Dr Spectrum

What did you think of his performance against Roma? Didn't watch that game. What did you think of his performance against Brazil? Agreed So he's a winger now? Despite having niether pace nor skill nor any great experience of the position? Debates over his shiteness aside, he is a forward. If you want a winger, go and buy one.

No. Scholes, Ferdinand, and Ronaldo are all absolutely fucking top drawer. I have a jaundiced eye for woeful footballers who forge a career on effort.

Is the fact that you seemingly weren't impressed with him when he played against Southend setting off alarm bells? That was probably right at the start of his comeback from injury but still, a player who would apparently cost £3.5m should show something against the worst team in the championship? And this midfielder talk...he played in central midfield for a couple of months a couple of years ago, and was embarrasingly poor apart from one game, I think against Arsenal or Chelsea, where he won a few brownie points cos they were getting absolutely pissed on and he managed to throw himself into million and one tackles. But he's been a forward thruout his career and therefore has absolutely no knowledge of the position - I think that counts for a lot in midfield (See Makelele, C). Smith may be able to run round a bit and pass the ball 10 yards, but he's no a midfielder in my book. Beyond me why anyone would want to pay cash money for a technichally woeful forward who played in midfield once upon a time. Just get a proper midfielder. Or if you're looking at the other way, get a forward who can recieve a pass without the ball bouncing 6 feet off his first touch.

You need a goalscorer and to show your intentions, we just need not to be ripped off by a CL club taking him, so you'd have to pay proper money. The deal works for everyone imo. I don't think it works for Owen. He's got it made up there - earning a bajillion a week from a contract that would let him walk out at the drop of a hat should the opportunity arise. I don't think the prospect of moving closer to home is enough.

Hills have opened a book on this. Owen 7/1 to be a City player next season 1/14 he won't Hard to argue with that. While I'm pretty confident we want him - I'm sure Thaksin will want some big names to make a splash in Asia - still don't see it happening. There are few reasons he might come - I read he still lives in the north west and commutes to Newcastle, and we might(Doubt it, but maybe) be in a position to match his contract, plus the Sven factor - but I don't think any of the above are enough to turn his head. Still think the only way he'll go will be if Allardyce tells him he doesn't fit into his plans.

Didnt' Smith also play left wing for Leeds in their relegation season? He played on the right wing against us the season before they got relegated when Venables was in charge. Then some mugs took Fowler and Kewell off them and it was him and Viduka leading them all the way to the chumpionship the season after. Btw, Alan Smith is absolutely f****** abysmal. Wouldn't have him for nowt. Nothing to do with him being a rag either...he was absolutely shocking for Leeds too. Speaks volumes that so many different managers have tried to convert him....they like his huff and puff for some reason...but he has no real footballing ability whatsoever. I mean, watching him against Brazil the other week. I was genuinely embarrased that this muppet was representing my country. Absolutely f****** abysmal. He's no Samaras like... No, he isn't, as Samaras does actually posses some level of abilty even if he's a complete sissy. However, he is very Paul Dickov. Huff and puff all he wants, but he ain't gonna blow anyones house down. Cos he's absolutely fucking absymal.

Didnt' Smith also play left wing for Leeds in their relegation season? He played on the right wing against us the season before they got relegated when Venables was in charge. Then some mugs took Fowler and Kewell off them and it was him and Viduka leading them all the way to the chumpionship the season after. Btw, Alan Smith is absolutely fucking abysmal. Wouldn't have him for nowt. Nothing to do with him being a rag either...he was absolutely shocking for Leeds too. Speaks volumes that so many different managers have tried to convert him....they like his huff and puff for some reason...but he has no real footballing ability whatsoever. I mean, watching him against Brazil the other week. I was genuinely embarrased that this muppet was representing my country. Absolutely fucking abysmal.

Steven Taylor 2012 vs Ledley King 2007? Well...if both of Taylor's legs are still attached he'll win by default. But future Taylor vs King when he was fit...Ledley King. Not even close. Always thought he was a tremendous player, his injury problems have probably put this to bed but Ive felt for a long time that he should have been ahead of John Terry in the England team (I base that opinion on performances for England rather than Club form).

I don't "know" for sure. But that rumour has been denied. PS: http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i113/akisby2006/3006384.jpg

I imagine that given todays developments in this part of the world, £15m wouldn't buy their shoelaces. In celebration of the above, I bring you this completely irrelevant random piece of trivia: Nedum Onuoha was the National under-13 standing triple jump champion in 2000 - 8.72m. I think the only danger of him getting bumped to the bench would be if there are any doubts over his long term fitness. He has had a number of injuries that have kept him out for a while - Doesn't seem to have affected his jet powered heels but there would have to be a question mark over how much he can be relied on to stay fit in the future. Still I'd rather buy cover for him than have him cover for some new bloke. Always want to give the kids a go meself - and especially in the case of Ned, as unlike the previous big breakthrus from the academy - SWP, Barton, Richards - he is a proper blue blooded Mancunian.

I deleted those exact words from my post before I submitted it. Thought I was getting a bit ahead of myself Hope he can stay fit enough to take over from Distin as one of our first choice centre halves on a permenant basis next season. I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever about his ability to play in the Premiership on a consistent basis. I hope so.

Probably get slated for this given how much most here have seen of him but if it were up to me Nedum Onuoha would be way ahead of Taylor in the England queue. He's no come out of this tournament with the same amount of brownie points as Taylor cos he didn't play on thru his injury - and he hasn't had as much first team action due to the continuing excellence/fitness of Dunne/Distin and his own injury problems, but purely on ability to defend - For me he's miles in front of Taylor. Miles quicker, stronger, smarter, and most importantly I think he's better on fundementals such as positioning. In time I reckon Onuoha could easily play for England (as long as he's alongside a player who can use the ball). No going to pretend I don't look at him thru blue tinted glasses but he was easily Englands man of the tournament for me - best player on the pitch the other night by a fucking street. Never been anything but impressed when he's played in central defence for City either. Shame about the injury problems he's had - kept him off the radar for most non City fans I imagine - I bet most people have never seen him play centre half before this tournament. Turned a few heads tho.

Just having a wee look at Wiki...Looks like we don't enter teams because we have seperate Football Associations here for each of the home nations even tho we're all technically the same country (Britain), and there has been a fear that if we try and enter the Olympics together we'd lose our right to have seperate teams...apparently they're gonna let us off for 2012 tho...even tho the SFA don't want to

No.

Because we're represented at the Olympics by Great Britain & NI, and theres no such FA. Red tape really, we should send a team.

This tournament was also acting as qualifying for the Olympics...semi-finalists go to China - But cos England got thru and we can't send a team, two 3rd place teams play off for our place.

And he's got loads of that to. Compared to say someone like Butt. John Terry was made Chelsea captain at 21 was that wrong? Wahey, Taylor and Terry. Awesome comparison. Terry at the age of 21 (which Taylor is) wasn't any better than Taylor is now to be fair. In fact i'd say Terry was more arrogant, made more mistakes (on and off the field) at that age. Didn't Terry nearly sign for Huddersfield when he was younger? I know what you-re getting at with the off the pitch thing - he was part of the Jody Morris crowd - but I don't remember him being owt special as a kid. Don't think he did owt until Raneiri and Desailly got their hands on him...

The Home Office have seen fit to allow him to remain in this country in exile from his homeland. The DTI have seen fit to allow him to buy into a British company John Wardle has seen fit to allow him to buy Manchester City And I have no doubt that the premier league will soon see fit to allow him to become a director of a Premier League club. It's no my place to worry about these things. I'll let the people who know whats what do that. I'll just worry about the football. Ask me again in a couple of months. Still don't know whats going to happen re: team/moneys/manager. I'll take a flying guess at top 17 tho - more than I would have said no so long ago.

Agreed, I was going to mention that in my post. The big difference is that with Abramovich he has managed to avoid any direct accusations, just some of the companies he did business and some associates with have been investigated where as your guy was fairly much run out of the country due to his corrupt activities. Like I say I hope he gives you guys a good run, your fans deserve it (the only ones who hate the scum as much as I do). As long as he looks after City he's alright by me. But I don't believe that the current board would have accepted his bid if there was any danger of his past coming back to haunt us. PS: Danny Mills is a twat! £30k a fucking week, do me a fucking favour. And some of the shite he's come out with - He was actually glad that Hull sent him back when he got knacked so they didn't have to carry on paying his wages. Charming! He deserves all the stick he gets/has got/will get

I tell you what, there's been a "Who would you buy first?" thread running today. Practically everyone - me included - named SWP. Altho practically everyone - me included - cheated by naming a boatload of players. SWP/Saviola/Alves/Drenthe/Kaka please Would no be suprised one bit if we via Sven were interested in Michael Owen. Then again, i'm interested in Scarlett Johansson and Thaksin's daughter, doesn't mean owt. Interest has gotta be reciprocated, I doubt Owen is arsed with us.

So is Roman Abramovich, no done Chelsea any harm.

He was asked the question if he was interested in bringing in Owen, All he said was that sometimes coaches have connections and that might want to bring in someone theyve worked before. And he was right. Feel free to jump to any conclusion you want from there - I know I will. It seemed to me that his "advisors" (Whoever the fuck they are?) are deciding on a manager - And I think he also said his advisors are already working with said prospective new manager on deciding what players should be brought in. I'm filing this one in the "No smoke without fire" drawer. Not sure why he would want to come tho - unless its made clear to him that he's got no future up there. I doubt the Sven factor, or even moving home, would mean owt. Also must be said I was really impressed with Thaksin. Seems like a nice guy, talked nothing but sense, exactly the sort of thing I wanted to hear. I'm welcoming him with open arms.

Er, NO. He is a shite manager. FACT. I don't care how much he got the team to huff and puff, thats a job for a cheerleader, not a manager. Simple fact is we won 1 game in the tournament - against a team that made 9 changes - we threw 2 others away by trying to protect a lead for 60 minutes. Thats not how I want our national team to learn how to play. I imagine anyone who watched the games has some idea why City scored so few goals last season...because Pearce is an overly negative cretin!

Taylor out for 4 weeks with a tear in his ankle according to Pearce.

I look forward to the new players eventually coming through, or being bought. Man City have brought through some good players aswel havent they, for example the defender that played for the U21's (sorry not even goin to try and spell his name) to be honest ive never heard of him, or seem him in the highlights when he played against italy, and abit of tonights game, but he went off.... City had a great academy scarily when Keegan was incharge, Asa Harford did alot of really sound work, that has seen the current crop of players come through aswell as SWP's (albeit Notts Forest can take most of the credit for him). Our official site has been running an ongoing feature about the 21 academy graduates* who have played for the first team since they opened it - 10 year anniversary of it opening I think. The man who takes most of the credit is a guy called Jim Cassell. Also some credit to Barry Poynton the youth scout - and of course to Joe Royle and the then chairman David Bernstein for the moneys to get it going. Asa Hartford was the reserve team manager for a long period but not any more, I suppose that was important to. But Cassell is the man, I and every other City fan worships the ground he walks on. Thats the important appointment, getting the right man in charge of the academy. Everything else follows from there as long as they have the moneys to implement what they want. *21 are - SWP, BWP, Joey Barton, Micah Richards, Nedum Onuoha, Stephen Ireland, Michael Johnson, Ishmael Miller, Daniel Sturridge, Willo Flood, Lee Croft, Dickson Etuhu, Tyrone Mears, Chris Killen, Glenn Whelan, Stephen Jordan, Stephen Elliot, Chris Shuker, Jonathan D'Laryea, Terry Dunfield, and if I can count, 1 more who I can't remember.. All apart from the last 4 are playing in the top 2 divisions. All but Dunfield (Who has had serious injury problems) are still playing professional league football, aswell as few others who never made it into our first team such as Paddy McCarthy and Kieron Westwood. I think thats very good.