2009/10 Season preview - Manchester City
2008/09 - The start of the 2008/09 campaign is one that will surely go down in Manchester City folklore. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s shock takeover propelled the club straight to the number one spot in the football rich list and with the £32m signing of Robinho on transfer deadline day things were looking good. Robinho’s impact was substantial at times with a mesmeric performance at Everton springing to mind but he was somewhat inconsistent. A poor away record meant that the often flowing football played by Mark Hughes’ side only earned the Citizens 10th place. This was a somewhat disappointing end to a season which had started so brightly.
2009/10 - Following a vast array of summer signings spirits and expectations are extremely high at Eastlands with talk of a top four finish on many fans’ lips. The board is still maintaining that sixth would signal good progression, but with the squad now boasting such forwards as Emmanuel Ababeyor, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz with the already established Robinho excitement is reaching fever pitch. Mark Hughes does have a tough job on his hands to reach the required balance within the squad to achieve results and there is little doubt he has to hit the ground running this campaign.
Transfer Campaign - City has spent bigger than anyone in the Premier League over the summer, strengthening the squad in every area. The most notable changes have been in the front line with Hughes bringing in the aforementioned forwards for big money but the former Wales boss has not stopped there. He has brought in the excellent Gareth Barry to steady the middle of the park and Kolo Toure to shore things up in defence. Hughes may be happy with his front line and midfield but he clearly feels he needs to further strengthen the leaky defence which often cost them last season. The pursuit of John Terry ended with the England skipper pledging his future to Chelsea so Mark Hughes has instead turned his attention to Everton’s Joleon Lescott.
Transfers In
Gareth Barry - Aston Villa - £12m
Carlos Tevez - Media Sports Investments - £25.5m
Emmanuel Adebayor - Arsenal - £25m
Roque Santa Cruz - Blackburn Rovers - £18m
Kolo Toure - Arsenal - £14m
Stuart Taylor - Aston Villa - free
Nils Zander - Schalke 04 - undisclosed
Transfers Out
Daniel Sturridge - Chelsea - undisclosed
Elano - Galatasary - £7m
Ched Evans - Sheffield United - £3m
Gelson Fernades - St Etienne - £2m
Jo - Everton - loan
Joe Hart - Birmingham - loan
Felipe Caicedo - Sporting Lisbon - loan
Shaleum Logan - Tranmere Rovers - loan
Valerie Bojinov - Parma - loan
Glauber Bertie - released
Michael Ball - released
Dietmar Hamann - released
Danny Mills - released
Darius Vassel - released
First XI
1 Given
5 Zabaleta - 2 Richards - 28 Toure - 3 Bridge
7 Ireland - 33 Kompany - 18 Barry -
32 Tevez - 10 Robinho
25 Adebayor -
There is much change to the first XI due to the summer influx of talent but two of the home grown players deserve to keep their places - Micah Richards and Steven Ireland. Richards is always solid and athletic and Steven Ireland was absolutely fantastic in the previous campaign earning the Player of the Year accolade. The forward line is where there is much debate - Adebayor is extremely adept with his back to goal and often played as a lone striker in his time with Arsenal. Both Tevez and Robinho are superb when coming deep and both are comfortable on either flank. Barry and Kompany will keep it tight in the middle of the park.
The Manager - Mark Hughes has an excellent track record as a manager with Wales and Blackburn prior to his appointment at City a little over a year ago. He achieved a famous win over Italy with Wales and saved Blackburn from relegation when taking charge in September 2004. He has achieved this success by creating teams that are tough and physical and who often score from set pieces. It will remain to be seen how he can cope with managing high profile, often temperamental players like Tevez and Robinho and also how he copes with the increased demand from the terraces following the summer spending spree. There is no manager in the Premiership under more pressure than Mark Hughes - favourite for the sack at 33-1.
Mr Reliable - Since his January switch from Newcastle United Shay Given has been outstanding between the posts for his new club. He has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League for nearly ten years and provides much experience and a level head at the back. Still a good age for a goalkeeper at 33, his shot stopping is fantastic and despite his relatively small stature he commands his penalty area - providing assurance throughout the squad. A less high-profile signing than some of Hughes’s recent ones, but without doubt one of his best. Will be an ever present this season, injuries permitting.
Creative Force - City smashed the British Transfer record to bring in Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5 Million on transfer deadline day last summer. Despite the further new faces City have added, Robinho still remains the most talented and the one whom the fans and players look to for inspiration. His touch and technique are exceptional and he has the ability to change any game with a moment of magic. He will be looking to increase his goal tally this season and to link up with the new forward line. At times last season he was a little inconsistent but now with the attacking burden spread more evenly across the team it will free Robinho to play his natural game.
Youth Prospect - Much has been debated about the flimsy nature of City’s back four and the need to replace Richard Dunne with a more reliable option, and it is from within the club that salvation may be found. Nedum Onouha is a highly accomplished defender able to play either at centre-half or full-back. He possesses great strength and pace - key attributes for today’s game. At 22 he has already gained much experience which would make him an ideal candidate to step into the gap in the defence. Having signed a new contract this summer it is clear Hughes has faith in the Nigerian-born stopper which could be extended to a key role within the first team.
The fixtures - It is in no doubt that all eyes will be on City from the off to see whether they have got what it takes to break into the top four, so the opening of the season will be key for Mark Hughes. The Citizens are away at Hughes’s former club Blackburn who provide a stern opening day test as Big Sam’s teams always enjoy ruffling the feathers of high profile players. It is in September when we really see what metal City have when they face Arsenal - the side many think they will replace in the top four - at home on the 12th, and United away on the 20th. Although early in the season this will really give City an opportunity to show the world they mean business and with no European football promising fewer games, results early in the season against the top sides will stand them in good stead come the business end of the season.
Home Grown Players - Manchester City has 13 English players within its squad and 6 from the British Isles. This does suggest that there is a nucleus of the squad which is English but many of these are young players who have come through the youth team. A formidable youth setup has produced many fine players over the last few seasons but following the influx of cash it is likely that first team opportunities will be limited. An example of this is Michael Johnson, a player who flourished under Sven Goran Eriksson but looks like he will struggle to command a starting berth this season when back from injury. Of the seven new players signed two are English.
Predictions - The final league position of Manchester City for the 2009/10 season is a subject that has been debated throughout the summer and one which will continue. The board maintain sixth will be satisfactory but following the amount invested in the squad the fans are unlikely to be satisfied with a finish outside the top four. It will be difficult for this City side to gel as it is almost a completely new team, so the Citizens may well have a slow start. There is no doubt however that the new side is full of abundant quality and once they do gel results will surely follow. Ending the top four’s dominance may be just that bit beyond City this season with fifth or sixth place a more realistic possibility.
2009/10 Season previews
Arsenal
Aston Villa
Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers
Burnley
Chelsea
Everton
Fulham
Hull City
Liverpool
Manchester City
Portsmouth
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