Monday's B*l**x

[Chinners]

Manchester City primed to sign French starlet Niang from Caen
The Champions look set to beat Arsenal and Tottenham for the 17-year-old's signature after Brian Marwood invited him to the club for talks

Manchester City are ready to win the race for French sensation M’Baye Niang - and snatch him away from Arsenal and Tottenham.
City supremo Brian Marwood has personally approached Niang’s club Caen with a request for Niang to come for talks this week after the teenager spent a few days with the Gunners.
Attacking star Niang, who has made 30 appearances in the first team already, is set to decide on a move before the window shuts and has also had an invite to visit Tottenham.
However City’s direct move - and money - may yet win the chase for the £6million-rated prospect who wants to leave the French Second Division outfit.
Niang, a quick and tall striker, is in the French under-21 side years ahead of his age and rated the best player to emerge from his country in that role for some time.
Marwood is trying to improve the quality of the next generation of City players - with Roberto Mancini unhappy that there have not been many coming through.
City have spent heavily on teenagers who could emerge in time, but Niang is seen as a player who could even walk right into Mancini’s first-team squad

Real Madrid turn their attention to Man City for defensive reinforcements
Jose Mourinho’s desire to sign a quality defender has been well publicised by the Spanish media and now it seems that the Portuguese is looking at his favourite league to bring in some new recruits and solidify his current back line.
After last year’s La Liga triumph over Barcelona, the Santiago Bernabeu is abuzz with the potential that the future holds for the current team and Jose Mourinho wants to capitalise on this optimism by bringing in some big recruits. The name currently spiralling around in the boardroom is Manchester City’s Micah Richards according to Calcionews.
The English defender has been an integral part of the Citizen’s Premier League winning squad and it’s believed that the Spanish giants consider his strength and pace a vital asset to their style of football. A move to Real Madrid would make Richards one amongst a series of English players to don the white kit of the club. Michael Owen, David Beckham and Steve McManaman have all tried to bring their English grit and flair to the club but failed to make a serious impact in the memories of the club’s fans.
However, Richards isn’t a player being poached simply for his brand value but because he’s a rational choice to cull the club’s woes at the back.
Convincing Roberto Mancini to give up Richards for a sum of €10 million will be a difficult task for Mourinho but the Portuguese’s charm could lure the gritty defender to Spain.

The Mail's daily mission to link City with any player that nobody else has thus far continues unabated. Obviously nobody at the paper is willing to put their name to the bollox they continue to churn out .......

Man City consider Wanyama bid as they wait for Van Persie developments By Sportsmail Reporter
Manchester City are monitoring Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama while they continue to wait on separate developments with Robin van Persie.
The defending Premier League champions have concerns over their defensive midfield position with injured Gareth Barry struggling to make the start of the season and Nigel de Jong looking to leave.
They also want cover for Yaya Toure and see potential in powerful Kenyan Wanyama who has expressed a desire to leave Celtic. The 21-year-old has been watched by Liverpool, Newcastle and QPR.
Meanwhile, the club expect AC Milan and Juventus to firm up interest in Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko this week, something which will impact on Van Persie.
However, manager Roberto Mancini said: ‘Both Dzeko and Tevez will stay at City. We are a great team and we try to keep all our great players. It won’t be easy but they will stay here.
‘We still lack a couple of players to reach [the level of] Real Madrid and Barcelona. Also our mentality has to grow season by season.’

ON THIS DAY - OFFICIAL WEBSITE BOLLOX
Looking back through the history books for the events, signings and memorable matches that happened on this day in City’s history.
Brian Clough called Malcolm Allison "the Errol Flynn of football, who was too handsome for his own good" and this day in 1979, flamboyant manager returned to City for his second spell in charge, replacing Tony Book, the man he had mentored.
Allison was brought in by chairman Peter Swales and was handed a sizeable transfer war chest in a bid to recreate City’s glory days of the early 70s. With his trademark fedora in tow, Allison splashed the cash on Michael Robinson and Steve Daley.
Despite these considerable outlays, City finished a disappointing 17th in the 22-team Division One and Malcolm headed for the Maine Road exit door once more, taking up the reins for a short but successful spell at Sporting Lisbon.
Big Mal sadly passed away on 14 October 2010 after a lengthy illness and tributes poured in from across the globe, including from Mike Summerbee who said that Britain had lost one of its greatest ever managers.
"He gave us a football brain and if things weren't going right, we could change it ourselves because he made sure we had football brains. He had a wonderful character and that spread right through the side," said Mike.

OTHER BOLLOX
Newcastle have stepped up their bid to land Andy Carroll, 23, after having a bid to take the Liverpool striker back to Tyneside on a season-long loan rejected. Daily Mail

Real Madrid are close to a £30m deal for Luka Modric, 26, with just a final few elements of the deal with Tottenham to be ironed out. Daily Mail

Chelsea could be beaten to the signing of Inter Milan right-back Maicon, 30, by Spanish champions Real Madrid. Metro

Stoke's move for USA and Houston Dynamos midfielder Geoff Cameron, 27, could be scuppered by Major League Soccer authorities putting a £2.2m valuation on the player. Daily Mirror

Chelsea midfielder Florent Malouda's wage demands are preventing a possible move to Brazilian side Santos. Daily Mirror

Everton, West Ham and QPR are all vying to sign 19-year-old Inter Milan striker Luc Castaignos. Inside Futbol

Manchester United midfielder Anderson wants to use next season to prove his doubters wrong and show why the Old Trafford club paid Porto £25m for him. Daily Mirror

Mick McCarthy could be given the Nottingham Forest manager's job on Monday after ending his Portugal holiday early.

Gary Neville has said the notion that England must always beat nations such as Italy is "arrogant" and "disrespectful" to such opposition and that a major dose of realism is required to dispel the expectation that the national team have to go close to winning every tournament they play in. Independent

Juan Mata has warned Spain that their favourites tag for the upcoming Olympics football competition does not guarantee success. Daily Mirror

Tottenham new boy Gylfi Sigurdsson has revealed the prospect of challenging for trophies lured him to the club. talkShit

Fans and athletes in Spain have been quick to express their horror at the outfits which will be worn by Spanish Olympians at the London 2012 Games after pictures were leaked. Metro


MORE BOLLOX SOON ...

[Dronny]

Manchester United midfielder Anderson wants to use next season to prove his doubters wrong and show why the Old Trafford club paid Porto £25m for him. Daily Mirror

Jeez, another reason why whiskynose isn't alllowed to splash the cash..........Dave or a fat roly poly?

[Nigels Tackle]

what's this wanyama like?

could he cut in at the top level?

[freshie]

what's this wanyama like?

could he cut in at the top level?

Not sure, but the last kenyan we tried to sign, McDonald Mariga, hasn't set the world on fire

[Slim]

Is anyone else concerned that we seem to be nowhere in the transfer market? Are we assuming that our side is strong enough to compete on both the domestic and european fronts without any new blood in the mix?

Time is ticking and I am not sure at this point if we are bringing anyone else in.

[lets all have a disco]

Is anyone else concerned that we seem to be nowhere in the transfer market? Are we assuming that our side is strong enough to compete on both the domestic and european fronts without any new blood in the mix?

Time is ticking and I am not sure at this point if we are bringing anyone else in.

I get the feeling were trying to sell before buying because of FFP.

But i dont understand as it isnt stopping Chelsea.

[shortagain]

Just waiting to have our bids accepted perhaps as we are no longer prepared to be held to ransom. Plus one or two we may fancy could be tied up with the games, meaning they are currently not able to talk transfer.

If he intends to keep the same strike force and only let the dead wood + Kolo go, we don't need much as some of the EDS lads are nearly ready to be given a run out. My wish list includes Javi Martinez, Gaston Ramirez & Andrea Ronocchia, with Rekik, Suarez & Razak on the fringes for the cup games.

[Slim]

Kolo's leaving? Well that seems like a silly move.

[Chinners]

There were 'rumours' about Kolo or should I say Media shit-stirring .... seen nothing that leads me to believe any of it is/was true

[BlueinBosnia]

Mancini refutes rumors: Tevez & Dzeko will stay at City
"Dzeko and Tevez will stay at City. We are a big club and we want to keep all our best players. It will not be easy, but they will stay"


The manager of English football champions Manchester City Roberto Mancini in an interview with Sky Italia announced the retention of the attacking duo Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez at the Etihad.

In recent days the media has mentioned Milan as a new destination Edin Dzeko next season. Apparently the BiH international would be a replacement for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is on the threshold of signing for PSG.

"Dzeko and Tevez will stay at City. We are a big club and we want to keep all the best players. It will not be easy, but they will stay", Mancini said, adding:

"Yet we are still short of a few players in order to reach the level of Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​and we also have to further improve our mentality in the next season."

Mancini himself was mentioned as potential boss of Russia, but the Italian has signed a new multi-year deal with his current employers.

"I am honored by the interests of Russia, but I have very important plans for the future of Manchester City" - the Italian strategist said on the subject.

Also expected to be in contention for a starting place up front for the "Citizens" next season is Mario Balotelli, who will battle with Dzeko and Tevez.

"Balotelli should be grateful to himself for such an unprecedented talent, but he mustn't spend any more (time? attention? money?) on non-football matters. The next season, he must concentrate. Messi, Ronaldo and Iniesta are working every day to stay at the top, and he has yet to reach that level" - said Mancini.

Source: http://www.24sata.hr/nogomet/mancini-op ... yju-274133 (and basically every other Bosnian news source in the past 18 hours)

Edited grammatical error.

[freshie]

I get the feeling were trying to sell before buying because of FFP.

But i dont understand as it isnt stopping Chelsea.

Or PSG. How are they going to get away with it?

[Piccsnumberoneblue]

Is anyone else concerned that we seem to be nowhere in the transfer market? Are we assuming that our side is strong enough to compete on both the domestic and european fronts without any new blood in the mix?

Time is ticking and I am not sure at this point if we are bringing anyone else in.

Yes, me.
I understand that the squad we have has room to improve more. It wouldn't be a disaster to go into the new season with our present strikers. But we do need an injection of pace, some defensive reinforcements and i suspect that Barry needs replacing gradually, not forgetting the situation with DeJong needs resolving.

[Chinners]

Russia have just confirmed Fabio Capello as their new coach.

[The Italian Job]

Is anyone else concerned that we seem to be nowhere in the transfer market? Are we assuming that our side is strong enough to compete on both the domestic and european fronts without any new blood in the mix?

Time is ticking and I am not sure at this point if we are bringing anyone else in.

I get the feeling were trying to sell before buying because of FFP.

But i dont understand as it isnt stopping Chelsea.

Chelsea have released three players who were on considerable wages (Drogba, Bosingwa, Kalou).

We've released Hargreaves & Stu Taylor...

[ashton287]

Is anyone else concerned that we seem to be nowhere in the transfer market? Are we assuming that our side is strong enough to compete on both the domestic and european fronts without any new blood in the mix?

Time is ticking and I am not sure at this point if we are bringing anyone else in.

I get the feeling were trying to sell before buying because of FFP.

But i dont understand as it isnt stopping Chelsea.

Chelsea have released three players who were on considerable wages (Drogba, Bosingwa, Kalou).

We've released Hargreaves & Stu Taylor...

bridge's wage bill wil be down. ade is off. i heard something about santa cruz moving on.

[Slim]

I noticed that Bridge went from £80K when we signed him to £90K when we originally tried to get rid of him, and now to £100K for the last year of his contract. Seems inflation on useless players is a little insane at the moment.

[Dubciteh]

what's this wanyama like?

could he cut in at the top level?

Not sure, but the last kenyan we tried to sign, McDonald Mariga, hasn't set the world on fire

Turns out there brothers!

[Risby]

<null>

It will interesting who we do eventually target and bring in. Apart from speculation from the media, which all seems to be the same old stories, I don't think anyone outside of the boardroom knows who we are bidding for. Frustrating for us fans, but I am glad we are keeping our cards close to our chest.

[Tokyo Blue]

I wish the club would get a move on. There is only six and a half weeks of the transfer window left!!!!!!!

[The Italian Job]

Is anyone else concerned that we seem to be nowhere in the transfer market? Are we assuming that our side is strong enough to compete on both the domestic and european fronts without any new blood in the mix?

Time is ticking and I am not sure at this point if we are bringing anyone else in.

I get the feeling were trying to sell before buying because of FFP.

But i dont understand as it isnt stopping Chelsea.

Chelsea have released three players who were on considerable wages (Drogba, Bosingwa, Kalou).

We've released Hargreaves & Stu Taylor...

bridge's wage bill wil be down. ade is off. i heard something about santa cruz moving on.

It's not done and dusted tho, is it. Apart from Bridge (and we'll continue paying something like 70-80% of his wages) these players are still on our books and any deal might potentially fall through still.

With the Olympics coming up & the transfer window closing in 45 DAYS, it's not the time to panic yet.