Manchester City transfer season report card

As the curtain has finally lowered on the transfer season, naturally much can be said of the clubs ability to shore up weak spots. While some will focus upon the trials and tribulations of the Kaká saga, the real story is the careful acquisition of workable players for the clubs long term growth.

Following the Robinho acquisition at the end of the summer transfer season, the media had danced the familiar tune of show-stopping acquisitions but in-truth the careful additions by the club reflected a longer term vision as well as support for Mark Hughes as manager. While that support is certainly tested with dreadful performances such as last weekends loss to Stoke City, by bringing in Wayne Bridges and Craig Bellamy the club is laying out a premium for players that the manager feels confident of their abilities but how they work within his style.

This in-fact is a unique clue behind the walls of the club, where there is a hearty line between the interests of front-office to attract a prized big-name signing for branding as opposed to the sandpaper grit styling of the former Wales leader. Their should be no disputing that as while the club paid a mighty sum for Mr Bellamy and Mr Bridge, Mark Hughes warmly embraced the departure of Jô to Everton as he was not originally involved in the former CSKA Moscow mans move to the Citizens.

Returning to the notion of "grading out" of transfer window, the additions of Shay Given, Wayne Bridge, Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong should not only provide a sense of hope for the Citizens faithful but also a realization that amongst the endless media attention the club is grounded in reality. Although many will be disappointed with the final stages of the Roque Santa Cruz negotiation it was brilliant business message to the Football community, that the club knows when to fold its position. This is particularly important for the most uncomfortable of reasons and one that few wish to delve into but the Footballing world is resting on the razors edge of a financial Hades this year and City's strong balance sheet will provide them the strength to flourish. I'll set that warm and fuzzy talk aside for another time because no-one is quite prepared to discuss the impact upon the game with the possible nationalisation of banks, crumbling world assets values and revamped lending practices.

Returning to issue at hand, it should also be noted that this was a good start and not even close to the end product. Nestled mid-table with twenty eight points the clubs focus over the coming months needs to be firmly on the UEFA Cup efforts, driving into the top seven or eight of the table and additionally evaluating the talents of younger players in the line of firm. The final point might be the most near and dear to Mr. Hughes as lingering from the corridors of the club is that we see greater opportunities for young strikers Daniel Sturridge, Ched Evans and Felipe Caicedo in the final stages to show they can be part of the clubs long range goals.