New Signings and Quick Starts: A Curse?
Shay Given’s clean sheet at Ewood Park has given City faithful much reason for optimism to start the new Premiership campaign. After all with so many new signings on the side, fears were abound it would take several weeks for the club to properly gel. Additionally, the Citizens poor pre-season form fueled further concerns.
It is however worth noting that the previous two seasons this decade where the Blues were largely overhauled in July and August also saw quick starts that ended up leading to mid table or even worse lower mid table medioctiry.
The Summer of 2003 saw Kevin Keagan add the likes of Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Michael Tarnat and Claudio Reyna not only because of the league but due to the UEFA Cup qualification that had come through the previous season’s fair play table.
Yet, Keagan’s team started quickly in August and then completely collapsed pushing a relegation fight until the 36th game of the season. Given the level of talent on that City squad, the season was forgettable.
In 2007-08, Sven Goran Eriksson’s side started fast, in fact leading the Premier League after a few fixtures. But after the Christmas, City sruggled falling not only out of the top four but all the way to ninth in the table, as many of the new signings hit the wall.
Much reason for optimiusm exists, but recent history also teaches to be cautiously so when it comes to this club.
Blackburn 0-2 Man City: New Signings Pay Off
City started it’s 2009-2010 Premier League Campaign off the right way with a 2-0 win at Ewood Park. Emmanuel Adebayor scored the opener after some good pass and go football with Shaun Wright Phillips inside of five minutes. But City struggled at the back. Skipper Richard Dunne, oft rumored to leave City held up well in the middle with Richard Dunne and Micah Richards often scrambling to cover the ground Gareth Barry as the holding midfielder and Wayne Bridge the left back were perennially out of position.
Blackburn had clear pk shout late in the first half when Dunne appeared to have handled a shot in the box. But no call was made, and Shay Given was outstanding as always. Dunne and Given communicate well given their long experience playing together with the Republic of Ireland, but Kolo Toure was still not on the same page with the other back three.
Wayne Bridge continued his form of late last season, which saw him out of position often, pushed too far forward or pinched inside. Bridge’s utility comes more as an attacking option down the left flank, than it does as a man marker.
The second half saw the entrance of Carlos Tevez, who replaced Robinho but played in an advanced position, while Craig Bellamy dropped back into midfield. City showed more tactical savvy and ability to control possession in the second half, but still Barry seemed to be off the same page with the back four. Nigel DeJong, perhaps would have been a better option today, but Hughes will eventually need Barry to suplant DeJong, so best to bloodlet with his team mates early in the campaign.
Stephen Ireland who had a poor game up about the 75th minute sealed the game on a goal where Paul Robinson came off his line and Rovers defense seemed disorganized.
Hughes decision to start Craig Bellamy surely raised eyebrows. But without a doubt the Welsh attacker showed a great deal of both quality and pace today, and his special connection with Hughes could help keep the often volitile Bellamy on his best behavior.
(More later)
PLAYER RATINGS
GIVEN 8
BRIDGE 5
RICHARDS 7
DUNNE 6
TOURE 6
BARRY 5
IRELAND 6
ROBINHO 6
WRIGHT-PHILLIPS 7
BELLAMY 7
ADEBAYOR 7
TEVEZ 7
CONTRIBUTIONS BY DAVID TROTTER, A NEW WRITER FOR MAN CITY BLOG.COM
And We’re Off………………….
Comprehensive coverage of City’s quest to join the elite of English Football begins in earnest tomorrow here at Man City Blog.
We’ve added new writers and will be rolling out new weekly features, between now and the end of August.
Has The Lescott Saga Cost City?
The long drawn out saga surrounding Joleon Lescott’s potential move to Manchester City, has taken a tool on the clubs preparations for this Saturday’s opening fixture against Blackburn. Lescott represents the most versatile defender not playing for an entrenched big four club in the Premier League, and City’s pursuit of him was thought to represent an opportunity for Everton to raise critical funds.
But David Moyes whose record of achievement with his Toffee side is second none among non “big four” clubs realizes no amount of money is going to offset the loss of such a critical component of his club so close to the start of a new season.
But where does that leave City and Mark Hughes? Much of English Football has been abuzz this summer about the arrogance of Manchester City, not only because they are driving prices for players up to levels that other Premiership clubs cannot afford to pay, but also because City continues to struggle to sign any linked targets from outside England.
Now the drawn out saga over Lescott, whom we must believe Hughes thought he’s eventually land has costs the club two and a half critical summer months to identify other targets so close to the start of the new campaign.
Simply put, this saga has been for lack of a better term a debacle, and one which City is likely to pay for throughout the early weeks of the 2009-10 season.
Elano’s Exit: A Bad Sign
Elano’s exit from City further proves the critics point about Mark Hughes inability to manage cosmopolitan styled footballers. The Brazilian midfielder who has been a critical part of Dunga’s setup in Brazil and starred under Sven Goran Eriksson, never found a real role in Hughes’ British styled attack. Forced to play wide and track back regularly and also neutered of the creative sparks which are shown in South American qualifying and this summer in the Confederations Cup, Elano was wasting his time in City blue.
The big question now, is whether or not more quality players from South America or Continental clubs will sign for Hughes. Those signing for City currently, may in fact be doing so believing a managerial change is coming. If Hughes does survive the first few months of the season, chances are City will find it difficult to bring in players from outside England in the next window.
Hughes Envy?
It’s no secret Mark Hughes was a remarkable player. Not always the most likable fellow, his career spanned some of the biggest clubs in Europe: Barca, Man U, Bayern, and Chelsea. It was in particular at United and Barca where he made his name.
As a manager Hughes has been successful also. The Welsh National Team got closer to qualifying for a Major Tournament under Hughes than any other Manager. He also kept Blackburn in the Premier League and playing at a high level for several years even though their talent would indicate relegation struggles each season.
But now Hughes is facing the challenge of his playing or coaching life. He’s got a rapidly developing cosmopolitan side: with South Americans, Africans, and several English National Team player. Hughes’ temperament has always been the champion the little guy and to motivate his team to punch above their weight. How that he has a collection of world football superstars, will this work?
Questions remain prevalent about Hughes, but I sense a degree of Hughes’ envy among coaches including Sir Alex Ferguson who coached him and Martin O’Neil. Here is a player that was outstanding and got to play for big clubs now having the opportunity to manage a group of footballers who like it or not will make City a relevant “big club,” in due time. Obviously Sir Alex has the best team in England and one of the best clubs in the world. But his constant needling of City, I believe has less to do with Manchester City (Fergie hasn’t bothered with City for 23 years, why should he care now) and more to do with a former player of his who all of a sudden as a manager can rival his ability to buy top class international talent.
Hughes, has had the best of both worlds as a player and a manager. In England, we’ve seen a succession of good managers at top clubs while former players that were superstars like Tony Adams, Paul Ince and Alan Shearer among others have failed as managers at teams outside the Top 4. Yet Hughes, another significant player of the 80s/90s generation in Britain now has an embarrassment of riches to work with.
All of this leads to, Hughes Envy. Watch for it all year long in the Barclays Premier League.
Emmanuel Adebayor: The Key For City?
Mark Hughes signing of Emmanuel Adebayor has been criticized as one striker too many. But at Arsenal, Adebayor proved he was tactically flexible and could play as a lone striker or even in a hybrid 4-3-3 which Hughes has used for City at times.
We’ve seen Robinho struggle with Hughes tactics while Carlos Tevez may or may not adapt well. That leaves Craig Bellamy with his injuries and volatile personality and Roque Santa Cruz, who works well within Hughes system as strikers that can fit this system. And in fact only Adebayor has previously proven his ability to adjust to different systems seamlessly.
At Bayern, Santa Cruz showed an inability to keep his place in the first team and a steep learning curve whenever a new manager was brought in. He also struggled with injuries. At Blackburn, Santa Cruz showed great quality as he does for Paraguay at the international level, but did not face stiff competition from comparable strikers.
So in fact, Adebayor’s signing could prove to be the most critical of the Blues attack minded purchases this window.
Confederations Cup 2009: Robinho’s Redemption
Robinho had a frustrating 2008-09 season at Man City. Despite finishing near the top of the Premier League goal scoring table, his play seemed uneven and at times he looked disinterested. But this Summer’s FIFA Confederations Cup has provided Robinho who has had a hand in four Brazilian goals sweet redemption on the world stage. While fellow Man City star Elano has found himself off the pitch after an unvene first game against Egypt, Robinho excelled against both the USA and Italy in consecutive 3-0 Brazil wins.
Next Robinho and Brazil face host South Africa in the semifinals with the opportunity to face Spain, the reigning Euro Champions in the final. Spain must get past the USA in the other semifinal.
Elano and Robinho Take on the World
The FIFA Confederations Cup begins Sunday and Man City heroes Robinho and Elano will be among the key players to watch. Brazil having been transformed into a more tactical and defensive minded side under Dunga lead COMNEBOL qualifying and now put their impressive record on display against some of the world’s best.
Brazil has been drawn into Group B with Egypt, the United States and Italy. The Brazilians will be favored against Egypt who will be without Zaki, and will overwhelming favorites against the United States who have struggled away from home for the better part of six years. But it is the match-up versus Marcello Lippi and Italy that bears watching. That final group game will be broadcast in the UK i on BBC 3 a week from today.
Should Brazil advance to the final a date with Spain, the current world #1 could await. We’ll track Elano and Robinho’s progress throughout the tournament.
The Hughes Revolution: Barry The Latest Signing
Filed under: Elano, Gareth Barry, Mark Hughes, Robinho, Shaun Wright Phillips, Shay Given, Wayne Bridge
Mark Hughes has seen the faith placed in him by City’s owners and some supporters rewarded with the signing of Gareth Barry. Barry has featured for England under Fabio Capello more regularly than any other midfield player.
Hughes is the right man to take City forward in a positive way. For all the clamoring from outsiders that City must bring in a cosmopolitan manager, Hughes has an ability to connect with players from the British Isles, the core of this City team better than anyone on the market.
In his role Hughes is learning how to better utilize Robinho and Elano two Brazilians that have made Dunga’s international side perhaps the most formidable on globe outside of Spain. Jo’s return to Manchester City will likely find the talented Brazilian striker more at home than he was in the first six months of Hughes tenure.
The City manager has learned to deal with talented foreign players and his managerial skills had clearly improved by the end of the 2008-09 season.
Additionally Hughes ability to sell top players with Premiership experience on City instead of a current big four club is critical.
Let’s look at the list of City signings from within the Premier League under Hughes:
- Shaun Wright Phillips
An England squad player whose level of comfort in City colors is unquestioned
- Wayne Bridge
England international whose relationship with Hughes dates back to Southampton in the late 90s. This signing solves City’s long term woes on the left side of defense and can push forward into the attack comfortably.
- Shay Given
One of the top 10 goalkeepers in the world and arguably the best Premiership goalkeeper over the past ten seasons. An indispensible player for the Republic of Ireland
- Craig Bellamy
Cultured Welsh international who previously had great success under Hughes with the Wales National Team.
- Gareth Barry
After years on the fringe has become a regular for England under Fabio Capello.
Hughes has not only signed useful premier league players but players who feature regularly for the national teams of the British Isles. In City’s recent history attracting quality players of this stature who were not on their last legs as professionals has been almost impossible. With these signings Hughes has proven he belongs. Now the question is whether or not he has staying power.
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