The big news at Manchester City this week was the unveiling of Txiki Begiristain as the Premier League champions’ new director of football, a move that was surely invoked after an abject summer transfer window.
As title winners with an almost endless cash flow, it was simply expected, assumed, that Roberto Mancini would be photographed alongside a gaggle of the world’s best players. Yet, come September, he had Jack Rodwell, Javi Garcia and Scott Sinclair by his side – hardly names to crow about.
The Italian manager certainly cut a frustrated figure throughout the off-season, remarking in the aftermath of their failed Robin van Persie swoop: “No, I’m not happy. I don’t want to say anything at the moment. For me we have a good team but we need to continue to improve. You should talk to Brian Marwood for this. Not me.”
The reference to the one-time England winger, a man brought to the club to assist Mark Hughes in 2009 under the title of football administrator, was cutting and hinted at discord between the two.
Mancini went on to explain the root of his frustration, adding: “I think when you win something you should look to improve and buy new players but not too close to the end. The league was finished in May and I think now it is very difficult to move in the market. After three or four months … nothing.”
Proactivity was replaced by caution, possibly due to concerns over the financial fair play regulations eking their way into the consciousness of the big spenders and certainly on account of the Champions League registration rules that require eight “club-trained” or “association-trained” players.
And so, as talk of Daniele De Rossi and Javi Martinez built to a crescendo in August, fans of the club must have been somewhat perplexed as they watched Rodwell – a player who has constantly flattered to deceive – replace the outgoing Nigel de Jong and accepted the wrong Javi, as Garcia jetted in from Portugal instead of Martinez from the Basque Country.
The club still shelled out approximately £52 million this past window but many would argue whether the deal for Matija Nastasic (which also saw the underwhelming Stefan Savic depart) was worth any value to City – he remains in the category of “prospect” rather than “superstar”.
Subsequently, their plodding in the transfer market allowed City’s nearest rivals to close the gap and it has shown in the first quarter of games of the 2012-13 league season.
Chelsea have motored to the front of the queue playing compelling football, largely on account of the £52m spent on Eden Hazard and Oscar. Manchester United, meanwhile, pipped City to the capture of the league’s most deadly marksman – all this after poaching Shinji Kagawa from Dortmund.
Most observers will agree that City have yet to find their rhythm this season. A rigid setup and unimaginative attack have seen the champions pushed to their limit already, requiring Edin Dzeko to come to the rescue in their two previous away league encounters. The defence has kept just two clean sheets and David Silva has yet to rediscover the spark that captured the hearts of every purist in the British Isles.
The acquisitions of Sinclair and Maicon only add weight to the debate over City’s business.
The former Swansea City winger was a direct replacement for Adam Johnson but is an inferior player. On the surface, he has been signed purely as a back-up, something Sinclair himself even admitted. “I don’t know how often I’ll play,” he said – hardly a ringing endorsement of his own talent.
Maicon by the same token was an opportunistic transfer for a player the club don’t need. Even with Micah Richards’ latest setback, the Brazilian remains behind Pablo Zabaleta – one of the club’s best performers this year.
It all leaves you with a slightly sore head – no doubt a familiar feeling for Mancini. There are too many question marks hanging over the summer signings and not enough convincing performances to justify their big-money moves. Javi Garcia is certainly no amateur but, ahead of a campaign in which teams would be even more wise to City’s constant creative probing, was another holding midfielder a priority?
There is a direct example of how business can be done as Mancini takes his side to east London for a difficult fixture at West Ham. Sam Allardyce has carved much of his career from astute signings and tactful free transfers – exemplified this season by the wonderful emergence of Mohamed Diame.
The former Wigan midfielder hinted at his talent when on display for the Latics but it is only since his move to the Hammers that his value has truly been discovered and, if you size them up now, who would you rather? Rodwell or Diame?
The caveat to all of the above is that City remain unbeaten in the Premier League. Their Champions League campaign may lie in tatters but the domestic front remains the biggest priority for the club’s fans and, indeed, management. The worry, of course, is that City have stood still, which in football translates to moving backwards. They face an uphill battle to retain their crown, continuing with Saturday’s game at Upton Park.
The Prattling Pigskin 