Opening day vs Chelsea of all teams. I predict a 5-0 win, Hamann netting 4 and new captain Richard Dunne with the other (H) Camon and try it :rockman:

Barton for a hat trick in honour of his new contract! haha I bet psycho stood over him and promised to break his fingers if he didn't sign haha...

signings so far haven't been spectacular, but aren't the keegan types either... would have liked to have seen Reira stay but Pearce obviously has faith in the youngsters eh...

Micah Richards a star for the season? Displacing Distin who can then be sold? Onouha taking over from Mills on the right? Jordan on the left in for thatcher? Man we are gonna be a youthful side this year... could spring a few surprises on the big fish again...

And another 4 points from the Red SCUM. :jambo: :fool:

Fowler says Hullo :fool:

We say gudbye :fool:

Actually, the stupid thing is... when Bellamy became available from Newcastle, i was convinced we should be trying to get him to sit alongside Fowler... then lackburn grabbed him... and the rest is history :/

We've have WAY too many strikers so far, we now have Cole, Vassell, Samaras, Dickov and Corradi, ALL are obviously expecting a starting 11 spot. ah well, a little competition never hurt anyone, and I doubt Cole and Dickov can stay healthy all season long.

Dabo & Hamann are good signing, I guess Reyna isn't gonna feature much this season, barring injuries of course. and I liked the fact that Distin was stripped of the captaincy, he's overrated as hell, not a leader of any sort either. I don't really like Dunne either though, should've just given it to Barton right after he signed :(

So is Daniel Sturridge going to make a Rooney-esque debut this season?

Only in a cup game. Or in the event of mass poisoning.

Or in the event of mass poisoning.

when do we face Arsenal? :(

rumours in England claim Distin's on his way to Portsmouth, and we want to sign Reading's Ibrahim Sonko to replace him... one question, what the hell is a Sonko :(

i think city will be in the top 7 in the premiership this season. they have a strong midfield now and samaras will suprise everyone.

Personally I would be ahppy with top ten and a decent cup run... quarters or semis of FA cup etc.... i don't know if the squad is deep enough for a sustained challenge in the EPL, and Pearce is selling quite a few of the young midfielders lately (Croft, Flood). Most surprised about the Flood move myself... but I guess his chances were going to be limited with the signing of Hamaan and Dickov...

well Flood was great when he first came up, but after the loaning last season he came back and did worse than before. that and neither of them would get much playing time. I would've liked to see Croft stay though, Sinclair's too injury prone

Yeah its not just that though, it is me wondering if Pearce has let them go a season early... I dunno, just getting nervous I guess, no doubt we will do our usual start with a hiss and a roar and then fade away again... meh... I will pick it now...

First game of the season 1-1 with Chelsea. But **** what a start we have... Arsenal not long after that... guess we get them out of the way early eh... blaze up the table around Xmas....

Thing is... what will our first choice strike pair be? Cole/ Vassell? Corradi/ Samaras? Where does Dickov fit in? THing with him is he doesn't score many so I would rather see him out far wide right... but who are we gonna play on the left???

well maybe we won't necessarily play a flat 4-4-2 formation. but ya, about the strike pair, I have no clue. I'm pretty sure it'll start with Vassell-Cole, with Samaras getting a lot of starts here and there, while Corradi and Dickov just sit and wait their turns :S

James
Onouha Dunne Distin Thatcher
Sinclair Hamann Barton... ???
Cole Vassell

maybe we play Vassell down the left flank because of his pace? with Cole and Samaras up front? all I know for sure is that Barton will have a much more attacking role this season with the addition of Hamann.

Yeah this could be the season Bartons promise comes tough, provided he keeps his head on his shoulders properly... if the season turns a tad ****ty i expect he will start the whining again... but yes i agree Vassell down the left, his pace his good but his eye for goal not what it could be... Cole is getting on and Samaras isn't the fastest lad in the world so we need pace somewhere... Hamaan could well be a great signing, if it frees up Barton...

well our only pace is pretty much Vassell when it comes to strikers... I'm not sure about Corradi, I think he's only slightly quicker than Samaras. meh, we'll just have to wait and see what Psycho can conjure up :S


oh, and Pompey are preparing a bid for David James (H)(H)(H) man Redknapp is basically just like a really bad FM player with his 10+ signings per window :p

well we beat Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua 1-0 today in a friendly. surprisingly, Samaras played on the left wing :| and he scored the only goal with his left foot :| while Vassell and Coraddi played as the 2 strikers. odd indeed.

Haha gosh we are great (H)

you're going to be relegated.

Maybe... but we will still beat you :ewan:

I think that's become pretty obvious over the pas few seasons (H)


we lost to K. Antlers today, 4-3 in a thriller. Samaras, Sibierski and Barton from the subs bench scoring. our young keeper Joe Hart didn't seem to do too well, so I don't think James is going to Pompey.

also, rumours are we're trying to sign Trabelsi from Ajax. he's a right-back, if I'm not mistaken? he'd be a free transfer, so all we have to do is persuade him into coming

Trabelsi is decent (Y)

So I really can't see why should he go to City.

Haha, I thought he actually wanted to win something. How can somebody that was so close to signing for Arsenal a couple seasons ago end up....at Manchester City. :|

haters. CL football next season, you just wait and see :(

Hehe, I'm just kidding...I just felt like having a dig. Just to see the response. (H)

9th at the most for City this season though. :ewan:

I think that's become pretty obvious over the pas few seasons (H)


we lost to K. Antlers today, 4-3 in a thriller. Samaras, Sibierski and Barton from the subs bench scoring. our young keeper Joe Hart didn't seem to do too well, so I don't think James is going to Pompey.

also, rumours are we're trying to sign Trabelsi from Ajax. he's a right-back, if I'm not mistaken? he'd be a free transfer, so all we have to do is persuade him into coming

Yeah, sounds like hart wasn't to blame though, defence rubbish particulalry Mills so if we are getting cover for right back then thats all good, I htought Mills had been told he can leave though?

he was. I don't think anyone wants him though (H)

If we play him at left back Arsenal might buy him :fool: :p

haters. CL football next season, you just wait and see :(

City are a MASSIVE club, they deserve it don't they?


They've got the tallest floodlights in the Football League...
They've got the tallest floodlights in the Football League...
They've got the tallest floodlights in the Football League...
Oh! city are a massive club!

(H)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/5255064.stm

Late bid for Campbell? Distin to Portsmouth? Hmmmm... not sure about this...

In my opinion, Distin is a quality back. City would be remiss to give him up, especially for the russian roulette that has become sol campbell's defending

The rumours about Distin leaving seem have been going on for three seasons now... I don't know what is going on behind the scenes but maybe it is just time for him to go... he was captain but has lost it to Dunne, and he is prone to the occasional defenseive lapse... but I still think i would prefer him to Campbell at this stage in his career... unless he is being seen as a mentor for the likes of Oneouha.... I dunno... the defense definitely needs strengthening but it is the fullback positions where we need depth... unless Pearce is looking to play 3-5-2 or even 3-4-3 :| given the positions where we DO have depth... hey we could hark back to the Keegan era and start playing 2-4-4 given our striking options...

heh, a 2-4-4 would work good actually (H)

just read the whole Campbell thing... I honestly would have preferred him over Distin, especially because he'd be free. sell Distin for like 6M GBP and use the funds to get him. ah well, too late. I don't know why though, but I hate Distin. he's way too overrated, I'm glad he lost his captaincy because he's not that great of a leader on the pitch, but it just ended up going to another overrated defender :nape: and yup, we desperately need a new left back, Thatcher and Jordan aren't gonna cut it there anymore :S

Well I guess maybe Barton is longterm solution for captain... maybe give him so much responsibility he has to contain himself... but at the moment too young, needs to focus on his game (which looks pretty neat at the moment).

Step in for Wayne Bridge (H)

James has just asked to leave for Pompey... :| family reasons apparently. probably why we stepped in for Swedish keeper Isaksson a while back. hope we sign someone, don't think Weaver/Schmeichel/Hart are ready for the #1 :S

-City have agreed a deal with Pompey for James.
-Trabelsi has completed his move to City :D fantastic signing, but that kinda leaves Onouha's future in the air. maybe he can take over at CB if Distin were to leave?

You lot will run Chelsea close to the league now that Calamity has left the building. :jap: Didi, Isaksson and Trabelsi are quality additions. And I reckon Samaras will have settled in by now.

What's your starting lineup looking like?

great signing in Isaksson to replace King James (Y) :p


and our starting line-up is a bit of a mystery as to who's going to play left wing right now, as well as who the starting strike pair will be :S but it'll look somethin like this:

Isaksson
Trabelsi Dunne Distin Thatcher
Sinclair Barton Hamann ?
Vassell Samaras/Cole

...I think :(

err... the Isaksson transfer was a bit confusing, apparently it was completed during the weekend, but Pearcey denied this and the transfer's been completed today for 2M GBP. and I think that's how much we got for James (I've read both 2M and 1.2M, not sure which is correct). either way, great deal, a 24yo with 40-odd caps for his country (Y)

That's a fairly impressive team. :o Isaksson > James (H) Isaksson is a lot younger, quite athletic, good replacement. (Y)

Trabelsi, Isaksson, Hamann. Not bad, not bad at all.

breaking news...

Manchester City have accepted an offer from Middlesbrough for central defender Sylvain Distin.

In what has been one of the summer's longest running transfer sagas, City have repeatedly rebuffed Boro's attempts to land the accomplished Frenchman.

Distin captained City last term and was regarded as an integral figure at the club but Middlesbrough chief Gareth Southgate has been persistent in his desire to bring the player to The Riverside.

Portsmouth were also linked with an approach for the 28-year-old but it would now appear he is closing on a switch to the Teesside outfit.

City have confirmed that Distin is in talks with Middlesbrough about personal terms, with a deal expected to be completed before this weekend's Premiership kick-off.


well I remember us rejecting 5M bids for him, so hopefully we got a good sum for him. Don't really mind seeing him go, IMO very overrated, never really did like him. just wondering who's gonna replace him now. probably Richards?

Isaksson
Trabelsi Dunne Richards Thatcher
Sinclair Hamann Barton Samaras
Vassell Cole


looking pretty good... except for that left side, kinda sketchy :S

All hail Richard Dunne, King among men! :rockman:

Yeah, left side still dodgy... unless we play 4-3-3 and put vassells pace to good effect... kinda like united used to play with giggs on the left pushing up when he still had pace... guess pearce will see how things go wit the squad and make appropriate changes in the next transfer window... this could be micah richards year :)

Now being linked with Huth...

Huth? I don't think we really need him. Richards can easily replace Distin and we've got a prospect in Matthew Mills as a decent back-up centre back.

You're in no position to be refusing the **** droppings of Chelsea after conceding more than you scored last season, bitch.


Now grab that envirobag and start a scoopin' theys poopin'..........

we conceded a lot because we finished the season losing like 9 of the last 11 games or summit like that. before that we were like +10 in GD. that and Danny Mills aint starting anymore.

hmmmzer. That response constitutes as a reasonable excuse in my opinion.......


Carry on then, sir.

I don't wanna see Richards overplayed, pick up an injury and then be ****ed for the rest of the season. So I think a CB would be good... along with a left sided player.

Damn we could have got Duff for 5 mill :(

There has been more than a tentative enquiry made with regards to Kewell.

Kewell? "Meh". if he can somehow stay healthy I would like him at the club, but that's a big if given his run at Pool :S


oh, and apparently Cole is out for the Chelsea game, Hamann's very unlikely and Dunne is nursing a foot injury and is hoping to be match fit... not looking good :(

horrible game. murked. Dunne should be shot in the face. but then again we were missing our 3 top signings of the summer... with a full squad we would've done much better, but what can you do. on to Pompey.

Stock up on your favourite flavour of Anal Ease, Ronster, 'cause your season this year is gonna be equivalent to rough, rough jail sex, bro.


Now where dat willy go?

just wait til we have a healthy squad you rat bastard.

hurhurhurhur.........

Well it could have been worse. Weaver didn't command his box, Dunne had a shocker, Distin looked like his head was already in Boro, and Dabo looked like he needs some time to get used to the prem style. Samaras also looked quiet...

But yes, we certainly missed someone like Hamaan there today, and on the positive side I thought Ryna, Corradi (before he went off), Richards and Vassell when he came on looked sharp. At the end of the day this was CHelsea, not Portsmouth or Watford or anyone like that. First game against defending champs at their place is always gonna be hard, and now its out of the way. With Hamaan and Isaacson, the team will have more spine than today.

Biggest gripe: if SWP was playing for us today, he would have been a different player :(

so true :( and I was sitting there for so long wondering why Vassell didn't start... his pace is something we seriously need on the field, day in day out. Corradi and Samaras are too similar in style, no point of having both out there.

OK, so today vs Pompey. Isaksson may start as he is fit again, Trabelsi hasn't started training because of work permit issues so he's out for sure, Hamann just entered training so he's highly doubtful, and Corradi's suspended. and Coley's still out with a knee injury

sooo, probable line-up:

Isaksson
Richards Dunne Distin Thatcher
Sinclair Barton Reyna Dabo
Vassell Samaras

(:/)

actual line-up:

Weaver
Richards Dunne Distin Thatcher
Sincair Barton Reyna
Vassell Dickov Samaras

interesting... :confused:

kanu > weaver (Y)

0-0 FT. looks like more of the same from last season :nape:

Play Sun Jihai dammit!!

Pffft Thatcher....Bitter Scum, I hope bin laden parks a bus in yer stadium and wipe you out. Take Michael Brown wid yuh as well, he's lucky Keano wasn't there, or Keano would've cleaned his clock. Man Sissy Bitter Gob****e scum, die slow.

http://www.4thegame.com/media/00/02/99/REHaaland.jpg

didn't see what happened, but Pearce mentioned the incident in his post-game. what was it, a blatant elbow or a horrible tackle? :(

He's ****in scum, it was a ****in deliberate elbow, he ******* sprinted full speed and slammed into him with an elbow. The poor guy was knocked the **** out and even had a seizure. He's in the hospital now while thatcher gets away with a ****in yellow card, while we have 2 ******* vital players sitting on red cards. Thatchers a ****in disgrace and I hope he dies the most painfull death imaginable, and if he's not punished accordingly I swear I'll ******* mail anthrax to the FA. :hit:

Thatcher maybe scum but Keane ended a few careers too so **** off United fans :p

Said in the other thread, and ill say it here too. Thatcher deserves to be banned for a very, very long time.

I would honestly PREFER to see him banned... I wanna see Sun Jihai play damn it :(



PS: Distin's staying with City for the last year of his contract... **** :p

more good news, Isaksson needs surgery on his injured foot and is out for 3-6 weeks :( I guess Weaver's a good enough replacement :S

ok, Weaver's a fantastic replacement (H) intense ******* game, defense played amazing in the 2nd half to hold the lead. Richards and Dunne were just brick walls, Distin was shaky, and Jordan showed he's 100x better than Thatcher. Sinclair was OK, his passing was kinda off. Vassell wasn't great, but he tried his best as a left winger. Dabo and Barton were great, worked hard. as did Dickov and Corradi up front, just tireless workers those 2. just a great team performance overall, finally a win :D :Bow:

seems we're close to signing Thomert from Lens... striker #6 :|

Citeh's Gay Recruitment Drive

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/5290534.stm

Manchester City FC has signed up to a scheme to help it attract more gay fans and staff.
The club has paid a four-figure sum to join the Diversity Champions scheme, run by gay rights group Stonewall.

It is the first professional club to join the scheme, which focuses on a range of gay-friendly initiatives.

The club said it wanted to send a welcoming message to gay, lesbian and bisexual supporters, be inclusive and be a progressive employer.

Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill described Man City's decision as a "significant step" for English football.

He said: "Manchester City should be congratulated for putting their head above the parapet and moving into the 21st century."

In the next few weeks, the organisation will be looking at specific areas to target and work on with the club.

Mr Summerskill said: "The work can range from looking at recruitment processes to what's already going on in the workplace, to developing marketing strategies.

"It is mainly about Manchester City wanting to be an exemplary employer."

Mr Summerskill said he believed that a more gay-friendly environment would attract more straight fans, as well as homosexuals, because families were more likely to attend an atmosphere free from homophobic abuse.

He added: "If we help to get the club more supporters, more money and better staff, then they will have better training, better facilities, and it is all part of a virtuous circle of success."


_________________________

A tad queer, no?

man wat a manchester city party we had on saturday after their win against arsenal :lui: :jacko:

gone for 4 days and what do I miss :|

-Sibierski out to Newcastle (meh)
-Cole to Pompey :|
-DMB on loan!!! ******* amazing

but wow, some big ****. also Thatcher's been suspended by the club for 6 games, Isaksson's eyeing a Sep17 return while Trabelsi may be back by the 11th.


PS: ahsan party

haha, just read that Noel Gallagher tried to lure Del Piero to Man City in the summer (H)

and we lose to Reading. man we have a horrible attack. and our central defensive duo are horrible. seriously, Dunne & Distin are so incredibly overrated :( that and Corradi and Dickov combined have the talent of a broom (N) :nape: just cant wait til we have a healthy 11, can't see us doing so badly

Dabo < Kuranyi's beard


PS: Silat training videos > Distin

broom + shevkovsky > ben thatcher and aurellio from valencia

fingers crossed Hamann and Beasley start tomorrow :(

sigh, more of the same from the end of last season :nape:

line-up looked like this:

Weaver
Trabelsi Dunne Distin Richards
Sinclair Hamann Barton Jordan :|
Dickov Corradi

still not our strongest formation but this is getting out of hand, we need to start winning (N)



edit: just read a match report, seems we were the better team, but once again our finishing lets us down... especially Richards, he needs some target practice with his ******* headers :nape:

oh for the love of God... Chesterfield?! this is getting way too pathetic, Psycho's on the brink now

gioooooooool for germany :lui:

"I believe it's what's known as 'to moon' Garth?"
- Ray Stubbs

Richards with a last-second strike to steal a point away from home against unbeaten Everton... amazing result :p

San Marino > Man City = Same color jerseys, but bettaer strikaers (C)

Man we are ****.


a bag of peanuts > Corradi and Dunne :nape:

Allofs rejects Klasnic talk

The Croatian international has lost his starting place alongside Miroslav Klose to youngster Aaron Hunt and has been forced to spend large parts of the season on the bench.

His demotion to the periphery of first team football created rumours that he will leave the Weser-Stadion even before his contract expires next summer.

Reports emerging from Croatia suggest Premiership outfit Manchester City could be interested in luring the tall forward to England, while German sources continue to link Klasnic with struggling Bundesliga outfit Hamburg.

"We have a strong selection of strikers and don’t even think about parting company with Klasnic during the winter," stressed Bremen’s director of sport Allofs.

Klasnic, who joined Werder in 2001 from St Pauli, has so far refused to comment on his plans, but as Bremen appear to be moving closer to signing Germany international Jan Schlaudraff from Aachen, it would appear he could soon be deemed surplus to requirements.
-------------------------------------

Looks like you guys are being linked to him. If Bremen get Schlaudraff then Klasnic is leaving for sure. I highly doubt he would go to Hamburg since they are floating around the relegation zone and he would want some kind of european football aswell.

some kind of european football aswell.
At Man City?

I really love this team.Samaras is my favourite player.Also he is a greek and i am a turkish boy :mrpimp:

At Man City?


lol well no, but they are doing better than HSV.

Theofanis Gekas : Turkish bird eater

Dickov's probably done after this season, thank God, so perhaps we can use Klasnic... but I dont think we need him roo much, it's our midfield that sucks ass right now, also we need a new left back (N)

You should've kept Tarnat, he still performs week in week out at 37 years of age. :p

if it were up to me I would've kept him :(

finally an away win today, apparently Distin scored a goal of the season candidate :o

also Trabelsi's been consistently great for us when he's been healthy, hopefully he can keep it up (Y)

saw a few moments of the derby and Micah is looking to be an absolute great talent. I see him at Arsenal in the very near future, unfortunately for you guys :(

as long as it aint Chelski

I'd actually love him at Milan but it wont happen :D

His physique is quite big, is he better at CB?

I bought him for Milan in FM and put him in CB and he's my best player if that means anything (H) I think he can naturally play CB but his aggression and tenacity make him best suited for RB since he's allowed to roam the pitch a lot more.

']His physique is quite big, is he better at CB?
Yep, thats kuranyi in every way imaginable. :Bow:

...?

Smolarek a City target
Euzebiusz SmolarekCITY'S multi-national, multi-layered transfer wanted lists have been expanded to include Polish star Euzebiusz Smolarek.

Blues' boss Stuart Pearce is determined to bring in more firepower during the transfer window and Smolarek, who will be 26 in a week's time, is just one of many players home and abroad to catch his attention.

Sources in Smolarek's homeland suggest that several Premiership sides are interested in his signature and City confirmed last night that they had watched him.

Advertisement your story continues below
Whether or not Smolarek makes it to England, it shows the calibre and standing of the kind of player Pearce is looking towards to improve his squad.

Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund would want around £2m for the World Cup striker who has been in impressive form in the German elite league since his move from Feyenoord in Holland.

Conclusion

Lodz-born Smolarek, who can play through the middle or out wide on the right and has even had a stint in central midfield, was named Polish Footballer of the Year in 2005 and has scored three times in as many games for his national side in the current Euro 2008 qualifying matches.

Unless investment talks between chairman John Wardle and financial suitors come to a remarkably swift conclusion, Pearce, who is fiercely determined not to sell in order to buy, will have only a limited budget in the window.

Even so, he has set himself the task of bolstering the Blues' strike-force for the second half of the season.

He wants at least one striker and an attacking midfielder and Lens' Olivier Thomert, a long-time target is still very much in his sights.

Not sure about you guys, but I'd love to see Smolarek joining Manchester City. This is my favourite club in whole Premiership and he's my fav player. Nevertheless here has played Kazzy Deyna(H). He would continue the short tradition of Polish players which have played here.(H)

well we can surely use a more consistent striker to partner Vassell since Samaras and Corradi are both ****e, but given our extremely limited funds, I'd say our top priority would be to get a new left back and possibly a central defender. if we sell Distin (God willing) and get some extra funds out of it, then Smolarek may be a realistic target (Y)

Smolarek is a bit **** so yeah he would be a realistic target.

Whether or not Smolarek makes it to England, it shows the calibre and standing of the kind of player Pearce is looking towards to improve his squad.

Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund would want around £2m for the World Cup striker who has been in impressive form in the German elite league since his move from Feyenoord in Holland.
:| :funny:

I've read that the next Pearce's transfer target is Dawid Janczyk from Legia Warsaw. He would come to a City for less than 1 million euro. He's one of the most promising players in Polish league and he's only 19.

what position is he? hope Pearce does better with this guy than he has with Samaras so far :nape:

Janczyk is a striker. He needs to move from Legia and get more experience abroad. Surely he can become a class striker just has to get a chance. And what's about Samaras? Doesn't he doing well at City? I thought he has scored many goals in the last few matches.

Premiership duo eyeing Madlung


Tottenham and Manchester City are reported to be interested in Wolfsburg defender Alexander Madlung.

Reports emanating from Germany suggest the English duo are weighing up moves for the 24-year-old.

Local daily Wolfsburger Nachrichten claimed that scouts from both clubs have watched him in the past weeks and that the Premiership duo checked Madlung out during the recent 2-2 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt.

The former Under 21 international, who is tied to the club until 2009, has been in fine form since joining the Wolves from Hertha Berlin last summer.

Madlung won his first full international cap in Germany’s 2-0 win over Georgia last year and the giant defender is tipped for a big future in the game.


If he leaves, I really hope he goes to Man city. He can get way more playing time there than in Tottenham.

a poor man's Huth :(

a poor man's Huth :(

LMAOOOO good one, hes pretty big and strong though and i am a big fan of Huth. Huth has potential and so does Madlung, but im not sure if Huth starts at Middlesbrough or not.

we don't need a Madlung, we need a ******* miracle.

Madlung IS a miracle....he liplee ingliss oop ana :jambo:

i heard u guys r getting cacapa.

I heard we wanna get Lucio as a striker to replace Samaras

Emile Mpenza. The best man to destroy team chemistry.

^^^ LOOOOOOOOOL, you guys should sign Ice-blu, that Italian moderator while he is available or just stick to Kuranyi

Mpenza > Podolski.

If you've played in Saudi Arabia, you know your career is over and should just go to Man City :drevil: