WHEN City Football Group bought Melbourne Heart and turned them into Melbourne City, we were promised an aspirational, exciting club that would revolutionise the game here.

They’re not doing that at all.

In fact, looking at their squad ahead of the 2017-18 season, and having watched them in the FFA Cup against Sydney FC last week, I think they’re in big, big trouble.

Right now, I can’t see them making the top six.

That’s an indictment given the noise that was made when the new ownership thundered into Australian football.

On the park, they looked confused, and without a plan against Sydney FC last week. Warren Joyce has his hands full, and judging by post game comments on Fox Sports by Stefan Mauk, the players weren’t convinced by the game plan they were sent out to do.

Marcin Budzinksi leaves with coach Warrem Joyce Source: Getty Images

Off the park, they announced on Monday the signing of Marcin Budzinski as marquee.

Sorry, who?

I understand that some clubs use the marquee spot to spend a little more to get an import with pedigree here, who might not be a name yet, but have the quality to become one.

But Melbourne City, with all the funds at their disposal … really? A 27-year-old who has never ventured out of Poland’s top flight, as a marquee?

You can and ought to do better than that.

For a club that wants to be seen as a big player in the league, frankly, the squad is underwhelming.

Marcin Budzinksi Source: Getty Images

With all due respect to the likes of Eugene Galekovic, Iacopo La Rocca, and Marcelo Carrusca, three of the club’s signings for the new season, is that really going to excite City fans? They’re three tremendous A-League players, but their best days were at other clubs and there’s a complete lack of imagination in those signings. Of the side that took the park at Leichhardt Oval last week, which player in that XI made you sit up and say: that’s a team I want to watch? Without Bruno Fornaroli for a large portion of the start of the season, I really fear for what they’ll achieve this season, notwithstanding the fact they’ll have Timmy Cahill again this season.

With just over two weeks until kick-off, they’ve got a hell of a lot to improve on to convince me that I’ll be wrong.

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