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| Manchester City - The team to beat once again? |
It is fitting to start with the current champions, and
although it pains me to say it, the best team ‘England’ has produced for the
past 5-6 years. In terms of the upcoming season Manchester City may well be the
team to beat once again. Therefore the biggest problem is how can you strengthen
a winning team? Can you change a winning formula to prolong success? For one
the squad were not only the highest scorers in the league with an incredible
102 goals, but they were also the second tightest at the back only conceding 37
goals. Away from that they have the strongest, most creative midfield...
Clearly the hardest job for Manuel Pellegrini is trying to
add to an otherwise imperious squad. Nonetheless there are still chinks in
his, and his teams’ armour. Arguably it was the downfall of Liverpool, and the
drive of players like Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta which forced the team
over the final hurdle. I may be quick to judge but the manager just helped
create a ‘happy’ dressing room, rebuilding the pieces left behind by one
Roberto Mancini, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli. What he did tactically, from an outsider looking in, was minimal. To win it again, he will have to adapt his tactics to try and avoid the early season away day blues from last year, as well as concocting a second plan away from the original - ‘pass the ball to Yaya Toure and he'll win us the game’.
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| Pellegrini rebuilt a fragmented dressing room |
The new signings already acquired by the club are limited.
Fernando from FC Porto will add bulk and depth to the team replacing the
hapless third choice centre midfielder Javi Garcia. Him aside, buying a
back up goalkeeper and right back can surely not be classed as an effective
transfer window. There are still 3 weeks left to do business and the champions
are short at the heart of defence. The skipper is the best on the planet but
elsewhere they are severely lacking. Martin Demichiles proved his worth but
isn’t getting any younger (or quicker) and the once commanding Joleon Lescott
has moved on to lesser things. If City force through a move for Eliaquim Mangala
then they will be favourites once again, if that doesn’t happen then I believe
they will fall slightly short.
Predictions – Runaway runners up. European success is their true pot of
gold.
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| The main incentive |
Photo sources;
- http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/manchester-city-title-winner-pellegrini-3529095
- http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/17/sport/football/football-carlos-tevez-juventus-manchester-city/
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/7780285/The-day-Sheffields-Boys-in-Blue-played-for-the-European-Cup-in-1982.html
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