UF Quick Throw: Santa Cruz is Coming To Town City

Man City long time target Roque Santa Cruz is finally undergoing a medical at Eastlands. He bitched and moaned, Man City bid for him again and again and now they have finally met Big Sam's valuation of the 28 year old Paraguay International. He will now join Bellamy, Robinho, Caicedo, Bojinov, Evans, Vassell and Sturridge as part of Mark Hughes collection of forwards. If you believe the rumors, then Carlos Tevez could soon be joining the list. Expect Caicedo, Boninov, Vassell and (young Welsh prospect) Ched Evans to head for the exit door.

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One More Year! One More Year! One More Year!

I'd say that rich, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, but, as Arabs, the owners of Manchester City probably don't drink. Plus, being able to bathe in oil money seems to be working out okay.

As for stupid? Well, Sparky is keeping his job for another year.

Speculation was rife that the City manager would be removed at the end of the current campaign after a disappointing season, but chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has told Hughes he will be given another season to prove his worth at Eastlands.

This doesn't seem like the dreaded ironic 'vote of confidence' but an actual statement that Mark Hughes will indeed be on the bench for Man City next season.

Citeh crashed out of the UEFA Cup yesterday, their only shot at silverware, and currently sit 11th in the EPL (suck it, Barclay's). They are undefeated in the league at the Eastlands, but have merely one road win with only Stoke and WBA being worse away from home.

Hughes has marginalized Elano, allowed himself to be bent over by Robinho, marshalled over the regression of Micah Richards, and shipped Jo on loan to Everton right as the Brazilian found some goal scoring form (that probably correlates highly with him actually playing). Man City could have used his services as they started Felipe Caicedo as a makeshift striker yesterday.

But Hughes has brought in Shaun Wright Phillips and Craig Bellamy (both playing well) as well as seen Steven Ireland have the season of his life (so far).

So, eh, it's kind of a push.

Still, with all that money comes expectations. One of those expectations is that Citeh would be able to sign anyone and start winning. That hasn't happened. The first half of that isn't necessarily Sparky's fault as nobody wants to go to Citeh but, well, you are what your record is and Citeh sit one point ahead of SF Bolton.

So colour us mildly surprised. But happy. Sparky is at least good blog fodder.

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Robbo Keeping It Real.

A while ago I accused Man City's speedy Brazilian goal banger of being 'tight' and a 'penny pincher' after he lined up for 25 minutes to save some money in a department store. It seems that maybe I was wrong and Robinho is UNLIKE every other superstar footballer. Intrigued?

How refreshing... Robinho takes the bus. THE BUS.

But not only does he take the bus, he takes his bird on the bus. The Daily Mail reports that the Brazilian has been on regular shopping trips with his missus to the Trafford center in Manchester by public transport. How down to earth, how... incredibly normal.

In a world of fancy cars, chauffeurs, expensive clothes and overpriced luxuries, a story that focuses on the highest-paid footballer in England being fiscally responsible. Lets hope that 'keeping it real' becomes a trend in the football world.

I can see it now...Ronaldo shopping at H&M. Defoe riding a bike to training in Sketchers. Lampard strap-hanging on the Circle line home, Bellamy driving a Ford Fiesta for a meal at TGI Friday's. Somehow I think that Robinho will be alone with his real world sensibilities.

Robinho, here at UF we take our hats off to you sir. Robinho ladies and gentlemen... keeping it real.
-Bigus

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30 Goals... Wright? Bolton breathe deeply.

Former Arsenal net banger Ian Wright says Man City's Brazilian superstar Robinho can score 30 goals this season. He also said that Man City would have no trouble at the Reebok today. Man City lost 2-0 to Bolton earlier and Robinho didn't really get a sniff. So if the Brazilian is to meet his self imposed target of 30 he has some catching up to do.





If Robinho is to score 30 goals this season he will need 24 more. With 27 Premier League games left, 30 Prem goals would require nearly one every game. In fact an average of 0.8 goals a game is what's needed. Based on Man City's performance today I should think that THAT target is the stuff of fantasy. Quite frankly, if you march into the toughest league and declare you will score 30 goals, then you deserve to look a pratt on the last day of the season. Also as the games wear on it looks as if Robinho is being found out. Man City will certainly need to play more like a team instead of relying on the Brazilians one man show to win games. Man City have won ONE of their last five games.

Bolton's victory this afternoon was deserved but the goals were the product of some absolutely shocking defensive lapses. Ricardo Gardner did the damage on 77 mins as he was left unmarked to find an empty net before Richard Dunne sealed his teams fate, turning in Gardners cross from the left and handing Bolton 3 points that keep them outside of the bottom three. Gary Megson also gets to keep his job for another week.

-Bigus

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Markov A Good Coach?

Bulgarian Coach Plamen Markov today defended his decision to play Man City's Martin Petrov last week. But Mark Hughes is not a happy chappy after it was revealed that Petrov would be out for months with knee-ligament damage!


Petrov had only just returned from injury and was being eased into the team again by City's manager Mark Hughes. However this did not stop Bulgarian coach Plamen Markov from playing Petrov for 90 mins against Italy and from the start 3 days later (until he came off injured) against Georgia. That injury will now keep Petrov from Man City's starting line-up for months.

Petrov has been sent to see a specialist and Hughes is certainly not happy.

"He has ligament damage and the initial scans do not look good, Martin had 10 minutes in one game and 20 minutes in another before going to play his country. International managers are going to throw all of the players at their disposal on the pitch and the consequences from the player's point of view are not taken into consideration. " - Mark Hughes.

Markov's opinion on the matter is completely different, speaking to Bulgarian radio he claimed that Petrov was "fine" and had "no complaints." Markov is no stranger to controversy in the press; his appointment as Bulgaria's top dog was criticized as he seemingly lacked experience. He is now in his second spell as coach of the Bulgarian national team.



Markov: Managed second division teams before Bulgaria

The never-ending row over club and country rages on.

- Bigus/

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