City Defence Developments

Stuart Pearce continues to ring changes to the City squad that under-achieved so badly this season.

Blues will be pleased to hear that Player-of-the Year, Richard Dunne has agreed a new three-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2009 - fantastic news !

Dunnie has been a rock in defence over the last few seasons and is a firm crowd favourite. His partnership with Distin is one of the most solid in the Premiership, and hopefully Distin will now follow suite and sign a new deal.

If Distin waivers however, then Pearce does have other options at the back including Academy graduates Micah Richards, Nedum Onuoha and new boy Matthew Mills. Most Blues would like to see the Dunne-Distin partnership continue, but with Dunnie having re-signed, the potential loss of Distin may not be such a big blow, especially if he attracts a big offer.

In another long overdue development, Danny Mills has been told that he can leave the club ( massed cheering rings out spontaneously in the Blue half of the City !! )

Now I may be being a bit unkind here, but I would think most Blues will also see this as good news. It's a bit unfair to blame him for this season's flop as he played in less than half of the games, but he's never really re-captured the form he showed at Leeds and in his brief spell in the England team. His performances this season have not been good and is frequently the butt of most crowd barracking and displeasure, so a move is probably the best option for all parties.

It will also be interesting to see what happens to Ben Thatcher as like Mills, he had a shocker this season. Stephen Jordan will be back at the start of next season, but City will need more cover at left back if Thatcher goes (or even if he stays for that matter ). The loss of Musampa and Riera means that the left flank looks a real problem area for Psycho to get to grips with - shame his playing days are over, although I suspect he could still do a job !



Just hot off the Press.... Paul Dickov has just signed a two year deal... Shame Pearce had to spoil a a great day !

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