: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:15 pm  

Catalancs wrote: Wasn't Rafa interested in him? Pretty sure you were after him last summer as well. As for our summer, I have bad feelings too, I don't think any top players will leave, maybe Xabi if something irresistable is offered, but I'm more worried about who's coming in. Seems that with the early spending, everything will be inflated, I hope we act quick and tie our deals up early, but for some reason I can see things dragging on and us having a fairly average summer. Just a quick one for the City fans on here; what's happened to Michael Johnson? Will he be playing next year? I mean, I look at your midfield players and struggle to see where he'd start, I can't remember seeing him this season, either.

Catalancs wrote: Wasn't Rafa interested in him? Pretty sure you were after him last summer as well. As for our summer, I have bad feelings too, I don't think any top players will leave, maybe Xabi if something irresistable is offered, but I'm more worried about who's coming in. Seems that with the early spending, everything will be inflated, I hope we act quick and tie our deals up early, but for some reason I can see things dragging on and us having a fairly average summer. Just a quick one for the City fans on here; what's happened to Michael Johnson? Will he be playing next year? I mean, I look at your midfield players and struggle to see where he'd start, I can't remember seeing him this season, either.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:18 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Pretty sure you were after him last summer as well.

Don't remember that.

Robbie Rotten wrote:

As for our summer, I have bad feelings too, I don't think any top players will leave, maybe Xabi if something irresistable is offered, but I'm more worried about who's coming in. Seems that with the early spending, everything will be inflated, I hope we act quick and tie our deals up early, but for some reason I can see things dragging on and us having a fairly average summer.

Liverpool went so close last year and look like keeping hold of their most important players.
I really don't think Ancelotti will have the same effect on Chelsea as Hiddink and United have lost arguably their best player.
Think there's a fair bit of false modesty coming out from Liverpool fans.

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Just a quick one for the City fans on here; what's happened to Michael Johnson? Will he be playing next year? I mean, I look at your midfield players and struggle to see where he'd start, I can't remember seeing him this season, either.

Wasn't Martin O'Neill after him at one point last year?
I remember seeing a photo of him in the paper and he'd ballooned out!
Shame cos the lad's a great talent.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:18 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Pretty sure you were after him last summer as well.


As for our summer, I have bad feelings too, I don't think any top players will leave, maybe Xabi if something irresistable is offered, but I'm more worried about who's coming in. Seems that with the early spending, everything will be inflated, I hope we act quick and tie our deals up early, but for some reason I can see things dragging on and us having a fairly average summer.


Just a quick one for the City fans on here; what's happened to Michael Johnson? Will he be playing next year? I mean, I look at your midfield players and struggle to see where he'd start, I can't remember seeing him this season, either.

Masha unhappy well his bird is anyway not good I don't know even who we could bring in with what magic beans we have without selling someone defo need a class goalscorer and a winger.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:25 pm  

Wire_85 wrote: Masha unhappy well his bird is anyway not good I don't know even who we could bring in with what magic beans we have without selling someone defo need a class goalscorer and a winger. I read that, I didn't really take any notice of it, Masch has said he's happy and so's Rafa, surely Masch would have told Rafa he'd like to leave due to family problems? I'm never sure whether to believe them things, I remember last year they were saying Arbeloa just couldn't settle in England and was signing for Atletico, but nothing came of it and it was all denied. As for United and Silva, I read it here, and I'm sure it was in a few of the rags as well. As for next season, Chelsea look likely to splash a bit of money this summer, apparent bids for Kaka, Zhirkov and Villa show their intent, Ancelotti might not have the same effect as Hiddink, but if they invest even more, it's hard to believe they'll be worse. United have lost Ronaldo, but you're close to signing Valencia, and other names have been touted, you'll probably be weaker, but not by much. I just think we needed to invest big this summer, a top creative player was needed, David Silva was my personal choice but it looks unlikely with all of the apparent interest from other teams. It looks likely if we're to compete for any top players, that we'll have to sell a top player like Alonso to raise the funds, I don't think there are many better than Alonso at doing what he does, especially available players, if we lose him, it's hard to believe we'll be better next year.

Wire_85 wrote: Masha unhappy well his bird is anyway not good I don't know even who we could bring in with what magic beans we have without selling someone defo need a class goalscorer and a winger. I read that, I didn't really take any notice of it, Masch has said he's happy and so's Rafa, surely Masch would have told Rafa he'd like to leave due to family problems? I'm never sure whether to believe them things, I remember last year they were saying Arbeloa just couldn't settle in England and was signing for Atletico, but nothing came of it and it was all denied. As for United and Silva, I read it here, and I'm sure it was in a few of the rags as well. As for next season, Chelsea look likely to splash a bit of money this summer, apparent bids for Kaka, Zhirkov and Villa show their intent, Ancelotti might not have the same effect as Hiddink, but if they invest even more, it's hard to believe they'll be worse. United have lost Ronaldo, but you're close to signing Valencia, and other names have been touted, you'll probably be weaker, but not by much. I just think we needed to invest big this summer, a top creative player was needed, David Silva was my personal choice but it looks unlikely with all of the apparent interest from other teams. It looks likely if we're to compete for any top players, that we'll have to sell a top player like Alonso to raise the funds, I don't think there are many better than Alonso at doing what he does, especially available players, if we lose him, it's hard to believe we'll be better next year.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 12:39 pm  

Hopefully this clears things up with regards to Alonso and Mascherano. We can't afford to lose either.

Hopefully this clears things up with regards to Alonso and Mascherano. We can't afford to lose either.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:00 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote: Hopefully this clears things up with regards to Alonso and Mascherano. No football club has ever come out with a statement like that and ever sold a player, so I think everything is totally cleared up.

Robbie Rotten wrote: Hopefully this clears things up with regards to Alonso and Mascherano. No football club has ever come out with a statement like that and ever sold a player, so I think everything is totally cleared up.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 1:27 pm  

Lord God Jose Mourinho wrote:

No football club has ever come out with a statement like that and ever sold a player, so I think everything is totally cleared up.

Hence the reason I said 'hopefully'.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:16 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Just a quick one for the City fans on here; what's happened to Michael Johnson?

Still holds the 400m world record, and is an outspoken athletics commentator for the BBC at major championships. Didn't know he was a Citeh fan.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:19 pm  

Watching the confederations cup on the Beeb via the red button, I hope they are going to ban those fecking horns for the World Cup.

: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:27 pm  

Robbie Rotten wrote:

Just a quick one for the City fans on here; what's happened to Michael Johnson? Will he be playing next year? I mean, I look at your midfield players and struggle to see where he'd start, I can't remember seeing him this season, either.

Not sure on his future at City, but he was injured for the majority of last season.