“I think maybe a squad is not just money – as you say, most of you say, every time. This year we have restrictions on the amount we spend and the amount of players we have.“
“When you have restrictions you give a lot of advantage to other teams. I think if you want to be a competitive team you cannot give an advantage to other teams.”
Manuel Pellegrini 21-Dec-2014.
A "False 9" even in my most rose tinted of days I would never have put that as ever being a possibility for Man City. But given a series of unfortunate events and shorn of Alvaro Negrado because of the FFP restrictions called out by Manuel above, Man City completed a convincing 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday without the use of a striker.
Jose Pozo was ruled too ill to play at the last minute so James Milner took the role of "False 9" for the majority of the match; aided as ever by his third lung, allowing him to act as a front three for much of the game.
But despite the excellent position that the win against Palace gives City in the Premier League, and the fact that Aguero, Dzeko, and Jovetic will be back fit in good time for the Champions League, the rumour mill is now rife with dead certs for City to sign to fill the "striker gap". Of course this is a media over simplification of the problem as nothing gains more clicks per page than a good transfer saga. For all the Negredo sale was forced by FFP in order to balance transfer and wage structures, having four top class strikers is not an easy balancing act to manage, and so not having Negrado did have advantages right up until the loss of Pozo.
The January window is historically very difficult to secure good signings which represent value. The number of players unrestricted by being cup tied or injury plagued is small and leads to a premium being placed on players who are free from complications. Clubs are invariably forced to shop for second or third choice targets or pay way over the odds to secure their man. City have the added "complication" of having (when fit) a gifted set of three strikers already, none of whom would wish to see their game time limited by further signings. Also the list of players who would happily come to a club, however successful, knowing they are third of fourth choice is not long.
In January then the scenario where City sign a better/equal striker to Aguero is a none starter. Leaving City perhaps three reasonable courses of action:
a) look for young potential equal to that of Jovetic with an eye on the future. Saido Berahino (West Brom) is the media choice, but City would be wary of anyone largely unproven, especially after the launch of the magnificent CFA. A better choice would be Alexandre Lacazette, the exciting 21 year old from Olympique Lyonnais who's speed and agility would offer something different and has racked up 20+ goals both this season and last in Lique 1.
b) Loan deals. Although this is as restricted a list candidate wise as trying to sign a star directly, at least the financial impact is restricted. A favourite amongst fans and media alike is the possibility of David Villa switching his loan from New York City from Melbourne to Manchester, but this is complex and unlikely to garner support from New York alongside the already complicated Lampard situation. Players outside Europe are something of an unknown quantity, though maybe Pato (still in Brazil with Sao Paulo after leaving AC Milan) could be tempted? Beyond this there are surprisingly few options of the necessary quality who are not ECL "cup tied". The two names usually linked with a permanent move Wilfried Bony and Papiss Cisse are good 4th choice material, but are even less likely as loan prospects as they are considered starters for their respective clubs (so why would they let them go?) and are getting game time (so why would they want to come?).
c) Persevere with EDS players already on books, or recall loanees. By loanees here I mean the likes of Devante Cole not more senior loanees like Guidetti or Negrado, who would have been confirmed as recalled for January already if a realistic option. Cole has scored seven goals already in his time with Barnsley and represents a more traditional striking option than Pozo who plays best in a more withdrawn role, and has marginally more experience than Thierry Ambrose who is a year younger. Kelechi Iheanacho will also be able to register (work permits permitting) in January and is arguably the best option given his showing with the first team in pre-season.
Personally I believe choice c) remains the realistic option unless negotiations were started elsewhere last summer. The January sales are not a good place to buy if your a football club.
Etihad Stadium Manchester
