Al Ain Championship

The championship is played with a league system from one round, where as six teams participate at the tournament and divided into two groups.  Two teams from every group go to the semi-final round in which only four are left , where as the top of each group plays against the runner up .Then the loser plays matches to determine the position from third to sixth place , the two winners of which then meet in the final or championship round. The participating teams at the championship are : UAE National Juniors Team , Manchester City of England , Inter Milan of Italy , Valencia of Spain , Al Raja of Morocco and Al Ain the host .

Academy Games Off

Both academy games were called off today.

It transpires the U18 fixture had been postponed for some time, despite the official premier league newsletter having the fixture down has being played today.

But with the squad about to board a flight to Abu Dhabi at 4pm today so that could spend ten days there and participate in a tournanment, there was no way the fixture was going to be played.

The U16's game was called off shortly before kick off with parts of the Platt Lane pitch frozen

Vidal to Derby

Derby County are set to sign Javan Vidal on loan until the end of the season.

Vidal has had previous loan spells at Grimbsy Town and Aberdeen

Welsh becomes reserve manager

Academy coach Andy Welsh has taken over from Glyn Hodges as reserve team manager and given the title of  Under 21 elite development manager

Wigan Reserve Game Off

Next weeks scheduled reserve fixture against Wigan Athletic has been postponed, due to the visitors involvement in a FA Cup reply against Notts County. The fixture has now been rearranged for 13th April

Changes to reserve fixtures

New dates have been announced for a couple of City's forthcomng reserve fixtures

The fixture at home to Bolton Wanderers on 23rd March has been brought forward to 10th February and will be played at Hyde United

The postponed fixture against Bolton from 11th January has now been arranged for 24th March and will be played at the Lancashire FA

McDermott Joins Scunthorpe on loan

Donal McDermott has joined Scunthorpe until the end of the season. The move is seen as another step in the right direction for the young Irish mans development

David Ball hit by further injury

Young reserve striker David Ball is cursing his luck after his recent come back was curtailed  by a recurrence of his foot injury, which will keep him out for a further six weeks.

Adam Clayton rejoins Carlisle United

Adam Clayton has rejoined Carlisle United on loan until the end of the season.

He had returned to City following his initial loan period, for assessment by manager Roberto Mancini and has now allowed to return to Carlisle

Sporting Lisbon

The Guardian newspaper claims that City are set to replace  Manchester United in a partnership deal with Sporting Lisbon and are reported to be bringing one of the brightest Portugese youngsters to Eastlands.

The's new Portugese link is about to pay immediate dividends with the expected arrival of Sporting's promising 15 year-old Tobias Figueredo.

Gnahore leaves City

Birmingham City have completed the signing of City's teenage defensive midfielder Eddy Gnahore.

Eddy had recently been spotted missing from the U16 games in November/December and this now reveals why

The 16-year-old has signed a five season deal at St Andrews and is expected to go straight into the club's reserve side.

Gnahore joined Manchester City as a 14-year-old after being spotted at a training centre in Paris.

Jim Cassell for Spurs?

Its rumoured that Tottenham are to make an approach for Academy director Jim Cassell, to over see the development of the next generation of Spurs youngsters.

McGivern extends loan deal

Defender Ryan McGiverns loan deal which was due to expire at the end of January, with Leicester has been extended until the end of the season, to allow him to gain further experience.

Reserves at Bolton--OFF

As was widely expected City's reserve game against Bolton tonight(Monday 11/1/2010) as fallen victim to the adverse weather conditions. No new date has yet bee re-arranged.

Reserve game at Liverpool re-scheduled

Due to City's involvement in the semi finals of the Carling cup, their proposed reserve game away at Liverpool for Tuesday 19th January 2010 has been put back by 48 hours.

The fixture to be played at Tranmere's Prenton Park will now go ahead on Thursday 21st January with a kick off time of 7pm.

Wigan Reserve Game off

Citys forthcoming reserve fixture against Wigan Athletic(5th Jan) has been postponed.The pitch at the regional athletics arena is frozen and the game has been re-scheduled for 2nd February 2010

Clayton returns to City

Midfielder Adam Clayton has returned to City following a successful loan period at Carlisle United. Adam scored aginst Everton in his sides FA Cup defeat, but has decided to return to City and try and force his way into the first team, with their being a number of injuries at that level.

Marshall leaves City

Paul Marshall made his debut for Aberdeen at the weekend, having decided to leave City. Marshall is quoted as saying "t I felt I had to leave to progress my career. It's not easy to break into that team with the money they can spend - that's why I had to get out.

"My aim is to try to get back to the Premiership in a few years time" 

Dedryck Boyata

Congratulations to Belgian centre half Dedryck Boyata on his recent full debut in the FA Cup at Middlesbrough. Dedryck has been championed by this site for a few months, so remember where you heard about the "Kaiser" first.