by carl_feedthegoat » Sat Jul 20, 2013 4:19 pm
LESSONS TO BE LEARNT FROM MAN CITY'S FAB FOUR NEW RECRUITS
Jul 20, 2013 16
As the uncertainty over Wayne Rooney’s future shows no sign of abating, Jose Mourinho madness takes hold at Chelsea and Arsenal struggle in their quest for a ‘spectacular signing’, one team is enjoying a summer of content.
Attacker Stevan Jovetic on Friday night joined Alvaro Negredo at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City took their spending to over £90 million (Dh502m). That will top the century mark should they find middle ground in a deal for Argentine winger Eduardo Salvio from Benfica.
Yet even if they don’t, they have now shaped a side that will cause a ton of trouble for their rivals in the forthcoming season. Having brought in Negredo, a powerful frontline poacher who cost less than half the £52m (Dh290m) Monaco paid for Radamel Falcao yet scored just three goals less in La Liga last season, and the Montenegro magician Jovetic, you could argue they have replaced the departed Carlos Tevez and then some.
With midfielder Fernandinho and winger Jesus Navas completing an incoming quartet of proven quality, new boss Manuel Pellegrini has a side that may not have the X-factor, but the extra class to reclaim the Premier League title.
Despite the constant talk and demand for superstar signings, City have sacrificed a need to rely solely on individual brilliance but focus on a team ethic. It is an approach that served Pellegrini so well at Villarreal and Malaga, and stability and unity could be crucial to City’s season.
It is a policy and mindset similar to that adopted by Arsene Wenger at Arsenal with Andrey Arshavin still their record signing at just £15m (Dh83.7m). And while some Gunners fans may feel that has not worked as they seek a first major trophy in eight years, it makes no sense in the era of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play to pay inflated prices
Despite his brushes with controversy, Luis Suarez is a very good player, but is he really worth more than the £40m (Dh223m) that is apparently not enough to tempt Liverpool to sell to Arsenal? I don’t think so.
And if Real Madrid also start a bidding war to raise the price for Gonzalo Higuain beyond £25m (Dh139m), Wenger should avoid it as there will be less injury-prone alternatives who offer better value for money.
Arsenal have a team full of ambition and young, improving players hungry for honours. They should steer clear of anyone who could damage that because they too have a good chance to challenge for the title again rather than fourth place.
And that hope is renewed by disruptive events unfolding at Manchester United and Chelsea, especially over whether Wayne Rooney will get his wish to switch to Stamford Bridge and who really fits into Mourinho’s plans.
Having been handed the ‘impossible’ task of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson, the last thing David Moyes needs is unrest and an unsettled player. United might be digging their heels in over Rooney, but it’s two seasons since we saw the best of him and is he likely to reproduce a similar 34-goal haul when he’s clearly unhappy?
If Rooney goes, United will survive - the best teams always do. The plight of Fernando Torres at Chelsea should serve as a warning too. United need to resolve the situation quickly and move on with their own attempts to strengthen before next month’s start.
Perhaps they should look closer to home to see how business should be done.
The Spanish hierarchy know what they are doing , now it is up to Pellegrini to show us what he can do with this exciting team.
THEY SAY SWEARING IS DUE TO A LIMITED VOCABULARY. I KNOW THOUSANDS OF WORDS, BUT I STILL PREFER "FUCK OFF" TO "GO AWAY"