Carlos Tevez looks on as Nigel De Jong slides in to tackle Newcastle's Ben Arfa
NIGEL De Jong, the player who disfigured the World Cup final with his chest-high tackle on Xabi Alonso, was at the centre of a fresh storm as Hatem Ben Arfa was ruled out for the season.
De Jong was accused of making a “needless” tackle by furious Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, which left new boy Ben Arfa with a suspected double break of his left leg.
Referee Mike Atkinson did not even award a free-kick for the reckless challenge in the opening minutes, which saw De Jong launch into a sliding tackle on the saturated turf with his trailing leg catching Ben Arfa’s standing leg in a scissor movement.
A visibly upset Hughton was clearly reining in his true feelings afterwards when he said: “I’m sure everyone will have their own opinions and it will be shown numerous times. But it was a tackle that didn’t need to be made.
“The news is not good, it could be tibia and fibula. When you see a young, talented player injured like that, of course it has upset everyone in the dressing room. All of our thoughts are with Hatem. No, I’m not surprised a free-kick wasn’t given. The referee made some horrendous decisions.”
But Stan Collymore, now a radio pundit, was not so diplomatic. He said: “The tackle was as nasty as it could be. De Jong wrapped his legs round him and broke his leg.”
He then added: “We should get rid of players like that.” It was only Ben Arfa’s third league game since joining on loan for a year from Marseilles. But it continues this season’s trend of horrific injuries, after sickening incidents that sidelined both Bobby Zamora and Antonio Valencia for months.
De Jong, an amateur kickboxer in his youth, earned the nickname ‘the Lawnmower’ in his Hamburg days for his ability clear up everything in front of him.
That was underlined in Johannesburg in July when he planted his boot into Alonso’s chest, a challenge that World Cup final ref Howard Webb has since admitted should have earned a red rather than yellow card.
But City’s assistant Brian Kidd jumped to De Jong’s defence. He said: “Everyone knows Nigel, and he’s as honest as the day is long. I didn’t think it was a rash challenge. There was no malice in it. He’s not that type of lad.”
The De Jong incident overshadowed a dazzling winner by Adam Johnson that lifted City above neighbours United into second place in the table.
But insult was added to Newcastle’s injury when Atkinson awarded City a penalty when Mike Williamson challenged Carlos Tevez outside the box. Then he denied them a spot-kick in the second half when Shola Amoeobi was tripped by Joleon Lescott.
Hughton said: “It’s hard enough coming here to play a team of City’s quality, but when you get some incredible decisions go against you it makes it even harder.
“Williamson got the ball and the tackle was outside the box. The linesman should have been up with play. And we should have had a stonewall penalty when Lescott took away Shola’s legs.”
Tevez converted City’s 17th-minute spot-kick, but Newcastle were level just seven minutes later when Jonas Gutierrez punished slack defending.
A draw would have been a fair outcome from this frenzied battle, but super-sub Johnson followed up his strike against Juventus in midweek with a superb solo three minutes after coming on – going past Joey Barton and Jose Enrique before curling a shot into the far corner.
Kidd admits Man City going for title
Manchester City No2 Brian Kidd admits they're eyeing the Premier League title after victory over Newcastle United.
City manager Roberto Mancini left immediately after the final whistle to visit his father, who is currently ill at home in Italy.
It was left to Kidd, a veteran of title-winning campaigns at Manchester United, to sum up a pleasing day for the Blues, who have now gone above their neighbours from Old Trafford.
"Sometimes you have to win ugly," he said. "You have to scrap and fight. And if you are going to win things or get a top four place, you need some luck as well.
"Manchester United dropped points yesterday and we knew either Chelsea or Arsenal would drop them as well.
"The aim is to make sure when the others slip up, we are in a position to take advantage. That is what we have done." Tribal B*ll*x
WAG OF THE DAY
http://njfrogman.blogspot.com/2010/06/n ... onero.html
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Lazio are negotiating a loan deal for Manchester United's striker Federico Macheda according to Gazzetta dello Sport. IMScouting
Celtic striker Georgios Samaras insists he has no intention of leaving the club despite strong rumours of an exit during the summer. ESPNsoccernet
Chelsea are willing to offer young goalkeeper Ross Turnbull to Stoke in return for Asmir Begovic. Daily Mail
Manchester United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele was in Norway on Sunday night to watch Lindegaard's Norwegian 'keeper Aalesunds Anders Vegard Fl. Vaagbo on Twitter
Back at Old Trafford, Michael Carrick says he never had any intention of leaving Manchester United during the summer, despite rumours linking him with a move away from the club. ESPNsoccernet
OTHER BOLLOX
Sven Goran Eriksson insists he has done his homework on Leicester's new owners and won't be out foxed again after his Notts County fiasco. The Mirror
Roy Hodgson is under mounting pressure to keep his job as Liverpool manager after their "unacceptable" defeat to Blackpool. Daily Mail
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has accused the club's boo boys of being fickle, after his side were jeered off the field having lost to Everton, their first home defeat in just over 12 months. The Mirror
Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves could make his long-awaited return from injury in the Carling Cup clash with Wolves in three weeks time. Daily Mail
Manchester United's superstars see the funny side after a sewage pipe burst in their dressing room moments before the clash against Sunderland.Daily Mail
more bollox later ...
