Re: The Barclays Premiership / Champions League Thread
Yahoo/Eurosports column 'Early Doors' article on Man City.... walau had to stifle laughter at comment on Vincent Kompany.... haha....
Early Doors - Your morning briefing blog
No star quality
Wed Jul 29 08:54AM
They say money can't buy you love, but it seems it is also no guarantee of securing a star footballer either. If Manchester City wrap up the signing of Arsenal centre-back Kolo Toure then it is yet another big-money arrival at Eastlands which fails to get the blood pumping.
No need to panic Arsenal fans, as Arsene Wenger has assured fans: "We have seven centre-backs." That's right, Gooners, Philippe Senderos is back!
Although he was not the one left on his backside in the Champions League semi-final humbling by Manchester United, Toure did not completely escape the backlash as the inquest into a fourth trophyless season for the Gunners got underway.
And, despite his undoubted quality, the Ivorian is no John Terry in terms of making a statement of intent, unless your intent is to consistently overspend on good-but-not-great footballers.
The fruitless pursuits of Terry and Kaka have proved, just as it was with Chelsea in their early of obscene wealth, that it's still hard to bring in the top, top names with new money.
It took Roman Abramovich several years before he could tempt someone of Andrei Shevchenko's stature to the club, and in the end he signed the Ukrainian's evil twin brother who is rubbish at football.
Almost every single one of City's post-ADUG purchases have been tainted in one way or another.
Emmanuel Adebayor - After chasing a move for a year, would not have been welcomed back by Arsenal fans with open arms at the Emirates this August. Could well have been welcomed back by Arsenal fans bearing arms though.
Roque Santa Cruz - Despite sulking for six months as he wanted out of Blackburn, looked on as Rovers still avoided the drop while fielding Chris Samba up front.
Carlos Tevez - Having helped win a hatful of trophies for United, now City have been left to pick up the bill.
Gareth Barry - Agreed his route out of Aston Villa a year ago, only to see Xabi Alonso have a blinding season and make a last-minute diversion from Liverpool to Manchester.
Shay Given - Quite simply, desperate and grateful to leave Newcastle.
Nigel de Jong - Even by City standards, they paid over the odds for the midfielder, forking out around £18m in January for a player they could have got for £5m this summer.
Vincent Kompany - Looks like Skeletor.
As long as Sheikh Mansour sticks around, City will have to be taken seriously at some point, but if they stick with the strategy of hovering up every Premier League waif and stray who is down on his luck then it will take them a lot longer.