Thursday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Richards sets up meeting with super-agent as City defender considers his options
Micah Richards has thrown his Manchester City future into doubt by setting up a meeting with Italian super-agent Ernesto Bronzetti.
The versatile defender has two years left on his current deal at Eastlands but is keeping his options open with regards to his future.
Bronzetti has close ties with a number of Europe’s top clubs including Real Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus and was instrumental in the deal that saw Kaka leave the San Siro for the Bernabeu in 2009.
Richards was tipped to leave City last summer but has been one of the club’s most consistent performers this season.
And his displays have not gone unnoticed overseas, prompting Bronzetti to seek informal talks with the 22-year-old.
Juve and Barcelona have been linked with moves for Richards in recent months.
Whether he is prepared to uproot and play abroad remains to be seen, but the fact he has agreed to meet Bronzetti is a clear indication that his long-term future could be away from Eastlands.
Meanwhile, Richards’ British-based advisers have alerted a number of Barclays Premier League clubs to the player’s potential availability at the end of the season.
Tottenham remain keen on a £15million move for the City star ahead of next season, though with right back Kyle Walker set to return from his loan spell at Aston Villa, Harry
Redknapp may feel the money could be used to strengthen other areas.
City are yet to hold discussions with Richards over a new contract, though it is understood Roberto Mancini is keen on extending the player’s existing deal that expires in 2013.
Bronzetti’s meeting with Richards will only strengthen the defender’s negotiating position should he be called in for talks at City.
Daily Mail

Italian giants Juventus place Manchester City's Carlos Tevez on their wanted list
Juventus are ready to rival Inter Milan in the pursuit of Carlos Tévez if Manchester City allow the Argentina forward to leave Eastlands this summer.
Tévez, who is struggling to overcome a hamstring injury in time to face Stoke City in next month’s FA Cup final, is expected to leave City at the end of the season, despite withdrawing a request to leave the club last December.
European champions Inter are understood to be the leading candidates to sign Tévez due to their wealth and recent pedigree as the dominant force in Serie A.
But Juventus general manager, Giuseppe Beppe Marotta, has confirmed that Juve are keen to take Tévez to Turin, as well as the Brazilian forward Neymar, if the club can fund a move for either player.
Marotta said: “Tévez and Neymar are two excellent players, very strong, and you would like to have either of them, but beyond that point is an economic reality which must be faced.
“Acquiring players in that category is not an easy operation to achieve. In addition, in the case of Neymar, we know we would have to compete with Chelsea.”
Edin Dzeko’s inability to adjust to English football since his £27million transfer from Wolfsburg to City in January has alerted Juventus to a renewed move for the Bosnian forward, having failed to thwart his move to Eastlands earlier this year.
Juventus would not be in the market for both Tévez and Dzeko, but a failure to sign one could prompt stronger interest in the other.
But with Tévez likely to leave, City manager Roberto Mancini is not expected to sanction the departure of Dzeko, particularly with Emmanuel Adebayor the subject of an option to make his loan move to Real Madrid a permanent one for £15 million.
Meanwhile, Noel Gallagher has given Manchester City a ‘definitely maybe’ in response to the club’s attempt to persuade the former Oasis star to record an FA Cup final song.
City face Stoke at Wembley on May 14 and Gallagher, a lifelong City supporter, has previously resisted offers to pen football-related lyrics, but is now coy about the subject. “Let’s see if they ask first,” he said. Telegraph

City have bid rejected for boy from Fray Bentos
Gaston Ramirez's agent says Manchester City have had a bid rejected by Bologna for the Urguayan midfielder.
Vincenzo D'Ippolito told Sky Sport Italia that the Serie A side wanted £17.5million for their 20-year-old playmaker.
He said: “It's a concrete offer from Manchester City.
"I don't know what amount but Bologna, for now, said no. These are the first signs, we'll see what happens.
"Bologna want at least €20 million for him."
Often compared to Pavel Nedved, Ramirez hails from the famously-named Uruguayan town of Fray Bentos and moved to Italy from Penarol last year. Daily Mirror

Borussia Dortmund are in pole position to sign midfielder Nigel de Jong from Manchester City if the Dutchman leaves Eastlands this summer. Inside Futbol http://www.insidefutbol.com/2011/04/21/ ... get/40887/

Dan Walker meets Liam in Football Focus background BLOG

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/danwalker/20 ... dline.html

OTHER BOLLOX
Inter Milan are poised to offer Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric Champions League football next season with a move to the San Siro should the north Londoners fail to finish in the top four of the Premier League.Daily Mirror

Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov is wanted by Spanish side Sevilla who are willing to pay £12m for the 30-year-old Bulgarian. the Sun

Bayern Munich club president Uli Hoeness is confident of beating Manchester United in the battle to sign Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. "If he doesn't come this year, he'll come next year," said Hoeness. the Sun

Chelsea's pursuit of Santos forward Neymar is being driven by the Blues owner Roman Abramovich, behind the back of manager Carlo Ancelotti. Chelsea representatives have held talks over a summer deal for the 18-year-old. Metro

Arsenal have intensified their attempts to bring in Udinese midfielder Gokhan Inler. The Swiss international is rated at £8m. talkSPORT

Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko and Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaledinov are being targeted by Rubin Kazan, who hope to convince the pair to return to their native Russia. Daily Mail

Juventus are hopeful of convincing Liverpool to lower the £13m fee stipulated in Alberto Aquilani's loan agreement to make the midfielder's switch to the Bianconeri permanent. Daily Mail

Shakhtar Donetsk playmaker Douglas Costa could move to Manchester United in the summer after continuing to impress manager Sir Alex Ferguson, although Manchester City may yet compete for his signature. Metro

Aston Villa are preparing a bid for Senegal international Pape Diakhate. The 26-year-old defender has spent the season on loan at Lyon from Dynamo Kiev. talkSPORT

Lyon left-back Aly Cissokho may have attracted the interest of Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool after he admitted that it would be "a dream" to join a top English side.Metro

Chelsea are on the trail of Real Madrid and Spain Under-19 striker Alvaro Morata, who is believed to have a £10m buy-out clause in his contract. Daily Mirror

Newcastle are keen to recruit Anderlecht and Belgium goalkeeper Silvio Proto. Daily Mirror

Liverpool may be close to a deal to bring St Etienne winger Dimitri Payet to Anfield. The 23-year-old would cost about £7m. Caught Offside

Manchester United and Arsenal are tracking the progress of Crystal Palace's latest talented youngster - forward Wilfried Zaha. talkSPORT

Derby County boss Nigel Clough is preparing a £1.2m raid on East Midlands rivals Leicester for striker Martyn Waghorn. Daily Mirror

Bolton are set to battle Liverpool and Stoke for the £2m signing of Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock. the Sun

Former Juventus chairman Luciano Moggi has claimed that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was close to joining the Turin club after guiding an unbeaten Gunners side to the Premier League title in 2004. Metro

Ex-West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo is being lined up for a shock return to management at League One side Brentford. Daily Mirror

Liverpool are growing increasingly confident that Spanish keeper Pepe Reina will commit his future to the club. the Sun

After apologising to the club's supporters for his side's FA Cup semi-final capitulation to Stoke, Bolton captain Kevin Davies has branded the anonymous fan who wrote to him demanding a refund of their spending on travel and tickets as a "coward".the Times

Italian side Napoli have given their players' wives advice as to how to help their spouses as they attempt to overhaul AC Milan's lead at the top of Serie A. "Please avoid useless family tension" concludes a list of eight "golden rules". Daily Telegraph

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos dropped the Copa del Rey from the top of the team bus during celebrations after their 1-0 victory over Barcelona on Wednesday. The bus then ran over the trophy leaving emergency services to gather up the broken pieces and return them to the bus. The trophy did not reappear at the club's traditional celebration spot of the Plaza de Cibeles in central Madrid. (Associated Press)

Burnley's Graham Alexander, a veteran of a 1,000 games, has put his amazing career down to a simple formula - his mum's burger and chips. Daily Star

[Dameerto]

Breaking Bollox, sounds like Houllier has been 'taken ill' according to the Beeb. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13154952

[Ted Hughes]

Breaking Bollox, sounds like Houllier has been 'taken ill' according to the Beeb. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13154952

A bit worrying considering his previous.

[kinkylola]

oh yea ... we definitley want rid of dejong.

[sweeneymcfc]

where do they make this stuff up?? de jong 2 go?? NO CHANCE

[craigmcfc]

where do they make this stuff up?? de jong 2 go?? NO CHANCE

.....and Richards hasn't gone and got just any agent, no, he's met a SUPER agent !!

Seems like today was chosen as a day for more attempted unsettling bollox

[JonnyAsh]

Maybe Richards is upping his worth prior to contract negotiations. I wouldn't blame him, the home grown players tend to be the poor relations, and I for one think Micah is worth more per week than Kolarov, yet I bet there's a mile in between them paywise.

If he plays regular and was offered a comparitive wage, I would bet he would sign another contract, no problem.

[john68]

Johnny,
Maybe Richards is actually sat at home watching his favourite TV programme, cuddling up to the current love of his life.
Maybe all these stories that are attempts to unsettle and destabilise City are just a bag of lies.
The problem with these nonsense stories is that someone takes the bait and posts a view on it...then someone counters that view and bit by bit, the story gets a life and builds into an issue....and if enough nonsense is published, often enough....then all those little issues become a bigger destabilising factor...and the media has done it's job.

The media establishment and the football establishment are in each others pockets. Neither want us to win anything and spoil their party...Don't give them any help....Let them report into a vacuum.

[JonnyAsh]

I agree John, its most likely nonsense, but on the other hand, people like Micah are on less then the 'signed' players, and with a possible contract negotiation this summer, he wants to be in a strong position.
if it were me, I would make sure of a pay rise that would bring parity, certainly with some players who I felt I was equal to.
To do that, you have to create a demand, maybe a bit of bluffing etc, and so I'm sure Micah's agent will be on the case, if not now, at some stage.
That doesn't mean he wants away, but to give him an advantage in contract discussions. I don't feel too sorry for any player on premier league wages, but I would hope that we want to keep Micah, and he will be paid accordingly, no more, no less.
'Signed' players, get a wadge of signing fee, and anyone who came through our system will not have got that.
That being said, if he did want away, there would be a large queue wanting his services. He is by no means the finished article, but I would hope that he will always be able to play a part.

[john68]

All ofd what you say may well be possible...even correct Johnny...I don't suppose the writer of that piece has any more idea than you or I. A lot of stuff over the season has been simply made up stuff that has sought to unsettle and destabilise us. Hindsight has proven that.
When a derby approaches, we suddenl;y get the stories that come from the rags. Now we seem to be getting stuff coming from Spurs. Each and every bit of groundless tittle tattle adds to the pressure on us...We, as supporters, don't need to add to that pressure.

it would be far better for us to just totally ignore shite like this or simply laugh at it. We will have to learn to deal with it soon, as over the next few years, it will ramp up and get far worse.