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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:gml="http://www.opengis.net/gml" xmlns:taxo="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/taxonomy/" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#" version="2.0"> <channel> <title>Football news, match reports and fixtures | guardian.co.uk</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football</link> <description>Latest news and features from guardian.co.uk, the world's leading liberal voice</description> <language>en-gb</language> <copyright>&copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009</copyright> <lastBuildDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:14:13 GMT</lastBuildDate> <docs>http://www.guardian.co.uk/webfeeds</docs> <ttl>15</ttl> <image> <title>Football news, match reports and fixtures | guardian.co.uk</title> <url>http://image.guardian.co.uk/sitecrumbs/Guardian.gif</url> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football</link> </image> <atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com" /><item> <title>Vidic and Ferdinand doubtful for Blackburn's trip to United</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/manchester-united-nemanja-vidic-rio-ferdinand</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/45727?ns=guardian&pageName=Nemanja+Vidic+and+Rio+Ferdinand+give+Manchester+United+injury+worries%3AArticle%3A1298408&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Manchester+United+%28Football%29%2CSir+Alex+Ferguson%2CRio+Ferdinand%2CRyan+Giggs+%28football%29%2CBlackburn+Rovers+%28Football+club%29%2CPremier+League+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298408&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FManchester+United" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Central defensive pair have calf problems • Ryan Giggs also a doubt for Blackburn matchThe Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is facing defensive problems ahead of the Premier League match against Blackburn at Old Trafford tomorrow.Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are both doubtful with calf problems and Gary Neville is suspended. Ryan Giggs also has a knock and Danny Welbeck, who scored in the Carling Cup victory against Barnsley in midweek, is sidelined with a knee injury."We have some doubts for tomorrow," Ferguson admitted. "Ryan Giggs is a doubt but we hope he'll be OK. Ferdinand and Vidic are both doubts – we'll see what they're like today. Gary Neville is suspended of course. Hopefully we can get one or two fit for tomorrow but we're facing an uphill fight."Vidic has had a calf problem for a few weeks now. We've seen a specialist about it so we'll see what he's like today. Rio and Vida both want to play after the disappointment of last Sunday [the 0-2 defeat at Liverpool]."Ferguson added that Park Ji-sung's knee injury is a cause for concern, after the midfielder developed some swelling during a recent flight back from Korea. "We think he'll be out for a couple of weeks yet," said the manager.Darren Fletcher, however, is back in training, having been out since the 2-2 draw with Sunderland at the start of the month. "[He] started training yesterday," said Ferguson. "He won't be fit for tomorrow but hopefully we'll get him ready for the Chelsea game. He'll get 10 days' training before that."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchester-united">Manchester United</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/sir-alex-ferguson">Sir Alex Ferguson</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/rio-ferdinand">Rio Ferdinand</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/ryan-giggs">Ryan Giggs</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blackburn">Blackburn Rovers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LfWf1hbpb5yWYobIsbQBIVbpSB4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LfWf1hbpb5yWYobIsbQBIVbpSB4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LfWf1hbpb5yWYobIsbQBIVbpSB4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/LfWf1hbpb5yWYobIsbQBIVbpSB4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Manchester United</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Sir Alex Ferguson</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Rio Ferdinand</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Ryan Giggs</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Blackburn Rovers</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Premier League</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:03:24 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/manchester-united-nemanja-vidic-rio-ferdinand</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T12:26:58Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2009/10/30/1256904183116/Nemanja-Vidic-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Clive Mason/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Nemanja Vidic is doubtful for Manchester United's match against Blackburn with a calf problem. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2009/10/30/1256904180339/Nemanja-Vidic-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Clive Mason/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Nemanja Vidic is doubtful for Manchester United's match against Blackburn with a calf problem. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Campbell interested in Newcastle move</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/sol-campbell-newcastle</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/52730?ns=guardian&pageName=Sol+Campbell+declares+interest+in+Newcastle+move%3AArticle%3A1298484&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Newcastle+United+%28Football%29%2CSol+Campbell%2CChampionship+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298484&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FNewcastle+United" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Sol Campbell says Newcastle are interested in defender • 'I would be very interested in a move there, I have my reasons'Sol Campbell has admitted that he is "very interested" in a move to Newcastle United after revealing that the Championship leaders are among the clubs keen on him.The former England defender left Notts County after only one appearance, and will be available to move on when the League Two side agree to release his registration, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/sol-campbell-notts-county" title="which is the subject of ongoing negotiation">which is the subject of ongoing negotiation</a>.He has been linked with West Bromwich Albion and has trained with Arsenal to keep up his fitness, but Campbell is looking at which clubs are showing the firmest interest. The 35-year-old believes joining Newcastle could allow him to play a part in a promotion campaign before returning to the Premier League, where he has previously played for Tottenham, Arsenal and Portsmouth.Campbell told ESPN Soccernet: "I have been approached by several clubs, and yes, it is correct to say that Newcastle are one of them. People might be surprised to hear me say that I would be very interested in a move there, but I have my reasons. Also, Newcastle are a big club and could be heading back to the Premier League. It appeals."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/newcastleunited">Newcastle United</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/sol-campbell">Sol Campbell</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/championship">Championship</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/CZyj3uaxmAV24sHoYnkkSKQvJts/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/CZyj3uaxmAV24sHoYnkkSKQvJts/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/CZyj3uaxmAV24sHoYnkkSKQvJts/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/CZyj3uaxmAV24sHoYnkkSKQvJts/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Newcastle United</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Sol Campbell</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Championship</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:26:41 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/sol-campbell-newcastle</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T13:54:00Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256909165644/Sol-Campbell-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Andrew Matthews/Empics Sport</media:credit> <media:description>Sol Campbell said he would be interested in a move to Newcastle. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/Empics Sport</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256909162905/Sol-Campbell-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Andrew Matthews/Empics Sport</media:credit> <media:description>Sol Campbell said he would be interested in a move to Newcastle. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/Empics Sport</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>King will find another club, insists agent</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/marlon-king-agent</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/92117?ns=guardian&pageName=Marlon+King+will+find+another+club+after+prison+insists+agent%3AArticle%3A1298510&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Marlon+King+%28football%29%2CWigan+Athletic+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298510&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FMarlon+King" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Marlon King will want to play again says Tony Finnigan • 'I'm sure someone will want his signature'Marlon King will be signed by another club when his jail sentence is finished, his agent insisted today.The player was told he would be sacked by Wigan Athletic yesterday after being <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/wigan-athletic-sack-marlon-king" title="jailed for 18 months">jailed for 18 months</a> for breaking a woman's nose and sexual assault.His agent, Tony Finnigan, said that prison would change the striker and that he had career prospects on release. Finnigan told Sky News: "I don't want to name names but there are lots of players in this country who have fallen short of the law, done the crime, done the time, come out, and I'm sure if you're sitting in a six by six you do have time to reflect on the change you make as a person in your life."Forget about playing football here, just as a human being you're going to be different. He still will be a good goalscorer and I'm sure someone will want his signature to play football and do the job that he's best at."King intends to appeal against the length of his jail sentence as well as his dismissal, Finnigan said.The 29-year-old – who has 13 previous convictions including one for violence against women – was told he would be sacked within an hour of being found guilty of the outburst of "completely gratuitous violence" in a West End nightclub.Southwark crown court in London heard that the father of three, who had consumed several drinks celebrating his wife's pregnancy and his having scored a winning goal, launched the "unprovoked" attack on the 20-year-old after groping her bottom and repeatedly being "cold-shouldered" by women in the Soho Revue Bar.Finnigan accused the Wigan chairman, Dave Whelan, of playing "white knight" in sacking King. "He was playing white knight in my opinion yesterday to say: 'Right, we don't want that here,'" Finnigan said. "You can't just dismiss an employee and think you can dismiss him publicly like that, the union get in on it."The agent said the Professional Footballers' Association would now have to get involved to "find out the facts".Whelan had said: "We have to follow the rules and regulations, which means we will have to give him 40 days' notice that his contract will be cancelled. He is absolutely sacked – we will not tolerate football players who get sent to jail for 18 months. As far as we are concerned, he is finished with football at Wigan Athletic."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/marlon-king">Marlon King</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wiganathletic">Wigan Athletic</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/sK_iqbSlpM5FjRsYE0yLya8kUgg/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/sK_iqbSlpM5FjRsYE0yLya8kUgg/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/sK_iqbSlpM5FjRsYE0yLya8kUgg/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/sK_iqbSlpM5FjRsYE0yLya8kUgg/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Marlon King</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Wigan Athletic</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:11:39 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/marlon-king-agent</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T14:20:03Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256911824830/Marlon-King-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Max Nash/PA</media:credit> <media:description>Marlon King will have 'time to reflect' in prison, said his agent Tony Finnigan. Photograph: Max Nash/PA</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256911822077/Marlon-King-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Max Nash/PA</media:credit> <media:description>Marlon King will have 'time to reflect' in prison, said his agent Tony Finnigan. Photograph: Max Nash/PA</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Today in Sport - live!</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/1</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/29418?ns=guardian&pageName=Today+in+sport+-+live%21%3AArticle%3A1298321&ch=Sport&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Football%2CSport&c6=James+Dart%2CSean+Ingle&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298321&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost%2CMinute+by+minute&c11=Sport&c13=Today+in+Sport&c25=Sport+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FSport%2F" width="1" height="1" /></div>Discuss all the big issues, including whether Marlon King should ever be allowed to play again, plus send us your favourite links2.45pm: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/muhammad-ali-george-foreman">Kevin Mitchell's rather excellent blog</a> has landed on why, 35 years on, all those who witnessed the night the jungle rumbled to the sound of Ali v Foreman are still in awe. Plus, Maurice Hamilton has been driven around the new Yas Marina F1 track in Abu Dhabi by Martin Brundle - <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/oct/30/abu-dhabi-grand-prix">and lived to tell the tale</a>. JD1.55pm: Sol Campbell has said that Newcastle are one of the clubs interested in him and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/sol-campbell-newcastle">he would be quite up for the idea of a move to St James' Park</a>. "People might be surprised to hear me say that I would be very interested in a move there, but I have my reasons," he said, rather cryptically. Would Campbell be a good signing for Newcastle or just another in a long line of past-their-prime stars looking for a final payday? JW1.20pm: A couple of blogs for you on this Friday afternoon. Prepare for this weekend's north London derby with <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/joy-of-six-arsenal-tottenham">The Joy of Six classic Arsenal v Tottenham matches</a>. Meanwhile, north of the border, read Ewan Murray's views on <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2009/oct/30/ewan-murray-celtic-blog">the job facing Tony Mowbray</a> as he overhauls his Celtic squad.If it's not blogs you're after then why not take an <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/interactive/2009/oct/29/olympics2012-london">interactive tour of the Olympic Park</a> 1,000 days before London 2012? JWu12.35pm: As already discussed below the line, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/sir-alex-ferguson-england-friendly">Alex Ferguson has been having a dig at the FA</a> for its reasons for organising an England friendly against Brazil in Qatar next month, saying:<blockquote>"Friendly games are a different matter and I don't think any league coach agrees with them. I think even some of the international managers themselves could do without the friendly games. But the football associations from every country warn them that sometimes it's a nice day for them, a nice sunny trip for them. And in some cases it creates good revenue for them as well."</blockquote>Here are a couple of other Ferguson quotes from the last couple of years.<blockquote><a href="http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2008/January/20/man-utds-ferguson-defends-saudi-trip-that-will-honour-al-jaber/">January 2008</a> - "We have gone away before in mid-season and it has worked well for us. We went to Dubai a couple of years ago and we won the FA Cup at the end of that season. We are delighted to be [in Saudi Arabia] and I just hope that the sun gets even warmer over the next few days! We get back to Manchester on Thursday, so that will give us three days to prepare for the Spurs on the Sunday."</blockquote>And:<blockquote><a href="http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Sir-Alex-Ferguson-admits-Man-United-tour-of-Africa-was-for-money-article37903.html">July 2008</a> - "We've never been to Nigeria. It was just an opportunity and you could say it was partly financial of course. We have to take in to consideration the financial invitations because we have a big operation."</blockquote> JD11.45am Some Serie A team news ahead of this weekend's games.* Inter are likely to be without Samuel Eto'o for their trip to Livorno because of a foot injury picked up in the 5-3 win over Palermo. "I feel pain," Eto'o told reporters. He should, however, be fit for next week's Champions League trip to Dynamo Kiev. * Roma are in free-fall right now and the news isn't good ahead their home match with Bologna: Rodrigo Taddei, Daniele De Rossi and Marco Cassetti are suspended while Francesco Totti is still out after minor knee surgery. * AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta is likely to miss Saturday's visit of Parma because of a hamstring problem. * Finally, Juventus are still without Alessandro Del Piero and Vincenzo Iaquinta for Saturday's visit of Napoli so coach Ciro Ferrara may again go with one up front following the 5-1 thrashing of Sampdoria on Wednesday. SI11.30am: According to the Press Association, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is "facing a defensive headache" ahead of the match against Blackburn tomorrow. And more besides, judging from their report below:<blockquote>Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are both doubtful with calf problems and Gary Neville is suspended. Ryan Giggs also has a knock and Danny Welbeck, who scored in the Carling Cup victory against Barnsley in midweek, is sidelined with a knee injury. Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park remain absent with groin and knee injuries respectively.</blockquote> SI10.45am: Thanks (I think) to the ever excellent <a href="http://www.101greatgoals.com/">101greatgoals.com</a>, which has put up the YouTube <a href="http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/3771971/">footage of Hibs keeper Graham Stack streaking during a Reporting Scotland broadcast</a> earlier this week. JD10.15am: Lots of things in the diary today, including: * Andy Flower press conference at 2.15pm * Kevin Pietersen is due to have his first net since his operation * Rep of Ireland naming their squad for their World Cup play-offs * Various press conferences ahead of the weekend's games * Live matches: QPR v Leicester and Sale v Gloucester * World Cycling championships (at 12pm and 6.45pm) * Paula Radcliffe press conference this afternoon * Racing is back at Weatherby, where several horses have died recently * World matchplay golf day two SI10.10am: OK, question(s) of the day: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/wigan-athletic-sack-marlon-king">did Marlon King get off lightly in court yesterday</a>? And should he ever be allowed to play football again? JD9.55am: Good morning and welcome to our daily sports news blog. You're probably familiar with the concept now, but if not, the idea is this: throughout the day we will update this page with news, links, and what's expected to happen in the hours ahead. Time permitting, we'll also try to wade in below the line, answering your questions and comments. However we'd like your input as much as possible – please send us your favourite links to stories/clips on YouTube etc and we'll flag up the best above the line. JD<div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesdart">James Dart</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/seaningle">Sean Ingle</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fkiEhlB7FPU3BOqv5OxRmFTTQh4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fkiEhlB7FPU3BOqv5OxRmFTTQh4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fkiEhlB7FPU3BOqv5OxRmFTTQh4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/fkiEhlB7FPU3BOqv5OxRmFTTQh4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Blogposts</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Minute by minute</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:59:34 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/1</guid> <dc:creator>James Dart, Sean Ingle</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Sport</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T14:50:54Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/19/1255935754690/Cristiano-Ronaldo-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Matthew Childs/Action Images</media:credit> <media:description>Cristiano Ronaldo: Can anyone stop him from scooping the Ballon d'Or for a second consecutive year? Photograph: Matthew Childs/Action Images</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256833780395/Marlon-King-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Dominic Lipinski/PA</media:credit> <media:description>Should Marlon King be allowed to play again? Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>The Joy of Six: north London derbies</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/joy-of-six-arsenal-tottenham</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/63906?ns=guardian&pageName=The+Joy+of+Six%3A+Classic+Arsenal+v+Tottenham+matches+%7C+Rob+Smyth+and+Simo%3AArticle%3A1298379&ch=Sport&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Arsenal+FC+%28Football%29%2CTottenham+Hotspur+%28Football%29%2CPaul+Gascoigne+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=Rob+Smyth%2CSimon+Burnton&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298379&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Sport&c13=Joy+of+six+%28series%29&c25=Sport+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FSport%2FArsenal" width="1" height="1" /></div>From Gazza's Wembley howitzer to an infamous off-field result, here are half a dozen memorable north London derbies<h2><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrHKxdX4Qgo&feature=related" title="1. Tottenham Hotspur 2-3 Arsenal, Division One, 10/09/1988 ">1) Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal, First Division, 10 September 1988 </a></h2>The cliché of the local derby is of the scruffy, witless, low-scoring, primal affront to the beautiful game. Yet if that is the rule, Spurs v Arsenal has frequently been the exception. There have been loads of 4-4 draws – <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/30/premierleague-arsenal" title="last season, of course">last season, of course</a>, and three between 1958 and 1963 alone – <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/4392444.stm" title="Jose Mourinhos hockey match in 2004">José Mourinho's hockey match in 2004</a>, a 5-0 apiece in the late 70s and early 80s (of which more later), and also this surreal free-for-all at the start&nbsp;of Arsenal's title-winning campaign.All five goals came in 12 chaotic first-half minutes. The first could have come from the Arsène Wenger era, with Tony Adams running 40 yards like Franz Beckenbauer brilliantly to set up Nigel Winterburn's outside-of-the-foot finish; then, after strikes from Chris Waddle, Brian Marwood and Alan Smith, Paul Gascoigne scored with his sock, having lost a boot as he ran through on goal.Gascoigne was otherwise marginally outplayed by Paul Davis; in this paper, the great David Lacey felt Davis&nbsp;had done enough in front of the watching Bobby Robson to earn a first England cap in the friendly against Denmark the following Wednesday. That debut would never come; nor would the fruition of a philosophy outlined by the Arsenal manager George Graham in his post-match interview – one that, with hindsight, seems as absurd as finding out that Thom Yorke used to only wear clothes made in sweatshops, or that the McCartney family used to love tucking into a filthy, oozing beefburger a few times a week. "I'd rather win a game 3-2 than 1-0," Graham said, "because 3-2 is good for the game." And for the reputation of local derbies. RS<h2><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geJbTwOQoQU" title="2. Tottenham 1 Arsenal 2, League Cup semi-final replay, 4 March 1987">2) Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal, League Cup semi-final replay, 4 March 1987</a></h2>This three-legged League Cup semi-final ended in glory, against the odds, for Arsenal in a season when Spurs – third in the league and beaten by Coventry in the FA Cup final – came quite close to winning everything without actually winning anything. Spurs, who had won the first leg at Highbury 1-0, looked in control when they led the second leg by the same scoreline at half-time – when, so the story goes, ticket details for the final were announced to home fans. But two goals in 15 minutes from Viv Anderson and Niall Quinn brought the scores level on aggregate and, with extra time unable to separate the sides, the tie went to a replay three days later, the venue decided on a toss of a coin. That was almost a draw, too: David Pleat said that when the coin fell to earth it got stuck, almost upright, in the mud, although the referee judged that it was leaning Spurs' way.For the third successive game, Clive Allen put Spurs a goal up. But the introduction of Ian Allinson for Charlie Nicholas – who was carried off piggy-back after sustaining an injury – changed the game. In the 82nd minute Allinson scored an equaliser, which zipped through the legs of Richard Gough and past Ray Clemence, and then in stoppage-time his shot deflected into the path of David Rocastle, who swept Arsenal into the final. Uniquely, Arsenal beat Spurs three times at White Hart Lane that season. "When you have nothing to lose you just push people forward, and sometimes it comes off," said Graham. "I don't necessarily believe in fate," said Pleat, "but I don't think we were meant to win it."The next question, then, was how Graham could repay Allinson for his brilliant intervention. Not very well, would be the answer: he never started another game, wasn't in the squad for the final and was released at the end of the season. In the final Arsenal engineered another comeback to beat Liverpool 2-1, but that's another story. SB<h2><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap3dIN4MpOQ" title="1. Tottenham 3 Arsenal 1, FA Cup semi-final, 14 April 1991">3) Tottenham 3-1 Arsenal, FA Cup semi-final, 14 April 1991</a></h2>Paul Gascoigne's two visits to Wembley in 1991 both ended with him weeping. The first featured "the best free-kick in the history of the FA Cup", in the words of Terry Venables. The second, Spurs' final win over Nottingham Forest, was cut short by a knee injury that nearly destroyed his career. But Gascoigne's greatest moment, and there were many in that Cup run, came in the semi-final against Arsenal. He almost didn't make it – he'd had an abdominal operation just 34 days earlier – but he quickly stamped his authority on the game by thumping a 30-yard howitzer past David Seaman. "Wasn't bad, was it?" he surmised."I don't think they took anything out when they operated," said the watching Lawrie McMenemy, commentating for BBC radio. "I think they put something in." Gascoigne, who needed two injections on the night before the match to cure "stomach nerves", lasted just an hour before being replaced, knackered, by Nayim. Seaman, incidentally, blamed himself for that and one of Gary Lineker's two goals. "Sorry lads," he said at half-time, "my studs got caught in the turf." Tottenham, some £18m in debt, badly needed some cheer. Arsenal were to get some of their own when they sealed the league title a few weeks later. SB<h2>4) Arsenal 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur, First Division, 1 January 1985</h2>The victors don't only get the spoils; they also get to rewrite history. The&nbsp;losers don't only go home with nothing; they also have their history rewritten, and their memories compromised. When a football team wins a major competition, they can look back and point to the symbolic moment when they knew categorically it was their year; when they first sang "we're gonna win the league/cup/Fair Play Trophy" with much more than pointless bravado. Yet the eventual losers frequently had exactly the same experience of genuinely believing their time had come.One such moment came at Highbury on New Year's Day 1985. It's often forgotten that it was the uncelebrated Peter Shreeves who presided over Spurs' sole title challenge of the last 45 years; this was the only season since 1963-64 in which they have led the table after Christmas, and, make no mistake, they were serious contenders. The manner of their victory at Highbury was hugely impressive. They were outplayed in the first half, falling behind to Tony Woodcock, but came back so well after the break, with Glenn Hoddle improbably bossing the midfield both technically and physically, that victory seemed inevitable&nbsp;long before goals from Garth Crooks and Mark Falco.In real terms, it was Spurs' last league victory at Highbury – sorry, but we can't take matches on the last day of the season <a href="http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=328711" title="that include such luminaries as Gavin McGowan, Mark Flatts, David McDonald and Danny Hill ">that include such luminaries as Gavin McGowan, Mark Flatts, David McDonald and Danny Hill</a> seriously – and <a href="http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-one-old/1984-1985/table/1985-01-01" title="kept them ahead of Everton on goal difference">kept them ahead of Everton on goal difference</a>. They were unbeaten in two months, they had just outclassed their rivals, they were top of the league. Now that, rather than with your head&nbsp;playing&nbsp;drum-and-bass and your stomach spinning like a washing machine,&nbsp;is how you should start a new year.Yet for various reasons, Spurs only played two league games in the next seven and a half weeks, and incredibly would not play a home league game between 29 December and 12 March. 73 days! Like an in-form batsman who can't get on strike they lost momentum – particularly when they lost in the cups, to Liverpool and Real Madrid. That said, they might have wished to stay away from White Hart Lane: they lost three of the next four league games at home, one of them crucially to Everton, and eventually finished third. The glorious memory of 1 January 1985 would forever have an asterisk against it. RS<h2>5) Tottenham 5-0 Arsenal, First Division, 4 April 1985</h2>There was an element of revenge in the air as Tottenham ripped through a miserable Arsenal side in April 1983. Four-and-a-half years earlier they had been beaten, also at home, by the same scoreline with Alan Sunderland grabbing a hat-trick, Frank Stapleton snatching one and a young chap called Liam Brady <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLkrRdTB8K4" title="curling in one of the finest goals of his career">curling in one of the finest goals of his career</a>. "I was particularly pleased about the result," said the Tottenham manager, Keith Burkinshaw, "because they did us five-nil in my first season as a First Division manager. That hurt a bit."Spurs opened the scoring in the 10th minute and were three up in the 18th – Chris Hughton <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbjGkneGRPI" title="getting the first with a scrambled mis-kick">getting the first with a "scrambled mis-kick</a>", and Alan Brazil the third, his first for the club. Mark Falco grabbed a brace, both glorious volleys (although you've got to question the defending for <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnbVLmKz8Cc" title="this one">this one</a>.) Arsenal's defence of Stewart Robson and David O'Leary, and their "hapless goalkeeper" George Wood, made a series of errors. "Often as not Brazil, Falco and Archibald merely had to queue up in predatory fashion to await the next mistake," reported the Guardian, not unreasonably. SB<h2>6) Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham, Football League meeting, 10 March 1919</h2>After the first world war a proposal was made to increase the size of the top two divisions from 20 to 22 teams. The obvious solution was to promote the two top teams from Second Division in the last pre-war season – Derby and Preston – and either keep the two relegated sides – Chelsea and Tottenham – or promote the third- and fourth-placed teams in the second tier – Barnsley and Wolves. But somehow Arsenal managed to wrangle their way into the top flight, much to the disgust of Spurs fans now and since.In the run-up to the league meeting it was reported that Chelsea were certain to retain their place in the top flight "because the manner in which they lost their position before war interfered with the game is generally regarded as unsatisfactory" – Manchester United had finished one place above them in 1915 after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1915_British_football_betting_scandal" title="fixing a crucial encounter with Liverpool.">fixing a crucial encounter with Liverpool.</a> So with Derby and Preston also sure to go up, that left one place to be awarded. Spurs or Barnsley were considered the most likely to get it, but behind the scenes, Arsenal's chairman Sir Henry Norris was working like a busy little beaver. His side had finished fifth in the Second Division in 1915, but he reckoned they deserved some reward for their loyalty, having been the first southerners to join the Football League. A few other clubs also threw their names forward for promotion. "The voting promises to be very close," predicted the Guardian.A tense day ensued. First West Bromwich Albion proposed that Chelsea be reinstated to a 21-team top-flight. Nobody would second their motion. Then Everton suggested that Chelsea should be reinstated at the expense of "the club that had done wrong" – United. They also worried, quaintly, that more teams and more fixtures would bring the "danger of nauseating the public with too much football". But their proposal, too, was rejected. Only six clubs voted against the league's extension to 22 clubs, and Chelsea's return was passed unanimously. Then came the vote for the second bonus slot. The results were as follows: Hull City: one vote. Birmingham: two votes. Nottingham Forest: three votes. Wolves: four votes. Barnsley: five votes. Tottenham Hotspur: eight votes. Arsenal: 18 votes.It was a glorious, if illogical, victory for The Arsenal (as they were known) and one that quite understandably enraged their local rivals, who were promoted a year later as champions. Norris, an estate agent and sometime Conservative MP, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Norris_%28businessman%29#cite_note-spurling48-10" title="was quite the character">was quite the character</a>. He had also been among the founders of Fulham, and the borough's mayor for over a decade. But it turns out MPs knew how to scam expenses even then: he was expelled from football for good in 1927 after it was discovered that he had been using club funds to pay a business called Queensborough Motor Company for his car and chauffeur. Said company turned out to be based at his house and run by him, with no employees. SB<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/arsenal">Arsenal</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/tottenham-hotspur">Tottenham Hotspur</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/paul-gascoigne">Paul Gascoigne</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/robsmyth">Rob Smyth</a></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/simonburnton">Simon Burnton</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/sjwWsuR_6K8W6XBgmfcZMGZqcP4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/sjwWsuR_6K8W6XBgmfcZMGZqcP4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/sjwWsuR_6K8W6XBgmfcZMGZqcP4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/sjwWsuR_6K8W6XBgmfcZMGZqcP4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Arsenal</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Tottenham Hotspur</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Paul Gascoigne</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Blogposts</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:17:00 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/30/joy-of-six-arsenal-tottenham</guid> <dc:creator>Rob Smyth, Simon Burnton</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Sport</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T13:09:57Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256900844413/Glenn-Hoddle-takes-on-Dav-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Steve Powell/Allsport</media:credit> <media:description>Glenn Hoddle takes on David O'Leary on New Year's Day 1985. Photograph: Steve Powell/Allsport</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256900841562/Glenn-Hoddle-takes-on-Dav-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Steve Powell/Allsport</media:credit> <media:description>Glenn Hoddle takes on David O'Leary on New Year's Day 1985. Spurs would run out 2-1 winners. Photograph: Steve Powell/Allsport</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Weekend Premier League team news</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/premier-league-team-news</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/74045?ns=guardian&pageName=Premier+League+team+news%3A+Defensive+headache+for+Manchester+United%3AArticle%3A1298346&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Premier+League+%28Football%29%2CManchester+United+%28Football%29%2CBlackburn+Rovers+%28Football+club%29%2CHull+City+%28Football%29%2CBurnley+%28Football%29%2CEverton+%28Football%29%2CAston+Villa+%28Football%29%2CPortsmouth+%28Football%29%2CWigan+Athletic+%28Football%29%2CStoke+City+%28Football%29%2CWolverhampton+Wanderers+%28Football%29%2CSunderland+%28Football%29%2CWest+Ham+United+%28Football%29%2CLiverpool+FC+%28Football%29%2CFulham+%28Football%29%2CBirmingham+City+%28Football+club%29%2CManchester+City+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298346&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FPremier+League" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand doubtful for Manchester United • Boaz Myhill injury adds to Hull's problems<h2>Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur </h2>Manuel Almunia could be set for a recall to Arsenal's starting line-up for tomorrow's derby with Tottenham Hotspur.Arsène Wenger is likely to make several changes from the young side that beat Liverpool in the Carling Cup in midweek but Lukas Fabianski (thigh), Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott (both knee) miss out.Samir Nasri made his first appearance of the season against Liverpool after recovering from a broken leg and is likely to be on the bench tomorrow.Tottenham's striker Jermain Defoe serves the final part of his three-match suspension and will miss the match.Aaron Lennon (ankle), Giovani dos Santos (ankle) and Luka Modric (fractured leg) are also out but Peter Crouch has recovered from a groin problem.The goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (knee) and centre-backs Jonathan Woodgate (head) and Ledley King (illness) should be available and Niko Kranjcar is back after being cup-tied.Arsenal (from): Mannone, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Eboue, Song, Fabregas, Diaby, Arshavin, van Persie, Almunia, Eduardo, Vela, Gibbs, Silvestre, Wilshere, Ramsey, Bendtner.Tottenham (from) : Gomes, Cudicini, Button, Hutton, Naughton, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Woodgate, King, Bassong, Dawson, Huddlestone, Jenas, Palacios, Kranjcar, Bentley, Keane, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko.<h2>Birmingham City v Manchester City </h2>Maik Taylor will make his first Premier League appearance of the season against Manchester City at St Andrew's on Sunday. Taylor was Birmingham's No1 last season and played a major part in their promotion campaign.He lost his place when McLeish signed Joe Hart on a season-long loan from Eastlands, but his ineligibility to face his parent club gives Taylor a rare chance to remind McLeish of his ability.Birmingham's left-back Gregory Vignal is back in contention after overcoming a hamstring problem, but he may have to be content with a place among the substitutes given the impressive form of Liam Ridgewell who has been converted from a central defender into the full-back role.The winger Keith Fahey is again doubtful because of an ankle problem.Mark Hughes expects Kolo Touré and Martin Petrov to be back in the squad for Sunday's trip to Birmingham City, having missed the midweek Carling Cup win over Scunthorpe with minor injuries.Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy, both rested to the bench for that fourth round tie, are also likely to be back in the side. Hughes has virtually a fully fit squad to chose from, with only Nedum Onuoha and Robinho still recovering from injuries. Both are close to returning.Birmingham City (from): Taylor, Carr, R Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Parnaby, Queudrue, Vignal, Larsson, Tainio, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Carsley, Doyle, Jerome, O'Connor, Phillips, Benitez, D Johnson.Manchester City (from): Given, Richard, Zabaleta, Lescott, Touré, Bridge, Kompany, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Bellamy, De Jong, Barry, Sylvinho, Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Tevez, Taylor, Weiss, Johnson.<h2>Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea </h2>Gary Megson has an almost fully fit squad to pick from. The striker Johan Elmander made his return to first-team action after a hamstring injury when he came off the bench against Chelsea in the Carling Cup tie between the two teams on Wednesday night.Only the long-term absentees Joey O'Brien and Sean Davis, who both have knee problems, remain on the sidelines.Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is expected to bring back the first-team players rested in the midweek Carling Cup tie although there are doubts about Branislav Ivanovic and Salomon Kalou. John Terry, Frank Lampard, Drogba, Michael Essien and Ricardo Carvalho all return.Bolton (from): Jaaskelainen, Al Habsi, Ricketts, Steinsson, Knight, Cahill, A O'Brien, Samuel, Robinson, M Davies, Basham, Muamba, Cohen, McCann, Gardner, Taylor, K Davies, Klasnic, Lee, Elmander.Chelsea (from): Cech, Turnbull, Belletti, Alex, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Deco, Ballack, Malouda, Sturridge, Kalou, J Cole, Essien, Lampard, Drogba, Bruma, Borini, Matic, Anelka, Terry, Carvalho.<h2>Burnley v Hull City </h2>Owen Coyle will give goalkeeper Brian Jensen "every chance" to recover from the injury he sustained in last weekend's home defeat to Wigan Athletic.X-rays revealed that Jensen, who has yet to resume full training, had suffered only slight ligament damage to his ankle so Diego Penny is on stand-by for tomorrow's meeting with Hull should he be needed. Stephen Jordan suffered a thigh strain in the same game but is expected to recover in time.Burnley are still without long-term absentees Martin Paterson, Chris McCann (both knee) and Jay Rodriguez (ankle).Troubled Hull will be without their goalkeeper Boaz Myhill tomorrow. The Wales international injured his medial knee ligaments in the closing stages of last weekend's goalless draw with Portsmouth and will sit out the match, though the under-pressure manager Phil Brown is hopeful he will not prove a long-term absentee.The midfielder Jimmy Bullard did not train with his team-mates yesterday due to a shin injury and a decision is still to be made on his participation at Turf Moor.Burnley (from): Jensen, Caldwell, Mears, Eckersley, Duff, Carlisle, Bikey, Jordan, Alexander, Fletcher, Elliott, Blake, Thompson, Eagles, Penny, Kalvanes, Gudjonsson, Edgar, Easton, Nugent, Guerrero.Hull City (from): Warner, Duke, McShane, Kilbane, Sonko, Dawson, Barmby, Marney, Zayatte, Geovanni, Hunt, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Ghilas, Mendy, Altidore, Bullard, Gardner, Mouyokolo, Olofinjana, Cousin, Halmosi, Boateng, Fagan, Garcia, Cooper, Atkinson, Featherstone.<h2>Everton v Aston Villa </h2>The Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel could make his 200th successive Premier League performance tomorrow. Friedel is likely to replace Brad Guzan even though his fellow American made three penalty shoot-out saves in the midweek Carling Cup win over Sunderland.Stephen Warnock is battling to overcome an ankle injury suffered at the Stadium of Light and Nicky Shorey could deputise if he is ruled out.The striker Emile Heskey and the midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker picked up knocks but Villa manager Martin O'Neill is hopeful of having them available. John Carew and Steve Sidwell, who made way for the pair at Sunderland, will be in contention for a recall to the starting line-up.Aston Villa (from) Friedel, Guzan, Cuellar, Beye, Luke Young, Collins, Dunne, Warnock, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Sidwell, Reo-Coker, Delph, Gardner, Ashley Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Heskey, Delfouneso, Clark.<h2>Fulham v Liverpool </h2>Fulham's striker Andy Johnson will be absent for tomorrow's match with a lingering groin problem with the club hoping to have an update on his condition on Monday.The midfielders Simon Davies (foot), Dickson Etuhu (knee) and Danny Murphy (knee) remain out but could be back for Thursday's Europa League trip to Roma.Steven Gerrard will miss his third successive Liverpool match tomorrow with the groin injury he picked up playing for England in Ukraine earlier this month.Liverpool will also be without England full-back Glen Johnson (calf) for the game against Fulham at Craven Cottage.The Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who made his first-team debut at Arsenal in the Carling Cup on Wednesday, has picked up a virus and will not be in the squad while Rafael Benítez will give a late test to Fernando Torres (groin) but expects him to be available.Fulham (from): Schwarzer, Zuberbuhler, Konchesky, Pantsil, Hangeland, Baird, Smalling, Kelly, Hughes, Dempsey, Gera, Andranik, Duff, Riise, Greening, Kamara, E Johnson, Nevland, Seol, Zamora, ElmLiverpool (from): Reina, Aurelio, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Babel, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Ngog, Plessis, Spearing, Dossena, Cavalieri, Degen.<h2>Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers </h2>Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has defensive problems ahead of the match against Blackburn at Old Trafford tomorrow. Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are both doubtful with calf problems and Gary Neville is suspended.Ryan Giggs also has a knock and Danny Welbeck is sidelined with a knee injury. Darren Fletcher and Ji-Sung Park remain absent with groin and knee injuries respectively.Jason Roberts has become the latest Blackburn Rovers player to come down with suspected swine flu. Roberts is unlikely to be available for the trip to Old Trafford after showing symptoms of the virus.The Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce, who has suffered with the illness himself in the last few days, said that he and most of his squad had recovered after an outbreak in the camp last week but confirmed that Roberts was being seen by a doctor.Allardyce revealed on Monday that three of his players had contracted swine flu. One of those was thought to be David Dunn, who looked in good health when he came off the bench against Peterborough in the Carling Cup on Tuesday. Another was Chris Samba, who Allardyce said was back in training but still feeling weak."We've just got Chris Samba back, who seems to have been affected the most by the symptoms," Allardyce said. "He's been left pretty weak, I think he has lost about four or five kilos.We'll run him through training today and see where we go from there."[Pascal] Chimbonda is fit from injury, Vince Grella is back in training for us but it might be a bit too soon for him.Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Foster, O'Shea, Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown, J Evans, Evra, Anderson, Rafael, Carrick, Scholes, Valencia, Giggs, Rooney, Barbatov, Nani, Owen, Macheda, Obertan, Fabio, Tosic.Blackburn (from): Robinson, Chimbonda, Salgado, Givet, Nelsen, Diouf, Andrews, Pedersen, Dunn, Brown, Jacobsen, Nzonzi, Emerton, Hoilett, Kalinic, McCarthy, Olsson, Jones, Di Santo.<h2>Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic </h2>Portsmouth welcome back Kevin-Prince Boateng, Jamie O'Hara, Mike Williamson and Tommy Smith tomorrow. The four were cup-tied for Tuesday's Carling Cup win over Stoke City.Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) and Hermann Hreidarsson (foot tendon) are still recovering and will not feature against the Latics.Wigan will be without Maynor Figueroa as the Honduran full-back recovers from a knee injury. He is expected to be sidelined for up to seven weeks after suffering the setback in the victory against Burnley.Paul Scharner is doubtful with a hamstring injury while the goalkeeper Chris Kirkland remains troubled by a dislocated finger.Portsmouth (from): James, Kaboul, Mokoena, Mullins, Kanu, Basinas, Belhadj, Vanden Borre, Piquionne, Ben-Haim, Yebda, Dindane, Finnan, Webber, Brown, Wilson, Ashdown, O'Hara, Boateng, Williamson, Smith.Wigan Athletic (from): Kirkland, Bramble, Scharner, Gomez, Melchiot, Boyce, N'Zogbia, Diame, Thomas, Scotland, Rodallega, Koumas, Sinclair, Pollitt, Cho, Kapo, Kingson, McCarthy.<h2>Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers </h2>The Stoke City manager Tony Pulis is expected to recall his goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to the line-up following the Dane's late withdrawal at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend with flu.Steve Simonsen stepped in and performed heroics to secure a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane, and was again in the side that lost 4-0 at Portsmouth in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.Pulis also has to decide whether to bring Mamady Sidibe into the reckoning after the striker's return to action at Fratton Park following a knee injury. Tuncay also performed well at Portsmouth and could force his way into a side still missing the suspended Robert Huth.Wolves welcome back the striker Stefan Maierhofer after the Austrian served a one-match ban. However, the manager Mick McCarthy is poised to name an unchanged starting line-up, with Maierhofer on the bench as Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake continue in attack.The on-loan Chelsea central defender Michael Mancienne is available again after missing the last two games through illness.Stoke City (from): Sorensen, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Faye, Collins, Delap, Whelan, Whitehead, Diao, Etherington, Beattie, Tuncay, Fuller, Higginbotham, Cort, Lawrence, Kitson, Pugh, Simonsen, Sidibe.Wolves (from): Hennessey, Hahnemann, Zubar, Stearman, Berra, Mancienne, Craddock, Elokobi, Hill, Kightly, Halford, Henry, Milijas, Surman, Castillo, Edwards, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo, Keogh, Maierhofer, Doyle.<h2>Sunderland v West Ham United </h2>The Sunderland striker Darren Bent is facing a race to be fit tomorrow as he battles to overcome a knee problem.The forward missed Tuesday's Carling Cup penalty shoot-out defeat by Aston Villa but is rated as better than 50-50 for the Hammers clash, after returning to training yesterday.Fellow striker Fraizer Campbell is a doubt after suffering a knock against Villa, while Phil Bardsley (shoulder) and George McCartney (hip) are also touch-and-go. Midfielder Bolo Zenden and centre-back John Mensah are ruled out. Lee Cattermole is a long-term absentee with knee ligament damage.West Ham will be without their midfielder Scott Parker, who was sent off towards the end of last Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal and serves a one-match ban, so the Czech midfielder Radoslav Kovac comes in.Kieron Dyer has suffered another setback and faces three weeks out with a hamstring problem picked up in training. Alessandro Diamanti is pushing to start following his game-turning performance as a substitute against the Gunners.Sunderland (from): Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Da Silva, Nosworthy, Ferdinand, Turner, Richardson, McCartney, Reid, Malbranque, Cana, Henderson, Campbell, Jones, Bent, Healy, Murphy.West Ham (from): Green, Ilunga, Tomkins, Upson, Gabbidon, Noble, Faubert, Behrami, Kovac, Collison, Cole, Diamanti, Kurucz, Spector, Da Costa, Stanislas, Jimenez, Franco, Hines.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchester-united">Manchester United</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blackburn">Blackburn Rovers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/hullcity">Hull City</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/burnley">Burnley</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/everton">Everton</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/aston-villa">Aston Villa</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth">Portsmouth</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wiganathletic">Wigan Athletic</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/stokecity">Stoke City</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wolves">Wolverhampton Wanderers</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/sunderland">Sunderland</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/westhamunited">West Ham United</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/liverpool">Liverpool</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/fulham">Fulham</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/birminghamcityfc">Birmingham City</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity">Manchester City</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FfDJOv_NJKisSiBTibQSG_p5yqY/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FfDJOv_NJKisSiBTibQSG_p5yqY/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FfDJOv_NJKisSiBTibQSG_p5yqY/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/FfDJOv_NJKisSiBTibQSG_p5yqY/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Premier League</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Manchester United</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Blackburn Rovers</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Hull City</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Burnley</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Everton</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Aston Villa</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Portsmouth</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Wigan Athletic</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Stoke City</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Wolverhampton Wanderers</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Sunderland</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">West Ham United</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Liverpool</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Fulham</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Birmingham City</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Manchester City</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:48:00 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/premier-league-team-news</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T15:10:30Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256899566330/Rio-Ferdinand-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Mike Egerton/Empics Sport</media:credit> <media:description>Rio Ferdinand has calf problems ahead of Manchester United's Premier League match against Blackburn. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256899563583/Rio-Ferdinand-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Mike Egerton/Empics Sport</media:credit> <media:description>Rio Ferdinand has calf problems ahead of Manchester United's Premier League match against Blackburn. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Brown believed to have one game to save his job</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/phil-brown-hull-city</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/21617?ns=guardian&pageName=Phil+Brown+believed+to+have+one+more+chance+to+save+his+job+at+Hull%3AArticle%3A1298145&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Hull+City+%28Football%29%2CPhil+Brown+%28football%29%2CPremier+League+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=Louise+Taylor&c7=09-Oct-29&c8=1298145&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FHull+City" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Brown says his players are 'one million per cent' behind him • Probable returning former chairman thought to favour changePhil Brown, the Hull City manager, is expected to be out of a job if his side lose at Burnley on Saturday as the noose around his neck tightens amid growing turmoil at the troubled Premier League club. Brown appears to be fighting a losing battle to remain as manager in the wake of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/hull-city-paul-duffen-chairman-resign-football" title="chairman Paul Duffen's departure">chairman Paul Duffen's departure</a> today and the Guardian understands he has been told that results must improve straight away, or he could face the axe.The manager, however, insists he has the full backing of his players: "I think they are one million per cent behind me and hopefully that will show in the performance on Saturday."Duffen, who was Brown's most powerful ally at the KC Stadium, stood down following a meeting with the owner and major shareholder, Russell Bartlett, leaving Brown exposed. Duffen will be replaced by Hull's former owner Adam Pearson next week. Pearson, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/28/adam-pearson-derby-county" title="who left Derby County">who left Derby County</a> yesterday, will return to the club he saved from administration in 2001 and is understood to be keen on a change of manager before the team's plight worsens.Brown will be in charge of Hull at Turf Moor, but this could be his last act. He met Bartlett yesterday evening to discuss the owner's concerns and was left in no doubt that results must improve immediately. Despite just three league victories in 2009, Duffen has backed Brown to the hilt and refused to sack him. He is powerless to save Brown now, however, and has paid the price for Hull lurching towards financial meltdown. According to accountants Deloitte, relegation would see Hull needing to generate around £23m just to meet existing liabilities.Brown was appointed manager during Pearson's previous spell and could earn a brief stay of execution should Hull engineer a positive result this weekend, but it seems the writing is on the wall, with bookmakers suspending betting. Brown said: "A manager always relies on results and at this moment in time, we've got four points from the last three games. If we can put our best foot forward against Burnley and we can get something from the game, that will be a good return for October. It was a big month and so far it's been fairly successful on the field of play."The support of Paul Duffen was there for everybody to see, but that's gone now. What is around the corner you can only guess, and only time will tell who his replacement is."I don't think it was on football results, I think it was on the business of football. It's difficult to separate the two, but you do tend to run a business as well as a football club."The game is about change. Paul's resignation, nobody saw it coming. But it's happened and I have to respond to it. Whenever you pick up a newspaper, it might be speculation about my position, Paul Duffen's position, or Hull City in general, but I keep looking at that league table and we're still in the Premier League. I've responded to every challenge that's been thrown at me and I'll continue to do that."Duffen said: "I come from a background where if things don't work out then the buck has to stop somewhere. While Phil Brown is ultimately the man on the pitch, I believe it is my responsibility to oversee the transfer market. Results have been disappointing and the most important thing is to create the best atmosphere to help the club succeed."I had long talks with my fellow directors and my partner and we decided that to give the club the best chance it is probably a good idea for me to step aside."On the prospect of Pearson succeeding him, Duffen added: "It would seem that is the most likely scenario, he is now available. It would not be rocket science to connect those two things. If you ask me a hypothetical question, I would have thought it would be a very logical and positive move."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/hullcity">Hull City</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/phil-brown">Phil Brown</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/louisetaylor">Louise Taylor</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/A1MZZGzCAx-6ao5bmyW6tGd6lCI/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/A1MZZGzCAx-6ao5bmyW6tGd6lCI/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/A1MZZGzCAx-6ao5bmyW6tGd6lCI/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/A1MZZGzCAx-6ao5bmyW6tGd6lCI/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Hull City</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Phil Brown</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Premier League</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:30:01 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/phil-brown-hull-city</guid> <dc:creator>Louise Taylor</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-29T22:30:01Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256838910102/Phil-Brown-the-Hull-City--004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Nick Potts/PA</media:credit> <media:description>Phil Brown, the Hull manager, believes his players are 'one million per cent' behind him in their quest for survival. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256838907315/Phil-Brown-the-Hull-City--001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Nick Potts/PA</media:credit> <media:description>Phil Brown, the Hull manager, believes his players are 'one million per cent' behind him in their quest for survival. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Milan say repeat Beckham loan deal is complete</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/david-beckham-milan</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/27681?ns=guardian&pageName=Milan+say+David+Beckham+deal+is+complete%3AArticle%3A1298444&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=David+Beckham%2CMilan+%28Travel%29%2CLA+Galaxy+%28Football+club%29%2CSerie+A+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298444&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FDavid+Beckham" width="1" height="1" /></div>• David Beckham loan deal is done, claims vice-president • England midfielder set for a second spell at San SiroMilan's vice-president, Adriano Galliani, has said the deal to bring David Beckham back to San Siro is now complete and that the official announcement is a matter of hours away.Beckham has been strongly linked with a second loan spell with the Rossoneri to improve his chances of making Fabio Capello's England World Cup squad.Galliani believes the LA Galaxy midfielder's return will be confirmed later today. "The agreement for David Beckham has been completed," Galliani said. "In a few hours we and Galaxy will officially announce this deal. We are just waiting for the very last documents but I confirm that he will return to Milan."The Milan coach Leonardo was delighted by the news of Beckham's return. "I consider Beckham as if he had always been here because he has only been away for six months," Leonardo said. "In any case he will be a player that will contribute a lot, not only on the pitch but also inside the group, as the players like him infinitely."Beckham moved to San Siro during the Major League Soccer close season last January, initially on a three-month loan deal, but impressed so much that his stay was extended until the end of the Serie A campaign.The 34-year-old returned to Galaxy in the summer after helping Milan to fourth in Serie A with two goals in 18 league appearances.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/david-beckham">David Beckham</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/milan">Milan</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/losangelesgalaxy">LA Galaxy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/serieafootball">Serie A</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/iWM0V5uLYH9zHga5LvCMgDg2pVo/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/iWM0V5uLYH9zHga5LvCMgDg2pVo/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/iWM0V5uLYH9zHga5LvCMgDg2pVo/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/iWM0V5uLYH9zHga5LvCMgDg2pVo/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">David Beckham</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel">Milan</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">LA Galaxy</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Serie A</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:43:52 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/david-beckham-milan</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T15:02:32Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club%20Home/2009/2/22/1235315464733/AC-Milans-David-Beckham-003.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters</media:credit> <media:description>AC Milan's David Beckham Photograph: Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club%20Home/2009/2/22/1235315463012/AC-Milans-David-Beckham-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters</media:credit> <media:description>David Beckham will return to Milan for a second loan spell, the club's vice-president said.</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Ronaldo and English quartet on Fifa award shortlist</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/cristiano-ronaldo-world-player-of-the-year</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/73154?ns=guardian&pageName=Cristiano+Ronaldo+earns+chance+to+retain+World+Player+of+the+Year+crown%3AArticle%3A1298317&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Cristiano+Ronaldo%2CSteven+Gerrard%2CWayne+Rooney%2CJohn+Terry%2CFifa%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298317&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FCristiano+Ronaldo" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi among 23 contenders • Lampard, Gerrard, Rooney and Terry also namedThe reigning Fifa World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo is in the running to retain his title after being named on a 23-man shortlist for this season's award.The Real Madrid and Portugal attacker heads a familiar cast of the world's leading talent as voting commences ahead of the annual gala in Zurich on 21 December. Barcelona's Lionel Messi is also included.Spain provide six nominees – the goalkeeper Iker Casillas, the defender Carles Puyol, the midfielders Andrés Iniesta and Xavi and the strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa.There are four English contenders – Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and John Terry – while Brazil (three) and France (two) are the only other countries to have more than one player nominated.The Brazilian Marta, who has won the women's award for the last three years, is once again included on a shortlist of 10 names.<h2>Fifa World Player 2009 shortlist: </h2>Michael Ballack (Germany), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Diego (Brazil), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon), Steven Gerrard (England), Thierry Henry (France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Frank Lampard (England), Luís Fabiano (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Carles Puyol (Spain), Franck Ribéry (France), Wayne Rooney (England), John Terry (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain), Xavi (Spain).<h2>FIFA Women's World Player 2009 shortlist: </h2>Nadine Angerer (Germany), Sonia Bompastor (France), Cristiane (Brazil), Inka Grings (Germany), Mana Iwabuchi (Japan), Simone Laudehr (Germany), Marta (Brazil), Birgit Prinz (Germany), Kelly Smith (England), Abby Wambach (USA).<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/steven-gerrard">Steven Gerrard</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wayne-rooney">Wayne Rooney</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/john-terry">John Terry</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/fifa">Fifa</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2j--JirAxLo48MPfbupgs9J8Chc/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2j--JirAxLo48MPfbupgs9J8Chc/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2j--JirAxLo48MPfbupgs9J8Chc/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/2j--JirAxLo48MPfbupgs9J8Chc/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Cristiano Ronaldo</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Steven Gerrard</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Wayne Rooney</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">John Terry</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Fifa</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:41:25 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/cristiano-ronaldo-world-player-of-the-year</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T12:35:32Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256895653227/Cristiano-Ronaldo-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Sergio Barrenechea/EPA</media:credit> <media:description>Cristiano Ronaldo is again on the shortlist for the Fifa World Player of the Year award. Photograph: Sergio Barrenechea/EPA</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256895650301/Cristiano-Ronaldo-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Sergio Barrenechea/EPA</media:credit> <media:description>Cristiano Ronaldo is again on the shortlist for the Fifa World Player of the Year award. Photograph: Sergio Barrenechea/EPA</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Portsmouth expect to pay players on time this week</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/portsmouth-players-pay-premier-league</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/86943?ns=guardian&pageName=Portsmouth+expect+to+pay+players+on+time+this+week%3AArticle%3A1298237&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Portsmouth+%28Football%29%2CPremier+League+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=Jamie+Jackson&c7=09-Oct-29&c8=1298237&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FPortsmouth" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Manager Paul Hart plays down transfer ban problems • Club move closer to deal over money owed to ArsenalPortsmouth are expected to pay their players tomorrow despite another turbulent few days on the south coast during which it emerged that the Premier League had placed a transfer embargo on Fratton Park for the club's failure to meet around £3m in unpaid transfer fees.The Professional Footballers Association is thought to have heard nothing from Hermann Hreidarsson, the club's representative, to dissuade the players' union that there will be no repeat of last month's failure to pay the salaries. Yet it is understood that while Portsmouth – who play Wigan Athletic at Fratton Park on Saturday – may have reached an agreement with Arsenal over the instalment owed to the London club for Lassana Diarra, who joined in January 2008, negotiations are ongoing with Chelsea for monies owed for Glen Johnson.The embargo has raised questions over the depth of finance available to the new owner Ali al-Faraj and the manager, Paul Hart, admitted he was unhappy over the ban. "It is disappointing," he said. "These problems are here to be overcome, and I think we will overcome them. I found out on Tuesday morning, but I dealt with it. I'm led to believe this will be resolved."Hart has overseen a start to the Premier League season that has brought only a win and a draw, with Portsmouth yet to collect any points from their home games. He needs the embargo to be lifted so that he can add to his squad in January."I think what we're waiting for now is all this to settle down and the investors to be settled in. Then we'll reassess our situation. That's what we're waiting for — and that's what needs to happen," he added, before managing a joke about the club's chaotic existence. "I think it's nice to wake up in the morning and see if there is something else happening. It sort of breaks the day up."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/portsmouth">Portsmouth</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamiejackson">Jamie Jackson</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oggaMgmuksmm2nXcTUlkC1p7khs/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oggaMgmuksmm2nXcTUlkC1p7khs/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oggaMgmuksmm2nXcTUlkC1p7khs/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oggaMgmuksmm2nXcTUlkC1p7khs/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Portsmouth</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Premier League</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:31:31 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/portsmouth-players-pay-premier-league</guid> <dc:creator>Jamie Jackson</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-29T22:31:31Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/29/1256845411913/Paul-Hart-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">David Davies/PA</media:credit> <media:description>Portsmouth's manager Paul Hart said he had been led to believe the problems that resulted in the club's transfer embargo will now be resolved. Photograph: David Davies/PA</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/29/1256845409064/Paul-Hart-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">David Davies/PA</media:credit> <media:description>Portsmouth's manager Paul Hart said he had been led to believe the problems that resulted in the club's transfer ban will now be resolved. Photograph: David Davies/PA</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Leicester's Davids hopes dashed</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/edgar-davids-leicester</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/92289?ns=guardian&pageName=Leicester%27s+Edgar+Davids+hopes+dashed%3AArticle%3A1298424&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Championship+%28Football%29%2CLeicester+City+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298424&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FChampionship" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Edgar Davids and Leicester unable to agree deal • Club had held extensive talks with Dutch midfielderThe Dutch midfielder Edgar Davids will not be joining Leicester City, the Championship club have announced.The former Ajax, Barcelona and Juventus midfielder, 36, has been in talks with Leicester for the past few weeks, but the two parties were unable to strike a deal."Unfortunately we were not able to come to an agreement with Edgar and his representatives," the chairman Milan Mandaric said."We have decided not take this matter further and wish Edgar luck in the future."<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/championship">Championship</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/leicestercity">Leicester City</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RRlFClG1jQZhIh1BBSZ1DxuXrPA/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RRlFClG1jQZhIh1BBSZ1DxuXrPA/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RRlFClG1jQZhIh1BBSZ1DxuXrPA/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/RRlFClG1jQZhIh1BBSZ1DxuXrPA/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Championship</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Leicester City</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:22:22 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/edgar-davids-leicester</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T12:22:22Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256905305367/Edgar-Davids-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Kooren/Reuters</media:credit> <media:description>Edgar Davids had been in talks with Leicester City in the past few weeks. Photograph: Michael Kooren/Reuters</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/30/1256905302565/Edgar-Davids-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Kooren/Reuters</media:credit> <media:description>Edgar Davids had been in talks with Leicester City in the past few weeks. Photograph: Michael Kooren/Reuters</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Beachballgate</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2009/oct/29/beachball-liverpool-sunderland</link> <description>Liverpool's inflatable woes at the Stadium of Light get the treatment. Now send us your Thomas Vermaelens <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5Bb5cBxVdrysmpOGyaTZkqQxzos/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5Bb5cBxVdrysmpOGyaTZkqQxzos/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5Bb5cBxVdrysmpOGyaTZkqQxzos/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5Bb5cBxVdrysmpOGyaTZkqQxzos/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Liverpool</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Sunderland</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Premier League</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Editorial</category> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:10:00 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2009/oct/29/beachball-liverpool-sunderland</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-29T09:45:32Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Gallery</dc:type> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" isDefault="true" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651956667/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'It’s emerged that it was all part of a big 2018 marketing ploy ...' claims Jason Froggett</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-3091-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651185268/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'Hoping no one will notice, tactical genius, man motivator supreme and undisputed Football Hard Man, Roy Keane, combines recently discovered loopholes with his trusty steely glare in an effort to fill the chasms that have appeared in the Tractor Boy's hapless defence,' chuckles Brett Turner</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-3354-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651242755/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>Safe to say Mark Ireland isn't a Rafa Benítez fan. 'Winners of this year's awards: The Ballon d'Or for Best Footballer, Ballon Rouge for Luckiest Footballer, and Ballon Merde for Team Most Likely to Stink the Place Out.'</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-3454-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651657033/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>Richard Warwick turns our very own chalkboards to his own devious devices</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-3566-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651540031/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'Steve Bruce's nightmare!' wails Dinesh Vijayan</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-3674-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651605117/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'With Christmas fast approaching, I'm waiting for the inevitable tell-all autobiography,' writes Nick Sanders, who wins bonus points for turning Barry Glendenning into Smiffy</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-3787-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651086528/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>Lee Coan's entry speaks for itself, so he's used his caption space to get something of his chest: 'Never in the history of man has a beachball been referred to as balloon so many times. I don't know why that makes me angry but it does.' Calm down, calm down!</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-3895-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651427228/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>Here's Thomas Nycz-Losi: 'Seeing as there's seemingly no problem with inflatables being on the pitch, Rafa's taken the opportunity to increase the much maligned squad depth at Liverpool with a few bargain signings. I think the blue one especially could be a good replacement for Carragher ...'</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4028-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651749769/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'Being the Guardian, I imagine I’m not the only one to riff on le Ballon Rouge …' writes Rayner Simpson. Too true Rayner ...</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4137-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651918424/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'The Sunderland groundsman prepared the pitch expertly for the next home game,' chortles Will Wilson</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4254-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651874987/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>Niel Butler has gone off on one here: 'Mr Zulu, can you explain this strange phenomenon?' 'Sensors detect a temporal rift in the time-space continuum, Captain Rafa.' 'Hmmm, any suggestions Ensign Bent?' 'I think it's life sir, but not as we know it.'</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4364-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651791225/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'Reina's therapist was worried,' says Richard Hooker</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4472-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651383775/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'Liverpool's No1 is The Prisoner of beach ball jokes forever ...' intones Brian Corcoran</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4602-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651492818/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'Capello opts for The Complete Bent package for the finals,' honks Roy Boujaoude</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4710-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651319077/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'Sir Alex may be getting on a bit, but he still had enough puff to blow up his remote control beach ball ...' chuckles Iain Cameron</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4820-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="630" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256651699978/Beachball-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">n/a</media:credit> <media:description>'Advances in video technology show that God does in fact exist, and that he supports Argentina,' parps Oliver Lewisohn</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/liverpool-sunderland/Beachball-001-4933-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="500" type="image/jpeg" width="351" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/28/1256728909813/David-Madden-003.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Public Domain</media:credit> <media:description>'I kind of hope it's self explanatory and therefore doesn't need a caption.' No David Madden, you're wrong, it does. Tut</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/beachball-liverpool-sunderland-benitez/David-Madden-003-374-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="500" type="image/jpeg" width="343" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/28/1256728907638/Liam-Ferry-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Public Domain</media:credit> <media:description>'After an intense bidding war with Europe's top clubs, Manchester City secure the signature of Sunderland's newly emerged goal-machine for £120m. Inside sources suggest that the beach ball had been under the impression that it was signing for Manchester United,' honks Liam Ferry</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/beachball-liverpool-sunderland-benitez/Liam-Ferry-001-575-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> <media:content height="390" type="image/jpeg" width="529" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/28/1256728908788/Neil-Pollock-002.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Public Domain</media:credit> <media:description>'I am not a number, I am a person. But £20m should do the trick and get rid of me.' More Rafa-bashing from Neil Pollock</media:description> <media:thumbnail url="http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/football/gallery/2009/oct/27/beachball-liverpool-sunderland-benitez/Neil-Pollock-002-692-thumb.jpg" width="68" height="68" /> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>You are the Ref</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/you-are-the-ref-arshavin</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/66857?ns=guardian&pageName=You+are+the+Ref%3A+Andrei+Arshavin%2C+Arsenal%3AArticle%3A1297850&ch=Football&c3=Obs&c4=Football%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1297850&c9=Article&c10=&c11=Football&c13=You+are+the+Ref+%28football+series%29&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2F" width="1" height="1" /></div>Click to enlarge, and debate the answers below the line. Keith Hackett's official answers appear in Sunday's Observer and here on Monday. <h2>Competition: win an official club shirt of your choice</h2>For a chance to win a club shirt from the range at <a href="http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=18796&a=1446133&g=512634">Kitbag.com</a> send us your questions for You are the Ref to <a href="mailto:you.are.the.ref@observer.co.uk">you.are.the.ref@observer.co.uk</a>. The best scenario used in the new Observer YATR strip each Sunday wins a shirt of your choice from <a href="http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=18796&a=1446133&g=512634">Kitbag</a>. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/aug/12/1?gusrc=rss&feed=football">Terms & conditions</a> apply.Plus: this weekend only get £5 off when you spend £40 at Kitbag. Click <a href="http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=18796&a=1446133&g=512634">here to visit the site</a> and enter the code 'earlybird' in the gift certificate box during checkout. Valid until midday on Monday 2 Nov 2009.For more on the fifty year history of You Are The Ref, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/aug/07/football.ref">click here</a>. <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3R7sLrZGjuWDzxh7ncsU5cYlyf0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3R7sLrZGjuWDzxh7ncsU5cYlyf0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3R7sLrZGjuWDzxh7ncsU5cYlyf0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/3R7sLrZGjuWDzxh7ncsU5cYlyf0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">The Observer</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Editorial</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:00:00 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/30/you-are-the-ref-arshavin</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T14:22:47Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256818353733/arshavPIXIE.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">guardian.co.uk</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content height="210" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256818332647/arshavSMALL.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">guardian.co.uk</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content height="429" type="image/jpeg" width="940" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256818342226/arshavBIG.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">guardian.co.uk</media:credit> </media:content> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/6/1254833411365/Kitbag-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Observer</media:credit> <media:description>View the Kitbag range</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Ronaldo on the mic and Molby: found!</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/29/cristiano-ronaldo-jan-molby-classic-youtube</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/90515?ns=guardian&pageName=Cristiano+Ronaldo+singing%2C+Jan+Molby%27s+mythical+goal+and+pigeon+special+%3AArticle%3A1296954&ch=Sport&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Football%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-29&c8=1296954&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Sport&c13=YouTube+archive+%28Sport%29&c25=Sport+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FSport%2F" width="1" height="1" /></div>Footballers and Nikolai Valuev on the microphone, a lost 1985 classic and spectacular pre-match handbags in Turkey also star 1) Footballers have a long tradition of proving they can't sing, from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNX2k8D0CHM">Pele</a> to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KEMMfV5-Qg">Hoddle and Waddle</a> to this pub-rock shocker from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u1vRR1iWS8">Diego Maradona</a> - however Cristiano Ronaldo's version of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daqgJYUmMDQ"> Amor Mio</a> isn't actually that bad. Honest.2) Speaking of singing, here's Nikolay Valuev shufflingly awkwardly into a mic on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTzIcKq-ALk">Russian TV</a>, and here he is training, kissing his wife and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH0ItIaad_M">knocking people out.</a>3) Back in 1985, Jan Molby ran for 65 yards before hitting a 25-yard screamer against Manchester United in a Milk Cup tie. But because of a TV strike, most cameras were absent from Anfield that night and the goal has assumed an almost mythical status, with supporters even mocking it up on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tANyC2tjj8">Pro Evolution Soccer.</a> However thanks to Ron Atkinson and Molby himself you can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOkZOcMjBe4">now see the goal for yourself</a>. Note: you will be shocked by Molby's pace.4) Roger Federer takes on Rhys Darby's burglar armed with a tennis-ball-firing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlCVwarmwJM&NR=1">machine gun</a>. Guess who wins?5) Some highlights from Jimmy Greaves's long and distinguished career. First, as a player smashing a hat-trick <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFqrBatm8No">during England's 9-3 win over Scotland</a> and putting <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jYTLfukNUg">Manchester United to the sword in a 5-1 thrashing</a>. Then, as a broadcaster, having a huge barney with Gary Newbon about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6T743qWOo">TV evidence in football being Orwellian</a>, and - although we've had it before - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo1ICedmJhg">wrestling Kendo Nagasaki while wearing a lurid pink suit</a>.<h2>The best from <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/22/classic-youtube-sport-video-clips">last week's blog</a></h2>1) The rivalry between Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray has always been fierce - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39UmmzqLOvs">helped no end by Graeme Souness in 1996</a> - and it continued last weekend with some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jnVCCCWOT8&feature=player_embedded">impressive pre-match warm-up handbags between the teams</a>.2) What with the World Series now under way in the oft-inclement Fall weather, here's a note on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTSIJzvNIM8">what not to do when it rains on the diamond</a>. Then again, if it does rain, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcDetnJpYsQ&feature=related">you can always use the cover as a slip 'n slide</a>.3) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeTJSKm8tHc">Borussia Mönchengladbach v Inter from 1971</a>. Look away Inter fans ...4) Oakland may be struggling in the NFL, but surely the Raiders shouldn't have got away with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5MSBv_mqJg">an extra member on their kick-off special team</a>?5) <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8potzfl9Qg4">The best/only clip of sand-dune back-flip descending ever</a>?Spotters' badges: evilboy14, BillyVarsity, Sugoi, cmb1981, signor. <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_tCMEeL3ZppHc4-W-MUpr6OSUjk/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_tCMEeL3ZppHc4-W-MUpr6OSUjk/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_tCMEeL3ZppHc4-W-MUpr6OSUjk/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/_tCMEeL3ZppHc4-W-MUpr6OSUjk/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Blogposts</category> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:02:00 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/29/cristiano-ronaldo-jan-molby-classic-youtube</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Sport</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-29T09:09:54Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/ronaldo2.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Public domain</media:credit> <media:description>Cristiano Ronaldo sings</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Pseudonyms' corner</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/28/footballers-pseudonyms-outside-agents</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/67993?ns=guardian&pageName=Which+players+have+played+under+pseudonyms%3F%3AArticle%3A1296890&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Luton+Town+%28Football+club%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=John+Ashdown&c7=09-Oct-28&c8=1296890&c9=Article&c10=Feature&c11=Football&c13=The+Knowledge&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FLuton+Town" width="1" height="1" /></div>Plus: Outside agents (2); the most former players in one match; and the most unlikely thing ever to have happened in football. Send your questions and answers to <a href="knowledge@guardian.co.uk" title="knowledge@guardian.co.uk">knowledge@guardian.co.uk</a>"Have there been any recent examples of professional footballers either trialling or playing under an assumed name or pseudonym?" asked Graham Clayton <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/21/beach-ball-gate-the-knowledge" title="last week">last week</a>.One of the more famous recent examples, as several readers have pointed out, is the case of Jay Goppingen aka Jürgen Klinsmann at Orange County Blue Stars in California. Between 2003 and 2005 the former German international turned out in the US fourth tier side, scoring five goals in eight games according to some sources. "I simply do it for fun, and it keeps me young," said Klinsmann. By way of explanation, Goppingen is the city of Klinsmann's birth.Obviously, plenty of Brazilians take shortened names throughout their careers, though it's not always as innocent as it seems. "One recent case was Eriberto (Eriberto Conceição da Silva), who played for Bologna and then Chievo in the late 1990s and early 2000s," writes Chris Skone James. "He was quite a decent winger until it emerged in 2002 that his name was actually Luciano (Luciano Siqueira de Oliveira) and he was four years older than he'd claimed. Apparently he'd taken the identity of a neighbour in order to be eligible for the Palmeiras youth team since he was too old. In fairness to him he came clean as he wanted his son to take his real surname, however despite this he was banned for six months and given a hefty fine. Sadly that appears to have spelled the end of his career."And then there's <a href="http://www.lutontown.co.uk/page/GreatHatters/0,,10372~76708,00.html" title="Luton Towns infamous Graham French aka Graham Lafite">Luton Town's infamous Graham French aka Graham Lafite</a>, a former England youth international. "In 1970 he got a three-year prison term for firing a shotgun inside a pub," writes Mark Francome. "After serving his sentence he returned to Kenilworth Road but failed to hold down a regular place in the team and he drifted out of the game. That was assumed to be the end of his career."However in 1976 my family relocated from Luton to Southport. To be fair to Mr French he probably did not expect to find too many ardent Luton fans in the stand at Haig Avenue, but my father watched Southport's new signing, Graham Lafite, and knew there was something very familiar about the way he skipped down the wing and turned the full-back inside out. After a couple of matches my father approached the player as he walked towards the tunnel and said 'Well played, you remind me of Graham French, the Luton winger.' Mr Lafite was never seen again."<a href="http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=156" title="Ivor Broadis">"Ivor" Broadis</a>, real name Ivan, is now in his 80s but continues to report on Carlisle matches every week. "A league official read it wrong on his registration form and the name stuck," writes John Briggs. "All his subsequent transfers and his England caps are under the name 'Ivor'."And it's not unheard of that full teams appear under an assumed name. The Dynamo Moscow side that faced Arsenal at Highbury in 1946 was not simply the home club of the Ministry of the Interior but is believed to have been, in effect, the full national side.<h2>OUTSIDE AGENTS (2)</h2>In the light of Darren Bent's beachball-assisted goal for Sunderland against Liverpool, we <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/21/beach-ball-gate-the-knowledge" title="last week looked at other outside agents to have affected the course of a match">last week looked at other outside agents to have affected the course of a match</a>. As usual, or inbox has been inundated this week with those who slipped through the net.Neven Andjelic suggests an incident from the very first World Cup in 1930. "The semi-final match between Uruguay and Yugoslavia ended 6-1 to Uruguay but one of those goals was assisted by the photographer behind the Yugoslav goal," he writes. "The ball went out but the snapper kicked it back straight into the path of a Uruguayan forward who scored." Other reports have this incident involving a uniformed policeman behind the goal (and either way it's not, strictly speaking, an outside agent on the pitch. More an outside agent off it.)And here's Darragh McCarron: "In the League of Ireland in October 2000, the second goal for Shamrock Rovers in a 2-0 win over my team, Derry City, was scored after it bounced off a second ball which was in the six-yard box at the time," he writes. "Incredibly the goal was allowed to stand." Darragh suggests <a href="http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/mns/features/raiders.html" title="video footage can be found here">video footage can be found here</a>, though the MNS 8 June link, though we have to admit it didn't work for us.And on a lighter note: "I don't believe it leads to a goal, but Wigan's Jason Koumas suffered a life-threatening challenge from a crisp packet a couple of seasons ago," writes Scott W. "If you've got the stomach for it, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxOS2qGACvw&feature=PlayList&p=D969ACCD0ACA4AFE&index=1" title="the footage can be found fourteen seconds into this clip">the footage can be found 14 seconds into this clip</a>."&nbsp;<h2>THE LAW OF THE EX</h2>"The Spurs v Pompey game saw six players playing against their old club - Defoe, Crouch and Kranjcar for Spurs, plus Brown, Kaboul and Boateng for Pompey," noted Eliot Crowe last week. "Is this a record?"We head back to the League of Ireland for the answer to this one. "Having almost gone bust in 2008 Drogheda United ended up throwing together a cheap squad for the 2009 season," writes Sean DeLoughrey. "They signed up no fewer than seven of the squad players released by promotion winning local rivals Dundalk. Drogheda already had two ex-Dundalk players on their books. When the Louth rivals met for the first time this season Drogheda started with six ex-Dundalk players (Steve Williams, Robbie Clarke, Jamie Duffy, Paul Shiels, David O'Connor, Robbie Martin) and two further ex-Dundalk players (Ian Ryan and Robbie Farrell) came off the bench. Dundalk featured former Drogheda player Declan O'Brien for a total of nine players playing against their former team. Dundalk cantered to a 3-0 win."<h2>KNOWLEDGE ARCHIVE</h2>"From a betting odds perspective, what is the most unlikely thing to have happened in football?" wondered Paul Griffiths back in 2005."The longest odds for a single result would either have been when the USA beat England 1-0 in 1950, or when Hungary beat England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953," explains Graham Sharpe, from William Hill. "Both were 500-1 shots." Ed Pownall, from Blue Square, can match that, with his firm offering 500s, albeit with in-running prices, on Manchester City's remarkable FA Cup fourth-round replay win at Tottenham back in 2004. Spurs led 3-0, but City – with 10 men – stormed back to win 4-3.But Betfair can trump all of these, courtesy of their betting exchanges. Back in January, Internazionale trailed Sampdoria 2-0 with two minutes left of their Serie A clash. "With maximum odds of 1000 against (the equivalent of 999-1) available, the price was snapped up by a Berkshire man," says company spokesman, Tony Calvin. "Then Obafami Martins scored in the 88th minute, before Christian Vieri and Alvaro Recoba won the game for Inter in injury-time. The punter had scooped almost a grand for his £1 staked. Our previous high was "only" a winning bet at 550 (549-1) on the draw, when a Cameroon side came back from 5-0 down to finish 5-5 against Portugal at the U17 World Championships in 2003."There are even more extreme occurrences, in betting terms at least, although they are rather more dubious. One was last season's Uefa Cup encounter between Panionios and Dinamo Tblisi, where heavy betting on the Greeks to trail 1-0 at half-time yet win 5-2 after 90 minutes amazingly proved successful. Finnish layers Veikkaus also saw the 8,787-1 they were offering on Haka Valkeakoski to beat Allianssi Vantaa 8-0 snapped up by an unusually large number of punters – and then winced when it happened on July 7 last. After an investigation, the Finnish FA fined Allianssi €10,000 and their coach Thierry Pister €5,000 for "insufficient preparation for a league match". However, despite fining Allianssi, a disciplinary committee did not back accusations that the match had been fixed, since they could find no proof.For thousands more questions and answers take a trip through the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/series/theknowledge" title="Knowledge archive">Knowledge archive</a>.<h2>Can you help?</h2>After happily watching the Liverpool v Man Utd game on Sunday, and seeing Nemanja Vidic get sent off for the third straight game against Liverpool, I was wondering if that is a record for a player?" writes Daniel Basheer. "Has anyone else ever been sent of three games in a row (or more) against the same opposition, a la Vidic and Liverpool?""I have a question about Stamford Bridge," writes Neil Penson.&nbsp;"Why did they have parked cars round the edge of the pitch?&nbsp; Did Ken Bates run a used car dealership on the side?""Watching my team Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend against Colchester United, the referee suffered an injury of some sort and had to be replaced by the fourth official," writes Rafael Martinez. "I was just wondering, what is the record for the most referees in one game?"Send your questions and answers to <a href="mailto:knowledge@guardian.co.uk" title="knowledge@guardian.co.uk">knowledge@guardian.co.uk</a>.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/lutontown">Luton Town</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johnashdown">John Ashdown</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ydOxPeyHWO9330xy1eY1VVCEf-U/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ydOxPeyHWO9330xy1eY1VVCEf-U/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ydOxPeyHWO9330xy1eY1VVCEf-U/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/ydOxPeyHWO9330xy1eY1VVCEf-U/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Luton Town</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Features</category> <pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:10:01 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/28/footballers-pseudonyms-outside-agents</guid> <dc:creator>John Ashdown</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-28T12:45:02Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256660637736/J-rgen-Klinsmann-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Oliver Lang/AFP/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Jay Goppingen shows he's still got it. Photograph: Oliver Lang/AFP/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/10/27/1256660634590/J-rgen-Klinsmann-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Oliver Lang/AFP/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Jay Goppingen shows he's still got it. Photograph: Oliver Lang/AFP/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Aiming high in the Lowlands</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/oct/30/steve-mcclaren-fc-twente</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/46101?ns=guardian&pageName=Aiming+high+in+the+Lowlands%3A+Steve+McClaren+savours+Dutch+rehabilitation%3AArticle%3A1298362&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Eredivisie%2CFC+Twente+%28Football+club%29%2CSport%2CFootball%2CEuropean+football&c6=Amy+Lawrence&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298362&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Football&c13=&c25=Sport+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FEredivisie" width="1" height="1" /></div>The former England manager is salvaging his reputation by making FC Twente a force to be reckoned with in HollandSteve McClaren will never be everybody's bag of chips and mayonnaise. There are just too many negative associations, what with the Colgate smile and the painfully symbolic drenched umbrella.What, he may wonder, would he have to do to be judged afresh, to be regarded for his work in the present and not the past?He has recently signed a contract extension with his club, FC Twente, and it is safe to say that every single person associated with the place could not be more pleased. That may not be enough to convince English sceptics that McClaren is a manager deserving of high praise, but the truth is, he is cracking Dutch football in a big way.FC Twente may not have the history of the big three in Holland, but this season they are being taken more seriously than ever before. Apart from the fact they are Eredivisie leaders, and remain undefeated domestically, there has been a shift in the way they are perceived. Traditionally, when one of Holland's unfashionable clubs came to the fore, they would inevitably be raided by Ajax, PSV or Feyenoord, their best players would vamoose, and they would slip back into the middle of the road.Now, because the economic crisis has impeded the power of the big three, a club like Twente can hang on to most of their talent. Their heads are not so easily turned. McClaren lost a couple of the Tukkers' up and coming team when he first arrived, but has been able to keep the rest pretty much together. Last season they were not far away from their most glorious campaign ever, finishing runners-up in the Eredivisie and surrendering the Cup final on penalties.The players seem now to believe they are as good as anything in Holland. Confidence has rocketed and they possess – as they proved when they beat AZ Alkmaar, the defending champions who are blowing hot and cold, in stoppage time – the self-belief to keep plugging away.They also have a prolific new striking partnership, with Bryan Ruiz, a 24-year-old Costa Rican who may turn a few heads at the World Cup, proving an instant hit alongside their veteran gunslinger Blaise N'Kufo. They each have seven goals from 11 games in the league. They also recruited Miroslav Stoch on loan from Chelsea and he has settled in well.McClaren probably needs more than domestic prominence to complete his post-England rehabilitation. Twente have been erratic in the Europa League. On the one hand they went loopy to win at Fenerbahçe (midfielder Ronnie Stam ecstatically revealed he had received 18 text messages when he got back to the dressing room). On the other they were beaten by those scary sounding Moldovans, FC Sheriff. There's not a lot to say on a text after that.Twente, lying third in their section, are actually doing the worst of all the Dutch contestants in the Europa League. PSV and Ajax top their groups; Heerenveen sit in second position. But McClaren expects them to salvage the situation. He has high hopes of his team."Twente is a club with high ambitions, and it is a joy to be working at this club, which has good management, staff and players and wants to achieve something," he said when he signed his new deal.On the subject of burned international coaches rising again, Brian Kerr, whose spell in charge of Ireland in the middle of the decade almost rivalled McClaren's England for cringe factor, is being lauded in the Faroe Islands. His team has made a giant leap in the Fifa rankings, and won October's "best mover" award."When you take on a team that's 166th in the Fifa rankings, that last won a competitive game in 2004, you have a fair idea of what you're coming into," said Kerr, "But I've thrown myself into it." Last month they won their first World Cup qualifying match for eight years.Considering his team include four carpenters, two policemen, someone who works in a bowling alley and another in a fish factory, they were obviously inspired. They beat Lithuania, who went on to beat Serbia, who have qualified for the World Cup, which means the Faroese must be good enough to. Ah well.Facile as it is to poke fun at coaches who made high-profile cock-ups at one time or another in their careers, perhaps we just have to accept that some people cook cordon bleu and others make a great sandwich.At a level that suits them well, McClaren and Kerr are able to enjoy their football, and football is able to enjoy them.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/eredivisie">Eredivisie</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/fctwente">FC Twente</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/europeanfootball">European football</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/amylawrence">Amy Lawrence</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5mmULR2KdEP5YkLlv7jy6c6sq08/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5mmULR2KdEP5YkLlv7jy6c6sq08/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5mmULR2KdEP5YkLlv7jy6c6sq08/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/5mmULR2KdEP5YkLlv7jy6c6sq08/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Eredivisie</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">FC Twente</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">European football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Blogposts</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:19:40 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2009/oct/30/steve-mcclaren-fc-twente</guid> <dc:creator>Amy Lawrence</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T13:24:17Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/5/16/1242492257618/Steve-McClaren-003.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Steve Woods /PA</media:credit> <media:description>FC Twente coach Steve McClaren. Photograph: Steve Woods /PA</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/5/16/1242492256381/Steve-McClaren-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Steve Woods /PA</media:credit> <media:description>FC Twente coach Steve McClaren. Photograph: Steve Woods /PA</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Mowbray feels heat as fans pine change</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2009/oct/30/ewan-murray-celtic-blog</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/77335?ns=guardian&pageName=Tony+Mowbray+feels+the+heat+while+Celtic+fans+pine+for+change+%7C+Ewan+Mur%3AArticle%3A1298430&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Celtic+%28Football+club%29%2CScottish+Premier+League%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=Ewan+Murray&c7=09-Oct-30&c8=1298430&c9=Article&c10=Blogpost&c11=Football&c13=&c25=Sport+blog&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FCeltic" width="1" height="1" /></div>The sense of agitation around Parkhead has surfaced as the team built by Gordon Strachan reaches the end of its lifespanCeltic's annual general meetings have been bland affairs in recent times, but today's was always going to be different. Rangers won the Scottish Premier League for the first time in four years in May, after all.The underlying sense of agitation around Parkhead has been impossible to ignore from as long ago as the second half of last season. Off the field, the Celtic Supporters' Trust – admittedly tiny in number – was planning to use this morning's forum to demand the removal of Dermot Desmond, the majority shareholder, and John Reid, the chairman, from the board. Neither attempt, of course, will be successful and neither should be overplayed, yet the trust's action is perhaps indicative of wider unrest.More pertinent are the basic football problems being encountered by Tony Mowbray. The manager watched his side get <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/28/cis-cup-celtic-hearts" title="bundled out of the League Cup">bundled out of the League Cup</a> in midweek by an average Hearts team; Celtic's home form is particularly alarming, not something supporters have been slow to point out. Perhaps with Halloween in mind, 40,000 of them turned up dressed as seats for the quarter-final visit of the Tynecastle men.Mowbray is already showing signs of irritation. In the aftermath of that Hearts loss, he claimed <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/27/celtic-scottishpremierleague" title=""mischievous journalists" had been "consistently misrepresenting" his words">"mischievous journalists" had been "consistently misrepresenting" his words</a> regarding an alleged lack of quality in the Celtic squad. What a scurrilous accusation to make against Scottish hacks ...More seriously, it is perfectly plain Mowbray has reservations regarding the talent of his playing staff. He has chopped and changed players and systems in the season's opening weeks and his comments have more than intimated he is seeking an overhaul of personnel whenever possible. He has replicated his misrepresentation claims in person to the players, a move which shows the criticism – both blatant and subtle – has not been a deliberate tactic to bounce them into improvement.The use of new blood may simply be a natural process, rather than some tacit admission by Mowbray that he regards the players he inherited by <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/28/gordon-strachan-tony-mowbray-celtic" title="Gordon Strachan as woefully inadequate">Gordon Strachan as woefully inadequate</a>. If you believe in a legitimate three- or four-year cycle for any group of players at the one club, Celtic's stumbling form after January last season merely highlighted the fact that this was a team which needed to be almost completely replaced.It just so happens that transition, probably against a backdrop of further wage cuts, also has to be done by a new manager. Strachan, now in position at Middlesbrough but doubtless aware of the ongoing debate regarding declining standards and investment in the Scottish game, got out at exactly the right time.Mowbray's troubles, in January and beyond, as ever will relate to finance. Celtic may have a wage bill in excess of £20m but, not only would the club prefer that was reduced to ensure better value for money, salaries are dwarfed even by those at Mowbray's former club, the Championship side West Bromwich Albion. It is also unlikely the manager's drive for change will be aided by a host of clubs queuing up for the players he would rather see the back of.One of the key features which endeared Mowbray to the Celtic board as they looked for Strachan's replacement was his willingness and ability to scout and sign identikit players. Presumably, of course, for little money. The overall restrictions Mowbray is working within are hardly unreasonably tight, but they may be sufficient to increase his early sense of pressure.Another possibility is that he has simply underestimated the size of the task in hand but, as a former Celtic player and English Premier League manager, such a scenario is unlikely. Mowbray's ire stems from a realisation that the same glaring inadequacies in front of goal which undermined the club's title charge last season are in danger of doing so again. It has hardly helped that his blue-chip signing, the £3.8m forward Marc-Antoine Fortuné, has been injured, but in nine home games Celtic have scored the same number of goals. Five of them came in one match against St Johnstone.Tactically, Mowbray is still to convince onlookers that he has what it takes to play both attractive and winning football in Glasgow. Starting cup ties against Hearts and Hamburg, for example, with just a single striker was overly cautious when victory was necessary.The curious aspect about disenchantment among the Celtic support related to the much-publicised problems across the city. Rightly or wrongly, Parkhead punters will argue that Rangers' current woes mean their club should be striding well clear of their rivals, especially given the supposed prudence of the Celtic board. As things stand, though, there is arguably nothing to choose between the Old Firm teams. Walter Smith's admissions regarding Rangers' plight have, in a strange way, cranked up the heat on Mowbray.Celtic should be afforded light relief tomorrow. The visitors to Glasgow's east end are Kilmarnock, who have not defeated Celtic on their own turf since 1955. Defeat, after Wednesday's cup exit, is already unthinkable for the manager.Before then, shareholders will have their say. Whether the board, football management or both take popular blame for a stuttering spell should be interesting indeed.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/celtic">Celtic</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/scottishpremierleague">Scottish Premier League</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/ewanmurray">Ewan Murray</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oxqWhUuOU1RUrLeZdGX6ynMCsFU/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oxqWhUuOU1RUrLeZdGX6ynMCsFU/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oxqWhUuOU1RUrLeZdGX6ynMCsFU/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/oxqWhUuOU1RUrLeZdGX6ynMCsFU/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Celtic</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Scottish Premier League</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Blogposts</category> <pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:25:33 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/blog/2009/oct/30/ewan-murray-celtic-blog</guid> <dc:creator>Ewan Murray</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-30T14:34:35Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/8/17/1250524698418/Tony-Mowbray-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Paul Thomas/Action Images</media:credit> <media:description>Tony Mowbray, the Celtic manager, will need to show an astute touch in his wheeling and dealing. Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/8/17/1250524696816/Tony-Mowbray-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Paul Thomas/Action Images</media:credit> <media:description>Tony Mowbray, the Celtic manager, may wish to completely overhaul the first team squad he inherited from Gordon Strachan. Photograph: Paul Thomas/Action Images</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Behind the scenes with GB amputee team</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/video/2009/oct/28/great-britain-amputee-football-team</link> <description>The Great Britain amputee football team still struggles for recognition and funding<div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/johndomokos">John Domokos</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/W_zIMiTCbm8kgydOk5uYhgfpYT0/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/W_zIMiTCbm8kgydOk5uYhgfpYT0/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/W_zIMiTCbm8kgydOk5uYhgfpYT0/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/W_zIMiTCbm8kgydOk5uYhgfpYT0/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society">Disability</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Editorial</category> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:40:37 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/video/2009/oct/28/great-britain-amputee-football-team</guid> <dc:creator>John Domokos</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-29T17:51:15Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Video</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/10/28/1256731866927/Amputee-footballs-battle--002.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">John Domokos/Guardian</media:credit> <media:description>Amputee footballs battle for the ball Photograph: John Domokos</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>'I couldn't make my own history there'</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/emmanuel-adebayor-manchester-city</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/68884?ns=guardian&pageName=Emmanuel+Adebayor+interview%3AArticle%3A1298253&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Emmanuel+Adebayor+%28football%29%2CManchester+City+%28Football%29%2CArsenal+FC+%28Football%29%2CPremier+League+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-29&c8=1298253&c9=Article&c10=Q+and+A&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FEmmanuel+Adebayor" width="1" height="1" /></div>Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor was interviewed on CNN International by the sports correspondent Pedro Pinto. He spoke about his early months at Eastlands, how they can get into the top four and why the attitude of former team-mates hurtsWhy did you leave Arsenal?"It was a very difficult decision because I didn't wanna leave Arsenal to be honest, and, you know, they told me that I have to leave, that they found an agreement from Man City, and whether you like it or not, you have to leave. And I was like: "I'm not leaving!" But at the end of the day, when I had a good discussion with the boss, I realise. I realise that what he was trying to tell me, which doesn't come out straight from his mouth, is if you stay, you will not have a chance to play. But for me there is nothing but other than playing football. There is nothing other but being on the pitch. That's what I like doing most in this world.You came here to Manchester City. What did the club tell you about their philosophy and their goals for this season?We have a chance to bring up this team and make it one of the best in the world. That's why they bring players like Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry, Kolo Touré and myself. You know, they bring a lot of players. There are a lot of players already here. We come and meet them, we combine together, to make it a great club, you know. People treat me very well, because I need an ambition, I need to write my own history, because I know even if I stay at Arsenal I can't play. And I couldn't make my own history there. Because a lot of big, big players, big names has passed before me.You know, by playing at Arsenal, that it's very tough to get into the top four. It's been the same four teams pretty much for the last 10 years, with one or two exceptions. Can Manchester City get in there this season?Why not? We've got Gareth Barry, a world class midfielder, we have Stephen Ireland, one of the best midfielders in the world, we've got Craig Bellamy, he's on fire at the moment, Carlos Tevez, myself, Robinho's coming back, Benjani's coming back. I think, if those players are fit, why not? At the moment it is good, you can see that all the big four, they are all struggling a little bit.You started the season on fire with Manchester City, scoring in the first four games. Were you surprised that you hit that kind of form so early?No, no, not surprised at all because I know I'm a striker, I know what I'm here for is to score goals, I know I have the capacity and capability to score a lot of goals. And, you know, what happened last season in Arsenal last season, I was tired, I played with a lot of injuries two years ago and last season, all this didn't pay off you know. So this season I'm a little bit more fresh and, considering I'm playing, I'm just enjoying myself on the pitch at the moment.I have to ask you about the Arsenal game, a lot was said about it, a lot was written about it and what about what happened with Robin van Persie as well. Do you regret that incident?Of course yes. I see Robin in the tunnel and I told him: "I'm very sorry for what happened". He's like: "Why, why you do that?" and I told him: "Robin, I don't know, that does happen, I'm sorry." And at the time he told me, "OK it's fine."What about your reaction following the goal – why did you feel the need to run the length of the pitch and celebrate in front of the Arsenal supporters like that?When I come to the stadium, for me it was a special game because you're playing against your former team and was coming up against people who were like brothers. When I get to the tunnel and see my friends, I try to shake their hands … but they don't want to shake my hand and it was a shock. I was like a shock: what is going on? What am I? You know what I mean? I felt very hurt. After that I thought – OK, that's part of life and just have to deal with it. After that, when I get on the pitch and when I hear some singing insulting my dad, insulting my mum, I think, we can't take everything. We are only human beings and I think that is something that you cannot take. We've all got our limit. You can insult me, you can judge me on the football pitch, that's normal. But don't touch my family, don't touch my parents, I love them more than everything on this earth. So when I heard fans singing, insulting my family, yes, then my mind was like, I had to respond, respond – which way? I don't have a choice. I cannot go into the fans and start shouting, I cannot do anything, better way to respond is to score a goal against them. And that is what I managed to do. At that time, emotions took over me and I have done it. And you can see that I'm not insulting anyone, I just calm down, sliding on my knee, showing them that "yes, you insult me, you sack me from your team, I go, and now this means I'm not the bad player you think I was when I was playing for you."Do you regret doing that now?Yeah, yeah, of course, we are all human beings. I think I wish I could not have done that, but there are some times, we are all human beings. [Barack] Obama will make a lot of mistakes where he is now, [Cristiano] Ronaldo has done a lot of mistakes, I can say Mr Alex Ferguson apologised recently for what he has said against the referee, he just made the mistake, he is a human being, we all do it and we all have to pass through a mistake to be a better man.What does it mean for you, as an African and an African player, to have the World Cup in South Africa for the first time?We very pleased, very happy. It's like a dream become true. And to start with, I am very happy with the national team of Ghana, Black Starlets, Under-20, they just won the World Cup for the first time in our history so, you know, everything is coming on our way this time. It's very good, it's very positive for us, as Africans and we very happy for that. We are very happy for those young lads, what they have done for us, it's like they start writing the history. I am very pleased we are organising this big party in Africa in 2010. South Africa, one of the best, one of the biggest countries in Africa. So we just wanna enjoy it and we hope that we try to organise one of the best and memorable World Cup in our history. That's what we are fighting for now.How much has African football grown in the last few years because it seems everywhere you look in Europe, they've got at least one or two African players?Africans are in all big teams, we go to Inter Milan we have Muntari and Eto'o, we come to Chelsea, you got Michael Essien, you got Didier Drogba, you go to, you know like Barcelona, you got Keita, you got Diarra in Madrid. You know, you got a lot of African players these times and you know, we just have to believe that we can do it. The players have to believe first, you know, and lead us to this dream because I think a lot of African people are dreaming about these days. What is going to happen in the South Africa 2010. I think if my brothers believe that they can do it, yeah, anyway they got the talent. If they are playing Barcelona, Milan, Chelsea, this mean, they got the talent, they can do it, they can bring that dream become truth for all African people. How did you start playing football in Africa?You know, us in Africa, all what we know, all what we dream about is football. Because when I was young, all what I tried to do, all what I had a chance to watch on TV was football. So, you know, I got into football when I was young, when I started walking, like all African people, because most African people, when they start walking, they start touching the ball because I used to live in a house where we had a lot of young boys in the house. We are like 10, or 15 of us, so you can imagine, we're always playing three v three, four v four. And, you know, you just get used to football like that and I remember, like, when I was, like eight, nine years old, we were playing a tournament in the area and one of my uncles who was, is, footballer, who plays for Metz, in France, professional sport, just was, you know, like "Oh, you're a good footballer".Did you ever dream that you would get to where you are now?No. Never. That's why I'm very happy and every time I wake up in the morning, I just tell myself, "I have a chance to be chosen where there would be maybe hundred, billion of people, I don't know how many people in Africa would love to be in my position today." And those are the things that I always keep in my head and tell myself whenever I have a chance. I just have to give 100% of myself, I just have to work, keep working hard because I know a lot of people would love to be in my place and today, I'm one of the people that people are dreaming to be one day, so I just have to be an example and keep working hard and show them that working hard and having a little bit of belief, you can achieve, you can achieve what you want achieve, you can make your dream become truth.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/emmanuel-adebayor">Emmanuel Adebayor</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/manchestercity">Manchester City</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/arsenal">Arsenal</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/aTStpChJmpM22BpEo2bvuVaYyc4/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/aTStpChJmpM22BpEo2bvuVaYyc4/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/aTStpChJmpM22BpEo2bvuVaYyc4/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/aTStpChJmpM22BpEo2bvuVaYyc4/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Emmanuel Adebayor</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Manchester City</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Arsenal</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Premier League</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Q&amp;As</category> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:40:20 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/emmanuel-adebayor-manchester-city</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-29T22:40:20Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/29/1256849714073/Emmanuel-Adebayor-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Emmanuel Adebayor says he was 'shocked' at his former Arsenal team-mates' refusal to shake his hand at their match last month. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club_Home/2009/10/29/1256849710709/Emmanuel-Adebayor-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Emmanuel Adebayor says he was 'shocked' at his former Arsenal team-mates' refusal to shake his hand. Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>From good vibrations to God only knows</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/hull-city-phil-brown-premier-league</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/68379?ns=guardian&pageName=Phil+Brown%27s+Hull+journey+from+good+vibrations+to+God+only+knows%3AArticle%3A1298232&ch=Football&c3=Guardian&c4=Hull+City+%28Football%29%2CPhil+Brown+%28football%29%2CPremier+League+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=Louise+Taylor&c7=09-Oct-29&c8=1298232&c9=Article&c10=Feature&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FHull+City" width="1" height="1" /></div>The man who serenaded the Hull City crowd with a Beach Boys song is now striking all the wrong notesSwing east along the M62 towards Hull and, as signs for the Humber Bridge start appearing, a distinct sense of schadenfreude seeps into the autumn air. With vultures from the media and, rather more pertinently, accountancy worlds suddenly circling the KC Stadium, delight at the misfortunes being endured by Phil Brown and Hull City grows apace.Both manager and board have, it seems, lost the plot. While Brown teeters on the brink of the sack, the erstwhile chairman Paul Duffen today resigned in the wake of Hull auditors Deloitte's public raising of doubts about the club's ability to continue as "a growing concern". Duffen appears certain to be replaced by the former owner Adam Pearson.A year ago, it was all so very different. Freshly promoted to the Premier League for the first time Hull appeared shiny and new and the extrovert Brown a breath of fresh air. When they briefly occupied a Champions League place Sam Allardyce's former assistant found himself hyped as a future England coach while Duffen was hailed as a "model" chairman. Behind the scenes, though, things were unravelling. The night before Hull won at Newcastle last September there was a worrying incident which, with hindsight, should have served as a portent of reckless acts to come.Shortly after his team checked into a Northumberland country hotel, the South Shields-born Brown was foolishly drawn into an argument with a Geordie wedding party about his long-standing love of Sunderland. Things turned nasty and, at around 10pm, Hull's manager made the slightly bizarre decision to order his entire squad out of their rooms, transferring them to an alternative property an hour's drive away on Newcastle quayside.At the time it was shrugged off as merely part of the manager's somewhat endearing eccentricity, but on Boxing Day, a switch again flipped inside Brown's brain and, this time, it had more serious consequences. That infamous half-time freak-out on the Manchester City pitch – where his players were publicly berated at half-time during a 5-1 defeat – prompted a dismal run in which Hull won just one Premier League game until May. No matter, when the team narrowly avoided relegation after losing at home to Manchester United on last season's final afternoon, Brown picked up a microphone and serenaded the KC Stadium with a rendition of a Beach Boys number.It served to drain the final shred of credibility from a man whose ego has eclipsed a genuine coaching talent. Not for nothing was Brown credited with choreographing much of the success Bolton enjoyed under Allardyce and, initially, in East Yorkshire, his much admired, often match-winning, knack of tailoring varying systems and tactics to assorted opponents deservedly earned numerous plaudits. Intelligent players including Nick Barmby were impressed by his fusion of Allardyce-esque pragmatism with the attack-minded purist passing principles Bruce Rioch had instilled in Brown during his days as a Bolton full-back.Unfortunately, though, as results deteriorated caution increasingly crept into those once vibrant game-plans and murmurs of discontent from the dressing room indicated that Hull's players had begun to suspect that their manager's suddenly gratingly brash and blingy facade concealed clay feet.Falling-outs with Dean Windass and Geovanni hardly helped but neither did the career-threatening knee injury Jimmy Bullard suffered 37 minutes into his Hull debut last January. Apart from the fact that the team craved an incisive striker more than a dynamic midfielder, Bullard's arrival for £5m and £50,000 weekly wages, despite a knee problem, emphasised Duffen's growing loss of judgment. The chairman and manager were extremely close, too close perhaps, and Duffen's high-risk gamble on Bullard seemed emblematic of his willingness to put Brown's wishes ahead of the club's future stability.The club's books were refusing to balance. Hull submitted their latest set of accounts five months late, immediately triggering alarm bells. And with good reason. Pearson's imperative will be somehow to restructure the financing of a concern that Deloitte estimates needs to raise £23m to survive in the event of relegation and £16m should Premier League status be retained.One of Pearson's final acts during his first incarnation by the Humber – a tenure during which Hull moved out of dilapidated Boothferry Park and rose through the divisions, initially under Peter Taylor – was to appoint Brown. Now he must spend the weekend deliberating whether to make axing the manager his first move on Monday.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/hullcity">Hull City</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/phil-brown">Phil Brown</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/premierleague">Premier League</a></li></ul></div><div class="author"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/louisetaylor">Louise Taylor</a></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/O-qqEFaGJe1CKfAYnUGGnjCspiw/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/O-qqEFaGJe1CKfAYnUGGnjCspiw/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/O-qqEFaGJe1CKfAYnUGGnjCspiw/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/O-qqEFaGJe1CKfAYnUGGnjCspiw/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Hull City</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Phil Brown</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Premier League</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">The Guardian</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">Features</category> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:00:13 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/hull-city-phil-brown-premier-league</guid> <dc:creator>Louise Taylor</dc:creator> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-29T21:47:08Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256844611235/Phil-Brown-the-Hull-City--004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Regan/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Phil Brown was regarded as endearingly eccentric at first but ego appears to have eclipsed a genuine coaching talent. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256844608123/Phil-Brown-the-Hull-City--001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Michael Regan/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Phil Brown was regarded as endearingly eccentric at first but ego appears to have eclipsed a genuine coaching talent. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> </item> <item> <title>Pérez calls for calm amid Madrid malaise</title> <link>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/real-madrid-florentino-perez-la-liga-football</link> <description><div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.20.3/56078?ns=guardian&pageName=Real+Madrid+call+for+calm+as+they+struggle+for+results+in+La+Liga%3AArticle%3A1297792&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Real+Madrid+%28Football+club%29%2CFlorentino+Perez%2CCristiano+Ronaldo%2CLa+Liga+%28Football%29%2CEuropean+football%2CFootball%2CSport&c6=&c7=09-Oct-29&c8=1297792&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&h2=GU%2FFootball%2FReal+Madrid" width="1" height="1" /></div>• Florentino Pérez says superstar squad needs time to gel • <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2009/oct/28/real-madrid-alcoron-copa-del-rey" title="Read Sid Lowes verdict on the gathering storm at Madrid">Read Sid Lowe's verdict on the gathering storm at Madrid</a>Real Madrid's coach, Manuel Pellegrini, needs "time and calm" to complete the task of turning his expensively assembled squad into a team, according to the club's president, Florentino Pérez.Real are still smarting from their <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/27/real-madrid-alcorcon-copa-del-rey" title="unprecedented 4-0 drubbing on Tuesday by the third-tier side Alcorcn">unprecedented 4-0 drubbing on Tuesday by the third-tier side Alcorcón</a> in their King's Cup first leg, and doubts have been raised in the Spanish media about Pellegrini's future ahead of their La Liga match at home to their city rivals Getafe on Saturday."I would like to send a message to calm the fans," said Pérez, who spent €250m (£224m) on players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká over the summer. "We have to remember that a lot of new players arrived before the start of the season and this requires a period of adaptation. The season is only two months old and we are still trying to create a team."Tiny Alcorcón, who play in the same league as Real's youth team and have a budget more than 400 times smaller than the Spanish giants, managed to humiliate Pellegrini's side despite the presence of the Spain defenders Raúl Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa, and several other internationals.The defeat followed last week's goalless La Liga draw at Sporting Gijón that allowed Barcelona to open a three-point lead at the top of the table and a 3-2 home loss to Milan in the Champions League.Albiol, who spent a season at Getafe in 2004-05, said he had not slept a wink on Tuesday night after the Alcorcón match."We are sad and upset but we know we have another match on Saturday and we have to turn the page," he said. "We are with the coach to the death and we have to translate his ideas on to the pitch."Ronaldo will again be missing on Saturday and will be out of action at least until he has another test on his damaged ankle in a week's time, the club said yesterday. They had won every game with Ronaldo in the side but have slumped to three defeats, a draw and only one victory in all competitions since his injury last month.Getafe's coach, Míchel, a former Real player and the ex-director of their youth programme, said his players were full of confidence after yesterday's 2-0 King's Cup win at home to Espanyol."We are coming to Madrid in good spirits and in good shape," Míchel said after the match. "Sometimes at the Bernabéu that's not enough but the important thing for us is that we play our game and stay solid."Barcelona also won 2-0 in the cup yesterday, with their coach, Pep Guardiola, deploying a second-string side at third-tier Cultural Leonesa, and the European champions play at mid-table Osasuna on Saturday.Also on Saturday, Quique Sánchez Flores makes his league debut as Atlético Madrid's coach at Athletic Bilbao as he begins the task of turning around their troubled season, while third-placed Sevilla travel to promoted Xerez.Undefeated Barcelona have 22 points from eight matches, Real have 19 and Sevilla 16. Valencia and Deportivo La Coruña are both on 15 points in fourth and fifth respectively and the surprise package Real Mallorca are sixth on 14.<div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/realmadrid">Real Madrid</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/florentino-perez">Florentino Pérez</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/laligafootball">La Liga</a></li><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/europeanfootball">European football</a></li></ul></div> <div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YNcdxdCzs_bQRPkNcE3QheSzGPM/0/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YNcdxdCzs_bQRPkNcE3QheSzGPM/0/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a> <a href="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YNcdxdCzs_bQRPkNcE3QheSzGPM/1/da"><img src="http://feedads.g.doubleclick.net/~at/YNcdxdCzs_bQRPkNcE3QheSzGPM/1/di" border="0" ismap="true"></img></a></description> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Real Madrid</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Florentino Pérez</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Cristiano Ronaldo</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">La Liga</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">European football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football">Football</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport">Sport</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/publication">guardian.co.uk</category> <category domain="http://www.guardian.co.uk/tone">News</category> <pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:13:25 GMT</pubDate> <guid>http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/oct/29/real-madrid-florentino-perez-la-liga-football</guid> <dc:creator /> <dc:subject>Football</dc:subject> <dc:date>2009-10-29T11:33:24Z</dc:date> <dc:type>Article</dc:type> <media:content height="84" type="image/jpeg" width="140" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256814751606/Manuel-Pellegrini-004.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Manuel Pellegrini has come under mounting in pressure in Spain as Real Madrid struggle for results. Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> <media:content height="276" type="image/jpeg" width="460" url="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/10/29/1256814748145/Manuel-Pellegrini-001.jpg"> <media:credit scheme="urn:ebu">Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images</media:credit> <media:description>Manuel Pellegrini has come under mounting in pressure in Spain as Real Madrid struggle for results. Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images</media:description> </media:content> </item> </channel> </rss>