More Yaya Toure considers quitting Man City Bollox
Manchester City news: Man City midfielder Yaya Toure weighing up offers from PSG and Anzhi
Yaya Toure is ready to quit Manchester City in order to secure a big money move to either Paris Saint-Germain or Anzhi Makhachkala, according to sources close to the player.
Toure has established himself as the heartbeat of City’s title winning side since moving the Etihad Stadium in 2010 from Barcelona.
The Ivorian scored the winner in Manchester City’s FA Cup win against Stoke in 2011, and was key to Roberto Mancini’s side as they claimed their first league title in 44 years last term.
Now though he is reportedly considering a move away from the Etihad Stadium in order to secure a big money contract, with PSG or Anzhi Makhachkala his probable destination given the size of his wages at Manchester City currently.
According to Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, Toure has offers to leave Manchester City as he attempts to negotiate the best possible deal for himself.
Balague, writing on his Sulia page, reveals he used a similar strategy at Barcelona which ultimately ended in him signing for Manchester City.
“Yaya is willing to leave Manchester City this summer. He has offers, I am told, and, considering he is one of the best paid players in the world, that can only come from Anzhi or PSG,” Ballague writes.
The Citizens midfielder later admitted he didn’t want to leave the Nou Camp in 2010 for the Citizens but issued the club with an ultimatum over a new contract.
“His strategy is pretty similar to the one that forced Guardiola to let the player go even though Yaya admitted later on that he never wanted to leave.
“Barcelona were asked, either a new contract or I am leaving. I wonder if a new contract will be demanded of City before the summer"
The complete footballing history of Manchester City star Sergio Aguero
Born, June 2nd 1988
Joined Independiente, 1997
Became the youngest player to debut in the Argentine First Division at 15 years and 35 days, breaking the record previously established by Diego Maradona, July 5th 2003
Became the youngest player to compete in Copa Libertadores, February 2004
Scored his first goal for Independiente in a 2-2 draw against Estudiantes, November 26th 2004
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern Munich chairman, March 28th 2005
17-year-old Aguero was linked with a £10m move to the German club. “We must move before the Spanish and Italian clubs join the race, otherwise he will be more expensive. He certainly won’t be a bargain but with a young player of such quality you have to be prepared to take a risk.”
Aguero, March 30th 2005
“If I had to choose a league then it would be the Premier League. I have been a Liverpool fan for as long as I can remember and it would be a dream to play there. I watched the Champions League final and celebrated every goal as if it was for Independiente.”
Signed for Atletico Madrid for a club record of €23m, May 30th 2006
‘Hand of God’, October 14th 2006
Aguero scored his 2nd goal for Atletico using his hand, which turned out to be the winning goal in a 2-1 win.
FIFA Under-20 World Cup, summer 2007
Aguero was the captain for the final against Czech Republic and scored in their 2-1 win. He won the Golden Boot of the tournament, scoring six goals in seven games, and the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.
Aguero, December 28th 2007
Aguero’s get-out clause was increased from £25m to £40m. “Atletico is a very big club and I feel at home. I want to stay here for many years and help (the team) achieve something important.”
Aguero banned, February 20th 2008
Aguero was sent off in Atletico Madrid’s UEFA Cup game for spitting at Bolton’s Matt Taylor. UEFA banned him for two games as a result.
Aguero, April 17th 2008
“At the moment my head only imagines me being in this club for many years. It is imaginable that I could triumph in any big English club, but at the moment money is not the priority in my life.”
Third highest scorer in La Liga with 19 goals and qualification for the Champions League for the first time time since the 1996/1997 season, May 2008
Named the 2nd best player in La Liga in the Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano, May 20th 2008
Jose Segui, agent, July 13th 2008
“I’ve had interest from a leading English team and they’ve asked me to approach Atletico with a bid. I can’t say more until I’ve spoken to the club about the offer. All I can tell you is that it’s one of the best teams in Europe and it’s not Chelsea.”
Beijing Olympics semi-final, August 20th 2008
Scored two goals in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Brazil.
Beijing Olympics final, August 23rd 2008
Won a gold medal after Argentina beat Nigeria.
First Champions League goal, September 16th 2008
Aguero scored in Atletico’s 3-0 win over PSV.
Enrique Cerezo, Atletico president, September 27th 2008
“I don’t know what the people from Chelsea or Manchester City were doing in Getafe. I don’t know. The truth is they told me they were looking for Cristiano Ronaldo, but I don’t know if they found him. What should I know? City haven’t even asked about ‘El Kun’ so how do I know what they want? What I do know and what I can guarantee is that Kun Aguero wants to be in Madrid, he wants to play for Atletico Madrid and he wants to live here in Madrid. We’re used to stories of this nature and I suppose they won’t stop here today, they’ll keep coming out. But here we have the sun, good weather, a great team, phenomenal supporters and a marvellous coach.”
Rafael Benitez, Liverpool manager, October 20th 2008
“Two years ago the agents were talking with us about players and he was one of those but he was too young. Atletico paid big money for him, around 18million euros [about £14million] for a player who was a risk. In the Premier League it’s different and sometimes players will need more time here to improve. We had a lot of confidence in him, we knew that he’s a good player but he needed to play games. We had Crouch, we were bringing in Torres, it was a question of space.”
Aguero, January 2nd 2009
“The club reached an agreement with the company that manages me to extend my contract until 2012. I know they will work together on the exploitation of my image rights, there’s a good understanding between the parties. All the signs are that I will stay here for a long time, and I’m really happy about that. I’m enjoying it here and I never want to leave, because Atletico was the first club to welcome me in Europe.”
Beating Barcelona, March 1st 2009
Aguero scored two goals against Barcelona, including one in injury time, in their 4-3 victory over the league leaders.
Miguel Angel Gil Marin, Atletico general manager, October 26th 2009
“Chelsea wanted Aguero and offered €45m plus €5m in bonuses.”
Aguero, November 5th 2009
“I know that people were saying they (Chelsea) wanted me during the summer and that there were several teams tracking me but nothing ever came to me and I am happy at Atletico. It’s nice that people say I could play in a team like Chelsea, one of the best in the world. I like it (Chelsea’s interest) and it makes me happy but I am the same person as ever and I think the same as before. I don’t really want to think about any other team. I want to fight with Atletico to the death. I almost feel like I was born here. It’s a club that has given me a lot, pleasure as well as pain, but it’s a place I feel very happy.”
Drawing with Chelsea, November 3rd 2009
Aguero scored twice in Atletico’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Aguero, December 18th 2009
“Chelsea are interested in me because they think I can play an important role for the team. And I think I fit with their style of play. Of course I watch the Premier League on TV and I think it is the best league in the world, along with the Spanish league.”
Aguero, April 20th 2010
“Chelsea are a great club. They have become one of the most feared in Europe over recent years. I look at players like Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard and they have been, and still are, the best players in their positions in the world. I could really learn from players like that, there is no doubt. London would be a really amazing city to live in as well, myself and my wife could be really happy there. Carlos Tevez is doing really well at Manchester City but, for me, it is about joining a club who are ready to challenge for honours. City are not ready yet.”
Aguero, May 11th 2010
“If we analyse the history and the statistics in Europe, Atletico are superior to Fulham. This is no guarantee in the final, I respect Fulham because they have defeated Juventus, Wolfsburg and Hamburg. They will fight for the ball, but they are not Chelsea, Manchester United or Arsenal.”
Europa League final, May 12th 2010
Aguero assisted both goals in Atletico’s 2-1 win over Fulham.
Aguero, July 11th 2010
“Of course Chelsea is of interest as they are one of the most powerful teams in European football. They show their intent summer after summer in the transfer market and more often than not that intent will see them end the season with at least one trophy. To be the strike partner of Didier Drogba is a thing many players would love to be. But it’s not just Drogba – it’s Lampard, Terry, Anelka, Essien, and maybe even Fernando Torres. They have quality players everywhere.”
UEFA Super Cup final, August 27th 2010
Aguero assisted one and scored the other in Atletico’s 2-0 win over European champions, Inter Milan.
Aguero was awarded Spanish nationality, December 3rd 2010
Aguero signed a contract extension which should keep him at the club until 2014, January 4th 2011
“This is not merely putting a signature on a contract. It’s also about renewing a commitment to the club at which I arrived when I was only 18 years old and I have been with for almost five years.”
Named Atletico vice-captain, January 5th 2011
Tottenham Hotspur had a bid of £38.5m rejected, January 30th 2011
Hattrick, May 21st 2011
Aguero scored his first hattrick for Atletico in his final game for the club against Mallorca, which also saw him score his 100th goal for them. However, he didn’t celebrate any of the goals, leading to speculation he was going to leave the club.
Handed in a transfer request, May 23rd 2011
Aguero does not turn up for Atletico training amid transfer rumours, July 24th 2011
Aguero signed for Manchester City, July 28th 2011
“Now I am a City player. Happy to be at this club and in this city, thank you to everyone for the welcome and the reception.”
In Atletico’s Europa League qualifier against Strømsgodset IF that day, a group of Atlético fans brandished “Agüero, We Hope You Die” banners.
Diego Forlan, July 30th 2011
“It was no real surprise to see him leave, but I thought it would have been to a different club. Chelsea’s game and squad are more suited to his style. And of course I am a Manchester United fan, so his decision to move to City is also painful for me. I know City are now one of the big clubs in England, so I wish Sergio luck. But I know from my own time in England that the Premier League is not like La Liga. The key for him will be how he adapts to the style of the game and also the country. He can be a success because he is a star. He can be a king at any club.”
Aguero made his City début against Swansea and scored two goals, August 15th 2011
“I am happy. The start was really good and I want to keep like this. It was nice. I had a chance to play a little bit and I enjoyed it. I helped the team and I want to keep doing the same in the future.”
Aguero, September 24th 2011
“I watched the Premier League on television. I prefer it to La Liga and Serie A. I loved Michael Owen. I always followed him at Liverpool. That’s why I started watching the Premier League. Obviously the style of play here is different to Spanish football but I will adapt as quickly as possible and try to be fully focused during training sessions.”
Aguero is named in the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, November 1st 2011
Aguero, November 22nd 2011
“In the past he told me everything about Napoli, and I have also seen on TV what he did, how important he was for the fans. This is a matter of pride for me because I am Argentinian. It is my dream, doing what Maradona did for Napoli, doing the same for Manchester City. But I don’t want to talk about myself, it is important Manchester City do well as a team.”
Aguero, March 29th 2012
“Why wait until next season if we can win it now? I can promise you that we’ll be fighting until the very end. We all want to make it and though it won’t be easy, we believe we can win the Premier League this season.”
Diego Maradona, April 4th 2012
“Kun has to play for Real Madrid. Even though he is flying at City, the best thing would have been to sign for Madrid. He made a mistake. Now, as he is doing so well, it will be difficult to get him from City. However, if Madrid want someone, they get them.”
Aguero shortlisted for PFA Player and Young Player of the Year awards, April 16th 2012
Aguero scored an injury time goal to win the Premier League title, May 13th 2012
“For sure it was the most important goal of my career. You score a goal in the last minute to win the title. I’m not sure that is ever going to happen again. QPR were fighting for their lives. They sat back and we knew they would make things difficult for us on the counter-attack. During the (pitch) invasion, loads of fans came over. They grabbed me and kissed me. But the only thing I understood was, ‘I love you’. That made me so happy. Since I arrived at City, everyone has treated me really well. I repaid them with a goal to win the title and make history. I’ll keep doing my best every day to win more titles. All I do is play football so the fans can enjoy themselves.”
Aguero, October 1st 2012
“I try not to get involved with problems involving referees. There will always be mistakes for any team and he got the decision [on the Fulham penalty] wrong, but that can happen in any game. All we can do is not let that get to us and just keep on playing our game. There is a little bit of privilege with players who come from that country, but that is normal. We just play our game, and the referee’s job is to know who is tricking him and who is not.”
Daniele de Rossi tops Manchester City’s January wishlist as Blues prepare for the short-term departure of Yaya Toure
Football clubs these days are like serial cat burglars. No sooner have they climbed out of one transfer window, than their itchy fingers are scrabbling to open the next one.
City are no different, although their more sober approach to the last two windows has lost them their undisputed title as kings of the football shopping spree.
With just 76 days to go before the market madness begins all over again, the Blues are already busy identifying possible targets, analysing their own weaknesses, and working out the financial implications.
Of course, they will play their cards close to their chest, and a winter window is not the ideal time to bring in players, unless you are desperate – which City clearly are not.
But this will be the first opportunity for new chief executive Ferran Soriano to exercise his nous in the transfer market, should Roberto Mancini deem it necessary to reinforce his squad of champions.
There have been restless hints from the manager that he DOES feel his squad are not quite where they need to be, especially after sobering matches against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Indeed, after Mario Balotelli’s late penalty had rescued an ill-deserved point against the German champions, Mancini’s utterings were dark and foreboding.
“I know the problem and I will resolve this problem very quickly,” he said, leaving the world to speculate whether he saw it as an attitude deficiency, a tactical flaw or a matter of a player or players not being up to the job.
The season is at an early stage, and the players who did come in during that late flurry of activity at the end of August have barely had time to get their feet under the table.
But early impressions are the Blues have been treading water, rather than making waves.
Rivals Chelsea beefed up considerably, making major signings in the shape of Eden Hazard – who was also wanted by City – Oscar, Marko Morin and Victor Moses, while United also pipped the Blues to a marquee signing in Robin van Persie.
City’s incoming business was modest by comparison, and appears to have left them in no better shape than they were in when lifting the Premier League trophy in May.
The biggest signing was Javi Garcia from Benfica, and his debut at Stoke gave hope that the Blues had uncovered a major talent.
Not only did he show all the aggression and nous of Nigel de Jong, for whom he was virtually a direct replacement, he also bagged the equalising goal and nearly scored the winner.
It appeared the Blues had replaced de Jong with a player who also had an attacking side to his game.
Since the adrenalin rush of that day at the Britannia Stadium, Garcia has quietly been bedding in, and some City fans have been ruing the absence of de Jong’s discipline, not least in the two disappointing European games.
Of course, it would be unfair to judge Garcia so quickly, and he might well be an improvement on the popular Dutchman in the long run.
But Mancini wanted Daniele de Rossi or Javi Martinez to really stock up his central midfield, an area where he felt his team was lacking throughout last season.
Neither came off, with de Rossi eventually penning a new deal with his beloved Roma and Martinez heading for Bayern Munich. Instead, City invested in the future by picking up Jack Rodwell from Everton.
Undoubtedly a promising talent, but he has had a rocky start to his career at the Etihad Stadium, gifting Southampton a goal on his debut and sloppily doing the same against Dortmund in his first Champions League appearance.
The fears that he also appeared injury-prone in his time at Everton have also reared their head again.
He pulled up in the warm-up ahead of the Capital One Cup tie against Aston Villa with a groin problem and, more worryingly, has been sent home by England under-21s with a hamstring problem.
His days at Everton were dogged by hamstring troubles which saw him packed off to see a German specialist after six recurrences of the problem.
The prospect of him stepping into Yaya Toure’s enormous boots when the Ivorian heads off to the African Cup of Nations in January is not feasible at the moment. Of course, the lad has talent and could win everyone over in the intervening 10 weeks.
But Mancini knows the six weeks or so in which Yaya is away could make or break City’s season.
And with news of de Rossi’s unhappiness emanating out of Rome, and talk that the Serie A side are looking for a January sale to ease a £48m loss in the last financial year, the Italy international could be back on the agenda.
De Rossi has clashed with new manager Zdenek Zeman after being dropped, and much has been made of the fact that Zeman signed two players who play in his central position, Michael Bradley and Panagiotis Tachtsidis.
De Rossi had said that his previous manager Luis Enrique had been ‘fundamental’ in the 29-year-old’s decision to turn down City’s advances and sign a new five-year deal last February.
There are even rumours that Zeman and the Roma board are plotting to unsettle de Rossi, in order to sell him and at least halve their financial loss.
Mancini would certainly be interested in a potential deal, but Soriano will refuse to pay over the odds.
Mancini was also intent on improving on his four strikers in the summer, hence the pursuit of van Persie and strong interest in Edinson Cavani.
Edin Dzeko, despite being City’s top scorer, and coming up with important goals already this season, as he did last, still flatters to deceive at times – and he was dreadful against Dortmund.
Mancini delayed his usual short break in Italy during the current international break to take in Atletico Madrid’s clash with Malaga nine days ago, and there are claims he was sitting alongside Jorge Mendes, who is the agent of Atletico’s brilliant Colombian striker Radamel Falcao.
Falcao scored to maintain his position as joint top scorer in La Liga – alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, no less – and spark a storm of speculation that City will fight it out with Chelsea in January for his signature.
But Mancini also ran the rule over Isco, Malaga’s precocious 20-year-old striker, who fits City’s profile perfectly.
Italian sources also continue to link City with Fiorentina’s excellent 22-year-old Montenegrin Stevan Jovetic, who the Italian club are resigned to losing but hope to hold until next summer.
One attraction of all of the players mentioned is that they would all be available for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, should City progress, as none of their clubs has been involved in the competition this season.
City won’t be spending big in the January transfer window, but should de Rossi become available, or one of the strikers is dangled for a reasonable fee, they will almost certainly bite.
MANCHESTER TITLE RACE
0 PTS +1 GD
Lion roar: Steven Gerrard blast for Manchester City man Patrick Vieira
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has hit out at Patrick Vieira after the Manchester City executive claimed England's youngsters no longer have the same appetite for international football.
Gerrard is set to earn his 99th cap against Poland tonight and feels the young Three Lions stars are as hungry as ever for success on the world stage.
He said: "It surprised me to read that. The impression I get from the young players at Liverpool is that they're desperate to get into this set-up.
"You can see in their faces that when they're left out, they're really disappointed. It didn't annoy me because I don't really care what Patrick Vieira says. England's young players are hungry."
Vieira, now football development executive at City, had said: "In England, I really don't understand how so many young players from the age of 16 to 21 pull out of the national team through injury.
"It's maybe the lack of FA power. Maybe it is a lack of love for the national team as well.
"When I grew up, I wanted to play for the French national team. That was my target, my dream - and I don't think this is the same for the Under-16s and Under-18s in England.
"I don't think the young players are dreaming of playing for the national team any more. I believe they are not as proud as they used to be."
Sturridge next out of Chelsea as striker is told he'll be sold for £15m with Arsenal and Liverpool ready to pounce
Chelsea will look to offload Daniel Sturridge as the striker privately accepts that his time in west London is drawing to a close.
And Stamford Bridge chiefs will start the bidding for the forward at £15million in January.
Sturridge has fallen out of favour at the club since Roberto Di Matteo replaced Andre Villas-Boas as manager in March.
The former Manchester City man has not started a Premier League game for the European champions this season, though he has been troubled by a hamstring injury.
And Di Matteo has given the all-clear for Sturridge to be sold at the turn of the year. That news has been welcomed by the player, who knows his long-term future lies elsewhere.
The 23-year-old, who was treated for meningitis over the summer, has been deliberating his future since the end of last season after only playing a bit-part role during Chelsea's run to Champions League and FA Cup success.
The club’s £60m spending spree on the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Victor Moses means competition in attacking areas is fierce and Sturridge — who has 20 months left on his current deal — is desperate to be playing regular first-team football.
He also wants to play as a central striker, something that does not look likely given that Fernando Torres is Di Matteo’s first-choice forward and Atletico Madrid goal-machine Radamel Falcao is a January target.
Sturridge is desperate to be part of England’s World Cup 2014 plans but knows he has to be playing regular Premier League football.
The Birmingham-born forward came close to leaving Stamford Bridge in August but a deadline-day switch to Liverpool fell through.
Anfield manager Brendan Rodgers was keen on a season-long loan deal but the player pulled out of the deal, insisting any move had to be permanent.
Liverpool, who would give Sturridge a chance to play as a striker, remain keen but his £15m asking price is likely to be a stumbling block.
Tottenham boss Villas-Boas is also interested, having worked with Sturridge at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal and Manchester City are both admirers.
Sturridge hopes to be back in contention for a first-team spot for Chelsea’s weekend clash with Tottenham as he continues his recovery from injury. DSSC
Liverpool are interested in Atletico Madrid's Turkish winger Arda Turan, 25, and Barcelona's Chile international forward Alexis Sanchez, 23. TalkSHIT
Arsenal are aiming to beat north London rivals Tottenham to the signing of 23-year-old Brazilian striker Leandro Damiao from Internacional. Daily Star
Chelsea could add to their growing Brazilian contingent with a move for Corinthians 24-year-old midfielder Paulinho. The Blues already have Oscar, Ramires, David Luiz and Lucas Piazon. TalkSHIT
Arsenal's Italian goalkeeper Vito Mannone, 24, insists he wants to stay with the north London club despite interest from Napoli. The Sun
Tottenham are keeping tabs on Feyenoord's 21-year-old Holland international Jordy Clasie as boss Andre Villas-Boas prepares to add to his squad in in January.
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has emerged as a surprise target for Spanish side Real Madrid. Real see see Schmeichel, 25, as a long-term successor to current keeper Iker Casillas, 31. Daily Star
Steve Browett, the Crystal Palace co-chairman, has moved to assure the club's supporters that Wilfried Zaha "is not for sale", despite Sunday newspaper reports that clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal want to buy the 19-year-old winger. The Guardian
Aston Villa's 28-year-old Darren Bent could be set for a January move out of Villa Park, with Liverpool and QPR lining up bids for the out-of-favour striker. The Metro
Daniel Sturridge will look to leave Chelsea in January to try to revive his England chances. Liverpool and Tottenham are both keen to recruit the 23-year-old striker. Daily Mirror
Andrey Arshavin's time at Arsenal looks set to be coming to an end with Fulham boss Martin Jol reported to be interested in signing the 31-year-old Russian in January. Footylatest.com
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, 27, has branded Liverpool's 25-year-old striker Luis Suarez a "diver" and a "cheat" in a French interview. "He is tiresome to defend against. He cheats. He pulls your shirt, giving small blows," said Koscielny. "He is a player who likes to dive as soon as there is contact." The Sun
Belgium might rest £35m playmaker Eden Hazard, 21, for the match against Scotland on Tuesday. Daily Record
Striker Nicklas Bendtner has taken a swipe at former club Arsenal by claiming the training programme at Juventus is the best he has been involved in. The 24-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at the Italian club. DSSC
Chris Smalling, 22, is set to ease Manchester United's defensive worries by being declared fit for Saturday's match against Stoke - it will be his first appearance of the season. Daily Express
Poland legend Zbigniew Boniek, 56, has taunted England before Tuesday's World Cup qualifier in Warsaw by stating that his eight-year-old grandson is better than England's 23-year-old striker Andy Carroll. The Sun
Blackburn will have to pay a £500,000 'transfer fee' to get managerial target Ian Holloway out of his Blackpool contract. However, Blackpool will fight to keep the 49-year-old at Bloomfield Road. Daily Mirror
Midfielder Jack Wilshere, 20, will take the next step towards his Arsenal return with a behind-closed-doors friendly against Chelsea on Wednesday. The Sun
Real Madrid and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first sportsman to receive over 50m 'Likes' on social networking site Facebook. The 27-year-old boasts 10m more fans than his great adversary on the football field, Barcelona's Lionel Messi. The figure also means 5% of everyone who uses Facebook is a fan of the former Manchester United player. The Independent
CLASSIC ITK BOLLOX
This piece feels like a risky one, given that its subject is someone who finds himself on the wrong side of Liverpool FC and that the unspoken threat to sportswriters who consider articulating what clubs don't want to be told is the removal of access and privileges.
The Duncan Jenkins story is too extraordinary to ignore, though. When all's said and done, it is about social media, the manic search within it for people who are ITK ("In The Know") and about the futility of clubs attempting to control it, now that the old news models have broken down. But it has a dark edge, too.
It all started out as a rather excellent joke. The protagonist did not exist until one night in the winter of 2009, when "his" creator Sean Cummins – a 35-year-old copywriter from south Manchester – was bored of posting on his Liverpool FC forum about the club he has supported since he was a boy. He decided to invent "Duncan Jenkins" – a Facebook character who would be inept, delusional and obsessed with The Bill. When The Guardian wrote about the crime drama's demise in March 2010, "Duncan" expressed his concern on a forum and – in an echo of what would follow – immediately found The Mirror seizing on his words. The paper reported: "Speaking on forums yesterday Duncan Jenkins said: 'It is an absolute disgrace. For a police drama that pushes all the buttons, reflects reality and a regular Joe can connect to, you can't beat The Bill.'"
"Duncan" established a small Facebook fan club, with 150 "likes", and it was when the jokes seemed to evaporate and the character fizzled out in June last year that Cummins decided to relaunch him on Twitter last November as the equally delusional @DuncanJenkinsFC – the hapless "perspiring journalist". "Duncan" was the same as he ever was, only football journalism was his latest attempt at making it. It was slow going in the early days – 1,000 or so followers – but "Duncan", with his malapropisms, misspellings and Colemanballs, was very, very funny.
And then he stumbled on a gold mine. Posting on the Liverpool FC forum, est1892, he discovered how, two hours before kick-off someone was repeatedly reporting the correct Liverpool starting XI – that holy grail of football writers. The 11 names and no more were posted. The aspiring, breathless "Duncan" immediately republished it each time.
Suddenly and remarkably, the fantasist with the ridiculous hairstyle on his avatar was credible, ITK, flooded by followers as football tweeters generally tend to be and wondering where to take the joke next. Transfer stories being the vital currency of the self-respecting football writer – and devoured by readers whether they've a 50 per cent chance of happening or five per cent – "Duncan" decided to "put my head above the parrot pit" – as he described it in one of the columns analysing Euro 2012 which goal.com invited him to write. There was Climp Dempsey, Cheery Begiristain (spelt differently every time). And, since Duncan's creator was a fairly obsessive Liverpool season-ticket holder, his hit rate was OK. Andre Villas-Boas, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Gaston Ramirez to Liverpool were all wrong, but who cares when you're ITK?
My comparison of details published by football writers and subsequently tweets by "Duncan" – which was the crux of the dispute which was about to follow – suggests that "Duncan" simply took an educated guess on transfer targets the papers were writing about. Fabio Borini tallied with a tweet from a respected Liverpool Echo writer. A very confident prediction about Nuri Sahin came literally seconds after a Times tweet. Joe Allen was based on an Independent report and Johan Cruyff as sporting director came from a well-connected BBC Liverpool writer. "Duncan" also said rumours of Darren Bent arriving were nonsense and was early on to Brendan Rodgers. Good calls. Lucky calls.
His Twitter followers soared towards 40,000, which is perhaps not surprising since the world of fact and fiction all morph into one in the social media environment. The Twitter handle @FootballAgent49 – who reached 43,000 followers – has recently unmasked himself as an 18-year-old. "I feel my Twitter experience has been very successful with some of my 'stories' even trending fifth in the world. I'm proud to say that I haven't had even one transfer scoop in my time yet people still say I'm more reliable than Sky Sports News and the BBC. Laughable," he said when he came clean. @EPLAgent007 also reached 20,000: "I p**s myself laughing. 20,000 followers from chatting absolute s**t that I made up. Brilliant."
But Jenkins/Cummins was funny – a Harry Enfield type of funny – and was hardly masquerading as straight. Which is what renders particularly bizarre the decision of Liverpool's communications director, Jen Chang, to drive to Manchester in late August and spend two hours with Cummins at the Evuna restaurant on Deansgate seeking to establish the name of his Liverpool "mole".
Liverpool are entirely justified to investigate if someone, on the inside of their club, is betraying secrets. But with the absence of an explanation to counter the incredibly detailed and explosive blog which "Duncan" published on Friday, detailing what happened at the Evuna, it is difficult to appreciate why Chang dealt with it as he did. There has been no response from Liverpool to "Duncan's" claims that an infuriated Chang, who allegedly hired investigators to find Cummins, told him that unless he came clean there would be "dog s**t coming through your letter box" and he "might even have to move house" because "football fans are crazy". These are not comments which any supporter or journalist would welcome.
Cummins' records are very, very detailed and he is now in possession of CCTV images and a video from the restaurant which show him meeting the Liverpool director at 13.03pm on 22 August and the two of them leaving at 14.49pm. His account of this meeting has gone unpublished for the past two months as he sought an apology from Liverpool. And then, perhaps fittingly for the social media age, he eventually told all in the blog which began: "This is me – not Duncan. Duncan Jenkins is a character everything he said or did on Twitter was in character…" It has been an internet sensation.
However, Cummins lacked the foresight of an established media organisation, which would have prevented his oversight of publishing just as the Independent Police Complaints Commission discussed its Hillsborough investigation. Now he stands alone; a pariah to many fans, fielding a torrent of internet abuse and being accused of disrespect to the Hillsborough campaign.
The days of "Duncan" are over, needless to say. This feels like very strong punishment for what – unless there is sudden dramatic evidence to the contrary – seems like the offence of spinning a joke which at least 40,000 people enjoyed. Liverpool, a club who profess a desire to be at the cutting edge of communication for a social media age, have not looked terribly modern in this matter. The old attempts to control information have long gone. A public apology seems the least that is owed.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 12531.html
MORE BOLLOX SOON
