TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Chelsea give Luiz Felipe Scolari £16m send-off Chelsea paid Luiz Felipe Scolari more than £16 million for less than eight months' work. telegraph.co.uk |
Weather prevents Carling Cup tie Blackburn Rovers' Carling Cup semi-final first leg match against Aston Villa has been postponed due to poor weather, the club announced on Tuesday night (EDT). foxsports.com.au |
Non-vintage seasons can still fascinate This season has been far from a classic, but that could mean a fascinating race for the top spotA non-vintage football season, as the present one is fast becoming, can sometimes acquire a fascination of its own. A loss of consistent quality among the leading teams is apt to produce a welcome variation of the familiar plot, with interlopers breaking up the usual procession towards the major prizes.The early elimination of Manchester United and now Liverpool from the FA Cup by opposition from the lower divisions again offers the prospect of the trophy finding a long-forgotten home, another Portsmouth, even if the Cup is not quite the sought-after grail it once was. More interestingly the uncertainties facing the four clubs who are accustomed to dominating the Premier league have reached a point where speculation about who might replace one of these in next season's Champions League may soon be giving way to serious discussion about the possibility of some Johnny-come-lately overtaking everybody to win this season's title.The thought may be premature. Chelsea could still leave the rest standing once the tin hats have returned from the Africa Cup of Nations and, crucially, Michael Essien is fully fit again. But at least the idea is not an idle one and a similar notion will have occurred to those wrestling with problems of form and fitness at Old Trafford, Anfield and the Emirates.Sir Alex Ferguson continues to blow a lot of smoke about referees and their watches but this cannot obscure the growing deficiencies of a Manchester United team still struggling to come to terms with the fact that while Cristiano Ronaldo could be a pain in the neck he also represented a ball in the net. Meanwhile, Carlos Tevez, on rich scoring form for Manchester City, seems to be going out of his way to show Ferguson that he was worth more than walk-on parts at Old Trafford.Much, perhaps too much, is being asked of Wayne Rooney. The United bench, along with Fabio Capello, must have winced at St Andrew's last Saturday when the England striker came out of a tackle displaying the body language that previously has meant a broken metatarsal. This time, fortunately, something was lost in translation.Significant activity by Ferguson during the transfer window and a return to the old consistency on the field would at least allay any suspicion among United's supporters that the club is sinking under the weight of the debt it has acquired since the Glazer family took over. Revelations about the amounts the owners have borrowed or paid themselves in fees may suggest to some fans that if United had to be run by a transatlantic dynasty they would have been better off under the Simpsons.At least an American has done the decent thing at Anfield where Tom Hicks Jr resigned from the Liverpool board after sending an offensive email to a complaining supporter. Following Wednesday's abject FA Cup defeat by Reading some Liverpool fans may feel that one bum fewer in the boardroom is less important than the high proportion of the same still occupying places in the team.That a top-four finish for Liverpool would now be a major surprise is a measure of how steep their decline has been.Arsenal's results, on the other hand, have remained remarkably good considering the number of casualties Arsène Wenger has had to cope with. The 2-2 draw scraped against Everton last Saturday rather took the gloss off the impressive run that had preceded it but the return of Cesc Fábregas would help Wenger's side continue to nag away at the top two.All of which could be thrown into the melting pot if the teams at present lying fourth and fifth, Manchester City and Tottenham, embark on the sort of runs in the new year which in the past have seen Liverpool and, more recently, Manchester United leave the rest of the field struggling for breath. City have the wealth, Spurs the depth, and both have important players in form.Gone are the days when teams such as Norwich, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Southampton, Watford, West Brom, Ipswich and Queens Park Rangers could chase the champions home. In the present set-up even Manchester City, the world's richest club, and Tottenham are seen as underdogs, yet what Blackburn achieved when they won the title in 1995 should not be beyond either team. Especially if the top three continue to feel the strain, which, with the Champions League resuming in a month's time, is unlikely to ease.Premier LeagueFA CupDavid Laceyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
The Fiver | Gary Neville Is 34; and An Unusually Talkative, And Mad, Hippopotamus Sign up today and have the Fiver delivered direct to your inboxWE REALLY WANT TO SEE THOSE FINGERSWhen little Carlito Tevez Mighty Moused the penalty Manchester City shouldn't have got into the roof of the net in Manchester City's Secondary Cup semi-final first-leg win over their noisy neighbours last night, he was understandably delighted. So delighted, in fact, that he sprinted to the sideline, angrily cupped his hands behind his ears and then made a yapping gesture at Gary Neville, who had left his basket at Sir Alex Ferguson's feet and was stretching on the sideline. Tevez was responding to Neville's recently-aired view that His Master was right to let the Argentinian peasant woman leave Old Trafford last summer. Neville responded to Tevez's response by giving him the finger.Gary Neville is 34.Today the FA confirmed it is "looking into" the one-fingered salute given by His Master's Voice, a player who is now so over-the-hill that he has to limber up for several minutes just to be able to hoist a digit at a former team-mate. Presumably the implausibly hot, wise-cracking scientists in the open lab coats and tight T-shirts at CSI: Wembley will use their fancy equipment to zoom in on the photograph of the erect finger, crop a picture of its tip, zoom in on that and run it through their computer to see if it's a match with that of the Manchester United full-back.If it is, Neville can expect to feel the full force of the FA's disciplinary committee, a merciless body of men who are unlikely to think twice about handing out a very sternly-worded warning or, if they're feeling particularly vindictive, possibly even a small fine.Coincidentally, Neville's last sternly-worded warning from the FA came on the back of United's 4-3 win over City in September, when he charged down the touchline to taunt City fans in the wake of Michael Owen's injury-time winner, before realising the error of his ways mid-gallop and pretending he was only on a warm-up jog instead. As ruses go it was comically transparent, like somebody running for a bus, failing to catch the bus, slowing to a jog in order to save face by pretending they never actually wanted to catch the bus, then realising they're unwittingly re-enacting one of Michael McIntyre terrible comedy routines.Like we said, Gary Neville is 34, which is bad news for City fans, because it means he doesn't get a game very often these days. If he can embarrass himself that badly on the sideline when City are the opposition, think of what he could achieve if only he was let on to the pitch.QUOTE OF THE DAY"The decision to promote the LA Galaxy event was made without a formal business strategy or a clear policy about the level of commercial risk that the council was willing to assume. We conclude that, despite the efforts of the council officers involved, the loss occurred because the LA Galaxy/Oceania 'All Stars' match was in essence the wrong event, at the wrong time, for the wrong price" - Auditor General Phillippa Smith reveals that Auckland taxpayers have had to foot a bill of NZ$1.88m after less than 15,000 people turned out to watch The David Beckham Show there in December 2008.BACK TO THE FUTURECast your minds back 20 years. OK, just Google 1990, you drink-addled laggards. And then agree that it is perfectly conceivable, indeed eminently probable, that most people back then would have confidently predicted that at no point in the ensuing two decades would Vanilla Ice enjoy another No1, the Republic O'Ireland reach the World Cup quarter-finals, or Chris Waddle's penalty kick land. But only a madman or a madwoman or maybe an unusually talkative, and mad, hippopotamus would have suggested that in the period from 1991 to 2010, Liverpool FC would win precisely as many English league titles as Jesus Jones.The question now is whether the prospect of Liverpool going another 20 years without such an accolade is more or less imaginable than the fruitless grappling to which Anfield has borne witness over the last two decades was in 1990?Events tonight may bring us a small step closer to answering that. For if Rafa BenĂtez (one of "the top five coaches, managers in the world", according to comedy genius George Gillett) and his knack-ravaged Liverpool beat Tottenham then they will, despite all doom-mongering, move within one point of the sacred Big Cup places and reinforce the impression that this season's race for the Euromillion slots is akin to a slapstick prison-break scenario whereby a considerable amount of cell-bricks have fallen loose but the wall remains impenetrable because all the would-be escapees have become impractically fat.And if, by contrast, Spurs win, then exactly 40% of Liverpool's playing staff, $tevie Mbe, may regret quashing all the rumours about him moving away at the end of the season by making an unequivocal and public pledge of loyalty to Liverpool today. "All the stories about me leaving are unfounded," tubthumped Mbe. "The fans can be assured that I am doing all I can to get back to top form and help Liverpool finish the season on a high." Hold on, he's left plenty of wriggle-room there, hasn't he?Join Barry Glendenning for MBM coverage of Liverpool 1-1 Tottenham from 7.45pm.FIVER LETTERS"Is Emma Parish (yesterday's Fiver letters) really pompous enough to think that the difference between the Fiver saying that Must were planning instead of considering one of those pointless Liverpool-style Let's All Walk From A Pub We Were Going To Be At Anyway To A Match We Were Going To Anyway protest marches is big enough to merit a sanctimonious right of reply that looked longer than the story she took exception to? Really?" - Jay Grant."At the risk of baiting 1,057 pedants into archive-trawling action, was yesterday's Fiver the first where each of the main articles was shorter than the letters section? Obviously Emma Parish was the main contributor to that dubious achievement. Next time you're scratching around trying to hit your word count, you should give her a call – she certainly matches the Fiver on the humour front" - James Lambert."While I support Emma Parish's cause and methods, if she's going to refer to a 'poor excuse for an article' and 'shoddy journalism', may I request she also makes it clear that she 'expects better from the Guardian', thus allowing me to complete my Sanctimonious Guardian Criticism Bingo card for this week?" - Gavin Hutchinson."Emma Parish is deluded. The Fiver? Journalism?" - Steve Johnson."I think Emma Parish took it one step too far yesterday. How dare she say 'try to do your job properly'. Does she not read the Fiver? It was really below the belt; it should have been left at 'try to do your job'. I have sent a four-pack of extra-strength Tin and some cigarette butts I found on the pavement by courier so you can get through this terrible trauma" - Nick Trim."As Chairman of Smut (Supporters of Manchester United Trust), I must express my utter dismay that in yesterday's letters you published Emma Parish's missive which selectively promoted only Must and Imusa. I'm sure I also speak on behalf of Tums (Trust of United's Manchester Supporters), Stum (Supporters' Trust Uniting Manchester) and Muts (Manchester United's Trusty Supporters) in seeking equal representation for all our worthy organisations. Furthermore, I note you have blatantly ignored reporting the recent formation of Pointless, the trust that represents all the 73 trusts for Manchester United supporters. We reserve the right to hold a march (or possibly a pub crawl) to protest against your overt bias. You've been warned" - Martyn Shapter."The Independent Man Utd Supporters' Association ... I'mUSA? You're kidding, right? I wish my job was as easy as yours" - Juan Cregeen."As if 18 January hadn't already been declared the most depressing day of the year, I've received Monday's tea-time email again today. Good work" - Mark Spedding (and 1,056 others)."I have commissioned the Finn brothers to commemorate the event by penning a lengthy dirge entitled Two Fivers In One Day" - Kate Donald.Send your letters to the.boss@guardian.co.uk. And if you've nothing better to do you can also Tweet the Fiver now.BITS AND BOBSManchester United's parent company has filed accounts for the year ending 30 June 2009 that reveal the club's overall debt has gone past ÂŁ700m for the first time, swelling to ÂŁ716.5m. Rumours that the parent company in question is considering a name-change from the Red Football Joint Venture to the In The Red Football Joint Venture remain unconfirmed.It never rains, etc dept: Portsmouth are being sued for ÂŁ1.7m by Sol Campbell over fees and bonus payments which the defender claims he is owed.Big Sam has had a pop at Blackeye Rovers fans after they sold just 1,500 of their 4,000 allocation for tonight's Secondary Cup semi-final second leg at Aston Villa. "They will be moaning like mad, though, when we get to the final and they can't get a ticket," he sniffed presumptuously.And Pep Guardiola has agreed a one-year contract extension as Barcelona coach. "He doesn't like me saying it, but [he] is the best coach in the world and we are proud to continue to have him here," swooned president Joan Laporta.A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORSLast night's victory for Man City now makes them 2-1 third favourites to win Secondary Cup, with Aston Villa the 7-4 favourites. Manchester United are 4-5 to reach the final with their city rivals slightly bigger at 9-10. Elsewhere, it's getting worse and worse for Portsmouth and we make them 1-4 to be playing in the Championship next season.Congratulations to Matt Steer who correctly predicted that Rafael would be booked first last night in our Twitter competition. He picked up a free bet for his troubles. Check out our Twitter site for more free bet opportunities. Open an account with Sportingbet and we'll match your first deposit up to ÂŁ50.STILL WANT MORE?Join Paul Doyle now for MBM coverage of Nigeria v Mozambique in the Africa Cup of Nations.Follow Aston Villa 2-1 Blackeye Rovers with Gregg Roughley from 7.45pm.Ever wondered which players have been injured while showboating? The Knowledge has the answer.Jonathan Wilson has a chin-wag with Benin's former Accrington Stanley defender Rommy Boco ahead of their vital ACN game with Egypt.Will Man City ever become bigger than Man Utd? Paul Wilson poses the question on the blog then runs for cover.And Jamie Jackson outlines how Wrist Ham's new owners can make their seven-year pitch for Big Cup football a reality.SIGN UP TO THE FIVERWant your very own copy of our tea-timely(ish) email sent direct to your inbox for free every weekday? Click here to sign up for the Fiver today. And also, heaven forfend, if you want to unsubscribe.MIGHTY MORPHIN MINUTE-BY-MINUTEBarry GlendenningPaul Doyleguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Redknapp gives Pavlyuchenko warning • 'Everyone has got to put in a shift,' says manager• Unsettled Russian is still up for sale this monthHarry Redknapp has strongly criticised Roman Pavlyuchenko's work ethic and, as he looks to sell the Russia striker during this month's transfer window, he suggested that his priority upon being appointed as the Tottenham Hotspur manager was to change the general attitude towards application at the club."I need people who are going to work," Redknapp said. "I want to see people who are going to work and that's what I changed when I came to Tottenham. I changed it from a team which was bottom of the league into a team that works harder. I got people in who are going to do that. Players like Wilson Palacios, they give everything and that's why we're doing a lot better."Redknapp introduced Pavlyuchenko as a 71st-minute substitute in the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Leeds United at White Hart Lane on Saturday, with the score at 1-1. He was immediately rewarded as Pavlyuchenko scored a fine goal, his second of a difficult season, in which he has featured only sporadically. The home crowd had welcomed Pavyluchenko warmly and they chorused his name, and, after his goal, they chanted it more loudly still.His popularity does not appear in doubt with them yet Redknapp was less enamoured and, after the tie had finished 2-2, he spelled out a few home truths."He [Pavlyuchenko] can start games, there's nothing to stop him from starting," Redknapp said. "If he comes in every day to work, shows a good attitude and if he plays on Tuesday [against Fulham], then I expect him to run around, work hard for the team. If he does that, he's got terrific ability, then there's no reason why he can't be in the team."It's finding the ball. When you haven't got the ball, you have to work. You can't have a couple not working for you. It's finding that blend for you. There are exceptions to the work ethic but you have to put a shift in, and I'm not talking just about Pavlyuchenko. You can't have two strikers who won't work for you, who won't run the channels and track back when they lose the ball."That's what you need if you're going to be a successful team. Wayne Rooney does that, look at the shift he puts in every time he plays football. That's why Rooney is a great footballer. When he plays, he's special. He got four goals for Manchester United against Hull on Saturday and he probably covered more ground than anyone else on the pitch. He tackled everybody, worked hard, headed the ball and that's why he's so good."Pavlyuchenko has attracted interest from England and Russia, with Redknapp confirming last week that Zenit St Petersburg had "been in" for the 28-year-old. Spartak Moscow have also indicated that they would like to take him but Redknapp is beginning to think that no deal will be struck."I'd be surprised if Pavlyuchenko wasn't here at the end of January," he said. "I think he's sure to be here. There's nothing happening, no one's spending any money. It's pretty quiet."Redknapp said that he would consider relieving Jermain Defoe of penalty-taking duties. Defoe missed against Leeds, having also missed an injury-time kick at Everton last month, which would have given Tottenham victory. "I don't know if he's a great penalty taker, to be honest," said Redknapp. "It's finding someone else who takes them. Pav takes good penalties. He's got to get in the team..."Tottenham HotspurHarry RedknappDavid Hytnerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |