More on Robinho

This is the story that just won't go away - Robinho's move to Barcelona. And it's still moving. This week's training camp in Abu Dhabi has seen high profile denials from Mark Hughes and Garry Cook. The manager said:

"I am quite clear and Robinho should be quite clear that his future is very much with City. There is no reason to think that will change any time soon. These stories do not originate from anyone from City."

All is not what it seems, though. Daniel Taylor has reported that behind the scenes Robinho is desperate to move to Barcelona, and that the City hierarchy are quite resigned to his doing so:

Fourteen months after breaking the English transfer record to join the club from Real Madrid, Robinho is now so unsettled he has informed his advisers he does not "want another day in Manchester". Mark Hughes, the City manager, described the revelation last night as "people making mischief" but, behind the scenes, he has known for a long time that Robinho is disaffected and, grudgingly, the club have started the search for a possible replacement. Angel Di María of Benfica has been identified among the leading candidates and has a £27m buyout clause in his contract.

The question now seems to be when, rather than if, Robinho leaves. Hughes is keen not to lose such a talented player in the middle of the season but, if the Brazilian has his way, he will move at the earliest opportunity.

There's more, but we all know the fundamentals here: Robinho (and his wife, apparently) have not settled in the area, that he is attracted by what he sees as the more comfortable option at Barça, that Pep Guardiola wants a specialist left winger, and that the return to form and fitness of Martin Petrov and Craig Bellamy mean that Robinho is no longer the indispensable man.

None of this means that he will certainly leave in January, or even in the summer. But it is another step in that direction.

Hughes defends Bridge

After our left back was crucified by Alan Hansen on Match of the Day on Saturday evening:

"The pundits on Match of the Day just have an opportunity to nail individuals in the public domain," he said. "That process involves looking at incidents in games but not taking it as a whole. That's the role in life that they have decided to follow. There's a frustration, though, from our side when they don't go into particularly in-depth analysis. I'd question how many games they actually watch live, from the start to the conclusion of games. Everybody knows that's the case...

"Wayne is an experienced player who has won Premier League titles and been part of a Chelsea team at the top end," Hughes, right, said. "He understands what it's all about. At times individuals will make decisions that affect the team and sometimes you have to hold up your hand.But we're not going to do the same as the pundits because that's not what we're about. We look to analyse our mistakes and make sure, in future, we are better in similar situations. We won't single out individual players; that job is done by pundits."

Fair enough, I suppose. It's Hughes' job to defend our players in public. It's good for morale and part of the whole seige mentality that Hughes is keen to build. Hansen was right, though - Bridge was woeful on Saturday. And Lescott wasn't much better.

More Burnley reax

Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail

City’s problems are obvious. The two central defenders Hughes bought in the summer, Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott, have not developed an understanding, while his full backs, especially Wayne Bridge, are struggling with their positional play.

City also lack a world-class defensive midfield player. If they had bought Javier Mascherano instead of Carlos Tevez then they would be a better team. City were undone against Burnley by familar failings in a terrific game.

Ian Herbert, The Independent

We will remember them. Manchester City did not have Richard Dunne in mind when they asked an officer from the Royal British Legion to read Laurence Binyon's verse before kick-off but that's how it transpired.

Dunne reluctantly left Manchester on 31 August – since when City have managed one clean sheet – and this contributed to a revisionist interpretation of his worth on Saturday. Dunne was the name City fans were murmuring at half-time and the one which, by 5.30pm, Stan Collymore was hollering to his listeners from a press box where those trying to compose some words of sense from this remarkable match longed for someone to flick a switch to turn him and his power supply off.

Mark Ogden, Daily Telegraph

This performance emphasised why Hughes was so determined to sign John Terry. For all his transfer dealings, he has yet to sign a player with Terry’s leadership qualities and drive. City do not possess a player with his fire and determination. There is no Roy Keane, Graeme Souness or Alan Shearer figure.

He might have assembled a dressing room of winners, players with Premier League and Champions League medals, but when the going gets tough, those players have been looking for somebody else to turn the tide in City’s favour.

James Ducker, The Times

A season that, to quote Hughes, started “like a house on fire” has gradually fallen limp, to the point where the manager and his players must feel as though they have been doused down with a rather large hose.

After winning their first four matches, City have managed a solitary victory in the seven league games since and if Liverpool beat Birmingham City at Anfield tonight, they will fall to seventh position, outside the minimum requirement of a top-six finish set by Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chairman.

Jeremy Alexander, The Guardian

As a result Burnley, who had no intention of settling for crumbs, swiped the caviar and foie gras while City were waiting to be served. The service was slack from Stephen Ireland, recalled for Nigel de Jong in a formation so wide and attacking that it was nearly 4-2-4. Before Fletcher rolled in Eagles' cross there was a penalty in the wake of Shay Given's save at Birmingham last week. Then Given had stood off-centre, inviting James McFadden to go to the side he would then commit himself to. Graham Alexander took his sequence of success to 28, going the other way.

Times: City move for Di María

A new transfer rumour in the Sunday Times: City are set to move for Benfica's 21 year old Argentine winger Ángel Di María, should Robinho leave:

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira met City officials in Liverpool on Thursday before his club’s Europa League victory over Everton. Though Benfica will resist selling Di Maria during a season in which they hold a realistic chance of regaining the Portuguese title for the first time in five years, they will encourage suitors in the summer. Di Maria, whose transfer rights are 20% owned by a third-party investment fund, is valued by the club at more than £27m. At 21, the player has established himself in Argentina’s World Cup squad, having scored an audacious winning goal in the final of the 2008 Olympic tournament.

It's certainly a new one, and quite a surprise. I've seen quite a bit of Di María over the last year or so and he doesn't look much like the sort of player Mark Hughes would go for. Just go through the main criteria he looks for in signing a player: experience - at the top end of the EPL, and of winning trophies, a winning mentality, athleticism, being at the peak of his game. Put simply, none of them are there with Di María.

He's clearly a prodigious talent: technically gifted, able to breeze past defenders, with a good shot and a taste for the unexpected. But that's not to say that he's anywhere near the finished article. If we have to replace Robinho with a big money left-winger we are surely more likely to go for a more developed player. The News of the World today claimed that we are in talks to sign Franck Ribéry. I can't see us getting Ribéry, but he certainly seems more like a more plausible target than Di María.

An interesting possibility, though, is that a potential move for Di María signals a move to a new transfer policy; focussing on the best of young talent rather than established stars. Ultimately, I think that the pressure to get as close to third or fourth as possible this year will mean that we stick with targeting established names. But it's a good story either way.

Burnley reax

Joe Lovejoy, The Observer

Hughes put a brave face on yet another disappointing result, praising his players for fighting back from a 2-0 deficit into a winning position and excusing the outcome by saying: "There are times when we look like what we are: a team trying to gel." The good Sheikh, however, may be less sanguine about a slip from fourth to sixth place in the table which, even at this early stage, must call into question City's prospects of turning European potential into solid achievement.

On this evidence, they are still very much a work in progress, fallible at the back and caught between two stools in midfield. Joleon Lescott's England credentials were damaged by indiscretions that led to Burnley's first two goals, while the return of Stephen Ireland, at the expense of Nigel de Jong, left the team unexpectedly vulnerable in the central crucible.

Ian Herbert, Independent on Sunday

Manchester City could scarcely have done more before yesterday's game to remember those who laid down everything in defence of these shores. What their manager wouldn't give for someone who will lay anything down in defence of his side's goal.

Laurence Binyon's For the Fallen was the verse they read before kick-off, a fair description of City's back four last night as they crouched on their haunches in the drizzle and winced. They can have no complaint that their ranks, with one win in seven in the Premier League after a fifth successive draw, met with muffled boos at the end; nor that Kevin McDonald's 87th-minute equaliser had denied them a win.

Jonathan Northcroft, Sunday Times

Mark Hughes and his players were jeered when Stuart Attwell, who had a difficult game as referee, trilled the final whistle. When Hughes used a few oil drums of Sheikh Mansour’s vast stash to lavish £110m on new players over the summer, more was anticipated than home struggles versus Burnley. The fact the visiting team were vibrant, skilled and indomitable — virtues that are coming to characterise Owen Coyle’s brand of football — was irrelevant to City’s followers. All they know is their club have drawn five league games in a row and are not going to get into Europe, never mind the Champions League, like this.

Mark Ogden, Sunday Telegraph

“We’re 11 games into the season and we’ve done OK, no better than that,” Hughes said. “I warned everybody at the start of the season, there will be times when we look like what we are, which is a team trying to gel, and at other times an outstanding side.”

Both of City’s faces were on display, the former more than the latter. Having come back from 2-0 down to lead the game, City should have run out convincing winners as they poured forward in the second half, Craig Bellamy to the fore. But instead of settling things, they conceded a late equaliser that means they have taken just eight points in seven games.

Joe Bernstein, Mail on Sunday

A lot of fingers will be pointed at Lescott, who has looked unsettled following his acrimonious £24m departure from Everton. Yesterday, he gave away a penalty with a needless handball and then went to sleep when thinking that the game was almost won.

'I don't think Joleon was at fault for every goal. It's a collective thing,' said Hughes.

But you know next week in the Gulf he will be asking about the possibility of signing another couple of defenders. Whether he will be entrusted with the money - the back five City put out yesterday cost £70m - is another matter.

Burnley player ratings

Given How he must despair of scenes like those. Why exactly did he leave Newcastle? Blameless for all three of the goals. Clearly frustrated at bad marking both from open and set plays. 7

Zabaleta A peculiarly inconsistent performance. Looked as poor as most in the first half but improved after half time. For all I say about his crossing he had ten or so good opportunities to deliver and made nothing of them. 6

Touré No individual errors but as captain and centre-half he has to wear some of the blame for the collective mistakes. Carried the ball from the back as calmly ever and took his goal well. 7

Lescott Strange decision to raise hands conceded an early penalty, and he never fully recovered his poise. Let David Nugent through in stoppage time - I would not have enjoyed a 4-3 defeat. 4

Bridge Very poor. A series of mistakes, leaving the rest of the defence under pressure. And a terrible mistake which led to MacDonald's late equaliser. Sylvinho can't be far from a start. 4

SWP His best game in some time: got past Stephen Jordan repeatedly and his delivery was much better than at St Andrew's last Sunday. Set up Craig Bellamy and with better performance from the strikers would have set up more. Helped out with a big deflection for his goal. 7

Ireland Terrible in the first half but grew into the game later on. But did not provide the control we would have had with Nigel de Jong starting and did not exactly make up for it with his invention. It would be a surprise if he were to start at Anfield. 7

Barry Out of sorts for a few matches and he was poor today. Failed to impose himself on Graham Alexander and André Bikey. We could have done with both his control and invention at different points. 5

Bellamy Tireless running down the left, repeatedly getting past the full-back and cutting inside. Took his goal well, and continued to bother the defence when moved central for the last twenty minutes. 7

Tévez The same as recent games: endless running, dogged strength and hold-up play - but poor finishing when it mattered. Had two chances at 3-2 - one from a cut back from the right, one half volley from two yards out - which a £47m striker really ought to score. At this rate he's not going to get ten in the Premier League. 6

Adebayor Came back from injury to replace Santa Cruz but did not look fully fit himself: drifted out of the game and did not trouble the defence as much as he ought. We could do with his sitting out of Togo's crunch international against Gabon on Saturday. 5

Subs

Petrov Tried out both flanks, almost set up Adebayor and had a good shot on goal himself. 6

City 3 - 3 Burnley

• What happens when you don't win a must win? I feel pretty low today after that. The one precondition of our having a good season this year is to repeat last season's home form. And if there was one thing we were good at in 2008/09 it was beating bad teams at home. So for us to welcome Burnley - two goals and zero points in five away games before yesterday - and to concede three and draw is nothing short of a disgrace and an embarrassment.

• There's only one place to start. What sort of a defence concedes three goals at home to Burnley? The errors, individual and collective, were enough to make you question why Hughes had smuggled in Laurent Charvet, Tal Ben Haim and, despite appearances, Stephen Jordan to play in blue for the day. Lescott's handball for the penalty was mindless, and the collective switch-off for Fletcher's goal even worse. The climax, though, was Bridge's letting Brian Jensen's punt hit his back rather than head it away, David Nugent picked the ball up who fed Steven Fletcher who fed Kevin MacDonald. It wasn't great.

• The question, though, is whether this is an individual or collective problem. Do we need better defenders? Or do we need more time for the current lot to gel? Wayne Bridge and Joleon Lescott are not bad defenders - they have excelled in the Premier League before and the last two England managers have both been sufficiently impressed to pick them. But they're clearly not functioning as a unit. Whether or not we need to shell out on a new left back, centre back (and maybe a right back too), or just stick with what we've got and hope they improve is a big decision for Hughes.

• But as bad as Lescott and Bridge were they are not the only ones who deserve blame. Between the goals of Wright-Phillips and MacDonald we were all over Burnley, and while turning 2-0 to 3-2 is good, failing to turn 3-2 into 4 or even 5-2 is not. The number of times we got into scoring positions and failed to kill the game suggests that our defenders are not the only ones out of form. Carlos Tévez missed two glorious chances at 3-2 and Emmanuel Adebayor drifted out of the game.
  

• Our draw at Villa Park was good. At the DW Stadium we did quite well. Blowing a 2-0 lead against Fulham at home is very poor. We were abject at St. Andrew's. And this was atrocious. We're getting worse, quickly. Who knows what horrors await us the far side of the international break, if we maintain this trend? Blowing a three goal lead at Anfield? A four goal lead against Steve Coppell's Hull City?
  

A note to the idiots

Don't boo Stephen Jordan or Tyrone Mears tomorrow.

Just don't.

Burnley preview

If you thought that the last game was a must win, this is something else. Just imagine the headlines, the top of Match of the Day billing, the laughing neutrals, the crisis club labels we'll get if we don't beat Burnley. Now remember that Burnley have 2 goals, 17 conceded and 0 points in five away games so far, and breathe out.

But after our third consecutive collapse at home against Fulham, we can't afford to be complacent about our home form. We ought to win, but then we ought to have held that two goal lead two weeks ago. This is City, remember.

After the stalefest last Sunday it would be nice to see a slight change to the team and formation tomorrow. I'm with the 97% of voters who would like to see Stephen Ireland from the start tomorrow. And I'm also with the majority that want to see him in his position from last season - in the hole behind a lone striker. Emmanuel Adebayor will replace Roque Santa Cruz up front whatever happens, and, in my dream scenario, Ireland would come in for SWP. Carlos Tévez would shift out wide in the Dirk Kuyt right channel role.

I can see the merits in returning to the early season set up; 4-4-2 with Ireland and Barry anchoring for Bellamy, Adebayor, Tévez and SWP. But it's not the team I'd choose. Mark Hughes hinted at the eventual re-introduction of Ireland in his press conference today, without committing on formation options:

"We've changed the shape of the team.

"For the majority of the season last year we played 4-3-3, but we have changed to a 4-4-2 more often than not this year.

"Nigel and Gareth became a pair when Stephen went out of the team, did well, so Stephen has found it a little difficult to get back in...

"He is too good a player to keep out of the team for too long."

I hope we see him tomorrow. Another possible change to the team is Sylvinho coming in for Wayne Bridge if he fails to recover from his injury, but that shouldn't really alter the balance of the game too much.

On a personal note this is my first home game since West Brom in April, so I'm hoping to be impressed. Prediction? A breezy 4-0.

Jonno back in U21s

Good news: Michael Johnson is back in Stuart Pearce's England U21 squad for the games against Portugal and Lithuania next week. If he plays (there are already some good midfielders there - Jack Rodwell, Fabrice Muamba, Fabien Delph), it will be good news. He needs games and while we keep on drawing we do not have the luxury of easing people back to fitness through the first team.

Lucky for us that the man who gave Johnson his City debut is no longer City manager in charge of the England U21s. Pearce had this to say:

‘Michael Johnson has had a massive absence from injury for a long, long time, so being in the squad will be a big lift for him."

Fellow MCFC Academy grads Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge are also in the squad.