Friday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Carlos Tevez could turn his back on Man City, Roberto Mancini admits
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says he has no idea how long Carlos Tevez will stay at the club, admitting he could leave before the start of next season.
Tevez’s representative Kia Joorabchian has reportedly claimed the Argentina striker would be happy to rejoin Corinthians of Brazil, a move he was confident he could seal in the next couple of years.
The City captain’s deal runs until 2014 and asked if he though Tevez would be sticking around, Mancini said: ‘I don’t know.
‘It is impossible to know what will happen in the future. I hope Carlos can continue to play here.’
Mancini insisted he was not concerned by the speculation and that his focus was on City’s remaining fixtures this season, starting with the Europa League last-32 second leg against Aris Salonika on Thursday.
‘At this moment, I am worried only about the game, not about other things,’ he insisted.
‘For the moment Carlos is here, he plays for Manchester City.
‘He is important but in the squad there are more than 20 players who are all important.
‘It is normal when you have a striker like Carlos, or Mario [Balotelli] or [Edin] Dzeko, that it is important they play. But I don’t know what will happen next year.’
Ahead of the clash with Greek outfit Aris, with whom they drew 0-0 in the first leg, City have been hit by the news back-up goalkeeper Shay Given could miss three months with a shoulder injury.
Given, who saw a specialist on Wednesday, is expected to need surgery.

or ....

Carlos Tevez will stay in Europe for at least three years, says player's agent Kia Joorabchian
Carlos Tevez’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, has cleared up suggestions the Manchester City star wants to play for Corinthians, explaining Tevez will play in Europe for at least three years first.
Joorabchian gave an interview in South America that suggested Tevez wanted to return to play for Corinthians, but the agent now denies that Tevez will move to Brazil in the near future and says he will continue to play in Europe for the medium-term.
'That has been blown well out of proportion,' Joorabchian told ESPNsoccernet. 'Let me make it perfectly clear that Carlos plans to remain in Europe for the next three years, minimum.
'After that, no one really knows what will happen. However, Carlos Tevez has great affection for his old clubs, and that includes West Ham as well as Corinthians and Boca Juniors.
'He would not rule out playing again for Corinthians on his way back to play for Boca, but I didn’t say this was happening now, or indeed in two years, because it isn’t. It should have been clear, but it hasn’t turned out that way, so let me state categorically that Carlos will be in Europe for a minimum of three years.'
Tevez has a contract with Manchester City until 2014, but even manager Roberto Mancini has admitted that he cannot be certain whether his star striker will be at Eastlands next season. Real Madrid are reported to be interested in bringing him to Spain, while there is also the possibility that he will quit the game completely.

From Maine Road to Middle Eastlands - Ex-Manchester City player Lee Crooks transfers to RAF
Former Manchester City footballer Lee Crooks is about to move from defence on the pitch to the front line in Afghanistan.
Crooks, a City youth product who played 73 games for the first team between 1994 and 2001, has joined the elite team of the RAF Regiment.
The Wakefield-born 33-year-old joined the regiment in 2010 and graduated to leading aircraftman last month.
Wakefield-born Crooks, 33, played for a number of other clubs including Barnsley, Bradford and Rochdale before he joined the regiment as a gunner in 2009.
He graduated to Leading Aircraftman a few weeks ago and is currently on the training range ahead of moving on to 1 Squadron RAF Regiment at RAF Honington in Suffolk. From there he will embark on his first tour of Afghanistan at the beginning of next year.
Comparing life as a professional footballer and a gunner, he said: 'Both roles are about working as a team, being there for your team-mates and moving forward as a team.
'You have to be mentally and physically fit for both roles, but you train as a professional footballer for 90 minutes so the training is a lot more explosive, whereas being a gunner you have to be robust and have a lot more stamina as you are carrying heavy weight over longer distances and over longer days and nights.
'You train all week to prepare for the Saturday game and put everything that you've trained for into that game and it's exactly the same as this.
'I have done my training and am now really looking forward to putting it into practice.'

CITY OSCARS
It’s Oscars season and to celebrate the world’s most glittering movie prize, over the next few days we’ll be dishing out our own film-themed awards –‘The Chappys’.
With the great and good of Hollywood gathering in Los Angeles on Sunday night, we’ll be handing out a whole host of gongs of our own as well as featuring favourite player flicks and moments from recent cinema history.
There’ll be special guest appearances, exclusive videos interviews and links to some of the greatest films of all times, with each award presented by legendary kit manager Les Chapman – in his own inimitable way, of course…
So tune into the official City website and find out which players have won the vote for amongst others Best Costume, Best Original Score, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Make-up and Best Stunt as well as Best Supporting Role – and find out the real meaning behind each Chappy!
It’s an award ceremony like no other and you will only get the Blue carpet treatment right here on mcfc.co.uk and mcfc.com
To ease you into the cinematic mood today we will kick-off with a host of text stories detailing City connections with the silver screen.
We’ll kick off with our very own Hollywood Blue –Timothy Dalton. Ah, we’ve been expecting you Mr Bond…
Lights up… roll the camera and… action!

The following fixtures have been changed in April:
Manchester City v Sunderland
Now: Sunday 3rd April, 4.00 pm. Live on Sky Sports. (subject to involvement in a FA Cup 6th Round replay)

Liverpool v Manchester City
Now: Monday 11th April, 8.00 pm. Live on Sky Sports.

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur
Now: Sunday 17 April, 1.30 pm. Live on Sky Sports (subject to participation in the FA Cup Semi-Finals)

Blackburn Rovers v Manchester City
Now: Monday 25 April, 8.00 pm. Live on Sky Sports.

Manchester City v West Ham United
Now: Sunday 1 May, 4.10 pm. Live on Sky Sports.

WAG OF THE DAY


OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool are tracking Newcastle left-back Jose Enrique and are confident of sealing a £6m deal for the Spaniard in the summer. Goal.com

Barcelona are finally ready to give up their chase for Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas and turn their attention to Tottenham winger Gareth Bale. Footylatest

Arsenal could bolster their attacking options with the purchase of £15m-rated Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro. Daily Mail

Bolton will have to pay £10m to convert their loan deal for Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge's into a permanent switch to the Reebok. (Daily Star)

Chelsea's Yuri Zhirkov, who can play as either a left-back or left midfielder, has admitted that he may leave Stamford Bridge if he fails to secure a regular starting place with the defending Premier League champions. the Sun

Chelsea winger Florent Malouda is a £7m summer target for Spanish side Hercules. talkSPORT

Jose Bosingwa could be another to leave Chelsea as Juventus line up a £10m bid for the full-back. Daily Mail

Aston Villa are keen on £6m-rated West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green as a summer replacement for the outgoing Brad Friedel. Daily Mirror

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp expects to be involved in a bidding war with Liverpool for the signature of Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam. Metro

Lille playmaker Eden Hazard, a target for Arsenal, has said that a move to Spain would suit him better than a switch to the Premier League. the Sun

Tottenham could swoop to sign Inter Milan striker Victor Obinna at the end of the season after the Nigerian impressed on loan at West Ham. Caughtoffside

Liverpool have stepped up their pursuit of Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila, who has been described as the new Patrick Vieira. talkSPORT

Fulham and West Ham are set for a summer transfer tussle over Nigeria international striker Kalu Uche, who plays for Spanish side Almeria. talkSPORT

Ipswich boss Paul Jewell has insisted teenage striker Connor Wickham is not for sale. Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United have all been linked with the England Under-21 forward. Daily Mirror

The Qatari royal family is preparing to offer Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer £1.5bn for the club. Daily Mail

Chelsea captain John Terry believes they can still make up the 12-point gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United but must beat the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday to stand a chance.Daily Mirror

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has warned that he may resort to legal action against the Football Association as they chase compensation for the injury suffered by former Hammers striker Dean Ashton while training with England. the Guardian

Fernando Torres was overpriced in £50m move to Chelsea from Liverpool, says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Metro

Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa could return to the Magpies' starting line-up in April as he continues his recovery from a double leg-break suffered against Manchester City in October. (the Times)

A group of gay Polish football fans have called on the organisers of Euro 2012, being held in Poland and the Ukraine, to set aside seating for gay men and lesbians to protect them from possible aggression at the tournament. Daily Telegraph

Former Ipswich boss Jim Magilton says in-form Celtic full-back Emilio Izaguirre showed he had what it takes to succeed in British football during a trial at Portman Road. Daily Record

Aston Villa's Darren Bent, a £18m January signing from Sunderland, believes that fellow strikers Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll's moves later in the transfer window, for £50m and £35m respectively, have taken the pressure off him. "A lot of people seem to have forgotten about my transfer now, so I have just got on with it," he said. Daily Star

Birmingham striker Matt Derbyshire's wife Melissa has revealed that she publicly rowed with a Blues' season-ticket holder who criticised her husband during the team's Premier League draw with city rivals Aston Villa at St Andrew's in January. Daily Mirror

Leyton Orient midfielder Jose-Paul M'Poku has said that he will not take up the chance to visit Las Vegas as part of a trip organised by club chairman Barry Hearn to reward the side for their FA Cup draw against Arsenal. "I prefer not to go. Las Vegas is a city full of sins and I am a very religious person," he said. the Sun

Fulham have joined the race to sign Latvian striker Artjoms Rudnevs from Lech Poznan. Daily Mail

Chelsea full-back Yury Zhirkov could move to Liverpool or Queens Park Rangers after saying he might leave the Premier League champions in the summer. Metro

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is deciding whether to make an offer for American Alejandro Bedoya after the midfielder spent a week on trail at St Andrew's. Daily Mail

Cesc Fabregas' fitness trainer says the Arsenal skipper could have played in the Carling Cup final on Sunday, although manager Arsene Wenger has ruled him out of the game. Daily Mirror

Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam will see a specialist to try to solve a mystery abdominal injury which flares up after games. Daily Mirror

Bolton boss Owen Coyle hopes the future of striker Johan Elmander will be sorted out in the next two weeks. Daily Mail

Inter Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar left his car at the San Siro and walked home after the Italian team lost in the last minute to Bayern Munich in Wednesday's Champions League tie. Metro

Bundesliga club St Pauli included one of their press officers in the squad to face Hannover 96 last weekend because of a lack of fit defenders. The Guardian

[halnone]

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish is deciding whether to make an offer for American Alejandro Bedoya after the midfielder spent a week on trail at St Andrew's. Daily Mail

From what I've seen, Bedoya is great. He would be a fantastic signing for them.

[The Man In Blue]

I wish I had a job as easy as the "journos" who cover transfer rumours. I mean what the fuck does "linked" mean? Its like a self fulfilling prophecy. I link therefore I write? "could" as well. Is there a more ambiguous word then "could"? I "could" move to Ko Phi Leh and set up a rugby bar.

[Chinners]

Shaun Wright-Phillips keen to grab City chance
Shaun Wright-Phillips insists he still has a future at Manchester City.
The England midfielder recently bemoaned his lack of first-team appearances, which was taken as confirmation the 29-year-old would be moving on to pastures new this summer.
However, it appears that is not certain to be the case.
With Adam Johnson ruled out for three months with an ankle injury, Wright-Phillips has suddenly come back into the picture.
A late cameo in last night's Europa League win over Aris Salonika was the winger's third outing in a month, and with injuries continuing to badly affect Roberto Mancini's squad, Wright-Phillips' services are likely to be required over the coming weeks.
And if he feels he can play a part for the Blues in the seasons ahead, Wright-Phillips would love to stay.
"Football works in mysterious ways," said Wright-Phillips, who joined City as a schoolboy and has been there since apart from three difficult years at Chelsea.
"If I am wanted here I will stay. I never wanted to leave in the first place. I still see a bright future for me here. It is just about getting chances.
"I have played a few games recently and now I just want to keep doing well."
Wright-Phillips will get a chance to meet up with an old friend thanks to City's progress in Europe.
He shared a Stamford Bridge dressing room with Andriy Shevchenko and understands the difficulties the former world player of the year experienced at Chelsea.
Now back at Dynamo Kiev, Shevchenko will be on the opposing side when City head to the Ukraine for the first leg of their last-16 clash on March 10.
And, for all the problems Shevchenko experienced at Chelsea, Wright-Phillips realises the Blues will have to subdue a class act.
"Criticism is part of football," he said. "Everybody gets it at some point. I have had it, most players do.
"But he is a fantastic talent and playing in the same team as him was an enjoyable experience."
After coming through FA Cup and European tests in the past week, City turn their attentions back to Premier League matters on Sunday when Fulham head to Eastlands.
Victory would keep the Blues just about on the coat-tails of Manchester United and Arsenal, although it seems fairly obvious their best chance of ending a 35-year silverware drought is in one of the two remaining cup competitions.
And that would be a special event indeed for Wright-Phillips.
"Silverware would mean more to me," he said. "Obviously because of my background, it would be nice to win something for this club."

The memorial garden at the City of Manchester Stadium will officially reopen on Sunday afternoon.
The garden, just outside entrance S, has recently been redesigned and club chaplain Chris Howitz will lead a short service at 1pm.
Fans are cordially invited to attend the rededication, which will include a reading and a moment of reflection.

Mancini slams fixture congestion
City’s trip to Craven Cottage is the first of three fixtures in a week.
“We are not machines,” Mancini said.
“I have never seen one team play every two days in February or March.”
“It’s not just impossible for us, it is for every team.”
“I think that here we should change something because for all players, for English players and every time after England play World Cup, European Cup it is a problem because all the players are tired.”
“I think we should have more respect for the players because it is impossible.”
“We should use these two days to recover very well and I hope we can be fresh against Fulham.”
“We should try to win every game that’s possible, we will try to win but it is very hard to play so many games.”
“I think that we are very tired, it is important some players recover for Sunday and it will be a difficult game because Fulham play very well at this moment in time.”
“It will be a different game but I hope we can play like we did at Fulham.”
“Bobby Zamora is fit again and is an important player for them. It will be very difficult for us.”
Reserve goalkeepers Shay Given and Gunnar Nielson both sustained long-term injuries this week, leaving just Joe Hart and the unfancied Stuart Taylor as cover.
City faced a similar crisis last season when they were forced to sign Marton Fulop on an emergency loan after receiving special dispensation.
“Last year we were unlucky, it is impossible that we are as unlucky again, we have Stuart Taylor but I hope Joe Hart can play every game,” Mancini said.
“We have I don’t know how many players injured; I hope that Joe doesn’t have any problems. He is young and I hope that he can be strong.”
Vincent Kompany (hip) and James Milner (hamstring) are both doubtful.
Nigel De Jong (ankle), Adam Johnson (ankle) and Micah Richards (calf) are all definitely missing.

[halnone]

Mancini slams fixture congestion
City’s trip to Craven Cottage is the first of three fixtures in a week.

I thought it was at home?