“My main motivation in coming here was because Chelsea are in the Champions League. I’m willing to be patient to get my chance because there are world class players here, but I believe I can push myself to the highest level and achieve big things here at Chelsea and through that get in the England squad.â€

So said Daniel Sturridge this week in his press conference on joining us, although the significance of his words appear to have been lost on the Media in general and Manchester City in particular. Sparsely reported and hardly given a mention on SSN, Sturridge summed up in a couple of sentences exactly why he opted to turn his back on one moneybags club for another, thereby providing clear cut evidence that ambition can still be more of a driving force than greed at the highest level of the game. Sky pretty much chose to ignore the raw honesty of his statement whilst newspapers in general were too busy with mere speculation to headline blatant newsworthy fact. Newsworthy indeed, because the youngster went on to comment on his previous club as follows…

“I wouldn’t say I was proof that City can just throw money at people. Everyone is different. I just want to win trophies and I believe I can do that at Chelsea. I hope City become a big club, but it’s not a matter of waiting for that, it’s a matter of me being ambitious and wanting to play at a good club where the players around me can drive me on.â€

How easy it would have been for Danny to blame his old team for lack of opportunity or appreciation, as so many players do these days, but instead he pinpoints the crucial element in any debate about the whys and wherefores of Chelsea and Man City - quite simply, he can learn more from an established side and its individual players than he can from a disparate group, newly hired and, quite naturally, thinking of their own futures within a fledgling project. Of course, one of those surrounding players he’s referring to is JT and you have to think that his name, along with Ash, Joe , Frank and [most recently] Michael Mancienne, was always at the forefront of his thoughts when dreaming of an England breakthrough. Measured against SWP’s undoubted encouragement to consider hanging on at Eastlands and, even with Gareth Barry to back him up, the phrase ’no contest’ springs to mind.

Moving on from England ambitions, he will have known, with the arrival of Santa Cruz and more to come, that a starting place in their future line-up was bound to be a rarity. So too with us, but he had an answer ready and, if you haven’t read it before, here it is…

“I want to push myself to the highest level and play with the best players in the world. Hopefully in years to come I will be one of the front-runners at Chelsea, but I will be patient and don’t expect to play every week. I’m a young player hoping to become a big player.â€

An explanation that highlights the dilemma facing City when trying to pursue their project - they can’t keep someone like Sturridge with the promise of progression through the ranks because, regardless of unearthing talent, expensive recruitment is a must. In short, only big names attract big names. Hence the need to at least be associated with the signing of JT, almost at any price, and the need for a compliant Media to keep the whole thing plausible by, in the main, shoving Sturridge home truths into the background.

An explanation that highlights the dilemma facing City when trying to pursue their project - they can’t keep someone like Sturridge with the promise of progression through the ranks because, regardless of unearthing talent, expensive recruitment is a must. In short, only big names attract big names. Hence the need to at least be associated with the signing of JT, almost at any price, and the need for a compliant Media to keep the whole thing plausible by, in the main, shoving Sturridge home truths into the background.

Surely you're not actually naive enough to think those words spoken by Daniel Sturridge were actually coming from the heart.

Sturridge is an arrogant little sh*t with an overblown opinion of himself. He saw his arse with Mark Hughes months ago and made his mind up to go. Asking for £55k a week when you've only made a handful of appearances is a bit much IMO.

That statement was obviously carefully worded and more than likely written by his agent, mindful of the bad press he has received and ill feeling towards him by City fans. A bit of PR work, nothing more.

You might think it's bitterness from a City fan but you'd be wrong. The days of our club being held to ransom by greedy players has long gone. Michael Johnson was hopefully the last.

Daniel Sturridge's attitude was so bad, that by all accounts our academy was glad to see the back of him.

Good luck with Sturridge, but don't expect to see him play unless he is 100% fit. If he cracks a nail he will be running off to the physio room faster than he can ever run while he's playing.

How come many of the other City fans have said the exact opposite then? Why on earth would they correct this perception of him being a twat if it wasn't true?

Given you seem on a wind up mate, i think i'll believe them over you thanks.

Surely you're not actually naive enough to think those words spoken by Daniel Sturridge were actually coming from the heart.

Sturridge is an arrogant little sh*t with an overblown opinion of himself. He saw his arse with Mark Hughes months ago and made his mind up to go. Asking for £55k a week when you've only made a handful of appearances is a bit much IMO.

That statement was obviously carefully worded and more than likely written by his agent, mindful of the bad press he has received and ill feeling towards him by City fans. A bit of PR work, nothing more.

You might think it's bitterness from a City fan but you'd be wrong. The days of our club being held to ransom by greedy players has long gone. Michael Johnson was hopefully the last.

Daniel Sturridge's attitude was so bad, that by all accounts our academy was glad to see the back of him.

Good luck with Sturridge, but don't expect to see him play unless he is 100% fit. If he cracks a nail he will be running off to the physio room faster than he can ever run while he's playing.

bloody hell, i can smell the bitterness from here. weve had a couple of city fans come on here and basically say to ignore all the stuff about him being arrogant as its citys way of deflecting the fact hes left them.

How come many of the other City fans have said the exact opposite then? Why on earth would they correct this perception of him being a twat if it wasn't true?

Given you seem on a wind up mate, i think i'll believe them over you thanks.

http://smf.citymancs.com/forum/index.php?topic=15789.0

http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewt...hilit=sturridge

http://www.mancityfans.net/mcfnet/viewtopi...=56&t=42026

I'm not on a wind up mate, just giving my opinion. If you click on those links you will find they are very similar to most other City fans too.

http://smf.citymancs.com/forum/index.php?topic=15789.0

http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewt...hilit=sturridge

http://www.mancityfans.net/mcfnet/viewtopi...=56&t=42026

I'm not on a wind up mate, just giving my opinion. If you click on those links you will find they are very similar to most other City fans too.

so what your saying is most city fans arent happy with a player who left them. how strange.

so what your saying is most city fans arent happy with a player who left them. how strange.

Did I say that ? I don't think so. I was answering the poster who said I was in the minority. Those links prove I am not.

Did I say that ? I don't think so. I was answering the poster who said I was in the minority. Those links prove I am not.

well people were hardly going to post "good luck to him, i hope he becomes the best footballer in the world" now were they. i have mates who are big city fans and 2 are season ticket holders from stockport. they all told me this arrogance thing is bollocks, hes no more arrognat than richards, onohura or many of the other young players city have. it just suited city for this to get out.

well people were hardly going to post "good luck to him, i hope he becomes the best footballer in the world" now were they. i have mates who are big city fans and 2 are season ticket holders from stockport. they all told me this arrogance thing is bollocks, hes no more arrognat than richards, onohura or many of the other young players city have. it just suited city for this to get out.

Time will tell mate, I know loads of match going blues and the majority of them think he's a big headed tosser.

I understand your defence of him, he's your player now. I do find the comparison to Onuoha amusing though. Anyone who knows anything about City, will tell you Ned is one of the nicest most down to earth lads you could ever meet. Be honest, your season ticket holding mates from Stockport didn't mention Ned and Sturridge in the same breath did they ? You've made that bit up.

Time will tell mate, I know loads of match going blues and the majority of them think he's a big headed tosser.

I understand your defence of him, he's your player now. I do find the comparison to Onuoha amusing though. Anyone who knows anything about City, will tell you Ned is one of the nicest most down to earth lads you could ever meet. Be honest, your season ticket holding mates from Stockport didn't mention Ned and Sturridge in the same breath did they ? You've made that bit up.

yeah, i made it up. i need to do that kind of thing on a football forum to some city fan ive never heard of...... they mentioned richards, onuhura and said most other young players. sturridge is no different to any of them.

yeah, i made it up. i need to do that kind of thing on a football forum to some city fan ive never heard of...... they mentioned richards, onuhura and said most other young players. sturridge is no different to any of them.

Seriously if your mates said that, they know nothing about City. Richards I can believe, because like Sturridge he has a reputation as a bit of a billy big bollocks.

Although interestingly enough(and I don't know why I'm telling you this 'cos it doesn't help my argument,lol) I was at a wedding last Saturday and got talking to a girl who's from Leeds. Her best friend used to go to school with Micah and she said he regularly makes trips back to Chapeltown and she said he's the most down to earth guy you could meet.

I stand by my statement that Sturridge is an arrogant little sod, with an overblown opinion of himself. I'm not on the WUM mate, I'm giving you my honest opinion.

Time will tell.

Seriously if your mates said that, they know nothing about City. Richards I can believe, because like Sturridge he has a reputation as a bit of a billy big bollocks.

Although interestingly enough(and I don't know why I'm telling you this 'cos it doesn't help my argument,lol) I was at a wedding last Saturday and got talking to a girl who's from Leeds. Her best friend used to go to school with Micah and she said he regularly makes trips back to Chapeltown and she said he's the most down to earth guy you could meet.

I stand by my statement that Sturridge is an arrogant little sod, with an overblown opinion of himself. I'm not on the WUM mate, I'm giving you my honest opinion.

Time will tell.

so your happy to believe some random leeds lass about micah but not me saying my mates thing sturridge is no more arrogant than most other young footballers. nice selective thinking there....

I can understand both sides of the argument, if it were the other way around I'd be sad to see one of our youngsters heading to another club, and would think that all the "press statements" were carefully worded.

But from ym side of the fence, I'm glad that we got a young promising player who sounds like he's here to learn because he wants to be one of the best. If he can achieve that at Chelsea by being surrounded by better English palyers than there are at City, then I am excited about the possibilites.

Listen, to be a young, talented sportsperson comes with a certain air of arrogance, it's almost needed. But I think if he tries to be "billy big boots" in his early days at Chelsea, there are enough great players around him to tell him to reign it in

Scott

so your happy to believe some random leeds lass about micah but not me saying my mates thing sturridge is no more arrogant than most other young footballers. nice selective thinking there....

Where did I say I believed her ? That's right, I didn't.

I was tongue in cheek when I said you made it up. The way you are reacting, It's obvious your mates did say this. It's also obvious they are f**king idiots if they think Sturridge is as level headed as Onuoha.

The days of our club being held to ransom by greedy players has long gone.

Of course it has! why only last season, didn't we hear City telling Robinho that same statement.

Just one of many city fan on blue moon, so they are not all like you.

Daniel Sturridge Post subject: Re: sturridge to chelski-officialPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 5:12 pm

Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:51 pm

Posts: 3951 Good luck, I hope we don't make a habit of losing future top class players.

Edited July 10, 200917 yr by bluebyme

Just one of many city fan on blue moon, so they are not all like you.

Daniel Sturridge Post subject: Re: sturridge to chelski-officialPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 5:12 pm

Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:51 pm

Posts: 3951 Good luck, I hope we don't make a habit of losing future top class players.

Bwahahaha, don't you think a poster with the username 'Daniel Sturridge', may be a little biased.

For every post like that, I can find ten calling him a greedy little sh*t.

Bwahahaha, don't you think a poster with the username 'Daniel Sturridge', may be a little biased.

For every post like that, I can find ten calling him a greedy little sh*t.

If he's a greedy little sh*t why did he come to us when we offered him a lower wage than Citeh? And don't try and say he didn't because he did.

If he's a greedy little sh*t why did he come to us when we offered him a lower wage than Citeh? And don't try and say he didn't because he did.

He asked City for £55k a week and we turned him down. He then saw his arse over it and when he realised no one else would offer him that, he has had to save face and say he's come here for Champs league.

He asked City for £55k a week and we turned him down. He then saw his arse over it and when he realised no one else would offer him that, he has had to save face and say he's come here for Champs league.

At least Sturridge can talk of ambition as a reason to join Chelsea from City. Whether he's getting more or less money is irrelevant, since he left City for a better team.

What other reason besides money can any quality player have in mind by joining you lot at this moment in time?

Like Robinho departing from the biggest club in the world? Like Tevez turning his back on the PL champions? Or Eto'o leaving the CL and La Liga winners? Oh wait, I know. They all want to be part of the "project". Yeah right.

What other reason besides money can any quality player have in mind by joining you lot at this moment in time?

Like Robinho departing from the biggest club in the world? Like Tevez turning his back on the PL champions? Or Eto'o leaving the CL and La Liga winners? Oh wait, I know. They all want to be part of the "project". Yeah right.

could they be greedy little sh*ts perhaps?

At least Sturridge can talk of ambition as a reason to join Chelsea from City. Whether he's getting more or less money is irrelevant, since he left City for a better team.

What other reason besides money can any quality player have in mind by joining you lot at this moment in time?

Like Robinho departing from the biggest club in the world? Like Tevez turning his back on the PL champions? Or Eto'o leaving the CL and La Liga winners? Oh wait, I know. They all want to be part of the "project". Yeah right.

Keep it coming, we are no different to you when you got your money. I can take it off Scousers and Spud fans but listening to you bunch of f**king hypocrites makes me sick.

And before you come out with the same old bullsh*t that you were top 4 already, I concede that you were. But it wasn't sound management that propelled you into the top 4, it was a huge f**king bank loan that you spunked on new players.

Before the Russian came you were on the verge of administration, you owe your success to money, nothing but cold hard cash. Only problem is, you can no longer bully and bludgeon your way through the transfer market anymore, because you no longer have the deepest pockets. Roman knows if he gets in a cock waving competition with us, he will most likely end up with it chopped off.

Roman knows if he gets in a cock waving competition with us, he will most likely end up with it chopped off.

That sums you up!

Roman has been with us for years now, watches most games, goes to the training ground and loves the club. I wonder where your owners will be in 6 years.

And before you come out with the same old bullsh*t that you were top 4 already, I concede that you were. But it wasn't sound management that propelled you into the top 4, it was a huge f**king bank loan that you spunked on new players.

You want to look a little bit deeper into the club before Roman came in and we initially bought. Go back to the Vialli era for a start and look at league finishes.

And if you start calling all the 'f**king Hypocrite' lark, you can waltz back to you own forums. You are welcome to talk football, but calling members 'f**king Hypocrites' on their own forum will hardly make you welcome will it.

Keep it coming, we are no different to you when you got your money. I can take it off Scousers and Spud fans but listening to you bunch of f**king hypocrites makes me sick.

And before you come out with the same old bullsh*t that you were top 4 already, I concede that you were. But it wasn't sound management that propelled you into the top 4, it was a huge f**king bank loan that you spunked on new players.

Before the Russian came you were on the verge of administration, you owe your success to money, nothing but cold hard cash. Only problem is, you can no longer bully and bludgeon your way through the transfer market anymore, because you no longer have the deepest pockets. Roman knows if he gets in a cock waving competition with us, he will most likely end up with it chopped off.

You can say that about any successful team.

Liverpool would be languishing somewhere in the second division had it not been for the hefty investment they received in the late fifties.

Man Utd would be nowhere had they not bought their various flair players.

And Arsenal are nowhere as it is, so it's ok.

Keep it coming, we are no different to you when you got your money. I can take it off Scousers and Spud fans but listening to you bunch of f**king hypocrites makes me sick.