The end of the transfer window looms large on Tuesday after a very decent point for City at Wolverhampton Wanders on Saturday. The Tigers started brilliantly, constructing a well-worked move for Geovanni to head home after just three minutes. But then, as so often seems to happen, we sat back and allowed Wolves to get back into the game. A threat was carried on the break for much of the first half, but it gradually fizzled out. The second was a tortuous affair for anyone of black and amber persuasion, with a lifeless City side offering very little going forward. A terrific display from Turner rescued a valuable point.

So what to make of a largely disappointing performance? There have to be lots of positives; gaining points without playing well is usually a decent sign (as long as there aren’t too many poor performances of course).

Playing a newly promoted side this early in the season was always going to be tricky. Wolves were hungry, direct and played some decent football at times. They will give most teams a good game at Molineux. Some fans will maintain that City need to beat teams like Wolves in order to stay up, but I view this as a good point, particularly taking into account some of the chances frittered away by the hosts in the second period. It was tricky to pick out a stand out performer for City. Geo worked hard again, and caused problems for the Premier League new boys, and Zayatte did a reasonable job again in his unfamiliar right back position. But it was largely a slow, tawdry performance, with not enough quality or speed, and the majority of City’s players were slightly below par. Another good performer was made captain in George Boateng’s absence, and represents perhaps City’s greatest challenge this season.

Keeping Michael Turner out of Sunderland’s clutches is of paramount importance to City’s season. Brown knows it, Turner knows it, and the City fans know it, certainly judging by yesterday’s away following, who treated the centre half to several renditions of “Only one Michael Turner” throughout the game, before Turner treated us to a worryingly long bout of applause at the final whistle. There was definitely a concerning whiff of “thanks for the memories” about it.

Turner definitely has the potential to be in Fabio Capello’s England squad for next summer’s World Cup in South Africa. Last season he stifled some of the world’s best strikers, and without him City would definitely have gone down. Turner is our best player in the one area of the side in which we are Premier League quality. Removing him removes a huge part of the spine of our team. We live in hope that the deal falls through at the last minute.

As for the rest of the window, City are still in desperate need of more players. Another midfielder is a must, with Bullard and Ash out for a good while yet, and the likes of Boateng and Kilbane struggling to look the part. Another striker is also vital. Ghilas and Altidore both look promosing, but those two aside, Phil Brown is struggling for the required quality. Folan has looked out of his depth so far this season, and the petulant Daniel Cousin appears to have burned his bridges wiuth the Tigers supremo. Another pacy, physical goalscorer seems to still be a must.

Then there’s the defence. McShane has been signed, so we finally have a specialist right-back, but another centre half would be handy (particularly if Turner is swiped from our clutches). Hopefully Brown will have a replacement in mind if we do indeed lose out on our most prized asset.

Sorry if this seems a bit negative, but I’m just reflecting the thoughts of many City fans. This really looks like being a torrid summer of business for the Tigers, but hopefully it can be turned around before Tuesday evening.

TC