Premier League Preview 2011-12: Manchester City

Best title odds: 9/2 - Coral
Best odds on a top 2 finish: 9/5 - Boylesports
Last season: 3rd
Manager: Roberto Mancini

Good news:

The money just keeps coming! Any thoughts that City would slow down their spending with the Financial Fair Play regulations due to kick-in pretty soon, have so far been dismissed. The purchase of Sergio Aguero for £38m has been heralded as a great piece of business by almost everybody. Carlos Tevez still hasn’t packed his bags either - is that good news, or will he sulk and destroy team spirit. Surely that’s Mario Balotelli’s job anyway.

Bad news:

Did I mention Mario Balotelli? The 20-year-old Italian seems to be on a one-man mission to make Joey Barton look like a veritable boy scout. Edin Dzeko ought to be thrilled that the antics of his fellow strikers are keeping him out of the limelight for now. His two league goals in return for £27m needs some serious improvement. The other problem is how to keep the troupe of underused superstars happy. The alternative is just as troublesome; it’s not easy to offload substitutes who command a wage of £200,000 per week just to warm the bench.

Remember when:

Man City seemed to be giving the top young British players a chance to shine on the big stage? Adam Johnson and James Milner are just two players who arrived for big fees but can’t seem to hold down a starting spot.

Verdict:

For all the joking about Ballotelli and Dzeko, City are getting better all the time. The FA Cup triumph and a top three finish were definite signs of progress. Aguero looks like a good addition, but if Tevez does go then he will do brilliantly just to offset that loss - nobody in the league scored more goals in the past two seasons than the homesick captain. His departure, either now or in January, would cost Mancini’s side any hopes of a title. Playing in the Champions League for the first time, a repeat of last season’s league position would be an accomplishment.

Position: 3rd