Sven Goran Eriksson[Coach]

[Freddy Adu]

Dunne surprised by Man City's successful start

Manchester City captain Richard Dunne admits their successful start under manager Sven Goran Eriksson has surprised him.

"We all want to play for a good club and good managers but there were stages over the summer where it didn't look like Manchester City were going to go anywhere," Dunne told the Manchester Evening News.

"Thankfully, it has really lifted off. In saying we would have a new owner and a top-class manager, the directors had made promises they had to keep for the fans' sake.

"It probably took longer than expected but they did a great job in the end. Anyone who hung around is enjoying it and getting all the benefits from it.

"The expectation around the club has risen. Everyone wants to watch us because of our displays and everyone is saying we are really good to watch."

[GloriousReds]

SVEN GORAN ERIKSSON is ready to make a move for unsettled Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann.


The Manchester City manager is monitoring Lehmann’s strained situation at the Emirates Stadium — where he has lost his first-team place to Manuel Almunia.


Eriksson wants to add some experience to his goalkeeper choices while Kasper Schmiechel, 20, and Joe Hart, 20, continue their development.


Lehmann, 37, is out of contract with the Gunners at the end of the season and has become frustrated after being forced to play second fiddle to Almunia.


He is also worried about his international place with Germany ahead of next year’s Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.


Eriksson is prepared to pay around £1million if he can persuade Arsenal to let the player leave in the January transfer window.


Former Dortmund star Lehmann has twice been voted best European keeper and been selected for three World Cup squads.

[GloriousReds]

SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON will plead with his board to sign Michael Owen in January.


The Newcastle striker has been rowing with boss Sam Allardyce about whether he is fit to play two games for England in four days after recent operations.


Manchester City manager Eriksson hopes to capitalise on the unrest with a bid but Owen’s fee could be a whopping £15million plus £110,000-a-week wages.


That could be too much cash for former England boss Eriksson, even though he has been told by owner Thaksin Shinawatra there will be cash available in January.


Owen, 27, has failed to settle on Tyneside and the fans have never truly taken to him.


They feel he would have rather returned to Liverpool or signed with another big English club when he joined Toon for £16m from Real Madrid in 2005.


But Newcastle were the only ones prepared to take the gamble.


The perception in the North East is Owen loves his country more than his club, having made just 17 starts for the Geordies.


Owen was also slow to pledge his commitment to Newcastle when it was revealed he could leave last summer due to an £11m get-out clause in his contract — which has since expired.


He was booed when he came on in the 3-2 win over Everton last weekend — and cocked an ear towards the fans when he scored.


A move to City may not be his ideal choice but Manchester United refused the chance to sign him in the summer.


United are unlikely to change their minds — and the same goes for Liverpool.


During his time as England boss, Eriksson told a fake sheik in a newspaper sting that Owen was not happy at Toon. But both men will forget the matter if it suits their purposes.


If the hitman moves to City, Allardyce will raid former club Bolton for Nicolas Anelka.

[Freddy Adu]

Riquelme set for Manchester move!!!

Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson is set to sign Argentinian star Juan Roman Riquelme from Spanish side Villareal. The 29 year old is supposedly going to sign for City for a six million pound deal according to the sun. Riquelme has been linked with several Premier League sides in recent months including Tottenham and Everton but Eriksson may decide to splash the cash on the World Cup star.

Riquelme had a public falling out with the Villareal coach Manuel Pellegreni and he insists that they will not bring him back into the first team plans despite the player putting in two terrific displays for the Argentinian team recently. He was set to join Atletico Madrid during the Summer but unfortunately for him the deal fell through.

There is no doubt Riquelme is one of the best players in the world on his day and there is no doubt he shouldn't be sitting on a bench week in week out so that is why I feel this move may well happen. City have shown great form this season and I think Riquelme would be tempted by Sven's side. Although I have no doubt many other top European sides will come during the transfer window, but I feel City's new found wealth will fend opponents off.

[Freddy Adu]

Eriksson's Man City winning back lost fans

Manchester City are winning the tough battle for the hearts and minds of their lost fans, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Disaffected Blues are flocking back to the cause thanks to Sven-Goran Eriksson's fast-improving side and some clever marketing.

The Blues suffered more than most in terms of crowds last season as they struggled to win home games and the top flight took on an all too familiar look.

They lost around 5,000 season ticket holders and attendances frequently dipped below the psychological 40,000 barrier.

But already this season, with Eriksson's men entrenched in the top three of the Premier League, average attendances are an impressive 3,000 up on 12 months ago.

Head of Marketing Matt Lowery is first to admit that his job of packing the ground is made so much easier by style of play and success on the pitch.

He and his number crunching staff are continually coming up with fresh and innovative ideas to put bums on seats.

"It is a hard job getting people back into grounds once they leave. If the football is not there for them to enjoy then that is what they base their decision upon," said Lowery.

"Sven has the team playing so well that the football is hard to resist for anyone at the moment. We are riding on the back of that for sure.

"We lost quite a lot of season ticket holders last season because I think they felt uncertain about where we were going as a team. For a while there was a hesitation but once the takeover occurred and Sven was brought in as manager people came roaring back.

"On Saturday there were 7,000 kids in the stadium, the highest number we have ever had for a game and 3,000 more than we have had before. That number of juniors, all with parents or guardians makes a big difference. "We can't take anything for granted and we do a lot of research on trends and talking to our season ticket holders to try to fill the ground.

"We froze ticket prices for adults last season and drastically reduced them for kids and we also instigated a singing section in the corner which was a fairly controversial thing to do but it has worked terrifically well and has been superb. It has given a new atmosphere to the ground like you get in traditional old stadiums.

"Those guys are triggering off other sections of the ground to make more noise and the atmosphere has improved incredibly and our research shows that many people coming to games rank atmosphere as one of most important things that make the day - behind the team playing well and winning.

"This is a fantastic time for the club. We look at demographics and trends because it is important for us to know who is drifting away from football and who is watching the game.

"The great thing for us is that we have lots and lots of people coming back to what is still a family club."

[Brasil]

This man will do great things for City, I'm happy I became a City supporter when I did.

[Freddy Adu]

Since when have you been a city supporter?

[Brasil]

Since about mid-way through last season I started to watch Premier League games and knew I didn't like Manchester United so I support City instead, then I made my FIFA Manager of City and the rest is history lol

[Freddy Adu]

Man City boss Eriksson shrugs off goal struggles

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson claims he is not worried by the lack of goals scored by his forwards - but admits he could bring in more firepower.

City have so far relied heavily on midfielders for their goals with Brazilian Elano particularly impressive, scoring four in the league.

Click Here!
"I am not worried, I am very happy with where we are in the table and I think we have been doing very well - not always, but altogether we have done very well," said the Swede.

"Of course I know we are not scoring enough goals to compete at the highest level in the Premier League but we are working on it and then we have January - maybe - if we think we need it, so I am not worried.

"But that doesn't mean anything. I just said if we need something in January there is money available but as long as we keep a clean sheet and score one goal I am happy.

"We can always improve. Defending, attacking, goalscoring - you can improve everything."

[Freddy Adu]

Hart frustrates Portsmouth


Written by: AFP

	Manchester City manager Sven Goran-Eriksson watches the Premiership match against Portsmouth at Fratton Park in Portsmouth, Southern England. Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart frustrated Portsmouth with a series of fine saves in his side´s 0-0 draw at Fratton Park on Sunday.

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP) - Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart frustrated Portsmouth with a series of fine saves in his side's 0-0 draw at Fratton Park on Sunday.

Hart, 20, was making only his ninth appearance for City but he belied his youth with a mature display that consolidated Sven Goran Eriksson's side in third place in the Premier League.

Portsmouth had won five of their previous six league matches but they were unable to find a way past the inspired Hart and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Hart modestly gave the credit for his cleansheet to City's defenders. "It's a massive result for us but we've done it as a team and I don't take any credit for it," he said.

"We dug in and defended well. I was happy to make some good saves but I'm just doing my job."

Eriksson added: "Joe is a big talent and has already showed it with the England Under-21s. He will get better and better."

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp admitted Hart was the game's key figure.

"I didn't think we did too much wrong," he said. "We hit the post and I thought the shot from Glen Johnson in the first half was in but the keeper made a fantastic save."

City's success has been built on a superb home record but they have been less impressive away from Eastlands, with their only league win on opposition territory coming on the opening day at West Ham.

Eriksson's team had bounced back from their 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea with two consecutive victories, but they showed a few signs of travel sickness here.

After a tepid opening from both sides, Hart produced the first moment of class when he turned away Benjani's shot. The rookie did even better in the 26th minute to keep his team level.

Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson robbed Didi Hamann on the edge of the penalty area and curled in a left-foot shot that was heading for the top corner until Hart brilliantly tipped it onto the bar.

Hart made another smart save at full-stretch to push away Niko Kranjcar's shot after the Croatian had pushed past Vedran Corluka.

City finally had a sight of goal when Martin Petrov drove a first time effort straight at David James after 40 minutes.

Portsmouth were forcing the pace without the slice of luck needed to make the breakthrough.

Matt Taylor headed wide when well placed. And David Nugent was agonisingly close with 18 minutes to go when his shot deflected off Micah Richards and hit a post before rebounding to safety.

City offered sporadic threats. Darius Vassell missed a good chance when he scuffed wide and Petrov was denied by James again, but it was Portsmouth who finished on top.

Johnson was having a personal duel with Hart and the City goalkeeper won hands down. He foiled the Portsmouth defender again in the 74th minute with a brave save from Johnson's close range effort.

[Freddy Adu]

Man City boss Eriksson hails Hart

Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson believes Joe Hart is a future England No1 after their 0-0 draw at Portsmouth.

Eriksson insists Hart has the ability to become international number one - just two weeks after the young goalkeeper conceded six goals at Chelsea.

Since then Hart, City's England Under-21 goalkeeper, has had three successive clean sheets - against Bolton, Sunderland and now Portsmouth.

After the latest at Fratton Park in the Premier League, Eriksson was asked if he could see Hart in international colours - and his reply was unequivocal.

"Yes, he can do it," said the Swede.

"He is an under-21 already, and that usually means you can step up.

"He made some great saves today and yet he's still not happy with himself. I know why - it is his kicking."

Hart, 20, is keeping Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson and Danish star Kasper Schmeichel (on loan at Cardiff) out of the City side.

But Eriksson, who has been linked with a new wave of signings in January but denies any plans are in progress, said: "I've told him not to blame himself for that [the landslide of goals at Stamford Bridge].

"We had 10 other players on the field who should have defended better. But I could understand why he was down.

"It is not easy to come back after conceding six in a match. But he's done it, and we were a different side today to the one against Chelsea. We had to be.

"Sooner or later I have to decide whether we need another goalkeeper. I think it will be later. But our season is going well so far, and we can't complain about our home form. Away it has not been so good - but this, today, was much better.

"We could have won - but so could Portsmouth. They had chances, and we had chances. Darius Vassell, I thought was unlucky with one."

[Freddy Adu]

Guess what they are going to do with it?
Go after Messi of course!

Man City go for Messi with £150M pot

Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson is being given a £150 MILLION transfer warchest by chairman Thaksin Shinawatra.

The Mail on Sunday says the bulk of the spending will take place next summer and the club believe that no player will be considered out of their price range.

That could even lead to spectacular bids for the likes of Barcelona's South American pair Leo Messi and Ronaldinho, or Brazilian playmaker Kaka, of AC Milan, although nailing down such big names is another matter.

Eriksson will use his wealth of experience and knowledge of the world football scene in an attempt to make the City of Manchester Stadium dressing-room the most powerful in the Premier League.

The Swede intends to provide the kind of challenge to neighbours Manchester United that City fans have scarcely been able to dream about.

The initial January flurry, with at least three high-priced players coming in, will be to ensure European qualification next season.

"There is no doubt Mr Thaksin means business," said a source close to the club.

"He wants the best for the team and its supporters and he is prepared to throw in fortunes to get it."

***

[portista7]

I think theyre crazy

[Freddy Adu]

Man City boss Eriksson wants Liverpool's Crouch

Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson will move for Liverpool striker Peter Crouch in January.

The Mail on Sunday says Eriksson's first big target of the January transfer window will be Peter Crouch, a deal that would depend on whether or not his club, Liverpool, qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Eriksson is a huge admirer of the 6ft 7in striker, having given him his first England cap.

[Freddy Adu]

Eriksson: Man City won't sell Bianchi

Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson has ruled out selling Rolando Bianchi in January.

"He is not for sale," Eriksson told the Daily Star Sunday. "He has only just arrived and signed a contract.

"We believe in him and he's working very hard to get into the team.

"Sooner or later he will have his chance again and hopefully he will take it and remain in the side."

[Freddy Adu]

Man City boss Eriksson has sympathy for McClaren

Sven Goran Eriksson believes there is 'no need' to rule himself out of the running for the England job.

The former England manager insists he is happy in charge of Manchester City, and does not expect any contact from the Football Association.

"I could sit here and speak all afternoon about England - I know a little bit about the job - but I have no intention of doing that," he said.

"I feel sorry for the players and Steve McClaren - of course - and for the fans. Sometimes that [not qualifying] is life.

"There is a lot of speculation everywhere, and a lot of opinions. But I have no idea who is going to be the next England manager. It is not my business."

When quizzed if he though the FA might contact him, Eriksson said: "No, and they will not!"

And when asked if he plans to rule himself out, he added. "There is no need to do so. I am happy where I am."

[Freddy Adu]

"Reading made it difficult for us. We started the match well then lost our rhythm. I was not surprised when their goal came but we deserved to get the victory."
- Sven-Goran Eriksson

[Freddy Adu]

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson on matchwinner Stephen Ireland:
"It was a great goal from Stephen. He is playing better and better, which is fantastic. Samaras played his part as did Geovanni.

"I did not expect it, especially as Geovanni had missed a great chance just a minute earlier.

"He was like a second striker near the end. Maybe that is his best position. Stephen is young, talented and has a long career in front of him."

[Freddy Adu]

"I don't accept that we are now playing for fifth place, why should I do that?

"It is a big challenge to dislodge one of the favourites by the end of the season but I am not thinking about that just this Sunday's game at Tottenham.

"All we can do is take one game at a time and see what happens."

[Brasil]

Sven plays Santa for City stars


Written by: AFP

	Stiliyan Petrov(R) of Aston Villa collides with Rolando Bianchi of Manchester City during the Premier league football match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Martin O´Neill was forced to endure another frustrating afternoon as Aston Villa were held to a 1-1 draw by Manchester City on Saturday - their third successive game at Villa Park without a win.

BIRMINGHAM (AFP) - Sven-Goran Eriksson has decided to play Santa Claus at Manchester City by giving his players a holiday on Christmas Day rather than make them slog through training like most of their peers at other English clubs.

Following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa -- the club's latest failure to earn a victory on their travels in a sequence that stretches back to the opening day of the season -- Eriksson is determined to ease the burden on his players in the midst of an energy sapping run of five games in 15 days.

Manchester City face Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, but the Swedish manager is determined to do everything he can to help his many foreign players cope with the unusually demanding English Premier League.

"Many of them will not be used to the demands and I have told them all to have Christmas Day to themselves. It is important for them not only physically, but mentally too. They should look after their families, open presents and have a nice meal," said Eriksson.

"Many of them have not played in a league like this with the pace and physical demands and when you have five games in 15 days, you need to make sure that one of those other days is a rest day.

"We have got very big games coming up against Blackburn and Liverpool and it is extremely important to us to be ready for those and get results if we want to remain where we are now into the New Year."

City retained their fourth place in the table thanks to Rolando Bianchi’s third goal in four games, as the 8.8-million-pound signing from Reggina continues to show he is adapting to life at this level, but they had to withstand some heavy pressure from Villa, who have now failed to win in their last three games at Villa Park.

Eriksson knows that the hectic phase ahead will define his team’s season and added: "Not too many experts expect anything other than the big four to finish as the top four in the league this season. I am the same.

"It would be a big surprise if someone like us, Aston Villa or Portsmouth could finish in the top four, but we want to fight as long as we can to make that happen."

John Carew’s fourth goal of the season earned Villa the point they at least deserved, but just two points from their last four games has seen their bid to enter the UEFA Cup places stall and O’Neill will be looking to reinforce that bid with new players in January.

Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte remains a possibility as the Ulsterman looks for a right-back to replace Swedish international Olof Mellberg, who is considering leaving the club in the summer, when his contract expires.

"We have a settled squad, but we would not have been able to cope with a long list of injuries, the kind of injuries that West Ham have suffered this season. So we would like to bring in some new players in January and we will be trying to do that," O'Neill said.

Villa have an equally demanding schedule of 5 games in 16 days, starting at Chelsea on Boxing Day and O’Neill added: "It is a tough period and it has always been critical in England, around the Christmas period.

"It is a great time of year and there is the prospect of the tables changing dramatically and quickly because the games happen so fast and this is where we will find our squad tested. It is one of the smallest in the Premiership."


Aww how nice.

[Freddy Adu]

Eriksson: Away day joy is close

Manchester City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson thinks an away win is close after the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa.

Eriksson's men went ahead through Rolando Bianchi's third goal in as many league matches and then dug in for a point after John Carew had equalised for the home side.


City have failed to win on their travels since the opening day of the season - in sharp contrast to their form at home which has produced nine successive league victories.

Now they face vital matches with Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool if they are to sustain their European push in the new year.


The Swede said: "If the match had finished after 15 minutes we would have deserved to win. We started well and played some good football during that time.


"Villa came at us after that and you have to expect that playing away from home - but we stood up to the challenge very well.


"I was very happy today with the spirit we showed and the right things that we did. Carew is a difficult player to handle, he's strong and has pace.

Day Off

"But as long as we perform as we did today I will be happy and sooner or later we will win away from home if we go on like that."

Eriksson is downplaying City's hopes of breaking into the top four but is determined to sustain a challenge for as long as possible.

And he will be giving his players Christmas day off although, unlike most teams, they are not in action until 27th December.

He said: "For someone to break into the top four will be a big surprise whether it is Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle or Portsmouth - but we want to fight as long as we can.

"We will see what happens in the next two games against Blackburn and Liverpool. They are extremely important if we want to be where we are at present in the table in the new year.

"We will be giving the players Christmas day off. I think we need that.

"It is good physically but also mentally and the players will be able to be with their families and open their presents."

[Brasil]

Of course, I can't believe everyone doesn't get the day off

[Brasil]

Sven: Roque goal illegal

Eurosport | Fri, Dec 28, 10:18

Sven-Goran Eriksson says that referee Howard Webb was wrong to allow Roque Santa Cruz's controversial late equaliser that robbed Manchester City of their 100 percent home league record against Blackburn.






I know this may seem stupid for people who don't support us, like we're just sore losers, but we have to fight for it, it was a wrniog call.