Where will it all end for City?
So Carlos Tévez has ended up at Manchester City. His move from Old Trafford to Eastlands should come as no surprise, as the Citizens’ desire to sign Tévez on massive wages was hard for the player to ignore. City’s recruitment drive is dominating the summer’s transfer activity and it shows no sign of slowing down. Can City really upset the football odds and challenge for major honours this season?
Tévez joins Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz as major summer signings at Eastlands, a batch of purchases to go alongside those financed last season by the Abu Dhabi United Group of Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge, Shay Given, Nigel de Jong and Craig Bellamy. Not a bad list of new talent by anyone’s standards.
More optimistic bids for Kaká and Samuel Eto’o have been dismissed by the targets themselves, but the fact John Terry remains a viable signing suggests City are capable of attracting the big names, as they did with Robinho and Tévez. Emmanuel Adebayor has attracted interest from the top leagues but looks like ending up in Manchester (pending a medical and work permit submission).
Chelsea were the last team to ‘buy the league’, but their success under José Mourinho was built upon a strong base. The Blues were a regular presence in the top six in the years before Roman Abramovich arrived.
Similarly, Blackburn Rovers, often remembered as one-hit wonders thanks to Jack Walker’s millions in 1994/95, were already title challengers, finishing fourth and second in the seasons before they edged out United for the title.
City flirted with relegation more than European qualification last term and although they had some decent talent in place before the money rolled in, they have much more work to do to become title challengers than Blackburn or Chelsea did. The top clubs are becoming increasingly strong and hard to overhaul.
All this suggests this season will be a transition campaign for the Citizens and there is a real chance of mid-season instability – if the new signings do not gel immediately and another slow start is suffered, the owners’ patience with Mark Hughes might run out.
However, City are virtually guaranteed to be a top half club fighting for a top six finish. This has an impact on Spurs, as our aim should be to get back in the European football places. Everton and Aston Villa are sure to be competitive again but it is City who are most likely to block our path to fifth place and possibly higher.
Tévez joins Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz as major summer signings at Eastlands, a batch of purchases to go alongside those financed last season by the Abu Dhabi United Group of Robinho, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Wayne Bridge, Shay Given, Nigel de Jong and Craig Bellamy. Not a bad list of new talent by anyone’s standards.
More optimistic bids for Kaká and Samuel Eto’o have been dismissed by the targets themselves, but the fact John Terry remains a viable signing suggests City are capable of attracting the big names, as they did with Robinho and Tévez. Emmanuel Adebayor has attracted interest from the top leagues but looks like ending up in Manchester (pending a medical and work permit submission).
Chelsea were the last team to ‘buy the league’, but their success under José Mourinho was built upon a strong base. The Blues were a regular presence in the top six in the years before Roman Abramovich arrived.
Similarly, Blackburn Rovers, often remembered as one-hit wonders thanks to Jack Walker’s millions in 1994/95, were already title challengers, finishing fourth and second in the seasons before they edged out United for the title.
City flirted with relegation more than European qualification last term and although they had some decent talent in place before the money rolled in, they have much more work to do to become title challengers than Blackburn or Chelsea did. The top clubs are becoming increasingly strong and hard to overhaul.
All this suggests this season will be a transition campaign for the Citizens and there is a real chance of mid-season instability – if the new signings do not gel immediately and another slow start is suffered, the owners’ patience with Mark Hughes might run out.
However, City are virtually guaranteed to be a top half club fighting for a top six finish. This has an impact on Spurs, as our aim should be to get back in the European football places. Everton and Aston Villa are sure to be competitive again but it is City who are most likely to block our path to fifth place and possibly higher.
18 comments
Why?, Manchester City have a thriving academy and Spurs do not.
Manchester City have all the money needed to rival Real Madrids spending power and spurs do not.
Manchester City and facilities have the stadium to rival the top four and Spurs do not, your stadium has not even been finished and is behind schedule for the 2018 World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur are just flirting with a Europa place, thats the best it will get for Spurs fans.
Only on many a board across the web your fellow fans are bleating a top four finish.
We will buy our way in, like every other f**ker. And for those of you out there that like to pretend that thats not the truth... Top Ten British Transfers... 4 belong to Utd, 4 belong to Chelsea, 2 belong to Liverpool and as of last year - 1 to little old City... Coincidence? Nope... Top spots require MONEY!
(And yes, i know this adds to 11, but 2 were the same price.)
To be honest, I can't see us finishing above 6th this season and I also feel that would be a good finish for us.
What we are doing now is buying into the next preiership level which although is no guarantee of success, is certainly a big step closer.
I thought the article was quite balanced and about City seriously threatening Spurs European aspirations (not top 4). Please take the time to read and digest it properly once more.
I am not the author,nor do I know him/her, but do understand the thread...
In attempting to "buy the league", however, we're merely fast-tracking a process that other teams (notably a certain outfit from Stretford) have been pursuing for many years now.
I'm very confident of City finishing fifth at the very least this season. Hughes' charges from last term will be more settled now, and the new boys will add that vital extra punch, even if they do have to gel initially (though less likely, as they're all prem players so far - a far from insignificant factor I'm sure you'll agree).
Good luck to Spurs for the coming season - apart from when you play us of course.
Good luck to City! Obviously, money isn't always the solution. They have purchased some impressive talent and I am a fan of Tevez'. I think they need to focus some more on their defense as this is their major weak spot. What is a golden roster without the ability to prevent goals scored??
SPURS!!!!!!!!
At least London is attractive to live in. Perhaps your billionarie can buy london and get it towed up there?
I think the blogger makes a fair point, and personally I don't see us breaking the Big 4 this season, but hopefully it'll be a good run to the end, and in future seasons I reckon we can settle ourselves comfortably there.
Incidentally, good luck to Spurs for the coming season. Personally I think, regrettable as it may be, that you need a big money owner to crack the Big 4 (unless the debt implodes them, which is possible) but if anyone else can do it I'd like it to be you or Villa.
Don't worry, Citeh will mess it up. They're a joke club. They'll find a way to blow it. Hughes will be gone by November when they're not top of the league and then they'll struggle for the rest of the season.
On the other hand if they can push The Scum out of the top four that would be marvellous.
Let's see if there's a Mystic Meg among you.
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