CitizenBlue

Forget about Hughes, we went through that nightmare before Mancini came along. He'll have you scoring loads but the concept of 'defending' eludes him to this day. That's why he draws against lower opponents and gets smashed at home by big ones.

Ancelotti is class though, he will have you in the top 6 for sure. Rijkaard and Deschamps are good too, but they'll need time to adapt to the Premier League.

Congrats on your win, shitty as it feels for me.

You deserved it. We made too many errors and couldn't get past your stingy defence.

I think you will make it to the top half this year with Bent and Makoun.

He doesn't seem like such a clearing in the woods when you read the whole interview. It's obvious quite a bit of what he said was tongue-in-cheek WUMing.

So how is life in Manchester?

I live right in the centre, in a modern building, with a splendid view. One day my brother Giovanni was in the street, he looked up and said to his girlfriend: 'How nice, Cami, look, they're doing fireworks in Manchester...' but it was me, shooting them off from the ninth floor.

Your neighbours must love that...

You must be joking, they adore me. When I score, they stick little congratulatory notes under my door. At Christmas, they presented me with bottles of wine. But I do not drink.

Did you get Christmas wishes from Jose Mourinho?

I sent them to him, but he didn't answer. He is the world's best coach, but as a man he still has to learn manners and respect.

Silvio Berlusconi has said that Antonio Cassano is the best talent...

He's mistaken, or he doesn't know Balotelli.

Balotelli-Ibrahimovic-Cassano at Milan, ever thought about it?

It's still early. For this year and one more I'll stay at City, where I feel benissimo, extremely well. And then, think about this one: Balotelli-Tevez-Dzeko. Is it not good enough? Can you see anything better than this in the world? Me neither, not even at Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Do you get on with Mancini?

He's the most important coach I've ever had. Soon he'll be No 1 in the world. But already now, in terms of human qualities, he is 2km ahead of Mourinho, wait, make that 10km. He keeps saying to me: 'When I joined Sampdoria from Bologna I already felt I was the best of all. Then I realised how hard I had to work to improve.' I've got the message.

Who has been the biggest surprise for you at City?

Adam Johnson. I did not know him before. He has great technique.

Who is the funniest at City?

Yaya Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor. If I wear some strange shoes, they stick them onto the ceiling of the dressing room with sellotape.

Who has helped you the most?

Many of them, but Patrick Vieira and Aleksandar Kolarov most of all. At Christmas, they invited me to their houses, but in the end I managed to spend Christmas Day with my mother, who arrived that day after they had cancelled her flight because of the snow.

Is Tevez as nasty as they portray him in the English media?

What? Do me a favour... He's as good as they come.

Who is the strongest player in the Premier League?

Didier Drogba.

What about Rooney?

He's good, but not the best in Manchester.

Who is the strongest defender?

Nemanja Vidic.

Do the United fans insult you?

No, they stop me in the street and tell me: 'Mario, come to United.' Honestly. But I'm dreaming of beating United, because I know how much this means to our fans, they are splendid with me. I had such goosebumps when they sang my name after my hat-trick.

Are English defences better than Italian ones?

The Italians, they are tactically stronger. In England it is easier to score.

Have you experienced racist boos in England?

No, they only insult me as an opponent. It has happened to me in Liverpool. I was with some Italian friends, there was an argument with some Liverpool fans.

Do you get Italian friends coming to visit you in Manchester?

Yes, the other day they placed a live lobster in my car. God, did I jump.

How's your English?

Good. I watch movies in English with subtitles on, and learn the sentences. When Charlie talks to us, I understand him more than my journalist sister.

Who is Charlie?

He's an Indian from Kashmir who takes me around and helps me a lot. Then there's Curtis, another driver, who knows everybody in Manchester. At City, I've found a lot of extremely kind people. Also Sheikh Mansour, the owner. Mancini is lucky. He has an owner who speaks little, and only asks him: 'What do you need?'

What does Mancini say about your English?

He can't say anything. His English stinks. But it is improving.

Were you really sad and depressed?

Sometimes I just had no wish to do anything at all, I'd shut myself inside my flat.

Now it looks much better, at least judging from stories about you and Big Brother's Sophie Reade...

Rubbish. English football is as advanced in the stadia as it is backward in the press. Football and tits are mixed up in the tabloids. If a girl says, 'I am the girlfriend of that footballer', they all think it's true. Anything goes, and you cannot defend yourself.

Luigi Garlando

The whole interview is quite entertaining. He seems like a really entertaining bloke.

He annoyed the hell out of me at first, but you get used to him. He has a tendency to be brutally honest when not WUMing, both of which makes him a more interesting personality than the others who give the pre-formulated boring answers and pretend badge-kissing.

Houllier has spent very wisely. For 24 million he has secured an Premier League proven striker and a very solid defensive midfielder, two of your weakest areas.

This would be a poor attempt at smoking out other interest for him. Maybe if Villa was buying for 13 million, but 18-24 million is too rich for most. Unless someone like Inter or Real come for him, I would guess most won't be willing to match that price.

It really does signal our intent..

How many of the other clubs at the bottom can buy a key player from a Champions League club and a key striker from a Premiership team sitting in 6th? Birmingham are spunking themselves about going out and getting David Bentley who was desperate to get out of a club who don't regard him as good enough (although he did play very well against us).. I can't see any of the others down there having 24m available to get out of the relegation scrap...

Not saying we're guaranteed to get out of it already - but it's certainly nice to know the club are willing to show their muscle. It's quite amusing to think that having Sidwell off our books now will probably pay a fair chuck of Bent's wages..

I could really see this fueling a huge turnaround for Villa's fortunes. A statement of intent like this makes the whole league take notice.

If you manage to keep players like Young, this looks to be your turning point. 3 more solid signings and you'll be making Tottenham sweat.

Side Back this ain't American Football!

I watch American football and there is no such thing as a side back. Cornerback?

If it does reach £24m, the chances are that will mean we're in the Champions League. That will make it money well spent.

Players who score like Darren Bent rarely come on the market.

If Bent stays healthy, I think this is a real coup for Villa. He is expensive but you're getting one of the league's top strikers to come to a club battling relegation. Please don't take that the wrong way, I mean no offence, but it's the truth.

A brilliant move by Houllier.

What happens to Heskey? Does Houllier typically play 4-4-2?

Oh crap. You got Darren Bent right before we play you. Son of a b-

You'd rather see the arrogant red tossers revel in their 19th over the equally arrogant red scouse?

Whether you hate us or not, please tell me you'd rather not see the Sky 24/7 wanking over Little Peestain and co. At least the media would still hate us if we won and not collectively lick our nutsacks like Ferguson.

You are very similar to United now, if you won the league your fans would be acting in the same fashion as theirs.

Never will I act like a scum fan, where they think winning trophies is a birthright.

We are just looking for one trophy, we don't chant shit like 'we're City and we do what we want' after crooked ref calls.

You'd rather see the arrogant red tossers revel in their 19th over the equally arrogant red scouse?

Whether you hate us or not, please tell me you'd rather not see the Sky 24/7 wanking over Little Peestain and co. At least the media would still hate us if we won and not collectively lick our nutsacks like Ferguson.

Yes I mate, I would.

I **** hate your club with a passion, so don't come on here expecting me to agree with you.

I would gladly see Manure take the title, League Cup, FA Cup and Champions league everytime into infinity, than see you and your lot celebrating any kind of success, ever!

Terrible. Just awful. Might as well hope for the bloody red dippers to win another European trophy and Gerrard wankathon.

You'd rather see the arrogant red tossers revel in their 19th over the equally arrogant red scouse?

Whether you hate us or not, please tell me you'd rather not see the Sky 24/7 wanking over Little Peestain and co. At least the media would still hate us if we won (their money is ruining football and here is proof) and not collectively lick our nutsacks like Ferguson.

Dzeko in. £27m fee, four and a half year contract. Signed too late for the FA cup game, so he will probably make his debut against Wolves next week.

Good stuff. Let's hope he fires the goals to bring them the title and rub all the red-noses (scouse/manc/cockney) in the dirt

Cheers, mate. We're hoping the same.

No Silva or Balotelli for Arsenal. We're toothless without them.

Oh well, in all likelihood Milner will play and finally prove his worth by beating Arsenal with an injury time goal. :winkold:

Hoping for a draw in all seriousness.

Jo is a quality reserve. Looks absolutely unfit but manages to score the occasional goal, and can play on the left and not slow the passing down. I don't know what it is about Brazilians, but it seems even the worst have a better sense of quick passing than most English players. :?

prob be Santa Cruz or Adebayor

Both, in all likelihood.

That would give us Tevez, Dzeko, Balotelli, and Jo. Balotelli we can use as a left forward. If/when Tevez leaves, we've got cover, at least I'm sure that is the thinking behind this move.

Man City have agreed a £27m fee with Wolfsburg for Dzeko. Deal unlikely to be finalised til Tues at earliest, though. #mcfc about 1 hour ago via ÜberTwitter

Mark Ogden, Telegraph on Twitter

Zonal Marking commended Houllier on his tactics.

That said, Villa were the better side in the opening period, and credit should go to Houllier for his starting line-up. Not only did Villa prevent Chelsea from playing, they were also positive and direct when they had the ball, and took the game to Carlo Ancelotti’s side for the majority of the half.

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2011/01/02/chelsea-3-3-aston-villa-tactics/

High praise from a knowledgeable fellow.

Hahaha GET INNNNNNN

Well done, Villans. Hopefully this will see you make a second half surge. One of the most exciting matches of the season.

He's not a great manager but this squad should be ashamed.

When they go out there like they did on Tuesday and roll over, they're not just hurting Houllier, they're hurting the club and its fans. Unacceptable to pout on the field no matter who is the manager. Even West Ham and Fulham fought for their dire managers, at least they showed pride for their clubs.

They should be sat on the bench for youth players who want to play and will fight for the shirt. At least it's better than watching overpaid prima donnas take it up the arse willingly.

I thought the Villa player stopped it before going across the line at first. Then I saw the linesman immediately signal a goal and none of the Villa players were arguing, so I just assumed it crossed the line.

I'm not on the Dzeko bandwagon like many blues. But I must say after looking at several large strikers over the years, Dzeko is better than almost all of them. His technique is really good, his touch is good, he loves contact, two footed and is great in the air.

Can't say whether he'll settle down immediately. There is no reason I can see that he shouldn't.

Tied on points after United's failure to secure 3. Chuffed to bits.

When he first came, he could only interview through a translator and couldn't put a sentence together. He's apparently taking English lessons and weaning himself off of translators.

The nuance between house and home seems to have eluded him today.