Clichy

[Ruthless]

Unbelievable piece of business.......... Is Bobby Mancini god in disguise?

Nice.... Very very NICE

[Moonchesteri]

Welcome to blue revolution Gael!

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

not official until mark blue army copies and pastes from the OS

This man knows how we roll here.

[sandman]

not official until mark blue army copies and pastes from the OS

This man knows how we roll here.

Gael Clichy has become Roberto Mancini’s first signing of the summer after penning a four-year deal with the Blues.

The French left-back successfully passed a medical and joins City from Arsenal where he spent almost eight years of his career. He will now challenge Aleksandar Kolarov for a regular spot in Mancini’s starting line-up.

Clichy, 25, has a wealth of Premier League experience having played a total of 264 times for the Gunners since he signed from Cannes in August 2003.

Rated as one of the best full-backs in Europe, he also has pace in abundance and has been described as a ‘tenacious tackler’. It will not have been lost on Mancini that his new signing has also made 45 appearances in the Champions League.

Clichy has won 10 caps for France to date, the last of which was in 2010 and he was the last member of Arsenal’s famous ‘Invincibles’ team, who won the 2003/04 Premier League without losing a single game.

That triumph earned the then 18-year-old a championship medal which, in turn, made him the youngest recipient in Premier League history.

Clichy spent the first half of his career with Arsenal as cover for Ashley Cole, but won his first-team spurs after Cole’s move to Chelsea, becoming a regular in Arsene Wenger’s side over the past five seasons.

His squad number for Arsenal was No.22 which is currently held by another left-back at City – Greg Cunningham – his chosen shirt number for the 2011/12 season will be announced in due course.

The Frenchman should feel at home quickly with the Blues, having played alongside Patrick Vieira, Kolo Toure, Stuart Taylor and Emmanuel Adebayor during his days in North London.

Speaking of his move to Eastlands, Clichy said: “I’m really happy to be joining such a great club. I hope I can add to the quality we already have here because we have a fantastic squad who I believe will continue to get better.

“I can’t wait to get started and I think anything is possible with this team.”

Clichy also revealed that in joining the Blues, he will be re-joining two of his best friends in football.

“When I first came to England, it was Kolo Toure and Patrick Vieira who took me under their wing and really looked after me,” he said.

“Kolo would pick me up and drop me at home and his wife used to cook meals for me. Patrick was always there to offer me advice so it’s wonderful to be back and at the same club they are at.”

Clichy will be officially unveiled during the forthcoming tour of the USA and Canada

Thank you, for providing brand new information...

[zuricity]

At 7 mill. If that's the cost. No one can complain. Half as much as Bridge. Even much less than Kolorov. That should get the left back position nailed down.

Finally a common sense purchase.

[Moonchesteri]

Imo this is a very good signing. Not too expensive but yet a solid premier league defender. at 25 he's at good age and has plenty of years ahead of him.

[Blue Blood]

http://arsenal-mania.com/forum/viewtopi ... &start=180

Fascinating reading on Clichy.

They are very split on whether him leaving them is good or bad.

I'd say 70% wanted him to stay, most are annoyed at the cheapness to which he has left them, especially to us, a rival.

General thing I drew from reading through it is they believed Clichy got stale in recent seasons and was not helped by a poor defense. Also worth noting as a man he was well liked and certainly had the fans respect.

I'm confident this will turn into a very very good buy for us. For 7 million you can't go wrong really can you!

[twosips]

Exactly - Clichy's poor form was more circumstantial than him being a bad player imo. With Joe Hart, VK and NDJ screaming down his ear there's no way he's gonna go missing in games. Excited about this. Proper width and pace now from our full backs - MR2 and Clichy will be able to run all day long.

[Blue Since 76]

Quote of the week to some cockerneee on shoutsport - Clichy, Fabregas and Nasri are great players, but they haven't won anything, so it makes sense ton refresh the squad. Er, yes, but surely you keep the good players and change the cross, not the other way round.

This way please, Samir. No point staying with that bunch of losers.

[Duckman]

Remember the story about how the Club gathered a group of people just to work on the statistics of the game.
Gael's stats supposed to be great, and it just fits the plan Mancini has got for City.

This signing is very good in my opinion, rather cheap for a good player, with EPL experience.

Now get Samir, and get rid of Hughes' flop players for which we payed a fookin fortune.

I'm pleased.

Cheers Roberto

[halnone]

Great signing!
Great piece of business. Maybe kolarov might improve now because he will have competition.

[Ted Hughes]

What a nice chap.

[Chinners]

Is it just me or our PR machine, but I'm finding the 'I hear all people in Manchest are blues etc' taglag that every new signing trots out a tad embarrassing now. It used to make me laugh but now it doesn't even register when I read an interview. <tin hat on>

[Chinners]

Oh ... blinding signing btw, bargin price too ... FFP rules here we come

[french_tony]

Is it just me or our PR machine, but I'm finding the 'I hear all people in Manchest are blues etc' taglag that every new signing trots out a tad embarrassing now. It used to make me laugh but now it doesn't even register when I read an interview. <tin hat on>

Yeh was thinking the same when I heard that line, did make me cringe a little.
Still, seems like a nice fella, quick as fook and a decent player for a good price. Top signing Bob.

[ronk]

For years with left backs we've had: he's good at ..., but...

Now we have someone where there's no but.

[Beeks]

Poor ol Clichy...Tevez has well and truly pissed on his parade

[xavi6]

Delighted with that signing.

He's 25, has won trophies, has CL experience and is a bloody good player. We've done a super bit of business here.

[Blue Blood]

Delighted with that signing.

He's 25, has won trophies, has CL experience and is a bloody good player. We've done a super bit of business here.

Don't forget he is fast as fook.

That is the bit that excites me the most.

[Esky]

Delighted with that signing.

He's 25, has won trophies, has CL experience and is a bloody good player. We've done a super bit of business here.

Agree, but I don't think he's won anything with either Arsenal or Cannes.