Saturday's gossip B*ll*x

[Chinners]

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has emerged as a £30m target for Real Madrid next summer. The Sun

Tottenham are battling it out with Inter Milan for 18-year-old Ghanaian full-back Gladson Awako. Daily Mirror

Chelsea are ready to embark on a £60m spending spree in January if Fifa suspends the transfer ban imposed on them, with Inter Milan's Patrick Vieira, Benfica winger Angel di Maria, Valencia's David Villa and Aston Villa's Emile Heskey all being considered.Daily Express

Roma's Daniele de Rossi, Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero and Manchester City talisman Robinho could also be on Chelsea's shopping list in January with the Blues losing key men to the African Cup of Nations. The Sun http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... nuary.html

Leeds have slapped a £3m price tag on striker Jermaine Beckford in a bid to keep him at Elland Road until the end of the season. Daily Mirror

Arsenal and AC Milan have joined the race to sign West Ham's Swiss utility man Valon Behrami.Daily Star

WAG OF THE DAY
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... -dani-behr

OTHER GOSSIP
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is receiving words of wisdom from Reds legend Kenny Dalglish to try to resolve the Spaniard's problems at Anfield.The Sun

Benitez maintains he is the right man to lead Liverpool and believes his vision for the club will still result in a golden future. Daily Express

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he regrets letting West Ham's Matthew Upson leave the Gunners and says he has thought about bringing him back to the club.The Independent

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has conceded that defender Micah Richards has peaked as a player and currently has little chance of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's plans for South Africa next summer.Independent http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 08240.html

Meanwhile, Capello has insisted he would not be happy if England won a match courtesy of a dive by one of his players. Daily Mail

Capello says the coaching style he hopes will inspire England to World Cup glory draws heavily from techniques he has picked up from an interest in volleyball, baseball, rugby union and ice hockey. Guardian

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has urged Capello to take defender Ledley King to the World Cup, despite his chronic knee problems.The Sun

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Michael Owen deserves a hero's reception when he runs out to face his former club Liverpool at Anfield tomorrow and has claimed the striker remains one of the best goal scorers in world football. Daily Mail

Manchester United centre-back Nemanja Vidic says he has put his nightmares performances against Liverpool last season behind him and is ready to restore his reputation as one of the Premier League's finest defenders. Daily Mirror

1956 CUP FINAL BOLLOX
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AND FINALLY
Manchester United fans plan to arrive for their clash with Liverpool at Anfield sporting masks of United legend Eric Cantona, in reference to a banner unfurled in 1994 which read: "Au revoir, Cantona and Man United. Come back when you've won 18." Other fans plan to wear T-shirts showing former Kop idol Michael Owen celebrating a goal with the tag: "Welcome to Manchester".
The Sun, original as ever

[john@staustell]

"Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has conceded that defender Micah Richards has peaked as a player and currently has little chance of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's plans for South Africa next summer.Independent "

What a ludicrous statement by the old Independent! Hughes seems to be keeping faith with the lad, new contract and all.

[blootoof]

Some more City bollox

Big news soon' says regeneration chief

23rd October 2009

By Chris Barry - Editor

THE boss of the regeneration company for East Manchester is confident that several major investment deals will be revealed in the next few months.

Eddie Smith, chief executive of the New East Manchester urban regeneration company told TheBusinessDesk the "very significant announcements" centred around SportCity.

He spoke too, in glowing terms, of the organisation's relationship with the new Middle Easter owners of Manchester City - the occupiers of the City of Manchester Stadium at SportCity.

There has been speculation that the football club, owned since 2008 by Abu Dhabi's billionaire Sheikh Mansour, want to build a new training facility near the stadium, while there are also separate proposals for a major visitor attraction at SportCity.

Mr Smith said: "There are some very significant announcements that we are hoping to make towards the back end of this year, around SportCity.

"The takeover of the football club is probably the biggest development of the last 50 years or so.When the history of this city is written, the takeover will have a fairly significant page with regard to East Manchester and beyond."

He said there was close dialogue with Manchester City's senior management: "We're working very closely with them, we've got to respect their key priorities which have obviously been getting the right senior management team and of course investing in the playing squad.

"We are seeing a new chapter being written in City's history and I think the new owners will deliver on their intention to become a world player in football. I have seen the measure of their intent."

The club's chief executive Garry Cook has joined the board of New East Manchester, and there has already been co-operation on several community schemes involving education and employment.

Mr Smith also said the extension of the Metrolink system to East Manchester is proving to be a key driver of regeneration, and was encouraging developers to move ahead with schemes, such as the ambitious Holt Town project, which have been affected by the recession.

"We have gone through a very, very difficult 18 months and have sustained momentum and kept investment coming in. The Metrolink investment has been vital to maintaining this momentum."

He said there were signs it is proving to be a catalyst for other developments to restart: "Holt Town is obviously inexorably linked to the residential property market and accessing credit and finance to move it forward has been very difficult, so the project has slowed down.

"In recent discussions with Cibitas (the developer) there have been positive signals that Metrolink has reinvigorated confidence and they are now prepared to move forward with some of the early phases of the development."

[Dronny]

Some more City bollox

Big news soon' says regeneration chief

23rd October 2009

By Chris Barry - Editor

THE boss of the regeneration company for East Manchester is confident that several major investment deals will be revealed in the next few months.

Eddie Smith, chief executive of the New East Manchester urban regeneration company told TheBusinessDesk the "very significant announcements" centred around SportCity.

He spoke too, in glowing terms, of the organisation's relationship with the new Middle Easter owners of Manchester City - the occupiers of the City of Manchester Stadium at SportCity.

There has been speculation that the football club, owned since 2008 by Abu Dhabi's billionaire Sheikh Mansour, want to build a new training facility near the stadium, while there are also separate proposals for a major visitor attraction at SportCity.

Mr Smith said: "There are some very significant announcements that we are hoping to make towards the back end of this year, around SportCity.

"The takeover of the football club is probably the biggest development of the last 50 years or so.When the history of this city is written, the takeover will have a fairly significant page with regard to East Manchester and beyond."

He said there was close dialogue with Manchester City's senior management: "We're working very closely with them, we've got to respect their key priorities which have obviously been getting the right senior management team and of course investing in the playing squad.

"We are seeing a new chapter being written in City's history and I think the new owners will deliver on their intention to become a world player in football. I have seen the measure of their intent."

The club's chief executive Garry Cook has joined the board of New East Manchester, and there has already been co-operation on several community schemes involving education and employment.

Mr Smith also said the extension of the Metrolink system to East Manchester is proving to be a key driver of regeneration, and was encouraging developers to move ahead with schemes, such as the ambitious Holt Town project, which have been affected by the recession.

"We have gone through a very, very difficult 18 months and have sustained momentum and kept investment coming in. The Metrolink investment has been vital to maintaining this momentum."

He said there were signs it is proving to be a catalyst for other developments to restart: "Holt Town is obviously inexorably linked to the residential property market and accessing credit and finance to move it forward has been very difficult, so the project has slowed down.

"In recent discussions with Cibitas (the developer) there have been positive signals that Metrolink has reinvigorated confidence and they are now prepared to move forward with some of the early phases of the development."

I can't think of any other club (if the above is true..I'm sure it is) that is willing to play such a pivotal role in literally reshaping a whole community, nay substantial part of a major city. This is winning "hearts and minds" on a previously unheard of scale for a footie club......don't you just lurve it!

Have to say the thought of jumping on the metrolink after the game rather than the walk back into the town centre feels me with glee...and a further 3-4 pints wahay

[craigmcfc]

Very intriguing read that blootoof and certainly leaves me wanting to find out more. Everything keeps looking rosier, we really are at the early stages of something massive, and probably well beyond what most of us thought might happen when the takeover initially happened

Hope Sheikh Mansour is at a home game soon where we can all really show our appreciation to him

[Slim]

"Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has conceded that defender Micah Richards has peaked as a player and currently has little chance of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's plans for South Africa next summer.Independent "

What a ludicrous statement by the old Independent! Hughes seems to be keeping faith with the lad, new contract and all.

And what he actually said.

"I think at times people forget how young he is and he's still learning his trade," Hughes said. "He had a lot of success very early on in his career and sometimes for young players they feel that's how it's going to be all the time. There is always going to be a time when that judgment of you as a player plateaus out and people start looking at you with a more critical eye. That's what has happened to Micah at the moment, and obviously the profile of the club is higher as well so any perceived criticism of Micah gets highlighted a bit more. He is nowhere near where we know he can be in terms of realising that potential. It's a case of working with him and making sure he gets better."

[Dronny]

"Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has conceded that defender Micah Richards has peaked as a player and currently has little chance of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's plans for South Africa next summer.Independent "

What a ludicrous statement by the old Independent! Hughes seems to be keeping faith with the lad, new contract and all.

And what he actually said.

"I think at times people forget how young he is and he's still learning his trade," Hughes said. "He had a lot of success very early on in his career and sometimes for young players they feel that's how it's going to be all the time. There is always going to be a time when that judgment of you as a player plateaus out and people start looking at you with a more critical eye. That's what has happened to Micah at the moment, and obviously the profile of the club is higher as well so any perceived criticism of Micah gets highlighted a bit more. He is nowhere near where we know he can be in terms of realising that potential. It's a case of working with him and making sure he gets better."

Lol, that's why it's in the b*ll*x thread!

[blues-clues]

"Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has conceded that defender Micah Richards has peaked as a player and currently has little chance of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's plans for South Africa next summer.Independent "

What a ludicrous statement by the old Independent! Hughes seems to be keeping faith with the lad, new contract and all.

And what he actually said.

"I think at times people forget how young he is and he's still learning his trade," Hughes said. "He had a lot of success very early on in his career and sometimes for young players they feel that's how it's going to be all the time. There is always going to be a time when that judgment of you as a player plateaus out and people start looking at you with a more critical eye. That's what has happened to Micah at the moment, and obviously the profile of the club is higher as well so any perceived criticism of Micah gets highlighted a bit more. He is nowhere near where we know he can be in terms of realising that potential. It's a case of working with him and making sure he gets better."

Lol, that's why it's in the b*ll*x thread!

The independent article is pretty fair and uses direct quotes from the Manager. It is the BBC reference to it that is COMPLETE BOLLOX. Big fuckin difference between plateaued and peaked.

[Dameerto]

"Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has conceded that defender Micah Richards has peaked as a player and currently has little chance of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's plans for South Africa next summer.Independent "

What a ludicrous statement by the old Independent! Hughes seems to be keeping faith with the lad, new contract and all.

Another example of lazy journalism - in his first paragraph he says "Mark Hughes has conceded that Micah Richards has plateaued as a player..."

when the actual direct quote from MH (which he includes in his article later on) is "There is always going to be a time when that judgment of you as a player plateaus out..."

Either he is a stupid man that hasnt got the intelligence to comprehend sentances, or he was cutting corners to try and fit quotes to an already-formed opinion. Either way Ian herbert is a dick.

[sweenyuk]

I can't think of any other club (if the above is true..I'm sure it is) that is willing to play such a pivotal role in literally reshaping a whole community, nay substantial part of a major city. This is winning "hearts and minds" on a previously unheard of scale for a footie club......don't you just lurve it!

Have to say the thought of jumping on the metrolink after the game rather than the walk back into the town centre feels me with glee...and a further 3-4 pints wahay

And people still ask "what will happen if the Sheiks pull out?" These guys are not only at Manchester City for the long term, they are going to buy and transform large parts of the City of Manchster too, oh what a team to support, oh what a place to live