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Shay Given will not be handed Europa League chance by Manchester City boss Mancini
Shay Given will be dealt another blow to his stalled Manchester City career when Roberto Mancini names Joe Hart in his Europa League team to face Red Bull Salzburg on Thursday.
Given has not played for City this season but had hoped he would at least be given the goalkeeping jersey for the club's European games.
However, after seeing Hart make his first mistake of the season to gift Blackburn a goal in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, Mancini revealed England's No 1 will start in Austria.
Mancini said: 'This hasn't shaken my belief in him. Joe's a good keeper, like Shay.
First choice: Roberto Mancini will stick with England No 1 Joe Hart in goal
'This situation can happen for a goalkeeper during the season. It doesn't change my opinion of playing Joe on Thursday.'

TRANSFER BOLLOX
Tottenham could make a £6m move for Newcastle striker Andy Carroll in the January transfer window. The powerful 21-year-old has scored four league goals this season. talkSPORT

Tottenham want full-back Kyle Naughton to sign a new deal at White Hart Lane before they will allow him to join Portsmouth on loan. Daily Mirror

Manchester United are reportedly keen on signing Birmingham centre-back Scott Dann. caughtoffside.com

Everton remain keen to bring striker Landon Donovan to Goodison Park permanently after he enjoyed a successful loan spell at the club last season. His club Los Angeles Galaxy have put an £11m asking price on the United States international. talkSPORT

FC Basel winger Xherdan Shaqiri - who scored for Switzerland against England in the recent Euro 2012 qualifier - is hoping to revive a move to Liverpool. caughtoffside.com

Coventry are being warned to hurry up and sign striker Marlon King or he will join another team. The 30-year-old has been looking for a new club since leaving prison in July. talkSPORT

OTHER BOLLOX
Stuart Pearce will not replace Fabio Capello as England manager when the Italian steps down in 2012, according to Trevor Brooking, the Football Association's director of football development. Brooking believes England Under-21 boss Pearce, who has been tipped to get the job, lacks experience. talkSPORT

Fulham striker Andrew Johnson, who has been plagued by shoulder and groin injuries, is targeting a return to action in October after what he describes as "the worst year of my life". Daily Mirror

Former Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has backed the club's under-fire striker Fernando Torres, saying his poor display at Birmingham on Sunday was simply a "bad day at the office". talkSPORT

Referee Martin Atkinson has been sidelined after controversially blowing the final whistle in Everton's 3-3 draw against Manchester United on Saturday just as the Toffees had a chance to score the winner. Atkinson has been demoted to fourth official in Sunderland's clash with Arsenal on Saturday. Daily Mirror

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that he was interested in signing Spain international David Villa from Valencia in the summer, but was thwarted by Barcelona, who bought the striker for around £35m. Daily Express

Panathinaikos midfielder Gilberto Silva is sure that it is only a matter of time before his former Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas ends up at Barcelona. Fabregas was the subject of an intense, summer-long pursuit by Barca, who he left to join Arsenal as a 16-year-old. Daily Mail

In leaving Scunthorpe to take the managerial reins at Southampton, Nigel Adkins has more than doubled his wages. Daily Mail

Middlesbrough manager Gordon Strachan is turning to John Lydon, who was the lead singer of punk band the Sex Pistols, to kick-start the team's season. Strachan recently met Lydon and has been inspired by the words "Anger is an energy" in his 1986 hit Rise. "I hope we are angry because anger is an energy. We are angry with ourselves - there is no one else to blame," said Strachan, whose team lost 3-0 at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday. Daily Mirror

West Ham striker Benni McCarthy has been fined £80,000 for missing the club's deadline to lose weight. The South African shed two stone after being treated at a clinic in Austria and is finally under the limit imposed on him by the Upton Park outfit. Daily Mail

Tal Ben Haim has pulled out of West Ham's match with Stoke on Saturday to mark the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Hammers manager and fellow Israeli Avram Grant is unlikely to be at the Britannia Stadium either as he observes the day. the Sun

Tottenham new boy Sandro was left in the departure lounge at Stansted airport on Monday after a communication breakdown meant the midfielder failed to realise he is not in the squad for the Champions League game at Werder Bremen. Daily Mail


more bollox soon ...

Chinners wrote:
Tal Ben Haim has pulled out of West Ham's match with Stoke on Saturday to mark the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Hammers manager and fellow Israeli Avram Grant is unlikely to be at the Britannia Stadium either as he observes the day. the Sun

Funny old game that.....Kolo and Yaya both played right through Ramadan and during Eid at the weekend

All of the Christian players play over the Christmas break (...notably boxing day with a very subdued Xmas day as a consequence).

ant london wrote:

Chinners wrote:
Tal Ben Haim has pulled out of West Ham's match with Stoke on Saturday to mark the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Hammers manager and fellow Israeli Avram Grant is unlikely to be at the Britannia Stadium either as he observes the day. the Sun

Funny old game that.....Kolo and Yaya both played right through Ramadan and during Eid at the weekend

All of the Christian players play over the Christmas break (...notably boxing day with a very subdued Xmas day as a consequence).

You might have thought they'd have learned the lesson about going on their jollies during Yom Kippur!

john@staustell wrote:
You might have thought they'd have learned the lesson about going on their jollies during Yom Kippur!

very topical as we approach the 6th October!

although....what bemuses me after having now several times criss crossed Sinai.....is why either side thought it remotely worth fighting over!??!

Referee Martin Atkinson has been sidelined after controversially blowing the final whistle in Everton's 3-3 draw against Manchester United on Saturday just as the Toffees had a chance to score the winner. Atkinson has been demoted to fourth official in Sunderland's clash with Arsenal on Saturday. Daily Mirror

Unless the demotion is a coincidence or even the whole story press b*ll*x.. this should be seriously investigated by more than the ref's Assoc and the FA.

If he did nothing wrong - no bad decision, then why the demotion. If he did and that is the reason for the demotion, then it is a very serious problem that requires more than a demotion.

brite blu sky wrote:

Referee Martin Atkinson has been sidelined after controversially blowing the final whistle in Everton's 3-3 draw against Manchester United on Saturday just as the Toffees had a chance to score the winner. Atkinson has been demoted to fourth official in Sunderland's clash with Arsenal on Saturday. Daily Mirror

Unless the demotion is a coincidence or even the whole story press b*ll*x.. this should be seriously investigated by more than the ref's Assoc and the FA.

If he did nothing wrong - no bad decision, then why the demotion. If he did and that is the reason for the demotion, then it is a very serious problem that requires more than a demotion.

in the comments on the dailymail site

There were 3 minutes of injury time. In that time Everton scored 2 goals. Atkinson blew the whistle after 3 minutes and 30 seconds. When Atkinson gave 6 minutes of injury time that allowed Michael Owen to score the winner against Man City, the justification was that he had to allow a minute for the goal that was scored in injury time.

Atkinson is making a habit of helping United out.

Also, wasnt it Atkinson that blew the whistle for half time as Carlton Cole was running into an open net?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z0zUPNl8Ln

brite blu sky wrote:

brite blu sky wrote:

Referee Martin Atkinson has been sidelined after controversially blowing the final whistle in Everton's 3-3 draw against Manchester United on Saturday just as the Toffees had a chance to score the winner. Atkinson has been demoted to fourth official in Sunderland's clash with Arsenal on Saturday. Daily Mirror

Unless the demotion is a coincidence or even the whole story press b*ll*x.. this should be seriously investigated by more than the ref's Assoc and the FA.

If he did nothing wrong - no bad decision, then why the demotion. If he did and that is the reason for the demotion, then it is a very serious problem that requires more than a demotion.

in the comments on the dailymail site

There were 3 minutes of injury time. In that time Everton scored 2 goals. Atkinson blew the whistle after 3 minutes and 30 seconds. When Atkinson gave 6 minutes of injury time that allowed Michael Owen to score the winner against Man City, the justification was that he had to allow a minute for the goal that was scored in injury time.

Atkinson is making a habit of helping United out.

Also, wasnt it Atkinson that blew the whistle for half time as Carlton Cole was running into an open net?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z0zUPNl8Ln

I always knew the decision at the swamp would catch up with him, but I've no doubt it will be swept under the carpet.

Tottenham new boy Sandro was left in the departure lounge at Stansted airport on Monday after a communication breakdown meant the midfielder failed to realise he is not in the squad for the Champions League game at Werder Bremen. Daily Mail

Ha ha ha, to be fair they do have a lot of midfielders from different countries so communication may not be the best .... ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Blue in the face wrote:

brite blu sky wrote:

brite blu sky wrote:

Referee Martin Atkinson has been sidelined after controversially blowing the final whistle in Everton's 3-3 draw against Manchester United on Saturday just as the Toffees had a chance to score the winner. Atkinson has been demoted to fourth official in Sunderland's clash with Arsenal on Saturday. Daily Mirror

Unless the demotion is a coincidence or even the whole story press b*ll*x.. this should be seriously investigated by more than the ref's Assoc and the FA.

If he did nothing wrong - no bad decision, then why the demotion. If he did and that is the reason for the demotion, then it is a very serious problem that requires more than a demotion.

in the comments on the dailymail site

There were 3 minutes of injury time. In that time Everton scored 2 goals. Atkinson blew the whistle after 3 minutes and 30 seconds. When Atkinson gave 6 minutes of injury time that allowed Michael Owen to score the winner against Man City, the justification was that he had to allow a minute for the goal that was scored in injury time.

Atkinson is making a habit of helping United out.

Also, wasnt it Atkinson that blew the whistle for half time as Carlton Cole was running into an open net?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z0zUPNl8Ln

I always knew the decision at the swamp would catch up with him, but I've no doubt it will be swept under the carpet.

I find it hard to believe that Atkinson would do this to deliberately help Utd but I find it easy to believe that he did it on both occasions because his judgement is impaired due to being terrified of Ferguson & his watch. Either way it's outrageous but it shows the effect a club can have when it continually fights its corner against officials & media rather than allowing them walk all all over it without saying anything, like some people on here suggest we should do.

ant london wrote:

Chinners wrote:
Tal Ben Haim has pulled out of West Ham's match with Stoke on Saturday to mark the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Hammers manager and fellow Israeli Avram Grant is unlikely to be at the Britannia Stadium either as he observes the day. the Sun

Funny old game that.....Kolo and Yaya both played right through Ramadan and during Eid at the weekend

All of the Christian players play over the Christmas break (...notably boxing day with a very subdued Xmas day as a consequence).

I'm no religious expert, but aren't you comparing two different situations?

On Yom Kippur, it's a day of fasting and prayer. Christmas could be for that I suppose, but it's not really is it?

ryanmjo wrote:

ant london wrote:

Chinners wrote:
Tal Ben Haim has pulled out of West Ham's match with Stoke on Saturday to mark the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Hammers manager and fellow Israeli Avram Grant is unlikely to be at the Britannia Stadium either as he observes the day. the Sun

Funny old game that.....Kolo and Yaya both played right through Ramadan and during Eid at the weekend

All of the Christian players play over the Christmas break (...notably boxing day with a very subdued Xmas day as a consequence).

I'm no religious expert, but aren't you comparing two different situations?

On Yom Kippur, it's a day of fasting and prayer. Christmas could be for that I suppose, but it's not really is it?

I dont see why a loose interpretation cant be used and players just run fast and pray for a goal

ryanmjo wrote:

ant london wrote:

Chinners wrote:
Tal Ben Haim has pulled out of West Ham's match with Stoke on Saturday to mark the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Hammers manager and fellow Israeli Avram Grant is unlikely to be at the Britannia Stadium either as he observes the day. the Sun

Funny old game that.....Kolo and Yaya both played right through Ramadan and during Eid at the weekend

All of the Christian players play over the Christmas break (...notably boxing day with a very subdued Xmas day as a consequence).

I'm no religious expert, but aren't you comparing two different situations?

On Yom Kippur, it's a day of fasting and prayer. Christmas could be for that I suppose, but it's not really is it?

Can't imagine too many players being able to eat a full christmas dinner and drink loads before passing out in front of eastenders the day before a game though.

ant london wrote:

Chinners wrote:
Tal Ben Haim has pulled out of West Ham's match with Stoke on Saturday to mark the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur. Hammers manager and fellow Israeli Avram Grant is unlikely to be at the Britannia Stadium either as he observes the day. the Sun

Funny old game that.....Kolo and Yaya both played right through Ramadan and during Eid at the weekend

All of the Christian players play over the Christmas break (...notably boxing day with a very subdued Xmas day as a consequence).

Ant, Ramadan is for what a month?? Plus they are allowed to eat at night, not an entire fasting day. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year in their religion, and they are in services almost the entire time, thus the conflict. Correct me if I am worng, but other than fasting does much change in the daily practice of praying in Ramadan??

There are many NFL players that went the entire preseason playing despite Ramadan. History has shown American athletes missing World Series games, NFL games, etc for the one day a year that is Yom Kippur.