Despite the controversy surrounding Shinawatra and the criticism hurled towards Eriksson (it’ll get much worse once the season starts), Manchester City have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.
For starters, they’ve brought in talented players, and in Eriksson they have a manager who is proven at club level and while he may not be world-class he is certainly good enough to take City into the top-10.
The club as a whole would want to make a fresh start and there is a lot of pressure on Eriksson and the new players to deliver the goods. Luckily, they’re not expected to win cups (yet) so a good cup run and a decent league finish would do a lot of good for the morale.
Manager Status: Eriksson is secure in his post unless he gets City relegated – and as bad as people might think Eriksson to be, he’s not one to get clubs relegated.
Transfer Analysis: One of the problems Manchester City faced last season was squad spirit. Barton and Dabo may have left but the influx of foreign players will make things delicate. It’ll be up to Eriksson to maintain morale and manage his diverse set of players.
Players to watch: Rolando Bianchi and Martin Petrov – two players who could propel City into the top 10 if they play well.
August Fixtures: West Ham away, Derby home, Manchester United home and Arsenal away. The home game against Derby should be an easy one for Eriksson, but the other three will provide a real test for Sven and it will be interesting to see what tactics he employs against United and Arsenal.
Expectations: City have strengthened their ranks and the fans will be hoping for a push for a European spot.
Predictions: Mid table (9th-15th).
Also Read:
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- Premiership Summer 07 Transfer List
- All 07/08 Prem Season Previews
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