Toure, Lescott and Terry to City for £100m?

[JohnDoe]

Lots of people are forgetting the difficulty in getting a virtually new team to adjust and gel together quickly. Plus, having so many options could be quite confusing for a relatively inexperienced coach.

Nobody's asking them to win the title. They just want to finish 4th, and a spineless Arsenal will be just as inconsistent as a gelling Man City.

[Craig_H]

You think a 22 point gap will be that easy to overturn?

[JohnDoe]

You think a 22 point gap will be that easy to overturn?

With a huge improvement all across the team, it's very possible.

They had a very bad side last season. It was disjointed, their defence was ****, their midfield had no drive (aside from Ireland) and despite having lots of strikers, they were all pretty ****. Their team is completely different now.

[Craig_H]

With a huge improvement all across the team, it's very possible.

They had a very bad side last season. It was disjointed, their defence was ****, their midfield had no drive (aside from Ireland) and despite having lots of strikers, they were all pretty ****. Their team is completely different now.

Possible yes, but the way some people are talking, you'd think City were the favourites to get top 4 and Arsenal were the rank outsiders.

Arsenal still have a quality and settled side. They're not that different from the side who topped the PL all the way through until March 2008. I wouldnt be surprised if they put together a title challenge next season, let alone a top four finish. They have the experience of challenging for titles, City are just a bunch of money hungry mercenaries with little hunger or unity.

The best City can hope for IMO is scraping 4th - and that's if they perform superbly and Arsenal produce pure ****e.

[Chris]

It's a very strong team

I'm not seeing that at all yet. Infact I'm finding most of their signings massively unimpressive.

Given - He's decent enough but isnt commanding and isnt a big organiser.

Richards - Starting to look the big I am, has just come off a dreadful season. Maybe he'll grow up and play well but then equally he wouldnt be the first potential good player to go off the rails and not return.

Toure - The guy has been absolutely dreadful for about 2 years now. He's been a complete liability, he was at one point very good but at 28 is he going to get that form back? He's lost pace and has no aerial ability at all. I think its telling that as soon as Arsenal signed a centre back he's shipped out.

Lescott - He'd be a very good signing but the massive concern with this partnership would be 1. Toure is ****ing rubbish And 2. The pair of them and Shay Given couldnt organise dinner in a supermarket.

Bridge - Has looked completely lost since joining, another liability. Thats what he gets for sitting on his arse for years I suppose.

Ireland - Coming off a very good season, goals, assists, link up play, but is it his one good season or will he carry it on? He did seem to dip after around February last year so we'll see.

Kompany - A highly rated teenager who was linked with everyone but have not seen anything other than mediocrity at centre back or central midfield. De Jong has looked similarly ****e.

Barry - A good solid Premiership player, ideal for what they are planning. I think he'll have a hard time trying to run midfield on his own though.

Robinho - Had a decent goals tally in the end but to often was walking around ****ting out of tackles and just not caring. We'll see if he improves but given he apparently didnt even know who Man City were before he signed its clear where his priorities lie - his bank balance.

Tevez - Another good signing like Barry, will give the work rate Robinho and Adebayor wont.

Adebayor - Another who's admitted he's only in football for money so no surprise he's ended up here, also another player like Robinho who only plays well when he can be bothered to. Great on his day but I doubt there will be enough of them, especially when the going gets tough.

In short, I think the keeper is decent but no more, the defence is ****e bar Lescott and will have 0 organisation, the midfield could get overrun and going forward they look like relying on players who cant often be arsed.

I genuinely dont see them doing that much better than last season. Maybe 10 points or so. Will be some decent results (hopefully they'll try in the derby this season) and the usual losses to Stoke, Bolton etc

[Rich]

It's all so black and white with you Craig, in my opinion while Citeh have spunked a load of cash, they're buying in proven Premiership top quality - if they settle quickly, which they should as they're used to the league there is a very very good first 11 there, coupled with Arsenal not looking like the team they were of 2008 I think it could be a hell of a lot closer for 4th this time around.

[JohnDoe]

That's the thing though, I never said City are favourites for 4th. In fact, I agree with you that Arsenal will need to collapse for that to happen. That's where I guess we disagree, as I'm sticking my neck out and saying that Arsenal are going to crash and burn the way this summer's going. They may start brightly the first few games, but after that, reality will settle in.

It's pretty clear what their problems were/are:

1. They have a goalkeeper nowhere near the level required.

2. Their central defence lacks leadership, aerial prowess and consistency.

3. Their midfield desperately needs a tireless ball winner who can compliment Fabregas and maintain the shape of their midfield.

Now what has Wenger done so far?

1. He's sold the focal point of their attack. Fair enough, Adebayor hasn't been in good form lately, is a cunt, the money was good and they have plenty of attacking options to choose from, but if they don't bring anyone in (which looks like it from Wenger's comments), they're going to rely on Eduardo getting back to his best from a very serious injury, an awesome but another injury prone striker in Van Persie and Nicklas ****ing Bendtner. This could go horribly wrong for them.

2. They have spent £10m on a defender from the Dutch league, who are renowned for having great defences, right? Vermaelen is also 5' 11, not exactly the towering CB they needed. They also sold their potentially best defender, and are going to stick it out with Gallas as first choice, with Djourou and Silvestre as back up. This is another area which can go horribly wrong for them, especially in those away games against the Blackburns and Boltons.

3. Their manager has still not addressed their most important issue. If I were an Arsenal fan and I saw them start this season with Denilson or Song as the central midfield partners for Fabregas, I'd give up. How difficult is it to sign a decent defensive midfielder?

The irony is, if Arsenal solve these problems, and build a decent spine, they have a side which can challenge for the title, but it's beyond Wenger's arrogance/stupidity/blindness to address it.

Then again, their youth side will go through a couple of rounds in the league cup beating **** lower league sides and everyone will cream over them.

Arsenal will finish 5th, if things stay like they are at the moment.

[JohnDoe]

I'm not seeing that at all yet. Infact I'm finding most of their signings massively unimpressive.

You're very very harsh on Toure, you're also underrating De Jong who's exactly what Arsenal need at the moment. Ireland is awesome, Barry will be an excellent signing for them, Robinho will be motivated once he's surrounded by quality players, Tevez will play like only Tevez know and if Adebayor ****s himself they've got Santa Cruz lurking. Given is also better than Almunia and Richards and Bridge will have a much easier time without Dunne in the team.

[Craig_H]

It's all so black and white with you Craig, in my opinion while Citeh have spunked a load of cash, they're buying in proven Premiership top quality - if they settle quickly, which they should as they're used to the league there is a very very good first 11 there, coupled with Arsenal not looking like the team they were of 2008 I think it could be a hell of a lot closer for 4th this time around.

Bizarre comment mate. When push comes to shove, you either think city WILL get top 4, or you think they wont. I think they wont.

It's a yes or no question ultimately. And i chose one of the 2 possible options.

You think it'll be a close fight for fourth - i dont.

I dont see why my view is 'black and white' but yours isnt?

[Craig_H]

That's the thing though, I never said City are favourites for 4th.

That's 'the thing', and here's the other thing - I dont recall claiming that you did.

[Chris]

You're very very harsh on Toure, you're also underrating De Jong who's exactly what Arsenal need at the moment. Ireland is awesome, Barry will be an excellent signing for them, Robinho will be motivated once he's surrounded by quality players, Tevez will play like only Tevez know and if Adebayor ****s himself they've got Santa Cruz lurking. Given is also better than Almunia and Richards and Bridge will have a much easier time without Dunne in the team.

I dont think I am being harsh on him, he's been shocking for a while (though thankfully we benefited 4-1 Crouch 3, 4-2 CL, 4-4 last season). Arsenal fans seem to hate him, Adebayor, Eboue and Denilson and while football fans opinion isnt the oracle I do find if a lot of one clubs supporters dont like a player theres usually a decent reason for it. I can only go on what ive seen of De Jong so far and he's been crap imo, though its early days so cant write him off fully to be fair.

Barry will be an excellent signing as will Tevez and Lescott then theres Ireland. Thats basically the only 4 consistently good players they'll have for me and thats why I dont even see them getting 4th. Though it's still early days in their building despite all the money spent so far.

[-V-]

Unbelievable. £16m for a defender who is well past his best and been struggling for 2 years now.

We should have convinced them to buy Arbeloa FFS !

[Pablo]

Bizarre comment mate. When push comes to shove, you either think city WILL get top 4, or you think they wont. I think they wont.

It's a yes or no question ultimately. And i chose one of the 2 possible options.

You think it'll be a close fight for fourth - i dont.

I dont see why my view is 'black and white' but yours isnt?

It is possible to be undecided and uncertain you know!

[Craig_H]

It is possible to be undecided and uncertain you know!

Who said anything about being certain? It's a yes or no question and whilst nobody can be certain, you either go with the yes or the no.

[DannyMan2006]

****ing Fantastic!!!!

Watching the press conference and whilst comparing Man City to the love of a woman???? He slipped up and said "MONEY City are showing me a lot of love" . He quickly corrected himslef and said "Sorry, Man City".

Brilliant!