Manchester City Preview 2008-2009: Blue Moon Rising

Its that time of year again as the club football world starts to get geared up for another season.

Groundskeepers are putting the final touches on the pitch, players are back at training, and once again Manchester City is linked with just about every player known to man.

Previewing the season for Manchester City is a difficult task for any analyst or expert.  Give their past, life as a Blue is a roller coaster with its peaks and valleys.  The 2008-09 season will be no different as City embark on another season, with yet another manager.

This year Mark Hughes returns to Manchester—this time with City—replacing Sven-Goran Eriksson who was sacked after the club's collapse in the second half of last season.  One new face (Jo) has joined City and there are surely more on the way. 

Manchester City bring many from a side that last season finished ninth in the Premier League.  A double of Manchester United was the highlight of a season that saw a great start only for the Blues to trip over themselves down the stretch.

The new faces brought in last season seemed to be working well until the rest of the Premier League figured out how to stop them and former manager Eriksson had no answers.

Mark Hughes brings in a totally different style of football to Eastlands.  A tougher, more rugged brand will be what supporters can expect to see from City.  Hughes will look to makes a good European run this season and hopefully solidify a spot in Europe next season.  He is off to a good start after the 2-0 win over EB/Streymur of the Faroe Islands. 

Today, we look at the tools at Mark Hughes expense as he embarks on his first season at City.

Goalkeepers — Kasper Schmeichel started last season as the number one keeper for City and did fairly well until a lackluster performance at Fulham cost him his slot. He is still a very promising keeper but, with the emergence of Joe Hart, Schmeichel found himself on loan for much of the rest of the season and seems to be wanting his exit from City.

Joe Hart took the number one slot and ran with it last season and hopes to avoid any kind of drop in form this season.  The job is his to lose for now as rumors of Brad Friedel joining City continue to swirl.  Hart is young and talented and should be the England number one in the near future. However, City need to acquire a more experience keeper to take some of the load of Hart if they are to be successful.

Rating: 7

Defenders — For the better part of the last three or four seasons the strength of Manchester City has laid in the back.  Richard Dunne anchors a young corps of defenders who are very capable of shutting down many of the Premier Leagues elite squads.

Micah Richards, Vedran Corluka, and Nedum Onuaha will look to improve on the progress they made last season.  Until injuries struck Richards and Onuaha, both were enjoying very good campaigns.

What cost City dearly last season was the lack of depth of the position which has yet to be addressed.  With the current crop of defenders City are very good, one injury however, could bring doom to the Blues unless the depth is improved.

Rating: 7.5

Midfield — Manchester City have a high level of talent in the midfield, and have done very well in developing young midfielders through their academy.

Michael Johnson, a star in the making must stay healthy for City to maintain success this season.  His ability to set up strikers and his pace are invaluable assets to Mark Hughes.

In the center, Elano must regain his early 2007-08 form in order for City to sustain a consistent attack.

The brightest spot for City is on the left where Martin Petrov established himself last season as one of the deadliest at his position.  His wicked crosses and incredible pace almost single handily beat Manchester United at Old Trafford and wreaked havoc on Premier League opponents.  Should he maintain his form, City will once again be deadly on the left side.

The main concerns for the Blues are at defensive midfield and on the right.  Didi Hamann is aging and Gelsen Fernandes is still bit young to hold the defensive midfield spot on a match-to-match basis. Hughes has been rumored to be looking for another body to go in that slot.

On the right, City have had trouble filling the spot since Shawn Wright-Phillips left.  Last season saw Darius Vassell patrolling the right side.  He was inconsistent most of the time though and although he is possibly the hardest working player on City, he isn't a player who can hold that spot for the season.  This situation needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

Rating: 7.5 — Will be higher if City are able to snatch up a couple of players here.

Strikers — Since Shawn Goater left City in 2003, the Blues have struggled in their search for a solid striker.  Although there is a surplus of strikers on the City payroll, the Blues have yet to find the consistent finisher they had been craving for some time.

That was, until Jo came.  The young Brazilian hopes to dazzle the Premiership and bring the form that saw him score 44 goals in 77 previous matches.  He is set to play for Brazil in the 2008 Olympics, but when he returns he will hopefully make his presence felt around the league.

He is tall, strong, and very quick. He has the tools needed to succeed and with Hughes in as the boss, Jo is in good hands.

City will also rely on Benjani to improve on his second half form and bring in more goals.  Young strikers Daniel Sturridge and Ched Evans will also provide solid depth at the position.

If healthy, look for Valeri Bojinov to hopefully show why he was brought in last season.  Rolando Bianchi and Bernardo Corradi will likely return to their homeland on loan this season

Rating: 6.5

Manager — Mark Hughes brings a record of success in his first season as City boss.  He was able to bring Blackburn into European competition without the transfer money that many other clubs have.

He is a driven, passionate, and a tough boss who demands 100 percent effort at all times.  He will not tolerate failure and will not settle for anything less than everyone's best.

He is a highly intelligent manager as well who knows how to make average players play above their abilities.  With a substantial amount of cash at his disposal, Hughes should be able to mold this squad into his own image.

How long it will take is still to be seen, hopefully he is given more time than Sven. 

Rating: 8.5

The future is bright for City.  City's ownership have shown lately that they are committed to bringing the club into the world's view.  While I do not believe this club will crack the top four just yet, they should contend and be near it until the end.

Predicted Finish: 6th (UEFA Cup)

City should be stronger in Cup play as well this season—that is as long as no one brings any balloons to the ground.

Enjoy the season everyone, it should be a fun year.