The irrepressible financial weight of the Abu Dhabi United Group has consistently improved the Manchester City team since they brought the club in 2008 but everything changed last season when the club finally achieved a place in the Champions League. The calibre of player they have been able to recruit this summer means Roberto Mancini’s team now look capable of challenging for honours at all levels. However he will have to use his well-developed man management skills to satisfy all of the world-class players in his quality-laden-squad.

Mancini has now achieved his aim of having top two class players for each position on the pitch so that his team are prepared for the domestic and European season that lies ahead. Any worries that it may take Mancini time to find his strongest team have been distinguished with their excellent start to the league season but one major problem he will now face is the sheer competition for places at the Etihad Stadium especially in attack.

He has developed a side that are spoilt for riches upfront with the talents of Nasri, Aguero, Dzeko, Baotelli, Tever and Silva to choose from in what is probably the most exciting forward line in the Premier League. It certainly will be difficult to please all of these classy players every week.

Player management is never easy for a Premier League manager but particularly so when you have precarious talents like Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez in your side. What the competition for place does provide to Mancini is variation as they can ease into most tactical situations with increased options which will make them difficult to play against.

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Seeing four-goal hero Dzeko on the bench for the clash against Wigan was quite a surprise after his fine start to the season but it just demonstrates the strength of the squad at Mancini disposal. Each player has to fight for a place in the side but it shows that Mancini is able to implement a rotation policy without many problems. Dzeko was rested before the Champions League tie against Napoli but there is no doubt it also gave the Italian manager a chance to see how the potentially lethal partnership of Aguero and Tevez linked up. It will now be interesting to see which forward line he picks for this weekend's match against Fulham.

It would be hard to drop the radiant Argentinean striker Aguero who appears to have had no problems settling into life in the Premier League and he could be the man to give City an extra kick in their title chase. But 21-year-old Italian international, Balotelli has not featured in City's first two games and it will Mancini’s test to give him entertained on the bench, without the need for an Ipad, while Tevez featured off the bench last night for the Champions League clash and he appears ready to play for Mancini. Tevez may have missed a penalty at the weekend but it was a positive display by the world-class forward and I fully expect to see him starting on Sunday.

It is going to be a long season for City and they are almost certain to have current first-team players missing during part of the season and as result the players not currently in Mancini's first starting lineup will get their chance in the team. It will be up to them to show him why they should in fact be the first choice in their position. If City wanted to they could now put out two impressive looking teams and this shows the real depth of their squad. The luxury of resting top names for the weekend while still maintaining a strong side makes them serious contenders for honours this year if Mancini can indeed keep all of his players happy.

Let me know what you think and follow me on twitter @aidanmccartney for more thoughts and discussion on the beautiful game.

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