Wednesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

NEW CARLOS TEVEZ TUG-OF-WAR
Manchester City see Carlos Tevez as an integral part of their quest for a major trophy
KIA JOORABCHIAN has once again put himself on a war footing with Manchester City over Carlos Tevez’s future.
Joorabchian, Tevez’s agent, adviser and close friend, claims he can convince his client to rejoin Brazilian club Corinthians in the next two years – despite still having three and a half seasons left on his City contract. He said: “Carlos would be happy to return to Brazil and play for Corinthians. I want to help Corinthians in their sporting quest. I would like the deal to be done swiftly but in reality it will probably take a couple of years.”
Tevez became a huge favourite during his two years with Corinthians – a club then owned by Joorabchian – helping them win the Brazilian league title in 2005 before moving to England and launching his Premier League career at West Ham.
Now Joorabchian has told TV Gazeta he is hoping to take Argentina international Tevez back to South America.
Tevez stunned City by handing in a transfer request in December, citing as reasons a breakdown in his relationship with chief executive Garry Cook and football director Brian Marwood as well as the fact he was missing his two children, who live in Argentina.
But he withdrew the request within a week and has since insisted on several occasions he is perfectly happy to stay.
City see him as an integral part of their attempts to become an established Champions League club in the next few years and end the club’s 35-year wait for a major trophy. At current market price they would want £40million for a striker who is on about £165,000 a week and who has scored 50 goals in 73 appearances for them.
But Joorabchian added: “Money will not be a problem. Carlos loves Brazil and I think it is all very feasible.”
Joorabchian also revealed that he has plans to lure Manchester United midfielder Anderson and Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to Corinthians.

The problem with Manchester City is their mewling paranoia By Martin Samuel
Mike Summerbee has had too much of footballers scoring overhead, volleyed bicycle kicks to win matches, apparently. Who hasn’t? What a nuisance they can be.
There you are, settling in your armchair for an afternoon of pure tedium, when up pops Wayne Rooney with one of those irritating goals of the season, and the next thing you know the whole country is off its feet in dizzied excitement wanting to see it again. Who needs that every week?
The fact that Rooney, a striker for Manchester United, did this against Manchester City did not contribute in any way to Summerbee’s suggestion that Sky television is biased towards the Barclays Premier League leaders. He would have been equally unenthusiastic if, say, Mario Balotelli had appeared after months of ineffectuality to win the Manchester derby in such a spectacularly decisive manner.
Summerbee’s status as a Manchester City ambassador did not cloud his judgment at all.
Sky only see United, he wrote in the City programme at the weekend. They certainly won’t be seeing too much of Summerbee after his temper tantrum over Rooney’s goal, that much is certain.
The least appealing product of City’s rise to prominence is mewling paranoia. Roberto Mancini, the manager, has been moaning that some find his team dull. Who cares?
Critics said that of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, too. No doubt Roman Abramovich would settle for a hefty dose of winning boredom now.
Every fan thinks the media has it in for his club. It never occurs to them that partisan leanings cloud their own judgment.
Summerbee, a wonderful player, should delight in the talent of Rooney whatever colour his shirt. Instead, he is so one-eyed he turned over to Antiques Roadshow rather than watch a re-run of a brilliant goal scored against his club. It would seem Sky are not the problem here; it is the sky blues that need to see both sides of the story.
‘The media go on as if we don’t exist and that annoys me,’ Summerbee said. ‘I don’t mind banter, I don’t even mind jokes, but the progress we make is being ignored.’
How true. Never hear a mention of City these days, do you? It is like Carlos Tevez has fallen off the map since he left Old Trafford. Is he even getting a game? Anyone know?

What a waste of a young boy's talent
Abdul Razak is a young midfield player at Manchester City who came to Great Britain from Ghana three years ago to play in a football tournament in Aberdeen.
Abandoned by his chaperone and separated from his parents, who are from the Ivory Coast, Razak was taken in by social services as he was under 16.
He clearly had talent, though, because he was tracked by Bolton Wanderers and Crystal Palace while playing amateur football in south London before joining City in July. He signed professional terms in January and made his Premier League debut near the end of the 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.
He has made an incredible and inspiring journey.
Now Razak faces deportation because he was given temporary leave to remain here on the grounds he was under 18. His case is before the Home Office and, if it fails, he will be returned to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, a city he left in his early teens.
Considering what he has already made of his life in Britain, and the obstacles he has overcome, it seems unthinkable that we should reject him now; of course he should stay.

Man City keeper Shay Given out for up to three months
Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given may be sidelined for up to three months because of a shoulder injury.
The 34-year-old, who has only played in four matches for City this season, will visit a specialist on Wednesday.
City boss Roberto Mancini said: "He has the same injury he had last year and I think that he needs an operation."
Already ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's home Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia, Given might not play for club or country again this season.
Mancini added: "It's a disappointment for us and him. We've lost a good goalkeeper.
"Last year we had the problem in the last three games because we lost him to injury and I hope this year it is not the same."
With City sealing an FA Cup fifth-round place against Aston Villa after overcoming League One side Notts County on Sunday, Given will be anxious to be available for a potential trip to Wembley if the club make the final on 14 May.
And if the Eastlands team continue to progress in the Europa League he will be desperate to be fit for the final in Dublin on 18 May.
However, having been displaced by Joe Hart as City's number one and without a single Premier League appearance in the 2010-2011 campaign, Given could conceivably have played his final game for the club.
In the absence of the former Newcastle keeper, Stuart Taylor looks set to act as Hart's deputy, while Mancini admitted he would probably be forced to recall David Gonzales from his loan spell at Leeds United.
Given also damaged his shoulder in April, which prompted City to sign Marton Fulop on an emergency loan deal from Sunderland for their final three games of the 2009-10 season with Hart on loan at Birmingham.
The four games that Given has played for City this season are the Carling Cup defeat at West Brom in September and three Europa League matches, with his last appearance in a 1-1 draw at Juventus on 16 December.
His injury is also a huge blow for his country with the Republic, currently second in Group B, facing Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium on 26 March.
Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni said on Tuesday: "Shay's presence in the squad has always been extremely important and he will certainly be missed. That said, we have good options in Keiren Westwood and Joe Murphy."
Better news for Trapattoni involved captain Robbie Keane who looks likely to recover from a calf strain for the Macedonia clash.

WAG OF THE DAY


OTHER BOLLOX
League One side Sheffield Wednesday are to make a bid to sign striker Benni McCarthy and defender Herita Ilunga, who are out of favour at West Ham. Daily Mirror

West Ham will sign on loan Inter Milan striker Victor Obinna in the summer, when he says he will be a free agent. talkSPORT

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp says he may make another bid for Blackpool's Charlie Adam, having narrowly missed out on the striker on transfer deadline day. Footylatest.com

Manchester United are considering a move for Feyenoord striker Luc Castaignos despite the teenager reported to be close to sealing a £6m summer transfer to Inter Milan. caughtoffside.com

Barcelona were left bemused when Arsenal recently signed their 16-year-old midfielder Jon Miquel Toral Harper. After losing Cesc Fabregas to the London club in 2003, it turns out the man responsible for securing the latest transfer is none other than Pere Guardiola - the brother of Barcelona manager Pep. the Sun

AC Milan's Gennaro Gattuso will not be in London for the Champions League return leg against Tottenham. Following his confrontation with Spurs head coach Joe Jordan after the first game, the midfielder said: "I have been told there will be 47,000 people there just waiting to give me a slap, so I will stay in Milan." Daily Mail

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has given his strongest hint yet that he would like to return to Chelsea one day. Mourinho left Stamford Bridge in 2007 but says: "I love Chelsea. I was the happiest man when I was there. I was thinking I would be there all my life. So you never know." Daily Mail

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard will be rested for the club's Europa League game with Sparta Prague on Thursday. Daily Mirror

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is lining up a lucrative pre-season tour of Japan that could net the club £15m. Daily Mirror

Striker Asamoah Gyan may have to be sold to balance Sunderland's books, says Black Cats chairman Niall Quinn.Metro

Marseille boss Didier Deschamps says Wednesday's opponents Manchester United are not as attractive to watch as in previous years but remains respectful of Sir Alex Ferguson's men. "Maybe this United team have a bit less fantasy than some of the teams we have seen in the past," he said. "But it is not always the nicest-looking team that wins the titles." Daily Express

Plans to introduce goal-line technology have hit a stumbling block after all 10 of the companies taking part in recent trials failed to meet the criteria set by Fifa, football's world governing body. A Fifa spokesman said the results of the tests will be discussed at a meeting on 5 March. the Guardian

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has treated his star striker Andy Carroll by taking him to a reunion concert by Irish pop group Boyzone. Daily Telegraph

[Ted Hughes]

Cheers Chinners.

I've been saying for a while that I think Chelsea is a possible destination for Mourinho. Not sure it will happen for a couple of years & it may depend on the City & rags situations, but now he's done everything else, I recon he'll see Chelsea as a serious option & Roman may well be willing to swallow his pride. I think he'll plan to stay longer at his next club.

[avoidconfusion]

That Kia guy is such a f!cking tw@t

[Rag_hater]

There's a story about Shay on ESPN.

Given, 34, injured his shoulder in the warm-up ahead of City's Europa League game at Aris Salonika last week, less than 12 months after a discloation of the same joint curtailed his 2009-10 season and ultimately contributed to Joe Hart replacing him as the club's No. 1.

After being examined by a specialist in London on Wednesday, the Ireland goalkeeper has been told he needs surgery, which will keep him out for three months and ensure he misses the rest of the season.

Are there special rules concerning keepers meaning we can buy one if we get in a perilous situation.
Shame if its true quite liked Shay and felt really good we had such a good back up to Joe if the worst happens.

[guv111]

Martin Samuel is one of the best and least City-phobic football journalists in the country, and he backs his opinions up with good old fashioned legwork when facts and dates are required. On this occasion, though, I think he's writing copy for the boys - i.e. knocking off a paean to the people he spends most of his time with. Fellow hacks. If anyone were to spend just one week reading the independent, for example, and especially their chief sports writer and City Hater General James Lawton, they would be left in little doubt that some people are out to get us. Not one of Samuel's better pieces.

[Scatman]

Martin Samuel is one of the best and least City-phobic football journalists in the country, and he backs his opinions up with good old fashioned legwork when facts and dates are required. On this occasion, though, I think he's writing copy for the boys - i.e. knocking off a paean to the people he spends most of his time with. Fellow hacks. If anyone were to spend just one week reading the independent, for example, and especially their chief sports writer and City Hater General James Lawton, they would be left in little doubt that some people are out to get us. Not one of Samuel's better pieces.

thus proving his point

[Ted Hughes]

Martin Samuel is one of the best and least City-phobic football journalists in the country, and he backs his opinions up with good old fashioned legwork when facts and dates are required. On this occasion, though, I think he's writing copy for the boys - i.e. knocking off a paean to the people he spends most of his time with. Fellow hacks. If anyone were to spend just one week reading the independent, for example, and especially their chief sports writer and City Hater General James Lawton, they would be left in little doubt that some people are out to get us. Not one of Samuel's better pieces.

thus proving his point

Read Oliver Holt's latest anti City diatribe on Sheikh Mansour & tell me it's neutral & objective.

[ashton287]

This is what shows it as a bored journo with nothing else to do so he has a pop at a city legend without thinking about what he's writing.

He would have been equally unenthusiastic if, say, Mario Balotelli had appeared after months of ineffectuality

Ok now i am going to have a look and find out how many mario has scored this season and how many rooney has scored this season.

It's 12:52 and here i go NOW. This season

Balotelli - 13 apps with 8 goals.
Shrek - 21 apps 6 goals.

And 3 minutes later the journo can suck my dick.

[Scatman]

Martin Samuel is one of the best and least City-phobic football journalists in the country, and he backs his opinions up with good old fashioned legwork when facts and dates are required. On this occasion, though, I think he's writing copy for the boys - i.e. knocking off a paean to the people he spends most of his time with. Fellow hacks. If anyone were to spend just one week reading the independent, for example, and especially their chief sports writer and City Hater General James Lawton, they would be left in little doubt that some people are out to get us. Not one of Samuel's better pieces.

thus proving his point

Read Oliver Holt's latest anti City diatribe on Sheikh Mansour & tell me it's neutral & objective.

Do you mean this?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/holt/ True cost of chasing Gulf gold

[CitizenYank]

The media's prejudice against City has just become another one the things you have to get used too. I honestly
don't ever see it getting better, but the way I look at it; if they hate you, it means your doing something right.

Also have been following Abdul Razak's case regarding deportation. It would be a terrible waste of talent
for someone who, if not with City, could play quality ball somewhere else. I hope the Home Office makes the
right decision and let's him stay.

[guv111]

Martin Samuel is one of the best and least City-phobic football journalists in the country, and he backs his opinions up with good old fashioned legwork when facts and dates are required. On this occasion, though, I think he's writing copy for the boys - i.e. knocking off a paean to the people he spends most of his time with. Fellow hacks. If anyone were to spend just one week reading the independent, for example, and especially their chief sports writer and City Hater General James Lawton, they would be left in little doubt that some people are out to get us. Not one of Samuel's better pieces.

thus proving his point

You obviously don't read the Independent, or its football writers James Lawton, Ian Herbert, Steve Tongue and Tim Rich. Please tell me which utterly unbiased and neutral papers you do read and I promise I'll give them a try.

[Chinners]

I read the Independent actually, I really like it. James Lawton is bias against every team not just us .... oh, and he won football writer of the year last year btw

[guv111]

I read the Independent actually, I really like it. James Lawton is bias against every team not just us .... oh, and he won football writer of the year last year btw

Maybe it was his turn? He is about seventy, so they probably thought he deserved something for having not died yet. I assume you just smile and shrug when you see their daily Rag tributes.

[Chinners]

Indeed, when they have them .... I laugh when they slag them off as well. As I said their sports journos seem to have a pop then heap praise on every club, including us.

In my opinion the fact we get any sort of press is good as we've obviously gained in statue. Some of the bollox the papers wrote about Man U before they won the Prem were just as risible as the stuff about us now to be honest ... still, just don't read if it winds you up.

[Scatman]

I read the Independent actually, I really like it. James Lawton is bias against every team not just us .... oh, and he won football writer of the year last year btw

Maybe it was his turn? He is about seventy, so they probably thought he deserved something for having not died yet. I assume you just smile and shrug when you see their daily Rag tributes.

It obviously makes somebody's day, if not Chinners's