★★★FOOTBALL / SOCCER RAG ✿◕｡&#96

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Kuyt Penalty leads to Liverpool win over Sunderland

AFP – by Jason Mellor Jason Mellor – Sun Mar 20, 12:13 pm ET

SUNDERLAND (AFP) – Liverpool kept alive their hopes of qualifying for Europe with a controversial 2-0 Premier League win over 10-man Sunderland on Sunday.

Kenny Dalglish's sixth placed side need to catch fifth placed Tottenham to avoid missing out on a place in Europe and they were given a helping hand by the officials at the Stadium of Light.

Referee Kevin Friend and his linesman played an important part in the win, with a hotly-disputed decision allowing Dirk Kuyt to break the deadlock with a penalty before Luis Suarez sealed the victory.

Friend made his error when he allowed the linesman to persuade him to give a penalty for John Mensah's challenge on Jay Spearing even though he had initially given a free-kick.

Replays showed the tackle was outside the area but Kuyt scored the penalty to set Liverpool on the way, while Friend sent off Sunderland defender Mensah late in the match for a professional foul on Suarez.

The early stages were notable only for Sunderland's injury problems - Sulley Muntari and Kieran Richardson both limped off injured and Phil Bardsley might have followed if it had not meant using their last substitute already - until Friend intervened.

On Liverpool's last trip to the Stadium of Light, Sunderland's winning goal went in off a discarded beachball. This time the Reds got lucky.

Faced with a routine long ball, Ghana captain Mensah made a mess of chesting it down and allowed Spearing to pounce onto the loose ball.

The midfielder was heading for the penalty area when Mensah brought him down.

Friend stood on the spot outside the area where he thought the foul had taken place, but linesman Billy Smallwood disagreed, signaling for a penalty.

Although television replays proved Friend correct, he was persuaded by the linesman and Kuyt drilled the penalty to Simon Mignolet's left.

Mensah had escaped with a booking, but received a red card after 82 minutes for a professional foul on Suarez.

The Belgian goalkeeper's first save of note came after 37 minutes when he stretched to keep out Suarez's effort from a brilliant Spearing pass.

Until then Andy Carroll had been Sunderland's only real concern. The former Newcastle United forward was his usual dominant self in the air, and although he discomforted the home defenders on his Premier League debut, his side had little to show for it until he forced substitute Lee Cattermole to cleared off the line at a 51st-minute corner.

Mignolet made a great diving save from Spearing in the 74th minute, but was badly beaten at his near post minutes later. Suarez beat Cattermole, then the goalkeeper, from a near impossible angle.

Asamoah Gyan was fortunate to escape a red card for poking Martin Skrtel's nose but seconds later his international team-mate Mensah was dismissed for pulling down Uruguay forward Suarez as he bore down on goal.

Sunderland were poor throughout and it was not until the 86th minute that Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina was forced into a save, keeping out Cattermole's long-range effort.

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Premier League - Chelsea's Brazilians sink City

Sun, 20 Mar 18:02:00 2011

Late goals from Brazilians David Luiz and Ramires saw Chelsea grind out a 2-0 victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

While £50m man Fernando Torres, preferred to both Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka up front, fired another blank, it was their other big January signing Luiz who broke the game open with a 79th minute header.

Ramires then clinched the points with a super solo effort in stoppage time as Chelsea jumped above City into third place.

It was Luiz who was the real star, as he also won the free-kick that led to the opening goal and produced a masterful display at the back in a superb individual performance.

Up until that moment though it had looked like a well organised Manchester City side would pick up a handy point in their bid for Champions League football despite being without their star man, Carlos Tevez, who failed a pre-match fitness test.

However, they now risk being caught by Tottenham for fourth spot for the second successive season, with Harry Redknapp's side only four points behind them with a game in hand.

Chelsea can still harbour outside thoughts of a crack at the title. They are nine points behind leaders Manchester United but still have to play Sir Alex Ferguson's men and have a game in hand.

The first-half was played at breakneck speed which made it reasonably entertaining fare even if chances were at a premium.

It was City who started the brighter and they had a decent effort after only six minutes when Yaya Toure drilled a decent low drive towards goal only for Petr Cech to get down quickly to push it away.

However, Chelsea soon started to get on top but struggled to create chances against a suffocating City backline marshalled superbly by Vincent Kompany.

The Belgian blocked an effort from Frank Lampard in the 37th minute while Torres's only real chance to shoot was ended by a crushing, but fair tackle, from the imposing Nigel de Jong.

Chelsea had a handball shout when the lively Salomon Kalou had a cross blocked by Joleon Lescott, but 0-0 was just about right at the break.

The second-half followed a similar pattern, Chelsea on top, but City coping. Florent Malouda fired straight at Joe Hart after good work from Torres and Kalou; a Branislav Ivanovic header was blocked by Kompany; but it was mere bits and pieces stuff as a draw looked inevitable.

However, then Luiz found himself inexplicably down the left wing in an attacking position and won a free-kick near the corner flag. Drogba, on at this stage for Torres, whipped in a superb free-kick and Luiz got his unmistakeable mop on the ball to head into the corner for the opener.

So settled into their gear of containment were City that they struggled to react to going behind, and they never really threatened an equaliser even with bad-boy Mario Balotelli being brought on to try and end a troubled week on a redemptive high.

Instead it was Chelsea who got the second in fine style as Ramies picked up the ball around 40 yards out; he then skipped past Aleksandar Kolarov and Lescott before ending his mazy run by smashing the ball past Hart to clinch all three points.

Seán Fay / Eurosport

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Going looks good for Fergie-Jose Final

Fri Mar 18 01:30PM

Sir Alex Ferguson was at Cheltenham on Friday, watching his horse What A Friend in action.

His nag may be the Wolves of the Gold Cup, but Fergie appears to be enjoying the opportunity to play the owner, mixing with race men, swapping tips, getting away from the fraught soap opera that is the Premier League.

How thrilled he must have been, then, to see a growing knot of pressmen gathering at the one entrance to the owners' bar where he was calming his pre-race nerves.

The Sky cameras were there, the radio mics, the reporters' notebooks, all seeking comment not on the going (good to soft), not on the condition of the favourite (belting, apparently) but on the Champions League draw. United against Chelsea in the quarter final: it's the Gold Cup of football ties, like Kauto Star against Denman. Except with less sentient participants.

Dismayed as he may have been by the sight of all those pressmen Fergie could not, as he walked up to the owners' enclosure, disguise the fact the draw has been kinder to him than it might. Sure, he has a quarter against Carlo Ancelotti's side, who will be no pushovers. But with the second leg at home, it cannot hold greater fears than he has overcome in the past in this competition. And better than that, thanks to the simultaneous semi draw, he knows this: he will avoid the real threats, Barcelona or Real Madrid, until obliged to meet one or other at Wembley in the final.

No, the manager who has been most stymied by the draw is Fergie's fellow racing enthusiast, Harry Redknapp.

What a route now opens up ahead of Tottenham. A club that has never competed in the Champions League before this season now has to dispose of the grandest of all opponents to reach a semi-final against the current darlings. It is enough to make a man twitch.

But imagine if Harry was to do it. To steer their way past Milan, then Madrid, then Barca before a possible meeting at Wembley with United, Chelsea, Inter or Shalke: if there was ever demonstration of the old cliche about having to meet the big teams at some point in a knock-out, this is it. And what a way to announce his credentials.

What a glorious sequence that would be for Redknapp, one that would finally seal the rapid elevation he has made this season from jokey outsider to proper, grown-up, serious manager.

There is just one obstacle in the way of such unfettered romance. And it wears a fancy suit, favours designer stubble and can fluently swear at the match official in half a dozen European languages. Jose Mourinho is precisely not the sort of opponent Redknapp needs right now. The wily Portu-geezer has an astonishing European record, winning the big gong with two different outfits. He is not going to let a small matter like Spurs block his progress to success with a third.

The problem for Redknapp is that Mourinho will find a way to out-fox him. True, the blanket defence that brought him such success with Porto and Inter is probably not available to him with Real, going so completely against the club's sense of itself as it does. But still, he will already be working on ways to block the flow to Luka Modric, combat the aerial threat of Peter Crouch, man-mark Gareth Bale. Given the depth of his resources, there is not much Redknapp can spring on him by way of surprise; he will find a way to counter whatever Spurs throw at him.

Plus, Mourinho has been blessed by the re-emergence of Karim Benzema. The Frenchman seemed to be on his way out of the club but three months ago. Now, after destroying Lyon in the last round, he looks the kind of player everyone thought he might become five years ago. As Redknapp has done with Bale and Michael Dawson, Mourinho has produced from his own ranks a player that others had missed.

All the evidence suggests - never mind how joyful it would be to see Spurs progress, how refreshing to see an English manager take his place at Europe's top table - it will be Mourinho obliged to solve the Barcelona conundrum in the semis.

Indeed, this is how I see things progressing, with the semis of Madrid against Barca and United against Inter, leading to a final between United and, after confounding every wider opinion by out-witting their Spanish rivals, Madrid.

Fergie against Mourinho, the master against his successor: it has got to be that, hasn't it?

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Premier League - Did Evans deserve his RED CARD ?

Mon, 21 Mar 09:51:00 2011

Manchester United's Jonny Evans was controversially sent off against Bolton - but did the defender deserve to go?

Referee Andre Marriner showed a straight card after the Northern Irishman went in for a 50-50 challenge 30 yards from the United goal.

Evans went in with his studs up and caught Stuart Holden hard, splitting the American's knee open and forcing him to be taken off on a stretcher. He is expected to miss up to six months through injury.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "The referee has seen the player have a bad injury.

"Both players went for the same ball, with their feet raised, and Jonny caught the lad.

"Once you raise your feet you are putting yourself in a dangerous area. It was unfortunate but we cannot complain."

Evans now faces a three-match suspension, which comes at the worst possible time for United who have a defensive personnel crisis with Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, John O'Shea, Rafael and Wes Brown all missing on Saturday.

United fans aggrieved at the sending-off could point to the studs-up challenge by Jamie Carragher on Nani that left the winger with a large gash in his shin, and for which the Liverpool defender was only yellow-carded.

Eurosport

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Premier League - Paper Round: Fergie outsmarts Wenger in starlet chase

Mon, 21 Mar 08:46:00 2011

Alex Ferguson has "outsmarted" Arsene Wenger in the battle to sign 17-year-old starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Southampton, according to Monday's papers.

The midfielder - hotly tipped to be football's next big superstar - was at the heart of plenty of transfer speculation in January before eventually deciding to stay with the Saints.

But now the Daily Mirror reports that Manchester United will sign him in the summer after putting forward a £10 million package - and telling the player that he will be fast-tracked into the first team at Old Trafford.

It seems that the promise of leaping straight into top-level football will apparently swing the deal for United. As for Southampton, their disappointment at not getting a sale-and-loan-back deal will be soothed by the £5m up front and £5m in add-ons.

Another player who generated plenty of headlines in the last transfer window was Blackpool skipper Charlie Adam, with Liverpool and Tottenham both trying to sign the 25-year-old.

And it seems that neither side have given up hope of landing him, with the Mirror claiming that Kenny Dalglish is dead set on outbidding Spurs in order to bring his fellow Scot to Anfield.

Gerard Houllier's position at Aston Villa came under increasing threat at the weekend after his side lost to Midlands rivals Wolves on Saturday - but it seems as if the Frenchman's job is safe for the time being. A "high ranking official from the boardroom" told the Daily Star that the weekend result was "bitterly disappointing... but nothing's changed. We remain committed to the same long-term strategy".

Speaking of high-profile arrivals who have disappointed this season, Fernando Torres gets the full treatment in The Sun this morning: "Will he ever score?" asks the paper, before a dismal assessment of how he played on Sunday that focuses on his confidence, fitness, goal threat and teamwork.

Their conclusion? "It may be next season before Blues fans see him back to his best. On this evidence he may have to settle for a place on the bench." Just what Nando needs to read after alongside the many headlines calling for the canonisation of David Luiz.

And we can't wrap up Paper Round without mentioning the Daily Mail's piece about the relegation battle this morning - not for the article itself, but for the magnificent banner pictured alongside it.

The banner in question was held up by a group of Blackpool fans during the draw with Blackburn: "Jesus satisfied 5000 with five loaves and two fish. Ian Holloway has satisfied millions with 11 tangerines!"

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Premier League - United Owners report LO$$ of over £100m

Tue, 22 Mar 11:45:00 2011

Manchester United's owners made a £108.9 million loss last year, according to their accounts.

The loss by Red Football Joint Venture, the Glazer family's parent company that owns United, include some one-off costs from setting up the £526m bond scheme last year to replace their bank loans, according to accounts filed at Companies House.

The lack of income from selling players also contributed to the loss for the year ending June 30, 2010 - the previous year the company had recorded £21m profit thanks largely to the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo. Last year's losses included £30.2m interest on their £220m payment in kind (PIK) loans which have since been paid off.

United's club accounts were published in October and revealed losses of £83.6m - the PIK interest payment is not included in the club accounts - but club chief executive David Gill said then there was £165m in the club's bank account and that they were in a healthy position.

Gill said in October: "We have money in the bank so there is zero pressure on that, no pressure at all to sell any star player. The philosophy is to retain and attract the best players. We have £165m in the bank but in some ways we would prefer to have £80m in the bank and Ronaldo on the pitch."

The highest loss recorded by a Premier League club was Chelsea's £132m in 2005.

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Premier League - Balotelli 'threw DARTS from Window'

Sun, 27 Mar 12:09:00 2011

Manchester City are set to discuss Mario Balotelli's disciplinary issues after the striker was reportedly caught throwing darts from a first floor window.

The People claims that Balotelli lobbed the missiles in the direction of youth team players because he was "bored".

The incident occurred at City's Carrington training complex, and the club said nobody was injured.

However, the volatile striker could still face a fine for his actions, and a club spokesman said: "The matter will be dealt with internally."

Controversy has dogged Balotelli since his arrival from Internazionale in summer 2010.

Last week manager Roberto Mancini accused the 20-year-old of betraying his trust and being "stupid" after he was sent off as City were knocked out of the Europa League by Dynamo Kiev.

Mancini said: "Mario needs to use his brain - if he doesn't he will find things very difficult.

"He is a young player, but this is the time when he needs to start thinking with his head. He is a fantastic player and his talent does not deserve this situation.

“But he has let down the players, the squad, and me because I trusted him 100 per cent."

Before the game he was shown on TV apparently unable to put on a training bib, and the video has become an internet sensation.

In the first leg of that tie, he was substituted after suffering an allegic reaction to the grass in Kiev.

Balotelli was sent off against West Bromwich Albion in November, and has picked up nine yellow cards in 21 appearances.

Just weeks after signing, he was unhurt after being involved in a two-car collision in Cheshire in his Audi A8.

For all his problems, Balotelli has scored 10 goals for City and is rated as one of the most talented youngsters in the world.

He recently admitted he needed help to control his temper on the pitch, and City are determined to ensure he does not waste his talent.

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Mourinho was 'hours' from saying yes to England Job

AFP News – Mon, Mar 28, 2011 10:40 AM SGT

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has revealed he seriously considered taking the England job after leaving Chelsea in September 2007, coming within "hours" of doing so before electing to stay in club football.

"When I left Chelsea, the first month was fantastic. I went to Africa, to Japan, I did tons of things I had not been able to do" while leading the English side to its first league title in half a century and then repeating the dose before falling out with billionaire owner Roman Abramovich.

"The second month was good too, but from the third onwards it was horrible, just awful," Mourinho said in an interview with French sports daily L'Equipe.

Revealing he had mulled several club offers he admitted his interest had been piqued by the England job which Steve McClaren had just lost and which ultimately went to Italian Fabio Capello.

"I was hours away - I almost signed up for the English national side. But at the last moment I began thinking: 'I am going to coach a national side, there will be one match a month and the rest of the time I will be in my office or supervising matches'.

"And then to have to wait until the summer to compete in a European Championship or a World Cup? No, it wasn't for me.

"So at the last moment I pulled back preferring to wait for the right job to come along, a good club, a challenge that could motivate me. That was Inter," said Mourinho, who led the Italians to their first European Cup in half a century last season as well as Serie A and Italian Cup glory.

He added he had briefly considered if Paris Saint Germain, in the doldrums since a last French title in 1994, might not have been a stage on which he might strut his stuff.

Instead, he said he felt that England, Spain and Italy were likely to prove a better test of his mettle, adding he could not understand how Paris, as a major European capital, could seemingly not aspire to producing a European football giant.

Asked to explain his giving the impression of 'arrogance' on the touchline, Mourinho, who this season hopes to become the first coach ever to lead three clubs to European Cup glory, said it was his nature to wish to try to exert an influence on the outcome of a match.

"But I am very different on the bench today compared with six, seven or eight years ago. Sometimes I stay in my seat almost the whole match without communicating much.

"Other times, I am on my feet from the first minute til the 90th and very active. It depends on the situation."

Asked if he could reignite Real, who have under-achieved for a decade since winning the last of their European titles while appointing and discarding a squadron of coaches, Mourinho said: "The issue is not one of power but of having the conviction that one can succeed.

"Clubs must understand that coaching for me is not just encouraging players, preparing matches, drawing up the teamsheet and who you send on and take off. If you take me on as coach you must take me as I am."

And Mourinho added that he does not take his work home with him.

"When I get home I live like anyone else. I help my son and daughter with their homework, have a coffee with my wife. We want to be a normal family."

But he conceded that it was "impossible" to go shopping with his wife and "I cannot go and watch my lad play football just as any other father would do" if he wished to keep his private life private.

"Only my family and my closest colleagues are allowed to know who is the real Jose Mourinho."

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Brazil star Neymar in Race Row after BANANA thrown

By Steve Griffiths | AFP News – Mon, Mar 28, 2011 3:02 AM SGT

Brazil star Neymar was at the centre of a racism row after the teenager claimed a banana was thrown at him during Sunday's 2-0 friendly win over Scotland in London on Sunday.

Santos striker Neymar scored twice to seal Brazil's win at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, but the 19-year-old's memorable day turned sour when he was allegedly subjected to a racist attack.

A Brazilian press officer confirmed a banana had been thrown on the pitch and Neymar, who is a transfer target for Chelsea and Real Madrid, told Brazilian television that he suffered abuse throughout the match.

In the past, bananas have often been thrown at players by racist fans in stadiums across Europe, but the foul practice had died out recently.

Neymar had been booed by Scotland fans after a lengthy spell of treatment for a first half injury, but it is not certain who threw the banana as the fruit came from a section of the ground largely populated by Brazilian supporters.

"This atmosphere of racism is totally sad," Neymar told Sportv. "They were jeering me a lot, even when I was about to kick the penalty the entire stadium was jeering.

"We leave our country to play here and something like this happens. It's sad. I would rather not even talk about it, to keep the subject from escalating."

Brazil midfielder Lucas Leiva, who plays in England with Liverpool, is said to have removed the banana from the pitch and he added: "There is no more space for racism in the world. They say it's the first world here in Europe, but it's where it happens the most.

"That has to change. everybody is equal today, it's a matter of respect."

Selecao coach Mano Menezes admitted he hadn't seen the incident.

"I didn't see that," Menezes said. "We didn't have the displeasure of watching it. If it happened it is lamentable but we don't have confirmation of the event."

Scotland boss Craig Levein added: "I don't know anything about that."

The accusations drew an angry response from Scottish fans, however, and Hamish Husband, spokesman for the association of Tartan Army supporters clubs, said: "The reason Neymar was booed was because we believed he was feigning injury during the course of the game.

"Racism has no place within the Tartan Army and if it did exist it would be stamped out immediately as we are self-policing.

"We felt he was feigning injury and any suggestion of racism amongst our supporters is absolute tosh.

"We gave the game to Brazil through a Scotsman and the match against Brazil in 1982 was the birth of the modern Tartan Army.

"As a result of that match we have always had a strong affinity with that country and national team.

"As far as I am concerned we accepted that Brazil played us off the park and we applauded them for the quality of their football at the end of the game."

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Another new England CAPTAIN

Mon Mar 28 08:44AM

The weekend was certainly a tumultuous one both in and out of sport, what with protestors rampaging through central London the day after the England cricket team's 10-wicket defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in their World Cup quarter-final.

Still, at least England's football team won to give the country reason to cheer. The Three Lions triumphed 2-0 in Cardiff, are back where they belong at the top of Group G and Fabio Capello has been hailed for transforming the game as we know it with his revolutionary 4-3-3 formation.

With the performances of Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young and Scott Parker hogging the attention, John Terry's return to the England captaincy passed virtually without comment. The new/old skipper played with a point to prove at the Millennium Stadium, thriving on the boos which greeted his every touch and playing a key part in the move which led to Young winning an early penalty.

However, Terry will not become reacquainted with his adoring public at Wembley for Tuesday's friendly against Ghana as he has been released from the squad early.

His Chelsea team-mates Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, as well as Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Tottenham's Michael Dawson, have also been allowed to take their leave in order to better prepare for next week's Champions League fixtures.

West Ham must surely be delighted that Rooney will be well-rested for United's trip to Upton Park on Saturday while their key man Parker will have played two games in the preceding week.

The list of early withdrawals, plus injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard, mean that once again the subject of the England captaincy rears its head.

Capello will announce the latest man to be given the armband later today, no doubt after telling the players on the training ground and daring them to speak up against his decision in full view of the media.

In all likelihood, that man will be Gareth Barry. After being left out of Saturday's squad entirely, it seems that the 30-year-old will be the one charged with calling heads or tails and swapping pennants with John Mensah before kick-off tomorrow.

That's right - the same Gareth Barry whose ankle injury had the nation on the edge of its seat in the build-up to last summer's World Cup, only for him to lumber semi-fit around the Bloemfontein pitch as Mesut Ozil and co ran rings around him.

Still, the Manchester City midfielder has had the armband tossed to him before - against Denmark last month and versus Trinidad and Tobago in 2008. You remember that 3-0 win in Port of Spain, right? It was a friendly fixture arranged to help convince FIFA vice president Jack Warner to back England's bid for the 2018 World Cup. How did that work out again?

Barry may be an underwhelming choice, but who else is there? Jermain Defoe is, alongside Barry, the most-capped player left in the squad with 45 appearances. Despite boasting previous form which includes driving offences and dating a string of glamour girls, the Spurs striker is hardly captain material.

The way most nations select their captain - in order to avoid causing circuses such as these - is by age. Robert Green is the oldest man left in the squad, but his chances of ever leading his country out pretty much evaporated when he spilled Clint Dempsey's tame shot into the goal in Rustenburg.

Parker would seem an ideal England skipper, but he has only won five caps despite making his international debut in 2003.

There is one other candidate who, it seems, will be overlooked - an articulate and charismatic player who is a veteran of two World Cups. A cult hero beloved by England fans and surely the only man ever to do an 80s-style breakdance in front of royalty. A striker with a scoring rate better than a goal every other game, and who has just the right amount of tabloid scandal under his belt to give him a touch of infamy without being a full-blown pariah. Wouldn't it be much more fun if Peter Crouch were England captain?

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Premier League - Managers: Hodgson wont GLOAT

Sun, 03 Apr 08:42:00 2011

Managerial reaction from the days Premier League matches, with West Brom boss Roy Hodgson refusing to gloat after the win over Liverpool.

Arsenal 0-0 Blackburn

Arsene Wenger: "It was a frustrating performance because we had no pace in our game. Overall it was a flat performance with a lack of energy level, a lack of sharpness. It was quite a big concern to see what we have seen today. It is difficult to identify one special thing. We have to focus on our performance, not on Manchester United. Before we speak about the title I believe we have to come back to a good level of performance."

Steve Kean: "I think what we showed today is the spirit. We're showing commitment, we're showing togetherness. We showed how much we wanted to get something from the game. When you go down to 10 men you're thinking 'is this going to be a turning point?' but I thought we deserved at least a point."

West Brom 2-1 Liverpool

Roy Hodgson: "I get no extra pleasure from beating Liverpool. I made a lot of friends when I was at Liverpool. The players, I have a lot of time and respect for, and the coaching staff, many of them worked with me and worked very loyally. I don't take any particular pleasure in that. The great pleasure I take is beating Liverpool because it is not something West Brom do very often."

Kenny Dalglish: "We lost Steven Gerrard on Friday in training. It was innocuous as the two lads' injuries were here which both did when running. Dan Agger has done the tendon behind his knee and Glen Johnson looks like he has damaged his muscle (in his leg). Steven was training, ready to be available, then innocuously tried to turn with the ball, and he felt a sharp pain. It is the same area of his groin but not the same thing. We will get him assessed and at the end of the week we will know better about everyone."

Stoke 1-1 Chelsea

Tony Pulis: "It was a great start and Jon (Walters) scored a great goal but we sat back and gave them the impetus and in the last 20 minutes of the first half they showed what a great team they are. We had too many players after we scored sitting back and watching them pass it around. In the second half we pushed on to them with better quality balls up to Kenwyne Jones and got more bodies up there and it made for an entertaining game. We had the chances to win it but Chelsea are a great side with great players and you have to give them credit. They have a massive Champions League game against Manchester United on Wednesday and I thought their attitude was first class. You have to give them and their manager full credit because that was a tough game for us."

Carlo Ancelotti: "We did our best. It was a good result because Stoke had opportunities. They could have won, we could have won. It was exciting. We have to continue to do our best. The gap was not easy before this game and now it is more difficult but we have to think game by game."

Newcastle 4-1 Wolves

Alan Pardew: "If you work for the football club here in Newcastle, football up here is a religion to some people, it really is taken that seriously. Everywhere we went, we were reminded of how important this fixture was. It wasn't lost on the dressing room, rest assured of that, and we made sure we won the game. The performance at Stoke just started ringing a few alarm bells. But it was a one-off game at Stoke. It didn't go for us, it didn't work out, but we were back to what we are about here."

Mick McCarthy: "You saw the Keystone Cops goal we conceded, the first one. It was really poor. We know Kevin Nolan runs on - it's a good finish when he gets it, but come on, if that happened on Sunday morning when we were watching our kids, you wouldn't be happy about it."

Everton 2-2 Aston Villa

David Moyes: "The angle the ball came back off the bar made me think it must be close. It is a hard call for the referee and the linesman but I thought they would have picked up on the angle of the ball coming off the crossbar. It was a double whammy because within 10 seconds were 2-1 down - but that was down to us, not the referee. It was a poor decision - that is why we have been championing goal-line technology."

Gerard Houllier: "It is always difficult to get a point at Everton, it is not an easy place to play. I felt we fought hard enough to get the three points because we came back after making a mistake in the first half. We showed more competitiveness. I would say it is two points lost because we were in a winning position in the game but in terms of attitude, it was a hard-fought point and we deserved that, minimum."

Birmingham 2-1 Bolton

Alex McLeish: "It was a game we felt we really had to win. I don't like to use that term 'must-win' because what if you don't? Do you throw the towel in? But it was a big, big result for us. When everyone knows that to win will be a big, big result, it heaps the pressure on, but they have responded magnificently. (Ben Foster) had a brilliant game. Ben is not going to keep everything out for us during a whole season but today he certainly helped us to get two points that we may have lost."

Owen Coyle: "I think Birmingham started the game far better than us and we are certainly disappointed with the first goal we lost. But we did and if the truth be told, I think for 20 minutes they then controlled that first period. After that in the first half it was all us and they were playing on the counter-attack, but Foster was outstanding. He made two particularly outstanding saves from Daniel Sturridge in the first half, but that is why he is a top-class international goalkeeper - he is there to make those saves."

Wigan 0-0 Tottenham

Roberto Martinez: "I could not be more proud of my players than I am. We showed how much we have improved and how far we have come. I felt that off the ball we were outstanding. My players were tactically fantastic. The whole team kept Spurs very quiet and I felt we edged a very good game of football. It was just a pity that we couldn't get the goal that would have given us the three points this performance deserved. It is a also a shame the season is not starting now for us."

Harry Redknapp: "Gareth Bale is okay, he has got a chance. He should be fit for the game. As for William Gallas he is struggling. Unless there is a big improvement in his knee I doubt if he will be fit."

West Ham 2-4 Manchester United

Avram Grant: "I don't want to talk about the referee. In the second half, they had nothing to lose. But we have given them too much space. There were a lot of positive things. We wanted to win and did everything very good in the first half. But footballers need to complete two halves."

Alex Ferguson: "We played like champions. It was a real championship performance as far as I'm concerned. I said to them at half-time, 'Look, goal difference doesn't matter now - you're getting something from this game The next goal wins the game'. That's why I put Ryan (Giggs) back to left-back to have a go and just attack. It paid dividends and I'm pleased with that."

PA Sport

[kueytoc]

La Liga - Mourinho loses NINE-Year HOME Record

Sat, 02 Apr 19:03:00 2011

Jose Mourinho's nine-year, 150-match unbeaten league home record as a manager came to an end after a 1-0 defeat to lowly Sporting Gijon in a poor Liga game at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Mourinho, whose record started at Porto and encompassed trophy-laden spells at Chelsea and Internazionale, could hardly believe his eyes, giving a wry smile at the end of a scrappy match that was won by a fine goal from former Atletico Madrid midfielder Miguel de las Cuevas.

The defeat deals a massive blow to their hopes of closing the gap on Liga leaders Barcelona, who will extend their lead to eight points if they win at Villarreal later on Saturday.

With recently-retired Brazil star Ronaldo watching his former side after being presented a lifetime achievement award before kick-off Real - who were missing Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso and Marcelo - were well below par, playing poorly even if they were under strength as their starting XI was entirely comprised of top internationals.

Ricardo Carvalho had an early goal chalked off after the ball crossed the line in the build-up, while in the 77 minutes before the winning goal Sporting keeper Juan Pablo was tested only twice, by Angel Di Maria early on and Gonzalo Higuain just after he came on as a second-half substitute.

Emmanuel Adebayor - who had a terrible game in front of goal as he struggled to lead the line - kicked air twice, one with a failed bicycle kick and once sliding in to meet a low cross.

The performance was begging to be punished and Sporting did just that, De las Cuevas drilling in a fine low shot off the post after a smart move down the left.

With 12 minutes remaining it was all hands to the pump for Madrid but they failed to break the visitors down, Juan Pablo earning his coin with a terrific double save from Adebayor and Sami Khedira, with the keeper making another stop from the Togo striker in injury time.

And in the last kick of the game Khedira was denied a dramatic equaliser as a Sporting defender bravely flung himself towards the post to keep his low finish out.

It is Madrid's third league defeat of the season, leaving them on 73 points which - with eight games remaining - may still not prove enough in a division entirely dominated by the top two.

Relegation-threatened Sporting move up to 11th, seven points clear of the drop zone although the bottom three all play on Sunday.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Al Fayed defends Jackson Statue

Sun, 03 Apr 12:01:00 2011

Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed has told fans they can "go to HELL" - or Chelsea - if they do not appreciate the new Michael Jackson statue at Craven Cottage.

Al Fayed, a close friend of the late performer, caused controversy after announcing he had decided to place the tribute to Jackson outside the Cottagers' stadium.

The statue was commissioned following Jackson's death in June 2009 and was due to be erected at Harrods before Al Fayed sold the Knightsbridge store.

"Why is it bizarre?," Al Fayed said after the unveiling. "Football fans love it. If some stupid fans don't understand and appreciate such a gift they can go to hell."

He added: "I don't want them to be fans. If they don't understand and don't believe in things I believe in they can go to Chelsea, they can go to anywhere else.

"People will queue to come and visit it from all over the UK and it is something that I and everybody else should be proud of."

Kit Symons played during Jackson's appearance against Wigan in 1999 and is now U18s manager at the Cottagers.

"It is great," he said. "The big thing is it is obviously something that the chairman feels very, very passionately about and he has decided to erect this statue and fair dos to him."

Speaking on the time of Jackson's visit, he added: "It was just happy times. They were great times back then.

"The chairman obviously used to bring high-profile people down to the games.

"Tony Curtis was here a few weeks after and it was just fantastic times."

PA Sport

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Rooney magic inspires United

Sat, 02 Apr 14:42:00 2011

A second half hat-trick from Wayne Rooney saw Manchester United come from two goals down to claim a stunning 4-2 win over West Ham in their Premier League clash at Upton Park.

In a disastrous start for the leaders, Mark Noble gave West Ham an 11th minute lead with a crisply-dispatched penalty after Patrice Evra handled in the United box following good work from Carlton Cole.

The forward won a second spot-kick in the 25th minute as Nemanja Vidic was lured into a rash challenge on the edge of the area and, though United were left aggrieved, Noble thundered another emphatic finish into the top corner of the net.

But two stunning strikes in eight second-half minutes from Wayne Rooney saw the striker net his 99th and 100th league goals for the club and level the scores with West Ham held firmly under the cosh.

Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez were both thrown on by Sir Alex Ferguson with his side trailing at the break, and the latter rounded off a fine victory with a close-range finish after Rooney had sealed his hat-trick, converting the third penalty of the match.

Berbatov was again confined to the substitutes' bench for United, while Tomasz Kuszczak was handed a starting berth in the absence of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who suffered a tweak of his groin. Rooney led the line as the visitors' solitary forward, while instrumental midfielder Scott Parker passed a late fitness test for the Hammers.

United, who have won only four of 15 away league games this season, were looking to emulate their 4-0 league win at West Ham last season while the hosts, who were above the relegation zone on goal difference, sought their third home league win a row.

The first chance of the match fell the visitors' way as Ryan Giggs whipped over a deep corner to the back post, and defender Chris Smalling rose powerfully to force Robert Green into a sharp save, tipping the ball over the crossbar, with a header of real conviction in the fourth minute.

But the opener was to come at the other end as Cole latched on to a long ball and coolly brought it down into his stride before attempting to loop the ball over Evra's head, only for the defender to clearly handle the ball. Referee Lee Mason had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

United piled forward in their droves in a desperate bid to respond, but they were caught out at the back as Cole skipped past Vidic and was clumsily tripped by the Serb on the edge of the United box. The Serb protested vehemently, but referee Mason was unwavering.

Noble showcased part deux of his spot kick repertoire, unleashing a ferocious strike into the top right corner of the net with Kuszczak going the right way but still being comprehensively beaten by the sheer power of the finish.

Again United sought to hit straight back, but Ji-Sung Park was repelled by a stunning reflex save from Green, who dived low to his right to parry away a fierce strike from the midfielder on the half hour mark.

Further drama was to ensue in a pulsating first half as Vidic was again made a fool of, with the defender hauling down Demba Ba in hapless fashion 25 yards out, but referee Mason infuriated Avram Grant by only awarding the United skipper a yellow card.

It was a debatable decision, with Vidic the last man and Ba looking to outstrip the defender, but the close proximity of keeper Kuszczak appeared to vindicate the call.

Sir Alex Ferguson no doubt dished out a fearful rollicking to his players at the break - his touchline ban not prohibiting the half-time hairdryer blast - and the Scot reacted by withdrawing the ineffectual Patrice Evra and introducing Javier Hernandez in a tactical, but arguably enforced change.

The diminutive Mexican forward immediately gave the hosts a warning to heed as he darted past Lars Jacobsen and into the West Ham box, but his final touch eluded him and the chance went begging.

United grew increasingly frustrated as the Hammers repeatedly thwarted their forward ventures, and Ferguson promptly introduced Dimitar Berbatov at the expense of Park just after the hour mark.

The Bulgarian may not have made an immediate impact, but his presence on the field saw a free-kick awarded 25 yards out, with Rooney unfurling a quite exquisite strike which evaded the West Ham wall and beat Green to reduce the deficit. It was a stunning strike from the England forward and his 99th for the club in the league.

United proceeded to launch wave upon wave of attacks, and the West Ham back four was forced to work overtime to hold firm obdurately, but Rooney brought up his century with a stunning swivel and rasping strike eight minutes later, and the Hammers had seen their two-goal lead eroded.

The England forward clinched his hat-trick as he slammed his spot kick beyond Green with aplomb after Matthew Upson had been very harshly penalised for handball with Fabio drilling a low cross against his arm, and suddenly United had assumed the lead.

West Ham by this stage were weary and a touch despondent as United surged forward incessantly, and a fourth goal was added by the substitute Hernandez, who converted from close range to round off another fine move with Giggs instrumental.

As a result of the victory, United throw down the gauntlet to Arsenal and go eight points clear of their title-chasing rivals, who entertain Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium in the day's late kick off.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Rooney to learn fate on Monday

Sun, 03 Apr 12:00:00 2011

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will learn on Monday whether he faces disciplinary action from the FA for swearing on television while celebrating a hat-trick.

Rooney has apologised for shouting an expletive into a camera after completing a 14-minute treble that inspired his team to come from two goals down to beat West Ham United 4-2 and go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

"Tomorrow there will be a decision," FA director of football development Trevor Brooking told BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday when asked whether the governing body would be investigating Rooney's outburst.

"It was a surprise, having scored a hat-trick, to react that way. It is something we will have to look at."

United published a statement from Rooney on their website on Saturday.

"I want to apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my goal celebration, especially any parents or children that were watching," the 25-year-old said.

"Emotions were running high, and on reflection my heat-of-the-moment reaction was inappropriate. It was not aimed at anyone in particular."

Rooney had been mobbed by team mates as he celebrated his first hat-trick of what has been a troubled and below-par season before heading towards a television camera and yelling into it.

His behaviour, rather than his three goals, dominated the back pages in British newspapers with The Sunday Times' main headline announcing "Red Devil Turns Air Blue" and The News of the World declaring "Rood Yob".

Rooney made headlines at last year's World Cup for another television outburst when he turned to a camera and shouted "Nice to see your home fans boo you. That's what loyal support is," after jeers greeted England's abject 0-0 draw with Algeria.

His season has been hit by injuries, off-field problems and a loss of form and Saturday's goals took his league tally to 10.

Reuters

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Papers: United to pip Liverpool to Young

Sun, 03 Apr 09:49:00 2011

Alex Ferguson is planning to pip Liverpool to the signing of Aston Villa winger Ashley Young in the summer.

The Manchester United manager has made the 25-year-old – who impressed in England’s recent matches against Wales and Ghana – one of his top targets, and is ready to battle Liverpool for his signature when the transfer window reopens.

Villa are loath to lose one of their prize assets, but are expected to cash in on Young after the winger refused to extend his contract beyond the one remaining year. (Sunday Mail)

Ferguson, meanwhile, has decided that he will remain in the hot seat at Old Trafford for two more years, despite previously stating that he would step down before his 70th birthday.

The Scot reaches that landmark on New Year’s Eve this year, but has decided to keep hold of the reigns until 2013 – regardless of how many trophies United win this season. (Sunday Mirror)

One man who may well be heading for the door at Old Trafford is Michael Owen, who has been sensationally linked to a reunion with former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson at Leicester.

The Swede has been told by King Power – the Thai company that owns the midlands club – that ample funds will be available in the summer ahead of a promotion push next season, and 31-year-old Owen reportedly tops the list of transfer targets. (Mirror)

Everton boss David Moyes could be heading for the exit at Goodison Park, amid speculation that several of his biggest stars will be offloaded in the summer to reduce the Toffees’ £45 million debt.

Jack Rodwell - another Manchester United target – along with Marouane Fellaini, Leighton Baines, and Mikel Arteta are all being linked with moves away from Liverpool in the summer, and Moyes will quit the club if any of his team are sold without his consent. (Mirror)

To London, and QPR’s flamboyant midfielder Adel Taarabt is being linked with a short move across the capital to Chelsea.

The 21-year-old Morroccan international – QPR’s captain under Neil Warnock this season – is set to leave Loftus Road in the summer, would cost Chelsea around £8m. (Mirror)

Still at Stamford Bridge and Didier Drogba is set to be offered the chance to end his career in the United States, according to the News of the World.

The Ivory Coast striker is reportedly being targeted by MLS bosses as they continue their mission to further haul the league into the global public consciousness.

Drogba has said he wants a two-year extension to his current deal at Chelsea but with talks yet to begin after the arrival of mis-firing Fernando Torres, Eric Cantona and the newly re-formed New York Cosmos is eyeing up a deal for the 33-year-old.

Eurosport

[kueytoc]

Champions League - Ronaldo fit, Benzema out for Spurs clash

Mon, 04 Apr 18:19:00 2011

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has included forward Cristiano Ronaldo in his squad for the Champions League game at home to Tottenham Hotspur.

Portuguese Ronaldo has not played since he was sidelined by a leg muscle strain two weeks ago but completed a full training session ahead of the quarter-final, first leg at the Bernabeu.

Brazilian playmaker Kaka joined Ronaldo in the squad along with fellow injury doubts Marcelo and Angel Di Maria, Real said on their website.

Striker Karim Benzema, who injured himself on duty with France, did not train on Monday and was left out.

Nine-times winners Real, who are through to the last eight for the first time in seven seasons, host Champions League debutants Tottenham three days after the Spanish side suffered a shock 1-0 reverse at home to Sporting Gijon in La Liga.

The loss spoiled their perfect home record in the league of 14 wins in 14 this season and ended Mourinho's incredible nine-year unbeaten run in home league games with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real.

At a news conference on Monday, the Portuguese dismissed a suggestion his players would be distracted by Saturday's result, which left them eight points adrift of great rivals Barcelona with eight games left.

"The Champions League is the most important club competition in the world," he said.

"It's too important and nice to play to be thinking about anything else. It's a great match."

Gesturing towards striker Gonzalo Higuain at his side, he added: "Do you really think he is thinking about Gijon?"

The winners of the two-legged quarter-final will play Barca or Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in the semi-finals.

Reuters

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Rooney charged over Outburst

Mon, 04 Apr 17:10:00 2011

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been charged with using foul language while celebrating a goal in Saturday's 4-2 win at West Ham United.

"The FA has today charged Manchester United's Wayne Rooney for the use of offensive, insulting and/or abusive language relating to an incident during his side's fixture with West Ham United," a statement from the governing body said.

"Rooney has until 6pm on April 5 to respond to the charge."

A one-match ban would rule Rooney out of Saturday's home game with Fulham, with a two-match suspension sidelining him for the following weekend's Manchester derby FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Sanctioning a player for swearing into a camera is understood to be unprecedented in English football.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was handed a three-match ban - with a further two matches suspended - by UEFA for a similar offence during the 2009 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona but his tirade was deemed to have been directed at the referee.

There does appear to be provision for punishment in the FA's own rules about behaviour, which state: "A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour."

Rooney's three goals at Upton Park helped his team to a 4-2 victory which took them seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. But, after completing his treble, the striker uttered an audible expletive into a television camera as he celebrated. The game at was beamed around the world by Sky Sports and the incident prompted an on-air apology from the broadcaster.

The 25-year-old upset England fans during last summer's World Cup when he turned to a television camera and verbally criticised them at the end of the dismal goalless draw with Algeria.

PA Sport

Premier League - Rooney to learn fate on Monday

Sun, 03 Apr 12:00:00 2011

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will learn on Monday whether he faces disciplinary action from the FA for swearing on television while celebrating a hat-trick.

Rooney has apologised for shouting an expletive into a camera after completing a 14-minute treble that inspired his team to come from two goals down to beat West Ham United 4-2 and go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

"Tomorrow there will be a decision," FA director of football development Trevor Brooking told BBC Radio 5 Live on Sunday when asked whether the governing body would be investigating Rooney's outburst.

"It was a surprise, having scored a hat-trick, to react that way. It is something we will have to look at."

United published a statement from Rooney on their website on Saturday.

"I want to apologise for any offence that may have been caused by my goal celebration, especially any parents or children that were watching," the 25-year-old said.

"Emotions were running high, and on reflection my heat-of-the-moment reaction was inappropriate. It was not aimed at anyone in particular."

Rooney had been mobbed by team mates as he celebrated his first hat-trick of what has been a troubled and below-par season before heading towards a television camera and yelling into it.

His behaviour, rather than his three goals, dominated the back pages in British newspapers with The Sunday Times' main headline announcing "Red Devil Turns Air Blue" and The News of the World declaring "Rood Yob".

Rooney made headlines at last year's World Cup for another television outburst when he turned to a camera and shouted "Nice to see your home fans boo you. That's what loyal support is," after jeers greeted England's abject 0-0 draw with Algeria.

His season has been hit by injuries, off-field problems and a loss of form and Saturday's goals took his league tally to 10.

Reuters

[kueytoc]

Rooney is a SILLY BOY, says Redknapp

Mon, 04 Apr 19:05:00 2011

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has criticised Wayne Rooney after the Manchester United striker was charged with using foul language while celebrating a goal in Saturday's 4-2 win at West Ham United.

The England international faces a two-match ban if he accepts the charge, which would rule him out of United's league match against Fulham and the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley.

"Why is he so angry?" Redknapp asked at a news conference in Madrid on Monday ahead of Tottenham's Champions League match against Real.

"I don't remember Bobby Charlton doing it when he scored," he added, referring to the former United and England midfielder, a World Cup winner in 1966.

"Why do they have to be so angry with the world these young footballers earning hundreds of thousands pounds a week?"

"I respect him a great deal as a player but he's a silly boy and he shouldn't have done it."

Rooney apologised for his outburst soon after the match, saying he swore in the heat of the moment after completing a 14-minute hat-trick.

[kueytoc]

Rant-astic Rooney rips up Role Model Act

Mon Apr 04 09:00AM

Wayne Rooney's apparently impromptu rant to mark his feisty hat-trick against West Ham will be scrutinised by the FA today after the latest instalment of the hit show 'When footballers go mad'.

After subjecting unfortunately situated cameras to an epic expletive-laden diatribe, Rooney claimed he was simply "acting in the moment", but that is unlikely to deter the ruthless bailiffs, formerly of Soho Square and now warming seats at Wembley.

A similar excuse was churned out by Diego Maradona after he burst three veins on his neck screaming at a nearby camera following his goal against Greece in the 1994 World Cup. But in little Diego's defence, that followed a Charlie Sheen-esque Winners' Circle bender. Rooney has no such barman-provided alibi to explain away his actions.

As the forward so elegantly put it: "F***ing what? What? F*** Off." It was like an exceptionally inebriated man catching someone staring back at him in the mirror of the pub toilets.

Rooney's belligerent and bombastic second half assault saw Sir Alex Ferguson trade his rampant rollicking at the break for eulogising about his side's subsequent display of character and team spirit, but the striker may still face an unprecedented sanction.

In a touch of delicious irony, Sir Trevor Brooking, who in his guise as TV pundit on Saturday had urged the Hammers to 'show some fight', is now set to oversee the punishment administered to Rooney with his FA stooge hat on.

Brooking, after confirming that the video tapes will be scrupulously examined (he actually used the term 'watched over a foamy macchiato'), the FA director of football feigned his shock at the incident.

"It was a real surprise, after scoring a hat-trick, to react in that way. It's something we will have to look at..." Indeed, Sir Trev, it was rather galling.

No one can quite remember who officially introduced the Role Model Act (ED believes this originated circa Eric Cantona's Bruce Lee impersonation with a Crystal Palace fan as the extra), but enforced intermittently by the media, it looms large over every player whose best volleys come in the form of abuse.

There does appear to be provision for punishment in the FA's own rulebook about behaviour, in paragraph 43, chapter 72 of the 32nd edition of the patronising chronicles of English football, which ED pores over most mornings...

It states: "A participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour."

This, of course, is not the first instance of Rooney upsetting the apple cart: he riled England fans during last summer's World Cup by turning to a television camera and verbally criticising them and questioning their loyalty at the end of the dismal goalless draw with Algeria.

It may also be aptly recalled that Chelsea striker Didier Drogba was famously handed a three-match ban - with a further two matches suspended - by Michel Platini's UEFA (he told us to call it that!) for a similar offence during the 2009 Champions League semi-final against Barcelona but his tirade was deemed to have been directed at the referee.

But Rooney's sensational rant after his third goal - a regulation penalty - was meticulously planned, make no mistake.

Only the same people who buy every want-away star's excuses for hankering for a big-money move away from their home club would dispute the fact that every one of Rooney's public displays of emotion are not painstakingly orchestrated down at Paul Stretford's local watering hole.

In an act of unbridled fury which is usually excused away as simply a footballer 'confounding his critics', Rooney actually only ended up confounding his supporters, who were left to roll out the 'heat of the moment' platitudes to defend their man.

In pursuit of looking good, ED would like to say that it found Rooney's potty-mouthed routine utterly deplorable and contemptible. But, off record, it was rather entertaining.

While Rooney was plundering his 'have some of that!' hat-trick and subsequently going berserk, Manchester United's rivals were losing ground.

Arsenal and Chelsea both needed wins to stop Rooney et al. in their tracks, but all the two sides ended up doing was adding to the burgeoning price tags of Blackburn's Paul Robinson and Stoke's Asmir Begovic, respectively.

The only one of United's rivals to hit their stride were Manchester City, who drubbed an insipid Sunderland 5-0 at Eastlands.

If only to show Roberto Mancini that this kind of performance is what can be achieved if an attack-minded, enterprising approach is adopted, then it was a rampant success.

City were utterly irrepressible and, no matter how dismal Sunderland were (and no, Titus Bramble was nowhere to be seen), Mancini's side again demonstrated what they are capable of when given tactical freedom.

For the sake of the Premier League finale, and in the light of Arsenal and Chelsea's draws, let's hope the Italian gives his side free rein to cut loose for the remainder of the campaign.

[kueytoc]

Rooney crossed the line

Mon Feb 28 01:42PM

Manchester United's trip to Stamford Bridge will be their third game in a week, so Alex Ferguson is very likely to make changes to the side that beat Wigan on Saturday.

I would be very surprised if Javier Hernandez started again, despite scoring twice at the DW Stadium at the weekend. However, United will pack the midfield in order to compete with Chelsea's big men there, so Dimitar Berbatov may yet again be confined to the bench.

That would mean Wayne Rooney playing as the lone front man, even though he should not even be available to play in this match.

The FA have said he will not face any disciplinary action for his forearm smash on James McCarthy on Saturday, but what he did was totally wrong and out of order.

It gives the Chelsea crowd something to try and wind him up about - it seems everyone in the world except referee Mark Clattenburg saw that as an immediate red card.

There was no excuse for it. If someone ran past you in the street and did that then they would done for assault.

It's not even as if McCarthy is an especially physical player who Rooney needed to combat. He is a talented, young, ball-playing midfielder, hardly an enforcer.

Rooney really crossed the line there. After all the faith and support (and money) shown to him by Ferguson, I hope he has the riot act read to him for risking a long suspension and generally misrepresenting his club.

There will always be players who like to put in a hard tackle early or give an opponent a bit of a shove to make a point. It is common practice.

Of course, when I was playing it was a lot easier to get away with because there were only a few cameras in the ground. Nowadays, every Premier League match will have at least a dozen cameras filming it, so things will always be seen.

I would say that players like Rooney and others who would do something like that are brain dead for thinking it won't get picked up on camera - but if the FA let these sorts of incidents go unpunished because of a technicality then perhaps it is not the players who are the stupid ones.

- - -

Chelsea have got a chance against United. After all, they are at home, and will surely raise themselves for such a big game.

Results have not been great for them recently, but they are still capable of claiming a victory which will give their morale - and their league position - a big boost.

Carlo Ancelotti has a great record against Alex Ferguson which stretches back to his time in charge of Milan, and he would be delighted if he could add to that and relieve some of the pressure which is currently on his shoulders.

However, he must be looking at a sizeable contingent of his squad and thinking they have run their course. Regardless of what happens for the remainder of this season, there needs to be a major overhaul.

There has been talk of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba all being shipped out this summer. Obviously some players are far more likely to leave than others, but a significant change in personnel is necessary.

There are too many people still around who were a big part of the Jose Mourinho era, but that ended almost three-and-a-half years ago. They need more fresh faces who will be looking to the future rather than living in the past, always comparing whoever the current Chelsea manager is to their 'special' former boss.

Whereas United's consistent success over the past two decades has been down to Ferguson regularly replenishing his squad, Chelsea's additions since winning their first Abramovich-era title have been, for the most part, peripheral - squad members which haven't improved the core of the team.

Abramovich addressed that issue in January with his big-money signings of David Luiz and Fernando Torres, but at the moment the £50 million paid for the Spain striker still looks a big gamble. Torres has to really get back to his best form to justify that price tag.

It will take time for the striker to adjust to his new team-mates, and vice versa, and you have to think he will at least partially regain his scoring form at some point. But time is something Chelsea do not have, especially now they are fighting to even secure a place in the top four this season.

What is not aiding Torres's progress at his new club is the lack of creativity among his new midfield colleagues. Chelsea still retain their imposing physical presence in the centre of the park, and Lampard's eye for goal is still a potent weapon - but there is little in the way of the width or creative spark which the former Liverpool man has enjoyed in the past, especially while representing his country.

Given his age and the fee paid for him, Torres is obviously going to be at Chelsea for a while yet. If the club is to get the most out of him, they need to invest in the right supporting cast this summer.

[kueytoc]

Premier League - Blatter: Rooney could have been punished

Sat, 05 Mar 16:51:00 2011

The English FA would have been within its rights to sanction Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney following an elbowing incident last week, according to FIFA President Sepp Blatter.

The FA said it could not retrospectively take action against Rooney for elbowing Wigan Athletic's James McCarthy in the back of the head in a Premier League match because, under FIFA rules, as referee Mark Clattenburg had already given a foul against the England man for obstruction, they could take no further action.

However, Blatter told a news conference after a meeting of the International Football Association Board: "This is up to the discretion of the national association.

"They can use video evidence in the discipline and control committee.

"They can impose or change a decision if a red or yellow card has been given to the wrong player. If there's violence the national association can intervene and punish a player -- this is permitted at the discretion of the national association."

The FA were roundly criticised for taking no action against Rooney and their decision not to take any measures meant he was free to play in United's match against champions Chelsea at on Tuesday when he scored the opening goal, although United eventually lost 2-1.

FA chairman David Bernstein, who was sitting next to Blatter at the news conference, said he was convinced the FA had done the right thing.

Bernstein added: "In the Wayne Rooney situation, under FIFA regulations if the referee sees the incident, which in this case he did do, the FA has no authority except in what is called exceptional circumstances, really exceptional -- the Ben Thatcher incident is the only one where that has been used.

"If you open the door to 'halfway exceptional' the floodgates will open.

"I think that has more merit than meets the eye, the basis of the primacy of the referee staying in place has some merit even though that will upset fans sometimes and quite understandably."

Bernstein added: "If the referee states he has seen the incident, the FA is not able to make decisions except in exceptional circumstances."

The most famous case of "exceptional circumstances" in the Premier League was when former Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher received an eight-match suspension after he led with an elbow and fractured the skull of Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes in 2006.

The Portuguese was sent flying into a pitchside advertising boarding and needed oxygen. Greater Manchester Police made public later they would have opened an inquiry into the incident if the FA had not taken action.

FIFA's rule 77 covers "sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention" and national associations can rectify "obvious errors" in the referee's disciplinary decisions.

Meanwhile, Blatter called on managers to show more respect to referees after he was asked about Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson questioning the integrity of official Martin Atkinson following the match at Chelsea when Atkinson made a number of controversial decisions.

Blatter said: "Everyone deserves fair play. Respect starts with self-discipline. This is what we are asking everywhere, from youth teams upwards and it is also valid for personalities.

"The higher your position the higher your responsibility. Those that have more power should be more responsible towards others. This is a principle in life."

Reuters

Premier League - Rooney escapes ban over elbow

Mon, 28 Feb 13:10:00 2011

Wayne Rooney has escaped any further action for elbowing James McCarthy during Manchester United's 4-0 Premier League win over Wigan on Saturday.

The England star caught the Wigan midfielder round the head during the match at the DW Stadium.

Referee Mark Clattenburg blew up for the incident, but did not give a card to the fiery striker as he presumed the clash to have been accidental.

And the FA confirmed on Monday that no further action would be taken against Rooney.

Referees chief Mike Riley has offered his backing to Clattenburg, insisting that his actions on the pitch and when subsequently writing his report were done in the correct manner.

Riley, general manager of Professional Game Match Officials, said in a statement: "Mark took the correct course of action with this incident.

"Match officials are trained to prioritise following the ball, as that's where the greater majority of incidents are going to take place.

"However, we also do a lot of work around the area of peripheral vision to be aware of anything that might potentially happen off-the-ball.

"In this incident Mark was following play but caught sight of two players coming together and he awarded a free-kick because he believed one player had impeded the other.

"We should be clear that Mark did nothing wrong in officiating this incident as he acted on what he saw on the pitch."

Rooney is available to face Chelsea on Tuesday night. Despite that fact, Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti has no problem with the striker lining up against his team in the rearranged fixture at Stamford Bridge.

"If these are the rules, and the FA decided this, I am happy to play against Rooney," the Italian manager said.

Eurosport

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City deserve top FOUR spot says Mancini

By Graham Chase | AFP News – 19 minutes ago

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists his side have proved they deserve a Champions League place as they prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield on Monday.

Mancini's men have seven games remaining as they look to hold on to a top-four spot in the Premier League table.

And they also take on bitter rivals Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final on Saturday at the end of a week that could define their season.

Big spending City have failed to launch a challenge for the Premier League title and were also frustrated to be knocked out of the last 16 of the Europa League by Dynamo Kiev.

City supporters are desperate to end their long wait for a trophy, which stretches back to their League Cup win in 1976.

But former Inter manager Mancini, who has faced constant speculation about his future, feels that taking their place in the Champions League for the first time will be key to developing the club.

"This year our target at the start of the season was to finish in the top four and be in the Champions League," he said.

"I think we deserve to achieve this because we have been at the top most of the season with United and Arsenal, always being between first and fourth position.

"We now have seven games until the end of the season and we will do everything to be in the Champions League next season.

"I am very happy to manage here at Manchester City as it is a big challenge.

"I think we can become a top team in two or three years. We have improved a lot and this for me is a good squad and I am very proud to be here.

"In football the situation can change every five weeks but in my opinion Manchester City will be one of the top clubs in Europe in the next five years."

Mancini will be without defenders Micah Richards and Jerome Boateng with respective hamstring and knee problems, while Liverpool are also missing a host of players for the game.

England midfielder Steven Gerrard will not play again this season due to a groin problem and Danish defender Daniel Agger is also ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury.

Full-backs Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly are also both out with hamstring injuries to leave manager Kenny Dalglish short of options at the back.

With a lengthy injury list, Dalglish is considering throwing in youngsters Jack Robinson and John Flanagan against City.

Dalglish admits the current situation, with European football looking well beyond them, is not good enough for a club of Liverpool's pedigree.

He said: "We're obviously happier being sixth than seventh, but we'd also be happier being fifth than sixth.

"The football club has greater ambition than to settle for sixth spot and we'll be looking to improve on that as best we possibly can.

"The football club is better than sixth but we've got to prove that on the pitch.

"We don't know what team City will put out, we don't know if they'll be focused on the semi-final or not.

"I'm sure they place equal importance on their position in the league but when you see a trophy at the end of it sometimes your concentration wanes a little bit. We hope that can be the case.

"I'm sure they'll have half an eye on the cup tie because it's a massive game for them and a chance for them to get a bit of silverware."

[kueytoc]

Carroll double hits City Champions League hopes

By Neil Johnston | AFP News Tue, Apr 12, 2011 5:15 AM SGT

Record signing Andy Carroll delivered a blow to Manchester City's Champions League ambitions as Liverpool cruised to a 3-0 victory over Roberto Mancini's side at Anfield on Monday.

Carroll helped himself to his first two goals in a Liverpool shirt since joining from Newcastle for £35 million in the January transfer window.

Dirk Kuyt also netted on a torrid night for City, who lost captain Carlos Tevez to a suspected hamstring injury ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with neighbours Manchester United at Wembley.

Mancini's expensively-assembled side has now failed to win any of their last six Premier League away games and remain fourth in the table.

The Italian is under pressure to qualify for next season's Champions League.

But City are only three points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who they entertain on May 10, while their London rivals also have a game in hand as the season reaches a thrilling climax.

It was hard to believe judging by their first half performance, but City had arrived at Anfield boasting more clean sheets than any other team in the Premier League.

Yet hopes of a 15th were undone by a shambolic first half defensive display as Liverpool laid the foundations for a seventh win in 12 league matches under Kenny Dalglish with a dominant first half display.

Five-nil winners over Sunderland in their previous game, City were given a taste of their own medicine as they found themselves 3-0 down by half time.

City had already been handed a seventh minute warning of Liverpool's rampant mood by Luis Suarez, the Uruguay forward's powerful low shot striking the post after the faintest of touches by keeper Joe Hart.

But Hart was unable to keep out England team-mate Carroll's majestic finish six minutes later.

It came after Tevez had originally lost possession, Raul Meireles' ambitious long-range effort cannoning off Vincent Kompany straight to Carroll, whose left-foot 25-yard finish flew past Hart into the net.

The joy on Carroll's face told its own story. Having arrived at Liverpool injured, the expensive signing has endured a long and frustrating battle to get fit. But this was pay back time.

A City victory would have taken them above Chelsea into third place and left confidence sky high ahead of next weekend's FA Cup semi-final.

But their evening went from bad to worse.

No sooner had they fallen behind than Tevez threw off the captain's armband after damaging his hamstring before disappearing down the tunnel.

Then Mancini saw his players capitulate as City went from one goal down to trail 3-0 in the space of 60 seconds.

Soon after Fabio Aurelio had been fortunate to escape a red card after an ugly two-footed challenge on Adam Johnson, Liverpool doubled their lead in the 34th minute through Kuyt's well-executed low finish just inside the area.

The inquest was still going on in the City defence when Carroll got the better of Aleksandar Kolarov to head Meireles' cross beyond Hart.

The only positive for the lacklustre visitors in the second half was that they did not concede any more.

In fact, Yaya Toure forced a fine 82nd minute save from Pepe Reina but City's dismal game was summed up when substitute Mario Balotelli, a replacement for Tevez, was subbed himself in the closing minutes.

This was an impressive performance by Liverpool, who gave a debut to 18-year-old right-back John Flanagan.

The win lifts them to within five points of fifth-placed Tottenham and keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for next season's Europa League.

[kueytoc]

Fergie warns Chelsea to beware of returning Rooney

By Graham Chase | AFP News – Mon, Apr 11, 2011 11:16 PM SGT

Sir Alex Ferguson believes Wayne Rooney will be raring to go against Chelsea as he returns from his domestic ban in the Champions League on Tuesday.

United take a 1-0 lead into the quarter-final home leg after Rooney scored the only goal in the first game at Stamford Bridge last week.

Rooney was given a two-match suspension for swearing into a television camera after scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 Premier League win at West Ham.

He was absent from the 2-0 victory over Fulham at the weekend and will miss the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday.

Rooney has scored seven goals in his last eight matches and Ferguson feels he will be desperate to make an impression against Carlo Ancelotti's team.

Ferguson said: "He will definitely be fresher that's for sure. Missing the game on Saturday means he will have six days good preparation and that should make a difference.

"In the first leg he adapted to the role we asked him to play very, very well and it wasn't an easy role because he's got to combine a defensive duty with an attacking thrust.

"Tactically he did really well in the match and his performance level was good."

Defender Rio Ferdinand, who returned from a calf problem in the first leg, believes that United can count on Rooney to put in a big performance against the Premier League champions.

Ferdinand said: "Regardless of what's happened, he's always pumped up and wants to do well because he's a professional footballer and wants to do well.

"He thrives on big occasions as we've seen in the past and he's a talented footballer and like the other players out there, under the lights on a European night, it's a special occasion."

Midfielder Darren Fletcher is a major doubt with a virus and Brazilian defender Rafael will have a fitness test on Tuesday morning to decide whether he has overcome a knee injury.

Ferguson believes that Chelsea have been obsessed with winning the Champions League since Roman Abramovich took over at Stamford Bridge in 2003.

The Blues have missed out on several occasions, including a defeat in the final to United, on penalties in Moscow three years ago.

Ferguson feels that Chelsea's desperation to win the Champions League for the first time was the reason why they spent £50 million to sign Fernando Torres from Liverpool in January.

From taking over at Old Trafford in 1986, it took Ferguson 13 years to win the Champions League and he did not win it again until that victory over Chelsea in 2008.

Ferguson added: "It seems to be an obsession for them to win the European Cup and there's no question in my mind that's why they signed Fernando Torres.

"That's an obvious reason for signing the lad and the owner Abramovich has nailed his colours to the mast in that respect, I've felt that for quite a while about them," Ferguson said.

"It's a very difficult competition to win. All of the best teams are there and you see the form of Barcelona at the moment is fantastic.

"To have an obsession with winning the European Cup is stretching yourself a little bit. I had the obsession myself for quite a long time, losing semi-finals and you're saying to yourself I'm never going to do it'.

"And when we did it in Barcelona it was the greatest feeling of all time and took the monkey off my back a bit.

"I can understand it but it doesn't make Chelsea any more desperate to win it than we are. We're desperate to win it."

Ferguson insists that United will not sit on their lead and feels their best chance of reaching a semi-final against Schalke or Inter Milan is winning the second leg.

He continued: "There's no question that Manchester United are at their best when they're trying to win matches."