Why Manchester City Won’t Win The Premier League

Why Manchester City Won’t Win The Premier League

Why Manchester City Won’t Win The Premier League

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By Dominic Vieira, writing from Portugal

Can money buy a team glory? No.

The media, fans and players thought Manchester City were going to win the title last season after spending over an astronomical £100m buying the Premier League’s top players. They purchased Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry, Joleon Lescott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure amongst others.

However, Roberto Mancini who took over from Mark Hughes in late December guided The Citizens to 5th place, their highest Premier League finish. Manchester City qualified for the Europa League, but not the Champions League where Europe’s biggest stars and best teams stars perform on the most competitive stage. 

Bearing in mind that City appointed a new manager in mid-season and signed a range of foreign players who need time to adapt, 5th place was a noble achievement. The team will build and develop from last season’s performances by constructing a team which is physically and mentally ready to challenge for the title which they’ve not won since 1968. And how do you think Man City prepared for the 2010/11 season?

It’s a new season for the Manchester club which means it’s time to pull out the famous check-book from the draw and sign a bunch of players. This summer City purchased talented and fairly young players from European clubs, with the exception of Yaya Toure (aged 27). Boateng (21), Kolarov (24) and David Silva (24) all moved to England to earn large sums of pounds and play in Europe’s most competitive league. Plus, Joe Hart has returned from his season-long loan move. Manchester City did well this transfer window, they completed intelligent signings which have strengthened the weaker sectors of the team. The new players will introduce structure, balance and class to the squad.

Manchester City possess a squad full of options, with world class players at their disposal and 6 lethal strikers who should be playing regularly. The team has reliable goalkeepers, solid defenders, hard working midfielders and a lethal attacking front-line. Mancini has everything any team would desire and require, surely Manchester City will win the title? Maybe if you were playing Football Manager. 

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Where are the smiles boys?

Manchester City reminds of the infamous and unsuccessful Real Madrid “Galactico” era where Florentino Perez signed some of the world’s greatest footballers. The team made history for all of the wrong reasons. They won the Champions League in 02, league title in 03, sacked their best coach Vicente Del Bosque in 03 (who recently led Spain to World cup glory) and didn’t win a major trophy for 3 years until the president departed. The team looked like a bunch of stars with diverse personalities, who spoke different languages which were trying to play football for one of the world’s best teams. Furthermore, they let go of important players such as Makelele and Cambiasso because ‘they couldn’t sell jerseys’.

Since the new ownership took over at Manchester, the side is looking almost identical to the “Galactico” team which failed to conquer and dominate football. Man. City haven’t stopped spending and started developing, they must understand that success is not instant. More players are coming in, more players have to learn English and adapt to life in the country which isn’t easy for Brazilians or Spaniards. The team has no history, home grown players or club symbols. Where is the Raul of Man. City? 

They have become a better side with the summer signings and improved their style of play, last season they scored 73 goals but suffered 45 goals. However, in recent reports Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland are constantly rumoured to exit the club, two talented players who played a key role in the growth of the club. Does this resemble any similarities to Makelele and Cambiasso?

Despite possessing a quality selection of individuals players, Man. City lack the experience, team work, organisation and champion mentality of clubs such as Chelsea and arch-rivals Manchester United. Money can’t buy those factors which take time to be developed and refined. Furthermore, a team needs hours of correct training and match experience to become a compact unit. The players need to understand each other and most importantly, it takes time for a side to play football as a team with a distinct personality.

The pressure and expectations for Manchester City to perform may not be at the same level during the “Galactico” days; but it would be a dissapoing for the fans, players and owners if they don’t win a competition this year. 

Winning the title should be a long term objective for the club, it’s attainable for next season once the players develop and form a team. Also, each manager introduces their own project to a team and it’s crucial that Man. City don’t plan on sacking their 3rd manager in 3 years.

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Money doesn’t buy success, money can’t buy the 2010/11 Premier League title but it can buy footballers. The biggest spenders don’t always win the trophy, in previous seasons Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle were the top spenders and neither of them lifted the title. The Premier League was established 18 years ago and the highest spending teams have won the league on 5 occasions. 

Success doesn’t happen overnight. Man. City were the top spenders last year and will receive the same title this year. It probably be the only title they’ll receive this season.