City 6 West Ham 0: ROUND-UP
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With the Blues inactive so far in the January transfer window, the speculation continues as to who may or may not be joining City this month.
There seems to be no major deals likely according to the various media sources around the globe, though no doubt the Blues will continue to be linked with high-profile deals as the days go by.
What the little there is, centres on younger players and prospects for the future.
Stretching the next far and wide Swedish site Fotbollskanalen.se. report: “Manchester City have completed a deal for young Malmo FF striker Zacharias Faour.
“The 15-year-old has caught the eye in Sweden while representing the national team at youth level, with comparisons being made with PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
“Faour will now link up with City's development squad for the time-being and he says he is relishing the opportunity of playing in England.
‘What I can tell is that I have just moved to England to play for Manchester City,’ said the player.
Sky Sports also have a Swedish thread this morning, writing: “Manchester City striker Godsway Donyoh will sign a loan deal with Swedish club Falkenberg, who have former Barcelona and Celtic legend Henrik Larsson as their coach.
“The news was first reported by Swedish paper Aftonbladet on Thursday, who confirmed that the 19-year-old Ghanaian striker will move on loan this winter.
“Falkenberg are the newest member to the Swedish top flight having been promoted last season. So far to appointment of Larsson had been the most exciting addition for Falkenberg since going up, but they’ll be hoping the Man City teenage striker will prove a quality signing.”
Moving to the senior squad, I B Times claim the Blues are still considering bolstering the defensive unit as they report: “Arsenal and Manchester City are considering a bid in signing Virgil van Dijk from Celtic before the transfer window shuts down at the end of the month.
“According to the Daily Express, the Gunners and the Citizens are pursuing the Dutchman who is valued at £10m by the Scottish champions. The defender was snapped up by Celtic in a four-year deal last summer after impressing for Eredivisie side FC Groningen.
“The 22-year-old has been a regular at the heart of defence for Neil Lennon's side scoring three goals while featuring in 29 matches in all competitions for the Hoops in the current campaign.”
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Lastly, Squawka speculate Stevan Jovetic still had admirers back in Italy – most notably at former club Fiorentina who, they suggest, may make their interest into a concrete offer.
“Serie A side Fiorentina have refused to rule out their interest in brining former forward Jovetic back to the club,” they report.
“The 24-year-old enjoyed five years with La Viola before a £22 million deal as recently as July 2013 took him to Manchester City. But the Montenegro international has struggled to adapt to life in England at the Etihad Stadium.
“With such a host of attacking talent to choose from Manuel Pellegrini has often opted for another one of his summer signings, Alvaro Negredo, while Jovetic has been forced to watch from the side-lines.
“Injuries have not helped his cause and he could now be in the frame for a shock return to Italy. Fiorentina are in the market for a striker following an injury to Giuseppe Rossi and have been linked with Jovetic.”
Injuries have been the sole issue, gents, but hopefully Stevan will be back soon and become an integral part of Pellegrini’s side.
How City's win was reported across the country as the Blues stuck six past West Ham.
"City played some wonderful football, passing through West Ham’s non-existent midfield as they continue to chase their first League Cup since 1976. Imperious in the first half, Negredo and company could have spent the break being measured for their Wembley suits."
Henry Winter, Daily Telegraph
"A paradigm of the inequality between teams came midway through the first half when Toure jarred his left knee when plunging into a challenge to prevent Mohamed Diamé escaping with the ball and was left writhing on the pitch, raising his hand for help. City played on regardless; unable, it seemed, to halt their own irresistible flow as first David Silva, then Samir Nasri, drew saves from the goalkeeper Adrian."
Ian Herbert, Independent
"Is there really any point in a second leg? Such was the emphatic manner of Manchester City’s win in the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg here last night, they did not even need a second half. Three goals up by the interval and coasting towards the final, Manuel Pellegrini’s side were every bit as dominant as West Ham had feared."
Chris Wheeler, DSSC
"City ran amok against their feeble and obliging opponents, with the second leg at Upton Park on January 21 now academic, given this comprehensive scoreline. If the organisers of this competition had any sense of decency, they would call off the return leg on compassionate grounds for Big Sam."
David McDonnell, Daily Mirror
"The bottom line is that City did not have to be at their very best when the gulf was so considerable. Plenty of teams have taken a pummelling at City this season but not all of them have surrendered so meekly."
Jamie Jackson, Guardian
"City looked as if they might score every time they went forward. Negredo, set up by Silva, went close to a first-half hat-trick with a rising drive. Dzeko then fluffed a glorious chance to make it three when he lifted an easy chance over the bar from 10 yards after Nasri's mazy run had opened up the Hammers again. It was only a brief respite for the London club however."
Richard Tanner, Daily Express
"No team in England, let alone one so performing so limply, can contain City in this mood. They are still a point short of Arsenal at the top of the Barclays Premier League, but they have won 12 and drawn two of their past 14 matches in all competitions."
Oliver Kay, The Times
Manchester City need a new centre-back this January
Injuries have certainly played their part in Manuel Pellegrini's defensive headaches this season, but despite those, and often sparse midfield cover, a new stopper is much-needed
It has been a tale of two Cities so far this season. At home, Manuel Pellegrini's men are almost impregnable, but on the road it is another story.
But trying to identify Manchester City's weakness is like Yaya Toure tracking his midfield runners. It seems pointless when you can focus on all the goals.
It's true, City have blown teams away at the Etihad Stadium this season, thanks in no small part to Toure, Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and their other quick-witted attackers. It has rarely been a bed of roses on the road, however: they have conceded just six goals at home, but 17 away.
Toure was highlighted as a 'liability' by former City midfielder Dietmar Hamann on Match of the Day following the 3-2 win at Swansea on January 1, but it was an afternoon where Vincent Kompany and Matija Nastasic did not help themselves, either.
On one of the occasions highlighted by Hamann, whose disciplined midfield performance helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005, the Ivorian midfielder allowed Roland Lamah to drift past him. But neither did Fernandinho track Jonathan De Guzman, who raced into the space vacated by Kompany, who had strangely opted to follow Wilfried Bony about 15 yards from his defensive position and then failed to win the ball.
Kompany and Nastasic did not get to grips with lone striker Bony all day; the former Vitesse hitman drifted between the two to head in an equaliser (though he was in an offside position), and lashed in a late consolation after the centre-backs failed to close him down. They did not know whether to stick or twist.
It was only the second time City's first-choice pairing had played together since September 28, when Aston Villa won 3-2 and neither covered themselves in glory - in front of a shaky Joe Hart.
Indeed, the first half of City's season - apart from the attacking brilliance - has been characterised by chopping and changing at the back. Manager Manuel Pellegrini has used eight different central defensive partnerships in the league alone, and used five different match-ups in the first five games. Chelsea have used two partnerships in the league all season: Gary Cahill and John Terry, or David Luiz and John Terry. Terry has played every game. Arsenal have utilised five differing pairings, though Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny have played 15 of 20 matches together.
Add in the Hart/Costel Pantilimon dilemma and the consistent switching of left-backs and it is easy to see why nobody in the defence, aside from the ever-present Pablo Zabaleta, has been surefooted.
Pellegrini has been unlucky in that regard. Nastasic and Kompany have both picked up injuries at various points, while the stop-gap signing Martin Demichelis was ruled out for six weeks with a knee problem almost as soon as he signed his contract. It meant Javi Garcia and Joleon Lescott paired up for the club's second league match, the defeat at Cardiff City. The City board do not expect either of those men to be at the Etihad next season.
Demichelis was very much a back-up signing but has been given a lot more exposure than expected, and has actually played in more consecutive league games, nine, than any of the club's other centre-backs. He came into the line-up at Chelsea in October, a game which ended with another mix-up between Nastasic and Hart, and played every minute up to and including a somewhat calamitous performance at Fulham, where Kompany scored an inexplicable own goal in a 4-2 win.
Pellegrini has complete trust in the Argentine defender, and believes his reading of the game makes up for his lack of pace. He has, however, been caught out thanks to the mistakes of others - an out-of-position Gael Clichy slipped at Fulham to leave him and Kompany exposed on the counterattack - and he was outmuscled far too easily as Victor Anichebe scored for West Brom at the start of December. He does have a tendency to stray too far up the pitch at times, too, and was called back by Kompany more than once when the two first played together at the Hawthorns.
City, mindful of the need to strengthen their defence, have identified three defensive targets, and all of them are comfortable on the ball. Indeed, any new arrival would be expected to take ball-carrying duties off Kompany, who club coaches believe can lose possession cheaply under pressure. During the match against West Brom, for example, the returning captain played a panicked pass that was intercepted and played over the top of Demichelis, again too far up the pitch, and led to a penalty appeal for the Baggies as Aleksandar Kolarov tried to cover after Kompany had missed with a rash slide tackle.
Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala, both of Porto, and Saint-Etienne's Kurt Zouma are all on the shortlist, but even a talented new stopper would have their work cut out away from home.
While Toure may have been criticised following that win at Swansea, the numbers suggest he actually does more defensive work on the road than at the Etihad. His average tackles increase from 1.3 per game at home to 1.6 away, and his interceptions rise from 0.7 per game to 1. The numbers of his midfield contemporaries - Ramires, Fernandinho, Lucas and Mikel Arteta - all drop when they are away compared to at home.
What the stats don't show - the failure to track midfield runners - is that while he may not be fulfilling all of his responsibilities, his extra work away from home does show that Pellegrini is aware that the Ivorian has to do more to help his defenders.
At Eastlands, Fernandinho is normally enough cover while Toure, David Silva, Jesus Navas, Aguero and Negredo set about breaking down the deep defences. City's away games show that they cannot cope defensively when teams go at them, but at least they have the firepower to simply outscore the opposition.
Seeing as there are currently no plans to recruit a new midfielder, certainly not one to replace Toure, who has 10 Premier League goals, a new defender and a settled unit is what is required for the second half of the season.
Mangala, 22, and Zouma, 19, are hardly seasoned veterans but they have been comprehensively scouted and identified because of their composure on the ball, overall potential and, if necessary, resale value. Otamendi, while more adventurous and inevitably more erratic in his passing, is a long-term favourite of Pellegrini and would offer a more physical presence in the backline, not to mention the experience of playing at the 2010 World Cup.
Partnering Kompany with somebody capable of bringing the ball out of the back would allow the captain to focus on organising those around him, while the new man's added composure will bring obvious benefits, especially on the road.
So while City continue to indulge Toure it is clear Pellegrini needs a new defender to help him deliver the Premier League title in his first season in charge.
Former City striker in coaching U-turn
Former Manchester City striker Shaun Goater has postponed plans to move into management after joining the BBC as a pundit.
The ex-Bermuda international, who has been taking his coaching badges, was linked with a role at non-league strugglers Hyde FC or a position inside City’s youth set-up.
A source confirmed last month that Goater was seriously considering his options, but he has now accepted an offer from BBC Radio Manchester to co-commentate on games involving the Blues.
He replaces Nigel Gleghorn, who left the station in order to coach the City under-14s team.
The source said: “Shaun is regularly seen on the non-league circuit and also attends youth matches. He is passionate about football and has not ruled out management or coaching in the future.
“However, at the moment his new position at the BBC is his priority.”
No Fulham bid for Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott
Sky sources understand that Fulham have not made an enquiry or made a formal offer for Manchester City's Joleon Lescott
The 31-year-old has been linked with a number of clubs, with West Ham and Turkish outfit Besiktas amongst those understood to be keen on the England defender.
Fulham had also been linked, but Sky sources understand that they are not lining up a move for Lescott.
Lescott's current deal is due to expire in the summer and City boss Manuel Pellegrini has long insisted Lescott is not leaving.
"He is not going for the moment," the City boss was quoted as saying.
"Joleon Lescott is a very important player for us. He finishes his contract in June. We will see what happens in the future."
Man City Target Mangala As A Replacement For Lescott
Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is ready to make a serious move for Porto defender Eliaqium Mangala to free up the departure of Joleon Lescott.
The French international is highly-rated and has come under speculation of a move to the Premier League with Chelsea also showing a strong interest.
Porto have reiterated that the player is not for sale but the club will have to accept offers of £41.5million as it will activate the release clause in his contract.
And according to the Manchester Utd Evening News, Pellegrini could be prepared to make him his first January signing in the wake that Lescott wants to leave the Etihad.
The England international wants to leave City having fallen out of favour in Pellegrini’s plans and reports claim that West Ham United are willing to take advantage.
With the World Cup looming and England’s distinct shortage of centre backs, Lescott still fancies his chances of booking a place and see’s first team football as a necessity
Howard Webb Photobombs Referees Before Manchester City vs. West Ham Utd
Howard Webb has refereed a World Cup final and has been for several years one of the Premier League's most trusted officials. Now we learn that he can also pull off a good photobomb to boot.
Manchester City tweeted out the picture, taken before their team took on West Ham United in the League Cup semi-final first leg.
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure to have scans on injured ankle
Yaya Toure will undergo a scan on his ankle after he picked up a knock in Manchester City's 6-0 battering of West Ham on Wednesday.The Ivorian, who went down in the first half with a nasty-looking injury before returning to the field and scoring, felt pain in his ankle following the final whistle
The Ivorian will have tests on the swollen ankle on Thursday morning after it became painful in the aftermath of the Capital One Cup semi final first leg, with City medical staff treating it as a precautionary measure.
Toure was brought off for Martin Demichelis, nearing full fitness following injury, in the 66th minute against Sam Allardyce's men after having put City 3-0 up at the Etihad Stadium.
City are hopeful that Toure, who was rested against Blackburn last weekend, will be fit to face Newcastle at St James' Park on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Manuel Pellegrini has been given a boost after Micah Richards came through his first full training session following a hamstring injury unscathed.
The 25-year-old has not played since City's 3-2 over Bayern Munich on December 10 but is back in contention ahead of his side's trip to face Alan Pardew's men.
City are also close to welcoming back Stevan Jovetic over the next few days after the Serbian returned to full first-team training earlier this week.
City to resist Gunners approach for Frenchman
Manchester City will resist any attempt from Premier League rivals Arsenal to make Patrick Vieira their next manager.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is yet to extend his contract, which expires in the summer, and if he departs at the end of the season, former club captain Vieira will be high on the list of candidates to take over.
A member of the famous ‘Invincibles’ team which went an entire Premier League campaign unbeaten, Vieira is now City’s Elite Development Squad manager.
Blues chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak went on record last summer with the belief that the Frenchman has the potential to one day manage the first team, and he has made a big impression this term in charge of the club’s brightest young talents.
A source said: “The owners want Patrick to stay for a long time.
“They believe he can work his way through the ranks in the same way Pep Guardiola did at Barcelona, by training the youngsters before eventually becoming first team manager.
“Obviously he has a special connection with Arsenal but should they need a new manager, any approach for Patrick will be heavily resisted.”
Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright face the crowds before City game
TOWIE hunk Mark is a West Ham fan, while Coronation Street star Michelle was cheering on Manchester City in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.
Showbiz couple Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan were a united front as they headed to cheer different teams at the Etihad Stadium.
TOWIE hunk Mark is a West Ham fan, while Coronation Street star Michelle was cheering on Manchester City in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final.
The couple had headed down to the Etihad Stadium early to join Capital Radio DJ Nigel "Wingman" Clucas at City Square for some playful pre-match banter.
Although it was Michelle and her dad, also at the match, who were smiling first after kick-off, when the Blues goals kept on coming.
The showbiz couple, who are engaged to be married, wrapped up nice and warm, Michelle in a furry gilet and Mark in padded leather, for the game which played out in wet and windy conditions.
Meanwhile viewers of Corrie were watching as Michelle's soap character Tina tearfully left Weatherfield for London.
Michelle took to Twitter to reassure fans it was not her final scene, although she will be leaving the soap later this year.
She tweeted: "it's not the last of Tina... Not just yet!"
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Manchester City link nets Dundee band unexpected fanbase boost
The Robot Doctors, from left, Iain Hannigan, drummer Craig Hannigan, Kieran Andrews, Darren Kelly and Dave Nicholson performing at Dundee’s Book Yer Ane Fest at Kage nightclub.
A new Dundee band’s latest single has been used by Manchester City Football Club in an unlikely internet match-up.
Unsigned five-piece Robot Doctors sent single Three Days Dead to the club and were delighted when it was selected as the backing track for the club’s December goal of the month video.
Frontman Darren Kelly said when they noticed a Twitter message from the football club calling on unsigned bands to submit a song they decided to go for it.
They did not have high hopes of it being using so were pleasantly surprised when just two days later the club tweeted back to thank them for the track.
Darren said: “We decided to go for it just for a laugh and see what happened. They didn’t email us or anything to say they were going to use it until they posted on Twitter.
“It was fantastic but very surreal when I saw the video on Manchester City’s website. We’re still a new band trying to build up a reputation in Dundee before we go further afield but we welcome any opportunity to get our music out there.”
He said it would be great to have some new fans from Manchester coming to their gigs because of the video, and the band have already got more followers on Facebook and Twitter as result of the promotion.
Darren said: “These are people who would never have heard of us if not for this. We even had someone like us Facebook who is a Manchester City fan from Mexico.
The band, who performed their first gig in March last year, have released one three-track demo and the Three Days Dead single, plus its B-side, I Like You.
Since then they have been playing gigs around Dundee and are currently working on a full-length album.
The band’s next gig will be at the Kage nightclub local band night on February 15.
[spoiler]Georgina Dorsett
[/spoiler]Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, 31, is set for a £6m move to Toronto FC - a Major League Soccer record - and is likely to be loaned back to Spurs until March. Daily Telegraph
The Canadian club have released a YouTube video claiming they have secured "a big deal". Toronto FC
Manchester United are ready to bid £20m for Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, 27, despite the Italian wanting to remain in Turin. Daily Express
Juventus will look to sign Tottenham winger Erik Lamela, 21, in the summer, although Spurs' expectation of recouping most of the £30m paid for the Argentine has deterred Inter Milan. DSSC
Tottenham will also consider a cash-plus-player deal for Lamela, with Montenegro striker Mirko Vucinic, 30, potentially part of the deal with Juventus. Daily Mirror
Arsenal and Liverpool are targeting Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate, 24, with his agent saying he has been in talks with both Premier League sides. Daily Star
Arsenal will have to pay a loan fee of £1.7m for Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata, 21, although they would also spend big if the right target became available. Bayern Munich's Mario Mandzukic, 27, Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa, 25, Porto's Jackson Martinez, 27, Manchester City's Edin Dzeko, 27, and Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, 28, are among the club's preferred options. DSSC
Swansea City are confident they will beat Cardiff and Crystal Palace to the signature of Blackpool winger Tom Ince, 21, who is available for £4m. Guardian
Montpellier forward Remy Cabella, 23, admits he would be happy to move to the Premier League this month, with Newcastle thought to be favourites to sign the Frenchman. Sky Sports
West Ham could let forward Modibo Maiga, 26, join Real Betis on loan if they agree a deal for Monaco striker Lacina Traore, 23. Sun
Winger Wilfried Zaha, 21, is desperate to be granted a loan move away from Manchester United this month to keep his World Cup dream alive. Daily Telegraph
Hull boss Steve Bruce is ready to make a second attempt at signing striker Shane Long, 26, from West Brom for £5m. Daily Mirror
Spartak Moscow and Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady is set for a medical at Everton after agreeing contract terms with the Merseyside club. Daily Mirror
Manchester United boss David Moyes faces a fight to convince several senior players of his credentials following three consecutive defeats for the first time in 13 years. Guardian
United's players are reportedly facing wage cuts of up to 25% if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League. Sun
Former Valencia and Atletico Madrid manager Quique Sanchez Flores is the new favourite to become West Bromwich Albion manager after Thomas Schaaf and Dave Jones were ruled out of the running to take over at the Hawthorns. Birmingham Mail
Nicklas Bendtner has given Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a boost after recovering from his ankle injury quicker than expected. The Denmark striker, 25, could return to training within a few days. Metro
Lille club president Michel Seydoux has warned off Premier League interest for Ivorian attacker Salomon Kalou, 28, by saying a £71m (87m euro) bid for him would "maybe" be considered. Daily Star
Barcelona forward Antonio Sanabria, 17, who had attracted interest from Arsenal, has revealed he is set to join Roma. Sky Sports
Celtic's Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, 22, admits he is flattered in reported interest from Arsenal and Manchester City, but insists he is happy at the Scottish champions. Daily Express
New Hannover coach Tayfun Korkut is keen to keep Mame Biram Diouf, 26, despite interest from Stoke and Cardiff in the Senegalese striker. Goal.com
Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has been named Germany's national player of the year following a fans' poll conducted by the German Football Federation. Independent
more bollox soon
