“From another planet” Man City fans overjoyed with “brilliant” Citizens ace following first half demolition in Champions League Man City went into half time 3-0 up against Basel in the Champions League Goals from Bernardo Silva, Aguero and Gundogan give City huge first leg advantage Fans were over the moon with a certain City ace following their first half demolition of Basel Man City fans are absolutely over the moon with Sergio Aguero following the Argentine’s first half display in his side’s demolition of Basel in the Champions League. The away side opened the scoring through a fine header from German international Ilkay Gundogan, with their lead then being doubled just minutes later following a fine volley from midfielder Bernardo Silva. Aguero then found his fourth goal in just one and a half games for Pep Guardiola’s side, as the former Atletico Madrid forward powered home a strike from 25-yards to put the Premier League giants out of sight with just 23 minutes gone. It was Aguero’s fourth consecutive away goal in the competition, as he continues his blistering start to 2018. During the first half, fans took to Twitter to laud the striker for his performance in City’s first half against the Swiss side. A few select tweets praising the Argentinian international for his performance . . .
Manchester City break Liverpool’s Champions League record with victory over Basel Manchester City made history with their comprehensive 4-0 victory over Basel in the Champions League. Pep Guardiola‘s men took a massive step towards the quarter-finals with the win at St Jakob-Park and are favourites to win Europe’s premier competition this year. Ilkay Gundogan stole the headlines with goals either side of the break for City and Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero also got on the scoresheet in Switzerland. The result was the biggest away win in the knockout stages by an English side in the history of the competition. Liverpool held the previous record with their 3-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the quarter-finals back in the 2006/07 season. City boss Guardiola hailed the ‘extraordinary’ Gundogan following the German’s double against Basel. ‘Gundogan is an extraordinary player,’ the Catalan told BT Sport. ‘Last season we missed him a lot for the six months he was out with an injury. ‘That’s why we’re so satisfied for the performance – not just for the goals for the quality he has, for the personality to play. He played fantastic.’
"I can't help it, but Chinner's wags more often than not drive me to shameless colposinquanonia."
Man City’s incredible season Manchester City have been absolutely unbelievable this season. The Citizens have lost just 2 matches in all competitions this season and are 16 points clear in the Premier League title race. City are still in the FA Cup, they have the final of the Carabao Cup in less than two week’s time and tonight beat Basel 4-0 away from home in the last 16 of the Champions League. Guardiola struggled in his first season in English football and the Spanish manager went his first ever season without winning a single piece of silverware. This season however, Man City have established themselves as a dominant force and many believe that they are the best English team since The Invincibles, if not the best ever. Man City beat Swiss side Basel with ease. Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Sergio Aguero all netted in the first half which allowed them to relax and sit back in the second. The victory was City’s 34th win of the season, bettering their tally from the entirety of the previous season. And unbelievably, its only February. Manchester City have plenty of games left to play including 11 league fixtures, the league cup final, FA Cup and Champions League matches. City could potentially win 50 matches if they win every match until the end of the season in all competitions. City’s transformation has been phenomenal and they are on course to break numerous records this season. Kevin De Bruyne is on course to break Thierry Henry’s record of 20 assists in a single Premier League season set in 2004/05 (20). The Belgian currently has 14 assists to his name. City need just 24 points to beat Chelsea’s Premier League record points total of 95 (in 2004/05) City need just 25 goals to beat another Chelsea record. The Blues scored 103 goals in the 2009/10 season and City are on course to break that record too.
RANDON ARCHIVE POSTING BOLLOX
Everton After Sibierski again! by dannyd_mcfc » Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:15 pm
maltese blue wrote:
C_T_I_D wrote:
dannyd_mcfc wrote: i think there has been a big misunderstanding ever since sibierski arrived. managers like him because he's good at head, not because he's good with his head as first thought!
2 questions:
1) How many headers does Sibierski actually win? 2) How do you know whether he's good with his head or not?
Have you ever seen him play?? Sibierski wins loads and loads of headers. He just hasn't got a friggin clue where it's going.
thats bollocks, i go every game and when he plays he doesnt win much in the air! considerin his size and his 'superior heading ability' he jumps under most things and spends half his time on his backside. hes a grade A bag of shite. moyes needs to get to specsavers, not b4 antoine signs on the dotted line tho!
Sergio Aguero poses problem for Pep Guardiola Manchester City can look forward to the Champions League quarter-finals after goals from Ilkay Gundogan (two), Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero earned a clinical 4-0 first-leg triumph at Basel. Pep Guardiola’s men were out of sight at a freezing St Jakob-Park by 23 minutes courtesy of Germany midfielder Gundogan’s header, Portugal playmaker Silva’s excellent volley and Aguero’s rocket from 30 yards. A consummate second-half display saw Gundogan add to the score with a refined curled shot. There are few superlatives left to describe Aguero’s contribution to the Blues cause. The Argentina centre forward only had one shot at goal, but he made it count as he lashed home from 30 yards. Such is the quality of his ball striking, his 198th effort for the club still found the side netting despite the distance at play. But the relationship between Aguero and Guardiola remains a curious one. Brazil No9 Gabriel Jesus is scheduled to return “maybe in one week, 10 days, two weeks” and his mobility makes him a better fit for the Spaniard’s famed system. And yet, in Jesus’ absence, Aguero has scored a stupendous 14 times in his last 11 run-outs. As problems go, it is a welcome one. Gabriel Jesus was injured at Crystal Palace on December 31. The wealth of Guardiola’s options are the envy of Europe. His riches were on full show in Switzerland as two players who will not make his full-strength XI grasped their chance to shine. Gundogan is a man renowned for his supreme passing, yet his completion rate was down at 82.1 per cent – for comparison, he recorded 90.2 per cent in Saturday’s 5-1 humiliation of Leicester. What he lacked in precision with his passing he made up for with his finishing. Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was rested just past the hour mark for David Silva. But it will be Guardiola’s first signing in June 2016, from Borussia Dortmund, who will surely make way on a permanent basis. This was also a better night for Bernardo Silva. A bouncing ball was expertly slotted home, although the sight of Germany winger Leroy Sane returning as a second-half substitute should signal the end of his six-match run of starts. This might not have been a walk in the Park if referee Jonas Eriksson had been alert in the early stages. Nicolas Otamendi was the luckiest man in Switzerland when his clumsy body check on forward Dimitri Oberlin in the penalty box went without punishment. This continued an uncertain few days for the Argentina centre-back. He provided the only blemish on the thumping of Leicester, gifting the ball to England striker Jamie Vardy to score. Has the January introduction of France Under-21 international Aymeric Laporte unsettled him? The rough edges which defined his first two seasons in blue looked to have been sanded down. He cannot afford for them to reappear.
Paul Pogba would shine under Pep Guardiola, says Jamie Redknapp Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba would be "one of the star performers" at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, according to Jamie Redknapp. Pogba has come in for criticism after failing to complete 90 minutes for the third straight Premier League game in the 1-0 defeat by Newcastle at St. James' Park last weekend. The Frenchman cut a dejected figure on the bench as United fell 16 points behind leaders City, and Redknapp joined Danny Higginbotham in discussing what United should do to get the best out of him during The Debate. Redknapp believes that Jose Mourinho is playing the 24-year-old out of position as part of a two-man midfield alongside Nemanja Matic, and feels Guardiola would be better suited to maximising Pogba's potential. "I can't believe we've got to this situation so quickly, because when he got sent off against Arsenal, everyone was rolling out the stats that Manchester United can't play without him," Redknapp said. "Everyone said that he was indispensable but now everyone is saying he's useless again. When things are good, he's the best player in the world. And now because of his price tag he's getting slaughtered. "I think Mourinho has a big responsibility with him, it's his job. Everyone expects him to be this big confident player, but I think deep down he needs to be loved. "Taking him off against Tottenham, that's not how you're going to get the best out of him. You can see at Newcastle, his confidence was really low. "I'm not saying you need to pander to him but I don't see a situation where Pep Guardiola would do that. If he was playing at Man City, he would be one of their star performers. I just don't think that Jose Mourinho gets the best out of him. "Pep's the sort of manager who would bring him on, but with Mourinho it almost feels like he's taking him on. This isn't a kid he's dealing with, he's one of the biggest assets in world football. "Mourinho is asking for a war now with current players. With Pogba's power in that dressing room, Mourinho has got to be very careful. I don't see the benefit in upsetting one of your star players." Higginbotham claimed that the game has moved away from the use of box-to-box midfielders, and believes Pogba should be allowed licence to roam forward with the insurance of two holding midfielders behind him. He added: "Pogba has been asked to do two roles and I don't think you can, unless you've got [N'Golo] Kante and [Eden] Hazard and you roll them up into one, and create that player who will probably cost you around £500m. They don't exist now. "Would you play Hazard as a centre-forward or would you play him deeper? There's no comparison between the two. "It's not to say he can't perform in a different position as he's a world-class player, but you should play your best players in their best positions."
OLD SKOOL AVATARS & BANNERS
Chopper
Is Kevin De Bruyne the best midfielder in the world? The Belgium playmaker is in the form of his career. Kevin De Bruyne has been the driving force behind Manchester City’s stunning form this season and is a major contender for individual honours. Pep Guardiola recently talked up the Belgium playmaker’s chances of winning the Ballon d’Or at the end of 2018 – if City can turn their dominance into trophies. Here, we assess whether the 26-year-old is the best midfielder in the world by taking into account his rivals from Europe’s big hitters. David Silva – Manchester City One of the main contenders for the crown lies very close to home in the shape of Spain’s chief creator Silva. The 32-year-old has been absent of late dealing with personal issues but his presence alongside De Bruyne has been missed. His Premier League assist tally since moving to Manchester in 2010 currently sits at 72 and, despite his slight frame, he is more than happy putting his foot in. Paul Pogba – Manchester United Pogba has not been at his best this season, and faced criticism after a lacklustre display against Newcastle on Sunday, but the 24-year-old clearly has all the attributes to dominate Manchester United’s midfield for years to come. His attitude and work rate have been questioned of late and, if he is to be rated as one of the very best in the world, the France international has plenty to improve on. Toni Kroos – Real Madrid Real Madrid are blessed in the central midfield department, and it no doubt helps to have Casemiro sweeping up in front of the defence, but the class of Germany international Kroos oozes through. His long-range passing is among the best in the world, and his ability to dictate play in the biggest games probably explains why he has won three Champions Leagues and the World Cup. Luka Modric – Real Madrid Modric may be 32 but the former Tottenham playmaker is still at the top of his game. Often found operating alongside Kroos, the Croatia star has been a key cog in Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid side which has won the past two Champions League titles. He perhaps lacks the physicality and dynamism which makes De Bruyne so dangerous, but in terms of technical ability Modric is more than a match. Philippe Coutinho – Barcelona Barcelona’s new £142million signing has been tasked with replacing Andres Iniesta at the Nou Camp and possesses all the characteristics to succeed at the LaLiga giants. The Brazil international operates in a similar position to De Bruyne, and the 25-year-old could prove to be the Belgian’s biggest rival when it comes to being crowned king of the midfielders over the next few seasons. Marco Verratti – Paris St Germain Verratti’s success is based on being physical but the Italy midfielder is much more than a tough tackler. The 25-year-old, who moved to Paris in 2012 from Pescara, is a key cog in a PSG side which is filled with individual talent. He has been linked with a host of other top European clubs over the past few seasons and not without good reason. Thiago Alcantara – Bayern Munich Alcantara is starting to fulfil his talent in Munich having been brought through by Barcelona in his youth-team days. The 26-year-old raised eyebrows when he decided to move to Germany in 2013 but has steadily blossomed in the Bundesliga. The Spain international – brother of Inter Milan’s Rafinha and son of World Cup-winner Mazinho – is one of the world’s best when it comes to passing. Miralem Pjanic – Juventus Juve’s elegant midfielder recently revealed he turned down the chance to join Tottenham and Arsenal, and how both Premier League clubs must be ruing that decision. Playing in the ‘regista’ role for the Serie A giants, Pjanic – nicknamed ‘the pianist’ – has assumed control of their midfield since the departure of Andrea Pirlo and controls most games with limited fuss.
Manchester United are the worst for cheating Manchester City may be walking the Premier League when it comes to points, but when it comes to cheating, there is nobody more prolific than their local rivals Manchester United. Chris Smalling embarrassed himself on Sunday when taking an outrageous dive as he tried to get Jonjo Shelvey booked. Instead, the Manchester United Captain was shown the yellow card and even better, Newcastle scored the winner from the resulting free-kick. In his weekly stats column for Sky Sports, Martin Tyler was asked which Premier League club had picked up the most bookings for diving/cheating since August 2016. When he investigated, Tyler found out that no club has picked up more yellow cards for ‘simulation’ than Jose Mourinho’s team. As well as Smalling against Newcastle, both Antonio Valencia and Ander Herrera have also been booked for diving this season. Whilst Paul Pogba was also pulled up for this offence last season in the Premier League when Manchester United played West Ham. Manchester United lead the cheats table with Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, as they have also picked up four yellows for diving. When it comes to individuals, Dele Alli and Leroy Sane lad the way. They are the only players to have picked up two bookings for diving since August 2016, according to Martin Tyler. Newcastle have had one player cautioned for ‘simulation’ and that was Dwight Gayle in the 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City on 27 December 2017. At the time, Alan Shearer went mad with the Newcastle striker as he felt Gayle had gone down looking for a penalty when he could and should have scored instead. Martin Tyler league table of Premier League bookings for ‘simulation’ since start of 2017/18: FOUR: Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Man Utd THREE: Man City, Swansea, Tottenham, West Ham TWO: Arsenal, Burnley, Chelsea, Leicester, Liverpool, Stoke, Sunderland ONE: Brighton, Everton, Huddersfield, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Southampton, Watford, West Brom ZERO: Hull
OTHER BOLLOX Manchester United are monitoring Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld's situation. The 28-year-old Belgian is out of contract in 18 months and he was not included in Spurs' squad to face Juventus in the Champions League. (Manchester Evening News)
England goalkeeper Jack Butland, 24, says he has not asked to leave Stoke after being linked with a move to either Liverpool or Arsenal. (ESPN)
AC Milan are planning a £30m summer move for Manchester United's 28-year-old Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera. (Tuttosport, via Star)
Real Madrid are confident of signing Paris St-Germain striker Neymar, 22, in the summer. (Independent)
However, Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, has said he "would not like" to see the Brazilian at Madrid. (AS)
Real Madrid are planning to spend around 600m euros (£534m) on improving their squad this summer, with Tottenham's 24-year-old England striker Harry Kane a key target. (Sports Illustrated)
Crystal Palace have flown in goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri, who is a free agent after cancelling his contract with Fluminese. The 35-year-old Brazilian worked with Eagles boss Roy Hodgson when he was at Liverpool. (Sun)
Ajax teenager Justin Kluivert says he would consider a move to the Premier League. The 18-year-old Dutch striker said Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea or Manchester United were clubs he could "see myself playing at in a few years". (Mirror)
Arsenal already have plans in place should manager Arsene Wenger leave in the summer. The club want to avoid the uncertainty over Wenger's position that affected them at the end of last season. (Mail)
Chelsea target Arturo Vidal says he is happy to remain at Bayern Munich. The 30-year-old Chilean midfielder's deal expires in 2019. (Sport - in German)
Newcastle are keen to sign goalkeeper Martin Dubravka permanently. The 29-year-old Slovak joined the Magpies on loan from Sparta Prague in February until the end of the season. (Mirror)
Roma are aiming to put a 90m euro (£85m) release clause in goalkeeper Alisson's contract. The 25-year-old Brazilian has been linked with a move to Liverpool. (Calciomercato)
German Loris Karius is set to keep his place in goal for Liverpool in favour of Simon Mignolet when the Reds face Porto in the Champions League. (Times)
West Brom manager Alan Pardew's methods are causing friction within the squad, but his position is safe despite the club chairman and chief executive being sacked on Tuesday. (Telegraph)
Championship side Bolton are interested in former West Brom striker Victor Anichebe. The 29-year-old Nigerian is out of contract after a stint in the Chinese Super League. (Birmingham Mail)
Sunderland are interested in Wigan's Montserratian defender Donervon Daniels, 24. (Chronicle)
Former Manchester United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 29, says he picked the best moment to leave the club and "refresh" his career at Arsenal. (London Evening Standard)
Zenit St Petersburg are interested in signing 30-year-old former Manchester City and Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri. The Frenchman is a free agent after leaving Turkish club Antalyaspor. (Sport Express - in Russian)
BETTING BOLLOX Manchester City’s quadruple odds crash
To be clear about what the quadruple means, it refers to the following four trophies: – Premier League – FA Cup – Carabao Cup – Champions League
Premier League title race – stage 1 of the quadruple Following gameweek 27 of the Premier League, everyone now believes Man City are a shoo-in for the title. Man City beat Leicester City 5-1 last weekend as Sergio Aguero scored four goals. As for Man United, they lost 1-0 away at Newcastle. Those results mean that with 11 Premier League matches still to play, the Sky Blues are 16 points clear at the top of the table. Saving for an act of God, Man City will win the Premier League this season. FA Cup – stage 2 of the quadruple Man City return to FA Cup action this weekend when they take on Wigan. Wigan may have beaten West Ham in the previous round, but can the Latics really knock out Pep Guardiola’s men too. Sitting in League One, it would be one of the upsets of the season is City lost to Wigan. But will City win the trophy? Chelsea, Man United and Tottenham look like their chief rivals. Carabao Cup – stage 3 of the quadruple In a little over a week it’s the Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Man City will take on Arsenal in the showpiece. When the sides met earlier in the season in the Premier League, Arsenal lost 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. So will the Gunners lose in the final as well? Claim a £30 free bet on Man City winning the quadruple with Dafabet Champions League – stage 4 of the quadruple On Tuesday night in Switzerland, the Sky Blues put on an amazing performance at Basel. Yes, few predicted that Basel would KO Pep Guardiola’s men in the last-16. Yet few thought City would have the tie wrapped up after 90 minutes in which they scored four goals on the road. Ilkay Gundogan scored a brace, while Bernardo Silva and Sergio Aguero scored the other goals. The bookies have reacted to Man City’s Basel win by installing them as the new favourites for the Champions League.
GOLDEN BOLLOX 14-2-2011 City players told to drown their sorrows after Roo's wonder winner Roberto Mancini told his Manchester City stars to have a drink after they were sunk by Wayne Rooney’s wonder goal. And the City boss claimed his side had proved they are now “very close” to Manchester United, despite suffering another agonising 2-1 defeat at the hands of Sir Alex Ferguson. “I told the players to go home and have a drink,” said Mancini. “They should be disappointed by the result, but not by the performance. We are very close to United now, very close.” To emphasise his point, Mancini, standing in an Old Trafford corridor afterwards, held his right thumb and forefinger close together to indicate the gap he now felt divided the two sides. “In the five derbies I have been involved in, there is only one time when we didn’t deserve to win,” said Mancini. “And again, we didn’t deserve to lose this one. But United are this much ahead [holds two fingers narrowly apart] of us and the other teams. Just by this much. It’s very close. “We should improve. I have been saying this for six months but, if we come here and play like this against United, then we will be OK. I am very proud of my players and I have told them this. I think we have the right character. “After we equalised, I thought we could go on and win. United didn’t play well in the second-half but Rooney’s goal changed the game. This is the mentality that comes when you have been winning things for a long time. “We can change this though, because we have changed a lot and improved a lot as a team. I think we need to win one cup or one title because, if we do, then we can change the whole mentality of the team.” Vincent Kompany, outstanding for City, was left to rue Rooney’s match-winning moment of brilliance in the 78th minute. “It took something special for United to win but that happens,” said Kompany. “I’m bitterly disappointed. “But I kind of had to smile to myself when I came into the dressing room because I gave him [Rooney] nothing during the whole game and then he goes and does that.”
'I was speechless for about five seconds' - Manchester City defender Micah Richards hails Wayne Rooney's derby-winning goal Right-back says goal proves why United did everything to keep him Micah Richards has hailed Wayne Rooney's breathtaking effort to score the winner in the Manchester derby on Saturday, which saw Sir Alex Ferguson's men win 2-1 at Old Trafford. The game was locked at 1-1 until the former Everton hitman produced an acrobatic overhead kick to put his side into the lead, and the goal turned out to be the winner. And Richards also believes that goals like these are the reason why the Red Devils agreed to hand the player a heavy pay packet when he threatened to leave the club earlier in the season. "To be honest, when he was up there I was thinking 'What's he doing?' Then when the ball went in the net, I was speechless for about five seconds," said the City defender. "It was an incredible goal. That's what he can produce and why United did everything to keep him." City now take on Greek side Aris in the Europa League.
Wayne Rooney writes off Manchester City title hopes Wayne Rooney believes the "best" goal of his career has ended Manchester City's hopes of winning the Barclays Premier League title this season. The England man's delightful second-half overhead kick settled a pulsating Manchester derby in United's favour, putting the Old Trafford club eight points ahead of their rivals. "That is my best goal. It was such an important game and to score the winning goal in that way was a great feeling - indescribable," Rooney said. "I have seen it again. I was just trying to keep my eye on the ball and to get a good connection. Luckily it went into the top corner. "It is a significant result and almost certainly rules City out of the title race unless a disaster happens."
Redknapp praises "brilliant" Kompany Jamie Redknapp believes Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany was extremely unlucky to be on the losing side during their 2-1 defeat to Premier League leaders Manchester United at the weekend, because the towering Belgian international was imperious prior to the stunning goal that decided the game. Kompany has been one of Roberto Mancini’s most consistent performers this season and arguably the Premier League’s most impressive centre-half alongside Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic, and Redknapp suggests the former had all but marshalled Wayne Rooney out of the match at Old Trafford until the England international’s mesmeric intervention. Redknapp told the Daily Mail: “Vincent Kompany was quite brilliant in the derby for City and did not deserve to lose the game. “He bossed Rooney for much of the game, but was caught out by a deflection that altered the flight of the ball. “Even as the cross drifted over him, he would have thought: it's OK, it's behind Rooney, he has his back to goal. We know what happened next.”
mr_nool wrote:Purely by colposinquanonia, that wag isn't more than a 2/10. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing.
When breasts become a manual handling issue colposinquanonia doesn't apply.
If you have to consider a risk assessment before engaging with breasts then probably better to steer clear. If you even have to think about pushing rather than pulling then you are not going to have an experience you can look back on with any satisfaction!
The tasks, do they involve: ■ holding loads away from the body? ■ twisting, stooping or reaching upwards? ■ large vertical movement? ■ long carrying distances? ■ strenuous pushing or pulling? ■ repetitive handling? ■ insufficient rest or recovery time? ■ a work rate imposed by a process?
Ways of reducing the risk of injury Can you: ■ use a lifting aid? ■ improve workplace layout to improve efficiency? ■ reduce the amount of twisting and stooping? ■ avoid lifting from floor level or above shoulder height, especially heavy loads? ■ reduce carrying distances? ■ avoid repetitive handling? ■ vary the work, allowing one set of muscles to rest while another is used? ■ push rather than pull?
He added: "Pogba has been asked to do two roles and I don't think you can, unless you've got [N'Golo] Kante and [Eden] Hazard and you roll them up into one, and create that player who will probably cost you around £500m. They don't exist now.
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