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November 7, 2009
Not a day goes by without one of Fleet Street's finest passing comment on things down at Liverpool, and this time it's Des Kelly in the Daily Mail. It's got to be said that he has a point, after Rafa - manager of Liverpool let's not forget - claimed that winning trophies isn't everything. Isn't that exactly what Liverpool are about? Liverpool supporters keep saying it, Rafa Benitez can’t help but plead for it, and practically everyone seems to agree that this football lark shouldn’t be judged in the simple black and white of winning and losing. November 6, 2009
Would you like your club to change the name of your stadium? Well, certainly not if Mike Ashley is involved in the process but, now that Chelsea have got involved too, everyone is suddenly thinking about cashing in. The Times' Matt Hughes has his views and thinks that the financial reality of football is driving the decision of the Blues. ''Imagining a world in which Chelsea are no longer brash and flash takes a considerable leap, like picturing estate agents without shiny suits or MPs deprived of their expense accounts. Yet that is the vision of Ron Gourlay. The Independent, meanwhile, have a brief comment on the naming rights situation. David Fleming reckons it makes sense, despite some opposition: ''Ron Gourlay's idea of selling the name of their Stamford Bridge ground to the highest bidder is a brave plan. It risks alienating supporters who fear it will provide ammunition to rival fans, who say Chelsea have no history. However, it is a proposal that does make commercial sense. It's been a while since we discussed the idea of a two-tier Premier League, but you'll be glad to know that the subject is back on the agenda this week and the Guardian's David Conn has had his say on the matter. ''The proposal by Bolton Wanderers' chairman, Phil Gartside, for an expanded two-division Premier League which would include Celtic and Rangers has been revived,'' he begins. ''His idea is prompted by what Gartside has described as a "fear factor" among the smaller clubs, who are desperately worried about the financial cost of relegation to the Championship and are overspending to avoid it. November 5, 2009
Yes, if you are still playing the BBC's crazy Sportdaq game based upon sports stars' column inches then you'd be a fool not to have Rafael Benitez. There's not a great deal of opinion out there on Thursday, but what there is centres on the beleaguered Liverpool manager following that draw with Lyon. Richard Williams sticks the boot in, writing in The Guardian, believing that the last-gasp rescue acts which have been a trademark of Benitez's tenure at Anfield are now a thing of the past. The boot was on the other foot against Lyon as Lisandro's late, late leveller has put the 2005 Champions League winners on the brink of a costly exit before Santa has been down the chimney. Apparently, he's heading towards oblivion. The disaster that Liverpool find themselves facing this morning is not the fault of Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Four matches, four points and a negative goal difference – those figures are the responsibility of Benítez and no one else. The manager may moan about his lack of resources compared to those of his rivals, but when you have been able to bring so many players into a club, among them the world's best centre forward, you cannot expect your complaints to be taken seriously. We agree here at Soccernet Towers. In Rafa we do not trust. Fernando Torres again came off before the end, and anyone who has suffered an inguinal hernia, or even the full set of two, like some of us, will have been dismayed by Benítez's decision to allow his young compatriot to play on once the injury had been diagnosed. A hernia is not necessarily painful but it causes discomfort and restricts the range of movement. It also gets worse. Whatever the player's own view, the manager should have sent him straight off for the requisite minor surgery, accepting his short-term absence and demonstrating confidence in his back-up players. Over at the Independent, Tony Barrett too is counting the cost of Rafa's Champions League failure. It is not as if Liverpool could expect to make up the shortfall domestically. Not when their annual income — last year £159 million, £100 million below Manchester United’s — makes them the poor relations of the “big four”, largely because of a stadium that does not produce as much revenue as those of their rivals.
November 4, 2009
So, another night of Champions League fun and frolics saw Bordeaux, Manchester United, Chelsea and Porto book their places in the last-16 with two games to spare. The two English sides go head-to-head on Sunday in a mouthwatering Premier League clash and Patrick Barclay at the Times reckons the Stamford Bridge encounter could signal the passing of the torch from Sir Alex's side to Carlo Ancelotti's charges. "Back last night came Darren Fletcher and the Scot does make a difference with his power, mobility and variety of passes. But who else from United would get in Chelsea’s team this season? After Edwin van der Sar and Wayne Rooney, you begin to struggle. Speaking of defenders, Matt Lawton at the Daily Mail has been urging Liverpool fans not to get too excited by well-coiffed striker Fernando Torres' inclusion in the squad to face Lyon, insisting that Koppites should be more concerned with their shaky defence "The wealthy punters who pay to travel with Liverpool rejoiced at the sight of their superb Spanish striker boarding their plane at Liverpool’s John Lennon airport yesterday morning. Imminent hernia operation or not, Torres was there and determined, seemingly, to play through the pain for his beleaguered manager. November 3, 2009
Well-spoken and privately educated Daily Telegraph reporter Henry Winter has managed to bag an exclusive interview with UEFA president Michel Platini. Henners' Twitter page has been trailing this since Monday when he said Just returned from Geneva, interviewing Platini in Nyon. As he was as a player, Uefa pres full of ideas and venture. Surprisingly pro-English. Now for the article proper, it's an epic. He sets out his stall on the English game: Often painted as an anti-English ogre by Fleet Street, Platini is no admirer of the Fourth Estate but he wants to transmit a message to the English. He wants to protect English football from debt and destruction. The hot topic of debt in the English game is addressed. Worried about the huge debt, a Uefa committee begins meeting from next Monday to formulate new rules. "We have three years to regulate the situation," he said. "The idea is not to kill the clubs but to help them have better balance. As David Gill says: 'the devil is in the details'.'' Plenty else discussed, including Arsenal's youth policy, foreign ownership, Capello coaching England, the World Cup, use of TV replays, the Heysel Stadium disaster. It ends on an odd note, considering talk of debts among English clubs.
We thought that Real went into debt to buy Ronaldo. They don't have the money.
November 2, 2009
The focus on Rafa Benitez has intensified following a fifth defeat in 11 league games which means Liverpool's hopes of winning the title are hanging by a thread. Writing in the Independent, Sam Wallace has identified a stubborn streak in the Spaniard in the wake of his decision to substitute Fernando Torres against Fulham. In 'Benitez the forward-thinker must stop overlooking clear and present dangers', Wallace accuses Liverpool's manager of lacking flexibility and failing to respond to developing situations. Outside Anfield on match days they sell T-shirts adorned with Rafael Benitez's face and the catchphrase "Rafa is boss. This is a fact, no?" It is a take on his unique brand of English but also it references Rafa's peculiar brand of logic, especially the forward-planning to which he so stubbornly adheres. November 1, 2009
Wigan striker Marlon King's jailing for an attack on a woman in a nightclub continues to hit the headlines on this damp Sunday morning. The girl subjected to a sexual assault and actual bodily harm by King has managed to sell her story to the News of the World, who have little compunction in leading off with the whole story. It doesn't make pretty reading. Rod Liddle, outspoken commentator that he is, gives his view in the Sunday Times. He points out that many a club has retained the services of players with criminal records so it is likely that King will be re-employed as a footballer. WONDER who Marlon King will be playing for, a year or so from now, when he gets out of prison for having groped and then twatted that young woman in a nightclub? The obvious answer is Oldham Athletic, who were waiting by the cell doors with a lucrative contract in their paws when Lee Hughes was released from jail for having killed someone in his expensive Mercedes car and then running away afterwards. But there’s always Newcastle Utd, I suppose, who were perfectly happy to take on Joey Barton. I assume that even people as divorced from reality as the Newcastle board were aware Barton was a violent thug with a string of previous when they took him on. The lure was he was comparatively cheap and might do a job in midfield — morality did not come into it. Their only worry was the possibility that Barton’s future behaviour may cost them money. It was to Alan Shearer’s enormous credit that he took one look at Barton and told him to get lost. But it was Shearer who left, in the end. He points out that Wigan chairman Dave Whelan's righteous indignation at his erstwhile striker's action seem somewhat disingenuous. King had form that was seemingly ignored. Why does this latest crime differ from the previous ones, Dave? There were, after all, 13 of them. October 31, 2009
Sir Alex Ferguson's recent sideswipe at international friendlies, especially those staged in the Middle East, has met with a wealth of different reactions. Some have pointed out that the Scot took his own team to Saudi Arabia at the beginning of 2008 but Paddy Barclay, himself from north of the border points out further points of well, hypocrisy.
Just suppose that Manchester United, in the midst of a losing battle to remain champions, faced an April programme of six matches in 22 days, including an FA Cup semi-final. Would Sir Alex Ferguson be happy with such congestion? But Barclay shares the distaste for the idea of "friendly" matches: For what it is worth, I heartily agree with him that international friendlies should be all but abolished. I have long felt that they should be replaced by competitive matches in a new kind of calendar that caters for a World Cup or continental tournament every summer. In other words, the competitions should be every two years instead of four.
October 30, 2009
There's plenty of talk about the future of Hull City boss Phil Brown on Friday morning, with a bit of a difference of opinion between a couple of the Fleet Street hacks. For baby-faced Sam Wallace in the Independent, Brown is the victim of his own self-image, Whereby Phil Brown has made Phil Brown into a figure of fun. It's all down to Phil Brown, you see. While Sam thinks Phil Brown can still rescue a long-term future in the Premier League with another club, at the same time he recognises that it cannot happen if the Tigers boss continues to act as the all-conquering hero of the hour. First he had been regarded as the likeable down-to-earth English manager taking on the big boys of the Premier League. Then the worm turned. Suddenly Brown became English football's David Brent. George Caulkin, in The Times, is more appreciative of Phil Brown and the impending doom which hangs over his managerial career. There are a myriad of factors behind Hull City’s difference, their rise and decline, but Brown has been at the fulcrum of all of it. Just as his appointment as caretaker manager on December 4, 2006 was the catalyst for the team to clamber out of the relegation zone of the Coca-Cola Championship, so the 50-year-old became the personality that subsequently propelled their promotion to the Barclays Premier League. And finally, a quick look at Steven Howard's column in The Sun as he hits out at Arsene Wenger for his inability to solve Arsenal's goalkeeper situation throughout the whole of his tenure. They have four goalkeepers on the books - Vito Mannone, Manuel Almunia, Lukasz Fabianski and teen Wojciech Szczesny - and none, for one reason or other, look up to the job. October 29, 2009
The days of hooliganism are not gone yet. With the fury over the warmth of the pies at Oakwell on Tuesday night, Oliver Kay has taken a strong line in the Times and believes it is down to cup competitions. ''There is still the odd occasion when you can roll up at a football ground and are left to wonder if you have been transported back to the dark days of the 1970s or early 1980s, when hooliganism was rife. It wasn't like that in Fergie's day... oh wait, it was. But Jeff Powell in the Daily Mail has decided to write a tribute to the Scot for his piece on Thursday. And he's still the greatest... ''This 2009-10 campaign has turned into open season on the laird of Old Trafford. The rest of our national game is waiting for the mightiest of them all to fall. Not only that, but gagging to put the boot in should he do so. And Fergie is the mightiest manager, no matter how bitterly the world outside Manchester United begrudges the dominance exerted by this craggy old Scot over the game England invented. Meanwhile, the Guardian's David Hytner was watching Arsenal's kids, but had his eyes fixed on the goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski. ''Arsène Wenger has heard the accusation on more than one occasion. His good fortune in inheriting David Seaman when he took over at Arsenal in September 1996 camouflaged the blind-spot for only so long. The manager cannot pick a goalkeeper. With competition for places, Hyter believes the Pole can make the position his own: ''It was a big moment for Fabianski as the feeling persists that not only is he Wenger's favourite senior goalkeeper just now – the 19-year-old Wojciech Szczesny could yet be the best of the lot but he remains raw – but that he has the chance to make the position his own and convince Wenger that he has no need to sign a replacement in the January transfer window.'' October 28, 2009
The storm clouds have been gathering over the Kingston Communications Stadium for some time. And now Chris Donkin in When Saturday Comes sticks the boot in himself, more at Hull City as a club than the team on the pitch. Chris has already received something of a rebuke for his views. And those of us in the know at Soccernet Towers are also aware of devoted Hull fans who think Phil Brown should be shown the door. And the fans are sure to appreciate Chris' accusation that they are all really Man United fans. Seeing your club's popularity grow should be a good thing. The problem is that the new fans have hopelessly unrealistic expectations. For most, City only entered their consciousness when Dean Windass powered home the winner in the play-off final against Bristol City, after a season where the team won far more games than they lost. As a result they expect the side to win every week and if they don't the manager gets the blame and has to go. After seeing Rio Ferdinand's form questioned, Sir Alex Ferguson hauled up in front of the FA and a number of fans arrested following Tuesday's Carling Cup tie against Barnsley, the last thing that Manchester United needed on Wednesday morning was more adverse publicity. But that is exactly what confronts us in the Mirror this morning, with Oliver Holt spreading fear amongst the United support. In 'Beware Manchester United fans, the Glazers are happy to pass the buck', Holt highlights a potential problem with the club's American ownership. If I was a Manchester United fan, the alarm bells ringing in my head would be keeping me awake at night. Not because of what happened at Anfield at the weekend. Although the defeat to Liverpool is part of the bigger picture. Not because Dimitar Berbatov is still not the force United need him to be. Or because Rio Ferdinand is still clearly struggling with injury and lack of confidence. Or because United's midfield misses Darren Fletcher more than it should do when he is not available. Holt's contention is that the Glazers' debt repayments have caught up with United and that could be behind their reluctance to make a superstar signing in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo's £80 million move to Real Madrid. But could a personal vendetta be behind the article? Holt freely admits he is not exactly a fan of the Glazer family. My solitary collision with the people skills of the Glazer boys was less than heart-warming. October 27, 2009
According to reports in the UK press on Tuesday morning Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand is facing the axe from Sir Alex Ferguson following a series of below par performances. The England defender's performances for both club and country have been littered with costly errors and although these have been put down to simple lapses of concentration or a shift in focus to off-pitch activites Matt Dickinson, chief sports correspondent for The Times, is concerned that the explanation is much more sinister. "I wish I did buy the argument, expressed by some disillusioned Manchester United fans, that Rio Ferdinand’s horrible season stems from a lack of focus. Meanwhile, over at the Telegraph, Jeremy Wilson has reacted to the unusual failings of the league's big boys by asking whether this is the most open Premier League title race to date. Wenger has ... suggested that around 80 points - the lowest winning total for almost 10 years - is the target for victory. Arguing along similar lines, Kevin McCarra in the Guardian suggests the vulnerability of the elite, and the rise in big spending in Spain, is making for engrossing entertainment. A Premier League in decline is heading in the right direction. This season's competition should remain engrossingly entertaining now that the leading teams are no longer good enough to feel safe. October 26, 2009
Obviously many of today's column inches were taken up by post-match analysis of Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Manchester United, with most papers seeing the result as providing Benitez with a stay of execution. Particularly keen to examine the theme of execution was Steve Howard in the Sun.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel was very much convinced that the Liverpool win was a 'papering over the cracks' job and that Benitez and fans alike should not be dwelling on the victory.
Elsewhere, Patrick Barclay at the Times chose to focus on the ineptitude of United's performance and was one of plenty of journalists starting to question just how adversely the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo has effected Sir Alex Ferguson's side. "Only Valencia sparkled, and he fitfully. On an occasion such as this, the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo is noticeable. Hard though the strikers worked, promisingly though they combined at times, there was a void behind them, an area that Javier Mascherano was only too plainly anxious to control. October 25, 2009
No prizes for guessing what occupies the nation's scribes on Sunday morning. There is only one story dominating the agenda and that, of course, is the titanic battle between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield. For a rousing preview of the game that encapsulates perfectly the pressure on Liverpool following a run of four consecutive defeats, look no further than the Observer's Paul Hayward. Excellent as always, in 'Liverpool and Rafa Benítez arrive at the tipping point of their ambitions', Hayward leaves Reds fans in no doubt as to the importance of Sunday's game. "Back in his days as Aberdeen manager, Alex Ferguson motored south to Anfield to spy on Bob Paisley's Liverpool. There, he ran into the retired Bill Shankly, who growled: 'So you're down to have a look at our great team?' After consecutive defeats to Fiorentina, Chelsea, Sunderland and Lyon, Benitez has blamed injury problems and has also sought to defend his record in the transfer market as Liverpool manager, with a number of sources producing lengthy lists of the 'flops' during his reign. But Benitez's pleas of poverty hold little water with Jonathan Northcroft and Ian Hawkey in the Sunday Times. In 'It's time to get real, Rafael Benitez', the pair examine in more detail Benitez's claims that he has had his hands tied by a lack of finance during his time at Anfield. "Playing guests come and go. Defeat by Manchester United today would extinguish, in record time, another title challenge and ensure Liverpool’s worst run of results in 56 years. Their manager gives a practised defence. Benitez, citing injuries, blames manpower issues for the crisis. For a sixth season at Anfield he suggests he is underfunded and thwarted by superiors from concluding the transfers he needs. United, Chelsea — and Arsenal, because of Arsène Wenger’s “hidden” spending on youth recruits and player wages — have always been more privileged; so, now, are Manchester City.
October 24, 2009
Carlo Ancelotti has only been in the job five minutes but already Martin Samuel is ready to throw him out of the door, as he writes in the Daily Mail. Basically, Martin thinks that Carlo's future could largely be in the hands of Slovenia - because if they beat Russia in the World Cup play-offs a certain Guus Hiddink could become available. This game will decide whether Guus Hiddink is to be a free agent or not. And that is very important for Chelsea indeed, because Hiddink’s employment status may well influence how patient Roman Abramovich, the owner, chooses to be with his coach Carlo Ancelotti, and whether he is given time to fix the little flaws that are beginning to appear in his plan of action for Chelsea this season. October 23, 2009
This week’s newspapers have been full of 'Liverpool in crisis' articles. Tuesday's loss to Lyon in the Champions League was the Red's fourth defeat in a row - their worst run of form in 22 years - and the doomsayers have been out in force. The owners, the manager and the players have been slammed relentlessly but on Sunday there will be at least one person at Anfield more unpopular than the lot of them. Former Liverpool darling Michael Owen returns with arch-rivals Manchester United and can expect a hot reception. Tony Barrett explains the situation in his column in The Times. "Given his current allegiances, Michael Owen will have few friends in the Anfield crowd on Sunday. Selling your soul to the Red Devils is an unforgivable act as far as the Liverpool fans are concerned and there is more chance of Sir Alex Ferguson being guest of honour at the next meeting of the referees association as there is of Owen being given a warm welcome by the Kop. October 22, 2009
It seems the Fleet Street hacks cannot get enough of Rafael Benitez on Thursday as they continue to scavange on the Liverpool boss' carcass. No paper leaves the story alone, with everyone eager to throw a punch or two. In The Sun, Phil Thomas thinks he's worked out what will eventually cost Rafa his job. At approximately 9.30pm on Tuesday, Rafa Benitez entered a dead-end street. When the fourth official held up the No 15, signalling the end of Yossi Benayoun's evening against Lyon, a chorus of boos boomed around Anfield which could well prove the most crucial turning-point of all. Meanwhile over at the Daily Mail, Matt Lawton believes there is nowhere for Rafa to turn after he took full control of all matters at Anfield, followed the battle for power with Rick Parry. With power comes responsibility and few managers in Europe have the power Rafa Benitez enjoys at Liverpool. Who are those 76 players? The Daily Mail reveals all. The Daily Telegraph picks out several mishaps by Rafa, including Robbie Keane, Alberto Aquilani and Xabi Alonso. In the Independent, James Lawton agrees that a failure to appreciate Alonso will cost Rafa. Xabi Alonso plays for Real Madrid now of course, and it is impossible to detach this bleak development for Liverpool with what is becoming increasingly evident as one of the two great flaws in Benitez's competitive persona. One is that he too rarely – and at Anfield now there is the cumulative evidence presented by 68 signings – recognises the quality of a player who can give so much more to the team than the sum of his individual talent. The other is that when he gets one, supremely in the case of the gifted Alonso, he signally fails to cherish him. On to The Times and Tony Cascarino cannot see any way out of this mess for Rafa - because the squad isn't good enough. And to bring the curtain down on this extra-special paper review, we head to The Guardian where David Conn claims Rafa's failure will create long-term problems. It is ... impossible to put a figure on what Liverpool might lose out on if they fail to qualify from their group, but last season, when they reached the quarter-final while Arsenal and Chelsea reached the semi-final and United the final, the knockout stage was worth around €8m (£7.2m) to Liverpool. This season, the cost would be greater, because Uefa has provisionally announced an increase in Champions League TV and sponsorship deals, from €820m to €1.05bn (£950m). It is safe to say that if Liverpool were to be knocked out, they would fall markedly behind financially, especially if the other three clubs go through. October 21, 2009
Apologies for focusing on Liverpool for a fourth day in a row but they, with apologies to some seismic results in the Champions League and the rather shocking departure of Gareth Southgate, really are the biggest show in town. Guardian and Observer writer Paul Hayward is the latest and by no means last to expose the shortcomings of Rafael Benitez's team after their defeat to Lyon in the Champions League, their fourth defeat in a row. Hayward's opening gambit has is not advised reading matter over the Benitez breakfast table. There could be stray grapefruit juice on many a surface if the embattled Spaniard reads this: By rights a manager should not feel the breath of the mob on his neck five months after his team finished second in the Premier League with 86 points and two defeats but there was a sense at Anfield last night that Rafa Benítez's reign is unravelling – not fast enough for him to go the way of Gérard Houllier yet but with sufficient speed to strain his bond with The Kop and encourage Manchester City, Spurs and Aston Villa that the Big Four are finally cracking up. Hayward soon offers hope only to take it away soon after. The Liverpool script discourages apocalyptic readings of a run of bad results. The club's intimate acquaintance with melodrama suggests United might be impaled at the weekend and Benítez will wear his smuggest mask. But consecutive losses to Fiorentina, Chelsea, Sunderland and now Lyon speak of a deepening vulnerability. There are plenty of bit-part players in this Liverpool squad. If a rump decide that Benítez's power base is dissolving, then the small core of genuine match-winners and diehards will end up isolated. They cannot save Liverpool's campaign without help from the army of also-rans Benítez has imported to play alongside Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who are both struggling to be fit for the United game.
The forward shortage is explained by the club's failure to replace Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane, the two big sales in that department post-Owen and Fowler. Behind Torres, who has scored eight times this season but is hindered by abdominal trouble, a merry cast of hopefuls have laboured to fill the menace-void. Those four consecutive defeats have cast an unforgiving light on the sharp end of Benítez's squad. Ugly reading for fans of Liverpool but recommended nonetheless. October 20, 2009
The focus of Tuesday's newspapers remains firmly on Liverpool and Rafa Benitez, with the Champions League clash against Lyon taking on paramount importance following a fourth Premier League defeat of the season against Sunderland at the weekend. Various sources describe how the pressure is steadily building on Benitez after a poor start to the season and a fourth defeat in a row in all competitions would certainly be a huge setback. But Henry Winter, writing in the Telegraph, leads the Anfield rallying cry by appealing to the club's glorious European heritage. In 'Rafael Benítez must summon some Liverpool passion', Fleet Street's most dapper correspondent sets the scene perfectly. "It is an occasion for emotion, not logic, for the passion of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, not the cold tactical precision of Rafael Benítez. The players must look to the Anfield stands, spotting old faithfuls such as David Fairclough. They must listen to the Kop in full, beseeching voice and find inspiration to beat dangerous foe from France and jump-start their season. Sticking with Liverpool, the Guardian alerts us to a potential prank brewing in Manchester. Apparently a certain item of Liverpool merchandise has sold out at the club's shop following the infamous intervention of a beach ball on Saturday and it is believed that United fans have been enthusiastically buying them up ahead of the meeting between the two great rivals at the weekend. Andy Hunter explains how Anfield stewards will be on the lookout for any inflatables, fearing an ironic tribute from the travelling supporters on Sunday. "Liverpool have sold out of the £10 "Beach Set" that diverted the team's title prospects at Sunderland and will search Manchester United supporters for any offending items, including beach balls, before Sunday's Premier League clash at Anfield. October 19, 2009
With Liverpool losing almost half their matches with just under a quarter of the season gone it's no surprise that Rafael Benitez is coming under scrutiny. And it's Benitez who comes under fire from former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore in his Daily Mirror column. Stan thinks that Liverpool need reshaping from the top down, and that includes getting rid of Rafa. Clearly, no case of "In Rafa We Trust" here. He certainly doesn't pull any punches. Liverpool have no chance of winning the title this season and I fear the club are going backwards unless drastic changes are made. He goes on... I genuinely believe the only way the club can move forward is by getting rid of Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Our other pick of the day comes from the Daily Mail, and Martin Samuel's words of wisdom. He thinks Manchester City should grant Robinho's PlayStation wish and pack him off to Barcelona in January.... and replace him with a 24-year-old Brazilian who has twice failed in Europe and plays for Brazil's answer to Blackburn Rovers. Atletico [Mineiro] have a star, though, in striker Diego Tardelli. His winning goal against Sao Paulo, a simple prod at the back post, was his 15th of the season and made him the league’s joint top goalscorer alongside Adriano. Tardelli is, as you would expect, lightning fast with great feet and an eye for goal. Hmm.... October 18, 2009
As if Liverpool needed more of reason to be upset, the beach ball incident at Sunderland has ruined their Premier League season. The Telegraph's Duncan White says Rafael Benítez sees opportunity in the midst of disaster: ''Having lost five games already this season with Saturday’s insipid surrender to Sunderland, the Liverpool manager knows he needs to put his side back on to the front foot, to regain the momentum they built up in the second half of last season. Meanwhile, The Times' Ian Hawkey says they have something else to worry about on the horizon. Lyon's Bosnian star Miralem Pjanic. ''Two and a half weeks ago, just as Liverpool’s autumn in the Champions League was being made uncomfortable by a teenager from Montenegro in Florence, a warning was being prepared in Hungary that their difficulties may not end there. While Stevan Jovetic delights Tuscans and many others across Serie A, Miralem Pjanic is developing a similar reputation in France. ''Fiorentina, buoyed by the defeat of Liverpool, meet bottom-of- the-table Debrecen twice at the same time. What looked a tame grouping for the English team when the draw was made now has a menace about it.'' And the same paper also has a squad for Fabio Capello to pick if he's a little tired himself. Oh, but it doesn't include a certain Mr Beckham. Jonathan Northcroft tells us: ''The best managers often see football simply and Capello has an uncluttered view of what makes a winning team. You seldom hear him float grand technical concepts or airy theories. Success comes from nothing more complicated than having a “good group”, “spirit”, “luck”, knowing the coach’s tactical plans and being in the right physical shape.'' So where is this leading? Fitness is the key thing? Well, actually he reckons that Premier League players have more to do than anyone, so despite having the Best League in the World TM, we're actually at a disadvantage. ''Sports science data proves what the naked eye leads you to expect: that the Premier League - where all but one of Capello’s men perform - is the world’s most physically demanding domestic competition... If you want to give yourself the best chance of being tired or injured by May, play in the Premier League.'' October 17, 2009
The debate over foreign ownership has been reignited in recent times, so the Times' chief commentator Patrick Barclay has his say on Birmingham and Carseon Yeung. ''There are clearly limits to what the market should decide,'' he begins. ''While we are happy that pulp publishing, circuses, rock’n’roll radio and hot-dog stands, say, should be in private hands - anything else would seem ludicrous to all but the most hardcore socialist - a line would be drawn at the operational levels of our police or Armed Forces. Especially, I suppose, if they were sold to Americans, Russians, Chinese or Arabs. So where does football figure in the scale? Is it just a hot-dog stand?'' The Birmingham ''hot-dog stand'' has a new owner and Barclay is not convinced. ''Like Messrs Hicks and Gillett at Liverpool or the Glazers at Manchester United, whose debt-laden form of ownership is frowned upon in the United States, he could not have fulfilled his ambition at home,'' he says. Meanwhile, it's not just the owners who are foreign. It's players and managers too. But the Independent's Glenn Moore says that English coaching is way behind Europe's elite. ''With Fabio Capello having concluded a successful World Cup qualifying campaign, and the Premier League's big four looking to achieve qualification en masse for the Champions League knockout stages for the fourth successive year, much may seem rosy with the English game. However, behind these successes is a worrying situation. Only 10 of the 352 players who started the last round of group-stage matches were English. This weekend around a third of the Premier League's starters will be English. No wonder Capello's squad lacks depth.'' He highlights the differences between the English and abroad, claiming that the coaching structure is proving limiting. ''At a club like Ajax the pre-teen coach would be one of the better-paid. But coaching is more widely respected on the Continent. There are no dispensations for those who, like Paul Ince and Alan Shearer last season, are not fully qualified to coach in the top flight. Academy level coaches must have a B licence, not merely "be working towards it" as in England.'' October 16, 2009
David Beckham has been stealing some column space with people still lauding his performance in England's 3-0 victory over Belarus. Paul Hayward of the Guardian writes that Beckham has found himself the perfect role to suit his vast experience: super-sub. "Sporting a commemorative facial shag- pile that could wreck sales for the razor firm he has endorsed, Beckham spent Wednesday night at Wembley easing further into the role of world's most famous substitute. And Matt Dickinson, chief sports correspondent at the Times, adds his voice to those demanding that Capello gives Beckham a ticket on the plane to South Africa, so that we can all enjoy a good old Becks love-in at next year's World Cup finals. "So what if David Beckham’s international career has become a series of cameo roles — great, if they are superbly executed. Elsewhere, there's an interesting look at the qualification of North Korea in the Daily Telegraph, with Ian Chadband examining how the country could fare at their first World Cup finals since Pak Doo-Ik's famous winner against Italy in 1966. "Kim Jong-Hun demanded no questions about politics, only sport. What a shame then that we didn't at that point know about the Sven-Goran Eriksson rumours because at least we could have asked the North Korean coach what he thought about his job being half-inched by the playboy of the western world? October 15, 2009
It's not very exciting in the press on Thursday morning which everything concentrated on England. Let's be honest, the game against Belarus felt more like an international friendly than a competitive qualifier. It was the turn of the stand-ins to put their case forward for a place on the plane to South Africa. The fact that only Peter Crouch, seemingly the perfect weapon against the lesser sides, did anything to really push his case left the hacks looking for an axe to grind. Patrick Barclay, never one to point out shortcomings and areas for improvement, states the bleeding obvious by revealing that, get this, Wayne Rooney is vital to England. He points out, in his column in The Times, that the performance against Belarus showed the flaws in Don Fabio's Plan B. if England are ever to have an equivalent of Maradona, a creative and dynamic force capable of turning a team into world champions, Rooney is the man. Distressing indeed. The system used against Belarus offered no semblance of the poise, rhythm, variety and penetrative quality Rooney supplies. At least until Beckham arrived, an aimless performance proved, using Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips as uncomfortable examples, that speed alone achieves nothing. Rooney has an instinct for a team’s requirements; it has led some critics to accuse him of being too unselfish when the truth is that, in football beyond a certain level, there is no such thing. If you doubt it, look at England without Emile Heskey, let alone Rooney. Look at the efficacy of the 4-2-3-1 system Capello has devised to get the best out of Rooney, with Heskey in front and Steven Gerrard just to the left. Over at the Telegraph, Jason Burt picks up the Wright-Phillips baton. Before the hour mark, Lennon had departed. Wright-Phillips needed to heed this as a sign that he had to do more. Thankfully he did. Within seconds he had drilled a low shot which, in truth, Zhevnov should have palmed away, but instead it beat him and rolled into the net. It was his fifth goal for his country but they have been spread over five years. October 14, 2009
It is the day of reckoning in World Cup qualifying. In almost every confederation some of the biggest names in the global game teeter precariously on knife edge, only a kick away from success or failure, and none more so than Diego Maradona's Argentina. Despite having the likes of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Sergio Agüero in their ranks the Albicelestes face the ignominy of having to go through the play-offs if they lose to Uruguay in Montevideo, which seems quite likely, or worse, miss out altogether, if other results go against them. It is topic picked up with gusto by the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel, who lays the blame for Argentina's humiliating predicament at the feet of the their aforementioned manager: Diego Armando Maradona. "How they [Argentina] came to stand on this knife edge is a mystery to anyone who looks at a squad made up of outstanding players, with Lionel Messi top of the bill, but not to those who consider the man in charge. The management of an international football team requires a strategist, a clear thinker, a cool head, a man who will use the restless space between games to resolve problems clearly and rationally. October 13, 2009
Diego Maradona's time as Argentina boss cannot exactly be called successful. Yet. The Guardian's Richard Williams has his take on the Argentine legend, as the country gears up for one of its most important games in recent memory - against Uruguay for the final automatic qualification spot for the World Cup. ''It was a travesty of football management, but one of the greatest pieces of sporting theatre imaginable,'' he begins. ''Maradona had done just about everything wrong. In fact he has been doing almost everything wrong since he was appointed head coach 11 months ago. The chances must be that he still has a few more wrong moves up his sleeve, perhaps tomorrow, when he sends his side out in Montevideo to get the result against Uruguay that will secure their place in South Africa.'' The boss famously said he wishes he was young enough to play. But Williams claims that is part of the problem: ''So fixated is Maradona on history that you almost expect him to call up Antonio Rattín or Alfredo Di Stéfano, or even to raid the cemetery of La Chacarita in his home town to exhume Angel Labruna and Adolfo Pedernera, members of the River Plate and Argentina forward line of the 1940s known as La Máquina - the machine.'' Meanwhile, the Independent's Chris McGrath says it's time for African stars to rid the globe of its ignorance. ''Perhaps the first World Cup on African soil will help us to see the continent through African eyes. To see, that is, African footballers finding the same pride and dignity in representing their respective homelands as Wayne Rooney, Fernando Torres or Gianluigi Buffon. African teams will not be there to share a brief, pathetic kinship with privileged Europeans; nor as some gesture of defiance, against famine or dictatorship or corruption or witchcraft. They will be there to win football matches for the people back home in Accra or Abidjan.'' October 12, 2009
Despite England's game against Ukraine being relatively meaningless, Monday's papers are still packed with analysis following the defeat. Rio Ferdinand is under the microscope, fears are cast over the country's defensive problems, but Matt Hughes, writing in the Times chooses instead to focus on the figure of Wayne Rooney. In 'Why Wayne Rooney has quickly become Fabio Capello’s England pet', Hughes waxes lyrical over the Manchester United and explains how he is central to England's hopes of enjoying a successful summer in South Africa. "On the occasions when he was able to attend De La Salle Comprehensive in Croxteth, Liverpool, it is unlikely that Wayne Rooney was the teacher’s pet, but that is the status he enjoys with Fabio Capello. October 11, 2009
In Saturday’s Paper Round the Guardian's Kevin McCarra warned that although England had qualified for the 2010 World Cup manager Fabio Capello still had serious concerns in defence and in goal. During England's 1-0 defeat to Ukraine both of those issues were highlighted in Dnipropetrovsk and McCarra uses his Sunday column in The Observer, not to say I told you so, but to further probe the problem areas. "The red card for Robert Green was as much a refresher course as a hard lesson. He will be completely certain now that he must be at his most alert when Rio Ferdinand, on current international form, is the key defender. The Manchester United centre-back had passed the ball straight to Dirk Kuyt when presenting Holland with a goal in the draw two months ago. Ferdinand varied the repertoire here by avoiding a through-ball. On a domestic level English football isn't looking too healthy either. The News of the World have revealed that the Premier League is now £2.8 billion in debt. It might not be the most flowery prose available to read in the Sunday newspapers but Neil Ashton's 'exclusive' tells the tale in dramatic style. "Billed by money-men as the Greatest Show on Earth, it was the chance to jump on English football's lucrative gravy train. Now it's Buyer Beware in the Barclay's Premier League. This is the story of top-flight football in 2009, the glory game based on boardroom power battles and murky transfer business. October 10, 2009
As we all know, England have already qualified for the World Cup finals in 2010 and victory over Ukraine, on Saturday, and Belarus, on Wednesday, will see Fabio Capello's side head to South Africa with a 100% record. But it is not all positive news according to The Guardian's Kevin McCarra, who points out that the Italian must still address significant weakness in defence and in goal. "It has been unsettling that Rio Ferdinand and John Terry have been the centre-back pairing in only six of the Italian's 18 international matches to date. Ferdinand, in particular, has been vulnerable. The Manchester United defender is reported to receive regular treatment from an osteopath for a back problem and Capello's main hope may be that he can be eased through the programme next summer. Over at The Times chief football commentator Patrick Barclay turns his attention to the Republic of Ireland's clash with Italy and expects Giovanni Trapattoni's side to have to qualify via the play-offs. FIFA's decision to seed the play-offs has been much derided but Barclay defends the notion: “The trouble is that FIFA is to seed the draw for the two-legged matches to decide the last four European qualifiers. Because football is the way it is, and because no one ever supports anything announced by Sepp Blatter - if the FIFA president defended the traditional oblong pitch, everyone would say it should be round or oval - people have moaned, even though seeding is eminently sensible, as is the idea of giving home advantage in the second leg to the notionally stronger country. October 9, 2009
There's been plenty of discussion over the much-derided "fit and proper person test" which aims to keep bad men out of the beautiful game. Does it mean anything? Would Adolf Hitler have been approved? We do wonder. Not to tar any current owner with the Hitler brush, of course, but with murky questions hovering over Notts County and Munto Finance, as well as Ken Bates' "ownership" of Leeds United, it's time the Football League got themselves a backbone. Which brings us to Flavio Briatore, the disgraced F1 boss who is part owner of Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers. Now, Briatore is, in a way, banned from F1 after fixing a race by telling one of his drivers to crash, thus forcing out the safety car to hand the race leader guaranteed victory. Football League clubs cannot be owned by anyone who is banned by the governing body of another sport. Simple? It seems not. Technically, it is the F1 teams who are banned from engaging in work with Briatore, and not Briatore who is banned by F1. Get it? So does that mean Briatore can stay at Loftus Road? It should not, or so says respected journo Patrick Barclay in his column in The Times, I know we live in a litigious age, but I cannot see the point of tiptoeing around this fellow. If Formula One can ditch him, so can football. The only “response” sought from Briatore should be how long it will take to clear his desk. The FIA has told him that he can no longer be even a spectator and football should follow suit. Over at the tabloids, and Steve Howard is a very perplexed man in The Sun, and rightly so. Kasabian may currently be singing Where did all the love go, but for Howard he's a bit miffed that quality keepers, once a job an Englishman could be proud of, have diappeared. A quick glance at the World Cup squad of 1990 that brought home just how far England have now slipped in what many claim to be the most important position in international football. Sage words. October 8, 2009
Premier League football is on the backburner as we head into a weekend of internationals and those fans who want to see England take on the Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday will have to break new ground as the match will be the first to be screened exclusively via the internet. While some members of the 'new media' set may find this an exciting step forward the average fan is not thrilled by the prospect of sitting in front of their home PC. But there is an alternative, The Guardian's Marina Hyde is off to watch the match at the Odeon cinema in London's Leicester Square. "Where better to indulge oneself in the increasingly soulless, commercially packaged experience that is following England than in one of the capital's least appealing, most overpriced cinemas, on a velour-upholstered theatre seat? Meanwhile, former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has bought into the official club line that Avram Grants' arrival as Director of Sport at Pompey does not mean that manager Paul Hart will soon be given the boot. Redknapp, now at Tottenham Hotspur, worked under Grant at Fratton Park before they both moved on. Grant moved to Stamford Bridge and seven months later succeeded Jose Mourinho as manager of Chelsea. But in his column in The Sun Redknapp reassured Hart that it won't happen to him. "I see the pair of them getting on well and it will only help Paul and Portsmouth. Avram has a lot of connections in the game, he is still good friends with Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich and his contacts will be useful to the club, particularly with the January transfer window inching closer all the time. October 7, 2009
In a big week of World Cup qualifiers, England are one team who need not worry having secured their place in next years finals in South Africa. But what has been holding England back? Kevin McCarra of the Guardian examines why the Three Lions have only won the World Cup on home soil and how their chances in 2010 stand up, with the effects of playing at altitude expected to be significant.
"The national team have only ever been in one final at the major tournaments and the World Cup of 1966 was, of course, grasped at Wembley. Fabio Capello has already achieved a great deal, but there is work ahead to cure the travel sickness that can steal over the squad at competitions when boots are planted on foreign soil. Elsewhere in the Guardian, it is revealed that their could be a "Live 8-style" event on the eve of the 2010 World Cup - a music spectacular that would surely trump any previous opening ceremonies. The event would help reach out to youngsters (apparently football is not enough!) and also raise money for FIFA's "20 centres for 2010" campaign, writes Owen Gibson. "As part of an attempt to banish memories of Diana Ross fluffing a penalty and flag- waving parades, Fifa has contracted Kevin Wall, the man behind live music spectaculars for Madonna, Jay-Z and Michael Jackson, to produce a Live 8-style event on the eve of the next World Cup. October 6, 2009
The Portsmouth saga is over...or is it? Are they the new Manchester City? Will there be swathes of oil riches heading into Fratton Park? Perhaps. Though nobody knows if you ask The Independent's Nick Harris who has gone on the trail of Ali al-Faraj, the new owner, who has been variously described as a "Saudi property tycoon". But Harris has not found out a great deal about the new owner, who bought Pompey for, well, nothing.
The patrol of the internet and cuttings files continues to draw a blank. The name "Ali al-Faraj" had never been mentioned in any English language publication in the world before being mentioned in association with Portsmouth in August this year. The Premier League has already cleared him as a fit and proper person to own a British club but declined yesterday to elaborate on what it knows about his business interests. The fall-out continues from Sir Alex Ferguson's tirade against Alan Wiley after the Manchester United manager claimed the referee was unfit following a 2-2 draw for his side against Sunderland at the weekend. The Daily Mail claims that Wiley considered quitting football after the public attack from the United boss, a situation that has echoes of Anders Frisk's decision to retire following accusations made by Jose Mourinho during his time as Chelsea manager. In 'Referee Alan Wiley in quit threat over Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson's rant', Alan Biggs details how criticism of Wiley is unjustified and how the official's colleagues helped convince him against an early retirement. "An exclusive Sportsmail analysis of Wiley's performance shows Ferguson's criticism was unjustified and the official is understood to have had second thoughts about quitting after receiving strong support from colleagues. In the Guardian, former Premier League referee Jeff Winter, now the owner of a hilarious website in which he gives both barrels to his critics, also strongly condemns Ferguson for his comments. It is strong stuff from the man who once claimed to get a standing ovation from the Kop during his final game as a referee. "It was a cowardly attack – Sir Alex wouldn't have said it to Alan Wiley's face. Every game Alan Wiley takes charge of now where he makes a decision which upsets some fans is going to result in chants of 'You're not fit to referee', he's going to be known as the 'unfit ref'. Sir Alex won't care though. He's a knight of the realm and he thinks he's untouchable, bullet proof. October 5, 2009
Dennis Wise might be all over the media at the moment defending his position in the Kevin Keegan debate, but Sam Wallace in the Independent has his views and, while he doesn't back the Mike Ashley regime, he also finds fault with Mr Keegan. ''When it came to picking sides, Mike Ashley v Kevin Keegan was a no-brainer,'' he begins. ''You would no sooner choose Ashley over Keegan than you would pick Bush over Obama; Mick Hucknall over Morrissey or Phil Brown's best suit over Jose Mourinho's best suit.'' Fair enough, you would think, given the way Ashley has run the club into the ground, but what of the £16.5 million Keegan says he is owed for ''stigma damages'' and the "income which he would otherwise reasonably have expected to receive up to his 65th birthday."? ''That was an astonishing amount of money based on a claim so flimsy that it was thrown out without hesitation by the tribunal. It smacked of a man who was out to get whatever he could. It was just plain greedy,'' says Wallace ''Apart from the money, what really jumped out from the page was the word "reasonably". Who other than Keegan thought it would be reasonable that he had that kind of earning potential left in him – regardless of whether he had spent those nine months at Newcastle or not?'' Meanwhile, in the Times, Patrick Barclay deals with greed of a different kind as England's World up game this weekend can be seen live only on pay-per-view on the internet. ''If I were to claim that a chance to see Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard attacking in tandem is worth £4.99 of almost any England supporter’s money, you might suspect me of advertising at the expense of principle,'' he says. He concludes, however, that it's worth a try. As long as it doesn't happen when the real action gets underway: ''I cannot see what is wrong with it as an experiment. Just as long as, when the real action starts, the old rules apply. There is a difference between preparatory matches, when the nuances of form are studied by aficionados, and the great international occasions, including tournaments, when the country is united and people gather in homes and pubs for the footballing equivalent of a street party.'' October 4, 2009
Rod Liddle always pulls no punches when it comes to dishing out a verbal assault, and it's certainly no different this Sunday as he passes comment on the hilarious goings on at Newcastle United. The subject of his ire, and a certain ESPN Soccernet columnist will sit there nodding with hand on chin, is Dennis Wise. Yes, the little man brought in to oversee the Magpies' empire just when things looked to be going belly-up at Leeds United. I don’t think Jesus Christ tried to claim £10m compensation when it all went tits up in the Garden of Gethsemane. But then, unlike Kevin Keegan, Jesus only had the malefactions of Judas Iscariot and the Roman occupying force with which to contend; he was not bedevilled by Dennis Wise. I like the notion of Wise being one of the disciples, though; St Dennis, the Fisher of Men (via YouTube) who betrayed his boss to curry favour with two South American agents. It seems scarcely possible that Newcastle United could be the source of even more humour this season, after they gave of themselves so selflessly last year. But then you read of what went on once Keegan was appointed, detailed with frank incredulity by the panel which adjudicated in the Keegan v Newcastle case, which ended with the Messiah being awarded £2m plus interest. Quite strong there from Mr Liddle in The Times. But he goes on. Having appointed Keegan, to the delight of Newcastle’s fervent-but-often-deluded following, the board clearly sat down and thought: “Now, what can we do that will really screw him up?” And as one, they arrived at the only answer possible: appoint Dennis Wise to squat on his shoulders, causing trouble. Wise’s qualifications for whatever title he acquired at St James’ Park rested on his managerial performance at Millwall, where he took Mark McGhee’s decent Championship side to the brink of relegation through the signing of some truly shocking players, and a period of copious under-achievement at Leeds United, where most people believe the clever work was done by Gus Poyet. And finally. What possessed Newcastle to believe it needed Wise? Why would anyone believe he could make things better? And remarkably, just when things seemed to be looking more optimistic, they whipped the carpet from beneath Keegan’s feet, humiliated the man and, pretty much, ensured relegation. Also in the press on Sunday there's an interview with the once-forgotten Arsenal man Tomas Rosicky. He's speaking to Steve Tongue of the Independent about his injury hell. "I think it's getting better and better," he said after playing for almost 70 minutes of Tuesday's Champions' League win over Olympiacos. "I need more games but it looks good and I'm happy I'm back in the team. Of course you miss these nights, and you miss the Premier League as well. I missed everything so it is good to be back." October 3, 2009
The papers continue to pour over Portsmouth's possible financial demise on Saturday morning but we instead turn our attentions to a little piece in the Daily Mirror where Brian Reade takes a pop at Michael Owen. The title of his piece, 'Michael Owen needs to shut up about his England hopes and do his talking on the pitch', gives an inkling as to the line of his argument as he gives the Manchester United striker both barrels. It's been a bad week for men trying to win back the trust of their country. One-time geniuses who worked wonders a few years ago, but who are now chasing miracles to win back public approval ahead of a major decision next summer. Meanwhile, the Guardian secure an interview with Hull City manager Phil Brown and the perma-tanned one does not disappoint. In Daniel Taylor's 'Believe it or not, I'm still enjoying the job, says Hull's manager Phil Brown', it takes just two paragraphs for the Tigers boss to refer to himself in the third person. Brilliant. The mood is surprisingly jovial given that Phil Brown must be acutely aware his scent has reached the pack of bloodhounds otherwise known as Fleet Street. Brown has always been good company, full of banter and levity. But there are definite glimpses of hurt, too – understandable considering the way his stock has fallen since those heady days when Hull City were threatening to become the story of the 2008–09 season and their manager was being talked about as one of the smarter guys in the business. Brown also tells an intriguing story about how he and his squad prevented a woman from committing suicide on the Humber Bridge on Wednesday: "She was considering her future, shall we say," Brown says. "But we saved this girl. Sweet talk, you can say. In the end she tootled off back to wherever she had come from. I think she saw us and realised, 'OK, at least it's not that bad.'" October 2, 2009
Many of the papers have chosen to lead with ESPN Soccernet's exclusive quotes from Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie claiming "there is no money left" at Fratton Park. Former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino tries to look at the Pompey affair from a player's perspective for the Times. "Portsmouth’s chimes sound ominously like a funeral march. The intimidating atmosphere created by the fans at Fratton Park has been replaced by uncertainty, fear, doubt, mistrust and paralysis, and, before long, we could have a situation that eclipses the meltdown at Leeds United several years ago. Meanwhile, Mark Fleming examines "Big Phil" Scolari's Uzbekistani adventure with Bunyodkar, which seemes to be unravelling after elimination from the Asian Cup quarter-finals at the hands of South Korea's Pohang Steelers. Scolari could be set to lose his £12 million-a-year job, Fleming writes for the Independent "The defeat to the Pohang Steelers marks a new low for the 60-year-old Scolari, who lasted just six months at Chelsea despite getting off to a flying start this time last year. The result also takes the wind out of Bunyodkor's outrageous attempts to become a major force in the game. Scolari is not the only big name seduced by the millions on offer – in a country so poor that 45 per cent of the population live off just £1 a day. October 1, 2009
Celtic take on Rapid Vienna in the Europa League tonight but it is not just a routine European contest. 25 years ago the two sides did battle in a bad tempered two-legged affair in the Cup Winners' Cup. After winning on aggregate Celtic were forced to replay the tie at a neutral ground because of missiles being thrown from the crowd. Rapid won the replay and ugly scenes followed as their goalkeeper and goalscorer were attacked by Hoops fans. The Rapid scorer Peter Pacult is now the club's manager, and emotions are still running high at Celtic Park, according to Ewen Murray from the Guardian: "Celtic have seemingly backed down on their marketing stance in recent days. They had billed Rapid's visit, unapologetically, as "25 Years On" in an obvious attempt to sell tickets. Yet the club are perfectly aware that disorder, triggered by fans who still harbour a wild grudge, would be seriously bad for their reputation. Some of the talk from yesterday was that a fit Michael Owen would be starting against Wolfsburg, and possibly making his claim for a place on the plane to 2010. Just 20 minutes after the whistle had blown, that dream appeared to die and Patrick Barclay from the Times has his say: ''There are several good reasons why Fabio Capello is reluctant to restore Michael Owen to the England squad - and at Old Trafford last night, with the England manager watching, we were shown one of the best. The striker’s fitness simply cannot be relied upon. That he should have lasted a mere 20 minutes was depressingly predictable. ''As long as he remains agonisingly liable to have to leave the pitch early, eating into a team’s quota of substitutes, he will be no more worthy of an England recall than Jimmy Greaves.'' Meanwhile, something else in decline is the SPL, according to Lawrence Donegan of the Guardian. He reckons that Scottish clubs have been embarrassed in recent European games and, because of the impact of the Premier League, no-one cares about Scotland: ''Why did the Old Firm look so out-classed on both occasions? Simple. Because the managers are forced to rely on mediocre players, or in the case of Walter Smith, who fielded a 39-year-old centre-half against Fredi Kanouté, on players well past their sell-by date. September 30, 2009
This has been a season in which the game's tangled financial web has begun to unravel itself with many a question raised about the ownership of football clubs. Notts County continue to make the news, as the shadowy characters who are linked with the club slowly creep into the light. They're not doing this lightly, as shown by their response to ten questions from the Guardian about their ownership. A sample tells all about such reticence: 1. The statement says Qadbak has "a multibillion dollar investment portfolio across natural resources, heavy industry, logistics and infrastructure". Aside from the investment in the BMW Sauber Formula One team, can you provide us with details of any companies, conglomerates or investment trusts in any of these areas which form part of Qadbak's portfolio? Question 2 is the only one they answer. Further ownership questions posed by David Conn, football finance expert for the Guardian and published author of rightful acclaim. Conn has seemingly recovered from the rather unquestioning three-parter he devoted to Manchester City, who he happens to support, by turning his attention to Leeds United. Conn reveals: The ownership of Leeds United has been routed via a network of offshore companies ever since Ken Bates arrived at Elland Road as the club's new chairman in 2005, and now mystery surrounds it again. Clear as mud, then. Meanwhile, Martin Samuel has a well-aimed dig at the new owner of Portsmouth. "Dubai's very own Del Boy, Sulaiman Al Fahim, has no quick fix at Portsmouth" points out that Al Fahim has done plenty of talking but is yet to come through with any real cash. Opines Samuel in the Daily Mail: Portsmouth had a busy time in the build-up to the transfer deadline, but not Abramovich busy. It was more like the way Del Boy used to approach an auction, coming out with a job lot of Russian army camcorders or lockable briefcases with the security code missing.
September 29, 2009
The Guardian's Eastern European football expert, Jonathan Wilson, has posted an interesting article on the dangers of match fixing and the English community's apparent ignorance of the issue. In 'English football cannot afford to be complacent about match-fixing', Wilson explores the fall-out from the news that UEFA is investigating 40 suspicious results and how it made so few headlines in England. "UEFA announced on Friday that its investigation into match-fixing in Champions League and Uefa Cup/Europa League matches over the past four years has been extended from 25 games to 40. In western Europe, nobody batted an eyelid, but then it is probably hard to do so when your head is buried in the sand. The English game, in particular, seems in denial about the dangers of match-fixing. Wilson, who writes with real expertise on Eastern European issues and also tactical developments, has sounded a warning to the English footbal family. Will it be heard? Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who will become the club's longest-serving manager on Thursday, has told The Sun that he would never have given the job to him back in 1996. "At that time what Arsenal did you needed to be a little bit crazy. Crazy in the sense that I had no name, I was foreign, there was no history. They needed to be brave," he said. And it's a good job they were. However, Wenger continues to be reluctant to spend the Gunners' millions. Wenger insisted: "It is true there is money and people reproach me for not losing money. It is not a personal thing, it is just that I have a squad strong enough to compete." That's also in The Sun. Striker Nicklas Bendtner will miss out on Champions League action due to a car accident. And it could be have been worse, according to an Arsenal source in the Daily Express. He said: said: "Nicklas swerved off the road. It all happened so quickly. He is very shaken and believes he is extremely lucky to escape with his life, let alone serious injury." Over in Italy now, and Adrian Mutu is clearly trying to cause a bit of a rift ahead of Fiorentina's date with Liverpool in the Champions League. You're not famous anymore, seems to be the strange cry from the one-time Chelsea striker. Mutu told The Sun: "Once upon a time, beating Liverpool would be a famous win and you could make a fuss, but no more. Since I have been in Florence, the team, the club and the whole environment have grown to the point where we can now beat anyone in our stadium." Plenty of talk about a Liverpool buy-out at the moment, and now The Times thinks there could be a new party on the block. The paper believes that George Gillett is speaking to an Indian billionaire who made his fortune in the energy industry. Meanwhile, the Daily Express quotes Rafael Benitez as saying Fernando Torres is priceless. He said: “I would say at this moment in time he is not for sale at any price. People say every player has a price, but we don’t want to sell any player, so he does not have a price. Money cannot buy him at this moment in time.” Manchester United are being linked to a new goalkeeper, tipped by Cristiano Ronaldo. The Daily Express reveals that Sporting Lisbon's Rui Patricio is on the wanted list. The Daily Mirror believes Fulham could be ready to make a move for Nigel Reo-Coker of Aston Villa. A £3 million fee is mooted. And finally, Watford's USA international Jay Demerit is set for an extended spell on the sidelines... after blinding himself with a contact lense! The Daily Express reveals that the player cut his eye as took the lens out at the team hotel and it has become infected. Hang on, we've got one more story! A teenage star for League Two side Bournemouth could make his debut away at Hereford due to an injury crisis. However, he'll need permission from his school, Lytchett Minster School, to miss an important maths lesson in his exam year! That's in the Daily Express. September 28, 2009
Petr Cech's dismissal against Wigan Athletic proved to be the talking point of the weekend and the turning point of the game as the Blues lost 3-1 to relinquish their place at the top of the Premier League. Hugo Rodellega was the man brought down by Cech for what everybody agrees was a stonewall penalty but The Times chief football commentator Patrick Barclay suggests that the striker could have actually stayed on his feet if he really wanted to and asks just how 'honest' a player should be in the penalty box. "So step forward, Robin van Persie, and take a boo for admitting that he has exaggerated the impact of fouls... Now that the fallout of from Sol Campbell's departure from Notts County has died down a little club figurehead Sven Goran Erikkson is once again fielding questions about the Magpies' mysterious owners and where the money for the revolution is actually coming from. The well-paid Swede seems no more clued up than the rest of us about the QADBAK group - the league have requested more information about the organisation with the 'fit and proper person test' de rigeur - and the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel suggest that as long as the money keeps rolling in the League Two club's director of football won't really care where it's from. "The most illuminating comment from Eriksson last week, as the exit of Sol Campbell after one game confirmed growing suspicions that all at Notts County might not be what it seemed, was that he did not know, or care, where the money came from for the project. That his cheques clear is all that seems to matter. It is what made him such an easy target for the fake sheik newspaper sting. A bloke with a J-Cloth on his head and an empty tin of Cherry Blossom back in his hotel room arrives and it is love at first sight." September 27, 2009
Rod Liddle is billed as the most controversial commentator on sport in the British media. So the Sunday Times have given him the chance to comment on something he can really get his teeth into: El-Hadji Diouf and the recent race row where the Rovers player accused Everton fans of throwing bananas at him. ''I mean, be honest; why would you need to racially abuse El Hadji Diouf when there are so many other things you might shout at him?'' says Liddle. ''Abusing Diouf for being black is like abusing Alan Carr for being gay - a complete irrelevance and a sadly missed opportunity.'' On Diouf's own claim of racist abuse, towards a ball-boy, he says: ''Frankly, hauling up a black player for perpetrating a “hate crime” by calling someone white seems, to me, a bit rich, given the history of how black players have been treated in the English game this past 150 years or so.'' Concluding: ''If I were the Old Bill I’d be tempted to forget about the whole thing and try instead to sort out one or two burglaries in the Merseyside area.'' Meanwhile Henry Winter in the Sunday Telegraph, chooses to target Ashley Cole for praise - not something that happens every day - to show how a player can win over the fans with his commitment. ''Now is the season of discontent, of angry fans insulting footballers and stroppy players goading supporters,'' he begins. ''Now is the season of vitriol and sporting dynamism, of catcalls around the catwalk on which Ashley Cole and co strut their compelling stuff. Cole embodies the zeitgeist of talent amidst the tension. September 26, 2009
It's not like Sepp Blatter to come out and say something stupid. Well, actually it is, and despite claiming that the FIFA chief has ''improved the game,'' Patrick Barclay in the Times makes great reading this morning as he sums up the reasons why the English should not be credited with evolving football, based on Blatter's comment that England is the ''motherland'' of the sport. ''Not my game’s, it isn’t. Or yours. Not if you like a nice pass, or clever tactics, or a lovely piece of skill,'' he says. ''Only if your idea of football is a 22-man brawl could England be said to have mothered, or fathered, it.'' Barclay, a proud Scot, makes the point that you cannot: ''...credit the English for having parented something that remained a juvenile delinquent until the Scots devised passing; that acquired a greater intellect only when the central Europeans got into tactics; and that completed its development into a sort of universal art form only when the Brazilians proved poetry in motion effective by winning three World Cups between 1958 and 1970. ''What the English had invented was fighting with a ball.'' Hard to see quite how much has changed... September 25, 2009
There have been a number of unsavoury incidents in football over the past few weeks with both players and fans subject to abuse. Blackburn Rovers striker El-Hadji Diouf is being investigated for alleged racial abuse of a 14-year-old ball boy and has lodged a counterclaim against the Everton fans, a supporter invaded the pitch during the Manchester derby at the weekend and was given a clip round the ear by City striker Craig Bellamy and all this follows hot on the heels of ugly scenes at the West Ham United v Millwall cup tie last month. It has all become too much and the Daily Express' Chief Sports Writer John Dillon blames a "culture of rage". "Why are things like this? Our broken and valueless society, which has lost all sense of public dignity, is partly to blame. So is sheer, ignorant yobbery and the failure of the clubs to identify and ban these overheated clowns en masse. The aforementioned Bellamy has had more than his fair share of scrapes during his controversial career - he reportedly attacked team-mate John Arne Riise with a golf club when at Liverpool and the late Sir Bobby Robson once joked that the Welshman could start a fight in an empty room - but there are those that defend his feisty attitude. One of those is the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman who claims that while Bellamy maybe a "petulant pest who can pick a fight in a phone box" but can see why his manager Mark Hughes swears by him. "There are those who don't like Bellamy. They don't see the talented, inspirational, selfless footballer. They see only the rabble-rouser, street fighter and malcontent. September 24, 2009
Sol Campbell's decision to quit League Two Notts County after just a single game has put the Magpies back in the headlines and prompted the Fleet Street hacks to dig around for the real reason behind the former England defender's departure. 'Broken promises' say Sol's people, an unpalatable 'reality check' say club insiders. But The Times' Kevin Eason believes the problems may run much deeper for the world's oldest league club, with financial question marks still hanging over the club's mysterious new owners. "Each day that passes with the Football League refusing to rubber-stamp the acquisition means more anxiety for many fans, who welcomed the takeover with open arms but are starting to worry that their bright new dawn might yet turn into a nightmare. The topic of questionable proprietors continues in The Guardian where Marina Hyde focuses on Flavio Briatore's role at QPR following his exclusion from Formula for cheating. Under the "fit and proper person's test" the Italian could be disqualified from football and she urges FA chief Lord Mawhinney to do so, to partly restore the honour of the game. "Even in the grimmest times, we must never stop believing in the possibility of rainbows. And so it is that the dark cloud of Flavio Briatore's banishment from the motor racing firmament might have the silveriest of linings: a legacy project for the beguiling Lord Mawhinney, in whose gift it could be to disqualify the Queens Park Rangers co-owner under the traditionally self-parodic "fit and proper person" test. It's difficult to keep away from the topic of one-game-wonder Campbell as it dominates nearly all of the newspapers this morning and Harry Redknapp uses his column in The Sun to comment on the situation. The Spurs boss, who signed Sol for Portsmouth, said recently that he still rates 35-year-old Campbell amongst the top six defenders in the Premier League, but despite his penchant for signing players he has previously coached he still won't be making a move for the centre-back. "I said during the summer that, if I was the boss of any other Premier League club, I'd sign Sol like a shot. That statement still applies today. But there is no way in the world Sol is ever going to play for Spurs again. Well that's that then. September 23, 2009
Gabriele Marcotti has stoked up quite a controversy with his take on the El-Hadji Diouf affair this afternoon. The Times correspondent, whose dispatches on European football are usually warmly received, has posted a thought-provoking blog to argue that allegedly calling a ballboy 'white boy' does not constitute racist abuse: After cheekily describing the Blackburn Rovers forward as "only slightly more popular than venereal disease", Marcotti writes: "What is this idiocy about the police investigating charges of racist abuse for the fact that he allegedly said "F*** off, white boy" to a ballboy? I would have thought that, in 2009, we would realise that simply putting an adjective in front of an insult does not make it racist. Apparently determined to create vigorous debate, Marcott also reveals he has a "soft spot" for Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy. Just don't go invading any pitches any time soon, eh Gabriele? With all the talk of players' reactions to fans, we turn to the Daily Mail for Martin Samuel's assessment of the current climate. ''What is absolutely plain in the fall-out from the Manchester derby is that the worm has turned. We traditionally think of the worm as the supporters, poor put-upon saps, bled dry by soaring ticket prices and costly merchandise, their wishes ignored by clubs increasingly out of touch with reality and the community. And, in many cases, this is true. Players now think they are victims, according to Sammy, with ''the conclusion in the dressing rooms being there is a limit to the abuse an athlete can reasonably expect to take.' However, they also have a duty to the game. "Footballers have a duty to behave in a professional manner and certainly Neville and Bellamy did not do that,'' he says, while ending that: ''everybody needs to wind their necks in.'' Good advice. Over at the Times Matt Hughes claims the FA is blundering by not charging Gary Neville for improper conduct, a few days after charging Emmanuel Adebayor. ''Several days spent studying countless camera angles, still photographs and precedents have left the game’s law-makers, it appears, in no better position to reach a sober judgment than a physically exhausted and mentally stretched match official." It is interesting though, isn't it? The Daily Telegraph's John Ley certainly thinks so, as he reckons he's crunched the numbers pretty well. The stats add up, as we have the best average of goals per game in a season thus far; and there's been a cracking 7% of all goals have come after the 90 minute mark. Thrilling stuff. September 22, 2009
Martin Samuel has used his not inconsiderable weight, in a purely metaphorical sense you understand, to land an interview with Carlo Ancelotti that adorns the pages of the Daily Mail on Tuesday. It is a far-reaching and, typically for Samuel, an engaging read as Ancelotti explores his upbringing, managerial philosophy and the players at his disposal at Chelsea. In 'I pray, but not for football, God has better things to do', Ancelotti gives readers an insight into his life as a child in rural Italy and as a son of a farmer. 'When we were gathering in the grain it was like a big party. Then when we had finished the landowner would come in and he would plunge a stick into the middle of the grain. One side was his half and the other was our half. "I could not understand it at my young age. I could not understand how my father had worked so hard and it was not his to keep. He worked all the time, every day, there was no time that was free because cows need milking twice daily. But if we had chickens, the landowner would still get the biggest one." Ancelotti's description of the music in Chelsea's dressing room is far less sentimental though. Clearly the Italian will not be attending any club nights in Brixton any time soon. "What is different here is the music before games. I am used to players who are very focused, very concentrated, so when I came to England it was a big surprise to hear music in our dressing room. In Italy, coaches are not happy if people talk, let alone have music. We had to stay focused. And it is not even good music. Bad music, s**t music, rap music." The Manchester derby continues to dominate the pages of Her Majesty's Press and a variety of angles have been taken. The Guardian - once a Manchester paper of course - carries out the most in-depth study of Sunday's totemic classic. The Guardian's Daniel Taylor carries out a forensic study of injury-time played by Manchester United. In "Revealed: Manchester United get more injury time when they need it," Taylor supplies the following stats: "The average stoppage time added at Old Trafford in the period in question is below that given at Anfield, the Emirates Stadium and Stamford Bridge. United's is 205 seconds, compared to Liverpool's 210sec, Arsenal's 224sec and Chelsea's 229sec." Taylor is granted another space in the paper to document the long-running emnity between Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes. He quotes from the autobiography of a former United security guard in "Defeat will not make Mark Hughes alter his views on Sir Alex Ferguson": "Ned Kelly, once United's head of security, remembers bumping into Hughes in a nightclub one evening in 1995, shortly after the player had left Old Trafford to join Chelsea. "Whether it was the lateness of the hour, the strength of the alcohol, or something he had read ... Sparky wanted to talk only about his former manager," Kelly recalls. "'Fergie never really rated me as a player,' he complained. 'I was only brought back from Barcelona to keep the fans happy.'" "Kelly remembers telling him "that's bollocks", but being unable to cheer him up. "Mark refused to listen. He was more interested in berating Fergie. It was sad that someone who had given such sterling service to the club had spent all those years believing his manager had thought so little of him." September 21, 2009
There is no disguising which of the weekend's games captured the imagination of Fleet Street with extensive column inches devoted to the most dramatic of Manchester derbies on Sunday. The Guardian's Richard Williams waxes lyrical over Michael Owen's finishing ability after the striker struck deep into injury time to secure a 4-3 victory for Manchester United, comparing the goal to the most famous moment in Owen's career to date. "When Manchester City scored their third equaliser with 10 seconds of the 90 minutes left on the clock, thousands of home fans rose from their seats and headed for home," writes Williams. "Franco Baldini had already left. All of them missed perhaps the most dramatic goal Michael Owen has scored since the summer night in 1998 when he scampered through the Argentina defence and wrote his name in the Saint-Etienne sky." Matt Dickinson takes up the theme in the Times, comparing Owen's contribution with that of Carlos Tevez who could only hit the post on his return to Old Trafford following his summer move to Eastlands. Let's just say that this particular scribe clearly enjoyed himself at the game. "Michael Owen in, Carlos Tevez out. Managerial genius. Sir Alex Ferguson can portray it that way, or any way he likes, in the immediate aftermath of what we will call the greatest Manchester derby ever without fear of the hyperbole police raising the alarm." But Oliver Holt has some words of comfort for City fans in the Daily Mirror, claiming that despite their defeat Mark Hughes' side have the mark of future champions and that the established order should be concerned indeed. "If ever a performance from a losing team sounded like the rumble of a train in the distance, it was this one," says Holt. "Because amid the magnificent bedlam of this classic encounter, City provided the proof that not only are they breathing down the necks of the big four but that they are bearing down on the champions themselves. On the evidence of their performance yesterday, City’s grand project to conquer the Premier League is a lot further advanced than we thought. The revolution isn’t just at the planning stage any more. It’s not just the stuff of fantasy and dreams. It’s at the business end now. The revolutionaries are at the gates and scaling the fences. And the aristocrats inside the palace are finally beginning to realise that they just might have a problem." The Times', Patrick Barclay was assigned the Chelsea v Tottenham game on Sunday and has come away from Stamford Bridge confident in the belief that it is Carlo Ancelotti's men who will be lifting the Premier League title in May after they maintained their 100% record. Barclay writes: "The pace, power and energy of this team of Carlo Ancelotti’s would put them ahead of all challengers at present even without the impressive compactness again displayed as they claimed a sixth win in as many league matches this season. Everything is falling into their laps. Even the ludicrously light ban of three Champions League matches handed to Drogba for abusing a referee (reduced from four by Uefa on appeal) works in their favour by resting him when it doesn’t affect the team too much." Martin Samuel is always worth a read in the Daily Mail and he devotes his column on Monday morning to appealing for an overhaul of the Champions League seeding system, a bit bizarre given the wealth of Premier League action over the weekend. "It is ridiculous that the next round of games pits the champions of England, Manchester United, against the champions of Germany, Wolfsburg, because the Bundesliga winners came out of left field and, therefore, have few coefficient points," writes Samuel. "It will now be very tough for Wolfsburg to get out of the group, which is just the way the established order likes it." September 20, 2009
Is the biggest and most bitter build-up to a Manchester derby ever? This pair of experienced eyes seems to think so, though they were not trained on the battles of the late 1960s. Mark Hughes is a confirmed City-ite these days, and has peddled the old line about United not actually being in Manchester. The Daily Star picks up on that. And it is by no means the only broadside fired. The Sunday Times sees Hughes make a sneaking reference to Sir Alex Ferguson's famous quote about Liverpool in saying United they will not remain England's dominant force much longer and that he is aiming for Manchester City to be the side who "knock them off their perch". On the other side of this great divide, in the Mail on Sunday, Ferguson has cranked up the pressure on Carlos Tevez by claiming he was not bothered when the Argentina striker exited Old Trafford at the end of last season. Most papers suggest Tevez will play a part in Sunday's match with the People saying Tevez looks to have won his battle to face Manchester United - and has aimed a pre-derby blast at Ferguson. City are the team with the cash these days, it seems. If you believe the News of the World, "moneybags" City have paid their players a staggering £459,000 in bonuses already this season. Nice work if you can get it. One of the players picking up that booty has been Emmanuel Adebayor, who has been criticised by former team-mate, and possibly former pal, Thierry Henry, who has slated Adebayor for showing a lack of respect to the manager, club and fans who made him a star. That means Arsenal, of course and that's in the Mirror. Another Arsenal old boy in Patrick Vieira tells the Star he snubbed a move back to the Premier League with Spurs because he still has a great rapport with his old Arsenal fans. Manchester United meanwhile, are heavily linked with a transfer. The Sunday Express says Sir Alex Ferguson is planning a January transfer window raid for Valencia's £25million Spanish star David Silva. There are several more news-lines to follow though. The News of the World says Chelsea will produce evidence from the FA which they claim can clear their name in the Gael Kakuta 'tapping up' controversy while on a similar note, the Mail on Sunday says fifteen new transfers involving top English clubs are under investigation by world governing body FIFA, raising fears that football has slipped back into the bung culture of the Nineties. Murky waters again in the Sunday Mirror which says The Football League are demanding to know the identity of the owners of Notts County. A loss to Morecambe yesterday means whoever owns the club who boast Sven and Sol in their ranks is unlikely to come forward at the moment if only out of sheer embarassment. To no-one's particular surprise, Nigel Reo-Coker will be sold in the January transfer window after his astonishing bust-up with Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill, says the News of the World. And finally, Soccernet favourite Phil "Orange" Brown's job is on the line at Hull City - with Alan Curbishley or Gordon Strachan set to get the call to give the struggling Tigers some new teeth. So it says in the People anyway. September 19, 2009
The Manchester derby that awaits us on Sunday has been given quite a fanfare and build-up with most newspapers picking up on a war of words between United and City. Every paper leads off in a similar fashion to the Sun, who say Mark Hughes launched an amazing attack on Sir Alex Ferguson while Ferguson himself says Manchester City will never top United in his lifetime. The latter of those lines is picked up by the Mirror while the Daily Telegraph desribes it thus: "The question was hardly loaded, a simple inquiry about whether Manchester United "would ever be underdogs" in the derby match, but Sir Alex Ferguson reacted with the disgust of a man discovering his Chateau Latour 1990 was corked." The Independent meanwhile, says Mark Hughes refused to be cowed by his old boss's outbursts against Manchester City, declaring himself "amused" by the fact that the club's high profile was irritating Sir Alex Ferguson and flatly stating that Manchester United, a poorer side without Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, had failed to reach the levels of last season. Very similar approaches from the Times and Daily Mail. The Times says "Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes traded insults last night as the touchpaper was lit for the most potentially explosive Manchester derby in decades". The Mail says Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes lit the fuse on Sunday's Manchester derby with an explosive exchange. So too the Daily Express: "Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes have lit the blue touchpaper for tomorrow's potentially explosive Manchester derby by trading verbal blows." Then there is the Carlos Tevez factor but the Daily Star says Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed the possibility of Carlos Tevez coming back to haunt him. And - what's this? - a slightly different line taken by the Guardian, as part of their three-day insider's guide to the new Manchester City written by the estimable David Conn, a Blue by extraction. Mark Hughes reveals that he came "close" to walking away from Manchester City in the summer of 2008, frustrated by the lack of money, "confusion" and turmoil at the tail end of the club's ownership by Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister of Thailand. There are, of course, other clubs playing this weekend, with Aston Villa being one of them but one player definitely not playing is Nigel Reo-Coker after his bust-up with Martin O'Neill. The Mirror, Mail and Express all question the sometime midfielder's Villa Park future. The Adebayor debate will not go away, despite the fact that he too will not be playing this weekend. In wades old Etonian chairman Peter Hill-Wood into the Daily Star to slam Emmanuel Adebayor's claim that he did not want to leave Arsenal. September 18, 2009
Well, well, well, we wondered how long it would take for someone to get an interview with the volatile Mr Adebayor. Well done the Sun, who have a piece on the Togo man which includes some quality quotes about his former side, and his actions last weekend. A selection of the best include: "I am sorry Robin got hurt but I can't regret something I did not mean to do.'' Of course not, which is why he contested the FA charge of violent conduct.. oh wait. And: ''but, as the tattoo on my arm says, 'Only God can judge me' not Arsene Wenger." Incredible stuff, but Adebayor is not the only City man making waves. Carlos Tevez is very keen to get himself fit for the crunch clash against his old side, Man Utd, this weekend and told the Daily Mirror that he is ''desperate'' to play. Perhaps so he can cause a similar amount of damage. Arsenal, too are in the news, but only because they might miss out on Adebayor #2, Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh, who, according to the Daily Mirror, is off to Juventus. The Sun have another top story, a training ground fight between Martin O'Neill and Nigel Reo-Coker! Apparently the pair had to be seperated and, although no punches were thrown, they wrestled each other to the ground. Nigel probably won't be in the starting lineup at the weekend then. The Daily Mail have news of Avram Grant. Rest assured Pompey fans, he won't be coming to the south coast, but instead will head off to Poland. The Daily Mail bring us news of England's potential friendly with Japan ahead of the 2010 World Cup, but far more interesting are the quotes from Sir Alex Ferguson claiming that City are ''cocky''. That ought to add some spice to an already boiling tie. September 17, 2009
The big transfer news on Thursday morning is that Everton are poised to sign Lucas Neill on a free transfer. The Australian once turned his back on a move to Liverpool but appears he will be making the move to Merseyside imminently and could undergo a medical in the coming hours. The Guardian, which reports he will have to 'settle' for £40,000-per week, claims Neill could even make his debut against his former club Blackburn on Sunday. Everton have moved for the free agent after losing captain Phil Neville to a long-term injury. Peter Kenyon's departure from Chelsea is also prominent in the morning's papers, with Matt Hughes of the Times providing a nice oversight of the chief executive's time at Stamford Bridge, including his string of PR problems. Meanwhile, the Mirror takes the story on by claiming that sporting director Frank Arnesen also fears for his position, particularly with the Gael Kakuta case hanging over his head. Another hugely-popular football administrator, Newcastle's former executive director (football) Dennis Wise, has told the Telegraph that he should not be blamed for the club's relegation last season. Tell that to the Geordie nation. In the Sun, Fabio Capello explains why the England job will be his last in football, presumably because managing Emile Heskey for a few years is enough to test anyone's love of 'The Beautiful Game'. The Sun also reports that the fallout from the latest F1 scandal could impact on QPR as disgraced former Renault boss Flavio Briatore could be kicked out of the club by the Football League. It appears the days of Naomi Campbell visiting Loftus Road are sadly coming to an end. Finally, Patrice Evra has told the Mail that United are determined to prove they are still the kings of Manchester in the weekend's big derby, and that he will join Red Devils fans in booing Carlos Tevez if they target his best mate. With friends like that, who needs enemies? September 16, 2009
The Emmanuel Adebayor saga rumbles in Wednesday's newspapers with Arsene Wenger lambasting Manchester City boss Mark Hughes over his defence of the striker's crazy conduct against Arsenal. Adebayor has been handed a double charge by the FA, one of violent conduct for his challenge on Robin Van Persie, and another count of improper conduct. Wenger told The Sun: "You ask 100 people, 99 will say it is very bad and the hundredth will be Mark Hughes." Wenger contniued his complaints in The Guardian. "In England, you have many cases where the players leave in, although less now than 10 years ago," he said. "You have some challenges 10 years ago where if you did that in the street, you go to jail." The Daily Star report Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez's claims that the Premier League has rushed through the introduction of a quota system for home-grown players too soon. The new rules mean top-flight sides will have to name eight home-grown players in every 25-man league squad from next season. Guess which team is set to suffer the most? Meanwhile, Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner, has launched a charm offensive after the signing of the most lucrative sponsorship deal in the club's history by promising to cut debt levels at Anfield and telling The Times that a new era of stability is under way. Things aren't so sunny over at Portsmouth, according to The Sun. Although new Pompey owner Sulaiman Al Fahim is adamant the Fratton Park club will have money to spend in the January transfer window chief executive Peter Storrie says the club has had no new funds made available. Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez has told the Daily Mirror that he missed England at Euro 2008 - the tournament he won with Spain - last year and that Fabio Capello's men are now among the favourites to win the World Cup in South Africa. "They will be among our biggest rivals along with Brazil, Italy and Germany," he said. In Champions League news the Daily Mail report how veteran midfielder Paul Scholes rolled back the years to give Manchester United a winning start with a 1-0 win at Besiktas in Istanbul. While the Daily Express claim that Nicolas Anelka's stunning finish to get the Blues off to a winning start against Porto proves that Chelsea can still deliver without banned Didier Drogba. September 15, 2009
The circuses surrounding Eduardo and Emmanuel Adebayor continue to dominate the headlines on Fleet Street's former denizens. The Sun picks up John Terry's comments about the rather amazing UEFA u-turn taken on Eduardo's diving ban. "JT: We all know Eduardo dived," it bellows and most would agree. Meanwhile, Manchester United want Adebayor to be banned from the Manchester derby for his stamp on Robin Van Persie, say the Sun. Over at the Mirror Gareth Southgate has stepped into the row over Adebayor's celebration at Eastlands, claiming that if crowds dish out abuse they must take it too, a point agreed with by the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel. "The hypocrites are in the stands" is the headline to an article which documents some of the abuse levelled at Adebayor. Over at the Independent, James Lawton says Adebayor should be banned for longer for claiming his innocence. "Adebayor's apology was lost when he said, "I don't know what I've done to be banned" is the subtext. The Indie also says that the Premier League have announced new rules for club finances which could have meant transfer bans for Liverpool, West Ham and Portsmouth had they been in place last season. Real football now, played by players in teams and everything. The Daily Express reports that Michael Owen's World Cup dreams have been rocked by news he will not get the chance to prove he can be Manchester United's No 1 striker - a statement of the bleeding obvious? September 14, 2009
There is no shifting Emmanuel Adebayor from the back pages on Monday morning as the fallout continues following his behaviour against Arsenal on Saturday. Estimates on the length of a likely ban vary, with the Daily Mirror expecting a four-match suspension as The FA were "appalled" by Adebayor's celebration to goad Arsenal fans, as well as his alleged stamp on former team-mate Robin van Persie. However, the man himself remains adamant that he should not be punished, having apologised for both contentious incidents in The Sun this morning. The Police are far from impressed with his actions though. All the big-name columnists have their say on the talking point of the weekend and the Mirror's Oliver Holt describes Adebayor's 90-yard sprint to the Arsenal fans as his 'Cantona' moment, in reference to the former Manchester United striker's infamous kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace. The top transfer tale from the morning's papers is in the Daily Mirror, with Alan Nixon reporting that Celtic are hoping to sign Robbie Keane from Tottenham in the January transfer window. If he does go, expect him to return to White Hart Lane within a year. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports that Manchester United are continuing to take a keen interest in Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, news that will concern England World Cup hopeful Ben Foster. Apparently, Sir Alex Ferguson's scouts are "regulars" at Schalke's games. At the other end of the league ladder, the Daily Mirror claims that ambitious Notts County are hoping to sign former Manchester City and England defender Michael Ball, as well as Maltese striker Michael Mifsud. September 13, 2009
It's Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor who steals the headlines in Sunday's newspapers. Not for his goal against ex- employers Arsenal, nor for charging the length of the pitch to taunt the travelling Gunners fans but for "a mindless and malicious stamp" on the face of former team-mate Robin Van Persie. The Daily Mail claim that the Togo striker faces a lengthy FA ban after his controversial role in the confrontational and bloody 4-2 win at Eastlands, in which he left stud marks on Van Persie's face after a 72nd-minute challenge. Meanwhile, the Sunday People insists that the 25-year-old "heaped shame on football" with his idiotic goal celebration that sparked a near-riot at Eastlands. Missiles were thrown and a steward was injured as supporters surged towards the pitch. The Sunday People also claim that Man City could be heading for another bitter poaching dispute, with Swansea furious they have snatched whizkid Emyr Huws. The 15-year-old is rated as "the best young Welsh footballer since Ryan Giggs", according to The News of The World report that Manchester United boss sir Alex Ferguson is planning a second attempt at signing Valencia playmaker David Silva in January with a £25million bid. Although Fergie would do a deal which sees the player stay in Spain until the end of the season to avoid paying an inflated fee for him after the World Cup. But according to the Sunday Express Ferguson only has eyes for West Ham United goalkeeper Rob Green. Well, at least former Hammers legend Julian Dicks thinks the United boss might sign him to replace the ageing Edwin van der Sar as Manchester United’s No 1. In international news the Sunday Times reports that England boss Fabio Capello has set himself a minimum target of taking England to next year's World Cup final in South Africa. And the Italian has told the Daily Star on Sunday that non-scoring striker Emile Heskey - with just seven goals from 57 caps - will go to next year's finals to help him do it. September 12, 2009
When Manchester United said the cost of signing Carlos Tevez on a permanent deal was too expensive they weren't kidding. A report in The Times claims that his new employers Manchester City are paying an astonishing £47m to the striker's private "owners" in a move that obliterates the British transfer record. However, Kia Joorabchian, who fronts the company that owned Tevez before his switch to Eastlands, says the figure is not correct. He told The Independent that the reported transfer fee, which would make the Argentina striker the fifth most expensive footballer of all time, was "not true". Arsenal striker Robin Van Persie also seems to have it in for big-spending Manchester City and in The Sun insisted: Money can't buy you a team. "A £40m player feels pressure. They are going to be judged more than some guy who has come from the youth policy and then he thinks in terms of one person and not the team," RVP said. With City set to face the Arsenal on Saturday the pre-match war of words continued in the Daily Mirror as ex-Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor claimed he would not forgive the club's fans for the way they treated him during his time at the Emirates for as long as he lives. Meanwhile, over at Anfield Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina revealed to The Guardian the depth of frustration among the club's players, saying winning the Premier League title was "not a realistic objective" and bemoaning the lack of match-winners in the squad. But amid all this negativity Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp is the voice of positivity and told the Daily Express that his team have turned from the haunted to the hunters - with the Big Four in their sights. September 11, 2009
The big story in Friday's newspapers is Don Fabio's ruthless crackdown on the Wag circus ahead of the World Cup finals next summer. The Sun welcomes the news with the headline 'No Sex Please, We're English' as they soberly reflect on what will be a lack of photos of perma-tanned lovelies spilling out of Souh African bars. Not good news for fans of Cheryl Cole, Vicky Beckham, Abi Clancy and their pals. The Guardian also runs with the same angle, with Capello signalling his lack of enthusiasm for a Baden-Baden-esque drinking and shopping splurge by stating: "It will be one day a week [for players to see Wags], after each game, and that is enough. That's it. We are there to play football, not for a holiday." Meanwhile, Oliver Kay in the Times reflects on how Capello's iron fist has turned England into possible world-beaters. The Mirror's Martin Lipton is not afraid to put his neck on the line and has predicted that David Beckham will go to the World Cup, based on some glowing quotes from Capello yesterday. The Italian has also refused to rule out the possibility of Owen Hargreaves making the flight. George Burley may soon find himself out of work, according to the Daily Record, who report that Scotland will sack their boss next week. Their targets to replace him are believed to include Walter Smith, Gordon Strachan and Craig Levein. The Sun provides the best transfer line of the morning as they link Manchester United with a move for highly-rated CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. Although the headline 'I'd Never Igor Utd' clearly needs a bit of work. September 10, 2009
'Ooh-aah Africa!', 'Bok of the net!', 'We can win it', 'Watch out world', 'World class' and 'Job done' are some of the newspaper headlines from England's successful qualification. A 5-1 drubbing of Croatia has got the papers purring, and the Sun have John Terry telling us all that he ''owed'' it to the national to put to bed the Steve McClaren nightmare. Elsewhere, Scotland came a cropper to Holland and the future of George Burley is up in the air. The Daily Mail think the Scots' boss has ''begged'' the SFA for another chance and to lead the side to the Euros in 2012. Not likely methinks.
With internationals hogging much of the column inches, the Daily Mail have a snippet of news from Arsenal as Cesc Fabregas has apparently cast doubt on his future at the Gunners by telling a Spanish radio station he does not know where he will be playing next season. Sky Sports have also picked up the story, but frame it slightly differently as, despite him saying he doesn't know, he also says he's happy at Arsenal. You be the judge. Middlesbrough are trying to add to their squad - loanees only of course - and Gareth Southgate is reported by the Daily Mirror to be wanting to get Everton's James Vaughan. Bad news for Villa too in the Daily Mail, as Curtis Davies looks set to be out for a while - at least four months - after undergoing surgery to cure his lengthy shoulder problem. Lucky they signed a few centre-backs in the window eh? September 9, 2009
With World Cup qualification only a victory away, it's all about England in Wednesday's newspapers. Fabio Capello's side take on Croatia at Wembley and with opposing manager Slaven Bilic winding up England all week there will be no need for a team talk, according to The Sun. Bilic told SunSport that captain John Terry should look at his own club, Chelsea, before accusing Croatia and Arsenal striker Eduardo of being a diver. And he claimed the Three Lions had lost their "Englishness" suggesting they no longer possessed the fighting spirit which used to make them feared. Capello responded by saying: "Thank you, Mr Bilic. I have no need to motivate my players after this." In The Times Matt Hughes writes that tonight's match at Wembley is Aaron Lennon's big chance to solve England's midfield conundrum. In the absence of Theo Walcott, who scored a hat-trick last time England played Croatia, the Tottenham winger will provide the pacey threat in Capello's team. And with England so close to qualifying for the World Cup, following their Euro 2008 failure, skipper John Terry was happy to dish out some banter to some of the big teams struggling to make it to South Africa 2012. "Speaking to the Portuguese lads [at Chelsea] when we didn't qualify [for Euro 2008], they didn't give a shit that we weren't there," Terry told The Independent. "They really didn't care. Portugal and Argentina are struggling at the moment, like we were, so there might be some really big teams not at the World Cup. We need to make sure we get there. We've had that feeling of not being there." Meanwhile, the debate over Premier League clubs plundering youth academies around the globe rumbles on in the Daily Telegraph. The newspaper claims that Manchester United could be the subject of a Fifa investigation into the transfer of 16-year-old Italian defender Michele Fornasier. The transfer window may be closed but free agents can still join Premier League clubs so the rumour mill continues to churn out stories. The Daily Mail report that former Marseille winger Bolo Zenden rejected the chance to revive his career at Portsmouth after new owner Sulaiman Al Fahim refused to meet his £20,000-a-week wage demands. The 33-year could end up at Hull City. September 8, 2009
David Beckham is the central figure for much of the back pages of England's finest newspapers. His desire to feature in next year's World Cup and become the first Englishman to play in four tournaments sees him being forced to seek a European club to play for from January onwards. Thus begins the speculation. Though the Daily Mirror's punt that AC Milan are favourites to sign him is hardly the most outlandish of claims. Most follow the Sun's line that Beckham fears Fabio Capello could axe him from England's squad for the World Cup finals but the Daily Mail works on the hint that DB23 could be coming back to the Premier League, a story that is bound to have legs over the coming weeks. England's Wednesday clash with Croatia is the other show in town, and the Daily Mirror picks up on Croatia boss Slaven Bilic has ordering his players to target England's "wild man" Wayne Rooney as does the Daily Express. But still dominating column inches is the fall-out from Chelsea's transfer ban. Frank Lampard's rather anoydyne press conference with press reporting on the England game drew up one interesting line. The Guardian: "Frank Lampard has launched an impassioned defence of the much-maligned Chelsea academy and said FIFA's decision to ban the club from making signings until 2011 over the Gael Kakuta affair "can be used as a positive"." Most organs report that Manchester United have sent a "put up or shut up" warning to Le Havre over the Paul Pogba "poaching" affair. And now, crosstown rivals City are the latest to be called out. The Independent says French club Rennes have declared that City's signing of the prodigious young defender Jeremy Helan had been unlawful and presented a more clear-cut case for reprisals from FIFA than Chelsea's move for Gael Kakuta. There are other people accused in the farrago. "Get out of Africa" proclaims the Daily Mail. Say they: "Ian Wright and six Premier League stars are involved in an academy that has been accused of "raping" South Africa of its talent by the country's most senior football official." On the subject of youth football, another worrying story is carried in the Daily Mirror who say Premier League academy matches are the target for Far East betting syndicates - trying to make fortunes out of inside information.
September 7, 2009
The Sun reports claims from Le Havre over Manchester United's signing of Paul Pogba from their Academy this summer. Le Havre president Jean-Pierre Louvel says United gave his parents £180,000, a house and promised Pogba he would earn £16,500-a-week once 17. Nice work if you can get it. Chelsea of course have been banned from signing any players until 2011. Now the Daily Mirror reports that the Blues will look to arrange an appeal quickly, though it seems they may struggle to be successful with that. The Daily Star thinks the transfer ban could lead to Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero moving to a different club. Across Manchester, and Robinho is confident of success this term. "We can be like that this season and have what it takes to go for the title," he told The Sun. ""The more I think about it, the more I think this year must be our year." And at Barcelona, the Daily Mail says Lionel Messi is about to get a new contract on an amazing £230,000-a-week. Slaven Bilic is steadily building up a war of words as Wednesday's England-Croatia clash looms, this time turning his attention to John Terry. It's an EXCLUSIVE in the The Sun, with the paper carrying quotes from the coach criticising the England skipper for having a pop at Eduardo over his dive. Bilic said: "If we're talking about 100% fair play it's also not fair play from Terry to say something like that before the game if he wants to put pressure on the referee." Meanwhile, in the Independent, Bilic claims England are now easier to play against. We'll remind him of that 4-1 scoreline later. "They are a very different team," the Croatia coach said. "They have some advantages but they are also missing something from their game. They are missing some Englishness, some of the things that have always made England teams difficult to defend against and play against." Still with England, and Emile Heskey has surprising said he won't complain should Fabio Capello choose to play Jermain Defoe, a striker that can actually score, against the Croats. He said in The Sun: "I couldn't complain if he was picked ahead of me against Croatia. He's already scored seven times for Spurs and England this season. You can't argue with those statistics." The Times thinks Heskey will keep his place. However, Capello has not ruled out a recall for Michael Owen ahead of the World Cup. He said in the Daily Star: "He has intelligent movement without the ball but he has not played a lot of games. He has to play - he has to integrate at United.” Portsmouth are saved! Yes, because they are set to boost their striking ranks with the signing of Henri Camara on a free transfer. That's in the Daily Mirror. The Independent claims that Saudi property investor Ali al-Faraj is set to make a bid for West Ham. Still with the Independent, with the paper carrying an interview with Football Association chairman Lord Triesman. He wants the FA to take charge of the "fit and proper persons test" from the Premier League, among other things. And finally, we're in shock over another transfer story. The Daily Mail thinks that free agent Lucas Neill is in line to sign for.... Atletico Madrid! September 6, 2009
A raft of World Cup qualifiers and an England friendly in which Jermain Defoe receives most of the acclaim has not stopped the Gael Kakuta affair continuing to dominate proceedings in the Sunday press. Chelsea's transfer ban has stopped them in their aim of signing Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery say the News of the World. The Blues were the Daily Star prepared to pay £40m and it seems he is now more likely to join Real Madrid. say that Sergio Aguero is another target to fall by the wayside as a result of FIFA's punishment. The Sunday Mirror has the inside line on how the Kakuta affair came to light, saying that it was a member of the young Frenchman who provided the key evidence that resulted in Lens winning their case. Former Chelsea player Arjen Robben, once of Real Madrid and now playing alongside Ribery at Bayern Munich has stated to the Sunday Mirror that the Blues' current stars will be exiting Stamford Bridge in their droves. There are still some loose ends to tie up for Chelsea, according to the NOTW, who say that Manchester City are set to demand £10m in compensation for Daniel Sturridge, the youngster who defected to the Londoners after failing to agree a new Eastlands deal. A tribunal is due to arrange the transfer fee for a player under 24, them being the rules. City, meanwhile, are linked with some genuine transfer rumours - if there is such a thing - Barcelona want Robinho, say the Mirror and News of the World. The Mirror say City have asked to swap their Brazilian for Lionel Messi. Less silly is the idea in the Screws that Thierry Henry may be part of the deal. Sillier still: Roberto Carlos is the latest man to be linked with a move to join Sven Goran Eriksson at Notts County, say the News of the World. Takeover news now. Ali al-Faraj, the Saudi property investor who recently failed in his attempts to buy Portsmouth, is believed to be considering a bid for West Ham United, say the Sunday Independent. And in the NOTW there is a suggestion that Karen Brady, now signed up to do BBC TV's The Apprentice, will quit Birmingham when Carson Yeung completes his takeover of Blues. September 5, 2009
There may be a whole tranche of World Cup matches being played this weekend and next week but there is still only one show in town as far as Her Majesty's Press are concerned. Gael Kakuta-gate and related stories there besides dominate. The Guardian suggests that Chelsea face a second legal threat over allegations of poaching young players, this time concerning the move of an 11-year-old to Stamford Bridge.Amateur French club ASPTT Marseille are to seek advice over the legality of Jérémy Boga's move to Stamford Bridge. The Daily Mail consults a former Chelsea chairman and now sworn enemy of the Abramovich regime. Chairman Ken gives it the full gun on the big boys of the Premier League, accusing them of "destroying the careers" of young players and trading them like "horsemeat". The Daily Star suggests that Chelsea have been warned they could have their worldwide transfer ban increased if they lose their appeal.This one is going to run. And run. And run. Chelsea are not the only club feeling the burn. Le Havre president Jean-Pierre Louvel said he wants Manchester United hit with a Chelsea-style punishment over the Paul Pogba transfer, say the Express. The Independent has uncovered the fact that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger stepped away from signing the teenage prodigy who was picked up from the French side Le Havre by Manchester United and whose case leaves the Premier League champions under the threat of a transfer ban The Mirror says FIFA's ban for Chelsea is the tip of the iceberg and that United are under investigation. FIFA have already begun an investigation into Serie A outfit Fiorentina’s complaint that United robbed them of Italy under-16 skipper Michele Fornasier. Believe it or not, there is a match or two being played later and England are in action. John Terry may only have answered one question on the big story de nos jours but got involved on the other issue - diving. Say the Telegraph: It laid him open to charges of xenophobia but John Terry claimed yesterday that the influx of foreign players into the Premier League had created an atmosphere in the game in which diving has become more prevalent. The Times meanwhile, says Terry's concerned that the essential honesty of England's players could count against them at the World Cup finals next year. What of Fabio Capello. Widespread relief that the England coach will not be quitting after the World Cup. Tabloid twins Sun and Star celebrate that. The Sun meanwhile, well connected with the player in particular, say Manchester United are heading for a Ronaldo-style battle to hang on to Rio Ferdinand. Another one that may continue to develop or Rio looking for a new deal? September 4, 2009
Unsurprisingly, all the talk in the papers this morning is about Chelsea and their transfer ban which is due to run until January 2011. The Sun talks of the club being dubbed as thieves, and also warns that Manchester United could be in the dock over their signing of Le Havre prodigy Paul Pogba. The Daily Telegraph backs Sepp Blatter's campaign to defend youth development systems. Meanwhile, The Times reports that Chelsea feel the punishment could be part of a wide-ranging assault on the power of English clubs and the same paper underlines how it is all about protecting young players, led by UEFA's Michel Platini. The Independent breaks down the deal. Also in The Sun, and the paper claims that the storm over Gael Kakuta has led to a massive internal war at Stamford Bridge. Apparently Frank Arnesen, the man behind the transfer, is at the centre of the troubles after saying at the time: "I've just signed the best young kid in France." All is not well between him and Peter Kenyon. The Guardian claims that Arnesen has never been asked questions about his alleged links to Nahan Porritt, a Middlesbrough academy player, in 2006. As Chelsea cannot sign players, it seems unlikely they will be doing any selling. And that means, according to The Sun, one of the first jobs is to give a new contract to Joe Cole who will be able to leave for free next summer. Liverpool fans may have to halt their sniggers, though, as The Sun claims there is absolutely no chance of the new Stanley Park Stadium being built until the global recession is over. They cannot get £490m in finance for the 60,000 capacity stadium. Reds' managing director Christian Purslow said: "Construction will begin when the global financial markets re-establish their equilibrium." Auuuw. Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has told the Daily Mirror that the club must take more risks if they are to finally win the title again. The Guardian reports on how Manchester United are trying to stamp out vile chants aimed at Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. Some transfer talk now, and the Daily Mirror claims that Ruud van Nistelrooy turned down the chance to sign for Tottenham as he did not want to sign for a "lesser team". And the Daily Mirror also reports that Carlos Costly, on loan at Birmingham last season, has chosen to join Sunderland ahead of Wigan in January. September 3, 2009
We start Thursday's round up of the UK newspapers with some more bad news for long-suffering West Ham United fans. It seems that the finances of the East London club could be in a particularly perilous state after the shocking extent of the Hammers' financial crisis during the Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson era were laid bare in The Guardian. The documents reveal a business strategy that, in the opinion of the club's finance director, Nick Igoe, was "fundamentally flawed" and the accounts set out a loss of more than £37.4m for the year ending 2008, which was covered by an injection of £30.5m of cash from the holding company of the former owner, Gudmundsson. Now that the club's parent company, CB Holding, is effectively a subsidiary of Iceland's now defunct bank Straumur, even a marginal loss this year could result in a return to the 2008 crisis. Oh, and the club still owe £21m to Sheffield United after the Carlos Tevez inquiry. Sticking with the financial theme, the Daily Mail have published an excerpt from Matthew Le Tissier's autobiography, Taking Le Tiss, in which the former Southampton star reveals he played a central role in an attempted betting scam 14 years ago - only to fail miserably when his trusty right foot let him down. The former Southampton and England midfielder colluded with friends who placed a spread bet on the time of the first throw-in during a game against Wimbledon in 1995. Along with a team-mate, he devised a plan to send the ball into touch from the kick-off and beat the bookies who were predicting it would take nearly a minute for it to go out. In an equally shocking player-related revelation the Daily Mirror report that Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner snubbed Barcelona, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich before signing a new five-year contract at Arsenal. The 21-year-old apparently had interest from all three European superpowers this summer while he negotiated a new £50,000-a-week deal with the Gunners. The Sun lead on Ryan Babel's claim that he is frustrated at Liverpool and that manager Rafa Benitez failed to deliver on promises made to the Dutch striker. The headline of "Benitez lied to me!" says it all really. With a weekend of international football looming the newspapers also focus on England and in particular Jermaine Defoe. The Independent report that the pint-sized striker's fine form for Tottenham has convinced England boss Fabio Capello to play him alongside Wayne Rooney for the Slovenia match in a switch from his usual starting line-up. The Daily Star feature an interview with the 26-yera-old in which Defoe says he is fed up with people asking about Michael Owen every time he is selected in an England squad. "I just want to get away from the comparison and him getting mentioned because I am doing well and deserve my place," Defoe said. "If I'm honest, I would like to get away with the questions about Michael when I get selected." September 2, 2009
The closing of the transfer window has produced a collective sigh from Fleet Street's finest. A lack of any big deals, and especially by the big four, has led to some questioning of the reasons behind this collective tightening of belts. It took a while but someone has finally asked why Manchester United have decided to spend just a fraction of the £80m they got for Cristiano Ronaldo. It's The Sun's Neil Custis who takes this step who calls Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson "Cheapskates". For United fans, Custis hits them with this chill line: "The fear is that if United slip from their lofty perch or Ferguson finally retires, will there be any money available to get them back to the top?" Bemusement at the Daily Telegraph who report on a day of never weres. "David Bentley stayed at Tottenham Hotspur; Anton Ferdinand stayed at Sunderland; David James stayed at Portsmouth. It was a transfer deadline day of what nearly happened in the Premier League," says Jason Burt. David Bentley's plight - he looks stuck at Tottenham - is lamented at The Independent. "There is a cruel joke doing the rounds at Tottenham Hotspur that David Bentley has been doing more DJ-ing in the last six months than he has played football," says Sam Wallace. The goings-on at Portsmouth, who brought in a raft of players who could hardly be called star names, are highlighted by The Times. "Frantic Portsmouth bring in 13 new faces," says Russell Kempson. Away from transfers the other show in town is the continuing farrago over Eduardo's two-match ban for diving. Most papers suggest Arsenal will appeal the ban, including The Times and The Guardian. According to David Hytner: "Arsenal's fury at the two-game Champions League suspension handed down to Eduardo da Silva for diving has been deepened by confirmation from Uefa sources that any player who commits the same offence and is seen by the referee will escape with no greater punishment than a booking." More to come on that, one feels. To finish, we go back in time to see that Nicolas Anelka is unhappy. It seems he actually doesn't want to leave a club this time but that Chelsea have not exactly been forthcoming when it comes to offering him a new deal. The Daily Star suggest that Anelka is not happy one bit about this. September 1, 2009
It's the last day of the transfer window and, while you can keep totally up to date with the news in our live transfer blog and our LIVE chat and gossip coverage; the papers have a few ideas about who will be moving where before the end of the day. The Sun claim that Niko Krancjar will swap Portsmouth for Tottenham to join up with other Croatian talent Luka Modric and Vedran Corluka. It was only a matter of time before Pompey lost all their star players, but Spurs have been recruiting well. The club are also in for David James, but the Daily Mail reckon that the south coast club have rejected a bid, despite Carlo Cudicini being included in the deal. Can 'Arry sign any more of his former players before the window shuts? The Mail also seem to think Redknapp is keen to get rid of David Bentley, with a possible swap deal for Man City's Martin Petrov being mooted. The Daily Star have James Collins ready to seal his £5m move to Aston Villa, while £6m Man City target Richard Dunne should also arrive after he completes a medical later today. Manchester United supporters hoping that Sir Alex Ferguson might make a last-minute venture into the transfer market are likely to be disappointed, as the Times claim that Fergie is not going to sign anyone else. Find out who is moving where, as it happens, with Tom Adams throughout the day. August 31, 2009
Considering we're so close to the end of the transfer window there speculation in the press isn't exactly exciting. We start off with Spurs, and stories that they will move to sign the last two decent players on Portsmouth's books. However, the Daily Mirror says signing David James may not be that simple, as there is also interest from Sunderland and Stoke City. The Daily Mail expects Spurs to bid for Niko Krancjar as well, with a combined fee of £8m suggested. While two may be going out, the Daily Mail reckons that Paul Hart will complete a deal for Aston Villa left-back Nicky Shorey while Man City's Tal Ben Haim is also a target. Could Aston Villa strengthen by tomorrow? The Daily Mail claims Martin O'Neill will move for either Matthew Upson or James Collins from West Ham. Arsenal have been linked with Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh all summer, though it did look as though West Ham had struck a deal to sign the player. But the Daily Mirror now thinks Arsene Wenger will make one last attempt to sign him, and Patrick Vieira as well. We were all shocked yesterday to learn that John Terry is set for a bumper new contract. Who'd have thought it? The Sun reports he will become the highest paid player in the country and pocket a cool £8million-a-year. Nice work. Everton are very much in need of new faces if they are to have success this season, with defenders top of the wanted list. The Daily Mirror, though, thinks their move for Holland right-back Johnny Heitinga is in trouble, because the Atletico Madrid player wants too much cash. And Everton could move for a player dubbed the best goalkeeper in the Championship. Despite The Sun's report, we don't see how sitting on the bench would aid the career of Coventry's Keiren Westwood. The Sun also reports that Moyes is ready to wield the axe following Everton's suspect start to the campaign. Martin Petrov has found himself squeezed out at Manchester City amidst all the new star names. And the Daily Star believes that Stoke City are ready to offer him first team football, through Tottenham could also make a move. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has declared his interest in managing Great Britain (or England) at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. We think it would be a great move. Check out the Daily Mirror. The Football Association looks set to clamp down on players who goad opposition supporters after scoring a goal, following Junior Stanislas' dubious antics against Millwall last week and some repeat performances at the weekend. Check out The Sun. Bolton have been woefully short of goals this season, and to rectify this the Daily Mail claims boss Gary Megson will look to sign Nantes’ Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic on a season-long loan deal. However, they face competition from Sunderland. The Daily Mail reports that Wolves are closing in on Rapid Vienna’s Austria striker Stefan Maierhofer after tabling a £2m bid. Still with Wolves, and The Sun thinks they are battling with West Ham for giant Valencia striker Nikola Zigic. Hull City, meanwhile, are on the brink of signing Benjani from Manchester City, according to the Daily Mail. But Hull look set to lose star defender Michael Turner to Sunderland, which would be a huge blow. In a strange twist it seems Sunderland will offer Frazier Campbell, who they only signed last month, in a part exchange worth £9m. Check out the Daily Star. The Sun reports that Blackburn have turned down a bid from Olympiakos for midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen. And finally... The Sun reports that Barnsley have made Tony Adams their number one choice as their new manager. Oh dear,,, August 30, 2009
The Sunday papers have all led with the same story this weekend. Arsene Wenger ''kicking the bottle'', ''losing it'' and even attempting to re-enact a scene from Fawlty Towers after being sent off against Manchester United. The Sunday Mirror have the Frenchman most ''frustrated'' about the Gunners' defeat, especially as it involved a penalty where the goalkeeper brought down a striker [we wondered why the TV cameras kept showing Eduardo sat on the bench]. The same paper think that Wenger is set to make one final attempt to sign Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh; but the News of the World think he'll go for a 15-year-old who has been likened to Lionel Messi instead. That ought to give them the edge over United next year... United, meanwhile, appear to be done in terms of transfer business but that hasn't stopped various tabloids splashing stories about them. The Sunday Mirror seems to think City star midfielder (who has been with the club since age 14) would somehow want to swap Eastlands for Old Trafford. He's far too busy running up and down hills and learning to channel his negative energy through martial arts for any thoughts about a transfer, say the Mail on Sunday. Much more likely is Portsmouth's capture of out-of-favour duo Michael Johnson, from City, and Nicky Shorey, from Villa. The People have this nugget and reckon that the pair could arrive on loan as the south coast club struggle for cash. They will also probably sign Manchester City's Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim as replacement for Sylvain Distin, who has joined Everton. The News of the World also claim that Pompey will cash in on David James. Not content with Carlo Cudicini, apparently 'Arry Redknapp wants to rebuild his entire FA Cup winning side and bring in the ageing 'keeper too. The Sunday Express know that Richard Dunne is on his way to Villa, but they claim that it was only because City paid out a £6m fee to the defender (to cover the cost of the testimonial that he would have had) that the deal went through. Quite a gesture if true. Another gesture comes from Chelsea as they have apparently given captain John Terry a new deal worth £40m, with the England man picking up £160,000 a week. That's in the NOTW. Meanwhile, while there are stories that an American consortium is closing in on a deal to buy Newcastle United and they are set to restore Geordie legend Alan Shearer to the manager's office, Jose Enrique reckons that the club are ''crazy'' and not even Jose Mourinho (who loves a challenge) would want to come and manage them. August 29, 2009
You would have thought that the arrival of your former manager would help you in your search for first-team football. But evidently Andrei Shevchenko has fallen off the radar so much that even Carlo Ancelotti can't see him. The Chelsea striker hasn't exactly hit the heights since he joined the club for £30m as one of the world's best strikers. And the Times claim that his former club Dynamo Kiev are pretty much the only ones interested in taking him out of Stamford Bridge. How the mighty have fallen. David Bentley wasn't exactly mighty, but he did have a pretty good spell while at Blackburn before his move to Tottenham ruined his career. The Daily Mirror reckon that Everton could tie up a loan deal for the troubled midfielder, although he will have to get the bus to Goodison himself if he wants to seal the deal. The Toffees are also in the market for a new defender and the same paper claims David Moyes has landed Dutch international Johnny Heitinga from Atletico Madrid in a £5.7m swoop. The Daily Mail, however, have some bad news for Everton, as their bid for Valencia midfielder Ever Banega has hit a hitch because his club cannot find a replacement. Celtic look like a team on the ropes after their Champions League exit meant they'll probably have to sell some players to come up with some cash and Wigan could take advantage by bidding for Scott McDonald, say the Daily Record. The problem? His agent wants him to go on loan first so that if he does well, his value will go ''through the roof''. Not exactly great financial planning. Arsene Wenger is splashed across a few pages in the tabloids with his comments about a ''witch-hunt'' for his diving striker Eduardo. The Sun have the story of the Arsenal boss raging: "It is a witch hunt. What else is it? If you take all the games in Europe every week I will give you 10 cases where UEFA can charge a player.'' No doubt there's a broomstick involved somewhere too. And finally we all know Ledley King is a bit of a mess (and we're not talking about when he's trying to get into a club). But his knees are so bad, say the Daily Mail, that he can only cycle and do 20 minutes of training before a game. Might want to give up the old football game and try your hand at the Tour de France, Led. August 28, 2009
There was a frenzied afternoon of transfer activity on Thursday afternoon and the transfer theme continues in Friday morning's newspapers. Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp's penchant for signing former players is set to continue as he plots to land Sulley Muntari from Inter Milan, according to The Sun. The Ghana international used to play under 'Arry at Portsmouth and Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas will be used as bait the land his former player. Redknapp might also be able to raise some funds by flogging Jamie O'Hara to Birmingham City. The Daily Mail claim that manager Alex McLeish is tracking the Spurs midfielder as an alternative should their £2.5m move for Sporting Gijon's Michel fall through. The Times report that Everton boss David Moyes is eager to spend the £22m he received from the sale of Joleon Lescott on Atlético Madrid's Dutch right-back Johnny Heitinga and Celtic's Scotland midfielder Scott Brown. The Guardian claim that Carlo Ancelotti is considering a move for the £4m-rated Feyenoord playmaker Jonathan de Guzman, on the recommendation of Chelsea's sporting director, Frank Arnesen. Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is hunting Kosice's £2m-rated Slovakian striker Jan Novak as injury has robbed him of the services of Andy Johnson, according to The Mirror. And finally... the Daily Star report that Alan Shearer wants Cardiff City's £6m-rated striker Michael Chopra to mark his return as Newcastle United boss - should Barry Moat's takeover at St James's Park go through. August 27, 2009
Football's condemnation of the violent clashes that marred West Ham United's Carling Cup clash with Millwall continues in Thursday's newspapers with some of the Hammers' former managers and players speaking out. Harry Redknapp used his column in The Sun to explain how the trouble made him feel sick to the very pit of his stomach and insisted that West Ham and Millwall must never meet again in cup competitions. Daily Mail columnist Jeff Powell called for the authorities to "cage these ugly beasts! Then throw away the kid gloves or the animals will savage and destroy our game." Meanwhile, West Ham striker Carlton Cole has told the Daily Telegraph of the despicable monkey chants that added a new level of nastiness to the mayhem at Upton Park on Tuesday night. On the pitch, Celtic star Massimo Donati has urged UEFA to ban Arsenal striker Eduardo after he appeared to dive to win a controversial penalty in Arsenal's 3-1 Champions League play-off win at the Emirates. "If it is clear on television then UEFA must act against Eduardo and ban him. I think he should get a two-match suspension," Donati told the Daily Mail. In transfer news the Daily Mirror report that Tottenham Hotspur's unhappy striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is heading back to Spartak Moscow in a £10m deal - which is £3.8m less than Spurs paid for the Russian striker last summer. The Times claim that Andriy Shevchenko’s future at Chelsea appears to be over after the Ukraine striker was told he won't be named in the club's squad for the group stage of the Champions League. Dynamo Kiev and Zenit St Petersburg would both like to take him on loan. David Moyes is closing in on signing Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin to replace £22m Joleon Lescott, according to the Daily Express. Lescott Joined Manchester City on Wednesday. August 26, 2009
Those scenes of insurrection at West Ham's Carling Cup defeat of Millwall understandably dominate the UK press on this Wednesday morning. And they've made the front pages too. "Bloody disgrace" roars The Sun before going off with old favourite "Scum". "All hell's broken loose" proclaims the Daily Mail. "West Ham set for massive punishment" predicts the Daily Mirror. "Upton Park rampage sees fan stabbed" reports the Daily Express, marking the saddest incident of a ludicrous night down at Upton Park. The ramifications are sure to follow for some time yet though with plenty of arrests to be made reporting restrictions may soon apply. All of the above publications feature pictures of a bunch of drunken idiots "larging it", as the modern-day vernacular seems to have it. Right, on to the football. Plenty of speculation surrounding Roman Pavlyuchenko, who, the Mail says, has derailed Spurs' flying start to the season by demanding a transfer. Not that's he actually played much and it has seemed that Harry Redknapp has had his eye on flogging him but it's one way of looking at it. Harry, meanwhile, has stirred the pot with his take on Sol Campbell's move to Notts County, for which the England defender is getting paid £10m over five years says the Times. Redknapp, in the Mirror, says that fan power stopped him bringing Sol, who he worked with at Portsmouth, back to Spurs. The completion of the Joleon Lescott deal is a relief to us all and speculation around Everton's next targets is rife. The Guardian says Sylvain Distin is wanted by David Moyes, who also signed Diniyar Bilyaletdinov on Tuesday and hailed him as the Russian Kevin Sheedy. For those of you who don't know, that's a left-sided player with a gift for a pass and a hard shot. And the Daily Star takes a flier on Manchester United signing Arjen Robben from Real Madrid for £20m which seems somewhat unlikely. August 25, 2009
So Liverpool lost twice during the whole of 2008-09. Now they've lost twice in three games and Rafael Benitez has had a few choice words to say to his top, under-performing, players. 'Naff Raff' as the Sun have labelled him, hit out at the mistakes by his players, saying ''Lucas scored an own goal but Gerrard gave away a penalty - and each player will have to analyse a lot of things.'' Although we're a little worried as he appears to view Lucas as a 'star'. With Liverpool slipping down the table, Manchester United might hope that nobody noticed their recent defeat to Burnley - especially after hammering Wigan. But there's bad news, as the Daily Mirror say that Anderson has been told he can quit Old Trafford after a furious bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson. Could we be set for another Tevez saga? Thankfully, Nemanja Vidic has played down speculation he will move to Barcelona after some tricky quotes from his agent last week. The Sun have more uplifting news for Fergie, as he said: "I've never said anything about Barcelona, or Real Madrid or AC Milan - or any club.'' A lesson learned there. Arsene Wenger is quietly going about his business, and has no defeats to get in the way just yet. The Daily Mail reckon he's after another midfielder - at a cut price fee of course - and will sign Saint-Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi, with Cesc Fabregas facing three weeks out after aggravating a hamstring injury. Chelsea's Frank Arsenen is on the scout for new players, but instead of picking out the next 15-year-old gem - like he's supposed to be doing - he's on the trail of Benfica trio Angel Di Maria, David Luiz and Fabio Coentrao. The Sun have this news, but does anyone feel like Frank just decided to turn up to one Portuguese league match, then presented his findings? The Daily Star reckon Everton are fuming at yet more delays for Joleon Lescott's move to Man City. An 11th hour hitch won't help relations between the two clubs after it took them all summer to come up with the £24m the Toffees wanted, leaving them in the lurch before the transfer window closes next week. Meanwhile, the Guardian report that West Ham have been rocked by another tragedy - following the stabbing of Calum Davenport - as midfielder Jack Collison's father has been killed in a motorcycle accident, while he was on his way to watch the weekend's game. August 24, 2009
Football takes a back seat in today's papers as the whole of England goes barmy about their Ashes win over Australia. Head over to our friends at Cricinfo for news of that, while we round up what news there is from the world of football. We all remember that Tottenham had only two points when Harry Redknapp took over. Well, now they're doing quite nicely thanks very much and the Sun bring us the news that Jermain Defoe is leading the side to their best start in 49 years. Something else for 'Arry to 'arp on about. Transfer news is not dead yet and, with Joleon Lescott's move to Manchester City, Everton will be kicked into overdrive. The Daily Mail reckon Lescott isn't even out of the club yet, but David Moyes has already lined up a £10m splash on Lokomotiv Moscow's Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. The Daily Express think that Lescott will have to ''fight for his place'' at City though. Even if we're pretty sure Richard Dunne might just step down to accomodate him. City may also tie up a move for Brazilian full-back Silvinho on a free transfer, after the ex-Arsenal star was released by treble winners Barcelona at the end of the season. Portsmouth could use a few players and Aruna Dindane could yet arrive in a £4m deal, after an unusual deal in which the Premier League agreed to cover the fee with Pompey's television cash if the club fails to pay Lens on time. The Sun also has boss Paul Hart saying that a mystery consortium fronted by chief executive Peter Storrie should be in power soon. So that'll solve all their problems. Meanwhile, the Sun bring us news that Wigan's Hugo Rodallega is still furious at Nemanja Vidic for his face-flick at the weekend. We've heard rumours the United defender is considering hiring ref Howard Webb full-time as a personal bodyguard. August 23, 2009
The Joleon Lescott saga appears to be drawing to a cloase... or so we thought. The Sunday Mirror today claims that Everton are to report Mark Hughes' club to the FA for making an illegal approach to the central defender - and will demand points are docked. The paper reports that Everton have complied a dossier to present to the powers that be. An amazing story in the News of the World, which claims Chelsea were involved in a huge punch up during a friendly game at their training ground. The game was "abandoned after just 35 minutes amid amazing scenes. Players, coaches and officials from Chelsea's reserve team and United Arab Emirates side Al Alhi traded blows for five minutes." Seriously, read this story - it's a classic! Plenty of rumours about the future of Cesc Fabregas this summer, but now the News of the World has an EXCLUSIVE that the Gunners are to open contract talks to tie their skipper to the club. Arsene Wenger may be happy with his squad, but Andrei Arshavin thinks the club still need to strengthen to be true challengers. There's an interview in the Sunday Times. One Arsenal target, Brede Hangeland, could now be staying at Fulham. He says in the News of the World that he does not plan to leave Craven Cottage during this window. The News of the World says that Wayne Rooney will be offered a staggering contract to make him one of the best paid players in the league. Harry Redknapp has certainly splashed the cash in the past seven months, and now the Sunday Mirror claims he will spend more by plucking Joe Cole from Chelsea. Will the former Hammers be reunited? The People disagrees, reporting a new contract for the player. The News of the World links Spurs with Celtic stars Aiden McGeady and Scott Brown. And if they are coming in, then the News of the World thinks that Jermaine Jenas could be on his way out. It is claimed that Martin O'Neill wants to take him Aston Villa for £12m. But it's different at Chelsea, with Carlo Ancelotti telling the Mail on Sunday that there will be no more new faces at the Bridge. The People disagrees, claiming the Blues will spend £42m on Sergio Aguero. There were rumours last week, again, that Rafael Benitez was about to walk out of Liverpool as he struggled to get funds for transfers. Now Rafa has again denied it, telling the Sunday Mirror: "I can tell everyone that my commitment to the club is still there." Disappointing news from Upton Park surrounding one-time England international Dean Ashton. The Sunday Mirror reveals that Dean Ashton is set to announce his retirement from the game, aged just 26, due to a degenerative ankle problem. Could Nicky Butt be heading back to the Premier League? The News of the World says that Burnley are interested. The fire sale looks set to continue at Portsmouth, with now their only remaining good player on the market. Pompey are ready to take £8m from anyone will to pay, says the Sunday Mirror. The Mail on Sunday claims that Pompey are now having to restructure debts to players and agents. But Portsmouth could be set to had a contract to Henri Camara, says the News of the World. The News of the World tips Hull City to splash out £4m on Leicester City's Matty Fryatt. August 22, 2009
Just another nine days to go before the transfer market shuts, and maybe it will take that long to get an end to the Joleon Lescott transfer saga. The Daily Mail today reports that Everton and Manchester City have finally agreed a £22m deal. We can't see it being that simple... Mark Hughes also reveals in The Sun that he does not care about the club's critics. In other Everton news, the Daily Mail says they will sign Spartak Moscow winger Vladimir Bystrov. Arsene Wenger is never one to have a good moan, is he? Now the Daily Mail reports he is blaming Fabio Capello for Theo Walcott's back injury which will keep him out for a few weeks. Why? Because he played at the Under-21 Euros two months ago. Hmm... Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos is now being linked with Fulham. That's in the Daily Express. Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has gone on a startling tirade just two games into the season, slamming an early season fixture pile-up. Seriously... read it in the Daily Express. Have you heard of Dave Whelan? Probably not because the Wigan chairman is never in the press... Now Whelan is bleating on about how he should have bought Manchester United in 1989, so OT could be DW. It's in the Daily Mail. We were even more entertained by Whelan's claim that new boss Roberto Martinez (played two, won one, lost one) could one day manage Europe's biggest clubs such as Real Madrid or Barcelona. It's in the Daily Mirror. The Daily Mail also reveals a story which claims Wayne Rooney will have to wait for his chance to wear the captain's armband at Man United. Sir Alex is quoted. And words of wisdom from Dimitar Berbatov in The Sun, with the striker declaring that Wayne Rooney was always a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo. We're not convinced. The remarkable story of Sol Campbell signing for Notts County gathers pace after the former England international turned up at Meadow Lane on Friday. It's on! Campbell is snapped in The Sun. Ryan Babel is something of an enigma at Liverpool. So superb for Holland yet rubbish at Anfield. And now, the Daily Mail carries quotes from Rafael Benitez which suggest time is running out for the forward player to impress. Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has declared to the Daily Mirror that Arsenal have what it takes to win the league. Could Andriy Shevchenko have a future with Chelsea. We struggle to see it, but the Daily Mirror quotes Carlo Ancelotti as saying he could turn his nightmare around. Hull chairman Paul Duffen has hit back after the Tigers were accused of being a joke club. Alvaro Negredo chose Sevilla over Hull this week (who can blame him) adding to the catalogue of player snubs this summer. Duffen says it was Real who pulled the plug on Negredo as he goes on the defensive in The Sun. Another funny story in the Daily Mail, as they claim that Portsmouth a) have money to spend and b) another player actually wants to sign for the troubled club. They reckon Pompey will prepare for relegation by splashing £1.8m on Championship fodder Tommy Smith of Watford. The Daily Mail says that West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola will be hoping to add two new faces to his squad in the next week. Livorno's Alessandro Diamanti and fellow striker Marouane Chamakh of Bordeaux are expected to boost the ranks. The Daily Mirror again links Blackburn's Stephen Warnock with a move to Aston Villa. The Daily Express claims that Villa will have a £20m kitty to spend before the window shuts. The Daily Mail reports that Wolves are close to signing Amdy Faye from Stoke City. And The Sun says that Carson Yeung will have to borrow £57m if he is to buy Birmingham City. Buying clubs with debt? In this climate? Hmm. August 21, 2009
With the Ashes series reaching its climax - the best coverage on Cricinfo of course - and Usain Bolt smashing every record in sight, the football is taking something of a backseat in the English press. After all, it was the Europa League on Thursday....joking apart, what nuggets can we find? Well, he hinted at it the other day but Harry Redknapp is moving in on David James. So say the Daily Mirror to no-one's particular surprise. £2m is the fee linked and Heurelho Gomes has what looks like a serious injury. Serial charmer Ashley Cole has signed a new deal at Chelsea, say The Sun to make him the world's best-paid full-back. It seems there was no near-crashing of his car or accusations of his club "taking the p***" in the negotiations. Much coverage given to Frank Lampard's comments, given at a charity event at Wembley, that Manchester United could only replace Cristiano Ronaldo with Lionel Messi. That's given its fullest and most balanced account in The Guardian. Everton appear to be preparing for life after Joleon Lescott with the Daily Mirror reporting that the Toffees have made a 'late move' for Sylvain Distin. Aston Villa are also keen though and have failed with a bid of £3m. After missing out on Alvaro Negredo, scorer of 19 goals in La Liga last season, Hull boss Phil Brown has turned his attention to David Nugent, scorer of only three goals in 31 games for Portsmouth. That is according to The Sun anyway. Finally, according to The Times, West Ham are confident of signing Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh after tabling an offer of £7m with a 20 percent sell-on clause. August 20, 2009
Despite rumours that Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is caught up in another battle with the Anfield board, Thursday's newspapers are full of transfer targets for the Reds. The Times report that Benitez is ready to make an offer for £10m-rated Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, but they do file it under the heading "long shots" and given Liverpool's apparent financial problems the move looks unlikely. It is much more likely that Liverpool will sign 30-year-old Greek centre-back Sotirios Kyrgiakos from AEK Athens for £1.5m. In today's instalment of the Joleon Lescott transfer saga Everton boss David Moyes will demand £30m from Manchester City for his want-away defender. The Daily Mail claim that City's improved offer of £22m, after failing with recent bids of £15m and £18m, will be rejected. The Guardian concur and report that Moyes will not reduce Lescott's price tag despite dropping the Everton defender from Thursday night's home Europa League qualifier with a scathing condemnation of the player's "poor attitude". If the Lescott deal does fall through Man City have lined up a swoop for West Ham United defender Matthew Upson, but the Daily Mirror claim Aston Villa are lining up £12m offer to pinch the Hammers star. Money worries at Upton Park may see the 30-year-old sold quickly to balance the books. Meanwhile, Portsmouth are hoping to sign Cameroon midfielder Modeste M'Bami, who has been training with the club, on a two-year deal, according to The Sun. August 19, 2009
Most of the back pages today are Arsenal-related as the Gunners pulled off an important win at the cauldron that is Parkhead, in their Champions League qualifier. Two lucky goals, but a fairly comfortable performance and the Sun have William Gallas celebrating his deflection to the headline ''They think it's Gall over''. The Daily Mail would rather focus on Arsene Wenger's pop at the Hoops for trying to rough up his players; but the Daily Star think the Gunners are better off without their two lost stars. The Scottish angle comes from the Daily Record and has quotes from Celtic boss Tony Mowbray claiming that his side did not deserve to lose the goals. But they are also interested in the fact that Harry Redknapp was scouting Scott Brown and could yet complete a deal for the midfielder before September. In other news, the Sun have picked up on a story we had on Monday night - the flagrant touting by Nemanja Vidic's agent. Basically he claims that the Serbian defender wants to go to Barcelona (what a signing that would be if they could net him) and things ''are complicated.'' Although we don't see it happening this season. The paper have done somewhat better by bringing us the actual news that Liverpool have signed a Greek defender. AEK Athens centre-half Sotiris Kyrgiakos, 30, will join for around £2m and act as backup to Jamie Carragher and whichever other centre-half is fit at the time. All of which seems to make the Daily Mail's story that the Reds are about to swoop for Ryan Shawcross rather pointless. Stoke manager Tony Pulis is determined to retain the services of highly-rated defender and it looks like he might do, as Rafa has turned his attention elsewhere. Oh and the sale of Xabi Alonso was a mistake. And who do we have to thank for this piece of information. Why the Daily Express, and Dean Whitehead, of course. Newcastle are back in the news after getting their first win of the Championship season. Suddenly someone is all interested in buying the club and the Independent seem to think it's Tyneside businessman Barry Moat. And finally, you always wondered what made Manchester United so fired up for every game. Well, it's down to Patrice Evra. According to the Sun the defender is responsible for pumping out the tunes pre-match and keeping everyone happy. Just watch out when you play Liverpool, eh Pat. August 18, 2009
Now, we've heard Chelsea say they don't think they need to spend before the transfer window closes in a couple of weeks, but The Sun has different ideas. Hot property Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid has been on the radar of Premier League clubs for some time, and now it is thought Chelsea are hoping to complete a £50m deal for the striker. However, the paper reports that the clock is ticking with Aguero set to play in the Champions League on Wednesday in a play-off against Panathinaikos, which would rule him out of the Chelsea side who are already without Didier Drogba for four games. However, Chelsea say their limit is £42m. The world's gone mad. Manchester City continue to lead the way in the transfer market, and they now appear to have beaten off interest from Chelsea in wonderkid Rafael de Souza Rodolfo, or Penaro to his friends. It says in The Sun that Robinho has proved to be the deciding factor as the 16-year-old was lured to Eastlands. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes the European Super League will be a reality sooner rather than later, in fact in the next 10 years. He said in The Sun: "I see more a European League developing over time rather than one team going out of the country. "The national leagues will survive but maybe in 10 years you will have a European League." After the opening day defeat to Tottenham, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez may well have been considering where to bolster his squad ahead of a long campaign. But it seems he will be thwarted with the Daily Mirror claiming that he will be given just £1.5m to spend. It'll hardly buy someone's laces in the current climate. It's not getting any better for Liverpool, either, with the Daily Mirror reporting that Albert Riera is set to return to Spain after just one season. And it's those usual suspects doing the bidding, with Real Madrid and Barcelona linked. Could we really see two Rooneys in the Premier League? The Daily Mirror reports that Macclesfield’s 18-year-old starlet, younger brother John, is a target for Blackburn and Bolton. Hull are desperate to sign £12m Alvaro Negredo from Real Madrid, though may have made a mistake in inviting him over to the city for talks. Best to get him to sign first! However, The Sun says that Real Zaragoza are hoping to win the race as he wants to stay in Spain. The Sun reveals that Birmingham City will clinch a deal for Sporting Gijon's Michel. The midfielder will move for £3m. There was a time when Julio Baptista was on the wanted list of the world's biggest clubs. Now he's wanted by West Ham United. The Daily Mirror says the Brazilian, now with AS Roma, is on the shortlist along with Eidur Gudjohnsen and Marouane Chamakh. The Daily Mail reports that Gianfranco Zola is happy for £5m James Collins to leave for Stoke. Remember Sol Campbell? He's currently kicking around the streets looking for a club after making the bold decision to leave beleaguered Portsmouth. But talk about frying pans and fire, he's going to sign for Newcastle for a paltry £15,000-a-week. Well, that's what The Sun says. Meanwhile, the Daily Mirror claims that Fabricio Coloccini is a target for Espanyol. And The Sun claims that somehow Portsmouth are going to sign a player. And a player actually wants to sign for them. However, it's only Bolton misfit Dan Shittu. The Daily Mirror thinks fellow Bolton player Gavin McCann will also sign. Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill looks ready to strengthen his rear-guard after the opening day horror show against Wigan, with the Daily Mirror tipping a £6m bid for Middlesbrough defender David Wheater. And looking further up the field, the Daily Mail tips O'Neill to move for David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas as Spurs look to fund a deal for Celtic's Scott Brown. Afonso Alves has proved to be one of the biggest flops of recent years after Middlesbrough spent £12m for little return in goals. Now it seems he could return to the comfort of the Eredivise, with Ajax leading the way. Read about it in the Daily Mirror. Fulham will make an improved bid for powerful Almeria striker Kala Uche this week, so says the Daily Mirror. And the same paper believes Wigan will make the first move to sign Crystal Palace's highly-rated yougster Victor Moses. Remember Nathan Ellington? Yes, the striker who has never cut it in the top flight. Well, he's been offered to Blackburn Rovers by Watford, but they want Paul Gallagher, who shone in the Championship last season, in return. It's in The Sun. Tottenham defender Dorian Dervite is desperate to quit the club and return to France as he cannot get into the team. We think about 95% of Premier League watchers will never have heard of him, No great loss, then. Check out The Sun. August 17, 2009
Bold words indeed from Birmingham manager Alex McLeish. He's compared Wayne Rooney to Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini. Clearly he was impressed yesterday. McLeish said in The Sun: "He is a huge talent and a natural footballer. You get the Zidanes and Platinis of this world and I've seen them over the years and it's just natural." Spurs manager Harry Redknapp must be wondering if his team are really good, or if Liverpool are not as good as they used to be. Good old 'Arry was a little surprised that he beat Liverpool so easily. He said in The Sun: "Last season we beat Liverpool 2-1 here but they absolutely destroyed us. How we won that game I have no idea. We were battered. It was a totally different story this time around, though, and we could easily have been two-up by half-time." Rafa, unsurprisingly, was not happy and, oh yes, he's had a bit of a rant. Good old Benitez thinks his team was robbed at White Hart Lane, even though they were rubbish. He said in the Daily Star: He said: “Everybody could see it was especially a penalty on Voronin. It was so clear. Unbelievable. With this referee, I knew another one was impossible. “But we had a meeting the other day and we were told we can’t talk about the referee.” The Sun, meanwhile, links Liverpool with a £10m bid for central defender Fernando Amorebieta of Athletic Bilbao. We think they should look further forward. Just hours after David James admitted the players fear financial meltdown at Portsmouth, the talk is that Soulaiman Al Fahim's takeover will collapse leaving the club in limbo. The Daily Mirror thinks he hasn't got the cash. It could all get a bit messy at Upton Park with talk of the club having to sell its best players to balance the books. This, apparently, has angered Gianfranco Zola and the Daily Mirror thinks the boss will walk if the board sells its best players without his permission. Carlton Cole, Mark Noble, Matthew Upson, Robert Green and Scott Parker are all said to be up for grabs. The Daily Mirror also quotes the little Italian as saying he does not want to sell Upson. West Ham fans are probably a little miffed to hear that defender James Collins, who played so well at the end of last season, is up for sale. But, according to The Sun, he will this week join Stoke for £5m. Stoke are also, for some reason, said to be interested in Middlesbrough crock Robert Huth but, according to the Daily Mirror, they've been told they must pay more than an initial bid of £2.5m. More transfer talk from the Daily Mail. The paper says that Tottenham are interested in Man City's Martin Petrov and Sunderland's Kieran Richardson. However, he must sell to buy. And finally, our favourite story of the morning comes from the Daily Mirror. Burnley owner Brendan Flood has revealed that a celebrity Burnley fan is none other than Libyan leader Colonel Gadaffi - and looked at investing in the club! August 16, 2009
No prizes for guessing the lead story in most newspapers reporting of the opening day of the Premier League season. Yes, Everton’s 6-1 demolition by Arsenal has sent shockwaves across Her Majesty’s press corps with an added twist and leads most of the backpages. However, there is another juggernaut in town. Seems to be a bit of diversionary tactics taking place here because the tabs have twisted the Toffees coming unstuck into the Joleon Lescott saga. Mark Hughes has weighed in to make David Moyes even more unhappy. The News of the World says that Hughes is at war with David Moyes after the Everton boss was accused of making the bids for Joleon Lescott public. Over at The People it is said that Hughes has insisted Manchester City's pursuit of Lescott is still on. Though he may be prepared to pay less after Saturday’s late game. More Hughes in the Sunday Express: they say he has claimed that people are willing Manchester City to fail. Surely not? Even more Hughes in the Daily Star: he wants to end David Bentley's Tottenham nightmare. That transfer snippet - thinnish on the ground what with actual football being played - is joined by the The People’s idea that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is weighing up a shock move to take Ryan Shawcross back to Old Trafford from Stoke City. On the subject of transfers, Portsmouth, a club with enough trouble as it is, are becoming embroiled in a row after chief exec Peter Storrie accused Tottenham of tapping up Peter Crouch in the News of the World. The Sunday Telegraph runs the same story but casts it thus: Storrie believes illegal approaches to transfer targets are rife in football and that "all managers tap up" in direct contravention of Premier League legislation. Worrying times at West Ham too, say the Sunday Mirror, who think that Gianfranco Zola is threatening to walk out on the club. August 15, 2009
The curtain is ready to be pulled up and the season is just hours away. Does that mean we’re lacking in gossip? Not a bit of it. Well, maybe a bit less than usual but some nonetheless. Joleon Lescott has been the subject of this summer’s drawn-out saga. We have one every year - think Rooney, Berbatov and Gareth Barry last year. David Moyes is still not happy, say The Daily Mail. The Scot says that Mark Hughes has been underhand and has blown his chance of landing the defender. We shall see. Maybe though, Moyes has resigned himself to losing Lescott. He’s linked with Spartak Moscow winger Vladimir Bystrov, 25, a loan deal for Valencia's Argentine midfielder Ever Banega, 21 and defender Isaac Vorsah of Hoffenheim. The last of those shows Moyes may have been getting his retaliation in early. Flagrant speculation time. Chelsea are prepared to pay £42m for Sergio Aguero, say The Sun who also say that Liverpool want Aston Villa’s James Milner, which looks like being a costly one from here. Villa are closely linked with sizzled Spur David Bentley according to The Times. Over at The Sun, there is talk of Harry Redknapp saying that Bentley does have a future at White Hart Lane. August 14, 2009
Yes! It's the story all Newcastle fans have been waiting for! Mike Ashley is leav.... nope, not that.... Joe Kinnear is coming back to manage the club. Following all the rumours about David O'Leary taking charge, the Daily Express today runs an EXCLUSIVE that JFK will be back in his swivel chair on Monday morning. All Magpies dreams have come true. Fernando Torres is talking big as the new season is upon us. He's claiming that Liverpool have absolutely no problem beating their top four rivals, and is more concerned by Tottenham. "We have no problem beating Manchester United or Chelsea but it is games like Sunday's at Tottenham where we need to show our real title intentions," he said in The Sun. "Tottenham is not an easy place to go but these are games we must be winning if this is to finally be our year." Today's Manchester City/Joleon Lescott update comes from the Daily Mirror. That paper says that City have brought in negotiators Kia Joorabchian and Pini Zahavi to make sure the deal goes through. It all sounds so lovely. And with Everton linked with an £8m bid for Newcastle's Steven Taylor in the Daily Star, it could be that they are moving in for a replacement. Everton have pulled out of the race for Arsenal's Philippe Senderos, according to the Daily Mail, with Sunderland ready to step in. Nice words from David Dunn in the Daily Star ahead of Blackburn's date with City. The midfielder said: “It’s important we do our best and kick lumps out of them – fairly of course." Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson may have said he will not spend again this summer, but that hasn't stopped the press linking him with players. Today it is Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero. The Sun thinks scouts have been watching the £30m-rated forward. Well, so have we. The Indepedent runs a story about United picking up another young kid from the continent. The paper claims that there will be an official complaint to UEFA from the Serie A club Fiorentina over United's move for national Under-16 captain Michele Fornasier. It may be bold, it may be deluded, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger thinks his little kids can, against all the odds, win the Premier League. And that's why he snubbed the chance to manage Real Madrid. "To talk of winning the League is an audacious statement but I built this team and I want to deliver with this team," he said in The Sun. "At 22 or 23 a team is mature enough to deliver." Arsenal have been linked with Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh all summer, but now the Daily Mail thinks West Ham are ready to come in and steal him - all because they will offer the French club half of any future transfer fee. It seems like Joey Barton may be proving his true worth to Newcastle once again. The Sun has quotes from their usual "insider" claiming that the bad boy has slammed goalkeeper Steve Harper for, well, being rubbish. A source said: "Barton told Steve in front of the other lads that he was making it easy for opponents by staying on his line and that they knew it was his weakness. "It did not go down well. He acts like a goalkeeping coach telling Harps how to do his job. In training, he has also been walking round asking 'Which one of you is getting dropped so I play this weekend'?" What a nice lad. On Thursday we heard than an unnamed club had bid £4m for Newcastle United's Damien Duff, well The Sun claims that the club in question is Fulham. The Independent says Everton have bid too. And Blackburn are desperate to sign former Real Madrid player Michel Salgado, but the Daily Mirror says there is a row about cash at Ewood Park. Tuncay has been linked with many clubs this summer, but the Daily Mirror says he wants to move back to Turkey with Fenerbahce. But he will only sign for them on loan to avoid doing national service! Good news for Birmingham fans! Manager Alex McLeish has said in the Daily Mirror that they are not good enough to stay up. “To be honest, we are not equipped for the Premier League as things stand now,” he confessed. The Daily Mail reports that Wigan still plan to sign Mohamed Diame from Rayo Vallecano - even though he has a heart defect which was picked up in his medical. August 13, 2009
Fabio Capello is on most of the back pages today, as he reacts to England's two awful errors to gift the Dutch team a couple of goals in the first half in Amsterdam. The Sun reckon Fab was furious at the lack of proper defending, with the headline reading 'Dam fools'; but quotes from the Italian show he wasn't that angry after all: "I was really calm, really calm. You have to understand what you have to do,'' he insisted. Someone who was definately calm was Jermain Defoe. 'Jermain man', as the Daily Mail have him, came off the bench to save the day - still doesn't mean he'll start for Spurs this season though. Meanwhile, away from the international scene, Steven Gerrard (still recovering from that nasty groin injury which kept him out of the England game, but means he should be fine for Liverpool this weekend) has turned his attention to the Premier League - not for the first time. He told the Sun that Manchester City can push all the way to the title this season if they gel. "They're definitely going to be gunning for that top four,'' he added. Liverpool fans, fear not, as the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid might have upset the balance of the midfield, but Lucas is there to sort things out. The unpopular Brazilian is in the Daily Express today, claiming that he can step into the Spaniard's shoes with ease. Although he also had to fend off rumours that he would be interested in a move back to Brazil with Corinthians. Also in the same paper, Chelsea are poised to make midfielder Nemanja Matic their fourth signing of the summer in a £5m deal. Chelsea have been watching Matic, a Serbia Under-21 player, for months and regard the talented playmaker as one for the future. The Blues will offload Michael Mancienne to Wolves on loan, allowing him regular football to push for a place in Fabio Capello’s squad for next summer’s World Cup finals. The Times think he'll sign a new four-year deal at Stamford Bridge, and then move out on loan. Odd. Arsenal have ruled themselves out of a move for Marouane Chamakh, which has sparked interest from other 'big clubs' such as West Ham and Fulham. The Daily Mirror have this, but will he be allowed to move? The Gunners may not be bringing anyone in, but that's probably because they are trying to keep players at the club instead. The Sun claim that Barcelona are weighing up an offer for Cesc Fabregas and have until Tuesday (the Champions League qualifiers) to up their bid to around £40m. Over at Tottenham, Harry Redknapp is ignoring all calls to sign more defenders and is, instead, going for Crystal Palace star Victor Moses. The Daily Star think Redknapp will use his friendship with Eagles boss Neil Warnock to steal a march on his rivals in the race for the England Under-19 international - but he could cost £5m. And finally, perhaps it has become clear why Rio Ferdinand was so lazy against Holland. He had his mind on other things: namely the fact that the film he funded with Ashley Cole - Dead Man Running, starring 50 Cent - was getting its first screening in Central London. Gripping stuff, we bet. August 12, 2009
Chelsea have been pretty quiet thus far in the transfer window, so news that one of their best performing players from last season could be leaving seems a little odd. Jose Bosingwa has been linked with a move away from the club, despite the fact that the Blues failed to land Glen Johnson before he chose to head to Anfield, and Bayern Munich are keen. The Daily Mail reckon that £!5m is enough to tempt Roman into a sale, although there's no talk of a replacement at the Bridge. In other Chelsea news, with Carlo Ancelotti's arrival, it appears that Andriy Shevchenko will see out the final year of his contract after rejecting a move to former club Dynamo Kiev, that's in the Daily Star. They missed out on Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi, according to the Sun. But a big name could yet arrive at the Bridge before the window closes. AC Milan could move for David Beckham again, but the Daily Mail are not the first, or the last, to link the England midfielder with a move to Italy before the World Cup begins. Manchester City, meanwhile, are still pushing Joleon Lescott for a move, say the Times. The Everton defender has handed in a written transfer request, so all they need to do is persuade David Moyes that he can let him go. Not easy. Aston Villa are keen to push for the Champions League next season, despite losing Gareth Barry. They are bolstering their side with a few squad players, but Blackburn aren't happy that one of those is Stephen Warnock. The Daily Mirror say that Rovers want an amazing £12m for him. The Guardian think that £12m is much better spent towards Tottenham midfielders David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas. Tall defenders are on the shopping list for Arsene Wenger, so 6ft 4in Borussia Dortmund centre-back Neven Subotic could be lined up, say the Daily Mail. £12m is a popular figure today, but Fulham are adamant that Brede Hangeland won't go unless Arsenal shatter the club's £12m record for a departing player, so the Gunners will need more cash. And finally, Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has long harboured a wish to play for England (at least since Iker Casillas has been nailing down the first-team spot for Spain anyway), but the Sun carry the news that Fabio Capello has KO'd the idea anyway. Good thing too, given the national side have a host of young keepers who should be ahead of him in the queue. Capello said: "He is Spanish. He is Spanish and plays for Arsenal. I know who my World Cup keeper will be." Although it would be nice if he let everyone else know. August 11, 2009
At the weekend Chelsea were supposed to be chasing £45m AC Milan starlet Alexandre Pato but today the Blues are after Bayern Munich's Franck Ribery, according to the UK press. The Sun report that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will fly to Germany to make a £40million raid for the France winger and has already made contact with Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness. A senior Bayern source said: "Uli was taken by surprise by the phone call but was very honest and courteous with Mr Abramovich. We are still resolved to keep Ribery but Hoeness agreed to meet with Abramovich in Germany to discuss any offer." Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is up to his old tricks of recruiting faded veterans from around Europe and has made a shock move for Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado, according to the Daily Mirror. The tough 33-year-old right back, capped 53 times by his country, arrived in Lancashire for talks about a shock free transfer move on Monday. The Daily Mail claim that Everton defender Joleon Lescott is finally bound for Manchester City after the Eastlands club made a final offer of £20m, plus add-ons. The transfer will be completed in the next 36 hours, apparently. Sven Goran Eriksson's Notts County are lining up a sensational move to sign former England centre-back Sol Campbell, who is out of contract at Portsmouth, according to the Daily Star. The former Portsmouth defender is wanted by his old England manager to spearhead County's promotion charge from League Two. The Daily Express report that Arsenal have been told they will have to pay £15m for Fulham’s Norway captain Brede Hangeland. Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger has said that the highly rated defender Hangeland, 28, is top of his list to replace Kolo Toure, sold a week ago to Manchester City. Arsenal want to do a deal in the next 48 hours. Rafael Benitez has told The Guardian that he has no concerns over Javier Mascherano's commitment to Liverpool, despite denying the Argentina captain a move to Barcelona. "I am confident he is 100% focused. The last week has changed a lot," the Liverpool manager said. And finally... The Times report that David O'Leary could be the new manager of Newcastle United by this weekend unless bidders offer definitive proof to Mike Ashley that they have enough money to purchase the League Championship club. August 10, 2009
The season hasn't even kicked off yet, but Rafael Benitez seems to be making excuses for failing to win the title. And to add to that, Sir Alex Ferguson is already lambasting officials. Yes, everyone is too expensive or Liverpool are simply being asked to pay too high a price for players. This comes after Hull reportedly told the Reds they wanted £12m for defender Michael Turner. "We are working hard with the players we have and the money we have," moaned Rafa in The Sun. "It is always difficult to compete in the Premier League with clubs who have more money." The Daily Express links Liverpool with Stoke's Ryan Shawcross as he can't afford anyone else. A £5m fee is mooted. Sir Alex, meanwhile, reckons Michael Ballack should have been sent off for his elbow block on Patrice Evra, just before Frank Lampard fired in Chelsea's second at Wembley. Ferguson stormed in the Daily Express: “If the referee sees that challenge properly, it’s a red card. Ballack has clearly elbowed him. He’s in line and had a clear view, so Ballack was lucky. “He should have seen it. The referee has made a rod for his own back. He had stopped the game twice already, when Nani was down and when Ballack was down. The least he should have done is stop the game." Manchester United's (!) Michael Owen may not have done much in the Community Shield, but the pint-sized striker still reckons he could be in the England squad in South Africa next summer. He might have had a dodgy week, but you can't blame the lad for trying. It's in The Sun. There's lots of talk about Manchester City breaking into the top four but Arsene Wenger, the man most at threat from City and their millions, is confident they pose no threat. "Manchester City at the moment look like they have a great squad quality-wise, but sometimes when you buy more than three players you take a technical gamble," he said in the Daily Mirror. And a worrying story in The Times. Could Barcelona be in for skipper Cesc Fabregas? Talking of Man City, the Daily Express believes that Mark Hughes will turn to West Ham's Matthew Upson should he fail to sign either Joleon Lescott or Sylvain Distin. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has ruled out signing Ashley Young from Aston Villa. He told the Daily Mirror that Villa won't let him go. And 'Arry may have lost out to Villa again, with the Daily Mail reporting that Tuncay will move to Martin O'Neill's side for £7m, snubbing Spurs in the process. Sol Campbell is clubless right now, the Daily Express thinks he may resurface at Birmingham City. Wolves, also new in the Premier League, are linked with a £1.7m offer for giant Austrian striker Stefan Maierhofer in the Daily Express. Another day, another chance for Alan Shearer to lament the demise of his beloved Newcastle. It must be even more depressing to hear the rumours that David O'Leary is going to be offered a three year contract. "While other clubs have been preparing, while others have been bringing in players they feel will get them out of this league, Newcastle have stood still and are static," he said in The Sun. "They are going into it with their hands tied, not a nice situation for anyone." The Daily Mail discusses Newcastle's new approach for O'Leary. And our favourite story of the day comes from the Daily Mirror. Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock has said he will only sign single footballers in future as he cannot get married players to move to the south coast. "We can get the players but we can't convince the wives," he moaned. "They don't want to be so far away from their families but I guess that's something we've got to live with." August 9, 2009
There have been some crazy transfer deals this summer and Chelsea are set to continue the trend, if Sunday’s newspaper reports are to be believed. The News of The World claim that Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti will pay an astonishing £45m for Alexandre Pato and then loan him back to AC Milan for a year. A Stamford Bridge insider said: "Ancelotti's so keen to capture Pato that he will pay a club record fee and still allow the kid to stay at Milan for another season. That tells you how highly he values him." The Blues have also tabled a last-ditch British record £40m bid for Bayern Munich playmaker Franck Ribery, according to the Sunday Mirror. Over at Old Trafford Manchester United are lining up Everton boss David Moyes to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as manager, when he finally quits, after winning the support of several senior Old Trafford board members. People Sport reports that powerful factions within United's hierarchy, including Sir Bobby Charlton, have already decided that when Fergie retires - possibly as soon as next summer - the Everton boss should take over. Manchester City will have to break the British transfer record to get the Everton defender Joleon Lescott, according to the Daily Star on Sunday. And want-away Lescott has been told that even if he writes out a transfer request he won't get a move without the cash coming in. The Mail on Sunday claim the West Ham United are set to sell England defender Matthew Upson as they need to raise £10m to ward off creditors. Rafael Benítez has confirmed his interest in signing Michael Turner from Hull City after Liverpool's defensive problems mounted at home to Atlético Madrid on Saturday, reports The Observer. The Liverpool manager has fitness doubts over all three of his first-choice centre-halves ahead of their opening Premier League game at Tottenham on Sunday, after Jamie Carragher limped out of the 2-1 defeat with a twisted ankle. August 8, 2009
Michael Owen may have earned himself a high-profile move to Manchester United but he has not yet fought his way back into Fabio Capello's England squad. The 29-year-old is set to be omitted from the manager's final selection for Wednesday's friendly in Holland after being included in the provisional 32-man squad, according to The Sun. After wasting a hatful of chances in United's midweek friendly against Valencia he is set for the axe. However, all is not lost. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has tipped his new recruit to win his place in the England World Cup 2006. But, speaking to The Mirror, warned Owen that he won't survive at international level based on past glories. Fergie is also backing striker Wayne Rooney to shine now that Cristiano Ronaldo has left Old Trafford. "I don't think the responsibility of getting more goals will affect Wayne at all," the United boss told the Daily Telegraph. "He's got the mental strength. He's proved that time and time again. Elsewhere, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is ready to make a double swoop for Portsmouth defender Sylvain Distin and Wigan Athletic midfielder Lee Cattermole, according to The Times. "We’ll see if anything develops," Bruce said. The Independent report that the agent of Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni believes his client is close to joining Italian countryman Gianfranco Zola at West Ham United. Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is eager to bolster his attack by signing Everton striker James Vaughan, according to the Daily Express. Pulis is hoping the 21-year-old will be tempted by the chance to re-launch his career after a series of injury-scarred seasons at Goodison Park. Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor has told the Daily Star it will be a more humble Toon side on view than the one which crashed through the Premier League trapdoor three months ago. August 7, 2009
With the football season two days away from its traditional curtain raiser at Wembley - the Community Shield, you'd have thought that transfer business would be near completion. Not a bit of it, a certain TV broadcaster has begun a countdown clock to August 31's deadline day closing. So, speculation is still in session. Manchester United's spending was over according to Sir Alex Ferguson yet The Times suggests that the Red Devils are looking for another attacking option in either Valencia's David Silva or Bayern Munich's rather costly Franck Ribery. Meanwhile, their opponents on Sunday, Chelsea, are holding off Real Madrid's £18m interest in defender Alex, according to The Times again. Perhaps Real were looking to fund that via the sale of Wesley Sneijder to Aston Villa, a move mentioned in The Guardian. Arsenal meanwhile, need a defender and Fulham's Brede Hangeland is most heavily linked in several papers, including The Guardian. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has been readying the ground for that. Manchester City are due to make a final offer for Joleon Lescott, say the Daily Mirror, but this time it's final at £22m. Lee Cattermole has been linked with Liverpool throughout the summer and the Daily Mail is doing a "2+2" sum here by saying Wigan's imminent signing of Rayo Vallecano midfielder Mohamed Diame and his team-mate, defender Antonio Amaya have opened the way for the young Englishman to exit, though Sunderland, Spurs and Everton are all in the chase as well as Rafa Benitez, who may yet have a midfield place to fill if these comments in The Sun are correct. Lucas Leiva says he will quit Liverpool and head home if he does not get more game time, which may be a relief to many a Liverpool fan. Liverpool meanwhile, are due to announce a new sponsorship deal with banking giants Standard Chartered to replace Carlsberg say The Daily Mail. August 6, 2009
Just a couple of days after asking to leave Everton, The Sun believes Joleon Lescott's move to Manchester City is now a done deal. And it's even being suggested that the England international could be unveiled at City's open day on Thursday afternoon. The fee could be a cool £22m. Robinho is certainly excited by what's happening at Eastlands, as he believes there is "no difference between City and Real Madrid or the Brazilian national team". Er.... read it in The Sun. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail claims that Barcelona are in for Vincent Kompany as he is to be pushed out at Eastlands. They've given up on Manchester United's Johnny Evans. Despite AC Milan yesterday insisting that Andrea Pirlo is not for sale, it seems that Chelsea have not given up hope of signing the midfielder. It's in the Daily Star. Now, just when it looked like Tomas Rosicky was finally going to play for Arsenal again.... he isn't. The Czech midfielder, who has been out for 18 months, is now going to be on the sidelines for another six weeks after injuring his hamstring in training. It's in The Sun. But there is sign of signings at the Emirates. The Daily Mail claims Arsenal have upped their offer for Marouane Chamakh to £7.5m. The paper also reports that the Gunners bid for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar but the player will sign for AC Milan. Liverpool look set to sign Alberto Aquilani from AS Roma, but the Daily Mail reveals that the Italian comes with a health warning due to his injury past. The Daily Mail says that Michael Owen has blown his big chance to impress in front of England coach Fabio Capello after missing a load of chances against Valencia. The Sun reveals that Croatian star Nikola Kalinic will finally move to the Premier League today, joining Blackburn for £6m from Hadjuk Split. And after signing Darren Bent, the Daily Star says Sunderland will sign Lucas Neill on wages of £3m-a-year. That's £60,000-a-week. For Lucas Neill. Kalinic had been linked with Pompey but they are more interested in selling, and The Sun reports that goalkeeper David James could make the long trek to play for Sunderland with Antti Niemi going to Fratton Park. And the turmoil continues with the Daily Mirror reporting that David Nugent is set to offloaded after brawling with team-mate Marc Wilson. That will leave Pompey with 0 strikers. Bring on the new season! Tottenham are tracking midfielder Moussa Sissoko but Toulouse reportedly want £3m more than the £12m offered. Read the Daily Mirror. And Roma hope to beat Spurs to Huntelaar which is in the same paper. The Daily Mail links Tottenham with a £2m bid for Sheffield Wednesday's Mark Beevers. Douoble takeover talk now, starting with West Ham. The Sun is reporting that US tycoon Clark Hunt is lining up a £120m deal to buy the club. The Hammers always seem to be for sale, but could they be changing hands again? And the hilarity at Newcastle surely cannot be coming to an end? The Sun says that businessman Barry Moat is in pole position to finally take the club out of the clutches of Mike Ashley. August 5, 2009
Another morning, another celebration in soccernet towers that we can put another drawn out transfer saga to bed. The Telegraph pitch it right by declaring we can all "move on" now Xabi Alonso is about to become a Real Madrid player, for the princely sum of £30m. The Independent report either Roma's Alberto Aquilani or Steven Defour, of Standard Liege are being lined up to fill Anfield's Alonso-shaped hole, though they may face competition from Everton for the latter. Of course, they know all about signing midfielder's from Belgium's leading club after last summer's purchase of Marouane Fellaini. As ever, The Sun are quick off the mark to fill the void now the Alonso affair is all but sealed. They say AC Milan executives emerged from a meeting yesterday intent on capturing Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas. They are willing to splash £31m, but given Xabi went for £30m, one thinks they may have to up that. A lot. The same rag has it that Harry Redknapp is getting increasingly desperate in his attempt to solve Tottenham's defensive crisis. A £10m deal for Blackburn's Christopher Samba is the latest to be mooted. Tony Pulis fancies taking injury prone Everton striker James Vaughan to Stoke on a season-long loan, according to the Daily Mail, while The Sun says Dider Drogba has signed a new three-year deal at Chelsea worth over £100,000 a week. Away from transfers for a minute and Portsmouth have registered the first Premier League bout of infighting, before the season has even begun. The Mirror would have us believe that during a post-drinking-session bust-up striker David Nugent was "allegedly hit across the legs with a lump of wood by defender Marc Wilson". And to finish on another potentially violent episode, Sir Alex Ferguson has unleashed the first round of mind games in Rafa Benitez's general direction. He reckons Chelsea are Manchester United's main title rivals telling The Guardian "Liverpool have just had probably their best season for 20 years, finished up with 86 points and still finished four adrift. It will be hard for them to match that, let alone improve. Other teams will read Liverpool better." And so it begins.... August 4, 2009
I had thought of cutting and pasting our blog from ten days ago and just replacing the name John Terry with Joleon Lescott but then that would be lazy wouldn't it? Anyway, brace yourself for more posturing from cash-rich Manchester City, defiance from the soon-to-be-raided manager and a confused player caught in the middle. According to the Daily Mirror, Lescott is to write to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and ask very politely if he can go to Moneybags FC, having already told David Moyes he wants out of Everton. It seems no man can resist the opportunity to treble one's meagre earnings (£30,000 a week). But, according to The Sun, City will draw a line under their pursuit of Lescott if they can't prize him away from Goodison Park by the end of the week - and do us all a favour in the process. That bastion of hard news - the Daily Star - says Lescott is going nowhere, after Moyes told him in no uncertain terms his future lies on Merseyside. But just in case, the Toffees boss is eyeing up a move for Arsenal's Philippe Senderos should Kenwright cave in and accept £30m for the defender. Another centre-half in demand is Newcastle's Sebastien Bassong. He is set to hand in his own transfer request at the beleaguered Toon so he can engineer a switch to Manchester City or Spurs. That's in the Daily Mirror. The Sun reports Arsenal are close to signing Chelsea's Solomon for £8m, while the Daily Express shocks everybody by informing us Darren Bent is set to sign for Sunderland today. Well, I never. And it wouldn't be a transfer blog without a brief mention of Xabi Alonso would it? The Guardian would have us believe Real still haven't stumped up the required £30m, and that Roma's Alberto Aquilani is on strict orders that it will only be one in, one out at Anfield. However, the Daily Mail reckon Rafa Benitez may fancy Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour instead. And to finish, The Sun say Hull will set their sights on Pascal Chimbonda should Phil Brown fail to secure Habib Beye's services from Newcastle, while The Independent reports Amr Zaki could pitch up at Portsmouth. August 3, 2009
Chelsea are finally ready to splash the cash according to today's tales from the tabloids. Roman Abramovich may finally have loosened the purse strings and the Daily Mail suggests that the Blues hope to sign AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero, which may cost more than that to these eyes. A note of caution sounded by the Daily Telegraph who say that they may miss out on Ribery as well as their interest in Xabi Alonso, which comes as news to us here. Only Real Madrid have a prayer there, surely. One way of funding such a spree is the link made with a potential £10m sale of Joe Cole to Tottenham, where the midfielder can link with Harry Redknapp, the man who gave him his debut at West Ham. That link is made in The Guardian. Talking of reunions, the Patrick Vieira return to Arsenal looks on, if you read the Daily Express. The former Gunners captain will cost £750,000 from Inter Milan, who seem to want to sell. Another continuing line is the lengthy chase for Joleon Lescott by Manchester City. £20m is the price they'll now pay though we at Soccernet hear that Everton are holding out for £30m. City have a back-up plan; called Sebastian Bassong. So say the Daily Mirror. Another Newcastle defender in Habib Beye is wanted by Hull City but they are not prepared to pay £4m, according to The Times. August 2, 2009
Do you trust Sir Alex Ferguson when he tells you something? Well, the papers have probably got their fingers burned one too many times and are now totally sure that he'll spend some of the Ronaldo cash before the end of the season, despite saying he won't. Three papers. Three different potential transfer targets . And we'll start with the News of the World who think that Valencia's David Silva is the man to fill the United midfield with some proven quality. The People are pretty sure it's teammate David Villa they're after, although they might just make an enquiry about Silva too. And lastly, the Sunday Express claim that Fergie hasn't had enough of small, powerful Argentine strikers just yet and will spend £35m on bringing in Sergio Aguero. One player who won't be joining for sure is Gremio's Douglas Costa, as the News of the World claim his private life - i.e. his party lifestyle and the fact he is frequently late for training - has scuppered any hopes of a move from the famously hard to please Fergie. Could all this speculation have anything to do with the fact that Valencia travel to Old Trafford on Wednesday and Aguero is currently in England for the Emirates Cup? Or are the tabloids just a little unhappy that Manchester United haven't been in the gossip column for a while? Away from United, Sunderland and Tottenham are not exactly seeing eye to eye over Darren Bent. The People say Spurs want to extract an extra £1m out of the deal - although £14m still looks like a good price for a striker who has not won round his critics yet. The same paper has also linked the Black Cats with a double transfer swoop for Tottenham's David Bentley and Michael Dawson. The News of the World thinks Harry Redknapp won't mind offloading a few names, certainly not if he can get in Mark van Bommel. After missing out on Paddy Vieira, he still wants a leader in the centre of the park. Chelsea are closing on a move for Rafael van der Vaart if they miss out on Andrea Pirlo and it could be on loan as they are having trouble agreeing a price for the Dutchman. Rounding up the rest of today's gossip, we've picked most of it up from the People. Arsenal are closing in on 23-year-old PSV midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, while Fulham want to sign Gunne |