Going 4-3-3?

Since the arrival of Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano earlier in the season, I've felt that a change in formation, and even style, may not only be possible but maybe even probable. We've all seen their Barcelona, then managed by Frank Rijkaard. That side, at its best in 2006, included the likes of Xavi and Deco in midfield, while Ronaldinho and Eto'o were shoe-ins up front, never mind the (then) younger players such as Lionel Messi and Iniesta. Oh, and there was of course the real hero, Henrik Larsson.
Then of course, they brought Guardiola in and the rest, as they say, is geography.

How does this concern City? Simple really, we're going to copy them. Well, not exactly, but I certainly think we will try and replicate something not dissimilar to the former, if not a Messi-less version of Pep's Barca. That is, in short, 4-3-3.

As things stand, with regards to our first choice defenders and goalkeeper, we're set - they don't have any intentions of leaving and I certainly wouldn't expect us to shift them anytime soon.

So, lets consider the midfield.

Gareth Barry is an excellent Premier League midfielder, someone you can depend on to deliver a solid performance week after week and, if you're lucky, he might even throw in an own goal alongside his interceptions, breaking up of play and quick yet calm passing into our playmaker's feet. Just for good measure. That said, Barry is best suited to a two-man midfield which is part of the reason why he has excelled so much with just Yaya Touré beside him but suffered when another midfielder is played alongside the pair too. Furthermore, his performances in Europe force us to ask whether his quality domestically is largely down to his experience and knowledge of the Premier League, as they haven't been up to scratch.

On the other hand, I think it may well be fair to say that his midfield partner, Yaya Touré is rather less so reliable in the holding role which is why I think buying a defensive midfielder is a necessity in the upcoming transfer window. A screener? No, unless we were signing the very finest i.e. Sergio Busquets, I don't think such a player would be effective domestically as a ball-winner such as, say, Lars Bender? Technically able, tenacious and reads the game excellently. Given that the best of his type (Arturo Vidal and Sami Khedira) would seemingly be unavailable, I'm convinced Bender, Lars would be our best bet.

There's still another spot available in midfield though which surely must be taken up by David Silva. A more central role and one more fitting for a playmaker of his quality albeit deeper than the position he now occupies. It would, however, afford him more room to work with than the wing to which he is frequently cast out offers him. As for his work-rate, no sweat, his is criminally underrated and shouldn't prove to be a problem.

Regarding the front three, one thing I wouldn't want to see is Aguero shunted out wide. He's a striker - a number nine who can sometimes play as the creative type behind another striker. Some would prefer a forward who is going to score 35 goals a season, rather, one that they are almost certain will score 35 goals a season such as Cavani or Falcao, but Aguero is perfectly capable of achieving such figures with only fewer injuries and distractions. What's more, an in-form Aguero is one of the most exciting players in the world.

No, it's acquiring the right players to play either side of Kun that is important. Alexis Sanchez is a player we know City have been after before and despite his problems this season at Barcelona, I'd welcome him here. Strong, quick, skillful and possesses an element of fearlessness that a winger needs to really have an impact, potentially match-winning given his quality, on a game. It seems inevitable that he'll leave Barcelona this summer and I'd hope that we're at the front of the queue tying him down.

Another player we've been linked with in recent months is Roma's Erik Lamela. He's tall and powerful, has quick feet and doesn't lack pace. Not necessarily a conventional winger who provides crosses for 90 minutes a week, although he does create chances, Lamela's more of a goal-scorer, and a scorer of important goals too. In fact, in the right side, he'd become a player capable of scoring at least 20 goals a season from the right wing.

Believe me, such a front three would be breathtaking. I know it doesn't include Bale who would mighty fine too, but it has almost everything including three very hard-working footballers.

Obviously, as much as we need quality within the starting eleven, we really need strength in depth, Everton away just a few weeks ago proved as much but I'm not going to list possible targets, the important thing is that Txiki and Ferran get the job done, and I don't think they'll be satisfied until they do so. The players they sign will not only be suited to the above system but also malleable and adaptable to suit any other system the manager and director of football decide on as alternatives.

A final point on those two is that at Barcelona, they bought Ronaldinho, a superstar in every sense of the word and he only improved there and took the club upwards with him. I do wonder whether we'll make a huge pitch to Neymar this summer in order to get him on board, in fact, I'm certain we will. I know he may not be everyone's cup of tea and that he's yet to have played in any European league but everyone who should know says that he's not just a phenomenal talent but already a phenomenal footballer who could play for any side in the world. I don't know, I haven't seen enough but I'd wager that we've held talks.
What I will say on him, albeit rather cynically, is that he's an absolute cash cow, and although that may not be important to us as fans, it will be to them as businessmen.

David Silva

As a child, I used to watch numerous videos that had been passed down to me from cousins, uncles and so on. There were all sorts. Videos that reveled in the 'hilarious' humiliation of professional footballers such as Own Goals and Gaffes. Then there were documentary-like videos of individual players, and coming from a family which is inundated with reds, there was a hefty number of these things that pontificated about, quite rightly I'll admit, George Best, Cantona et al. My favourites, however, were the Football Italia videos, often just recorded episodes from Channel 4, but it made them by no means less holy.
There were some fine imports; Ronaldo, Batistuta and Rui Costa, and of course some stupendous defenders. Nevertheless, none were as pure, nor as loved by myself than the Italian number 10. Le fantasiste. Baggio, Mancini, Zola and then a little bit later, Del Piero and Totti.
As a footballer, Totti is an idol of mine, even now at the age of thirty-six he takes control of a game like I used to think only the said type of player can. Like only a genius can. For quite a long time I hoped that I'd see an Italian certified genius such as Mancini, such as Baggio pull on City's number 10. If we are to see one, it won't be for a number of years as they currently don't look like producing any, unfortunately.
Nevertheless, we need not cry. Spain have duly taken over the attacking-midfielder-mass-production duties from Italy and added their own blends and spices. Italians, of course, have impeccable style, and the way their 10s played football is not excepted here. They also, as individuals, have a lot of substance in their games. These Spaniards are a little bit different. They're all "diminutive" or whatever your adjective of choice maybe to describe the lovely, short-arses. However, individually, they're not as productive in terms of statistics as one may like. Stick them together though, and they're very much the immovable force. That's not to say they can't function unless together though, as all City fans know all too well.
You see, we've got a Spaniard who possibly doesn't chip in with as many goals as he should do. In fact, for one so talented, it amazes me how much his arse can go to pieces in shooting positions.
Many journalists seem to have convinced themselves that Yaya Toure is City's most important player, maybe because he's a big force in midfield. Others may be inclined to say that Kompany is as he's a fantastic centre-back and the captain, the leader in the team. Make no mistake though, it's David Silva.
Silva brings a calming influence to the side that only a Spaniard can. Some people would like him to shoot more which confuses me a little. Generally, exceptional players are exceptional players for a reason and more often than not, this reason is decision-making. I won't do him an injustice though by labelling him as only a calming influence because he is so much more than that.
He is as skilful anyone in the Premier League. he's shown this on so many occasions since joining in 2010. I'm not talking individual pieces of skill but truly masterful displays which included wizardry that you can only find in novels in England. Fulham, Real Madrid, United, Tottenham. I'm certain there are more performances at the end of which I've sat back and thought "Christ, that was so close to a ten-on-ten performance."
When he's out of the side, often due to some nasty swines having snapped at his poorly ankle weeks previously, the difference in quality and purpose is remarkable. The play is slow, lethargic and lacks direction. Nasri is incompatible alongside Silva and often doesn't step up when needed should Silva be out. Yaya can step into an attacking position but, while "he's got good feet for a big man", he has nowhere near the guile, coolness or scheming nature that Silva possesses, nobody at City does.
I' said for a while that I'd love to see Silva behind Aguero, almost like a number ten. A lot of fans might take a skeptical approach towards such a move because of Silva's lack of goals, but what's the point in having arguably your best and certainly your most important player out wide? He doesn't mind doing the dirty work, but I think a player of his magnitude is above that. He's the type you build a side around. He's the piece not a piece.
Sven-For Eriksson once said that there was no point in giving tactical instructions to Mancini,a s he was too good for them. He defied them. Well, it's time that Mancini takes took similar approach with Silva. I don't care if it means leaving three strikers on the bench, even from a purely selfish point of view, I want to see it happen, I desperately want to see Silva in a free role with the defensive shackles off and taking control of games every week. I don't think opposition fans appreciate how good he is, but believe me, he's that good. He could be to Aguero what Mancini was to Vialli.
At last, City have got a genius within their ranks and our formation is limiting him. You don't need to take the shirt, David, just the role, por favor.