James

This is eerily becoming as I described it would last season as a worst case scenario. He could have a problem with his back. This would strain his leg muscles so he keeps getting thigh/groin/hamsting strains, eventually becoming minor tears and then major tears. Like with Gerrard only they spotted the problem too late and despite taking the six months out needed to have his back fixed, he has remained susceptible to these injuries recurring.

I am surprised that no one has picked up on comments from Pardew about players being lied to by agents, and now feeling disappointed about still being here, affecting their performances.

Pardew has come out and said to the written press that certain players aren't as commited any more as agents, not employed by the players have contacted them out of the blue to tell them that they can sign for big clubs for double their pay. These transfers never materialised, but these players have now had their heads turned and he says he needs to work on getting them refocused here.

Me personally no, but that is speaking as someone who has been pretty horrendously affected by road accidents. But that is why I argue that the clubs need to take more responsibility for educating its youth players and ultimately making sure that their money is spent the correct way. My weekly cycle to work on a Friday, I go pass Man City's Academy and the cars they have are unreal. Nearly been knocked off by a couple pulling out too.

Also, there is a difference between Joe Bloggs, employee of Sainsbury's, and professional footballers who represent their club and its sponsors and therefore their behaviour is associated with their brand. Also Man City have a duty of care to their staff and I think they have failed here. You can't go throwing money at kids without ensuring they spend it responsibly IMO. This is more of a football in general thing rather than being aimed at Man city though. And most of all that kid is a complete and utter idiot.

The council are actually able to impose sanctions on the club and its property, so it is in the clubs best interest to monitor the vehicle usage of its employees. Especially at the moment where they are looking to expand their facilities.

What the fuck is an 18 year old doing with a Mercedes. Clubs need to take responsibility over the vehicles its youth players are permitted to drive.

A Manchester City youth player and England youth international has been arrested for killing two people while racing cars. Although the identity of the deceased has not been confirmed it seems like a male and female adult in the front who died with 2 kids in the back seriously injured. Hope those kids never see Courtney Meppen Walter earning thousands in the Premier League.

It was odd that at the end we actually looked desperate to win.

This amaze me. Always have to be picking at young players for anything. It´s not like the rest of them were flaw less. I was praising him!

Love his enthusiasm, the downside being though that he isn't always composed and makes some odd passes and decisions but that is something that can be sorted with coaching and experience.

Krul 7 Simpson 5 Taylor 6 Coloccini 6 Santon 6 Anita 7 Cabaye 3 Jonas 6 Ben Arfa 7 Cisse 4 Ba 4 Birgirama 7

Cabaye has misplaced 25% of passes and completed less passes than ireland.

Great gesture

That defence, if we cant find a way through that then there really is no hope The front six have found their way through most defences in the past year. If we don't find our way through today, no need to panic.

The 442 is a myth. We play 4 defenders, 2 central midfielders who remain disciplined while the remainder of the team switch between various roles over the course of the match.

He's going to be better than all of those in 5 years time in my opinion. 1. Casillas 2. Krul

6th

I am just glad the transfer window is over. Now we can move on with a squad that at first glance looks marginally better than it did this time last year. I've put the squad this year against the squad in September last year. Also I have put a + or - next to players this year who I expect to have better or worse performances than their performances for us last year, e.g. a better season for Cabaye as he has adapted to the PL. Krul Krul+ Second full season, going to keep improving Harper Harper- Deteriorating, yet has somehow overtaken Elliot as preferred second choice Elliot Elliot Simpson Simpson Santon Santon+ Building on last year's experience R. Taylor R. Taylor-- Out for season Tavernier Tavernier++ Ready to make the step up to a fringe player Ferguson Ferguson+ Expect to have more impact Perch Perch+ Looks like he can pick up where he left off and give us a full season Coloccini Coloccini S. Taylor S. Taylor+ Fit again Williamson Williamson Kadar Good Coaches seem optimistic that this is an upgrade. Cabaye Cabaye+ Can expect a better second season, if he sorts his fitness out. Tiote Tiote Gosling Gosling Abeid Abeid+ Someone who now has that little extra experience and could see more games. Guthrie Anita Different styles of player, but replaced a steady Englishman with a Dutch international. Smith Bigirimana Youth to replace player on the way down. Jonas Jonas+ Stating to show he can excel in other positions e.g. CM Marveaux Marveaux+ Fit again, hopefully Ben Arfa Ben Arfa+ A full season of a player that has finally got fit and fitted into the starting XI Obertan Obertan Not a completely lost cause as Atromitos showed Sa. Ameobi Sa. Ameobi++ Nearly fit again, last season will have really benefitted him. Amalfitano Ba Ba Ameobi Ameobi Best Cisse Huge improvement, and we get a whole season. Loven Campbell Might excite a few fans Vuckic Vuckic++ Stay fit, and he's going to shine this season in my opinion. So up front, we have actually strengthened. We can expect improvements from our wide attackers, which gives us the further option of utilising one of these in a more advanced strikers role. We have consolidated our central midfield, which can be more robust in the event of injuries. Centre back is about the same with improved yout cover. However there is also Perch who as our versatile defensive player is highly improved and can cover all defensive positions strongly. Full back has some good points and bad points compared to last season. Losing Taylor is a real blow and creates depth vulnerability. We could have done with another first team player but it wasn't to be. Tavenier, Ferguson and even Jonas at full back may be seen more often than people like. In goal I think we are most vulnerable if we were to lose Krul for a bit, but we just have to hope for Krul to stay fit.

We actually have tons of forwards if we count wide forwards and central attacking midfielders. We have improved our central midfield area and retained those wide midfielders who can also play up front, plus addditional youth cover. Defensively, we have extra utility cover albeit we have now lost Ryan Taylor. We have failed to get a right back to improve on our obvious weak link, but our weak link is not that bad making him actually hard to improve on. Good means we have a 5th choice defender Pardew can feel more confident in using. Other fringe players from our academies are getting more games this season and it is good to see them get a chance. So our weakest overall position is goal. Behind Krul, Elliott seems to have lost his place to Harper, and Harper looks slower and slower. So while it is good to improve the team further, I think we have improved the team in some areas and failed to do so in others but it is hard to find really good players willing to be backup, or excellent players to improve what we have. So all in all it is a decent but unspectacular transfer window, and we should expect to challenge Spurs and Liverpool and possibly Arsenal, finishing 4th-7th which would represent a successful first season back in Europe.

My only criticism, which is something that can be improved with experience is that he lacks composure on the ball so doesn't think through his passes. So a few instances he had time but mishit a pass or chose the wrong option. few passes to no one going out for throw ins too. But this is something that will improve. Otherwise I am impressed.

Also when talking about missing experienced heads in central midfield he really had to stop pause and pick his words carefully.

He was good at Everton but he lost something with his injury. Why Everton were dithering on a contract and we took a risk that didn't work out.

Obertan, Vuckic, Marveaux good. Bigirimana not quite ready. Gosling poor. Everyone else average.