Thursday 29 July 2010

Signing Of The Summer

Despite the new Premier League season coming on the back of what was certainly an interesting World Cup, the talent that was showcased has certainly not been snapped up as quickly as the tabloids suggested. Wesley Sneijder, who won practically everything last season, was linked with Manchester United, but nobody really thought that would happen did they? Indeed, United’s most famous worldwide signing was Juan Sebastian Veron, at his peak when bought in 2001, but even then the move was helped by Veron being at the time embroiled in a passport investigation. One imagines a more settled Veron would have stayed in a Serie A competition that was better than any league in the world at that time.

David Villa was joint top scorer in the World Cup, yet his recent move to Barcelona was not only expected but was wrapped up before the World Cup. His Spain and Valencia team-mate David Silva joined Manchester City during the World Cup also, thus despite the pair being two of the world’s greatest players, the transfers were not subject to the kind of sensationalism such moves normally attract.

Silva is likely to be the signing that will garner most attention when the new Premiership starts in August. Fortunately for the Spaniard, City gaffer Roberto Mancini has brought in other expensive signings Yaya Toure, Aleksander Kolarov and Jerome Boateng, who although aren't likely to be involved in glorious attacking football and headline-grabbing individual displays, have cost enough to take some of the pressure of Silva.

One wonders what players would currently be arriving at Eastlands if Mark Hughes was still in charge. Hughes, dismissed from Eastlands last December, was clearly taking City forward, but not at the rate desired from the club’s new owners. Harsh treatment for a manager who is used to success, and who would clearly have achieved it had he been given another few years to mould the team into his own. Hughes needn’t have worried that being British would have failed to attract some world ‘superstars’. Mancini certainly had success at club level as a player, but he is still yet to become a legendary veteran of European club management himself. Indeed this shows how much of a factor money and a promise of a new ‘revolution’ is in attracting players like Silva and Boateng.

At the time of writing, Hughes is set to become boss at Fulham, who saw their own manager depart Roy Hodgson depart for ‘crisis-club’ Liverpool, a club so in ‘crisis’ they are in the Europa Cup and have players like Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at their disposal. How Hodgson must regret the day he turned his back on Chris Baird, Paul Konchesky and Dickson Etuhu, in favour of pastures new.

It is thus Hughes who is responsible for taking control of Fulham’s fortunes. A club that reached the Europa Cup final last season and yet still continued to impress in the league, particularly at Craven Cottage. Fulham may just have made the signing of the season in appointing Mark Hughes as their manager. What makes the signing so impressive is that Fulham paid no transfer fee for the unemployed Hughes.

Hughes is a stubborn sort. Brought up within the super-manly arms of Ron Atkinson, and witness to Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment, Hughes certainly knows how to get what he wants. In the five years he spent as manager of Wales, Hughes revolutionised the national set-up, developing an almost unhealthy obsession with everything that affected the first team, from the training facilities, to the Welsh youth-set-up, right up to Robbie Savage’s deodorant choice. His demands on his players and indeed loyalty to them are such that most players end up loving him. Indeed Hughes’s teams are often known for a never-say-die attitude, combined with a modest quality that can surprise the best.

Fulham are a club that have apparently over-reached in recent years, despite having an excellent chairman, a fine coaching and playing staff, and a London location that would attract most footballers. The size of their ground is obviously something people point to when considering the size and worth of Fulham Football Club, but if truth be told, Fulham have that to their advantage. The claustrophobic environment of Craven Cottage helped the club dispose of so-called giants Juventus and Roma last season, and also helped the team gain maximum points in home fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester United.

Hughes is the perfect choice for Fulham, and they have every right to set their sights on qualifying for Europe again this season. They have an excellent defence in players like Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland, and even if Mark Schwarzer does leave, there will be no shortage of top-class keepers elsewhere that will be eyeing up the vacant goalkeeper's jersey. Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera add craft to their play, whilst Bobby Zamora and the brilliant Clint Dempsey will always score goals. Hughes will be working hard to improve a good team, indeed his favourite son Craig Bellamy is bound to join him sooner rather than later. Fulham fans pondering whether Hodgson’s departure will signal the end of what has been a brilliant period should fear not. Mark Hughes was a great signing as a player for many clubs, and he continues to have such an effect as a manager.

Friday 23 July 2010

A Big Season For Nani?

Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva once claimed Manchester United’s Nani had a ‘big head’, after an FA Cup 4th round tie in 2008. The young Portuguese winger, whose head size had never before been questioned but whose face is certainly annoying, had terrorised Arsenal all game, scoring once and assisting in two goals. It showed promise for a player bought only a few months earlier, suggesting Nani could evolve into the type of top-class winger Manchester United have had a knack of producing over the years. Trickier than Steve Coppell, more of a threat from long-distance than Ryan Giggs, and young enough for his manager Alex Ferguson to mould as he sees fit, Nani looked to be at the right stage of his career, and at the right club too.

That same season however, Nani was overshadowed by a magnificent season by his Portuguese compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, who hit over 40 goals in all competitions, including a Champions League final goal against Chelsea. If Nani wanted to realise the level he needed to reach to be a Manchester United star, Ronaldo had shown him the way.

Fast forward a year to the end of the 2008/2009 campaign, and Nani had played only half the games he had in his first season, scoring only league goal. The potential Nani had shown in his debut season had not been reached. Manchester United supporters were left frustrated by Nani around this time. They saw a player with undoubted skill, good pace and a rocket of a shot. Nani’s tendency to overplay and not supply good enough service to United’s strikers was becoming a bad habit that he, and Ferguson, needed to address.

Tricky, skilful wingers are often associated with having a poor end product by fans and pundits, though this is often a lazy criticism. There is a more accurate correlation between the speed of the player and his crossing quality. A moving ball is harder to hit accurately than a standing ball, as it requires greater timing. If the player crossing the ball is running at full pace, then the quality of the cross delivered is at even greater risk of losing accuracy. Note the quality of crosses from Ryan Giggs as his career has progressed. The lightning speed and trickery of the Welshman was never in question in his early United career, but his final ball was often inconsistent. Giggs no longer has anything like the pace he once had, yet his crossing accuracy is now second to none. Indeed Giggs is always likely to be able to produce these crosses of brilliance. Indeed, at 37 years old, it is unlikely Giggs would still feature for United if he couldn’t bring qualities like this into Ferguson’s team.

The England international team have had an abundance of speedy, diminutive wingers in recent years. Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright Phillips and Theo Walcott were all battling for the right-wing spot in South Africa, and all three have been criticised for their final ball throughout their career. It is their lightning pace however, which hinders their ability to cross accurately. (One imagines the un-predatory instincts of Emile Heskey also didn’t help wingers when they were deciding where to deliver a cross)

In regards to Nani, he has shown the ability to be an excellent crosser, and also has showed signs of being very quick on occasions. However, he tends to cross when he is in full control of the ball. He has the ability to cross with two feet also. Thus it is the question of when Nani will put the ball into the box that must frustrate strikers like Wayne Rooney. Rooney openly raved about the service from the more direct Antonio Valencia last season, a player who tended to cross the ball earlier. These crosses were often delivered back into an area just in front of the opposition defence, where Rooney would drop off into, and more often than not convert. Indeed, when United played away to AC Milan in last years Champions League, it was a cross from the substitute Valencia, on for Nani, that led to Rooney putting United in front.

Nani, although still young, still remains a frustrating player to this day, though his form improved dramatically in the second half of last season, single-handedly tearing apart Arsenal and a shockingly-under par Gael Clichy at the Emirates Stadium in January. ‘Maturity’ is often a buzz-word thrown around young players like Nani when they begin to show improvement, but he showed a level of performance at times that gives every United fan hope that next season will be Nani’s best season yet. Whether his final-third link-up play with Rooney will improve is another matter, but one imagines that if the two form an-on field relationship like Rooney and Ronaldo did, then United could be in with a great shout of bringing the Premiership trophy back to Old Trafford.

Thursday 22 July 2010

Smog On The Tyne

There is often an argument that being relegated can do a football club wonders – You can 'start again', regain a winning mentality, and get rid of the highest paid players crippling the wage bill – the ones who failed to turn up on a Tuesday night in December down at Craven Cottage.

Newcastle United have been on the slide for years, so when they finally went down in 2009 it was no surprise. However, they have bounced straight back by winning the Championship. But do they have the same quality and impetus that they showed in 1993 when Kevin Keegan took them up from the old Division One?

Keegan’s men burst on to the Premiership scene in 1993, drawing at Manchester United thanks to a typical Andy Cole finish. Indeed, the relationship between Cole and new signing Peter Beardsley was one of the stories of the 93/94 season, leading Newcastle to a fantastic 3rd place finish in their debut Premiership season. Cole himself hit over 30 goals, in a team that would eventually go on to be labelled as ‘The Entertainers’. Keegan himself produced the most entertaining moment of this era, comically lambasting Alex Ferguson live on air in 1996, for comments the Scot had made about Stuart Pearce days earlier.

However, slowly but surely, Newcastle slowly imploded. The super-high expectations of the Geordie faithful seemed to dwarf the younger players (not literally)coming through. Alan Shearer retired and wasn’t properly replaced. The glory days of Ginola, Asprilla and Gillespie were long gone, and were replaced with depressing Saturday afternoons watching David Rozenhal, a past-his-best Nicky Butt (who only seems to be able to chip the ball in the air for inept team-mates to fail to control), and Jean Alain Boumsong. Many ‘big name’ players on big salaries also let the club down horrendously. Lee Bowyer, Emre and Michael Owen show your faces.

Managers also contributed heavily to the capitulation of the Toon Army. Ruud Gullit almost destroyed the soul of the team when he outrageously began to drop Alan Shearer, in a clear battle of egos, in which of course there was only going to be one winner. After a brief resurgence under Sir Bobby Robson, Graeme Souness (surely a catalyst for disaster) continued the downward spiral, followed by Glenn Roeder, Sam Allardyce, Keegan (again) and then even Alan Shearer. In the end it was the man who had only ever been an assistant, Chris Hughton, who turned Newcastle’s fortunes around.

Chris Hughton did a great job taking Newcastle back up, and getting rid of the dark clouds that surrounded St James Park. However, a lack of investment this summer will most likely be their downfall. Their squad is almost identical to the side that went down in 2009, and although morale will be higher than during their relegation season, there is only so far morale and determination can get you. In defence, Jose Enrique and Steven Taylor may well have earned Championship plaudits last time around, (indeed Taylor has earned comparisons to John Terry in recent years, possibly not a good thing) but they did not stand up to be counted when they were last in the Premiership. Fernando Coloccini looks the best bet to gain defensive recognition, but Newcastle have never been known for their outstanding defensive abilities – an issue Hughton will be keen to address. Otherwise Newcastle will have to rely on the reflexes of Steve Harper, Tim Krul, and Ole ‘don’t call me Steve’ Soderberg.

Their midfield lacks pace and creativity, and players like Guthrie, Smith, Nolan and Barton are arguably too similar, in ability and physique, to pose a problem for most Premiership sides. Kevin Nolan bagged 17 league goals last season, reminiscent of his free-scoring midfield days for Bolton Wanderers, but any Newcastle fan expecting to see Nolan repeat those feats regularly this season should note that Nolan hasn’t enjoyed really a good goalscoring season in the top flight since the 2005/06 season. Indeed in the 20 games that Nolan played in the 2008/09 season, he failed to score a single goal. At 28 years old, the zest of bursting into the opposition penalty area to convert a striker’s knock-down is fading fast.

Up front, Shola Ameobi still masquerades as an up and coming home-grown striker, when in reality he is now 28 years old and never looked like being the next Temuri Ketsbaia, let alone the next Alan Shearer. His young strike partner Andy Carroll, last seen in the Premiership sporting a cornrow hair cut (surely a first for a white Geordie centre-forward), showed promise as a dominant aerial striker in the Championship, but whether he will be allowed such space by defenders or indeed service from colleagues this season, is yet to be seen.

Peter Lovenkrands, Wayne Routledge and peripheral Argentina World Cup ‘star’ Jonas Gutierrez offer faint hope on the flanks for a club that had some cracking wingers in the nineties. Wayne Routledge could well be a star this season should he play regularly, but note the significance of the word ‘could’, as Routledge has not once proved himself to be able to stand out consistently at the top level.

A friend of mine who supports Newcastle commented the other day, rather nonchalantly in fact, that a mid-table finish was realistic. Wow. Expectations of Newcastle fans are often high, but surely most Newcastle fans must fear that as the squad is almost identical to the one that went down in 2009, they will be in for a tough season. They could always bring Keegan back though eh?

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Medal Of Honour

ONLY a day after the signing of Joe Cole, Liverpool fans can now continue to smile after Steven Gerrard spoke out to assure everyone at Anfield that he is committed to the club. Despite the midfielder signing a contract only last summer that would have seen him play at Anfield till 2013, Gerrard has surprisingly made the news with this statement of intent. Nobody really expected him to move did they? He didn’t exactly light up the World Cup, and at 30 years old his list of potential suitors would have been far fewer than say, five years ago.

Gerrard was only loosely linked with a move away from Anfield this summer, with Rafa Benitez’s Inter Milan looking the most likely destination should the Merseysider leave. Indeed it was Benitez’s predecessor Jose Mourinho who almost took him to Chelsea in 2005, after Liverpool saw off AC Milan in Istanbul to win the Champions League. Gerrard in the end stayed, and since has been Liverpool’s catalyst in their success ever since, though Chelsea have gone on to win the Premiership twice since he chose not to move. A league title has unfortunately continued to elude him ever since.

This isn’t the first time a talented player has chosen to stay loyal to their club in the Premier League, but only rarely has such a player failed to go and win the league at some stage. Ian Wright had to wait over five years till Arsenal won the Premiership, and even Cristiano Ronaldo went four years without winning the title. Gerrard however, made his league debut over ten years ago and is still waiting for a Chanpionship medal. He may well retire without one, in belief that it just wasn’t meant to be. He isn’t alone though.

There were some footballers with a grand reputation who, despite playing in the Premiership, never really contributed enough to warrant a trophy in the first place. For example, George Weah’s short stint at Manchester City and Chelsea at the turn of the last decade wasn’t entirely a worthless experience, but he did manage less than 20 games. Jurgen Klinsmann proved a surprise hit with a nation not exactly fond of Germans in 1994 when he moved to Spurs, but his one season ended in disappointment as they lost to Everton in the FA Cup Semi Final at Elland Road. Klinsmann would however return in 1998 to help Spurs battle successfully against relegation.

There are a hatful of players that moved to clubs just after their peak, where a Premiership trophy would have been well received, but not a necessity. Stand up Chris Waddle, Laurent Blanc, Jay Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff, Gianluca Vialli and Ruud Gullit. Sit back down William Prunier.

Vialli and Gullit in particular were part of a Chelsea club that were going in the right direction, but Chelsea would only finally be crowned champions after the two had left. Unfortunately this was the case for two other stars of that Chelsea team in the late nineties - Gianfranco Zola and Marcel Desailly. Although these two still had undoubted class, in particular Zola, and contributed enormously to the improvement of Chelsea in that era, they both joined the club at 30 years of age, and had both already won domestic titles in Italy. They wouldn’t have lost too much sleep since leaving the land of the Premier League. Desailly has since starred as a popular ITV pundit during the South Africa World Cup, thankfully distracting viewers away from some of Gareth Southgate’s shirt choices.

One man who played in the Premier League but never showed a particular interest in even winning the Premiership was the hugely talented Matthew Le Tissier of Southampton. Gifted with unbelievable natural talent and a deadly right foot, Le Tissier could have bargained for a move elsewhere, and Southampton could have cashed in also, but he never really showed the desire to challenge himself at a bigger club. Le Tissier was often described as a luxury player - perhaps not disciplined enough in his work-rate to succeed at a more demanding level, and not ambitious enough to change such traits.

He is forgiven by almost all though, as Le Tissier ended his career a one-club player. He was the scorer of many a spectacular goal, indeed there really isn’t a finer thing on YouTube than THIS compilation of his greatest moments. What struck you most about Le Tissier was the consistency with which he achieved these feats, and you can only imagine what magical moments he may have conjured up if he had been involved in cup finals, last-day title deciders and European football. Sky Sports viewers have over recent years been subject to ex-England manager Glenn Hoddle preaching about the lack of flair in the England team, with Hoddle stating how our country does not allow for more expressive players to be part of our international side. Why then Glenn, did you omit both Le Tissier and Paul Gascoigne, England's two greatest creative players of the 1990's, from the 1998 World Cup Squad?

Le Tissier’s ex-teammate Alan Shearer is another player that could have achieved more medal-wise. Rejecting the chance to join Manchester United in 1992, in favour of Blackburn Rovers, Shearer could only stand and watch as Alex Ferguson’s players won back-to-back titles. It wasn’t till 1995 that Shearer finally won the medal he longed for and deserved, as Blackburn snatched the trophy away from United.

Shearer of course later rejected United again in 1996, in favour of joining his boy-hood club Newcastle United. Such honourable actions would be classed as ultra-rare in today’s modern game, though Newcastle were hardly struggling for relegation, and in fact had only lost out on the 1996 title on the last day. However, with United going on to dominate domestically ever since, and having achieved success in Europe, Shearer can only speculate on the trophies and medals he could have won at Old Trafford.

Gerrard isn’t alone in wanting to end his career as a one-club player. He certainly won’t end his career without medals. During his time at Liverpool, Gerrard has won two FA Cups, two League Cups, the UEFA Cup, two UEFA Super Cups, and also the Champions League, to which he very almost won twice. It seems that Gerrard is fortunate to be at a club that holds success in European competitions as much value as success domestically, indeed Liverpool have still won the European Cup more than any other single English side. Perhaps though, Gerrard would have benefited more from a club more intent on winning a domestic title, giving him that Premiership medal he craves.

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Joey Barton Superstar?

THE controversial Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton yesterday revealed his belief that he is as good as anyone in the country. At first glance, it would appear that Barton has rejuvenated himself, with a droll, dry sense of humour to match. However, upon close inspection, the man Sam Allardyce once relied on to try and keep Newcastle in the Premiership (and failed), was actually truthfully stating his apparent worth to the England football cause.

Although some fans would argue that Barton would have offered England an improved tenacity in midfield than what was present in South Africa, what England were in need of most was the ability to keep possession. Both a lack of world-class technique and an aptitude to look for a short pass was the downfall of Fabio Capello’s team. (Though it doesn’t help when your defenders are out-paced by Miroslav Klose) It would take the most ardent of Newcastle United fans or even a close family member of Joey Barton to claim that he would have improved England in that area.

Barton instead is a battler, a destroyer if you will, who although showed a goalscoring streak during his Manchester City career, would not be expected to fulfill such a goal-scoring responsibility at international level. However, supporting England shouldn’t just come down to claiming an average midfield battler would do a better job than our current crop. ‘Get Batty on’ was often the desperate cry of the Elland Road faithful in 2004, though to no avail, as they saw their beloved Leeds United (and David Batty) slide out of the Premier League. Surely fans in the 21st century, who are regularly witnesses to Pro-Zone, Andy Gray's numerous on-screen gadgetry, and even Andy Townsend's 'Tactics Truck' can suggest a more innovative and intelligent tactic than just sending your enforcer on to ‘sort em out.’

At 27 years old, Barton has less than 200 top-flight appearances to his name, and he is rightly more well-known for his altercations, both and off the pitch. He is one-paced, a competent passer, not blessed with real skill, and has an awful disciplinary record. Apart from a decent shooting ability, Barton’s only real positive attribute is his ability to influence and drive on others around him. However, team-mates look to these types of players to set standards and positive examples, and they usually demand ultimate respect. One feels that Barton cannot fully gain this respect with what he has done previously in not only his career, but also his life to date.

His only real accolade to date was his one and only England cap, coming on for Frank Lampard against Spain in 2007, for just over 10 minutes. He hasn’t played for the national side since. Even ex-Bolton striker Michael Ricketts played more minutes for England, albeit just 45, in a friendly against Holland in 2002. Ricketts however, is wise not to come out in the press and laud his own abilities to the national press. Quite what Barton was thinking is somewhat-baffling, and suggests his impending return to the Premiership in August should be one to watch.

Monday 19 July 2010

Joe Cole - The Right Move?

OUT of all the clubs after the signature of Joe Cole, it may come to a surprise to many that the talented England midfielder has opted for the Europa Cup-bound Liverpool, reportedly turning down both Spurs and Arsenal in favour of moving up north. Manchester United’s weren’t particularly interested in attracting Cole, according to reports, despite many United fans feeling Cole would have added a creative spark to their squad, particularly as the free transfer wouldn’t have, for once, had the Glazer’s looking nervously at their bank balance.

As much as it was surprising that Chelsea wouldn’t give Cole the secure contract he wanted, it is also refreshing for a player like Cole to have made the move he has done. After seeing his World Cup game-time shrunk down into a handful of minutes after an injury-ravaged season, Cole has shown a willingness to move for first team football and to re-start his career, and perhaps more games to dive around or leave his foot in on opponents. Good for him. There’s definitely room for him at Anfield, as Arsenal seem to have an abundance of diminutive skilful players similar to Cole, and Spurs have plenty of wide players themselves. However, one still feels Cole could have offered Carlo Ancelotti an option on the right of their three-pronged attack. Nicolas Anelka currently occupies that role, but despite claiming he gets ‘as much joy creating goals as scoring them’, he plainly doesn’t like playing out wide, supplying Didier Drogba. It’s only a matter of time before Anelka protests and refuses to play anyway.

Cole thus, will find himself trying to appease a set of fans, who despite having built up a rivalry with Chelsea over recent years (mainly through Champions League fixtures), have shown their approval of the signing. They have every right to show approval too, as Cole can be an outstanding player on his day, and at 28 years old, still offers everything that a top European player should have. He can play on either flank, as a support striker, or even make up a three in midfield as he did in his West Ham days. He’ll have to hope his versatility doesn’t hinder him too much, as Liverpool and indeed England, need a settled, and more importantly improved Joe Cole.

Ex-Liverpool player Phil Thompson stuck his sizeable nose in again today on Sky Sports, and offered his opinion. “I’m absolutely delighted .We need that player, the catalyst between midfield and attack. It all adds up for me.” Such pressure was also laid on Robbie Keane when he arrived in 2008. In fact, upon signing Keane, ex-manager Roy Evans commented, "He will work in and around Torres which of course could free Steven Gerrard to play in more of a midfield position.” Expect a bagful of similar quotes to be thrown around lazily by ex-players over the next few days, as they hail the signing of Cole. Don’t be surprised if Cole goes the way of Keane and moves to Spurs in the January transfer window, although Cole is more likely to build up a rappore with the well-liked and respected Hodgson, than he would have done with the seemingly ice-cold Rafa Benitez.

Why Manchester City Will Win The League

FIFTEEN years ago, FA Premier League fans all over the world awaited the start of a new season. Unlike the present day, where millions watched the South African World Cup, football fans in 1995 had to deal with a football-free summer. What is that match that Sky Sports teases us all with, a week before the start of the new season, masquerading as a ‘classic’ to kick off a ‘new showcase season’? Ah yes, that awful Charity Shield... The 1995 Charity Shield was even more lacklustre than normal. The only notable point was that it was the only Charity Shield since the Premiership began that didn’t feature one of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea. Why? Answer: The 1994/95 season saw Blackburn Rovers crowned champions...

Blackburn had finally pipped Manchester United to the title in 1995, and although they would go on to lose that subsequent Charity Shield match against Everton, they still set an important benchmark that year – that money could buy you the title. In just a few years, Kenny Dalglish used Jack Walker’s millions to buy the best around (at the time). Shearer, Flowers, Sutton, Ripley, Sherwood, Le Saux et al, and yes even David ‘pass it sideways’ Batty. In fact David Batty already had a league winner’s medal after winning the title with Leeds in 1992.

As we approach the end of summer 2010, it is now the turn of Manchester City to try and pose a new threat to the established elite. Despite losing out on qualification for the Champions League, City have crucially still managed to attract the calibre of player they needed to improve. Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov (should he sign) will bolster a defence that often bottled it at crucial times last season. More significantly, any City fans concerned about David Silva’s lack of involvement in South Africa need not worry. Silva is the real deal. Even Barcelona-bound Cesc Fabregas isn’t first choice for Spain...

City are improving at a steadyrate, though United and Chelsea seem to have, squad-wise at least, stalled. Chelsea have released smug German international Michael Ballack, and more surprisingly Joe Cole, and have failed to build on an ageing squad. United still lack a world-class central midfielder, and also the firepower to aid Wayne Rooney. The defences of the top two, in particular, are unstable, whether through injuries or personal issues. In fact, John Terry now seems to resemble an ageing house-cat, lumbering about with misplaced arrogance, relying on others to help to clean up after him.

It is the quality and depth of squad that City has this season which is their main advantage. When it comes down to it, week after week, quality counts. Silva and Andrew Johnson will be fluid and dangerous on the wings. Nigel De Jong and Yaya Toure will prove as tough as anyone to get past in midfield. Shay Given and Joe Hart are outstanding keepers on their day. Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure are experienced defenders hungry for success, and even Micah Richards may yet prove he has a degree of footballing ability an. Tevez and Adebayor have plenty of class up front, and more importantly goals. Indeed it’s hard to watch a game in which Carlos Tevez plays in, and for you to not expect the Argentinean to emerge victorious. He’s just that stubborn. Those that argue that Craig Bellamy will be a huge miss for City should he go should just bear in mind that Craig Bellamy has been playing Premiership football for 10 years, never attracted a top club, and only has a Charity Shield winners medal to show for his time in English football. And you know how I feel about the Charity Shield...

I just can’t see the current top two being on their game enough this season to stop the momentum of City. I don’t expect a revolution of such in future years, but Chelsea and United need to be better than they currently are, if they are to thwart City’s chances. City have been knocking on the door, and although sceptics will say that City lack the experience to win the league, experience will only get you so far. In fact Chelsea won the title in 2005 without any serious title-challenges in the years leading up to their first Premiership trophy. So it’s City for me this year. Of course, I’ve actually wagered 25 quid on City to win the league, via Betfair, so chances are that City will finish 7th...