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Roberto Mancini says Manchester City can fight for title
Manchester City have taken maximum points from two games under Roberto Mancini .
Carlos Tevez scored twice and Javier Garrido struck a brilliant, if controversial, free-kick as City beat Wolves 3-0 to continue their perfect start under the Italian.



City remain 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, and Mancini said: "Now is not the time to look at our league position. We will just play one game at a time and then we will look at the table in two months. All is realistic. We have another 18 games to go, so all is possible because we have a good team."

Craig Bellamy produced an outstanding performance to quieten talk he is unhappy at City following the departure of Mark Hughes, and Mancini added: “Craig Bellamy is a strong character, a good player. It would be better if he stayed with us. "I have had difficult players but I have played for 20 years and I know very well about good players so there are no problems." And Bellamy insisted he was still committed to sticking with City. For me, obviously I have great affection for Mark Hughes but that's the nature of the business," Bellamy said. "You have to carry on if you want to be part of Man City. The players we've got, big things are going to happen here and I want to be part of it if I can."

The defeat was Wolves's second in 72 hours, following a 2-0 loss away to Liverpool, and left manager Mick McCarthy's side just two points above the relegation zone. While Argentina striker Tevez's 33rd and 86th minute goals owed nothing to the officials, it was a different story with Spanish midfielder Garrido's 69th minute free-kick, awarded after Bellamy appeared to be in an offside position moments earlier. "I'm not going to comment on it," said McCarthy of Garrido's goal. "It might cost me a few quid if I do. But in terms of our performance, I thought the final scoreline was very harsh. I thought we played well. "I know that sounds ridiculous when you've lost 3-0 but we played as well with the ball as we have done for a long time.”

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has denied that he is ready to swoop for Palermo defender Simon Kjaer.
The Danish centre-half has been the subject of speculation linking him to a number of major European clubs, including Premier League big spenders City. But new boss Mancini has played down such reports and insists he is focused on other things. "For now I am in retreat with the team and I have to think about other things," he told mediterraneonline.it. "Does the Danish defender interest us? Currently we have other thoughts. We don't think of Kjaer." The 20-year-old defender moved to the Rosanero for €4million in July last year and has a minimum release fee clause in his contract set at €12million. He has been in fine form for Palermo so far this season and City's rivals Manchester United are also thought to be trailing him.

Goals from last night
http://wevegotrobinho.blogspot.com/2009 ... rrido.html

Real Madrid deny rumours of offer from Manchester City owner• Reports of €1bn buy out dimissed
Real Madrid have denied they have received a mega offer from Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to buy out the Spanish club. Reports in Spain suggested the Sheikh was set to shell out €1bn for Madrid and was due to meet the club president Florentino Pérez early in the new year for discussions. However, Madrid insist the story is completely unfounded. "Real Madrid wishes to inform that Real Madrid president Mr Florentino Pérez has had a great friendship for many years with His Highness, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan," read a statement on the club website. "And that the so-called interest and the existence of any offer to acquire Real Madrid are false. "His Highness has always shown tremendous respect for the club and understands that Real Madrid belongs to its members." Sheikh Mansour, who is reportedly a Real Madrid supporter, is president of Abu Dhabi's Al Jazira Club, where he set up a twinning agreement with the Spanish giants in 2005.
For those that are unaware, yesterday was the Spanish April Fool's day equivelent

SAME OLD BOLLOX
Manchester City are on the brink of signing Inter Milan defender Ivan Cordoba, 33, who has fallen out with boss Jose Mourinho. Daily Mail

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

Juventus director of sport Alessio Secco has made Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini "unsellable" amid interest from both Manchester United and Manchester City.
Football Italia

Craig Bellamy has rubbished claims he wants to quit Manchester City and denies he led a player rebellion in the wake of Mark Hughes' sacking. Daily Mirror

TRANSFER BOLLOX
West Ham are planning a January bid for former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu, who is now playing for Italian side Fiorentina. Daily Mirror

Meanwhile, West Ham's chances of landing Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni are over after the Italian declared he would not sign for any club other than Roma. (Daily Mirror)

The Hammers, who are without injured forward Carlton Cole, are looking to recall striker Freddie Sears from his loan spell at Crystal Palace.The Sun

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will offload strikers Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin as well as defender Andrea Dossena so that he can fund a move for Galatasary winger Arda Turan. The Sun

Manchester United winger Nani is set to leave Old Trafford with his representatives talking to clubs in Spain and Italy.The Independent

Nani could be part of a deal that brings Benfica winger Angel Di Maria to Old Trafford. (The Guardian)

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp may turn to former club Portsmouth in January, with goalkeeper Asmir Begovic the target. The Sun

Alternatively Spurs may also move for Begovic's team-mate keeper David James, leaving Portsmouth to pursue Adelaide stopper Eugene Galekovic.The Sun

Stoke boss Tony Pulis is lining up a £9m offer for West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, who is also attracting interest from Tottenham and Liverpool. Daily Mirror

Bolton have moved closer to signing Real Madrid midfielder Guti after he turned down a move to Turkish side Besiktas. Daily Mirror

Blackburn Rovers are lining up a loan move for Marseille midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa. Daily Mirror

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is also keen on Saint-Etienne's Algerian midfielder Amine Linganzi Koumba.The Sun

Birmingham are set to make German international striker Kevin Kuranyi the best paid player in the club's history. Daily Mirror

Birmingham are also targeting £4m-rated Peterborough striker Aaron McLean as they look to bolster their European charge. The Sun

West Brom have bid £1.5m for Crystal Palace striker Victor Moses. Daily Mirror

WAG OF THE DAY - Christina Cindrich

http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... a-cindrich

OTHER BOLLOX
Former Chelsea boss and current Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho says he is eyeing up a return to the Premier League. The Sun

Portsmouth's players are set to miss out on being paid on time for the third time this season as their cash crisis continues.Daily Mirror

England manager Fabio Capello looks set to take Los Angeles Galaxy star David Beckham to the 2010 World Cup after declaring he will take the midfielder, on loan at AC Milan, providing he is fit.Daily Express

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov believes no-one can stop the club winning the Premier League this season. Daily Mirror Ha ha ha apart from the team 5 points ahead of course

FINAL BOLLOX
Part Two of The Mirrors EXCLUSIVE Bellamy interview with, for those that believe in them "quotes"
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion ... 69941.html
Full article can be found on current Bellamy thread viewtopic.php?f=119&t=29029&start=50

DECENT COOKIE BOLLOX
Well not so much the Chief Executive of Manchester City more what he represents in terms of the recent decision to offload Mark Hughes and replace with Roberto Mancini. Again the English press decide to denigrate a decision which has already paid off, within 2 games City are more solid at the back, have brought tactical change into the Eastlands equation, are winning away from home for the first time since August and now have a genuine outside shop at the PL title. It takes a certain ability to notice the gap between what a limited manager like Hughes can do with £200m and what a manager, like Mancini and his track record, can get out of the same group. Whilst for me the decision was a no-brainer, when you spend like Chelsea you expect Chelsea league positions, Cook and the club should get credit for making the decision.

The other criticism thrown around by the likes of the BBC’s Phil McNulty is around timing, well where I am standing the timing was perfect. City’s next 6 league games are Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Stoke City, Portsmouth, Hull City and Bolton Wanderers, if the first two games of the Mancini era are anything to go by, that’s another 18 points in the bag. Manchester City won’t just be breaking into the exclusive top 4; they will be making it a 4 way scrap for the title. Cook and co have made a decision that is not only brave but incisive, City have left the nearly club by seeing the potential beyond Blackburn Rovers second best ever manager and by giving Mancini the chance to show how to really add quality to a squad they have shoved one up the one-eyed pundits who can’t see beyond their occasional drinking buddies in managerial respect. I for one believe they have made a rational and decisive decision that will place Manchester City as not just a Top 4 club and not just the biggest club (in terms of finance and future success) in Manchester but also a CL contender for years to come.

If City fans can treat the League Cup semi-final as a no lose situation (win a Wembley final, lose and concentrate on the league whilst the other 3 clubs have CL to weary them) and the FA Cup equally it could be the next 4 months are about as good as they have ever imagined.

Manchester City Set Sights On Bari Centre-Back Leonardo Bonucci - Mancini has urged the Citizens to sign the 22-year-old in January.
Premier League side Manchester City have made an initial approach to lure promising Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci to Eastlands during the January transfer window, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Bonucci has excelled at Bari in the first half of this season after moving to the San Nicola on a co-ownership deal from Genoa last summer. And the pink paper claims that the City directors have already contacted both clubs to enquire about the player’s availability after new boss Roberto Mancini identified the Inter youth product as the right man to reinforce his back-line. Bonucci graduated from the Nerazzurri academy while ‘Mancio’ was in charge of the club and was given his senior debut in a Serie A match with Cagliari on May 14, 2006. Manchester City have also been linked with a January bid for Inter central defender Ivan Cordoba, who would relish the chance to reunite with Mancini in England.

Chinners wrote:DECENT COOKIE BOLLOX
Well not so much the Chief Executive of Manchester City more what he represents in terms of the recent decision to offload Mark Hughes and replace with Roberto Mancini. Again the English press decide to denigrate a decision which has already paid off, within 2 games City are more solid at the back, have brought tactical change into the Eastlands equation, are winning away from home for the first time since August and now have a genuine outside shop at the PL title. It takes a certain ability to notice the gap between what a limited manager like Hughes can do with £200m and what a manager, like Mancini and his track record, can get out of the same group. Whilst for me the decision was a no-brainer, when you spend like Chelsea you expect Chelsea league positions, Cook and the club should get credit for making the decision.

The other criticism thrown around by the likes of the BBC’s Phil McNulty is around timing, well where I am standing the timing was perfect. City’s next 6 league games are Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Stoke City, Portsmouth, Hull City and Bolton Wanderers, if the first two games of the Mancini era are anything to go by, that’s another 18 points in the bag. Manchester City won’t just be breaking into the exclusive top 4; they will be making it a 4 way scrap for the title. Cook and co have made a decision that is not only brave but incisive, City have left the nearly club by seeing the potential beyond Blackburn Rovers second best ever manager and by giving Mancini the chance to show how to really add quality to a squad they have shoved one up the one-eyed pundits who can’t see beyond their occasional drinking buddies in managerial respect. I for one believe they have made a rational and decisive decision that will place Manchester City as not just a Top 4 club and not just the biggest club (in terms of finance and future success) in Manchester but also a CL contender for years to come.

If City fans can treat the League Cup semi-final as a no lose situation (win a Wembley final, lose and concentrate on the league whilst the other 3 clubs have CL to weary them) and the FA Cup equally it could be the next 4 months are about as good as they have ever imagined.

Quality read! Thank for that Chinners made my morning :)

Chinners wrote:I for one believe they have made a rational and decisive decision that will place Manchester City as not just a Top 4 club and not just the biggest club (in terms of finance and future success) in Manchester but also a CL contender for years to come.

If City fans can treat the League Cup semi-final as a no lose situation (win a Wembley final, lose and concentrate on the league whilst the other 3 clubs have CL to weary them) and the FA Cup equally it could be the next 4 months are about as good as they have ever imagined.

Brilliant

Post match interview B*ll*x

Mancini
http://link.brightcove.com/services/pla ... 9403113001

Toure & Bellers
http://link.brightcove.com/services/pla ... 9392481001

The Mirror gets back to taking the piss again bollox...

The Ryder Cup? The Ashes? What else could Manchester City win this season?
After winning his first two matches in charge of Manchester City, Roberto Mancini has decided to do the sensible thing, keep his feet on the ground and manage expectations... by claiming City could win the title this season. Far be it for us to disagree with the former Inter boss and scarf enthusiast so here is a list of 10 other things the boys in sky blue could win in 2010.

1) The World Cup
Why limit yourself to the Premier League title Roberto? You've got about as much chance of conquering the whole world as you have of winning the title.

2) The Superbowl
Since the takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008 City has become the biggest, brashest club on the block - the Superbowl is really their natural habitat now.

3) Nobel Peace Prize
If Obama can win it for just saying "Yes we can!" a lot, surely City are in with a shout?

4) Man Booker Prize
Mancini's comments about winning the League are the best work of contemporary fiction we've read since The Remains of the Day .

5) I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Not so much the whole club, but restless Robinho would probably gladly eat a bowl of earwigs and kangaroo testicles and spend a week in the jungle with a bunch of has-been half wits if it meant he could get out of Manchester.

6) The Ryder Cup
Craig Bellamy's pretty handy with a golf club...

7) The Ashes
It's been so long since City won anything, lifting a trophy of any kind would provoke a celebration in Manchester like the 2005 Ashes win.

8) British Soap Awards
The drama surrounding Mark Hughes' extraordinary last match in charge, his sacking and Mancini's appointment had more twists and turns than the EastEnders Christmas special.

9) Eurovision Song Contest
After missing out on the Champions League and Europa League for this term, it's the only way they're going to conquer Europe this season.

10) The Weakest Link
Joleon Lescott, we're looking at you.

Torygraph's U Turn Bollox
Manchester City: Why the sacking of Mark Hughes was entirely understandable
As could be expected from the master of stating the obvious, Alan Shearer followed the herd on Saturday and solemnly condemned Manchester City for their sacking of Mark Hughes. “A sham – for what he has done in the game as a player and a manager he deserved more,” said Shearer, who may just have an interest in promoting the rather questionable argument that achievement as a player is relevant when assessing a manager. True, the manner of Hughes’s sacking was dreadfully clumsy, but was the actual decision to make a managerial change really so outrageous? The facts are these. Hughes had inherited a team that finished ninth in the league under Sven-Goran Eriksson. Over the space of 18 months he spent more than £200 million, yet finished 10th last season and, at the time Roberto Mancini was offered his job, City were eighth and still closer to the bottom half of the table than the top four.

As for his use of the money that was available, it was hardly imaginative. Bridge, Toure, Lescott, Santa-Cruz, Bellamy, Adebayor, Robinho, Barry, Given, Tevez; a shopping list that even an occasional English football fan could have dreamed up. It lacked balance and some of the prices were grossly inflated. For the investment that was made, the results were simply not good enough. Anyone at White Hart Lane for Hughes’ penultimate match must also have wondered about his tactical acumen as Harry Redknapp simply instructed Tottenham to constantly get the ball to Aaron Lennon and exploit Manchester City’s weakness down the left as Robinho predictably offered negligible protection to the ageing Sylvinho. The strategy was so obvious, yet it was not until the 59th minute – when City were already 2-0 down – that Hughes finally re-organised the team by taking Robinho off.

As for the gamble that has supposedly been taken with Mancini, I suspect most supporters would rather take their chances with a man who won seven trophies in seven years at Fiorentina, Lazio and Inter Milan against someone who has won nothing, nor qualified for any major tournament, during more than a decade in international and club management. It is true that British coaches are not given enough opportunities at clubs with the potential to qualify for the Champions League. But that does not apply to Hughes. He was given a chance and, while the challenge was certainly considerable, the unfortunate truth is that his team under-achieved.

Absolutley disgusting from the Mirror that, I hope they're banned from any future Press Conferences.

bobadji wrote:Absolutley disgusting from the Mirror that, I hope they're banned from any future Press Conferences.

Totally agree. I hope this shite is read by Khaldoon and Cook etc and they tell all Mirror Journalists to never enter COMS again.

edge275 wrote:

bobadji wrote:Absolutley disgusting from the Mirror that, I hope they're banned from any future Press Conferences.

Totally agree. I hope this shite is read by Khaldoon and Cook etc and they tell all Mirror Journalists to never enter COMS again.

That has to be one of the nastiest pieces of attempted journalism i've ever seen

Possibly the best bollox ever. Your bollox mature well like a fine cheese, sir.

Well done the Daily Mirror.

That was the funniest piece of journalism I have read for ages...and if Obama can win a Nobel Peace Prize whilst increasing troop nimbers in the current war...WHO'S TO SAY THAT MANCINI CAN'T...."For services in creating harmony between the 2 warring Hughes factions at CoMS"....
It's just a pity they missed out;
The 100metres sprint World record...as we run up the steps at Wembley to collect a pot or two.
The 400 metres World record as we run round the pitch on a lap of honour with the League trophy.
Britain's Got Talent...Bellamy.
The X Factor...Tevez, for his amazing booty shake dance celebration.

I also see taggart only coming 2nd in the "stupid twat of the year" to the knob end that wrote that shite in the mirror...Never mind Sir bacon Face...you can't win 'em all!

Very fine Bollox, I must say, but where did the decent Cookie Bollox come from?

JB wrote:Very fine Bollox, I must say, but where did the decent Cookie Bollox come from?

Ready for this? . . . A Leeds United fanzine, I kidd you not

john68 wrote:Well done the Daily Mirror.

That was the funniest piece of journalism I have read for ages...and if Obama can win a Nobel Peace Prize whilst increasing troop nimbers in the current war...WHO'S TO SAY THAT MANCINI CAN'T...."For services in creating harmony between the 2 warring Hughes factions at CoMS"....
It's just a pity they missed out;
The 100metres sprint World record...as we run up the steps at Wembley to collect a pot or two.
The 400 metres World record as we run round the pitch on a lap of honour with the League trophy.
Britain's Got Talent...Bellamy.
The X Factor...Tevez, for his amazing booty shake dance celebration.

I also see taggart only coming 2nd in the "stupid twat of the year" to the knob end that wrote that shite in the mirror...Never mind Sir bacon Face...you can't win 'em all!

John well said, but I think the article was brilliant. If you cannot criticize them on what goes on whilst on the pitch, mock them in the "paper." The fact they even felt a need to run such dribble is a compliment to where we are right now. This goes back to the old adage, there is not such thing as bad publicity. I welcome it, because it will come back to bite them in the ass.

As for banning them from press conferences, why? Unless they are making up nasty lies, let them write whatever they write, it is beneath a club of our stature to take any stance on what the press prints.

Hmm, I take your point but if you look at Baconface's BBC ban, it's worked a treat for him, Non stop sucking up ever since

I'd fucking love us to win the prem now just to shove it down the mirrors throat the rag loving POS bogroll.

Chinners wrote:The Ryder Cup? The Ashes? What else could Manchester City win this season?
After winning his first two matches in charge of Manchester City, Roberto Mancini has decided to do the sensible thing, keep his feet on the ground and manage expectations... by claiming City could win the title this season. Far be it for us to disagree with the former Inter boss and scarf enthusiast so here is a list of 10 other things the boys in sky blue could win in 2010.

1) The World Cup
Why limit yourself to the Premier League title Roberto? You've got about as much chance of conquering the whole world as you have of winning the title.

2) The Superbowl
Since the takeover by the Abu Dhabi U***d Group in 2008 City has become the biggest, brashest club on the block - the Superbowl is really their natural habitat now.

3) Nobel Peace Prize
If Obama can win it for just saying "Yes we can!" a lot, surely City are in with a shout?

4) Man Booker Prize
Mancini's comments about winning the League are the best work of contemporary fiction we've read since The Remains of the Day .

5) I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
Not so much the whole club, but restless Robinho would probably gladly eat a bowl of earwigs and kangaroo testicles and spend a week in the jungle with a bunch of has-been half wits if it meant he could get out of Manchester.

6) The Ryder Cup
Craig Bellamy's pretty handy with a golf club...

7) The Ashes
It's been so long since City won anything, lifting a trophy of any kind would provoke a celebration in Manchester like the 2005 Ashes win.

8) British Soap Awards
The drama surrounding Mark Hughes' extraordinary last match in charge, his sacking and Mancini's appointment had more twists and turns than the EastEnders Christmas special.

9) Eurovision Song Contest
After missing out on the Champions League and Europa League for this term, it's the only way they're going to conquer Europe this season.

10) The Weakest Link
Joleon Lescott, we're looking at you.

That's so bad it's funny. All it's missing is them calling our mums fat.

I particularly like 4, there's something about the way they said it that made it sound like it's the only book they read in the last 20 years.

Chinners wrote:

JB wrote:Very fine Bollox, I must say, but where did the decent Cookie Bollox come from?

Ready for this? . . . A Leeds U***d fanzine, I kidd you not

LOL!!! Chinners that is fucking amazing for at least two reasons; Leeds U@@@d have better 'journalists' than the national press/media and the breadth of your research. The lengths you will go to find a decent pair of bollox is astounding, I tip my non-existant hat to you, sir!

Chinners wrote:Hmm, I take your point but if you look at Baconface's BBC ban, it's worked a treat for him, Non stop sucking up ever since

Chinners like I said in my post "it is below a club of OUR stature" it is clearly in line with Scum's stature. ;)