Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque believes giving David Silva extra freedom helped Spain restore some pride as La Roja thrashed Macedonia 5-1.
Silva scored one, claimed another and was at his mesmeric best for the former world champions last night and Goal.com quote the Spain boss in their report this morning.
“Del Bosque praised Silva's performance and confessed that Spain no longer command respect the way they did before this summer's tournament in Brazil, but hopes they can change that with more convincing wins.
‘Certainly Silva was one of the players who was most prominent tonight," he told reporters. "This was because of the freedom he had.
‘He tried and succeeded to connect with players up front. He has the individual talent to break defences apart.’”
Tell us something we don’t already know, Vicente…
However, NBC believe injuries are already limiting Manuel Pellegrini’s options, particularly up front.
Nicholas Mendola writes: “Arsenal probably has a pretty good idea of who will start at striker for Manchester City this weekend, as Stevan Jovetic picked up a hamstring injury in the international window with Montenegro.
“And Manchester’s freaking out a bit, man (or at least City fans are in a foul mood about their depth).
"That’s because Manuel Pellegrini did not pick up a striker in the transfer window and allowed two strikers on loan moves: Alvaro Negredo to Valencia and John Guidetti to Celtic (though the latter hasn’t done much on the pitch for any club since his Feyenoord loan in 2012).
“So Pellegrini’s a bit down on options right now.”
Meanwhile, the MEN’s Paul Handler writes that one former City midfielder, Dietmar Hamann, is convinced two new summer additions could make all the difference to this season’s Champions League campaign.
Writes Handler: “The Blues brought in Brazilian battler Fernando Reges from Porto for £12m in June before snaring veteran Englishman Frank Lampard on a loan deal from sister club New York City FC.
“Their arrivals have only increased the competition for places in the engine room of Pellegrini's team, with Yaya Toure and Fernandinho already in situ.
“And Hamann has cited the addition of Fernando as particularly helpful to City's aims in Europe.
‘Fernando is a holding midfield player which I think they did lack.
‘An out-and-out holding midfielder can bring the best out of Yaya Toure, and not only in the league but the Champions League where they need to take a step forward.’"
Finally, 101greatgoals.com mischievously have highlighted a Jamie Carragher tweet from last night.
The former Liverpool and England defender-turned-pundit tweeted that James Milner, who won his 50th cap for England against Switzerland, could reach an ever more notable international milestone in future years– but added: “Milner will end up with 100 caps just in substitute appearances!”
Maybe it was just a bit of fun, but what if James did achieve the feat through starts or from the bench? Any player who reaches 50 for his country deserves respect from all quarters – and even from a former England player who ended up 12 caps short of that landmark…
Stevan Jovetic gives Manchester City a striker scare with injury on international duty
MANCHESTER CITY are facing a striker crisis - just days after letting Alvaro Negredo join Valencia on loan.
Stevan Jovetic limped out of training with a hamstring injury while on international duty with Montenegro and was due to fly back to England yesterday.
The extent of the damage is not clear but he is highly unlikely to be fit to face Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.
It leaves boss Manuel Pellegrini short on options up front, with Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero his only fit out-and-out strikers.
Questions were asked of Pellegrini for allowing Negredo to leave without bringing in a replacement before the transfer deadline.
Spaniard Negredo, who scored 23 goals for the champions last season, has joined Valencia on a season-long loan before making a permanent switch at the end of the season.
Jovetic, 24, has started all three of City's Premier League matches so far, partnering Dzeko up front.
He scored twice in City's 3-1 victory over Liverpool last month but the injury is another setback for the former Fiorentina star after he endured a frustrating first season in English football.
Big things were expected from him after his £22m move from Italy to the Etihad last summer.
But he managed just 18 appearances and scored six goals as his debut season was blighted by a succession of injuries.
Pellegrini now has the dilemma of whether to change formation or start Aguero alongside Dzeko for the first time this season.
Aguero, 26, missed a large chunk of City's title run-in last season with calf and hamstring strains.
He was given an extended summer break after helping Argentina reach the World Cup final as City took extra care to prevent a repeat of last season.
He appeared as a sub as City opened their title defence with back-to-back victories over Newcastle United and Liverpool - and scored against the Reds.
The former Atletico Madrid forward started City's last Premier League outing on August 30 alongside Jovetic.
Pellegrini's other option could be to play Dzeko as a lone striker, with David Silva or Yaya Toure in support.
Arsenal turned down chance to sign Man City defender this summer
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger turned down the chance to sign Micah Richards during the summer transfer window, talkSPORT understands.
Wenger was on the search for defensive steel after selling centre-back and Gunners captain Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona for £15million in August.
The Frenchman was alerted to Richards’ availability, with the 26-year-old finding first-team opportunities limited at the Etihad Stadium under manager Manuel Pellegrini.
But Wenger instead opted to sign Southampton teenager Calum Chambers in a £16million deal, with Richards eventually joining Italian side Fiorentina on loan for the season on deadline day.
Richards previously revealed to talkSHIT that he was offered more money to stay with Premier League champions City, but decided to revive his career in Florence with the prospect of playing regular Europa League and Serie A football.
Which Will Be the Next Arsenal Stars That Manchester City Look to Poach?
Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2003-04. Arsene Wenger's "Invincibles" won 36, drew 13 and lost none from May 7, 2003 to October 24, 2004.
You know that's coming up on 10 years, now, don't you?
Manchester City finished the 2003-04 Premier League season in a robust 16th place. City were a comfortable eight points above the drop that claimed Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United that season. City even nicked Everton by two points.
But City's haul of 41 points from 38 matches was just not Ivy League, now, was it?
Ten years ago, the mere thought that City might come in for Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp would have been laughable. Though it should be noted that both Kolo Toure and Patrick Vieira later donned sky blue.
A decade later, Arsenal are still playing Champions League football with regularity and still a worldwide brand. City, though, have leapfrogged (with apologies only to Chelsea) the rest of the Premier League. Including Arsenal.
City coolly took Bacary Sagna from the Gunners this past summer in a free transfer. Sagna recently explained his reasons for making the switch.
"I am 31 and this was the right time for me to leave Arsenal. I wanted to see somewhere new, and to boost my career," Sagna told Sky Sports. "Arsenal are, and remain, a quality side. But I can understand their fans feeling frustrated when they see players moving to other clubs."
That last bit had to sting Gunner Nation just a bit.
Arsenal's inability or unwillingness to hang onto their stars is nothing like a secret. Robin van Persie left Arsenal for Manchester United in 2012. And City had famously plucked Samir Nasri from Arsenal in 2011.
So will City's new north London pipeline continue to deliver new product for the Citizens? And who might they be after?
Looking at Arsenal's roster today, well, there just is not that much to choose from.
Wojciech Szczesny might be an upgrade over Joe Hart at goalkeeper, but having acquired Willy Caballero this summer City are almost surely not in the market for another goalkeeper at the present time.
City bought Eliaquim Mangala and acquired Sagna to bolster their back line, so a move for someone like Laurent Koscielny (29 this month) seems unlikely.
And Arsenal do not really have a glut of striking options. Olivier Giroud probably will not play again in 2014. Wenger just acquired both Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez, so neither of them are apt to move again any time soon. Defender Calum Chambers is also probably not going to be sold too quickly, for that matter.
Theo Walcott is intriguing, but he has not played since January and no one can know what his current fitness level is without seeing him play. And let's be honest: Walcott has not been the healthiest player to lace up boots. At 25, Walcott has an injury rap sheet that does not inspire confidence in his ability to stay upright.
But oh, look at Arsenal's midfield. Talk about a target-rich environment.
One of City's biggest problems is what to do whenever David Silva pulls up lame. Mesut Ozil would fit beautifully in that role, and he is almost two years younger than Silva. Santi Cazorla might also work in that manner at City.
Aaron Ramsey, still just 24 years of age, has come all the way back from the terrifying leg injury he sustained in February of 2010. Acquiring Ramsey or a younger player like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would also help City keep in line with their home-grown player requirements for Champions League purposes.
Surely City cannot be all that thrilled with carrying Frank Lampard's legacy on their Champions League roster in 2014-15.
Ultimately the decision of when and whether City will come back on Arsenal for another player or two will be determined by City's need in each subsequent transfer window. Which is kind of remarkable, when you really think about it.
Outside of Ozil or perhaps Sanchez, no Arsenal player would walk into the City XI. Sagna was one of Arsenal's better defenders, and he conceded in that Sky Sports piece that the competition for his place with Pablo Zabaleta will be significant.
Ten years on from Arsenal ruling English football and City clinging to their Premier League place, everything is different. Arsenal players have to leave north London and go to Manchester if they really want to play at the sport's highest level.
The blue side of Manchester, mind you.
Wolves sign Manchester City defender George Swan
Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed former Manchester City centre-back George Swan - who turns 21 on Friday - until Christmas.
He is the son of Peter Swan who played for Leeds and Hull City in the 1980s and early 1990s. He was memorably sent-off for Port Vale in the 1993 Play-Off Final against Albion at Wembley.
Swan junior also started his career at Leeds and played under current Under-21 coach Scott Sellars at City.
“I believe he has accepted a contract up until Christmas,” said Head Coach Kenny Jackett. “He has come with Scott Sellars from Manchester City. He’s had a lot of injuries in a very young career.
“At Under-21 level at the moment he looks quite a good player and we want to give him that platform now to really get over those injuries that have been extensive, see if he can come through it and show the potential that he has shown before.
“He’s had some quite serious injuries and giving him this window to window opportunity we are going to really work hard with him to stay fit and play and after that try to build up his overall fitness to do the considerable amount of talent that he has justice.
“He has had a cruciate knee ligament operation, a lateral knee ligament operation, a broken leg and an impingement in his hip very early on when he was 15 or 16 where his movement was being restricted and they go in and shave or realign a part so that the movement is then smooth.”
Jackett is confident Swan can get his career back on track: “He is young enough.
“He has been here for a number of weeks and Scott Sellars knows him very well.
“He’s a good size, he gets in both boxes, he wants to play and wants to get on the ball.
“So it will be interesting now over the next few months how he develops.”
Chelsea’s Willian and Man City’s Fernandinho play spot-the-difference with Marcelo and Robinho
As they look to rebuild after their World Cup humiliation, Brazil have come up with an interesting new tactic: doppelgangers.
Chelsea star Willian stood alongside Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, while Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho posed with Santos’ Robinho.
The former City man observed: “Who looks like who? Hahahahahahahaha.”
Hamann: City midfield duo can give them Champions League edge
Champions League winner and former City star Dietmar Hamann believes Manuel Pellegrini's summer midfield reinforcements could take the club to the next level.
Former City star Dietmar Hamann believes Manuel Pellegrini's summer midfield reinforcements could take the club to the next level.
The Blues brought in Brazilian battler Fernando Reges from Porto for £12m in June before snaring veteran Englishman Frank Lampard on a loan deal from sister club New York City FC.
Their arrivals have only increased the competition for places in the engine room of Pellegrini's team, with Yaya Toure and Fernandinho already in situ.
And Hamann has cited the addition of Fernando as particularly helpful to City's aims in Europe.
"I think they've spent wisely. I think in Fernando they've got, in my eyes, exactly the type of player they need to be competitive in the Champions League," he told MuEN Sport.
"Fernando is a holding midfield player which I think they did lack.
"An out-and-out holding midfielder can bring the best out of Yaya Toure, and not only in the league but the Champions League where they need to take a step forward."
The former Germany international also expects Lampard, who will stay at the Etihad Stadium until January as per the terms of his temporary deal, to play a key role.
Though he believes the the 36-year-old's experience may prove of more use away from the pitch.
"Lampard can have an impact in the dressing room because he's been a model pro for the last 15 years," Hamann said.
"He did ever so well at Chelsea. How much football he's going to get at City remains to be seen because they have a big squad and, though they've got a lot of games, they've got a lot of players.
"But because he's going to New York I think his influence in the dressing room might be bigger than on the pitch."
City fans are hoping to see Pellegrini's summer signings aid a renewed assault on European competition this season.
The Blues made it to the last-16 of the Champions League for the first time before falling to Barcelona last year, but Hamann says the lessons from that defeat will prove useful this time around.
"They went toe-to-toe with Barcelona last season in the second leg where they were probably the better side and in that game I think they came of age," he added.
"They've got the belief now that they can compete in the Champions League.
"You've seen the players Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have brought in, so it's not an easy competition to win, but I feel they've got a bit of experience and a squad together where they can compete."
And the former Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Newcastle star also thinks City should have little trouble defending their Premier League crown.
"They showed last year why they are champions even though I don't think they played as well as they could do.
"Negredo and Aguero didn't really perform in the last four months and they still won the league. When they needed to win the last four or five games, they did and snatched it from Liverpool.
"Even though it's hard to defend the title - as they found out a couple of years ago - for me they've got the biggest and best squad."
Former Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong, 29, is set to reject a move to Manchester United after asking AC Milan to renew his contract. (Daily Express)
Liverpool defender Glen Johnson, 30, has emerged as a January transfer target for Juventus. (Daily Mirror)
Hull defender Harry Maguire, 21, is a loan target for six Championship sides including Reading, Blackburn and Bolton. (the Sun)
Sheffield Wednesday boss Stuart Gray is hopeful of making further additions to his squad when the loan window opens for clubs outside the Premier League. (Sky Sports)
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is to hold talks with Adnan Januzaj after the midfielder, 19, became concerned over his future at Old Trafford. (Daily Star)
Former Middlesbrough defender Emanuel Pogatetz, 31, has signed for Major League Soccer outfit Columbus Crew. (MLS)
Chelsea are on the trail of Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, 18. (Daily Star)
Lazio are ready to hand midfielder Antonio Candreva, 27, a lucrative contract in a bid to ward off interest from Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham. (Daily Express)
Newcastle United and Republic of Ireland back-up goalkeeper Rob Elliot, 28, says the time has come to make regular football his ambition for club and country. (the Times )
Manchester United and Netherlands striker Robin van Persie, 31, wants to play on until he is 40, including at the 2018 World Cup. (the Sun)
New Chelsea signing Cesc Fabregas, 27, says former club Arsenal will always have a place in his heart. (Independent)
The Blues are hopeful of having Diego Costa, 25, fit for Saturday's game against Swansea, despite the striker withdrawing from Spain duty last week. (Guardian)
Caretaker boss Neil Redfearn has forced his way into the reckoning for the permanent manager's role at Leeds United. (Daily Mirror)
Former Premier League referee Graham Poll has backed Fifa's plan to introduce video replay reviews to football. (DSSC)
Ex-Celtic striker John Hartson, 39, has emerged as a serious contender to become the new manager of Ross County. (Daily Express)
Scotland manager Gordon Strachan says he cannot believe winger Ikechi Anya, 26, has not been signed by a Premier League club. (Daily Record)
Birmingham City failed in an ambitious bid to sign former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, 34, over the summer. (Birmingham Mail)
Fulham striker Bryan Ruiz, 29, admits he expected to leave Craven Cottage this summer, but insists he will now give his all for the Whites. (Sky Sports)
Manchester United are expected to announce this week that David Moyes's ill-fated stint as manager cost the club £50m. (Daily Telegraph)
Everton have cancelled a supporters' day trip package to Russian outfit Kuban Krasnodar because of a lack of interest in October's Europa League tie. (DSSC)
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola believes his old club have improved considerably thanks to their "clever" transfer dealings over the summer. (Evening Standard)
Striker Robin van Persie says he cannot wait to train with the new "world-class" arrivals at Manchester United. (Manchester Evening News)
Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo, 21, admits he is struggling to adapt to life in the Premier League. (Daily Star)
Aston Villa captain Ron Vlaar, 29, faces a fitness test later this week ahead of Saturday's match with Liverpool, while fellow defender Jores Okore, 22, could return from long-term injury. (Birmingham Mail)
Lukas Podolski, 29, has conceded that Danny Welbeck's £16m move from Manchester United has moved him down the pecking order at Arsenal. (Independent)
Midfielder Juan Mata, 26, believes Manchester United have an "extraordinary" player in 28-year-old striker Radamel Falcao. (the Sun )
Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, 24, took to Instagram on Monday to post a video message in which he offered advice and good luck to children starting their first day at school.
Balotelli's Liverpool team-mate Daniel Sturridge, 25, meanwhile, has taken to social media in response to the injury he suffered on England duty, posting a picture on Instagram alongside the comment "be back soon".
ITV's pitch-side punditry team got a little too close to the action when a sprinkler gave them a soaking in the build-up to England's Euro 2016 qualifier in Switzerland. (Daily Mirror)
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