The global credit crunch may have placed many soccer clubs around the world in financial peril (see: Valencia, West Ham United, etc.). On the opposite end of the spectrum lies nouveau-riche Manchester City, which under its new Abu Dhabi-based investors plan to spend like drunken sailors -- or a drunken 2005 version of Roman Abramovich.
Fresh off the heels of signing Wayne Bridge from Chelsea, and losing to Nottingham Forest in the third round of this weekend's FA Cup, more reports are surfacing that City want to spend big. Numerous dispatches have manager Mark Hughes targeting five players, while the Guardian is a little more specific, stating City want to spend £100, naming Scott Parker and Roque Santa Cruz, who despite nice resumes, fall short of the 'International Superstars' the club claimed it wanted last month.
Perhaps since the club is currently in 12th place of the Premier League, only two points above the relegation zone has something to do with the parred-back ambitions. Also, City are 16 points behind a Champions League position. As we all know, the top-tier elite players want to be in this competition, which is barely on City's distant horizon.
Whatever happens, City should be good for the sport on a couple of fronts. For one, it'll keep the rumor mills churning, which always provide some laughs. More importantly, its cash infusion should help the clubs it buys players from. Both West Ham and Blackburn, Parker and Santa Cruz's respective clubs, certainly could use the cash to stay solvent.
All City, All the Time originally appeared on Soccer FanHouse on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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