Maple Lions

In a bid to deny Chelsea, it is reported that Arsenal is paving the way for Real Madrid to acquire Ashley Cole as a replacement for Roberto Carlos.

UPDATE:  Now Carlos says he wants to stay with Real. Surely the suits at Bernabeu wouldn’t engage in head games with the sports media.
Paul Canniff

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Steve McClaren has retained a notorious spin doctor to handle his PR needs.

Wouldn’t one way of avoiding bad press be to actually start playing the game well? I suspect a penalty kick coach would be far cheaper than a media maven.

Paul Canniff

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Real Madrid claims to have snagged Ruud Van Nistelrooy. As with any statement emerging from the bowels of the Bernabeu, let’s wait for the clarification.

UPDATE — The Telly provides Old Trafford’s side of the story:

A statement released by United said: “We have given permission for Ruud van Nistelrooy to travel to Real Madrid for a medical. But the terms of agreement are yet to be finalised between the two clubs.”

Paul Canniff

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New Black Cats gaffer Niall Quinn settles into the usual position of a Sunderland manager:

Paul Canniff 

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The Telly covers Mourinho’s take on the Chelsea squad for the coming season. The piece has a clanger over Damien Duff’s direction, and since publication Crespo has taken again to whinging about Italy.

Paul Canniff

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Mick McCarthy dispels those nagging Arthurian comparisons:

“[M]y initials stand for Mick McCarthy, not Merlin the Magician.” 

I have to concede that one: most magicians can do a decent vanishing act.

Paul Canniff

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Ever wondered what a thirty-nine week-long car crash would look like? Your wait ended today.

Thrown to the Wolves, indeed!

Paul Canniff

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Dennis Bergkamp bows out of the game tomorrow when Arsenal stages a testimonial match against Ajax at their new home in Ashburton Grove.

He was a remarkable international player and will be missed in the English game.

Paul Canniff

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Birmingham’s remaining toehold on the EPL is descending into chaos as the players demand to meet with the chairman, forcing David O’Leary into the spotlight:

O’Leary was summoned to Villa Park at around 5pm yesterday to meet the three-man team that has been set up to conduct an internal inquiry into the episode. The club has wasted no time in attempting to get to the bottom of the turmoil that has engulfed Villa Park and it is possible that O’Leary could be dismissed within the next 48 hours if evidence is uncovered that the Irishman was involved in the events that led to the players’ statement being handed to a local newspaper on Friday afternoon.

[…]

Although there has been general unrest at Villa stemming from the chairman’s persistent parsimony across all areas, the players’ statement was not released with the backing of the entire first-team squad. That alone has left several players confused and others curious at O’Leary’s decision to offer support to a statement that, in some cases, they knew nothing about. It leaves the Irishman caught in the middle of an internecine struggle that would appear to be pushing him closer to the exit door by the day. O’Leary could not be contacted last night.

The Guardian looks back over the reign of chairman Doug Ellis. Over at the Telegraph, Ron Atkinson offers O’Leary his two pence, with links to further coverage.

UPDATE: David O’Leary departs as manager.
Paul Canniff

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The Beeb serves up a list of players from Juve, AC, Lazio and Fiorentina targeted by English clubs.

Paul Canniff

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