Mirror Football

Bendtner looks in good Nick to be a Premier League superstar

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:52:38 GMT

Nicklas Bendtner will be a Premier League superstar one day - and I look forward to him continuing to prove his critics wrong at Arsenal.The Danish striker scored an injury-time winner at Hull on Saturday to add to his hat-trick in the Gunners’ Champions League thrashing of Porto.And it is about time Arsenal fans ate some humble pie over their treatment of him.Bendtner’s heroics go to show that, of the 60,000 fans at the Emirates, only the 30,000 or so who would have got into Highbury appear ...

Beckham was having a scarf with his green and gold stunt

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:50:15 GMT

Manchester United's destruction of AC Milan in the Champions League should have been the main focus last week but trust David Beckham to hog the limelight - again.I regard Beckham as the master headline grabber and football politician.So I can’t take seriously his claim that the only reason he put on a green and yellow scarf at Old Trafford was because it was the colours of the old Manchester United.That’s got to be a complete load of rubbish.Becks would have known all about the growing momen...

Chelsea will make it three out of three for England in the Champions League

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:47:05 GMT

Chelsea will be in for a heck of a battle against Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan side tomorrow in the Champions League, but I fancy them to progress.I am looking forward to doing live commentary of the game. The Italian champions lead 2-1 from the first leg at the San Siro and it is going to be a tough old ask for Carlo Ancelotti’s side against.But they warmed up nicely with a demolition of West Ham at the weekend and I think the home side will win 2-0 tomorrow to go through.I have every faith i...

Stan Collymore's hero and villain of the week

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:45:07 GMT

Hero of the week: Nicklas Bendtner. Four goals in a week should keep the Arsenal striker’s detractors quiet.

Villains of the week: Wigan’s team. They let their club down badly in a relegation scrap at Bolton.

Why it's time for Fabio to axe Lampard from the England team

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:05:41 GMT

Fabio Capello has made some ruthless decisions recently and I now think he must also axe Frank Lampard from England’s World Cup starting line-up.England boss Capello has already taken the captain’s armband from John Terry for his off-the-field antics.And having watched England at Wembley last week in their friendly against Egypt, I think the time has come to drop Lampard from midfield.I am a massive fan of Steven Gerrard, Lampard and Gareth Barry as individual players.But it was only when Mic...

Nice guy Zola is finally getting tough with Hammers flops, plus why it's high time for goal-line technology

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:02:26 GMT

Gianfranco Zola is getting tough to solve West Ham’s plight and he will need to as they are firmly in a relegation battle.I spoke to midfielder Kieron Dyer on ’Call Collymore’ after the Hammers’ dire defeat at home to fellow strugglers Bolton.And despite Zola’s reputation for being mild and nice, West Ham’s stars got the hairdryer from their Italian boss at half-time at the weekend.Zola’s management skills are more about the carrot than the stick.But I don’t blame Zola for getting angry after...

Why it's time for a new breed of younger referees who are ex-players, plus Arsene Wenger's U-turn

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:01:41 GMT

Arsenal fans were upset with me last week about my remarks that if Arsene Wenger cannot stand the physical nature of English football then he should think about moving to abroad. My thoughts go out to Ramsey, but Wenger's reaction was over the top So it was nice to see the Professor doing a U-turn by saying he does actually like the physical side of the English game after all.I was beginning to have my doubts after his frequent rants about the treatment of his team from other sides and refere...

Stan Collymore's hero and villain of the weekend

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:00:40 GMT

Hero of the weekend: Frederic Piquionne. The striker fired cash-strappped Pompey to an FA Cup semi-final - unbelievable

Villain of the weekend: Steve Bennett. The referee didn’t give Birmingham’s Liam Ridgewell a goal at Fratton Park when his header clearly crossed the line.

John Terry can serve his country best by quitting England

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:50:16 GMT

The maelstrom surrounding John Terry has reached new heights and the former England captain must serve his country by stepping down from the squad altogether.I was critical of England boss Fabio Capello for removing the captaincy from Terry when news of his infidelity with the ex-partner of Wayne Bridge emerged.But having seen the depth of anger this has caused in football and in the country at large, further action may well sadly be necessary.With Bridge dropping out of the England squad and...

My thoughts go out to Ramsey, but Wenger's reaction was over the top

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:50:02 GMT

My thoughts are with Aaron Ramsey but Arsene Wenger's bitter reaction to his injury makes me question how suited Arsenal's boss is to English football.The gifted Welsh international faces a long period on the sidelines following his broken leg in a horror injury at Stoke.And it is always sad to hear about talented young players receiving such a setback in their career.I have my fingers crossed for him that he will come back stronger in future following the incident with Ryan Shawcross.But if ...

Why Burnley are heading for the drop, and football must gets its house in order after Portsmouth farce

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:47:00 GMT

Burnley are seemingly doomed to relegation in my opinion.I admire the Clarets’ new boss Brian Laws, who is a former team-mate of mine from Nottingham Forest.But the Turf Moor side’s ability to make repeated elementary mistakes is alarming.You can get away with it in the Championship, but not in the Premier League.They are a good passing team with an admirable philosophy.But in the Premier League you need pragmatism and grit and the ability to dig in.Just like West Bromwich Albion last season,...

Stan Collymore's hero and villain of the weekend

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:45:20 GMT

Hero of the weekend: Cesc Fabregas. The Arsenal skipper was cool and calm under penalty pressure.

Villain of the weekend: John Terry. He is captain material and should show it by dropping out of the England squad.

Give me a call, Arsene, and I'll turn Walcott into a world beater, plus Portsmouth farce shows Scudamore isn't the man to run the Premier League

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:32:44 GMT

If Arsene Wenger wants to turn Theo Walcott into a top striker quickly then he should give me a call.I was at The Emirates on Saturday to witness Arsenal’s victory over Sunderland.And some Gunners’ fans are starting to lose faith in Walcott’s ability after the star joined from Southampton in January 2006 for an initial £5million.Walcott, 21, played wide on the right against the Black Cats and he has pace there is no doubt about that.But he has been running around like a headless chicken recen...

Why it's time for legend Gary Neville to hang up his boots, Becks still good enough for the World Cup and I back Chelsea to pip Inter

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:31:17 GMT

Manchester United's 3-1 defeat at Everton showed to me that Gary Neville soon should think about concentrating his skills on nurturing players instead.United’s alarming loss also suggested if Wayne Rooney has a slight dip, there are not many players ready to step up.But I was most concerned by the visitors’ back four of Neville, Jonny Evans, Wes Brown and Patrice Evra which looked shaky.I have a lot of respect for Neville, 35, who has won everything there is to win and we made our England deb...

Why the end of the Anfield Roar means Hicks and Gillett must get out now, Mancini should stage huge clear-out at City and my hero and villain of the week

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:30:22 GMT

When I played for Liverpool, the Anfield crowd were always the 12th man.I scored on my debut against Sheffield Wednesday at home in front of a full house and I remember the 'Anfield Roar’ well.It was August 1995 and I had just joined from Nottingham Forest for a British transfer record of £8.5million.And I can still vividly recall all my goals at Anfield which sparked delight in the stands.But sadly these days I fear the famous 'Anfield Roar’ has possibly become a thing of the past.I was at A...