Steve Bruce: Man City will NEVER overtake United
Former Old Trafford hero Steve Bruce has taunted his old Manchester City adversaries ahead of today’s clash with his Sunderland side by insisting: “You’ll never overtake Manchester United.”
Bruce believes that despite owner Sheikh Manour’s billions City are destined to to always play second fiddle to their great Manchester rivals.
The Sunderland boss said: “They are trying to get into the top four, but they never will get close to Manchester United. Money just doesn’t buy you that.
“City have always lived in the shadows of United.
RICH BOLLOX
Manchester City have spent £200m on transfers, £100m a year on wages and the club's chairman says football in this country is on the road to ruin
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak claims football in Britain - and across Europe - is on the road to ruin.
In an extraordinary attack on the way the game is run, he has insisted that the economic model being used here is unsustainable.
Al Mubarak may be in charge of one of the biggest-spending clubs in the world, but he claims radical business reforms are the only way to increase competition and avoid meltdown.
Worryingly for his lavishly-paid City players, Al Mubarak hinted that he could favour the introduction of a salary cap, such as the one used by sports in the United States. 'I am a fan of the American model,' Al Mubarak told a media summit in Abu Dhabi.
'The European model cannot be sustained without new parameters, commercial parameters that allow competition, that allow revenue distribution, and that will allow talent to continue to prosper.'
Many inside the game will find Al Mubarak's comments more than a little rich. He appears to want spending reined in by new rules and television income distribution altered to loosen the grip of the traditional big clubs. Yet Al Mubarak oversees the running of City for a member of the Abu Dhabi Royal family, who have paid more than £200million on transfers fees since taking over in September 2008.
Wages at Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan's club have also rocketed to more than £100m a year, with some players on £160,000 a week. That magnitude of outlay led to City paying nearly £13m on agents' fees in just two transfer windows.
City are also at the heart of a £1bn plan to create a world-class sports and leisure complex and elevate the club into the global elite.
The massive scheme, based on 200 acres of land around City's Eastlands stadium, would include shops, hotels and restaurants as well as a club training base to rival AC Milan's. An extension to the stadium's north stand would boost capacity to 60,000. The scheme would be funded by private investment and Sheik Mansour.
Al Mubarak has previously defended City's spending approach, claiming the club are simply playing catch-up with teams like Manchester United and Chelsea. But as one figure within the English game described his comments as 'hypocritical', they drew knowing noises at UEFA.
The European game's governing body are preparing to bring in new rules of 'financial fair play' in the next five years to force clubs towards breaking even by restricting debt and losses. They will apply to the Champions League and Europa League and are aimed at clubs such as City and Chelsea, who until recently were massively indebted to their owners' loans.
But UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino claims Mansour and Roman Abramovich are pleased that action is being taken.
'What they are saying to us is they would be happy if they don't spend their personal fortune on this,' said Infantino.
'Our president [Michel Platini] has spoken to the owner of Manchester City, who is fully in agreement with these rules. We feel that if you create a healthy environment this will attract good spenders in football, not the ones who will just force up inflation.'
City have previously come in for criticism from UEFA. The amounts they were throwing around to strengthen their squad caused disquiet and led to suggestions that they were acting in a way which could destabilise the market. But City, like Chelsea, have recently had their owner's loans converted to shares to help them comply with UEFA's looming new regulations.
As for the introduction of a salary cap, Platini's special adviser, William Gaillard, said: 'We have never talked about them. But we have a situation which is difficult financially everywhere, not only in football, and I think he [Al Mubarak] is saying what a lot of people are thinking.'
The Premier League argue that they already distribute income more equitably than their European counterparts. As Portsmouth's financial collapse has unfolded in the wake of attempts to compete with the big-spending sides, the league have also brought in new rules designed to prevent a repeat of the sorry saga at Fratton Park. A new, more restrained financial era appears to be beckoning
World Cup 2010: Roberto Mancini lined up to become new Italy manager
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has emerged as a contender to replace Marcello Lippi in charge of the Italian national team when the 61 year-old steps down after the World Cup in South Africa.
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) is keen to announce a successor to Lippi, who led Italy to the 2006 World Cup, before the start of World Cup 2010.
Cesare Prandelli, of Fiorentina, was their primary target, but he is believed to favour remaining in club football and “90 per cent” certain to take over from caretaker manager Alberto Zaccheroni at Juventus.
That has forced the FIGC to examine other candidates and, though Mancini last week announced his intention to buy a family home in Manchester and sources close to the Italian insist he intends to see out his contract at Eastlands, it is believed Giancarlo Abete, the Italian FA’s president, is confident that Mancini could be tempted to return home.
FERGIE WANTS BOTH OF EVERTON'S PRODIGIES
MANCHESTER UNITED are pushing closer to a £20million move for Everton star Jack Rodwell.
And Sir Alex Ferguson wants to do the double on Everton by taking Dan Gosling to Old Trafford in the summer with him.
Both players scored in the recent 3-1 victory against the champions at Goodison Park.
United want to unveil Chris Smalling, Rodwell and ex-Plymouth youngster Gosling as part of their new generation of stars for next season but are fully focused on adding the finishing touches to defender Rodwell's transfer as a priority.
Although United remain the first choice for the player and his representatives, Ferguson is all too aware that discussions between Rodwell's team, fellow title favourites Chelsea and noisy neighbours Manchester City are still in progress.
There is also some reluctance from David Moyes to part with another of the club's biggest stars after watching former Toffees striker Wayne Rooney set the Premiership and Champions League alight for the Reds.
One option being tentatively discussed that will ease Moyes' decision involves the Merseysiders picking up an initial £8m fee for the player, followed by two further payments of £5m once Rodwell reaches certain appearance benchmarks for United.
That would then be followed by a final instalment of £2m once he completes a full appearance for the England national side.
In such a case, however, Everton would insist on receiving a large proportion of the initial fee upfront rather than factoring the cost over more than one season.
It is believed that Moyes wants to use any cash raised in the deal to fund a move for Stephen Ireland.
The Everton boss has been a huge admirer of the Manchester City man for a long time as he could ease much of the midfield goal-scoring burden placed on Tim Cahill.
However it's red scouse leading the way according to the Mirror ...
Stephen Ireland is a target for Liverpool – but the Manchester City midfielder’s chances of a move to Anfield could hinge on Rafa Benitez’s future on Merseyside.
Ireland, the City fans’ player of the year last season, has suffered a wretched dip in form under Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini.
Manchester United were also monitoring Ireland’s situation at Eastlands, but have been deterred by the Irishman’s failure to maintain his progress at City.
They were also aware that City were unlikely to contemplate agreeing a transfer deal with their bitter rivals.
That paved the way for Liverpool to move in with a bid at the end of the season.
One of Ireland’s best performances this season was when he scored at Anfield in a 2-2 draw. And Liverpool have been made aware that Mancini would not block Ireland’s departure.
Benitez was hoping to get the go-ahead to make an opening offer of £8million.
Vincet Kompany tells all in the Times
MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=31050
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has opened the door to a sensational return to Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo, who he sold to Real Madrid for £80m last summer. Sunday Express
Ferguson is also locked in negotiations with Chelsea to sign Joe Cole who is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season. People
Spanish giants Real Madrid have made Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard their number one transfer target and believe they can tempt the midfielder away from Anfield with a £30m bid. People
Liverpool winger Albert Riera is a £6m target for Spanish side Villarreal, who are looking for a replacement for Robert Pires who is set to depart at the end of the season. Sunday Mirror
Chelsea and Manchester United face competition from Spanish side Barcelona in the race to sign Benfica winger Angel Di Maria. Di Maria has a buyout clause of 50m Euros (£45m) in his contract, but his Portuguese side would accept 25m Euros (£22m). IM Scouting
Portuguese international midfielder Deco expects to leave Chelsea at the end of the season and hopes to join Brazilian side Corinthians. IM Scouting
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is eyeing Birmingham duo Liam Ridgewell and Sebastian Larsson. Both players are out of contract at the end of the season. News of the World
BABE OF THE DAY
http://www.socceram.com/soccerettes/0,2 ... 14,00.html
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is preparing for a summer exit from Anfield after reaching "the end of his tether" while billionaire New Yorkers line up a £100m takeover bid of the club.
News of the World
Ashley Cole's World Cup hopes are virtually over after it was revealed he would not play again for Chelsea this season. The left-back broke his left ankle on 11 February against Everton and has had three pins inserted in the bone. News of the World
David Beckham has admitted he is not a certainty to make Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup in South Africa. The 34-year-old midfielder would become the first Englishman to play in four tournaments if selected. Mail on Sunday
The Football Association has sold its entire allocation of 29,000 tickets for the World Cup. (Sunday Express)
Portsmouth are on the brink of securing their fifth owner of a chaotic season with property tycoon Rob Lloyd fronting a consortium intending to buy the crisis-ridden club.
The Sunday Telegraph
Finally the clubs ... OFFICIAL BOLLOX ROUND UP
Football’s old adage that managers should stick to football and not comment on the boardroom may be outdated but sometimes could save the odd boss from issuing statements that are wide of the mark.
Ahead of today’s trip to the Stadium of Light Black Cats chief Steve Bruce has been pontificating on the commitment of our owners.
“We are very fortunate here with what the owner has done,” he told Clive Hetherington in the Star on Sunday talking about the conversion of loans into shares by owner Elliott Short. “He has proved he’s not just here for the short-term.
“What if the Arabs one day pull out of City who have not had the muscle of Manchester United in the past?
“I think for our club the owner has given us better security.”
What Steve? Better than turning all loans into equity and signing a long-term agreement with the local council to develop land in East Manchester?
More homework required methinks. You could try memorising this from mcfc.co.uk!
“Manchester City also confirmed that subsequent to the end of the financial year, it has restructured its Balance Sheet with owner Sheikh Mansour converting all of his existing £304.9m shareholder loans made to the Club into equity. Sheikh Mansour has also purchased further shares to a value of £89.6m as a measure of his long term commitment to the Club.”
The rest of the day’s news surrounds the usual transfer speculation ahead of the window opening again in the summer.
In no particular order of significance or ridicule here is what’s foretold for the Blues:
Simon Mullock in the Sunday Mirror reckons that Liverpool will be interested in signing Stephen Ireland claiming the player has suffered a ‘wretched dip in form’.
Coming the other way could, according to an assortment of scribes, Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
In the Star on Sunday, this time via Paul Hetherington, Gerrard will apprantly be a target for Real Madrid this summer but ‘even a hint that Gerrard could be prised away from Anfield would see the Spanish giants face fierce competition from the Premier League’s richest club – Manchester City’
The News of the World’s Chris Bascombe and the Mail on Sunday’s Joe Bernstein both mention the Blues in connection with a move instead for Fernando Torres.
‘There is an enduring fear it’s too late to keep him (Torres) amid interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona,’ writes Bascombe.
‘The only consolation if he goes is the hope that the £80million he raises will be ploughed back into the squad rather than used to pay off more debt’
Finally, according to the Star and The People we are preparing a GBP50m raid on Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago and striker Gonzalo Higuain both names that have been attached to City before while the Observer reckons that more likely on their way to the City of Manchester Stadium are Benfica's free kick specialist Oscar Cardozo and Sampdoria youngster Andrea Poli.
