Man City's Vincent Kompany rejects netting idea
Manchester City's Vincent Kompany has rejected calls for the introduction of netting to protect players, saying fans should not be treated "like animals".
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand was struck by an object as he celebrated Robin van Persie's winner in their 3-2 victory over City on Sunday.
The PFA has subsequently called for netting to be installed in stadiums.
"I hope actions will be taken but let's not forget where football has come from and how far it has come", Kompany said.
Nine people have been charged following the match and United striker Wayne Rooney was also the target of objects thrown from the crowd.
Belgium international defender Kompany, 26, who is a doubt for Saturday's trip to Newcastle due to a groin problem, condemned Sunday's incidents at Etihad Stadium.
"It is never a good thing to happen, not just for Manchester City or Manchester United, but for football," added Kompany, speaking to Football Focus during City's annual visit to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
"I would definitely say we need action on prevention but keep treating fans as human beings and not animals that have to be behind cages.
"I do think we should take action against these incidents and I have heard a lot of suggestions about putting up nets and everything.
"But the fact we are able to put people outside of cages is something that makes the English game so much more special."
Ferdinand later played down the incident on Twitter, writing "what a shot!"
City keeper Joe Hart also had to stop a fan who had run on to the pitch from reaching Ferdinand as the defender recovered from the blow.
In October, Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was attacked by a fan who ran onto the pitch during his side's match against Leeds United at Hillsborough.
Kirkland, 31, required treatment after he was struck in the face during the Yorkshire derby, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said it was time to consider netting around "vulnerable areas" such as behind the goals and around the corner flags.
However the chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, Malcolm Clarke, warned against "knee jerk" reactions. He said safety was improving at games and pointed to government figures showing arrests were down 24% on previous seasons.
Micah Richards eyes February return for Manchester City
Manchester City defender Micah Richards hopes to return to playing by early February after knee surgery in October.
The 24-year-old tore the meniscus in his right knee but is gradually making progress in his rehabilitation.
"I am not putting a date on when I will be back because these things are never exact but I am hoping it will be in early February," he told http://www.mcfc.co.uk .
"There is still not too much I can do but I am now on one crutch instead of two so that is progress.
"Of course it is frustrating and there is nothing more I would like than to be out there playing but I am being well looked after, the injury is responding and the knee getting stronger every day.
"I am busy try to build the muscle up and I am doing some weights." MuEN
Yaya Toure wants to stay at Man City for the rest of his career
Yaya Toure has said he wants to spend the rest of his career at Manchester City.
The 29-year-old midfielder joined City in a £24m move from Barcelona in 2010.
He was one of the key players as City won a first title in 44 years in May and scored the only goal to beat Stoke in the FA Cup final in his first season.
Toure's Manchester City stats
•Toure has scored 15 goals in his 83 Premier League appearances for City.
•Despite playing for the Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations, he still made 32 league appearances as City won a first title since 1968 last season.
•Toure also scored the winner as City ended their 35-year trophy drought by beating Stoke 1-0 in the 2011 FA Cup final.
"I would love to end my career here," Toure, whose current contract ends in 2015, told the club's official website.
"Nobody knows what the next step is in football and I believe that if you stop dreaming, you should stop playing football, but this is where I want to be.
"There is no other place I would rather finish with and I want to continue winning titles and trophies with City."
City are six points behind leaders Manchester United in the Premier League and have already been knocked out of Europe.
But Toure believes the success he has enjoyed in his first two campaigns in England is only the start.
"I believe we are just at the beginning of our journey," he added.
"We want to make history and that was part of my plan when I first signed.
"We've made a start but there is so many more chapters to be written."
Clichy acknowledges City's shortcomings
Defender Gael Clichy admits Manchester City have yet to find the form which made them champions last season but is confident it will return.
Last weekend the defending champions lost the Manchester derby to title rivals United, suffering their first Barclays Premier League defeat of the season and first at home for almost two years. It handed the Red Devils a six-point advantage at the top of the table but Clichy knows that is not insurmountable.
"For me the problem this year is that we are not playing as well as a unit as we did last year and that's what we have to work on," he said. "I am very confident though because we have the quality and I am sure we are going to be there at the end of the season. I personally believe and feel that we have a mission and its aim is to become champions again."
He went on: "The feeling within the team is great at the moment and I hope that the fans are behind us because we will need them to go all the way."
Clichy, whose mistake led to the free-kick from which United scored the 90th-minute winner, insists they can take positives from the United defeat.
And he hopes the trip to Newcastle will spark them back into life on Saturday although they will have to do it without key defensive midfielder Gareth Barry as he serves a one-match ban after accepting an FA charge of using abusive and/or insulting words to an official in an incident after the United defeat.
"We hadn't lost a game for a long time at the Etihad but it's done now and the only thing we can do is focus on the positive things that happened during that game," said the Frenchman.
"We went 2-0 down and again we showed great team spirit in getting it back to 2-2 - apart from the last 20 minutes of the first half, I don't think they were on top of us.
"When you lose a game in the last minute it's always difficult - but we can't feel sorry for ourselves.
"We know what we did well and what we didn't do so well and we have to try to avoid those bad points.
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[/spoiler]Chelsea have emerged as favourites to land £15m-rated striker Theo Walcott, 23, from Arsenal. Sun
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is willing to offer Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, 26, a £10m-a-year contract to bring him to Stamford Bridge. Abramovich is ready to make Falcao his top earner DSSC
Real Madrid are willing to pay up to £56m to land Tottenham winger Gareth Bale, 23, during the next two transfer windows. Metro
Manchester United and Arsenal are battling to capture PSV Eindhoven's £17m-rated midfielder Kevin Strootman, 22. Sun
Liverpool's hopes of signing Barcelona winger Cristian Tello, 21, appear to be over after he signed a new contract with the Spanish club - but he does have an £8m buy-out clause. talkSHIT
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez will not sell midfielder James McCarthy, 22, in January. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is thought to be keen on signing him. Daily Star
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 29, would prefer a move to Inter Milan this January over Arsenal or Liverpool, according to the player's agent. Metro
Swansea will try to sign West Brom's Craig Dawson in January DSSC
Newcastle are in competition with Juventus to sign Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko, 23. talkSHIT
Everton are unlikely to try to bring United States international Landon Donovan, 30, to Goodison on loan for a third time in January. Liverpool Echo
Roma are leading the race to sign Portuguese winger Nani, 26, from Manchester United when the transfer window re-opens in January. talkSHIT
Fiorentina will make a £5.6m bid for QPR midfielder Esteban Granero, 25, next month. London's Evening Standard
Frank Lampard, 34, accepts he will be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season. Daily Mirror
Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov says former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, 35, should join Arsenal's coaching staff.
Alisher Usmanov wants Thierry Henry as an Arsenal coach. Daily Mirror
Former Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli says that he and Kenny Dalglish were judged too quickly at the club. TheTimes
Fulham boss Martin Jol is confident captain Brede Hangeland, 31, will sign a new deal. London's Evening Standard
Wolves academy manager Kevin Thelwell has been promoted to the new role of head of football development and recruitment, where he will assist manager Stale Solbakken with first-team player recruitment. Express and Star
Ashley Cole was made to wait on his Chelsea team-mates at dinner as punishment for losing at tenpin bowling on a team-bonding night in Yokohama ahead of their Club World Cup appearance. Daily Star
Joey Barton's dream move to Marseille looks to have turned sour after the 30-year-old moaned on Twitter at having to play in front of "no fans" and then have a "freezing" cold shower. Metro
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