There is no doubt that Manchester City fans have been spoilt by the players that their oil-rich owners have been able to bring in since they took the club over in 2008.
Alongside the quality players signed, they have also been graced with some sensational gaffers in the form of Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and now Pep Guardiola – something that the older Man City fans in the Transfer Tavern could only dream off (blue) moons ago when they were mucking it in the Football League.
Our landlord certainly agrees that the influx of cash has improved the Citizens’ prospects and has caused an uneasy transfer of dominance between the two Manchester sides resulting in many angry Man United fans frowning at the thought they are now the ‘noisy neighbours’.
Man City’s rise within the last decade has actually caused sky blue fans in the Tavern to start discussing what their best XI is from this era is and though the debate has been colourful, they have reached the climax of their conversations, which saw a lot of players named.
With that said, here is the finished XI pinned to the wall in the Transfer Tavern by the Man City fans…
GK: Joe Hart
Hart was Man City’s trusty No.1 until the arrival of Pep Guardiola saw him shipped out to Torino and replaced with Claudio Bravo – a move that now looks unwise.
RB: Pablo Zabaleta
Signed from Espanyol in 2008, Zabaleta has been vital to the rise of Manchester City, playing a big part in every season he has been at the club.
CB: Vincent Kompany
Though injury prone, it cannot be forgotten that Kompany is the only Man City captain to lift the Premier League trophy since it was rebranded.
CB: Richard Dunne
Sniffed at by some Man City fans in the Transfer Tavern, our landlord has reiterated that you cannot put a price on an honest footballer like Dunne, who he believes would have added the grit that this current City team needs.
LB: Gael Clichy
Clichy’s signing coincided with the club winning their first Premier League title in 43 years, meaning he sits well in the hearts of Citizens fans.
CM: David Silva
The Spanish wizard has been superb since arriving at the Etihad Stadium from Valencia in 2010, earning recognition from far and wide. Many see him as one of the best technical players to have featured in the Premier League.
CM: Yaya Toure
He has his critics, but there is no doubt that Toure has been a vital cog in the Man City machine whilst the club has gone from strength to strength and his resilience this season have really won over fans in the Transfer Tavern.
CM: Patrick Vieira
The Frenchman’s experience was vital in pushing Man City into the Champions League for the first time in the 2010/11 season making him a cult hero among fans in the Tavern.
RF: Carlos Tevez
Signed from the agency MSI for £25.5m, former Man United player Tevez famously went home to be with his family (or play golf) in their title-winning season in 2011/12, although he returned to fire the club to glory in the final weeks of the campaign, repairing his relationship with the fans and boss, Roberto Mancini, in the process.
CF: Sergio Aguero
Who else to lead the Man City line?
His title-winning goal is still as prominent in fans’ minds as the Martin Tyler commentary that came along with it.
LF: Robinho
A forgotten man among Man City fans in the Tavern, our landlord reminded them that Robinho’s 14 league goals in his first season at the club proved to other players that the club was the place to be.
He truly was the first in a long list of superstars to arrive at the Etihad Stadium.
