jamie goode's wine blog: NWR: Deep pockets. How deep? Very deep pockets.

Monday, September 01, 2008

NWR: Deep pockets. How deep? Very deep pockets.


Who are Chelsea? Who are Manchester United?

Life as a Man City fan is never boring, but over the last week it has got a whole lot more interesting. We're having to pinch ourselves to convince ourselves that this isn't just a dream.

First of all, City re-sign Shaun Wright-Phillips from Chelsea, and win 3-0 against Sunderland away with SWP scoring twice. Then there's a big money take-over by Abu Dhabi's royal family (see here) on transfer deadline day. A spokesperson for the group confirms that they have very, very deep pockets. Then there are rumours that City are bidding with Manchester United for Spurs' Dmitar Berbatov, at around £34 million. That would really upset UTD, and at the very least should put the price up substantially, even if he does end up joining City's rivals. Sweet. [Breaking news - he's signed for UTD for £30.5 m, when a day ago UTD weren't willing to pay £25 m - and they've got a proven temperamental player on their hands to boot. Good luck.]

Then comes the news that City have signed prime Chelsea target Robinho. He's a 24 year old Brazilian striker from leading club Real Madrid, and 24 hours' earlier would have been well out of City's range as one of the world's leading players. Outbidding Chelsea is super-sweet, especially when City aren't paying any more money than Chelsea would have - it's just that Real were so upset with Chelsea they'd rather sell to City, given the choice. There's a nice Youtube video of Robinho here, although I should add that these Youtube compilations tend to make anyone look great - even I look like Pele when you collate all my good moments (c. 50 seconds) and omit all my bad (c. 2 years).

His first game will be against...Chelsea.
As you'll see from the picture, even some of the news agencies are so shocked by this news they've assumed that the wrong Manchester team are involved (above). Also, I don't know much about AFP, but when they say '3 hours ago', I'm unsure as to their source of information - the story broke about 7 minutes prior to me taking this screen grab from the web.

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10 Comments:

At 7:51 AM, Blogger Tobias Ø said...

Not that City has so much in common with Huddersfield Town and such (for some time), but I suspect some City supporters just felt a whiff of soul just slipped away, and they now have nothing on any of the other "money teams".

Honestly no sense of innocense lost?

 
At 8:50 AM, Anonymous Keith Prothero said...

The same bet as last year Jamie---if your useless bunch get in the top 6 you buy me lunch or otherwise I pay.
See you on the 18th!!

By the way--How londg do you think it will be before Robinho joins Chelsea?

Mind you I hope I am wrong as it would be great if the top 4 changed

 
At 5:55 PM, Anonymous Hsien Min said...

Jamie,

I can't believe ten years ago you and I were freezing our butts off at Adam Park, watching City lose 1-0 to Wycombe in the old third tier!!!!!

Man, I had to check the calendar to make sure 1st September wasn't really 1st April. Already C. Ronaldo, Torres and Fabregas are linked.

I've been walking around with a silly grin all day.

 
At 11:45 AM, Anonymous Gabriel said...

You have to wonder whether Robinho realised it's City he's signed for rather than Man U. :-)

 
At 1:52 PM, Anonymous keith prothero said...

If somebody offered me £160,000 a week I would even play for bloody Leeds

 
At 5:06 PM, Anonymous Gabriel said...

Keith - I suspect Leeds would be more likely to offer you good money NOT to play for them :-)

 
At 9:48 PM, Anonymous hamishwm said...

Robinho could be anything...not too sure whether he might be more temperamental than Berbatov. Could be interesting when he eventually finds out where Manchester is. The Chelsea game should be a cracker.

 
At 11:29 PM, Blogger Jamie said...

I don't want city to become just a money club, but it's nice to see a side whose core is home grown be complemented by serious players from elsewhere - and if the end result is electrifying attacking football...

 
At 2:41 PM, Blogger Barry said...

Jamie,
Weren't you exited with all the names we wanted?
Berbatov, Robinho, Ronaldo, Ronaldino, Owen, Villa, Kaka....are you with me on this thread.....what are they all?....
Yes...attackers...just what we need.
That could mean..along with Shaun Wright Phillips and a couple more..we will
have 11 forwards...Shaun will have to play in goal....no problem with height...
we'll bung the FA some money..so that they lower the crossbar....

Should we be happy?....we weren't when that scruff-bag took over Chelsea.
This should take that smile (what smile?) off his face though.

The days of team building are over...what are we gonna complain about in three years when we have won EVERYTHING( joking of course)
Still..I have 'paid my dues'..50 years a Man City fan deserves a nighthood..or similar...guess this is an Arabian Knighthood.

Best Regards..and ????????? , ????????? ( ??? ) , ??????? , ???????? , ????????

Hagi El Boom Shaka La

 
At 2:22 PM, Anonymous Alastair said...

Jamie

I am on my way out to find a pub that does Setanta to see the Chelsea game (I was too late to get a ticket), but I am still expecting to find out that this whole thing is another "fake sheik" prank by some Sun hack.

As you say, life is never dull when you support City.

 

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