Manchester City

[mrbojangles]

Just found this as well.

City reveal loss

Manchester City have announced a loss of £7.1million for the six months up to November 30, 2006.

The equivalent figure the year before was a profit of £13.2million, but club officials have pointed out that sum included the £21million from Shaun Wright-Phillips' sale to Chelsea.

Turnover fell nine percent to £25.7 million, while wage costs rose four percent.

However, City played one fewer home game than during the same period in 2005, and Eastlands also staged two fewer pop concerts.

City chairman John Wardle remains confident about the future, with the club set to profit from increased television revenue next season if they stay in the Premiership.

"It is the board's strategy to run a higher wage bill in this very important year for the club," he explained.

[mrbojangles]

Pearce: New-boy settling

Stuart Pearce is pleased with how new signing Emile Mpenza has been settling in with his new team-mates.

The Eastlands side utilised a break in their busy schedule, due to Chelsea's participation in the Carling Cup final, to have a short break in Dubai.

Pearce believes the exercise was useful on many fronts, including giving Mpenza the chance to learn more about his colleagues.

The Belgium international joined on a free transfer from Al-Rayan and is now in line to make his debut against Wigan on Saturday.

"In probably five days away Emile will get to know his team-mates the equivalent of staying at home for a month," he told the club's official website.

"They have been in each other's pockets day in, day out and he is settling in pretty well. We are just hoping he will give us a lift and do himself a favour as well."

[Bredbury Blue]

Definately should be read - the Guardian article by ALL football fans not just City's:

http://mcfcsupporterstrust.blogspot.com/20...or-reality.html

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/02/...kruptcy_of.html

[mrbojangles]

Dickov targets Cup return

Manchester City striker Paul Dickov is confident of being fit to face former club Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

The tenacious forward has not played for City since the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the competition in early January.

He has undergone an operation on his toe, but is now back in training and in contention for a first-team return.

City meet Blackburn in the last eight of the FA Cup on 11th March and Dickov expects to be available for selection.

"I'll be fit," Dickov told Sky Sports 1. "I had an operation five-and-a-half weeks ago.

"I started back training last week and joined in this week."

His return has pleased City boss Stuart Pearce, who concedes he has had to rein in the veteran attacker on occasions.5

Pearce told the club's official website: "He's training, but we had to haul him out for his own good last week when someone trod on his toe in Dubai!

"That didn't help him out, but he's back on the training field, and he says he feels a lot better.

"The thing with Dicky is that you have to rein him back rather than push him on. That's a good thing, but at times it can set you back a little bit - you can try to gain two days but lose a week."

[mrbojangles]

Improved Corradi catching the eye (i need to know what drugs Pearcey is on!!)

Stuart Pearce says that he is pleased with some improved performances from Bernardo Corradi over the last few weeks.

The Italian striker scored with a fine header at Fratton Park and then played a big part in Michael Ball’s equaliser in the Preston cup tie, but his manager thinks that it is his all round contribution that has caught the eye.

Pearce says: “I am pleased with Bernardo over the last few weeks. He was a little unsettled during the recent transfer window with a bit of speculation over what he might do, but the window shutting has really focused him.

“I’ve seen a good upturn in his form, not just in the matches but he has impressed me on the training pitch. We hope he maintains that, and if he does so he stays in the team.”

Many pundits think that it can take months for overseas players to settle into the Premiership, so does Pearce think that Bernardo was homesick at all?

“No, I think he was maybe a little bit frustrated that he was not playing every week. He’s 29 or 30, he’s mature and he probably wanted to play every week. Any player that just sits and accepts not playing you would have to think that there was something not quite right with him!

“I’d prefer him to be, if not sulky then showing an edge in his personality that says to me ‘I’m not happy being left out and I’m going to do something about it.’ The only way players can do something about it is in training or in the reserves.

“He did well down at Portsmouth, and then I thought he did very well against Preston, so he needs to maintain that form for us.”

[mrbojangles]

Sun gives Stuart options 01/03/2007 12:03

City’s preparations for this Saturday’s crucial game against Wigan have been helped by the return to form and fitness of the versatile Sun Jihai.

The Chinese international missed the first six months of the season with a hamstring problem, but returned to action against Portsmouth last month.

With vital league and cup encounters coming up, how important is Jihai’s flexibility to manager Stuart Pearce?

“It’s crucial,” he asserts. “I know that if Jihai is on the bench he can play anywhere in the back four or in the midfield four, which is fantastic. He would have been the ideal sub 30 years ago when you only had one sub on the bench.

“He’s played wing-back for his country, on the right of midfield, right back and even up front for China! He gives us good options, and he’s one of those people that if you are looking for someone to come onto the bench he is arguably your first pick.

“Jihai’s missed so much of the season, it’s incredible. We’re pleased to have him back, the squad’s never big enough to sustain any players being out.”

With the likes of Darius Vassell, Trevor Sinclair and Nedum Onuoha still unavailable through injury, Pearce is pleased that having Jihai and Paul Dickov available once more gives him more to choose from with Saturday’s important league fixture in mind.

“The more players I have fit, the more options I have. At the moment I have six names that are injured, but if we can eradicate them and get through this weekend with no more injuries, and gain a good result, all of a sudden you can realise that Vassell’s closer to a return as are a few others.”

[JacknDanny]

Improved Corradi catching the eye (i need to know what drugs Pearcey is on!!)

Stuart Pearce says that he is pleased with some improved performances from Bernardo Corradi over the last few weeks.

The Italian striker scored with a fine header at Fratton Park and then played a big part in Michael Ball’s equaliser in the Preston cup tie, but his manager thinks that it is his all round contribution that has caught the eye.

Pearce says: “I am pleased with Bernardo over the last few weeks. He was a little unsettled during the recent transfer window with a bit of speculation over what he might do, but the window shutting has really focused him.

“I’ve seen a good upturn in his form, not just in the matches but he has impressed me on the training pitch. We hope he maintains that, and if he does so he stays in the team.”

Many pundits think that it can take months for overseas players to settle into the Premiership, so does Pearce think that Bernardo was homesick at all?

“No, I think he was maybe a little bit frustrated that he was not playing every week. He’s 29 or 30, he’s mature and he probably wanted to play every week. Any player that just sits and accepts not playing you would have to think that there was something not quite right with him!

“I’d prefer him to be, if not sulky then showing an edge in his personality that says to me ‘I’m not happy being left out and I’m going to do something about it.’ The only way players can do something about it is in training or in the reserves.

“He did well down at Portsmouth, and then I thought he did very well against Preston, so he needs to maintain that form for us.”

To be fair Mr BOJ, I tend to agree, I thought he had a good game against Preston and he has improved over the last few weeks. Unfortunately I think Samaras has gone the other way!!!!

[mrbojangles]

To be fair Mr BOJ, I tend to agree, I thought he had a good game against Preston and he has improved over the last few weeks. Unfortunately I think Samaras has gone the other way!!!!

I agree Jack, he has improved a tad but IMHO he's just not good enough for the Premiership

[mrbojangles]

From the Daily Mail Emile Mpenza may have to wait for his Manchester City debut. The Belgian international striker has joined the Blues on a short-term contract, with manager Stuart Pearce hoping he can be the answer to his side's goalscoring misery.

However, Mpenza's lack of match sharpness means he may be on the bench at best for today's Barclays Premiership visit of Wigan.

Paul Dickov is back after a broken toe but Darius Vassell (hamstring), Nedum Onuoha and Trevor Sinclair (both knee) are all out.

Wigan striker Henri Camara has suffered another injury setback ahead of his side's crucial clash with at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Camara returned as a second half substitute in last week's win over Newcastle after two months out with a knee injury, but suffered a reaction and has been sidelined again.

Wigan boss Paul Jewell does not expect any new injury worries with Caleb Folan back to full fitness following his ankle knock. Fitz Hall serves the second game of his three-match suspension.

[JacknDanny]

Absolute S#ITE, thats all I can say.

Mr BOJ,I apologise, Corradi is a numpty. I guess playing alongside Samaras makes him look better than what he is.

No spirit, no clue. Just goes to show, the team goes away to Dubai for a bit of a break and bonding exercise and thats what happens. Overpaid tosspots.

[mrbojangles]

Absolute S#ITE, thats all I can say.

Overpaid tosspots.

I unequivocally, 100% concur

[Bredbury Blue]

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! That was an absolute shambles. The only bright spot in the whole game was Sun Jihai looked a cultured assured footballer when he came on - compared to that lot!!!!

I'm that worried, i've just checked WHU and Charlton's fixtures to the end of the season - as bad as ours thank God.

Poor management and lack of investment WHEN ITS NEEDED [last 12 months] is showing now.

When we had the back 4 with Micah, Dunney, Nedum and Dustbin we looked good, things have got worse since Nedum's injury but our main problem is poor forwards (i excuse Vass based on his workrate and having seen him grafting alongside a class forward in Cole); hopefully Vass will be back shortly and Mpenza looked interesting enough.

Woeful!

[muckypups]

Oh dear...! Imagine this happening...

From The Times...

The Ides of May haunting City

Manchester City 0 Wigan Athletic 1

May 5 is two days away and if you support Manchester City, it could be the worst day of your life. Looking into a crystal ball and trying to predict what will happen in the future is a hazardous business but it does not take Mystic Meg to work out that on the first Saturday in May, Manchester United could win the Barclays Premiership title at the City of Manchester Stadium and send their local rivals spinning out of the top flight for the first time since 1996.

What goes around can come around. In the final match of the 1973-74 season, Denis Law’s backheel at Old Trafford condemned United to a season in the wilderness of the second division. United supporters old enough to remember that dark day in their club’s history still feel the pain. City supporters celebrated like there was no tomorrow, even though their team finished fourteenth. If you support City, imagine Gary Neville and his teammates lifting the Premiership trophy in front of you after your team have been relegated. Imagine a boot stamping on a human face — for ever.

Stranger things have happened, but, six weeks ago, any United supporter anticipating such a scenario would have been told to go away and sit down in a dark room. City were comfortable in mid-table, Micah Richards was worth £18 million and Stuart Pearce was singing the praises of his players and talking up Joey Barton’s chances of breaking into the England squad. One Premiership goal later, City are seventeenth, playing like a team who are destined for the drop and Pearce has hit the panic button by blaming the board for not backing him in the transfer market.

“Over the last two or three years, we have not speculated as well as we should have done financially and it is probably catching up on us,” the manager said. “Our rivals have spent a lot more than us. We have to invest more.”

How that admission of weakness will affect his players’ fragile confidence at a crucial point in the season is anyone’s guess, but Pearce may have been better advised to keep his thoughts to himself until the summer. There is no arguing with Pearce’s maths when he claims that he has spent £11 million and recouped £24 million since he replaced Kevin Keegan two years ago, but considering the dismal contribution of some of his purchases and his side’s plight, his comments — when the transfer window is shut and his team are supposed to be fighting for the lives — smacked of desperation.

Should a manager who thought that Georgios Samaras was worth £6 million be given more money to spend? Not according to the City supporters, who have to watch the pedestrian Greece forward every week. Every Premiership side needs four strikers, but has a top-flight squad ever contained four more ineffective forwards than Samaras, Bernardo Corradi, Darius Vassell and Paul Dickov? City’s Premiership record of 20 goals in 27 matches tells its own tale.

“We have to put the ball in the back of the net between now and the end of the season and then look at where we need to strengthen,” Pearce said. “Some transfers work out and some don’t — that is the nature of football.”

On the evidence of this pitiful performance against Wigan Athletic, City will need to strengthen even if they are playing in the Coca-Cola Championship next season. Wigan played like a team who were desperate to climb above their opponents and away from the relegation zone. City played like a team sleepwalking towards disaster. While Samaras and Corradi preened and posed, Caleb Folan, Emile Heskey and Lee McCulloch busted their guts to score the goal that would silence the home crowd and spread apprehension and fear through the City ranks.

Folan, who is playing like the hungriest forward in the Premiership after his £500,000 transfer from Chesterfield in January, was too hot for Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin to handle, especially when he evaded his markers to beat Nicky Weaver with a firm header from close range after 18 minutes.

“I am very disappointed with the way we approached the game,” Pearce, whose side still have to play Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool as well as United, said. “The players will be made aware during the week of our shortcomings and we will be learning lessons from getting beaten at home.”

Wigan are too good to go down. City’s fate is in their own hands — that’s why their supporters are worried.

[mrbojangles]

May 5 is two days away and if you support Manchester City, it could be the worst day of your life.

Nah Mucky. Being a life long sufferer blue, my worst day ever, was when we got demoted to what is now Division 1. That REALLY hurt

[mrbojangles]

From skysports:- Pearce: We must invest in team

Stuart Pearce feels a lack of investment in new players is catching up with Manchester City.

A 1-0 home defeat to Wigan Athletic on Saturday saw City slip to 17th in the table and just six points clear of the bottom three.

Pearce pinpoints a limited transfer budget as a key reason why the club are languishing in the lower reaches of the Premiership.

Since taking over as manager, Pearce has recouped more than he has spent and he believes this is having an effect on the team.

"Over the last two or three years, the fact we have not speculated as well as we should have done financially is probably catching up with us a little bit," said Pearce.

"It gives us a reminder going into the summer."

City were booed off against Wigan, but Pearce is confident the players will have the fans' full support for next weekend's FA Cup quarter-final with Blackburn Rovers.

He added: "When you get beaten at home, the fans have a moan. That is fine. I have had a moan as well.

"But I know they are a fantastic group of people.

"We could have sold 20,000 tickets for the cup game at Blackburn and I know they will be right behind us." Yep, very true

[totlanh]

Enough is Enough!!!!SP is a complete clueless tit!!Get rid of this man before he destroys what is left of our club.I really am concerned that we are going to get relegated here and dare i say it if he remains we will,because tactically he is the WORST manager i can remaber City ever employing.Can anybody actually enlighten me into what he has achieved at City???And now he has the audacity to suggest he has,nt been given enough money to spend.I would,nt trust him with a fiver.Look at the complete waste of spaces he has brought in.Corradi,Dabo,Beesley and of course the uncut tit sorry diamond himself Samaras.

[mrbojangles]

Look at the complete waste of spaces he has brought in.Corradi,Dabo,Beesley and of course the uncut tit sorry diamond himself Samaras.

I agree with the mojority of what your'e saying Tot but i quite like the look of Beesley and although we haven't seen much yet Mpenza looks quite handy.

Nevertheless, i am also extremely worried

[mrbojangles]

Well i'm at a land mark number of postings. I was wondering where to post my 5,000 th post and could not think of anywhere better than this thread.

Are you listening Pearcey!!! That's committment for ya

[mrbojangles]

From the City web-site. We'll see shall we

Pearce to build up the boys for quarter final

Stuart Pearce has reflected the mood of the City camp as he turns his attention to preparing his squad for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter final against Blackburn Rovers.

The Blues boss revealed: “The mood is exactly the same as it would be at any football club in the world.

“If you lose at the weekend you’re disappointed for the first day or so and it’s the job of the manager and the coaches to get that out of their system then build up for the following weekend.”

The pressure has continued to grow at the bottom end of the table as City dropped two places to seventeenth following the weekend’s fixtures and Pearce declared: “Any three from the bottom eight can get relegated.

“We’re in the mix there and there’s three teams below us that would prefer to be in our position.

“We’ve got games in hand on the other teams, albeit tough ones, but if you get the fixtures for any weekend and try to predict them and I think you’ll find it very difficult to do so.

“On paper we’ve got difficult games, but we’ve beaten Arsenal this year and given a good account of ourselves against the other top sides. So we know we’ve got to get three or four victories very quickly.”

And with the Blues facing an important cup quarter final on Sunday, Pearce knows the disappointment of defeat from the weekend will have to be replaced with optimism and belief ahead of the trip to Ewood Park.

He admitted: “We’re a bit disappointed still about the weekend’s result, but there’s nothing we can do about that now, we’ve got to build the boys up and select a team that we hope will give a good account of themselves and put us in the hat on Monday.”

[Bredbury Blue]

Can it get any worse, please lord no!

http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball.co...cle.asp?a=55342

Something is in the air at Eastlands. The atmosphere reminds me of that at Maine Road during the frequent lows of the Peter Swales era. The natives are restless and outright rebellion is little more than a game or two away, or so it would seem.

Central to this is Manchester City Football Club`s ability to shoot itself in the foot at every opportunity. Not content with re-labelling its supporters as customers in order to justify its commercially exploitive model of control, the club have, by supporting the Pearce regime, sanctioned a brand of football that is as ugly as it is alien to Manchester City supporters.

Ticket prices, kick off times and a general malaise outside the top four are all factors in the decreasing attendances at City, however the most significant factor is the style of football being played. Yes crowds are down throughout the Premiership, but nowhere is that downfall more significant than at Eastlands. An average decrease in the region of 10,000 supporters warrants more answers than those being supplied by the club`s spin doctors.

Stuart Pearce was initially installed as caretaker manager at the end of the Kevin Keegan regime. He wasn`t the popular choice amongst supporters but despite that he took the club on a fantastic end of season run that ended with the blues just missing out on Europe by virtue of a missed penalty. It was inevitable that Pearce would be offered the job full time.

So what has gone wrong since then? Well the board has to take a degree of responsibility with its frugal approach in financing Pearce`s reign as manager. Pearce has had money to spend but nothing like the amount that the club have recouped in transfer fees and wages from those that have left the club. This lack of ambition has been plain for all to see and has led to an approach on the pitch that looks to prioritise safety over any attempt at winning things. The result of that approach is now plain for all to see as City struggle to even muster shots on target never mind score goals.

That is not to absolve Pearce of any blame in the downward spiral that has seen City find themselves on the brink of a disastrous relegation. Despite the boards overall frugality the money Pearce has had to spend has been used to disastrous effect.

Giourgious Samaras is not a Premiership player. As Lee Bradbury became synonymous with the Frank Clark regime so it is that Stuart Pearce will stand or fall by his £6 million signing of Samaras. It has been argued on here before that there were better striking options available when Pearce signed Samaras, Dean Ashton springs to mind, and his (Samaras) consequent performances have done little to dispel that notion. Pearce argues that Samaras is young and still finding his feet, most respond that strikers are natural and take little time to find their feet. The good ones score from the start.

Pearce`s other signings have also left a lot to be desired. Hamann may have cost nothing but commands a large salary for doing very little, similarly Dabo. Trabelsi has shown glimpses of why Arsenal once wanted him but he is being asked to play out of position and his performances have more often than not shown that. There is a reluctance to play Beasley who in any case looks far too lightweight for Premiership football. Corradi has never been a goalscorer and I won`t even go down the Dickov road. In my opinion Pearce`s one good signing has been the Swedish number one, Andreas Isaksson. Only purchased out of desperation, it now seems very unlikely that he will ever feature very much for Manchester City despite him being a better keeper than Weaver.

Some may argue that despite his shortcomings in the transfer market at least Pearce has given youth a chance. This is a valid argument, but in response I would counter that if the youngsters are good enough they will emerge into the side anyway. Remember it was Keegan who introduced Barton to the first eleven and Keegan who nurtured Wright-Phillips into the player that commanded a £21 million fee, all of this despite Keegan not being a fancier of home-grown players.

So where does this leave Manchester City? Well the coming week is critical. After the Wigan fiasco the voice of dissent is justifiably growing; A club that has announced six-monthly losses of £7 million cannot afford to drop into the Championship. Perhaps the players are unaware of this, perhaps they just don`t care, but it is up to the manager to make them aware, rally them together and fight for both the club`s and their own survival. Key to this are the Blackburn cup tie and the Chelsea home fixture. A semi-final berth followed by a fighting performance against the champions would hold off the dissenters until the season`s end. Defeat in both games, with the level of performance carried over from the Wigan game, will surely mean the end of the Pearce reign.

[Bredbury Blue]

Enough is Enough!!!!SP is a complete clueless tit!!Get rid of this man before he destroys what is left of our club.I really am concerned that we are going to get relegated here and dare i say it if he remains we will,because tactically he is the WORST manager i can remaber City ever employing.Can anybody actually enlighten me into what he has achieved at City???And now he has the audacity to suggest he has,nt been given enough money to spend.I would,nt trust him with a fiver.Look at the complete waste of spaces he has brought in.Corradi,Dabo,Beesley and of course the uncut tit sorry diamond himself Samaras.

Tend to agree with you. Long term i don't think he's the answer unless they pair him with a shrewd old git. But get rid now...no don't think so. Not much wrong with your comments at all. How the hel_l did we get ourselves in to this position - yeah, we didn't bring in any strikers when we're crying out for a couple. Its going to be a bumpy ride...again! Can't see Pearce there next August though.

[redrus]

Well i'm at a land mark number of postings. I was wondering where to post my 5,000 th post and could not think of anywhere better than this thread.

Are you listening Pearcey!!! That's committment for ya

Yeah Pearcy, get Mr B in the team.....!!!!!

redrus

[Bredbury Blue]

The thing about this City team is its just so boring - take Stevie Ireland out and you've got a team of grafters (who aint grafting enough). I can honestly say that i don't enjoy watching then this season.

I like Weaver's character (he's suffered like the rest of us Blues); i like Dunney's attitude (he's turned his career around); Stevie Ireland is a footballer; i like Vassell's workmanlike attitude (hardest working forward in the premier?) and that is it really - pretty piss poor really.

Pearce has some tough decisions to make with probably the main one being do we toughen up / adopt dogs of war mentality and grind out a few points here and there or keep the faith and pick up a couple of wins here and there.

Somebody wrote that the next fortnights games against Blackburn (cup) and Chelski are vital to the rest of the season for our fragile confidence - not lose those two and we might turn things around.

The only potential bright spot is that Charlton, WHU and i believe Fulham's run in are as bad as ours.

Keep the faith (and if we survive for <deleted>'s sake sort it out once and for all close season and lets have no more of this relegation football).

[mrbojangles]

Keep the faith (and if we survive for <deleted>'s sake sort it out once and for all close season and lets have no more of this relegation football).

Absolutely Bred

[mrbojangles]

From MCFC web site

Boss calls for passion play on Sunday

Stuart Pearce is backing City's travelling contingent to create a fantastic atmosphere at Sunday's quarter final of the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON.

The Blues will be backed by nearly 7,500 fans at Ewood Park, and the Manager thinks they will give the cup tie just the right kind of mood to inspire the team as they seek to progress into the semi finals for the first time since 1981.

Pearce says: "It's going to be a great atmosphere, and I think it will be a real blood and guts cup tie. Taking over 7,000 fans speaks for itself, and even though it's not a long journey I think that would have been the same wherever we played. That's a mark of our supporters and it will all add to the spice of the occasion.

"For me, the quarter finals is the stage of the competition where you finally feel you are getting that little bit closer. We have had to work hard to get to where we are, there were some tough ties and being away again makes it a little bit more difficult. But, it's a game that we are buoyed up and ready for."

Memories are fresh of City's exit at the hands of West Ham at the same stage last year, but Pearce insists that the team must use the heartbreak of losing to eventual runners-up West Ham as motivation.

"We have got to use it as a positive, there was a lot of excitement generated by getting to the quarter finals, and now we are at the same stage again. That same excitement, from just the weight of numbers we are taking, is there again. I'm sure Blackburn are happy with the home draw, but it's all to play for and it should be a fantastic occasion."

Pearce speaks of the need to see every remaining game of the season as a cup final in itself, but he is fully aware of how a win on Sunday could boost everyone around the club.

"We know from now until the end of the season that it's a tough run-in, that there's everything to play for. We know what a win on Sunday would do for the club and the lift it will give everybody, so we are really looking forward to getting stuck in."

[mrbojangles]

Pearce won't walk away

Under-fire Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce says he has no plans to walk away from his Eastlands job.

Four consecutive Premiership defeats sees the side hovering just above the drop zone, although City do have two games in hand over Charlton.

However, City fans are less than pleased with progress on the pitch and even staged a mini-demonstration following last weekend's loss to Wigan.

Pearce though believes in his squad and is predicting a reaction from his struggling troops.

"Why should I [walk away]?" he told the Manchester Evening News. "This is one of the biggest clubs in the country.

"If I had spent £50million, £60million or £70million putting talent on the pitch and it wasn't happening then I might say to myself `Hang on a minute son, you haven't done it'. But I haven't.

"At this club, over the last two years, there have been a lot of things right and a few things wrong.

"We know what the shortcomings are. This season they are there for all to see. I don't fear the sack because I know the players will respond.

"It is important that - no matter what my future is at City - the baby doesn't go out with the bath water."

Meanwhile, Pearce has filled the void vacated by Frankie Bunn by naming former Swansea boss Kenny Jackett as their new reserve team coach.

Jackett, who spent three years in charge of The Swans, had been out of work since leaving the Welsh outfit three months ago.

[redrus]

Pearce won't walk away

"Why should I [walk away]?" he told the Manchester Evening News. "This is one of the biggest clubs in the country.

What, besides the top lot, behind Boro, Newcastle, Villa and Spurs.....!

redrus

[mrbojangles]

Pearce won't walk away

"Why should I [walk away]?" he told the Manchester Evening News. "This is one of the biggest clubs in the country.

What, besides the top lot, behind Boro, Newcastle, Villa and Spurs.....!

1 Old Trafford 76,212 Man Utd

2 Emirates Stadium 60,432 Arsenal

3 St James' Park 52,387 Newcastle

4 Stadium of Light 48,707 Sunderland

5 City of Manchester Stadium 47,726 Man City

6 Anfield 45,362 Liverpool

7 Villa Park 42,593 Aston Villa

8 Stamford Bridge 42,449 Chelsea

9 Goodison Park 40,569 Everton

10 Elland Road 40,296 Leeds United

12 White Hart Lane 36,238 Tottenham Hotspur

14 Riverside Stadium 35,100 Middlesbrough

[redrus]

Er, I meant winning stuff, like trophies n that, remember them.

Maybe not the barcodes, but in recent times the rest beat you..................!

Surely the biggest clubs are gauged on what they win......?

redrus

[mrbojangles]

Er, I meant winning stuff, like trophies n that, remember them.

Course i remember..............

Just