MANCHESTER CITY BOSS ROBERTO MANCINI BLAST AT SLOPPY JOE HART
JOE HART has received a rocket from angry Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.
The England No.1 has been told to buck up his ideas after a string of dodgy displays.
A blunder at Leicester last week gifted the Championship club an FA Cup third round replay.
And Hart was also far from his best at the weekend as Wolves put three goals past him in a thrilling 4-3 win for Mancini’s men.
Mancini is tempted to recall Shay Given for tonight’s replay at Eastlands against Sven Goran Eriksson’s men.
But he knows this would leave Given cup-tied if he is sold during the January transfer window.
Mancini said: “You cannot change a goalkeeper during a game because it is a very difficult position. I think for a young goalkeeper it is important to always have full concentration, but I think that Joe sometimes loses his concentration.
“He is always very assured, but sometimes... it is important to always have concentration, always.
“At this moment I don’t know if Shay can play.”
Mancini has blamed Hart for lumbering his title-chasing side with tonight’s unwanted fixture.
“He is improving, but I think that he has a chance to improve more because he is young and this is his second year in the first team,” said Mancini.
“He can become one of the best goalkeepers in England, but for this to happen he has to want to work and want to improve.
“It is a good lesson because in the FA Cup it is very difficult, but without Joe’s mistake it (the replay) would not be happening.
“I don’t like this replay because we have a lot of matches to play until the end of the season already.
“But we want to win because we want to get to Wembley.
“For me, that is very important.
“But they deserved to draw that game because they played well.
“We have done it for his (Eriksson’s) benefit because he told me he wanted to come back and see his old offi ce!”
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goal.com
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Former Tottenham striker Bent will cost Villa £18m - which will smash the club's transfer record - and his move will be completed on Tuesday. Birmingham Mail
Or, Villa will pay £24m for the 26-year-old forward. Daily Mail
But Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly considering making an attempt to hijack Villa's move for Bent. caughtoffside.com
Chelsea are also pushing ahead with a £22m bid for David Luiz after Benfica secured a replacement for the defender. Daily Mirror
Manchester United are battling Real Madrid for the signing of 17-year-old Argentine forward Juan Manuel Iturbe, who plays for Quilmes. talksport.co.uk
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Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola has set his sights on capturing Manchester United right-back Rafael. caughtoffside.com
United, meanwhile, are pushing ahead with attempts to sign Barcelona's Spanish international midfielder Sergio Busquets. caughtoffside.com
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Italian club Sampdoria have revealed that they were keen on bringing in Fulham forward Diomansy Kamara. tribalfootball.com
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew admits he faces a battle to hang on to in-form midfielder Joey Barton. tribalfootball.com
Rafael van der Vaart has urged his Dutch team-mate Mark van Bommel to join him at Spurs. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is known to be keen on the 33-year-old Bayern Munich captain, but may have to battle AC Milan and Manchester City for his signature. Daily Mirror
Bolton are close to winning the battle to sign Middlesbrough defender David Wheater. Daily Mirror
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish is reported to have identified Aston Villa duo Ashley Young and Stewart Downing as potential transfer targets. Metro
Or, Luis Suarez could become Dalglish's first signing since his return to the club with Liverpool set to step up their bid for the Ajax striker. Daily Mail
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Meanwhile, West Ham have been hit by Martin O'Neill's decision not to join the Hammers - leaving Grant to continue at Upton Park. Daily Mirror
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