Some interesting comments from Roberto Mancini following the defeat to Everton, in which he took the blame for the loss:

"I thought it may be easier," he said. "I didn't prepare us well and it is important for me to know my mistakes because I can't do the same in the next game. I should know here it is never easy - never.

"We had played well against Tottenham in our last game, we had won our last three Premier League games and Everton were missing three or four players. It was a bad night for me. It's going to be impossible for me to sleep tonight."

It is not the first time that Mancini has sought to take responsibility for a defeat: the 3-0 reversal at Liverpool at the tail end of the 2010/11 season saw him bemoan the preperation ahead of the game.

Mancini though did not elaborate last night as to the specifics regarding his perceived failings - although hinted at issues regarding training - but could his motive have been more of an attempt to deflect an increasing focus and attention away from the players (and a fourth defeat from nine in January) than a need for self-assessment?

Per The Independent:

Roma are negotiating the transfer of midfielder David Pizarro to Manchester City, according to club general director Franco Baldini.

The Chile international has been strongly linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium to bolster City's midfield.

Reports in Italy claim Pizarro will join the Blues on loan until the end of the season.

"We are only negotiating with Manchester City for Pizarro," Baldini was reported as saying on www.asromanews.it. "We will try to complete the deal before tonight."

UPDATE: BBC Sport are suggesting that Pizarro is heading for a medical.

UPDATE: The official site now confirms the deal.

Per The Guardian:

The Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge was on his way to Wearside on Tuesday morning as he closed in on a loan move to Sunderland. It is understood that the 31-year-old former England international was due to undergo a medical as Martin O'Neill attempts to bolster his injury-hit squad on the final day of the January transfer window.

UPDATE: The Official site now confirms the move.

UPDATE: Martin O'Neill has spoken about the signing:

"I'm hoping that with Wayne's undoubted experience and ability he can be a big help to the team until the end of the season. "I'm very pleased to have him here and with the number of injuries we've sustained recently I'm sure he'll be a great help to us."

UPDATE: SBNation's Sunderland blog, Roker Report, have their say on the move here.

Definitely a busy day for transfer speculation.

Both the MEN and Telegraph have gone with a story based on Roberto Mancini's comments to the Italian newspaper Il Giornale, in which amongst other things (predominantly about the World Cup and Fabio Capello) he discusses Mario Balotelli and Edin Dezko, and declaring an interest in both.

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So says todays MEN, who suggests City's 'top brass' are set to 'take advantage of the Spanish club's current financial plight'.

It was something that I put up on twitter yesterday evening (after a tip from my brother who lives out in Barcelona) as it was heavily reported yesterday that City were prepared to offer Robinho plus £20million to land Ibrahimovic. It was suggested in Spain that Barca would be happy to keep Ibrahimovic, but that the financial situation at the club (which saw the sale of Dmitroy Chygrynski back to Shaktar) could see them open to a deal.

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Both The Mail and ESPN reported yesterday that City had rejected a £16.7million bid from Besiktas for Robinho.

Robinho had (as anticipated) a good World Cup, perhaps sensing that it was an important chance for him to sufficiently impress to get a club to take a chance on him after his reputation dipped so quickly over the past season (certainly here in Europe).

If he was available for loan, then you imagine a number of sides would be interested (particularly if City were willing to share some of his wages) but I don't see a stampede of clubs forming a queue to sign him on a permanent basis - and certainly not to pay any more than around £20million.

The club therefore are going to have to eat a significant part of the £32.5million laid out for him less than two years ago. However, a saving of the approximate £150,000 a week wages would be welcome given the no doubt spiralling wage bill.

Biggest news of the day was the reported bid for Benfica defender David Luiz, with A Bola suggesting a fee of €35million being offered to the Portuguese club along with €3million a year in salary to the player.

Luiz is a player long linked with the club, but this is the first indication of a firm offer being made. However, The Guardian later reported that the club were willing to pull the plug on a deal because of Benfica seeking a higher sum for the Brazilian under-20 international.

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Spain's 1-0 victory over Germany yesterday evening ensured that it will be David Silva, and not Jerome Boateng, who moves on to face Nigel de Jong's Netherlands side in the World Cup final.

It was the first time since signing for the club that there had been a glimpse of Silva in a Spain shirt, and although for just five minutes at the end of the game he was involved on a few occasions - floating around at the head of the midfield and breaking with fellow substitute Fernando Torres on a couple of counter-attacks.

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I posted recently about the effect recent signings could have on the players that Mark Hughes brought to the club, but one of the few remaining Sven-Goran Eriksson purchases severed ties with the club today as it was confirmed that after a successful spell on loan in 2009/10, Valeri Bojinov has joined Serie A side Parma on a permanent basis.

The fee is believed to be around £5 million and more or less recoups what the club paid for him almost three years ago. The move leaves Javi Garrido as the only remaining signing that the Swede made during that hectic summer that saw the make up of the side completely overhauled in a matter of weeks.

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Like Carlos Tevez earlier in the day, yesterday was to be the final action for Roque Santa Cruz as Paraguay were hit by a late David Villa strike that ended Paraguay's hopes of progressing to the semi-finals as Spain won out by a 1-0 margin.

After a tense and disjoined first half, the second half sprang to life in a madcap three minutes of action that saw Paraguay awarded a penalty which Casillas saved, and then Spain break swiftly and saw themselves given a spot ick after David Villa was fouled.

Xabi Alonso scored the from the spot, but because of encroachment it was ordered to be re-taken, and Alonso subsequently missed.

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Carlos Tevez's World Cup came to a shuddering conclusion as they were brushed aside by Germany in a stunning 4-0 scoreline to once again knock Argentina out of the tournament.

The game was one of the more anticipated quarter-final ties, and Germany proved their form in the victory over England was no one off as if anything, they were even more incisive and cutting on the counter. After holding a 1-0 lead for over an hour tore Argentina apart with three swiftly executed goals within a five minute spell, exposing a defence that had been questioned heading into the tournament.

Tevez was his useful effervescent self, but try as he - and the Argentinian forward line - might, it was a frustrating afternoon as final balls went awry and final touches betrayed them. Tevez did manage to set up Higuain for a goal, but the effort was correctly ruled offside.

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Nigel de Jong and the Netherlands produced a stunning second half turnaround to knock out favourites Brazil with a come from behind 2-1 win to book a semi-final clash with Uruguay on Tuesday evening.

At half-time, a Robinho strike looked to have set Brazil on their way and the Dutch appeared to be on the ropes. Unable to create, the Netherlands found themselves second fiddle to a Brazil side who looked compact and out-muscled the Oranje in a game that at times was more physical than expected.

The Brazilian attack was also fluid, Kaka looking more dangerous than previously and Robinho, coming off the left hand side was constantly involved and took his goal well.

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Forty-eight hours after announcing the capture of David Silva, another expected arrival from La Liga finally materialised as the transfer of Yaya Toure was announced this lunchtime.

The move - long played out in the press - was believed to be for a fee of around £28 million and the twenty-seven year old penned a five year deal that will see him play what should be his best years at Eastlands.

It is no secret that the pursuit of Toure has been a lengthy one, with the Ivorian being courted way back to the early days of Mark Hughes's time at the club and the suggestion in some quarters was that it was a surprise that the club managed to pull the signing off without the lure of Champions League football.

Toure though was keen to stress his delight in signing for the club:

"This is a dream come true, I have always wanted to play for the same club as my brother and I'm so happy that it has finally happened. It's great for our family, we're all so happy about it.

"Kolo told me it's an amazing time for the club and a very exciting project. They want to make some big signings, and I needed a big challenge."

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With the ink barely dry on the David Silva contract, focus has now swiftly moved on to who will be next to arrive through the entrance door at Eastlands.

Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko and Alexsander Kolarov appear to be the names most likely but all manner of rumour and speculation are gathering pace.

What this summers transfer business will likely illustrate is the very real progression that is being made at the club (the 'statement' signing of Silva particularly important) and despite a lack of Champions League football on offer, it is evident that the club now has increased pulling power.

What is equally clear is that with the ambition and determination of ADUG and their continued backing of the club, funds are going to continue to be available to enable them to pursue the goals and ambitions that they have for Manchester City.

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A diversion from transfer speculation as the official site today announced that Roberto Mancini had added David Platt to the clubs coaching staff.

Mancini said of the hiring:

"David brings a wealth of experience to his role as coach here at City and he will enhance what is already an excellent team at the club. We had a great relationship as team mates many years ago and I know he will make an important contribution to the club."

Having David here at the start of pre-season training was an important factor, and I am very pleased that the coaching team will be in place as we prepare for the start of an exciting campaign."

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Big story of the day is of course the announcement that David Silva will join City at the conclusion of Spain's participation in the World Cup.

No surprise with the move given the reports that surrounded Silva's future of late, but following England's exit from South Africa, the stories grew in number and lunchtime today brought the official confirmation.

Silva has signed a five year deal, with it being reported that the fee is in the region of £28 million and although we have become accustomed to big money deals it shouldn't be forgotten that it is a sizeable fee (and no doubt wage to match) that has been paid to acquire his services.

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The first penalty shoot out of the 2010 World Cup - as a result of the goalless draw between Paraguay and Japan -saw the South American's prevail 5-4 on penalties after 120 minutes of unadventurous fare failed to separate the two sides.

Concensus opinion is that the game was far and away the most tedious of the competition with a real lack of invention and spirit (particularly from Japan) and from the snatches of the game I saw this was certainly true. 

Paraguay move on to face Spain on Saturday evening at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

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In a game that was nowhere near as close as anticipated before kick off, Brazil comfortably brushed aside a much touted Chile side 3-0 in Johannesburg last night.

Brazil were largely in control of the game throughout and built a 2-0 half time lead with goals from Juan and Luis Fabiano, with Robinho - who had another good game - adding a third late in the game to cap an impressive victory against a side who were expected to provide a much sterner test.

Brazil will now meet the Netherlands in the quarter finals in Port Elizabeth on Friday afternoon.

There was a head to head between Nigel de Jong and Vladimir Weiss yesterday afternoon as de Jong's Netherlands side progressed to the quarter finals with a 2-1 victory.

Over the course of the ninety minutes, both sides will no doubt look back and rue some missed chances - Holland for not putting the game beyond doubt far earlier, and the Slovakia for not taking one of the handful of very good chances that would have brought them on level terms following Arjen Robben's excellent opener.

After Wesley Sneider added a second with little over five minutes remaining, Slovakia hit a last minute penalty but with no time to even restart the game it was to no avail.

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I'm not going to turn this into an analysis on England's demise, but England's 4-1 defeat to Germany laid bare many of the deficiencies and shortcomings of the England side both as a whole and on an individual basis.

And none more so than Gareth Barry. I felt that whilst he had performed adequately since coming into the side against Algeria, coming up against Mesut Ozil was of course a far stiffer test, and it needed a big game from him in helping shield the back four.

Whilst the performance of the defensive unit cannot be laid squarely on his shoulders, Barry's own deficiencies and shortcomings were exposed in the second half on Germany's third and fourth goals. 

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Carlos Tevez turned in his most noteworthy performance of the tournament so far as Argentina continued their fine run so far with a 3-1 win over Mexico to set up a clash with Germany in the quarter-finals.

Tevez was on the scoresheet twice, one controversial, one sensational as the game was all but done and dusted early into the second half. After the controversy surrounding England's 'non goal' earlier in the day, Tevez's opener was mired in controversy as he headed home Argentina's opener standing two or three yards in an offside position - the result of which left Mexico's players imploring the officials to look at the replays that were being shown on the screen inside the stadium.

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Not the clearest when translated but this story up on AS.com this morning move things a step closer given it extensively quotes the father of David Silva, in which he confirms that the sale of Silva was necessitated by Valencia's financial situation and that the offer from City (unsurprisingly) is the best one out there:

"So we heard this offer, which is very good for us, and the decision is made. Now, the only thing the two clubs close the transfer."

It may not be officially announced during the World Cup, but it does now appear certain that the transfer of Silva will be completed.

Despite a spirited performance in their final group game, Kolo Toure and his Cote d'Ivoire side exited the competition today as a 3-0 victory over North Korea was not enough given Portugal's point against Brazil.

Again underperforming at a major tournament, the Ivorians were perhaps unlucky to be drawn in a tough group but will rue a lack of belief and purpose in their opening game of the tournament against Portugal.

Incidentally, Kolo's brother, Yaya, opened the scoring with a smart finish from the edge of the area and looked a dominant figure in midfield. Their exit from the tournament may now push the focus to a potential move to City, with The Guardian's Daniel Taylor tweeting that it could even be confirmed as early as next week.

Having already qualified, Brazil made changes to their starting line-up that meant Robinho sat out their 0-0 draw against Portugal that saw the Selecao top Group G and move on to face a tricky looking second round match-up with Chile.

It wasn't the most enlivening of games, with a real lack of creativity evident in the Brazilian side with the loss of former-Blue Elano a key loss.

The Brazil v Chile clash takes place on Monday evening in Johannesburg.

Nigel de Jong again started for the Netherlands as they rounded out their group games with a 2-1 victory over winless Cameroon yesterday evening thanks to goals from Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

de Jong had another solid game and came close to getting on the scoresheet, but couldn't quite manage to convert from a van der Vaart free kick.

The Netherlands now face Vladimir Weiss's Slovakian side on Monday afternoon in Durban.