Lampard

[mrbojangles]

I love it. Crying in your soup over a loan deal of a 36 year old. I hope NYC go on to sign many more players that we can loan.

I think with United playing the long ball so much, they will be getting a loanee from Tampa Bay Buccaneers soon so it will all even out

[mrbojangles]

Surprised that I did not get a considered and well-argued justification of the jointly owned feeder-club issue.

What I got was the cliche that is used by all sub-par performing restaurants and hotels - "well, nobody else has complained".

This is an issue for football, not just a clannish fan thing. I'll remind you MancCs that I agree that the Champion's League formula that sees Arsenal get a top slot every year works unfairly.

Thinking supporters do not need to defend their clubs to the death in compromise of their own judgement. That's not a personal attack on Bo - I see it so much on the threads and there are a lot of thinking supporters on here

Very true Santi it seems the citeh lot are the only ones who don't see what everybody else is seeing now.

It is bent and stinks.

I knew that we weren't breaking any rules or something would have been done about it and now this proves it. From the BBC http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30647043

Frank was a free agent who signed a season long contract for Man City

"Lampard 'signed' for New York City FC in July but with the new MLS season not starting until March, he joined Manchester City - who part-own New York City - until January. Crucially, this was not a loan deal but a short-term contract signed as a free agent. It is understood the contract was for the entire season, with a break clause that was agreed would be activated at midnight on 31 December.

City needed that break clause removed if Lampard was to remain with them, which happened on Wednesday."

So move on lads and stop harping on about it.

[MrRed]

your quoting a journo

Break clause lol more like santa claus .....embarrassing it just gets worse and smells even more when they are trying to cover it all up.

move along now.

Manchester City have extended Frank Lampard’s contract with the club until the end of the season following 48 hours of negotiations with the Premier League ahead of the expiry of his short-term deal at the club.

The 36-year-old was due to officially become a New York City FC player on January 1 after agreeing a move to the newly-formed MLS franchise — owned by City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan — in August.

But after scoring six times for Manuel Pellegrini’s team since moving to City, the former Chelsea and England player has thrashed out a deal to remain at the club until the end of the season and will therefore miss the start of New York’s inaugural MLS campaign, which begins in March. Lampard’s failure to complete his move on schedule provoked an angry backlash against both the player and Manchester City from football fans in the United States.

New York City FC fans' group Third Rail said fans who had bought season tickets and merchandise had been betrayed. A fans' statement said: "On behalf of the Third Rail, we would like to publicly denounce City Football Group's and Frank Lampard’s decision.

Many fans, including our members, decided to support the team, committed to season tickets, and bought merchandise under the impression that Frank Lampard would be playing for New York City Football Club, not Manchester City. Many of those fans are rightly outraged by this decision, and we support any course of action they take to voice their discontent over this decision. We reject out of hand any suggestion that NYCFC is in any way secondary to Manchester City FC, regardless of the source, and are disappointed that City Football Group would give such an appearance."

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Respected American football writer Grant Wahl described the decision as a “debacle”.

Wahl said: “New York City FC having Lampard from day one in year one was a measuring stick of how seriously Manchester City owners took MLS and NYC fans. Answer: They don’t. The only thing New York City could do now to save face with fans over thLampard debacle is to make an equivalent signing to start the season.”

City confirmed Lampard’s agreement in a brief statement on the club website shorly after 9pm on New Year's Eve. The statement said: “Manchester City can confirm that it has extended Frank Lampard’s contract up to the end of Manchester City’s season, enabling his continued participation in both domestic and European campaigns.”

City had been involved in lengthy discussions with the Premier League after requesting permission to remove the break clause in Lampard’s contract which was due to come into force at midnight on New Year's Eve.

With his short-term deal — Lampard was not on loan at City, as initially suggested — due to expire yesterday, City faced the problem of having to re-sign the player before the transfer window officially opens at 12.01am on Saturday.

But with the Premier League satisfied by the paperwork submitted by City, Lampard was cleared to face Sunderland on Thursday and extend his stay at the club for a further six months.

City had risked a possible points deduction had they fielded Lampard against Sunderland without the necessary clearance from the Premier League.

Officials at New York City FC sought to put a positive spin on the absence of their star signing but admitted they still did not know exactly when a player who had been due to join them on the first day of 2015 would actually do so.

A statement said: “His exact starting date with New York City FC will be confirmed as the EPL and MLS seasons unfold. All parties remain in ongoing dialogue to create the best outcome for all.”

New York City FC director of football Claudio Reyna, who palyed for Manchester City, said: “Frank is a star and it is no surprise that Manchester City is rewarded by his contributions on the field every single day. He is eager to get to New York once his commitment ends in England and will be available to play on arrival.”

MLS Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott added in a league statement: “Frank Lampard's performance at Manchester City reaffirms that he is one of the world’s elite midfielders and we look forward to him joining NYCFC during the 2015 season.”