Remember Remember Rumour December

It is finally December and the first half of the season is coming to a close.  The festive holidays are coming soon and so are the rumours.   There is the news reports of Mancini bidding for Adriano. there is also news about him also signing one of the infamous Napoli 3, Cavani, Hamsik or Lavezzi.  We have to hold up first because there are a few people that need to be jettisoned from the big ship.

Lets work our way back to the keeper shall we. Carlos Tevez,  Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz should be gone.  The big issue is with Princess Carlos because only two teams want him, AC Milan who want a loan deal and Corinthians who cannot afford the City asking price.  Whatever the case I think he has doomed his career not just because of his attitude, but his fitness as well.

Big Ade is doing well on loan at Spurs and probably will find a new contract with them or another big club.  Things never panned out at City for him which is sad, but it happens.  Roque Santa Cruz has been on a season long loan to Real Betis where he has 9 appearances with 2 goals.   He never had a real spark with City only earning 20 appearances with 3 goals.  His career has been strange, with 8 years at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich he had 155 appearances with 31 goals, but a few seasons and 57 appearances at Blackburn he netted 23.  There should be quick pace in offloading the mark Hughes signing.

In the midfield there a few questions especially with Vladimir Weiss, Owen Hargreaves, and Michael Johnson.  There is a nice mixture of youth and veterans in the midfield.  It can be a crowded place for someone who thinks they should be starting, but I would like to focus on these three.

Owen Hargreaves came at no real expense to City.  On a pay for play, he is trying to show the world that his time at Manchester United was strokes of bad luck.  His fitness training on his own got the attention of City and he has shown he can play 60 to 90 minutes of quality time on the pitch.  I think that being said he will be hoping to get a real deal from City or most likely another club that he can get more playing time.

Vladamir Weiss is one that is teetering on huge success.  I know City dont want to give him up, but this young Slovakian wants his playing time not just in the form of loans.  He has caps for his national team, and he needs to impress to keep up with that.  In order for him to stay with us he has to crack into the rotation with us or he will be cracking in some goals elsewhere. If they do sell him, they should get something decent for him.  

Last but not least is the fan favourite and mine too Michael Johnson. His hip, abdomen and knee have all given him trouble but he is out on loan at Leicester City where he has made several appearances.  He has the potential to be a great player but the setbacks have hurt him.  If he gets up to fitness and he can enter into the fray, great.  Razak and Ibrahim are also out on loan and several reserve players that look real promising it will be a tough challenge.  If he cannot win over Mancini, City should let him find a new home because he is not getting any younger.

Now onto those pesky defenders, the last line before the keeper.   This is real tough for anyone looking in because Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Zabaleta and Kolorav are not going anywhere.  That being said there is a few fringe players such as Boyata out on loan, Onuoha and Savic that will be staying as well. Greg Cunningham is also expected back unless he goes out on loan again.  The first one that needs to be jettisoned is Wayne Bridge who it seems City cannot give away.  Wayne in almost 3 years has only 42 appearances for City.

Kolo Toure is also a man that may be on the way out as he has expressed his wishes of his discontent for not starting. Kolo came to City, became the Captain, then injury and a drug ban have all but doomed him from the squad.  I think his spot can be better filled with someone a bit younger and in better shape.

Drum roll Please!  The Keepers.  England keeper and Manchester City ace Joe Hart is an unstoppable force and will only get better.  Theer will be no displacing him unless he suddenly becomes blind and crippled.  Costel Pantilimon the Romanian giant at 6' 8" has become the #2 even though he is on loan from FC Politehnica Timişoara.  The young 24 year old has huge aspirations and has a few appearances in league cup action.  There is Stuart Taylor who may be jettisoned if City can keep the big  Romanian permanently.  Gunnar Nielsen is also a loanee with League 1 side Tranmere Rovers.  He has some youth and may be kept around.    

David González is also out on loan to Aberdeen for the season. The Columbian will be 30 this coming summer and I expect his departure from the payroll sooner then later.  There always has to be backups to the top two keepers, but youth and relative low costs will be filling those spots.  

There will always be bar chatter and these choices are all my observations and I could be dead wrong about them.  I didn't cover every player, just the ones I thought stood out.  I am sure some payroll needs to be cut, and they are going to have to do it to the people not playing.  Manchester City has a great academy and they will continue to develop players for the future.  Some will be with the club, others will make their names elsewhere.  Hopefully the club fields a team that is injury free but also one where players accept that sometimes they will not play because of the depth of the schedule.  We will see what the future brings for the rest of the season but as they say just Keep Calm Trust Mancini.