Monday's B*ll*x

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Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Chinners » Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:30 am

Half term break over so . . .
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Manchester City decide NOT to move for Alexis Sanchez in January amid continued fury with Arsenal
The Chilean star wanted to move to the Etihad in the summer, but Arsenal pulled out at the last minute
The Premier League leaders have no plans to make a cut-price £20million bid for the Chilean forward during the January transfer window.
They are ready to wreck revenge on the Gunners over their decision to scupper a £60million deadline-day deal for the 28-year-old by signing him for nothing when his contract expires next summer.
Sunday Mirror Sport has learned that City are still angry at the way Arsenal handled negotiations for Sanchez in August.
After telling the Etihad club that the player was going nowhere, the Gunners changed tack at the 11th hour when it became clear that Sanchez would not be signing a new deal and had deliberately priced himself out of moves to both Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich by demanding wages of £500,000-a-week.
Arsene Wenger’s attempt to get City to agree to a deal that would see Raheem Sterling move to the Emirates was rejected by Pep Guardiola.
And the London club then accepted a bid of £60million from City just hours before the deadline – only to pull out when they failed with their own £90million mission to replace him with Monaco’s Thomas Lemar.
Now Arsenal’s decision to force Sanchez and Mezut Ozil to serve the final year of their contracts is set to cost the cash-conscious Londoners a fortune.
City’s stance is that they will wait until next summer before handing Sanchez a Sky Blue shirt – and a hefty signing-on fee
That may change if any of Guardiola’s forwards suffer a long-term injury between now and the end of January.
Or if Sanchez is given a rival offer during the winter window that is tempting enough to force them into making a bid.
But the understanding inside the Etihad corridors of power is that City remain favourites to land the former Barcelona star because he wants to be reunited with Guardiola.
City’s Mancunian rivals United are interested in Ozil – but Old Trafford bosses still need to be convinced that paying a significant amount of money for the German midfielder in January makes any business sense given his contractual situation.
Losing Sanchez and Ozil for nothing will be a devastating blow for Wenger and his club’s beleaguered board.
Arsenal have already started touting both players around Europe’s top clubs in the hope that they can recoup some money during the January scramble.
But City’s recruitment current plans are focused on bringing in a new left-back after losing Benjamin Mendy until April with torn cruciate ligaments.
Napoli’s Faouzi Ghoulam remains a target. The Algerian international will get another chance to impress Guardiola when he lines up against City in the Champions League on Wednesday night after an outstanding display at the Etihad earlier this month.
City hope to land Ghoulam for around £10million because he is out-of-contract at the end of the season.
But City have no immediate plans to enter the January market for a new centre-back – despite Vincent Kompany’s ongoing injury issues.
The Belgian has been sidelined for seven weeks after suffering a calf problem on international duty that was expected to take just days to heal.
The City captain underwent treatment in Barcelona during the week and the latest news is so positive that buying a centre-back before the summer is not yet on their shopping list.

No worries about playing Sanchez against Manchester City, says Wenger
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has no doubt that striker Alexis Sanchez will give his best against Manchester City in Sunday's Premier League clash as he believes the Chilean has a "social contract" with his team mates to get victories.
Sanchez, who was been among Arsenal's top scorers for the past three seasons, failed to complete a move to Pep Guardiola's side in August and is yet to hit his stride this campaign, scoring just twice in nine appearances across all competitions.
The Chilean's lone league goal came in the 5-2 win over Everton earlier this month but Sanchez failed to make an impact in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Swansea City.
"I have no concerns because I'm not suspicious about performances or the desire to win of a football player," Wenger told British media.
"When you are a football player you have a social contract with the rest of the team and I never question that. Once you don't respect that, it is difficult to say that you play football."
Wenger said the 28-year-old, who has provided three assists this season, was improving and would get back to his best soon.
"I'm not worried about it, he works hard and it will come back. You never try too hard. I think at the moment he is marked well but he still creates many dangerous situations and he just has to not worry too much," Wenger said.
"You say that to all the strikers and they still worry but over longer periods he has always scored goals so that will come back."
City have a five-point lead at the top of the table and are unbeaten in the league so far while Arsenal are fifth, level on points with champions Chelsea and a point behind third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

Man City think they will seal Isco transfer despite star signing deal
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MANCHESTER CITY reportedly think they will sign Real Madrid star Isco, despite the Spain international only just signing a mammoth contract with the club.
Manchester City are currently blitzing teams under Pep Guardiola, recovering from a shaky start to take the Premier League by storm.
However, despite that, Guardiola is still intent on adding to his squad.
And Spanish website Don Balon claims the former Barcelona boss feels he can land Real Madrid playmaker Isco.
The midfielder’s time at the Bernabeu looked to be over 12 months ago, with manager Zinedine Zidane regularly overlooking him in favour of Gareth Bale.
But Isco is now a regular for Real Madrid, helping Los Blancos win La Liga and the Champions League last term.
He was recently rewarded for his impressive displays with a bumper new contract which has an eyewatering release clause of £637million.
However, Don Balon say Guardiola feels it is only a matter of time before he makes the move to the Etihad Stadium.
When speculation over Isco’s future was at its most uncertain, City were among the clubs pursuing his signature.
But the 25-year-old supposedly has no intention of moving to England at this point in his career.
Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino admitted earlier this month that he wanted to sign Isco in 2016.
“Every coach wants to sign the best players,” Pochettino said when asked about his Isco bid.
“And Isco is proving he is one of the best players in the world.
“We have known about him for a while, I have seen him in different clubs in his career, and he has always been a player with great creativity, great capability, beyond the average.
“He is a player who has reached his maturity at this great club, and obviously he is a player we must take into account when we play against him. His magic and quality are absolutely obvious.”

Man City expand Asian partners with Cambodia’s Khmer Beverages .... tsk
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October 30 – Premier League Manchester City have added Khmer Beverages’ Cambodia Beer as its Official Beer Partner in South East Asia in a multi-year deal.
Only established in 2009, Khmer Beverages adapted state-of-the-art technology and imported ingredients from Europe to produce what the company says is its mission to make the best beer in Cambodia.
The company rapidly became a market leader in Cambodia and markets through a number of community football programmes in the country.
Now it has engaged in the first Cambodian major sponsorship of a European sports entity, but aimed at the Asian market.
Khmer Beverages rights also Official Water Partner in Cambodia, Official Soft Drinks Partner in Cambodia and Official Energy Drink Partner in Cambodia.
Leang Pov, President of Khmer Beverages, said: “Through this partnership, Khmer Beverages aims to bring international football experience to the fans in Cambodia and organise exciting and entertaining social events for fans.
“Khmer Beverages has been a strong supporter of the football sector since our establishment. We support local clubs and the national team and this time we raise the bar higher by bringing Manchester City’s experience and connections to Cambodia.”
The deal widens Manchester City’s commercial footprint in Asia.
Damian Willoughby, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at City Football Group, said: “Khmer Beverages shares Manchester City’s commitment to empowering the lives of others and driving social change within the communities that we operate.
“This announcement marks the club’s first commercial partner based in Cambodia.”

Manchester City star in the making Phil Foden has no agent, still goes fishing with his dad and has been described by Pep Guardiola as 'a gift'
Phil Foden named player of tournament as England won the Under 17 World Cup

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Even as a coach who witnessed the rise of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, Pep Guardiola was rendered momentarily speechless by Phil Foden’s debut for Manchester City.
‘I would like to have the right words to describe what I saw,’ Guardiola told us at Houston’s NRG Stadium in July after Foden had starred against Manchester United. ‘You are the lucky guys who saw the first game.
‘It’s a long time since I’ve seen something like this. He’s 17 years old, he’s a City player, he grew up in the academy, he loves the club, he’s a City fan and, for us, he’s a gift.’
Guardiola knew of Foden’s prodigious talent even before he left Bayern Munich to take over at City. England manager Gareth Southgate, too, has been tracking Foden’s progress since he was 14.
Now the whole world knows about the Stockport-born midfielder who inspired England U17s to victory over Spain in the World Cup final in Kolkata, scoring twice to clinch the player-of-the- tournament award.
For those who have followed Foden’s career from the start, it has come as no great surprise.
Joe Makin, the recruitment co-ordinator for City’s burgeoning youth academy and football development officer at Reddish Vulcans, first came across him at the age of six. When he left Reddish to sign for City nearly three years later, Makin posted a photo on the club website with the words: ‘Phil Foden — remember the name.’
He has followed Foden’s progress closely ever since in his role at City, and noted how he has developed into a two-footed player even though ‘the left is still the magic one’.
The youngster played for City’s U18s at the age of 15 and a year later was named on the bench for the final Champions League group tie against Celtic.
He was rewarded with a first professional contract worth around £4,000 a week in the summer before playing against United on tour in Houston.
That figure is expected to rise above £10,000 a week when he turns 18 in May, and Foden’s recent exploits in India will only increase his value.
His ambitions are unlikely to stretch far beyond the Etihad, however.
‘When he used to play for Vulcans, the scouts always hovered after the game but there was never a danger Phil was going to sign for any club other than City,’ said Makin.
‘I see him like a Paul Scholes. He’s a Manc and that’s it. He signs in each day, trains, toddles off home, job done.
‘He’s the quietest in the group even though he’s the one training with the first team.
‘His younger brother trained at Vulcans a couple of years ago. Phil came down coaching the five- and six-year-olds in a plain tracksuit, not his City one. Some of the parents had no idea that he’s a star in the making, though I’m sure a lot of them will now.’
It’s understood that Foden doesn’t even have an agent, although there has been no shortage of them trying to sign him up.
Friends speak of a reserved young man who still goes fishing with his father, also called Phil, in his spare time.
Foden grew up with his dad and mum Claire in the Edgeley area of Stockport, although the family are understood to have recently moved to the more affluent suburb of Bramhall, and studied at St Bede’s College with the rest of City’s academy players. He has come a long way from the raw six-year-old who first turned up for training with Reddish Vulcans at the Peel Moat Centre in Stockport.
‘It was so clear from that first session that he was something exceptional,’ says Steve Williams, his first manager at Reddish U7s. ‘He was without doubt the best talent I’ve ever seen.
‘There were so many moments but two stand out. I remember him scoop-chipping the goalkeeper from six yards out. There were gasps on the touchline, people were so taken aback by it.
‘The other was a tournament in Wales. We’d beaten everybody comfortably and in the final group game we played Phil at the back so he wouldn’t dominate so much.
‘He got the ball from our keeper, beat their entire team and scored!
It was notable that England’s triumph in India came against Spain, so long seen as a model for the development of young players.
Success at the U17 World Cup, combined with the U20s being crowned world champions and the U19s winning the Euros in the summer, has raised hopes of a golden generation emerging in English football.
The part played by St George’s Park, where these stars of the future mix together in the same hotel and can draw inspiration from one another on state-of-the-art pitches the same size as Wembley, cannot be overlooked.
Hopefully they will be given their chance in a Premier League that has often been too quick to ignore homegrown talent in favour of foreign stars.
Consider this statistic, for instance: 83 per cent of players who featured in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in the last 10 years have played first-team football at 17.
So could Foden be the figurehead for a golden generation?
‘Yes, he could be that,’ said Makin. ‘He’s that type of person. He’s got the magnetism and appeal. He goes past people and that gets fans off their seats.
‘It’s not a coincidence that the England age-group teams are doing so well and a whole new generation is coming through. All the academies nationwide are bearing fruit — and it’s going to get better.’

Buying his mother a present - who does Sterling think he is?
What's your favourite Raheem Sterling story? Maybe it's the one from this time last year when the Sun revealed that his girlfriend was pregnant and she had "shown off her baby bump" by, unsurprisingly enough, wearing a Manchester City jersey to a Manchester City game with 'Sterling 7' on the back of it.
Sample line: "A source said: 'The shirt was clearly a statement to show she was having a baby and she was saying, 'Raheem's the Daddy'."
Maybe it's the disgusting lack of shame he showed for England's Euro 2016 exit when he came home, met some friends and gave them a tour of the house which he had bought for his mother.
This being the woman who moved with three children from Jamaica to a tough housing estate in London when Sterling was five, he might have felt indebted for her kindness and support but that, apparently, isn't allowed when you've under-performed in a major tournament.
Mail online headline: "£180,000-a-week England flop Raheem shows off blinging house he bought for his mum - complete with jewel-encrusted bathroom - hours after flying home in disgrace from Euro 2016".
The Sun also found a fulminating Richard Smith, 39, from Canterbury, who said: "Football fans across England are in mourning and he's showing off a diamond-encrusted bathroom. Some fans will never forgive him for this. It's a disgrace."
There's also the tales about him shopping in Poundworld (naturally accompanied with multiple references to his weekly wage, £49m transfer fee, value of his house and number of cars); how he enjoys eating at Greggs; and the fact that he flew home from his holidays on an EasyJet flight, which was breathlessly revealed by the Daily Star.
"Passengers on the flight back from Marbella were staggered to see the 21-year-old England winger in economy class," it wrote last October. "Dumped in an aisle seat, he even had to get up to let neighbours get out to the toilet."
What they would have done if Sterling hadn't got up out of his seat wasn't speculated upon.
So far, we have a young man, whose father died when he was nine, was brought up by his mother in a different country to where he was born who had enough discipline to come through a tough upbringing to make it in one of the most cut-throat industries in the world and who is paid in line with the economics of his profession. When you step back, it's difficult to find the outrage.
On Saturday against West Brom, Sterling netted his ninth goal of the season, making him the leading scorer in a Manchester City team that is among the best in Europe at the moment, yet the years of character assassinations mean credit is slow to come.
There have been a couple of off-field indiscretions but most of Sterling's unpopularity stems from his departure from Liverpool to City, in which he very quickly became characterised as the greedy epitome of a modern footballer who had been given too much, too young. He even got booed playing for England in Dublin just after completing the move.
Ashley Cole, too, went through similar levels of nonsense when he revealed that he "nearly crashed his car" when Arsenal offered him 'only' £55,000 a week in their contract negotiations before he eventually signed for Chelsea.
From that point, Cole's public reputation never recovered, and every apparent off-field issue fuelled the fire of fury which saw Cole abused at virtually every away ground despite being arguably the greatest left-back ever to play for England
Cole, like Sterling at Liverpool, was absolutely right to demand to be paid what he was worth, and had either Arsenal or Liverpool been more proactive in the first place, there would have been no need for their PR machine to kick into gear against a player they had developed.
Yet, it's a peculiar aspect of a game whose traditional supporter base is working class that a player being underpaid, relative to his peers, is vilified while clubs who chew up and spit out other workers not up to the task are given a sympathetic ear by the masses.
Sterling was never going to win the battle for the hearts and minds of supporters of a club he wanted to leave but the most argued reason that he should stay at Liverpool was how much he had developed under Brendan Rodgers, who was building a team around him.
Three months after Sterling left, the club who had hoped he would be loyal to them, sacked Rodgers.
Sterling might have been badly advised around the manner of his departure but, like Cole, he was already in a no-win situation. Whether you say nothing or give an interview, you'll get slaughtered.
For the moment, Sterling is doing most of his talking on the pitch, and as he heads towards his 250th senior club appearance, his potential at the age of 22 remains enormous.
His best season at Liverpool came alongside Luis Suarez who, obviously, made everybody at the club a better player, but there was a connection between the two which belied Sterling's teenage years in terms of football intelligence.
In Pep Guardiola, Sterling has someone with a relentless desire to teach and coach his players; that might sound like every manager's job but, in reality, many are content to ride the wave of the talent available to them without trying to make their players even better.
Sterling may well go into next summer's World Cup with a Premier League medal as one of City's key players, but a poor tournament in the national jersey will, in all likelihood, see him vilified again by those who can't grasp that being managed by Pep Guardiola rather than Gareth Southgate might produce a better standard of performance.
At least, this time, he'll know to avoid buying anything nice for his mother when he gets home.

WAG OF THE DAY
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Spoilbox


OTHER BOLLOX
Paris St-Germain have made Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho, 25, their priority signing for next summer. (TF1 - in French)

Arsenal will offer 18-year-old striker Eddie Nketiah a new five-year contract that will take his weekly pay from £2,000 to £15,000. (Sun)

With Burnley manager Sean Dyche linked with the Everton job, defender Stephen Ward says "it'd be a blow to lose him". (Times - subscription required)

Should Dyche leave, Burnley will look to replace him with former Toffees and Manchester United boss David Moyes. (Sun)

Former Newcastle and Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew is a contender for the Rangers job. (Scottish Daily Mail)

Sunderland manager Simon Grayson faces the sack if his side do not beat Bolton on Tuesday. (Daily Star)

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has criticised fans he believes should have been more vocal in their support of striker Romelu Lukaku. (Guardian)

Mourinho says he has "no idea" when Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba will be fit again. (Daily Mirror)

Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah's stint as the club's penalty-taker could last just one game after his miss against Huddersfield on Saturday. (Liverpool Echo)

Former Manchester City and QPR midfielder Joey Barton has described Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth as a "glorified PE teacher who shouldn't be in charge of a men's team". (Daily Mirror)

Unsworth says he "he couldn't care less" about Barton's comments. (Daily Telegraph)

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale is set to miss out on facing former club Tottenham in the Champions League on Wednesday. (Times - subscription required)

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte believes England's successful year at youth level will make the senior side "very hard to beat" in the future. (Guardian)

La Liga president Javier Tebas has again called for Uefa to punish Paris St-Germain for "cheating" Financial Fair Play rules. (L'Equipe - in French)

Watford striker Troy Deeney could face a Football Association charge for his clash with Stoke midfielder Joe Allen, depending on referee Michael Oliver's report. (Daily Mail)

Everton's major shareholder Farhad Moshiri wants to make a £30m move for Chile international Sanchez in January. (Sun on Sunday)

Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright would like David Unsworth to be given an extended run in charge of the side, while major shareholder Moshiri would prefer a bigger name to replace Ronald Koeman. (Sunday Mirror)

Everton are planning to bring in former England, Crystal Palace and Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce. (Sun on Sunday)

Barcelona believe they can sign 25-year-old Liverpool and Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho for £132m in the January transfer window with a down payment of £75m. (Sunday Express)

GOLDEN BOLLOX
ON THIS DAY IN 2013

Kompany concern as City skipper could be out for three more games after setback
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is still training alone after suffering a setback in his recovery from a groin injury and is certain to miss at least the club’s next two games and in all likelihood next week’s Champions League game with CSKA Moscow.
Kompany has not played since suffering the latest in a series of worrying muscle injuries in a Barclays Premier League win over Everton on October 5.
The Belgian defender was expected to be back in action by now, having initially been pencilled in for last week’s Champions League win in Moscow.
But it is understood that Kompany suffered some pain when City’s medical staff upped his training intensity last week and that has put back his expected return date until at least next week.
City travel to Newcastle tonight to play in the Capital One Cup and then host Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday.
It is understood that Kompany will not play in either of those two fixtures and will only be considered for next Tuesday’s European game if he has rejoined the main training group by the start of the week.
City have certainly missed their captain this season and have so far fielded six different central defensive partnerships in a season that has seen them suffer some disappointing defeats away from home.
In the longer term, there remains a concern for Kompany who has suffered a recurrence of groin and hamstring problems over the last two years.

10 more years: Micah Richards eyes another decade at City
Defender Micah Richards has "seen it all" in over 10 years at Manchester City - but he's determined to complete another decade with the Blues.
He is only 25 but Micah Richards could write a book. An upbringing on one of Leeds’ toughest estates, a Premier League debut at 17, England bow at 18 and 11 years strapped into the City roller coaster.
That’s before you mention a catalogue of injuries and an excruciating eight-month spell on the sidelines.
But the Blues stalwart has no intention of following Sir Alex’s lead – not yet anyway.
“When I finish my career,” he said at an event to reward well-behaved pupils at Openshaw Community School.
“And hopefully that’ll be in another 10 years when I’m 35.”
When that day finally comes it sounds like it will be one worth reading.
Richards has more than a decade at City – signing as a 14-year-old in 2001.
Seven managers, more than £600m spent on players and the transition from yo-yoing scrap-sniffers to top-table diners have all taken place under his watchful gaze.
“I’ve seen it all now,” he said.
“Some amazing players have come and gone – there’s been some good quality gone out of the window and in 10 years it would be good to tell the fans what I’ve seen.”
Richards is affable, outgoing and with a genuine concern for others.
He gives the impression he misses some former team-mates who have gone through the revolving doors.
“It’s different managers like differing things,” he said.
“It’s sort of weird but it happens in football, I suppose. You just have to get on with it and concentrate on your own performance.”
It is an attitude he will need this season after coming back from knee and hamstring injuries.
For many footballers, coping with life when fit, with endless afternoons off, is hard enough.
But when you withdraw training sessions and matches from the equation it almost becomes Mission Impossible.
For Richards, a crystal-meth dealing cancer sufferer and the trials and tribulations of a group of California teenagers kept his mind occupied after disaster struck against Swansea City this time last year.
“Box sets got me through,” he said.
“I was watching Breaking Bad – I’ve just finished the fifth season – and it was quality.
“The OC too. I started that and didn’t get chance to finish it. It was pretty cool.
The Urmston-based physio spent hours with Richards working not only on his physical state but on his mental well-being.
“Paul was with me throughout,” he said.
“It was hard. You go to the games and when you’re not playing it lets you know how much you miss it.
“Some days I’d come in and I was just not up for it mentally but Paul was there for me. I owe a lot to him.”
Richards has made three appearances for the Blues this season and will need many more if he is to force his way onto the plane for the World Cup in Brazil next summer.
“I am back fit now and I believe when I am playing fit I am as good as anyone in the division playing that role,” he said.
“It’s about keeping fit and getting some games in. I felt I played well in the three games.
“Brazil would be nice. I’ve never been.
“I was supposed to go to a tournament when I was a younger but didn’t make it.”
Whatever his international ambitions, City is where he will remain – meaning Oldham’s chances of pocketing a 20 per cent sell-on clause, inserted into his contract when he was prised away from Latics’ centre of excellence all those years ago, are slim.
“I’m not leaving City it’s my club and I love it here. Ten more years – that’s my aim,” he said.
It would appear that, if Richards has his way, the second half of the book is going to be another rhapsody in blue.

Real Madrid are plotting a January move for striker Luis Suarez, 26, by offering Liverpool £20m plus fellow forward Karim Benzema, 25. Daily Star

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, 23, could be reunited with his former Inter boss Jose Mourinho in a shock move to Chelsea. Daily Express

Chelsea are believed to be targeting a move for Real Madrid's former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, 31, when he becomes available for a free transfer next year. Metro

Celtic and Everton are on alert after Spartak Moscow revealed they will listen to offers for Irish winger Aiden McGeady, 27. Daily Star

Toronto manager Ryan Nelsen, who spent a short spell at Tottenham in the latter stages of his career, has confirmed his interest in taking Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, 31, to the MLS. Sky Sports understands

Southampton are ready to keep it in the family by snapping up Victor Wanyama's brother - Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga, 26, in January. Daily Mirror

Wolfsburg sporting director Klaus Allofs has indicated he would welcome the chance to sign Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa, 24, and Chelsea attacker Kevin De Bruyne, 22. Sky Sports

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are in the running for Basel winger Mohamed Salah, 21, but the Swiss club are likely to demand £15m for him in January. DSSC

Eriksen was one of seven leading players signed by Spurs during the close season following Gareth Bale's departure

Liverpool defender Daniel Agger, 28, insists he has no plans to leave Anfield despite telling a television channel in his native Denmark he would consider an exit if he does not play. ESPN

QPR boss Harry Redknapp says he is undecided about signing former Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun, 33, who had been scheduled to have a trial at Loftus Road. Fulham Chronicle

Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen, 21, says they have a genuine chance to win the Premier League for the first time this season. London Evening Standard

But Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted the club's £30m record signing Erik Lamela is struggling to settle into English football. ESPN

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward admits he is disappointed with the club's summer shopping, and wants to help manager David Moyes bring in more top players. Metro

Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong, 21, is set to be warned over his future conduct after appearing to claim that his omission from Tuesday's Capital One Cup tie against Chelsea was because he is black. London Evening Standard

Celtic and England goalkeeper Fraser Forster, 25, has been backed to make the grade at Barcelona by midfield maestro Xavi. Metro

Wales coach Chris Coleman has emerged as a contender to be the new manager of Crystal Palace, for whom played nearly 200 games in the 1990s, after the Londoners went cool on initial first choice Tony Pulis. Daily Mirror

Former Stoke boss Pulis is demanding a £1.5m salary from Palace to replace Ian Holloway as manager. Stoke Sentinel

England full-back Ashley Cole, 32, has told Chelsea that he wants to sign a new contract and extend his career at Stamford Bridge. London Evening Standard

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew says the club were correct to ban three local newspapers - the Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun. Newcastle Chronicle

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis says his club will be signing two to three players in the January transfer window and Lyon's France midfielder Maxime Gonalons, 24, could be one of them. L'Equipe

English clubs Tottenham and Arsenal are "engaged in a battle" to buy 24 year-old Brazilian forward Alexandre Pato for next season. La Stampa

Brazil national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says 25-year-old forward Diego Costa's decision to play for Spain has shattered the "dreams of millions". Mundo Deportivo

Bayern Munich's Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, 27, says it is easier for him to play under Pep Guardiola than previous manager Jupp Heynckes. Bild

Everton keeper Tim Howard credits his penalty save against Aston Villa to... his bushy beard. Daily Mirror
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Chinners
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Hutch's Shoulder » Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:22 am

Cheers Chinners, some fine bollox today. Ranging from the high praise of ‘the best beer in Cambodia’ to ‘recovering from a shaky start’ of two wins and a draw. Also, it’s good to see we are going to ‘wreck revenge’ on Arsenal rather than merely wreak it.

I can’t believe Burnley would be so silly as to appoint Moysie, but Pardew and Rangers would be an amusing match.

And good old Joey Barton is sitting on the fence as usual.
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Chinners » Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:13 am

Indeed .... I found it interesting that 4 years ago today we were still having problems trying to enjoy our own kompany ...
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Beefymcfc » Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:32 am

Enjoyed my morning bollox, especially the piece about Raheem. I'm not sure why the Sun has gone balls-out to disparage his name but good to see that they are now being called out for it. It's definitely bullying and harassment but I wonder if it's something a little more sinister.

I'm sure I read that Raheem was suing one of the Rags for some defamotory comment and strangely, these stories have since stopped.
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Mikhail Chigorin » Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:48 am

A fine compendium today Chinners; thanks for that.

It's perhaps fortunate that the Khmer drink is beer. If it was a red wine, it might be referred to as 'Khmer rouge'.
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby mr_nool » Mon Oct 30, 2017 11:51 am

Mikhail Chigorin wrote:A fine compendium today Chinners; thanks for that.

It's perhaps fortunate that the Khmer drink is beer. If it was a red wine, it might be referred to as 'Khmer rouge'.


I'd buy that! And drink it with my favourite Vietnamese sandwich, the Saloth Sarnie.
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Nigels Tackle » Mon Oct 30, 2017 12:02 pm

cracking the cambodian market is key to our future success
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Swales4ever » Mon Oct 30, 2017 3:38 pm

Welcome back The B*ll*x (tm)!

I am "ideologically conflicted" on whether I find more amazing the idea of Khmers bringing money to the Club I support or, seeing the Murdoch's filthy Sun exposed for the garbage traders they are.
Chin up, Raheem!

The luxury whole very much enriched by a specially great trademark logo and pair of tits. ;)

1. "unintelligible language"
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3. "never once fails to turn a football thread into a himseelf thread"
4. "thumbs stalker often resulting in repetitive thumb strain"
5. ignore the cunt. he's on permantent wum mission. only TIDs may know City

You'd need to make a very good psychiatrist in order to guess what next in a eight yrs long line of hatred...


In Roger Ailes/Donnie Drumpf's words: "don't know it for a fact, but many people say so..."
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby craigmcfc » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:08 pm

Welcome back Kate.
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Mikhail Chigorin » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:13 pm

Some lovely cloud formations behind the Wag, Chinners.

Nice photographic composition all round.
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Mikhail Chigorin » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:38 pm

Why is Mourinho critical of Scum fans for not being more vocal in their support of Lukaku ??

Have they all been falling asleep during the game ??
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby london blue 2 » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:48 pm

Mikhail Chigorin wrote:Why is Mourinho critical of Scum fans for not being more vocal in their support of Lukaku ??

Have they all been falling asleep during the game ??

didn't he tell them to stop singing about Lukakus cock the other day :lol:
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Mikhail Chigorin » Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:01 pm

london blue 2 wrote:
Mikhail Chigorin wrote:Why is Mourinho critical of Scum fans for not being more vocal in their support of Lukaku ??

Have they all been falling asleep during the game ??

didn't he tell them to stop singing about Lukakus cock the other day :lol:


Is that because he's a eunuch LB ??
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby london blue 2 » Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:19 pm

Mikhail Chigorin wrote:
london blue 2 wrote:
Mikhail Chigorin wrote:Why is Mourinho critical of Scum fans for not being more vocal in their support of Lukaku ??

Have they all been falling asleep during the game ??

didn't he tell them to stop singing about Lukakus cock the other day :lol:


Is that because he's a eunuch LB ??

This doesn't belong in this thread :shock:
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Mikhail Chigorin » Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:14 pm

london blue 2 wrote:
Mikhail Chigorin wrote:
london blue 2 wrote:
Mikhail Chigorin wrote:Why is Mourinho critical of Scum fans for not being more vocal in their support of Lukaku ??

Have they all been falling asleep during the game ??

didn't he tell them to stop singing about Lukakus cock the other day :lol:


Is that because he's a eunuch LB ??

This doesn't belong in this thread :shock:


OK.

Perhaps we need a specialised Mourhino thread where we can examine, in some depth, all his intimations, intimidations, imitations, inhalations and even his animations and poor relations.

Or something of that nature ??......or not.
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby carolina-blue » Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:36 pm

Mikhail Chigorin wrote:
london blue 2 wrote:
Mikhail Chigorin wrote:
london blue 2 wrote:
Mikhail Chigorin wrote:Why is Mourinho critical of Scum fans for not being more vocal in their support of Lukaku ??

Have they all been falling asleep during the game ??

didn't he tell them to stop singing about Lukakus cock the other day :lol:


Is that because he's a eunuch LB ??

This doesn't belong in this thread :shock:


OK.

Perhaps we need a specialised Mourhino thread where we can examine, in some depth, all his intimations, intimidations, imitations, inhalations and even his animations and poor relations.

Or something of that nature ??......or not.


Or not talk about eunochs in The Bolox thread :lol:
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Hutch's Shoulder » Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:24 pm

We obviously need a no-bollox thread, or maybe a bollox-less thread.
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby london blue 2 » Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:30 pm

Thanks CB :lol:
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby Swales4ever » Tue Oct 31, 2017 1:22 pm

Hutch's Shoulder wrote:We obviously need a no-bollox thread, or maybe a bollox-less thread.

but we do have it: it's "the gift that keeps on giving"... there belong all the bollox-less discussions. ;)

1. "unintelligible language"
2. "ACID QUEEN"
3. "never once fails to turn a football thread into a himseelf thread"
4. "thumbs stalker often resulting in repetitive thumb strain"
5. ignore the cunt. he's on permantent wum mission. only TIDs may know City

You'd need to make a very good psychiatrist in order to guess what next in a eight yrs long line of hatred...


In Roger Ailes/Donnie Drumpf's words: "don't know it for a fact, but many people say so..."
there must be some truth, then!
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Re: Monday's B*ll*x

Postby South Stand Balti » Fri Mar 16, 2018 9:42 pm

Amongst all the bollox talked about the chumps league etc we seem to have forgotten what's important on here. The Wag for example seems to have been cast aside. You know who you are....... let's be having you.
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