Manchester City: Why It Is Not All About Money And The Top Four

So Man City fans, how many of you guys woke up this morning with the biggest grin on your face? How many are still wondering how much money you now have in the coffers? How many are still wondering how City managed to lure Robinho away from Real Madrid and to the City of Manchester Stadium instead of Stamford Bridge? In fact, how many have Robinho on the back of your new jersey?

So yes, all is good now isn't it? City can now challenge United for the right to be called the best team in Manchester right? WRONG!!

Now I like Manchester City, at least I did until yesterday. For me, it's Chelsea all over again. The Abu Dhabi United Group take over on the last day of the transfer market and literally bid for every player, available or not.

"Berbatov, darn, United got him. Ok let's try for David Villa, nah no good there either, he's staying in Spain. Oh of course, Van Nistelrooy he'd love to get one over Fergie, no good from Real Madrid."

Then the light bulb goes off and City realize Robinho is looking for a new club with Real Madrid not willing to sell to a European rival, "Ahh, yes he'll do just fine".

In my opinion, Robinho's move was solely money related. I think the guy is overrated and not worth the money paid for him but he is an acquisition for any team playing in the Champions League so why settle for a team that will be lucky to qualify for the UEFA Cup?? I'll give you a hint: ££££££££££££££££££££££££!!!

Besides how many of these transfer targets were sanctioned by Mark Hughes? I'm willing to say none. Here is one of the finest young managers in British football and he has no control over his club.

He now has two options:

1) He can become a Mourinho and have little enough control over the team and eventually become a Grant and a mere puppet or

2) He can become a Ferguson and not take rubbish from the investors and state he is manager and he'll buy and sell whom he sees fit.

Sadly, I think he'll be alone as he is only at the club a few months and does not command the respect that Sir Alex does at the club down the road. If he needs further reasons to worry, just take a glimpse at Rafa Benitez at Liverpool and the trouble in the Anfield boardroom.

Anyway, buckets of cash don't always signify success. Yes it did work for Chelsea, but look at last year, how many trophies did they win? A lot of this can be put done to a lack of stability. Mourinho left and while Grant was no poorer a manager, the change unsettled the squad.

If you look at the two most successful teams in domestic competitions over the last ten years you notice one significant thing, both Ferguson and Wenger have been at the helm of their respective clubs all this time. They have the respect of the board, of the fans and of the players. One cannot get this respect if the manager's position is changed every other month.

Actually speaking of ten years ago, remember Leeds United? Yes, well ten years ago they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup and three years later they were in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Alas, a mere seven years later they are in League One far away from the glory days.

If you look at the squad that got relegated you'd wonder how: Paul Robinson, Michael Bridges, Gary Kelly, Ian Harte, Lucas Radebe, Roque Junior, David Batty, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Alan Smith and Mark Viduka. Many of their problems emerged from an inability to pay money loans back they had on buying and paying players far over their market value.

There are many warnings there for City fans if they wish to look at them. Now I'd hate to be one to rain on their parade, but I cannot see this loving relationship lasting. The Abu Dhabi Group have ordered Hughes to get City to fourth in the table and qualify for the Champions League. This, as has been witnessed in recent years, is an extremely difficult thing to do, the top four are not broken up easily.

But for argument sake, say City do finish fourth, does this guarantee Champions League football? Remember Everton finished fourth two years ago and found the going tough in the third qualifying round of the Champions League and never made it to the group stages. Even last week the mighty Liverpool got the scare of their lives against Belgian side Standard Liege.

So City fans, enjoy the moment but don't expect it to last. Perhaps it will, Perhaps it won't, but don't be shocked if League One football beckons in seven years time, ye' have been warned.

P.S. Don't expect C.Ronaldo, Torres or Fabregas at the City of Manchester Stadium any time soon, that's just silly.