Monday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Hart ready for brickbats and barbs
England goalkeeper Joe Hart expects criticism if he fails to maintain his good form, but feels he is "lucky" to be learning at Manchester City.
Joe Hart has been built up - now he is steeling himself for a fall.
Despite being plastered on the front pages enjoying some down time in Spain last week, it would be a major surprise if Hart was not in goal for England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro at Wembley on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old had enough admirers in the summer calling for his inclusion during the Three Lions' dismal World Cup campaign.
When he was finally installed as Fabio Capello's number one ahead of the August friendly win over Hungary, it was merely confirming what many have known for some time; Hart is a goalkeeper of outstanding ability.
Apart from one bad mistake against Blackburn, plaudits have continued to be paid at regular intervals following a string of outstanding performances with both club and country.
But the Manchester City star is only too aware that a day will come when the critics' judgement will be harsh.
He merely views it as part of his education.
"I am well aware that the pressure is there," Hart told thefa.com.
"People build you up and as soon as anything does go slightly wrong, then they are hard on you.
"But that is the nature of the game and if I want to be at the top level, then I think you've just got to be prepared for things like that.
"It is another thing you need to work on. Another thing you need to be good at is taking criticism."
As far as his international career is concerned, Hart is benefiting from the continuity that comes from having so many Manchester City players around him, and Capello's nationality.
Although the wily old Juventus coach is far more experienced than City boss Roberto Mancini, they share the same thought processes, which is making life easier for Hart, who has still only won six caps.
"Obviously our manager at Manchester City is a lot younger and not quite done what the England manager has in the game," he said.
"But there are definite similarities in the way they do things and the way they want things to be done.
"It is the norm for me now. In fact, it would feel weird for me not to work with an Italian manager now because everywhere I am, they are there.
"It is great. They have a real winning attitude they bring towards the players."
In Hart's eyes, both Capello and Mancini benefit from the squads they are able to work with.
The depth of Capello's squad was tested last month, when John Terry and Rio Ferdinand missed the opening win over Bulgaria, then Michael Dawson was forced to withdraw from the team that beat Switzerland in Basle.
This time, Dawson and Phil Jagielka were already missing out before Terry became the third player to lose a fitness fight in as many days.
Yet, as Terry made his way back to Chelsea to discover the seriousness of a back injury that hurts enough to ensure he could play no part in Tuesday, Hart was still stressing the positives.
"I am lucky that both squads I am involved in are packed full of great players and competition for places is so high that no training session can be just binned off," he said.
"You have to be 100 per cent and pushing yourself all the time and I think that is really helping me as a young player."
With Terry out, Rio Ferdinand is now under the spotlight, with Capello still to decide whether the Manchester United man will retain the captaincy ahead of Steven Gerrard.
"Steven is in that category of being amongst the best and most respected players in the world," said Hart.
"To have people like that in your team is so good.
"You can just look to them and they will pull you out when needed.
"They give you the kind of advice you need and really make you perform to your best because they have such high standards."

Man City defender Lescott: SWP is England go-to guy
Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has revealed the influence teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips has inside the England squad.
Lescott is one of five City players in Capello's squad for the European Championship Group G qualifier against Montenegro on Tuesday night but winger Wright-Phillips is the team-mate he'll pal up with.
He told City's website: "Me and Shaun are close on England trips. I've sat with him since my Everton days, I've known Shaun for years. I spend most of my time away with him - his room's like the commute room on England trips!
"Everyone goes to him if they've got a problem - phones, playstations, everything, if you've got a problem to solve, you see Shaun. He's the go-to guy!"

Chuckle: City are threat to United
GARY NEVILLE admits that Manchester City are now serious title rivals.
Second-placed City are a point above Manchester United and currently the nearest challengers to leaders Chelsea.
And owner Sheikh Mansour is set to splash more cash on new players in January.
United stalwart Neville, 35, said: "We're behind City, which has not happened too often in the past 20 years.
"There is no doubt we have to see City as major challengers this season along with Chelsea.
"Both clubs are above us and the money City have spent, and the quality and depth in both squads, means we have to see them both as rivals."
United are yet to triumph away in the league - drawing all four games.
Neville added: "The difference between getting one point and three is the difference between us being top and being five points behind Chelsea."

AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato has told Manchester City and Chelsea they have no chance of signing him - as he would only quit the Italian club for Barcelona.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... eague.html

REPEATED AD NAUSAUM BOLLOX
Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has dropped a bombshell by admitting he is thinking of walking away from football.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -good.html

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Wolves midfielder David Jones, who is out of contract at the end of the season, is being tracked by Bolton, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. Daily Mirror

Manchester United are believed to be considering a move for Lyon winger Michel Bastos in the January transfer window. caughtoffside.com

OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has hit out at the "chaos" surrounding the club's future. Daily Mail

New England Sports Ventures (NESV) has positioned itself to renegotiate its proposed £300m purchase of Liverpool and has threatened to walk away if the club are docked nine points as a result of administration. Daily Telegraph

Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton has an as yet undisclosed "Plan B" to ensure that the club's sale to NESV goes through without the club going into administration. the Independent

The Football Association is still struggling to sell tickets for Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier between England and Montenegro at Wembley. the Sun

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has hit back in the row over aggressive tackling in the Premier League. Daily Mirror

Ex-Arsenal star Kenny Sansom believes rising Gunners star Kieran Gibbs is two or three years away from taking Chelsea star Ashley Cole's position as England left-back. Daily Mirror

Arsenal and France right-back Bacary Sagna expects to be on the sidelines for three weeks as he continues his recovery from a left thigh injury. Daily Mail

Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has called on manager Arsene Wenger to play him in a more central position, rather than out wide. the Sun

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan claims his time at the Selhurst Park helm cost him £47m. the Sun

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is trying to persuade Bernabeu legend Zinedine Zidane to help him as a coach rather than concentrate on his role as adviser to president Florentino Perez. Daily Mail

Injured Fulham and England striker Bobby Zamora, who broke his leg in September, has been going to the gym daily as part of his rehabilitation and aims to outmuscle Chelsea's Didier Drogba on his Premier League return and "bully" defenders even more. Daily Mirror

[Chinners]

Ian Holloway is to serve a one match touchline ban for the game against Manchester City
DESPITE being armed with a DVD to prove his point about the standard of refereeing in the Pool's Lancashire derby with Blackburn, Ian Holloway has still been hit with a one-match touchline ban.
The Seasiders boss travelled to London today for a hearing in front of an FA panel.
He had been charged with improper conduct following the Seasiders defeat to Rovers last month.
Prior to today's hearing, Holloway vowed to fight his corner in a bid to avoid a ban.
The Seasiders boss took with him a DVD containing footage from several Pool games this season, aiming to prove a point about the standard of refereeing in his team's fixtures.
Holloway had been charged after confronting referee Mike Dean at the end of Pool's 2-1 home defeat by Blackburn.
Holloway said: "I've got to give my side to the hearing and I'm going to say all of the things that have bothered me so far.
"There are lots of things that have confused me so far, particularly in the Blackburn game, and I'd like them to give me an explanation."
The Pool boss exchanged words with Dean in the tunnel after Pool's last home game and has since apologised for that.
He said sorry again today. "That's one of the first things I'll say to the panel – I'll hold my hand up for swearing," said Holloway.
"I find things very frustrating at the moment at this new level but I've got to learn."
The FA listened to Holloway's comments but found him guilty of using language and behaviour towards Dean and hit him with the one-game touchline ban - which kicks in immediately, for Sunday's visit of Manchester City - as well as a £9,500 fine.
The touchline ban is a blow for the boss: "I think it is a massive disadvantage to be sat in the stand rather than in the dugout," he said.
Holloway served a two-match touchline ban for improper conduct earlier in the year, following an incident in the FA Cup third-round defeat by Ipswich. He threw his coat, scarf and gloves on to the pitch after Pool had two men sent off.
That incident was taken into account by the FA when deciding their punishment this time – something Holloway disagrees with.
"In no court in the land are previous convictions looked at," he added. "I don't think that is right.
"As I understand it, they look back over the previous five years of your managerial record but how on earth are we expected to be squeaky clean for five years?
"There are different cirumstances in each match, different pressures and different events on the pitch, so surely each offence should be judged on its own merit."

[john68]

Didn't get a chance to look art that lot earlier...Thanks mate.