This just in. According to reports, City are going to start to look abroad for players because of the high prices being quoted by Premier League clubs. No! I'm shocked!

And all sarcasm aside, really, Eastlands is starting to look like a bad Keystone Kops comedy.

Why were bids for players only submitted after the start of the New Year? If Real Madrid can line up the players in advance, why can't City?

Yes of course Blackburn are going to want Torres level money for Santa Cruz. Did you really expect anything else? Hence my suggestion before the window opened that City should pay 25 million for Santa Cruz and Samba combined and get it over with immediately. It is paying way over the odds for the two but City have the money and we need the players yesterday. Value is defined by need, not by the quality of the individuals. Personally I think the money involved for a previously injury prone player is laughable and City should not sign Santa Cruz, but if the decision is you want the player then why is the team haggling over a couple of million?

The company line seems to be that we don't want to be seen to be taken advantage of. What kind of stupid logic is that? Of course we are going to be taken advantage of, the team is the "richest in the world." Hughes refuses to use the current players correctly so the club has to bring in players that Hughes wants, otherwise there is no point in Hughes continuing as the Manager. So pay over the odds now, get the players in and let Hughes show that he is the Manager that the Chief Executive and the new owners say that he is. Quite simply, put up or shut up. Or in this case, put up or get rid of.

We have the money. So use it. Make over the top bids, bring in the players, get them playing together quickly so that the club can take advantage of the still being in the UEFA Cup and a Premier League where one victory can vault you half way up the table.

To use an expression that these business types can understand. Time is money. Hughes needed the players 10 days ago and it is a complete joke that Wayne Bridge is the only signing one third of the way into the transfer window.