If we didn't have the oil money.

[BlueinBosnia]

What about taking into account the fact our Prem status has helped us keep/attract good young talent. An academy is a luxury many cash-strapped teams can't afford. We'd have sold good talent younger, too, including Micah.

[cdncityfan]

One problem with the lineups, though. If we had not gotten the oil money and were on a restricted transfer budget, do you really think we would have gotten SWP back from Chelsea? I have this feeling he probably would have ended up at Spurs or Villa rather than back at a forward looking City. Without the infusion of cash, we would probably be around the situation of Blackburn or Bolton, good enough not to get relegated, but could not really withstand a very poor season.

[10.Goater_Legend]