By Chris Wright
For the record, we're not talking 'blessed with a gift from the gods' special here, we're
talking 'eating the crayons again' special...
Adam Johnson, England: Thumbs up if you're enjoying
yourself...
Dieter Hecking, Nuremburg: Looks like the kind of chap that doesn't have to pay
on local buses.
Chasing after his former self, not the opponent
Carling Cup returns to the menu as the victors of tonight's game will seal their path into the
semi final of this competition. It won't be so easy to win this year's competitions, well, compared
to our run last season. Apart from Manchester City, there's still Manchester United, Chelsea and
Liverpool still in this competition.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Kickette Army boys and girls, it's time to put a little deposit in your karma bank (yes, ours is
overdrawn, but we'll make up for it with some short tents, pinky swearsies).
In fact, nice healthy short tents and the men who pitch them are important to all of us, so in
support of Cancer Research UK's Do Me A Favour campaign, we encourage you to send any men in your
lives a friendly check-up reminder from Gary Lineker.
Sergio Agüero made an impressive debut for Manchester City and he scored twice and assisted on
another as Manchester City beat Swansea City 4-0.
Aguero started the game on the bench as Man City lacked that cutting edge in front of goal in
the first half. Swansea goalkeeper Michal Vorm was impressive in his debut for the Welsh site
making a string of saves while David Silva and Gareth Barry both hit the crossbar
But eventually Man City's class told in the 57th minute when Vorm failed to hold Adam Johnson's
curling effort into the path of Džeko, who tapped in.
By Chris Wright
In no particular order, Pies brings you a run-down of ten of the brightest young buttons on the
Premier League's tweed waistcoat (to coin a phrase) for you to keep your peepers fixated on next
season...
1. James McCarthy, 20, Wigan
His classy, mature style has already made him a first-team regular and a crowd favourite at the
DW.
Ian Walton/Getty Images(Bleacher Report)The FA Community Shield provided just the kind of match
that the English Premier League needed to build this coming weekends opening fixtures.
Manchester City stormed out of the gates to take a 2-0 advantage into the break, and nearly ruined
my Manchester United victory prediction from last Thursday.
Liverpool's Strikeforce: Luis Suarez & Andy Carroll
I should have spent more time on Sunderland in my preview of their match versus Liverpool, but I
didn't want to make it a season preview. They definitely need to add attacking options and put a
leash on Lee Cattermole. But Stéphane Sessègnon is impressive; Ahmed Elmohamady, Kieran
Richardson & Gyan are all big factors, and their back line was well organized, essentially making
Andy Carroll irrelevant.
Mario Balotelli is knuckling down to life in the Premier League. How else can you explain two
accomplished performances in his two latest outings? Scoring goals has always been easy for the
Italian, his attitude has always been questioned. This season, however, he has let his boots do the
talking.
The Los Angeles Galaxy opened their Asia Pacific Tour in winning fashion, posting a 1-0 victory
over the Indonesian National Select Team on Wednesday.
Robbie Keane scored the winner for the Galaxy, who trotted out the same starting lineup that
defeated the Houston Dynamo in the MLS Cup Final just ten games earlier.
Photo by ISIPhotos.com
After parting ways with Freddie Ljungberg earlier in the off-season, it appears the Chicago Fire
will begin the 2011 season without either of its 2010 Designated Players.
According to reports in Mexico and Greece, Mexican striker Nery Castillo is set to join Greek
club Aris FC on a loan for the rest of the European season.
Five days ago, I wasn't much looking forward to Saturday, but how quickly things can change; all
it took was £26m! Seriously though, it's amazing what a boost the acquisition of Darren
Bent has provided. To everyone, fans and players alike it would seem;
Gabby, Ash & James Collins all waxing lyrical
about Bent joining the team.
The Sun in the early hours this morning is reporting that Roman Abramovich wants more "thrilling
and sexy football" and intends to bankroll another £80m this summer to bring in players to three
areas that have been identified that need bolstering. The three positions are:
- A creative midfielder
- A flying winger
- A solid right back.
Rich club Manchester City are starting to grow themselves into one of the main power in the
Premier League especially having already splashing millions in building such a competitive squad
especially this season.
Considering that fact, City's winger, Adam Johnson, felt a little bit disappointed that his club
still unable to compete on the title race in this final stage of the season, despite having the
chance to do it earlier in the competition.
Chelsea v Newcastle 2011 Final score:- Chelsea vs Newcastle 2-2 ( Jonas Guiterrez, Steven Taylor/
Branislav Ivanovic, Alex) Steven Taylor's injury time goal allows Newcastle United to draw 2-2
against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were playing in their new 11/12 home kit against
Newcastle. The 2-2 draw vs Newcastle was also Chelsea's last home [.
Manchester City moved into third place in the Premier League ahead of Arsenal and into that all
important automatic place in next season's Champions League after beating Stoke City 3-0.
These two same teams met in the FA Cup Final at the weekend, and this time City did not waste
the early chances like they did at Wembley.
Manchester City moved into third place in the Premier League ahead of Arsenal and into that all
important automatic place in next season's Champions League after beating Stoke City 3-0.
These two same teams met in the FA Cup Final at the weekend, and this time City did not waste
the early chances like they did at Wembley.
Manchester City's strong finish in the premier league this season by reaching the third place
position and also a success in winning the FA Cup have pretty much boosted the players confidence
in competing with their city rival, Manchester United, next season.
One of the Eastlands' players, who believe that his team are really close in rivaling United is
Adam Johnson, as the winger thinks that with a little bit tweaking they will be able to battle for
the league.
Swansea's Sinclair deserving of England call? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Anointing a youngster "future England regular" is an exercise both in optimism and presumption.
There have been several recent nominees for the position future England star from Jermaine Defoe,
through Jack Wilshere, Andy Carroll and even Adam Johnson.
Liverpool is reportedly interested in Man City winger Adam Johnson and will look to make an offer
for the England international this summer. The former Middlesbrough wide man has had an up and down
time at Eastlands and spent much of last season on the bench and has voiced his concern at lack of
regular first team football and has locked horns with Roberto Mancini on the matter.
Thomas Rooney takes a look at England's prospects in the UEFA U21
tournament, which started yesterday.
The domestic football season may well be over, but the serious stuff for England Under-21
manager Stuart Pearce is just getting underway.
The former Manchester City boss leads England's young guns in the European Under-21
Championships this month, starting with a game against tournament favourites Spain today.
Whilst watching England's latest debacle unfold, I kept hearing blunt phrases and outbursts
hurled at the TV such as ‘That Walcott is bloody useless!', ‘what's he doing now?!?', ‘Oh God
not Walcott again' and ‘DO SOMETHING WITH THE BALL YOU MUPPET!!'. Then I realised it was my
voice.
England under-21 boss Stuart Pearce says he will stay on in the role despite his side's
disappointing showing at the European Championships in Denmark.
Two late goals from the Czech Republic meant Pearce's young side crashed out in only the group
stages of the competition despite both players and management insisting they believed they had the
ability within the squad to win the competition.
Liverpool appear to be one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market as they are continually
linked with a number of possible signings, the latest being Manchester City midfielder James
Milner.
The England regular made the move to Eastlands last season and despite moving for £26million
failed to make a huge impression on boss Roberto Mancini, making just 22 league appearances and not
scoring a single Premier League goal.
Everton is the latest club to be linked with a move for Manchester City winger Adam Johnson.
The England international has been on the radar of a handful of clubs this summer as speculation
mounts that he could leave Eastlands.
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish was reportedly considering a move less than a fortnight ago, with the
Daily Star Sunday claiming the Scot has taken a keen interest in the former Middlesbrough man.
We waited and waited: Samuel Beckett did write about this though
Man City showed us two ways they could score goals. A clever set piece and an open field
piledriver which David De Gea could have stopped.
United showed a dozen ways. The equalizer was initiated by Tom Cleverly and what ensued was an
intricate web of passes with preternatural positioning involving Danny Welbeck, Wayne Rooney, and
Nani as they wove their way around a tightly packed City defense.
By Chris Wright
Seems like those 45 impressive minutes during the Community Shield yesterday were enough for Tom
Cleverley to catch Fabio Capello's eye, as the Manchester United midfielder has been brought into
the England squad to play Holland in a friendly at Wembley on Wednesday though it's worth pointing
out that Jack Wilshere and Michael Carrick have both dropped out through injury to free up some
space.
According to the Daily Star, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is lining up a move for
wantaway Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar. The Croatian has been unsettled at White Hart Lane for
months now, and Bruce is reportedly aiming to sign the midfielder before this weekend's opener.
The report also indicated that the move could be a season-long loan, which would give Kranjcar
the chance to impress before securing a long-term move.
Liverpool are reportedly set for another spending spree in January as Kenny Dalglish is being
linked with moves for Chelsea's Salomon Kalou and Manchester City's Adam Johnson.
The Reds have had a mixed start to their campaign, with some impressive outings being
overshadowed by a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Spurs, which followed a disappointing 1-0 reverse away
to Stoke.
Adam Johnson scores a sensational opener as Manchester City beat Blackburn 4-0
at Ewood Park today.
Adam Johnson scores a sensational opener as Manchester City beat Blackburn 4-0
at Ewood Park today.
Continuing where they left off on Sunday Manchester City came from behind to beat Wolverhampton
Wanderers 5-2 to move into the Carling Cup quarters.
Nenad Milijas opened the scoring for the Wolves but City levelled ithrough Adam Johnson.Samir Nasri
beat the Wolves defence with sheer pace 3 minutes later and scored.
Their fifth straight victory and a 5 point lead. Goals from Edin Dzeko, Aleksandar Kolarov and
Adam Johnson made it 36 goals for Man City in their first 10 games.Levante's miracle run in the La
Liga have put a spanner in the works of the two horse theory there.The EPL now looks that it might
become a 2 horse race instead.
I'm proud of the team today.
An Arsenal side composed mostly of our youth players and our second string benchwarmers did much
better than anybody expected, outplaying a "reserve" Man City side that still had the likes of
Nasri, Dzeko, Aguero, Johnson, and De Jong on the pitch and which likely cost more to assemble than
15 first XI's in the EPL.
Manchester City continue their winning run after last weekend's victory over Arsenal by gaining
another important victory, this time against Stoke City at Etihad Stadium.
The result brought the Eastlands closer in getting the half season champion as they would need
one more victory to seal that temporary morale boosting achievement.
Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez scored to keep Manchester United at the top of the Barclays
Premier League on goal difference with a 2-1 win at West Brom. Rooney opened the scoring when he
headed in Patrice Evra's cross on three minutes but James Morrison equalised with a long-range
shot.
Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez scored to keep Manchester United at the top of the Barclays
Premier League on goal difference with a 2-1 win at West Brom. Rooney opened the scoring when he
headed in Patrice Evra's cross on three minutes but James Morrison equalised with a long-range
shot.
Arsenal o Man City 0
(Premiership)
There is having a penchant for defensive midfielders, there is playing cautiously and hitting
teams on the break, and then there the sort of display City put in last night. Dour, dull but
effective, it was the single most negative performance I've seen in many years, from an expensively
assembled side with plenty of available attacking talent (ignore the absences of Silva and
Balotelli, when you spend hundreds of millions on ready made players and leave the likes of Adam
Johnson out, you cannot complain about a couple of injuries).
Thousands of undiscovered footballers from around the world have been competing for a contract
with the Nike Academy 2011/12. Nike will provide a full season learning from top-level coaches and
playing in front of Premier League scouts in the UK.
The final 100 players will shortly be pared down to the eight winners.
When you sign as many players as Manchester City has, at some point there has to be a mass
exodus as players get fed up not playing.
Yesterday defender Wayne Bridges moved to West Ham United on loan for the rest of the season and
it appears that Shaun Wright-Phillips and Roque Santa Cruz are both look set to leave Eastlands
before the end of the month.
On a day when the Barclay's Premier League came back into action after a Cup break,
Wolverhampton made the trip north to face Manchester City. The match was won by City, but not
without some tense moments brought on by some inspired play from Wolves.
CITY FORMATION: City started the match in a 4-4-1-1 formation.
