Monday's B*ll*x
Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:12 amFour-goal Dzeko gives a slick finish to City's brilliance
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester City 5
By Glenn Moore at White Hart Lane (Independent)
If this keeps up Manchester City fans, with their backs-to-the-game Poznan celebration, are going to miss a lot of football. What they do see, however, will be worth watching.
A forward line to put even Joe Mercer's stylish 1968 champions in the shade, and for that matter the Don Revie-inspired FA Cup winners of a decade earlier, tore Tottenham apart yesterday to take their tally of goals to 12 in three matches. Edin Dzeko, a hapless figure last season with two goals in 15 league appearances, led the way with four goals including a 21-minute hat-trick taking his total this season to six in four. Suddenly the £27m City paid Wolfsburg for the Bosnian in January looks very well spent.
So, too, the £23m laid out to Arsenal for Samir Nasri last week. The way he, Sergio Aguero and David Silva interchanged positions behind Dzeko, and linked with him and each other, it seemed as if the £112m quartet had been together for years, not three training sessions. Where this leaves Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez, a tempestuous pair who will not have enjoyed another 90 minutes on the bench, is perhaps Roberto Mancini's only worry.
What Luka Modric thought of it is anyone's guess. Reluctantly making his first start of the campaign the Croatian lasted just over an hour. A lack of match sharpness, and Spurs' need to try and keep the deficit down, were the reasons, rather than a paucity of commitment, but Modric must have looked at Nasri's revels and wondered if he, too, should insist on moving on.
Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, wants to keep him, and he is likely to use a result like this to tell chairman Daniel Levy he needs more players, not fewer. His most pressing requirement is for centre-halves. Younes Kaboul and Michael Dawson received little support from their porous midfield, but also struggled with their individual battles.
To look at the team-sheets was to imagine the respective dugouts were still occupied by Ossie Ardiles and Malcolm Allison. To counter Mancini's front four, Redknapp paired Modric with his fellow Croatian Niko Kranjcar in central midfield and flanked them with Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale. As a consequence there was, for a long time, little creative difference between the teams, but City's defending was to prove more solid and their finishing sharper.
Lennon, Kranjcar, Nasri and Rafael van der Vaart all had chances in the opening eight minutes but the most telling passage of play was the last 15 minutes of the first half. After 34 minutes Nasri linked with Gaël Clichy, exchanged passes with Aguero, and ran off Lennon before squaring for Dzeko to toe-poke in ahead of Kaboul. Spurs should have levelled five minutes later but Peter Crouch, making his first start of the season, headed wide from Bale's first-time volleyed cross. City broke almost immediately through Yaya Touré, Aguero and Nasri, Dzeko rising above Kaboul to twist and head in the cross from he latter.
Redknapp brought on Tom Huddlestone at the break, but the thoroughbred had bolted. Ten minutes after the break Touré ran around the back of Spurs' statuesque defence and Dzeko tapped in his cross. Soon after the hour came the fourth, Nasri releasing Aguero who wrong-footed Dawson before shooting past Brad Friedel. Tottenham gained a small measure of respect when Kaboul headed in Van der Vaart's corner but the afternoon soured again as the Dutchman limped off with a torn hamstring leaving Spurs down to 10 men for the last 17 minutes. They were fortunate that City chose not to rub in their advantage, but eased up until, in injury-time, Dzeko and Gareth Barry reprised a training-ground routine for Dzeko to curl in from 20 yards.
It was Dzeko's first four-goal haul since a German Cup tie against a part-time regional league side, FC Oberneuland. This was against opposition of an entirely different calibre but City are beginning to look a team capable of brushing anyone aside. When the Champions League draw was made last week Franck Ribéry, Bayern Munich's French winger, and a player who would not be out of place in City's team, put his head in his hands and groaned "Non, Manchester City. Oh non". That reaction from opponents will become common.
Man of the match Dzeko. Match rating 8/10.
Possession: Tottenham 45% Man City 55%.
Attempts on target: Tottenham 10 Man City 9.
Referee P Dowd (Staffordshire).
Attendance 36,150.
JOE TALKSHITE
Joe Royle has claimed that Manchester City are playing in a Barcelona-esque way after their 5-1 win over Tottenham.
Speaking to the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, he said: "It might have been a little bit closer than the score suggested and it was a bit harsh on Tottenham but you to admire City.
"They’re playing in a very Barcelona-esque way, they’ve got lots of talent in the side now and they are going to go very, very close this year."To listen again to Joe Royle's interview with Breakfast click link below
http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/sports ... -esque-way
Four-midable: David Platt hails Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko
Four-goal Edin Dzeko made a big impression on David Platt as a defender – and he wasn’t bad as a striker, either!
The big Bosnian claimed the match ball with a classic hat-trick – right foot, left foot and header – before capping it with a simply brilliant left-footed curler as the Blues buried their Tottenham jinx with a rampaging 5-1 win.
Sergio Aguero added a superb goal to the centre forward’s haul but it was Dzeko whose name was being sung loud and long by City fans who have a new hero as he took his tally for the season to seven in four games.
But tactical coach Platt had just as much praise for Dzeko’s all-round display, including his defending, as for his breath-taking finishing.
“He was showing signs towards the end of last season that he was getting to grips with English football,” said Platt.
“Ever since he stepped back in the door this summer he has been tremendous, and if we create chances he has shown he will score them.
“He has two very clean feet and is great in the air, but take away the goals he has scored this season and his performances have been tremendous in terms of what he has done for the team and the fact that when the ball has gone up to him it has stuck with him.
“And he has great movement himself, which complements the other players.”
Dzeko has now scored in five consecutive matches for the Blues, echoing the kind of form which led to his £27m move from Wolfsburg last January, a move which some media pundits were hastily labeling as a “flop”.
But Dzeko says he will treasure the match ball from his first City hat-trick, which he has packed in his luggage to head home for the international break.
The 6ft 3in hit man was beaming from ear to ear afterwards and said: “It was amazing. We played a fantastic game and deserved to win.
“This was the best performance I have had since coming to City – and the best team performance as well.
“To score four goals against such a good team is an amazing feeling. I am happy, but mainly happy because my team won the game. It has been a good start with three wins.”
Dzeko was ridiculously written off in some quarters, but is now revelling in a sumptuous City attack, with debut boy Samir Nasri teeing up two of his goals and also freeing Aguero for his great strike.
But the Bosnian never had any doubts that he would come good: “I came in January and everything was difficult and different. It was a hard six months as I had no pre-season with the team.
“At the end we won the FA Cup after 35 years and that was great for the club. Now we want to keep going and get better with every game. Samir will be fantastic for us.
“He showed it in his first game and played very well for the team.”
AJ Alert
Skysportsunderstands.com that a host of clubs are ready to test Manchester City's resolve to keep Adam Johnson past this Wednesday's transfer deadline.
With Samir Nasri's move confirmed last week, Johnson could well be pushed down the pecking order - despite the fact Roberto Mancini is a confirmed admirer of the England winger.
Johnson himself has insisted that he is happy at the Etihad Stadium, but he knows his international chances could be hampered by a lack of first-team football.
Now a battle to try and land Johnson is set to ensue, with top clubs from England, Italy and Spain all ready to try and convince City to sell.
City will now ponder their position over the coming days, but Johnson's desire for regular football could see them allow him to leave just over 18 months after he joined from Middlesbrough.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
OTHER BOLLOX
Joey Barton watched from the stands, Aston Villa full-back Luke Young was only absent due to an internal administrative foul-up and former England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is one of possibly three more signings targeted by manager Neil Warnock in the next 48 hours. This is certainly a very different project to the one over which the veteran manager thought he would be presiding prior to the arrival of billionaire owner Tony Fernandes a few eventful days ago.
The Malaysian entrepreneur missed the 2-0 defeat at Wigan, a result cemented when Franco Di Santo doubled his career tally of two goals inside the opening 65 minutes, because of commitments with his Formula One team in Belgium but, in his absence, Barton appeared a fitting figurehead for the Rangers revolution, especially when his role in attracting Wright-Phillips was revealed.
"We have made an offer and it's been accepted," Warnock said. "There are four clubs who have agreed and it's really down to the player. Wigan are one of them.
"I think Joey [Barton] has spoken to him, I think they were room-mates at Man City so that might help. We have to see what happens. I think the big draw for Shaun is going back to London. His mum is down there and he's got a house down there and we have to try to convince him."
Barton's unofficial role as recruitment officer, however, appears likely to be less important than the impact he can have on a Rangers side which played attractive, ambitious football and hit the woodwork three times but lacked the grit to establish themselves once behind to the first of Di Santo's deflected goals.
There are certainly enough "characters" in the Rangers ranks to keep Barton company although one of them, the colourful goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, certainly sounded a welcoming note in the direction of the Merseysider.
"I just think he's a good player," Kenny said. "You have to have good players in the Premier League and he wouldn't be signing for us if he hadn't got some baggage, if he hadn't got any baggage then he would be in the England team and at a top-four club. But I don't worry about that at my stage of my career.
"I don't think he's got any problems on the field. I think we've all done things when we were younger that we regret."
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is closing in on West Ham midfielder Scott Parker after putting in an improved £6m offer. the Sun
Sunderland are eyeing a move for Tottenham striker Peter Crouch, as Stoke continue their pursuit of the England frontman.the Guardian
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is set to sign Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios from Tottenham for £6m.the Sun
Arsenal are interested in signing £10m-rated Chelsea's Brazilian defender Alex. the Sun
Newcastle have made a breakthrough in their chase for a new full-back after agreeing a deal for Inter Milan's Davide Santon. Daily Mail
QPR are leading the chase for Scott Dann after Liverpool and Arsenal pulled back from signing the Birmingham defender. Daily Mail
Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera is set for a move to Fulham as boss Martin Jol chases Birmingham forward Cameron Jerome and Crystal Palace youngster Wilfried Zaha. Daily Mail
Blackburn boss Steve Kean is facing a crisis after his bosses scrapped a £6m swoop for Vedad Ibisevic. Bosnian Ibisevic could not come to England for a medical as he failed to get a visa, and Rovers pulled back despite plans to fly to Germany to test his thigh strain at his current club. Daily Mirror
Bolton boss Owen Coyle wants Liverpool striker David N'Gog to sign in a £4m deal, but has become fed up with the delayed transfer. Coyle has been after the speedy attacker for weeks but wants his money men to clinch the move. Daily Mirror
Espanyol have offered Christian Poulsen an exit route from his nightmare at Liverpool. Daily Mail
Celtic have joined Blackburn in the race to sign AIK Stockholm's £2m-rated forward Mohamed Bangura.Daily Record
Harry Redknapp has revealed that Luka Modric asked him not to play him against Manchester City on Sunday. The Croatian playmaker did start, but was taken off in the second half. Various
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes he will 'blow people away' with his form and fitness if he returns to action with West Brom. Metro
Tim Howard hailed Everton's "crazy" win over Blackburn as the potential turning point that can spark their season. The Blues keeper saved a penalty and saw another against him missed before Mikel Arteta's spot-kick success gave Everton their first win of the season. Daily Mirror
Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester City 5
By Glenn Moore at White Hart Lane (Independent)
If this keeps up Manchester City fans, with their backs-to-the-game Poznan celebration, are going to miss a lot of football. What they do see, however, will be worth watching.
A forward line to put even Joe Mercer's stylish 1968 champions in the shade, and for that matter the Don Revie-inspired FA Cup winners of a decade earlier, tore Tottenham apart yesterday to take their tally of goals to 12 in three matches. Edin Dzeko, a hapless figure last season with two goals in 15 league appearances, led the way with four goals including a 21-minute hat-trick taking his total this season to six in four. Suddenly the £27m City paid Wolfsburg for the Bosnian in January looks very well spent.
So, too, the £23m laid out to Arsenal for Samir Nasri last week. The way he, Sergio Aguero and David Silva interchanged positions behind Dzeko, and linked with him and each other, it seemed as if the £112m quartet had been together for years, not three training sessions. Where this leaves Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez, a tempestuous pair who will not have enjoyed another 90 minutes on the bench, is perhaps Roberto Mancini's only worry.
What Luka Modric thought of it is anyone's guess. Reluctantly making his first start of the campaign the Croatian lasted just over an hour. A lack of match sharpness, and Spurs' need to try and keep the deficit down, were the reasons, rather than a paucity of commitment, but Modric must have looked at Nasri's revels and wondered if he, too, should insist on moving on.
Harry Redknapp, the Spurs manager, wants to keep him, and he is likely to use a result like this to tell chairman Daniel Levy he needs more players, not fewer. His most pressing requirement is for centre-halves. Younes Kaboul and Michael Dawson received little support from their porous midfield, but also struggled with their individual battles.
To look at the team-sheets was to imagine the respective dugouts were still occupied by Ossie Ardiles and Malcolm Allison. To counter Mancini's front four, Redknapp paired Modric with his fellow Croatian Niko Kranjcar in central midfield and flanked them with Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale. As a consequence there was, for a long time, little creative difference between the teams, but City's defending was to prove more solid and their finishing sharper.
Lennon, Kranjcar, Nasri and Rafael van der Vaart all had chances in the opening eight minutes but the most telling passage of play was the last 15 minutes of the first half. After 34 minutes Nasri linked with Gaël Clichy, exchanged passes with Aguero, and ran off Lennon before squaring for Dzeko to toe-poke in ahead of Kaboul. Spurs should have levelled five minutes later but Peter Crouch, making his first start of the season, headed wide from Bale's first-time volleyed cross. City broke almost immediately through Yaya Touré, Aguero and Nasri, Dzeko rising above Kaboul to twist and head in the cross from he latter.
Redknapp brought on Tom Huddlestone at the break, but the thoroughbred had bolted. Ten minutes after the break Touré ran around the back of Spurs' statuesque defence and Dzeko tapped in his cross. Soon after the hour came the fourth, Nasri releasing Aguero who wrong-footed Dawson before shooting past Brad Friedel. Tottenham gained a small measure of respect when Kaboul headed in Van der Vaart's corner but the afternoon soured again as the Dutchman limped off with a torn hamstring leaving Spurs down to 10 men for the last 17 minutes. They were fortunate that City chose not to rub in their advantage, but eased up until, in injury-time, Dzeko and Gareth Barry reprised a training-ground routine for Dzeko to curl in from 20 yards.
It was Dzeko's first four-goal haul since a German Cup tie against a part-time regional league side, FC Oberneuland. This was against opposition of an entirely different calibre but City are beginning to look a team capable of brushing anyone aside. When the Champions League draw was made last week Franck Ribéry, Bayern Munich's French winger, and a player who would not be out of place in City's team, put his head in his hands and groaned "Non, Manchester City. Oh non". That reaction from opponents will become common.
Man of the match Dzeko. Match rating 8/10.
Possession: Tottenham 45% Man City 55%.
Attempts on target: Tottenham 10 Man City 9.
Referee P Dowd (Staffordshire).
Attendance 36,150.
JOE TALKSHITE
Joe Royle has claimed that Manchester City are playing in a Barcelona-esque way after their 5-1 win over Tottenham.
Speaking to the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, he said: "It might have been a little bit closer than the score suggested and it was a bit harsh on Tottenham but you to admire City.
"They’re playing in a very Barcelona-esque way, they’ve got lots of talent in the side now and they are going to go very, very close this year."To listen again to Joe Royle's interview with Breakfast click link below
http://www.talksport.co.uk/radio/sports ... -esque-way
Four-midable: David Platt hails Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko
Four-goal Edin Dzeko made a big impression on David Platt as a defender – and he wasn’t bad as a striker, either!
The big Bosnian claimed the match ball with a classic hat-trick – right foot, left foot and header – before capping it with a simply brilliant left-footed curler as the Blues buried their Tottenham jinx with a rampaging 5-1 win.
Sergio Aguero added a superb goal to the centre forward’s haul but it was Dzeko whose name was being sung loud and long by City fans who have a new hero as he took his tally for the season to seven in four games.
But tactical coach Platt had just as much praise for Dzeko’s all-round display, including his defending, as for his breath-taking finishing.
“He was showing signs towards the end of last season that he was getting to grips with English football,” said Platt.
“Ever since he stepped back in the door this summer he has been tremendous, and if we create chances he has shown he will score them.
“He has two very clean feet and is great in the air, but take away the goals he has scored this season and his performances have been tremendous in terms of what he has done for the team and the fact that when the ball has gone up to him it has stuck with him.
“And he has great movement himself, which complements the other players.”
Dzeko has now scored in five consecutive matches for the Blues, echoing the kind of form which led to his £27m move from Wolfsburg last January, a move which some media pundits were hastily labeling as a “flop”.
But Dzeko says he will treasure the match ball from his first City hat-trick, which he has packed in his luggage to head home for the international break.
The 6ft 3in hit man was beaming from ear to ear afterwards and said: “It was amazing. We played a fantastic game and deserved to win.
“This was the best performance I have had since coming to City – and the best team performance as well.
“To score four goals against such a good team is an amazing feeling. I am happy, but mainly happy because my team won the game. It has been a good start with three wins.”
Dzeko was ridiculously written off in some quarters, but is now revelling in a sumptuous City attack, with debut boy Samir Nasri teeing up two of his goals and also freeing Aguero for his great strike.
But the Bosnian never had any doubts that he would come good: “I came in January and everything was difficult and different. It was a hard six months as I had no pre-season with the team.
“At the end we won the FA Cup after 35 years and that was great for the club. Now we want to keep going and get better with every game. Samir will be fantastic for us.
“He showed it in his first game and played very well for the team.”
AJ Alert
Skysportsunderstands.com that a host of clubs are ready to test Manchester City's resolve to keep Adam Johnson past this Wednesday's transfer deadline.
With Samir Nasri's move confirmed last week, Johnson could well be pushed down the pecking order - despite the fact Roberto Mancini is a confirmed admirer of the England winger.
Johnson himself has insisted that he is happy at the Etihad Stadium, but he knows his international chances could be hampered by a lack of first-team football.
Now a battle to try and land Johnson is set to ensue, with top clubs from England, Italy and Spain all ready to try and convince City to sell.
City will now ponder their position over the coming days, but Johnson's desire for regular football could see them allow him to leave just over 18 months after he joined from Middlesbrough.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Joey Barton watched from the stands, Aston Villa full-back Luke Young was only absent due to an internal administrative foul-up and former England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is one of possibly three more signings targeted by manager Neil Warnock in the next 48 hours. This is certainly a very different project to the one over which the veteran manager thought he would be presiding prior to the arrival of billionaire owner Tony Fernandes a few eventful days ago.
The Malaysian entrepreneur missed the 2-0 defeat at Wigan, a result cemented when Franco Di Santo doubled his career tally of two goals inside the opening 65 minutes, because of commitments with his Formula One team in Belgium but, in his absence, Barton appeared a fitting figurehead for the Rangers revolution, especially when his role in attracting Wright-Phillips was revealed.
"We have made an offer and it's been accepted," Warnock said. "There are four clubs who have agreed and it's really down to the player. Wigan are one of them.
"I think Joey [Barton] has spoken to him, I think they were room-mates at Man City so that might help. We have to see what happens. I think the big draw for Shaun is going back to London. His mum is down there and he's got a house down there and we have to try to convince him."
Barton's unofficial role as recruitment officer, however, appears likely to be less important than the impact he can have on a Rangers side which played attractive, ambitious football and hit the woodwork three times but lacked the grit to establish themselves once behind to the first of Di Santo's deflected goals.
There are certainly enough "characters" in the Rangers ranks to keep Barton company although one of them, the colourful goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, certainly sounded a welcoming note in the direction of the Merseysider.
"I just think he's a good player," Kenny said. "You have to have good players in the Premier League and he wouldn't be signing for us if he hadn't got some baggage, if he hadn't got any baggage then he would be in the England team and at a top-four club. But I don't worry about that at my stage of my career.
"I don't think he's got any problems on the field. I think we've all done things when we were younger that we regret."
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is closing in on West Ham midfielder Scott Parker after putting in an improved £6m offer. the Sun
Sunderland are eyeing a move for Tottenham striker Peter Crouch, as Stoke continue their pursuit of the England frontman.the Guardian
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is set to sign Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios from Tottenham for £6m.the Sun
Arsenal are interested in signing £10m-rated Chelsea's Brazilian defender Alex. the Sun
Newcastle have made a breakthrough in their chase for a new full-back after agreeing a deal for Inter Milan's Davide Santon. Daily Mail
QPR are leading the chase for Scott Dann after Liverpool and Arsenal pulled back from signing the Birmingham defender. Daily Mail
Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera is set for a move to Fulham as boss Martin Jol chases Birmingham forward Cameron Jerome and Crystal Palace youngster Wilfried Zaha. Daily Mail
Blackburn boss Steve Kean is facing a crisis after his bosses scrapped a £6m swoop for Vedad Ibisevic. Bosnian Ibisevic could not come to England for a medical as he failed to get a visa, and Rovers pulled back despite plans to fly to Germany to test his thigh strain at his current club. Daily Mirror
Bolton boss Owen Coyle wants Liverpool striker David N'Gog to sign in a £4m deal, but has become fed up with the delayed transfer. Coyle has been after the speedy attacker for weeks but wants his money men to clinch the move. Daily Mirror
Espanyol have offered Christian Poulsen an exit route from his nightmare at Liverpool. Daily Mail
Celtic have joined Blackburn in the race to sign AIK Stockholm's £2m-rated forward Mohamed Bangura.Daily Record
Harry Redknapp has revealed that Luka Modric asked him not to play him against Manchester City on Sunday. The Croatian playmaker did start, but was taken off in the second half. Various
Former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves believes he will 'blow people away' with his form and fitness if he returns to action with West Brom. Metro
Tim Howard hailed Everton's "crazy" win over Blackburn as the potential turning point that can spark their season. The Blues keeper saved a penalty and saw another against him missed before Mikel Arteta's spot-kick success gave Everton their first win of the season. Daily Mirror