When WTMS was just a lad, managers used to pin up provocative newspaper clippings in the dressing-room to inspire their players. Aurelio de Laurentiis would have had his own wall.
Napoli's high-profile president seems to have a bee in his bonnet about City, and his oddball comments during the Champions League campaign have raised more than a few eyebrows.
Now, in the wake of the Blues' defeat in his charming city, he's "launched a fresh attack" on the club, as red-top thinkers tribalfootball.com report, rubbing their hands at such an easy story.
They report his latest outburst on the back of the group situation: "To progress, City must beat Bayern Munich next week and hope that Napoli drop points to Villarreal.
"The Italian movie mogul has already branded City 'money wasters' this season and on Wednesday, De Laurentiis went a step further, saying: 'I can feel strange things going on surrounding the Villarreal game.
"'To think about it would be evil, but sometimes you can guess what is happening.'"
Blimey. I'm not paranoid, but the people plotting against me are. Nurse, the screens!
Back on planet earth, Sheikh Mansour has given a rare interview to Dubai-based Sport360 and "praised manager Roberto Mancini for following the 'right path', says Yahoo.com.
Noting City's slim hopes of Champions League success, they report that he was quoted: “We must not forget that our main objective is to win the English Premier League.”
What will raise eyebrows this morning are the figures surrounding payments to agents by Barclays Premier League clubs, with City topping this table as well.
The World Game reports: "Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool were the top spenders on agents' fees last year as the top-flight clubs shelled out a total of £71.8 million.
"City, unsurprisingly, topped the payments table with a total of £9.7 million paid to agents followed by Spurs on £7.6 million, then Liverpool on £7 million."
It is, as several commentators point out, no surprise given that the trophy-chasing trio all made big signings - the more top-price players you sign, the more you pay out in agents' fees, a fact of football life.
Wigan paid out £659,000. Their fans might be wishing it had been more.
Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Fringpong Clash in Tunnel After Arsenal-Manchester City Game
Former friends turned foes Emmanuel Fringpong and Samir Nasri were involved in a heated argument following Tuesdays game between Manchester City and Arsenal. The Guardian reports the two had to be separated in the tunnel as they verbally taunted each other.
Nasri and Fringpong battled on the field throughout the Carling Cup quarterfinal, which saw City prevail 1-0. Their rivalry continued after the final whistle as they exchanged words on the field as other players were shaking hands.
It escalated when the pair reached the tunnel and players and staff stepped in before the altercation turned physical.
"Words were exchanged -- that was that, there were no punches thrown but there was a lot of noise," an Arsenal spokesperson said. "Sami was speaking in French and Mani wasn't. It was handbags but they didn't even touch."
Nasri played for the Gunners from 2008-11 and developed into a world-class player under the watchful eye of manager Arsene Wenger. The French international broke the hearts of Wenger and supporters when he rejected Arsenal's efforts to extend his contract, forcing a £25 million move ($39.3 million) to the current English Premier League leaders.
Fringpong has broken into the Arsenal first team after starring in its acclaimed youth system since he was 14. He was part of vaunted class of 2009 that won the FA Youth Cup. Three months is not long enough for the 19-year-old destroyer to forget the circumstances surrounding Nasri's departure. At the time he was involved in this twitter exchange with teammate Jack Wilshire.
[youtube]M4dPWSbTS0M[/youtube]
Touré: Arsenal fans love Nasri
Kolo Touré has risked the wrath of the Arsenal fans by suggesting that their hostile reception for Samir Nasri in Tuesday's Carling cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester City was a reflection of their "love" for the player.
Touré, another former Arsenal player who left for City in 2009, was afforded a much better reception on his return to the Emirates. But Nasri, for whom it was the first game back at his former club since an acrimonious move in the summer, was barracked throughout the tie which was won by a late goal from Sergio Aguero.
Touré said: "Fans do that when they love you. They saw him playing for the other side and they weren't really happy but they love him and they know he was a great player for Arsenal. He is very intelligent and he knew that it would happen. That's why he never had any bad reaction, which I give him credit for."
Coming back to Arsenal was, Touré said, like "coming back to your family". He said that he and Patrick Vieira, now an ambassador for City, had spoken to Arsène Wenger before the game. Touré added: "Arsenal is the team where I started and coming back here is always great for me. I am still close to the boss and we talk quite regularly."
It was only the seventh game for Touré since his return from a ban for a failed drugs test. He said that if City – unbeaten in domestic competition this season – were to replicate the famous Arsenal "Invincibles" team of 2003-04 that went the whole league season without defeat they would have to "forget about" the record.
"We just want to play as well as we can every game," he said. "When you start thinking about it, you play without control. We just need to relax, go out, do our best and win. At Arsenal, we never thought about it."
Liverpool FC curse League Cup draw yet again as they face Manchester City in semi-finals
LIVERPOOL FC will have to get past Manchester City if they are going to secure their passage to Wembley in the Carling Cup.
LFC were left cursing their luck after last night's semi-final draw pitted them against the unbeaten Premier League leaders.
After watching Crystal Palace dump out Manchester United, Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool FC men would have been hoping to meet either Palace or fellow Championship club Cardiff City.
However, once again the Carling Cup, which has seen Liverpool have to overcome four successive away ties to reach the last four, did them no favours.
The Reds at least have the benefit of home advantage for the second leg to be played in the week commencing January 23. The first leg will take place at the Etihad Stadium a fortnight earlier.
The winners will face either Palace or Cardiff at Wembley on February 26.
It means Liverpool face two visits to City in the space of a week as the sides also meet in the Premier League on Tuesday, January 3.
Dalglish will take heart from the way his players performed against big-spending City in last Sunday's 1-1 league draw at Anfield.
The clubs haven't met in the League Cup since 1995 when the Reds won a third round tie at Anfield 4-0.
They also clashed in the semi-finals in 1981 when Dalglish's strike in the second leg at Anfield secured a 2-1 victory on aggregate. The Reds went on to beat West Ham in the final.
Meanwhile, USA striker Juan Agudelo is set to arrive in the UK today to spend time training with the Reds.
The Colombian-born frontman plays Major League Soccer for New York Red Bulls. Last month the 19-year-old had a stint with VfB Stuttgart.
Carling Cup semi-final draw: Manchester City v Liverpool; Crystal Palace v Cardiff City Liverpool Echo
Manchester City lie in wait as Paul Pogba stalls on new United deal
Manchester United fear they may lose their rising star Paul Pogba, a defensive midfielder recruited at great expense and effort from Le Havre two years ago, to their fierce rivals Manchester City as talks over a new deal for the 18-year-old hit an impasse.
Pogba's current deal expires in the summer, allowing him to speak to suitors as early as January, and a number of clubs are believed to have registered an interest in the player, currently on the fringes of Sir Alex Ferguson's first-team squad. He has so far failed to agree terms on an extended deal.
But while Arsenal, Internazionale and Milan are all believed to be monitoring his progress, it is the prospect of losing the jewel in their crown to City – where Pogba's hero, Patrick Vieira, ended his career and now retains an important role in player recruitment – that would jar the most.
Le Havre were furious at the manner in which Manchester United conducted themselves to sign the player in 2009, with the club's president, Jean-Pierre Louvel, accusing the Premier League side of "poaching" a player under an informal contract, something United stringently denied.
Joe Hart murders Wonderwall and mimics Liam Gallagher in training
Manchester City’s Joe Hart could have a lawsuit on his hands after he was caught murdering Oasis’ hit single ‘Wonderwall’, and stealing former frontman Liam Gallagher’s best moves.
The shot-stopper was filmed belting out the indie anthem during a City training session, and complemented (or attempted to mask!) his off-key tones by mimicking Gallagher’s famous swagger.
A generous City TV cameraman encouraged the chipper 24-year-old with calls of: ‘It’s good, it’s good!’
‘You should be on X-Factor.’
[youtube]nVyWkK6rVdE[/youtube]
Obviously the thought of a brash, tuneless youngster with a questionable haircut being allowed on Britain’s premier singing contest is clearly ridiculous, and Metro Sport are sure the good people at ITV would never entertain the idea for a second…
However, we’re sure Hart will get over his seemingly doomed pop career if he’s given the thumbs up for his Wonderwall rendition by ex-Oasis singer, and diehard City fan Gallagher.
Not sure he’ll appreciate the dance moves though…
BINGO BOLLOX WITH MARIA MAZZA
[spoiler]"I've always had a thing for Bingo and the thought of playing with his bollox is a real turn on for me. I would like all City fans to help the fella out by buying a Bingo Card, I want his pot bursting before I have a play with them bollox"
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Chelsea are thought to be interested in signing Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong as they continue to identify potential transfer targets. Footy Latest
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is gearing up for a January double swoop for Blackburn midfielder Junior Hoilett and Chelsea's out-of-favour striker Nicolas Anelka. Metro
Senegal striker Moussa Sow has issued a come-and-get-me plea to Arsenal. The 25-year-old has scored 29 goals in 48 league games for Lille since joining from Rennes 18 months ago. the Sun
Lucho Gonzalez's agent has put Premier League clubs on red alert after expressing the Argentine midfielder's desire to leave Marseille. the Sun
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is lining up a £30m January move for Borussia Dortmund's 19-year-old Germany international Mario Gotze. Daily Mirror
Fulham face competition from German side Wolfsburg as they try to sign France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, 25, who has been frozen out by Ligue 1 side Marseille. Daily Mirror
Italian side Napoli have emerged as front runners in the race for Adel Taarabt, after Queens Park Rangers apparently instructed third-party agents to find the forward a new club. Metro
Tottenham hope to push through a deal for Ajax's Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen, 24, in January. Inside Futbol
But Spurs face competition from Barcelona for Sporting Lisbon star Joao Pereira, 27. talkSHIT
Veteran Italian striker Filippo Inzaghi, 38, is set for a shock departure from AC Milan in January and could be on his way to Blackburn. talkSHIT
FC Twente striker Luuk de Jong, 21, is a January transfer target for Everton according to reports in the Netherlands. Footy Latest
Blackburn and QPR are keen on bringing PAOK Salonika midfielder Georgios Fotakis, 30, to the Premier League in January. Daily Mail
Sources on Wearside suggest Mark Hughes is travelling up to the North East for an interview today following the departure of Steve Bruce. Sunderland Echo
But Blackpool and former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has backed Martin O'Neill to succeed Bruce, claiming he would be a great acquisition for the club. talkSPORT
Sweden want to be grouped with England in Friday's draw for the Euro 2012 finals as they do not see them as genuine contenders. Daily Mirror
Carlo Ancelotti, sacked by Chelsea at the end of last season, says the club's "old" players are to blame for their run of bad results, not his successor Andre Villas-Boas. Daily Mirror
Spanish full-back Jose Enrique says his Liverpool team-mates are encouraging him to play for England. Daily Mail
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has claimed that Andre Villas-Boas's wounded Chelsea side will be scared of making the long trip north to face the Magpies on Saturday. "They will be fearing coming to us in front of 52,000 Geordies," he said. Metro
Wales are unlikely to search for a successor to Gary Speed as the national team manager until the new year, as they are intent on respecting his bereaved family. the Guardian
Liverpool fear Brazilian midfielder Lucas will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury. Daily Telegraph
LA Galaxy soccer coach Bruce Arena has revealed that President Barack Obama called him in the early hours of the morning on their tour of Indonesia to congratulate him on winning the MLS Cup. Obama spent several years growing up in Indonesian capital Jakarta and has cited it as giving him an appreciation of the beautiful game. USA Today
BINGO'S XMAS BOLLOX
We know you have be great so far, but when you have the odd spare £3, buy a card and have a chance of winning some great prizes.The Bingo B*ll*x game cards will now be on sale until December 9th, 8pm.
To purchase at the very reasonable price of £3 a card, upon making a donation, please state on remittance BXB*. The * indicates the amount of cards you want to buy, for example you may want to donate £10 to Bingo's wedding fund and you'd then be entitled to get 3 bingo cards so you would enter thus ... BXB3
The Bingo Caller will visit http://www.Mancityfans.net on Monday 12th until Wednesday 14th December (so hopefully prizes will arrive by xmas)
