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Wenger 'no' to Shearer bid

by Phil Casey
ARSENE WENGER yesterday effectively ruled out a bid for Alan Shearer — to protect Nicolas Anelka's status at Highbury.
Shearer's agent was spotted at Arsenal on Thursday, prompting speculation that a move to North London could be on the cards.
The England captain's future at Newcastle has been clouded since the sacking of Kenny Dalglish and the arrival of former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit.
Shearer insisted he is happy to stay at Newcastle and Wenger appears equally happy for him to remain at St James' Park to safeguard Anelka's career.
Wenger said: ''Shearer is a great player but I think at the moment it's important to keep the door open for Anelka as first choice because he is only 19-year-old and that (buying Shearer) would nearly close the door for him and I don't want that.
''I believe that Nicolas will be a great striker and I have to give him a chance to play.
''I am not close to signing anybody and not at all close to signing Shearer. If Shearer comes out and says he wants to stay at Newcastle you have to respect that.
''Anelka will be a tremendous player if he can repeat the sort of performance he had against Lens. He has to show that same desire in every game.''
Recruit Fredrik Ljungberg has the huge task of filling the famous number eight shirt worn by the club's record goalscorer Ian Wright.
The 21-year-old admits he used to have a similar attitude to Wright which got him in trouble with referees — he picked up a yellow card in his last game in Sweden for telling the referee he thought he was blind.
But Ljungberg is quick to point out that he has a different style of play to the West Ham striker and the fans should not expect him to challenge Wright's record of 185 goals for the club.
''I am not a goalscorer like him,'' said Ljungberg who was named man of the match following his performance in Sweden's European Championships qualifying victory over England.
''We are not the same type of player so don't expect me to score the same number of goals as he did. I am proud to wear the number eight shirt and I will do my best.
''When I was younger I was too aggressive and was angry with the referee, but I thought that I should concentrate more on the game instead of the referee. You have to use your brain otherwise you don't play as well as you should.''
Ljungberg knows he faces a tough task to force his way into the Arsenal side.
But the youngster has hugely impressed the Arsenal manager and several other clubs with his performance against England and should figure at some stage against Manchester United tomorrow.
He added: ''I talked to Wenger before I signed and if that had not been a positive conversation I would not have signed. My goal is to play and if I play well and fit in I would like to stay for a long time.''

Fowler returns to Premiership

by Paul Walker
LIVERPOOL striker Robbie Fowler will make his first Premiership start for eight months against Charlton today.
Fowler, who has recovered from the cruciate ligament injury he suffered in February, will play alongside teenage sensation Michael Owen, in a partnership of mouth-watering potential.
Joint boss Gerard Houllier has ridiculed the theory that the two England hitmen are too similar to play together and, in a nudge to England coach Glenn Hoddle, Houllier went as far as to compare the current debate surrounding the pair with the one that preceded France's World Cup triumph.
Houllier said: "Two good players can always play together. We had a similar situation in France, people saying that (Youri) Djorkaeff and (Zinedine) Zidane couldn't play together.
"When they did, France won the World Cup. When two top players play together, that is what can happen."
Owen has recovered from the battering he got from the Kosice defenders in the UEFA Cup on Tuesday that has prevented him from training since.
Joint boss Roy Evans admitted he'd rather have given Fowler more time to recover. He said: "We'd like to have given him another couple of warm-up games, but I've no fears about putting him back into the side. He wants to play and he'll come up with the goals."
Team-mate and stand-in skipper Steve McManaman even believes the return of Fowler will take some of the weight of expectation from Owen's young shoulders.
McManaman said: "Robbie and I played in the first team when we were both 18, but what Michael is getting now is incredible. So if someone comes along and the attention switches, I think Michael will welcome it.
"The attention has snowballed into a worldwide thing. We've been to different countries and he's been the centre of attention everywhere.
"I think that with him being such a young lad, it will count in the end. But there are no signs of it at the moment."
Fowler gets his chance earlier than expected chance because Karlheinz Riedle has a groin injury and Sean Dundee has a bruised foot.
Houllier added: "I'd only really seen Robbie on TV and in the few warm-up games he's played since I arrived here.
''But he is an outstanding striker, and we are delighted to have him and Michael playing together."
McManaman is also delighted that Fowler is back action. He said: "I'm very pleased for him. I heard him take a lot of stick last season. It was open season on him, which was very sad because his goals-per-game ratio was still exceptional.
"Robbie came out and said at the time he was going through a bad patch, performance wise. But when he's back to his best he is phenomenal.
"After seeing Robbie work incredibly hard to get back, I hope people take this into account and remember what he has been through."

Chelsea need more team spirit

by Phil Casey
HELSINGBORGS coach Age Hareide yesterday warned Chelsea's foreign legion they will always struggle until they play as a team.
The Cup Winners' Cup holders laboured to a 1-0 win over the Swedish part-timers in their first round, first leg tie on Thursday night.
Frank Leboeuf's 43rd minute freekick gave Gianluca Vialli's side a slender advantage to take to Sweden for a testing second leg in a fortnight's time.
But there was no disguising a lethargic, uncoordinated Chelsea display from a side containing seven changes from the team that defeated Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
Rifts have already begun to appear in the Chelsea dressingroom, with Brian Laudrup complaining about getting left out of the side and not playing in his favourite position.
And Hareide, a former Norwich and Manchester City player in the 1980s, believes the Blues will never produce consistent displays unless they look after the team rather than looking out for themselves.
''Individually Chelsea are world class,'' Hareide admitted. ''They have world champions in their team, Leboeuf and Desailly, and they won the Super Cup. They are one of the best teams in Europe player for player. But you have to play together and fight and even stars have to play together to understand each other, even superstars have to do that.
''I think I'm lucky we are meeting Chelsea now, they will get better and better.
''It helps us because we have just seven games left of our season and have been training since January, but we don't play at this level every day.
''I am proud of my boys because they lifted themselves to this higher level and we have to learn from these games.''
Chelsea will have to learn from Thursday's performance otherwise they could be on the receiving end of a huge upset.
Hareide knows all about those having played in the Norwegian side that defeated England in a famous World Cup qualifier in 1981.
That was the victory that prompted the legendary commentary, ''Winston Churchill, Maggie Thatcher... your boys took one hell of a beating.''
And while the commentator could have problems if it happened to Chelsea with all the different nationalities present, another shock win is definitely not out of the question.
''The players will lift themselves even more for the second leg,'' Hareide added. ''I have to say we can win, it can happen.
''I played for Norway against England many years ago and we won 2-1.
"It shows in Europe today that even big names, big clubs can struggle against smaller teams, smaller countries because they have to take everyone seriously.''
Vialli will certainly be doing that on October 1 in the Olympia Stadium and is desperate for a change of luck in front of goal, especially from record signing Pierluigi Casiraghi.

United boss in favour of full-time match officials

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson, the bane of referees across Europe, and Paul Durkin yesterday gave the thumbs-up to Premier League plans to introduce full-time officials before the Millennium.
Ferguson has long been one of the loudest critics of referees in the domestic game and on Wednesday Italian Stefano Braschi became the latest to be on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing from the fiery Scot.
But news that the Premier League is discussing the idea of professional refs for next season, together with video evidence to be used to decide whether shots have crossed the goalline, was welcomed by Ferguson.
"I think that's a good step forward," said the United boss, whose side conceded two penalties and had Nicky Butt sent off in their Champions' League clash with Barcelona in midweek.
"I think with the money being generated in football, we should be looking to advance the refereeing system and also standards. Full-time referees should benefit the game."
Ferguson joked: "I recommend that they also suggest this to Italy."
Durkin, England's referee at France 98, revealed he would think about becoming a professional referee if given the chance.
"Living where I do, travelling to games and things like that and holding down a full-time job does create problems," said Durkin, 43, who is based in Dorset.
"Being on the FIFA list as well as the Premier League list does take up a lot of my time and if the opportunity came to go full-time, I'd certainly have to consider it.
"But there's a lot of things to consider, like salary conditions and pension."
The Football Association have resisted the temptation to make senior referees highly-paid professionals for many years, as happens in countries like Italy.
Durkin said: "It was inevitable that full-time officials would be a part of our game one day but I'm surprised it's come so quickly."
Durkin was also in favour of the idea of video replays to rule on the subject of controversial goals, though Ferguson was unsure.
Durkin added: "I've got no objections at all. If the modern technology is going to make the referee's job easier, then I'm all for it.
"It does have to be for a matter of fact, like whether a ball has crossed the line, and not to take away the referee's opinion."
But Ferguson asked: "The technology is another thing and how many times is technology going to be used to decide if the ball is over the line?"
Premier League spokesman Mike Lee said feedback from referees to several innovations had been encouraging and the League would now be contacting football's other governing bodies.
''The main points are the appointment of full-time referees and video replays of controversial goals," he said.
"Some of the proposals could be up and running for next season but at this stage nothing has been agreed yet.
"The thinking behind it all is to make sure there is continuous improvement in refereeing standards and that we are addressing the needs of the modern game.
"We're also taking into account much of the public debate that goes on among fans about referees.''
Philip Don, the League's first referees' officer, is the man responsible for many of the initiatives.
Lee added: "His (Don's) job is to look at ways of developing the officiating of the game and he has been doing some good thinking around these issues.
"The feedback Philip has been getting from referees has been positive."
Officials could wear advertising on their shirts to help meet the cost of their salaries.
Lee said: "That is something which is being considered and we need to talk to FIFA because there are rules restricting the size of any mark or logo on a referee's shirt."

UEFA stay tight-lipped over Fergie outburst

UEFA yesterday received reports from their officials at Wednesday's 3-3 draw between Manchester United and Barcelona, but refused to say if they mentioned Alex Ferguson's verbal assault on referee Stefano Braschi.
The United manager was furious with the Italian official after he gave two penalties and sent off Nicky Butt. A UEFA spokeswoman confirmed: "If something is mentioned in the reports, it will be dealt with at a meeting on October 8 and the control and disciplinary committee will decide on a sanction then.
Ferguson had said: "The referee was a real shocker. In the last three major games we've had here, we've had bad referees.
"After the game I saw the Barcelona president go into the referee's room. He certainly had cause to be happy with him."
Ferguson branded the first penalty award "appalling" and said of Butt's dismissal "no one saw it but the ref."
Such comments could lead to the United manager being fined by a UEFA disciplinary committee on October 8, if either the referee or the match delegate has mentioned what was said in their reports.
Butt faces an automatic one-match ban for his red card but he could be given a lengthier suspension by the committee.

United to put Teddy in Gunners' firing line

by David Anderson
TEDDY SHERINGHAM could return to Manchester United's attack against Arsenal at Highbury tomorrow. United boss, Alex Ferguson, revealed the England striker would feature against the Double winners, although he would not confirm if he would start.
Sheringham did his cause no harm when he scored twice for the reserves in Thursday night's 3-2 victory over Birmingham at Old Trafford.
The 32-year-old has made just one start for United this season, against LKS Lodz in the Champions' League and last week against Coventry he could not even make the bench.
Ferguson has said that he wants to experiment with different strike pairings, following the signing of Dwight Yorke, and Sheringham could start in place of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
''I'm pleased with how Yorke and Solskjaer have worked together, but, I want to look at other combinations,'' said Ferguson. ''Teddy did very well (on Thursday night) and I think he's going to figure.''
Sheringham will be thrilled at the prospect of a first-team place. He scored twice in last season's 3-2 defeat in north London. That game was one of the best matches of last season, but, Ferguson would readily settle for a drab 1-0 victory over the side which denied him a fifth title in six years.
''Our record against Arsenal has -been good over the years. We lost a tight game last year and I think it will be another tight game on Sunday.''
Ronny Johnsen is losing his battle to be fit for the match. The Norwegian centre-half missed Wednesday's Champions' League draw against Barcelona, after he injured his ankle last Saturday and Ferguson admitted that he looks likely to sit out the trip to the capital.
''Ronny Johnsen is a lot better, but, he's still doubtful,'' said Ferguson. ''I didn't think he would make Wednesday and, although he has a better chance now, I still think that he's very, very doubtful.''
Ferguson claimed his injury was not serious.
Ryan Giggs is fit to face Arsene Wenger's side after he needed a stitch in an eye wound on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, centre-half Chris Casper has joined second division Reading on a month's loan.

Cork's striking duo hell-bent on doing the business

by Noel Spillane
THE formalities are over now for Jason Kabia and Gerald Dobbs - Cork City's new-look strike force.
Now the English striking pair want to put on their shooting boots, get down to the real business of scoring goals and propel Dave Barry's side to their first League Championship success since Noel O'Mahony's days as team manager back in 1992/93.
"Dobbsy is a nice bloke, a great little character and we get on well together on and off the field. I've had him over for dinner a few times just to help him get settled in and now we want to form the new attack in this team," said Nottingham-born Jason Kabia, before this afternoon's Premier Division clash with bottom of the table Dundalk at Turners Cross (ko 3 o'clock)
"To be honest our styles do not compliment one another but we do work well together. One minute I can be running into the channels and he's the one darting into the box or into space to try and create the goals but we do have a good understanding on the field," added Kabia who previously played his football in Finland and Malta.
"We both missed out on the two European Cup Winners' Cup games with CSKA Kiev in Cork and back in the Ukraine, though we were part of the travelling party and I missed out on the FAI Cup final as well but that's another story," said Kabia as Cork seek their fourth successive league win this afternoon.
"I think Dave (Barry) was just trying to sort out his team at that stage but now that we are both in the team together we want to stay there. Dobbsy has scored a few goals as well and that's great for him. I scored three myself in pre-season and I scored against Cobh but that goal against Bohemians in Dublin the other night was my first league goal of the season and I was pleased with that," he added.
Kabia told me that he had been playing football for two years without a break up to the time he came to Cork and he had lost his appetite for it.
"I couldn't even watch the stuff on the telly at that stage. I was gone right off football but after we won the FAI Cup against Shels' I got back to see my folks in Nottingham twice over the summer and when I came back to Cork for pre-season I was bursting to play again."
"I am far more settled now. I have a job here with Top Car on the Wilton Road and I am much happier in myself.
"I am enjoying my football again and I think my game has certainly improved as a result," he added.
"I don't know if Dobbsy had anything to do with that or not but I think being left out of the Cup final team made me want to prove myself all over again to the manager and I think I have done that now," added Kabia.
The rejuvenated striker has started all of Cork's league games so far, away to Bray Wanderers (1-0), at home to Derry City (2-1) and away to Bohemians (2-0) last weekend.
The deadly duo will lead the attack again this afternoon in Turners Cross and Jim McLaughlin's basement side could be in for a torrid time of it if Dobbs, Kabia & Co. click into gear in front of goal.

Italian giants look to shake off European hangovers

JUVENTUS and Inter Milan will be looking to recover from Champions' League hangovers this weekend as they return to Serie A duty looking for three easy points.
Juventus take on newly-promoted Cagliari, while Inter face perennial strugglers Piacenza after both of Italy's representatives made a poor start to the European Champions League.
Juve's exciting midfielder Zinedine Zidane should have fully recovered from a knee injury he picked up last Sunday.
This injury prevented coach Marcello Lippi from fielding the Frenchman at the start of their 2-2 Champions' League draw with Galatasaray.
Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero will also be back from injury while Alessandro Del Piero, who set up both goals on Wednesday night, and Filippo Inzaghi, who scored one of them, will lead the attack.
Lippi will be hoping his men make better a start against Cagliari than Inter did last Sunday, trailing 2-0 at the break before earning a 2-2 draw.
Ronaldo missed that match through suspension and will be making his League return against Piacenza this weekend.
The Brazilian is returning to action after a six-week break and his performance in the 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in midweek showed he is still some way short of peak form.
Roberto Baggio, left on the substitutes' bench in Seville, should join him in attack for the night match, most likely alongside Chilean Ivan Zamorano.
AC Milan, who have enjoyed the rare privilege of being top of the table, albeit after only one game, travel to newly-promoted Salernitana.
Skipper Paolo Maldini said: "When you have to re-build a team, it's almost better to be out of European competition... we've got to create a new way of playing, find a new balance.
"We kept our cool after losing to Torino in the Italian Cup, and we kept working at it.
"By doing that, we've got our enthusiasm back. Now we all believe in AC Milan. I think we can fight for the League title."
Fiorentina go to Vicenza without this week's two-goal UEFA Cup hero Edmundo.
The Brazilian striker, who coach Giovanni Trapattoni says people should stop calling 'The Animal', picked up a two-match suspension after being sent off for kicking an Empoli player in the leg last weekend in an off-the-ball incident.
In other matches, Lazio host Bari at the Olympic stadium, neighbours AS Roma are away to Napoli and Parma spend the weekend in Venice.

Celtic injury doubts for Old Firm clash

CELTIC are likely to go into the first Old Firm game of the season tomorrow without three Scotland internationals.
Paul Lambert is definitely out against Rangers through suspension while his midfield partner Craig Burley has a knee injury.
Skipper Tom Boyd is also considered doubtful for the big match as he is struggling with a hamstring strain.
Both Burley and Boyd picked up the injuries in midweek during the 2-1 UEFA Cup victory against Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal.
Burley's problem arose in the last minute of the game and his absence would be a huge blow to the champions.
He said: ''My knee has blown up like a balloon and unless the swelling goes down dramatically in the next 48 hours I have had it.
''With Paul Lambert already sitting this one out, if there is any way I can play I will.
Coach Jozef Venglos admits his plans have been disrupted because of injuries affecting key players. But he remains relaxed going into his first taste of action between the Glasgow giants.
Venglos has vast experience of the big occasion at international and club level.
''I have seen it all before,'' he said. ''These are exciting games for everyone, coaches, players and supporters.
''When Czechoslovakia played the Soviet Union there were 120,000 supporters in the ground.
Meanwhile, Dick Advocaat believes Rangers supporters should not focus too much on the result.
Victory would see the Ibrox side open up a five-point gap on Celtic and they have the advantage of playing on their home patch.
But Rangers coach Advocaat believes recent history shows that one particular game is not vital to his side's season.
''Every person in Glasgow is so focused on this game but to me every game is important,'' he said.
''You can't win the championship just by beating Celtic and you saw that last season. Celtic only won one of the meetings between the club, but still won the League.
''I saw the last Old Firm match of last season on television when I was over for talks with (Rangers chairman) David Murray. It was a very exciting game and hopefully we will see more of the same on Sunday.
''Both teams like to play football, but the passion of the fans is so high that it is a different game than usual.''
Rangers have a host of players ready to make their Old Firm debuts but Advocaat is unconcerned.
He said: ''They are all experienced players who have played to a high level and they should cope. We have to try and play the same way we have in the past weeks. So far I'm quite happy, but you have to expect some ups and downs with so many new players."