Tuesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Barry expecting great things from Dzeko
Gareth Barry believes Edin Dzeko's first goal for Manchester City could herald the start of a prolific spell for his team's latest big-money signing.
City paid £27m to sign Dzeko from German club Wolfsburg and the Bosnian forward repaid a small slice of that fee as his late equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw against League One club Notts County in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday. While that result was hardly one of City's best this season, England midfielder Barry is hopeful Dzeko's goal will boost his confidence and lead to another predatory display against Birmingham in Wednesday's Premier League clash at St Andrew's.
"The longer a striker goes without a goal it can affect him so maybe this will send him the other way," Barry said. "Strikers thrive on confidence, so hopefully it will be the start of many goals. If you look at his record, his ratio of goals per game is good and if he keeps that going he will be a big star. The competition is very tough at City now and Edin is another quality player going straight into the team."
Meanwhile, City boss Roberto Mancini has accepted the loss of Adam Johnson will hit them hard as they try to catch Premier League leaders Manchester United. England winger Johnson has been one of City's most influential players this season but has damaged ankle ligaments in training.
He may be out for the season which is a blow for City, especially because Argentine forward Carlos Tevez is also struggling at the moment with a back complaint. "We have a big problem with Johnson out for three months," Mancini said. "It is the same injury as Aleksander Kolarov had at the start of the season, and he is very unlucky."

City boss hands Balotelli derby target
Roberto ManciniI hope everything is okay with Mario Mario Balotelli returned to Manchester on Monday with manager Roberto Mancini spying the derby clash at Old Trafford later this month as a potential comeback match for the controversial Italian.
Mancini has been relieved to discover the knee injury Balotelli suffered scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa on December 28 is not as bad as he initially feared and the youngster will not require an operation.
He will not be considered for Wednesday's Premier League trip to Birmingham though, or the home encounter with West Brom at the weekend and Mancini said: "I hope everything is okay with Mario. I think he could be ready for the derby."
Balotelli could end up being part of a pretty potent strikeforce for the Eastlands outfit, with skipper Carlos Tevez and £27million new-boy Edin Dzeko, whose status as the biggest transfer of the January window was blown out of the water by the staggering deals involving Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll.
But Dzeko has already made a significant contribution on the field, scoring the equaliser at Notts County that staved off the potential for total humiliation at Meadow Lane.
Unlike Torres and Carroll, Dzeko is having to get accustomed to life in England.
And, although the Bundesliga is often portrayed as the second most physical league in Europe, the former Wolfsburg front-man has been caught out by the sheer strength of the teams he is encountering.
"It's very different and harder than the Bundesliga," he said. "I never played any games like this in Germany, not when you have to fight for 90 minutes.
"But if I want to be successful in England, I have to get used to it."

DEADLINE DAY & OTHER BOLLOX
Monday's transfer deadline day spending spree hit the front and back pages of Tuesday's papers with the Daily Mirror claiming "as we all feel the pinch, Prem clubs go football crazy" with around £200m of business being conducted.

The Daily Mail went with a similar theme, saying "so much for the credit crunch as records tumble on the craziest day in English transfer history".

And the Guardian highlighted "the day the madness returned to football".

King Kenny lands Carroll King was the Sun's back page headline. The paper also reports former Newcastle legend Alan Shearer's take on Andy Carroll's move from the Magpies to Liverpool. The ex-England striker fears a fans' backlash against owner Mike Ashley.

The Daily Star claims that Carroll "was forced to quit" the Magpies.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT had an interview with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who claimed he missed out on signing Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, 25, "by minutes".

And in Scotland, the Daily Record suggests Rangers have signed the most hated man in football after landing Blackburn striker El Hadj Diouf on loan until the end of the season.

Manchester United's 21-year-old winger Gabriel Obertan has handed in a transfer request and wants to return to his native France in the summer, halfway through his four-year contract. Daily Mail

Southampton striker Jason Puncheon was heading on loan to Newcastle before Blackpool pounced with a better offer for the 24-year-old.Daily Mirror

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner says the next month will be make or break for the north London club, who are chasing silverware on four fronts. Daily Mirror

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce says midfielder Sulley Muntari took a pay cut to join the Black Cats on loan from Inter Milan and believes the 26-year-old could sign a permanent deal in the summer. Daily Mirror

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere has tweeted his views on new Liverpool striker Andy Carroll's future, saying: "Andy Carrol will be a great player for Liverpool and England #fact." Metro

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has been voted the club's greatest player, beating off competition from the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Eric Cantona. The 37-year-old, who made his debut in 1991 and has played more than 600 league games for the Red Devils, was voted for by readers of the club's official magazine and website. Daily Mail

Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel will become the oldest player to run out for the club if he faces Manchester United on Tuesday night - but the 39-year-old says he has no plans to retire. Daily Mirror

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov says the Old Trafford dressing room is filled with jokers - but they are always scared into silence the minute manager Sir Alex Ferguson walks through the door. Daily Mirror

more bollox soon ...

[Slim]

Manchester United's 21-year-old winger Gabriel Obertan has handed in a transfer request and wants to return to his native France in the summer, halfway through his four-year contract. Daily Mail

BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD!!!

Just talk to any rag, oh and wind the clock back 18 months.

[Slim]

Southampton striker Jason Puncheon was heading on loan to Newcastle before Blackpool pounced with a better offer for the 24-year-old.Daily Mirror

Cunts better not try it in my FM game, he is tearing up league one at the moment.

[david yearsley]

Monday's transfer deadline day spending spree hit the front and back pages of Tuesday's papers with the Daily Mirror claiming "as we all feel the pinch, Prem clubs go football crazy" with around £200m of business being conducted.

The Daily Mail went with a similar theme, saying "so much for the credit crunch as records tumble on the craziest day in English transfer history".

And the Guardian highlighted "the day the madness returned to football".

King Kenny lands Carroll King was the Sun's back page headline. The paper also reports former Newcastle legend Alan Shearer's take on Andy Carroll's move from the Magpies to Liverpool. The ex-England striker fears a fans' backlash against owner Mike Ashley.

The Daily Star claims that Carroll "was forced to quit" the Magpies.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT had an interview with Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, who claimed he missed out on signing Blackpool midfielder Charlie Adam, 25, "by minutes".

And in Scotland, the Daily Record suggests Rangers have signed the most hated man in football after landing Blackburn striker El Hadj Diouf on loan until the end of the season.

Manchester United's 21-year-old winger Gabriel Obertan has handed in a transfer request and wants to return to his native France in the summer, halfway through his four-year contract. Daily Mail

Southampton striker Jason Puncheon was heading on loan to Newcastle before Blackpool pounced with a better offer for the 24-year-old.Daily Mirror

Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner says the next month will be make or break for the north London club, who are chasing silverware on four fronts. Daily Mirror

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce says midfielder Sulley Muntari took a pay cut to join the Black Cats on loan from Inter Milan and believes the 26-year-old could sign a permanent deal in the summer. Daily Mirror

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere has tweeted his views on new Liverpool striker Andy Carroll's future, saying: "Andy Carrol will be a great player for Liverpool and England #fact." Metro

Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs has been voted the club's greatest player, beating off competition from the likes of Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Eric Cantona. The 37-year-old, who made his debut in 1991 and has played more than 600 league games for the Red Devils, was voted for by readers of the club's official magazine and website. Daily Mail

Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel will become the oldest player to run out for the club if he faces Manchester United on Tuesday night - but the 39-year-old says he has no plans to retire. Daily Mirror

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov says the Old Trafford dressing room is filled with jokers - but they are always scared into silence the minute manager Sir Alex Ferguson walks through the door.

more bollox soon ...

Yeah well we knew about the jokers bit Berbatoss - they´ve missed out the bit at the end which should say "with his intimidating greasy fist"

[ryanmcfc]

Some Everton b*ll*x here. I guess this is an email from some ITK guy that's making the rounds among Everton fans this morning.

Right, horrible, horrible news.....its all kicked-off at Goodison tonight. The Manager will, likely, go at the end of the season! He's told the board unless they're prepared to back him seriously, he's not prepared to ruin what bit of reputation he has left with an unambitious club. We've missed out on EVERY loan target this window (SWP, Vicente, Santa Cruz and Ireland were on his 'Want' list) and the slim squad has depleted further. The board are ok as long as we avoid relegation; no other objective has been set! Kenwright asked the board on the Neville offer - Elstone said to go for it due to his age. He then asked Moyes, which is when it all kicked-off, who said he's had enough and will go tonight if that happens. Its the fact Kenwright even considered it and then asked the board first that has left Davey livid! The 'Senior' players - Cahill, Jags and Arteta - are still fuming over the wages shit from last month and that nobody has been brought in this week. Those three have said they're considering their position at the club and may (probably) be open to moving on in the Summer. Fell's IS being tracked by a "big Premier League side" for the Summer as well. I don't know who, but can guess it will be Chelsea, Manchester United or Spurs. Basically, we're seriously, seriously, seriously in the shit more than ever before! Manager probably off, players to ask for transfers (notice how I missed out Heitinga? That's because he's looking to go anyway - he wants out and has done for a while), fuck all investment, disinterested board - its not Admin, but it might as fucking well be!

I knew about that neville bid at 6 yday m8....the players hadn't been payed 4 2months that's y they had 2 sell pienaar now coz he wasn't ment 2 go untill the summer...his agent was goin the papers and everything 2 tell them everton wernt payn the players but everton made a deal with him so he didn't do it...that's y we let yakubu go we got 750,000 grand 4 him to go on loan its that bad...moyes didn't want him 2 go but had 2 get him off the wage bill.

Take it for what you will I guess. I know Chinners mentioned the administration rumor last week. Supposedly that's the entire email, but it seems like the second paragraph takes a nosedive in terms of punctuation and stuff doesn't it?

[Wooders]

wow interesting about everton - raised a little smile