Transfers: The Next Generation

With so many names linked with City, it is not surprising that many City fans brush off a headline "City seeks Maicon" as probably a ruse. Our situation is a unique one because our financial strength in an overall downturn is the best thing that happened to agents and newspapers, the lead progenitors of transfer talk. One aspect of the craziness in the Eto'o situation is that his agent is supposed to have said that the Manchester City bid was a lie to provoke the club, in an interview with Radio Marca. We have here the first admission by an agent of this sort of fabrication, and I am not sure how serious our intentions toward Maicon are. But I know how serious they should be.

We should make Maicon our number one target after we complete whatever signings are in the works. Here's the truth: Micah Richards is good, but with Maicon`s tutelage he could be great. Richards wouldn`t mind being kept on the bench by the number one in the world. And Maicon just might be talked into a move. His agent has linked us with a bid, and Inter might take a bid to fund some rebuilding buys. I am a huge, huge fan of Maicon's, because there are dozens of talented attacking fullbacks, but he is the first since Cafu to really turn that role into a generalship. In Inter's best performances last year he distributed perfectly, beat defenders, crossed beautifully, set loose strikers, and totally anchored the attacking movement. With Maicon linking up with Robinho, Tevez (fingers crossed), RSC, Stevie Ireland, and SWP, we would destroy defenses like Rafa Benitez destroys all-you-can-eat establishments.

I want to hear what players you are secretly relishing playing in Sky Blue next year. Who will take us to the next level? What younger players should we buy to keep in the wings? Would it be worth 10-20 million to get Hernanes? What about a Mauro Zarate? What about the clearouts from Real Madrid, including Ruud, Robben, Sneijder, and maybe even Mahmadou Diarra? If Eto`o doesn't come, do we need another striker, or was he a target of opportunity? I think that we won't buy another striker should he not come.

It appears that we have identified our prime targets, mostly goal scorers to finish the myriad attacking moves that lacked the final touch away last year. Leaving them aside, and Lescott/Upson, how many more moves do we need? Maybe another defensive signing would be in order, and a lot depends on clear outs as well. But we have such depth right now that we might not even need to replace Elano should he leave, and that's a good feeling.

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