Old pals on target in exciting score draw |
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'Hull City 2-2 Manchester City: More frustration for Mark Hughes'
Mark Hughes received two votes of confidence from his bosses, and the promise of £200 million to spend this week, but City couldn’t end the week the win he really needed.
As long as his already expensively assembled outfit turn in performances that lurch from swashbuckling attack to lacklustre indifference and sloppiness, questions will be asked about their ability to make the breakthrough that is being demanded.
Hughes was thankful for Stephen Ireland’s finishing prowess for the point, which could have been a win, and they had ample chances at the death to snatch it.
There was also slapstick defending from both sides, gift-wrapped goals were exchanged by hapless defensive errors, and a barnstorming finale ensued in which Hull narrowly survived with a point.
Both sides ended a three game Premier League losing streak. "Happy enough with it, but it should have been more," admitted Hughes.
City have won just once all season away from home, at Sunderland back in August, and this was only their second point on their travels. Improvement is required and Hughes admits as much.
He said: "It will take time, we are not the finished article. We needed a positive performance after three defeats. We will take it," said Hughes.
"That is the sort of game that brings crowds back, although we are already full. We gifted them a goal, and they gifted us one," said Hull boss Phil Brown.
Never mind chasing Kaka and champagne signings in January, Hughes will be looking for a rock solid defender.
A centre back will have been added to Hughes shopping list after last night’s comedy show of defending from Tal Ben Haim.
Ben Haim can be grateful he was bailed out before the half was up be an equally calamitous mistake by home defender Kamil Zayatte.
The Israeli’s terribly, sloppy error turned an innocuous passage of play into an opener for Hull. Micah Richards laid a simple pass square across the penalty box, and Ben Haim wafted a lazy foot at it to knock back to keeper Joe Hart.
The weak mis-kick drifted half way to Hart and Cousin pounced to stab a right foot under the keeper. Hart suffered an ankle injury during the challenge and hobbled off ruling him out of England duty.
It was Cousins fourth strike of the season and his first in front of the home fans.
Hull had lost three in row, stuck on the 20 point mark after their remarkable start. Phil Brown warned that total will be getting his club nothing this season. "We’ve had slaps on the back, plaudits but we have to move on mentally from all that."
Yet with errors creeping in at the back like the one Zayette executed after 37 minutes, it will be no surprise if Hull start to struggle. They had controlled the game until gifting City a route back.
A mis-places through ball from Robinho was trickling through to Bo Myhill when Zayette swept up 12 yards out. But he manages somehow to trap his second touch five yards away and into the path of Stephen Ireland.
He was left with a tap in for his fifth of a season in which he has shone as much as any of his expensive new team mates.
He wasn’t finished there. Soon the chant of "Ireland is Superman" in reference to his infamous novelty underpants celebration, was being struck up after a cracking finish.
Just 30 seconds from half time, Ireland collected from Javier Garrido’s run down the left and saw a gap where none existed. A right foot curled shot around a bevy of defenders nestled out of Myhill’s reach.
City should have had a penalty too. Skipper for the day Robinho, who can hardly have enjoyed the freezing East Yorkshire temperature, had little success with his probing before half time, but one shot was blocked by Michael Turner’s arm.
Giovanni, who had a special hug for Robinho in the tunnel, livened Hull up with a brilliant overhead kick that flew just over after the break, before conjuring a leveller.
Hull won a free kick 25 yards out and the Brazilian hit into the wall - but the big deflection off Vincent Kompany’s head deceived Schmeichel. It was Giovanni’s sixth of the campaign.
The former Barcelona striker only made two Premier League starts at City last season and has a last gasp chance to win it.
He has three chances at a 20 yard free kick, with Shaun Wright Phillips and Ireland booked for encroachment, but his final effort was deflected narrowly wide.
Darius Vassell should have grabbed the winner as the clock struck 90 minutes when Ireland nodded him free in on goal, but Myhill saved.
Hughes will be expected to deliver more than a point from games like this, but it stopped the rot. Arsenal are up next.
Hero: Stephen Ireland. Proving you don’t have to cost millions and have a fancy name to do the business at City. 8
Villain: Take your pick. Tal Ben Haim for his comedy capers, or Kamil Zayette for upstaging his error. 4
Anorak:City had not won at Hull in the league for 99 years.
Teams: Hull: Myhill 7, McShane 6, Zayatte 4, Turner 6, Ricketts 6, Marney 5, Ashbee 6, Boateng 6, giovanni 7, King 6, Cousin 6
Manchester City: Hart (Schmeichel 16 6), Zabaleta 5, Ben Haim 4, Richards 6, Garrido 6, Wright-Phillips 6, Robinho 6. Kompany 6, Ireland 8, Vassell 6, Benjani 5.
The Daily Mail add...
'Joe Hart joins the England crocks.....so Paul Robinson makes international return'
Joe Hart could be ruled out for a month after limping out of Manchester City's 2-2 draw at Hull with an ankle injury.
Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who has not played for England for 13 months, replaces the 21-year-old for the Germany friendly.
And finally, Robinho's got his own Christmas wish list as the Sun tells us...
'Robinho reveals Kaka hope'
ROBINHO has urged Manchester City to make a move for AC Milan star Kaka.
The Brazilian forward has recently pledged his future at Eastlands, claiming they can grow bigger than his previous club Real Madrid.
And now Robinho believes boss Mark Hughes, backed by the mega-rich Abu Dhabi United Group, should try and sign his international team-mate.
He said: "Kaka is a great player and a great person.
"He's so strong, intelligent and fast. Obviously I'm hoping that I can play with him here at City.
If Kaka or any other great player wants to come here the door is open.
"It's great when we have players like that mentioned with the club. We love it, and the ambition of the owners.
"All the players are hoping to make this club the best in the world."
Diarra linked with City |
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"DIARRA TIED UP BY CITY"
Manchester City have beaten Tottenham and Manchester United to the £10million signing of Portsmouth's Lassana Diarra.
City have blown their rivals out of the water with an £85,000-a-week wage offer and the deal is described as 'virtually done'.
Under-fire City chief Mark Hughes is desperate to shore up his struggling team with a quality holding midfielder.
Diarra, 23, has a get-out clause in his Pompey deal enabling him to talk to any club who offer £10m.
Ex-Pompey chief Harry Redknapp wanted to take Diarra to Spurs and United chief Alex Ferguson saw him as a replacement for injury hit Owen Hargreaves.
But neither can compete with City's skyhigh wage offer as the club's new Arab owners flex their muscles.
Pompey need to sell players in January and have long been resigned to losing Diarra, who was outstanding in last season's FA Cup win.
City will become his fourth Premier League club in just 18 months, having been at Arsenal and Chelsea.
Also in The People -
"SHUT IT! EXCLUSIVE - Hamann tells Elano to stop moaning and fire up revival"
Didi Hamann insists Elano and any other unhappy player should keep their mouths shut and start helping Mark Hughes and Manchester City out of trouble.
The veteran German midfielder believes the Brazilian playmaker, who last week moaned about being left out by City boss Hughes, needs to just get on with it.
And the message from him, after reports that Elano's fellow countrymen Robinho and Jo are also unhappy with Welshman Hughes, is simple. He declared: "We have to stick together. That is the way to get out of our current situation.
"Elano is entitled to his opinion and it is good that he wants to be playing.
"But if I have been in that situation my attitude has always been that I work and train and try to show the manager that he is wrong not to be playing me."
If City lose at Hull today it will be the club's worst start to a Premier League season since they were relegated 13 years ago.
Hamann added: "I think the Brazilians are happy
Meanwhile the Sunday Mirror has an 'exclusive' of its own, that also crops in several other papers!
"Robinho urges Kaka to join him at Manchester City - Exclusive"
Robinho has urged Kaka to join him at Manchester City - insisting that the Blues can become the biggest club in the world.
Manager Mark Hughes may want a reality check on the expectations of the City fans following the shock summer takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
But £32.5m British record signing Robinho says that he joined the Blues from Real Madrid because he bought into the Arabian dream of City becoming the No 1 club in football.
Now Robinho wants Kaka to join the Brazilian revolution at City after vowing to have the last laugh on those critics who claim he's only here for the money.
"Kaka is fantastic and has so much ability. He is a great player and a great person," said Robinho.
"He is strong, intelligent and fast. Obviously I hope I can play with him here.
"If Kaka or any other great player wants to come here, the door is open.
"It's great when we have players like that mentioned with the club. Obviously we love it, and the ambition of the owners.
"All the players are hoping to make this club the best in the world. I came to Manchester City because I see them growing and getting bigger. Can they be as big as Real Madrid? Yes, I hope so.
"I am enjoying it and my aim is to become the best player in the world."
Daily Star Sunday
"SIGN MY PAL KAKA - ROBINHO URGES £80M CITY BID"
BRAZILIAN superstar Robinho has sensationally pledged his long-term future to Manchester City and urged his boss Mark Hughes: Get me my mate Kaka.
City’s new samba star is determined to persuade the AC Milan legend to quit Serie A and join him in the new sky blue revolution under Hughes.
Kaka, 26, would cost City a staggering £80million but that’s no problem for the Blues boss, who can comfortably dip into a £200m pot of oil well reserves.
Robinho can only see good times ahead in a City shirt – and says things can only get better if Hughes can capture his Brazilian team-mate Kaka.
He said: “Kaka’s a great player and a great person. He’s so strong, intelligent and fast. Obviously I’m hoping that I can play with him here at City.
“If Kaka or any other great player wants to come here then the door’s open. All the players here are happy to try to make this club the best in the world.”
He added: “There are other players I admire and respect in Brazil, too, such as Ronaldinho and of course, Kaka.”
Robinho, 24, claims he couldn’t be any happier at Eastlands even though the recent slump in City’s Premier League form saw his fellow countryman Elano publically criticising Hughes.
He is committed to the club and in his first major interview since his shock £32m move from Real Madrid, rubbishes claims that he is a one-season wonder more interested in cash than football.
Robinho added: “I hope to play here for many years. I hope to make history at this club and become one of the great heroes of Manchester City. I’m in a very good phase and I hope this will continue.
“The best form of my career? Maybe. I’m enjoying it here and my aim is to become the best player in the world.
“I hope I can do that here.”
The star revealed what it was that tempted him to the blue of Manchester in the first place.
“I came to City because I saw them growing and making progress.
“Can they be as big as Real Madrid? I hope so, yes.
“But all that I need is to be looking at the ball and playing – just that is my main inspiration.”
Robinho is so determined to be a success at City and leave an amazing footballing legacy for fans that he’s even quit his playboy lifestyle.
Now he’s happier staying at home with his fiancée Vivian and baby son Robson junior.
Robinho added: “My happiness off the field is important. I try to bring my joy on to the pitch. Now, feeling good outside of football helps to make my dribbling more successful and I score more goals.
“I help out at home with everything and I’m very proud. I’m always thinking about my son and dedicate all my goals to him. My thumb-sucking celebration is for him.
“But my wife is a bit jealous now because I used to celebrate for her.”
Meanwhile, City midfield maestro Stephen Ireland reckons that City’s cash-rich owners would be crazy to ditch boss Hughes.
Three Premier League defeats in a row have placed the Welshman under some pressure with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho rumoured to be lined up as a replacement.
Brazil star Elano recently added to the turmoil at the club, launching an attack on Hughes for leaving him on the bench in recent weeks.
But, despite this, Ireland, 22, insists that the club has the right man in place to lead the way forward.
He said: “As soon as Mark Hughes came in you could tell that he meant business – and that he means to be here a long time.
“He’s brought a lot of staff with him and it was immediately clear that he sees City as a long-term plan.
“I think he has been excellent for us. He’s a proper manager and the kind of boss I have always wanted to play under.
“He covers every aspect of training.”
That's fine for Elano |
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Daily Mail
"Hughes fines City rebel Elano £50,000 and also punishes Jo"
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has fined Elano £50,000, a week's wages, following the Brazilian midfielder's outburst after the defeat at home by Tottenham last week.
Elano, an unused substitute, complained about his treatment at the club, claiming Hughes offered him no explanation when he is left out of the side or substituted.
But Hughes, whose side travel to Hull tomorrow looking to end a run of three successive Barclays Premier League defeats, punished the player and also fined striker Jo after the Brazilian went on a night out when he was supposed to be ill.
Hughes said: 'Elano's remarks were and he made a mistake. He knows that's not the way to do it. We discussed it and he understands that it was wrong.
'Everyone at the club knows it was wrong. You knock on my door and we speak. We've done that now. The situation has been resolved, he knows my take on it and he understands that it can't happen again. He has been fined.
'Elano is an emotional guy and he wants to play every game, which is to his credit. Every professional footballer wants to play in every game, but sometimes I will make decisions that will affect players personally and professionally.
'We have players in the squad who I want to work with and use and Elano is certainly in that category.'
The Mirror
"Manchester City owners to give Mark Hughes £200million transfer window warchest - exclusive"
Manchester City’s new Arab owners will spend £200million on new players - and Mark Hughes is to be allowed to put a dent in that kitty in the January window.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan has told boss Hughes of the riches that are available and moves for names on the hit-list for the New Year window have begun.
Hughes wants a top striker, a new left-back and a midfield general and approaches will be made for Valencia’s David Villa, Chelsea star Wayne Bridge and Lassana Diarra at Portsmouth. But while Hughes hopes to land those three the Arabs are willing to wait to spend the bulk of the money next summer.
City know they will have a better chance of tempting Champions League names then, although it is very unlikely they will have the elite competition to offer.
Ambitious City have been chasing Spanish Euro 2008 star Villa and want an answer. He would cost a British record £40m, but Valencia could sell. Blackburn’s Roque Santa Cruz is an £18m alternative.
Chelsea do not want to sell Bridge so Hughes may pay Blackburn £5m for Stephen Warnock while Diarra can move for £16m.
City plan summer moves for Liverpool’s Fernando Torres and Milan’s Kaka.
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