Grading Txiki Begiristain's Signings at Manchester City

The director of football model is still relatively new to the English game, and people remain suspicious of it. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger are seen as archetypal Premier League managers.Ferguson didnt allow anyone to interfere during his 26-year reign at Manchester United and took control of everything related to the first team, just as Wenger continues to do at Arsenal. Because of their successes and seeming beliefs that meddling from above would undermine them, English football fans have often carried a dislike for the more European setup that sees a director of football work in tandem with a first-team coach and often make decisions for them.Manchester City have operated with a director of football model for some time, and in October 2012,Txiki Begiristain replaced Brian Marwood and became the clubs main transfer strategist. The idea is he takes the burden of signing players away from the manager, who is then free to concentrate on preparing the team properly.It is also supposed to encourage long-term thinking. Whereas a manager can often be fearful of the sack and in need of immediate results, a director of football is more secure in their position and looks to bring in players who fit a particular philosophy.The model certainly has its merits. Football clubs are too big to have the football side run solely by one person, and a manager lasting 26 years, as Ferguson did at United, seems unlikely to happen again.But how has Begiristain done at City' Here we look at his signings in order and grade them on their respective impacts. A player is judged on his performances and the success he has had, relative to his cost.Begin Slideshow
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