It's a funny old game !

[Bob Singleton]

Yes Dace, I heard that they had a hit list with those three on it and an attitude of "we'll bid ?120m and see what happens"... though they'll have to wait a year now. I can't see Liverpool, Man U or Arsenal selling them in January, but if the offer is big enough, who knows next summer?

As for Chelsea... OK so we missed out on Robinho, but the side is strong enough to mount another challenge on all four fronts again this season.

As for the future, yes we may now get out-bid, but you can only have so many players in a squad. Will Chelsea and Man City always be looking at exactly the same players? For example, you're missing a top class holding midfielder. Chelsea have Essien and Mikel. So no conflict in the transfer market there. If you're going after Fabregas etc with Robinho and Elano already at Eastlands, then why not Kaka to Chelsea?

[Guilbert]

>But I will now predict that this is gonna be the start of something HUGE for us long suffering Blues - MOVE OVER MAN UTD.

Sorry to burst the bubble (or to bring you back down to earth)

Last year about this time you had a new rich owner, and you had the ex England manager in charge.

You beat M. United twice (and finished a respectable mid table for the first season).

Now your rich owner has gone, and Sven has gone.

Just wait a see what happens in a years time before getting too excitied

(Not a Man United fan, and no axe to grind, just too much experince of clubs getting lots of money but actually not benifitting much in the end)

Have to say though that in Mark Hughes you have a good manager who may have been a replacement for Fergie if he had not gone to City. Not sure United fans would be too happy to get an ex-City boss.

[JamesW]

"how fucking mad was that today? Robinho from under Chelsea's noses! Someone at Chelsea must be in for the boot for letting that one get away."


I think what happened in reality is that Mr Abramovich flatly refused to pay more than 35 million euros.

[Bob Singleton]

Have to disagree with Guilbert.

Thaksin was a dodgy guy and it was never certain exactly how much money he had to spend, given his problems back home. These new owners make Abramovich look like a pauper. Most of the money comes from oil, but now also property development.

By attempting to hijack the Berbatov deal and by getting Robinho (even if RA may have said 35m Euros but no more) in their first proper day in charge certainly lays down a marker that Thaksin Shinawatra never came close to doing.

These guys are the real deal. They have the money. They have the will.

[crofter]

I wonder what skeletons they will have in the closet though ... fair play to Manchester City would be nice to see the other side of Manchester getting back at their "superior and all conquering" (their words, not mine lol) rivals - that would really take the footballing biscuit.

BUT Are we 100% sure that this dude has bought the correct Manchester Club and something hasn't been lost in translation!grin!

[dynatech]

They're Saudi Arabs - they'll have more than skeletons in their closet....

[Dave Wells]

This year may not be all that special. If Jo and Robiniho can hit it off then maybe an attack on the Scouse spot (4th) might happen. But I think next season we will hit the transfer market and be a 'reet proper force'.

[Mike_CFC]

As a Chelsea fan,i certainly have no gripe about City's new spending power,afterall,if there's any club that deserves some time in the sun,it's Man City.

Btw City fans,do us a favour.

Come and get Peter Kenyon from us !thumbsup!

[Andy Mann]

You can keep him mate, we are more than happy with Gary Cook's work so far! lol