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Page last updated at 23:57 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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FOOTBALL
Arsenal can still win title - Rooney

1 / 3​

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says Sunday's opponents Arsenal could still win the Premier League.
Arsenal are challengers - Rooney

Arsenal not scarred - Wenger

Ferguson dismisses 'revenge' talk

KEY INFO: Transfers | Club news on mobile

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Spurs have squad to win title - Mancini

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Focus Forum - Savage and Shearer on refs

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[TD="width: 226"] Drogba opts to remain at Chelsea League rejects 'B' teams proposal Cleverley close to making return Norwich close in on Howson deal Rodgers backs Swans for England Swindon want Arsenal's Boateng Critics poisoned my name - Warnock Shenhua step up Drogba chase Aston Villa loan Delph to Leeds Celtic want full Forster switch

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[TD="width: 226"] Bolton v Liverpool Everton v Blackburn Fulham v Newcastle Norwich v Chelsea QPR v Wigan Stoke v West Brom Sunderland v Swansea Wolves v Aston Villa Arsenal v Man Utd Man City v Tottenham

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[TD="width: 446"] Features and comment

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[TD="class: text"] Dan Walker's blog
Dan's specialist subjects are The Gunpowder Plot, posh biscuits and Premier League title race
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Transfer list

A definitive list of all the January transfer window moves

[TD="width: 126"] Roberts on racism

Blackburn striker urges continued discussion over racism in the game

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[TD="width: 126"] Lawro's Premier League predictions

Mark Lawrenson goes head-to-head with comedian Omid Djalili

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[TD="width: 126"] Top 50 January transfer targets

BBC Sport profiles the top 50 January transfer targets

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CLUB NEWS

[TD="width: 226"] ARSENAL ASTON VILLA BLACKBURN ROVERS BOLTON WANDERERS CHELSEA EVERTON FULHAM LIVERPOOL MANCHESTER CITY MANCHESTER UNITED

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[h=1]Didier Drogba set to remain at Chelsea[/h] Page last updated at 19:31 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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Drogba signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2004 Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has confirmed he will remain at Stamford Bridge until at least June.
Drogba, who has scored 98 goals in 217 games for the Blues, had been strongly linked with a move to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.
But the 33-year-old has confirmed he will not move in this transfer window.
Drogba said he wants to have more "fun, enthusiasm and passion on the pitch" but when asked if that meant leaving Chelsea, he said: "Not before June."
Continue reading the main story

It's like flirting with a girl. Perhaps she will resist you at first, but if you continue to ask her out, it always ends well. Never give up
​

Shenhua spokesman Zhu Jun about the pursuit of Drogba
With the Ivorian's contract at Chelsea set to expire in June, he is free to talk to other clubs.
Chelsea are reported to be offering him a 12-month extension, with Shenhua - Nicolas Anelka's new club - reportedly prepared to give Drogba a three-year deal.
Meanwhile, LA Galaxy chief executive Tim Leiweke has admitted he would like to bring Chelsea's Frank Lampard to Los Angeles.
"I am a fan of Frank's. I think he is a great player. When I think of Chelsea, I think of Frank Lampard," said Leiweke.
"It took us two years to get David Beckham here the first time. We are working on the next designated player."

 

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[h=1]Football League dismisses Andre Villas-Boas's 'B' team suggestion[/h] Page last updated at 19:09 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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Villas-Boas argued the 'B' team model worked successfully in Spain The Football League has rejected Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas' suggestion that top Premier League clubs be allowed to field reserve sides in the Championship.
Villas-Boas said the move would help young players make the step up to Premier League football.
But League chief Andy Williamson said Football League clubs should not become feeder sides to the Premier League.
"The suggestion is frankly offensive," Williamson said.
"Our clubs are constituted as sovereign entities which represent their town or city with pride, rather than being a subsidiary of another club in another part of the country," he continued.
"These are senior professional football matches that matter - they are not just platforms for developing other clubs' players."
Continue reading the main story

The reserve team, for all the hard work, is not competitive. It serves the first team, but it doesn't serve the progression of talent coming through
​

Andre Villas-Boas
Villas-Boas said on Thursday that England should follow the example of Spain, where Barcelona's 'B' team play in the second flight.
"What happens in Barcelona is a good model in terms of competitions. They promote talent," he said.
"If your 'B' team plays in the Championship, where they are fourth or sixth and threatening, playing good football, you'd call them up.
"It could be a great benefit because you don't have to work with a 26-man squad, but a 19-man squad and just recall the best young guys with constant activity.
"The reserve team, for all the hard work, is not competitive. It serves the first team, but it doesn't serve the progression of talent coming through.
"The youth development system in England is not right."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said smaller clubs would not support Villas-Boas's proposal.
"The supporters of Barnet do not want their club not to be promoted because the reserve team of Arsenal is in front of them," he said.
"It is very difficult to mix the interests of the smaller clubs with the interests of the big clubs who could have a second team, and could be competitive in the smaller leagues."
Wenger said that the loan system helped young players make the transition from reserve team football to the Premier League.
"We give our players out on loan to the lower leagues. If they manage to convince people they can play in there, they come back," he said.
Wenger also said the forthcoming overhaul of the Premier League's Academy system should aid player development.
"They will create an Under-21 league with all the best teams in England together," he said. "That I find quite interesting."

 

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[h=1]Tom Cleverley close to making Man Utd comeback[/h] Page last updated at 12:26 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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Cleverley has made seven appearances for United this season Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley may make his comeback from injury next month against Liverpool.
The 22-year-old has been out with the ankle injury he picked up in October's win at Everton.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "I am hopeful in 10 days' time he will be training then we can kick on.
"When he plays depends how he does in training. His fitness levels should be fine, so he could cope right away. If he can, you are talking about a week."
The injury was originally not thought to be too severe and Cleverley was substituted as a precaution, however a scan revealed the full extent of the damage.
[h=2]CLEVERLEY'S CLUBS[/h] Continue reading the main story

• 2003-present - Manchester United
• 2009 - Leicester (loan)
• 2009-10 - Watford (loan)
• 2010-11 - Wigan (loan)

United host Liverpool on 11 February and Ferguson admitted the return of Cleverley for that game would be a huge lift for his side.
"It would be a great boost to us," said the Scot.
"The way that Tom started the season was absolutely phenomenal.
"I have not seen a young player have that impact at our club for a long time.
"He has been a loss because he has something different from everyone else."
Cleverley's early-season performances earned him a call-up to the England squads for the postponed August friendly against Holland and the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Bulgaria and Wales.
However, he injured his foot during a victory at Bolton in September and then on his Premier League reappearance at Goodison Park he sustained the ankle injury that has kept him sidelined for the last three months.

 

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[h=1]Norwich City close in on Jonny Howson deal[/h] Page last updated at 12:49 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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Howson's only goal of the season came in a 4-0 win at Nottingham Forest Norwich City are on the verge of completing the signing of Leeds midfielder Jonny Howson for an undisclosed fee.
The 23-year-old has agreed personal terms with the Canaries, who are awaiting the results of a medical before finalising the deal.
The two clubs settled on a fee for the player on Wednesday.
"Hopefully everything goes well with the medical," Norwich boss Paul Lambert told BBC Radio Norfolk.
"But you can never be sure until it's actually done.
[h=2]HOWSON FACTFILE[/h] Continue reading the main story

• Born: 21 May 1988
• Position: Midfielder
• Leeds debut: 76th-minute substitute in 3-1 League Cup win over Barnet on 19 September 2006
• Leeds appearances: 225
• Leeds goals: 28
• Played in all 46 Championship fixtures in 2010-11 season, scoring 11 goals in all competitions
• England Under-21 debut: 1-0 loss to Italy on 8 February 2011

"We've known about him for a few years now having played against Leeds a few times. He's got great enthusiasm for the game and is a really good footballer and a goal threat."
The Leeds captain has not played since picking up a knee injury in the 2-0 win over Millwall at the beginning of December.
And Lambert says he will not rush Howson into a quick return to action, should the deal go through.
"I'll see how he feels himself. I won't push him," he explained.
"For somebody as young as him he has played a lot of games for a massive football club and there's no pressure on him here whatsoever."
Howson, who has featured 22 times this season, is out of contract in the summer.
He is a product of the Leeds academy and has gone on to make 225 appearances for the Elland Road club.
United say discussions with Howson over a new deal - which have spanned 12 months - have been unsuccessful.
Lambert has yet to strengthen his side in the January transfer window, as he looks to maintain the Norfolk cub's position in the top half of the Premier League.
Meanwhile, the Scot has explained why he terminated the season-long loan of Manchester United defender Ritchie de Laet five months early.
The 23-year-old Belgian has played seven times for the Canaries but has not featured since the 2-0 Premier League loss to Tottenham on 27 December.
"Ritchie's done great for us. But he has a back injury which was keeping him out for periods of time," he said.

 

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[h=1]Brendan Rodgers backs Swansea City players for England call-up.[/h] Page last updated at 09:19 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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Dyer, Sinclair and Graham have been tipped as possible England call-ups Brendan Rodgers admits Swansea City's passing and attractive style will benefit his players who have been tipped as possible England call-ups.
English players Scott Sinclair, Nathan Dyer and Danny Graham all scored as Swansea stunned Arsenal in their 3-2 Premier League triumph on Sunday.
Sinclair plays for England under-21 side alongside Swansea's on-loan Tottenham defender Steven Caulker.
"We have a number of players who could play at that level," said Rodgers.
"They play the game here which suits international football and I'd have no hesitation about any of these players that are deemed possibilities being good enough to play at the level."
Swansea's squad has four current internationals as keeper Michel Vorm is the reserve goalkeeper for the Netherlands national team and Joe Allen, Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor are regulars for Wales.

Interview: Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers

But the Welsh club have never had a current England senior international on their books.
Swans boss Rodgers, meanwhile, believes in-form winger Dyer, nine-goal top-scorer Graham, former Chelsea winger Sinclair, centre-back Caulker and possibly midfield fulcrum Leon Britton could step up to international level with England.
England boss Fabio Capello watched their impressive performance against Arsenal from The Liberty Stadium stands on Sunday ahead of England's friendly against the Dutch at Wembley on 29 February.
But Rodgers warned his players: "Whether they get chosen or not is another factor.
"They can only control their own performance level and then it is up to selectors to pick them.
"They have shown that you don't need to play for Barcelona to have courage."
Rodgers had called on Capello to pay a visit to south Wales to cast his eye over his England hopefuls and appreciate Swansea's possession style, which places a high demand on a player's technical ability.
And the Swansea manager felt Capello "would have been surprised at the level they played at" after Dyer, Sinclair and Graham inspired Swansea to their best win in their debut Premier League season.
"The front three were a massive threat all afternoon," Rodgers said afterwards,
"Nathan scored a terrific goal and it was a wonderful finish from Danny Graham, and I'm sure it gave him something to think about.
"The advantage we have is that our players play a style that if they stepped up to international level it would be no surprise to them.
"Players at unfashionable clubs are questioned technically, but they have proved they can play at that level."
And another England hopeful at The Liberty Stadium will be under-21 international Josh McEachran who has joined Swansea on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season.

 

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[h=1]Manchester City's Carlos Tevez highly unlikely to join PSG[/h] • Player's adviser Kia Joorabchian holds talks in France
• Internazionale and Milan may reignite interest in striker

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• Jamie Jackson
  
• guardian.co.uk, Friday 20 January 2012 22.56 GMT
• Article history

Kia Joorabchian, Carlos Tevez's adviser, talked with Paris St-Germain executives about their vision of the club's future. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Wire

Carlos Tevez is highly unlikely to move to Paris St-Germain from Manchester City after his adviser Kia Joorabchian spent the day meeting Leonardo, the director of football, and other PSG executives in France. Internazionale and Milan may now re-enter the market to sign the Argentinian forward.
Joorabchian's talks with PSG were the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides and it is understood that the probable breaking point in the deal is that PSG's vision of how they wish to move forward differs from how Tevez wants to progress his career, rather than any financial differences.
The Milan clubs retain an interest in Tevez despite appearing to drop out of the bidding to sign him. Until last week Inter and Milan appeared to be the favourites to land the 27-year-old, with Massimo Moratti, the Inter president, offering City around £21m for Tevez, whose career has stalled since he refused to warm up for a Champions League group game at Bayern Munich in late September. That bid fell short of City's valuation, which is thought to be closer to £25m, though this could drop as the transfer window nears closing at the end of the month.
City and Tevez have only 10 days to resolve the situation, with Roberto Mancini, the manager, confirming that there is no way back for the player at Eastlands. "This is impossible. Carlos doesn't want to stay. It is important for him to start to play because he is a football player. It is now three months that he hasn't played and this is not good for him. I hope this will finish very quickly. I don't know [the latest]. I hope for him everything can finish very quickly."
Beyond the Milan clubs, Tottenham Hotspur's manager, Harry Redknap, is an admirer of the forward. But he has stated that Tevez's £200,000 a-week salary is unviable for Spurs, saying: "He is a special player, the type of player who could make the difference, but I wouldn't think that's a real possibility." It is also likely that City would be reluctant to consider selling Tevez to one of their main title rivals.

watu wanahitaji mpunga huo mbona wanaona ubahiri hawa watu..

 

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[h=1]Swindon Town sign Arsenal's Daniel Boateng on loan[/h] Page last updated at 18:38 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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Swindon Town have signed Arsenal defender Daniel Boateng on loan until the end of the season.
The Gunners' reserve team captain, 19, was close to joining the Robins in the summer but a deal could not be agreed.
He signed a new deal with the Premier League club in November after making his first senior appearance in the Carling Cup win over Bolton in October.
Meanwhile, striker Mehdi Kerrouche could be on his way out of the club after just six months.
The 26-year-old Algerian signed a two-year contract in the summer and has scored eight goals in 18 appearances.
But he has not played since the start of December and is believed to be training away from the rest of the squad.

 

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watu wanahitaji mpunga huo mbona wanaona ubahiri hawa watu..

tabia ya Tevez nayo inawaondoa wateja we

 

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[h=1]Neil Warnock says his reputation was 'slowly poisoned' at QPR[/h] Page last updated at 19:57 GMT, Thursday, 19 January 2012

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In-depth - Neil Warnock on his QPR exit

Neil Warnock says he lost his Queens Park Rangers job as his reputation was "slowly poisoned" by critics both inside and outside the club.
He claimed a "lack of football experience" in the hierarchy left QPR open to "manipulative" people.
The 63-year-old said he was unhappy fans and players were able to talk to owner Tony Fernandes through Twitter.
Warnock told BBC Sport his achievements at the club were "almost a miracle" given what "I've had to contend with".
"Even the owner Tony... I know the influence he'll have had from certain people over the past few weeks," Warnock said.
[h=2]QPR'S RECENT LEAGUE FORM[/h] Continue reading the main story

• 2 Jan: QPR 1-2 Norwich City
• 31 Dec: Arsenal 1-0 QPR
• 27 Dec: Swansea 1-1 QPR
• 21 Dec: QPR 2-3 Sunderland
• 18 Dec: QPR 0-2 Man Utd
• 10 Dec: Liverpool 1-0 QPR
• 3 Dec: QPR 1-1 West Brom
• 26 Nov: Norwich 2-1 QPR

"It would have been difficult to resist because people get on the phone and tweet and it's almost like slowly poisoning somebody from outside the club and no doubt from within the club as well.
"It's a dangerous precedent if you let players talk to the chairman but, you know, you can't stop tweeting."
QPR sacked Warnock 11 days ago and he has spoken about his dismissal at length for the first time, saying:

• he was disappointed Fernandes did not sack him face-to-face - instead chief executive Philip Beard delivered the news;
• he was surprised at the decision but has no bitterness towards QPR;
• his successor Mark Hughes is a "good manager", but Warnock "wished he had [Hughes's] agent" [Kia Joorabchian];
• football had become "immoral" because of players' wages, and the manager's role was not as enjoyable anymore;
• he did not want to discuss midfielder Joey Barton as he "just wants to talk about positive things at the club".

After guiding the London club to the Premier League during the 2010-11 season, the former Sheffield United and Crystal Palace boss was initially backed by Fernandes.
But, despite a poor run of results, Warnock says that "he didn't see [being sacked] coming," and believes the Caterham F1 team boss should have told him personally.
"I received a text saying the owners had been talking long into the night and Phil Beard, the new chief executive, asked if he could come and see me so I told him to come to our house and when I saw him I felt sorry for him and said, 'don't worry - it's nothing to do with you, this'.
[h=2]NEIL WARNOCK FACTFILE[/h] Continue reading the main story

• 1948: Born 1 December, in Sheffield
• 1967: Begins playing career at Chesterfield aged 19
• 1981: First full-time managerial job with Northern Premier League side Gainsborough Trinity
• 1987: Leads non-league Scarborough into Football League
• 1993: Guides Huddersfield to Autoglass Trophy final at Wembley in his first season
• 1999: Appointed Sheffield United boss after spells with Notts County, Plymouth, Oldham and Bury
• 2003: Reaches FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals with the Blades
• 2006: Manages in Premier League for the first time after the Blades win promotion
• May 2007: Leaves Bramall Lane after Premier League relegation
• October 2007: Joins cash-strapped Crystal Palace
• March 2010: With Palace in administration, Warnock crosses London to take over QPR
• May 2011: Takes the Hoops into the Premier League
• February 2012: Leaves Loftus Road with QPR sitting 17th in the Premier League.

"I think you get used to a certain way of doing things but he [Fernandes] is so far away, all over the world. I'm not a communicator by tweet, I'm afraid, so I was always going to be the last to know," he added.
Warnock, who spent 22 months at Loftus Road, believed he was on track to keep the club up. "The club will need restructuring over the next few years and there are a number of owners now and there's not a lot of football experience around," he said.
"When you have a run of results like we had and you're not involved in football and you get people in your ear - agents, for example - tweeting him and speaking to him and talking about players... there's some clever and manipulative people. I've no bitterness towards it. It's just how things go.
"I love this club and always will. It's been a big part of my life even though it has only been 22 months and it's been the biggest career success I have had in my life."
Warnock also went on to rue the fact he "wished [he'd] had [Hughes's] agent at times over the last few years," referring to Hughes's representative Kia Joorabchian - who also represents Rangers targets Alex of Chelsea and Manchester City's Nedum Onuoha.
"I want Mark to do well. He's got a good agent too, and between them they'll bring some good players into the club," Warnock said.
However, the Yorkshireman does not envy young bosses coming into the game and said that, from a manager's point of view, the game was no longer enjoyable because "players are the ones with all the power now".

I've coped with things nobody else could have - Warnock

He added: "My chairman tweets a lot and some of my players tweet and players only look after themselves so it's quite easy to start rumours with this new modern media and I don't think it helps anybody."
When asked about the influence of captain Barton on the team, Warnock would not be drawn: "I don't think I want to get into talking about Joey Barton. Joey talks about himself enough and I think we'll let Joey talk about Joey.
"I just want to talk about positive things about the club and I think there are too many positive things to talk about without going into detail on individual players."
When asked about his future, Warnock talked only of spending time with friends and family but he did reveal that he did "like the idea of saying what I want to say - but we'll have to wait and see".

 

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[h=1]Didier Drogba chase stepped up by Shanghai Shenhua[/h] Page last updated at 11:40 GMT, Thursday, 19 January 2012

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Drogba signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2004 Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua have claimed they are in talks to sign Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.
The 33-year-old rejected a one-year contract extension at Chelsea and has been linked with a move to China.
"Everything is going well so far, though there have been a few obstacles," said Shenhua board member Zhou Jun.
Last month, striker Nicolas Anelka quit Stamford Bridge for Shenhua when he signed for a two-year deal.
Continue reading the main story

It's like flirting with a girl. Perhaps she will resist you at first, but if you continue to ask her out, it always ends well. Never give up
​

Shenhua spokesman Zhu Jun about the pursuit of Drogba
Rival Chinese club Dalian Aerbin were reported to have offered the Ivory Coast international wages of £200,000 a week but Shenhua have now joined the chase.
"It's like flirting with a girl," said Shenhua spokesman Zhu Jun about the pursuit of Drogba on the Chinese equivalent of Twitter. "Perhaps she will resist you at first, but if you continue to ask her out, it always ends well. Never give up."
Zhu also told the Shanghai Daily: "It's like making a blockbuster film.
"When superstars like Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Zhou Xun have confirmed their participation, other actors and actress will be confident of the movie."
[h=2]SPOTLIGHT ON SHENHUA[/h] Continue reading the main story

• First football club in China to be independent of government
• Well-known former players include Ruben Sosa, Carsten Jancker and Jorg Albertz
• Former Crystal Palace, Dundee and Cardiff player Fan Zhiyi began his career there in mid-nineties
• Hongkou Stadium has capacity of 35,000 and staged final of the 2007 Fifa Women's World Cup

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas had been hopeful that Drogba, who is with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations and is free to open negotiations with rival clubs about a move at the end of the season, would see out his contract.
Drogba has been at Chelsea since the summer of 2004 after being signed by former manager Jose Mourinho in a £24m deal from Marseille.
However, following the signing of Spaniard Fernando Torres in January, he has found it difficult to secure a regular spot as Villas-Boas has rotated his four strikers.
Shanghai Shenhua finished 11th out of 16 teams in the Chinese league last season.
They are determined to win the league and have already signed Brazilian forwards Cleo and Muriqui as well as former Fulham and Monaco boss Jean Tigana as their head coach.

 

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[h=1]Leeds United re-sign Aston Villa's Fabian Delph on loan[/h] Page last updated at 12:14 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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Delph has made 11 appearances for Villa this season Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has re-signed for Championship side Leeds United on loan.
The 22-year-old returns to the club where he began professional career - initially until 25 February.
Delph moved from Bradford City to Leeds United as a youngster and came through the ranks at Elland Road before making his debut in 2007.
He moved to Villa Park in 2009 but injury has helped restrict him to just 36 games.
Delph agreed a contract extension last year, keeping him at the club until 2015.
The England Under-21 international has not featured for Alex McLeish's side since being substituted in the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool on 18 December.

 

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[h=1]Celtic want Newcastle United goalkeeper Fraser Forster in permanent deal[/h] Page last updated at 18:13 GMT, Thursday, 19 January 2012

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Forster has become Celtic's first-choice goalkeeper during two loan spells Celtic manager Neil Lennon hopes to make Fraser Forster's loan deal from Newcastle United permanent before the January transfer window closes.
"We are hoping to get his representatives in pretty soon to try to get a deal sorted out," Lennon said of the 23-year-old goalkeeper.
"We have given him a home for a year and a half and I think he has made the most of it.
"I think he has improved greatly over this season."
Lennon thought the Englishman was already "very consistent" during his first loan spell at Celtic Park last season.
"Good goalkeepers are hard to find and we feel as if he has great potential to go on and become a great goalkeeper," said the manager.
Lennon denied reports of any interest in Charlton Athletic striker Yann Kermorgant, the 30-year-old Frenchman who has scored seven goals in 15 starts for the League One leaders.
Continue reading the main story

Rabiu trained with the first team and didn't look out of place and then we had a bounce game and he was excellent. After an hour, we all made our mind up that this kid would be good for us
​

Neil Lennon Celtic manager
He also confirmed that he had all but given up hope of signing striker Baba Diawara, who is instead poised to complete a £2.5m move from Maritimo to Sevilla.
Celtic have secured the signatures of two players this week - 24-year-old Slask Wroclaw defender Jaroslaw Fojut, who will arrive in the summer, and 20-year-old playmaker Rabiu Ibrahim, subject to a successful work permit application for the Nigerian.
"I played against Fojut when he was at Luton and I thought he was fantastic in the two games," said former Nottingham Forest midfielder Lennon.
"He was only 19 or 20 at that time and he sort of disappeared off the footballing radar and then his name cropped up six or seven, eight weeks ago.
"We looked at footage of him and he has improved since then.
"He is very quick, aggressive, good in the air and technically sound and he knows the British game. I think he is good business on a Bosman."
Lennon was especially enthusiastic about Ibrahim, who was given a free transfer from PSV Eindhoven.
"He comes with great pedigree having been with PSV," added the Celtic manager.
"He was well sought after as a young player and, sometimes when you get that reputation, it can eat you up a bit.
"Things didn't work out for him at PSV and we brought him in for 10 days and we have been very impressed with him.
"He trained with the first team and didn't look out of place and then we had a bounce game and he was excellent.
"After an hour, we all made our mind up that this kid would be good for us.
"He is very good footballer and very intelligent.
"He is small for the British game, but he makes up for that in the way he manipulates the ball.
"He may not come straight into the first-team squad, and this is all pending on a work permit, but we don't envisage too many problems with that."

 

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[h=1]Arsenal v Man Utd[/h]
Page last updated at 12:59 GMT, Friday, 20 January 2012

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By Steve Wilson
BBC Match of the Day commentator [h=2]Barclays Premier League[/h]

• Venue: Emirates Stadium
• Date: Sunday, 22 January
• Kick-off: 1600 GMT
• Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 1 and highlights on Match of the Day 2; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and live commentary on local radio; live text commentary and full match report plus reaction on BBC Sport website & mobiles

Paul Scholes and Thierry Henry have long been major figures in this fixture

[h=2]TEAM NEWS[/h] Thierry Henry's hopes of his first Arsenal league start since 2007 could be dashed by a calf strain.
Defender Thomas Vermaelen is a major doubt with a similar problem, which has already ruled out Mikel Arteta.
Manchester United pair Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are available after both missed last weekend's win over Bolton with minor injuries.
Anderson is currently sidelined after suffering a training-ground injury.
[h=2]MATCH PREVIEW[/h] There may be new, blue money over to the west of London and the east of Manchester. But this is a fixture which bristles with old-school tradition; a fixture which has become one of the Premier League's enduring themes.
It's a game which has long been overseen by the guiding hands of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger playing out a rivalry that has encompassed their mutual dislike and, more recently, grudging respect. For the record, this will be the 47th time that the two managers have locked horns - and Fergie edges it 21 wins to 16.
Continue reading the main story

If Scholes and Henry play, it'll be just like the good old days. Suffice to say, this has never been a game to lose
​

At times, this fixture has thrown up games so good they border on high art. On other occasions, it's been about throwing pizza. Savour the personalities and personality clashes resonating through the years: Wright and Schmeichel, Keown and Van Nistelrooy, Keane and Vieira. If Scholes and Henry play, it'll be just like the good old days.
Over the Fergie/Wenger years they have played out title deciders, FA Cup semi-finals and a final - and a Champions League semi-final. In recent years, United have had the clear advantage - winning seven and losing just one of the last nine meetings, culminating in the 8-2 humiliation for Arsenal in August.
Uncharacteristically, United seemed to take their eye off the ball against Blackburn and Newcastle and let slip a great opportunity to apply pressure on City at the top. There are still doubts about this team, particularly defensively, and after playing Arsenal they will take on Liverpool in the FA Cup, Stoke, Chelsea and Liverpool again in the league, and then Ajax in the Europa League. That's the kind of run designed to sort out the men from the boys, the kind of challenge Ferguson's teams normally thrive on.
Meantime, Arsenal's dreaded inconsistency has returned with a vengeance. Back-to-back league losses at Fulham and Swansea have infuriated Wenger, particularly after they worked so hard to make up lost ground on the top four. What represents a good result for United and Arsenal? That may be determined by the outcome of the earlier Manchester City versus Tottenham game - but, suffice to say, this has never been a game to lose.
[h=2]MATCH FACTS[/h] Head-to-head

• The last meeting between the two clubs - United's 8-2 Premier League victory on 28 August at Old Trafford last year - was the highest-scoring of any of their 214 matches since 1894.
• Overall, United have won 89 of those matches - 10 more than Arsenal.
• Since Arsenal left Highbury in May 2006, they have beaten United at the Emirates three times, lost twice, and drawn once (all competitions).
• United last did the double over Arsenal in the 2009-10 season.

Arsenal

• Arsenal come into the match having suffered back-to-back league defeats for the second time this season.
• Arsene Wenger's side have now lost a Premier League match from a leading position on three occasions so far. Only West Brom have fared as badly.
• The Gunners have used the highest number of players in the Premier League this season (30).
• Robin van Persie has scored 18 Premier League goals this season - equalling his best-ever total in a league season.

Manchester United

• United have the best away record in the Premier League. At this stage last season they were top of the table, but only had the fourth-best away record.
• The Red Devils have gone 40 league matches without taking part in a goalless draw.
• Wayne Rooney has missed two consecutive Premier League penalties. In total, he has missed six of 14 career Premier League penalties (including four of his last eight).
• Midfielder Paul Scholes has now scored 151 goals for the club (all competitions), making him their outright 10th highest-ever scorer (moving ahead of Ruud van Nistelrooy's 150).

 

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[h=1]Fergie: Next three weeks the key to our season[/h] Published 21:32 20/01/12 By David McDonnell

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...ason-admits-Alex-Ferguson-article855652.html#

Sir Alex Ferguson has circled the next three weeks as the defining period of his Manchester United side's season.
Three of United's next four league games are against Arsenal, who they visit on Sunday, Liverpool and Chelsea, with Ferguson's men also facing an FA Cup trip to Anfield next weekend.
Ferguson knows these upcoming games will be a formidable test for his players, and claims United can push for a 20th domestic title if they come through the period relatively unscathed.
"Sunday's game against Arsenal is the start of a hectic spell for us with games against Liverpool - twice - and Chelsea," said the Scot.

"It's a fantastic run of games and a programme we can hopefully come through very well, which could decide a lot of the season.
"Normally with these big matches, quite a few of them are at the end of the season - two years in a row we've had Chelsea in the fourth or fifth last game of the season - whereas this time we've got them in February.
"Hopefully we can navigate this clutch of games, because they will be important for where we end up this season.
"They're never easy games but they aren't easy for the other teams either.They'll all be looking at United and saying, ‘Phew, it's another hard game coming up', exactly the way we are."
Having seen his options slashed by injuries this season, with as many as 12 players out at one stage, Ferguson saluted the resilience his squad has shown in staying within touching distance of leaders Manchester City.
With Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young, Chris Smalling and the Da Silva twins now all coming back from injury or illness, Fergie believes United's ability to call on fresh players in the run-in as a decisive factor.
"We've done really well to get to this point with all the injuries we've had," said the Scot.
"Obviously I don't expect Darren Fletcher to come back. I think he'll be out for the season, like Nemanja Vidic. But if we get the rest back I think that's pretty good. It's a good squad then.
"Freshness will be important in the run-in, there's no doubt about that. If we can get through the next six games or so in a reasonable position, then come March and April those fresh players will make an impact, I'm sure of that."
Ferguson is also expecting Javier Hernandez to make a big impact as the title race enters the home straight.
"He's had his issues this season but he's actually looking a lot better," he said of the striker, who scored 20 goals in his debut season but has just six so far in his second campaign.
"He had concussion, then another head knock and then an ankle knock. He's not got his season going yet. But he's looking well now and he's training fantastically. He's really done well, the kid. That's a bonus because you want variation of the strikers anyway.
"We know Danny Welbeck has had a couple of injuries this season already and he's still only young.
"So if we can get Hernandez back into the frame, what an addition he will be. We know the goals he can score, so it can only help us."
The last time United and Arsenal met, at Old Trafford in August, the champions humbled Arsene Wenger's side 8-2.
Since then, Arsenal have fought their way back into contention for a Champions League spot.
"They've recovered well," added Ferguson. "They had a really good spell and have qualified for the next stage of the Champions League, so there's obviously not a lot wrong there."
***
ARSENAL v MANCHESTER UNITED: PROBABLE TEAMS
Arsenal (4-3-3) - Szczesny; Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen; Song, Ramsey, Benayoun; Walcott, Van Persie, Arshavin.
Manchester United (4-4-2) - Lindegaard; Jones, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Nani; Rooney, Welbeck.
*
Arsenal team news: Henry and Vermaelen could play but Arteta won't
Manchester United team news: Smalling and Jones are both fit
Simon Bird's Premier League previews and predictions (Week 22)
Arsenal vs United isn't just about me vs RVP, insists Rooney

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City ARE feeling title-race pressure admits Barry

Published 22:00 20/01/12 By David McDonnell

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Gareth Barry has admitted the pressure is growing for his Manchester City side the closer they get to a first Premier League title.
Barry acknowledged City's Sunday showdown with title rivals Tottenham is a "huge" encounter and said his team-mates know they cannot afford any slip-ups now the big prize is in sight.
"There's big pressure on us now," said the England midfielder. "It's a vital part of the season. There are still a lot of games left, but this period now, after a little sticky patch, is important.
"The game coming up against Spurs is a huge one in the title race. The lads aren't thinking about the money the club has spent at all - they're thinking about winning the league.

"That's the pressure - trying to win the title. Managers can see when pressure is affecting players, and that's where they must make their decisions. Pressure can affect some players more than others.
"We're going into games now, knowing they're all big and that there's so much at stake.
"Earlier in the season the players were playing a lot more freely. But at this stage it's all about getting three points and sometimes the football may not be as pretty."
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp have tried to derail City's title challenge with comments designed to get under the skin of Mancini and his players and plant doubt in their minds over their ability to be champions.
Ferguson has questioned City's lack of experience, while Redknapp claimed any title success for the Blues would be devalued because of the vast sums of money - £425million at the last count - spent on players by owner Sheikh Mansour.
But Barry claimed Mancini's managerial rivals are wasting their time if they think the 47-year-old Italian, who led Inter Milan to three successive Serie A titles, will get rattled.
"There will be more of that from the other managers," he said. "But it helps knowing that our manager has been there before and won titles in Italy.
"In terms of mind games, there have been opportunities when our manager could have had a little bite, but he's resisted it and not really reacted.
"I think that's definitely the right thing to do. The route the manager has gone down has certainly helped the players.
"He's not added any more pressure on us before the games and the players feel very comfortable that he knows what he is doing.
"The manager is in charge of what you do, so if you see him getting involved in other things away from the pitch, it's going to make everyone unsettled.
"Inside, the manager probably feels the pressure a bit more if the results aren't going right.
"But judging by the way he's approached it and spoken to us, he's certainly not showing any signs that he's under any more pressure."
There is no danger of Mancini going down the same ill-fated route as Barry's former boss at Aston Villa, when they were top of the Premier League in the 1998-99 campaign.
After extending their unbeaten run that season to 12 games with a 4-1 win at Southampton, Gregory assembled Villa's players for a picture on the pitch, to create a lasting memory of the club record.
It proved a disastrous move, and one which exposed the extent of Villa's ambition.
Gregory's side, which included a then 17-year-old Barry, imploded thereafter and eventually finished sixth.
"I remember when we had that photo taken," said Barry, wincing at the memory.
"I was very young at the time but some of the more experienced players weren't happy the manager called for that to be done, because it can only add pressure and work against you in the long run.
"But there's none of that going on at City at the moment. We're just really focused on what we have to do."
Barry knows City's wealth and spending ability will always been held against them, regardless of their achievements, and feels such a perception is borne of envy.
"Maybe there's a bit of jealousy," he said. "Every supporter in the country would like a rich owner to come in and transform their club.
"It's happened slowly here, but we won't take any comments to heart. We just want to win the league.
"For us, that's the main thing and we hope there are many more to come. If that happens, all the talk will be forgotten.
"That first title, as Chelsea did after spending a lot of money, is vital. But once you win three or four that [talk of spending] goes out of the window.
"As a club, we haven't been in this position because we haven't done it yet, so that's a fact. But we have to try to get over the line.
"We have some really tough games between now and the end of the season - starting with Spurs - and it's a massive challenge.
"This is why I left Villa, to be challenging for the title, and I think we have enough in the dressing-room to get the job done."
***
Gareth Barry was speaking at the launch of leading commercial law firm Hill Dickinson's sponsorship of the ‘Strike a Balance' programme, a healthy eating initiative run by Manchester City's community scheme, City in the Community.
***
MANCHESTER CITY v TOTTENHAM: PROBABLE TEAMS
Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Richards, Savic, Lescott, Clichy; Milner, Barry; Nasri, Aguero, Silva; Dzeko.
Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Friedel; Walker, King, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Modric, Parker, Bale; Van der Vaart; Defoe.
Manchester City team news: Balotelli and Richards passed fit
Tottenham team news: Defoe to start but King is struggling
Simon Bird's Premier League previews and predictions (Week 22)
Redknapp: We can lose to City on Sunday and still win the title

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Fergie bigs up potential replacement Solskjaer

Published 22:30 17/01/12 By David Anderson

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Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his potential successor at Manchester United.
Old Trafford goal-scoring legend Solskjaer has made a fine start to his managerial career since starting out with United's youth and reserve sides.
He steered his former club Molde to their first-ever Norwegian title last year.
Fergie, who is now 70 but claims he can carry on for at least another three years, can see something of himself in the former Reds striker and is impressed by his decision-making.

"He's got an inner toughness, there's no doubt about that," said the United manager of Solskjaer. "He's a nice man with a lovely manner about him.
"If you go to a club in Norway that has never won the league ever in their history and you win the league... you have to have something about you to do that.
"He has brought in his own staff. He's brought two coaches from United to the club so he knew where he was going. A useful thing to have in management is good decision making.
"Ole always wanted to stay in the game, so from an early age he was preparing stay in the game as a coach or as a manager, as he is at the moment.
"He was one of those professionals who used to take down all the notes from the training sessions and games, so he has given himself a better chance than the rest."

 

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[h=1]Nani: I'm top target for Fergie's hairdryer[/h] Published 19:07 19/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...-from-Alex-Ferguson-a-lot-article855411.html#

Manchester United winger Nani admits he is one of the more frequent victims of Sir Alex Ferguson's infamous hairdryer.
Now 70, Ferguson claims to have mellowed down the years, a stance the likes of Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville agree with.
However, the Scot's temper can quickly boil over if he feels his team are not reaching the performance levels he demands.
And Nani, on his day a world-class talent but infuriatingly inconsistent, knows he irritates his boss more than most.


Speaking in an exclusive interview on the Betfair Facebook page, Nani said: "I get it a lot, it's normal.
"He expects more from me, so sometimes he comes to me and says something."
Not that it means Nani respects Ferguson any less.
After almost 40 years as a manager, 25 of which have been spent at United, the former Sporting Lisbon player knows the Scot is the master of man-management.
"No-one understands it like Alex Ferguson," he said. "Everyone knows him in Portugal, and talk a lot talk about him.
"Everyone knows the way he works is fantastic and the young lads improve a lot."
It has been suggested Ferguson's most recent feats have been amongst his most impressive.
Since the world record £80million departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in 2009, United have won one Premier League, finished second by a point to Chelsea, reached a Champions League final and won the Carling Cup.
It is only a fortnight since they overcame Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the FA Cup despite being beset by injuries.
All this despite refusing to splash out on the big-name midfielder even seasoned United observers accept the club desperately need.
Indeed, while Paul Scholes' return has been welcomed by the majority of supporters, there is also a fear the 37-year-old's retirement U-turn is just papering over the cracks.
Not that the view is echoed in the United dressing room.
"He is one of the best players I've played with in my life," said Nani. "The quality he gives the team is fantastic."
After his goalscoring contribution to last weekend's win over Bolton, Scholes is likely to be involved on Sunday, when United take on Arsenal for the first time since that staggering 8-2 win at Old Trafford in August.
"Maybe," said Michael Carrick, when asked if Arsenal would be gunning for revenge.
"They didn't start the season too well but they are still up there.
"Arsenal against Manchester United is always a massive game. They will want to win and so will we."
It is not so much a case of the Red Devils wanting to win.
By the time they kick-off, it might be a clear case of having to.
For, if Manchester City overcome Tottenham in the other title crunch taking place on Sunday, United will be six points adrift to a team that will only get stronger once brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure return from Africa Cup of Nations duty with the Ivory Coast.
"Manchester City have done well," said Carrick. "You have to give them credit. They set an early pace, had a funny Christmas period, and have now bounced back.
"It's close at the moment, so we want to catch up with them. The bar has been raised this year."
** Ashley Young, Nani and Michael Carrick were speaking at an exclusive fan Q&A broadcast on Betfair's Facebook page. To see the full video and more, visit www.facebook.com/betfair.

 

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[h=1]Wenger: Well said, Aaron - but you're wrong[/h] Published 17:03 13/01/12 By John Cross

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...anager-says-Arsene-Wenger-article853428.html#

Arsene Wenger has backed his midfielder Aaron Ramsey - but insisted the Arsenal midfielder and his Wales team-mates should not choose their next manager.
Ramsey, who is the Welsh captain, spoke out this week, admitting he was "disappointed" that the squad had not been consulted over who should succeed the late Gary Speed.
Arsenal boss Wenger defended his player's decision to speak out and admired his maturity, but said the Welsh FA must decide who takes over.
Wenger said: "I feel the responsibility to choose a new manager is down to the Welsh football federation.

"But he [Ramsey] has a sense of responsibility and can take pressure. He will grow very quickly in this role and will be a big captain for Wales.
"Ramsey is quality. What we want is to have the best players. I believe, personally, what people forget about him is that this is his first full season, really.
"For me, he's growing month by month as a player. People have to be patient with him, but I'm happy with what he's delivering. If Wilshere comes back, they can play together.
"He has personality. He's a bit young, of course, because it's a massive responsibility for a player of that age, and with the little experience he has."

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[h=1]Redknapp: We can lose to City and still win title[/h] Published 22:00 20/01/12 By Darren Lewis

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Harry Redknapp has discovered the expensive way that the Premier League title race can be a tale of the unexpected.
The Tottenham manager takes his men to Manchester City for Sunday's first-v-third clash insisting a night at an Italian restaurant in 1996 has shown him his team can survive if they lose and fall further behind leaders City.
Spurs can get within two points of City - or find themselves eight points behind them - but Redknapp says that night out almost 16 years ago proved how easily big leads can disappear even at the highest level.
He said: "Newcastle had just gone 12 points clear with about 10 games to go. The bloke who owned the restaurant wanted to bet on Manchester United winning the league. I thought, ‘Is he mad or what?'

"Three months later, I've got to walk in and he slaughtered me. That was the dearest night I've ever had in an Italian restaurant!"
The tale serves as inspiration to Redknapp and his players as they bid to end City's run of 10 straight home wins this season.
As City racked up an average of three goals a game in the Premier League during the first half of the season, many declared the competition a one-horse race.
Redknapp, whose side looked in for a tough season after being beaten 3-0 at Manchester United and 5-1 at home to City in their opening two games, said: "You would rather be 12 points clear than 12 points behind. But then Newcastle being caught, and Manchester United got caught by Arsenal once so it can evaporate."
And recalling an incident earlier when he was cutting his managerial teeth on the south coast he says: "Nine points can go in a week.
"I remember being manager at Bournemouth and we had a nine point swing with one club.
"We won on the Saturday game, we played Wednesday, they lost. Then we played them on a Saturday and beat them. It's unreal how it can change."
Spurs will have to do without striker Emmanuel Adebayor due to the terms of his loan from City, so Jermain Defoe will lead the line.
At the back, Ledley King - described by Redknapp as ‘Tottenham's Mark Lawrenson' could figure despite pessimism over his fitness on Friday.
Redknapp said: "He's a defender you always feel is in control of the situation, a bit like Alan Hansen or Lawrenson played.
"You have people who don't look under pressure or at full stretch, they're not making last ditch [tackles] like Bobby Moore, they are in the right place at the right time. They see something developing before it develops - Ledley is like that."
Redknapp believes City respect his line-up as much as he and his players respect theirs.
He went on: "Of course. We have good players, Modric, Parker, Van der Vaart, Lennon, Bale. Good attacking players.
"(Right-back) Kyle Walker has emerged as a fantastic prospect. They will be wary that we can hit them on the counter-attack for sure with Walker.
"We have a good team. The left-back (Benoit Assou-Ekotto) is a good player. Younes Kaboul is now the player that I thought that he could have been when I took him to Portsmouth. He has come on leaps and bounds."
But the Spurs boss has urged opposite number Mancini to curb the card-waving gestures that have drawn such derision over the past two weeks.
Redknapp joked: "I'll set Joe Jordan on him! Joe speaks Italian. He can talk to him!"
More seriously, he added: "I don't like it. I wouldn't do it. I don't like to see it. "I don't think there is any need for it. When I have met him I have found him a really good guy.
"We all do things we shouldn't do at different times. We get caught up in the game but it's not something I like to see."
Redknapp has also dismissed claims from City defender Joleon Lescott that Spurs are not a threat to the Blues' title ambitions .
The Spurs boss said: "We will find out on Sunday. It is like boxing, one says that he is going to knock him out in two rounds and all that, but you wait until the night what it is all about.
"We just get ourselves ready for the game."
***
MANCHESTER CITY v TOTTENHAM: PROBABLE TEAMS
Man City (4-2-3-1): Hart; Richards, Savic, Lescott, Clichy; Milner, Barry; Nasri, Aguero, Silva; Dzeko.
Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Friedel; Walker, King, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Modric, Parker, Bale; Van der Vaart; Defoe.
Manchester City team news: Balotelli and Richards passed fit
Tottenham team news: Defoe to start but King is struggling
Simon Bird's Premier League previews and predictions (Week 22)
We ARE feeling title-race pressure admits City's Gareth Barry