Unbelievable

another corner

think so too

great performance, but could be a disappointing result..

It's not like we haven't been able to create chances today..

We've bummed them for 65 minutes, but we haven't scored. I think it is logical that people are getting restless.. Oba on for Smith

0-0

I can't believe Chelsea let him go to direct competition for that little

Sunderland top of the league!

Feyenoord, my club in Holland, won the Uefa Cup with those exact tactics a couple of years back, with Van Hooijdonk banging the freekicks in. It's a very effective strategy against stronger opposition..

contact between an unnamed club ("a club") and Marseille at the moment (we are obviously mentioned in the article) he has decided to accept the deal that was offered to him discussions between the club ongoing and almost finalised he expects the two clubs to reach an agreement within the next few hours so he will go abroad 4 years at Marseille were the best and moest enjoyable of his career it was a dream to come and play at OM it was more than a dream when he captained the side for one season no bad memories, only happiness in his time there his daughter was born in Marseille his life at Marseille is now possibly, certainly to an end (literal translation) but it ens happily and he has given everything he had to the club he was given a lot of confidence by the directors at the club he has given everything in those 4 years and the start of the 5th he leaves with happiness and sadness at the same time because it is difficult to leave a big family like OM but he wanted a new challenge and is happy to have had 4 great years he hopes and expects he has handled in a respectable way towards the club he has tried to give OM the best because that's what the club deserves it is an adventure that has ended happily because he does not leave in difficult circumstances or in animosity so if it was to finish this way it simply marks the end of a beautiful story he thinks he has massively developed as a player in his time at OM he has played 3 finals in 4 years unfortunately not having won one but it is clear that it was a very happy time because playing for OM is incomparable to playing for any other club in France and maybe sometimes even in Europe he felt he needed a new challenge to continue to develop football nowadays consists of leaving and arriving at clubs that's the life of a footballer he has no problems with anybody it is a dream come true to be able to leave knowing the people who employed him are happy for him andf the people from Marseille who are sometimes talked badly about he wants to make it clear to the people of Marseille that he has always respected the jersey he wishes OM well and he wants the fans to continue to get behind the club it is a difficult time for the club like the club has seen before in previous years but the club is strong and will come good and it will have a very good season because it has a good team and it is a big club OM will be at the upper end of the table at the end of the season he will be one of the supporters cheering the club on it is an emotional dream to leave the club Sometimes people need a new challenge to get the best out of them to develop in life I have previously said that I could imagine finishing my career at this club I have felt like that up until the end but there are always modifications in a career a new stage in my life is about to start but OM will continue and will stay a big club without me I certainly leave a lot of friends here I will definitely come back here because I have a house here and my daughter was born here so after a while we will come back (to live) here but today it is a real pleasure to leave this club with so much satisfaction from the people I think I have done some good things here even if we have had difficult moments I think I leave a positive image of my time here so it's all good even though today I am a bit sad to leave behind friends to leave a city and a club that I love in a season that has already started but life is sometimes like that life is about taking the opportunities presented to you and this was one but everybody is a winner sometimes transfer deals are done at the expense of a party but this one will go through easily because there was a real support by the club to let me go and there was my wish to do something else and the club has been great about that so the transfer will probably go through without problems I will continue to follow the performances of OM and I leave friends here he wishes the club all the best it's the heart that talks today because it is a bit difficult *another player appears on the scene and is asked if he is surprised, he says yes* we've seen it coming he is one of the players who has helped develop the club (don't know who this player is) this is the type of player the club needs to build a future on I would like to add something personal. I have read things that have been written about me recently that I was playing badly in order to force a way out I have not played to my usual standard so far this season but that has nothing to do with me potentially leaving the offer I have accepted today I have already received a month before the start of the season I have initially refused but I have had the opportunity to think about it think about it with the people close to me so I have decided to ask my agent to listen to the offer that this club (he doesn't name us) wanted to make and that's what they have done that is just to explain I don't want my recent bad form to be associated with me possibly leaving so I hope nobody will claim this is the case Today I have asked the club to study the offer the other club was willing to make and that's the only reason for me leaving today there's no conspiracy people have even suggested I had personal problems but that's all untrue Everything is fine, I have my daughter a lovely wife a beautiful family so it is only a life choice a career choice an opportunity presented to me that I have decided to accept and the club has been willing to cooperate the chairman had always said that if I had a desire to leave I should follow it because he thinks I've had 4 great years here and everything has been great about this transfer so that's very good So I leave a very happy man He looks quite happy but mainly very nervous. Basically says the same things over and over again..

The same Hatem Trabelsi that did nothing at citeh last season and was released from his pay as he plays deal with them? No thank you. He played very well for them if I remember correctly, but maybe Mr Spectrum can comment on that as he's seen more of him (recently) than most of us. He was pushed out of his favoured right back spot by Micah Richards, which isn't exactly a disgrace. I think you remember incorrectly there. He did ok, when fit. City fans are dividided on him, but there's also some very positive reactions from the time he played in his preferred right back position, e.g. http://smf.citymancs.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=ls4u8nu92qs8dob889bv7ishr4&topic=163.0 http://smf.citymancs.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=ls4u8nu92qs8dob889bv7ishr4&topic=704.0 Later on he was moved to midfield to accomodate Micah Richards and didn't impress as much, but we would be looking at him for the RB spot anyway. Low risk and potential to be a very good signing. It's not two years ago Arsenal had him wrapped up before the deal fell through for personal reasons (probably wage-related, but he's now a begger so can't be a chooser).

The same Hatem Trabelsi that did nothing at citeh last season and was released from his pay as he plays deal with them? No thank you. He played very well for them if I remember correctly, but maybe Mr Spectrum can comment on that as he's seen more of him (recently) than most of us. He was pushed out of his favoured right back spot by Micah Richards, which isn't exactly a disgrace.

That's a good point in more ways than one..

For right back I still think Hatem Trabelsi could be a good option. Fitness would be a problem, but he's certainly a class or two above Johnson when fit (maybe even injured ).. Would be on a free and would probably accept a largely 'pay as you play' type of contract.

Work permits in Holland for a Spaniard.. Nonsense.

I understand you're saying "if", but you surely cannot deny your response to numerous stories like this over the summer, and I've only called you on about three of them! Have we had more interaction than that? Also, on at least one occasion my response to your ridiculousness has been very tongue-in-cheek. The victim thing won't work here mate, it's simply not true, and telling me to "lighten up"? I'm not the one predicting bloody doom and gloom from almost every story I see! That hyopcrisy has almost knocked me from my chair. Unless I have some mistaken opinion of myself, I tend to find I have one of the rosiest outlooks on most things that get discussed here, looking for the good in everything rather than the bad. Finally, of course you are entitled to discuss media reports, and sometimes you tend to make some very valid arguments that nobody else has raised, but I was just pointing out my personal frustration with the stance you adopt on practically every two-bit story that gets printed in the Sunday papers.¨I apologise if that's upset you somewhat, but I have assumed it is fair play to criticise perceived idiocy on here - everyone else does it - and usually in far worse ways than I did yesterday. Chillax. I don´t think an apology combined with accusations of hypocricy, idiocy and ridiculousness really counts as an apology myself..

Diouf or Diop? Soon we'll be able to play 6 defensive midfielders..

^^^ what the wise man says..

Just seen the footage now.. Looks horrible. The commentator was talking about him having had another heart attack in the changing room, then a third in the hospital. He's apparently in coma now in the hospital. Hope he gets well, although you have to wonder if he will ever get back to his best on the football pitch..

Good question.. Looks like he's vanished into thin air. He certainly would have had more to offer as right back than Carr or Ramage one would be inclined to think..

We did look a bit better second half, but I don't think we played 4-4-2, as there was no width on the right and there were still three defensive central midfielders on the pitch. At least we are difficult to play against away from home. I'm not too disheartened after this match, although for a moment it felt like we won it..

FT. I'll take the draw after our disappointing first half..

Cacapa looks injured..

5 mins extra time.

It'll have to be just before the final whistle, or we will conceed again..