Terry Henry
Reports in the Spanish press this morning claim new Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has targeted Barcelona forward Thierry Henry as one of his first signings at Eastlands. Mancini has reportedly already told the Manchester City hierarchy of his targets for the January transfer window and it includes the French national team captain. Henry has previously been linked with Manchester City in a possible swap deal with Robinho, Pep Guardiola is believed to be eager to move on the Frenchman who is contracted to Barcelona until the end of season 2010/2011.The 32-year-old striker has often said he would not return to English football for any other club than Arsenal where he made his name in the Premier League.In 2009/2010, Henry has scored two goals and provided one assist in 14 appearances for Barcelona.
No sympathy for Mark Hughes as fans buy into Manchester City's new look. Manchester City fans believe the club's Middle Eastern owners have done the right thing by bringing in Roberto Mancini
Roberto Mancini acknowledges the applause of Manchester City fans before his first game as manager, a 2-0 win over Stoke.
In the deluge of criticism for the way Sheikh Mansour ruthlessly dispatched Mark Hughes into Manchester City's extensive list of former managers last week some drew a comparison with the firing of Peter Reid after three games in August 1993, despite finishing fifth in the league twice in the previous three seasons. "Same old City," went the line but the fans' reaction, as Roberto Mancini made his suave entry to Eastlands on Sunday, could hardly have been more different. Back then the atmosphere awaiting not so much Reid's successor, Brian Horton, as the club's chairman, Peter Swales, can fairly be described as murderous. "Swales Out" chants enveloped Maine Road, born of frustration with a man widely felt to have drained City of their stature over 20 years while putting nothing in himself. Mass protests led finally to Swales's ousting but City nevertheless declined, relegated to the third flight five years later at Stoke, who went down with them.
Outrage over Hughes's sacking had dominated the football news all week, it being portrayed as the betrayal of a proud football man by an absentee billionaire and his corporate-speaking lackey, the chief executive, Garry Cook. Yet at Eastlands it was all eerily quiet. Yesteryear's anti-Swales firebrands are today's 40-something family season card holders, arriving with their kids in alpine hats, not bearing ready sympathy for Hughes."I think it's excellent," said David Beech, 42, outside the stadium with his friend Alan Walker, 43. "Mark Hughes underachieved, we had too many draws and now we've got a manager who's won trophies." But what of the way it was done, Hughes sent out to manage last Saturday, despite a deal having been concluded with Mancini? "I don't see a problem," Beech replied. "It's the nature of football now."
That attitude was by far the majority view outside the ground, not the football world's bewilderment at the Abu Dhabi regime sacking Hughes with City in the semi‑finals of the Carling Cup and sixth in the Premier League, having lost only two matches this season.Inside, opposite the directors' box where the chairman, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, sat pointedly shoulder to shoulder with Cook, the banner proclaiming "Manchester Thanks You, Sheikh Mansour" was very definitely still up, an embrace never enjoyed by the unloved Swales. When, at four minutes to three, Mancini was finally announced as Manchester City's new manager, the applause rippled around, welcoming and hopeful. There was, all afternoon, not a hint of protest.
Stoke, complete with Reid himself, now Tony Pulis's assistant, returned into City's history as the club ordained to show Mancini what English football is all about. They played that role as scripted; tackling heftily in midfield, working hard and wafting long balls to the twin strikers, Tuncay Sanli and Mamady Sidibe.The 2-0 scoreline, City's first clean sheet at Eastlands since the season's first home match, a 1-0 win against Wolves in August, suggests that Mancini rode those challenges and ironed out the defensive panics which littered too many of Hughes's draws for Mansour's liking. This game, however, also illustrated the old sporting truth about the fine line between success and meltdown. Tuncay should have scored after 19 minutes when City's centre‑backs, Kolo Touré and Vincent Kompany, had a parting of the ways, but the Turkish striker, Stoke's only creative threat, failed to place his finish, giving Shay Given the chance to block bravely.
Nobody will ever know whether City's team, missing several players through injury and with that makeshift defence, might have flapped if they had gone 1-0 down in front of their new manager and a full Boxing Day crowd but, saved by Given, mostly they asserted themselves. Touré and Kompany concentrated hard enough for Pulis ultimately to give them the satisfaction of substituting both Sidibe and Tuncay within 14 minutes of the second half. The midfield four of Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong, Stephen Ireland and Martin Petrov demonstrated assured, complementary skills although not always understanding. The industrious Carlos Tevez has perfected the art of running with the ball while always looking as if he is about to fall over it and he made City's first goal and scored the scrappy second.When Robinho, a galáctico with his head in the clouds, was called off by Mancini, the City crowd stood to acclaim the substitute Craig Bellamy. It felt like more than self-interest, applause for a player the fans would not want to leave; they seemed also to be showing approval for the protest Bellamy made last week on behalf of Hughes. It was as if the fans were applauding Bellamy partly for acting as their conscience, even as they move eagerly on to this European stylist of a manager they hope will bring them trophies. Football has grown more clinical in the 16 years since Reid's sacking. The fans with their season cards seem surprisingly close in sentiment to Sheikh Mansour, whom they thank for putting millions into the club. They want success, they feel they are paying for it and they felt, whatever everybody else told them last week, that Mark Hughes was not going to deliver. Whether Mancini can is still an open question.
Craig Bellamy has ruled out a move away from Manchester City and insists new manager Roberto Mancini has his full support.
The Welsh striker had been linked with a move away from Manchester City in the January transfer window but he has dismissed claims that the exit of his countryman, Mark Hughes, will have any impact on his future at Eastlands. Hughes was dismissed by City nine days ago, and former Inter Milan coach Mancini has taken his place, beginning his tenure with a 2-0 win over Stoke. Bellamy began that match on the bench but insists he wants to play for Mancini and help City achieve their targets.
He told the Daily Mirror: "I want to stay and I am going to stay. "I am committed to that. I am committed to Man City.
"I have bought into the idea of where Man City is going to go and I am a huge part of where it is at this stage. "I have no problem with Mancini. It's not his problem he's here. What happened to Mark Hughes has got nothing to do with him. "I hope Mancini will stay for a long time because I am from the mould of thinking stability is the key to success. "I hope he gets a number of years to do it and, as long as I last, I will give my all for him." (SEE THREAD ON MAINE BOARD)
Manchester City are on the brink of signing Inter Milan defender Ivan Cordoba, 33, who has fallen out with boss Jose Mourinho.Daily Mail (as reporeted in yesterdays bollox)
New Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wants record signing Robinho to remain at Eastlands, despite the the 25-year-old Brazilian striker being linked with a move away from the club next month. Mancini said: "The important thing for me is that Robinho stays here because he can earn a place in the history of the club." (Various)
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Roma are close to signing out-of-favour Bayern Munich and Italy striker Luca Toni, who has been linked with both West Ham and Chelsea. (Reuters)
Bolton boss Gary Megson is attempting to sign veteran Real Madrid midfielder Guti. Daily Mirror
Harry Redknapp has paved the way for Roman Pavlyuchenko's Tottenham exit and says he would not necessarily need a replacement if the Russian quit White Hart Lane in January.Daily Mirror
Portsmouth goalkeeper David James has refused to rule out a January switch to Spurs as he attempts to ensure he is England's No 1 at the World Cup. Sun
Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee will bid to land Plymouth pair Jim Paterson and Steven MacLean on pre-contract agreements this week. (Daily Star)
Celtic transfer target Dmitry Verkhovtsov jetted into Glasgow on Sunday and the Belarus international defender vowed to grab his chance of a lifetime with the SPL club. (The Sun) The Sun
Hull City have made their Guinea defender Kamil Zayatte surplas to requirements. (The Times).
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... ilary-duff
OTHER BOLLOX
Portsmouth are being sued by French side Lens over alleged unpaid transfer fees for striker Aruna Dindane and defender Nadir Belhadj.Daily Mail
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has admitted for the first time Chelsea are low on confidence, despite his side still heading the Premier League table. Sun
Former Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson has set his sights on becoming the Reading new boss after Brendan Rodgers was sacked by the Royals earlier this month. Daily Star
FINAL BOLLOX
South Korean playmaker Ki Sung Yueng has told his new Celtic team-mates to just call him Dave to avoid confusion. "Communication is so important if players are to be comfortable with each other," the 20-year-old said helpfully. (Daily Record)
Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho is planning to make his first trip back to Stamford Bridge since he was sacked to watch his former club Chelsea play Fulham on Monday. Sun
