Manchester City

[Norbs]

It's about time the FA/UEFA did something about talent hoovering. It's not merely 'buying the league' in this instance but it's using your own funds to weaken other teams that is the danger. Buying Adebayor and then loaning him to Spurs is a great example of this. Arsenal are weakened in the process creating a void between them and City and then Spurs are strengthened giving them more of a chance to beat the likes of Arsenal and us. This is turn ensures that we're even further behind them. It's all bollocks and there should be a rule brought in limiting the amount of players a team can sign, not just the financial aspect.

[Mostar]

Kun enjoying life with MCFC



[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=811dfHsXkpU"]Aguero Enjoying Manchester City Life - YouTube[/ame]

[Chazza]

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says he needs more midfielders

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says he does not have enough depth to his midfield.

Yaya Toure has started every match this season, while Gareth Barry has only missed one game.

James Milner and Nigel de Jong are both injured, with Owen Hargreaves not yet match-fit.

And Mancini said: "We are lacking at this moment because we lost two midfielders. I don't have players. I can only change the full-backs."

The Italian has plenty of attacking options, with David Silva and Samir Nasri in excellent form and Adam Johnson a more than capable back-up.

But he feels he is short of holding midfielders and handed a debut to trainee Abdul Razak, 18, in the 3-0 win over Wigan.

He added: "I have only two midfielders, because James [Milner] and De Jong have injuries."

Mancini also thinks letting a two-goal lead slip against Fulham would serve as a lesson for the rest of the season.

Sergio Aguero struck twice to give City a healthy lead but Fulham drew level following a goal by Bobby Zamora and Danny Murphy's deflected shot.

The result was the first time City have dropped league points this season.

Mancini told BBC Sport: "It's incredible, we lost two points after we scored two goals and dominated the game.

"But I think this can be a lesson for us. When we have the chances we should score."

Mancini complained of his team's wastefulness after the 3-0 win against Wigan last Saturday, where they had a host of chances but only led 1-0 at the break.

This time, although Aguero scored within 12 seconds of the re-start to give City a two-goal cushion, they were made to pay.

It was the first time City have played a game after a Champions League fixture but, while they faced Napoli at home on Wednesday, Fulham had played a day later in midweek, hosting FC Twente in the Europa League on Thursday.

Mancini bemoaned his side's concentration, with Fulham's first goal coming from a Micah Richards foul throw, while he also believed that Edin Dzeko was fouled in the build-up to Fulham's equaliser.

"For 10 or 15 minutes after Fulham scored, they played very well," Mancini added. "But a football match is 95 minutes and a top team like us needs to have more control of the game.

"I'm not angry. I'm just disappointed because we conceded two stupid goals."

The Italian also defended his decision to withdraw David Silva, who was replaced by Pablo Zabaleta before Murphy struck.

"In the middle I didn't have any players because we have James Milner and Nigel de Jong out injured," he said. "So I didn't have a chance to change it in the middle."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14966245.stm

Not a bad list

MANCHESTER CITY'S MIDFIELDERS


Nigel de Jong (1 appearance)
Yaya Toure (6)
Gareth Barry (5)
Owen Hargreaves (0)
James Milner (3)
Samir Nasri (4, inc 1 for Arsenal)
Adam Johnson (5)
David Silva (6)
Abdul Razak (1)

Although I question classing a Pakistani 20Twenty player as a midfielder

[Exiled_red]

[PTP]

[Shaggy]

DTguardian daniel taylor
#MCFC thinking of moving away end to improve atmosphere at Etihad. Trial experiment for home match v Villarreal

[Craig_H]

Where they gonna move it to, Maine Road?

[little dave hedgehog]

spain.

[Shaggy]

Manchester City's Edin Dzeko apologises to Roberto Mancini

• Bosnian says sorry for outburst over substitution
• Striker set to play at Blackburn Rovers

Daniel Taylor
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 September 2011 22.00 BST
Article history

Edin Dzeko has apologised to Roberto Mancini and his Manchester City team-mates for his part in the controversy that overshadowed the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

"I know my reaction [to being substituted] was bad and I have spoken to the guys and to the coach," Dzeko said. "I have apologised for the reaction and Roberto has accepted it and said that everything is OK and that we have to be positive for the next game."

Mancini has put Dzeko back into his plans for Saturday's trip to Blackburn Rovers. The manager had said the former Wolfsburg striker would "spend the next game sitting next to me" because of his response to being replaced 10 minutes into the second half at the Allianz Arena.

"I was unhappy because we were 2-0 down and I wanted to win the game," Dzeko said. "It was something special for me to go back to Germany, where I played for a long time, and I wanted to do well, kick a couple of goals, and wanted the team to do well. Things didn't go well for us. That is why I was extra frustrated."

The Bosnian directed a sarcastic thumbs-up in Mancini's direction before becoming embroiled in an angry exchange. Mancini later said he was "furious" with the striker and he reiterated at a team meeting on Thursday that he would not tolerate any more of his players disputing his decisions. The club have decided not to fine Dzeko but he has been warned about his conduct and is hoping to make amends at Ewood Park.

"Everyone has had a sleep and a rest after the Bayern game and we know we could have done better but it is football and you cannot win every game," he said. "Bayern Munich is behind us, we are feeling positive and looking forward to the next game. That is our new target.

"I remember last year when I scored there [at Blackburn] and we won. We had great support from thousands of City fans and we hope to make them cheer again on Saturday. If I get the ball I will try to kick it in the net and make happy all the fans."

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

Manchester City have made a dramatic climbdown over manager Roberto Mancini's claims that Carlos Tevez refused to play against Bayern Munich. Mancini's evidence is believed to show that he is the only person on the bench that night sticking to the story that Tevez refused to play.

[Alex]

Mancini's a goner now if he plays again. He will have absolutly no credibility in the dressing room.

[Lee]

Mancini's a goner now if he plays again. He will have absolutly no credibility in the dressing room.

I was thinking the same. If this is true then one of them will have to go and I would guess Mancini will be the one who does.

[PTP]

jeez - it looks like a bit of player revolt....no-one backing mancini at all - i remember watching it live....it clearly looked like whatever was being said, tevez was acting a cunt one way or another....whether he was refusing to play or just bitch fitting, he was clearly doing something.

i feel sorry for mancini a bit here.......i think the only person suitable to manage city would mourinho, whose ego is bigger than the whole dressing room combined

[dom9]

Man City imploding again.

Too much money too soon. They are all just a bunch of selfish, corrupted goons.

[PTP]

Man City imploding again.

Too much money too soon. They are all just a bunch of selfish, corrupted goons.

totally - see adam johnsom threw his dummy out the pram as well on tuesday night - subbed off at 40 mins...why not wait till half time?