English Football

Note the exclamation mark. It suggests that this little pact is just a bit of training ground fun, made in jest like the goal-scoring bets he'd once have with Cristiano Ronaldo and the talk he'll probably soon have with Wayne Rooney about him scoring 42 goals this season. "I don't know about that but I'm not putting it beyond him," Ferguson said of that particular target last night.

I think it's fairly pointless for me to waste everyone's time here by saying that I think Wayne Rooney is an excellent player because you can get that from the man in the pub   -Roy Hodgson

 

Newcastle manager Chris Hughton praised his side's spirit after the Championship leaders salvaged a dramatic 2-2 draw at local rivals Middlesbrough. Hughton's team trailed with eight minutes left at the Riverside Stadium but Andy Carroll's equaliser ensured the Magpies moved nine points clear of third placed Nottingham Forest, who lost 3-2 at Preston. "What we have always had this season is we are never out of a game," Hughton said.

What we have always had this season is we are never out of a game   -Chris Hughton

 

There was a time when picking Gareth Bale meant Tottenham hotspur would not win a Premier League match. Word of this fact was not restricted to north London. In fact it even reached Old Trafford, where Sir Alex Ferguson is never reluctant to use a statistic or two to strengthen his hold over an old foe.

He's on a march now and he is improving. He's a lot tougher than he was.   -Harry Redknapp

 

Bolton Wanderers edged closer to Premier League safety after comfortably seeing off the challenge of Wigan Athletic. The performances of Kevin Davies, a player Bolton manager Owen Coyle believes should be considered for England's World Cup squad, and Fabrice Muamba – whom the manager regards as a full international of the future – ensured a great day at the office for the Scot. Yet the most significant development may well have come with the opening goal, claimed by £10m Swedish international ...

I'd love him to be getting goals every week   -Owen Coyle

 

The England and European career of David Beckham is all but over following his latest injury setback, according to Fox Sports football commentator Simon Hill. Beckham sustained a suspected r uptured Achilles tendon in AC Milan's clash with Chievo Verona on Monday (AEDT) and Hill predicts at 34, Beckham won't play for England again. "That's all over red rover, definitely," Hill told foxsports.com.au. "I'm pretty sure this would have been his last World Cup anyway. I can't imagine (England coach) ...

That's all over red rover, definitely   -Simon Hill

 

LOCAL boy Adam Johnson returned to haunt Sunderland as Manchester City snatched a dramatic equaliser on Wearside to maintain their Champions League hopes. The substitute, who turned down a January move to the Stadium of Light to head for City instead, came off the bench to level in stoppage-time and finally end the home side's stubborn resistance. It was hard luck on Black Cats goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who pulled off five fine second-half saves, three of them from Newcastle old boy Craig Bellamy, to protect the lead given to his side by Kenwyne Jones' ninth-minute header.  

PHIL JAGIELKA rued a "missed opportunity" as Everton FC threw away the chance to close on the European qualification places. David Moyes' side surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at near rivals Birmingham City on Saturday. Victor Anichebe and Yakubu netted during the first quarter before Cameron Jerome pulled a goal back for the visitors, who then equalised shortly after half-time with a Craig Gardner strike.  

If there was any consolation for Fabio Capello last night upon hearing the news that David Beckham had snapped his Achilles tendon then it was this: at least it was not Wayne Rooney. The loss of Beckham is a great pity for the England manager because the 34-year-old, in the words of the Capello camp, "gave England something different". The old legs might not have been as willing as they once were but he was still capable of delivering a telling cross when England needed it.  

ROBERT Koren has urged Albion to forget all about Nottingham Forest and concentrate on winning promotion without the need to rely on other results. The Baggies are in the box seat for a top-two finish after beating Blackpool, while Forest lost at Preston. Albion's win keeps them five points ahead of Forest and four behind Newcastle, although the Tynesiders have a game in hand.