A Load of Old Ballacks

I know that we didn’t exactly set the world alight with our signings last season and the signing of Michael Owen on a free was a bit of a stunner for everyone but this is getting a bit ridiculous.

The other week, all the talk was that we would be in for Joe Cole on a free transfer. OK. I can just about get my head around that one. He’s a decent player, still only 28 years old and would certainly provide a bit of something different in attack.

The other day, I heard we were in for Michael Ballack and that one is surely a non-starter? He’s too old, too injured and too… well… Michael Ballackish for my liking. If there’s anything we need in midfield (like a bit of pace and artistry) then it most certainly won’t be provided by Ballack.

Yesterday took the biscuit though as I read that Raul was about to be released by Real Madrid and would therefore be available on a free. Naturally, we are “monitoring the situation”.

Give me a break. What’s going on here? Are we running some kind of retirement home for crocked has-beens?

I don’t know if anyone has noticed but Fergie has been bringing in an awful lot of younger players recently, he’s rebuilding for the future. Michael Owen was a convenient stop-gap because, having lost Tevez and Ronaldo, we looked a little short up-front and we needed a bit of proven quality up there.

I don’t think for one minute that it signalled a new transfer policy of only signing every other club’s rejects.

That’s Manchester City’s job.