‘Carlos Tevez one of the greatest Manchester City players I have ever seen’ – Noel Gallagher

The singer feels the Argentine deserves to be considered among the club's best and wants him to stay even if he is unhappy, while he has praise for Roberto Mancini and Joey Barton

Manchester City fan Noel Gallagher says he believes that Carlos Tevez is the one of the greatest players he has ever seen in all his years following the club.

The former Oasis member said the Argentine compared favourably with the best he had seen play for City over his lifetime due to the amount of goals he has scored for the club since joining from rivals Manchester United.

Asked who the greatest City player he has ever watched was, Gallagher told Absolute Radio: “Well I was lucky enough to see Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee and Franny Lee and all that, and I’ve seen Kinkladze, Paul Lake and all the greats that maybe you’ve never heard of, but I don’t know, I’ve got to say Colin Bell, but Tevez would take some beating I think for all the goals he’s scored, and Joe [Hart].

“Honestly, and I guess I speak for the majority of City fans here, we’ve always thought he was going to stay, because he’s been for sale since last January, and if he was going to go he’d go now, but as long as they do it on the pitch, he can moan about the weather and his back garden and the rest of it until the cows come home, to be quite honest.”

Gallagher answered a number of questions about City and football in general.

He said that manager Roberto Mancini should be credited for the way he has run the team and added that perceptions of the club had changed since they became the biggest spenders in world football.

“The black cab drivers down here in London used to be all ‘Oh Man City, Man City, we love Man City’, and now it’s like you get shouted at in the street, ‘Hey, can’t buy the league, we can’t buy the league’,” he said.

“I’m not buying anything, you know.”

And on Mancini he added: “There’s a lot of money at Chelsea and they didn’t win anything last season, well they did the season before, but I think he’s spent really, really well, and I think he knows what he wants, and I think to have won the FA Cup last season, they had such a great season with a band of players who were, if you believe the press, at each other’s throats all the time, means he’s got some kind of man management skills, but I like him.”

Gallagher said he would be pleased to see Samir Nasri join from Arsenal and that the Frenchman would know that he is coming to a club where he would not be able to play every game.

He said: “He knows what he’s coming into, right, he knows that we’re going for four trophies, not everybody can play every game. I don’t think, apart from Joe Hart, anybody is the first name on the team sheet.

“It’s a big club now. I can see where they’re coming from because God forbid if Silva ever got injured, we’d be in serious trouble, but I think if we get him he’d be an incredible signing because he gets goals.”

City play Bolton Wanderers at the weekend, but Gallagher is confident that they can match the 4-0 thrashing they handed out to Swansea City on Monday night.

“Honestly I think we’ll demolish them, they’ve got a great manager and Kevin Davies is as good as it gets I suppose as the big front man, but I just think City are going to have too much because Tevez is back, now he’s got [Mario] Balotelli, I just think we’ve got too much in midfield. Where Nasri’s supposed to fit in all this is anybody’s guess,” he said.

Having been a City fan for many years, Gallagher will have heard a number of different footballing chants during his time following the club.

And whilst he admits that he does not like to join in with the chanting during matches, he still finds one about Balotelli particularly funny.

He said: “I’m not a singer at football matches, I don’t get involved in any of that. What’s the famous one?

“Oh, there was one when Balotelli first signed and it was [sings] ‘We don’t know his name but we’ve seen him on the telly, we don’t know his name but we’ve seen him on the telly, we can’t spell his name but we’ve seen him on the telly, hey Balotelli’.  I thought that was pretty funny.”

One man who has been in the news a lot recently is Joey Barton for his use of Twitter to attack Newcastle United and his behaviour in the recent game against Arsenal, but Gallagher says he is much different off the pitch.

He added: “Well Roy Keane used to get it as well though, do you know what I mean?

“He doesn’t do himself any favours, but I’ve met him a few times and I’ve got to say he’s a nice lad, but when some players are on the pitch it’s all vastly different isn’t it.”

Noel Gallagher spoke to Absolute Radio extra’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Football in an interview to be broadcast on the station this Saturday 20th August. Click through to www.absoluteradio.co.uk/rocknrollfootball for the full interview

Sergio Aguero adapting well to life at Manchester City

The Argentine forward is looking forward to a prosperous career in Manchester, but confesses that he has had some car trouble in a tongue-in-cheek interview

Manchester City's new striker Sergio Aguero remains as optimistic as ever about the challenge that awaits him at the Etihad Stadium, despite admitting to lifestyle changes, in an interview on the club's official website.

The 23-year-old tied up a big-money move to the English side from Atletico Madrid in July, and although he is confident of thriving under Roberto Mancini, he admitted to Ole that certain parts of the English culture will take some time to get used to.

"Previously I had begun to learn [English] but without continuity. But now that I take classes four times a week, it's like going back to school," said Aguero in regards to his English.

"But what is good is that I can practice here every day, so let's see how it goes. I think I can get along but I still have a lot to learn."

"With Twitter, the translations are helping me. I still cannot do them alone, but I think it's important to reach everyone," he continued. "Obviously those here have also asked me to write in English

The ex-Atleti hitman confessed that he has also encountered problems on the road.

"When I arrived I kept trying to get into cars on the wrong side! I had been warned, but it takes years to change. I thought I was going to struggle more, but I have already started to drive and it was not as complicated as it originally seemed."

Aguero also displayed positivity about the long-term impact of his move to City, where he feels it will enable him to improve as a human being, as well as succeeding in his football career.

"I live my life with great joy," said the forward. "Adapting to another culture and be part of it will help me grow as a person. Certainly it's not easy, but I have a great opportunity ahead of me and I will make every effort not to waste it."

"I came to a new country, a different league, another language, but I'm sure is the right choice," he concluded.

"The Premier League is very competitive and has a high level of excellence. City are club with a very serious project that will allow me to continue my progress in football. I am only 23 years old and have a lot to learn yet."

Aguero is in line to make his debut on Monday, in his side's league opener against Swansea City.

Owen Coyle confirms Bolton talks to sign Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips

Trotters in negotiations to bring in unwanted England winger, but the Scottish manager admits that the player's big wages will make move difficult.

Owen Coyle has confirmed that Bolton is in talks with Shaun Wright-Phillips about a potential transfer.

Bolton has been chasing the Manchester City winger for a number of weeks but claims the player's wages could make a deal tough to complete.

"Shaun is a tremendous player, he is someone I would love to bring to the club," Coyle said. "Whether it is possible, only time will tell. There are financial implications involved. Players at Manchester City are on contracts that are more than we could pay. There is a threshold we cannot go beyond. But there has been dialogue between our chairman and [City chief executive] Garry Cook. That is where we are at the moment. There is nothing concrete."
Coyle also revealed that a deal for Turkish forward Sanli Tuncay could also be close, saying: "We are a good way down the line with that but it is not cut and dried. He is a terrific player, who really works his socks off."
One player expected to leave Bolton this summer is Gary Cahill, but despite interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, the defender is still at the club.
"I am surprised there has been no firm offer," said Coyle. "Teams have had six or seven weeks already. I totally understand if they have made offers and talks are progressing, but why leave it until the last minute?"

Manchester City signs goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon from FC Timisoara

The Romanian played against his new team last year in the Europa League and will provide cover for first choice Joe Hart after the departure of Shay Given to Aston Villa.

Manchester City has signed goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon from FC Timisoara for an undisclosed fee.

The Romanian will be understudy to Joe Hart after the departure of Shay Given to Aston Villa, but the club has confirmed on its official website that the Romanian is still awaiting a work permit.

The 24-year-old has represented his country 13 times since making his debut in 2008 and played twice against City in last season’s Europa League, where the Citizens emerged triumphant.

Pantilimon becomes the club's fourth signing of the summer after following the footsteps of Gael Clichy, Stefan Savic and Sergio Aguero.