The last minute of the season, which saw Manchester City end their wait for an English Premier League title will stay with their fans and indeed with the rest of the English Premier League supporters for years to come.
While that goal from Sergio Aguero in the final kick of the game against Queens Park Ranger might have made the fans excited and euphoric, the ensuing summer has been tempered with frustration and remarkably in the post-Abu Dhabi owners' era, minimal movement in the transfer market.
Roberto Mancini has been a forlorn figure for much of the summer, grumbling about the lack of activity as sporting director or, as City like to call him football administration officer, Brian Marwood looks to first offload some of the high-earning but unwanted members of the squad, before making their moves in the transfer market.
Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie, one of the key targets for Mancini this summer, has agreed a deal with bitter rivals Manchester United, considerably strengthening their neighbors in the process.
Only highly-rated youngster Jack Rodwell has joined City this summer from Everton, for a fee believed to be around £12 million ($18.7 million) with further add-ons included.
City are determined to adhere to the Financial Fair Play regulations, and has therefore put prudence ahead of extravagance this season. Emmanuel Adebayor is still moping around the club, refusing to leave despite Tottenham agreeing a deal with City. Another high-earning member Roque Santa-Cruz remains unsold.
The English Premier League champions are already flush with four high-quality strikers in Aguero, Carlos Tevez, who seems to have got back his mojo, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko; so losing out on Van Persie might not be such a problem after all.
City, however, are short at the back with captain Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott the only really reliable centre-backs, while the future of Kolo Toure is still undecided; hence, the reason behind the interest in Liverpool defender Daniel Agger. Liverpool are reportedly holding out for at least £25 million ($39 million), after the Reds turned down a £20 million ($31.3 million) offer.
The over-reliance on Yaya Toure might also be a concern for Mancini, with the champions struggling when Toure left for the African Cup of Nations in January; something that the Ivory Coast midfielder will most likely do this season as well. Some believe if you take out Kompany, Toure and Aguero, City are beatable, but so are most teams, with everyone relying on two-or-three key players to inspire them to the title.
The biggest challenge for Mancini will be sustaining the dominance. While winning a Premier League title is difficult, defending it is much more complex. City will also be expected to do much better in the Champions League, after crashing out last year in the group stages.
Chelsea have considerably strengthened and will challenge for the title, United, even if Van Persie had not signed would have been up there, while Arsenal, despite losing their best striker have made exciting signings this season and is primed for a title tilt. An outside challenge from Tottenham - with Andre Villas-Boas in charge and a point to prove - or Liverpool cannot be discounted either.
City will definitely make some more signings before the transfer window closes on August 31; who that will be and what impact they have, might just be the difference between a second-straight title and a disappointing forgettable season.
