Transfer Talk
Following City’s dramatic come from behind draw at Ewood Park Sunday, Mark Hughes seems revitilized and secure in his job to pursue domestic transfer targets, as suggested on this site over a week ago. With the exception of one of two key players I would personally wait until the Summer to pursue targets from outside English football.
Here are some of the realistic possible moves.
INCOMING
- Shay Given
- Roque Santa Cruz who was signed by Hughes to play for Blackburn last season
- Stephan Warnock who also played for Hughes.
- Michael Owen
- Scott Parker
- Craig Bellamy
- David Villa
- Marcos Senna
OUTGOING
- Jo
- Elano
- Shaun Wright Phillips
- Kasper Schmiechel
Beginning January 1st we’ll have daily coverage of what is sure to be a frantic month for the club.
Blackburn 2-2 Man City: Post Match Thoughts
A remarkable draw with Sturrdige and Robinho setting up a dramatic equalizer sends City into the new year with some momentum. However, the clubs performance for most of the match was poor, and Mark Hughes tactics were exposed. Sam Allardyce had lots of success against City whilst managing Bolton and MarkHughes return trip to Ewood Park was always going to be a tough game to win. But City’s form away from home is about as poor as it gets, and the club finishes 2008 with the least points in the calender year for any club that played Premiership football in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, inspite of the draw.
Robinho was lively early drawing what should have been a penalty in the area early and then missing just wide on a header that was nicely set up by Felipe Caicedo. Stephen Ireland continued his good form today but the support was lacking. City must address its striker problems when the transfer window opens. Daniel Sturridge’s late goal and assist not withstanding the reported pursuit of Michael Owen could be a critical move for the club. More creativity in the midfield is critical as well in addition to more cover at the back.
The wily veteran Tugay heled control the flow of play for Blackburn and Benny McCarthy who has had success against City previously was on form tonight. Micah Richards had another poor outing bringing into question whether his form is suffecient to be included in Fabio Capello’s England squad going forward.
The tying goal was thing of beuaty with Robinho timing his run perfectly and Sturridge holding off two defenders and then finding Robinho at the back post to set up the equaliser. A draw is a nice result away from home especially when City was clearly outclassed much of the evening, but a serious upgrade is needed for the squad and for the first time in a long time, it seemed Hughes got his tactics wrong in a big match.
Caicedo, Robinho Pace City Victory
Sky Sports Photo
Entering Boxing Day in the relegation zone is not what was expected entering this season for City supporters. It was even more unexpected when Robinho was transferred from Real Madrid right before the Summer transfer window shut. The new Abu Dhabi ownership groups faith in Mark Hughes which appeared misplaced a few days ago was affirmed with today’s smashing 5-1 victory over a Hull City club that entered the match 6th in the table.
The insertion of Felipe Caicedo into the starting lineup by Hughes today made all the difference early. Also critical was the healthy and inspired support play of Robinho and Stephan Ireland. Ireland for his part has been roundly criticized by City supporters for several years now but from my vantage point he has been the clubs most consistent and spirted player this season.
Hughes gave a start to Elano, seemingly in the doghouse and destined to exit the club when the January window opens. Elano responded with a solid performance, perhaps because he is in the shop window, or perhaps because he wants join the potential group of galacticos that may be bought in the January window.
When City performs as they did in today’s first half they are a joy to watch much like Arsenal have been for years now. The buildup play is beautiful when Hughes has a full selection of midfielders to choose from, and when Robinho is performing at a world class level as he did today.
City’s victory takes the club out of the relegation zone and in this confusing Premiership season within site of a European place.
Caicedo Starts, Benjani Out
In advance of today’s Boxing Day clash with Hull, Benjani has been ruled out yet again with an injury. Jo, whose form has been shocking is on the bench and Felipe Caicedo gets his first start of the Premier League campaign. Caicedo has scored a goal in each of City’s last two matches, in the UEFA Cup against Racing and in the league versus West Brom.
This morning, Marcus Senna of Villereal who was heroic over the summer for Spain in Euro 2008, was linked with a potential move to City in January. While I’ve been concerned about brining in non English based players in January, Senna would compliment Robinho well in the Blues attack.
A House Divided?
Richard Dunne and Micah Richards have been the two most consistent City players and team leaders. Under Stuart Pearce, Dunne turned around his once sagging career and became on of the most solid central defenders in the Premier League. Also under Pearce, Richards blossomed into a top England prospect and began earning regular call ups to the national team.
Under Sven Goran Eriksson, both players continued their ascent and entering this season they appeared to be the core of a squad that would contend for a European place. However, as we approach the New Year and the January transfer window, City is mired in the relegation zone, and the defensive pair seem to be a big reason why City is struggling.
Mark Hughes is a tactically sound British manager. It requires more than dumb luck to nearly qualify Wales for a major European competition as well Blackburn for Europe. More often than not individual errors by the likes of Dunne and Richards have cost City points while the press is having fun casting blame on Hughes himself.
A manager can only do so much to put his players, especially his most experienced and talented footballers in a position to succeed. The last several days the press has been pushing a “House Divided” theme. I’ll have my thoughts on this situation later this week, but for a quick read and links to the stories please visit our friends at Bitter and Blue .
My thinking is Dunne, the team captain, and Richards the clubs most accomplished international who was not signed this season need to step up and unite the team behind Hughes publicly. If Dunne and Richards do not, perhaps they need to be held accountable not only for their subpar form, but also for their lack of leadership.
West Brom 2-1 Man City
A cracking match today resulted in yet another defeat for City. This match was actually one of the more open and entertaining affairs in recent weeks from my vantage point as both sides were seeking the three points today. For City another bitter dissapointment on what is becoming a campaign that is making us all long for the days of Stuart Pearce and Joey Barton.
Much more on the match later.
West Brom Preview
A straight forward fixture against a side at the bottom of the table awaits City on Sunday. West Brom has been far worse than the two other newly promoted sides, Hull and Stoke despite having far more footballers with prior Premiership experience than the aformentioned clubs. But West Brom in their previous Premier League lives have served as a boggy team of sorts for City: much like Wigan whom City have never beaten in Premier League play.
City’s 17 pts are the lowest the club has has at this point in the Premier League season since 2000/01. That year City was relegated under Joe Royale. If you recall two years ago, City was sitting on 18 pts and hovering near the relegation zone entering the Holiday fixtures and won three on the bounce when Joey Barton was suspended to eliviate relegation fears for a few months. For all the criticism of Stuart Pearce he was able to keep a low payrool City squad in the Premier League two consecutive seasons with arguably inferior quality to one or more of the sides that were relegated.
City should have Richard Dunne back for this match but may be without Robinho who according to club call has aggravated his injury. Dunne is the unquestioned leader of the side but even he has not been immune from mistakes during City’s recent poor run of form. However, after watching Tal Ben Haim’s display in the UEFA Cup midweek any change at the back is a welcome one.
My guess is City will be lucky to get a point out of this fixture. The current set of players seem to be going through the motions both in the league and UEFA Cup, where despite advancement City’s last two matches have been poor outings. Thus West Brom desperate for points and not without quality must sense the opportunity to get three points at home.
Racing 3-1 Man City: Post Match Thoughts
Despite the makeshift lineup Mark Hughes had to field in Spain tonight, the lack of quality City demonstrated on the pitch was still shocking. With an opportunity to win Group A of the UEFA Cup hanging in the balance it was appalling to see City come out with so little fight. As it turns out FC Twente was crushed by PSG and City’s late goal eliminated Racing, so City still wins the group.
Ched Evans had a nice early opportunity set up by Robinho but after that Racing Santander dominated the match. In fact it can be strongly argued that the final scoreline tremendously flattered City. Twice in the first half Racing had penalty shouts rejected by the official. Darius Vassell did well in my opinion to clear the ball out of danger in minute 35 and the official was justified to wave play on, but a few minutes late Kasper Schmeichel recklessly came off his line and clearly fouled the Racing attacker. No call was made by the official. Early in the 2nd half Schmeichel again came flying off his line when his defense collapsed but this time Mohamed Tchite missed a wide open net. All of these miscues were costly for Racing as they needed one more goal to qualify for the next stage.
Felipe Caicedo’s stoppage time goal actually not only salvaged some City pride but eliminated Racing from the competition. But from the City perspective this match was another indicator that the quality and depth of the squad is not satisfactory.
Watching this match on American TV was certainly educational. The commentators, Pablo Alsina and Ray Hudson cover La Liga closely covering matches every weekend but hardly if ever have had an occasion to commentate on an English club. It was striking to hear the instant criticism of City as playing desperate and too physically by flinging long balls forward after falling behind and also getting flustered in the process. It’s worth noting that English clubs, despite the recent domination in Champions League have struggled in the second tier UEFA Cup the last several years. The match was dubbed as a sign of the depth of La Liga since Racing is hovering near the drop zone as the winter break begins, but City’s domestic problems were seemingly glossed over.
The announcers also seemed to have a score to settle with Robinho for sulking and leaving Real Madrid. However, the announcers were favorably disposed towards the work rate Ched Evans showed as well as Darius Vassell’s hustle play.
City’s performance by a set of players who should be more eager to impress especially given the club’s terrible league form was disappointing. Particularly poor tonight were Tal Ben-Haim and Elano. Pablo Zabaleta was probably the best City player on the pitch, and perhaps that can help to build his confidence for the critical league matches that are upcoming.
A poor performance coming on the heels of another poor UEFA Cup performance against PSG in the last match and in the middle of a terrible league campaign raises more concerns. But City is on to the knock out stages of the competition and still does have the opportunity to make its mark in Europe this season which is more than the vast majority of top flight British clubs can claim.
UEFA Cup Matchday: City vs Racing
Tonight’s UEFA Cup clash between City and Racing will determine whether the Blues can avoid facing a Champions League side in the first knock out round. City has already clinched advancement to the next stage and sits atop Group A with 7 points. However, Steve McLaren’s FC Twente sits a single point behind City and could jump the Blues for first place with a City loss or draw today. That would place City in the unenviable position of facing a Champions League third place team in the next stage.
City will be without Jo and Richard Dunne for this clash limiting Mark Hughes flexibility in submitting his team sheet. Irrespective of the City’s poor league form, winning a UEFA Cup group would be a signature achievement for Hughes so early in his tenure, especially when you consider the number of injuries the manager has had to contend with during this campaign. We’ll have full post game coverage after the match.
Benjani’s Injury and its Impact
Benjani’s latest injury setback. ironically as his transfers to/from Pompey come into greater scrutiny now leaves City with either inexperienced strikers (Sturridge and Evans) or ones whose form and quality has been severely lacking this season (Vassell and Jo).
Given the amount of transfer money spent on Jo this summer, and the reputation he came to club with, this is the time where he must step up. City must gain ground during the Boxing Day/New Year’s period in order to realistically compete for the European place that skipper Richard Dunne still believes is possible. Thus any conversation about January transfer targets is irrelevant for the time being.
Mark Hughes, I believe is still the right man for the job at Eastlands. His track record with Wales and Blackburn speaks for itself. The injuries that City have suffered since August and the flux created by the sale of the club have all adversely affected the performance of the team. However, the handling of the Striker situation in Benjani’s absence could go a long way to determining Hughes long term prospects with Manchester City.
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