ROUND UP
City have a number of contenders who could rightly claim to be in the running for the PFA Player of the Year award.
Though the short-list is yet to be announced, David Silva and Yaya Toure are sure to be in the minds of their fellow professionals for the most prestigious domestic individual award in England, though EPL Index focus on Yaya in their potential list of nominees.
Silva, outstanding all season, surprisingly doesn’t get a mention as Marcus Jones writes: “Yaya Toure has further enhanced his already tremendous reputation with some stellar performances this season.
“The Ivorian has been at the forefront of City’s title push, showcasing his skills and cementing his place for many as the best midfielder in the league.
“After great early season performances from Sergio Aguero were hindered by injury, Toure has taken over the position as his team’s talisman.
“This season in particular he has added even more goals to his repertoire. Toure has scored 17 league goals this season, just one goal less than his combined total of 18 from his last three seasons at the club.
“Unbelievably, he has scored all of his seven clear cut chances this season and has a chance conversion of 41%. It is statistics like this that show Toure’s importance, especially whilst Aguero has been injured. Toure’s passing has also been exceptional.
“He has managed an open play pass completion of 90%, as well as 80% pass completion in the final third. This shows how high in quality his performances have been this season, and he is definitely a strong contender for the award.”
Elsewhere, The Bleacher Report heap praise on another of the Blues’ multi-talented midfielders – this time in the shape of Samir Nasri.
Rob Pollard writes: “(Nasri’s) understanding with David Silva continues to grow, with their fluidity and movement a key element of Pellegrini's side. City now looks to dominate possession, and Nasri and Silva, who are both excellent at retaining the ball, have flourished in a system that sees them given freedom to create.
“Not only has Nasri's touch and skill seen him play his best football for City under Pellegrini, his work ethic has improved considerably, too. The question marks over his ability to dig in when things weren't going his way has evaporated, and he's become a key member of the side.”
In other news, Forever West Ham reckon Costel Pantilimon could be a summer target for the Irons as they write: “Manchester City’s, Costel Pantilimon is, according to Football Direct News, a target for Sam Allardyce.
“You’d imagine a goalkeeper will be a target for the Hammers, given the likelihood that Jussi Jaaskelainen won’t be offered a new contract – as well as question marks over the ability of Stephen Henderson and Raphael Spiegel to deputise for Adrian.
“The 27-year-old, who dislodged Joe Hart as City’s No.1 earlier in the season, apparently impressed Big Sam in the two legs he played against us in the Capital One Cup.”
Let’s finish today’s round up with one of the numerous Press reactions to our April Fool’s gag yesterday.
The Metro believe that, of the handful of clubs who attempted an April 1 wind-up, City’s was the best with the Moonslide the most believable of all the ruses unleashed yesterday morning.
They write: “Manchester City topped the table for Premier League April Fools’ jokes with their ‘announcement’ that a revolutionary new ‘moon slide’ is being devolved to transport fans out of the Etihad Stadium.
“The Blues released the blueprints along with a video on their official club website, claiming their inspiration, The ArcelorMittal Orbit Tower in Stratford, was designed by renowned artist Anish Kapoor in conjunction with the structural designer Cecil Balmond.”
Sergio Aguero won't rush Manchester City return
SERGIO AGUERO won't risk his World Cup dream just to help Manchester City land the league title.
Pellegrini is keen to get Aguero back to full fitness as soon as possible with just eight games left.
But Aguero is willing to put country before club if it means being 100 per cent fit for Brazil.
Aguero's latest injury was his second hamstring problem inside two months when he was crocked during his side's 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham in January.
He said: "With this recovery I am trying to do my best to be able to play again, but I cannot do it in a hurry.
"I do think to myself if something happens now, I will lose the rest of the Premier League season and the World Cup."
Aguero believes Argentina have a good chance of winning the World Cup in the backyard of their biggest rivals.
He added: "We know that we have a great team, but each match has to be played. There doesn't exist any easy matches, but I think that with the squad that we have, there are chances. It depends on us."
Samir Nasri tries to defend himself over his Arsenal departure
Samir Nasri has declared in an interview with French television show Canal Football that he has never looked back after taking the decision to leave Arsenal for Manchester City, and is delighted not just with the fact that he is making more money and winning trophies, but also that he is poised to earn himself a new deal with the club to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium.
The French international said, “When you leave for a club where there is more money, you are supposed to be mercenary. I took stock before I went to Manchester City, I was joining a club with Yaya Toure, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez. I spent three seasons at Arsenal without any title and at the end of the season we sold our best player that was Cesc Fabregas. I preferred to join City and I won titles and indeed I earn a better living.”
Nasri, once touted as the next big thing at Arsenal, struggled to adapt to life in Manchester City under Roberto Mancini, but seems to be blossoming again under the leadership of Manuel Pellegrini, who certainly seems to be a much better man manager than the Italian.
It still remains to be seen though whether this season will end happily for Nasri with another Premier League winner’s medal.
West Ham plan Manchester City transfer raid
So much time for West Ham being linked with a player that has a name with which you can make a lot of puns with.
Manchester City’s, Costel Pantilimon is, according to Football Direct News, a target for Sam Allardyce.
You’d imagine a goalkeeper will be a target for the Hammers, given the likelihood that Jussi Jaaskelainen won’t be offered a new contract – as well as question marks over the ability of Stephen Henderson and Raphael Spiegel to deputise for Adrian.
The 27-year-old, who dislodged Joe Hart as City’s No.1 earlier in the season, apparently impressed Big Sam in the two legs he played against us in the Capital One Cup.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul, 28, is ready to follow in the footsteps of Sol Campbell by quitting Spurs to join bitter rivals Arsenal on a free transfer. Daily Star
Hugo Lloris is at the centre of a three-way transfer tussle, with Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid aiming to lure the 27-year-old Tottenham goalkeeper away from White Hart Lane this summer. Daily Mirror
West Ham have started planning for next season following Monday night's 2-1 win at Sunderland and are looking to make "at least three and a maximum of five" summer signings. Daily Mirror
Tottenham winger Erik Lamela, 22, will not be quitting Spurs at the end of the season, says his brother. Sun
Real Madrid defender Marcelo, 22, a transfer target for Liverpool, has played down the chances of him leaving the Bernabeu in the summer. Talkshit
Aston Villa and Newcastle will join Arsenal in the race to sign Toulouse defender Serge Aurier, 21, this summer. Sun
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic, 32, believes United can "hurt" Bayern Munich in the Champions League second leg after Tuesday's 1-1 draw. Daily Express
Arsenal players want Arsene Wenger as their manager for years to come, says defender Thomas Vermaelen, 28. Daily Mirror
West Brom striker Saido Berahino, 20, is facing an uncertain future at The Hawthorns after being blamed for conceding a late equaliser against Cardiff on Saturday and then coming to blows with midfielder James Morrison in the dressing room. Daily Star
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes his club's home fortress of Anfield may just give them the edge in the title race. DSSC
Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal is said to be willing to work with the current Tottenham squad should he be appointed Spurs boss in the summer. Independent
Fulham boss Felix Magath will face a 30% pay cut if the club are relegated this season. Daily Mirror
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni, 34, is desperate to stay at the club but admits the future is unclear. London Evening Standard
Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola says he wants Manchester United target striker Toni Kroos, 24, to extend his contract with the German club beyond 2015. L'Equipe
Chelsea face tough competition from Italian sides Juventus and Roma in the battle to recruit Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot, 18. Tuttosport
Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 21, who has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, says he will make a decision about his future next week. AS.com
Real Madrid want to sign Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 27, but the £100m price tag makes it an "uneasy deal" for the Spanish giants. Tuttosport
Paris Saint-Germain are willing to offer £45m to Chelsea for their Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard, 23. L'Equipe
West Ham striker Andy Carroll, 25, admitted he is likely to have upset his mother after scoring in the Hammers' win over Sunderland on Monday. Daily Star
The Football Association has withdrawn plans for players' wives, girlfriends and families to join the England squad at their pre-World Cup training camp in Miami. Times
more bollox shortly
