Roberto Mancini needs to strengthen Man City’s defence

Sharethematch.com takes a look at Manchester City's lack of transfer activity this summer, and why they need defenders

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By Share The Match Tuesday 26 June 2012, 12:42 UK

Manchester City have been quiet on the transfer front this summerPA Photos

roberto mancini

City’s lack of transfer activity is a worry for Citizens fans

Like every top side, to maintain your success you have to keep on improving – that’s why Manchester City supporters will start to get a bit worried about their club’s lack of transfer activity.

Over the past four years, the City fans have been blessed with the flurry of global superstars moving to Eastlands, where players such as Lee Crooks and Jamie Pollock once made their living.

Roberto Mancini’s side won the FA Cup in 2011, which only a decade ago looked an impossible feat, and last year claimed their first league title in 44 years, but City need to kick-on.

United will be smarting from their last-gasp disappointment last season and Chelsea have strengthened their attack with the likes of Eden Hazard and Hulk could be on the way to Stamford Bridge.

Immediate areas of concern for Mancini will be in defence and, depending on player sales, the frontline.

It is slightly worrying that City are apparently reliant on shipping out some of the deadwood before Mancini can purchase.

It could prove difficult to find potential suitors who will be interested in taking Emmanuel Adebayor or Roque Santa Cruz on hefty wages.

The Rooney dilemma

It is a conundrum that has perplexed many before Roy Hodgson: how do you solve a problem like Wayne Rooney?

He possessed plenty of flair and goals at Euro 2004 – an 18-year-old unleashed, terrorising defences and sparking life into a stale England. Now it is the opposite.

Injuries and poor form have lingered ever since. His promise has been his demise, but any United fan will tell you his absolute peak performances are only delivered in capricious bursts.

Whether or not he can perform at the highest level is not linked to his mental aptitude or temperament. It is whether he finds himself in one of those destructive moods that truly do elevate him to world-class status.

October has historically been a good month for him, plundering goals and on top of his game. But he cannot produce that form with any consistency over the course of a season, let alone more than a couple of months.

His last excellent streak of form was 18 months ago, propelling United to their last Premier League title.

But once again, the curse struck – a cruel last-minute injury suffered against Bayern Munich a little over a year ago.

His brutalising top form never hinted at resurfacing last season, despite neutral observers clamouring for his inclusion for Euro 2012.

Ask any United fan who watched him dismally concede possession against Everton, unaccountably refuse to track back versus Queens Park Rangers, and produce an abysmal performance away to Wigan Athletic in which he was subsituted halfway through the second half.

Rooney let United supporters down then and it will come as no surprise to see him do the same to England this summer.

He scored a nice penalty and his finishing prowess remained intact – it always does, even during bouts of dire performances – but if there is no hunger or fitness driving him on, then he will continue to struggle.