Man City will win the Premiership within 5 years...

[TheMaraudingDog]

French midfielder Lassana Diarra has revealed that Manchester City offered him a greater financial package than Real Madrid.

Diarra, however, opted to move to Spain and passed a medical on Monday en route to completing his move from Portsmouth for a reported £20million fee.

He told L'Equipe: "Were Manchester City keen to sign me? Yes, indeed. On a financial level, I would have earned a lot more."

[stealthpapes]

How did this work out?

[Platypuss]

LOLz @ Chelsea still huffing and puffing for the greatest achievement they can't buy. (European Cup)

Better than this one.

[No Fixed Abode]

[Ascotexgunner]

I can't work out if West Boring Albion are so sh+te they look nailed on to go down or City look so good that the the gap between a few at the top and the majority is now a crevice.

[Zammo]

I can't work out if West Boring Albion are so sh+te they look nailed on to go down or City look so good that the the gap between a few at the top and the majority is now a crevice.

Thought Man City were excellent last night. WBA created a few decent chances which Lambert and Berahino couldn't quite finish off, so they certainly wouldn't be top of my list to go down. In fact Pullis said before the game going two up top against the top four isn't his usual way as he likes to pack the midfield but thought he owed it to the fans to play his new signings in the opening game.

Silva was unplayable.

[No Fixed Abode]

City will win the league. It was Arsenal last week.

[Sanguine]

I can't work out if West Boring Albion are so sh+te they look nailed on to go down or City look so good that the the gap between a few at the top and the majority is now a crevice.

Thought Man City were excellent last night. WBA created a few decent chances which Lambert and Berahino couldn't quite finish off, so they certainly wouldn't be top of my list to go down. In fact Pullis said before the game going two up top against the top four isn't his usual way as he likes to pack the midfield but thought he owed it to the fans to play his new signings in the opening game.

Silva was unplayable.

Yeah, Silva was brilliant. City just had that total ease about them last night that they lost in the second half of last season. As Pulis has identified though, WBA didn't really take the usual approach for such a game and I think teams will get closer playing a variant of 4-5-1. I don't think the chasm is that wide at all, Toure and Fernandinho just had the midfield to themselves last night.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Praying that Villa, Portsmouth, Everton or Spurs kick on a level to really put a cat amongst the pigeons.

Just how well did Portsmouth kick on.

[stealthpapes]

Praying that Villa, Portsmouth, Everton or Spurs kick on a level to really put a cat amongst the pigeons.

Just how well did Portsmouth kick on.

Since that post in 2008, Spurs played in the Champions League.

The use of 'or' is pretty fucking obvious, as is the use of 'praying'.

[LUX]

deary me they are in free fall now. Even Spurs can thump them.

Good stuff, but just to be on the safe side Newcastle need to get a result off Chelsea today.

[Maguire]

No Kompany, no Silva, Yaya went off injured and Aguero still isn't quite match fit.

I reckon they'll be back.

[Sutekh]

No Kompany, no Silva, Yaya went off injured and Aguero still isn't quite match fit.

I reckon they'll be back.

Seems to show that they have a crap squad then.

[Sanguine]

It is difficult to have much sympathy for a team that can bring in the likes of Otamendi, Navas and Nasri.

[Angry Shed Sex]

It is difficult to have much sympathy for a team that can bring in the likes of Otamendi, Navas and Nasri.

Merely seeing the fans of Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea moan about their spending power is more than enough to make up for it though.

[Maguire]

No Kompany, no Silva, Yaya went off injured and Aguero still isn't quite match fit.

I reckon they'll be back.

Seems to show that they have a crap squad then.

All teams have key players no matter what level they play at. I forgot Joe Hart BTW, so that's the spine of the side missing.

[Ian Royal]

Haven't City comprehensively proved over the last few years they're bobbins with just Yaya missing, let alone anyone else. Surely it's no surprise they fall apart with that lot unavailable.

[Who Moved The Goalposts?]

Haven't City comprehensively proved over the last few years they're bobbins with just Yaya missing, let alone anyone else. Surely it's no surprise they fall apart with that lot unavailable.

This lot have spent getting on for £1bn on players and god knows how much on wages over the last 6 years or so. Yet the squad still has glaring weaknesses so that results dip when a couple of players are absent. Laughable management at a club who once had likeable fans with great integrity.

[WoodleyRoyal]

Haven't City comprehensively proved over the last few years they're bobbins with just Yaya missing, let alone anyone else. Surely it's no surprise they fall apart with that lot unavailable.

This lot have spent getting on for £1bn on players and god knows how much on wages over the last 6 years or so. Yet the squad still has glaring weaknesses so that results dip when a couple of players are absent. Laughable management at a club who once had likeable fans with great integrity.

problem is though trying to find players good enough to come in and replace these guys who are also prepared to sit on the bench for 90% of the time. You can have all the money in the world, but you aren't going to attract top players to your club if you can't give them first team football. This is where utd dominated for so long, because their academy where churning out players of sufficient quality, city don't have that luxury.