Tuesday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Shay won't take a Hart transplant: Given ready to quit City if he loses No 1 jersey
Having spent the pre-season watching Joe Hart start all six of Manchester City's warm-up games, Shay Given is not going to sit quietly on the sidelines as the real business begins.
The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper, arguably the finest in the Premier League, is ready to throw Eastlands into turmoil by demanding showdown talks with manager Roberto Mancini if he is left out of the side to face Tottenham on Saturday.

No 1 rivals: City keepers Hart (left) and Given in pre-season training
Shay Given v Joe Hart: The facts behind the fight to be Manchester City's No 1 Given is believed to be prepared to request a transfer if he is left on the bench. Mancini says he has yet to decide whether to start Given or England keeper Joe Hart at White Hart Lane but Hart is thought to be his first choice.
With Fabio Capello hoping to name the Premier League keeper of last season as his No 1 for England's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, there is pressure on Mancini to go with the Englishman, who has returned to City after an impressive season at Birmingham City.
Ireland No 1 Given, who is recovering from a shoulder injury with his 104th cap against Argentina on Wendesday night, says Mancini has given no indication who will play.
But the 34-year-old, a £6million signing from Newcastle just 18 months ago, has made it clear he is not prepared to start as a substitute and will seek a meeting with the Italian coach on Monday.
Given said: 'I haven't joined City to sit on the bench. I've gone there to play. If that's not the case, I'll sit down on Monday with the club and see where I can go after that. The manager hasn't picked the team yet and he hasn't spoken to me. It's not ideal. You want to know mentally whether you're starting.'
Given, in Dublin for the first international at the re-built Lansdowne Road, could have skipped Monday's press conference before the Argentina friendly. But, as ever, he was keen to speak, and will be happy to confront Mancini if he is overlooked for the season's opener.
He said: 'It's different if you're a midfielder - you can rotate them and play them in different positions. It's a specialist position and you can only play the one player.
'Joe did well last year and deserves great credit for that but I'd like to think I did OK at Manchester City. I missed only the last week of the season and I worked hard all summer to be fit for the new campaign.'
Last week Sunderland boss Steve Bruce revealed his loan bid for Hart was turned down by City. Bruce wanted cover for injured Craig Gordon for two months.
City have also rejected offers from Fulham and Arsenal. Arsene Wenger kept tabs on Given during his 10 years at Newcastle but never accepted the club's valuation. Given has now again been linked with Wenger as he seeks an experienced keeper.
Given said: 'To discuss now would be a little disrespectful to the goalkeepers they have already. Arsenal are a fantastic club, it's just too soon.'
Given added: 'I'm 34 and you cherish every year, every game. For me, it's very important that I play football. I know I'm at a very exciting, very ambitious club with great owners and great ambition to win trophies. That's why I went there.'
Mancini said: 'We have two good keepers and one will play and one will stay on the bench. We play a lot of games in one year - three games every week - so we could play both goalkeepers.'

Schalke line up Manchester City's Robinho to partner RaulGerman side Schalke are looking to build a star-studded attack. With Spanish legend Raul having already signed for the Bundesliga side, Manchester City misfit Robinho is their next target.
26-year-old Robinho joined Manchester City in a high-profile move from Real Madrid two years ago. He has since proved to be an expensive luxury at Eastlands and was loaned to Santos last season, where he has since flourished.
According to German daily Kicker, Schalke will make a move for either Robinho or Klaas Jan Huntelaar , who endured a difficult first season at AC Milan. While Huntelaar has been rumoured to be keen on a move to the Premier League, Robinho will almost certainly leave England if he exits Eastlands.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini must trim his large squad before the end of the month, with new Premier League rules stipulating a maximum squad of 25 players and Robinho appears a likely candidate for the chop.

Tottenham are considering whether to make a £22m offer for Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor. caughtoffisde.com

TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manager Martin O'Neill's departure from Aston Villa could be followed by winger Ashley Young's exit to Tottenham. Daily Mail

A tug of war is developing over Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Ozil, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona all battling for Germany's 21-year-old World Cup star. On a potential move to Barca, Ozil said: "It is my dream to play for them." the Sun

Liverpool are preparing a £12m bid for West Ham striker Carlton Cole after dropping their interest in Tottenham forward Peter Crouch. Daily Mail

One player expected to arrive at Anfield is 30-year-old Christian Poulsen, with the Denmark and Juventus midfielder set to secure a three-year deal. Daily Mirror

Stoke manager Tony Pulis is ready to sign Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones in a record £9m deal. Daily Mirror

Everton are set to offer £13m for Nice forward Loic Remy as West Ham prepare a raid for Toffees striker Yakubu. Daily Mail

Former Chelsea and Barcelona star Eidur Gudjohnsen is on the verge of a move to Fulham after rejecting the chance to join Birmingham. Daily Mail

Dutch side Ajax will not allow 21-year-old striker Miralem Sulejmani to move to West Ham permanently but a loan deal is set to be signed. talksport.co.uk

Scottish defender Steven Caldwell, released by Burnley, is keen on linking up with brother Gary at Wigan after training with Roberto Martinez's side. Martinez said: "We will speak to Steven but obviously these things boil down to a few things such as numbers." Daily Mirror

Free agent Marlon Harewood's proposed move to Blackpool is in doubt over the former West Ham and Aston Villa striker's wage demands. talkshite.co.uk

Arsenal are lining up a move for Paris St Germain's young centre-back Mamadou Sakho. caughtoffside.com

Or Arsenal manager has a quartet of centre-backs lined up and is tracking Bolton's Gary Cahill, Fulham's Brede Hangeland, West Ham's Matthew Upson or Everton's Phil Jagielka. caughtoffside.com

Stoke winger Liam Lawrence expects to complete his move to Celtic when Aiden McGeady signs for Spartak Moscow this week. the Sun

OTHER BOLLOX
One of the parties interested in buying Liverpool - the Sahara Group - has pulled out of the bidding process, leaving Chinese businessman Kenny Huang in pole position to take over. Daily Mail

Aston Villa players texted images of champagne bottles to each other to celebrate manager Martin O'Neill's exit - under a week before the new Premier League season starts. Daily Mirror

United States coach Bob Bradley has emerged as an early favourite to take over from O'Neill at Villa. the Sun

And Bradley has added fuel to rumours that he is joining Villa by saying he would one day like to work in Europe. yahoo.co.uk

Villa chairman Randy Lerner is keen on hiring Everton boss David Moyes. Daily Star

Another shock candidate is Mark Hughes, even though the former Manchester City and Wales boss signed a two-year contract with Fulham less than two weeks ago and is yet to take charge of a competitive game for the London club. Daily Telegraph

England manager Fabio Capello expects the Wembley fans to give his World Cup flops a rough ride in Wednesday's friendly against Hungary. The Italian said: "Always I respect the crowd. We win together, we lose together. I am the boss, they have to boo me like they boo the players."
Daily Mail

[Niall Quinns Discopants]

Why don't we just swap Robinho for Dzeko??? Easy.

[ant london]

Villa chairman Randy Lerner is keen on hiring Everton boss David Moyes. Daily Star

Another shock candidate is Mark Hughes, even though the former Manchester City and Wales boss signed a two-year contract with Fulham less than two weeks ago and is yet to take charge of a competitive game for the London club. Daily Telegraph

If I had a choice of working for Randy Bumgardner or Mad Mo I would be at Villa Park in a flash

Bet Hughesie is kicking himself for going Cottaging

I mean...would you want to work for someone who comes out with shit like this....

Mohamed al-Fayed's message to Scotland: Get rid of the Royal Family and I'll become your president
Oct 26 2009 By Jack Mathieson
HARRODS owner Mohamed al-Fayed has revealed his ambition to be the first president of an independent Scotland.
The eccentric Egyptian claims he has a shared ancestry with the Scots.

He also said he would buy the Queen's Balmoral Castle and turn it into a museum after any break-up of the UK.

Fayed, 80, said: "If you Scots retain the Royal Family, you will have no hope.

"When you Scots regain your freedom, I'm ready to be your president."

Fayed owns 65,000-acre Balnagown estate in Sutherland and two years ago he unveiled a life-size waxwork of himself in full Highland dress at his visitor centre.

He feels an affinity with the Scots and believes them to be descended from an Egyptian princess.

In a Sunday newspaper interview, he said it was time for Scotland to "waken up and detach itself from the English and their terrible politicians".

The tycoon has crossed swords with the establishment over his claims that his son Dodi and Princess Diana died as a result of a sinister plot.

Fayed, who has been refused a British passport, said he hoped to be offered Scottish citizenship if a planned independence referendum next year goes ahead.

He said: "You Scots have been living in a coma for too long.

"Whatever help is needed for Scotland to regain its independence, I will provide it. I have lived in England for 40 years but now the home that I want is Scotland."

However, Fayed was less enthusiastic about First Minister Alex Salmond, who, he said, had snubbed his offers of "help and advice".

He added: "I will do anything for Scotland but I don't want this Alex Salmond.

"I asked to meet him but he refused. He didn't want to know.

"I buy property in Scotland, I employ people there, I bring in tourists there, I believe in Scotland. But he won't see me."

The Record contacted Harrods yesterday to check whether Fayed was comfortable with the comments attributed to him.

Staff there said nobody was available for comment.

A spokesman for Salmond confirmed that he had declined an invitation from Fayed to discuss a possible donation. He said: "No disrespect was intended."

[Chinners]

Agent of Manchester City target Mario Balotelli rules out Inter Milan stay
The agent of Manchester City target Mario Balotelli has ruled out the possibility of the striker staying at Inter Milan .
"As I have said in recent days, I'm working," Mino Raiola told the Calciomercato Web site, referring to negotiations with Manchester City .
"Supermario," he continued, with remarks directed at the player, "Until the end of August there is still time, we are working for you to reach an agreement between the parties."
Referring to reports in the media of Balotelli's inflated wage demands, Raiola said, "Newspapers, clean glass very well…I use them for my car." IM Scouting

Barcelona are set to sign German World Cup midfield star Mesut Ozil from Werder Bremen on a four-year deal worth around £8.3m. The 21-year-old was a reported target for Chelsea and Manchester United. (Agence France-Presse)

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has insisted that signing Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano is not able to take place "at the moment" because of transfer restrictions. "If we do not sell, we do not buy," he said. IM Scouting