Mark Hughes’s Manchester City have recorded a remarkable run of seven straight draws in the league, but this game will be decided tonight — and their enigmatic centre forward Emmanuel Adebayor is destined for one of the most memorable
nights of his career. Much has changed at City since Adebayor marked his team’s 4-2 Barclays Premier League victory over Arsenal in September with a studs-first assault on his former team-mate Robin van Persie and then followed his headed goal with a pitch-length dash to goad supporters of the club he left in the summer.
Hughes’s team — including Adebayor — were flying high then. Two and a half months on, reality has kicked in.
City are still in decent shape in the league. ‘As near as dammit as we hoped we would be,’ said Hughes yesterday.
But the richest club in the world have produced some mediocre football recently and the team’s drop in form has been mirrored by that of their star striker. Adebayor has not looked the same player since returning from the three-match ban that followed his attack on Van Persie.
With Arsenal at Eastlands tonight and Chelsea due there in the league on Saturday evening, it is time once more for City to live up to their star billing. A win and a draw — in that order — would perhaps be enough to ease City’s season through the gears once more. Two defeats, though, would place Hughes under a little pressure. ‘These are great games for us,’ said Hughes with admirable optimism. ‘The motivation is there for everybody to see and if we can get two positive results then we will be out of this habit and on our way.
‘It’s been frustrating for us and I think that sense of frustration is mirrored by the fans and everybody connected with the club. But we are not a million miles away from our
targets and I think there needs to be some realism.’ Despite a valuable headed goal in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool recently, Adebayor has not been anywhere near his effervescent best in recent weeks.
Tonight he will be greeted by a 5,000-strong away following that will be more than eager to vent their feelings. Many Arsenal supporters now view the Togo centre forward in the same dim light as they do Ashley Cole, another player who thought the sun shone brighter elsewhere. A few banners in the away end will spell this out tonight but Hughes does not expect
Adebayor to be fazed and revealed yesterday that his star summer signing has been carrying an ankle injury recently.
‘He was playing outstandingly well earlier on in the season but he has got an ankle injury that has hampered him,’ added Hughes. ‘He is playing on with it at the moment but that has to be factored in. ‘He was flying at the start of the season and he gave us a trigger. We have to try to get back to that, as individuals and as a team. We need an intensity to our play and stop giving the opposition encouragement.’
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Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez believes that former United team-mate Wayne Rooney is a better player than international colleague and Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi may have lifted the Ballon D’or but Carlos Tevez insists the best player he has played alongside is Wayne Rooney.
The Manchester City striker has overlooked the more prolific Cristiano Ronaldo and the more mesmeric Messi – having played with both - in favour of street-fighter Rooney, whom he believes has a similar background to his own.
Tevez said: “I’ve had the honour of playing with some great players. At United, I had Cristiano in my team and obviously I have Messi in the national team. At Boca Juniors I had striker Martin Palermo for a team-mate – he was very impressive. He was the one who put two goals past Real Madrid in Japan. But the one I like the most is Rooney. He has everything. He’s very complete.
“Plus we share the same humble origins. Although the humbleness he experienced growing up in Liverpool was obviously a bit more bearable than Fuerte Apache in Argentina, where I grew up.” Tevez is set to start in tonight’s Carling Cup quarter-final and is ready to seize the chance to convince Mark Hughes that he can be a regular starter. City's new hero has also revealed that he's a fan of two of Manchester’s other most famous exports – Coronation Street and Oasis.
He said: “I watch Coronation Street now and then. I do like it. I don’t understand some things because of the language barrier, but it seems very good. Obviously I listen to Oasis. I really like their music. I met the Gallagher brothers when I first arrived at City. They seemed like really good guys and we were on the same wavelength, in tune with each other straightaway. I like their music and they like how I play.”
WAYNE BRIDGE and Micah Richards face the axe at Manchester City as Mark Hughes gets tough with his under-performing stars.
The City boss plans to make changes in next month's transfer window to sort out his defensive problems - with full-backs a top priority. Bridge, 29, could even find himself out the team for tonight's Carling Cup quarter-final with Arsenal. Former Gunner Sylvinho is waiting in the wings after signing on a free from Barcelona in the summer.
Hughes rescued Bridge from Chelsea where his career was going nowhere in a £14million move just 11 months ago. But the left-back has been most at fault during City's run of seven Premier League draws. Hughes inherited Richards who had already started to struggle under previous boss Sven Goran Eriksson. He was prepared to give the 21-year-old a chance at centre-back and full-back - but he has failed to impress at either. Richards is only in the team tonight because Pablo Zabaletta is injured.
But he will be looking for a new club in the New Year and City are prepared to take a hit on Bridge if he cannot rediscover some form in the next month. This is a big week for City with tonight's cup tie followed by a Premier League clash with leaders Chelsea at Eastlands on Saturday.
Hughes insisted: "If we can get into a cup semi-final everyone will be delighted. We are in the habit of drawing right now. "It's frustrating because we have been in a position to win in three or four of the games we drew. "But we are not a million miles away from the target we set ourselves for this stage of the season."
Mark Hughes defends Manchester City's £13m agents' fees
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/footbal ... 388958.stm
Henry told Tevez to go to Arsenal
Carlos Tevez has revealed how he could have ended up at Arsenal – if he'd have taken Thierry Henry's advice. Tevez, who was often a substitute when he first arrived at Upton Park in 2006, said: “When I was left on the bench at West Ham and we were playing Arsenal, Thierry Henry bumped into me in the car park afterwards.
“He said, ‘Hey, what are you doing here? Come and play with us – its incredible that you can’t get a game in this team'. “Having got this far in my career, fighting for my place doesn’t bother me. I’m used to it. I’ve had it at all the big clubs I’ve played for.“At Boca, Corinthians, West Ham, United and City. It's normal for there to be lots of good strikers. I never let my head drop. The harder the challenge, the more effort I put in to win a place. That’s what I am doing here.”
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Chelsea look set to shake off competition from Inter Milan to seal a £40m-plus deal for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero. Daily Mirror
Or, Atletico Madrid have turned down a £44m offer for Argentinean Aguero and are holding out for the £50m they believe he is worth. (Daily Star)
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant, who is currently with Real Zaragoza, is a target for Aston Villa.Daily Mirror
Holland defender Gregory Van der Wiel has said he is committed to Ajax despite interest from Manchester City.
Daily Mirror
Manchester United, neighbours City, Arsenal and Chelsea are all interested in CSKA Moscow's £9m-rated playmaker Milos Krasic.
Daily Mail
West Ham's owners have insisted they do not have to sell £10m-rated Matthew Upson in January despite the club's financial problems. (Daily Star)
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is ready to make a £6m bid for Red Bull Salzburg striker Marc Janko. Daily Mirror
Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin feels that manager Arsene Wenger will need to go on a spending spree to save Arsenal's season. The Sun
Wenger looks set to renew his interest in Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh but the French side are adamant that the Morroco international will not be leaving in January. (Daily Star)
Other players interesting Wenger include Andre-Pierre Gignac of Toulouse, AC Milan's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Mario Balotelli of Inter Milan and Sampdoria's Giampaolo Pazzini. The Sun
Spartak Moscow's Brazilian striker Welliton could be involved in a swap deal with Tottenham forward Roman Pavlyuchenko. Daily Mail
Hull want to cash in on Crystal Palace's money problems by launching a cut-price £1m move for former Newcastle and Charlton midfielder Darren Ambrose. Daily Star
League Two side Notts County are targeting former England striker Francis Jeffers who is out of favour at Sheffield Wednesday. Daily Mirror
Fears are growing that West Ham striker Carlton Cole may need an operation after a scan revealed serious knee ligament damage.
The Sun
WAG OF THE DAY
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FINAL BOLLOX
Derby's mascot - Rammie the Ram - has written a letter of apology to Reading's Brian Howard for claiming the midfielder was faking injury, when in fact he had fractured his jaw. The Sun
