Ireland or Bellamy?

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Andy Hunter in New York
The Guardian, Tuesday 27 July 2010

Roberto Mancini challenges Stephen Ireland to prove himself at City
• Manager ponders cutting Ireland, Bellamy for 25-man squad
• 'Someone will have to miss out but right now I don't know who'

Roberto Mancini has told Stephen Ireland to prove he belongs at Manchester City next season but has yet to decide whether the Irish midfielder or Craig Bellamy will feature on his final 25-man squad list.

Ireland's future at City, who are in discussions with Internazionale over the possible €30m (£25m)signing of Mario Balotelli, is in serious doubt after he was informed the club would not stand in the way of an offer for his services. The 23-year-old was City's Player of the Year in 2009 but suffered a dramatic dip in form last season and has vowed to fight for his place at Eastlands despite the threat of limited opportunities.

Mancini has denied having a personal issue with the central midfielder, or telling Ireland he will not be on the squad list that must be submitted to the Premier League at the end of August. However, he admits Ireland has still to convince he can hold a place in a team swelled by the arrivals of fellow midfielders Yaya Touré, David Silva and possibly James Milner this summer.

The City manager said: "I have to cut my squad down to 25 and at this moment I have more than 30 so someone will have to miss out but right now I don't know who it will be. I have not decided anything about Stephen Ireland. There has been no problem with him on the tour. He could still have a future here. I don't know how it's possible for him to think otherwise because I haven't decided. It is up to him to prove himself to me."

Ireland captained City in their second pre-season defeat, a 2-1 loss to New York Red Bulls on Sunday, but was withdrawn at half-time. "I made Stephen captain of the team so that shows I still have belief in him," said Mancini. "The only reason I took him off at half-time was because he played 90 minutes the other night against Sporting. I am concerned about players doing too much and getting injuries."

Mancini was equivocal on Ireland's future should a club move for the midfielder this summer. "We would have to see," he said, and admitted Bellamy is another high-profile player with an uncertain future at the club. "It is clear that some of the players we have here are going to be left off the list. I am not sure yet if one of those will be Bellamy. At this moment it is impossible to know which players will be on that final list."

City officials and the agent of Balotelli have denied reports in the Italian media that the 19-year-old is on the brink of a move to Eastlands that would take the club's spending past the £100m mark for the summer. La Gazzetta dello Sport has claimed the troubled forward has signed a four-year deal with City worth €4m (£3.35m) per season, and held a leaving party with friends in Milan on Saturday night.

No fee has been agreed between City and the reigning European champions, however, and the proposed transfer has also hit a problem over the teenager's exorbitant wage demands. Balotelli is believed to be seeking more than £80,000-a-week to join City who, despite their vast resources, are reluctant to commit to those figures on a talented but inexperienced player. Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, said: "Nothing has been signed between Balotelli and Manchester City and I doubt anything will be in the next few days."

Mancini has confirmed an interest in Fernando Torres should the Spain international decide to leave Liverpool, but Balotelli and the Wolfsburg forward Edin Dzeko are more likely arrivals.

Emmanuel Adebayor, meanwhile, has admitted he is still to establish himself at City 12 months after his £25m transfer from Arsenal. The Togo striker scored 14 goals in his debut season but his contribution was interrupted by injury, suspension and the attack of his team bus at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola that left three people dead.

"Last season was difficult for lots of reasons," said Adebayor. "I had got banned, I got injured and there was the terrorist attack so it was hard. I've never had a season like that before. I've never had a season where I've played less than 35 games but I missed a lot of football last season.

"I think the title is realistic [for City next season]. We've had some good players come in like David Silva and Yaya Touré. We're as strong as United and Chelsea."

 

[m35 blue68]

Not even worth an answer, would get the same for both but only one would give us anything.

 

[ChorltonBlue12]

Ireland is such a clever player we should keep him.

 

[leighton]

I would hold onto the both of them and get rid of Vieria simple really. Vieria doesnt offer anything compared to these 2 players. I was shocked he got a new contract to be fair.

 

[dubaisteve]

Keep Bellamy

 

[WidnesBlue23]

I would hold onto the both of them and get rid of Vieria simple really. Vieria doesnt offer anything compared to these 2 players. I was shocked he got a new contract to be fair.

Me too, Vieira against Wigan last year was shocking, his touch, passing and vision was the worst i've seen apart from one pass for Tevez, Mancini must see something, I think more for his off-field influence and experience.

 

[FantasyIreland]

I would hold onto the both of them and get rid of Vieria simple really. Vieria doesnt offer anything compared to these 2 players. I was shocked he got a new contract to be fair.

Experience blah,blah blah...

Agree,very strange decision to offer a contract imo,especially given the new squad rules and our current alternate(evergrowing) options.

If i had to choose,then it would(unfortunately) be contrary to my username.<br /><br />-- Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:29 pm --<br /><br />

I would hold onto the both of them and get rid of Vieria simple really. Vieria doesnt offer anything compared to these 2 players. I was shocked he got a new contract to be fair.

Experience blah,blah blah...

Agree,very strange decision to offer a contract imo,especially given the new squad rules and our current alternate(evergrowing) options.

If i had to choose,then it would(unfortunately) be contrary to my username.