Man City

[joew2005]

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The worst signings of the season
April 26, 2012

Money is only actually a boon if used well, as many a football club has proved over the years. ESPNsoccernet's selection of the worst signings of the season cost the best part of £100 million & may now only be worth a fraction of tat. Most hv had a detrimental impact on their club's season; others hv barely featured in it. Some may come good over the course of their contract, but the majority probably won't. And as far as tis season is concerned, all r simply bad buys.

10. Charlie Adam (Liverpool, £7.5 million)
When assessing Charlie Adam's season, it is worth remembering Liverpool did not need 2 sign a central midfield passer. Adam was recruited in a summer in which they sold Raul Meireles & loaned out Alberto Aquilani. 9 months later, the Scot still seems best suited 2 Blackpool, 2 having a team built around him, rather than Liverpool, where he has struggled 2 dovetail with greater talents. The set-pieces SAF 1s described as being worth £10 million hv been a grave disappointment while the playmaker has struggled 2 dictate games. Though many of Liverpool's poorer results hv occurred in his absence, it is hard 2 claim they hv actually missed Adam.

9. Charles N'Zogbia (Aston Villa, £10 million)
While Stewart Downing may be mocked elsewhere, the Villa Park faithful could be forgiven 4 feeling nostalgic 4 the days he manned the flanks. His successor, Charles N'Zogbia, was brought in as a replacement 4 both Downing & Ashley Young & was Villa's marquee summer signing. A return of 2 goals & 3 assists all season is 1 sign he has failed; another is tat he has been on a bench otherwise populated by untried rookies while Villa hv had injury problems. The mercurial Frenchman has proved both unsuccessful in & unhappy with manager Alex McLeish's defensive brand of football.

8. Jordan Henderson (Liverpool, £16 million)
Normally, being a near ever-present is a sign a footballer has excelled. Yet no Liverpool player has made more appearances tis season than Jordan Henderson & he is no nearer 2 justifying an inflated fee tat could rise still further 2 £20 million. Of course, Henderson's price tag is not his fault but, despite occasional glimpses of talent, such a costly signing ought 2 deliver more. It hardly helps tat he has been played just off a sole striker & on the right wing, neither his best position.

7. Myles Anderson (Blackburn, free)
Not just a poor signing, but also a perplexing 1 as far as supporters were concerned. Steve Kean likened him 2 Chris Smalling when signing a player who made a solitary appearance 4 Aberdeen. Since then, Anderson has not played @ all 4 Blackburn. Neither, 4 tat matter, has full-back Bruno Ribeiro, described as a Brazilian Denis Irwin when recruited. Neither even got on the bench when Rovers had 5 defenders out injured, so why sign them?

6. Stefan Savic (Manchester City, £6 million)
If 1 game summed up Stefan Savic's season, it was surely the Carling Cup semi-final 2nd leg @ Anfield when he was hauled off @ half-time. The conclusion, then & all too often, appeared 2 be tat the Montenegrin is a liability, tat whatever talent he possesses, he is 2 callow & error-prone 2 be risked. He has not featured in the league since playing in the 1-0 loss 2 Swansea which, coincidentally or not, might hv been City's worst performance of the season & has appeared in a disproportionate number of their domestic defeats.

5. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, £18 million)
It can be easy 2 criticise the super-rich 4 spending money without really thinking things thru, but sometimes it is fair enough. Consider the case of Romelu Lukaku, who cost more than Swansea paid 4 their entire squad & has played a mere 83 minutes' Premier League football tis season. With a team happiest playing 1 out-&-out striker & in a squad tat also includes Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, Daniel Sturridge & Salomon Kalou - plus, 4 half a season, Nicolas Anelka - it was always hard 2 see where Lukaku would figure. As it is, the giant has been virtually invisible. Include Thibaut Courtois & Kevin de Bruyne, both out on loan, & Chelsea hv spent more than £30 million on Belgians who hv not played. They may prove astute long-term investments, but in the short term, they hv had a negligible impact.

4. Shaun Wright-Phillips (QPR, £2.5 million)
There is a temptation 2 choose Djibril Cisse, whose 5 QPR appearances hv brought 2 red cards, but @ least the temperamental Frenchman has contributed on the rare occasions he has managed 2 stay on the pitch. Shaun Wright-Phillips, on the other hand, has achieved virtually nothing, whether on the right, the left or playing just off the attack. While Jamie Mackie's recovery fr a badly-broken leg has been 1 of the more heartening stories of the season, it has had an added benefit 4 Rangers: it has enabled them 2 leave Wright-Phillips on the bench.

3. Stewart Downing (Liverpool, £20 million)
It beggars belief tat, aft 32 games, a £20 million winger still has not scored or created a goal in the Premier League tis season. Perhaps, in some ways, Stewart Downing epitomises Liverpool: by the law of averages, something surely shld hv gone in, even if it was the product of a mishit. Yet the damning statistics r not the only indications Downing has failed. He appears 2 lack both the mentality 2 play 4 Liverpool & the pace 2 get beyond defenders. Liverpool supporters who 1 2 depress themselves might ponder how such a huge sum could hv been better spent.

2. Scott Dann (Blackburn, £7.7 million)
Go back 2 last summer &d Scott Dann seemed a man in demand. Liverpool & Arsenal were allegedly interested, so it seemed a coup when Blackburn signed him @ the end of the transfer window. Now it looks another of the mistakes tat could cost Rovers their Premier League status. Secure in a well-drilled & rigorously-screened Birmingham back 4 last season, Dann has been exposed & embarrassed @ Ewood Park. Examine the many goals tat Blackburn hv conceded & all 2 often he is culpable. The ruptured testicle he suffered in December may hv seemed the most painful part of his season, but arguably his defending has caused more anguish.

1. Roger Johnson (Wolves, £7 million)
Wolves' relegation 2 the Championship is largely attributable to 2 disastrous decisions: 1stly, sacking Mick McCarthy & ending up with Terry Connor as his replacement &, 2ndly, the 4mer manager's move 2 make Roger Johnson his biggest buy & new captain. So reliable alongside Scott Dann @ Birmingham, they sit side by side again in tis list. But while Dann has been dreadful, Johnson has been worse. He has turned up drunk 4 training, almost come 2 blows on the field with team-mate Wayne Hennessey &, rather than improving the defence, has not even merited a place in it.

[joew2005]

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Keane: Title loss good for United
May 4, 2012

4mer ManU captain Roy Keane believes it would be a blessing in disguise if the Red Devils lost the Premier League 2 rivals ManC.

The champions lost ground in the title race as a 1-0 defeat @ the Etihad Stadium on Monday saw City move top of the Premier League on goal difference.

Keane, who has expressed his concern tat his former side r no longer winning the big games, believes failure 2 defend their league title could prompt a summer spending spree @ Old Trafford.

"Maybe if they lose the league it won't be a bad thing," Keane said. "They may say, 'listen, we may hv 2 reinvest again'. They said tat last year when they lost 2 Barcelona & they went out & spent £50 million on [David] De Gea, [Phil] Jones & [Ashley] Young & these r all good players.

"But sometimes u need tat big hitter 2 come in. I hv only seen United live 4 or 5 times tis year - City the other night, in Basel & in Benfica & I hv not seen them win yet. They lost @ Liverpool in the FA Cup as well.

"You always remember the great sign of United tat I played 4 & watched was tat they won alot of big games. They just seem 2 be on the losing side of these tight games @ the moment. The other night [against City], u were waiting 4 them 2 hv a late onslaught. It never came."

Keane, who angered Ferguson with his criticism of United in the wake of their Champions League exit 2 Basel, admits he is unlikely 2 reconcile his differences with his 4mer manager. "I wouldn't hv thought so, no," he said. "He's a busy man & I'm fairly busy."

Keane has refused 2 back down over his comments regarding the likes of Jones, Chris Smalling & Young.

"2 be honest, I don't think it was criticism, Keane said. "I just thought the young players needed 2 buck up their ideas. The boy Jones was speaking b4e the game saying 'I've nothing 2 prove', but my attitude was, every time u walk out on a football pitch, you've something 2 prove."

[joew2005]

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Penultimately yours
May 4, 2012

Premier League Spotlight previews the weekend's top-flight fixtures, highlighting the key points 2 keep an eye on as the action unfolds. Under the microscope tis week: Newcastle stand in the way of ManC's title charge, the loosening grip of United on their crown as they host Swansea, focus on Roy Hodgson & Harry Redknapp, & plaudits 4 Roberto Martinez but no sympathy 4 Steve Kean.


Newcastle v Man City: The decider
Monday's so-called title decider actually decided not much @ all. It did, though, set up tis forthcoming match 4 City 2 be grandiose, & arguably it is @ St James' Park where their quest 4 the Premier League crown will be rubberstamped as success or failure. Their manager, Roberto Mancini, has continued 2 be coy over his side's chances, despite them taking advantage of ManU's conservatism earlier tis week. The blue half of Manchester lead the way @ the summit on goal difference, with 2 matches 2 go, but Mancini argues his team's remaining fixtures compare unfavourably 2 United's "easier" set.

He might hv a point. Indeed, perhaps it is not the alleged mind games on display here but an acceptance fr Mancini tat until they overcome an enthralling Newcastle outfit, United continue 2 boast the upper hand. Aft the Magpies, City host QPR, who may be fighting 4 their survival but do not travel well, while United's matches versus Swansea & then Sunderland r against teams with, on paper, little 2 play 4 - a mindset tat can either fuzz focus or thrust expression 2 the fore without the constraints of pressure. The 'little 2 play 4' mantra can certainly not be said 4 Newcastle, however, aft their 2-0 win @ Chelsea on Wednesday night kept them in the race 4 a top-4 finish.

The Magpies, whose boss Alan Pardew shld unequivocally be named Manager of the Season, endeared themselves further 2 the neutral as they bounced back fr their shock wobble @ Wigan 2 overthrow the FA Cup & Champions League finalists on their own soggy turf. Tis outcome, decided by the irrepressible Papiss Cisse whose 2nd goal left Isaac Newton scratching his head fr the grave, sees Newcastle 5th in the standings, level on points with Tottenham & 1 behind Arsenal. With their goal difference weaker than their rivals 4 a place in Europe's most seductive competition, a points return versus City is necessary 2 keep tis 'pinch-me-I'm-dreaming' journey alive.


The champions: Paying the price
"They're in the driving seat nw with only 2 games of football left," admitted SAF in the aftermath of his side's uninspiring performance @ the Etihad Stadium which yielded no shots on target by United 4 the 1st time in the top flight since 2009. The Scot also accepted tat, as City play b4 his team on Sunday, the title could in theory be beyond them without a ball having been kicked @ Old Trafford against Swansea City. Yet, while it remains mathematically possible the Red Devils could retain the title, the insatiable Scot will not sleep a wink.

It seems, however, tat the lack of investment in midfield is finally catching up on United, with the onus placed on the creaking knees of Paul Scholes & Ryan Giggs 2 heavy a burden 2 bear, especially when compared with the ammunition @ City. Ferguson will cling on 2 mind conquering matter, although he has already cued up his team's regrets 4 the season, with a failure 2 strangle the life out of some teams when only a goal or 2 in front & a 2-goal lead relinquished recently versus Everton chief among defining moments 2 reflect upon.


Roy and Harry: What friends are for
Aft the rigmarole tat followed Fabio Capello's departure as England manager, one would hv hoped tat the overdue appointment of his successor would finally mop up the frothing @ the mouth fr sections of the press. Alas, in spite of West Brom's Roy Hodgson being confirmed as the nation's new manager on Tuesday, the rabidness has intensified. Perhaps you've been fortunate enough not 2 be on English shores tis week, in which case you'll hv been saved fr an unnecessary dissection of Hodgson & tantrums why, according 2 a number of the tabloid newspapers, their pal Redknapp did not get the gig.

Regardless, it has happened now, & they must make do with the FA's decision, not resort 2 an infatuation with a speech impediment. However, as Hodgson remains in charge 4 the Baggies' final 2 games of the season, the knives r already being sharpened 4 a premature butchering. An unconvincing display against Bolton away will likely spark ridiculous reaction tat he is not fit 4 purpose. Win versus the relegation candidates, though, & he might well muzzle some doubters - 4 a day or so. Tottenham's Redknapp, meanwhile, has suggested, seemingly thru gritted teeth, he is fine with the snub, stressing he is settled @ White Hart Lane.

It is maybe of coincidence tat Spurs looked like their earlier season selves during their trip 2 the Reebok Stadium on Wednesday, with the team reminding viewers of their swashbuckling ways. There is still chance 4 Redknapp 2 ensure tis term is a successful 1, as right now, so long as the Blues do not emerge as victorious @ the Allianz Arena, Champions League football is secured 4 the 2012-13 campaign. 3rd is also feasible, but they must 1st overcome Aston Villa tis weekend, a team tat may just hv done enough 2 avoid relegation in spite of their manager Alex McLleish's tactics doing their utmost 2 leech supporters of their love 4 the game.

[joew2005]

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Mancini doubts Bale will leave Spurs
May 4, 2012

ManC manager Roberto Mancini considers Gareth Bale a "fantastic player" but does not believe the midfielder will leave Tottenham Hotspur in the foreseeable future.

A report in Friday's Daily Mail linked big-spending City with a £40 million swoop 4 Bale, who has also been affiliated with Barcelona having recently intimated he could consider his Tottenham future if they fail 2 qualify 4 next season's Champions League.

But Mancini has cooled talk of an approach 4 the Wales international. He said: "Gareth Bale is a fantastic player. But I don't think he will leave a big team like Tottenham.''

Mancini confirmed he has held talks with City's hierarchy over potential summer targets, but stressed discussions r now on hold as he looks 2 focus on his side's final 2 matches of the Premier League season.

He said: "We talked abt tis some weeks ago. But now our focus has 2 be on the next 2 games."

City r currently top of the table on goal difference ahead of Sunday's meeting with Newcastle, with 2nd-placed ManU in action @ home 2 Swansea.

[joew2005]

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Rodgers hits out at Mancini
May 4, 2012

Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers has accused ManC boss Roberto Mancini of being disrespectful 2 his side as they prepare 2 face ManU @ Old Trafford on Sunday.

The 2 Manchester clubs r locked in a battle 4 the Premier League title, with City's 1-0 win over United @ the Etihad Stadium putting them top on goal difference with 2 games remaining.

Mancini last week said United could beat Swansea 10-0, & followed tat up tis week by re-iterating tat the fixture is an "easy" game 4 the reigning champions as he seeks 2 take some of the pressure off his squad.

But Rodgers says the Italian has not paid the South Wales club the level of respect they deserve by repeating his attempted mind games.

The Northern Irishman also took the chance 2 hv a dig @ the City boss by reminding him how the league leaders had come unstuck @ the Liberty Stadium in March, despite their vast financial resources.

Asked if he thought Mancini's comments were disrespectful, Rodgers said: "I think if u say it more than 1s it is. If u look @ ourselves & the transition we hv made fr a Championship club in2 tis level, the players hv represented the club incredibly well in terms of the football we hv played. Our analysis of our game, the preparation, the detail & commitment hv been fantastic.

"It certainly won't be an easy game (4 United) & I think he knows tat. He came here when we won the game 1-0 & we were clearly the better side & tat was aft Roberto spending abt £235million on a team. So I think he knows as well as any1 it won't be an easy game.''

Rodgers also believes Mancini is wasting his time if he thinks his words hv had any effect on Swansea & United's preparations 4 Sunday's meeting, pointing out hw experienced SAF & his men hv historically proved 2 be in these situations.

"He is maybe trying 2 affect 1 or 2 things but it won't affect us,'' he said. "We only worry abt ourselves & I don't think there is anyway in the world u can affect a group of players with the experience of ManU, & a manager who is a multiple winner. So certainly tat comment, if it is 2 antagonise it won't work with us & it won't work with ManU.''

12th-placed Swansea can already plan 4 a 2nd season in the Premier League as the point garnered in last weekend's remarkable 4-4 draw with Wolves secured safety.

[joew2005]

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The winner takes it all: Newcastle v ManC the ultimate examination of both sides' credentials

Roberto Mancini was prepared 2 risk offending Brendan Rodgers & Martin O'Neill in his continued pursuit of a press conference policy tat seems 2 be working 4 ManC.

There is no doubting tat City r now in pole position in the race 4 the Premier League title but u will not hear Mancini admit it. The importance of having been there & done it all b4, as ManU hv, may be beginning 2 sound tired & overemphasised but it is clear tat City find it easier 2 chase than 2 defend a lead @ the top of the table.

City would not be back in the title race if were not 4 United's slip-ups but their performances improved noticeably 1s they were 'eliminated' fr contention having lost 1-0 to Arsenal @ the Emirates Stadium. Tat result left them trailing SAF's defending champions by 8 points.

They proceeded 2 crash home 12 goals in 3 games against West Brom, Norwich City & Wolves b4 beating United in 1 of the most significant Premier League matches since the division's inception in 1992.

"United r the fav," Mancini insisted aft the 1-0 win @ the Etihad Stadium. "They hv easy games. They play against Swansea & Sunderland."

City fans hv every reason 2 be as excited as they hv ever been – they r on the verge of their 1st top-flight league title since the 1967-68 season. 4 many, it will be the 1st of their lives.

The players & staff, though, hv given off the impression tat they r almost unaware of wat they r so close 2 achieving. They r the self-styled valiant underdogs.

Vincent Kompany revealed hw the City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, had delivered a classically parental "we're proud of u no matter wat" speech b4 the United match while the defender himself described the win as "just a bonus".

In reality, they r a financial powerhouse with an expensively-assembled, world-class squad, but Mancini's management of the pressure surrounding the club is working all the same.

It is also true, however, tat City played 3 ordinary teams aft losing 2 Arsenal. United, indeed, were not much better, serving up a demoralising performance on Monday evening.

Tat will not be the case @ the Sports Direct Arena on Sunday, when they come up against a Newcastle United side similarly reinvigorated by a loss away 2 Arsenal.

Alan Pardew has orchestrated an astonishing run of form since tat game in March – the anomaly tat was the 4-0 defeat 2 Wigan aside, Newcastle hv won 7 games out of 7, scoring 15 goals & conceding just 1s.

They r reaching 4 a momentous goal themselves. Newcastle trail Tottenham, who occupy 4th place & the final Champions League qualification spot (things could, of course, be ruined if Chelsea win in Munich) only on goal difference & can be certain of 5th place by beating City.

Mancini's description of the match against Newcastle as harder than the crucial game against ManU is another extension of his downplaying of City's chances but it is also probably accurate. Led by Yohan Cabaye & Cheikh Tiote in midfield, with Papiss Cisse irresistible in attack & Fabricio Coloccini consistently superb @ centre-back, Newcastle hv been the best team in the Premier League in recent weeks.

They hv benefited fr the knowledge tat expectations hv already been succeeded but nevertheless the amount of fluency & verve in their play has been staggering given wat is @ stake.

Tiredness has simply not been a factor thanks 2 the impact of the likes of Cisse, Hatem Ben Arfa, Davide Santon & James Perch, who either were not @ the club or did not feature as regularly b4 the turn of the year.

Newcastle played a more orthodox 4-4-2 formation & were without Tiote (&, of course, Cisse) when they lost 2 City 3-1 @ Eastlands in November. Jonas Gutierrez is now employed in a narrower shuttling role in midfield & tat, along with Tiote's presence, shld help them stem the flow of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri & Carlos Tevez, who all naturally try 2 play thru the centre of the pitch.

QPR shld not be written off completely – they hv alot 2 play 4 @ the bottom of the table – but it would represent 1 of the shocks of the season 2 see them beat City away fr home on the final day of the campaign. Sunday, in terms of the quality of football tat will be on show & the prizes @ stake, is as big as they come.

[joew2005]

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City retain edge going into final day
May 6, 2012

ManC hv taken a huge step 2wards winning the Premier League title with a 2-0 victory @ Newcastle United.

Yaya Toure's brace saw City defeat Champions League-chasing Newcastle - a result tat, in the opinion of both Roberto Mancini & SAF ahead of the match, would be decisive in the title race.

Aft a goalless 1st-half, Mancini brought on Nigel de Jong on 4 Samir Nasri, allowing Toure 2 move in2 a more advanced role. It proved 2 be a masterstroke, as the Ivorian played a 1-2 with Sergio Aguero b4 curling a 1st-time strike past a diving Krul.

Sergio Aguero missed a gilt-edged opportunity 2 put the result beyond Newcastle aft being released by David Silva, & Toure then missed 2 chances 2 double his goal tally - his glancing header flashing wide b4 slipping when 1-on-1 with Tim Krul. However, he sealed the win 2 mins fr time with a cool finish.

The result saw City move 3 points clear @ the top of the table, but ManU later closed the gap with a 2-0 victory over Swansea City @ Old Trafford.

Paul Scholes gave United the early lead & Ashley Young then doubled their advantage, but SAF's men were unable 2 add to their tally. The result leaves City with a seemingly insurmountable 8-goal advantage going in2 the final weekend & victory @ QPR shld confirm Mancini's men as the champions.

With Arsenal being held on Saturday & Newcastle failing 2 win, Tottenham Hotspur had the opportunity 2 move into 3rd place but they had 2 settle 4 a 1-1 draw @ Aston Villa.

Ciaran Clark put the hosts ahead with the help of a wicked deflection on 35 minutes, & Spurs went down to 10 men shortly aft the break when Danny Rose was dismissed 4 a lunge on Alan Hutton.

Richard Dunne then offered Spurs a lifeline when bringing down Sandro in the area aft an hour. Emmanuel Adebayor made no mistake fr the spot, but Spurs were unable 2 claim a winner & go in2 the final day a point behind 3rd-placed Arsenal.

The result means Villa cannot be relegated.

QPR moved 2 points clear of the relegation zone with a dramatic 1-0 victory @ home 2 Stoke City.

Djibril Cisse scored the winner in the 89th minute, netting fr close range aft Anton Ferdinand's near-post flick fr Adel Taarabt's corner, 2 prompt a pitch invasion @ the final whistle.

It was a miserable afternoon 4 Bolton Wanderers, though, as they threw away a 2-goal lead 2 draw 2-2 @ home 2 WBA.

Martin Petrov fired Bolton ahead fr the spot aft Mark Davies was brought down by Youssuf Mulumbu, & the Trotters enjoyed a huge slice of luck when doubling their lead thanks 2 Billy Jones' own goal on 72 mins.

However, the Baggies clawed their way back in2 the match, Chris Brunt pulling 1 back 4 the Baggies 3 mins later, b4 James Morrison's last-minute goal dealt a major blow 2 Wanderers' survival hopes.

The result - coupled with Cisse's late goal @ Loftus Road - means Owen Coyle's men must win @ Stoke on the final day while hoping ManC see off QPR.

In a game with no real significance 4 either side, Fulham beat Sunderland 2-1 @ Craven Cottage. Phil Bardsley's strike cancelled out Clint Dempsey's early free-kick, but Moussa Dembele secured the 3 points 4 Martin Jol's men with a goal just a minute later.

Wolves may hv nothing left 2 play 4 aft already being relegated 2 the Championship, but they produced a gutsy defensive display 2 keep a lively Everton side @ bay as the sides played out a 0-0 draw @ Molineux.



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Mancini: It depends on us
May 6, 2012

Roberto Mancini knows tat his ManC team r fav 2 lift the Premier League title aft victory @ Newcastle.

City will head in2 their final game of the campaign @ home 2 relegation-haunted QPR sitting @ the top of the table & knowing victory will deliver the prize they hv craved 4 the last 44 years.

ManU boss SAF admitted in the wake of the win on Tyneside tat his club's arch-rivals might hv both hands on the trophy, & while Mancini is refusing 2 look any further ahead tat next weekend's game, he knows their destiny remains in their own hands.

Asked if City r now fav, the Italian said: ''Maybe, maybe yes becos it depends on us. If we beat QPR, we will be the champions. But @ tis moment, we can't think abt tis. We need 2 prepare very well 4 the next game, only tis.

''I m excited becos we r on the top, but it's not enough. 1 week more & if we play like we did 2day, we hv alot of chance 2 win.''

Yaya Toure's 2 goals made the difference & Mancini said: ''Yaya is an important player 4 us becos he has experience. He won with Barca, he won trophies & he brought 2 us tis experience 4 tis reason.

''Yaya is a fantastic player, but I don't think u can win here becos Yaya played well. We won here against Newcastle becos all the team played really well & we deserved 2 win.''

The Magpies tasted defeat 4 just the 2nd time in 9 games - & they hv won the other 7 - & they will run out @ Everton next weekend knowing a 3rd-place finish is still a possibility.

Manager Alan Pardew said: ''If I was Arsenal, they only need a point 2 finish in a Champions League position, but actually they need 2 win becos 4th place is not guaranteed, of course, with Chelsea.

''They hv got 2 win, really, in case Spurs finish abv them, so tat could be significant. 4 our part, there's a simple equation: we hv 2 win @ Everton, which might not be enough, but that's wat we need 2 do.''

On a day when Newcastle honoured former manager Sir Bobby Robson by unveiling a new statue of him @ St James' Park, they felt the full force of City.

Pardew said: ''Chelsea under Mourinho looked like they were going 2 roar forever, but they didn't. It just sets a marker down 4 everybody else now 2 improve & try 2 match them.

''It will be very, very difficult 4 a club like us, but 4 the top clubs, it's a big challenge now if they win the title.''

[joew2005]

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Yaya sees period of dominance at City
May 7, 2012

Yaya Toure feels ManC r on the path 2 greatness & is hopeful Premier League glory will be the springboard 2 major success.

City hv spent heavily since Sheikh Mansour took control of the club & they r in all probability 1 win away fr clinching the Premier League. They lead ManU on goal difference ahead of the final game of the season & entertain QPR on Sunday.

Toure has been a key figure 4 City tis term & he scored twice in the win over Newcastle on Sunday. The Ivorian is refusing 2 take QPR 4 granted, but is aware tat the club r close 2 ending their 44-year wait 4 league glory.

"Always I hv said tis club can go far, tis club can win something," Toure told citytv. "Khaldoon [Al Mubarak, City chairman] & Mansour r doing incredibly well. They hv signed big players & they 1 2 make tis club a great club, 1 of the best clubs in Europe, & they r going the right way.

"Last year, we won the FA Cup & we hv 2 continue like tat & next week try 2 win the game against QPR.

"We know it's going 2 be tough, but I believe in tis team, I believe in the players we hv. We hv some fantastic players."

Toure joined City fr Barcelona in 2010 & feels title glory will be the ideal riposte 2 those who questioned his motives in moving 2 the club.

He said: "I hv always said I came 2 tis club 2 make history even if some ppl said I came 4 different things.

"I m keeping going 2 tell them I came 2 tis club 2 make history, & tat is my 1st objective, 2 help make the club in2 a successful football club."

[Castrol]

[joew2005]

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Hazard: I'll wear blue next season
May 8, 2012

Lille star Eden Hazard has dropped a hint tat he will join ManC or Chelsea in the summer as he revealed he will "definitely" be wearing blue next season.

Hazard, 21, has already stated his intention 2 move 2 England @ the end of the current campaign & emphasised tat desire last month, telling Canal+ aft Lille's 2-1 win over PSG: "I hv already said tat my wish is 2 go 2 the Premier League."

Both Roberto Mancini & SAF hv declared their interest in Hazard & travelled 2 watch him in action in France earlier tis year. The Belgium international was also present 4 the Manchester derby last week & reports suggest he looked @ houses in the Alderley Edge area of Cheshire.

Chelsea, who hv signed 3 Belgians in the last year, hv also been credited with an interest in the player.

When asked on whether he prefers red or blue - Lille's home kit is red - Hazard told Canal+ tat he likes both colours but added: "It's the blue tat I'll be wearing next season. Definitely the blue."


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Susic expects Dzeko exit
May 8, 2012

Bosnia & Herzegovina boss Safet Susic believes Edin Dzeko will leave ManC tis summer.

Dzeko, 26, has found opportunities hard 2 come by in recent times & has been linked with the likes of Bayern Munich & Borussia Dortmund.

His international manager believes the striker, who signed fr Wolfsburg in January 2011, will be forced 2 seek a move @ the end of the season.

"Dzeko's situation @t ManC cannot last forever," Susic told SportSport.ba. "He knows wat is best 4 him. It seems tat ManC will win the title, which means Roberto Mancini & his staff will remain, & I saw tat City r planning 2 bring in even more attacking players."

Dzeko had been linked with Juventus b4 joining City but his agent, Silvano Martina, recently said a move 2 Serie A is unlikely.

"Dzeko is a champion, although tis season he has not done so well," Martina said. "The City striker costs 2 much, so no Italian club will deal with the English club 2 buy him now.

"I think tat Edin is very suited 2 Italian football, where physical & technical qualities make the difference, becos these r his best qualities."


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Fergie: We can't spend like City
May 6, 2012

SAF has labelled the transfer market "insane" & accepts ManU cannot compete with ManC's spending power.

Ferguson is looking 2 bolster his squad @ the end of the season, but he says tat nobody can match City's financial might & has aimed a swipe @ the league leaders, claiming such excessive spending is blame 4 the current state of the transfer market.

"It's been an insane transfer market 4 a long time & I think clubs like City create tat," Ferguson said. "They can buy all the players & put a marker on all the players & tat makes it difficult 4 clubs then 2 be reasonable. There's no chance of tat calming down & I don't see how the Financial Fair Play can work.

"No 1 can match City's financial power - no 1. We hv 2 accept tat, so we do it a different way. We'll try 2 look @ young players with the potential 2 develop in the club, which we're good @, so we'll stay with tat."

Having missed out 2 City on Arsenal's Samir Nasri last summer, Ferguson is looking @ replacements 4 veterans Paul Scholes & Ryan Giggs, with Luka Modric, Swansea's Gylfi Sigurdsson, Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa & Eden Hazard reportedly on his list of targets.

"We'll assess where we r going in terms of players," Ferguson said. "We'll no doubt be bringing players in. Maybe 2 or 3 - who knows? It depends on the type of market we're dealing with & player availability, but Scholes & Giggs r coming 2 the end so it's a fact tat we hv 2 guard against tat. It's difficult 2 think u can get a Giggs or Scholes falling off trees.

"Tom Cleverley has got fantastic potential & Michael Carrick has still got years left in him, but we'll probably add some1 2 the squad."

While Dimitar Berbatov looks set 2 leave Old Trafford in the summer, Ferguson insists he will not let the striker leave if a suitable offer is not made.

"There's nothing settled 4 Berbatov. We're waiting 4 some1 2 make an offer. He won't go 4 nothing."

[joew2005]

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'Two fingers on the trophy'
May 9, 2012

ManC manager Roberto Mancini says they hv ''2 fingers on the trophy'' but will ensure tat his side focus on beating QPR 2 seal the title tis weekend.

Mancini knows tat a win @ the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the season will see the club lift their 1st title in 44 years, but is not underestimating the challenge of Mark Hughes' men who r still not safe fr relegation.

"We don't hv pressure. Leading up 2 the Newcastle game, maybe we had some. But not now," said Mancini. "We hv 2 fingers on the trophy. But it is not enough, becos we still hv 1 more game & it is a difficult 1.

"My feeling is good aft the Newcastle result & so is the feeling of the players. But we need 2 play the QPR game in the right mood."

Complacency is the enemy 4 City & Mancini hopes tat his players will be able 2 complete their task without changing their mentality of recent weeks.

"We hv managed 2 keep the players' feet on the ground," said the City boss. "We did it b4 we played United. Then we did it last week b4 we played Newcastle. We won't change anything.

"If we don't keep our concentration & prepare well 4 the game, it will end up being very difficult."


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Cisse wants 'sweet revenge' for Hughes
May 8, 2012

Djibril Cisse has backed QPR manager Mark Hughes 2 take "sweet revenge" by denying ManC the title on Sunday.

QPR, still in need of a point 2 all but guarantee their Premier League survival, can hv a major impact on the destination of the title when they visit the Eithad Stadium on the final day of the season.

If City drop points or suffer a 1st home defeat of the campaign & ManU beat Sunderland @ the Stadium of Light, SAF & his squad will be celebrating the Old Trafford club's 20th league success.

4 Hughes, it presents an opportunity 2 return 2 his old club & gain some revenge 4 his acrimonious departure in 2009 - a sacking tat Ferguson recently called "unethical".

"Victory would be sweet revenge 4 him but I don't know if he is thinking abt tis," Cisse said. "His main concern is 2 keep QPR up so, 1st, he will be thinking abt getting a result, but it will be sweet 4 him, 2, if he can keep us up & deny City the title."

Cisse's late winner against Stoke on Sunday means QPR will stay up even if they taste defeat at City, though only if relegation rivals Bolton fail 2 get 3 points against the Potters.

Cisse added: "2 be honest, we r still going 2 hv 2 get something 4 safety. It's a tricky situation but I think we r going 2 go & grab something there.

"We r capable of getting a point. You know it's only a football game. It's 11 v 11. They hv got 2 arms, 2 legs, just like us, so we r going 2 try 2 compete. They r going 4 the title & maybe they will be nervous but tis is not our problem. Our problem is 2 stay up & we will be giving everything 2 do tat."


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Yaya Toure wants Barca return
May 9, 2012

ManC midfielder Yaya Toure has reiterated his desire 2 finish his career back @ former club Barcelona.

Toure, 28, spent 3 years @ Barcelona b4 moving 2 City 4 a fee in the region of £24 million in 2010.

The Ivory Coast international has proved a fine addition @ Eastlands & his 2 goals against Newcastle last weekend put the club on the verge of winning their 1st title since 1968.

However, Toure's long-term ambition remains a return 2 the Camp Nou. He told Spanish radio station RAC1: "I said 2 years ago tat I would return. It's been the most important team 4 me & if they call u don't think twice. I love Barcelona.

"In the press conference I did when I left I said I would return, in life u never know wat will happen tomorrow, it's been the team of my life & I would like 2 finish my sporting career here. If I could return, it would be great.''

Toure also believes Barca will be in good hands when Tito Vilanova replaces Pep Guardiola as coach tis summer.

He said of Guardiola's decision 2 step down: "It was a little strange, becos Guardiola has been a key person in the success of Barca in all these years. But we r all human & despite having done phenomenal things, he has decided 2 go.

"I know Tito very well & I think that he will apply the same philosophy as Pep. Tito is also a very good person, with a very similar idea of football. I think Tito is a good coach as well.'

[joew2005]

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O'Shea disappointed with Mancini
May 10, 2012

Sunderland defender John O'Shea feels it is "disappointing" tat ManC coach Roberto Mancini has resorted 2 belittling certain teams in the Premier League.

Ahead of the title run in, Mancini labelled rivals ManU's remaining matches against Swansea City & Sunderland as "easy" in comparison 2 his side's game against Newcastle & QPR.

Black Cats boss Martin O'Neill has hit back @ the Italian's suggestions, & now O'Shea has echoed his manager, pointing 2 his team's impressive showings against City tis season, having drawn away & defeated them @ home.

He told the Guardian: "Believe me, the 2 times City hv played against us tis season, they knew it wasn't an easy game. We've taken 4 points off them, & it shld hv been 6 if we think abt the game @ their place [a 3-3 draw in which Sunderland led 3-1].

"I think he (Mancini) is starting 2 enjoy his psychological games but, as the gaffer said, 2 call the integrity of the Premier League into question is disappointing. He's going 4 the title & he's going 2 try certain things. But he doesn't need 2 do tat."

4mer United player O'Shea also admitted 2 his surprise @ the champions' collapse in the defence of their title, aft they recently boasted an 8-point lead over City, who now lead the way on goal difference.

He said: "You would hv expected, with all their experience, they would hv managed 2 keep tat advantage so close 2 the end of the season."

[joew2005]

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Toure targets world domination
May 11, 2012

ManC midfielder Yaya Toure is determined 2 propel the club 2 become the biggest in the world.

City hv demonstrated significant progress since Sheikh Mansour took over @ the club in 2008, with the side winning their 1st major trophy 4 35 years as they defeated Stoke in the 2011 FA Cup final.

They r now also on the brink of clinching a 1st league title since 1968 as Roberto Mancini's men head into the final day of the 2011-12 Premier League season top of the table on goal difference.

Toure, who joined City fr Barca in 2010, has played a key role in their rise, with his brace @ Newcastle last weekend proving decisive, & the Ivorian is hopeful of helping 2 make them a world force 2 be reckoned with.

He said: "That's why I came here, 2 help the team, give my experience 2 the young guys & 2 help the club go 4ward & make it bigger than any club in the world.

"But now, we r @ a good step. 2 make history, we hv 2 win something & follow the example of wat we did last year.

"Then we hv 2 perform, go again & be strong 4 the next couple of years, but I think tat is coming. But tis Sunday [against QPR], we hv 2 deliver & tat is very important. The job is not done yet.

"We hv 2 keep going becos QPR need the points, but it would be amazing if we win. It is 4 occasions like tis I came 2 City - 2 make history - & I hope I will make history @ the weekend."

Toure tis week intimated he would like 2 finish his career @ 4mer club Barca, but he has stressed @ present he is fully focused on impressing 4 City.

He said: "At Barca, I was a good player, but @ City I m an important player 4 the team. Tat is my job here, 2 try 2 help the team. I said a long time ago tat I 1 2 come 2 a club & make history & tat's why I came 2 City.

"As a footballer, u always 1 2 go 2 a place where u feel like u r loved & 1 of the best players. But here, we hv a strong team, an experienced team, & it is 1 of the best in the Premier League."



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The final curtain
May 11, 2012

Premier League Spotlight previews the weekend's top-flight fixtures, highlighting the key points 2 keep an eye on as the action unfolds. Under the microscope on tis final week of the season: the outcome tat awaits in tis campaign's enthralling title race, the last hurdle 2 achieve a top-4 finish following a trio of stumbles, & the last remaining relegation spot beckons 4 1 unlucky so-&-so.

It has come down 2 tis: the final weekend of a stirring 2011-12 season. The general consensus is tat the letters C, I, T & Y r all but etched on2 the trophy - aft 44 years of waiting - given the final fixtures & the position they hold. On Sunday, City host relegation-threatened QPR, a side tat has recorded the highest number of losses on the road tis campaign, while the defending champions ManU travel 2 Sunderland aware tat a victory may well be insufficient as their nemeses boast an 8-stronger goal difference.

We're @ tis stage aft City demonstrated sufficient grapes - having been ridiculed in tis department just a few weeks prior - 2 dispose of the in-form Newcastle United, with their juggernaut of a midfielder, Yaya Toure, derailing the opposition 2 score a fine & decisive brace. The outcome left SAF clinging @ floss-like straws, with the Scot voicing his hope tat perhaps 4mer City boss Mark Hughes might exact revenge on the team tat sacked him in bitter circumstances in 2009. But, with even Roberto Mancini finally admitting his team r fav 4 the title now, it appears a lost cause.

While it may be of scant consolation, 4 Ferguson a potential 89-point total would still be an impressive achievement considering the crop he has worked with & those tat he has competed against - indeed, tis tally would hv yielded the crown in 4 out of the last 5 seasons. City will be worthy winners of tis prize, with United's collapse fr a position of such strength unforgiveable. Many hv pointed 2 City's allegedly superior attacking vigour as the reason 4 tis expected win by a nose on goal difference, but closer inspection shows tat it is in defence tat United hv been the weaker, 4 they hv only scored 2 goals less than their rivals tis term. The absence of their menacing skipper Nemanja Vidic has been truly felt @t Old Trafford, while conversely Mancini has had Vincent Kompany, his man mountain @ the back, @ his disposal 4 the majority of the campaign.

The mad scramble 4 UCL qualification will also be set come the final full-time whistles of the season. 3 clubs - Arsenal, Tottenham & Newcastle - r mathematically in the hunt 4 a top-4 finish, with 2 points separating the trio, aft Chelsea were knocked out of the race on Wednesday night with their pasting @ Anfield. Tis scenario manifested itself aft not 1 of the 3 remaining teams dared 2 win last weekend, despite the Gunners playing @ home 2 Norwich & Spurs meeting terrible, terrible Aston Villa.

Tis weekend, Arsenal make the trip 2 West Brom, who might well hv a sentiment-fuelled fire in their hearts as the match marks Roy Hodgson's last @ the helm b4 he departs 2 face the waiting press pack of wolves tat comes paw in paw with the England job. The Gunners' 3-3 draw with Norwich was, although thrilling, a damning indictment of their foibles tis term, with a brittleness in defence loosening their grip on 3rd spot - the only berth tat will guarantee the Champions League 4 2012-13 with the threat tat Allianz Arena-bound Chelsea pose.

There is also a sub-plot 2 Tottenham's meeting with fellow Londoners Fulham, as Martin Jol makes his return 2 White Hart Lane, having been dismissed in unsavoury circumstances in 2007. Furthermore, Jol has a record-equalling 7th-place finish 4 the Cottagers in his sights. Spurs, like the aforementioned champions, r guilty of their own dramatic capitulation, aft they @ 1 stage guffawed in the Gunners' direction @ a 13-point minding of the gap betw them & their rivals. 4 Harry Redknapp, 2, tis is a litmus test of a game. His reputation has waned in recent months, aft it had soared 2 heady heights, but a late rally coupled with results going in his favour would save his season.

Last in the hunt, but certainly by no means least, r Newcastle. The Magpies fought well against City last Sunday, but they found themselves up against a side with the bit betw their teeth. It is arguable, 2, tat the effort exerted @ Chelsea took its toll in the latter stages versus the title contenders. On paper, Newcastle's game is the hardest, 4 they meet Everton @ Goodison Park. The Toffees hv lost just 2 of their previous 17 league outings, & they hv the incentive of ensuring of finishing abv Liverpool in the division, as the Reds lurk a point behind. It looks as if the Magpies r bound 4 the Europa League.

2 of 3 hv now fallen thru the trap door, aft Blackburn's late loss @ home 2 Wigan on Monday night confirmed the former's fate & secured the latter's stay in the top flight. It was a painful final nail in the coffin 4 Rovers, whose manager Steve Kean somehow remains, & whose owners appear heartbreakingly clueless. The future, & 1 must feel 4 the Rovers supporters, looks bleak indeed @ Ewood Park - a stadium we might not see staging Premier League matches 4 quite some time. Much praise, though, 4 Wigan & yet another heroic escape. The ever-positive Roberto Martinez can deservedly don pipe & slippers on the last day.

Either Bolton Wanderers or QPR will follow Wolves & Blackburn 2 the Championship. The Trotters r currently in the drop zone, 2 points behind QPR, but can take solace in the knowledge tat a defeat 4 Hughes' men @ Eastlands coupled with a victory @ Stoke City will ensure a leapfrog. It is taken as read tat QPR will indeed come away pointless tis weekend - although, remember, tis has been a season of the surprise - while Bolton might hv the scent of drama on the cards in their nostrils as Stoke r finishing the season with a whimper. Hold on 2 your hats.

[joew2005]

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Fergie eyes 'something stupid' at City
May 11, 2012

SAF is looking 4 "something stupid" 2 happen 2 ManC against Queens Park Rangers, 2 hand his side a chance of snatching the title.

City r ahead on goal difference & in all probability a win over QPR will secure Roberto Mancini's men the title.

United face a trip 2 Sunderland & Ferguson will impress upon his players the need 2 get the job done @ the Stadium of Light, 2 hand them a chance of picking up the pieces shld City slip up.

Ferguson said: "Every1 1s 2 win their last game of the season & we're no different. It's important 4 us, we'll try & do our best & win the match & hopefully something stupid will happen 2 City."

Ferguson is aware of the size of the task facing QPR, as he compares their clash with City with the 1 the Aberdeen side he managed 29 years ago had against Real Madrid. The Dons famously toppled the Spanish giants 4 European Cup Winners' Cup glory.

He said: "Do u know wat happened 29 years ago 2day? I took an Aberdeen team 2 beat Real Madrid in a European final. 11 players, home bred & the oldest player was 27. Tat is Queens Park Rangers' challenge, 2 do an Aberdeen.

"The odds r stacked against them. City r in good form, @ home. On the face of it u expect City 2 win, but as long as humans r humans u hope something stupid 2 happen."



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Fergie: Mancini like Mourinho
May 11, 2012

SAF paid a surprising compliment 2 Roberto Mancini ahead of the decisive final day of the Premier League season, confessing Mancini has matched him in the mind games department just as Jose Mourinho 1s did @ Chelsea.

Mancini looks set 2 win the war with Ferguson tis weekend, with victory 4 ManC over QPR surely enough 2 snatch the title fr champions & fierce local rivals United.

The situation was unimaginable in early April when City trailed United by 8 points aft defeat 2 Arsenal. However, a combination of United losing focus & Mancini's mind games hv taken City 2 the brink of a 1st title in 44 years.

Ever since the race fell back in2 their own hands, Mancini has maintained United remain fav. He said it b4 the Manchester derby, & he repeated his belief even though City won. Now, with a seemingly simple home game against QPR 2 come, Mancini maintains United hv the easier task @ Sunderland.

The Italian's words hv all been designed 2 remove the pressure fr his squad, much as Mourinho used 2 do with his title-winning Chelsea side by ensuring every headline was abt him. Ferguson had real struggles getting the better of the Portuguese, & he admits Mancini is a similar challenge.

"We had 2 contend with Jose's management style, which was very effective," Ferguson said. "He did a fantastic job [@ Chelsea].

"u knew u were competing against a very clever manager. You weren't just facing the money, you were facing a very united squad.

"They were hard 2 beat. City r very similar 2 Chelsea @ tat time. Some of their players hv had outstanding seasons. When u win the league u need 5 or 6 players who r consistently good all the time.

"City hv had that tis year & the manager, 4 most of the part, has done well."

[joew2005]

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Mancini: We've played the best football
May 12, 2012

ManC boss Roberto Mancini fired 1 last barb 2ward rivals United ahead of the season finale, stating regardless of which club claims the Premier League title his side hv "played the best football in England".

Mancini is on the brink of guiding City 2 their 1st title for 44 years as they head in2 their final game of the season leading the table on goal difference fr ManU. City head into their clash against QPR having scored 90 goals, 2 more than United, & Mancini insists his charges hv produced the more entertaining style of football.

"I think in the end the team tat wins deserves 2 win, always," Mancini said. "We hv played the better football, 100%, even if we don't win, we played the better football.

"It is important we score enough goals 2 win the title. I think we played really well for 6 months, 4 me the best football in the Premier League.

"Like other teams, it is impossible 2 play well every game. We had 1 month where we had a problem - we didn't play well, we conceded easy goals, we didn't score. But tis is normal.

"I think in the end, even if aft Sunday we don't win the title, we played the best football in England."

United manager SAF earlier suggested City retreated 2 play a defensive style during the recent derby betw the 2 clubs, which City won 1-0 to reclaim top spot. However, with City needing only a win over 17th-placed Rangers @ home in the final round, Ferguson conceded he must hope 4 "something stupid" 2 happen in order 4 United 2 steal away the title.

Mancini, meanwhile, played down the significance of comments fr midfield talisman Yaya Toure tis week suggesting he would like 2 finish his career @ former club Barcelona. Mancini believes the remarks hv been misinterpreted.

"I don't think Yaya said tis [he 1s 2 leave]," Mancini said. "Maybe he said he likes Barca becos he played there, Barca is the best team in the world. But I think he is happy here. I don't think he can leave ManC."