Pearce: Signings haven't hit top form

Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce has admitted some of his summer signings have not hit top form since their arrival.

Pearce launched a major shake-up of his Blues squad during the close season, bringing in eight fresh faces he hoped would push City towards a UEFA Cup spot. Instead, for various reasons, most have struggled to make any impact, contributing to City's infuriating inconsistency which has left them just two points above the drop zone .

"Form wise, some of my players could do better," said Pearce. "But we all know the players in Europe who will guarantee goals."

Only two new faces, Paul Dickov and Hatem Trabelsi, started Saturday's home defeat to Bolton, with Ousmane Dabo, DaMarcus Beasley and Andreas Isaksson on the bench.

With Dietmar Hamann struggling to shake off persistent injury problems, Bernardo Corradi suspended for the second time this season and Joe Hart currently regarded as third-choice keeper, Pearce could hardly argue his transfer dealings have been successful.

In addition, Georgios Samaras, the young Greek striker Pearce paid £6million for 12 months ago was also dumped to the bench, having scored just two Premiership goals all season, both of which came in the win against West Ham in September.

Pearce accepts the new arrivals could do better but believes it is hardly a surprise given the relative lack of money he has had to spend.

He added: "If you buy Dietmar Berbatov or Dirk Kuyt for £10million, the chances are they will score goals. Look at Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at Ajax. They are the players who will score all over Europe.

"But if you spend a bit less, you get less consistency and make no mistake, I have not spent a lot of money on players during my time at the club.

"At the moment, I am around £13million in the black with my spending."