EPL 12-13 City v QPR Mancini Preview Part 2

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EPL 12-13 City v QPR Samir Nasri Post Match Interview

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MATCH REPORT

These two sides may look very different the next time they are in Premier League action but this game enjoyed a familiar scenario and the usual happy ending for the home side.

With four new faces either on the bench or on their way to Manchester in the next ten days or so and seemingly half a bus load heading for Loftus Road, Roberto Mancini and Mark Hughes will both soon have selection decisions to make.

The big difference of course is that, after the international break, Mancini will be going through the gears in pursuit of a second successive domestic title and training his sites on Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in the interim. His City predecessor Mark Hughes will have less lofty ambitions.

Mancini will be plotting with seven points from a possible nine -- a perfectly acceptable haul from the opening three games of the season.

There was never any danger of this game being able to replicate the epic final day emotion of last season -- no match could -- City were comfortable from first whistle to last and once Yaya Toure had opened the scoring in the 16th minute the home side were almost in exhibition mode.

Yaya's shot, after Carlos Tevez' initial effort had been blocked, carried too much venom for Rob Green who could only help it into the net.

Green, much maligned for his early season performances, was one of the better Rangers performers in the opening half, saving well to his left from David Silva.

There has been much talk about City formations since pre-season and what Mancini may have in mind the future. That didn't matter a jot here with the home side's fluidity making the putting of numbers against their shape a complete waste of time and effort.

QPR certainly struggled to work out where the Blues were coming from next. They were frequently penned in and thankful that Boswinga cleared off the line from Edin Dzeko whilst the Blues were occupying a different galaxy in the first half.

The only nagging doubt at the break was that the Blues -- not for the first time -- had not made the most of their possession and chances. One sensed Mancini would be saying just that in the interval.

City certainly came out with renewed intent in the second period.

Green again saved his side, this time from Tevez, but as feared by the faithful the surprisingly flaky home side conceded the second goal of the game when Zamora headed in from close range after Joe Hart had denied Andrew Johnson.

The Bosnian was involved again in the third goal deep into injury time. His shot was going well wide of the target when Tevez deflected it home.

The goal may have come a little too late for Mancini's liking. The Blues ought to have sealed the win long before the 92nd minute.

Still that's 26 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium without defeat and no one said a title defence would be a cake walk. Mourinho might well have been contemplating just that from his seat high in the stands.

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Silva pens City deal

By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey.   Last Updated: September 17, 2012 3:08pm

David Silva: New deal with Man City

Spanish star David Silva has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City, the Premier League champions have confirmed.

The 26-year-old had two years left on the deal he signed when he joined the club from Valencia in 2010.

Reports had suggested Silva was set to agree terms on a new long-term deal worth £200,000 per week and City have confirmed that he has now put pen-to-paper.

The player revealed his delight at committing to City to 2017, telling the club's official website: "I'm very pleased.

"I'm delighted to be extending my contract and being here really does feel just like home for me."
David Silva Quotes of the week

"I've been here for two years now and I feel very happy here at the club, in the city and with all the people.

"So now I'm delighted to be extending my contract and being here really does feel just like home for me.

"We've won the Premier League title and two other trophies too, and the team is growing and we are now aiming at the Champions League and so that also is another reason to want to stay here and try and win it.

"As I said, I feel very comfortable here and I want to try and win trophies like those.

"These last two years have gone very well and so let's hope that the next five go as well or even better.

"The fans have always given me their support since I arrived here, and recently they've been wanting me to sign, so hopefully this goes someway to thanking them for the affection they've shown towards me, something which also helped me decide to put pen to paper."

We've got £100K in prizes up for grabs in our free-to-enter game. Pick your team now.

Nick Miller feels Andre Villas-Boas may have a problem deciding between Adebayor and Defoe.

Matt Stanger wonders whether Chelsea's squad is actually any stronger than last season.

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Fox calls for character

Last Updated: September 17, 2012 4:56pm

Danny Fox: Believes Southampton need to show more steel after being thrashed by Arsenal

Southampton full-back Danny Fox has admitted the manner of Saturday's defeat against Arsenal was tough to take and he has urged his team-mates to bounce back.

Nigel Adkins' Saints were thrashed 6-1 at Emirates Stadium as the Gunners ran riot, scoring four times in the first half and piling on more misery after the interval.

The result left Southampton without a point from their opening four games of the season, and Fox has called for an improvement in a bid to start climbing the table.

"Everyone's down," said Fox in the Southern Daily Echo.

"It's just disappointing the manner we got beat. We just need to show a bit more steel and a bit more character, especially when you go two or three-nil down.

"But we have to look at the positives. Obviously, the gaffer will say that as well. But we need to start getting results - we're four games in now and we've still got no points on the board."

Fox admitted Southampton had been taught a harsh lesson by one of the finest attacking sides in the division, adding: "We're playing against top players and you get punished against these top teams. All they need is one chance."

Fox believes Southampton can compete at this level, having already performed well against both Manchester clubs, and he says a positive mindset is key.

"You look at the goals that we had against us, two of them were own goals, one's deflected off the post and gone back to one of their players," said Fox.

"It just didn't seem to fall for us. But I think you make your own luck in this league as well.

"You can go on about getting punished and whatever as long as we want, but we should have seen the game out against Man United (two weeks ago), no matter who was on the pitch or what had happened.

"We need to show a bit more character and believe that we can play at this level. We are good enough to be here I think."

We've got £100K in prizes up for grabs in our free-to-enter game. Pick your team now.

Nick Miller feels Andre Villas-Boas may have a problem deciding between Adebayor and Defoe.

Matt Stanger wonders whether Chelsea's squad is actually any stronger than last season.

View the original article here