MANCINI LAUGHS OF ADE `ROW`
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has laughed off reports of a bust-up with striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Reports on Sunday had claimed that Mancini had been involved in an altercation with Adebayor regarding the forward's current injury absence.
Adebayor was ruled out of last weekend's home draw with Blackburn Rovers due to a dead leg and has missed the subsequent wins over Red Bull Salzburg and Wigan Athletic.
Mancini was alleged to have accused Adebayor of feigning the severity of the injury before the former Arsenal attacker brought in scans to show the extent of the problem.
However, Mancini has moved to dismiss any suggestion of a fight with Adebayor, who has made just three appearances for City so far this season.
"We fought in the dressing room for an hour!" joked Mancini after Sunday's 2-0 success at Wigan.
"I won because I don't have any scars. It was nothing."
City banter is still a thrill for Milner
James Milner says Manchester City are still game for a laugh.
The pressure is on the Blues to become serious contenders for the top following Roberto Mancini’s £130million spending spree during the summer.
But Milner, who joined City in a £24m deal from Aston Villa, said: “The banter at the club in the dressing-room is exactly the same as it is at any other club I’ve been at.
“There is always banter flying about and it’s a really good atmosphere.
“One day people will have a go at someone’s clothes, then their taste in music. It is great to be amongst that.
“When you ask players who have retired what they miss about football, it is that banter and atmosphere in the dressing-room.
“No other job is quite like that.
“And though we’ve got some overseas players in the dressing-room, we’ve got that spirit in our dressing-room.”
JOE HART SHOULD PLAY FOR MANCHESTER UNITED SAYS CASILLAS
IKER CASILLAS last night cheekily insisted: Joe Hart’s so good he should play for Manchester United.
Real Madrid and Spain keeper Casillas, 29, shares England coach Fabio Capello’s view that Hart can become the world’s No.1 keeper.
And he insists that if Manchester City do not reap the success that their mega-rich owners are seeking, Hart, 23, will have no option but to go to a club like their hated city rivals United, who can guarantee Hart action in European football’s premier competition.
Casillas told the Daily Star Sunday: “I totally agree with Capello that Joe Hart can be up there with the best in the world.
“If I am being honest, over the last five years I don’t think there has been a keeper close to Gigi Buffon, or myself. But
from what I have seen of Joe Hart, he really can be great.
“When Buffon and I are well into our thirties, Joe will be at his peak. And I expect him to be the No.1 keeper in the world. Everything he does is so natural and he has that goalkeeper’s instinct, which you can’t just learn.
“Apart from a handful of games with England, he hasn’t played at the top level yet and, when he does, he will get even better.”
Casillas has also cranked up the pressure on Roberto Mancini by insisting the City boss has to deliver this season.
He said: “Like so many of City’s players, Hart needs to play Champions League football. If he doesn’t get it, he won’t stay.
“Teams like Manchester United and AC Milan have ageing keepers and Joe would be perfect for either of them.
“I think it’s fine if you want to go and be part of the revolution at City.
“But I would suggest all players write clauses into their contract about being able to leave the club if they don’t make
it into the Champions League.”
Newcastle plea for permission to re-sign Shay Given as Roberto Mancini says he is free to leave
Newcastle are set to ask the Premier League for permission to re-sign Shay Given in an emergency loan deal after Roberto Mancini confirmed the goalkeeper is free to leave Manchester City.
A shoulder injury to Steve Harper has ruled him out for up to three months and left Newcastle short of cover for youngster Tim Krul.
They want to bring Given back to Tyneside where he spent 12 years before joining City for £8million in February 2009.
Given revealed his frustration at losing his place to Joe Hart, saying: ‘If I’m flying around like Clark Kent all week I still won’t play on a Saturday — that can be demoralising. I wouldn’t mind where a loan was.’
Although the 34-year-old could play his first game of the season in the Carling Cup at West Bromwich on Wednesday, Mancini confirmed that he will not stand in his way.
‘If he wants to leave he can,’ said Mancini.
‘If he decided to leave he could have left a month ago. Now we must wait until January.’
MCF.NET THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=34795
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has told Aston Villa counterpart Gerard Houllier that striker Michael Owen is going nowhere in January. ESPNsoccernet
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is eyeing Bayern Munich's £9m-rated midfielder Toni Kroos, who has been likened to Blues star Frank Lampard. caughtoffside.com
OTHER BOLLOX
Just weeks after quitting as Aston Villa manager, Martin O'Neill is in line for a sensational return to management - at Liverpool. Daily Star
England striker Wayne Rooney will never leave Manchester United, according to team-mate Darren Fletcher. Daily Mirror
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has been offered a £280m funding package by GSO Capital Partners, a subsidiary of private company Blackstone, which would share control of the club with him. (Associated Press)
Rangers defender Sasa Papac has signalled his desire to extend his stay at the club. Daily Mail
MORE BOLLOX SHORTLY . . .
The mancityfans.net football forum
The BEST FORUM in all the land and all the world
[/center]
