Football Dispatch

Monday Football
18 August 2007
by Jerrad Peters

Manchester City
Manager: Mark Hughes
Grounds: City of Manchester Stadium
Championships: 2

Manager’s dilemma
You’d think that Mark Hughes would have done his due dilligence upon deciding to leave Ewood Park for Eastlands in June. After all, he was choosing to leave one of the most stable, consistently competitive outfits in English football and had the full support of Blackburn Rovers chairman John Williams. The only reason for making the switch, it seemed at the time, was to have access to the bottomless pit of Thaksin Shinawatra’s wealth. Of course, as everyone now knows, that wealth either does not exist or is suspended by Thai banks. Shinawatra, meanwhile, broke the arrangements of his bail in early August and has an arrest warrant hanging over his head. Not exactly an encouraging state of affairs for the owner of a Premier League football club.

Bread & butter
The central defensive partnership of Micah Richards and Richard Dunne will be relied upon to get City out of whatever tricky situations the team in front of them creates for themselves. Easier said than done. But since moving to centre-half after beginning his career as a right-back, 20-year-old Richards has been a revelation. He has also rejuvinated the 28-year-old Dunne. With Joe Hart between the sticks, City will have a decent amount of strength in the 18-yard-box.

Key addition
After coming through the ranks at Corinthians, Jo made an unusual move to Russia and produced 30 goals in 53 league games for CSKA Moscow. That was enough for Hughes. The City manager doled out 18million-pounds for the 21-year-old Brazilian – instantly making him the most expensive player in the club’s history.

Projection
This could go one of two ways. On paper, City are good enough to contend for a berth in the UEFA Cup. Reality, however, is a different animal altogether. With Shinawatra facing criminal charges in Thailand and unable to unlock his bank accounts, the club’s finances are in a deplorable state. It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that City could go belly-up if his legal options fall through. With the current squad, however, expect a narrow top-half finish.

Probable formation to start the season
Hart
Corluka, Richards, Ben-Haim, Garrido
Etuhu, Gelson, Johnson, Petrov
Elano
Evans

Manchester United
Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
Grounds: Old Trafford
Championships: 17

Manager’s dilemma
How to improve a squad so close to perfect? According to Sir Alex Ferguson, you don’t. The United manager spent most of his summer convincing Cristiano Ronaldo to stay at Old Trafford and did little else as far as transactions are concerned. Granted, the Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio da Silva finally broke into the side, Rodrigo Possebon looks a good midfield prospect, and Angolan striker Manucho will be expected to join the ranks once his immigration papers come through. Other than that, however, Ferguson resisted the temptation to tinker with an outfit that won the league and Champions’ League double in 2007-08. With Chelsea and Liverpool having made substantially upgrades in key positions, it may be a decision he eventually regrets.

Bread & butter
When Carlos Tevez joined United in August, 2007, everyone and his uncle claimed that he and Wayne Rooney would be tripping over one another’s toes. In fact, the opposite proved to be true. The two strikers formed a lethal partnership and, joined by 42-goal scorer Ronaldo, formed the most dangerous three-pronged attack in European football. When all three are clicking, they take some stopping.

Key addition
If Manucho’s paperwork had been approved in time for the season, he would undoubtedly have occupied this space. But with the 6-foot-2 Angolan’s future in limbo, United will be counting on another of their up-and-coming forwards. Recalled to Old Trafford after a 34-match loan spell at Hull, Campbell impressed during pre-season and convinced Ferguson to retain his services for a full season. In fact, Hull owe their promotion to the Premier League to Campbell’s 15-goals in 2007-08.

Projection
Champions. Don’t expect Ferguson to let September come without upgrading the attacking positions. Dimitar Berbatov is the most likely candidate; although Ajax marksman Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has been linked to United as well. Even without them, however, it’s hard to see United falling back. This is a deep squad with world-class, international talent at every position.

Probable formation to start the season
Van der Sar
Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra
Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs
Tevez, Rooney

Middlesbrough
Manager: Gareth Southgate
Grounds: Riverside Stadium
Championships: 0

Manager’s dilemma
In the space of a few weeks, Middlesbrough lost goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to Fulham, right-back Luke Young to Aston Villa, and midfielders Lee Cattermole and George Boateng to Wigan and Hull, respectively. Until he bought Justin Hoyte from Arsenal on August 14th, manager Gareth Southgate had done very little to offset the departures. The exit of Schwarzer, in particular, could have very serious ramifications. The reliable ‘keeper will be replaced by fellow Australian Brad Jones. A Boro player since 2000, Jones has spent parts of five seasons on loan to Stockport County, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, and Blackpool.

Bread & butter
In 11 Premier League appearances after arriving from Heerenveen, Alfonso Alves scored 6 goals. He should easily replicate that ratio in 2008-09. And partnered with Turkey international Tuncay Sanli, the Brazilian forms one-half of one of English football’s most compelling attacking partnerships. Sanli will often play just behind Alves, creating havoc in the attacking third while his 6-foot-2 teammate awaits the ball. Goalscoring, a missing element in so many Middlesbrough teams of the past, should not be a problem this season.

Key addition
The purchase of Justin Hoyte was astute for two reasons. Firstly, it allowed the club to quickly replace the departed Young at right-back. Secondly, it moved David Wheater to his preferred position alongside Emanuel Pogatetz in the centre of defense. Hoyte, 23, played 18 matches as an England Under-21 international.

Projection
They won’t crack the top half of the table; but they won’t get drawn into a relegation scrap, either. In other words, it’s same old ‘Boro.

Probable formation to start the season
Jones
Hoyte, Wheater, Pogatetz, Taylor
Aliadiere, Shawky, O’Neil, Downing
Alves, Tuncay

Have a question about football? Email your query to jerradpeters@gmail.com.

Jerrad Peters covers football for the Winnipeg Free Press, Soccer Three-Sixty magazine, ESPN Soccernet, and Soccer365.com. His work has also appeared on TheMirror.co.uk, Canadian-soccer.com, Footy247.co.uk, Foot2ball.com, and Squadinfo.com.

Get all your soccer gear at www.soccerpro.com.