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Manchester City

  1. Man City legend Book dies aged 90

    Tony Book Getty Images

    Tony Book played for and managed Manchester City

    Former Manchester City captain Tony Book has died at the age of 90.

    One of the most successful players in the club's golden era of the late 1960s and early 1970s, Book won domestic and European honours as a player and a manager.

    He began wearing the armband in 1967 and led the club to the First Division title in 1968, the FA Cup in 1969 and the double success of the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup a year later.

    Book moved into management in 1974 and guided City to a further League Cup triumph in 1976. He was in charge until 1979.

    The 'bricklayer from Bath' - a nod to his apprenticeship days - started his career at 1956 in non-league football with Bath City, where he made 387 appearances and captained the side to its first Southern League title.

    He was 29 years old when he got his first move to Plymouth Argyle, followed by a switch to Maine Road two years later.

    "For nearly 60 years, Tony helped to shape Manchester City, not just in what he contributed as a player, captain and manager, but in the way he conducted himself," City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said.

    "His hopes and ambitions for his club were matched only by his incredible humility regarding his own significant achievements.

    "He will forever be ed by our ers as a man who helped to lay the foundations upon which unprecedented success could be built.

    "A player and leader whose outstanding abilities not only helped return us to the peak of English football, but also delivered our first ever European honour.

    "Tony's devotion to his club meant he was still fulfilling club duties earlier this season. I will miss seeing him at our games enormously, and witnessing first hand the regard in which he is held by every generation of the City family."

    As a mark of respect, flags around Etihad Stadium and City Football Academy are flying at half-mast.

  3. 'Guardiola has thrown Walker under the bus'

    Kyle Walker of Manchester City speaks with Pep GuardiolaGetty Images

    Kyle Walker has been "thrown under the bus" by manager Pep Guardiola publicly indicating his captain's desire to leave Manchester City, says former Arsenal and England winger Theo Walcott.

    "That was a conversation for just between him and Pep," Walcott told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

    "It takes away from the performances of Manchester City and gets us talking about something completely different. Maybe that's what Pep wants to happen - to distract with a player he has nothing to do with at this moment in time but is still at the football cub.

    "There is a person there who will still do a job because of how professional he is and has been for many many years.

    "Having someone round the club who can comfort players in what it means to play for Manchester City is important. We must not forget how important he has been for England too.

    "Pep has actually really thrown him under the bus doing something like this very publicly, personally."

    Walker, 34, ed City in Guardiola's second season in charge in 2017 and Walcott believes the time may have naturally come for him to try a new environment.

    "Players come to a point where they just want change," he added.

    "As a player, you can't fault all his achievements, but there are cracks slowly starting to show now with his focus slowly fading.

    "A new set-up and new culture - wherever he may go - may do a lot of good for him.

    "The enjoyment has just completely gone from a player who has achieved so much. You should always enjoy it."

    Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

  4. Sutton's predictions: Brentford v Manchester City

    Sutton's predictions graphic

    I was hoping Brentford would have a real go at the FA Cup this season, but they made a load of changes for their tie with Plymouth, and they ended up on the wrong end of the biggest shock of round three.

    I can understand Bees' manager Thomas Frank's point of view, because he can argue his side have a busy schedule with some tough fixtures coming up - after this game, they host Liverpool on Saturday and I am there for Radio 5 Live.

    He decided to give some fringe players an opportunity to get a game and impress him, against a struggling Championship team who had not won an away game all season, but it did not work out.

    The Bees started the season with such a strong home record but Saturday's defeat means they have lost their past three matches there.

    Manchester City, meanwhile, are starting to build some better form again, and their big win over Salford City at the weekend was their third in a row.

    I was a bit surprised about the news Kyle Walker could be leaving City. He has not had the best of seasons, but he has probably been the best right-back the Premier League has seen.

    Walker has been a huge part of what City have achieved under Pep Guardiola and I would be sad to see him leave the Premier League if he does go abroad.

    In of this game, I feel like City are on a bit of a roll. I've already done something which I promised I wouldn't do in Fantasy Football, which is put Erling Haaland back in my team, and captained him.

    It was a masterstroke from myself, and my assistant, because he scored twice in their last Premier League game against West Ham.

    I am expecting Haaland to carry on his goalscoring form here, and I feel like City are going to edge it. I don't think it will be easy, though, and I cannot see them keeping a clean sheet.

    Sutton's prediction: 1-2

    Read the full predictions and have your say here

  5. 'Everything that is Jack Grealish has been trained out of him'

    Former England winger Theo Walcott thinks Jack Grealish is "a player who has an incredible, incredible talent that has been absolutely coached out of him".

    Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Walcott said: "Players become professionals from doing something different, out of the ordinary, particularly in the attacking areas.

    "Some games can be quite stagnated and boring to watch - get the ball and receive it, turn back, let the full-back do the one-v-one against the other full-back.

    "I'm like: 'No!' That is [Jack Grealish's] strength. He's gone away from his strength; he's gone away from everything that is Jack Grealish. It's been trained out of him.

    "When was the last time he picked the ball up and done the maverick side of things and got people off their seats? I don't see people getting off seats any more."

    Listen to the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

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  7. Manchester City lost nine out of 12 games between 30 October and 21 December

  8. Frank says Guardiola 'not surprised' by Man City dip

    Pep Guardiola and Thomas Frank smile and shake hands before matchGetty Images

    Brentford boss Thomas Frank does not believe Manchester City's recent dip in form would have surprised "best coach in the world" Pep Guardiola.

    Guardiola's side hit an unprecedented slump in November and December, including a run of six league defeats in eight matches, before chalking up three straight wins in all competitions since a home Boxing Day draw against Everton.

    The defending champions are 12 points behind leaders Liverpool and two points adrift of the top four before Tuesday's trip to face the Bees in the league at Gtech Community Stadium.

    "A fantastic team with a fantastic coach and fantastic players," Frank said. "I don't think it's a surprise for Pep that they've had a dip.

    "You never know when it is coming, but you know that not one team in the world can consistently just win year after year.

    "It's impossible, especially in the best league in the world.

    "What they've done for the past four years shouldn't be possible. It's hugely impressive and he will go again."

    Frank and Guardiola are the Premier League's two longest-serving managers, boasting six years and eight-and-a-half years respectively in their current roles.

    "For me, he is the best coach in the world," Frank added. "He's also the outlier when he is that good because I think he can stay as long as he wants to.

    "Of course, everyone needs to perform - even Pep and he says that himself - but he's that good that he can come up with solutions."

    Having suffered a shock FA Cup exit in a 1-0 home defeat by Plymouth on Saturday, Brentford will bid to bounce back against a City side who thrashed Salford 8-0 in their third-round tie.