SVEN OUT !

I can't believe that the "Sven Out" campaign has started - what are some people like ?

It can't be real City fans on the phone-ins this evening- they must have been Reds taking the p*ss. Thankfully there were only a few.

Can't deny it though, we were well and truly hammered today at the Bridge. I wasn't there to witness it in the flesh, but listening to the Radio commentary and the post match reaction on GMR, it sounds like Chelsea were simply irresistible this afternoon and City just had one of those days; Chelsea would probably have demolished whoever had been put in front of them.

It was on the cards that Chelsea were sooner or later going to thump someone under the new Avram Grant regime and it with City's normal luck, it was bound to be us on the end of it.... and it was !

When ever this sort of humiliation happens to your team (nobody enjoys losing 6 - 0), you have no option but to look for some positives, which this evening is made even harder by the fact that United beat 'Boro and are now (hopefully only until tomorrow) on top of the table.

In a way, it's good this happened now, i.e before the January transfer window and this temporary blip in City's magnificent season so far has for me confirmed the following:

1) Samaras has probably had his last chance - pity for him though that he didn't have an easier game to try to resurrect his City career, but I guess that's just tough, but he's blown all his previous chances too.

2) We do need a world class striker. Having spent £9m on Bianchi, Sven ought to do him the courtesy of playing him now and again. He may well be this missing top striker people are talking about, but nobody really knows. Can't understand how Samaras got the nod today whilst Bianchi sat on the bench.

3) We need a top 'keeper. Hart has got enormous potential, but he's still a young kid and we need a bit more experience between the sticks. Maybe Isaksson can establish himself with a decent run, but Sven hasn't shown much confidence in him so far.

4) Ireland needs a long rest to get his life back together.


Now that we've had this rather predictable setback, it will be a good test for Sven and the players. Our next games are against Bolton and Sunderland. The outcome of these two matches will show just how far City have come in the Shinawatra / Eriksson era.

A Game I want the Blues To Lose

No, of course I'm not talking about City, but as there's no Premiership football this weekend and the English national team is such a bore I, like millions of football fans will be glued to the Rugby World Cup tonight hoping for an inspirational England win over the old enemy, "Les Bleus".

"Le Crunch", as it's been hyped up in the French press is last barrier between England and an unprecedented appearance in back-to-back world cup finals. Who knows what might happen if we reach the final?

I don't know what it is about beating the French at any sport, but it's almost as satisfying as beating the Rags and the Scousers.

Look out for former England World Cup winner and massive City fan, Will Greenwood, who is normally wheeled out as a TV pundit on these occasions. We could have done with him in the team this evening, but I'm sure all the guys will give 110% against the garlic... sorry I mean Gallic foe.

Come on England !

Please Not Lehmann !

A load of speculation today that Sven will be in for aging Arsenal 'keeper Jens Lehmann (now 37) to bring in a bit more experience and increase competition for the No1 jersey.

I really hope this is just a case of wild speculation, as I for one would not like to see him at Eastlands.

I think Sven needs to be very careful with his next wave of signings as so far he's been very fortunate to have assembled a group of players that (a) seem to gel very well together and (b) have a good relationship with the crowd. This has been a significant contributory factor to City's best ever start for over 30 years.

I don't think Lehmann fits either of the above criteria and over the past few season's he has by far been the 'keeper who has irritated and angered the City fans the most with his "gamesmanship" and unsavoury antics, particularly at corners and set pieces around his area - you all know what I mean.

I would think it unlikely that many City fans would welcome his arrival and warm to the man. I can't see that it would do wonders for team spirit in the changing room either.

The 'keepers position at the moment does need to be resolved, but I hope not like this. Both Schmeichel and Hart have done ok so far, but they are still young kids and far from the finished article, but both have enormous potential.

I also increasingly get the feeling that Isaksson seems to be developing into a square peg in a round hole at City, as since his arrival under Pearce, he's had a string of unfortunate injuries and when he has been fit, I've never really felt that the management have shown total confidence in him. We'll just have to wait and see on that one, but what the guy needs for sure is a decent run of games and to stay healthy.

Personally, I'd stick with what we've got for now and have another look at things at the end of the season.

Former Blue Gets The Axe

Millwall have just parted company with former City defender Willie Donachie, where he had been in charge for just over a year.

Willie spent eleven seasons at Maine Road between 1970 and 1980 making a total of 436 appearances for City. He was also a regular for Scotland and will hate me for mentioning that infamous own goal from a suicidal back pass in the 1978 Home International against Wales in the final few minutes of the game that leveled the scores; unfortunately something for which Willie will always be remembered.

Willie had quite an impressive record as an assistant manager with stints at Oldham, Everton, Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Millwall, but it could be a case that he turns out to be one of those great assistants that never quite makes it as the boss - a bit like Brian Kidd and Steve Wigley.

With the recent and sudden departure of Hans Backe there is a gap in City's current backroom staff and maybe there's a role for Willie to play?

We wish him all the best.

Good Time To Give City Young Guns a Chance

With City continuing to fly high and playing some really entertaining stuff, now would be a good time to give one or two young lads from the academy and reserves some first team experience.

The papers are full of rumours about who Sven is going to buy in the January transfer window, but he does have other options from within the club and now is a good time to have a proper look at them.

For the past few seasons out of necessity, City's youngsters have had a baptism of fire and been chucked in at the deep end when both Keegan and Pearce had no other option but to raid the Academy to bolster a paper-thin first team squad. The likes of BWP, Jordan, Flood, Croft, Miller, Ireland, Onuoha, Richards and most recently Schmeichel, Hart and Michael Johnson spring instantly to mind. Some of these lads have taken to the first team like ducks to water, whilst others have not quite been up to the task and have since moved on.

With Sven having instilled a new found confidence within the Club, what better time to gently introduce some more fresh talent and increase the competition for places. Whilst our defence and midfield look generally very solid, up front, we still don't look that convincing, and I'm still not entirely sure about Samaras, although to be fair to the lad, he's not had much of an opportunity so far.

In the absence of the much vaunted Daniel Sturridge who is thankfully on his way back from injury, some of you may have noticed that Ched Evans is getting rave reviews in the reserves and looks to be a fine young prospect; perhaps now would be a good time to give him a first team run out? Similarly, Kelvin Etuhu, who has been around a bit longer is maturing into a decent striker and has already had a brief taste of the first team and did ok in a poor side and maybe deserves another crack at it.

Sven recently backed off buying a new, experienced 'keeper once he saw how Schmeichel and Hart performed. Perhaps the same thing might happen if our young strikers are given a chance. Lest we forget, it was the academy who saved City from relegation in the three of seasons and despite City's new found wealth, we still need to bring our top youngsters through. Obviously if we get a chance to sign a Torres, Drogba or Villa we'd be mad not to, but just in case we can't, we need a plan B.

Champions League Update

No, sadly not a report about City blazing a trail in Europe - that'll be next for next season...yer right :-)

I don't often write much about other teams, but I was lucky to be at Parkhead tonight in the torrential rain for the Celtic v AC Milan game, and I've got to say what an unbelievable atmosphere - the stadium was rocking and I can understand why their fans call it "Paradise".

Apart from the referee, who was just shockingly awful and did his best to help Milan whenever he could, the only downer was the queues to get into the stadium and we missed the first 15 minutes whilst getting drenched in rain of Mancunian proportions.

Anyway, that aside, what a great night and what absolutely top supporters Celtic have got.... they did their Bhoys proud tonight.

I only hope that idiot at the end doesn't end up spoiling what was a famous European victory.