Assessing Manchester City’s summer transfers
Remarkably for a club that won the Premier League last season and who have such strength in depth, Manchester City were one of the busiest teams in the transfer market this summer and even more incredibly, saw their business drag out to the very last day with four signings confirmed in the window’s last 24 hours.
However, by the time the window slammed shut, City boss Roberto Mancini had completed his squad renovation. So who exactly has he brought in and how do we suppose they will fare as City not only look to retain the domestic title but also challenge for the Champions League.
Jack Rodwell – A surprising purchase considering how highly regarded he was at Everton and for a relatively cheap fee of around £15 million. However, his injury problems at Goodison Park appeared to have stagnated his progression somewhat. Has featured more regularly so far this season than perhaps he himself would have expected to and while it would be a stretch to say he has shone, he has not looked completely out of place either despite a few hairy moments.
Verdict: Unlikely to prove the difference between winning titles and not but is young, English and talented and could prove a shrewd purchase for the squad.
Matija Nastasic – Not much is known about the young Serbian defender who arrived from Fiorentina on transfer deadline day. Has been dubbed the new Nemanja Vidic and played for his country in their recent two games against Wales and Scotland. City fans will be hoping he will not become the next Stefan Savic, who moved to Italy as part of the deal, who similarly came to the Etihad with high hopes only to look completely out of place.
Verdict: One imagines he will not get much game time with the experience of Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott ahead of him but does come with an extremely good reputation for one so young. If nurtured correctly, Nastasic could be knocking on the shoulder of the ageing Lescott before too long.
Scott Sinclair – Arguably City’s most puzzling summer purchase. Once it became clear that Adam Johnson was keen to leave the Etihad, all sorts of top European names were bandied around but instead it was Swansea’s Sinclair, in the final year of his contract at the Liberty Stadium, who was snapped up. Does have assets with his blistering pace and good technical ability but hardly set the Premier League alight with Swansea last season and if Johnson struggled to get into the City team, Sinclair is going to have to his work similarly cut out.
Verdict: Despite being given a first start against Stoke on Saturday, it is difficult to understand how Sinclair is an upgrade on the departed Johnson. Not a bad player by any means but is he really what City need to take that step up? The jury is out.
Maicon – The vastly experienced Brazilian comes from a trophy laden spell at Inter Milan where he helped the club to an unprecedented treble in 2010 under Jose Mourinho. His marauding performances that season for both Inter and Brazil in the 2010 World Cup live long in the memory. However, at the age of 31 his powers have diminished somewhat, as Gareth Bale showed in the Welshman’s comprehensive destruction of the Brazilian almost two years ago now. Indeed, with City possessing Pablo Zabaleta and the currently injured Micah Richards already at right back, one wonders where the Brazilian quite fits in. However, is a favourite of Mancini having worked with him at the San Siro and if City continue with their experimentation of playing three at the back, then Maicon is perfectly suited to the wing back role.
Verdict: If Mancini can coax the kind of performances that Maicon was delivering a couple of years ago for Inter Milan, then the Brazilian could prove an inspired signing, particularly with his ability to play wing back. However, he may well find himself being more of a help off the pitch rather than on it, particularly with his Champions League experience that Patrick Vieira has already noted will be key as City attempt to make progress in Europe this season.
Javi Garcia – The latest of City’s deadline day signings was off to the perfect start by scoring the equaliser to ensure his side picked up a point at Stoke on Saturday and looked an assured presence in the middle of the park. However, it is well known that Garcia was not Mancini’s first choice for the role. The City boss had been keener on Daniele De Rossi but after he decided to remain at Roma, attention switched to the Benfica man who after losing his way somewhat following being let go by Real Madrid, re-found his form in Portugal, particularly shining against Chelsea in last season’s Champions League. May not be the flashiest of players but will provide discipline as well as the technical excellence you would expect from a Spanish midfielder and could shine on big European nights with his ability to retain possession.
Verdict: The way he handled the rough and tumble of the Britannia bodes well for Garcia’s future. He may not be the world star that City fans had been hoping for but he certainly looks like an upgrade on Gareth Barry and could dovetail well with Yaya Toure in the City engine room. His ability to pick passes from deep will also help City in the tighter matches where the intricate play from the likes of Samir Nasri and David Silva can run out of room.
Adam Mazrani
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