After tonight are we going to miss Bellers and Ireland

[ronk]

You couldn't make this shite up. We used 10 subs. Who were we going to pull off? Someone who was already a sub? Jo got 17 minutes.

Bellamy has had plenty of time in pre season, we're not worried about getting him ready. 10 minutes wouldn't make a bit of difference for him getting match fit but might affect other players who are less settled.

One guy doesn't get used on the bench and all of a sudden he's been thrown onto the scrapheap. It was total bullshit journalism. I saw one shot of him on TV and he was intensively watching the match and didn't look pissed off but the commentator was talking about how unhappy he must be and how he was off.

[Beefymcfc]

You couldn't make this shite up. We used 10 subs. Who were we going to pull off? Someone who was already a sub? Jo got 17 minutes.

Bellamy has had plenty of time in pre season, we're not worried about getting him ready. 10 minutes wouldn't make a bit of difference for him getting match fit but might affect other players who are less settled.

One guy doesn't get used on the bench and all of a sudden he's been thrown onto the scrapheap. It was total bullshit journalism. I saw one shot of him on TV and he was intensively watching the match and didn't look pissed off but the commentator was talking about how unhappy he must be and how he was off.

You tell it as it is mate!

[Feed The Goat]

We didn't seem to miss Ireland last season when he decided not to show up. Bellers did well last season but no way can he play Sunday Thursday Sunday so IMO he doesn't have what we need anymore

We didn't miss him when our form dropped to the extent that our manager was sacked?

I think our record breaking season sort of proves we didn't miss Ireland. The season before last he was awesome but that's it 1 season out of about 4. The poor little head case wasn't interested for large parts of last season so why do we think this season will be any different?

[Colin the King]

On Bridge, would it be fair to say there's a chance he'll be sold? Kolarov will obviously be first choice, then we've got Lescott, Barry, Boateng, Cunningham and even Zabs at a push who can play there. I've always liked the look of Barry when he plays there actually.

I just feel Bridge is so hit and miss- and he's widely known as an attacking full back yet his delivery when he gets up the byeline is shocking (no assists last season) and he never scores. Defensively, he concedes far too much space to wingers for my liking and often gets torn to shreds. He's not a terrible player and I hate being overcritical but I don't really rate him.

Ned will probably be off too, a shame given his connections with the club and how long he's been involved in the first team but it's a ruthless business. It's always been hypothetical with him unfortunately; if Ned was fit he'd be our best defender. I'd look at sending Weiss off on loan too, he's a million miles from being complete, no football brain whatsoever. Great skills and pace but no awareness of what's going on around him. Etuhu will obviously be flogged off somewhere, along with Caicedo. Santa Cruz will most likely be sold too and I don't think Mancini wants Robinho around so that would leave us with Tevez, Ade, Balotelli, Bellamy (hopefully) and maybe Jo. Alex Nimely would probably be looking at getting a few cup and early European games in too, he looks a real talent.

I'm hoping beyond hope that both Bellamy and Ireland stay- they won't be automatic choices but both have said in the recent past that they're determined to force their way in and leave a mark. Ireland only twelve months ago was talking about having a stand at Eastlands named after him. Hopefully there's substance behind the words and both will stay, and fight with all their hearts to get in the side. Both are extremely talented and useful assets. I'd love to see Ireland in a three man midfield with Touré and Barry, it just appeals to me as something that would work really, really well.

[ronk]

Bridge is a tough one. His place is under pressure but he's still the incumbent and he's still going to fight for his place. We need a left back and there's the possibility of Kolorov playing on the left wing some of the time. I can see them subbing each other during games to stay fresh. There's also the inevitable injury/suspension stuff. Plus, we already sold Garrido so there is the issue of depth.

He should be a sought after player but I have my doubts if we'd get much interest, not enough to make it worth our while. My instinct would be to keep him but not stand in the way if another team put in a reasonable bid.

Ned is different. He's well down the pecking order and he's really just risking slowing the development of Boyata. It's doing absolutely nothing for Nedum's career to be staying with us, he could be captaining a prem side. If it wasn't for the emotional attachment and all the tough times he's stuck with us and the club have stuck with him, I think we'd all be a lot more rational about it. We don't need him, he doesn't need us; time to move on, even though no one wants to.

[Grob]

Personally, I think if either of them go anywhere, it will only be on loan.

The fact that Ireland wasnt there today is a worry. If Milner comes though he'll be out of the picture.

I think Bellers will stay.

[Green & Blue]

Ireland is gone as part of Milner deal i reckon but still struggling to make sense of it all.What exactly is Milner worth to us, would he even starting regularly?

[Sister of fu]

dont think we will miss ireland or bridge atall. bellers we will miss against shit teams that try and stop you playing.

the team that started tonight should be our first 11 swapping ADE for BALOTELLI though. I'd be confident of beating anyone with that team.

Not Ade for Jo then :-)

[CitizenYank]

I agree with the notion that Superman will be part of the Milner deal. It just makes things easier giving Villa
a player we were going to transfer anyway.
But, fuck me, I am going to cry if we get rid of Bellars. I love 'em. His fire and the way he plays.
Jesus man, Bellars and Superman gone, but Jo on the team!!

The Portland Timbers are going to have more homegrown players when they join the MLS next year!!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

You couldn't make this shite up. We used 10 subs. Who were we going to pull off? Someone who was already a sub? Jo got 17 minutes.

Bellamy has had plenty of time in pre season, we're not worried about getting him ready. 10 minutes wouldn't make a bit of difference for him getting match fit but might affect other players who are less settled.

One guy doesn't get used on the bench and all of a sudden he's been thrown onto the scrapheap. It was total bullshit journalism. I saw one shot of him on TV and he was intensively watching the match and didn't look pissed off but the commentator was talking about how unhappy he must be and how he was off.

I know mate. Both the players have got lot of playing time during the preseason and we had players who hadn't featured yet.

Also how stupid would it be to play injuryprone Bellamy too much on preseason. I have a feeling he will be starting on saturday.

[TonyM]

It was total bullshit journalism. I saw one shot of him on TV and he was intensively watching the match and didn't look pissed off but the commentator was talking about how unhappy he must be and how he was off.

I thought this was funny too. they showed a clip of him on ESPN and said he looked upset (he didn't) and then they pan out and we see Kolarov looking like he hates life at City (despite him having a great game). Seemingly the TV can now determine what people are thinking. It's like that show "Lie to me" with Tim Roth. Crap.

[Ted Hughes]

Ian Cheeseman on GMR, thinks Ireland is part of the Milner deal & as soon as I saw that he wasn't included I thought the same. Talksport are just saying Mancini has confirmed it as I'm typing.

I think it's sad that Ireland can't be part of what we're doing but imo, when given the chance in the pre season games, he produced nothing that any average PL midfielder couldn't do. If he'd been brilliant, Mancini would have kept him I'm sure, but he was given the chance & yet again failed to take it. I'm sure he'll be brilliant for Villa now though, even if he's shit, as he represents an example of the evils of City. Whatever he does will now be overrated by 10 including by some City fans.

I hope Bellamy doesn't go. You can feel when in the ground how popular he is, he's a top player & the money would mean nothing to us. There are lots of players we could fuck off before him & we wouldn't miss them at all. We would miss Bellamy a lot. Imo him & Tevez in that side would have been better than Adebayor & Tevez.

[ant london]

It pains me to say it but if we have to lose one of these two I would infinitely prefer it to be Ireland

I love Stevie but he was average/dreadful last season, he hasn't taken his chance pre-season and I don't know how up for the fight he is...and, consequently, how much use it would be to keep him

Bellamy, on the other hand, clearly has a LOT to offer us and would massively bite us on the arse if he went.



Ireland, Robinho, Onuoha, Bridge, Santa Cruz, Caicedo, Etuhu, Logan, Vidal.....and maybe Weiss (on loan) will not be missed too badly if they leave pre the end of this window

[Ted Hughes]

It pains me to say it but if we have to lose one of these two I would infinitely prefer it to be Ireland

I love Stevie but he was average/dreadful last season, he hasn't taken his chance pre-season and I don't know how up for the fight he is...and, consequently, how much use it would be to keep him

Bellamy, on the other hand, clearly has a LOT to offer us and would massively bite us on the arse if he went.



Ireland, Robinho, Onuoha, Bridge, Santa Cruz, Caicedo, Etuhu, Logan, Vidal.....and maybe Weiss (on loan) will not be missed too badly if they leave pre the end of this window

Agree with that list but watching that game yesterday I could see how Robinho would fit in there no problem & be brilliant but he won't fucking try & it does my head in.

[ant london]

Agreed...Robinho was put on the list as I can't remotely see any chance whatsoever of him starting the season playing for Manchester City.

I'd love to see him knuckle down and join in with what we're doing again but I just can't see it and so I am resigned to him being in the "leaving" list and, although we'd be better with him as another option, we can certainly cope without him.

[sandman]

Both Bellamy and Ireland have been fantastic servants of the club in the past, but the club are only looking one way and its not backwards.

I believe it is a little early to be letting Bellamy go as he still has a great deal to offer but we are not short of class players for his position so I dont think we will miss either a great deal?

In Mancini we trust!!

[Ted Hughes]

Both Bellamy and Ireland have been fantastic servants of the club in the past, but the club are only looking one way and its not backwards.

I believe it is a little early to be letting Bellamy go as he still has a great deal to offer but we are not short of class players for his position so I dont think we will miss either a great deal?

In Mancini we trust!!

I don't think we have anyone who is similar to Bellamy though. A good squad of forwards is about having players with different abilities to give us options. If Bellamy goes we won't replace him with a similar type of player. It would be a stupid mistake imo.

[sandman]

Both Bellamy and Ireland have been fantastic servants of the club in the past, but the club are only looking one way and its not backwards.

I believe it is a little early to be letting Bellamy go as he still has a great deal to offer but we are not short of class players for his position so I dont think we will miss either a great deal?

In Mancini we trust!!

I don't think we have anyone who is similar to Bellamy though. A good squad of forwards is about having players with different abilities to give us options. If Bellamy goes we won't replace him with a similar type of player. It would be a stupid mistake imo.

Well given that we will have Silva, Johnson, SWP and possibly Milner or Robinho for that position then i'm not too worried about him going. I personally like Bellamys style of play and attitude but if he doesnt fit in with Mancini's plans then so be it. When Silva has the trophy in his hands in May then i'm sure most wont even give Bellers a second thought.

[Ted Hughes]

Both Bellamy and Ireland have been fantastic servants of the club in the past, but the club are only looking one way and its not backwards.

I believe it is a little early to be letting Bellamy go as he still has a great deal to offer but we are not short of class players for his position so I dont think we will miss either a great deal?

In Mancini we trust!!

I don't think we have anyone who is similar to Bellamy though. A good squad of forwards is about having players with different abilities to give us options. If Bellamy goes we won't replace him with a similar type of player. It would be a stupid mistake imo.

Well given that we will have Silva, Johnson, SWP and possibly Milner or Robinho for that position then i'm not too worried about him going. I personally like Bellamys style of play and attitude but if he doesnt fit in with Mancini's plans then so be it. When Silva has the trophy in his hands in May then i'm sure most wont even give Bellers a second thought.

I don't see any of those players as similar to Bellamy & Robbie is unlikely to be here. I see Bellamy as a wide support striker rather than a midfielder & if he played the same number of games as Johnson, SWP & Milner he would likely score as many goals as all 3 put together. It will be a terrible mistake to let him go & could cost us a trophy if we play against him. He does fit in Mancini's team too or he would have dropped him last season. No good reason to sell him other than 'Cityitis'.

[sandman]

Both Bellamy and Ireland have been fantastic servants of the club in the past, but the club are only looking one way and its not backwards.

I believe it is a little early to be letting Bellamy go as he still has a great deal to offer but we are not short of class players for his position so I dont think we will miss either a great deal?

In Mancini we trust!!

I don't think we have anyone who is similar to Bellamy though. A good squad of forwards is about having players with different abilities to give us options. If Bellamy goes we won't replace him with a similar type of player. It would be a stupid mistake imo.

Well given that we will have Silva, Johnson, SWP and possibly Milner or Robinho for that position then i'm not too worried about him going. I personally like Bellamys style of play and attitude but if he doesnt fit in with Mancini's plans then so be it. When Silva has the trophy in his hands in May then i'm sure most wont even give Bellers a second thought.

I don't see any of those players as similar to Bellamy & Robbie is unlikely to be here. I see Bellamy as a wide support striker rather than a midfielder & if he played the same number of games as Johnson, SWP & Milner he would likely score as many goals as all 3 put together. It will be a terrible mistake to let him go & could cost us a trophy if we play against him. He does fit in Mancini's team too or he would have dropped him last season. No good reason to sell him other than 'Cityitis'.

I honestly believe there is much more to this than is known outside the club, mancini knows what he's doing, Bellamy is getting on and his body wont last, maybe Mancini is building his squad for the long term and knows he cant be a part of that?