Sunday's B*l**x
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 10:43 amTHE BOLLOX
End of the road? City tell Balotelli he is not a role model they want
City chief Brian Marwood wants bad boy striker to act more like Kompany, Hart and Barry
Mario Balotelli has been told by Manchester City that he is not the kind of role model they want at the club.
In a brutally honest assessment of the Italy international, City’s influential Football Administrator Brian Marwood admitted Balotelli has an image problem that is now causing concern within the hierarchy at the Etihad Stadium.
Sunday Mirror Sport exclusively revealed last week that City are ready to dump the £24million striker after a catalogue of controversial incidents since his arrival from Inter Milan two years ago.
And, with City about to begin work on a new £200m training centre that will include a youth academy designed to produce stars of the future, Marwood has stressed how important it is for the club’s senior players to set the right example.
Asked what kind of role model Balotelli represents, Marwood admitted: “I think that it’s important to make a good example.
“I think – and we all know who we are talking about – that you will get people within the system who do not show the right values and the right behaviour.
“In the main, we have a fantastic group of players here.
“I look at [Pablo] Zabaleta, I look at [Vincent] Kompany, I look at Joe Hart, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott.
“I think we have a lot of players who can behave in the right way.
“You just have to make sure that THEY are the role models.”
Work has already begun on a state-of-the-art campus adjacent to the Etihad Stadium that will be the envy of the game.
Patrick Vieira, City’s football development executive, believes it can become the club equivalent of Clairefontaine, the training base from which France propelled themselves to the 1998 World Cup.
City officials travelled the world looking at modern training camps in football, basketball and American Football to ensure they built a cutting-edge facility that Marwood believes will make the richest club in the world self-sufficient when it comes to producing top players.
UEFA’s new Financial Fair Play regulations have been designed to prevent mega-rich owners like Sheikh Mansour from spending their own wealth on huge transfer fees.
City will strive to ensure that local kids are at the forefront of their youth revolution.
But Marwood admitted that the global nature of the Premier League means the club must also continue to scour the world for the best young talent.
Marwood said: “FFP wasn’t on the agenda when Sheikh Mansour bought Manchester City, but his plan was always to make this a sustainable club. We are very proud of the history of our Academy, but it was clear that we would have to implement a number of things if we wanted to take it to the level where we could produce a Yaya Toure, David Silva or Patrick Vieira.
“That’s the benchmark for this club now and the harsh reality is that it will happen through the development of local boys or bringing in players from abroad.
“We have players in our Elite Development Squad who come from England as well as Spain, Norway and France.
“That’s something every club has to deal with now because it is such a global game.”Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini's latest search for a star is hinging on him guiding Manchester City into the last 16 of the Champions League.
CITY to produce for England? MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=44229
Toure: Man City trying to get rid of me
Kolo Toure has vowed to stay at Manchester City and fight for his place but told the BBC that the club are trying to force him out.
Toure, 31, has made one league start this season and is now the fifth-choice central defender at the Etihad Stadium.
The former Arsenal player was appointed City captain by former boss Mark Hughes after he was signed for £14 million in 2009. But since Toure served a six-month suspension after taking a slimming pill that contained a banned substance, Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott have been the regular central-defensive partnership.
Summer signing Matija Nastasic has also moved ahead of the Ivorian in the queue for places while Micah Richards was chosen instead of him for the 3-0 win against Sunderland.
Toure was not named in City's squad for the Champions League but said he remains keen to continue his career at the club, where he plays alongside younger brother Yaya.
"I want to stay, I want to fight for my place," he told BBC Sport. "It's difficult, I was a key player. I've done everything but that will not change the manager's decision.
"I like City and this season I started every game pre-season. But when the season started I've been kicked out again from the team. I fight. My team-mates know, my brother knows. I do my best but the club are showing me the way out at the moment.
"I'm not angry with the manager. If someone doesn't want me then there will be another club that does. I still have this hunger. I take [the veterans] Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes as an example. What they are doing for Manchester United is incredible. I want to be like them."
Javi Garcia talks up Man City move for Falcao
Falcao is seen as City's No1 January transfer target.
As Europe’s top clubs get set for a battle to land Radamel Falcao, Javi Garcia says he would love to see him at Manchester City.
The English Premier League champions are just one of the sides who have been linked with the £46-million-rated (Dh271m) Colombian striker.
Boss Roberto Mancini watched Falcao in Atletico Madrid’s last La Liga game, a 2-1 win over Malaga where he scored one and played a part in an own-goal winner.
And, having witnessed his ability at close quarters when Falcao played for Porto and Garcia was at Portuguese rivals Benfica, the City midfielder has no doubt the frontman would flourish in England.
“He’s a great player and he can play in any league that he wants at the moment,” said Garcia, who was in Abu Dhabi yesterday at the Manchester City School of Football at Zayed Sports City, and a special signing for hundreds of fans at the CityStore at Marina Mall.
“Falcao has been fantastic. He is scoring a lot of goals in La Liga now and I already know him from Portugal where he did the same.
“I would rather play with him than against him. I faced him for Benfica against Porto when we were both playing in Portugal so I know what he can do. I’d be happy to have him in my team.”
Mancini has made no secret of his desire to bring in more top-quality players to help City build on their achievements in the past two seasons, where they have won the FA Cup and then the Premier League.
And despite possessing a frontline of Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko at the Etihad Stadium, the prolific form of Falcao has attracted the attention of the Italian as well as Real Madrid and notably Chelsea.
Their owner Roman Abramovich reportedly wants the striker – who scored both goals in Colombia’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay on Sunday – as his club’s next big-money buy in January.
Atletico have admitted the sale of their prize asset would help ease their debt problems. Neighbours Real are also keen, but coach Jose Mourinho knows that an approach would be controversial.
He said: “Falcao is a fundamental player for our rivals, just like Kun Aguero was. There is a pact of non-aggression between Real Madrid and Atletico, so I think Falcao is forbidden fruit.
“He is a fantastic player and I have a feeling he is a person of the highest level, and I am very happy he is having success at Atletico.”
World Cup: Joe Hart and Robert Lewandowski relishing fresh duel
Joe Hart is determined to keep Robert Lewandowski at bay for a second time this month when England travel to Warsaw on Tuesday, but the Poland striker says he will not be so lucky again.
Hart produced a superb performance for Manchester City in their UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund earlier in October, when Lewandowski was frustrated in a 1-1 draw.
Hart is now looking to shut out Lewandowski once again in England's crucial World Cup qualifier against Poland.
"I'm ready for Lewandowski and, hopefully, I can keep him out again this time," said the goalkeeper. "But it would be nice if it isn't quite as open as the last time I played against him."
Lewandowski is also looking forward to renewing his rivalry with Hart, and has warned that he fully intends to take his chances this time.
"Relax, I don't have a Joe Hart complex. It was just one situation and I'm sure it will be better with a second attempt."
Robert Lewandowski
"Relax, I don't have a Joe Hart complex. It was just one situation and I'm sure it will be better with a second attempt," said the Pole.
"Who says he won't pick the ball from his net when we meet now. It will be a completely different match. And this time luck doesn't have to be on his side.
"Hart was in great shape in Manchester. But this is not a club game, it's an international. Anything can happen."
No fear
Hart accepts that it will be a difficult match for England, especially with the Poland fans generating a hostile atmosphere for the visiting team.
"It is going to be a tough game,'' said Hart. "That is the beauty of international football, when you are playing away you are playing against the nation.
"I am looking forward to playing in a good arena in front of a lot of people. We will have that pocket of fans who we always take and are awesome. We will look to them and be inspired by them.
"It will be a new experience for some of the youngsters but players adapt and that is the beauty of young players now. They don't play with any fear."
So inevitably caughtoffside lying now report ...
Real Madrid Set Sights On Man City Keeper Joe Hart
Spanish giants Real Madrid have set their sights on Man City keeper Joe Hart.
Jose Mourinho may well be looking to bring in a player who can not only act as a potential successor to captain Iker Casillas but also provide some stiff competition for the Spanish international’s place between the sticks at the Bernabeu club.
25 year old keeper Joe Hart is arguably the most consistent performer in the Premier League and is unrivaled in terms of his spot in the England national team set-up so one can see why Mourinho would target the Man City goalie but it seems highly unlikely that such a deal would take place any time soon.
Firstly though Iker Casillas has been around for seemingly an eternity, he is still just 31, which in goalkeeper years is still relatively young. Also whilst the Spaniard hasn’t been in the best of form in recent weeks he is still certainly one of the best custodians in the world.
Also Joe Hart appears to be incredibly happy with life at Man City and it would be huge surprise if he were to look to leave the Premier League title holders, especially since it was they who showed great faith in his ability when they forked out £600k to Shrewsbury Town for his services, a move that has been a huge success.
Barton: 'What's Wrong With The Game? Tevez!'
Former Toon midfielder Joey Barton has labelled Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez as a mercenary.
Barton is on loan at French side Marseille.
Barton is currently serving a 12-match ban for his actions at the Etihad when he kicked out at the Argentine.
Joey Barton: “Tevez? He’s a mercenary.
“You can’t really back him.
"Sure, I’m a hoodlum, I’ve got into scrapes - but Tevez is someone who in the last six months has gone on strike, gone off to Argentina to play golf, tried to get himself sacked.
“If that’s not the epitome of what’s wrong with modern players, I don’t know what is.
"And don’t forget, Tevez punched me first.”
MANCHESTER TITLE RACE
0 PTS +1 GD
Rosler rages after Brentford pegged back by Scunthorpe
The Bees had led through Harry Forrester but Leon Clarke pegged the Iron back with 13 minutes left.
“We have seen a lot of good things today but we have seen the problems we have when we do not kill game off,” said Uwe, speaking after the match.
“We also need to look at how we manage games.
“When I look at the number of times they stopped our attacks with a tactical foul, and got away with it as there were not many yellow cards, compared to us.
“We are very naïve.
“We allow teams to run 30 metres with the ball and cross it in.
“They were in our box six times in 90 minutes.
“We do not kill games off, that, and our naivety, is our problem.
“It’s nothing new.
“At no stage of the game were Scunthorpe in it.
“They kicked it massively long and got one or two more seconds balls in the second half than the first half, but they did not have many chances.”
Liverpool and Newcastle will both compete for the signature of Celtic's in-form striker Gary Hooper, 24. Metro
Aston Villa who bought Darren Bent in a £24m deal from Sunderland in January 2011 are ready to sell the striker, 28, in the January transfer window. People
Portsmouth boss Michael Appleton is an early favourite for the vacant managerial post at Burnley, following Eddie Howe's return to Bournemouth. Lancashire Telegraph
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be given £35m to spend in the January transfer window - but the Frenchman is still not sure whether to spend it. DC
England winger Theo Walcott says his collision with San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini in Friday's World Cup qualifier felt like "[being] hit by a bus". The Sun
Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour believes Gunners striker Olivier Giroud, 26, is the "main man" at the club. talkSPORT
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says he often calls up former Villa manager Martin O'Neill for advice - and he has every intention of carrying on doing so. Birmingham Mail
Defender John Terry, 31, has damaged Chelsea's reputation, says former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman. Sunday Mirror
Former Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate says he rejected the chance to become the FA's technical director because he didn't have enough understanding of coaching. Sunday Mirror
The FA's multi-million pound centre of excellence has attracted criticism for its admission charges. A basic visit to St George's Park in Burton costs £11 but the top tour, which features two hours of coaching and the use of the England dressing room, costs £2,275 for a group of 12. Sun
A new report on Brazilian players reveals there are 606 playing in 40 top-flight European leagues, and 1,169 playing outside their own country. The Observer
Meanwhile, a Sun report claims 126 ex-footballers are in prison and that drug cartels in South America and Europe recruit vulnerable former players in the UK. Sun
Former Juventus and Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero was overshadowed by ex-England forward Emile Heskey as Newcastle Jets beat Sydney FC 3-2 in Australia. Metro
MORE BELATED BOLLOX SOON ...
End of the road? City tell Balotelli he is not a role model they want
City chief Brian Marwood wants bad boy striker to act more like Kompany, Hart and Barry
Mario Balotelli has been told by Manchester City that he is not the kind of role model they want at the club.
In a brutally honest assessment of the Italy international, City’s influential Football Administrator Brian Marwood admitted Balotelli has an image problem that is now causing concern within the hierarchy at the Etihad Stadium.
Sunday Mirror Sport exclusively revealed last week that City are ready to dump the £24million striker after a catalogue of controversial incidents since his arrival from Inter Milan two years ago.
And, with City about to begin work on a new £200m training centre that will include a youth academy designed to produce stars of the future, Marwood has stressed how important it is for the club’s senior players to set the right example.
Asked what kind of role model Balotelli represents, Marwood admitted: “I think that it’s important to make a good example.
“I think – and we all know who we are talking about – that you will get people within the system who do not show the right values and the right behaviour.
“In the main, we have a fantastic group of players here.
“I look at [Pablo] Zabaleta, I look at [Vincent] Kompany, I look at Joe Hart, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott.
“I think we have a lot of players who can behave in the right way.
“You just have to make sure that THEY are the role models.”
Work has already begun on a state-of-the-art campus adjacent to the Etihad Stadium that will be the envy of the game.
Patrick Vieira, City’s football development executive, believes it can become the club equivalent of Clairefontaine, the training base from which France propelled themselves to the 1998 World Cup.
City officials travelled the world looking at modern training camps in football, basketball and American Football to ensure they built a cutting-edge facility that Marwood believes will make the richest club in the world self-sufficient when it comes to producing top players.
UEFA’s new Financial Fair Play regulations have been designed to prevent mega-rich owners like Sheikh Mansour from spending their own wealth on huge transfer fees.
City will strive to ensure that local kids are at the forefront of their youth revolution.
But Marwood admitted that the global nature of the Premier League means the club must also continue to scour the world for the best young talent.
Marwood said: “FFP wasn’t on the agenda when Sheikh Mansour bought Manchester City, but his plan was always to make this a sustainable club. We are very proud of the history of our Academy, but it was clear that we would have to implement a number of things if we wanted to take it to the level where we could produce a Yaya Toure, David Silva or Patrick Vieira.
“That’s the benchmark for this club now and the harsh reality is that it will happen through the development of local boys or bringing in players from abroad.
“We have players in our Elite Development Squad who come from England as well as Spain, Norway and France.
“That’s something every club has to deal with now because it is such a global game.”Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini's latest search for a star is hinging on him guiding Manchester City into the last 16 of the Champions League.
CITY to produce for England? MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=44229
Toure: Man City trying to get rid of me
Kolo Toure has vowed to stay at Manchester City and fight for his place but told the BBC that the club are trying to force him out.
Toure, 31, has made one league start this season and is now the fifth-choice central defender at the Etihad Stadium.
The former Arsenal player was appointed City captain by former boss Mark Hughes after he was signed for £14 million in 2009. But since Toure served a six-month suspension after taking a slimming pill that contained a banned substance, Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott have been the regular central-defensive partnership.
Summer signing Matija Nastasic has also moved ahead of the Ivorian in the queue for places while Micah Richards was chosen instead of him for the 3-0 win against Sunderland.
Toure was not named in City's squad for the Champions League but said he remains keen to continue his career at the club, where he plays alongside younger brother Yaya.
"I want to stay, I want to fight for my place," he told BBC Sport. "It's difficult, I was a key player. I've done everything but that will not change the manager's decision.
"I like City and this season I started every game pre-season. But when the season started I've been kicked out again from the team. I fight. My team-mates know, my brother knows. I do my best but the club are showing me the way out at the moment.
"I'm not angry with the manager. If someone doesn't want me then there will be another club that does. I still have this hunger. I take [the veterans] Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes as an example. What they are doing for Manchester United is incredible. I want to be like them."
Javi Garcia talks up Man City move for Falcao
Falcao is seen as City's No1 January transfer target.
As Europe’s top clubs get set for a battle to land Radamel Falcao, Javi Garcia says he would love to see him at Manchester City.
The English Premier League champions are just one of the sides who have been linked with the £46-million-rated (Dh271m) Colombian striker.
Boss Roberto Mancini watched Falcao in Atletico Madrid’s last La Liga game, a 2-1 win over Malaga where he scored one and played a part in an own-goal winner.
And, having witnessed his ability at close quarters when Falcao played for Porto and Garcia was at Portuguese rivals Benfica, the City midfielder has no doubt the frontman would flourish in England.
“He’s a great player and he can play in any league that he wants at the moment,” said Garcia, who was in Abu Dhabi yesterday at the Manchester City School of Football at Zayed Sports City, and a special signing for hundreds of fans at the CityStore at Marina Mall.
“Falcao has been fantastic. He is scoring a lot of goals in La Liga now and I already know him from Portugal where he did the same.
“I would rather play with him than against him. I faced him for Benfica against Porto when we were both playing in Portugal so I know what he can do. I’d be happy to have him in my team.”
Mancini has made no secret of his desire to bring in more top-quality players to help City build on their achievements in the past two seasons, where they have won the FA Cup and then the Premier League.
And despite possessing a frontline of Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko at the Etihad Stadium, the prolific form of Falcao has attracted the attention of the Italian as well as Real Madrid and notably Chelsea.
Their owner Roman Abramovich reportedly wants the striker – who scored both goals in Colombia’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay on Sunday – as his club’s next big-money buy in January.
Atletico have admitted the sale of their prize asset would help ease their debt problems. Neighbours Real are also keen, but coach Jose Mourinho knows that an approach would be controversial.
He said: “Falcao is a fundamental player for our rivals, just like Kun Aguero was. There is a pact of non-aggression between Real Madrid and Atletico, so I think Falcao is forbidden fruit.
“He is a fantastic player and I have a feeling he is a person of the highest level, and I am very happy he is having success at Atletico.”
World Cup: Joe Hart and Robert Lewandowski relishing fresh duel
Joe Hart is determined to keep Robert Lewandowski at bay for a second time this month when England travel to Warsaw on Tuesday, but the Poland striker says he will not be so lucky again.
Hart produced a superb performance for Manchester City in their UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund earlier in October, when Lewandowski was frustrated in a 1-1 draw.
Hart is now looking to shut out Lewandowski once again in England's crucial World Cup qualifier against Poland.
"I'm ready for Lewandowski and, hopefully, I can keep him out again this time," said the goalkeeper. "But it would be nice if it isn't quite as open as the last time I played against him."
Lewandowski is also looking forward to renewing his rivalry with Hart, and has warned that he fully intends to take his chances this time.
"Relax, I don't have a Joe Hart complex. It was just one situation and I'm sure it will be better with a second attempt."
Robert Lewandowski
"Relax, I don't have a Joe Hart complex. It was just one situation and I'm sure it will be better with a second attempt," said the Pole.
"Who says he won't pick the ball from his net when we meet now. It will be a completely different match. And this time luck doesn't have to be on his side.
"Hart was in great shape in Manchester. But this is not a club game, it's an international. Anything can happen."
No fear
Hart accepts that it will be a difficult match for England, especially with the Poland fans generating a hostile atmosphere for the visiting team.
"It is going to be a tough game,'' said Hart. "That is the beauty of international football, when you are playing away you are playing against the nation.
"I am looking forward to playing in a good arena in front of a lot of people. We will have that pocket of fans who we always take and are awesome. We will look to them and be inspired by them.
"It will be a new experience for some of the youngsters but players adapt and that is the beauty of young players now. They don't play with any fear."
So inevitably caughtoffside lying now report ...
Real Madrid Set Sights On Man City Keeper Joe Hart
Spanish giants Real Madrid have set their sights on Man City keeper Joe Hart.
Jose Mourinho may well be looking to bring in a player who can not only act as a potential successor to captain Iker Casillas but also provide some stiff competition for the Spanish international’s place between the sticks at the Bernabeu club.
25 year old keeper Joe Hart is arguably the most consistent performer in the Premier League and is unrivaled in terms of his spot in the England national team set-up so one can see why Mourinho would target the Man City goalie but it seems highly unlikely that such a deal would take place any time soon.
Firstly though Iker Casillas has been around for seemingly an eternity, he is still just 31, which in goalkeeper years is still relatively young. Also whilst the Spaniard hasn’t been in the best of form in recent weeks he is still certainly one of the best custodians in the world.
Also Joe Hart appears to be incredibly happy with life at Man City and it would be huge surprise if he were to look to leave the Premier League title holders, especially since it was they who showed great faith in his ability when they forked out £600k to Shrewsbury Town for his services, a move that has been a huge success.
Barton: 'What's Wrong With The Game? Tevez!'
Former Toon midfielder Joey Barton has labelled Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez as a mercenary.
Barton is on loan at French side Marseille.
Barton is currently serving a 12-match ban for his actions at the Etihad when he kicked out at the Argentine.
Joey Barton: “Tevez? He’s a mercenary.
“You can’t really back him.
"Sure, I’m a hoodlum, I’ve got into scrapes - but Tevez is someone who in the last six months has gone on strike, gone off to Argentina to play golf, tried to get himself sacked.
“If that’s not the epitome of what’s wrong with modern players, I don’t know what is.
"And don’t forget, Tevez punched me first.”
MANCHESTER TITLE RACE
0 PTS +1 GD
Rosler rages after Brentford pegged back by Scunthorpe
The Bees had led through Harry Forrester but Leon Clarke pegged the Iron back with 13 minutes left.
“We have seen a lot of good things today but we have seen the problems we have when we do not kill game off,” said Uwe, speaking after the match.
“We also need to look at how we manage games.
“When I look at the number of times they stopped our attacks with a tactical foul, and got away with it as there were not many yellow cards, compared to us.
“We are very naïve.
“We allow teams to run 30 metres with the ball and cross it in.
“They were in our box six times in 90 minutes.
“We do not kill games off, that, and our naivety, is our problem.
“It’s nothing new.
“At no stage of the game were Scunthorpe in it.
“They kicked it massively long and got one or two more seconds balls in the second half than the first half, but they did not have many chances.”
Liverpool and Newcastle will both compete for the signature of Celtic's in-form striker Gary Hooper, 24. Metro
Aston Villa who bought Darren Bent in a £24m deal from Sunderland in January 2011 are ready to sell the striker, 28, in the January transfer window. People
Portsmouth boss Michael Appleton is an early favourite for the vacant managerial post at Burnley, following Eddie Howe's return to Bournemouth. Lancashire Telegraph
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will be given £35m to spend in the January transfer window - but the Frenchman is still not sure whether to spend it. DC
England winger Theo Walcott says his collision with San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini in Friday's World Cup qualifier felt like "[being] hit by a bus". The Sun
Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour believes Gunners striker Olivier Giroud, 26, is the "main man" at the club. talkSPORT
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says he often calls up former Villa manager Martin O'Neill for advice - and he has every intention of carrying on doing so. Birmingham Mail
Defender John Terry, 31, has damaged Chelsea's reputation, says former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman. Sunday Mirror
Former Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate says he rejected the chance to become the FA's technical director because he didn't have enough understanding of coaching. Sunday Mirror
The FA's multi-million pound centre of excellence has attracted criticism for its admission charges. A basic visit to St George's Park in Burton costs £11 but the top tour, which features two hours of coaching and the use of the England dressing room, costs £2,275 for a group of 12. Sun
A new report on Brazilian players reveals there are 606 playing in 40 top-flight European leagues, and 1,169 playing outside their own country. The Observer
Meanwhile, a Sun report claims 126 ex-footballers are in prison and that drug cartels in South America and Europe recruit vulnerable former players in the UK. Sun
Former Juventus and Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero was overshadowed by ex-England forward Emile Heskey as Newcastle Jets beat Sydney FC 3-2 in Australia. Metro
MORE BELATED BOLLOX SOON ...