Rodney Marsh: Dzeko will be new King Eric, not the new Rodney Plonker!
By Rodney Marsh
People fear Edin Dzeko might be 'the new Rodney Marsh' because of the way I lost Manchester City the title in 1972.
But I think he's going to end up compared with another star forward signed mid-season - Eric Cantona.
High hopes: City may have found a missing piece with Edin Dzeko (right)
I tell the story in my autobiography Loose Cannon of how Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison signed me in 1972 when City were five points clear at the top of the league.
They changed their style to suit me and ended up finishing fourth.
It's different with Dzeko. City are not clear at the top like they were in '72, they are in a ferocious scrap with four other very good teams and need every advantage they can get.
Roberto Mancini is entitled to try to boost his firepower with a player regarded as one of the best young strikers in Europe and the early signs from Dzeko yesterday were good.
I've got a lot of sources at City, from boardroom level to former players like Mike Summerbee and Tommy Booth, and the consensus is that this lad is a game-breaker who can win matches on his own.
He has two good feet, finishes well and is strong in the air.
The way Dzeko and Carlos Tevez dovetailed at times showed they can work together.
In other words, the lad won't disrupt the City system!
City have been organised brilliantly in the first half of the season (that disappeared yesterday!) but to win the title you need to be strong at both ends.
Given the reliance on Tevez, Dzeko is seen as that final piece in the jigsaw. That's why I think the comparison with Cantona is apt.
Sir Alex Ferguson had all the building blocks in place at United but needed that final spark to take them over the line.
This season is too close to call, so you can't say Dzeko guarantees City the title. But his arrival enhances their chances rather than reduces them.
The opposite to what happened to me nearly 40 years ago! I arrived from QPR overweight and not match-fit.
City would have been better putting me on ice for that season, winning the league and then introducing me for the following campaign.
I honestly think they would have won the league if I hadn't joined.
LOOSE CANNON by Rodney Marsh (published by Optimum) £19.99 in hardback.
- 'He doesn't learn': Samuels takes a swing at Stokes and...
- Jack Wilshere caught on camera speaking to police
- Usain Bolt celebrates West Indies T20 World Cup victory
- Chris Eubank Jnr sends heartfelt message to Nick Blackwell
- Newly appointed Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte in Italy...
- 'Talk is cheap': Anthony Joshua says the best man will win
- Charles Martin says he'll 'knock the f***' out of Anthony...
- Louis van Gaal talks proudly of Anthony Martial after win
- Players speak to the Spanish media after El Classico
- 'Disrespect motivated us': West Indies win to silence...
- Lewis Hamilton smashes Bahrain record with a 'sexy lap'
- Italian football legend Cesare Maldini dies aged 84
- Cristiano Ronaldo told Rafa Benitez he'd 'send a USB drive...
- Leicester City and England star Jamie Vardy sent sickening...
- Real Madrid become first team to beat Barcelona in 40...
- Mauro Icardi and Maxi Lopez feud continues as latter refuses...
- Manchester United youngsters believe Louis van Gaal is a...
- Chelsea confirm Antonio Conte as their new manager on a...
- Nick Blackwell has woken from his induced coma and is...
- Antonio Conte picture special: From success with Juventus to...
- Manchester United U21 1-1 Chelsea U21: Kasey Palmer's...
- Arsene Wenger will be hurt by breach of trust after Jack...
- Arsenal would be top of the Premier League and Tottenham...
- Conor McGregor was not always a grizzled UFC star... and now...