Johnson has often had to operate in the right midfield role during his time at City and has shown his natural ability with both feet making him a nightmare to defend against. ” A lot of world-class wingers play on the opposite side,” Johnson told the Daily Mail. “Robben and Messi, they go in towards goal rather than away.” This is what has made Johnson so deadly when operating on the right hand side as he can put the ball on a plate for the attackers with his crossing or he can turn inside and attempt to beat the goalkeeper with his powerful left foot.

Johnson moved to City in January on the dramatic transfer deadline day for a seemingly cheap £8 million pounds from Championship side, Middlesbrough. Johnson was highly regarded by Middlesbrough fans as he had shown a lot of promise during his time at the Teesiders. But once City came calling with their limitless transfer kitty, Johnson knew what he wanted to do, ”Once I knew City had come in for me, my mind was set,” he said. I spoke to Gordon Strachan and told him my mind had gone and I wanted to go. He understood.”

Most City fans were full of optimism about their new signing especially as he had potential to become an England regular and they wasn’t disappointed when Johnson made his full City debut at home to Bolton Wanderers and in the process earned the man of the match award. Johnson recalled the change with the Daily Mail when he told them,  ”It feels like ages ago, from then to now,” said Johnson. “It’s been brilliant for me. I always believed I could do it but at Middlesbrough it was hard. “People thought I should be in the team but I had Stewart Downing in front of me. “Sometimes I thought I should have left earlier as I did not get a chance. I feel I am now making up for lost time.’

Here are the reason Robinho failed in the premiership.

“Neither Hughes nor Mancini understood me,”

“Perhaps they only believed in the sporting side of things, but that wasn’t enough for me”.

“I am Brazilian and I can’t offer my best performance if I’m not happy in every aspect of life”.  (I love this one, so when  it rains Robinho  is not happy)

“That was my problem. I am a special footballer and I need to be happy when I’m playing. That was the case at Real Madrid but never at City. Perhaps I should never have left Real Madrid.”

If memory serves  me correctly did Robinho not cry and throw a hissy fit to be allowed leave Real Madrid ? The fact he refers to himself as special is a bit well, big headed? He brought up the Elano situation and was then going on about how the two of them are in the Brazilian team, who by the way were not well received in Brazil when they failed to bring home the World Cup. Its seems Robinho holds himself  in highest regard

Robinho proved again and again that could not cut it England or Spain the very place he should have never left or was that Brazil ? Robinho talks so much Crap its hard to keep up with what P.R. drama is coming this week. Santos was his preferred choice only two or three weeks ago.

To top if off Robinho who comes from Brazil, were poverty is widespread and people are forced to live in tin shacks in slums called Favela’s tells us,

“MANCHESTER IS AN AWFUL PLACE TO LIVE” ! (Must be great to be blinded by money)

Well in fairness that was down to the dark nights the rain fall and the cold weather in Manchester.

Does anyone think he checked the weather for Milan before he signed ? I think he may get a shock when its starts to rain and its cold in winter months ?

Robinho and his excuses don’t wash for me he will try his hardest this season for Milan followed by more of the same We has to witness at Eastlands. The Milan fans will have less time for him and his excuses wont wash there either.

We’ve got Lexington Steele FC leading the way since day one with 222 points, with his closest rival Madchester on 184. Of the writer’s team, Callum Rothwell’s Already Won sit in a very respectable 7^th place, while Manchester is Blue, managed by Brian Roban, is a place below in 8^th.

Jake Hartley is in 19^th place with Hartley’s Heroes while propping up the table and in serious danger of relegation is my very own Hinchcliffe 5-1. So dire are my teams performances, that I have already made a substitution so to all those above me, that’s everyone, beware. I’m on my way back.

Our only resident United fan, United689908, is disgracing himself poorly sitting in 16^th place. The full league table is as follows:

 Check back here nest Tuesday for further updates

But how England boss Fabio Capello must rue his decision to play Robert Green in goal for the World Cup opener against USA in South Africa. Hart went into the tournament as the most in form keeper out of the three, with David James recovering from injury and Green unconvincing.

On Friday, Hart looked composed and assured as England’s last line of defence and it was clear that nothing was going to get past him. It would have taken something extremely special to have beaten the young City keeper last night. It has been known for some time that Hart has all the qualities that make a good England keeper and, at just 23, he will be the national side’s number one choice for at least the next ten years, if not longer.

But while Capello will take all the plaudits for giving Hart his big chance, the credit should really be down to the player himself, who has not only forced his way to the top of the England pecking order, but also dislodged Shay Given as City’s number one choice. The former Shrewsbury man has come a long way but his journey is just beginning.

This kid is going far.

Blue Moon Rising, will hit cinemas this autumn and follows the continuing rollercoaster of Manchester City FC as seen through the eyes of five supporters but will also feature interviews with players and club executives as well as Roberto Mancini and Noel Gallagher. Click here to see a preview of the film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntSgRRzzqkY

The 2009/10 season was without doubt one of the most exciting seasons in the club’s 135 year history and featured some brilliant games such as the 4-2 win over Arsenal, a double over Chelsea and also reaching the semi final in a major competition for the first time since 1981.

I am fortunate enough to have been invited to the preview screening of the film and a review will appear on this site as soon as permissible. The film, created by Endomel, will be released in a couple of weeks.

Keep checking back for updates on Blue Moon Rising

Gareth Barry and James Milner also in good form as the Three Lions cruised to victory over Martin Petrov’s national side. Former City striker Valeri Bojinov also featured for the visitors.

Jermain Defoe gave England a first half lead, which was preserved when Hart saved from a fierce Stanislav Angelov shot. Moments later, Defoe doubled England’s lead before Hart was called into action again, saving brilliantly to deny Dimitar Rangelov after the striker replaced Bojinov.

Defoe and Wayne Rooney combined to set up Adam Johnson for England’s third goal, moments after sending a shot wide of the far post before Defoe completed his hat-trick for England’s fourth.

Elsewhere in Euro 2012 qualifiers, David Silva scored for Spain as they beat Liechtenstein 4-0 while the funniest result of the night came from France, who were beaten 1-0 at home to Belarus. How the mighty have fallen eh?

Bolton Wanderers – Chung-Yong Lee

Burnley – Graham Alexander

Everton – Leighton Baines

Liverpool – Pepe Reina

Manchester United – Wayne Rooney

Wigan Athletic – Charles N’Zogbia

As well as the Premier League, the lower division are also represented by:

Championship

Blackpool – Charlie Adam

Preston North End – Andrew Lonergan

League One

 Carlisle United – Ian Harte

Oldham Athletic – Sean Gregan

Stockport County – Johnny Mullins

Tranmere Rovers – Ian Goodison

 League Two

Accrington Stanley – Andrew Procter

Bury – Ryan Lowe

Crewe Alexandra – Ashley Westwood

Macclesfield – Carl Tremarco

Morecambe – Barry Roche

Rochdale – Craig Dawson

 Blue Square Premier

Altrincham – Stuart Coburn

Barrow AFC – Robin Hulbert

If you want to see Carlos crowned North West Player of the Year, you need to cast your votes. Simply go online to www.northwestfootballawards.co.uk and cast you vote. The awards ceremony will take place on October 11^th 2010 and the winners will be announced then.

Get voting.

The Swedish international had an apparently miserable first season at Barcelona and was rumoured to be joining City on several occasions before putting pen to paper on a loan deal at the San Siro.

City have spent millions improving the team, signing class players such as Yaya Toure, David Silva and James Milner to name a few, but Ibrahimovich was supposedly high on Mancini’s target list. But the Swede claims that City have to fight United, Arsenal and Chelsea to win anything. “Teams that took years to build,” claims Ibrahimovich. “City are a side for the future but Milan are a team that can win prizes now. City can wait for the future but I can’t,” continued the 29 year old striker.

I’m not sure what anyone else makes of his comments, but what I can deduce is that he thinks Serie A is going to be easy. Basically, he’s another lazy player who isn’t prepared to work hard to make sure his teams win and sees Milan as the easy option.

In addition, Mancini got fed up with waiting for the striker to commit and signed Balotelli instead.

Am I right or completely wrong on this? What do you think?

When asked what it was like at City during their spending sprees, Benjani replied “it sounds great but in football, money isn’t everything.” The striker continued by claiming there is no trust at Eastlands. The striker was also asked if he felt players were interested in money than anything else, to which he replied “’yes, it seemed like that and behind the scenes, there is no trust. I prefer to play for a club where you are trusted and you trust everyone around you,” said Benjani.

The Zimbabwe striker, signed by former boss Sven Goran Eriksson, was released by Roberto Mancini during the summer, but recently signed for Blackburn and could make his debut for the Lancashire side against the blues at Eastlands on Saturday.

It follows a similar accusation by Martin Petrov, who has also claims there is mistrust within the blue camp. “The human relationships are lost and the trust is lost too. In this situation the players are going to play like millionaires in games and are not a team on the pitch.”

Petrov was released at the same time as Benjani during the summer and also stayed in Lancashire, choosing to restart his career at Bolton Wanders.

Benjani and Petrov are not the only ones to have aimed parting shots at City. No sooner had Stephen Ireland signed at Villa Park did his mouth open and we wait with bated breath for Robinho’s outburst following his move to AC Milan.

Following Craig Bellamy’s loan move to Cardiff and the club successfully off loading misfit Robinho to AC Milan, Mancini gave a place in the squad to injury prone striker Roque Santa Cruz and Brazilian Jo was also named alongside Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor in City’s strike force. New boy Mario Balotelli is under 21 and did not have to feature in the named squad but is still available for selection,

Michael Johnson was possibly a surprise inclusion in midfield while Shaleum Logan is also included in defence. Youngster Dedryk Boyata, who scored his first goal for the club against Timisoara, is another player who is still eligible for selection due to the under 21 rule.

Shay Given is named along with Joe Hart and Stuart Taylor and the blues have a strong young contingent represented in the squad, including a significant number of players that qualify as homegrown.

City’s Premier League Squad 2010/11 Season

Keepers:            Joe Hart, Shay Given, Stuart Taylor

Defenders:      Micah Richards, Kolo Toure, Jerome Boateng,                Joleon Lescott, Wayne Bridge, Aleksander Kolarov, Shaleum Logan, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany

Midfielders:   Nigel de Jong, Yaya Toure, Gareth Barry, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Adam Johnson, Michael Johnson, David Silva, Patrick Vieira

Strikers:         Carlos Tevez, Roque Santa Cruz, Jo, Emmanuel Adebayor

The named squad is for Premier League games only and does not affect FA and League Cup competitions.