Manchester City's early season promise suggests they are the real deal

By David McDonnell

Published 09:38 31/08/09

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Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of the takeover at Manchester City, which overnight transformed them from a mediocre Premier League outfit into the world's richest club.

It's early days this season of course, but three wins out of three suggests City are equipped to push for a top four place, even though their victories have been pragmatic rather than spectacular.

The most impressive aspect of City's spending this summer under Mark Hughes is the balance he has restored to the squad he inherited from Sven Goran Eriksson 15 months ago.

Unlike Real Madrid, Europe's other big spenders this summer, Hughes has been diligent not frivolous in his acquisition of players, to the extent he now has two or three who can cover in every position.

That is the key to sustaining a title challenge over the course of a gruelling season, and while City may still be finding their feet as a team, they are undeniably a better-equipped unit with impressive strength in depth.

But wins over Blackburn, Wolves and Portsmouth, all of whom look set to struggle for Premier League survival this season, are not a measure of a team's title credentials.

City's next two games, against Arsenal and then the eagerly-awaited Manchester derby against United, will show just how far they have come or how far short they remain.

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