As I see it -- assuming all the stories about the Fernando negotiations are accurate -- City took a short-term risk not filling in the central MF gap for the long-term gain of standing up to clubs trying to shake us down. And the risk appears at the moment not to have paid off.
In the long run, we will get more for our money and manage the revenue/expense gap more soundly. Doesn't make this any easier to swallow, but it was a calculated gamble.
And who knows if Fernando would even have been ready to help us today? Nearly every new acquisition takes time to grow into a side. Even if we win no trophy this year, the direction we are headed is very, very clear -- or should be -- to us as fans and to the rest of league (and the rest of Europe). And we have been wildly entertained this season too so far.
In other words, have patience and faith.
Oh, and the rags freaking suck. There's always that.