City -- Wait Till 2009-10?

The Mark Hughes Letdown – Let’s be honest City fans, we expected more. With massive cash reserves, academy graduates maturing (see Ireland), and Brazilian flair added to the ranks this season, Europe (Europa League) should already be sealed.

Mark Hughes recently noted that he feels the failure to make next season's Europa League will not effect City's summer transfer season.

Hughes feels it is City's future prospects (2009-10 EPL and beyond) and not the present failures (poor finish to 2008-09 and unlikely to be left out of Europe) which will drive some of the game's elite towards Eastlands this summer.

"European qualification might not be as great as many would suppose in terms of attracting new players," Hughes said to local Manchester media.

"From a team development position, we would rather have it and I guess some players will think it is really important to still have the profile of European football if they change clubs.

"But there are other things we can present to players that are interesting in their own right."

Photo Credit: Kim Grybos