Roberto Mancini has put together a formidable squad during his time in charge at Manchester City. After guiding them to their first piece of silverware in 34 years though, Mancini finds himself at a pivotal point in his reign. The drought has ended, and these fans will expect more success next season, especially with automatic qualification to the Champions League.
That said if it was me, I’d make sure to keep a hold of Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Micah Richards, Jerome Boateng, Nigel De Jong, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Adam Johnson, Edin Dzeko & Mario Balotelli. I don’t include Carlos Tevez in that list as I think that’s something the club don’t have much control over and I feel it’s almost a certainty he’ll be gone come August.
As far as transfer targets go, I’d make my three main priorities Gareth Bale, Neven Subotic & Alexis Sanchez. All three are great young prospects who I feel would make an instant impact at Eastlands. I wouldn’t want to bring in a lot of new faces as I feel the team is starting to gel very well. To help fund these acquisitions I would trim the squad by selling on Roque Santa Cruz, Michael Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips & Joleon Lescott. The impending sale of Carlos Tevez will no doubt help the kitty money as well.
Formation wise, I think a 4-2-3-1 would be the best formation to deploy. It would be in keeping with the defensive structure that Mancini has built, but also allow for fast counter attacking football. Below is a rough idea of the formation and personal I would use…
Earlier I named Jerome Boateng, Adam Johnson & Mario Balotelli as players I would do my best to keep a hold of, yet have not included in my starting XI, this is not due to their lack of ability but instead I feel they would be good impact substitutes and of course the squad would be rotated.
All in all I feel City are close to having a squad ready to realistically compete for the Premier League, but they are a few signings away. Whoever Roberto Mancini decides to sign, I feel he will build upon the success of last season. The future is bright for Manchester City fans, but only time will tell how quickly they will progress.
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Sanchez won’t come, Bale is overrated, Dzeko isn’t good enough, Kolarov is atrocious, and I can’t believe you’d sell Lescott – he’s english and has had a great season.
Awful selection.
Oh my!
Mr Bean Brain says that Edin Dzeko isn’t good enough and Aleks Kolarov is atrocious; oh, and Bale, over rated !!!
Well sonny, Dzeko has proved himself a top sriker, 2 footed and a great header of the ball. He hasn’t been at Eastlands half a season yet and is still settling in but you’ve made your judgement! Better than Mancini are you? Some judge of a footballer you must be.
As for Kolarov, he hasn’t been the best defensively but he gives a great deal going fwd and is improving week by week all round. name me a better LFB that we’ve had available in the last 10 years? He’ll do much better in his second season, give the guy a break!
Bale is very strong and quick. Difficult to know how good he can become but he is already a player that defenders fear. probably over priced but not over rated.
Oh, you are right about Lescott. He’s grown gradually into the role and is coming towards being the player Hughes thought he was buying. He and Kompo are now the pick of the CH’s but I expect you slagged him off throughout his first season when he was struggling eh Bean Brain!!
Kolarov is a pub player….the only thing stopping him from being the worst left back to play for City is David Brightwell ! He scored a great free-kick at Brum but virtually all his other attempts have been so far off target that it has become embarrassing ! He has no pace to speak of, no defensive qualities whatsoever and slows down all of City’s attack when he receives the ball ! My nickname for him is “Hough End” !
Sell him (at a huge loss probably) as soon as possible because he is just not good enough….end of !!
Climb out of mancini’s bum would you. Even ferguson makes mistakes. To me dzeko is one and he certainly is not capable of leàding the Line. That is trully Bean brained. As is the sale of lescott and your faith in kolarov. I don’t think you’ve got a clue if you think he’s àny good. He’s a derender and he can’t defend. Are you daft in the Head?
Lescott is a left-footed centre-half. There are not many good ones around. A left-footed one is essential for balance. If both centre-backs are right footed good strikers know this and gain an advantage. Everton needed a left-footed one to replace Lescott. Who did they sign? Distin! Think back to our successful partnership in a poor side – Dunne and Distin. One right, one left. It is basic, not rocket science.
very good point!
Think you play a bit to much Football Manager. Why would you sell Lescott?? Bale is over rated and last time i checked RM said Tevez was staying quite confidently.
I agree bnbn.
Why sell Lescott or Michael Johnson for that matter. Les is doing very well thank you and having stuck it out with MJ this long why not give him a chance now that he’s fit.
Craig, have you forgotten that we have Jo, Caicedo, Onuoha, Bridge, Bedlamy all on the books still. I’d be happy to keep Nedum, he’s never let us down and is a local lad, but the rest of them are wasting space.
Why would you get rid of Lescott? He’s been increasing in ability throughout the season and I think he’s going to keep getting better working with Kompany. Also, Bale is way too overrated to play for city, I’d rather have Balotelli or Johnson on the wing. Plus your formation isn’t gonna work with these players. It might work on Football Manager but not in real life! Dzeko on his own up front? He’s scored two goals all season and one was both offside and completely given to him by Cahill.
Lescott is playing well, so why sell him when we have to play in 4 competitions. Also MJ deserves one more season to get fit. Bale is injuty prone and when tightly marked is not that good and Spurs will not sell. Of course we need some more players, but Tevez will stay, as no other team will pay his transfer fee and wages, except for Real and they don’t need him.
Eh??? Lescott and Kompany have formed a quite impressive partnership unless you havent noticed? We do not conceed to many and even the sloggers like Stoke find Vinney and Lescott almost impossible to get past? Kolarov at left back? eh? Id have Bale there before him. Id also have Mario ahead of Dzeko???
The current side is already decent and I think a couple of world-class signings will make all the difference; turn the odd draw into a 3-pointer and we’d be too noisy for Salford.
Bale did Maicon and now he’s worth 50 Mil on the back of 90 minutes? He’s got a bad back too; he wasn’t contributing much for Harry last month.
Kolarov is not atrocious but he’s not our best. Lescott (& Micah) have put the howlers of last season behind them and I hope Kolarov can do the same.
Tevez is obviously our best goalscorer and he creates them around the centre of the box, so that’s where the service is. If he’s not playing, we need reliable crossers; then you’ll see the best of Dzeko and Mario.
I’d love to see Sneijder but he says he’s staying put. Alves would be good, I’ve watched him in person, but them Brasilians, they can be workshy when it’s wet and windy.
——————-Hart
Richards-kompany-Jan Vertonghen-Fabio Coentrao
Silva——–Yaya——–Dejong——Juan Mata
———–Tevez————Dzeko
GK:Hart/Given/Taylor
DEF:Richards/Boyata/Kompany/Kolo Toure/Lescott/Subotic/Zabaleta/Coentrao
MID:De Jong/Barry/Milner/Yaya Toure
ATT MID:A.Johnson/Silva/Fabregas(OR Snjieder OR Aguero)
FW:Tevez/Dzeko/Balotelli/Sanchez
=World Beaters.
I feel you shouldn’t sell young English players unless their lack of form or a club’s lack of finances forces you too. In that regard, Lescott should not be sold. A young English DC like Lescott who performs well is too difficult to replace. Not saying don’t upgrade the position, but keep Lescott for depth.
I take on board what you all said, but it’s just my opinion. Lescott is a very good player, but I don’t feel he’ll improve and think you could get a better defender in for the same money he could be sold for.
Also I hardly play football manager at all, I just used the graphic as an example. Alexis Sanchez and Neven Subotic were chosen cause of their real life form.
Tevez will stay 100%.
Id keep Lescott, improving all the time.
Id buy Sanchez, Vertoghen, and creative midfield
Fabregas Sneider etc.
Were not far off, we are developing winning mentality.
Our best 11 is already best in EPL. Just need to believe it.
———————-HART—————————-
RICHARDS/ZABA–KOMPS/SAVIC–LES/KOLO–CLICY/KOLROV–
AJ——DEJONG/BARRY/YAYA——SILVA——BALO/MILLNER
———–AGUERO———————————–
——————–DZEKO/TEVEZ———————