Manchester City News 24/7Writer: Gavin Cooper 
Date:Thursday January 3 2008
Time: 1:27PM
UK time is: 18:58:58
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Do We Need New Signings?
Isn't it great to see City in such a lofty position in the league at least half way through the season.
Sven I have to admit has done a wonderful job with blending and getting more out of the existing players with bringing in quality new players in the summer.
I hold my hands up as a big England fan who travels home and away to watch them, I really did not want Sven to take the job; but how pleased am I to be eating humble pie, keep making me eat it I say.
Clearly Sven has seen with the rest of us that there is some dead weight in the squad that needs culling. But on the flip side their is so much young talent that is close to being first team regulars that it is impossible to play them all. And there in is the crux to this article. We all know that Sven has the cache and reputation to bring in quality players; but maybe Sven may struggle to attract the qualities of say Steven Gerrard et al to a squad that at the moment is riding high, but until the end of the season you do not know whether City will be in that coveted fourth place, UEFA placings or just outside.
The bookies are rarely wrong and odds are pretty even with around three or four teams challenging the 4/5th spot.
So does Sven take the big gamble and try to acquire a couple of top players; but if so where would these top players fit in to what we can see is a great team ethos in the way that the whole team celebrates together. Bringing in what you might describe as superstars might not be the way to go.
As mentioned earlier bringing in more players will also make it harder for the younger players to get first team games.
You only have to look at Arsene Wenger and what he has done at Arsenal. They have not won the title since the 2003/4 season and since then he has got rid of his big stars and brought in young talent and nurtured his existing youngsters to a point where you can see arsenal be a top force for the next three or four seasons.
I think City and Sven should follow this philosophy and build for the long term and not try to hurdle as well as sprint.
Bringing in Castillo was a great move and maybe one other; my choice would be a decent experienced goalkeeper to back up Hart as I would let Isaksson leave.
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Your Comments
I think Sven will continue to use his worldwide contacts to bring in YOUNG unknown talent at reasonable prices but also maybe one ..to put it in his words..."Big, Big signing" in all i think he will bring in at least three or four whilst at the same time getting rid of five or six, the likes of, Corradi, Samaras, D. Mills, Dabo, Dickov, M.Mills.
alphieblues
Agree Alphie, dead wood to go. Not so keen to tout more foriegn talent in large numbers. May need to look at the holding role. Although it may be within Corluka's grasp to do the job - jury out. He's certainly under pressure from Nedum at RB. Its a real plus that the academy lads are putting the imports under pressure. Only really Elano and Petrov actually look like starting. Obviously we need to see the Mexican and Bojinov. But there's going to be a 'ballet on ice' moment any day, I'm sure.
Craig Cain
Do you Know where the problem?! There is no stability in the team,If you look to the more attackers played,You will found he is not playing more than 50% of the game & sporadically,That make the players lose coherence and understanding with each other, I think that what we need now is stability, We have now players Able to reach the goal of access to Europe & When we Achieve the target then it will be more easy to us to contract with the "Big Names" .
city 81
city 81.... He did play an unchanged team in the last two games !
alphieblues
alphieblues, Look to santa cruz ( Blackburn ) in first 12 match he dont make any thing Perhaps scored two or three goal, But with so many games started Understanding with the players and they knew what he wants and now he score in every game one or two goal, We have strikers able to be better than Cruz, But we need the Stability & this can not be achieved with the addition of new players in this stage, that is my mind and perhaps Im wrong .
city 81
Not buying the stability thing city81 - the substitions have been inspired at times, and the guys filling in for injuries, suspensions etc have done well - giving us some depth and flexibility.
Craig Cain
With Castilla & Bojinov playing in the next few weeks there will be no lack of firepower.
alphieblues
you definately need new signing to really break into top four right now you lots are doing an excellent job but you sitll lack that top four grid.
kaybee
We cannot attain fourth with the suad we have, it is too small and not enough quality to fill in for suspensions and injuries. It was a difficult job choosing MOM for the newcastle game. Corluka has amazed me with his displays in midfield and Dunney once again played outstandingly well. but Hart made three vital saves and especially the one against Owen. Those saves won us the match.
Buzz Lightyear
GC, we certainly need new signings, the times report that we have made a rejected bid for 'Santa' at Blackburn. but as with anything with Sven you don't know if its true until he says it is.
Buzz Lightyear
Excellent article Gav. I am concerned that a boat rocker like Anelka and his regular transfer agents fees could disrupt the dressing room.
The fact is, as Buzz says, we have a small squad in relative PL terms and it is also a predominantly young squad. We also need experienced options for when Hamman is injured and Dabo has been an abject failure in that position. The right balance of experience and youthful hunger could help us reach Europe which is far from a forgone conclusion. Beyond that can wait for another day, but what I will not accept is any of our academy lads going out as makeweights for big names.
Johnny Baguette
Hey Buzz It is good you had difficulty in naming th MOTM it shows everyone is playing their part which is how it should be in a team game. JB I don't think Sven will use any of our academy players as makeweights. He has given everyone a fair crack of the whip this season and don't forget his biggest signing Bianchi has hardly got a look in this season. The ones that play are there on merit on long may it continue whoever he signs.
alphieblues
Wenger moved his big stars out over a period of time and fed his youngsters in to the team. That is just what Sven is going to do. His judgement with players has been first class. I'm convinced that he will bring a couple more players in then go with what he hs got. Lets face it even the Salford lot bring in new players on a regular basis. We will have a good mix of young talent and good experience.
manci7y
Nice one, manci7y. You are absolutely right. The future is ours, as the Iceman says! Alph, the makeweight one was thrown into the mix by some sportshack this week threatening Crouch for Johnson and Nedum. There would be a riot of course, but best dismiss such nonsense in order to sleep better at night!!
What a difference from 12 months ago, eh?
Johnny Baguette
JB Who is your money on for Svens BIG, BIG, signing ???
alphieblues
I keep being told it could be Anelka. A lot of us would need some convincing were he to come back but his style of play would suit Sven's system...
Johnny Baguette
I just wonder if Martin has persuaded his big mate Dimitov to join us, I know he would cost a fortune or whether Sven will go all out for Modric.
alphieblues
...p.s. sorry that should read Dimitar...
alphieblues
The Berbatov to City rumour was doing the rounds on the continent last week, with Bojionv and Petrov an alledged big influence. We'd be looking at serious outlay there. Surely he'd go to the rags or Chelski.
Johnny Baguette
A follow up to my last post is that Taggart has ruled out signing anyone for the Library of Dreams this month.
Johnny Baguette
I'd suggest you do in case suspensions and injuries bite hard!
merlin
You're right merlin. We have a small squad for the PL and have been relatively luck so far injury wise.
Johnny Baguette
Latest rumour. Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski lined up. Highly rated.
Johnny Baguette
Johnny Baguette, I think that the Germans players more successful with Manchester City, In the eighties We had a wonderful German striker, The beginnings of 2000, we had two players (playing one after the other) were playing in same place left back & Now Hamann .
city 81
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