The Daily Star, not often - with all due respect - the voice of reason, presents a considered perspective on Roberto Mancini's team selection policy this coming season.

Surprised? Well, get past the stereotypical headline - "I'M THE AXE MAN" - and reporter Bill Thornton allows the Blues boss to make a rational case for loading up his squad.

He quotes Roberto, who has been pursuing this theme since last season if anyone cared to ask: "They all have to accept and understand that sometimes, it is best to rest."

Best to Rest. Sounds like one of those posters that gets stuck up in the changing rooms. Roberto's basic argument is that Thursday night football in Europe will mean team changes.

He tells Bill: "We want to make progress in as many competitions as possible - that is why it is important to have an experienced squad with many good players in it."

And knowing a star's mindset, and maybe anticipating the knocking on his office door, he shrugs: "Some players will have to change their mentality."

Now here's a paradox. The Times, once considered the voice of reason, gets a tad hysterical that Spain will play a friendly in Mexico City a few days before the season starts.

They say Spain "are on a collision course" with Premier League clubs, especially City, who will get David Silva back not too long before the lunchtime kick-off at Tottenham.

Chaps, in case you hadn't noticed, that midweek is designated for international friendlies. Relax. As Roberto will doubtless say with a little smile, that's what squads are for.

We lost Ken Barnes this week, a City player whose lifelong service to the Club properly earned him the accolade of legend when that term is too easily bandied around and even tarnished

 

The Express presents a short factual obituary but the Independent, with more space at its disposal, devotes some of it to a magnificent and thoughtful tribute from Ivan Ponting.

While chronicling Ken's early career, he points out that without the wing-half - he'd now be an attacking midfielder - the famous Revie Plan of the '50s would never have worked.

Indeed, it needed Don Revie to tell the boss that Ken, then in City's reserves, was the player needed alongside him for the deep-lying centre-forward ploy to have real impact.

It did, for City and for Hungary and, eventually, for teams across Europe.