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The offseason contrast for the Manchester sides

Bloggers complaining about transfer rumours and the off-season should pause to remember that for fans of most clubs it can be a happier time than the season. For Manchester United fans of course the season is generally a joyous parade of victory after victory but this off season has been rather the opposite.

First they lose World Player or the Year Cristiano Ronaldo to their biggest global rivals in world football and then Carlos Tevez to their biggest rivals in local football. Their replacements are a striker who struggled at Newcastle for two years, Wigan's second or third best player last season and a youngster with 8 U21 Caps. Unless you look at the deals from a financial point of view it's been a bad summer for United in the transfer market.

However, United fans should not be worried unduly by the 'no more signings' talk, Ferguson merely stated that he had faith in his current squad and that prices were ridiculous at the moment. He is probably hoping that the longer he waits after the Ronaldo deal the more reasonable the prices would be. He did though say, "I think that has concluded our business" so it may well be that United's squad starts the season slightly depleted (quality wise).

If he doesn't add then the Glazers will at least be able to pay off some of the huge debts hanging over the club and United fans must be hoping that this isn't a taste of things to come. With Rooney, Berbatov and Owen likely to be the three main strikers next season, United are expected to revert to 4-4-2 with Valencia as an orthodox winger on the right and one of Park/Nani/Giggs on the left. Whichever way you look at it, it doesn't have the fear factor of the Famous Four and somewhat obviously not the quality.

For Manchester City fans the off-season is proving to be more memorable than most seasons they have had and having made Tevez their first real marquee signing of the summer it's hard to deny them their hope for the season ahead. Tevez follows 'proven' Premiership buys Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz and the recent acquisition of Emmanuel Adebayor, however City fans only hope Mark Hughes remembers a defence is almost certainly a neccesity too. Still it's hard to deny City fans their moment...especially when the prospect of failure and success are so enticing to the neutral.

City succeed in overhauling United and the neutral wins with the formely hated 'Red Devils' hilariously relegated to second best in their own City. City fail and the country laughs at huge amounts of money wasted on players past their prime and chasing a pay day. Bring on the derby.