Ten released as the transfer window kicks in

Manchester City can confirm a final list of 10 players that have not been retained for the coming season.

Of the 10 released, four were members of the 2007/08 season first team squad, with the other players young Academy lads or reserve team regulars.

Paul Dickov, Geovanni, Emile Mpenza and Jihai Sun are the senior players not to have been offered new contracts by the Club.

The other players released are Irish defender Garry Breen, fellow countryman Michael Daly, Filippo Mancini - son of former Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini, striker Ashley Grimes, Faroe Isles Under 21 international Christian Mouritsen and finally young Italian goalkeeper Andrea Giombetti.

>>mcfc.co.uk

A busy couple of days around the Jo transfer, with the usual summer clear out of youth players deemed not good enough to make the grade along with those first team squad players Mark Hughes has decided do not fit into his plans.

No real surprise amongst the ten names announced and some quick thoughts on the comings and goings:

None of the youth players were likely to even threaten the first team squad, but good to see that both Grimes and Breen have been picked up.

There were reports that Sun Jihai may move back to China but he gets a move to Sheffield United who look to be amongst the front runners for promotion this coming season. A long standing player, Sun never quite showed enough during his time at the club and can be considered fortunate to have remained this long.

Dickov is likely to move to Blackpool, where he had a succesful loan spell last season and will be a serviceable player for them. The move to bring him back to the club originally was a mistake, and his record during the past seasons bears this out, and is a sad indictment of the state we were in when he was picked up by Stuart Pearce.

The interesting moves are the signing by Hull of Geovanni, and if reports are to be believed, Mpenza to follow him to the KC Stadium. Both are good pick ups for a side looking to (against the odds) survive in their debut season.

Some thought Geovanni unlucky to not receive more of an opportunity last season and he did show cameos of his talent but whether it was form or fitness did not appear to win Sven over. He possesses talent though, and whilst I can't disagree with the decision to release him it is a good signing by Hull, and he should be complemented by Mpenza, who at the very least provided a good return from what was a free pick up during 2006/07 when we were struggling at the wrong end of the table and he scored some goals which were crucial in the final outcome which saw us stay up.

He featured heavily during the first half of last season (mainly through the Bojinov injury and sidelining of Bianchi) but feel out of favour towards the latter stages and again, you'd like to think the club have progressed well enough to be able to allow the likes of Mpenza to move on.

A busy few days then with the squad now de-camped in Germany ahead of a very early start to the season. Whilst Ronaldinho looks likely to be a no-go, further arrivals are expected, particularly if Hughes's comments are any kind of indication:

"The balance of the squad isn't as it should be. There are certainly areas that we can look to improve and make sure we are strong in. That's an ongoing process. I have to get to know the players".

Whilst it may not be in time for the early UEFA games, I'd be amazed if we didn't bring in another defender, a pair of midfielders and maybe even a striker before the Premier League campaign kicks off as Hughes looks to add to a squad to be able to challenge at least a top six position this season.

The Pride Of Manchester

Some days your the statue some days your pigeon.

In today's Manchester Derby, City were undoubtedly the pigeon ! Dominated for a good 80% of the match a deflected goal from Geovanni saw the blues extend their 100% winning start to season and also keep the clean sheet record intact.

I'm torn between two minds as to whether we were lucky, to just say 'lucky' would disrespect the efforts of the likes of Richards and Dunne, we will leave the disrespect to Surly Alex who plunged new depths with his pre-match 'mind games' including a few swipes at Sven, Claiming not to know the name of several players we have signed, accusing city of been cloggers (before sending his team out with an obvious 'hit list') and generally acting like the cunt we all know him to be.

They do seem to take their lead from the purple nosed whisky soaked liar though, note the distinct lack of class from Mr Ferdinand on more than occasion and yet another display of the hypocrisy from the reds support as they wave their Argentina Flags. I don't know if they think it makes them look like 'cool rebels' or 'ironic' but I have other words for it. They took defeat with the class you would expect though as the scenes near the stewards confirmed.

Two really tough games coming up with Arsenal and Blackburn away sandwiching the Bristol City Carling Cup tie.

So for today enjoy these two : oooooooohhhhhhh ahhhhhhhhhhhhh

And raise a glass for Frank and Sven.

Eriksson adds Geovanni

City have made their third signing within a week by bringing
Brazilian midfielder Geovanni to the Club.
He passed a medical at City’s
Carrington training ground today, but is not expected to join the squad on the
pre-season tour of Sweden
The 27-year-old arrives on a free transfer and has
signed a one-year contract.
Most recently with Brazilian side Cruzeiro,
Geovanni brings a wealth of Champions League experience with him, having played
for Barcelona and Benfica, as well as having four international caps under his
belt.

-mcfc.co.uk

Strangely, he played for Portsmouth in a pre-season friendly (and scored) against Yeovil on Saturday but has opted for a one-year deal at City having played for Cruzeiro last season.

He seems to be a useful pickup and will strengthen us going forward without a doubt, and of course trotted out the usual platitudes upon signing:

“It’s been a dream for me to play in England, and this
is a dream as well to come to a club like Manchester City.
“It’s great to
here after playing in Europe for a few years already, and I can’t wait to get
started.
“Playing in England has been an ambition of mine, I watched a lot of
Premier League games when I was at Benfica and now that I’m here I just want to
start playing.”

The squad is beginning to take shape, and whilst this is a more short term addition than either of the previous two signings Eriksson has brought in, he is clearly beginning to mould the side a little into the style he wants to see and we should now begin to get an idea of the incumbent players which he likes the look of.