Sunday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

3-0 BOLLOX
Manchester City hit the ground running in their US tour on Saturday as they saw off Portland Timbers 3-0.
Stephen Ireland, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo got the goals for the Blues, as they eased to a comfortable success.
City have been in America for the past week, stepping up their preparations for the new Premier League season.
They were far too strong for MLS new boys the Timbers, with Roberto Mancini likely to have been impressed by the showing from his side.
The game, played in front of a sell out crowd at the University of Portland's Merlo Field, took a while to get going, but City were always well in control.
They included Kolo Toure and his brother Yaya Toure within their ranks, fresh from World Cup duty, but neither saw any action.
Instead, it was left to Ireland, whose future at Eastlands remains uncertain, to open the scoring in the 43rd minute.
Adebayor then nodded home 60 seconds later, with Adam Johnson providing his second assist of the game, to give City breathing space at the interval.
The Timbers struggled to find a way back into the game thereafter and Brazilian striker Jo wrapped things up for the visitors after 68 minutes.

MARIO BALOTELLI'S transfer to Manchester City is back on after they offered £20million for the Inter striker.
Balotelli, 19, is one of the most wanted men in Europe, but City are the only team to come close to Inter's valuation.
City's football administrator Brian Marwood has been in Milan and offered Eastlands flop Robinho as bait.
Marwood has also offered Robinho to AC Milan as the club continue their whistlestop tour of Europe buying up the most expensive players.
Balotelli had a hard spell under former Inter boss Jose Mourinho, but he previously worked under Roberto Mancini, now at City.
The striker has already won three Italian Serie A titles.
Inter have always insisted Balotelli is not for sale, but City's enormous wealth is beginning to turn heads as new Inter boss Rafa Benitez builds a team in his mould.

MANCHESTER CITY are out to pinch Fabio Capello's England assistant Franco Baldini.
The megabucks outfit want the Italian to leave the FA and join them in a senior role in their management team.
Baldini has been working as Capello's general manager, trusted assistant and fixer since the pair took the jobs with the FA, but there have been recent hints that he would like a change – and possibly return to Italy.
However, Baldini, 49, may be tempted by the chance to join manager Roberto Mancini's backroom team and help chief executive Garry Cook and Brian Marwood with his experience of football at home and abroad.
Cook already has a big staff but is open to improvement and Baldini is highly respected within the game and a known organiser at all levels.
If Baldini joins City, it would bring forward the shake-up in Capello's England staff that People Sport revealed was on the cards last week – which has since been confirmed.
Meanwhile, City last night confirmed that former Italy winger Attilio Lombardo has joined ex-Sampdoria team mate Mancini's backroom staff.

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton is to give up his executive box at Manchester City after the club raised the price of it from £22,000 last season to £39,000 for the coming campaign. Sunday Mirror

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Barcelona will make a take-it-or-leave-it offer of £40m to Arsenal in one last attempt to prise midfielder Cesc Fabregas away from the Emirates. Mail on Sunday

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has insisted that left-back Ashley Cole is not for sale and will not be joining Real Madrid or Manchester City. Sunday Mirror

So Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho will instead turn his attention to Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra, with his team-mate Nemanja Vidic also a target. News of the World

Manchester United want to sign Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm and are prepared to offer forward Dimitar Berbatov in order to land the 26-year-old German. (Sunday Express)

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will launch joint bids to bring Anfield forward Dirk Kuyt and Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar to Inter Milan. (Sunday Times)

Everton have rejected a £14m bid from Arsenal for central defender Phil Jagielka, and the Gunners are now poised to make an improved £16m offer for the England international. Sunday Mirror

Newcastle could swoop for Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, who has fallen out of favour at the Bernabeu and will be released by the Spanish giants. Sunday Mirror

Liverpool have offered England international and former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole a £90,000-a-week three-year contract. News of the World

New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has told midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres to decide if they want to remain at Anfield in the next two weeks. News of the World

Arsenal and Tottenham have been told that Ipswich's 17-year-old striker Connor Wickham will cost them £10m. News of the World

Tottenham are interested in signing Blackburn's 18-year-old defender Phil Jones. Sunday People

West Brom are lining up a £1m bid to sign Blackburn striker Jason Roberts. Daily Star on Sunday

Stoke City are set to offer West Ham £8m for striker Carlton Cole. Sunday People

OTHER BOLLOX
The owners of United States baseball giants New York Yankees are looking at buying Tottenham for £450m. Daily Star on Sunday

Fulham have persuaded former Tottenham manager Martin Jol to quit Ajax to become Roy Hodgson's successor at Craven Cottage, and will confirm the appointment on Monday. Mail on Sunday

England manager Fabio Capello believes his failure to convince Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes to come out of international retirement was a massive contributing factor to his side's dismal World Cup showing this summer. Sunday Mirror

England players want Capello sacked following the publication of player ratings website the Capello Index.Sunday Mirror

Former Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is in line to become part of Capello's backroom staff and could eventually replace the Italian. Sunday Mirror

Aston Villa's Bulgarian midfielder Stiliyan Petrov believes England will never win a major tournament unless a domestic season winter-break is introduced. Sunday Mirror

It has been revealed that over one million World Cup seats went unsold in South Africa, with many locals unable to afford to buy tickets for the games. Mail on Sunday

[Ted Hughes]

England manager Fabio Capello believes his failure to convince Manchester U***d midfielder Paul Scholes to come out of international retirement was a massive contributing factor to his side's dismal World Cup showing this summer. Sunday Mirror

"Paul we really need you to balance the team"

"Where would I be playing?"

"Left wing"

"Fuck off".

[CitizenYank]

OTHER BOLLOX
The owners of U***d States baseball giants New York Yankees are looking at buying Tottenham for £450m. Daily Star on Sunday

George Steinbrenner, the Yankees flamboyant owner, just died last week; think his two sons have enough on their plate
running the most successful sports franchise in the Western Hemisphere.

The Daily Star is really running out of ideas.

[Dameerto]

At least it's Trafford Utd's fault England were crap for a change

[Beefymcfc]

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton is to give up his executive box at Manchester City after the club raised the price of it from £22,000 last season to £39,000 for the coming campaign. Sunday Mirror

Come on Ricky, you can afford it mate; or you getting at box at Stoke ;-) Good to see the the rich getting taxed, rather than the fan who has to scrape the money together.

[Florida Blue]

OTHER BOLLOX
The owners of U***d States baseball giants New York Yankees are looking at buying Tottenham for £450m. Daily Star on Sunday

George Steinbrenner, the Yankees flamboyant owner, just died last week; think his two sons have enough on their plate
running the most successful sports franchise in the Western Hemisphere.

The Daily Star is really running out of ideas.

I pretty much was ready to post the exact same thing. There are rumors they may be unloading the Yankees, why would they want to buy Spurs?

[Beefymcfc]

OTHER BOLLOX
The owners of U***d States baseball giants New York Yankees are looking at buying Tottenham for £450m. Daily Star on Sunday

George Steinbrenner, the Yankees flamboyant owner, just died last week; think his two sons have enough on their plate
running the most successful sports franchise in the Western Hemisphere.

The Daily Star is really running out of ideas.

I pretty much was ready to post the exact same thing. There are rumors they may be unloading the Yankees, why would they want to buy Spurs?

Get 'em in! .......rubbing hands with morbid anticipation

[ronk]

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton is to give up his executive box at Manchester City after the club raised the price of it from £22,000 last season to £39,000 for the coming campaign. Sunday Mirror

Come on Ricky, you can afford it mate; or you getting at box at Stoke ;-) Good to see the the rich getting taxed, rather than the fan who has to scrape the money together.

It's a steep increase, but that looks like a price for a 20 seater box (new price is £25k for an 8 seater box). That means that he would have been paying £1100 per person. It's incredible to think that a good season ticket is £600 when you get so much more with a box. Would have made sense for a group of fans to go in on one together (because let's face it, if you did that, the atmosphere would rock).

[colonel_muck]

England manager Fabio Capello believes his failure to convince Manchester U***d midfielder Paul Scholes to come out of international retirement was a massive contributing factor to his side's dismal World Cup showing this summer. Sunday Mirror

"Paul we really need you to balance the team"

"Where would I be playing?"

"Left wing"

"Fuck off".

you've no idea how much i hope that exact conversation took place.

[Beefymcfc]

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton is to give up his executive box at Manchester City after the club raised the price of it from £22,000 last season to £39,000 for the coming campaign. Sunday Mirror

Come on Ricky, you can afford it mate; or you getting at box at Stoke ;-) Good to see the the rich getting taxed, rather than the fan who has to scrape the money together.

It's a steep increase, but that looks like a price for a 20 seater box (new price is £25k for an 8 seater box). That means that he would have been paying £1100 per person. It's incredible to think that a good season ticket is £600 when you get so much more with a box. Would have made sense for a group of fans to go in on one together (because let's face it, if you did that, the atmosphere would rock).

So, in reality, the price as gone from 22 to 25 grand for his normal box, and that takes into account the recent upgrades, improved playing staff and our first realistic chance of winning silverware?

Well, if he's not going to get a box he's going to have to join us in the cheap seats isn't he. Don't worry Ricky, you may get a few of the lads asking for autographs at the first few games, but after that mate, you're just back to being one of us. Get the beers in mate ;-)

[Ted Hughes]

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton is to give up his executive box at Manchester City after the club raised the price of it from £22,000 last season to £39,000 for the coming campaign. Sunday Mirror

Come on Ricky, you can afford it mate; or you getting at box at Stoke ;-) Good to see the the rich getting taxed, rather than the fan who has to scrape the money together.

It's a steep increase, but that looks like a price for a 20 seater box (new price is £25k for an 8 seater box). That means that he would have been paying £1100 per person. It's incredible to think that a good season ticket is £600 when you get so much more with a box. Would have made sense for a group of fans to go in on one together (because let's face it, if you did that, the atmosphere would rock).

So, in reality, the price as gone from 22 to 25 grand for his normal box, and that takes into account the recent upgrades, improved playing staff and our first realistic chance of winning silverware?

Well, if he's not going to get a box he's going to have to join us in the cheap seats isn't he. Don't worry Ricky, you may get a few of the lads asking for autographs at the first few games, but after that mate, you're just back to being one of us. Get the beers in mate ;-)

Fat wanker.

[Kladze]

Fat wanker.

I happened to mention to him that you called him that. He said you're an ugly cunt.













or at least you will be when he's done with you ;-)

[Beefymcfc]

Former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton is to give up his executive box at Manchester City after the club raised the price of it from £22,000 last season to £39,000 for the coming campaign. Sunday Mirror

Come on Ricky, you can afford it mate; or you getting at box at Stoke ;-) Good to see the the rich getting taxed, rather than the fan who has to scrape the money together.

It's a steep increase, but that looks like a price for a 20 seater box (new price is £25k for an 8 seater box). That means that he would have been paying £1100 per person. It's incredible to think that a good season ticket is £600 when you get so much more with a box. Would have made sense for a group of fans to go in on one together (because let's face it, if you did that, the atmosphere would rock).

So, in reality, the price as gone from 22 to 25 grand for his normal box, and that takes into account the recent upgrades, improved playing staff and our first realistic chance of winning silverware?

Well, if he's not going to get a box he's going to have to join us in the cheap seats isn't he. Don't worry Ricky, you may get a few of the lads asking for autographs at the first few games, but after that mate, you're just back to being one of us. Get the beers in mate ;-)

Fat wanker.

I hope you're talking about Ricky there ;-)

[ronk]

So, in reality, the price as gone from 22 to 25 grand for his normal box, and that takes into account the recent upgrades, improved playing staff and our first realistic chance of winning silverware?

Well, if he's not going to get a box he's going to have to join us in the cheap seats isn't he. Don't worry Ricky, you may get a few of the lads asking for autographs at the first few games, but after that mate, you're just back to being one of us. Get the beers in mate ;-)

There are extras that could be bumping up the price. I guess he's free to do whatever he wants, boxes aren't cheap. The funny thing is though that compared to individual hospitality they are good value (and were far too cheap).

When basic hospitality packages are £1250+VAT per person then boxes start looking very reasonable. You can certainly see why players would be going for them.

If I was Manchester based and doing a bit of corporate entertaining I'd certainly regard it as a good investment, especially shared between a few small businesses.