With the upcoming trip to the Stadium Of Light, we have gone beyond enemy lines to gather their thoughts on the upcoming game.

Stephen Ireland has departed the club this week after nine years with City. A former fan-favourite, ‘Superman’ played over 100 games for City’s first team, scoring 16 goals along the way. In 2009, he was voted City’s player of the season for his impressive contributions in a season where the Blues reached their first European quarter-final for some time

With an away goal to his side’s name and a comfortable, if not spectacular, performance last week in Romania, Roberto Mancini gave some of the fringe players a chance to shine in the second leg of the tie with FC Timisoara. And it was another game that turned out to be a comfortable City win.

The transfer window has closed and Fleet Street’s finest have cast their eye on the sale of Robinho. Some have suggested that Robinho cost City £50million, when factoring in wages on top of a British transfer record fee of £32.5million (some even make this £34.2m). The figure of £50m is a headline grabber but it is not accurate accounting.

In the third part of our preview of the new Barclays Premier League season we take a look at our Manchester City and the options available to Roberto Mancini this season.

The transfer mole is back and there is only 9 days until the close of the transfer window at 6pm BST on Tuesday 31st August.The transfer mole is back and there is less than 24 hours until the close of the transfer window at 6pm BST on Tuesday 31st August.