Manchester City 07/08

[snout]

The City official site:

Manchester City has confirmed that eight senior players have been released by the Club.

Trevor Sinclair – Signed from West Ham in July 2003, the former England international and lifelong City fan made 65 league starts for the Blues, scoring five goals, two of which came in derby wins at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Stephen Jordan – A product of the City Academy, Stephen made most of his 57 starts at left back but occasionally filled in at centre half. His final appearance came in Sunday’s defeat at White Hart Lane.

DaMarcus Beasley – The American winger returns to PSV Eindhoven at the end of his season-long loan from the Dutch club, having made 13 starts for the Blues. DaMarcus scored on four occasions, most memorably his late strike at Upton Park giving City a 1-0 win over West Ham just after Christmas.

Hatem Trabelsi - The Tunisian international started 20 times following his arrival in the August transfer window and scored once, in the derby at Old Trafford last December.

Nathan D’Laryea – The 21-year-old central defender never appeared for the first team but captained the reserve side on many occasions, he also had a loan spell at Macclesfield early in 2007.

Djamel Abdoun – The French winger arrived in January on a six-month loan from French side Ajaccio, making one substitute appearance in the FA Cup win over Southampton.

Laurence Matthewson – The goalkeeper was part of the Under 18 side that reached last season’s Youth Cup final and played for the reserves this season.

Ashley Williams – Midfielder who also appeared in the Youth Cup final and played for both reserve teams in the Barclays Premiership Reserve League and Pontins League.

The Club wishes them all well for the future.



Edit by Admin:

This thread is for specialist news on Manchester City FC of interest to the Fantasy Football fan. Please keep irrelevant comment and banter away from this thread.

Official website -
http://www.mcfc.co.uk

NewsNow Manchester City -
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/newsfeed/?name=Manchester+City

Soccernet stats -
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/squad?id=382

FISO thread to May 07:
viewtopic.php?t=20

[snout]

The official site:

Following on from yesterday’s list of released players, Manchester City have confirmed the six players signing their first professional contracts with the Club.

After 16 goals in 23 starts at Academy level and a further six goals from 10 Barclays Premiership Reserve starts, Ched Evans has progressed to join the senior squad. It has been a fine season for the 18-year-old who went on to win a first Under 21 cap for Wales and scooped the Official Supporters Club’s ‘Most Promising Player of the Year’ award.

Seventeen-year-old midfielder Paul Marshall is rewarded for an impressive season for both the Academy Under 18 side and the Barclays Premiership Reserve team. Big defender Clayton McDonald, 18, whose father Rod McDonald, played for Walsall, Partick Thistle and Chester City has also signed terms.

Finally, Curtis Obeng, Javan Vidal and Adam Clayton [!] (all 18) also make the step up from Platt Lane to Carrington next season. They all join Ashley Grimes, who has signed his second professional deal with the Blues, following a return of 10 goals in 20 reserve team starts this season and loan spell with recently promoted Swindon Town.

[murf]

With youngsters like Adam Clayton coming through from the Youth Cup ranks at City, it's nice to see that, like Liverpool, you too have a solid base for the future.


(sorry I know these threads are sacred but it is the close season and I couldn't resist getting a 2 for 1 on the bad puns)

[snout]

The City official site:

Three more City players have been called up by their countries for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers. Andreas Isaksson, who finished the domestic season as City’s first choice keeper, is in the Swedish squad that will be aiming overhaul Northern Ireland at the top of group F. Sweden make the short trip to Copenhagen on June 2nd to take on Denmark, before returning home to play Iceland in Solna the following Wednesday

Georgios Samaras returns to Crete, his birthplace, for Greece’s two games against Hungary and Moldova, which take place at the Pakritio Stadium in Heraklion. The 2004 champions are jostling with Turkey at the top of group C but are five points clear of Bosnia-Herzegovina in third. Emile Mpenza will be hoping to add to his 52 caps in Belgium’s tough two qualifiers. The striker finished the English season with a goal at White Hart Lane, and he will be hoping his good vein of form continues against Portugal in Brussels and Finland in Helsinki.

Joe Hart, Nedum Onuoha and Michael Johnson are in the provisional 30-man squad for the England Under 21s at a training camp in Spain. The trio will be hoping to nail down a place in the final for 23 the European Championships in June when it is finalised next week.

[snout]

The City official site:

Former Manchester City Manager Stuart Pearce has named Joe Hart and Nedum Onuoha in his 23-man squad for the European Championships, which take place in Holland from June 10. Having previously selected a 30-strong preliminary squad, Pearce decided to take the young Blues who he knows so well from managing them all season long. Unfortunately, midfielder Michael Johnson missed out on the Championship squad, but it is credit to him for his end of season form that the 19-year-old was in contention in the first place.

[The Ledge]

Much in the Ramos story?

Ramos tipped to manage Man City - BBC.

Would appear to be a good appointment, but is it just another ounce of hope before we end up with some unexciting nomark, who's first move is to get rid of Richards

[snout]

The official site has a small announcement to make:

The following statement has been released to the Stock Exchange -

The Boards of UK Sports Investments and Manchester City are pleased to announce the terms of a recommended cash offer by UK Sports Investments to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Manchester City other than for the Manchester City Deferred Shares.

The Offer will be 40.0 pence in cash for each Manchester City Share, valuing the existing issued share capital of Manchester City at approximately £21.6 million. Together with net debt of approximately £60.0 million as at 31 May 2007, this represents an enterprise value of approximately £81.6 million.

UK Sports Investments is a newly incorporated English company established for the purposes of making the Offer and which is indirectly controlled by Dr Thaksin Shinawatra and his son and daughter, Panthongtae and Pintongta Shinawatra.

The Board of Manchester City, which has been so advised by Investec, considers the terms of the Offer to be fair and reasonable. In providing its advice to the Board of Manchester City, Investec has taken into account the commercial assessments of the Manchester City Directors.

The Board of Manchester City intends unanimously to recommend that Manchester City Shareholders accept the Offer, as the Manchester City Directors have irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their own beneficial shareholdings of Manchester City Shares and those of certain of their connected persons. Those holdings amount, in aggregate, to 18,902,733 Manchester City Shares, representing approximately 35.0 per cent. of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Manchester City.

[snout]

The City official site reports:

Dr Thaksin Shinawatra says that Sven Goran Eriksson is one of the managers he is considering for the Sport City hotseat. The former Thai Prime Minister, who has made a formal offer for Manchester City, has confirmed he has held preliminary discussions with the former England boss.

Dr Shinawatra said: “Yes, I have met him once last week. He is one of the names that my advisors have suggested to me.” He added that no decision that no decision had been made on the managerial job, and that discussions would continue over the next few days.

Dr Shinawatra stressed that he already had substantial funds in place to cover the offer for the Club, and that investigations into his finances in Thailand were “politically motivated,” and were prompted by the military junta who overthrew his democratic government last year. “This investigation is politically motivated by the junta and I am sure that when democracy comes back to Thailand in December the situation will be resolved.”

He stressed that funds for the offer had been lodged long before the recent investigation began in Bangkok, and pledged to fight clear his name in his home country. He said he would return to Thailand in the forthcoming months, but only when the political situation was more stable and his priority was to avoid any harm coming to his supporters. Dr Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai party has 14 million members nationwide.

Dr Shinawatra said he was comfortable living in Britain as it was a “mature democracy”, and commended the Premier League's “’fit and proper regulation system for directors of football clubs’”. He also promised to never disappoint the Club’s passionate fan base, who have been yearning for success.

"I have heard a lot about the Club and that it is a very long established Club with a good history and what English people call 'a sleeping giant'. I want to make the giant wake up from its sleep and I'll try my best for the Club."

On the issue of transfer funds, Dr Shinawtara said: “When you buy a boat, you need to buy an engine! If necessary it may cost £50m, it may cost £30m or it may cost £20m. I will leave recruitment to my advisors, but I know we need two strikers, two midfielders and maybe some others.”

[plasticninja]

Anyone got any clues to how City will be lining up at the back now Distin has gone?

[Auspicious]

Anyone got any clues to how City will be lining up at the back now Distin has gone?

On current squad it will be (right to left)
Richards Dunne Onuoha Ball (rumoured to be signing new contract)
Though Richards and Onuoha might swap positions

I would personally sign another experienced centre half. Though our priorities are to sign a whole new midfield and attack

[plasticninja]

Thanx,good luck on your midfield and attack.

[snout]

Thankx for the thanx, PN, I think we'll need it.

Meanwhile, the official City site reports:

Manchester City can confirm that Michael Ball has signed a new two-year deal with the Blues. The left-back impressed during his short term deal after joining the Blues from PSV Eindhoven in January. Ball made 14 appearances and scored a vital goal against Preston in the FA Cup. Despite offers from other Barclays Premier League clubs, Michael decided to stay with City for what could prove to be an exciting season ahead.

Quite! I think he's suspended for the first game or two however. Can't remember what for.

[snout]

The official site announces:

Sven-Goran Eriksson has made his foray into the transfer market since arriving at Manchester City by completing the signing of Reggina striker Roland(o) Bianchi. The 24-year-old moves to City from the Serie A club for an undisclosed fee, and will wear the number 10 shirt.

Rolando’s career began at Atalanta, and following a spell on loan at Cagliari he was transferred there permanently in 2003. Two years later he moved to Reggina, where his first season was disrupted by a serious knee injury, sustained in an Under 21 international for Italy. 2006/07 was a much more successful time for Rolando, whose 18 goals played a huge part in the Calabrian club avoiding relegation and saw him become the season’s fourth highest goal scorer in Serie A.

Eriksson is delighted to have the striker on board, and he says: "He scored nearly 20 goals last season in Serie A, which is a lot of goals in such a difficult league. He's young, and I think it's a very important signing because he should have a great future. He's a good footballer as well as a good goal scorer, which is what we need.

"He's very hard working, very strong and he can score - if you can score nearly 20 goals in Serie A and you are not with one of the top clubs like Milan or Juve then you must be talented. It's a good record, and let's hope he continues with it. The signing's good because the club has been working very hard, and there will be some more to come in for sure. I hope that the fans will be happy with this first signing, and the rest as well. Then it's up to the player, but I'm very optimistic about Rolando."

[snout]

We might be able to field an XI soon. The official site announces transfer deal #2:

Sven-Goran Eriksson has made his second signing with the capture of promising Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes. The 20-year-old moves from FC Sion for an undisclosed fee, and he will fly out to Sweden for City's pre-season tour along with Eriksson's first signing, Rolando Bianchi, and the rest of the squad on Sunday. Fernandes made 32 starts for the Swiss Super League club last season and he is captain of Switzerland's Under 21 side. He has recently attracted the interest of a number of Premier League sides, including Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United.

[Auspicious]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-hhU0EGrVlc&NR=1
City win 3-1 @ Doncaster
Corradi, Richards and Mpenza.

[vinnyutd6899]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-hhU0EGrVlc&NR=1
City win 3-1 @ Doncaster
Corradi, Richards and Mpenza.

WELL TAKEN GOAL BY RICHARDS AS WELL

[thepole]

Another signing just been made, Geovanni on a free

(long url hidden)

[snout]

Another signing just been made, Geovanni on a free

This one should have no trouble convincing the grizzlers:

His diving header, when he stole in between Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville, helped the Portuguese giants dump Manchester United out of the Champions League at the group stage in December 2005

[Auspicious]

Another signing just been made, Geovanni on a free

This one should have no trouble convincing the grizzlers:

His diving header, when he stole in between Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville, helped the Portuguese giants dump Manchester United out of the Champions League at the group stage in December 2005

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGpNzOBQIo
Dull commentatory though:lol:

[snout]

Sven lays out his plans for some of the new players on the official site:

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been discussing three City players who have been in the spotlight for varying reasons this week.

Brazilian midfielder Geovanni signed for the Club on Tuesday and will link up with the rest of the squad after they return from the week-long visit to Sweden, but the Manager is looking to draw on the player’s experience straight away. Sven says: “He’s played for Barcelona and Benfica, he’s an extremely big talent and he has been for many years. He’s 27 but we hope he can develop his talent further, and that we can see some of his tricks and his goals. We hope he’ll be a good player for us, but he’s one for now.â€

[snout]

Sven's comments following the trip to his homeland, from the official site:

[Sven] stressed that Andreas Isaksson was not injured, but was merely rested on Saturday to give Joe Hart and Kasper Schmeichel a half each in front of a sell-out crowd of 7,800. "I was very pleased with the performances of both our young goalkeepers, Kasper's penalty save being the highlight in the second half," Sven continued.

"Richard Dunne, Nedum Onuoha and Emile Mpenza were not risked because of minor knocks that they picked up in the first friendly, which was a much higher intensity than Saturday's match." Paul Dickov has a badly bruised toe picked up against Orgryte, but the entire squad is expected to train this week, with Darius Vassell also set to be back at Carrington after a slightly twisted knee before Saturday's friendly against Charleroi in Belgium.

[thepole]

Martin Petrov has completed a 4.7M move from Atletico Madrid to City

Link

[murf]

Sounds like Sven has spent big on yet another striker for Man CKity

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 926412.stm

[dachshund]

Just watched 90 mins away at Shrewsbury - very poor stuff from City.

More or less a first XI played first half (bar Isaakson)

--------------Schmeichel------------------------

----Richards Onuoha Dunne Jihai--------------

--------------Fernandes-------------------------

--Geovanni-- Ireland Johnson-- Petrov---------

---------------Bianchi------------------------------

Petrov looked decent, Bianchi made some intelligent runs but both missed decent chances. Geovanni should have walked for two bookable challenges, but was let off. Ireland and Johnson flattered to deceive. Fernandes was busy but will not do a lot in terms of assists.

Geovanni and Petrov took the corners from their respective sides.

0-0 half-time, then the whole XI were replaced.

Can't draw many conclusions from the second half, as the Shrewsbury team was also weakened, and included trialists. Dickov and Corradi scored two very late goals for a flattering 2-0 win.

A few points - Ball played centre back for the seconds, not left-back for the first team. Fernandes is clearly favoure over Hamann. Ishmael Miller had an absolute nightmare, became a laughing stock within half an hour of coming on and was promptly subbed.

[snout]

Two new signings this morning, both in defence. First the official site proclaims:

Manchester City has signed Real Sociedad left back Javier Garrido for £1.5million. The Spanish Under 21 international is Sven Goran Eriksson’s fifth signing of the summer and he moves to City on a four year contract after completing a medical and agreeing terms. The 22-year-old earned glowing notices despite Sociedad’s relegation last season and had attracted interest from a number of clubs in Spain and England. Since making his debut for Sociedad in 2004/05, Garrido made 86 appearances and scored once

And secondly, I can't get this url to work so you will have to copy and paste it.

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageg ... sid=449378

Manchester City has signed Croatian international defender Vedran Corluka from Dinamo Zagreb for undisclosed fee. The 21-year-old is Sven-Goran Eriksson’s fifth signing and he has put pen to paper on a five year deal, subject to a work permit, after attracting interest from several Premier League clubs.

Capped nine times at international level, Vedran already has some first-hand knowledge of what to expect in the Premier League having played in Croatia’s 2-0 win over England last season as well as facing Arsenal in a Champions League qualifier last August. Born in Bosnia & Herzegovina when it was still part of the former Yugoslavia, Vedran played over 60 times for Dinamo as well as gaining valuable loan experience at Inter Zapresic. Well over six feet tall, Vedran can play either in central defence or at right back and is an extremely capable ball player.

[thepole]

And theres another

(long url hidden)

Sven-Goran Eriksson has completed his third signing of the day with Brazillian midfielder Elano Blumer joining the Blues in an £8m deal.

The Brazillian international signs in from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk on a four-year contract and gives the Blues boss further options in his squad.

Elano scored twice for his country in their 3-0 victory over arch rivals Argentina in a prestige friendly at the Emirates Stadium in September 2006 and has been a regular in the squad since January 2004.

Hailed by national coach Dunga as 'the symbol of the new Brazil', Elano joins after a very successful Copa America where he helped his side lift the cup for the eighth time.

[mustard]

Is anyone else starting to feel very nervous about picking Man City players. Man City were one team I was going to take a punt on for a block, but so far I can only see Richards and Dunne as certain starters in the entire team. Any City fans care to elaborate?

By the way, does anyone know why Isaksson didn't play City's last friendly? I'm dearly hoping he's fit and their nailed on starter

[dachshund]

They were contracted to play Joe Hart in that game for at least 45 mins. Not sure why Schmeichel played the other half though.

[thepole]

Is anyone else starting to feel very nervous about picking Man City players. Man City were one team I was going to take a punt on for a block, but so far I can only see Richards and Dunne as certain starters in the entire team. Any City fans care to elaborate?

By the way, does anyone know why Isaksson didn't play City's last friendly? I'm dearly hoping he's fit and their nailed on starter

Isaksson is a nailed on starter unless we buy another keeper, Richards and Dunne are also definite. Petrov and Geovanni are also very likely to start as we have no other wingers, only Vassel who may be going, and Sun Jihai who I can only see as a handy bench player. The strikers will get rotated a bit, especially if Bojinov signs and Corradi carries on his pre season form

A semi block is probably the best you could do if you want City defenders, and with a pretty tough start and players new to the EPL I wouldn't advise that

I think we will start the season: Isaksson, Richards, Dunne, Corluka/Onuoha, Garrido, who may get rotated with Ball when he returns from suspension.

[Auspicious]

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xKjqRlo0sOY
Highlights from last nights win at Shrewsbury