Is Carlos Tevez the new Eric Cantona?

To many Manchester United fans there will never be another Eric Cantona at United but that isn't the point - have City been gifted his natural heir? The parallels are striking.

The Champions lose a good - but not yet great - striker to hated rivals who haven't won the title for over 20 years. The striker had been at times divisive - often critical of his treatment by the club - and often peripheral, remaining on the bench for the majority of the season. Key goals at critical times late in the season embedded belief in the fans who were not happy to see him go and subsequently hated everything about him.

Cantona in 1992 or Tevez in 2009?

There are differences, Cantona was a mid-season replacement for the unfortunate Dion Dublin and United did make a late bid to keep Tevez at Old Trafford last summer but the catalytic effect is there for all to see. Tevez has already scored 15 goals in barely half a season and a talent that was so often smothered by Rooney and Ronaldo is finally being allowed to demonstrate that he can score goals as well as make them and run harder than anyone else on the pitch as well.

Cantona took United from runners-up to champions and whilst it is not too late for City to make a late charge for the title, a top four finish is a more easonable target and these days a top four finish feels in many ways like a triumph. And of course the owners will keep sacking the manager until they chance upon one that starts to land the big prizes in any event.

So as long as money flows towards City the day they become champions can only be delayed - not stopped. But if Tevez speeds the club towards that day then the pain felt in the red half of Manchester will be even more intense.

*Is Tevez the new Cantona?