By Alan Duffy

With the Zambian players and coaching staff still celebrating their surprise African Cup of Nations victory in a hugely dramatic penalty shoot-out in Libreville, Wayne Rooney decided to provide us all with a fine example of the unsporting, unpleasant and ungracious.

The Arsenal winger Theo Walcott says that the comeback win was needed to cheer up the fans, and he is desperate to win his first trophy with the Gunners this season. He was actually asked if he would prefer that Arsenal ended up in the Top Four or to win the FA Cup. He replied: [...]

It appears likely that Didier Drogba is set to move to Shanghai Shenua. It is not quite clear whether the move is scheduled to take place during the January transfer window or in the summer of 2012 but it has become quite clear that Didier Drogba is set to move away from Stamford Bridge and Chelsea.

Sadness as Gary Ablett dies aged 46

FORMER Liverpool and Everton defender Gary Ablett died on New Year's Day at the age of 46. His death came twenty years to the day since his last game for Liverpool, a club he'd joined straight from school in 1982. That last game for the Reds was at home to Sheffield United, a 2-1 win for a side, now managed by Graeme Souness, was a shadow of the one he'd made his debut for five years previously and with which he'd won two league winners medals and one FA Cup winners medal.

Lots of chat today over whether Arsenal chose the right people for the 125 year statues.
In issues like these, you're basically asking people to decide who their favourite Arsenal players were - a ridiculously subjective exercise.
So, at least for the initial statues, you have to go with the obvious candidates.

Meet some heroes: Cally on Bold Street, Pepe at Liverpool One

Liverpool legend Ian Callaghan played for Liverpool 857 times, scoring 68 times. Current Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina has played 324 times for the Reds. This week the duo will be signing books at two separate events a quarter of a mile apart on the same evening.

Adam Johnson has signed a new four-year deal with Manchester City, putting an end to Kenny Dalglish's alleged interest in capturing the England winger for Liverpool.
After arriving at Eastlands from Middlesbrough in January 2010, Johnson has impressed with some very creative, sparky performances.

With over 80 England caps to his name, a Champions League winners medal and countless other medals to boot some might claim it is a little premature to be calling the time on Steven Gerrard's career when he is only 31 years old.

Steven Gerrard still has plenty of ambition, numerous targets finals success with England and a Premiership title medal for Liverpool, to name just two -and age on his side.

Everton 2 - 1 West Brom (aet) - Carling Cup.

Well I say nice, it wasn't a classic but always good to progress. Frustrating in parts but with impressive performances from Drenthe, Velios and Fellaini and lovely goals from the Divine Afro and Phil Neville (superstar, got more medals than Steve Gerrard).

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt is growing frustrated with the lack of silverware he is picking up at the Anfield club, according to reports in the Daily Star.
Kuyt joined Liverpool in 2006 from Dutch giants Feynoord and since his time at Anfield has been a runner-up in both the Champions League and the Premier League.

With the Champions League starting again tomorrow night and Michael Ballack making an "emotional" return to Stamford Bridge, I thought I would re post an article I wrote back when the day it was confirmed that Ballack was leaving us was announced (so remember all of the below is back then).
Ballack spoke about tomorrow and said:

"I was very happy.

Peter Kenyon used to top my list of most hated football executives. Seeing him lead Chelsea up to get their medals after losing the Champions League medal in Russia, instead of a Chelsea legend, I thought was pure hubris.

I did not think that any executive could be as arrogant as Kenyon, but then came Gary Cook.

Peter Kenyon used to top my list of most hated football executives. Seeing him lead Chelsea up to get their medals after losing the Champions League medal in Russia, instead of a Chelsea legend, I thought was pure hubris.

I did not think that any executive could be as arrogant as Kenyon, but then came Gary Cook.

Nou boy gets medals Two games into his Barcelona career, Cesc Fabregas has scored his first competitive goal and won the same amount of trophies than during his eight years at Arsenal. Fabregas scored Barcelona's second goal in a 2-0 European Super Cup win over Porto in Monaco last night. The midfielder can add his [.

After completing his long awaited move back home to Barcelona, Cesc Fabregas magnanimously thanked and saluted Arsenal fans everywhere whose support and appreciation he was quick to acknowledge. So after 8 long hard years in North London, the Spanish midfielder leaves with one FA Cup, a few runners-up medals (Carling Cup 2007 & 2011) and [.

Born and raised just outside of London, Ashley Young has today revealed that Arsenal's Ian Wright was his boyhood hero. However, despite any possible aspirations of emulating his idol's career, Young confirms that most lads his age grew up wanting to play for Manchester United.

"Ian Wright was my hero," said Young.

Luka Modric really, really wants to leave Tottenham. Spurs Number 2 Kevin Bond now publicly acknowledges that the unhappy player may leave if a bid matches the club's valuation of the player.
The scenario floating around the newspapers is a straight cash deal for Modric. Modric in exchange for money, giving Spurs cash to pursue other players in the transfer market.

Mercurial Messi has been criticised by Argentinean fans yet again it seems - maybe Murdoch hacked them - but really what is it with football.
The guy has hardly put his European medals and cups down and he's just completed along with his Brazilian and Argeninean mates in a pretty competitive South America competition.

You would think that David Beckham has now seen it, lived it and done it all. There are Premier League medals, a European Cup, a plethora of international caps, a film made in his name, an OBE, soccer schools, flash cars and four beautiful children. So what could possibly be left? Ah that's it...I bet [.

Park Ji-Sung, has been offered a new contract by Manchester United, potentially keeping the midfielder at the club for the next two years.
Park began his career at Japanese club Kyoto Purple Sanga in 2000. He joined Dutch outfit, PSV Eindhoven two years later, where he became a huge draw for fans.

There's certainly a feel-good factor reverberating around Anfield at the moment, and that was again in evidence on Wednesday night as Liverpool FC hosted their Ability Counts programme end of season awards at the stadium.
A total of seven teams gathered in the Shankly Suite as medals were handed out following another triumphant season across all age groups, while a lucky handful were presented with the Player of the Year accolade for their personal achievements over the course of the campaign.

Imagine, if you will, Carlos Tevez in a dress and high heels. As he struts his stuff on the dance floor his obvious assets attract the attention of certain executives and various managers. The South American player of the year and Champions league medals are pushed up together on his chest, glinting under the disco ball.

"John has been an outstanding servant to the club, since he broke into the first team almost a decade ago," Sir Alex told the official site. "His versatility, calmness under pressure and his commitment to the cause at United means that fans will remember him with great affection. John has won so many medals – and has deserved every one of them.

Hoping for this one to stay

Continuing on from the feature started yesterday, today we look at another possible transfer candidate. It's none other than our captain and inspiration, Cecs Fabregas. I know this is not something new. We've been at this situation for close to 3 summer transfer window now.

It was interesting to look at the full list of released Premiership players yesterday to see if there was any possibility of constructing an article on possible targets for Spurs next season. The short answer was a resounding ‘no' – unless Tottenham wanted to replace one injury stricken player with a few more.

After the sensational first deal being confirmed today with Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing will become the second player to make the move to Merseyside, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Downing has long been a target for Kenny Dalglish, with the Liverpool manager deciding between the Aston Villa star and teammate Ashley Young.

So Paul Scholes announced his retirement from football this week, after an illustrious career that spanned well over 700 appearances for club and country. Upon hearing the news I was struck with a strange, indescribable feeling. It wasn't surprise, as I knew it would either be now or in 12 months time.

If you haven't a chance to watch the first episode of the series MNT in England, take a look at 'Howard at Home'
This was our second visit to Timmy's house on the 10-day tour of England. We initially went to film his game-day experience when Everton played Aston Villa at Goodison Park.

We knew this day was coming. We knew it was going to happen sooner rather than later. The ending of a storied and illustrious chapter in United's history.

Perhaps the fact that Scholes hasn't featured as prominently in the past couple of months has made the announcement easier to stomach. Yes, we're losing a legend.

The first in a series of pieces covering the 2010-11 season. To follow the players, the manager, the future.

All Spurs fans are united in the pursuit of success but scratch the surface and the definitions of what that actually means are less certain. It used to be easy you won something bright and shiny.

Blasphemous though it may seem, for all the dazzling array of skills which they bestow upon me as a mere spectator, I do not worship at the altar of Barcelona. I worship at the altar of football. Despite the Catalan club's increasingly jubilant marketing campaign, there is a distinction between the two.

Van Der Sar, Sagna, Cole, Vidic, Kompany, Nani, Nasri, Wilshere, Bale, Tevez, Berbatov.

Gareth Bale was named PFA Player of the Year, after assisting 1 goal and scoring 7. Nani, who wasn't even shortlisted, has assisted 18 goals and scored 9.

Ashley Cole has spoken ahead of todays replay with Everton and has revealed that the FA Cup remains just as special to him now as it was when he picked up the first of his six winners medals. He said:

I've won the FA Cup six times now and it's still amazing to think about.

MANCHESTER, England Manchester United's long-serving midfielder Ryan Giggs has signed a one-year contract extension with the Premier League giants, it was confirmed Friday. Giggs, who turned 37 in November, had already signalled his intention to prolong his Old Trafford career into a 21st season, and the club confirmed Friday the deal had now been [.

Soccer24 Ronaldo, a true great - http://www.fifa.com/worldfo... 2 hours ago from FIFA.com - News - Comment - Like Having collected two FIFA World Cup winners medals, three FIFA World Player of the Year trophies and being crowned the top scorer FIFA World Cup goalscorer of all time, Ronaldo today called time on a truly memorable career.

As new Chelsea forward Fernando Torres prepares for a mouth-watering clash with his former club Liverpool this afternoon, he has paid a tribute to his very first club Atletico Madrid by stating that the La Liga outfit is the only club he will ever kiss the badge for.

Torres, who was raised as an Atletico fan, proudly represented the side in the Spanish capital before moving to Anfield.

One goal. One moment. One shot. One piece of history.

Michael Thomas, the man who will always be remembered as the scorer of THAT goal, the one that won Arsenal the First Division title in 1989 in the last few seconds of a match against Liverpool at Anfield.

Of course, Thomas accomplished much more than that one historic goal.

Adam Digby writes a superb blog about Juventus and tweets on all manner of subjects @Adz77 ... this is his favourite goal.

Of course he has scored better goals. Of course he has scored more important goals. The current Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero has netted vital strikes at the World Cup, in a Champions League Final, in the World Club Cup Final and has won so many top trophies and titles that his list of personal honours is longer than that of most clubs.

Howard Webb MBE is a post from: Just Football

If referee Howard Webb read Marca, he would know he is not so popular in Spain. The Spanish sports daily labelled him 'an enemy' in their 2010 People of the Year Awards. But overall 2010 wasn't a bad year for the Yorkshireman despite being booed (possibly by both sets of supporters, such was the volume) as he and his assistants collected their medals for officiating the World Cup Final.