Eriksson to meet Man City squad

Dmac

Eriksson to meet Man City squad



Sven-Goran Eriksson will meet Manchester City's players at their Carrington training ground on Wednesday morning, BBC Sport understands.

Eriksson, 59, flew up to Manchester from London on Tuesday evening.

The former England coach agreed a three-year contract in principle last week to take over as City's manager.

He will not be formally unveiled as boss until City's prospective new owner Thaksin Shinawatra takes his shareholding in the club past 75%.

Eriksson will succeed Stuart Pearce, who was sacked at the end of last season.

The former Benfica, Roma, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Lazio boss has been out of football since leaving the England job after the 2006 World Cup.

City's players report back for training on Wednesday and Eriksson will be there to meet them for the first time.

But he will not be officially named as City's new manager until former Thai Prime Minister Shinawatra takes his shareholding in the club past the 75% that will allow him to take it off the Stock Exchange.

Thaksin currently has a 65.78% share in the Premier League club.

He made Eriksson his top managerial target and is understood to have made a £50m transfer fund available.

Eriksson has already sounded out Roland Andersson about becoming his assistant at Eastlands.

Currently Sweden's assistant coach, Andersson said he was "flattered" to be offered the role.

Credit - BBC Sport

Well first off, he flew from London to Manchester? Not heard of cars? But seriously, it is nice to see him back in management, he didn't exactly do a bad job at England, he just didn't seem to meet the FA's expectations, what I can say is he did a hell of a lot better than McLaren in doing that's for sure. Eriksson is a smart enough man to make the right signings and although the loss of Barton and Distin is a blow, I am sure he can find suitable replacements.

The Phantom

If I could afford it I'd fly from London to Manchester If I could afford it. He probably wanted to avoid the M6 as much as possible considering the jams around there on Monday.

Dmac

Even if I could afford I wouldn't waste money on flying that short of a distance.

The Phantom

It's all about the time. It's twice as quick to fly than it is to drive. Plus you have a bit of eye candy with the stewardesses to look at instead of a fat man in a lorry.

Dmac

It is like 10 times quicker yes but still a waste of money when you could just drive down and if he has money, get a damn driver to drive for him and save money from a plane ticket.

The Phantom

He doesn't need to save money... he's been sittin on his arse for 2 years while getting paid by the FA. And really to him a plane fare is like a bus ticket to us.

Tyler Durden

Well this quickly flew off topic!!

Anyhoo......I wonder how many of them he'll recognise?

I was looking at the Man City squad the other day. In my mind, they currently need (at the very least) a left back, two central midfielders, a centre back, two wide midfielders and one (maybe two centre forwards) and that's just looking at the first team not the additional extra squad.

He's in for a busy time.

I wonder if he'll drive or fly to do his scouting (he he!!)

Dmac

I reckon that all he needed is replacements for Barton and Distin and maybe a striker.

Tyler Durden

Maybe to just about stay up, if they're lucky.

I think it's a fair bet that Thaksin is looking for a tad more than finishing in the bottom third.

Put it this way, without any signings, their current "best" team is as follows -

Isaksson

Richards
Dunne
Onuoha
Ball (was out of contract 30/6 and hasn't signed yet)

Hamann
Dabo
Ireland

Vassell
Samaras
Mpenza

With Weaver, Mills, young Michael Johnson, Dickov and Corradi as the only realistic back up to that team.

If you think that's a pretty good squad that only needs a couple of additions, then fine!!

Dmac

Stephen Ireland is one of their best? Damn they do need help lol.