WHEN WILL CITY PLAY THE PRINCE OF PERSIA?

[Webbo]

Thats what I don't get, it's not like we've got someone good in the team ahead of him. Stearman offers absolutley nothing going forward which isn't good enough for a wingback and is very average defensively. But I suppose he's the safer option and fits with Megson's "Let's not get beat" approach rather than "Let's try and win".

Stearman's been one of the top three players for City this season.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Yes, slightly flippant but we all know that FIFA rankings are not worth the paper they're written on. They are based on results in games played.

Andorra are in Europe and play top European teams every season whereas Iran play other footballing minnows from Asia.

Kisnorbo and Hume, almost without question our two best players last season and certainly two of the best again so far this season, both play in qualifying groups no more competitive than Kaebi and they've hardly torn up the international scene.

Besides, Iran always look fairly handy at World Cups when I have seen them in the past.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Stearman's been one of the top three players for City this season.

Doubt you'd find much support in a poll on that.

Personally I'd put Fulop, Kisnorbo, N'Gotty, McAuley, Clemence, Wesolowski without question and possibly also Mattock, Hume, De Vries and Fryatt all above him.

[Rocky Dennis]

Stearman's been one of the top three players for City this season.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Top 3 players of what??

Cards? Dominoes? Ker-Plunk? Fifa 08?

[Geo V]

Stearman has done OK but not so well that he can be regarded as one of the better performers this season. One thing that is certain is GM likes the lad and has singled him out for praise so I cant see him being omitted from the team in the near future.

[Webbo]

Besides, Iran always look fairly handy at World Cups when I have seen them in the past.

I don't want to get into an argument with you, I'm sure Iran are a half decent side but I've just checked the last world cup;

Mexico 3- Iran 1

Portugal 2-Iran 0

Angola 1- Iran 1

Hardly world beaters.

Doubt you'd find much support in a poll on that.

Personally I'd put Fulop, Kisnorbo, N'Gotty, McAuley, Clemence, Wesolowski without question and possibly also Mattock, Hume, De Vries and Fryatt all above him.

I'll admit I didn't consider Weso because he's been injured and perhaps I just took Kisnorbo, N'Gotty, McAuley and Clemence for granted but he's made a better contribution than Hume, DeVries and Fryatt.

[potter3]

I don't want to get into an argument with you, I'm sure Iran are a half decent side but I've just checked the last world cup;

Mexico 3- Iran 1

Portugal 2-Iran 0

Angola 1- Iran 1

Hardly world beaters.

You can hardly blame them for losing to Mexico and Portugal. Angola was maybe a poor result though.

[Fez of Mahrez]

I don't want to get into an argument with you, I'm sure Iran are a half decent side but I've just checked the last world cup;

Mexico 3- Iran 1

Portugal 2-Iran 0

Angola 1- Iran 1

Hardly world beaters.

I'll admit I didn't consider Weso because he's been injured and perhaps I just took Kisnorbo, N'Gotty, McAuley and Clemence for granted but he's made a better contribution than Hume, DeVries and Fryatt.

Fair play on the last World Cup, not the best results there but then our players aren't going to be getting into international sides of the quality of Mexico or Portugal let alone rack up 50 caps.

Fulop as well by far our best player so far this season.

I agree though, bit of a pointless argument, just frustrated at his potential going to waste and killing some time before I get something for dinner.

[Webbo]

Fair play on the last World Cup, not the best results there but then our players aren't going to be getting into international sides of the quality of Mexico or Portugal let alone rack up 50 caps.

Fulop as well by far our best player so far this season.

I agree though, bit of a pointless argument, just frustrated at his potential going to waste and killing some time before I get something for dinner.

Agreed.

[martyn]

So much dribble being spouted here.

How anyone can expect Kaebi to have a consistently massive impact, even in the reserves when in effect he's still settling in is deluding themselves. It can take time for a foreign import to settle into a place and feel comfortable expressing themselves out on the pitch, especially one as young as Kaebi.

The guy obviously has something about him, Premiership clubs were beaten to obtain his signature AND however much people want to ignore it, 50 caps for Iran is no mean achievement. I remember reading on the Persian Football Forums from numerous posters that he is one of their top players/prospects and, irrespective of why he was left out of the Asia cup team, he has a big future in the international side.

Also, I remember Thracian giving Kaebi about 3 or 4 successive good ratings in the stiffs but is now consigning him to the scrapheap after a couple of dodgy displays. From someone who can make an impact to someone that's worse than Hammond......somebody say fickle?

[Thracian]

Sounds a bit ignorant. A flippant remark maybe but Iran are ranked 40th in the world.

Andorra are ranked 169th.

Just to give some perspective, Northern Ireland are ranked 36th at the moment and are likely to slip below Iran now that Sanchez has gone, and how many of their defenders have to be unavailable for selection before Gareth McAuley gets a game...?

Marton Fulop's Hungary are 55th.

Patrick Kisnorbo's Australia are 48th.

Oh and... Alan Sheehan's Republic of Ireland are 32nd, a mere eight places above Iran. Similar age to Kaebi. Where are his 50 caps? :laugh:

We might not agree on anything but I'd expect a better argument from someone of your intelligence.

But if you want to pick your team according to number of caps per player I suppose it would be novel.

[Thracian]

where do you find the cheek to say stuff like this?!? you must have spent about a year of your life 'conducting' campaigns to get god knows how many youth players in the first team. where are they now? leagues 1, 2 and below. just because every other one of your posts is about 2000 words long doesn't make them any more credible. i think kaebi (from what i've seen) would be a useful player on our bench right now. quick and unknown to the opposition. could fail but probably wouldn't. some first team minutes would do him the world of good.

I won't dignify the first part of the above because this is about Kaebi.

And so far, as far as I can see, no-one who has seen him play for the Reserves has come on here to champion his case for the first team.

Other members of our squad want a place in our first team too - people who've actually played well enough to deserve one.

Getting a full 90 minutes out of Kaebi should be City's first aim cos the last two games he hasn't managed even that.

[Fez of Mahrez]

We might not agree on anything but I'd expect a better argument from someone of your intelligence.

But if you want to pick your team according to number of caps per player I suppose it would be novel.

What are you on about? Someone has the slightest jokey dig at little Al and you get all defensive (more than he bothers with at least... )

I was just adding some meat to the bones of this assumption people like yourself have that it is no big achievement to gain 50 caps for Iran, considering their standing in world football relative to the likes of Australia, Northern Ireland and Canada for whom Kisnorbo, McAuley and Hume - three of our star performers - have made little impact whatsoever.

Pretty good argument actually.

[Bert]

Sounds a bit ignorant. A flippant remark maybe but Iran are ranked 40th in the world.

Andorra are ranked 169th.

Just to give some perspective, Northern Ireland are ranked 36th at the moment and are likely to slip below Iran now that Sanchez has gone, and how many of their defenders have to be unavailable for selection before Gareth McAuley gets a game...?

Marton Fulop's Hungary are 55th.

Patrick Kisnorbo's Australia are 48th.

Oh and... Alan Sheehan's Republic of Ireland are 32nd, a mere eight places above Iran. Similar age to Kaebi. Where are his 50 caps? :laugh:

Good detective work Fez.

[Thracian]

What are you on about? Someone has the slightest jokey dig at little Al and you get all defensive (more than he bothers with at least... )

I was just adding some meat to the bones of this assumption people like yourself have that it is no big achievement to gain 50 caps for Iran, considering their standing in world football relative to the likes of Australia, Northern Ireland and Canada for whom Kisnorbo, McAuley and Hume - three of our star performers - have made little impact whatsoever.

Pretty good argument actually.

I don't particularly rate McAuley or Kisnorbo either. The one is too slow and the other can't pass.

They've done alright in an essentially defensive side this season but the fact that we have to reinforce defensively - and did so under Kelly - just shows that they are suspect without that reinforcement.

The fact that both are ordinary centre-backs just re-emphasises my point about Kaebi's international caps really.

They are commendable enough in that he can only win caps for the country he belongs to but they don't mean he's a great player.

[Dames]

I don't particularly rate McAuley or Kisnorbo either. The one is too slow and the other can't pass.

They've done alright in an essentially defensive side this season but the fact that we have to reinforce defensively - and did so under Kelly - just shows that they are suspect without that reinforcement.

The fact that both are ordinary centre-backs just re-emphasises my point about Kaebi's international caps really.

They are commendable enough in that he can only win caps for the country he belongs to but they don't mean he's a great player.

Sheehan is unfortunate to have both these attributes.

[Tevez]

Facebook group to bring Kaebi into the first eleven anyone?

[Thracian]

Sheehan is unfortunate to have both these attributes.

Sheehan is an excellent passer generally.

[Dames]

Sheehan is an excellent passer generally.

Didn't look that way against Charlton.

[Thracian]

Didn't look that way against Charlton.

It's funny - there's rarely been a mention of Mattock's slip against Blackpool or McAuley/Kisnorbo's cock-ups against Charlton but you folk never let up about anything Sheehan does wrong.

Why not talk about the goals he's had a hand in? Or the cup run he's done so much to help us continue.

Or perhaps change tack altogether and criticise the considerably better paid strikers we have who've have hardly mustered a handful of goals between them?.

[hebangsthedrums]

It's funny - there's rarely been a mention of Mattock's slip against Blackpool or McAuley/Kisnorbo's cock-ups against Charlton but you folk never let up about anything Sheehan does wrong.

I think they have been mentioned - if ever I could be bothered to get involved in the Mattock v Sheehan debate I would certainly include the cockups he has made

Why not talk about the goals he's had a hand in? Or the cup run he's done so much to help us continue.

Perhaps if you let anyone else get a word in Thracian , I think you say everyhitng there is possible to say in his favour (plus about 500 words per post more)

Or perhaps change tack altogether and criticise the considerably better paid strikers we have who've have hardly mustered a handful of goals between them?.

Wages are irrelevant to me at the mo - I don't think we have any mercenaries any more, so I don't care what someones being paid, if their shite their shite. Youngsters get a bit of leeway but Al's been in and around the squad for several seasons now

[Geo V]

I don't particularly rate McAuley or Kisnorbo either. The one is too slow and the other can't pass.

They've done alright in an essentially defensive side this season but the fact that we have to reinforce defensively - and did so under Kelly - just shows that they are suspect without that reinforcement.

The fact that both are ordinary centre-backs just re-emphasises my point about Kaebi's international caps really.

They are commendable enough in that he can only win caps for the country he belongs to but they don't mean he's a great player.

Defenders should defend first and be able to distribute the ball second. Its down to our midfielders to make the space for them to be found with simple passes and then they and the strikers should earn there keep by doing something creative with the ball. I wouldn't criticize the likes of Kisnorbo either, especially when you see how many goals that he gets from defence. He`ll probably end up with more than any of our midfielders again.

[Dames]

It's funny - there's rarely been a mention of Mattock's slip against Blackpool or McAuley/Kisnorbo's cock-ups against Charlton but you folk never let up about anything Sheehan does wrong.

Why not talk about the goals he's had a hand in? Or the cup run he's done so much to help us continue.

Or perhaps change tack altogether and criticise the considerably better paid strikers we have who've have hardly mustered a handful of goals between them?.

It wouldnt be bad if you didn't champion him at the slightest oppurtunity.

You made Sheehan out to be the Irish equivalent of Roberto Carlos and quite frankly he has not impressed, Besides a few free kicks he's been below average.

You bend and manipulate stupid pointless stats making out he's the reason we win games or the reason why we don't concede as many.

To be short its all pointless crap.

Its getting boring to come on here to read about Sheehan, Dodds, Porter, Hammond and King over and over again.

If they was so good they would be playing in the Premiership, Only 2 are on the fringes of our quite average first team.

[mancunianfox]

It wouldnt be bad if you didn't champion him at the slightest oppurtunity.

You made Sheehan out to be the Irish equivalent of Roberto Carlos and quite frankly he has not impressed, Besides a few free kicks he's been below average.

I don't want to get too involved in this argument because it will never get resolved but Sheehan has played a part in about half our goals so far this season. He has made more of a contribution than most this season. In a team that lacks cutting edge going forward why drop the player who the player who is most likely to provide a goal?

[Dames]

I don't want to get too involved in this argument because it will never get resolved but Sheehan has played a part in about half our goals so far this season. He has made more of a contribution than most this season. In a team that lacks cutting edge going forward why drop the player who the player who is most likely to provide a goal?

Try about 1/4.