At end of the 2008/09 season Manchester City legend Richard Dunne was unceremoniously dumped out of the Etihad in light of the new era under Sheikh Mansour.
It was a season too early. While he may not have been the most glamorous defender to grace the field he was solid and at 29 was in the peak of his career.
The following season saw manager Mark Hughes sacked at Christmas with City having conceded 27 league goals.
Eventually under his successor Roberto Mancini, City got it right and a pairing of Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany became one of the best the Premier League teams ever seen on the way to City’s first title in 44 years conceding just 29 goals all season. They have never been as solid since.
Tremendous outlay on centre backs has followed ever since and with perhaps a couple slipping through the net in Savic and Nastasic, the fact remains that those brought in have been poor.
Despite that when City are today linked with a very experienced centre half with title winning experience there is nothing to be seen but disbelief and mockery.
The same people who think Eliaquim Mangala deserves yet another chance are threatening to return their season tickets if City sign Evans.
Mangala has more than enough chances (two managers have now jettisoned him and the elite of Europe are hardly breaking down our door to sign him) and Evans is a solid reliable player who could thrive in City’s system.
While in some ways he does resemble Dunne in the non-flashy dependable sense it beggars belief that some City fans are against signing Evans.
Of course he is not a stellar name brought in to play every week but unlike Otamendi you are unlikely to see Evans fly into a sliding tackle over the half way line he was never going to win and leave the defence exposed.
You will, however, see a very assured defender who has a surprising turn of speed and is comfortable playing out form the back on both feet.
Over the past few years, City have signed too many defenders not up to the task for one reason or another. How can Guardiola be blamed for trying a different approach?
While he is not the signing we blues envisaged (I was thinking more Bonucci or Laporte) at the start of the summer (and yes he is an ex rag) to dismiss him so hastily as a joke is madness and if he does sign he could prove invaluable.
At today’s prices he will be cheap, adds leadership and experience and is unlikely to be anything other than a positive influence on the dressing room. What isn’t to like?
