Roberto Mancini is expected to wield the axe after being given the solid backing of the club's owners to transform the club in his own image.
But the added pressures of the Europa League may mean that Mancini prefers to indulge in some prudent pruning rather than a bout of wild lopping and hacking.
That will see Patrick Vieira offered a new one-year contract - and the Blues are also considering a 12-month extension for fellow veteran Sylvinho.
City will effectively need two teams next season, the core of one side required for the prime objective of scaling the Premier League heights, the other being charged with serving the club's apprenticeship in European football, as well as chasing the two domestic cups.
Should City emulate Fulham - who play Atletico Madrid in the Europa Cup final in Hamburg this week - they will play 13 games in Europe's "other" competition. And with a maximum of 12 ties in the Carling and FA Cups, the pursuit of glory in the knockout competitions will be almost as taxing on playing resources as the league schedule.
That demanding fixture list could bring a reprieve for some players who might otherwise have been expected to gracefully bow out in the summer.
Top of that list are Vieira and Sylvinho, two players with vast European experience, and both of whom will sit down in the next fortnight to talk to the club about staying for another year.
Noises
Manager Mancini has already made encouraging noises about the prospects of those two veterans - who turn 34 and 36 respectively in the summer - being offered an extension to deals which expire this summer.
Vieira has made it clear he wants to extend his Eastlands stay.
He said: "I want to help the club continue to improve, and get Champions League football.
"We need to talk, and hopefully there might be something.
"I want to stay and the club wants me to stay, so that is a good start."
Vieira came to City in the transfer window from Inter Milan, planning to help the push for Champions League football and play his way into France's World Cup plans.
But he missed the first month through injury and then served a three-match ban for a retrospective red card in the 1-1 draw at Stoke in February.
That means he has played 14 times, five of them from the bench, and has only shown flashes of his ability. That may not be enough when France head coach Raymond Domenech names his 23-man squad for South Africa today.
Sylvinho appeared to have been named in the City team on Sunday for the last match of the season as a farewell gesture.
But afterwards, Mancini revealed his selection was a "technical choice", saying that Wayne Bridge was not injured. Bridge travelled with the squad but was not named on the subs bench, even though fellow left-backs Javier Garrido and 19-year-old Greg Cunningham were.
Asked whether Sylvinho would still be at the club next season, Mancini replied: "He is a fantastic man and fantastic player who always works very well. He is important for us and next season we will see."
The need for more bodies next season could also be decisive when it comes to dealing with a knot of players who have found life under Mancini frustrating.
Academy products Stevie Ireland, Nedum Onuoha, Micah Richards, Shaun Wright- Phillips and Vladimir Weiss have all been unhappy at finding their chances restricted.
Value
All of them are being eyed by other Premier League clubs, but City are mindful of the fact that eight of the 25-strong List A squad they must register with Uefa have to be products of an English club - and four of those must be from City.
Up-and-coming fringe players like Dedryck Boyata, Greg Cunningham, Abdi Ibrahim and Alex Nimely will all be eligible for City's limitless List B squad - which aims to encourage clubs to involve under-21 players.
The club's owners are also keen to keep hold of Academy products, placing great value on home-grown players.
To allow an exodus of those players would send out the wrong message to the next generation of City youngsters, and remove some of the fabric of the club.
The two "teams" which Mancini is likely to use would also be fluid, although front-line players like Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry would be used sparingly, if at all, in the early stages of the competition.
City will take the Europa League seriously, as an opportunity to win silverware, as an "apprenticeship" in European football, and as a means of improving their Uefa co-efficient, which would help them to be seeded if they reach the Champions League next season.
Vieira believes the competition will be a European training ground for City's younger stars.
"When I was at Arsenal we started in the Uefa Cup, and got to the final.
"After that we have played Champions League football every year. Maybe City need to go that way to become one of the great clubs in this country."
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
BristolStevefromOldham, bristol (11/05/2010 at 09:17)
John Quambo, salford (11/05/2010 at 09:17)
Ewesy, Workington (11/05/2010 at 09:25)
Viera should be added to the coaching staff in my opinion, we shouldnt lose his wealth of knowledge but pass it on on the training pitch and be a mentor to the up and coming talent.
City fans love their players who come through the ranks, lets continue with this as a policy, rather than stretch out the careers of players who's legs have gone and the game passes them by.
emily and katie's dad, Oldham (11/05/2010 at 09:30)
11/05/2010 at 09:19 Offensive or Inappropriate?
Are you a City supporter? You don't write like you you are one.
Evan Georgiou (11/05/2010 at 09:50)
1.He is brave and will not let sentiment rule his decisions-whether its Viera or someone else like Academy products like Superman he will decide on what they can contribute...he had the guts to sub the sub Robinho and then send him packing...he had the guts to tell anyone who is unhappy to leave and included Ade and Tevez in his speech...
2.He is ambitious and will therefore only buy players who will improve the squad-I strongly believe that results are all he cares about and therefore let's Bellers off the hook for the good of the Team.
3.He is knowledgeable-three Scudettos and six cups-he got fired after winning the League...he has the DVD and the T-shirt...
4.He often consults Cat Stabber, Strangeways.......
Phil Neal's Laxative, Somewhere in Baden (11/05/2010 at 09:50)
Re. your question to a poster with a very silly name posting pitiful inanities on our site. Please ignore the plank and she'll go away. She thrives on the thrill of recognition that she fails to receive in any other walk of life. Just ignore here and she'll give up. It's one of the downsides of the Internet age, having to suffer the kind of fools you'd otherwise never have to encounter. All the best to you though. I have a daughter called Katie too.
Goater's Lad, manchester (11/05/2010 at 09:54)
Are you a City supporter? You don't write like you you are one.
emily and katie's dad, Oldham
11/05/2010 at 09:30
no he isn't, he's a sad and lonely rag, i thought everyone knew that.
Ambivalent One,, Formerly East Stand Lower (11/05/2010 at 09:55)
Chris-Sao Paulo, JP, Brazil (11/05/2010 at 09:58)
Personally, I can`t wait to see the back of Adebore, Bellamy, SWP, RSC and Bridge (I don`t agree with Cat Stabber, coz Barry was good, like Robinho & Elano, but he needs to find his confidence again after being told to be a sacrificial player by Hughes. I think Capello knows a little more than some of us on here). The others are bit players, such as Silvinho, Viera, Garrido, Onuoha, Micah, Ireland and Lescot. Good players, but not likely to help take City to a trophy.
And for all of you delusioned fans who still think that Champions League football is the business, then take a look at Lyon, Porto, CSKA, Besiktas and B Leverkusen. All of them regularly feature, but none of them have ever become glamour clubs or attracted names. It takes a long, long time to attract the best players, and it takes a manager with pull to get them to the table and a club with money to keep upping their overpaid wages every year to keep them once they`ve signed. It will take years b4 we see the very best at City. We need to buy players like Boateng, Kompany, Johnson, De Jong etc, who are competent and will take the club onwards without crying or giving up like Bellamy, Adebore, Robinho and SWP when they lose possession.
A clearout now isn`t going to take us anywhere. Getting rid of 3 or 4 crybabies and over-rated mercenaries will.
Jack Thorley Trafford, Timperley (11/05/2010 at 09:58)
Young players like Weiss,Boyata and Onouha must be allowed to progress.
We should follow Arsenals lead and get rid of as many of the 30+ brigade that we can.A new left back is our priority,Gibbs at Arsenal is the best young left back in the country but his path is blocked by Clichy,we should try and get him now!
Phil Neal's Laxative, Somewhere in Baden (11/05/2010 at 09:58)
Robinho, Jo and Petrov all fit into this bracket. Ireland is at the crossroads and needs to make up his mind. Roque has not performed, but we need to strengthen our attack before letting anybody go.
Apart from that it's pretty clear we will need a big squad for next season, so the idea of off-loading the likes of SWP and Micah is like cutting off our nose to spite our face. With the large number of games we'll be playing, we will have the opportunity to ensure that everybody who deserves it gets plenty of time on the pitch.
ancoats08, ancoats (11/05/2010 at 10:02)
Viera legs have gone and would never last a full english season
we have to go with youth with fire and hunger over Viera
yes he's been and seen it all but we must have a the new Viera
the one people talk about a player for manchester city in time
de jong barry kompany ireland johnson
joel,French blue (11/05/2010 at 10:06)
Quality post again! Please keep up with the comedy nuggets, they'll keep me smiling through till kick off.
STEVE WILSON (11/05/2010 at 10:07)
Adam johnson is a excellent buy and growing every game he plays.Swp and petrov shite ????
Truth be told we could do without your green and yellow bitter crap comments !
CTID_2010 , Manchester (11/05/2010 at 10:11)
11/05/2010 at 09:19
Your post is utter rubish and so are your views we dont want so much negativity at this club take your rubbish views elsewhere, your living in a dream land!
Grant600 (11/05/2010 at 10:15)
CityLady, South Africa (11/05/2010 at 10:15)
Players like Vieira and Sylvinho could still offer something to the youth coming up. Experience is vital to the cause and even if they play bit part through the long season ahead, then for me it will be worth it. Lets face it one more season could not do us any harm and will keep aid our cause. I am not saying they should stay and play every game available and neither is Mancini. I just think if he gets the players in that will be core of the squad then these guys can help when players are injured or need resting. I still feel that players like SI,SWP,Bridge and a few others can still come good but they have to get their mentality right for us to benefit. What with more game to play over the coming season players will have more chances to prove themselves and get a run in the team which for me has lacked over the last season.
I stated this in a post a few weeks ago when ask what I thought was wrong with SI this season. I said to be honest how can you expect a player to be in form, when they do not get enough playing time. This is what I feel has been wrong, cupped with some players being over worked has probably been the cause for not reaching that 4th spot.
We can only hope he does improve the key areas in, which so many times this season we have lacked ability. Jerome Boateng is a good aquisition in this case and can see Mancini, buying shrewd buys that are not only young but well experienced. For me another 4/5 players that are good in their respective position will arm us with the tools to take our challenge seriously in trying to win silverware. I am more than happy with what ever decision he makes and know in my own heart it will be beneficial to Manchester City football club.
SDS (11/05/2010 at 10:17)
Goalkeepers, given, hart and taylor must be kept on, out fulop and nielsen, 4th keeper to come from one of the reserve or academy sides.
Defenders, keep boyata, lescott, bridge, onouha, toure, zabelata, and kompany, and possibly sylinho. Out garrido, richards, loan out cunningham, vidal,and logan.
Midfield, retain the two johnsons, barry, de jong, ireland, weiss, sweep.loan out ibrahim, and etuhu, out go viera and petrov.
Forwards this area is a real mess, retain adebayor, tevez, and bellamy, transfer robinho, santa cruz, benjani, jo, caiecdo, bojinov, loan out nimely.
once this lot is sorted we need a quality squad of approx 26, so for me, a top notch defender, midfielder, and striker are the priorities, three quality signings and get rid of all the dead wood as indicated above.
Whats is also needed to bring on a relatively inexperienced young side is a true leader of men, Gerrard would be ideal, and then add two or three true quality up and coming players.Rather than spend millions again i think the big job is to sort the squad out, if we can sell the has beens for decent cash we should not be to much out of pcoket. For team spirit, desire, we need a qaulity squad all working hard and all having a real chance of breaking into the first team we do not need the robinhos, joes, benjanis, of this world. Having a good clear out is for me just as important as who we bring in, but we must not go daft and end up with 45 players, 10 out on loan, another 10 moaning because they dont get a chance. Suggest Mr cook and Mr Marwood spent thier summer on finding new clubs for all the players mancini does not want, and i suspect there will be many.
CityLady, South Africa (11/05/2010 at 10:19)
You said in a previous post that you are just here to wind up folks... Explain how you do that then with the remarks you come out with. They do not wind me or a few of the long term posters in here they only seem to make us laugh at the amount of posts you comment on stating the same things, we should get rid of this player and that player. Maybe one day you'll get the right medication and save us all from your lunacy.
catterickblue, Catterick (11/05/2010 at 10:21)
Sylvinho should be asked to move upstairs into a coaching role. Everything from the kids has some comment about how he has the time to help them out, give advice etc. His English is excellent and he has a great temperament. We know he hasn't got the legs for the PL anymore but he has seen it and done it.
Those slagging Vieira off weren't doing so after the Villa game etc. His experience will be invaluable next season when we are in Europe. If we are to do anything in the league next season, like Fulham, we will need two teams. Otherwise we will suffer burn out by Feb. Vieira will be ideal to hold our less experienced squad members together, put his foot on the ball and calm things down.
Still undecided about Toure, Ireland, Adebayor and RSC. Non of whom have covered themselves in glory over the last few weeks. After the Spuds game and his pathetic performance, I'm not sure I can give anymore to Adebayor. He lacks courage, he's bone idle and he draws fresh air under false pretences. Likewise Ireland after the derby and then he has the audacity to start bleating in the press. Forget the hill running kid, get yourself on the track and practice keeping up with 35 year old gingers. Not sure if Crocky will come back to bite us, however Toure has to go. He can't jump or tackle and he isn't a leader.
bornblue, Ulverston (11/05/2010 at 10:25)
Are you a City supporter? You don't write like you you are one.
emily and katie's dad, Oldham
11/05/2010 at 09:30
Surely you don't need telling that he isn't. He is a rag wind up merchant who always fools someone....
Sunderland need Ireland (11/05/2010 at 10:28)
It's same as you, City supporters. I remember you said it would be an easy win ahead of against United and Spurs. You're always just positive but can't analyze the situation.
Such an idiot fan who praises Mancini now will have to see his team sit back, just endure opposition's attack miraculously by keeper's fine saves and lose the game last minutes again. And they have to leave the stadium with humilation and disappointment against United and Spurs again, or will you still applaud? I can see easily Mancini will get sucked in the middle of next season. But great academy products will have sold already because of poor manager.
So what will have been left in this club? There're a lot of managers who can replace underdog Mancini. But it's difficult to find players who are really better than Ireland. So it's silly to get rid of them and choose loser-manager and the elders like Vieira who doesn't have future. It was what this club shouldn't have done most.
Why can you say Mancini has a winning mentality?
If he had been a winner, he could have beaten Everton and Spurs, and wouldn't have gone for draw against United in the second half and Arsenal. If he had got a winning mentality, he would have led Inter to the Champions League Final.
We really need you, Jose. Mancini can't achieve what you did.
Joe pesh, Roe green (11/05/2010 at 10:29)
agree with what your saying but i think they a big chance stevi gona go to the reds. its like his gone as far as he can at city and can see him either flurishing under fergie or just being used as a bit part player untill he sold again.
reckon swp will leave as well,id be happy to keep him as a squad player. nedum got to stay i have argued with mates for years that his in a diferent "class" to micah. if micah and nedum both went on market am betting totenham/bolton may come for micah but wenger,moyes,rafa,o'neil would have a bidding war for nedum even though his only fit for half a season.
Rob South Stand Blue, Crewe (11/05/2010 at 10:31)
On the bus to leave as far as I am concerned are: Vieira, Sylvinho, Robinho, Benjani, Richards, Garrido, Etuhu, Logan & possibly Petrov.
Coming in: Milner, Ensalde, Chielini.
We lacked creativity in the middle of the park this season, but if Ireland can recapture his form we have it there.
CTID
collyhurst1, city of manchester (11/05/2010 at 10:32)