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.
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.
