The Ones that Got away during my lifetime

1.       Robin Van Persie

It started with I am happy in London, it moved to a three way tussle between City, United and Juventus, it ended with RVP joining our cross town rivals. Wenger was facing a nightmare scenario with this one, Juventus can’t afford him, United somehow can but they are bitter rivals, City definitely can but they buy most of Arsenals best players nowadays. The whole situation comes to a head when RVP allegedly tells his agent United are the only team he wants to join.

In my eyes City should have broke the bank to get him. In my opinion, Champions League and Premier League double would definitely be achievable had he chose blue over red.

2.    Eden Hazard

Another three way fight this past summer, this time between City, United and Chelsea. For whatever reason he chose to ply his trade in London after keeping us all waiting on Twitter on the day of the announcement. I couldn’t have cared less after his nonexistent display in the community shield at Villa Park. However he seems to have fit right in to the Premier League with Chelsea. Imagine if we had bought Hazard and RVP!

3.   Daniel Van Buyten

He spent a portion of the 2003/04 season on loan at City. A giant of a man DVB fit right in at City and provided some real power at the back when we were suffering a nightmare in the league (no wins between Nov 03, 0-2 at Southampton and Feb 04, 1-3 at Bolton).

He should have been bought permanently in the summer of 2004. City could have paired him with Richard Dunne at Centre back and moved Slyvain Distin to left back. That would have eradicated the inconsistency of players in that role and when Distin made his mistakes they would have been in a less crucial position.

4.   Trevor Sinclair

The first time around, although he eventually ended up at City in 2003 he was nothing compared to the early 90’s version. Born in London but raised in Manchester, Sinclair was a boyhood City fan. He made his name at Blackpool and in 1993 was ready to move up the levels. City were in for him and it seemed a certainty he would be gracing Maine Road, somehow it never happened and he ended up at QPR. He rubbed it in slightly by scoring a volley from the half way line against us in 1996.

5.   Geoff Thomas

Made his name with Crystal Palace during that scintillating FA Cup run of 1990, where they lost to United and Lee Martins winner in the replay. He was up for sale in 1993 and claimed he would love to join City and would walk up the motorway to play at Maine Road. Somewhere along the M6 he must have taken a wrong turn as he ended up in Wolverhampton.

Perhaps it was a lucky escape. After the game against France for England when he went through one on one with the keeper and hit the corner flag, Geoff was never the same player again.