Basically, I'm still not convinced it's a crisis.
- News today that Bozhinov is still not training fully due to a thigh strain and will not reach full fitness for some time yet. This is a blow, but given the number of set backs (he was meant to be back in January, remember) it's not particularly surprising. I still think he will be a big star for City, and hopefully this season, although we may not get to see him quite as soon as he hoped.
- So this leaves us with Bianchi, Vassell and the youngsters. Mark Hughes suggested today that Evans and Sturridge were quite seriously in his plans for the opening weeks. Apparently Sturridge will play against Hamburg on Saturday, and the manager said of the two of them: "This [youngsters' involvement in the first team] can happen at this stage, these guys have got to train well and play well. When the opportunity presents itself they have to catch my eye, so there are chances for everybody".
- If the two of them are in Hughes' plans, then we have enough to get through the opening few games: Vassell, Bianchi (if he stays), Evans, Sturridge and then Castillo, Elano and Ireland who can all play just in behind. And after three or four games we'll have Jô, with Benjani and Bozhinov soon following.
- Therefore: we don't need to panic buy! I wouldn't mind our buying Roque Santa Cruz or Diego Milito, but only because they're good players who would improve the squad, not because we desperately need a new centre forward for the first three matches. And as such we don't need Bellamy and Cissé: because they are bad players (and persons) who would not improve the squad and whose purchase would represent a diversion of resources away from more pressing areas. A long standing Anfield season ticket holder said to me when asked to compare the two: "Do you want to die drowning or burning alive? Both are shite."
2 comments:
We have so many strikers, every article seems to miss one, in this case Cacideo is not mentioned nor Corradi. I personally don't think we have a crisis, this is all paper talk. If we play 442, then our options are reduced and our most likely striker is not available for a few weeks. If we play 451, we also have the option of Ireland or Elano to play in the hole, lets not forget Elano was the highest scorer last season. Still believe MH has his targets and City are working on these, when something more concrete is firmed up we will here.
I didn't mention Corradi because I presume he's leaving. I didn't mention Caicedo because Hughes hasn't all so far: did he pick up an injury on international duty?
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