OK let’s get this over with.
Reading today’s match reports was never going to be a pleasant task in light of City’s latest away day defeat, but it has to be done.
Yes, we’d all prefer to gloss over the loss to Sunderland but it happened and everyone will move on and hopefully learn from it – but we can’t pretend it didn’t happen.
So we’ll just take a couple of snippets from the reports in Monday’s papers and confine the Black Cats loss to history.
Let’s start with Louise Taylor in The Guardian. She writes: “Yet although Vito Mannone made a terrific save to keep out Agüero's wickedly swerving shot, Sunderland's goalkeeper – preferred to Keiren Westwood - was surprisingly under-worked for long periods.
“Granted Bardsley's block prevented Navas scoring following Agüero's cut back, but City's customary fluidity and seamless positional inter-changing was strangely absent.
“Eventually Pellegrini, by now shaking his head repeatedly in evident puzzlement, had seen an unusually subdued Negredo tightly marshaled for long enough and replaced him with Edin Dzeko.
"A late visiting attacking onslaught ensued but the Chilean was still left pondering precisely how his extravagantly gifted side have only accrued four points from a possible 18 on their travels.”
No arguments, there.
Martin Hardy in The Independent continues the theme:
“It feels even more like a damning indictment of a team who must rely on the mediocrity of those challenging for this year’s title still to be in the frame when you consider where they have now lost: Cardiff City (14th), Aston Villa (11th), Chelsea (4th) and now Sunderland (19th), again by the same 1-0 score-line they had lost by on those three previous visits north.
“That made no more sense yesterday than it did in the previous three seasons, at least not statistically. City had more than two thirds of the game’s possession. They out-shot their hosts 23 to five and the corner count came in at a quite amazing 14-0, yet that overlooks the bravery of Sunderland and the chronic lack of wit shown by Manuel Pellegrini’s side.”
Man City and Tottenham battling it out for Malaga starlet
Manchester City and Tottenham are battling it out to land Malaga starlet Sergi Darder, according to sources in Spain.
The 19-year-old has been one of the breakthrough stars of La Liga this season, making 10 league starts in his maiden campaign at Malaga.
His displays have resulted in interest from the Premier League, with City and Spurs both keen on the midfielder.
He recently signed his first senior deal at Malaga - he is now under contract until the summer of 2017 - and earned his first call-up for Spain's Under-21 side.
Malaga are keen to retain his services and Spanish newspaper Diario Sur claim City or Spurs would have to fork out £11m to bring him to England.
Joe Hart to leave Manchester City
JOE HART is facing an ETIHAD exit with Man City stepping up their search for an experienced keeper.
England NO.1 Hart has been dropped by City boss Manuel Pellegrini after a series of blunders and Romania's Costel Pantillimon will continue in goal at Sunderland today.
But an even more worrying scenario is developing for Hart in the long term, with City now eyeing Barcelona’s Victor Valdes.
The Spanish keeper, 31, is quitting Barca next year and is wanted by Monaco.
But City are now ready to rival the French club.
QPR’s out-of-favour Brazil keeper Julio Cesar, 34, is also being linked with City, whose scouts have been told to assess targets for the No.1 role.
The Daily Star Sunday revealed five weeks ago that City were eyeing keepers – and Hart was still in the team then.
Also under scrutiny are two of Pellegrini’s former keepers from his time in Spain – Malaga’s Wilfredo Caballero and Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas. And Stoke’s Asmir Begovic was a target last season before Pellegrini’s arrival.
It is a disturbing situation for Hart – and England, with a World Cup in Brazil on the horizon.
If Pellegrini lands Valdes for instance, there could be no way back for Hart, 26.
And the Barca keeper has added appeal as he will leave the Catalan club as a free agent when his contract runs out.
Meanwhile, City legend Rodney Marsh has warned Hart that his career is nose-diving the same way as David James’ did.
Hart’s string of high-profile howlers remind Marsh of ex-Liverpool and England keeper James’ fall from grace during the nineties.
James, now 43 and coaching at Luton Town, was labelled a mistake waiting to happen at top level.
Marsh, 69, said: “Joe Hart reminds me of David James. He was a great keeper, who had two bad games and was then known as Calamity James. That could happen to Joe.
“I don’t think international football is actually the problem for Joe.
“But at club level he is rushing off his line. His confidence is gone. It’s a really tough situation”
GOLDEN BOLLOX - 11 November 1989
Mel Machin presides over his last game as City boss as he watches his team crushed 6-0 by Derby County at The Baseball Ground. On a horrendous night for the Blues, the Rams take their chances clinically to move from second bottom to mid-table while City drop to third off the foot of the table. Peter Swales has seen enough and despite it being less than three weeks since City beat United 5-1, Machin’s departure is announced the following day...
Alvaro Negredo tells Lionel Messi he would love life at Manchester City
ALVARO NEGREDO loves life in Manchester and reckons Barcelona megastar Lionel Messi would feel the same "if he gets bored of La Liga".
Negredo admitted that the first item he bought on his £21million arrival at City from Seville was a much-needed umbrella.
But he has been singing in his reign ever since.
And he is a firm believer that one day Messi could be enjoying a splashing time, too, in the Premier League.
Negredo did not mention City in particular as he greeted his media inquisitors with a tray of tea and biscuits at the club’s Carrington training centre.
But obviously the Abu Dhabi-backed billionaires are one of the few clubs in the country who could afford Messi’s reported basic salary of £12.7m a year.
Negredo – asked if he could see the Argentina superstar Messi coming to England – said: “I suppose so.
“Maybe in two years’ time or five years’ time he will get bored with La Liga, want a change and come here”
Alvaro Negredo
“He is a player who can play really well in any league at all.
“Maybe in two years’ time or five years’ time he will get bored with La Liga, want a change and come here.
“People do paint it a bit black but you know it is not bad at all,” said Negredo.
“My family have settled in well and that is really important to me.
“It is one of the best decisions I have made on a personal level and a football level.
“I have got to know the coaches. The city is not too big, not too small. I like it. I’m happy here.
“I really want to learn English and not by using the Teletubbies, like I read in some newspapers. I’m doing what I can.
“I’m trying to speak English at home with my wife, who does speak the language very well.
“In a few months’ time when I have the basics, I can start with an English teacher.
“The first thing I did, though, was buy an umbrella.
“There are quite a few things to get used to.
“In Seville we are used to eating much later, lunch and dinner.
“But there are a lot of things to do. I like going for walks, going around the city with my family. There hasn’t been much time to do a lot of wandering around yet.
“I have signed a contract for four years so I have a while to find out about Manchester.
“You look at the Premier League from the outside and think, ‘Okay, I have got my expectations’.
“But then you actually come here and see what it means to people and to be playing in it.
“You suddenly realise, ‘Wow, my expectations need to go up here’. And that is what I’m trying to do. I’m enjoying it.”
Negredo is already a cult hero among the City faithful and he is loving ‘The Beast’ nickname – and the dedicated new chant from the terraces.
Once it was “Feed the Goat and he will score” in honour of City legend Shaun Goater.
Now, it is “Feed the Beast. ”
And Negredo is clearly touched by the sentiment from the City supporters.
He said: “The nickname, The Beast, I like it a lot more.
“And a couple of team-mates have told me about Shaun.
“You look at the fact that you had a player here who was really loved.
“He had done really well and they made this song here.
“You look at the fact that you had a player here who was really loved.
“He had done really well and they made this song here.
“I have only just come here,” he said. “I have to be really grateful for that.
“I have not met Shaun but I have heard about him from some of the people at the club.
“I have been told he played here for a long time, was a great player and was well loved.”
Negredo cannot quite believe how much he has been taken to the fans’ hearts – and so quickly.
He is loving the adulation and playing under manager Manuel Pellegrini again, after he sold him at Real Madrid.
He said: “I know he has confidence in me because he also wanted me when he was in charge at Villarreal and Malaga.
“When he sold me he spoke to me and explained his decision.
“He said to me, ‘Listen, I want you to go a club where you can keep growing and doing well’.
“He helped me look at my options so there were no hard feelings.”
Arsenal eye move for England international
Premier League leaders Arsenal have once again been linked with a winter swoop for out of favour Manchester City defender Micah Richards, with Arsene Wenger keen to bring the 25 year old right back to the Emirates Stadium.
Richards has entered the last 20 months of his contract with the Citizens and is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of first team opportunities coming his way, especially now that he has seemingly put his injury woes behind him and regained full fitness. The England international continues to be behind Pablo Zabaleta in the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium and that looks unlikely to change in a hurry.
Arsenal meanwhile continue to be worried about the future of Bacary Sagna with the French defender having rejected the Gunners’ offer of a 1 year rolling contract, and it looking increasingly uncertain whether Sagna will be an Arsenal player after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
With Sagna’s understudy Carl Jenkinson far from ready to take on the mantle of being the club’s first choice right back, it looks extremely likely that Arsenal will delve into the transfer market in either January or next summer and the Daily Mirror believes that a move for Richards is well and truly on the cards.
HEADLINE OF THE DAY BOLLOX
United roars back into title race - The Korea Herald
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is weighing up a move for Leighton Baines after signalling his intention to sign a left-back in January.
The under-fire Blues boss is unconvinced by Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov, both of whom have produced under-par performances in recent weeks.
And Pellegrini, who has cash at his disposal, has not ruled out going head-to-head with bitter rivals Manchester United for the signature of Everton and England star Baines.
The 28-year-old is tipped to depart Goodison Park when the transfer window opens, despite the Toffees' good start to the campaign.
After four away defeats in six outings, and only one win, Pellegrini's patience has snapped. The latest setback came in the form of a 1-0 reverse at struggling Sunderland.
A City source said: "The manager doesn't fancy Clichy or Kolarov. He has been extremely disappointed by them, especially Clichy of whom a lot more was expected this season.
"Left-back is the priority in January, although it probably won't be the only acquisition. A move for Baines is not out of the question. It would elevate his profile in a World Cup year and we can offer Champions League football.
"You can expect a few changes when the transfer window opens because the away form is unacceptable. It is one of the worst records in the top flight."
Stoke target transfer swoop on Manchester City for Joleon Lescott
Potters boss Mark Hughes fancies cut-price reunion with defender he paid £22million to bring to Eastlands from Everton in 2009
Stoke boss Mark Hughes will make a cut-price move for Manchester City’s Joleon Lescott in January.
The defender is out of contract next summer and the 31-year-old still hopes to force his way back into England manager Roy Hodgson’s squad in time for the World Cup.
Hughes paid £22million for Lescott while he was the Blues' manager, and the Welshman is still a big fan of his former player.
City may be willing to let Lescott leave for as little as £2m in the New Year, but the former Everton man will have to accept a cut to his £90,000-a-week wages to join the Potters
Zabaleta: Miserable away form will cost us the title if we don't improve
The Blues yesterday slumped to defeat at Sunderland for the fourth successive season, becoming the only team apart from Peterborough to have failed to score against the Black Cats during the current campaign
Pablo Zabaleta said City can forget about the Premier League title – unless they act quickly to sort out their away form.
The Blues yesterday slumped to defeat at Sunderland for the fourth successive season, becoming the only team apart from Peterborough to have failed to score against the Black Cats during the current campaign.
And that sends them into the international break full of gloomy thoughts, as Zabaleta said in typical forthright fashion.
“There is a long way to go and we have too many games to the end, but when you lose points like that it will be really difficult to fight for the title,” said the Argentine right back, who came on as a second half substitute as the Blues desperately tried to salvage something from the game.
“When you have a defeat like this you want to play as quickly as you can, but we now go into an international break, and then we will face Spurs at home, which will be a crucial game for us.”
It was a huge missed opportunity for City, as Chelsea had scraped a lucky draw against West Brom the day before,
Tottenham lost at home to Newcastle earlier in the day and two more rivals – United and Arsenal – were playing each other.
The Blues could have gone into the international break in a strong position in all four
competitions, but now they are haunted by doubt after winning just one of six away league games.
“We are so disappointed,” said Zabaleta. “We had a great chance to reach third position and we knew before the game that Chelsea had dropped points on Saturday, and that Spurs had lost just before us.
“It was a great chance, but unfortunately we didn’t take it.”
Zabaleta said he could not put his finger on the problem, especially as City have dominated the away games they have lost.
That was true statistically at Sunderland, where City had 23 shots on goals to Sunderland’s five, but the Blues only really tested goalkeeper Vito
Mannone once, from Sergio Aguero’s bouncing shot.
That had Zabaleta scratching his head: “I don’t know if it is just about our away form – when you look at the games we have played away, we have dominated all of them.
“But it is true we cannot keep a clean sheet, and when you play away you must defend much better, and try not to concede goals. It’s not happening, every time we play away.
“It was a difficult game. Sunderland played well for the first 45 minutes. They scored a goal, defended with 11 players behind the ball, and just closed the space every time,
“We had no space to create chances. It is sometimes hard to play against 11 players, but you must give them credit – they are in a tough position, fighting against relegation, so it was a very important game for them.
“We don’t care about what other teams are doing. We need to focus on what we are doing at the moment, and improve our performances away.”
It's good to see you again!
Black Cats winger Johnson gives former team-mate Aguero a cheeky grab before Sunderland face City
Sunderland winger Adam Johnson revealed his friendly relationship with former Manchester City team-mate Sergio Aguero by giving the Argentinian a cheeky pinch on the backside.
After the two teams lined-up to shake hands before kick-off, Johnson gave his old friend a tap on the bum before running off an high-fiving the Sunderland mascot.
Aguero glanced behind him to see who the culprit was, but Johnson was gone before the City striker could return the favour.
Johnson made just 39 league appearances in two-and-a-half seasons at the Etihad, but was part of City's Premier League and FA Cup winning squads before making a move to save his career at Sunderland.
Although arriving as one of Sunderland's marquee summer signings, the Englishman has failed to be as effective as he would like for the Black Cats.The 26-year-old will be hoping his form can improve in order to earn a place in Roy Hodgon's World Cup squad next year.
England manager Roy Hodgson gives goalkeeper Joe Hart three months to win back his place at Manchester City
The England manager insists that Hart needs to return to the first team at the Etihad Stadium if he is to remain his first-choice goalkeeper
Roy Hodgson has effectively set Joe Hart a three-month deadline to win back his place as Manchester City’s first-choice goalkeeper if he wants to remain England's number one.
Hart was on the bench again on Sunday for Manchester City's Premier League match at Sunderland — his third successive game having been replaced by his Romanian understudy Costel Pantilimon — with City manager Manuel Pellegrini suggesting the 26-year-old could be kept out of league action indefinitely.
If Pantilimon’s form remains strong, Hodgson will be presented with a nightmare scenario — one with echoes of the build-up to the 2010 World Cup, when his predecessor Fabio Capello chose not to blood young, in-form goalkeepers when there were question marks over David James and Robert Green. Then, of course, that young goalkeeper was Hart: he did not start a game before going to South Africa, even though his case was compelling.
It is not Hodgson’s nature to be blunt but the England manager knows that while he will not fall into the trap Capello set himself in stating he would only select players who are regulars for their clubs — only to abandon that policy in a blind panic — there also comes a tipping point.
And not just for Hart. Hodgson’s words also serve as a warning to Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley.
“I certainly don’t intend to have a rule that if you don’t play for your club side you don’t play for England,” Hodgson said. “I would never go that far. But on the other hand, I’m not prepared to say: ‘If you are not in your club side don’t worry you will be in with England.’
“Joe’s only lost his place one game ago because we can forget about the Champions League game [against CSKA Moscow] that City were going to win at a canter anyway. So that might be a more relevant consideration for me in March or February if he goes three months and has been replaced and never gets a game.
“I would have to cross that bridge if I come to it. For the moment, I’m selecting a squad for Chile and Germany and the keeper I think is the number one has been dropped for the one, possibly two, matches before it. But I am still picking him.”
Hart will start one of those two friendlies — probably the second game against Germany — and England have just one more fixture in March before Hodgson has to name his initial 30-man selection for Brazil. Barring injury Hart will be in that squad even if he does not figure significantly for City but can he then be retained in the final 23?
The attention has been on his understudies — Norwich City’s John Ruddy and Celtic’s Fraser Forster, who have just 45 minutes of international football between them — but there is a greater looming danger for Hart with Hodgson confirming that Ben Foster is close to making a return for West Bromwich Albion. If Foster plays and plays consistently until the end of this campaign while Hart is benched then there is a real dilemma. Foster was also Hodgson’s goalkeeper when he was head coach at West Brom and the admiration is clear.
The only other option mentioned by Hodgson was Stoke City’s Jack Butland, on loan at Barnsley, who is first-choice with England’s under-21s.
There is no doubt that Hodgson would like to select Hart, who started all of England’s 10 qualification matches for Brazil 2014. In fact Hodgson has suggested he already has a first-choice XI in mind.
“I’ve now had a long period of time to get a better idea of what a starting line-up will look like and what players from outside that line-up could be causing major headaches for the guys who are in there,” Hodgson said.
Hart was one headache he did not anticipate, however.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Liverpool have joined the chase to sign Fulham's emerging French striker Moussa Dembele. The 17-year-old, signed from Paris St-Germain, is also a target for Manchester United. Daily Mirror
Fulham midfielder Josh Pritchard, 21, will snub a permanent move to Norway despite impressing while on loan at Tromso. Daily Express
Hull striker Sone Aluko, 24, has paved the way for a £2.6m January switch to Crystal Palace by turning down a new contract at the KC Stadium. Sone Aluko scored 12 goals in 21 games for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League Daily Mirror
Arsenal are considering a £15m bid for Chelsea striker Demba Ba, 28, in the January transfer window as manager Arsene Wenger searches for cover for 27-year-old forward Olivier Giroud. Daily Star
Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o, 32, and Tottenham forward Jermain Defoe, 31, are targets for Canada-based MLS side Toronto. Sun
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, 33, and team-mate Daniel Sturridge, 24, are injury doubts, along with 32-year-old Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, for England's friendlies against Chile and Germany. Guardian
West Brom fans were left angered after finding out referee Andre Marriner, who awarded a controversial penalty against them at Chelsea, is a fan of their Midlands rivals Aston Villa. Sun
Martin O'Neill, who has taken over as Republic of Ireland manager, has labelled Paolo Di Canio a "managerial charlatan". The Italian criticised the fitness of Sunderland's players after taking over from O'Neill at the Stadium of Light last season, before being sacked himself early in September. Daily Telegraph
Wigan manager Owen Coyle denied 24-year-old Irish winger James McClean was absent from his squad against Yeovil for refusing to wear a poppy. Daily Telegraph
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert says he will not compete for big-money signings and will continue to give young players opportunities to thrive at Villa Park. Sky Sports
Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, 32, will consider a return to his native Brazil when his contract ends at White Hart Lane next summer. Daily Mirror
Liverpool defender Andre Wisdom, on loan at Derby, was forced to abandon his £100,000 Porsche on the way to Pride Park after it became submerged in a muddy ditch in the middle of remote woods because of a sat-nav error. Daily Mirror
Bordeaux adopted a llama called Serge, who was taken on a tram ride around the city by a group of men who had just left a nightclub, as their mascot for their match against Nantes. Eurosport
