Mirror Football

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Friday, March 19, 2010

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:25:54 GMT

We don't know if the internet's funny guys are all watching the Cheltenham Gold Cup or what, but there's a distinct dearth of videos doing the rounds today.Still, these crackers should tide you over until it's time to spend your winnings/drown your sorrows come beer o'clock.1) Forget Kauto Star v Denman, the only debate we care about is who's better: Messi or Rooney? Our new star columnist Jermain Defoe had his say earlier on today, and now you can make your own mind up courtesy of this handy...

Mancini urges Wayne Bridge to reconsider England future

David McDonnell — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:44:24 GMT

City boss: 'I think England have a great chance of winning the World Cup, and so for that reason I hope Wayne changes his mind'

'This is where it starts to matter, where every game counts' - Martin Lipton previews a crucial weekend in the title race

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:56:54 GMT

A week off for United and Arsenal. A week of woe for Chelsea.And with a potentially titanic and pivotal weekend to come, the shape of the title race could take a dramatic and decisive shift.Arsene Wenger and his players know this is their opportunity to really turn up the heat.Beat West Ham at The Emirates - something they should accomplish with the minimum of fuss - and the pressure will really be turned up on their rivals.The three-point haul that is within the Gunners' grasp would take Ars...

Listen to the new MirrorFootball podcast - March 19, 2010

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:19:24 GMT

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 Daily Mirror reporter Darren Lewis look ahead to a massive weekend of Premier League action.Can Liverpool upset Manchester United at Old Trafford? Will Chelsea recover from their Champions League exit to stay on course for the Premier League title? Can West H...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Friday's papers

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:33:00 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Robinho set for early City return due to Santos salary row Riera banished from Liverpool due to bust-up with young reserve player - Exclusive Arsenal and Man City target Yaya Toure rules out move to Premier League Sunderland offer olive branch to Spurs in bid to land defensive star McLeish warns West Ham they won't get Brum stars by using a FIFA loophole Fergie Jnr hoping dad will sell him midfielder in the summer Blackpool set to raid Crystal Palace for veteran defe...

MirrorFootball's Best XI: Beardies

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 09:00:21 GMT

After the soaraway successes of our Baldy XI and our Ginga XI, this week we want your help to compile the all-time Beardy XI.That's right, those fells with the best facial fuzz in the business are about to get their moment in the sun.To help you out, we've compiled the magnificent gallery of hirsute heroes above, but no doubt you will have plenty of thoughts of your own.You can nominate your players by leaving a comment below, posting on our Facebook page or joining in the debate on our Twitt...

Vieira: City can win the race for fourth place

David McDonnell — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:00:53 GMT

French ace reckons Blues can kick on, starting at Fulham on Saturday

Robinho set for early City return due to Santos salary row

David McDonnell — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:00:23 GMT

The Brazilian star has paid the rent on his Cheshire home until January 2011

Arsenal and Man City target Yaya Toure rules out move to Premier League

John Cross — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:45:01 GMT

Barcelona star won't be following brother Kolo to England

Sorry Becks, but the real injury worry for England is Aaron Lennon

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 22:29:01 GMT

I've got huge sympathy for David Beckham after the injury which has ruled him out of the World Cup finals.Becks worked so hard to get back into the England set-up and he's done brilliantly to stay there while playing in the equivalent of League Two football.But honestly, you'd think no-one had ever suffered an injury before by the amount of coverage his Achilles tendon has got.So far I've heard from four different physios and three doctors, read acres of paper coverage and watched hours of ne...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Thursday's papers

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:51:28 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Chelsea planning dream team pairing of Drogba and Torres Abramovich will stick with Ancelotti and bankroll £140million summer spree Villa target £9m deal for Spurs ace - Exclusive Wolves star Hahnemann targets survival and a new deal Interest grows in QPR's Alejandro Faurlin Riera's broadside at Rafa's 'sinking ship' Gary Johnson faces Bristol City axe Other rumours and gossip:Pavlyuchenko pledges future to Spurs Mancini reassures Toure over Man City future Villa to ...

Mancini reassures Toure over Man City future

MirrorFootball — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:15:12 GMT

Eastlands boss tells defender he is still a key man

Whoever finishes fourth deserves it, but I hope it's Spurs

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:01:52 GMT

Liverpool are still in with a shout of fourth place, and if they finish in the Champions League places then they will have deserved it.Any team that plays 38 games deserves to end up where they end up. No question. In a similar vein, if Arsenal win the league, despite losing to Chelsea and Manchester United twice, they will have been the most consistent team.But hands up who thinks Liverpool have really done themselves justice this season? They have been hugely disappointing, under-achieved a...

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Wednesday, March 17

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:08:50 GMT

It's almost Guinness o'clock! But if you've already exhausted our amazing St Patrick's Day Irish football legends archive special, then here's some ace footy vids to help while away the time until you can stuff your face with potato and cabbage and fall down drunk in the street in the name of religious martyrs.1) Following hot on the heels of Alan Shearer's legendarily brusque newspaper interview last week, we present further evidence that Wor Alan could well be the most curmudgeonly man in f...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Wednesday's papers

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:38:26 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Real Madrid target Ashley Cole Davenport seeks clean break from West Ham Blades set for sweeping cuts if promotion bid fails - Exclusive Arsenal given Fab fitness boost - Exclusive Hull appoint Dowie as new manager - Exclusive Beckham feeling 'positive' after surgery - but doc says World Cup return unlikely Portsmouth set for Premier League points penalty What's wrong with Steven Gerrard? And could he be about to leave Liverpool? From today's other papers:Arsenal t...

Roll up, roll up... get your bottled atmosphere here

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:02:15 GMT

The National Trust has hit on the wheeze of selling bottled fresh air to gullible townies. This has got some hard-up chairmen thinking they might be able to cash in on this emerging market by selling bottled atmosphere. Too many grounds these days rely on loud-mouthed MCs and rock music to work their crowds into a frenzy. The chairmen are thinking they could provide an alternative by capturing the atmosphere at big games and flogging it off to other clubs. The way it would work is that a numb...

Bridge out for a month

Pa Sports — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:01:07 GMT

Manchester City full-back Wayne Bridge is set to be sidelined for around a month after undergoing a hernia operation on Tuesday afternoon, the Barclays Premier League club have confirmed.The 29-year-old was forced off after aggravating the long-standing injury in the first half of City's 1-1 draw at Sunderland on Sunday and will now miss a crucial phase of the season, with the Eastlands club bidding to secure fourth place in the Barclays Premier League and with it a place in the Champions Lea...

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Tuesday, March 17

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:56:36 GMT

Day one of Cheltenham is over, and already the Mirror Football shirt is lost. With nothing left to play for except the fun of seeing how many days Alan Brazil will miss of his TalkSport show due to extreme thirst, we're taking solace in these brilliant football videos from the interweb.

1) Not sure, but we THINK this might be a foul...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Tuesday's papers

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:59:01 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror: Spurs agree £6m deal for Brazilian wonderkid Grant refuses to commit to Pompey - Exclusive Beckham: I'll be back Campbell wins legal battle with Portsmouth I should still be Chelsea boss says Mourinho Hull want Hughes to replace sacked Brown From today's other papers:Calum Davenport has played his last game for West Ham. The defender is back in training after suffering leg wounds in a stabbing last year, but the Hammers are desperate to cut costs so have agreed...

Mancini warns City's big names: Johnson is my rising star

David McDonnell — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:00:23 GMT

Eastlands chief says England Under-21 star is giving him a selection headache

Beckham blow opens the door for England's left-sided trio

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:50:18 GMT

As the World Cup door slammed shut on David Beckham, opportunity knocked for others.And while Fabio Capello admitted his sadness at losing one of the key components of his plans for South Africa, the England boss will expect those who have their chance to benefit from Beckham’s heartbreak to show they are ready to step through the open portal.For four players in particular, Beckham’s anguish represents their chances, either to confirm their status in Capello’s eyes, or make him blink and take...

3PM Extra: The best videos we've found on the internet today - Monday, March 15

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:49:53 GMT

As the nation's tanning salons and karaoke bars shut as a mark of respect for Phil Brown, here's another selection of brilliant football videos.

1) Not the greatest of weekends for David Beckham. He's out of the World Cup and, to add insult to injury, Brazilian Baiano's ripped off his greatest moment in Paulisto's win against Prudente.

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

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:00:52 GMT

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...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Monday's papers

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:45:18 GMT

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...

City have rivals in sights

Pa Sports — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:01:04 GMT

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will target victories over Tottenham and Aston Villa in a bid to claim Champions League football.City needed a stoppage-time equaliser from substitute Adam Johnson to snatch a point at Sunderland which took them to within two points of Spurs in fourth place with a game in hand. However, Mancini is confident the quest for a top-four finish remains in their own hands. He said: "There is no change. We have one game in hand, we must play against Tottenham at h...

Sunderland 1-1 Man City: The Daily Mirror match report

Simon Bird — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:00:14 GMT

Boyhood Black Cats fan Adam Johnson rides to the rescue for Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini: World Cup too soon for Adam Johnson

Simon Bird — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:00:10 GMT

Man City chief believes his star winger is not yet ready for an England call-up

Mancini dismisses Azzurri rumours

Pa Sports — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:41:03 GMT

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has distanced himself from speculation that he could be Italy's next manager.

Mancini is being touted as a contender for the job when Marcello Lippi steps down after this summer's World Cup finals. However, speaking after Sunday's 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw at Sunderland, the Italian brushed aside the rumours.

He said with a smile: "No. I have said maybe in 10 years. I don't know. No. It's not for me now."

Johnson leaves it late to deny Black Cats

Pa Sports — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:21:04 GMT

Local boy Adam Johnson returned to haunt Sunderland as Manchester City snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw on Wearside to maintain their Champions League hopes. The substitute, who turned down a January move to the Stadium of Light to head for City instead, came off the bench to level in stoppage time and finally end the home side's stubborn resistance. It was hard luck on Black Cats goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who pulled off five fine second-half saves, three of them from Newcastle old boy Craig Bella...

Sunderland 1-1 Man City - Adam Johnson rescues a point for City with stunning late leveller

MirrorFootball — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:10:47 GMT

Winger cancels out Kenwyne Jones' first half strike

Fergie snubs Becks... and he's not Kidding, plus City stars are United in error

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:06:02 GMT

Brian Kidd, Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man during his first successes at Manchester United, is rarely mentioned by his old gaffer after having the temerity to leave for the Blackburn manager’s job in 1998.Last week Kidd hinted at Ferguson’s tendency to dismiss the importance of those he's left behind, telling the Sunday Mirror: "Sometimes old players are air-brushed out of a club's history." Bang on cue three days later, Fergie’s programme notes for the Milan game ran to 800 words… but di...

HT Sunderland 1-0 Man City - Jones gives Black Cats the lead at the break

MirrorFootball — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:57:16 GMT

Striker's eighth goal of the season the difference at Stadium of Light

Follow today's Premier League action LIVE!

MirrorFootball — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:23:01 GMT

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

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Sunday's papers

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:57:20 GMT

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

Ralph Ellis — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:00:37 GMT

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

Mourinho set to quit Milan - with Madrid move likely

Paul Smith Exclusive — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:50:49 GMT

Special One will weigh up his options before quitting Inter Milan in the summer

Steve Bruce: Man City will NEVER overtake United

Brian McNally — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:45:44 GMT

Sunderland chief says City will always play second fiddle to rivals

Micah Richards: I'm not a big-time Charlie

Simon Mullock Exclusive — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:45:20 GMT

Man City star hits back at criticism of his lifestyle

Sheringham exclusive: I'd ditch JT from England team - King and Rio are the best pair

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:30:41 GMT

Teddy Sheringham looked longingly at the World Cup, and decided John Terry is ill-equipped to help England win it.The former England striker believes Fabio Capello must pair Ledley King with Rio Ferdinand in the opening Group C match against the USA in Rustenberg on June 12.He’s making no moral judgement on Wayne Bridge’s decision to retire from international football.He’s merely convinced that King, rather than Terry, will stabilise a defence which should feature Gary Neville and a fully fi...

Follow all today's football LIVE!

MirrorFootball — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:39:54 GMT

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

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:26:14 GMT

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 ...

Tevez wants repeat of Bridge brilliance

Pa Sports — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 09:11:04 GMT

Carlos Tevez believes it is imperative Manchester City maintain the level of performance which saw Chelsea demolished if a top-four place is to be achieved. The Argentina striker scored a brace in the 4-2 victory at Stamford Bridge to take his tally for the season to 21.Next up are Sunderland on Sunday, and Tevez said: "We've been playing very well and we've had some great results against the top sides. But with the so-called weaker teams we have not done so well, not necessarily because we h...

Man City star Adam Johnson eyeing World Cup call-up

David McDonnell Exclusive — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:00:48 GMT

Ex-Boro winger looking to complete rapid rise all the way to South Africa

Manchester City chasing Benfica strike star

MirrorFootball — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:00:23 GMT

Roberto Mancini keen on Paraguayan free-kick expert Oscar Cardozo

Mancini tells Wright-Phillips: Stop moaning and focus on fight for fourth

David McDonnell — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:00:20 GMT

Mancini unhappy with midfielder for going public with his dismay at contract talks

Mancini: Rooney is the best player in the world

Neil McLeman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:30:30 GMT

Manchester City chief says striker is up there with Lionel Messi

It would be wrong to remember Keith Alexander in terms of his race, but with so few other black managers it's hard not to

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:24:27 GMT

Many tributes have been paid in the past few days to the memory of Keith Alexander, the 53 year old manager of Macclesfield Town who died unexpectedly and suddenly last week.Perhaps the most fitting tribute to a man whose managerial career took in six league clubs came from the players at his last one. In what must have been difficult circumstances to say the least, the players of Macclesfield Town took to the field away at Hereford and won their match 2-0.The death of Keith Alexander is a tr...

I couldn't give a stuff what Alan Green thinks, it's my ticket and I'll leave early if I want to

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:15:28 GMT

The award for patronising berk of the week this Friday goes to Alan Green, the outspoken commentator at 5Live. Commentating on the game between Arsenal and Burnley at the weekend, Green looked around the stadium early doors and was appalled at the number of people who had yet to take their seats.“I’m sorry folks,” he said, “I don’t get your commitment to football.”Personally, I couldn’t give a good God damn if Alan Green ‘got’ my commitment to football or not. But if the Ulsterman does care t...

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

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:42:19 GMT

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

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:11:52 GMT

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.