SoccerHQ

Yes I fully expect them to string one of those 15 game unbeaten runs they regularly do in the second half of the season.

At the old players xmas bash yesterday Sid wouldn't get drawn on transfers but what he did say is this will be the most significant signing we get in January . He is so highly rated it almost worries me there is too much on his shoulders but that's how much the coaches think of this bloke .

Him, I hope that's just Sid's thinking in to how much he rates Delph rather than what we'll do regarding transfers as he's still a relatively unproven prem player coming back from a serious injury!

He's still relatively unproven at prem level, only started 5 games I think last season?

He's got good potential. Long term he'll be an NRC who can pass imo so I think we have his replacement already at the club.

He'll be back in January. Use the rest of the season to get his fitness up and however we can have fireworks from him next season.

Going back generally on topic, I've been quite impressed by how City have gone about things this season.

It isn't pretty to watch and Mancini is a bit of an Italian Benitez in he's obbsessed with playing 3 holding midfielders home and away against every opposition although they've tweaked it slightly in recent weeks with Silva now in the hole behind Balotelli and Tevez and Toure getting more forward with decent results.

One thing I've been critical about City in recent season is their lack of fight away from home when the going has got tough...that has been well and truely corrected this season.

Can't see them winning the league especially with the Tevez stuff now but they will be finishing in the top 4 so sorry Spurs but your golden run is over so prepare for a few big names of theirs to depart.

Has scored the first goal in the game quite a few times this season...often at the bookies he's still 10-1 or more to score the opening goal so a good bet there!

Was trying to find this thread last week!

Really surprised they haven't got winning again consistantly.

In fairness they seem to be playing well (as they should as they have their regular 11 out now most weeks) but for whatever reason they can't translate it into wins.

I think Moyes will be off in the summer, time for a change.

I really like it as well, watched the last series aswell.

Dan Clark is doing a live tour next year so might pop along to see what it's like.

Is it just me or is he the spitting image of Phil Jagielka aswell?!

I can't help but think a little political correctness was involved here, too. "Islam is a religion of peace, and the Middle East deserves a chance to prove it", etc.

Yes and no. If you think about it, Sepp Blatter wants to be the man who expanded footballs horizons, since he got in Asia have had their first ever world cup, Africa have had their first ever world cup, Eastern Europe just got theirs (and you could argue Eastern Europe is still a million miles from Western Europe in political terms) and the Middle East got their first ever World Cup.

If Sepp wants to do that, its fine. He (and FIFA) should just be **** honest about it. The bidding process was pretty pointless as the best bids didnt win, so should we just think that FIFA use the process as a way to ensure their top brass get paid?

1930 - South America (Uruguay)

1934 - Europe (Italy)

1938 - Europe (France)

1950 - South America (Brazil)

1954 - Europe (Switzerland)

1958 - Europe (Sweden)

1962 - South America (Chile)

1966 - Europe (England)

1970 - North America (Mexico)

1974 - Europe (Germany)

1978 - South America (Argentina)

1982 - Europe (Spain)

1986 - North America (Mexico, 2nd time)

1990 - Europe (Italy, 2nd time)

1994 - North America (USA)

1998 - Europe (France, 2nd time)

1998, Sepp Blatter takes charge at FIFA

2002 - Asia (Japan/Korea)

2006 - Europe (Germany, 2nd time)

2010 - Africa (South Africa)

2014 - South America (Brazil, 2nd time)

2018 - Europe/Asia (Russia)

2022 - Asia (Qatar)

I know it plays in he Asia region now but when is Australisia going to have a world cup?

To me Australia was the logic choice for 2022. A nation that has improved and is regularly qualifying for world cups now, a slowly growing domestic league and it has some decent stadiums like Sydney and Melbourne.

Weimann is a trier but I'm not sure he has the extra needed.

i watched him at Walsall and he scored twice but he also missed some basic chances.

The Fonz isn't going to make it as a lone frontman but I'd like to see him get a chance alongside Gabby as I think that has the potential to be a good combination.

Mancini is the Italian Benitez.

While this form is disappointing, how can we get any sort of momentum going when....

a) Our whole gameplan was ripped to shreds when Gabby was ill overnight so we had Carew inflicted onto us.

Albrighton has a brilliant game against Manure so we should expect a Bale like run of form and then we lost him for 3 weeks.

Just those two playing would've given Arsenal a whole lot more to think about today.

Give him time, I won't properly judge him until we can actually get a consistant 11 out there which the way it's going will probably be April time.

We'll still finish top half, 10 quid bet with someone if they want.

I've said before I see this as a bit of an 03/04 type season or even 06/07. We'll be around this position until the new year and then with some new signings in January and a good run of home games, we should have a strong finish to the season.

Obviously Spurs's comeback yesterday means we'll struggle to push the top 5 now as we've fcuked up a good run of away fixtures so we'll ironically struggle to win many away games this season which has been a big strength in recent seasons.

I'll still go for between 7-9th.

We'll still finish top half, 10 quid bet with someone if they want.

I've said before I see this as a bit of an 03/04 type season or even 06/07. We'll be around this position until the new year and then with some new signings in January and a good run of home games, we should have a strong finish to the season.

Obviously Spurs's comeback yesterday means we'll struggle to push the top 5 now as we've fcuked up a good run of away fixtures so we'll ironically struggle to win many away games this season which has been a big strength in recent seasons.

I'll still go for between 7-9th.

Ireland should be perservered with.

Young won't be here next season, enjoy him while you can.

The Fonz isn't a lone forward from what I've seen in the last 3 games.

Gabby lead the line brilliantly yesterday so it was inevitable once he went off we'd lose something up front.

I must say if we have to play 4-4-2 in the future, I'd like to see Gabby and the Fonz as the front two as I think it could work.

Mourinho will be manager of Man. United rather than City imo. Maybe not as Fergie's successor as that will be a rebuilding job for whoever but certainly some time in the next 10 years and then he'll do the Portugal job before he retires.

Spurs won't finish top 4 this season.

Another one Scotland won't call up for ages than and when he does, he won't even make the bench instead of McCullouch or Robson or whoever.

Spurs been utterly superb tonight, only time in the champions league I've been jealous of them.

Unsurprisingly to me the London Media have hyped this incident up beyond belief. It meant Spurs lost a routine league fixture 1-0 instead of 2-0.

I certainly don't recall the same level of media coverage over the Vidic incident which was a far more costly error of ref judgement.

Barton and Nolan. who I assumed were shot at this level, have also played very well this season.

It's totally unfair to say we should be challenging for top 4 given the recent devlopments. MON and some other key staff left, we lost Milner, Gabby's been injured, Carew's been out of form (Carew and Gabby were our main goal threats last season), Dunne has been out of form AND we've had a new manager and his backroom staff come in after the transfer window who are trying to change our playing style with the previous manager's players.

If I'm honest I think given all this we're not doing too bad at all. GH is certainly better than K Mac, but that's not saying much. We were on a very slipperly slope with K Mac and I think Houllier's main task for the first half of this season will be a "stedy the ship" one. Then, we can move on.

Yes and for all the inconsistancy we're only 3 points off Spurs in 5th.

Bannan just reminds me of Maloney in terms of build, height etc.

Must admitted I was amazed when we brought him on and played him in central midfield. Did alright in fairness.

Reminds me of Maloney a bit in terms of stature and the way he plays.

Still not sure whether he'll make it here but seems GH rates him so he'll get plenty of chances to prove his worth.

Small Heath won't lose tommorrow.

1-1.