Half-Term Report: Manchester City

Kevin Keegan has not resigned yet, but nor has he begun to fulfil his claim that Manchester City could finish in the top six on their return to the Premiership. They have, however, made a better fist of top-flight football than under Joe Royle, the last Manchester derby at Maine Road was emphatically won while the investment in Nicolas Anelka and Marc-Vivien Foé appears to have paid off handsomely. Richard Dunne's return from a drink-induced exile propped up a defence which has never really convinced. Keegan claims to have a further £8m to spend when the transfer window opens, but City are already badly in debt and are more reliant on foreign players than any club apart from Fulham. However, should they enter the City of Manchester Stadium with Premiership football, Keegan might have the platform he needs to recreate his success with Newcastle.