BITS AND BOBS

Last updated : 24 September 2006 By Ed

* United draw Crewe away in the Carling Cup.

* The Sunday Mirror:

Stuart Pearce is facing a players' revolt as well as a fight for his job at Manchester City.

City's stars are upset with "Psycho" for what they see as his lack of support for shamed defender Ben Thatcher. Sunday Mirror Sport also understands the players have not been impressed with Pearce's transfer dealings.

Big-money buys Georgios Samaras, Bernardo Corradi and Didi Hamann have flopped, while David James and Andy Cole, both sold to Portsmouth, have been badly missed as City have struggled in the league and crashed out of the Carling Cup to Chesterfield.

But it is the treatment of Thatcher that has really upset the dressing-room. The player's brutal elbow in the face of Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes deservedly earned the leftback an eight-match ban and £150,000 club fine. But Pearce's apparent backtracking over the incident has amazed Thatcher's team-mates.

* Benfica's Simao:

"I'm aware of all the rumours about me moving to England but I'll ignore all that when I take on United.

"It has always been my dream to play in England but I'm happy at Benfica and we are emerging as one of Europe's best teams.

"Scoring against United last season was one of the best moments in my career. I'm sure United will be looking for revenge - but we really believe we can repeat our triumph this year."