Top Tens

[johntheclaret]

Here's one to get the brain cells around.

This weeks offer is Top 10 failures

or

Too big to go down

Leeds United - 2004
In 2001, Leeds reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and were challenging at the top of the Premier League. Three years later the Elland Road squad fell into the Championship. That is why it is called 'the drop'.

Suffering financially, the three-time English title-winners narrowly avoided a date with relegation destiny in 2003, but Alan Smith and co could not escape that fate the following season as players that had worried Real Madrid and AC Milan jumped ship.

To make matters worse for the Yorkshire side, in Wile E. Coyote off-the-edge-of-a-cliff style, they pulled their parachute cord to steady their descent but discovered their Kevlar had been replaced by pots and pans and, after two terms and a play-off final appearance, Leeds limped into League One.

Middlesbrough - 1997
One of the most controversial entries as Boro were relegated after being deducted three points in 1996/97.

The men from The Riverside finished 12th in the previous campaign and were expected to prove feisty opponents after the big-money arrivals of Brazilian midfielder Emerson and Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli.

Cult hero Juninho also helped provide a Samba, attacking flair, and the club reached the finals of the FA Cup and League Cup. But it was not such a positive story in the league as Bryan Robson's side dropped after being punished by officials.

Robson refused to play a match against Blackburn at short notice because he had 16 players sidelined through injury or illness. A decision was made to deduct the value of a win from Boro, who would otherwise have survived at the expense of Coventry City.

Manchester United - 1974
Looking back 34 years, it now seems impossible to believe that last season's Premier League and Champions League winners ever suffered the indignity of relegation.

However, the Red Devils slipped into England's second echelon after finishing in 21st position in 1973/74.

Manager Tommy Docherty arrived to save the club from danger in 1972/73, but the Scot could not replicate that act in the following campaign with a side which had lost star trio Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law.

A number of reasons were offered for United's demise, with a frequently late bus driver suggested as one explanation, but the decisive factor was a goal from Law.

The forward joined rivals Manchester City on a free transfer in 1973 and netted in a 1-0 derby win at Old Trafford in the penultimate game to condemn his former employers.

Ipswich Town - 2002
If second season syndrome could be found in the dictionary you would likely discover a downbeat picture of ex-Ipswich boss George Burley sat in the Portman Road dugout.

In 1999/2000 the Tractor Boys earned play-off promotion and the following season they took the Premier League by storm.

Powered by the goals of Marcus Stewart, Burley's side battled Liverpool and Leeds for fourth spot all the way to the end of the season, before eventually settling for a fifth-placed finish and qualification for the Uefa Cup - earning their boss the Manager of the Year award.

However, European football, of which there were three rounds before a two-legged defeat to Inter Milan, took its toll and a 5-0 hammering at former top-of-the-table rivals Liverpool on the last fixture of 2001/02 meant relegation after two years.

Blackburn Rovers - 1999
Four years after lifting the Premier League title, Blackburn proved that no team is safe from relegation as they finished second-bottom and six points adrift.

The Ewood Park outfit were arguably the first nouveaux rich club in the Premier League as former chairman Jack Walker's deep pockets helped lift the English top-flight silverware in 1994/95. However, that seemed a distant memory in 1998/99.

With Roy Hodgson at the helm, Rovers began with high hopes after Uefa Cup football was secured the previous season.

But the European run lasted just one round following an aggregate defeat to Lyon, and Hodgson -whose era is remembered for a questionable £7.5million spent on Kevin Davies - was sacked in December.

Brian Kidd was Hodgson's replacement, but the ex-Manchester United assistant infamously, 'smelt a bit of fear' in the Rovers dressing room and he was unable to find the Glade to remove the aroma of dread as a goalless home draw with his former club in the last-but-one game of the season sent Rovers down.

Nottingham Forest - 1993
A season which had started so promisingly, with Forest beating Liverpool in the first Premier League game to be televised on Sky Sports, ended on a sour note for Brian Clough's men as they slipped into the second tier.

The sale of Teddy Sheringham to Tottenham early in the campaign proved to be disastrous, while a suitable replacement was never found for Des Walker following the England international's summer departure to Sampdoria.

While the top-flight pedigree of Robert Rosario and Carl Tiler is open to debate, any team boasting the combined talents of Roy Keane, Stuart Pearce and Nigel Clough should have had enough to keep their head above water.

However, with Brian Clough's powers, and health, on the wane, Trentside witnessed an alarming slump, from which there was to be no recovery.

Finishing rock-bottom was no way for a managerial legend to bring his distinguished career to a close but, ultimately, Clough was unable to bring the best out of his side.

Manchester City - 1996
The blue half of Manchester turned a shade of grey as City slipped out of the Premier League on the final day of the 1995/96 season.

A 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Maine Road was not enough to save Alan Ball's side as goal difference sent City down.

With the fat lady warming up her voice, Ball's men dramatically came from two goals down in the space of seven minutes against the Reds.

But City were their own worst enemies as, having restored parity, they wasted time and played for a draw after being given incorrect information about the fortunes of their relegation rivals. A win would have stuffed a sock in the mouth of the aforementioned over-weight female as she cleared her throat.

And, as with Leeds, the only way was not up. Ball continued to struggle and resigned after three games of the following season.

City - who won the 1970 Cup Winners' Cup - survived two campaigns in Division One, but further trauma was in store as they became the first side to have lifted a European trophy to fall into the third flight of English football.

West Ham United - 2003
West Ham sunk 11 places from their previous campaign to suffer relegation in the 2002/03 season after an 18th-placed Premier League finish.

Upton Park legend Harry Redknapp had left the club in 2001 and things were never quite the same for the Hammers as Glenn Roeder was appointed as successor.

Roeder was absent for part of the season as he underwent successful surgery on a brain tumour, and the current Norwich boss was replaced by interim manager, and former West Ham star, Sir Trevor Brooking.

But not even Sir Trev' could prevent the Hammers' bubble from bursting as a team containing the likes of David James, Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Frederic Kanoute and Paolo Di Canio ended the term short of a place outside the relegation zone.

Atletico Madrid - 2000
One of the greatest shocks in Spanish football saw Atletico plummet out of the Primera Liga at the end of 1999/00.

The Vicente Calderon was left in a state of shock as the campaign began badly and manager Claudio Ranieri was shown the exit, with Raddy Antic asked to save the day in his third spell in charge at the club in five years.

Antic, though, was not up to the task and, despite reaching the final of the Copa del Rey, Atletico fell into the Segunda Division.

The nine-time La Liga champions' demise becomes all the more surprising when it is remembered that former Leeds player Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scored 24 goals in 34 outings in the season, he might have been better staying at Elland Road, while ex-Boro star Juninho was also at the club. Perhaps the Brazilian is a curse?

Leicester City - 2008
Finally, the most recent entry. After dropping out of the Premier League with Leeds in 2004, Leicester hit their lowest point four years later.

The Foxes slumped into the third tier of English football for the first time in their history as they were relegated from the Championship on a dramatic final day of the 2007/08 season.

Ian Holloway became the first Leicester manager to win his opening game in charge in more than 50 years but, having been appointed as the fourth permanent man in the Foxes hot-seat in nine months in November 2007, he was unable to address inherited problems.

Leicester's 32,500 Walkers Stadium, which the club moved into in 2002, looks a little out of place in League One.

[McAlmanac]

Manchester United - 1974
A number of reasons were offered for United's demise, with a frequently late bus driver suggested as one explanation, but the decisive factor was a goal from Law.

The forward joined rivals Manchester City on a free transfer in 1973 and netted in a 1-0 derby win at Old Trafford in the penultimate game to condemn his former employers.

Cheeky little back heel. When he scored, and again when he was subbed off, he looked as though he had shot someone. It was his last League game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pk2If8DsN-Q

[johntheclaret]

With Histon knocking out Leeds in the FA Cup, here are a few more FA Cup shocks

Great giant killing acts

or

This is a real Banana skin game

1: Hereford 2 Newcastle 1, 1972

Let's get it out of the way first. Unquestionably the most famous FA Cup shock of all time, this third round replay from the early 70s has gone down in football folklore.
The game had actually been postponed three times due to bad weather and someone somewhere had obviously had enough, because when the match did finally go ahead it was played on an absolute mud-bath at Edgar Street.
The result is most notable for being the first occasion that a non-league side had triumphed over a top-flight club since Yeovil's fourth round victory over Sunderland in 1949.
Malcolm Macdonald had given the Magpies a 1-0 advantage, but with the Hereford players barely able to drag themselves through the mud Ronnie Radford unleashed his now infamous 35-yard thunderbolt and caused Edgar Street to go absolutely mental.
Radford's goal has become so synonymous with the game that it is largely forgotten that Ricky George actually grabbed the extra-time winner, but no-one will ever be allowed to forget the result.

2: Sutton United 2 Coventry 1, 1989

This is the most recent occasion in which a top-flight side has been unceremoniously dumped out of the competition by non-league opposition.
The Sky Blues had won the cup two years earlier, but with no Gary Mabbutt on hand this time to gift them the game they tamely succumbed to an embarrassing defeat.
Coventry sat sixth in the First Division at the time, but goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan helped the U's humble their more illustrious neighbours and spark the biggest knees-up in the club's history.
The fairytale did not last long though as Sutton were brought crashing back down to earth with an 8-0 defeat away at Norwich in the next round.
Everyone's entitled to their 15 minutes of fame though aren't they?

3 Walsall 2 Arsenal 0, 1933

Admittedly this shock occurred well before most of us were born, but the result shook the world not just England. Walsall were Third Division strugglers and Arsenal were considered the best side in the world. Slight mismatch you would have thought.
However, in front of 11,000 hardy souls at Fellows Park, Gilbert Alsop's header and a Bill Sheppard penalty rocked Herbert Chapman's double-chasing side and brought to life the magic of the FA Cup.
Long before Arsene Wenger was reeling off lame excuses for abject performances, Chapman blamed his side's poor showing on an influenza epidemic within the squad and the fact that he had been forced to draft in a number of players from the amateur league.
Whatever the reason though, Arsenal were poor and Walsall were good, let's leave it at that.

4: Worcester 2 Liverpool 1, 1959

Liverpool may have been in the Second Division at the time but that does not excuse being knocked out of English football's biggest club competition at the hands of a Southern League club.
Another game which had been rescheduled due to bad weather, a freezing Thursday night in January saw Worcester take the lead through Tommy Skuse before an own goal doubled their advantage.
A late penalty proved to be nothing more than a consolation for Phil Taylor's side and the Reds parted company with their manager not long after. Liverpool fans had needn't have worried though. The man chosen to replace to Taylor was a certain Mr Bill Shankley. Every cloud...

5: Wrexham 2 Arsenal 1, 1992

The Welsh side were officially the worst side in the country when they met the high-flying Gunners in another game which has secured legendary status over the years.
Sitting bottom of the Third Division Wrexham were given no hope against a George Graham side who were second in the top-flight at the time and everything seemed to be going to plan for the Londoners until 20 minutes from time.
Unpredictable playboy Mickey Thomas levelled the scores with a spectacular free-kick and Steve Watkin grabbed a winner.
In much the same way as Ronnie Radford's strike has become almost as famous as the cup itself, Thomas has gone down in FA Cup history despite not actually scoring a winning goal.
His fantastic strike and wild celebration will be remembered long after his time spent at Her Majesty's pleasure for dealing in funny money has been forgotten and no-one seems to care that he actually played for Manchester United and Chelsea during a successful career.

6: Bournemouth 2 Manchester United 0, 1984

Cup holders United were outplayed and outfought by Harry Redknapp's side as they crashed to an ignominious defeat.
Milton Graham and Ian Thompson got the goals in a game which helped to launch Redknapp's reputation as the master of the underdog.
Bournemouth were a Third Division side at the time and although they have experienced promotion in the years since, this day will arguably go down as one of the greatest results in the club's history.

7: Shrewsbury 2 Everton 1, 2003

Yet another game played on an absolute disgrace of a surface pitted 18th in Division Three against 5th in the Premier League, but league form was well and truly thrown out of the window on this occasion.
Former Nottingham Forest duo Ian Woan and Nigel Jemson were inspirational for the Shrews as they booked a glamorous fourth round date with Chelsea.
Jemson gave the home side the lead shortly before half-time with a pinpoint free-kick, but Niclas Alexandersson restored parity for the Toffees on the hour mark. With time almost up Jemson grabbed the winner with a close range header and sent Gay Meadow into delirium.

8: Burnley 1 Liverpool 0, 2005

The night which will probably haunt Djimi Traore for the rest of his career. Rafa Benitez had decided that the FA Cup was not important enough for him to waste his time with and played a severely under-strength side at Turf Moor, a decision he would live to regret.
Already facing stiff criticism before kick-off for demeaning the competition the Spaniard must have been hoping that his second-string could do the business and ease the pressure on him. They couldn't.
Six minutes into the second-half a harmless cross from the left by Richard Chaplow fell to the feet of Traore six-yards out. No danger there you would think, but the defender was determined to add some excitement to what had been a pretty dull affair up to that point. It's unclear precisely what the Frenchman attempted to do next but the result was one of the most ridiculous own-goals of all-time, not just in FA Cup history.
This one moment of madness ended Liverpool's cup run before it had even begun and made helped make Benitez acutely aware of what the competition means to people in this country.

9: Burnley 0 Wimbledon 1, 1975

The Dons became the first non-league side to win away at a First Division side since 1920 when they emerged victorious at Turf Moor.
Wimbledon were a Southern League side and had already successfully navigated six games to reach the third round.
Mick Mahon got the only goal of the game to set up a dream clash with League champions Leeds at Elland Road in the next round.
Their amazing run continued in Yorkshire as they somehow held on for a 0-0 draw, with Peter Lorimer even missing a penalty for the First Division side. They went on to lose the replay, but Wimbledon's time was to come when they shocked Liverpool to claim the trophy in 1988.

10: Cardiff 2 Leeds 1, 2002

This game was always going to be tasty but no-one was expecting the Division Two side to upset a Leeds team who were top of the Premier League at the time.
Cardiff owner Sam Hamann had whipped the crowd into a frenzy before kick-off and the match itself didn't disappoint.
Mark Viduka cracked in a 20-yard screamer to give the visitors the lead, but in true FA Cup tradition it was yet another free-kick which pulled the Bluebirds level, Irish midfielder Graham Kavangh giving Nigel Martyn no chance with a perfectly placed effort from the edge of the box.
Alan Smith was then given his marching orders and with five minutes left local boy Scott Young raised the roof of Ninian Park.
Cardiff hung on for a famous win and at the whistle the only sure-fire event of the whole occasion occurred - all hell broke loose.

[johntheclaret]

I thought for this weeks offering, as it is nearly Christmas and the Works Parties are in full swing, I would give you a taste of what kind of jollies the footbslling world get up to.

Here is the top ten (or worst 10) Club Xmas Bashes as reported in the UK pres.

10) Celtic (2002)
Holding your Xmas party in another city altogether is often a wise move, but occasionally it merely adds fuel to an already well-fanned fire.

Celtic’s 2001 bash at the Sizzlers steakhouse in Glasgow climaxed with Neil Lennon passing out on a pavement and smashing his head on a kerb. In 2002 they went to Newcastle instead, in what a spokeswoman confirmed was “an effort to avoid attention”. Sadly, it didn’t work.

A party of well-oiled Bhoys wound-up at the glamorous-sounding Buffalo Joe’s Anerican themed bar in Gateshead, only to be greeted by a gang of photographers.

One ‘incident’ later, and four of them – Neil Lennon, Bobby Petta, Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren – were in police custody.

Perhaps the mean kerbs of Glasgow would have been a safer bet after all.

9) Leeds (2001)
David O’Leary’s less than angelic team of ‘babes’, a Wild West-themed fancy dress pub crawl and 10 solid hours of boozing: what could go possibly wrong?

Everything, which is why the club appointed five security guards to follow the 30 or so players around the city in an attempt to prevent what might euphemistically be termed ‘mischief’.

Even so, freshly-signed striker Robbie Fowler still managed to wind up in the cells after a fracas with photographer Ben Lack ended up with the latter’s camera being smashed on a garage forecourt.

“I can't understand why they reacted like they did,” whined Lack afterwards. “Robbie Fowler is used to having his picture taken.”

Yes, Ben. But then again, he isn’t usually three, four or even five sheets to the wind at the time.

8) West Ham (2001)
Few Hammers fans can recall anything carrot-topped Australian defender Hayden Foxe did on the pitch during his time at the club, but they all can remember what he got up to off of it.

After reportedly amassing a drinks bill of nearly £2,000 in the VIP section of trendy London ‘nite spot’ Sugar Reed, Foxe mistook the bar for a urinal (easily done… after twenty pints) and promptly relieved himself all over it.

Frankly, that’s just taking the p…

7) AGF Arhus (2004)
Former Bolton midfielder Stig Tofting is the very definition of a footballing nomad, having played for 10 different clubs over the course of his 14-year career.

It’s not hard to work out why when you consider that his AGF Arhus career was quickly curtailed after he punched out four team-mates at the team’s Christmas party.

The reason? They’d torn the poor fella’s shirt.

Presumably the Danish paparazzo breathed a collective sigh of relief that they weren’t on hand that night to have their cameras smashed for posterity.

6) Manchester United (2002)
Christmas is, of course, traditionally the time for goodwill to all men. Unless those men happen to be team-mates who haven’t pulled their weight, of course.

Manchester United duo Ryan Giggs and Roy Carroll upheld that noble tradition back in 2002 when a row erupted after an all-day session at an Irish pub in Manchester moved on to the Rossetti Hotel.

Team-mates had to separate the pair after they were seen “nose to nose and swearing at each other”.

One onlooker said: "It was all pretty nasty but they didn't actually come to blows. I think drink had played its part.”

You don’t say!

5) West Ham (1998)
Take one large group of overpaid footballers, add copious amounts of alcohol, wrap them in ‘70s fancy dress and leave the whole thing to simmer for hours in an Essex meat-market and you have a recipe for disaster.

Remarkably, West Ham’s players managed to make it to chucking out time before getting into trouble – although they quickly made up for lost time.

A very public fracas with a Mini driven by a 19-year-old beauty therapist led to charges of causing criminal damage for ‘Tricky’ Trevor Sinclair and affray under the Public Order Act for Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock.

4) Liverpool (1998)
The only thing better than football stars behaving inappropriately is footballers behaving inappropriately while in fancy dress.

England international Jamie Carragher managed to do both at Liverpool’s bash when he got busy with a can of whipped cream and a gaggle of strippers while dressed as the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

According to a report in the News of the World at the time, Michael Owen allegedly went to stand in the corner when the debauchery kicked off, while Paul Ince remained at the DJ booth looking 'concerned'

3) Leicester City (2001)
Invite one of Dennis Wise and Robbie Savage to a party and you’re arguably asking for trouble. Invite them both, and you might as well call the cops before it even starts.

The atmosphere at relegation-threatened Leicester’s Xmas bash understandably turned sour when Wise gave Savage a teddy bear impaled on a sex toy and reportedly told him: "Take this, because you're the only p***k in a Leicester shirt at the moment."

Savage responded by smearing chocolate on the former Wimbledon star’s face and mocking his relationship with old pal Dave Bassett.

But the mood really went downhill when Wise went on to make sexual remarks about Robbie’s then girlfriend. Cue knuckle sandwiches all round.

2) Manchester City (2004)
It’s hard to believe that mild-mannered midfielder Joey Barton could get into trouble at a booze-fuelled bash, but that’s what happened at City’s 2004 Christmas party in the inappropriately named Lucid nightclub.

Reports suggest that young Joey was, as ever, acting the charmer, boasting about his £27k per week contract and attempting to make holes in the other players’ fancy dress costumes with a lit cigar.

When youth player Jamie Tandy took umbrage and attempted to return the favour with a cigarette lighter, Barton stubbed said cigar out in the 18-year-old’s left eye.

If only the cigarette ban had been enforced three years earlier, then Joey Barton’s career could have turned out very differently indeed.

1) Manchester United (2007)
The Reds’ last Xmas party is also their last Xmas party, as boss Sir Alex Ferguson was so incensed by what happened at the Great John Street hotel that he cancelled Christmas for good.

And who can blame him? The Rio Ferdinand-organised evening started going downhill when some 80 hand-picked women were corralled to join players who were already well in to a 15-hour drinking marathon.

Early revellers were treated to the sight of Wayne Rooney, strumming a pretend plastic guitar, unknowingly chatting up a Daily Mirror reporter with the immortal line: “I'm dressed like Justin Timberlake tonight – and you can be Beyonce”.

But events took a much darker turn as the drink continued to flow. One witness described how she overheard a vile orgy in one of the hotel rooms, during which the men shrieked “like hyenas”.

To cap it all, 19-year-old defender Jonny Evans was later arrested on supicion of rape – although no charges were ever brought.

Bah humbug indeed.

[devilsadvocate]

4) Liverpool (1998)
According to a report in the News of the World at the time, Michael Owen allegedly went to stand in the corner when the debauchery kicked off, while Paul Ince remained at the DJ booth looking 'concerned'

You have to admire Michael Owen. He's the type of role model you want your kids looking up to IMO.
I can't recall a single bad piece of press surrounding him. JTC - you've been closer to the action for much longer than I - can you recall?
Such a pity he's been hampered by injuries and even bigger pity he plays for those Geordies.

[Dirko]

One ‘incident’ later, and four of them – Neil Lennon, Bobby Petta, Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren – were in police custody.

What did Bobby Petta do ? He played a few season for Adelaide United and is now suiting up for Sydney FC.

[johntheclaret]

None DA. Always squeky clen as far as I can recall.

Not sure Jabber, but I wil do a bit of a search and see what comes up.

[johntheclaret]

After David James' nightmare at Arsenal this week-end I thought I would do a Top Ten Goalkeeping howlers.

See how many you recognise

Paul Robinson - Croatia 2 England 0, Euro 2008 qualifier, October 2006
With England already a goal down in their crucial away fixture against Croatia, Robinson allowed Gary Neville's seemingly harmless backpass to roll over his foot to hand the home side a 2-0 lead and put the game well beyond Steve McClaren's men.


David Seaman - Brazil 2 England 1, World Cup, June 2002
The Arsenal goalkeeper allowed a long-range free-kick from Ronaldinho to beat him for a goal which ended England's hopes of winning the World Cup in Japan and South Korea at the quarter-final stage.


David James - Austria 2 England 2, World Cup qualifier, September 2004
The current Pompey keeper let a long-range shot by Andreas Ivanschitz squirm underneath his body for the equaliser as England threw away a two-goal lead in their qualifying campaign for Germany 2006.


Ray Clemence - Scotland 2 England 1, Home Internationals, May 1976
Over 85,000 fans filled Hampden Park to witness the Liverpool keeper's biggest mistake in an England jersey. The match was poised at 1-1 when Kenny Dalglish, twisting and turning, made room for a shot inside the England penalty area. He could only scuff a weak effort towards goal but Clemence allowed the ball to slip through his legs and into the net.


Peter Shilton - England 1 Poland 1, World Cup qualifier, October 1973
England needed to beat Poland at Wembley to make it through to the World Cup finals in West Germany. Sir Alf Ramsey's men laid siege to Jan Tomaszewski's goal but could not break the deadlock. A Norman Hunter error early in the second half allowed Lato to break away to feed Domarski who shot straight at Shilton. However the England keeper dived over the top of the ball allowing the visitors to take a shock lead. In spite of an Allan Clarke penalty, England were unable to find a winner. Ramsey was sacked soon after.


Scott Carson - England 2, Croatia 3, Euro 2008 qualifier, November 2007
Just minutes into his competitive England debut, the 22-year-old Villa keeper was beaten by a speculative long-range effort by Portsmouth's Niko Kranjcar. The skiddy pitch and moving ball were mitigating factors but the fact Carson failed to get his body behind the ball proved his downfall as the Croatian's shot squirmed through his hands and into the net.


Peter Bonetti - England 2 West Germany 3, World Cup finals, June 1970
With world champions England leading 2-0 and seemingly coasting to a World Cup semi-final, Peter Bonetti, deputising for the ill Gordan Banks, gifted the Germans a way back into the game when he let a tame Franz Beckenbauer effort under his body. Uwe Seeler then equalised and Gerd Muller got the winner in extra-time.


David Seaman - England 2, Macedonia 2, Euro 2004 qualifier, October 2002
Arsenal's veteran goalkeeper set the tone for a ragged England display by allowing Artim Sakiri to score direct from a corner, the ball flying over the hapless Seaman's head. It handed Macedonia an early lead and gave them the perfect incentive as they hung on for a draw at St Mary's Stadium.


Nigel Martyn - England 2 Romania 3, Euro 2000, June 2000
Needing just a draw to go through to the quarter-finals, England were leading 2-1 thanks to goals from Alan Shearer and Michael Owen before Martyn's intervention. Playing only because David Seaman injured himself in the warm-up, Martyn came for a second half cross which really had little to do with him. His clearance fell straight to the waiting Dorinel Munteanu, who chested the ball down before drilling it back beyond the Leeds keeper's despairing dive. In the last minute, Phil Neville conceded a penalty tucked away by Ioan Ganea which saw Kevin Keegan's side crash out.


David James - Denmark 4 England 1, Friendly, August 2005
Not so much a single error but a collective misjudgment which led to England's heaviest defeat in 25 years. The then Manchester City keeper admitted he failed to prepare properly for his second-half outing in which he conceded all four goals - including a rash error of judgement for Denmark's opener. James claimed he had not expected to be involved in the game - a startling admission for someone looking for international redemption after his blunder against Austria the year before.

[johntheclaret]

Being as it is the festive season I thought we would have a top ten double. And with the news of Stevie G's arrest, what else but a top ten Footballers who have been arrested.

I am sure there are a few others. Tony Adams for one, but it is a top TEN

Joey Barton
Bad boy Barton was sentenced to six months behind bars in May this year for common assault and affray during an incident outside McDonald's in Liverpool. The Newcastle player served 77 days of his term.

Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Disorderly has had almost as many brushes with the law as he has goals to his name. The big Scot has four convictions for assault, including one for headbutting Raith Rovers defender John McStay during a game in 1994. He also got in hot water after a fracas with a fisherman in a Fife boozer and following an altercation with a taxi driver.

Dennis Wise
Another player who can’t resist a dust-up with a taxi driver. In 1995 Wise was convicted of assaulting a London cabbie and sentenced to a three-month prison term, which was later overturned on appeal. As a result of the incident Wise was stripped of the Chelsea captaincy.

Vinnie Jones
The hardman footballer turned actor has had his collar felt on a number of occasions. In 1998 he was convicted of assaulting a neighbour, and in 2003 Jones was convicted of air rage after repeatedly slapping a fellow passenger. He was fined £1,100 and sentenced to 80 hours community service for the air rage offence.

Bobby Petta, Johan Mjallby and Joos Valgaeren
A handful of Celtic players were banged up overnight following the club’s Christmas party back in 2001. These three were remanded in custody after a drunken set-to with a tabloid snapper but released without charge.

Trevor Sinclair and Neil Ruddock
Another Christmas party that resulted in arrests was West Ham’s shindig in 1998. Following a night of drinking and dancing in an Essex nightspot a very public fracas with a Mini driven by a 19-year-old beauty therapist led to charges of causing criminal damage for Trevor Sinclair and affray under the Public Order Act for Neil Ruddock.

Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate
Leeds players Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate were both arrested and charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and affray following an incident in 2000 during which an Asian student suffered severe injuries. Bowyer was later cleared of both charges, while Woodgate was convicted of affray and sentenced to community service.

Jody Morris
The former Chelsea footballer has found himself in hot water on more than one occasion. During his Chelsea days he was one of a group of players who drunkenly abused American tourists at Heathrow Airport within hours of the 9/11 attacks. Two years later he was questioned by the police about allegations of a serious sexual assault, but released without charge. Then in 2006 Morris was handed a two-year suspended jail term and 80 hours community service for drink-driving.

Luke McCormick
Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick is currently serving a seven years and four month prison sentence for two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol. He was sent down in October this year after causing a car crash in July which killed two children after he fell asleep at the wheel while returning drunk from a team-mate's wedding.

Lee Hughes
Oldham Athletic striker Lee Hughes was imprisoned in 2004 for six years for causing death by dangerous driving. He served three years of his sentence was released in August 2007. "I made dreadful mistakes and decisions that will live with me for the rest of my life. It also greatly affected my immediate family, including my wife and children, and I will never forgive myself for this,” said Hughes upon release.

[catchisthecry]

Robinson's http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8nzTjJXOI

[johntheclaret]

Robinson's http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8nzTjJXOI

There could be so many, many more

[johntheclaret]

Oh go on then, I just can't help myself, afterall it is Christmas. And there is plenty of ammo this week. So after Fullers little spat with team mate Andy Griffin, here is the top ten on field dust ups (or as we call it "handbags") between players of the same side. not all are footbal, but what the heck.

Shoaib Akhtar v Mohammad Asif
Fast bowler Akhtar was kicked out of Pakistan's world Twenty20 squad last year after admitting hitting Asif with a cricket bat.
The man nicknamed the Rawalpindi Express had apparently been boasting about his greatness and did not take it too kindly when Asif mocked him.
A swipe with a bat left Asif with a bruised thigh - and Akhtar with an early plane ticket home.

Craig Levein v Graeme Hogg
In the pressure cooker of a pre-season friendly against Raith, Hearts' Levein broke his team mate's nose, sparking a brawl.
Both players were shown red cards - Hogg while he was on a stretcher - and were given lengthy bans, 14 games for Levein and 10 for Hogg.

Mike Flanagan v Derek Hales
Unlike Batty and Le Saux, both the Charlton players were sent off after slugging it out in a 1979 FA Cup third round match against Maidstone.
They went at it after an attack broke down five minutes from time, and shocked manager Andy Nelson blasted: "I've never seen anything like it on a football pitch."
Flanagan was exonerated, Hales sacked but later reinstated after an appeal. But the feud never died away - and five years later, back at Charlton, Hales threatened to quit the club if they signed Flanagan again.

Graeme Le Saux v David Batty
It took only four minutes for Le Saux and Batty to lose the plot in Moscow in a European Cup game after a touchline collision.
Le Saux produced a meaty left hook on Batty, breaking his hand in the process then hit out at Tim Sherwood when he stepped in to try to separate the pair.
Another heated row broke out later on, between Alan Shearer and Colin Hendry. And Rovers lost 3-0 to complete a miserable night.

Emmanuel Adebayor v Nicklas Bendtner
Things were already not going well for Bendtner - Arsenal were losing 4-1 to Tottenham and about to be dumped out of the Carling Cup, with one of Spurs' goals a header from Bendtner into his own net.
Then seven minutes from time his strike partner head butted him. Bendtner was left with a bloody nose and ref Howard Webb and skipper William Gallas had to separate the pair.


Bruce Grobbelaar v Steve McManaman
A Merseyside derby in 1993 and Grobbelaar is unimpressed by a McManaman clearance, giving him an earful of abuse.
But the goalkeeper is even less impressed when the young winger has a go back and goes for the throat. Presumably to shut his team mate up.


Craig Bellamy v John Arne Riise
In the run-up to Liverpool's Champions League clash in Barcelona last year, Bellamy went after Riise with a golf club following a night out.
The Welshman was fined two weeks' wages - £80,000 - and Rafa Benitez sold him in the summer.
They did get past Barcelona and all the way to the final before that, mind you. The scorers at the Nou Camp? Riise and Bellamy of course, so it was hugs all round afterwards.


Freddie Ljungberg v Olof Mellberg
It usually seems to be the Dutch who are fighting at the World Cup, but in 2002 the Swedes got in on the act.
Freddie Ljungberg, then of Arsenal, took exception to Olof Mellberg's late tackle in training and grabbed him by the throat.
He later brushed off the incident, saying: "Things like that happen, it's nothing to worry about."


Kieron Dyer v Lee Bowyer
In 2005 it took Aston Villa's Gareth Barry to separate the two warring Newcastle team mates, who started trading punches with their team 3-0 down.
They later appeared alongside manager Graeme Souness to say sorry for their behaviour. They did not apologise to each other at the time but were later reunited at West Ham.


John Hartson v Eyal Berkovic
The Daily Mirror revealed another training ground bust-up back in October 1998, when Hartson launched an X-rated training ground attack on Berkovic, the Welshman kicking his Israeli team mate in the head.
Berkovic, who had been involved in an on-pitch scuffle with John Moncur the season before, blasted the striker, telling the Mirror: "If my head was a ball it would have been in the top corner of the net."
Hartson became the first player the FA charged with misconduct over a training field incident.


My favourite was always the Batty v Le Saux single rounder

[johntheclaret]

Keeping these top tens as topical as I can, it wouldn't be right if we were to exclude a top ten "Managers rants", in the light of Rafa's comments this week.

I didn't count Kinnears 42 F word rant earlier this year, as it didn't really say anything.

Kevin Keegan - 'I will love it'
Um... Um... Where to start when compiling a list of famous football managerial rants? Hang on, didn't former Newcastle manager Keegan once utter four famous little words?

The phrase, 'I will love it' earned an eternal place in Premier League folklore after Keegan's temper tantrum at Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson 12 years ago.

In the April of the 1995/96 season, Keegan had thrown away a seemingly invincible 12-point lead in the title race and the Magpies leader fell hook, line and sinker for Ferguson's notorious mind games.

The Scot suggested Leeds, and a Nottingham Forest side featuring Stuart Pearce, tried harder against United than when facing Newcastle as the season reached squeaky bum time, much to the annoyance of Keegan.

When asked about United in a live Sky Sports interview, the 'Geordie Messiah' snapped, exploding with the immortal line: "I will love it if we beat them, love it!"


Chris Coleman - Walton whinge
The ex-Fulham boss possesses an unimpressed glare which could strip paint from 100 yards and he is certainly one manager whose Mr Hyde side you would not wish to discover.

But that is exactly what referee Peter Walton succeeded in doing in the 2006/07 campaign following a decision not to award Fulham a last-gasp penalty against United at Craven Cottage.

The Red Devils led 2-1 as the final whistle approached on the banks of The Thames, but visiting goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar - playing against his former club - clattered into Heidar Helguson inside the 18-yard area.

A stonewall penalty, or so Coleman thought. Walton did not flinch, leading the Fulham boss - who acknowledged he would receive a fine for the eruption - to suggest the official had 'lost his nerve'.

A disgusted Coleman went on to imply Ferguson was fluffing a spare seat pillow on the United bus in preparation for giving the match official a lift home.


Harry Redknapp - Excuses, excuses
If any Tottenham players are considering an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of their new boss they should realise it is difficult to fool Redknapp, or be prepared to think of a better excuse than that offered by a mystery man who once struck 'Arry with a stray shot when supposedly aiming at goal.

Stood on the side of a training pitch while informing a television reporter of his latest injury concerns, Redknapp was hit by a loose effort from one of two unknown assailants who were having a kick-about in the background.

Turning from the camera, the former Portsmouth, Southampton and West Ham boss politely enquired: "Why the f*** did you kick that over here? You tried to kick it in the goal and you hit me?!? Get some f****** brains, will you? No wonder you're in the f****** reserves!"


Wenger - City slicker
It would be possible to form a pick & mix of Wenger's arguments with referees, opposing managers, governing bodies, or pretty much anybody from the football world.

The Frenchman does not always earn a place in peoples' affections with his stubborn, 'I didn't see its', compared with frequent complaints when a perceived injustice against the Gunners takes place.

And it is Wenger's outburst following a three-game improper conduct ban placed on striker Thierry Henry in 2002 which is remembered here.

Henry - now at Barcelona - was punished for criticism of Graham Poll after a December 2001 defeat to Newcastle, in which the France international had to be restrained by team-mates and members of the police.

Wenger, though, believed a three-match suspension for an incident involving the constabulary was 'very harsh'.

He went on to suggest that the reprimand was due to media hype and that London-based Arsenal had paid the price for being, 'a big club in a big city'.


Sam Allardyce - Riley 'riot'
Perhaps not everyone's favourite referee, and Mike Riley received strong complaints from ex-Bolton manager Allardyce in 2006.

Big Sam was hit with a £2,000 fine and warned about his future conduct by the FA after accusing Riley of 'blatant inconsistency' in a January clash with Blackburn.

Bolton drew 0-0 at Ewood Park, but Allardyce was incensed by the first-half dismissal of Hidetoshi Nakata, and so were the travelling Trotters faithful.

Years of pent up frustration came flooding out of Allardyce as he accused Riley of 'nearly causing a riot'.

He then turned into a part-time mathematician, calculating: "Give me a minute and I will prove what the referee (Riley) has done. He has refereed us seven times and we've had five players sent off, four in the first half. The statistics speak for themselves."

Steve McClaren - 'Write what you want'
"Gentlemen, if you want to write whatever you want to write, you can write it because that is all I am going to say. Thank you. Nothing concerns me about what people write or say. What matters is what is on the inside."

Former England manager McClaren attempted to achieve the moral high ground with the media by offering the above words following an unimpressive 3-0 victory over minnows Andorra in doomed Euro 2008 qualification, but he only succeeded in providing more red top cannon-fodder.

From day one of his reign in international football, McClaren - who would go on to earn the infamous 'wally with a brolly' nickname - was fighting the critics.

The statement at the Montjuic Stadium was designed to demonstrate a determination and focus on the job in hand but, after the grammatical confusion of the opening sentence is negotiated, it must be remembered that England failed to qualify and the sack soon followed.


Gerard Houllier - Pretty Polly
Liverpool's old boss had a habit of producing grin-inducing sound bites during his six-year spell at Anfield (anyone ever impersonated eating grass as a goal celebration?).

However, his criticism of referee Poll following a 2-0 August defeat to Arsenal at Highbury in 2000 - in which two Liverpool players were sent off - did not amuse all.

Gary McAllister was dismissed on his full debut for the Reds, while Dietmar Hamann followed in the second half as the visitors crashed to goals from Lauren and Henry, leaving Houllier memorably smirking with disbelief on the sidelines.

Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira was also handed his marching orders, the Frenchman's second red card in successive games, but Houllier still felt that Poll had a vendetta against his side following, arguably, harsh punishments.

In a post-match interview, Houllier said: "I think Mr Poll had a bad game, he had a very bad game. Maybe it is the start of the season. We are very unlucky with Mr Poll, I have never won with him - that is clear."


Jose Mourinho - You can't make an omelette...
The 'Special One' was, and is, always one to speak his mind and he was at his colourful best when bemoaning a perceived lack of quality in his old Chelsea squad.

Under pressure from club owner Roman Abramovich to combine eye-catching football with success, the Portuguese explained that he did not have the neccesary tools at his disposal.

Mourinho - who has since moved to Inter Milan - seemed to always have a wisecrack up his sleeve and his simile explanation of an inability to produce stylish football, because he could not acquire the neccesary players in the transfer market, would have Gordon Ramsey green with envy.

He said: "If you have no eggs, you have no omelette. And it depends upon the quality of the eggs. Some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem."


Sir Alex Ferguson - Atkinson abuse
In last season's FA Cup the United manager let loose at referee Atkinson after a shock sixth round defeat to eventual competition winners Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

Pompey sneaked a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Sulley Muntari penalty, and an incensed Ferguson believed his players were not protected by officials.

The Red Devils boss accused Atkinson of failing to award a penalty when Sylvain Distin crashed into Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half and he implied the referee should be sacked after a poor performance, as is the case with managers.

Ferguson went on to describe the match as 'ridiculous', 'a joke', 'unbelievable' and 'disappointing'.


Neil Warnock - Rafa rage
In May 2007, with one eye on an approaching UEFA Champions League final appearance, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez named a weakened side to a face a relegation-threatened Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Liverpool lost the match 1-0 and Fulham went on to avoid the drop by one point at the expense of Sheffield United and Warnock, who was then managing the Blades.

In 2008, Benitez again took his side to struggling Fulham and a still bitter Warnock, who had moved on to Crystal Palace, suggested that the Spaniard would again ring the changes as he prepared for a European Cup semi-final meeting with Chelsea.

Warnock - who would have survived with Sheffield United in 2006/07 had they avoided defeat at home to Wigan on the final day of the season - even hoped Liverpool would not win another trophy under Benitez and suggested that Fulham and Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed would likely send a congratulatory hamper to Merseyside.

Former Valencia boss Benitez said that he would contact his lawyer.

[johntheclaret]

Another topical top ten this week. Being as the transfer talk surrounding Kaka, like his valuation, is going into orbit, here are the top ten transfer deals in wold fotball so far.

10: Rio Ferdinand (Leeds to Manchester United in 2002) £29.1m

9: Pavel Nedved (Lazio to Juventus in 2001) £30.6m

8: Dimitar Berbatov (Tottenham to Manchester United in 2008) £30.75m

7: Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan to Chelsea in 2006) £30.8m

6: Christian Vieri (Lazio to Inter Milan in 1999) £32m

5: Robinho (Real Madrid to Manchester City in 2008) £32.5m

4: Gianluigi Buffon (Parma to Juventus in 2001) £32.6m

3: Hernan Crespo (Parma to Lazio in 2002) £35.5m

2: Luis Figo (Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000) £38.7m

1: Zinedine Zidane (Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001) £46m

[johntheclaret]

I was a bit undecided this week. Should it be a top ten @Who should have made it to the League Cup Final", but rules are rules, whether you like them or not. Then there is the FA Cup 4th round, but we have already had a top ten of shocks. Finally there was Robinho's traing camp dummy spit, so here they are.

Training camp dummy spits:

or

Punch-ups, head-butts and walk-outs:


Hours after discovering a £100million mega deal was still not enough to part AC Milan and their Brazilian superstar Kaka, things got worse for Manchester City as Robinho reportedly stormed out of their Tenerife training camp.

The club have not given an official reason for their record signing's departure, but it would not be the first time a trip away intended to bring a squad closer and prepare for the fixtures ahead has ended up creating more problems.

10) Stan Collymore, Leicester, 2000
The striker had been a Foxes player for barely a week when he was fined two weeks' wages for letting off a fire extinguisher over the club physio at close range.

Martin O'Neill had sent his squad to La Manga in Spain for a four day training camp but the resort's manager kicked them out after the first night incident in a hotel bar.

Stan said after being fined: "Maybe in this circumstance, I'll hold my hands up and say 'Naivety' but, at the end of the day, I haven't killed anybody.

"I fully accept the fine that the club has imposed but a million players have done it and a million more will do it in the future."

9) Gregory Coupet, France, World Cup 2006
French number two Coupet stropped out of a pre World Cup training camp, apparently upset that first choice Fabien Barthez failed to finish a team hike up an alpine glacier after complaining of a sore calf.

Coupet left the training camp in Tignes, in the French Alps, with his family and luggage - but changed his mind and returned to the hotel.

France coach Raymond Domenech said: "Gregory Coupet had the blues for a moment. He cracked. Such things can happen. It all lasted 30 minutes. Nobody is making a big fuss about it, we had an explanation. "

8) Kieron Dyer, Craig Bellamy, Carl Cort and Andy Griffin, Newcastle, 2001
The Magpies quartet were sent home in disgrace from a sunshine trip to Marbella after skipping a club dinner and heading out to the bars and clubs of Port Banus for a big night out.

What they hadn't realised was the club dinner was in honour of club president Sir John Hall, and chairman Freddie Shepherd was distinctly unimpressed, packing them off home for their breach of club rules.

Bellamy, who was fined £40,000 over the episode, said: "I know there have been rumours flying around that I came back with a broken nose after a fight, but they are not true.

"We went out for a meal and a few drinks but were completely unaware that the club meal was in honour of Sir John Hall. It was a night out but that is all that it was. There wasn't any trouble."

7) Freddie Ljungberg and Olof Mellberg, Sweden, 2002
Mellberg, then of Aston Villa, made a full-blooded challenge on the Arsenal winger - who responded by grabbing his squad mate by the throat.

Ljungberg later brushed off the incident, saying: "Things like that happen, it's nothing to worry about."

6) Dean Windass and Marlon King, Hull, 2008
The Tigers' debut season in the top flight had been going so well. But tempers flared between the two strikers during a North Yorkshire training camp in November.

A night out to Scarborough's Opera House Casino saw the pair reportedly behaving "like snarling animals" with King alleged to have head-butted Windass.

The pair were fined two weeks' wages over the incident.

5) Dennis Wise and Callum Davidson, Leicester, 2002
The Foxes' second appearance in this Top 10 (and rest assured it won't be the last, sorry Drebin but they do provide an awful lot of ammo) comes courtesy of a pre-season trip to Finland.

Wise was suspended and sent home after Davidson suffered a double fracture of the cheekbone as he stepped in as peacemaker in a card school row, and was later sacked byt the club.

4) Leicester, 2004
Back at La Manga, nine Foxes players were arrested after three women alleged they had been sexually assaulted.

Paul Dickov, Frank Sinclair and Keith Gillespie faced charges over sexual aggression, but a Spanish court later threw the case out and cleared all the players - but the training camp was long ruined by then.

3) Roy Keane, Ireland, 2002
The fiery midfielder had already almost quit the squad once for "personal reasons" before changing his mind and being named on the official squad list by manager Mick McCarthy.

But an interview in which Keane attacked Ireland's World Cup preparations and blasted the facilities at their Saipan training base increased the tensions.

McCarthy called a clear the air meeting which ended in a foul-mouthed row in front of other players and officials - and the manager putting Keane on a plane back home.

2) The Dutch, 1994 and 1996
There was a minor set-to in the Dutch camp ahead of Euro 2008 after a bust-up between Wesley Sneijder and Robin Van Persie.

But it was the squads of the 90s which really had the row factor, Ruud Gullit storming out of the 1994 World Cup training camp because manager Dick Advocaat refused to give him the captaincy and control over team tactics.

And Edgar Davids huffed out of Euro 96, his parting shot accusing Guus Hiddink of "disappearing up the a*** of Danny Blind and Ronald Koeman.

1) Craig Bellamy, Liverpool, 2007
The Reds' trip to the Algarve as they prepared for their Champions League showdown with Barcelona earned Bellamy (yes he's at it again) a new nickname as he was dubbed "the nutter with a putter".

A boozy night of karaoke ended with Bellamy allegedly brandishing a golf club in a clash with team mate John Arne Riise.

And reserve keeper Jerzy Dudek added to the problems as he was briefly handcuffed to restrain him after a separate incident in the bar with an off-duty policeman.

Bellamy and Dudek were fined £160,000 between them, which they donated to charity, and Liverpool produced a stunning performance to beat Barca.

So maybe the training camp did turn out all right in the end after all...

[johntheclaret]

Well, it's that timne of the week again, and just when i was scratching around to find something topical to post about up pops Joe Toon to save the day.

Newcastle winger Charles N’Zogbia has gone on strike following a rift with boss Joe Kinnear which escalated after Kinnear called him “insomnia” on TV. Judging by the history books, it’s unlikely that the two will patch up their differences as these player v manager spats demonstrate.

10) Ruud Gullit v Alan Shearer
The Dutch manager really didn’t rate Toon golden boy Alan Shearer during his time in charge of Newcastle, and the feeling was mutual. The ‘personality clash’ between the two saw Gullit drop Shearer from the starting line-up for the club's 2–1 defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland during the 1999/2000 season, a decision that was seriously unpopular with the fans. Gullit left the Magpies shortly after and hit back at Shearer, saying "It was plain he didn't want to play for me. I told him to his face he was the most overrated player I have ever seen.”

9) Luiz Felipe Scolari v Romario
Petulance can cost you big time, just ask Brazilian striker Romario. During his time in charge of the Brazilian national team, Luiz Felipe Scolari had a run in with the diminutive striker after he reportedly got fruity with an air stewardess ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier. Romario was dropped for breaking the curfew and went off in a huff, leading him to be dropped again, this time from the Brazil squad for the 2002 World Cup. Which Brazil won.

8) Glenn Roeder v Paulo Di Canio
“My team is more important than Paolo Di Canio,” rallied West Ham boss Glenn Roeder in 2003 after the feisty Italian had openly criticised his management. The striker questioned Roeder's tactical acumen and branded him a naive manager as the rift between the two grew. Di Canio was subsequently absent from training with a "stomach bug" as Roeder told the press that he will no longer be allowed to destabilise the West Ham dressing room. Di Canio didn’t play again under Roeder and left the Hammers at the end of the 2002/03 season.

7) John Toshack v Robbie Savage
Robbie Savage must have misplaced his copy of How To Make Friends and Influence People ahead of John Toshack’s appointment as Welsh boss because the first thing he did was openly criticise his regime and imply that things were better under Mark Hughes. “Toshack has made us the laughing stock of Europe",” spat Savage, who took umbrage with the national side’s new focus on developing young players. Toshack was having none of it and Savage soon retired from international football.

6) Harry Redknapp v Florin Raducioiu
Another West Ham boss to have a public row with one of his players was Harry Redknapp. After signing Romanian striker Florin Raducioiu in 1996 he soon had a pop at him for going shopping with his girlfriend at Harvey Nichols on a match day, and their relationship deteriorated from that point onwards. Despite calls for Harry to play the striker, most of his time was spent warming the bench or running up and down the touch line, and he left soon after.

5) Brian Clough v Justin Fashanu
A simmering rift developed between Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough and his young striker Justin Fahanu after it emerged that the player has been visiting gay nightclubs and bars. Clough banned him from training and their personal and professional relationship broke down with Fashanu’s confidence and ability to score goals plummeting. In his autobiography, Clough reveals a dressing down he gave Fashanu after learning about his sexuality. "'Where do you go if you want a loaf of bread?' I asked him. 'A baker's, I suppose.' 'Where do you go if you want a leg of lamb?' 'A butcher's.' 'So why do you keep going to that bloody poofs' club?”

4) Trevor Francis v Martin Allen
It all kicked off between QPR manager and player when Francis tried to ban Martin Allen from attending the birth of his first child because it would mean missing an important QPR game. Allen went to the hospital anyway and was subsequently fined and publicly harangued by Francis. Allen left Rangers shortly after the row to join West Ham.

3) Sir Alex Ferguson v David Beckham
David Beckham's simmering feud with boss Alex Ferguson was the catalyst for his departure from the club in 2003. Fergie was unhappy with Becks’ flash lifestyle and seemingly punished him for his fame. Tension between the pair reached breaking point when Fergie ordered Beckham to fly from London to Manchester ahead of the World Club Championship in Japan. After joining his team mates in Manchester the entire squad flew to Tokyo - via London. Beckham was also famously the victim of Fergie’s temper when he copped a flying boot in the face following a defeat to Arsenal. “Just f***** patch him up," Fergie was said to have told the club’s physio after the incident.

2) Mick McCarthy v Roy Keane
When Irish skipper Roy Keane was confronted with his side’s sub-standard training set-up after a 17-hour flight to the 2002 World Cup it’s safe to say that he wasn’t best pleased. Keane let fly at the coaching staff before announcing he was quitting the squad. After a phone call to Sir Alex Ferguson, he decided to stay but still wasn’t happy. When Keane subsequenlty aired his grievances in an interview with The Irish Times, Ireland manager Mick McCarthy rounded on him, but didn’t legislate for what happened next. “I didn’t rate you as a player,” raged Keane in front of the whole squad. “I don’t rate you as a manager and I don’t rate you as a person. You can stick the World Cup up your b*******.” Then he quit, this time for good.

1) Graeme Souness v Craig Bellamy
The petulant striker has a history of run-ins with fellow players and managers, but his biggest feud was with Newcastle boss Graeme Souness. In 2005 Souness asked him to play out of position in right midfield and Bellamy flatly refused, saying he’d fake an injury if asked to. He was subsequently dropped, then let rip at Souness, calling him a liar. An £80,000 fine followed for his troubles. In a separate incident the Welshman had a bust up with Toon assistant coach John Carver at Newcastle Airport. Bellamy reportedly threw ‘quite a heavy chair’ at Carver during the fracas.

[devilsadvocate]

1) Graeme Souness v Craig Bellamy
The petulant striker has a history of run-ins with fellow players and managers, but his biggest feud was with Newcastle boss Graeme Souness. In 2005 Souness asked him to play out of position in right midfield and Bellamy flatly refused, saying he’d fake an injury if asked to. He was subsequently dropped, then let rip at Souness, calling him a liar. An £80,000 fine followed for his troubles. In a separate incident the Welshman had a bust up with Toon assistant coach John Carver at Newcastle Airport. Bellamy reportedly threw ‘quite a heavy chair’ at Carver during the fracas.

And Citeh paid money for this schmuck. What short memories they have over there.

Oh and Ruud Guillit calling Alan Shearer the most overrated player he's ever seen is a bit rich. Shearers goal scoring record is outstanding.

[smithy]

Top 10 most useless white brazilian footballers

1) Lucas Leiva

2) his uncles nephew

3) his aunties nephew

4) his sisters brother

5) his fathers son
6) his mothers son

7) his grandmas grandson

8 ) his grandfathers grandson

9) his brothers brother

10) Juninho

[Pidge]

Top 10 most useless white brazilian footballers

1) Lucas Leiva

2) his uncles nephew

3) his aunties nephew

4) his sisters brother

5) his fathers son
6) his mothers son

7) his grandmas grandson

8 ) his grandfathers grandson

9) his brothers brother

10) Juninho

Nice

[devilsadvocate]

LOL @ Smity

So you're not going to get his name and number on the back of your replica strip?

At least your club didn't buy a Brazilian and put him in goal.