Sunday 8 February 2009

Home Sweet Home

Stall : Sweet Home Alabama
Soon as oil tycoon Sheikh bought the Man City, he signalled his arrival with a big-money move of Robinho, Chelsea's long target. He also ensured that City is going to challenge for the title and competing in Champions League in 3 years time, and burdened Mark Hughes' shoulder to fulfill his dream. Till January transfer window opened about a month ago, City is competing to survive in Premier League, with fellow strugglers like West Brom, Middlesborough, and others. But what makes City different from others is that how they maximizingly used the windows. Starting with the Kaka, and purchasing of big names, in order to climb the table away from the bottom three. Still, they cannot find the balance of the squad, significantly when they lost to 10-men Stoke. Why is this happening?

When we look at the top of the table, our eyes will directly focus on the new Big Four, Aston Villa. Currently 3rd, a place above Chelsea, they are in the hat of the title for this season. And this definitely is when you look at the depth and the balance of the squad. Luke Young, Zat Knight, Curtis Davies, Nicky Shorey, James Milner, Steve Sidwell, Gareth Barry, Ahley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Martin O'Neil can field a squad of 9 English players! And that is how he found the depth of his squad. Look at Man Utd. Built with a base of Michael Carrick, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney, and the future of talented youngsters of Danny Welbeck and others, that is why they are the champion of the planet. Barcelona and Bayern Munich are other examples of local-based clubs that achieved success. And it is possible for Aston Villa to achieve the same. Combination of foreign and local, and experienced and young, they are building team for the future.
Man City? They try to buy success, which you never get any price to buy one. Even Chelsea, who did the same technique, used the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole. Money can't buy me love. Ask John Lennon. Or any Chelsea fans. Martin O'Neil are trying to buy Michael Johnson and Daniel Sturridge, in order to have a really strong English-based squad. Are we going to see England-Aston Villa team, where Aston Villa will represent England for 2010 World Cup? Haha. It's the Italian job.
That's why, Arsenal never taste the success, and so do Man City. But there is a situation where 100% is local, but never taste success for the past 20 years.

Stall : Malaysia?