Manchester City can gatecrash the Premier League top four

14 August 2010 00:48
As Roberto Mancini emerged from his press conference at Manchester City's training ground yesterday morning, a DHL delivery truck arrived just as a bin lorry was leaving. [LNB]Were Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland in the back of one with Mario Balotelli and James Milner carefully wrapped in the other? [LNB]Judging by what Mancini had just said, it certainly seemed possible. [LNB] Noisy neighbours: Robert Mancini and his backroom staff know they must break into the top four at the very least this season[LNB]Manchester United's noisy neighbours have been busy this summer, spending more than £100 million for the third successive year to rebuild what Mancini hopes will be a team that can finally challenge Sir Alex Ferguson's side as well as Chelsea and Arsenal for the Barclays Premier League title. [LNB]It will amount to quite an achievement if the Italian succeeds, an act of sporting alchemy no less, not least because of the haste in which this collection of City players have been thrown together. [LNB]Shay Given could soon be the club's longest serving professional and, after only 18 months, there would appear to be some doubt over his future, especially if Mancini, as expected, makes Joe Hart his first-choice goalkeeper. Asked yesterday if he anticipated both goalkeepers remaining at Eastlands once he has made his decision, he could only say 'I hope so'. [LNB]While Hart could be forgiven for thinking Italians have a blind spot when it comes to identifying keepers, there is a cold professionalism about Mancini. The man is no mug, as he demonstrated during his time in charge at Inter Milan. But the chilling disregard for the contribution certain players have made these past couple of years revealed a ruthless edge to that suave, sophisticated image. [LNB]New order: Joe Hart is Man City's new No 1[LNB]It was time, he said, for Ireland to move on, just as it was time for Bellamy to stop making a nuisance of himself. Yesterday Mancini accused him of lying in response to the complaint that he had blanked the Welshman for the last six months. [LNB]'It's not important for me because it is false,' he said in English that does seem to be improving despite the assistance of an interpreter who not so long ago was sat at Fabio Capello's side in South Africa. [LNB]'BecauseI work with the players every day, I speak with the players every day, and Craig played always with me last year. Always. But it's not important. I don't want to talk about this.' [LNB]Onewonders just how much this has to do with their clear affiliation to the previous manager. Bellamy and Given led a boardroom protest when Mark Hughes was dismissed last season and it might just be that they have been marked men ever since. [LNB]It was put to Mancini yesterday that the heart and soul of the team is in danger of being removed: Richard Dunne, Given, Bellamy, Ireland. Mancini resisted the temptation to ask what success they had enjoyed at the club but he did reject the idea that the British and Irish spine to the team has been brutally extracted. [LNB]'In our squad we have Shay, Joe Hart, WayneBridge, Joleon Lescott, Gareth Barry, Michael Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Micah Richards,' he said. [LNB]'We need good playerswith strong characters. But we have nine, 10, 11 English players, and probably in the next week we will have four players who play for the national team. That's important.' [LNB]In a bid to bond quickly, he even said it was important that they all converse in English. [LNB]'Inevery team in England it's important that they are together, stay together, speak in English,' he said. [LNB]'We probably need three weeks together but we can be a very good team. I think already I have five new fantastic players who will change our history. I think we have achance to win the league. Why not? I have built my team and I hope it will not just be top four but better than that and we can win something.' [LNB] A trip to Tottenham today represents a difficult start. A defeat by Harry Redknapp's side at White Hart Lane last December marked the end of Hughes' tenure, while a setback at Eastlands in May secured a Champions League place for the north London club at City's expense. [LNB]Even so, there is a real sense of excitement and anticipation at City, the arrival of players like David Silva, Yaya Toure and Jerome Boateng enabling them to boast the biggest rise in season-ticket sales of any Premier League club. [LNB]Nobody will be feeling more uncomfortable about that than United. Ferguson said last season that never in his lifetime would City supersede United as the most powerful club in Manchester but even Old Trafford's all-conquering manager must be getting a little twitchy when he has been as relatively quiet as he has in the transfer market. [LNB]Never has there been a starker contrast than the simultaneous signings of an unknown kid off the streets of Portugal called Bebe and Italian football's next big thing, Balotelli, who completed his move last night. [LNB]Yesterday Ferguson struggled even to say the 'C' word. Asked who would be among the main challengers in this season's title race, he started with Everton and listed everyone but the richest club on the planet. [LNB] Talking a good game: Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits neighbours City will be better this seasom[LNB]'Well, I think the interesting thing is Everton,' he said in once again displaying his obvious admiration for the outstanding David Moyes. [LNB]'They have all their players back. The first half of last season was a nightmare for them, injuries to the likes of Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka. Now all of these players are fit they could be an interesting prospect. [LNB]'Spurs got into the top four, breaking that monopoly of established teams. But Liverpool will improve with Roy Hodgson, while Spurs are also on the upswing under Harry. The top four's going to be very competitive again.' [LNB]But what about City? 'I should have mentioned them,' he said. [LNB]'They have spent that money and expectation increases with that. They will be challengers; no doubt about that. It's going to be tight.' [LNB]It will be partly because there has been so little transfer activity among the top sides with the exception of City. Chelsea appear to be pretty much standing still as well as United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs. [LNB]But, forever the optimist, Fergie prefers to look it another way. Stability also breeds success and, while players like Javier Hernandez (United) and Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal) have arrived in England, of greater importance has been the success of these clubs in keeping their best players.[LNB] Head to head: Arsene Wenger will take his side to Roy Hodgson's Liverpool to start their campaign[LNB] Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Liverpool counterpart Hodgson have again proved master negotiators who will meet in what promises to be a fascinating clash at Anfield tomorrow. [LNB]'Man City will be better,' said Ferguson. [LNB]'But Man United, with the present squad and the younger players a year older, will improve too. I'm sure other clubs will be glad we never bought big this summer but I don't think there was a need to. I do not see the value anywhere. [LNB]'We're good at producing players and we have goals in us. We just have to pray we don't get the kind of injury problems we had in defence last season.' [LNB]United kick off their campaign on Monday against the one promoted team most people would bet on staying up. [LNB]Newcastle will fare better in the top flight this season, even if they are bound to struggle against a United side that will once again lead the challenge against Chelsea with developing Arsenal and City not too far behind. [LNB] Matt Lawton's Guide to why the Premier League will be a thrillerManagers to surprise- David Moyes (Everton)- Roberto Di Matteo (West Bromwich Albion)- Avram Grant (West Ham)[LNB]Best signings- Joe Cole (Chelsea to Liverpool)- Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux to Arsenal)- David Silva (Valencia to Manchester City)[LNB]Clubs I like and why...- Arsenal - best half-time food- Liverpool - for the atmosphere- Wigan - friendly a joy to deal with[LNB] Bargain hunt: Joe Cole was an inspired recruit for Liverpool this summer[LNB] [LNB]Faces I'd like to see in the Premier League again- Jose Mourinho (at Manchester United.... eventually)- Kaka (at Chelsea)- Martin O'Neill[LNB]Things I hope will happen this season- Liverpool find local investment- Tottenham's Englishmen (including the manager) advance in the Champions League- Fergie delays retirement for another year[LNB] One for the future: Big things are expected from Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell this term[LNB]Favourite Premier League players of all time- Thierry Henry- Roy Keane- Eric Cantona[LNB]Young England players to make an impact- Jack Rodwell (Everton)- Jack Wilshere (Arsenal, may have to go out on loan)- Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal)[LNB]  Sign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsEXCLUSIVE: Given is axed! Arsenal on alert for keeper as Hart is made Man City's No 1It's official! Mancini finally gets his man as Balotelli seals £23m Manchester City moveSpurs are in it to win it! Redknapp challenges his charges to lift the crownClick here for all the weekend Barclays Premier League team newsMANCHESTER CITY FC

Source: Daily_Mail