Mancini bar scarves available

Ever wanted to be a successful Manchester City manager? You need a few things, such as tactical nous, a slightly greying windswept bouffant, the ability to fit the phrase "very important" into every sentence, and a cool looking scarf.

You can get one step closer, with the 'Mancini bar scarf', available soon on the Official Site. I don't know how practical it will be to wear a scarf considering it's well over 30 degrees at the moment, but hey.

Besides, I was rocking this look back as early as November — if anything he stole it off me!

They will retail at £8 each (rip-off), but if you want to get one, grab some other gear as well because of the £15 postage (bigger rip-off). If enough people want one, I can do a bulk order to save cash.

Reasons to love Patrick Vieira

Number one: He reckons we can win the league.
Number two: He hates that Roy Keane.
What's not to like?

Carlos Tevez: Premier League Player of December

We were all amazed by Carlos Tevez's contribution in the past month (eight goals in all competitions), and it seems the rest of the football world noticed too, with the Argentine crowned the Premier League's best player of December. From the official Premier League website:

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has won the Barclays Player of the Month award for December.

The Argentinian produced a string of impressive displays last month, scoring seven goals in six matches to boost his side's title challenge.

Tevez's impressive month included scoring the winner against Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea, an equaliser against Bolton Wanderers and a goal against Sunderland in their 4-3 victory.

When Roberto Mancini took over the scoring didn't stop with a goal against Stoke City and a brace in the 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

This is the first time Tevez has won the Barclays Player of the Month award, after bursting onto the Barclays Premier League scene with West Ham United in the 2006/07 season.

The decision was made by the Barclays Awards Panel, which includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

I'm fairly certain that the last City winner of this award was Micah Richards in September 2007, and Sven Goran Eriksson may have picked up the Manager's award in the same month. So that's our first trophy for the season, hopefully we can make room in the cabinet for one or two more.

Patrick Vieira move imminent

The transfer window has been open for a week now, and there hasn't been activity by any Premier League club at this stage, save for a managerial change as Owen Coyle went to Bolton from Burnley. It should come as no major surprise that the first player transfer of the window should be to Manchester City — a club that has a shitload of money and a new manager willing to spend it.

Most major news sources in England (such as the BBC and the Guardian) are suggesting that Patrick Vieira is to join City on a short-term deal — most likely six months, possibly as long as eighteen months.

Vieira has spoken of his desire to join the club, and for one last shot at making the French squad for South Africa:

"It's over, after a year in Turin and three-and-a-half years in Milan... I wanted to go to the World Cup and I need playing time."

"I have objectives and I can't achieve them by staying at Inter where I am not part of the coach's choice.

"What's important for me is to go to Manchester City, to show the coach that I am the same as I was during the period when he was at Inter. All this will help me get into the France team."

And Inter manager Jose Mourinho has all but confirmed the move:

"I should give a special mention to Vieira, who certainly played his last game with us... I don't know where he will go, maybe England which he likes a lot, but we should thank him for what he has done."

"The club decided not to renew his contract, which is coming to an end, and to accept the offer of another club."

"I will miss him but I don't have the right to demand anything from a club who has done so much for me. He had an impeccable game [against Chievo]. It was the perfect farewell to us, and I want to wish him all the best for his new career."

It's interesting to note the similarities in the way that Roberto Mancini and Mark Hughes go about their transfer business.

Patrick Vieira played under Mancini at his previous club. He also has an enormous amount of Premier League experience. He is a winner — FA Cup, European Championships, World Cup, and the Premier League. These are the same qualities that Hughes looked for when signing such players as Sylvinho, Wayne Bridge, Carlos Tevez, and Kolo Toure. Proven winners.

So Vieira may be on the wrong side of thirty (33 actually) and may be using us solely as a vehicle to qualify for the World Cup. But he still obviously shows that hunger and desire to perform at the highest level, even if it means moving to a different league to get that opportunity.

Motivation won't be an issue for Patrick — but fitness may be. And if it doesn't work out, no harm done really.

UPDATE 09/10: Vieira unveiled on the Official Site. Good signing.

Manchester City's financial records released

And boy do they look good!

You can read the full article on the Official Site, but here's the important bits:

Turnover for the year ended 31st May 2009 increased by 6% to £87.0m (2008:£82.3m), with this increase being offset by a significant increase in operating expenses to £121.2m (2008: £83.9m) primarily driven by increased playing staff costs.

This resulted in a Net Operating Loss of £34.2m (2008: £1.6m) and a Net Loss for the Year after amortisation of player contracts and financing charges of £92.6m (2008: £32.6m).

Match day attendances were up to 42,890 from an average of 42,081 in the previous season, with ticketing revenues ahead by £1.8m mainly as a result of the extended UEFA Cup run. TV Revenues were up 12% to £48.3m mainly as a result of UEFA cup performance, offset partially by a lower league placing than in the previous year.

Revenues from other commercial activities decreased by 8% to £23.3m mainly due to a £4.5m reduction in events revenues, primarily as a result of having no events based activities in the 08/09 season, whereas in the prior year the Stadium held the UEFA Cup Final as well as music concerts and a major boxing event.

Costs relating to amortisation of player contracts increased in the year, rising to £39.4m from £25.4m in the previous year and reflecting again the costs of building a new young playing squad. Interest payable and similar charges increased significantly as a result of the increased level of shareholder loans made to the business during the year.

Manchester City also confirmed today that subsequent to the end of the financial year, it has restructured its Balance Sheet with owner Sheikh Mansour converting all of his existing £304.9m shareholder loans made to the Club into equity. Sheikh Mansour has also purchased further shares to a value of £89.6m as a measure of his long term commitment to the Club.

So what this essentially means is we outlaid £92.6m more than we could make back. Considering the amount of money spent on transfers and wages, it's not too bad — and it's not that much more than the compound interest the Rags have to pay off every year just to stay afloat!

And the last sentence here is the most pertinent. We officially owe Sheikh Mansour nothing (except a shitload of gratitude). Every penny he has spent on the club in 'loans' has been converted to equity. So he just buys more and more shares, although he owns practically 100% anyway.

This is in contrast to the financial cluster-fuck of other clubs such as Portsmouth, West Ham, and Notts County, who are somehow owned by skint billionaires. We really are blessed to in such safe hands, for not just the short-term, but for the foreseeable future.