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• Sam Allardyce short of bodies and excuses in battle to keep West Ham up | Jacob Steinberg
• New Year honours: spin doctor and party donors recognised
• New Year honours list recognises more women than men for first time
• City will not sell Dzeko in January
• Sturridge and Gerrard to return early
• Manchester United fear failure over bid for Leighton Baines or Luke Shaw
• Managers set 'terrible example' – former FA chairman David Bernstein
• Chelsea yet to click but expect 'good things' when we do – Gary Cahill
• Everton can make top four if they are more ruthless, says Romelu Lukaku
• West Brom play down quenelle
• Wilkins joins Fulham as a coach
• Why the hate for Melbourne Victory’s striker-less system?
• Friendly, youthful image costs Saints
• Sunderland's form fires hope they can beat history's relegation odds
• Nicolas Anelka vows never to repeat 'anti-Semitic' goal celebration
• Cheer up José – our podcast is here
• Two charged with racial abuse of Cole
• The false nine is an accepted role but with different interpretations
• Ex-Manchester United star Andy Cole 'racially abused on Aer Lingus flight'
• Should football introduce time-outs? – open thread
• 2013: the year in football – video
• Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend's action
• Nicolas Anelka faces lengthy ban after controversial quenelle gesture

Sam Allardyce short of bodies and excuses in battle to keep West Ham up | Jacob Steinberg Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:31 PM PST Injuries to key players and poor planning have left the manager exposed ahead of New Years' Day six-pointer with Fulham Sam Allardyce has sent West Ham down before. When they were relegated in 2003, the side that stayed up at their expense were Bolton Wanderers. Their battle for survival went to the final day and ended with Allardyce dancing with Jay Jay Okocha on the pitch at the Reebok Stadium after the home team's victory over Middlesbrough condemned West Ham to the Championship. For the Hammers it was a disaster. It was no less disastrous than this season, though. Close to 11 years down the line, the prospect of relegation is staring West Ham in the face again, with Saturday's 3–3 home draw against West Bromwich Albion leaving them in 19th place, a point behind Crystal Palace in 17th and a point above Sunderland in 20th. Yet there is one crucial difference between now and 2003. This time West Ham's players do not turn to the dugout and see Glenn Roeder. Nor do they see Avram Grant, who was in charge when they dropped in 2011. Instead they see Allardyce, although whether that provides supporters with much comfort is unlikely at the moment. Many West Ham fans have wanted Allardyce out for a while, insistent that his pragmatic methods are at odds with their "academy of football". For those who oppose him, Allardyce was a necessary evil when David Sullivan and David Gold asked him to pick up the pieces left by Grant in 2011. The club was on its knees and Allardyce dragged it back to its feet, winning promotion via the play-offs in his first season and finishing 10th in the Premier League last year, yet he still had his enemies. He was tolerated, never loved. Now Allardyce dares not lose Wednesday's six-pointer at Fulham, the last side to be beaten by West Ham. That was seven games ago. Allardyce came with a cast-iron safety guarantee but that belief has been shaken by the side's dreadful form this season, during which they have averaged less than a point and a goal a game. There are mitigating circumstances. Allardyce points to injuries, which is why the board is reluctant to panic. West Ham were missing James Collins, Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Ravel Morrison, Winston Reid and Ricardo Vaz Tê against West Brom and James Tomkins's early injury meant they have no fit centre-backs left in the squad. Since Reid's ankle injury at the start of November West Ham's previously solid defence – they have kept eight clean sheets in total this season – has conceded 20 goals in their past nine matches. Of the senior players that remain unharmed Kevin Nolan's poaching instincts have abandoned him and Mohamed Diamé has the look of a man playing for himself, not the team. However, the Carroll excuse wore thin months ago. West Ham knew he had an injured heel when they signed him from Liverpool for £15m last summer but they still went into the season with one fit striker, Modibo Maïga, who has only recently started to find his feet. Failing to sign another striker was an unacceptable mistake by Allardyce and the board, especially as its remaining funds went on signing Downing for £6m, also from Liverpool. Without Carroll Allardyce's Plan A fell apart. Plan B was the strikerless formation that was first seen in the 3-0 win at Tottenham in October but that fizzled out when Vaz Tê, whose mobility made it work, injured a shoulder. At least Carroll is training with the first team again. "It is very good news but it is slow progress," Neil McDonald, Allardyce's assistant, said. "It is good that we have got him on the training field and he has joined in with the football with a select group we have brought in to train with him. He had a couple of training sessions and it [his injury] went again so we have got to be very careful with him." McDonald was speaking on Monday because Allardyce was on the phone talking about transfer targets, with a new centre-back and a striker the priority. West Ham hope he signs someone as mercurial as Youri Djorkaeff, who helped rescue Bolton in their first season in the Premier League in 2002, after joining them in February. The manager, who has never been relegated from the Premier League, has of course been in this situation before. Bolton were in trouble in 2002-03 after winning four of their first 25 matches. Allardyce found a way. With Okocha in magical form, Bolton won six of their final 13 matches and he also kept Blackburn up after replacing Paul Ince in 2008. Perhaps that is why Sullivan and Gold have stuck by him. They have been burnt by their loyalty to managers before and have admitted that they should have sacked Grant long before they did, yet they believe that Allardyce will get West Ham out of this mess even if he did make it. West Ham United Sam Allardyce Andy Carroll Jacob Steinberg theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

New Year honours: spin doctor and party donors recognised Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST Honours in political sphere go to Alan Parker, as well as Tory small business ambassador Karren Brady and Thatcher aides Honours have gone to one of Britain's most powerful spin doctors who holidayed with David Cameron, a businessman whose company donated to George Osborne's local party, and the Conservatives' new business ambassador, sparking fresh accusations of cronyism in the system. Despite a succession of controversies in previous years, a series of people with links to senior politicians receive honours in this New Year honours list, which rewards services to public life. One of the best-connected recipients is Alan Parker, the head of the influential Brunswick financial PR firm, which has managed the image of big companies such as EDF Energy and BP. Parker, who holidayed with Cameron in South Africa in 2008, is given a knighthood for services to business, charitable giving and philanthropy. The prime minister was also the guest of honour at Parker's 50th birthday party, attended his wedding in 2007 and took him on a recent business trip to China with his government delegation. Parker also has close links to Gordon Brown, who is godfather to his son, and Brunswick has previously given money to Labour. Former aides to Margaret Thatcher, Julian Seymour and Mark Worthington, receive knighthoods, while the Conservatives' new small business ambassador, Apprentice star and West Ham football club vice-chairman Karren Brady receives a CBE. Two prominent Tories in Cameron's local area are also given gongs. Marion Dowdings, former deputy chair of his local party and now chairman of its supper club, receives an OBE, while Simon Mort, president of the neighbouring Oxford West Conservatives, receives the same. Meanwhile, Emma Pidding, chairman of the National Conservative Convention, was made CBE. Some party donors are also awarded honours. Peter Emerson Jones, a director of Emerson Development Holdings, which has given more than £30,000 to Osborne's constituency, is given an OBE, while Lady Patricia Hobson, who has given more than £39,000 to the Hendon Tories, is made an OBE for services to ballet and philanthropy. Politicians from across the parties are also recognised for long service in Westminster, including Kevin Barron, Labour chairman of the standards committee, Peter Luff, a former Tory defence minister, and Richard Ottaway, Conservative chairman of the foreign affairs committee, who are all knighted. Conservative sources were keen to stress that the list of almost 1,200 recipients contains more women than men for the first time. The allegations of cronyism come weeks after it emerged the government chose Laura Wyld, a former Conservative campaigns officer, to be head of the No 10 public appointments unit. On Monday, Sir Bob Kerslake, head of the civil service, said this unit "acts on behalf of the prime ,inister to ensure that No 10 is aware of how the [honours] process is moving. It gives them a chance to input any particular views he has into the process … But they do not make final decisions, they are not voting members, and ultimately the committees are independent." However, Lord Oakeshott, a prominent Liberal Democrat peer, said honours "for Cameron's cronies and Osborne's donors dishonour the system", while John Mann, Labour MP for Bassetlaw, also criticised some of the awards, saying the "same old politicians' cronies are discrediting the honours system" adding "it's not what you know but who you know". In response, a Conservative spokesman said the selection process for honours was transparent and robust. "Nominations are considered by one of nine expert honours committees, each chaired by a non-civil service chair and comprising a majority of non-civil service members, all selected after open advertisement." A spokesman for Osborne said: "OBEs are awarded free of political interference. Expert committees chaired by non-civil servants take their recommendations to the main honours committee and agree a final list of recommendations to the Queen. To suggest anything else is fanciful." New year honours list 2014 David Cameron George Osborne Karren Brady Conservatives New Year honours list Rowena Mason Rupert Neate theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

New Year honours list recognises more women than men for first time Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST Penelope Keith and Angela Lansbury to become dames as head of civil service Sir Bob Kerslake heralds 'deep-rooted change' The actors Penelope Keith and Angela Lansbury are both to become dames in a New Year honours list that, for the first time since the Order of the British Empire was founded in 1917, has recognised more women than men. Keith, 73, who became a household name as social climber Margot Leadbetter in the 1970s sitcom The Good Life, and as Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To The Manor Born, is honoured for services to the arts and to charity, in a list that includes 16 damehoods and 39 women awarded CBEs. "You know I sort of feel elated, exhausted and thrilled. It's the big one," Keith said. "I had already got an OBE and then a CBE, so I don't know what is better than the icing on the cake, but this is." Keith said she had managed to successfully avoid telling anyone other than her husband about her new title. "I found out six weeks ago, but the way it works is that they send you a letter and then you have to eat it and keep quiet on pain of death," she joked. "And I must admit that when the electricity went off, I rather forgot about it." British-born Lansbury, 88, who starred in the Murder, She Wrote series, receives her damehood in the diplomatic and overseas list for drama, charitable work and philanthropy. Of the 1,195 people honoured, 611 – 51% – are female. Sir Bob Kerslake, head of the civil service, said it represented "quite a significant shift" and "deep-rooted change" over the past 40 years, with the previous highest proportion of women being 47%. In the 2004 New Year honours list, 34% of recipients were women, in 1994 the percentage was 28%, and in 1974 it was just 17%. While women have received more honours overall, they are still less well represented in the highest echelons of the honours system. Just 40% of awards at CBE and above are to women, though that proportion has almost doubled in 10 years. Recipients also include Apprentice star Karren Brady, vice-chair of West Ham Football Club, who gets a CBE for services to entrepreneurship and women in business. Lady Onora O'Neill, moral and political philosopher, is made a Companion of Honour, as is Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, influential contemporary composer and influential composer and master of the Queen's music. Angel of the North sculptor Antony Gormley has accepted a knighthood as "a recognition" for the art form. Knighthoods also go to veteran film and theatre producer Michael Codron, known for his productions of early works of Harold Pinter, Tom Stoppard and others, the former director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer, QC, for services to law and criminal justice, and to former Bank of England deputy governor Paul Tucker. The Order of Merit (OM) awarded to individuals of greatest achievement in the fields of the arts, learning, literature and science, goes to the conductor Sir Simon Rattle, and to the heart surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub. With only 24 OMs at any one time, they join an exclusive collection of members, with previous recipients including Florence Nightingale and Sir Winston Churchill. Five per cent of successful honours candidates come from ethnic minority communities. Kerslake said it was a "key priority" to push up representation from black and minority ethnic communities. In total, 74% of awards go to people who are actively engaged in charitable or voluntary work within their local community. The actor and writer Ruth Jones, co-creator of the award-winning comedy Gavin & Stacey, in which she played the outspoken Nessa, summed up her MBE as "proper tidy". Jones, 47, honoured for services to entertainment, said: "This isn't just tidy, it's proper tidy. I had no idea it was coming. I just came home one night, opened the post and there it was: this letter telling me I was being put forward for it and being really strict about not telling anyone. And I'm quite obedient. So I didn't. Except my husband, who's really proud. And my dad, who's beside himself with excitement. "Apparently Great Uncle Leslie got an OBE in the 40s and Uncle Jack the fireman got one in the 60s. So I'm keeping up with the Joneses, ha ha. Anyway, I'm thrilled." Veteran TV and radio personality Nicholas Parsons, creator and host of Radio 4's Just a Minute, said he was "flattered and delighted" to receive a CBE for his charitable work. Parsons, 90, actor, comedian and erstwhile questionmaster of the TV quiz Sale of the Century, receives an OBE for services to drama and broadcasting a decade ago. He said: "I think honours are a wonderful thing to receive if you have worked hard and that is recognised. "I received the letter two months ago and was told to keep quiet about it or it might be taken away, so my wife and I kept quiet about it. We won't be celebrating until the day we go to the palace – I've done so much celebrating for my 90th birthday this year." Though entering his 10th decade, Parsons lags behind artist Derek Clarke, member of the Royal Scottish Academy of Arts, who on Tuesday celebrates his 101st birthday with an MBE to mark a career that has spanned more than 70 years. Sandi Toksvig, 55, comedian and presenter of BBC Radio 4's The News Quiz, said she was honoured to receive an OBE for services to broadcasting. During a career spanning three decades, she has been a regular on shows such as Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Call My Bluff, and QI, as well as fronting the travel programme Excess Baggage. "Broadcasting is a team effort and I would like to pay tribute to all the writers, production and technical staff I've worked with," she said. Mezzosoprano Katherine Jenkins, 33, who receives an OBE for her contribution to music and her services to charity, said she was "incredibly humbled to receive this great honour". The Neath-born singer, who in 2013 ran the London Marathon to raise more than £25,000 for charity, added: "I share this award with the charitable bodies I am so privileged to work with, especially to those brave servicemen and women who risk so much for us all on a daily basis." Carlos Acosta, 40, the internationally acclaimed Cuban ballet dancer and choreographer, said he was "excited and thrilled" at his CBE. "It was a huge surprise," said the dancer, who grew up in poverty as the youngest of 11 children in Havana. His lorry-driver father feared he would fall into trouble and decided that dance training would instil discipline and provide him with a skill, and he won a place at the Cuban national ballet school. Michael Crawford, 71, who became a household name playing hapless Frank Spencer in the 1970s sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and who has enjoyed a successful West End theatre career, also receives a CBE. He said his recognition, for services to children's charities, was "the most wonderful surprise". Elsewhere in the arts, composer and conductor Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who is master of the Queen's music, becomes a Companion of Honour. Choreographer Gillian Lynne, 87, whose credits include Cats and Phantom of the Opera, is made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to dance and musical theatre. "Passion for my art has been the motivating factor throughout my career, but for Her Majesty the Queen and the Cabinet Office to see what I have done to be worthy of this accolade is an honour," she said. Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, 54, a designer, is honoured with an MBE for his work on sustainable buildings, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong, 53, also receives an MBE. Writer Anthony Horowitz, 58, author of more than 40 books including the Alex Rider spy books and the creator of the TV series Foyle's War, is awarded an OBE for services to literature. As well as being a board member of the Old Vic theatre, he is patron of East Anglia Children's Hospices and the anti-bullying charity Kidscape. The actor Lynda Bellingham, best known for her long-running role in the Oxo TV adverts, said that being awarded an OBE for her charity work was "a fantastic way to move forward" following a "tough year". The 65-year-old Loose Women panellist, who has enjoyed a career in acting and presenting spanning 40 years, announced earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with cancer. She said of her inclusion in the New Year honours list: "I am absolutely delighted and proud to receive this OBE. It has been a long and tough year, but this award is just a fantastic way to move forward. I feel honoured and inspired and very grateful." New year honours list 2014 New Year honours list Civil service Angela Lansbury Karren Brady Antony Gormley Simon Rattle Peter Maxwell Davies Ruth Jones Katherine Jenkins Carlos Acosta Kevin McCloud Anthony Horowitz Caroline Davies theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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City will not sell Dzeko in January Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • Reports of loan move for Jack Rodwell also dismissed • New players not a priority for manager in transfer window Manuel Pellegrini has insisted Edin Dzeko will not be allowed to leave Manchester City in January and also dismissed suggestions Jack Rodwell will be given a chance to impress on loan at another Premier League club. Dzeko, 27, is behind Sergio Agüero and Alvaro Negredo in Pellegrini's forward options, despite pre-season suggestions that the Bosnia and Herzegovina international would play a major role. The former Wolfsburg forward has scored 10 goals for City this season, however, and has featured more regularly this month following Agüero's calf injury, which may be why Pellegrini is so defiant he will not leave, with Arsenal one of a number of clubs interested. "There was never any chance of Dzeko going in January," the Chilean said. "He is a very important member of the squad. If you revise the last month you will see that he has played games in December and he will be very important. Every player wants to play every game but, given the games we have, it is impossible for that to happen. I repeat that I think he is happy. He is an important player and there may be offers but he won't leave." Rodwell, 22, has only started a single Premier League game for Pellegrini – against Stoke back in September – and has endured a number of injury problems since his arrival from Everton in the summer of 2012. But Pellegrini wants the England midfielder to remain in his squad, despite a number of Premier League clubs showing an interest in taking him on loan. "At this moment nobody will be leaving," reiterated Pellegrini, who is preparing his side for a trip to south Wales on Wednesday to face Swansea City. Of his own transfer ambitions, Pellegrini remained coy by saying that adding players is not his priority as he believes he has the squad capable of winning the title after they briefly topped the table following their win over Crystal Palace on Saturday. It is believed City will only bring in new players in January if they incur a sudden bout of injuries or if a world-class asset unexpectedly becomes available. "Transfers are always an option and we must look to see if we can use it [the window] but it's not our first priority," Pellegrini added. Manchester City Manuel Pellegrini Swansea City Transfer window theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Sturridge and Gerrard to return early Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • Striker could face Stoke and midfielder may play against Hull • Brendan Rodgers backs Luis Suárez over José Mourinho jibe Brendan Rodgers has revealed Daniel Sturridge is well ahead of schedule on his return from the ankle injury that has kept him out of action for Liverpool since the end of November. The England international has not featured for Liverpool since coming on as a substitute and scoring the equaliser in the Merseyside derby on 23 November as he picked up his current problem in training six days after the 3-3 draw with Everton. The initial prognosis was that Sturridge, who has scored 11 goals this season for Liverpool, could be out for between eight and 12 weeks but, as injury problems mount in other areas, Rodgers has been given a timely boost because Sturridge could return to face Stoke on 12 January. The Liverpool manager, who also launched a defence of Luis Suárez in relation to José Mourinho's accusations of diving, also hinted that the captain, Steven Gerrard, could return against Hull City on Wednesday. Gerrard has not featured since early December, when he pulled up with a hamstring problem in the win over West Ham at Anfield. He was expected to be out for up to six weeks but Rodgers said on Monday: "Steven has rejoined training, so we'll see how he is for Hull." "We will assess that in the next 24 hours. By the Stoke game we'll have a number of the others who will not be too far away. "Daniel is ahead of schedule. He might not be too far over the next few weeks. He was out running the other day doing straight-line running and he is now doing more multi-directional running and then training next week and he will have a good week of training. "Over the next couple of weeks we will get those players back and it will look a lot brighter for us." Joe Allen is set to miss the visit of Hull because of a groin strain, so Gerrard's possible return would be timely, while Liverpool are awaiting news on the defender Mamadou Sakho, who has a hamstring problem. Jordan Henderson picked up a knock against Chelsea but is expected to be fine to start on Wednesday at Anfield. Rodgers will be hoping to recover against Hull after defeats by Manchester City and Chelsea have left Liverpool fifth in the table, having been top on Christmas Day. Both defeats were littered with controversial refereeing decisions that Rodgers has publicly criticised. And he has also had to defend Suárez over diving accusations from the Chelsea manager, who claimed the Reds forward pulled off an "acrobatic swimming pool jump". Rodgers dismissed the suggestions from Mourinho, whom he worked with as youth coach at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007, and believes Suárez is an "easy target" because of the reputation that precedes him. Suárez went down after being caught by the Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o in the home team's penalty area during Liverpool's 2-1 away defeat on Sunday. The Liverpool manager said: "Luis is an easy target, isn't he? I think we had a spell over the last year or so where everyone was jumping on Luis' back, saying he was diving. "I don't think it was that [an acrobatic dive] at all. I think it was a valid claim for a penalty against a player who wasn't even making an effort for the football. "I certainly wouldn't think it was an acrobatic dive. For Luis, for lots of people in the country, he has been an easy target. Football is about opinions – managers, supporters and media, they will always have an opinion. "I will always give an honest appraisal of what I see and I will always defend my players when they need defending." Suárez has scored 19 goals this season and has been applauded for his talents on the pitch after returning in September from a 10-game ban for biting the Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic last April. The Uruguay forward's past disciplinary problems have not been highlighted much this season, owing to his scoring record and behaviour on the pitch. And Rodgers does not believe this criticism from Mourinho will have any effect on the player. "Luis has been a remarkable player this year, the games he's played," he added. "But not only that, everyone has recognised his behaviour has changed; he has shown maturity. "This is the first time anyone has criticised him for that this season and, I repeat, he can be an easy target sometimes. He has a strong mentality and it does not worry him at all." Liverpool Brendan Rodgers Luis Suárez Steven Gerrard Hull City José Mourinho theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Manchester United fear failure over bid for Leighton Baines or Luke Shaw Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • David Moyes weighs up transfer window move for a left-back • Everton and Southampton determined to keep defenders David Moyes fears Leighton Baines and Luke Shaw may be out of reach in the January transfer window, with the Manchester United manager aware that Everton and Southampton are unwilling to sell their respective left-backs. Moyes remains keen to bring in a player to offer competition to Patrice Evra, yet Everton, after their refusal to sell Baines to their former manager in the summer, are determined to maintain that stance. At the weekend Everton's manager, Roberto Martínez, signalled the club's intent to keep Baines. "In football you don't work long-term, you go window to window, and I can guarantee that Leighton will be here at the end of the season. That is 100%," he said. "That is how you work from window to window – to have a stronger squad than previously. Leighton is vital for us in the second half of the season. Bryan Oviedo has been terrific but we need Leighton and Bryan fit for us if we are going to fight for our football dream." While Baines turned 29 earlier in the month, Shaw is only 18, so would represent a longer-term investment for United. However, Mauricio Pochettino, the Southampton manager, is adamant the teenager will not be sold during the winter window. Moyes may still decide to test the resolve of Everton or Southampton with a bid. Yet with regard to Baines, when United finally made a £15m bid for him on the last day of the summer window, having previously made combined offers along with his team-mate Marouane Fellaini, the Goodison club rejected the move. Baines still might have become a United player if he had tried to force any transfer by informing Everton he wanted to leave or by allowing this stance to become public. But his failure to do so, plus Everton's insistence he will not be sold, has hardened Moyes's view that it will be particularly difficult to prise away the left-back in January. United pressed ahead with the joint-bid strategy, believing that if separate offers had been made Everton would have accepted the one for Fellaini, with the monies received allowing them to turn down any approach for Baines. Shaw, who is a Southampton fan, signed a five-year deal last summer, stating then that he would be at the club for the duration of that contract. Last week Pochettino said: "The player wants to stay at the club. He has made a statement about this himself. Other clubs can watch him and show their interest but he does not want to go anywhere and we do not want to sell him." Beyond a left-back, Moyes will continue to search for a midfielder, although he recognises the difficulty of making the right calibre of signing in the mid-season window. Manchester United David Moyes Everton Roberto Martínez Southampton Transfer window Jamie Jackson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Managers set 'terrible example' – former FA chairman David Bernstein Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST • Stoke's Mark Hughes charged with improper conduct last week • 'There need to be improvements in the areas of respect' Managers are setting a "terrible example" to players and the general public with their behaviour on the touchlines, according to the former Football Association chairman David Bernstein. Bernstein, who will be made a CBE in the New Year Honours, would not specify individual cases but said there have been a number of high-profile incidents in recent weeks where managers were seen berating officials and behaving badly. "There need to be improvements in the areas of respect. Some fantastic work has been done but there seems to be a particular problem with the behaviour of managers," he said. "I have been involved with football for a long time and I do understand the pressures they are under but nevertheless, when you look at the constant protesting on the touchline, the harassing of the fourth official and the comments afterwards, it doesn't do anyone or the game any good. "It has been especially noticeable in recent weeks but it is an ongoing issue and it is a terrible example for their players, let alone the general public. I think it is time managers assumed a much greater level of responsibility for their behaviour." In the past week Stoke's manager, Mark Hughes, has been charged by the FA with improper conduct after being sent from the touchline against Newcastle while Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers may be in hot water over his remark after their defeat at Manchester City concerning the referee, Lee Mason, being from Bolton in the Greater Manchester area. Bernstein, who stepped down as chairman in July, said video technology would help ease the pressure on referees but he did not envisage Fifa embracing any such developments in the short term. He added: "I am a great believer that video technology needs to come in to help referees and that would calm everybody down. I pushed for it when I was FA chairman but it was like banging your head against a brick wall. I think it will happen, as it did with goalline technology, after another terrible high-profile incident, but I think it will happen later rather than sooner." David Bernstein The FA theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Chelsea yet to click but expect 'good things' when we do – Gary Cahill Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:01 PM PST • 'It's important we stayed within touching distance', Cahill adds • Centre-back wins praise for partnership with John Terry Gary Cahill has warned that Chelsea have yet to produce their best form despite being two points off the top of the league and says people should expect "good things" when the side does click. While Cahill agrees with José Mourinho's assessment that this is a transitional season for Chelsea, they remain in a strong position to challenge Arsenal and Manchester City for the title and Sunday's 2-1 victory over Liverpool was another reminder of the threat they pose. There is a sense that Mourinho is instilling greater resilience at Chelsea, who visit Southampton on Wednesday. They were criticised in the build-up to last week's goalless draw at Arsenal following a string of poor results, including being knocked out the Capital One Cup by Sunderland, and they recovered from conceding an early goal to beat Liverpool. They retain the ability to grind out results and Cahill believes their rivals should be wary. "I was reading a lot of negative things about the team leading up to the Arsenal game but, if we had won then, we would have gone top," the defender said. "We should look at that as a positive. When we do click we can expect good things. It's important we stayed in touching distance. [The Liverpool win] was a massive result because we saw the Arsenal result before and the results of the teams around us on Saturday." The gaffer has touched on the fact that it is a bit of a transitional period but at the same time we have the quality to be competing in the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. It's going to be entertaining and will go to the wire but as long as we stay in there we are in with a shout.Cahill has earned praise for his improving partnership in central defence with John Terry. Having secured a clean sheet against Arsenal, the pair kept Luis Suárez quiet against Liverpool and Chelsea have conceded one goal in their past three matches. "I feel good in the partnership and I feel good in the back four," Cahill said. "I think we've been strong defensively this season. We had a little blip where we conceded a few goals but we've tightened that back up again now. We were disappointed to go down so early on [against Liverpool], but against Southampton we did the same thing. That's clearly not a positive, but it seems to get a reaction from us." Chelsea Jacob Steinberg theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Everton can make top four if they are more ruthless, says Romelu Lukaku Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST • On-loan striker believes club can get into Champions League • 'We must be more ruthless in second half of season' Romelu Lukaku believes Everton will finish in the top four – providing they become more ruthless. "I think we are showing great consistency in our performances and mentally we are very strong," said the striker. "But becoming more ruthless is what we have to work on in the second half of the season. If we are more ruthless then we will definitely end up in the top four. "In the games we drew we weren't ruthless enough, so if you change that and become more ruthless then it becomes more wins, less draws and you are up there, definitely." Lukaku feels confident that more steeliness will be forthcoming under Roberto Martínez. "At the start of the season we were building," he said. "Firstly, on the defence and then the midfield, and now that is all set up very well and we are working on the offensive set up. Sooner or later it will show. The Chelsea loanee says he is pleased he took the chance to play at Everton. "I knew from the first day that I arrived on the training ground. I called my agent and dad and I said: 'We did something very good.' Because the quality is here. Chelsea were top but Everton are getting there. There is not a lot of difference and that is why I think I made a good choice. I am still at a high level and that is good for my development as a young player." Everton Premier League Louise Taylor theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

West Brom play down quenelle Posted: 30 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST • 'He didn't mean to cause offence,' says Keith Downing • FA yet to decide whether to charge the striker West Bromwich Albion went into full scale damage limitation mode on Monday as the Football Association discussed Nicolas Anelka's contentious quenelle goal celebration with Jewish leaders. While Anelka has agreed to refrain from repeating the allegedly antisemitic gesture he made after scoring during Saturday's 3-3 draw against West Ham United, he has not apologised for it. Moreover, West Brom have offered their striker near unequivocal support with Keith Downing, the caretaker manager saying he has no doubts about Anelka as a person and that he remains in contention to play against Newcastle United at The Hawthorns on New Year's Day. "He didn't mean to cause offence," said Downing whose side are embroiled in a fight against relegation and could do with Anelka's goals. "We have spoken to Nico. Obviously now the FA will look into it and we have to deal with that. He was kind of surprised by the reactions – and he's already stated it won't happen again. "Nico has trained normally. He has been out there today and trained like he did last week. I need to speak to him about the mental aspect for the next couple of games but football wise he's got a lot to offer. "On a personal note I've always respected him, he's been good to work with. He's been a top player. People call him moody but I've never seen a mood. He's articulate. I have no doubts about him as a person." Consultations with leading British Jewish groups including Maccabi GB and the Community Security Trust, as well as the anti-racism body Kick It Out, are ongoing, and the FA are taking their time to decide whether to charge Anelka for a gesture often interpreted in his native France as a Nazi salute in reverse. It would be a surprise if the West Brom forward – who converted to Islam in 2004 – were to escape stern sanction, and a five-game ban is possible, but the FA does not want to rush into a knee-jerk decision. In an effort to minimise any ban, West Brom released a statement attempting to calm troubled waters before Downing addressed the mediaon Monday. "The club fully acknowledges that Nicolas's goal celebration has caused offence in some quarters and has asked Nicolas not to perform the gesture again," said the club. "Nicolas immediately agreed to adhere to this request." Anelka was condemned as racist by the French sports minister, Valérie Fourneyron, following the West Ham game – the incident looms large on the news agenda in France – but, during a series of tweets on Sunday the striker denied that his actions were antisemitic and insisted he was merely paying tribute to his friend, the French comedian Dieudonné M'bala. Dieudonné, who invented the quenelle – which translates as dumpling – is a hugely controversial figure in France, where he has been convicted six times of defamation, causing offence and inciting racial hatred, and fined a total of £53,400. Anelka, though, appears to be a fan. The much travelled 34-year-old striker wrote on Twitter: "[The] meaning of quenelle: anti-system. I do not know what the word 'religion' has to do with this story! This is a dedication to Dieudonné. With regard to the ministers who give their own interpretations of my quenelle, they are the ones that create confusion and controversy without knowing what it really means, this gesture." Publicly, West Brom are sympathetic to Anelka's explanation. "Nicolas was asked to explain his goal celebration by caretaker head coach, Keith Downing, within minutes of the game finishing at West Ham," said the statement. "Nicolas said that he performed the gesture to dedicate his goal to a friend and vehemently denied having any intention to cause offence." On reporting for training on Monday, Anelka was quizzed at length by Richard Garlick, West Brom's sporting and technical director, but reiterated that he never intended any offence. Stressing they will co-operate fully with the FA, the Midlands club are continuing to make their own confidential inquiries into the matter. The case for Anelka's defence is potentially supported by the emergence of photographs on social networking sites showing Samir Nasri, the Manchester City midfielder, and Mamadou Sakho, the Liverpool defender, also performing the quenelle. The photograph of Nasri and a friend was taken outside City's training ground and posted on Facebook in early November before being re-published on social networks on Sunday, 24 hours after Anelka's celebration. On Monday, Nasri apologised on Twitter: "It has absolutely nothing to do with being antisemitic or against Jewish people. I apologise for any hurt to anyone." Photographs of Sakho also emerged on Twitter in November, but the Liverpool defender insists he did not know what it meant, saying: "This photo was taken six months ago, I did not know the meaning of this gesture. I was tricked." Meanwhile Downing must decide whether Anelka faces Newcastle. "In terms of temperament, I assume he'll be able to cope," he said. "He's gone through a lot in his career, but again I would have to talk to him again on Tuesday, I wouldn't want to throw him out there if he's unsure about dealing with it." Downing confirmed he was navigating uncharted, tricky, terrain. "The last two days have been an education for myself," said the caretaker. "It's been tough. Everyone here is kind of becoming more educated." Nicolas Anelka West Bromwich Albion Premier League Louise Taylor theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Wilkins joins Fulham as a coach Posted: 30 Dec 2013 01:40 PM PST • Wilkins previously managed Fulham between 1997 and 1998 • Rene Meulensteen 'delighted' with Wilkins's appointment Ray Wilkins has become the latest high-profile member of Rene Meulensteen's backroom staff at Fulham after being named as the new assistant head coach of the Premier League strugglers. Wilkins, 57, returns for a second stint at Craven Cottage, having managed the club, then in the third tier, between 1997 and 1998 before he was replaced by Kevin Keegan. His appointment to Meulensteen's staff comes swiftly after the arrival of Alan Curbishley as first-team technical director last week and two days on from a 6-0 mauling at the hands of Hull City that left the club mired in the bottom three. "The addition of Ray, along with that of Alan Curbishley on Christmas Eve, provides the club with the experience and expertise necessary as it aims to secure Premier League status for a 14th consecutive season," Fulham said in a statement. Meulensteen, who replaced Martin Jol as manager on 1 December, also welcomed the arrival of Wilkins, who took charge of QPR in a player-manager capacity between 1994 and 1996 and later had spells as assistant manager at both Millwall and Chelsea. "I am delighted that the chairman and the CEO have, again, backed my desire for further experience and support within the backroom staff," Meulensteen said. "Retaining our status of being a Barclays Premier League club next season is vitally important to our long-term plans, and I know that Ray's own experience and his knowledge of the game will be a vital component in our success." Fulham Premier League theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Why the hate for Melbourne Victory’s striker-less system? Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:51 PM PST Kate Cohen: James Troisi and Mitch Nichols work in tandem to manipulate the opposition defence Kate Cohen

Friendly, youthful image costs Saints Posted: 30 Dec 2013 12:49 PM PST • Southampton manager says referees treat his players unfairly • Innocent image leads to rough justice, Argentinian believes Southampton's manager, Mauricio Pochettino, believes officials have treated his side unfairly this season due to their young, friendly image. The former Argentina international was irked by the referee Mark Clattenburg's failure to award his side two penalties in the 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park on Sunday, and believes those decisions are just the tip of the iceberg. "I was angry about some of the refereeing decisions," said Pochettino. "There was not one but actually two clear penalties not given to us. We have been suffering all season long. Many injustices have gone against us. It is easier to referee a Southampton side that are all young, friendly players. It is very easy to have decisions not go for us. It is a lot easier to have decisions to go against us. He added: "We just want Southampton to be refereed with the same rigour as all other clubs are judged. Southampton Premier League theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Sunderland's form fires hope they can beat history's relegation odds Posted: 30 Dec 2013 10:25 AM PST • Gus Poyet believes he can see beyond last place at Christmas • Bottom clubs enter the season of so-called six-pointers Vito Mannone not only believes history is bunk but he also considers that statistics are there to be confounded. Sunderland's goalkeeper merely shrugs when people tell him that West Bromwich Albion in 2004-05 are the only Premier League team to have escaped relegation after being bottom of the table at Christmas. "We need to believe something different," says Mannone. "Because when you believe you can make crazy things happen. With Sunderland bottom and one point below West Ham United in 19th place but only six short of Aston Villa, currently 13th, there is genuine reason for optimism that Gus Poyet's players can survive. The campaign is only halfway through but Wednesday's game against Villa at the Stadium of Light meets all the criteria for a classic relegation six-pointer. The same goes for Crystal Palace against Norwich City and Fulham versus West Ham. Villa's Paul Lambert is one of only three managers in the bottom eight to have kept his job this season. Along with West Ham's Sam Allardyce and Chris Hughton of Norwich he must hope to avoid following the same path as Paolo Di Canio, Martin Jol, Ian Holloway, Steve Clarke and Malky Mackay. With leading accountancy firms estimating the cost of relegation to be around £50m in lost revenue, it does not take too much to provoke panic in boardrooms – especially at clubs whose players lack contractual clauses automatically reducing wages in the event of a descent into the Championship – but, as QPR and Reading discovered last season, managerial change does not necessarily spell safety. Neither does apparent mid-table security. Michael Laudrup and his slick passing Swansea City side are widely admired but from the supposed comfort of 11th place even he is looking over his shoulderwhile discussing the mini league beneath the Premier League's top eight. "It's very tight with very few points between a lot of teams," says Laudrup, well aware Swansea are separated from Sunderland by only seven points. "Three will go down and the rest will play to finish between 17th and ninth position." Several in the danger zone would almost certainly settle for 17th. Poyet is foremost among them but Sunderland's manager has the psychological advantage of knowing his infuriatingly inconsistent, deeply transitional team are capable of beating anyone on their day. So far Sunderland have defeated Manchester City, Newcastle and Everton in the league and Chelsea in the League Cup. If a side currently on a five-match unbeaten run can take advantage of a comparatively kind run of home fixtures – while somehow avoiding being distracted by January's two-leg League Cup semi-final against Manchester United – one of football's greatest escapes may be feasible. While Poyet is determined that Sunderland will pass their way out of trouble with a gradually evolving brand of patient, possession football – "teams who kick and rush don't stay in the Premier League," he says – Crystal Palace's Tony Pulis and West ham's Allardyce remain wedded to more-direct percentage games. Such tactics have worked well for both but Allardyce is paying the price for building an entire strategy around a centre-forward as injury prone as Andy Carroll and investing enormous wages on recruiting players arguably past their best, such as the £80,000-a-week Stewart Downing. Like Allardyce, Jol depended heavily on tried and trusted experience at Fulham but Rene Meulensteen is fast discovering there are too many over-30s in a Craven Cottage squad past its collective prime. Going to the opposite extreme, Sunderland's director of football, Roberto De Fanti, signed 13 players, 12 from overseas, the majority youthful and only five with previous Premier League experience last summer. Like Di Canio Poyet has struggled to mould such eclectic imports into a cohesive unit but incrementally the Wearsiders are improving. Astute use of the January transfer window can inspire great leaps forward but relegation dalliances rarely make clubs attractive to ambitious players. Much may depend on how Poyet, Pulis and Allardyce use their contacts to play the loan market but, whoever ends up in charge of Cardiff City, it is hard to see too many high-calibre professionals being desperately keen to have Vincent Tan, the alarmingly autocratic owner, as their ultimate boss. Cardiff's civil war – with Mackay the latest victim – has enhanced the survival hopes of those around them but no one can afford to rely on others to get them out of trouble. Instead Pulis and company will press all available buttons – double training sessions, warm-weather breaks (providing the chairman agrees to the funding) and assorted bonding sessions. Poyet encourages his players to eat out collectively with partners whenever possible. "It helps them feel more responsible for each other on the pitch," he says. In a world of fine lines and the narrowest of margins Premier League status sometimes really hinges on such small, very human details. Sunderland West Ham United Crystal Palace Gus Poyet Tony Pulis Sam Allardyce Fulham Premier League Louise Taylor theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Nicolas Anelka vows never to repeat 'anti-Semitic' goal celebration Posted: 30 Dec 2013 07:29 AM PST • West Brom striker prompted fury with quenelle salute • Frenchman available for selection despite facing five-game ban • Samir Nasri and Mamadou Sakho also pictured doing gesture Nicolas Anelka has agreed not to perform his controversial quenelle goal celebration again, according to a statement released by his club West Brom. The French striker has denied the salute had any anti-semitic connotations but still provoked a storm in his native France when he made the gesture during Saturday's 3-3 draw with West Ham. West Brom say they accept the celebration has caused some offence and that Anelka has been asked to refrain from doing it again - and that he has agreed to do so, although he may yet still be charged by the Football Association and could be hit with a five-game ban. A club statement said: "The club fully acknowledges that Nicolas' goal celebration has caused offence in some quarters and has asked Nicolas not to perform the gesture again. Nicolas immediately agreed to adhere to this request." Anelka was condemned as racist by the French Sports Minister following the game but in a series of tweets on Sunday the forward denied that his actions were anti-semitic and insisted he was merely paying tribute to his friend, the French comedian Dieudonné M'bala. Dieudonné, who invented the quenelle (which literally means dumpling), is a hugely controversial figure in France, where he has been convicted six times of defamation, causing offence and inciting racial hatred, and has been fined a total of £53,400. Anelka wrote on Twitter: " (The) meaning of quenelle: anti-system. I do not know what the word 'religion' has to do with this story! This is a dedication to Dieudonné. With regard to the ministers who give their own interpretations of my quenelle, they are the ones that create confusion and controversy without knowing what it really means, this gesture." The Football Association is continuing to investigate the incident. West Brom are also pursuing their own inquiries although the club insist Anelka will still be eligible for selection while both investigations are ongoing. The West Brom statement added: "Nicolas was asked to explain his goal celebration by caretaker head coach, Keith Downing, within minutes of the game finishing at West Ham. Nicolas said that he performed the gesture to dedicate his goal to a friend and vehemently denied having any intention to cause offence. "Upon reporting for training this morning, Nicolas was asked by sporting and technical director Richard Garlick to give a full explanation about his goal celebration, during which he again strongly denied intending to cause offence. "The club is aware that the Football Association is investigating the matter and has offered its full co-operation. The club will continue to make its own inquiries - a process which will remain confidential between the club and Nicolas. "Nicolas is eligible for matches whilst the FA carries out its investigation. Therefore, Nicolas will remain under consideration for first-team selection whilst The FA and club continue their enquiries." Photographs have also emerged of Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri and Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho performing the same gesture on social networking sites. The photograph of Nasri and a friend was taken outside City's training ground and posted on Facebook in early November before being republished on social networks last Sunday, 24 hours after Anelka's celebration. It is understood Nasri was unaware of the anti-semitic or political connotations of the gesture and agreed to perform the act because of its popularity among people in his native France. City manager Manuel Pellegrini refused to comment on the matter when asked at a press conference to preview his side's New Year's Day game at Swansea. Pellegrini said: "I don't know what you are talking about. I haven't seen it. I read that something happened with Anelka but I don't know anything about Samir. I can't talk about something I haven't seen." Photographs of Sakho also emerged on Twitter in November, but the Liverpool defender insists he did not know what it meant, saying: "This photo was taken six months ago, I did not know the meaning of this gesture. I was tricked." Nicolas Anelka West Bromwich Albion theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Cheer up José – our podcast is here Posted: 30 Dec 2013 06:56 AM PST On the final Football Weekly of 2013, James Richardson has Barry Glendenning, James Horncastle and Marcus Christenson for company as he looks back on another wild weekend in the life of the Premier League. Near the top of the Premier League, Chelsea inflicted Liverpool's second defeat in a week, while Crystal Palace almost did the impossible and took points off Manchester City at the Etihad, but it's Arsenal who finish the year looking down on the rest after their ugly win at Newcastle. And at the bottom, Fulham put in a shocking display as they crumbled against rampant Hull City, while West Ham drew with West Brom (a result overshadowed by Nicolas Anelka's latest controversy) and Cardiff threw away the points at home to Sunderland. That, boys and girls, is pretty much it. Thanks for listening and have a happy new year. James Richardson Ben Green Barry Glendenning Marcus Christenson

Two charged with racial abuse of Cole Posted: 30 Dec 2013 06:26 AM PST Alleged abuse of former Manchester United striker occurred on Sunday during flight from Dublin to Manchester Two men have appeared in court in connection with the racial abuse of former Manchester United star Andy Cole on a flight from Dublin to Manchester. Two men were said to be drunk during the flight when the retired striker was subjected to racial slurs. The men, both aged in their 20s, were arrested when the Aer Lingus flight touched down at Manchester airport on Sunday. They appeared before Trafford magistrates court on Monday, where they were charged with a racially aggravated public order offence. A Greater Manchester police spokesman said: "Gregory Horan, 26, of no fixed abode, has been charged with being drunk in an aircraft and Lee Patrick Byrne, 28, from Dublin, Republic of Ireland, has been charged with a racially-aggravated public order offence." Police confirmed officers were called to the airport in relation to an inbound flight from Dublin. "Officers were responding to reports that a 42-year-old man was being subjected to racial abuse while on the plane, and that two passengers were drunk and would not co-operate with cabin staff," a spokesman said. Cole, 42, has suffered numerous racial taunts throughout his career – both on and off the pitch. He is heavily involved with the Kick It Out campaign along with other black footballers, which aims to stamp out abuse from the stands and in the dressing room. theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

The false nine is an accepted role but with different interpretations Posted: 30 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST Tactical review of 2013, Part 2: In part two of the Tactical review of 2013 the false nine, inverted wingers and the back three are analysed • Tactical review of 2013, Part 1 The False Nine The front pairing may have made a comeback in 2013, but the false nine has become enough of a feature that it's barely even remarked upon any more. Lionel Messi, of course, remains the master, dropping deep and pulling wide to link the play and disrupt opponents' marking structures at Barcelona and it says much for the difficulty of achieving the mutual understanding necessary to make the system work that with the Argentina national team he almost invariably now plays to the right, with Gonzalo Higuaín a much more orthodox number nine. In Messi's absence, Neymar played one league game as a false nine before being restored to the left flank, and Cesc Fábregas – who did the job for Spain at the Euros – played there in the subsequent three games. Fábregas's interpretation of the role is very different to that of Messi: he seems far less a forward who drops deep than a midfielder who happens to be playing further forward. He doesn't create with the darts and gambetas of Messi, but operates almost as a target man, just one who lays the ball off having received it on the ground rather than from a long high pass or cross. Chile offer another variant, although that could change if Humberto Suazo returns to the side. For most of the World Cup qualifying they played with Alexis Sánchez to the right and Eduardo Vargas to the left both looking to swoop into the space where an orthodox nine would have been. Jorge Valdívia or Matias Fernández then played effectively as an orthodox ten, leaving less a false nine than no nine at all. Other attempts to play without a centre-forward have produced mixed results. West Ham's experiment with Kevin Nolan – more towards the Fábregas end of the spectrum than the Messi, although not especially reminiscent of either – seemed to terrify Spurs but nobody else. Adel Taarabt, though, excelled in the role for Fulham against Manchester City, although he played far more like a traditional centre-forward than seemed probable: a false false nine perhaps. Inversions A natural consequence of the false nine is the emergence of the inverted winger, another figure who is now firmly established in the positional taxonomy. So accepted is it, indeed, that this year a word was created for the position by the Linguistics and Literary Studies Section of the Hungarian Academy of Science: "tükörszélső". The idea of a left-footer playing on the right and vice-versa seems completely normal, so much so that a generation of players is emerging that naturally play on what would once have been considered the "wrong" side. Andros Townsend, for instance, is left-footed, but seems far more assured playing on the right. There is also a sub-category of inverted wingers who aren't really wingers at all, but forwards who happen to play wide, looking to work the diagonal inside the full-back. Cristiano Ronaldo, although essentially sui generis, probably falls into that category, as does Neymar and, if Gareth Bale continues to play in the right, he will too (Sánchez and Vargas offer an example of two such players functioning almost as a very distant strike partnership). When Wayne Rooney played wide for Manchester United in a 4-3-3, Sir Alex Ferguson would talk about how easy it was for him to find space. After all, he has only to drop a little to find himself in the natural hole in a 4-2-3-1, between full-back and winger and to the side of the two holders (think how Robinho prospered in that pocket for Brazil against the Netherlands in the first half of the World Cup quarter-final in 2010), or, cutting inside onto his stronger foot, he is attacking the full-back on his weaker side. The best way of combating that might be to play the full-back inverted as well. Rafa Benítez pioneered that at Liverpool when they beat Barcelona in 2007 by deploying Álvaro Arbeloa on the left against Messi, when he still played on the right, but there are suggestions it might be becoming more common. Phil Bardsley and César Azpilicueta, for instance, have regularly played on the left this season despite being right-footed. Gaël Clichy, meanwhile, continues to confound all explanation, by being right-footed but always playing on the left, and then looking like a fish out of water when asked to play at right-back for Manchester City against Fulham. The drawback of an inverted full-back comes in the attacking sphere: it's very hard for a right-footed player to overlap on the left and vice versa, and that means that, unless the approach is overtly defensive, an inverted full-back can't realistically be played on the same flank as an inverted winger if a team is to retain attacking width. The Back Three The back three initially died away in the late fifties and early sixties when it became apparent that a back four was both better at combatting opposing wingers, guarding against a defence being turned, and offered an additional attacking threat with full-backs pushing forwards. It came back in the eighties as teams stopped attacking with wingers, the three central defenders offering two markers and a spare man against opponents playing with a strike pairing, but faded away again as single central striker systems became more common, leaving the team playing a back three with one marker and two spare men. And now it has risen again, although in a multiplicity of forms. In Italy, where wingers remain as scarce as they have ever been and so the full-backs only occasionally have a direct opponent to stifle, wing-backs offer a means of introducing a measure of attacking width without taking a player out of the centre, where the familiar packed tactical battle goes on. Or teams can embrace the defensiveness of the system, the extra security offered by the additional spare man. Hull City have been particularly successful playing with a back three when they feel little onus to attack, and Aston Villa have also used it in that way this season. And there is the third model, the one drawn from the basic tenets of Total Football: play one more central defender than the opponent plays central strikers, using the spare man as a libero ready to step into midfield. Put crudely, that allows a side to get more men higher up the pitch quickly, and so facilitates the pressing and ball-winning so central to that style of play. On occasions, a side gets so used to playing with a back three, is so comfortable with its transitions, that it prefers to use a back three even against a lone striker, relishing the flexibility offered by having two spare men at the back; although that does make it essential that a team has central defenders who are comfortable on the ball. Football tactics Jonathan Wilson theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Ex-Manchester United star Andy Cole 'racially abused on Aer Lingus flight' Posted: 30 Dec 2013 05:54 AM PST • Two men arrested over drunken slurs – reports • Cole was returning home from Dublin trip Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole was racially abused on an Aer Lingus flight on Sunday, according to reports. The Irish Independent claims two men were arrested at Manchester airport following the flight from Dublin, where the ex-England forward was working as a television pundit for the game between his old side and Norwich the previous day. The paper claims the men had drinks confiscated after drunkenly hurling slurs at the 42-year-old. "We can confirm that it was an Aer Lingus flight and that an incident of racial abuse occurred," a spokesperson from the Greater Manchester Police told Independent.ie. "The victim of the abuse was identified as Mr Andrew Cole. We have received a number of enquiries in relation to the incident." Manchester United theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Should football introduce time-outs? – open thread Posted: 30 Dec 2013 03:06 AM PST The introduction of time-outs and increasing the number of players on the substitutes bench are two ideas put forward by some of the world's best managers to improve the game Some of the world's best managers spent last weekend discussing ways to improve football and one of the main suggestions that emerged was the desire to introduce time-outs. Fabio Capello, the Russia manager, and Juventus's Antonio Conte both said they would be in favour of time-outs during the eighth Dubai International Sports Conference. Pep Guardiola was also in attendance and said that he would like to have more than seven players available to choose from on the substitutes' bench while Conte said on time-outs: "They would be nice things to have as, from the bench, it is difficult to communicate a message during the game. So a two-minute time-out would be useful for a manager. Capello added that apart from the tactical advantages for coaches, the measure would bring health and commercial benefits."Time-outs to hydrate would leave players in better shape and would allow the clubs to get more revenue," the Italian said. Should football introduce time-outs? theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

2013: the year in football – video Posted: 30 Dec 2013 03:00 AM PST A look back at football's movers and shakers of 2013

Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend's action Posted: 30 Dec 2013 01:00 AM PST Tan airs his own dirty linen, Jesús stars at Christmas, Allardyce is running out of time and what does Man Utd's midfield need? 1) Should Ben Arfa have started against Arsenal? Even Alan Pardew's biggest fans - this reporter very much included - were disappointed when Hatem Ben Arfa was not in Newcastle's starting line up for the incredibly tight, rather harsh, 1-0 home defeat by Arsenal on Sunday. Yes, Ben Arfa's audacity can lose games along with possession but his presence over 90 minutes could well have won, or at least drawn, this one for Newcastle. Moreover, too many more weeks left on the bench and Ben Arfa will be agitating for a move with no shortage of interested suitors. Pardew has taught Ben Arfa a lesson about team play but now – for all Yoan Gouffran's undoubted abilities and diligence at tracking back – the time has surely come to build his side around one of the most talented players the club has ever possessed. Louise Taylor • Read the report: Newcastle United 0-1 Arsenal 2) A lack of a winter break is taking its toll Chelsea's 2-1 home win over Liverpool showcased so many of the features that make English football over the Christmas period so popular around the world - thrills, spills, controversy, tempo, total commitment. Yet there was also the reminder of the faintly ludicrous demands that are placed on the players in the shape of the walking wounded. Chelsea lost Branislav Ivanovic and Frank Lampard to injuries that José Mourinho attributed purely to the physical toll at this time of the season, when most of the rest of Europe is resting while Liverpool lost Joe Allen and Mamadou Sakho. Brendan Rodgers reported that Jordan Henderson was also at only 70 per cent fitness. David Hytner • Read the report: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool • Pictures: the best images from Stamford Bridge • David Hytner: Chelsea block Suárez's route to goal • Michael Cox: Luiz in Chelsea midfield has mixed results 3) Manchester United's midfield needs The player's insistence that he is happy and settled at Southampton is unlikely to stop speculation about Manchester United making a bid for midfielder Adam Lallana during the transfer window, and on Saturday at Carrow Road it was once again evident why. In the absence of Wayne Rooney, the lack of creativity in a midfield consisting of Shinji Kagawa, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley and Ashley Young was startling. David Moyes was guarded about Kagawa's abject failure to influence the game, even when moved into a central position, but his suggestion that Kagawa was "blowing" before being substituted hardly reflects well on the Japan international's fitness. When even the most one-eyed United supporter would surely have to admit that their festive period wins at Hull and Norwich have involved an element of good fortune, the need for Moyes to bring in a player capable of keeping his side on the front foot remains strong if United are to finish in a Champions League qualifying position. Richard Rae • Read the report: Norwich 0-1 Manchester United 4) Paulinho marries grit with flicks Danny Murphy suggested on Saturday's Match of the Day that Tom Huddlestone is better than any of the midfielders that Tottenham Hotspur bought to replace him in the summer. The next day Paulinho put in a powerful reducer on that notion. Right up to the point that he had to leave the action following a tackle by Charlie Adam, the Brazilian was brilliant against Stoke, showcasing not only a level of dynamism that Huddlestone could never match but also regular incisiveness and sumptuous flicks and tricks. Huddlestone has quality and maybe Spurs should not have sold him, but they were certainly right to buy Paulinho. Spurs will be poorer if injury forces him to miss the trip to Old Trafford on Wednesday. Paul Doyle • Read the report: Tottenham 3-0 Stoke City 5) Tan airs own dirty linen Vincent Tan, Cardiff's Malaysian owner, is a hard man to like. He sacked Malky Mackay, the manager who took the club into the Premier League for the first time, which is his prerogative after bankrolling promotion, but having fans' banners thanking Mackay removed by stewards at Saturday's match was petty in the extreme. And how about this for hypocrisy: Tan said on Friday that too much dirty linen was being washed in public yet after the game, not realising he was talking to a journalist, he asked him: "Well, would you have spent £8m on [Andreas] Cornelius?" No wonder Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn't fancy the job. Joe Lovejoy • Read the report: Cardiff City 2-2 Sunderland • Video: David Kerslake distances himself from vacancy 6) Jesús stars at Christmas Perhaps, considering his given name, it is appropriate he has starred at this time of year but Jesús Navas found his finest form in a Manchester City shirt in the depths of winter. The World Cup winner was displaced in the side by the renascent Samir Nasri but injuries to first David Silva and then Sergio Agüero have brought a reprieve. Navas was outstanding in the 6-0 win against Tottenham and has exerted an influence in each of the last three games: he was a goalscoring substitute at Fulham, the provider of Alvaro Negredo's winner against Liverpool and the creator of Edin Dzeko's decider in the Crystal Palace game. With Silva suspended for the New Year's Day trip to Swansea, the Spaniard's excellence is proving timely. Richard Jolly • Read the report: Manchester City 1-0 Crystal Palace • Video: Manuel Pellegrini criticises congested schedule • Video: Palace will sign players in January, says Pulis 7) Can Lerner trust Lambert to get it right in transfer market next month? On the evidence of the season so far, but in particular the last five games, Aston Villa need to strengthen in the transfer window to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle for the fourth season running. Villa broke their transfer record three years ago, when Randy Lerner sanctioned the signing of Darren Bent to help the club pull clear of the bottom three, but there is no chance of the owner approving deals anywhere near that level now. At the same time, it is often overlooked that Paul Lambert has spent the best part of £40m bringing in 15 players since taking over as manager in the summer of 2012. While the signing of Christian Benteke came off spectacularly, and Ron Vlaar has come good this season, many of the new recruits have struggled and in some cases looked totally out of their depth, to the point that Lerner could be forgiven for wondering to what extent he can trust Lambert's judgment in the market next month. Stuart James • Read the report: Aston Villa 1-1 Swansea City • Video: Lambert blames poor form on squad injuries • Stuart James: Villa heading in the wrong direction 8) Allardyce running out of time – and excuses Sam Allardyce has a lot to thank Nicolas Anelka for. The striker, whom Allardyce signed when in charge of Bolton, may have struck twice against West Ham on Saturday but had it not been the controversy surrounding one of his goal celebrations then it is likely that much of the focus following the 3-3 draw at Upton Park would have centred instead on the home team's ongoing troubles. It is now one win in 12 league games for West Ham and while they showed admirable fighting qualities against West Bromwich Albion, this was a key opportunity missed to escape the bottom three. Next up is a crucial-looking visit to Fulham on New Year's Day and it cannot come as much encouragement for West Ham supporters that Allardyce is already getting the excuses in. "My problem is that the team that'll play at Fulham is depleted," said the manager. "I need to recover those players as quickly as I can." In fairness to Allardyce, he has had to deal with a long list of injuries this season, with James Tomkins the latest to be ruled out of for duty. But the readiness with which he uses that as an excuse to explain why West Ham will begin 2014 in 19th place suggests Allardyce is already fearing the worst. At the very least, it cannot be great for the fit players to hear their manager constantly bemoan the absence of those on the treatment table. Whatever the case, this is proving to be a gruelling winter for West Ham and defeat at Fulham could well prove the end for the man in charge. Sachin Nakrani • Read the report: West Ham 3-3 West Bromwich Albion • Anelka faces lengthy ban for making quenelle gesture • The French comedian at the centre of Anelka row 9) Can Huddlestone make it to the World Cup? When asked if Roy Hodgson should think about taking Tom Huddlestone to the World Cup, following his stand-out performance in the 6-0 demolition of Fulham, Hull manager Steve Bruce was thinly veiled in his response. "It is not for me to tell Roy what to do," said Bruce, "but it will be hot in Brazil and you will need people who can technically take care of the ball." Technically, Huddlestone's ability is not in doubt, but his mobility, or perceived lack thereof, has been a barrier in the past. If he can maintain both the dynamism and tactical awareness he showed on Saturday – two qualities that are essential to Hodgson's playing style with England – all season, he has a big chance of bettering the provisional 30-man World Cup squad he made in 2010. Huddlestone faces another challenge in his battle to beat other hopefuls like Tom Cleverley and Jordan Henderson to Brazil: that 2010 squad he made while playing for Tottenham; will Hodgson favour picking players from the so-called bigger sides? Michael Butler • Read the report: Hull City 6-0 Fulham • Video: Bruce hails Huddlestone 'midfield masterclass' 10) Lallana bares his teeth The moment when Adam Lallana squared up to Sylvain Distin in the second half of Southampton's 2-1 defeat at Everton indicated the captain has the feistiness to go with the undoubted skill he illustrated all afternoon. Whenever the ball came to the forward it was retained or recycled in progressive fashion as Lallana again underlined why he has a good shout of making Roy Hodgson's England squad for the summer's World Cup in Brazil. But it was when he took on Distin, who is sizeably bigger than Lallana, that he most impressed: after one of those 50-50 tangles that occur throughout a game the smaller man was on his feet quickly to send a message to the defender and the rest of the team that he had no problem leading the fight on enemy turf. Jamie Jackson • Read the report: Everton 2-1 Southampton • Jagielka's hamstring puts him out for a month Premier League Newcastle United Arsenal Norwich City Manchester United Cardiff City Sunderland Manchester City Crystal Palace Aston Villa Swansea City West Ham United West Bromwich Albion Hull City Fulham Tottenham Hotspur Stoke City Chelsea Liverpool Everton Southampton Richard Rae Joe Lovejoy Richard Jolly Sachin Nakrani Stuart James Jamie Jackson Michael Butler Paul Doyle David Hytner Louise Taylor theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Nicolas Anelka faces lengthy ban after controversial quenelle gesture Posted: 29 Dec 2013 03:47 PM PST • Gesture linked to anti-Zionist French comedian • FA and Kick It Out are investigating Anelka's actions Nicolas Anelka has refused to apologise for his controversial quenelle gesture and denied any anti-Semitic intent behind the celebration. The French striker faces a potential minimum five-match ban for the gesture, made during West Bromwich Albion's 3-3 draw with West Ham on Saturday and which has subsequently been described as "disgusting" by France's minister for sport, Valérie Fourneyron. In a series of tweets, Anelka has defended his actions, saying the quenelle celebration was intended to be anti-establishment. He tweeted: "I do not know what the word religion has to do with this story. This quenelle is a dedication to my friend [the comedian] Dieudonné. With regard to the ministers who have given their own interpretations of my quenelle … they are the ones that create confusion and controversy without knowing what this gesture really means. I ask people not to be duped by the media … And of course, I am neither a racist nor an anti-Semite." The striker has been at the centre of a storm since he was spotted doing the quenelle, described by some as a "reverse Nazi salute", while celebrating the first of his two goals for West Brom at Upton Park. The Football Association has confirmed it is investigating the matter alongside Kick It Out and it is possible that under anti-discriminatory rules introduced by the governing body in May, Anelka could be banned for five matches. That sanction could be extended, however, depending on "aggravating" factors and there remains the possibility of Uefa getting involved and handing Anelka a lengthy ban itself under Article 14 of their own disciplinary regulations. Those state that "any person who insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons … on the grounds of skin colour, race, religion or ethnic origin, incurs a suspension lasting at least 10 matches." That, however, would only kick in should Anelka join a club playing in Uefa competitions. Anelka has confirmed that by placing his left arm across his chest while keeping his right arm pointed downwards, he was indeed recreating the quenelle, but insisted on Twitter that it was a "special dedication to my comedian friend Dieudonné." Dieudonné M'Bala M'Bala, however, is well known in France for maintaining anti-Semitic views and for having come up with the quenelle, which he first used in 2009 while standing in the European elections for an anti-Zionist party. The 47-year-old has insisted that the gesture is meant as an anti-establishment protest and is not directed specifically at the Jewish community, but it has been described as "the sodomisation of victims of the Holocaust" by Alain Jakubowicz, the president of the French league against racism and antisemitism. Dieudonné has reportedly started legal proceedings against Jakubowicz for libel. The Board of Deputies of British Jews has described the quenelle as "antisemitic" and says Dieudonné "has form for race hate". France's interior minister, Manuel Valls, is now considering whether to ban all public appearances by Dieudonné, who has been fined a number of times for hate speech, with the controversy surrounding Anelka's celebration hardly likely to help the so-called comedian's cause. "Anelka's gesture is a shocking, disgusting provocation," said Fourneyron. "There is no place for antisemitism and incitement to hatred on the football pitch." Anelka, who converted to Islam in 2004, has received the support of his club, with the West Brom caretaker manager, Keith Downing, describing the controversy surrounding his celebration as "rubbish" in the aftermath of Saturday's fixture. "I'm aware of it but it is dedicated to a French comedian he [Anelka] knows well," said Downing. The quenelle outrage overshadowed an excellent display by Anelka at the weekend, when the 34-year-old scored his first goals for West Brom since joining the club on a free transfer in the summer. A lengthy-ban could ultimately signal the end of what has been a consistently controversial career, which included his expulsion from the 2010 France World Cup squad in South Africa for verbally attacking the then head coach Raymond Domenech. Anelka is not the first footballer who has been photographed doing the quenelle, with Manchester City's Samir Nasri and Liverpool's Mamadou Sakho having also performed the gesture. Sakho later insisted that he did not know what it meant. "I was tricked," said the defender. Nicolas Anelka West Bromwich Albion Premier League Sachin Nakrani theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

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