7 Reasons Why It's Not All Doom and Gloom for Manchester City
After Manchester City's 4-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, there was an immediate backlash.
Criticism of Manuel Pellegrini, whose job is now surely under severe threat, was found across social media platforms, while Gary Neville, the former United defender working in his role as a Sky Sports pundit, was particularly scathing with his assessment of Yaya Toure's display.
The result leaves City four points behind third-placed United and looking over their shoulder at the chasing pack. Their top-four place is now under some threat, given their dreadful run of form.
But here are seven reasons for City fans to remain optimistic about the future.
1. The Club Are Likely to Be Free from FFP Sanctions This Summer
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UEFA's financial fair play (FFP) initiative, which links what a club can spend on players and wages to the revenue they generate, caused City huge problems last summer.
Having been deemed to have failed FFP rules for the previous year, City were limited to a net spend of £49 million in the summer of 2014, meaning they were out of contention when a number of big-name players became available.
This summer, those sanctions are likely to be lifted, with the club posting healthy financial figures for the 2013-14 season, as reported by David Conn in the Guardian.
City, it seems, will be able to compete aggressively for players once again.
2. The Club's Finances Are Extremely Healthy
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City's income for the 2013-14 season increased to £347 million, a rise of £76 million and a clear club record.
This quite clearly shows that their off-field strategy is moving in the right direction and their global reach is increasing. With their losses now standing at just £23 million, which includes £16 million of FFP fines, the books are balancing and a self-sufficient future is within reach.
Compared to the debt-ridden club the Abu Dhabi United Group acquired, this is like another world.
3. There Appears to Be a Long-Term Vision in Place
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Despite the first team's worrying regression this season, it's clear the club has a long-term vision to deliver success.
Immediately after Roberto Mancini's sacking in 2013, the club spoke of a "holistic" vision of the future, one which looks to promote a culture of success across every level of the club, from youngsters to first-team stars.
And there's evidence of that. The club's academy and EDS sides play an attractive, passing style of football, the kind the owners want the senior side to play in the coming years. With a director of football in place, it should ensure stability and a continuation of this thinking well into the future.
4. The New Academy
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City's new academy, a £200 million state-of-the-art facility opened in December, is a clear statement of their intent to produce home-grown talent to augment their first-team stars.
It's a dazzling complex, so grand in its design and objectives it's difficult not to be anything other than blown away. The scale of City's ambition has never been more clearly marked than it is by this addition to the Etihad Campus.
5. Excellent Academy Prospects
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The club already has a crop of young players who look to be talented enough to make some kind of impact on the first team in the coming seasons.
Brandon Barker, a skilful left-winger, and Angelino, a brilliant attacking left-back, appear to be the pick of the bunch, but with Kean Bryan and Angus Gunn also catching the eye of those who have seen them play, it looks like City could have a few academy graduates in their senior ranks sooner rather than later.
6. The Etihad Stadium Expansion
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In line with the club's growth is the expansion of the Etihad Stadium, announced on the official MCFC website back in October, which will be completed in three phases.
The first of which is already underway, with the South Stand currently undergoing work to increase the capacity at the Etihad from 48,000 to 54,000. Phase 2, the pitchside expansion, will be completed in time for the start of next season, with the capacity then set to be 55,000.
Finally, Phase 3 will see the North Stand expanded by a further 6,000 seats, taking the overall capacity of the stadium to 61,000, making it the second-largest in the Premier League.
7. They Still Have an Excellent Squad
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Although it's clear new faces are needed, particularly those who will bring youth and pace to the side, let's not forget City have a very talented squad. With the right summer acquisitions, it won't take much to return them to their silverware-chasing best.
It always feel miserable after a derby hammering, but there are plenty of reasons for the City fans to cheerful.
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