DARIUS Vassell has called on City to make sure they make their magnificent season so far count for something in the final 13 games.
The striker believes that the Blues have unfinished business, having kept themselves in contention for a European place when few outside Eastlands gave them much hope of success.
City remain just three points off a Champions League spot, and Vassell insists that the team must make sure they finish the job they started.
"I think every player at City has a self-belief now and that is why we have done so well but it is only reasonably well so far," Vassell declared.
"Once you start being content with what you are doing, you slip and relax a bit. We want to push on and keep things going. We want to work hard and finish as high up that table as we can.
"The team is a work in progress and why should we settle for what we have now? At the end of the season we could be even higher up the table so why not go for that?"
While Vassell will be in the party that makes the short trip across town for Sunday's emotional derby at Old Trafford, City will be without the suspended pair Vedran Corluka and Elano and the injured duo Valeri Bojinov and Michael Johnson.
Boss Sven-Groan Eriksson will be keeping his fingers crossed that key men like Micah Richards and Richard Dunne come through midweek international matches unscathed.
Eriksson has, however, been boosted by the return to fitness of Nedum Onuoha, the natural replacement for Corluka in the back, and the arrival of Benjani from Portsmouth and Felipe Caicedo from FC Basel.
Benjani is sure to lead the attack against United after completing his protracted move and signing a two-and-a-half year deal.
Caicedo's visa restrictions mean he will not arrive until tomorrow and Eriksson will assess the teenager's fitness before making a decision on his participation this weekend. Basel have been on a winter break and the Ecuador international may lack match fitness.
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As long as you wear the blue shirt I will cheer you on. But please improve your first touch. Extra ball training. Whatever it takes. Just please stop allowing the ball to rebound off your legs to an opposition player. Vassell should be one of our most threatening players with his speed. But there is always something missing. Defenders should come off the pitch feeling as though they've been through hell against him.
dont worry Vas
you BIG push is only 4 months away
well darius its because city have rubbish players like u that weve gone of the ball.why dont u open your gob on the pitch and not 2 the media.i feel sad every time i see him on the pitch.for a striker his finishing is shocking.hes another tragic pearce signing.the sooner the lot of them have gone the better.sven inherited absolute tosh and has done well 2 improve the shambles it was.we shud be alot better next season
so on Sunday I hope for..
Hart
Onuoha Micah Dunne Ball
Hamann
Etuhu Geo Gelson Petrov
Benjani
I beg to differ with Vass's detractors. I think he's a good squad player with a good attitude. His finishing is not the best but he can fill in on the flanks and do a good job there. And while he's a City player he will always have my full support.
The Big Push, - sounds like an Allied Propaganda Leaflet from WW11.
The number of games remaining could be unlucky for some, (wife told me that, I'm not as total saddo), with DV being one of the less fortunate.
CTID
DJ, Vassell's second touch has always been a tackle or a header, so what makes you think extra training will help. Let's face it, although he gives 110% every game he just isn't good enough and will probably be one of the ones making way in the summer for SGE's shopping list.
My team for Sunday - Hart; Onouha, Richards, Dunne, Ball; Ireland, Hamaan, Fernandes, Garrido; Petrov; Benjani - Subs - Isaakson, Geovanni, Caicedo, Sun, Mpenza
In Sven We Trust. CTID
nah... you just ain't good enough vass.
the reason? ask sturridge.
He works hard but vassl cant even finnish his tea! Lets hope Benjani and Caicedo ca score or the only decentstriker we are left with is Sturridge
CTID
The two points we dropped at Derby County would have come handy for this "push"...
I've always given Vassell a 10/10 rating for his effort on the pitch, i just hope he puts the effort into moving to another club at the end of the season. A striker who can't score is no use to anyone, especially when we'll have Benjani, Bojinov, Castillo, Sturridge, Mpenza, Evans and a possible new signing to pick from. We'll bring in a new wide right player so, unless you like warming benches, I think your time is up mate. Thanks for TRYING
I can't fault your attitude Vass or your work ethic . . . . . . but your finishing is woeful.
Erm..try putting the ball in the net Vass. That would be a start.
To true. Can you stop running the ball into the keepers hands please vas. The net is behind the keeper.
at least vass has a sense of humour and is quite obviously deluded!! we'd be top of the league if he'd have converted half of his chances!! CTID. FC City? NEVER!!!!
With Vass it's clear. When we were struggling to stay out of the Championship and trying to consolidate in the Prem, he was at our level - as good as anything we could afford.
Times change, we've moved on, and Vass hasn't improved with his first touch and finishing.
Nice bloke, exemplary work ethic, good pro', unfortunately not skilful enough.
Hopefully Sven has given him a chance for the rest of the season to prove himself otherwise he will found another club in the summer - Wigan, Bolton etc. would problably suit.
Please don't slag him off - he's done as much as he can, which is all you can ask.
Vass sorry to say your just a faster version of Paul Dickov and he gave everthing but not for the want of trying couldn't hit a cows bum with a banjo.
Benjani will take the presure off Vassell. We need some players who have speed and can work hard.
My team:
Hart, Onuha Dunne Richards Ball,
Garrido Hamann Gelson,
Petrov, Benjani, Vasell.
Agree absolutely with Blue in Spain.
Vass can be a very useful squad member, as long as he isn't a lone striker or even one of two forwards. I think he can do a useful job on the right side of midfield, particularly in games where we need to harass opponents. We will still need a squad after the arrival of our new stars, especially if we start to play in Europe.
He does his best and that is all you can ask of a player,it will be time to move on in the summer!good luck! were ever you move to!
Vass has always tried. The mysterious thing is 'why could he never duplicate is goals against Villa against any other team'?
Agree we need Garrido in to give backup on the left. Nedum can handle the right on his own, and Micah & Richard can take everything else. Expecting great things from Calciedo & Benjani, although we may need to bring Geo on to give us a threat down the right.
Sorry Vass,but after your totally inept display against Derby,I sincerely hope I never see you in a Man City shirt again.
The team for Sunday:
Gk: Hart.
Def: Ned,Micah,Dunne,Garrido.
Mid:Ireland,Hamann,Fernandes,Petrov
Att: Benjani, Sturrigde
Garrido proved he can handle Utd last time and with two quality strikes up front who, if they are given one chance, have the confidence and cool to put it in the net.
Is he joking or what? He couldn't hit a cow's bum with a banjo. Vass is the main reason we're slipping down the league. How many open goals d'you want for cying out loud.