'Hope and the potential for joy'published at 10:07 22 November
10:07 22 November
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha believes new Manchester United Ruben Amorim has "the energy they need" to succeed, starting at Ipswich on Sunday.
Speaking on BBC Sounds' Planet Premier League podcast, Onuoha said there has been a real uptick in the optimism at Old Trafford.
"When a new face comes in with positivity and isn't jaded by being pressed by the media there's hope and the potential for joy," he said. "That's the energy that they need.
"It's the change that has been on the cards for the last year."
'The Mozart and Da Vinci of managers'published at 08:48 22 November
08:48 22 November
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for you to tell us what it means for Pep Guardiola's contract to be extended for a further two years at Manchester City.
Here are some of your comments:
Brian: When I look back at where City have been in the past to where we are now as one of the biggest teams in the world, 99% is credited to maestro Pep Guardiola. He gets the best out of every player. He is the Mozart and Da Vinci of managers. Long may he reign.
Johnny: Every Christmas rolled into one big turkey-tinsel-present pie. Fantastic news for all City fans.
Phil: It’s Great news. I think it will be good to see Pep rebuild a team as we need to replace Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Kyle Walker and also have a plan to replace Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, John Stones and Mateo Kovacic within the next two years.
Maarten: He’s been an outstanding manager and now has the challenge of replacing ageing (and injury prone) players hopefully with a fair share of homegrown talent. If he can do this in the next two seasons while staying in the top three of the Premier League, his legacy will be forever secure.
Chessie (Portsmouth fan): I have been watching football for more than 50 years with some great football during those times: Arsene Wenger's Arsenal, Manchester United period in the 1990s, Liverpool's great attacking style and more. However, never have I seen a manager change the entire face of football so much that many other teams across Europe try to copy his fabulous style.
Gossip: Man Utd want Atalanta's Lookmanpublished at 07:37 22 November
07:37 22 November
Manchester United are ready to compete with Real Madrid for the signing of Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman. The 27-year-old Nigeria international could be targeted in the summer. (Caught Offside), external
United are also keen to re-sign England midfielder Angel Gomes, 24, on a free transfer when his contract at Lille expires next summer. (Mail), external
Finally, the Red Devils have also contacted Paris St-Germain over the possibility of signing France international striker Randal Kolo Muani, 25, on loan in January. (Le 10 Sport - in French), external
Gossip: Guardiola's contract has no break clausepublished at 07:27 22 November
07:27 22 November
Pep Guardiola’s new contract with Manchester City does not contain a break clause should they be relegated from the Premier League in the event they are found guilty of financing wrongdoing. (Telegraph - subscription required), external
City could have to wait until the end of March to find out the verdict of the disciplinary commission over the 115 charges against them. (Football Insider), external
What does it mean to you?published at 20:33 21 November
20:33 21 November
Former England striker Michael Owen says Pep Guardiola's new deal is "the worst possible news", external for any team with aspirations of winning the Premier League.
And it is for two extra years rather than the one additional year reported earlier in the week.
So how much does this news mean to you? How are you celebrating?
And what do you expect City to achieve between now and the summer of 2027?
Man City chairman praises Guardiolapublished at 20:22 21 November
20:22 21 November
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is delighted Pep Guardiola has chosen to extend his stay at the club until 2027.
Having arrived at City in 2016, the deal will take him past 10 years in the City dugout.
“Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep’s journey with Manchester City will continue, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game," Al Mubarak said on the club website, external.
“His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club and the English game at large.
“This renewal will take Pep beyond a decade of coaching Manchester City and the opportunity to continue to re-write the managerial record books.”
Guardiola extends deal until 2027published at 20:17 21 November
20:17 21 November
Image source, PA Media
Pep Guardiola says he has "a really special feeling" for Manchester City after signing a two-year contract extension to keep him at the club until 2027.
The Spaniard, 53, has won 18 trophies at City, including a record four consecutive Premier League titles.
"This is my ninth season here. We have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.
"I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.
"Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus."
Ipswich Town v Man Utd: Fan questionspublished at 17:16 21 November
17:16 21 November
Ipswich Town got their first Premier League win of the season before the international break while new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is gearing up for his first game at the helm.
That sets up an intriguing battle at Portman Road on Sunday.
But, while they go head to head on the pitch, we have asked our fan writers for each club to go head to head off it.
Each fan got to ask three questions of the other before the big game...
'Confidence high' but 'wary' of predicting a winpublished at 17:13 21 November
17:13 21 November
Steve Mellen Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Here is what our Ipswich Town fan writer Steve Mellen had to say in response to questions from our Manchester United contributor Dale O'Donnell.
How important is Kieran McKenna to Ipswich Town?
He is the key to the success of the past two seasons and getting him to sign a new deal was the most important event in our summer.
We get nervous every time a Premier League club sacks their manager. He is brilliant.
Ipswich's last league win over United came in 1994. Can the Tractor Boys ruin Ruben Amorim's first game in charge?
Confidence is high after the past two performances. I am slightly wary of calling a win, as you assume the United players will want to impress their new boss.
I think as it is at Portman Road we can get a point, but we expect United to be up for it and to present a huge challenge.
Are you confident Ipswich will avoid relegation?
Hopeful rather than confident.
We seem to be finding our feet, as the win at Spurs shows, but the odds are against us as a team that was in League One in recent memory.
We will fight to the end and will not be daunted by any challenge, and McKenna's ability to improve players and maintain team spirit will be key.
Steve Mellen is the former editor of ITFC magazine Meet Me At Sir Alf, and also represented fanzine Those Were The Days
Man Utd fans 'desperate to see a sense of identity'published at 17:13 21 November
17:13 21 November
Dale O'Donnell Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Here is what our Manchester United fan writer Dale O'Donnell had to say in response to questions from our Ipswich Town contributor Steve Mellen.
What are the expectations this season now Ruben Amorim is in post?
Amorim will be tasked with delivering on several fronts, but United fans are desperate to see an attractive playing style that showcases a sense of identity.
We did not know which United would show up from one week to another under Erik ten Hag, and he lost his job for not winning enough football matches.
What was the biggest issue for you under Ten Hag?
The biggest issue in my eyes was how Ten Hag came from a successful Ajax side that played great football, and when he was unable to implement that system at United, he tried to make us a transitional team heavily reliant on the counter-attack.
The Dutchman may be a shrewd tactician but he watched his midfield regularly get overrun.
With Oasis reforming do you wish it was the early '90s again with Fergie at the helm and United churning out great teams from their own youth system?
No, because I enjoy reminiscing about those times.
The Class of '92 is not something any other English club has been able to replicate and can only be compared to the Busby Babes of the 1950s and 1960s. Our academy still produces the best young players in the country, as seen with Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
As for Oasis, I hope their reformation means Manchester City go back to being rubbish.
Man City v Tottenham: Where will game be won and lost?published at 17:10 21 November
17:10 21 November
Manchester City are on a unprecedented run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions since Pep Guardiola took charge, while Tottenham will be looking to bounce back from their loss to Ipswich Town when they go to Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
As the two teams prepare to go head to head on the pitch, we have asked our fan contributors for each club to go head to head off it.
Each supporter was asked where the showdown might be won and lost.
🎧 Pep's new deal will 'calm the water'published at 15:57 21 November
15:57 21 November
Image source, Getty Images
Former Manchester City player Paul Lake believes Pep Guardiola will want to put right the challenges he has faced in the past few weeks and his new deal will help "reassure" fans.
Lake - who spent 10 years in the club's senior team - spoke about Guardiola on BBC Radio Manchester's Total Sport: "For the fans, players and squad it's really reassuring, but for a lot of us it settles the nerves. There's a bit of nervousness around the form of late and the fact we haven't overcome missing certain individuals mainly in the midfield areas.
"It calms the water to a degree, however the kind of person Pep is, the legacy he will be leaving Manchester City is probably not where he wants it to be.
"This year facilitates players coming back, new players coming in to the environment and being given the chance to bed into the set up.
"But it also allows Pep to leave in the way he wants to. There are frustrations, and I never thought I'd say it with the incredible squad we've got, that we'd miss one player as much as we have done. I think it's highlighted the fact we need to get different players and build in a different way.
"There's a lot of things that I think Pep will be excited about once he's got the assurances. He's got another season, and there are things that have jumped out over the last few weeks that have been the unknown for Pep - these are challenges he wants to put right."
