Article by Callum Rothwell
INS
July has already seen us wrap up 2 transfers in the names of Jerome Boateng and Yaya Youre. Jerome Boateng was around £11 million and Yaya around £28 million. After watching Germany against England and Argentina, Jerome looks a very good player. He has been playing left back, although he is right footed and a centre back. He is definitely one for the future, as he is only 21 years of age.
Yaya’s price seems a bit expensive, especially for someone who is apparently on nearly 200 grand a week! This is probably nonsense but we shall see. Yaya is the sort of player we need in the midfield; some physical presence and someone who can keep the ball in the dying minutes (United would never have beaten us!).
Moreover, who else or we GOING to get and who do we NEED?
We DEFINITELY need a new left back. Bridge simply isn’t good enough. If we want to excel to champions league football he simply can’t hack it. We are linked with Lazio’s Kolarov. I have personally never seen him play, but in Mancini I trust. Or, if we keep Robinho, we could play Lescott left back, tell him not to push on, keep Robinho and say you have a free role?
Also, we DON’T need a creative midfielder. We are linked with Milner, Arteta and all the rest, but why spend £30 million on a player when we have one just as good? Stephen Ireland is a top class player, he had a few injuries last season and struggled to get in the side. All he has to do is knuckle down in pre-season and the old Ireland will be back.
David Silva isn’t a done deal yet, but all should hopefully be resolved after the World Cup.
OUTS
It has been confirmed that our first departure of the summer has been Valeri Bojinov. Bojinov never hit his full potential at City, only ever starting 3 games, scoring 1 goal. He always seemed to get injured when he got back. This fee is thought to be around £5 million.
Next, I’d sell Micah Richards. He is way down the pecking order, and I think we should cash in on him while we can. He isn’t a bad player, but his positional awareness is poor at times, and I feel we have 3 better right backs in Boateng, Zabaleta and Onuoha.
Next on my transfer list would be Felipe Caicedo. Still only 21, but will never be good enough for a side wanting Champions League football in the next few seasons.
Then, I would sell Brazilian striker, Jo. At CSKA he was a top class striker, but has really struggled in England for both us and Everton. We should sell him as he will not be needed, unless he fancies playing Tuesday night Carling Cup games for the next 2 seasons.
Garrido will be way down the pecking order this year, and will probably for the best to leave.
Possibilities: Nedum Onuoha, Stephen Ireland, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Craig Bellamy.
I am a great fan of Nedum’s, but he’s at that age now where he needs week in week out football.
Ireland didn’t play a great deal this year, and may feel he needs to move on to reach his full potential.
Wright-Phillips struggled this year to get a place and as he is nearly 30, may feel a move is for the better of his career.
Bellamy had a cracking season, but he is due an injury. He also only has a few seasons left before he hangs up his boots, so we should maybe look the future while we can.
my squad for next year:
Goalkeepers: Given, Hart, Taylor (3)
Defenders: Boateng, Zabaleta, Onuoha, Toure, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov (7)
Midfielders: de Jong, Toure, Barry, Ireland, Johnson, Vieira, Silva, Johnson (if he gets fit!)
Strikers: Tevez, Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Bellamy, Robinho
MCFC squad = 23 players.
youth players coming from too such as Gonzalez Nielsen, Vidal, Boyata, Weiss, Etuhu
Anyone agree or disagree with my squad?
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