Friday's B*ll*x
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:15 amCity ready to hand Tevez a chance to impress after Aguero's long-haul duties
Carlos Tevez is in line for his first start of the Barclays Premier League season as Manchester City face Wigan at the Etihad Stadium.
Tevez - City’s captain and top scorer last season - has fallen down the pecking order at the club due to the £38m arrival of fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero in the summer and the form of Edin Dzeko.
But manager Roberto Mancini is considering shuffling his pack. Aguero has been to India and Bangladesh with Argentina over the last week while Tevez stayed in England.
City also have to consider a Champions League game at home to Napoli on Wednesday.
New signing Samir Nasri trained fully, despite a broken bone in his hand. Owen Hargreaves also joined in the session.
Mancini has a vast array of talent at his disposal and Wigan manager Roberto Martinez yesterday described City as ‘near enough unplayable’.
City have scored 12 goals in their first three Premier League games and their performances have led to Martinez insisting they have the look of champions.
‘Watching them against Spurs, Swansea and the first half against Manchester United in the Community Shield, it is clear they are a side who have the arrogance to win titles,’ he said. ‘They were a joy to watch in their last game against Spurs. They are now near enough unplayable when they go forward.’
Mancini admits Man City interest in Fiorentina winger
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has vowed not to give up in his efforts to sign Fiorentina midfielder Alessio Cerci after admitting he failed to land him in the summer.
Mancini has repeatedly praised the 24-year-old but has failed to spend any of his club's billions on actually bringing him to England.
The winger came to Mancini's attention when he was a Roma player on loan at Pisa and has been tracking his progress ever since.
Mancini said: "I have followed him since his days at Pisa in the 2007/08 season. He was just 20 but immediately did things that were extraordinary.
"He is one of the few players who are able to win a game on their own. If I could have I would have brought him to the Premier League a year ago.
"We have tried again this summer because I thought he might make an important contribution and mix well with the players here at City.
"But we could not complete the transaction and in all honesty I must say that I understand Fiorentina."talkSHIT
Manchester City priced out of Daniele de Rossi and Fernando Gago moves
ROBERTO MANCINI has revealed he was priced out of deadline-beating moves for midfielders Daniele de Rossi and Fernando Gago.
The Manchester City boss pulled off a surprise when he landed Owen Hargreaves on a free.
Mancini admits he wanted to get the chequebook out again at the end of last month but accepted it was time to call a halt to his big spending.
Argentine ace Gago eventually moved from Real Madrid to Roma while de Rossi stayed in the Italian capital.
Mancini said: "Gago is a player who we liked a lot. In the end we couldn't spend any more money due to the financial fair play rules.
"But De Rossi is one of the best midfielders in the world. I have always thought that.
"But he is Roman and a Roma fan so I don't believe he will ever leave them." Mancini hopes Hargreaves' experience will give City a big boost.
He has been brought in to replace retired Patrick Vieira, who made only rare appearances but was a major influence in the dressing room. Mancini's No 2 David Platt said: "We needed a central midfield player but unfortunately in terms of players going out and bringing in transfer fees, a lot have gone out on loan.
"For a few weeks we have understood, from a business perspective, that after signing Samir Nasri, there wasn't going to be a big name coming in. You have to get creative. The owners and the board have been terrific in saying 'We know you need a midfield player but we have to be creative about it.'
"I think gamble is too strong a word. When you put all the things into the mix it's a calculated risk, and one we feel is well worth taking."
[spoiler]
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OTHER BOLLOX
Tottenham are set to go head-to-head with QPR to snap up former England captain David Beckham, 36, when his contract at LA Galaxy expires in November. Daily Mirror
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wants to help Beckham achieve his dream of playing for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics by signing him in January. the Sun
Liverpool are locked in a battle with Italian side AC Milan to sign Ajax's teenage midfielder Christian Eriksen. talkSHIT
Liverpool are also reportedly keeping tabs on 18-year-old Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha this season, with a view to a possible transfer next summer. footybunker.com
Arsenal look set to lose out on signing Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, after his agent, Giovanni Branchini, confirmed that he would like to pledge his long-term future to the Italian club.talkSHIT
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway is eyeing a swoop for QPR striker Rob Hulse when he recovers from a knee injury. Hulse has been left out of the R's 25-man Premier League squad and is believed to be open to a switch to the Championship. Daily Mirror
Barcelona officials are reportedly in Brazil to discuss a January transfer move for Santos striker Neymar. talkSHIT
Stoke defender Danny Pugh, 28, has been offered the chance to rejoin his former club Leeds on loan after being left out of City's 25-man Premier League squad. Daily Mirror
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas claims he has called off the club's hunt for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric. Spurs fought to keep Modric and managed to stave off Chelsea in the summer transfer window. talkSPORT
Villas-Boas has also warned striker Fernando Torres that he faces being dropped if his goal drought starts to damage Chelsea's title aspirations. Daily Mirror
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, 23, insists he must improve quickly if he is to stand any chance of staying at Old Trafford. the Guardian
QPR defender Luke Young, 32, has claimed he quit playing for England because manager Fabio Capello treated him poorly. the Sun
Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has claimed he has turned down jobs all over the world as he awaits his return to football management. Daily Mirror
Former Manchester United and Aston Villa defender Paul McGrath has embarked on a pop career, releasing a music video to go with his cover version of the Byrds' track Goin' Back. Metro
Carlos Tevez is in line for his first start of the Barclays Premier League season as Manchester City face Wigan at the Etihad Stadium.
Tevez - City’s captain and top scorer last season - has fallen down the pecking order at the club due to the £38m arrival of fellow Argentine Sergio Aguero in the summer and the form of Edin Dzeko.
But manager Roberto Mancini is considering shuffling his pack. Aguero has been to India and Bangladesh with Argentina over the last week while Tevez stayed in England.
City also have to consider a Champions League game at home to Napoli on Wednesday.
New signing Samir Nasri trained fully, despite a broken bone in his hand. Owen Hargreaves also joined in the session.
Mancini has a vast array of talent at his disposal and Wigan manager Roberto Martinez yesterday described City as ‘near enough unplayable’.
City have scored 12 goals in their first three Premier League games and their performances have led to Martinez insisting they have the look of champions.
‘Watching them against Spurs, Swansea and the first half against Manchester United in the Community Shield, it is clear they are a side who have the arrogance to win titles,’ he said. ‘They were a joy to watch in their last game against Spurs. They are now near enough unplayable when they go forward.’
Mancini admits Man City interest in Fiorentina winger
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has vowed not to give up in his efforts to sign Fiorentina midfielder Alessio Cerci after admitting he failed to land him in the summer.
Mancini has repeatedly praised the 24-year-old but has failed to spend any of his club's billions on actually bringing him to England.
The winger came to Mancini's attention when he was a Roma player on loan at Pisa and has been tracking his progress ever since.
Mancini said: "I have followed him since his days at Pisa in the 2007/08 season. He was just 20 but immediately did things that were extraordinary.
"He is one of the few players who are able to win a game on their own. If I could have I would have brought him to the Premier League a year ago.
"We have tried again this summer because I thought he might make an important contribution and mix well with the players here at City.
"But we could not complete the transaction and in all honesty I must say that I understand Fiorentina."talkSHIT
Manchester City priced out of Daniele de Rossi and Fernando Gago moves
ROBERTO MANCINI has revealed he was priced out of deadline-beating moves for midfielders Daniele de Rossi and Fernando Gago.
The Manchester City boss pulled off a surprise when he landed Owen Hargreaves on a free.
Mancini admits he wanted to get the chequebook out again at the end of last month but accepted it was time to call a halt to his big spending.
Argentine ace Gago eventually moved from Real Madrid to Roma while de Rossi stayed in the Italian capital.
Mancini said: "Gago is a player who we liked a lot. In the end we couldn't spend any more money due to the financial fair play rules.
"But De Rossi is one of the best midfielders in the world. I have always thought that.
"But he is Roman and a Roma fan so I don't believe he will ever leave them." Mancini hopes Hargreaves' experience will give City a big boost.
He has been brought in to replace retired Patrick Vieira, who made only rare appearances but was a major influence in the dressing room. Mancini's No 2 David Platt said: "We needed a central midfield player but unfortunately in terms of players going out and bringing in transfer fees, a lot have gone out on loan.
"For a few weeks we have understood, from a business perspective, that after signing Samir Nasri, there wasn't going to be a big name coming in. You have to get creative. The owners and the board have been terrific in saying 'We know you need a midfield player but we have to be creative about it.'
"I think gamble is too strong a word. When you put all the things into the mix it's a calculated risk, and one we feel is well worth taking."
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Tottenham are set to go head-to-head with QPR to snap up former England captain David Beckham, 36, when his contract at LA Galaxy expires in November. Daily Mirror
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wants to help Beckham achieve his dream of playing for Team GB at the 2012 Olympics by signing him in January. the Sun
Liverpool are locked in a battle with Italian side AC Milan to sign Ajax's teenage midfielder Christian Eriksen. talkSHIT
Liverpool are also reportedly keeping tabs on 18-year-old Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha this season, with a view to a possible transfer next summer. footybunker.com
Arsenal look set to lose out on signing Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo, after his agent, Giovanni Branchini, confirmed that he would like to pledge his long-term future to the Italian club.talkSHIT
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway is eyeing a swoop for QPR striker Rob Hulse when he recovers from a knee injury. Hulse has been left out of the R's 25-man Premier League squad and is believed to be open to a switch to the Championship. Daily Mirror
Barcelona officials are reportedly in Brazil to discuss a January transfer move for Santos striker Neymar. talkSHIT
Stoke defender Danny Pugh, 28, has been offered the chance to rejoin his former club Leeds on loan after being left out of City's 25-man Premier League squad. Daily Mirror
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas claims he has called off the club's hunt for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric. Spurs fought to keep Modric and managed to stave off Chelsea in the summer transfer window. talkSPORT
Villas-Boas has also warned striker Fernando Torres that he faces being dropped if his goal drought starts to damage Chelsea's title aspirations. Daily Mirror
Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, 23, insists he must improve quickly if he is to stand any chance of staying at Old Trafford. the Guardian
QPR defender Luke Young, 32, has claimed he quit playing for England because manager Fabio Capello treated him poorly. the Sun
Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has claimed he has turned down jobs all over the world as he awaits his return to football management. Daily Mirror
Former Manchester United and Aston Villa defender Paul McGrath has embarked on a pop career, releasing a music video to go with his cover version of the Byrds' track Goin' Back. Metro
