David McDonnell Trinity Mirror Trinity Mirror 2010-03-11T09:43:21Z 2010-03-11T09:43:21Z Only David Beckham, with his unique capacity for self-promotion, could have stolen the show after AC Milan's 4-0 mauling at Manchester United, by plucking a scarf from the Old Trafford turf. This, of course, was no ordinary scarf. It was green and gold, the now iconic symbol of the anti-Glazer movement which has gathered such momentum in recent weeks and months.Beckham, realising the potential inflammatory implications of his gesture, tried to play down its significance, claiming his actions ...

Only David Beckham, with his unique capacity for self-promotion, could have stolen the show after AC Milan's 4-0 mauling at Manchester United, by plucking a scarf from the Old Trafford turf. This, of course, was no ordinary scarf. It was green and gold, the now iconic symbol of the anti-Glazer movement which has gathered such momentum in recent weeks and months.Beckham, realising the potential inflammatory implications of his gesture, tried to play down its significance, claiming his actions ...

2010-03-11T09:43:21Z 2010-03-11T10:21:00Z 2010-03-11T08:14:23Z Perceived wisdom says that Gary Neville is on the final furlong of his illustrious Manchester United career, which has spanned almost 20 years.Out of contract at the end of the season, 35-year-old Neville has not been offered the security of an extension, unlike fellow United old-boys Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.But against AC Milan on Wednesday, Neville rolled back the years and showed why he deserves to be given one more year at the club he has served so loyally for two decades.With Wes Bro...

Perceived wisdom says that Gary Neville is on the final furlong of his illustrious Manchester United career, which has spanned almost 20 years.Out of contract at the end of the season, 35-year-old Neville has not been offered the security of an extension, unlike fellow United old-boys Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.But against AC Milan on Wednesday, Neville rolled back the years and showed why he deserves to be given one more year at the club he has served so loyally for two decades.With Wes Bro...

2010-03-11T08:14:23Z 2010-03-11T10:11:14Z 2010-03-11T08:05:12Z Spare a thought for poor Shaun Wright-Phillips, whose father Ian says his son is being "mugged off" by Manchester City's offer of a new deal worth £90,000-a-week.Yes, that's right, £90,000-a-week, more than what most City fans who pay to go and watch Wright-Phillips can hope to earn in a year, maybe even two or three.Yet it's not enough for poor little Shaun, whose dad has valiantly decided to fight his son's corner against those miserly folk who are running City and handing such meagre contr...

Spare a thought for poor Shaun Wright-Phillips, whose father Ian says his son is being "mugged off" by Manchester City's offer of a new deal worth £90,000-a-week.Yes, that's right, £90,000-a-week, more than what most City fans who pay to go and watch Wright-Phillips can hope to earn in a year, maybe even two or three.Yet it's not enough for poor little Shaun, whose dad has valiantly decided to fight his son's corner against those miserly folk who are running City and handing such meagre contr...

2010-03-11T08:05:12Z 2010-03-04T10:36:29Z 2010-03-04T10:36:27Z So the Red Knights are ready to ride to Manchester United's rescue, with a £1billion buy-out to save the club from a life of debt?The Barron Knights would stand a better chance of buying the club from the Glazers and running it successfully than a group of United-supporting suits from the City.The Glazers may be mistrusted by United fans for saddling their club with such a huge debt burden, currently standing at £715million. But City bankers? Come off it.After the recent economic meltdown, th...

So the Red Knights are ready to ride to Manchester United's rescue, with a £1billion buy-out to save the club from a life of debt?The Barron Knights would stand a better chance of buying the club from the Glazers and running it successfully than a group of United-supporting suits from the City.The Glazers may be mistrusted by United fans for saddling their club with such a huge debt burden, currently standing at £715million. But City bankers? Come off it.After the recent economic meltdown, th...

2010-03-04T10:36:27Z 2010-03-04T10:33:39Z 2010-03-04T10:33:37Z Roberto Mancini is so confident of being at Manchester City next season he has made plans for his family to move over from Italy to join him in England on a permanent basis. It's amazing what a 4-2 win at the home of Premier League leaders Chelsea can do for a manager's confidence, but Roberto would not be advised to go property searching in leafy Cheshire just yet.Better for the suave Italian to remain in his current home, an executive suite at Manchester's Radisson Edwardian Hotel, and wait...

Roberto Mancini is so confident of being at Manchester City next season he has made plans for his family to move over from Italy to join him in England on a permanent basis. It's amazing what a 4-2 win at the home of Premier League leaders Chelsea can do for a manager's confidence, but Roberto would not be advised to go property searching in leafy Cheshire just yet.Better for the suave Italian to remain in his current home, an executive suite at Manchester's Radisson Edwardian Hotel, and wait...

2010-03-04T10:33:37Z 2010-03-04T10:29:40Z 2010-03-04T10:29:38Z It is to football's eternal shame that the late Keith Alexander was never given the chance to manage at a higher level.According to those who knew him well, Alexander, the former Macclesfield boss who died suddenly at the age of 53, always felt the colour of his skin was a barrier to him being offered a job at a bigger club.He led Lincoln to four consecutive promotion play-off appearances between 2002 and 2006 and his death leaves MK Dons boss Paul Ince as the only black manager in English fo...

It is to football's eternal shame that the late Keith Alexander was never given the chance to manage at a higher level.According to those who knew him well, Alexander, the former Macclesfield boss who died suddenly at the age of 53, always felt the colour of his skin was a barrier to him being offered a job at a bigger club.He led Lincoln to four consecutive promotion play-off appearances between 2002 and 2006 and his death leaves MK Dons boss Paul Ince as the only black manager in English fo...

2010-03-04T10:29:38Z 2010-02-25T16:53:13Z 2010-02-25T10:28:29Z I wonder if Garry Cook, Manchester City's chief executive and the master of self-aggrandisement, went to work this morning wearing his trademark smug grin.Somehow I doubt it. For Cook and the City hierarchy look faintly ridiculous today, following the club's exit from the FA Cup at  Stoke last night, which has extended their 34-year wait for a trophy.Cook, you will recall, was the man who told the world that former boss Mark Hughes was unable to take the club to the next level, that his sacki...

I wonder if Garry Cook, Manchester City's chief executive and the master of self-aggrandisement, went to work this morning wearing his trademark smug grin.Somehow I doubt it. For Cook and the City hierarchy look faintly ridiculous today, following the club's exit from the FA Cup at  Stoke last night, which has extended their 34-year wait for a trophy.Cook, you will recall, was the man who told the world that former boss Mark Hughes was unable to take the club to the next level, that his sacki...

2010-02-25T10:28:29Z 2010-02-25T10:24:28Z 2010-02-25T10:23:56Z So how do you solve a problem like Wayne Rooney?If you're Sir Alex Ferguson, you play him for the remainder of the season, in the hope Manchester United's main man can lead his club to a record fourth Premier League title, as well as Champions League and Carling Cup success.If you're Fabio Capello, you spend every minute Rooney is in action for United with legs, arms, fingers - anything crossed - in the hope England's star player avoids injury and burn-out before this summer's World Cup.Fergi...

So how do you solve a problem like Wayne Rooney?If you're Sir Alex Ferguson, you play him for the remainder of the season, in the hope Manchester United's main man can lead his club to a record fourth Premier League title, as well as Champions League and Carling Cup success.If you're Fabio Capello, you spend every minute Rooney is in action for United with legs, arms, fingers - anything crossed - in the hope England's star player avoids injury and burn-out before this summer's World Cup.Fergi...

2010-02-25T10:23:56Z 2010-02-25T10:57:28Z 2010-02-25T10:17:56Z I hope Aston Villa beat Manchester United in Sunday's Carling Cup Final at Wembley. In fact, I hope Martin O'Neill's vibrant young side humiliate Sir Alex Ferguson and his players with an emphatic win.Not because I have any allegiance to Villa, nor am I a fully paid-up member of the ABU (Anyone But United) fellowship.No, the reason I want Villa  to win is because their actions in the build-up to this weekend's final have shown they want it more than United.The Carling Cup, in its various spon...

I hope Aston Villa beat Manchester United in Sunday's Carling Cup Final at Wembley. In fact, I hope Martin O'Neill's vibrant young side humiliate Sir Alex Ferguson and his players with an emphatic win.Not because I have any allegiance to Villa, nor am I a fully paid-up member of the ABU (Anyone But United) fellowship.No, the reason I want Villa  to win is because their actions in the build-up to this weekend's final have shown they want it more than United.The Carling Cup, in its various spon...

2010-02-25T10:17:56Z