Manchester City Vs Hull City - Robinho Mad Celebration!
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The “Big Four”? – A look at Manchester City
The transfer market has outdone itself again this summer, and we all know it’s not over yet. There is one burning question for an Arsenal fan as we look to the start of a new season; Are the big four still the big four?
To answer this we have to look at what it takes to be a top four team. Talent is obvious, but the real key is consistency. Can a team produce results throughout a thirty-eight game Premier League season lasting from August through May? This is the first installment in a series in which I look at some of the top teams in the Premier League and make the case as to whether they’ll have a spot in the top four after May 9, 2010.
Manchester City has been the big spender in England this summer. Has Hughes done what he needs to do to get his team into the top four? I think not.
The signings of Santa Cruz, Tevez, and Adebayor will do a good bit to boost goal production, but the real problem for Man City last year was keeping the ball out of their own net. Last year’s average of 1.32 goals per game against them isn’t going to cut it. Can Kolo Toure keep the defense together? I have his shirt on right now as I type this and the answer is no. He isn’t the stopper that is necessary to keep a back line from giving up goals against offenses that are clicking.
What the team needs is a leader. They are a team chock full of ego, and they need a level head to pull them together and set them on a path. I haven’t seen much of Gareth Barry, but perhaps he can be the one to do it.
What should they do? Find a leader that the big boys making all that bank will follow for 90 minutes at a time. Someone who can remind them they are professionals playing a team sport, and to keep a team mentality through the ups and downs of a long season. Also, make it a team goal to win road games. Last year they were an abysmal 2-12-5 on the road.
My prediction They finish this season in fifth place and Hughes is gone by February 1.
Hopefully we can get some more of this out of Robinho. For the best celebration of last season go to 1:30. What do you think he's doing?
Manchester City Vs Hull City - Robinho Mad Celebration!
Manchester City Vs Hull City - Robinho Mad Celebration!
Man City won’t put up the wins/draws to get the points to get it done. Liverpool are the only team in the top 4 that I see that could slip at this point, but I think their transfer season is not done yet.
Comment #2: stoney on 08/09 at 11:42 PM
I became a City supporter back in 1973, when a show on PBS called “Star Soccer” showed them demolishing somebody, 5-1, and looking quite good in the process… When I lived in Scotland, I took a couple trips down to see them relegated. :-( I even had tickets to a Manchester Derby at Maine Road, and got to spend it sitting on a train in Lockerbie for six hours.
BTW, do you have any interest in discussions about the SPL? While I lived in Scotland, I became a supporter of a down-on-their-luck team that seems to have done OK since: Rangers.
Comment #3: James on 08/11 at 08:57 PM
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Robinho has antz in the pantz! Or he had a mild stroke. I could go either way.
Meanwhile, the guy that I think will hold this whole thing together is Gareth Barry. Everybody talks about the strikers, and they definitely signed one too many to keep the locker room stable. But Barry was the player for whom Benitez wanted to dump Alonso before last season—he’s a great glue guy who can also push the ball upfield. If they succeed, it’ll be because he developed the leadership you mention.
BTW, Torres may have also hurt himself without getting touched (again) in the Atletico Madrid game. Are you sure you don’t like City’s chances over ours?