Former Oasis guitarist and lifelong Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher revealed that the club have approached him about a possible performance to inspire his dearly beloved Blues when they take on Stoke in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Blue music: Noel Gallagher watches Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley (Pic: Getty Images)
Watching on from the stands Gallagher was overwhelmed by his childhood club's victory over fierce cross-town rivals United and a rousing performance by the rock star could be the catalyst for their first FA Cup title since 1969.
Gallagher joked that first and foremost an appearance fee has to be negotiated, but he hinted that a once-off favour might be done if a guarantee is made that the Blues hold aloft the trophy.
'Someone called me from the club and asked if they could bounce a few ideas of me,' Gallagher told talksSPORT.
'I'd ask them the usual question, how much? If they asked (seriously) I don't know, but let's wait till they ask.'
Two possible song choices for the big day include 'Champagne Supernova' and 'Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is', however the 43-year-old said picking the right words would be harder than writing a number one hit.
'The words would be the hardest thing. I could be busy you never know,' he added.
City's win was a proud day for both Gallagher brothers, with Liam exclaiming 'Bosch!' on his twitter account and posting this picture below.
Hands up for City: Liam Gallagher at Wembley (Pic: @liamgallagher twitter)
I COULDN'T STAND LOSING TO MANCHESTER CITY, SAYS RYAN SHAWCROSS
RYAN Shawcross is relishing the chance to be the last man standing between Manchester City and an FA Cup triumph.
Manchester United fan Ryan Shawcross has an extra incentive to stop Manchester City winning next month’s final when they take on Stoke at Wembley.
The big defender might have been shown the Old Trafford exit door by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
But he remains a massive fan and can’t stand the thought of losing to Roberto Mancini’s men.
It would allow City to end their 35-year trophy drought and Shawcross isn’t prepared to let that happen.
He is desperate to help Tony Pulis’ men upset the odds again and has warned favourites City not to take the Potters lightly.
Shawcross, 23, was outstanding in his side’s 5-0 semi-final demolition of Bolton.
He said: “I can’t believe I was involved in a game where so many people played so well.
“We know we’ll have to perform well again. We know what’s in front of us, it’s a massive game.
“City are going to be the favourites. But we’ve done well against them recently.
“We still recognise they are a very good side, but we have to be confident, make sure we are not fazed by the occasion and put on a good performance.
“I haven’t scored many this year so maybe I’m saving one for the FA Cup Final. It would be a dream.
“I would have preferred to face United just because I’m a United fan.
“To beat them in the final would have been great, but to beat City would be even better.
“I’m sure everyone will have given them the trophy already. We’ll turn up as the underdogs. We usually are – and that’s fine.
“We’ll go under the radar and hopefully it will suit us and we’ll perform well on the day. It’s up to us to put in another big performance.”
Team-mate Matthew Etherington, 29, is enjoying the best period of his career after coming through a gambling addiction. He has thanked Pulis for changing his life and has warned City to get set for a battle.
Etherington, who was in the West Ham side that lost to Liverpool in 2006, said: “The pressure will be on them, but Bolton were the favourites and look what happened to them.
“City have got some world-class players but if we play like this then we’ll be a match for anyone.
“The manager has just put an arm around me basically and made me feel wanted.
“He tells me before every game how good I am.
“He’s a great man-manager and has been fantastic to me.”
Balotelli 'has no case to answer' after post-match Wembley row
The FA has more evidence to study but does not expect to charge Mario Balotelli for his behaviour after the FA Cup semi-final
Mario Balotelli is set to be told today by the Football Association that he has no case to answer over the post-match row on the pitch at Wembley on Saturday.
The Manchester City striker has been criticised by Rio Ferdinand for his conduct after City's 1-0 win over Manchester United, but the FA has decided that nothing in the footage they have seen suggests that Balotelli was guilty of improper conduct.
The governing body has more evidence to study today, but it does not expect to charge Balotelli.
Kenny Dalglish will also escape censure for telling Arsène Wenger to "piss off" in front of the Sky Sports cameras at the end of the match between Liverpool and Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
The West Ham defender Danny Gabbidon may find himself charged under new improper conduct rules governing social networking sights for his rant against a fan on Twitter.
Sir Trevor Brooking, meanwhile, believes it is unfair to point the finger at big stars such as Wayne Rooney when people discuss a perceived lack of respect in football.
Brooking, the Football Association's director of football development, was at the forefront of the campaign calling for action to be taken against Manchester United and England striker Rooney, who swore directly at a television camera after completing a recent hat-trick against West Ham.
He received a two-game ban and was criticised for setting a bad example to youngsters who witnessed his outburst.
But Brooking feels it is too easy just to blame the likes of Rooney and that the right behaviour should be shown by clubs and players at the lower end of the game.
Brooking said: "We are always conscious as managers and players that what is reflected at the weekend in the professional game is an issue. I do understand that high-profile figures do have a responsibility.
"On my travels with grassroots football, you get people saying 'you've got to improve that sort of thing' – and we will try and improve it. But I also think it is important from the grassroots level that you set your own standards.
"If you are running a team, I'd like to think the people involved will set those standards.
"I think sometimes we use someone else's behaviour as an excuse not to behave properly ourselves."
BITTER BOLLOX?
E.ON latest to face a Fergie blackout
FA Cup sponsors E.ON were left 'frustrated and disappointed' by the lack of co-operation from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson in the build-up to last weekend's semi-finals.
Ferguson was the only one of the four club bosses involved not to take part in interviews or pictures that promoted E.ON's backing of the tournament in the match programmes.
He also refused to appear in the special back-to-back picture with opposing Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini with the FA Cup between them, which has been a final-stages E.ON feature during their five years of sponsorship
Scum to pay for Wembley damage
The English FA is considering billing Manchester United for damage to their Wembley dressing-room inflicted in the aftermath of their tempestuous FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester City, writes Rory Smith.
The FA was forced to carry out emergency repairs to one wall of a side room in the away dressing-room -- used by Alex Ferguson's side -- before Sunday's second semi-final.
However, it is believed some evidence of the damage was still visible when Stoke occupied the changing area the next day.
Though the FA yesterday had no comment to make, it is thought to be weighing up the possibility of asking United to pay for the work required.
United sources were keen to stress that they had made FA officials aware of the incident, and said that only minimal damage had been caused. They also maintained that no players had been involved.
They added that the club would volunteer to pick up the cost of repair work despite a string of clashes with the FA in the past month.
United were deprived of Wayne Rooney for the semi-final after the England international received an unprecedented two-match ban for swearing at a television camera during the club's 4-2 win at West Ham.
Ferguson himself remained absent from the technical area as he served his own five-match ban for comments made about referee Martin Atkinson during March's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.
He is likely to have witnessed scenes of considerable fury on his return to the dressing-room. Rio Ferdinand had to be restrained from confronting Mario Balotelli at the final whistle, enraged by the Italian's apparent goading of United's fans.
Anderson, too, clashed with Balotelli, with the City player believed to have made an incendiary comment about the Brazilian's girlfriend in the melee.
The FA is continuing to study footage of the ugly scenes. As of last night, it had seen nothing that would warrant disciplinary action but it still had additional footage to view.
WAG OF THE DAY
Imogen Thomas is a reality TV star and a "lads-mag" pin-up. She's also at the center of a huge WAGs scandal that's gripping all the tabloids right now.
The 28-year-old is ready to tell all on a scandalous affair with a Premier League footballer, but has been served with a gagging order to keep everything quiet.
Thomas says the six-month affair with the "family man" was a lot more than just lust. She's called it "love," and says the footballer felt the same.
She's even been to legendary PR guru Max Clifford for advice, and he's reportedly received a host of lucrative offers for the tell-all story.
To add extra spice, Nadine Ferguson, the ex-wife of Sir Alex Ferguson's son, Darren, has been on Twitter recently talking the whole scandal up.
Nadine says the man in question makes Wayne Rooney "look like a f****ing saint!”
Thomas is no WAGs virgin, having previously dated Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe.
C*NTS OF THE DAY
http://www.livefootballtickets.com/fa-c ... -7914.html
OTHER BOLLOX
Barcelona are poised to make a move for Tottenham midfielder Sandro following his superb displays for the north London club this season. talkSPORT
However, Barca's fierce rivals Real Madrid are also keen on a summer swoop for Brazilian Sandro. Real are also interested in Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez and Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri. caughtoffside.com
Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle believes Gareth Bale would fit in well at Barcelona, who have been linked to the Spurs winger. However, the former England boss hopes the new Professional Footballers' Association player of the year stays at White Hart Lane. Daily Mirror
Spurs are ready to take a gamble on Audax Italiano's 20-year-old Chilean defender Bryan Carrasco this summer. talkSPORT
Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue appears to have sealed his exit from the club this summer following his error in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool. The Ivory Coast full-back bundled into Lucas to give Liverpool a 112th-minute penalty from which they equalised in the match at the Emirates. Daily Mail
Former Arsenal midfielder Perry Groves says the Gunners should cash in on captain Cesc Fabregas this summer. The Spanish midfielder is a long-time target of Barcelona. talkSPORT
Liverpool's technical director Damien Comolli has targeted Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris, Paris St Germain centre-half Mamadou Sakho and Rennes midfielder Yann M'Vila as the men to usher in a new era at Anfield under manager Kenny Dalglish.the Sun
Liverpool boss Dalglish is also checking on Udinese's Colombian international left-back Pablo Armero, who joined the Italian side from Palmeiras last summer.Daily Mirror
Liverpool and Manchester United are set to enter a bidding war for highly rated Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour, who is tipped to leave his native Belgium this summer. caughtoffside.com
Ashley Young admits his Aston Villa future will be sorted out in just over a month, with Manchester United leading the chase for the England midfielder. He will hold talks with Villa manager Gerard Houllier when the season ends. Daily Mirror
Striker Dimitar Berbatov is facing an uncertain future at Manchester United following his poor display in the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester City at Wembley last Saturday. Berbatov has a clause written into his contract, which expires in a year, allowing United to extend it by 12 months but it is unknown if the club are willing to trigger this. Daily Mirror
Arsenal will need to part with at least £13m if they want to solve their goalscoring crisis with the capture of Freiburg's Senegalese forward Papiss Demba Cisse. talkSPORT
Paris St Germain defender Mamadou Sakho insists he is in no rush to leave France, despite becoming a target for both Arsenal and Liverpool. Daily Mirror
Manchester United are poised to make a move for Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Rui Patricio - if a move for Atletico Madrid keeper David de Gea falls through. talkSPORT
West Ham striker Victor Obinna is being strongly linked with a move to Napoli at the end of the season. Obinna, 24, has struggled to command a regular first-team place at Upton Park following his season-long loan from Inter Milan last summer.talkSPORT
The wall was fixed ahead of Sunday's second semi-final between Stoke and Bolton but some of the damage was still visible and the FA is expected to invoice United for the repair work. the Sun
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere could find himself at the heart of another club versus country quandary. The midfielder could line up for England in this summer's European Under-21 Championship, despite the opposition of his club manager Arsene Wenger. Wilshere has also admitted he wants to play for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics. Daily Mirror
Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson has dismissed rumours that the club is on the brink of going into administration as "nonsense". Daily Mail
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has gone cool on the idea of bringing back Guus Hiddink to manage the club because of concerns over his appetite for the job. Turkey boss Hiddink was in temporary charge of the Blues for three months in 2009. the Times
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp says he has not spoken to Chelsea about the prospect of becoming their new manager. He has instead enthused about a bright future at White Hart Lane, claiming Spurs can qualify for the Champions League every year following this season's debut campaign in the competition and with the addition of one or two more players they can challenge for the Premier League title. Daily Mirror
Winger Hatem Ben Arfa could give Newcastle a major boost by returning to action for the final three games of the season. The Frenchman has been out of action since suffering a double leg fracture in a challenge with Manchester City's Nigel de Jong at Eastlands on 3 October. Daily Mail
Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon - who has missed the last five games because of a knee injury - hopes to get the all-clear from a specialist on Tuesday after boss Steve Bruce pleaded with him to delay surgery so he can help with the club's battle against relegation. Daily Mail
The pressure on Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has increased after Bernabeu legend Alfredo Di Stefano slammed his tactics in last Saturday's 1-1 draw against Barcelona. "Madrid was a team without personality. The decision to play on the counter-attack was not the right one. Barcelona were a lion, Madrid a mouse," said di Stefano. Daily Mirror
An Italian Serie C1 match between Pavia and Gubbio was suspended on Sunday for 15 minutes after a swarm of bees invaded the pitch. Daily Mirror
