Man City

[joew2005]

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Man City chief: Spending sprees are over

Manchester City's chief football administrator Brian Marwood insists tis summer's lavish spending spree will be the club's last.

City spent over £100 million in bringing in Jerome Boateng, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov, Mario Balotelli and James Milner in the transfer window. The outlay takes Sheikh Mansour's total spend, mostly on transfer fees and wages, to £500 million since his takeover in 2008.

City recently announced financial losses of £121 million for the year and while that is apparently not a problem for Mansour, it is not sustainable if City want to meet UEFA's new financial regulations and play in the Champions League from next season.

UEFA's new rules are an attempt to curb the massive spending that is crippling football clubs across Europe. Clubs will be allowed to lose no more than €45 million (£39 million) for the next three seasons and must then break even to be allowed entry into the continent's most high profile and lucrative competition.

There has been much doubt expressed that Champions League-chasing City would meet those requirements but Marwood claims the club are now happy with the squad they have assembled and will not be making such huge outlays in the future.

"This club has gone from 10th in the Premier League two seasons ago to just missing out on qualifying for the Champions League last season, and now including players with the quality of Yaya Toure and David Silva. We've kind of crammed 10 years' work into 12 to 18 months. Now the intensity of signing players is levelling off, allowing this group to develop." Marwood told The Guardian.

"We have fast-tracked a lot; we need to put the structure in place. We talk about elite development, the academy, because that is the foundation. That is the future for Manchester City."

Marwood believes the lavish spending has left City with a young, deep squad that will need only minor tinkering for years to come.

"We sat down with Roberto Mancini in February-March and planned our summer programme," he said. "The people here were on the list. There is a balanced strategy. English players and young players. Other than Yaya they are all young developing players."

Toure, who joined from Barcelona, is in the mould of another City player, the ageing Patrick Vieira, who joined in the previous transfer window. Together, they are the only exceptions to a policy of buying young rising stars.

"The feeling was we needed players of presence, quality, with a winning mentality to bring that culture to the club," Marwood said. "Patrick and Yaya have that. Micah [Richards] for example, is an emerging young player. To have him alongside Patrick, Yaya, Kolo [Toure] every day, in the changing room, on the pitch, is invaluable."

But the controversy over Yaya Toure's signing was not the 27-year-old's age but the reported £220,000-a-week salary handed to the ex-Barcelona man. Marwood insists he is value for money.

"Yaya can play centre-midfield, centre-half, attacking midfield, defensive midfield, he's a quality player. When we knew he was available, it was a no-brainer."

He added: "Everybody has become obsessed with what footballers are earning. We are comfortable where we are."

[joew2005]

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Man City owner back on top of rich list

Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour has returned to the top of football's rich list, according to the latest figures from FourFourTwo magazine.

The 40-year-old's vast fortune is estimated to have risen by £3 billion, moving him back in front of QPR shareholder Lakshmi Mittal, whose fortune has dipped to £17 billion.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, whose wealth once dwarfed all other fortunes on the list, has now dropped as far as fourth - displaced by Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov, whose estate has exploded to rise from £1.3 billion to £8 billion.

"It's tempting to say that those who live by the rouble, die by the rouble," said FourFourTwo editor Hugh Sleight. "For so many years, Roman Abramovich was the top dog, but now he faces challenges wherever he looks.

"It isn't that Abramovich has got poorer, but more and more billionaires are coming into English football. When we first published this list in 2003, there were two. Now there are 15."

Usmanov's fellow Arsenal shareholder Stanley Kroenke is eighth on the list with a fortune of £1.85 billion, while Mittal's partner at QPR, Bernie Ecclestone, also makes it into the top 10 with his £1.4 billion estate.

The controversial owners of Manchester United, the Glazer family, are ranked ninth with an estimated fortune of £1.53 billion.

Others figuring in the top 10 are Southampton owners the Liebherr family, fifth with a fortune of £3 billion, Tottenham owner Joe Lewis, sixth at £2.7 billion, and Celtic's Denis O'Brien, seventh with a fortune of £1.87 billion.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett, whose ownership of Liverpool could come to an end if the club's other directors are able to force through a sale, do not feature on this year's list at all.

Having been listed joint 16th last year with an estimated £500 million each, analysts said it was now impossible to verify their worth as the turmoil continues at Anfield.

Among players, David Beckham still tops the list by a huge margin, but his worth is said to have dropped from £125 million to £100 million, pushing him from 38th overall to 49th. Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, has dropped from third to sixth.

"For Beckham, missing the World Cup and approaching retirement have had an effect and we've cut his value by a fifth to £100million," Sleight said. As you'd expect, Brand Beckham have a cunning business plan to ensure their financial power continues even after Becks hangs up his boots, but that's still in its early stages and has yet to bear fruit. So for now, it's down to number 49 for Becks."

Rooney has dropped beneath Rio Ferdinand, Sol Campbell and Ryan Giggs.

"Wayne Rooney's flirtations with the front pages have clearly affected his value to sponsors and we correspondingly cut his value by a third," Sleight said. He's young and he has time to bounce back, on and off the pitch, but for the time being, his reputation has been seriously tarnished."

Michael Owen is second on the players' list with a fortune of £40 million, £6 million more than Manchester United team-mate Ferdinand.

England boss Fabio Capello tops the managers' list with a fortune of £36 million, ahead of Ipswich boss Roy Keane, whose £28 million fortune was largely accumulated as a player at Manchester United. He sits one place above his old boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, third, with a fortune of £26 million.

New Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is sixth with a £15 million fortune, level with Manchester City's Roberto Mancini.

That puts him £5 million ahead of his predecessor at Eastlands, Fulham manager Mark Hughes, who is joint eighth with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp and Manchester United reserve-team boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The list once again demonstrates football's ability to ignore the recession as the overall value has risen to £77 billion, £8 billion higher than a year ago.

[joew2005]

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City face uphill battle

ManC face a major battle 2 be allowed 2 compete in UEFA competitions fr 2013.

City made a £121.3 million loss in 2009-10 & k expect 2 make a further loss of at least £130 million 4 2010-11 &, according 2 The Independent, UEFA has warned tat their heavy transfer spending "cannot be written off as a loss on next year's accounts alone".

When UEFA's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations r fully enforced, clubs will be forced 2 break even, although benefactors - such as the City owners - r allowed 2 contribute up 2 £39.54 million 4 the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons and £26.36 million for the period covering 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.

City will have to spread the losses of their recent heavy spending over the length of the corresponding players' contracts, though, meaning they will have to cope with a £50 million loss at the start of each season, over and above any other spending on transfers and wages. The club made an operating loss of £55.1 million in 2009-10, largely due to wages, which is set to rise.

City's chief football administrator, Brian Marwood, recently said the big spending at the club was over and that the focus would now be on developing youngsters through the academy, but it appears that will not be enough to secure a place in the Champions League when the new rules are introduced.

UEFA's head of club licensing, Andrea Traverso, told The Independent that any attempt to wipe out the spending before the rules come into play would "be seen as a way to circumvent the rules, and that is not allowed".

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Hughes 'compromised own values' at Man City

Fulham boss Mark Hughes has revealed he is glad 2 be out of the soap opera @ ManC & managing @ a club where he is simply allowed 2 do his job.

Hughes was installed @ ManC by former owner Thaksin Shinawatra in June 2008 but jz 3 mths later the club was bought by the Abu Dhabi United investment group,thus changing the face of football at Eastlands 4ever.

But it turned sour 4 Hughes as the pursuit 4 UCL football led 2 him being replaced in December 2009 in controversial circumstances. Hughes was back in the game tis summer, replacing the Liverpool-bound Roy Hodgson @ Fulham.

Hughes felt tat he should hv stood up 4 his beliefs more during a turbulent 18 months @ ManC, & not "toed the line'' against his instincts.

"It's good 2 be @ a club nw where I m not being pulled in different directions,'' Hughes told the Daily Mail. "Eventually, I understood it was a feeling of relief tat it was over (at ManC). I wasn't enjoying it there @ the end. I had no bitterness, no regrets, but I was relieved 2 be away.

"How was I treated? @ times, I had support. @ times, I needed support & I didn't get it. & then there were times when support tat was there was withdrawn ... especially 2wards the end.

"I toed the party line more than I should. I compromised my own values more than I shld. It won't happen again but I'll say tat tis has made me a better manager.''

On the appointment of Roberto Mancini as his replacement, he said: "Top clubs won't appoint British managers becos we don't hv trophies. I watch some of the teams in the UCL, with managers who hv won trophies, & I know I can set up a team to beat them.

"Competing in the BPL is more difficult than winning trophies in plenty of countries abroad. Who is the better manager ... 1 of these Champions League guys with a trophy fr Holland, France, Switzerland & places like tat - or me, in tis league, the hardest, most high profile league in the world?''

[joew2005]

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Gunners claim valuable City scalp

Samir Nasri, Alex Song & Nicklas Bendtner were on target as Arsenal struck a blow 4 the old guard against 10-man ManC, triumphing 3-nil @ Eastlands.

City had been looking 2 reclaim 2nd place in the Premier League but hopes of a 5th successive win were all but dashed with the early sending off of Dedryck Boyata.

Nasri put the Gunners ahead 20 minutes in2 a fiery contest & although Joe Hart kept City in contention with a penalty save fr Cesc Fabregas, Song & Bendtner finished them off.

Victory lifted Arsenal back into the top 4, abv City on goal difference & contradicted recent criticism of the Londoners' record against their perceived title rivals.

The momentum all appeared 2 be with City prior 2 the match, which was preceded by a memorial service & minute's applause 4 their late manager Malcolm Allison.

Carlos Tevez was back 2 lead the City line while Emmanuel Adebayor, despite a midweek hat-trick, was left on the bench against his former club.

And the hosts appeared in a rush 2 impress @ Boyata, starting ahead of Joleon Lescott, released Tevez with a superb ball down the right aft 1 min.

Tevez raced beyond the defence & into the area but David Silva failed 2 make firm contact with his ball in2 the middle & Lukasz Fabianski saved his scuffed shot.

Tevez then set Micah Richards free down the right but tis time Bacary Sagna slid in 2 deal with the cross.

Yet no sooner had City started 2 look dominant than Boyata, as the last man, was sent off 4 bringing down Marouane Chamakh as he raced onto a Fabregas ball.

Mark Clattenburg took time 2 consider his verdict but showed a straight red card. Aft tat it became clear Clattenburg was in for a tough afternoon as the tackles started to fly in.

He booked Denilson 4 a late challenge on Tevez but showed restraint aft Nigel de Jong felled Fabregas, Gareth Barry was shown a yellow card 4 fouling the Spaniard but Song escaped such punishment 4 a bad tackle on Silva.

In terms of chances, City had the next when Tevez mishit a shot @ Fabianski but Johan Djourou then headed over from a Sagna cross.

The opening goal came aft 20 minutes as Nasri played a 1-2 with Andrey Arshavin on the edge of the box & clipped the ball over Joe Hart.

Fabregas, still being given close attention by City, was booked himself after tangling with De Jong. City responded by again attacking down the right as James Milner played Richards through.

Arsenal struggled to get back but were relieved as Richards checked back onto his left foot and screwed his shot wide. Song and Djourou also went into Clattenburg's notebook before the break after challenges on Silva and Tevez respectively.

The game refused to settle down and Clattenburg was called upon again as Vincent Kompany recklessly lunged in on Fabregas just inside the area. A penalty was the obvious outcome but Hart kept City in the game with a brilliant save from Fabregas' spot-kick.

Fabregas had another opportunity early in the second half after combining well with Chamakh and Nasri but his first-time shot was weak and easily saved by Hart.

City boss Roberto Mancini decided to make a bold change after 52 minutes, gambling on the determination of Adebayor to impress and removing usual talisman Tevez.

An intricate move saw Milner feed Silva inside the box and the Spaniard's curving right-foot shot was brilliantly tipped wide by Fabianski. Adebayor had a chance from the resulting corner but Fabianski's presence forced him to direct his header over.

Arshavin then drilled a shot straight at Hart from 20 yards as Arsenal continued to push. Song finished City off in the 66th minute when he grabbed an opportunistic second for the visitors.

Wayne Bridge had blocked a Fabregas pass intended for Chamakh but the ball ran loose and Song, unchallenged, pounced to smash it into the top corner.

Adebayor raised City fans' spirits when he forced a fine save from Fabianski with a firm header but a flag had already been raised for offside.

There was a stoppage 15 minutes from time when an object appeared to be thrown from the crowd as Arsenal prepared to take a corner.

Substitute Bendtner put the result beyond any doubt five minutes from time when he raced clear and finished from a tight angle. Fit-again £23 million signing Mario Balotelli went close to a late consolation when he forced Fabianksi to tip over.

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City confident of avoiding European exile

ManC chief executive Garry Cook is confident the club will be able 2 comply with UEFA's stringent Financial Fair Play rules.

According 2 figures released tis week, the City owners invested a further £79.6 million in2 the club last month 2 take the total investment 2 £573 million since the 2009 takeover.

Under UEFA's new rules, designed 2 ensure clubs r self-sufficient, benefactors will only be able 2 contribute approximately £40 million in the 2013-14 & 2014-15 seasons, tat figure will drop 2 around £26 million 4 the 2015-16, 2016-17 & 2017-18.

Fr 2011-12, clubs will only be able 2 make a loss of €45 million (£39 million) per season &, when UEFA's rules r fully enforced, they will hv 2 break even, leading many 2 fear ManC could face exile fr the Champions League & Europa League.

City's income 4 2009-10 was £125 million but wages were at £133 million, with the club's loss standing @ £121.3 million. However, Cook told the Guardian tat the loss incorporated investment in the stadium - such as the City Square dining experience - & tat spending on new players will now be curtailed.

"Yes, the annual report shows income growth & the loss, which people r asking questions abt, but when you look fr a broader perspective, there r investments not only 4 the team but 4 the fans," he said. "The aim is 2 enhance the experience of tis football club 4 all those tat touch it.

"Clearly our intention is 2 comply (with Financial Fair Play rules). Our 2-yr plan was 2 take a budget & build a competency 2 compete @ the highest level, not forgetting the need 4 succession planning in every position.

"We r pleased with how tat worked & will not be signing players 2 the same level of intensity in the next transfer windows.

"Financial fair play is on our conscience. We talk abt it @ every board meeting & it's part of our long-term plan."

City hv faced criticism 4 what is perceived 2 be excessive spending on signings & wages, with some believing the arrival of billionaire owners has taken the game away fr the fans.

"Critics only hv their own perspective," Cook said. "They're not @ the football club - they haven't been part of the planning or the long-term financial strategies.

"People think we choose players fr the fantasy football league but there was a clear plan for who Roberto (Mancini) wanted 2 sign. 1 of the perceptions was that we only buy foreign players, then suddenly people saw that 6 of the England team who finished against Switzerland were City players.

"When people see the good things we r actually doing, they seem 2 be enlightened."

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Wolves maul Mancini's men

David Edwards scored his 1st goal 4 14 mths 2 earn Wolves a shock win over ManC & boost their Premier League survival hopes.

City went ahead thru Emmanuel Adebayor's penalty & dominated the early part of the match.

But Wolves equalised thru Nenad Milijas & then Edwards earned Mick McCarthy's side their 1st victory since the opening day of the campaign.

City started the game as if they were going 2 win @ a canter as they threatened 2 prise open the Wolves defence every time they ventured 4ward.

But aft going ahead they seemed content 2 sit back, which allowed Wolves back in2 the game - & they seized the opportunity.

Matt Jarvis enhanced his England credentials with another sparkling performance on the flank as he supplied a string of menacing crosses.

With Stephen Hunt finally fit 2 make his league debut on the opposite wing, there was a far better balance abt the home side.

It was only in the final quarter of the game, with the introduction of Adam Johnson, tat City regained their early momentum.

Mario Balotelli had the chance 2 break the deadlock when he got on the end of a low cross fr James Milner but he could only stab the ball wide under pressure fr Kevin Foley.

Vincent Kompany got on the end of a David Silva corner & his glancing header was cleared by Milijas although it may hv been drifting just wide.

Aft 23 minutes Adebayor scored his 1st Premier League goal of the season fr the penalty spot 2 put City ahead.

Jerome Boateng played the ball through 2 Silva & he was brought down close by Stearman.

Referee Mike Dean pointed 2 the spot & Adebayor sent Marcus Hahnemann the wrong way.

Wolves responded in a positive fashion & David Edwards twice went close 2 equalising in the space of a min.

City's England goalkeeper Joe Hart did well 2 fingertip behind a header fr the Wolves midfielder aft he got on the end of a cross fr Jarvis.

But Hart was relieved 2 see a thumping header fr Edwards hit the post fr another dangerous ball in2 the box fr the impressive Jarvis.

The home side were not 2 be denied & aft 29 mins Milijas brought them back on level terms.

A cross fr Jarvis was blocked but the ball broke in2 the path of Milijas who beat Hart with his low drive in2 the corner.

Wolves were suddenly in the ascendancy & Jarvis supplied another telling cross which only just eluded the run of Hunt @ the far post.

But they had a let-off aft 41 minutes when Adebayor outjumped Hahnemann & glanced his header inches wide fr Balotelli's cross.

There was a quiet start 2 the 2nd half but aft 56 mins Edwards put Wolves in front.

Doyle had his shot blocked by Kolo Toure fr Foley's cross but the rebound fell 2 Edwards who kept his cool b4 sliding the ball past Hart & in2 the right corner.

Hunt was yellow-carded 2 mins later when he tugged @ the shirt of Adebayor as the striker tried 2 break clear down the left.

City tried 2 retaliate & Hahnemann did well 2 tip a low shot fr Silva around the post aft he had been teed up by Milner.

But Wolves were looking full of confidence & Hart had 2 be alert 2 get his body behind a low 30-yard attempt fr Milijas.

Adebayor missed a great chance 2 level aft 74 mins, shooting over the bar aft Johnson drilled the ball across the box.

It was Adebayor's last contribution b4 he was replaced 3 mins later by full-back Pablo Zabaleta.

Zabaleta & Balotelli were booked in the closing stages as Wolves held on 4 a valuable win.

Aft 10 games, Mancini's team thrill Chelsea by 8 pts.

The clock is starting 2 tick 4 Mancini.

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Mancini laments worst City display of the season

ManC's shock defeat @ Wolves was their worst performance of the season, according 2 manager Roberto Mancini.

City started brightly @ Molineux & deservedly took the lead when Emmanuel Adebayor converted fr the spot aft David Silva was felled by Richard Stearman.

But the home side hit back when Nenad Milijas fired in a low shot fr the edge of the area, b4 winger David Edwards finished fr close range in the 2nd half.

And the Italian admitted he was @ a loss 2 explain how his team had lost a game they looked firmly in control of. Mancini said: "We only played 4 the 1st 25 minutes. We played very well during tat period of the game & had 4 or 5 chances 2 score. But then we stopped playing & Wolves deserved 2 win tis game. It was the worse game we hv played.

"I don't know why tis happened but we must regroup & understand why tis happened. Maybe we thought aft 20 minutes tat it was an easy game. A team can lose but you can't lose like we did aft playing like tat 4 60-70 mins.''

Mancini admitted: "Tis was the sort of game you hv 2 win if you 1 2 challenge 4 the title. You must play all games @ 115%. I must understand very quickly why tis happened. But the season is long, we started it very well & there is time 2 recover.''

Wolves ended a run of 6 league games w/o a win but manager Mick McCarthy insisted: "Tat result has been coming 4 a few weeks. We deserved 2 win 2day.

"When you r bottom, but playing well, with a great spirit, it sounds really hollow when you say things like tat. But tis performance & result summed it all up 4 me. W/o our team spirit, we would be history. I hv been saying tat for weeks.''

Winger Matt Jarvis turned in another excellent display 2 press his England claims. McCarthy explained: "He has been excellent. He is giving every1 problems. "Last weekend, he gave Ashley Cole difficult time as he has had & ran the 2 Manchester full-backs ragged in the week.''

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Mancini rejects claims of Manchester City disunity


manager Roberto Mancini has spoken out against reports he is losing the dressing rm while midfielder James Milner said claims of squad disunity will only spur them on 2 success.

Mancini & Milner presented a united front ahead of City's Europa League Group A clash @ Lech Poznan amidst a string of player bust-ups & a dip in form 4 the big-spending club.

Successive defeats in the Premier League - 2 Arsenal & more damagingly, Wolves - hv led 2 reports of rows between key players & dressing room dissatisfaction with Mancini's methods.

Mancini, reacting 2 claims he had fallen out with the Toure brothers Yaya & Kolo - both of whom hv been left in Manchester with minor injury complaints - was also clear. Asked if he was losing the dressing room, the Italian said: "It's not true, it's false. But if there's some1 who wants 2 write these lies then I'm very happy 4 them. But no, it's not true.''

Milner is one of the players implicated for his recent on-field disagreement with Yaya Toure but he is clear about the fact that destabilising stories are only helping to forge City's siege mentality.

"When we see nonsense written in the papers it pulls us closer together,'' Milner said. "When it seems like the whole world is against you, that is when you pull together. These things will make us stronger as a football club. You go through times when things aren't quite right and it's important to keep things right off the field.

"I've been at Newcastle and Leeds where the press seemed to be outside the training ground whenever you drove in. We can't control what's off the field, we can only control results. (Having on-field disagreements) says we're very hungry to win football matches. We'd be worried if there wasn't that hunger because we're desperate to win trophies. In changing rooms up and down the country you'll see people disagreeing but it's forgotten as soon as you step off the pitch. We're a tight group.''

City are virtually assured passage to the knock-out stage of the Europa League, regardless of Thursday night's result, but there is encouraging news ahead of the weekend match against West Brom. Captain Carlos Tevez, who has been both injured and homesick, should return to Manchester on Thursday and while that rules him squarely out of the Europa action, Mancini is already considering his next league line-up.

"We will change some players for tonight; it's impossible to play the same players always,'' said Mancini. "But tomorrow he (Tevez) will be in Manchester and I think he will be ready for West Brom on Sunday. If he is okay then he should be.''

Striker Mario Balotelli could start for City against Lech Poznan. He had been struggling with a thigh strain but travelled following a morning training session.

[joew2005]

currently there is a poll in soccernet abt - Roberto Mancini at City

He'll win it all given time 9.7 %
Top 4 & Cup but no more 36.6 %
Out of job by New Year 53.8 %

[joew2005]

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Defiant Mancini asks: Why should I be fired?

Roberto Mancini's troubled reign as ManCity manager took another bad turn on Thurs as they lost 3-1 2 Lech Poznan, but the Italian responded by asking: "Why should I worry abt being fired?"

Emmanuel Adebayor appeared 2 hv rescued City fr defeat when he equalised 5mins in2 the 2nd half of the Europa League encounter. However, Mancini's much-changed line-up conceded twice 2 slump 2 an embarrassing loss.

Mancini has had 2 deal with endless amounts of speculation regarding the harmony of his squad over the past few days following City's defeat @ Wolves. However, he is adamant tat nobody can criticise the club while they remain on course for the main objective: Champions League football.

"The tabloids rage against us because City are headed by an Italian. I'm sorry 2 say, but the English r nationalists in football," Mancini was quoted as saying by the Guardian.

"City are 4th in the standings, & were in 2nd place. The club hv asked me 2 qualify 4 next season's Champions League & we r going well 4 tat.

"Why should I worry abt being fired? Tis does not exist. The team r against me? Lies, all rubbish. There were hard discussions with some players, but the team follows me & the results are arriving."

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Marwood unimpressed with player complaints

Man City football administrator Brian Marwood believes the players unhappy abt Roberto Mancini's training regime "need 2 wake up" & start giving their all 4 the club.

The spotlight has been on Eastlands aft 3 straight defeats, with dressing-room & on-field squabbles - as well as anonymous quotes fr disaffected players appearing in the press - fuelling reports of disharmony.

Mancini's gruelling training regime, which was criticised publicly by Carlos Tevez last season, is thought 2 be 1 reason 4 the problems, but Marwood says the players hv an obligation 2 do whatever is expected of them.

"Roberto is very disciplined," he told the Daily Telegraph. "With the 2 training sessions a day, you'll always hv players who hv an issue with tat.

"Players get in2 a pattern, dropping the kids off @ skool, taking the wife out shopping. 'I can't do tat anymore becos I hv 2 train,' they say. Tat upsets the rhythm. But we'd all give everything 2 be in tat position.

"This is wat players need 2 wake up 2 in terms of the life they hv. These players r under contract, hv obligations 2 our football club. They should train & play 2 the best of their ability.''

Marwood also said tat some agents had created "divisive" situations, telling players 2 agitate 4 moves away, although he was keen 2 stress tat others encouraged their clients 2 fight 4 their place.

"Not all agents r a pain,'' he said. "There r good agents. They k offer a very, very good service 2 players. They unfortunately hv got a bad name.

"Some k be divisive, creating situations @ the club which disrupts individuals & wat the team r capable of producing. It's happened here.''

Marwood understands tat agents profit fr transfers - "A lot of them make their $ by moving players," he said - but revealed the club has changed its approach 2 payment 2 help avert such issues.

"This club had a habit of paying substantial amounts 2 agents. Tat's changed now. If they r doing a good service, I've no problem with them earning good $.

"They get between 2% & 5% of the wages but split over the deal, so if a player signs a 5-yr deal & leaves aft 2, you wouldn't pay the agent the remaining 3 yrs."

Meanwhile, a spokesman 4 Tevez has rubbished suggestions his client is seeking therapy 2 cope with his homesickness.

Tevez has confirmed he is finding it hard spending so much time away fr his daughters, who live in Argentina, but the spokesman says he is dealing with the situation.

"There is not a shred of truth in it," he said in the Daily Mirror. "Carlos is very hurt by these accusations. Of course he misses his daughters, just as any father would in this situation, but 2 suggest there is more 2 it than tat, tat he is suffering some kind of problem tat requires professional help, is simply not true."

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Fergie: Man City will spend until they win

ManU manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes billionaire neighbours ManC will simply keep on spending until they win something.

Speaking ahead of Wed's Manchester derby, Ferguson claimed City could easily spend another £100 million on 5 or 6 players if they need 2 boost the quality of the squad.

United, the only unbeaten team in the top flight & lying 2nd in the Premier League, travel 2 Eastlands with a 3-point lead over their rivals & there is more than just bragging rights @ stake now tat City r genuine title contenders.

"It does put an edge on [the game]. I don't believe there's any question abt tat," Ferguson told Inside United.

"We know the kind of $ they're spending - they've bought another 5 or 6 players in the summer & they'll keep doing tat until they win something. You know tat's going 2 be the way it is & you hv 2 deal with it as it comes along.

"They're up there [challenging for the title] & you can't wait until 2morrow when there's something there 2day. I'm sure they're thinking tat way themselves."

Ferguson has worries over injuries 2 Nani (groin) & Ryan Giggs (hamstring) ahead of the match. England striker Wayne Rooney is still recovering in the USA.

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Mancini confident ahead of derby

Roberto Mancini says ManC r simply targeting a Champions League spot tis season but believes his side k now assert their superiority over ManU.

City recovered fr a run of 3 defeats in all competitions by beating WBA on Sunday, but they will face a significant test of their credentials when they host United in the Premier League on Wed.

The visitors r on a run of 6 consecutive victories going in2 the game, but Mancini is confident City k send a message @ Eastlands.

"We hv respect 4 United & respect 4 Fergie becos he's the top manager in the world, but we k be better than them always now," he said.

"I think tat the Premier League is veri long, veri difficult. It is important 4 us 2 stay in 1st, 2nd, 3rd position. I think Chelsea will win the Premier League, but all the other teams near them k try.

"In my opinion, Chelsea is better than the other teams. Our target must be the Champions League, but we will be there near Chelsea, near United, in January. We will hv a chance."

Sir Alex Ferguson knows City's spending power means they hv the capability 2 keep adding 2 the squad, but he feels tat may not lead 2 title success.

"If clubs hv $ & 1 2 spend it, they will," Ferguson said. "Chelsea did the same; so did Sunderland back in the 1950s. It is not an unusual thing. It is a fact of life.

"The only difference is tat City is an untapped well @ the moment, but it is difficult 2 say whether it is inevitable they r going 2 win the league @ some point.

"Obviously, in many people's eyes, having the money is a lot better than not having it, but it is still a difficult league to win. City recognise that themselves."

City have announced that they no longer plan to keep spending, though, and Mancini responded to Ferguson's comments by saying "the situation changed".

[joew2005]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...ngland&cc=4716

Mancini happy with fourth

Roberto Mancini has claimed he would be happy if the BPL finished now despite criticism in recent weeks.

Aft another summer of heavy spending, some had tipped ManC 2 provide a title challenge tis season aft their 5th-placed finish last season.

However, aft a run of 2 defeats & a draw in the league, City r currently 4th, 7pts behind leaders Chelsea, & the team was accused of a lack of ambition in the wake of the 0-0 draw with ManU.

With City's owners desperate 2 secure a place in the UCL next season, though, Mancini believes the project remains on target.

"If the Premier League finished 2morrow, I m happy," he said. "Our target is 2 get 2 the UCL, but the season is very long.

"It's important 2 stay near the top until Jan & Feb, when the Champions League starts up again. When you get 2 Jan or Feb, the championship changes. Maybe ManU, Chelsea & Arsenal focus more on the Champions League, so it k be different.

"Our target tis season is 2 qualify for the UCL but during the season we k change tat target."

City hv previously indicated tat they will now curtail their spending but, amid reports the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Roque Santa Cruz, Wayne Bridge & Shay Given will move on, Mancini has refused 2 rule out further arrivals.

"Anything k happen in January," he said. "If some players 1 2 leave becos they 1 2 play somewhere else then it is different, but @ the moment there r no problems."