Defensive problems mount for Mancini

December 22, 2009

Roberto Mancini will have to do without Nedum Onuoha for at least three weeks. The Manchester City youngster has been ruled out with a calf strain and adds to City’s defensive injury concerns.

Onuoha picked up his injury during the match against Sunderland (4-3 win). The 23-year-old only made his first start of the season against Tottenham last Wednesday after an injury to England international Joleon Lescott.

The former England Under-21 international is expected to be out for three to four weeks, therefore ruling him out of Mancini’s first game in charge at home to Stoke City on Boxing Day.

The new Italian manager will have serious defensive worries in January. Besides the injured Onuoha and Lescott (who is expected to remain at the sidelines for at least four more weeks), Mancini will also be without Kolo Toure who will play at the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast.

Tags: african cup of nations, boxing day, calf strain, England, england international, first game, injury concerns, Ivory Coast, joleon lescott, least three weeks, manchester city, match, onuoha, roberto mancini, Stoke City, Sunderland, Toure, youngster

Rooney takes England armband as Terry ruled out

November 14, 2009

Wayne Rooney captained England for the first time here on Saturday after regular skipper John Terry was ruled out of the friendly clash with Brazil with an Achilles injury.

Rooney, winning his 57th cap at the age of 24, was supported in attack by Sunderland striker Darren Bent, who was given the chance to press his World Cup case ahead of Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe.

Head coach Fabio Capello handed an unexpected start to Manchester United’s Ben Foster in goal while Jermaine Jenas started alongside Gareth Barry in central midfield after Michael Carrick was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Everton’s Joleon Lescott replaced Terry in central defence in a line-up featuring only two of Capello’s first-choice line-up, Barry and Rooney.

Brazil had former Manchester City midfielder Elano in their starting line-up as part of an attacking midfield trio made up by Kaka and Nilmar, with Luis Fabiano operating as a lone striker and Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva in the defensive midfield roles.

DOHA (AFP)

Tags: achilles injury, ankle injury, ben foster, central defence, central midfield, choice line, coach fabio capello, Darren Bent, Doha, elano, felipe melo, gilberto silva, jenas, jermain defoe, joleon lescott, luis fabiano, manchester city, Michael Carrick, peter crouch, Sunderland, Terry, wayne rooney

Santa Cruz helps City into League Cup last eight

October 29, 2009

Roque Santa Cruz helped Manchester City storm into the League Cup quarter-finals as the Paraguay striker scored his first goal for the club in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over Scunthorpe.

Santa Cruz, who has been sidelined for much of the campaign with injury, was making his first City start following his 17 million pounds move from Blackburn in the close-season.

He made up for lost time with City’s second goal after Scunthorpe’s Jonathan Forte had cancelled out Stephen Ireland’s early opener at Eastlands.

Joleon Lescott, Carlos Tevez and Michael Johnson scored after half-time to ensure Mark Hughes’ side keep their bid for a Wembley appearance on course.

Hughes had made six changes from the side that squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Fulham on Saturday, with Craig Bellamy on the bench and Emmanuel Adebayor rested.

Championship side Scunthorpe, playing in the fourth round for the first time, almost took the lead within two minutes when Paul Hayes forced Shay Given to make a fine low stop.

That early threat drew a devastating response from City, who went straight up the other end to take the lead in the third minute.

Shaun Wright-Phillips found Ireland to his left and the midfielder advanced towards the penalty area without any Scunthorpe player closing him down.

Ireland took full advantage of the space afforded him as he stroked a perfectly placed shot past Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy from the edge of the penalty area.

Wright-Phillips twice went close to increasing City’s lead with powerful efforts as the hosts went for the kill.

But Scunthorpe were level after 26 minutes. City midfielder Nigel de Jong surrendered possession carelessly and Marcus Williams’s cross found Jonathan Forte, who produced a cool close-range finish.

Scunthorpe were moving the ball about well and it took a superb stop from Given to keep out Hayes’ header.

City gradually regained their composure and Wright-Phillips’ shot was blocked by Murphy’s legs.

Santa Cruz put Hughes’s team back in front in the 38th minute.

Pablo Zabaleta’s cross arrowed towards Santa Cruz, who buried a powerful header back into the far corner.

Santa Cruz was proving a handful for Scunthorpe and he tested Murphy from Ireland’s pass after half-time.

From the resulting 56th minute corner, Wright-Phillips swung over a delivery that Lescott met with bullet header to increase City’s lead.

City then sent on 19-year-old midfielder Vladimir Weiss for his full debut in place of Ireland.

Tevez got his just reward for a typically energetic display when he took advantage of poor Scunthorpe marking to convert a simple chance in the 71st minute.

Johnson, on for only his second appearance of the season in place of Gareth Barry, capped City’s supershow when he drove in a long-range effort in the final stages.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: carlos tevez, city storm, close range, composure, craig bellamy, emmanuel adebayor, fulham, joe murphy, joleon lescott, manchester city, marcus williams, Mark Hughes, michael johnson, midfielder, nigel de jong, paul hayes, quarter finals, roque santa cruz, shay

Fulham fight delights Hodgson

October 26, 2009

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was delighted by his side’s resilience after they came from two goals down against Manchester City to draw 2-2 here at Eastlands.

Mark Hughes’s side threw away a two-goal advantage, handed to them by Joleon Lescott and Martin Petrov as impressive finishes from Damien Duff and Clint Dempsey helped the visitors gain a remarkable point in an enthralling encounter Premier League on Sunday.

All the action and talking points were condensed into one 20 minute spell after the break when firstly Bobby Zamora missed a staggeringly simple chance before City took their two goal lead – and then immediately squandered it.

Diomany Kamara had worked his way into the box to find Dempsey and although Shay Given did well to save his shot, the ball bobbled free to Zamora who somehow blasted over when he had the goal at his mercy.

But Hodgson was keener to discuss the positives of the result, despite admitting Zamora’s error will grab the headlines.

“It was a horrific miss,” he said. “But it’s a pity because Bobby played so well and unfortunately people who watch the match on TV will see the miss.

“But what they won’t see is the other 96 minutes and 45 seconds in which he was absolutely magnificent for us.

“His target-play was magnificent, he held the ball up well, he brought people into the game.

“You know when we come here that you have to work hard defensively and we did that,” Hodgson added.

“Full credit to the players, we came back again, scored two good goals and I think we can say that after the 97 minutes, which was a long match, we worked hard enough and deserved our result.”

Soon after Zamora’s error Lescott nudged home from less than a metre out before Petrov provided City?s second to seemingly end this match as a competitive fixture.

But Duff then intervened with a fine drive past a helpless Given from the edge of the box just two minutes after Petrov’s goal and then Dempsey brilliantly guided a Jonathan Greening delivery into the back of the net to truly stun City just 90 seconds later.

Both sides went frantically looking for a winner but it would not arrive.

City will see this result as a huge opportunity missed because a win would have sent them third in the Premier League whereas Fulham will just be delighted they managed to salvage anything from the encounter at all.

“At 2-0 we should see the game out comfortably but we have allowed them back into the game,” Hughes said. “But credit to them. Probably the two games we have had the most difficulty here have been against Fulham.

“They get everyone behind the ball and make it difficult for the opposition.

“We started really well [this season] in terms of defensive work but we have conceded goals and we are working hard on that.

“There are always areas and elements of our that we need to focus on and we do that as a matter of course,” Hughes added. We will hopefully learn from the mistakes we made.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: back of the net, Clint Dempsey, Damien Duff, encounter, England, fulham, goal advantage, joleon lescott, jonathan greening, Manchester, manchester city, Mark Hughes, martin petrov, premier league, remarkable point, roy hodgson, shay, Shay Given, talking points, target, two minutes

City sweat on Bellamy

October 17, 2009

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes will give Craig Bellamy as much time as he needs to prove his fitness ahead of the Barclays Premier League match against Wigan on Sunday.

The Wales striker has not trained for the past two days because of the discomfort of a groin strain.

With Robinho absent with a stress fracture of the ankle, Bellamy has stepped up to the plate in recent weeks to become an influential player.

He secured a point with the equaliser in the draw against Aston Villa before heading off on international duty.

Hughes said: “Craig is a bit of a doubt but we will give everyone maximum time to help their chances of playing. There is still time before the game for these things to be resolved.

“He has been outstanding and you want two outstanding players for every position. In most positions we have the quality we need.

“If Craig is not available it means someone else will have to step up and be an influence on the game.”

Hughes could be down on numbers at the DW Stadium with Kolo Toure (heel), Joleon Lescott (calf), Pablo Zabaleta (hamstring), Martin Petrov (knee) and Nigel De Jong (knock) are all struggling with injury.

City have already taken seven points on the road this season after amassing only 11 in the whole of last campaign.

Hughes said: “We have more more players with Premier League experience, who have an understanding of what is needed to win games at this level.

“We look more solid. Sometimes you have to dig in more when you are away in the Premier League and we have been able to do that. We are pleased at how this are going in that respect. It is a marked improvement.”

Meanwhile the City boss is adamant that Robinho will stay part of the club after the Brazilian was linked with a move to Barcelona.

Hughes said: “There is always speculation and noise surrounding Robinho. That has been the case since he came to the club.

“He is a great guy. We are not in the process of taking outstanding players out of the team.

“We want to complement the outstanding players at the club. We are looking to build not dismantle.”

Robinho could make his comeback in the Carling Cup match with Scunthorpe in a fortnight.

Hughes said Robinho is anxious to return and added: “The only frustration he has at the moment is that he is not fit and well.

“Hopefully that will be resolved in the next week to 10 days and he will be back on the pitch.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Barcelona, barclays, barclays premier league, Carling Cup, CITY, city boss, Craig, craig bellamy, DW Stadium, equaliser, groin strain, joleon lescott, kolo toure, last campaign, league experience, manchester city, Mark Hughes, martin petrov, maximum time, nigel de jong, Pablo Zabaleta, premier league, Robinho, seven points, stress fracture, striker, Wales, Wigan

Hughes impressed by revitalised Adebayor

August 31, 2009

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor is flourishing again because he is happy to have found a club that appreciates him.

Adebayor wasn’t missed by many at Arsenal when City paid 25 million pounds to sign him during the close-season after an acrimonious final 12 months in north London.

Arsenal fans were angered by Adebayor’s constant flirtations with the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea, while several Gunners players hinted that the dressing room was a happier place without the forward.

But Adebayor has made a superb start to life with City and Sunday’s bullet header at Portsmouth, which clinched a 1-0 win, took his tally to three goals in three games for his new team.

Adebayor’s form has played an important role in fouth-placed City’s 100 percent start to the season and Hughes said: “It’s clear to see he is happy where he is.

“He’s enjoying playing with good players again and the fans love him. That maybe was missing from his life before.

“I thought he was superb. There was a lot said about Ade as a player and a person, a lot of it with a negative slant. You can only judge people on how you find them and he’s come in and wants to be successful. Those negative things people said I haven’t seen.

“He’s enjoying the team he’s in. He could be at the start of something special and wants to play a big part in that.”

After spending over 100 million pounds to strengthen his team since the end of last season, Hughes had to deliver immediately and there can be no questioning results so far.

The City boss believes the likes of Gareth Barry, Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott and Carlos Tevez – who all followed Adebayor to Eastlands – have added a winning mentality to his squad.

“Last season we were in similar situations and at times we went under on those occasions,” Hughes said. “I sense now that happens they thrive on it rather being apprehensive about it. That is a shift in mentality.

“We’ll have stronger tests. I just sense that I have players who are confident. When you go into games against Arsenal (City’s next opponents) you have to go in with confidence.”

Portsmouth manager Paul Hart, meanwhile, was encouraged by his side’s performance despite a fourth successive defeat that left them bottom of the table.

“I thought we played very well, I was pleased with the way we went about our job,” he said. “I think we lacked a bit of forward movement because when we got behind them we caused them problems.

“It was a great opportunity (for David Nugent) to score at the end and I’m disappointed we didn’t.”

England goalkeeper David James was missing with bone bruising to his knee but he has also been linked with a move away from Pompey following the departure of high-profile players such as Glen Johnson, Sylvain Distin, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch.

“He’s the best goalkeeper in England,” said Hart, who insists his goalkeeper has not asked to move. “At the moment he’s injured so you would think that would limit it.”

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP)

Tags: ade, Barcelona, carlos tevez, CHELSEA, CITY, David James, david nugent, dressing room, Eastlands, emmanuel adebayor, flirtations, Gareth Barry, glen johnson, gunners, happier place, joleon lescott, kolo toure, manchester city, Mark Hughes, mentality, Milan, north London, peter crouch, Portsmouth, start of something, three games

Baines penalty gets Everton off the mark at last

August 31, 2009

Everton climbed off the bottom of the Premier League as Leighton Baines’s late penalty snatched a 2-1 win against Wigan on Sunday.

David Moyes’ side had lost their first two league games this season and they were heading for another defeat when Paul Scharner gave Wigan a second-half lead at Goodison Park.

But Louis Saha equalised and, in stoppage time, Emmerson Boyce hauled down Jo and Baines stepped up to crash home the spot-kick.

Victory was much-needed for Moyes, who had moved quickly to spend some of the 24 million pounds received from Manchester City for Joleon Lescott.

The Toffees boss handed a debut to French defender Sylvain Distin, while another new signing, Russia winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, got his debut as a late substitute.

Moyes hopes to make more signings before the transfer window closes on Tuesday and he said: “We’ve got one or two things going on and I’ll be disappointed if we don’t have at least one or two new faces in here by Tuesday evening.”

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez added: “The character in the squad has never been in doubt.

“We’re growing in every game and the results are not reflecting the good work of the players in the league. I don’t think we’re getting what we deserve.”

Moyes must have hoped the end of the Lescott saga and new faces putting pressure on his established stars would give Everton the lift they needed to get their campaign up and running.

They started brightly enough as Tim Cahill directed a diving header just wide from Baines’s corner.

A fine move almost broke the deadlock afer half an hour. Jack Rodwell’s turn and pass found Leon Osman, who instantly sent Cahill racing away down the left.

The Australian’s cross found Saha powering into the six-yard box, but Mike Pollitt managed to get his body in the way of the striker’s shot.

After being thrashed by Manchester United and knocked out of the League Cup by Championship club Blackpool, Wigan had a point to prove and shuddering tackles were the order of the day for Martinez’s team.

Even Moyes felt the strength of Wigan’s tackling. He bent down to collect the ball as it crossed the touchline in front of him, and he was sent spinning by Hendry Thomas, who was sliding in trying to keep it in play.

Saha fired a cross-shot narrowly past the far post after bursting onto Tony Hibbert’s pass.

Wigan broke the deadlock in the 57th minutes when Charles N’Zogbia crossed and Scharner arrived unmarked to arrow a diving header past Tim Howard.

Jordi Gomez was unlucky not to increase Wigan’s lead as he side-footed a Mario Melchiot cross against a post.

But Everton’s fightback started in the 62nd minute when Saha headed home Baines’s corner.

Everton defender Joseph Yobo’s header was cleared off the line before Cahill nodded wide.

Wigan substitute Scott Sinclair, on loan from Chelsea, should have won it when he sprinted clear, only to have his shot blocked by Howard.

But, three minutes into injury time, Boyce brought down Jo, and Baines smashed home the penalty.

LIVERPOOL (AFP)

Tags: Boyce, David Moyes, deadlock, emmerson boyce, Goodison Park, Howard, joleon lescott, league games, leighton baines, leon osman, manchester city, manchester united, Mario Melchiot, mike pollitt, new faces, Paul Scharner, roberto martinez, rodwell, scott sinclair, Thomas, tim cahill, Tony Hibbert, Wigan

Baines penalty gets Everton off the mark at last

August 31, 2009

Everton climbed off the bottom of the Premier League as Leighton Baines’s late penalty snatched a 2-1 win against Wigan on Sunday.

David Moyes’ side had lost their first two league games this season and they were heading for another defeat when Paul Scharner gave Wigan a second-half lead at Goodison Park.

But Louis Saha equalised and, in stoppage time, Emmerson Boyce hauled down Jo and Baines stepped up to crash home the spot-kick.

Victory was much-needed for Moyes, who had moved quickly to spent some of the 24 million pounds received from Manchester City for Joleon Lescott.

The Toffees boss handed a debut to French defender Sylvain Distin, while another new signing, Russia winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, got his debut as a late substitute.

Moyes must have hoped the end of the Lescott saga and new faces putting pressure on his established stars would give Everton the lift they needed to climb off the bottom of the table.

They started brightly enough as Tim Cahill directed a diving header just wide from Leighton Baines’s corner.