Even ManScum Players Know Neville is a Dickhead

'Sparky tells Neville to 'f*** off''
(Football 365)

Gary Neville was told to "just f**k off" by Mark Hughes during the tunnel bust-up on Wednesday night between ManYoo and Blackburn players, according to reports.

The Neviller arrived late on the half-time fracas, according to the Daily Mail, and began chirping, prompting Hughes to say: "You've always got too much to say for yourself. Why don't you just f*** off?"

Referee Graham Poll then came on to the scene to prevent Neville aiming back a presumably very witty retort.

The tunnel row began when Rio Ferdinand clipped Robbie Savage on the head when they left the pitch. The two then began to wrestle before, surprise surprise, Alan Smith was the next on the scene.

Coaches and players from both teams then reportedly got involved and punches were thrown, before Wayne Rooney apparently became the unlikely peacekeeper and led Savage away from the melee.

It's been an interesting week for Neville, who faces an FA charge of misconduct for his celebration in front of Liverpool fans when Ferdinand scored the winner at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Hughes was alway one of the few ex-ManScum players that I thought was okay (I could never like them), but he has gone up in my estimation now, all Neville has to do now is listen!!!

Sven to Real?

Real Madrid insist they are not looking to appoint a new manager despite being linked with several high-profile bosses, including England's Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The club have pledged their support to current caretaker boss Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, who is under contract until the end of the season.

Reports in Spain have suggested Real are targeting Juventus coach Fabio Capello and Eriksson, who becomes available in the summer, has also been mentioned.

Eriksson is to stand down as England manager after the World Cup, after a series of contoversial events. He has admitted he will listen to offers in the coming months, providing talks do not intrude on his work.

Neville is a Dickhead!

Gary Neville has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association.

The ManScum skipper attracted widespread attention with his stupid celebrations after Rio Ferdinand's undeservered last-gasp winner against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Neville ran fully 60 yards to launch a fist-pumping, badge-kissing reaction in front of the Liverpool fans.

The 30-year-old has until February 10 to respond, although as the case is not on the FA's new fast-track disciplinary process, it appears the worst he can expect is a heavy fine.

After failing to spot the incident during the game, referee Mike Riley has now viewed video footage and confirmed he would have booked the United man if he had seen what happened.

The FA have also been swayed by the concerns of Greater Manchester Police, which have been expressed both to United and officials at Soho Square.

Neville has received the support of the Professional Footballers' Association, while the full-back himself insisted he could not see what the problem was all about in his regular column in The Times. "You are caught up in the moment and, for a few seconds, yes, you do go bananas," he said.

The guy is such a dickhead, it has nothing to do with passion, if it was he would have run up to his own fans and gone mental, the fact that ran half the length of the field just to do it in from of the LFC fans, was inciting the crowd. If you ask me he should get a mandatory 1-match ban. He supposed to be the captain, what an example he is!

Liverpool defender Carragher thinks England squad member Neville went too far, telling the Liverpool Echo: "I think there's a line and Neville crossed it.

"I've heard people say it's justified because he gets a lot of stick from the Liverpool fans, but the truth is he gets the stick because he's been doing that for years. That's why it all started.

"I feel the same way about Liverpool as Neville does about Manchester United and from that point of view we're similar, but I don't act like that when we score against United.

"If I did, I'd expect United fans to give me the same amount of abuse."

The Greater Manchester Police have written to the Football Association to complain about the United skipper's antics.

WHAT A PRICK !

FA Cup 3rd Round is Like Marmite

Good read from the babbling John Nicholson at Football365 about this stage in the FA Cup, or on how great Marmite is

This is my favourite week of the season. Like premature ejaculation, it's a fleeting pleasure but FA Cup third-round day is the stuff of football legend.

It's an expression of the breadth and depth of the game in this country. It's a day that really means something for all the struggling under-achievers, for the once great, for the never have been great, for the hoping to be great. It's also a chance to learn some geography as you remind yourself where Nuneaton really is. I love it all. It's a special occasion.

Read more here.

Cassano Agrees Real Switch

Real Madrid and Roma have reached an agreement on the transfer of striker Antonio Cassano.

Real Madrid's website has confirmed that the 23-year-old Italy international has agreed a contract until 2010, although the transfer fee is yet to be disclosed.

The transfer will be completed following a medical on Wednesday morning, when Cassano will be presented to the press at Real's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

The two clubs were struggling to come to an agreement on a fee with Roma believed to be holding out for 8million Euros (£5.5m), but the Spanish media have reported that Real have got their man for 5.5m Euros (£3.8m).

The two clubs were struggling to come to an agreement on a fee with Roma believed to be holding out for 8million Euros (£5.5m) but the Spanish media have reported that Real have got their man for 5.5m Euros (£3.8m).

Roma signed Cassano for 30m Euros in 2001 but they were willing to accept a cut-price fee as the striker's contract was due to expire in the summer and he refused to sign an extension.

Real Madrid moved for the Italian star as they are in dire need of reinforcement in attack.

The club sold Michael Owen to Newcastle at the start of the season, and although they signed Brazilian pair Robinho and Julio Baptista, Robinho has failed to shine so far at the Bernabeu while his compatriot has not been a regular starter.

Real then lost Raul to a long-term injury while Ronaldo has spent part of the season on the sidelines through injury and only recently sustained a leg injury, which ruled him out of Friday's friendly with Atletico Madrid and Tuesday's Copa del Rey clash with Athletic Bilbao.

City Tie Up Riera Loan

Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera has joined Manchester City on loan until the end of the season, according to the Spanish club.

City manager Stuart Pearce looks to have finally got his man after opposite number Miguel Angel Lotina agreed to part with the left-sided player, who joined the Primera Liga outfit in the summer from Bordeaux.

City have the option of buying the 23-year-old at the end of the season for £3.5million.

The former Mallorca player has only started four games for Espanyol this season, three of which were in the UEFA Cup, and on Friday met with Lotina to discuss the offer from City.

"I could not promise him minutes and I understand that Riera had an offer which would open doors for him as well as allow him to be better paid," Lotina told Marca.

"On top of this, he has the option of returning here in June or completing his move if they buy him.

"We have a lot to gain and little to lose. Players are those that decide their futures and it is not down to the coaches."

Vieira rules out Gunners return

Former captain Patrick Vieira insisted Arsenal are struggling without him but denied he wants to return.

Arsene Wenger has said selling Vieira was "not a big mistake", even though Gilberto recently admitted the psychological effect which losing his former midfield team-mate had on the squad.

Indeed, without Vieira, Arsenal have already fallen out of title contention, lagging 25 points behind leaders Chelsea ahead of Tuesday's clash against Manchester United.

Vieira, who is now at Juventus, declared: "I don't want to appear presumptuous but I really do think that my absence has been felt [at Arsenal].

"They have certainly suffered psychologically since I left. Maybe it's because they haven't fully understood the reasons why I left or maybe they are only just beginning to understand."

Vieira also scotched weekend reports that he may be considering a move back to Arsenal.

"I know what I want from myself and I know what way I want my life to take. I have signed a long contract with Juventus because these are the most decisive years of my career and they may well be the last team that I play for," he said.

Vieira's former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Petit, who formed a formidable partnership with his countryman early in Wenger's reign, agreed with his old friend's assessment.

"They miss the aura of him. He is a protector for the other guys in the team," Petit told Sky Sports 1.

"I think they are missing this, it is a big part. You always miss players (like that) when they leave.

"You cannot count how much they miss this personality in the team."

Vieira left Highbury last summer for £13.7million as the club agreed to cash in on him at the age of 29, rather than fighting to keep him as they had done in previous seasons with Real Madrid.

Pompey chief promises cash injection

New investor Alexandre Gaydamak has dreams of making Portsmouth one of the biggest clubs in the country. Close associates of the 29-year-old multi-millionaire - known as Sacha to his friends - revealed he secretly watched the Portsmouth's 1-1 draw against West Ham at Fratton Park on Boxing day and was also given a guided tour of the area by chief executive, Peter Storrie.

"Sacha regards the club as a sleeping giant with lots of potential on the pitch and off the pitch," said an associate. Gaydamak, who made his money in financial and real estate businesses, has told the club he plans to work closely with chairman Milan Mandaric and play a 'very active' role in the club, attending as many games as possible and taking a key part in the big club decisions.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has vowed not to fritter away the millions of Alexandre Gaydamak if he is given a transfer windfall by the Russian businessman.

Redknapp has also warned he will not be held to ransom, aware some clubs may look to take advantage of his desperation to strengthen a squad he readily concedes is lacking in quality.

Owen out till march after foot operation

Surgeons carried out an operation on Michael Owen's broken toe - but Newcastle's injury problems are increasing still further.

The England striker had an operation at a Manchester hospital where a pin was inserted into the fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

The operation is understood to have gone successfully.

But Owen, who suffered the fracture on New Year's Eve at Tottenham, will be out for 10 weeks.

Essien likely to miss African Nations Cup

Jose Mourinho believes Michael Essien will miss the African Nations Cup and stay with Chelsea for treatment on his ankle injury.

The Ghana international was unable to walk after yesterday's 3-1 win over West Ham following a 13th-minute challenge by Nigel Reo-Coker which resulted in him being taken off on a stretcher.

Essien is waiting to learn the full extent of the injury but early indications suggest he has suffered ankle ligament damage which could sideline him for weeks.

And Mourinho told his club's official website, www.chelseafc.com: "Essien I think is not going (to the African Nations Cup).

"To have treatment, it is better to stay with Chelsea. He would be going (to Egypt) for nothing."


Expect Ghana to go out in the group stages and then Essien to make a miraculous recovery in time to play the next Chel$ki game.