Wednesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

City will move for El Ghanassy in the summer as Belgian winger insists deal is done
Manchester City will consider a fresh bid for Belgian winger Yassine El Ghanassy in the summer - but insist no deal has been agreed yet.
City tried to sign the 20-year-old from Gent as a replacement for the injured Adam Johnson last month and, while Gent did not want to sell then, El Ghanassy, who is expected to earn his first full cap for Belgium on Wednesday night against Finland, believes he could join City in July.
He said: 'I'm not disappointed it didn't get pushed through. I think there is now an agreement with Manchester City for me to move in the summer. We will have to see if that works out.'
City's technical director Mike Rigg has confirmed City interest in Benfica left-back Fabio Coentrao, 22, who is also wanted by Manchester United and Real Madrid but valued at £20million.
Rigg said: 'Fabio Coentrao is fantastic. He's a player of enormous potential.'

Manchester City are putting striker Mario Balotelli through an intensive training schedule in an attempt to get the Italian fit for the derby clash with Manchester United this weekend. (The Times)

Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand is unlikely to recover from the calf sprain that ruled him out of the defeat at Wolves in time for this weekend's derby against Manchester City. the Independent

WAG OF THE DAY


OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina says he could follow Fernando Torres out of Anfield if the club do not qualify for the Champions League. the Guardian

Marseille are poised to tempt Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to move away from London with a £5m-a-year offer. Daily Express

Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel says he would be open to a move to Tottenham when his short-term deal with AC Milan ends in the summer. (the Times)

Barcelona have ruled out signing Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas at the end of the season. Daily Express

Bolton striker Johan Elmander is ready to quit the club if a new contract is not sorted out. Daily Mirror

Newcastle want to sign Finland forward Shefki Kuqi to cover their shortage of numbers in the striking department. The 34-year-old is a free agent after cancelling his contract with Swansea by mutual consent. Daily Mail

Newcastle are in talks over possible moves for two unemployed strikers - former Middlesbrough and Arsenal man Jeremie Aliadiere and Brazilian Ewerthon, who was released by Sao Paulo-based club Palmeiras in January. Metro

Blackburn are keen on signing Sevilla and Brazil striker Luis Fabiano. Daily Mirror

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner says he could leave the club in the summer as he looks for more first-team opportunities. the Guardian

And Italian sides AC Milan and Lazio are interested in signing the 23-year-old Dane. Inside Futbol

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will attempt to prise Roman Pavlyuchenko away from Tottenham this summer after the Russian striker said he was unhappy with his bit-part role at White Hart Lane. Caughtoffside.com

Spurs have told Pavlyuchenko to wait until the end of the season for a move, despite Russian clubs - whose transfer window is open until mid-March - wanting to sign the 29-year-old now. Daily Mail

Serie A's Roma, too, are lining up a move for Pavlyuchenko as they prepare to offload attacking pair Mirko Vucinic and Adriano in the off-season. Metro

Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese has criticised Liverpool and Arsenal for the way they have tried to sign their midfield star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Daily Star

Manchester United have been linked to Barcelona's former Liverpool player Javier Mascherano, with Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson keen to add a defensive midfielder to his ranks. Caughtoffside.com

West Ham say the Olympic Stadium would become "predominantly scrap" if Tottenham won the right to move to the venue. (the Times)

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reached an agreement with Serbia that central defender Nemanja Vidic will not play in the friendly against Israel on Wednesday. the Guardian

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has issued a downbeat assessment of his club's title hopes, saying the home loss to Liverpool last weekend has "cut away our legs". Daily Star

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has called on England manager Fabio Capello treat his club team-mate Jack Wilshere with care. Bendtner wants the national side to learn the lessons from the way another talented youngster, Theo Walcott, was handled. the Independent

Everton chief executive Robert Elstone has denied reports the club are in financial trouble and insists they will not have to sell their best players to balance the books. (the Times)

Denmark goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen says England are underachievers and are no longer regarded as big scalps because of their recent failures in major competitions. Daily Mirror

Everton are poised to offer midfielder Marouane Fellaini a new contract in a bid to fend off interest from Chelsea. talkSPORT

Celtic manager Neil Lennon says the death threats he has received will not force him out of the job. Daily Record

Everton goalkeeper Jan Mucha wants to speak to manager David Moyes about his future after making only two appearances since signing from Legia Warsaw in July 2010. Daily Mail

Barcelona's director of football Raul Sanllehi has revealed he was shocked by the £50m Chelsea paid Liverpool for Spanish striker Fernando Torres. "Barcelona would not make that signing," said Sanllehi. "We would not even consider it." Metro

Scotland skipper Kenny Miller says he is the right choice to lead the side in the Nations Cup game against Northern Ireland on Wednesday because he is "bossy, moaning and demanding". Daily Record

[Goaters 103]

I see Caughtoffside.com are at it again linking their beloved Stretford to a player, today its Mascherano, that they will never buy in a million years.

[Chinners]

AFTERNOON BOLLOX
Mancini’s Renewed Bid Of £5M Will Land AC Milan & Lyon Target
The injury to tricky winger Adam Johnson happened so late in the window there wasn’t much time for City to find any cover. Reports linking the club with Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson didn’t lead to anything, but according to press reports coming from Belgium, City did make a deadline day move for young winger Yassine El Ghanassy.
The 20 year old Belgian’s potential is admired by many at City and they identified him as someone who could play in Johnson’s absence and then offer cover upon the English mans return giving the Belgian time to fulfill his promise.
El Ghanassy, son of former footballer Hajjaj El Ghanassy, had trials at Birmingham City in 2006 when he was a youth player, and although he impressed the club a deal could not be agreed to move him to the midlands. He eventually made his debut in Belgian football in 2008 playing for third divsion team La Louviere, however he was not at the club for long.
He made 6 appearances for the team before he was snapped up by top flight team AA Gent. Initially part of the youth team, he made his Jupiler Pro League debut in 2009. He is comfortable playing up front or alternatively on the wing, preferably the left. A more creative player with an eye for a pass than a goal scorer he has scored 4 league goals in 47 appearences but has laid on many assists.
City failed to land the youngster on the final day of the January transfer window, but they remain confident that they can secure his signiture over the Summer. The player has been quoted as saying:
‘I’m not disappointed it didn’t get pushed through. I think there is now an agreement with Manchester City for me to move in the summer. We will have to see if that works out.’
The Eastlands club claim that no deal is in place yet, but that they will be interesting in talking with the player when the current season is over. El Ghanassy, who is expected to make his Belgian debut this evening, has been watched by numerous clubs this season including Everton, AC Milan, Sunderland and Lyon.
Should City face competition for the highly regarded youngster the presence of fellow young Belgian Dedryck Boyata and the more experienced Vincent Kompany might go a long way to persuade El Ghanassy to make the switch to Eastlands over the other possible rivals.
Bobby Manc would be crazy to sign someone who would force Adam Johnson out of the first team picture upon his return from injury and the move for a young prospect like El Ghanassy would probably be the best option, he can learn from the current squad and provide support to the current wingers on City’s books.
A transfer policy shifting towards future prospects to build a squad capable of lasting years is better than cherry picking the best current players, it will cost the club less money which will help them meet the upcoming Financial Fair Play regulations and would also aid team spirit.
El Ghanassy is a good prospect and the City faithful generally take to exciting wingers, so I think this could be a signing that would suit everyone – the player also has a penchant for the snood so I don’t think there is a better fit than City!

Tevez Argentina future in doubt after president blast
Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez has risked his international future by putting his club above country.
The Argentinean striker has been dropped from the squad that takes on Portugal on Wednesday night by manager Sergio Batista.
Tevez has been accused of feigning injury to get out of a friendly played in November and playing in a Premier League game just days later.
Julio Grondona, the president of the Argentinean Football Association, told Pop radio station in Argentina: "The absence of Tevez is for his attitude when he did not come to play but did later for Manchester City.
"The manager did not like that attitude. It would have been easier to tell us that he did not want to come."
The former Manchester United star missed a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in November only to score two for Roberto Mancini's side three days later in a 4-1 win over Fulham.

My special night was never going to be used to taunt rivals City!
David May hits out after being forced to cancel charity event
Former Manchester United defender David May has angrily claimed a special fundraising event he was forced to cancel was never going to be a celebration of Manchester City's barren period without silverware.
United clash with City on Saturday, with supporters of the Reds never shy in reminding their local rivals that 35 years have passed since their last trophy.
May sparked controversy when he said those attending the ‘United Nights’ event would also be celebrating City’s failure to win a trophy for 35 years. He received abusive phone calls and threats after that claim, and the £20-a-head event in the city's Walkabout bar has been cancelled.
The former United defender said charities would miss out, with proceeds split between the Christie Hospital in Manchester, which treats patients for cancer, and the United Foundation, which helps a number of good causes.
A disappointed May said: 'It was never a party to celebrate City’s 35 years without winning any silverware. That mention was just a bit of banter.
'It’s disappointing because the majority of the proceeds were going to Christie Hospital and the United Foundation.
'It was an event for United fans from all over the world who were visiting for the derby. There were fans coming from Australia, Israel, Malta and Scandinavia.
'We raffle signed shirts, signed footballs and pictures and have auctions and most of the money raised goes to charity.
'Christie is very close to my heart and I feel very passionate about it. My grandma died of cancer and I have other family members who have suffered from the disease.
'I am upset that Christie are going to miss out. I am not a vicious person and it was never my intention to cause any anger or controversy. It was just friendly banter.
'My biggest gripe is that the charity won’t benefit now and people have jumped on the bandwagon and said I hate City which is totally wrong.'
May has organised a series of United Night events before big matches in the past.
United are five points clear of City going into this weekend's televised clash. Fans will be hoping for more entertainment than was provided by the reverse game at Eastlands earlier this term, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=37127

OTHER BOLLOX
Chelsea had a £36m bid for Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez rejected by the German club last month. "I only found out about the offer after the club had turned it down," said the 25-year-old Germany international. "But it wouldn't have mattered anyway. I am already at a top club and I am playing where I always wanted to." (Sport Bild)

A memorabilia collector has claimed that David Trezeguet's France shirt from the World Cup final win over Brazil in 1998, which was bought for £6,000, has been destroyed by French customs officers who wrongly thought it was fake.
Le Dauphine (in French) http://www.ledauphine.com/haute-savoie/ ... -la-douane

[Mikhail Chigorin]

If David May is worried about the charities which may 'miss out' because of the cancellation of his 'United Night', he should put his hand in his own pocket to make up the difference - a case of put up or shut up.

[lets all have a disco]

Put yer hand in your own pocket then May you Cnut.

Slam them 10k and have done with it you pie faced fucking nugget.

[Mase]

Put yer hand in your own pocket then May you Cnut.

Slam them 10k and have done with it you pie faced fucking nugget.

NUGGET-IST!!!!!

[john68]

Put yer hand in your own pocket then May you Cnut.

Slam them 10k and have done with it you pie faced fucking nugget.

NUGGET-IST!!!!!

Maybe we should have a party when Fergie dies and invite him as guest of honour...maybe the same on the Munich anniversary...Only banter tho....grabbing rag twat.

[Beefymcfc]

Tevez Argentina future in doubt after president blast
Manchester City captain Carlos Tevez has risked his international future by putting his club above country.
The Argentinean striker has been dropped from the squad that takes on Portugal on Wednesday night by manager Sergio Batista.
Tevez has been accused of feigning injury to get out of a friendly played in November and playing in a Premier League game just days later.
Julio Grondona, the president of the Argentinean Football Association, told Pop radio station in Argentina: "The absence of Tevez is for his attitude when he did not come to play but did later for Manchester City.
"The manager did not like that attitude. It would have been easier to tell us that he did not want to come."
The former Manchester United star missed a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in November only to score two for Roberto Mancini's side three days later in a 4-1 win over Fulham.

They just had to get that shit in didn't they! And I noticed the Sun were running with a 'Carlos having an affair' story yesterday, nothing ever changes does it. I wonder if they take their stories direct from Taggart or does the editor have a say?

[french_tony]

Kuqi having a medical at Newcastle....thanks Joey