Since
massive take over in the Autumn of 2008, many of the names that our
beloved club has been linked with the four and a half previous years are some
that us blues could have only dreamed about for the past fourty years.
Being linked with the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristano Ronaldo and
Kaka, whom are probably the greatest three footballers of our
generation is beyond amazing for any blue to see and with City having signed big money players such as Carlos
Tevez, Yaya Toure and World Cup winner David Silva then success was always pretty imminent.
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| Disgruntled Robinho during his time at City |
With the Brazilian star expected to join Chelsea
only days before the end of the window, City fans had felt they had
got one over their Premier League rivals. Many people in the media
had dipped Robinho's move to City as "career destroying"
for the promising 24 year-old Brazilian. City were also accused of
paying over the odds for Robinho because of how short the time of the
deal was put in place. I think its fair to say in his 18 months at
City, he failed to live up to the high expectations the media and
City fans wanted to see. His moments of brilliance were very limited,
due to his public outbursts of the club and of then City manager Mark Hughes.
Scoring 14 goals in his first six months, the South American was
clearly destined to become a City legend. All had changed after the
turn of the new year. Rumours started to come out that City's prime
assist was "home sick". Poor performances and constant poor
attitude saw him come from being a fans favourite to being as liked
as much as Danny Mills was during his City career.
The revolution
continued in the summer of 2009 with big names such as Carlos Tevez from Manchester United, Kolo Toure from Arsenal along with teammate Emmanuel Adebayor and long time City target Roque Santa Cruz from Lancashire rivals Blackburn. Robinho was now seen as a big fish in
the big pond, and the days of him being the only name at city
were now long gone. His half hearted performances continued into the
new season and when manager Mark Hughes was sacked in December 2009,
Roberto Mancini came in and aimed to clear out many of the big names
in order to set his own mark on the club. Mancini identified the trouble star as a number of players in the dressing room that would be the fall of City rather than the cure of the club. By the end of January,
Robinho made his last appearance in a City shirt by scoring in an
away trip to Scunthorpe. He was then loaned to hometown club Santos
in Brazil before coming back to Europe to move to Italian giants AC
Milan for £22 million. Many people see this as poor business for City,
as they opted to take a £10 million on a big name with much
potential.
In
January 2009, City famously made themselves a household name for the
good and bad reasons. City went in pursuit of another Brazilian
superstar and probably the best player on the planet at the time,
Kaka. City had a bid of a stunning £108 million accepted by Milan,
only a day later the bid had collapsed after numerous protests
outside the home of the Samba star. He rejected his move to City and
then Milan pulled out of the deal. Famously then our chief executive
Garry Cook labelled Milan as "Bottlers" for the way they
pulled out of the mega million deal. Myself, along with many City
fans felt that the price was a bit extraordinary and wasn't worth it.
This is more evidence of City being charged over priced because of
their financial backing that is available to us. A blessing in
disguise?? I think so. Also that window City still spent over the top prices on players such as £14 million for journey man Craig Bellamy and a stunning £11 million for left back
Wayne Bridge which left many Premier League clubs laughing at us, still to this day.
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| Carlos Tevez' scoring away at Norwich last April |
Most
probably one of the club's greatest capture came in the summer of 2009 when a
little known Argentinian crossed the City for a bargain £25 million after he
refused to sign a new contract with them! After scoring 64 goals in 112 games for City his value should be up there with that of Wayne Rooney, Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao. If rumours are to be believed and he does wish to leave
City, the press dub him at a lousy £20 million valuation striker. If Wayne
Rooney had scored 64 goals in 112 games. What would he be valued at?
Roque
Santa Cruz' move from Blackburn to City was about as useful for the
Paraquaian as a one legged man attempting the hookey-cookey. He was
never destined for great with us after the arrivals of Carlos Tevez
and Emmanuel Adebayor had straight away put him down the pecking
order at City. His injuries to both knee's were another factor in why
he has failed to cement a place in City's line up. Having never failed to
live up to his price tag and out of contract come June. Two season-long loan deals to Real Betis and Malaga have seen the former Munich striker have his contract being worn down.
More evidence of City's over priced spending that summer was clear
when City went after both Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure and paid an
estimated £40 million for the players. Kolo Toure was seen as a player seeking a
new challenge, and with Joleon Lescott was seeking to further his career it proved to be the right thing for all parties involved. Both
players came under a lot of criticism for their performances under
Mark Hughes as neither had lived up to their price tag. Joleon Lescott at
the time was seen as a good player on an average team but City were
forced to pay over the odds for him due to their financial situation.
Lescott's form in the last two years has been as good as any defender
in the league. Him and fans favourite, Vincent Kompany, formed a
formidable partnership for the previous eighteen months prior to the arrival of young Serbian defender Majita Nastasic from Fiorentina. I now can't
help but feel that if City choose to sell Joleon Lescott in probably the
form of his career, would they even re coup half of what they paid
for the 29 year old Birmingham born centre half? This only further
shows City's over spending on players that will only result in a
loss.
Later
that same summer City lost two fans favourites in club captain
Richard Dunne and later Brazilain play maker Elano who was sold to
Galaatasary for a bargain £8 million, exactly the same figure as what City
had paid for his services 2 years previous from Ukrainian champions
Shakhtar Donestk. After many brilliant performances and many
fantastic goals it still amazes me how such a techniqually gifted
player such as Elano was sold for such a bargain price.
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| Richard Dunne leading his City side during the 07/08 season |
The
biggest loss of the summer was when on the final day of the transfer
window, City legend Richard Dunne was sold to Aston Villa for only £6 million. An own goal specialist, the Irishman had seen himself pull through some incredibly tough
times at City for him, both professionally and personally, mainly his
party attitude during the 02/03 season. Dunne soon then pulled
himself around and claimed the captaincy off Distin after the
Frenchman publicly questioned city's ambition. Due
to his appointment, Distin and Dunne never spoke off the pitch again,
but it was clear their relationship on the pitch was nothing but
professional. Dunne was now claiming interest from Arsenal and
Liverpool but committed himself to City. Dunne went on to win four player of the year awards in a row until 2009 where Stephen Ireland
broke Dunne's record. Arguably one of the best Centre Halves in the
Premier League over the last ten years, yet again another top Premier
League player on City's books was sold for a bargain price.
Twelve months later spending brought in some whopping deals that some fans could
only dream of. A world cup winner in David Silva and a European Cup
winner in Yaya Toure were brought into the side for £24 each.
Both players went on to prove their worth and showed that they were
well worth their price tag with some brilliant performances
throughout the season, which saw blues fans celebrate Champions
League football for next year and a cup final day out at Wembley
after previously beating United in the semi final only weeks before.
Not
all of City's signings that year provided value for money. Aleksander
Kolarov was bought for £17 million from Lazio and I think its safe to
say the Serbian has failed to live up to his price tag. Maybe he just
hasn't performed to the high level he is sometimes capable of throughout the season or else
this is another example of City paying high inflated prices for
average players.
Despite
our over spending on average players, City have purchased some
players that have proven value for money in this period. Both Nigel
De Jong and Shay Given were bought in the January transfer window in
2009. Given was bought for a bargain £6 million after Newcastle were
seemingly desperate for funds for Given. At the time a seemingly over
priced Nigel De Jong has since turned out to be a steal at £17 million.
Both players should have been sold on for higher than their price received after their sales. Two other steals that City have purchased in the past 3
years, Patrick Vieira was signed the same month for free after being
released by Inter Milan. Vieira turned out to be a massive influence
in the City dressing room last season, most notably for guiding young
Italian, Mario Balotelli.
The summer before City finally stamped their mark on the English game they forked out major funds to try and finally become the elite club in England. Strong and positive spending came throughout the summer with many necessary captures reaching the estimated players valuation. The bargain of the season arguably being the £7 million capture of Arsenal left back Gael Clichy. The young French-man with both Champions League success and a Premier League winners medal to his name really proved to be a clever bit of business by Roberto Mancini. City later that summer captured Samir Nasri from Arsenal from under the noses of city rivals Manchester United. United manager, Alex Ferguson previously claimed to be an admirer of the Arsenal man only for City to snap him up before United did. He has since yet to show the same form as he did in his later Arsenal days but his natural ability show why City paid the fee they did for the ex-Marseille player.
Of late it's evident City have become a stable business and their success can be used a lot more as a tool for capturing big named players rather than throwing money at players. Last summer just gone City sold Emmanuel Adebayor for a £20million loss on what they paid previously. No doubt about it, any "big name" player signed for an extraordinary fee and eventually sold on for a fraction of the fee paid have been Mark Hughes signings. 90% of signings made under City manager Roberto Mancini, their form has continued or become better players because of the temper mental Italian. Getting the best out of players that were already at the
club has probably been Mancini's biggest achievement in his three years. Consistent performances from Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Gareth Barry who were all bought under ex managers, have proved to be a
key to the success of our wonderful seasons witnessed in the last couple of years.
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| City's first trophy in 35 years |
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| League Champions for the first time since 1968 |
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