Mirror Football

Ask John Cross your football questions in our live webchat on Monday lunchtime

2010-03-15T11:00:52Z

Want to talk about the weekend's football? Want to get something off your chest? Want to ask something about your club? Want to know about life as a leading football journalist?Then join Daily Mirror football writer John Cross, our king of the back page exclusives, online on Monday from 12.30pm-1.30pm in our Monday Mouth-Off series - the new place for you to chat with Daily Mirror reporters about everything that happened on another wild weekend in the Premier and Coca-Cola Leagues.To ask a qu...

Carsley close to return

2010-03-15T14:21:06Z

Birmingham midfielder Lee Carsley is poised to return to training next week after being side-lined for two months with an ankle injury.The 34-year-old has been out of action since suffering the setback in an FA Cup third-round clash with Nottingham Forest in mid-January.Carsley played an important part last season in helping Blues regain their Barclays Premier League status at the first attempt.But he had been dislodged by the Barry Ferguson-Lee Bowyer partnership during the current campaign ...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Monday's papers

2010-03-15T08:45:18Z

From today's Daily Mirror: Liverpool set for cash boost - but still face losing Torres Birmingham owner vows to spend big this summer Beye escapes O'Neill wrath after admitting he wants to quit Villa Parker not giving up hope of England World Cup call-up Beckham's World Cup dream ended by torn Achilles tendon From today's other papers:Trying to sign Wayne Rooney and linking him up with former Manchester United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo has beocme an "obsession" for Real Madrid, says pres...

Birmingham 2-2 Everton: The Daily Mirror match report

2010-03-14T18:02:11Z

Phil Jagielka hoping to win World Cup call-up after year from hell

Gardner dedicates first Blues goal to crocked Villa brother

2010-03-14T18:27:42Z

St Andrews star hoping leveller against Everton cheered up Villa youth star Gary

Birmingham owner vows to spend big this summer

2010-03-14T21:20:18Z

Carson Yeung insists Alex McLeish will have a bumper summer fund despite the club's dire financial results

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Sunday's papers

2010-03-14T11:57:22Z

Stories from today's Sunday Mirror:Liverpool set sights on Stephen IrelandTorres warns Liverpool: Buy top-class players or I am offManchester United to make summer swoop for Brazil aceYobo poised to quit Everton after Moyes rowStories from today's other papers:Spanish giants Real Madrid have made Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard their number one transfer target and believe they can tempt the midfielder away from Anfield with a £30m bid. (People)Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has ope...

Joe Hart happy to remain on Manchester City's books

2010-03-13T18:49:34Z

Goalkeeper OK with Man City for blocking a permanent move to Birmingham

Birmingham 2-2 Everton: The Sunday Mirror match report

2010-03-13T21:48:48Z

Gardner grabs leveller as Blues fight back from two goals down

Blues battle back to draw

2010-03-14T11:41:02Z

Life-long fan Craig Gardner scored his first Birmingham goal as Alex McLeish's side recovered to earn a 2-2 draw against Everton and preserve their six month unbeaten home record. Everton, knocked out of the FA Cup by Blues at Goodison Park this season, had taken control with two goals in three minutes midway through the first half from Victor Anichebe and Ayegbeni Yakubu. But Cameron Jerome's third goal in the last two games gave City a lifeline before Gardner's moment of glory following his...

Birmingham 2-2 Everton

2010-03-13T17:58:29Z

Blues' Gardener punishes club he supported as a biy

HT: Birmingham 1-2 Everton

2010-03-13T15:58:05Z

Jerome puts Blues back in it after Anichebe and Yakubu net for Toffees

Follow all today's football LIVE!

2010-03-13T17:29:12Z

Text commentary, pictures and stats from all of today's games, plus match reports on the whistle

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Saturday's papers

2010-03-13T11:26:16Z

From today's Daily Mirror:Liverpool keeping a close eye on Alex McLeish's contract talks with Birmingham as Rafa Benitez continues to struggle at AnfieldEverton ready to offer TEN players new long-term dealsManchester City chasing Benfica strike star Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini tells Shaun Wright-Phillips to stop moaning over his new contract and focus on the fight for fourth spot From today's other papers:Real Madrid are said to have had informal talks with Manchester United over a ...

McLeish: Fear can propel Birmingham into Europe

2010-03-12T22:10:29Z

Blues chief wants his players to fear for their places - like he did under Sir Alex Ferguson

Liverpool keeping close eye on McLeish contract talks

2010-03-12T23:17:41Z

Birmingham chief on Liverpool's radar should Rafa Benitez leave Anfield

Birmingham boss McLeish eyeing Europa League spot

2010-03-12T16:04:14Z

St Andrews chief believes "anything is possible" if his strikers can hit top form

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Friday, March 12

2010-03-12T14:42:59Z

It's double feature Friday at 3PM Extra today, where we bring you two brilliant videos for the price of one. Well, six for the price of three if you're being pedantic.

1) When he's not brawling in the park with Nicky Barmby, Hull's Jimmy Bullard is out filming spoof shampoo adverts...

Mother's Day special: Football's top 10 most important mothers

2010-03-12T18:00:01Z

1) George Best's mum Anne

Shy and softly-spoken, the mother of Manchester United's 1960s superstar stayed far from the limelight he craved. But Anne and her son shared a drink dependency which would kill them both, Anne first of heart problems related to alcoholism in 1978.

They are buried side-by-side in Belfast's Roselawn Cemetery, and their relationship formed the basis of a BBC film last year.

Reports give McLeish a chuckle

2010-03-12T14:41:02Z

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has laughed off reports that former club owners David Sullivan and David Gold want to sign Liam Ridgewell, Sebastian Larsson and Christian Benitez for West Ham in the summer. Defender Ridgewell and midfielder Larsson are in talks regarding new deals, although in any case Blues have two and one-year options on their current deals they can take up, while Benitez is on loan for the season from Santos Laguna and McLeish has made it clear he wants to sign the Ecuado...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Friday's papers

2010-03-12T08:48:19Z

From today's Daily Mirror: Wenger tells Madrid: 'Leave me alone' Stoke plan summer swoop for ex-Arsenal and Liverpool star Derby want Liverpool star on loan Blackpool set to beat QPR in race for Everton loan star Watford plot raid for Port Vale defensive star 'Wilshere's ready for Arsenal' says Coyle Madrid's Champions League exit means Rafa can expect a call from Spain Jermain Defoe signs for the Mirror! From today's other papers:Manchester United target Igor Akinfeev will be offered ...

How Roberto Mancini tapped me up as Man City's new keeper, plus Ian's not Wright about son Shaun

2010-03-11T16:34:38Z

After a busy night on Wednesday, I woke up yesterday to the buzzing of text messages on my mobile.The first was from Craig Bellamy. “You've wasted your career,” it said. “You should have been a goalie.”The came one from Manchester United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele, claiming I was now the sixth-best keeper in Wales.The third was from Roberto Mancini: “We need another goalkeeper at City, how are you fixed?”I don't want to unsettle Shay Given, so all I'll say to that one is that I'm unavailab...

Becks knew exactly what he was doing with that scarf, plus Jose's for Real

2010-03-11T16:16:43Z

David Beckham would have to be very naïve not to know the meaning behind that green and gold scarf he wore at Old Trafford on Wednesday night – and Becks is not a naïve man.I played alongside him in Manchester United's youth team and there was no bigger United fan among us. He was obsessed with the club and I'm told he still is.So I'm sure he knew exactly what he was doing when he wore the colours associated with the anti-Glazer campaign.None of the current United players could get away with ...

How mum almost ruined my big break, and there's something fishy about my wife's kipper

2010-03-11T16:08:54Z

I love my mum Val to bits... even though she almost cost me my big break.When I was a kid my dad managed our local youth club team, Bradley, and mum used to do the catering.I'd done well in one game, and afterwards mum was pouring tea for the parents when a spectator came up and asked if he could have a chat to the manager about one of the players.She told him dad was too busy to talk as he was getting all the dirty kit together ready to take home for washing.The guy looked a bit crestfallen ...

Listen to the new MirrorFootball podcast, featuring special guest Robbie Savage - March 11, 2010

2010-03-11T18:27:39Z

Welcome to the new MirrorFootball podcast - available to download from MirrorFootball.co.uk every Friday, and also via subscription on iTunes.This week: Daily Mirror assistant sports editor Alan McKinlay, 3PM columnist Steve Anglesey and special guest Robbie Savage talks all things football, including Robbie's debut as an emergency goalkeeper. Plus: Man United and Arsenal in the Champions League and just how good is Wayne Rooney?Please feel free to leave comments, suggestions and ideas for fu...

McLeish warns Benitez over diving

2010-03-12T11:31:05Z

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has warned recalled striker Christian Benitez to cut out the diving ahead of Saturday's home meeting with Everton.The Ecuador international made an impressive return to the starting line-up in the midweek 2-1 win at Portsmouth which lifted City in eighth spot in the Barclays Premier League. But he blotted his copybook by going to ground too easily, picking up a yellow card, and McLeish fears such actions will be looked upon unfavourably by referees in future.Th...

Net masters and disasters: Niall Quinn, Bobby Moore, John Terry and the top 10 emergency goalkeepers

2010-03-11T16:30:14Z

By Joe MardonRobbie Savage joined the union of goalkeepers on Wednesday night when the Derby captain donned the gloves just before half-time after starting keeper Stephen Bywater went off injured, and his replacement Saul Deeney was red carded.Despite Sav's best efforts, the Rams succumbed to a 4-1 defeat, although the blond-haired skipper will surely claim credit for keeping the score that low.In honour of Sav's heroics, MirrorFootball remembers 10 other occasions when outfield players have ...

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Thursday, March 11

2010-03-11T15:07:09Z

Are you Mark Owen out of Take That? Stuck for something to do now you've been rumbled as a chipmunk-faced love rat with 'around' 10 lovers (but you can't remember the exact number)?Then seek refuge in our 3PM Extra blog, which wraps up the best football videos on the web each weekday. Better than sex and cheaper than a divorce. Here's today's selection.1) Good news for Robinho: His Santos team beat Naviraiense 10-0 in a Brazilian Cup match last night. Bad news for Robinho: Only 11,336 turned ...

MirrorFootball's Best XI: Gingas

2010-03-11T12:05:19Z

Paul Scholes became the latest man to join the Premier League's 100 Club when he netted the winner against Wolves last weekend.Wolves 0-1 Man United: The Daily Mirror match report The diminutive Man United midfield ace reached his century of Premier League goals at Molineux and to mark the occasion we're going to honour one of football's leading carrot tops by compiling the all-time Ginger XI.And that's where we need your help.Jim Leighton would have to be in with a shout of getting the nod b...

Ask football's Mr Marmite (and Derby's new goalkeeper) anything you like!

2010-03-11T11:35:03Z

Ask the Derby midfielder/keeper anything you like

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Thursday's papers

2010-03-11T09:00:27Z

From today's Daily Mirror: West Ham plan triple transfer raid on Birmingham - Exclusive Tottenham target Sandro is ready to walk the walk and talk the talk Tottenham plan Belgium loan move for new Zambian ace Roma close in on Arsenal transfer target Birmingham and Wolves in battle for Palace star Arsenal starlet is Celtic target Birmingham set to land £11million Aiden McGeady this summer City and United to battle it out for Joe Cole Manchester City lead chase for £6million-rated Cardi...

My head says Hart should be England's World Cup No.1

2010-03-10T15:53:58Z

When football discussions inevitably turn to England's prospects at the World Cup, I am always sadly pessimistic.Yes, I know Wayne Rooney is playing out of his skin and is finally fulfilling his huge potential, but we still don't have an established outstanding candidate to play in goal.Italy and Spain won the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008 respectively with Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas in goal.Both shot-stoppers are the undisputed No.1 for their country for good reason - they are reliabl...

West Ham plan triple transfer raid on Birmingham - Exclusive

2010-03-10T17:37:56Z

Hammers target Blues trio Liam Ridgewell, Sebastian Larsson and Christian Benitez

Birmingham and Wolves in battle for Palace star

2010-03-10T21:37:18Z

Midlands giants both want full-back Nathaniel Clyne

3PM Extra: The funniest things we've found on the internet today - Wednesday, March 10

2010-03-10T13:30:26Z

The former President of the World Society of Friends of Suspenders, a pressure group formed to express disapproval with women wearing tights rather than stockings and sussies, is 74 years young today.Yes, it's happy birthday, Sepp Blatter - one-eyed opponent of video technology, baiter of the Irish and all-round Swiss clown. With a vote on the FIFA presidency due next May, let's hope this is the penultimate occasion on which he gets to blow out the candles while sipping unicorn tears and eati...

Ryan Giggs, Diego Maradona, Ricky Villa and the top 10 best dribbled goals

2010-03-10T13:53:44Z

Nicklas Bendtner may have taken the match ball home last night - even though he gave away the fact that it was his first treble by being slightly confused as to why he was being given it - but Samir Nasri was the one who really caught the eye with his fabulous solo effort in the second half.It was a superb dribbling run and finish from the young Frenchman that drew comparisons with Ricky Villa's FA Cup Final goal or even Archie's Gemmill's famous strike at the 1978 World Cup.In honour of Nasr...

Birmingham set to land £11million Aiden McGeady this summer

2010-03-10T13:23:27Z

Celtic winger likely to move to England this summer

Revealed: Find out what was said in the secretly taped England team meetings

2010-03-10T12:50:29Z

MirrorFootball can reveal why the FA are so keen to suppress publication of the secretly-taped England team meetings.We have heard part of the clandestine recordings made at the England HQ at the posh Grove hotel in Hertfordshire and the conversations between Fabio Capello and his players go right to the heart of the team's problems.(A door opens and footsteps are heard)Fabio Capello: "Good afternoon everyone and before we start, can I check that everyone's wife or partner - past or present -...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Wednesday's papers

2010-03-10T09:12:03Z

From today's Daily Mirror: Man City target Sporting Lisbon defensive ace Villa keeping tabs on Spanish midfield star Wolves facing a losing battle to keep Doyle Forest chiefs on collision course over Barnet star Anelka set for new Chelsea deal Bendtner: 'We can win the Champions League' Beckham: 'I'm still scared of Fergie' Babel reveals Anfield confidence crisis Wigan owner Whelan dangles Caribbean carrot as survival reward - Exclusive From today's other papers:Tottenham midfielder W...

Blues boss backing Benitez

2010-03-11T16:41:03Z

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish paid tribute to Christian Benitez after he inspired his side to a 2-1 triumph at Portsmouth last night.The Ecuadorian forward fed strike partner Cameron Jerome for both his first-half goals and caused the Pompey rearguard all manner of problems in the opening 45 minutes. Benitez, who has only troubled the scorers on three occasions himself this season, had a golden opportunity to net one of his own after 39 minutes, when he beat the offside trap and rounded goa...

Portsmouth 1-2 Birmingham: Daily Mirror match report

2010-03-09T22:46:04Z

Cameron Jerome double leaves Pompey signing the Blues

Jerome at the double

2010-03-09T23:11:04Z

Birmingham gained revenge for their weekend FA Cup exit against Portsmouth after sending the Premier League's bottom club closer to relegation with a 2-1 triumph at Fratton Park.Despite going down 2-0 on the South Coast last Saturday, two goals from Cameron Jerome gave them the three points.Substitute Kanu pulled one back in the dying minutes but with Pompey already five points from safety and facing a likely nine point deduction, this proved of little consolation in their uphill battle for s...

Portsmouth 1-2 Birmingham: Blues make Pompey pay for Cup exit

2010-03-09T21:47:39Z

More misery for relegation threatened south coast side as Cameron Jerome nets twice

HT Portsmouth 0-2 Birmingham: Blues on course for revenge over Pompey

2010-03-09T20:43:05Z

More misery for relegation threatened south coast side as Cameron Jerome nets twice

3PM Extra: The funniest things we've found on the internet today - Tuesday, March 9

2010-03-09T16:05:34Z

Are you the boss of an ailing Premier League football club which was once the powerhouse of European football but now can't even beat a team from a town who prefer rugby?Well fear not Rafa, we have the very thing to cheer you up. No, not a £100m transfer kitty, but the three best videos we've found on the internet today. That's bound to turn that Spanish frown upside down, don't you think?1) This is superb. One cheeky fan buttonholes love rat John Terry and asks him to sign a picture for him....

Why FIFA was right to ignore the pleas for goal line technology - where would it end?

2010-03-09T09:54:14Z

We as a society have an obsession with the quick fix.Everything we want, we get. Nobody wants to wait. Why bother watching TV at home when you can watch it on your phone in the park? Why diet when you can get a tummy tuck?We've got fast food and one-hour photos. We have football fans all over the country desperate for a billionaire foreign investor - the next Roman Abramovich - to come in and turn their club into the next Chelsea or Manchester City.And now English football is stamping its fee...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Tuesday's papers

2010-03-09T08:48:37Z

From today's Daily Mirror: Donovan desperate to stay at Everton Birmingham plot summer raid for Portsmouth strike star Wenger: Porto match is too big a risk for Fabregas Arsenal rocked by Gallas injury blow World Cup dreams still alive for Brown and Hargreaves Yebda fears end of his World Cup dream Coyle promises Bolton survival with a smile Bruce sets out Sunderland survival plan Premier League set for FIFA war over goalline technology From today's other papers:Lokomotiv Moscow will ...

Birmingham plot summer raid for Portsmouth strike star

2010-03-09T11:49:12Z

Blues boss Alex McLeish wants to take Frederic Piquionne to St Andrews

Hart sets sights on England after FA Cup heartache

2010-03-08T20:17:15Z

Keeper hopes quarter-final exit will not derail Birmingham's season

Premier League set for FIFA war over goalline technology

2010-03-09T15:40:43Z

Top-flight bosses set to fight back after governing body's decision to ditch experiments