Ben Collins assesses Man City's chances of breaking into the top four after going so close last season.
Ben Collins assesses Man City's chances of breaking into the top four after going so close last season.
City went within a whisker of reaching the UEFA Champions League last season and after continuing their lavish spending this summer, they are expected to claim a top-four finish this term.
Last season City did the double over champions Chelsea and had three epic tussles with neighbours United, losing 4-3 at Old Trafford in September and 4-3 on aggregate in the League Cup semi-finals.
Summer signings Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor sure lived up to the hype as they struck 37 league goals between them and City lost only one of their first 15 league games, yet despite all that, City still had to settle for fifth place and their wait for a first major trophy since 1976 continues.
Talk of a Premier League power shift is probably still premature as during the derby games against United last season and the Champions League showdown with Tottenham, City's inexperience in seeing out the big games was there for all to see.
Undoubted quality
There is no denying that the City squad now has the quality and the depth to challenge for major honours, the question is whether they can cope with the weight of expectation at a club that had become used to dramatic failure.
Once many people's second-favourite team, City have also set themselves up as the team everyone loves to beat since their Arab takeover two years ago. The manner in which the club's new regime has flexed its financial muscle to blow their transfer rivals out of the water and ruthlessly dispose of manager Mark Hughes last December has endeared them to few.
After bringing in Adam Johnson and Patrick Vieira in January, new boss Roberto Mancini has taken the opportunity to put his own stamp on the team this summer, spending over £75m on four players to bolster his defence and midfield, while Joe Hart has returned from his season-long loan spell at Birmingham.
The vast array of options at Mancini's disposal mean he has some tough decisions to make. As well as choosing between Hart and Shay Given in goal, the Italian faces many similar dilemmas in defence and midfield with several players having the versatility to play in different positions.
His team selection will often vary depending on the opposition, although chopping and changing so much can disrupt the team, as City found to their cost last season. The arrival of so many overseas stars has also pushed fan favourites like Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland and Craig Bellamy to the fringes, so Mancini must be wary of keeping both his players and the supporters happy.
The long-suffering Blues feel that now is their time but they also know the club has had a tremendous record for shooting themselves in the foot over the years, often with comic effect. The way Mancini manages his star-studded squad will determine if City squander another such opportunity this season.
One to Watch:
Only the most optimistic City fan could have expected a 29-goal return from
Carlos Tevez in his first season following his defection from United last summer. The Argentina striker will have to repeat that form if he is to prove he really is a world-class striker and will be eager to show he can actually lead City to silverware.
Young Gun:
Adam Johnson soon established himself in the City side following his £7m move from Middlesbrough in the transfer window and did enough to earn an England call-up, narrowly missing out on Fabio Capello's World Cup squad. The 23-year-old showed he can play on the right wing as well as the left, and with Martin Petrov having been released this summer, he will look to make the left wing role his own while and become an England regular.
Point to Prove:
City made
Yaya Toure the highest-paid player in Premier League history when they signed the defensive midfielder from Barcelona this summer. The Ivory Coast international, 27, is now under pressure to prove he warrants his superstar wages.
Best Signing:
Defence was a problem area last season, with poor form and injuries making it difficult for the Blues to find a settled back four, but
Jerome Boateng could be the solution. Primarily a centre-back, the 21-year-old impressed at full-back for Germany during the World Cup, suggesting he has the brains and the brawn to shore up the City defence.
Manager:
Roberto Mancini succeeded Mark Hughes in December and although he was unable to steer City into the top four, he has another shot at it this season. Having had a full pre-season and over £75m to spend this summer, the pressure is on for the Italian coach to deliver silverware this term.
Fantasy Football pick:
Only Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard scored more points than
Carlos Tevez in last season's competition. Scoring 23 goals from 32 league games, the Argentina striker also registered eight assists and is set to spearhead the City attack again alongside Emmanuel Adebayor.
