The club have announced an “Open House” event next Thursday which will feature an opportunity to see our new signings going through their paces. It all sounds a bit cheesy for anyone over the age of eight, but there could be some interest in seeing whether Carlos Tevez’s heel and Roque Santa Cruz’s knees can manage a knockabout. We wait with baited breath.
Highlights are set to include:
The squad being split into teams for some games.
Roving entertainers, face painting, balloon modellers …
Not surprisingly, Elano has cited a need for regular first team action in the run up to the South African World Cup as the reason for his move to Galatasaray.
“I spoke with my national coach Dunga and he told me it will be difficult to enter me on his World Cup list if I am not playing football regularly.
“I need time on the field. This season is very important. I dream of playing in the World Cup.
“I have received …
A report in today’s MEN and a footnote in The Times both claim City have lined up either Chelsea’s Alex or Newcastle’s Sebastien Bassong as an alternative to Joleon Lescott.
The Times:
The Times understands that Sébastien Bassong, the Newcastle United defender, or Alex, the Chelsea centre back, are being lined up as alternative targets.
MEN:
The Blues are preparing bids for Newcastle’s Sebastien Bassong and Chelsea’s Alex after Everton firmly rejected an improved £18m bid for England defender Lescott.
It makes sense …
Tuesday 25 July, 2.00pm (BST)
Goals: Ntuka 45
City missed out on their latest chance of silverware in the final of the Vodacom Challenge with a narrow defeat to the Kaizer Chiefs.
Hughes reverted to a 4-4-2 formation and for the second time it resulted in defeat. The midfield began with Barry and De Jong making a solid pairing in the middle with Wright-Phillips and Petrov supplying the width.
Adebayor made his debut alongside Craig Bellamy and unsurprisingly they weren’t on the same wavelength. …
Tuesday 21 July, 7.00pm (BST)
Goals: Ireland 45
The second game in South Africa saw City put out a stronger side and reap the rewards with a deserved victory courtesy of a goal from captain Stephen Ireland on the stroke of half time.
Hughes ditched the 4-4-2 and reverted to last season’s formation with first Ireland and then Wright-Phillips in the hole behind a lone striker. Everybody looked more comfortable with this. There was never the sense of being overrun which we had …
Saturday 18 July, 2.00pm (BST)
Goals: Thwala 35, Thwala 55.
And so the 2009/10 pre-season began. Sunshine and unparallelled optimism giving way to defeat and a dispiriting display. Then who should pop up at Eastlands but another £25m striker to lift our spirits. Welcome to Manchester indeed.
I took advantage of the club’s offer to watch our heroes show off their tans and tattoos on the big screen at Eastlands. City took a chance on the weather with the open air seating outside …
