Friday gossip

Fri 11 Nov 2011, 8:46AM
Posted by Peter Ferguson

You'll never get short-changed by a Joe Hart interview. City's goalkeeper is always decent value, as today's coverage of his England Press appearance confirms.


There are half-a-dozen Hart tales knocking about, but the one that will interest Blues the most is his canny assessment of low-profile midfield linchpin Gareth Barry.

GarBar's qualities are under scrutiny with the England captain's armband a topic for discussion, and Harty assures football365.com that his team-mate is a natural for the skipper's role.

He reckons: "Gareth's the man, simple as that - someone I look up to. If you spoke to anyone who knew the guy, they would say the same.

"He does as you should and leads by example, no messing around; a very good performer every week, who never moans. Not a lot seems to go wrong for him, so he is always the guy you can look to.

"When you start to panic, look at Gareth and he just keeps on doing what he is doing - and doing the unselfish role he does.

"However he is rated, I don't think he cares because all the people around him, who know him, rate him, and know what a massive role he plays at our club on and off the field."

Right Joe, next please. Sportinglife.com are more taken with his thoughts on David Silva as England prepare to face world champions Spain at Wembley tomorrow.

When you're ready, Joe? "David is a big part of our team on and off the field. He has been sensational. It hurts me sometimes when I see the Spain team and he is not in it.

"I know he is good enough by far. I'm pleased at how he is progressing and hopefully it will push him to be a No.1 starter in the Spanish side."

Wait, there's plenty more. How do you like "I'm ready to risk burn-out by playing every minute that I can", which is what tickles yahoo.com's fancy.

Or maybe, like the Telegraph, you prefer Joe to be "bristling with defiance as the hosts are written off as whipping boys" according to Jason Burt's stirring despatch.

We also quite like soccerway.com's "Hart: I would have picked Richards", which should have Fabio Capello choking on his cornflakes (if he's online as he eats breakfast, obviously).

Anyway, that's enough Joe Hart. Elsewhere, the Mail and others report that "Sergio Aguero has been ruled as a doubt for Argentina's World Cup 2014 qualifiers against Bolivia and Colombia."

He pulled up in training with a groin problem, apparently: "The 23-year-old missed City's win over Aston Villa last month after suffering a similar injury in the first half at Blackburn."

Mailman Simon Jones also reckons that Blackburn are ready to move in January for Nedum Onuoha. West Brom, QPR and Everton are also interested, he adds.