Manchester City have been very active in the transfer window so far this summer, and their summer spending shows no sign of slowing down with even more Etihad arrivals expected in the coming weeks. As fantastic as that is, it does beg the question; what will happen to the players who struggled to even get first team football last season? The probable answer is the same as last season – they will remain wasting away on the subs bench, and may, just may, be called upon once City gain a unassailable lead over their opponents, but what use are they then?
This isn’t how it should be, and it’s down to City’s new man Pellegrini to clear out the players who don’t have a future at the club, of which there are plenty. Here are some of the players at City who I feel are surplus to requirements and should be offloaded by the new boss.
Scott Sinclair – Recruited from Swansea last summer, Sinclair has barely been given any game time in any competition for the blues, and is unlikely to do so under Pellegrini following the signing of Spanish international winger Jesus Navas. Perhaps a loan move would be more likely for the Englishman, but City really should be looking to get him off their books if he doesn’t figure in Pellegrini’s plans. In the small amount of game time he was given under Mancini, he showed very little to prove he deserves more chances, and to put it bluntly, he showed that he simply isn’t good enough for a team aiming to conquer European football.
Javi Garcia – Garcia isn’t a Premier League player. He lacks virtually everything a Premier League midfielder requires. He’s slow, both on the ball and off it, he shies away from tackles, and his passing is mediocre at the best of times. In another league, where the football is slower and players are allowed more time on the ball, I’m sure Garcia would do well, but his style of play just doesn’t suit the Premier League. And with £30 million new signing Fernandinho expected to land a first team place alongside Yaya Toure, it doesn’t look like Garcia will be given many, if any, opportunities by Pellegrini.
Gareth Barry – When Barry first joined City, he was a crucial figure in the blues’ squad. He held the midfield together, played some excellent passes and was recognised as one of City’s better buys. However, over the last few season his form has deteriorated and last season he struggled to obtain regular game time, which looks to have taken it’s toll. He played in City’s 2-1 defeat to South African side AmaZulu on Thursday, and put in a performance that reflected his last campaign – poor. Like Javi Garcia, it’s unlikely he will be given much of a chance by new boss Pellegrini with the signing of Fernandinho, so maybe it’s time for City to cash in on the 32-year-old before it’s too late.
Joleon Lescott – It’s looking increasingly likely that City will bring in a top defender this summer, with Pepe being the man most heavily linked with a move to the Etihad. City have a very talented young defender in Matija Nastasic, who did tremendously well in some very testing games for the blues last season and kept Lescott sitting on the bench for a large part of last season under former boss Roberto Mancini. But it remains to be seen whether Pellegrini will give Lescott another chance to prove his worth. If Pellegrini opts not to, there is little point in City keeping him. There will undoubtedly be a lot of Premier League clubs interested in securing Lescott’s signature with the defender, who turns 31 next month, still highly regarded by many clubs.
John Guidetti – The Swede nicknamed ‘Super Guidetti’ was ruled out for the majority of last season with a knee injury, but following the capture of two world class forwards in Alvaro Negredo and Stevan Jovetic, it doesn’t look like fitness will make any difference to Guidetti’s prospects. At 21, Guidetti needs to be playing regular first team football, which he isn’t going to get at City. The Swede has been at City since the age of 16 and the club have been keen to hold on to him, opting to send him out on loan instead of selling, but now may be the right time for Guidetti to move on for good.
So, City have 5 players there who are likely to offer very little in the coming seasons. In total, they cost the club around £350,000 ($535,000) a week in wages, that’s over £18 million ($27 million) a year. The clubs CEO, Ferran Soriano, spoke recently about a future plan to have at least half of the City squad brought through the clubs academy. If that is true, then instead of someone like Scott Sinclair being called up when City have an unassailable lead, would it not be more beneficial to bring on a ‘next generation’ player? Someone who, according to Soriano, will have a future at the club. For me, this is far more logical, and it would save the club a fortune.
City fans, let me know your views on this topic…
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