: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:23 pm  

PAUL M wrote:

It will be interesting to see if Hughes can handle the pressure this season and if he is able to manage bigger players and a bigger squad.

I doubt he can. I'm not even convinced that he is making the decisions now.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:38 pm  

£12m for Crouch? Sunderland or Fulham. Outrageous.

£12m for Crouch? Sunderland or Fulham. Outrageous.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:42 pm  

Karlos13 wrote:

Is it just me thats happy to see city splashing the cash? Since the Premier League started all Utd have done is bought success according to city fans. If city don't win anything this year with a possible £200m outlay then their claims over the last 20 years are going to look rather silly.

Imagine the giddy-o-meter if we have a bad season and Tevez does "the Law".

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:44 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

City have to make the Champions League or it'll be a complete and utter disaster for them.

The suggestion that they know what they are doing is bizarre. They are just slapping bids in left right and centre without thinking. Their approach in going for proven CL players is wrong IMO. Instead of signing a 29/30 year old Terry for £45m why not sign the next John Terry at 22/23 for £15m so they'll enjoy 10 years of quality rather than maybe two or three.

They approach squad building like a lot of us did in Football Manager on the PC when we got bored and cheated by giving our teams unlimited money.

Yes, because Manchester United buying Rio Ferdinand really affected Jonny Evans' progress and development.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 3:54 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

Hughes has already said he doesnt believe in having too big a squad, where senior pros have to train with the reserves. He also said that he wouldnt look to offload players until after he's completed his recruitment. Hence I expect an exodus from City at the beginning of August.

I think City's squad will end up looking something like:

Given, Taylor, Zabaleta, Richards, Terry or Toure, Lescott, Kompany, Onuha, Bridge, Garrido, Ireland, De Jong, Barry, Elano, Johnson, Wright Phillips, Petrov, Tevez, Santa Cruz, Bellamy, Adabayor, Robinho.

I think Hughes would like to eventually replace Garrido, Elano & Petrov but only if he can bring in like for like replacements and may leave that until January. And Bojinov might be retained if he has a good pre season.

Overall I think that's a strong squad. It may be capable of challenging for 4th place but 5th would be more realitic given the difficulties of getting so many new players to gel. And there will inevitably be a few tantrums when the teamsheets go up. But we should be serious contenders for the cups

Not happening

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:13 pm  

D.D. wrote:

No-one has set ourselves a target of the Champions League this season, not the owner, the chairman, the manager or the fans. :

No, but the £250,000,000 has done it for you. Realistically you've got to finish 4th out of 5 teams. Fail and a lot of the players will start to think twice about being there, the only comfort being the money.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:18 pm  

richardviking wrote:

Who can Liverpool sign to replace Alonso? Apparently he is ready to pack his bags.

...What about Lee Cattermole? Or is he too like Mascherano? Thought for the England Under-21s he looked a bit like Gerrard did 10 years ago.

Lee Cattermole?!

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:22 pm  

LFCRhino wrote:

£5 million for Zamora bwahahahahahahahahahahaha fergie was right when he said prices are inflated

Murphy - Zamora - Cousin

The stuff dreams are made of.

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:46 pm  

ash4hullfc wrote:

Lee Cattermole?!

He was linked last week, I think Benitez would be foolish too miss out

: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:50 pm  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8151728.stm Its not looking much better for John Hartson I wish him all the best

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8151728.stm Its not looking much better for John Hartson I wish him all the best