Chelsea’s title hopes hang on their ability to stop Manchester City
Premier League leaders Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea this Monday, in an important game for both sides. The hosts can all but wave goodbye to their title aspirations with a defeat, whilst if the visitors are beaten they may see their lead at the top cut to two points going into a hectic festive season. The latest football betting odds have Chelsea as favourites at odds of 7/5, but City have been in excellent form domestically and will take some beating.
Manchester City and life without the UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League has come and gone in the blink of an eye for Manchester City this season as their otherwise magnificent season gets its first reality check. Roberto Mancini’s side have blitzed virtually every team in England on their way to the top of the Premier League table, the Carling Cup semi-finals as well as being in confident mood to dispose of rivals Manchester United in the FA 3rd round.
Which is why Wednesday night’s elimination from Europe’s premier competition comes as an even greater shock to the system of Blues’ fans but the hotels in Manchester will hardly be complaining since the Europa League will only confirm extra games for the Citizens to play. But Group A is in the past now and the Italian tactician must ensure his squad brimming full of superstars are focused on their domestic matters at hand as well as making sure his team do well in the Europa League.
What do City need – more players or tactical flexibility?
City’s whirlwind push to the top of English football bears it’s own weight of expectations. Here we are, a decade or so back in the top league, where we belong, living out every football fan’s dream.
And yet there’s a heavy expectation from City these days -every performance scrutinised, every goal weighed, every mistake magnified. And with City now expected to compete on all four fronts, we will find out this season if the squad can live up to the stress or, like Arsenal, break down.
Dublin O.S.C Notice
Hoping for a great weekend at the Dublin super cup with City, Inter Milan and Celtic travling to Dublin to play homeside the Airtricty 11 or the best of the Irish league. Weather is looking good for the event and the Dublin Offical supporters club will be out in force as will the other City suppoerters clubs from around the country.
Mr Kieron Grant of the Dublin O.S.C. Left a comment on a previous post so I will post it here for him.
“The next meeting is on Tuesday the 2nd of August”.
Thanks Kieron I hope after the weekend more fellow City supporters will find their way along to the meeting which are a great way to meet like minded supporters and talk about all things City.
Spurs and Harry, Having a laugh ?
Harry Redknapp has expressed his desire to bring Adebayor to White Hart Lane
While I for one like Harry is a great manager and a chancer of epic proportions, to try and pull a striker on wages like Adebayor and get his parent club to foot the bill, Got to admire the brass balls on that.
While they would like Adebayor, Tottenham would also like City to pay his wages or a very large part of it reportably form various media sources. How true it is ?
What is certain is Harry’s intent towards the player.
Harry who is in South Africa spoke to the media and had this to say on Adebayor.
“He is a name that was mentioned and I spoke to the chairman about the player, about the possibility of loaning him, but whether they [City] would loan him I don’t know,” Redknapp told reporters in South Africa. ”If they would loan him he would be of interest. He is a quality player. We will wait and see.”
The fact Abebayor is a good player when he wants to turn it on, he can put goals away. He would easily fit into the set up and be a good loan signing for them, If its a loan and they don’t have to pay the bulk of the wages, Why not ? Even better.
I and Spurs fans alike would love to see Ade in the Tottenham Hotspur shirt.
Just think of the North London derby the Arsenal fans would go nuts, the fact he is a hate figure even to the most passive Arsenal fan, to be in a Spurs jersey to boot.
Why the headline says “having a laugh” is simple, Spurs are a serious side who have just as much chance as anyone to clinch the title with the squad they have at present. For Spurs to sign Ade even on loan would strengthen their squad further. If the reports are true about the wages they are having a laugh its a cheeky Harry Redknapp chancing his arm. For City to pay Adebayor’s massive wages while he bangs it the goals to help Spurs week in and week out to get ahead of City would be crazy. I don’t know the figure that Ade is on but must be up in the £120,000 a week bracket.
Adebayor has played his last game in a City shirt that’s for sure time and again be bemoans the club and his situation. The player clearly wants a move to Real Madrid as do most players, However Real don’t seem to running in to sign him which could say, Your not as good as you think you are ! (Nicklas Bendtner sprang to mind when I typed that also)
Watching Adebayor at times is great and he does have his moments, Just don’t ask him to track back or learn the offside rule and there wont be a problem.
Chances of him going to Tottenham ? Who knows ? would have to say slim with City and Spurs being close rivals in the past two seasons cant be good sense to help them improve.
Then again some Arsenal and City fans will tell you that Ade at your club would be a great way to sabotage a team.
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The Hypocrisy of Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger in the last week or so has been spouting of about respect and disrespect. Lets have a look at what the hell he is on about.
First there was comments from Barcelona’s midfield wizard Xavi who claimed Arsenal should stand aside and allow Cesc Fabregas join the Spanish giants as that is the players Dream. Wenger came out with Barcelona should show Arsenal some Respect and went on about people taking about poor old Arsenal. This is a players comments on a Spanish team mate abroad however Wenger decides its Barcelona as a whole who made these comments and should show him and Arsenal RESPECT, Hard to respect a sore loser and bad sportsman not to mention a team of divers, along with the always cheating Van Persie.
Within the space this French wack job is sticking his long nose into City’s sponsorship deal with Etihad about the naming rights to , calling out with others for an investigation to be launched. Allowing for the fact the actual figures have not been released yet so its a bit premature for to be making comments about a business deal that is sweet F.A. to do with him, along with Liverpool and anyone else who has voiced concern about it. Fact is Arsene Wenger you read the Daily mail and decided to voice comment on it before having the full facts, DISRESPECTFUL !
City manager Mancini mentioned during the week of hid desire to sign another player from Arsenal, Samir Nasri this lad is a fantastic talent had a cracking season last year and would fit into any team in Europe. Wenger has accused Mancini of disrespect.
“This comment is out of order,” Wenger said, before addressing the issue of its disrespect. “I cannot say otherwise. These comments are not allowed. They are against the basic rules of football and he should be informed of that.
Rich coming from this twat what has City’s naming rights got to do with you Wenger ? Why talk about it in public ? If its case you want an investigation go through the proper channels and don’t be mouthing about it.
Mancini needs to be informed of the basic rules of football ? We all seen Arsenal players diving anytime you were a goal down Arsenal players drop like flies around the box. Untied for all theirs flaws at least dig in for the 90 min and push to the end with football. Van Persie hitting Kompany while he was on the ground ? Same player more than once lifted his arm into opposition players running out from corners last season. Cheating still didn’t get you 3rd weak quitters with the tag of great footballers.
Wenger as I said above within a week you have showed what a Hypocrite you really are. Talk about people and clubs as you please just as long as nobody says anything about Arsenal. Wenger Id say pressure is on nothing this season and your sacked couldn’t happen to a better person. Your a disgrace to football when Arsenal lose excuses and the blame game, Man up and stop your mouthing.
Bye Bye Carlos. Now who is transfer target ?
Carlos Tevez waits until City make their first move in the transfer window to announce that He is to depart. Gael Clichy signed for City yesterday from Arsenal for a fee of £7m declaring to the City cameras “I have come here because I want to win things.” A big statement from a player who has played in Arsenals Invincibles side of 03-04 season at the tender age of 18. Tevez and his cronies picked a bad day to issue this news. Fine Carlos if you want out GO !! taking Clichy’s thunder yesterday was just poor P.R. by Kia and his lackeys.
Tevez who is currently on International duty with Argentina at the Copa America yesterday informed City of his wish to leave. City fan who are already sick of his sulking attitude are finally ready to see the back of him. Tevez claims it is for family reasons however we are all to well aware this is a move so himself and slimy agaent Kia can again cash in on the transfer market.
This may be a bigger problem that first as suitors for the £50m hitman will be few and far between, the wages will be in £200,000 area. City will also not be bullied into selling him to a club they may see as a threat to their plans for the future.
Swap deals are a possibility who though would be the replacement.
Eto’o is a no go with Carlos wage demands the problem.
Higuan at Real could be a starter good player youth on his side and the chance to see more first team action than he did last season at Los Blancos. Argentine players tend to fair a lot better in the Premiership than the lads of Brazil as has been proven time and again in recent years.
Aguero, Atletico are resigned to losing Aguero this summer,the Argentine publicly stated his intention to leave back in May. City had not been linked to this player as much however this was due to the fact City did think loner Tevez would man up and get on with the job he signed up for.
Mancini is a known fan of Ibrahimović could he be the man to fill the boots ? I would think not but im not the manager. Mancini like this player not many other managers rate him.
Marek Hamsik the 23 year old again favoured by Mancini. The Slovak international would seem to be leaning towards a move from Napoli to AC Milan with a year left on his contract Napoli will be looking to sell.
There are a mountain of names coming forward including Bendtner (lol)
If City are to replace Carlos who do you the fans, think is the man to fill his boots ?
All Speculation and Talk.
Media stories are ripe this week depends on who you believe really, from the Daily and Sunday Express to the Mail online everyone has a story about the City v Barcelona tug of war for the Udinese star player Alexis Sanchez. The Express has turned the story we all have been hearing that Sanchez is 80% signing on at Barca. Instead running a story claiming that the Catalan giants have turned tail on the price in order to keep the books in check and have now turned their attentions to Juan Mata and Giuseppe Rossi. Barca boss Pep Guardiola has said that both Rossi and Juan Mata meet the outline of what he wants at Barcelona and the manager has given his approval if the transfer for Chilean Sanchez is not feasible. If Pep Guardiola in fact made this statement, would put City in pole position to sign the highly rated 22 year old. However in this transfer saga that now has been running for weeks and a end has to be in sight. Sanchez has been reported as looking towards Barcalona as his preferred club and who can blame him. Barcelona are easily the best team in world football after watching them dismantle Untied in the Champions league final why would any player not want to play their style of football. Football is a business and Udinese are a team going into the Europa Cup and need more depth in their squad if they are to compete in the Europa and the domestic league, as City fans are well aware of last season. £40M would come in handy in such a situation and that’s were the Business end comes in Udinese have to get the best deal for the club as possible, its just that simple.
Darren Witcoop, the witless wonder of Fan house UK, has wrote a laughable piece on Ashley Young’s move to Untied.
Ashley Young’s signing and that of Jone’s are good value for money, both top players who will fit in at Untied no question or doubts there. Darren took the signing of Young to take a stupid swipe at City claiming the player snubbed City. Claiming the Express as his “source” Witless Darren claims that Young knocked back the riches of City.
If the story was true which you can bet your ass its not, You would have seen a lot more of this all over Sky and every other media outlet going. I think its safe to say if City were in the bidding process the price tag the player was sold to Untied which in my opinion was a fair price. Should City even giving Villa a hint of interest the £16m Untied paid for him would have been at £24m.
Villa are no mugs when selling players like any Club you get the best deal going. City can and have spent well over the odds at £24m + for players who are nowhere near the quality of Ashley, so this report and follow on story is Bullshit.
Its either one of the other City don’t believe Young is worth £16m or they were plain never in for the player to begin with ?
Darren your piece is regurgitated crap and stinks of pro Untied bias.
City in the summer transfer window ?
What a great season, what can be said City win the FA cup and manage to take 3rd spot and avoid the Champion league play offs. City fans everywhere are still pinching themselves in disbelief.
Its summer time and that means the papers go into over drive on the transfer front. Tevez is leaving Balotelli is joining Milan and so on. Funny thing about the transfer window is nobody is going anywhere until the ink hits the paper its just that simple.
City are looking to tempt Bolton with a swap deal ? Mancini has fallen out with Marwood and Cook over transfer policy ? Tevez has given a radio interview in Argentina where hes proclaimed he is the second coming of Jesus Christ and will only play for Chelsea ? the last one would be the sort of made up lies you will find in the Sun and copied and repeated by Tribal. The point is were going to see a lot of this in the coming weeks how true the rumours are is anybody’s guess.
City however are sure to sell and buy in the window (as sure as you are to get US free bets offers in your inbox). I say this because I believe that Mancini will want a squad of players who understand how important it is to have depth and quality in the squad and not complain if you are not picked every week because is a team effort. That and at present City have a load of players on loan who just weren’t needed. I should point that the players on loan were all bought under Mark Hughes.
Adebayor on loan at Real Madrid, has made it very clear he has no intention of a return to Manchester. My view ? fine stay in Spain suits you better Ade, your lazy and really don’t get the offside rule.
Wayne Bridge on loan at relegated West Ham. Wayne is a really nice bloke and has come in for stick in the past from City fans. I for one think he has a lot more to his game than he has shown us in the past. However Mancini if the papers are true doesn’t see him the plans for the future as Aston Villa look like to be a new start for Wayne.
Craig Bellamy on loan at home town Cardiff. Bellers has said he loves playing for boyhood team Cardiff. Bellamy has tons of pace and can read a game, he can finish with a class touch, has a well noted passion in the dressing room. Craig for all the god given talent has one major problem in his fitness has problems playing a string of games that in mind hard to see Mancini giving him the recall.
Nedum Onuoha on loan at Sunderland (Yes I know not a Hughes buy) but a quick mention. Has it all strength, discipline, youth, Ned is a welcome addition to any Premier side. Loaned out for the season and has again proved his worth at Sunderland. A story has been doing the rounds that City would like to use Ned on a swap, and young City starlet Boyata on a loan deal to land Gary Cahill. Bolton will have trouble holding on to defender Gary Cahill in the summer he has had a great season. Why Cahill for City ?I don’t know Kompany and Lescott have been great in recent weeks and are starting to gel.
Roque Santa Cruz – The ultimate Hughes must have. Mark Hughes having great success with Santa Cruz at Blackburn went all out in signing him for City. £18m later for a player who was injured at the time we got Santa Cruz what followed ? No goals and more injuries. Roque is one of nicest people there is in football. Roque is a genuine bloke, has a lot of time for the supporters and the kids and should be an example to all professional footballers. That been said its on the pitch the fans want. He is able to spend so much time with the fans due to his injuries.
Tell us your views and predictions on the upcoming transfer window. Who will stay and who will go ?
What a week for City fans.
Well was a long and memorable week, for me a long week of travel.
First over to the Spurs game and a great goal from the very man who denied City Champions league last year. Peter your a star. With one of the teams season goals reaching forth spot out of the way, City turned all attention to the F.A. Cup final.
Off down to London with me and what a day the build up was tense as both Man City and Stoke alike wondered how the match would unfold. It was to be a Man City victory with Yaya Toure man of the day in Wembley again, one goal between the two sides was enough to lift the cup. City were the better team on the day which was pointed out by Stoke manager Tony Pulis.
Sunday seen Arsenal mauled by Aston Villa from early on in the game. Villa held out as Arsenal tried desperately in vein to get back on leveling footing pushing City into a position of taking third spot with a win against F.A. Cup rivals Stoke City.
Flight back to Manchester for the last game of the season. City play football like their life depended on it two of the best from Tevez and they really were cracking goals, and a towering header from Lescott. Lescott has come in for flack in the past but he is getting stronger all the time and starting to look like the player he was at Everton. Was well happy that City kept a clean sheet a 3 nil up in the past City fans have watched them switch off and give away a soft goal spoiling
City are now in 3rd spot with a point advantage on Arsenal, now lets not get carried away last game of the season both teams play away City at Bolton and Arsenal at Fulham. Fulham would never roll over would they ? Remember Hughes would have a little laugh to himself I’m sure should Arsenal finish third. City can still finish 3rd even with an Arsenal win just beat Bolton simple at that and no team Owen Coyle manages would dare take to the pitch with defeat in their mind. Comes down to Sunday.
C’mon you Blues.
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