Mirror Football

Arsenal seal £50,000-a-week Marouane Chamakh deal

John Cross — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:30:21 GMT

Bordeaux striker has snubbed Liverpool and will put pen to paper on Friday

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...

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...

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

Vieira: Man City can qualify for the Champions League

David Anderson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:00:13 GMT

Frenchman confident following victory over Bolton on his full home debut

Mark Noble interview: 'When West Ham lose, it feels like the world's coming down on top of me'

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:00:10 GMT

West Ham midfielder Mark Noble is enjoying new found stability - both on and off the pitch.Noble, 22, believes good things are around the corner for West Ham after the David Gold and David Sullivan takeover at Upton Park.The England under-21 star and his partner Carly are also expecting their second child, with Noble saying parenthood has helped his football career.Noble's baby daughter Honey is ten months old while partner Carly is five months pregnant, and he is trying to be more positive ...

Manchester City 2-0 Bolton: Tevez and Adebayor score but Johnson is the hero

MirrorFootball — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:59:00 GMT

City now level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool

Barcelona have deal in place to sign Fabregas in summer, claims radio station

John Cross — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:17:51 GMT

Spanish media refuse to let Cesc story go

Is this the longest long-range goal of all-time?

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:34:55 GMT

David Beckham's scored from his own half. So has ex-Liverpool star Xabi Alonso. In fact, he's done it more than once.

But neither of those midfield maestros has ever found the onion bag from just outside their own penalty area, have they?

Well, this fella has!

Step forward Al-Ahli Jeddah captain Mohammad Massad.

Prepare to be amazed as he belts one in from 100 yards. That's right... one hundred of your English yards.

As Andy Gray would say... "tik a boo, son..."

Liverpool beat Man City in race to sign Serbian star

John Cross — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:08:26 GMT

Milan Jovanovic agrees to move to Anfield in the summer

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 ban appeal

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

New England captain decides to accept FA punishment

Ancelotti confirms Terry will play at Everton

Martin Lipton — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:39:19 GMT

Blues skipper will then be given choice of missing Cardiff cup tie if he wants time off

Gazza arrested for second time in two days

MirrorFootball — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:07:07 GMT

Ex-England star questioned on suspicion of a public order offence

Wenger: No deal for Chamakh

MirrorFootball — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:32:22 GMT

Arsenal boss insists Bordeaux striker has not agreed Gunners move

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...

Indian tycoon denies Liverpool takeover talk

MirrorFootball — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:16:26 GMT

Mukesh Ambani says 'no truth' in stories of Anfield buy-out

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Tuesday's papers

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:56:30 GMT

From today's Daily MirrorArsenal loan star holds showdown talks after QPR axe - ExclusiveBaggies tie up West Ham star on loan dealHodgson to ask Al Fayed for funds to rebuild Fulham squadNewcastle star joins Brighton on loanWindass tipped to replace McCall at BradfordFrom today's other papersBayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has admitted he is tempted to link up with his France team-mate Thierry Henry at Barcelona. (The Guardian)Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Bordeaux striker Marou...

Arsenal ready to go to war with Barcelona over Fabregas

John Cross — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:00:22 GMT

Gunners warns the Spaniards to end public campaign to try to sign midfield star

Arsenal's descent could lead to madness if Fabregas calls it a day

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:00:20 GMT

The descent has been steep and dramatic, a seemingly endless battle against gravity.But while Arsene Wenger insists silverware is just around the corner, the bitter looming reality of a fifth straight campaign without any return puts the spotlight even more on the man at the heart of the Frenchman’s masterplan.Cesc Fabregas had not kicked a Premier League ball for Arsenal when Wenger’s “Invincibles" rewrote the record books in 2004, a remarkable season in which the Gunners simply refused to b...

Sullivan: 'Blues fans who abuse us are fools' - Exclusive

James Nursey — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:00:01 GMT

New West Ham chief says he and David Gold were Birmingham's best ever owners

Terry: I'm full of delight thanks to Chelsea fans

John Cross — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:58:49 GMT

Under-fire skipper salutes supporters at Stamford Bridge

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.

Don't listen to Fabio, England got the Euro 2012 dream draw - Martin Lipton's big lunchtime read

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:48:12 GMT

John Terry may have been the footballing equivalent of the spectre in the England corner in Warsaw yesterday as Fabio Capello discovered the 2012 European Championship qualifying hurdles he faces.But while the England boss did his best to pretend he was concerned at the Group G opponents his side must overcome, the truth is that the Three Lions were handed arguably their easiest task in decades.Had Steve McClaren been asked to overcome Switzerland, Wales, Bulgaria and Montenegro to reach Euro...

Daily JT: What the papers are saying today

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:38:09 GMT

The fall-out from the John Terry scandal continues as the Chelsea star once again finds himself on the front and back pages of the papers.Here's your handy daily JT digest:The latest from MirrorFootballOff-field affairsTearful Terry vows to save his marriageBridge: 'I never want to see Vanessa again'ChelseaTerry: 'I'm full of delight thanks to Chelsea fans'It's business as usual for Terry as he puts football firstMirrorFootball commentHow Wayne Bridge is smoothing things over for John TerrySt...

Bolton rocked by Cahill injury blow

David Anderson — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:27:28 GMT

Defender ruled out for rest of season with blood clot on his arm

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...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Monday's papers

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:10:59 GMT

From today's Daily Mirror:Chamakh: 'I want to join Arsenal' Everton demand six-figure loan fee for striker Vaughan Nicky Bailey to quit Charlton if club fail to win promotionDerby to complete loan move for Millwall winger Avram Grant: I won't walk out and let Portsmouth dieFrom today's other papers:Liverpool will face a three-way battle with Juventus and AC Milan if they want to sign Standard Liege's MIlan Jovanovic (La Meuse)Gold Coast United are trying to prise Robbie Fowler away from North...

Everyone has their opinion on the John Terry affair but is it really such a big deal?

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:00:08 GMT

If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em!Please forgive me, but this is it, the final word on the JT saga……well, at least until next Sunday’s papers.Is it really such a big deal?We all have our opinion on the subject, but mine is verging on one of complete indifference.Yes, he’s a role model to the kids, yadda, yadda, ya.But, really, I bet the kids don’t even care.They’re too busy blasting the s*** out of each other on ‘Mortal Kombat Death Star Car Jacker,’ to pick up a newspaper, let alone take any n...

Talk football with David Maddock LIVE on Monday lunchtime

Mirror Football — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:00:41 GMT

Join our Merseyside correspondent in the Monday mouth-off

Undaunted Terry in fast lane on the road to redemption

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:57 GMT

John Terry hit the road back from the wasteland yesterday. He began his long journey not with hesitant steps but with giant strides.He played as well as he has ever played in a Chelsea shirt as his side swept back to the top of the Premier League with an emphatic victory over Arsenal.He was utterly commanding and relentlessly unyielding at the back and his magnificent leap to nod on an eighth minute corner set up the opening goal for Didier Drogba.He played through pain, as he so often does, ...

Pompey set for FIFTH owner of the season

David Yuill — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:37 GMT

Executive director Mark Jacob says that "two or three groups" have approached the club about a takeover

Dirk Kuyt is irreplaceable for Liverpool, says Rafa Benitez

David Maddock — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:07 GMT

Anfield boss pays tribute to Dutchman after he netted the winner against Everton

Capello: Terry still England's top man for World Cup

Martin Lipton — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Italian insists under-fire defender remains a key part of his England team despite captaincy axe

Fabio Capello was left with no choice but to sack John Terry

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 22:52:10 GMT

Fabio Capello's decision to strip John Terry of the England captaincy has left me very disappointed, but sadly it became inevitable.Capello’s mind would have been made up as soon as he stepped off the plane last week on his return to England and had a bank of cameramen following him from the moment he touched down at Heathrow.From then on there were only two things that were going to happen - he would either ask Terry for his resignation or strip the Chelsea star of the armband.Terry’s off-th...

Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal: Drogba double takes Blues back to top spot

MirrorFootball — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:05:23 GMT

Toothless Arsenal out of the title race after Stamford Bridge defeat

John Terry's delighted with a clean sheet, plus nine other things we learned from watching Chelsea v Arsenal

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:00:13 GMT

1) Arsene Wenger is without doubt one of the best managers in Premier League history. But judging by his frontline at the Bridge - Walcott, Arshavin and Nasri (average height 5ft 9in) - he's been taking selection tips from Ken Dodd. Diddy not see last week's game against Man United?2) Radio 5 Live's summariser Graham Taylor described the opening 60 seconds by saying: "We've just had, in the first minute, end to end play." The ball, however, barely touched the floor. And who ever said Taylor's...

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?"

Bookie falls foul of John Terry scandal, and radio stars get their wires crossed

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:23:09 GMT

Having huge pictures of two top sports stars in your window probably seemed like a good idea at the time to this bookie in Cookstown, Northern Ireland. Let's just hope the horses aren't cheating on their mares too! (Thanks to Ryan Kelly for the picture)******The radio highlight of week came in this exchange on talkSPORT...Jason Cundy: "It's not a public matter, it's private and we are not the ones to judge John Terry. We shouldn't even be talking about it."Darren Gough: "I agree."Cundy: "Call...

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...

HT Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal: Drogba double keeps Blues on course for top spot

MirrorFootball — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:58:08 GMT

Toothless Arsenal no match for Carlo Ancelotti's men

Chamakh: 'I want to join Arsenal'

John Cross — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:59:16 GMT

Bordeaux striker will snub Liverpool to sign for the Gunners

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

England to face Wales in Euro qualifiers

MirrorFootball — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:48:03 GMT

Three Lions also paired with Switzerland, Bulgaria and Montenegro

Daily JT: What the papers are saying today

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:17:18 GMT

John Terry continues to dominate the front, back and a most of the middle pages of today's papers following Fabio Capello's decision to sack him as England captain on Friday.Here's your handy daily JT digest:Latest stories from MirrorFootballEngland captaincyRuthless Capello axed Terry after just three minutesOff-field affairsVanessa's story: Wayne left for City and two weeks later JT started visiting - World ExclusiveChelseaAncelotti vows to support Terry over England axeMirrorFootball comme...

Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Sunday's papers

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 10:48:15 GMT

From today's Sunday Mirror:Arsenal set to offer Fabregas £30million contract to ward off Barcelona and RealSunderland line up £10million move for Celtic star McGeadyLiverpool, Everton and Spurs to battle it out for Hull starletBegovic snubbed Spurs after seeing rival goalkeeperFulham move for Beattie was scuppered by wage demandsChelsea eyeing summer swoop for Serbian starFrom today's other papers:Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants Everton star Jack Rodwell to come to Old Traff...

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...

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 ...

Forget John Terry: here's 11 footballers to restore your faith in the game

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:01:45 GMT

It’s time to take a shower, to sluice away the stench of the sewer.It’s taken a strong stomach, and blind faith, to wade through football’s effluent.The temptation has been to surrender to the suspicion the game is not worth the effort.Only natural, really.The England squad resembles a care in the community programme.Club owners have abandoned the pretence of affinity with fans who bolster the bottom line.Players inhabit a world of casual betrayal, pliable principles and silly money.The ...