Silva wary of Barnsley FA Cup banana skin
Manchester City playmaker David Silva admits cup giant-killings are rare in Spain - but he knows from his time in English football that to underestimate Barnsley would be a mistake.
David Silva has never been on the receiving end of a cup giant-killing - and he doesn’t intend to start now.
The Spanish midfielder has watched aghast as League Two side Bradford City cut a swathe through three Premier League teams in the Capital One Cup to reach the final.
And with Oldham Athletic heading another phalanx of cup shockers in the FA Cup – along with Brighton, Millwall and Luton – this appears to be the year of the underdog.
Barnsley, currently engaged in a bitter battle against relegation from the Championship, arrive at a sold-out Etihad Stadium on Saturday teatime aiming to add to the list of shocks.
City have avoided that particular banana skin during the reign of Roberto Mancini, their last shock defeat coming against Nottingham Forest in the third round four years ago.
And that means Silva knows nothing of upsets. Indeed, the nearest he has ever been to involvement in a shock result came when his Valencia side took on Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final in 2008.
In that case Valencia – including current stars Silva, David Villa and Juan Mata – were tenth in La Liga while Barca were third.
Silva told M.E.N. Sport: “The Copa del Rey is similar to the FA Cup but not as interesting. In Spain it is much more difficult for the smaller teams to rise to the top, but we have seen that in England smaller teams can get to the finals.
“The nearest I came to playing in a giant-killing game was when I was at Valencia. We were a big team, but we won the cup and beat Barcelona, who were the biggest team.”
Saturday’s quarter-final books a Wembley place for the winners, as the FA continues to stage semi-finals at their headquarters, to be played over the weekend of April 13 and 14.
Silva’s Copa del Rey winner’s medal five years ago was the only major honour he won in Spain – after seeing off Barca over two legs in the semi-final, they beat Getafe in the final.
And his first taste of success in his new career in England was the 2011 FA Cup triumph, and that makes the competition special for the Canary Islander.
“We are only one game away from going back to Wembley again,” he said. “On paper Barnsley are a small team, but they are in the quarter-final because they deserve to be, so we will have to be very cautious and try to win the game.
“Wembley is an amazing place to play football and I have been lucky enough to have already played there. Now I want to get to another final.”
City expect a physical encounter against the Tykes, who will try to ruffle their Premier League feathers, and their 6,000 travelling fans expect full commitment from their team.
Barnsley are steeped in a tough Yorkshire tradition, going back to the legendary Skinner Normanton who emerged from the coal pit to strike fear into opponents throughout the land in the 1950s.
Robledo, Whyte, Pallister, Normanton and Kitchen lend a hand with the roller at Fleetwood F.C. ground where Barnsley F.C. prepared for their cup tie with Manchester City. January 1948. (photo copyright John68)
That reverence of the physical side of the game remains strong in the English game, despite the sanitising attempts of successive rule changes and the creeping influence of the minimal-contact Continental game.
Silva has found his feet amidst the flying boots of the English top flight in the last three seasons and he is ready for Barnsley: “In the first few months after arriving in England I found it difficult but I am very comfortable with the game here now and happy to be here.”
The Blues will be without Sergio Aguero, whose knee problem will not be risked, and Jack Rodwell, whose hamstring problem re-occurred in the win at Aston Villa on Monday night.
Silva had words of sympathy and comfort for Rodwell, recalling his own battle against a serious ankle problem while at Valencia in 2009.
He needed surgery and spent three months out, the longest he has spent out through injury, and said of Rodwell: “It’s a great shame he is injured again after getting back into the team and playing in the last two games.
“I have never been injured in the same way, but I know what it’s like to have an injury where you can’t see the end of the tunnel. Jack needs to know that in the end you get there, you just have to keep walking until you start to see the light again.
“He has worked really really hard already, but he needs to keep concentrating, and he will be back with us.”
Manchester City plan Jonathan Williams swoop?
Manchester City are understood to be planning a summer move for Crystal Palace midfielder Jonathan Williams.
City assistant manager David Platt is believed to have watched the 19-year-old two weeks ago.
The Premier League champions will put in an initial offer of £8m at the end of the season to test Palace's resolve, according to The Mirror. However, Liverpool and Swansea City are also thought to be interested in Williams
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[/spoiler]Shrek meltdown bollox
City: We don’t want Rooney
MANCHESTER CITY will NOT make a move for Wayne Rooney this summer.
There is a huge doubt over Rooney’s Manchester United future with the club ready to listen to offers of £25million for the striker.
Moneybags City are one of only a handful of sides in the world who could afford him.
But SunSport can reveal the Premier League champions’ big-money targets are Napoli star Edinson Cavani and Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao — not Rooney.
City boss Roberto Mancini has admitted he is a fan of the England hitman.
But, under the new power structure at the Etihad, the Italian would have to persuade director of football Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano that Rooney is the right man.
And it is believed Begiristain does not feel the 27-year-old fits the profile of what they want.
City were contacted by the Rooney camp in October 2010 when it looked as though he might leave Old Trafford.
The Etihad outfit were interested — but felt they were being used to get Rooney the deal he wanted with the Red Devils.
Now Rooney’s days at United could be numbered after he was axed for Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
But City will look elsewhere to breathe new life into their attack — and that means Colombian hitman Falcao or Uruguayan striker Cavani.
Mario Balotelli left in January and he could be followed through the exit door by either Edin Dzeko or Carlos Tevez.
Borussia Dortmund are keen on Dzeko, while Tevez will have just a year left on his contract in the summer and talks are yet to start over a new one. SUN
Man United striker's exit depends on rivals Man City selling Edin Dzeko to Dortmund
Bosnian's £20m move back to the Bundesliga would open the door for Robert Lewandowski's switch to Old Trafford as Wayne Rooney's replacement
Manchester City striker Dzeko is poised to join Borussia Dortmund, with talks ongoing between the two clubs over a £20million deal.
Dortmund’s capture of Dzeko would leave them free to let star striker Robert Lewandowski join United for a fee of around £18m.
That, in turn, would enable Alex Ferguson to jettison Rooney, with United hoping to recoup as much as £35m for the England striker.
But with Rooney’s form and fitness in question and his stock having fallen, the Old Trafford club are likely to only receive around £25m.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain will all be in the mix to sign Rooney, 27, after United decided to listen to offers.
And the transfer carousel involving Dzeko and Lewandowski is likely to be pivotal in determining what happens to Rooney this summer.
Reports from Germany suggested City officials met with their Dortmund counterparts at their Premier League game at QPR last month.
It seems inevitable Dzeko is on his way to Champions league quarter-finalists Dortmund, with City manager Roberto Mancini planning a shake-up of the Blues' squad over the summer.
United boss Ferguson has been tracking Lewandowski for the past few seasons and tried to sign the Poland international last summer.
Dortmund were reluctant to sell then, but it is understood an agreement is in place for United to have first refusal in the coming close-season.
Lewandowski hit 30 goals last season as Jurgen Klopp’s side did the domestic double, winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup.
But the 24-year-old only has one year left on his contract, which is why United will be able to sign him for such a relatively low fee.
Lewandowski’s refusal to put pen to paper on a new deal means Dortmund have no choice but to cash in or risk losing him for free in summer 2014
Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid turn their backs on Rooney as escape routes close fast
Wayne Rooney could be left to stew at Manchester United after the doors to Europe’s biggest clubs began closing on him.
The striker’s Old Trafford future has been thrown into doubt following Sir Alex Ferguson’s shock decision to put him on the bench for the Champions League clash against Real Madrid.
Rooney’s advisers are confident there will be no shortage of bidders if he does leave this summer, with United understood to be ready to consider offers in the region of £20million.
But Manchester City, who were linked with a sensational move for Rooney in 2010, do not feel he fits their needs and remain focused on their pursuit of Napoli star Edinson Cavani and Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao.
Real Madrid and Barcelona — Rooney’s preferred destinations — are both concerned by reports of issues with the England striker’s fitness and conditioning, something that has been a worry at United for some time.
They were not impressed by his performance when Sir Alex Ferguson’s side drew 1-1 in the Bernabeu last month. Sources in Spain suggest that signing a player who will be 28 in November and would demand more than £200,000-a-week is considered too much of a risk.
Paris Saint-Germain remain a possibility but they are already paying Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic around £900,000 a week.
Even Italy’s top clubs would struggle to afford Rooney under the new financial fair play rules. Likewise Bayern Munich, who would not be prepared to meet his wage demands.
The situation is very different from October 2010, when Rooney effectively held United to ransom over a new contract.
Back then he is believed to have spoken to England colleagues about the possibility of joining Chelsea, while his advisers contacted City to see if they would be interested in a deal.
The answer was yes but City were left feeling as though they had been used as a bargaining chip when Rooney signed an improved five-year deal at Old Trafford.
They will not offer him an easy escape route this time, with new chief executive Ferran Soriano and director of football Txiki Begiristain looking for a more conventional target man to replace Mario Balotelli.
That could yet change if City fail to land Cavani or Falcao, and manager Roberto Mancini may be tempted to exploit the rumblings around Old Trafford with some carefully chosen words at his press conference.
Ferguson will also speak for the first time since United crashed out of Europe following referee Cuneyt Cakir’s controversial decision to send off Nani.
He is expected to try to smooth over an issue that has largely overshadowed United’s Champions League exit. It is understood he will also attempt to calm the storm currently engulfing Rooney by offering some words of support for his striker ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final at home to Chelsea. DSSC
Mancini admits Dzeko could be heading for Manchester City exit
The Bosnia and Herzegovina international striker has found starts hard to come by so far this season and his manager confirms that "anything can happen" in the summer
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini admits that striker Edin Dzeko could leave the club over the summer.
The 26-year-old has scored 12 goals in 23 appearances for the reigning Premier League champions this term but is believed to have grown frustrated over being largely used from the bench, recently confirming that he is keen to return to the Bundesliga one day.
"Edin is an important player for us," Mancini told Sky Italia. "At this time we have not spoken about the transfer market as there are still 10 games to go.
"But in June anything can happen. If a player asks me to leave, we will evaluate the situation - this applies for all players.
"Dzeko, for me, is a great player. In Italy he could score more than 20 goals a season but he would cost €20 million (£17m), maybe more."
The Italian went on to play down the severity of his training-ground clash with Mario Balotelli prior to the controversial striker's January move to AC Milan.
"Those were lies reported by the tabloids and photographers who were here, because there was absolutely nothing," he insisted. "We were playing a training match, we were playing in opposing teams, he made a foul and I shoved him and sent him away.
"Mario has improved but I think he won't change at all; he will continue to make faults even when he is 30.
"But the important thing is that he understands that he can and should give more on the field, because the best is expected from a player like him every time."
Rooney has set his sights on a move to Spanish giants Barcelona. Daily Star
Rooney is no longer regarded as an integral part of Manchester United's future by influential supporters' groups, who believe Alex Ferguson's decision to leave him on the bench against Real Madrid was justified. Guardian
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could make a summer move for 20-year-old Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo. Metro
Chelsea are considering bringing Borussia Dortmund striker Marco Reus, 23, to Stamford Bridge. caughtoffside.com
Non-league striker Daniel Carr will play in the Liverpool United-21 side against West Ham on Monday as the Premier League club continue to assess the 18-year-old. Daily Mirror
But Chelsea may hijack Liverpool's attempts to sign Carr, who plays for Dulwich Hamlet. DSSC
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, 26, has been rewarded for his scintillating form with a pay rise from £80,000-a-week to £120,000-a-week. Daily Express
Paul Lambert will not be sacked as Aston Villa manager - even if they are relegated from the Premier League this season. Daily Star
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will seek assurances over his transfer budget before committing his long-term future to the club, with his contract expiring in the summer. Daily Telegraph
Newcastle centre-back Fabricio Coloccini could miss the rest of the season after scans revealed the 31-year-old has broken two bones in his back. Times
Celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted after his side's Champions League last-16 defeat by Juventus that he faces an almost impossible fight to keep his team intact for next season. Daily Record
Rangers chief executive Charles Green has taken legal advice as he plans to take the former Scottish Premier League club into the English league. Daily Mirror
Uefa referee chief Pierluigi Collina has declared his support for Cuneyt Cakir, the Turkish official who controversially sent off Manchester United winger Nani in the defeat by Real Madrid on Tuesday. Millyet
The German Football Association has banned second division side Dynamo Dresden from the national cup competition for failing to control fan violence. Die Welt
The French league have handed Nice midfielder Valentin Eysseric an 11-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Saint Etienne's Jeremy Clement last weekend. L'Equipe
Former Germany captain Michael Ballack has unexpectedly invited national coach Joachim Loew to his farewell match in Leipzig in June. The two men have a fractious relationship dating back to the 2010 World Cup, when Ballack was dropped from the German team. Die Welt
Spanish fans watching Sevilla trounce Celta Vigo in a televised game on Monday night could be forgiven for doing a double take as pictures appeared to show Celta's former Chelsea forward Enrique de Lucas drinking a beer while sat on the substitutes' bench. BBC Radio 5 live's 606 newsletter
Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne, 45, is "back on track" and returning to the UK after a month spent tackling his alcohol problems in a United States clinic. Sun
GOLDEN BOLLOX FROM 8-3-2010
HOUSE BOLLOX
MANCHESTER City star Robinho is moving into the house of Derby County’s Robbie Savage after being blown away by its bling factor.
The £32.5million British record signing was wowed by the Welsh midfielder’s swanky £2.35million home during a tour of Cheshire’s top mansions.
And he has beaten footie rival Dimitar Berbatov, of Man United, to sign on the dotted line for the unique five-bedroom home in Prestbury.
As we revealed earlier this month, the pair were involved in a property battle after signing for the rival clubs on the final day of the transfer window.
The pair both turned their noses up at a £6.5million pad close to Cristiano Ronaldo’s home, while Robinho also checked out the Alderley Edge property of ex-Man United ace Mikael Silvestre.
Robinho, 24, was shown around Savage’s home – which has featured on MTV’s Footballers’ Cribs – last week.
He will rent the pad for £10,000 a month until he decides on a permanent move.
A source said: “Robbie Savage’s house fits the bill. It is fully furnished and Robinho loves all the bling.
“It’s also full of boys’ toys and gadgets, which the footballers love.”
ADE TO CHELSEA BOLLOX
Emmanuel Adebayor’s future at Manchester City is in doubt, although no specific reason is given as to why the Togo striker may be heading out of Eastlands in the summer.
Neil Ashton writes: “The African attacker is one of the highest paid players in the country and has only played 18 times in the Premier League for the Eastlands outfit. City’s plans for next season depend largely on the future of Roberto Mancini, but they also face a battle to hold on to Adebayor.”
Ashton adds: “The latest training ground rumblings at City suggest the club will have a fight on their hands to keep hold of the Togo forward. Adebayor had his heart set on a move to Chelsea last summer and only moved to City because they were the only club to match Arsenal’s asking price and his frightening salary demands.”
Manchester City are linked again today with Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain which could be a possible reason why Adebayor may be eager to leave the club should the Argentinean hitman join.
The 26-year-old striker has a more than respectable record at Manchester City in 2009/2010, scoring nine goals in 18 appearances and he has also chipped in with two assists.
Adebayor is contracted to Manchester City until the end of the 2013/2014 season. (IM Scouting)
GOLDEN BONUS
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