Squad Overview: The Wings

When news broke that day in late August that Shaun Wright-Phillips was returning to the club, i'm sure i wasn't the only City fan almost foaming at the mouth at the thought of him and Martin Petrov ripping full-backs up and down the country to bits. Sadly, it's not quite worked out that way. Shaun had quite a decent season, he linked up well with Robinho and Stevie Ireland, scored a few important goals and was largely very good. Petrov however, despite his shortcomings, like his inability to track back, his occasional short fuse, and his his up-and-down form, is still, on his day, one of the most natural widemen i've seen.

If i've a criticism of Shaun at all, it's that he's very much a home man, though i guess that could be said for the lot this season. Barring his debut double at Sunderland he did relatively little on the road. I'm not saying that's entirely his fault, he needs service, and in turn, when we might be called on to play a more direct style, people with a bit more presence in the box to be on the end of his own. What he does provide, at Eastlands more regularly, is the tenacious buzz and ability to go at his man. He's always struck me as the epitome of a 'confidence player', and infront of his own crowd he seems to grow, gain that extra willingness to get the ball down and really give his full-back a tough time. With players with such pace, too, we've shown that we use can be dangerous both when sides back off us, and when they come forward allowing us to break at pace. Wright-Phillips has been, and i'm sure will be, an integral part of our squad, and with him in the side i always fancy us for a goal or two. He's done well.

The reason i say squad, though most might disagree, is that with the players coming in, either those who've arrived or are said to be on their way, i'm not sure we'll be playing with out-and-out wingers. With us sounding like we're in for more than one centre-forward, and providing two of Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez or Samuel Eto'o do sign then i can't imagine it being anyone other than SWP pushed out, assuming Barry, de Jong and Ireland are the trio behind. Five into three just doesn't go, not forgetting Bellamy, of course.

Petrov, well, i'm not entirely sure he's Mark Hughes' type of player. As i said above, there's no doubting his ability when he's got the bit between the teeth. Over a few yards his acceleration's unparalleled, it's a pleasure seeing him give and go, motoring on like a madman. Plus, he can whip crosses in for fun and has the sweetest left foot. When he's on form he's a top player, there's no doubt about that, but i also get the impression that he'd not be the greatest to have around the training ground. Even on the pitch you can sense that he's quite temperamental when things aren't going his way. I'm just not sure where he fits in, especially if Robinho continues to play to the left of the forward three. I'd be more than happy for him to stay, but i wonder how content the likes of him would be to sit on the bench and play when needed.

Of the also-rans, Vladimir Weiss strikes me as the most exciting. Just the one appearance this year, but needless to say he did more in that than Kelvin Etuhu has in his fifteen since making the step up. Etuhu's always given me the impression that he's clumsy, not a great crosser of the ball, strong, but without good control or acceleration, i'm not convinced. Weiss, on the other hand, seems more willing, tricky, pacy, i think he's got a big future. Whether he'll get so many games next year i'm not sure, a season out on loan might do him good, whilst Etuhu should probably be looking for something a bit more permanent. Overall, i'm happy enough with what we've got on either flank, and if anything i could imagine next season seeing us being far from short on either side.