MANCHESTER CITY'S stars got in the Christmas spirit at training yesterday - all except for Santa!
Roque Santa Cruz was the one player present not to slip on his festive City hat as the squad teamed up to sing 'Jingle Bells' for a video. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... e-hat.html
Robinho insists he is happy at Manchester City despite Barcelona interest
Robinho has played down the prospect of a move to Barcelona by insisting that he is happy to remain at Manchester City.
The Brazilian forward, a £32.5 million British record signing when he arrived at Eastlands from Real Madrid in September 2008, is a long-standing target for European champions Barcelona and the player himself has previously admitted his desire to move to the Nou Camp.
But after ending a 10-week ankle injury lay-off last month, Robinho insists that he has no urge to leave City. Sport on television Speaking on BBC television show Football Focus, Robinho said: "I am very happy at Manchester City and I intend to continue playing here for a long time. My focus is here at Manchester City. I love it here, my family are very happy and the fans love me. "Mark Hughes is a great manager, he has proved this in all the teams he has managed, and is showing that now with Manchester City." Robinho was recently labelled a 'circus act' by German legend Franz Beckenbauer, but he has warned the World Cup winner that he will remember those comments if Brazil and Germany meet in South Africa next summer. He said: "If Brazil plays Germany in the World Cup, I will remember what Beckenbauer said."
MARK HUGHES has told his Manchester City superstars to carry on snapping and snarling – with each other.
City boss Hughes contented himself with the comment “we addressed that” when asked about the higher intensity against Arsenal and Chelsea last week. But trusted assistant Mark Bowen has lifted the lid on the dressing-room dressing-downs that have transformed Manchester City.
Keeper Shay Given first revealed that the players had hit out at each other after the disappointing home draw with Hull.
Now, Bowen admits Hughes (below) and other staff members joined in – and they are happy for it to continue. He said: “It’s very, very healthy. We said last year when we first came into the club that there almost seemed to be apathy about the place and in the standards among the group. “If we lost, it was almost as if players tended to accept it of each other. That was a horrible feeling, to come into the dressing-room and sense that. “We were delighted to see the reaction after the Hull game. “Things were said by the management and staff as well. “And Shay’s right – it’s healthy and good. Obviously, you can’t let it turn into a problem situation where it gets physical, but on this occasion it was like a breath of fresh air in the place.” Carling Cup quarter-final success against Arsenal and the morale-boosting league win against leaders Chelsea mean snappy City go to Bolton tomorrow in feisty mood. Bowen added: “We were delighted that the players on the receiving end took it on the chin. “What they have shown over the last two weeks, as a team and as individuals, is the mental strength to take it on board, and not sulk, drop their heads and think that people were picking on them. “Some could have gone away and complained that the manager didn’t fancy them, or any other cliché that you always hear. But they didn’t – they got on and did something about it.”
Video of Robbies interview
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 407078.stm
BOLTON V CITY PREVIEW
[youtube]4hgBoXJ0vfw[/youtube]
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Tottenham will get rid of David Bentley in January following a heated row between the winger and manager Harry Redknapp. (Daily Express)
Redknapp has been told by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy that he will have to sell before he can make any signings in the new year.The Guardian
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce is preparing a new-year raid for Stoke striker James Beattie following his row with manager Tony Pulis after the defeat at Arsenal.Daily Telegraph
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant has been ordered to offload players as the club's cash crisis mounts.Daily Telegraph
Blackburn are poised to complete the signing of French under-21 midfielder Amine Linganzi from St Etienne in January. Daily Mirror
Wigan are set to allow Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson leave the club in the new year after failing to unseat Chris Kirkland from the number one spot. The Sun
The entire playing staff of Crystal Palace have been put up for sale in order to solve the club's cash problems. Wigan and Sunderland are interested in midfielder Darren Ambrose, winger Victor Moses and goalkeeper Julian Speroni.Daily Mail
Sought-after Ipswich striker Connor Wickham, 16, who has attracted the interest of Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea, is set to sign a new five-year deal at Portman Road.Daily Mirror
OTHER BOLLOX
West Ham striker Dean Ashton will announce on Friday that he has been forced to retire from the game because of a persistent ankle injury.The Sun
And Ashton is considering whether he can sue Shaun Wright-Phillips and his then employers Chelsea for the challenge in 2006 that he will claim ended his career.Daily Telegraph
Paul Hart, who parted company with Portsmouth last month, will take charge at Queens Park Rangers should they sack manager Jim Magilton as expected.The Sun
The people in charge of Notts County have days to complete negotiations over a management buy-out otherwise director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson will leave the club.The Times
And Eriksson will need to find £500,000 of his own money if he wants to complete the buy-out. Daily Mail
David Gold and David Sullivan will make a bid for West Ham in the next 24 hours but no money will go to the current owners. The cash will instead be used for players and debt repayments in return for a 50% stake.The Independent
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has come under fire from Jurgen Klinsmann for the way he manages the club. The German, who was once lined up to take the top job at Anfield, says Liverpool lack pace, creativity, quality and consistency.The Sun
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... a-anderson
More bollox later ...