Rival watch

[No Kane No Gain]

You could've said the same about us until 2 weeks ago

Difference is ours didn't cost us £170mill and were less than half the wages

Also Stambouli(£4mill) was the only one of them signed under our current manager. I think there's going to be a number of talented wantaway at United next year which will either be good for us, or if they won't drop their wages then good for Qatar, Turkey and Monaco.

Quite a few of those are adaptable. Mata did well playing like an old inside right last season. Fellaini had some effective games supporting the striker. Blind can play at left back, Herrera can play in a midfield two or further forward. And realistically, van Gaal may be looking to ship some players out he gets offers. Di Maria hasn't performed.

But you need a big squad of first team quality players. Carrick's injury record is worrying. Blind was out for a while with an injury last season. Chelsea were fortunate with injuries, but most clubs aren't. They would look vulnerable if Matic and Fabregas were out together for 2-3 months.

Will you even play fullbacks next season? If you are going to then it seems even more difficult to give them all games. You could play Mata off the right but would you really play 2 left footed players on the right flank? We'll wait and see who's left at the end of the window of course but it's an awfully expensive stockpile of midfielders you've got at the moment.

 

[O.Spurcat]

Is Cambiasso signed up for Leicester for another year or is he available? I'd love to have him on our books to fulfil that need for an experienced head. He's still a very good player too.

Apparently he has been offered a one year deal but at the same pay as last season. I think he is asking for more money before he makes his mind up.

 

[vimhawk]

1. Kudos to Delph for staying with Villa. Unfortunately it makes them stronger, but it is better for football. Fed up with certain teams hoovering up first team players from other clubs that may be not much more than bench warmers.

2. Just got back from a very long walk so had ample opportunity to listen to various sport radio, and after today and previous coverage of the Sterling saga I can't believe that nobody has mentioned what seems obvious to me - if only to make a counter point. There are endless pundits saying that City only need to up the bid slightly to get Sterling. Yet it seems to me that Liverpool are (now) desperate to sell, Sterling is desperate to go to City and City are the only bidder. Doesn't that put City in a really strong bargaining position? Why the hell would they up the bid when they might as well bid less than before? Can Liverpool afford not to sell considering what has happened recently? Not saying I've got all the nuances of the situation, but at least someone could have made this point!

 

[NSIS]

Liverpool are mightily pissed off with Sterling, and rightly so, IMO. I think the owners have just dug their heels in. They know £ity has the money, so it's pay up or no deal!...

 

[NSIS]

Sterling to City for £49mill, according to SSN

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

£49M for Sterling! That's just ridiculous given his contract position. Liverpool have done well to get more than £25M.

 

[O.Spurcat]

No doubt Brendan will spend the money wisely.

 

[The RDBD]

"No doubt Brendan has spent the money wisely."

<fixed>

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

Sterling's going to be such a colossal waste of money, City will have to recoup what they spent by converting him into Wet Spam's new stadium.

...which will still never get sold out.

 

[The RDBD]

That will be the impetus for Levy to really purge the deadwood.
No way will he let the Mousers win the summer 2015 net spend Cup (even though
he has a 10m buffer with the sell-on money QPR will be due on Sterling) .

 

[Billy The Spur]

Sterling to City for £49mill, according to SSN

Reports are that QPR have a 25% sell on clause. £49m is madness on City`s part, that is at least twice Sterling`s worth, it`s a lot of money for potential.

 

[NSIS]

Reports are that QPR have a 25% sell on clause. £49m is madness on City`s part, that is at least twice Sterling`s worth, it`s a lot of money for potential.

Agreed. If he wasn't English and being sold to an English club - well titularly English, anyway - he'd never go for that crazy sum.

 

[Blue and White]

Last English striker that went for that kind of money- Andy Carroll.

Where is he now? (hypothetical question!)

 

[Citizen Kane]

I'm heading off to the City board to see what they actually think of his arrival. Obviously the money is pittance to them, but it's still an exorbitant sum to spend on a player who hasn't really proven himself at any noteworthy level for any period of consistency, with a stinking attitude problem thrown in for good measure.

 

[Sanj]

I'm heading off to the City board to see what they actually think of his arrival. Obviously the money is pittance to them, but it's still an exorbitant sum to spend on a player who hasn't really proven himself at any noteworthy level for any period of consistency, with a stinking attitude problem thrown in for good measure.

The City board? There is more activity in a morgue.

 

[Citizen Kane]

The City board? There is more activity in a morgue.

Yes, just discovered that for myself. Their last thread was posted 3 months ago and average replies to a thread holds at a steady 3.

Almost as much atmosphere as the Emirates.

 

[NSIS]

Yes, just discovered that for myself. Their last thread was posted 3 months ago and average replies to a thread holds at a steady 3.

Almost as much atmosphere as the Emirates.

Most of their "supporters" have gone back to the Utd board. Three is probably about what they've got left.

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

Most of their "supporters" have gone back to the Utd board. Three is probably about what they've got left.

And none of those can read or write.

And their computers are password protected.

 

[littleDinosaurLuke]

Just one more midfielder YV

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33502604

 

[No Kane No Gain]

Just one more midfielder YV

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33502604

I look forward to seeing how the 2-6-2 works for you next season.



I really doubt Liverpool got £49mill for Sterling. City opened with a £30mill bid, didn't they? I'd wager that most of the rest is just performance related in order to save face. I also think too much has been made of his poor last season, he was coming off his first full season and then travelling to the World Cup only to return to a club that wanted to lean on him for inspiration, all the while Rodgers, in his infinite wisdom, decided it was a good idea to play him in 6 or so different positions. No 20 year old is going to go through all that and still look good. He took awhile to convince me he wasn't just pace but I think City have done a decent bit of business there, although it remains to be scene how Pellegrini will fit him in. It sets them up well for the CL though, they've been crying out for some pace on the counter against the top sides, Aguero can't do it all alone.