Monday, June 30, 2008

Hughes continues backroom shake up

Manchester City can today confirm the appointment of Eddie Niedzwiecki and Kevin Hitchcock as first team coach and goalkeeping coach respectively.

The pair joined Mark Hughes at Blackburn within a month of each other back in 2004 and the move to City sees them rejoin Marks Hughes and Bowen ahead of the return to pre-season training.
>>mcfc.co.uk

Another move by Hughes in bringing in his own guys following the departure of some of the holdovers from the Sven (and earlier) regimes, and in Niedzwecki and Hitchcock we see guys familiar with Hughes over the years (not to mention both former goalkeepers).

He has been fairly low profile so far (impressively so) since his arrival at the club, largely I guess overshadowed by media focus being centered on Euro 2008, but as we head into July we will have the UEFA qualifying draw tomorrow and the opening of the transfer window.

Negotiations still appear ongoing with Jo, but with a suggested transfer budget of £20 million to play with - and a suddenly idle press pack needing to fill column inches, Hughes may find that the media focus is about to step up a notch or two.

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The days best City links 06/30/2008

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Sunday, June 29, 2008

The days best City links 06/29/2008

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

New kit confirmed

Manchester City is delighted to announce a one-year extension to the existing shirt sponsorship agreement with Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, covering the 2008-09 Season.

The multi-million pound deal takes the partnership between the Club and the nation’s leading travel provider to six successive seasons, one of the longest running in the Premier League.

Commenting on the deal renewal, Club Executive Chairman Garry Cook said: “Thomas Cook has been a loyal and valued partner over the past five years.

“It is fitting that we are extending our agreement at a time when European travel is very much back on the agenda for the Club and our supporters.

“Both Manchester City and Thomas Cook share similar values and we are very pleased to continue our association with them.”

The new Thomas Cook branded home strip for the coming season will be available to pre-order tomorrow (Friday) exclusively from www.mcfc.co.uk and will be officially launched on Saturday 19 July at the City Stores at the City of Manchester Stadium and the Arndale Centre, central Manchester.


The home debut of the new strip will be when the team face AC Milan in this season’s Thomas Cook Trophy on Saturday 9 August.

>>mcfc.co.uk

I guess that the announcement clears this up then.

UPDATE:

Pictures of the new kits are up at the official site:



I guess everyone will be pleased the away shirt has reverted back to the red and black stripes, and the home one does look better than it did in the leaked photo.

£30 isn't a bad price all considered, but disappointing that a new one is released after only a season of the previous one.

Even more so if we have a new one next season, but that's another debate altogether..

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The days best City links 06/26/2008

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In memory of Marc-Vivien Foe


Today marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Marc-Vivien Foe who died on the pitch whilst playing for Cameroon against Colombia in Lyon on June 26th 2003, tragically cutting short a life way too early.

By all accounts he was a tremendously popular player and person for all those who encountered him during his far too brief season with the club back in 2002/03.

There are plenty of sites still dedicated to him, including a memorial site which is dedicated to continuing his work back in his home country of Cameroon.

Marc-Vivien Foe links:

May he continue to rest in peace.

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Tuesday, June 24, 2008

New shirt - fake or fiction?

EPL Talk provided a link to what was revealed as a sneak preview of our new shirt for the 2008/09 season (below), but judging by the comments section on the post, there is much debate as to whether the shirt is real or fake.


I didn't think we were actually due for a new kit this season and there hasn't (that I'm aware of) been any publicity regarding a new shirt and although Football Shirts reveal the date for it, I'm sure there would have been some build up from the club.

If anyone does know whether the story is correct or not, feel free to leave a comment.

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The days best City links 06/24/2008

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Monday, June 16, 2008

2008/09 fixtures released

Mark Hughes’ first Premier League game in charge of Manchester City will be away at Aston Villa.

The 08/09 Barclays Premier League fixture list was released this morning and revealed that the Blues will travel to the Midlands for their opening fixture on August 16th.

Our first home game, a week later, will be against West Ham United. Our first encounter with Manchester United is at home on November 29th, with the return on May 9th 2009.

Newly-promoted Stoke City pay their first visit to the City of Manchester Stadium on October 25th, while Hull City will be the visitors for the game on Boxing Day.

>>mcfc.co.uk

Obviously subject to much change once the suits at Sky and Setanta get together (not to mention our potential UEFA Cup involvement), but our 2008/09 fixtures as announced this morning can be found here, with the full Premier League opening day fixtures posted over at Football Rants.

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The days best City links 06/16/2008

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Mackintosh leaves the club

Manchester City Chief Executive Alistair Mackintosh has left the football club today by mutual consent.

Executive Chairman Garry Cook said: “I would like to thank Alistair for his decade of service to the club. He took us through a period of great change and progress, particularly the move from Maine Road to our home here at The City of Manchester Stadium.

“He goes with our very best wishes for the future.”

>>mcfc.co.uk

A fairly brief and terse statement from the club, and news that was widely expected following the appointment, and high profile that Gary Cook has had since he arrived (particularly with the appointment of Mark Hughes).

It was difficult to see how the two could realistically co-exist side by side given that Cook is clearly Thaksin's 'man', and I had heard earlier in the season that Mackintosh (and also Paul Tyrrell) would step aside this summer once there had been a (season long) period of transition from the old to new regime.

It is very much Cook's way now, and he looks to be a fairly impressive character thus far, certainly appearing more visible and accessible than Mackintosh ever was, but despite the general lack of support or feeling that the fans ever had towards him Mackintosh appears well respected in the game with a number of potential suitors for his services, indicating that he likely won't be out of work for too long.

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Ronaldinho - the most important signing the club could make

A quiet week news wise following the appointment of Mark Hughes last week, with the new boss getting down to business and presumably pulling names out of a hat to try and find a striking permutation from those currently on the books.

It is another striker though who continues to garner most of the column of inches of late, and news of the potential Ronaldinho signing is gathering pace with The Independent reporting of our four-stage plan to sign him, indicating that the player has shown his interest in signing.

When news first surfaced a month or so ago, it was widely viewed with scepticism or even amusement from the wider footballing community, but now it does appear to be a genuine move the surprising issue for me is that there is a degree of anti-Ronaldinho rhetoric from City fans, not to mention the media.

The Guardian had a piece today which was a scathing attack not only regarding a move for the Brazillian, but at the club as a whole and direction we have taken since Thaksin took control.

For me, too many people are looking into the potential move and searching for reasons for it to fail rather than looking at the overriding positives it could create. Perhaps this is a trait all too common in the British psyche?

Don't for one minute think I am looking at this through large blue-tinted spectacles, knowing full well there are pitfalls involved in such a move, overwhelmingly the issue of funding his wages if we bring in an element of third party sponsorship (particularly if it is Nike given their alledged dubious interference with the Brazillian national side). There are enough off the field situations and issues that I find distasteful at the club already, but looking at it from a footballing perspective I cannot find a reason against signing him.

Realistically, in his pomp Ronaldinho didn't even consider a move to the Premiership, let alone sign for ourselves at the stage we are but for one reason or another (and he is by no means blameless) he has found himself - at the age of 28, consider washed up or damaged goods.

This is not however the equivalent of signing George Weah again.

Cast your mind back two or three years (before the emergence of the trio of wunderkids Kaka, Messi and Ronaldo) and he was considered the consensus best player in the world. The guy is not a has been or thirty-something faded veteran eyeing one last pay day and surely there are cheaper ways to sell shirts than an outlay of £200,000 a week if that was oue intention.

He is 28 years old and has not become a liability overnight. I am surprised that a 'bigger' side has not decreed him worth a (calculated) risk, but their loss could well be our gain. Yes it is likely that he would sign for us because we are offering the most money, but does not happen throughout the Premier League when players sign for the top clubs? Lets not kid ourselves that Premier League sides will ever be filled again with 11 Mike Doyle's who would bleed blue and white if you cut them open.

To coin an often and over used cliche, he would also 'put us on the map', something the club is clearly working hard on achieving on a global scale and signing Ronaldinho could be the fulcrum and pivotal signing that clubs need to kick on and attract players of a similar (and better) calibre.

We currently reside in the Premier League as a side on the outside looking in (and up) at those clubs in front of us. We have a good base from last season with some good players in our ranks. None however, are as good as Ronaldinho and no-one can argue that he would not benefit the current side or improve the players we already have.

It is getting more and more difficult to penetrate the upper reaches of the Premier League, and it is virtually certain that it cannot be breached plodding along at a nice pace, preaching the virtues of patient building. At some stage if you are going to kick on and really achieve success you have to gamble, take a chance.

With that is an element of risk. Signing Ronaldinho would undoubtedly be that, but to resist the chance of signing him would be an affront to the ambition the club states it has.

Not to mention the fans who have put up with so much over in recent times.

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The days best City links 06/12/2008

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Thursday, June 05, 2008

Hughes excited by 'huge project'

“I am absolutely delighted to be here, I have already had
some great support from the fans and I’m pleased with the positive reaction to
the appointment.
It was made plain to me very, very quickly that there was a
huge project here that I wanted to be part of, it was a very easy decision for
me. I am at a club that matches my ambitions.”

>>mcfc.co.uk

Hughes certainly struck a sharp note during his press conference, with his ambition there for all to see. He clearly knows that the bar has been set high and that the demands will be huge, but that appears to drive him on as he admitted he had realistically achieved all he could under the more restrictive environment at Blackburn.

He talked of it being a project and his confidence in his own ability is clear, backing himself against any other manager in the league and there are certainly envious glances being cast our way from Stamford Bridge.

Importantly, he also denied that the City job could be a stepping stone to other jobs, intimating that if he is a success at City then his ambitions will be suitably matched and as I mentioned yesterday it is clear that Champions League qualification during his (initial) three year contract is a must.

He will need to get to work quickly though with the players, given the first UEFA qualifier is less than six weeks away, and indications were that it may well be a tougher proposition for the squad than under the more relaxed approach and demeanour of Sven, with Hughes admitting he is a demanding manager with high expectations of his squad.

One thing that the appointment of Hughes has fortunately done is draw a line under the debacle that was the dismissal of Sven, and it has instilled some confidence and hope back into the club as we hear up for a big season ahead but there is at least a positive air and people are looking forward as opposed to dwelling on the mess that engulfed the club at the end of last season.

The press conference confirmed that Jo should arrive soon, and Hughes seemed to also be behind any move for Ronaldino - which is looking far more realisitic a proposition as time goes on, and another positive in that Richard Dunne appeared to endorse the appointment of Hughes, perhaps an indication that he may be inclined to remain at the club.

The press conference can be seen in full via mcfc tv, BBC or The Guardian.

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The days best City links 06/05/2008

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Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Hughes appointment confirmed

Manchester City Football Club are today delighted to announce we have agreed terms with Mark Hughes to be our new Manager.

Hughes, 44, will be unveiled at a press conference to be held tomorrow morning. He agreed to move from Blackburn Rovers after meeting with the Club’s new Executive Chairman Garry Cook on Tuesday evening. Mr Cook’s appointment has been confirmed by City Chairman Dr Thaksin Shinawatra and he arrived from the US yesterday to seal the deal.

He has put pen to paper on a three-year contract and takes up his new post with immediate effect.

Mr Cook said, “I am delighted to welcome Mark on board. In our view he is the brightest young manager in the game and he was our number one target for the manager’s job.

“He made it clear to us from the moment we met that he shared our vision and ambition to make Manchester City one of the top sides in the country.

>>mcfc.co.uk

Despite some last minute rumours reportedly suggesting Chelsea were ready to hijack our move for Hughes, things were swiftly concluded today and his appointment rubber stamped this afternoon.

I'll have a more in depth post tomorrow or Friday following the press conference, but initial thoughts are that although the treatment of Sven was shabby, the decision had been taken so we had to move on bring a swift end to the farce of the past six weeks.

I believe Hughes is the best candidate out there, and a far more sensible appointment than the loose canon Scolari would have been. The plaudits have flowed in already since his appointment and he is well regarded in the game, and is known to be an ambitious manager - which it is hoped he is, as given he has signed a three year contract, part of his remit will undoubtedly be to either lift a trophy or achieve Champions League qualification.

It has been interesting to observe the growing influence of Gary Cook - the Executive Chief Executive we lured away from a senior position at Nike, as it appears he had a big role in the selection and appointment of Hughes - and possibly he was the driving force behind the decision to dispense with Sven?

Also something to keep an eye on is what will happen to Alistair Mackintosh - quite well regarded in the industry but not universally liked by fans, as to his role now at the club and also rumors linking him with an appointment at Liverpool or Arsenal.

Mark Hughes profiles:

purelymancity

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Sven appointed Mexico boss

Sven-Goran Eriksson has been appointed as the new coach of Mexico.

"It's unanimous. Eriksson has been accepted," said Guadalajara president and member of the Mexican federation's executive committee Jorge Vergara.

>>bbc.co.uk

No real surprise here given the reports at the end of last week that there was an offer on the table for Sven, and it was a merely a case of Sven hanging on for the axe to ensure he picked up the full compensation figure that will no doubt come his way.

Sven did say that the year out between the England job and being appointed at City was the longest of his life, so no shock that he has got straight back into management, but a little puzzling that it is back into international football given the way he missed the day to day aspect of club football during his England tenure?

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The days best City links 06/04/2008

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Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Hughes the likely choice to replace Sven

Manchester City were last night trying to agree a compromise with Blackburn Rovers that would allow Mark Hughes to replace the sacked Sven-Goran Eriksson as their manager. Hughes will not come cheap, with four members of his coaching staff expected to follow him, but that will not be a problem for a man of Thaksin Shinawatra's wealth and the City owner hopes to conclude the deal before the end of the week.
>>guardian.co.uk

The club announced they had approached Blackburn yesterday morning, with Blackburn swiftly confirming that they had 'reluctantly' allowed Hughes permission to speak with us.

I would be surprised if matters had progressed this far unless Hughes was certain to agree to take over, yet there is a report in The Times that Hughes may be aiming to flush out an approach from Chelsea by agreeing to speak with us - although I would be surprised if Hughes had unanimous backing from all at Chelsea.

No doubt Hughes would split opinion if he was appointed - with some strong plus points but also some downside about him. I'll save a more in depth look until any appointment is confirmed.

UPDATE: Blackburn have confirmed in a club statement that both clubs have agreed a compensation package for Hughes' potential move, clearing the way for talks between the club and Hughes with a view to him being appointed as the replacement for Sven.

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The days best City links 06/03/2008

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Monday, June 02, 2008

Sven leaves City

Sven-Goran Eriksson and Manchester City Football Club have
parted company by mutual consent, the Club announces today.
Chief Executive,
Alistair Mackintosh said, “The Board of Directors and all at Manchester City
would like to thank Sven for his efforts and contributions throughout the season
and we wish him all the best for the future. Sven remains a friend of the Club.”
Sven Goran Eriksson added, “I have enjoyed my time at Manchester City very
much indeed and in particular, I would like to thank the fans, players and staff
for their amazing support over the season. I wish the Club, and everyone
associated with it, much success in the coming years.”
The Club will make no
further announcement in relation to the managerial position until after a
successor is appointed.

>>mcfc.co.uk

I cannot believe this move would have been made without a replacement being lined up to be announced within the next week, which if true, would surely rule out Scolari given his Euro 2008 commitments.

There were reports in the Sunday papers that Zico’s recent fall out with Fenerbahce has put him in the frame, but smart money appears to be on Mark Hughes, with The Telegraph suggesting an approach has already been made to Blackburn to speak with him.

Expect plenty of speculation one way or the other until an official announcement is made.

UPDATE: The Guardian is reporting that Hughes has been granted permission to speak with us.

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The days best City links 06/02/2008

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