SPARKY- SIGN EM UP!

This past month City have been in negotiations to tie up their most talented younger players to long term deals.

Ancelotti- "This is not the Samuel Eto I was promised"

Hughes made it public knowledge that he was not a happy chappie with the way the club had handled previous contracts of young players. It is safe to say that the Sturridge saga has been the catalyst to the club's tying up of Nedum Onuoha and Stevie Ireland on new long term deals.Yet another sign that City are on the up and learning from past mistakes. The boss himself says,

"I have said for a number of weeks when asked about players' futures that we are in the process of building and creating a squad with players of the right quality, so we are not about to tear the squad apart and let good players leave.

Belgian star Vincent Kompany is the latest of those talented players to be signed up long term. The versatile fans; favourite has put pen to paper on a 5 year deal that should see him achieve his goal of being a key player for a major team.

 “We are delighted Vincent is back and has tied up his future with us. He has proved accomplished in a number of positions and he has a big future here."   Mark Hughes 

Having met this articulate, mountain of a man its easy to see what he gives to the squad. When you have strength, speed and a  6 ft 3 frame to go with good technical ability you have the perfect Premier League defender.

Add to that the calmness of mind to bring the ball out of defence, find the right pass, put in crunching tackles and good aerial ability then its no wonder that Kompany has been a hit with fans where ever he has been. Did I mention that he is a natural born leader, excellent communicator and born winner that could walk into the England side?

Kompany's current deal was not due to expire until 2012, but his new agreement ties him to Eastlands until 2014.The Belgian international, who can operate in defence of midfield, is delighted to commit his future to City.

“There has been no speculation from my side because I have just signed the new deal, but it is the kind of thing you have to get used to when you play for this club now,”

“In the end you just don’t pay attention to the speculation. City’s ambitions are my ambitions and I want to be one of the main players in a very big team."   Vincent Kompany





There is talk of Micah Richards being the next in line, and love him or not the boss sees him as an integral part of the club's future. When quizzed about the Micah out rumours the boss's answer was short and to the point.

Hughes insists Richards is part of his long-term plans and said: 'I'm not quite sure where it came from that Micah might leave. He is a big part of what we are doing here.'

These supportive words added to Hughes' recent comments about Micah putting in a run of consistent performances before even thinking about the World Cup squad, suggest that he is dangling a carrot or two in front of the young defender in an attempt to get him to rediscover the form that saw him catapult onto the Premier League scene and into the England team at a record early age.

Its not just the Blue's young guns in talks about new contracts with Champion's League whinger Martin Petrov set to be awarded a new deal to appease the Bulgarian as he sits on the bench. As a regular goalscorer with quality delivery this is another good move by the Blues.