Blues building a team of mercenaries
That was my choice.
I never trust results from the first couple of weekends. I once remember having to go to Hillsborough to interview the then Sheffield Wednesday manager Howard Wilkinson because his team was top of the table: after two games. I think they ended up being relegated.
So, forgive me, lying on a beach in California and hearing that Blackpool had won 4-0 away to Wigan on the opening day. I still believe they’ll go back where they came from.
And I also needed a long break after South Africa. The time has passed for me to go into the reasons why but, aside from enjoying the richly deserved embarrassment of the French, I thought it was a pretty awful World Cup. I couldn’t wait for the flight home. It’s no wonder I despair that, yet again, so early in the new season, the latest international fixtures loom. I repeat: there is FAR too much international football.
But the other reason that I wanted to stay away was that I knew that I’d want to throw up hearing the constant transfer speculation regarding Manchester City.
Now I have never had anything against this particular club even when, many blue moons ago, somebody started a one-(wo)man campaign to have me banned from Maine Road. Neither the club, wholly sympathetic to me, nor I ever got to the bottom of that one!
Yet City are much changed. The money from Arabia sees a light-blue sword slashing its way through the transfer market. Hasn’t it become tedious seeing them linked with all and sundry?
And don’t say that’s all the media’s fault. I accept they’re to blame for some of the more idle speculation but the unmovable smug grin on the face of the less than likeable chief executive Garry Cook says he and City love all the publicity.
As Chelsea did before, City are perverting and destabilising the whole scenario. They pay absurd prices because they can.
Let me give you an example. I remember recommending Yaya Toure to a former chief executive of a prominent Premier League outfit when the player was available for just over a million euros from his then club, Olympiakos. So, what would I know?
But he isn’t worth £25 million or whatever City paid.
And much though I think James Milner is a good player, he, too, isn’t remotely worth the money that City coughed up.
City are merely assembling an undignified group of mercenaries and badge kissers. And, if this bunch doesn’t work, there’ll be another one along in January or next summer or the transfer windows after that.
I’m not jealous as many undoubtedly are. I just don’t think it’s the way to run or build a club, particularly one that has so many die-hard and wonderful supporters.
And what of the coach? Are you in any doubt that if City aren’t pushing their weight around at the top of the table come October or November Mancini will be out of the job?
Dream on or maybe he and City will prove me entirely wrong.
It’s great to be back, isn’t it? It isn’t September and I’m moaning already!
