The Fan

Sven-Goran Eriksson, in his serene, understated way, can be as fiercely protective of his players as Sir Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho and those instincts came to the fore here yesterday as the England manager launched a robust defence of Owen Hargreaves and insisted that the Bayern Munich player could play a prominent role in the World Cup.

Eriksson’s plan for the World Cup is to field a defensive midfielder instead of Joe Cole when England come up against one of the leading nations.

From: Guardian

 

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Henry and Wenger blame referee

English if they'd won, French since they lost

The post match interviews with Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry left a sour taste in the mouth after both men complained about the performance of the referee.

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Watford and Leeds United have agreed that the Championship play-off final losers will keep the gate receipts.

The pair are continuing a convention with the loser keeping the £1.3m receipts, with promotion to the Premiership worth £30m.

From: BBC

 

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Fair play costs West Ham cup?

When another of the exhausted Liverpool players collapsed with cramp in the 89th minute it looked like incredible good grace for West Ham’s Lionel Scaloni to put the ball out of play so that he could receive treatment.

A minute later the ball was in the back of the West Ham net.

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Two uncapped players in England World Cup squad

Only 2 fit strikers picked

Uncapped youngsters Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott are in Eriksson’s provisional World Cup squad. No places for Defoe, Bent or Wright-Phillips.

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Canvey Island are set to confirm their resignation from the Conference in the next week.

If Canvey do withdraw, it could mean a reprieve for Tamworth, who finished second-bottom in the Conference and are set to drop into the Conference South.

Scarborough the other relegated club are awaiting the outcome of Altrincham’s appeal against an 18-point penalty for fielding an ineligible player.

 

Related: Club set to quit league

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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has scooped the 2006 Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year award.

He beat off competition from Chelsea trio Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and John Terry, Manchester United star Wayne Rooney and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

 

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The FA’s predicament

Not who to choose, but when to choose

If current media reports are to be believed, the English FA are currently wrapping up its interviews for Eriksson’s successor as England coach.

There were good reasons for England to announce earlier in the year that Sven would be leaving his post after this summer’s World Cup, but the affair of naming his replacement has dragged on to the extent that it has led to a new problems.

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Altrincham have had 18 points deducted by the Conference and have been fined ?1,000 for fielding an ineligible player earlier this season.

The ruling would put the Robins bottom of the Conference and would almost certainly mean relegation.

From: BBC

 

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Cash-strapped Canvey Island are poised to withdraw from the Nationwide Conference at the end of the season.

 

Canvey have won 6 promotions in the last 10 years, reaching the Conference, the top division below League status. The club currently lie in 15th place, but manager and director Jeff King has bemoaned the lack of support the club has received.

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