Manchester City Season 2008/9

[JK]

LMAO .. And they reckon Aussies will bet on anything!!!

[Swooper16]

man City wont sign any massive names during January (think Sparky has said as much) The ronaldo's, Torres, Fabregas etc are not going to give up their european and league aspirations 1/2 thru the season. Look for Man City to buy a couple of players that are not quite superstars (Cahill, Arteta, Lennon etc) then in the off season will bid at everyone and anyone.

I also agree that United will not sell Ronaldo to City. Whilst Football is a business Fergie understands the game from the fans point of view (he refused to sell heinze to Liverpool) They will use it to bump up his price but ultimately he will end up in spain.

[Footy_Rulz]

Good to see some Manchester City Fans in this forum, I have been one for a very long time EXCITITNG TIMES AHEAD !!

[johntheclaret]

Would be agood pick up if it happens

Thanks to Sky:

Manchester City have turned their attention to Wigan striker Amr Zaki after his blistering start to life in the Premier League.

Zaki joined the Latics on a season-long loan deal from El Zamalek in Egypt this summer and has settled immediately in England, scoring seven goals in his first eight league games, including a brace in Saturday's 3-2 defeat at Liverpool.
Steve Bruce insists that Wigan have an agreement in principle with the Cairo club to sign Zaki at the end of his loan stint, but the Egypt international's superb form has alerted a number of clubs.
The JJB Stadium fans have immediately taken Zaki to their hearts, with the forward admitting how much he is enjoying life in the North West.

But City's recent takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group makes them heavyweights in the transfer market with manager Mark Hughes having already been given the funds to bring in Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5million.
The Eastlands outfit are looking to build a squad capable of challenging for silverware at home and abroad and have identified the powerful Zaki as the ideal candidate to lead their attack.
El Zamalek confirmed that they are set to hold discussions with City in the coming days in a bid to resolve Zaki's long-term future.
A statement from the Egyptian club read: "A Zamalek delegation will fly to either Manchester or Abu Dhabi, not determined yet, to hold talks with City representatives over Zaki."

How could Zaki refuse. No wonder Whelan has been banging on about City for weeks.

[devilsadvocate]

Of course they have. He's on fire. I'd say he'll be going somewhere for PLENTY in Jan.

[RoosterMarty]

He will probably go somewhere in the Jan window, maybe a small chance he will stay until the end of the season but will certainly leave then you would think.

It's sad for the Wigan fans, they uncover a gem and he gets snapped up by a rich club, at least they get plenty of coin out of it though.

Reminds me of when the AFL clubs steal gun North players.

[johntheclaret]

Don't think they will Marty. I think he is on loan at Wigan. Will check and come back to you.

[devilsadvocate]

Don't think they will Marty. I think he is on loan at Wigan. Will check and come back to you.

Correct as usual JTC:
He is currently on loan, from Egyptian Premier League team El Zamalek.
So one Egyptian side is going to be loaded come Jan!

[RoosterMarty]

Ohh on loan, well Wigan lose bigtime then.

[devilsadvocate]

Citeh 2 - Geordies 2 last night.
Didn't see it, but there was drama (as always when Newcastle is involved!)
Geordies had a player sent off, Citeh conceded an own goal and Stephen Ireland scored late to secure a point.

[johntheclaret]

Well, it had to happen. The circus that arrived at City has just introduced the clown act.

Thanks to The Sporting Life:

THAKSIN HANDED PRISON SENTENCE

Former Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Thai Supreme Court after being found guilty of corruption during his time as Thailand's Prime Minister.

Shinawatra, who is currently honorary president of City following the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group, has been involved in a dispute with Thai authorities since he was ousted from power in 2006.

His wife, Pojaman, had previously been found guilty and sentenced in absentia to three years in prison.

Shinawatra returned to Thailand in February 2008 to fight the charges, but the couple fled to the UK in August, saying they would not get a fair trial in their homeland.

Shinawatra was found to have violated conflict of interest rules in helping his wife buy land from a state agency at a knock-down price.

The ruling is the first on a spate of corruption charges against Thaksin and his political associates prepared by graft investigators appointed after a military coup in 2006.

Thaksin, who has denied rumours that he was seeking asylum in Britain, said the case was politically motivated. "I have been informed of the result. I had long anticipated that it would turn out this way," Shinawatra told Reuters.

A Thai prosecutor has confirmed they plan to ask Britain to extradite Thaksin now that the court had sentenced him to prison.

[johntheclaret]

Oh no, the dreaded Vote of Confidence

Mark Hughes gets vote of confidence from Manchester City chairman

Three straight league defeats is not quite the backdrop Mark Hughes was hoping for ahead of his meeting with Manchester City's owner
Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the Manchester City chairman, says Mark Hughes's job is not under threat despite mounting pressure following the club's third successive defeat.

Hughes is due to travel for a possible meeting with Sheikh Mansour, the club owner, in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, but despite City winning only one of their past seven games and suffering a 2-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur yesterday, Al Mubarak says the manager has the full backing of everyone at the club.

[johntheclaret]

Following on from the "Vote of confidence" story

Thanks to Sky Sports

Mourinho coy on City link

Inter boss plays down talk of Premier League return

Jose Mourinho has responded to speculation linking him with the Manchester City manager's job.
The former Chelsea boss, now at the helm of Serie A giants Inter Milan, was reported by a national newspaper to be in the frame to replace Mark Hughes at Eastlands.

With City now under the control of the super-rich Abu Dhabi United Group there had been suggestions that the former Blackburn boss' position could be under threat.
But chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted on Monday that there were no plans to replace Hughes and that he would be given more money to spend in the January transfer window.

Mourinho enjoyed great success with Chelsea after moving to England from Porto, before parting company with the Stamford Bridge club in September last year.
He spent several months out of the game, being linked with a number of leading jobs, before eventually joining Inter in the summer following Roberto Mancini's departure.

And while the Portuguese tactician makes no secret of the impression left on him by the Premier League, he is focused on his role at the San Siro.
Mourinho told Sky Sports: "Everybody knows I love English football, but everybody also knows I am Inter Milan coach."

[devilsadvocate]

Hughes can't win (literally ).

What a rollercoaster it will have been. High after the move from B4st4rds (Is that right JTC? ), low after the Shinawatra debacle in which they almost sank, high after the rescue by the arabs and then ultimate low when he's dumped for Moron-ho.

Spurs will be ready to appoint a new manager by then, so he'll have somewhere else to call home for 9 months.

[BALLHOG]

Go the Red Devils makes up for loosing to them both meetings last season.

[johntheclaret]

This is more of a No-news story, than a news story.

No thaks to Skysports

City identify transfer targets

Blues keen to bolster their ranks in January

Manchester City executive chairman Garry Cook has revealed that a list of possible targets for the January transfer window has been drawn up.

The Blues have been strongly linked with several high profile players in recent weeks, with the club widely tipped to indulge in a New Year spending splurge.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas is the latest name to be touted as a possible new arrival, although the Spaniard is reported to have spurned City's advances.

With talk of record-breaking deals refusing to go away, and with the Abu Dhabi United Group making no secret of their desire to become a force in world football, Cook admits that there exciting times ahead for the club.

[JK]

According to www.adelaidenow.com.au Man City have offered 100 Million Pound in transfer fee to AC Milan for Kaka ... The wage they offered him is said to be $15mil US p.a - AFTER TAX!!

[RoosterMarty]

That fee is absolutely ridiculous but I doubt Kaka will want to go to City as he seems like the type that wants to play for a football club rather than a fantasy team. I guess it depends how Milan end up this season as I'm sure he will want to be back playing Champions League... if he ends up going to City it could be Championship football instead (here's hoping ).

[Bully]

That fee is absolutely ridiculous but I doubt Kaka will want to go to City as he seems like the type that wants to play for a football club rather than a fantasy team. I guess it depends how Milan end up this season as I'm sure he will want to be back playing Champions League... if he ends up going to City it could be Championship football instead (here's hoping ).

yeah getting a bit outa hand. but when u have that much money to burn the why not

[johntheclaret]

Latest news over here:

£100m ($200m) Transfer.
£25m salary over 5 years.

No doubt he will get a big slice as a signing on fee (Usually starting at 10% and rising)