Saturday's B*ll*x

[Chinners]

Tevez-less City could challenge
Mancini believes title would still be within reach even without striker
Roberto Mancini believes that Manchester City could still win the Premier League next season even if Carlos Tevez leaves this summer.
The Argentina forward is understood to want to return to South America in order to be closer to his family, although his club manager hopes he will stay.
Mancini has already reaffirmed his hope that Tevez will remain at City but the Italian does not think that the potential loss of his captain would have catastrophic consequences.
Having qualified for next season's UEFA Champions League and lifted the FA Cup this season, City are setting their sights on the 2011/12 Premier League title, with or without their star striker.
"In football anything can happen, even selling Carlos Tevez and winning the title," said Mancini, who takes his team to Bolton on Sunday for their final match of the current campaign.
"It's strange but you need to improve and buy other good players. If we did this then I think we can do even better than this season."
Mancini thinks Tevez wants to stay at City due to the Argentine's anger at a story from his boss which had suggested the player wants to move to Italy.
"First of all, I spoke with some Italian journalists who asked me whether it was possible Carlos could one day go to Inter or Juventus," recounted Mancini.
"I said 'I don't know. Maybe. Carlos is in Italy for treatment'.
"In the newspapers it came out that I said Carlos wants to go to Italy. I didn't say this.
"Carlos came to me and asked why I had said this. I said I hadn't. I said I didn't know whether he wants to stay or go to Italy.
"Carlos said he wants to stay. Finished. This is history."

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has denied any reports of a rift with Italian striker Mario Balotelli, saying "it's not true that I tell him off". (Press Association)

Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham are all chasing 19-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
talkSPORT

OTHER BOLLOX
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says they are in a three-way battle with Liverpool and Arsenal to sign West Ham midfielder Scott Parker. Daily Mirror

Ajax's Maarten Stekelenburg, Birmingham's Ben Foster and Manchester City's Shay Given are all on Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp's list of targets to replace error-prone goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Aston Villa are set to move for £10m-rated Birmingham City goalkeeper Ben Foster if the Blues are relegated from the Premier League. Daily Express

Tottenham could offer defender Sebastian Bassong to Stoke in an effort to lure Potters defender Ryan Shawcross to White Hart Lane.Metro

Tottenham will step up their interest in Lille's £10m-rated striker Gervinho after boss Harry Redknapp watched the Ivory Coat international twice last week, but Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal are also tracking the 23-year-old. Daily Mail

Wigan are set to stun Chelsea and Liverpool by slapping a £20m price tag on highly-rated midfielder James McCarthy, who is a top summer target for both clubs. Daily Mail

Manchester United have joined Liverpool in the race for Newcastle defender Jose Enrique, who has a year a left on his Magpies contract but is yet to begin talks about extending his stay at St James' Park. Daily Mirror

Roma are considering a £5m move for want-away Arsenal midfielder Denilson, who has been told he can leave the Emirates. Daily Mail

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has refused to agree to a one-year contract extension and is considering retiring at the end of the season because the 36-year-old does not want to be a bit-part player next campaign. The Sun

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has launched a personal plea to Paul Scholes to shelve any retirement plans. Daily Mail

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is resigned to losing his job when he meets club officials next week, although Blues owner Roman Abramovich has no plans to be present when the Italian is told he will be leaving Stamford Bridge. The Times

Carlo Ancelotti says he is not "desperate" to stay on as Chelsea manager but has told a friend he feels he has already been sacked because of the lack of communication over his future from owner Roman Abramovich. Daily Telegraph

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is considering trying to lure Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp and his chief scout Ian Broomfield to Stamford Bridge as he weighs up replacements for current Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti. But Turkey boss Guus Hiddink remains Abramovich's preferred choice, working alongside a younger coach such as Marco van Basten. Daily Star

Arsenal have presented the Football Association with statistical evidence that claims Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere is at risk of injury if he is picked in Stuart Pearce's England squad for the European Under-21 Championship finals in Denmark this summer. Daily Mail

Former Old Trafford favourite David Beckham has been given permission by Los Angeles Galaxy to play for Manchester United in his close friend Gary Neville's testimonial against Juventus on Tuesday. Daily Mail

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand says it is "ridiculous" that United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could face sanctions from the Premier League if he chooses to field a so-called weakened team against relegation-threatened Blackpool on Sunday. The Sun

Rio Ferdinand believes that his Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney's rethink about quitting Old Trafford in October was the key to his side going on to clinch the title. The Sun

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish says midfielder Alberto Aquilani could have a future at Anfield, despite spending most of last season on loan at Juventus. Daily Mail

Coach Tim Sherwood says Tottenham will rest first-team players and field youngsters if they qualify for next season's Europa League, as they are more interested in qualifying for the Champions League again. Metro

Gerard Houllier's future as Aston Villa manager could remain unclear until they have settled their dispute with former boss Martin O'Neill, which has gone to a Premier League managers' arbitration tribunal. the Guardian

Ahead of Birmingham's crunch match with Tottenham on Sunday, where only a win will guarantee Premier League safety for the St Andrew's club, Blues manager Alex McLeish has insisted he wants to stay on as manager of the Blues next season. The Sun

Relegated West Ham will begin their rebuilding plans by handing a debut to 17-year-old Australian prospect Dylan Tombrides - a forward dubbed the new Harry Kewell - against Sunderland on Sunday. The Mail

QPR shareholder Lakshmi Mittal will launch a bid to seize full control of the Premier League new-boys on Monday and, if he succeeds, will hand boss Neil Warnock £40m to spend on strengthening his squad.The Sun

Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric says he is enjoying himself at White Hart Lane and has no plans to leave, but admits it will be "hard" to watch the Champions League on TV next season. Daily Mail

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta feels Manchester United's Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs are the biggest threat to his side in next weekend's Champions League final and says they are "shining examples for any player". The Independent

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson forced his players to watch a recording of their 2009 Champions League final defeat by Barcelona this week to remind them of what went wrong two years ago. The two sides meet again in this year's final at Wembley next week. The Sun

[craigmcfc]

The world's going to end in less than 6 hours and you've not even left us a WAG as a sweetener. You've buckled under the weight of the Slim/Vhero brigade. Vhero's no longer around and, well Slim probably isn't either as it's well past 6pm over there....

[Im_Spartacus]

NOw I like Roberto Mancini when he speaks to the press normally, but sometimes he does him no favours telling blatent lies.

According the the Press Association, he is telling folk he doesnt tell Balotelli off, yet less than 6 weeks ago, he went public about his frustrations with the player, stating he wishes he could punch him, and he shouts at him every day? It seems often that Mancini has to tell so many lies about what happens between him and the players, he can't keep track of them.

[Florida Blue]

I can imagine living in the UK all your life the papers just do in your heads at an early age.

Sunday: Tevez is gone for sure
Monday: Mancini talks to Tevez, he is staying
Tuesday: Tevez must talk to his family
Wednesday: Mancini talks to Tevez before and after the Cup Final, he is definitely staying
Thursday: Tevez says he needs to see and talk to his kids
Friday: Mancini hopes Tevez will stay, but can win without him
Saturday: World ends at 6pm.

[Fesan]

I can imagine living in the UK all your life the papers just do in your heads at an early age.

Sunday: Tevez is gone for sure
Monday: Mancini talks to Tevez, he is staying
Tuesday: Tevez must talk to his family
Wednesday: Mancini talks to Tevez before and after the Cup Final, he is definitely staying
Thursday: Tevez says he needs to see and talk to his kids
Friday: Mancini hopes Tevez will stay, but can win without him
Saturday: World ends at 6pm.

Sunday: Giggs and Scholes share Player of the year award.

[Florida Blue]

I can imagine living in the UK all your life the papers just do in your heads at an early age.

Sunday: Tevez is gone for sure
Monday: Mancini talks to Tevez, he is staying
Tuesday: Tevez must talk to his family
Wednesday: Mancini talks to Tevez before and after the Cup Final, he is definitely staying
Thursday: Tevez says he needs to see and talk to his kids
Friday: Mancini hopes Tevez will stay, but can win without him
Saturday: World ends at 6pm.

Sunday: Giggs and Scholes share Player of the year award.

Brother, the world ended, it is irrelevant, right?

[1950]

I can imagine living in the UK all your life the papers just do in your heads at an early age.

Sunday: Tevez is gone for sure
Monday: Mancini talks to Tevez, he is staying
Tuesday: Tevez must talk to his family
Wednesday: Mancini talks to Tevez before and after the Cup Final, he is definitely staying
Thursday: Tevez says he needs to see and talk to his kids
Friday: Mancini hopes Tevez will stay, but can win without him
Saturday: World ends at 6pm.

Sunday: Giggs and Scholes share Player of the year award.

Brother, the world ended, it is irrelevant, right?

Fergie time.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

I can imagine living in the UK all your life the papers just do in your heads at an early age.

Sunday: Tevez is gone for sure
Monday: Mancini talks to Tevez, he is staying
Tuesday: Tevez must talk to his family
Wednesday: Mancini talks to Tevez before and after the Cup Final, he is definitely staying
Thursday: Tevez says he needs to see and talk to his kids
Friday: Mancini hopes Tevez will stay, but can win without him
Saturday: World ends at 6pm.

Sunday: Giggs and Scholes share Player of the year award.

.....at the same time that Mrs Shrek admits to having had a threesome with Giggs and Scholes....