Window of Opportunity > Part 1

There’s a fortnight left now till the transfer window ‘slams shut’ on Monday Feb 2^nd and this is about the time when things go from simmering to bubbling. Fax machines are grinded to an inch of their lives and agents get sweaty ears from time spent on phones. Sky Sports News supernovas and Twitter becomes worth visiting. So, where are the Bluebirds at? 

A club desperately lacking stability, City are relentless self-inflicted victims of the ‘transitional’ time whereby a Manager is axed, replacement hired, replacement sells all previous Manager’s players / friends and buys new squad of his own players / mates - Repeat forever. This is where they find themselves now… Again.

Previous Manager and hobbit-like man Ole Gunnar Solksjaer (who apparently also used to play for Man United? – He may have mentioned that) appeared to collect players like paintings at this time of year without any real plan of what room they’d work in.

Needless to say, his successor (and butcher look-alike) Russell Slade has had a heavy workload cleaning up the inherited mess in a short period of time. Most of the ‘paintings’ haven’t fit Slade’s style of player who run lots and ‘put a shift in’ so have thus been cast aside with most getting their contacts terminated, some loaned out and others sold for buttons. A thankless task as Slade bemoans Ole’s style-over-substance signings.  

Here’s Russell’s rejects thus far: 

Also on the brink of an awkward conversation and locker clearance are Fabio, Kim Bo Kyung, Nicky Maynard and Guido Burgstaller. The Manager’s ruthless work is at a half way point as he continues to clear out the crap.  

With lots of taxi’s ordered then, are any replacements coming in? 

So far Russ has gone for a cheap smart left back in Scott Malone who does dirty things Fabio couldn’t like think, win headers and do some tackles and that kind of thing. It was reported Borussia Dortmund tried sign Malone from under City’s noses. Mostly though it was only reported by the Manager in a bold attempt to big up his signing maybe. 

He’s also added a target man to the ranks, a striker nobody wanted from the reduced section (Rotherham United) who looks like a man who loves running around and headering punts. Alex Revell might be an unspectacular signing but a decent squad player at a decent price. 

So, as the revolving door at the Bluebirds Vale training ground gets a WD40 spray, who’s next through it?  

Russell’s done ok so far but is now about to enter the intense later stages of the window where the moves of bigger clubs filter down and opportunities emerge from the undergrowth.

With Khaleem Hyland on trial, a midfield enforcer from Belgian club Genk, it looks like another new face is imminent, but Russ will know he needs a couple more.

After the brutal and (completely necessary) trimming down of the squad, I’d take a winger please, a proper one with pace and an end product. Go and get a striker too, one who complements the ones who love running around by scoring actual goals, a Linekar-esque goal hanger predator who doesn't care about running, just goals. Cheers Russ.

To be continued…