Thing is though, Barca ain't that great defensively either, when it comes to back up options. I'd actually put Real on top of that list, in terms of quality of depth, with City, Barca and Utd below. While the latter 3 are weak in some areas where back up is concerned (City mainly in defence, Barca in defence, Utd in CM) I can't really think of an area where Real are weak. Their starting XI isn't quite as good as Barca's, however.
IMO, on paper, Real's starting XI is comparable to Barcelona's in terms of talent. And it's not as if Real don't compete against Barcelona, they scored 4 goals against them this season already but it's just lacking something. It's a similar situation with City and us. City have plenty of wonderful players, they are a highly talented team. In fact, one can argue that in some positions maybe even stronger than us but they lack something. Call it an ethos or a mentality. It's what makes the difference from being talented on paper and being sucessful on the pitch.
Personally I would say that City and Real have the most balanced squads in terms of not having outstanding areas of weakness (although City's defence is pretty ordinary), but then again they don't have outstanding areas of strength either, barring the goalscoring ability of Ronaldo at Real. In contrast, Barca have the strongest midfield and attacking set up in the world, including backups like Fabregas, Mascherano and Pedro / Sanchez and Utd have the strongest defence and wingers including backups. Which is why Barca were able to hammer us in both 2009 and 2011 despite missing crucial players in defence, and why Utd were able to walk the title last year despite our central midfield barely turning up all season and Rooney being out of form for so long. Like I said above, I think the reason Barca are ahead of Real and Utd ahead of City is that they do have these outstanding areas of strength which they focus on and use to win games, thus addressing their weaknesses in other areas. In contrast, Real and City, particularly City, don't really play to their strengths. City play a defensive game without having a world class defence on which to base it, hence their collapse in the CS. And whilst Real don't seem to have any glaring weaknesses, they don't seem to have any sort of clear strength that they play to, other than Ronaldo. And a one man plan will always be weaker than a team based plan regardless of how good that one man is.
City do have a great squad but they are weak in a number of key area's. Firstly the defence is not world class and has very little in the way of competition for places in that area, Secondly and most importantly Mancini is not a good enough manager for them to be the best team in the world. Maybe next season when they get mourinho who would balence the squad they will have a chance of being the world beaters they are so desperate to be.
No I don't think they do at all. Just because they have a lot of high profile player's does'nt mean they have the best squad. Remember A.C Milan in the late 90's bought anyone and everyone and they won fook all. I think Barcelona, and Real Madrid have better squad's and I think Man United will finish ahead of them again this season because Mancini is a clown compared to Ferguson.
eatcustard don't you think your comments are very childish. Both the rags and Chelsea have strong squads and they can't keeep them happy as well. Don't forget that once a player/s contract has ended they are unemployed and if they wish to continue playing football they will have to either lower their wage demands or remain unemployed. IT IS AS SIMPLE AS THAT.
Gazautd that is something RM will instill in the team. That is providing that the players are willing to listen to him
Time will tell if they're the best squad in the world... They certainly have a number of players that I wouldn't mind having in our squad though. Hopefully Kenny can pull off a successfull coup in January... N'Gog for Aguero anyone?
timmy5x you say that Roberto Mancini is not a good manager, then I suggest you look at his track record in Itlalian football where as amanager he has won a lot of trophys. I suggest that you have not looke dhard enough to find out just what a good manager he really is.
To be fair, how many did he win as a result of the fall out of the Italian scandal?? If memory serves, one of Inter's titles were given to them having not actually won it. He has a lot to prove still, especially in Europe, where Jose took pretty much the same side (less their best player in Ibrahimovic) and won the treble.
Here it is - After his retirement, Mancini embarked on a successful managerial career. A cup specialist, Mancini has never failed to reach a semi-final of a major cup competition in every season he has managed and has guided the clubs he managed to a record 5 consecutive Coppa Italia finals from 2004 to 2008, with Lazio once in 2004 and with Inter in the following 4 seasons.
Given he has unlimited resources. A dream squad. And now had time to properly bed-down at City and can't be considered new. If City don't win the league this year will Mancini be able to be called a good manager? Fergie and Jose Jr. both have better established squads- but neither have spent as much as Mancini- if they take the crown what will that say? In the unlikely event we [Liverpool] were to win- yes we've probably been the next biggest spenders recently- but starting from a much lesser position after Roy but surely that would blow Mancini's credentials? Or Arsenal- with all their troubles if they won? If anyone other than City win given Mancini's advantages with squad and money (on *paper* they have the best squad) it will surely be a slap in the face to Mancini's credentials. Mancini needs to win this season if he wants to be considered a "good" manager... or at least a "great" manager. On paper this year should be sky blue...
In fairness Mourinho didn't like the way Inter played with Ibra, it was pretty much give the ball to Ibra and hopes he scores, so sold him and got E'to. Think that's when they got Sneijder too. They then became much more of a team.
I really don't rate Mancini as a manager. Strongest squad, Yes, but can't see them winning the league with RM is charge.
coiaches that mpove around europe and international football are never going to win as much as a manager that stays at a club 30 years, I think that is obvious. Mancini is obviously a good coach. otherwise why the jobs? City are becomming a force, if the manager can string it all together they will have the best side in England. This season will answer all the questions thats for sure. Al we n is for the tories to buy their training gtround and buld em a new one for free and they will be real madrid
