Garrido's rallying call

No surprise that the first rallying call has been sounded in the wake of last night's exit, from full-back Javier Garrido:

"It is not easy to take because we were nearly in the final. We showed we are a quality team and we deserved extra time.

But you must concentrate, especially against a team like Manchester United who can score at any time."What happened is sad but we must lift ourselves," he said.

The Portsmouth game is very important because we must keep working to finish in the top four. Also, we are still in the FA Cup, so we must do our best to get to the final of that."

It is easy to say of course, but I'm anticipating a dominating performance on Sunday at home to Portsmouth.

No Garrido?

Whilst there are plenty of candidates to replace the injured Wayne Bridge, it doesn't appear Javier Garrido will be on of them judging by these comments from Mark Hughes:

"I've got a number of options but I would have no qualms whatsoever about putting Sylvinho in there, but Gareth has knowledge of that position as well. It's disappointing to be missing Bridgey but we have enough quality to replace him."

It certainly doesn't speak much for his long term future at the club.

Glauber 2.0

From the official site:

City are delighted to announce that Brazilian left back Sylvinho has joined the club on a year-long contract.

The highly experienced, highly-rated 35-year-old international defender was released at the end of last season by the European Champions.

He has plenty of Premier League experience having made 55 appearances for Arsenal during a two-year stint at Highbury from 1999-2001.

Sylvinho, who will wear the number 16 shirt vacated by Kasper Schmeichel, is seen as the perfect complement to England left back Wayne Bridge.

Joking aside, the intention I'm sure is for Sylvinho to add more to the squad than Glauber's fleeting appearance in the final game of the season (duties as Robinho's wingman aside of course).

Mark Hughes commented:

“Sylvinho has a wealth of experience at the very top level, having represented Brazil and played for some of the very top clubs in Europe,” declared the boss.

“When the chance presented itself to bring him to Manchester City as a free agent I saw it as representing excellent business for us. Sylvinho won the European Cup last season at Barcelona and he will strengthen our defensive options.”

Now, 'strenghen our defensive options' doesn't offer him much hope that he has a chance to unseat Wayne Bridge as first choice, but given he was without a club, Sylvinho could have done far worse than latch one with ourselves for the 2009/10 season.

Where this leaves Garrido is a good question. Had Sylvinho signed a longer deal then it would have been a certainty that Garrido would have been saying 'adios'. A one year deal does not afford us that option as a long term one, unless Hughes feels Ryan McGivern has the ability to step up this time next year.

The signing hasn't met with universal approval out there, but there is more to the signing than a like for like comparison with Garrido. As Jack points out in his take on the signing, bringing in Sylvinho is part of a wider, bigger plan by Hughes.

Whilst not necessarily fitting the profile of Hughes' other captures, Sylvinho will bring a winning mentality. Champions League and La Liga winner as recently as last season, it is this pedigree that Sylvinho will bring.

If the likes of Ireland and Richards, even Barry and Wright-Phillips can take something from what Sylvinho can offer, even if it is just for one season, it may well turn out to be a shrew investment.

Further departures reported

Further vestiges of Manchester City's Sven Goran Eriksson era seem likely to be swept away, with a loan deal under discussion that would take striker Felipe Caicedo to Sporting Lisbon and a possible move to Racing Santander for Javier Garrido.

Caicedo, whom Eriksson signed from the Swiss club Basle 18 months ago, led the line for City against Kaizer Chiefs at Kings Park Stadium here last night but Sporting are keen to wrap up a deal as soon as possible.

>>independent.co.uk

As I posted yesterday, now that the bulk of the incoming transfers has been completed, we should begin to see departures from the club over the coming weeks as sides look to strengthen their squads ahead of the season.

Both Garrido and Caicedo have been previously linked with moves away from the club, and it would not be a huge surprise if either moved on this summer.

Garrido is very much second choice at left back and will find his opportunities limited behind Wayne Bridge, and given he failed to beat out Michael Ball last season, Mark Hughes clearly does hold him in high esteem.

More interesting is Caicedo. He did win over a number of people over the latter part of 2008/09, when he did show plenty of promise. He is very raw indeed, but has the potential and physical tools to be a potent part of an attack so perhaps a loan deal, rather than a permanent move away from the club is the most suitable option.