Dreams everywhere crushed I'm sure:
"Joining City is not something that will ever happen. When you have got red blood, you cannot see yourself with blue blood. You go there and they have blue ketchup... it's just like `What are they doing?'>>Phil Neville.
"I am not being disrespectful but I grew up a Red, hating City. When I go back with Everton I get absolutely slaughtered.
"It makes me laugh in a way because I understand what they are feeling."
In the preview of tomorrow's game I touched on news of a possible return to the line-up for Robinho, and the Mark Hughes has spoken of this possibility:
"He is back training with the group, which is pleasing from everyone's point of view," said Hughes. He is travelling with us and we will make a decision [on his fitness] tomorrow. "It could be a bit early for him to be involved, but certainly he will be in the frame for next week's game against Hull."As I've mentioned I don't see any circumstance whereby Robinho starts at Anfield but his return to the side is clearly not far away.
There are going to be fixtures at various times that are considered (overwhelmingly by the media it has to be said) as a chance to 'lay down a marker'.
Tomorrow's visit to Anfield will no doubt be seen as such an opportunity.
Of course, the outcome of tomorrow lunchtime's game is not going to decide anything over the course of a season barely a quarter of the way in but it is a game whereby the result could have ramifications over the short-term at least.
We head into the game on the back of five consecutive draws (or unbeaten since our only defeat of the season at Old Trafford), with the first sign of questions being asked of a side that came out of the gate at a tremendous pace at the beginning of the season. A defeat would therefore likely lead to more questions and a feeling that we have to make the necessary step up, whilst victory would announce our intention as a side with genuine aspirations; something Mark Hughes is all too aware of:
"Liverpool have been at the top end of the table and in Europe for a long, long time but we have to go to places like Anfield and get results. We showed with our performance at Old Trafford that we are more than capable of going to the 'big 4' clubs and turning in good performances. We are looking to do that again and make sure we have a real go. It's important because Liverpool are one of the teams we want to overcome this year."The intrigue is heightened given Liverpool's recent troubles. On the brink of a Champions League exit, they have also stuttered badly in the league with a usually sound defence looking less than cohesive (what has happened to Jamie Carragher?). They have suffered five defeats already this season, yet they do stand only a point behind us with shows that whilst defeats are damaging, draws can so often derail ambition.
"I know there are not four or five years ahead of me, not with the injuries I've had," revealed Bellamy. "Maybe I've got one or two years at the most. It will be all over before I know it, so I'm just enjoying it."
I remember when he signed for us, Bellamy spoke of it being a 'last chance' of sorts for him which could well explain the attitude and form he has shown since arriving. Whatever the reputation that preceeded him, he was renowned for someone who is very demanding of his fellow team mates and that has carried over to his time with us so far.
I don't think Bellamy will know an exact timescale of his remaining career, yet as he says his history does not suggest a career into his late thirties. That said though, motivation has never appeared to be an issue with him and I'm sure that whatever steps are required will be taken in order to prolong his career as long as physically possible.
There are some interesting comments from Garry Cook that have been picked up in or two areas of the press the past day concerning the future transfer strategy:
“That is absolutely (a model to aspire to) because, financially, it’s a better model than one where you get into negotiating a market price that has no pre-determining factors other than supply and demand.“That’s a model I don’t subscribe to and one I don’t want to be beholden to. I would rather control or manage our destiny over the long-term.
“What we are clear on is that we don’t think there will be another couple of windows like we have just been through. And I think you’re going to see Manchester City really ramp up its activity in the youth area, in the development area of players.
“There’s often opinion that we are just going to keep buying players, but that’s actually the antithesis of what we’re trying to do.”
It is no secret that the focus on scouting and the Academy on a more worldwide scale has been ramped up over the past year - notably with Jim Cassell taking on his new role as 'overseer' - and it is a strategy that makes sense in the long term.
Cook I believe has spoken previously on this issue, but more in line with defending the high transfer fees and wages that have been outlayed so far, a move that is not necessarily sustainable if you are trying to balance the books but important given our starting position and the need to elevate the club into being a perennial Champions League contender where the income and revenue streams generated naturally increase as a result.
>>Shay Given.“I'd love to finish my career here,” he declared. “I haven't been here long, but I already feel at home and love the club.
“I grew up a Celtic supporter and they have a big place in my heart, but I really hope I can finish my career here. You can never say never, but I'd like to think I will.
It's a great period to be at City. There's such excitement in the dressing room. There's a real feeling of optimism and we believe we're going places. It's been a great adventure for me and I couldn't be happier."
Martin Petrov is facing a couple of weeks on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury in the current international break.
The winger has a slight sprain of the inner ligament in the left knee and could be out for up to two weeks.
Petrov was with his national squad preparing for a couple of friendlies when he was forced to return back to City’s Carrington training ground, where he is now undergoing rehab work.
Disappointing news given his recent good form and the important trio of games on the horizon which he now looks set to miss.
It does however put Robinho a step closer to the starting line-up given Petrov is one of his main rivals for a position.
There were no punch-ups and no fists flying in Manchester City's dressing room last week. Just good old-fashioned verbals.
Typically, it was a vintage performance by Craig Bellamy, bawling out his team-mates after they tossed away a win. In the line of fire was City's back four - Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge - following their draw with Burnley.
He pointed the finger at all of them during an explosive dressing-room inquest, accusing them of lacking concentration in the final minutes.
I'm not usually a huge fan of stories that Neil Ashton has written about us, but he makes a very valid observation in this piece regarding the leadership in the side. Despite the huge sums invested which has brought an infusion of quality into the squad there doesn't appear to be a real stand out leader capable of galvanising the side; a focal point of the side such as a Gerrard or a Terry.
Perhaps this is evidenced by how difficult it was to select a candidate as captain to replace Richard Dunne. Kolo Toure, Nigel de Jong, Shay Given, Vincent Kompany, Stephen Ireland and Gareth Barry all appeared to be credible candidates before Toure was named as the permanent captain by Mark Hughes.
Early days into his tenure as skipper of course, but whilst Toure has fitted easily into the side since his move and no doubt has the respect of the squad his demeanour doesn't suggest he is a natural leader, something Ashton notes:
Toure is softly-spoken, the quiet type who is always willing to offer advice but rarely shows an aggressive side to his character. That is precisely what City are crying out for, a player who commands respect and can rally the troops to the cause when times are tough.
Bellamy is just the type, a Mr Motivator who is not afraid to remind Manchester City's players of their objectives. He was doing that in the dressing room last weekend, jogging a few memories after their fifth successive draw in the Premier League.
There were many who scoffed when Bellamy was brought in, and predicted he would be a divisive figure in the dressing room as opposed to one with leadership qualities, a rabble rouser rather than a player with the respect of his peers.
It is no secret Hughes is a big fan of Bellamy, and stuck his neck out somewhat when he brought him to the club given the reputation that he carries around with him.
His name didn't garner any mention when the captaincy debate was in full flow (primarily I guess because he by no means thought of as a regular starter) but given his level of play and how he has conducted himself this season the idea of Bellamy as captain may not be as far fetched as it would one time have been.
I've written before about how good an interview Stephen Ireland is, always providing a great insight into situations with an honesty rarely offered by footballers.
There are a couple of features today in The Telegraph and The Guardian in which Ireland discusses - on the eve of Ireland's World Cup play-off with France - his continued absence from the international scene, and despite reports that have hinted at a return he firmly closes the door on a potential return:
But while admitting he will watch Giovanni Trapattoni's team tackle the French when he returns to Manchester, Ireland has emphatically ruled out the possibility of an about-turn on his international retirement and insisted that the hate mail does not concern him."I've left my country now, and obviously left under the wrong terms, but it's happened and, since then my life has gone really nicely. Even if they get to the World Cup, there's not a part of me that will think, 'That could have been me, I could have been there'."
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