Joe Cole to Lille? Owen Hargreaves to City? Madness, and it’s not even transfer deadline day yet.
If there was a sentence I didn’t expect to hear was: ‘Owen Hargreaves in line for City move.’
And it’s news like this that sum up everything I hate about City.
Don’t get me wrong, they play some sensational football and have a squad of players that, I fully predict, will push Premier League champions Manchester United all the way in this season’s title race. But their never ending campaign to buy players like they’re playing a game of Football Manager simply ruins everything I love about the sport.
Despite being strongly linked with a move to West Bromwich Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa – sensible career opportunities – the former Manchester United midfielder has moved to City; how did that happen?
Why do clubs buy players they simply do not need? Mancini will have to work out how to fit Hargreaves into a team that already boasts a wealth of midfielders.
Gareth Barry, Adam Johnson, Nigel de Jong, James Milner, David Silva, Yaya Toure and Shaun Wright-Phillips – that’s not to mention City’s £25 million summer signing, Samir Nasri.
The only logic I can find in acquiring Hargreaves is the inevitable call up of Yaya Toure to the African Cup of Nations, but let’s not forget we’re talking about a player who made just 26 starts following his £20.2m move from Bayern Munich in July 2007. Do City not have any youth they can call upon?
Hargreaves, a pretty sound bench-warmer to say the least – but City have a few of those already.
So many players have made the ‘dream move’ to City only to fall by the wayside, failing to make an impact and a hand-full of appearances.
Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, even Carlos Tevez, all fantastic players, but players that can’t get a game at City and are either frustrated or have moved on.
I appreciate the need for strength in depth and fully admire Manchester City’s ability to attract such big name players, but I fail to see the desire to need or want a player that has had an injury mired career, a player that has not played in two years, a player they simply do not need.
Doubts over Hargreaves fitness have been rife ever since his move to Manchester United. But any recent doubts appear to have been quashed with a series of YouTube videos aimed at proving the midfielders fitness.
City can afford Hargreaves to get injured and not play; if he’s fit I guess that is a bonus to them and it’s perhaps this that annoys me most.
Manchester United fans may feel a little let down by a player they held such admiration for and a player they stood by for so many years while he recovered from a number of injuries. For them a move across to the blue side of Manchester is the ultimate insult. But, we are talking about a player that offered to play for free this season – United turned down his offer.
City can’t seem to stop buying players. In August 2010 they spent in excess of £130 million strengthening their midfield and have spent £70 million this summer bolstering their side.
The ‘can’t beat them, join them’ mentality lives strong at City and Hargreaves is just the latest addition.
Follow me on twitter: @iamdanmorris
Written Jamden Morris for FootballFanCast.com
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“City cant seem to stop buying players” So who did they buy Hargreaves from then?? And what damn business is it of yours anyway? Learn the facts before committing to writing. No money has been paid out from City in this transaction. Hargreaves merely has an employer for the next 12 months thats all, whereas before he didnt.
buy ???? he’s free you idiot…. try again mate ,oh one last thing,money was spent during hughes period,quite alot..mostly useless signings,something mancini had to deal with and has done so quite well,so keep ignoring the facts it makes your reporting all the more childlike.
What a load of tosh. Hargreaves needs to be slowly introduced to football, not thrown to the wolves week in week out. At WBA he would have played too much too soon. Why the big hoohaa about Hargreaves choice? City lost Vieira, SWP, Bellamy, and will be competing in 4 competitions. There is a reason for the 25 man squad, it means you can register 25 players so buying players to put into that squad is what you’re supposed to do you numpty. City bought players fast to catch the top 4 fast and it worked. Now we have an amazing squad and can fall into line with FFP. As for your tevez comment, again, stupid! He is regaining fitness after putting on weight post copa america. He’ll be back in contention after the international break. I suggest you avoid writing about MCFC because you’re completely biased and bitter
What an incredibly one-sided and ill-informed load of rubbish.
Hargreaves chose City necause he didn’t want to leave the area anf for the possibility of playing in the Chapions League later. With the prospect of over 60 games, the known loss of Yaya and the risk of injuries, City need experienced cover in what is their first season in the CL.
There are plenty of good youngsters coming through, who will get their chances as City establish themselves more strongly.
By the way, SWP has left for QPR!
Don’t you think you should ask Owen Hargreaves whether he is haappy he signed for City???
Surely his opinion is the one that is most important in this career move?
“But their never ending campaign to buy players like they’re playing a game of Football Manager simply ruins everything I love about the sport.”
Don’t be so melodramatic, plenty of players have moved on from City, certainly more than have come in, shouldn’t you be ranting about QPR ruining football now?
Owen to United and Cole to Liverpool seen as good moves by the clubs City do the same thing and get slated for it ???
what is there to moderate about my comment ? or dont you like the truth ?
This article, such as it is, ruins everything I love about the media. It’s completely hysterical ranting is aimed at the wrong club. Surely it should be aimed at his former employer who has thrown him on the scrap heap even though he offered to play for nothing. What does that say about that club? But hey no let’s have another bash at the club giving him a chance to resurrect his career. Your opinions are so prejudiced as to be worthless.
just another red knobhead allowed to pen his bile.
Carlos Tevez ‘can’t get a game’ for Man City? He’s the one that told them he wanted to leave, and I assume they signed Aguero believing that Tevez WOULD leave.
As for Hargreaves, what’s the issue? If (and it’s a massive if) he still has it, he will be an excellent addition to City’s squad. He’s got great experience and is/was a quality player. He didn’t turn his back on United to join City, United released him.
It’s unlikely he’ll become a regular starter for them, but like Patrick Viera over the last two seasons, he can be a valuable asset if he’s available.
One final thing, Roque Santa Cruz has never been a ‘fantastic’ player in his life.
I have only one question for all those persons that write the same article, again and again, moaning about City ruining football by assembling a great team and that is would you moan about the ruination of football if it was your own team that was spending the cash to assemble a great team?