Tuesday's B*l**x
Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:15 amTHE BOLLOX
Nastasic form keeping Joleon Lescott out of Man City side - Platt
Manchester City coach David Platt says the form of Serbian teenager Matija Nastasic is the reason Joleon Lescott has been out of the side recently.
Lescott, 30, has not started a game for City since their 3-1 defeat away to Ajax in October, with a back problem initially keeping him out.
The England international was available for the last three games but Nastasic, 19, has now made seven straight starts.
Nastasic factfile
•Born: 28 March, 1993
•2011: Moves from Partizan Belgrade to Fiorentina. Makes senior debut versus Bologna in September
•February 2012: Makes Serbia debut v Cyprus
•August 2012: Joins Manchester City
•September 2012: Makes City debut in 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid
"That is testament to [Nastasic]. He has stepped in," said Platt.
Lescott even failed to make the bench for City's 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge with Kolo Toure preferred as defensive back-up, but Platt insisted the England international was available and will be for Wednesday's visit to Wigan.
"Joleon is fine. He will be available for selection like he was available for selection for a few games," said Platt.
The City first-team coach has praised Nastasic - who joined from Fiorentina for £13m plus Stefan Savic - for adapting to English football quickly since his summer move from Serie A side Fiorentina.
Platt picked out the 19-year-old's performance in a goalless draw with West Ham on 3 November as the highlight so far.
"The first couple of games he has had to get used to English football but he has done that very quickly," said Platt
Go with the 'fro: Manchester City latest to add Willian to their shopping list
Boss Mancini's top spy has been to check out the Shakhtar Donetsk forward who's already a Spurs and Chelsea target - watch him here
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has joined the race for Shakhtar Donetsk’s brilliant Brazilian attacking star Willian.
Mancini sent top spy Gary Worthington to watch Willian in action as City look for more flair after their second Champions League group-phase failure in as many years.
The 24-year-old has been chased by Chelsea and Tottenham in recent transfer windows, and now City have joined his list of his admirers.
The Ukrainian outfit, who paid £15million for Willian, have qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League, so the auction for him is likely to wait until the summer.
However, Mancini wanted to update his dossier on the player in case Shakhtar opt to sell sooner - and his displays have impressed his scouts enough to put the Arab-backed Blues on red alert.
They do not want to be beaten to his signature if he does come on the market in January.
Willian has only played a couple of times for Brazil’s national side, so may face work permit issues.
Battle of Wils
ARSENE WENGER will fight Roberto Mancini to sign England new boy Wilfried Zaha.
Crystal Palace star Zaha was a Gunners fan as a lad and Wenger hopes that will tempt him to the Emirates instead of Mancini’s Manchester City.
SunSport revealed last week City have made the first moves to sign Zaha, 20, who won a shock call to the national squad for the recent friendly in Sweden.
But Arsenal sources insist Wenger is confident of a January transfer window deal even though Zaha has two years left on his Crystal Palace contract.
Gunners hope an initial bid of just over £10million, plus a variety of achievement-based add-ons, will do the trick.
Zaha had been tipped as a likely mover at the end of the season, with Spurs and Liverpool also interested.
But Wenger is confident and, though he is not keen on loaning the player back to Palace for the rest of the campaign, he would not rule it out entirely to clinch the deal.
MANCHESTER CITY HOLD TALKS WITH DANIELE DE ROSSI OVER £25M JANUARY MOVE
Repeated Bollox from the Star .... zzzzzz.
MANCHESTER CITY are closing in on £25m Italian World Cup winner Daniele de Rossi
Roma midfielder De Rossi was a surprise guest at City’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with his partner Sarah.
And Starsport understands the 29-year-old held talks with the club about a January transfer.
City have been trying for months to sign De Rossi, who turned down a move to the Etihad last summer.
Roma general manager Franco Baldini said earlier this month: “Manchester City made an offer for De Rossi during the summer. We listened to the offer, and considered it.
“If we were to get another offer from them we would listen again.”
De Rossi would bolster a midfield that has looked suspect this season, with summer signings Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia failing to impress.
He has 82 caps for Italy and is the best-paid player in Serie A, but is eager to win trophies following five second-place league finishes with his hometown club.
Chelsea showed interest in De Rossi before Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking as manager last week.
But City are in pole position to sign him, with De Rossi unhappy at being played out of position by coach Zdenek Zeman.
Roma currently lie fifth in Serie A, nine points behind leaders Juventus and need funds to rebuild the team.
MANCHESTER TITLE RACE
+1PT +1GD
[youtube]2shpVmA3k0c[/youtube]
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is lining up a move from QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt, 23. Sun
Ferguson is also focusing his attention on £15m Everton player Leighton Baines, 27, after opting not to try to sign 31-year-old Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole. DSSC
Striker Darren Bent , 28, is closing in on a January loan to Liverpool after being axed by Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert for the home draw with Arsenal. Metro
Bent will know if his future lies away from Villa Park should Lambert leave him out of Tuesday's clash with Reading. Daily Telegraph
AC Milan are hoping to beat Manchester United to the signing of Inter Milan's 28-year-old midfielder Wesley Sneijder. talkSHIT
AC Milan forward Robinho, 28, says he has been "sounded out" by clubs back in his native Brazil and is keeping an open mind about a January move. Sky Sports
Chelsea are preparing to pull off a major coup by luring Liverpool forward Luis Suarez, 25, to Stamford Bridge. Daily Express
Swansea are keeping tabs on Braga striker Eder, 24, and Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas, 25, fuelling speculation about the future of Danny Graham, who has been linked with Norwich after going from top scorer last season for Brendan Rodgers to substitute this year under manager Michael Laudrup. Daily Mirror
Jack Wilshere, 20, opens talks with Arsenal over a new deal as manager Arsene Wenger prepares to hand the England midfielder the captaincy. Jack Wilshere has two-and-a-half years left on his current Arsenal contract DSSC
Chelsea held peace talks with referee Mark Clattenburg, 37, on Monday and the official could referee Blues' games in the future.Times
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, 30, says his team-mates must adapt to life under new manager Rafael Benitez or leave the club. talkSHIT
New Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has labelled his new players at Loftus Road "embarrassing". The Times
Former Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton, 30, seems to have developed a new accent while at Marseille, as noticed during a news conference with the French media. Metro
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=44544
Nastasic form keeping Joleon Lescott out of Man City side - Platt
Manchester City coach David Platt says the form of Serbian teenager Matija Nastasic is the reason Joleon Lescott has been out of the side recently.
Lescott, 30, has not started a game for City since their 3-1 defeat away to Ajax in October, with a back problem initially keeping him out.
The England international was available for the last three games but Nastasic, 19, has now made seven straight starts.
Nastasic factfile
•Born: 28 March, 1993
•2011: Moves from Partizan Belgrade to Fiorentina. Makes senior debut versus Bologna in September
•February 2012: Makes Serbia debut v Cyprus
•August 2012: Joins Manchester City
•September 2012: Makes City debut in 3-2 defeat at Real Madrid
"That is testament to [Nastasic]. He has stepped in," said Platt.
Lescott even failed to make the bench for City's 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge with Kolo Toure preferred as defensive back-up, but Platt insisted the England international was available and will be for Wednesday's visit to Wigan.
"Joleon is fine. He will be available for selection like he was available for selection for a few games," said Platt.
The City first-team coach has praised Nastasic - who joined from Fiorentina for £13m plus Stefan Savic - for adapting to English football quickly since his summer move from Serie A side Fiorentina.
Platt picked out the 19-year-old's performance in a goalless draw with West Ham on 3 November as the highlight so far.
"The first couple of games he has had to get used to English football but he has done that very quickly," said Platt
Go with the 'fro: Manchester City latest to add Willian to their shopping list
Boss Mancini's top spy has been to check out the Shakhtar Donetsk forward who's already a Spurs and Chelsea target - watch him here
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has joined the race for Shakhtar Donetsk’s brilliant Brazilian attacking star Willian.
Mancini sent top spy Gary Worthington to watch Willian in action as City look for more flair after their second Champions League group-phase failure in as many years.
The 24-year-old has been chased by Chelsea and Tottenham in recent transfer windows, and now City have joined his list of his admirers.
The Ukrainian outfit, who paid £15million for Willian, have qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League, so the auction for him is likely to wait until the summer.
However, Mancini wanted to update his dossier on the player in case Shakhtar opt to sell sooner - and his displays have impressed his scouts enough to put the Arab-backed Blues on red alert.
They do not want to be beaten to his signature if he does come on the market in January.
Willian has only played a couple of times for Brazil’s national side, so may face work permit issues.
Battle of Wils
ARSENE WENGER will fight Roberto Mancini to sign England new boy Wilfried Zaha.
Crystal Palace star Zaha was a Gunners fan as a lad and Wenger hopes that will tempt him to the Emirates instead of Mancini’s Manchester City.
SunSport revealed last week City have made the first moves to sign Zaha, 20, who won a shock call to the national squad for the recent friendly in Sweden.
But Arsenal sources insist Wenger is confident of a January transfer window deal even though Zaha has two years left on his Crystal Palace contract.
Gunners hope an initial bid of just over £10million, plus a variety of achievement-based add-ons, will do the trick.
Zaha had been tipped as a likely mover at the end of the season, with Spurs and Liverpool also interested.
But Wenger is confident and, though he is not keen on loaning the player back to Palace for the rest of the campaign, he would not rule it out entirely to clinch the deal.
MANCHESTER CITY HOLD TALKS WITH DANIELE DE ROSSI OVER £25M JANUARY MOVE
Repeated Bollox from the Star .... zzzzzz.
MANCHESTER CITY are closing in on £25m Italian World Cup winner Daniele de Rossi
Roma midfielder De Rossi was a surprise guest at City’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with his partner Sarah.
And Starsport understands the 29-year-old held talks with the club about a January transfer.
City have been trying for months to sign De Rossi, who turned down a move to the Etihad last summer.
Roma general manager Franco Baldini said earlier this month: “Manchester City made an offer for De Rossi during the summer. We listened to the offer, and considered it.
“If we were to get another offer from them we would listen again.”
De Rossi would bolster a midfield that has looked suspect this season, with summer signings Jack Rodwell and Javi Garcia failing to impress.
He has 82 caps for Italy and is the best-paid player in Serie A, but is eager to win trophies following five second-place league finishes with his hometown club.
Chelsea showed interest in De Rossi before Roberto Di Matteo’s sacking as manager last week.
But City are in pole position to sign him, with De Rossi unhappy at being played out of position by coach Zdenek Zeman.
Roma currently lie fifth in Serie A, nine points behind leaders Juventus and need funds to rebuild the team.
MANCHESTER TITLE RACE
+1PT +1GD
[youtube]2shpVmA3k0c[/youtube]
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is lining up a move from QPR midfielder Adel Taarabt, 23. Sun
Ferguson is also focusing his attention on £15m Everton player Leighton Baines, 27, after opting not to try to sign 31-year-old Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole. DSSC
Striker Darren Bent , 28, is closing in on a January loan to Liverpool after being axed by Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert for the home draw with Arsenal. Metro
Bent will know if his future lies away from Villa Park should Lambert leave him out of Tuesday's clash with Reading. Daily Telegraph
AC Milan are hoping to beat Manchester United to the signing of Inter Milan's 28-year-old midfielder Wesley Sneijder. talkSHIT
AC Milan forward Robinho, 28, says he has been "sounded out" by clubs back in his native Brazil and is keeping an open mind about a January move. Sky Sports
Chelsea are preparing to pull off a major coup by luring Liverpool forward Luis Suarez, 25, to Stamford Bridge. Daily Express
Swansea are keeping tabs on Braga striker Eder, 24, and Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas, 25, fuelling speculation about the future of Danny Graham, who has been linked with Norwich after going from top scorer last season for Brendan Rodgers to substitute this year under manager Michael Laudrup. Daily Mirror
Jack Wilshere, 20, opens talks with Arsenal over a new deal as manager Arsene Wenger prepares to hand the England midfielder the captaincy. Jack Wilshere has two-and-a-half years left on his current Arsenal contract DSSC
Chelsea held peace talks with referee Mark Clattenburg, 37, on Monday and the official could referee Blues' games in the future.Times
Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, 30, says his team-mates must adapt to life under new manager Rafael Benitez or leave the club. talkSHIT
New Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp has labelled his new players at Loftus Road "embarrassing". The Times
Former Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton, 30, seems to have developed a new accent while at Marseille, as noticed during a news conference with the French media. Metro
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=44544