Mark Hughes suggested recently that he might not need to do much
transfer business in January. He will likely need to revise that
assessment now.
Hughes required Shay Given's penalty save to salvage a
point at St Andrews
After such a bright start to the new era of being the wealthiest
club on the planet, Manchester City have stalled with just one win
in their last six games. The chill wind of winter is closing in on
Hughes, who started the match in his best suit and ended up
covering up in a City tracksuit top.
With arms folded on the bench for most of the match, Hughes
looked far from happy. He perhaps thought he had the basis of a
squad that would make an impact, but City have lost the impetus of
a bright start which promised so much, and where even a tilt at the
title seemed a possibility. Now he urgently needs to get them back
on track.
Hughes has been trying to play it cool about City's transfer
window intentions in January, but there is no disguising that the
Middle East owners are going to have to dig deep to maintain their
challenge.
Robinho is Hughes' trump card, one he can cash in, or swap, and
despite numerous denials about selling the brilliant Brazilian,
there is little doubt that a parting of ways is a certainty. It's
just a question of when because the if is no longer in
question.
Sooner, rather than later, is the word and, with Barcelona still
anxious to recruit the former Real Madrid star, Hughes has the
upper hand in demanding the players he would want from Camp Nou in
part exchange.
Hughes would like Thierry Henry, but the former Arsenal legend
is more likely to move onto the States, as he has made it clear it
would be tough to play for any other Premier League side after
Arsenal. The Welshman would need to be at his most persuasive to
change Henry's mindset.
But if Hughes does give up on Robinho, as expected, then City
need a fantastista, someone to pop up with a piece of
magic. Roque Santa Cruz still looked short of sharpness after a
long injury against Birmingham, and City missed Emmanuel Adebayor.
City have so many options in attack, yet drew a blank. That must be
frustrating for Hughes, who also had to shore up a leaking defence
and, though he succeeded there, the department where City are
supposedly strongest let him down.
Fortunately for City, recent failures at Anfield ensure that a
place in the top four can still be achieved, but that is this
club's minimum requirement. Make no mistake: City want to be
champions and, with Chelsea and Manchester United locked in
conflict on Sunday, there is an opening to close the gap at the
top.
But City failed to make an impact at Birmingham and Hughes had
to thank goalkeeper Shay Given for a penalty save against James
McFadden to save them from defeat. Most highly successful teams
require a top quality keeper. City have that in Given. Despite huge
investment in the defence, two holding midfield players are still
required to protect it.
Birmingham are also under new owners with promises of £40
million investment in new players in January. Normally a quiet time
for the big spenders, January might well be far more interesting
than usual.
Rafael Benitez is under most pressure to drop out of the 'big
four', with City still favourites to take over their coveted status
as one of the Champions League elite, but Birmingham have their own
Benitez. Another Benitez who is going through a lean patch, he
still hasn't scored for his new club this season.
Of course, Christian Benitez has managed to change his name: the
moniker that appears on the back of his Birmingham shirt is
'Chucho'. Perhaps Liverpool's Benitez should change his too. I am
sure there are plenty of ideas for Rafa's new nickname.