The FA Charity Shield was over, and the media's focus quickly returned to the club's transfer activity. As one of the favorites in the Premier League and a potential underdog in next season's UEFA Champions League, Manchester City naturally found their summer signings under intense scrutiny.
According to the press, City's recruitment this year felt underwhelming. It was hard not to reminisce about the early days when Richard first took charge of the club and turned City into one of the highest-spending teams in England, splashing over ten million pounds in a single summer and lifting morale across the club.
But over the next four years, City either signed only two or three players or made virtually no investment in the transfer market.
