Kenyan PM rues missed Man City deal

February 2, 2010

Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Tuesday he did all he could to have a highly-rated Kenyan international midfielder McDonald Mariga signed with the English Premier League side Manchester City.

Mariga’s transfer to Manchester City floundered after being denied a work permit. He would have been the first player from the Premier League-mad east Africa country to sign for the top English league.

“I spent a minimum of three hours on phone talking to Gordon Brown’s office, the Africa Office, office of Culture and Sports, the Home office and to Mariga himself,” Odinga said in a statement.

“I would like to assure soccer fans and all Kenyans that together with the British High Commissioner to Kenya Rob Mcaire, I have done what I could to get Mariga into Man City FC and all is not lost,” added Odinga.

Odinga, an avid footballer, said 22-year-old Mariga had obtained a work permit and could join the Premier League in the next transfer window in May.

News of Mariga’s transfer bid to Manchester City sparked excitement and made headline news here.

Italian Seria A Inter Milan on Monday signed up Mariga on a four-year contract from Parma.

NAIROBI (AFP)

Tags: africa office, british high commissioner, East Africa, English Premier League, excitement, footballer, gordon brown, inter milan, kenya, kenyans, man city, man city fc, manchester city, midfielder, Milan, nairobi, parma, premier league, Premier League-mad, prime minister, raila odinga, rues, soccer fans

Man City eye Real’s Gago – report

January 25, 2010

Manchester City have made an offer for Real Madrid’s Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago, who is desperate to leave the club after spending too much time on the bench, a Spanish newspaper said Monday.

Gago “will try until the end to convince Madrid to let him leave, and for that he is meeting on Monday with (sporting director) Jorge Valdando to discuss his future,” the daily Marca said.

“The best offer is from Manchester City, which is ready to pay 15 million euros.”

But it said Real appear reluctant to let him go.

Gago, 23, joined Real Madrid in January 2007 from Boca Juniors to replace another Argentinian, Fernando Redondo.

But he has spent much of this season on the bench, and is keen for more first-team play ahead of the World Cup in South Africa in June.

MADRID (AFP)

Tags: AFP, Argentina, bench, boca juniors, fernando gago, fernando redondo, Jorge Valdando, MADRID, man city, manchester city, marca, midfielder, South Africa, team play, World Cup

Iron test for City slickers

January 24, 2010

English football’s haves and have-nots collide here on Sunday when Manchester City’s millionaires take on Scunthorpe in an FA Cup fourth round tie in the unglamorous setting of Glanford Park.

Having already beaten the Irons 5-1 in the League Cup earlier in the season, City will be confident of booking a place in the last 16 of the FA Cup at the expense of their cash-strapped Championship hosts.

But they have been warned to expect a much sterner test than Scunthorpe provided at Eastlands in October.

“It’ll be a different game to the one at their place,” said defender David Mirfin. “We’re in quite good form at the moment and while we respect them, we don’t fear them. At home it’s up to us to play how we want to.”

Mirfin added: “The best way to get at City is to carry on playing like we have been. As a front four we can always score goals and I think as a back six we’ve become more solid.

“If we play at our pace and don’t let Man City dictate the pace, I think we can get at them.

“But it’s up to us to start as well just as we have done in the last couple of games. The longer you’re at 0-0, or 1-0 up, the more likelihood there is of there being a shock.

“If you go 1-0 down, you’ve got a mountain to climb. Teams at that level are good enough to defend a 1-0 lead and even go on and score more.

Manager Nigel Adkins has an interesting selection dilemma over whether to recall first-choice goalkeeper Joe Murphy or stick with Josh Lillis, a lifelong City fan who has excelled while standing in recently.

City boss Roberto Mancini has indicated that he will rest Carlos Tevez with one eye on Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford, which could mean 30-million-pound signing Robinho partnering Craig Bellamy in attack against a side put together for a fraction of the fee paid for the Brazilian.

Stephen Ireland was on the bench for the first leg against United but is expected to return to the starting line-up here.

Manchester United and Liverpool have both fallen victim to lower league opposition in the Cup and Mancini has warned his players they could easily suffer similar embarrassment.

“I know City beat Scunthorpe iin the League Cup but we need to have the right mentality,” the Italian said. “It will be difficult on a small pitch and they will be strong. I have seen Scunthorpe on video.

“The FA Cup is important to us and we want to progress. We must remember what happened to Liverpool against Reading and Manchester United against Leeds.”

SCUNTHORPE, England (AFP)

Tags: adkins, carlos tevez, city boss, city fan, craig bellamy, David Mirfin, different game, Eastlands, England, english football, FA Cup, haves and have nots, joe murphy, Josh Lillis, LEEDS, Liverpool, man city, Manager Nigel Adkins, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, old trafford, roberto mancini, Stephen Ireland, United

Donovon keen on longer Toffees’ stay

January 19, 2010

Forward Landon Donovan has admitted there is a chance he could extend his stay at Everton if all parties, including parent club LA Galaxy, are in agreement.

The USA international has linked up with the Toffees on a 10-week loan spell and is due to return MLS outfit, LA Galaxy, in mid-March.

He has made a fine start to his Premier League career, catching the eye in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal and 2-0 victory over Manchester City.

Donovan has enjoyed his time in England far more than an unfulfilling stint with Bayern Munich last season and would be open to a longer deal.

“I’ve been made to feel so welcome and when you’re welcome like that you don’t want to let anyone down. It’s a sharp contrast to how I felt last year when I was at Munich,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“It’s a little more individual and selfish there. Here they make you feel part of a family and you keep going because you don’t want to let anyone down.

“The future is out of my control. I want to enjoy this experience. That means I show up for training and I’m ready. I show up for the game and I’m ready.

“But who knows what will happen in the future. Football’s funny and you never know what could happen.

“If I look back after 10 weeks and say I really want to stay then maybe I can make that happen. If I say OK it was good, but I’m ready to go then I can go, but for now I’m taking it week by week.”

Saturday’s clash with City was Donovan’s home debut and he admits it was a joy to play in front of the Goodison Park crowd.

“The atmosphere completely surpassed what I thought,” he added. “I guessed if we scored a few goals or were winning they’d be loud, but it was from minute one. They really push you on.

“At points you get a bit tired but then you hear them and it helps them keep going.

“There are little parts that are still frustrating me and only coming back, my touch and in front of goal. The first two weeks I’ve felt better and sharper every day and I know there’s more to me.”

The versatile Donovan has been impressed by the performances of his team-mates, particularly midfield pair Steven Pienaar and Marouane Fellaini.

“I’m enjoying playing right wing. It’s an easy job on the right wing when Phil Neville is behind you. My ears are getting a little bit worn out but I love it,” he said.

“Steven Pienaar was fantastic in the centre of midfield. Tim Howard had said he might play there against Man City and I wondered if he could but my question got answered. He was fantastic in there.

“Not only do him and Marouane Fellaini run, compete and look good on the ball. What people don’t see is how much they lead and keep talking.”

Everton have risen into the top half of the table on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run and Donovan has already seen enough to tip David Moyes’ side as possible UEFA Champions League qualifiers.

“When I was younger it was about me doing well. Me scoring, and me being the centre of things – but now I get joy out of winning,” he said.

“When you play like we did against Manchester City and feel part of something bigger it’s so much fun.

“I haven’t been here that long but the way we’ve played at the Emirates and then against City – let’s be honest we should have won there.

“The beauty is that they’re not two fluke performances. I can imagine if this team if healthy for a good season would be a good contender for the top four.”

Tags: arsenal, atmosphere, Bayern, clash, crowd, David Moyes, Donovon, emirates, England, everton, game, Goodison Park, home debut, la galaxy, landon donovan, league career, Liverpool, liverpool echo, man city, manchester city, mid march, MLS, Munich, phil neville, premier league, steven pienaar, stint, time in england, toffees, USA, usa international, victory

Man City must aim higher still

January 13, 2010

This time last year, I wrote a piece arguing that Manchester City were setting their sights in the transfer market pathetically low.

For a club with almost limiteless funds, putting Craig Bellamy and Nigel de Jong at the top of the transfer wish list was a bit like a Lottery winner hunting through the racks of last year’s suits at TK Maxx.

Since then, their dealings in the transfer market, with the exception of moves for Carlos Tevez and possibly Emmanuel Adebayor, have shown a similar lack of ambition.

As well as Tevez and Adebayor, City have signed Joleon Lescott, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz and now Patrick Vieira, who is returning to the Premier League at the age of 33. Most of them are decent players. None of them are from the top drawer.

It may seem perverse to criticise City when they have just won their fourth successive league game, a Tevez-inspired 4-1 success over Blackburn Rovers, to climb to fourth place under an ambitious new coach in Roberto Mancini.

Yet now, with the Champions League a realistic target and no one in the Premier League looking beyond their reach, this is precisely the time they must set their sights much, much higher than the rollcall of mediocrity they’ve spent the last couple of years assembling.

What is Roberto Mancini’s coaching philosophy? What sets them apart from the other clubs, like Aston Villa, with their noses pressed up against the Big Four glass?

How many non-City fans could tell me what their first choice midfield is? Who is the player pulling the strings? What are the team’s defining characteristics? Are they ruthless counter-attackers led by the bustling Bellamy, reformed Rusholme Ruffians inspired by Robinho (or Stephen Ireland) or do they have aspirations to pass teams into submission?

You can see why City might be reluctant to shop at the high end of the market after two high-profile failures — first Robinho, who has not done much to suggest Real Madrid were unwise to let him go, and then the 100 million pound rebuff from Kaka – but they should not let that discourage them.

I’m not saying City need to make a “galactico” signing in the 100 million pounds range. They should, however, be shopping for elite internationals at the peak of their careers, the sort of players who can really stamp an identity on the side. Patrick Vieira? Five or six years ago, maybe.

Once City have established an identity, they should find it easier to attract more top players who find the prospect of playing for them appealing from a football point of view.

Tevez was a good start. Next on the list should be David Villa, Franck Ribery, Kun Aguero, Andres Iniesta, Karim Benzema, and if they want to be really cheeky, Nemanja Vidic and Cesc Fabregas.

How much debt was it that Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote off? £300 million should get you a lot more than the current hotch-potch of styles and players, and fourth place in the league.

PHOTO: Manchester City’s new signing Patrick Vieira (L) poses with manager Roberto Mancini during a photocall at the club’s Carrington training complex in Manchester, January 8, 2010. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Source

Tags: Al Nahyan, Andres Iniesta, carlos tevez, CITY, city fans, craig bellamy, DAVID VILLA, decent players, Emmanuel, Gareth Barry, Karim Benzema, kolo toure, league game, lottery winner, MADRID, man city, Manchester, manchester city, nigel de jong, Patrick, patrick vieira, Phil Noble Source, premier league, profile failures, pulling the strings, real madrid, roberto mancini, Robinho, rollcall, roque santa cruz, ruffians, santa cruz, Stephen Ireland, target, top drawer

InterÂ´s Vieira completes Man City move

January 8, 2010

Inter Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira on Friday completed his move to Manchester City.

France international Vieira, who becomes new Blues boss Roberto Mancini’s first signing, has signed a six-month deal with an option for a further year.

The 33-year-old’s deal at Inter was due to expire in the summer and the former AC Milan and Arsenal is desperate to secure first-team football as he bids for a place in France’s World Cup squad.

Mancini, who worked with Vieira at the San Siro, told the club’s website, www.mcfc.co.uk: “Patrick is a world class midfielder with a winner’s mentality and will fit into this group very well.

“He knows me and my staff well, and importantly he also knows what the Premier League is all about. He will not need much time to settle in.

“Patrick is one of the great players of his era with every almost every honour in the game against his name. I am sure City fans will welcome him warmly and appreciate the contribution he will make.”

Vieira joined Arsenal from AC Milan in 1996 and went on to become a pivotal figure as the Gunners landed three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.

He moved to Juventus in 2005, spending one season there during which time the club claimed the Scudetto before being stripped of the crown due to the match-fixing scandal and consequently relegated to Serie B.

Vieira then joined Inter where he won three Serie A crowns and two Italian Cup titles.

He has won 107 caps with France, helping them to their 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship successes.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, arsenal, B. Vieira, CITY, city fans, city france, city move, cup titles, France, france international, inter milan, italian cup, league titles, man city, Manchester, manchester city, mcfc, new blues, patrick vieira, pivotal figure, place in france, premier league, roberto mancini, San, san siro, team football, world cup squad

Man City reveal scale of Sheikh Mansour´s investment

January 6, 2010

The scale of Abu Dhabi’s commitment to turning Manchester City into a leading force in European football was underlined on Wednesday when the club published its first financial figures since its takeover by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nayan.

They reveal that the Sheikh has invested 395 million pounds in the club by converting loans of 305 million pounds into equity before buying further shares of just under 90 million.

In the year to the end of May 2009, City registered an operating loss of 92.6 million pounds, the second largest registered by an English club behind the 140 million pound figure registered by Chelsea in 2005.

The operating loss came in a year in which City broke the British transfer record by spending 32.5 million pounds on bringing Robinho to the club.

City’s chief financial and administration officer Graham Wallace said that, despite the huge losses, the club was generating increased revenues and aimed to balance the books over the longer term.

“The financial results reflect a period of rapid change at the club, the result of long-term planning and investment by the Board and our owners, to create a sustainable business in the future,” Wallace said.

“We have always said that this transformation will take a number of years and these figures reflect that.”

Mansour’s conversion of his investment into equity mirrors the approach taken by Roman Abramovich at Chelsea and underlines the much stronger financial position City find themselves in compared to Liverpool and Manchester United, both of whom have been saddled with the burden of financing the huge debts incurred by their current owners during their purchases of the clubs.

Wallace added: “The owners’ decision to convert debt to equity is in line with their previously-stated financial strategy and is fantastic news for supporters of Manchester City, whose club is now on a secure financial foundation that gives a tremendous platform to build from in future years.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: 5 million, abu dhabi, administration officer, CHELSEA, chief financial, fantastic news, financial foundation, financial position, financial strategy, future years, graham wallace, Liverpool, london, man city, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, rapid change, Robinho, roman abramovich, sustainable business, underlines, zayed

Man City close in on Vieira

January 6, 2010

Manchester City are edging closer to a shock swoop of Internazionale midfielder Patrick Vieira on loan, as Olympique Lyon’s interest wanes in the former Arsenal player.

Vieira, who has made 15 appearances for Jose Mourinho’s side this season with most of them from the bench, is expected to move to the City of Manchester Stadium within the next week.

Ligue 1 giants Lyon, along with a host of other top clubs, have been linked with the France international and the club president’s special advisor, Bernard Lacombe, now believes it is unlikely he will return to Ligue 1.

“We’ve talked a lot about Patrick Vieira,” he told RTL.

“We’ve talked again about him with the coach these past few days, we’ve looked at videos, all this. At the moment we’re hesitating a bit.

“He’s an immense player, who we would have wished to have, but it’s a bit troublesome because first of all he can’t play in the Champions League and also we’re not the only one interested in him.

“There are other clubs, big clubs, although of course it’s true he needs to play at a club where he can play regularly in order to go to the World Cup. Also we have (Maxime) Gonalons who is steadily carving out a place for himself and we don’t want to close down his chances either.”

Lacombe revealed that Barcelona are also after Vieira but feels that is an unlikely move for him.

“Vieira could be the leader of our dressing room because he’s played at huge clubs,” continued Lacombe. “Moreover, when you come to the end of your career there’s only one or two great competitions left, there’s the World Cup coming up and Patrick Vieira really wants to play in it.

“So it’s obvious he would do better to come to our club because there are clubs like Barcelona who want to see him because they’re losing Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita (at the African Nations Cup) but what scares Patrick and what we’ve talked about is that these two lads will come back in February or mid-February and he’s scared of then not playing again.”

Jose Mourinho has confirmed the player is set to leave Inter.

When asked about the chance of Vieira staying with his club, Mourinho told a news conference: “Very little. But as long as he is with us, I trust his professionalism.”

Vieira is likely to be called into action at Chievo on Wednesday with Inter’s midfield hit by injuries and suspension while his imminent departure could prompt Inter to seek a replacement in the transfer window, Mourinho added.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would be “surprised” to see Patrick Vieira turn up at City, but has no doubts the former Gunners captain can still do a job in the Premier League.

“I will respect Patrick forever for what he has done and what he has achieved here,” Wenger said. “We have young players in his position and are not in a real need to bring players in this position.

“I was surprised it was Manchester City, because there were more talks about other clubs, but it is a good opportunity for him.

“I believe he will still be very effective in the Premier League because he has been injury free for three or four months and that is what he needed.”

Tags: african nations cup, arsenal player, Barcelona, bernard lacombe, city of manchester stadium, club president, dressing room, France, france international, internazionale, jose mourinho, keita, Lyon, man city, manchester city, Manchester Stadium, midfielder, olympique lyon, Patrick, patrick vieira, premier league, swoop, Toure, unlikely move

Redknapp impressed as Tottenham get back in party spirit

December 20, 2009

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp praised his team’s new-found grit as they kept up their push for the Champions League places with a 2-0 win at Blackburn.

Redknapp has had a difficult week after discovering his players had defied his orders by holding a secret Christmas party in Dublin and then learning that he has been charged by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over unpaid tax.

But Redknapp was pleased with the response of his team to a difficult game at Ewood Park on Saturday and he insisted their performance had nothing to do with wanting to do well after their trip to Ireland.

And the Spurs boss feels that the game would have been one his team might have lost in the past, which is a measure of the progress his team is making.

“It was not a pretty game of football, but it was the type of game that Tottenham may have lost in the past,” Redknapp said.

“This wasn’t a response because they provided that against Man City in midweek.

“The going out was the Tuesday before and we didn’t lose to Wolves because they went out, it was because we couldn’t break them down.

“It’s history now. We keep moving forward and they’re a good group of lads and I haven’t got any problems with them.”

Redknapp was also pleased with the performance of striker Peter Crouch, who has not played regularly this season but scored twice to double his Premier League tally for the campaign.

“Two good goals from Crouchy. It was nice for him to get on the score-sheet. He deserves it and works hard for the team,” Redknapp added.

Redknapp will have to deal with the charges from HMRC in the new year and a statement from his solicitors, BCL Burton Copeland, insisted the charges are “totally misconceived”.

The statement said: “Harry Redknapp is extremely surprised and disappointed to have been informed that HMRC intend to institute proceedings against him in the week commencing January 11 2010.

“We believe that the decision to commence proceedings will, in due course, be shown to have been totally misconceived.”

Blackburn have dropped to within three points of the relegation zone and manager Sam Allardyce feels that his lack of a striker of Crouch’s quality is costing his team.

Allardyce’s strike-force of Benni McCarthy, Franco Di Santo, Jason Roberts and Nikola Kalinic have failed to fire in recent weeks, with Rovers only managing one league goal in their last six matches.

And Allardyce was full of praise for the striking instincts of England striker Crouch.

“You pay that extra money for the extra quality when you need it. Crouchy?s finishing was the difference between the sides – nothing else,” Allardyce said.

“He had three chances. He scored two and one got disallowed for offside but he still stuck that in the back of the net.

“The first one’s a foul on Ryan Nelsen 90 seconds into injury time and only one minute went up on the board.

“It’s blatant. You can see two arms round him and he wrestles him to the floor. The referee’s in a good position but doesn’t give it.

“You can’t control these decisions and instead of being comfortable in the first-half and coming in at 0-0, we’ve been let down by the referee as far as I’m concerned yet again.

“Nobody else on their side has had a chance on goal and that’s the disappointing thing from our point of view.”

BLACKBURN, England (AFP)

Tags: Burton, Burton Copeland, champions league, christmas party, copeland, dublin, England, Ewood Park, franco di santo, game of football, Harry Redknapp, hmrc, Ireland, jason roberts, lads, majesty, man city, midweek, Nikola Kalinic, peter crouch, premier league, ryan nelsen, Sam, score sheet, solicitors, spurs, striker, tally, trip to ireland, wolves

Tevez backs Man City boss

December 19, 2009

Manchester City’s Argentine striker Carlos Tevez has backed coach Mark Hughes as the man for the job amid reports the club are interested in former Chelsea interim coach Guus Hiddink.

Tevez, on target twice in last week’s draw at Bolton, reacted to reports that Hughes is fighting for his job with the club eighth in the table despite massive summer outlay and only two league defeats to date.

Ahead of Saturday’s game with Sunderland, Tevez, who arrived in the summer from rivals United, said: “When I first joined the club I had a long chat with Mark Hughes and he gave me a vision of how the club was going to go forward.

“The reason I joined was because I believe in his vision. I believe in what he had to say,” Tevez told the Daily Telegraph.

“I believe in the club. I also believe in Mark. We will be a big club. I’m 100 per cent behind the manager. I’m really surprised that a question about his future even exists at such an early stage.

“Every team in the Premier League will say they can do better and we are no exception. But the team is in transition with a lot of new players coming in and we have had a lot of injuries.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)