Various press rumours last week that Spurs have identified City's Jim Cassell as the man to rebuild their youth development. Cassell moved into a new job last year involved with international youth development at City but there were a few stories that said he and Hughes didn't see eye to eye and the promotion was more about moving Cassell out.

Probably safe to say that City are still a Premier League outfit because of the work of Cassell in bringing through SWP, Richards, Ireland and others. I came across the reports because Paul Hart, who built the great Leeds United production line, has left QPR as manager and one possible destination for the former Portsmouth boss is the same youth set up at Tottenham.

Former City players Willo Flood and Chris Killen have both followed Gordon Strachan from Celtic to Middlesbrough. Neither player was, I thought, given much of a chance to break through at City and I'll be curious to hear from my old North East friends as to the impact that they have.

Joe Cole has been linked in the press this week. Feels more like an agent talking up a player, as Jack over at The Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll points out, rather than a serious possibility. A shame because Cole would be a very useful addition in the attacking midfielder role in Mancini's diamond formation. I spoke last year about trying to take advantage of Cole's injury by signing the player while he was out. A long shot of course, club's don't seem to think that way, but I rate Cole very, very highly.

I mentioned yesterday how quiet the transfer window has been. Sure the club gets connected with a Milos Krasic or an Angel di Maria but none of it strikes me as anything other than idle chit chat. The hallmark of Sven's time at City was that players arrived without being linked. Virtually no one had heard of Elano, Bianchi, Bojinov or Geovanni before they arrived at Eastlands and none of them were publicly linked. City need players. Mancini's start at the club was nice but I don't think anyone thought that Garrido had turned into a world beater. The club needs a Left Back, a Centre Half, a Midfielder Enforcer, an Attacking Midfielder and a target man Striker. Mancini's schemes will bring the club more points than Hughes could have or would have of that I'm certain however this is not the finished article.