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Article by Real Mancs Are Blue
One thing we can say for sure about Roberto Mancini is he doesn’t go much for sentiment. Forcing Stephen Ireland out of City as part of the James Milner deal is a defining moment in his City management career and one which may prove to be his downfall.
‘Superman’ has been a fan favourite amongst us blues for many seasons. Sure, he’s a bit of a mental case and sure, sometimes his head is in the clouds but with the ball at his feet he is a player that can inspire. That season we saw a glimpse of Stevie’s talent, tearing apart defences and scoring goals for fun; he wasn’t player of the year for nothing. Last season was a different story. Played out of position as a holding midfielder Steve often looked lost and ineffective, no longer a goal threat he was sidelined into a peripheral role that baffled us all, but we all still loved him, ‘Ireland is Superman’ rang through Eastlands whenever he warmed up on the sidelines.
The way we have used him a bargaining tool to get a vastly overpriced James Milner leaves a bad taste in the mouth of a lot of fans. A player like Ireland needs the ‘arm round the shoulder’ approach and instead got the ‘foot up the backside.’ He is still only 23 and with the talent he has he could have been nurtured into one of the City greats, time and patience would have been rewarded and we could have had ourselves an invaluable attacking midfielder. Instead, the pursuit of glory comes at the price of patience and Mancini seemingly has no time or patience for the likes of Ireland, a mistake I hope he doesn’t live to regret but I fear he will.
My point is this. The way Steve has been forced out has done nothing to enamour Mancini with the fans. First Bellamy, our best player by far last season, then the best player the season before both shown the door. If Mancini loses the fans he loses his job. I’m sure James Milner will be a useful and quality player for us although he will be playing under the weight of impossible expectation; he’ll always be thought of as the player that cost a fortune and who cost us Superman.
Mancini will have to tread very carefully in future. A lot of fans are already questioning some of his transfer dealings and if we aren’t in the top six at Christmas, it won’t just be the fans baying for his blood.
Pete
James Milner’s long drawn out transfer to City has finally concluded with the England man putting pen to paper with a five year contract.
James Milner - 5 Year Contract
The deal sees City’s Stephen Ireland moving in the opposite direction to once again link up with former City skipper Richard Dunne.
The signing of Milner will probably signal the end of City’s summer spending spree, which has coast the owners in excess of £100m and has again brought calls of ‘money won’t buy success’ from other quarters.
The deal for Milner looked to have stalled following Martin O’Neill’s resignation as Villa boss and Ireland’s apparent demand for a £2m pay off to leave Eastlands, but finally an agreement was made and both players passed medicals at their respective new clubs today.
Milner will be unavailable for the trip to Romania in the Europa League on Thursday but could make his City debut against Liverpool at Eastlands on Monday night.
As true blues, we would like to wish Ireland good luck at Villa (not too much luck though) and welcome Milner to Eastlands.
Article by Real Mancs Are Blue
‘Manchester’ United, everyones second favourite green and yellow football club, have been caught up in an embarrassing website error reminiscent of Chelseas a couple of seasons ago.
We all remember that hilarious moment when Chelsea put Robinho shirts up for sale on their website, confident they were going to land their man, only to be left with egg on their face when Manchester swooped in in the dying minutes and scuppered the transfer.
This time it’s the turn of self proclaimed ‘biggest club in the world’ ‘Manchester’ United.
After the huge signing of Chris Smalling, own goal specialist, the Stretford money men were clearly confident of signing Mesut Ozil, Werder Bremen and Germany midfielder. So confident in fact that they proceeded to put his profile on their advert filled website.
The real difference is Robinho actually wanted to play for Chelsea and was almost there, Ozil on the other hand was about as far away from strolling in to the theatre of debt as Trafford is to the centre of Manchester.
In a season-break bereft with embarrassing for Glazers boys this was the real icing on the cake, once again showing that United had the intent to buy on the worlds top players but had neither the persuasive skills or cash to back up their ambition. A problem that will only escalate in the future.
Anyway, I wish Ozil every success with Real Madrid, a club that is going places and undoubtedly the right choice for a player at his level, as for the green and yellow army………… better luck next time.
Real Mancs Are Blue
The fallout between City and Craig Bellamy will temporarily end today as the Welsh striker is set to sign for Cardiff on loan.
Bellers has been omitted from City’s 25 man squad for the new Premiership season and has been linked to Spurs, Fulham and Celtic but Championship side Cardiff look to have beaten them all to Belles signature.
The striker has been unhappy at City since former boss Mark Hughes was sacked in December and replaced by Roberto Mancini. Since then, Bellamy has had a series of bust-ups with the manager and Brian Marwood which have resulted in fines and more recently, Bellers apparent expulsion from the City training ground.
Bellamy was one of City’s best players last season but is has been clear for some time that the striker doesn’t feature in Mancini’s future plans for the blues. Prior to his omission from the squad, Bellamy threatened to quit football altogether but now his home tow club have give him the opportunity to thrive again, despite Spurs boss Harry Redknapp’s efforts to tempt him to White Hart Lane.
Maybe this will be a good move for Bellers. With him moving out of the Premiership limelight, it could be the perfect opportunity to show the blues exactly what they are missing.
What do you think? Have the blues made a mistake in allowing Bellers to leave? Will Balotelli be any better? Let us know your thoughts
Well finally, after a long summer of speculation and accusation, City got their Premiership season under way but not without making an additional signing and, as usual, not without a bit of controversy.
Bellers On His Way?
After the blues were drawn against Romanian opposition in the Europa League, Roberto Mancini drew up his 25 man European squad and, in doing so, omitted Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland.
The fiery Welshman have never really seen eye to eye with Mancini so it was no real surprise to see him left out of the squad and it is now evident that his future lies elsewhere. Spurs seemed his likely destination but, after the blues blocked any move to North London, it looks like the much travelled striker is on his way to his hometown of Cardiff on loan.
It’s a shame what has happened to the striker, who endeared himself to the fans and was one of the better performances last season. But, like others before him, he was the signing of a previous manager and Mancini seems to want to clear the decks of those players. Petrov, Benjani and Garrido have already gone and it looks like Bellers is next.
Ireland Demands How Much?
Stephen Ireland was supposed to move to Aston Villa in a cash plus player deal for James Milner. The move however has stalled in the wake of Martin O’Neill’s resignation as Villa manager and, although it is expected to be concluded on Monday, Ireland threw a spanner into the works by demanding £2m to leave the club.
When I read this, I suddenly found myself remembering the Joey Barton move to Newcastle, but that idiot was only asking for £300,000, which the Toon ended up paying. Can’t see Villa doing the same somehow.
It always amazes me how these players think they can make such demands and get away with it and it just shows the greed that exists in the game. If I was Mancini and Ireland came to me asking for £2m to leave, I’d give him a choice; either join Villa like a good little boy or rot in the reserves until your contracts up. And that goes for any player thinking the same. No player is bigger than the club and if the blues want to sell Ireland, or anyone else for that matter, they can do. Sorry but you’ve got your options Stevie, make a decision.
Out With Bellamy, In With Balotelli
Okay so here’s the thing; we get rid of Bellamy because he’s a trouble maker and replace him with, hold on, another potential trouble maker. Does that make sense? Well I suppose something’s never change with City.
The Italian signed too late on Friday to be included in the squad for the trip to Spurs and there have been mixed feelings over the signing. Balotelli is a talent, there is no doubting that, but his comments about leaving Italy only make me feel nervous about signing him. It is quite clear that he wanted to stay in his homeland and my feeling is that he was coerced into joining City, rather than a desire to join and that can only mean one thing: trouble.
But he has worked with Mancini before and the boss might know a thing or two to keep him in order. If he manages it, Mancini may well have just signed a player that can take us to the next level. If he’s wrong, it may well cost him his job. Let’s hope he’s right.
Take Hart From Spurs Game
Of all the teams to play on the opening weekend, it had to be Spurs away. The Londoners have held the voodoo sign over us for how many seasons now so to come away with a 0-0 draw was good enough for me. Of course I would have liked the win but after our first half performance, I’m happy to settle for the draw.
But the game did show us one thing; Joe Hart. Watched by Fabio Capello, Hart’s performance will surely have been enough to secure the England number one slot for the City keeper, particularly after Capello dropped both David James and Robert Green before seeing Paul Robinson call time on his England career.
Hart fully justified his selection with a string of good saves and effectively won us a point. Watching Match of the Day on Saturday, the pundits, or should I say Alan Hansen, were quick to slate City. “A million miles from winning the league,” Hansen said gleefully, basing his facts on a dismal 45 minutes.
Yes we had problems that will be addressed. That’s what happens when new players play together for almost the first time. I for one never thought City would win the league this season and still don’t think we will. But, just to ram Hansen’s words down his throat, it would be great if we did.
Coming up
OTBM Fantasy Football Update – Monday 16th August.
James Milner should sign for the blues on Monday as well but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t.
City travel to Romania on Thursday in their Europa League first leg game. Anyone know where we can watch this live?
Monday 23rd August: MCFC v Liverpool at Eastlands. 8pm kick off.
Have a good week blue boys and girls.
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