn, will play as a back up to Adebayor's role. Craig Bellamy will play as Carlitos' cover up, while Benjani will, almost certainly- rot in the reserves, unless he leaves sooner rather than later.
So do City have the neccessary quality? A big YES.
What will it depend on? Of course the manager, the onus is on him now to make this team of stars deliver, and also to a lesser extent, whom he chooses to be his captain, now that Dunne certainly would not feature. Shay Given looks like a very likely choice, but Kolo Toure, who had captained Arsenal before, is an experienced lad as well and could be given the mantle.
Goalkeeping
Let's not kid ourselves. Goalkeeping is an important function and area for any team, this is where the essential leadership of the team comes in, the final backbone that the entire team knows they could rely on. City headed into last season with Joe Hart, an untried, untested England hopeful as their first choice but things have definitely changed now. Not that he did any badly, but City needed experience and an established figure to stick between the posts and in came Shay Given. He's 32, and for plenty of years, he has been THE goalkeeper in the Premier League who time and again had bailed Newcastle United out of misery. Many rate him as one the Premier League's best, and if the 'big four' never gave him chance to have a crack at the spotlight many people thinks he deserves, then City might well be the place for him.He has made a sterling start to the season and you'd naturally expect him to continue on that. And for all those who'd think it might dent Hart's promising development, he was immediately loaned out to newly promoted Birmingham City, so that he would get the regular playing time that he desires. And to back Given up, the team brought in Stuart Taylor, another experienced face, a second choice keeper at Aston Villa previously. So no harm done eh? Smart move. Full marks for the goalkeeping department. (Come on, they can't get Buffon or Casillas YET can't they? Given is good to start with).
Defence
Hmm...Well. If I had written this few weeks ago, I'd say on the basis on the defence that there's no chance City could be champions or frontrunners in any possible way this season. But hey, again, times change. Look at the depth in defence now, and its delightfully good. Instead of going for highly rated defenders from overseas, Mark Hughes has concentrated in bringing in experience Premier League campaigners with proven standards to shuffle up his defence. The final 'Invincible' from the Arsenal team that won the league title in 2004, Kolo Toure has arrived to shore up at centre back- and he will be partnered by another new arrival, England centre back Joleon Lescott- who has arrived after a much-maligned transfer saga from Everton. Current captain Richard Dunne might depart the club though after his error-prone performances last season, and knowing that he will no more be a first choice defender for the club. Nedum Onouha is a reliable centre-back who could come in to cover for Lescott or Toure during troubled times. England prodigy Micah Richards meanwhile will take up the mantle at right back, but he is also able to shift to the centre should his services be required there. Defensive midfielder Vincent Kompany is also able to play in that position. And the competition for Micah's right back slot is another skilled, honed player- Argentinian right back Pablo Zabaleta.At left back meanwhile- if Wayne Bridge, who arrived from Chelsea during the winter, feels that he owns the role for sure, the arrival on free transfer of established Brazillian left back Sylvinho (who won two Champions League titles with Barcelona) would definitely keep Bridge on his toes. See, there's competition everywhere. And well yeah, lets not forget- there are Tal Ben Haim and Javier Garrido as well, not that they are going to see much first team action though.
Midfield
Ah, here we come. They say football is won with midfield battles. City basically play a 4-2-2-2 formation, with two central/holding midfielders and two wingers on either side covering up the midfield. Here, they have wealth. Gareth Barry, the established England midfielder purchased from Aston Villa, will be a regular feature in that central role, with his first choice partner being Stephen Ireland, City's best player last season. And then, the wealth of back up. Michael Johnson, a true England hopeful; and Nigel De Jong and Vincent Kompany, both considerably talented defensive midfielders are both available for services. Then, off to the wings. Shaun Wright Phillips will be a fix in the right wing, and Brazillian samba wizard Robinho will be a fixture on the left wing, drifting in as the game goes on. So what if they need a winger to cover up? Ireland could move into one of these roles, given that City have many other options in the centre, and of course, seasoned Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov, who is back after an injury ravaged season and is raring to get going.
Attack
City are simply spoilt for choices here. Emmanuel Adebayor has arrived from Arsenal, and the towering Togo-ese will definitely be the central target man for City this season. Partnering him in attack would be Carlos Tevez, who has established himself firmly after two successful seasons with City's fierce derby rivals, reigning champions United. And Roque Santa Cruz, the Paraguayan who has arrived from Blackburn, will play as a back up to Adebayor's role. Craig Bellamy will play as Carlitos' cover up, while Benjani will, almost certainly- rot in the reserves, unless he leaves sooner rather than later.
So do City have the neccessary quality? A big YES.
What will it depend on? Of course the manager, the onus is on him now to make this team of stars deliver, and also to a lesser extent, whom he chooses to be his captain, now that Dunne certainly would not feature. Shay Given looks like a very likely choice, but Kolo Toure, who had captained Arsenal before, is an experienced lad as well and could be given the mantle.
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