RAGING ROBERTO MANCINI LOST FOR WORDS
Roberto Mancini screams himself hoarse as City nearly stumble against West Brom
MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini lost his voice yesterday – but his team sent out the loud and clear message that they intend to cling on to their Premier League crown.
Mancini screamed himself hoarse as his team threatened to stumble to a crushing defeat against West Bromwich Albion before coming back to win 2-1 with late goals from sub Edin Dzeko.
The City manager spent the match in a rage after England midfielder James Milner was sent off by Mark Clattenburg after 23 minutes and the referee went on to issue a further seven yellow cards.
Striker Mario Balotelli would have strained his manager’s patience as well as his voice after picking up an early booking. He continued to rile Clattenburg and had to be dragged away from the official at the interval.
City considered taking off the controversial Italian at half-time but in the end calmed him down and sent him out to play his part in the crucial victory.
Mancini’s first-team coach David Platt took over Press conference duties and admitted Balotelli’s behaviour had caused them concern.
Platt said: “We did think about taking him off at half-time but he was causing them problems on the pitch. We felt confident there was not going to be a loss of head. I thought Mark Clattenburg handled it very well. When we got Mario in at half-time he was cool. We calmed him down.”
Even though City were a man short for two-thirds of the game, they stayed on the attack and always looked to win it.
And Platt reckons that was the stuff of champions.
He said: “Even after we conceded a silly goal, we kept at it. We didn’t win the championship without showing that kind of spirit. It’s nothing new.
“Last season there were games when we didn’t play particularly well and won them. But I think we controlled this one.
“It’s nice to take three points and still be in there. You cannot afford to drop too many points when you are looking to win the title even though it is so early in the season.”
Balotelli must follow Dzeko's example & prove he can be trusted by Manchester City
The big Bosnian has climbed up from the bottom of the City striker pecking order following a series of key goals this season
At a club of such wealth and ambition, the jersey of a Manchester City striker must be a curious one to wear.
Goals are no guarantee of playing minutes and you are always an off-key 45 minutes away from a long spell on the sub’s bench.
All the while, your employers are casting covetous glances at A-list replacements, reflected in ever-present speculation about a possible change of club.
By common consent, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli began a tricky afternoon at the Hawthorns at third and fourth in a City striker pecking order led by the brilliant Argentine, Sergio Aguero.
By coming off the substitute’s bench and rescuing victory from the jaws of defeat for a team that had been playing with 10 men since the 23rd minute, Dzeko did not just win three points for his side with two late goals. He may have turned around a City career that has flickered since his £27 million move from Wolfsburg in January 2011 without quite catching fire.
In isolation, his statistics this season are persuasive. In 280 minutes of Premier League action, the Bosnian has now scored five goals, averaging a highly credible strike every 56 minutes. Add a noteworthy Champions League opener against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu and he has scored six times in total.
It is even more impressive if you examine the circumstances of Dzeko’s goals.
His first goal of the season was a 72nd minute equaliser in the 3-2 win over Southampton, giving City the momentum to go on and win. Against QPR, he put City 2-1 up with a 62nd minute header in a game they went on to win 3-1. Dzeko then scored the winner in the 2-1 win over Fulham. By plundering two goals in just 11 minutes on the pitch at West Brom, the 26-year-old turned the match on its head.
It is quite a trend. Of Dzeko’s six goals, five have turned the result in his team’s favour. It might have been a full house but for Cristiano Ronaldo’s late brilliance at the Bernabeu. Astonishingly, five have come after being summoned from the substitute’s bench.
Yet Dzeko is surely deserving of more than super-sub status. It is not surprising that he has scored only one goal after starting (against QPR), given that he has begun only three of City’s 11 matches this season.
For good measure, he has scored another five for Bosnia in World Cup qualifiers, to give him 11 in total for club and country.
It is some run, which was reflected in the post-match comments of David Platt. "Edin Dzeko has been in superb form,” said Roberto Mancini’s right-hand man. “He is a top player and should be disappointed not to be in the team."
Quite. Dzeko has proved that he deserves the trust of his manager and a more regular run in one of the hardest starting XIs in Europe for a forward to get into.
By contrast, Balotelli continues to frustrate the City coaching staff with his indifference, meltdowns and occasional brilliance.
It was not that he was awful against West Brom. He was not. But neither was there evidence that he is learning what is required to be a regular Premier League match-winner.
Spending the opening half on the left flank, Balotelli looked lively early on, but got booked in the 19th minute for lashing out with his arm after a West Brom challenge. From then, he skated on a disciplinary tight-rope, growing in frustration by the minute.
When the whistle blew to bring a feisty opening period to a close, and with the crowd increasingly getting on his back, Balotelli marched up to referee Mark Clattenburg and his assistants to complain about their overzealousness, before being sensibly escorted away by Joe Hart.
Mancini chose not to haul him off at the break. “Mario was causing them problems,” Platt explained. “When he came in at half-time he was cool. We were confident there would be no loss of head."
Indeed, there was not. In a re-jigged 4-3-1-1 formation, Balotelli was deployed in the second half in the spearhead role in which he is far more comfortable, with Carlos Tevez operating in a deeper position.
The Italian had some joy, getting behind the hosts’ defence on two occasions. But, after mis-hitting an excellent volley opportunity from the edge of the six-yard box, Balotelli was inevitably hooked shortly after the hour mark, with Aguero taking his place.
After lighting up Euro 2012 with his semi-final performance for Italy, he has reverted back to type for his club.
Ten matches have yielded just two goals, the second being the ultra-cool last-minute penalty to rescue a point against Borussia Dortmund.
For a player of such considerable gifts, this is an underwhelming output. Even more so, when placed in the context of Dzeko’s match-turning displays.
It is time for Balotelli to look up to his 6ft 4in striking rival and take a leaf out of his book.
Guidetti signs new Man City deal
Premier LeagueManchester CitySwedish striker John Guidetti has quashed speculation regarding his future with Premier League champions Manchester City by signing a new three-year contract with the club.
Guidetti is yet to make his debut for the Blues after a mystery virus ruled him out of City’s pre-season. It has been six months since his last competitive outing, but the 20-year-old insisted that he is now ready to battle it out for Roberto Mancini's side.
"It’s a very exciting time to be part of the club, we’re the champions from last season and City are now looking to be the best in every way and to be part of that and for the club to show that they want me to be part of that is very nice," he said.
"It’s going to be competitive with the players we have here, but who doesn’t like being competitive? If everything was easy then it wouldn’t be fun. I know I’m going to learn so much from all the great strikers that are here.
"I want to develop and become the best that I can. I want to start to play more regularly for City and get first-team football every week and just to play in front of the fans here and to bring home some medals – that would be a dream for me, to start playing for Manchester City." FourFourTwo
Man City scout confirms interest in Falcao
Manchester City scout Carlo Cancellieri has confirmed the club's interest in prolific Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao and hinted that a January bid could be forthcoming.
Falcao, 26, has become the most in-demand striker in world football having scored 11 goals in seven appearances this season, with a host of clubs chasing the Colombian's signature.
City boss Roberto Mancini flew to Madrid to make a personal check on Falcao earlier this month leading to speculation the Italian is considering a £45million bid.
City were unable to sign another striker in the summer transfer window, with Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic another target, however while the Montenegrin continues to be linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, Cancellieri insists Falcao is the only player who could improve them.
"He [Jovetic] is an interesting player, he has quality. But in attack City are already good, we're happy with Tevez, Aguero and Balotelli," Cancellieri told tuttomercatoweb.com.
"Moreover, I believe that our players are better than Jovetic. He is a very good player, but he is not one who could make a difference such as Falcao.
"I spoke about him in recent days with Mancini. If we were to take a player in January, we should take Falcao. He is an important player, the only one who could make us take the leap."
Premier League leaders Chelsea have also been strongly linked with the ex-Porto hitman with Falcao's father recently admitting his son supported the Blues as a boy.
Atletico have already admitted that selling Falcao would alleviate their well-documented financial problems - but continue to insist that they will not let him leave in January.
City, though, could be ready to test their resolve judging by Cancellieri's comments although they are likely to face competition from Chelsea.
The Blues are riding high at the top of the Premier League after their best start to a campaign since 2005-2006 but with Fernando Torres as the club's only central striker, reinforcements could be forthcoming in the winter transfer window.
ON THIS DAY BOLLOX
Thursday 21st October 2010
Emmanuel Adebayor reminds manager Roberto Mancini that he is still around with a hat-trick against Lech Poznan at the City of Manchester Stadium. His goals come in the 13th, 25th and 73rd minutes and are the Togo striker’s first strikes of the season. With more than 2,000 Polish fans travelling to Manchester, the birth of what will be known as ‘The Poznan’ dance is ingrained on the home support as the Poles turn their back in unison and ‘ground-hop’ during the 3-0 defeat. Adebayor enjoys a brief run in the team before falling out of favour and going on loan to Real Madrid.
Saturday 21st October 1972
City move off the bottom of the table with a thrilling 4-3 win over West ham at Maine Road. By half time, City are 4-2 up courtesy of goals from Tony Towers, Mike Summerbee and two from Rodney Marsh interspersed by two Hammers goals from Clyde Best and Johnny Ayris. Attack after attack stemmed from the gentle prompting of Colin Bell, as City run rings around their guests. Bobby Moore pulls one back after the break to ensure a nervy ending but Malcolm Allison’s side hang on for the victory.
MANCHESTER TITLE RACE
0 PTS +2 GD
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[/spoiler]Alex Ferguson has said Rio Ferdinand "will be dealt with" after not wearing a Kick It Out T-shirt in a protest against the campaign group. MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=44246
Rom raid: £25 million Barcelona star Sergio Busquets on Abramovich's Chelsea wishlist
The Blues owner is set to throw a huge chunk of his transfer budget to land the Spanish midfielder, who is looking for a move at the end of the season
Chelsea supremo Roman Abramovich is plotting a £25million raid for Barcelona’s Spanish star Sergio Busquets.
Abramovich knows that the 24-year-old midfield general is thinking of quitting Barca at the end of the season and is determined to be at the front of the queue for his signature.
Busquets’ camp have let it be known that there is the chance of a transfer at the end of the season, with a January move impossible because of Champions League commitments.
Manchester City have already been warned off, but Chelsea are the main movers and will throw a massive chunk of their next budget at Busquets.
Abramovich wants to offer London as a better alternative home – and the chance for Busquets to fill the ‘sitter’ position where Jon Obi Mikel plays at the moment.
Barca may well trade Busquets as they have plenty of options ands young players like Thiago Alcantara coming through and needing match action.
The fee will be giant – guaranteed by the number of big hitters who are already on red alert – but Chelsea want to carry on the big spending of last summer and get their man.
Los Angeles Galaxy will try to reunite Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, 34, and his former England colleague David Beckham, 37, in January. SSSC
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is planning moves for 23-year-old Arsenal winger Theo Walcott and Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge, 23. Sunday Mirror
The Reds are also rumoured to be monitoring 22-year-old Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby, whose father is from Merseyside, though supports Everton. Goal.com
Tottenham Hotspur could make a bid for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha in January. The 19-year-old has also been scouted by Spurs' North London rivals Arsenal. Sunday Mirror
Chelsea will not offer 31-year-old captain John Terry a new contract when it expires at the end of next season because of the recent controversy caused by his Football Association ban for using racist language and concerns about his long-term fitness. the People
The club are also reconsidering their decision to keep Terry as skipper after a number of sponsors complained about the centre-back's behaviour. Daily Star Sunday
Blackpool have lost four of their last five games since Holloway denied links to Blackburn
Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who retired from international football over safety fears, says he will play for Togo in January's Africa Cup of Nations. Sunday Mirror
Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland wants the thug who attacked him during the Yorkshire derby with Leeds "jailed for years." The Sun
Burnley co-chairman John Banaszkiewicz has revealed the new manager will be picked from a shortlist of "three or four" next week. Lancashire Telegraph
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew wants to replicate the high-tech oval-shaped locker rooms used by Arsenal and American NFL, NHL and NBA teams. Evening Chronicle
Ian Holloway is to be offered the Blackburn manager's job. The 49-year-old Blackpool boss will be promised a large January transfer budget by Rovers owners Venky's to entice him to accept their offer and help the club win promotion back to the Premier League. SSSC
Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman is the new favourite to fill the vacant Bolton manager's position after Wanderers chairman Phil Gartside travelled to London to speak to the 38-year-old on Saturday. Sunday Times
Former England Under-21 captain Michael Mancienne, now 24, who left Chelsea for German club Hamburg in 2011, says he hopes to have greater chances of international recognition with John Terry and Rio Ferdinand no longer in the squad. Sunday Express
Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has given his support to England Under-21 defender Danny Rose, who was subjected to racial abuse in Serbia last week, and says: "Games must be stopped when this kind of racism towards black players occurs." Sunday Mirror
Dynamo Moscow - who are managed by 44-year-old former Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea defender Dan Petrescu - have suffered a terrible start to the Russian season and some of their fans have let out their frustration by firing paintballs at players during a training session. Metro
Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker, 22, has deleted his Twitter account after receiving abuse on the social networking site following his club's 4-2 defeat by Chelsea. Evening Standard
