November 10, 201015 yr Sir Alex Ferguson: Man City Are All Mouth And No Trophies Sir Alex Ferguson taunted Manchester City ahead of tonight’s derby by telling them to stop talking big or prove it by winning a trophy. City became the richest club in the world following Sheikh Mansour’s takeover and have spent £320million on players as they aim for the same level as local rivals United. But Fergie criticised City for talking themselves up and said their long-suffering fans would rather see a trophy – their last one was in 1976 – than hear bold statements of intent from their club’s hierarchy. He said: “I think if you were to ask City’s supporters they’d prefer to see a trophy paraded through the city before they start getting carried away.” “There was one City fan who got a tattoo on his body saying ‘European Cup Winners!’ I mean, people get carried away. Unfortunately supporters are just as bad as directors. “I just think a lot of their supporters would probably prefer to see a trophy before they start screaming from the rooftops.” The war of words between the two clubs intensified ahead of tonight’s Manchester derby showdown at Eastlands, with Fergie renewing hostilities with City over their controversial poster campaign involving Carlos Tevez. City revelled in poaching Tevez from United by launching a poster featuring a picture of the striker with the words ‘Welcome to Manchester’ emblazoned across him on billboards in Manchester, portraying themselves as the city’s authentic club. Fergie branded City a “small club with a small mentality” for the poster idea and revealed his enduring anger over it yesterday, calling those behind it “stupid” and claiming many of their fans were “embarrassed” over the whole episode. “I don’t know what created that poster,” said Fergie. “It was probably some advertising gimmick somewhere along the line, but I don’t think they can be proud of it. I don’t see how they thought that would get more points off us as opposed to playing against us on a football pitch. “I said it at the time that I thought it was stupid and they probably think that now. I think it was probably worthwhile for maybe some of their supporters, but not all of them. Others will have been embarrassed by it.” Despite his anger towards City, Fergie said he was fired up for tonight’s clash and said there was nowhere else in the world he would rather be than the Manchester derby. “I think these games are fantastic,” said Fergie. “What would you rather do? Manage a game between Manchester United and City or watch Carlisle versus Crewe? You know what I mean? It’s different ends of the spectrum. “You’ll be involved in a game of great emotions, a full house - these are the games you want to be at.” Ferguson’s options for tonight’s game have been undermined by a bug that has swept through his squad. The manager said several players were sent home from training after complaining of feeling unwell, while MUTV - United’s in-house TV station - had a scheduled interview with Paul Scholes cancelled due to illness. Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, who played against Wolves on Saturday despite feeling ill, have been given the all-clear to play, as has fellow defender Rio Ferdinand. http://foreign.peacefmonline.com
November 10, 201015 yr Sir Alex Ferguson hits out at 'embarrassing' Manchester City Ferguson says City have 'got carried away' by sudden wealth Sir Alex Ferguson has derided what he perceives to be Manchester City's habit of "screaming from the rooftops" since coming into the immense wealth of the Abu Dhabi United Group and questioned whether some of the club's supporters were "embarrassed" by the way those in charge at Eastlands had conducted themselves. Ferguson, in typically provocative mood ahead of the first Manchester derby of the season, was almost certainly referring to City's chief executive, Garry Cook, who was once filmed bragging to supporters about building "without doubt the biggest and best football club in the world". Cook has curtailed his media duties after a series of gaffes but Ferguson believes the richest club on the planet have allowed themselves to "get carried away", and the Manchester United manager still holds a grudge about the "Welcome to Manchester" billboard posted after Carlos Tevez left Old Trafford to join City. Ferguson said: "I don't know what created that – probably some advertising gimmick – but I don't think they can be proud of it. I don't see how they thought that would get more points off us as opposed to playing against us on a football pitch. I said at the time I thought it was stupid and they probably think that themselves now. I think it was probably worthwhile for maybe some of their supporters, but not all of them. Others will have been embarrassed. If you ask their supporters I think they would prefer to see a trophy paraded through the city before they start getting carried away like that. "I mean, there was one City fan who put a tattoo around his body saying 'European Cup winners'. People get carried away. Unfortunately supporters are just as bad as directors. But I think a lot of their supporters would probably prefer to see a trophy paraded before they start screaming from the rooftops." This is a theme Ferguson has developed before, at various times describing City as "cocky" and "all talk." YetMancini took great care not to utter anything even remotely controversial at his own press conference, the City manager saying: "We must have respect for the top teams like United and Chelsea, those teams that have won things in recent years." Ferguson has made no secret of his dislike of the modern-day City and his tone hardened when it was put to him that the vast finances coming in from Abu Dhabi left United facing a considerable challenge. "Excuse me, but it was Chelsea who won the league," he said firmly. "That's our challenge. We have to chase Chelsea, and if you don't recognise who won the league then you're very foolish." Ferguson's impression of the club he has described as United's "noisy neighbours" is not improved by the sense that Wayne Rooney had been made aware of the huge financial riches on offer at City before his recent contract dispute at Old Trafford. Ferguson said he could not answer questions on the subject because there had been no official approach, but it is widely known that Cook and his colleagues were optimistic of Rooney joining them. "That's them," Ferguson said when pressed further. "Don't ask me, Christ." Rooney's fitness issues look like they could jeopardise his involvement in England's friendly against France next week - "He can be available only if he's fit and at this moment he's not," Ferguson said – but the bigger concern for United is the virus that has affected 10 of their players, and the manager himself, ahead of tomorrow night's game at Eastlands."I've no idea where to begin with my team, no idea at all," Ferguson said. "We've still got players out with flu and some were sent home yesterday so we're not in a great position." The problem is exacerbated by a long injury list and, though City are not convinced by Ferguson's claims that Ryan Giggs and Nani will miss the game, Mancini could be forgiven for thinking this is a good time to face Ferguson's men. Mario Balotelli, who has lost his appeal against the three-match ban for his red card at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, is suspended, but City have no other injury worries, with Emmanuel Adebayor able to train today despite a sore calf. United, though, are unbeaten in their past 24 games. "I watched Match of the Day on Saturday and they said we were hopeless," Ferguson said. "We had five world-class players out of the team [against Wolverhampton Wanderers]. We were playing with three players up front with only 30 games experience between them and we still won 2-1. I thought our result was a fantastic achievement given all the problems we have in the dressing room." http://www.guardian.co.uk
November 10, 201015 yr Come on Liverpool! Make it 4 in a row tonight and then they're 2 points ahead of Tottenham! And do I want Man Utd to beat Man City tonight? Why not! But a draw is preferrable!
November 10, 201015 yr If Torres scores tonight I will be a happy man - I've inserted him into the fantasy team. He's on the up!
November 10, 201015 yr If Torres scores tonight I will be a happy man - I've inserted him into the fantasy team. He's on the up!ok maybe not, he replaced Chamakh who's already scored after 30 seconds :dozey:
November 10, 201015 yr loved the way the commentator just described ji sung park as "the perennial chaser of lost causes"
November 10, 201015 yr Aaaaah! Wigan 1 - 1 Liverpool Pissin annoying. Torres scores! GREAT! They then go into defence mode and sit so deep not pressing them at all and Wigan get a deserved equaliser just after the break. Sorry Hodgson - but you're away record as a football manager is utterly shocking and will have to improve BY AT LEAST 50% for you to have any hope of staying on as Liverpool manager. Did you know that's 7 wins in 68 away Premier League matches for Hodgson. Not good. Sort it out - quickly. p.s - the Manchester derby was BORRRRRING from what I heard.
November 10, 201015 yr Man City 0 - 0 Man Utd Manchester City and Manchester United cancelled each other out as they shared the spoils in a disappointing derby. With both clubs in the top four much was expected at Eastlands but the game spectacularly failed to deliver as they each seemed to settle for a point. City's best effort came before the break when Carlos Tevez saw his 25-yard free-kick saved by Edwin van der Sar. United went close when Dimitar Berbatov volleyed acrobatically at Joe Hart, but neither side deserved to win it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9163093.stm
November 10, 201015 yr City didnt even look like they wanted to win. at least United started to push near the end of the game. and why mancini waited until the 93rd min to bring adebayor on is beyond me and that was mancini's first attacking sub from his 79 million pound bench.
November 10, 201015 yr all we need is Bart to come online and tell us all that 0-0 is a good result for City and we can all go to bed! :snore: :laugh3:
November 10, 201015 yr The reason Adebayor was brought on was because they wanted to settle for a draw from the very start. Newsflash to anyone thinking City are chasing for the title this year: they're playing the weaker of 2 title contenders at home and they consistently had 10 men in their own half. You're supposed to be pressurising the other team in this scenario. Best example was around 10/15mins to go when City had a corner (One of many) and when the ball broke away to a United player with acres of space, you're thinking "Counter attack-" until you realise that the full City defence is way down the pitch waiting. loved the way the commentator just described ji sung park as "the perennial chaser of lost causes" Hahaha
November 11, 201015 yr The highlights of the Manchester derby were boring enough, so I dread to think what watching the whole match would have been like.:dozey:
November 11, 201015 yr ^it was a waste of time, completely disappointing for the fans who were there as well. Best example was around 10/15mins to go when City had a corner (One of many) and when the ball broke away to a United player with acres of space, you're thinking "Counter attack-" until you realise that the full City defence is way down the pitch waiting. yeah, this.
November 11, 201015 yr not often i say this but i thoroughly enjoyed the commentary this morning particularly the regular snide remarks they made at city's ridiculous spending methods.
November 11, 201015 yr I'll quit if I'm fined - Blackpool boss Ian Holloway [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIXue9WF6_A]YouTube - Blackpool manager Ian Holloway rages at reporters at Villa Park press conference[/ame] Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has said he will resign if the Premier League punish him for fielding a weakened team in the 3-2 defeat against Aston Villa. The Seasiders boss made 10 changes to the side that had drawn 2-2 against Everton at Bloomfield Road on Saturday. A similar move by Mick McCarthy last season resulted in Wolves getting a suspended £25,000 Premier League fine. But Holloway said he would "pack it in" if he was punished and declared: "I've got every right to do what I like." The Premier League is understood to be investigating Holloway's decision, but the Blackpool manager added: "We deserved at least a point and how dare anybody tell me the players I've been working with, I can't treat them with respect and give them a chance. I'm manager of Blackpool and I manage the players how I want. If some bright spark from the Premier League wants to tell me who I can pick then come and have a cup of coffee and you'll probably get it chucked in your lap. "Let them try and fine me, it's an absolute disgrace. I'll show the Premier League. We were a credit to football, and let the Premier League try to tell me otherwise." Speaking after the match at Villa Park on Wednesday, Holloway had admitted that making such wholesale changes may have looked like a "crazy" move. But Holloway said his hand was forced by the busy Premier League calendar. "We've got four games in 12 days and the lads I've played every week are struggling to keep up the level," he stated. With regulars like Charlie Adam, Stephen Crainey and Matt Gilks left out, Holloway gave six players their first Premier League start in a line-up which had 12 top-flight starts between them. I picked a team that I spent a lot of money on," Holloway added. "The right-back (Chris Basham) cost me £1m. The Israeli centre-half (Dekel Keinan) is an international. Jason Euell was my captain last year. Ludovic Sylvestre, I paid £600,000 for him. We've got more points (14) than any of you people ever thought we would get. If you talk about the game, we earned at least a point. How dare anyone tell me the players I've been working with, I can't give them a chance. Tonight they have enhanced their reputation." Despite his decision to pick a largely second-string side, Blackpool almost left Villa Park with a point after a lively display. Marlon Harewood and DJ Campbell both scored to cancel out goals from Stewart Downing and Nathan Delfouneso but Villa defender James Collins headed a late winner to deny the Seasiders at the death. Holloway said he was disappointed not to get at least a point from the match but he was proud of the players he had brought in. He added: "That was a test for us and our strength in depth and a test for the ones who haven't played and I'm bursting with pride because they were fantastic. I felt their performance more than at least deserved a point. The whole club has been represented magnificently today." Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier was impressed by Blackpool's fearless display. When I saw their team line-up I was extremely worried," said the Frenchman. "They had nothing to lose and they threw everything at us. Holloway deserves great credit for what he's doing. They throw everything offensively and make the game spectacular. I hope they stay up." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/9178229.stm
November 11, 201015 yr Barton's cheap shot punch on Pedersen was pathetic, and acting like it was only a slap on the chest when confronted by the ref, what a coward. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CO6ymxxLg8]YouTube - Joey Barton Punches Pedersen[/ame]
November 11, 201015 yr Barton's a goldenboy and he was trying to kill a wasp who was about to sting the fool. TOON TOON ARMY
November 12, 201015 yr Barton's cheap shot punch on Pedersen was pathetic, and acting like it was only a slap on the chest when confronted by the ref, what a coward. YouTube - Joey Barton Punches Pedersen Just when it seemed he might have finally put his bad ways behind him too.:dozey: Well you know what they say about leopards and spots.:rolleyes:
November 12, 201015 yr you can get odds of 2/1 at the bookies for Carroll to start for England v France next week!
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