FROM ZEROS TO HEROES?

A whole host of players from that season of misery remain. The question is, will they do any better this time around? Here, we examine the prospects of each:

Steve Howey
A consistently strong performer last time around, arguably doing better in the Premiership than he did last year in Division One. Probably better suited to a flat back four and with Distin's arrival, he might just get the chance to prove it. Whilst his top-flight pedigree is proven over a number of years, he maybe has a bit to do to truly make one of the centre half roles his own.

Prem Potential - 3/5

Danny Tiatto
Like Howey, Danny was a rare shining light in a largely ineffective squad last time around. Far and away the Player of the Year, the fact that he is now by no means guaranteed a place in the first eleven illustrates how far the team has come. Versatile and consistent, it mystifies me when people talk of selling him. Still a key squad member in my view and provided he watches his temper he certainly won't let anyone down.

Prem Potential - 4/5

Richard Dunne
Dunney has shown us flashes of brilliance and ill-discipline in similar measures. He has the potential and ability to settle very nicely into the Premiership provided his commitment and professionalism is up to scratch. This will probably be the defining year in his career.

Prem Potential - 3/5

Nick Weaver
Desperately disappointing last time around and little better, to be honest, in our run to promotion. We know he has the potential to be England's number one, but it's been a couple of years since he strung together any number of top class performances. Question marks remain over his off-the-field conduct and similarly to Dunne, it could be now or never in terms of proving his worth and commitment to the manger. Will have to wait his turn.

Prem Potential - 3/5

Carlo Nash
From an outsider's view Carlo appears to have been unlucky. Despite being less erratic and not posing any (publicised) problems in terms of ill-discipline, it would appear that Nash is rated less highly than Weaver. He came through his few Premiership games with flying colours last time around (including a successful derby) and will have to hope he gets a decent chance early before Weaver and Schmeichels return from injury. Certainly good enough to be an understudy.

Prem Potential - 2/5

Kevin Horlock
Difficult for Super Kev last time as injury, indifferent form and lack of selection made it something of a "nothing" season. Played a blinder at Stamford Bridge to suggest that ability was not the main problem. Excelled in Division One, displaying remarkable consistency. If his new-found confidence stays with him, he could make a much bigger impact this time.

Prem Potential - 4/5

Shaun Goater
A modern City legend, Shaun's decision to fight for his place will be well received among supporters. Was much-maligned last time around (and was held up as an example of City's "inadequate" squad). Completely unfair given his impressive scoring ratio once he had overcome the obstacles of Weah, Wanchope and injury. I'd be surprised to see him start more than a handful of league games but, sentiment aside, I believe he can score important goals this season when called upon.

Prem Potential - 3/5

Paulo Wanchope
What's known as a "difficult" player, Paulo threw the toys from the pram last time. Despite being our top goal scorer (as he had previously been for both Derby and West Ham in the Prem) it was hardly a season to remember for El Chop as fall-outs with Big Joe hampered his progress. A legend in his home country, Paulo seems to have found KK's accommodating style more to his liking and his work-rate and form have been excellent. His main constraint this year is sure to be fitness.

Prem Potential - 3/5

Darren Huckerby
A bright start in the Premiership but fell out of form and favour. Reborn under KK and living up to his undoubted potential, Darren's challenge - much like Kevin Horlocks - is to keep up the good work against better opposition. His pace is beyond question but Darren must be clever about where and when he runs. His finishing improved immeasurably in the last few matches of last season and if he can keep it up he can show the Premiership why Coventry fans believed he'd play for England.

Prem Potential - 4/5

Shaun Wright-Phillips
Blooded in the first team two seasons ago, SWP was described by George Burley as "the most exciting young player in the Premiership". One year on with a full season under his belt, Shaun has gone from strength to strength. Showed tremendous promise in the derby at Maine Road and with his new found experience should make a major impact this time around.

Prem Potential - 4/5

Jeff Whitley
Falls very much into the Michael Brown category - young, fit and quick, bags of potential but not the sharpest tool in the box. Like one or two others in the squad, the realisation that a few misplaced pints could ruin a lucrative career does not seem to have dawned. Did OK last time and good enough in my view to stay in the squad and put pressure on the first eleven but non-footballing factors appear to have already have scuppered that chance.

Prem Potential - 1/5

Gerard Wiekens
The complete antithesis of Whitley i.e. not so young, fit and quick yet a model pro. KK has been quick to sing Geds praises but I'm convinced that a bid in the region of 500k would see him move on. Much will depend on whether or not he is further up the pecking order than Loran and Bischoff but at the centre of a back three, he looks as comfortable as anyone in the squad. Never quite became the top class player he appeared in his early days at the club but a useful asset nonetheless.

Prem Potential - 2/5

Paul Ritchie
Frustrated by injury, Paul made a limited impact last time in the Premiership. Held in high regard by many Blues but has never strung a number of games together. The fact that he's left footed may give him a chance should Distin be unavailable, but like Wiekens, seems to be a prime candidate for the squad-cutting exercise.

Prem Potential - 2/5

Laurent Charvet
A strange signing. Never consistently good at Newcastle, a reputed high-earner with whom KK has had one or two problems. Believes himself to be a Premiership player and, given his salary and the likelihood that the club would probably like to move him on, we may see him get some exposure to the shop window i.e. the first team. Didn't set the world alight last time but is winning people over so you never know.

Prem Potential - 2/5

CONCLUSION

In reality, if the entire current squad is available for selection, only a handful of the players listed here are likely to feature - four by my reckoning (Howey, Dunne, SWP and Wanchope) with potentially big roles for another three (Horlock, Tiatto, Huckerby). If you make the reasonably valid assumption that these players were the stronger members of the last Premiership squad, then prospects look significantly brighter this team around.

The bar has been raised and our fate is more likely to depend on the performances of those who have arrived since our last Premiership adventure, namely Schmeichel, Distin, Foe, Benarbia, Berkovic, Anelka, Jensen, Macken etc. most of whom are no strangers to top-flight football.

The players who have been there before with City must use the experience to their advantage, learning from mistakes and being extra-determined to make a better fist of things this time around.

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