More MASSIVEly exciting than United or Real.

Shinboners

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Thread starter #1
McManamamananamanaamananan has obviously spent way too much time in the sun.....

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=276310&cc=3436

City more exciting than Real: Macca


Steve McManaman has said that signing for Manchester City is more exciting than joining Real Madrid.

McManaman: New challenge (StuartFranklin/GettyImages)

The former Liverpool winger ended his four-year stay at the Bernabeu to return to English football with Kevin Keegan's side.


McManaman won the Champions League twice in his stay with Real, but believes he can achieve more with City.

The England international said he hopes to establish City as one of the top teams in the Premiership.

'It is a whole new challenge coming to City and if anything it is more exciting than being at Real Madrid.

'There the only pressure was to win the League every year, which is great. But you know that you have already won the League, won trophies and have great players around you so you are expected to win it again.

'It is the same for the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal. But it is more exciting here at City because hopefully we are taking it from this level and creating a new one for the club.

'Whereas the Manchester Uniteds and Arsenals, because of their resources and experience are trying to maintain a certain level.

'Now the great motivating factor for me is to come here and be involved in taking this club higher. When I joined Real Madrid they were already a great club.

'Here I can be personally involved in hopefully taking a group of players who have done very well in the past and improve them. That will benefit everyone for the next ten years I think.'
 

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Karanicolas

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#2
Originally posted by Shinboners
McManamamananamanaamananan has obviously spent way too much time in the sun.....
[/i]
.... or maybe he and Robbie had been catching up the night before. ;)
 

GOALden Hawk

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#7
Originally posted by Nandrolone Stam
Float like a bee, sting like a butterfly

Sums up Mcmanananananananannanananananananaman to a tee
Those "backpass" shots will have a few goalies worried.

I still like Steve, not the worst signing the Massives could have made.
 

BT

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#11
Originally posted by Yabba
what about sinclair they play the same position
Wright-Phillips & Sinclair are both most damaging on the Right but capable of playing elsewhere (SWP, RB & Sinc CM), I reckon McManaman is like Sinclair, RM or CM.

I could see Macca taking Sibierski's spot at least, at first, as he's looked dodgy for the most part.

SWP & Sinclair are First 11 certainties, especially considering their form. Barton could get squeezed out, bloody well hope not though!
 

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Yabba

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#12
Originally posted by BT
Wright-Phillips & Sinclair are both most damaging on the Right but capable of playing elsewhere (SWP, RB & Sinc CM), I reckon McManaman is like Sinclair, RM or CM.

I could see Macca taking Sibierski's spot at least, at first, as he's looked dodgy for the most part.

SWP & Sinclair are First 11 certainties, especially considering their form. Barton could get squeezed out, bloody well hope not though!
if barton gets dropped keegan should be sacked, dont know why he has introduced all thes over the hill players. havent seen siberski yet so i wont comment but the only other play macca fits in would be on the left and tarnat has been playing there i think and doing a pretty reasonable job
 
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#13
Originally posted by BT
Wright-Phillips & Sinclair are both most damaging on the Right but capable of playing elsewhere (SWP, RB & Sinc CM), I reckon McManaman is like Sinclair, RM or CM.

I could see Macca taking Sibierski's spot at least, at first, as he's looked dodgy for the most part.

SWP & Sinclair are First 11 certainties, especially considering their form. Barton could get squeezed out, bloody well hope not though!
Macca is probelly the best player out of the entire City midfield. If I had things my way we would have:

Anelka
Sibierski (Behind on the Left)
Wright Phillips Reyna Macca Sinclair


Although I think Bosvelt and Barton will be on the bench and will be rotated throughout the season either due to injuries or resting of players.

This is what a champion team is all about, having Quality players on the bench to replace quality players.
 

BT

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#14
Originally posted by The Fullerman
Macca is probelly the best player out of the entire City midfield. If I had things my way we would have:

Anelka
Sibierski (Behind on the Left)
Wright Phillips Reyna Macca Sinclair


Although I think Bosvelt and Barton will be on the bench and will be rotated throughout the season either due to injuries or resting of players.

This is what a champion team is all about, having Quality players on the bench to replace quality players.
Well Macca played well in the reserves, but not as well as Reyna by all accounts...

City beat Bolton 2-0, Lee Croft & Paulo Wanchope the scorers.

Reckon Macca,Reyna & 1chop could all be on the bench for the Villa game.

I'd have Barton ahead of Sibierski on the admittedly limited viewings of Sibierski.
 

moomba

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#15
Originally posted by Yabba
if barton gets dropped keegan should be sacked
Barton is good, but not so good that he is a must select week in week out. Even when not guaranteed a starting spot I still reckon Barton will play 30+ matches this year, and that is plenty at his stage of development. As is it, Barton is not fighting McMan for a spot, it will all depend on whether or not KK wants to play Barton and Bosvelt in the same lineup. Away, and home against stronger teams I think that is the way we will go, but at home against mid table teams I think KK will choose to go the extra playmaker. In that case, Bosvelt or Barton will have to take their chances off the bench.

dont know why he has introduced all thes over the hill players.
Worked ok with Pearce, Bernarbia, Berkovic two seasons ago, Schmeichel last year and I have been extremely impressed by Tarnat, Bosvelt and Sinclair so far this season. You have got to have a good mix of youth and experience in a team, I know United supporters go on about the "can't win anything with kids comments" being proven wrong but I wonder what they would have won without Pallister, Bruce etc in the lineup.

havent seen siberski yet so i wont comment
I think he is still pretty young, and I suspect it will take him a while to get used to the league. It is not helping him being swtiched between midfield and withdrawn striker but he has shown plenty of good signs so far.

but the only other play macca fits in would be on the left and tarnat has been playing there i think and doing a pretty reasonable job
I see Macca rotating between left, right and central midfield. KK has said a bit this week about flexibility and the fact that he doesn't want to put out a predictable lineup each week. Tarnat is settled at LB, and Tiatto is the only one that will put any pressure on him there. Provided he stays fit, I think Tarnat is penned in each week at LB.

Moomba
 

moomba

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#16
At a guess we will line up like this later on today:

Seaman

Sun Sommeil Distin Tarnat

SWP Bosvelt McMan Sinclair

Anelka Fowler

Bench: Weaver Dunne Barton Sibierski Wanchope

Bosvelt and Barton could swap places on the bench, but I doubt both will start the game. Sibierski could play in place of Fowler, but I suspect KK will give Fowler a chance to get on the end of some McManaman passes from the start. Reyna apparently isn't 100%, so the best he could hope for is a spot on the bench. There was some talk of McMan starting on the bench, but I reckon he will be on from the start.

We've got a bit of depth about the side now with Berkovic and Reyna missing out on a place in the squad. Anyway KK will probably have a totally different plan in place, will be interesting to see who gets the nod anyway.

Moomba
 

BT

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#17
Originally posted by moomba
At a guess we will line up like this later on today:

Seaman

Sun Sommeil Distin Tarnat

SWP Bosvelt McMan Sinclair

Anelka Fowler

Bench: Weaver Dunne Barton Sibierski Wanchope

Bosvelt and Barton could swap places on the bench, but I doubt both will start the game. Sibierski could play in place of Fowler, but I suspect KK will give Fowler a chance to get on the end of some McManaman passes from the start. Reyna apparently isn't 100%, so the best he could hope for is a spot on the bench. There was some talk of McMan starting on the bench, but I reckon he will be on from the start.


We've got a bit of depth about the side now with Berkovic and Reyna missing out on a place in the squad. Anyway KK will probably have a totally different plan in place, will be interesting to see who gets the nod anyway.

Moomba
Macca played a blinder today!

Was actually

Seaman

Sun Sommeil Distin Tarnat (definitely penned in after another awesome FK!)

SWP Barton Macca (MOM) Sinclair

Anelka Wanchope

Reyna & Sibierski made sub appearances.

When I looked at that starting 11 I thought, that's the first 11 right there. Best 11 in over 10 years at City.

Sun was awful in the first half & Barton wasn't himself.

Anelka was a bit selfish I thought.

Still dodgy at the back.

First win at COMS & Arsenal still in sight, reasons to celebrate.
 

moomba

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#19
Some of those over the hill players did alright yesterday ;)

McManaman was a class above everyone else on the pitch and was definate MOM as far as I, and everyone sitting around me was concerned. Tarnat had another decent strike for his goal, and I was feeling very concerned for the safety of the Villa players in the wall before he kicked it.

I thought Anelka had a relatively poor game, but I guess if you can struggle and still get 3 I'm not going to have too many complaints. ;)

Moomba
 

BT

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#20
Originally posted by moomba


I thought Anelka had a relatively poor game, but I guess if you can struggle and still get 3 I'm not going to have too many complaints. ;)

Moomba
In full agreement with Fullerman & the above quote.

It was THE WORST hat-trick ever.

He's the leading scorer in the Prem, SACK IM!!!
 
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