City Takeover

[keemanan]

They are takin the piss slick, ooh here's a manager city might be interested in . shock horror citeh haven't been in touch.
where's the fukin truth there? it's a crock of speculative shyte

[slick]

I know m8, Looks like they put the most important job on the back burner as they were confident of a new takeover, I can't believe they had nobody in mind when they first sacked pearce but thats City for you.

The only saving grace is that Ramos or Co Adriaanse have not dismissed the idea of becoming the manager, thats if City ever decide to speak to them that is

[keemanan]

This from the MEN , ball in citeh's court , 5 more days of agaony:

THE incredible saga of the former Thai Prime Minister and his bid to take over Manchester City is finally nearing its end.

Nearly two months after Thaksin Shinawatra's interest in the Blues first became public, it's crunch time.

And make no mistake about it, the final decision on the fate of Shinawatra's proposed bid for the club now rests entirely with City's board.

They are likely to make that decision within the next five days.

City representatives have spent the last two days locked in talks with Shinawatra's team in London, attempting to discover whether he still has the money to go through with a takeover after having £830m frozen by the Thai government on Monday.

Shinawatra wants to plough on. That was what his lawyer Noppadon Pattama said in Bangkok yesterday morning. That's what sources close to the former Thai Prime Minister have been saying ever since he was granted access to City 's accounts on May 1. Those sources now say that the ball is in City's court.

To say that the Blues board are wavering, though, would be an understatement. When Pattama says that negotiations to buy City will conclude within two weeks, the Blues board could be forgiven for tapping their watches and wondering if Shinawatra has realised just how late it is.

It is 45 days since Shinawatra's team began going through City's books. It is 34 days since the Blues sacked manager Stuart Pearce, a decision that was taken with Shinawatra's knowledge. It is 19 days before City's players return for pre-season training.

Programme

The Blues have no manager, and with the fixture list now out, are the only club in the Premiership who have yet to announce any pre-season friendlies.

While they do have a pre-season programme pencilled in, which should be confirmed next week, the club are only too aware of the deep unease among their fans.

It is hardly ideal for the players either, with Nick Weaver and Michael Ball both waiting to conclude talks on contracts with a new boss, and Nedum Onuoha keen to seal a four-year deal, which he began negotiating while Pearce was manager.

The Blues board are only too aware that they have to be seen to make progress. And it is for that reason that City have launched their own search for a manager, rather than wait any longer for Shinawatra to show he can produce the money.

Mark Hughes' rise towards the top of the managerial list shows a departure from Shinawatra's intentions, as the former Thai Prime Minister wanted to appoint a European coach. On that front, the Blues haven't given up hope of attracting Juande Ramos from Sevilla or former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson or, it emerged last night, former Juventus boss Didier Deschamps.

Give City's fans a choice between those four, and most would favour Ramos, twice a UEFA Cup winner with Sevilla. Yet Eriksson's domestic coaching record is outstanding; he is the only manager to have won the domestic double in three countries.

Hughes' past as a United striker - and one who scored his fair share of derby goals against the Blues - makes him a no-no in the eyes of many City supporters. But if he can take Blackburn into the UEFA Cup, as he did in 2006, and to two FA Cup semi-finals, what could he do at a club of City's size?

Chairman John Wardle is prepared to give the Blues' next boss money from his own pocket to compete in the transfer market if necessary.

Transfers

And even though there are two unnamed American groups interested in buying the club, neither have yet been granted access to City's accounts, making it difficult for any takeover by another party to go through quickly enough for the Blues' liking.

With Ray Ranson adamant that he will not go back in for the Blues after abandoning his takeover bid late last month, it leaves Wardle as a source of summer transfer cash should City decide that Shinawatra has run out of time.

It is not too late for the Blues to decide which way to jump. The summer's transfer merry-go-round has yet to rise above a snail's pace. Five other Premiership clubs - Aston Villa, Blackburn, Derby, Everton and Fulham - have yet to sign any players this summer either.

While City may have been disappointed when Claudio Ranieri turned down the manager's job in favour of Juventus, they have hardly missed out on a welter of stars in the transfer market, if the deals that have gone through so far are anything to go by.

But the clock is ticking. The big summer deals will be done soon, and City must be at the market when they happen.

City's board know that the club is at a crossroads. Pearce said as much in his closing weeks as manager.

After two years of belt tightening following the free-spending days of Kevin Keegan's stewardship, the club have a chance to push forward into a bright new era, under a bright new manager, perhaps with a bright yet controversial investor.

It is vital that the City hier- archy make the right decisions for the long term, both in appointing a new manager and choosing whether to go forward with Shinawatra. They also know that they have to make that decision very quickly.

As Wardle, chief executive Alistair Mackintosh and the rest of the City board discuss these matters, they know that they are about to make perhaps one of the most important decisions in the club's history.

The most important weekend when surely THE decision will be made can't come quickly enough.

[slick]

Ahh well heres hoping Keema as time is moving on and it won't belong b4 there's only the dreggs left to buy as we need about 4 or 5 decent players asap since letting Distin and Barton go.

Personally i'd start with Nugent as City have strong ties with Preston on the transfer front and £5 mill for him looks a lot sounder investment than it did with Samaras plus strikers are few and far between nowadays , I know we got stung with Macken but that was nothing more than expected as he looked an average player when we bought him and fcuk knows why Keegan forked out all that cash for a 25 yr old who had never risen above the Championship, same to can be said of Nugent but at least he's still learning and looks to have the makings of a decent player.

[Kop66]

I think Nugent would be a great buy too Slick, a summer must for City imo.

Who's gonna be the new manager then? i've money on this market.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

I think Nugents rather overrated to be honest and i dont think he would cut the grade in the EPL and would return a poor goal rate for City.

Obviously his age works in Citys favour in terms of improving each year but from what ive seen of him i havent think he is a great as a few have made out.

Colemans into favourite on Betfair at arond 2.8 for the job and thats usually a good place to measure the likeliness of anything. Saying that Ranieri was down to something like 1.10 for the job and look what happened

[Kop66]

Saying that Ranieri was down to something like 1.10 for the job and look what happened

I dont have Coleman covered, he's too similar to Pearce isn't he?
The City boys wouldn't want him there would they?
I covered Erickson, Ramos, Adrianse, Koeman and Jewell a week ago and now i'm losing confidence in them with each passing day

Jewell could do a good job if they cant get a foreigner.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

Originally Posted by Kop66

I dont have Coleman covered, he's too similar to Pearce isn't he?
The City boys wouldn't want him there would they?
I covered Erickson, Ramos, Adrianse, Koeman and Jewell a week ago and now i'm losing confidence in them with each passing day

Jewell could do a good job if they cant get a foreigner.

I have Souness, Jewel and Warnock. My thought was that this would fall throughand this would be the pick of the bunch although i stupidly left out Coleman

I really cannot see Ramos, Adrianse or Koeman go along. Sven has said he would be interested so i wouldnt rule him out.

[slick]

Its still boils down to if this buyout ever comes off, if it happens as this week will be the cut off i should imagine then i still fancy Ramos or Adrianse to get the job but if Wardle is still in charge come this time next week then i have a sneaky feeling Erickson will become the new manager.

As for Coleman i just cannot see what he will bring to the club if City are to go forward, it will just be same as before and another battle for survival.
It may not work out with a foreign manager but its a risk worth taking as we have been treading the same path for way to long now.

[Kop66]

Lots of money for Jewell today, into 8.4 from 22 yesterday. If this takeover doesn't happen i reckon he's the man.

Current prices
Coleman 4.5
Erikkson 5.5
Ramos 8.2
Jewell 8.4

[slick]

I bleedin hope not Kop, talk about out of the frying pan....

There'd be an outcry if he got the job and it wouldent make sense to have sacked Pearce as their out of the same mould, I think Ramos will be asked and if he declines I still have a sneaky feeling Erickson will take the helm.

[Kop66]

I think it's one of those two also Slick and that the takeover will be finally sorted but if it should collapse then i dont think they'd take it. Jewell would be a more popular option than Coleman as someone to fall back on maybe

[slick]

I not so sure as if i had to pick between the two but i wouldent want either tell the truth i'd have to opt for Coleman as he has a better track record of bringing on youngsters and seems to have an eye for spotting foreign talent.

Jewell on the other hand tends to go for more experienced or lower league players and likes to play with a bit of muscle which isnt ideally suited for the Premiership, without Wheelans money Wigan would still be in the lower coca cola leagues and Jewllel your average manager, I wasent impressed with any of his signings last yr allthough Leighton Baines was a great find and did come through the Wigan ranks but at the end of the day Wigan were lucky to stay up after only 2 yrs in the Prem.

Same to could also be said of Coleman as he had some of Al Faheds money to spend but mainly was left to pick up the pieces after Keegan left. he did develop a classy Fulham team who regularly finished mid table with ease apart from this yr and his sides look a more finished product than Wigan.

[GaNgStA kEeKs]

I think Jewell will do a great job.

Quote me in 2 years time

[christianu]

It looks like it might be sven, im fine with that.

He likes his youngsters which is good cos we have good youngsters in abundance.