Maybe not in November, but getting AVB next summer isn't that unrealistic.

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I'd be off now, we have a Champions League qualifier in around about an hour.

Gaitan probably!

Ok, good luck.

Jackson Martinez most likely

Comfortable win, I'll probably let my brother-in-law keep those tickets for the return leg now= more time back home!

Congrats.

Which qualifying round is this?

The second round unfortunately- our co-efficient is dragged down by the other teams.

Metro reporting that Madrid could go for Aguero.

I hope Pellegrini tells them to stick it.

Ok, thanks. Two more tough ties to get into the group stage then?

Imagine how livid the Atelti fans would be! I'm sure they'd be like the Arsenal fans on here going mental over us bidding for Fabregas.

PSG sign Digne.

This is getting beyond a joke!

Aguero has been linked with Madrid constantly for the last 2 years.

I reckon they just like winding Atleti up

Aguero will be top scorer if he is consistently playing.

If Aguero went to Madrid and Negredo was his replacement I think I'd cry with happiness.

In all seriousness, if Aguero is fit and on form they're gonna take some stopping next season.

Everyone is talking up the Mourinho factor and how they'll walk the league (especially if they get Rooney), but people underestimate the Pellegrini factor and just how many quality players City have.

They're the team to beat, for me.

I totally agree, I've already bet them at 3/1.

People seem to be claiming they know who Pellegrini is when I can guarantee he is a mystery among many people within the English media and to many English football fans themselves. There's nothing wrong with that, but too many people have just looked at Malaga last season and thought they were sufficiently clued up on how he's going to do at City.

Before Mancini was sacked I was even suggesting United should have went for him when people were screaming for José. And I know that you, Darren, have been watching La Liga and Pellegrini for a considerable amount of time too.

Yeah I agree with you.

He was the manager I wanted. I was aware that he wouldn't be a United type manager, though, which made it even more heartbreaking that he went to City.

I'm not sure if you recall but I kept saying I hope Barca move for him.

Always been a big fan of his but unfortunately I now wish him to fail.

Ancelotti could do what Pellegrini intended to and build a side at Madrid. Pellegrini never got the time as Perez seen Mourinho available and went straight in. Even if he did get the time, Perez was already mucking him about on transfers and Marca had the knives out.

Think City will be much better in Europe this season too- but they need to balance it with a Premier League campaign. Only Fergie in '99 and '08 has managed to fight on both domestic and European fronts. When Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal went all the way to Champions League finals they were usually out of the title race.

It could explain why Ferguson perhaps only won it twice as he treated domestic football so highly that the Champions League did not always have 100% attention. But last season you could see he wanted to bow out with the third one because he was in a comfortable league position and could focus on beating Madrid, sadly for him it conspired against him with the Nani decision.

Yeah, that's true. Perez is a mug. One thing is that he'll bring so more entertaining football to the prem.

That's a good point about Fergie. It has often had an effect on us. As we are usually in with a shout of the title ever since we've been in the premier league we were always juggling multiple competitions.

It's what makes those achievements you've mentioned, as well as Barca's and Bayern's all the more impressive.

We lost to Milan in 07 because we were still fighting for the title and they weren't. Madrid were out on their feet against Bayern because they played El Classico (the title decider) a few days before whereas Bayern rested 7 players because they were out of it.

These have a huge influence over two legged matches. Pellegrini will surely make City better on both fronts. Maybe not reaching the CL final, but they should get out of their group.

Gonna be a great season. I just want silly season to hurry up and finish.

Yep- can't wait for Lawro' on a Saturday night.

Maybe he'll just destroy Hansen and tell him that he has really despised him all these years since it's Hansen's last season. It would be so funny.

That would be amazing. Lawro has come into his own in a comedy sense. He's almost up there with Gary Neville.

"He's not getting any cocoa tonight, is he?"

The greatest line by any pundit ever.

Notts county have signed david bell. YOU PIES!

http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/article/magpies-swoop-for-creative-midfielder-930582.aspx