City made several signings this summer - Reijinders from Milan, Nouri from Wolves,
Cherki from Lyon, Trafford from Burnley, Nypan from Rosenborg and Bettinelli from Chelsea

A very unusual friendly game that City easily won with 22 players!!! Pep made ten changes at half time to give his huge squad a bit of time on the pitch. The starting team was -
Trafford, Lewis, Khusanov, Stones, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, O'Reilly, Bobb, Cherki, Marmoush and Haaland.
Rodri, Kovacic and Foden were still injured so they were not on the bench. It was good to see Bobb back after his injury and Trafford was making his debut after his move from Burnley. He was an ex City academy player.
The pre game entertainment delayed the start by 15 minutes as the singer - Rose Villian kept singing!!
There was a big crowd -over 50,000 on a very hot night.
Palermo had an early chance at a corner when a header went wide but then City took control and
won a series of free kicks. On 38 minutes Lewis passed to Haaland who shot past the keeper to give City the lead.
At half time Pep made ten yes ten changes - Haaland being the only player from the first half. The team was - Ederson, Ake, Dias, Akanji, Nunes, Benardo Gundogan, Reijinders, Savinho, Doku , Haaland.
Haaland was subbed by Musaka on 60 minutes.
City added to their score on 59 minutes when Reijinders dashed into the area and shot past Gomis to make it two nil.
Palermo tried to get back but their efforts went wide. With 8 minutes to go Musaka passed to Savinho who passed to Reijinders who scored his second goal and City were three nil ahead - game over!.
So City won the Anglo Palermitan Trophy and best City player was Dutch international star Reijinders

Wolves 4-0 away August 16th 2025

City did not make many changes from the Wolves game. The team was Trafford: Lewis, Stones, Dias, Nouri: Gonzalez, Reijnders, Cherki, Bobb, Marmoush, Haaland. Both Foden and Rodri were on the bench.
Not a good start by Lewis as he fouls Spence in the first three minutes. Then a poor pass by Marmoush when he takes a long pass. City are already under pressure and there are fouls by Nico and Haaland. However City did have a chance on 9 minutes but a shot by Marmoush missed the far post. A few minutes later Marmoush had an effort saved. Then Nouri was injured On 16 minutes Marmoush had a shot saved following good work by Bobb.
On 22 minutes Nouri is subbed by Ake. 5 minutes later Haaland passed to Marmoush who failed to beat the keeper from a good position - a bad miss!. On 32 minutes Johnson fouls Bobb and gets a yellow card.
A minute or so later disaster struck ! A cross by Richarlison found Johnson who scored to give Spurs the lead. We had to wait as VAR checked for offside but alas the goal stood.
7 minutes were added to the first half and a couple of minutes into added time Spurs scored a second goal. It started when Trafford made an error passing to a marked player and it all ended with Palhinha putting the ball into the net so another disaster.
City won some corners and Haaland missed with a header. So City ended the first half two down.
Ake had a go at the goal early in the second held but it was blocked. Shortly after at the other end Trafford had to save a header by Sarr. Then City made 2 changes - Benardo Silva came on for Cherki and Doku was on for Marmoush.
There were some delays with injuries to Richarlison and Lewis, On 58 minutes a tackle by Stones saved City from yet another disaster.
3 minutes later a header by Richarlison at a free kick went wide. On 67 minutes Bobb was fouled and Romero got a yellow card and a few minutes later both Gonzalez and Richarlison got yellow cards. On 75 minutes City made 2 more changes - Foden for Bobb and Rodri for Gonzalez.
Then at a corner Rodri had a header which went straight to the keeper. On 82 minutes Benardo's header was close and Foden had a shot saved.
In the 4 minutes of added time Trafford had to make 2 good saves to keep the score at 2!!!!
The Spurs defence were just too good for City who had more possession but failed to beat the keeper when well placed. The second Spurs goal was a result of a poor pass out by the keeper. Surely City must have a plan B !!!! Spurs were much more organized and the passing quality of City was well below their best.

City made 5 changes from the Brighton game. There was a debut in goal for our new signing Donnarumma and in came Doku, Foden, O'Reilly, Gvardiol. The team was Donnarumma, Khusanov,Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly, Rodri, Reijnders,Foden, Benardo,Doku and Haaland.
Before the game there were special tributes to Ricky Hatton who has died aged 46. He was a life long City supporter and boxing icon.
We almost had a great start but Haaland just shot wide on 18 seconds !! Wow what a start that would have been. Then at the other end on 4 minutes City debut keeper had to make his first save from Sesko's shot which was not all that strong thank goodness.
Three minutes later and the United keeper almost lost the ball to Haaland. On 9 minutes Benardo fouls Dorgu and United have a free kick.
On 17 minutes Doku dribbles into the penalty area and has 2 goes of crossing the ball. After the first one was blocked his second found the diving head of Phil Foden and the ball flew into the net to give City the lead - Great Stuff!!!!!!!
After City won a corner on 21 minutes and shortly after Doku passed to Reijnders but his first time shot goes straight to the keeper.
City were on top and on 28 minutes Haaland just fails to control an over hit Benardo cross.
A minute later Mbeumo missed a great chance for United but luckily for him the offside flag had gone up.
On 34 minutes the City keeper has to save from Sesko and shortly after he easily catches a United free kick. 5 minutes later O'Reilly shoots well wide. Just as the injury time started Haaland heads a United free kick clear. So City led at half time.
United won an early corner as a cross is blocked and guess who - Haaland does a good job in defence heading the ball clear !
United are putting the City defence under pressure. Then on 53 minutes Foden passes to Doku who then slips the ball to Haaland who dinks the ball over the keeper to make it two nil to City!!
A good move and just what we needed. It was his 7th goal in the derby game.
On 54 minutes he nearly scores again. United give the ball away and Doku passes to Haaland who fails to find the net after rounding the keeper. His shot hit the post!!!
On 61 minutes Donnarumma makes a great save from a strong volley from Mbeumo. Two minutes later a cross by Benardo finds Haaland but his shot is straight at the keeper.
On 67 minutes a pass by Benardo finds Haaland on his own just in the City half. He charges forward and shoots past the keeper to make it three nil - game over !!!!!!
That's 11 goals in 6 games for City and Norway - good work indeed!
On 72 minutes Ugarte shoots well wide and 3 minutes later Haaland passes to Reijnders who beats the keeper but the ball goes just wide. City then made a couple of changes - Savinho and Gonzalez were on for Doku and Rodri.
On 80 minutes Mbeumo shoots over the bar.
With a few minutes to go City made more changes - Bobb was on for Haaland and Ake for Benardo.
When the final whistle went it was strange that there had not been any yellow cards in the game - in a derby as well - amazing. United had lost the plot despite having more possession !
For City Haaland was excellent in attack and defence ! Doku and Foden were pretty good too. It was also good to see the new keeper have a clean sheet and a wonder save. City are not at their very best but are improving.

Pep made no changes from the team that thrashed United! There was a big welcome to an ex City star Kevin De Bruyne who now plays for Napoli.
On 4 minutes Dias takes a long shot after a City attack broke down but alas it went wide. Just after Doku gave a free kick away with a foul on Politano. On 8 minutes Doku passed to Reijnders but his shot was well saved by the keeper for a corner. Shortly after the keeper almost lost the ball to Foden and the Doku had a shot blocked.
On 14 minutes Doku won a corner but the cross by Foden was headed wide by Haaland.
A minute or so later at the other end Donnarumma had to save a header by Beukema.Then came a vital moment in the game. Haaland broke down the middle and was fouled by Lorenzo on the edge of the box. The ref said no free kick but in came the great VAR and it ended with Lorenzo getting a red card and a free kick to City. The free kick taken by Reijnders was blocked for a corner which ended with Haaland heading over the bar.
Then Napoli made a change - taking off De Bruyne and bringing on Olivera.
On the half hour Foden had a shot saved and Gvardiol had an effort blocked. It was nearly all City but no goals yet. Napoli did get a corner which was caught by Donnarumma.
On 40 minutes O'Reilly had a header saved - then Savic has to save from Gvardiol.
City had several more goes at goal before half time so the added 4 minutes ended with the ten man team surviving City's efforts.
City made early attacks and there was a near miss by Foden following a corner. Then on 51 minutes Doku was fouled by Politano who got a yellow card. He was subbed straight away as they could not risk going down to 9 men!
A minute later City scored. Foden made an excellent chip forward to Haaland who headed the ball into the goal - at last !!! A few minutes later City made a change subbing Rodri for Gonzalez.
On 62 minutes Gonzalez headed wide following a corner.
A couple of minutes later Doku scored a great goal - he dribbled past several defenders before finding the net. So City were now two up so Doku was subbed by Savinho .
Not much action now so City made 3 more subs - on came Bobb for Haaland - Ake for Gvardiol nd Lewis for Reijnders.
The ref only gave 2 minutes of added time so it ended a comfortable win for City.
Haaland became the quickest player to reach 50 goals in the Champions league. Doku, Foden and Haaland were best players for the sky blues

Pep made no changes for the third game in a row and after last seasons result it was going to be a tough game.
O'Reilly had to make a good tackle on 4 minutes and then this was followed by good work by Khusanov and Gvardiol to keep Arsenal at bay!
Then on 9 minutes we had a great surprise. Breaking from defence Reijnders ran forward with the ball and passed to Haaland who beat a defender and cracked the ball past the keeper to give City the lead. This season Haaland now had 12 goals in 8 matches for City and Norway!
It was an excellent goal and the Arsenal fans must have been stunned.
On 17 minutes Arsenal won the first corner of the game and it is cleared by City. 3 minutes later Arsenal gift the ball to Haaland but the shot from Reijnders is saved. Shortly after Reijnders was injured but he was soon Ok. On 26 minutes Arsenal won another corner but the fist of Donnarumma gets the ball clear.
On 33 minutes a long throw ends with a header by Madueke going wide. 4 minutes later Benardo gets a yellow card for a foul on Gabriel. He keeps on getting cards for silly fouls.
On 39 minutes good work by Doku ends with Rodri lifting a first time shot over the bar.
A goal ahead City are comfortable keeping Arsenal under control. Then on 41 minutes a cross reaches Madueke but his shot is deflected by Doku for a corner. which ends in a goal kick. The ref adds 4 minutes to the first half. A minute into added time Donnarumma has to make a good save from Madueke. There was a minor dispute between Benardo and Trossard just before half time.
Arsenal made two changes for the second half bringing on Saka and Eze.
City made one change - Nunes replacing Khusanov at right back who was injured.
In the first minute Timber got a yellow card for a bad foul on Doku. On 48 minutes Zubimendi shoots wide. Two minutes later Donnarumma has to make a good save from Eze. All Arsenal now with City well down with possession for once!
On 56 minutes Arsenal win a corner. City clear and go on a counter attack- Doku breaks and passes to Haaland but his shot is saved.
At the other end Arsenal win a corner but efforts are blocked. Then on 68 minutes City made their first change - Ake came on for Foden - to make a back five.
On 74 minutes Arsenal won another corner and Donnarumma has to fist it away and then Haaland heads away a further cross. A minute or so later Haaland is subbed by Gonzalez.
Then the City keeper is booked for taking too long for goal kicks.
On 81 minutes Arsenal brought on Martinelli for Timber. A minute later Doku almost scored but his shot just goes wide.
On 87 minutes Stones comes on for O'Reilly and Savinho for Doku. 7 minutes are added to the second half. Arsenal won a corner but City clear.
In the third minute of extra time disaster came. Eze puts a terrific pass through to Martinelli and with Donnarumma too far off his line he dinks a shot over the keeper and into the goal to score. Oh dear it is one all and two points lost.
For once City had less possession than the opposition and after that early Haaland goal it was defend defend defend !
Haaland and Doku had good games - as did Donnarumma and Khusanov who had a foot injury and had to come off at half time.

Huddesfield Town 2-0 away Sept 24th League Cup

Pep as expected made 9 changes from the Arsenal game There was a debut for Musaka - the team - Trafford, Nunes, Stones, Ake, O'Reilly, Gonzalez, Lewis, Foden, Bobb Savinho, Musaka.
There was an early problem after 2 minutes when Trafford almost lost the ball!
City won a corner on 10 minutes and a header by Musaka was saved by the keeper. 5 minutes later Lewis was fouled but the free kick taken by Foden ended with a throw-in!
Then on 18 minutes Musaka passed to Foden who beat 2 defenders and cracked the ball past the keeper to give City the lead - a good goal.
City continued to attack and when Musaka was fouled the free kick taken by Foden went well over the bar. City continues to attack using their inter passing method but Huddesfield defended in depth and efforts were blocked.
Huddesfield did have the odd break and on 33 minutes a shot from Redmond went too high. Shortly after there was a short delay when Redmond was injured. On 43 minutes a cross by Savinho was blocked and City won a free kick just before half time but no more goals in the first half.
In the first minute of the second half City won a free kick when Nunes was fouled which the keeper saved. Then there were efforts by Musaka and Savinho which were blocked. On 53 minutes O'Reilly had a shot saved as City piled on the pressure desperate for that vital second goal.
On 53 minutes after a foul by O'Reilly a shot by Redmond went over the bar. 7 minutes later a shot by Musaka was saved by the keeper. Huddesfield then made 2 changes.
After a foul by O'Reilly the free kick ended with Wallace heading over the bar. 2 minutes later a shot from Bobb was saved. Then over the next few minutes there were blocks to efforts by Foden, Musaka and Nunes. All City - desperate for that second goal.
Then on 74 minutes Foden passed to Savinho who cracked the ball into the net via the bar to make it 2-0 - at last !!!!!!
City the made 2 changes - Reijnders replaced Foden and Jaden Heskie came on for O'Reilly.
On 79 minutes Savinho had a shot blocked winning a corner and a few minutes later Gonzalez shot over the bar. City the made 2 more changes Phillips for Gonzalez and Reigan Heskie for Savinho. On 88 minutes Ashia hit the right hand post for Huddesfield from outside the penalty area. Wow - that was close. Three minutes were added and in the final minute Reigan Heskie had a good effort saved. Not the most exciting of games with Foden the star.A good performance by a changed City side.
City will be playing Swansea in the next round . I went to see them play there in May 2016 - pics HERE

As expected Pep made 6 changes from the Huddesfield game. The team was Donnarumma ; Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly: Gonzalez, Foden, Savinho, Doku, Reijnders and Haaland.
ex City player Walker was on the Burnley team.
City won a very early corner but it was cleared. Then City had to clear a long throw by Walker.
On 5 minutes Gvardiol had a shot blocked. Following a scuffle there was a shout for VAR but no penalty alas!! On 10 minutes O'Reilly had a shot from outside the box but it was blocked for a corner. Savinho just missed the far post following the corner.
Then shortly after City took the lead. It looked like Foden had scored from close range but it was an own goal by Esteve. A cross from Doku was pushed out by the keeper and the ball rebounded into the net by Esteve.
On 20 minutes a shot by Reijnders was blocked after good work by Doku. Three minutes later at the other end Walker had a shot blocked.
On 24 minutes City won a corner and Gonzalez headed the ball to Haaland but his effort went wide. A few minutes later Savinho was fouled and Hartman got a yellow card.
On 30 minutes Burnley had a couple of shots blocked. Then Foden was fouled and Walker got a yellow card.
On 38 minutes there was a disaster. A cross by Hartman went to Anthony who shot past the City keeper to level the scores. We did not expect that!!!
On 40 minutes Haaland shot over the bar after a cross by Gvardiol. City got a corner just before half time but the Nunes shot went wide.
just after the interval Gvardiol had a shot blocked Then Savinho won a free kick and a header by Haaland was blocked. On 55 minutes Donnarumma had to make a good save from Hartman. 4 minutes later and Reijnders took a shot following a corner .
Then two minutes later City scored! Haaland made a headed pass to Nunes who cracked the ball past the keeper to make it two one - at last.
City then made a change Bobb replacing Savinho. 2 minutes later Anthony got a yellow card for a foul on Doku.
Two minutes later Doku passed to Foden to Nunes to Bobb and the ball ended with another own goal by Esteve to make it 3-1 to City. On 69 minutes a Haaland header went wide.
Then City made another change Ake replacing Gvardiol.
On 82 minutes Foden got a yellow card for a foul on Ogochukwu. and then City made more changes - Lewis for O'Reilly and Benardo for Reijnders. On 86 minutes Haaland had a shot saved.
Then on 89 minutes Haaland took a pass from Doku and scored to make it 4-1 and a minute or so later the Burnley defence gave the ball away and there was Haaland to make it 5-1. Haaland has now 15 goals in 9 games !!! Doku once again had a very good game and City moved upto 6th place

Pep made 3 changes from the Burnley win - In came Rodri, Stones and Benardo so it was a strong side for this European match. The team was Donnarumma: Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly: Rodri, Benardo, Foden, Reijnders, Doku and Haaland:
In the first minute Doku was fouled by Vanderson but the free kick ended with a throw-in. Monaco then went on the attack and on 7 minutes at a corner O'Reilly blocked a cross.
On 11 minutes Foden passed to Reijnders but his shot went high and wide.
Three minutes later Gvardiol clipped a pass forward and Haaland read the pass well and dashed forward and used his left foot to crack the ball past the keeper to give City the lead.
Alas the lead did not last long - a minute or so later an attack by Monaco ended with a cracking shot by Teze from just outside the penalty area.
There was then an injury to Vanderson who was subbed by Quattara. On 24 minutes Benardo had a shot saved by the keeper and a few minutes later Rodri headed to Reijnders but his shot just went wide.
On 32 minutes a good shot by Foden hit the bar and bounced down the wrong side of the line!
A minute or so later Rodri had a go from outside the box but the ball went wide. On 37 minutes
O 'Reilly had a shot saved. Not much action from Doku at the moment.
There was a surprise when the City keeper was booked - presumably for time wasting !!!! -in the first half !!!!!
On 42 minutes Haaland could not quite finish a City attack and from a narrow angle he hit the side netting.
Then a minute or so later a cross by O'Reilly was headed home by Haaland to give City the lead .There was only one minute of added time so City lead 2-1 at half time.
Doku was caught offside early in the second half and on 50 minutes there was nearly an own goal following a cross by Doku. 4 minutes later and Balogun shot wide following a corner conceded by Stones.
Rodri got a yellow card on 56 minutes to stop a Monaco break. On 58 minutes Donnarumma had to save from Akliouche. City then made 2 changes Savinho came on for Doku and Gonzalez was on for Rodri.
On 63 minutes Diatta got a yellow card for a bad foul on Savinho. After an effort by Benardo was blocked Teze shot high and wide for Monaco.
Then City made another change Nunes replaced Stones. On 72 minutes Reijnders hit the bar after a pass by Savinho. Then a shot by Haaland was saved. City continued to attack and Gonzalez had an effort blocked and then a miss!
Monaco then made 3 subs and on 84 minutes at a Monaco free kick City cleared the danger but alas VAR decided that the high foot of Gonzalez was too near the head of Dier and the referee eventually gave a penalty. Both Benardo and Gonzalez got yellow cards.
Dier scored from the spot to level the scores and then the ref gave 7 added minutes.
City did try to win but Savinho got a yellow card and Haaland failed to score a third goal!!!
Doku was not at his best but it was good to see Rodri have some time on the pitch after his long absence. Not quite the best of City - not quick or positive enough.

Pep made 3 changes from the Monaco game. Nunes, Savinho and Bobb came in for Stones,Doku and Bernardo. The team was Donnarumma: Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O'Reilly:Rodri, Reijnders, Foden, Bobb, Savinho, Haaland.
After an attack by Reijinders on five minutes a minute or so later Foden had a shot blocked for a corner. At the corner Gvardiol had a header saved by the keeper.
Then on 9 minutes a long pass by Gvardiol found Haaland who beat two defenders and shot past the keeper to give City the lead. A brilliant effort by Haaland for his 94th Premier League goal.
On 14 minutes Reijnders took a pass from O'Reilly and shot but the ball went over the bar.
4 minutes later Foden shot from outside the box but the keeper saved and then we had a disaster. Rodri appeared to be injured yet again and after some treatment he was subbed by Nico Gonzalez. I just hope he will be back soon - he is so important to the team.
On 24 minutes City got a free kick when Nico was fouled and a couple of efforts by Foden were blocked. 6 minutes later a free kick taken by the Brentford keeper went right to the other end to Donnarumma!
Then good work by Bobb led to Foden's shot just going wide. There was always danger when Brentford had a throw-in as Kayode was able to throw the ball into the goal box.
On 35 minutes a shot by Thiago from distance was blocked. A few minutes later the Brentford keeper had to make a terrific save from Reijnders following a cross by O'Reilly.
Just before half time Schade got a yellow card probably for shouting at the ref after he was fouled by Dias.
So City lead at half time with 73% possession.
Brentford started the second half with attacks and the City keeper had to save from Thiago.
City had a lucky escape when a poor header by Gvardiol lead to Thiago only having to beat the city keeper but Donnarumma made a good save.
On 52 minutes Bobb had a shot blocked and 5 minutes later a header by Kayode went over the bar. Brentford were having more of the ball and City really needed that vital second goal.
On 67 minutes Brentford made 2 changes but none by City yet.
3 minutes later Henderson got a yellow card for a foul on Foden. Then the home side made 2 more changes and on 75 minutes Doku came on for Bobb and Benardo for Reijnders. 2 minutes later Haaland won a free kick in defence!
On 83 minutes O'Reilly got a yellow card and shortly after Ouattara got a yellow card'.
There was 4 minutes of added time but nothing much happened. City had not played all that well in the second half but at least they got the three points and moved up a few places.