Manchester City and the Big Four
September 7th 2008 12:44
Wright-Phillips back to business not long before Abu Dhabi United complete some of their own.
On Monday Abu Dhabi United group completed the purchase of Manchester City which sent a tremble of fear through every side in the league, the Big Four included. Not least because of their newly acquired asset but the incredible wealth they have to back that asset up with. The intent with which they arrived also had the butterflies flying in the stomachs of many a prominent men and certainly made Manchester City deadline day's main attraction.
Everyone had been well aware of the Berbatov saga. Manchester United had been chasing him all summer but Tottenham were not going to settle for less than £30 million even though Berbatov was desperate for a transfer. Step in the new Manchester City. City forwarded a bid for Berbatov to Spurs believed to eclipse the £30million they were demanding. It was accepted, and though there probably wasn't much chance of Berbatov accepting a move to City after setting his heart on a move to United, it was the first time in a long time that they'd really competed in the transfer window with their local rivals.
Chelsea's pursuit of Robinho this European summer was also no secret, and much like the Berbatov situation destined for deadline day. Contrary to their reputation Chelsea were not prepared to meet Real Madrid's valuation of their player. Come deadline day Manchester City (ironically out of the blue) bid for Robinho. The bid was accepted and the day after Robinho was revealed a Manchester City player in a British record transfer fee of £32.5 million. Chelsea's Brazilian manager Big Phil was left scratching his head whilst owner Roman Abramovich experienced the strange feeling of being outbid.
Mark Hughes with new signing Robinho before the player left for South America on international duty.
The EPL can't claim to be unfamiliar to such a situation. When Chelsea were purchased by Roman Abromovich in 2003 the same fears arose. There would be four teams which would dominate the league. The difference between this situation and the Chelsea one though is the four Champion League spots up for grabs have been firmly occupied by the EPL's top four for the past three seasons in comparison to 2003 when Chelsea were bought out, the EPL was a much more level playing field bar Manchester United and Arsenal with Liverpool not far behind.
That being said the Big Four will be under tremendous pressure on and off the pitch after City's exploits. Come January the price of players will rise enormously because clubs everywhere know Manchester City will be competing for the same players as the Big Four and are more than willing to pay the gigantic price paid to secure Robinho. It's quite a staggering fact that Abu Dhabi United group are worth ten times that of Roman Abramovich.
But City will also be under equal pressure to succeed in braking into the very exclusive Big Four group too. With four Champions League spots available, and so much resting financially on qualifying for one, it could be said there can only ever be a Big Four because the side (Arsenal,Liverpool, Manchester United or Manchester City) that fails to secure it's Champions League status next year will now suffer the consequences after investing so much, whilst the other four will have at least achieved their bare minimum target. There cannot be a Big Five or Big Six and so failure is not an option.
Money aside though City have made great signings. Not all attacking either. For instance new signing Belgium youngster Vincent Kompany has been one of the most highly rated defenders in Europe for a while now so much so that Jose Mourinho tried to sign him for Chelsea when he was still in charge two seasons ago. And of course Robinho and Jo are great talents who will contribute a lot to their team offensively. Then you combine these players with those that made up the core of City's first team last season and its very exciting. Elano and Michael Johnson running the midfield with Richard Dunne and Micah Richards doing a sure job at the back. But the addition of City golden boy Shaun Wright-Phillips is the pick of the bunch and if he continues what he started in his first spell at the club, City can beat anybody on their day. Finally with Mark Hughes at the helm there's no doubt this Manchester City side will be well drilled on and off the field. He's got the experience as both a player and a manager to guide his players in the right light. The Big Four will finally have to prove their worth more than ever before.
Shaun Wright-Phillips in his first spell at Manchester City.
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