Monday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

CITY BOLLOX
Roberto Mancini's multi-million clear-out: The Manchester City stars up for auction
Roll up , roll up. Place your bids for the Manchester City clear-out.
Roberto Mancini needs to trim his squad by six players to comply with new Premier League rules allowing clubs to register a maximum of 25 players over 21.
But if you are a club City consider a direct rival you can forget about nicking one of the big names on this list.
Imagine if Shay Given made the save that kept City out of the top four and the Champions League placings. No wonder Craig Bellamy is heading for Cardiff on loan.

Shay Given: Second choice now after Joe Hart. Will he fight or get out of town?
Emmanuel Adebayor: Handed the No 9 shirt but given only seven minutes at Spurs. Mario Balotelli's arrival could strengthen his desire to move to Juventus.
Jo: Not in Europa League squad. Could be a loan deal. Joleo n Les cott: Cost a fortune from Everton, now demoted to substitute. Left-footed centre backs are not easy to find, though.
Wayne Bridge: Not in squad to face Spurs but likely to be needed as cover for £17million Aleksandar Kolarov. Any takers?
Michael Johnson: Counts as a home-grown player but City are ready to sell after his progress faltered.
Robinho : Anyone prepared to come close to matching the £32.5m City paid Real Madrid? Also on £160,000 a week. Form an orderly queue.
Roque Santa Cruz: Wanted by Mark Hughes at Fulham but a loan would seem the only option. £90,000-a-week wages and poor injury record don't help.
Felipe Caicedo: Set for West Ham on loan.
Kelvin Etuhu: Leicester, Rochdale and Cardiff want a loan deal.
Craig Bellamy : Terrific player, lots of hassle and now set for Cardiff.

Manchester City will only allow goalkeeper Shay Given to leave Eastlands on loan
Shay Given's hopes of securing first-team football away from Manchester City are likely to be restricted to a loan move with Roberto Mancini reluctant to risk a repeat of the goalkeeper crisis that scuppered the club’s Champions League ambitions last season.
Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Given is facing the prospect of being second-choice at Eastlands this season following Mancini’s decision to install Joe Hart as his number one for the Premier League opener at Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.
At 34, Given is reluctant to accept a role as understudy and is understood to be keen to resolve his situation before the transfer deadline on Aug 31.
Fulham manager Mark Hughes, who signed Given for City in Jan 2009, is ready to move for the player should Mark Schwarzer leave Craven Cottage for Arsenal.
But with City forced to recruit Sunderland’s Marton Fulop on an emergency loan last season due to a goalkeeping shortage that left Mancini without the injured Given and Stuart Taylor, plus Hart who was on loan at Birmingham, Mancini is only prepared to allow Given to leave on loan, with a clause in the deal allowing an instant recall.

City are hopeful of concluding a deal for James Milner this week, despite being surprised by comments by Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner suggesting they had “violated the rules” in their pursuit of the England

Schalke are hoping the presence of Raul will help persuade Manchester City striker Robinho to join his former Real Madrid strike partner at the German club. http://www.insidefutbol.com/2010/08/16/ ... ity/28515/

Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy could sign for Championship club Cardiff in a bid to end his Eastlands misery after he was given permission to train with his home-town club.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -deal.html

Wales international Bellamy has been told he is no longer welcome at City's training ground. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010 ... ester-city

In another 'Exclusive' Daily Mirror revelation, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp remains hopeful of persuading Bellamy to move to White Hart Lane.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Tr ... 55943.html

WAG OF THE DAY
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4364 ... riana-lima

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Argentina legend Diego Maradona is lining up a move to become Aston Villa's next manager following Martin O'Neill's departure. Daily Mail

Maradona's European spokesman Walter Soriano said the 1986 World Cup winner "loves the English countryside" and if Villa owner Randy Lerner made a serious offer the American would "get a positive response".the Sun

Chelsea are considering a renewed bid for Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and will offer about £4.5m. Daily Mail

Harry Redknapp has been warned to stay away from Scott Parker, who has been offered a new five-year contract by West Ham. Hammers chairman David Sullivan said he would report the north London club if they continue their pursuit of the midfielder. Daily Mail

Newcastle are ready to thwart Fulham's bid for Algerian defender Rafik Halliche, although the 23-year-old is due at Craven Cottage for a medical ahead of a £1.3m move from Benfica. Daily Mail

Newcastle target Hatem Ben Arfa has accused Marseille of treating him like a "slave" after refusing to allow the France international midfielder to join the Magpies on loan. (the Times)

Blackburn are giving a trial to 26-year-old Colombian striker Edixon Perea Valencia, who is a free agent after his contract ran out at Brazilian club Gremio. Daily Mail

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is also keen on Toulouse striker Xavier Pentegote, although he suffered a knee injury at the weekend.Daily Mirror

Birmingham are close to bringing Matt Derbyshire back to English football on loan from Greek club Olympiakos. Daily Mirror

Liverpool are weighing up a £5m move for PSV Eindhoven's Sweden forward Ola Toivonen. Daily Mail

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic looks set to join Italian club Bologna on loan. IM Scouting.com

OTHER BOLLOX
Wigan will hit Charles N'Zogbia with a maximum £70,000 fine after he stormed out of training on Friday and missed Saturday's opening day defeat by Blackpool. Daily Mirror

Frenchman N'Zogbia has since gone on strike, a decision that is likely to speed up his exit from the DW Stadium. Birmingham have tabled an £8m bid for the winger, although Wigan are holding out for more. The Sun

Michael Owen says he has become a different style of striker since joining Manchester United and still believes he has "four or five years at the top". The Sun (yeah, an injured spawny bastid type of striker)

Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole has been defended by manager Roy Hodgson and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after being sent off on his league debut for the Merseysiders against the Gunners. Daily Mirror

Sheffield United are ready to offer former Wales midfielder Gary Speed his first job in management after the shock sacking of Kevin Blackwell.Daily Mail

England World Cup goalkeeper David James has admitted he watched Come Dine With Me on television rather than his national side's friendly against Hungary last Wednesday. Daily Mirror

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Talk about wanting to big up a story. that's a pretty easy list to pick six names from.

[ruralblue]

If, and IF Given goes out on loan, can a clause be put in his contract to recall if needed??? or would that go against the 25 squad rule thing????. Theres special rules for keepers if injured, is there not??

[Goaters 103]

Given should not be loaned out, end of.

With all the Cup comps we could end up playing 55 - 60 games this year so there would be plenty of appearances for him. As soon as Given is loaned out or sold, Hart will predictably get injured and we are left with Stuart Taylor.

[paulh]

Shay should be told you have a contract to honour. why would we want to make a rival stronger if prem bound? we are goign to be playing up to 60 games lets not do a last season and learn from our mistake

[craigmcfc]

What a stunner that WAG is, can't say I've heard of her before