Quartet exit Blues

July 04, 2008

Geovanni

CITY'S squad have flown to southern Germany for a training camp and the club have confirmed that their pre-season preparations will also include a friendly against Celtic at Parkhead on Wednesday, August 6.

Celtic remain the favourites to sign Blues striker Georgios Samaras, although Premier League newcomers Hull have also expressed an interest.

Brazilian midfielder Geovanni is also being linked with a move to the KC Stadium, having left City following the expiry of his one-year contract.

Geovanni is one of four senior players to have had their departures from Eastlands confirmed by the club.

Also leaving are Paul Dickov, who is considering an offer to join Blackpool, and Emile Mpenza, who is interesting Cardiff. Sun Jihai is the other senior player to depart. He signed for Sheffield United on Wednesday.

CITY have signed a deal with ITV for live coverage of all their home games in the UEFA Cup this season - starting with the second-leg clash against EB/Streymur at Barnsley on July 31.

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Victor Meldrew's Codpiece (04/07/2008 at 10:14)

Never mind the home legs, what about the away legs!!!?

CTID

Uwe's Grandad (04/07/2008 at 10:16)

Goodbye goodbye

Paul Dickov - a legend at City! If we had played with 50% of your commitment after Xmas we would have been in the Champions league now.

Geovanni - Short but sweet - seems you were never really given a chance. You scored the goal and the ground rocked, my lad's first derby game. Good luck if you join the Tigers.

Samaras - You couldn't tackle a paper bag - join Celtic not the Tigers, you'll never score against a premiership defence.

Mpenza - An honest trier - thank you for your efforts and good luck in the future. there were times when you were our only attacking option. A difficult role to fill.

There is only 1 Ken McNaught appreciation society.com (04/07/2008 at 10:21)

wagons r rollin,still a lot of work 2 b done but i feel we r on a mission,(what about the young fella Colin Kazim Richards, i rate him. Always lookin dangerous providin he's in the final third).ctid

frank clarke's guitar tutor (04/07/2008 at 10:29)

Please please please please please please please please please please please please MR HUGHES GET SHUT OF VASSELL,BALL,CORRADI AND SAMARAS.

LeythBlue, Leigh (04/07/2008 at 10:34)

This is yesterdays news, why don't you go and find out something interesting that the fans don't already know...

SidBkk, Bangkok, Thailand (04/07/2008 at 10:39)

When is the rest leaving?
Double Mills, Ireland (Do Sunderland still wants him for 6m), Our left wing who don't tackle and shy off whenever someone hard comes in, our upcoming who is getting bighead, Corradi, Samaras and Bianchi. The cup winning Academy kids should be in the team instead. Get rid of the half committing culture and look to the future. Everyone needs to run their socks out for each other and everyball. Show them the door if they can't commit themselve. You are paid for the job, get over it.

neil (04/07/2008 at 10:41)

Just a note on Mpenza. Injuries curtailed his stay at City, but I think he definately saved us in Pearce's last season. He scored two goals away at Newcastle and Middlesboro at a time when we couldn't buy a goal. Samaras and Corradi etc. Considering we only stayed up by four points, I think his arrival was invaluable. For those goals alone I wish him all the best. Came for nothing and went for nothing and played a big role in keeping us up. Considering Samaras and Corradi cost a combined fee of £7 million, he can leave with head held high.

bad robot, www.mancityblues.com (04/07/2008 at 10:42)

I think its good that the club are clearing out the 'dead wood.' Its about time.

Blue Tyke, Alderley Edge (04/07/2008 at 11:00)

Yes, I agree with Neil, Mpenza was a worker and definitely helped keep us in the Premiership that last season with Pearce. To be honest I'm a bit disappointed that Geovanni wasnt nailed down to a longer term contract because his entertaining style of football never got much chance to shine under Sven.

A Manc and blue (04/07/2008 at 11:08)

I know i had a few last night but have i missed something. Why is Danny Mills not on the list!!!. Best wishes to Mpenza, His goals kept us up

ekuldot, Didsbury (04/07/2008 at 11:18)

It's painfully obvious that we need to clear out a fair few more of the "deadwood" at City - the intention must be to make us an honest, hard working, committed and difficult to beat side - then we can work on becoming an even better side than we showed glimpses of last season - we played some great football against the likes of Newcastle etc. So, lets say good bye and good luck to the following: The two Mills' / Garrido (unless he's to be used as cover on left wing but not as a left back) / Castillo / Ireland (if we can get a good price for him) / Bianchi / Corradi / Samaras / Vassell. That would leave us with a mixture of experience and youth - 6 strikers / 3 attacking midfielders / 3 in midfield / 6 defenders / 2 goalies...We all know where we need to strengthen - left back / holding midfield / right wing / playmaker / maybe another centre back as cover & a quality No 2 goalie. That would give us 26 players in the squad, plus some extras from the youth team, like Mee / Weiss / Mentel / Mack...surely enough to challenge over 4 competitions. Make it happen Frank / Cooky & MH!

matt (04/07/2008 at 11:20)

shame about Geo, he is now a legend after scoring against the rags. agree with the comments about mpenza his goals were vital during the dark days of non-football under pearce. he started last season well and proved a good foil for elano and petrov...but now we've got the stork to bang em in for fun (we hope)

zin zimmer, manchester (04/07/2008 at 11:21)

neil, mpenzas failures were he was bobbins and a small matter of a clause in his contract that triggered a years extension if he featured in anymore games regarding the first team.....wake up. The goals he scored were against shite like boro and newcastle, don't be deluded that he was any good for christ sake.

jerseyblue, jersey (04/07/2008 at 11:24)

If you look at Geovanni's transfer history its alays been a year here and there. Dont think he knuckles down enough in training. He still gave me my best day out of last year mind!

Bulman, Bolton, Gtr Manchester (04/07/2008 at 11:34)

Neil- Spot on re Mpenza

Greek feeder, Whalley range (04/07/2008 at 11:48)

All this talk of clearing out more dead wood is absolutely ridiculous. these players make up our squad which is what you need to do anything in the premiership. While I don't think some of the following players should be regulars in our first team they should definitely not be sold, Ireland, Vassell, Castillo and Bianchi. Those of you who are saying that cover can be provided by the youth team are absolutely mental. After seeing them in the youth cup final last season, while they are incredibly talented, they are far too light weight to perform in the premier league. I don't think we'll be seeing any of them for at least another year. All squads have so called "dead wood" some better than others, like Chelsea forinstance. But look at our neighbours, O Shea, Flectcher and Silvestre are hardly world beaters but Ferguson understands that they are part of the squad and are needed to maintain a challenge for the title. If some of you lot got your way we'd be left with a squad of around 14 players plus a youth team.

Eric, 33 years and still here (04/07/2008 at 11:48)

I will remember Geo for his goal vs the rags, and some nice tricks when playing. Overall not much of a teamplayer and somehow kept himself out of the starting line-up.
Dickov, well said enough about him. Hope to see him back in a coaching role at City.
As for Mpenza, Neil said it perfectly.
Sun was a good pro, not good enough when played as a left or right back. Best game vs Chelsea in a holding role when he got a bad injury.

artist formerly known as keegan, Obscurity (04/07/2008 at 11:54)

Really disappointed to see Geo leave as he wasn't given a good selection of games to adjust to the premier league.

Also the club should have kept it on another year and he would have helped Jo settle in.

jackblue, Prescot (04/07/2008 at 11:55)

Hull have taken Mpenza to Italy for their pre-season training camp, on a trial basis.
The 4 players going are all at the end of their contracts.
The rest of the players you all want rid of are still under contract and will go when: (1) Suitable offers are made for them, or
(2) They come to the end of their contracts, or
(3) God is kind to us and throws a few thunderbolts at them,.

neil (04/07/2008 at 12:08)

Zin Zimmer, I wasn't saying he was the best. Read my comments. He came at a difficult time and scored a couple of goals, which our strikers at the time couldn't do. Irregardless of who he scored them against, those goals were vital to our survival. Notice how I said I wasn't gutted he was leaving, but glad we got him (for nothing) when we did. Like I said he came for nothing and went for nothing but we got something from the deal. Danny Mills still has a year left on his contract and you can't release a contracted player unless you buy them out.

The Original Blue John (04/07/2008 at 12:17)

Let's hope they're the first of many. Getting rid of Bianchi, Caceido, Samaras, Castillo and Vassell would free up some spending cash as well!

mybluedevon, teignmouth (04/07/2008 at 12:22)

Totaly agree with the sentiments over Mpenza,no doubt he kept us up. Now its time to forget mediocrity,Ball,Samaras,Vass,decent middle of the road prem players but no more than that. From now on anyone we bring in should be players that would attract the so called big 4,Jo obviously has not been courted by the top 4, 1- because of his age 2-because he hasnt done the business at the highest level-yet! we should expect that by the money we paid for him, he is of the highest quality. couple that with what we already have at the club that would be of "top 4 quality", Hart,Richards,Johnson,Chorluka,Dunne, maybe, Petrov, maybe, Elano, maybe, those latter names in fairness would all look quality in a quality side. That still leaves us 7-8 short of not just challanging the top 4 but realisticaly staying in the top 4. Thats not going to be done this season but we should be looking at breaking in to the top 6 this time. City will keep improving but so will the teams we are chasing, so in all realism its going to take at least another 2 years before we get any where near them, but lets be patient 2-3 years after what we have suffered over many,many years will be well worth the wait.

StretfordBLUE, Virginia (04/07/2008 at 12:26)

Geo, thank you for that wonder srike which sunk the scums. All the best for the future, mate!

dennis d, coventry (04/07/2008 at 12:29)

ANGLO SAXON is the man, he researches the real issues for the fans. We can talk about 4.4.2 formation or 4.3.3., we can talk about who should partner Jo...however this is all trivia. What Anglo is researching is the key and his knowledge of Dr T and events in Thailand is immense.

There is now only one question , the answer of which will impact upon everything else at City and that is - what is the ultimate aim of the 9 Supreme Judges in Thailand and how far will they go. Has a deal been done with the King and the military.

I haven't a clue as to the answer....but one man who might is ANGLO SAXON.
dennis d, coventry

StretfordBLUE, Virginia (04/07/2008 at 12:31)

Greek feeder...

Spot on mate, mate. Very thoughtful comments. City won't sign good quality players all at once. We do need those players at the club who have Prem experience. I believe MH knows this, and he will only release players who don't fit into his plans.

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