Manchester City’s spending spree this summer has got a lot of people backing them for a realistic title charge this year and understandably so, but I believe there is a major positive side to their squad becoming so strong; it leaves a hell of a lot of good players unhappy and available on the cheap.
Upon hearing of reports that Shaun Wright-Phillips has been told that he can leave Manchester City, I was quite pleased to read that along with Arsenal, Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in signing him. I’ve been a fan of Shaun Wright-Phillips for years, especially during his old Man City days when he seemed to have a knack for scoring spectacular goals and making exciting runs down the wings. Like many others, I don’t think he’s been the same since he first moved to Chelsea. His confidence and effectiveness seem to have taken a serious knock, and even though he has occasionally looked dangerous at Man City after re-signing for them, he still seems like he’s destined to be remembered as yet another talented player who failed to fulfil his potential.
If he truly is available for £7 million as reports suggest then I would see his signing as a no brainer. He’s an experienced Premier League and England player with plenty of pace (which our squad generally lacks) and would also add to our home grown contingent. At 28, he is in the prime of his career and I don’t think there is much doubt that he is a talented footballer. He also knows our England players from the international matches and especially has experience playing with our new number 10 Joe Cole during his time at Stamford Bridge. Having players the calibre of Maxi Rodriguez and Shaun Wright-Phillips competing with each other for that right wing spot would give us an impressive looking squad with real depth. I think most people would agree that going from Yossi Benayoun to Joe Cole is a real upgrade for Liverpool, and I would similarly see Shaun Wright-Phillips as an upgrade to the now departed Albert Riera.
Wright-Phillips does however have a noticeable tendency to go missing in games, and would have to work on his consistency if he were to become an effective player for us. He has admittedly been out of form for quite some time but I believe a fresh start under a great man-manager like Roy Hodgson could be what he needs to kick-start his career and save it from sinking further into mediocrity.
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i dont know why so many people dont want us to get him!
SWP is such a quality player, yes he may not be in form but everyone knows he has talent, he can do things in matches that change the game, a darting run, a wonder shot, this is the type of player you need, someone who can influence the game in the final third, we have gerrard & torres & new addition cole, (may i say who was such a great signing) who can do this, they may be the only regular goalscorers we have. I dont know what people see in maxi, hes slow, he doesnt score, he doenst even get in positions where he can score, and he doesnt set goals up like gerrard and cole can, shaun wright phillips will add something to our game that maxi and kuyt cant, at 7 million he isnt exactly expensive like young is, and young has had one good season, he didnt do much last season and everyone is treating him as a 20 million pound signing, buy him for 20 million and he is the player who will have a poor season and be sold for a lot less in the future. Plus SWR is an englishmen which we despirately need more of.
Reina
Johnson Carra Agger Aurelio
SWP Mashcerano/Poulson Gerrard Jovanovic
Cole
Torres