I agree with Joelzinho, he has a lot of potential. Very impressed with what I saw when he was at CSKA...and I don't think you can pick up a couple of caps for Brazil barely out of your teens unless you've got a lot of talent. Add the fact that Moyes (a quality manager imo) rates him... Assuming part of the loan deal wasn't that Everton could buy him if he does well... Will he play in that game? Isn't there usually an agreement that a loaned player can't play against the club that owns him?
wow! Valencia are in dire straights financially.... players not even being fully paid! http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=618441&sec=europe&cc=3888 Now would be as good as any a time to bid for any of their players...
For a team that was in the dire straight that they were on they sure did little to no selling. I didn't expect them to sell Villa or Silva, but I'm sure that they could have sold a few of their other players.
If we decide we need them, we better blow Valencia out of the water the day the window opens for Silva and Villa otherwise they'll both go to Liverpool to be with El Nino.
Thanks for the input. I wasn't aware of all the clauses of loans. In that case, we're destined to lose Jo if he continues to light it up.
Jo was in a tough spot all along, first he carries a big price tag and big expectations. Also he was purchased by Frank and Hughes, so there is always a bit of problem in that situation. I dont dislike him but not a huge fan neither. He may just be one of those players that flourish under one system and fails in another. And even if Valencia is in dire financial needs they will not give us a discount for Villa. City is seen as the cash cow, no one will come cheap
I actually do think Robinho whines a lot, and is at times bad for team morale, but it is excusable given his incredible talent. I have always claimed he is as naturally talented as the best in football, if only his attitude and mental strength was kept in check.
It almost doesn't matter -- we've made our bed with Robinho as the mattress and now we have to sleep in it. If we ship him out after less than a year we will lose a whole lot of credibility as he is our record transfer. The only way to offload Robinho (and I am NOT advocating that) would be AFTER bringing in Benzema, Villa etc. Robinho is going to need skillful man management...
HEY! I will never "give up" on a higher place in the standings... I was just expressing my MCFCFrustration on not giving players enough PT and then sending them away only to find out that when they play enough minutes and get into the flow (or lack-there-of) of the Prem, they succeed. I think we were FOOLISH to send Jô to another team above us in the standings. We need tall players up top who can change up our attack when we get nowhere playing our army of Little People. Benjani is the same height as Jô, but they should be on the same team and have to challenge each other for the starting spot. Caicedo is a big man too, only an inch shorter, but plays a different type of game...
Chelsea reveal they declined a bit from Man City for John Terry late in 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7891676.stm
Man City, Everton linked with 21 year old Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto. http://www.tribalfootball.com/catania-striker-takayuki-morimoto-watched-everton-man-city-228511
Faroe islands GK Gunnar Nielsen joins Manchester City http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12875_4972894,00.html
That is an odd one, indeed. Could it be a sign that we will let Kasper or Joe leave at the end of the season, making Nielsen our new #3 goalie?
Most likely scenario, Kasper leaves. Filip Mental (best name ever) becomes 3rd choice. Nielson is youth/reserves keeper.
Yeah, if I'm not mistaken Kasper has said he might want to leave (this around the time Given was signed).
Nice little article on Joe Hart "I'll be back, pledges Hart" http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ty/s/1098747_ill_be_back_pledges_hart?rss=yes
I just can't see it unless Given's ability starts to decline. Given is just so good and has been nearly flawless for us. Joe is great but I think he's year's off having Given's maturity and if you look at most of the world's top teams, they have a general in goal.
Nice article about City in the Telegraph today... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/co...if-he-stands-by-City-manager-Mark-Hughes.html
Didnt hear about this before but apparently a bid was placed for Benzema... I wonder what the bid was, he is such a great and young talent with a huge upside. Lyon always gets more than face value for its players, but I think even if its 30 million pounds it would be worth the price... hopefully we will have another go at him in the summer market. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=620709&cc=5901
Did anyone catch the Blackburn - Everton game? The commentator really ripped into Jo, saying things like its as if Everton played an hour with only 10 men, he doesnt run into space, he doesnt work hard, he doesnt run with pace, etc etc... So much for his wonder debut, hes better pick it up else he will be riding the bench on loan...
Well that's the same problem he was having while with City. He just seems to be a bit lost at times and wanders a bit too much.
Its almost certain now that Valencia will sell David Villa, David Silva, and possibly other key players (Liverpool are after one of their defenders) in summer as they are £400,000,000 in debt. This is from the club's mouth too. We've been interested in Villa and he is one of the best forwards in the world. Honestly I think he's every bit as good as Torres and could be our big capture in summer (papers today said we're going for Messi... lets not embarrass ourselves again, please...) if he's willing to jump for money or "the big project that is Manchester City". David Silva is also a fantastic player but is another attacking midfielder-cum-striker who can play either side. Remember these two start for the best international team in the world (well, some might argue Argentina?) so to sign both of them from the same club wouldn't seem odd. Its just if they would come to City and if they would fit in. They also work hard and I don't think they are primadonnas, at least not Villa who has stayed so loyal to Valencia despite the temptation of moving away.
I like Villa but I think Messi is a reach because he just came out and said he wants to finish his career at Barcelona. I agree lets not have a repeat of the Kaka deal and end up looking stupid. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=624870&sec=europe&cc=5901