Manchester City Thread [07/08]

[rony31]

man that was just a horrible game to watch as a City fan.. easily our worst game of the year other than the Chelski match of course. we probably had 80% possession in the 2nd half and could only create 2 good chances, 1 header from Vassell and 1 from Bianchi, both wonderfully saved by Robinson. other than that, we were basically passing the ball around for a minute, then would give it away carelessly while Spurs wasted time. and that red card against Zokora was bogus, Malbranque's tackle a few minutes later was way worse and he didn't get sent off... blah, there goes our best shot at silverware this season.

PS: Elano looked off in his first match back, hopefully he regains his form fast

 

[rhizome17]

meh, I am not too fussed. The first goal was the stupid point of the game, and if it had stayed eleven men then we probably could have come back. But once they were down to ten men so soon you knew they would be all behind the ball, and a second goal is always likely on the break in that situation when we are in all out attack mode. Basically it underlined just how short of striking options we are, Bianchi had a couple of chances that should have been put in but he is either lazy or lacking a yard, or just not backing himself to reach the ball.... maybe saving himself for a move to Italy and not willing to risk injury?

But hey, quarter final isn't so bad, we are still FOURTH in the league, plus still active in the FA cup, and Castillo has just signed for a year and who knows what else will happen in January. But boy is would be great to have a player like Berbatov in the team.

 

[rony31]

and the way Malbranque embarrassed Dunne for the 2nd goal... that there was our captain

 

[adobe_sun]

oh, yea Berbatov was spectacular that night. The whole Spurs team improves under Ramos, don't forget how weak they were at the start of the current season.
Martin on the other side, was kept quiet whole game, very good job by Tainio. Elano was out of form , his worst game by now.

Does Castillo really signed a contract now? i heard otherwise...

I wouldn't brag about that loss so much. The home winning streak went down, but still continues in the premiership. I'd rather have ManCity 4th at the end, instead of 5th or 6th plus a cup without much of a meaning..

 

[rhizome17]

I would rather see City in seventeenth and United at eighteenth come the end of the season.

 

[rony31]

don't think either is very likely right now, Aaron

Castillo deal is done, apparently the fee is 3M GBP and Castillo himself is going to fund some of the deal for him to come to City... awesomeness

 

[rony31]

Hart to be City's No.1

Sven Goran Eriksson has confirmed Joe Hart as Manchester City's first-choice goalkeeper for the 'foreseeable future'.

City have used three keepers in the Premier League this season, with Kasper Schmeichel and Andreas Isaksson also having a spell between the sticks.

Isaksson has started the last four league matches, but Hart will return to the side for Saturday's trip to Aston Villa.

Eriksson acknowledged that his decision could prompt Sweden international Isaksson to consider his future at City.

"On Saturday, Joe Hart will play and will be my No.1 for the foreseeable future," Eriksson told the club's official website.

"I have had talks with Andreas today and obviously he's not very happy. I had to make a choice and for this moment I've made the choice in Joe Hart.

"I don't know if Andreas wants to leave or stay and fight for the place, but I told him it's very much up to him.

"I will not be surprised and I will understand it if he wants to leave.

"It was important and for the players to come up with this decision before the window opens in January."

Eriksson also has a Singapore goalkeeper currently training with his squad, along with Saudi Arabia captain Yasser Al Qahtani.

He added: "We have a goalkeeper from Singapore and a striker from Saudi Arabia training with us here, so we'll see what's happening there."




big, BIG mistake by SGE. picking a youngster who, no disrespect to the kid, just doesn't seem like he's ready to go a full season at #1 for a team competing for a European spot. Isaksson's been solid when called upon, an accomplished Swedish international, more experienced... just doesn't make any sense, almost as bad as the Bianchi situation. bad decision

 

[rony31]

on another note, Dunne is a ****in joke. how could this man be captain, makes so many silly mistakes it's unbelievable. got toyed with like a little kid on Carew's goal and made a further 3 or 4 clumsy plays that could've cost us. we got lucky to come out with a point, we looked exhausted out there and Villa could've easily got away with all 3. but we battled hard and came out with a good result away from home. Elano's really lacking that edge he had before the injury, hope he regains his form soon. him, Petrov and Nery will be a lethal attack come 2008... cant wait

 

[rhizome17]

Pretty happy with a point, Villa were imo the team most equal with us at present and nice to see we held on for a point against them on the road. Didn't see this game but sounds like it was a case of tired legs, so the Transfer window is coming at the right time.

Castillo looks class from the youtube videos I have seen

 

[Schweinsteiger]

I'm often annoyed when we don't pick up three points against teams lower than us the table, but to be honest I'm stoked that we came away with anything against Villa. That looked like a game to be lost. Fernandes was wonderful out there.

Isaksson imo should be n.1 without a doubt! Experienced and very solid. Hart looks good but jees its a massive gamble.

 

[rhizome17]

An Iraqi in the house?

Iraq star Akram set for Man City trial

Iraqi midfielder Nashat Akram has received an invitation for a trial with Manchester City, according to a statement on the player's own official website.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who was second runner-up in the 2007 Asian Player of the Year voting, will undergo a 10-day trial with Sven-Goran Eriksson's side after receiving the green light from his Abu Dhabi-based club Al Ain for the trial.

'After receiving an invitation to undergo a 10-day trial with Manchester City, Al-Ain's administration has given the green light to Nashat Akram to go ahead and travel to England,' said the website of the former Al Shabab player.

'Akram will be heading to England in the upcoming days,' added the website.

Akram will be the second west Asian player to trial with Manchester City this week as AFC Player of the Year and Saudi Arabia skipper Yasser Al Qahtani travelled to Manchester last week to trial with the team.

Interesting. Our net is really cast wide these days.

 

[adobe_sun]

pah, i doubt someone will sign him. I guess if he was a 17 year old magician, Sven would, but for a 23- year old..

 

[rony31]

haha, amazing.. I would obviously love to see him be handed a permanent deal with the club Blackburn at home tomorrow... HOME.... so we all know what to expect..right?

 

[rony31]

I hope Richard Dunne dies of cancer. there I said it.

 

[adobe_sun]

ugh! very tough words you know. i don't wish such a things..
Dunne plays bad during the last games, but it's not his fault, there are certain players that play every game, 90 mins since the start of the season, so it's normal to get tired, especially at his age.

But your best player was Martin Petrov. What a great game for him, he made the two City goals, also gave two great opportunities for Bianchi to score, but he was either late or reacting to slow.. At the end of the day Roque scored again. I think it's a well deserved draw. If someone should have won the game though, it must have been City..

 

[rony31]

not to mention what Howard Webb was on when he allowed the 2nd goal... Dunn was CLEARLY offside and CLEARLY jumped up to try and head the ball, so he was involved with the play and it should've been whistled offside... but Webb waves it off and allows the goal? punished by another bad call.

 

[adobe_sun]

Yes this was totally bad decision, i agrre here. The linesman was the guilty one, he was either blind, or a Blackburn bribed one.

Tomorrow the game versus Liverpool. Pool have a lot people ruled out for the game, but that's not a point. Let us don't forget City have a lot problems too - Bojinov and other guys injured.
Pool were average at their away games this season, the only one that was pure quality was the champions league fixture versus Marceille. But it is still possible that they unleash this same power on the City of Manchester stadium, so Sven needs to be veyr careful with his defensive tactics for that game.
I expect Elano back, but like Sven said on the press conference today, Petrov is the one he expects to deliver the attacking force from the mid, and i pretty much expect Martin to break down Finnan on the left wing

 

[rony31]

I love Richard Dunne... ok, seriously, he played the best game I've seen him play in years today, as did our entire defensive unit. disappointed to see us HAVE to defend like that, our attack was lacking. Petrov and Vassell seem tired from all these games, Elano doesn't look 100% at all and we need Johnson deep-playmaker abilities back

 

[adobe_sun]

Like aforementioned, it is NOT possible to let one and the same players stay on the pitch for whole 90 mins EVERY game. This will lead to some injury at the end of the day..
Sven needs some fresh blood in the midfield, because it showed, that in case JOhnson, Elano or Ireland are out, then there's no one to do the playmaker job.
Martin can run on the left wing as long as he wants, but unless he gets some service, it will be unnecessary.

 

[rhizome17]

nice to get an away win at last, the double over Newcastle, no goals conceded, back up to fourth on the table

nice way to greet the new year, and Sven says Castillo may feature this weekend