Robbie Blakeley - City have been dealt a massive favour

Last updated : 28 April 2010 By DSG

Yes, the boys in blue have been permitted to step over the thin blue line of Premier League rules to continue their quest for Champions League football.

The Premier League claim this has been allowed due to 'exceptional circumstances'.

Sorry, I must have missed those. Dosed off for a few minutes. Because from where I'm sitting, Manchester City are not the unlucky recipients of 'exceptional circumstances', rather the guilty perpetrators of 'exceptional stupidity'.

By my count, Manchester City have five goalkeepers in their squad; Shay Given, Joe Hart, Stuart Taylor, Gunnar Nielsen and Filip Mentel.

As it stands, Given is out with a dislocated shoulder, Hart is on loan at Birmingham City and Stuart Taylor is also injured.

So, the Premier League's ruling leaves a bitter taste in the mouth for two reasons; firstly, Manchester City still have two fit goalkeepers to choose from, Gunnar Nielsen and Filip Mentel.

Boo, and indeed hoo, that they've got about as much Premier League experience as Postman Pat and his black 'n' white cat. We've all got to start somewhere.

Secondly, it is their own short-sighted fault for letting England's brightest young goalkeeping talent go on loan. Hart has proved week in and week out over the season he is already a goalkeeper of the highest calibre.

In this world, it is said you feel the consequences of your actions; that doesn't seem to be the case if you are a Premier League big boy.

Time and again Champions League teams have been allowed to rest players in Premiership games, yet when Mick McCarthy did the same back in December against Manchester United, Wolves received a fine and were warned about their future conduct.

Now that Spurs and Manchester City are knocking on the door of 'The Big Four', can they expect to be given the same preferential treatment?

If only 'Arry had known! Aaron Lennon's been out since December, he could have put in a call to Mourinho at Inter and taken Ricardo Quaresma off his hands, given the lad some playing time, and cited the 'exceptional circumstances' of being without his best player for the rest of the season.

City have been given a chance anyone outside the top six would not have been given. With Fulop set to make his debut on Saturday against Aston Villa, it would be a real tragedy were he to fumble big Emile Heskey's right foot shot and watch it trickle into the back of the net.

I'm sure even Gunnar Nielsen or Filip Mentel would have been able to manage to save that...

- Robbie Blakeley

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: DSG

Source: DSG