Andy Townsend's Boot Room: Manchester City's billions add spark to the season

14 August 2009 19:08
It's the big kick-off in the Barclays Premier League today. Who will be the heroes of a season with the World Cup finals at the end of it? Simon Cass met up with our columnist and TV pundit Andy Townsend, to look ahead at what promises to be a thriller...[LNB]Blackburn v Manchester City: not usually a fixture to whet the appetite is it?[LNB]It does this weekend. I know City have spent millions, but as a neutral, big investment in an English club has got to be a good thing. Are you trying to tell me in Spain that fans aren't excited by what Real Madrid have been doing?[LNB]Haven't City paid well over the odds this summer?[LNB]Teams have paid over the odds before £30million for Shevchenko springs to mind. But you have to if you really want to get things moving and City have bought good players. Emmanuel Adebayor won't win a popularity contest at Arsenal but he can be a real handful. Roque Santa Cruz is a very good finisher, Gareth Barry is an England international and we have seen the impact Carlos Tevez can have.[LNB] Strongest line up: Zabaleta and Tevez[LNB]But Hughes really has a tough task on his hands to prove it was money well spent, hasn't he? [LNB]The first eight games will be absolutely crucial and City will be looking to get at least seven points from their first three games. A positive start for Mark and things could snowball. But a sluggish start and life could become very uncomfortable. [LNB]Sparky knows he is under huge pressure to get it right, and quickly. What is their best line-up?[LNB]A 4-4-2 with Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, if they get him, and Bridge at the back. A midfield of Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Barry and Robinho with Adebayor and Tevez up front. And, of course, Given in goal.[LNB]What else stands out this weekend?[LNB]It's a tricky game for Liverpool against Spurs. Both those sides look lively and Spurs have strengthened their squad. It's a fixture that could be too early in the season for one of the teams. [LNB]You have to fancy wins for Chelsea and Manchester United, especially as Birmingham seem a little undercooked. Their manager, Alex McLeish, doesn't seem best pleased and it's not the sort of place you can go and hope for the best. United will be eager to come flying out of the blocks. It could be a painful return to the top flight. [LNB] 102.1ST.15.jpg[LNB]Who else has spent well?[LNB]Steve Bruce is a top manager and he deserves his chance on a big stage at Sunderland, who are the biggest club he has managed. Darren Bent scores goals and, if he works well with Kenwyne Jones, they should be a handful. Lee Cattermole will dig in and add power and strength to their midfield. Bruce will know they needto plug holes at the back. They leaked too much last season.[LNB]What about the other new boys?[LNB]Wolves have a chance to start well. West Ham were hard to beat last season and tightened it up at the back, but they seem to lack firepower and Wolves might catch them cold. Burnley will be hoping to follow Stoke's example from last season and offer some shock tactics. All of them face an uphill struggle, but they will be watching Hull and Portsmouth and hoping to reel them in. What sort of team sheet will Portsmouth have against Fulham?[LNB][LNB] [LNB]  Explore more:People:Roque Santa Cruz, Steve Bruce, Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Lee Cattermole, Alex McLeish, Darren Bent, Gareth Barry, RobinhoPlaces:Birmingham, Ireland, Spain, United Kingdom

Source: Daily_Mail