Isaksson joins PSV

Andreas Isaksson has today completed a move to Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.

The 26-year-old keeper was rarely a regular starter during his time with the Blues and made only 20 appearances for the Club after signing from Rennes in August 2006.

Injuries and the form of Kasper Schmeichel and Joe Hart forced the Swede on to the bench for most of the campaign and after passing a medical this afternoon Isaksson signed a four-deal with PSV.

>>mcfc.co.uk

A good move for Isaksson who despite the arrival of a new manager, had clearly had enough of sitting on the bench as he never seemed to find favour with either Sven or Stuart Pearce during his time at the club, and wasn't helped with a succession of ill-timed injuries.

Perennial Champions League qualifiers, he will be playing at the top level and certainly helped his cause with a solid display during Euro 2008.

Following his departure, will Hughes look to bring another back up to Hart given Kasper Schmeichel's uncertain future with the club?

Isaksson - 'I'm done'

The Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson wants to leave Manchester City after claiming he is unhappy with being relegated to the bench. Isaksson has been unable to displace Joe Hart this season, raising doubts about his starting spot for Sweden at Euro 2008 next month.

"It feels like I'm done here now," said Isaksson. "I can't risk staying one more season with the same situation I've had this year. So a move is necessary for me."

>>guardian.co.uk

No great surprise here, with perhaps the biggest shock that he didn't depart in the January window given Euro 2008 was on the horizon.

Eriksson never appeared to warm to him, but I can't see that a change of manager would prompt a change of heart for the Swede, given the way Joe Hart has stepped up and developed so well this season.

A shame in some respects as his City career has never got going and I feel he was left out in favour of Nicky Weaver for far too long last season, and has never had a real opportunity to prove his worth.

Deadline day news

Manchester City goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson has turned down a move to Galatasaray, having previously expressed a wish to join the Turkish club.

Isaksson had been hoping to leave City before the close of the transfer window to safeguard his position in Sweden's Euro 2008 squad.

He has lost out to Joe Hart to be City's No.1 and admitted a desire to finalise a switch to Galatasaray in order to play regularly.

But City's first-team coach Tord Grip has confirmed that Isaksson does not want to join Galatasaray on loan.

"Andreas is probably staying here, it now looks that way," City's Tord Grip told Sportbladet.

"I am at the training complex and he is here today.

"He is able to go on loan to Galatasaray and get a game.

"But that is what he doesn't want to do and we cannot do much more."

>>Sky Sports.

Ched Evans will stay on loan at Norwich until the end of the season, after the club reached an agreement with Manchester City.

His 'emergency loan' spell was due to end on February 26, with Man City able to recall him from Wednesday, but now

Evans, 19, has scored four goals in 12 apperances for Norwich, his first being within just two minutes of his City debut; his most recent the winner against Southampton on Tuesday night.

>>Norwich Evening News.

OUSMANE Dabo has left City to rejoin Lazio - where he will link up with Rolando Bianchi.

The French midfielder failed to make a Premier League appearance under Sven-Goran Eriksson, getting his only game for the Swede in the Carling Cup win at Bristol City in August.

Dabo struggled to make an impact after Stuart Pearce brought him to Eastlands from Lazio in June 2006.

And the 30-year-old had become increasingly frustrated by his lack of opportunities under Eriksson's management.

"I'm the only player in the first-team squad who hasn't been given a chance this season," he said earlier this month.

"After a while, it gets so ridiculous that it becomes laughable."

>>MEN.

Of the three moves above, the only one that surprised me was the Isaksson one given that it was widely believed both the player and club were happy for him to move during the window after Joe Hart was established as the number 1, but it may well have been that the Swede was after a permanent move rather than just a short term deal.

The Evans move is a sensible one given the return to fitness of Danny Sturridge along with the the strides that Valeri Bojinov has made to get back on the pitch and will allow him to gain some decent experience at a place where he seemingly enjoys playing.

With just over four hours to go before the window shuts, all eyes will now be on the two moves (Benjani and Caciedo) which have been heavily rumoured for the past couple of days but have (as yet) still to be announced - although I would be surprised if they weren't completed before the deadline passes.

I'll update this post through the evening as soon as any deals are confirmed, and if anyone hears of any deals (rumoured or confirmed), feel free to post up.

UPDATE:

West Brom have completed the permanent signing of Ishmael Miller from Manchester City for an undisclosed fee.

The Championship leaders have exercised the option to buy the striker before January 31 - a clause Albion inserted in the deal which brought Miller to The Hawthorns on a season-long loan in August.

Miller, 20, has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract, which includes an extra year's option in the club's favour.

>> Sporting Life.

No news of the fee involved, but I confess I wasn't aware of the clause inserted into the loan contract. A good move for Miller this, moving to a side who look a good bet for promotion to the Premier League. Kudos to Sven as well for getting him under a new contract at the beginning of the season which would have increased his value.

Although he has performed well for West Brom this season, I don't (as I've written before) believe he quite has what it takes to make it at the club and lacks the technical ability to quite make it at the highest level.

Whilst no official confirmation from the club has yet, FC Basel's website is reporting the transfer of Caceido has been completed. Worth checking out for the translation.

UPDATE:

Inter have confirmed that Roberto Mancini’s son Filippo will be spending the rest of the season on loan at Manchester City.

The player has been on trial with the Eastlands based club since last week and he has impressed Sven Goran Eriksson.

The 17 year old made his debut for the Nerazzurri in the Coppa Italia just days before arriving in Manchester.

A statement on the club’s official website reads:

“Filippo Mancini will be playing in England for Manchester City.”

>>Setanta Sports.

UPDATE:

The MEN is reporting that Paul Dickov has joined Blackpool on loan until the end of the season, and still suggests the Benjani move could be completed - with Jermain Defoe set for a move to Portsmouth as his replacement.

UPDATE:

The transfer window is now closed, and no confirmation of the Benjani (or Defoe) moves. That's not to say it won't happen though as an announcement could still come through that the deals were completed by midnight.

If the Benjani move has not gone through, it will be interesting to see the reason why, but we'll know one way or the other tomorrow morning.

UPDATE:

Manchester City have confirmed that the proposed transfer of Portsmouth striker Benjani to the Blues was unsuccessful.

City spokesman Paul Tyrrell said, "Due to the late arrival of the player in Manchester we were unable to complete the transfer."

>>mcfc.co.uk

A very short statement from the club, and one that strikes as a bit of an administrative mess more than anything. Perhaps more will come out later today as to exactly why the deal didn't get done but given I wasn't entirely convinced of the merits of signing him it may well be a blessing, but I'll post something more in depth regarding the transfer deadline hopefully later today.

Sven sweet on Hart

Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed that Joe Hart will be the Manchester City number one for the foreseeable future.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's trip to Aston Villa, the Blues boss said: "“On Saturday Joe Hart will play and will be my number one for the foreseeable future.

“I have had talks with Andreas today and obviously he’s not very happy. I had to make a choice and for this moment I’ve made the choice in Joe Hart."

Rumours will surely start about Andreas Isaksson’s future at the Club and Eriksson admitted: "I don’t know if Andreas wants to leave or stay and fight for the place but I told him it’s very much up to him.

“I will not be surprised and I will understand it if he wants to leave.

"It was important and for the players to come up with this decision before the window opens in January."

-mcfc.co.uk

Not really a surprise given the fact that Joe Hart was recalled to the to the starting line-up for the Carling Cup defeat against Tottenham and it does now seem - for the foreseeable future at least, that Hart is the no. 1 guy, having started the season as third choice.

Sven speculated that Isaksson may well indicate a desire to leave, and I have no doubt that he will do as he is amitious and wants first team football, something he has never managed on a consistent and long term basis since joining he club - both as a result of untimely injuries and an at times strange reluctance from both Sven and Stuart Pearce to back him.

Isaksson is a renowned international keeper with a good pedigree and reputation so I doubt that there will be a shortage of takers if Sven allows him to depart. Whether this means that Kaspar Schmeichel will be elevated to the back up spot or if a more veteran keeper will be added on a short term basis.

Both this season and last, I have long trumpeted the Isaksson cause, finding it baffling that he was constantly overlooked on a number of occasions. But in all honesty - from the games I have seen, the defence appears to be more at ease and relaxed with Hart in goal, than either with Schmeichel and Isaksson between the sticks. Statistically, there is not a great deal of difference between Hart and Isaksson but it is fair to obsever that Isaksson has not imposed himselfon the team as much as he perhaps may have done.

To cut him a little slack though, he has never had a settled run in the side and it may have played on his mind that neither Sven nor Pearce were 100% behind him.

Sven has always said that he would make his decision on who his guy will be at Christmas, and true to his word he has rotated all three keepers to give them opportunities. Despite how highly I do rate Isaksson, I can't disagree with the decision, and whilst Isaksson will now get a chance to resurrect his (still young) career elsewhere, Joe Hart has a golden opportunity to establish himself as the first choice keeper for many years to come, not to mention force himself into the international reckoning.

Stick or twist between the sticks?

Has the impressive start to the season by Kaspar Schmeichel (and of course the defence in front of him) forced a rethink by Sven-Goran Eriksson as to whether to enter the transfer market for a goalkeeper?

Leading upto the start of the season in the wake of Andreas Isaksson's injury, it was widely speculated that Eriksson was keen to add another keeper to the squad - with Italy number 2 Marco Amelia tipped as the most likely candidate.

For whatever reason though a deal did not get done and we went into the opening day with Kaspar Schmeichel backed up by Joe Hart - something Eriksson admitted he was reluctant to do (despite praising their talents).

Three clean sheets later though and on the back of a trio of solid performances, Eriksson has admitted that the priority of signing a new keeper is now 'on ice', and on the back of the long-term injury to Valeri Bojinov his attentions have turned to attacking reinforcements (along with the possibility of a second attempt to sign Mark Bresciano). Perhaps the endless buckets of cash are not evident and there could well be limited funds to add to the players he has already brought in for a cost of around £40 million, with substantial wages on top.

I see it as likely now that Eriksson sees the need to add firepower up front as a far more pressing matter before the end of the transfer window than bringing in another keeper bearing in mind the job Schmeichel has done this season added to the fact that Isaksson is nearer to full fitness.

Schmeichel - despite lacking a little in height, has looked assured, confident and shown good anticipation. And of course he has been helped in no small part by the impressive performances the new look defence have displayed.

Whereas it may well have been a journey into the unknown at the start of the campaign, I feel that Eriksson is now more confident in the ability of Schmeichel (and Hart) to maybe not be the full-time number 1 but at least be capable of stepping up when required, and it would only make sense to add another keeper if it is with a view to replacing Isaksson as the first choice - something which Eriksson has given no indication he is looking to do.

The end for Isaksson?

The decision to restore Nicky Weaver to the starting line up following an impressive showing from Andreas Isaksson in the defeat of Portsmouth was described as the 'hardest of my career' by Stuart Pearce, but in doing so may well have pushed Isaksson towards the exit door in what would be a City career very much cut short.

I expected (and hoped) that Isaksson would get an extended run in the side to prove his worth, but Pearce can feel somewhat vindicated in his decision to select Weaver following his impressive showing against Preston on Sunday - particularly his crucial save to deny Michael Ricketts when the score was 1-0.

For me - and I know I have harped on about this before, whilst Weaver has played above expectations this season, he is not a genuine game winner and whilst he has been more than solid this season he has not 'won' us any points single handedly in the manner that Schmeichel or James have done in recent seasons.

It seems inconceivable that unless he suffers a long-term injury, he will lose his place in the side at this stage of the season and I would be surprised if Isaksson would be willing to stay on the sidelines next season unless there was some guarantee that he would feature regularly.

As well as Weaver has played - and at this stage he must be in the running for player of the season, I do feel that long term Isaksson is the better choice as the number one 'keeper, but unless there is a shift in fortunes between now and the end of the season it is looking more and more likely that Isaksson will be on the move.

Portsmouth Preview

Fratton Park 5.15pm Saturday - live on one of Sky's rip-off packages.

The first meeting of the two clubs since the infamous 'Pedro Mendes' incident which lifted the art of dirty cheating foreigners too a new high. Not only did poor Ben Thatcher get booked for the incident , Mendes even took up a hospital bed in a vain attempt to disguise his play acting.

Portsmouth will go into the game odds on favourites despite there recent poor form, in fact a quick look at the form guide combined with City been priced as high as 3-1 to the win the game , would have anybody who hasn't seen city in the last couple of games scratching there heads.

On the injury front it looks like Nicky Weaver will not shake off his hip injury, allowing Andreas Issakson to start and do his talking on the pitch in his bid to become city's number one. Dabo also looks unlikely to figure which may give Hamman a chance, to be fair to Didi he did show some flashes against Reading of the player we knew he could be. A big game for him if he starts.

The big question is who will Pearce go with upfront in a bid to end a scoring drought that is nearly at FIVE HOURS.

Talking of goals a chance for city to meet up with 'old friend' Andy Cole if he figures, from the stuff that I have seen written about him , he hasn't carried his excellent form from City to Portsmouth.

Match Prediction

0-1 , The pressure will mount on Pearce.

Goal-keeping log jam

With the news that Kaspar Schmeichel is poised to join Falkirk on a season long loan, and in joining fellow youngster Joe Hart in the 'on-loan' ranks it spells positive news for our goalkeeping future.

The fact that Stuart Pearce is able to farm out two young keepers shows the strength we have with our two senior keepers Nicky Weaver and Andreas Isaksson, in a position which looked a little precarious going into the season on the back of David James' departure.

Having four quality keepers on the books obviously allows Pearce to be flexible in helping Hart and Schmeichel gain valuable experience and it could signal an interesting battle between the pair to be our next goalkeeper.

For all that Weaver has done in coming back from terrible injuries and performing at the level he has done, I still cannot see him being the long term number 1. I have come across stories that suggest Isaksson will not be too keen on hanging around if he does not have the number 1 position by the end of the season.

Of course, Weaver is yet to sign a new deal but it is surely a done deal that he will sign beyond this season which may not be good news for Isaksson but would open up a chance behind Weaver for either Hart or Schmeichel.

Roughly of a similar age, both have impressive physical tools but Hart perhaps has the edge in terms of pecking order at the moment and has already made one appearance this season (away at Wigan), but Schmeichel has his plaudits too and it will be interesting to watch them develop over the next few seasons to see if either of the pair can steal a march on the other to get a shot at being the keeper.

Keeping them both happy in the long term will be a tough job for Pearce and is likely that one will end up moving on, but as it stands it looks like it will shape up to be an interesting battle between the two to be the ultimate top dog.

Taking time to settle in

In view of Stuart Pearce's comments about foreign players needing time to settle in, I thought it worth taking a quick look at some of the problems Pearce has faced with the players he brought in during the off-season .

Pearce said (with particular emphasis on Corradi after his double at the weekend):

"There is an arrogance with the British way that `the rest of the world fits in
with us' and whenever the rest of the world come to our shores they've got to
fit in straight away, it doesn't always work like that on a cultural or a
football basis.
"Let's be honest, how many English players do you see playing
abroad? Historically, how many have gone abroad and not made it? That is
something you've got to look at." Sky Sports

It is easy to forget that it does take players from abroad longer to settle in both on and off the pitch, and perhaps expectations are sometimes a little high - something my brother said about Samaras in that if he was a home grown player he would be given far more time and leeway from fans who are critical of his performances.

It is fair to say though that the players brought in by Pearce over the summer have not quite hit the heights expected of them.

Whilst Corradi has taken time to settle in, and has reportedly been putting in extra training sessions on his day off, DeMarcus Beasley, Hatem Trabelsi and Andreas Isaksson have all had stuttering starts to their City careers, experiencing injury problems virtually since the day they joined the club whilst Didi Hamman who arrived from Liverpool (via Bolton) had also struggled for both fitness and form.

Hopefully Saturday will now kick-start a run of form for Corradi and with some of the previously injured players now back in contention (or not far away) we should see a more consistent and settled line-up which will hopefully translate into a more consistent return points wise.

Weaver looking for long term deal

With his contract up at the end of this campaign, armed with a solid start to this season Nicky Weaver has spoken today of his desire to remain with the club for the long haul.

As reported in the MEN, Weaver said:

"I'd love to stay here beyond this season. I have been
in Manchester all my adult life and will have been here ten years come April, I
don't know much different. I have seen the club in good times and bad times. It
has been incredibly good to me and of course I want to extend that
relationship.
City is a great club to be at for a player. The ones
that leave here and go to a bigger and better club are few and far between.
Normally when they leave they go downhill and I don't want to leave here. I want
to stay and fight for my place.
But I have to convince everyone that I can stay fit and
focused and the best way to do that is to play in the Premiership and keep clean
sheets. If I do that then hopefully the manager will offer me a new
deal."

As I've mentioned previously, as well as Weaver has played this season he clearly isn't the long term number 1 with Andreas Isaksson waiting in the wings with Joe Hart and Kaspar Schmeichel being groomed for the future so it remains to be seen what deal the club will offer.

I believe a new deal will be offered by the club but it may not be a four year deal that he is probably hoping for - more like a further one or two years, something that could alert other sides who may look to offer a more attractive deal.

Incidentally, purelymancity has a post today on the expiry dates of the current squads contracts.

In safe hands?

Out of all the City players who have received national media attention this season, Nicky Weaver is perhaps the one who has had the most columns inches dedicated to him so far. Quite understandable given his 'back from the dead' story from the football scrapheap to turning in some notable performances between the sticks.

It must be strange for Weaver to look at the position he is in currently to see himself as the current number 1 at the club, given the fact that a week or so before the season started he potentially faced a battle with the emerging Schmeichel and Hart for the number 2 spot behind David James - whose impeccable form and injury-free record would guarantee him the starting position.

James' sudden exit though thrust Weaver back into the spotlight, only for the club to move to sign Andreas Isaksson from Rennes and despite Stuart Pearce declaring the position was up for grabs it was hard to imagine Isaksson not taking over from James immediately.

However, an injury to the Swede in training saw Weaver start on opening day at Stamford Bridge in front of a worldwide TV audience and apart from one game (through injury) he has been an ever present, and earned several plaudits for his performances.

In fact, in some circles he has been mentioned as a possibility for the England set-up where behind Paul Robinson there is no outstanding number 2 candidate, and in truth very little experience despite the position looking as (potentially) strong as it has done for some time.

As solidly as Weaver has done though, I believe talk ofEngland is some way premature considering he has yet to put a dozen games under his belt back in the first team. I also still have doubts over certain aspects of his game - namely crosses and his command of the area, and once Isaksson is fully match fit you wonder if Pearce will be minded to take a look at him in action as he certainly talked him up following his signing.

Still, Isakkson doesn't appear to be ready any time soon so Weaver is very much the man in possession at the moment and the more decent performances he puts in over the short-term the better his long-term prospects will look.