It won't be long before the media start devoting more pages and print to the January transfer speculation than the actuall football being played. The excitement surrounding City's potential in the January window is reaching fever pitch.  Timely therefore that Garry Cook (see Cook's statement on our home page) and Mark Hughes both comment on recent speculation by ruling out the use of agents in the process. 

What is more heartening is that there is a clear strategy and that there has been full consultation between the board, management, and the coaching staff.  The club is beginning to operate like a smart business. 

City face a tough trip to Fulham for the early kick off on Saturday.  I only saw the second half of the PSG game and it was pretty weak. PSG could easily have snatched a win in the closing stages with big gaps opening up in defense.  This was largely due to our own appetite for winning the game late on but it was telling that our attack didn't create the same quality of chances.

The trip to the United game was much more dissappointing.  Primarily because we didn't take the game to United, which I believe has been the key to our winning derby games in recent years.  We sat back, gave United too much respect, and allowed them to play their game.  We can bin that game in the past but it did feel like a 'transition' derby game. In recent years maybe being a more pedigree underdog has played into our hands. This year with last year's derby double and the recent change of ownership raising expectations, it felt like there was much learning to be done about being a top side versus an underdog.

I always love going to the Fulham game as it's a very relaxed ground.  It's a real shame that it's a winter fixture this year as standing by the river with a beer at half-time in summer is a pleasure.  It will be a tough fixture. Fulham have a strong home record having won five our of their seven home league games. City on the other hand have only picked up two points out of 15 away from home. We tend to concede away from home and my prediction would be a 2-2 draw, a result that rings a bell from previous years at Craven Cottage (forgive me I'm out of time to look it up!).

MCFCfans is offering members the chance to win two tickets in the City end at this Saturday's match.  All you have to do is :

1. Join MCFCfans by visiting our home page
2. Visit our Message Board and enter your top 3 January transfer window targets who you would like to see play for City
3. All those with their 3 targets on the message board at 6pm Friday will be entered into the hat for the tickets

You must be able to collect the tickets in person before the game in order to be eligible to enter.  Please be sure to check the e-mail account that you used to join Webjam and sign-up to MCFCfans to see if you have won.  We'll contact the winner to exchange details in order to arrange collection.

Good luck!

MCFCfans