A team to be feared? Manchester City

Another team who would be disappointed in their fortunes this season are Manchester City, who have had to watch in despair as their Manchester rivals, United, have snatched the title away from them at the first time of asking. There were no last minute heroics from Aguero, and instead it looks as if City are going to finish runners up, some 15 points behind their rivals. They've spent big in order to compete with their rivals, with Aguero, Tevez, Toure and Silva amongst others arriving for substantial fees. But despite their team costing somewhere well into treble figures, they have been ousted this season, and will want to bounce back next year as they step up their challenge for supremacy in Manchester.

I think City have underachieved this season. Being in an FA Cup final, which they go in huge favourites against relegation candidates Wigan, has done little to ease the pressure on Mancini and a number of fans have voiced their concern on their team being unable to compete on numerous fronts this season. Their team on paper should be able to compete with any in the world, but their failure in the Champions League as well as their inconsistency in the Premier League looks as if it has cost them dear.


My Starting XI for 2013-2014 (with current squad)
Subs: Pantilimon, Clichy, Lescott, Garcia, Nasri, Sinclair, Dzeko

Fear Factor: 7.5/10



Hart is a goalkeeper who I believe to be one of the best in the world, but he has let his team down on a number of occasions with multiple lapses of concentrations leading to costly mistakes. Zabaleta has recently been named in the team of the year and his versatility and consistency at the back is vital to his team and backed up by Richards, Clichy, Kolarov and Maicon, they have an abundance of quality at full back. Kompany has been a rock at the back in the last couple of seasons, and Nastasic beside him is a huge young talent who will be a vital player in the coming years for City if he replicates the quality he has shown this season. Barry is probably the weakest player in the team but does a job, and beside him is Yaya Toure, who's driving runs and energy from midfield will put him in any starting XI. Tevez, Silva, Milner and Nasri make up a hard working trio in attacking midfield, which behind one of the best strikers in the world in Aguero makes a formidable attack for City. There are others as well who could slot in, such as Dzeko, Garcia and Lescott, which gives the team a good strength in depth which is needed to compete for the Premier League title. So they have a number of brilliant players all over the pitch, and I am clueless to why they haven't put up a better fight for the title this year.

But Manchester City will spend money next season. Like Chelsea, They will recognise that Manchester United have been a class above them this season and thus their only option will be to spend money. Luckily for them, being funded by an Arab billionaire means that Mancini will have all the money he wants at his disposal, and this could lead to some exciting signings this summer.

Aguero's quality means that he could easily sit back into a role just behind the striker, and Dzekos likely departure leaves a gap up front. Falcao has been touted as a wanted man, but I believe Chelsea may just pip them to his signature. But someone who they have been linked with is the Uruguayan target man, Edison Cavani. He has been pivotal in a Napoli side who have managed to challenge for the Serie A title this season, and his physical prowess and goal scoring ability means he would be greatly suited to the physical demands of the Premier League. The only down side is that he will cost the best part of £40 million, but I honestly think it will be money well spent if they opt to go with the Napoli front man.



My starting XI for 2013-2014 (with potential squad)
Subs: Pantilimon, Clichy, Lescott, Nasri, Barry, Milner, Tevez

Potential Fear Factor: 9.5/10



Another area in which I believe is the lack of a winger with pace. Scott Sinclair fills that role but he has had to make do with a place on the bench, and instead a replacement is needed. El Shaarawy has been linked, and he could provide the talent that Manchester City fans have been craving on the wing this season. At 19 he has the world at his feet, and his talent has lit up Serie A this season. Despite his team Milan not challenging for the title, he has been a standout this season, and his teams financial problems that forced them to sell Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to PSG means the wonder kid could well be plying his trade in the Premier League next season. The team wouldn't be complete without a defensive midfielder to replace Barry, and Danielle De Rossi could be the perfect replacement, but long term loyalty to his boyhood club, AS Roma, means this transfer may be more unlikely then the other two.

Manchester City need a couple of players. Otherwise, they won't be able to compete next season. Simple. With Cavani, De Rossi and El Shawaary all heavily linked to City, this could be an exciting transfer window for Citizens. With them adding to the world class players they already have, City will possess both a feared attack and defence, and they may well re take the title back from their Manchester rivals next season. But given their disappointment in Europe in recent years, City will be looking to put these disappointments behind them, and the possible acquisitions of Cavani, El Shawaary and De Rossi will make City be a team to be feared in Europe as well as domestically next season.