People go on about Citys money, but when has a premierleague team gone and signed a worldie? Chelsea had loads and brought in decent players and turned them into world class? Torres wasnt great at Atletico? United have never done it. The idea that they will go an sign the worlds best is rubbish.

Why does the PL care if there's a big 4 or not?

Why does the PL care if Citeh involved in the big 4 or not?

How does Spurs qualifying for the CL make it a more level playing field for Wigan, West Brom, Newcastle etc?

The "big 4" dominance only came about because of the expansion of the Champions League. That isn't down to the PL, it's down to UEFA.

I think the biggest thing Citeh will do is **** up the signings that Chelsea and Man United are trying to make.

I think that any player who is a target would far prefer to go to Chelsea or United over Citeh.

In a way I want Tottenham to claim fourth because it will be funny if Citeh don't make it. But it will also be pretty funny if Tottenham do their *nearly* trick again.

So, Foster is off in the summer. Although he has potential, he has failed to impress or take his chances this year when VDS has been out, so has Tommy K TBF. We need to get a new keeper in the summer anyway. I'd also get rid of Carrick and Berbatov, both have had poor seasons.

The CES security at Old Trafford were once again on top form at the Reserves final on Monday. Refusing entrance to people because they'd wore a GG scarf at first XI games, or protested in the past - even if peaceful. This despite them failing to display their SIA I'd despite it been a condition of their employment and previous complaints from IMUSA on the matter.

leakage

No Player Position Weekly Yearly Joined Fee Notes
Gianfranco Zola Manager £36,300 £1,887,600 Sep 2008 N/A Contract Sep 2008 - June 2011; Ext Jun 2013 (@Apr 2009)
Steve Clark Assist Man £24,200 £1,258,400 Sep 2008 N/A Contract Sep 2008 - June 2011; Ext Jun 2013 (@Apr 2009)
Kevin Keen Head Coach £12,100 £629,200 Jul 2002 N/A Contract Oct 2006 - June 2009; Ext Jun 2011 (@Sep 2008)
Kevin Hitchcock Coach (GK) £3,000 £156,000 Mar 2010 N/A Contract March - June 2010 (@Mar 2010)

1 Robert Green Goalkeeper £30,000 £1,560,000 Aug 2006 £2,000,000 Contract Aug 2006 - Jun 2010; Ext Jun 2011 (@Aug 2008)
4 Danny Gabbidon Defender £50,000 £2,600,000 Jul 2005 £1,500,000 Contract Aug 2005 - Jun 2008; Ext Jun 2010 (@Aug 2007)
7 Kieron Dyer Midfield £70,000 £3,640,000 Aug 2007 £6,000,000 Contract Aug 2007 - Jun 2011
8 Scott Parker Midfield £70,000 £3,640,000 Jun 2007 £7,000,000 Contract Aug 2007 - Jun 2012
9 Mido (Ahmed Hossam) Forward £1,000 £52,000 Feb 2010 Loan Loan Feb 2010 - Jun 2010
10 Guillermo Franco Forward £20,000 £1,040,000 Sep 2009 Loan Contract Sep 2009 - Jun 2010
11 Ilan Araújo Dall'Igna Forward £19,231 £1,000,000 Feb 2010 Loan Loan Feb 2010 - Jun 2010
12 Carlton Cole Forward £50,000 £2,600,000 Jul 2006 £1,000,000 Contract Jul 2006 - Jun 2010; Ext Jun 2013 (@Nov 2008)
13 Luís Boa Morte Midfield £70,000 £3,640,000 Jan 2007 £5,000,000 Contract Jan 2007 - Jun 2010
14 Radoslav Kovác Midfield £20,000 £1,040,000 Jan 2009 £3,250,000 Contract Aug 2009 - Jun 2012
15 Matthew Upson Defender £70,000 £3,640,000 Jan 2007 £7,500,000 Contract Jan 2007 - Jun 2011
16 Mark Noble Midfield £20,000 £1,040,000 Jul 2000 Academy (2000) Debut (Aug 2004) (Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2013) (@Apr 2009)
17 Benni McCarthy Forward £38,462 £2,000,000 Feb 2010 £2,500,000 Contract Feb 2010 - June 2012
18 Jonathan Spector Defender £20,000 £1,040,000 Jun 2006 £500,000 Contract Aug 2006 - Jun 2010
20 Julien Faubert Midfield £30,000 £1,560,000 Jun 2007 £6,100,000 Contract Jul 2007 - Jun 2012
21 Valon Behrami Midfield £30,000 £1,560,000 Jul 2008 £5,000,000 Contract Jul 2008 - Jul 2013
22 Manuel da Costa Defender £20,000 £1,040,000 Aug 2009 £2,000,000 Contract Aug 2008 - Jun 2012
23 Hérita Ilunga Defender £20,000 £1,040,000 Sep 2008 Loan / Fee Loan Aug 2008 - Jun 2009; Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2013
28 Péter Kurucz Goalkeeper £5,000 £260,000 Feb 2009 Loan / Fee Loan Jul 2008 - Jun 2009; Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2014
29 Marek Stech Goalkeeper £3,000 £156,000 Jul 2006 Academy (2006) Debut (Sub only) (Contract Jul 2006 - Jun 2010)
30 James Tomkins Defender £4,000 £208,000 Jul 2005 Academy (2005) Debut (Mar 2008) (Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2013) (@Apr 2009)
31 Jack Collison Midfield £2,000 £104,000 Jul 2005 Academy (2005) Debut (Jan 2008) (Contract Jul 2008 - Jun 2013)
32 Alessandro Diamanti Forward £30,000 £1,560,000 Aug 2009 £6,000,000 Contract Aug 2009 - Jun 2014
33 Fabio Daprelà Defender £10,000 £520,000 Jul 2009 £500,000 Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2014
34 Oliver Lee Midfield £400 £20,800 Jul 2009 Academy (2009) Debut (Sub only) (Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2010) (@Apr 2009)
36 Anthony Edgar Midfield £400 £20,800 Jul 2004 Academy (2004) Debut (Jan 2010) (Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2010) (@Apr 2009)
41 Zavon Hines Forward £400 £20,800 Jul 2006 Academy (2006) Debut (Aug 2008) (Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2010) (@Apr 2009)
45 Jordan Spence Defender £400 £20,800 Jul 2004 Academy (2004) Debut (N/A) (Contract Jul 2006 - Jun 2010)
46 Junior Stanislas Midfield £1,500 £78,000 Jul 2000 Academy (2000) Debut (Mar 2009) (Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2014) (@Apr 2009)


£705,792 £36,701,200 £55,850,000
£187,831 £9,767,200
£182,100 £9,469,200 Released (March): 35 Josh Payne, 44 Bondz N’Gala, Nick Barrett, Davide Ferrari,
£178,462 £9,280,000 Peter Loveday, Danny Kearns, Conor Okus, Jack Lampe.


PLAYERS ON LOAN
19 Freddie Sears Forward £4,000 £208,000 Jul 2000 Academy (2000) Debut (Mar 2008) (Contract Jul 2008 - Jun 2013) (@Feb 2008)
24 Frank Nouble Forward £10,000 £520,000 Jul 2009 £500,000 Contract Jul 2009 - Jun 2014
Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson Defender £400 £20,800 Jul 2008 Academy (2008) Debut (N/A) ~ On loan to Roeselare, Belguim (to May 2010)
Matt Fry Defender £400 £20,800 Jul 2001 Academy (2001) Debut (N/A) ~ On loan to Gillingham (to May 2010)

Really?? Why?? Was it like that when Mr Abramovich appeared on the scene at Chelsea and they spent £200-£300 million on players in a very short space of time. Did the Drogba's, Shevchenko's, Ballack's of this world go to Man Utd, Liverpool or Arsenal or did they chase the money.......erm I mean go to a club showing the ambition to become a big team??

Man City have the financial clout to out muscle anybody and therefore will do. The players that Man City want WILL end up at Eastlands.

Oh, and just for the record it's not that long ago that Chelsea f***** up all the signings people wanted by just showing an interest and the price sky-rocketing!! It will be rather refreshing seeing Chelsea and Manchester Utd being the victims for once

so is Kaka not going to 'bottle it' this summer

Buffon sounded thrilled at being linked.

Dyer and Boa Morte = £70K a week?! HAHAHAHA. Good deal tekkers.

Good post.

City will spend big this summer regardless of wether they get a CL spot or not.

If they do get 4th, they'll spend big to make sure they keep forth spot, or finish even higher & have a good CL run/try win the league.

If they don't get forth, they'll spend big to make sure they get a CL place next season and try to win the league.

Chelsea didn't go out and instantly buy the Drogba's, Sheva's and Ballack's.

They bought players like Glen Johnson, Joe Cole, Wayne Bridge etc.

And Chelsea already had a few seasons of appearing in Europe, doing pretty well in the CL, absolutely 5hite in the UEFA. Chelsea had a pretty good standing and reputation in Europe, having had players like Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli, Gianfranco Zola etc come through the club and have success.



Players like Kaka? Ronaldo? Messi? They'll laugh at an approach from Citeh.

So far you've pulled off coups to get Robinho, Tevez and Adebayor.

Robinho's now on loan in Brazil. Mancini's talking about letting Tevez go if he wants to leave. Adebayor was regarded as **** at Arsenal and has pretty much confirmed he's a **** in his time at Citeh.

You're now supposed to be one of the sides after Joe Cole. Someone who has hardly been called upon when Chelsea had a title to win.

You think Citeh will be able to get any player they want? You are kidding yourself. Clubs will just use Citeh as leverage to get better deals at clubs they do want to go to.

No player would choose to go to Citeh when they don't know what the club will be doing or who they'll be doing it with, if they have an option to go for sides who have a proven pedigree of winning things and competing for the biggest prizes.



I agree.

But I'd still rather be in our position than yours. Even if you win tonight and claim 4th place, that's still a world away from where we are. We're one of the best sides in Europe and will probably be double winners. You limped into 4th place in the league, got done in the Couldn't Care Less Cup by United and got beat by Stoke in the FA Cup. The only thing you have over us is money.