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Sunday's B*ll*x

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:40 am
by Chinners
Andrea Ranocchia 'eyed by Manchester City for summer transfer'
Inter Milan's Andrea Ranocchia is the man Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini wants to strengthen his defence, according to reports in Italy.
Mancini is said to be watching the 24-year-old's situation closely, with a view to making a bid during the summer transfer window.
Andrea Ranocchia is a target for Manchester City (Getty Images) City are short of options in the centre of defence, with only Kolo Toure and Stefan Savic available as cover for Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott.
They will need to offer around £12million if they are serious about landing the Italy international, but are likely to face strong competition for his signature.
Juventus and Napoli are rumoured to be lining up offers for Ranocchia, while big-spending Paris Saint-Germain are also interested.
Inter would be reluctant to sell, even though Ranocchia has struggled to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up since his arrival from Genoa in January 2011.
He is regarded as a potential star of the future at Inter, who need to find long-term replacements for veterans Lucio and Walter Samuel

Big spenders Manchester City and Chelsea have been warned by Europe's football bosses that if they splash out on players this summer they may be forced to cut back their Champions League squads - and even be barred from taking part in European competition. Mail on Sunday

POOR MIND GAMES ON DERBY EVE BOLLOX
Ferguson fears title loss against City
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted if his side lose to Manchester City, they will not be crowned champions.
The two Manchester clubs meet at the Etihad Stadium on Monday evening, with United currently three points clear.
However, if Roberto Mancini's men beat their bitter rivals they will reclaim top spot on goal difference.
"If City win they would probably go on to win it from there," Ferguson said.
"Even though they've got to go to Newcastle I think they would have a great chance. If we won we'd be strong favourites. Even with a draw we'd be favourites. No doubt about that.
"Two games to go, one at home and one away, we'd have to be happy with that. One thing, though, we won't be going to City just looking to make sure we don't lose."
United let slip a 4-2 lead at Old Trafford against Everton last week, which allowed City to narrow the gap after an easy win over Wolves.
"Given the chances we created against Everton and the quality of our performance, we should have won comfortably," he said.
"Maybe I should have brought on a couple of defenders just to see it off. I mean, there was only seven minutes to go and we were winning 4-2. Bloody hell, there you go.
"I always thought City would be our big challengers this year, particularly after the early-season program they had.
"I mean, they didn't really play anyone at the start of the season, and they got off to a flyer because of it.
"We had Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham in the first four or five games. We had a really tough start and because City had some good results that projected them forward.
"I always expected them to be there at the end after that."
The Red Devils have the upper hand in meetings this season with two wins to their name, but City did humiliate them by winning 6-1 at Old Trafford.
"It doesn't matter what has happened for the rest of the season," he said.
"They're undefeated at home and we have the best away record. It doesn't matter. This is a one-off fame.
"The City crowd will be up for it. We expect them to be. But that's not unusual for us. We've been to Anfield, the Emirates, places like that. The atmosphere will be just the same.
"I have to trust my players. We have enough experience, enough pace and enough good footballers with determination.
"We'll be all right in that respect. A game of this nature can be decided by anything - and you only hope it isn't decided by a bad decision.
"There is a focus on this game so it's important that it is good. We're representing the city all over the world.
"There's 203 countries going to watch it. Even Michel Platini is coming to watch. That creates a certain occasion and we want to represent ourselves in the right way.
"It's difficult to know how City will approach it. My feeling is that he will be cautious. It doesn't matter, all I know is that we want to do well."

OTHER BOLLOX
Chelsea want Everton's midfield duo Marouane Fellaini and Ross Barkley. The Blues are prepared to pay £22m for 24-year-old Fellaini and £10m for Barkley, 18, who they would loan straight back to Everton. Daily Star Sunday

Brazilian side Sao Paulo have set a £40m asking price for Manchester United and Chelsea transfer target Lucas Moura. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder, who is also wanted by Real Madrid, has a £65m buyout clause in his contract. Metro

Manchester United are planning a £10m deal to sign Swansea's on-loan midfield star Gylfi Sigurdsson, 22, of Hoffenheim. Sunday Mirror

Chelsea's hopes of signing Gonzalo Higuain look to have improved after the 24-year-old's agent asked for discussions with Real Madrid about the striker's future. Metro

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, 23, is being tracked by Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea. Lewandowski has scored 20 goals and helped Borussia Dortmund to retain their Bundesliga title. Sunday Mirror

QPR will make an attempt to sign Blackburn winger Junior Hoilett, 21, if they avoid relegation from the Premier League. Hoilett has refused to sign a new contract at Rovers, who will demand £5m compensation. Sunday Mirror

Paris Saint-Germain have made Liverpool's 25-year-old forward Luis Suarez - plus Real Madrid pair Kaka, 30, and Gonzalo Higuain, 24 - their primary summer transfer targets. Footy Latest

Aston Villa are setting up the £7m recruitment of giant Brazilian centre-back Douglas from Dutch side FC Twente. Newcastle have had a £5m bid for the 24-year-old, who has an EU passport, turned down. Sunday Mirror

Celtic manager Neil Lennon is plotting a summer move for Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez. Sunday Mail

The FA's head of elite development, Gareth Southgate, says Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck could be the key man for England at Euro 2012 Daily Star Sunday

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez tops Tottenham's list of replacements if Harry Redknapp is appointed England manager at the end of the season. Sun on Sunday

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, who has one year left on his current deal, wants to stay at the club and will open talks at the end of the season. Sunday Mirror

Everton manager David Moyes believes his side have been the top team in the Premier League since January, with the Toffees losing only four of their last 18 league matches. talkSPORT

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he has Incredible Hulk-like qualities that mean he plays better when he is in a bad mood. Metro

After scoring a late equaliser for Roma against Napoli, Fabio Simplicio celebrated by running to his son and wife in the crowd before planting kisses on both of them. On his return the Brazilian midfielder was duly booked. 101greatgoals.com

Re: Sunday's B*ll*x

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:06 am
by Swales4ever
save the best WAG for tomoz...
just saying.
cheers.

Re: Sunday's B*ll*x

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:19 am
by Ted Hughes
Cheers Chinners.

Andrea Ranocchia, I thought that was somebody Balotelli had been shagging ?

I get confused.

Re: Sunday's B*ll*x

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 12:06 pm
by Blue Since 76
I was on holiday at the end of August and missed the game away at Spurs. Thankfully I had MOTD recorded so got to watch it when I got home.

Still, at least we didn't have any hard games at the start of the season. The rags had to play Spurs at home, you know, so definitely had a tougher start.

Re: Sunday's B*ll*x

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:50 pm
by Swales4ever
Ted Hughes wrote:Cheers Chinners.

Andrea Ranocchia, I thought that was somebody Balotelli had been shagging ?

I get confused.


nothing more than a decent spare.
should be an interesting option for those who think City need to have 3 top CBs to rotate. well actually that would be 2 1/2.
It stand by my opinion that is impossible to keep 3 top CBs happy because that role is pretty same as keepers: mostly about consistency. and thus I rather stick with VK & JL to be replaced upon contingencies by Yaya and/or possibly Javi Martinez in big games, and a promising youngster to be developed inside rather than onloan, for lesser games.

and do not tell me that You have seen JM slow and shit in a couple of games: it means nothing, even VK had a coupled of bad runs. JM is a proven material, imo.

Re: Sunday's B*ll*x

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 5:02 pm
by craigmcfc
Mancio4ever wrote:save the best WAG for tomoz...
just saying.
cheers.


I'm up and off to work tomorrow, then straight to the game, otherwise I would have posted a pre-game Kate Upton pic in tomorrows' bollox

Re: Sunday's B*ll*x

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 5:10 pm
by Swales4ever
craigmcfc wrote:
Mancio4ever wrote:save the best WAG for tomoz...
just saying.
cheers.


I'm up and off to work tomorrow, then straight to the game, otherwise I would have posted a pre-game Kate Upton pic in tomorrows' bollox


Lucky man... Greg Lake once used to sing... :-)

I'll try and sort it out for You, Mate.

Re: Sunday's B*ll*x

PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 5:12 pm
by craigmcfc
I wouldn't worry. This lot will be too busy biting finger nails or half cocked on pre-match booze to care and I've always the pics on my cave wall to fall back on.

If we win however, I promise a Kate-fest!