(29/6/2010)- City to sign Colombian Keeper

Reports have surfaced that City are set to sign under 20 Colombia international keeper Cristian Bonilla. The 17 year old currently plays for Boyaca Chico.

The player is quoted as saying

"The only thing that is left to do is my medical tests and sign the contract," Bonilla told Colombian newspaper Futbolred.

"Besides the fact that I may be loaned to another team, this is a very important door that gets opened for my career, so I will have to start to take English lessons very soon.

"This is a very important step forward in my career, everything has been arranged and according to what the president, Eduardo Pimental, has said to me the transfer has been confirmed."

(29/6/2010)- Ex Academy players move on

A recent glance at The Professional Footballer's Association, Transfer directory shows the names of a number of ex City academy players who were not taken on by the club, subsequently found new clubs and have now been released after their scholarships.The names include Kamahl Wight(ex Derby County),Ryan McGreevey (ex Preston North End), Johnbull Omoregie(ex Norwich City),  Laquan Esdaille-Bliney(ex Oldham Athletic), Dennis Sheriff(ex Rochdale), we also noted that two former academy players had been released by their clubs, Chris Shuker(ex Tranmere Rovers) and Sam Williamson(ex Wrexham).

(28/6/2010)-England Under17 players

Recent signing Alex Henshall, plus defender Ellis Plummer and Louis Hutton, a recent recruit from Leeds United have been included in the England squad for the Nordic tournament in August

Three other City players are on standby, they inlude George Evans, the son of former City physio Ronnie Evans, new academy recruit Courtney Husband and defender/right back Shay Facey

(25/6/2010)-Changes to reserve league format

details have reached us of extensive changes to the format of the Barclays Premier Reserve League for the coming season.

The structure of reserve football in England has long been a bone of contention for all involved, the lack of games, inadequate scheduling and stale, predictable nature of the north/south-oriented fixture list frustrating managers, players and fans alike and prompting a number of clubs to reconsider their participation in the Premier Reserve League. While an article on Chelsea’s official site from April suggested the governing body were already considering a revamp, the recent decision of Fulham, Stoke City and Birmingham City to join Tottenham Hotspur in withdrawing has left the PL with little option but to completely restructure the competition.

This means an end to the old system whereby those Premier League clubs opting to enter a team would be split as evenly and logically as possible into Northern and Southern sections, within which everyone would play each other home and away. Confirmation from the PL is expected in the coming weeks, but our understanding is that the restructure will see the remaining sixteen teams split into three groups, made up as below:

Group A: Bolton Wanderers, Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Wigan Athletic.
Group B: Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Everton, Liverpool, Sunderland.
Group C: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Each side will play the other teams in their group twice (home and away) and every other team once (either home or away), meaning a total of 19 games for those in Groups A and B and 20 games for Group C clubs. The Premier Reserve League Play-Off –  will still take place, with the winners of Group A facing the winners of Group B for the right to meet the Group C winners for the national title.

(24/6/2010)- Chesterfield to resign McDermott?

Chesterfield are considering an approach to bring City youngster Donal McDermott back to them for next season. The winger had an impressive spell at the club last season and impressed manager John Sheridan, who said 'Everybody knows how much I rate Donal as a player and a person'.

(24/6/2010)- Carlisle given Green Light

City are one of three Premier League clubs that Carlisle United have been given the Green Light to raid the clubs youth and reserve teams for loan players for the forthcoming season

(22/6/2010)-Portsmouth Midfielder for City?

City along with a number of other clubs are being linked with young  Belgian midfielder Florent Cuvelier

The Belgian under 19 international  has been in dispute with his current club and the 17 year old is looking for a move away from Portsmouth

(14/6/2010)-Hyde Partnership

Way back at the beginning of May, MCRAA brought to you the news about City reserves returning to Hyde, well the official website have picked up on it today, plus further details of a three year partnership between the two clubs

Manchester City and Hyde FC have revealed a three-year deal taking reserve games to Ewen Fields.

The three-year ground sharing and sponsorship deal will see City play reserve, under-21 and some academy matches at Hyde's ground.

The deal also sees City making a cash investment towards improving the non-league outfit's facilities.

The City in the Community Scheme will continue as Hyde shirt sponsors in the 2011/2012 Blue Square campaign.

City chief executive Garry Cook told the club website: "We have for some time been investigating the possibility of a new venue for our reserve, under-21 and selected academy fixtures.

"To that end, Ewen Fields provides an ideal solution and the club are very much looking forward to taking our games to Hyde for the new season.

"We are delighted to be able to help them, whilst at the same time securing the use of a fitting venue for our reserve, development and academy players to showcase their talents to our supporters."

(11/6/2010)-Zander to Germany?

Thanks to one of our oversea readers Max L, it look likes Nils Zander short career is over

My name is Max, I am a supporter of FC Schalke 04 from Germany. The reason why I contact you is simple. Last year City bought Nils Zander - one of our talents. Now there is rumor that he might come back. In fact Reviersport, which is a quality sports newspaper, reports that his return is fix. You can check out the following link if you want. Unfortunately it is in German only

http://www.reviersport.de/120330---schalke-u19-max-kommt-zurueck.html

(11/6/2010)-Mak joins Nurnberg

(10/6/2010)-Henshall signs

(10/6/2010)- Mak Germany bound?

Is Robbie Mak about to forge a career in the German Bundesliga. MCRAA sources have heard un-confirmed reports that the Slovakian forward, who was recently promoted to City's Elite development squad, is the subject of a proposed move to Germany. As of yet we do not know if it is a permanent move or one on loan to gain experience. As soon as we know you will be the first to hear.

(8/6/2010)-Rhyl Friendly

Rhyl today announced their pre season fixtures and they will be playing a Manchester City X1 on Wednesday 18th August.

That takes Citys confirmed pre season friendlies to six

(8/6/2010)-Three Depart

City today have announced the departures of three of the elite development squad. Here at MCFCRAA we were well aware that Karl Moore and Jack Redshaw no longer had a professional football career at City; but we were rather surprised that Tobias Johansen; the older brother of Eirik was released as we considered Tobias as one of the better young goalkeepers that City had on its books. Tobias' City career had a rather strange start as you might remember he was allowed to play for Leeds against our own academy side at the Regional Athletics arena in the spring of 2008 and he let in six goals for City; perhaps City should have had a stewards inquiry then.