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eduardo wrote:

As for Chelsea then they
> were around 4th, 5th or 6th when he took over and he left them
> in 4th, 5th, 6th. He did an ok job there but no more than that.

well, Claudio DID bring in Frank Lampard and brought John Terry into the first team, that is enough for me.


> I've always had alot of respect for City fans for the shit
> they've had to put up with over the years but has it got so bad
> that they see Shinawatra as the messiah when he has so many
> obvious flaws just because he's got loads of dosh?

I agree, this new owner-in-the-wings does sound a bit 'iffy'.....I should know, 'we' have the 'iffiest' bastard of them all in Abramovich

He'll need at least 100 million on the team alone. Now it looks like our best player - Barton has to move. Apart from Dunne none of the others are good enough.
And as for Shinawatra being dodgy I'm with ace - who gives a shit.

Yes he did bring in Lampard and didn't he play him on the right side of midfield for a season, a position he didn't do too well in if my memory is correct?

As for John Terry then surely anybody could see he was first team material.

Look I don't want to go too far with this. Ranieri ain't no fool but he aint the coaching god some believe him to be either.

I like City but I don't think that much of Ranieri, to be honest. I'm a Spurs' supporter and I thought he did a decent, rather than exceptional, job at CFC. His continental record is patchy but I think he'll find the Prem's move on a lot since he was last here.

CFC and United are away on their own, but I genuinely think any of the following, with the right wind, could finish in any of the 3rd-8th places: Pool, Arse, Spurs, Everton, Villa, and possibly Toon. All of those squads were decent this season and all have been, will be, strengthened. Even with investment I don't believe City will challenge that lot. There's too much to do. Speaking as a supporter of a club with eternally ridiculous expectations, it takes at least a full season for a new team to bed in and a manager to exert his influence (unless you have unlimited funds, like Mourinho, and still don't really deliver).

Anyway, hope City do the derby double one of these days. I'd love to see that.

I don't expect City to suddenly be a major force in the top 4 but I think whats happening with investment in the club will in time and with a good coach/manager whether that be Ranieri or whoever will see them successful for once. And I do see a season where they top United in the derbies for once. All I'm saying is I'd love to see City win the FA cup final or securing a UEFA spot and doing well as I think they're a great club and generally over looked really and I'm not an actual fan or season ticket holder either. I don't want to sound like an old git but I can remember the 70s when there were a lot of great sides that could either win the league or the cup and City were definitely one of them. They had some great players and great characters then - Rodney Marsh, Colin Bell, Francis Lee, Dennis Tueart etc. Even in later years they've had some good players but since the 70s it always seems to go wrong for them somehow. Maybe some stability and cash will see them successful again. Good luck to 'em.