The Russian revolution of 2003 had famously disturbed the status quo resoundingly and brought about sweeping changes, and once again the EPL realm witnessed a major convulsion that promised to restructure the hierarchy in 2008. Another blue lightning – that was about to strike the same locus again – was scrutinised with sceptical rose-tinted (red to be precise) glasses.
Abramovich’s empire was vilified by drivel such as a lack of ‘class’, ‘history’ and ‘status’ , which was followed by a prolific spell of silverware – the ‘finger on the lips’ gesticulation. Likewise, the Arabian Sea in the blue half of Manchester was declared to be a pool of mercenaries – this clamour was the most vociferous in their neighbourhood. Nevertheless, City are well and truly on their way to shushing the doubters – if the Six and the City episode hasn’t already done that.
“We are building a structure for the future, not just a team of all-stars,” expounded Sheikh Mansour as he took over the club. But no one was willing to buy that. Fast forward three years and the all-stars are working in tandem to construct a well-structured dynasty. Of the 11 games played this, City have won 10, dropping a meager two points in the process. They have a staggering goal-difference of +29, have scored 39 goals – nearly four goals per game – and have dazzled the league with breathtaking football. In Silva they have the player of the season so far; Kompany has been a towering presence at the back – well supported by Richards and Lescott; Hart – although occasionally below the lofty standards that he has set himself – has been prudently reliable and Toure provides the midfield engine.
City are blessed with a gaudy gamut of striking options, and each one has made the headlines for an assortment of reasons. After last season’s expertise from their former skipper, a City team banging in goals without Carlos Tevez was unfathomable. Cue Aguero, Dzeko and Balotelli and City have unleashed a strike force that is a mélange of skill, flair, stardom and lethal finishing.
Whenever a player has been linked with City in the past, he was dutifully dumped into the ‘mercenaries’ bin by the “connoisseurs” of the beautiful game. Be it Nasri hankering after a move away from the Emirates, Balotelli, Toure, Aguero or the recent ship-jumper Hargreaves; none was spared of the chastisement. First of all there is nothing wrong with getting the best deal out of your profession and your employers; that’s what we all strive to do, and just because the footballers have a considerably more elongated queue of zeros that on their wages does not entitle that they lie in the lower echelons of morality. Secondly, and more significantly, the team-spirit and the hunger that City’s luxuriously assembled superstars have exhibited has clarified their priorities, showcased their desire to bag silverware, and illuminated their quest of being the number one team in England and maybe one day in Europe.
Mancini deserves a lot of credit for instilling the culture of toiling for the common cause, of playing as a group and that injection of winning mentality that has been synonymous with their eminent neighbours for over a couple of decades. With such a grand assembly of luminaries, keeping the entire squad satisfied was no mean task. Even so, the entire City squad has been unified under the Italian tactician. A notable example was a couple of weeks ago, when Mancini picked almost entirely dissimilar sides for their league wins against United and Wolves, but the camaraderie, the synchronisation of wavelengths and the quality of play was identical.
With nearly a third of the season gone, City are raising the bar higher and higher. After getting themselves into an early predicament in Europe, Mancini’s side have dug themselves out of the hole via that same ethos that has seen them overpower one and all in England. Football gods had thrown down the gauntlet before the start of the season for Manchester City to pick up and prove their mettle. They have done that, and now the onus is on them to convert the promise into tangible silverware. All the same, what is unambiguous is the fact that City’s regiment isn’t a bunch of money hoarders, even if their hefty wages might entertain our neurons. We can envy their pay-cheques but we cannot doubt their intent.
