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[h=1]Arsenal vs United isn't just about me vs RVP, insists Rooney[/h] Published 21:55 20/01/12 By David McDonnell

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...ut-me-vs-Robin-van-Persie-article855590.html#

Wayne Rooney claims he did not realise the significance of August's 8-2 thrashing of Arsenal until after the match.
The Manchester United striker, who scored a hat-trick as the Gunners suffered their worst defeat for more than a century, said: "We knew it was a great day for us and a bad one for them.
"To beat Arsenal 8-2, with the players they have, the history of the club and the manager, it was a great result. In some ways a shock.
"You're just in a zone during the game. Every time we went forward we seemed to be creating chances or scoring.

"It's only afterwards that you realise what a win it was. I'm pretty sure it won't be like that again on Sunday."
Rooney was imperious in that game, but since then Arsenal have regrouped and recovered, largely thanks to the goalscoring exploits of Robin van Persie.
And Rooney will not mind being overshadowed by Van Persie on Sunday – as long as United beat Arsenal.
The two players have 39 goals between them this season and are in the running for the Golden Boot, awarded to the Premier League's top marksman.
But Rooney is happy to let Van Persie steal the show at the Emirates Stadium, provided Sir Alex Ferguson's men claim three points to keep the pressure on league leaders Manchester City.
"Arsenal have been doing well and Van Persie has scored a lot of goals," said Rooney.
"There are a lot of top strikers in the league – Van Persie, Sergio Aguero and Yakubu are playing well.
"But Sunday isn't about me and Van Persie. It's about us against Arsenal. That's what we'll be focusing on.
"Van Persie is playing really well. He'll be the biggest threat for Arsenal on Sunday. He and Aaron Ramsey are certainly the two who have stood out for them this season."
Rooney has scored 10 goals against Arsenal in 20 games, and despite the north Londoners trailing United by 12 points, Rooney said they could yet have a say in the outcome of the title race.
He refused to rule out the chance of Wenger's side mounting a late charge, saying: "I wouldn't write Arsenal off. They're capable of going on a big run, so are Chelsea.
"I still think us, City and Tottenham are the three favourites. But Chelsea and Arsenal could still have a big say in it.
"Tottenham and City are both new to the challenge of the league. In previous years it's been Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all the time.
"But it's great for the league that so many teams can win it now."
***
SUNDAY MAY NOT BE ROONEY VS VAN PERSIE, BUT THIS IS...
(Premier League only)
ROONEY VAN PERSIE
19 Appearances 21
1,551 Minutes on pitch 1,804
13 Goals 18
119 Mins per goal 100
38 Shots On Target 45
30 Shots Off Target 33
56% Shooting Accuracy 58%
19% Chance Conversion 23%
22 Blocked Shots 19
3 Goal Assists 5
31 Chances created 48
50 Mins per chance 38
946 Total Passes 575
82 Pass Completion % 78
33 Dribbles & Runs 42
64 Dribble Completion % 60
*
Ferguson: The next three weeks are key to our season
Arsenal team news: Henry and Vermaelen could play but Arteta won't
Manchester United team news: Smalling and Jones are both fit
Simon Bird's Premier League previews and predictions (Week 22)

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Arsene uncut: The Arsenal boss on referees, transfers, budgets, Fergie and 8-2 revenge[/h] Published 23:00 20/01/12 By John Cross

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...d-getting-revenge-for-8-2-article855638.html#

Arsene Wenger is normally guarded and says very little on the eve of big games, but he was in top form ahead of Sunday's Premier League crunch with Manchester United.
The Arsenal manager holds a separate press conference away for the newspapers away from the TV cameras, and in it he candidly discussed referees, decisions, transfers, budgets, revenge for that Old Trafford hammering and competing with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Here is the full transcript of his forthright and compelling views...
***


What is the latest on Jack Wilshere? Is February too soon?
"Wilshere will be back in February but it could be later in February. He is on time. He started to run again today, if he has no set-back he should be back in February."
Managers have ups and downs, how do managers stay sane through the ups and downs?
"I don't stay sane. It is a life where you need to take a certain distance from the immediate emotional aspect of the game and you learn that with experience. You have as well to be involved emotionally because it's part of your job."
When you talk about refs [as he had done in the previous broadcast press conference] that complaints about refs mask deficiencies in your own team in games which you are expected to win?
"That means no matter what the decision of the referee is you have to win the game. I would say why does everybody then try to put pressure on the referee if decisions are not important?"
You were winning games like these last season, 3-0 or 4-0, so people might say you're hiding behind decisions?
"Well, yes, but still we want the right decisions to be made. There are some people who made a study of last season and we were second in the league considering the decisions of the referees and yet we finished fourth. It [the study] showed we were two points behind the leaders."
I've seen it.
"You've seen it? A Swedish guy did it. Last year in the last six months what happened to us was unbelievable. I don't know about this season, it hasn't been done. But last season has been done."
Do you really think there's a conspiracy against Arsenal?
"No, there's no conspiracy but you want the right decisions to be made. You can still win the game with a bad decision, you are right. But if one day you manage a club or you are a chairman of a club you would feel exactly the same."
You still can't guarantee if decisions had been different the result would have been different?
"If Pires once dived against Portsmouth, OK? For six months it was a story in the newspapers. Dyer dived on Sunday and nobody said a word. You cannot say it is exactly the same and it doesn't matter. If it doesn't matter when Dyer dives, why does it matter when Pires dives?"
If penalty not given there's still no guarantee that Swansea wouldn't win anyway?
"There is never a guarantee. You didn't listen well to what I said. We had a few things going against us. One of the few things was the decisions of the referee. That doesn't excuse the fact that we lost the game. We could still have won the game. I would still like the referee to make the right decisions."
You're resisted so far moving into the market. Are you convinced the squad is strong enough to finish fourth - or better?
"Our squad is strong enough, yes [to finish 4th]. If the players come back we are strong enough. If we do not have the players back we will struggle."
Why not tempted to sign a left back on loan, you've looked short there?
"Football is not a supermarket where you go in there and say: 'give me a left-back please, and a right-back and a centre-back.' We have to find the players better to what we have. When Vermaelen plays left-back, finding a better left-back for me is difficult. Vermaelen has missed two games, maybe another game Sunday."
But if you don't sign cover it could cost you more in the long run. Is that not a concern?
"You cannot every time buy a player when you have an injury, where do you finish?England is bankrupt, the whole of Europe is bankrupt and everyone continues to spend like nothing happened."
Arsenal are not bankrupt, though?
"We manage in a sensible way at Arsenal and that's why we are not bankrupt. We are cited as an example, everybody would say: 'look at what they do, they manage in a normal way. That's not right!' That's what happens in the game. Everybody spends irrespective of whether they make money or not. It's normal. But we try to spend the money we have."
But you still charge a lot for tickets in relation to what you spend on transfers. Isn't that a source of frustration for the fans? Do you understand that frustration?
"No, what is unfair in fact is that the pressure on our wages is higher, because the other clubs who do not look at the way they manage pay huge wages, and for us just to keep our players we are pushed to the limit with our wages, just to keep the players happy. Because some clubs have unlimited resources. That's why the financial fair play is needed. It's not only for the clubs to manage well, they can pay £10m per month if they want. But it is a fact that the pressure they put on the smaller clubs, who have less resources, is not sustainable."
Your chairman said this week it wouldn't be a disaster if you didn't qualify for the Champions League....?
"For me it would be. Because I want to play with the best. And we want to be in there, in the top four, and to play in the Champions League, and anything else would not be good enough."
Is it a realistic prospect. It looks as if it could be a bad scenario after Sunday?
"It could be as well a good one. In the press you are now educated to see everything in black. And I am not sure it has no consequences on your spirit, be careful! You are not the only people."

But it's our job to also reflect the fans and that's what we're doing.
"You reflect the fans' fear but you create it as well."
Your rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson. Who will go on longer?
"He will manage until he dies, and I think he will be 100."
Was the 8-2 defeat at Manchester United, the most disappointing result of career?
"No. Not at all. It was emotionally difficult, but it was not a final. If you lose the final of the Champions League, it has no other meaning than losing one game. When we lost at Man United we had still 35 games to play, you know. It was three points lost in a humiliating way but we can come back. When you lose a final of the Champions League, you need to come back and do it."
Natural for the players to want to put it right?
"It is natural, yes, somewhere of course. But if you ask me if it was a massive disappointment for us to lose at that level, but what is important: you do not play a football game for revenge, you play a football game because you want to win.
Do you have to manage that desire with your players?
"You have to do that as well."
What emotions were going through your head after Old Trafford? They were difficult times after losing players and a hard start?
"We were weak on the day but I knew as well we were dead because we were 1-0 down at Udinese, we had to fight to come back in the game, it was 33 degrees heat, a really hot night and it was a very difficult game. You say we have lost players but last year, for example, we lost Nasri, Fabregas and Wilshere. That was a big problem for us. Now if Wilshere comes back then we will also have Arteta, Diaby and we have players in there to come back and be strong again."
Why have there been such big scores between big clubs this season? Any special reason?
"No, because Man United lost 6-1 against Manchester City. First of all, it's because you have teams of quality and if you open them up at the back then they can punish you. Man City has quality up front as well. It was as well special circumstances because Man United played with ten men. When you're a big team and you play with ten men you don't sit back. You still want to attack. The only big team that was cautious when they went down to ten men was Manchester City against Manchester United in the cup and they nearly came back. But we were punished because I took a gamble and took Coquelin out who was the only defensive player in midfield and of course we were too open."
About Ferguson again going on longer? Haven't you got the same hunger? So why will he go on longer?
"Yes. I only said that because I'm very polite!"
Is there a motivation to last longer than him?
"My motivation is to beat him. To last the longest is not a record. Of course I will never beat his record. But to win the game on Sunday is my motivation. After that, we have to consider... we are in a job where we need our physical strength and health. Statistically, that weakens, I've heard, the older you get."
We can't imagine you retiring?
"Nor can I but it will happen. I will never retire. I will maybe do a different job, not every day out there with the football team. But I will work, that's for sure. I don't like to get up in the morning and have nothing to do. Maybe I will become a competitor for you (in the media)."

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...d-getting-revenge-for-8-2-article855638.html# Print Send Share

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[Rutashubanyuma]

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

TRANSFER GOSSIP
Tottenham place a £150m price tag on Wales international Gareth Bale.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Manchester United may make a move to sign Paris St Germain playmaker Javier Pastore in the summer.
Full story: Caught Offside
PSG are looking to bring Arsenal winger Theo Walcott to the French league.
Full story: Caught Offside
Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen has alerted Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United that Ajax may be planning to sell him in the summer transfer window.
Full story: Metro
Blackburn will not allow defender Christopher Samba to leave during the January transfer window.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Liverpool are set to make an £8m bid for Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero.
Full story: Caught Offside
Roma have lined up a loan move for Tottenham defender Verdan Corluka.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Catania striker Maxi Lopez is reported to have agreed terms for a transfer to Fulham, but AC Milan are hoping to hijack the deal.
Full story: Metro
Lazio have joined Manchester United and Liverpool in the chase for Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
OTHER GOSSIP
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes Manchester City counterpart Roberto Mancini must deliver results or face the sack.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew wants Danny Guthrie and Fabricio Coloccini to sign contract extensions.
Full story: Sunday Mirror
AND FINALLY
The early kick-off between Norwich and Chelsea on Saturday was a unique Premier League game, after the entire first half passed without a single foul.
Full story: Metro

 

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Page last updated at 00:57 GMT, Sunday, 22 January 2012

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Struggling Bolton stun Liverpool

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Goals from Mark Davies, Nigel Reo-Coker and Gretar Steinsson help Bolton beat Liverpool to move out of the relegation zone.
Dalglish questions Liverpool attitude

Bolton form encourages Coyle

Dalglish warning for Liverpool

KEY INFO: Transfers | Club news on mobile

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Villas-Boas defends misfiring Torres

Lambert praises 'unbelievable spirit'

Rodgers satisfied despite defeat

O'Neill delighted with 'terrific' win

'Flat' Stoke display disappoints Pulis

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Hodgson hails 'significant victory'

Ferguson dismisses Arsenal 'revenge' talk

Di Canio enraged after being sent off

Blackburn performance pleases Kean

Draw was a fair result - Moyes

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[TD="width: 226"] Fulham 5-2 Newcastle QPR 3-1 Wigan Everton 1-1 Blackburn Norwich 0-0 Chelsea Stoke 1-2 West Brom Frimpong faces wait on eye injury

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[TD="width: 226"] Chelsea to act over racist chants Wolves 2-3 Aston Villa Sunderland 2-0 Swansea Arsenal v Man Utd Man City v Tottenham Arsenal can still win title - Rooney

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[TD="class: text"] FOOTBALL Saturday's football photos
All the best photos from a day of action in the Premier League
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Dan Walker's blog

Dan's specialist subjects are The Gunpowder Plot, posh biscuits and Premier League title race
Transfer list

A definitive list of all the January transfer window moves

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Blackburn striker urges continued discussion over racism in the game

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Mark Lawrenson goes head-to-head with comedian Omid Djalili

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[TD="width: 126"] Top 50 January transfer targets

BBC Sport profiles the top 50 January transfer targets

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[h=1]EXCLUSIVE: Tevez will test City's resolve to get Milan move[/h] Published 22:28 21/01/12 By Simon Mullock

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...esolve-with-AC-Milan-move-article856015.html#

Carlos Tevez is *prepared to take on *Manchester City in *another game of *brinksmanship to ensure that he is allowed to move to AC Milan.
The Argentine striker walked away from a *possible switch to Paris St Germain because he did not want to play in France – even though they were willing to match City's £25millon valuation.
He is now ready to test City's resolve not to allow him to join Milan in a loan deal, with just nine days left to go of the transfer window.
The Premier League leaders have softened their stance on their former captain by telling him that he can move to the San Siro until the end of the season – as long as Milan agree to make the deal permanent at the price they want at the end of the season.

City accepted PSG's bid and they also have an *offer of £21m from Inter Milan still on the table.
A source close to the Tevez camp revealed: *"Negotiations are a lot further advanced with AC Milan.
"However, Carlos is also open to listening to what Inter have to offer now he has decided that Paris is not an option for him.
"But Carlos will not be going anywhere unless the move is absolutely right for him."
Redknapp Exclusive: Mancini must deliver or face the sack
Silva: Winning the league would be as important as World Cup

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[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Real Madrid waiting in the wings for Welbeck[/h] Published 23:01 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...ster-United-Danny-Welbeck-article856231.html#

A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Real Madrid are paying special attention to Danny Welbeck's contract wrangle with Manchester United.
Bernabeu boss Jose Mourinho is a long-term admirer of the England striker and will monitor the situation between now and the summer.
Mourinho eyed Welbeck while manager of Chelsea and Inter Milan, although no approach was ever made.

Read the full version of this story at People.co.uk
Ferguson insists Berbatov is staying at United
Juventus favourites to land United's wantaway starlet

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...ster-United-Danny-Welbeck-article856231.html# Print Send Share

 

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[h=1]United and City battle for Danish defender[/h] Published 23:00 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...ty-battle-for-Jores-Okore-article856246.html#

A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Manchester United are set to battle with local rivals City once again for Denmark's rookie defender Jores Okore.
Tottenham, Liverpool and Newcastle are also closely monitoring the rapid rise of Okore, who is only 19.
Read the full version of this story at People.co.uk

 

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[h=1]Inter Milan and Real Madrid plot summer swoop for Suarez[/h] Published 23:01 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...for-Liverpool-Luis-Suarez-article856174.html#

A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Inter Milan and Real Madrid are weighing up audacious summer bids to land Liverpool's Luis Suarez.
The European giants believe they could exploit the controversy surrounding the Uruguayan's eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra to prise him away from Anfield.
Read the full version of this story at People.co.uk

Lazio join United and Liverpool in chase for Dutch striker
Liverpool determined to beat Chelsea to Krasic loan

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Rovers eye gay row Brazilian[/h] Published 23:00 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Blackburn are trying to sign Brazilian star Richarlyson – whose career has been **over*shadowed by public rows about his *sexuality.
Manager Steve Kean is being encouraged to sign the 29-year-old *defensive midfielder, who is *available on a cheap deal from Atletico Mineiro, by *influential *transfer fixer Joao Suazo.
Richarlyson was capped twice by Brazil four seasons ago and played against a Republic of Ireland team that lost 1-0 to a second-half Robinho goal.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Moyes fears another summer sale[/h] Published 23:00 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...n-Baines-and-Jack-Rodwell-article856249.html#

A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Everton boss David Moyes could be forced to sell another big name at the end of the season, despite cashing in on Mikel Arteta last summer.
And that could mean England trio Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Jack Rodwell all being targets for predatory rivals.
Spanish midfielder Arteta moved on deadline day in the last window and the £10million Everton banked from Arsenal provided much-needed funds.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]City hand trial to Chilean defender[/h] Published 23:00 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...oise-Tomas-Diaz-Navarrete-article856243.html#

A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Manchester City have taken 20-year-old Chilean defender Tomas Diaz Navarrete on trial.
And Roberto Mancini's scouts are running checks on another defender, Kurt Zouma.
Diaz, who plays for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium's third division, spent time at City a year ago and has been given another 10 days to impress.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Heskey leads Villa summer clear out[/h] Published 23:00 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...on-Villa-summer-clear-out-article856238.html#

A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Emile Heskey will lead a quartet of highly-paid stars set to leave Aston Villa this summer, to free up more than £10million for boss Alex McLeish to use in the transfer market.
Former England striker Heskey – now 34 and thought to on £60,000-a-week – will join Senegal right-back Habib Beye, Spanish centre-half Carlos Cuellar and Welsh defender James Collins heading out of Villa Park.
Read the full version of this story at People.co.uk

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Chelsea step up pursuit of in-demand Hazard[/h] Published 23:01 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...rest-in-Lille-Eden-Hazard-article856216.html#

A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Chelsea are keeping a close eye on £25million transfer target Eden Hazard.
Blues technical director Michael Emenalo was in Marseille last week to watch Hazard play for Lille – fuelling speculation that the Belgian playmaker could be heading for Stamford Bridge before the January window closes.
Read the full version of this story at People.co.uk

Norwich 0-0 Chelsea: Sunday Mirror match report

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Tottenham line up Swansea playmaker[/h] Published 23:01 21/01/12 By MirrorFootball

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/tra...line-up-Swansea-Joe-Allen-article856242.html#

A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Harry Redknapp is lining up an ambitious move for Swansea *playmaker Joe Allen.
The Tottenham manager has put the 21-year-old Wales midfield man at the top of his wanted list and could tempt Swansea with a January bid.
Allen signed a five-year deal at the Liberty Stadium at the start of the current season, so he would not come cheap.

 

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Eurobot: Alex is set to complete his £4 million move from Chelsea to PSG

 

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[h=1]There is more to England job than Harry Redknapp, says FA chairman[/h] • We understand the hype surrounding Tottenham manager
• This job will be attractive to many people, says David Bernstein

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• guardian.co.uk, Saturday 11 February 2012 23.00 GMT
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The FA chairman said despite the clamour for Harry Redknapp to be the next England manager the FA would not be rushed. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

David Bernstein "understands" why Harry Redknapp is overwhelming favourite to become the next England manager, praising the "amazing job" he has done with Tottenham Hotspur. But in his first comments on Redknapp's credentials since Fabio Capello quit on Wednesday, the Football Association chairman said that he was confident there would still be interest from rival contenders despite the clamour to appoint the Spurs manager from players and fans.
Bernstein said: "We can understand the hype. The guy has done amazingly recently, he's a fine manager and he's English. I think this job will be attractive still to many people and we'll get interest from serious parties or we'll engender interest in spite of the hype."
Despite the travails of all its recent incumbents at the hands of the media and the public, Bernstein said the England post remained "a magnificent job". "Clearly it's incredibly challenging and there's been problems in the past and maybe in the future. But I think it's a wonderful job. As with many things, the fact we haven't had huge success with the international side is an opportunity in a way. I was fortunate enough to come into the FA off a difficult year in 2010. In a way that was an opportunity.
"Whoever comes in, if he gets to a semi-finals or whatever, he doesn't have to win the World Cup to be regarded as quite successful. It's a fantastic job and a fantastic opportunity."
Bernstein has assiduously tried to avoid commenting on Redknapp in the wake of Capello's departure following a rift with the FA board for removing the captaincy from John Terry. The Chelsea defender is facing a racism charge, which he denies, days after the Euro 2012 final.
Bernstein met with FA general secretary Alex Horne, director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking and Club England managing director Adrian Bevington on Friday to work on a strategy. Keen to generate at least some leverage in negotiations and avoid leaving themselves without options in the event that Redknapp decides to stay at Spurs, they began the process of drawing up a shortlist. With Redknapp and Tottenham having in effect ruled out the prospect of him taking over the England job before the end of the season, Bernstein said there was time to take a measured decision – despite the looming European Championship. "I know we'd all like to rush into it but we do have time. A quick decision isn't necessarily a good decision. Let's use that time sensibly. Let's use the next few weeks we've got sensibly to come to a measured, professional decision."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Liverpool's Luis Suárez could have caused a riot, says Alex Ferguson[/h] • Ferguson accuses Liverpool of damaging fight against racism
• 'That player should not be allowed to play for Liverpool again'

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Manchester United's Patrice Evra, right, celebrates victory as Luis Suárez trudges off at the end of a combustible game at Old Trafford. Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Sir Alex Ferguson branded Luis Suárez "a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club" and said he should never be allowed to play for them again after a toxic 2-1 win for Manchester United that began with the Uruguayan refusing to shake hands with Patrice Evra, the player he racially abused in October.
Ferguson made no attempt to conceal his disgust on a day when the Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish, tried to argue it was "bang out of order" for anyone to criticise Suárez. Dalglish then refused to attend the post-match press conference as Ferguson accused the Liverpool club of damaging the fight against racism in football.
"For a club with their history, I'd get rid of him, I really would," Ferguson said of Suárez. "He is a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club. That player should not be allowed to play for Liverpool again. The history that club has got ... and he does that today. It could have caused a riot. I was really disappointed in that guy."
Gordon Taylor believes Liverpool's owners need to step in to deal with the "festering" controversy surrounding Suárez. "The situation is running away with us and this isn't healthy for football," the Professional Footballers' Association's chief executive said. "There is nothing to be gained by the matter festering. Having heard before the game there was going to be handshakes, [and then] that it was so deliberately averted, I just felt quite sick in my stomach."
Suárez was starting his first game since the FA banned him for eight matches on the basis he had called Evra negro, in Spanish, during a row when the teams played at Anfield in October. Police and security guards had to separate the players when Evra went to remonstrate with Suárez at half-time and Ferguson said Suárez was to blame for creating a "terrible atmosphere".
"I couldn't believe it. I just could not believe it," Ferguson said. "We had a chat this morning and Patrice said: 'I'm going to shake his hand, I have nothing to be ashamed of, I'm going to keep my dignity.' And he [Suárez] refuses. It was a terrible start to the game. He's a disgrace."
Dalglish initially claimed in his post-match interview with Sky that he was unaware of what had happened in the lineup. "I didn't know he refused to shake his hand. I'll take your word for it. I wasn't there, so I didn't see it. You'll have to ask Luis. It's contrary to what I was told." Pressed further, he said: "I think you're very severe and you're bang out of order to blame Luis Suárez for anything that happened here."
Suárez later wrote on Twitter: "We lost and we are sad because we have made a big effort … disappointed because everything is not that it seems."
United won the game with two goals from Wayne Rooney early in the second half before Suárez pulled one back in the 80th minute, but the Football Association may take action if the referee, Phil Dowd, refers them to what happened at half-time and full time.
Evra went to remonstrate with Suárez at the interval only for the Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel to block his way, leading to a confrontation between a large group of players. Evra celebrated with deliberate provocation at the end, running a half-lap before getting so close to Suárez that several Liverpool players ran over to confront him.
Ferguson admitted that Evra was wrong to inflame the tensions – "he shouldn't have done that" – but he said Evra was entitled to his moment after the treatment he has suffered. "Liverpool Football Club have a player banned for eight matches, and they've tried to blame Patrice Evra? It's him [Suárez] they should be blaming. He could have cost them a European place. After everything that has been said this week, all the buildup, the atmosphere, I just couldn't believe it."
Ferguson went on to address Suárez kicking the ball against the advertising boards at half-time – "Maybe that's the kind of character he is," he said – before speaking of his belief that Suárez was damaging the fight against prejudice in football.
"We've really got to get our house in order in terms of fighting racism. It's an issue, an absolutely important issue in this country. Football has come a long way from the days of John Barnes, people throwing bananas at him, but we can't go back. We have to go forward in a positive way and ban it all together."
Rio Ferdinand refused to shake Suárez's hand after seeing him snub Evra. "It was bad decision-making from their guy," Ferdinand said. "It could have been put to bed and it would have been made easier if the handshake was done. But after what I saw, I decided not to shake his hand.
"If he has not got the respect that you need in these situations to acknowledge he's made a mistake and say sorry and move on … well, I lost all respect for the guy after that. It's disappointing because I expected more from the other guy."
Before the game Greater Manchester police arrested a man, believed to be a street-seller, on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence because of a "potentially offensive" Suárez T-shirt that had "Klanfield" on it. The police also confiscated several thousand copies of United's Red Issue fanzine because its back cover had a spoof cut-out-and-keep "Suárez is Innocent" poster showing a Ku Klux Klan hood.
The fanzine said they were taking legal advice but the police defended their actions. "We cannot be in a situation where hundreds or thousands of people were displaying offensive images at a football match," the match commander, Ch Supt Mark Roberts, said. "The consequences of taking no action could have resulted in public order incidents inside or outside the ground."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish plays dumb to leave his dignity in tatters[/h] Outraged by everything and ashamed of nothing, Kenny Dalglish's response over Luis Suárez sums up the paranoia enveloping Liverpool

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Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish insisted it was 'bang out of order' to suggest Luis Suárez had done anything wrong. Photograph: Paul Mcfegan/Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar

In the end, it was difficult to know what was the more depressing and shocking: that moment when Luis Suárez walked past Patrice Evra, refused to shake his hand and reminded us this is a man whose brains are all in his feet, or afterwards when Kenny Dalglish tried to stare down the questions before coming up with a response that was so outlandishly flawed it made you wonder where he was storing all the qualities which we once associated with him?
What Suárez did was callous, premeditated and dimwitted to the point that, if Liverpool had any sense, they would have condemned it on the spot and at least salvaged a semblance of dignity. Instead, they reverted to their default setting whenever Suárez comes under scrutiny: this half-baked conspiracy that everyone is against them and that the only way to combat this is to go on the attack themselves. Outraged by everything, ashamed of nothing.
Perhaps we should be used to it by now but it was still shocking to see Dalglish, one of the giants of our game, eyeballing his interviewer and tell him that it was "bang out of order" to suggest that Suárez had done anything even remotely wrong.
At least Sir Alex Ferguson, so aggrieved he said Suárez should never be allowed to wear Liverpool's colours again, could step out of his own anger to acknowledge that Patrice Evra should have resisted his post-match victory dance.
This was the moment when Dalglish should have taken a deep breath and admitted that, yes, it was wrong of Suárez, unhelpful and immature, and he would be pointing this out to his player. Instead, he played dumb. He had no idea what had happened in the fair-play handshake and, in the absence of a polygraph, Robert De Niro would have been proud of his dramatic pose.
Then he realised the questions were not going to end there and it was here the paranoia, the blind bias and pigheaded denials all merged into one.
At one point he switched the subject to blame Sky. "When we had the FA Cup tie, because there was no 24-hour news channel, nothing happened." He cited the fact there were only two bookings in this game, ignoring that there were two separate flash points when police and fluorescent-jacketed security guards had to separate the players. Most pathetically of all, there were suggestions later on it was actually Evra who withdrew his hand. It was claptrap and, wisely, nobody from Anfield dared say it on the record.
Perhaps Suárez felt he had to corroborate the line that he has peddled all along, namely that it was all a bunch of spiteful lies on Evra's behalf. Plainly, he still maintains that calling someone "negro" during an argument is fine for a Spanish speaker, even if one of the best QCs in the country had deemed parts of his defence were "unsustainable and simply incredible". It is difficult, to be honest, to know what was going on between his ears.
"I couldn't believe it," Ferguson said. "I just could not believe it. We had a chat this morning and Patrice said: 'I'm going to shake his hand, I have nothing to be ashamed of, I'm going to keep my dignity.' And he [Suárez] refuses. The history that club has got … and he does that. It could have caused a riot. I was really disappointed in that guy."
Evra had grabbed Suárez's arm to remonstrate but it was just as quickly pulled away again. Rio Ferdinand looked at Suárez with contempt. "I lost all respect for the guy," Ferdinand said later. "After seeing what he did, I decided I couldn't shake his hand." From Danny Welbeck, there was only the briefest touch of flesh on flesh. These players had agonised this week about whether they should conform and, in the end, they decided they had to do it because the alternative would be that they kept the racism issue going. "The referee didn't know what to do," Ferguson said. "It was a terrible start to the game, a terrible atmosphere it created."
Ferguson had written in his programme notes that his "biggest regret is the way Patrice has been castigated in some quarters for standing up to racism". Now he let it all out. "For a club with their history, I'd get rid of him, I really would," he said. "Liverpool Football Club have a player banned for eight matches, and they've tried to blame Patrice Evra? It's him they should be bloody blaming. He could have cost them a European place. He is a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club. That player should not be allowed to play for Liverpool again."
When the dust settles Evra may reflect it was silly to celebrate so provocatively at the end but, by that stage, he was probably entitled to a little triumphalism. He has been abused, demonised, booed and jeered since reporting Suárez to the referee at Anfield last October. Here was his chance to indulge in some schadenfreude and he took it, celebrating as though this were the last football match of his life.
He had been wrong, as well, to hunt out Suárez at half-time but, for those of us in the press box, the abiding memory of that point was the clutch of former Liverpool players stood around, shaking their heads and concluding with a mixture of embarrassment and horror that Dalglish would have to remove Suárez.
It had become clear very quickly that the Uruguayan was dangerously wound up but, seriously, was there any realistic prospect Dalglish would withdraw him? As far as the Scot is concerned, Suárez is beyond reproach. That, quite possibly, is the most alarming thing of all.
Comments will be turned on for this article at 10am on Sunday 12 February

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]EXCLUSIVE: City and Tevez prepare to give peace a chance[/h] Published 22:30 11/02/12 By Simon Mullock

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Carlos Tevez will return to Manchester City for peace talks in the next 48 hours.
The Argentina star is planning to return from Buenos Aires by Tuesday and is ready to play his part in City's bid to win the title.
Negotiations about bringing the 28-year-old back to the Etihad Stadium have made good progress and a compromise between club and player is expected to be brokered today.
Tevez has been absent since jetting back to his homeland without City's permission on November 7.

He has been at war with manager Roberto Mancini since refusing to warm up as a substitute in the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich in September.
The City boss warned Tevez that he was "finished" at the club, but now accepts that his former captain could still play a crucial role.
"Carlos knows the situation," said Mancini. "If he comes back we will talk because I have no problem with him.
"Everyone knows that Tevez is a top player and it would be better for us if he was here.
"Carlos has the ability to change a lot of games. I don't know what whether he will come back this week, but if he does he can play a part in the last three months.
"It depends on his physical condition because he hasn't played for four months. Maybe he can recover his strength quickly."
Tevez has also become more conciliatory after proposed moves to AC Milan, Inter Milan and Paris St Germain collapsed last month.
City have told Corinthians that they have no hope of taking the Argentine back to Brazil on loan.
Tevez has lost £10million in fines, docked wages and withheld bonuses since last summer and knows that he must return to City to keep himself in the shop window.
Mancini wants Toure brothers back for Europe ASAP

 

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[h=1]EXCLUSIVE: Klinsmann lined up as the Herr to Harry's throne[/h] Published 22:30 11/02/12 By Steve Stammers

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Jurgen Klinsmann wants to succeed Harry Redknapp at Tottenham.
Once the FA make their *expected move for current boss Redknapp, Spurs will search for a summer replacement.
And Klinsmann has emerged as a target. The 47-year-old German is *currently head coach of the United States team.
Klinsmann became an iconic figure at Spurs in his two spells as a player.

He stayed for one full season in 1994-95 when Tottenham reached the FA Cup semi-finals and then returned for a brief loan spell in 1998 when he helped the club steer of relegation.
He then worked with LA Galaxy in an executive role and then managed Bayern Munich before taking over as the coach of the US team last year.
He would be a popular choice among the fans and help to soften the blow of the loss of Redknapp.
Another potential target is Guus Hiddink.
He led Chelsea to FA Cup success in 2009 after the took over in a caretaker *capacity from Luis Felipe Scolari.
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