With the spotlight now firmly fixed on Thaksin's ability to meet the Premier League's 'Fit and Proper Persons Test', Purelymancity can exclusively reveal the questions our new owner will face:
Premier League: Have you ever been sentenced to 12 months' probation for 'bookkeeping offences'?
Thaksin: No.
Premier League: Have you ever stolen Russia's oil reserves?
Thaksin: No.
Premier League: Have you killed as many people as Tom Hicks' business buddy George W Bush?
Thaksin: Definitely not.
Premier League: Have you ever been fined £6.7m by the OFT for fixing the price of replica kits?
Thaksin: No.
Premier League: Did you make your money from wank mags?
Thaksin: No.
Premier League: Have you ever bribed a British MP or been refused a British passport on the grounds of being "not of good character"?
Thaksin: No, on both counts.
Premier League: Is your daughter free for a date?
Thaksin: Out of the question. Pinthongta only wishes to marry a middle-aged City fan, ideally an overweight smoker who enjoys pub quizes. Once she is betrothed to such a man I will give him a palace, a £10m dowry and a seat at the stadium made out of gold.
Premier League: Mr Shinawatra, after careful consideration we have decided you have a shady business history and appalling human rights record. Welcome to the Premiership.
Thaksin: That's Dr Shinawatra to you. Remember, I can have you shot.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
In full: City's foreign signings since 1949
I've just finished compiling a list of City's transfers since 1890 for the upcoming Purelymancity book and thought it would be interesting to work out how many foreign signings we've made.
In all I've found 68, with French players topping the list with ten. The tables also show how the German influence has waned over the years. By January 1996, six out of the total 14 foreign signings had been Germans, though we've only signed two more since.
The tables also reveal that July has been a month of notable firsts for our club. As well as getting our first foreign owner and manager, Geovanni is our first Brazilian signing ever and Petrov our first Bulgarian.
Below are the foreign players City have signed since 1949. There could well be a few I've missed, so please contact me if you think anyone needs to be added to the list:
Keegan's foreign signings
Pearce's signings
Eriksson's signings
Here's how the totals break down:
There's an interesting history of foreign players in England, written by The Independent's Nick Harris in 2005 (timeline here).
In June 1931, the FA banned all foreigners from playing professionally in England, except those who had been living here for two years. Bert Trautmann - the first foreigner to win the Footballer of the Year award in 1956 - qualified under those residency rules.
Surprisingly, the FA's no-foreigner rule stayed in place until 1978, when the EC declared that it contravened the principles of free movement enshrined in the 1957 Treaty of Rome.
~ According to Tony Book's autobiography, Maine Man, City had the chance to sign Osvaldo Ardiles after the 1978 World Cup. City were told he was available for £100,000 but when the negotiations began with his agent the fee had risen to £200,000, prompting chairman Peter Swales to veto the deal.
~ Bluemoon poster NICKS BACK has found this YouTube clip showing City beating Everton 3-2 at Goodison in 1972 - a game won with a pretty spectacular Everton own goal.
~ A MCFC supporters club has been set up in Dubai. You can contact its chairman at Marklynch1978@hotmail.com.
~ This is the actual blub on the back of United's 2006/2007 season review DVD:
I don't think it needs any more comment.
In all I've found 68, with French players topping the list with ten. The tables also show how the German influence has waned over the years. By January 1996, six out of the total 14 foreign signings had been Germans, though we've only signed two more since.
The tables also reveal that July has been a month of notable firsts for our club. As well as getting our first foreign owner and manager, Geovanni is our first Brazilian signing ever and Petrov our first Bulgarian.
Below are the foreign players City have signed since 1949. There could well be a few I've missed, so please contact me if you think anyone needs to be added to the list:
Keegan's foreign signings
Pearce's signings
Eriksson's signings
Here's how the totals break down:
There's an interesting history of foreign players in England, written by The Independent's Nick Harris in 2005 (timeline here).
In June 1931, the FA banned all foreigners from playing professionally in England, except those who had been living here for two years. Bert Trautmann - the first foreigner to win the Footballer of the Year award in 1956 - qualified under those residency rules.
Surprisingly, the FA's no-foreigner rule stayed in place until 1978, when the EC declared that it contravened the principles of free movement enshrined in the 1957 Treaty of Rome.
~ According to Tony Book's autobiography, Maine Man, City had the chance to sign Osvaldo Ardiles after the 1978 World Cup. City were told he was available for £100,000 but when the negotiations began with his agent the fee had risen to £200,000, prompting chairman Peter Swales to veto the deal.
A few more things
~ Bluemoon poster NICKS BACK has found this YouTube clip showing City beating Everton 3-2 at Goodison in 1972 - a game won with a pretty spectacular Everton own goal.
~ A MCFC supporters club has been set up in Dubai. You can contact its chairman at Marklynch1978@hotmail.com.
~ This is the actual blub on the back of United's 2006/2007 season review DVD:
The wait is over! Manchester United are back in their rightful place as Champions of England, reclaiming their title in style.
I don't think it needs any more comment.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
It just gets better
First we pinch Geovanni from under the nose of Harry Redknapp, then we beat Spurs to the signing of Martin Petrov.
The Independent claims the £4.7m (€7m) fee 'is likely to rise towards the £6m mark', which fits with the Sky Sports story on Wednesday that claimed Spurs had offered £6m (€9m).
You can see his career stats at Sky Stats Centre (listed under Atletico Madrid). They show that the 28-year-old Bulgarian has a career-total 55 goals in 253 league games, including 12 goals in 30 games in his last season at Wolfsburg in 04-05.
Petrov missed most of last season after suffering a knee ligament injury in October, but returned in April and played the last seven league games, scoring once.
I'm also trying to remember the last time we signed a naturally left-sided midfielder. Riera was the last one we brought to the club in January 2006, though he was only on loan. I think I'm right in saying that the last true left-winger we bought was Mark Kennedy, who was signed from Wimbledon for £1m in July 1999.
~ There's some more detail about Petrov at this Atletico Madrid blog, which rates the player very highly.
~ YouTube clips; Wikipedia; Sky news archive.
News that City are to give trials to three Thai internationals made me curious about what football was like in Thailand.
A bit different from ours, it turns out.
This year's league winners are the gloriously-named Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, who play in a 2,500 capacity stadium. I suspect the team might not even be allowed to play in the UK, given the restrictions on tobacco advertising.
There's something of a gap in wages, too. One of the players coming for a trial at City, 25-year-old right back Suree Sukha, earns 30,000 baht a month at his club Chon Buri, which is just under £100-per-week
The Independent claims the £4.7m (€7m) fee 'is likely to rise towards the £6m mark', which fits with the Sky Sports story on Wednesday that claimed Spurs had offered £6m (€9m).
You can see his career stats at Sky Stats Centre (listed under Atletico Madrid). They show that the 28-year-old Bulgarian has a career-total 55 goals in 253 league games, including 12 goals in 30 games in his last season at Wolfsburg in 04-05.
Petrov missed most of last season after suffering a knee ligament injury in October, but returned in April and played the last seven league games, scoring once.
I'm also trying to remember the last time we signed a naturally left-sided midfielder. Riera was the last one we brought to the club in January 2006, though he was only on loan. I think I'm right in saying that the last true left-winger we bought was Mark Kennedy, who was signed from Wimbledon for £1m in July 1999.
~ There's some more detail about Petrov at this Atletico Madrid blog, which rates the player very highly.
~ YouTube clips; Wikipedia; Sky news archive.
The most politically incorrect team ever?
News that City are to give trials to three Thai internationals made me curious about what football was like in Thailand.
A bit different from ours, it turns out.
This year's league winners are the gloriously-named Thailand Tobacco Monopoly, who play in a 2,500 capacity stadium. I suspect the team might not even be allowed to play in the UK, given the restrictions on tobacco advertising.
There's something of a gap in wages, too. One of the players coming for a trial at City, 25-year-old right back Suree Sukha, earns 30,000 baht a month at his club Chon Buri, which is just under £100-per-week
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
More on the new signings
Here's a few bits and pieces while we wait for the others to arrive:
~ DPBBlue at Mancityfans has found an interesting profile of Bianchi which looks very promising.
~ The Portsmouth News ran this story about Geovanni recently which includes some of his scoring stats, and there's another profile of him at Uefa.com.
~ No-one can agree on how much Geovanni cost Barcelona in June 2001. The News claims the fee was £13.28m, Wikipedia says £11m, Uefa believes it was €19.6m (£11.76m at 2001 exchange rates), while news wire AAP reckoned it was US$18m (£11.76m in 2001). According to this story, Geovanni was on €2m-a-year at Barcelona (around £25,000-per-week) but probably took a cut in wages when he joined Benfica.
~ This 5:27min clip at YouTube pretty much shows who's going to be taking the free-kicks this season.
~ According to the BBC, Fernandes was valued at around £2m in April when Bolton were linked with him, though the £3.8m we paid for him is probably a fair reflection of the way transfer costs have spiralled this summer.
~ There was fun and games at Geovanni's Wikipedia page, with changes been made every few minutes after he signed for us. As usual it's all settled down now, but here are a few versions I saved before they were edited out:
Version 1
'Geovanni is currently impressing at a two-week trial at the successful Premier League team Portsmouth FC. He now plays for Manchester City, as Sven Goran Eriksson signed him under the nose of fat Harry.'
Version 2
'Geovanni went on a two week trial with the English Premier League club, however he signed a one year deal at Manchester City on 17th July 2007 where he will again be one of the greatest talents in the game as super Sven's Blue and White army start to control Europe'
Version 3
'However, he is now Sven Goran Eriksson's latest signing at Comedy Central.
Version 4
'He is now Sven Goran Eriksson's latest signing at Man City - He would never consider a move to Comedy Central (Man U).
Version 5
'He is now Sven Goran Eriksson's latest signing at Manchester City (Gods Own Team).'
Version 6
'After a short two-week trial at Portsmouth in July 2007 he decided to join Manchester City on a one year deal on July 17 2007. That's one in the eye for 'Arry. CTID!
Final version
'However, after a short trial at Portsmouth in July 2007 he decided to join Manchester City on a one year deal on July 17 2007.'
It's starting to look a little healthier now, though I'm figuring we still need a minimum of two midfielders and three defenders for the start of the season. I've put the list in the Squad & Stats section and will update it whenever there's a signing.
News that City have a swanky new coach stands in stark contrast to Frank Clark's problems with the City bus.
In his autobiography, Kicking with Both Feet, Clark reveals how run-down the club had become when he joined in December 1996. The players didn't have enough training kit and 'had to go scratching round picking up bits and pieces wherever they could'. The restaurant at the Platt Lane training ground was open to the public and expected to make a profit. 'It was chips with everything and no thought was given to the players' nutritional needs as professional athletes,' Clark writes. But it was City's team bus that best summed how the club had declined:
Browsing through the Volvo buses website I discovered that the firm have just completed a revolutionary prototype for Newcastle United.
Here's an exclusive shot of the coach Newcastle will be using to transport Joey Barton in this season:
~ DPBBlue at Mancityfans has found an interesting profile of Bianchi which looks very promising.
~ The Portsmouth News ran this story about Geovanni recently which includes some of his scoring stats, and there's another profile of him at Uefa.com.
~ No-one can agree on how much Geovanni cost Barcelona in June 2001. The News claims the fee was £13.28m, Wikipedia says £11m, Uefa believes it was €19.6m (£11.76m at 2001 exchange rates), while news wire AAP reckoned it was US$18m (£11.76m in 2001). According to this story, Geovanni was on €2m-a-year at Barcelona (around £25,000-per-week) but probably took a cut in wages when he joined Benfica.
~ This 5:27min clip at YouTube pretty much shows who's going to be taking the free-kicks this season.
~ According to the BBC, Fernandes was valued at around £2m in April when Bolton were linked with him, though the £3.8m we paid for him is probably a fair reflection of the way transfer costs have spiralled this summer.
~ There was fun and games at Geovanni's Wikipedia page, with changes been made every few minutes after he signed for us. As usual it's all settled down now, but here are a few versions I saved before they were edited out:
Version 1
'Geovanni is currently impressing at a two-week trial at the successful Premier League team Portsmouth FC. He now plays for Manchester City, as Sven Goran Eriksson signed him under the nose of fat Harry.'
Version 2
'Geovanni went on a two week trial with the English Premier League club, however he signed a one year deal at Manchester City on 17th July 2007 where he will again be one of the greatest talents in the game as super Sven's Blue and White army start to control Europe'
Version 3
'However, he is now Sven Goran Eriksson's latest signing at Comedy Central.
Version 4
'He is now Sven Goran Eriksson's latest signing at Man City - He would never consider a move to Comedy Central (Man U).
Version 5
'He is now Sven Goran Eriksson's latest signing at Manchester City (Gods Own Team).'
Version 6
'After a short two-week trial at Portsmouth in July 2007 he decided to join Manchester City on a one year deal on July 17 2007. That's one in the eye for 'Arry. CTID!
Final version
'However, after a short trial at Portsmouth in July 2007 he decided to join Manchester City on a one year deal on July 17 2007.'
Squad list updated
It's starting to look a little healthier now, though I'm figuring we still need a minimum of two midfielders and three defenders for the start of the season. I've put the list in the Squad & Stats section and will update it whenever there's a signing.
When City were poor (part 1)
News that City have a swanky new coach stands in stark contrast to Frank Clark's problems with the City bus.
In his autobiography, Kicking with Both Feet, Clark reveals how run-down the club had become when he joined in December 1996. The players didn't have enough training kit and 'had to go scratching round picking up bits and pieces wherever they could'. The restaurant at the Platt Lane training ground was open to the public and expected to make a profit. 'It was chips with everything and no thought was given to the players' nutritional needs as professional athletes,' Clark writes. But it was City's team bus that best summed how the club had declined:
"The team bus was archaic and totally unsuitable. It was shabby and there were no facilities on it at all to occupy the players on long journeys. No food was available after the game, yet there was always beer on offer. It was ridiculous.
I set about changing things as quickly as possible. We got them proper kit and I explored why we had such an ancient bus. It turned out we had been with the same company for 60 years. I called in their managing director and he was amazed to find we weren't happy. I reeled off our complaints and he said that was the first bit of feedback he's ever had. He gave us a better coach straight away as a temporary measure and then set about getting one exactly as we had wanted. Beer on the coach was banned and we set about providing proper food."
Newcastle ready for Barton
Browsing through the Volvo buses website I discovered that the firm have just completed a revolutionary prototype for Newcastle United.
Here's an exclusive shot of the coach Newcastle will be using to transport Joey Barton in this season:
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