[Jaspersharpe]

Cumulative points scored so far on Fantasy Premier League by four strikers who (if you believe the papers) have a chance of making the World Cup squad:

[Dr T]

Yup all over ESP&N - Mark Huges sacked and Mancini on a 3 1/2 year contract..

bets on it being a 1/2 year contract when they fail to finish in the top 4??

[Jaspersharpe]

It sounds as if Hughes was treated pretty shoddily. The agreement being that he would achieve a top six finish this year (which he was on track for) but the goalposts then being moved.

Mancini is a strange choice. Obviously an amazing player and with a decent managerial record but untried in the Premiership. If they weren't going to go for an A list manager like Hiddink then why get rid of Hughes?

Perhaps, as ever, there is more to it than meets the eye.

[SA Chris]

Mancini is a strange choice. Obviously an amazing player and with a decent managerial record but untried in the Premiership.

Produced some memorable tunes as well?

[Dr T]

It sounds as if Hughes was treated pretty shoddily. The agreement being that he would achieve a top six finish this year (which he was on track for) but the goalposts then being moved.

agreed - but the point is he was never the oil money's choice of manager, with the "glamour" of the board's signings like Robinho and Barndoor you can see how an Italian might have more appeal than a Welshman..

Mancini is a strange choice. Obviously an amazing player and with a decent managerial record but untried in the Premiership. If they weren't going to go for an A list manager like Hiddink then why get rid of Hughes?

Word on 5live was that he was very maliable to the president's wishes when at Inter...

Anyways the board will be trying (and failing) to appoint Prof Wenger again in the summer (they're not having him btw) - when that fails then they'll be the special one or Hiddink again

[Falling Down]

Unusually, Gary Cook has released a statement to clarify events around Hughes' sacking and Mancini's appointment.

For what it's worth. You've got to move on and we should now be 100% behind Mancini and as for no previous prem experience,... what about Wenger, the special one, Grant, Jol etc.?

Bring on Stoke on Boxing Day.

[Jaspersharpe]

Six points would be nice for Christmas (v Orient and Wycombe). 

[nai]

They're both struggling too aren't they, could be possible.

We're home to chelsea and away at stoke, I'd take two if they were one offer right now.

[tomtom]

ManU Home,
Bolton Away
Chelsea Home,
Spurs Away
ManU Away..

We need to win at Bolton or we could take nothing from those five...
I shall confidently predict we will be in the relegation spots by mid january...

[nai]

That's a rough sequence, I thought our run was bad enough.  After Chelsea and Stoke our next three are ManU (h), Portsmouth (a), Chelsea (a).  The Portsmouth and Chelsea games are just after the ACON has started so they'll both be depleted.  I'm not expecting too many points but we do at least have a cushion after our recent form.

Are you going to any of them?

[tomtom]

That's a rough sequence, I thought our run was bad enough.  After Chelsea and Stoke our next three are ManU (h), Portsmouth (a), Chelsea (a).  The Portsmouth and Chelsea games are just after the ACON has started so they'll both be depleted.  I'm not expecting too many points but we do at least have a cushion after our recent form.

Are you going to any of them?

Yup its a tough run - we could sneak the odd point here and there but realistically its about not getting fucked over too many times so we loose what confidence we've built up recently..

I'm off to a couple of games - but they moved ManU on boxing day to the 27th so I now cant make it (grr.. I was going to take my dad across to see it but will now be en-route to the outlaws..)

But am going to Chelski at Home (that was scary last year - only 0:3 shuold have been more)

And have procured some tickets for ManU - Hull from a ManU seasonticket holder friend... though I may try and get some away end tickets as its much more of a hoot.. we've also got Wigan at home on the 2nd but thats only the FA cup (sad to say that, but survival is the name of the game again..)

We've looked much more settled of late (despite the 3:0's from villa and arsenal) and are stronger and playing a bit better than last year - but missing Sir Jimbo..

Brum are doing well at the moment - Bowyers found some form in front of goal which has done you many favours, and with a couple of wins you seem to have found some confidence...

ACON only really hits us with Olifinjana (a player who is actually quite good and becoming a fans favourite - despite the fact whenever he is on the ball the laws of physics are bent and time slows down to a crawl... either that or he's slow..).. Pompey could be fucked by the ACON  - they loose 4 or 5 I think, and if the transfer ban is kept over them that could mean real trouble...

You managed to get a pass out to any of the games?

[Dr T]

Premier manager having some extra-curricular fun 
I suppose asking for guesses would be libellous 

[nai]

I suppose asking for guesses would be libellous 

Yep, any threads started on footy forums seem to be locked, probably loads deleted too.  Intriguing though isn't it?

[Dr T]

I'll keep my mouth shut then - maybe the moderators should remove the link....

[Jaspersharpe]

That article is hilarious. Serious investigative journalism to prove it was a brothel there. "Is that for full sex?" etc. 

[Jaspersharpe]

Well the top of the FF table is too close to call. Hope the fixtures over xmas aren't too affected by the weather. The Wigan Bolton game getting called off cost me the chance of a few extra points which could make all the difference the way things are going.

[nai]

I've been staring at my team all week, I have two subs available but just can't decide what to do.  I guess anticipating what macthes might get postponed is a good tictac.  I might be takling this too seriously 

[Jaspersharpe]

I can't be bothered to be that in depth!

Just realised there's a cup competition too and my team's through to the second round. A bit of a lottery by the looks of things!

[tomtom]

Best of luck for everyones seasonal fixtures (unless you're a manu fan in which case I hope the Black and Ambers cause an upset on 27th..) its looking like an interesting new year for ManCity and Brum (7th in league!)
T

[Dr T]

with the Hughes affair, big compensations payments when managers move (transfer fees?) etc - is it time to (re)consider a transfer window for managers?

[tomtom]

with the Hughes affair, big compensations payments when managers move (transfer fees?) etc - is it time to (re)consider a transfer window for managers?

Why? its not working for players and shuold be scrapped.. all the managers seem to agree on this one  - its great for the media but terrible for the clubs. Agents etc.. have them over a barrel until just before the window closes...

[Jaspersharpe]

As Sir Harold of Redknapp said on Five Live last weekend, you've got more and more obscenely rich people taking over Premiership clubs and expecting to win things straight away which obviously can't happen.

This means that more managers will be put in a position where the achievements expected of them over a very short period of time are at best very difficult and in a lot of cases impossible and this means that more of them will get the chop.

To be honest, although Hughes was treated pretty shoddily I'll not shed too many tears for him as he counts his money. Hundreds of thousands of people have lost their jobs this year and the majority didn't get a few million quid to cushion the blow.

[Falling Down]

Well, having watched the Blues play Stoke and Wolves since Boxing Day I can only conclude our new boy(s) in charge have certainly made a big impression on the team. Two clean sheets, an away win and the squad playing some of the best football I've ever seen from City.  He's inherited a good side but blimey you can see the difference between him and Hughes.

- Used all three subs in both games.
- Changed the whole formation at least three times in both games.
- Great defending against set pieces with a mix of zonal and man marking.  Two defenders on each post at corners (about f*cking time!).

Can't wait until next Wednesday when the Reds come to visit COMS.. my ticket is burning a hole in my pocket.

Forza City!

(The UKB FF league is shaping up too with a bit of compression at the top over the last few days...)

[Sloper]

Portsmouth are to be wound up by HMRC.

[Dr T]

and Megsons been fired - interesting day...