Van Persie was keen to play after a stormy Barclays Premier League clash in September in which Adebayor stamped on his face and provoked travelling fans after scoring in a 4-2 win for his side.
Adebayor was banned for three games for the stamp and fined for his excessive goal celebration, which appears to have been the result of resentment building since Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sold him last summer.
No rematch: Injured Robin Van Perise won't be able to meet old sparring Manchester City partner Emmanuel Adebayor in the Carling Cup next month
Adebayor said in the latest edition of Zoo magazine: ‘I was told that I must leave, even though I didn’t want to. If I had stayed there, I don’t think I would have even played.
‘I did feel hurt. After that, I had no choice. I can’t go into the crowd with them and start shouting, so I thought the best response would be to score.’
Adebayor said of the Van Persie clash: ‘I regret it but we’re all human beings. Even Barack Obama will make mistakes.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... z0X6JzFqel
Brazil's Dunga avoids tug of war with Manchester City over Robinho http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009 ... ester-city
The top 50 teenage sensations in Premier League history, Nos 40-31
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... l?ITO=1490
MANCHESTER UNITED OR MANCHESTER CITY: WHICH ONE DOES MOURINHO FANCY?
http://www.sportingpreview.com/aff/bfair/000552.php
Two Manchester United football stewards accused of breaking fan's legs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/nov/1 ... ards-court
[youtube]jEPRA-GzQU4[/youtube]
IAN RUSH: Man City's trip to Anfield is a game Liverpool FC dare not lose
THE eyes of the world will be fixed on Anfield this weekend, looking to see if a team that has been subjected to so much press coverage will make a statement. Manchester City have been mentioned on several occasions as being the side most capable of breaking into the top four this season and, with Liverpool having had a wobble over the last month, it’s very likely many will scent blood. Liverpool, though, are never better than when the pressure is on them in a big game but they will need a big performance at Anfield on Saturday if they are going to relieve the pressure that has been building and building during a sequence of one win in nine.
Put simply, this is a game that Liverpool cannot afford to lose; it’s going to be a stiff enough task climbing back into the top four from our current position. But if City happen to take another three points off us, we are going to find problems in trying to pass so many rivals in the second half of the campaign; for that reason alone, we can’t slip up again. That, however, is easier said than done, as Mark Hughes has an expensively assembled squad that is capable of scoring goals at any given time.
Sparky is a shrewd guy and will be enjoying being in the position where money is no object if he wants to go out and sign a player and there’s no doubt that he’s made some interesting purchases during the calendar year. Emmanuel Adebayor, Joleon Lescott, Kolo Toure, Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez all attracted big headlines to go with their huge transfer fees but Sparky’s best buy of the lot, in my opinion, has been their goalkeeper. Shay Given has been responsible for securing a number of points for City already and his penalty save at Birmingham just before the international break showed him to be right at the top of his game.
Yet, despite his best efforts, City have still been conceding a lot of goals in the last month and that must give Rafa Benitez and his players hope they can capitalise. City’s arrival signals the start of a massive eight days for Liverpool and it is inconceivable that our poor run continues against Debreceni and Everton – the time has come, then, to see the Reds’ fighting qualities. LIVERPOOL’S poor defensive record has attracted much criticism and nobody will be more frustrated than Pepe Reina. While some of his colleagues have not hit last year’s highs yet, Reina’s form has been excellent and it will be causing him some angst that he has not been keeping clean sheets. He is one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, he is a strong character and his distribution is second to none.
But until the men in front stop making silly errors to leave Reina exposed, clean sheets won’t arrive. Hopefully, though, normal service will soon resume.
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is the number one transfer target for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, who are set to spark a £60m bidding war for the 22-year-old. Daily Star
Chelsea are ready to make a £50m double swoop for Valencia striker David Villa and Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos.Daily Star
The Blues have been urged by skipper John Terry to spend big in the January transfer window while their transfer ban is suspended. Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell, AC Milan playmaker Andrea Pirlo and Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero are on the wish list. Daily Mirror
Tottenham are lining up a £6m bid for Manchester United and England goalkeeper Ben Foster.The Sun
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has launched a £5m bid for Middlesbrough centre-back David Wheater.The Sun
Liverpool will resist any attempt by Barcelona to prise midfielder Javier Mascherano away during the January transfer window but may accept a £30m package in the summer. Barca may offer midfielder Yaya Toure and striker Bojan Krkic in part exchange. (Daily Express)
Toure, however, has said that Manchester United and Chelsea are his preferred destinations if he is to leave the Nou Camp. (The Independent)
Reds boss Rafael Benitez is lining up a £15m double raid on West Ham for centre-back Matthew Upson and left-back Herita Ilunga. Daily Star
Manchester United winger Nani is a loan target for Italian side Fiorentina, who would be tempted to pay £15m to make the deal permanent in the summer. Daily Mail
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is planning a January raid in Huddersfield for goalkeeper Alex Smithies, who is valued at £3m. The Sun
Tottenham have taken 16-year-old Valarenga striker Havard Nielsen on loan. The teenager has represented Norway at under-16 level and scored in their recent win against Italy.The Sun
Bolton are lining up a £250,000 move for Hungary striker Laszlo Lencse, who plays for MTK. The Sun
Newcastle and Middlesbrough are chasing Celtic defender Gary Caldwell, who is out of contract in the summer. (Daily Star)
Portsmouth midfielder Matt Ritchie wants to stay at Notts County when his loan deal expires next month. (Daily Star)
Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is trying to set up a cut-price deal for Espanyol striker Raul Tamudo. (Daily Mirror)
Northern Ireland striker Warren Feeney plans to leave Cardiff in the January transfer window. (Daily Star)
Sheffield United have joined Coventry and QPR in the hunt for Sheffield Wednesday centre-back Richard Wood. (Daily Mirror)
Notts County director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson has bid £700,000 to sign Coventry centre-back Elliot Ward. (The Sun)
WAG OF THE DAY - Ingrid Vandebosch
http://www.thespoiler.co.uk/index.php/2 ... vandebosch
OTHER GOSSIP
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has threatened to quit if the club sells Spain striker Fernando Torres against his will. The Times
Portsmouth keeper David James has told England boss Fabio Capello he will be fit for next year's World Cup but says he does need a rest to protect his troublesome knee.The Sun
Former Northern Ireland international Gerry Taggart, 39, is a shock contender to take over at League Two strugglers Grimsby. (Daily Star)
AND FINALLY
Arsenal's injured striker Robin van Persie has flown to Serbia to have treatment which involves rubbing horse placenta into his damaged ankle... weird cunt. The Sun
A horse placenta yesterday
