Cup upset to the fore |
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MANCHESTER CITY 0-3 NOTTINGHAM FOREST
'Money men of Manchester City are Sheikhen to the core'
Manchester
City manager Mark Hughes blasted his players for "a lack of desire" as
they crashed out of the FA Cup and piled the pressure on him.
The
richest club in the world currently hovers dangerously above the
relegation zone in the Premier League and were humiliated yesterday as
Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest sent them tumbling out of the
Cup at the first hurdle.
City's new Arab owners will be furious about a result that makes them a laughing stock amongst most football folk.
The
under-threat Hughes lamented: "We didn't deserve to win this game.
Forest showed more desire than us. You've got to be brave enough to
perform and today some of our players were guilty of not doing that.
"I know the situation at this club and I know what's needed.
"We have signed Wayne Bridge from Chelsea and we need three, four or maybe five more players."
The
fans aren't ready to give Hughes time to make that happen, though.
Their fury knew no bounds as Forest hit two goals in four first-half
minutes and wrapped it up with a third 16 minutes from the end.
Some
had to be forcibly ejected by stewards as they poured their hatred down
on Hughes in the dug-out, calling for him to be sacked.
Temporary
Nottingham Forest boss John Pemberton, having masterminded the club's
best win in recent years, will now step aside for Billy Davies, who has
been installed as permanent successor to Colin Calderwood.
Pemberton said: "Billy spoke with the players this morning but he wanted to leave it today because it was such short notice.
"I
just wanted the lads to give a good account of themselves and get them
ready to play. This was probably the highlight of my career.
"Winning
is fantastic but on Monday morning I will be back to my normal job,
getting the reserve team ready for a game at Lincoln City on Wednesday."
The Sunday Mirror continues...
'FA Cup shocks for Manchester City and Chelsea show that money can't buy glory'
The
shock wave rolled around the world, consuming millionaire footballers,
billionaire businessmen and sheiks who count their cash in trillions.
Manchester
City, transformed into the world's richest club by the Abu Dhabi royal
family, were humiliated at home by Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea, the bottomless pit into which Roman Abramovich has tossed £756million, could not even beat Southend at Stamford Bridge.
Money
didn't matter. Egos were an embarrassment. Mice roared, peasants
revolted, and hidden heroes emerged, blinking, into the spotlight.
This morning, the unfashionable and the great unwashed have a reason to believe.
They are united by that old Lotto legend: it could be you.
The FA Cup has become a symbol of football's fleeting democracy.
Portsmouth,
the first holders outside the Big Four for 15 years, have taken the
trophy into every school in their catchment area. Kids have been
encouraged to dare to dream.
Clubs like Everton, Aston Villa and Fulham are doing likewise.
Itv and Setanta have paid £425million, over four years, to provide employment for second rate pundits and presenters.
Hardly
a bargain, but at least they've not betrayed viewers like the BBC, who
have temporarily swapped Match of the Day for third rate darts.
Let's examine the stories they've missed.
Mark
Hughes, suddenly, has less job security than John Pemberton, Forest's
caretaker manager. He's been promised a return to his day job, as
Forest reserve team coach, at Lincoln on Wednesday when Billy Davies
takes over.
Hughes must hope his Arab paymasters were too busy
hosting the world tennis championship, won by Andy Murray, to count
their loose change, his £100million transfer budget.
Luiz Felipe Scolari will discover that, no matter what he says, not everybody loves him.
Four
wins in 12 matches makes him vulnerable to the whims of an owner who
invested in football as fantasy, rather than a 1-1 draw against League
One strugglers.
TheCup doesn't need PR pap from a so-called
sports psychologist, recruited by sponsors to promote meaningless
"research" that Cup upsets bridge the gap between the generations. It
speaks for itself.
Eight Macclesfield fans stayed up all night to
ensure the Football League's worst supported club were able to stage
their narrow defeat against Everton.
More than 7,000 fans followed Barrow to Middlesbrough.
So what if only about 70 of them recognised Jason Walker, their scorer in an honourable 2-1 defeat?
Plymouth
took 9,000 to the Emirates. This is football as a cross between a stag
do, a school trip, and a fancy dress party. It's a reminder that greed
and the grandeur of the PremierLeague is not the only game in town.
Stokehadideas
above their station, made seven changes, and made overnight sensations
of Micky Nelson and David Foley who will enter local legend as scorers
of the goals which put Hartlepool in the fourth round for only the
second time in 127 years.
Forest Green had lunch in the village
pub, and then went out to lose the sort of seven goal thriller that
lacked only Roy of the Rovers atcentre forward.
But Kettering and
Torquay won through to the next round when, for another day at least,
we can all suspend our sense of disbelief.
The Daily Star Sunday start to look at those potentially on the way out of the Club now the January transfer window has opened...
'North East Ned'
Manchester City's £3.5m-rated defender Nedum Onuoha has emerged as a target for Newcastle and Sunderland.
The
North East rivals, desperate for defensive cover, are aware that City
are willing to trade the England Under-21 international.
Onuoha,
22, is also being eyed by Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce, who would ask
for him in part-exchange if, as expected, City manager Mark Hughes
presses his bid for Roque Santa Cruz.
The Sunday Mirror tell us...
'Manchester City flop Elano considering move to Lazio'
Manchester City midfielder Elano has revealed he is considering a move to Serie A giants Lazio.
The
27-year-old made an instant impact in the Premier League following his
arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer, but has had limited chances
under new manager Mark Hughes.
Hughes is now believed to be considering offloading the Brazilian.
Elano said: "I would not have any problem playing in Italy - Lazio are a very good team.
"I can't say more, I must speak to Manchester City. I will do it soon, then decide what to do.
"But I'm pleased that such a big club is tracking me."
And finally, the News of the World says...
HULL CITY want former Rangers defender Michael Ball.
The left-back can leave Manchester City after £10million Wayne Bridge signed this week.
Ball, 29, would jump at the chance to kickstart his career at Hull and has impressed Tigers boss Phil Brown.
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