David McCourt’s Midweek Football Round-up 11/01/12

ROBERTO Mancini has defended his call for further squad investment ahead of City’s League Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool tonight.

Vincent Kompany is the latest addition to a long list of absentees as he starts a four-game ban for his red card against United after City lost an appeal against the decision.

The City captain joins Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and David Silva who will also miss the game.

Mancini told reporters at Tuesday’s press conference he is “not happy” with the situation and is likely to have to reluctantly settle for Stefan Savic, one of Europe’s most promising young defenders, as part of a make-shift defence.

Cantona needs 500 signatures to stand for the 2012 presidential vote

This is the 164th meeting between Liverpool and City, Liverpool having won 80 times, and City 42, sharing 41 draws, which in the context of tonight’s game means absolutely nothing.

Mancini did momentarily pause from complaining that the most expensively assembled squad in British football history was running thin, to wade in on the Luis Suarez debate - believing it important that the Uruguayan bad-boy apologises to Patrice Evra.

He said: “It is impossible that we are always perfect. Sometimes a situation like this can happen on the pitch. It is important to apologise for what he did.”

Mancini was also asked whether he thought Liverpool’s players had made a mistake wearing their, in hindsight rather premature, t-shirts of support for Suarez, to which Mancini nodded saying: “Maybe a mistake.”

The League Cup semi-final will come with a familiar feel to many City fans. With the victor sure to be a heavy favourite against either Crystal Palace or Cardiff City in the final, the match will bear resemblance to last seasons FA Cup semi-final victory against United before City returned to Wembley to finalise the job against Stoke.

Manchester United’s ticket restriction for their FA Cup fourth round game against Liverpool at Anfield has been lifted.

United had received a reduced allocation for October’s league fixture because of fans blocking gateways, but Liverpool City Council has lifted the restrictions.

It now looks likely United will have more than 6,000 fans at the game, which will be dominated by the racism row between the two clubs.

Considering how tribal the whole affair has become, with both sets of fans and club representatives defending their players whilst ignoring the issue of racism altogether, the fixture offers a perfect (and slightly fishy in terms of convenience) opportunity for the clubs to draw a line under the row once and for all.

Oldham Athletic have thanked Liverpool for their response following the alleged racial abuse of Tom Adeyemi during their FA Cup third round defeat on Monday.

A 20-year-old man from Aintree has been bailed in relation to the case, while Liverpool apologised.

The Greater Manchester club said in a statement: "We would like to thank Liverpool FC and Merseyside Police for their concerns and efforts in investigating the incident involving Tom Adeyemi."

Stockport County continued to struggle for form last night, losing 1-0 to promotion hopefuls Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

Aaron O’Conner scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot after Carl Piergianni tripped Adam Watkins in the area 17 minutes from time.

Meanwhile ex-Manchester United footballer and film actor, Eric Cantona, has turned his hand to politics in a bizarre move to join the French presidential race.

The King, as fondly known to the United faithful, has written to France’s elected mayors according to Liberation newspaper.

Cantona needs 500 signatures to stand for the 2012 presidential vote.

His goal is not the Elysee Palace, he says, but rather to highlight the plight of poor quality housing.