What's going on within City?

 

Losing out on a transfer ain't the end of the world. You try to persuade a player to join your club and tell them the ambitions that are lying ahead in the (near) future. But how things are currently going at Manchester City are alarming. Bells should be heard and flash lights should be visual by now that things are going very wrong – something that could lead to long term damage.

My question is clear: are Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain capable of representing our club? Yes, we're paying their salaries and should represent us, but I noticed some issues that make me feel quite suspicious.

Missing out on Isco is a painful one. This because City has been in talks with the lad and his father since at least last April. Early May it was basically a done and dusted deal: Isco had stated he wanted to join Pellegrini's new team and to continue his career within the Premier League. For those who by the way think that Mancini only got sacked for losing the FA cup final I honestly feel sorry for.

How come that – when you negotiate for such a long time until you reach the 'verbal agreement' stage – you suddenly hold back entirely, and do not offer a contract straight away. It happened with Navas and Fernandinho – transfer fee agreed and player snapped up. In this case the two City represents let it be and left Isco in a thick fog of mystery, making it very easy for Real Madrid to step in and gain his signature.

The same applies to Edinson Cavani – who City has been in talks with for a period of one to one-and-a-half years to lure him over to Manchester. Also this player initially got convinced that moving to the Citizens would be an exciting challenge. He even stated it in the press that he 'would definitely change teams – but not colours' – and as we know Napoli and Manchester City are in light blue.

Regarding him the transfer has not yet been binned, however just like the Isco situation the 'big two' of City walked away when a final offer had to be made and so leave the door wide open again for any other club to hijack the transfer attempt.

And let us not forget the entire failed transfer window of the summer of 2012 – last year indeed. The than active manager Roberto Mancini was convinced that Robin van Persie would join his team after (personal) negotiations. But also here Soriano and Begiristain kept the player in the dark at the final stages – making it an easy move for United to take advantage regarding the highly productive striker. I'm just saying, this is exactly the same pattern.

Also this took place regarding Daniele De Rossi – who was been spoken with for at least 8 months, I dare to state. As De Rossi was also a target for January 2012 when the club needed a replacement for the Africa Cup bound Yaya Toure.

Marwood got the blame by the majority of the fans regarding all the transfer fails, as he WAS the man in charge to get new signings in – but the truth is that Soriano and Begiristain were the ones responsible. Do not forget that Marwood did sign Nigel de Jong, Carlos Tevez, Yaya Toure, David Silva etc etc!

As a result of no big players coming in the club signed highly overpriced Javier Garcia – a player who would also struggle at Norwich due of not having the spine of being suitable for the top. Sinclair was taken in. A player who would only have been a big signing to us if we would be still pre-2008. The club is slipping up – and although I seriously thought 'this is one season only being skipped', the attitude regarding dealing with transfers remained the same.

Agreed: Nastasic is probably the best young player signed by any club in the Premier League last summer. A player who adopted the English way of play and culture very quickly and shall be one of Europe's best stars. And don't forget Jack Rodwell – a player originally from the Marwood list – who as well got a bright future ahead of him. From injury prawn to now ready to shine – after some fantastic healing work by the Man City medical staff. Their future is bright, but is it for the club? Are we moving forward or are we being moled down?

The worrying part for next season is the departure of 'saviour' Tevez - the man who opened all doors for us when we managed to sign him up four years ago. That was one of the biggest scoops in football history. You don't get players with such high working rate and technique as he has. And with the failure of getting in big names, dark clouds look to set above Manchester.