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Mancini’s Uproar At Bad Refereeing Is Completely …Justified
Uproar from the Man City camp over inconsistent decisions. Two foot or not two foot? That is the question.
You can’t help but feel sorry for Roberto Mancini at the minute. Now before you say it, not because his grandma hasn’t knitted him a new scarf yet, and no, not even because his career at Leicester City lasted all but 4 games. The real reason we can’t help but feel sorry for the Italian gent is a result of the controversial decisions made against his precious Manchester City during recent games.
As you will inevitably already know, City captain, Vincent Kompany was sent off during a gruelling Manchester derby, when he delivered a two footed tackle onto United’s Nani; a challenge that some argue to be ‘firm but fair’. Now, the ref’s decision here was debatable enough, but then for Mancini to have to sit on the sidelines and watch Liverpool’s Glen Johnson make an almost identical tackle against Julian Lescot, the lack of colours shown must really have gotten under his skin.
This inconsistency shown by top ranking officials makes me wonder why referees don’t get their heads together and make a firm decision on where they draw the line on a clean tackle or a heinous foul.
Thankfully, the days of defenders such as Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris and Norman ‘Bite Yer Legs’ Hunter hacking down the dainty strikers is over. Even I as a Leicester City fan, as well as a lifetime of disappointing Saturday afternoon results, have witnessed some frankly brutal offenses from players such as the infamous Dennis Wise .
These days however, footballers are more likely to face an onslaught from Tony ‘Don’t get too near or he’ll give you a little push’ Hibbert. This being said, meaty challenges and two footed tackles are very frequent, and players still get badly injured and careers can still end with a late timed engage.
Now this would be looked upon as an ‘occupational hazard’ if footballers were allowed to deliver such tackles, or against the rules if not. It is the reoccurring inconsistency that is really shaking up the football leagues at the minute, highlighted by these decisions against Manchester City.
The question is, can football exist without these hefty challenges, and if so, why can’t the referees distinguish one from the other. If these tackles didn’t exist, sure artists could prevail with their footwork, but is that really all football is about. Having said this, it would be disgusting if after paying a weeks wages to watch Messi strut his stuff (on the football pitch that is) you then had to watch him get stretchered off at half time because some nutter had broke his legs with a two footed stomper.
If officials are going to be clear about eradicating the two footed ‘reckless tackle’, then consistency must be shown by referees, if not for the future of football, then for poor Roberto Mancini, because I’m pretty sure his hair was never this grey before
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CITY TEAM-MATES DAVID SILVA AND PABLO ZABALETA COPY MARIO BALOTELLI CAR
MARIO Balotelli has been sold a dummy by team-mates after they bought identical motors.
The Manchester City striker, 21, took delivery of a gleaming white Bentley Continental GT.
But he was amazed when David Silva, 26, and Pablo Zabaleta, 27, turned up in the same model cars in the same colour.
And the daft Italian ace keeps his team-mates giggling by trying to get into the cars of Silva and Zabaleta in the belief they are his.
One City insider said: “He’s normally very individual and regards himself as one of a kind, so to see two other people with the same vehicle as him has got him thinking twice whenever he goes to a car park to pick up his Bentley.
“It’s OK at the training ground because the lads have their own parking spaces but it’s more confusing if, for instance, they go out on a team-building exercise.”
The source added: “If the cars are parked three in a row, Mario finds it hard to tell the difference and the lads have been joking about him trying to get into the cars of David and Pablo.
“Number plates aside, the only way Mario can tell whose car belongs to who is the fact his Bentley is filthy dirty at the moment while the others are immaculate.’’
Tevez to trouser £43m in PSG deal
CARLOS TEVEZ is ready to pick up £43million in wages if his £31m move to Paris St Germain goes ahead.
The proposed 3½-year deal for the Manchester City rebel includes wages of £10m a year, matching what he was on at City. But he will also be given an incredible signing on fee of £8.3m.
The deal for the Argentinian striker, 27, has blown both Milan clubs out of the running.
PSG have completed negotiations with Tevez's advisor Kia Joorabchian.
Now they just need the final OK from the player who had initially favoured a move to either AC or Inter Milan.
PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti said "Everyone knows that we want a striker. Carlos Tevez? It's a great opportunity for us to have a great striker.
"Today Tevez isn't playing for Manchester City — but he wants to play. We hope to find a good solution.
"He is a great player. In around 15 days he could get back into great physical condition."
Tevez has been in Argentina since falling out with boss Roberto Mancini in October.
City and United ramp up interest in Benfica midfielder Gaitan
Manchester City and United are maintaining interest in Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan.
Both sides had scouts watching the 23-year-old Argentine in Benfica's 2-0 League Cup victory against Santa Clara on Wednesday.
Gaitan has a £37.5m release clause in his contract. United and City have also posted interest in St Etienne defender Kurt Zouma, 17, while City are giving a trial to Chilean defender Tomas Diaz Navarrete, 18.
[spoiler]Serial WAG Melissa Satta is now romantically involved with AC Milan midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng, but that’s not important right now. This way to a visual feast....
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Queen's Park Rangers yesterday agreed a fee with Manchester City believed to be £2.5 million for the defender Nedum Onuoha and were close to sealing a six-month loan deal for left-back Taye Taiwo from Milan.
Onuoha, an England Under-21 player, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, has made only three appearances for City this season but featured regularly when Mark Hughes, QPR's new manager, was in charge at the club.
Taiwo joined Milan from Marseilles in the summer but has struggled for a regular first-team berth at San Siro. The 26-year-old Nigeria international had been linked with a move to Arsenal but now looks set to join QPR, with completion of the deal subject to a work permit.
Hughes said yesterday he had made a second unsuccessful bid for the Blackburn Rovers captain, Christopher Samba, and warned "There comes a point where you need to draw a line under some deals, because you think they're not going to progress."
QPR are also in talks with Chelsea over the Brazilian defender Alex, while they hope to secure a work permit to complete the loan signing of Sao Paulo striker Henrique.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012 ... ootball%29
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool have moved closer to signing Joao Carlos Teixeira, a 19-year-old midfielder from Sporting Lisbon, for a fee believed to be around £850,000. Asked about the move, the Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish offered the cryptic response that "there might be something about that" but added that Teixeira was not being considered as a first-team player as he "is only a kid".
Blackburn are on the verge of signing striker Anthony Modeste on loan from Bordeaux until the end of the season. The 23-year-old, who has struggled since leaving Nice in 2010, is due at Ewood Park for a medical.
Nemanja Vidic insists United don’t fear City and believes the Reds are the only team in Manchester who will win trophies year after year.
The Old Trafford skipper, who is recovering from knee surgery which will rule him out for the rest of the season, believes Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have the right mix of youth and experience to win the Premier League title ahead of the Blues.
And he believes United will only improve knowing they are battling with their rivals for silverware.
“If you look at our history and commitment, you know we like to win all trophies and I believe we are the team in Manchester who will keep doing that every year,” Vidic told M.E.N. Sport.
“Of course we are confident. We are challenging for the title and we are only three points behind City.
“We have had problems with injuries but I think against Arsenal this weekend we have a good chance. We have a few players back which will help the manager. We have a good squad – a good balance between experience and youth.
“It’s good for the city to have two football teams doing well – there’s a lot of talk and banter. It’s always healthy to have competition and we don’t mind it. It helps to improve ourselves.”
There were fears Vidic would face up to a year on the sidelines after sustaining his horrendous cruciate knee ligament injury during United’s defeat to Basel in the Champions League in December.
But he revealed he had surgery last month – and is confident he will be playing again by the start of the new campaign.
“Everything is going well,” he said. “I had my operation three weeks ago, it’s progressing in the right way. I still have a long way to go but I will be patient. I have motivation to work hard and I want to be back as soon as possible.
“I want to be fit and at the same level I was at before the injury. That will push me to work hard. There is no timescale for my return. It’s not about targeting a date but I hope I will be right for the start of the season.”
Nice and amusing comments bit: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... comments=1
Dimitar Berbatov's agent insists the Manchester United striker is not going anywhere in this month's transfer window. the Daily Mirror
Roma have enquired about Manchester United's 18-year-old midfielder Ravel Morrison, the subject of a failed bid from Newcastle recently. talkShit
Shanghai Shenhua have confirmed talks are ongoing with Chelsea over a deal for striker Didier Drogba, and have admitted they are hopeful the transfer can be sealed by Monday. Metro
Stoke chairman Peter Coates says striker Kenwyne Jones is not for sale, and denies reports of a £5m offer from Saudi Arabia side Al Hilal. Stoke Sentinel
West Brom have revealed profits of £9m as boss Roy Hodgson aims to dive into the transfer market with Cardiff midfielder Peter Whittingham, 27, and Bristol City striker Nicky Maynard both targets. the Sun
Bolton are looking to sign Welsh international defender Danny Collins, 31, from Stoke. Daily Mail
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas thinks English football should seriously consider following the Spanish model by allowing Premier League clubs to field "B" sides in the Football League - or even permitting the purchase of smaller rivals for use as feeder teams — to allow young prospects the best possible chance of fulfilling their talent. the Times
Villas-Boas also insisted striker Fernando Torres has not developed a "mental weakness" after being forced to play second-fiddle to Drogba. Daily Mirror
The campaign for safe standing areas to be incorporated into top-level football grounds has received a major boost, after Aston Villa said they are examining introducing a standing section at Villa Park. the Guardian
United goalkeeper David de Gea may need to undergo eye surgery before the end of the season. the Guardian
Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers has hailed the "immense talent" of loan signing midfielder Josh McEachran. the Sun
Former England captain David Beckham has revealed 'one or two' clubs tried to bring him back to the Premier League before he committed his future to LA Galaxy. Sky Sports
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside believes the club would not be fighting relegation if he had persuaded Benfica to let him keep on-loan striker Rodrigo at the Reebok this season. Bolton News
After Juventus struggled to offload under-performing striker Amauri, an enterprising fan decided to try to sell the Brazilian-born star on eBay. Metro
