UNITED IN FOR RICHARDS
Not a great day for Manchester City yesterday. Spanked by Middlesbrough of all people, and forced to watch their dear neighbours dance around with another league title.
And The Daily Mail sure isn't going to cheer them up this morning (actually, when does The Daily Mail cheer anyone up?).
As predicted by this column yesterday, they claim that Manchester United are sniffing around Micah Richards like dogs on heat.
They appear to have picked the story out of thin air, but nevertheless plough on with claims that the uncertainty surrounding Sven Goran Eriksson's future at Eastlands may persuade Dr Thaksin and his merry band of human rights enthusiasts to 'cash in on their £20million asset'.
SPURS GAZUMPED FOR ETO'O
It was a long shot anyway, but it seems that Spurs won't be getting Samuel Eto'o after all.
The Daily Mirror reports that those pesky swines at Inter Milan have taken a break from doing their best to chuck away the Serie A title to shimmy in with a massive bid.
The rag claims that Roberto Mancini and friends have scribbled the figure '£32million' (or whatever that is in Euros) on a cheque and posted it to Barcelona in the hope that the Catalans will send Eto'o in return, post-haste.
Oh well. Grzegorz Rasiak will probably be available again.
COPPELL ON HIS WAY
More word from The Daily Mirror, who report that Steve Coppell will be skulking out of Reading this week after taking them down to the Championship.
Coppell, a man who you suspect would sport the same facial expression if someone told him he had to have a leg amputated as if he arrived home to find Scarlett Johansson in his bed, has looked and sounded like a man who would rather be anywhere else this season, so the prospect of 'leading' his side in the second division is unlikely to appeal.
The Mirror claims that Coppell will tell John Madjeski he'll be doing one in a meeting today, and looking at his post-match interview yesterday it's tricky to disagree.
"Inevitably there will be a reassessment and a rejig this summer because that always happens at relegated clubs, and I've got to look at things," he said.
"I've a huge affection for this club and I've got to do what I feel is right for them."
A QUICK ROUND-UP
Given that they actually had some rather important football to write about, there is precious little other hearsay in the tabloids this morning, so here's a quick round-up of the other, not terribly interesting whispers.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce is set to make a £4million bid for AEK Athens' 19-year-old defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, and Sunderland boss Roy Keane is lining up a £2.5million bid for Wolves right-back Kevin Foley, say The Daily Mirror.
Also quick message to The Times: last week called - it wants its gossip back. They 'report' that Freddie Ljungberg will be offered £3million to never darken the door of Upton Park ever again. Which someone else (can't recall who) said a few days ago.
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The Well Done Roy Gossip
Now let's hear what you've got to say about this item... or anything else happening in the world of football. Send in your opinions, rants, praise or abuse to: theeditor@football365.com
Your Comments
shelfsidepaddy
"Gunner4ly, Congrats, we finaly find a male arsenal supporter on this board. All we have witnesed recently is whinging gooners with no balls whatsoever, you are truly unique, and I wish you luck. Now, go back to BEBO where you belong. All the best, Shelfsidepaddy. Tottenham til I die."
Unspecial_One
"barry will certainly go to liverpool unless he got priced out by oneill.. but eto'o to spurs? he is a top striker.. he may follow bbt footsteps... i don't think manU is going for richards, especially at that price.. they got more than enuff quality for covers.."
CompleteFACup
"We just gave Sven the ultimate parting gift. A severse shafting up the @r$e. In the words of Graham Norton "We could be Nancy!""
ak144
"Micah Richards will be an awsome addition to the man u team but I don't think man city r ready to give to their main rivals even with a good financial return... And for all supporters of "Barry, please remain at villa", it just wont happen, he has realized a big club wants him and he will therefore want to move into bigger things such as the champions league and title contenship although personally I don't think he will be able to fit in and as a result lose his place in the team and as well as the England squad. He should think before he leaps..."
CompleteFACup
"OY!!! Whaddaya mean 'spanked by Middlesbrough, of all people.' I know that Boro are, shal we say, a bit hit 'n' miss, we blow 'Hot & Cold'. But to say 'of all people' is a bit harsh. First, if we put in a good performance, it's a bit of a compliment to Man City. We are notorious for playing well against the 'big' teams and then not turning up against the relegation fodder. Being spanked 8-1, I say again 8-flamin'-1, is the ultimate compliment by Boros standards. Now, about how everyone has reported the match. MOTD had us on SEVENTH. I can understand being behind the title chasers and the relegation battlers but why were we pushed in behind Evertons 3-1 win over Newcastle? Next, every time the match is mentioned, the report starts with Sven-Goran Eriksson blah sacked blah Thaksin Shinawatra blah blah blah. Sod Eriksson and his despotic employer. So he gets sacked. With a £6million payoff and a new job in Portugal, where its warm. Am I supposed to care about poor old Svennis getting the push? I care more about seeing my own team actually getting some credit for the thumping one of the FA's 'New Money Darlings' squarely on its Mancunian nose and saying 'See you all next season!' Instead, we get all the typical dross " The players weren't at the game", "their minds were on other things" and the ridiculous hintings that City threw the game to demonstrate their disgust with the treatment of the manager. Its funny how such matters off the pitch become the focus of the match report. If we're going to focus on 'off-pitch' matters, then how come there's very little mention of the Man City fans fighting with the police at the end of the game and ripping seats out at the Riverside? (OK, insert your own 'Boro can't fill all their seats, anyway' dig here). Had it been Boro fans at Main Road, we would be looking at a points deduction and no seating allocation next season."
andyt99
""Wigan boss Steve Bruce is set to make a £4million bid for AEK Athens' 19-year-old defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos" "I expect to finance the deal with the sale of shirt letters", he probably said later. "
damo14lfc
"seen his celebration alright but still reckon he is on his way to liverpool. he wants to play in the champions league and won't get that at villa..."
Gunner4lyf
"Howzit guys and gals. Im a male arsenal supporter. Email me on zabhimsan@gmail.com if yourll wana chat. isint walcott great. that pace is amazing. and just imagine if nasri and ben afra join the arsenal. one word.........unstoppable"
technoturkey
"Nice to see that there is no mention of Gareth Barry going to Liverpool yet today, anyone who saw his celebration with the fans when he scored against West Ham will agree that his heart clearly still belongs to the Villa. www.keepbarryatvilla.com "
felderkirk
"Paul Scholes is moving into his new house in Portsmouth later today. "
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