Can Manchester City Be The Surprise Package
The English Premier League has been dominated by the big four for a very long time now. During this whole decade the clubs have failed to get past the big four clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
This domination has been so strong that these clubs keep on growing as more money is flowing in because of the Champions League matches. On the other hand, the other clubs have failed to challenge the supremacy of these teams, because of the lack of funding and a lack of progress.
However, recently the big four have started to stumble because of poor management and a challenge put forth by other clubs in the EPL. Hence, last season Liverpool FC was thrown out of their European spot, as Tottenham Hotspurs got the fourth spot on the EPL table.
However, they had to battle it out against the Manchester City, who have been taken over by the Middle Eastern billionaires, and have a lot of money flowing in for the players. Also, they are being led by Roberto Mancini, the Italian coach who has a history of winning titles in Serie A, for his clubs.
During the pre-season, Manchester City was the only notable club in the transfer market, looking for big players for their squad. The first big signing was of Jerome Boateng, the German defender. Boateng has shown a lot of class for the German side in the World Cup, and there is no doubt that City would be happy with this signing. The defence of Manchester City has let them down, on a number of occasions, and now they look stronger than before.
Also, the likes of Kolo Toure, Richards, Lescott and Bridge are present in their squad, and the addition of Boateng would make them one of the best defensive sides in the English Premier League.
The other major signing for City was of Yaya Toure, from Barcelona. Toure has proven himself to be a versatile player, who is equally good in defence and attack. He would be a great addition to the City’s squad, as he would have his influence on every victory that they would score.
Apart of these signings, another one of the biggest deals for City this summer, was of David Silva, who left Valencia to join the EPL. David Silva is a fiery midfielder who has an explosive left foot. He has shown a lot of class and talent for Valencia, as well as for Spain, and he would prove to be a good addition to the squad.
The likes of Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Adebayor and Bellamy are already present in the squad, which gives City a lot of attacking options in the next season. This whole attacking line would be supplemented by the presence of Gareth Barry in the midfield, who is also well-known as a quality midfielder.
The last season was somewhat difficult for City. Despite spending a lot in the transfer market, they failed to break into the top four. On the other hand, with a little spending, Tottenham was the surprise package of the season.
The real problem with City was that they were unable to get good results from their away fixtures, and had a long run of drawn matches. This problem cost them the whole season, as Manchester City, despite their dominance, were unable to make their mark.
The main reason could be that the team was relatively new, and as new players made their entry, the team began to lack real coordination among themselves. Hence, they failed to perform as a unit, on a number of occasions, which cost them the season.
This time, however, things are going to be different. Another club from the top four, Manchester United, has weakened their position, as their squad is moving towards deterioration.
Also, it would not be possible to ensure that Tottenham would be able to repeat their performances in the next season. Only, Arsenal and Chelsea look formidable enough to regain their spot in the top four, while the rest is up for grabs.
There is no doubt that Manchester City has gotten stronger, and this might be their season in the EPL. A spot in the top four would be a small thing, as Manchester City is good enough to pose the challenge for the top spot in the English Premier League.
Tags: