Tag Archives: City

Villa and City in Milner deadlock

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Aston Villa (7/1 to finish in the top four) boss Martin O’Neill has revealed that the club have not been able to agree a valuation with Manchester City over midfielder James Milner.

The former Leeds United academy player has been linked all summer with a move to Eastlands and there have been suggestions that the attacking midfielder wants to leave Villa.

City had an initial £20m bid for Milner turned down as the Midlands club believe the player to be worth at least £24m.

Villa manager O’Neill has stated that the two clubs are at a stalemate over the player and is uncertain of what might happen in the future.

He said: “The latest state of play is Manchester City have gone as far as they want to.

“We’ll wait with baited breath on that one, myself included.”

Milner had an excellent season last year at Villa Park and was reported to have attracted interest from other Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Manchester United.

Villa will be desperate to keep hold of the England international who was one of only a few players to impress in the Three Lions’ dismal World Cup tournament.

O’Neill is keen to see the goalscoring midfielder as Villa (16/1 to win the FA Cup) continue to push for cup honours and compete in the top half of the Premier League.

He said: “I think obviously the overriding opinion of all Villa fans is that they would love James to stay at the football club.

“But as I speak here now at this minute, my honest opinion, I cannot guarantee that, but we will see.”

Villa have not yet made a move in the transfer market this summer and fans will be hoping the club can keep hold of their best players and add to the squad.

O’Neill is aiming to ensure that the likes of Ashley Young and Milner stay, but he does appreciate why players move on to the big clubs.

He said: “I can understand totally that players would be affected by offers from Manchester City, particularly in this day and age where it looks as if they can get who they want.”

Villa begin their Premier League campaign when they take on West Ham United at Villa Park on August 14.

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City get Milner green light

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Manchester City are 13/2 to win the Premier League and they could have key target James Milner on board for a title push after Aston Villa revealed he could go at the right price.

City have made Milner one of their top targets of the summer and they have moved a step closer to landing him after Villa boss Martin O’Neill revealed he could leave if their valuation is met.

That may be easier said than done and City are said to be reluctant to meet the £30million price tag that has been placed on the England international’s head, but for the first time Villa have revealed there is a deal to be done.

City may have money to burn but Roberto Mancini is not willing to pay over the odds and may not be willing to go over the £25million mark, for a player who cost Villa £12million when they signed him from Newcastle two years ago.

The Eastlands outfit are believed to have failed with at least one bid and it will now be interesting to see if they react to O’Neill’s comments by making a new, improved bid.

O’Neill would clearly like to keep the midfielder but he is wise enough to know that every player has a price and if City are willing to pay big bucks then it will be best to take the cash and use it to strengthen his own squad.

The Villa boss will also be reluctant to keep an unhappy player on his books and if Milner has made it clear that he wants to leave then it will be best for everyone if a deal can be hammered out quickly.

Milner wants to be playing Champions League football and even though that will not be on the agenda in the next campaign it should be the season after with City 1/2 to break into the top four.

For all Villa’s efforts over the last two seasons they have missed out on the top four and are way down in the betting at 15/2 to make it this season.

Milner clearly wants to move on to the next level and he will get the chance if City stump up the cash and meet Villa’s valuation.

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Mancini wants trophies at City

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Roberto Mancini is expecting his Manchester City (5/1 to win Premier League title) side to be a real success and win trophies this season after his summer spending spree.

Twelve months ago, his predecessor Mark Hughes had spent huge sums of money bringing the likes of Gareth Barry, Emmanuel Adebayor and Joleon Lescott to the club.

City were expected to battle for the title but a few months on Hughes was sacked, Mancini brought in and the club ended the season outside the Premier League top four.

After a long battle they were pipped to fourth spot and Champions League qualification by Spurs (33/1 to win the Premier League) though the club’s fans can take solace in the fact they lost the same amount of games as their rivals Manchester United throughout the season and it was too many draws which led to their downfall.

This summer, Mancini has already spent around £60 million bringing in Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure and David Silva and claims all three are “good players” and a real “investment for the club”.

The Italian manager knows his side will battle both domestically and in the Europa League next season and he has issued a rallying cry by declaring he wants his players to bring silverware back to Eastlands next season.

“I think it will be a good season for us. I think we have a squad for success, and our supporters deserve this,” said Mancini.

“Up to now we have got Boateng, Yaya Toure and David Silva, all three of them good players. And Yaya has fantastic experience with Barcelona, where he won a lot of trophies.

“We need to have the players if we want to reduce the gap with the other teams. We need to bring in players with good quality. Now it is time that some trophies came to this club.”

Mancini has been linked with a number of players this summer and it looks like his spending may not end anytime soon.

One of his reported targets is Lazio defender Aleksandar Kolarov, also a player known to be admired by Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, however the Italian club’s president has said he wants £18.7 million for the Serbia international.

Another player strongly linked with City is Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli, who Mancini managed during his time at the San Siro.

City and also neighbours Manchester United (12/5 to win Premier League title) are interested in the 19-year-old, but if it came to a bidding war between the two rivals it is likely that Mancini would win the day.

Whatever happens, it seems City are prepared to spend big to go for the Premier League title, which could see a lot of their rivals nervously looking at Eastlands come the start of the season.

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Toure set for Man City switch

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Yaya Toure is set to link-up with his brother Kolo at Manchester City and could complete his move to the Premier League big-spenders within days. (Man City 6/1 to win title outright)

Barcelona cleared the way for the Ivory Coast midfielder to move to Eastlands after confirming his departure on Monday and Toure is expected to be the first of a number of big-money signings by City manager Roberto Mancini over the next month.

Toure was expected to seal a move to City earlier this month but the deal was held up by the player’s participation in the World Cup and a change of presidents at Barcelona.

But new Barca chief Sandro Rosell takes over at the Spanish champions from outgoing president Joan Laporta on Thursday and Toure’s agent anticipates the transfer being finalised soon after that following the confirmation that the midfielder and teammate Thierry Henry will be leaving this summer.

Agent Dimitri Seluk told Sport: “I think we will have a solution this week. In fact, I would say that (it will be done) on the first or second of July – maybe on the second because the first will be a very busy day at Barca with the change of president.

“Yes, we have to talk, but of course, the reality is not going to change in one moment.

“Yaya wants to play the important games and he knows that he will be an important player at Manchester City.

“It is not a money problem, as I have said 1,000 times, but a problem of (the lack of) confidence (that Barca have in him).”

Seluk admitted that nothing has been signed yet but said that Toure?s wage demands are not excessive and he does not expect anything to hold up the deal.

He added: “I haven’t signed anything. However, Yaya doesn’t have an astronomical salary, not at all, so it won’t be difficult to be reach an agreement.”
Toure could be joined at Manchester City in the near future by Valencia striker David Silva and Aston Villa midfielder James Milner.

Silva, who is also wanted by Premier League champions Chelsea) has been given permission by his Spanish side to open talks on a possible £29 million move, with striker Roque Santa Cruz possibly moving in the opposite direction as part of a swap deal.

Milner has been a target for Mancini all summer and is expected to hold urgent talks with Villa at the start of next month following England?s disappointing World Cup exit.

City kick-off the 2010/11 season with a visit to Tottenham and Mancini would like to have all three players available for the clash at White Hart Lane (Man City 7/4 to win, Tottenham 5/4, 9/4 draw)

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Mancini planning City future

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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted that his future at Eastlands does not depend on beating Tottenham (13/5 to beat City in the 90 minutes market) and qualifying for the Champions League.

The Italian leads his side into the game against Spurs on Wednesday night knowing that defeat will curtail their hopes of finishing fourth and joining European football’s elite in next season’s Champions League.

City (10/11 top four finish) have been battling it out for fourth for the majority of the season as they look to establish themselves amongst England’s elite.

The club and their mega-rich Arab owners are desperate to secure Champions League football in order to continue attracting the big names to Eastlands as they plan for another summer of lavish spending.

Having failed to attract some players to the club because they were not in the Champions League City now see the competition as a vital aspect in their development.

With so much on the line should Macini fail to get City into the top four it seems inevitable he will get the chop.

However, the former Inter Milan (8/15 Champions League outright winner) boss doesn’t believe his future as City manager depends on where the club finish this season and claims he would be happy should they only be in the Europa League next season.

“My future does not come down to this game,” said Mancini.

“We have qualified for the Europa League next year, that is important.

“I have worked here for five months. I can build a good future here. We are trying to change the history of the club.”

While Mancini claims not to be feeling the pressure Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is adamant that it’s City who need a result more than Spurs.

Should the north London outfit lose they could still catch City on the last day of the season, but only if West Ham do them a favour and take three points from the Eastlands club.

However, Redknapp admits he is keen to wrap up their place in the top four as quickly as possible and not have to rely on other sides doing them favours.

“At the start of the season, we would have been delighted with a European place or being in the top seven, so to have a chance of making the Champions League is great for us,” said the former Portsmouth boss.

Spurs fans will be keen to avoid another last day play-off for fourth having faltered at the final hurdle in 2006 when the majority of the squad had food poisoning and were beaten 3-1 by West Ham, handing local rivals Arsenal the last Champions League spot.

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Chelsea, Man United, Man City & Tottenham battle it out

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premier league trophy 176x300 Chelsea, Man United, Man City & Tottenham battle it outBaring an immense shock, Chelsea will be the 2009/10 Premier League champions after Carlo Ancelotti’s side pulled off a surprisingly comfortable win at Liverpool. Manchester United’s win at Sunderland only seems to have prolonged the agony.

Chelsea only have to win their final game at home to Wigan Athletic to secure the title. The Latics have troubled all the top teams- Chelsea included- at their DW Stadium but they secured their top flight status some time ago. With nothing for Wigan to play for, the Blues are massive favourites.

Manchester United seem destined to fall a point short and so miss out on becoming the only club to win four titles in a row. Their own final match is with Stoke City, which they should win.

United managed just a single goal at the Stadium of Light. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that the result from Anfield deflated his players before they went out against Sunderland.

The real uncertainty can be found a little further down. Four teams went into the weekend with a chance of fourth place but that list has now whittled down to two. Chelsea dealt Liverpool’s faint hopes the final blow and Manchester City came through a head-to-head with Aston Villa.

When the Birmingham side took the lead at Eastlands it seemed they might knock City out of contention but the home side got the break they needed when Stephen Warnock felled Adam Johnson in the area.

Carlos Tevez converted the spot kick and within three minutes Emmanuel Adebayor put City in the lead- but only after John Carew clattered a shot against the bar at the other end.

Roberto Mancini saw his side ease to a 3-1 victory to set up a dramatic clash with Tottenham Hotspur. The Londoners did enough to see off an obdurate Bolton team to set up the decisive midweek meeting between the two remaining contenders.

Spurs hold the advantage, going into the game a point to the good. Now that Villa have been removed from the equation, Harry Redknapp’s team can afford a draw from their visit to Manchester. City have to win to take pole position going into the final games on Sunday.

Hull City’s relegation was rubber stamped when they could only draw at Wigan. The fact they leaked a last minute equaliser summed up the Tigers’ season.

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Fulop ready for City challenge

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Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop says he is ‘ready to do a job’ for loan side Manchester City in their quest to clinch the Premier League’s fourth Champions League place (City 11/4 Top Four Finish).

City were given special dispensation by the Premier League to take the Hungary international to Eastlands after first-choice keeper Shay Given was ruled out for their final three matches with a dislocated shoulder he suffered at Arsenal last Saturday.

City boss Roberto Mancini only has third-choice Faroe Islands custodian Gunnar Neilsen at his disposal so the arrival of Fulop on an emergency loan will boost his optrions ahead of this weekend’s massive game against against Aston Villa (City 10/11, Villa 13/5, draw 5/2 Weekend Coupon).

Fulop does not know if he will start for City, but he is confident of helping them out if he does not get the nod.

“I got the call on Tuesday from City and I was more than happy to come and help the club,” he told City’s official website.

“It’s fantastic to be here at such a time. It came out of the blue but I’m delighted to try to help City achieve their goal.

“I’m ready to play, if I’m selected. I came here to do a job and I’m confident that I can do that. I feel good, and we need a win to get that fourth-place spot, which is so important for the club.

On Given’s injury problem, Fulop added: “It’s an horrific injury for a goalkeeper.

“It’s a really bad one because you use your shoulders with almost every movement. I really hope that Shay recovers very soon.”

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Eternal City Derby Too Close To Call

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Lazio versus Roma is one of the most notorious derbies in world football with both sets of Ultras fans often turning violent in and around the stadium.

Roma have turned up the heat on Inter Milan in this season’s title race and nothing but a win over their city rivals on Sunday will be acceptable if they are to land the Scudetto.

It would be a mistake to judge this match based on current league standings with Lazio languishing down by the relegation zone, Roma are going to be favourites but a win for Ranieri’s side is far from a safe bet.

Lazio have been playing well in recent games and are unbeaten in their last five having won 3 and drawn 2. Roma are on an incredible run which has taken them all the way to the top of the league and are unbeaten in 8 matches having won all of their last 5 outings.

Roma just edge Lazio in recent head to head meetings having won 3 of the last 5 clashes with Lazio claiming the other 2. When they last played each other in December Roma won 1-0.

With just five games left to the conclusion of the Serie A season, this derby will be a closely contested encounter with both sides having a lot to lose in defeat. Because of this and the fact this tie has not ended in a draw for three years, back it to end all square in a 2-2 score line available at 12.00 with PartyBets.com

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Sheffield Wednesday Must Triumph In The Steel City Derby

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sheffield wednesday v sheffield united 300x292 Sheffield Wednesday Must Triumph In The Steel City DerbyThe 2009/10 season has been grim  for both Sheffield clubs; Wednesday are locked into a desperate fight against relegation and United have fallen away badly in the race for promotion. Both sets of supporters would like to see the end of the campaign.

Sunday’s game at Hillsborough still has real significance for Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls are still in the bottom three and stand in real need of three points. United’s chance of reaching the play-offs has all but slipped away but their supporters could take some satisfaction from adding to the problems of their city rivals.

If this game wasn’t a derby, Sheffield United would be the ideal opponents for Wednesday. The Blades’ away form has collapsed dramatically and they have been beaten twelve times away from Bramhall Lane. Their record is actually worse that the Owls, who have lost eleven games on the road.

Confidence is low in both dressing rooms though Sheffield United did win last Saturday- however, they have plunged to tenth place after a season when they were expected to be a top six side with some ease. Two points from their last four games has dragged Sheffield Wednesday back into the relegation mire after a relatively good run of results.

Head-to-Head from 124 competitive games:

  • Sheffield United 45 Wins
  • Sheffield Wednesday 41 Wins
  • Plus 38 Draws

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The importance of this game to the Owls can’t be overstated because next week they have to travel to in-form Cardiff City. Their final game sees them host fellow strugglers Crystal Palace in what would be a nerve-shredding ‘winner take all’ encounter.

The Owls have lost their last two matches by a single, late goal and manager Alan Irvine will not want to go into the last day having to beat Palace to stay up. The team aren’t playing badly but the rub of the green has been missing.

The visit of the Blades could be the moment to pull off a win. Though Kevin Blackwell’s team should be highly motivated for a derby, they will also be suffering some deflation after their steep decline.

In the past two campaigns Wednesday have had the edge, unbeaten in four fixtures before this season’s first game. Sheffield United squeaked through 3-2 back in September after going in three goals to the good at half-time.

The Owls look ready to overturn that result. Irvine will point out that only a deflected strike denied them a point at Middlesbrough last week. Sheffield United have only a mathematical chance of reaching the top six and with their Championship status on the line, Wednesday should be able to win a battling encounter.

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Champions League Final Line In Sight for Man City

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MAn City hold champions league positionRoberto Mancini’s men took a step closer to fourth place with a convincing 5-1 home demolition of Birmingham on Sunday.

The Manchester outfit made it 14 goals in three matches as Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez both struck braces to push their goal difference above that of rivals Tottenham – which could prove crucial come May.

A relatively dull first half sprung to life with four goals in five minutes following a quick fire double for Tevez, a reply from Birmingham’s Cameron Jerome and a neat finish from Adebayor.

Tevez’s first came from a 38th minute spot kick after Birmingham’s Scott Dann was adjudged to have felled Adebayor in the area.

The Argentinean’s second, just two minutes later, resulted from a corner that Nedum Onuoha initially thought he had scored from, however, replays showed that Tevez got the final touch to make it 28 goals for the season.

Birmingham pulled one back in the 42nd minute through a Cameron Jerome header after James McFadden had sent in a teasing cross.

But just one minute later Adebayor restored the two goal cushion by latching onto a delivery from winger Craig Bellamy.

Alex McLeish’s men came out for the second half with a renewed impetus but failed to break down the Man City defence.

And with the game entering the closing stages, Birmingham’s failure to find the net was punished by a Nedum Onuoha blast that made the score 4-1.

The Midlands team were merely playing for pride when Adebayor sprung the offside trap to secure a 5-1 victory and with it, snatch away any of the pride that Alex McLeish’s side had hoped to maintain.

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