D.D. wrote:
More or less everything that I wanted to say on the Tevez issue has been covered by others so I'll just comment on this excpet to say that if Tevez can just see his way to staying till the end of the season, I'd take that. Get us in the top four and he can bugger off.
City play a slow, possession based football, one that suits fluid movement in the forward three. Tevez was almost perfect for the way we play the game. Edin Dzeko is a target man, a big lad who gets on the end of crosses and set pieces. Whilst Kolarov may finally offer us some service in that department, one thing is for sure, we are not going to compromise our style of football just because we have a target man.
I just don't think Dzeko will fit into our style one bit. He'd be a smash hit at Everton. He'll end up being a Steve Daley at our gaff.
Hope that wasn’t a dig at Kolarov, DD. The lad is expected to cross the ball but what can he do when, for the majority of the season, only Tevez has been in the box.
Reading the posts of the one or two people who appear to know what’s going on at City, Dzeko is not a replacement for Tevez. The aim was to bring him in regardless, thus giving us more attacking options.
I’d also take Tevez until the end of the season. No doubt. With our lack of success, I am sure we could swallow our pride for a few months.
Did you notice that Tevez did not criticise Mancini in his press release even though it is obvious that he has issues with the Italian? It may be that he, or should I say Joorabchian, are either targeting Cook (as suggested by LGJM) or maybe Tevez wants to stay and knows that criticising Mancini would make his position untenable.
I think you are unfair on Dzeko. I think he is overrated but he is good on the floor. Not in a Peter Crouch kind of way (“Good touch for a big man..”) but he actually has a bit of pace and intelligence.
Cibaman wrote:
Our problem is that we will need at least a couple of new strikers. Santa Cruz and Adebayor clearly do not fit in Mancini's plans and are likely to leave. I'm not sure whether we could recall Bellamy but even if we could I think that would be a big mistake.
Balotelli is an immense talent, but I think he's on a par with Ronaldo circa 2004/5, not someone who at this stage in his career can be relied on week in week out.
Dzeko seems to be a must and, although he isnt in Tevez's class, would possibly better suit the shape of the team. A mega bid for Torres also would seem probable.
Its a major blow this happening mid season but the vastly improved form of Silva and Yaya Toure means that its not quite the disaster that it would have been not many weeks ago.
I completely agree with all of that.
All I will add is the reply to DDs post re Dzeko not being a replacement for Tevez.