DAVID JAMES HAS tipped former club Manchester City to miss out on qualification for the Uefa Champions League.
City are expected to challenge for Premier League honours again in 2015-16 after finishing runners-up to champions Chelsea last term.
Former England international goalkeeper James, however, does not believe Manuel Pellegrini’s team will be among the top four come next May, pointing to City’s big-spending transfer policy.
City forked out a British-record fee believed to be as much as €70 million for Raheem Sterling, while fellow England international Fabian Delph also made the move to Manchester.
“I generally think Man City of the top four are the weak link,” said BT Sport commentator James, who played 93 league games for City from 2004 to 2006.
“Man City, again, they have got all this talent, they have won the title twice [in 2011-12 and 2013-14] - or rather tripped over the line twice.
“Look at Chelsea last season. The title was won in November. If Arsenal had started better, I think Chelsea would have carried on longer just to win the league by 10, 15 points, whatever.
“I don’t see the Man City model being right, just spending loads of money and acquiring players. It isn’t necessarily the model of continued success. I have seen changes elsewhere and at the moment I am not seeing that at Man City. It is just spend a bit more and expect success.”
James has predicted Liverpool, where he made his name during the 1990s, to replace City in the top four.
“I am not one of the owners but if you look at the whole business model there is a flaw somewhere and, at the moment, they might think it is at the coaching level,” the 45-year-old added.
“I think this is the season of the coach. I think with the new coaches they have a great chance of qualifying for the Champions League at the expense of Man City.”
Much of city’s season will depend on the attitude of Toure.
And Aguero’s fitness
And their win-lose ratio
I hope hes right because it means liverpool probably will and there’d be nothing sweeter than seeing the little bast*rd Sterling’s face if we got top four and they didn’t
Sterling won’t be bothered, he’s only interested in the £££££
Liverpool would not finish in Top four even if both Manchester teams didn’t. All you sad pool fans just don’t get it, your no longer relevant.
Beano Kompany was terrible last season , Toure doesn’t seem interested if things aren’t going their way and Aguero as brilliant as he is he’s a bit injury prone.
Hahaha something flawed in city’s business model.. He should look at his own business model.. Is he still coaching in Iceland??
Kinda agree with him. Things look a bit stale at Man City. The top players in defense and midfield need to find their mojo again. Just dont think the Manager is the right person to put that fire in their belly. They need a Klopp or Guardiola to rejuvenate the club.
There’s a reason his nickname was “Calamity James”, his opinion is about as valuable as his bank account.
Ouch
You’d think he’d be more concerned about coaching his tin pot team (If he has one) or whatever he does to desperately to stay relevant .
David James – looking for work.
City will be up there and playing their wonderfull football Strange the way utd fans who were aghast at city’s spending are very quiet about the philosophers spending spree
United haven’t forked out 70 million on an unproven 20 year old brat…
Plus united accumulated their money because if their brand and smart commercial deals not some Arab piling his money in! So it’s completely different. United are a club with true history
But they did spend 40 million on an unproven 20yr old who never played in pl
Atleast he’s not a pushy, ungrateful brat like Sterling is.
But Depay is still overrated
@Lee :-)
1. Utd were the first team to be in debt in excess of €1 BILLION Euro… “Smart Business” ?
2. “True History” yeah? We still hold the record for the highest attendance & won our first trophy a full 3 years before Utd won theirs.
Check your facts pal before you mouth off. I’m sick of having to correct Utd fans, It’s tiresome.
P.S. save the tirade of abuse pal. I deal with Yoonited fans every day, I’ve heard it all before.
Say what you like bout City but they still have (on their day), one of the best defenders in the world (Kompany), one of the best midfielders (Toure) and one of the best forwards (Aguero). They’ll finish Top 4 easily.
1 out of three ain’t bad I suppose Beano
Kompany can be but looked out of sorts last year. Aguero definitely is but is injury prone. Toure is just a lazy sack of sh#t. The exact player you don’t want when u are under pressure. Nothing like seeing him jog back slower than a walk when the ball is lost and the opposition is countering at speed.
David James is a buffoon
He’s no Bufon
Lol David James you idiot man city could of signed nobody this season and finished in front of Liverpool instead they just took there best player
Sterling is over rated.
But he was Liverpools best player
City are the most vulnerable of last season’s top 4. Big question marks over their attitude. Pellegrini might be too soft on them too. Spurs and Liverpool might put them under pressure
Who cares where the money comes from whether it be oil or sport companies it’s how it’s used that’s important History means nothing you get no points for living in the past I think sterling will make a better impression in this seasons p l than di Maria’s no show last season