2007: Former Thailand PM, Thaksin Shinawatra takes over the club... after allegedly stealing money from his government. This guy was moneyed. He then signed Mark Hughes as manager. This was the start of the transformation for Manchester City
2008: Man City taken over by the Abu Dhabi Group.
And this is where the real transformation actually started taking place with City signing Robinho, Wayne Bridge, Kompany, Zabaleta, Bellamy, Wright Phillips, Roque Santa Cruz, Tevez, Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Lescott Shay Given... just to name but a few, all under Mark Hughes. Some of these players have since moved on to other clubs.
Robinho, Santa Cruz, Wayne Bridge and Wright Phillips never really did make an impact here. No disrespect to these players... I mean they are great players but Man City just wasn't the team for them. These things happen eh? Like Forlan at Man United, or Veron... Or Denilson/Park Chu at Arsenal. Or better yet.. all the signings in Liverpool.
Adebayor, Bellamy and Shay Given and one player that goes unnoticed, Steven Ireland, really did play a huge part in this team. Adebayor especially... he scored that goal when City beat Arsenal and ran the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of Arsenal(his former club) fans... much to their distaste.
Bellamy's most outstanding contribution... I'd say in the Manchester derby that they lost to United thanks to Michael Owen's last minute goal. Remember that? And Shay Given... this man was key to Mark Hughes' solidity at the back. Kinda makes you wonder why Mancini sidelined him, eh? Such a waste... De Jong also looks like he's on his way out. Story for another day though.
Then came the other signings... Silva from Valencia, Aguero from Atletico Madrid, Yaya Toure from Barca and Ballotelli from Inter Milan. and City all of a sudden became a force to reckon with. Even the way the started the league just stated that this team was going to be trouble to other teams, and most especially the top four in the prem. Not that it wasn't already undergoing changes... Liverpool plummeted, Arsenal settled for third place... fourth sometime, while another newcomer, Tottenham Hotspur also briefly rattled the top four setting, and recently, Newcastle United also look like upsetting the creme de la creme of English Football.
Long story short, Manchester City deserved their win. It doesn't matter what anyone says, United or Arsenal fans alike, Nasri and team really did have the title coming. From the demolition of spurs in August, Manchester United at home... and away, Newcastle home and away, to the last minute winner by Aguero in the dying minutes of the 2011-2012 season. And so I congratulate them, yes, despite being a United fan.
Chelsea, also had the same story play out when they were bought out by billionaire, Roman Abramovich. Real Madrid also had to invest heavily just to 'buy back' the leadership in La Liga. Am talking Ozil, Khedira, Lassana, Benzema, Ronaldo, Kaka, Carvalho, Altintop, Nuri Sahin, Varane(although he hasn't featured much). So as much as we may want to say City bought the title, we have to also look elsewhere to see that the same events happened in history.
Now all City have to do, is build on their title win and then maybe... just maybe, they could have the bragging rights for a while. Real Madrid also have to prove themselves after dethroning Barca, who had won thrice in a row already. One thing's for sure though, Man United and Barca will not stand and watch. Word on the tabloids is that Sir Alex is already on the prowl for midfield reinforcements. I personally think Pogba plays better than Cleverly. and that Kagawa and Hazard would make a mean combo in midfield... and since they're both young, that could be a lot of promise.
Lets talk some more football another time
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