Dr Spectrum

Rafa Benitez / Nasser Hussain. Fact.

Is it supposed to be Rooney?

No, he's a class player. However, he couldn't last the pace of the season. His legs are falling off, he'll go to Qatar or somewhere like that. PS: Isaksson Richards Dunne Distin Ball SWP Mavuba Muntari Pedersen Kaka Samaras Where's Barton slide into that? He'll be on the bench. For Wormwood Scrubs FC.

No, he's a class player. However, he couldn't last the pace of the season. His legs are falling off, he'll go to Qatar or somewhere like that. PS: Isaksson Richards Dunne Distin Ball SWP Mavuba Muntari Pedersen Kaka Samaras

Utter cretin of a manager to be replaced by proven quality. Penny pinching chairman replaced by Gajillionaire. "Slight Improvement" (Note that at this stage I refuse to entertain thoughts of any of the above not happening, its the off season, I'm allowed to be happy!) There is no comparison between Reading 06 and Derby 07. Reading won the league with a bajillion points, Derby are in the playoffs - and theyre picking John Macken.

Dyer to Chelsea, What a load of shite The cynic in me says Oliver is laying the groundwork for his defense of a string of innefective performances from Ali Dyer next season. "Dyer, who came so close to a move to Chelsea last summer, was shite, but it was all Obafemi Martins' fault." I also have to wonder how many local journalists have a source in Tel Aviv of all places. And "Burly Striker"? No Alan, its spelt "FAB". Also dispointed he left out the most important bit - What did Ray Ranson have for breakfast this morning?

Media forced him out imo. Fell out of love with the game. Romance has gone, too much money at the top end, everyone is so cynical/defensive...

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/1007/1007256_ranieri_poised_to_thaiup_city_deal_.html Altho we might have to settle for Van Gaal or Magath if todays conflicting reports are to believed. I hope to god this takeover doesn't fall thru and we're left with some muppet

link? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/manchester_city/article1801233.ece His record is about a goal every 2 games in England but his injuries may have taken it out of him. Headless chicken but maybe worth a punt if cheap. Also hit his pregnant wife. Nice guy. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006040599,00.html Link added: Just in case the mods have a cardiac. Word is his wife has changed her name to Anette. Only way she could be sure he wouldn't hit her.

Jeebus, Ulises De La Cruz at it again. I'm suprised he can put a roof over his head.

If that doesn't set off alarm bells, I don't know what will.

Am I right in thinking he's not done away with Terry McDermott yet? If thats not a sackable offense, I don't know what is.

Get all three for £3/4m. Wouldn't make any assumptions about Distin's availability. Unlike our other out of contract players (Sinclair, Jordan, Beasley...), he's not left yet. And the word is that he's not that keen to go, but he's not going to stay for the sake of it unless we show some ambition. And if the takeover goes ahead, which looks almost certain... If what he's been saying is true, I'm reasonably confident he'll be a City player next season. Then again he could have been fobbing everyone off

Blatantly wants to come.

Just flicking thru NewsNow, came across this little snippet... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premiership/manchester_city/article1801233.ece (Near the bottom) You're welcome to him. Shite IMO.

Just looked at the Wikipedia page for Boundary Park, claims its the 2nd highest ground in England. Suprised. I know how cold it is there (Been there many times, only down the road), but I always assumed that was because of it being in such an open area. Even if Oldham is up t' hill, thought there would be more higher ones.

Coventry

Aberdeen

Riera looked a decent player, nice skills, and he had his moments - put the first nail in Souness' coffin I believe - but overall he wasn't consistently effective enough for us, especially considering we're serial penny pinchers. I think they were looking at 3 or 4, he didn't do enough for us to justify taking that big a chunk (percentage wise) of our transfer budget. Musampa I liked, I thought he was a much better player than Riera. Had him on loan for half a season where he played really well - even got into the Dutch squad if memory serves. I think we should have commited to him after that first season. The 2nd time we got him on loan was a total waste of time, by the time we got to the end of the season he blatantly couldn't be arsed with us any more - he was the type of player who needed to be commited to play well, incredibly powerful man but if is heart wasn't in it there was no point even putting him on the pitch. Him and City just gave up on each other really, I assume he wanted to play somewhere who actually wanted him rather than just perpetually sign him on loan to save a few quid. So off he went. For nowt I think, somewhere in Turkey? Missed the boat there IMO.

Just been watching that great game. Feel for Espanyol, wanted them to win after the character they showed to stick with it thru Sevilla's arsing about. But they never really had a chance in the shoot-out, coach was stuck between a rock and a hard place after the red card - needed fresh legs so had to take some players off, but the players he took of (De La Pena and Tamudo) would have been good value for a penalty a think. Shame.

Bwahahaha, I can't believe someone outside City noticed that. He's become somewhat infamous for his somewhat limited vocabulary - The only words he knows are "This football club", "cute", "C.V." and "you know". I would have thought you would have to listen to everything he says to pick up on it, but there you go

Mccarthy and Huntelaar spring to mind. Reality check - neither of whom are going to join a club which isn't playing in the CL. As Gejon just said, as I've just noticed whilst typing, but hey ho, I'll say it anyway. Oh, and Anelka and Barton in the same team? Moody overload. Were Barton and Anelka both at City together or had Anelka already left? Played together for quite a while. Barton came into the side in '03, Anelka left January '05.

Ok, that caught my attention. Just turned it on to listen to a rant from Jim Beglin about how wonderboy Alves can't deal with him. So he's doing alright then? Stuart Pearce's eye for a player vindicated once again

Why wouldnt you? Got to a Champions league semi with Chelsea something Moaninho's only just achieved 2 years later after spending 200m more, and Chelsea only finished second that season behind the unbeaten Arsenal side. I've no doubts Ranieri would have won the league AND Champions League if he'd stayed with Chelsea and got them playing better football aswell. He blew the CL semi final with his "Tinkerman" bollocks, he also spent over £100 million that season on the likes of Duff, Parker, Johnson, Cole, Mutu etc. Add to that he was a complete flop at both A Madrid and in his second spell at Valencia, where he was left an excellent team put together by Benetiz, doing well to keep Parma from getting relegated but he's definitely a manager on the way down. But whatever floats your boat. ...Makalele, Cech, Robben...on top of the players he brought in before - Gallas, Terry(from youth), Lampard...jeez he's bought some right shite Athletico Madrid, in administration, chaired by a madman...meh. Valencia #2 is really the only blemish on his record for me. I mean, he bought Corradi. Actually paid money for Bernardo Corradi. And a lot of it. I don't know what the hell that was about. I think its harsh to say he's own the way down just cos he's failed relatively recently - especially considering he's doing well in his current job.

Because he knows how to play decent football. And he has experience. And he's been sucessful almost everywhere. And he can spend money. And he's a quality geezer.