Sunday's B*ll*x
Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:14 amMAIL COLUMNIST BOLLOX
When two star columnists collide, watch out! And when said star columnists are actually writing in the same newspaper - well, our advice is "get ready for fireworks", even if it is only October.
The difference of opinion in the Mail is over City, of course. And as you might guess, it's all to do with the annual report published this week on the website revealing the figures behind Sheikh Mansour's Blue Revolution.
In the blue corner (for once) it's Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool legend and newly-signed Mail contributor, who argues that "Michel Platini's plan to cap club spending as a percentage of turnover" just won't work.
Hard-hitting Kenny says that City's losses "raised eyebrows" but "football is a free market - you can't get clubs to sit down and agree a salary cap or a limit on transfer spending."
Tellingly, he also adds: "It's not necessarily beneficial, either. Of course it's very sad if a mismanaged club goes to the wall or suffers like Portsmouth. But those situations are a minority compared to the number of clubs who have benefited from investment by a benefactor."
Then in the red corner there's Piers Morgan, who, er, watches Arsenal and judges "Strictly X Idol" on TV. He uses a chance airport meeting with Sheffield Wednesday's Howard Wilkinson - hope Wilko got his autograph - to call for, yes, a salary cap!
Original thinker Piers, who manages to get in a bitter Gooner's dig at Manu Adebayor along the way, says: "The divide between rich and poor has always been there, but never has the gulf been as massive as it is now."
So what should we do, Piers? "The only answer ... is surely the introduction of salary and transfer caps." Sorted. Next week: Piers puts the economy back on track in 350 words. Kenny, why are you groaning like that?
Manchester City nearly as good as Arsenal in 2004, says Kolo Toure
Their style of football and squad building could hardly be more different but Kolo Toure says emerging Manchester City is reminiscent of the Arsenal squad that won the league without losing a single game. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... Toure.html
Manchester City could tempt AC Milan to let Brazilian star Alexandre Pato move to Eastlands with Emmanuel Adebayor used in part-exchange.Although AC Milan insist that Pato is not for sale, they may be forced to lighten their wage bill, having added Zlatan Ibrahimovic and former Manchester City striker Robinho to an attack already containing Ronaldinho and Felipo Inzaghi. The News of the World reports that Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini has made 21-year-old Pato a major January transfer target.
http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-a ... ght/11024/
Manchester City plotting £90m raid to net Gerard Pique
MANCHESTER CITY are preparing an astonishing £90 million deal to take defender Gerard Pique from Barcelona.
City gaffer Roberto Mancini has made the former Manchester United man his top target, and has asked his club to lavish £50m on the transfer with an extra £8m-a-year wages over five seasons.
Mancini has spoken to City midfielder Yaya Toure, who knows Pique well from their time together at the Nou Camp, and has been encouraged to make a move.
The World Cup-winning defender’s agent knows of City’s interest and Barcelona are aware a bid is being prepared.
But City face a tough battle. Pique, 23, is happy in Barcelona and said: “I have heard the rumour but my head is in Barca – and it’s not just a question of money.”
City could lose striker Emmanuel Adebayor after he revealed he would be open to joining Juventus.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... rs&cc=5739
Shay's Bollox
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is set to make a surprise winter move for Manchester City 's experienced back-up goalkeeper Shay Given .
34-year-old Given lost his place in Roberto Mancini's starting eleven to England stopper Joe Hart , after the youngster returned from an impressive loan spell at Birmingham City. Given has played just a single game for Manchester City this season, in the Carling Cup, and Mancini has said that he is prepared for Given to go out on loan.
Given commented recently, "It's very, very frustrating. I know it doesn't matter what I do on the training pitch, I won't be playing at the weekend. If I'm flying around like Clark Kent in goals, I still won't play on Saturday. That can be demoralising,"
Now, the Sunday Mirror reports that Manchester United boss Ferguson could make a winter move for Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Given in a move that would be bound to annoy Manchester City boss Mancini, who views Given as excellent back-up.
Old Trafford number one Edwin Van der Sar is almost 40-years-old and Ferguson has been scouting out a long-term replacement. Although Given is no youngster himself, Ferguson reportedly believes that he could provide solidity in goal for Manchester United .
SHAY GIVEN will be offered a new Manchester City contract in January over the head of manager Roberto Mancini.
The Italian told his second choice goalkeeper in the summer that he would be free to leave in the next transfer window after losing his place to Joe Hart.
But City's football administrator Brian Marwood is keen to avoid a repeat of the problems at the end of last season when Given's shoulder injury left Mancini needing to sign Marton Fulop on loan for the run-in.
Republic of Ireland international Given has been assured that if the club are within touching distance of a top-four place after Christmas he will be still be wanted.
City are even prepared to improve Given's £90,000-a-week deal, which was signed in January 2009 and still has two years to run.
And they have promised the former Newcastle keeper that if he rejects the contract, they will let him move to a rival club provided he stays to the end of the season.
City were reluctant to let him join Arsenal in August and prevented him agreeing a 12-month loan move to Celtic. He was also strongly linked with a move to Fulham before Mark Schwarzer's proposed move to the Gunners fell through.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes has asked to be kept updated on Given's situation. But the ex-City boss knows his former club want to recoup as much as possible of the £7million they paid Newcastle.
City are covering themselves by seeking alternative back-up.
WARREN BARTON'S FOXY BOLLOX VIDEO
http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball ... p?a=215630
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2010/09/27 ... carbonero/
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is determined to sign Michael Carrick - even though the midfielder insists he wants to stay at Manchester United for life. Sunday People
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has put Stoke City centre-half Ryan Shawcross on his wish list - if he can find some money for players in the transfer market. Sunday People
Hodgson may be able to use funds from a possible sale of forward Milan Jovanovic, who is said to be contemplating leaving the club only two months into the season. Sunday People
Everton boss David Moyes wants to land Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on loan. Sunday People
Manchester United are pursuing Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez and Atletico Madrid defender Alvaro Dominguez Soto. Caughtoffside.com
Arsenal are ready to tempt Liverpool with a £19m bid for goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Caughtoffisde.com
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is ready to offer goalkeeper Ross Turnbull to Stoke City in a swap deal for Asmir Begovic. Sunday People
OTHER BOLLOX
England manager Fabio Capello is desperate to lure Emile Heskey out of retirement to play in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro. Sunday Express
But the Aston Villa striker has rejected Capello's plea. Mail on Sunday
Meanwhile, Capello fears the Premier League's top stars are struggling to cope with their multi-millionaire lifestyles. News of the World
Also, Rio Ferdinand is likely to lose the England captaincy this week - with Capello refusing to confirm the Manchester United defender's return to the squad will come with his reinstatement as skipper. Mail on Sunday
West Ham have dismissed the possibility of a ground share with Tottenham at the Olympic Stadium after their Premier League rivals joined them in submitting a bid to lease the arena after the 2012 Games. Mail on Sunday
Liverpool boss Hodgson has described himself as 'one of the most respected coaches in Europe' and said it is 'insulting' to suggest he cannot handle the club's big-name stars. Mail on Sunday
However, Hodgson has confided in friends that he feels Liverpool are six players short of challenging at the top of the table. News of the World
Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh admits he has yet to taste a good English cup of tea. News of the World
Wow, incisive stuff!
When two star columnists collide, watch out! And when said star columnists are actually writing in the same newspaper - well, our advice is "get ready for fireworks", even if it is only October.
The difference of opinion in the Mail is over City, of course. And as you might guess, it's all to do with the annual report published this week on the website revealing the figures behind Sheikh Mansour's Blue Revolution.
In the blue corner (for once) it's Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool legend and newly-signed Mail contributor, who argues that "Michel Platini's plan to cap club spending as a percentage of turnover" just won't work.
Hard-hitting Kenny says that City's losses "raised eyebrows" but "football is a free market - you can't get clubs to sit down and agree a salary cap or a limit on transfer spending."
Tellingly, he also adds: "It's not necessarily beneficial, either. Of course it's very sad if a mismanaged club goes to the wall or suffers like Portsmouth. But those situations are a minority compared to the number of clubs who have benefited from investment by a benefactor."
Then in the red corner there's Piers Morgan, who, er, watches Arsenal and judges "Strictly X Idol" on TV. He uses a chance airport meeting with Sheffield Wednesday's Howard Wilkinson - hope Wilko got his autograph - to call for, yes, a salary cap!
Original thinker Piers, who manages to get in a bitter Gooner's dig at Manu Adebayor along the way, says: "The divide between rich and poor has always been there, but never has the gulf been as massive as it is now."
So what should we do, Piers? "The only answer ... is surely the introduction of salary and transfer caps." Sorted. Next week: Piers puts the economy back on track in 350 words. Kenny, why are you groaning like that?
Manchester City nearly as good as Arsenal in 2004, says Kolo Toure
Their style of football and squad building could hardly be more different but Kolo Toure says emerging Manchester City is reminiscent of the Arsenal squad that won the league without losing a single game. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... Toure.html
Manchester City could tempt AC Milan to let Brazilian star Alexandre Pato move to Eastlands with Emmanuel Adebayor used in part-exchange.Although AC Milan insist that Pato is not for sale, they may be forced to lighten their wage bill, having added Zlatan Ibrahimovic and former Manchester City striker Robinho to an attack already containing Ronaldinho and Felipo Inzaghi. The News of the World reports that Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini has made 21-year-old Pato a major January transfer target.
http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-a ... ght/11024/
Manchester City plotting £90m raid to net Gerard Pique
MANCHESTER CITY are preparing an astonishing £90 million deal to take defender Gerard Pique from Barcelona.
City gaffer Roberto Mancini has made the former Manchester United man his top target, and has asked his club to lavish £50m on the transfer with an extra £8m-a-year wages over five seasons.
Mancini has spoken to City midfielder Yaya Toure, who knows Pique well from their time together at the Nou Camp, and has been encouraged to make a move.
The World Cup-winning defender’s agent knows of City’s interest and Barcelona are aware a bid is being prepared.
But City face a tough battle. Pique, 23, is happy in Barcelona and said: “I have heard the rumour but my head is in Barca – and it’s not just a question of money.”
City could lose striker Emmanuel Adebayor after he revealed he would be open to joining Juventus.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story ... rs&cc=5739
Shay's Bollox
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is set to make a surprise winter move for Manchester City 's experienced back-up goalkeeper Shay Given .
34-year-old Given lost his place in Roberto Mancini's starting eleven to England stopper Joe Hart , after the youngster returned from an impressive loan spell at Birmingham City. Given has played just a single game for Manchester City this season, in the Carling Cup, and Mancini has said that he is prepared for Given to go out on loan.
Given commented recently, "It's very, very frustrating. I know it doesn't matter what I do on the training pitch, I won't be playing at the weekend. If I'm flying around like Clark Kent in goals, I still won't play on Saturday. That can be demoralising,"
Now, the Sunday Mirror reports that Manchester United boss Ferguson could make a winter move for Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Given in a move that would be bound to annoy Manchester City boss Mancini, who views Given as excellent back-up.
Old Trafford number one Edwin Van der Sar is almost 40-years-old and Ferguson has been scouting out a long-term replacement. Although Given is no youngster himself, Ferguson reportedly believes that he could provide solidity in goal for Manchester United .
SHAY GIVEN will be offered a new Manchester City contract in January over the head of manager Roberto Mancini.
The Italian told his second choice goalkeeper in the summer that he would be free to leave in the next transfer window after losing his place to Joe Hart.
But City's football administrator Brian Marwood is keen to avoid a repeat of the problems at the end of last season when Given's shoulder injury left Mancini needing to sign Marton Fulop on loan for the run-in.
Republic of Ireland international Given has been assured that if the club are within touching distance of a top-four place after Christmas he will be still be wanted.
City are even prepared to improve Given's £90,000-a-week deal, which was signed in January 2009 and still has two years to run.
And they have promised the former Newcastle keeper that if he rejects the contract, they will let him move to a rival club provided he stays to the end of the season.
City were reluctant to let him join Arsenal in August and prevented him agreeing a 12-month loan move to Celtic. He was also strongly linked with a move to Fulham before Mark Schwarzer's proposed move to the Gunners fell through.
Fulham boss Mark Hughes has asked to be kept updated on Given's situation. But the ex-City boss knows his former club want to recoup as much as possible of the £7million they paid Newcastle.
City are covering themselves by seeking alternative back-up.
WARREN BARTON'S FOXY BOLLOX VIDEO
http://www.manchestercity.vitalfootball ... p?a=215630
WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.caughtoffside.com/2010/09/27 ... carbonero/
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is determined to sign Michael Carrick - even though the midfielder insists he wants to stay at Manchester United for life. Sunday People
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has put Stoke City centre-half Ryan Shawcross on his wish list - if he can find some money for players in the transfer market. Sunday People
Hodgson may be able to use funds from a possible sale of forward Milan Jovanovic, who is said to be contemplating leaving the club only two months into the season. Sunday People
Everton boss David Moyes wants to land Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on loan. Sunday People
Manchester United are pursuing Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez and Atletico Madrid defender Alvaro Dominguez Soto. Caughtoffside.com
Arsenal are ready to tempt Liverpool with a £19m bid for goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Caughtoffisde.com
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is ready to offer goalkeeper Ross Turnbull to Stoke City in a swap deal for Asmir Begovic. Sunday People
OTHER BOLLOX
England manager Fabio Capello is desperate to lure Emile Heskey out of retirement to play in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro. Sunday Express
But the Aston Villa striker has rejected Capello's plea. Mail on Sunday
Meanwhile, Capello fears the Premier League's top stars are struggling to cope with their multi-millionaire lifestyles. News of the World
Also, Rio Ferdinand is likely to lose the England captaincy this week - with Capello refusing to confirm the Manchester United defender's return to the squad will come with his reinstatement as skipper. Mail on Sunday
West Ham have dismissed the possibility of a ground share with Tottenham at the Olympic Stadium after their Premier League rivals joined them in submitting a bid to lease the arena after the 2012 Games. Mail on Sunday
Liverpool boss Hodgson has described himself as 'one of the most respected coaches in Europe' and said it is 'insulting' to suggest he cannot handle the club's big-name stars. Mail on Sunday
However, Hodgson has confided in friends that he feels Liverpool are six players short of challenging at the top of the table. News of the World
Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh admits he has yet to taste a good English cup of tea. News of the World
Wow, incisive stuff!