TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Maicon in sights Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini says Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Maicon will top his summer wish-list. telegraph.co.uk |
Arsenal-Bolton called off Arsenal's Barclays Premier League game against Bolton Wanderers has been called off because of heavy snow in London. foxsports.com.au |
Said & Done | David Hills United's road to ruin; Italy racism news; the happiest man in football; plus Brazil's most somber modelRead my lipsSelling the Man United bond scheme to investors this week: United chief executive David Gill – offering financiers a chance to back football's "strongest" global brand, structured around a "comfortable" level of debt in a long-term "stable" financial model. Not mentioned as part of Gill's sales pitch: his stance on the debt-based financial model in 2004, a year before he agreed a £1.7m salary to work for the Glazers (plus £1.3m profit from selling his shares): a) Called the proposed takeover an "aggressive" move placing "significant strain on the business"; b) told a fans meeting the level of debt could "jeopardise 126 years of history"; and c) spelled it out: "Borrowing money is not good for a football club ... it's the road to ruin." Number crunching• £10m: target for United's cancer charity campaign, launched in November. "Together we can change the future," says Alex Ferguson. "If one million fans all donate £10 we can be a winning team." • £10m: amount taken out of United by the Glazer family in "administration fees" in the past year, according to the bond brochure – plus a £10m long-term loan. Climate of fearBest of the press last week, Daily Mirror: "A company selling stab vests in England colours has provoked outrage among fans groups. The company has been accused of creating a climate for fear and danger around the World Cup in South Africa." (September, Daily Mirror: "South African police will have a shoot to kill policy at next summer's World Cup. The war on gun crime is called Operation Wanya Tsotsi, which translates as: 'You will soil your pants, criminal.' The country has one of the highest murder rates in the world ... Football fans could become easy targets...")We are familyLatest from Fifa's 2010 corporate family: News agencies – "Indian police have filed fresh charges against former top executives of disgraced outsourcing giant Satyam. The charges relate to conspiracy, cheating, forgery and "fraudulent and dishonest deeds". (Sepp Blatter, 2007: "I'm proud to work with Satyam! They share our ideals – to touch the world and build a better future!")Wednesday's headlines• The Guardian: "West Ham found guilty on two charges over Millwall riot" • Daily Mail: "West Ham found guilty by FA"• Independent: "West Ham found guilty over crowd trouble"• Mirror: "Hammers found guilty over violence"• West Ham official website: "West Ham have been cleared of two of four FA charges"Man of the week£80,000-a-week John Utaka: says he's happy to stay at Portsmouth. "I'll keep working hard for Pompey. Football is all about enjoying yourself and I do that. I'm happy! I'm very, very happy to be honest."Superstition of the weekBest PR-led interview last week: John Terry talking about endearing superstitions to Chelsea's official club magazine: "I always use the same urinal in the dressing room. It's true. The foreign lads don't really get why I'm waiting behind them when there's plenty of spaces elsewhere!" (And when the dressing room is shut: 2007, News of the World – "England captain John Terry was so DRUNK during a sleazy lap-dancing party that he URINATED on the floor – and in a cup.")The hard line Latest from Italy's war on racism: Italian FA pledge "firm action" after Inter striker Mario Balotelli ironically applauds Chievo fans who called him a "fucking monkey", left graffiti at the San Siro reading "A negro cannot be Italian" and chanted "If you jump up and down, Balotelli dies". The result: FA fine Balotelli $10,000 for "inciting crowd disorder". (Also doing his bit: Cagliari president Massimo Cellino, now bidding to take over at West Ham. Cellino said abuse aimed at Balotelli by his fans last year was "nothing". "Don't misunderstand those noises. It's nothing. In Cagliari, people aren't racist."People: idiotsDecember: Paul Hart says he's not worried by rumours about QPR's hands-on owners. "People say it's a 'poisoned chalice' – that's not in my thoughts. People have said I have jumped from the frying pan into the fire. I don't think that at all."Branded and adriftBrazilian model Tamara Alves says she has been left "somber" after Independiente keeper Fabian Assman married rival model Melina Pitra. "He was mine. I had his name tattooed on me. Our love was real, deep and true. I have been left branded and adrift." But Alves says she's now seeing Pitra's ex, porn star Esteban "Bam Bam" de Morais. "It's a testing time."Hands off warningSpanish model Amaia Salamanca says press links with Real Madrid legend Guti are "demeaning". "I deny it. Of course I like footballers, but not all of them." Last year Salamanca – star of hit TV show There's No Paradise Without Tits – was left "badly inflamed" after dumping Sergio Ramos. "My private life is private. Leave me be."Premier LeagueDavid Hillsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Manchester City striker Carlos Tévez launches blistering attack on Gary Neville Carlos Tévez has launched a blistering tirade at Gary Neville, labelling the Man United player a "sycophant" and a "moron". telegraph.co.uk |
City in talks over Robinho loan with Brazilian pair • Mancini confirms loan move is possible for Brazil striker• Robinho in City squad for Carling Cup semi-final second legThe Manchester City manager, Roberto Mancini, has confirmed negotiations have begun with the Brazilian clubs Santos and Sao Paulo over a loan move for Robinho. However, the Brazil international will only be allowed to leave Eastlands if City are happy with the terms of the deal."It is possible that something could happen," confirmed Mancini. "This kind of thing does happen. I know in Italy there were instances when clubs paid a lot of money for a fantastic player but afterwards he needed to play at another club. Negotiations are happening but for now he is part of my squad."Mancini also revealed that the 26-year-old is in the City squad for tomorrow night's Carling Cup semi-final second leg match with Manchester United at Old Trafford. Robinho scored for City in his last match, the 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round win at Scunthorpe United on Sunday.Although Robinho has shown flashes of brilliance and remains a favourite among City fans, he was unsettled for most of the second half of last season and quit a training camp in Tenerife to return home to Brazil after initially being refused permission by then manager Mark Hughes.The subsequent sale of his close friend Elano to Galatasaray and the exit of Jô for an ultimately ill-fated loan experiment at Everton isolated the 25-year-old even further. Robinho has also been overshadowed by Craig Bellamy in the battle for the left-sided attacking spot that the South American prefers.With a World Cup looming and no guarantee of regular football at City, Robinho has been searching for a solution. However, City are adamant their British record signing will not be allowed to leave unless all the player's wages are taken care of, something that has ruled Benfica out of the running."The World Cup in June is a big problem for him," added Mancini. "He wants to play for the national team. I understand that but I must decide what is best for the team. I have five or six strikers to choose from, which makes it difficult for him and me."Meanwhile, both Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré could be involved against Manchester United in tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final.Adebayor returned to training yesterday and declared himself available despite his horrific experience at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola with Togo, who pulled out of the competition following the shooting which left three of their party dead.Touré's disappointment was purely on the football side, with the Ivory Coast once again failing to live up to their pre-tournament billing, subsiding at the quarter-final stage to England's World Cup opponents Algeria."I spoke with Emmanuel yesterday," said Mancini. "He is training with us now and I think he will be ready to be on the bench. We won't see Kolo until tomorrow and I need to see how he has recovered before I decide whether he is also on the bench or whether he plays. I am sad for him that the Ivory Coast got knocked out – but I am happy for us."RobinhoManchester CityRoberto ManciniTransfer windowguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |