The Fan

England prosper without big names

England 3 - Israel 0

Despite injuries to star name players England cruised past a standoff-ish Israel. 

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In support of Paul Robinson

After a number of blunders Paul Robinson’s England place is rightly under threat.

Rightly, because no player should be guaranteed the position in the team. But, the quality of his potential replacements still cause concern. 

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Jermain who?

Has everyone forgotten about Defoe?

With England 2-1 down to Germany at Wembley, McLaren chose to substitute both strikers, Smith and Owen. Without Rooney, Bent and Johnson through injuries, who did he turn to? Not Jermain Defoe.

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Engand defeat highlights problems at both ends for McLaren

England 1 - Germany 2

After an encouraging start England faded to defeat to an understrength Germany, leaving the the hosts still looking for there first victory at the new Wembley.

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With a treacherous board behind them, and a notoriously fickle set of supporters, who in there right minds would want to be manager of Spurs?

Spurs were reported to have met the Ramos camp over the weekend before telling Jol his job was safe providing he delivered Champions League football.

From: BBC - Ramos ‘snubbed huge Spurs offer’

Martin Jol has turned the club from an average mid table club into the most likely challenger to the almost impenetrable ‘big four’ of Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal.

All the Spurs’ board have achieved is to undermine their manager.

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Referees’ chief Keith Hackett says Rob Styles will not take charge of a match next weekend following his performance during the game between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday.

You can have sympathy for officials who fail to see a offence, but when they see the incident and get it wrong it is probably time for them to have a rest. Maybe we need substitutions for referees…

From: The Telegraph

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In a bizarre mix of football and politics, Diego Maradona admitted cheating to beat England in the 1986 World Cup.

In an interview with Venezuelan president, Hugo Chávez, he says:

“It was too high for me and I stuck out my fist.

However, rather than cheating, it seems it was a statement in the fight against imperialism.

From: Maradona and Chávez laugh over ‘hand of god’ goal on chat show

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Cardiff City’s main financial backers have initiated legal proceedings against the club over claims they have not repaid more than £30m in debts.

The Cardiff board has been accused of financial mismanagement, and of misleading the public to the extent of the debt. The £30m sum is the combination of the original £24m loan, plus £6m in interest. The club had indicated that the £24m debt, which was raised when Ridsdale took over from Sam Hamman, had been written off for equity in the club.

Ridsdale has said:

“The statements released… seem to be an ill-informed mixture of fiction and general confusion.”

Ridsdale also claims that the club have been unable to speak to their creditors as they do not know who they are, and that previous chairman Hammam acted as go-between, refusing to reveal their identity.

See: BBC - Cardiff facing court over £30m and Guardian - Ridsdale fights back as Cardiff are hit by writ over £30m debt

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Just two days into the new season, and the first managerial sacking has already taken place. Somebody needs to check with the bookies for any ‘irregular betting patterns’…

Carlisle have parted company with their manager Neil McDonald, making him the first managerial casualty of the two-day old season.

From: The Guardian

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In a BBC interview, Fifa vice-president has declared his dislike of England and how he will fight to derail England’s World Cup 2018 bid.

“There are moves to give it to England. I must fight that.

“It will be Italy, Spain, or even France who will get the World Cup if it goes to Europe.”

With no disrespect to Italy, Spain or France, but all three of those countries have hosted the World Cup since England, and must be less deserving than other European nations to hold the championships.

Warner goes on to claim that the Concacef should host the tournament, despite one his arguments against England being:

“England invented the sport but has never had made any impact on world football.”

From: BBC

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