Vladimir Weiss: Bring it on … just try not to break my legs
Vladimir Weiss last night warned SPL defenders that kicking him only makes him come back stronger.
Rangers’ Slovakian winger twice had to pick himself up off the turf in the first 25 minutes against Dundee United yesterday, hefty challenges from Scott Robertson and Jon Daly earning the Tannadice pair yellow cards. But Weiss, man of the match in the home side’s 4-0 win, said that knocks and bruises were a fact of life for an SPL winger, and the only tackles he has a problem with are the ones “that break his legs”.
“Whether it is Scotland or England then the type of player like me is always going to get kicked,” Weiss said. “I am trying to not get frustrated and sometimes I should play the ball a bit earlier. I am learning but I have got no problems with the tackles … at least the ones that don’t break my legs! There were two yellow cards after 15 and 20 minutes, if the Dundee United right-back has a yellow card then he has got to be a bit careful, that gives me a better position to run at him.”
Weiss, on a season-long loan from Manchester City, had been an unused substitute against his parent club’s city rivals at Old Trafford on Tuesday night, and took some of that pent-up energy into yesterday’s game. “I don’t ever really like to sit on the bench but if the manager decides that way I am only 20 years old and I have to respect that.
“It is always a bit frustrating, but this was a good chance to impress and do my best. For me it doesn’t really matter who gets the man of the match. We are looking to win every match and we have got 100% at the moment so we are happy that we won the game.”
There were two yellow cards after 15 and 20 minutes, if the Dundee United right-back has a yellow card then he has got to be a bit careful, that gives me a better position to run at him. Vladimir Weiss
Weiss may be invited to try to compare SFL-style hacking to SPL when Rangers take on Dunfermline in the Co-operative Insurance Cup at Ibrox on Tuesday night.
With the likes of James Beattie and Weiss still needing games, manager Walter Smith will resist the temptation to field too unfamiliar a side for the meeting with the Fifers, but David Weir is likely to get a well-earned night off because Andy Webster is finally available again.
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has said that Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini and his former Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho are the world's best.
Balotelli is currently recuperating from a knee operation and spoke to Italian website Sportal.it.
He said, “Once Jose Mourinho told me that I was so good he only needed me on the pitch for 20 minutes. As a person everybody has got his own opinion, but as a manager Roberto Mancini and Jose are the best.”
Commenting on his move to Manchester, Balotelli said that although he is no big fan of the city itself, he is there to play football.
He commented, “I am not here because this is the best place in the world but instead for the football and I should recover from my injury soon. After the break it should only take me another week and then I will be ready."
20-year-old Balotelli has been sidelined since Manchester City 's Europa League clash against Timisoara on August 19 when he came off the bench to score the winner. It has so far proven to be his sole Manchester City appearance since a big money move from Inter Milan .
Manchester City Striker Emmanuel Adebayor's Relationship With Roberto Mancini Strained After New Row
Manchester City forward Emmanuel Adebayor has seen his relationship with manager Roberto Mancini further strained after another row, according to the News of the World.
It is believed the Togo international had to be restrained by players and coaching staff after Mancini accused the player of faking an injury, with the Italian boss saying it was nothing more than a dead leg, though Adebayor wanted a hospital scan to prove the injury was genuine.
The former Arsenal man is believed to have responded by showing a scan of his torn leg muscle when he marched into Mancini’s training ground office.
This incident is said to have happened prior to City’s 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers last weekend and Adebayor has also missed the last two games due to the injury.
The relationship between Mancini and Adebayor has been on the rocks since the opening day of the season against Tottenham Hotspur, when the Italian could only name the striker on the bench. This led to reports suggesting that Adebayor had to be held back by friends when trying to confront Mancini at White Hart Lane.
Adebayor has also threatened to leave the club in the summer but the club refused to sell the £170,000 a week striker.
What is apparent though is that Adebayor is just one of a number of City players who have yet to warm to the method’s of Mancini, who has been at Eastlands for almost a year.
Despite this the club have moved to quell any reports that they will replace Mancini due to the unrest within the City ranks.
Manchester City Midfielder Michael Johnson Returns To Training
Michael Johnson has returned to training for Manchester City, according to the News of the World.
The 22-year-old midfielder came through the ranks at the club's youth academy after being a part of the team that managed to reach the FA Youth Cup final in 2006.
That same year, under the care of then boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, the midfielder made his Premier League debut as well. But a hamstring injury put a stop to the player making consecutive appearances for his club.
A year later Johnson spent a significant time on the sidelines nursing an abdominal injury, before returning to put in a few bright performances alongside Stephen Ireland and Elano.
However, injury struck again late last year when it came to light that the midfielder had suffered a career threatening knee injury in training, but it appears that he has finally recovered and returned to train with his team-mates.
It has been reported that manager Roberto Mancini is willing to give the 22-year-old a chance to prove his mettle at the club.
WAG OF THE DAY
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/4064 ... ncy#page/2
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Manchester United are set to step up their efforts to land Real Madrid's Lassana Diarra. Sir Alex Ferguson has been a long-time admirer of the versatile French midfielder, who left Portsmouth for Real Madrid in a £20m deal last December after spells at Chelsea and Arsenal. The People
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton hopes to make the loan signing of French international Hatem Ben Arfa permanent, following his stunning match-winning strike against Everton. News of the World
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is interested in bringing Napoli's Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani to Anfield in January. Caughtoffside.com
Middlesbrough are looking to take on Newcastle striker Leon Best, who almost signed for Gordon Strachan at the Riverside Stadium in January, on a season-long loan deal. News of the World
Tottenham and Everton are keen on signing striker Peniel Mlapa from German club Hoffenheim. The 19-year-old, who was born in Togo, was named Young Player of the Year in Germany last season. Sunday Mirror
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks plans to delay the sale of the club for up to two years, despite being on the verge of a £280m deal to buy out partner George Gillett. News of the World
Striker Wayne Rooney will never walk away from Manchester United, according to team-mate Darren Fletcher. The Scottish midfielder said: "He's a big part of United's history now. He absolutely loves playing for this club." Sunday Mirror
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich admits that the days of multi-million pound transfers and bumper contracts at Stamford Bridge are over. Daily Mail
Abramovich, meanwhile, is set to offer the club's boss Carlo Ancelotti a new deal that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2014. Sunday Mirror
Premier League officials will meet next month to discuss the sanctions they plan to impose on Manchester United as a result of manager Alex Ferguson's refusal to speak to the BBC, with the club likely to be fined £25,000 every time he fails to give a post-match interview. Daily Mail
Liverpool full-back Paul Konchesky has appealed to referee Howard Webb to be sensible and keep his cards in his pockets for Sunday's match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. Daily Mail
Sir Alex Ferguson has tried to explain why he wasn't always on the best of terms with Liverpool's former boss Rafa Benitez. "I have always had good relationships with all the Liverpool managers. That changed in his regime. Why did that happen? You have to examine him more than me." Sunday Express
Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks has revealed how close he was to quitting the sport to become a banger-racing mechanic. The 28-year-old struggled to even make the bench under former boss Simon Grayson before things steadily improved when Ian Holloway arrived at the helm. The People
more bollox later ...
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