ROUND-UP
Negredo and Nasri peaking at the right time?
Alvaro Negredo and Samir Nasri are making the headlines this morning after impressing for their countries on Friday.
Negredo came off the bench to score a vital winner for Spain against Belarus while Nasri had a rare start for France who beat Australia comprehensively in a friendly.
For Negredo, his run of form couldn’t have come at a better time with Spain poised to qualify for next summer’s World Cup in Brazil – and the story has been picked up by Fifa.com.
They write: “Del Bosque sprung a surprise by starting Michu up front on his debut against the Belarusians, but it wasn't until Manchester City striker Negredo was introduced that they started to pose a more serious threat.
“And after Xavi had given the hosts the lead, it was Negredo who headed home his third goal in four internationals this season to make the game safe 15 minutes from time.
“And Del Bosque is expected to hand him a rare start in a competitive international as he looks to wrap up qualification in style.”
Moving on to Nasri, and the former Arsenal star has transferred his club form into the national team and is feeling loved again by his nation.
With his first start for Les Bleus for more nearly 16 months, Sportsmole pick up his post-match comments.
“The 26-year-old had not started a game for Les Bleus since Euro 2012, when was involved in a spat with a journalist following a quarter-final exit to Spain,” writes Michael Penkman.
‘An ideal comeback for me? I have stepped into line, I worked hard, accepted all the decisions to bring what I could bring,’ the former Marseille youngster told reporters.
‘I know what it is to not be in the French team anymore. During my absence, I could think about it a lot.
‘I have always been a candidate for the starting XI. I had a lot of things to be forgiven for and to show, but I am playing at a great club.’”
John Cross in the Daily Mirror reckons City are considering securing the future of defender Reece Wabara.
The Academy graduate has been on loan at Doncaster and, says Cross, his form may have earned him a new deal at the Etihad.
“Manchester City will give Wabara a new long-term contract – and a chance in the Premier League,” writes Cross.
“England under-20s right-back has impressed City while on loan at Doncaster in the Championship and convinced them he can graduate into their first team.
“They are set to recall him in January and then put him in the Premier League squad.”
Finally, today’s worst-researched story appears in the Daily Mail’s Football Shorts column who write: “Galatasaray manager Roberto Mancini is planning to raid former club Manchester City for left-back Aleksandar Kolarov in January.
“The Serbia defender was angry about being substituted for Gael Clichy in the last home game against Everton and is available for £5m.”
Angry? The only thing Aleks was angry about was the deep gash above his eye that was gushing blood. THAT was what forced his substitution…
Crystal Palace plot January move for Man City midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim
Eagles face battle from several clubs across Europe also monitoring the Norway under-21 star
Crystal Palace will go back for Manchester City’s Abdisalam Ibrahim when he returns from loan in Norway.
Ibrahim is free to quit the Etihad Stadium when his loan spell with Norwegian club Stromsgodset ends in December.
And Palace boss Ian Holloway has identified the 22-year-old as a January transfer target to beef up his engine room.
Holloway had Ibrahim, who has been likened to Patrick Vieira, on his summer hit-list before turning his attentions elsewhere.
But the Eagles will face a major battle from the continent with clubs from Spain, France and Turkey also eyeing moves.
Four new clubs for Man City's Richards to consider
Speculation suggests Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is considering a swoop for Man City’s Micah Richards to provide competition for Mathieu Debuchy, who has yet to fully convince in the black-and-white shirt.
It’s fair to say that since the 25-year-old made his England debut in 2006, as the Three Lions’ youngest ever defender, his career has stagnated. Richards, who is equally able at right-back or in the centre, has long had his admirers but after a blistering breakthrough as a 17 year old for Man City, things have nosedived.
An academy product of the blue half of Manchester – a rarity in itself these days – Richards is one of few players to have experienced the era before City were rolling around in their millions. He has enjoyed success with a Premier League and FA Cup medal to his name but frequently he’s played second fiddle to Pablo Zabaleta.
There can be no hiding that a right-back spot is up for grabs in the England shirt with the World Cup in Brazil less than a year away. Defensive concerns linger over Kyle Walker, there are worries about Glen Johnson’s injury record and both Phil Jones and Chris Smalling cannot be considered ready for the step up.
Regular game time, a good run of form and eye-catching displays could easily propel Richards back into the fold and he would do well to consider these clubs as options for a move away.
Manchester City to give Reece Wabara new deal and Premier League chance in January
England under-20 right-back has impressed on loan at Doncaster
Manchester City will give Reece Wabara a new long-term contract – and a chance in the Premier League.
England under-20s right-back Wabara, 21, has impressed City while on loan at Doncaster in the Championship and convinced them he can graduate into their first team.
City are committed to giving their own home grown youngsters a chance and now see Wabara as having major potential for the future and will reward him with a first team contract.
They are set to recall him in January and then put him in the Premier League squad.
Wabara’s current deal is due to expire at the end of the season but City are following the current trend of loaning out youngsters, seeing they can push on and then giving them a first team chance.
It has worked well for Tottenham with Kyle Walker and Andros Townsend and now Wabara may be ready to do the same at City, especially as Micah Richards has yet to sign a new deal.
GOLDEN BOLLOX 14-10-2010
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Malcolm Allison passes away aged 83. Allison arrived at City in 1965 as assistant manager to Joe Mercer. City went on to win the Second Division crown in 1966, the League title in 1968, FA Cup in 1969 and European Cup Winners’ Cup and League Cup in 1970.
He managed 11 clubs at home and abroad, including the Blues for a second time in 1979 before leading Sporting Lisbon to the Portuguese League and Cup in 1982. He took charge of Crystal Palace on two separate occasions, and also had spells as manager of Bath, Plymouth, Galatasaray, Toronto City, Middlesbrough and Bristol Rovers.
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[/spoiler]Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, 31, has hinted he will turn down Arsenal and instead join Monaco at the end of the season. DSSC
Former England caretaker boss Peter Taylor is set to take over from Martin Allen at Gillingham. Daily Mirror
England Under-21 manager Gareth Southgate has called for the introduction of a club quota to limit the number of foreign players in the Championship and the lower tiers of English football. Times
Former England boss Glenn Hoddle, recently appointed to the FA commission to help the national team, says the thought of managing his country again "hasn't crossed my mind. I don't see that arising at the moment." Hoddle says of the current England squad: "If we don't change things there will be a problem - getting 11 good players out there isn't too bad at the moment but I fear in three years' time we're going to be struggling big time." Guardian
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted the Magpies have "too many" foreign players. Daily Mirror
But Pardew insists he is "comfortable" with the presence of former Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear as the club's director of football. Times
For Saturday's home match against Liverpool, a group of Newcastle fans have organised a march under the banner 'Time 4 Change'. They are angry about the way owner Mike Ashley is running the club. Evening Chronicle
The Football Association have earmarked a 418-room five-star Rio hotel for England's base at next summer's World Cup finals. It is little more than a mile away from the notorious Rocinha favela [shanty town] where a German tourist was shot earlier this year. Sun
Liverpool's hopes of redeveloping Anfield are under threat because bats, a protected species whose habitat must not be "adversely affected" by building work, have been seen flying around the stadium. Metro
Ireland Under-19 manager Paul Doolin said he "instantly thought of David Beckham" after Reading youngster Liam Kelly's remarkable halfway line effort against Sweden at the weekend. Metro
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