History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

CITY FANS IN 'DREAMLAND' BUT FEAR FOR YOUTH

Manchester City fans are in "dreamland" following the cash injection from new owners Abu Dhabi United Group (Adug) and the British transfer record signing of Brazilian star Robinho.

Adug have links with the United Arab Emirates royal family, who are worth more than a trillion pounds, and are fronted by Sulaiman al-Fahim. He has vowed to turn City into the new Chelsea and end the club's 32-year wait for silverware sooner rather than later.

After former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was bought out for a reported £210m by Adug on Sunday evening, City wasted little time in tabling bids for a number of top footballers before the transfer window closed at midnight on Monday.

The 24-year-old forward Robinho moved to Eastlands for a record £32.5m, snubbing Chelsea at the 11th hour. And, aside from unsuccessful bids for Dimitar Berbatov, Stuttgart's Mario Gomez and David Villa of Valencia, there were also offers for some of the Premier League's biggest stars.

Kevin Parker, the general secretary of the official Manchester City supporters club, has heard rumours that Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Cristiano Ronaldo had all been approached to sign for City, who last won a trophy in 1976 - the League Cup.

"Most people knew that City had bid for Gomez, Villa, Robinho and Berbatov," said the 47-year-old, "but there were also stories that were never made public that they had bid £45m for Torres.

"On Tuesday morning there were stories that came out that said that Torres, Fabregas and Ronaldo are now on the radar. There was talk of a £120m offer for Ronaldo, just to see what United's response would be.

"Robinho is an unbelievable signing. I'm sure it is not wasted money either - this guy is the real deal, especially if Chelsea have been chasing him all summer."

On Fahim's target of City finishing in the top four this season, Parker believes a top six finish is more realistic. He continued: "Mark Hughes is building a really good team.

"We are in shock and in dreamland with what has happened, but I think top six is a good target - top four is too optimistic at the moment. New signings Shaun Wright-Phillips and Vincent Kompany look fantastic. Shaun's two goals against Sunderland on his 're-debut' were a dream.

"If we get to January and are still in the mix, it will be very interesting to see what the activity in the next transfer window will be. We should be able to attract some great players.

"But I feel sorry for the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Ched Evans [both 19], who won the FA Youth Cup with City last season and have had a sniff of first team action this year.

"With the new signings they are probably thinking: 'What's going to happen to me?' But training with the likes of Brazilians Elano, Jo and Robinho will help their game. You would hope that they will be patient. It will be much harder for them to break into the team.

"It is important that Hughes remains at the helm though. He will take us forward and is sensitive to the youth team. I just hope his position is not compromised by Adug."

Labels: Adug, Indian Premier League, Manchester City, Robinho

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 2:41 pm | Permalink | Comments

FULHAM AFTER VIERA-TYPE PLAYER

Roy Hodgson believes a Patrick Viera-type midfielder would be the final piece in the jigsaw for Fulham. Manager Hodgson, whose team host Arsenal tomorrow (SAT), thinks a battling defensive player will allow his attacking midfielders more licence to roam.

He has money in his transfer kitty after central midfielder Steven Davis' move to Rangers was confirmed on Thursday.

More cash could be on the way after Davis' Northern Ireland team-mate David Healy completed a medical at Sunderland, while Moritz Volz is on his way to Ipswich.

"There is a space in the midfield group for another player now," said the 61-year-old Hodgson.

"We are looking for a different type of midfielder player - more of a defensive, strong, tall type of central midfield player.

"The profile we would want would be an out-and-out defensive midfielder who is not interested in going forward and getting involved in attacks in the opposition penalty box.

"I would like Patrick Viera in an ideal world.

"At the moment in our midfield group they are all reasonably similar players in that they are all ball players and regard themselves as playmakers and not defenders.

"Hopefully something will turn up before the transfer window closes. We would be happy to take the chance."

Labels: Arsenal, Fulham, Indian Premier League, Patrick Viera, Roy Hodgson

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:16 pm | Permalink | Comments

BOPARA HINTS AT JOINING IPL NEXT SEASON

Ravi Bopara has admitted he could be tempted by the riches of the Indian
Premier League next season if he doesn't get back into the England Test side.

The Essex all-rounder, who made his One Day International debut in February
last year before starring in the World Cup, made his Test bow in December on
the tour to Sri Lanka, but failed with both the bat and the ball and was
dropped.

Bopara, who averaged only 8.40 in the sub-continent, reportedly declined a
six-figure contract from an unnamed IPL franchise so he could work on his game
and earn his England place back.

But after a good start to the county season and no recall in sight, the
23-year-old has admitted he could play in India's Twenty20 tournament next year.

"I am really hungry this season for runs and I am trying to get back into the
England side," he said. "I would do anything to get back into the side.

"I've had a good start to the season but I am trying not to put too much
pressure on myself. I just do what I know and I have practised hard over the
winter and I am practising hard during the season.

"I understood that the England team was going to pick itself for the beginning
of this summer unless there were injuries.

"We won the Test series in New Zealand and the batsmen have done well in the
last few games.

"But I want to prove myself again, and I know that if I am to get back into the
Test team I need to play four-day cricket for Essex. And I didn't play in the
IPL because I didn't want to miss any games. The decision was a gut feeling and
it wasn't too hard to make."

Bopara, who bowls right-arm medium pace, added: "My bowling has been going
really well this season too and is another thing I have been working on.

"I know that I will never have the quickest pace so I am having to be cleverer
with my deliveries. I have been swinging it both ways and have a slower ball.

"I have spoken to a few people from England and the ECB and they have praised
me for not playing in the IPL.

"The Test series in Sri Lanka did not go how I wanted it to go on a personal
note. But I am glad that it has happened this early in my career - it has made
me a better player now.

"I went back and worked on things I knew I had to improve and I can see the
changes already.

"But the decision I made about the IPL was for this season only. It was based on
just what I want to do this season. I don't know what my decisions are going to
be in the future - next year for instance. I will have a look at it further
down the line and see how it goes.

"I have seen a few of the IPL games and the grounds are tiny - people are half
hitting it for six. It looks good fun."

Labels: England, Essex CCC, Indian Premier League, Ravi Bopara, Sri Lanka

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:04 pm | Permalink | Comments

KEY IN NO MOOD FOR IPL

Kent Spitfires captain Robert Key is a strong supporter of Twenty20 cricket, but he can't imagine signing on for the Indian Premier League - as he doesn't think he is good enough at the moment!

The Spitfires defeated Gloucestershire Gladiators in August's Twenty20 Final at Edgbaston, but Key, 28, believes that rather than worrying about the 'life-changing' amounts of money on offer in the IPL, he should be concentrating on regaining his England place.

He said: "I have to try to be realistic and at this point in time I am not a big enough name. You are talking about some of the best players in the world in that form of the game," he said.

"If one or two years down the line I was back playing for England and smacking the ball out of the park I would have a different answer. It is a very hard decision to make. If someone offers you life-changing amount of money then you can't just turn around and say 'no'. At the minute all I want to do is play for England.

"In an attempt to better myself I have gone out to Perth and done some extra work. I have had to sit down and be honest with myself - I have to be a better fielder and I have to hit the ball harder."

Key says he is looking forward to trying to regain the Twenty20 Cup and added: "It is fantastic and it starts at a great time of the year because you will have been playing four days of cricket, your bowlers will be starting to get tired and then they have two weeks were they are bowling four overs in a game.

"It is intense, hard cricket, but you also feel as though you are getting a lot of rest. It means there is that much more recovery time for your bowlers and they come back fresh from the Twenty20 cricket into the next Championship game."

Labels: cricket, Indian Premier League, Kent Spitfires, Robert Key, Twenty20

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 3:53 pm | Permalink | Comments

MASCARENHAS INFLUENCED BY WARNE

Shane Warne was the main reason why his former team-mate Dimitri Mascrenhas signed up for the lucrative Indian Premier League, the new Hampshire captain has revealed. Ex-skipper Warne, widely regarded as one of the greatest exponents of spin bowling in the history of the game, encouraged the England selectors to pick all-rounder Mascrenhas last year.

The 30-year-old made his One Day International debut in July and has won 10 caps for his county, and Warne has used his powers of persuasion to good effect again. The blond leg spinner is set to captain and coach the Jaipur Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, and wanted his Hampshire friend in the team.

“Shane was a huge influence on my decision,” Mascrenhas, who featured in the recent ODI series in New Zealand, admitted. “He rang me and asked would I be interested after the first auction. I said ‘Yeah, I’d be interested’ and that started the ball rolling. I only just sneaked in at the second auction.”

And when Warne announced his retirement from county cricket last month, it was a great surprise for Mascrenhas. He continued: “It was definitely a bit of a shock when Shane announced he was leaving. He decided that his kids and family were more important which is a good enough excuse for me.”

On the IPL Twenty20 Mascrenhas added: “It’s a pretty easy game, you have just got to know how to do it. You have to score runs fast and bowl tight. And know when to use your variations. It’s all in the head.” And with the money he will earn – some of the top stars are reportedly being paid $180,000 for just signing on – he will treat himself to some jewellery. “I might buy some new earrings,” he smiled.

Labels: cricket, Dimitri Mascarenhas, England, Hampshire, Indian Premier League, Shane Warne

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 10:04 pm | Permalink | Comments

MASCARENHAS' ENGLAND AMBITIONS

Dimitri Mascarenhas has no regrets over his decision to play in the breakaway Indian Premier League later this month and has been assured that his international career will not be jeopardised. The Hampshire captain is the only Englishman to sign up for the IPL, though a raft of top players from other countries will also feature in the six-week tournament.

The English Cricket Board had threatened to black list players who went out to India, and even at the weekend ECB chief executive David Collier suggested that it would be hard for any Englishman to play both the IPL and for England, as the international schedule is so tight.

But 30-year-old Mascarenhas, who made his One Day International bow last July, insists that he has been informed that playing in the IPL will not hinder his international chances one bit. And further, he believes that playing against the best cricketers in the world will strengthen his case for selection.

He said: “I spoke to the ECB after I signed up for (to the IPL) and they were all positive about it.

“They said, ‘At this stage there will be no guarantees’, because they can’t make guarantees until they pick the side, and I’m one of those players who can’t be sure of a spot.

“But the International Cricket Council have sanctioned the tournament and all the other big names from other countries are doing it.

“So I’m going to try and perform for Hampshire and go over to India and perform, and hopefully I will get picked for England.”

Mascarenhas currently has 10 ODI, a batting average of 32 and a bowling average of 51. He is sure that there are more caps around the corner, especially if he can impress in India.

“If the England selectors see me getting 50 runs off 25 balls against Brett Lee, Shoaib Akhtar or these sorts of bowlers I don’t think it will go unnoticed, that’s for sure,” he continued.

“It’s the same again with my bowling – if I get a couple of wickets, getting some names out like (Sachin) Tendulkar, (Sourav) Ganguly, or (Ricky) Ponting, then it will help my cause.

“Playing and performing against the best players in the world on a big stage can’t do me any harm.”

Labels: cricket, Dimitri Mascarenhas, English Cricket Board, Indian Premier League, International Cricket Council

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 9:55 pm | Permalink | Comments

STRAUSS: ENGLAND PLAYERS SHOULD BE INVOVLED IN IPL

Andrew Strauss believes that it will be only a matter of time until England players feature in the breakaway Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament. The England No3 knocked a career best unbeaten 177 in the third and final Test last week and clinched the series win in New Zealand.

But he thinks that the way to further popularise cricket is through the shortened format, and that a way to accommodate both forms must be found if the game is to evolve. The English Cricket Board issued a statement warning that if any centrally contracted England player were to play in the lucrative IPL, which begins at the end of the month, their deal would be ripped up.

Top players from other countries have signed up for the six-week competition and the Middlesex left-hander, 31, thinks England players should be allowed too.

He said: “I love the idea of the IPL and I’m sure at some stage the England players will be involved – that will be great for everyone to see.

“The IPL is going to change cricket to some extent, there is no doubt about that. It is just a question of how the expansion of the Twenty20 game fits in with the more traditional elements of Test cricket and one day cricket. That is for the big wigs at the International Cricket Council and ECB to work out.

“No one wants to see Test cricket go. It is just a question of marrying the two together and coming out with a solution that everyone is happy with.

“I like the fact that the game is going forward. I think that Twenty20 is a great format of the game – it introduces the game to a whole new audience and allows cricket to compete with the likes of football and the other bigger sports we have over here.

“The Twenty20 has brought a new audience, so that is a start. A lot of people are now watching cricket who never watched it before. The more people watching the game, the better.”

Labels: Andrew Strauss, cricket, England, Indian Premier League, IPL, Middlesex

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 9:52 pm | Permalink | Comments