The Top 5 City players (probably) on their way out in the 'Man City January Exodus'

With all the billions at his disposal, you would be hard pressed to deny Mancini a little bit of shopping in the January sales - With his sides form so up and down that City fans must be living in a constant state of mild nausea, the only solution for a team with wallet so bulging will be to buy buy buy in the new years transfer window. That's fine, I wont begrudge them that, even if their ambitions to obtain silverware are being undertaken in the style of a 15 year old who has just googled 'Football manager 2011 cheat codes' (unlimited fundz lolz.)  Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, this means that with the new coming in, the old must surely go - and with the amount of quality footballers who have been warming the bench at best for most of this season, which players will we see leaving Manchester City for greener pastures in January? TAC thinks...

1. Roque Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz in Man City kit photo not available at time of going to press

Having only managed 20 appearances for Man City, with only 3 goals to his name, I think it would be an understatement to say that Roque (not to mention his manager, chairman and fans) is probably quite disappointed with his time at Eastlands. By signing as an injured player who scored 23 goals in 57 appearances for previous club Blackburn, and then stubbornly refusing to regain fitness, Roque has not been able to achieve a regular start and has been eclipsed by subsequent signings of higher profile and more skilled strikers. This is a shame, as the Paraguayan is a solid forward, potentially a 20 goal a year player who would fit in at a mid table club with a need for more striking options - like, say, Blackburn.

Possible destination : If only Everton could afford him

2. Emmanuel Adebayor

Another striker who has failed to live up to expectations after signing for Man City, is ex-Arsenal forward Adebayor. Or has he failed? With a scoring record of nearly 1 in 2, he certainly hasn't been too goal shy. Sadly for manu, he cant really get a game and for a confidence led striker who needs to be playing week in week out this isn't good - but why does Mancini seem hesitant to start him? Well maybe, and obviously I have no spies in the dressing room so this is all conjecture, maybe its because he is a bit of a twat? Just a suggestion.

Possible destination : Well all the signs seem to be saying Juventus, so, lets say... Blackpool

3. Shay Given

When you have arguably the two best keepers in the Premiership playing for the same team, there is always going to be problems. Shay Given SHOULD NOT ever be on a bench, unless that bench is a park bench and he is stopping for a rest after a particularly gruelling dog walk. With this in mind, Shay should, hopefully, be going somewhere in January as it is now obvious that Joe Hart is a top class keeper, of a class that even Shay will have trouble eclipsing. Talk in the summer was of the Irish keeper going to Arsenal to plug their gap for a keeper who can keep his goal safe, instead of offering it up like an Amsterdam based lady of the night, so we may see him on his way to North London

Possible destination : Arsenal

4. Shaun Wright-Phillips

 
Not much to say about this one. Lets just hope that Shaun can take his unique brand of - beat one man, get tackled by the next - football to a club with such deficiencies on its wings that he actually gets some playing time. Although just not quite enough playing time to get an England call up thank you very much.

Possible destination : Who cares?

5. Adam Johnson

As England's most exciting young prospect in terms of a natural wing player, it has been difficult to work out how Mancini has managed to leave AJ on the bench so much this season. Yes, he has world cup winner David Silva who has played well in the left wing position that Johnson favours - but rumour has it that a possible Johnson/Mancini rift could be the reason that he has started so few games. If you were to beleive wikipedia, and we like to, then Johnson certainly is on his way out. Taken from Adam Johnsons wiki page :-


"On 3 October 2010, Johnson came on as a substitute for Gareth Barry in a league match against Newcastle United and scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute. He has recently fallen out with the team and is poised to make a move to Liverpool FC with the english club ready to take him."

So there you go, its fact.

Possible destination : Liverpool then I guess...

Related pic below is related