ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester City- Keane And Cole would be smart additions

Posted by Wallace Poulter on 06/19/2011

It's time for City to consolidate. The club has made the Champions League and now it needs a squad that can compete for four trophies. That doesn't mean signing every young, over-priced hotshot from the continent, but rather focusing on adding experience to the squad.

Which is why I'd like to see City add Robbie Keane and Joe Cole to the team. Yes, I hear you and I know what you are going to say, but there's more to Keane and Cole than old and injured.

Take a moment to think back to Keane in his Spurs days prior to the ill-fated move to Liverpool. The partnership between Keane and Berbatov was one of the best, if not the best, in the Premier League. The reason was that their styles meshed perfectly. Keane has not only a predatory instinct within the box, but is prepared to do a tremendous amount of the dirty work required of a modern forward in chasing and harrying. Berbatov on the other hand would more float through games, picking his moment to show the occasional flashes of brilliance which would usually lead to a goal or two. That's Berbatov's style of play, he's very good at what he does, but he's never going to be a blue-collar chaser.

Sound like anyone we know? Indeed. Mario Balotelli. I'm not saying that Robbie Keane is the great goal scorer of the past. I'm saying Robbie Keane is still a very good goal scorer who just happens to match the style perfectly of Balotelli and as such would make an excellent third or fourth striker for the team. A quality, experienced veteran who knows they are not first choice, but still will get their games and playing time and would complement Balotelli's play.

Now, to Joe Cole. So much talent, so utterly wrongly used it should be criminal. For a brief shining moment at the start of his Liverpool career I finally thought a club had figured out how to use Cole properly. Against Rabotnicki in the Europa League, Cole was deployed behind the strikers in the David Silva role and dominated. Here's Tom Bryant from the Guardian with what was the quote of the year

"This Liverpool has about as much resemblance to the one helmed by Raphael Benitez as the back end of a bus has to Scarlett Johansson. Flicks, tricks, incisive running, freedom on and off the ball and a general air that, actually, playing football is quite fun seemed to dominate the place."

Cole was brilliant because for once he was played in the correct position. Joe Cole on the wing is an average Premier League player. But Cole in the Silva role would be a revelation. Certainly Cole has suffered with injuries the past couple of years, but with Liverpool willing to do business and City needing a back up to Silva this is the perfect situation for Cole to get meaningful minutes over the course of a season and build back to the player he always could be.

Each player, from a transfer fee standpoint, will come at minimal cost and would also provide experienced leadership that City will require this season. No, they aren't the sexy European signings that the press keep connecting City to, but these are the practical signings that can help City build a squad that can compete with United, Chelsea and Arsenal next season. You can't have 25 superstars. You need 11 starters and a combination of veterans, role players and youth that support the team. Keane and Cole would help City win more games and that really should be the only criteria.

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Comments

Posted by Kaptain Kompany on 06/18/2011

We need neither of those players. Joe Cole is way too old now and has done nothing in the last 3 years. Robbie Keane could be an okay addition, but only if Tevez leaves, and I still think there are many players who would be better than Keane (Pastore, Kaka, Ayew)

Wallace reply You are making the mistake that the press is making by suggesting that City add players who would start. City need squad players that can play when the starters are injured, suspended or need a rest when the club is competing for four trophies.

Posted by Mr Fluke on 06/18/2011

Keane and Cole? You are joking aren't you? Keane to old now and both are way past their best. We can do so much better and don't want to be filling up our squad with players who are now also rans, thank you very much. Thankfully you will have no input into who we will actually sign!

Wallace Reply On the contrary, City specifically need to fill up their squad with complimentary players who can start when needed. Giggs and Scholes have been way past their best for at least a couple of years but their veteran leadership and occasional playing time supported the United starting 11.

Posted by CiTyBlUe on 06/18/2011

Minimal cost? Joe Cole is on 6 figures a week so I don't see where you get the idea this ddeal would be minimal.

Robbie Keane would be a cheap and safe bet but you fail to see 'why Robbie when we can have Alexi Sanchez'

I could even say 'why Cole when we can have Juan Mata'

Wallace Reply Sigh. Because Alexi Sanchez would be a top flight player that would have to start. Robbie Keane, and Joe Cole, as I explained would be squad players.

Posted by bumbaclart on 06/18/2011

Is this some sort of joke?

Wallace Reply United win because they have a proper squad. No one else does. Until their rivals figure that out, United will continue to win the Premier League.

Posted by Roger on 06/18/2011

The only ones who will benifit from such a deal are spurs and liverpool, nice try though, but man city needs to be looking for better targets than has-beens.

Wallace Reply This kind of response so frustrates me. It's about building a Squad which includes veteran players who can provide team leadership and occasional playing time in support of the established team.

Posted by Daz on 06/18/2011

Attention seeking journalism. Well done, it worked but we can all laugh now.

Keep defending your words 'til you reply to yourself in the comments under another name.

Wallace reply You cannot have 25 players in a squad of the same quality. They get unhappy over playing time and go running to the press. A complete squad is built from a starting 11, role players, youth prospects and veterans who provide the leadership and experience. Name a City veteran who can take that role?

Posted by Deni on 06/18/2011

Wallace, finally we get the much awaited piece on who you want to see in the team. In my opinion, both players are on the decline. Are there any young (and relatively unknown)players that might have the characteristics to these two players?
What do you think of the Balotelli and Dzeko partnership in the case Tevez leaves or does not start?

Wallace Reply yes of course they are on the decline. That's what makes them good fits as squad players.

I think the Balotelli, Dzeko partnership will work well this season.

Posted by craggles on 06/18/2011

this is a stupid article. im not a city fan but why would any top half team want these two? both crap and will cost £100,000+ per week on your books. no need to write such drivel!

Wallace Reply And another misses the point.

Posted by Skybluelion79 on 06/18/2011

I hear what your saying bout just getting squad players with experience but Cole & Keane aren't the players for that role. Neither player are reliable when it comes to putting in solid performances or even performances where they change the game in any way. In a word they're both "CRAP" & I would be gutted if we signed them.

Wallace Reply Do you have other experienced Premier League players who you feel would fill the roles of third/fourth striker and back up attacking midfielder better than Keane and Cole?

Posted by Martin Grayfield on 06/18/2011

I don't agree with you about these individual players on the other hand i take your point regarding the squad player who come's on in the game. I think we have just let one go or are in negotiations with him depending on what you read i.e. Viera. A poor start but worked really well this season in most games and popped up with the occasional goal. I am not saying it should be him and United clearly see a role for this type of player or Owen would be on the released list also. Would be quite handy to get someone who qualified as home grown as well. Hang on i am talking myself into agreeing with you on the players now as well......

Wallace Reply ha! good to see you agree about the squad. I'm not for the minute suggesting that Keane and Cole would be in an optimal starting 11, as much as I happen to like them, but City have a squad that needs veteran depth.

Posted by tublu on 06/18/2011

several responses from the author to posts suggesting that keane is some sort of leader and good example.... have you ever watched him play ? he's a bad attitude on legs. also used his skills & experience to great effect for wet spam last year. Put simply Wallace I (and all the others above) think you are wrong. Cole is not good enough to be a squad player and Keanes attitude stinks.

Wallace Reply We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I love the way Keane plays.

Posted by Richie on 06/18/2011

Hi Wallace, surely we have to get rid of the excess baggage before we take in excess baggage from other teams. I cannot see it working unless the likes of SWP,Santa Cruz,Bridge,Ade and Jo get moved on. Bellemy could do the Keane role as you suggested but the obvious problems exist between him and Mancini. It would be a huge risk and if results are not going our way you can imagine the groans if the crowd see Keane and Cole warming up when we are a goal down as what happened numerous times last season with Viera getting ready to come on.

Wallace Reply Completely agree about the excess baggage of those that you list being removed. I don't see Keane and Cole as substitutes but rather starters when there are injuries, suspensions or the starting 11 need to be rested. Silva in particular has no natural back up at City and that should worry everyone.

Posted by The Archivist on 06/18/2011

Okay, Wallace, I agree with your point about the need to fill out the squad with some players with veteran experience, and I also concur that these may not be the shining young talents and big names that have been bandied about in the media and in supporters' fora .
I like Keane, and he would be a useful player, but I rather doubt that Mancini would enjoy managing a player who is a clubhouse leader with a huge ego and a penchant for defying management. However, not a bad shout, anyway, as you're correct in asserting that he a predator in the box who is multi-skilled and has excellent work-rate.
Joe Cole, however, would be a huge risk, and an unnecessary one, from an injury standpoint. He would only play in lieu of Silva because, as you rightly note, he's ineffective out on the wing.
Also, he's on a huge salary, which is why we're trying to dump veterans already on our roster.

If you rewrote this column using other players than those mentioned here, you'd get a better reception.

Wallace Reply Who would you suggest rather than Keane and Cole?

Posted by Juan Sheet Dos Plenty on 06/18/2011

I read the headline, and thought "what a load of rubbish", but you've convinced me. Good points well made. This is actuallya well-thought, original opinion article, rather than a cut 'n paste.

Mancini obviously understands the value of experience, because his first signing was to get patrick Vieroria on a free as a squad player. Not for his legs (which have lost a yard of pace), but for the gift of his brain.

Vieria knows he won't play every week, but he will be sent on to slow aq game and keep posession when in the past we would have conceded a goal in the last few minutes. He also knows how to speed a game up, mark a particular player who's causing problems, defend from corners etc. He's won everything, has a cool head, and is a good influence on younger players like Balotelli - like a more mobile Hamman, if you will.

Wallace Reply yes exactly. No one is going to claim that Vieira is one of the top 100 players in the premier league, but he had a place and a specific role in the club. That is exactly my point. You can have 25 superstars on a team, they all expect to play. It's all well and good for speculation linking say Kaka with City but given the formations that City run where would you play him? The best team doesn't win the Premier League, the best squad does which is why I picked United to win the title last year when all the "experts" had them finishing fourth of worst in the league.

And funny you mentioned Hamann. I loved what he brought to the club.

Posted by x x ? ? x x on 06/18/2011

as spuad players they would be ok,for minimal wages..... got to be better than having jo in the squad....wallace lets see how man u do,they wont be able to replace van der sar or scholes,not just for their footballing brain but also the relationship they have on the pitch,example, van der sar & ferdinand. etc

Wallace Reply I've been surprised by United's moves so far in the off season. If I was United I would have offered each Scholes and VDS Player-Coaching positions for a year with the understanding that they were emergency players in the squad. United have not adequately prepared for either departure and could use two of the 25 man squad positions for them.

Posted by kevin richards on 06/18/2011

what is this guy on ? cole and keane ??? leave it out, we want young superstars not old hasbeen never real superstar players, cole and keane has been good players at best, nothing special in either. now they are ending their careers they are on the slide going down fast.

Wallace Reply Bangs head slowly on table... No we don't! You can only play 11 players at once. City have a great team already with maybe the need for a central defender as the only starter. The rest is squad building and a young superstar is the last thing you need in that case.

Posted by ChicagoGunner on 06/18/2011

I totally agree with your assessment. Clearly the squad is too young, and too top heavy. However, signing veteran squad players is only part of the answer, city have to unload a ton of players that are surplus to requirements, offloading Boateng is only a start.

Also, I fundamentally disagree with Robbie Keane and Joe Cole as the two squad players city need. Klose would have been perfect. Honestly, I think Thomas Rosicky would be a better fit than Joe Cole.

Wallace Reply yes I wanted Klose and mentioned him on the Soccernet podcast last year. Rosicky is a great rebuttal to Cole. That's thinking the right way, how do we get players that compliment the starting 11?

Posted by Simmo on 06/18/2011

If we have a main starting 11 backed up by aging squad players I don't think it will push the team on. I would want two top players in each position that should earn their starting berth in the team.

It doesn't matter if a player gets unhappy at not playing as he wouldn't deserve to be anyway as someone is playing better in his position. No player is bigger than the club so he could leave, and a replacement brought in. Every player should be driven to be in the first team and capable also, and once they get there they should have to keep it with the added motivation of a player of similar ability vying to take their place.

I understand that having older experienced players in the squad can help, but I would like the at least 22 of the 25 to be top class given the fact we can offer Champions League football now and have money to give a more than competitive wage.

Wallace Reply In a perfect world I agree with you but you saw what happened when United had Rooney, Berbatov and Tevez. Tevez didn't start, thought he should and agitated until he left - fortunate for us, but that's an unhealthy situation.

Posted by Jonny on 06/18/2011

Wallace have you been on those funny smokes again son, you seem to be talking tripe. Go and have a quite darkend room and chill out.

We are the richest club in the world and only need players who can improve the squad not create more deadwood for the squad. We are only in the business for the finest young talent not old has been's.

Wallace Reply Sorry but completely and utterly disagree. City need to build a squad that functions for the entire season. 25 superstars doesn't do that. It pains me to always talk up Old Purple Nose, but he knows how to build a squad.

Posted by Bill Farley on 06/18/2011

You make an interesting point. I'm not sure it's Keane and Cole, but City need a few spear carriers and guys to do the scut work. I always appreciate a forward who will play defense when he has to.

Wallace Reply I'm certainly open to other suggestions, but the style of player - quality veterans who can spot start as needed is something the squad needs and is missing.

Posted by Grayson Middlebrook on 06/18/2011

I 100% agree with your reasoning Wallace, maybe not necessarily on the players you listed. But, you are absolutely right about the need to build a squad, and not try to find 25 superstars. I don't think Keene would be happy just being a sub, and maybe not Cole either. They still have the talent to start somewhere, but maybe not in the premiership (or a top half squad).

Boateng is probably out, we've got 20+ million on milner who's been riding on the bench off and on. Even more on Dzeko who hopefully will start to pay off more. We really don't have tons of room.

Honestly, I think are non-starters are very capable, it's just Mancini has a hard time rotating his squad unless there's an injury that forces him to do so.

Adding 2-3 vet (in the same mold as Viera, Keene, or Cole) that will be a mature prescense in the squad, to couple with a few hot signings this season would be great.

But, isn't an equally important issue selling some players (bellamy Ade etc)?

Wallace Reply Yes, there is a lot of the squad that needs to move on as City build for the future. The standard starting 11 plus Zabaleta, Lescott, Milner, Johnson and Dzeko is the base foundation of the club. Now City need to find those additional nine players that mix and match. Some will already be with the team, other will need to be brought in.

Posted by ChrisG on 06/18/2011

Sorry mate, you've got it totally wrong. I understand your argument but your argument has so many holes in it. We WILL sign 3 players in the next few months and we WILL have plenty of experience that we cannot get rid of. What about SWP in the centre role ? What about Gareth Barry, he won't get a look in next year so hes there in the squad. Same with Milner...Zabeletta, Bellamy, they'll bring in a new left back so we'll have Kolorov floating around. Toure will be availabe in Septmeber...how much more experience do we need ? WE have 3 good strikers at the club plus the understudies, plus Crocky, plus, I assume a new addition. Your argument doesn't make sense.

Posted by Daniel on 06/18/2011

Joe Cole? Again? Did I click on last summer's blog?

First, we need one more starter in midfield. I don't think AJ (despite my love for him) is going to cut it. Sanchez (if we can be so lucky) would solidify our midfield rotation.

And we do need good squad players... but Joe Cole? No, he's too injured, too old, and too spoiled. He won't be satisfied sitting on the bench.

As for targets... Sanchez if we can get him. After that Leighton Baines, Jan Vertonghen, and maybe someone like Charles N'Zogbia. Baines would let us move Kolarov forward and rotate the two, Vertonghen would slide in if Boateng goes to Germany, and N'Zogbia would help us when we need width.

Wallace Reply Baines is an interesting choice and I'm willing to go along with Kompany if he thinks Vertonghen works as well. Charles N has never really done it for me though...

Posted by James W. on 06/18/2011

Hey Wallace,
I definitely agree with what your saying. Soccer is a team game, and every good team needs veterans. Keane and Cole should fit in well with the way City's squad is constructed. I do feel like left back is a position where City need to get stronger at. I don't think Kolarov is a left back and Boeteng wants out. When City go up against the pace of other right wingers(Walcott, lennon, Nani, Di Maria, etc.), I don't see how they can contain them. What are your thoughts?

Wallace Reply Kolarov should be given a bit more time. It takes players time to settle. Torres and others, such as Silva, who excel their first year are the exception.

Posted by James Russell on 06/18/2011

The problem with signing older players with injury problems as squad players is the lack of resale value. I'm not saying that Cole and keane couldn't do a job as squad players (I rate cole but keane is past it in my opinion) but the key fact is you could end up paying these players 60-70k a week for 2 years and then have 0 resale value which is not good for FFP.

As to the players youve suggested id rather have bellamy as a squad player than keane but cole could be a shout

Wallace Reply I think Bellamy has a huge amount to offer, especially when City play a 4-2-3-1 and would love if he and Mancini could work together.

Posted by AndyBuffaloNY on 06/18/2011

I can't believe what i'm reading. I know it sounds good to have a fantasy team filled with superstars but it just doesn't work that way.
Look at Milner sulking and spitting his dummy out because he got subbed, and he was playing awful. Same goes for a few others this season. Now change the name from Milner to (insert superstar name) and you have a whole lot of trouble on your hands.
I totally agree with what your saying Wallace. I'm not too sure about the players you suggest but i agree with the idea.
If City bring in top names this summer then the starting player this season in that position will want to leave. I have nothing against strengthening the team but don't expect the players to be replaced in the first team to hang around.
Just one more comment. I don't believe either player you mentioned would still command such high wages as what they once did, would they? If not they would be very good signings.

Posted by Marty on 06/18/2011

As soon as you wouldn't reveal your secret dream signing, I knew it was Cole. And while you are correct that we need experience, as Man City had the youngest average starting 11 in the PL, I don't think Keane or Cole would fit the bill. Aren't you forgetting that we still have not one, but two forwards willing to do "chasing and harrying" in Tevez and Bellamy? An extra striker is something we really don't need at this point. And I agree with the commenter who said Rosicky over Cole, I'd probably take Benayoun as well. But an even larger point is that we shouldn't just get old players as squad players, but groom kids from the academy to play certain roles. What about that kid we got from Barca (Assulin, I think), wouldn't it be better and cheaper to take a flier on him to back up Silva?

Wallace Reply So many good points in this comment. Travel more than anything is the reason for the occasional delay when I post (although it allows me to catch up on some reading - look for a review of Revie & Clough soon)

I don't think either Bellamy or Tevez will be at the club come the start of the season.

Benayoun is an inspired suggestion. I was gutted when he went to Liverpool as I was hoping City would snag him.

I agree and disagree when it comes to veterans and youngsters. You need a balance and City have no veterans currently. Gai Assulin is the guy you are thinking of and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do.

Posted by CiTyBlUe on 06/18/2011

Sigh at me all you want Wallace, what your saying is you would rather have pensioners Robbie Keane and Joe Cole and hinder the progress of our youngers players who are squad players.

Your blindfolded by your own narrow mindedness, we have young players coming through from one of the best academies in the country and you want to put a wall of oap's in their way.

Wake up and go to specsavers.

You make out we have to much youth only half of our players have won the World Cup, Got to the final of the World Cup, won the Premier League, won the FA Cup, won the Champions League and are about to fight for the Premier League title and all enter the Champions League together.

Wallace Reply City's team is dominated by players 26 and under. It needs balance and that includes veterans that can be relied upon to fill in as needed.

Posted by Richard on 06/18/2011

J.Cole and Keane? Get away with you.
I agree that City need good backup pros but the clubs policy is clearly not to buy any player over the age of 26 so it isn't going to happen (thank goodness. It is also midfield and left back that needs most attention.
So if you were to say Charlie Adam, Leighton Baines, Jack Rodwell, Matt Jarvis or Peter Odemwingie then I might agree with you. City are buying for the future and the names you mention are the past.

Wallace reply Rodwell is someone I really want the team to buy. You generally can't win with a young squad, Arsenal is a good example of this. You need a balanced squad. If Keane and Cole don't do it for you then suggest a couple of veterans who would.

Posted by Butler on 06/18/2011

Keane could actually be pretty good for us, but he is known to be a disruptive player. Just a more expensive, less effective version of Bellamy.

So yes, I see your piont but disagree with the players.
on a totally unrelated note, i'd be interested to hear your views on the Eto'o speculation. I personally think that he's be a good alternative when balotelli starts having his periods. too often we'd be dominating a game in the first 15-20 minutes, having shots everywhere but no breakthrough. Then we get tired, slack off, and its all uphill. Eto'o could be used to kill off games very early on. But I think he'd want to start.

Wallace Reply Give Balotelli and Dzeko time...

Posted by Justo on 06/18/2011

Complet and utter tosh
, how stupid would citeh look signing either one of these players on over 80 k a week and probably play once or twice , neither can get into their own much weaker
Teams at the minute, next!!

Posted by Chinmay on 06/18/2011

Hi Wallace,

I am not a city fan, but I enjoy reading your articles a lot; they are thorough, original and full of 'football'.

Good blog again... i agree with your idea about squad building. Great example of ManU (not a fan either); however i think you are missing a big point that scolls, gigs played for the club at their prime, so from heart (at least i believe) they admire/love the club. So it works there that they can share their experience in squad building. Why would Joe Cole or Kean care about squad building at ManCity, just because they are on the payrole? I think you would need Barry, perhaps Kolo Toure etc to gradually become squad players when younger players take their starting positions. I think you can't "buy" squad players... thoughts?

Wallace Reply That's a good counter argument. You may be correct. Richard Dunne is, for example, someone I was sorry to leave the club for that reason.

Posted by Cody on 06/18/2011

i would love to get clint dempsey, even recently admitted hed want to come to a champions league team. if he could consent to be a role player for us a la yossi benayoun, then that would be the steal of the transfer window

Wallace Reply YES, absolutely yes. Dempsey is a player I really like and the sort of player who would be a great addition.

Posted by SkyBlueStLouis on 06/18/2011

What about Tim Cahill? He could back up either of those positions (attacking midfielder or harrying striker), he's on the veteran side of thirty, and he would come with the added bonus of weakening Everton, whom City just can't seem to beat over the last few seasons.

Wallace Reply I think Cahill has at least three to four more years as a starter in the premier league.

Posted by alen matlob on 06/19/2011

i agree with u about buildin up a squad. but not these players. cole is a bandaid. and keanes attitude rubs me the wrong way. i do not believe either wud b happy to bien reduced as role players. we need a center back.( i think we shud have tried boateng at center back but u kno his story). id also like to see another creative midfielder. as it was evident in the champs league final. wen ur midfield is dominant. u win the games. and i wud love for tevez to b gone. y keep a player that does not want to b there.

we do not need another 5 or 6 new players. we need this team to play as a TEAM. not jus as individuals.

wud love to see sanchez and matta on our team. i wud also like to have chilieni as a partner wit kompany

Posted by Happy Axeman on 06/19/2011

Utility players? Squad players, whatever you want to call them, I agree every successful team needs em. I just have two words... PABLO ZABALETTA

Wallace Reply Yes, Zabaletta is a good example of an excellent squad player who gets a lot of work. City need at least one more just like him.

Posted by Rowan on 06/19/2011

Dead right about the squad issue, but I'd add one point: City need *UCL* experienced veterans, to mentor their young squad for a very different style of football. VdVaart was a great buy for Spurs last year for exactly this reason.

Cole has some experience in the UCL, but Keane never really showed his true class there for us in that ill-fated spell. City can afford to buy top quality, so why not?

Better players:

Eidur Gunjohnson: a free agent, lots of experience, good professional, and would be happy on the bench;

Seedorf, who could give an option for Silva, has vast experience, great pro. Milan might not want to lose him but a bit of cash might convince them given his age. Think he'd relish the leadership role.

Lucio - City need another world class CB if they want to win things in Europe, and Lucio's been unsettled at Inter of late.

Benayoun would be great for you folks too, but Chelsea won't let him go. I miss Benayoun's football brain; Cole is more skilled but less clever.

Wallace Reply Good choices.

Posted by Conor on 06/19/2011

Good post Wallace, I agree with most of what you're saying, but like a lot of people I don't exactly agree with your specific choices. I think it's obvious that we need some older veterans who can stick the squad together and play when needed, but don't you also think it would be a good idea to get players who can do a number of different roles? For instance, I don't like our link with Modric, much as I'd love to rub that in Spurs fans' faces, because he showed this season that when another class ACM, ie. VdV or Silva in our case, is on the field, he gets marginalized. We need players who can fill in when needed and also play multiple positions. I'd love to see a new left back come in and Kolarov try a more attacking role, he just doesnt do it for me defensively.
One last thing, do you really think we should rush SWP out? In my opinion he's a city lad through and through, and with a little work we might turn him into just the sort of player this article's looking for

Wallace Reply If City want to keep SWP then he needs to go out on loan for the year to play regularly and see if he can regain his form.

Posted by royal on 06/19/2011

good point..... but man city seems think another way...try to buy 25 world class player, and they will get nothing from that policy. Buy adebayor than go out for loan, santa cruz, boateng, SWP! What a waste of money.... Adebayor should stay, viera, yes maybe joe cole also because during his time under RB era, he have no cahance to prove his quality.. I thought JC best position is AMC not winger!

Posted by AndyE on 06/19/2011

Having a good "squad" doesn't mean just having any old bunch of Premier League players. Have a look at Arsenal for that example. Their "squad" players are of a decent standard, but they just make up the numbers.

Having a good squad means having a bunch of players that will be able to contribute at any point in the season. Utd had a good squad of players who have a history of contributing to their success. They also carried two players (Neville and Scholes) in the squad who weren't contributing.

Mourinho showed how to do it with Chelsea. The squad was made up of either top-class pros, or youngsters trying to fight into the team. He didn't buy the cast-aways of teams of lower quality.

Both Keane and Cole have both failed AS SQUAD PLAYERS for Chelsea and Tottenham, so recruiting them as squad players would be daft.

Posted by JD on 06/19/2011

I loved this article. Granted, I am not a City fan, but I have enjoyed reading your pieces. This one made the most sense to me. Having two dozen world class players might work in one of the FIFA games, but not in the real world. Kudos!

Posted by The Archivist on 06/19/2011

Wallace, you asked me to provide two names in lieu of Keane and J. Cole. Right off the top of my head, without thinking about it, how about Carlton Cole and Alexander Hleb? Both eminently available for cheap money, I believe...

Wallace Reply I'm not sure Hleb can turn a game like Joe Cole, but again, a reasonable suggestion. This is the type of player we need to be looking at. Not a fan of Carlton Cole though...

Posted by The Archivist on 06/19/2011

I agree with the Benayoun suggestion - he'd be perfect for the Joe Cole role. However, your suggestion about sending SWP out on loan doesn't make sense, as he's entering the final year of his contract and MCFC are not going to extend or give him a new contract at his age. Mancini should consider keeping SWP to provide depth in midfield, especially on the wing. Plus, he's a home-grown English lad, so if kept, we wouldn't have to overreach by making a mistake picking up G. Cahill, who is simply not worth 12 million, let alone 20.

Wallace Reply Yeah... glad I'm not the only one who is hesitant on Gary Cahill. I haven't studied him yet, but have never got the sense that he was class. SWP is complicated. He's just not playing well enough, and hasn't for a year or more, to be in the team and yet as you say a home grown lad and I'd like to see him succeed at City. Would be nice to see City in fact offer him a contract, send him out on loan with the idea that he would then be back to "normal" and be ready to contribute for the next couple of years because as you say, he's the sort of player the club could use.

Posted by cogsy on 06/19/2011

hi wallace

i enjoyed your article and like your reasoning. I think that the players you have suggested fit the theory, but the theory doesn't fit the players, however, i do like it when you suggest to fans "so who else?" and this is where i begin to struggle! I was thinking as a striker how about big john carew on a free? Big and strong, perhaps at city it would raise his game and we would see the best of him like under oneil?!

Wallace Reply I don't think Carew would be a good fit. Can't give you a reason, it just doesn't "feel" right.

Posted by Rob Will on 06/19/2011

Under the new fair play rules teams won't want to have high paid squad players, they will use younger players to fill their squads.

I can understand the point of the article is to generate views to the website by annoying people with the suggestions of two overpaid past it players players.

Wallace Reply No, it isn't. If I want to do that all I have to do is suggest Liverpool are useless and City should sign Steven Gerrard...

Yes, the fair play rules are a concern. Something I believe will ultimately cause a breakaway league either in England and/or Europe with an American style protected group of teams - but that's a story for another time...

Posted by brissieblue on 06/19/2011

i can actually understand where you are coming from with joe cole . his best games have come when he plays just behind the front two ! casting my mind back i can remember him playing for chelsea against united in that role and causing them a lot of grief . he can change games ,great impact player when at chelsea. unfortunately at liverpool he has gone missing ! as for keane i am not that keane pardon the pun ! names i have heard being mentioned that i like .mata,pastore,lavezzi not keen on eto at all !! if bellamy could work with mancini i would love to see him stay even if he does have dodgy knees just one of those guys that give 100per cent rather like tevez . lastly lets hope some of our youngters dont get forgotten !

Wallace Reply I don't understand why a succession of managers have played Cole in the wrong position.

Posted by DarkDefender on 06/19/2011

You have point but to go for these players is not the kind of movement you see when goin in for the kill.
Dempsey would be very nice addition as a utility player. Also Id go for Parker, too bad he is London tied.
Otherwise we need to raise the bar. We need them players who will give us options regarding on formation as well as giving City this fortress feel where no matter who is on the pitch you are goin to get mauled feeling.
Deadwood must be moved! We need QUALITY left back! Also a winger! Im afraid that we wont get Sanchez cause he is sought after the biggest clubs. Also cover for NdJ is required (Parker kind plese). Somebody to cover Silva and also keep him on his toes. Those are minimum requirements in my opinnion

Wallace Reply Yes, agree on all points. Shame about Kevin Nolan too. I rate him quite highly.

Posted by Dom on 06/19/2011

city do not need more squad players, id rather see the likes of guidetti, warbara and weiss make the team than joe cole or robbie keane.
City need to strengthen what we already have. I think signing players now is a very delicate job, do not want to upset the personality balance in that dressing room.
The squad is strong enough to win the league at this moment.
however we need to replace those who leave, Tevez? would be a big loss, we need Sanchez, David Villa or both to replenish that gap.
We wouldnt miss Jo, craig bellamy or shaun wright phillips and wayne bridge, however id like to see caicedo come back and nedum onouha, boyata,and some of the above mentioned from the reserves/youth team get a few more games in the carling cup etc

I think its worth mentioning City need to invest into English or British nationals however for me Joe Cole and Robbie Keane do not fit the bill

Posted by geoff on 06/19/2011

this is the brand new man city, since the takeover the sheiks are installing a brand new ultra modern 'machine'of which the playing staff are the not cogs but microchips that run the machine. who needs discontinued components which are obsolete to drive the force...we need all the young best talent thats out there and its up to the managerial staff to make the machine work and oil it regularly, the oil is the players we already have with leadership qualities such the likes of kompany, dejong and toure. when the trophies start coming even quicker everyone will want to be part of it.. in five years time when all the structures are finally built and in place with the new academy complex the extra seating capacity manchester city will overshadow real, barca and manu....tick tock it is happening....

Posted by Gordon on 06/19/2011

Stop TROLLING, Wallace Poulter.

Thanks

Posted by peweegriffin on 06/19/2011

Why the hell you wan't our squad to be anything like that crud we had to watch being absolutley destroyed by Barca last month is beyond me, Utd won the league last season due to the fact their was so many failures from everyone else in the league, trust me when I say Bobby Manc wont let that happen this time, surely this would have been a more productive article if you had used Barcelona's squad as a blueprint for future succsess as their fringe players are top-class international's such as Mascherano, Keita, Pedro, Bojan etc.

I can't beleive any City fan would come up with this dribble!!! Keane & Cole? do me a favour mate,they wouldn't even make an impact in the europa! We need quality throughout the squad who when needed, can't rise to the occasion & be matchwinners, not overpaid bum's. Thank God Bobby doesn't have you advising him on how to move forward.

You could post back with more rubbish but you proberbly feel a little stupid now, stop moaning & just enjoy the riches! CTID

Wallace Reply United win the league regularly because Old Purple Nose understands the squad system and how to maximize that squad over the course of a year. Barcelona is the wrong example because that starting 11 is a once in a lifetime grouping and unless we unearth our own Messi it's not going to happen.

Posted by Lee A on 06/19/2011

I have to say I agree, as a Wigan fan though, I find it laughable how(okay you are a big club- ish) but people are moaning at the thought of Keane and Cole being squad players! They provide the experience and know how of how to win titles, Cole has won 3 premier league titles with Chelsea and still would have something to offer, personally I dont think there is an English player as technically gifted, minus the injuries. Chelsea and United have both proven that you need a large squad with a mix of youth and experience, now Vieira has gone, who is largely experienced in the premier league for City? Look back at the Arsenal invincibles, and the mixture of youth and experience that side had! If, (and a big IF)City are going to challenge this year, I'd say the max 1 or 2 star players like your Kaka's and your Sanchez's, but mainly some older experienced players especially for the Champions League, without those players, City may probably even fall at the group stages.

Posted by Ben on 06/19/2011

I am in total agreement with the guy who said that we need players like Clint Dempsey. As a fellow American, I've watched him for years now. It always impressed me that he's had 4 different managers come through Fulham since he came to London, and every single time he's had to fight his way back into a starting spot. I would assume he'd bring that same mentality to City if he got the chance.

Plus, having an American on the team might help City get some name recognition in the states. I'm left floating in a sea of all sorts of red jerseys over here (United, Liverpool, Arsenal), it's just awful.

City have a very expensive, very functional squad. I would be really irritated to see it torn up again just to fit in some more big names. There's simply no need. I would argue that since the new 25-man squad rule is in place, really the best long-term strategy would be filling some slots with older, experienced players, simply because no one under 21 counts in the 25. Mentoring opportunities.

Wallace Reply Dempsey and Landon Donovan are two of my favourite players and I'd love to see them play for City at some point. Always regret that the club didn't sign Brian McBride who I consider one of the most under rated players of all time.

Posted by Matt on 06/19/2011

Good column Wally, love your work. Agree with the idea but even as a silly Joe Cole fan myself, I don't want either guy at City next season.

I like the ideas thrown out from other posters with Yossi and (particularly) Tim Cahill. Simply cannot have squad players on superstar wages and Cahill is a proven goalscorer, something we need in midfield. Mikel Arteta and Rodwell are a good shout while we're talking Everton.

What about getting Anelka back? Do you think either party would be interested? I'd much rather him than Keane and he seems content to play a complimentary role and he does it well. Plus a few of us could dust off our old shirts.

Wallace Reply Always have liked Anelka. Great idea. I know he has the Le Sulk reputation but from his time at City it seemed thoroughly unwarranted. Just seems like a quiet individual who gets on with his job and does it very well. The more I think about Yossi Benayoun, I think that's an inspired idea.

Posted by Sam on 06/19/2011

Seems like your post struck a nerve and not a positive one from many quarters. I could not disagree with you more, like many others who have posted. I see your point about building a squad and having players who can happily be reserves but Keane and Cole just are not those players. Starting with Cole. For me he is hugely overrated and is yet to provide anything that would suggest he can cut it at the highest level. He has been coached by some of the biggest coaches in football and pretty much all of them have given him a chance before realising that he simply is not good enough. There must be something to that.
As for Keane I think he could be a Gudjonsson type of player who would be happy being a bit part player but it would depend on whether he believes he could fulfil this role. Watching Keane I have the impression that he needs to be the main man, like at Spurs, Celtic and Ireland. When forced to be bit part he struggles to bring anything in and fades to insignificance.

Wallace Reply We'll have to agree to disagree on Cole. I consider him still one of the finer talents in the game and feel that he has been mis-managed for most of his career. And I'm very aware that those managers are some of the better ones out there. But they are not perfect and I feel they've missed a trick with Cole as have for City comparison most managers when it comes to Stephen Ireland.

I like Keane and Cole, but as you say I've certainly struck a nerve. I'd be equally happy with Dempsey and Benayoun... in fact I'd be giddy if City could add those two, inspired choices.

Posted by Tony from Mayo on 06/19/2011

As an Irish Liverpool supporter I see your point but think Cole has lost a lot of his appetite for playing football.A class act for West Ham, Chelsea and England He'd be more than happy to sit on the bench for ye.I don't think Mancini would inspire him back to his best. Mourinho definitely could, do you think Mancini will be kept? Neither Cole or Keane are too old, they're just not young and inexperienced. Both around 30 and if they were back close to their best would be good for any PL teams. Keane plays better for Ireland than his clubs.51 goals, 12th highest international scorer ever! Ireland have a real chance of qualifying for Euro 2012 and Keane has real competition from Doyle, Long, Cox and Best.That's why Spurs will sell him this summer, not a loan deal, to the likes of QPR or Wigan where he's guaranteed a game.Pool should never have sold him.Whoever ye get I hope yer playing style improves, less defensive midfielders and more flair like Erikssons teams. I loved watching them.

Posted by Hari on 06/19/2011

Hehe,
looks like a lot of readers are a little drunk from all the stupid stuff on the net abt city wanting to sign every player on the planet!
But seriously you are correct about the kind of player we need.
How about raul or someone like tat instead of keane?where wud cole fit in?
and who wud b the backup 4 silva???

Wallace Reply Raul, and Guti for that matter, are top quality players who are still starters in the German and Turkish leagues after leaving Real Madrid. My preference would be for veterans with Premier League experience as you never know how good a foreign player will be - acclimating to the English game usually takes time.

Posted by Brian on 06/19/2011

As an American soccer fan everything about the type of player you said City needs is correct, looking at the recent NBA championship games the Dallas Mavericks had 1 superstar and a team full of veteran role players. It only makes sense to bring in veteran role players who can add leadership and fill in while City is in between Champions League games and other events. While I'm sure there are many players who could fit the fact that you addressed this means you can see long term sucess insted of 1 or two burnout seasons.

Posted by Usama Ali on 06/19/2011

Rightly said! City should have experienced European players to succeed in Champions League. Players like J.Cole and Keane would be great additions to the squad. Mancini should try to play more direct and attacking football! By playing defensive football Man city cant even cross the group stages!

Posted by Waqas Azeem on 06/19/2011

Great article. Totally makes sense.
2 players I wanted at city were Klose or Raul and Pirlo.
But then, if you are talking premier league experience, Anelka or Saha, Remember Inter diamond and the *strikers working the channels* bit.
For Dejong's cover get Heitinga from Everton, he can be a Center Half or a def.mid, or Osman...Though Parker would be the best bet (Age and squad Player).
For Silva's cover I'd try Milner in that role, or even Adam(Bolton game)Jhonson (if he works the off season and city sign another winger). But if you must sign someone then Rosicky is the man, he is your Zabaleta in the midfield. Benayoun was available once and City didn't sign him, will Chelsea do the business now, I doubt it. Wish the do though. I love Dempsey too but he is a starter and doesn't fit the bill.
And finally, bring back the guy who was here once... I still remember your question *who is going to pass the ball?*

Elano.

Wallace Reply I'd love Elano to return, but he's happy back in Brazil these days.

Posted by Conor on 06/19/2011

Loved the post from the guy about Dempsey where you also mentioned Donovan, having either of those two would be fantastic!! I'm also happy to know that you like Brian Mcbride, I grew up watching him play for Columbus Crew and my brother still has a bobblehead of him that must be more than a decade old now! I think bringing in an American or two would be great, not just because our national team desperately needs help and having players improving through the CL would be great but because, like Ben said, I don't think I've ever met more than a couple City fans here in the states besides my dad and brother. We need the Blue Moon to rise Stateside!!

Posted by Drew on 06/20/2011

So... would I be correct in assuming you think our team as is is good enough to win the EPL next season while doing well in the champions league? All that you think we are missing is chemistry which only comes from time and not overhauling the team? I tend to agree, but I do think we could use 2 or 3 top tier players for the extra games we will be playing.

Wallace Reply if it was only first 11 vs. first 11 I'd like our chances. But it's a squad game and we are missing the depth, veteran depth, to make a run at the title although if United off load too many of their squad I may rethink that...

Posted by anthony on 06/20/2011

hey wallace
id like your opinions on citys lineup and how i see it next year.

Gk- Hart is a quality keeper who can only go upward. As for given, as long as he goes outside the premier league, i am fine if he leaves. perhaps then we could sign a stronger back up

RB- Richards is a beast and unstoppable both offensively and defensively when he wants to be, hoewever he has tendencies to drift in and out of games. Zabaleta is solid and versatile with a good attitude- not the future but good to have.
CB- kompany=fantastic. Lescott- solid back up and useful in games like stoke due to his aerial presence. kolo- his suspension was a blessing in disguise as i feel he is not truly a top class player and being the former city captain and yayas brother has made political reasons for him staying in the starting XI Boateng- needs time to settle, young versatile, undecided about him.
???-new cb (vertoghen perhaps?)
LB- Kolarov- has a shot but not a head. dumb decisions. bridge-must go

Wallace Reply City need in my opinion a world class central defender who can team with Kompany so that City can play a straight back four without having to rely on Nigel de Jong always playing. Kompany was lauded for all the wrong reasons this year which was unfortunate.

Posted by anthony on 06/20/2011

so we need a new LB and CB in defence as kolarov isnt doing it for me and niether is kolo/lescott (as starters)
DFM- dejong-anchor of the team and a must keep
barry- slow but intelligent. not a starter
milner- bad first season but potential to take barrys spot
yaya- must be move from CAM as silva should play there
CAM- silva- amazing, need a backup who is skillfull and has vision not just power like yaya
winger-AJ is quality but not often defensivley reliable.SWP-must go bellamy-will leave:(
strikers- balotelli-must get his head sorted out before plahyong otherwise he only hurts the team.
dzeko- with time he will be better but is slow and lacks the killer instinct he had in the bundesliga
JO- must leave
ADE-will leave as he is unwanted :( and hates mcfc
Tevez- might stay-not the future of MCFC with him we will score goals but relying on tevez keeps us from bneing a top class team
OPtimal starters
hart
richards vertoghn komp. ?
de jong yaya
AJ silva balo?
dzeko

Wallace Reply Barry is good when playing midfield and going forward. Milner was played out os position for most of the year. Those need to be addressed,

Posted by Matthew Miller on 06/20/2011

You seem to be preoccupied with keeping players happy rather than ensuring they are of the right quality. The media has an obsession with the supposed lack of harmony in our squad which is a complete fabrication based on half truths and was part of the agenda to destablise us last season. That seems to be your basis for suggesting Keane and Cole. Neither of the two players you mention or good enough even as back up players. Keane was not good enough (or happy) as a backup at Spurs at that is the very reason he was loaned to West Ham. The same was true of Cole at Chelsea hence the reason he was sold to Liverpool.

Wallace Reply My comments have nothing to do with the media's thoughts about harmony or lack thereof within the squad. I just believe there is a certain way you build a squad and having unhappy players who think they should be starting is unhealthy. With all of the media outlets and social media options available, plus the involvement of agents it is too easy to cause problems when you have unhappy players.

Posted by micky-2-times on 06/20/2011

Hi Wallace, yes we need to get a few squad players, but Keane and Cole, no and no!

If you are looking for Americans, what about Bradley? And we already have the best Keane type player in Bellamy.

Would love to see Arteta, but he wouldn't be happy on the bench.

Wallace Reply I'm not looking for Americans, I just happen to rate Dempsey and Donovan very highly.

Posted by Paul Jones on 06/20/2011

Regardless of having squad players we are at the top table now, with notable exceptions, (Viera) Mancini likes young quality players, and defintely not these two, plus the fact we have quality coming through the junior ranks, they would be an absolute waste of money. You either don't know whats happening at Citeh, or you are like a lot of pretend journo's, and just writing this rubbish for a laugh. Plus I am assuming you are American? which means you know nowt..........

Wallace Reply Such wonderful prejudice... And you failed to read my bio which would tell you where I grew up.

Posted by kevin on 06/20/2011

Hello Wallace, while you keep iterating the need of a skuad. However to me, we don't even has a perfect starting 11 yet. Who would be your preferred and perfect starting 11 to play under mancini?

Wallace Reply Hart, Richards, Boateng, Kompany, Zabaletta, de Jong, Yaya, Barry, Silva, Balotelli, Dzeko. Subs: Given, Lescott, Milner, Johnson, Tevez...

Let the sling and arrows begin...

Posted by Adithya on 06/20/2011

Hi Wallace,

Great post as usual. I agree with you on the fact that City need squad players. But are you implying that City don't need to shore up their starting eleven? Would you feel comfortable with this season's eleven playing in the Champions League? I'd say you certainly need another quality creative midfielder who can combine with Silva and help feed the strikers. Otherwise City will continue to break down small teams as they've done all too often. Especially if they lose the services of Tevez.

Wallace Reply City need a world class central defender, to find out if Kolarov is the player we thought he was, a back up for de Jong, a back up for Silva and a fourth striker. With that then City would have the best team and the best squad in the Premier League...

Posted by Steve Symmonds on 06/20/2011

I definitely agree that we need a couple squad players to fill gaps in certain instances as opposed to world class signings (although if Sneijder wants to come over I'm not going to argue). You're clearly high on having Premier League experience in these roles but what would you think of Marcos Senna? He's older now but can still play and would be available on a free transfer. Lord knows he's more mobile than Vieira, has a decent passing range, and can crack one from distance. As for an attacking player, Dempsey seems tailor-made for the job. His versatility would make him invaluable for City since we can't seem to go 10 minutes without 3 players suffering hamstring tears.

Wallace Reply The more I think about Dempsey the more I believe that's an inspired choice... Senna is a very interesting idea. I'd heard that Swansea were after him so we might see him early in the campaign.

Posted by radgav on 06/20/2011

Have to say, I completely agree with your view on the squad as a whole. But like many here, I disagree with Keane and Cole. Can't quite think of a substitute for Keane but was considering Kranjcar instead of Cole. Better impact of the bench, better starter (better overall in my opinion). Maybe he won't be as happy being backup, but up his current pay packet and who knows?

Wallace reply Someone other than Keane and Cole is fine, certainly Dempsey and Benayoun would have me dancing in the streets (or more accurately making money by people paying me not to dance in the streets... but you get my point)

Posted by Mike on 06/20/2011

Liverpool fan here, oh my god please take Joe Cole, that would be awesome! That guy is like an injured out of form albatross because the british still have some faint hope he can live up to his potential that he hasn't in like a decade. So people are like "how are they starting Spearing over Cole??" and then after he plays they go "oh yea, that's why!"

Wallace Reply I like Spearing, you've got a nice player there. Liverpool don't play Cole in the correct position, It's like getting Bar Refaeli to be part of a pantomime horse. Gets the job done, but it's not exactly optimal...

Posted by Winston on 06/20/2011

The theory behind this post is great and I agree. The Players mentioned are obviously ones that YOU would go after, but who do you think MANCINI will try to get? It seems his philosophy is to target players that are not from the Premier League - Silva,Yaya Toure,Dzeko,Boateng,Kolarov,Balotelli (only James Milner was an EPL guy for the 2010/11 transfers). What impact does this philosophy have on the squad since there is typically an adjustment period needed in order to adapt to the physicality of the English game? For example, Dzeko never fully got comfortable in Premier League games and it is obvious he needs to be stronger on the ball and probably needs to add some weight/muscle to his frame. Thoughts?

Wallace Reply I think Mancini is making a mistake in this regard and Liverpool's transfer strategy seems to make more sense.

Posted by Stan on 06/20/2011

I quit reading the comments after a half-dozen or so because they were clearly the immature rants of folks deluded into thinking a team of Galacticos will reap dozens of Prem titles and Champions League trophies.

You're spot on about the need to build a squad, and your recommendations of Keane and Cole are intriguing. I wonder if Bellamy will be brought back (though I know Mancini's training regimen was hard on Bellamy's troublesome knees) and whether he would be a valued piece in that squad, thanks to his pace.

Balotelli showed signs late in the year of being willing to do more of the blue-collar work, which was encouraging. But he's so erratic who knows whether that was a sign of things to come?

Dempsey would be a great addition, and I've heard rumblings that he is open to a move. I thought I read Senna had signed with Norwich, but maybe that's premature.

Wallace Reply I'd love Mancini to have the character to reach out to Bellamy and come to an accommodation. The welshman still has a lot to offer the club, not least terrorizing United full backs.

Posted by anthony on 06/20/2011

hey wallace do u see boateng and zabaleta (as a LB) and barry strong enough candidates to be in the starting 11. i feel zabaleta is a good utility player but not what we need to be world class. boateng is often injured and honestly i feel he is like richards just not as good. Barry is intelligent and is useful for keeping possesion with low risk passing. however he doesnt break up as much as de jong does and he isnt as effective as toure going forward or as creative as silva. i no u say we need a world class centerback also but do u feel we can get one. my opinion is that mancini will buy young with the potential to be world class. however that isnt helpful short term. so id like to know who you think city will buy and if the above mentioned players are good enough to be in the starting XI

Wallace Reply Boateng is projected long term to be a central defender for the German national team so is worth a look. Zabaletta is indeed a squad player but playing better than Kolarov at the moment. Think of the 12 minutes against Blackburn when City finally played an Inter diamond without Tevez. You saw Barry play well then.

Posted by anthony on 06/20/2011

hey wallace,
just looking at how you see the inter formation beding utelized at city, i feel there is no room for adam johnson in our line up. he isnt a striker. our width comes from full backs rather then wingers, which means he could only play CAM as a back up to silva. here he is generally inexperienced and would not have as many 1 v 1 oppurtunities where he thrives. this is sad to say but the inter formation is gonna deprive us from 1 v 1 flair as full back, especially ours, dont have the trickery to make the audience go in awe. also the top players in the world are often out wide or can play out wide
ronaldo messi(can but now is central) Villa robben ribery sanchez iniesta
i think we need to change our formation to accomadte wingers

Wallace Reply Yes and no. City can and should play 4-2-3-1 in some circumstances and it is here that Johnson would have the opportunity to shine.

Posted by Cody on 06/20/2011

i feel proud that everybody is loving my dempsey suggestion! get it done mancini! when the come to LA in july i'll try and sneak into training and drop a hint

Posted by Matthew Miller on 06/20/2011

You think tevez would be happy on the bench? If he's not in starting lineup he is better out of the club surely as if anyone will get pissed off about not playing it's him. Many of the players you suggest are good mid table premiership players. The parralel with united does not stack up. United's highly experienced players like scholes and giggs are top category world players who at their best would have fitted in to any side in the world. Their experience enabled them to compensate for their physical decline. They also brought the best in players around them because of what they achieved in the game. I think seedorf would be a good signing for that reason. I also think Landon donovan would fit in well. Benayoun is too injury prone.

Wallace Reply No I don't think Tevez would be happy on the bench but that's the best City line up given the players the club has and the formation that Mancini plays. We haven't seen the best this squad can play by a long shot - which should make everyone happy as we won the FA Cup and came third reaching maybe 75% of the team's potential.

Posted by Rome on 06/21/2011

Hi Wallace,
I've been saying this for ages. I've said that we need Viera to stay and Woodgate or Gallas are other free transfers, we could use. I know its very selfish keeping Shay Given but we can let him go and get Cudicini. But I also do believe that we do need some of the fresh new young European talent, I think Sanchez on the left would be a great addition, Enrique in the full back position would be great. Millner can replace Barry hopfull develop into the new Lampard. And as much as it pains me to hear Tevez speak the way he did about Manchester I feel now is the time we let him leave and replace him with KUN AUGERO. I would like to seen out youth like Wabara, Boyota and Razak more. Wallace do you not think that the addition of young talent is needed?

Wallace Reply The team is a very good young team at the moment. In two years there will be a need for more youngsters to start coming through and the club with its academy and some of the signings seems to be addressing that already.

Posted by newbcityfan on 06/21/2011

I'm new to following the EPL and City in particular, but teams win championships and trophies not super stars. It is outside the soccer world, but a classic example is the NBA championship this past month. Arguably two of the top five players in the world were on the same team, but lost to the older and more experienced team.
City have to build leadership into the team. Man U have Scholes and Giggs providing veteran leadership, Barca have Xavi and Puyol. City is lacking that sort of leadership that can put Balotelli, Milner, and even Tevez in their place. Tevez is a great player, but he should never have worn the captain band. Leadership is what is needed first and foremost.
Young players are not being brought into a situation were they are following the example of those that are established. Keane and Cole could possibly provide that leadership as well as fill in for vital players.

Posted by hello on 06/21/2011

I totally agree with you about the need for seasoned veterans to play bit-part substitute roles. However, i believe the player who can fit not one but both descriptions you listed is Clint Dempsey of Fulham, who can play as a support striker, an attacking midfielder behind the strikers, and out wide. Dempsey is coming off of his best season in England yet and at 28 will fit the veteran bill for years to come. Yossi Benayoun would be a slightly older and less talented version.

Posted by Mmoloki Nthoiwa on 06/21/2011

As a man united fan i totally agree. people dont realise that these bit part players are as important as the starting 11.imagine what would have happened to City if David Silva and De Jong were injured at the same time.
You look at Man United and players like Gibson, Fabio, Owen,Giggs, Scholes are not regulars, but would Ferguson have managed without them? NOT in a million years.

Only people who know their football will understand what u mean. a good example is Viera

Imagine having Silva, Sanchez, Tevez, Balloteli, Adebayor(he's comin back),Kaka, Pastore, Aguero and all those players in 1 team.....CHAOS!!

Good article, keep it up!

Posted by east of eastlands on 06/21/2011

Thoughtful as ever (in contrast to some of the early comments :)

Keane and Cole are exactly the right type of squad players we need. Keane is worth a whirl assuming he's no longer able to command supersize wages, Cole is a bigger doubt, I just don't know whether he's still got it.
For that 3rd/4th striker role, what about Berbatov? Assuming ~£10m and max 3-year contract? 'course if he produces he'd be 1st choice, but neither Balo nor Dzeko is a nailed-down starter, so no problem. I think he'd be a good mix with Dzeko, not Tevez but we may not have him anyway.

For Silva backup, is Elano a possible?

re the starters/squad debate:
We only have 3 superb midfielders plus Milner/AJ/Zab; if we see the ideal 4th starter, we should buy. Fellaini?

CB is just confusing. Lescott isn't up to it, Kolo has suspension then African Cup, Boyata isn't yet the finished product. Yet Boateng wants to go precisely because we won't play him as CB, and we don't want Onuoha back. Go figure.

Wallace Reply I'd like to see a Kompany/Boateng partnership tried.

Posted by Michael on 06/21/2011

I completely agree with Keane. Cole, however, i'm slightly skeptical about. But... if either doesn't work out, well its not like City is hurting for money so their wages aren't going to bother anyone.

I think the problem with your statement is that in the real world, your entirely right. However, in fantasy video game world (Fifa and FM), where team cohesion and chemistry is of little value, people can buy every superstar in the world for the same club. Already, with some of the transfer rumors, its hard to see where a few of City's more talented players are going to fit in next season. The last thing City needs is a divided club.

So yes, your right, maybe 1 or 2 potential starters for City this transfer season? And fill in the rest of the spots with role players such as these two and let the team develop.

Wallace Reply You have to have a clear first team and then give players the opportunity to compete for playing time. Fletcher over at United is a good example of this. Wasn't a first team regular and worked his way into the team.

Posted by Kelony on 06/21/2011

Very smart Wally. Fergie is the only manager who for some reason knows a club needs squad players to complement his starting 11. Fatigue and injuries set in during the latter part of the season and you need people who are solid players and are willing to come off the bench happy to contribute. Fergie is smart enough to sign fringe players and play them for 2 seasons. Did anybody really think Obertan was going to stay a Utd player, or that Macheda, Wellbeck, Eagles, etch will all be in Utd red 3 yrs from now. No one needs complementary players for success. Sooner or later City's "lets buy every hot thing in Europe under the age of 25" will result in stunted growth and fracture the team! Its almost like Parma in the early '90s.

Posted by Onyedika on 06/21/2011

Hello Wallace, i am a GUNNER but i agree with what you say even though i might not agree with the choice of players.I think a successful team is not always made up superstars,Sir Alex has shown that with decent backup players like David May,Wes Brown,Soljskaer,Gibson ,etc. I must also point out that Mancini should be cautioned(what does he need Sanchez for?).He spends money on players he does not need(milner,boateng,Dzeko).He has enough players and should concentrate on moulding his squad. Finally what do you think of the GUNNERS next season. Do you think the top 4 will remain unchanged or do you think Liverpool and Spurs will break in?

Wallace Reply I thought Arsenal's window of opportunity to win the title was two season's ago and that, ironically given what I've been discussing here, that it was the lack of veterans in the squad to come in for injuries that did them in. I find it very hard to see Arsenal winning the league in the next few years as City, Chelsea and Liverpool look to out spend them and United has a strong squad foundation. Which is a shame because I'm someone who enjoys the way Arsenal play. I still fire up the 7-0 win over Slavia Prague on occasion when I want to watch a truly magical team - I hope City can rise to that level.

Posted by chris akpa on 06/21/2011

i agree with what u say. but i think mancity should go for modric becos, they have strikers who can do the job. they need a good creative midfielder. david silva can not do all the work alone. although he is my mancity best player of the year.

Posted by Bryce on 06/21/2011

I'm a Liverpool fan, but I've always found your posts more interesting than most of the bloggers here.

I think I agree with you that the problem was that Liverpool needed (and still need) a left winger but then Hodgson signed Cole. It's probably worth a 1 year gamble on him to see if he's good enough to play in a system that suits him. But for strikers, I think you'd do better with someone like Inzaghi or Raul than Keane? I'd want a Champions League winner as your 4th, even if I had to bring them from another league. And I think you'd have a decent shot of getting one of them now.

As for De Jong backups, I know it'd be a gamble, but what do you think of bringing Rafa Marquez back to Europe for a couple of years? I was always impressed with him playing in midfield for Mexico, and surely he'd add some experience. If you want someone younger, I agree that Michael Bradley is worth a look.

I have no idea where you can get a World Class defender though. Most of them seem very settled.

Wallace Reply Rafael Marquez is a fascinating idea. Hadn't even given him a thought...

When it comes to defenders I'd like to see what the club can find in Germany or Holland.

Posted by Amish on 06/21/2011

Wallace, well said mate! Most of these guys do not understand how important veterans add to the depth of the squad. As u mentioned with the gunners 2yrs ago, they missed some depth, some experience too realy triumph! Keane & Cole will be right for those FA cup games when u playing 1st div and 2nd div sides, when players are injured. This is what Sir Alex Does, this is why his so successful. What are Liverpools chances next season?

Wallace Reply Liverpool scare the heck out of me. They have a very good team and for a brief moment I thought they were going to do well under Hodgson, but he became conservative rather than embracing his initial instinct to attack. Fundamentally this is a team that has massively under performed the last two years. Now add in really good quality additions and everything is in place for a title challenge.

Posted by Charade on 06/21/2011

Hi Wallace,

I found this a very entertaining read--it is always nice to see football discussed on a football blog and you made a couple good points. Sadly, given the majority of the comments, you may now understand why a lot of us other fans (barring Chelsea) now heartily dislike Manchester City.

Wallace Reply Shame really because City have always had an almost lovable tag and sort of the second favourite team of a lot of folks... which is how I came to support them myself.

Posted by Ryan on 06/21/2011

agree what you're saying about the squad and experience. Still think Juan Mata is a star we should desperately try to get though. We need another winger, with speed. Adam Johnson is not enough, as witnessed last season when he was out. Mata can stretch the field and can probably play where Silva plays if he were ever out. Plus, hes Spanish, and the Spanish are unbelievable.

Posted by Israel on 06/21/2011

All you who are bashing this article are exactly the type of people I hope City don't listen to. We have a starting 11 already! Can't you all see that. Maybe one more signing for a center-midfield spot, but we need experience players. When we signed Patrick Viera, no one liked the deal. Look at the type of impact he had in the locker-room, and some of the goals he has scored. Stop spending money, and start building a team.

Posted by Lo Sconosciuto on 06/22/2011

Cole is not a bad idea, as long as the price is right (I know it's City, but still no need to overspend). His skills would fit in well with Mancini's controlled style.

Keane, however, would just be another in the long queue of ruthful (is that the opposite of ruthless?) strikers at City. His history is littered with missed sitters, and he moves so often that it's clear he doesn't offer anything else to a team.

And somebody seriously suggesting walk disaster area Rafa Marquez? He was never a good defender, and now he's carrying about 4 pianos on his back.

Posted by jaws. on 06/22/2011

Totally agree with your assessment of the need for squad building rather than galactico spending. However I tend to disagree with you about your choices of Keane and Cole. I think that Klose was a good fit (wish Raul was still looking to escape Madrid) as you say Viera is a good fit in this role.

On the other hand, the team could really use one more young creative talent on par with Silva's ability & attitude. Silva's versatility to play out on the wing part time & trimming the squad's fat means enough minutes to satisfy one more creative midfielder.

However now we have struck the squad's bigger problem: ego. city players were very self absorbed at times (Tevez saga? Balotelli issues? agitation for playing time?) and the players who were brought on to be steadying influences (James Milner, Gareth Barry) have not had the desired effect. ultimately, city need all their talent pulling the same direction and rid of agitators like ade and the bad-side of mario, keane can't change that.

Posted by DarkDefender on 06/22/2011

One name that would be very usefull is Fellaini. He has fire and is skilled enough to be utility player. Too bad Gollum wont sell him.

Wallace Reply Seems a bit wild of a player to me...

Posted by john on 06/22/2011

why didnt we try and get Thomas Muller

let Milner go , let Tevez walk if he carries on acting like a baby

Essien might have been good holding player to sign

Wallace Reply Don't give up on Milner, he's a very good player who was played out of position most of the year. When City are able to play a straight 4-4-2 in matches then Milner will shine.

Posted by Austine on 06/22/2011

Wallace you are perfectly right.Good teams don't win trophies but good squad does.What mancity achieved last season was purely given on a platter of gold by other competiting clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea.Imagine the squad of Barcelona.Little in Number but perfectly blend with youths,veterans and whatever you can call them.I am not saying it is keane and cole but am i do prefer Rosiscky and Bellamy.

Wallace Reply Keane and Cole are my preference, Dempsey and Benayoun run a pretty close second but the fundamental point remains. City have to add experience to the squad.

Posted by lfc88 on 06/22/2011

seems like a lotta people doesnot agree with you wallace. However, I like your view on how united succeed because of their first 11, young, veteran players. That is some real sense man city needs. M a liverpool fan and I think if we have to keep j.cole, he should be used as we used benayoun back in the days.

Wallace Reply Where Liverpool to play Cole in the hole behind the two strikers or even play an inter-style diamond with Gerrard playing in the Yaya role I would be inclined to predict Liverpool would win the League next year. United are in flux this season, Chelsea actually over achieved last year, Arsenal need more grit and Spurs a healthy team for the year. City are close, very close in this group, but all things being considered I think Liverpool are going to be awesome next year.

Posted by arjun swami on 06/22/2011

I echo your opinion,Wallace.The two of them would add depth and premier league experience to our squad.IMO the only position that has problems is the right wing.

Posted by Mario Baloteli on 06/22/2011

Yes we need a squad, not 25 superstars. BUT we dont need those 2 jokers either

u need 2 get some things rite 1st.
1. squad players dont need 2 b all old players. barca squad players r mainly players from their youth system. they dont have many veteran players. madrid dont have many old players either. only united like 2 use alot of old "uncle gary". no need 2 copy from them though.
2. no club's transfer strategy focuses on the squad players b4 trying 2 improve the 1st 11. the correct strat is 2 buy a player to improve the starting 11. den the player displace will become the sub. if along the way a good deal comes along (e.g viera) then yes we should take it. but our 1st pirority should b trying 2 improve the 1st 11.

we should try 2 get fab 2 replace barry. fab can also b used in the silva position if silva injured. if tevez goes we need another striker, but hopefully he wont. currently we dont need too many more subs. we already have dzeko milner AJ lescot etc

Posted by chinaman on 06/22/2011

If its squad players you want then whats wrong with the existing ones: Adebayor, Jo, Johnson (Adam & Michael)... besides there are better players than keane & cole available: Seb Larsson, Scott Parker, Noble, Barton, Bendtner, Fellaini, NZogbia, Rodallega, Adams, Vela, Jarvis, Osman..... the max any of them can touch is 15mil.... that's peanuts for a club like City

Posted by Mass on 06/22/2011

Hi Wallace, I am a die hard Man U fan and just wanted to say that whilst I do not wish to provide 100% endorsement to your suggestion I would say it is evokes some thought. As a Man U fan I understand the importance of a quality squad for value. I see your fellow City fans have turned on you because the players you suggest have a combined value under 50,000,000 GBP. This ongoing mentality will be the downfall of your club's aspirations. Over the years SAF has been frugal in his expenditure to build squad depth, always mindful that old legs carry great minds. Sheringham, Scholes, Giggs, and Owen obvious examples. You can add to this the brilliant cheap young guns obtained via one of the world's greatest scouting networks (eg Chicarito) and you have the makings of a real club. All your City mates do is bag you for thinking the SAF way and stress their anxiety for shopping for anything less than superstars for their Champions League squad. The secret is in the way you spend your money.

Wallace Reply The problem of course is that when United fans agree with me I'm accused of being a "secret red."... And Hernandez for what it's worth was the best value/find of the year.

Posted by Chelski 08 on 06/22/2011

Wallace, I am sorry to see so many morons posting their comments before they have even read your article properly. I understand your point and I agree with it fully. I don't know a whole lot about Keane except for what I saw of him in his Tottenham days, and some of the fabulous goals he scored. As a Chelsea fan I know of Cole's superb talent. There is a reason Harry Redknapp once said that Joe Cole is the most talented player he had ever come across, and even now would still try to buy him. Cole wasn't exactly a consistent stand out at the Bridge, but on his day was a joy to watch. Its a fair suggestion that they may suit City as back up players.

The one thing I've noticed in most of the comments that annoys me is that people are trying to point out that Cole and Keane would demand wages above and beyond what they are worth these days. I did not see you say anything about wages, only transfer fees. Wages mean little to the rich Arabs anyway (Terry was offered $400,000 - bit too much)

Posted by Paul on 06/22/2011

To be upfront I'm a Spurs fan so only started reading this post due to the Keane link. Not sure Keano would fit into the squad player role, as he seems to need to be an on-field leader. Cole I think would be a great pickup. I was shattered when he didn't end up at Spurs last season, as I've always found him to be a purely instinctive flair player - a joy to watch when on song. Too few of those sorts of players left in my opinion.
As for a suggestion instead of Keane - perhaps somebody with the ability to play either upfront or 'in the hole', somebody with a wealth of UCL experience, somebody who wouldn't expect a 1st team place, somebody who has played under Mancini at 2 prior clubs (actually not sure about that, might be off by a year)? Step forward Mr Goran Pandev.

Wallace Reply I think Pandev would expect to start...

Posted by Kardajo on 06/22/2011

so I don't think it's too much consolation for a United supporter to agree with you, but you are absolutely right. The reason United win continually beyond anything else is that they can send all of their starting 11 on holiday and still field a team that can compete with anyone else in the league and possibly beat most of the bottom half. And you're right no other team can do that. Furthermore what Utd have that teams like Arsenal don't are the old legends with level heads and tons of experience and a legacy at the club(City are in a similar boat as Arsenal due to the number of new signings). While I don't know that Keane and Cole would necessarily be the best choice they are along the lines of what you need. The last thing city needs is another marque signing sitting on the bench waiting for a chance. You've had plenty of those and they you're now paying them to play for other clubs.

So as a utd fan let me say, i really hope your club isn't listening...
Happy Transfers!

Posted by Paul on 06/22/2011

Possibly, but not necessarily. His career hasn't exactly been overflowing with big money moves and 100's of games over a decade of top flight football, has it? It's only in the last 2 years that he has started to shine at Inter, but perhaps only being 27 he would expect a bench spot at the least - and that's not really what you're after, is it? Ok, I'm just gonna throw this out there as a 'left field' idea.... Juninho Pernambucano? Yes, he's 36. Yes, he's back in Brazil. Yes, he'd be about as slow a mid as you could find, but he had one of the sharpest footballing brains going around, he can still hit a mean free-kick and wouldn't command a 1st team or even a bench spot. Plus the added benefit of vast UCL and international experience and possibly a mentor to all those gun youngsters Man City like? Oh, and as a class DC, I hear Subotic is doing good things at Dortmund...

Posted by mike on 06/22/2011

wow... and i thought the chelsea blogger was bad... ouch!

pointing out the obvious need for experience does not resolve you from mentioning keane and cole... neither of those players is interested in a shadow role. Those are big personalities that have never achieved anything but continue to crave the spotlight.

keep in mind that no one goes to city for anything other than $$$.

So one thing i will defend you against is the idiots who posted about weekly wages being an issue at the worlds richest club...

Mancini needs to go as he is not a tactition but instead a defensive negative influence.

Spurs almost beat you lot to the champions league again and that with a fraction of the budget...

Del Piero is someone who can help since Macini is still at the club. Or even Seedorf... both of those players will take cash and gladly sit on the bench to provide moral support...

$$$$ talk boys... $$$$ talk real loud...

Wallace Reply Keane and Cole can and will start somewhere in the Premier League if they wish. But both have little chance of playing in the Champions League unless they accept a back up role.

Posted by Drew on 06/22/2011

I see you sometimes say "when City plays ___ formation ___ will play well", but the formation and players always change. Don't we need to get the point where we play 1 formation and all the players we have fit that formation.

Wallace Reply It is generally difficult in the modern game to play one formation throughout the season. You can have a preferred formation but situations will dictate that this change. A good example is the 4-2-3-1 which is perfect playing away against an opponent pushing for a win and when you have speedy wingers. City could with maybe two more players play an inter diamond, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 depending on the circumstances.

Posted by Mick on 06/22/2011

Wallace didnt you predict last summer that Cole to Liverpool was going to one of the best summer transfer signings. It couldnt have been further from the truth. Dalgleish is a shrewd judge of player and has made clear Cole does not have a Liverpool future. As Wenger has identified the best players have a football intelligence and Cole is sadly lacking. Kean is a mediocre striker and although I appreciate you are putting him forward as a "squad player" IMO City should have better options. I look forward to reading your articles please keep them coming but I cant agree with this one. :-))

Wallace Reply I did indeed, but I also thought Liverpool would play him in the correct position... and they didn't.

Posted by jaws. on 06/22/2011

I think there is something to be said for having leadership on a team, but I think city need star players that bring leadership more than squad players. And of course they need rid of the bad attitudes

A big reason that Barcelona seems to function as greater than the sum of its parts is because it has strong leadership from the manager on down. And, its veteran leadership is provided not by fringe squad players but by the big talents who are superstars on the pitch. Carles Puyol, Xavi, David Villa, Iniesta are all world class players and world class attitudes that any team could benefit from. I think that Dani Alves, Pique, Bisquets and even Messi are made to look much more humble and team-oriented because of exposure to these players.

Likewise, its nice to have a Ryan Giggs and a Paul Scholes on your team to do some mentoring, but I think young United players really follow the example of Vidic, Ferdinand and Rooney and of course the word of Sir Alex more than anything else

Wallace Reply That's a good point... but awfully difficult to get to that situation quickly.

Posted by Mt on 06/22/2011

As a Man Utd fan, I totally get your point.

Posted by Abd on 06/23/2011

As a liverpool fan, I can relate to what your saying as both of those players wore a red shirt. I was really disapointed about Keane because I felt it wasn't his fault but the management of him was very wrong put together Torres was firing in all cylinders and preffered a lone striker role so it made it difficult to start Keane. Keane is a class player and as you said, he maybe old but his experience and lethal finishing will help any team out in the league as a backup striker.

Funny you mentioned the Rabotnicki game in the Europa league because that was J. Coles only real performance in a red shirt and suprise suprise, he was in his preffered central role. I am disapointed that he had never had another chance in that role and played once or twice on the wings where his talents are wasted. I understand both players need money but no offence to your club, Shiek Mansour will happily shet out an extra 150-200k a week for those players.

They will help out in the league for sure. Signem

Wallace Reply So apparently there are two of us on the planet that saw that game! lol. That's the Joe Cole I rate so highly and it is beyond me why managers don't play him in that role.

Posted by ManchesterBoy on 06/23/2011

Wallace,

While I completely agree with your talk about building a better squad, I disagree with Cole and Keane as the choices.City has proved they have the squad to compete in the Premier League and FA Cup but City's other main aim is the Champions League and simply put, Cole and Keane have no real CL experience. Cole played for Chelsea in the CL but didn't do anything special and so wouldn't be able to bring anything in Europe.
I feel the same thing happened to Tottenham. They had good players but their first team had little top-class European experience, except Gallas, VDV and maybe Crouch from his Liverpool days. I would think players like Seedorf (although he just signed a 1 year extension so unlikely), Pippo Inzhagi, Camorenesi, Thiago Motta to name a few might be better squad players.

Posted by Waqas Azeem on 06/23/2011

Wallce, I've been thinking about the alternative players and figured something that you might like...
How about Juan Roman Riquelme for a playmaker... and Diego Forlan for a striker... Both fit in with the experience and age bracket. And If Tevez leaves Forlan is not only a backup but a good starter in Euorpe. Given their age, shouldn't cost a fortune in transfer. Thoughts ?

Wallace Reply I wanted Riquelme to join City three of four years ago when he had a falling out with a previous club. Having returned to Boca I'm not sure he would move, but in his day was seriously world class. Forlan, I think, would struggle again in the Premier League.

Posted by Richo from Rockie on 06/23/2011

TOTALLY agree with your squad - kills me to say something nice about manscum utd, but, they have a squad that knows there role.

As others have mentioned, i think the J.Cole salary is a killer, whats wrong with bringing Bellamy back?? Guy works ring off on the pitch !!

Wallace Reply I'd love Mancini and Bellamy to patch things up. Would completely change the club dynamic,

Posted by Alakazam on 06/23/2011

I agree, Man City should buy more of such players, like keane and cole. that's cos they can afford their wages as benchwarmers! no other clubs will be happy to pay so much to let them warm the bench and come off minimally...it really is disturbing to see clubs trying to buy their way to success..should just abandon their youth academies..

Wallace Reply You're missing the point. A squad needs a mixture of four things. A starting 11, role players, veterans and youth. City have 10 of their starting 11, a couple of useful role players - although one more would help, and youth such as Boyata. What the club needs is the veteran group of 2-3 players.

Also all clubs buy their way to success or would you consider the move of Ashley Young and Jordan Henderson to be charity cases this summer?

Posted by hardy on 06/23/2011

Wallace no no no,Keane and cole are finished at this level.Your statement below was spot on.
City need a world class central defender, to find out if Kolarov is the player we thought he was, a back up for de Jong, a back up for Silva and a fourth striker. With that then City would have the best team and the best squad in the Premier League.
I think we could improve with Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas.keep Vieira for another year.Job done.

Posted by david1234 on 06/23/2011

City already has a bunch of experienced veterans in the team; kolo toure, viera, Carlos tevez, Craig Bellamy, Shay Given, Gareth Barry and so much more. They dont need to add high earning misfits to an already volatile squad. What City needs is for this current squad to play together without adding any more high profile players or sulking washed up players like the cole and keane u're going out on a limb 4. why wud keane and cole trade one bench 4 another? city dont need 2 add to this squad, they need to recall all their loanees and rebuild a fresh squad cos they have alredi wasted so much money on d likes of boateng, kolarov, milner, dzeko etc their current squad is d best in d lig, they need to give these players a chance to play and not just throw money about because u have it

Posted by joseph abie on 06/24/2011

Wallace, I agree with you. We need squad players, yes. But Cole and Keane? Come on!
I prefer Bellamy than Keane. But Mancini seems won't resolve his issue with Bellamy, we need to look elsewhere. I suggest Owen (Michael). Yes I know most of you will disagree, but Owen still can bring crucial goal. Remember how City's win was cancelled in 2009 with Owen's late goal? Plus, it seems, Owen is much healthier than last season. Only
As for Cole, I prefer the Standard Liege's Belgian Steven Defour. He's more than a decent back up for Silva. Plus, Defour's younger, has experince, and more fitness than Joe Cole despite his broken leg two years ago.

Posted by MCFCBoy on 06/24/2011

How about Michael Ballack ?
He isn't fitting in at Leverkusen. He has premier league and champions league experience. Would be a good role model for the youngsters.

Wallace Reply I've always thought Ballack to be something of a thug...

Posted by what he said on 06/24/2011

One of the most consistent blogs in ESPNSoccernet is undoubtedly the Man City one. If it is not insightful, at least it is sensible and proper. But anyway, Keane and Cole seem to be risky stuff and the biggest problem is the fan backlash. No matter the reason, most of them just can't help thinking "FAILURES" when the two names pop up, unless Cole is Carlton Cole.

Aside from that I think the two signings are decent, economic ideas. You can't find many seasoned Premier League players with so much CL/domestic cups experience like those two.

Posted by markmancity on 06/24/2011

I agree that man city need strength in numbers but i do not agree that Cole and Keane are the right people i think that we should go for Matt Jarvis from wolves, Parker and this may sound stupid but i think drogba. i know he is old but with more direct style of play and strength he will hold the ball up and let players like silva and balotelli play around him and also he does moments of magic. of couse buying kaka and Ronaldo any big name will be a boost but look at Robhino. we need players who perform at th top level in the prem.

Wallace Reply I haven't watched Jarvis enough individually to know whether he would be a good fit. I'm pretty sure that Parker's wife couldn't settle in the north and he'll join another London club. Drogba I like and he would have the advantage of being able to play in both the diamond and the 4-2-3-1... interesting suggestion.

Posted by chyke on 06/24/2011

Chances are that this writer belongs to a different league or has observed a different league in the last 3 years. Sorry, but these guys are not for City.

Wallace Reply I suspect I've watched more Premier League games than most normally averaging at least four complete games on a weekend, and usually more.

Posted by Mdadisi on 06/24/2011

Please take Joe Cole, please...
I like your idea but I'm not sure about the two specific players. You might get more out of Kevin Phillips than either one of the two. I agree with suggestions for Clarence Seedorf and Inzaghi instead though it's probably too late for that now.
I respectfully disagree on the need for more experienced leadership though. For starters, you already have Craig Bellamy who rules by a golf club. And you have veteran leaders, proven champions in your team, the biggest one being TOURE.
Yaya is multiple times La Liga Champ, Champion's League Champ and whatever he's done with team Ivory Coast. Yaya was shackled by Barca, denied to show the world what he can do. Who would have known the guy had strength and pace and can score important goals for his club? His goals got City to the finals and won them their first trophy in ages. A big time player for big time games.
Kolo falls in this category as well...remember The Invincibles?

Wallace Reply The "Nutter with the Putter" remains one of my favourite descriptions of a footballer...

Posted by Scott McIlvennie on 06/24/2011

Cole: overrated & short of class (world class that is). Keane:helped West Ham a lot didn't he. Turn him over, he's done. Either or both would be a big step back. The progression is too move forward, not sideways or back. If City don't win again this year, a new manager will be brought in and the squad will change again etc. Those players will not add to the team. I see their names on the team sheet and my day just got better if I'm the other manager.

Posted by steve havens on 06/25/2011

Wallace,
One player not mentioned in any of these responses, who like Joe Cole is a talent, and who has also been unfortunate to have suffered injury setbacks is Michael Johnson. Before those injuries he was being compared to Colin Bell. Yet, even after returning from a long period of rehabilitation he was rarely selected as a sub.
Do you think he, like Owen Hargreaves, will be forced out of the game..or can he contribute as cover for Silva or Yaya ?

Wallace Reply Should Johnson return to full fitness then yes as cover for Yaya, not Silva.

Posted by Mickey-G on 06/26/2011

Cole &. Keane??? your having a laugh! What City really need a top notch creative central midfielder. I'm a Reds supporter and IMO City can and should win the title if they add this type of player. City don't have a Gerrard, Lampard, Fabragas, Modric etc. There is nothing scary about City's central midfield at all, everything comes from out wide. Imagine having a quality attacker playmaker running box to box and firing in quality passed to the speed of Balotelli??

Wallace Reply City already have David Silva

Posted by Toreko on 06/26/2011

First thing I'd like to say I am an American fairly new(3 years) to the EPL and top-flite football....Kinda hard to follow with Fox Soccer Channel and ESPN soccernet, and the Fifa franchise(ps3) being my sources of information....That being said I think I already understand more than most people who post on this page...Wow, that sounded obnoxious and ignorant like most Americans(just repping), but seriously what is ignorant is the amount of people that miss the point of your piece....It's not just about the 2 players you'd like to add....it's what they add to the CHEMISTRY of a TEAM.....Just like over here buy the biggest name, go after the biggest free agent(transfer). Big contracts usually equal big ego's equal big failures.....Being introduced to the EPL by a close friend who is a lifelong MAN U fan I had to become a City fan(I felt like a METS fan in NY) it's clear Man U plays more like a TEAM...Instead of Sanchez or Hulk how about a monster CB to go with Kompany?....Just sayin..

Posted by Fighter of the Night Man on 06/26/2011

I think Anelka would be a good pickup instead of Keane as a seasoned veteran who is not looking to start but will pull his weight in any of the four campaigns.

For a midfielder I don't think any more experience is necessary needed but a non-starter is a must. I would hit up Xherdan Shaqiri. THUG LYFE.

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