Derby Day: City squad.

Tomorrows 'local derby' against the Salford 11 has become a game of real importance. Spurs beating a hapless Arsenal has heightened the importance of maintaining our advantage in the fight for fourth place.

City have been replenished in the break between games. Zabaleta returns from suspension. Bridge, Ireland and Vieira all free from injury and ready to return to the side. So our bench will be much stronger than it was against Birmingham. Santa Cruz also had a good run out in the reserves to build some match sharpness.

An added bonus from last week was De Jong not picking up a suspension and now being 'unleashed' for the derby. Roberto Mancini has also escaped touchline suspension from the FA after his confrontation with Moyes, Which is good news of course.

I don't think we need to look into what squad the others will bring. All that is relevant is City are in top form. Adebayor hasn't featured against United this season and is looking formidable in front of goal along side Tevez. United are very beatable as proven already this season. We go into this game with just as potent an attack, if not more than it was at the start of the season. We are more sturdy at the back showing some real defensive rigour.

The line up is likely to be very similar to last match! Zabaleta or Bridge coming in for Garrido is probable. It will be interesting to see if he goes for just two in the middle, or brings Vieira/ Zabaleta into the middle to battle along side Barry and De Jong. I wouldn't favour this as it means Johnson or Bellamy miss out, something we should try to avoid on current form.

Lets keep the momentum going blues!

City to sign Boateng?

Sky this morning have reported Jerome Boateng has agreed a deal to sign with City in the summer!

The 21-year-old Germany international has long been linked with a move to Eastlands and has reportedly agreed to the switch which will cost City approximately £11million.

The deal would represent the 1st bit of business from the 'Player Acquisition Group' involving Mancini, Marwood and chief scout Mike Rigg. Boateng has long been a reported target for City. It's not clear who has been the driving force behind this 'acquisition' but I fully support it. Young talented footballers, ready to take up a challenge of the premier league.

Boateng is a young German International defender who I presume is being signed to play right back, although he is a very versatile player. At 6 ft 3 he is a natural centre half, but does play full back and even Defensive mid. I believe he also equally adept with both feet. Boateng would be the third signing from Hamburg along side Kompany and De jong. ( get you FM scouts on it) He has recently developed from a regular u21 performer to a full international for Germany and is likely to go to the world cup. So signing him before hand may prove wise!

Boateng has apparently a release clause in his contract for around 11 million, which HSV have been trying to re-negotiate the contract. So the Deal isn't complete, with no confirmation between both clubs, but it looks as though we are in pole position to finalise the deal.

The transfer dealings this summer will be of great interest, as City will now have to build a squad of only 25 1st team registered players, according to next seasons premier league rules. Interestingly players under 21 do not have be registered in the 25 man squad, so we may see more young' developing' stars.

Not a great video, or interview, unless you speak German. Most Youtube clips dominated by his brother Pompey player Kevin-Prince.

Manchester City 5:1 Birmingham City: Review.

Expectations have risen after the 1-6 thrashing at Turf moor, so there was a sense of disappointment around the ground today, when the game had reached the 7th minute, we were yet to score. Little did we know, we would finish to the game with 5 goals to our name.

Birmingham arrived at COMS after two very good draws Vs Arsenal and Liverpool and have become a side considered 'hard to beat'. After our last home win at Wigan, which was hard fought but not entirely convincing, I was expecting more of the same. Mancini set out pretty similar squad to that used at Burnley, with Garrido replacing the injured Sylvinho and a late swap with De Jong for Vieira who hurt is his knee in the warm up.

The game started is very much the manner expected, City with more possession but only creating the half chances. Adebayor and Tevez looked good, but couldn't create anything clear cut, an all too familiar format this season. The turning point came with Stumpy squat ref Phil Down who gave a somewhat soft penalty, triggering a manic goal rush before half time.

Tevez dispatched the 1st goal, a penalty with confidence and ease. The second came from a set piece, something City have really improved upon recently. Nedum Onouha managed to get good pace and power on a header past Taylor, but after seeing MOTD it may well be awarded to Tevez. Birmingham struck back with immediate effect, McFadden was allowed to 'jink' a ball across the box by Toure to Cam Jerome, who drifted back post with out challenge from Garrido. This was a disappointing lapse in concentration, we were not really under any pressure. City responded again, with a real poachers effort from Adebayor! The goal was very important in keeping the initiative with our side.

In the second half, Birmingham, as expected came out with more purpose and shape, creating a few half chances, but never really putting Given under any sustain pressure. Some nervous moments on the pitch, with city failing the keep hold of the ball in middle, was reflected by the atmosphere in the ground, we needed another goal to settle the nerves.

The goal wasn't expected to come from Onouha, who managed to score a somewhat comical but brilliant goal. Bouncing one pass off a Birmingham defender then laying on a pass, which only he was quick enough to reach and finishing with in style with a slick finish! The final goal fcame from a great individual run by Adebayor finishing in similar manner to what he did at Burnley. He looks in top form along side Tevez.

We continue to cement our claim for 4th spot, improving our goal difference, so we are now ahead of both Liverpool and Spurs. We are ahead in points, with Pool drawing at Fulham and Spurs facing Arsenal, we start our difficult run in with a real advantage. It's unclear the extent of Vieira injury today, but i did notice in his absence Tevez coming much deeper to collect the ball, and start attacks, bridging the gap between a defensive type midfield and the attack. Another positive from today is De Jong yellow card slate is wiped clean, so no suspension for him and Zabaleta will return from his suspension for the Derby. We go into the final 5 games in fine form, full of goals, Johnson, Bellamy, Tevez and Adebayor all looking sharp. We have a formidable attacking threat, so I say Bring on United!

(I believe that Tevez is now on 22 goals in the league this season, after he's now claiming two goals for today. That puts him 4 off the current leader: Wayne Rooney! Another minor battle in the final 5 games of the season to look forward too.)

Burnley 1:6 Manchester City: Review

I have been saying for some time that the flood gates would open and City would batter a side. I didn't expect it to happen in 7 mins. It was a great start to the day already, with United losing at home to Chelsea and then Spurs being beaten by Sunderland, in a game where Darren Bent should of had 4 goals to his name. We are now in the strongest position in the battle for 4th. Narrowing goal difference, ahead on points. The 4th spot is ours to lose over 6 tough end of season games!

Who expected such a start? The Burnley defence were statue like with Johnson, Tevez, Bellamy and Adebayor bursting through gaps with little challenge. City started the match with verve and venom needed to secure the game quickly and in an assured manner. The result was brutal, 3 quick goals in 7 mins led to an exodus of disgusted Burnley fans. Two more goals on the 20th and 45th min finished the half 5-0 up. It may be ludicrous to suggest this be, we should be a little disappointed that it was only 5. With some poor final balls and and unlucky shot of the post from Tevez it could of easily been 7 or 8 goals! The team looked good, Vieira looks better suited to playing along side Barry and did himself the world of good after the Wigan game. He dominated a very pedestrian Burnley midfield, and his passing ability is of great value to the side.

What can be said about the second half? Rain, rain rain is the best way to put it. The pitch quickly turned from premier league to Sunday league with large puddles forming all over the pitch. Burnley came out with more fight and energy, helped by awful conditions, the game was less than exciting in the second half, But the players effort was what their fans deserved. City were inevitably first to score again with good header from Kompany. But Burnley also managed to get a goal back, with a nice finish from fletcher. This goal was perhaps a blessing, as it proved that goals still could be scored with the heavily saturated pitch. Despite the Burnley managements best efforts to press Mr Friend to cancel the game, Wiley, the most experienced ref was given a good enough excuse to let the game run it's course. I couldn't enjoy the second half at all, with the fear of abandonment, but only with City can you be 6-0 up and be nervous!

Credit to those Burnley fan's who stayed, they were in full voice and good humour as you have to be in these circumstances. As a city fan I can remember a drubbing from Arsenal where the fans reacted in a similar matter.

City now primed for the challenge for 4th spot. Four out of the next six games are at home, which is of great benefit to city. I don't fear Spurs, I think they will struggle in the run in, I feel the much discounted Liverpool have the easiest run and may sneak up the table! Our destiny is in the our hands, which is a good thing. We simply have to win more games than Spurs, Liverpool and Villa, or at least equal them!

Manchester City 3:0 Wigan: Match review.

The only light at the end of a long, cold and miserable day was the promise of trip to COMS, where City were set to strike back after a disappointing loss last week. Sadly the performance didn’t quite match my deluded vision of what was meant to happen. City’s showing more than matched the dismal drizzling rain that lasted most of the night.

Mancini set out for a 442, dropping Barry, opting for De Jong and Vieira partnership. He also gave a swift return to Adebayor after his 4 game ban. Ireland failed to make the final squad, presumably through fitness, whilst, Richards, Bellamy dropped to the bench. The squad on paper really showed a lot of promise. Inevitably it didn’t deliver!

The first half lacked tempo and sharpness in all regard. Wigan pressed our defence with little success, although created some good chances for shots from outside of the box. City were much the same, chances were few and far between, mainly due to a lack of good service. Tevez created the best chance, cutting in from the left with a great individual effort. With SWP and Johnson on the wings, it should really be more productive. Johnson looked the more promising of the two, as per usual. SWP once again put a largely disappointing performance that will surly decrease his chances of going to South Africa with England! (He can go on holiday, obviously!) The half ended with some half hearted boos, I’m not a fan of this, but it was perhaps deserved, to serve a reminder that it simply wasn’t good enough.

Expectations were immediately raised at half time with the sign of Bellamy doing rigorous warm ups and being briefed by Mancini. He replaced SWP and allowed Johnson to switch to right wing where he has been the most dangerous. This move proved important giving City more purpose and aggression. The turning point in the game was the dismissal of Caldwell for a rash two footed challenge on Tevez. He was on the receiving end of a few suspect challenges during the game. I haven’t seen the replays of this, but from what I had seen live, it may have been a little harsh for a straight red. Referee Atwell had a pretty awful game along with his assistants.

Wigan went down to ten men and started to look the most promising side. The city defence looked lest than assured against Moreno and Rodallega who may feel unlucky not to of pulled ahead. But once again Carlos Tevez came to City’s rescue. A nice pass ironically from a pretty awful Vieira found both Tevez and Adebayor reaching the ball before the hapless Serbian goalie on loan from Sporting. Tevez was soon in the action again at 75 mins. A turn of pace from Garrido into the box, a flick from Kompany led to an easy finish from Tevez to make it two.

The final goal and the third for Tevez came in the 84^th min. A great run down the right, followed by a slick finish that the keeper had no chance of saving. City finally finished the game on a high, with a good tempo and energy and dominated the 10 man Wigan side.

A very good result in the end. I sensed a great deal of nervousness and pressure on the City players today. Fans were quick to get on players backs, which I find can be counter, productive, But you can’t really blame them. The performance wasn’t at all good enough. The midfield didn’t function well. De Jong was quite ineffective, although most of the focus will be on Vieira who didn’t put in a performance like his did at Fulham, but instead looked far off the pace, his only saving grace was his passing. He managed to create some very good chances, but we need to see a great deal more from him if he is going to keep Barry out of the side. Adebayor looked rusty, and was the brunt of some criticism, but he certainly didn’t lack effort, it looked like he tried too hard.

3-0 at home, clean sheet, and we were on TV. In the end it’s a good night, we are still very much in the fight for 4^th spot and move ahead of Liverpool in the table. We didn’t look like a team fighting for 4^th, but is it not a good sign winning when you don’t play well… a cliché too far?

Transfer Report from Goal.com

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/03/26/1850081/2009-10-transfer-report-card-how-good-were-manchester-citys

Goal.com produced 2009 summer transfer market grade report today, which I was about to upload. In general, I agree with their mark. Here are the grades they gave:

Gareth Barry: C
Carlos Tevez: A
Roque Santa Cruz: D
Emmanuel Adebayor: C+
Kolo Toure: B
Joleon Lescott: C
Sylvinho: B-
Patrick Vieira: D
Adam Johnson: B+

I agreed with Barry, RSC and Manu's grade. Barry seemed an excellent capture for City as he has been playing well for Villa and he would improve City's midfield, where they lacked past 2 years. However, he was not the player City expected to be. Slow, lack of creativity, narrow vision...... It looked as if he has been playing in old City fashion for quite some time. In general, his performance has been indifferent for me. Grade: C/D

RSC was a risky purchase, especially at the price of £25m. Ever since he started to play football in Europe, the series of injuries bothered him and this has been main factor that he wasn't rated high, despite his huge talent. He had one good season in Blackburn but that was about it. Shouldn't have bought him after all and I think it was the worst transfer deal Hughes had done during his regime. Grade: C/D

Adebayor lost his way in Arsenal under Wenger. His bad relationship with Benthner seemed as exit of Emirate stadium was imminent and, unexpectedly, City snatched him up. Result? Goals were coming until his exuberant goal ceremony against Arsenal. But after his suspension, he seemed a bit lost his form a bit and his problem with ankle stopped his goal coming, only 2 goals before the African Cup of Nations. Then accident in Africa forced him to have compassionate leave, which took a few weeks for him to make himself available to play for the team again. 3 goals in 3 games when he came back but since then no goal from him. Grade B/C

Tevez's arrival at Eastland was sensational. Everyone knew it was great signing, simply because he was from Utd and he was integral part of squad, who won EPL title last season. Although he had slow start, it didn't take him long to score his first goal for City and apart from his compassionate leave in February, he has been the most consistent threatening player in the squad. Grade A+

Toure was an odd signing. The player was clearly in downhill from his career but for some reasons, Hughes signed him to strengthen the troublesome defense. He started the season with captaincy and played well until the African Cup of Nations. After he came back with injury, he lost his form a bit and struggling to find his spot in the team sheet, as Kompany did excellent job while he was away. Captain Toure? Well City need better captain than him. Grade B/C

Lescott, at first, I thought he was one season wonder and with playing style, I expected him to struggle a bit: I was half right. He struggled a bit, as he did not have any pre-season training with Toure and he seemed unsettled time to time on the pitch. However, he got better and him and Kompany combination looked more solid than with Toure as his partner. He certainly has future in City shirt. Grade B

Sylvinho signed for experience by Hughes and he seemed to be doing good job of covering Bridge so far. Lack of pace and physical ability is covered by his vast experience of playing football. Grade C

January transfer market was quite odd for City. It was thought by many speculators that Mancini will buy big but it didn't turn out to be that way, signing just two players, Vieira and Johnson, both with relatively cheap price.

Vieira, signed early in the transfer market, was seemed as absurd signing. He was not Vieira, who played in Arsenal's unbeaten squad, but out of flavour and diminishing star, who is looking at the finishing line of his glorious career. Mancini had different view on him. He thought City lacked winning mentality and needed veteran midfielder to enhance their chance to get into 4th place in the league. Without any cost, other than extravagant wage, City got him for free and so far, he seemed to be getting better by each match. Grade C

AJ was a surprising signing for City. Playing well against City in the 3rd round of FA Cup, he seemed to catch Mancini's eyes and dramatically, on the last day, he was signed at the last minute of the winter transfer market. His home debut against Bolton, when he won penalty against Robinson, and away match against Sunderland proved that he is a rising young talent. City are lucky to sign him with relatively cheap price. Grade B/A

Manchester City 0:2 Everton: review.

Last nights result strikes a blow in our ambition to finish fourth place, however it is far from over, Villa continue to drop points and Spurs have an incredibly hard run! The performance last night, didn't warrant a spot in the top 4, we simply didn't produce enough to deserve a win.

Mancini changed the winning side from the Fulham trip, dropping point man RSC and Vieira to the bench probably due to fitness and making a surprise move replacing left back Garrido with Zabaleta. Steven Ireland returned to the team after a prolonged absence in his favoured position behind the striker.

City started brightly dominated a large part of the 1st half. Ireland's passing was good, although he still lacked the energy and grit in the middle that won him the adoration of city fans last season. We had chances, but simply failed to capitalise on a good spell of possession. Our lack of finishing nearly cost us at Fulham and it certainly cost us last night! It's here, where i feel Spurs have an advantage, with Pavlyuchenko and Defoe , they have two players who would take advantage of the many chances we make in front of goal.

The game changed when Barry gave away a very contentious free kick outside the box. He appeared to win the ball fairly. Even if the free-kick was contentious, it still didn't excuse the defending. Cahill is brilliant in the air, yet was allowed to easily get his head to the ball. City finished the half in a disappointing manner, a lead Everton generally didn't deserve, but were allowed a chance on goal and took it!

City had to change shape with the withdrawal of Steven Ireland through injury, and we didn't look good. SWP came on the right, moving Johnson out left and Bellamy through the middle. It didn't work! Johnson was having some success on the right, being both footed he made life very difficult for Baines, but we didn't really utilise his ability on the left. RSC came on and gave us a focal point, but at that point, the midfield was simply non existent. Vieira's introduction came too late, we needed his ability to keep the ball and pass. I thought Barry was exceptionally poor.

City tried to pile on the pressure, with little result, good chances going amiss with poor finishing and no luck. It was inevitable that Everton would score a second on the break and that sealed city's fate, confirming City 1st loss at home since last Easter.

Once again we were undone by a side that came to disrupt and be overly physical. I thought Everton were pretty disgraceful in their conduct, using a tactic that is popular amongst lower level sides. Disruptive football, a lot of low grade fouls, time wasting, diving and arguing, this conduct highlighted by actions of their Manager who was more than happy to join in the time wasting charade. City lost momentum in the game because of this tactic, something that happened against Stoke as well. Everton are very similar to likes of Stoke and Blackburn, but with the ability to pay 15 million for one player. They were of course allowed to deploy this tactics with the aid of weak refereeing performance from Walton. His performance was deeply suspect, allowing Everton to get away with a great deal and not punishing players enough to limit them. City don't cope well with this pressure from these low-grade tactics and it's something other lower-level sides with be keen to implement when they face us.

An ultimately disappointing result and performance leaves a bitter taste after what appeared to be a turning point at Fulham. The Wigan performance will have to be of the highest calibre. Adebayor should be ready for a return, without much competition! To finish we an over used football cliché, 'it's a must win.'