Man City

[Radovan's Caravan]

Mourinho has tipped Man City to win the premiership this season.

Special One tips Man City to win Premier League

[sunday, July 26, 2009 ]

José Mourinho believes that Manchester City’s new signings will see them win the Premier League for the first time since 1968.

The free-spending Eastlands club have bagged a series of top names that looks set to catapult them into genuine contenders for the Premier League next season.

Mourinho told the News of the World: "Emmanuel Adebayor up front with Carlos Tévez - unbelievable!

"And they have Roque Santa Cruz and Robinho too. What a strike force! That's it, City are champions for sure."

The Special One added: "It's not buying the title.

"You buy the players you think can do the job but you still need to prove you are the best - the best coach, the best team and that's tough and no amount of money can buy that."

http://www.insideworldsoccer.com/2009/07/j...ester-city.html

...he said tongue firmly wedged in cheek.

I'd be really careful about taking anything that Jose says at face value from now on. It must be nigh on impossible holding a conversation with him at the moment as he continually breaks into fits of uncontrollable laughter.

And wouldn't you if you effectively got 75 million euros for the laziest slug in world football? And staunched an annual 15 million euro outflow from your club?

All season long Moiurinho has been bigging up Zlatan the Sloth till one mug took the bait...

and handed over Sam the Man.

[SussexFox]

It is a mystery to me how Hughes is still there. Given the fees and contracts that City have lavished on players I am amazed that they have decided not to invest in a first class coach. Why did they abandon their pursuit of Mourinho?

We were continually told for the first half of last season that Hughes would not be on the payroll for the upcoming season. Even though City's form began to slide in the new year and Robinho's form dipped below the radar all talk of a new coach suddenly dried up. Why? Compensation could hardly be the issue - or was/is it?

There's little doubt in my mind that Hughes' presence was a turn off for some of City's targets. And there's no doubt either that his stewardship is the main reason why few are backing City to break into the top four. Events may prove us sceptics wrong but right now Hughes appears to be the weakest link.

And ADUG know it...

I completely agree with this. I still think Hughes will be sacked at some point this season.

[Jon the Hat]

If they were going to get rid why wait? There is something Hughes has which they are very impressed with. Else he would be gone by now.

[SussexFox]

If they were going to get rid why wait? There is something Hughes has which they are very impressed with. Else he would be gone by now.

I can't answer this...but I don't think Mark Hughes will be able to keep all these superstars happy and under control and also imagine if Man City have a bad start to the season or even a mediocre start...the Arabs will have the excuse and get rid of him

[Fez of Mahrez]

It is a mystery to me how Hughes is still there. Given the fees and contracts that City have lavished on players I am amazed that they have decided not to invest in a first class coach. Why did they abandon their pursuit of Mourinho?

We were continually told for the first half of last season that Hughes would not be on the payroll for the upcoming season. Even though City's form began to slide in the new year and Robinho's form dipped below the radar all talk of a new coach suddenly dried up. Why? Compensation could hardly be the issue - or was/is it?

There's little doubt in my mind that Hughes' presence was a turn off for some of City's targets. And there's no doubt either that his stewardship is the main reason why few are backing City to break into the top four. Events may prove us sceptics wrong but right now Hughes appears to be the weakest link.

And ADUG know it...

Manchester City still aren't operating at the highest level that could secure them the elite coaches such as Mourinho.

They didn't get Eto'o, they got Adebayor. They didn't get Kaka, they got Barry. They didn't get Terry, they're getting Toure. They didn't get Casillas or Buffon, they got Given. They didn't get Ronaldo, they got Tevez.

They couldn't get Mourinho any more than they could get any of these mentioned. They're dealing solely in cast-offs, wantaways and players whose contracts are up in terms of clubs in the Champions League, and happen to be paying them lots and lots of money. It'll take major progression this season to get to the point where they can get someone like Mourinho, and if Hughes can progress them to that point, is there any need to replace him?

[Radovan's Caravan]

Manchester City still aren't operating at the highest level that could secure them the elite coaches such as Mourinho.

They didn't get Eto'o, they got Adebayor. They didn't get Kaka, they got Barry. They didn't get Terry, they're getting Toure. They didn't get Casillas or Buffon, they got Given. They didn't get Ronaldo, they got Tevez.

They couldn't get Mourinho any more than they could get any of these mentioned. They're dealing solely in cast-offs, wantaways and players whose contracts are up in terms of clubs in the Champions League, and happen to be paying them lots and lots of money. It'll take major progression this season to get to the point where they can get someone like Mourinho, and if Hughes can progress them to that point, is there any need to replace him?

Fair points (he said patronisingly ). But...

Worth remembering that there was considerable investment last season at Eastlands and that under the inspired management of Mark Hughes, City finished 10th. Hughes of course was brought in to improve upon the record of a hapless Swede.

Despite very considerable uncertainty and upheaval during the latter part of the 2007/8 season Sven signed off with City in ninth place.

Progress for MH this season could be interpreted as any improvement on 10th. Given what the board has spent, City should be locking horns with a much weakened Arsenal for that fourth spot - that's what the club would expect if they brought in a top flight coach now and dispensed with the services of Mark Hughes. But for reasons best known to themselves ADUG appear to expect less from the incumbent.

Perhaps it is the certainty of (upwardly) revised expectations that is putting off the big reputation coaches. I suspect that no coach currently in the CL comfort zone wants to risk putting his cock on this block.

[Jon the Hat]

Yep.

[Tevez]

Toure is a snip at 16m.

[Babylon]

If they get Lescott and Toure I might have to start taking them seriously.

[Fez of Mahrez]

Fair points (he said patronisingly ). But...

Worth remembering that there was considerable investment last season at Eastlands and that under the inspired management of Mark Hughes, City finished 10th. Hughes of course was brought in to improve upon the record of a hapless Swede.

Despite very considerable uncertainty and upheaval during the latter part of the 2007/8 season Sven signed off with City in ninth place.

Progress for MH this season could be interpreted as any improvement on 10th. Given what the board has spent, City should be locking horns with a much weakened Arsenal for that fourth spot - that's what the club would expect if they brought in a top flight coach now and dispensed with the services of Mark Hughes. But for reasons best known to themselves ADUG appear to expect less from the incumbent.

Perhaps it is the certainty of (upwardly) revised expectations that is putting off the big reputation coaches. I suspect that no coach currently in the CL comfort zone wants to risk putting his cock on this block.

I don't really see any of that as a "but..."

They're obviously not quite in the same knee-jerk league as some owners, and recognise that this summer was the time when Hughes would really be able to bring in the big-money signings they're there to facilitate. If he gets them into the Champions League, then that's improvement. Anything less, even 5th and the Europa League, and the probability is that they will look elsewhere, particularly as they now have a number of players who won't want to go without the Champions League for (at least) two years running.

[Dr The Singh]

I don't really see any of that as a "but..."

They're obviously not quite in the same knee-jerk league as some owners, and recognise that this summer was the time when Hughes would really be able to bring in the big-money signings they're there to facilitate. If he gets them into the Champions League, then that's improvement. Anything less, even 5th and the Europa League, and the probability is that they will look elsewhere, particularly as they now have a number of players who won't want to go without the Champions League for (at least) two years running.

Agreed!! Crucial season for Man City, anything less then european footy and there could be a mass exodus and the sacking of MH!!

[Shane]

Martin O'Neill believes big-spending Manchester City should be considered among the favourites to claim this season's Premier League title.

Fuelled by the wealth of owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Eastlands club have already brought in Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor this summer.

Defender Kolo Toure is expected to follow from Arsenal, while it seems certain manager Mark Hughes will add to his squad further before the closure of the transfer window.

O'Neill's Aston Villa team are one of those expected to be overhauled by City.

But, far from expressing bitterness at the shift in power, the Northern Irishman has revealed his excitement at events in Manchester, and believes Hughes' men should now be placed alongside city rivals United, Liverpool and Chelsea as genuine title challengers.

"This Manchester City side is going to be so, so strong that they can withstand anything," O'Neill said.

"City might not be favourites to win the league but they should be. If Toure comes - and they still haven't stopped spending - they have as good a chance as anyone of winning it.

"This situation at City reminds me of Chelsea about five years ago - you can have great success if you can accumulate a group of top-quality players over a short period of time.

"There's part of me that's actually quite excited to see how they will do. It's as if the Premier League has been reinvented."

O'Neill does, however, admit that his attempts to break into the top four are likely to be rendered unsuccessful by City's splurge.

"I'm deflated by it," he added.

"You think, 'Well, you got quite close last year and suddenly another club has just stepped over you'. It kind of punctures you. I'm sure if you asked David Moyes at Everton he would think the same.

"I would say the top four has become a genuine top five. They're even seemingly putting it beyond the sides who would be competing within the top four."

http://msn.football365.com/story/0,17033,8...5458540,00.html

[Tilley]

Kolo Toure signs four year deal with Manchester City.

[flanimal]

One more centre back and a right back, and they have a sickeningly strong team.

[Hugo Sanchez]

Arsenal must be laughing hard. They're snap up 3-4 players to replace them. Who no one hasn't heard and turn them into superstars.

Man City won't finish higher then 5th.

[davieG]

One more centre back and a right back, and they have a sickeningly strong team squad.

Only time will tell if they have a sickeningly strong team, there's plenty of examples of clubs trying this approach and it didn't work that well.

[flanimal]

On paper it looks damn good. Adebayor is the only dodgy signing, in my opinion. But yeah, time will tell.

[Budweiser]

On paper it looks damn good. Adebayor is the only dodgy signing, in my opinion. But yeah, time will tell.

Agreed. Adebayor is very lazy.

Bet Arsenal couldn't believe they got 25m.

I think City will finish 4th/5th. Depending on who Arsenal sign.

[Tevez]

Man City will finish 3rd.

[lcfc_jme]

Man City are going to be absolutely useless on a cold January night in Bolton, that's for sure. Too many warm-climate, playing-at-home kinds of players.

Kolo Toure to bag a few goals though, definitely. He'll score more than Adebayor.

[Jon the Hat]

Man City are going to be absolutely useless on a cold January night in Bolton, that's for sure. Too many warm-climate, playing-at-home kinds of players.

Kolo Toure to bag a few goals though, definitely. He'll score more than Adebayor.

Yeah, the likes of Given, Lescott (matter of price), Barry, Ireland, Santa Cruz, Tevez all looked so bothered by the climate in their Northern English clubs in the past.

[Radovan's Caravan]

Fascinating this isn't it?

Man City's signings are not Alpha + but somewhere between Beta + & Alpha - and they are all being paid far, far, too much. Combine all that with coming together for the first time at a curate's egg of a club with a lacklustre coach and in any other circumstance the pundits would say that this was a recipe for disaster.

When you look at the signings' records on a case by case basis they don't look nearly so impressive:

Robinho - bench warmer at Real. Scored a modest 15 goals in first season at Eastlands. Much of his good work came before Xmas with a flurry towards the end. His away performances were criticised as was his commitment to the club. Not nearly enough flair for £32 million.

Barry - a solid season with Villa. A good technical player but Rafa's unwillingness to part with £15 million for him a year ago (a bog standard fee this days for a CL midfielder) suggests he has limitations - pace, aggression? Not much interest either from the other footballing oligarchs here or abroad.

Tevez - good season with a great club. But as we all know he was a squad player rather than a first teamer. Ferguson does play funny games though. You might recall it took ages for Tevez to get off the mark at West Ham. And, ownership issues apart why would a promising Argentinian go to a club like West Ham? What do top level coaches see when they peel off his work rate wrapper. A lack of goals, a canterer rather than a galloper - a lot of upmarket headless chicken running about?

Adebayor - a mediocre season with a great club in crisis. Ade is world class but unfortunately he has the attitude of one who knows it (Thierry was not a suitable role model for him). I think that his £8 million annual package may make him even worse (though whenever I hear of an African player getting such a contract I always think of Evra). Will be great at home. But the wet Wednesday in Wolverhampton?

Toure - a better season than Adebayor but that's not saying much (and has to take responsibility for some of Arsenal's defensive howlers on the road). For me, he is Hughes' best signing but at the venerable age of 28 on squillions a year how motivated will he be? Looking forward to seeing him - but in South Africa 2010 with Cote d'Ivoire.

Lescott? - very good season with goodish club. I like centre halves who score goals, that's part of what they are supposed to do. But he's no threat to the Rio-Terry partnership for your national side and few good clubs would look at him when he was slugging it out with Wolves in the Championship. There's plenty up front (on paper at least) at City to get the goals leaving him to do what I am not quite convinced he's really good at.

Man City open with two very interesting matches - Blackburn (A) & Everton (H). These are tricky fixtures (particularly revitalised Blackburn). Given City's recent form trend (strong starts and continually weak away) nothing less than 6 points here to assure CL football in 2010/11.

And leaping off the fence I'll tell you now - they won't get that.

[Budweiser]

Fascinating this isn't it?

Man City's signings are not Alpha + but somewhere between Beta + & Alpha - and they are all being paid far, far, too much. Combine all that with coming together for the first time at a curate's egg of a club with a lacklustre coach and in any other circumstance the pundits would say that this was a recipe for disaster.

When you look at the signings' records on a case by case basis they don't look nearly so impressive:

Robinho - bench warmer at Real. Scored a modest 15 goals in first season at Eastlands. Much of his good work came before Xmas with a flurry towards the end. His away performances were criticised as was his commitment to the club. Not nearly enough flair for £32 million.

Barry - a solid season with Villa. A good technical player but Rafa's unwillingness to part with £15 million for him a year ago (a bog standard fee this days for a CL midfielder) suggests he has limitations - pace, aggression? Not much interest either from the other footballing oligarchs here or abroad.

Tevez - good season with a great club. But as we all know he was a squad player rather than a first teamer. Ferguson does play funny games though. You might recall it took ages for Tevez to get off the mark at West Ham. And, ownership issues apart why would a promising Argentinian go to a club like West Ham? What do top level coaches see when they peel off his work rate wrapper. A lack of goals, a canterer rather than a galloper - a lot of upmarket headless chicken running about?

Adebayor - a mediocre season with a great club in crisis. Ade is world class but unfortunately he has the attitude of one who knows it (Thierry was not a suitable role model for him). I think that his £8 million annual package may make him even worse (though whenever I hear of an African player getting such a contract I always think of Evra). Will be great at home. But the wet Wednesday in Wolverhampton?

Toure - a better season than Adebayor but that's not saying much (and has to take responsibility for some of Arsenal's defensive howlers on the road). For me, he is Hughes' best signing but at the venerable age of 28 on squillions a year how motivated will he be? Looking forward to seeing him - but in South Africa 2010 with Cote d'Ivoire.

Lescott? - very good season with goodish club. I like centre halves who score goals, that's part of what they are supposed to do. But he's no threat to the Rio-Terry partnership for your national side and few good clubs would look at him when he was slugging it out with Wolves in the Championship. There's plenty up front (on paper at least) at City to get the goals leaving him to do what I am not quite convinced he's really good at.

Man City open with two very interesting matches - Blackburn (A) & Everton (H). These are tricky fixtures (particularly revitalised Blackburn). Given City's recent form trend (strong starts and continually weak away) nothing less than 6 points here to assure CL football in 2010/11.

And leaping off the fence I'll tell you now - they won't get that.

Im sorry but this completely ruined it. Under no circumstances is Adebayor world class. But that's just what I think.

[Hitesh]

Anyone see the press conference today? Thought Toure was pretty funny and sounds like a decent guy. Still beleive Hughes doesn't have a clue on what players he needs/wants though and can't see him being there after Xmas!

[Radovan's Caravan]

Im sorry but this completely ruined it. Under no circumstances is Adebayor world class. But that's just what I think.

I should have qualified this. He should be world class (which is why I don't rate him more than an Alpha-) but his attitude (one that appears to have been acquired rather than innate) lets him down. And all players who want a move away will start to act up and allow their reputations to suffer. My gut feeling is that form wise City is the wrong club for him.

Although one has to treat gongs with caution it should be remembered that he was voted African Player of the Year (the real bent CAF award not the BBC's brown nosing PC version) for 2007/8 - a title for which there is much competition these days.

If he had continued on the trajectory he was on the season before last few would now doubt his gifts.