leffe186

Those all look like very good signings to me in all honesty. Out of those there, the only one they paid over the odds for was Veron. It's Newcastle problem that they decided not to buy anyone. ....my point being that they bought pretty much an entirely new team, spending over £100M, at a time when others were having to tighten their belts. Man U won the league the year before - after selling Beckham for £25M they actually MADE £16M that summer. So Man City, in the transfer market at least, are doing what Chelsea did. I wonder if Hughes will be their Ranieri.

Summer 2003, Chelsea bought Johnson £6M, Bridge £7M, Duff £17M, Geremi undisclosed, Cole 6.6M, Veron £15M, Mutu £15M, Smertin £3.45M, Crespo £17M, Makalele £16M. Oh, and Neil Sullivan on a free. In contrast, Newcastle bought in Lee Bowyer, for free. Did Chelsea really do it the right way - exactly how different from Man City were they?

What? You won't be able to take them seriously because their team spent alot of money and found success. Honestly fell good for the long time supporters who have suffered with that club. It will be obvious who the gloryhunters are. However, I do dislike the way they're going about it compared to Chelsea. They brought players that could be built up and we're a club like Newcastle that, do to many favorable factors, had potential to become a major force in English football. It just seemed more real to me. With City I don't know. It just seems like the money comes from a bunch of faceless people and is spent in ways that are not even conceivable. It's more the wages they're handing out that Just based on my honest reaction to the Chelsea takeover and the reactions of the two Chelsea-supporting friends of mine. They both felt less connected to their club. You must remember where they were before Abramovich arrived - they had horrendously over-reached and could have been on their way out of business, and were a run-of-the-mill club anyway. He spunked unheard-of wodges of cash (they were, they really were) to put them where they are today. Are you telling me that you feel good for Sunderland supporters now? The thing is, I haven't got anything against Chelsea any more. Before they were a (lesser) enemy, now I don't have that visceral reaction and in fact support them in Europe. It's just something in my gut. It's all to do with the identity of football teams - it's always been a tenuous concept - and my instinctive reaction now is to treat Chelsea like a different club. I suspect I'll feel the same about Man City.

Bloody hell, didn't realise Falkirk are in Europa. I know why but it hadn't registered. I lived there for a while. 1-0 at home to Vaduz not the best result in the world...

I'll feel the same way I did about Chelsea, will no longer be able to take their supporters seriously at all.

God-given genius

Sorry, my bad, it's Leyton underground station. Check out the link for a pic, including one of the ugliest stands in the world: http://www.footballgroundguide.com/leyton_orient/ I would recommend drinking in the center of London. If you're driving, traffic will prob be a bitch as soon as you get inside the M25 so leave plenty of time.

Leytonstone, on the Central line. I used to go there on the bus when I was too little to go away with Spurs. It's more East London than West Ham, very old school. The ground looks a bit sad now after all the Barry Hearn shenanigans. I'd drink in Central London if you're taking the train down - loads of pubs round Holborn, then the Central Line out.

Points up what a waste of space the Player of the Year award was last year. Lampard not nominated?

Not sure I follow. If the money's the same and they both want to go to you then what's the problem? Are you saying that footballing reasons mean they'll choose Spurs?

Yes and league positions didn't show that already. What the heck happened to Harry Redknapp? If there is one thing you always felt he could do it was find a good young player from abroad rather than resort to bringing in someone washed up. Especially a DM of all things?! That was his bread and butter at Portsmouth, the French or African DMs. Can't believe he has resorted to this. He's gone to a club with a bit more expectations and he appears to be bottling it in the transfer market. He's only gone for sure things who have done it in the premier league since he went to Tottenham. Doing this every time in the market is not a good move at all. I think you're wrong. What about Kanu, and his picking up of Premier League players who had done a job before like Davis, Pamarot, Mendes, Crouch, Defoe? The thing is, we've actually got an alright squad. People like Benjani and Utaka were better than what he had at Portsmouth, and aren't necessarily better than what we have at Spurs. He's not bottling it at all, just finding it hard to attract players who are better than what we have because they're going to places that can offer European football next year or great big hulking wodges of cash.

give over, they are no where near top 4 with the current squad, they haven't improved at the back at all and that was their biggest weakness last season they've now got far too many strikers But the above would sort out the defence. People forget how ropey Arsenal were for much of last season, it was only Aston Villa buggering up the second half of the season that kept them in fourth. The Arsenal performance I saw at Villa was the worst I'd seen since the mid-80s. Even though I detest the City circus, this Premiership season is going to be fascinating, a lot will depend upon how teams start.

Free and pay-as-you-play. Been worse deals made. I think he's past it too but I guess we're going for the "leadership, been there done it" angle a la Davids. There are plenty who are saying it's sacrilege; personally I don't care if it makes us better. That's a big if.

Hopefully not Liverpool, as their not winning it for so long is quite funny.

Anyone friends with any City fans? What do they think about all of this? It's funny seeing a thread about Sturridge only signing for Chelsea for the money..... http://smf.citymancs.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=ls4u8nu92qs8dob889bv7ishr4&topic=15789.0

I actually hope Terry goes there, just to point up how laughable the whole thing is and what a c**t he is.

At one point I was worried that Man City were building an excellent team, now I'm really looking forward to seeing how on earth Hughes is going to cope. It's mental. Surely clubs should be able to pick up people like Bellamy, if only on loan.

Nice walk to it too, but the coldest I've ever been at a match was there.

Went to a Columbus Crew game a couple of weeks ago and they were everywhere. I'm starting to warm to them, as long as they're only used as accompaniment to offensive chants etc.

I dunno, who was that guy I saw play for you in the UEFA - Salifou? He seemed pretty technically inept, and that's before we get to Marlon Harewood!

Good, I usually really like them. Great material (for the not-obese among us) and minimal silly bits.

Think it's quite funny myself. Just because I'm a Jackson fan and stick up for him against a lot of the media hype believers on here, doesn't mean I can't take a joke. Agreed, but which aspect of the media hype are you referring to? Seems to me the reality is not far off.

and they want daniel fox!!! :rant: ive loaded the gun..... might have to cross Commons off too.

This transfer window is quite boring, isn't it? I've never even heard of Melo. Except his name sounds like 'mela' which is the Italian word for "apple". God, I'm bored. You've been linked strongly with Hangeland. Would be a very nice replacement for Laursen I reckon. I agree. In the Times that Harry offered Jenas and Bentley for Carew. Really fancies himself as a whealer dealer does Redknapp Thoughts? Interrupting I know, but my first thought is......they don't half make some s**** up.

Sore neck?