The race for a top 4 finish is not over and there is still a lot of work to be done for City to claim one of these positions and entry to the Champions League. If we did make it though we will be in for an even more exciting summer than the last one.
Indications are that the Club will be spending big in the summer to secure top quality players. Champions League football will help to attract top players. For City to be competitive we will need to strengthen in all areas of the 1st team. IMO I would target the following players:
Maicon (RB) Inter. Defender, good engine and ability to get forward and deliver telling crosses.
Lahm (LB) Bayern. Defender who can play left or right back, good tackler and again good at getting forward to deliver telling crosses.
Chiellini (CH). Tall, commanding and no nonsense centre half.
Ribery (M). Can play on both wings, skilful with good work ethic.
Torres (CF). Seriously quick and a goal scorer, proven at Premier League level.
Whilst the names above are known to most all these are the type and level of player I feel we need to attract if we are to deliver on Cook's recent statement and that of Mancini in going for the title next year.
Not sure if we have enough vocal leaders on the pitch, even with the above so would welcome thoughts on who people feel should be our captain next season, if it was to be a player currently not at the Club.
Equally I would like to see Mancini discover a quality player who can help to offer the promise of becoming one of the world's best. I put two names forward, Pato (Milan) and Hamsik (Napoli) as options to bring in to raise standards throughout the squad and help us to be able to compete at the highest level.
Be interested in your thoughts, the players you would like to see and what you think would be our expectations for our 1st Champions League campaign.