Man City blow as crocked Nasri is ruled out of Christmas period
Manchester City forward Samir Nasri faces a struggle to play any part of the Barclays Premier League champions' festive programme after injuring his groin.
The France international looked back to his best Newcastle last weekend but had to come off in the first half.
Now he has been told he cannot play for two weeks, a prognosis that rules him out of games against Reading, Sunderland and Norwich and leaves him extremely doubtful for the meeting with Stoke on New Year's Day.
City, in common with most clubs, face a fixture schedule of four games in eleven days over Christmas and New Year, meaning that Nasri's injury comes at the worst possible time for a team looking at a six-point gap between them and Manchester United at the top of the league.
Having been widely blamed for gifting United a winning goal in the recent derby game by hiding at the end of the defensive wall, Nasri's response at Newcastle had impressed manager Roberto Mancini.
Mancini is already shorter of attacking options than he would have wished, having lost Mario Balotelli to illness.
The Italian striker missed his second successive day of training yesterday on the day he decided not to pursue his case against City at a Premier League tribunal.
Balotelli dropped the case at the last minute and agreed to pay a £340,000 fine imposed by City at the end of last season for picking up too many red and yellow cards.
Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola said: 'Mario is committed to City. He doesn't want to leave the club.
'He's always wanted to stay and this case hasn't changed this. He is committed in Manchester.' DCCS
Sparkling success for Roberto Mancini with silver hair and silverware
Roberto Mancini takes his seat with Brian Kidd for his first City match
On December 20, 2009, Roberto Mancini began his first day as City manager amid a pantomime.
Mark Hughes had learned of his sacking immediately after their 4-3 win over Sunderland, branded a Duckworth-Lewis dismissal after chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak had declared that ‘results were clearly not in line with targets agreed and set’.
Chief executive Garry Cook was forced to deny that there was a ‘conspiracy’ to overthrow Hughes as other Premier League managers circled the wagons, Arsene Wenger revealing he was ‘sad’ and Steve Bruce ‘disappointed’.
But, three years on, no one is laughing – well, only at those who got it wrong.
Debating Mancini’sappointment on Match of the Day, ‘expert’ Alan Hansen questioned whether he would be more successful than Hughes. “Probably not,” was his defiant answer to his own enquiry.
Like his infamous remark about a group of kids 17 years ago, he perhaps wishes he could take that comment back, too.
Because, for all the talk that Mancini goes to work each day with the Abu Dhabi axe hanging over his head, the facts suggest it has been an inspired appointment.
Three years in charge and two major trophies. City’s first piece of silverware for 35 years and a first title for 44 years.
Fifth place, followed by third place and then top dogs in the Premier League. Not bad for a pantomime villain.
After the uncomfortable questions had subsided about whether he had been in negotiations with City weeks before Hughes’ dismissal, Mancini was quickly into his stride during his official unveiling.
“When I played, I always wanted to attack,” he said. “This is my philosophy.”
He gave the impression of a man who was immediately at home.
“Manchester is the same as Milan. The weather is the same and you have two big clubs fighting against each other.
“Alex Ferguson is a big manager who wins lots of trophies but we want to do better than Manchester United. My target is the top four. Next season, we want to win the title.” It was ambitious stuff but he was only 12 months out with both of his bold predictions. It’s the reason why, when Mancini says City are destined to rule Europe, he’s worth listening to.
The Champions League is the one black mark on Mancini’s CV, a dark cloud that has followed him from Milan to Manchester.
But it should be remembered that he’s certainly not the first manager to stumble in his pursuit of club football’s biggest prize.
Mancini has enjoyed plenty of successes during his time in charge. The 2011 FA Cup and the 2012 Premier League title are the obvious ones. Victories in player versus club disputes with Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, less so, but still significant.
But despite the silverware and the suppression of player power, Mancini’s big victory has come in the stands, in the pubs and bars which surround the Etihad Stadium.
When Tevez stood on the touchline against Chelsea in March, ready to make his comeback from his mid-season sabbatical, the songs reverberating around the ground weren’t for a returning star but for his manager.
When the manager’s debatable decisions have been greeted with a smattering of boos, they have been instantly drowned out by a chorus of ‘He came from Italy, to manage Man City’.
When the title seemed to be slipping away after defeat at Arsenal last season, an internet campaign was organised to petition the owners to keep Mancini in his job. Even if City ended this season trophy-less, any decision to remove the likeable Italian would still be hugely unpopular.
It seems strange now that, as he was announcing Mancini’s arrival, Khaldoon said he could only ‘hope’ that ‘our incredible fans will join us in welcoming Roberto to the football club’. He needn’t have worried.
Plenty has changed in the Mancinian era. Just three of the players he picked to face Stoke in his first game in charge – Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure and Tevez – were in the team to play Newcastle on Saturday.
Shay Given, Sylvinho, Steven Ireland, Martin Petrov, Nigel de Jong, Robinho, Stuart Taylor, Javier Garrido, Javan Vidal, Dedryck Boyata, Vladimir Weiss and Craig Bellamy, all in Mancini’s first squad, have been moved on.
His hair has greyed slightly but even for a stylish Italian it’s a small price to pay when you consider City’s trophy cabinet is as full as it’s been since the days of Bell, Lee and Summerbee.
“What is absolutely clear is that Roberto believes in Manchester City’s potential to achieve at the highest level and importantly in his own ability to make this happen,” said Khaldoon, as he announced the name of his new manager.
“Roberto is a hugely experienced manager with a proven track record of winning trophies and championships. His experience and track record speak for themselves.”
Three years on and some things are as true now as they were then. MuEN
Bale admits Richards is toughest opponent
The list of right-backs that Gareth Bale has terrorised over the last few years is a very long one – certainly longer than the one the Welsh winger struggles against.
But despite featuring in the Champions League and being a major player at international level, you may need to guess, and then guess again to find out the Tottenham star's most feared opponent.
In fact if you have tried to check regular full-backs from international teams you have already looked too far, as Bale’s nemesis on the pitch is Manchester City's Micah Richards.
Richards has 13 international caps but has found himself controversially on the outside looking in to the England team in recent years, with Glen Johnson, Kyle Walker and Martin Kelly all selected ahead of the 24-year-old.
But Bale rates him as his toughest opponent, describing the defender as ‘physically so strong’.
The Tottenham star was grilled by fans on the club’s Twitter account where he also revealed that his best goal was not against Inter Milan, in the Champions League or even for the north London side.
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[/spoiler]Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert targets Manchester City forward John Guidetti to bolster his forward line
Paul Lambert is ready to make a renewed attempt to sign Manchester City forward John Guidetti on loan.
Lambert, the Aston Villa manager, will enter the January chase to sign the Sweden international for the rest of the season, with old mentor Martin O'Neill likely to prove one of his main competitors.
Guidetti signed a long-term contract at the Etihad Stadium in October and will be fully fit in the New Year after recovering from a virus that left him with paralysis in his right leg.
The 20 year-old is highly regarded by Roberto Mancini but is still waiting to make his first Premier League appearance for the champions..
Lambert had Guidetti scouted extensively during his loan spell at Feyenoord last season, where the youngster scored 20 goals in 23 appearances for the Dutch club.
And he will attempt to persuade Mancini that moving to Villa for four months will help Guidetti's progression as he bids to become a regular at Manchester City, though Sunderland and Galatasaray are also interested.
Despite the emergence of £7 million signing Christian Benteke, Villa remain one of the lowest scorers in the league and could be without Darren Bent for another four weeks with a hamstring injury.
Lambert has been assured of funds for the transfer window by chairman Randy Lerner and is also in the market for another centre-half, with doubts over the long-term fitness of Richard Dunne.
Villa will also look to offload fringe players including Alan Hutton and Stephen Warnock to lower their wage bill. Bolton are negotiating over an extension to Warnock's loan deal, with the defender's initial spell ending this weekend.
MCF.net THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=119&t=44775
Chelsea are renewing their efforts to sign Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, 26, after deciding to sell Daniel Sturridge, 23, to Liverpool. Evening Standard
However, Sturridge's £12m move to Anfield could be in jeopardy following a dispute between Chelsea and the player's advisors over agents' fees. DSSC
Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 29, is set to sign a new contract and remain at the German club, despite interest in the Dutchman from Liverpool and Arsenal. Metro
Anderlecht's 26-year-old Argentine midfielder Lucas Biglia, a target for Liverpool, has been told he can leave the Belgian club if they receive an offer of at least £8.35m. talkSHIT
England striker Andy Carroll, 23, wants to return to Newcastle after being told his Liverpool career is over. The Reds' £35m record signing is on a season-long loan at West Ham but has been told by manager Brendan Rodgers that he can leave in the summer. Daily Star
Villa are also lining up a £1m move for Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray, 29. With 20 goals this season, Murray is the Championship's top scorer and his former Eagles manager Dougie Freedman, now Bolton boss, is keen to take him even further north. Daily Star
Adel Taarabt has pledged his future to QPR - despite interest from Barcelona and Russia's Anzhi Makhachkala. The 23-year-old Moroccan midfielder also insisted he plans to defy boss Harry Redknapp by going to the Africa Cup of Nations. Daily Mirror
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is in talks with Manchester United about signing the Old Trafford club's Chilean striker Angelo Henriquez, 18, on loan. Daily Mirror
West Ham, Wigan and QPR are all competing to sign Salomon Kalou in January. The 27-year-old Ivory Coast striker left Chelsea in the summer for French side Lille but has been told he can leave next month. Daily Star
West Brom have told Millwall and Brighton they want £1.5m for 21-year-old New Zealand striker Chris Wood. Sun
Marseille striker Loic Remy, 25, has welcomed reported interest from Newcastle United, who are said to be considering a £10m move. talkSHIT
Brazilian striker Nene, 31, wants to be released from his contract with Paris St Germain to "follow a new career path". L'Equipe
Juventus are interested in signing Corinthians striker Paolo Guerrero, 28, who scored the goal which beat Chelsea's in the Club World Cup final last weekend. Tuttosport
AC Milan are keen to sign Momo Sissoko from Juventus. The former Liverpool midfielder, 27, is reportedly unhappy at being left out of Juve's starting line-up in the last three games. Tuttosport
Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has had a lengthy meeting with his defenders over putting a stop to the number of late goals Tottenham have conceded this season. Daily Telegraph
Alex Ferguson told Harvard Business School that he had tanning booths installed at Manchester United's training ground to compensate for the lack of sun in Manchester. Metro
Lionel Messi has finished third in a poll of Argentine journalists to name their country's best athlete. The Barcelona goal machine lost out to boxer Sergio Martinez and taekwondo fighter Sebastian Crismanich. Martinez beat Mexico's Julio Cesar Chavez Jr to win the WBC middleweight title while Crismanich won Argentina's solitary gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics. DSSC
Reading manager Brian McDermott almost missed watching his reserves play a behind-closed-doors friendly at Bournemouth when a steward failed to recognise him and refused to let him in. McDermott was eventually granted access in time to see his side win 3-0. Sun
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