Gary Neville suggests that Manchester City's squad is ageing and needs rejuvenating. Averaging at 28.9, the Champions are older than Chelsea, 26.9 and therefore has a physical disadvantage as the two teams meet in the Premier League tomorrow. Neville states that Mourinho has adapted his squad over the past year, selling and buying wisely, so that his squad has two years youthful advantage on their northern rivals. Having been very successful in the past three years, Neville suggests that Pellegrini should be looking to the future soon. Over the next eighteen months the value of the older players will drop rapidly and so will their influence against younger and more vital opponents. Football at this level is increasingly intensive, faster than ever before. Many mature players such as Toure can cover the ground and have an influence from a relatively limited area on the field, but as football gets quicker and quicker, it is a young man's game.
Alex Ferguson was a master at handling his players and moving them on regardless of their status, when he felt the time was right. Manchester City has built a superb academy and this must help their planning but there was only one Englishman in the starting XI against Bayern. Sheikh Mansour has spent freely and gathered a fine squad, it may be time to refresh his team. He has however invested huge amounts of money into the east Manchester area and helped regenerate that once run down part of the city. For this he should be congratulated. The youngest club is Newcastle at 25.1, Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United weigh in under 25.6.
73 year old Dereck May still plays three games a week in South London and presently turns out for West Wickham Musicians. Having played 2033 games, he has scored 1289 goals and still supports Spurs!
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