Jamie Carragher is ready to return to training next week. David Platt talks City rotation, Andrei Arshavin feels he’s glued to the bench while Charles N’Zogbia gets the backing of the Aston Villa management team. Here’s some Scribbles on a quiet Thursday morning, folks:
Jamie Carragher this morning confirmed he is confident of a return to training next week. The Liverpool centre-half has been sidelined since picking up a knock in the Carling Cup win at Stoke but in his absence, Kenny Dalglish’s side have recorded back-to-back clean sheets in the league for the first time this season, with Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel looking solid at the heart of the back-four.
Man City coach David Platt has been discussing the rotation headache at the club right now. Only three players –Joe Hart, Joleon Lescott and Yaya Toure- have started every one of the club’s eleven league games to date and Platt, speaking to the Manchester Evening News, conceded it’s a tricky issue for Roberto Mancini.
When you look at the way the squad is, we have had to leave players in the stand, and it’s one of the most difficult decisions the manager has got. Picking an eleven becomes more tactical than thinking ‘How will we win the game with this?’ because we have a group of players who we feel that no matter what eleven we put out, will be competitive. It’s not a case of everyone having to have their turn but when we look at things, that is the way Roberto is trying to do it – he’s trying to rotate it and utilise players on the bench and in the team to keep freshness and keep it sane.
Reports today suggest Phil Jagielka may be selected to play against Spain on Saturday despite a fractured small toe. The Everton centre-half has been unable to train for England this week and would require an injection to play but Fabio Capello is keen to keep John Terry out of the firing line and may be willing to risk him.
Carlos Tevez’s latest controversy could cost the Man City striker up to £750,000, with the PFA’s Gordon Taylor even struggling to defend the Argentine this time. Tevez’s decision to fly to his homeland instead of reporting for training has, according to his advisors, just been a misunderstanding. Tevez had believed he was due time off this week as all of the reserves had been given a week’s holiday and, according to a spokesman, had unsuccessfully tried to contact Roberto Mancini on Monday to ask for permission:
He tried countless times to speak to Roberto Mancini. He was told it was Mancini’s decision as to whether or not he could go and left numerous voice messages and texts. He didn’t receive a response at all. He then flew to Argentina and tried to speak to Mancini again yesterday, leaving messages and texts. As of this moment we’ve had no response.
Andrei Arshavin is believed to be pondering his Arsenal long-term future after growing tired of his role as a substitute. The Russian has completed ninety minutes in the league just once this season, in the 8-2 defeat by Man United, with Gervinho’s more direct and pacey contribution preferred on the left by Arsene Wenger. Speaking to the media in his homeland, Arshavin admitted:
Right now I don’t think about changing clubs. If I will be benched for a very long time, then such an issue might be relevant. I still want to play for 90 minutes, but now I am glued to the bench.
Despite the continued protests and the hiring of a helicopter to hover over Ewood Park demanding the removal of their manager, Blackburn Rovers fans look unlikely to get their way. Reports this morning indicate Steve Kean has, incredibly, been handed a new, improved contract by the club’s Indian owners Venky’s. With only one win on the board and sitting second-bottom of the league, it’s a staggering show of faith.
After a slow start to his Aston Villa career, Charles N’Zogbia is starting to impress the management at his new club. Having previously been such a consistent Fantasy performer at Wigan, the winger has been a huge disappointment since his move to the Midlands, with a single assist in his first eleven games. Assistant boss Peter Grant feels he’s beginning to step up to the level required:
We feel in the last few weeks that Charles is starting to get there. We think that he’s got to believe more in himself. The gaffer wants there to be competition in positions so that players have to step up to the mark. Because if you don’t then he’ll leave you out and put someone else in, it doesn’t matter who you are. There’s no doubt that he’s (N’Zogbia) buying into it, that’s clear from the work he does on the training ground. We feel that if he produces what he’s capable of then he can be a big player for us in this period.
