I had a quick glance at their substitute bench on Monday night looking for Samir Nasri only to be told he is sidelined with injury.Fair enough, he doesnt command a first team place anymore but even if he was fit he would be behind Sterling and possibly Navas who sat on the same bench.
We have heard countless times about the investment city have made into their training facilities and youth setups but unlike other big spending clubs like Real Madrid and PSG there is very little evidence of it on the pitch. Real for all the flak they get actually have good players from their youth system that get games for the senior team, similar to PSG who have some exciting youngsters.
But when you look at City you almost feel they are the only big spending club in world football that runs to the cheque book to solve all their problems.Ok you have that nigerian kid playing but thats it really.In how many years since they were taken over.
Where clubs like Arsenal and chelsea sign a bench striker like Welbeck or Remy, City will go buy Bony for 28 million pounds. Where Arsenal will rather groom Ox City will go out and but two 50 million players in De bruyn and Sterling.
They sign 2 ageing Central defenders at the cost of over 30 million each while a richer club like united stick with the likes of Smalling and see him eventually outplay those very 2 expensive defenders.
Where Arsenal admittedly by luck realise Coquelins potential City sign Fernandinho for more than 30 million and the guy is already 30.
How does that work?Where is their team spirit. How can an injury ravaged arsenal with supposedly inferior players in most positions show more team spirit than the citizens? Kompany's absence is blamed but Im not convinced he can settle most of the issues they have.
I know Toure is not liked by most City fans and probably gets more abuse even if he is easily one of their greatest ever players who seems to be blamed for most things wrong at the club.Whether he is away at AFCON or dealing with family grief it is always his fault.
I know they have money, and they have new deals that will bring even more revenue, but what is their end game in all this? Even Chelsea did not financially dope their club to this level.
City's emergence has been one of the best stories to ever take place in the premiership. Their final seconds title win with aguero scoring is probably the best and most dramatic story in the premiership to date and I will honestly say their presence has been vital in slowing down united which is a relief for most opposition fans but going forward you wonder where they are going as a club.
As a city player when you know that once your form dips a bit they will sign another 40 million pound player, how does that build team spirit or foster any togetherness?
I ask again what is their end game in all this? Maybe 2 league titles, one FA cup and a league cup can justify their spending which is well in excess of 1 billion pounds but I cant help but think there is another way.
Manchester City
posted on 26/12/15
I agree with the article city have wasted loads of money. But why single out fernandinho? He is a terrible example. He would get in every pl team IMO. Also it seems like you are mentioning kelechi nationality to make out its not the same as English youth players, but other than spurs. No other top 4 club are bringing through top quality English players. Even Leicester have bought there team. But it is a lot less expensive.
posted on 26/12/15
I actually warmed up to mancini's city, they gave us balotelli, a team that played decent footie and some great players like Yaya, kompany, Aguero & Silva but now I just hope they go the way of Leeds.
Horrible club that represents everything bad about the game
posted on 26/12/15
It was not my intention to offend anyone with regards to the nationality of Kelechi.I had forgotten his name and simply remembered he was a nigerian kid.
My gripe with Fernandinho is not his ability but more the fact that City bought him for so much money at the age of 28.
This time you have made good decisions albeit expensive ones by buying Sterling and Debruyn but most of your players are above 30 or a year close to 30.
If you get Pep then he will have something to work with but my point is you throw money at all your problems which I think is unfair for the game.
posted on 26/12/15
Unfair for the game? Everyone else is doing it in England. Its a pl problem not a man city problem. Even teams like stoke, Watford, Leicester and palace are bringing through youth players.
My only problem with you mentioning fernandinho, is that what you are say is right, but the example is wrong. He was a quality signing regardless of age.
posted on 26/12/15
Arent *
posted on 26/12/15
I have to disagree, Every top club has to invest heavily to remain at the top as teams get better every season.
We are at home to Watford and I'm genuinely nervous, A few seasons ago I would've been confident of a 3,4-0 victory.
I see your point though money is ruining the game but like I said before, it's what has to be done for clubs to maintain CL positions, I expect my own club to invest heavily in the summer even though we have players like Loftus-Cheek, Kenedy and Trarore.
Look at Arsenal... Their team might not cost as much as cities but aside from Gibbs and Bellerin all of your team has been bought, Yes the Ox and Walcott were young and English but they were still bought from another club.
posted on 26/12/15
What I don't get is that the richest and supposedly 'best' league in the world has an appalling European record. PL teams are beaten to the finals by poorer clubs. Getting the most expensive players doesn't guarantee succes.
posted on 26/12/15
Not just making excuses for city. But in the last 2 years any of these lesser teams would of finished behind Bayern, then would of got knocked out by barca.
posted on 26/12/15
The english teams don't take the euopean cups seriously. The watfords of this world get more money with the tv money than Barcelona with champions league money.
posted on 26/12/15
We have heard countless times about the investment city have made into their training facilities and youth setups but unlike other big spending clubs like Real Madrid and PSG there is very little evidence of it on the pitch.
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There won't be, considering the investment into the training facilities and youth setups was only completed last year. It's going to be a number of years before the club sees the fruition of that labour. That is such an obvious fact it almost seems insulting to you to point that fact out. Your point here is at the very best, short-sighted and ignorant.
Next, you wrote that: "They sign 2 ageing Central defenders at the cost of over 30 million each"
I can only assume that you are talking about Mangala and Otamendi here, as these are the only two central defenders that have cost City £30m plus. Mangala signed when he was 23. Otamdendi when he was 27. To label either of these defenders an "ageing defender" is just ridiculous.
Next, you wrote: "City sign Fernandinho for more than 30 million and the guy is already 30."
He wasn't when we signed him. When we signed him he had only just turned 28. And he's proved to be a very very good signing for City.
Finally, you ask about the clubs "team spirit". What exactly are you basing that on, and how, exactly does one combat your opinion as to what it actually is? For what you say makes no sense quite frankly and simply can not be determined in an absolute sense.
Or in other words, there is absolutely no way you can substantiate your point here.
One last thing - you ask what the "end game" is. What kind of nonsensical question is that? It's obvious to anyone what the goal is, what the target is, but the "end game"? That makes no sense, considering that football is a sport that is ongoing and quite frankly has no "end game".