• Premier League

Moyes doubts City's title credentials

David Moyes clashed with Roberto Mancini in the fixture last season © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Mancini urges fans to back Tevez
  
• News: Moyes blasts misfiring Saha
  
• News: Platt urges players to ignore Tevez row
  

Everton boss David Moyes has claimed Manchester City are learning that spending money will not guarantee success as he plots to derail their Premier League title challenge at Eastlands.

Although he admits City's heavy investment is to thank for their improved results this season, he insists situations such as the Carlos Tevez saga show that a team must be built after players are bought if City are to become a genuine force.

City will go top of the Premier League at Christmas if they beat struggling Everton, proof the £350 million spent in the transfer market since Sheikh Mansour's takeover in 2008 is having an effect. But Moyes believes City are yet to complete their period of "bedding in" with so many new players, saying the squad still needs to be tweaked in order to find team harmony.

Moyes said: "Money isn't always the answer but if you are going to win things you have to spend money. If you want a quick return to overtake the Manchester Uniteds and Chelseas of this world, you are going to have to spend good money to get there. But even that isn't guaranteed. There is a time of bedding in and there will be people who have to go and you'll have to bring more people in.

"It takes time to get it all to happen. I don't think you can do it that quickly but I think Manchester City are getting themselves in a position at the right end of the table for what they are spending. They will probably hope to see some rewards for it.''

Moyes has been able to spend only a tiny fraction of City's outlay and his biggest signing last summer was Jermaine Beckford on a free transfer from Leeds. He has already admitted he will probably have to concentrate on the loan market if he wants to strengthen his squad during next month's transfer window.

Everton have struggled this term and are labouring in 15th, just two points above the bottom three, and with only 18 goals to their name from 17 games. But having held Champions League sides Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea to draws, Moyes is hoping his players can again raise performance levels for the toughest opposition.

He said: "We think we have done well against some of the sides that are seen as the top teams in the league. It is difficult that when we have come to play teams we should be beating we have not been able to do that. That's a little bit the way it's been this year but our record against the better teams has been quite good. We have also had one or two good results away from home and we will try to keep that going.''

City have been working hard clearing ice from around the stadium in an attempt to ensure the game becomes only the third of the weekend's Premier League programme to go ahead. Steven Pienaar will be given a fitness test on a groin injury but Mikel Arteta is definitely missing as he completes a three-match ban.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.