Manchester City's Joe Hart set for recall against Arsenal in title race six-pointer
Boss Pellegrini mulling over ending England keeper's six-match league exile after he impressed against Bayern Munich in midweek
Joe Hart is poised to end his six-game Premier League exile with a recall for Manchester City in Saturday's massive title-race clash with Arsenal.
Hart has not played in the Premier League since October 27, after being dropped and replaced by Costel Pantilimon following a string of high-profile errors.
But the Blues' boss Manuel Pellegrini has been impressed with the way England No.1 Hart has responded to his demotion, in particular his attitude and professionalism.
The City boss is mulling over whether to recall Hart for Premier League leaders Arsenal's visit to the Etihad.
Although Pantilimon has done little wrong since taking over, it is understood Pellegrini could be about to reinstate the Englishman.
Hart has not featured in the Premier League since his last-minute gaffe gifted Chelsea a winning goal in a 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge seven weeks ago.
But he made some eye-catching saves in Wednesday’s 3-2 win at European champions Bayern Munich and is now on the brink of reclaiming his first-choice status.
Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that Matija Nastasic is his only definite absentee for Manchester City's visit of Arsenal on Saturday.
The City chief revealed that the Serbian defender is a week away from a return to action from a calf injury and will not be able to feature against Arsene Wenger's Premier League leaders at the Etihad Stadium.
However former Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy and striker Stevan Jovetic come into contention having returned to training with the rest of the squad in the past week.
Skipper Vincent Kompany was rested for the 3-2 Champions League win at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, but will return to the centre of defence alongside Martin Demichelis in Nastasic's absence.
A decision on whether Joe Hart will return to the starting XI ahead of Costel Pantilimon will be made by the Chilean tactician on Saturday, as City look to make it eight wins out of eight in the Premier League on home soil.
GOLDEN BOLLOX 13-12-2010
A rift with club executives Garry Cook and Brian Marwood appears to have prompted Carlos Tevez's decision to leave Manchester City. Daily Mirror
City claim that Tevez's outrageous financial demands of £300,000-a-week are behind the rift between the player and club officials. the Times
Striker Tevez is furious with City for portraying him as a money-grabbing mercenary in the wake of his transfer request. The Argentine has apparently turned down a one-off payment of £2.5m to stay at Eastlands. Daily Star
"This is not about money," Tevez is understood to have told Manchester City in an email when the club offered him the chance not just to renegotiate his contract but collect a substantial one-off bonus, thought to be about £5m. Daily Telegraph
Tevez says that no amount of money will keep him at Manchester City and if the club do not grant him a transfer in January, he will quit football altogether. the Sun
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is the new Alex Ferguson, says Eastlands coach Brian Kidd, who used to work under Ferguson at Manchester United. Daily Mirror
Manchester City should have known rules in Bayern Munich match, says Rafa Benitez
Manchester City should not have made the avoidable mathematical error which turned midweek victory at Bayern Munich into a controversy, though it was down to manager Manuel Pellegrini's staff to inform him of the permutations, The Independent columnist Rafael Benitez writes today.
City beat the European champions 3-2 but did not send on substitute Sergio Aguero to pursue the goal they needed to top Group D because Pellegrini thought his team had to score twice. Benitez, who was plunged into mathematical calculations of his own as Napoli beat Arsenal but were still deprived qualification, said that he delegates information of that kind to his back-room staff. "Always, I expect my staff to inform me about everything," he said, adding in his column for today's paper: "It is better to know everything as a manager, maybe, but Manuel needed one of his staff to tell him the mathematics in Munich."
Benitez also uses his column to discuss England's prospects against Italy, where they will face many players he has become well acquainted with in Serie A, during next summer's World Cup. "Italy are a better team than they were at Euro 2012," he writes. "The team has players who can change games. Italy are used to playing to the maximum level and controlling games. They are good tactically and adapt well."
Edin Dzeko should quit Manchester City and join Roma, insists Miralem Pjanic
Edin Dzeko should quit Manchester City in January and join Roma, according to his international team-mate Miralem Pjanic.
Dzeko, who admitted last month he was considering quitting City, has been consistently linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal and German outfit Borussia Dortmund have been strongly linked with his services, but his Bosnia team-mate Pjanic says he’d be more than welcome at Roma.
‘I’m in contact with him and I know he aspires to play more and feel more important (than now),’ said Pjanic.
‘We hope he plays more. Here in Italy he would be very good.
‘Of course, he belongs to Manchester City but I do not know how long for.’
City boss Pellegrini has denied speculation that Dzeko is unsettled at the club, but it’s thought that the player’s agent has put the feelers out for interested parties ahead of January.
Roma, who are battling for the Italian league title this season, are in the market for another forward in the new year.
GOLDEN BOLLOX 13-12-2011
Maybe it had to happen, and Roberto Mancini has always maintained that somewhere along the way defeat would come knocking.
Perhaps a more deserved defeat would have been easier to take.
While most reports highlight the fact that the Blues' luck was right out at Stamford Bridge, the Telegraph declares that "Chelsea have done the rest of the Premier League a favour".
That's the headline over Jason Burt's piece and probably reflects the general feeling outside east Manchester, especially, we're guessing, in one or two TV executives' offices.
As Burt opines, perhaps a tad dramatically: "A victory for City and they would have been champions-elect. Instead they lost for the first time this season and Chelsea not only hauled themselves back into contention but blew the title race wide open."
So, game on then eh, Jason? That won't do the ratings any harm either.
He adds: "For half an hour City were irrepressible and should have been out of sight before Chelsea’s equalising goal. City shelved the disappointment of a Champions League exit and came to the Bridge to attack.
"Full marks to Roberto Mancini for unleashing the creative talent at his disposal and it was only with a slice of fortune, and a tactical reorganisation, that Chelsea worked their way back into the contest."
Over on London24.com, Paul Logan reckons Roberto was "seething after his side's 2-1 defeat". He quotes the manager's sarcastic verdict: "I agree with all the decisions the referee made. Perhaps he (the ref) did not see it as it was raining."
Logan adds Mancini's more serious comment: "We had a clear penalty. Everyone saw it - even people not in the stadium saw it."
Graham Poll certainly saw it. Unfortunately he's no longer a referee, but he tells readers of his Mail column: "Manchester City should have been awarded a penalty when David Silva was clearly tripped by Jose Bosingwa midway through the first half.
"Silva's trickery fooled the Portuguese defender and the contact was clear. Mark Clattenburg had a good, unobstructed view but waved aside City's appeals, perhaps unsure of the contact.
"Chelsea also benefited from Clattenburg not seeing a poor Raul Meireles tackle on Silva which escaped an obvious yellow card. Meireles was later cautioned for a reckless tackle on Pablo Zabaleta.
"However, Manchester City did not benefit from such leniency as two rash challenges from Gael Clichy on Daniel Sturridge both correctly resulted in yellow cards."
I've looked in vain for "A Bridge Too Far" headlines. But they'll be out there somewhere ...
Manchester City keeping tabs on Lazio starlet
Lazio forward Balde Diao Keita has caught the attention of English powerhouse Manchester City after promising performances in Serie A and the Europa League.
The Spanish-born Senegalese striker recently starred in his team’s Europa League fixture against Legia Warsaw and this has not gone unnoticed abroad.
Keita, who made his debut for the senior Biancocelesti side earlier this season, has impressed the English giants with his mature performances so far according to football market expert Gianluca Di Marzio.
“Everyone is crazy about Keita,” he stated on gianlucadimarzio.com
“He is catching everyone’s eyes. Although he is young, he is capable of being decisive in important moments.
“Manchester City are interested in the talent from the Barcelona school. Their scouts who have seen him on a number of occasions like him very much. He’s a jewel to keep an eye on.”
Keita has scored two goals in 13 appearances in all competitions this season.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Manchester United have opened talks with Inter Milan over a deal for midfielder Fredy Guarin. United hope they can sign the 27-year-old Colombian for around £10m. Metro
United and Tottenham met Guarin's representatives on Thursday to discuss a move to the Premier League but Chelsea have dropped out of the race to sign him. Daily Express
Manchester United will not be forced into transfer talks with Wayne Rooney amid speculation Chelsea will make another move for the 28-year-old striker in the summer. Daily Mirror
Chelsea and Manchester United, as well as former club Liverpool, are all interested in midfielder Xabi Alonso, 32, whose contract at Real Madrid expires in the summer. Daily Star
Chelsea have made contact with Monaco about signing Colombian striker Radamel Falcao, 27, in January amid speculation the player does not get on with manager Claudio Ranieri. Daily Express
Chelsea are expected make a £20m January move for Southampton's 18-year-old defender Luke Shaw. Daily Telegraph
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce "hasn't heard anything" about reports linking him with a loan move for former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins, 29. TalkSHIT
Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis has dismissed talk of a January move for Blackburn's 11-goal top scorer Jordan Rhodes, 23. Sun
Arsenal hope manager Arsene Wenger will sign a new contract at the club now their Champions League progress has been confirmed. Daily Mirror
Gunners midfielder Mikel Arteta, 31, has criticised the decision to schedule his side's Premier League trip to Manchester City for Saturday lunchtime - little more than 48 hours after Wenger's squad returned from Italy following a Champions League defeat against Napoli. Guardian
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce insists he was right to sign Andy Carroll permanently from Liverpool over the summer - even though two heel injuries have prevented the 24-year-old England striker from playing a single game this season. Times
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, 23, is back in training after recovering from a bruised ankle and is set to feature in Sunday's Premier League trip to Tottenham. Liverpool Echo
Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has attacked the "incomprehensible" spending of Real Madrid, which he believes is "unfair". Goal.com
Football could lose millions of pounds in public funding after a Sport England survey showed 288,000 fewer people are playing the game than at this time last year - a 14% drop. Daily Telegraph
Colchester's Liberal Democrat MP Sir Bob Russell says football is "rotten to the core" and needs a Royal Commission to clean up the game. Daily Telegraph
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell says he will "move heaven and earth" to make sure Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 26, stays at the club. Marca
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness wants an investigation into this year's Ballon d'Or vote - believing that the decision to extend the voting deadline may have cost the club's midfielder Franck Ribery the prize. TZ
Galatasaray defender Emmanuel Eboue, 30, says he is "hurt" that the Turkish FA might punish him and striker Didier Drogba, 35, for paying tribute to the late former South African president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela. ESPN FC
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, 28, tops Britain's football rich list, while West Ham's Joe Cole and Manchester City's James Milner are also in the top 10. DSSC
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 26, has been named Twitter's number one trending football topic for 2013. Metro
GOLDEN BOLLOX 13-12-2012
Man City's Vincent Kompany rejects netting idea
Manchester City's Vincent Kompany has rejected calls for the introduction of netting to protect players, saying fans should not be treated "like animals".
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand was struck by an object as he celebrated Robin van Persie's winner in their 3-2 victory over City on Sunday.
The PFA has subsequently called for netting to be installed in stadiums.
"I hope actions will be taken but let's not forget where football has come from and how far it has come", Kompany said.
Nine people have been charged following the match and United striker Wayne Rooney was also the target of objects thrown from the crowd.
Belgium international defender Kompany, 26, who is a doubt for Saturday's trip to Newcastle due to a groin problem, condemned Sunday's incidents at Etihad Stadium.
"It is never a good thing to happen, not just for Manchester City or Manchester United, but for football," added Kompany, speaking to Football Focus during City's annual visit to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.
"I would definitely say we need action on prevention but keep treating fans as human beings and not animals that have to be behind cages.
"I do think we should take action against these incidents and I have heard a lot of suggestions about putting up nets and everything.
"But the fact we are able to put people outside of cages is something that makes the English game so much more special."
Ferdinand later played down the incident on Twitter, writing "what a shot!"
City keeper Joe Hart also had to stop a fan who had run on to the pitch from reaching Ferdinand as the defender recovered from the blow.
In October, Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was attacked by a fan who ran onto the pitch during his side's match against Leeds United at Hillsborough.
Kirkland, 31, required treatment after he was struck in the face during the Yorkshire derby, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor said it was time to consider netting around "vulnerable areas" such as behind the goals and around the corner flags.
However the chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, Malcolm Clarke, warned against "knee jerk" reactions. He said safety was improving at games and pointed to government figures showing arrests were down 24% on previous seasons.
[i]Micah Richards eyes February return for Manchester City
Manchester City defender Micah Richards hopes to return to playing by early February after knee surgery in October.
The 24-year-old tore the meniscus in his right knee but is gradually making progress in his rehabilitation.
"I am not putting a date on when I will be back because these things are never exact but I am hoping it will be in early February," he told http://www.mcfc.co.uk .
"There is still not too much I can do but I am now on one crutch instead of two so that is progress.
"Of course it is frustrating and there is nothing more I would like than to be out there playing but I am being well looked after, the injury is responding and the knee getting stronger every day.
"I am busy try to build the muscle up and I am doing some weights." MuEN
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]Yaya Toure wants to stay at Man City for the rest of his career
Yaya Toure has said he wants to spend the rest of his career at Manchester City.
The 29-year-old midfielder joined City in a £24m move from Barcelona in 2010.
He was one of the key players as City won a first title in 44 years in May and scored the only goal to beat Stoke in the FA Cup final in his first season.
Toure's Manchester City stats
•Toure has scored 15 goals in his 83 Premier League appearances for City.
•Despite playing for the Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations, he still made 32 league appearances as City won a first title since 1968 last season.
•Toure also scored the winner as City ended their 35-year trophy drought by beating Stoke 1-0 in the 2011 FA Cup final.
"I would love to end my career here," Toure, whose current contract ends in 2015, told the club's official website.
"Nobody knows what the next step is in football and I believe that if you stop dreaming, you should stop playing football, but this is where I want to be.
"There is no other place I would rather finish with and I want to continue winning titles and trophies with City."
City are six points behind leaders Manchester United in the Premier League and have already been knocked out of Europe.
But Toure believes the success he has enjoyed in his first two campaigns in England is only the start.
"I believe we are just at the beginning of our journey," he added.
"We want to make history and that was part of my plan when I first signed.
"We've made a start but there is so many more chapters to be written."
Clichy acknowledges City's shortcomings
Defender Gael Clichy admits Manchester City have yet to find the form which made them champions last season but is confident it will return.
Last weekend the defending champions lost the Manchester derby to title rivals United, suffering their first Barclays Premier League defeat of the season and first at home for almost two years. It handed the Red Devils a six-point advantage at the top of the table but Clichy knows that is not insurmountable.
"For me the problem this year is that we are not playing as well as a unit as we did last year and that's what we have to work on," he said. "I am very confident though because we have the quality and I am sure we are going to be there at the end of the season. I personally believe and feel that we have a mission and its aim is to become champions again."
He went on: "The feeling within the team is great at the moment and I hope that the fans are behind us because we will need them to go all the way."
Clichy, whose mistake led to the free-kick from which United scored the 90th-minute winner, insists they can take positives from the United defeat.
And he hopes the trip to Newcastle will spark them back into life on Saturday although they will have to do it without key defensive midfielder Gareth Barry as he serves a one-match ban after accepting an FA charge of using abusive and/or insulting words to an official in an incident after the United defeat.
"We hadn't lost a game for a long time at the Etihad but it's done now and the only thing we can do is focus on the positive things that happened during that game," said the Frenchman.
"We went 2-0 down and again we showed great team spirit in getting it back to 2-2 - apart from the last 20 minutes of the first half, I don't think they were on top of us.
"When you lose a game in the last minute it's always difficult - but we can't feel sorry for ourselves.
"We know what we did well and what we didn't do so well and we have to try to avoid those bad points.
MORE BOLLOX LATER
