From my time with England, Manchester City, Leeds, Charlton and Norwich I've experienced the highs and lows in a career I enjoyed immensely, but I've got to stay I'm relieved that I'm looking forward to my summer holidays and not getting stuck into the pre-season slog.
I hope you all enjoy my offerings and don't feel obliged to agree with me, get in touch and let me know what you think. Here goes.
Time for Tevez to go
Surprise, surprise Carlos Tevez has asked to leave again. He rocked Manchester City around Christmas time with a transfer request, but eventually sorted out his differences with the board, the manager and possibly the bank manager!
He then decided to stay until the end of the season, but he's now decided he wants out again and I don't think City can keep him. Once, then maybe you can sort out your differences, but if a player comes out a second time and asks to go then there's no option but for him to leave.
It might not be a bad thing for City, though, because they can move on. This has been hanging over them from before the end of the season and their whole transfer policy will be dictated by Tevez. Who they buy, who they get in to replace him and if he stayed who they are going to play alongside him. At least now they know he's on his way and they can get the money in for him and they can start spending it to bring in a replacement.
Almost irreplaceable
Realistically, though, what is Tevez worth compared to other signings?
Fernando Torres went to Chelsea for ?50million last season and got one goal - is Tevez worth twice that? I think he was involved in nearly half of City's goals last season and scored over a third of their goals and he was undoubtedly their talisman all season long.
Technically he is fantastic, his workrate is unrivalled and he is often the catalyst for all that was good with City. He sets the standard which others follow. This coupled with his ability and hunger to score goals makes him almost irreplaceable. I suppose the only flaw he has is the fact that he seems to become 'bored', or loses faith with the club he is at which can be unsettling and we've seen that twice before with West Ham and of course Manchester United. It's not very often Sir Alex lets a player leave if he is so crucial to the team.
But you would have to think it will have to be an offer of around ?80million to get him - surely that's his real value.
However, City could quite easily say "you're staying here until the end of your contract" and even if that costs them ?4million a year then the City owners can afford that. City are in a position where they can simply afford to let players sit and rot in the reserves, but you've got to remember that's not a good situation for anyone.
You have to understand the principles - yes he's under contract and obliged to fulfil that contract and play when required, but if you've got a player who doesn't want to be there then he can easily upset the apple cart and be disruptive and upset morale around the place. So the manager then has to make a decision. Do I keep a player who doesn't want to be here and can I trust him to give his all on the pitch? Well possibly not and then the manager's hand is forced and you have to say "I don't want this player in my squad" and then it is very difficult for the club.
Most clubs are forced to sell players for a price, but Man City are able to bide their time and they've done that before with Shay Given last season. He was desperate to leave but he didn't and the guy is still looking for a move.
City contenders
So with Tevez destined to depart, the question is "who will replace him at City?" Well for starters I'm not sure he can be replaced! He is pretty unique.
However, with money supposedly no object you would have to believe it would be an easy job, but I don't think it's going to be.
Falcao from Porto has scored goals aplenty, but he is more of a technical player than a worker and I'm not sure he will give the team the same drive and desire and will he settle quickly into the rigours of the Premier League.
Hulk has also been mentioned and he's strong (no pun intended), powerful, skilful and a goalscorer, but I reckon he might just have a suspect temperament. Again, I'm not so sure his style will suit the Premier League. History shows that Brazilians have always struggled to settle in England and he could be a big risk.
I'd throw in Mario Gomez from Bayern Munich as a contender. He banged in 28 goals last season in the Bundesliga and German football is maybe the most similar to English, but again he also had settling-in issues for the first season, and City want success, and not today, they want it yesterday.
Antonio Di Natale and Edinson Cavani have also been mentioned in the press and they were top-scorers in Italy. City gaffer Roberto Mancini will have good knowledge of these players, but will Udinese and Napoli sell? And then will the players want to come because Italian players don't often venture to these shores.
Then there are the big guns Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. But as much as I'd like to see one of these players over here, I don't think even the riches that City have will be enough for either of them to join the Eastlands project.
There is of course the option that after settling-in, Mario Balotelli may step up to mark. Undoubtedly he's a fantastic talent with great ability and if he could only get his head right and maybe get over being allergic to grass?
Edin Dzeko is also already at the club, but he probably needs a strike partner that compliments his style.
Whatever happens or who comes in is going to have to fill a massive void. Tevez was City's talisman last season and was crucial to their success.
You can also listen to Danny on Skysports News Radio every week.
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk