Manchester City have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on some of the best players in world football and now January is again upon us, the Citizens are linked with a wealth of top class players. That capped with losing the Toure brothers in the African Cup of Nations and having Vincent Kompany dismissed for four games leaves Man City pretty short of options, making it very tempting to go into the transfer market for a defender.
However, I say no! Especially when there is a ready made Premier League standard defender waiting in the wings in Nedum Onuoha. He made his first league appearance tonight for over two years for Manchester City which I have to say surprises me a lot. I know that there was a massive bust up with the City board which caused Gary Cook to resign and that he had said a few negative comments about Roberto Mancini's style when he was on loan at Sunderland, but Roberto, please play this guy on Sunday against Tottenham!
He made his debut at 16 years old and I remember him giving Thierry Henry a run for his money at Highbury in a 1-1 draw. He has played at right-back, at centre-back and has also played at left-back. He was England Under 21 Captain at the European Championships and also enjoyed a very successful loan at Sunderland of which I remember him scoring a superb solo effort. He is fast, strong and agile; this is not a "hoof it!" up the field kind of player, this is an extremely intelligent player who shows great tactical awareness and composure. I actually believe that, defensively, he is more adept than Micah Richards - however, he has excelled dramatically this season into a 'Carlos Alberto' type full-back.
Stefan Savic is only 20 years old and inexperienced in the Premier League and has looked a little shaky in his past few outings. That being said I believe he does possess the attributes of a top-class defender. A Nedum Onuoha, Joleon Lescott central pairing just sounds right to me and one which could get Man City through a tough period as well as kick start Onuoha's City career.
Selling him would be a waste, just like Daniel Sturridge was, Mancini has already made that clear. However, I plead with Mancini to give Nedum Onuoha a chance as he may just be the saving grace Man City need in this tricky January period.
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