I think the transfer window even if it ended now should be viewed as a huge success.
Roque Santa Cruz, although a lot are yet to be convinced by this transfer, offers us something we've lacked for a long time. Probably as long ago as when Niall Quinn was towering above defenders in a City shirt. His ability to hold up the ball and his footballing intelligence should, and i'm going to go as far as to say will, give us a completely different option up front. RSC can boss defences, as shown when Blackburn played United last season.
Gareth Barry may well end up being the most important signing we make this summer. He's a proven premiership player with bags of talent. An England international who is respected by Fabio Capello, one of the greatest managers of his generation. He's pretty much a box to box midfielder with a strong left side and has played CM, LW and LB in his career all with a high degree of success. Barry's inclusion in the first team also renders Robinho's poor defensive ability irrelevant as he will be the one who is giving Bridge support on that left side, which will probably allow Bridge the opportunity to show us why he was one of the brightest young players in English football 6-7 years ago.
And if/when we sign Tevez that would just be the icing on the cake.
--------------------------------Given--------------------------------
Richards------------Onuoha---------------Kompany--
-----------Bridge Dunne providing good cover for Onuoha/Kompany.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------de Jong-----------------------------Barry-------------- Barry pulling left when defending if needed.
-------------------------------Ireland-------------------------------- Ireland playing his most comfortable game.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
--Tevez----------------------------------------------------Robinho-- SWP playing instead of Tevez if he doesn't sign.
-----------------------------Santa Cruz-----------------------------
That team is better than any team outside the top 4 and offers room for manoeuvre should it be needed.
Hopefully with the better quality in the squad and the better flexibility with the players we now possess we will never run into that ridiculous problem we had last season when facing Stoke where we played until something like the 60th minute with two defensive midfielders against 10 men.
