City’s team to take on FC Timisoara is:
Hart, Zabaleta, K Toure, Kompany, Lescott, de Jong, Barry, Y Toure, Silva, Tevez, Adebayor.
City transfer talk: 18 August – Ibra against City move, Newcastle and Stuttgart after Weiss
18th August 2010
Today feels like relative calm after the drama of yesterday, with the main story in the Spanish press claiming Barcelona are looking to lighten Ibrahimovic from their wage bill. Unfortunately the player himself only has eyes for Milan.
The lack of Champions League football at City is again cited as the reason Ibra doesn’t fancy our ‘project’ along with a fondness for Milanese life. The big drawback for Barca is Milan’s lack of cash.
City transfer talk: 17 August – Milner medical, Balotelli introduced, Ireland and Bellamy on their way!
17th August 2010
Another huge day for City in the transfer market sees a deal for James Milner finally agreed with Stephen Ireland heading to Villa in part exchange. The exact breakdown of the deal isn’t clear with figures of between £16.5m and £18m said to be going to Villa plus extras. Ireland may be getting £1m for his pay-off.
Cardiff are to be congratulated on beating a host of clubs to the loan signing of Craig Bellamy.
City transfer talk: 12 August – Milner, Balotelli, Ireland, Bellamy, Caicedo all in talks!
12th August 2010
With the international friendlies over, it’s back to transfer dealings in what looks like being a busy 48 hours before the season opener against Tottenham.
According to the Birmingham Mail, James Milner was all set to drive up to Manchester last night, until Villa told him otherwise. A hitch regarding Stephen Ireland’s move to Villa was cited as the reason.
The contrasting fortunes of Micah and Nedum
11th August 2010
With news that Nedum Onuoha is set to join Sunderland on loan for the season, there also appeared on the official site an interview with Micah Richards positively describing his fight for a first team place.
Micah’s words contrasted sharply with those of Nedum in his Soccer AM appearance at the end of last season. Where Nedum has seen his place taken by the likes of Kolo Toure and Jerome Boateng, Micah is hanging on in there.
What now for Milner and Ireland after O’Neill quits?
9th August 2010
The shock resignation of Martin O’Neill as Aston Villa manager is unlikely to change James Milner’s mind about wishing to leave the Midlanders and join City. But what about Stephen Ireland’s move in the opposite direction?
A deal involving cash plus Ireland for Milner was supposedly near to completion with Roberto Mancini optimistic of having the England midfielder in his squad by Thursday. If Ireland decides he no longer wants to join Villa then City would be back to having to agree a cash only deal. This may prove trickier as each club’s valuation of Milner has differed widely.
City transfer talk: 6 August – those Adebayor quotes, Balotelli and Robinho
6th August 2010
Tuttosport came up with some extraordinary quotes yesterday from Emmanuel Adebayor, claiming he is “sorry to leave the Premier League” with Juventus interested in him and the prospect of limited first team opportunities with City. Not surprisingly the club quickly refuted this, pointing out that he has just been given our number nine shirt.
But what if City sign Dzeko or Ibrahimovic? Adebayor’s place as a first-choice striker would then be under threat.
City transfer talk: 30 July – Fairwell Garrido, hello Mino Raiola
30th July 2010
Today sees the Lazio president Claudio Lotito confirm the signing of Javier Garrido rather quicker than he released Aleksandar Kolarov. The Spanish left-back is due to replace Kolarov at Lazio for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £2m. This gives us a rare transfer profit with the player having been signed for £1.5m from Real Socieda
City transfer talk: 28 July – Jo and Santa Cruz linked with exits
28th July 2010
With other teams looking to form their squads for the new season, today brings fresh interest in two strikers who are likely to leave City this Summer.
First we find Jo linked with Blackburn. Big Sam likes a big striker, but Jo is hardly your archetypal target man. Maybe Allardyce believes he can shape Jo’s potential into something more solid and suitable for the Premier League. One thing’s for sure, the shrewd Allardyce won’t be paying the kind of sums Blackburn charged us for Roque Santa Cruz.
City outgoing transfer talk: 26 July – will Ireland make 25 man squad?
26th July 2010
Much is being made in the press of Stephen Ireland’s future, however the player himself has stated his desire to stay till Christmas and see how it goes.
