Manchester City Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours

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Xavi6 wrote: »

In a word, no.

OK, thanks

Xavi6 wrote: »

This season or in general?

Both, please.

Xavi6

Hmmm why do I get the feeling some previous post from when Hughes took over is going to come back to haunt me here! :pac:

This season - Well all the optimism has gone straight out the window. We finished 9th last year and if that isn't improved on having spent £50 million before the season started then something is not right. There will be changes in January in playing personnel, if not in the coaching personnel too. As I said, stability is the key to any team's success but managers are judged on results. Already we've limped out of the league cup and are struggling in the bread and butter. It does not bode well.

We've missed Jo and Johnson massively over the last few weeks. They are players who are strong on the ball, something we lack at the moment. Johnson's presence is certainly needed in away games. Vassell and Benjani are almost good to go and they will give us more physical options too.

Ultimately I would like European qualification through the league and a good FA Cup run. Basically something which to build on.

Long term - The goal obviously has to be to break the top 4. Anything else is an epic failure. We have the money, we just need to spend it wisely. The problem is though I can see the owners wanting superstars leaving the manager to fit square pegs into round holes, although that is already happening (see Richards at left back for the last two games). Can Hughes spend wisely? Robinho wasn't his signing, neither was Jo. He did well with Vinny and Zabs though.

It's going to be hard keeping everyone happy.

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Xavi6 wrote: »

Hmmm why do I get the feeling some previous post from when Hughes took over is going to come back to haunt me here! :pac:

Des isn't Pighead.

Xavi6

True. That bloke has me paranoid.

bigstar

i think we have to stick with hughes, we could end up like newcastle if we start sacking managers every other week. its way way too early to start questioning him, weve had three managers in three seasons now. give him till the end of the month at least. if we dont beat utd then out he goes:pac: no really give him a chance, we are city, not chelsea, the expectations are too high. we were always likely to get beaten by bolton and boro. its just the manner of the defeat thats frustrating, we arent showing up. how can hughes go from managing a tough blackburn side to a pile of flashy daisies in less than a year, it cant happen, he will get things going

Xavi6

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1077836_gymll_fix_it_for_city

Gym'll fix it for City

BENJANI and Darius Vassell are two of the first City players to benefit from the new owner's ambition to quickly deliver top-class facilities for the club.

The Blues have spent the last two international breaks giving their slightly outdated Carrington training centre a million pound, state-of-the-art facelift.

And the two experienced strikers have used the new gym, physio and medical equipment to speed them along the road to recovery to the point where they may be able to play some part in Thursday's UEFA Cup tie with FC Twente.

Both Benjani and Vassell - along with Michael Ball - came through a reserve game against Liverpool on Monday night.

Now executive chairman Garry Cook has promised that the work at the training centre is only the start of the nuts and bolts upgrade of the club.

"I think if you look at things since the new owners took over; they are asking all the right questions at all levels across the entire football club and that query is mainly 'what is it can we do to change our game to build the football club for the future?'" he said.

"They have shown that their intent is to execute quickly on what they want to get done. The gymnasium alterations are the first example of this.

"Carrington will be developed and improved more and more as time goes by.

"The first question the new chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak asked was 'how he could, in the short term, help the players perform at their best and to the highest level?' The next part of that equation is to address the long-term.

"All the time, Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Sheikh Mansour are looking at building a club for the future and the training facilities are a major part of that exercise.

"The Abu Dhabi people are pragmatic in their approach to City. They understand football and the demands it places on everybody inside the club.

"They also know that though Mark (Hughes) picks 18 people on a Saturday that there are 300-plus people who work here. There is a lot more to the club than just the playing side of things although obviously there is a disproportionate amount of attention on that area.

Competing

"When the new owners set about building this club it isn't just about it being ready for next season; it is about being ready in five to seven years' time and competing consistently at the highest level.

"One of the things I have found with Khaldoon and his team is that they do not overreact to day-to-day things. They have a very clear view of what the future of any of their investments looks like and they stay on that path and do not get sidetracked.

"They do a fantastic job of painting a picture of the future and they will stay committed to that."

Hughes is delighted not just that three of his experienced players are on the way back to full fitness but also in the swift response to his needs by the new board and its uncomplicated way of working.

"It's good news that Darius, Benjani and Michael all came through. By all accounts they all did very well, they're unscathed and we don't expect any adverse reactions," he reported.

"It's important that they got some game-time under their belts, but they impressed and Benji scored into the bargain. They will come into the equation soon enough.

"We've got young strikers here and at times we have lacked a little bit of experience up front so it will be good to welcome them back.

"As for the takeover, it happened with great speed and the great thing following on from that is that the board makes decisions very quickly.

"It is not a big board or a big committee in which everyone has to have their say. If big decisions have to be made then they are done so quickly and then implemented.

"From a manager's point of view, it is fantastic and we are already seeing the benefits. The amount of progress in a short time has been incredible.

"That's what the owner, the chairman and Garry Cook promised. That is how they operate. They see the reason why we need certain work doing to enable the team to prepare in the right way.

"Once you give them reasons and are able to highlight the deficiencies in what we do then they make things happen.

"I told the chairman that the training ground slightly compromised what we were trying to achieve in terms of preparation.

"We have re-jigged things, built floors and brought in the most modern equipment and in the process made it work better for us. This club is going to change a lot starting with the look of the training ground.

"It will all cost a significant amount of money but will be cost effective in the end."

Great news that they are putting money into the facilities and doing a lot of work behind the scenes. It's great to see stuff like this happening that will stand us in good stead.

Lol at the below btw!

bigstar

any predictions for sundays game, not to optimistic to be honest. last night was not a great performance, were struggling to control games

Xavi6

I can see us limping to a 1-1 draw to be honest. Momentum counts for a lot, and Spurs certainly have that.

Xavi6

Some cool UEFA Cup pics -

bigstar

that was some goal by robihno, when was the last time we had a player who can create things out of nothing for himself.

Xavi6

Kinky?

joe123

bigstar wrote: »

that was some goal by robihno, when was the last time we had a player who can create things out of nothing for himself.

Where you watching the game? Can i get a link?

Edit: Sorry just looked at the time you posted that.....

Green Hornet

Dunne is having a poor season. At fault for the equaliser today.

Xavi6

At fault for at least four goals in the last 2 weeks. Time to go.

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Xavi6 wrote: »

At fault for at least four goals in the last 2 weeks.

He's having a bad patch. All players have them. Get over it.

Xavi6 wrote: »

Time to go.

Is a ridiculously blinkered standpoint.

Xavi6

Des wrote: »

He's having a bad patch. All players have them. Get over it.

He's been having a 'bad patch' since August.

Is a ridiculously blinkered standpoint.

How many City games have you watched this year?

On Thursday he misjudged the flight of the ball and cost us a goal. Today he misjudged the flight of the ball and cost us a goal. He scored 2 OGs in 2 games. Once bitten, twice shy? Not with Dunne.

brayblue24

Xavi6 wrote: »

On Thursday he misjudged the flight of the ball and cost us a goal. Today he misjudged the flight of the ball and cost us a goal. He scored 2 OGs in 2 games. Once bitten, twice shy? Not with Dunne.

I have defended Dunne before but it is getting harder to do. However, I don't think he has become a bad player overnight. Perhaps the enforced break will do him good and save Hughes a bit of face about "resting" him. While Dunne has made the most noticeable blunders he is amidst a pretty inept defence. Let's face it, any defence that can make Darren Bent look like quality needs to be changed.

bigstar

didnt see the game today, thats 3 on the bounce now in the league, was it just the sending off that cost us, or was there anything good about today. finding it hard to see where we will pick up a point this month, hull away, arsenal, then utd at home. after that we could be in some real trouble and this was meant to be the season that things turned for the better. cant blame dunne for everything, something is wrong within the team at the moment, and hughes just seems to make excuses after every match. cant see a light at the end of anything at the moment, i just hope im blind

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lol at Hughes scary stare of death

OPENROAD

Xavi6 wrote: »

At fault for at least four goals in the last 2 weeks. Time to go.

Already has gone mate, he is out of my FF team now

~Rebel~

Hey folks, one of my brothers recent former pupils in Galway was signed up by Man City, by the name of Cunningham, anyone know anything about how he's getting on? Has played U-17 for ireland and aparantly has a great record. Brother was saying he looked amazing any time he saw him play.

tetsujin1979

~Rebel~ wrote: »

Hey folks, one of my brothers recent former pupils in Galway was signed up by Man City, by the name of Cunningham, anyone know anything about how he's getting on? Has played U-17 for ireland and aparantly has a great record. Brother was saying he looked amazing any time he saw him play.

Is that Greg Cunningham? Getting on well, playing in defence for the u-18 side.
If you look through the reports on this blog - http://mcfcreserves-academy.blogspot.com/ - you'll see how he gets on in each game. Got an assist from a corner in the last game against Liverpool

~Rebel~

tetsujin1979 wrote: »

Is that Greg Cunningham? Getting on well, playing in defence for the u-18 side.
If you look through the reports on this blog - http://mcfcreserves-academy.blogspot.com/ - you'll see how he gets on in each game. Got an assist from a corner in the last game against Liverpool

yup thats the chap. Apparantly he has a twin too who almost made it with Celtic, but it didn't work out. Cheers for that anyway, my brother was just wondering how he was getting on and if id heard of him or anything yet. City seems a good club for a kid anyway, doing very well with integrating their better youths into the first team squad. Hopefully that trend continues despite all the new money.

bigstar

**** the money, get all the youth players into the first team now, they cant do any worse

bigstar

hughes being backed to the hilt by the chairman, more funds will be available in january. i dont know if this bodes well or not for hughes, how many managers are backed before being sacked not long after. hughes is talking about getting more transfer targets in a number of transfer windows. ffs theres more to managing a team than buying players, maybe he should be director of football instead of first team coach, its getting embarrising at the mo.

Xavi6

I heard today from a reliable source that Hart was desperate to go up for one of the free kicks at the end of the game. 3 times he should over to Hughes to get the ok and 3 times he was blanked. That's ridiculous.

bigstar

this is the worst ive felt about city in years, probably when ball was manager, i just dont know whats going wrong, maybe its just all the expectaions but things feel really ****

Sizzler

Is this the only club in the permiership that are hauling themselves to the transfer window by using their incoming purchases as an excuse for their poor results

Hull / Stoke / Sunderland / Fulham / Bolton would kill for some of City's players but yet its OK for City to fanny about and lose games willy nilly as they are buying big in January :rolleyes:

If Hughes cant get wins with the players he has then frankly hes not all that.His current excuses are remniscent of Dave O'Leary at Leeds & Villa who was only interested in talking about his next signing and not the current performance of his sides.

Xavi6

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1084624/Exclusive-Manchester-City-fine-Brazil-striker-Jo-clubbing-sick-list.html

Exclusive: Manchester City fine Brazil striker Jo for clubbing when on the sick list
By Ian Ladyman

Last updated at 10:54 PM on 10th November 2008

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has fined his struggling centre forward Jo, after the Brazilian jeopardised his recovery from tonsillitis with a late-night visit to a city centre nightclub.

Sportsmail understands that Hughes chose to discipline the £19million recruit after learning of 21-year-old Jo's night out in the run-up to the 2-0 defeat at Bolton nine days ago.

Having scored just one league goal since his summer arrival from CSKA Moscow while struggling with the physical nature of the English game, Jo's first season at City was hindered further when he developed tonsillitis before City's last victory at home to Stoke just over a fortnight ago.

But it now becomes clear that the South American forward then enjoyed a night out on the following Thursday that extended deep into the early hours. He failed to show for training the next day after calling in sick.

Though Jo had not broken Hughes' 48-hour pre-match curfew - the Bolton game was on the Sunday - and did subsequently go on to show signs of illness again, the City manager decided to fine him an amount, which has not been disclosed, because he felt the player had placed his recovery at risk.

It is further understood that Jo declared himself fit for Bolton, only to be told he was not in the squad. He has not figured in Hughes' team for a league game since and was not called on as City lost at home to Tottenham on Sunday.

The manager had only given Jo's arrival his approval after discovering how advanced the deal was when he took over in June.

Hughes will fly to Abu Dhabi this evening to meet club owner Sheik Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, but it is clear that there are no immediate question marks over the manager's future despite City having won only one of seven league games.

Hughes believes he has the full backing of his board but he has a tough set of fixtures ahead, with games against Arsenal and Manchester United following the next match with Hull.

He is convinced City will improve once he can bring in as many as half a dozen players in January and get rid of a handful who he feels are holding him back. Of recent recruits, only Shaun Wright-Phillips was initially identified by him and his staff.

Hughes entertained City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak at his own home in Cheshire on Saturday and was told that there will be many millions available for him to spend in the transfer window, although the owners do have their own list of stellar players they would like.

First on Hughes's list, however, is Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz, who is very keen to come. It is likely that City will present Rovers with an offer they cannot refuse as soon as the window opens.

Hughes also wants Lassana Diarra from Portsmouth. As revealed in Sportsmail on Saturday, City will bid for Chelsea left-back Wayne Bridge and are also expected to listen to offers for several of the players Hughes feels are not up to scratch.

Struggling central defensive duo Micah Richards and Richard Dunne have disappointed Hughes but are safe from the axe.

Brazilian Elano is likely to be sold if City can attract a reasonable offer, however, and Didi Hamann, Michael Ball, Javier Garrido, Darius Vassell and Nedum Onuoha are also on borrowed time at the club as Hughes looks to reshape the whole squad.

Dunne and midfielder Gelson Fernandes were given one-game bans by the FA yesterday after they were sent off against Tottenham on Sunday.

Well that's shit. Rumours are rife that the Brazilians aren't getting on with Hughes. Not once was Elano told to warm up on Sunday and when Robinho went over to celebrate with him after his goal Elano was wearing runners not boots. Jo is in the bad books too.

applehunter

I like cheese.

Redspider.

brayblue24

Mourhino's name (and £15m wages) cropping up in the papers this morning I see..

Xavi6

Yeah tis only The Sun though.

Elano was interviewed on SSN this morning. Apparently wants to know why he isn't in the team. So do I.

leninbenjamin

Xavi6 wrote: »

Yeah tis only The Sun though.

Elano was interviewed on SSN this morning. Apparently wants to know why he isn't in the team. So do I.

i've been reading this morning that Hughes wants rid of him apparently!?

Xavi6

So the story goes yep. Robinho won't like that.

Charlie

I know this isn't technically Man City related, but this would provide epic lolz if it went through.

Xavi6

Quotes from anyone at all with United connections? None

Throwaway comment from Fergie in May + Xavi wanting a better pay deal = 5

Xavi6

I have it on good authority that City's gear next year will be made by Puma and sponsored by Etihad Airways. Also we will be returning to the old badge. w00t!

Here's an early mock up of a home shirt -

bigstar

dont like the stripes, its not that hard to get a city jersey right its just blue with white trim. hope they go back to the old crest though, never been a fan of the new one. "superbia in proelia" wtf has that got to do with city

Xavi6

Yeah same with the three stars. Pretending we've won 30 league titles!

The shirt isn't too bad, though I'm told now that there won't be as many pinstripes.

Xavi6

Great little image I saw -



:pac:

mayordenis

love the jersey and the richard dunne pic - class

ciaran76

Xavi6 wrote: »

Great little image I saw -



:pac:

ha ha very good.

bigstar

Xavi6 wrote: »

Yeah same with the three stars. Pretending we've won 30 league titles!

The shirt isn't too bad, though I'm told now that there won't be as many pinstripes.

the three stars are for a more 'continental feel', that would be great if we were a continental team who had won 30 titles or even 3 titles.really hope we do go back to the old one, but i thought there was some issue with the copyright, even a crest thats similar would good, wouldnt mind the stadium getting a decent name while theyre at it, coms is a bit of a mouthful

brayblue24

bigstar wrote: »

the three stars are for a more 'continental feel', that would be great if we were a continental team who had won 30 titles or even 3 titles.really hope we do go back to the old one, but i thought there was some issue with the copyright, even a crest thats similar would good, wouldnt mind the stadium getting a decent name while theyre at it, coms is a bit of a mouthful

As far as I recall the the copyright of the last crest is owned by the Swales family and that's why it was changed. It's a classier design and no mistake. I still have it on my old TOFFS shirts though....

Xavi6

http://www.people.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=diarra-tied-up-by-city%26method=full%26objectid=20899742%26siteid=93463-name_page.html

DIARRA TIED UP BY CITY

Manchester City have beaten Tottenham and Manchester United to the £10million signing of Portsmouth's Lassana Diarra.

City have blown their rivals out of the water with an £85,000-a-week wage offer and the deal is described as 'virtually done'.

Under-fire City chief Mark Hughes is desperate to shore up his struggling team with a quality holding midfielder.

Diarra, 23, has a get-out clause in his Pompey deal enabling him to talk to any club who offer £10m.

Ex-Pompey chief Harry Redknapp wanted to take Diarra to Spurs and United chief Alex Ferguson saw him as a replacement for injury hit Owen Hargreaves.

But neither can compete with City's skyhigh wage offer as the club's new Arab owners flex their muscles.

Pompey need to sell players in January and have long been resigned to losing Diarra, who was outstanding in last season's FA Cup win.

City will become his fourth Premier League club in just 18 months, having been at Arsenal and Chelsea.

Lovely jubbly. A midfielder like him is exactly what we need.

bigstar

brayblue24 wrote: »

As far as I recall the the copyright of the last crest is owned by the Swales family and that's why it was changed. It's a classier design and no mistake. I still have it on my old TOFFS shirts though....

i didnt know the swales family owned it, wouldnt think that bodes well for getting it back. even if we just got rid of the eagle, stars and latin it would be a start, they have nothing to do with city.

PHB

You gotta love how you know the story is just bull**** to please City fans? Why? Because one of the teams that they beat them to get Diarra was United.

I'm not saying its not possible City are looking at Diarra, or even United looking at Diarra [indeed thinking about it, it wouldnt be a bad deal], but the fact that city beat United to him just shows how clever/transparent some journalists are

Either way, I'd figure in a straight fight between City and Spurs, he'd go with Spurs, if only because Harry

Xavi6

To top off another crap day, Joe Hart has been ruled out of the derby.

One Cold Hand

85,000 a week? Crazy money.

Xavi6

Looks like Sky Sports have an exclusive on our new gaffer -



:pac: