By the media we have been given x amount of reasons, hints and ideas of why our season has gone down the drain. We have also been the witnesses of under-performing players, a certain player hitting out at our manager in the news and also some of our players defending our manager while accusing their fellow players.
I have come up with a list of players exempt from the cause of Manchester City's disaster and a list of possible culprits.
Exempt: Shaun Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Martin Petrov, Valeri Bojinov, Stephen Ireland, Daniel Sturridge, Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Felipe Caicedo, (Wayne Bridge, Only just arrived), Benjani Mwaruwari, Kelvin Etuhu.
"THE GUARDIAN: Mark Hughes has identified a small but influential group of Manchester City players he fears are trying to lead a dressing-room mutiny against him."
Possible culprits: Elano, Jo.
Under-performers or just not good enough, we have all seen it with our own eyes, stupid mistakes that have cost us games and complete wasteful play.
Micah Richards, Richard Dunne, Michael Ball, Javier Garrido, Ched Evans, Darius Vassel, Jo Alves, Elano, Gelson Fernandes, Dietmar Hamann, Tal Ben Haim.
Check that out, pretty much half of our first team.
I left Micah Richards a message on his web site micahrichards.com as follows.
"Dear Micah Richards,
I am a 33 year old Manchester City fan and following talk of you stating you take criticism in your stride, I would like to give you some 33-year-old criticism.
You, Micah Richards, Richard Dunne, and Michael Ball have been disgraceful this season, the embarrassment we City fans endured losing to Notts Forest was disgraceful.
All three of you get paid x amount of money to fight off Premier League Strikers week in week out and all three of you let two struggling championship strikers make us look pathetic & foolish.
Do you seriously think you deserved to wear a Manchester City FC shirt that day? I think not.
You and Richard Dunne have let the whole club down and in my own opinion, you really should be sold on and shipped out but due to the fact we have no one better, we have no choice but to put more unearned faith in both of you.
Do you deserve our faith, can you earn it back or do you want to leave as we only want players that want to play for us 110 percent, those who would be proud to play in our shirt? Do you really want to be part of Manchester City FC? If so, then why are you not giving 110 percent?
CTID
JH"
Mark Hughes in all honesty has arrived at Manchester City with a squad consisting of 50 percent deadwood, its not Mark Hughes's fault, it is all Sven Eriksson's fault if anyone's.
Mark Hughes needs time to clean out the deadwood and put the underperformers in their place. Right now morale is probably low, lower than its ever been for two seasons so I believe Mark Hughes will be relying on his new signings to pick us up.
Personal note, it's great seeing a manager get off his seat, shouting orders at the team doing his job.
Do the right thing by supporting Mark Hughes.
28 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
Colin Jarvis 6 months ago
Moral = Morale, presumably. Also, "lower than its ever been for two seasons" makes no sense. It is either lower than it has ever been, or lower than it has been for two seasons. It cannot be both.
And when you say "Personal note, it's great seeing a manager get off his seat, shouting orders at the team doing his job.", are you suggesting that the team is doing the job of Mark Hughes?
The sentiments are admirable, although the piece is not very well written. Please see me, after class.
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Peewee Puddles 6 months ago
Agree with much of what you say. Although SGE's transfer business was generally poor, personally I see Thaksin and his hench men as the main people to blame. They spent months signing players on the recommendation of agents and this policy has seen several terrible, highly expensive buys take place. Obviously this policy culminated in the 20 million purchase of Jo. Currently there are problems in the squad and I suspect that Elano and Jo are the worst of the rabble rousers, both should be shipped out ASAP. Hope we don't go for Bellamy because he is another dressing room problem waiting to happen. Personally I would give Hughes to the end of the season to sort the problems out and if there is no sign of reasonable progress then get Jose at any cost, he would sort the idiots in the dressing room out in no time...
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Andy Morris 6 months ago
Colin the edit facility is there for a reason.
I would like to think that all of us on Bleacher would be more respectful of peoples efforts.
You obviously lack self-awreness and empathy and in modern educational terms would be marked down for it.
2/10 - More thought needed
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Jason Halfpenny 6 months ago
Colin, there is a difference between being up your own backside trying to humiliate someone in public & actually using the edit ability with the option to leave feedback. Shutup rambling Colin, people understand what has been said. As for the "getting off his seat & doing his job" comment, Sven was stuck to his seat with super glue smiling for the camera's while his second in command did a pour job in the managers technical box.
Your right Peewee, you have a point & thats all i suggest, give hughes time to show he can cope & prevail, if not then ship him out.
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Steven Gresty 6 months ago
Colin i think you are a complete TIT, missing the whole point of the article. The grammer is by the by.. I agree with nearly all you say, and i also think SGE was useless and lucky he had such a great start or we would have been relegated. It is a see-saw of emotions with Hughes becuse although he has not got all the people he wants, his tactics are crap and strange.
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Peewee Puddles 6 months ago
I definitely agree with you with regards to Hughes' tactics. Hopefully when he gets the players he wants he will give some other formations a bash as the 4321 thing seems to give us no width, balance or shape.
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W Kjetil BRUNDTLAND 6 months ago
Totally agree with you..Where are these players pride and professional loyalty towards those who are actually paying them a LOT of pounds and not to forget all the supporters who spending hard earned cash,just to watch many of the players acting like spoiled children who gives up once the going gets tough..And some are also sulking even before the match,because we don`t play the system they want..Big egoes with no loyalty towards others than themselfs..You find simular people in kindergardens,and to be honest , it`s terrible scaring that it`s alowed to call yourself a professional footballer with that kind of attidude..I must admit I felt terrible sorry for MH after the WBA game..I have never seen a manager that shaken. His bodylangues and voice was of a man who could not belive what he just had witnessed..I have no problem whatsoever to understand that he wants to get rid of that particulary group of players..All through his career he was a !00 % player who gave who ever represented..He is also that as manager,so it must really hurt him dealing with supposedly grown up babies..You don`t win a thing at this level whithout very hard work,pride,menthal strength and always try to improving yourself,both for your own sake and as a consecvent of that,the TEAM!!!!By the way, also agree with MH that the team lack leaders on the pitch..There is no temprament out there.It`s absolute impossible for me to se that deadly and match killing will to win..Of course there are exeptions(Kompany,Zabaleta,Ireland and SWP )Hopfully MH will get the players he wish and we will start climbing table once again..Give the man credit for thinking longer than tomorrow!! He will come good for our club,if given time,of that I`m sure;-)
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Jason Halfpenny 6 months ago
Question to fellow City fans.
Do you want to see more players like below join us.
Shaun Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Martin Petrov, Valeri Bojinov, Stephen Ireland, Daniel Sturridge, Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Felipe Caicedo, (Wayne Bridge, Only just arrived), Benjani Mwaruwari, Kelvin Etuhu.
Or more players like these players below join us.
Michael Ball, Javier Garrido, Ched Evans, Darius Vassel, Jo Alves, Elano, Gelson Fernandes, Dietmar Hamann, Tal Ben Haim
?
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Keith Griffin 6 months ago
Harsh letter to Micah! Maybe he needs the harsh words eh?
Wayne Bridge was a great acquisition. I mean the guy at times can be better than A.Cole. So on City's part it was excellent business. Sooner or later he was going to be picked up.
Its going to take a while to get rid of the "deadwood" as you put it. But no better man than Hughes. you just hope the owners have patience with him. Surely the first to go must be Vassel....
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Jason Halfpenny 6 months ago
Sometimes it takes Harsh words to get through to some people, Micah Richards can not see past his own ego unless you give him a UV flashlight.
Micah Richards Quote:
“I thought I’d headed the ball away, but Nathan Tyson caught the ball really well and it went in – it was unstoppable,”
This is an England Senior International Football player Versus a Championship Football player?, forgive me for not rating Nathan Tyson up there with Lionel Messi.
Note that i also added Richard Dunne in that Harsh Letter.
If they are as professional as they make themselves out to be, they will take it on the chin & buck their idea's up.
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Andy Morris 6 months ago
One thing that worries me though is that so many players have had this downtun in form at he same time.
Although not blaming HUghes and only Hughes it does leave me wondering how effective he is as a manager of people.
What about a list of players we really, really want and one which (brutal honesty now please) we feel we can get., i bet you they are different as well
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Jason Halfpenny 6 months ago
I believe Hughes knows who & who isnt in City's future.
Michael Ball, Darius Vassel, Jo Alves, Elano, Gelson Fernandes, Dietmar Hamann, Tal Ben Haim are all useless.
The 5 players he brings in will replace these players below & steady the ship.
1.Michael Ball
2.Tal Ben Haim
3.Dietmar Hamann, Gelson Fernandes.
4.Elano
5.Jo alves, Darius Vassel
Will all be transfer listed.
Replaced by
1. Wayne Bridge
2. ? Defender
3. ? Defensive Mid
4. ? Attacking Mid
5. ? Striker
Hughes has promised 5 new players, if we achieve the other 4 players and they are as good as we expect then Hughes will come good in my opinion.
expect a Goalkeeper arriving next season.
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Andy Morris 6 months ago
How about the rumour (apparently a good one according to a mate in France) that we could be about to sign Trezeguet, too old at 31 with recent injuries?
It strikes me as proving the old adage about the spine of a team.
GK, CB, DM, AM and ST - the problems and the solution seem so easy then dint they.
As for Elano I think he should be stripped of his squad number as he no longer deserves to be associated with our great club.
And I never even said that of Lee Bradury!
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Jason Halfpenny 6 months ago
I don't believe the Trezeguet rumour, £20 Million for a 31 year old is alittle to much to take on board.
Id rather have Tevez for 32 million but then not even Tevez is worth £32 Million, id say Tevez was more like £20 Million.
I highly doubt the rumour is true & hope its untrue for city's sake, id even prefer Henry to Trezeguet, atleast then we know we would get a return.
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Peewee Puddles 6 months ago
1.Michael Ball
2.Tal Ben Haim
3.Dietmar Hamann, Gelson Fernandes.
4.Elano
5.Jo alves, Darius Vassel
I was pondering this the other day and came to the conclusion that all 7 of those players you mentioned (above) should go plus probably Caicedo and let Evans go out on loan. But then I was having a mad moment where I decided we should ship out 9 and get in 11 in Jan which clearly is not going to happen. I do think we should get in 2 strikers, personally I would go for one large Villa/Crouch/Santa Cruz and one quick, probably Owen now Defoe has gone to Spurs. I'd go for Benayoun to replace Elano, Ribery to cover SWP and Petrov as he can plauy on either flank. I'd want a couple of holding midfielders to allow Kompany to drop into the back 4. Ideally Parker and Cambiasso although I'd go for Alonso or Yaya Toure if Cambiasso wouldn't come. I would definitely go for Kolo Toure and if not then Upson, I suppose and definitely Shay Given. There you go, I don't want much. Obviously if we were in dreamland I'd go for Fabregas, Adebayour and Carvalho too!
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Juan Con Mias 6 months ago
Grammar
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Peewee Puddles 6 months ago
Pedant
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Juan Con Mias 5 months ago
Pedant? Why? For requiring that, at the very least, we should be able to communicate in our mother tongue? We should all be able to manage the basics in whatever we are doing and writing or publishing articles should be no exception. How can we (with any credibility at least) criticise Didi Hamann for not having the basic skills required of a footballer, in that he should be able to NOT throw the ball to the opposing side and thus gift them a goal, if those who are using the medium of what masquerades as journalism to point out such frailties, cannot, will not or are just too damned lazy to ensure that we get the basics of our chosen profession/craft/vocation/hobby right, too?
And, before you start on one, yes I do know what I'm talking about and no, I won't stop caring about it. We all make mistakes... it's what you do about it that reveals the measure of the (wo)man.
There is a long list of recommendations/tips offered to those who are brave enough to submit articles to this site and they do stress the need for accuracy and clarity. I am a time-served journalist, editor and sub-editor of nearly 30 years but such is the strict criteria in the preamble for this site, I was unsure if any articles I may have submitted would have been good enough for publication.
And while I am aware that, often, it's more what you have to say than how you say it that counts, there is no excuse for sloppiness... on the pitch or off it; is there, Peewee?
If you merely want to mouth-off in a pub as per your average no-nowt numbnuts, that's fine. If you have aspirations that rest slightly higher than that, then the least you can do is make a reasonable fist of it.
In the end it can only add credibility to your own work and the status of any publication you are associated with. I have no problem at all with people who (genuinely, and for whatever reason) cannot spell, punctuate or use grammar correctly but for most of us, that should not be the case.
The enemy of the best isn't the worst Peewee... it's more the "it'll do".
If more City players got the basics right then we would be seeing far more complimentary articles about the Blues on this site; do you not agree, Peewee?
By the way, I was at St James's Park the day we won the league (though I was a nipper)... before you accuse me of being a rag.
Hope this helps.
PS - there's a deliberate mistake in this post to keep the tools entertained.
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Andy Morris 5 months ago
I fully support those who encourage the development of content, improving the quality of what is available to read.
I don't give a flying hoot about grammar, grammer,grammur or even grammir as I can read around the occasional flaw and still get a sense of what is meant by the author.
I also, dont really! care too much;- about correct punc-tuations and spelings as again we can get a sence, can we knot, as to what is meant?
It is worth noting that not all those who make the effort to contribute have English as their first language, such as our American cousins, so we should be supportive of their efforts as the views they have are more likely to differ from our own.
What I cannot allow to go unchallenged is the delibeate pi$$ taking that has been part of the early comments on this thread.
Is it not contingent on us all to stamp out such arrogance?
Would it be better for those who re-ignite such a negative process of 'debate' to choose that moment to remain silent?
I would invite anyone who feels that they cannot leave this alone to think hard about their motivations in doing so.
As a wise man once said, and i paraphrase here "if you dont want people to think you a *@^+ keep it shut"
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Jason Halfpenny 5 months ago
Juan, i could not care less about anyone's grammar as long as it is understandable, Personally if all you can come up with is "Grammar" then you may as well not comment at all.
As for using my Article as a playground to get your point across, if it had anything to do with the contents of my article i would see its value but the truth is, it has *naf* all to do with my Article.
Peewee has every right to air his opinion and as far as im concerned his opinion has been valued by me whereas yours amounts to nothing.
Go chew on that dictionary in your library and stop ranting on about how the world should be to you.
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Juan Con Mias 5 months ago
Andy. I accept those valid points that you made in the post that followed mine, although, I thought I had already covered those people who had genuine issues struggling with the language and I also pointed out that nothing could add more to the development of a site or, indeed, the credibility of a writer's work than a consistent level of accuracy at every level.
I will also assume that the "deliberate piss-taking" remark was not aimed at me as:
a) my comments were not made in the early part of the thread and,
b) I was certainly not taking the piss.
Jason, I'm more than happy to give you a view on the content of your article but I fear you would only accuse me of sour grapes as you were so beastly to me in your response. If you live in the world of publishing, in any form, you will have to get used to people having a pop at you for any reason (valid or otherwise); from your name to your sporting allegiance. Not fair, I know, but almost certainly true. So why not remove any targets you can? And you know that you can, with a little effort, then people will focus solely on the content, though it has to be said that may not make you any happier either.
And "playground"? Re-read the tone of the responses and I think you may appreciate things as they are in reality and not in your mind. Stuffy, adult or too serious? Maybe, I'd accept that. Childish? Certinaly not from this side. See your pay-off line for that.
And Jason, just for the record; my "pedant" comment was aimed at Steven (and not Peewee), simply because he was having a go at Colin who had been having a pop at you.
And here's the big ****ing point for all those who are hard of thinking... it was a JOKE!
Can you not see that someone getting all hot under the collar and ranting on about somebody's grammar and punctuation and then spelling it "grammer" is a source of some amusement?
Hard for you to grasp I imagine, though, as I can now see you are a tad sensitive and in your tantrum, failed to acknowledge a single valid point from my comments which were both considered and constructive.
Anyway, all is not lost, you have at least one new reader, regardless of how little you think of him (and flow-through counts; just ask the web editors) and you certainly have a fan in Peewee, who will almost certainly fight your corner in the playground when us nasty men start shouting at you.
Finally, as if any of you could care despite your breast-beating, I have suffered with dyslexia all my life and I cannot tell you how hard it has been to get to the position I have. Every day I have to work twice as hard as others just to read and write the pages I have to work with for a living.
This is the main reason Andy that,
a) I will forgive easily those who genuinely struggle with languge and,
b) I consider plain laziness and sloppy copy to be (almost) unforgivable.
Thank you for your patience.
PS Has Micah replied yet?
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Andy Morris 5 months ago
Juan,
My comments were aimed at those whose tone was less than professional 'earlier comments in the thread' and i was making the point to them that it wasn't what any reasonable, balanced person wants to see.
I fear that you may have suffered Jasons' wrath in the same way as I have previously
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/88563-manchester-city-in-audacious-15-trillion-bid-for-serie-a-humor
If you read through Jasons responses you can tell we are always likely to start, and indeed end at different points in a debate.
Humour is of course a very personal thing and it doesnt always translate well.
I have enjoyed Jasons honest and energetic articles and will defend him to the death of my keyboard against people like Colin.
I do feel that your own attempt at humour, like mine in the side swipe article missed the mark.
And of course we can never know the reasons for what appears to be sloppy or lazy copy and the default posoition should be to quietly comment via the 'Edit' facility.
Buy hey it's enjoyable dealing with most of the people on here.
Nuff said?
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Jason Halfpenny 5 months ago
Juan, "grammar" was a joke was it?, forgive me for not ripping my gut apart or breaking a rib with laughter as there is a difference between a joke and idiocy.
Your just another tool like Colin in my opinion banging on about grammar, are you English, with a name like Juan i probably doubt it, have you heard of the term, "Old English". Again probably not, do you even understand where im heading, i doubt it.
Scurry along like a good little rat and let the door hit you on the way out aye.
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Juan Con Mias 5 months ago
Andy, thanks for the clarification. You sound like a man with stones and standards. I cannot seen to edit the comments on here, though. I appreciate the interaction.
Jason... I am English, of course... as are my parents and as were their parents, too. Juan Con Mias is clearly a nom de plume but as Andy rightly points out, humour can sometimes miss the mark especially when you can't see the other person's lips moving.
I was born in Withington hospital and lived in sunny Benchill in Wythenshawe for the first 24 years of my life. Once again you have taken the route of the coward and failed to address many of the valid points I raised but I think I can see now how you handle things. And after (mistakenly) taking me for a foreigner you offer me a pay-off line like that? What a pleasant chap you are revealing yourself to be! And the great irony is, of course, that you were having a go at me for not understanding "Old English" because you thought I was foreign. When I pointed out something to you that was actually wrong, we all saw how prickly you became.
So you told a little foreigner to scurry along because he clearly didn't grasp the finer points of the language? What a class act you are... has Nick Griffin got your details?
I have heard of the term "Old English"... thanks for asking; do you mean as it pertains to sheepdogs? It certainly has nothing to do with our little rally here, unless, of course, you know better and can enlighten me.
You tell an older, fairer and more articulate poster to "scurry along like a little rat" after he's provided some fairly helpful (and professional) hints (and all free of charge). Condescension is obviously preferable to sarcasm in your book.
Finally, in the few posts we have exchanged, it is abundantly clear that your writing is becoming less error strewn and you are clearly making an effort on this thread now, so well done you! (Not nice is it?)
Off to work now, knowing full well that if one of our articles was to be reviewed on here and it was full of lemons, the hypocrites like you would be out with their knives.
Cheers now,
PS "Your just another tool"?
Try "You're just another tool".
You know you can do it, if you can be arsed.
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Simon Croft 5 months ago
Oh dear, just when I was beginning to warm to the pair of you! Get a room please and a big one at that to fit your inflated egos. I wonder who'll have the decency to just leave it as it is?
Anyway, back to the issue of my beloved Blues - Back Hughes (unless he buys RSC and Bellamy for over 25 million)!
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Juan Con Mias 5 months ago
Andy, my message response thing doesn't seem to be functioning but thanks for that... and I'm sure I will at some point but because it's worth it and not just for the sake of it.
Simon, how long are you going to back Hughes for?
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Jason Halfpenny 5 months ago
Simon, Im not here to accomodate you or this tool named Juan from Cranky close, find a fire if you want warmth.
Juan, instead of giving it all the grammar correction garbage, why not try creating an article yourself Mr i swallowed a Dictionary. When you actually make some effort yourself you will realise there is a spell checker option and that also sometimes that fails to do a 100% job, other times people have no interest in creating a childish explosion over a single mis-spelling of one word.
Truth be told, American's spell certain words different to the way us English spell so does that make them lazy or incorrect, the facts that be make for good knowledge that there does infact exist an Old English Dictionary so your ranting on is just childish and pathetic so do us all a favour and sling your hook elsewhere unless your going to actually contribute to Bleacher and its Community.
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Simon Croft 5 months ago
Until we find a better manager to take us forward I will support him, as all True Blues will.
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