Mirror Football

Why Capello has made a rod for his own back with Terry captaincy row

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:03:16 GMT

Fabio Capello seemed awfully irritated at the European Championship draw about being asked questions regarding his decision to sack John Terry.Well, he better get used to it because his treatment of Terry has made moral issues surrounding the England squad an entirely legitimate subject for debate.What happens, for instance, the next time an England player is charged with drink-driving?How does Capello, our enforcer of Victorian discipline, stand on that crime?Terry, after all, didn't break a...

Why Rooney would get my vote for Footballer of the Year - and Robinho wouldn't

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:01:24 GMT

If the vote for the Football Writers' Footballer of the Year was held tomorrow, I'd cast mine for Wayne Rooney. Didier Drogba is having a fantastic season, too, but for the way Rooney plays the game, for his selflessness, his willingness to sacrifice himself for the team, the Manchester United forward would get my vote over Drogba every time.*******************************************************************************No sooner has Robinho, the greatest flop in English football history, arri...

Gary Neville interview: Nani can be "anything he wants to be"

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:00:59 GMT

Nani has been told by Gary Neville that he can be "anything he wants to be". After struggling to live up to his billing as the new Cristiano Ronaldo during his first three years at Old Trafford, Nani is finally delivering. The tricky Portuguese winger, signed from Ronaldo's old club Sporting Lisbon for £17million, has hit top form and was mesmerising against Arsenal. Neville never doubted Nani's immense ability and claims that like Ronaldo, he just needed time to settle in. Nani was 20 when a...

Why Rio's decision to withdraw ban appeal was made with new England captaincy in mind

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:00:31 GMT

Rio Ferdinand demonstrated the first signs of understanding his new England responsibilities last night as he withdrew his appeal to the FA against his extended club ban.Ferdinand had signaled his intention to ask for a hearing after he was handed an extra match ban for a “frivolous“ appeal against the three-game suspension imposed for striking Hull’s Craig Fagan.But with Ferdinand running a serious risk of seeing the ban extended further, meaning he would not play another domestic match befo...

O'Neill: United won the title last season because of Villa's win at Old Trafford

James Nursey — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:00:30 GMT

Manager also praises £5million 'bargain' Richard Dunne

Nani: Chelsea can't handle title race pressure

John Cross — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:00:17 GMT

Rejuvenated winger also talks up Manchester United's own title hopes

Preston 2-1 Sheffield United: The Daily Mirror match report

Jeremy Butler — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:37:52 GMT

Manchester United loan stars make the difference for North End

Follow all of Tuesday's games LIVE

MirrorFootball — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:03:39 GMT

Text commentary, pictures and stats from all of tonight's games

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

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:00:10 GMT

Almost hometime, and here we are again with another selection of good stuff we've found on the web...1) Pantywaist popsters Savage Garden were a disgrace to the barbies/tinnies/sports/Sheilas reputation of the Australian nation and none of their crimes against music were as egregious as Truly Madly Deeply - which happened to be named after the most appalling British film of the 1980s. But when you hear it like this, in a clever Valentines viral video from Puma... actually no, it's still horri...

Ferdinand withdraws appeal

Pa Sports — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:01:02 GMT

Rio Ferdinand has withdrawn his appeal against the additional one-match suspension he incurred for a "frivolous" challenge to a violent conduct charge brought against him by the Football Association.The case was due to be heard on Friday and last week Sir Alex Ferguson indicated a desire to contest the penalty, which turned a three-match ban into a four-game suspension for Ferdinand's attack on Hull striker Craig Fagan at Old Trafford last month.However, that was before Ferdinand was appointe...

Ferdinand withdraws ban appeal

MirrorFootball — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:45:09 GMT

New England captain decides to accept FA punishment

On your marks, get set, go... the race is on for the Premier League finish line - Martin Lipton's big lunchtime read

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:19:14 GMT

The run-in begins now, the fight to the finish, all or nothing at both ends.And while nobody would try to claim this has been a vintage Premier League season, the last third of the campaign could yet make it one of the most exciting ever - at both ends of the table.The weekend set of fixtures will not, of course, be decisive - how could they be in the second week of February?But up and down the country, from Fratton Park to Eastlands, the Emirates to Villa Park and Goodison, this is the oppor...

Carrick warns Chelsea: We're ready for the run-in

David Anderson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:00:35 GMT

'When the pressure is cranked up it brings out the best in us' says Man United star

Neville: 'The title is in our hands'

David Anderson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:00:06 GMT

Manchester United star says it's advantage Old Trafford after Chelsea slip at Hull

Merk my words, Rio and England can't go wrong in Euro qualifiers

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:30:33 GMT

The John Terry fall-out has shielded Rio Ferdinand from the question that should have been asked the moment Fabio Capello anointed him new skipper.Namely, when will Fabio ring and tell him "you've been merked"?This is the man handed the armband while banned for using his arm. This is the man plagued by the worst back since Quasi. This is the man whose memory is so bad that in training yesterday he put his boots on the wrong feet and then couldn't remember whose feet he'd put them on.Ferdinand...

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Monday, February 8

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:00:50 GMT

Every start of the week is a Happy Monday at Mirror Football. That's because we're fatter than Shaun Ryder and more vacant than Bez. So without further melon-twisting ado, let's tuck into our daily choice of football videos we've found on the interweb.

Van der Sar pleased to be back

Pa Sports — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:31:03 GMT

Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is delighted to be back in action. It has been a tough season for the veteran Dutchman, who suffered two lengthy absences before being granted compassionate leave just before Christmas when his wife Annemarie suffered a brain haemorrhage. Thankfully, his wife has recovered sufficiently well for Van der Sar to resume his career at Old Trafford, and the stopper told United Review: "It feels really good to be back playing. It has been a stop-start s...

How Wayne Bridge is smoothing things over for John Terry, Pienaar's Unchristian tackle and is Steven Gerrard made out of paper? Ten things we learned from the weekend's football

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:41:58 GMT

It was another action-packed Premier League weekend that served up almost as much intrigue on the pitch as off it.We’ve already picked the bones out of Chelsea's victory over Arsenal, but what did we learn from the other fixtures, asks Dan Silver?1) The skipper is dead, long live the skipperIt was a great weekend for Rio Ferdinand, what with him being handed the national captaincy and his club side winning 5-0. And how did the new squeaky clean England skipper celebrate? From the stands becau...

Manchester United 5-0 Portsmouth: The Daily Mirror match report

David Anderson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:00:01 GMT

Ruthless Rooney has made United fans forget Ronaldo

Why West Ham are not too good to go down, plus why Villa-Man United this week will be no guide to the Carling Cup final

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:47:00 GMT

West Ham have new owners, but they haven’t got a magic wand.I wrote last month how I thought David Sullivan and David Gold would be great new joint chairmen at Upton Park.The two Davids will be all Gold for West Ham, plus why Arsenal should take a punt on Smalling But they are yet to see their new club win after taking charge at Upton Park three games ago.And it is now going to be a tough old ask for West Ham to stay in the division.There used to be a saying in the Premier League - that was c...

Wayne Rooney drums up a body double and Paul Merson deals with the tricky questions

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:26:25 GMT

Wayne Rooney was named as a founder member of the MirrorFootball band last week but, as befits a superstar of his ilk, his 'people' are taking no chances on his long-term fitness.

How else do you explain this remarkable body double...?

******

Paul Merson might want to rethink the way he opens speaking engagements.

At Watford's Badger pub last week, the former Arsenal midfielder invited guests to "ask me anything you like - no boundaries".

First question? "Who's your dealer?"

Arsenal kid's Facebook faux pas, fan mail for the Neviller and you can bet Etherington and his chairman are mates

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:21:15 GMT

Manchester United's demolition of Arsenal last week delighted their supporters. And no-one was more chuffed than the excitable youngster who posted on his Facebook page: "All you gassed up Arsenal fans who fought dey could bring it to United need to pipe down... Arsenal fans lemme know how we cut your defence open, Rooney fort it was Christmas!"So what? Well, the site is in the name of Zak Ansah - who just happens to be a rising star of Arsenal's Under-16s. "I support United and don't like th...

Our destiny in our hands - Neville

Pa Sports — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:51:05 GMT

Manchester United captain Gary Neville believes they hold the destiny of the championship in their own hands. No sooner had Portsmouth been defeated 5-0 at Old Trafford than the defender was looking ahead - to April 3 and a home match with Barclays Premier League title rivals Chelsea. Neville said: "It is in our hands now and it has not been like that for a while. Chelsea have to come here - and that is where we want to be. We want to win our home games." United are on a roll, winning six of ...

Capello remains tight-lipped on Terry

MirrorFootball — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:38:16 GMT

England manager refuses to expand on reasons for sacking Chelsea star as captain

Patience is a virtue for Ferguson

Pa Sports — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 09:01:03 GMT

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised his players after they regained their place at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 5-0 win over Portsmouth.Wayne Rooney's 23rd goal of the season, equalling a career best, broke Portsmouth's resistance in the 40th minute and opened the floodgates as Nani and Michael Carrick both saw deflected efforts find the net along with a Dimitar Berbatov strike and a Marc Wilson own goal.Ferguson said: "We had a lot of pressure and possession ...

Revealed: The list of shame that proves Arsene is clueless with keepers

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:03:23 GMT

Anybody can sign a dud goalie – just ask Sir Alex Ferguson.Fergie splashed out £4.4million on Massimo Taibi. That worked out at £1.1m per game during the Italian’s hapless Manchester United career.But Fergie also recruited superstars like Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar.Since becoming Arsenal boss in 1996 Arsene Wenger has signed around TEN goalies in his search of a replacement for David Seaman.Jens Lehmann was a relative success – if not in the same league as the England star.As...

Villa goalie Guzan sweating on Carling Cup final place

Ralph Ellis — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:00:56 GMT

Guzan has played in all the club’s other cup ties this season - but fears he will miss out against Man United at Wembley

Arsenal's failure to land a striker could cost them silverware, says Stapleton

Derick Allsop — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:00:48 GMT

Former Gunners striker: “Arsenal do miss having a centre-forward and Van Persie is a big loss for them"

Ruud Gullit interview: David Beckham must beware Sir Alex Ferguson's mind games

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:00:28 GMT

Ruud Gullit has warned David Beckham: Beware Fergie’s mind games.Gullit believes Sir Alex Ferguson will wreck Beckham’s homecoming when Manchester United clash with AC Milan in the Champions League knockout stage.And former Milan idol Gullit, who used to manage Becks at the Los Angeles Galaxy, insists that Ferguson was right to let go of the England star seven years ago – because he ended up with a bigger star in Cristiano Ronaldo.All eyes will be on Beckham when Milan host United in ...

United fans must hit Glazers in the pocket to force ownership change

Simon Mullock — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:00:56 GMT

FC United founder Andy Walsh says supporters should not give another penny to the American owners

Can Owen Hargreaves ever come back? And FIFA must right its Togo wrong

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:00:52 GMT

Owen Hargreaves is one of the good guys.Bright, thoughtful and measured, he’s the missing link in the England squad.On form, Hargreaves is our best defensive midfield player.But the longer he’s out, the bigger the doubt.Has he the mental strength to combat physical weakness?I hope so.**************************************************The eyes of Moustapha Salifou are haunted, empty.Aston Villa’s midfielder has nightmares about sudden, violent death.He may never recover from the ordeal of being...

John Terry: My mates are in jail, on the dole... or dead

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:00:47 GMT

Spare us the tears, the screech of clueless cheerleaders.John Terry has a stark choice. He can either cower behind the camouflage of victimhood, or confront reality.They’ll offer him the easy way out at Stamford Bridge today by revelling in the myth of his martyrdom.They’ll rally behind that painfully artificial banner, which proclaims “JT. Captain. Leader. Legend.”They’ll invite defiance, instead of contrition.Terry will be cast in heroic mould, as Maximus, the gladiator plotting revenge...

Mancini hits out at Hull fans over Wayne Bridge abuse

MirrorFootball — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:00:44 GMT

Bridge was bombarded with obscene chants in his first appearance since the John Terry scandal broke

Wenger: Bad marking cost Arsenal against United

Steve Stammers — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:00:20 GMT

Gunners boss highlighted his team's failings in a series of meetings with his squad

Why I'm bored of the Jose show, and Karren Brady must keep commitment to the community

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:59:42 GMT

Ordinary mortals scan the jobs page and embroider their CVs with little white lies.The Special One trades handbags with a passing journalist, and bawls out his star striker.The message is clear: he’s restless, available, inescapable.Stand by for the Jose Mourinho Show, otherwise known as Inter Milan’s Champions League clash with Chelsea.I’m bored with it already.*********************************************************The Mad Axewoman of Upton Park is on the rampage.Karren Brady is steppin...

Manchester United 5-0 Portsmouth: The Sunday Mirror match report

Anthony Clavane — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 22:49:24 GMT

Wayne Rooney the master again as United add to John Terry's misery

Five-goal United reclaim top spot

Pa Sports — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:21:03 GMT

Wayne Rooney provided the spark Manchester United needed to reclaim their place at the top of the table as they defeated Portsmouth 5-0. The England striker broke the bottom club's resistance with his 23rd goal of the season, equalling a career-best total, after 40 minutes before the floodgates opened. Shots from Nani and Michael Carrick both took deflections into the net while Dimitar Berbatov scored with a low drive and Marc Wilson an own goal.It was poignant day at Old Trafford as the club...

Manchester United 5-0 Portsmouth: Rooney on target as five star Reds go top

MirrorFootball — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:59:44 GMT

Portsmouth contribute to rout with a trio of own goals

HT: Manchester United 2-0 Portsmouth - Rooney on target again for Reds

MirrorFootball — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:04:32 GMT

Anthony Vanden Borre own goal puts home side in control at the break

Supporters trust launch recruitment drive

Pa Sports — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:11:03 GMT

A Manchester United fan group stepped up their anti-Glazer campaign ahead of the Barclays Premier League match against Portsmouth.The Manchester United Supporters Trust want a change of ownership as well as forming a significant group for potential financial involvement in any fans' Red Knight bid.The group distributed 70,000 cards to those attending Saturday's game.Their recruiting drive comes on the 52nd anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster in which 23 people died, including eight players...

Follow all of Saturday's games LIVE

MirrorFootball — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:33:16 GMT

Text commentary, pictures and stats from all of today's games

Transfer news, gossip and rumours from Saturday's papers

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:54:21 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Fabregas: I will return to Barcelona one day Villa midfielder agrees QPR loan move Saha commits to Everton Billy Davies left furious as Forest transfer panel fail to land single player Boro new boys are shout of this world, says Strachan From today's other papers:Franck Ribery has refused to rule out a move to Manchester United or Chelsea (The Sun)Liverpool are confident of beating AC Milan and Valencia to the signature of Milan Jovanovic (Daily Mail) Milan Jovan...

Terrygate just proves the best footballers are ones with the devil inside them; plus the irony of Mancunians idolising a Scouser

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 06:02:49 GMT

Thanks to John Terry there are many things I now know which I didn't a week ago.There won't be a more unfortunately titled, or priced, book out this year, than the one just released by Blake Publishing for £17.99 entitled: "JT: Captain, Leader, Legend." When Chelsea fans sing about five men, four men, three men, two men, one man and his dog heading to a meadow for some physical activity, we now know who, and what, they're talking about.And there DOES exists a sure-fire way of England winning...

Fergie so relaxed over title battle he didn't know Chelsea were playing

David Anderson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:00:20 GMT

United boss only discovered Chelsea had dropped two points against Hull after turning on the radio

Rio Ferdinand completes remarkable journey from England outcast to captain

David Anderson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:00:12 GMT

Manchester United defender named new skipper after John Terry axed

Capello has made a mighty mistake sacking Terry - his decision will come back to haunt England

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:59:28 GMT

Fabio Capello made his first real mistake as England coach yesterday. What a shame it was such a big one.The sacking of John Terry as England captain risks plunging the squad into anarchy a few months away from the World Cup finals.It proves nothing and solves nothing. Its only effect will be to make the players wonder whose side Capello is really on.Capello made an illogical and arbitrary judgment yesterday, a judgment that belies his reputation as a clear thinker.There was no suggestion tha...

3PM Extra: The best things we've found on the internet today - Friday February 5

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:55:29 GMT

It's almost beer o'clock on Friday and, to be honest, the temptation just to put this pant-wettingly funny video up three times and nick off early down the boozer was almost too much to bear.But, no - professionals to the end, here's three more equally brilliant things we've found on the web today:1) More genius from Brazil, although this time in the form of another of that nation's figures of fun, Robinho. Who Ate All The Pies? dug up this amazing footage from a bygone era when Robbi was sti...

Watch hilarious Brazilian football commentators video

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 13:14:20 GMT

We were going to save this brilliant, brilliant clip for our daily 3pm Extra best of the web round-up but, frankly, it's far too funny to sit on for another couple of hours, so here you go.

As Dennis 'It'll Be Alright On The Night' Norden might have said, keep an eye on the bloke on the right...

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing... the MirrorFootball band

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:12:45 GMT

Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid has revealed that he plays the guitar to escape the pressures of the Black Cats' ten game winless run in the Premier League.So Andy, if you're reading this, feel free to give us a call if you want to audition for the MirrorFootball band...Ladies and gentlemen... introducing...On drums...Wayne Rooney: The Man United and England star's first foray into music began when he started learning to play the guitar. But The Stereophonics' biggest fan gave up strumming be...

Hargreaves could figure this season - Ferguson

Pa Sports — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:41:09 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Owen Hargreaves will eventually return to action even though he has been forced to leave the £18million midfielder out of Manchester United's Champions League squad.Hargreaves has not played for United since September 2008, when he finally decided to undergo revolutionary knee surgery in America to try to cure a chronic tendinitis problem that dates back to his time at Bayern Munich.Ferguson said: "He could come back and make an impact on the league for us. Hopefull...