Skoorb
Alert Team
City approach the final fixture before the international break ( :018: ) in reasonable health. Four games played under their new coach, 4 wins, 12 goals scored, 2 conceded - a decent start and not the one that some in the media might have been hoping for. I am pretty sure that many of the hacks within the British media had been hoping that Guardiola - a coach with a superlative record in World football - would fall flat on his face once he stepped into the Premier League. He has shown that even during the limited time that he has spent with the squad and despite the absence of some new signings (Gundogan, Sane) or key personnel (Kompany) through injury, he is not a mug and cannot be taken lightly. Two potential banana skins avoided in the league and qualification for the all important group stages of the Champions League secured. A solid start.
The issue of Joe Hart is best left for discussion elsewhere on other threads - suffice to say here that last Wednesday evening he was shown just how much his service to the club has been appreciated by the fans. Guardiola has made his choice and whatever the reasons we need to move forward and welcome Claudio Bravo into the club and the team. It is clear that Bravo won't feature on Sunday having only arrived as a City player on Thursday so Joe Hart could well make his last appearance for the club as a substitute against West Ham. Should he move on from Manchester City before the close of the transfer window I am sure all City fans would join me in thanking him for his contribution to the success that the club has achieved over the past few years and wish him all the very best for the future.
Back to the football.....
Having secured their place in the Champions League competition proper Txiki Berguristrain and the other senior members of the club's senior management would have watched the draw unfold last Thursday with an increasing sense of disbelief. To say that it felt like a stitch up would probably be not far from the truth. For City and then the remaining teams constituting Group C to each be the FINAL ball selected beggars belief. City being drawn against Barcelona was as inevitable as the sun rising in the East but the constitution of the group given the options available. The Hot Ballers at UEFA were working overtime. Unbelievable Jeff. :019: :017: UEFA really don't like our club do they?
C'est La Vie. We will just have to roll up our sleeve and get on with the job. Better to face Barcelona in the groups stages as some have said.
West Ham arrive at the Etihad this weekend having been dumped out of Europe and after an indifferent start to their league campaign. They do not appear to be firing on all four cylinders but given that the wheels bolts on our season started to unravel against them last time out I would take nothing for granted. They will be shorn of the menace provided by Andy Carroll but Payet, Lanzini and Noble could all be fit again after their mysterious absence from the Europa League defeat at their swanky new stadium. Funny that. :048:
Sagna remains absent for City - his return could coincide with the availability of the trio of Sane, Gundogan and, wait for it.......Vincent Kompany after the international break when we face Maureen's Stratford Galacticos. The build up to that game will be something to behold I am sure as the media will whip themselves into a drooling frenzy. Expect plenty of 'Jose v Pep' type programmes on all sports channels. That will create some interesting dilemmas for Guardiola - does he risk parachuting these players straight into the team in such an important fixture or trust in those who have put their shoulders to the wheel so far for him? Team selection headaches all around for those in playing Be The Manager :002:
Before then we need to deal with a dangerous West Ham who have shown that they are no mugs and can play a bit. Every bit of Guardiola's guile, planning and coaching skills will be tested as he faces another on of those Premier League benchmarks. Time to right the wrong from last season against Bilic's side.
Come On City!!!
The issue of Joe Hart is best left for discussion elsewhere on other threads - suffice to say here that last Wednesday evening he was shown just how much his service to the club has been appreciated by the fans. Guardiola has made his choice and whatever the reasons we need to move forward and welcome Claudio Bravo into the club and the team. It is clear that Bravo won't feature on Sunday having only arrived as a City player on Thursday so Joe Hart could well make his last appearance for the club as a substitute against West Ham. Should he move on from Manchester City before the close of the transfer window I am sure all City fans would join me in thanking him for his contribution to the success that the club has achieved over the past few years and wish him all the very best for the future.
Back to the football.....
Having secured their place in the Champions League competition proper Txiki Berguristrain and the other senior members of the club's senior management would have watched the draw unfold last Thursday with an increasing sense of disbelief. To say that it felt like a stitch up would probably be not far from the truth. For City and then the remaining teams constituting Group C to each be the FINAL ball selected beggars belief. City being drawn against Barcelona was as inevitable as the sun rising in the East but the constitution of the group given the options available. The Hot Ballers at UEFA were working overtime. Unbelievable Jeff. :019: :017: UEFA really don't like our club do they?
C'est La Vie. We will just have to roll up our sleeve and get on with the job. Better to face Barcelona in the groups stages as some have said.
West Ham arrive at the Etihad this weekend having been dumped out of Europe and after an indifferent start to their league campaign. They do not appear to be firing on all four cylinders but given that the wheels bolts on our season started to unravel against them last time out I would take nothing for granted. They will be shorn of the menace provided by Andy Carroll but Payet, Lanzini and Noble could all be fit again after their mysterious absence from the Europa League defeat at their swanky new stadium. Funny that. :048:
Sagna remains absent for City - his return could coincide with the availability of the trio of Sane, Gundogan and, wait for it.......Vincent Kompany after the international break when we face Maureen's Stratford Galacticos. The build up to that game will be something to behold I am sure as the media will whip themselves into a drooling frenzy. Expect plenty of 'Jose v Pep' type programmes on all sports channels. That will create some interesting dilemmas for Guardiola - does he risk parachuting these players straight into the team in such an important fixture or trust in those who have put their shoulders to the wheel so far for him? Team selection headaches all around for those in playing Be The Manager :002:
Before then we need to deal with a dangerous West Ham who have shown that they are no mugs and can play a bit. Every bit of Guardiola's guile, planning and coaching skills will be tested as he faces another on of those Premier League benchmarks. Time to right the wrong from last season against Bilic's side.
Come On City!!!
