re: 2010-2011 Man City Season Thread

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In a weekend of respectful tributes to staunch and heroic acts of resistance, patience finally ran out for Roberto Mancini's thin blue line at home to Birmingham. Widespread disgruntlement morphed into open revolt, as flimsy City failed to fashion anything resembling a new front when faced with the 'one-season wonders' led by flame-haired Fergie wannabe Alex McLeish.

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Despite Adam Johnson feeling the full wrath of Mancini's pidgin English before the game, he was afforded a rare start, as if the gaffer was daring him to produce the form he promised he would when playing spin the bottle at whatever university the squad have been boozing at this week.

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His simple, almost dignified, eyebrow lift said it all, as he was removed on 83 minutes to be replaced by the goalscoring machine that is Gareth Barry. After a hearty round of booing, the City faithful then made a polite enquiry from the stands - "What the f**k is going on?" - summing up perfectly why the rest of the Premier League dislikes them so: they got rich quick, and sold out even quicker.

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Toure Slams City Slackers

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure claims a number of his highly-paid teammates don't deserve their place in the team because they don't work hard enough. Speaking ahead of City's Premier League clash with Fulham, Toure took a swipe at his colleagues and even suggested the club could withhold the wages of certain players until they pull their socks up.

"You need to be honest, even if you hurt people, and there are some players here, I am not scared to say, who are not working hard enough for the team," Toure told the News of the World. "Some don't do enough in training but still expect to play."

The 29-year-old, a £16 million signing from Arsenal in 2009, added: "We all get big wages at City but some need to work harder. You cannot have a place in the team - even if you are an international - if you don't show what you can do in training.

"As players, we have the best job in the world and if the manager said: 'You haven't worked hard enough, you will only get half your wages this week', it would make players fight harder.

"I'm a professional footballer and, to me, playing regularly is the most important thing. Money is secondary."

However, Toure still believes fifth-placed City can win the Premier League title, as long as the players stop bickering and pull in the same direction.

He said: "Football is not just about money, it's about winning trophies. City want to be a big club. We feel pressure that we have to deliver and we can still win the title."

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If they play like they did against Fulham, they have a chance to go on a nice run.
Could they lead the league at New Year's?

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Happy Birthday to Nigel DeJong, who has gone a whole month without breaking anybody's leg (That we know of). Party at @stuholden 's house

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