“Samuel Eto'o is undoubtedly a fine footballer but the circumstances surrounding him were such that the deal could not be completed.“We now feel the time is right to pursue other avenues and we have a clear and strategic transfer plan, which we continue to follow.”
Daniel Taylor claims in Saturday's Guardian that Eto'o failed to accept within a timeframe imposed by the club, which sounds very likely. The more Eto'o prevaricated, the more clear it became that his heart was never really in it - and why, if we're honest, would it be? - and so it makes sense for the club to cut the cord rather than to take on what would be a wholly mercenary player:
Mark Hughes, City's manager, had spoken of the need for "patience" over Eto'o but the player's prevarication – he led City to believe he was keen before appearing to change his mind and then declining to give a clear answer – was beginning to affect City's rebuilding plans. Eto'o wanted perhaps as much as 50% of the transfer fee as a signing-on fee, on the basis that he could leave Barcelona on a free next year.
It's for that reason that I am intensely relaxed about this. Yes, Eto'o is a centre forward of truly world class, the sort that we have never seen at City before. (Was Francis Lee, at his peak, nearly as good as Eusebio or Pelé?) But the sort of big money deal required to see him in blue - with up to £200,000 per week and that absurd signing-on fee - has always left me a bit cold. I was not distraught when we failed to sign Kaká, and I am not desperately enthused with the prospect of our signing John Terry.
I know that players like Eto'o, Kaká and Terry are steps beyond what we now have, and I know that we can't get to where we really want to be without them. But there's something about a mid-table club (tenth last year, with fifty points, let's not forget) signing the world's very best (a bracket into which Robinho does not fit) which does not sit that well with me. I don't want to see us assemble a team based solely on cash-lust (of course it plays a role in all of our signings to an extent, but in some more than others), and, in a quite genuine sense, I don't want to be seen to be taking the piss.
I am very excited about a potential Carlos Tévez - Roque Santa Cruz pairing next season. And the arrival of a centre forward better than either of them, but at the club for different reasons, is not something I could wholly and honestly celebrate. So the fact that we'll line up with that all South American pairing next year, with Bellamy and Bozhinov in reserve, is for me more than satisfactory. I know that we are now, in American, 0 for 2 in our attempts to attract a true galactico to Eastlands. But I don't mind. Tévez and RSC should give us a decent shot at sixth, and neither of them will ever be embarrassed to pull on the shirt.
7 comments:
Well said Hattie. Maybe we are getting nearer the Terry deal now which is the real showstopper. The Sheik still wants one marquee signing.
Further proof that we don't like being messed about. We seem to take the attitude that you either want to play for us our you don't. Well played City even though I wanted to see Eto'o in blue. Wonder if we'll get any 'City saves football' headlines tomorrow
This is a real shame and a sizeable blow to next season's chances. Eto'o is good enough to be worth 15-20 points. But well done City for pulling out, and well said Jack and Richie. The club looks less like jackpot winners and more like serious buyers after today.
So who's next?
Well said.
Forlan anyone? Still wouldn't mind seeing City sign another proven goalscorer just for the fact Bellamy, RSC and Bojinov are so injury-prone. Without that fact I'd be well satisfied with the strikers we have.
Forlan wouldn't inspire me after his spell at united and isn't he getting on a bit? We could reunite him with Veloso though
Once we get Tevez, I think we'll already have a team that can reasonably expect to finish 5th and challenge for higher. Especially, as the top four do not like they're going to be much stronger than last season (Liverpool and man u might end up a lot weaker).
Bearing in mind that we're not going to be playing in Europe, the need for depth is not as great as it will be next season.
However, I would like to see us sign a ball-playing centre-back. Onuoha and Richards have pace and strength but to move onto the next level, we need someone who is really comfortable on the ball and can bring it forward like a Ferdinand or Carvalho.
IF we play barry as DM he can play deep and find the space to pick the ball up from the center backs
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