Kidd: Got to have a little patience
Manchester City assistant manager Brian Kidd has pleaded for patience as the Premier League's big spenders try to find their feet.
City head into tonight's Europa League encounter with Red Bull Salzburg after collecting just a single point from their last two domestic games.
Outside the club, questions are starting to be asked about some of Roberto Mancini's decisions, notably to omit Roque Santa Cruz from his 25-man European squad which leaves him with just two fit strikers in Austria, one of whom, Brazilian Jo, has generally been viewed as a misfit since his £18million move from CSKA Moscow two years ago.
Kidd accepts such pressures come with the territory given the vast scope of what City are trying to achieve.
But he also feels Mancini needs to be given time to put his ideas into action.
"From the club itself there has to be patience," he said. "The boss has only been here a short period and this is a building job. It is going to take time.
"Unfortunately some of the players the boss has bought have not been available. They will enhance the team and the club itself when they are fit."
Jerome Boateng, Emmanuel Adebayor, Mario Balotelli and Joleon Lescott are amongst those who will be missing this evening.
Spain international David Silva is expected to be given a starting slot though, eager to make up for lost time after a slow start to life in England.
Although his move from Valencia was announced early in the summer, the 24-year-old actually came to City very late following Spain's World Cup triumph.
Silva has looked a dejected figure on the bench at times this season and there have even been cheeky claims from Spain he could be on his way home during the January transfer window.
However, as City continue a run of seven games in three weeks, Mancini feels Silva can now start to make an impression.
"The problem for Silva was that he never worked with us," said Mancini.
"He was with us for two days in pre-season then he went to the national team, then he came back, then off to the national team again.
"But he is a fantastic player, with good technique.
"However, every player who comes to the Premier League has problems for a couple of months.
"When he plays another few games everything will be normal."