New boy Dabo feels at home

Chris Bailey

September 05, 2006

Ousmane Dabo

STUART Pearce has warned his new signings that their honeymoon period is fast running out.

The City chief knows he cannot afford to carry any passengers as he plots a tilt at the upper reaches of the Premiership.

And that means that the seven fresh faces - not including old boy Paul Dickov - who arrived this summer are going to have to forego the traditional lengthy settling in period.

Four points from the toughest of starts that included Chelsea and Arsenal have lifted confidence in the squad and Pearce accepts that there has been a bounce in the step of his men since they downed the Gunners and then spent some time bonding in Northern Ireland.

"There's been a feel good factor around the club after beating Arsenal but we have to make sure that's used positively and we are focused on the trip to Reading," warned the manager.

"When you bring new players in you can't expect them to fit in straight away, you have to give them some time. At some clubs, new players may not see the light of day for six months but I can't afford that luxury, they have to get on with it from day one."

Encounter

A great deal is expected of Didi Hamann and DaMarcus Beasley when they are both match fit but Italian international Bernardo Corradi and Ousmane Dabo are the two new boys who have featured most so far. Dabo, who played with Corradi at Lazio, feels he has already passed the manager's settling in test - with a little help from across the way at Old Trafford.

"I am very happy to be here and I feel great," declared the French midfielder. "This was just the move that I needed at this stage of my career. I needed a new challenge and City is the perfect club for me. I am discovering new things in England and living a different lifestyle and I couldn't be happier."

Dabo was not coming entirely into the unknown when he signed for the Blues and he was not alone either for his brother, Moussa, has recently signed for Oldham Athletic from Racing Club Paris.

"I was at Rennes' Academy with United's Mikael Silvestre," he added. "We were in the same classes and teams and grew up together. He is a very good friend and I have seen him a few times now and it has been great to catch up."

The defensive midfielder, who will be battling Claudio Reyna, Joey Barton, and Hamann for a place in the engine room when everyone is fit, says he has been made to feel at home by City fans, as he knew he would be from a previous encounter.

"I played in Lazio's friendly at the new City stadium and when I knew they were interested in me I quickly decided it was where I wanted to move to," he declared.

"The atmosphere was good and totally different from what I'd experienced before and I wanted to play in front of the fans and experience that kind of passionate English support."

How do you rate City's new boys so far? Have your say.

| Submit Comments | Comments (27) |

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Ollie, Guernsey (05/09/2006 at 10:02)

Is it me or is SP making a habit of dropping a few hints/ digs at the board? Last week he mentioned the finances in a roundabout way and now he's saying you have to give players time to settle but he doesn't have that luxury (I presume because the squad is too small). I wonder if there is any friction between the management and the board at the moment? Just a thought¿¿¿I'm sure someone with supposed insider knowledge will put me right!

tats ctid, manchester droylsden (05/09/2006 at 10:57)

come on city! top six!

Ben, Dover (05/09/2006 at 11:34)

they're simply not good enough. we should be beating arsenal by more than one goal at home and losing at chelsea was 3 points dropped whichever way you look at it. as for that draw against portsmouth - relegation form if ever i've seen it. sort it out pearce. sort it out wardle. sort it out swales.

DJ (not Jamo), Chorlton (05/09/2006 at 11:34)

I still think our strongest midfield partnership would be Haman and Barton, with Beasley left and Trabelsi on the right. Sinclair and Dabo on the bench. Once Dabo has settled in perhaps he could challenge Haman for a place in the team. If he is fit I think Barton has to play simply for his energy. Then it is a case of choosing between Dabo and Haman. I would go for Haman because he knows his away around the premiership.

Rix76, Wherever (05/09/2006 at 11:45)

Competition seems good in the centre of midfield, even with one or two injuries. IMO Micah Richards will play there sooner or later. He's just developing at RB. Nedum Onuoha is our future centreback for that matter.

mark, bluefield (05/09/2006 at 12:02)

Too right Pearce. It doesn't matter what country you are playing in, you should adapt to the style pretty quickly. I would never ever use that as an excuse. What it boils down to is ability, and whether a few of these new signings has any is debatable.

Insider Knowledge, Manchester (05/09/2006 at 12:46)

No friction to report. But watch out for a surprise addition to the squad this week.....

Pie in the Sky, Manchester (05/09/2006 at 12:49)

I've not seen a full live match yet (if you all remember I've been on my hols) but the few people I've have spoken to say that we look better in midfield. More solid and controlled than last season. Any improvement in that department from last season can only help. We had no strike force for the last 3-4 months and no midfield either. The players were too small and were pushed out of the way by teams like Charlton, Fulham, Bolton, West Ham, Wigan, etc. So we had to improve in those areas and helpfully SP has done that with the new signings. I can't wait to see my first live match on the 23rd Sept against West Ham. Come on City, come on.

PHIL, SOUTHEND (05/09/2006 at 13:08)

Its now time for City fans to get behind the team 100%. The atmosphere was fantastic for the Arsenal game and I just hope this continues throughout the season. Us City fans are worth alot of points to the team both home and away and if we are vocal then it will only have a positive impact on the players. Its easy getting behind the team for big games but surely the players need an even bigger lift when we are at home to Watford on a wet wednesday night! CTID

Sonny Walkman, Work (05/09/2006 at 13:21)

A bit early to tell after 3 games.

Ask in november

paul ainsworth, napton, warwckshire (05/09/2006 at 14:04)

There is no way that this team is going anywhere near the 'upper reaches' of this division. We may be more solid in defence and midfield but we lack pace and are way too light up front. We need someone to excite the fans a la Anelka or Tevez(who have been recruited by smaller clubs than us imho)to bring the crowds back and score the 20 goals a season we will need.

Topsixfinish, Dreamland (05/09/2006 at 14:16)

Insider Knowledge, you sound like you should be writing horoscopes! Any chance of me coming into some money this week or is the sun not in line with Saturn?

RJKS, Stretford (05/09/2006 at 14:45)

Topsixfinish, Dreamland; I thinks he is talking alot of stuff about uranus ?.

martin, manchester (05/09/2006 at 14:53)

who is this surprise addition then, I know most things and Ive heard nothing so stop talking rubbish inside knowledge and dish the news, but you cant because your 12 years old sat on the internet. Prove me wrong and tell everyone the news?

mark, bluefield (05/09/2006 at 14:59)

Why don't we go in for Diego Tristan now he's a freebie. He might get us some goals, unlike Dickov, Vassell and Corradi, who will work hard but are not prolific in any way shape or form.

Neil Shaw, Whaley Bridge (05/09/2006 at 15:08)

Swallows and Summers. Who thinks we'll beat Reading?

Ollie, Guernsey (05/09/2006 at 15:35)

There aren't many people on here who demonstrate any real inside knowledge. I have made my mind up on one or two and will wait to see what happens with Insider Knowledge's prediction.

Jimmy Grimble, Crewe (05/09/2006 at 16:34)

I beleive Diego Tristan is available as he has had his contract terminated and wants to come to the premiership, Bolton and Newcastle are rumoured to be in for him!!

Could be a welcome addition to the squad.

Danny Fine, Hale (05/09/2006 at 16:47)

Ollie, I can tell you that SP is very much under the microscope after his appalling 2nd half of last season.The board will revue his results in November. The board has backed SP and spent big on wages for our new players. if our new signings stay fit and hit their best form we will have enough strength and PACE to stay in the EPL, which is our primary objective.

Edward Tubbs, Royston Vasey (05/09/2006 at 17:04)

Insider knowledge unless your John Wardle or Alistair Talk Tosh who are we signing? and what loophole are we using seeing as the transfer window is closed.

Jimmy Grimble, Crewe (05/09/2006 at 17:14)

To add to my earlier posting, Just heard that Vassell will be out for 2 weeks with a knee injury, Tristan to replace Cole?

Little Jockey, Swinton (05/09/2006 at 17:20)

I am a Mancunian I am an FC fan...come on lads all sign along!!!

oli the exiled Manc, Southend (05/09/2006 at 17:27)

suprise addition to the squad? so working on that it could only be a youth team player added to the squad, or someone out of contract - so i assume we are following on our recent success in the transfere market and will be signing Pele to add creativity to the midfield ??? insider knowledge? you knoww naaawwwthing

Si, Stockport (05/09/2006 at 18:51)

I absolutely agree with Phil from Southend. I was in the South Stand against Arsenal and Pompey and the atmosphere right around the ground, particularly v Arsenal, was excellent.
It definitely helped lift the players and if we can repeat that at every home game we will add more than a few points to our seasons tally!
Lets get behind everyone at the club, stop the moaning ( because it doesn't help!) and make sure Eastlands doesn't turn into the Trafford Library.

Scoop, Alty (05/09/2006 at 20:36)

SING YOUR HEARTS OUT FOR THE LADS!!!

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