Liverpool FC Forum

by **Ciggy** » Fri May 16, 2008 8:17 am

WTF and to think he was nearly our owner

FIRING SQUAD.

Tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra has put Manchester City’s entire squad up for sale in the latest twist to his bizarre behaviour.

Thai billionaire Shinawatra, who is already set to sack manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, is apparently so disgusted with the team’s performances in the second half of the season that he wants a massive clear-out, including young stars such as Micah Richards, Michael Johnson and Joe Hart.

The news of the impending fire sale throws City even deeper into turmoil and will further antagonise fans, who staged a mass demonstration against Shinawatra last week.

They are threatening to withhold money for season tickets until it becomes clear who the manager will be next season and what players will be on the pitch. It also underlines the belief of many City insiders that Shinawatra does not understand football.

City’s owner, it is understood, has written a letter to each member of the team conveying his feelings.

He has put all contract talks on hold and wants to start next season from scratch with a new manager and new players. All this has prompted deputy chairman John Wardle, who is distraught at the crisis, to apologise to the players for selling the club to Shinawatra.

But the damage has been done and many players will be delighted to jump ship and relaunch their careers at a club with a less volatile owner.

Skipper Richard Dunne is expected to join Newcastle for £5million. The poor treatment of Eriksson was the final straw for Dunne, City’s Player of the Season. Richards is also unhappy.

He signed a new four-year contract in February because he was sure the club were going in the right direction. But Manchester United and Chelsea have now been alerted.

Johnson is a target for Liverpool, and goalkeeper Hart is being pursued by Tottenham, who also covet Martin Petrov, City’s Bulgarian winger.

Sunderland have been eyeing Stephen Ireland and there would be no shortage of bids for Elano.

Morale was so low that City lost Sunday’s final league game 8-1 against Middlesbrough.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/44612/Firing-squad

by **Judge** » Fri May 16, 2008 8:25 am

dear me, why is it that these eastern buyers appear to be somewhat of a despot in style??

mind you, we could benefit if we managed to get micah richards, i think he's a quality young player

by **bunglemark2** » Fri May 16, 2008 8:30 am

Pity that Richard Dunne wants to rejoin Keegan, who he credits as having saved his career. He's never gonna win jack with them.....City's Player of the Year 4 years in a row, and I reckon he'd be a cracking addition to LFC

by **112-1077774096** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:17 am

sounds like a load of bollox to me, City are in Bangkok at the moment for an end of season tour, they are very much in the news here for the football and there is no mention of this anywhere in the press here. (which with the desire of some newspapers to cast him in a bad light since the coup against him didn't exactly work is very surprising.)

lets not forget the press said Erikson was already told he would be fired after the last game of the season yet here he is in bangkok leading city on their post season tour.

just sound like press baloney to me to be fair

by **andy_g** » Fri May 16, 2008 9:57 am

eriksson has known for a few games that he wasn't going to be the manager next season but it has always been set in stone that he would be with the team for the promotional tour. i'm not sure why he's gone to be honest, maybe its an extra contractual obligation, maybe he doesn't get his pay-off if he doesn't go, maybe its something else.

the rumours about thaksin putting the whole squad up for sale are in appearing in various places in the british press this morning. it is just a rumour for now but it wouldn't surprise me if there was some truth behind it. maybe its a threat more than a promise but the guy clearly knows eff all about football and isn't exactly the most rational or humanitarian of people.

thank christ he didn't get anywhere near liverpool.

by **Number 9** » Fri May 16, 2008 10:12 am

Yet another example of a clueless foreigner with more money than sense destroying a football club.
The city fans must feel like us with G&H!

If these people keep coming to England and destroying clubs and their traditions,i'd hate to see the state of the League in 10 years time!

by **Ciggy** » Fri May 16, 2008 10:18 am

I thought only eriksson was in Thailand for talks about his future? 3 city players played for England under 21s last night.

by **112-1077774096** » Fri May 16, 2008 10:52 am

no, they have a game here tomorrow and then a game in hong kong

by **The Manhattan Project** » Fri May 16, 2008 2:51 pm

Micah Richards.

Anfield is waiting for you.

by **JoeTerp** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:06 pm

If Chelsea already have Boswinga coming in, you'd think Citeh would rather sell to us than United right?

Would still cost a LOT of money

by **Dundalk** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:08 pm

He has denied the whole thing now??

by **The Manhattan Project** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:16 pm

I like that dude Petrov too.

by **account deleted by request** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:21 pm

Thaksin Shinawatra has strenuously denied reports that he has put Manchester City’s entire first team squad up for sale.

Friday’s Daily Express sensationally claimed that the former Thai Prime Minster had become so disillusioned with City’s performances in the second half of the season that he was willing to listen to offers for any players.

It is already expected that manager Sven Goran Eriksson will leave Eastlands, despite dining with Shinawatra and the playing staff in Bangkok last weekend, and Friday’s report speculated that established names such as Richard Dunne, Micah Richards and Michael Johnson could also join a City exodus.

Shinawatra has wasted no time in rubbishing the claims though, with the owner underlining he is happy with how the players performed whilst accruing the club's biggest Premier League points tally in a 38-game season.

“There is absolutely no truth to this story or any of the allegations. I appreciate the progress and performance of the whole squad, managed by Sven Goran Eriksson, this season,” Shinawatra told the club’s official website.

Shinawatra has also denied that deputy chairman John Wardle had apologised to the players for selling the club in the summer.

Manchester City spokesman Paul Tyrrell said: “We are currently taking legal advice regarding these news reports and will pursue those who continue to run or repeat this false story and its allegations without the chairman’s rebuttal.”
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Its not the whole squad thats going...............he has decided to keep Sun Jihai

by **The Manhattan Project** » Fri May 16, 2008 5:41 pm

This dude will be like that mad bloke who owns Hearts.

They were on the verge of something big with George Burley.

Then the owner wrecked it all.

by **Toffeehater** » Sun May 18, 2008 8:14 am

Micah richards and Michael Johnson would be good for this sqaud , big and physical also would nbot mind taking richard dunne and joe hart

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