
City need a Tevez all right... just not this one!
There is a consensus opinion that Manchester City could really do with a player like Carlos Tevez right now. And, of course, they could. A hard-running striker who scores goals to take some of the pressure off Sergio Aguero is precisely the type they need.
Unfortunately, a player they could also specifically do without is Carlos Tevez.
They require someone like him, not someone who is him. Self-centred, self-serving, disruptive, high maintenance. Why would any club with eyes on the prize want to invite that trouble through the door?
No sooner had manager Roberto Mancini even hinted at the prospect of reconciliation, Tevez was attempting to undermine him on South American television. Mancini treated him like a dog. The supporters burnt his shirt. The club did not want the truth to be known.
Rapid damage limitation was being attempted by his advisor, Kia Joorabchian, prior to Tevez's return to Manchester, but we have heard it all before.
'What Carlos was explaining in his interview was how he felt back then,' Joorabchian protested. No, he wasn't. What Carlos was doing was creating another unnecessary problem for City at a crucial time in the season.
We recognise the pattern. Carlos hands in a transfer request a month before the 2011 January transfer window; Carlos announces he wants out on the day the players return to pre-season training; Carlos plays up during City's biggest match in Europe in 41 years; Carlos decamps to Argentina midway through the club's first legitimate title challenge of the modern era. Now this.
Just at the point when there seemed to be a thaw in his relationship with Mancini, Carlos decides to heap more embarrassment on his manager and Manchester City. Why would anyone in their right mind draw him close again?
The reality is Tevez has pretty much nowhere else to go. He thought he would be at AC Milan now, but City would not waver in their insistence on a permanent transfer rather than a loan.
As for the desperate entreaty for his return, City have been writing to Tevez on a weekly basis since his November disappearance, setting out his training schedule and requesting his presence. It is his stance that has changed, not that of his club.
This may underestimate the desire of Manchester City followers to silence the red lot over the road, but there must be some - perhaps many - who would rather lose the title without Tevez than win it with him.
Not that he is likely to be the difference anyway. Tevez was good for City once, but their strongest and most consistent performances have come this season, without him. If he is missed it is as a relief striker, coming in to alleviate the demands on Aguero, who is, with David Silva, the driving force of this campaign.
Even Tevez recognises Aguero's arrival was a turning point. It empowered Mancini to tolerate selfish behaviour no longer. Tevez is a squad man now, at best. He would be useful to have around the place if focused, but his days of being at the heart of it for City are gone.
The next four games are relatively low key, home and away legs against Porto in the Europa League and two very winnable home matches against Blackburn and Bolton. It would be helpful to take the heat off Aguero until the middle of March, perhaps the visit to Swansea or the fixture against Chelsea scheduled for the 19th. That is where Tevez, fit and willing, could make a contribution: but not just on his terms.
'I would say sorry if I was wrong,' Tevez told Fox Sports Latin America. It is the 'if' that should worry Mancini. One tiny syllable, but with potential for a world of disruption.
Tevez apparently still needs convincing that disobeying the manager in public and deserting the club mid-season is wrong. Mancini has no time to persuade him of this. He has a title to win.
Ironically, it was more beneficial to City's cause when Tevez was playing golf in Buenos Aires. Nobody had to make provisions for his training sessions or deal with his petty dramas then. There was a daily conversation about his circumstances, but it involved executives, not Mancini or his coaching staff. Tevez was an admin problem, a legal problem, a contractual issue. With his return, that alters.
Despite his flash of temper in Munich that night, Mancini is not a vindictive man. He appreciates Tevez could make some contribution to the season, and all managers are pragmatists.
There is also a legal reason to have Tevez involved, with the threat of article 15 of Fifa's Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players: 'An established professional who has, in the course of the season, appeared in fewer than 10 per cent of the official matches in which his club have been involved may terminate his contract prematurely on the ground of sporting just cause.'
The fewest number of matches Manchester City could play this season is 52 (38 Premier League, six Champions League, five Carling Cup, two Europa League, one FA Cup), the most they could complete is 59, if they reach the final of the Europa League. Tevez has so far played five games.
Even though FIFA's rules are not black and white - 'due consideration shall be given to the player's circumstances in the appraisal of such cases; the existence of a sporting just cause shall be established on a case-by-case basis' - lawyers of a cautious nature might argue the club require one more appearance from Tevez for their case to be water tight.
Yet, is he worth it? City could equally claim that Mancini was attempting to use Tevez against Bayern Munich but the player made this impossible, his unauthorised return to Argentina then making him unavailable for games in which he would have featured. Both statements have firm legal strength
Tevez played some part in five matches between August 21 and September 21 this season. City could undoubtedly make a powerful case that his absence thereafter was largely self-inflicted. After this latest debacle, how much trust can there be between club and player anyway? How many times do City have to show willingness to forgive, only for Tevez to reject their advances with a sneer?
'The club and Carlos have been talking about things in a positive way, and he has said that he is ready to apologise if he has done something wrong,' Joorabchian insisted. And there is that 'if' again.
A bundle of pain lies within. City do not need it, just as they do not need the confrontation, or the distraction Tevez has become.
After this latest insult, the message from City should be clear. Carlos: if off.
Leave Tevez in Argentina: A United Fan’s Advice for Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini
It's a mistake, Roberto Mancini. You need to re-think this. You have Manchester City two points ahead of my beloved Manchester United. Why bring back the same poisonous player who ran to Argentina without permission in the first place? Roberto, are you that desperate?
On Sunday, Feb. 12, your Manchester City shut out Aston Villa 1-0. Following the team's well-earned victory, you opened the door for Carlos Tevez's return to the club when speaking to the press.
You said, "It's up to him, Carlos knows everything. We are here, we didn't change in this three months. Carlos is a City player."
Yes, Roberto. City is there. Manchester City is where you hoped they would be at this stage of the Premier League season. Why would you risk it by making peace with a malcontent who has failed to behave himself while playing for both Manchester clubs? Is it part of a plot to restore Tevez's image enough to find a buyer for him? If so, is it worth upsetting the chemistry in your club's locker room? Roberto, your team is good enough to win the Premier League without Tevez.
Please don't take my words as friendly advice. I'm a Manchester United fan through and through. If you bring Tevez back to the club, I'm going to laugh at you for throwing away City's championship season. Haven't you figured out that Tevez is a cancer? Didn't you see how he behaved while playing for the Red Devils? He's not going to wear a Manchester City kit because he wants to be there. He's there to earn his ticket out of the Premier League. That could mean he gives you three great months, and then you sell him to the highest bidder.
However, Tevez could do the opposite. He could force a rift in your locker room and tear this team apart just as City is primed to earn its first English title in years. Tevez still believes he did nothing wrong when he refused your orders to warm up in Munich. He's complaining to the media about how you chose to publicize your issues with him instead of keeping it private. Don't you see the hypocrisy in that, Roberto? If Tevez still doesn't see how he's wrong, then he's still the same player who went to Argentina without your permission.
If you bring Tevez back, don't say you weren't warned. We may be on separate sides, but if there is one player who I believe symbolizes everything that is wrong with this sport, I believe it's Tevez. True, he could give you the best games of his career and make me look like a fool, but is it really worth risking a title for that possibility? I don't think so.
Cut your losses and leave him in Argentina. Let the players who have gotten you this far try to finish the job. Take it from the Manchester United fan who has seen it all from Tevez: Keep him away from City. Tevez's attitude is a disease upon English football.
Summerbee: Tevez could win Man City the Premier League
Nicky Summerbee has slammed Carlos Tevez’s recent conduct - but believes the striker could help Manchester City win the title this season.
Tevez, who has not played for City since September, has spent the past couple of months AWOL in Argentina after a much-publicised bust-up with Roberto Mancini.
However, he is set to return to the club this week and, though he faces a huge battle to win over supporters, Summerbee reckons the fiery Argentine could play a pivotal role in the run-in.
“I don’t think the City fans are going to give him the warmest of receptions," Summerbee told Hawksbee and Jacobs. "But if you can get Tevez anywhere near the form he was in before all these problems, it is another quality striker who can get Man City to win the Premier League.
“You can't support Tevez at all. Everything he has done doesn't look good and not everyone is going to welcome him with open arms but when he gets on a football pitch he works his socks off and hopefully he can make things happen – if he gets on the pitch."
Carlos Tevez's comments about being "treated like a dog" by Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini could earn the striker another club fine. Times
Javi Garcia's agent claims that two Premier League clubs, along with other sides around Europe, are chasing the Benfica midfielder. Manchester City and Manchester United have both been linked with the 25-year-old. SkySports News
Serie A Duo Eye Manchester City Man Vladimir Weiss
http://www.insidefutbol.com/2012/02/14/ ... iss/58125/
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OTHER BOLLOX
8 Premier League clubs ‘to go bust like Rangers’
Meltdown fear as tax probes launched
TAX probes have been launched into eight top English football clubs, sparking fears they could be plunged into financial meltdown like Glasgow Rangers.
No big English club is safe Rangers on brink of administration Rangers must be quick for Vic The official investigations into current and ex-Premier League sides could potentially involve hundreds of millions of pounds in unpaid tax.
The revelation came as it was announced yesterday the debt-stricken Scottish giants had entered administration over an alleged £9million owed to HM Revenue & Customs. They are also facing another potential bill of more than £70million after an ongoing inquiry into the use of a tax avoidance device, Employment Benefit Trusts.
EBTs allowed foreign stars to have their wages paid into a trust — and then withdraw the money once they were no longer living in Britain. They would then avoid paying the top 50 per cent rate of UK tax.
But the taxman has declared that illegal — and claims Rangers' previous owners used the trusts to avoid paying millions of pounds in tax and National Insurance on the player payroll.
Football finance expert Dr Chris Brady said: "Rangers may be the tip of the iceberg. EBTs became popular with clubs as a means of reducing crippling wage bills. We believe at least eight current or former Premier League clubs are being investigated."
Manchester United are interested in Real Madrid's German international midfielder Sami Khedira, with the 24-year-old weighing up his options. Daily Mail
French side Montpellier slap a massive £16m price tag on 25-year-old striker Olivier Giroud, who is an Arsenal target. talkshite
Chelsea are still tracking Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba - but Sir Alex Ferguson remains hopeful that he can get the highly-rated 18-year-old to sign a new deal. Daily Mirror
Newcastle United are understood to have Bolton Wanderers' former Wolves midfielder Mark Davies, 23, on their summer transfer shortlist. Newcastle Chronicle
Everton will not ask to extend Landon Donovan's loan from LA Galaxy as they want to make sure that they can borrow the US international next season too. Daily Mirror
Lille's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard, 21, has encouraged Real Madrid and Barcelona to act quickly if they want to stop him making a shock switch to Tottenham. Metro
Liverpool have no intention of selling under-fire striker Luis Suarez despite reports claiming that the Reds want to offload the 25-year-old Uruguayan this summer. Liverpool Echo
Before he was stripped of the England captaincy for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, the Professional Footballers' Association urged Chelsea's John Terry to step down until after his trial. Evening Standard
Wolves are to interview former Charlton Athletic manager Alan Curbishley as they move quickly to replace Mick McCarthy. Guardian
West Ham striker Carlton Cole reveals to his Twitter followers his Valentine's Day gifts for his partner - an iron, cleaning products, Oxo cubes and a bottle of champagne. Daily Mail
Aston Villa make a new signing - Gee the harris hawk - to keep magpies away from Villa Park after they were spotted digging holes in the hallowed turf. Birmingham Mail
Paul Scholes has hinted to Manchester United boss sir Alex Ferguson that he is ready to play on for another season. the Sun
Chelsea's emergency plan to reappoint Guus Hiddink suffered a set-back after it emerged he has become a serious candidate for the job at Anzhi Makhachkala. Daily Mail
Sammy Lee has joined Bolton for a third time, taking up the role of head of academy coaching. the Independent
Aston Villa have made a new signing - Gee the harris hawk, whose role is to keep magpies away from Villa Park after they were spotted digging holes in the hallowed turf. Birmingham Mail