Man City seal three deals

Manchester City have signed Brazil midfielder Elano from Shakhtar Donetsk for £8m to complete a hat-trick of deals for manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The Swedish boss also picked up Javier Garrido from Real Sociedad for £1.5m and Vedran Corluka from Dinamo Zagreb for an undisclosed fee, on Thursday.

Elano, 26, and left-back Garrido, 22, have secured a four-year contracts.

Croatia defender Corluka, 21, who can play at either right-back or central defence, has signed a five-year deal.

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What does everyone think of Sven's buys so far?

Can they realistically challenge for a place in Europe already, or are like likes of Everton and West Ham still stronger.

Cesc wrote:
What does everyone think of Sven's buys so far?

Foreign.

Parks lives wrote:

Cesc wrote:
What does everyone think of Sven's buys so far?

Foreign.

ie cheap, and mostly unknown. Doing a "wenger"?

3 more players totally unproven in the premiership. Risky policy.

Parks lives wrote:

Cesc wrote:
What does everyone think of Sven's buys so far?

Foreign.

If i was a Man City fan then i would be happy so far.

What do you think the Man City first XI will be next season?

A scatter gun approach that rivals that of two certain north London clubs. No wonder Sven took this job.

I think signing Petrov is a great move...Bianchi and Bojinov are also decent enough buys as they have at least proved themselves in Italy. Although both are very young and could easily not adapt.

Fernandes, Elano, Garrido and Corluka are all risky buys.

Parks lives wrote:

Cesc wrote:
What does everyone think of Sven's buys so far?

Foreign.

if he signed english players they'd be broke

I hope they bomb to be honest. They were much more likeable when they were promoting internal youth. Now I fear they are going to become another Arsenal, but far less pretty to watch

Mexicanbecks wrote:

Parks lives wrote:
What does everyone think of Sven's buys so far?

Foreign.

I think Parks has been reading today's Daily Mail.

Cesc wrote:

Can they realistically challenge for a place in Europe already, or are like likes of Everton and West Ham still stronger.

Is it just me or are Everton over-rated.

Look at their squad and their summer buys so far and think, can they challenge in 4 competitions next season?

Players in so far: Vogel, Pienaar, Jagileka

They may also sign Baines but only if they improve a bid

They have big injuries to Cahill and Vaughan which means if they fail to sign anyone soon, they will be seriously short of options for the first few months of the season

They also have lost Fernandes who has gone back to Benfica.

I don't know too much about Vogel or Pienaar but It just doesn't look a strong enough squad for me, on the left side of midfield it looks as though Mcfadden will be first choice, for me he's just an OK player, he's never really going to cause too much trouble, the centre of midfield without Cahill means it will be Osman, Carsley, Jagielka or Pienaar to choose from, I don't really rate Osman, he's too leightweight, he's not very good techincally either, Carsley is strong, he would be there to sit back which means they don't have a forward midfielder besides Arteta who will most likely play on the right of midfield due to being short of options there, Arteta is a class act but I just think he can't be the only one to carry the midfield for Everton.

Up front, they desperately need another player, it's like they only have 2 strikers, Johnson and Anichebe, because Beattie last season was a waste of space, scoring only 1 goal, from the penalty spot.

I think they will struggle unless they get some class in soon, lets not forget it's only around a week until the season starts and there is a lack of optiona now for Moyes in this transfer market IMO.

Batman wrote:If i was a Man City fan then i would be happy so far.

What do you think the Man City first XI will be next season?

Isaksson

Richards . . Dunne . . Corluka . . Garrido

Elano . . Fernandes . . Hamann . . Petrov

Bianchi . . . Bojinov

so China Sun?

Cking wrote:

Batman wrote:If i was a Man City fan then i would be happy so far.

What do you think the Man City first XI will be next season?

Isaksson

Richards . . Dunne . . Corluka . . Garrido

Elano . . Fernandes . . Hamann . . Petrov

Bianchi . . . Bojinov

so China Sun?

Dude the Sun doesnt belong to China only!! Its for all the people on this earth! Or do you mean the Chinese version of a British Tabloid?

Fey wrote:

Cking wrote:

Batman wrote:If i was a Man City fan then i would be happy so far.

What do you think the Man City first XI will be next season?

Isaksson

Richards . . Dunne . . Corluka . . Garrido

Elano . . Fernandes . . Hamann . . Petrov

Bianchi . . . Bojinov

so China Sun?

Dude the Sun doesnt belong to China only!! Its for all the people on this earth! Or do you mean the Chinese version of a British Tabloid?

come on, stop pulling my leg.
you know whom i am referrring to.

Sun Jihai

Hmm - Sven managing a team that plays in sky blue - splashing big money on the most random of players?

De Ja vu.

He'll make it work as well.

Batman wrote:If i was a Man City fan then i would be happy so far.

What do you think the Man City first XI will be next season?

Isaksson

Richards . . Dunne . . Corluka . . Garrido

Elano . . Fernandes . . Hamann . . Petrov

Bianchi . . . Bojinov

Thet team looks pretty good. Not great but pretty good

This team is still probably much better then last season so they can't really complain.

He must first dare if they want to do good, which he have. Perhaps City will be interesting this year

If he can do what he did with the England team and scrape out 1-0's with loads of boring but solid performances, Man. City will be just fine. I never watched his title winning teams, so did he usually get his teams playing good football?

Lazio played good football but they also had some really good/expensive players.

If Man City finish in the top 6 this season, will Sven be able to attract some really World Class players and challenge for the top 4 in 2-3 seasons?

Batman wrote:Lazio played good football but they also had some really good/expensive players.

If Man City finish in the top 6 this season, will Sven be able to attract some really World Class players and challenge for the top 4 in 2-3 seasons?

Two seasons wil be too soon. They'll be challanging for fifth spot by then, but top 4 too soon. Perhaps a 4th spot in three season but that's stretching it.

I don't see Citeh having Abramovich money and spending. Abramovich came at a time when there only really was a top 2, and spent like a madman, which the prem has never seen before.
As a result of Abramovich United and Liverpool (with Benitez) also strengthened considerably, while Arsenal was still playing by the old rules.
Now you also have Tottenham establishing themsleves as a contender for the 4th spot, and Villa, Hammers, Pompey and Newcastle have also gotten their own sugardaddy.

Its not the same as when Abramovich arrived, so I don't think the Thai's arrival will have the same impact. Chelsea were also a good top6 team, while Citeh are in a much needed overhaul.

If the Thai arrived when Abramovich did then I think they could have immediately challange the top4 within two seasons in the way Chelsea has done.

DD wrote:Newcastle have also gotten their own sugardaddy.

Sugardaddy my arse!

I know some of our buys might seem risky but i totally trust Sven. The last thing he is is rash. I think he has spent his time out scouting around and doing his research. He wouldnt go out and spent large amounts on young players without doing his homework.

Its also great that the majority of the buys are young players, we have a team packed with amazing potential.

Still i think the team will take time to settle but the fans know this and Sven wont be under lots of pressure. Wow its going to be an exciting season.