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Arsenal and Manchester City Are Useless : Ian Wright Joins Fools’ Chorus Of Praise For Manchester United

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Crystal Palace v Fulham - Selhurst ParkIAN Wright adds his tuppence worth of views (the Sun pays him a lot more than that? – Ed) on Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

As Paul Hayward put it:

No team who win at Borussia Dortmund and lead the Premier League by two points at the end of Remembrance Sunday can be placed in a coconut shy for losing to a majestic Robin van Persie header at Manchester United. To dismiss the Arsenal revival after such an explainable setback would be intellectual vandalism.

Cue Ian Wright:

United have proved time and again that this time of the season is all about accumula-ting points, however you get them. And in many cases, that’s down to scrapping for your lives and making sure that if you don’t win the game, at least you don’t lose it.

Yep, Ian. The most points wins. Got it. Thanks.

Learning curves don’t come much steeper than the one Arsenal got on Sunday — and it’s a lesson they must learn from quickly.

Learning through an way win in the Champions’ League against last season’s runners up was pretty steep. Beating Liverpool 2-0 was steep. But that was earlier in the week, a lifetime away in Wright’s opinion-to-deadline world:

 I realise I have to calm down a little on my hopes and expectations.

What do you expect, Ian?

A lot of Arsenal players haven’t really been in too many genuine pressure situations before and it’s something they are going to have to handle…it’s an issue they need to get to grips with sharpish. It’s a similar story with Manchester City…because another poor away defeat — their fourth — has exposed flaws there as well.

So, Arsenal – packed with internationals and managed by 64-years-old Arsene Wenger – and Man City, who won the league title on the last day of the season and are managed by former Real Madrid coach Manuel Luis Pellegrini Ripamonti – can’t handle pressure?

City may have the most expensive and glamorous squad. But they’ve got to realise when they go to the likes of Cardiff, Sunderland and Villa that those fans will be right up for it, making loads of noise, with the players desperate to rattle the big names.

Do you think they know that? How does Wright think you become a footballer at a top club, by accident? You don’t work your socks off? You don’t scrap it out and dedicate yourself to the game?

The quality is in no doubt, but all those big names have to realise fixtures like Sunderland aren’t going to be easy… Of course it’s important to win the big games but you win the Premier League by scrapping it out in the muck or nettles matches.Ones when it’s not pretty, it’s not eye-catching but it’s about heart, desire and determination. Ones where you nick a 1-0 win without being at your best, get the points and get back on the bus.

Like Arsenal did when they beat Crystal Palace with 10 men; and defeated Newcastle United away on the last day of the last season in a must-win match to qualify for the Champions’ League?  And didn’t Man City beat Man United 4-1 this season? (No need to check – they did.)

If it stays as tight as this, the experience of handling the heat will be vital. And no one has it more than United.

No? Not Wenger and Pelligrini but Moyes has the experience of winning titles in Wright’s world.

That’s why Sunday showed Arsenal and City still have work to do in that department. They’re going to have to learn quickly otherwise they will end up empty-handed come next May.

To recap: David Moyes has never managed a team that has won the league.

Posted: 12th, November 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Manchester City: Dropping Joe Hart Will Shatter His Confidence And Be The Making Of Him, Say Experts

MANCHESTER City’s Joe Hart looks set to be dropped by his club. Others players gets dropped all the time when form dips, but for goalkeepers  it is, apparently, a bigger deal than for any other member of the team. So. What do the experts make of it?

Daily Express: “JOE HART’S confidence could be shot to pieces with dire consequences for England if he is axed by Manchester City. That was the warning from Tottenham’s Brad Friedel”

Daily Mirror: “‘Friedel: Dropping Joe could bring out best in him'”

What Friedl actually said:

“All goalkeepers go through ups and down, and goalkeeping is very much a confidence position. Joe has never struck me as a person who lacks in the confidence department… Being dropped can have a positive effect, but that depends how you take being dropped. If you sulk and stop doing your work, it’s going to have an adverse effect If you knuckle down and work even harder and take your chance when you get in again, it can have a positive effect. You just never know with these things. That’s why it’s not as easy as ‘right, we’re going to drop Joe Hart’ because you don’t want to lose the best Joe Hart because the best Joe Hart is England’s No.1.”

All depends what spin you put on the balls.

Posted: 1st, November 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


CSKA Moscow Guilty Of Racist Chants Against Manchester City’s Yaya Youre… What Next FIFA?

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UEFA has imposed a partial stadium closure over at CSKA Moscow after fans were found to have indulged in racist chants when playing Manchester City at the Arena Khimki.

When CSKA play their next home game against Bayern Munich, some of the stadium will be closed. Not surprising that the club was found guilty, given that even a state-owned news agency (and they have to tow the line with authorities) admitted that racist chanting was a common problem at Russian league games.

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Posted: 31st, October 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Manchester City: Who Made Yaya Toure The Spokesman For All Black Footballers?

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SHOULD black footballers boycott the Russia World Cup? Manchester City’s Yaya Touré says it’s an option he’s considering at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Manchester City powerhouse was racially abused in Moscow, where his team beat CSK 2-1 in the Champions’ League.

Uefa and the governing body of European football has now charged CSKA for the “racist behaviour of their fans”.

CSKA says it’s all nonsense. CSKA’s deputy media manager, Michael Sanadze told Sky Sports News:

“There is no subject to discuss. Nothing special happened. There was a lot of noise in the stadium. Nobody else, other than Yaya Toure, heard anything. The only trouble that has come about was because Yaya Toure heard something.”

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Posted: 25th, October 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (2)


Manchester City v Everton: The controversial penalty that wasn’t

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THIS afternoon Manchester CIty beat Everton 3-1. The match reports were filed. The media went home. But how different are the views offered to readers of the teams’ respective local newspapers? let’s see in Local News Match:

Liverpool Echo:

Man City 3 Everton 1 – Blues unbeaten record ends

A controversial 69th-minute penalty awarded for a foul by Seamus Coleman on Pablo Zabaleta allowed City to seal victory, although Aguero’s penalty was ultimately credited as an own goal by Tim Howard.

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Posted: 5th, October 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Manchester City beaten by a bemused teacher on a Hugo Boss fashion shoot

PA-17799775THE media love former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola. But what did the current Bayern Munich coach look like as his side beat Manchester City?

The Daily Mail:

Midway through the first half Pep Guardiola withdrew a notebook from the breast pocket of his classic, threequarter-length navy jacket… [he]looks like a man who has just walked off the set of a fashion shoot for GQ magazine.

Daily Telegraph:

Guardiola, a refugee from a Hugo Boss campaign…

 

He’s stylish. Or as the Daily Mirror see it:

“With his slate-grey woolly jumper and matching regulation drainpipes, Pep Guardiola looks all the world a bemused teacher on a school outing”

Such are teh facts…

Posted: 3rd, October 2013 | In: Fashion, Sports | Comment


Manchester City: Bayern Munich destroy the team and their fans give a masterclass in taking the mick

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ONE problem of playing German sides is that their fans speak good English. They can torment the English fans with strains of “You’re not very good” and memorably at one Arsenal match “Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur”. Last night., Bayern Munich’s  Intelligentsia mocked Manchester City’s Poznan celebration as their team won 1-3 in the Champions’ League.

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Posted: 3rd, October 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Manchester City: Micah Richards can’t understand why the England he refused to play for won’t select him

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MODERN football mysteries: Manchester City’s Micah Richards is superstitious:

“I’ve been stuck on 13 caps for some time now – unlucky for some! I’m not sure what the answer is. I just need to get fit and play regularly.”

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Posted: 26th, September 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (6)


Manchester United fan serves up epic wedding toast after marrying into Manchester City supporting family (video)

HERE’S a little corker that’s doing the viral rounds today of a Manchester United-supporting groom, having set up what his wedding guests are expecting to be an emotional tribute to his late father, delivers a bloody brilliant swerve punchline, much to the delight (along with some good-natured booing) of the family full of Manchester  City fans he’d literally just married into…

The groom has since confirmed via his Twitter account that his brilliant bait-and-switch joke was indeed a tribute to his late dad, who himself was also a rabid United fan.

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Posted: 24th, September 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Non-dom Daily Mail laments unpatriotic Manchester City and says Manchester United are as bad as England

Manchester City supporters celebrate their team's 4-1 win against Manchester United following their English Premier League soccer match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
NEIL Ashton writes in the Mail of Manchester City’s victory over Manchester United.

In years to come, the 166th Manchester derby could go down as the day English football died.

Why?

It’s by no means unique in this country, but City began this fixture without a single English outfield player. This was football at the highest level of the Barclays Premier League and the champions of England – with a core of six English players in the starting line-up – were picked off at will by overseas imports.

Good for City. Not so good for the England team.

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Posted: 23rd, September 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (7)


Supporting Liverpool or Spurs makes you fatter than a Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal fan

DOES supporting Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal make you slimmer than supporting Liverpool or Spurs? A recent survey fond that Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire has been named as the “fat capital of the UK”. The place has six times the national average of obesity-related hospital admissions.

Can that bulk be linked to support for the areas professional football clubs, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday and Mansfield Town? When they fail to win, as they often do, do the fans eat more?

study makes a link between saturated fat consumption and your team’s results: fans eat 16 percent more fat after a defeat and nine perfect less after a win.

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Posted: 22nd, September 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Transfer Balls: Negredo’s brain took six days to pick Manchester City

TRANSFER Balls: Are Manchester City going to sign Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo? Lets see what the experts in the news media are saying:

Alvaro Negredo unsure over Manchester City move – MANCHESTER CITY are chasing Spain international Alvaro Negredo – but he’s yet to decide if he wants to move to the Etihad. – Daily Star, July 11

He was thinking about it. Or as Marca reports on July 17:

Negredo: “City is a huge club; it was a no-brainer”

It took Negredo six days to discover it wasn’t worth thinking about…

More transfer balls every day…

Posted: 17th, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Helen Flaganan gave another woman a’long hard blink’

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HELEN Flanagan, who played a gilded lollipop on Coronation Street and a whine gum on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! has become a mainstay of the red-top press. This is on account of her vapidity, cleavage, tweeted break-in at the home of her Manchester City player lover Scott Sinclair, her cleavage, her nose job, no longer dating Sinclair, having been a child actor we’ve watched grow up and her chest

More recently, Flanagan was in the news because Sinclair has been linked with a Sky TV presenter called Donatella Panayiotou. Being a shy type, Donatella has written a caring and classy open letter to Helen in Now magazine:

Like you, I’ve been cheated on by boyfriends before and felt sick when I found out. want to take this opportunity to explain that I’d never do that to another woman – I think it’s Scott who’s been naughty. I met Scott in Cannes while he was on a lads’ holiday on a yacht a few weeks ago. His mates accidentally sprayed champagne over my friends and came over to apologise.

We all got chatting. I didn’t recognise him at first. He seemed so shy and boyish, I thought he was in a boy band, not a Premier League footballer dating one of the sexiest women in the world.

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Posted: 8th, July 2013 | In: Reviews | Comment


Transfer Balls: Manchester City get 18m-rated Alvaro Negredo for £28m

Spain's Alvaro Negredo, left, smiles as he looks on to his fellow teammate Raul Albiol during the press conference, at the Euro 2012 soccer championship in Gniewino, Poland, Saturday, June 16, 2012. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

TRANSFER Balls: Today we look at Manchester City’s moves to spunk lots of cash on footballers.

So. Is Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo heading to the Etihad Stadium?

The Times says he is:

Manchester City close on £24m Álvaro Negredo to replace Carlos Tévez

Manchester City were close to a £23.8 million deal for Álvaro Negredo last night as a replacement for Carlos Tévez.

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Posted: 4th, July 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (2)


Gareth Bale: ‘stupid’ Spurs star signs for Manchester City

Southampton's Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring against Derby County during the Coca-Cola Championship match at Pride Park, Derby.

THE Daily Bale: Anorak’s daily look at the Tottenham Hotspur player in the news:

The Sports Mole: “Terry Gibson: ‘Gareth Bale would regret not moving to Real Madrid'”

Former Spurs player Gibson told talkSPORT:

“You know what can happen in football. Currently he’s hot at the moment but in a year’s time it may be through injury that his season isn’t successful. It could be a series of niggling injuries and then Real Madrid go away and for the rest of your life and career you’re left thinking ‘Should have I gone to Real Madrid?’

“If he went to Real Madrid he would be a hit. It’s a massive call.”

Bale should go to Real because it’s better to be injured in Madrid than London? Inspiring stuff.

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Posted: 16th, June 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (4)


Robert Lewandowski snubs Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal for Bayern Munich

TRANSFER season: What news of Robert Lewandowski, the Borussia Dortmund star? Let’s review the past 24 hours so-called news:

 

Not going to Bayern Munich

Bild: Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke:

“Robert Lewandowski will definitely not transfer to Bayern Munich in 2013. This is final. We have informed Robert and his advisers. The Bayern case is closed because there was no written offer. I am not saying he will definitely stay but he will certainly not be playing for Bayern in 2013. I don’t think that’s a definitive decision taken by the president. I still think it will change.”

 

Not going anywhere

Daily Mirror:

Dortmund triple Robert Lewandowski wages in hands-off warning to Manchester United – Dortmund striker given huge pay rise as Bundesliga runners up look to keep their star player

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Posted: 11th, June 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (2)


English football club mottos: the Latin, the motivators and the downright crap

NEWS that Everton Football Club™ has decided to modernise its historic badge, and in the process jettison its famous Latin motto, has caused not altogether unpredictable outrage among the Goodison Faithful ™.

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The motto in question translates as ‘Nothing but the best’, so the timing of its retirement is unfortunate, coinciding as it does with a period of uncertainty following the departure of the ‘Moysiah’ to Old Trafford.

All of which begs the question of whether some other long-established club mottos and slogans are fit for purpose in the modern game. A select few still favour the classical Latin, so we will consider them first.

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Posted: 4th, June 2013 | In: Key Posts, Sports | Comment


Jose Mourinho auditioned for Manchester United job and Mancini stays at Manchester City (says the Sun)

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THE football transfer season is well and truly underway. With no competitive club footy to report on the newspapers jostle to prove that they have the inside track on the great game. Let’s look at the Sun.

The Sun reported on May 7 2013 that Jose Mourinho has signed a £40m four-year-deal to take over at Chelsea. The self-styled Special One is not off to Manchester City, then? Well, nothing has been announced, yet.

The Sun, November 30, 2012: “Jose waits on Man City job”

JOSE MOURINHO is ready and willing to take over as manager of Manchester City next summer… And even though Mancini has signed a contract through to 2017, City owner Sheikh Mansour might be tempted to sever ties with the Italian if he can get the former Chelsea manager.

The Sun, January 15 2013: “Come and get me, Man City”

PEP GUARDIOLA will decide to become Manchester City manager in the summer. Guardiola has opted for City as he is convinced they can become a force to rival his former club Barcelona.

…a top source in Spanish football revealed: “It is 100 per cent certain that Guardiola is going to City this summer. And when I say 100 per cent I don’t mean 99 per cent, I mean 100 per cent!”

The Sun, March 6 2013: “Jose turns on the charm”

THE only thing missing was a Manchester United scarf draped elegantly round Jose Mourinho’s neck. Short of that, the Real Madrid boss couldn’t have delivered a more obvious job application for the manager’s position at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

March 9, David Moyes made new Manchester United boss.

The Sun, April 28, 2013: “Mancini stays”

ROBERTO MANCINI will be Manchester City’s manager next season — even if they lose the FA Cup final.

May 14, 2013: Mancini sacked.

Manuel Pellegrini is poised to take over at Manchester City. But he’s yet to sign a contract.

More facts to follow…

Posted: 1st, June 2013 | In: Sports | Comment (1)


Radamel Falcao: Atletico striker signs for Manchester City but will play Chelsea

Spain Soccer Copa del Rey Final

RADAMEL Falcao Watch: Is the coveted Atletico Madrid striker on his way to the Premier League?

Daily Mirror: “Manchester City agree record £54m transfer fee for Radamel Falcao!” – May 18, 2013

Metro: “Atletico Madrid pave way for departure of Manchester City and Chelsea target Radamel Falcao” – May 20, 2013

Daily Mirror: “Blues choose: Chelsea and Manchester City target Radamel Falcao will ‘decide his own future'” – May 21, 2013

Give Me Sport: “La Liga opinion: Instead of joining Monaco, the prolific Atletico Madrid star should consider a move to the Premier League” – May 22, 2013

National Turk: “Chelsea Transfer: Radamel Falcao agreement complete Colombian Striker next year in Stamford Bridge” – May 23, 2013

Daily Express: “Radamel Falcao and Neymar are off the agenda for Manchester City” – May 23, 2013

The Independent: “Monaco are the current favourites to sign the Colombia international” – May 23, 2013

Daily Mirror: “Double winners: Chelsea ‘seal Jose Mourinho return as manager and Radamel Falcao swoop'”

Such are the facts…

 

Posted: 24th, May 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Manchester City open the New York City Football Club franchise

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MANCHESTER CITY are soon to be just one outlet of brand City, with a new City branch sceduled to open in New York City. Odd, indeed, that a team owned by Arab Emirates United, formerly United Arab Emirates, should not have bought the other Manchester club, namely Manchester United.

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Posted: 22nd, May 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


Kompany fouls Torres in photos: the FA Cup semi final between Chelsea v Manchester City at Wembley Stadium

THE best photos from the FA Cup semi final between Chelsea v Manchester City at Wembley Stadium. Including the foul on Torres. Save it for Wigan in the Grand Final, Vincent Kompany, they do rugby league up

No red card for this:

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Soccer - FA Cup - Semi Final - Chelsea v Manchester City - Wembley Stadium

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Posted: 14th, April 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (2)


Manchester United website praises Tom Cleveley for Man City ‘keeper Joe Hart’s double save

FOOTBALL clubs love saluting their heroes on international duty. The Sun and Mail gave Manchester United’s Tom Cleverley a 6 out of 10. But on the Manchester United website, Cleverly was a vital performer in England’s 2-1 win over Brazil:

The Manchester United Official Website trills:

Ronaldinho’s spot-kick was saved by Joe Hart, who also stopped the rebound and Cleverley dived in to save a certain goal and concede a corner by thwarting Neymar.

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Posted: 7th, February 2013 | In: Sports | Comments (6)


Rodney Marsh on Manchester City: Mario Balotelli pricks Carlos Tevez’s balloon

FOOTBALL insight of the day, with former Manchester City and QPR legend Rodney ‘Toony Army‘ Marsh:

“I wouldn’t bring him back because he is so volatile, because there are so many negatives around him which reflect on the football club and the team” – Marsh opines on whether allowing Carlos Tevez to play for City is a good idea.

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Posted: 8th, January 2013 | In: Sports | Comment


ESPN soccer fail: Manchester City fans calls United rival a ‘right Moppet’

BEFORE the Manchester City v Manchester United Premier League match kicked off, American broadcaster ESPN attempted to explain to American viewers what it means to support the clubs. Overlooking the obvious error – City’s biggest fans are based in the Middle East; United’s fans mostly live in London – we see that “Muppet” has been transcribe as “Moppet”. Muppet means a brainless, cloth-eared toy with a hand working your arse; Moppet means a cutesy young child.

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Posted: 9th, December 2012 | In: Sports | Comment


Did Roberto Mancini fall asleep watching Manchester City?

MANCHESTER City are having a mixed season. On the verge of being knocked out of the Champions Laegue, the Blue Mooners nonetheless top of the Premier League and are scoring loadsa goals. But the Daily Mail senses boredom. It sees Roberto Mancini, the side’s likeable if inceasingly spiky boss, asleep at the game. Yeah, really. So boring are City – so dull is the job of being their coach – that Mancini nodded off during the match.

The Mail tweets:

Roberto Mancini falls asleep during Manchester City v Tottenham

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Posted: 18th, November 2012 | In: Sports | Comment