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The pre-season overseas trip went quite well despite the humid weather conditions and we saw some good displays by some of the youngsters. With the transfer deadline almost here we may get another couple of players. Rodri was an earlier addition to the squad with a view to a Fernandinho successor. He has settled in well so far. Another full back is possible and Cancelo looks to be arriving soon. The big question is whether Sane is going to Bayern Munich and who will replace him? One possibility is Oyarzabal from Real Sociedad. We should know in the next couple of days.
Main Transfers in -
Rodri from Athletico Madrid - £63 million -
Cancelo from Juventus - £60 million
Carson from Derby County - loan
Main transfers out -
Danilo to Juventus -£34 million
Luiz to Aston Villa - £15 million
Delph to Everton - £8 million
The game at Wembley against Liverpool for the Community Shield trophy was a tough win and certainly not a pre-season friendly! Bravo had a terrific game and made some good saves including a penalty at the end. Sterling scored but missed a couple of good chances and De Bruyne had a good game. More work on the defence needed.
Well no more major transfers with the injury to Sane at Wembley putting paid to his possible move to Germany.
After Liverpool started with a 4-1 win against Norwich it was up to City to beat that - so West Ham were well beaten five nil with three goals by Sterling. One VAR went against City but a later one helped Aguero score from a penalty after his first poor effort was saved. City did not have the best of the first half with too many errors but dominated in the second half. It was a surprise to see Mahrez preferred to Benardo but he played really well. Apart from two brilliant saves Ederson had little to do and new signing Rodri despite two first half errors settled in well and looks a good successor to Fernandinho. Kevin DB was not at his very best but made the first goal for Sterling.

Well VAR appears to have made the news with the 2 amazing decisions at the home game against Spurs. Early on we had a very good penalty shout that was turned down and then we had the winning goal disallowed for accidental hand-ball. It was also interesting that the referee at Stockley Park responsible for the decisions did not turn up for his game next day at Chelsea. Whoever decided that even accidental handling at a goal build-up by the attacking side should be penalized should have their head examined. The rule actually states - it is an offence if a player gains possession/control of the ball after it has touched their hands/arm and then creates a goal opportunity.In this case Jesus who scored was not near the supposed hand ball and the ball was not deflected in any way when it ran between Laporte and a close defender. Also the referee had a unblocked view of the event. Goal scoring is an essential part of the game and that brings in supporters to the ground. The technical perfection of VAR is killing the game

If VAR is not enough to make football headlines the possible expulsion of Bolton and Bury from the football scene is incredible. One must be very sorry for their supporters. As a City fan I have been to see City at both Bolton grounds and also Gigg Lane, Bury.
I first went to Burnden Park to watch Bolton as a youngster back in April 1944. Bolton beat Newcastle U 3-0 in the Wartime Cup. Nat Lofthouse scored a couple of goals. I went back to see them beat Wolves 2-1 and then draw with Man United at Maine Road in the second leg of the Northern Final which they eventually won beating Chelsea.
II later saw them beaten 3-0 against United in the first game at the rebuilt Old Trafford in August 1949. However they got their revenge at Wembley in 1958. I was a Steward there that day when Lofthouse scored twice to beat Man United 2 nil.
A few years later in 1962 I went to Burnden Park to support City . We lost three one and a young 18 year old called Francis Lee scored twice for them - I wonder what happened to him!!!!
My first visit to the new Stadium was in December 2004 and City won by a single goal scored by Barton. You can see pics from this game HERE

Bury too look likely to be doomed. Such a shame - My first visit to Gigg Lane was in November 1945 to see City win 3-1 The City team that day was Swift, Clark, Barkas, Walsh, Sproston, McDowell, Dunkley, Herd, Constantine, Smith and Pearson, Walsh, Smith and Pearson scored for City. I have watched them many times since - the last time at Gigg Lane being in July 2004 when City played there in a friendly - it ended goalless - you can pics from the game HERE

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the game as I had an eye operation that day so I had to watch it on the box. However I have done a bit of research and found a game in which both Petrov and Benjani scored for City. It was against Portsmouth in April 2008 and the City team that day was - Hart, Elano, Corluka, Dunne, Ball: Ireland, Johnson, Fernandes, Petrov, Vassell, and Benjani

Early in the game Benjani fed Ireland who had an open goal but scuffed his shot. Fortunately the ball ran to Vassell who scored.

The City game in Milan against Atalanta was certainly a game of two halves. After City dominated the first 45 minutes and should have been two up - Jesus missing a penalty - City really played quite poorly in the second half. With the Liverpool game coming up at the weekend Ederson was taken off at half time with a thigh problem and on came Bravo - only to be sent off late in the game. Walker came on to play keeper saving the free kick that Bravo had given away. I then checked up to see when it was we last had an outfielder going into goal. The result was in April 1991 - Niall Quinn against Derby County. He scored for City in the first half and then saved a penalty when he went into goal replacing Tony Coton who had been sent off.

City 2 Chelsea 1

The win against Port Vale in the 4th round of the FA Cup brought a few memories back of the trip to the 'hill' to watch City beat Port Vale back in Jan 1991 when City won 2-1. Quinn and Allen scored for City. Alas City lost to Notts County in the next round. Below are a couple of pages from the programme.

Sergio scored a hat-trick in the away game against Aston Villa which was his 12th hat-trick in the Premier League. This is now the most trebles in the history of the Premier League. He is now clear of Shearer. He has now He has now notched 249 goals for City so will we see his 250th against Palace on the 18th. Below are his very first goals against Swansea in August 2011. You can see pics from this game when he came on as sub HERE

A very long day at Wembley ended with City wining yet another league Cup. I checked my list and it was my 32nd visit to the Stadium.The first was in 1954 for a game between Bishop Auxland and Crook. The programmes today are a little more expensive! Ten quid on Sunday. I found an old programme from Main Road - a Schools international between England and Wales -May 1949 - the souvenir programme was threepence!