Do Manchester City Already Have a Squad Capable of Challenging the "Big Four"?

In the aftermath of Manchester City’s takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, much has been made of the club’s newfound potential for massive signings.

With the £32.4 million acquisition of Robinho, and rumours raging about further extortionate bids for the likes of David Villa, Mario Gomez, and even Ruud Van Nistelrooy, one question has begun to take prominence above all others—when will the Citizens break into the top four?

The consensus seems to be that it won’t happen for a couple of years. Surely, pundits say, the club will struggle to attract the real elite talent (ably demonstrated by Gianluigi Buffon’s recent refutation of suggestions he would join the club) necessary to surpass Liverpool or Arsenal—the supposedly weaker of the “Big Four”.

This is true. New chairman Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim wants to sign Cristiano Ronaldo, Fernando Torres, and Cesc Fabregas, however it takes a lot more than just money to complete a deal.

Well, for the latter two at least.

At the moment, the club just do not have the profile and prestige—not to mention the Champions League football—required to attract real world class players. As a result, most commentators can’t see the side breaking into the top four for a few years yet.

What many people—perhaps even the owners too—are overlooking, however, is the quality already inherent within Mark Hughes’ squad. Let’s analyse the talent at their disposal:

Goalkeeper

Joe Hart is already a solid Premiership goalkeeper, and at only 21 years of age he is approximately 15 years from reaching his peak. Considering this, his potential ability is absolutely frightening.

There are only a handful of keepers in the Premiership superior to the England U-21 international, and none of them possess the long-term ability he does.

Defence

The defence is arguably the weakest area of the Blues’ squad, but even then it is the envy of most other Premiership sides. Richard Dunne and Micah Richards have already developed a solid central defensive partnership, and their blend of youth and experience has proven very effective in the top flight.

Both men bring a physicality to their position that can be extremely intimating for diminutive opposition forwards. On the deck or in the air, both men are equally adept.

At right-back, new signing Pablo Zabaleta should ultimately secure the role. The Argentine international, only 23, already has an Olympic gold medal and UEFA Cup final appearance to his credit, and is widely regarded as a bright prospect of South American football.

At left-back, the decision is less clear cut. Ironically, if he were still at the club, the Croatian Vedran Corluka (oh how he must now regret his move to Spurs!) would be a lock for the position. As it is, this is arguably the weakest area of the team at Eastlands.

The Englishman Michael Ball looks to be the most likely choice this season, but he will certainly not be a long term option. Javier Garrido, Nedum Onouha or even new signing Glauber Berti could be asked to fulfil the role from time to time—although only Garrido is a natural in the position.

As a result, expect ADUG and Hughes to address this position in the January transfer window.

Midfield

If there is any area of the pitch where City look like a genuine “Big Four” side, then it is in midfield. Quite frankly, in this area they have an embarrassment of riches.

With Belgian international star Vincent Kompany as the holding midfielder (the 22-year-old has long been regarded as a potential superstar, and won the man of the match award on his debut against West Ham), Hughes should have the scope to employ four attacking midfielders.

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Martin Petrov should occupy the right and left wing roles respectively, and both men guarantee good service into the box. The young Englishmen seems to be a different player in the light blue of City—if he can recapture the form he had in his first spell at the club, he will be a devastating threat to every opponent he faces.

Petrov, the Bulgarian, impressed everyone last season with his technical abilities, and led many to believe he is the best left-winger currently plying his trade in England.

Occupying the centre midfield berth, is the Brazilian Elano. The 27-year-old stunned everyone with some of his contributions last season, and has started this term with a similar vigour.

Unfortunately, last season the Brazil international’s performances dropped off dramatically in the later part of the campaign, and he will have to prove this is not a consistent problem before ADUG call off the search for a bona fide superstar replacement.

Attack

New signing and club icon, Robinho, will likely line-up in the hole, further forward from compatriot Elano but just behind the main striker. At £32.4m, the 24-year-old is the first (but certainly not the last) example of ADUG’s extravagant spending—they paid fully £8m more than Chelsea were prepared to offer for the ex-Santos forward.

How the Brazilian performs in the next three months may have a massive impact on the transfer policy of the new owners. If he performs well, leading his new teammates towards Champions League football, it will send a clear message to Al-Fahim that spending big on established talent really does work.

Monumental bids for Ronaldo, Torres etc. will no doubt materialise.

However, if the Brazilian fails to live up to his billing, it might serve as a stark reminder to the board that success cannot simply be bought—and they thus may be more inclined to trust the judgement of their manager. 

Hughes will undoubtedly preach a policy of youth recruitment (indeed, City are the current FA Youth Cup holders, and the Welshmen would not want to block their path to the first team with too many established stars) and a transfer profile of young, hungry talent.

As a result, it will not just be the media following the progress of the ex-Madrid forward with great interest.

Up front, summer signing Jo looks the most likely starter. The £18m acquisition from CSKA Moscow was solid at the Olympics, and has the faith of Mark Hughes. The Brazilian has the right physique (he is 6’2”) and ability to be a proficient lone striker.

Having said that, expect Benjani (remember him?!) to get more than his fair share of playing time, as the 21-year-old takes time to adapt to the rigours of English football. The Zimbabwean forward has already proven he can score regularly in the Premiership.

All in all then, it is clear that Mark Hughes has a great squad up at “Middle Eastlands”—especially considering we have yet to mention Tal Ben-Haim, Gelson Fernandes, Michael Johnson, Nery Castillo, Stephen Ireland, Daniel Sturridge or Felipe Caicedo.

Considering Sven-Goran Eriksson managed to finish 9^th in the Premiership with Darius Vassell upfront (not to mention an end-of-season slump), Hughes can only be setting his targets higher.

If Liverpool’s squad were to suffer injuries and be without Mascherano, Torres, and Gerrard; is Manchester City’s squad any worse?

If Arsenal suffer another injury to Cesc, does Hughes’ team have any less attacking creativity?

Realistically, then, Mark Hughes already possesses a squad more than the equal to anything outside the “Big Four”, and he is only a few marquee players (ones ADUG will doubtless provide in time) from creating the much vaunted “Fab Five”.

To achieve that this season, Hughes’ first challenge is to keep everyone happy. Squad members like Johnson, Fernandes, Didier Hamann, Sturridge, and Benjani (to name just a few) will all expect to play regularly—but will not be able to do see without others suffering injuries.

Hughes has never had to face such a managerial problem before—at Blackburn his squad was notoriously threadbare—so whether or not he will successfully appease everyone remains to be seen.

If he can’t, you imagine he will soon be handed his P45. ADUG are unlikely to be different to all the other trigger-happy billionaire owners in the Premiership. 

But if he can, there is the very real possibility that Manchester City could challenge strongly for Champions League football, and at least secure a fifth place finish.

The question then is, would that be enough for him to keep his job?