City chairman thanks Cook
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has praised former chief executive Garry Cook for his work in propelling the Blues towards football's elite.
Although the headline figures in results that were released by City were an overall loss of ?194.9million and wage costs that have spiralled to ?174million, a rise in commercial, matchday and media revenues give some credence to the opinion that they will never post such poor figures again.
And for that, Khaldoon believes Cook deserves praise, saying: "It is important to recognise that much of the work covered in this report occurred under the stewardship of Garry Cook. I want to take this opportunity to formally thank him for his contribution to the extensive transformation of the organisation."
It is easy to see why City are being so strong in defending their present position as the mammoth sponsorship deal with Etihad Airlines, said to be worth ?35million-a-year over the next decade, plus the riches on offer in this season's Champions League, will have begun to impact on City's accounts in 12 months' time.
The Blues are also pointing out that commercial revenue has risen 49.7% to ?48.5million and TV rights, thanks to the club's third-place Premier League finish, winning the FA Cup to end a 35-year trophy drought and a run to the last 16 of the Europa League, has increased 27.4% to ?68.8million.
Overall turnover was ?153.2million, breaking through the ?150million barrier for the first time.
City have also been quite canny in loading a number of 'exceptional items', including the departure of Brazilian striker Jo, onto this year's balance sheet, helping to swell the loss beyond the ?160.5million on normal trading.
Others, such as Emmanuel Adebayor, Wayne Bridge and Roque Santa Cruz remain, which is cited as one of the major reasons why their wage will looks so high.
For all the talk about vast sums being earned at City, the club do not believe the money they are paying to marquee signings such as Yaya Toure and David Silva differs in any great degree to the money Wayne Rooney is making at Manchester United or Fernando Torres at Chelsea.
"Look at the companies (owner) Sheikh Mansour has invested in," a City official said. "He simply does not take on failing businesses. He wants Manchester City to be as financially sustainable as possible. That has always been the situation."
DENNIS TUEART’S GREENLIGHT FOR MANCHESTER CITY
Dennis Tueart was always the ultimate team man
DENNIS TUEART will dazzle Manchester City fans today with a simple push of a finger. But 35 years ago he did the same with a blur of his right foot that kept them dreaming through three decades of mediocrity.
With his hometown club Newcastle visiting the Etihad Stadium, it is fitting that the man christened the ‘King of the Geordies’ by City fans in his Seventies pomp, should be switching on the Christmas lights around the ground.
The twinkle in their eyes though will not last as long as Tueart’s brilliant overhead kick winner against Newcastle in the 1976 League Cup final has lasted in the memory. As Noel Gallagher wrote in Tueart’s autobiography: “It was all we had for 34 years.”
Now, after so many false dawns, Gallagher and his fellow City followers are looking forward rather than back – and Tueart could not be happier.
Once he has pushed the button on the lights and signed a few hundred copies of his book, ‘Dennis Tueart: My Football Journey’, in the City store, he will take his seat and enjoy a contest that carries so much significance.
Roberto Mancini may have spent millions on star names but he has also got them working as a team.
Dennis Tueart
It is a meeting of the Premier League’s first and third-placed teams, both unbeaten. The highest-scoring attack against the meanest defence.
Despite the obvious diversity in financial resources, Tueart says the teams share a common denominator – demanding managers who have instilled a work ethic.
“You’ve got two managers with different tools but a similar philosophy,” said Tueart. “One of them can’t buy so he has been forced to rely on building a team ethic. The other can buy, but still demands the same team ethic.
“Alan Pardew has had to cope after losing his four big hitters, Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, Joey Barton and Luis Enrique, but has compensated by bringing together a group of players who work for each other.
“Roberto Mancini may have spent millions on star names but he has also got them working as a team. And as we’ve seen with the Carlos Tevez episode, if anyone upsets the team then he is out.”
Just as at Wembley in 1976, Tueart believes City’s touch of class will tip the match their way and end Newcastle’s best start since Kevin Keegan’s cavaliers galloped out of the blocks in 1994.
“Newcastle have had some tremendous away performances but we have that little bit of extra quality which will win the day,” he said.
“I can’t see them stopping City from scoring and if Newcastle fall behind, whether it is in the first half-hour or the last 20 minutes, the big question is – have they got a plan B?”
Although a highly skilled and high-scoring winger, or wide striker as he prefers to be remembered, Tueart was always the ultimate team man. It is no surprise he savages Rodney Marsh and Georgi Kinkladze in his forthright book for being more interested in themselves than the City teams they played for.
He also laments the shortcomings of two managers he played a big part in appointing, Joe Royle and Kevin Keegan, as well as accusing former chairman Francis Lee of plotting against him.
Tevez’s £250,000-a-week salary may look a folly, but at least City’s Abu Dhabi owners can afford it. When Tueart started his 10-year stint as a director in 1997 there were so many professionals on the books, he counted £12,000 that was going out in wages every week on players who were sitting in the stands for most matches, including Nigel Clough, who was on £4,000 a week.
City spend huge sums these days, but they are getting results.
Tueart believes that much of that is now down to Mancini, a manager he thinks has all the qualities to take them to the top and keep them there for many years.
“Roberto had 18 years as a top player for club and country in Italy,” said Tueart. “He cut his coaching teeth at Lazio and Fiorentina and then spent four years at the most politically sensitive club in the world, Inter Milan, and delivered seven trophies.
“He accepts responsibility and is used to dealing with egos. He has one himself, which is no bad thing.
“Handling all the egos in the City squad was going to be his challenge and he appears to have come through it.”
Tueart, 61, was never tempted to be a coach or manager.
“I’m a control freak and I’d rather be in control of my own destiny rather than rely on 11 players,” he said. He was certainly always in control of his playing career.
He quit Sunderland after they won the FA Cup in 1973 because their ambitions didn’t match his. He left City in 1978 to join New York Cosmos, partly because it was an opportunity of a lifetime and partly because he felt City’s upward trajectory under Tony Book had peaked with the runners-up spot behind Liverpool a year earlier.
But after 50 years as a fan, player and director, he simply cannot understand Tevez’s behaviour.
He added: “I understand that his ego has been dented by no longer being No1 striker. But he had two great seasons when he was top scorer, he was revered by the supporters, he had been made captain.
“City won their first trophy for 35 years, they are in the Champions League, top of the Premier League, and he is playing for the wealthiest club in the world.
“He’s only 27, not a 30-something and looking for one last pay day. No one’s going to pay him more than he is on now anyway.
“The supporters I speak to are unanimous they don’t want him back and it would be difficult for the players to accept him back.
“It is a sad situation with no winners. City will lose a good player and won’t get their money back on him and Tevez could end up playing in the back end of Argentina or Brazil.”
Tueart’s first footballing memory is being perched on his father’s shoulders watching Jackie Milburn’s Newcastle parade the FA Cup in 1955.
The club later rejected him as a schoolboy because he was too small. He took revenge with that overhead kick and expects City to turn out the lights on Newcastle’s bright start this afternoon.
Dennis Tueart’s autobiography is published by Vision Sports Publishing (RRP £18.99). His royalties from the book will be donated to the teenage and young adult cancer unit at The Christie cancer centre.
AC Milan set for Inter scrap as Italian rivals weigh up bids for Manchester City striker Tevez
AC Milan are ready to rival neighbours Inter in a bid for Carlos Tevez.
Milan are desperate to add a striker to their ranks in January and have already considered short-term moves for ageing Chelsea stars Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka.
However, club chief executive Adriano Galliani believes Tevez, at 27, can serve the Serie A champions for many years.
While Milan would struggle to match the £40million City were asking in the summer, they hope to strike a deal similar to that which took Robinho to the San Siro before the start of last season.
According to Milan newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Galliani wants an initial loan deal that would pave the way for a permanent deal at the end of the season.
Milan believe they would also benefit from building a relationship with Tevez's adviser, Kia Joorabchian, who has extensive contacts with some of the world's most talented emerging players.
Galliani was almost lost for words when confronted by the Tevez question yesterday.
After talking more openly about other matters, he responded with a nervous laugh and just said, 'Carlitos, Carlitos' before escaping into Milan's HQ. Drogba remains a tempting target for Milan and has the advantage of not yet being cup-tied for the Champions League.
Milan are likely to offer only half of Tevez's current £250,000 wages, but believe Inter will also not break the bank to sign the Argentina striker.
Inter captain Javier Zanetti this week backed a renewed bid, saying: 'I think new players will come.
'Certainly if important players arrive they will reinforce a squad which is already competitive. Tevez isn't getting on well with his club and he's a great player.'
But Inter have tried to restrain their spending and boss Claudio Ranieri has a plethora of strikers at his disposal.
Boca Juniors have declared themselves out of the race for Tevez, while Brazilian side Corinthians are looking at other players after becoming worried at the lack of encouragement for their bid.
Mancini plays down Man City move for De Rossi (talkShit)
Roberto Mancini has played down the chances of Manchester City signing Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi.
The 28-year-old’s contract at his hometown club expires this summer, and Mancini has previously made no secret of his desire to bring him to the Premier League.
But the Eastlands boss looks set to turn his attention elsewhere in his search to strengthen City’s midfield after admitting he wouldn’t be surprised if De Rossi, who is also a target for Chelsea and Real Madrid, puts pen to paper on a new deal at Roma.
He told Corriere Dello Sport: "It's difficult to lure a Roman footballer and a Roma fan away from Roma. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to renew his contract."
BARNSLEY MAKE A MOVE ...
... for Manchester City Israel international midfielder Gai Assulin, 20, and Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson, 22, before next Thursday’s loan deadline. Star
ROBERTO MANCINI: MICAH RICHARDS IS BRAINLESS!
ROBERTO MANCINI has told Micah Richards: You’ll only fulfil your England dreams when you stop being brainless.
Fabio Capello has been criticised for ignoring the Manchester City full-back.
City boss Mancini said: “If Micah plays to 100 per cent, for me he can become one of the top full-backs in Europe. Sometimes his body is on the pitch, but his mind is left at home. For this, he can improve – if he can remember to pick up his brain!
“It’s clear some will have to stay at home for the European Championship, but I hope Micah can go.”
BINGO BOLLOX
Ok, later next week, BINGO B*ll*x, a ManCityFans.net fundraiser for one of our top posters will begin. It's quite simple to be honest. From this week you can purchase a Bingo Bollox Card. This will cost £2-5 and you can buy as many as you want in multiples of £52- by contributing donations to the Bingo fund. Please use the BINGO PAYPAL FEATURE elsewhere on this site and for each £2-5 donation please put "Bingo B*ll*x" in the info/subject box. Once payment is confirmed, you will recieve a PM/email requesting YOU to submit your choice of any 12 random numbers between 1 and 50 (you must submit seperate PM/choose different numbers for each £2-5 bid)
These numbers will be logged and the final cut off for pledges/purchases will be next Friday (25th November) by 5pm. All bids/requests after this date time will not count but may be charged etc etc) ALL entrants by this date/date will be entered into the BINGO BOLLOX MACHINE from Monday 28th November. Full rules and process of the Bingo Bollox machine will be announced shortly. Prizes will be announced and added to the final prize fund during this week. At present the Prize fund stands as follows:
2 tickets (accomodation etc not included) for a top gig at Hampton Court Palace in June/July 2012 (confirmation of act in the next week or so)
A selection of signed Match/Shoot pictures (Man City 70's, 80's stars)
Signed Bert Trautman 1956 cup winners book
Loads of other donated spot prizes etc to be announced as the week goes on ... plus
Patrick's defaced T-shirt (we are trying to get this signed by someone very famous people we might know)
TBC - Two invites to an impending wedding (again accomodation/travel not supplied with date to be confirmed)
GET DONATING!!! New stuff added all the time ... donate/buy now ... it's a cracking cause
Full rules, terms and conditions to be announced in the 'B*ll*x' over this weekend
Full rules, terms and conditions to be announced over this weekend
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]OTHER BOLLOX
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out signing Gunners legend Thierry Henry on loan. the Sun
Hamburg are eyeing a move for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and are ready to make a move should the Frenchman fail to agree a new deal at Old Trafford.talkShit
QPR manager Neil Warnock is believed to be lining up a £3m bid for West Ham defender James Tomkins. Daily Star
Meanwhile, former Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavon has turned down a short-term deal with the Hammers.Daily Mail
Tottenham winger Gareth Bale is flattered by the transfer interest from Spanish giants Barcelona. Daily Mirror
Stoke have been linked with a January transfer move for FC Twente's powerful striker Marc Janko. Inside Futbol
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is the shock name among the contenders to replace Nigel Worthington as Northern Ireland manager. Daily Mail
Striker Fernando Torres has hinted that executives at Liverpool forced him out of the club when he moved to Chelsea for £50m in January.Metro
Former Chelsea captain Dennis Wise is believed to have rejoined the board of Chelsea Pitch Owners, which owns Stamford Bridge. the Sun
QPR manager Neil Warnock says he will personally drive Adel Taarabt to France if Paris Saint-Germain offer £20m for the forward. Daily Mirror
The company run by Portsmouth owner Vladimir Antonov has insisted the club will not be affected after a Lithuanian bank, of which Antonov is a majority shareholder, was placed in temporary administration. the Guardian
Current Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich coach Josef Heynckes has hinted that sporting director Christian Nerlinger will be offered an extension to his current deal at the club in the next few days. Bild
Under-fire Blackburn manager Steve Kean says any talk of him signing a new deal at Ewood Park while his side are in the bottom three is ridiculous. the Sun
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has warned midfielder Barry Bannan that he needs to change his lifestyle if he wants to be a permanent fixture at Villa Park. Daily Mail
Former Elgin City midfielder Adam Moffat is set for the biggest game of his life, playing against former England captain David Beckham when his Houston Dynamo side take on LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup final. Daily Telegraph
