Why Sterling will be a great signing for City

After Raheem Sterling's first match in sky blue, Sterling's football talent finally took the mic away from his agent after months of talking in City's preseason win over Roma. Although just a friendly, Sterling showed why City paid as much as they did for him and why he will be a catalyst for their title challenge this season.

In a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground, all eyes were on Sterling. On his first touch of the ball apart from the kick off, boos rang around the stadium and it seemed to surprise Sterling as much the commentators as he tripped over the ball. He got straight back up though and carried on with business and won a corner. A few minutes later Iheanacho gave City the chance to counter attack and split the Roma defence with a sublime ball to Sterling. Sterling had the option to square it across goal to a partner but took his chance and scored his first City goal. Pjanic would go on moments later to score a stunner. Iheanacho would go onto equalise for City after a majestic but unintentional assist from Ashley Cole. Two minutes before time Ljajic again equalised for Roma with a nice free kick. City would then go on to win in a penalty shoot out due to Joe Hart's heroics.

What Sterling showed in this game is his pace and direct running will give City another dimension. 

Last season against Bayern, where City luckily beat the Bavarians, and against Barcelona in the champions league round of sixteen, City started with David Silva and Samir Nasri on the flanks. They opted to counter attack both teams, but this tactic was doomed from the start with these two on the wings. Both are world class players on the wings in the premier league, but only when City dominate possession. In this circumstance they can disregard the responsibilities of an ordinary winger of stretching the opposition and tracking back, instead being able to roam into the middle and not have to worry to much about running with their back to the opposition keeper. Against Bayern and Barcelona though, they had different roles and had to stretch the game and run with the ball. Both lack the pace and movement of a true winger, so when City broke away, they were not able to stab both teams on the counter like a Chelsea or a Real Madrid. Against Roma, Sterling was a constant thorn in the opposition defence as he ran at defenders but still played with the City philosophy of quick passing. Sterling's counter attack goal in the game highlights how in big matches against the bigger teams in the Champions league, he will be an asset and worth the money. He will give City the direct style they were pretending to have against Bayern and Barcelona and give City pace in the side.

Jesus Navas was crucified last season for his performances. While he wasn’t as bad as he was made out to have been, he is one dimensional in the way he only runs to the byline and crosses it. Rarely he cuts inside and roams into other areas of the pitch to make a difference. In the second half, when Sterling was off and Navas was on, City were much less of a threat. In the first forty five, Sterling was constantly swapping flanks, coming inside and out, while in the second half Navas only ran in one direction and took all shots on his right. Sterling is an upgrade in this sense as when deployed on the flanks he can run to the byline, cut inside or roam into central positions so the City attack will be more dynamic.

If this match was a highlight of what Sterling will do next season, City fans can rejoice. While his individual play was terrific, his link up with his teammates was just as good. Sterling's cohesion with the team, especially David Silva was mouth watering the whole first half. The two constantly proved difficult to read and it's players like Silva who bring out the best in others. With Silva, Sterling will definitely settle in better and seamlessly fit into the first team, and hopefully help City towards the Premier League trophy.

Pogba comitts to Juventus

By the looks of things Paul Pogba has quelled rumours of a move away from the Italian champions. The France international has been the subject of constant rumours of moves to Chelsea and Paris Saint Germain but told reporters he is thinking about the present and not the future.

 "I'm not interested in the future. I live in the present. I'm working well on the pitch, I'm not thinking about my contract and I've not scheduled meetings with Allegri and [president Andrea] Agnelli'

The talented midfielder, who has been compared to the likes of Patrick Vieira, also talked up the prospect of playing under new coach Massimiliano Allegri after the departure of Antonio Conte.

"Allegri and Conte are both great coaches. I've had a good feeling from the start. Conte is now gone and now we have Allegri. We met briefly, we talked a little over the weekend and we're ready to work together in complete harmony."

Pogba made thirty six appearances for Juventus in Serie A last term, scoring seven goals and seven assists. He was also named Young Player of the World Cup after guiding France to the quarter finals in Brazil.

Javier Hernandez agent vspeakes about future

Having been turned from a Sir Alex super sub to a David Moyes roll of the dice, Javier Hernandez endured a nightmare term for Manchester United last season. Now though, Hernandez has the chance to live the dream again as a new season is kicking off, but there is a chance his revolution may not be in a Manchester United shirt.

Javier Hernandez's agent, Eduardo Hernandez, recently spoke to Calciomercato.it about 'Chicharito's' current situation and Inter Milan, who the striker has been heavily linked with recently.

"To date there is no official negotiations. Javier yesterday joined fellow Manchester United teammates, reaching Los Angeles and in the coming days we will evaluate the various solutions, not just those relating to Inter."

Hernandez, who as a result of last season was dropped from the Mexico team during qualifying, returned to international football at World Cup. The striker only made four appearances for his country, all off the bench, and scored one goal. 

Eduardo also revealed he and his client have not yet spoken to Louis Van Gaal, who led Netherlands to the semi finals in Brazil.
"We have not yet spoken with Louis van Gaal, who will assess ' Chicharito ' firsthand before making a decision. "

Hernandez made twenty four appearances in the Premier League last season, reduced to only six starts for the Red Devil's. He scored four goals in those appearances and has revealed in the past his frustration in limited starting chances.

Mario Gotze is Germany's hero

Having been dropped to the bench for previous poor performances, Mario Gotze was the last roll of the dice for German coach Joachim Low when he threw the Bayern Munich attacker on late against Argentina. Lady Luck would happen to blow on Loew's hand as he rolled the dice, as Mario would prove the match winner for his country and a snake eyes for Argentina.

In what was a tense World Cup final, both Germany and Argentina no matter what they did could not get the back of the net to ripple in the standard 90 minutes. Both sides were blessed with chances, as Argentina were gifted a chance early in the first half only for Gonzalo Higuain to shoot wide. Germany unluckily hit the post late in the first half through defender Benedikt Howedes off a corner and moments after the second half whistle blew Lionel Messi had a chance to score but also failed to hit the target in the tug-of-war match being played in the Estadio Maracana. By then it was clear this match, no matter how many chances were given, this match would enter extra time.

Germany were clearly missing Mario Gotze throughout the match. The former Borussia Dortmund man is a blend of an elegant play maker and methodical finisher. He can just as easily be the one to load the gun or pull the trigger. For this his substitution for Miroslav Klose made sense as he was needed, and his distinctive style came into effect when Andre Schurrle delivered the killer cross that the midfield maestro dispatched to lift his nation and down another.

After a disappointing debut season for Bayern Munich, one in which he wasn't usually the first name on the team sheet, Mario Gotze needed a great World Cup. Before the final, Gotze's tournament was mixed. He started off bright by winning the penalty that led to Germany's opener against Portugal and scoring in his nation's second match against Ghana, but like all stars he looked to have burnt out as he fell out of favour with Joachim Low and was dropped to the bench in the knockout stages. Having not been invited to the 7-1 party that Germany had with Brazil, Gotze's winner against Argentina will be just as important to himself as to his country, as he was one of the players that needed a World Cup moment and few will have one as important as his.

When Gotze arrives in Germany, he will be a national hero. His goal will be etched into his country's proud football history, and will layout a new chapter in German football. He, like most of his teammates, still have one or two World Cups ahead and his winner could just foreshadow the international empire the Germans are about to build, and be a glimpse into the football's new superpower.

A diamond in the rough under Roberto Mancini, Samir Nasri's Manchester City career looked to be at a dead end just a year ago. Now though, the Frenchman is an all new light having been rewarded with a contract extension that will see him in a Sky Blue shirt until 2016 for his performances last season. This has completed Nasri's transformation under Manuel Pellegrinni as he is now one of true sparkling jewels in Manchester City's squad.

At the start of last season, it looked the bench jokes about Nasri would continue when he was on the substitutes list when City kicked off their campaign against Newcastle at the Etihad. During the match though, when Yaya Toure scored his first of many free kicks of the season, he celebrated with a warming up Nasri on the touchline. It was then you saw a Nasri that wanted a piece of the action, and wasn't gonna fuel his haters. His wish was granted when Pellegrinni threw him on and he wouldn't regret it. The former Arsenal ace hit the ground running and scored City's fourth goal after intercepting a poor pass from Newcastle and dispatching it, and this foreshadowed his upcoming season.

Although he looked good enough to start, Nasri's big break of the season came early on when David Silva picked up an injury. The creative midfielder looked the perfect replacement for the Spaniard and showed that he was a whole new different player under Pellegrinni in his performance in the Manchester Derby. Scoring a goal and playing a crucial part in the previous goals, he showed the confidence he inherited and from there Nasri never looked back and became a first name on the teamsheet.

What made Samir Nasri shine bright like the diamond he was at Arsenal was his creativity. He created the most chances in the Premier League along with Chelsea's Eden Hazard with 92 scoring opportunites made. He also had a wing man in David Silva at his side. Although David Silva's injury put Nasri in the lineup, his return kept him in it as the two developed a great partnership on the field. On the field they played slick short passes and taught defenders basic geometry with the shapes they drew with their passing.

Quick with his feet and great vision for his teammates, Nasri also has an eye for goal. His goals in the Capital One Cup final and late Premier League encounter against Sunderland respectively were crucial to the addition of new silverware to City's trophy cabinet. He also opened the scoring against West Ham on the final match day of the season in which City won the Premier League.

Samir Nasri's commitment to the Premier League champions should be as exciting as opening the present from Santa under the Christmas tree. After a largely forgettable season he turned in an unforgettable season, one in which he propelled his side to the title. Now though, he should take his game to the next level along with his teammates, and must put in the performances he did in the Premier League in the UEFA Champions League, and then he may be much more than just a player in City's history books, he may be a legend.

Messi is close to being the greatest

Up high in the sky, towering above the heavens next to Mount Olympus, lies the Mount Rushmore of football. So far, only two faces have been carved into the mountain, that of Argentina's Diego Maradona and Brazil's Pele. In between the two immortals, lies an empty space of rock, ready to be carved. That area is only 90 minutes away from being filled with another face, and the only thing between a new addition is Germany.

The man that the lonely sculptor waits for is Argentina's captain Lionel Messi. Messi just guided his country to their first World Cup final in twenty four years by beating the Netherlands in their semi final match. After 120 minutes, the match was a stalemate. Unable to get past a determined Netherlands defence, Messi and his compatriots had to beat the 2010 runners up in penalties. Messi led the line and opened the penalty account for the South Americans after Sergio Romero saved Ron Vlaar's poor attempt. Every Argentine then went on to score, and Romero again saved another penalty as he stopped Wesley Sneijder and Argentina advanced.

As Messi looks to lead his country out into the Estadio Maracana against Germany, Messi has two men to thank for advancing to the final. Javier Mascherano and Sergio Romero both stopped the ball hitting the back of the net in the later stages and penalty shoot out respectively. Mascherano's last ditch challenge to stop Netherlands' Arjen Robben when he skipped through the Argentine defence was a crucial point in the match as it was the best chance of the evening, and made sure Argentina's hopes were still alive. Romero's courageous saves in the shoot out defined histournament so far, as he has been a spider protecting the web behind him throughout.

Having scored four goals and grabbed a single assist in his 6 starts in Brazil, Messi has had the weight of his nation on his back the whole tournament. His goals in the group stage proved decisive, but he has taken on a deeper position in the knock out stages. He has tried to get on the ball more in deeper areas and carry it up field. This has given his teammates more freedom on the field and more space to occupy when in attack.

In the round of sixteen against Switzerland, Messi's assist to Di Maria was crucial, proving to be the only goal in the game three minutes from penalties. Against Belgium in the quarter finals, he attracted players like a magnet and his pass allowed Di Maria to set up Gonzalo Higuain. Just recently against Netherlands, Messi was always swarmed and surrounded by the colour orange, but still managed to play in a few of his teammates. Against Germany though, he will look to do the same but push up more in attack as none of the German defenders who started against Brazil in the form of Phillip Lahm, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Benedikt Howedes can match him for speed and should be left in his dust.

Germany head coach Joachim Loew worst nightmare would have had to have been to face Lionel Messi in the final. Having always been told that he needs the World Cup to be the greatest, Messi is so close to glory that his breath is fogging up the trophy. Whether Germany try to man mark Messi out of the game or treat him like an ordinary player, he will hurt Germany and will not waste his chance to be a legend of the game and finally step out of the shadow of the Hand of God.

John Guidetti

When John Guidetti joined Manchester City in 2008, he broke the hearts of his many admirers. Although he chose City, he has still been admired at a distance from many top clubs and may be lined up for a move away from the Etihad.

Speaking to Calciomercato, Guidetti's agent Calo Cavalleri, revealed that a move to Serie A fell apart in January due to his loan move to Stoke City, but now the transfer window is open his agent plans talks with Manchester City. 

"Next week I'm going to meet Manchester City to discuss the future of Guidetti" he told Calciomercato. 

His agent also highlighted the only factor that could put the brakes on an exit from Manchester would be that few clubs would want to match his high wage. 

"The wage of the boy is high (1.6 million euros per season) and therefore we will have to see how much, and especially if the English club (Manchester City) will contribute to the payment of his salary because at the present figures are important."

 "There are some situations in Italy, but everything will depend on what City decide, are engagements that Italian clubs interested can not afford.'

He also spoke of Feyenoord, the club in which Guidetti spent the 2011/12 season on loan and excelled at, scoring 20 goals in 23 appearances in the Eredivisie  "
"Feyenoord? The same applies for the companies of Serie A, even those figures can't afford Guidetti. I'll see after the meeting with the leaders of the English club what will happen". 

Guidetti has hade first team chances limited at Manchester and made no appearances for the Premier League champions last season before his loan move to Stoke. At Stoke though the Swedish striker made six appearances in the Premier League, all off the bench, where he played under one of his former sky blue managers in Mark Hughes .