Manchester City Forums

Ireland was one of our better players toward the end of last season.

Ireland as a starter on the right could be an option

How about elano on the right ?

It is such a dicey balance having enough quality in to the reserves in case injuries occur, keeping those quality players happy playing bit-parts or less during times that all are fit. You would have to think if you had a large squad, a heavy schedule of EPL/cups/Euro can help keep most players playing regular.

God I hope that makes sense.

Interesting one this. I know it's the Graudian but even so.

I don't understand their comments about it being bad new for Nedum though. I was under the impression that Ben-Haim could play on the left. Might be wrong but I'm sure I read that somewhere.

[color="DarkRed"]Manchester City close in on £5m Ben-Haim
Daniel Taylor
guardian.co.uk, Thursday July 10, 2008
Article history

Chelsea's Tal Ben-Haim could be heading to Manchester City. Photograph: Scott Heavey/Action Images

Manchester City hope to end Tal Ben-Haim's short and unsuccessful spell at Chelsea after instigating formal talks to make him their second signing of the summer.

Ben-Haim is keen to leave Stamford Bridge only 13 months after signing a four-year contract and the Israeli international is one of the players whom Chelsea's new manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, is willing to sell as he seeks to trim down the club's first-team squad.

Portsmouth are also understood to be interested in the 26-year-old, having spent several weeks unsuccessfully trying to persuade the City captain Richard Dunne to move to the south coast. Tottenham, meanwhile, inquired about Ben-Haim's potential availability in January, but sources close to the player have confirmed that City are the favourites.

The deal is expected to cost around £5m and, if everything goes according to plan, will be concluded by the end of the week. Thaksin Shinawatra, City's owner, would then have spent around £25m since the end of last season, having already signed the Brazilian striker Jo from CSKA Moscow, with the same amount still available to the club's new manager, Mark Hughes, for the remainder of the summer.

Ben-Haim, who has 39 caps for Israel, joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Bolton Wanderers but started only 10 Premier League games last season and has not been involved with the first team since an FA Cup tie against Huddersfield Town in February. He subsequently fell out with Avram Grant after criticising his style of management and bemoaning the loss of Jose Mourinho.

His imminent departure hardly constitutes a shock, therefore, although there will be an element of surprise for City's supporters given that Hughes has just persuaded Dunne to sign a new four-year contract and also has an England international, Micah Richards, at centre-half. The arrival of another player in that position would inevitably raise questions about Nedum Onuoha's future at the club.[/color]