The FA have given City an extension on their appeal on SWP violent conduct charge. The club now have Monday 11am to submit their evidence. Hughes was quite outspoken in today's press conference with Shay Given. His complaint was aimed at the amount of time the FA took over deciding to charge SWP, considering they wasted little time to clear Lampard. Hughes would be left waiting to hear the outcome of appeal before picking his side on Saturday, which is simply unfair.
He also complained, like me about the severity of the charge. Delap gets a three game for kicking SWP twice, why should Shaun also get three games for a much less severe offence, which was born out being provoked.
So SWP is free to play this weekend, which is great news regardless of what ban he will eventually get.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Violent Conduct Charge for Wright-Phillips!
Shaun Wright-Phillips has been charged for violent conduct
Now he is likely to miss 3 games for this charge, if he doesn't win a appeal that must be submitted by Thursday 6pm. I have some issues here. Firstly the severity of his petulant kick is minimal. Delap reacted badly to a fair challenge by SWP and took him out and then preceded to take a deliberate kick at him. He was provoked and in a court of law, he would be dealt with less severely. The ban isn't in proportion to the incident, why does he get the same length ban as the original culprit. Surely Zab and Richards push on Delap afterwards is also counted as violent conduct, there is no consistency!
My next issue is why have the FA allowed the rules to be so flawed that they have let Bosingwa get away with an unprovoked kick on Benayoun.
I fail to see how they can let a player get away with this but give SWP a ban for a little kick in response to being kicked himself. It's not the 1st time the FA have ignored these incidents. It's just difficult to take, when a player committing a worse offence get lets off. Ronaldo too has been let off this season, with his petulant kick on Dawson, the FA decided to take no action. All we ask for is consistency and fairness.
* Good read here! Rick Turner from Bluemoon has written an article The Times Fanzone, a very amusing read!
On Sunday Supplement
The charge relates to an incident involving Rory Delap in the first half of Man City's 1-0 defeat against Stoke on Saturday.
No action was taken at the time as referee Martin Atkinson did not see what happened, but video footage has now been studied.
Atkinson has informed the FA that he would have sent Wright-Phillips off if he had seen the incident.
Now he is likely to miss 3 games for this charge, if he doesn't win a appeal that must be submitted by Thursday 6pm. I have some issues here. Firstly the severity of his petulant kick is minimal. Delap reacted badly to a fair challenge by SWP and took him out and then preceded to take a deliberate kick at him. He was provoked and in a court of law, he would be dealt with less severely. The ban isn't in proportion to the incident, why does he get the same length ban as the original culprit. Surely Zab and Richards push on Delap afterwards is also counted as violent conduct, there is no consistency!
My next issue is why have the FA allowed the rules to be so flawed that they have let Bosingwa get away with an unprovoked kick on Benayoun.
I fail to see how they can let a player get away with this but give SWP a ban for a little kick in response to being kicked himself. It's not the 1st time the FA have ignored these incidents. It's just difficult to take, when a player committing a worse offence get lets off. Ronaldo too has been let off this season, with his petulant kick on Dawson, the FA decided to take no action. All we ask for is consistency and fairness.
* Good read here! Rick Turner from Bluemoon has written an article The Times Fanzone, a very amusing read!
On Sunday Supplement
Brian Woolnough, Paul Hayward, Neil Custis - it's hard to think of a more dour, miserable bunch of, well, bastards (I'm not sure if that's the correct collective noun for journalists, but it seems apt).
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Work Begins!
We can now sit back and reflect on what has been a stressful and surprising month, we have ended the January window signing 4 players, which in the scheme of things seems to be a decent haul.
Our 1st signing came in the shape of Wayne Bridge, a decent left back who has spent most of the past 5 season struggling to stake a claim to the left back position at Chelsea. He has been up against Ashley Cole, who despite his personality, is a top class left back. Bridge hasn't had the best of starts, two slack defensive errors have led to goals. But, he is an improvement on the inexperienced Garrido and the below standard Michael Ball.
Next to join was the delightful journeyman striker Craig Bellamy from West Ham. Not being the most prolific, injury prone and ageing wasn't enough to put the determined Mark Hughes shelling out 10 million (at least) for the striker. He provides a drive and bite to the attack and pace with purpose, as opposed to Vassell. Bellamy scored on his debut a 1st for him, considering the amount of clubs he has played for. Again he has never lived up to the hype that once again, i often hear the phrase 'on his day' associated with him. I hope he has Lot's of these 'days' this season. Does he improve the side, probably yes, but I'm not sure he is the answer in a lone striker role.
Nigel De Jong made it three for Hughes, joining shortly after the Kaka deal collapsed. Nigel is a very disciplined defensive midfielder and his position really did need filling. He is the most promising from all the signings, as he is still pretty young, he has great potential and drive. He has to be the most pleasing capture more me during this window.
Finally Shay Given is our last piece of transfer business in to the club this January. He is an experienced Premier league goalkeeper and will provide more confidence and assurance in the back four. I don't agree with he statement that he is the best goalie in the league, it's simply not true, but he is a decent goalie. He does lack a bit of height and that may be noticeable in set pieces. But he will have more confidence and better judgment than the 21 year old hart.
With young Jo going out on loan to Everton, it will be a welcome chance for the lad who hasn't really been able to get used to the league under Hughes for whatever reason. I think Moyes will instill confidence in him and get him used to the league very quickly.
I, like many were hoping for a top quality player to be brought in, especially after all the talk about Kaka, villa and so on... But nothing really materialised and we ended up in a tedious war of attrition with Blackburn over a very over-rated striker. I am happy we didn't pay stupid money for Santa Cruz, to be honest anything over 8, to me is an aberration for Bayern flop. I hope Caicedo will get his chance along with Sturridge for the rest of the season. I would of been bitterly disappointed and angry if we would of let felipe go in exchange. He has great power, presence and ability, give him time and we may just have a top player in our hands.
So Hughes has now spent allot more money and has very much put his mark on the side. It is time to start performing. There now has to be a greater expectation from the club's owner that the team start performing and improve on 1 away win all season! A decent top half finish is a must, with a European place finish being pretty high on the agenda. Our form will have to improve radically if we are too do this. Losing the clubs like Stoke has to come to an end, Hughes has to eradicate what ever is diminishing the performances of the team away from home. We look like two completely different sides. Our next match is at home to Boro. It's on TV, which isn't great because expectation and pressure doesn't seem to do us any favours. It's a match i expect to win at home, a more assured back line, midfield and attack. Excuses have run out!
Our 1st signing came in the shape of Wayne Bridge, a decent left back who has spent most of the past 5 season struggling to stake a claim to the left back position at Chelsea. He has been up against Ashley Cole, who despite his personality, is a top class left back. Bridge hasn't had the best of starts, two slack defensive errors have led to goals. But, he is an improvement on the inexperienced Garrido and the below standard Michael Ball.
Next to join was the delightful journeyman striker Craig Bellamy from West Ham. Not being the most prolific, injury prone and ageing wasn't enough to put the determined Mark Hughes shelling out 10 million (at least) for the striker. He provides a drive and bite to the attack and pace with purpose, as opposed to Vassell. Bellamy scored on his debut a 1st for him, considering the amount of clubs he has played for. Again he has never lived up to the hype that once again, i often hear the phrase 'on his day' associated with him. I hope he has Lot's of these 'days' this season. Does he improve the side, probably yes, but I'm not sure he is the answer in a lone striker role.
Nigel De Jong made it three for Hughes, joining shortly after the Kaka deal collapsed. Nigel is a very disciplined defensive midfielder and his position really did need filling. He is the most promising from all the signings, as he is still pretty young, he has great potential and drive. He has to be the most pleasing capture more me during this window.
Finally Shay Given is our last piece of transfer business in to the club this January. He is an experienced Premier league goalkeeper and will provide more confidence and assurance in the back four. I don't agree with he statement that he is the best goalie in the league, it's simply not true, but he is a decent goalie. He does lack a bit of height and that may be noticeable in set pieces. But he will have more confidence and better judgment than the 21 year old hart.
With young Jo going out on loan to Everton, it will be a welcome chance for the lad who hasn't really been able to get used to the league under Hughes for whatever reason. I think Moyes will instill confidence in him and get him used to the league very quickly.
I, like many were hoping for a top quality player to be brought in, especially after all the talk about Kaka, villa and so on... But nothing really materialised and we ended up in a tedious war of attrition with Blackburn over a very over-rated striker. I am happy we didn't pay stupid money for Santa Cruz, to be honest anything over 8, to me is an aberration for Bayern flop. I hope Caicedo will get his chance along with Sturridge for the rest of the season. I would of been bitterly disappointed and angry if we would of let felipe go in exchange. He has great power, presence and ability, give him time and we may just have a top player in our hands.
So Hughes has now spent allot more money and has very much put his mark on the side. It is time to start performing. There now has to be a greater expectation from the club's owner that the team start performing and improve on 1 away win all season! A decent top half finish is a must, with a European place finish being pretty high on the agenda. Our form will have to improve radically if we are too do this. Losing the clubs like Stoke has to come to an end, Hughes has to eradicate what ever is diminishing the performances of the team away from home. We look like two completely different sides. Our next match is at home to Boro. It's on TV, which isn't great because expectation and pressure doesn't seem to do us any favours. It's a match i expect to win at home, a more assured back line, midfield and attack. Excuses have run out!
Monday, 2 February 2009
Window Shut
City are closed for business, no big target man in. Not wasted money on RSC. Hopefully Hughes will give Caicedo his chance and tie up the Sturridge contract.
At least we can now can back to football and improving our fortunes on the pitch.
We have let Jo go on loan, and kept Johnson.
At least we can now can back to football and improving our fortunes on the pitch.
We have let Jo go on loan, and kept Johnson.
No Santa Cruz
Well the most recent report out of SSN is City haven't made a bigger bid for Santa Cruz. They are not prepaired to pay the inflated sum. I for one am happy, as he is vastly over -rated. But i am disappointed we haven't signed any one it seems. 15 mins to go.
Talk again on SSN is that Caicedo was the player linked to Santa Cruz deal. I am glad we are keeping him, he is younger and has more potential.
Michael Johnson is staying despite an 8 million bid from the toon, whilst Jo has joined Everton on loan.
Talk again on SSN is that Caicedo was the player linked to Santa Cruz deal. I am glad we are keeping him, he is younger and has more potential.
Michael Johnson is staying despite an 8 million bid from the toon, whilst Jo has joined Everton on loan.
Window Hazard!
The 'big' snow fall over the night means this tin pot country comes to a halt. So there is talk on SSN today about the window being extended beyond the 4 and half hours that we have left.
No news whats over coming out of City. It looks like Jo Alves will join Everton on loan, which i think is a good thing. I, not like others, think he has decent potential if he can get the games and confidence from his manager.
Michael Johnson has been linked to the Toon, but the club have stated that he is staying at the club. I can't see him passing a medical anywhere to be honest.
No news on Sant Cruz. Although Blackburn have been linked with a better player in Kuranyi, so who knows what will happen?
With talk of Robbie Keane and Quaresma going to Spurs and the collapse of the Arshavin deal at Arsenal, it seems we have no real big targets planned. Not long left to do any business, could be very disappointing end to the window.
No news whats over coming out of City. It looks like Jo Alves will join Everton on loan, which i think is a good thing. I, not like others, think he has decent potential if he can get the games and confidence from his manager.
Michael Johnson has been linked to the Toon, but the club have stated that he is staying at the club. I can't see him passing a medical anywhere to be honest.
No news on Sant Cruz. Although Blackburn have been linked with a better player in Kuranyi, so who knows what will happen?
With talk of Robbie Keane and Quaresma going to Spurs and the collapse of the Arshavin deal at Arsenal, it seems we have no real big targets planned. Not long left to do any business, could be very disappointing end to the window.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Given In, Ben-Haim Out!
Well today, city have made their fourth signing of the January window. Shay Given has signed from Newcastle. I am very happy with this deal as i have been unhappy at not having an experienced keeper for sometime. Joe Hart has great ability, but is five years ahead of himself. He has allot too learn. Given is at the right age to teach and inspire him and Kasper.
Tal Ben-Haim has joined Sunderland on loan, until the end of the season. He has failed to impress at the club after his move from chelsea in the summer. Best of luck to him, I can't see him coming back next season.
New blog link today: We've Got Robinho . Good to see more City Blogs!
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