Manchester: Financial Dominance Battles League Dominance

As we go into the International break, the EPL seems to be warming up and gathering steam with possible title contenders now visible and the challenge to get to the top and staying there is harder than ever.

The so called "new kids on the block" Manchester City seem ready for the challenge and now in second place on the table with rivals United in third.

Will the financial powers of the Arabs overshadow and outmaster the experience and class of the Scottish genius?

Let's put Chelsea aside, as they continue to lead the table with another valuable three points snatched from Arsenal at the weekend.

City have brought in a number of high profile players to join an already start studded lineup: recent arrivals in David Silva who made a move from Valencia, Yaya Toure left Barcelona to join him at Eastlands, Jerome Boateng, and Mario Balotelli also signed for City in the summer.

With the likes of former United striker Carlos Tevez already a household name at City, Brazilian Jo and another South American in Roque Santa Cruz of Paraguay are just a few names that make up the attacking side of the City outfit.

Former Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor finds himself stuck to the subs bench after making a massive million pound move.

With so much wealth and backing, can City threaten their rivals, Manchester United, whose dominance in the league is so overwhelming?

United are currently on 18 titles, the same as Liverpool but with the Reds so of form, United have the best possible opportunity to take the lead.

Both teams have great depth in squad, City maybe a little more than United; although City do lack experience in some areas, they seem to substitute that with quality. 

United, on the other hand, have found it tough playing away from home against moderate opposition—either having to concede late goals or been shut out at the front.

Wayne Rooney has been the bad marker this season, after a not so good World Cup in South Africa; his form on the pitch has some what been affected by issues off the field and niggling ankle injuries are another factor that seems to keep him on the sidelines.

Michael Owen is failing to make any real headway, although he did score a few goals in the League Cup.

So the reigns have fallen on in-form Dimitar Berbatov who seems to be enjoying himself, scoring goals with relative ease.

Comparing United on paper to that of City finds them short in many respects, while a few of United's stars might be far more experienced, have more passion, and desire to win than that of City.

The one major positive on United's side is that they managed by one of the most successful coaches in English football; his hunger to continue winning with the same team over 24years is unparalleled.

So let's ask the question: Can the current city squad continue their good enough start and be a more dominant team than their city rivals Manchester United?

In response, we find a number of key elements on either side that could turn the tide in the opposite direction.

Manchester City

Great depth isn't always a positive, especially when almost every player is so skilled and have been brought in at large transfer fees, thus having made an impression that they so important.

An example: Roque Santa Cruz, playing regularly at Blackburn scoring goals and was one of the key players before offered an excellent deal at City. Now he finds himself as third/fourth or fifth choice in a City squad.

So while Roberto Manchini might be winning games and finding his team coming together on the field, his going to have to deal with unhappy players off the pitch.

The other area that could affect City in the long run is the passion and desire of the players to win silver-wear.

To understand this is simple, new players take time to adapt to a club and in time feel and love the club; naturally, over a season or two, a player becomes part of the club which many would see as him giving his all when required.

But when money is the dominant force, players are more contracted to the club as an employee rather than a member of a family.

So it's logical to understand that having a group of rich earners, young with large egos, could be one of the greatest challenges any manager will have to deal with.

And personally, I doubt the Italian Manchini will succeed in doing so.

Manchester United

On the other side, Ferguson over the years has shown how to deal with such situations and problems by making it clear to the players that nobody is bigger than the game.

But United could see problems of another kind; with Rooney having so much difficulty, it seems the reliance is on Berbatov and him scoring goals.

In the past, we have seen what happens when too much dependency is put on an individual player.

During the weekend, we saw Macheda and Owen lead the line but a lack of pressure upfront and not really troubling the goal keeper meant Berbatov needed to come in and score, which he didn't.

But the point I'm trying to make is, other players need to step it up and start counting themselves. Nani is one of those who sometimes loses his composure in-front of goal.

Defensively, United have struggled, although we see those areas more tight now. It is a concern when one of the two Vidic or Rio are absent—again, depending too much on them could hurt United.

So while depth and unhappiness could be the result of City failing to win the title, United need to stop been dependent on individuals and find that team spirit which has been lost for a while now.

Either way, both have strong squads with great support. The battle to see who shall rule Manchester from now on is what makes the EPL so attractive.