Can Man City buy the Premier League?

MANCHESTER City. One of the most remarkable tales in recent football folklore. This club has always been perceived as the unfashionable kid brother to their city rivals, Manchester United, always living in their shadow. Four days after United were crowned kings of Europe in 1999, Man City were scrapping it out with Gillingham in the Second Division Play-Off. Throughout the next decade, Man City were bested by their city counterparts regularly.


When they signed Costa Rican striker Paolo Wanchope, the illustrious Mancunian neighbours signed goal machine, Ruud van Nistelrooy. When City qualified for the UEFA Cup in 2002, United cruised to the title. Referred to as ‘the noisy neighbours’ by Sir Alex Ferguson, City have always been sneered and looked down upon as the inferior club of Manchester. Until now…

August 31 2008. That fateful day completely turned the entire complexion of Manchester City Football Club upside down. News filtered in that Man City had been taken over by Abu Dhabi, a company owned by Arab royalty who were eager to pump their billions of pounds into the club, and instantly snatching Brazilian superstar Robinho for a British record of 32.5 million pounds.  With their debt wiped out, a staggering 300 million was invested in incoming transfers, such as world-class superstars Carlos Tevez, David Silva and Sergio 'Kun' Aguero.

Whilst Man City have accumulated a selection of some of the finest footballers on the planet, there still lingers this question…do they have the right mentality to mount a serious assault on the Premier League title? One could argue that a club can’t suddenly acquire a winning mentality through lavish salaries. This mentality needs to be earned. It may also be that the hunger, determination and grit of this blue half of Manchester could finally be the factors that force Manchester City through that mental block of inferiority and topple their rivals for the first time in decades. Having burst through the doors of the new campaign in a flurry, scoring goals for fun and demolishing the opposition, it is clear to see that their mentality has changed…they are ready to take control of their destiny. This summer, the cash has been splashed. A new standard of player has entered Eastlands. The noisy neighbours have made their mark. It is up to Fergie to turn the music down.