City open talks with AC Milan over Kaka

[Baldemort]

This is an important point.

Does anybody really think it's just not a matter of time before Citeh start amassing a top notch side. If they could lure Robinho here, it's only a matter of time before others come too. They won't be able to buy anyone, but certainly enough to break the top four in a couple of seasons, as long as they replace the hapless Hughes. The more quality they sign, the more will join.

[Woobus]

Does anybody really think it's just not a matter of time before Citeh start amassing a top notch side. If they could lure Robinho here, it's only a matter of time before others come too. They won't be able to buy anyone, but certainly enough to break the top four in a couple of seasons, as long as they replace the hapless Hughes. The more quality they sign, the more will join.

Not sure if the Robinho transfer shows they can attract the top names. He had no choice but to leave Real after the way he got on and City wwas the only club he was allowed to speak to.
Think they will stregthen and maybe challenge for 4th spot next year but doubt many of the world class players will leave the bigger clubs until they make Europe.

[Baldemort]

I think a new manager is their number one priority.

[dww]

Half a million a week may just soften the blow a bit mind!

The thing is that I'm not sure that all that many players respond to money with committed performances compared to those that want to prove things with ambition etc. I'm sure that any player that takes City's money will personally be pretty happy with their decision - whether City are as happy with them I suspect is a different matter.

[Mad_Red]

come on guys who would leave MILAN and go to a **** whole like mansister??????

[-V-]

I would for half a million a week

[Tee]

I would for half a million a week

Its true, that kind of crazy money would turn anyones head.

[Joe King]

I think Wayne bridge is a decent buy for them. They know that they will have to pay inflated fees and it is important to get players who fit a way of playing. Bridge has a problem in that he is **** when he comes back from injury and needs games but once settled he offers a lot defensively and going forward. He also has something to prove having been second choice for Chelsea and England.

I personally think that City are approaching team building in a unbalanced way not just in the tactical types of player they have been after. I think they need to get players on the way up rather than peak or past it. One or two experienced heads is fair enough but if they concentrate on players who have already achieved a lot I think they will struggle to blend a team.

In the short term an experienced defender and defensive, or at least deep lying midfielder will help them a great deal but for next season and beyond the targeting of established superstars, especially without the carrot of the CL seems unlikely to work for them.

I don't think Abu Dhabi look at it that way. They want instant success and have made no bones about it. They feel if they can get high calibre players, they will achieve Champions League football and the Premiership title. This is obviously a business model, not a football model as they probably did in Abu Dhabi, get the best people and it will deliver the best results.

What I wouldn't be surprised is that a certain Phil Scolari joins the club after being released from Chelsea what with the Brazilian contingent at the club.

[dww]

I don't think Abu Dhabi look at it that way. They want instant success and have made no bones about it. They feel if they can get high calibre players, they will achieve Champions League football and the Premiership title. This is obviously a business model, not a football model as they probably did in Abu Dhabi, get the best people and it will deliver the best results.

What I wouldn't be surprised is that a certain Phil Scolari joins the club after being released from Chelsea what with the Brazilian contingent at the club.

I don't think you will get instant success by buying players at their peak or just past it - that is my point. Robinho was an ideal buy for them in many ways - lots to prove, big talent. Players going to City at the peak of their footballing prowess are going for cash and I doubt that mentality will not help turn round what is a struggling team or take it to the next level.

The first wave of Chelsea big money signings was dominated by up and coming players and those yet to have hit the big stage with the odd Makelele to sort out specific roles. It is a wise model in my opinion. The risk being that if you stop being wiling to pay top dollar on potential you end up with Kalou, balancing sub par future talent with players without real hunger (Ballack and Shevchenko for example) is for me where Chelsea started to slide. Along with the fact that their investment in youth is yet to show dividends even in the Insua to Plessis rank of impact on the team.

I accept what you say about the business model but I just think that that attitude needs modifying when building a club.

Some of the signs (bids for Parker and Bridge) show some signs of knowledge of football team building but I think that as I have said the ages of the players they are seeking to recruit seem wrong to me. I do accept however that City do have a couple of young players that could be moulded to give the team some vitality but the careers of say Johnson and Richards have stalled badly and they show no signs of improving and Ireland will struggle to displace Kaka and Robinho if big money is spent on them.

[Joe King]

I don't think you will get instant success by buying players at their peak or just past it - that is my point. Robinho was an ideal buy for them in many ways - lots to prove, big talent. Players going to City at the peak of their footballing prowess are going for cash and I doubt that mentality will not help turn round what is a struggling team or take it to the next level.

The first wave of Chelsea big money signings was dominated by up and coming players and those yet to have hit the big stage with the odd Makelele to sort out specific roles. It is a wise model in my opinion. The risk being that if you stop being wiling to pay top dollar on potential you end up with Kalou, balancing sub par future talent with players without real hunger (Ballack and Shevchenko for example) is for me where Chelsea started to slide. Along with the fact that their investment in youth is yet to show dividends even in the Insua to Plessis rank of impact on the team.

I accept what you say about the business model but I just think that that attitude needs modifying when building a club.

Some of the signs (bids for Parker and Bridge) show some signs of knowledge of football team building but I think that as I have said the ages of the players they are seeking to recruit seem wrong to me. I do accept however that City do have a couple of young players that could be moulded to give the team some vitality but the careers of say Johnson and Richards have stalled badly and they show no signs of improving and Ireland will struggle to displace Kaka and Robinho if big money is spent on them.

Surely putting bids for Kaka isn't going to help with the long term prospects of the club? In fact, it could turn out more destablising rather than inspiring. There will be a huge circus for one of the best players in the world and the last thing City need is the bickering between the egos.

I can understand Hughes buying Parker and Bridge - they are two players who would do well at that level and would easily slot into the side. My questioning is more directed to the Arab contingent who would instead of looking at building a side would prefer to buy expensive players in a bid that they would win cups and titles.

[Craig_H]

Is there not a point where, as a multi millionaire, the money stops even meaning anything?

For example, if you've got £20m in the bank and you're on £5m a year, but someone offers you £12m a year, would the money really make the difference?

What would you want to buy, but cant afford when you've got millions in the bank?

[-V-]

An Abramovich type super yacht to waste time on, a private plane, £10m mansions in various different countries, Future owner or LFC? Every possible supercar on the planet or maybe your own private luxury island?

Hmmmm money can buy you lots, couple of hundred million can buy you anything

[Craig_H]

An Abramovich type super yacht to waste time on, a private plane, £10m mansions in various different countries, Future owner or LFC? Every possible supercar on the planet or maybe your own private luxury island?

Hmmmm money can buy you lots, couple of hundred million can buy you anything

I guess if you use the limits of one's imagination, you're right but i cant believe someone would really sacrifice the quality of their career in football, especially with it being pretty short anyway, by going to a ****e club like Man City.

I suppose it's different from the point of view of an 'normal' member of society who gets by but is by no means 'rich', but i cant envisage a scenario where someone could remain unsatisfied with having/earning £20m or so.

[Darkon]

come on guys who would leave MILAN and go to a **** whole like mansister??????

Robinho

[Darkon]

I would for half a million a week

Also if you already where making around £ 8 mill a year + sponsorship deals??

I mean you are already making more than you need, and you would have to sacrifice all your ambitions and goals in your career (unless it's money of course).