Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Clarence Seedorf, the Milan doctor, puts smile back on patient's face | Paolo Bandini
Allardyce says Morrison could leave
Jérôme Champagne's Fifa presidency bid raises more questions than answers | Owen Gibson
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Everton | Premier League match report
Premier League clubs can learn from Portugal's profit centres | Harvey Taylor
West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Everton – as it happened | Simon Burnton
Tottenham's Tim Sherwood: Nabil Bentaleb may prompt eligibility battle
Moyes intent on avoiding panic buys
How Melbourne Heart's 4-4-2 helped end their woeful run
Champagne announces Fifa bid
Zoopla to end WBA sponsorship in light of Anelka quenelle
Ince remains in place at Blackpool
Bert Williams obituary
Millwall sign DJ Campbell on loan from Blackburn Rovers until end of season
Sunderland's Gus Poyet signs Santiago Vergini on loan to end of season
Rodgers warns Everton ahead of derby
The Fiver | Sooner or later Pelé is going to be right about something
Eden Hazard commits future to Chelsea despite PSG rumours
Accrington Stanley fined over James Beattie's lack of coaching badges
Zoopla to end West Brom sponsorship deal in light of Nicolas Anelka gesture
Could Wayne Rooney and Yohan Cabaye 'buy out' their contracts?
Football Weekly: José Mourinho shows Manchester United what they missed
José Mourinho is all about emotion – and United would have loved that | Daniel Taylor
Manchester United player ratings under David Moyes in Premier League
Juan Carlos Garrido the latest casualty on Real Betis's sinking ship | Sid Lowe

Clarence Seedorf, the Milan doctor, puts smile back on patient's face | Paolo Bandini

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:47 PM PST

The new manager has put a smile back on his patient's face but healing the sick man of Milan will be a greater challenge

Milan's new doctor arrived with a positive prognosis. "You never lose your DNA," said Clarence Seedorf as he prepared for his first match in charge of the Rossoneri this weekend. "You can contract a virus but the anti-virus is already on its way."

None could fault his bedside manner. It is too soon yet to draw firm conclusions about Seedorf's managerial approach but the early impressions are that it will be a lot more Patch Adams than Gregory House. The Dutchman believes firmly that happiness, if not laughter, could be the best medicine for his team.

"I have a huge desire to … transmit enthusiasm and joy, which are the fundamental elements in doing this work to the best of your ability," he continued. "We are all lucky to be able to do this job which is almost like a hobby."

Those words had been pre-empted by his actions, Seedorf arriving at the team's Milanello training base a few days earlier with an infectious enthusiasm. One of his first innovations as manager was to introduce new warm-up drills that borrowed ideas from childhood games like piggy-in-the-middle. Players chased one another without a ball and leapt on each other's backs for safety. "It must be a Dutch game," laughed Kaká when asked about it afterwards. "I've never seen it before in Brazil."

Seedorf opened his team's training sessions up to the public and eyebrows were raised as he threw himself straight into certain drills, one or two observers asking whether he was blurring the lines between his former role as a player and his new one as a manager. But if nothing else his actions certainly seemed to lift the mood of a group that was still reeling from last week's collapse against Sassuolo. He has reminded his players that football is supposed to be fun.

It is a message his employer will certainly endorse. Outside commitments have thus far prevented Silvio Berlusconi from formally welcoming Seedorf to the club but it is no secret that the owner is behind this appointment. He is on record as long ago as 2011 stating that the Dutchman would one day become manager of Milan (albeit he declared in the same breath that Seedorf would play on until the age of 52).

Having previously launched the managerial careers of Arrigo Sacchi and Fabio Capello, Berlusconi has just cause to trust his own judgment. Others, though, are less convinced by the appointment. Ultras from the Curva Sud hung a banner outside the team's offices last week saying: "Seedorf, no thanks."

The same group had expressed a similar sentiment in response to past rumours of the same appointment, railing against the notion of hiring a manager with no experience at a time when the team was already struggling. Seedorf, after all, has not yet obtained his Uefa Pro Licence. Not even the greatest bedside manner should be enough to persuade a sick patient to put their life in the hands of an entirely unqualified doctor.

Seedorf does not intend to remain one of those for very long, and had begun studying for the relevant badges for months before he left Botafogo. But even once he does obtain the requisite paperwork, he will still have to work hard to convince sceptical fans and journalists that he has sufficient knowledge to survive in an intensely tactical league.

Asked about formations before Sunday's game against Verona, Seedorf confirmed the widely held expectation that he would use a 4-2-3-1, saying that he wanted to take maximum advantage of the attacking talent at his disposal but he also insisted that formations were not the be all and end all. "I hope you won't hammer too hard on this point," he added. "Because I am aiming for a footballing philosophy which can develop over time."

If Seedorf believes that such a statement could save him from further tactical questioning in the weeks and months ahead, then he is in for a disappointment. But he has been involved in this sport long enough to understand the most fundamental truth of his new profession: that the narrative is much easier to control as long as you are winning games.

And on that front, at least, his team got off to a good start, beating Verona 1-0 at San Siro. It had not been an overwhelmingly strong performance from the Rossoneri against opponents who were missing their top striker, Luca Toni, and who had just sold one of their most effective midfielders, Jorginho, to Napoli. Although Milan monopolised possession, they might never have broken the deadlock without the 80th-minute penalty that was gifted to them when Alejandro González needlessly chopped down Kaká in the area.

But this game arrived too soon to expect a revolution. Seedorf had been working for only half a week with a group of players that had scraped together 22 points from their first 19 games of the season, conceding 30 goals along the way. Although he did indeed change up the formation, getting all four of Mario Balotelli, Kaká, Robinho and Keisuke Honda on the pitch from the start, this team inevitably still owed more to Massimiliano Allegri than it did to his replacement.

Even the Italian press, not wanting to draw too many conclusions from the action on the field, seemed to spend as much time watching Seedorf's movement around his technical area. Or, more accurately, the lack of it. The new manager had mostly stayed still and quiet during the game, standing and watching without ever betraying too much of his emotion. Gazzetta dello Sport observed that he had "interpreted his role according to the rules of tennis: no coaching allowed".

This was a change of pace from Allegri's anxious gesticulation. Seedorf took a different approach for the penalty, too, keeping his eyes on the action where his predecessor had developed a habit of turning his back while spot-kicks were being taken.

After scoring, Balotelli pointed towards the bench, acknowledging his new boss. He would later dedicate the goal to Seedorf and express his enthusiasm for the new tactical scheme, which has given him more freedom to drift out wide.

Down in the changing room at full-time the whole team shared what Seedorf would call a "spontaneous hug". He immediately resolved to take such spontaneity out of it in future, stating that, "We'll do it after every match: win, lose or draw."

As with the vast majority of Seedorf's actions so far, it seems to have been well received. Already, the new doctor has succeeded in his first goal of putting a smile back on his patient's face. Healing them, though, will be an altogether greater challenge.

Talking points

• Milan were not the only Serie A club to change managers this week. Both Catania and Livorno did the same thing – the Sicilians bringing back former boss Rolando Maran, while the Tuscans handed the job to long-time club servant, Attilio Perotti (who has had one brief caretaker stint in charge before now). Both teams subsequently lost this weekend, 3-0, although perhaps we should go easy on them. They were up against Fiorentina and Roma, respectively, after all.

• Alessandro Matri scored more goals (two) in his first 45 minutes on loan at Fiorentina than he had in almost half a season with Milan. Going up against that shambolic Catania defence did not hurt his cause but that is still some comment on how good this Viola team is at creating chances for its strikers.

• Are Inter about to swap Fredy Guarín for Juventus's Mirko Vucinic? Reports suggested that might be the case earlier on Monday, only for the deal to be put on hold – seemingly as a result of the furious reaction from the Nerazzurri's supporters. Both are frustrating players who never seem to play up to their talent on a consistent basis but Guarin, at 27, is three years younger than the Juventus striker, a fact which would seem to skew the deal in the champions' favour. That said, you can understand why Inter might feel they need another striker most of all after a game against Genoa which they wasted chance after chance before finally losing 1-0. Including the Coppa Italia, they have scored just once in their last four games.

• Did Napoli's Scudetto ambitions die with a draw at Bologna on Sunday? Were they even really still alive beforehand? Right now, the Partenopei's more immediate concern should be making sure that they cling on to third place, with Fiorentina snapping at their heels. Napoli are capable of some brilliant football under Rafael Benítez but they have been far too easily overrun in midfield. The signing of Jorginho may help, and further additions are expected, but at a certain point you have to ask whether the manager might do more to shift the balance of his team in order to address this weakness.

Results: Atalanta 1-0 Cagliari, Bologna 2-2 Napoli, Catania 0-3 Fiorentina, Chievo 1-2 Parma, Genoa 1-0 Inter, Juventus 4-2 Sampdoria, Milan 1-0 Verona, Roma 3-0 Livorno, Sassuolo 0-2 Torino, Udinese 2-3 Lazio

Paolo Bandini

Allardyce says Morrison could leave

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:30 PM PST

• Manager believes midfielder may have been unsettled
• But Fulham made a 'derisory' offer for the player

Sam Allardyce has accepted that Ravel Morrison could leave West Ham United this winter, saying that the midfielder may have been unsettled despite a "derisory" transfer offer from Fulham.

Morrison, who joined the Hammers in 2012 from Manchester United, is valued at £10m by the east London club but Fulham's initial bid, confirmed last week by their manager, René Meulensteen, was rejected.

Meulensteen said the 20-year-old, who is expected to play in Tuesday night's Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Manchester City, was keen on a move to Craven Cottage but following his comments West Ham have lodged an official complaint to the Premier League accusing Fulham of tapping up the player.

Under the terms of Morrison's contract his wage would increase to £60,000 a week if West Ham received an offer of £10m but then decided to keep him at the club while his current salary is approximately one quarter of that amount.

Allardyce said the January window was a time when speculation could turn the heads of players but he refused to rule out the possibility of Morrison leaving. When asked if he was tempted to sell him, Allardyce said: "Well, who knows? You take each day as it comes in this window.

"This window creates a hysteria about the fact that people will tell you that somebody is going to come and get you. That could then turn your head, probably based on the money that people say you're going to make. Everybody as a human being is not all the same, some players will act and react a different way, to whatever they feel is best for them.

"I would probably think that across the country at every club there is a player unsettled because of mad January, the lunatic transfer window that creates havoc throughout the game.

"He's a young man, and a young man with not much experience, you have to give a bit of leeway for that scenario. He's not an experienced man in life, never mind in football. And inexperienced young players can react in many different ways.

"It's difficult for a manager to give advice to a young player when it comes to that because they see you probably working for the club as the manager rather than working for them."

When pressed on Fulham's bid for Morrison, Allardyce added: "That was a simple turn-down of a derisory offer, in our opinion. It's an offer that wasn't acceptable."

West Ham were thwarted in their efforts to sign the defender Johnny Heitinga from Everton earlier in the window, while the Merseyside club are expected to gazump them by signing the striker Lacina Traoré on loan from Monaco, despite the forward having been expected to join the Hammers.

Against City at Upton Park West Ham will seek to salvage some pride after their 6-0 thumping in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium. Allardyce is expected to name a strong side, hoping also to end a five-match losing streak, the latest reverse being the 3-1 home defeat by Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday.

James Riach

Jérôme Champagne's Fifa presidency bid raises more questions than answers | Owen Gibson

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:26 PM PST

Frenchman's move for the top job at Fifa has intrigued watchers of football politics, who find it difficult to interpret his intentions

As stirring slogans go, it is not exactly up there with Margaret Thatcher's "Labour Isn't Working" or Barack Obama's "Yes We Can". But "Rebalance the Game in a Globalised 21st Century", the tagline to Jérôme Champagne's push to become Fifa president in 2015, is a pretty apt summation of his position. It is also one that is admirable, worthy and full of good intentions but overly verbose and prompts more questions than answers.

Champagne launched his candidacy on Monday at the historic site where the Football Association first met to codify the rules of the game 150 years ago. He also unveiled a new website, a thoughtful speech and an endorsement from Pelé .

But in a remarkable admission for a man at the beginning of a campaign that will not reach a conclusion for 15 months he also accepted that he could not win if his one-time ally Sepp Blatter decides to stand for a fifth term at the age of 77. He also conceded that he may not even make the ballot paper if Blatter stands.

Asked directly whether he could beat Blatter, Champagne said: "No, I don't think [so]. He is a person of relevance. But it's a very hypothetical question. A lot of things can happen." He answered differently when asked if he could beat Michel Platini, long seen as the most likely challenger to Blatter's throne.

Champagne, a former French diplomat who held senior positions at Fifa for 11 years before he was ousted in 2010 in a coup by the heads of the six confederations, has spent much of the intervening period thinking carefully about the future of football.

The problems he identifies – the growing gap between rich and poor within leagues and between nations, the slow strangulation of international football, the urgent need for reform of Fifa to provide more transparency and representation –are the right ones. His proposed answers have been thought through and deserve consideration, so much so that Blatter has already purloined many of them.

But his problems, beyond securing the required five nominations from football associations around the world, are many.

On the one hand he is heavily identified with Fifa and Blatter. On the other he has kept his hands scrupulously clean and is presenting himself as a reform candidate who can help correct an "image deficit" in the eyes of fans around the world who see Fifa as utterly discredited.

Moreover he feels compelled to defend the man he helped to victory in 1998 and 2002 amid all kinds of rumours of corruption, arguing that the way Fifa is constituted made it necessary for Blatter – "an honest man, married to football" – to sup with all manner of devils "with a long spoon".

Yet Champagne admits that the structures which govern world football are in urgent need of reform. He has called for televised debates between candidates, promised transparency on pay and finances and vowed to restructure the executive committee to include representatives of players, of clubs and of leagues.

There is a French children's song that features an elephant balancing on a spider's web. As Champagne fended off questions about his future intentions, it is one he may have recalled.

In the febrile world of Fifa politics, where little is ever as it seems, his decision to fire the starting gun on the 2015 race so early prompted a host of theories.

Some wondered whether the idea was endorsed by Blatter, either as a way of smoking out potential competition or as a means of proving this is not going to be another unchallenged coronation.

Champagne, who has carved out a post- Fifa career as a consultant in some of football's thorniest trouble spots, was forced to insist his declaration was not simply a PR stunt aimed at bolstering his own reputation and employability. "If I am here, it is not for me," he said. "It is for the ideas I defend." He said, again and again, that he was running for the right reasons. "I am running because I believe in what I am saying. I am running to win. I am running to implement my ideas," he said, denying rumours he had been "manipulated" by Blatter.

Others have speculated that Champagne believes Blatter will not stand, leaving him in a straight fight with Platini. But if that scenario were to present itself, there could be other challengers, including Concacaf's Jeffrey Webb.

Blatter, the great survivor, has still to make up his mind one way or the other, although his most recent hints that he is "not tired enough" to give up suggest he will stand. Platini, under pressure on several fronts, has also yet to declare his hand.

Whatever else, it is to be hoped that at the very least Champagne ignites a debate based on policies rather than personality. Pelé, no stranger to endorsements, said: "My friend, Jérôme Champagne. I am wishing you good luck for the fight." He will need it.

Owen Gibson

West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Everton | Premier League match report

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:16 PM PST

Pepe Mel talked about "happy endings" when he was unveiled as West Bromwich Albion's head coach last week, and that choice of words provided a reasonable description of the part-time novelist's first game in charge. After a disappointing start against an Everton side who looked set to secure the victory that would have lifted them back into the top four courtesy of Kevin Mirallas's first-half goal, Albion recovered to pick up a valuable point.

Diego Lugano, making a rare appearance in the centre of the Albion defence, chose a good night to open his account for the club. With 75 minutes gone and Albion looking increasingly desperate, James Morrison created a yard of space where there appeared to be none on the right-hand side of the penalty area and delivered a perfect centre that Lugano met with a superb diving header.

Mel clenched his fists and Albion had the point that they arguably deserved on the back of a much improved second-half performance, during which Nicolas Anelka, who is expected to be charged by the Football Association today for the anti-semitic gesture he made at West Ham United last month, left the field to rich applause from the home fans.

Mel, who was given a warm ovation when he strolled on to the pitch before the game, had promised Albion's supporters that they would see a "different" team. The Spaniard wanted his players to press higher up the pitch and adopt a more aggressive approach. If those tactics were in keeping with a man schooled in La Liga, it was a little surprising that Mel opted to set Albion up in an old-fashioned 4-4-2, especially against an Everton side that look to dominate possession.

Everton opened up Albion with alarming ease at times during the first half and only the absence of a more ruthless touch in front of goal prevented the visitors from taking the lead earlier in the game. When the breakthrough did arrive, it was a relatively simple goal from Everton's point of view.

Sylvain Distin, returning to the side following a three-game absence following a hamstring injury, floated a ball into the left channel that Romelu Lukaku, getting above Jonas Olsson, flicked on. Mirallas, who was deployed in a central role behind Lukaku, read the striker's intentions and ran off the back of Lugano. The Belgian left Lugano in his wake and took a touch before planting a right-footed shot, from about 12 yards, inside Ben Foster's near post.

The frustration for Albion was that they were enjoying arguably their best spell at that point and Everton had lost the impetus that made them such a threat in the opening half an hour. As early as the fifth minute there was a sign that Albion might be vulnerable to the ball in behind. Lukaku escaped in the left channel from another Distin pass but, with Foster dashing off his line, the Everton forward lofted his shot wide of the target.

It was a sign of things to come for Albion in a disjointed start to the game. Bryan Oviedo, given far too much time and space by the Albion defence, squandered two half-chances in the space of a couple of minutes, while Mirallas and James McCarthy were both guilty of shooting too close to Foster. Those Everton opportunities all arrived inside the first 20 minutes. Seamus Coleman had another when he was denied by Foster at the far post 10 minutes later.

Having emerged from that period unscathed, Albion started to play with a touch more belief and had a decent opportunity to open the scoring when Anelka played a fine reverse pass to set Zoltan Gera free. Coming in off the right flank, Gera found himself through on goal but his left-footed shot, from just inside the area, was comfortably repelled by Tim Howard.

With Matej Vydra struggling to have any impact on the game, the Czech Republic forward was withdrawn at half-time and replaced by Victor Anichebe. The change almost brought instant reward for Albion when James Morrison's pass released Anelka on the right. The Frenchman looked up before picking out Anichebe's run towards the near post but Phil Jagielka tracked his former Everton team-mate's movement and did enough to prevent the striker from getting much purchase on his attempt to turn the ball home.

When Youssouf Mulumbu – a surprise omission from the starting XI – was introduced later in the half, the change in formation to a bold 4-1-3-2 seemed to be lost in translation for a while as Mel had several attempts at trying to get across his message. He eventually got the response he wanted, though, when Morrison wriggled free on the right and, despite the close attention of Leighton Baines and McCarthy, whipped a cross that Lugano met with an emphatic header.

Stuart James

Premier League clubs can learn from Portugal's profit centres | Harvey Taylor

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:09 PM PST

Nemanja Matic's move back to Chelsea shows the value of Benfica's business model in the age of financial fair play

Nemanja Matic's return to Chelsea from Benfica after leaving in 2011 as a makeweight in the David Luiz deal is yet another astonishing piece of business by Portugal's leading clubs. The Serbian midfielder returned to Stamford Bridge for around £21m, a remarkable fee given he was valued near £3m when he left three years ago.

In recent years Ramires, Fábio Coentrão, Ángel Di María, Javi García and Axel Witsel have left the Estádio da Luz for a combined transfer total of around £134m and a profit of more than £100m. It is thought Benfica may yet sell more of their assets in this window, with both their Argentinian centre-back Ezequiel Garay and striker Rodrigo linked with a joint move to Zenit St Petersburg. The former has also been linked with a move to Manchester United for some time.

However, these profits are dwarfed by those made by Benfica's rivals in the north, Porto. Under the stewardship of their shrewd president, Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, Porto have not only sold their key on-field assets for large profits but done so without damaging the club's success on the pitch.

Since José Mourinho led Porto to their second Champions League success in 2004, the club have made some €400m profit (£342m) in player sales. Despite the departures of Radamel Falcao, Hulk and, more recently, James Rodríguez and João Moutinho, Porto have continued to dominate the domestic scene, winning seven league titles since 2004. Couple this with four Portuguese Cup triumphs and a Europa League victory and Porto's model seems to contradict those who claim success is built on stability – especially as they have had eight different managers in this period.

In there, somewhere, is a lesson for Premier League clubs.

Porto's scouting network is among the most extensive in world football. Their director, Antonio Henrique, says: "We work with 250 scouts around the world in countries that make sense for football because we will not send anyone to Bangladesh. We have internal and external scouts, who are divided into several levels of observation, which allows a player to be viewed by several people. They work with a shadow team, which is a set of players who are identified from various leagues and capable of being hired by Porto."

Whereas Benfica and Porto focus on importing their talent, Sporting's model is focused on nurturing their own talent at their excellent academy in Alcochete, a 40-minute drive west of Lisbon. It has one of the best production lines in Europe, with stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luís Figo and Paulo Futre progressing through its ranks. Last week the latest talent, 19-year-old Carlos Mane, scored a stunning goal on his full debut against Maritimo.

For a nation that has experienced economic hardship in recent years, its football clubs at least seem to be bucking the trend. The head of the Portuguese league, Manuel Figueiredo, said last year that between 2001 and 2011 Portugal was the only European Union country with a positive net balance in player trade, with sales of some €1 bn euros and a €400m surplus. "The secret for a small country like us to stay up there with the very best is to be highly professional and nurture talent," said Figueiredo.

"This happens all throughout the value chain, not just with Porto and Benfica but also with clubs like Braga and Maritimo and in the lower leagues."

Portugal offers a gateway into Europe for many young South Americans, with Brazilians, in particular, profiting from the lack of a language barrier. The nation's more relaxed approach to immigration and the relative ease it offers in obtaining an EU passport makes Portugal the ideal stepping stone.

Da Costa says Porto have to keep their eye on the ball to remain competitive: "We have to be permanently studying the youth market. This is what allows us to keep fighting, despite having a budget 20 times less in respect to income than others. Players come here and feel at home straight away."

Porto and Benfica, despite their stature, are nowhere near able to compete with Europe's giants due to the lack of income from television rights. In 2012-13 Porto received €13.2m in television money following their championship-winning campaign. Manchester United received £60.8m. Queens Park Rangers finished bottom of the Premier League last season but still received a TV fee of £39.8m, dwarfing that of Porto.

Portuguese clubs may have had their hand forced in the transfer market but they have subsequently developed a remarkably successful business model. With the introduction of financial fair play this season, it may yet become the blueprint for many European clubs.

West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Everton – as it happened | Simon Burnton

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:07 PM PST

Minute-by-minute report: Everton scored first and West Brom scored second in what can only be described as a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns

Simon Burnton

Tottenham's Tim Sherwood: Nabil Bentaleb may prompt eligibility battle

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 01:37 PM PST

The Spurs manager believes the form of his teenage midfielder could lead to an 'arm-wrestle' between England and France over who he should play for, with Algeria also in the running

The Tottenham manager, Tim Sherwood, believes Nabil Bentaleb could be the subject of a potential "arm-wrestle" between England and France over his international eligibility, while Algeria are expected to try to call up the young midfielder later this month.

Bentaleb, 19, has featured regularly in the Spurs starting XI under Sherwood this year and his presence has coincided with a series of impressive team performances, most recently the 3-1 victory over Swansea City on Sunday.

Having previously slipped under the radar after being released by Lille and Mouscron before failing to agree terms with Birmingham City following a trial, the young midfielder signed for Tottenham in January 2012 and made his debut during the 3-2 win at Southampton in December.

Such has been Bentaleb's impressive form that the Football Association has shown an interest in selecting him for England in the future. Having already lived in the country for two years, he would be eligible for England duty in 2017, if he does not play for another international side before then.

Bentaleb was born in Lille to Algerian parents and represented France Under-19s in November 2012 but following Tottenham's win at Swansea Sherwood said he was unsure how closely Les Bleus had been monitoring the player's development.

"If he carries on the way he is at the moment he'll be knocking at the door for the French squad at the World Cup," said Sherwood. "He's got to make a decision and I'm not sure how much love the French are showing him now.

"He's been in the wilderness but now he's not and everyone is starting to know about him. He's performing regularly and if the English are serious about it, it probably could be an arm-wrestle between them and the French. I'm not saying they didn't treat him well, it's that he's been in the wilderness because he hasn't played. To scout him they'd have had to come to watch our under-21s. I maintain that [good] players are out there, whether they're French, English, Scottish, whatever; people just have to look harder and they have to trust them."

Asked to put himself in a current England midfielder's shoes and imagine how it would feel to be overlooked for a naturalised player, Sherwood added: "I wouldn't be happy. It's only in the last few weeks that I've heard him speak French for the first time. I called him on it because I had thought he was from Harlow or somewhere!"

Bentaleb has also caught the eye of Algeria and is likely to be called into their preliminary squad on 31 January for a friendly against Slovenia on 5 March. The Algeria manager, Vahid Halilhodzic, is expected to select Bentaleb unless he informs officials from the country that he does not want to be considered.

The situation represents an intriguing choice for Bentaleb, who not long ago was struggling for a club and has now been catapulted into consideration by three international teams. Both Algeria and France will compete at the 2014 World Cup and should the player accept any call from the north African side, he could find himself with an excellent chance of making their squad for Brazil. If the FA opts to pursue Bentaleb then it will once again open up the debate surrounding international eligibility of players considered for England duty, a topic that became a major talking point last year when it was revealed the organisation was considering Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj as a potential player for the future.

In October Arsenal's Jack Wilshere said "if you live in England for five years it doesn't make you English" but Sherwood believes Bentaleb has the quality to succeed at the highest level after giving him a surprise opportunity in the first team.

When asked if he knew of the youngster's quality before Tottenham brought in a number of expensive midfielders last summer, Sherwood, former head of youth development at Spurs, said: "I knew him more than anyone. It's about having trust and knowing someone and really believing in them. If you're coming in from the outside and you haven't been brought up with these boys, then it's difficult to have the trust over full international players who are coming in with big reputations.

"But I just felt 'I know what the boy is capable of doing, I know the Premier League better than any of our players so I know what's required, I know the demands.' I knew he had the qualities to be able to do it."

James Riach

Moyes intent on avoiding panic buys

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 12:54 PM PST

• David Moyes will not be drawn into rash last-minute purchases
• Club will stick to strategy of targeting only the best players

Manchester United will not be panicked into last-minute buys during the transfer window even if they lose to Cardiff City next week and fall further behind in the race for Champions League qualification.

United's transfer policy will remain focused on a long-term approach, with only the very best being targeted. That means no rash moves for ordinary Premier League players and an attempt to sign Newcastle United's Yohan Cabaye has already been ruled out by David Moyes.

If United lose at Old Trafford next week, against a side managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjær and other results go against them, the champions could find themselves a minimum of three victories short of the top four with a few days of the transfer window remaining. Yet this would not lead to the club changing strategy.

The prospect of not being able to attract high-class talent by being out of Europe's elite club competition is of no concern to United. They are confident that the sizeable £80m-plus transfer budget at the manager's disposal, allied to their world-famous name, will ensure United can still strengthen as wished in the summer.

After Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Chelsea left United six points behind Liverpool in fourth, Nemanja Vidic said the team have to remain unified. "It's important we stick together and work hard for each other," said the captain, who was sent off late in the game. "If we do that, I think we can turn things around. If you look at the whole game, I don't think we played too badly. I don't think losing three goals really tells the story.

"We lost two goals from set pieces and one deflection. Apart from that they didn't create too many chances. They didn't have many shots on target but scored three times. It's disappointing. I don't think we were clinical enough in their box and we didn't defend well enough in ours. We didn't give them many chances but everything they had they took. They punished us. It's just small things. Small details this season are making big differences and changing games.

"We just have to stay positive and keep fighting to be in amongst the top teams at the end of the season. Hopefully, with a bit of luck, we'll have better days. We were good for long periods, but it was one of those days that turned out badly for us."

Jamie Jackson

How Melbourne Heart's 4-4-2 helped end their woeful run

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 12:50 PM PST

Kate Cohen: A midfield diamond meant that Mate Dugandzic could play a part both in attack and defence for John Van ’t Schip

Kate Cohen

Champagne announces Fifa bid

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 12:33 PM PST

• 'I am not standing for presidency at Sepp Blatter's behest'
• Challenger casts doubt over chances of victory

In a campaign launch that immediately risked going flat Jérôme Champagne has fired the starting gun on the race to become Fifa president but immediately cast doubt on whether he could win.

In an assessment that was either starkly realistic or based on a belief that Sepp Blatter, 77, would not stand, the former senior Fifa executive admitted he would struggle to win if the incumbent ran for a fifth term.

The frank admission – and a refusal to say whether he would even stand if Blatter did – immediately prompted questions about Champagne's motives but the 55-year-old former diplomat said he was not running at Blatter's behest to flush out potential challengers nor was he running for PR reasons.

"I am not doing it for personal profile. I don't know if Mr Blatter will stand or not. I am running alone, myself, with my ideas," said Champagne, who also unveiled Pele as his first high-profile backer. Asked whether he could beat Blatter, Champagne said: "No, I don't think [so]. He is a person of relevance but it's a very hypothetical question. A lot of things can happen."

On the field Champagne proposed the introduction of "orange cards" and sin bins, quotas to improve the chances of homegrown players, increased use of technology and a rule that only captains could speak to the referee.

Off it he recognised the need for reform and promised to rebalance the game. He promised financial transparency, vowed to repair its "image deficit" and attempt to reverse a process of "NBA-isation" that could lead to international football being increasingly marginalised. Uefa's president, Michel Platini, long tipped as Blatter's successor, is keeping his options open. If the derided but politically astute Blatter does not run, then Concacaf's Jeffrey Webb may stand. Informed insiders say Blatter, who has said he will declare his intentions after the World Cup, has not made up his mind, despite recently saying he was "not tired enough" to retire.

"We need a different Fifa, more democratic, more respected, which behaves better and which does more," said Champagne, who helped Blatter to controversial election victories in 1998 and 2002 and became a key aide.

He was ousted amid a power struggle in 2010, shortly before the chaotic World Cup vote and a 2011 presidential campaign riddled with accusations of corruption.

Champagne called for a "fair and transparent" election in April 2015 and proposed televised debates among all the candidates in front of the 209 voting national associations and members of the public. "The election must not just be a coronation," he said.

Since being ousted in 2010, Champagne has contributed several well-received papers on the future of football and advised football associations in Kosovo, Cyprus and Palestine.

Owen Gibson

Zoopla to end WBA sponsorship in light of Anelka quenelle

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 12:29 PM PST

• Sponsor will not renew agreement at end of the season
• Anelka expected to be charged by FA for 'antisemitic gesture'

The storm surrounding Nicolas Anelka's controversial "quenelle" goal celebration against West Ham United last month shows no sign of abating after Zoopla, the property website and principal sponsor of West Bromwich Albion, announced that it will sever all ties with the Premier League club at the end of this season.

In a statement released on the eve of Albion's Premier League home match against Everton on Monday night, and the day before the Football Association are set to bring disciplinary charges against Anelka for his actions at Upton Park, Zoopla said it had been reviewing its position ever since the Frenchman made the "quenelle" gesture after scoring the first of two goals in the 3-3 draw against West Ham.

The "quenelle" has antisemitic connotations and has been described by some as an inverted Nazi salute, although Anelka has insisted he was merely showing solidarity with the French comedian Dieudonné M'Bala M'Bala, who brought the gesture to prominence.

Dieudonné, however, has a chequered past – he has been prosecuted by the French government for insulting the memory of Holocaust victims and for holding antisemitic views. He was also recently banned from performing in Nantes.

Zoopla, co-owned by the Jewish businessman Alex Chesterman, appears to be upset with the way that Albion have handled the fallout from an incident that took place more than three weeks ago. Anelka has started every Premier League game since the incident and he retained his place in the Albion side for night's match against Everton. Albion's stance throughout has been that Anelka, who has promised not to repeat the gesture, will continue to be eligible to play for the club while the FA's investigation is continuing.

The shirt sponsorship deal was due to expire at the end of the season but Zoopla, which was reported last week to have contacted the club to express dissatisfaction with Anelka's actions, opted to go public with its decision on Mondayafternoon, after informing Albion in writing that it would not be seeking to renew its agreement for the 2014-15 campaign.

"Zoopla has been reviewing its position over the past few weeks in light of the actions of striker, Nicolas Anelka, during the match against West Ham over the Christmas period and has decided to focus its attention on other marketing activities after this season. Zoopla has worked closely with the club and the local community throughout its two-season sponsorship, having committed over £100,000 to the Albion Foundation and other local charities, and will continue to meet its obligations for the rest of the current season."

Albion issued a statement later in the day in response: "West Bromwich Albion has been fully aware since the sponsorship agreement came into force in June 2012 that its partnership with Zoopla could expire this summer and therefore has been planning accordingly. Zoopla has today informed the club in writing that it does not wish to extend its sponsorship deal. The club will now actively seek a new Official Sponsor for next season."

In truth, Albion are likely to be far more concerned about the prospect of losing Anelka for an extended spell, as opposed to the need to recruit a new shirt sponsor for the start of next season. After a lengthy investigation that involved the appointment of an independent academic expert, with intimate knowledge of French politics and society, the FA is expected to announce on Tuesdaythat Anelka has been charged with making an antisemitic gesture. If found guilty, Anelka will be banned for a minimum of five matches under new anti-racism rules, ruling him out until March.

The worry for Albion will be that the punishment could be more severe. How Anelka's defence – he claims the quenelle, which involves one arm pointing downwards and the other across the chest, was a "special dedication to my comedian friend Dieudonné" – stands up in front of an independent FA commission remains to be seen but the omens are not promising for the 34-year-old striker.

Part of the reason for the investigation taking so long is that the FA wanted to ensure it had a watertight case in the event of any legal challenge from Albion and Anelka. It is, in short, difficult to believe that the FA would bring charges without strong enough evidence to support a conviction, as was the case in recent seasons with the Liverpool striker Luis Suárez, who was given an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra, and Chelsea's John Terry, who was banned for four matches for a similar offence.

Stuart James

Ince remains in place at Blackpool

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 12:16 PM PST

• Defeat at Barnsley triggered meeting with Karl Oyston
• Loss was Blackpool's ninth in 10 matches

Paul Ince is expected to take charge of Blackpool's home game against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday following crisis talks with the club's chairman, Karl Oyston.

The Blackpool manager and his assistants, Alex Rae and Steve Thompson, were called to a lengthy meeting with Oyston on Sunday after the Championship team's 2-0 defeat at Barnsley 24 hours earlier. Saturday's loss at the league's bottom club was Blackpool's ninth defeat in 10 matches and sparked angry scenes as supporters targeted Ince after the game.

Tensions have risen at Bloomfield Road not only as a consequence of poor results, that have left Blackpool 14th and eight points clear of the relegation zone, but by reports the manager's son, Thomas Ince, was in talks over a move to Monaco before the Barnsley game. The manager has since denied the midfielder will be moving in this transfer window. The England Under-21 international is out of contract in the summer and a transfer abroad would reduce the amount of compensation Blackpool would receive.

Ince did not hold his pre-match press conference before the Barnsley game or face the media following a defeat that leaves his record at 12 wins from 42 matches since replacing Michael Appleton in February 2013. His position is believed to remain in jeopardy, with Oyston demanding an immediate improvement, despite Blackpool backing the manager's request for reinforcements in the January window.

The former MK Dons and Blackburn Rovers manager is likely to face further criticism at the Doncaster game. The Seasiders Independent Supporters Association have said they are planning a protest during the match while the Blackpool Supporters' Association have requested a meeting with the club's chairman.

Andy Hunter

Bert Williams obituary

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 10:39 AM PST

Wolves and England goalkeeper, he went to the 1950 World Cup

One of the finest English goalkeepers since the second world war, Bert Williams, who has died aged 93, won the league championship and FA Cup with Wolverhampton Wanderers. For the national side, he played in their first World Cup finals, in Brazil in 1950.

He had first been chosen to play for England in an unofficial Victory International against France at Wembley in 1945, which the French surprisingly drew 2-2. He returned to the England team against France the following year in Paris: England lost 2-1, one of the French goals coming when Williams was forced over his goal line with the ball.

His official international debut came in Paris in 1949, when England won 3-1 despite an untypical mistake from Williams that gave away an early goal. It was plain by then that Frank Swift, who had for years been England's first choice keeper, was approaching the end of his career. With a superb display at home against Italy in the same year, Williams secured the succession.

The first of three dramatic saves, all in the first half, came from Rinaldo Martino, the Argentine, playing inside-left for Italy that day. Put clean through by Amedeo Amadei with an inspired pass, he had only Williams to beat. His shot was hard and true, but Williams catapulted himself across his goal to reach it. Next he blocked Riccardo Carapellese's point-blank drive, and finally he twisted in mid-air to save a shot by Benito Lorenzi that suddenly changed course when it hit the England left back, John Aston.

Now assured a spot in the international team, Williams was England's goalkeeper the following year in the World Cup finals, and it was hardly his fault that they should fail so embarrassingly. He kept a clean sheet when Chile were beaten 2-0 in Rio in the opening game. Then came catastrophe; a 1-0 defeat by a scratch team from the US, followed by defeat against Spain by the same score. In all, Williams won 24 full England caps between 1949 and 1955, his last against Wales.

Born in Bradley, Staffordshire, Williams had joined the ground staff of Walsall, then a Third Division club, at the age of 15, and at 16 made his league debut. At 5ft 10in, it was originally thought he might not be tall enough for a professional goalkeeper, but he was fortunate that the manager of Walsall was the celebrated ex-England goalkeeper Harry Hibbs, who stood at 5ft 9in and displayed a sympathetic attitude towards his stature.

Williams's fledgling career was interrupted by the second world war, and he joined the Royal Air Force as a fitness instructor. Afterwards he joined Wolves in September 1945 for just short of £4,000, and under the legendary managership of Stan Cullis won the FA Cup against Leicester City at Wembley in 1949 and a League Championship medal in 1954. Aside from his outstanding goalkeeping abilities, his quick and accurate distribution often helped to set up attacks that led to goals.

After he retired, with 420 Wolves appearances to his credit, Williams opened two sports outfitter shops and ran a smallholding before setting up a coaching school for goalkeepers. It had much success, producing at least 10 League keepers, among them Phil Parkes of Wolves and Joe Corrigan of Manchester United. "There is a bigger wastage of manpower in soccer than in any other industry,'' Williams lamented in 1970. "All herded together, doing the same exercises. Nobody to give them the individual coaching they need.''

The school closed in 1971, but a leisure centre in Wolverhampton bears his name.

After the death of his wife Evelyn in 2002, he devoted himself to fundraising for the Alzheimer's Society, and in 2010 was appointed MBE for services to football and charity.

He is survived by his children, Annette, Vaughan and Paul.

• Bert Frederick Williams, footballer, born 31 January 1920; died 19 January 2014

Brian Glanville

Millwall sign DJ Campbell on loan from Blackburn Rovers until end of season

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 10:09 AM PST

• Move reunites 32-year-old striker with Ian Holloway
• Debut may come against Sheffield Wednesday

Millwall have signed DJ Campbell on loan from Blackburn Rovers. The 32-year-old striker has agreed a deal until the end of the season and links up again with Ian Holloway, who was his boss at Blackpool and is now manager at The Den.

Campbell, who will fly out to Portugal to meet up with his new team-mates at their warm weather training camp, is Holloway's second January signing following the capture of the young Tottenham full-back Ryan Fredericks.

Rovers recently confirmed that Campbell was one of six players arrested and later bailed without charge until April as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into spot-fixing in football. Campbell has also played for Brentford, QPR, Leicester, Ipswich and Birmingham, and could make his Millwall debut against Sheffield Wednesday on 28 January.

The Millwall chairman, John Berylson, has, meanwhile, dismissed talk of a takeover at The Den. Reports on Monday suggested the former QPR chairman Gianni Paladini was poised to make Berylson an offer to buy the club, but Berylson, who took over Millwall in 2007, has poured cold water on the idea.

"I have absolutely no interest in selling Millwall to Mr Paladini, who I have never even met nor have any intention of meeting, … or anyone else," he told Millwall's website. "I am as committed to this club as ever, and having just brought in Ian Holloway as our new manager I am very excited about the future.

"Ollie has pledged his future to Millwall for the next two and a half years and hopefully beyond. I fully intend to be with him every step of the way."

Aside from releasing Campbell, Blackburn have also allowed Rubén Rochina to return to Spain. The forward has joined Rayo Vallecano on a loan move with a view to a permanent deal.

Sunderland's Gus Poyet signs Santiago Vergini on loan to end of season

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 09:46 AM PST

• Defender arrives from Uruguayan side Atlético Fénix
• Centre-back joins fellow new player Marcos Alonso

The Sunderland manager, Gus Poyet, has made his second signing of the transfer window by acquiring the Argentina defender, Santiago Vergini, on loan until the end of the season.

After signing the full-back Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina on the same terms earlier this month, Poyet, whose side are second from bottom in the Premier League, has added Vergini, a centre-back, from Uruguayan side Atlético Fénix to his squad.

The 25-year-old has previously played for Olimpia in Paraguay and Verona in Italy, while most recently he was on loan at Argentine side Estudiantes after a spell with Newell's Old Boys. Vergini's one and only cap for his country came in 2012.

Rodgers warns Everton ahead of derby

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 09:43 AM PST

• Draw with Aston Villa 'wasn't one of our better days'
• Tiago Ilori joins Granada on loan until end of season

The Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers, has warned his Everton counterpart, Roberto Martínez, to expect a very different Reds side in their derby clash compared to the one that struggled against Aston Villa.

With Martínez looking on from the stands in preparation for the game at Anfield next Tuesday, Rodgers' team were second best in the first half on Saturday against Villa.

Thanks to goals from Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke, the visitors threatened a repeat of their shock victory last season. Liverpool fought back, however, with Daniel Sturridge scoring just before half-time and Steven Gerrard striking a penalty early in the second period to earn a point.

"He [Martínez] will know how I work and knows how my teams work. But he will know it will be a totally different game here for the derby," Rodgers told the Daily Post. "It wasn't one of our better days [against Villa], but we've had many great games here."

Liverpool have confirmed the departure of the young defender Tiago Ilori who has joined Granada on loan until the end of the season.

The 20-year-old was signed on transfer deadline day in September for £7m from Sporting Lisbon, but has yet to make an appearance under Rodgers.

The Fiver | Sooner or later Pelé is going to be right about something

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 09:17 AM PST

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CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA

The world of football was reeling today after fictional character Jérôme Champagne announced his intention to become president of Fifa. "His name was clearly invented by a second-rate humorist in a crude effort to parody the entire people of France," said one irate compatriot, François Oohlala, as demonstrators gathered outside the Elysée Palace. "All they have done is take a popular French first name, and then randomly add a famous French noun. Monsieur Champagne lacks all credibility," said another, Thierry Arcdetriomphe. "It's worse than that, as it reinforces the crude and offensive idea that all us French care about is food and fine wine," added a passer-by, Jean-Charles Châteaulafite-Escargot.

But as he today launched his bid to replace the incumbent, Sepp Blatter, M. Champagne insisted he was very much real, even if his chances of victory were not. "We need a different Fifa, more democratic, more respected," he said, as he outlined a vision for the game that features orange cards, sin-bins and respected referees. Yes, but could you actually beat Blatter in a head-to-head votedown, he was asked. "I don't think so," Champagne bubbled. "He's someone of relevance."

While the identification of the current Fifa president as someone of potential relevance to a discussion about the Fifa presidency might be analysis of the most Sheareresque obviousness, Champagne's blunt self-dismissal must nevertheless be welcomed as the kind of refreshing honesty that has not been witnessed at Fifa's headquarters, based in a hollowed-out volcano at a mystery location, for many years. And if M. Champagne's critique is anything to go by, still won't be for many years to come.

Champagne, a former deputy secretary general at Fifa who left in 2000 after falling out with Blatter, was immediately backed by Pelé. "Nicky Barmby is up there with Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini and Ronaldo," said the Brazilian. Oh hang on there, the Fiver has accidentally pulled the wrong Pelé quote out of the random Pelé quote generator. One moment, we'll just pull the lever again. OK, here we go. "He is one of the players that most impresses me. He's got great energy, great qualities and is a constant threat to defences … He's one of the finest players in Europe," said the Brazilian. Wait a minute, this thing is definitely broken, that was about Steve McManaman. Hang on, let me just hit this thing really hard with an outsize spanner. Righty ho, here goes: "He's the best player in the World Cup up to this point. He's a tremendous midfielder. He's a good marker, he's passionate, he gets forward and he passes well." No, that was definitely about Nicky Butt. Jeez, this thing is seriously flawed. Hang on, let me just call customer support. Won't be a moment. What's that? Turn it off and turn it on again, you say. Sure. Just a moment, it's restarting. OK, I'll try again. "I cannot stay away from a debate which is so important for the future of football. Thus, I support Jérôme Champagne and his vision," said the Brazilian. And, let's face it, sooner or later he's going to be right about something.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE TONIGHT

Join Simon Burnton from 7.30pm GMT for minute-by-minute coverage of West Brom 1-3 Everton.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"It's unbelievable that we haven't got our own keeper and here we are in the middle of January. Using seven different keepers must be something of a record, and it's highly likely we'll need an eighth against Oxford. Some of the things we have had to contend with are so annoying" – Workington Reds boss Ian McDonald launches the hunt for an eighth goalkeeper of the season after the Evo Stik Premier Division club's loan signing Daniel Nizic was sent off 20 minutes into his debut.

BALLON D'OR SPOT THE DIFFERENCE WITH FRANCK RIBÉRY

14 January: "I'm alright with it. Winning the Ballon d'Or was not the most important thing for me. I'm glad it's all behind us. I now want to win a lot of trophies with Bayern once more."

20 January: "I won everything, with the team and individually. Ronaldo won nothing. I feel I had earned this award. It's all politics. The Golden Ball doesn't interest me any more."

FIVER LETTERS

"With news that Roddy Doyle has been chosen by Roy Keane to write his second set of memoirs (Friday's Quote of the Day), can we expect chapters to include the following? A Star Called Henry – about Keane's bitter rivalry with Arsenal's Invincibles; The Non-Commitments – what happened in Saipan; The Dead Republic – O'Ireland under Stan 'Steve' Staunton; The Van Nistelrooy – a list of United players Keane didn't really like; The Snapper – that tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland; Paddy Vieira Ha Ha Ha – a humorous look at pre-match tunnel insults; Oh, Play That Thing! – Keano's frustrations with the likes of Kieran Richardson and Darren Fletcher laid bare; The Man Who Walked Outdoors – hilarious anecdotes about his walks with Triggs the dog" – Alan Gernon.

"I see that Brendan Rodgers expects $tevie Mbe to influence the game in the same way as Andrea Pirlo. I didn't see much of this Pirlo bloke, on account of him being foreign and stuff. Was he rubbish at defending and booted the ball into Row Z regularly?" – Neale Redington.

"So the essential point of Friday's Fiver was 'blah blah blah FOOTBALL HAS STOPPED blah blah HELP blah'. Reap what you sow Fiver, reap what you sow …" – Robin Hazlehurst.

"After scraping out its barrel, turning it upside down, then pouring out the dust, the Fiver managed to pull together Friday's 'Bits and Bobs'. Following our introduction to match-result-predictor and Paul the Octopus wannabe 'Pip the Goat', I must say I was left extremely sceptical. After all, 'you can't win anything with kids'" – Jake Carty.

"Re: Barcelona's Camp Nou mausoleum (Friday's Bits and Bobs). Is this offering afterlife membership?" – Chris Wolff.

• Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And if you've nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver. Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is: Jake Carty.

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BITS AND BOBS

A property website which has generated a lot of publicity recently will no longer sponsor the football club whose player's action helped generate that publicity.

South Africa are considering getting rid of their Bafana Bafana nickname.

Doctors operating on José Mourinho's knacked elbow will first determine which of his body parts he is talking out of to ensure there is no confusion as to where to apply the scalpel.

Andries Jonker has been tasked with steering the careers of Arsenal's latest crop of 13-year-old Gabonese protegees after being appointed the club's head of youth development.

Accrington Stanley have been fined £20,000 for the crime of appointing James Beattie as their manager, but only because he didn't have the necessary qualifications.

And Jay Spearing has apologised for Bolton's 7-1 thumping against Reading. "There are no positives to take from the game, it's as simple as that," he sobbed.

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The poor old Premier League doesn't generate much debate in the mainstream media, so here's a talking points blog to redress the balance.

The best goals of the week, including one by Bébé. Yes, Bébé.

Jamie Jackson dons his tin hat and dishes out player ratings to Manchester United's squad for the season so far.

José Mourinho's passion would have been adored at Old Trafford, coos Daniel Taylor.

Real Betis are doomed. Doomed, says Sid Lowe.

Oh, and if it's your thing, you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace.

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THAT IS HOW YOU LOSE

Simon Burnton

Eden Hazard commits future to Chelsea despite PSG rumours

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 08:41 AM PST

• Belgium forward says he is staying at Stamford Bridge
• Chelsea in talks with St Etienne over £11m defender Zouma

Eden Hazard has pledged his future to Chelsea despite suggestions that Paris St Germain still hope to lure the Belgium international back to Ligue 1.

The forward, whose nine goals this season have established him as Chelsea's leading scorer, has been in scintillating form over recent weeks as the Londoners have put together a six-game winning streak in all competitions. PSG's interest was mooted in France earlier this month, but Hazard has stressed he has no intention of leaving Stamford Bridge mid-season and neither does he envisage departing in the summer.

"In every transfer window for the last four years people have been saying I'm going here or there," Hazard, a £32m signing from Lille whose contract in London runs to 2017, told the French television show, Téléfoot. "It was already like that when I was at Lille. Paris keep cropping up in the rumours, because they're a club with money, a big club. But I'm at Chelsea, I play all the time, and I like it here.

"There's no chance of seeing me leave in this mid-winter window. Even in the summer, I don't have any desire to leave. I'm doing well here. I think this is the best place for my game to develop and progress." His words echo those of José Mourinho, who had indicated earlier this month that the player's value had soared while at Chelsea, with the club intent upon retaining one of their most consistently impressive performers.

The London club do hope to lure another talent from French football this week, with talks progressing with St Etienne over their highly regarded teenage defender Kurt Zouma. Chelsea hope a deal can be struck at around £11m for the 19-year-old this week – a player who has attracted interest from Manchester United, Monaco and Arsenal in the past – though the centre-half may remain at his current club until the end of the season.

Dominic Fifield

Accrington Stanley fined over James Beattie's lack of coaching badges

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 08:38 AM PST

• Stanley fined £20,000 over missing Uefa B licence
• Former England striker has been in charge at club since May

Accrington Stanley have been fined £20,000 by the Football League after a commission revealed their manager, James Beattie, did not hold the necessary coaching qualifications.

The former England striker has been in charge of the League Two club since May last year but Beattie has still yet to acquire a Uefa B licence, which is a requirement for any manager in League One or League Two.

A Football League-appointed commission levied the fine on Accrington, £15,000 of which will be suspended provided Beattie achieves a Uefa B licence by May.

A statement from the Football League said Beattie, in his first managerial post, had not enrolled on a course or been able to confirm his place on a future course for a B licence.

Accrington said they would not be appealing against the charge.

A statement from the club read: "Accrington Stanley can confirm that the club has been fined £20,000, with £15,000 of this amount suspended, for breaching Football League regulations regarding manager coaching qualifications.

"This is a regrettable situation and measures have been put in place to ensure that James Beattie has gained the required qualifications by the deadline of May 1.

"The club do not intend to appeal against the charge."

Glenn Roeder, Gareth Southgate and Paul Ince have held Premier League positions despite not obtaining the necessary coaching badges, in their case a Uefa Pro Licence.

Only last month Tim Sherwood was handed the reins at Tottenham, without holding a Pro Licence, but he must enrol on a course within 12 weeks of his appointment.

Zoopla to end West Brom sponsorship deal in light of Nicolas Anelka gesture

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 08:32 AM PST

• Property website to end contract with club at end of season
• Anelka made quenelle gesture after scoring against West Ham

The property website Zoopla has announced that it will end its sponsorship of West Bromwich Albion at the end of the current season.

Zoopla has been reviewing its position over the past few weeks in light of the actions of the striker Nicolas Anelka who is alleged to have made a gesture known as the quenelle, which many consider to have antisemitic connotations, in the match against West Ham over the Christmas period.

Zoopla said it had decided to focus its attention on other marketing activities after this season.

In a statement it said: "Zoopla has worked closely with the club and the local community throughout its two-season sponsorship, having committed over £100,000 to the Albion Foundation and other local charities, and will continue to meet its obligations for the rest of the current season."

Zoopla is owned by the Jewish businessman Alex Chesterman. It was reported last week that the company had said Anelka must be dropped for Monday's Premier League home game against Everton and had told the club it would want its name removed from the team's shirts immediately if he played.

The Football Association has been looking into the gesture and has been working with an "appointed expert" as part of its investigation. The FA did not name the expert, who was appointed by its governance division to provide detailed knowledge and opinion about the gesture, which was made by the West Brom striker after scoring against West Ham on 28 December.

The quenelle – which translates literally as "dumpling" in English – is a straight-arm salute with one arm pointing downwards and the other hand across the chest.

It was brought to prominence by the French comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, who has been prosecuted for antisemitism, and the salute has been described by opponents as an inverted Nazi salute.

Dieudonne, who has been prosecuted by the French government for insulting the memory of Holocaust victims and holding antisemitic views, was recently banned from performing in Nantes.

Anelka has agreed not to perform the celebration again after West Brom conceded the gesture had caused offence but the French striker has denied the salute had any antisemitic connotations.

He said he made the gesture to show solidarity with his friend Dieudonne.

Zoopla became West Brom's principal sponsor in 2012, taking over from the betting firm Bodog.

The deal was reported to be the club's biggest and most comprehensive ever, worth £3m over two years.

Could Wayne Rooney and Yohan Cabaye 'buy out' their contracts?

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 08:12 AM PST

A sports lawyer gives his notes on the transfer window, including 'buy-out clauses' and the structure of player contracts

During the January transfer window it has been reported that both Yohan Cabaye and Wayne Rooney could "buy out" their contracts. The reports have focussed on how the players could unilaterally terminate their contracts to force through moves. Rooney and Cabaye are reported to be outside their "protected period" (the first three years for a contract signed before a player turns 28, the first two years otherwise) and can therefore terminate their contracts without receiving a ban.

Compensation will be due, however, with the player and his new club jointly liable to pay it. The amount of compensation is the key uncertainty and some journalists appear to believe that the calculation would be based on the wages the player is due to receive on the unexpired portion of the contract.

This approach is based on the now infamous 2008 Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling featuring Andy Webster, the Scotland international whose move from Hearts to Wigan was disputed by the Scottish club. Subsequent CAS cases (including those of Matuzalém, who terminated his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk to join Real Zaragoza, and Morgan De Sanctis, who tried to terminate his contract with Udinese to move to Sevilla) have deviated from this approach, however, and focused on the loss suffered by the club i.e. the cost to replace the player or his market value.

In any event, discussion of these cases is probably academic in relation to Rooney and Cabaye as most Premier League contracts now include a clause specifying that compensation for unilateral termination should be based on a player's "true transfer market value". Rooney and Cabaye could leave, but they would be in breach of their contracts and would have to work together with their new clubs to compensate Manchester United and Newcastle for the loss of their market value (as determined, ultimately, by a panel of lawyers at CAS).

The uncertainty around the amount of compensation to be paid has meant that unilateral termination has remained rare. However, Uefa's Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations could have the unintended consequence of encouraging more players to follow in Webster's footsteps. It is not difficult to envisage a club which finds itself tight against the FFP ceiling prompting transfer targets to terminate their contracts (with nothing to pay until a lengthy legal process has concluded, perhaps in three years time) rather than negotiating a transfer fee with the player's current club (which would impact FFP figures immediately).

Although often discussed interchangeably, there are important differences between unilateral termination (discussed above), release clauses and buy-out clauses. A release clause dictates that a club has to sell a player when it receives a bid over a certain amount (potentially with timing restraints and additional club-specific conditions such as relegation or failure to qualify for the Champions League).

Release clauses are not common in English football, but a number of examples have been reported in recent years, such as Demba Ba at Newcastle and Marouane Fellaini at Everton. As became apparent during the Luis Suárez transfer affair last summer, the drafting of a release clause is key. Given their relative scarcity, an industry norm has not yet developed and I have seen some examples , perhaps drafted by a stressed club secretary at 10pm on deadline day, that would be unlikely to withstand legal challenge.

A buy-out clause, on the other hand, sets a figure for which the player can buy his way out of his current deal with the club. They are mandatory in Spain but are rarely triggered for a variety of reasons: the release figure can be set at a level far beyond market value; an apparent gentleman's agreement between the Spanish clubs not to destabilise each others' players; and considerable tax and logistical complexities. The tax issues arise as the money technically must come from the player, resulting in the "buying club" having to transfer money to the player, who then has to pass it on to the "selling club".

It is a difficult process, one navigated admirably by Bayern Munich in prising Javi Martínez away from Atletico Bilbao in 2012, and not something that can be rushed through on transfer deadline day, as Manchester United appeared to discover last summer in relation to Ander Herrera. These clauses are very rare in England, however, as English law would require the buy-out figure to represent a "genuine pre-estimate of loss" thereby exposing the club to considerable risk should the player appreciate in value over the duration of the contract.

The player cycle – the identification, recruitment, development, motivation, remuneration, retention and sale of players – is the key factor in determining the success of a football club. The money available to pay players is relatively fixed and predominately dependent on success on the pitch. Outside the most successful Premier League clubs, a very smart commercial strategy might give you enough additional revenue to pay for a new second-choice left-back but will struggle to really make an impact.

In that context, it is particularly surprising that this window has not yet offered any indication that clubs are focussing additional attention on contract structures, something which impacts most elements of the player cycle. I've previously written about the potential of performance-based pay, but most clubs still operate a very simple structure based around a fixed amount per week, some appearance bonuses and a relatively minuscule squad bonus pool.

To the extent that performance-based pay is used, it appears to be implemented with little (or wrongheaded) thought. I recently reviewed the contract of an attacking player at a leading English club which included a goal bonus equivalent to 90% of his weekly wage and an assist bonus worth less than a quarter of that amount.

Does this clause properly align incentives between the player, his team-mates and the club? A handful of clubs have recognised that the structure of a player's contract can be used to align interests, aid motivation and improve the team dynamic but, even in the age of FFP, most clubs do not yet "pay smart".

Ian Lynam is Joint Head of Sports Law at Charles Russell LLP and one of the country's leading sports lawyers. Follow him on Twitter @ianlynam

Ian Lynam

Football Weekly: José Mourinho shows Manchester United what they missed

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 07:49 AM PST

On today's Football Weekly, James Richardson welcomes back Barry Glendenning and Philippe Auclair to the fold, where they're ably assisted by proper journalist Owen Gibson. It must be serious.

We start with the Premier League and Chelsea's almost embarrassingly easy 3-1 victory over Manchester United, a result which showed off both sides' title credentials, or lack thereof. Where next for United? Well, the return leg of their League Cup semi-final against Sunderland, that's where. It's not looking pretty for Moyes' Boys.

Next, we talk up the prospects of United's neighbours, Manchester City, who spanked Cardiff 4-2 in another demonstration of the art of scoring and poor defending, as well as Arsenal, who remain top after a 2-0 win at home to Fulham.

After that, we move onto things at the other end of the table - not least the plight of Swansea, who can't buy a win these days.

Finally, it's a trip around Europe, as we find out how Clarence Seedorf got on in his first game in charge of Milan; find out what's shaking in France; and hear from Sid Lowe as the title race in Spain really hots up.

Have a listen, and let us know what you think.

José Mourinho is all about emotion – and United would have loved that | Daniel Taylor

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 07:19 AM PST

Frank Lampard and Louis Van Gaal spoke on Sunday of their respect for the Chelsea manager. And the thought came to mind: they would have adored him at Old Trafford

The memory that will linger in the mind was of turning to the next table, where José Mourinho was sitting beside his wife, Matilde, and their perfectly turned out and brilliantly named children, José and Matilde, and the sudden realisation that he was actually wiping tears from his eyes.

Frank Lampard had just delivered a speech that was so powerful and emotive that Louis van Gaal, this giant bear of a manager, could also be seen dabbing at his eyes on the top table, blowing out his cheeks and saying he had never heard anything quite like it in almost 50 years in the sport.

Van Gaal spoke beautifully, too, at Sunday night's event recounting his first meeting with Mourinho in one of Barcelona's finer restaurants, having taken Sir Bobby Robson's job at Camp Nou, and being struck by the audacity of this smallish Portuguese guy - shouting, creating a scene, remonstrating with the club's president, Josep Lluís Núñez, for his treatment of Robson despite the presence of the new manager. That was the moment Van Gaal, struck by this outpouring of passion and loyalty, realised he had just found the ideal assistant, by complete accident.

That man, he said, was now the outstanding manager in the business and, if you know what Van Gaal thinks of himself, that is some statement. "I am always the 'arrogant Louis van Gaal' but now I am humble," he said. "Now, he is better than me." A video montage was played, with tributes from past and present players, colleagues and rivals. The last time we saw Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo together it was that photograph of them standing in a corridor of the Bernabéu like two strangers, avoiding eye contact and barely on speaking terms after the disintegration of their relationship. Now Ronaldo was on the screen acclaiming Mourinho. Sir Alex Ferguson was next. There was old footage of Robson and tributes from John Terry, Wesley Sneijder, Didier Drogba and many others. "I'm in trouble," Mourinho said. "Big trouble." His voice was cracking with emotion as he started his own speech, and it was rare to see the Chelsea manager so humble, the family man rather than the football man.

That the Football Writers' Association (FWA) put on this tribute dinner will probably just confirm many people's suspicions that there are members of this industry who are in thrall of Mourinho. Another argument could be made – indeed Mourinho made the point himself – that there was not one writer present who had not heavily criticised him at one stage or another.

Either way, it is worth pointing out the FWA hold this event annually, with previous recipients including Ferguson, Arsène Wenger, Steven Gerrard, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker. Paul Scholes is another, which probably shows that it is about the great and good of football, rather than someone who just generates decent copy.

Maybe in time David Moyes will be the subject of this kind of event as well. As it is, the guests at the northern FWA dinner can probably still recollect the horrendous awkwardness when the compere asked everyone to rise to their feet to mark his "courage" taking the Old Trafford job. The day before, United had conceded an 89th-minute equaliser at home to Southampton. In their previous home game they had lost to West Bromwich Albion. It was a sympathy vote – a well-meaning one, but a sympathy vote nonetheless.

Three months on, the worry lines on Moyes's face stand out like contours on a map. The defeat at Stamford Bridge on Sunday was United's seventh in 22 league fixtures, leaving them 18 points worse off than at this stage last season. There is a 35-point turnaround with Arsenal over the same period, 20 with Manchester City, 26 with Chelsea, 30 with Liverpool, 21 with Spurs and 22 with Everton.

Mourinho, in his thank-you speech, reflected on his 100th Premier League victory and talked about being "never nervous, enjoying every moment". Straight after the match, before whizzing across town to The Savoy, he had killed United with compliments in the press conference. Mourinho talked about Moyes in the same friendly tone with which Ferguson eventually came to speak of Wenger: respectful, bordering on patronising, and with the overwhelming sense that there is no point picking a fight with someone who doesn't particularly matter to him right now. For the team in seventh position, a point above Newcastle, it is unfamiliar territory. A club with United's ambitions want to be under Mourinho's skin, bringing out that spiky, competitive streak, not listening to him saying he is more concerned about Everton and Spurs.

Moyes has stopped enjoying press conferences and will not be giving one before the second leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final against Sunderland on Wednesday, where United trail 2-1 from the first tie. "If this was another club, if it was at Man City, or Chelsea, or a few others, this would be a crisis, wouldn't it?" he was asked on Sunday. Moyes would not budge an inch. "That's your word, not mine."

Around the same time, Ferguson was making his way across the Stamford Bridge pitch with two of the other directors, Sir Bobby Charlton, and Joel Glazer, shaking Roman Abramovich's hand on the way and ending up in the tunnel outside the dressing rooms. A Belgian television journalist with access to that area reported Ferguson going inside. United say it was only Charlton who had that privilege and, for Moyes's sake, it has to stay that way. Ferguson, despite all the old urges, cannot be dragged into trying to help out when doing so would mean undermining the new man.

For now, however, there is no apology to be made for asking again whether United were right to allow Ferguson to handpick his replacement when Mourinho, the "trophy machine" to use a line from the commentator Martin Tyler, was available and making it crystal clear that he quite fancied the idea of taking over what Moyes has taken to calling the "project".

Lampard talked about someone who could "make the hairs on your arms stand up" during his team-talks and who single-handedly "drags every individual up a level," shaking his head with mild disbelief as he cited Eden Hazard's sudden enthusiasm for chasing the opposition's right-back. He thought back to Chelsea winning the European Cup under Roberto Di Matteo and made the point that the ethics of that team had started with Mourinho. "I might be biased, because I love the man, but he does it instantly. He brings instant success."

More than that, Lampard talked about the death of his mother, Pat, and how Mourinho, then at Internazionale, had helped him through it. "As soon as I hit a bad time, he rang me every day. Every single day. He is the most loyal, the most caring manager I have ever worked with." Lampard gave the impression he would run through a plate-glass window for Mourinho. And, again, the same thought came to mind: they would have adored this man at Old Trafford.

Daniel Taylor

Manchester United player ratings under David Moyes in Premier League

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 07:16 AM PST

The reigning champions are seventh in their first post-Sir Alex Ferguson campaign but while the manager has taken criticism, only three players emerge with much credit

In their first post-Sir Alex Ferguson campaign and with David Moyes at the helm, Manchester United lie seventh in the Premier League table – 14 points behind leaders Arsenal and six points away from Champions League qualification. Moyes has taken much of the criticism over the form of the reigning champions but here we look at how his players have fared this season.

David de Gea

Age 23

League appearances 22

Minutes 2,087 (total includes injury time)

Mark (out of 10): 8

The Spaniard will be disappointed with Samuel Eto'o's second goal in Chelsea's 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as the goalkeeper somehow failed to kick away the ball. Otherwise, he has been pretty much faultless.

Rafael da Silva

Age 23

League appearances 10

Minutes 758

Yellow cards 2

Mark (out of 10) 4

Lacks the effervescence of last season's breakthrough campaign, is still reckless in the tackle and is a regular in a defence that is conceding sloppy goals.

Patrice Evra

Age 32

League appearances 21

Minutes 1,918

Goals 1

Yellow cards 1

Mark (out of 10) 5

The veteran turns 33 at the end of the season and although he cannot be faulted for application, he has made mistakes at vital moments. May leave in the summer.

Phil Jones

Age 21

League appearances 14

Minutes 1,271

Yellow cards 4

Mark (out of 10) 6

Despite being mugged by Eto'o for the striker's opener on Sunday, he can reflect on being one of David Moyes's better performers, often in central midfield when his preference is for central defence. Continues to be injury prone, which is a concern.

Rio Ferdinand

Age 35

League appearances 7

Minutes 665

Mark (out of 10) 5

Began consistently but has fallen away, with injuries hampering the veteran. Now, Moyes appears to rate Ferdinand as fourth or even fifth-choice centre-back, although the Scot may need his services as Nemanja Vidic is suspended for three matches following his red card at the Bridge. Is considering his long-term future.

Jonny Evans

Age 26

League appearances 14

Minutes 1,279

Mark (out of 10) 6

Is currently in Moyes's strongest XI but has been caught out of position and looked unsure under the high ball. Needs to be more vocal.

Chris Smalling

Age 24

League appearances 15

Minutes 1,098 minutes

Goals 1

Yellow cards 1

Mark (out of 10) 4

His fortunes under Moyes reflect the manager's uncertainty over what is his best side, with Smalling having been dropped recently. Does not yet offer commanding displays.

Nemanja Vidic

Age 32

League appearances 15

Minutes 1,370

Yellow cards 2

Red cards 1

Mark (out of 10) 5

A third senior defender who could depart in the summer, the captain was unlucky to be sent off at Chelsea, yet is leader of a defence that has let in 27 goals. Is just not the player he was.

Fabio Da Silva

Age 23

League appearances 1

Minutes 95

Mark (out of 10) 4

Difficult to assess how good he is because of the lack of opportunity Moyes has given Fabio. Having started the 2011 Champions League final, the Brazilian's career has certainly stagnated.

Alexander Buttner

Age 24

League appearances 3

Minutes 124

Yellow cards 1

Mark (out of 10) 5

Despite Moyes's doubts about Evra, he continues to select the Frenchman ahead of Buttner. Yet he may be worth a longer look.

Anderson

Age 26

League appearances 4

Minutes 164

Mark (out of 10) 2

Now on loan at Fiorentina, the perma-disappointing midfielder did little before last week's move.

Ryan Giggs

Age 40

League appearances 9

Minutes 427

Yellow cards 2

Mark (out of 10) 5

As reliable as ever but cannot be viewed as a game-changer now the Welshman is in his fifth decade. Might Giggs finally retire at the end of this season?

Michael Carrick

Age 32

League appearances 15

Minutes 1,314

Yellow cards 3

Mark (out of 10) 7

Continues to be the metronome of the United midfield but requires better quality around him.

Nani

Age 27

League appearances 8

Minutes 447

Mark (out of 10) 3

Eternally frustrating, the low mark is for yet another campaign slipping by without him harnessing a stellar talent to consistently destroy opponents. Another with injury problems.

Ashley Young

Age 28

League appearances 11

Minutes 511

Goals 1

Yellow cards 3

Mark (out of 10) 4

Still has a penchant for a dive and, at 28, should be affecting matches frequently. Injuries have not helped.

Tom Cleverley

Age 24

League appearances 16

Minutes 1,305

Goal 1

Yellow cards 3

Marks (out of 10) 5

A player who can most divide supporters, the midfielder shows flashes of quality in his passing and in the reading of a match but needs to up this if he wants to become a United linchpin.

Darren Fletcher

Age 29

League appearances 4

Minutes 188

Mark (out of 10) 6

The Scot being available again following serious illness is a personal triumph and as this only recently occurred it is too early to judge how much of an asset he could prove to be for Moyes.

Marouane Fellaini

Age 26

League appearances 8

Minutes 477

Mark (out of 10) 4

The £27.5m summer signing has been unlucky with injuries, although before his wrist problem he appeared lethargic and a touch overawed by the challenge of playing for the 20-times champions.

Antonio Valencia

Age 28

League appearances 19

Minutes 1,491

Goals 2

Yellow cards 7

Red cards 1

Mark (out of 10) 4

His modus operandi of running in straight lines at defenders is also less of a weapon now that his pace has been blunted.

Shinji Kagawa

Age 24

League appearances 9

Minutes 608

Mark (out of 10) 6

Despite Wayne Rooney's current absence through injury, Moyes is wary of playing Kagawa in his preferred No10 role, with Adnan Januzaj getting the nod at Chelsea. Yet the manager stated that the recent 2-0 win over Swansea City came when he switched the Japanese from wide left to the 'hole'. When Rooney is fit again might Moyes try Kagawa on the right of the attacking trident, with Januzaj to the left?

Wilfried Zaha

Age 21

League appearances 2

Minutes 36

Mark (out of 10) 3

Has looked rushed and tentative but it is hardly surprising, given that Moyes has allowed him under a half of a league match in total. The £15m signing wants away on loan this window and may get his wish.

Adnan Januzaj

Age 18

League appearances 16

Minutes 1,108 minutes

Goals 3

Yellow cards 5

Mark (out of 10) 8

Watching the teenager glide through space is a joy, as is witnessing how Januzaj has immediately wanted to be one of the side's leaders. Only Rooney and De Gea have been better for Moyes.

Wayne Rooney

Age 28

League appearances 17

Minutes 1,532

Goals 9

Yellow cards 7

Mark (out of 10) 9

Without the Liverpudlian's resurgent form United would have be further than six points off a Champions League place. Could leave in the summer, so Moyes will hope he can regain fitness asap because even when not scoring, Rooney is the one who forces the issue.

Javier Hernández

Age 25

League appearances 14

Minutes 569

Goals 2

Yellow cards 2

Mark (out of 10) 5

Has become known as a specialist replacement, which will not please him, although he did the trick again at Chelsea, scoring United's consolation after entering as a substitute.

Danny Welbeck

Age 23

League appearances 16

Minutes 1,152

Goals 8

Yellow cards 1

Mark (out of 10) 7

Has taken his chance following the injuries to Rooney and Robin van Persie, with the striker only a goal behind the former, despite less match time.

Robin van Persie

Age 30

League appearances 11

Minutes 954

Goals 7

Yellow cards 1

Mark (out of 10) 7

The Dutchman is frustrated by the injuries that have disrupted his season, yet Van Persie's class has allowed his goal-to-minutes ratio to remain admirable.

Jamie Jackson

Juan Carlos Garrido the latest casualty on Real Betis's sinking ship | Sid Lowe

Posted: 20 Jan 2014 07:08 AM PST

The 5-0 defeat to Real Madrid signalled the end of Garrido's 47-day tenure at a club that is both troubled and doomed

Farewell then, Juan Carlos Garrido: it was bad while it lasted and it didn't last long. It is 48 days since Real Betis Balompié sacked Pepe Mel and 47 since they presented Garrido as the man who would turn them round. Instead, it is he who has turned around and walked out of the door, not welcome any more. Six days after the president Miguel Guillén said it was too soon to question the manager, one day after he said that they weren't going to sack their manager, Real Betis have sacked their manager. Another body carried out of Heliópolis – and it probably won't be the last. "These have been convulsive days, with problems daily," said Garrido.

An hour had gone during Betis's match against Real Madrid on Saturday afternoon and Garrido was on the touchline, talking to Juanfran, explaining what he wanted from his second substitute. As he did so, 30 or 40 metres away the ball dropped to Ángel Di María to score an outrageous goal. Garrido stared straight ahead, powerless. Down the tunnel and into the dressing room, his first substitute was in the shower. Rubén Castro, top scorer last season, changed, walked out of the stadium and headed home without a word. He had missed one goal already and he didn't wait to see the next, scored by Álvaro Morata – a goal so soft, so apologetic, so badly defended, that it summed up the afternoon.

At one end of the stadium, a new scoreboard had been installed. It has been there two weeks, really rubbing it in. Real Betis 0, Real Madrid 5, it said.

When the full-time whistle went a minute later, Betis had equalled their worst ever run without a win in the top flight and sat on the bottom of the table. One of the things that Garrido did when he arrived was insist that his team headed into the centre circle after the game to applaud the fans and thank them for their support. This time, they refused. Supporters had spent the game chanting that the players didn't deserve to wear the shirt. The pressure has been unbearable– even under Mel there were training ground confrontations and players now routinely leave by the back door to avoid angry fans – but some agreed. "We don't deserve the salaries we get each month," said Javier Matilla.

Betis's fans had called for the board to resign and for Garrido to "go now!". The man they did support was the man who had already gone, in tears, a month and a half ago: West Bromwich Albion's new coach, Pepe Mel. Up in the directors' box, the final whistle was the cue for Canal Plus's reporter to seek out Miguel Guillén, the Betis president, who insisted that he was not going to sack Garrido. Down in the dressing room, a meeting was underway. It was frank and furious and it lasted two hours; Garrido didn't last much longer. By Sunday evening, a short statement posted on the club's website at 7.35pm began: "Juan Carlos Garrido is no longer the coach of Real Betis."

Garrido has been replaced by Gabi Calderón, a former player who took Saudi Arabia to the 2006 World Cup and a man whose appointment means that Betis have now had more coaches than league wins. When Garrido took over at Betis they were bottom of the table, a point from safety. Now they are bottom of the table, eight points from safety. They have eleven points from twenty games. If they are to survive, they will probably need nine wins from the 18 remaining games. Even before this weekend, one report described them as being in intensive care. Now there's a priest at the door, waiting to read them the last rites.

Under Garrido, Betis won twice in 10 games but both were virtually worthless: a 2-1 victory at Second Division B side Lleida was followed by a 2-2 home draw that took them through to the next round of the Copa del Rey, where they beat Athletic Bilbao in the first leg and lost in the second to go out. There was a 0-0 draw with NHK Rijeka in the Europa League. And in La Liga, they drew one of five, 0-0 against Valladolid, and lost the others. Defeats against Almería and Osasuna, direct rivals for relegation, were especially costly. "I feel like the month I have been here has been pointless," Garrido said in a press conference in midweek. Not pointless, exactly but almost: Betis collected just one point from 15, scoring three and conceding 15.

That appearance was the last straw; it would have taken a miracle for the coach to have survived beyond this weekend. Not so much because he had admitted wasting a month, but because he had accused the club of doing so. The internal battles were laid bare, the battles and the suspicions and the jealousies, the mess he had walked into: "there are," Garrido said, "too many fronts open." He was also forced to deny rumours that he had made a commission on the deal that brought Leo Baptistao to the club, prompting him to tell El País: "There is a desire to harm me, I'm am being judged in a disgusting manner. I have never experienced anything like what I am experiencing at Betis. There are too many wars and lies surrounding the team that are hurting us."

Garrido had said that he had asked for signings and asked them to be ready for when Betis returned from the winter break. Only Leo Baptistao came in. "There have been lots of meetings, but sadly none of them have been of any use. Other players have not come in and nor do I expect them to because I don't believe anything any more," he admitted. He complained that the uncertainty over their future was undermining the players' moral, describing it as a "time bomb", and questioned the board's ability to get deals done. And then he said it: the single phrase that summed it up, hinting at the internal battles and hidden interests, the instability. "I have had three 'bosses' in the last month."

First there was Vlada Stosic, the sporting director, but then he was sacked. Then there was José Antonio Bosch, the court-appointed administrator, but then he was sacked. And then there was the president Miguel Guillén, who sacked him.

The backdrop is a complex one. In July 2010, the judge Mercedes Ayala placed an embargo on the shares owned by Betis's former president in perpetuity, Manuel Ruiz de Lopera. An investigation into Lopera for the alleged fraudulent acquisition of Betis is ongoing and he also stands accused of having arranged a fraudulent sale of his shares to Luis Oliver in 2010 in a desperate attempt to prevent the shares from being embargoed. The judge also imposed a payment plan to clear the club's €90m debt, which has been successfully adhered to, reducing the debt by almost two-thirds, and appointed three administrators to the club. One died, one left, and the other was Bosch, charged with representing Lopera's controlling interest.

It is Bosch who appointed the last two presidents and effectively named the board, first under Rafa Gordillo and now under Guillén. It was Bosch too who sacked Mel without consulting with Stosic, theoretically the man responsible for the decision, and Bosch who then sacked Stosic. But now Bosch himself has been pushed out by the board he named after it transpired that his law firm represented one the club's medical suppliers. It will be up to the judge to appoint a new administrator to manage those shares; that administrator could then construct an entirely new board, and so it goes round again. Meanwhile, Lopera waits; Garrido heads home; and, barring a miracle, Betis head towards the Second Division.

After his side were beaten 5-0 by Real Madrid on Saturday night, Garrido was asked whether he feared that Betis would seek to turn their desperate situation round by sacking the coach. "Well," he said, "they've already tried that."

Week 20 talking points

• In an office down in the corner of the Vicente Calderón, a small crowd had gathered. There was half an hour to go to kick-off between Atlético Madrid and Sevilla. Just as importantly, there were 20 minutes to go in the match between Levante and Barcelona at the Ciutat de Valencia and things were going rather well for the Atlético staff gazing up at the TV screen mounted on the wall.

It should not have come as a huge surprise. Levante's manager had likened going to the Camp Nou to visiting the dentist but it's going to Levante that's really like visiting the dentist: boring, painful, bloody and expensive. It was 1-1 and Barcelona were dropping two vital points. There were nerves at the Calderón but as the minutes ticked away there was little sign of Barcelona getting a breakthrough and eventually, the full-time whistle went. A small cheer went up. Then, seconds later, on a tiny delay, outside a huge cheer did.

This was an opportunity. Barcelona had dropped two points. A victory against Sevilla would take Atlético top of the table on their own for the first time in 17 years, since they won the double in 1996.

It didn't happen. For the third time this season Atlético had the chance to go top but were unable to take it. David Villa scored the first but Sevilla improved in the second half and Juanfran conceded a penalty that Ivan Rakitic scored to make it 1-1. At the full-time whistle, the Sevilla bench, which had been slowly, nervously creeping towards the pitch, ran on punching the air and embracing. "I have congratulated Simeone; I admired what they have achieved," said the Sevilla manager, Unai Emery.

Afterwards every question talked about missed opportunities, the blow, the disappointment, but Diego Simeone was insisting otherwise: "this is a great point that allows us to stay in a privileged position at the top on 51 points," he said, smiling. "We knew that it would be a tough game, even an ugly one, and that was the way it was." He was right of course, if also wrong, and the line of questioning said much about Atlético's extraordinary season. As Filipe Luís put it: "Now teams celebrate drawing with us."

• So, Real Madrid have gained four points in a week: two victories plus two draws in a row for Atlético and Barcelona mean that all three sides are separated by just one point at the top of the table. Barcelona 51, Atlético 51, Real Madrid 50. It's going to be some title race.

• A question: could the league's best two central midfielders both be Croatian?

• Football in the rain: just better. Getafe v Real Sociedad was cold, wet and great fun.

Results: Málaga 0-0 Valencia, Betis 0-5 Real Madrid, Elche 2-0 Rayo, Granada 0-0 Osasuna, Espanyol 1-0 Celta, Getafe 2-2 Real Sociedad, Villarreal 2-0 Almería, Levante 1-1 Barcelona, Atlético 1-1 Sevilla. Tonight: Athletic-Valladolid.

• La Liga league table

Sid Lowe

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Tuesday, 21 January 2014

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

07:09

Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com

Talking points

CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA

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David de Gea

Rafael da Silva

Patrice Evra

Phil Jones

Rio Ferdinand

Jonny Evans

Chris Smalling

Nemanja Vidic

Fabio Da Silva

Alexander Buttner

Anderson

Ryan Giggs

Michael Carrick

Nani

Ashley Young

Tom Cleverley

Darren Fletcher

Marouane Fellaini

Antonio Valencia

Shinji Kagawa

Wilfried Zaha

Adnan Januzaj

Wayne Rooney

Javier Hernández

Danny Welbeck

Robin van Persie

Week 20 talking points

Written by TBMU Admin

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