Monday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Joe Hart unsure of first-team chances at Man City
Hart kept 12 clean sheets in 41 games for Birmingham last season
England goalkeeper Joe Hart says he would consider going back out on loan to help his international career if he is not Manchester City's number one.
City boss Roberto Mancini says he is yet to decide whether Hart or Shay Given will be his first-choice keeper.
Hart, 23, was loaned to Birmingham last season and impressed enough to earn a place in England's World Cup squad.
"All I want is to play in the Man City first team - but if I wasn't I'd have to reconsider," he told BBC Sport.
Hart, who has three caps, was the only one of England's three goalkeepers in South Africa not to play.
We are both fit and raring to go and we both want that place
Joe Hart on his rivalry with Shay Given
But with 40-year-old David James dropping down to the Championship after joining Bristol City, Hart looks to be a strong favourite to start England's first post-World Cup friendly against Hungary on 11 August.
And in order to cement his place as England coach Fabio Capello's number one for the forthcoming 2012 European Championship qualifying campaign he knows he needs to be playing in the Premier League on a regular basis.
But Given, 34, represents a major obstacle to Hart's ambitions, with the vastly experienced Republic of Ireland international widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the league.
"(Sitting on the bench) doesn't interest me. All I want to do is play in the first team," added Hart, speaking on BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek.
"I've based my summer around getting in the first team.
"Shay has recovered from his shoulder injury and we are both fit and raring to go and we both want that place.
"Whether I am involved with England or not, all I want to do is play.
"It is so different playing for the reserves. I want to be in the limelight, playing for the first team and at the moment I am working hard to get into Manchester City's first team."
Hart will be anxious to avoid the fate suffered by Ben Foster, who found his hopes of travelling to South Africa with England scuppered by his lack of first-team opportunities at Manchester United.
Mancini, who is currently in Italy to visit his ill father, has been impressed enough to state that he believes Hart can be England's number one for a decade.
The Italian said: "Joe will be first-choice goalkeeper for the next 10 years for England."
However, he added: "I don't know if he will be my first-choice, it depends. I will pick the players who deserve to play." BBC

MANCHESTER CITY have blocked Tottenham’s attempt to sign Craig Bellamy on loan.
And Spurs now face a fight with new Fulham boss Mark Hughes for the Wales striker.
Brian Marwood, City’s Football Administrator, is reluctant to do business with Tottenham, as he sees them as one of his club’s main rivals this season.
Spurs pipped City for fourth place – and a Champions’ League spot – last season.
And he certainly wasn’t interested in a loan move for Bellamy, who cost City £14 million from West Ham only 18 months ago.
Hughes was the manager who signed Bellamy then for City and also managed him with Wales and Blackburn.
The volatile striker, 31, is again one of Hughes’ top targets and the new Fulham manager is set to go head-to-head with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp for Bellamy.
The indications are that City would prefer to do a deal with Sparky, their former manager.
But eventually it will come down to which club makes the better offer – both to City and the player. PEOPLE

Vincent Kompany fears for his Manchester City future
VINCENT KOMPANY is sweating on his Manchester City future leaving Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton all keeping tabs on his situation.
The 24-year-old Belgian star, who canplay either centre-back or as a holding midfielder, is concerned hisopportunities next season may be limited.
City continue to be linked with Benficas defensive star David Luiz andthat would spell bad news for Kompany if the 23-year-old Brazilian joined.
Kompany wants assurances from boss Roberto Mancini that hell be a regular starter,but that seems unlikely to happen with the Italian wanting to promote a group rather than have a clear-cut first team.
The versatile Belgian star doesnt want to become a bit-part player andthats alerted Arsene Wenger and Roy Hodgson who are both looking fordefensive reinforcements.
David Moyes would be interested, too, if Arsenal and Tottenham follow-upreported interest in Phil Jagielka. Kompany cost s6million when he signed from Hamburg two years ago.
He would prefer to stay at Eastlands but fears for his long-term City future. STAR

Olympiacos have joined Marseille in the race to sign wantaway Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz.
The Greek giants have approached City about taking Santa Cruz to Athens on a season's loan.
Santa Cruz's agent Jan Van Baal said: 'If he leaves City would certainly want to get back a bit of their investment. He won't go for free.
'I could see a paid-for loan with an automatic option to buy. It's the fashionable solution, but that's for Manchester City to decide.
'There are some leads in the Premier League and abroad. He still has his admirers. 'I know that Marseille are interested and there have been a few discussions.
'It is an interesting destination. They are in the Champions League and they have a manager who is established. These are important factors. 'He has the profile for Marseille.'
Mark Hughes paid Blackburn £17.5m pounds to take Santa Cruz to Eastlands but the Paraguay international scored just three goals in 19 games last season.

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United could be offered the chance to re-sign Villarreal's Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi, 23, who is being tracked by a number of top clubs, after the Old Trafford outfit inserted a buy-back clause when they sold him three years ago for £6.7m.Daily Star

Barcelona's Argentina forward Lionel Messi says he is confident that Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will be playing alongside him at the Nou Camp this season. the Daily Mirror

Real Madrid target Mesut Ozil is set to remain at Werder Bremen until his current contract runs out at the end of next season, when the German midfielder can leave the club for free. the Daily Mail

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is ready to sell England striker Peter Crouch for £7m - if he can find a quick replacement to help refresh his forward line for the new season. Daily Mirror

Aston Villa could be priced out of a move for Celtic winger Aiden McGeady, 24, after Spartak Moscow bid £9.5m for the Republic of Ireland international - with Villa unwilling to bid more than £7.5m. the Sun

Blackpool have had an offer of £1m for striker DJ Campbell rejected by Leicester City, leaving manager Ian Holloway to turn his attention to Nottingham Forest forward Nathan Tyson. the Daily Mail

Hull City boss Nigel Pearson wants to sign Tottenham midfielder John Bostock on loan. Daily Mirror

Crystal Palace are in talks with Wolves to sign Wales striker Sam Vokes on loan. Daily Mirror

OTHER BOLLOX
England midfielder Joe Cole, who joined Liverpool after being released by Chelsea this summer, says he helped to persuade Reds captain Steven Gerrard to stay at the Merseyside outfit. Daily Star

Chinese billionaire Kenneth Huang has made an offer to the Royal Bank of Scotland to buy Liverpool's £237m debt and oust owners George Gillet and Tom Hicks. the Guardian

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested the Gunners' 18-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere is ready for an England call-up after impressive pre-season displays. the Guardian

Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish wants owner Carson Yeung to provide funds to sign players - starting with Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia. Daily Mirror

[ant london]

that bollox re Kompany has to be some of the biggest bollox I've seen in a while

try as I might, I just cannot remotely see him having sought such assurances from Roberto

[Beeks]

that bollox re Kompany has to be some of the biggest bollox I've seen in a while

try as I might, I just cannot remotely see him having sought such assurances from Roberto

Me either...that as well as he is one of our best players...despite the influx of superstars

[ant london]

that bollox re Kompany has to be some of the biggest bollox I've seen in a while

try as I might, I just cannot remotely see him having sought such assurances from Roberto

Me either...that as well as he is one of our best players...despite the influx of superstars

he's no Lahm but he is a great player to have IMO

[john@staustell]

that bollox re Kompany has to be some of the biggest bollox I've seen in a while

try as I might, I just cannot remotely see him having sought such assurances from Roberto

Me either...that as well as he is one of our best players...despite the influx of superstars

he's no Lahm but he is a great player to have IMO

Never a day passes without one of us firing that off! LOL

[ryanmjo]

MANCHESTER CITY have blocked Tottenham’s attempt to sign Craig Bellamy on loan.
And Spurs now face a fight with new Fulham boss Mark Hughes for the Wales striker.
Brian Marwood, City’s Football Administrator, is reluctant to do business with Tottenham, as he sees them as one of his club’s main rivals this season.
Spurs pipped City for fourth place – and a Champions’ League spot – last season.
And he certainly wasn’t interested in a loan move for Bellamy, who cost City £14 million from West Ham only 18 months ago.
Hughes was the manager who signed Bellamy then for City and also managed him with Wales and Blackburn.
The volatile striker, 31, is again one of Hughes’ top targets and the new Fulham manager is set to go head-to-head with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp for Bellamy.
The indications are that City would prefer to do a deal with Sparky, their former manager.
But eventually it will come down to which club makes the better offer – both to City and the player. PEOPLE

That's some rich bollox there. Nice to see Marwood has some good sense to him. Also, that last line makes no sense. Why would it come down to which club makes the better offer? Maybe we want to keep him. And if we don't it's not like we need the money, so Spurs ability to pay more than Fulham should have no impact whatsoever.