Monday's B*l**x

[Chinners]

THE BOLLOX
MANUEL PELLEGRINI IS A MANCHESTER CITY SLICKER
MANUEL PELLEGRINI showed he really is the Hugo Boss at Manchester City after flying in to start his new job.
The Chilean was fitted out for a new suit to look the part as he prepares to start work ­officially at the Etihad today.
The 59-year-old former Malaga chief also took time out to pose with a City shirt for the fans.

Manchester clubs set for £25million fight
Manchester United and Manchester City are set to fight it out for the signature of Borussia Dortmund star Robert Lewandowski, according to reports.
After impressing during last season Lewandowski is being seen as the scalp of the transfer window. However, a deal to either side is nowhere near completion.
Both Manchester clubs are seeking a replacement for either finalised or potentially out-going players.
Manchester City are looking for a replacement for the departed Carlos Tevez and have switched their attentions away from Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and onto Lewandowski.
Manchester United could be looking for a replacement for England international Wayne Rooney as he enters crunch talks with the club this week over his future.
Change of heart from Borussia
It seemed a few days ago that Borussia Dortmund would hold on to their prolific forward, saying they preferred to let the Polish striker run down his contract at the club.
Now, it seems that a move could be on the cards, according to the Daily Star and the only reason for trying to hold onto the striker was to block attempts from German rivals, Bayern Munich.
The 24-year-old was very keen on a move to the German champions, but, as Dortmund refused to let him leave, he may be inclined to a life in the Premier League.
If a deal was agreed it would see Dortmund gain a healthy £25million and for that price it seems they are willing to let him leave.
But which side of Manchester will the striker choose?

Leslie looks to English Man City duo
Mark Hughes could be set to raid his former club Manchester City for English duo Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott.
Manchester City, who have also have a new manager in Manuel Pellegrini during this summer are looking to narrow down their sizeable squad and Lescott and Barry are rumoured to be surplus to requirements at the Ethihad.
New Stoke manager Hughes has been alerted to these developments and could be set to swoop for the pair to help boost his current squad in the Potteries.
Both Lescott, 30, and Barry, 32, were transferred to Manchester by Hughes in his reign as manager for a combined £34 transfer fee in 2009.
Barry is entering the final year of his contract and would be available for considerably less than the £12 million Man City paid for him from Aston Villa.
Lescott, who is also entering the final year of his contract has failed to secure a regular spot in the Citizen`s starting line up for some time, and with Pellegrini looking to add to his backline with a rumoured impending bid for Real Madrid`s Pepe, the former Wolves and Everton man will also be available for considerably less than the £22 million he was purchased for from Everton.
Several other teams are keeping an eye on the developments at last year`s league runners up and will be ready to pounce if the opportunity arises.

Roma enter race to sign Manchester City defender
Roma have joined Serie A rivals Inter in the race for Manchester City defender Micah Richards.
The England international has been interesting the Nerazzurri for weeks now but it seems that the competition for his signature has just intensified.
According to the Daily Mirror, Roma hope to sign the versatile Richards to boost their European qualification hopes next season, with Inter vying to do likewise.
The prospect of no European football for the 2013/14 season is likely to discourage the £12 million rated 25-year-old from making the move to Italy.
His club, Manchester City, would prefer to offload Alexsandar Kolarov to Italy with many suitors also competing for his signature.

SNUB COUNT: 162
Draxler snubs Madrid, Man City
Julian Draxler will stay at Schalke despite lucrative offers from the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City, the Bundesliga club's chairman of the board, Clemens Toennies, said.
The Bild daily reported that the two heavyweights, and another English club, had been ready to pay a buyout fee of 45 million euros ($64.11 million) and offered the gifted 19-year-old Germany midfielder a huge salary of up to 60 million euros ($85.48 million) for five years.
But Toennies confirmed at Schalke's annual members' meeting that Draxler had snubbed the offers and committed his future to Schalke where he recently renewed his contract until 2018.
"Jule told me that he will stay with us although he can earn 50 million euros elsewhere," Toennies said.
Draxler was quoted by Bild as saying that he didn't want to move to a big club in the northern summer because he wants to play in the UEFA Champions League with Schalke and be in Germany's team for next year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Schalke reached the last 16 in the past Champions League and placed fourth in the Bundesliga, with qualifying for the next Champions League group stage named a main upcoming target by sports director Horst Heldt.
"First of all we want to qualify for the Champions League which isn't a foregone conclusion. We are seeded but we can still be drawn against a tough opponent," Heldt said.
"We want to be among the top four in the Bundesliga again and qualify for Europe. And in the (German) cup we want to go to (the final in) Berlin."

Kenny Burns: I'm glad Carlos Tevez has gone
I WILL shed no tears for Carlos Tevez finally leaving Manchester City for Juventus.
He was such an exciting player when he first came over with West Ham.
He has never been far from the headlines.
His goal sent Sheffield United down, sparking a long, acrimonious and expensive row.
Tevez then scored 34 goals in 99 starts for Manchester United before moving across the city.
But he blotted his copy book for me by refusing to come on as a sub in the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich.
If I was the manager, I would not have played him again.
At the end of the day, City have done well to get £7.6m for him.
Next season they wouldn't have got a penny, so it is a good bit of business.
I wonder how long he will be in Italy before he starts getting homesick again?

Carlos Tevez 'respected' Roberto Mancini
Carlos Tevez has insisted that he respected Roberto Mancini during his time at Manchester City, but also admitted that their "rapport" was not "ideal".
The Argentine, who joined Juventus last week, infamously refused to enter the field during a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich in the 2011-12 campaign.
"On TV it looked much worse than it was. When the manager decided to take off Edin Dzeko and introduce a defender, I was upset and sat back down on the bench," Tevez told Tuttosport.
"However, at that moment the really angry one was Dzeko, who started insulting Mancini in Bosnian and the manager replied in Italian. It was a surreal scene.
"I was sitting there talking to [Pablo] Zabaleta and when Mancini turned round he saw me sitting down, but was furious because of the row with Dzeko and took it out on me. My rapport with Mancini wasn't always ideal, but there was always great respect."
Mancini was sacked as the City manager before the end of the 2012-13 season.

[spoiler][/spoiler]
Barcelona's new signing Neymar, 21, wants 27-year-old Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney to join him at the Nou Camp.Metro

Arsenal fear being hijacked by richer rivals in their bid to sign Wayne Rooney, 27, from Manchester United and 25-year-old Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid. Daily Star

Tottenham look set to sign two of Europe's highest-rated young players. Spurs want Dinamo Zagreb defender Tin Jedvaj and midfielder Alen Halilovic, who are both 17 and would remain with the Croatian side on loan deals until they turn 18. Daily Mirror

Newcastle United are bracing themselves for a bid for Yohan Cabaye from Paris St-Germain and must decide whether to sell for around £20m or hold the 27-year-old France midfielder to his contract. Guardian

Brazilian side Internacional reject claims Southampton have moved ahead of Tottenham in the pursuit of Leandro Damiao, insisting they have received no offers for the 23-year-old striker. Metro

Manchester United are clear to sign Argentina centre-back Ezequiel Garay, 26, after his club, Benfica, signed his replacement, Arsenal de Sarandi defender Lisandro Lopez, 23. Daily Mirror

Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas has telephoned David Villa, 31, to try to persuade the Spain forward to accept an offer to move to White Hart Lane. Times

Former England goalkeeper Scott Carson, 27, will leave Turkish team Bursaspor to sign for Championship side Wigan in an £800,000 deal. Daily Mirror

The Latics are also interested in tough-tackling Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing, 24, who is surplus to requirements at Anfield. DSSC

Midfielder Bakary Sako, 25, has pleaded with Wolves to let him hold talks with Fulham over a potential move to Craven Cottage. Fulham & Hammersmith Chronicle

Premier League new boys Hull City are keen to sign Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne, 33, following his release from Aston Villa. DSSC

Chelsea are leading the chase to sign West Brom wonder kid Isaiah Brown, 16, who is also a target for Arsenal. Daily Star

Despite accepting an £8m bid from Cardiff City for winger Thomas Ince, 21, father and Blackpool boss Paul Ince insists his son is not in a rush to leave Bloomfield Road. Guardian

Aston Villa striker Darren Bent, 29, remains keen on a move to Newcastle United, but only if Alan Pardew remains in charge of the club. Daily Telegraph

Former Tottenham boss Ossie Ardiles says 25-year-old Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain, a transfer target for Arsenal, has the talent to have the same impact in the Premier League as Robin van Persie. Sky Sports Understands

Chelsea defender David Luiz has backed Brazil international team-mate Paulinho to be a hit in the Premier League, saying "his game fits perfectly". Midfielder Paulinho, 24, is close to a £17m move from Corinthians to Tottenham. Sky Sports Understands

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has told Wayne Rooney, 27, not to quit Old Trafford. talkShite

After a miserable 12 months for Argentine club Independiente, their fans threw chairs and a desk at the club president at a meeting intended to answer their concerns. Metro

MORE BOLLOX SOON

[dick dastardley]

if we are gonna fight it out against the rags for lewandowski, this is a MUST win for us we will look pretty cheap if we dont and they get him, add that to the isco fiasco and we look like a second rate club that pretty much nobody wants to join.

[Original Dub]

if we are gonna fight it out against the rags for lewandowski, this is a MUST win for us we will look pretty cheap if we dont and they get him, add that to the isco fiasco and we look like a second rate club that pretty much nobody wants to join.

Oh dear

[Foreverinbluedreams]

if we are gonna fight it out against the rags for lewandowski, this is a MUST win for us we will look pretty cheap if we dont and they get him, add that to the isco fiasco and we look like a second rate club that pretty much nobody wants to join.

Oh dear

My thought exactly

[Dronny]

I AM NOT SAYING FERNANDINHO IS SHIT, but I've been impressed with Paulinho in the Confed Cup and at £10mn cheaper and 5-6 years younger could we not have gone for him? Just a thought.....

[Cit.revenge]

FFS this news and portals and newspaper in four days i read first we are in for Cardoso by hes agent no less , then like Pellegrini wish is Negredo now its Lewandowski . Fuck this they just guess.

[DoomMerchant]

I AM NOT SAYING FERNANDINHO IS SHIT, but I've been impressed with Paulinho in the Confed Cup and at £10mn cheaper and 5-6 years younger could we not have gone for him? Just a thought.....

It's curious.

[Alex Sapphire]

It says here Joe Hart has got engaged to Kimberley
Is that not bollox?

[Dronny]

It says here Joe Hart has got engaged to Kimberley
Is that not bollox?

Truly a tissue of lies if ever there was one!

[Dameerto]

I AM NOT SAYING FERNANDINHO IS SHIT, but I've been impressed with Paulinho in the Confed Cup and at £10mn cheaper and 5-6 years younger could we not have gone for him? Just a thought.....

It's curious.

I've been completely underwhelmed with him in general, I think we were linked with him last season and I hoped it was bollox at the time.

[DoomMerchant]

I've been completely underwhelmed with him in general, I think we were linked with him last season and I hoped it was bollox at the time.

Not seen either beyond an odd match or two. Hope Ferdinand is a bull.

Cheers

[Dronny]

I AM NOT SAYING FERNANDINHO IS SHIT, but I've been impressed with Paulinho in the Confed Cup and at £10mn cheaper and 5-6 years younger could we not have gone for him? Just a thought.....

It's curious.

I've been completely underwhelmed with him in general, I think we were linked with him last season and I hoped it was bollox at the time.

Fair do's, each to their own. Having said that your choice of favourite player could torpedo any assessments of anyone ;-)

[bobby brows]

Gareth City or Stoke?

Gareth NEW YORK or Stoke?

Gareth Barry West Didsbury & Chorlton or Stoke?

Gareth is indespensible to our team so I don't expect to sell him; if Pellegrini has a clue he'll have him as the first name of the team sheet 10 minutes into the first training session but he'd walk into any other side in the division why Stoke?

for the record Gareth if you are happy to play for -£10 a month I can get you in at WD&C and the guy you'd you battle for a place in the team with is suspended for the first game of the season! :-)

[carl_feedthegoat]

Gareth City or Stoke?

Gareth NEW YORK or Stoke?

Gareth Barry West Didsbury & Chorlton or Stoke?

Gareth is indespensible to our team so I don't expect to sell him; if Pellegrini has a clue he'll have him as the first name of the team sheet 10 minutes into the first training session but he'd walk into any other side in the division why Stoke?

for the record Gareth if you are happy to play for -£10 a month I can get you in at WD&C and the guy you'd you battle for a place in the team with is suspended for the first game of the season! :-)

Barry is no longer a first team starter , he fucked up so many times in the latter part of last season that I lost count.
Him and Lescott understandably want first team action , they wont get it at City and will at teams like Stoke.

We have moved on.

[Hazy2]

Gareth City or Stoke?

Gareth NEW YORK or Stoke?

Gareth Barry West Didsbury & Chorlton or Stoke?

Gareth is indespensible to our team so I don't expect to sell him; if Pellegrini has a clue he'll have him as the first name of the team sheet 10 minutes into the first training session but he'd walk into any other side in the division why Stoke?

for the record Gareth if you are happy to play for -£10 a month I can get you in at WD&C and the guy you'd you battle for a place in the team with is suspended for the first game of the season! :-)

Barry is no longer a first team starter , he fucked up so many times in the latter part of last season that I lost count.
Him and Lescott understandably want first team action , they wont get it at City and will at teams like Stoke.

We have moved on.

Jérémy Toulalan....

[Chinners]

I'm curious where Barry fucked up so many times last season ... I can think of the goal v Southampton and one other where he was at fault .... Lescott similarly did a good job in the few games he got to play ... we will be moving on mind by ther looks of it

[carl_feedthegoat]

I'm curious where Barry fucked up so many times last season ... I can think of the goal v Southampton and one other where he was at fault .... Lescott similarly did a good job in the few games he got to play ... we will be moving on mind by ther looks of it

Im sure I shouted out "you useless fat cunt" more than twice last season.

[Florida Blue]

I'm curious where Barry fucked up so many times last season ... I can think of the goal v Southampton and one other where he was at fault .... Lescott similarly did a good job in the few games he got to play ... we will be moving on mind by ther looks of it

Im sure I shouted out "you useless fat cunt" more than twice last season.

We are talking about Barry here Carl, not your reflection in the mirror......





That was too easy mate.

[Hazy2]

I'm curious where Barry fucked up so many times last season ... I can think of the goal v Southampton and one other where he was at fault .... Lescott similarly did a good job in the few games he got to play ... we will be moving on mind by ther looks of it

Barry is an easy call out for the thick fan.

[Chinners]

I'm curious where Barry fucked up so many times last season ... I can think of the goal v Southampton and one other where he was at fault .... Lescott similarly did a good job in the few games he got to play ... we will be moving on mind by ther looks of it

Im sure I shouted out "you useless fat cunt" more than twice last season.

Ha ha, I've no doubt you did but that ain't exactly evidence is it?