Manchester City Thread

[Dillinger]

Nissan pick up?

You'd fit Man Citys trophy cabinet on the back seat of Lulu's Fiat Cinquecento

[VocalNeal]

[Dillinger]

Fucking mental. You have to keep a leader like Kompany on in some capacity.

I wondered why he didn't seem as elated as most would be when they won the FA Cup yesterday and when he striped that 30 yarder to win Abu Dhabi the League.

[Neverna]

^ Kompany is going to be player-manager at Anderlecht.

[Dillinger]

Oh right. And they do have a better history than Citeh

[harrybarracuda]

Oh right. And they do have a better history than Citeh

He's obviously homesick.

[Chittychangchang]

What a day and end to a fantastic historic season..

[Chittychangchang]

An Open Letter to the fans.


Dear all,
Community Shield Winners!
Back 2 back League Cup Winners!
Back 2 back Champions of England!
FA Cup Winners!
We’ve just seen the close of an incredible season.
My 11th as a Blue.
And I cannot believe I’m writing this but ... also my last as a Blue.
Countless of times have I imagined this day, after all, the end has felt nearby for so many years.
It still doesn’t feel real.
Man City has given me everything.
I’ve tried to give back as much as I possibly could.
How often does someone get the chance to end such an important chapter, representing a club with such great history and tradition, in such a great fashion?
The time has come for me to go now.
As overwhelming as it is, I feel nothing but gratefulness.
I am grateful to all those who supported me on a special journey, at a very special club.
I remember the first day, as clear as I see the last.
I remember the boundless kindness I received from the people of Manchester.
I will never forget how all Man City supporters remained loyal to me in good times and especially bad times. Against the odds you have always backed me and inspired me to never give up.
Sheikh Mansour changed my life and that of all the City fans around the world, for that I am forever grateful. A blue nation has arisen and challenged the established order of things, I find that awesome.
I cherish the counsel and leadership of a good human being, Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Man City could not be in better hands.
It’s cliché to say it but it’s also so true: without my teammates I would have never been here today. We fought many battles together. Side by side. In good times and in bad. So to all of you, from the 2008-2009 squad to today’s domestic Treble winners: I owe you guys!
A special word also to Pep and the backroom staff: you’ve been superb. You’ve followed me through so much hardship. You made me come back stronger every time. Thank you so much.
I also want to use this platform to express the love that I have for my nearest and dearest.
It knows no boundaries. Carla, Sienna, Sire and Kai, the one and only quadruple that matters.
My dad (Pierre), Christel and François, my true Invincibles.
I live with only one regret. I would have loved to take my mother, Jocelyne, to the Etihad, seeing her chant the City songs sat next to my children and wife. I would have wanted her to see me happy, playing the game that I love at a club that I love. Deep down, I know she’s been with us through all this time.


And yet I choose to rebel against what an end wants to be. I choose to be grateful for the past but remain ambitious and driven for the future.
For the next 3 years, I will take up the role of Player-Manager of RSC Anderlecht.
Belgium’s finest.
This may come as a surprise to you.
It’s the most passionate yet rational decision I’ve ever made.
As a footballer, I was born and raised at RSC Anderlecht.
Since the age of 6, I have been one with that club.
A history of 34 league titles, they are second to none.
The background to this story…
Belgian entrepreneur Marc Coucke acquired the club from the Vanden Stock family in December 2017.
What followed was a post take-over set back for a club that seemed robust but proved fragile.
Although the take-over triggered a positive new vibe, sporting results did not follow.
I stopped at their training grounds on my way to international duty last year. Just to say hello.
Coucke, the chairman, and Sports Director Michael Verschueren asked my opinion regarding the difficult situation the club was in.
I shared my thoughts and listened to their vision for the future: ambitious, courageous and determined to get back to n°1.
I offered my help, no strings attached, should they need it.
Later on in the season, newly appointed Technical Director Frank Arnesen joined and we organized some technical sessions on how to build a strong playing identity based on attractive, attacking football.
RSCA has a tradition of having fantastic youth.
You could say they have the past and the future, but struggle with the present.
Not so long ago, I took a call from RSC Anderlecht.
Quite unexpectedly, they offered me the position of Player-Manager.
Michael and Frank explained to me in detail how they saw it working in practice.
They had thought it through.
Mr. Coucke, the owner, pledged full support: time, budget, framework, staff, facilities …
I was left not only impressed, but also intrigued by this sign of confidence in me.
It got me thinking.
The end of this season couldn’t be more memorable.
I have lived the dream here.
I have learned so much the last 3 years.
From an incredible manager.
Pep Guardiola reignited my love for the game.
I’ve witnessed, participated, analyzed, absorbed, studied.
Man City play the football I want to play.
It is the football I want to teach and to see played.
I have decided to take up the challenge at RSC Anderlecht.
Player-Manager.
I want to share my knowledge with the next purple generations.
With that, I will also put a bit of Manchester in the heart of Belgium.
This is no goodbye. It’s a see you later.
Et pour les Mauves, voor alle Anderlecht fans: tot binnenkort, à très bientôt.
Love,
Vincent

[Jack meoff]

I'm sure Cyrille will be along soon to pick at that letter

[Chittychangchang]

I'm sure Cyrille will be along soon to pick at that letter

When he's finished picking his arse and nose

[Dillinger]

We’ve just seen the close of an incredible season.
My 11th as a Blue

You dirty bastard. Who were your last team ?

Hands up, and comparisons with Man U's proper treble winning team are rightly confounded I feel and they most probably are the best ever Prem team but that is always gonna stay at probably until City do it in Europe, which they didnt, so fuck you and enjoy United's new kit all next season

[Neverna]

We’ve just seen the close of an incredible season.
My 11th as a Blue.

You dirty bastard. Who were your last team ?

Hamburg.

[Chittychangchang]

[harrybarracuda]

Whose instagram did you nick those off?

[Chittychangchang]

Sunday 4th of August!!!!

We'll see who the real Champions are.

Ave it you Scouse slaggggss.


Wembley!

Wembley!

We are the only team from Manchester and we're off to Wembley

[Chittychangchang]

One down

A look back at Manchester City's summer transfer window and how they look ahead of the 2019/20 season.

There is no reason why Manchester City should not be considered favourites to defend their Premier League crown following the close of the summer transfer window.
Pep Guardiola's formidable side were branded the team to beat before any signings were made, and they have not addressed all of the issues in their squad this summer, but there has been sufficient strengthening to further cement the club's position at the top of the English game.
Early signs from club record signing Rodri have been promising in the holding midfield role, Joao Cancelo should bring some needed competition to the right-back position and Angelino offers another option on the opposite flank.
The manager's call back in May - that "every player has to feel, ‘I have to play good or I don’t play’" - has been heard and addressed, either in the transfer market or thanks to international tournaments over the summer.
Failure to replace Vincent Kompany will leave a question mark over the defence, but it looks as though it will require a Herculean effort to stop this squad making it three consecutive league titles.

The hefty purchases of Rodri (£62.8m) and Joao Cancelo (£60m) have provided the bulk of City's business this summer.


Rodri arrives as the long sought after replacement/successor for Fernandinho, who turned 34 in May and struggled with injuries in the second half of last season. The 23-year-old has come from a year learning under Diego Simeone at hometown club Atletico Madrid and appears an intelligent and mature individual. If first impressions are anything to go off, City have been delighted.



Rodri moved to the Etihad from Atletico Madrid (Image: (Photo by Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images))Cancelo also looks a very good signing. At £60m, he is one of the most expensive full-backs in the game and continues Guardiola's splurge on the position having inherited four players that he allowed to leave at the end of his first summer.
That fee is softened by the fact the club were able to sell Danilo to Juventus for £34m, meaning City have effectively spent £26m net to upgrade their options and place more pressure on Kyle Walker for a starting berth. The England international is certainly one of the players that will have to maintain his level if he wants to keep his place in the team.
The loan signing of Scott Carson provided the most eye-popping moment of deadline day, but ultimately is unlikely to make any difference to the campaign.


City began the summer wanting a centre-back and ended the window without one having turned their nose up at the asking price for Harry Maguire.
The policy remains admirable and we will never know if the ex-Leicester man would have looked value for £80m in the City side, yet having seen the impact Virgil Van Dijk has made at Liverpool after a similar stance from the Blues it is a risk not to replace Vincent Kompany.
Aymeric Laporte is an automatic pick in the middle but Nicolas Otamendi can surely not be allowed to leave and John Stones must maintain form over the whole season, something he has not yet been able to do. Fernandinho, Kyle Walker, Eric Garcia, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis could all get games in the heart of defence but as of now City do not have a pairing that would shred no nerves for a big games.



MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JULY 31: John Stones of Manchester City (Image: Matt McNulty - Manchester City/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)Angelino will have to show more than he has in pre-season if he is to challenge for the left-back spot. It looked a good spot of opportunism to bring him back from PSV after 12 months but with Aleks Zinchenko also showing signs of rustiness in pre-season - Liverpool and Mo Salah targeted him in the Community Shield - and Benjamin Mendy ruled out of the opening week of the campaign there is also a question-mark at left-back.
Other business

City have been boosted by the return of several key players this summer.
Kevin De Bruyne, after a year spoiled by injuries, has looked so good in friendlies it has almost been unfair on the opposition. The Belgian started just 11 league games last season and if he is anywhere near the form that he managed in the Centurions campaign then every other Premier League team should be trembling.






Raheem Sterling scored a wonderful hat-trick as the champions got off to a flyer



No word from Manuel Pellegrini, who is presumably seething right now. It was a miserable afternoon for his new-look West Ham, but then they were playing the relentless champions, who have now won 15 Premier League games in a row. They are always magical as a collective, though today Raheem Sterling shone brightest. A superb hat-trick. West Ham go away to lick their wounds, while City will already be thinking about joining Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United as three-in-a-row title winners.

[Dillinger]

One down

It's a charity friendly you daft fuck..


Only you and that bald twat Pep count the Community Shield as a trophy.

Just to educate you though, Man City have won it 6 times. Liverpool have won it 15 times and Manchester United 21 times you complete nob jockey

[Dillinger]

[Chittychangchang]

Manchester City Legends vs Premier League All-Stars: Team News, Preview and Prediction

It’s Vincent Kompany’s Testimonial Match!


Whilst Manchester City’s senior men’s team is away on international duty, the Etihad Stadium will host a different team. After departing the club in the summer of 2019, former Sky Blue captain Vincent Kompany has organized a testimonial match which will feature some of the English Premier League’s best talent. The match’s proceeds will go to Tackle4MCR, a charity founded by Kompany and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in an effort to address homelessness in Manchester.
Kompany will play for the Manchester City Legends. The team, which he will captain, will feature City fan favourites such as Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott, Pablo Zabaleta, David Silva, Sergio Agüero, Edin Džeko and Mario Balotelli. Current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will manage this side.
The Manchester City Legends will face the Premier League All-Stars, a team comprised of several opponents Kompany faced throughout his career in the EPL. The players on this team include former Manchester United players Edwin van der Sar, the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs and Rafael van der Vaart whilst also featuring Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie. Current Belgian national team manager Roberto Martinez will manage this team.


Team News:
The Manchester City Legends squad:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Costel Pantilimon
Defenders: Vincent Kompany, Aleksandar Kolarov, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Kolo Touré, Pablo Zabaleta, Richard Dunne, Gaël Clichy
Midfielders: Nigel De Jong, Samir Nasri, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Ireland, David Silva, Dietmar Hamann, James Milner
Forwards: Craig Bellamy, Sergio Agüero, Edin Džeko, Mario Balotelli, Benjani
The Premier League All-Stars squad:
Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar, Shay Given
Defenders: Phil Neville, Gary Neville, John O’Shea, Wes Brown
Midfielders: Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Rafael van der Vaart, Cesc Fabregas
Forwards: Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie
Possible Lineups:
Manchester City Legends
Formation: 4-4-2
Hart; Zabaleta, Lescott, Kompany, Clichy; Nasri, Barry, de Jong, Wright-Phillips; Džeko, Balotelli
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Premier League All-Stars
Formation: 3-5-2
van der Sar; G. Neville, Brown, P. Neville; O’Shea, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, van der Vaart; van Persie, Henry
Manager: Roberto Martinez
Prediction:
Overall, this testimonial match will allow fans to gather and watch some of their favourite players compete against one another. The event will be heavily attended, and should be a good outing for family and friends. Manchester City fans will also be looking forward to seeing Kompany lead their club for one last time.
Finally, as fans gather for the match, and with the proceeds going to charity, participants will be reminded of Kompany’s great Mancunian character. After all, once a Sky Blue, always a Sky Blue.

[harrybarracuda]

After all, once a Sky Blue in 2009, always a Sky Blue.

FTFY Chitty.

[Chittychangchang]

FTFY Chitty.

King of the Kippax was I!

2nd division play off finals in 1999, beating Gillingham on penalties.

It's all been gravy ever since

Oh Man City, the only team to come from Manchester! !!Oh Man City

[cyrille]

^ Kompany is going to be player-manager at Anderlecht.

Yeah, that's going well.

[cyrille]

It's his testimonial this evening, and he has something quite appropriate planned.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49666552

[harrybarracuda]

It's his testimonial this evening, and he has something quite appropriate planned.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49666552

[Chittychangchang]

Normal service was resumed for City who started this season's Champions League campaign in style against Shakhtar.

Pos	Team	P	GD	Pts
1	Dinamo Zagreb	1	+4	3
2	Manchester City	1	+3	3
3	Shakhtar Donetsk	1	-3	0
4	Atalanta	1	-4	0
As it stands

The Blues dominated from start to finish with first-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan and a late third from Gabriel Jesus the perfect response to the weekend defeat at Norwich.
What happened?

Almost from the word go, City pinned Shakhtar back in their own half, dominating possession and restricting the hosts to the occasional foray forward.
A number of half chances were created without testing the home goalkeeper, but as the half progressed, so City looked more and more likely to break the deadlock.
The breakthrough finally came on 24 minutes when Ilkay Gundogan’s curling effort from the edge the box smacked the post and fell invitingly to Riyad Mahrez who thumped the ball into the unguarded net.




CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Riyad Mahrez is mobbed by his team-mates after his first half goal
CENTRE OF ATTENTION: Riyad Mahrez is mobbed by his team-mates after his first half goal


It was no more than the Blues deserved for their near total control.
For Shakhtar, so used to bossing games in the Ukraine Premier League, it must have felt like a chiding experience in front of their own fans.
Indeed, Ederson wasn’t called into action until the 35th minute when a clever through ball from Barcelios Freda put Ribeiro Moraes Junior in sight of goal but the City keeper made himself big and beat the shot away.
Three minutes later, City doubled the lead with Mahrez spotting Gundogan’s burst into the box and the German finishing emphatically from eight yards.




DOUBLE DELIGHT: Ilkay Gundogan strikes for City's second goal
DOUBLE DELIGHT: Ilkay Gundogan strikes for City's second goal


Just before the break, Kevin De Bruyne raced on to Gabriel Jesus’ pass and shot just wide of the post – it had been an impressive half by the Premier League champions with the home side becoming increasingly overrun.
Shortly after the re-start, Moraes reminded the Blues there was still work to do as he raced clear and with Ederson on the edge of the box, should have done better with his shot towards and empty net.
But Sterling would no doubt have felt the same moments later as he was gifted a shot at goal following Gundogan’s fierce shot, only to see his shot from close range hit the outside of the post and out of play.




FORWARD MARCH: Gabriel Jesus puts pressure on Shakhtar keeper Andriy Priyatov
FORWARD MARCH: Gabriel Jesus puts pressure on Shakhtar keeper Andriy Priyatov


So many half chances were created and missed, it was a mystery how City weren’t out of sight by the midway point in the second half with the danger being a goal for the hosts would make for an uncomfortable last 20 minutes or so.
But those fears were dispelled 15 minutes from time when a City counter-attack saw three-on-one and De Bruyne's pass put Jesus clear and the Brazilian finished with a smart low shot just inside the post.
That was effectively the end of the contest and completed a fine away win for a much more familiar looking City.
City’s immediate response

City needed to get the defeat at Norwich out of their system quickly – and the response couldn’t have been more emphatic.
Nicolas Otamendi returned to the right side of the central defensive partnership and Fernandinho effortlessly slipped in alongside him with a calm, cool performance that oozed class.
It will cheer Pep Guardiola, who has two injured central defenders on the sidelines already this campaign - as will the late cameo from Benjamin Mendy, who made his long-awaited return near the end of a very comfortable evening for the Blues.




ON THE MARCH: Raheem Sterling takes on the Shakhtar defence
ON THE MARCH: Raheem Sterling takes on the Shakhtar defence



Star man: Ilkay Gundogan

A goal, an assist and he could have had more, the German midfielder was impressive throughout.




MIDDLES MARCH: Ilkay Gundogan puts the squeeze on the Shakhtar midfield
MIDDLES MARCH: Ilkay Gundogan puts the squeeze on the Shakhtar midfield



What it means…

Dinamo Zagreb's 4-0 win over Atalanta means City are second in Group C after Matchday 1.
Pep reaction

"I'm thinking already about Watford as we don't have much time, but to start away in the Champions League and get a good result is fantastic.
"The way we played was very good, we created incredible chances, but all the guys were fantastic. Better than last season!"




LEADING MAN: Pep Guardiola takes in the atmosphere at the Metalist Stadium ahead of kick-off
LEADING MAN: Pep Guardiola takes in the atmosphere at the Metalist Stadium ahead of kick-off


What’s next?

City return to Premier League action this Saturday with Watford visiting the Etihad Stadium (3pm kick-off).