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Archives for September 2010

Why Mersey share should happen - but won't

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Phil McNulty | 10:03 UK time, Wednesday, 29 September 2010

When , it was regarded by some as a subtle shift in position from inside Anfield's corridors of power.

Dalglish, a figure arguably more woven into the fabric of Liverpool Football Club than anyone apart from Bill Shankly, suggested there could be growing sympathy for a notion previously regarded as unthinkable in the red half of Merseyside.

Was Dalglish testing the water on behalf of Liverpool's hierarchy? Was the greatest player in the club's history being used to prepare the ground for a seismic move away from the absolute refusal to even consider sharing a home with Everton?

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Phil McNulty Q&A blog

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Phil McNulty | 11:11 UK time, Tuesday, 28 September 2010

The supposed invincibles of Chelsea lose, and Fabio Capello is suddenly back in favour after England open their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign in style.

If we thought this season, and the Premier League in particular, was going to be predictable, then we can all think again after last weekend.

So it is the perfect time for another Q&A session. I asked for your questions on the Premier League and England and the response, as always, was first-class.

Sorry if I have not answered your question here, but there were just too many to respond to them all. There will be plenty of other opportunities throughout the season, so hopefully we will get to pretty much everyone eventually.

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Man City prove Mancini wrong

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Phil McNulty | 17:26 UK time, Saturday, 25 September 2010

Eastlands

Roberto Mancini handed the Premier League to Chelsea on Friday - .

Mancini, relaxed and even risking his improving English on a wisecrack or two, looked pretty elated for a man who had just shot a large hole in his own prediction.

If Mancini genuinely believes Chelsea will win the title "easily", he ensured stroll after all.

As one leadership contest in Manchester ended in victory by a nose, Mancini had raised eyebrows by suggesting Chelsea would end up several lengths clear of their rivals.

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Berbatov exposes Liverpool decline

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Phil McNulty | 07:54 UK time, Monday, 20 September 2010

The sight of Dimitar Berbatov in acrobatic goalscoring action graced the front of Manchester United's match programme complete with a message - some might even say a warning - from Sir Alex Ferguson.

"Off to a flier, Dimitar Berbatov has been unstoppable. More of the same is required today," wrote Ferguson ahead of the meeting with Liverpool, the game the Scot calls "the daddy of the derbies".

Berbatov did not just deliver more of the same, he did something Ferguson arguably relishes even more. - and the opportunity to indulge in a familiar pastime of Liverpool baiting.

Ferguson did not waste the opportunity to emphasise United's supremacy against a Liverpool side in the throes of what may be a painful transition under Roy Hodgson.

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Ferguson's choice exposes Champions League flaws

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Phil McNulty | 07:30 UK time, Wednesday, 15 September 2010

Old Trafford

- and a sad reflection on European football's flagship club tournament.

Ferguson's willingess to make 10 changes to the line-up that - and with both eyes seemingly fixed on Sunday's Premier League meeting with Liverpool - gave fresh impetus to the belief that the Champions League group phase is now more about finance than serious footballing competition. And far too predictable by half.

Ferguson's mass shuffling of United's resources also allowed Rangers, and his old friend and former assistant Walter Smith, to take all the pride and honours from a turgid encounter at Old Trafford.

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Can Ferguson reclaim Champions League?

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Phil McNulty | 16:05 UK time, Monday, 13 September 2010

Walter Smith revealed his list of ideal dinner party companions would include Sir Alex Ferguson - but the invitations will go on hold until hostilities cease between .

Ferguson and Smith were locked in mutual admiration at Old Trafford on Monday at the start of a Champions League campaign United hope to conclude at Wembley in May.

, he proved as well placed as anyone to deliver an insight into what drives towards new goals.

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Ferguson's nightmare on Gwladys Street

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Phil McNulty | 18:44 UK time, Saturday, 11 September 2010

Goodison Park

- and yet for so long it was all going like a dream.

rather than United's record at Everton, which has been outstanding in recent years.

And it was the "welcome" Ferguson feared Wayne Rooney would receive from the fans who once adored him after allegations about his private life that .

The debate looked little more than a sideshow as Goodison Park's sombre-voiced announcer confirmed that there would be an additional three minutes with United leading 3-1 and in control. Then came Ferguson's nightmare in front of Gwladys Street.

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Why should next England coach be English?

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Phil McNulty | 12:35 UK time, Friday, 10 September 2010

Fabio Capello has fired the starting gun on the race to be England's next coach by revealing he will step down when his contract expires after Euro 2012.

Capello is in a position of renewed strength after qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Switzerland started the recovery process after the trauma of England's World Cup failure - but he insists he will call it a day in two years and "live life as a pensioner".

. Who should Capello's successor be and, apparently even more importantly, what nationality should the chosen one be?

The Football Association has been peddling the message that the next coach will be English. Of course this is preferable but it will also surely be a colossal error to make a nationalistic gesture at the expense of finding the best man.

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Capello facing big decisions

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Phil McNulty | 06:15 UK time, Wednesday, 8 September 2010

Basle

Fabio Capello's major calls all came off as to complete a perfect start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign - leaving the coach with even bigger decisions to contemplate.

Capello insisted Wayne Rooney was mentally equipped to put allegations about his private life on one side to focus on inspiring England to victory in Basle. .

And the confidence Capello detected between Phil Jagielka and Joleon Lescott, built in their days together at Everton, convinced him they would make the best pair from his depleted central defensive resources. Spot on again Fabio.

Now though, with the business of getting six points from England's two opening games successfully concluded, Capello must get it right all over again by the time surprise package Montenegro come to Wembley next month.

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Why Houllier is right for Aston Villa

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Phil McNulty | 11:03 UK time, Tuesday, 7 September 2010

General Charles Krulak called on all his years as a US Marine commander to defend Gerard Houllier - and this was even before the Frenchman walked through the doors at Villa Park as the club's new boss.

Krulak's colourful intervention on behalf of the man he has already christened "Mr H" was, however, a clear indicator that Houllier's announcement as Aston Villa manager has not exactly been a cause for rejoicing among the regulars.

And yet Krulak, who revels in his image as a straight shooter in his dealings with Villa supporters as owner Randy Lerner's right-hand man, hit the nail on the head when he said: "Whatever anyone thinks of him, he deserves respect from the fans of this club."

Houllier does not only deserve respect as a person, he has a record in football that also deserves respect - and this is why Lerner is in the process of making a sound choice by .

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Capello right to play Rooney

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Phil McNulty | 18:46 UK time, Monday, 6 September 2010

Basle

- and reached the correct conclusion.

in the opening Euro 2012 qualifier confirmed he is physically fit and edging towards his world-class best. Once Capello knew he was mentally fit after a weekend of newspaper allegations about his private life, there was no decision to take.

Capello is the ultimate pragmatist. He wants Rooney in action at St Jakob Park on Tuesday, and if there are any problems swirling around the Manchester United striker, England's coach obviously feels they are not his.

He is only interested in England getting the win that would make it a perfect start to their qualifying campaign. Is Rooney in the right place to help Capello achieve that? In the Italian's opinion he is and therefore he was right to insist his star player will start in Basle.

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England ease pressure on Capello

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Phil McNulty | 00:50 UK time, Saturday, 4 September 2010

Wembley

Fabio Capello claimed he was transformed by England's World Cup failure in South Africa.

qualifier for Capello. It does, however, represent the first steps in the quest to restore credibility to the Italian and his team after that miserable Highveld summer.

Capello made it clear he was supremely indifferent to the tag draped around his neck after as he maintained his recent punchy public form, sparked by the critical fall-out from the World Cup.

He claimed he knew what was coming had England lost: "You write enough when I lose. Words are not so important when you win."

True enough, but Capello must also accept - and this comes from a supporter of England's coach - that much of the criticism delivered after the World Cup was fully justified.

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Capello feeling the heat

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Phil McNulty | 15:42 UK time, Thursday, 2 September 2010

Fabio Capello's managerial reputation has been forged in the hothouses of AC Milan and Real Madrid - but even that has not protected him from the unique pressures that accompany coaching England.

And as an occasionally prickly ahead of England's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday and Switzerland in Basel on Tuesday, it was clear defining moments of the Italian's tenure are approaching.

Secure victories in both games and some of the scars inflicted by England's embarrassing World Cup failure in South Africa can start to heal; lose even one and will gather greater, possibly even unstoppable, momentum.

Capello summed it up succinctly with the words: "When you win, you're the best. When you lose, you're the worst" - although it is clear he does not subscribe to the theory himself.

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