Transfer news...

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[h=1]Wenger prepared to poop on Gervinho's ACN party celebrations[/h] Published 22:25 11/02/12 By Steve Stammers

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...ican-Cup-of-Nations-final-article863970.html#

Arsene Wenger will be a party pooper if the Ivory Coast win the African Cup of Nations in Libreville tonight.
The Arsenal boss has told *striker Gervinho that he *expects him back in England on Tuesday – *giving him one day to party – to prepare for next *Saturday's FA Cup fifth round tie at *Sunderland.
Gervinho – a £10.8million *signing from Lille last summer – was the star of the show as the Ivory Coast beat Mali in the *semi-finals.
A brilliant individual strike from the 24-year-old secured a place in the final against Zambia in the capital city of Gabon.

The Ivorians now go into the final as hot favourites. The *expected *victory will bring wild *celebrations back in the Ivory Coast, but Wenger has made it clear to Gervinho that he will not tolerate a late *return.
The Premier League will be well represented in the Ivory Coast final line-up with *Didier Drogba and *Salomon Kalou of Chelsea, Newcastle's Cheick Tiote and Kolo and Yaya Toure from *Manchester City.
City *manager *Roberto *Mancini is so keen to get his *players back, the club have laid on a private jet.
Arsenal have a demanding *programme in the next two weeks. They play AC Milan in the first leg of a Champions League last-16 tie in Italy on Wednesday, then comes the Sunderland cup clash followed by a north London derby.
Wenger has *acknowledged that Gervinho will not be involved in Milan, but he does want him to be part of his plans for the FA Cup and *Tottenham.
Wenger has previous *experience of players returning back late from international duty at the African Cup of *Nations.
In 2000, Kanu failed to *return on time from his time with *Nigeria and was fined two weeks' wages.
Two years later, a *similar penalty was given to Cameroon *international Lauren (below, left).
His *country won the *tournament, but he wasn't seen at the club for a week after his scheduled return.
Lauren claimed that the Cameroon *president had *insisted the squad stay for *national *celebrations – and had confiscated all the players' *passports.
But Wenger wants no repeat as Arsenal push for a place in the quarter-finals of both the *Champions League and FA Cup, as well as continuing their drive for a top-four *finish.
Wilshere picks up speed on road to Arsenal recovery

 

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[h=1]Watch video of Manchester United target Nicolas Gaitan's greatest goals[/h] Published 12:36 12/02/12 By Football Spy

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Manchester United are rumoured to be preparing a summer bid for Benfica star Nicolas 'Nico' Gaitan.
The 23 year-old Argentinean attacking midfielder is regarded as one of the continent's hottest properties.
And Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira has revealed that the club could have to cash in on their most saleable assets at the end of the season.
"The sale of players is the priority for Benfica but only if it is helping the club," said Vieira.


"Our aim is to break even and make around €50m in the summer through sales."
Watch some of Gaitan's best goals in the video below...
Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Sunday's papers

 

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'Van Persie to Real' gossip angers Wenger

Published 23:00 10/02/12 By MirrorFootball

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Arsene Wenger has accused the Spanish media of trying to unsettle Arsenal captain Robin van Persie.
The Holland striker has been in superb form this season, his hat-trick in the 7-1 demolition of Blackburn taking his goal tally to 28 in all competitions.
Just like Cesc Fabregas before him, Van Persie - who has yet to commit to a new, long-term deal - has been heavily linked with a move to Spain.
An article in today's Marca newspaper quoted the 28-year-old as claiming it would being "an honour" to be linked with Read Madrid, and he would be "excited at the prospect of playing there".

Wenger, though, does not take the report at face value as he prepares to take his squad to Sunderland tomorrow, where victory would keep them on the coattails of the Barclays Premier League top four.
"Frankly, Marca is as creative as some English newspapers. That means you cannot believe every word that is said in Marca," the Arsenal manager said.
"At Marca they are very creative. They have created another story.
"They don't care, Marca, at all. I think they are even far more from real evidence than any English newspapers. They create just stories."
Wenger maintained there had been no contact from Barcelona or Real Madrid over Van Persie, and if they did, they would be given short shrift.
"What do you think? Barcelona knows that they have a difficult job with us, always," he said.
Arsenal made little moves in what was a fairly stagnant January transfer window compared to previous seasons.
Wenger believes that is down to the "absolutely crazy" Premier League 25-man squad rules, which the Gunners boss claims will "paralyse the market".
The Arsenal manager said: "You see nothing happened in the January transfer window, because everybody has 25 so if nobody buys nobody else can buy.
"It makes common sense when they [Premier League] sit together there at the table, but they must never have really experienced what it is to take a risk or gamble on players.
"If I have to buy a player, I have to kick somebody out."
Wenger continued: "The answer is to leave it open.
"What is even more surprising is the [players] union accepted it. They produce unemployment for players.
"You will see the number of players (at the end of the season) who will have no jobs.
"The clubs will sit down with the players and say 'we cancel your contract and pay you off'."
Arsenal head into what Wenger believes will be a defining period of their campaign, which includes the first leg of their Champions League clash against Milan and an FA Cup fifth-round date at Sunderland, without Jack Wilshere.
The England midfielder has yet to feature this season because of a niggling ankle problem, which initially flared up while on international duty last summer.
Wenger is hopeful of positive prognosis from the latest set of scans.
"I hope that we will get good news from him because that is very important for Arsenal," he said.
"This is the stage where the [latest] scan will be vital to decide when he will come back."
Much has been made of the visits to Chelsea's training ground by Russian owner Roman Abramovich this week to cast his eye over Andre Villas-Boas squad.
Wenger insists he would not be troubled were the Gunners' American majority shareholder Stan Kroenke to show up at London Colney.
"He can turn up any day," the Arsenal boss said.
"He is the president of the club. You cannot forbid him to come to his own training ground, and he is welcome.
"We have nothing to hide here."

 

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[h=1]Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Saturday's papers[/h] Published 09:15 11/02/12 By Football Spy

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The transfer window may be shut, but managers up and down the country are already plotting for when the next one opens, and we've got all the gossip from all the papers right here.
Plus, click here for all the all the latest news, opinion and features on the England job
Transfer stories from today's Daily Mirror
'Van Persie to Real' gossip angers Wenger


Yakubu: I refused to leave Blackburn because they saved my career
Wenger confirms Henry won't extend his loan deal with Arsenal
Wenger confirms Henry won't extend his loan deal with Arsenal
Stories from other papers and websites
Arsenal and Tottenham will battle for Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen (Metro)
Chelsea have invited 16 year-old Polish goalkeeper Dominik Dyk to train with them ahead of interest from Fulham (Daily Mail)
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is close to sealing a switch to Juventus (Daily Mail)
Taye Taiwo wants to remain at QPR on a permanent basis (Daily Mail)
Injury-prone defender Ledley King is set to reject a pay-as-you-play deal at Spurs (Daily Mail)
Liverpool are looking at Anderlecht striker Dieumerci Mbokani (Inside Futbol)
Wesley Sneijder has admitted he could have joined Manchester United in January (TalkSPORT)

 

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Arsenal target Podolski drops new transfer hint

Published 11:16 12/02/12 By Football Spy

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Arsenal target Lukas Podolski has opened the door to a summer move after claiming his club Cologne have gone back on promises they made when he joined in 2009.
The Germany international's contract with the club expires next year, but there have been talks of him considering a move away in the summer, when Cologne can still demand a transfer fee for his services.
Cologne are currently preparing a new contract offer to be put to the 26-year-old, but he does not appear open to a contract extension after claiming he has been misled by his hometown club in the past.
Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Sunday's papers


"I was told that a team would be built around me so that we could establish ourselves first in the top eight and then in the top six," he said.
"I had lots of promises made to me before my move here and I wanted to play my part in achieving these things together.
"[Former Cologne coach] Christoph Daum once said that lots of promises are made, but few are maintained here and I think my situation confirms that.
"When you see what perspectives were shown to me and what has actually happened in the end, it is disappointing."
Podolski is currently sidelined for a few more weeks due to injury and he cannot therefore help the club push on towards the top eight.
However, he feels even with him in the team, aiming for the top half of the table is unrealistic.
"Each year we try to make progress, we take a new run-up, but then when you end up embroiled in a relegation battle again then it is disappointing," he told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
"I had hoped for a lot more because there is far more potential here - the stadium and the fans are unique.
"But of the people with whom I discussed this concept, very few are still at the club. There is no continuity."
Podolski now sees his future away from Cologne and away from the Bundesliga.
"If I were to move, then the way things stand at the moment, I would move abroad," he said.
"I speak German, Polish, English and Cologne dialect - I think you can get anywhere with that combination.
"I am always receiving inquiries and if they had been really attractive, I wouldn't be here now. But seriously, I will make up my mind no sooner than the summer."
Bundesliga blog: Could Podolski and Goetze move to the Premier League?

 

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[h=1]Houllier and the PFA condemn 'disrespectful' and 'embarrassing' Suarez[/h] Published 11:22 12/02/12 By MirrorFootball
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/new...nd-embarrassing-behaviour-article864525.html#

Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier has expressed his disappointment at Luis Suarez's behaviour at Old Trafford yesterday while PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor described the Liverpool striker as "disrespectful, inappropriate and embarrassing".
Suarez has found himself in the spotlight again after refusing to shake Patrice Evra's hand before Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.
The Reds striker was making his first start since he completed an eight-match ban for racially abusing Evra in the reverse fixture at Anfield in October.
Although it had been claimed earlier in the week that Suarez would shake Evra's hand, the fact he did not meant the entire issue will now bubble on, with the United skipper clearly annoyed and Sir Alex Ferguson so incensed he branded the Uruguayan "a disgrace" immediately after the game.

And Taylor, who has worked tirelessly to stamp out racism within the game, feels it is time for the Football Association to step in.
"What Suarez did was disrespectful, inappropriate and embarrassing," he said.
"If anything, Patrice Evra was the victim and he was prepared to put his hand out.
"These players are expected to be role models but if we have a situation where nobody accepts the findings of hearings and just carries on regardless, all you get is anarchy.
"Now the Football Association have to step in because the whole situation has gone too far.
"Suarez had a chance to put everything to be yesterday, in front of a worldwide audience.
"The fact that he chose not to is, quite frankly, depressing."
Former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier believes the PFA and the League Managers Association (LMA) need to get involved and bring the issue to a swift end.
When asked if Liverpool should punish Suarez for what happened, the Frenchman told BBC Radio 5's Sportsweek programme: "No. I think that probably the players' association, and maybe the LMA as well, should get together with the managers and the players and sort that it out secretly very quickly."
Houllier, who managed the Reds for six years until 2004, added about the incident at Old Trafford: "I regret what happened because it would have been good to put everything to bed and move on to something else, because it created a bit of tension. I was at the game and I could feel that the atmosphere was a bit toxic.
"I'm a bit disappointed because it overshadowed the quality of the game.
"It was a good game of football, between two good sides. To be honest I'm not pleased because we should talk about the football, about the quality of the game and in fact we are just talking about what he did or didn't do, about the non-handshake."
Prime Minister planning racism in football summit
Rio: I have lost all respect for Suarez
Fergie: Suarez is a "disgrace to Liverpool FC" who should never play for them again (Video)
Comment: Why Liverpool need to accept Suarez is more sinner than saint
Tweet my Handshake! The best gags from Manchester United's 2-1 win over Liverpool

 

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[h=1]Comment: Why Liverpool need to accept Suarez is more sinner than saint[/h]

By Anthony Clavane in Mirror Football Blog
Published 21:30 11/02/12


http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opi...o-shake-Patrice-Evra-hand-article864445.html#

Yesterday's Manchester United-Liverpool clash was a perfect opportunity to draw a line under the Suarez-Evra saga and move on.
Instead, just a week after returning from his eight-game ban for racially abusing the United defender, the movement of one hand – away from Evra – has ensured that there will be weeks, perhaps months, of criticism, recriminations and bad feeling.
Suarez might have put the ball into the United net at Old Trafford, but his PR own goal will have a lasting effect on his career in England – and quite possibly destabilise Liverpool's season.
What on earth was he thinking of?

Dalglish indicated earlier in the week that Suarez would shake Evra's hand. In refusing to do so, he let himself down, let Dalglish down and let the Kop fans down.
The Sunday Mirror doesn't always agree with Sir Alex Ferguson, but on this occasion he was spot on.
"He is a disgrace to Liverpool Football Club" said Fergie. "He could have caused a riot. I was really disappointed in that guy. It was terrible what he did. It created a tension."
Suarez's career has been punctuated by controversy. There has been diving, biting an opponent and a match-saving handball in a World Cup quarter-final.
But even Dalglish, Suarez's staunchest defender after the race row which exploded last October, must reflect on this latest act of madness.
The Kop must accept that their star striker is a sinner not a saint. And his manager must read him the riot act.
This is not the "Liverpool Way".
Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool: Sunday Mirror match report
Andy Dunn's Big Match Verdict: Why Rio's grand performance would make him Harry's ideal captain
Fergie: 'Disgrace' Suarez should never play for Liverpool again

 

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[h=1]Why do Rooney and co want Redknapp to succeed Capello? He'll make playing for England fun again[/h]

By Oliver Holt in Mirror Football Blog
Published 00:00 10/02/12

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http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opi...again-Oliver-Holt-opinion-article863475.html#

Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand have already taken to Twitter to say Harry Redknapp is the man they'd like as next England manager.
And there is a feeling among the players that he has the character to unify a dressing room in danger of becoming split on racial lines.
There is also a degree of weariness about the thought of another foreign manager taking control.
Many of them had great respect for Fabio Capello, partly because of all he had achieved in a glorious club career in Italy and Spain.


But there were limitations in their working relationship with him caused by his poor grasp of English.
And in Capello's first two years in charge, many of the players also felt the manager treated them like children.
It is not that Redknapp is a soft touch but he is a fantastic communicator, a superb man-manager and a great motivator.
He knows when to be harsh with a player and when to cajole him and he has a habit of getting the best from his men. He is an old-school manager who puts players at ease with his humour and his dynamism.
Perhaps most importantly of all, the England players know that he favours a style of football that is both attacking and attractive.
Spurs are playing the best football in the Premier League this season and it is down to their boss.
Under Capello, the players said playing for England simply wasn't fun any more.
At a time when the power of the clubs is growing and growing, they need all the encouragement they can get to devote themselves to England as well. Redknapp will give them that.
He'll make them look forward to international duty and turn it back into fun.
That dynamic has been missing for too long and its absence helps to explain why it all went so badly wrong in South Africa.
If Redknapp gets the job, he'll fix that – and the players know it.

 

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the transfer news never end even with the closure of a transfer window.......................

 

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Andy Dunn's Big Match Verdict: Why Rio's grand performance would make him Harry's ideal captain

By Andy Dunn in Mirror Football Blog
Published 21:30 11/02/12

The idiotic refusal by Luis Suarez to shake Patrice Evra's hand, the tunnel bust-up and Fergie's *after-match comments *dominate the headlines – but there is another *important talking-point to emerge from this *incendiary clash.
Should Rio Ferdinand captain England at Euro 2012?
Apart from an unwitting deflection which gifted Liverpool their goal, Rio was once again *magnificent yesterday.
There were three other potential contenders for the armband vacancy on show at Old Trafford: Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard.

There is more chance of Fabio Capello going on a bender with FA chairman David Bernstein than *Scholes, who delivered another masterclass, *being persuaded out of international retirement. Unless, as Kenny Dalglish has cheekily suggested, Bernstein offers Sir Alex the England job.
Gerrard might be Anfield's talisman, but he's often failed to excel for his country. And Rooney, who scored a *brilliant brace and was unplayable against Liverpool, will miss the first two Group D games against France and Sweden.
So why shouldn't Rio's old West Ham gaffer, *Harry Redknapp – or *whoever takes over – turn to his protégé?
The game's turning-point came just before half-time when, with the score at 0-0, Suarez danced past Ferdinand as *Liverpool broke forward.
The Manchester United defender made a crucial last-ditch challenge to stop the Uruguayan *bearing down on goal.
A furious Suarez thought it was a foul and, not for the first time, exploded with rage. Along with the non-handshake and *kicking the ball away in anger at half-time, this was another example of petulance by a footballer who must be sharing a public relations adviser with Fred Goodwin.
The replay showed *Ferdinand got the ball.
Referee Phil Dowd, quite rightly, ruled that no foul had been committed. And this was not the only time Rio came to United's *rescue in the game.
At 33, the likelihood is that Ferdinand will end his international career after Euro 2012. He will certainly *struggle to be in the frame for the World Cup *finals in Brazil.
So he's not the long-term option. And his place in the national team isn't even assured. But *yesterday's display suggests he's growing into his new guise at the back.
Apart from a fine footballing performance, Ferdinand showed his loyalty to Evra by refusing to shake Suarez's hand after the ridiculous snub. He is not afraid to take a stand on principle and has the kind of *moral *authority that *Bernstein *admires. The FA chief cited Bobby Moore and Billy Wright as perfect England captains – and, when they were *together at Upton Park, Redknapp often used to compare Rio to his old mate Mooro.
There is one small snag, of course.
"I don't want to be *England captain after the last episode," Ferdinand tweeted after John Terry was demoted. "I just want to concentrate on playing for United and if I make the squad then as ever I'll be delighted."
But Capello's departure, which he welcomed, has changed everything.
Redknapp will surely change his mind.
Cry, God for Harry, *England and Rio.
Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool: Sunday Mirror match report
Fergie: 'Disgrace' Suarez should never play for Liverpool again
Comment: Why Liverpool need to accept Suarez is more sinner than saint
EXCLUSIVE: Redknapp WILL lead England out at Euro 2012
Comment: Why England need to get rid of their cosy club mentality

 

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[h=1]Harry Redknapp would call on Paul Scholes if he gets England job[/h] • Redknapp says he may make Steven Gerrard captain
• FA expected to make approach for Tottenham manager

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• guardian.co.uk, Sunday 12 February 2012 22.30 GMT
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Paul Scholes, 37, has enjoyed a successful return to top flight football after retiring at the end of last season. Photograph: Kerim Okten/EPA

Harry Redknapp would attempt to entice Paul Scholes out of international retirement in order for him to start at Euro 2012 if, as expected, the 64-year-old becomes the England manager at the end of the domestic season. Redknapp also suggested that Steven Gerrard would be his England captain.
The Tottenham Hotspur manager will remain in his post until 13 May, when his club play their final fixture of the Premier League season, but he is then set to assume the England reins on a full-time basis, in time for Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, which kicks off on 8 June, with an approach from the Football Association imminent.
The Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, will demand a high price in compensation for Redknapp, whom he does not want to lose, and there is the prospect of a lengthy wrangle, but the chairman must begin to plan for the longer-term without Redknapp. Everton's David Moyes features prominently on Levy's list of potential successors, and he may seek to talk to José Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Didier Deschamps.
England have only one game before the end of the domestic season – the Wembley friendly against Holland on 29 February – and Stuart Pearce, the Under-21 manager, will take caretaker charge of the team.
Redknapp has continued to stress that his focus is on Tottenham's push for Champions League qualification and FA Cup success – they remain an outside bet for the Premier League title after Saturday's 5-0 home win over Newcastle United – but it is clear that he has begun to consider how he may do things as Fabio Capello's permanent successor in the England job.
Capello resigned on Wednesday, having felt undermined by the FA's decision to remove the England captaincy from John Terry. Hours earlier, Redknapp had been acquitted of tax evasion at Southwark crown court.
Redknapp has never hidden his admiration for Scholes, the Manchester United midfielder, who retired from international football in 2004. Capello offered him the opportunity to return for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but Scholes declined, although he said that if Capello had asked him earlier and given him more time, he would probably have accepted. He admitted that saying no may have been a mistake.
Scholes retired altogether at the end of last season but he made a surprise comeback for United in the FA Cup win at Manchester City on 8 January and he has since appeared in every match for the club, winning praise for his performances. Redknapp would now like to see him go back on another retirement decision.
"Let's be honest, you would love to have Paul Scholes in the Euros this year," he said. "He'd be in your team, he's that good. Whoever's there would love to take him, I'm sure. You'd love him to play. He plays like the Spaniards, like Xavi [Hernández] or [Andrés] Iniesta. He does not give the ball away."
Redknapp could be expected to dismiss age as a concern in his England squad, having always seen the value in experienced players, and not only in relation to Scholes, who is 37. Redknapp was also praised Chelsea's Frank Lampard, 33, and Liverpool's Gerrard, 31.
"You need men in your side, you need characters if you are going to win anything," Redknapp said. "Frank is still a top player. You write Frank off at your peril. He's still a top player in my opinion. Stevie Gerrard is still a top-class player. We have got some good players in our midfield."
It was put to Redknapp that Scott Parker, his midfield general at Tottenham, could make an England captain, which he agreed with, but it sounded as though Gerrard would be his preference.
"I think there are some good candidates," Redknapp said. "Gerrard is a good candidate. Stevie Gerrard is a fantastic player. There are one or two who could do it. Scottie could do it, for sure, but so could Steve."

 

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[h=1]Luis Suárez misled us over Patrice Evra handshake, say angry Liverpool[/h] • Suárez warned by club that his behaviour was 'not acceptable'
• Striker joins Kenny Dalglish in apologising for conduct

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Luis Suárez refuses to shake the hand of Patrice Evra of before the match between Manchester United and Liverpool. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Luis Suárez's future at Liverpool has been placed in doubt after the contrition the club has been accused of lacking throughout his dispute with Patrice Evra emerged in an unprecedented series of statements from Anfield on Sunday.
Suárez, branded "a disgrace" by Sir Alex Ferguson for refusing to shake Evra's hand at Old Trafford on Saturday, first issued a public apology for his actions on the club's website. Ian Ayre, the Liverpool managing director, then released a statement that accused the 25-year-old of misleading the club before Kenny Dalglish, himself widely condemned for an interview that followed the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United, apologised for conduct not "befitting of a Liverpool manager" during his appearance on Sky.
Ayre's statement represents the first time Liverpool have criticised their £22.8m signing from Ajax since he racially abused Evra at Anfield last October, behaviour that resulted in an eight-match ban and a £40,000 fine. It reflects the intense anger felt by Liverpool's American owners, Fenway Sports Group, at the damage caused to the club's reputation by Suárez and the striker may yet be fined by his employers for his actions at Old Trafford. How he responds to the public criticism during the final months of the season will have a major influence on his future at the club with Ferguson having insisted he should never play for Liverpool again.
Both Liverpool and United could be charged with failing to control their players by the Football Association this week following a melee in the tunnel at half-time on Saturday, sparked by Evra attempting to confront Suárez over the handshake. It would require the referee Phil Dowd, widely praised for his handling of a hostile occasion, to file an extraordinary incident report with the FA on Monday for disciplinary measures to ensue and Evra could also face action for his provocative celebrations in front of Suárez after the final whistle. Dowd dealt with the incident at the time but the problems it caused between the rival players may result in an FA charge for Evra. There is no prospect of Suárez being censored by the FA for what occurred during the pre-match handshake routine.
"I have spoken with the manager since the game at Old Trafford and I realise I got things wrong," Suárez said. "I've not only let him down, but also the club and what it stands for and I'm sorry. I made a mistake and I regret what happened. I should have shaken Patrice Evra's hand before the game and I want to apologise for my actions. I would like to put this whole issue behind me and concentrate on playing football."
Dalglish attracted criticism for angrily absolving Suárez of blame for the problems at Old Trafford during an interview with Sky's Geoff Shreeves. Later, the Liverpool manager conducted an interview for the BBC, at which it was made clear he would not take questions on Suárez, but did not attend the main press conference.
Despite the intervention of the club's owners, it is understood Dalglish changed his stance on Suárez completely after watching a replay of the incident with Evra and, as the statements reflect and his close friend Alan Hansen suggested on Match of the Day on Saturday night, he feels badly let down by a striker he has defended to his own cost throughout the affair.
"I was shocked to hear that the player had not shaken hands having been told earlier in the week that he would do," Dalglish said. "All of us have a responsibility to represent this club in a fit and proper manner and that applies equally to me as Liverpool manager. When I went on TV after yesterday's game I hadn't seen what had happened but I did not conduct myself in a way befitting of a Liverpool manager during that interview and I'd like to apologise for that."
It is the statement from Ayre that is most instructive in terms of principal owner John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner's position on the striker. Ayre said: "We are extremely disappointed Luis Suárez did not shake hands with Patrice Evra before yesterday's game. The player had told us beforehand that he would but then chose not to do so. He was wrong to mislead us and wrong not to offer his hand to Patrice Evra. He has not only let himself down but also Kenny Dalglish, his team-mates and the club. It has been made absolutely clear to Luis Suárez that his behaviour was not acceptable.
"Luis Suárez has now apologised for his actions which was the right thing to do. However, all of us have a duty to behave in a responsible manner and we hope that he now understands what is expected of anyone representing Liverpool Football Club."
Suárez may be instructed by Liverpool to make a direct approach to Evra in a further attempt to defuse tensions between the great rivals, although no plans are in place for such a move yet. United released their own statement thanking Liverpool for the apologies. It added: "Everyone at Old Trafford wants to move on from this. The history of our two great clubs is one of success and rivalry unparalleled in British football. That should be the focus in the future of all those who love the clubs."
The controversy brought condemnation from Jeremy Hunt on Sunday. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, the culture secretary said: "It is incredibly depressing. It was very unsporting behaviour and I am sure the Football Association will look to see if any rules were broken."
He added: "The lesson of the last couple of months is that you can never be complacent. The prime minister is very, very concerned to make sure that we don't go back to the bad old days but also that we are absolutely on our mettle to make sure that the football authorities and the government continue to do everything we can to stamp out this problem."

 

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[h=1]Luis Suárez must show Liverpool he is worth the trouble of keeping him[/h] The Uruguayan striker brought shame on the club. If he does not show a professional and dignified response he should be sold

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  • guardian.co.uk, Sunday 12 February 2012 18.54 GMT
  • Article history

Luis Suárez walks alone from the field at Old Trafford after Liverpool's defeat to Manchester United. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

All apologies from Liverpool and not before time, but the issue raised in anger by Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford on Saturday remains one that confronts Kenny Dalglish and Fenway Sports Group, the club's owners, in the cold light of a shameful day. The Anfield hierarchy has to consider washing its hands completely of Luis Suárez.
It is not the Manchester United manager's place to tell Liverpool that their £22.8m striker should never play for the club again following his refusal to shake the hand of Patrice Evra and, as his handling of Eric Cantona shows, no club gives up on a talented problem lightly. When a club is also four points off the final Champions League qualifying place and the majority of its £110m recruitment drive over the past 12 months has failed to justify the expense, the importance of the finest purchase is magnified. But not to the extent, as Suárez demonstrated against United, where the player believes himself more important than his club or manager.
Until Sunday morning, when the condemnation rose higher and the penny dropped at Liverpool, Suárez has been overindulged, erroneously defended and absolved from the responsibility of his actions ever since he called Evra "negro" at Anfield last October. It was shocking to witness the Uruguayan refuse the Frenchman's hand. Less so, however, when consideration is given to how Liverpool and Dalglish, as recently as last Monday in the manager's case, have encouraged the portrayal of Suárez as the innocent victim throughout this depressing episode.
He repaid them by bringing shame on the club and embarrassing one of the most revered names in Liverpool's history. Dalglish was still heading for his seat in the dugout at Old Trafford when the handshakes took place, or did not in the case of Suárez, Evra and Rio Ferdinand. The striker had assured him there would not be an issue prior to last week's statement that read: "I know he will shake the hand of Patrice Evra." The byproduct was that toe-curling interview with Sky's Geoff Shreeves, one that reflected the manager's position on the entire saga, and subsequent admission from Dalglish that his conduct was not befitting a Liverpool manager. Suárez had landed him in it.
At what point do Dalglish, John W Henry and Tom Werner, Liverpool's principal owner and chairman respectively, decide the baggage outweighs the goods with Suárez? Ferguson thinks that point has arrived and the question must have crossed the minds of the US owners as they formulated a response with its employees on Merseyside on Sunday.
Henry and co awoke to a new development in the Suárez controversy on Sunday morning: the criticism was on their doorstep. The Boston Herald carried a report condemning Liverpool and an article in the New York Times opened with the line: "If the Fenway Sports Group is to be the responsible team owner in soccer that it has proved to be in baseball, it needs to get hold of Liverpool, its club in England's Premier League, and repair its global image fast."
A positive if belated step has been taken and it now falls to Suárez to present a convincing argument to remain a Liverpool player over the final months of the season, however antiquated that may seem in the days of absolute player power. A professional, dignified response and Liverpool will have no reservations that he is worth the trouble. Anything less – and his public apology is only the start – any more problems for Dalglish, the owners, those working tirelessly behind the scenes to protect the club's reputation and closely with the Anthony Walker Foundation plus other anti-racism groups, and he should be sold at the earliest opportunity.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Chelsea players confront André Villas-Boas in training-ground row[/h] • Club tensions mounting following 2-0 defeat at Everton
• Owner Roman Abramovich at Cobham on day of row

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Chelsea's André Villas-Boas during a training session at the club's Cobham training ground earlier this season. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

André Villas-Boas sparked a blazing row with some of his senior Chelsea players on Sunday after calling the squad in on their day off to vent his anger over the 2-0 defeat at Everton. The manager tore into his players, who had pockmarked their display with sloppy errors, but he found that some of them gave back as good as they got. In the blow-up, they told him exactly what they thought of him and his tactics, to lay bare the tensions at the club.
Villas-Boas believes that he has the support of the owner, Roman Abramovich, who was also present at the training ground on Sunday. Abramovich's focus is no longer consumed by his $5bn (£3.2bn) litigation battle with Boris Berezovsky – the high court hearing ended on 19 January and Mrs Justice Gloster is in the throes of writing her judgment – and he has been a regular at Cobham since the Saturday before last which, inevitably, has heightened the pressure on Villas-Boas. Abramovich, though, does not want to sack the young Portuguese, having taken the decision on his own to appoint him as the successor to Carlo Ancelotti last summer, and he shared in the manager's frustrations with the players.
The defeat at Goodison Park, which exacerbated the club's Premier League slump and dropped them out of the Champions League places, was, by comment consent, the team's worst performance of a season that has seen them fail to compete for the title. They lag 17 points behind the league leaders Manchester City.
A big part of Villas-Boas's brief is to rejuvenate the Chelsea squad, to assimilate talented young players while still competing for silverware. He has maintained that a club of Chelsea's stature cannot tolerate mere transition. But, inevitably, he has found himself unpopular with the older guard, whom he feels he must phase out.
He caused a stir with his man-management when he banished Nicolas Anelka and Alex to train with the reserves, after they had requested transfers in December; the popular pair departed in January for Shanghai Shenhua and Paris St-Germain respectively. Villas-Boas has also clashed with Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba while even the high-profile January signing, Gary Cahill, has been left bewildered at his treatment. He has played only once in his five weeks at the club.
Chelsea's hopes of a trophy have come to rest on the FA Cup and Champions League – the latter is the one that Abramovich covets above all others – and their next two fixtures are in those competitions. They play Birmingham City in the FA Cup fifth round at Stamford Bridge on Saturday before they travel to Napoli for the Champions League last-16 first-leg next Tuesday. The captain, John Terry, hopes to return from a knee injury to face Birmingham, while Drogba and Salomon Kalou are due back on Wednesday from the Africa Cup of Nations.
The pressure in each tie will be intense, with the resentment towards Villas-Boas in some quarters adding further spice. Villas-Boas's assistant, Roberto Di Matteo, is also under scrutiny, with Abramovich picking up on the feeling during his visits to the training ground that the former Italy international is unpopular with the players. Abramovich turned to Villas-Boas after dismissing Ancelotti at the end of last season following, coincidentally, a Premier League defeat at Everton, having been impressed at how the 34-year-old won the treble of league, cup and Europa League with Porto. He is desperate for Villas-Boas to succeed, not least as firing him would call into question the wisdom of investing such faith in a talent without an extensive track record.
It is never prudent, though, to second-guess Abramovich, who has sacked five managers during his eight-and-a-half-year stewardship of the club. He dismissed Luiz Felipe Scolari in February 2009 when the club's membership of the Premier League's top four was in jeopardy. Villas-Boas is acutely aware of the need to qualify for next season's Champions League.
The fallout from Everton in the Chelsea dressing room also featured a candid assessment from the goalkeeper Petr Cech. "When you lose a game 2-0 and you are Chelsea football club, playing for the Champions League and with big expectations, losing is not good enough and the performance was not good enough. That's why we lost.
"We took so many passes side to side and we never really opened them up. In the second half, we tried to play more direct but they were fighting well and kept organised, and 1-0 up so early became so much more difficult to break."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Mick McCarthy's decency was not enough to prevent sacking by Wolves[/h] The writing was on the wall for Mick McCarthy but a thrashing by Black Country rivals West Brom proved to be the final straw

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Mick McCarthy looks on during Wolves's 5-1 defeat at home to West Brom on Sunday. It proved to be his final match in charge. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images

Mick McCarthy likes to say that you are either inside the tent "pissing out" or outside the tent "pissing in". Following his sacking as manager of Wolves McCarthy has found out that a strong wind has taken his tent away.
Throughout his managerial career McCarthy has always inspired loyalty from his players. From Millwall to the Republic of Ireland to Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers he has created dressing rooms where, with the notable exception of Roy Keane, the players want to deliver for their manager. He protects them, defends them and treats them like adults (which some may think is a mistake) and, on the whole, that is appreciated. Those who worked with him at Sunderland say they felt genuine sadness and remorse after he left, and it is likely that there are many in the Wolves dressing room who feel they have let their manager down.
But perhaps it is no good extracting loyalty from players who are not up to the standard required. He might have been better off with a squad of less likeable but more talented players – and still be in a job.
McCarthy was a dead man walking from the moment the Wolves owner, Steve Morgan, showed up in the dressing room following the 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool last month. Sunday's thrashing at home by Black Country rivals West Brom may have been the final straw for Morgan, but once an owner starts making his presence felt in the dressing room it is hard to see any way back. Just ask José Mourinho.
McCarthy had managed one unlikely relegation escape. On 23 February last year Wolves were bottom of the table but survived on the final day when a combination of Stephen Hunt's late goal in the 3-2 home defeat by Blackburn and Tottenham's late winner against Birmingham ensured they retained their place in the top flight. Morgan obviously did not believe that McCarthy could pull off another Houdini act.
Sadly for a decent man, as McCarthy undoubtedly is, the decision is likely to be in the best interests of the club. More so than the scoreline, it was the manner of Sunday's performance against West Brom that suggested the jig was up. Wolves were clueless, disjointed and the players played without any signs of self-belief. They were a side who had lost their way. In an ideal world you might replace the players, rather than the manager, but the Premier League is far from an ideal world.
For a brief moment things looked like they might have been different. Victories in their opening two league fixtures suggested that this might be the season that Wolves become a team who reached the heights of mid-table. But after that bright start Wolves went eight games without a win. When 2-0 down at home to Swansea in October the fans began chanting "you don't know what you're doing". Late goals from Kevin Doyle and Jamie O'Hara rescued a point that afternoon, but McCarthy has since been unable to pull together a sequence of results that convinced those fans otherwise.
Every error in Sunday's game (and there were many) was greeted with streams of invective from a home crowd who had seen their team win only one game in 13 in all competitions. The club was on the slide and Morgan was forced to act. Alan Curbishley and Steve Bruce lead the list of possible replacements (as they usually do) and, given their precarious league position, Morgan and the club's chief executive, Jez Moxey, may well feel that experience is the key requirement of any replacement. With 13 games remaining there is still time to turn things around, but whoever takes over will need to get the squad united inside the tent pretty quickly.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

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[h=1]Mick McCarthy sacked as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager[/h] • Wolves sack manager after 5-1 defeat by rivals West Brom
• Molineux club picked up 14 points from past 22 league games

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• guardian.co.uk, Monday 13 February 2012 11.09 GMT
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Mick McCarthy shows his frustration as Wolves slump to a 5-1 derby defeat by West Bromwich Albion. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images

Mick McCarthy has paid an almost inevitable price for Wolves' dismal run of form, with the Midlands club announcing the sacking of their manager on Monday morning.
Despite earlier support from the boardroom, McCarthy's position appeared untenable as Wolverhampton Wanderers slumped to a 5-1 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. At that game, the Wolves support made their discontent plain for the latest time this season. A group of them also stayed behind at Molineux to protest.
The club said: "Wolves have today announced that manager, Mick McCarthy, has left the club with immediate effect. The board took the difficult decision to terminate Mick's contract after a run of form which has seen Wolves pick up only 14 points in the last 22 league games, after a promising start to the season, culminating in yesterday's 5-1 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion. Terry Connor [hitherto McCarthy's assistant] will take charge of team training in the interim until a new manager is appointed.
"Mick joined Wolves in July 2006 and led the club to the Championship title in the 2008-09 campaign, before keeping the club in the Premier League for the past two seasons. The board would like to place on record their sincere thanks and appreciation to Mick and he leaves with the very best wishes of everyone connected to the club. The club will be issuing a fuller statement in due course."
Wolves lie third bottom of the Premier League although they are level on points with the two teams, Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park Rangers, directly above them.
The out-of-work duo of Steve Bruce and Neil Warnock have been installed as the early favourites to succeed McCarthy. Alan Curbishley, Billy Davies and Lee Clark also feature prominently in bookmakers' markets. Steve Morgan, the Wolves owner, is out of the country on a skiing holiday but in theory has a fortnight to find McCarthy's successor with the team not in action this coming weekend in the FA Cup.

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Carlos Tevez to make peace with Roberto Mancini and Manchester City[/h] • Tevez to arrive back in Manchester on Tuesday
• Striker eager to help club win Premier League

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• guardian.co.uk, Monday 13 February 2012 12.18 GMT
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Carlos Tevez, pictured earlier this month as he attends the farewell match of the former Boca Juniors striker Martín Palermo. Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

Carlos Tevez will report back to Manchester City on Tuesday, keen to make amends with his manager Roberto Mancini and help the club win the Premier League title, according to the player's representatives. It is believed the Argentina striker is likely to drop his appeal to the Premier League against a six-week club fine totalling around £1.2m as part of the peace moves.
Tevez is flying back from Argentina on Monday after being frozen out at City since he refused to warm up during a Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich three and a half months ago. He will need two or three weeks of training to regain full fitness but should then be available for selection as City, who returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa on Sunday, look to win the title.
Tevez's adviser Paul McCarthy told Sky Sports News: "Carlos will be back at Manchester City tomorrow. He wants to be back playing football and that's what he's best at doing. In the couple of seasons before this year, which has obviously been fairly awful in terms of everything that has gone on post-Munich, he was the leading goalscorer for Manchester City.
"He needs to be back, he needs to be pulling on a Manchester City shirt again, he needs to be doing what he does, and that's score goals and help his team. And he wants to help Manchester City to win the title and I think Roberto Mancini has opened the door now. Once Carlos is back in the country, once Carlos gets his fitness back, I think he will be an asset for City."
An expected move in the transfer window came to nothing and Tevez's return follows negotiations between City's acting chief executive John MacBeath and Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian.
McCarthy added: "There have been some very sensible discussions which have taken place in, probably, the last 10 days and I have to say there has been a thawing on both sides. Carlos wants to be back, he wants to be playing football again. Roberto Mancini has more than opened the door for him. Now it's a case of him getting his fitness back.
"Suddenly you've got a man who won the golden boot in the Premier League last season. It's been an incredibly difficult time, certainly from Manchester City's side of things, but I think now there is an understanding that by far and away the best thing is for Tevez to be back and playing football for Manchester City again."
The City defender Pablo Zabaleta said he misses his compatriot Tevez and is confident the forward would be welcomed back by the rest of the squad. "I miss Carlos and we haven't seen him for a long time," said Zabaleta, quoted in the Manchester Evening News. "This situation has been crazy for everybody, for the players, the club and especially for Carlos. If we see him coming back this week, it depends on the manager's decision whether he is given another chance or not.
"As a player, if he comes back he will be another player in the squad. We know him but I think we have to be very strong in this moment, to be focused on what we are doing. He would be welcomed by the players, because it was a difficult situation for everybody. But most important is that we are doing well as a team."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

Roman Abramovich confronts Chelsea players over poor results • Players hauled in on day off after Everton defeat • Chelsea owner held talks with André Villas-Boas Share reddit this Press Association guardian.co.uk, Monday 13 February 2012 11.39 GMT Article history Roman Abramovich The Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, right, with André Villas-Boas during a training session at Cobham. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images Roman Abramovich met André Villas-Boas and his players after the squad were hauled in on their day off following the 2-0 defeat at Everton on Saturday, the club have confirmed. The billionaire owner, who is unhappy with recent results, addressed Villas-Boas and his players, having spent almost every day last week inspecting the regime at close quarters. His presence at the club's Cobham training ground, which has coincided with the Russian being available from a high-profile court case as well as a slump in Chelsea's results, has sparked speculation over Villas-Boas's future. But the Chelsea manager and the club have continued to maintain that the Portuguese's position is not under threat and that Abramovich's active interest is perfectly normal. Almost two years ago, Chelsea went on to win the Double after the Russian held a post-mortem into their Champions League defeat by Internazionale. There is little chance of a repeat this season, with Chelsea 17 points behind the league leaders Manchester City and in fifth spot, although they are well-placed in the FA Cup and still in the Champions League. As well as progress in those competitions, a top-four league finish would appear the minimum requirement for Villas-Boas, who has been cut more slack than any of his predecessors under Abramovich. The owner sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari three years ago when he began to fear a top-four place would not be secured and the Blues are in a far worse position now than they were then. Villas-Boas admitted the performance at Everton was one of the poorest since he took charge last summer and the goalkeeper Petr Cech agreed it was simply not good enough. He told Chelsea TV: "When you lose a game 2-0 and you are Chelsea Football Club playing for the Champions League and with big expectations, losing is not good enough and the performance was not good enough, that's why we lost. "We took so many passes side to side and we never really opened them up. In the second half, we tried to play more direct but they were fighting well and kept organised, and 1-0 up so early became so much more difficult to break."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Carlos Tevez returns to Manchester City with swipe at Roberto Mancini[/h] • Striker says Mancini treated him like a dog in Munich
• City officials expect the Argentinian to apologise

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• The Guardian, Tuesday 14 February 2012
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Carlos Tevez prepares to board a plane and make his way back to Manchester City and talks with manager Roberto Mancini. Photograph: Enrique Marcarian/Reuters

Manchester City officials are ready to forgive Carlos Tevez for his misdemeanours and begin the process of integrating him back into Roberto Mancini's squad when he returns from Argentina on Tuesday . Tevez, for his part, said: "I know what it takes to revert the situation," while admitting issues remain with his manager. Indeed Tevez went as far as to say Mancini treated him "like a dog" over the incident at Bayern Munich in September.
City expect their rebel striker on Tuesday morning and have made plans to assess his fitness and offer him a tailor-made training programme. Yet with the Argentinian in a not entirely contrite mood during a decidely spiky interview with South American television given before his departure from Buenos Aires it is clear bridges between the recalcitrant player and Mancini need rebuilding.
If City imagined their former captain might eat humble pie such notions were disabused as Tevez made it clear that, while he is ready to commit to a fresh start, he feels wronged by what he perceives as Mancini's mishandling of the situation. By way of pouring oil on troubled waters the striker also revealed that he almost came to blows with the Italian last season.
Nonetheless it is expected that planned talks with City's manager will end in an apology from the player followed by a truce which, by fast-tracking Tevez back into the first team, could benefit both parties. Although City believe the striker's claims that he is only two weeks away from match fitness are unrealistic, they will tread carefully around a man who has spent the last three and half months in Argentina following a falling-out with Mancini and have instructed staff that he should not be cold-shouldered. In return Tevez will almost certainly drop his appeal to the Premier League against a six-week, £1.2m, club fine.
"I've decided to return to Manchester. I know what it takes to revert the situation. I know it'll be hard but it's a nice challenge," said Tevez who, judging by warm comments from James Milner and Pablo Zabaleta, will be welcomed back into the dressing room. "I want to win the City fans back over. People turned their back on me. I didn't understand City fans burning my shirt. It hurt. But it's normal they react like that because they read lots of things."
Initially it seemed that the fallout from the forward's refusal to warm up during a Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich at the end of September would prompt his January departure from City. As the cold war between player and club intensified, Internazionale, Milan and Paris St-Germain all registered informal interest in Tevez – who stomped off to Buenos Aires in November – but, ultimately, no bid arrived. On Monday he defended his stance in Munich. "I never refused to play," said Tevez. "I refused to keep warming up. He's [Mancini] in the middle of an argument, so then he tells me to keep on warming up and treats me like a dog. I was willing to play, but the coach was in such a foul mood because he had that argument with [Edin] Dzeko. Mancini said some horrible things to me.
"The club had an investigation and fined me. The club statement protected the manager; I got a lot of heat from the media. We could have sorted things out in a different way. I found shelter with family [in Argentina]."
During long afternoons playing golf, Tevez came to accept that reconciliation with his manager represented the only realistic way of repairing his damaged reputation before securing a summer exit from the Etihad Stadium. Similarly, City's recent slump in form reminded Mancini that the Argentinian's goalscoring talent could prove title-clinching. "I've been training on my own," said Tevez. "I know I can be back on the pitch in two weeks. There's no need for City to make me have two training sessions a day."
Although Mancini expects an immediate apology it may be grudging. "Last season we almost exchanged punches after a home game with Newcastle," said Tevez. "We almost hit each other in the dressing room but we spoke the following day. Mancini's position got stronger when [Sergio] Agüero joined. I don't know if he would have done the things he did last season."

 

[Rutashubanyuma]

[h=1]Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Wednesday's papers[/h] Published 09:13 08/02/12 By Football Spy

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The transfer window may be shut, but managers up and down the country are already plotting for when the next one opens, and we've got all the gossip from all the papers right here.
Transfer stories from today's Daily Mirror
EXCLUSIVE: How Arsenal can help Barca buy Bale
VIDEO: The Benfica star City AND United are after


Vela: Don't make me go back to Arsenal!
Berbatov unhappy at United but resigned to staying
Blackburn could get just £675k for Hoilett
AVB admits defeat in Neymar chase
Chelsea still keen on summer moves for Krasic and Willian
Stories from other papers and websites
Chelsea face a battle to keep Daniel Sturridge after Arsenal took significant steps towards a shock summer swoop. (Daily Mail)
Arsene Wenger is poised to continue his youth transfer policy in the summer with a move for Fiorentina's Matija Nastasic. The Serbia Under 21 defender, 18, has already made 15 appearances for the Serie A club. (Daily Mail)
Chelsea are lining up a mega-money swoop for Atletico Madrid striker Falcao. And the Blues could even offer £50m flop Fernando Torres as bait to land the prolific Colombian. (Daily Star)
Chelsea have signed 15-year-old centre back Andreas Christensen from Brondby on a free transfer.The Denmark Under 17 defender will move to Stamford Bridge in the summer. (Daily Mail)
Manchester City are poised to make a move for Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol at the end of the season. (talkSPORT)
Mario Balotelli handed Manchester City a boost last night by hinting he plans to stay put for at least 18 more months. (The Sun)
Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu has insisted that Arsenal attacker Robin van Persie is not a transfer target for the Blaugrana for the time being. (Sport)
Super-rich Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala are lining up a €25million offer for Inter playmaker Wesley Sneijder. (Goal.com)