Sven Not So Daft After All

Let's face it, Sven Goran Eriksson doesn't have a great reputation in England. Some of his selections as England manager were bizarre and towards the end there, he looked like he couldn't care less.

Having become boss at Manchester City, though, he bought a bunch of players very, very quickly. Rumours abounded that he'd just watched the odd video and bought them on that basis.

However, my own suspicion was that he had a year, since losing the England job, to look at players across Europe in anticipation of his return to club management. And, so, when he did get back into management, it was just a matter of making the offers to the clubs concerned.

Watching his new look City side take apart West Ham yesterday just confirmed my thoughts that Sven isn't as daft as people think. And, possibly, just possibly, he's pulled together a really strong team that - ya never know - could pull off a shock this season.

Obviously, this is Manchester City we are talking about and if anyone can snatch disaster from the jaws of success, it's them. But if they keep going the way they've started, [whisper it]..they could be challenging for Europe at the end of the season.