Man City and Man Utd transfers summer 09

Classic mind games stuff from Sir Alex today - saying Man City are not a threat to United and that Tevez is not worth £25.5million.

I agree with him on both counts - although Man City certainly have the money and potential to be a major threat in England and Europe. Tevez was a tryer and a battler but did not score enough goals to elevate him to top class (although you could also argue Ferguson bought Berbatov for £4million more and he was neither a tryer nor a battler and does not score enough goals).

Also I think Man City are lopsided. As Fergie says they have 10 strikers but no foundations - a bit like a Real Madrid lite. Adebayor is a lazy whinger - but a class act when he is in the mood, but what is the point of buying him when you have just splashed out £17million on a like for like player in Santa Cruz?

Gareth Barry? Overated and too ponderous. Only in the England team because Owen Hargreaves is always injured - if Hughes had vision he would surely have gone for Everton's Jack Rodwell who will end up taking Barry's England place within a year or two.

Shay Given? Top class. Man United should have bought him given the understandable feeling that Ben Foster might not be quite good enough - Foster may turn out to be a modern day Chris Turner for Utd. Good, but not quite top notch.

Wayne Bridge? Solid, sound buy.

John Terry? (If he goes) Great leader and inspiration, worth it for that. Injury question marks and pace question marks.

As for Ferguson saying he is not making a marquee signing this summer because the market is inflated, well, wasn't the £80m for Ronaldo itself inflated? I would question the wisdom of bringing in two unproven foreign players for £23million - Obertan and Valencia - when the Champions Lge format will soon demand clubs have more English players in their squads. I would have splashed out on three English players - Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and the aforementions Rodwell. That would have shored up United in midfield and given them pace in attack (which they could have done with given the leaden feet of Berba and Owen). They would have got Young for £22m, Agbonlahor for £12m and Rodwell for £10m - almost half the money from the Ronaldo sale for an injection of excitement and hope.

Better those three in than the money sitting in the Glazers' bank account (or paying off some of their debts) eh??