"I'm sorry to say this, as a life long fan and - for the last few (for me at least) unforgettable months - employee, MCFC as we know it is finished. Here are the FACTS, for those who really want to know. Thaksin is, as of midlnight 10th August, 2008, an international fugitive.

He now has to be found guilty of corruption in Thailand in his absense, offering no defence. Extradition requests will surely follow. The PL will then have to find him short of the fit and proper ownership rules (and believe me, the pressure for that from fellow 'members' has been growing since June).

Thaksin is trying to palm off City onto whoever will now take it, an insolvent mess of a business, completely incapable of sustaining itself. The truth is that the only interested party (until recently) - Wardle - is not now able to bail City out now , he cant come close on his own and no partners have been found. The wage bioll and committments due on the last 2 years' transfers have spiralled out of control.

The Corluka affair is the last straw - I personally worked on the deal and can assure anyone interested that he has already been transferred to Spurs. Spurs have this evening started legal action, and he will be barred from playing for City following an injunction in the courts tomorrow.

Personally I expect Hughes to then resign on principal (he has no choice now, he is on record as saying that he will have final say on all transfers). Many wont believe any of this, but a few will.

I am very close to this situation (readers will never know who I am or how close - a few would know my name but it isnt appropriate to for me to come 'out') - trust me, I am close enough to know what has happeneded in the last fortnight, I am pissed off with it (as a fan, and as someone who has worked hard for the club durinig the ast 18 months or so) and it must be said, a little drunk.

I am posting this message on a few sites - apologies for those that keep reading it, but I want City fans to know what is happening. The sad truth is we are finished, and that as a result, the PL will be facing its biggest challenge since inception within 2 weeks of now."

I have nothing against ManC. I even liked them to be honest. But this really looks bad. I don't like clubs, going out due to reasons out of their control. This is worse than Leeds. Leeds gambled on their transfers right? These guys, are going out for no fault of their own. Just that their owner was a crook.

Leeds just spent way too much and couldn't cope with the payments. They're the best team in League 1 by a long way now and will be back in the Championship next season. But Man City.. it does look bad, really bad. I do think it'll end up worse than Leeds to be honest. I don't see why they sold it to a guy like Shinawatra with the track record he had anyways, insane to do such a thing. Poor Citeh.

Milan should look at quite a few players from City. Micah Richards, is one of the more promising English talents, and we haven't had an Englishman at Milan since Hately. I'm not even sure he's English. He might be a Scot (therefore British..right kurtie?).

It was not a stupid shopping spree. They just counted on Thaksin's money that's all. Too bad for them. I hope DIC or Soros buy these guys. It's a good team with a good coach.

I guess this helps Newcastle and Villa and all the other teams challenging for Europe.

It was not a stupid shopping spree. They just counted on Thaksin's money that's all. Too bad for them. I hope DIC or Soros buy these guys. It's a good team with a good coach.

I guess this helps Newcastle and Villa and all the other teams challenging for Europe.

You used Newcastle and other in the same sentence when referring to teams challenging for Europe, this suggests that you think Newcastle are going to do well.. are you drunk, Jack?

Milan should look at quite a few players from City. Micah Richards, is one of the more promising English talents, and we haven't had an Englishman at Milan since Hately. I'm not even sure he's English. He might be a Scot (therefore British..right kurtie?).

Frank Lampard has signed a nea 5-year £36m contract with Chelsea.

Man City have made an offer of £12m for Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz.. I thought they had no money?

Martin O'Neill has made a £7m offer for the Newcastle United winger James Milner as he looks to further strengthen Aston Villa's squad. The manager this week signed the Rangers defender Carlos Cuéllar for £7.8m and has made Milner, an England Under-21 international, his next target.

Newcastle's manager, Kevin Keegan, faces a possible battle with his board over Milner. He is keen to keep the 22-year-old but will most likely have to sell players to achieve his ambition of adding to his squad this month and the club's owner, Mike Ashley, will be sorely tempted to accept an offer for Milner.

Ashley revealed this week that Newcastle still owe £27m in outstanding payments on transfer deals completed before he took over. Keegan has fought hard to try to keep Alan Smith at the club amid interest from teams including Everton and will be preparing himself for a similar scenario involving Milner, who played for Villa on loan in 2005-06 while on Newcastle's books.

Guardian

acid911 will probably get the joke...I hope it's not offensive!.

Reina (Liverpool) “Evoluiu graças à sua inacreditável confiança e vai fazer uma grande época.”

Hutton (Tottenham) “Gosto da atitude positiva da escola escocesa.Este lateral é batalhador.”

Bale (Tottenham) “Na esquerda, o melhor é Ashley Cole mas Bale marca livres, cantos e... golos”

Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea) “Um dos melhores do Mundo. Até Terry melhorou a jogar ao seu lado.”

Gallas (Arsenal) “Duas qualidades: irrita-se quando perde e é versátil. Que dupla com Ricardo!

Diarra (Portsmouth) “A França sabe o que tem e pode preencher o lugar de Makelele e Vieira.”

Gerrard (Liverpool) “Quem não o quer? É de classe mundial e só lhe falta ganhar o título inglês.”

Essien (Chelsea) “Tem de estar nesta equipa – é um dos meus ‘filhos’ preferidos do futebol.”

Pedersen (Blackburn) “Se Ronaldo não dá [caríssimo]... Marca 6 golos de bola parada/época.”

Torres (Liverpool) “É simplesmente um ‘matador’. Nesta equipa, é o meu Super-Homem.”

Defoe (Portsmouth) “Tal como Torres, espero 20 golos dele nesta época. Se for titular, marca. É sempre assim.”

Gosh. The merda coach does seem to rather like Torres.

Can't find the link on Daily Telegraph but it was translated into portuguese. Basically, they asked Jose Mourinho to choose "his" XI for this years Premier League.

It was like a Fantasy League where he could use 50M/euros. He used 49,6.

Here's the team and his comments:

It seems Man City, despite last nights embarassment, have got a pretty much full strength squad for the Villa game. Corluka & Irelands transfers didn't go through and most of their players are back from injury. Only Vassell and Benjani are injured.

I hear they didn't tie up the defense as they wanted. You see they only thought about getting attacking players. If their attack breaks down I won't be surprised if you see more 8-1 results like last season.

I hear they didn't tie up the defense as they wanted. You see they only thought about getting attacking players. If their attack breaks down I won't be surprised if you see more 8-1 results like last season.

Corluka - Richards - Dunne - Ball -- That's their first choice defense from last season.

Corluka - Richards - Ben Haim - Ball -- The defense that will play Villa. And the only reason Ben Haim is starting is because Dunne is suspended. Isaakson was in goal for the 8-1 defeat, not Joe Hart. They also had Dunne sent off after 5 minutes, and Richards out with an injury. So the team that last 8-1 is very different to this one.

Vassell is a loss to them, not because he's any good. But since he left Villa for City, he has scored 4 in 4 past us.

Man City are solid at the back with good offensive players lik Petrov, Elano and Ireland. I wouldn't be surprised if the steal a win. We haven't beaten them at home since 2002 anyway, a bit of a bogey team for us.

FT Arsenal 1-0 Albion.

3 points and a clean sheet for Arsenal. But being dominated by a Championship quality team at home is quite worrying. They've no-one in midfield to win the ball back, Adebayor is showing why I don't consider him World class, had about 7 chances today! Gallas defends like an ametuer and throws a little hissy fit whenever something doesn't go his way. Albion won the ball back from the Arsenal midfield too easy, I worry for Arsenal when they come up against the likes of Scholes and Carrick.

Did you guys see the Bolton goal against Stoke .. The first goal !
What a goal !!!! Contender of the goal of teh seaosn, already ! MUST SEE

Any Youtube or video links? Thanks in advance if you do manage to find a link.

First half finished 10 mins ago ... I doubt it will be out that soon

Understandably. Would be great to see the goal, as you've put it, seems like a cracker!

U remember Sheva's goal against Buffon ? The one he took at the edge of the area ?

U remember Sheva's goal against Buffon ? The one he took at the edge of the area ?

I haven't seen that, actually...link?