Greg Cunningham D Galway Utd b.1991

[Junior]

Agreed. Presume Lescott was LB. Micah Richards was the only the defender on the subs bench.

[tetsujin1979]

Just come on for City against Timisora

[rebelmusic]

Not on the bench tonight and Boyata another kid has come on for Bridge. Not to inspiring that he's seemingly dropped even further down the pecking order :(

[Predator]

Ideally, Cunningham will seek and get a move on loan before the loan window closes. Man City is no longer a club where youth will easily flourish.
If he dropped down a division, such as Coleman did last year, I'd imagine it would be very beneficial to his development and confidence as a footballer. Then again, all it takes is for a few injuries or suspensions for Cunningham to get his chance. Maybe he'd prefer to wait for that chance.

[rebelmusic]

Judging from the match report Boyata actually went right back so dunno who swapped in for Bridge. But agreed, he needs to be loaned out asap. If he was playing week in week out in the championship it would be fair game for him to be starting for us.

[Charlie Darwin]

Zabaleta went left back I think.

[TrapAPony]

Started tonight against WBA in the Carling Cup.

[Colbert Report]

Both of WBA's goals have come from the "right channel". No idea why Cunningham is at a club like Manchester City.

[SwanVsDalton]

According to a report on 5Live half-way through the second half both Cunningham and Man City's right back were being 'taken to the cleaners.'

[magicman]

09/23/2010 - 09:31:21


Manchester City could have just three fit defenders for Saturday's Premier League crunch with Chelsea.

After last night's 2-1 Carling Cup defeat at West Brom, Roberto Mancini revealed he is desperately short of defensive options for the visit of Carlo Ancelotti's men.

Unless Micah Richards recovers from a hamstring injury that kept him out at The Hawthorns, Mancini will have only Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure available to face the only side left with a 100% record.

"We have big problems," he said.

"I hope that Micah Richards can recover. If not I don't know who can play left-back."

The obvious inference is that should Richards miss out, Zabaleta will play on the right side and City would look for an alternative on the left flank.

That could either involve Adam Johnson being pressed into emergency service, or more likely a midfielder such as James Milner or Gareth Barry.

Either way, further injury fears shaped Mancini's team selection at The Hawthorns where, having taking a first-half lead through Jo, City were undone by two goals in as many minutes from Gianni Zuiverloon and Simon Cox.

"We couldn't take any risks," he said

"If I had more players available it would be a different team.

"But when you play like us and Chelsea, on Saturday at 12.45, the time to recover is very short.

"They would need minimum three days so to play tonight would have been dangerous."

It is to be hoped owner Sheikh Mansour understands the dilemma.

"I don't regret making the changes," he said.

"Saturday is more important, the FA Cup is more important. The Europa League is more important.

"I did not regard this as a necessary sacrifice. We wanted to win. That is why I had four senior players on the bench.

"But I knew there was a chance we could lose because we started with six young players.

"I am happy with these guys. We might have lost the game but they can improve. If they do not play tonight, when will they ever play?"

West Brom assistant boss Michael Appleton declared himself delighted with the result.

He said: "It was a great result. Really positive. Made numerous changes and the lads responded well.

"We were second guessing their side bearing in mind they have Chelsea on Saturday but there was still a lot of experience in the side.

"They brought the cavalry on at the end and we were under the cosh for the last 15 minutes but we did enough to win."

[rebelmusic]

Jasus, so he's not even considering him in an emergenct situation? Needs a loan move

[Colbert Report]

Yeah, clearly he's not up to snuff or Mancini would play him as they are desperate for a fit left-back. Obviously there's no short-term future for him there, he needs to go out on loan and get some games under his belt.

[geysir]

He is 19yo and highly regarded by both Mancini and Trap. Whatever he has been doing up to now has worked just fine.

[Charlie Darwin]

It would be a huge risk to play him against Chelsea. The likes of Malouda and Anelka have destroyed world class full backs in the past, let alone a 19-year-old novice. A player like Cunningham needs to be gradually eased in. Mancini even admitted his first competitive start last night was ahead of schedule.

[rebelmusic]

Aye that's a fair point - if it was the likes of Bolton then his attitude would probably be different.

[Mr A]

Heard Cunningham is joining Leicester on loan. It's be good to see him get some first team action.

[paul_oshea]

good to hear, these young lads need game time.

can we really see him getting into the first team at man city, ever though?

[Mr A]

Frankly, no. Mancini under too much pressure to get instant success to waste time developing a young player. A period on loan followed by a move seems like the best we can hope for to be honest.

[Sullivinho]

Good to hear. Looks like Eriksson is reviewing his old Man City post-it notes, bringing in Darius Vassel as well.


can we really see him getting into the first team at man city, ever though?

I seriously doubt it. Wouldn't exactly break my heart to see him move on either.

[Charlie Darwin]

Frankly, no. Mancini under too much pressure to get instant success to waste time developing a young player. A period on loan followed by a move seems like the best we can hope for to be honest.
Ah, to be fair he's had a good long look at Boyata and he certainly seems to rate Cunningham. It's very rare to see two 19 year olds getting game time in defence at any Premier League club, let alone one with a limitless credit card.

The Sven connection must be at work here. Cunningham can only have been, what, 16 when Eriksson left the club? Interesting.

[Razors left peg]

It will be our first real chance to judge him properly. If he does half as well as Coleman at Blackpool he will be a sucess

[theworm2345]

Hot off the press, Cunningham has joined Leicester on loan until January
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/9116103.stm

[Charlie Darwin]

Excellent news. I'm sure he'll be very excited at the prospect of linking up with his old mate Darius Vassell.

[geysir]

Leicester at 40/1 for the division title.

They might well be down to 20/1 after the weekend

[rebelmusic]

16 points behind? I don't think so really, could make the play offs for sure though

[Charlie Darwin]

16 points behind? I don't think so really, could make the play offs for sure though
Darius Vassell.

[geysir]

If enough perception is created in the next few games that Leicester are capable of getting run together, then their odd will tumble, sustaining the run is another matter. If a sound manager comes into a team with potential & money and is able to rectify the immediate weaknesses then who knows what can happen in that league.
Will Cunningham get a run out this Saturday? he would hardly go to a club if he was just to be a reserve?

[youngirish]

If enough perception is created in the next few games that Leicester are capable of getting run together, then their odd will tumble, sustaining the run is another matter. If a sound manager comes into a team with potential & money and is able to rectify the immediate weaknesses then who knows what can happen in that league.
Will Cunningham get a run out this Saturday? he would hardly go to a club if he was just to be a reserve?
I would imagine Sven must be familiar with him from his Man City days and wouldn't have loaned him if he didn't wish to play him.

[geysir]

Hardly likely that Greg would go to a club that was not going to play him.
Hardly likely that Sven would sign a loan player and not play him.

2 x hardly likely = it's unbelievable that Greg won't play on Saturday .

[rebelmusic]

Left-back Greg Cunningham goes straight into the squad following his arrival on loan from Manchester City.

[TrapAPony]

Starting at left back for Leicester against Swansea. 0-0 at HT.

Edit : Ended up losing 2-0

[geysir]

He's had 3 full games already, any news as to how's he doing?

[The Fly]

Played the whole match in Leicester's 1-0 win over Preston this afternoon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9139229.stm


I can't find any player ratings yet.

[Charlie Darwin]

He's had 3 full games already, any news as to how's he doing?
He was cup-tied during the week, wasn't he?

[AlaskaFox]

Played the whole match in Leicester's 1-0 win over Preston this afternoon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9139229.stm


I can't find any player ratings yet.

From the Leicester fans forum:
http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=69006&pid=1724041&st=0&#entry1724041

He was unlucky not to score, and got forward a few times.

[AlaskaFox]

He was cup-tied during the week, wasn't he?

Surely was. Has already played in the League Cup.

[CraftyToePoke]

Also on here, not a bad word about Cunningham so far : http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=68774&st=60

The Leicester fans really seem to be warming to him after having been doubtful at first, mainly because he didnt have the profile of the other Eriksson loan signings, and expectation is high here at present, (I live near Leicester) and the club is being linked with some unlikely names as its cash rich, post recent takeover.

Also, it was an area of the side generally deemed to be ok, Berner had the spot, a popular player here and has won 16 Swiss caps. The back up was Tom Kennedy, a lower league signing who had impressed in pre season and reserve games.

Greg has gone straight in the side, Berner is presently the back up and Kennedy is being linked with a loan move, so, its so far so good.

[elroy]

Great move for him, could help him make great strides in his career development ala Coleman did at Blackpool.

[geysir]

Interesting comment about the loan signings on Foxes Talk,
"Sven's said it himself that all his signings have one thing in common, a bit of pace and energy. Always thought we were a bit slow but with two young pacey full backs replacing Nielson and Bruno, Davies adding something at the back and Vassell on the wings/up front you can see the blue print for how he wants us to play. Just hope we can make at least the full back signings permanent or season long loans."

[irishfan86]

I'd like to see Cunningham get the full game against Norway. If he's playing at full back and doing well at the same level as Kilbane, no reason why he can't claim that spot for himself as a natural defender...

[Stuttgart88]

Also on here, not a bad word about Cunningham so far : http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=68774&st=60
I like Jimmy's avatar.

[rebelmusic]

I cant see Mancini taking Greg back until he's at least a constant bench option, which is unlikely this season. If Cunningham continues getting his game then it should be the last call for Killer really, he's just not up to it at left full, where in fairness, he has covered for us as it's not his natural position at all. Interestingly with all this youth coming through we have a decent enough side that looks like

--------------Westwood----------------
Coleman---O'Dea---Clarke---Cunningham
McGeady--McCarthy--Wilson--Treacy
----------Long------Doyle--------------

Replace Long with countless other similar options

I actually think if the above team had a run of training sessions and friendlies together they would pulverise the team that started against Russia/Slovakia

[Sullivinho]

--------------Westwood----------------
Coleman---O'Dea---Clarke---Cunningham
McGeady--McCarthy--Wilson--Treacy
----------Long------Doyle--------------


Several reasons for optimism in that lineup. I'd drop O'Dea (my own mental jury is still out on him tbh) and move Wilson back to accomodate another though: David Meyler. Average age of side: 23.

[irishfan86]

My personal opinion Sullivinho is that Wilson isn't all that great as a centre-half. I see him more as a defensive midfielder or even as a fullback.

[Sullivinho]

Yeah I think he'll settle in midfield, his preferred position if I'm not mistaken. Just put him there for the purposes of composing the strongest 'potential XI', if you know what I mean. Although I'd select him over O'Dea at CB anyway tbh.

[DannyInvincible]

I cant see Mancini taking Greg back until he's at least a constant bench option, which is unlikely this season. If Cunningham continues getting his game then it should be the last call for Killer really, he's just not up to it at left full, where in fairness, he has covered for us as it's not his natural position at all. Interestingly with all this youth coming through we have a decent enough side that looks like

--------------Westwood----------------
Coleman---O'Dea---Clarke---Cunningham
McGeady--McCarthy--Wilson--Treacy
----------Long------Doyle--------------

Replace Long with countless other similar options

I actually think if the above team had a run of training sessions and friendlies together they would pulverise the team that started against Russia/Slovakia

Not forgetting Shane Duffy, Darron Gibson and Barry Maguire either who can all hopefully realise their potential and provide us with strength in depth at the back and in midfield, if not push for automatic starting places within the coming years. Looking at the progress that Duffy has made at Everton already, in spite of his age and the recent setback, prospects are looking bright for us at the back.

What's the verdict on Owen Garvan, by the way? Is he expected to make the grade?

[rebelmusic]

Ya Duffy long term is probably a better option than O'Dea. But you're right on the Meyler front. I guess when i made that team, players who are out injured or not really on the cards for Norway was in my head

[Scooby Doo]

Don't forget Clifford who is definately one to watch and Stokes who will hopefully continue to progress. Add these young lads to some of our established internationals who have still got a good few years ahead of them in a green shirt ie O'Shea, St. Ledger, Doyle, McGeady. Possibly even add Mark Noble to the mix if the rumours prove to be accurate. All going well we could have a very formidable team in a couple of years. A new 'golden generation' for 2016 anyone? :question: :cool:

[CraftyToePoke]

What's the verdict on Owen Garvan, by the way? Is he expected to make the grade?

Looking less likely with each season, and its regrettable, he clearly has such qualities on the ball but its difficult to put any positive spin on the move to Palace having finally left Ipswich, after having been linked mid ranked with Prem clubs in the past. Palace could go down, strong chance that they will, where then for him?

[Stuttgart88]

Looking less likely with each season, and its regrettable, he clearly has such qualities on the ball but its difficult to put any positive spin on the move to Palace having finally left Ipswich, after having been linked mid ranked with Prem clubs in the past. Palace could go down, strong chance that they will, where then for him?Agree totally, unfortunately. He's got more ability than many guys playing well in the EPL. Must be something more to it.