Davies dismisses City's top four hopes

trevor baxter

February 09, 2010

Kevin Davies

Kevin Davies has rubbished City's chances of gate-crashing the top four this season.

The Bolton captain has spiced things up ahead of Wanderers' trip to Eastlands tonight - insisting Roberto Mancini's side will be left empty-handed in their bid to qualify for the Champions League.

"There's no doubt they have some good players and they are up there challenging for Europe," said Davies. "But I don't think City will be challenging for the top four."

The shock defeat to Hull on Saturday left City three points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool with two games in hand.

But even after the arrival of Mancini, Davies still believes they will come up short.

"When the new gaffer came in, you expected a reaction from the players," he said. "They won their first three or four games but obviously it's settled down a bit now. Maybe they are not as keen to impress.

"They have some great players. But sometimes when you have all those superstars it's hard to get that team spirit.

"The top six to eight sides are all great teams and are spending good money.

"But I think they [City] might miss out this year on the Champions League."

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Green and gold until we fold, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 09:54)

I'll back carthorse Kevin and alehouse Bolton for a bottom four place.

OrigamiNinja, Inverness (09/02/2010 at 09:58)

A City team with a certain type of mentality would use what Davies has said and nail that top 4 spot! Are they up to the task? We shall see!

Andy Hinchcliffe's BIG chin, Manchester 11 (09/02/2010 at 10:03)

What are you talking about Davies??? You dont think we are challenging for top 4?

FACT is that we ARE in themix for top 4 and with 2 games in hand and 1 over Villa , I would say we are in pole position for it. Mancini should pin this article on the wall in order too get a reaction from his players.

After we stuff Bolton then let him be interviewed again for his opinion!

Phil Neal's Laxative, Somewhere in Baden (09/02/2010 at 10:03)

Well there's nothing like a bit of banter to spice things up, though reading Kev's comments they're hardly controversial. We "might miss out this year on the Champions League". That's actually pretty insipid. Almost makes you hanker for the likes of Neville and Beckham. Now they do know how to get us going!

albatross, bury (09/02/2010 at 10:05)

Thanks for your contibution to tonight's team-talk Kev. We certainly haven't been playing like a top four team recently, but comments like this are just what's needed to wind up the players and get them playing to their potential. Come on City!

Blue Meanie Reincarnated (09/02/2010 at 10:06)

Shouldn't Davies be concentrating on not getting relegated?

mark jones (09/02/2010 at 10:10)

right mancini there,s your team talk sorted for tonight,just show the lads them comments.

RAFBlue (09/02/2010 at 10:10)

I hope Davies will be eating humble pie after tonights game. I am looking for the manager and players to react to the poor result at Hull and give the fans a performance to shout about tonight.

I would like to see Johnson from the start, plus give Barry a rest he has looked jaded for a few games now.

A result like 3 - 0 to get us back on track.

D2, Around the equator's archipelago (09/02/2010 at 10:12)

Hahahaha, well said davies...

OB1 (09/02/2010 at 10:15)

Nice to see one one of tonight's opponents making Bobby's team talk easier.

The Iceman Cometh, somewhere really cold (09/02/2010 at 10:15)

Thanks Kevin. Just the motivation we need to get things going again tonight. Cheers.

Adebayors Knee Slide, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 10:19)

Ram them down his throat City!

The Wright-Phillips Show, A Football Ground Near You (09/02/2010 at 10:20)

Great, i can now rest easy now we have kevin's view on things, really wanted to know that.

Saddleworth is Blue (09/02/2010 at 10:21)

No need for a team talk .... just stick this on the wall and tell them this is what a wannabee striker thinks of us .
CTID

Powelly, Northwich (09/02/2010 at 10:25)

well heres mancinis team talk for tonight

The Invisible Man., Riviera Del Sol. Spain (09/02/2010 at 10:32)

He´s probably right. can´t see it myself either.

Pivo, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 10:32)

It seems to me Trev it's your article that is trying to spice up tonight's contest. I'd also suggest that you're just trying twist a perfectly honest comment from an opposing player, he's not rubbishing anything. Davies has made a valid point, he doesn't think we're good enough for fourth spot at the mo. Based on what I've seen from the recent games I'd say he has a point. It's now up to the City players to prove him wrong, starting tonight. The squad has the talent it's now just a question of whether they can apply themselves in EVERY game? It might help if we started to put a settled team on the field with players playing in their natural positions.

bornblue, Ulverston (09/02/2010 at 10:34)

Lets hope that this is the wind up they need for tonight

dave@shepton (09/02/2010 at 10:37)

Lets hope big mouth Davies does not miss out on relegation.

Portsmouth Blue (09/02/2010 at 10:47)

I dislike Bolton as much as i hate Alan Green and thats saying something,please go down the prem would be better without you.

Sam Haggar Lowestoft -MCFC-Bluemoon (09/02/2010 at 10:47)

Is Kevin Davies doing the new Gary Cook speach?

Invisible Man, Manchester (09/02/2010 at 10:51)

I think he should concentrate on losing some weight to be honest1

Uwe Rosler's Grandad bombed our chippy!! CTID of laughter as the rag rats desert the sinking ship!!!, Nantwich but Wythenshawe raised (09/02/2010 at 10:51)

Not really interested on what he has to say. Just hope we win tonight.

blue to bits, Old Trafford,Stretford. (09/02/2010 at 10:52)

Thank you,thank you,thank you Kevin

If Roberto's broken English is not getting through to the players then this article, pinned up in the dressing room, should do it.

Can the MUEN invetigative journalist now get comments from a player with Stoke,Liverpool,Chelski & Spurs along the same lines to help us get through Febuary?

madblue, oldham (09/02/2010 at 10:53)

well for one davies wouldnt get anywhere near the city side also why the hell is he saying things kike that just b4 a game it normally come back and bites ya on the bum look at chuckle over the road b4 the 1st leg he came out with some silly coment and we beat them then mr cook came out with a silly coment and look who won so i would advise others to let their feet do the talking rather than running their mouths

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