Mark Hughes has stated that the incredible turnover of players in the last two transfer windows isn’t going to be repeated in the future.
These are fascinating statements that appear to confirm how Sheikh Mansour has invested heavily in the short team, with a view to having City compete for the Champions League positions.
Mark Hughes:
“In the future we won’t be going into the market to this extent again. We have gone very quickly into the market and brought in big numbers of players.
“Usually in football this doesn’t happen over short periods. We are obviously investing heavily in our academy and in our scouting.
“In future we will be looking to acquire players we feel will add value to the club and become great players at Manchester City, rather than going out to the market and at times paying a premium because we need the players now.
“We will be in the market if top players become available, but it won’t be at the level we have seen in the last two windows.
“I set out what I felt the club needed in terms of players.
“It was basically a process that should have been done over a three- to five-year period but we made the decision that we would try to make it happen in two windows, and to see how far we could get with it.
“For us to bring in the amount of players we have brought in, and the amount who have gone out, means we have changed personnel at an unprecedented level. Twenty-six players have been sold, released or sent out on loan and that is a huge turnover.
“The challenge we have is that we have a lot of new faces, but those new faces are of the type of character that we think will help in that gelling process.â€Â
Will rival clubs, the media, Michel Platini and Uefa now relax and recognize that we’re not the death of football? Will they recognize that we’re only making an initial investment in the same way Blackburn did when Jack Walker took over, or Chelsea did when Roman Abramovich took over?
It would be nice to think so, but in the short term I doubt it.
In a relatively quiet transfer window elsewhere for the Premier League, we have generated reams of good copy for the press. Columnists will still need to fill their columns and with our higher profile, editors know that ‘outrage’ stories on our new money will continue to prove popular with readers.
Platini and Uefa have their own agenda to push in trying to curb the success of a Premier League that shows up the flaws in the Uefa competitions. Talking up the threat of our spending also helps Platini push the idea of a wage cap. Details of how a wage cap would work are conspicuously harder to find than proclamations on our ‘immoral’ spending.
However it would be interesting to see if the comments by Hughes prove to be true. Whilst I’m sure we won’t see the volume of transfers in future windows, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a smaller number of bigger signings.
If City were to gain a Champions League place then the ‘galactico’ players who have previously said no to our advances, may become more amenable to joining us. To challenge for the Champions League these top class players may even be a necessity, and I get the impression that Sheikh Mansour doesn’t intend to settle for being an also-ran.
Whatever happens, this has been an amazing transfer window, and it will be fascinating to watch how the team comes together.
With the arrival of Joleon Lescott, speculation has increased that Richard Dunne may be leaving the club, while Ben Haim is being linked with a season-long loan to Portsmouth.
The Daily Mail earlier claimed that Aston Villa have agreed a £6m fee for Dunne, and this has since appeared in The Guardian. As of today Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott look set to be our first choice centre back pairing and it’s doubtful if Dunne will be happy with a place on the bench in a World Cup year. Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland are well placed in their qualification group and Dunne wouldn’t want to miss out.
Nedum Onuoha has recently inked a contract extension to confirm the management have faith in his abilities. With Vincent Kompany also a more than capable centre-half, Dunne may be considered expendable by Hughes. It’s hard on the loyal servant, but there are decent options available to him. One problem could be whether potential suitors would match the wages the Irishman is currently on. If they do, it could mean a fond farewell to the Joe Royle signing.
A place in the top six may have been the target that Khaldoon Al Mubarak officially set at the start of the Summer, but there’s little doubt the new signings are aiming higher. At his unveiling today, Joleon Lescott spoke along similar lines:
“The money doesn’t mean anything to the players – we just want to be part of something successful here.
“Everyone outside top four are aiming for the same thing. I think Man City are better equipped to do that quicker than Everton and that’s why I’m here.”
The controversy around the move isn’t something Lescott sought, but inevitably he was questioned about Moyes’ criticism of him.
“I was disappointed in the comments.”
“I feel they were inaccurate. I’d like to address them at a later date and talk more positively about my move.”
“I don’t think I disrespected any of the players – if I did I apologise.”
“Now I’m looking forward to doing my all for Man City.”
A delighted Hughes talked up his new signing:
“Joleon it arguably the best centre-half in the Premier League and can be for many years to come. He was key to what we were trying to do.
“I was really keen to bring him here and we’re looking forward to many years together.”
I’m not sure many others would agree he is quite that good, however he should give balance and added strength to our defence. It remains to be seen if Lescott looks as good in a Hughes team that often gets stretched, as he did in the compact and disciplined defence which Moyes employs.
His goalscoring prowess at set pieces may also be hard to replicate away from an Everton side that had a far greater emphasis on that side of the game. It would be a welcome change if City could consistently deliver dangerous crosses from dead ball situations.
Overall, Lescott could prove a crucial signing in a position that has never been properly filled since Sylvain Distin parted for Pompey. Added solidity at the back could be just what we need to make a serious challenge for the top four – this season!
Video:
Interview with Joleon Lescott
The former Arsenal and Barcelona wing-back spoke positively about joining City.
“It’s a good time to be here. It’s an exciting time for the club. I’m really proud to be here again, in the Premier League.
“When I played for Arsenal it improved my game a lot. When you come to the Premier League you improve and play better. I think it will help me again.
“I know I can help with the team and I know they can help me. I know I can help, but I’m not thinking about the first team. I’m just going to do my work and that’s it.
“I could play maybe four or five years more. You never know.”
“I have a contract for a year, so I am very happy. I will just try to help the team. It’s a good time to be here at this club. I will help to make the club even bigger than they are.
“I believe in the project and I believe in the coach. I believe we can do a lot of things in the future.”
Sylvinho on Wikipedia