Thursday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Manchester City Still Pursue Move for £60m Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney
Manchester City are reportedly lining up a £60m move for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney despite the fact that the 25 year old only recently put pen to paper on a new five year deal. The Eastlands outfit still has hopes of securing a deal for the England international and are hopeful that the strained relationship between the striker and boss Sir Alex Ferguson could help force the issue of a potential Old Trafford exit.
It did look for some days that the Man United star was set to leave his club when he stated he felt the club lacked ambition but Ferguson managed to work his magic and get the prolific marksman to put pen to paper on an improved deal but some sources believe that Rooney is still out in the cold and that his team-mates and the club’s supporters are not ready to forgive him for his actions just yet.
Some have pointed to the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo also signed a big money deal not long before he left for the Bernabeu and recent performances have proven that the Premier League side can manage without Wayne Rooney who has not been in the best of form for some months.
City are keen to bring in more ‘marquee’ signings as they look to push on and challenge not only for a top four finish but to push on into becoming genuine title challengers. Any move from their local rivals will surely be rebuked by Man United but until Wayne Rooney gets back on the field of play and performing near to the highs he reached last term then there will always be speculation that he has burned too many bridges at the club than he can possibly rebuild.

ROBERTO MANCINI yesterday insisted he is firmly in control at Manchester City, saying: The players are still behind me.
The Eastlands boss spoke out after the club was rocked by bitter rows and splits in the dressing room.
SunSport revealed how players wanted Mancini axed amid accounts the Italian had fallen out with brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure.
Mancini left the Toures behind for tonight's Europa League clash against Poznan in Poland.
But he claimed: "To say I've lost the players is not true. For Yaya I felt it was important he stayed behind and worked.
"Kolo needs to work this week as we have three games next week."

Holland coach coy on Nigel de Jong talks; Manchester City midfielder not selected Holland coach Bert van Marwijk announced his squad for a friendly against Turkey and there was no place for Nigel De Jong , although he has held talks with the Manchester City midfielder.
De Jong hit the headlines last month after breaking the Hatem Ben Arfa 's leg during Manchester City 's clash against Newcastle United. The 25-year-old was criticized sharply by Van Marwijk for his combative style and promptly told that he would not be selected for the national squad for now.
True to his word, Van Marwijk has chosen not to select De Jong for his squad to face Turkey later this month.
However, Dutch publication Elf Voetbal reports that the Dutch coach has spoken to De Jong, but revealed little saying "I had an enlightening conversation with Nigel and it has made things a lot clearer now.
"I want to make no further announcements about the content of the conversation."
De Jong has become a crowd favourite at Manchester City since moving to Eastlands from Hamburg in 2008. He has played twelve times for Roberto Mancini's side so far this season.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli: It's hard to get used to lenient English refereeing
Mario Balotelli has admitted to a tough start to his Manchester City career, which he says hasn't been helped by lenient refereeing.
Injury has meant Balotelli's season has never really kicked off, but he is due to play tonight against Lech Poznan in the UEFA Europa League.
"It was difficult for me… because I suffered an injury early in the season," he told reporters. "The contrasts were hard and the referees do not seem to want to blow the whistle often, not like in Italy when they do it as soon as you are touched."
"I also need to get to know my teammates better, and understanding their movements is something that takes time," he continued.
But the early setback to his Manchester City career doesn’t seem to have dented Balotelli's ambition.
"I want to be the best player in the world," he said. "In the past I have already said that I do not care what other people want or expect from me because I know what I want to achieve, what I will get. I will always give everything I have because I want to be the best. That is my aim and I am determined to get there. I came to City to compete in the Champions League."
Yesterday, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini urged the 20-year-old to do his talking on the pitch. while warning it could take him two months to adapt to the Premier League.

TRANSFER BOLLOX
The world's top clubs are queuing up for Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, with Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona poised with £50m bids. the Sun

Inter Milan will also make a move for the 21-year-old after he tormented them for the second time in a fortnight in the Champions League on Tuesday. Daily Mirror

Napoli midfielder Marek Hamsik claims that Manchester United scouts will watch him when he lines up against Liverpool in the Europa League on Thursday. Daily Mirror

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is interested in Santos' 18-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar. caughtoffside

QPR and Sheffield United are leading the chase to sign £250,000 Port Vale goalkeeper Stuart Tomlinson, who is 25. Daily Star

Aston Villa are ready to rival Liverpool in a bid for Preston's £4m-rated defender Sean St Ledger. Daily Mail

Tottenham are watching French striker Nolan Roux and are considering making a cut-price £3m move. Daily Mirror

Sheffield United boss Gary Speed wants to sign Manchester United defender Ritchie De Laet on loan again after Blades captain Chris Morgan was ruled out for the rest of the season. Daily Mail

West Ham are resigned to losing England defender Matthew Upson on a free transfer next summer. Daily Mirror

OTHER BOLLOX
Former Chelsea boss Luis Felipe Scolari has claimed he was not allowed to do his job properly by the Blues hierarchy. Daily Mirror

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has warned the club's new director of football strategy Damien Comolli that he has the final say on transfers and team selection. Daily Mirror

Everton boss David Moyes is set to send striker Jose Baxter to Scunthorpe on loan to gain experience. Daily Mail

Aston Villa winger Ashley Young thinks it is only a matter of time before team-mate Marc Albrighton joins him in the England squad. Daily Star

West Ham co-owner David Gold says that the club's position at bottom of the Premier League is making him depressed - but insists his ultimate aim is still to win the title with the Hammers. Daily Mirror

Calls are growing for Joey Barton to be recalled to the England squad, but the Newcastle midfielder says he will not be waiting for the phone to ring. Daily Express

Paris St Germain have terminated the contract of former Serbia and Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman after only two substitute appearances. Daily Express

Manchester United forward Bebe was advised to get a haircut from manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was unimpressed with his dreadlocked look when he first arrived from Portugal. Daily Mail

The Edenbridge Bonfire Society's annual parade and display on Saturday will have a 49ft figure of Wayne Rooney as its centrepiece. Daily Mail

Tottenham's rapidly rising star Gareth Bale hardly ever drinks. "I tried having a beer at the usual times, family celebrations and Christmas and that, but never liked the taste so I've left it alone," he said. the Sun

Everton captain Phil Neville was the world's third most popular topic on social networking site Twitter on Wednesday night after users deluged the web with messages of worship, with people mentioning the 33-year-old more than even United States president Barack Obama or the country's mid-term elections. the Sun

[john@staustell]

"For Yaya I felt it was important he stayed behind and worked.
"Kolo needs to work this week as we have three games next week.""
And AJ, Barry and Hart need to work for getting legless.

For 'the hill' at Carrington (courtesy Oscar Hammerstein):

Ol' man hill,
Dat ol' man hill
He mus'know sumpin'
But don't say nuthin',
He jes'keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along.

He don' plant taters,
He don't plant cotton,
An' dem dat plants'em
is soon forgotten,
But ol'man hill,
He jes keeps rollin'along.

You an'me, we sweat an' strain,
Body all achin' an' racket wid pain,
Tote dat barge!
Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An' you land in jail.

Ah gits weary
An' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin'
An' skeered of dyin',
But ol' man hill,
He jes'keeps rolling' along.

Don't look up
An' don't look down,
You don' dast make
De Italian boss frown.
Bend your knees
An'bow your head,
An' pull date rope
Until you' dead.)

Let me go 'way from Carrington,
Let me go 'way from de Italian man boss;
Show me dat stream called de English Channel,
Dat's de ol' stream dat I long to cross.

O' man hill,
Dat ol' man hill,
He mus'know sumpin'
But don't say nuthin'
He jes' keeps rollin'
He keeps on rollin' along.

Long ol' hill forever keeps rollin' on...

He don' plant tater,
He don' plant cotton,
An' dem dat plants 'em
Is soon forgotten,
but ol' man hill,
He jes' keeps rollin' along.

Long ol' hill keeps hearing dat song.
You an' me, we sweat an' strain,
Body all achin an' racked wid pain.
Tote dat barge!
Lif' dat bale!
Git a little drunk
An' you land in jail.

Ah, gits weary
An' sick of tryin'
Ah'm tired of livin'
An' skeered of dyin',
But ol' man hill,
He jes'keeps rollin' along!

[ashton287]

It's funny the numbers that get banded about these days and its completely down to us. £50mil for bale? £60mil for rooney?

It's like they think of what a player is worth and then just double it to get people to read the crap. God i remember being 14 and beleiving what i read in the newspapers.

[Mase]

It's funny the numbers that get banded about these days and its completely down to us. £50mil for bale? £60mil for rooney?

It's like they think of what a player is worth and then just double it to get people to read the crap. God i remember being 14 and beleiving what i read in the newspapers.

I remember being on holiday as a kid and saw the back of a newspaper stating Alan Shearer would be earning 30k a week at Newcastle and everyone was creamin their knickers at the time.

[Dameerto]

van Marwijk is very close to the top of my list of most despised managers right now - anyone that can use an innocent player as a scapegoat to deflect the blame for his own tactical instructions is a coward.

[shortagain]

van Marwijk is very close to the top of my list of most despised managers right now - anyone that can use an innocent player as a scapegoat to deflect the blame for his own tactical instructions is a coward.

He shouldn't be, he's doing us a favour not picking Nigel, he can have a rest whilst the international break is on

[Chinners]

MORE BUST-UP FALL-OUT BOLLOX
Man City boss Mancini insists unrest reports are 'lies'

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has dismissed reports of rifts within the ranks at Eastlands, insisting the stories in the media are false.

Reports have suggested the Italian has clashed with striker Carlos Tevez and that other players are unhappy with each other and with Mancini's methods.

Mancini said: "If there is someone who wants to write these lies, they can do. I'm happy for them, but it is not true.

"If we want to achieve our target, we must ignore this and continue to work."

Mancini also defended the club's record this season.

"We are in fourth place in the table, we have started the season very well," he said. "OK, we lost against Wolves, but that can happen sometimes."

City's 2-1 loss at Wolves on Saturday came straight after a 3-0 home defeat by Arsenal and increased the pressure on Mancini and his players who must cope with high expectations following a summer of heavy spending.

The club brought in big-name recruits such as midfielder James Milner and striker Mario Balotelli, so their recent defeats have attracted a lot of negative attention, with some national newspapers reporting bust-ups between players and discontent with Mancini.

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor and defender Vincent Kompany were seen arguing during Saturday's defeat, while Yaya Toure and Milner were understood to have had a disagreement at the interval during the defeat by Arsenal.

But Milner has rejected suggestions that there is disharmony in the City dressing room.

"You would be worried if there wasn't that hunger and desire to win - everyone is desperate to do as well as they can and win trophies," he said.

"Every week you will see changing rooms up and down the country where people are saying things and people are disagreeing. But as soon as you step off that football field at the end of the game it is all forgotten - you are together again, you are a team.

"As long as there isn't a problem after the game, and there never is, we are a tight group, then the nonsense written in the papers just brings you closer together."

Milner also followed the lead of Gareth Barry from earlier in the week as he voiced his support for Mancini.

"We have 100% faith in him, you look at his record and he is obviously a top manager. We are very fortunate to have him and the other coaching staff around him with so much experience," he added.

"We are lucky to have the playing staff we do and the backroom staff - down to the physios and the tea ladies. The club is set up in such a way for us to be successful.

"We are all pulling in the right direction and hopefully we can get there as a soon as we can."

Milner's comments reinforce the statement made by Barry, who said on Monday: "The truth is that there is a group of players working together, working hard and working for the boss."

The England midfielder also apologised to Mancini after he was caught drinking on camera in Scotland on a day off.

"I regret that, it was naive of me. It shouldn't have happened," added Barry, who was with City team-mates Joe Hart and Adam Johnson at a party.

"I have apologised to the manager; we were in the wrong but that is in the past now and we are only looking forward.

"Everyone in that dressing room and training complex wants to do their best for Manchester City."

City have won only five of their opening 10 league matches and are now eight points behind leaders Chelsea.

And defender Kolo Toure admitted the players need to raise their game.

"We need to take more responsibility," said the Ivory Coast international. "When you play for one of the richest clubs in the world, you just need to deliver on the pitch.

"The criticism is good because that will make us work harder."

When asked whether there were divisions in the squad, Toure replied: "No, not at all.

"We are a team and in any team there are problems but the important thing is to try to resolve them in the dressing room and the training camp."