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[h=1]Everton loan James Wallace to Shrewsbury Town[/h] Page last updated at 12:12 GMT, Thursday, 3 November 2011

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Wallace made his Everton debut in the Europa League in August 2009 Shrewsbury Town have signed promising teenage Everton midfielder James Wallace on a month's loan.
Wallace, 19, who played for England in the Under-20 World Cup last summer, made 14 appearances out on loan at struggling Stockport last season.
"It's a great opportunity to get games under my belt, and I'm excited," Wallace told BBC Radio Shropshire.
"I know League Two after my loan at Stockport, but I'm looking forward to trying it at the top end of the table."
Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner admits that this is not is first attempt to prise Wallace from Everton manager David Moyes, who spent three seasons at the Gay Meadow in the late 1980s.
"He's a player we've kept an eye on. We tried to take him before," said Turner. "But I know he's highly rated at Everton and David Moyes wanted him in the first team.
"He then went to Colombia with England in the summer, missed the start of the season, then had a couple of injuries, so Everton have decided it's a good chance for him to get match practice."
Continue reading the main story

Shrewsbury is a great set-up with a fantastic ground. I played here for England Under-19s and also for Stockport - and I hope I can help a club that looks to be going places
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Town's new loan man James Wallace
Liverpool-born Wallace joined the Everton Academy at the age of 13.
In August 2008, he was made a full-time scholar, almost immediately making his first team debut in a friendly with PSV Eindhoven.
His first competitive senior appearance came a year later in the Europa League in the Czech Republic against Sigma Olomouc, when he came on for the last 15 minutes.
He then underwent surgery on a double hernia problem and was sidelined until 2010 before returning to regular reserve team action and the occasional first team bench appearance.
Wallace had a month on loan at Bury last winter which was limited to just one game because of bad weather. But then, in February, he joined Stockport for another month, later extended to the end of the season, when he impressed in a struggling side who were eventually relegated.
"Shrewsbury is a great set-up with a fantastic ground," said Wallace. "I played here for the England Under-19s and also for Stockport - and I hope I can help a club that looks to be going places."

 

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[h=1]Beckham admits: I owe it ALL to Fergie[/h]

By Oliver Holt in Mirror Football Blog
Published 22:30 03/11/11

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opi...ears-as-Old-Trafford-boss-article826397.html#

David Beckham is sitting in an executive box overlooking the pitch at the Home Depot Center.
He looks fit and happy.
The California sun is beating down outside.
Later, he will drive back to his house in Beverly Hills and collect his children from school. Maybe take them down to the beach in Santa Monica.

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[h=1]Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Friday's papers[/h] Published 09:02 04/11/11 By Football Spy

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...gossip-from-Friday-papers-article826635.html#

Transfer stories from today's Daily Mirror
Manchester City loan out teenage striker
Everton starlet makes loan move
Bristol City starlet set for Carlisle loan

Stories from other papers and websites
Manchester United want to swap Dimitar Berbatov for Holland and Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. (Daily Star)
Sevilla are ready to make a January move for Arsenal misfit Marouane Chamakh. Everton are also interested in the striker. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal and Chelsea are keeping an eye on the contract wrangle between Barcelona and 17-year-old forward Gerard Deulofeu. (Daily Mail)
Manchester United are tracking Udinese's 22-year-old Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, with a view to an £8m swoop. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal are set to open contract talks with Theo Walcott . (The Sun)
Malaga want Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku, 18, on loan in January. (The Sun)
Cologne want contract talks with striker Lukas Podolski - to stop him joining Arsenal on the cheap. (The Sun)
Mick McCarthy is weighing up a January move to bring Leeds midfielder Jonny Howson to Wolves . (Daily Express)
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has sent his son Andrea , 19, on loan to Oldham . (Daily Star)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has emerged as a contender for the Leicester City job. (Independent)
Juventus are ready to splash the cash and are lining up audacious moves for Manchester United winger Nani and Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale . (talkSPORT)

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[h=1]Germany: The Next Generation? Five of the best uncapped youngsters making a splash in the Bundesliga[/h]

By Ross Dunbar in Mirror Football Blog
Published 12:16 31/10/11

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opi...-splash-in-the-Bundesliga-article824791.html#

Welcome to our new German football blog, courtesy of BundesligaFussball 's Ross Dunbar
***
German football has seen something of a renaissance over the last 10 years and the major reconstruction of the sport has seen the Bundesliga become, arguably, the best league in Europe and the nationalmanschafft strolling to Euro 2012 with ease.
But with such a strong (and largely youthful) national team, how easy will it be for new talent to break into the side?

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[h=1]Manchester United v Sunderland preview: Vidic back for Red Devils[/h] Published 10:13 04/11/11 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...Vidic-back-for-Red-Devils-article826647.html#

Skipper Nemanja Vidic returns for Manchester United as they look to record a fourth straight win since their derby-day annihilation when they entertain Sunderland.
Michael Owen (thigh) joins Ashley Young (toe), Ryan Giggs (hamstring), Chris Smalling (foot) and Tom Cleverley (ankle) on the sidelines.
United have not lost at home to the Black Cats since 1968, whilst Steve Bruce has never recorded a victory as a manager against his old club.
Provisional squad: De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Jones, Rafael, Fabio, Ferdinand, Evans, Vidic, Valencia, Anderson, Park, Fletcher, Gibson, Nani, Diouf, Hernandez, Rooney, Berbatov, Welbeck.

***
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will make a late decision on midfielder David Vaughan ahead of tomorrow's Barclays Premier League trip to Manchester United.
The 28-year-old is struggling with a groin injury, which could hand a chance to skipper Lee Cattermole to force his way back into the team.
Keeper Simon Mignolet is out for at least eight weeks with a fractured nose and eye socket - Trevor Carson has been recalled from his loan spell at Bury to provide back-up to Keiren Westwood - while John O'Shea (hamstring) will miss out against his former club.
Provisional squad: Westwood, Carson, Brown, Bardsley, Richardson, Turner, Laing, Cattermole, Gardner, Vaughan, Larsson, Colback, Elmohamady, Meyler, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Wickham, Ji, McClean, Cook.

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[h=1]Villarreal scouting report update: injuries, current form and more[/h]

By Mirror Football in Mirror Football Blog
Published 11:55 02/11/11

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opi...hreats-to-Roberto-Mancini-article825891.html#

Manchester City travel to Villarreal in Champions League action on Wednesday. Here's everything you need to know about the Blues' opponents, courtesy of www.spanishfootball.info 's David Cartlidge
***
Since their late loss to Manchester City back in October things have gone from bad to worse for Villarreal - particularly on the injury front.

In the three games they've played since their defeat at the Etihad Stadium Villarreal have lost two and won one - conceding six goals and scoring just two. The Yellow Submarine lost to an in-form Lavente side before being thrashed by Real Madrid.

After that game many expected Juan Carlos Garrdio to go, but he stayed and was backed by President Fernando Roig. Historically a vote of confidence in Spain is meaningless - and if anything is a warning shot.

A recent 2-0 win against Rayo Vallecano has been overshadowed by a debilitating injury list led by Giuseppe Rossi.
The Italian striker has been ruled out for six months with knee damage, a catastrophic blow to a side already depleted up front. His partner Nilmar is still a month away from fitness, meaning the duo's fine movement and penalty-box threat is sorely missed.

Cani is out for six weeks, Cristian Zapata five weeks and Marco Ruben is a week away from a return, as is influential midfielder Marcos Senna. On top of that Javier Camuñas also looks doubtful for the game.

Such is the sheer number of first-team injuries - B-team youngster Joselu could find himself thrust into a starting role against big-spending City.

There is little to get excited about when it comes to Villarreal, and if City can negate the running and passing of Borja Valero that should be enough. The Champions League is already seen as a lost cause for Villarreal, meaning damage limitation may well be the order of the day.

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[h=1]David Beckham move to Queens Park Rangers thought to be 'unlikely'[/h] • Beckham may regard QPR as 'too small a club'
• LA Galaxy bullish about retaining midfielder

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• Jamie Jackson
• guardian.co.uk, Saturday 5 November 2011 22.33 GMT Article history
  
  
  David Beckham embraces Thierry Henry before playing in the second leg of the MLS Western Conference semi-final, that LA Galaxy won 2-1. Photograph: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
  
  David Beckham's potential move to Queens Park Rangers is thought to be "unlikely" by the club's hierarchy, due to the midfielder's view that QPR's ambitions do not match his, the prevailing view at Loftus Road being that the former Manchester United player may well stay at LA Galaxy.
  Beckham's contract with the MLS club expires next month and the 36-year-old is determined to continue playing at least until the 2012 London Olympics, where he hopes to captain the Great Britain team.
  Beckham has met Tony Fernandes, QPR's owner, but a club executive said: "We do not think it is likely now. Also Neil Warnock [the manager] is not completely sure where he would fit into the team."
  Asked if Beckham's financial requirements may be too high, the executive said: "Actually I think he thinks we are too small a club."
  Galaxy are thought to be bullish regarding retention of a player who has proved a commercial success and who has helped raise the profile of the MLS globally.
  Tom Payne, Galaxy's president, who has just approved a lucrative post-season tour to Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia for what may turn out to be Beckham's farewell appearances, said last week: "There aren't any other David Beckhams, on and off the field, around, are there?"
  
  

 

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[h=2]Wolverhampton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic, 1.30pm Sunday 6 November[/h] [h=1]Mick McCarthy feels the heat from fans as Black Country gloom descends[/h] Wolves are facing another relegation scrap and some fans are asking if the manager has lost his mojo

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• Sachin Nakrani
• guardian.co.uk, Saturday 5 November 2011 22.54 GMT Article history
  
  
  Mick McCarthy led Wolves to the Championship title in 2009 but some fans think he is in a rut. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters
  
  Describing an early November fixture as a six-pointer may be extreme, but as Wolves and Wigan prepare to meet at Molineux on Sunday afternoon there is no doubting the gloom threatening to engulf both Premier League clubs. Between them, they have collected only one point from their past seven games and, sitting in 17th and 20th place respectively, know losing today could be the onset of a long, hard winter.
  Tension will characterise both dugouts, then, but it is fair to say that Mick McCarthy will be feeling the strain far more than Roberto Martínez. The Wolves manager does not fear a challenge but even for this most obdurate of Yorkshiremen, these are testing times. Having barely survived one relegation battle he now finds himself embroiled in another, and this time there is a conflict with his own supporters to tackle.
  "Mindless ******" is how McCarthy described those fans who jeered him during last month's 2-2 home draw with Swansea, with the manager subject to chants of "you're getting sacked in the morning". In fairness, the abuse came from only a minority of those in attendance and eased considerably following Wolves' late recovery from 2-0 down. Its very existence, however, along with the sarcastic applause directed at the midfielder Karl Henry during the earlier 2-1 loss to Newcastle, highlighted the darkening mood in the Black County.
  "It's definitely the case that not all the fans are behind Mick right now," Steve Bishop, secretary of the Cannock Wolves supporters club, says. "I would say it's a 50-50 split between those who want him to stay and those who want him to go. Personally, I recognise what a good job he's done, but there comes a time when all managers have achieved everything they can at a club. Mick may be at that stage, he may have lost his mojo."
  Statistics would suggest McCarthy, who joined Wolves in 2006 and led them to the Championship title three years later, is in a rut. He has presided over only four wins in 18 league games stretching back to the end of the last season, when relegation was avoided on the final day, and has failed to inspire an improvement in the overall performance of his side: Wolves' shots-conversion rate (7.26%) and goals-per-game rate (0.90) are both down in comparison with this stage of last season, as are their tackles‑per-game rate (14.7) and interceptions-per-game rate (12.5).
  Chris Cox, chairman of the Daventry Wolves supporters club, says: "The team doesn't appear to be playing that badly, and in some games we've just been unlucky. But what is a real issue for fans is the lack of new blood in the squad. We were told there would be significant strengthening over the summer but only Jamie O'Hara, who was on loan anyway, and Roger Johnson came in. Neither have done well and so it's not a surprise that a squad which struggled last season is doing so again."
  Bishop and Cox class themselves among the "silent majority" who have not and would not boo the team or the manager. They differ, however, in their assessments of how much pressure there is on McCarthy in particular, with Cox claiming the bulk of supporters remain behind him. That sentiment was reflected in a recent poll carried on the Molineux Mix website, which showed 59.62% of fans wanted the 52-year-old to remain in his post, with 15.76% undecided and a mere 24.62% choosing the option marked "sack the git now".
  "Mick's in no danger of losing his job, and he has no intention of walking away, either‚ but there's no doubt a growing number of fans have grown apathetic towards him," says Tim Nash, Wolves correspondent for the local Express and Star newspaper. "They're also upset with his constant criticism of the supporters – he called them 'numpties' when the team was in the Championship. Those sort of comments don't do him any favours.
  "But overall, most fans appreciate what Mick has done for Wolves and it is a fact this is the best side the club has had for 30 years. The last time they were in the top flight for this length of time was 1981. There's a lot to be thankful for."
  The absence of boos during Wolves' last two games – the home and away defeats to Manchester City – would suggest McCarthy's "mindless ******" attack has done no lasting damage. It is more the case, however, that as Wolves were not expected to win either match, they were never going to come under attack from their own fans. The real test, then, comes on Sunday, against a side the hosts have beaten only once in their past six league encounters.
  "The fans' reaction will largely depend on how the team performs; as long as they are committed and have a go at Wigan then there won't be many boos," Bishop says. "The most important thing now is that we don't get sucked into another long relegation scrap. I don't think Mick's relationship with the fans could survive that."
  
  

 

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[h=1]Joe Frazier has liver cancer[/h] By Mirror.co.uk 6/11/2011
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Joe Frazier fights Muhammad Ali in New York in 1974



Former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier is receiving hospice care for liver cancer.
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The 67-year-old was diagnosed four or five weeks ago, according to his manager, Leslie Wolff.
He revealed that doctors have not yet told the US fighter how long he has to live.
"We have medical experts looking into all the options that are out there," Mr Wolff said.
"There are very few. But that doesn't mean we're going to stop looking."

Mr Wolff, who has been Frazier's manager for seven years, said the boxer had been in and out of the hospital since early October and began receiving hospice treatment last week.
"We appreciate every prayer we can get," Mr Wolff added. "I've got everybody praying for him. We'll just keep our fingers crossed and hope for a miracle."
Frazier was the first man to beat Muhammad Ali, knocking him down and taking a decision in the so-called "Fight of the Century" in 1971. He would go on to lose two more fights to Ali, including the epic "Thrilla in Manila".
Frazier was bitter for many years about the way Ali treated him then. More recently, he said he had forgiven Ali for repeatedly taunting him.
Smokin' Joe was a small yet ferocious fighter who smothered his opponents with punches, including a devastating left hook he used to end many of his fights early.
It was the left hook that dropped Ali in the 15th round of their "Fight of the Century" at Madison Square Garden in 1971 to seal a win in a bout where each fighter earned a then-unheard of 2.5 million dollars.
While that fight is celebrated in boxing lore, Ali and Frazier put on an even better show in their third fight, held in a sweltering arena in Manila as part of Ali's world tour of fights in 1975.
Nearly blinded by Ali's punches, Frazier still wanted to go out for the 15th round of the fight but was held back by trainer Eddie Futch in a bout Ali would later say was the closest thing to death he could imagine.
Frazier won the heavyweight title in 1970 by stopping Jimmy Ellis in the fifth round of their fight at Madison Square Garden. He defended it successfully four times before George Foreman knocked him down six times in the first two rounds to take the title from him in 1973.
Frazier would never be heavyweight champion again.
In recent years, Frazier had been carrying out regular autograph appearances, including one in Las Vegas the weekend of a Floyd Mayweather Jr fight in September.

 

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[h=1]EXCLUSIVE: Spurs to ward off England interest by offering Redknapp new deal[/h] Published 23:00 05/11/11 By Paul Smith

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...ngland-interest-EXCLUSIVE-article827307.html#

Tottenham aim to block England's interest in Harry Redknapp by offering him a new three-year deal.
Redknapp, 64, is seen as the FA's number one choice to replace Fabio Capello when he stands after Euro 2012.
Redknapp's current contract has 18 months to run. And Spurs want to ensure they have their popular boss tied into a longer term deal and hope he'll turn his back on any approach from the Three Lions.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has prepared the new deal deal and formal talks are set to open shortly.

Although he admits an offer from England would be extremely hard to turn down, Redknapp has also conceded it would be a massive decision to leave White Hart Lane where he has achieved so much in such a short period of time.
Redknapp enjoys hero status with Spurs fans who also appreciate the style of play he has restored at White Hart Lane.
But even if he decides to commit himself to Spurs for the foreseeable future, there will be overwhelming pressure on the FA to meet any compensation fee.
Redknapp: You can carry me out of football in a box

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[h=1]EXCLUSIVE: Beckham would rather join Spurs than PSG[/h] Published 23:00 05/11/11 By Paul Smith

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...-Olympics-hopes-EXCLUSIVE-article827336.html#

Tottenham hold the key to David Beckham's return to the Premier League next year.
The 36-year-old's current contract is set to expire and although LA Galaxy want Beckham to stay with them he is already aware of a multi-million euros offer to join Paris St Germain.
Beckham wants to be part of Britain's Olympic Games team next summer and eight English clubs will offer him a return route to domestic football next year.
But privately Beckham's advisers have ruled out any switch to a club that is not competing for major honours, leaving Tottenham in pole position to sign him.

And the fact that Becks now accepts he can't be guaranteed a first team place can encourage an approach from Spurs.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said: "David's a fantastic player and a great influence in and around the club. He's someone that I have always admired and is a great role model.
"I would take him, for sure but my dilemma is being able to guarantee him first-team football.
"I have an abundance of talent in midfield so it's difficult to work out how and when I can play him."
Beckham will appear for Galaxy tonight in their Western Conference Final against Real Salt Lake at the Home Depot Centre in LA..

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[h=1]Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Sunday's papers[/h] Published 11:20 06/11/11 By Football Spy

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...gossip-from-Sunday-papers-article827885.html#

Transfer stories from today's Sunday Mirror
EXCLUSIVE Man City and Arsenal set for January battle over £15m German wonder-kid
EXCLUSIVE Newcastle to make January move for de Jong
EXCLUSIVE: Beckham would rather join Spurs than PSG

Lukaku will NOT leave Chelsea in January says agent
Van Basten: RvP must never leave the Gunners - Exclusive
Huth to snub Germany bids and fight for his place at Stoke
Transfer stories from today's The People
Real Madrid prepare swoop for Man United star
Real Madrid keen on Tevez loan
Spurs and Man City join the race for Lille sensation
Man City chase Mexican prodigy
Everton eye Baggies youngster
Newcastle face January clear out
Sunderland to make shock swoop for Villa winger
QPR target Chelsea striker for January switch
Stoke target Blackburn Rovers ace
Norwich and Swansea keen for Arsenal starlet loan deal
Stories from other papers and websites
QPR and Aston Villa are vying to sign Tottenham and England striker Jermain Defoe in January (Sunday Express)
Arsenal and Bayern Munich are battling to sign Borussia Dortmund playmaker Mario Goetze (Mail On Sunday)
But Manchester United will also bid £25m for Goetze in January (CaughtOffside)
United will also fight Barcelona for Valencia left back Jordi Alba (Sunday Express)
Liverpool's hopes of signing Adam Johnson are over after the Manchester City winger signed a new five-year deal (Mail On Sunday)
Chelsea have not given up on signing Tottenham's Luka Modric in January (Sunday Express)
CSKA Moscow forward Seydou Doumbia wants to join Arsenal (FootieOnline)
Tottenham want to hijack Arsenal's move for Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen (Sunday Express)
Didier Drogba could be heading for AC Milan in January (Metro)

 

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[h=1]Sir Alex Ferguson stand is a proud moment, says United manager[/h] • 'I didn't know anything about it,' says Scot
• Plans in place to erect a statue at Old Trafford

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• Observer report
• Guardian report
• Match facts
• Ratings

[h=2]Premier League 2011-12[/h]

Brown (og) 45+1

Manchester United 1
Sunderland 0

• Daniel Taylor at Old Trafford
• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 6 November 2011 23.01 GMT Article history
  
  
  Sir Alex Ferguson with a photo to commemerate his 25th year as manager, as the North Stand is renamed the 'Sir Alex Ferguson Stand'. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
  
  By the end of Sir Alex Ferguson's 25th anniversary weekend it felt like the only thing his club had forgotten was for the oldest and most successful manager in the business to be given the freedom of Manchester. Ferguson will have to make do with a stand named in his honour, a statue to follow, the framed photograph and too many slaps on the back to count. And, besides, he is already a freeman of Glasgow. "I'm allowed to hang my washing on Glasgow Green. And if I ever get arrested in the city I'm entitled to my own cell. Which could come in handy at some point."
  The mood was light, full of levity and banter, on the day the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand was unveiled and, for one of the few times in the past quarter of a century, the old man had to hold up his hands and admit he did not know what was going on inside his own club. "I've told him he must be losing his touch," Steve Bruce, the Sunderland manager, said of his former manager. "I've never known anything at Manchester United be kept secret."
  So how did they do it? The beauty of Saturday's presentation was seeing the expression on Ferguson's face, the look of utter surprise, the way he stooped forward a little and blew out his cheeks and realising that the man who controls large swaths of the United workforce and likes to have spies and informants all across the north of England had no idea what was being planned. Heck, for a few seconds Ferguson even stopped chewing his gum.
  The idea belonged to the chief executive, David Gill, and only eight out of 660 full-time employees were let into the secret. The first meeting took place on Wednesday, before the Champions League tie against Otelul Galati, and it was here that Gill emphasised the need for complete secrecy and he and his colleagues made a pact they would not tell a soul.
  It was an operation that had to be conducted under the cover of darkness. The work began once the final organised tour of Old Trafford had finished on Thursday evening and went on until 2am the following morning. First, the workmen had to remove the original "Old Trafford, Manchester" sign. Then the new letters went up, three at a time. The six-man team, using abseils to inch down from the roof of the steepest stand at Old Trafford, had been asked to sign confidentiality agreements, as had the company that produced the huge red lettering.
  Even then, the operation was shrouded in doubt. Old Trafford has a tour every seven minutes and a small army of security and ground staff. "The driving motive," according to one of the people involved, "was to make sure it was a surprise and that nobody found out. We were desperate not to let the manager hear about it beforehand." So United commissioned a 20-metre banner to go over the top of the new letters, designed in the style of the original sign.
  The nearest they came to being rumbled was when the assistant manager, Mike Phelan, taking the players for their pre-match warm-up, noticed the banner flapping in the wind. But Phelan said nothing. "So he's sacked," Ferguson said later. In fact, nobody from the football side had been trusted with the news, the group of eight comprising Gill, three employees from group property, one from marketing design, a member of the operations team, the club secretary and someone from the communications team to rush out a press release during the game. Journalists inquiring last week were told there would "be something low-key, maybe a bottle of wine".
  The group then had a second meeting at 5pm on Friday when Gill reiterated the need for secrecy and disclosed the statue plan. By now, the director Joel Glazer had been contacted but no staff were informed until five minutes before Ferguson emerged through the guard of honour. "I didn't know anything about it," he beamed later. "I have to thank the club because it's a proud moment."
  All of this might have been spoiled a little if United had not won and, at times, they did threaten to make it a bittersweet day for Ferguson once the 1,409th game of his reign began. It wasn't particularly illuminating and a tired-looking Ferguson said afterwards it had been a "long day" and he would have been happy for the game to end once Wes Brown, of all people, had inadvertently headed Nani's corner into his own net. Sunderland put up a decent show but left, as Bruce always seems to here, with nothing but hard-luck stories, losing Connor Wickham to what the club fear are ruptured knee ligaments.
  As for Ferguson, this was one of those days when we saw a softer-focus United manager. There should be more of them. But one thought, something for the future, maybe: shouldn't there be a Sir Matt Busby Stand too?
  Man of the match Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
  
  

 

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[h=1]Monday's gossip column - transfers and rumours[/h]

TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester United are set to make a move to sign PSV Eindhoven's Brazilian-born 15-year-old midfielder Andreas Pereira.
Full story: Daily Mail
Sir Alex Ferguson's side have also added Valencia left-back Jordi Alba to their list of transfer targets as a long-term replacement for Patrice Evra.
Full story: Metro
Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean is ready to resurrect his bid to sign striker Vedad Ibisevic from Hoffenheim.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Lille playmaker Eden Hazard and Ajax centre-back Jan Vertonghen, who have been long-time Arsenal targets, are attracting strong interest from Tottenham.
Full story: Metro
Blackburn are also considering an ambitious move for Barcelona's Mexican midfielder Jonathan dos Santos - younger brother of Tottenham's Giovani dos Santos.
Full story: Daily Mail
Spurs are preparing to offer Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero, 36, a chance to finish his career in the Premier League.
Full story: Inside Futbol
Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has dismissed rumours he will have to sell Darren Bent in the January transfer window as "utter nonsense".
Full story: Daily Mirror
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is lining up January bids for Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga and FC Twente forward Luuk de Jong.
Full story: Inside Futbol
Manchester City and Chelsea are both chasing Ajax's £30m midfielder Christian Eriksen - with the Blues having already made a bid.
Full story: Daily Mail
Newcastle are ready to go back in for £2m-rated Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell in January - but will face competition from West Bromwich Albion for the 27-year-old.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Derby are set to sign Mansfield's highly rated defender Tom Naylor, 20, on loan with a view to a permanent move in January despite interest from QPR, Leeds, Hull and Charlton.
Full story: Daily Mail
Celtic are evaluating a move for former Chelsea and Barcelona midfielder Boudewijn Zenden.
Full story: Press Association
OTHER GOSSIP
Fifa has insisted that England cannot wear poppies against Spain at Wembley - in case they one day meet Germany around the time of Remembrance Sunday.
Full story: Daily Mail
Former England manager Steve McClaren says Fabio Capello knows the importance of having captain John Terry in his side.
Full story: talkSPORT
Nigel Pearson wants to return to Leicester City as manager - but compensation would have to be agreed with Hull.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Tottenham attacker Rafael van der Vaart believes his side have to play better if they want to challenge for the Premier League title.
Full story: talkSPORT
Blackburn boss Steve Kean says his players are fed up with the campaign to force him out of Ewood Park.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger called his team-mates "headless chickens" after they flopped at home to Swansea on Saturday.
Full story: Daily Express
AND FINALLY
Meticulous secrecy measures ensured the naming of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand remained a shock to the manager - with only eight members of staff at Old Trafford being in on the plan.
Full story: Daily Mail
Wealthy football fans from Aberdeen have been chartering a plane to follow Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. (Daily Record)
Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie has admitted he doesn not read books - after being chosen as a "reading champion" by his local school. (Daily Record)

 

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[h=1]Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson - in his rivals' words[/h] Page last updated at 18:51 GMT, Thursday, 3 November 2011

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Dalglish and Ferguson have dominated English football for the last 25 years Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has led the tributes to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson - who celebrates his 25th anniversary in charge at Old Trafford this weekend.
Dalglish was player-manager at Liverpool when his fellow Scot replaced Ron Atkinson in November 1986, and returned to Anfield in January with United having become the dominant force in England under Ferguson.
Dalglish said: "He has been fantastic for Manchester United and I think he has even surpassed the legend that was Sir Matt Busby with the achievements and success he has had.
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I don't think you would have seen Fergie lasting 25 years when he came in until Mark Robins scored with a header at Nottingham Forest
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Kenny Dalglish
"To be anywhere for 25 years is unbelievable and every success he has had is testament to him and the football club."
United had not won the championship since 1967 before Ferguson took them to Premier League glory in 1993, and the 69-year-old has since added another 11 titles.
In all, Ferguson has won 24 major honours with United including two Champions Leagues, but was reported to have been a game away from the sack before Mark Robins scored in an FA Cup win in 1990.
"When you remember where the football club was when he came in I think it is a fantastic achievement where he has taken to them now," Dalglish added.
"I don't think you would have seen Fergie lasting 25 years when he came in until Mark Robins scored with a header at Nottingham Forest.
"But whether anyone does it in the future is irrelevant - no-one can take away the achievement he has had."
Managers from across the country have been joining Dalglish in praising Ferguson.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas "I thought that I was going to stay at Porto for 15 years, but eventually we decided it wasn't going to be like that.
"An opportunity came around and we took it.
"But for any manager, a 25-year spell in one club is fantastic and shows there is tremendous trust in Sir Alex's talent."
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce "To do 25 years? It will never be done again, never, especially at a club like Manchester United, where the huge demands on you are quite incredible.
"But he seems to thrive on it. I spoke to him this morning at 7.40am, which is typical of him.
"A game last night and he is in the office at 7.40am this morning, which is quite remarkable."
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew "He's been the godfather of this Premier League for a long, long time and still reigns to a degree, although he is being pushed around a little bit by that upstart from down the road, [Manchester City boss Roberto] Mancini.
"What he has done is just phenomenal. I was there at the very start because perhaps if Crystal Palace had won the final in 1990 - and we should have if we hadn't made a couple of errors towards the end of the game - he might not even be there, so he's got me to thank for that.
"I am pleased for him and long may he continue."
Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson - Sir Alex's son "I have to say there's no way he would have the success he has without my mother - there is no doubt about that."

 

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[h=1]Tuesday's gossip column - transfers and rumours[/h]

TRANSFER GOSSIP
Galatasaray president Unal Aysal has confirmed the Turkish club's interest in Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Aston Villa face a battle with Serie A side Roma to sign Hamburg defender Dennis Diekmeier.
Full story: talkSPORT
Tottenham have reportedly agreed a deal worth £35,000-a-week to take Juventus striker Amauri to White Hart Lane in January.
Full story: Metro
Bundesliga sides Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund are set to go head-to-head to sign £5m-rated defender Philipp Wollscheid, who plays for FC Nuremberg.
Full story: Bild (in German)
Manchester United are believed to have won the race to sign PSV Eindhoven's Brazilian-born midfielder Andreas Pereira.
Full story: talkSPORT
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Tottenham chief Harry Redknapp are battling it out with Valencia over Le Havre teenager Jeremy Balmy.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli is believed to be earmarking a move to sign Sao Paulo playmaker Lucas.
Full story: Caughtoffside
Manchester City are considering an audacious bid for Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira.
Full story: Footylatest
Tottenham have targeted a £10m move for Fulham forward Moussa Dembele after his star showing in the 3-1 defeat by Spurs at the weekend.
Full story: Daily Mail
OTHER GOSSIP
AC Milan and Italy international striker Antonio Cassano has issued a thank-you letter to his fans just four days after undergoing heart surgery.
Full story: La Gazzetta dello Sport
Blackburn boss Steve Kean remains confident he will be in charge at Ewood Park next year, and has already reportedly lined up a series of meetings with agents this week as he prepares for the January transfer window.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Midfielder Yaya Toure wants Manchester City to match Arsenal's feat of 2003-04, when they went the whole season unbeaten. City have taken the league by storm this campaign with 10 wins and one draw from 11 games so far.
Full story: the Sun
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish believes defender Daniel Agger is one of the best centre-backs in England.
Full story: the Sun
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero says he feels sorry for team-mate Carlos Tevez following his fall-out with manager Roberto Mancini.
Full story: Daily Mail
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung wants to end his career at Old Trafford, despite his struggle to hold on to a regular first-team place this season.
Full story: talkSPORT
QPR captain Joey Barton says he "does not understand" why the England squad for the upcoming friendlies does not include Manchester City's Micah Richards or any Newcastle players.
Full story: Metro
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is targeting Euro 2012 glory in what he believes will be his last international tournament.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Russian Premier League players have appealed to the country's Football Association to take action against Chechen club Terek Grozny after an FC Krasnodar striker was badly beaten in the tunnel during a league game by "men in uniform" at the weekend.
Full story: the Independent
Sandro Rosell, the Barcelona president, has criticised the corporate and foreign ownership of major Premier League teams. He said that as long as he is in charge of the Catalan club - which is owned by its 180,000 members - it will "never, ever be for sale".
Full story: the Guardian
Midfielder Jack Wilshere has outlined a desire to finish his career with Arsenal and revealed he hopes to return from his ankle injury by the end of the year.
Full story: Daily Telegraph
AND FINALLY
Johan Cruyff's grandson Jesjua Angoy Cruyff, who was on the books at La Liga giants Barcelona until last summer, has scored a screamer while playing for the reserves at new club Wigan.
Full story: the Sun
The secret behind the reunion of Manchester band the Stone Roses has finally been revealed - fan and former England captain David Beckham asked them to do it.
Full story: Metro

 

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[h=1]Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours[/h]

TRANSFER GOSSIP
Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan are all hoping to lure Portuguese winger Nani away from Old Trafford in the summer.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Leeds United captain Jonny Howson will sign a new contract with his hometown club after turning his back on a move to the Premier League with Bolton.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Arsenal's Alex Song is a January transfer target for Inter Milan, whose manager Claudio Ranieri is a big fan of the Cameroon international.
Full story: Metro
Athletic Bilbao and Spain striker Fernando Llorente is being watched by Chelsea, as they prepare for the possible loss of both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba in January.
Full story: Metro
LA Galaxy are lining up a shock move for Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard as the perfect choice to replace David Beckham.
Full story: Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP
Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias stunned Toon Army fans by unleashing a public rant against Geordie icons Alan Shearer and Kevin Keegan.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Nigel Pearson is set to be installed as Leicester City's new manager inside the next 48 hours after a compensation package was agreed with Hull.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Qatar has signed up former Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry to help cope with security issues at the 2022 World Cup.
Full story: Daily Mail
Former England goalkeeper David James warns Jack Rodwell and Daniel Sturridge that, while winning your first cap is every player's dream, it comes with potential pitfalls.
Full story: Observer
Sunderland striker Nicklas Bendtner has hinted he will not remain at the Stadium of Light once his loan spell from Arsenal ends, as he wants to play Champions League football.
Full story: Metro
Robin van Persie has joined the list of absentees from the Netherlands squad to face Germany on Tuesday after a personal plea from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who is worried he could be worn out by excessive international commitments.
Full story: Metro
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has praised Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini for his handling of Mario Balotelli after the controversial striker scored his first international goal in the 2-0 victory over Poland.
Full story: La Gazetta dello Sport
Manchester City fear Carlos Tevez, awol in Argentina, will never return to the club. Sources say the striker would rather be sued by City than return to Manchester.
Full story: The People
West Brom are set to hold contract talks with coach Roy Hodgson in the new year.
Full story: People
AND FINALLY
Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has had a cheeky dig at former team-mate Cesc Fabregas, who has let his hair grow long since he left the Emirates. The Poland international tweeted: "Well done England for beating Spain but someone has to tell Cesc to sort out his hair!"
Full story: The Sun

 

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[h=1] Monday's gossip column - transfers and rumours [/h]

TRANSFER GOSSIP
Manchester United and Manchester City are likely to be in direct competition over Ajax's 19-year-old Danish international Christian Eriksen.
Full story: Metro
City are thought to be in competition with European champions Barcelona to sign Brazilian international defender Thiago Silva from AC Milan.
Full story: Inside Futbol
The Premier League leaders are also rumoured to be interested in 22-year-old Borussia Monchengladbach winger Marco Reus.
Full story: Daily Mail
Real Madrid are rumoured to be monitoring Dutchman Nigel de Jong, amid speculation that the City board were reluctant to meet the midfielder's increased wage demands when recent talks over a new contract took place.
Full story: Metro
Everton boss David Moyes is monitoring United States centre-back Brek Shea, currently with FC Dallas, who has been invited for trials at Arsenal.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Blackburn are hoping to persuade striker Andy Johnson, who is out of contract at Fulham at the end of the season, to move to Ewood Park.
Full story: Daily Mail
Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers wants four new faces in January with Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran a loan target.
Full story: The Sun
Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski has staged showdown talks with manager Arsene Wenger as he wants to play more to help make Poland's Euro 2012 squad.
Full story: The Sun
Everton's Russian midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has threatened to leave the club in January if he does not play more first-team football. Full story: Daily Mail
Sunderland have watched 20-year-old Swiss striker Ahmed Mehmedi, who plays for FC Zurich.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is preparing to ask the board to fund a £6m bid for 25-year-old Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, according to reports.
Full story: Caught Offside
Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga has confirmed he is hoping to finalise his £7m move to Newcastle.
Full story: Daily Mail
Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman is reportedly keen to sign Norwich striker Chris Martin in a loan deal.
Full story: Daily Mirror

OTHER GOSSIP
England defender John Terry has been ordered by the FA to not answer any questions about his alleged racist comments to Anton Ferdinand when he faces the media.
Full story: The Sun
Former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has warned Robin van Persie that the Dutchman will never leave the club if he does not depart now.
Full story: The Sun
Manchester City could sue Carlos Tevez for compensation if they forfeit a potential transfer fee of up to £50m by having to terminate his contract on grounds of gross misconduct.
Full story: The Times (subscription only)
City's relationship with Tevez has deteriorated to the point that the club are not convinced the striker will attend his own disciplinary hearing to explain why he flew to Argentina.
Full story: Guardian
Blackburn's Indian owners Venky's are undecided about selling the club, with wealthy Qataris rumoured to be interested in taking over at Ewood Park.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Manchester United stalwart Paul Scholes is likely to be promoted from assistant to reserve team manager at Old Trafford following the departure of Warren Joyce to Hull.
Full story: Daily Mirror
Lawyers are putting the finishing touches on the FA's appeal to Uefa against Wayne Rooney's three-match ban.
Full story: Express
Former England defender Ugo Ehiogu says Manchester United's Phil Jones must play in central defence, not midfield, for the national team.
Full story: talkSPORT
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes England have the capabilities to win Euro 2012.
Full story: Daily Mirror

AND FINALLY

Colombia's recent 1-1 draw with Venezuela has become better known for the sight of an owl eating a rat on the crossbar.
Full story: Metro
Former Arsenal defender Lauren is to be reunited with his £6,000 Rolex watch, six years after it was stolen, following a series of police raids in Essex and East London.
Full story: Daily Mirror

 

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[h=1]Arsène Wenger confirms commitment to Arsenal after quitting rumours[/h] • Reports emerged casting doubt on his future at the club
• Frenchman says he will leave if he becomes 'a pain'

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• Amy Lawrence at Carrow Road
• guardian.co.uk, Saturday 19 November 2011 23.08 GMT
• Article history
  
  Arsène Wenger has confirmed his commitment to Arsenal after reports casting doubt on his future at the club. Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images
  
  Arsène Wenger has confirmed his commitment to Arsenal after reports emerged from France casting doubt on his future at the club. An interview he had given to L'Equipe – spun to suggest he would review his position at the end of the season – was the subplot to Saturday's 2-1 win for Arsenal at Norwich, masterminded by Robin van Persie, who scored twice.
  Afterwards, Wenger felt compelled to explain himself. His contract expires in 2014, but he feels obliged to examine whether he is doing enough to justify his position. "I said the only way I would leave is if I didn't give what was expected," he said.
  "There are many people questioning what I do. If at the end of the season you feel you didn't deliver you have to consider. I'm committed to the club and will respect it to the last day of the contract unless I feel I'm not good enough. I have to honestly rate my performance. Did I take the maximum out of the players? After 15 years I have many questions and have to analyse the situation objectively. It is the club of my life, and will remain so unless I don't do well enough. If I really am a pain."
  Wenger is being linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, but emphasised: "I'm completely committed to this club. I'm committed to my contract."
  The L'Equipe interview had been conducted a couple of weeks ago, and Wenger intimated that with the continued improvement of his team's performance and results he is feeling increasingly positive. As to the question of what constitutes a good enough finish to meet his expectations, Wenger smiled wryly at the idea that the top four is a minimum requirement. "I have to wait and see the quality of my work at the end of the season – it is not as simple as top four or else. After the 8-2 [defeat at Old Trafford] I was determined to put things right, more than ever. These thoughts are always in my mind – every manager is like that."
  
  
  

 

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[h=2]Chelsea v Liverpool, 4pm Sunday 20 November[/h] [h=1]Andy Carroll can and will deliver for Liverpool, says Kenny Dalglish[/h] Liverpool's manager returns to a happy hunting ground confident his misfiring £35m striker will prove good business in the end

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  • guardian.co.uk, Saturday 19 November 2011 22.55 GMT
  • Article history
  
  Andy Carroll could have made an early impact against Swansea but he blazed an easy chance against the bar. Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
  
  Liverpool visits to Chelsea have a special place in the affections of older supporters of the club. Stamford Bridge was where Kenny Dalglish himself scored the winning goal on the final day of the 1985-86 season to secure the title en route to Liverpool's first Double in his first campaign as player-manager, his smile of delight going some way to erasing the unhappy circumstances of his appointment in the aftermath of the Heysel tragedy.
  For younger supporters Sunday afternoon's fixture means something completely different, recalling the memory of the dramatic last day of the January transfer window, when Fernando Torres shipped out to Chelsea for £50m, £35m of which was immediately reinvested in Andy Carroll. In what was almost a single transaction – that is the way Dalglish looks at it, anyway – the British transfer record was broken and a new high set for an English player moving between two English clubs.
  That Dalglish should have been back after a 20-year absence as the Liverpool manager presiding over the deals was remarkable enough, Roy Hodgson having been scapegoated somewhat unfairly for the off-field difficulties that prompted Pepe Reina to refer to the months leading up to Torres's departure as the lowest point in the club's history. What has fascinated in the months since, however, has been the perceived underperformance of both players. Torres has found goals hard to come by at his new club, has not struck up an effective partnership with Didier Drogba or any of Chelsea's other strikers and has lost his position as a regular starter with Spain, though at least it was not difficult to imagine what Chelsea thought they were getting when they parted with £50m.
  Torres's potential for excellence is not in any doubt. What Liverpool imagined they were getting for the money they spent on Carroll is much less clear. Not many people thought he was worth anything like £35m, and even fewer observers have had a change of heart since. The impact made by the exciting Luis Suárez, another January arrival, has bought Carroll some time, but with the Uruguayan facing possible suspension after being charged by the FA over allegedly abusive remarks to Patrice Evra, Liverpool could soon be looking to the big fella to deliver.
  Actually, the Liverpool supporters have been looking to Carroll to deliver for some time, though Dalglish is in no rush. "We are delighted with Andy Carroll," the Liverpool manager says. "He's only a boy, he'll settle in here no problem. Two of the last three games he has played have been his best for the club. I know he would love to play for England in the European Championship and I am sure he will be in contention."
  Neither does Dalglish believe the size of the fee is a problem for a player struggling to live up to the weight of expectation. "Some people might see it that way, but not us," he says. "The way we look at it is that Andy cost us minus £15m, and you can't say that was a bad buy. We are not weighing him up against any price. If someone has come in for nothing it doesn't mean to say he's going to be better or worse than someone who cost £20m. Money is irrelevant really. If you can pass, you can score, you can play, you deserve to be in the team. Andy is doing fine. It's not a problem." That just about makes sense, as long as one accepts that Torres was never going to recover his old sparkle at Liverpool. Viewed as a straight swap with a £15m profit Carroll could be seen as a pragmatic alternative to an unhappy striker who clearly wanted out, though no one could have told anyone watching Torres in his Liverpool pomp that Newcastle's raw and rather gauche centre-forward would be the man to fill his boots. Perhaps Carroll can make a statement on Sunday, though like Torres he can have no certainty of starting. Liverpool won both their league games against Chelsea last season, with the winner at Stamford Bridge scored by Raul Meireles, now also lining up in blue.
  Back in 1986, when Dalglish won his first managerial honour at roughly the age André Villas-Boas is now, life was much more simple for young managers, or at least it felt like it. "There's no point comparing us because we came into management by two completely different paths," Dalglish says. "I've never been in his position. I was still playing and I was already at Liverpool. Out of nowhere they asked me to do the job. I don't think actual management has changed much since, it's still hard if you don't know what you're doing and you don't keep your focus on the team, but everything else around football and football clubs has changed in the last 20 years. It's massive now. There are people working for this club who I only recognise by sight. I know their faces but I don't know all their names. It never used to be like that.
  "When I first came here Bob Paisley used to do the kit deal. Imagine that. It wasn't done by people upstairs. We didn't have a commercial department then, we didn't have any kind of department. But like everything else in the past few years, you evolve and you get bigger, because if you don't you are going to suffer. Everything is huge now compared to what it was before. In the old days there was one office upstairs and that was it. Now there are offices in the middle of town, offices in London even."
  Both admiring of the Premier League's brave new world and happy to have a second chance to work inside it, Dalglish nevertheless sounds a note of caution over what is now the most cosmopolitan and globally visible of leagues, perhaps with a nod to the difficulty one of his players finds himself in at present. "Obviously television plays a huge part, and for us it is fantastic that the Premier League is such a great attraction for many players around the world," he says. "The better players we can get over here the better fare the league is going to serve up, but I also think if you are attracting foreigners in you have to be able to adapt to their cultures and customs. If we don't do that then they will stop coming."