By Henry Deedes

I have no idea what it must be like to dislocate an elbow. Like many fellow couch-ionistas, I am forever whacking my funny bone against the arm rest as I wrestle to locate the remote - which is usually buried beneath a cushion, keeping company with the tablets of Extra and the loose change that have been similarly gobbled up by a hungry sofa.

By Ian Herbert

Sven Goran Eriksson has shown the utmost dignity over these most trying past few months. His demeanour has been matched in salience only by his chairman’s utter lack of a handle on the club and complete ignorance to the notion of gradual progress in a sport which is a mystery to him. But here's an indignity too far for the outgoing City manager. Eriksson, we have learned, has been asked to keep shtum about his fate until City conclude their tour of Thailand – even though Thaksin Shinawatra might have sacked him by then.

By Jason Burt

Ok, so the Football Association has set Fabio Capello the goal of getting England into the semi-finals of a major championships – the World Cup or Euros – by 2012. But what to make of such a target? In some ways it’s pretty ambitious as England have only gone this far once in the last 38 years – and that was when they hosted the European Championships in 1996 – and the next World Cup is in South Africa with the following Euros being held in Ukraine and Poland. Hardly, all-round, the easiest of places to go. Plus the fact that they didn’t even qualify for Euro 2008.

But in other ways it’s pretty defeatist...

By Jason Burt

Avram Grant has finally won the right to be taken seriously. Whatever happens from today until the final match of his career, whether that is at Chelsea or elsewhere, he can look back at the events of the last eight days and show that he stepped up to the plate. In beating Manchester United in the Premier League and defeating Liverpool in the semi-final of the European Cup he has won the right to be included in the old adage that big managers win big matches.

By Jason Burt

Chelsea’s man of the moment, Michael Ballack, is also their man of the media. The German midfielder, partly because of his nature, his confidence, and also because of his ability, is by far the most articulate and honest member of the squad. He says it the way he sees it and can be refreshingly honest.

In a football world of anodyne comments and – let’s be honest – lies - Ballack is different...

By Henry Deedes

Frank Lampard missed Saturday’s “six pointer” with Manchester United.  There is talk he may not make Wednesday’s (arguably) more crucial Champions League semi-final tie against Liverpool.

The reason for this is not some spurious injury claim so often trotted out by lesser players than this brilliant individual after a night on the sauce (how many “stomach upsets” can a player have in one season?) but because of the very tragic death of Lampard’s mother, Pat, who passed away this week after suffering from pneumonia.

I realise that what I am about to say will not chime with many. Some may even feel I am a heartless hack for even suggesting it...

By Ian Herbert

The Spanish press had it spot on. For all the talk about this being the year Cristiano Ronaldo would take the Palme d’Or (as Fergie so memorably put it before the Roma quarter-final), last night in the Nou Camp was always going to be about Paul Scholes.

By Jason Burt

As the Chelsea directors bounded out of the Anfield directors’ box on the final whistle – stony faces had turned to Cheshire cat grins by John Arne Riise’s bizarre 95^th minute own goal – the verdict of one conveyed it all. "Roman Abramovich is the luckiest man in the world," he said.

By Ian Herbert

United’s arrival back in Barcelona was not quite such a memorable occasion as their departure, nine years, ago, accompanied by the European Cup. The baggage delays were such that the players and Sir Alex Ferguson made off for their hotel without them. But the manager was, as he has been all season on these occasions, in a remarkably relaxed mood for an individual whose side is about to embark on a date with destiny.

By Sam Wallace

Cristiano Ronaldo’s ruminations about the current Manchester United team and their place in the pantheon of great sides have given food for thought. Are they really better than that all-conquering team of 1999? Should we really trust our judgment back in a year when B*witched had four No 1s and most of the country’s leading public figures celebrated New Year queuing to get out of North Greenwich tube station?

By Ian Herbert

Three British teams in the Champions League semi-finals might be a tribute to our football but we’ll be waiting until Wednesday, at Camp Nou, for the flavour we have come to expect at this stage of continental combat.

By Jason Burt

There’s a joke, more of a silly theory, that’s done the rounds among some of those in the so-called “Golden Circle” close to Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich ever since the club drew Liverpool – again – in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

By Ian Herbert

Manchester United took the unusual step on Monday of rebutting a report that Cristiano Ronaldo is to be paid £140,000 a week to keep the temptations of Real Madrid at bay. The player already has a contract the club say - but it’s surely only a matter of time. £140,000 a week? Perhaps more than £100,000 for Rio Ferdinand? What’s the difference?

By Jason Burt

Arsene Wenger is one of the most interesting, intelligent and, when addressing the media, polite of football managers. Being sent to one of his weekly, pre-match press briefings is always a delight. Stimulating, provocative and a real thinker on the game. As a London football reporter he provides a sharp and witty contrast to some others - not least the colourless Avram Grant and Alan Curbishley. Before anyone writes in to say "it's not the manager's job to entertain the media" then, yes, I couldn't agree more. But it's probably no coincidence that the downbeat demeanours of Grant and Curbishley do seem to be transmitted to their teams as well.  The dour Tony Mowbray who has created such an attractive team at West Brom is a huge exception to this sweeping generalisation!

By Jason Burt

Much wailing and teeth gnashing after England’s disappointing defeat to France last week – and most of it appears to have missed a few fundamental points about Fabio Capello and what he has inherited.

The Italian was as bemused by the coverage of the events in Paris as many of those who wrote - or spoke - about the match were by what they witnessed.

Talking to those close to Capello starts with the caveat that they would prefer not to speak on-the-record. That’s because their true thoughts on the England squad make uncomfortable reading.

By Sam Wallace

“David Beckham can be my Cristiano Ronaldo”. Coming from the lips of Fabio Capello, that’s explosive stuff. Explosive if he had actually said it on Wednesday night. Which he didn’t.

By Jason Burt

It was difficult not to give a little cheer as Fabio Capello announced, in effect, that John Terry had better buck up his ideas, and more directly his behaviour, if he has any pretensions of resuming the role of England captain.

For too long Terry has come to symbolise some of the baser instincts of the English football team and the Premier League. He’s undoubtedly earnest and has been an extremely popular figure in the Chelsea – and England – dressing rooms but his credentials as a captain have been in doubt for some time and not just for his questionable off-field acts.

By Sam Wallace

Fabio Capello got his first taste of the English obsession with David Beckham this morning: acres of newsprint dedicated to a man whose achievement of 100 caps against France tomorrow will say more about the standard of English footballers than many would care to admit.

By Ian Herbert

Should Javier Mascherano have been sent from the field at Old Trafford? Of course. Andy Gray was not watching the same match when he suggested that referee Steve Bennett should have involved Steven Gerrard as an arbiter when the Argentinian did little less than lose his mind.

By Sam Wallace

It is a truth universally acknowledged in football that, yes, sometimes, you do win things with kids. But only very rarely. Manchester United’s academy has been churning out footballers for the last 17 years since they signed that famous generation of David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Nicky Butt (Ryan Giggs had already arrived, Phil Neville would come later) to apprenticeship forms in 1991.

By Ian Herbert

Here it is then – George Gillett, in his own words, on why it’s so difficult to own half of Liverpool FC.

Gillett’s been keeping his head down so much that rumours doing the rounds last week had it that his inclination to offload his 50% share at Anfield might have something to do with him having pneumonia.

By Ian Herbert

The links between Manchester City and Thaksin Shinawatra are more inextricable than ever. The billionaire’s communications have been handled by Eastlands for the past two months and so it is that Paul Tyrrell has spent the last day or so with "Frank Sinatra" in Hong Kong and was expected on the flight into Bangkok ahead of his expected arrest.

By Sam Wallace

Arsene Wenger loses his temper in the emotional aftermath of Arsenal’s draw with Birmingham on Saturday – and Eduardo da Silva’s awful injury – and calls for Martin Taylor, the former Blackburn player involved in the tackle, to be banned for life. A few hours later he comes to his senses and retracts his words. Too late. As the stable door is bolted back into place the horse is already in the next county.

By Tom Dudley

Back on English soil, I've had some time to reflect on my three weeks in Ghana. Whilst it might be a few years yet before the African football authorities iron out some rather large problems that the tournament faces, there is no doubt in my mind that the Cup of Nations was a resounding success.

More than anything, the popularity of the event over here in England certainly provided enough evidence that the games are starting to take on a new stature. The fact that this tournament seems to have created such furied debate and controversy certainly demonstrates that the football world is finally taking notice of the continent. In previous year's the player's hairstyles had been the largest topic of conversation; I certainly haven't had to lower myself to mere cosmetics on here over the past few weeks. Some would say this year has been a watershed for African football.

So, what were the highs and lows of this year's African Cup of Nations?

By Sam Wallace

The Munich memento scarves and programmes from Manchester United's derby against Manchester City appeared for sale on eBay yesterday and a righteous anger was unleashed. Fans groups condemned the vendors. The club applauded eBay for removing the items. Former players expressed their disbelief.

The actual value of these items was hard to gauge given the amount of hoax bids on eBay. The Independent claimed this morning that the real bidding was around £60; The Times reckoned it was as much as £5,000 which is some appreciation on items that cost £3 (the programme) and £0 (the scarf) – one of which was on the seat of every United fan, accompanied by a letter from chief executive David Gill. Those sort of profit margins are the like of which even Richard Scudamore can only dream.

By Tom Dudley

Another year, another African Cup of Nations and another scrap between countries and clubs over the release of key players. Whilst Arsene Wenger has been relatively quiet this year, maybe because he’s finally worked out that the African Nations is a problem he has to get around rather than get rid of, Avram Grant and Harry Redknapp have taken up the mantle instead.

By Tom Dudley

A night that was supposed to be so full of colour, music and partying was spoilt by Cameroon who came through a tough game with Ghana 1-0.

Ghana were probably the better side on the night but failed to take their chances. The game turned ugly towards the end with bottle throwing, gamesmanship, a red card and even a felled medic!

By Tom Dudley

It's the morning of the African Cup of Nations semi-finals and once again I am woken up by what sounds like 1000 horns outside the hotel. It's 8am and they've already started. The sound will be engrained in my mind for years to come.

So, the semi-finals have thrown up few surprises as four of the African super powers come head to head. Between them they have won the tournament 14 times out of a possible 25 and they contain some of the best players in the world; Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Samuel Eto'o, Yaya Toure, Mohamed Zidan, and Sulley Muntari, the list is endless.

By Tom Dudley

15 of the 20 Premier League clubs have scouts at the African Cup of Nations and who would blame them. Africa is now as important as South America when it comes to discovering new young talent.

Despite the amount of scouts over in Ghana, most will come back empty handed. The majority of young players in Africa are discovered in their teens, and by the time they get to this tournament, are playing for major European clubs. However, if your club has the cash, there are a number of players that have caught the eye during the tournament that you might not of heard of. These are the players we might be seeing in the not too distant future.

By Sam Wallace

A nervous day in prospect for those of us who cover England. In the old days Sven Goran Eriksson would have his prospective side playing in formation on the Tuesday before a Saturday international. Steve McClaren would tell his players at lunchtime on the day before the match. But not even Fabio Capello’s assistants will be sure of his line-up until about 5pm today.

By Tom Dudley

Goals, goals and more goals. It seems most of the teams left in this years African Cup of Nations can't stop scoring. Another eight went in last night following the eight from the previous night.

By Tom Dudley

Mass confusion erupted in Ghana this morning following newspaper articles stating five Ghanaians were killed and many more were stoned in Lagos following the Nigerian loss to the hosts.

It seems, however, that some Ghanaian journalists got the wrong end of the stick and the Nigerian authorities have acted quickly, announcing that the reports were unfounded.

By Tom Dudley

Tonight will see the conclusion of the semi-final line up for this years African Cup of Nations as Egypt take on Angola and Tunisia play Cameroon.

Having watched all their matches the one thing that tonight seems to promise is goals.

By Tom Dudley

So, the fixture that an entire continent was talking about ended with a match that the entire continent will be talking about for quite a while (actually probably til Ghana's semi-final). Goals, penalties, an awful ref, red cards, a last minute winner and a crowd that bordered on lunacy. It was quite the night as Ghana beat Nigeria 2-1 in a game that can be pencilled in as another battle in a very long war.

By Ian Herbert

Harry Redknapp says he feels for Benjani Mwaruwari, who is currently locked into the season’s most protracted contract wrangle over his move to Manchester City. So then why did he allow the player to leave his arrival in Manchester so late that City felt they were being bounced into signing him?

By Tom Dudley

Tomorrow the African Nations enters it's knockout phases as the continents best fight out an increasingly important tournament. The tie of the round sees Nigeria take on hosts Ghana.

The two teams have a longstanding but friendly rivalry. Eleven months ago Ghana turned the table on their West African counterparts with a 4-1 rout over the Nigerians, played in London. It was their first win over Nigeria in 15 years and Nigeria took it badly. Now Nigeria have their chance to enact revenge.

By Tom Dudley

Tonight, the African player of the year will be announced in Lome, Togo and one look at the nominees paints a very bright future for African football, particularly for those players playing in the premiership. A simple glance at the three English based candidates and it doesn't take a genius to work out why these guys have succeeded in the premiership.

Years ago, having an African player in your team was a luxury. Someone to bring on to unlock defences or produce a wonderful moment of football that wins you a game while for the rest of the 89 minutes he was nowhere to be seen. This just isn't the case anymore. Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Adebayor and Michael Essien aren't just the best in Africa, they are easily three of the best in England.

So why of late have African footballers prospered so much, and overtaken the mantle held by South American's for so many years.

By Tom Dudley

My first appearance on Nigerian TV came last week on a footballing panel show called Inside Ghana 2008. It was the day after the Nigeria vs Ivory Coast match and there were some unhappy faces in the studio. I then witnessed one of the angriest call-in sessions I've ever had the pleasure to take part in. These guys were seething. Vogts is useless, Mikel dreadful, Kanu an old man, Yakubu and Martins senseless, prima donna, show offs... and so on. I had never witnessed such an outpouring of anger, of absolute rage, but most importantly, passion in my footballing life.

Roll the clock forward a week and they were partying in the streets, apparently all was forgiven.

By Tom Dudley

It seems that for the first time in its 50 year history people are finally sitting up and taking notice of the Africa Cup of Nations; and who would blame them? The tournament boasts some of the world's finest players including 37 from the English premiership, and up to now the Ghanaian fans, coupled with thousands travelling from all over West Africa have lit up a highly entertaining tournament.

I've now been in Africa for 10 days reporting on the competition and the football has not only been entertaining but it has thrown up numerous debates concerning African football and its connections to Europe, particularly the English Premiership. Plenty to talk about over the next two weeks.

By Ian Herbert

With his dressing room secrets about team talks which were more Iain Duncan Smith than Churchill, Gareth Southgate did more than any of those who bayed for Sven Goran Eriksson's blood to create the image of the Swede as a feckless, unconnected manager. His short time at City has made a nonsense of that.

Freed from the white heat of the England spotlight, he's been a revelation and twice this season there's been evidence of a remarkable, if not Churchillian, influence. When Eriksson's hapless defence had allowed Bolton a 2-1 half-time lead before Christmas he told them they "looked like losers". After a miserable first half display at Goodison he suggested that if they wanted to play the long ball game they were trying he'd sell the lot of them and advertise for more. It worked each time. Those sides were transformed.

By Sam Wallace

No Didier Drogba, no John Terry, no Frank Lampard. No Michael Essien and no John Obi Mikel. No Salomon Kalou and no Michael Ballack. No Andrei Shevchenko and Ashley Cole on the bench.

If there was a good time to play Chelsea – if there is ever a good time to play Chelsea – then surely it was last night in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg. That’s nine players missing through injury, African Cup of Nations duty and rotation. And what happened? Chelsea bossed the game, scored a fabulous goal and never really looked in danger against what is a very decent Everton team.

By Sam Wallace

No one would argue that Theo Walcott lit up White Hart Lane on Tuesday night's Carling Cup final second leg defeat to Spurs, but it would be ludicrously harsh to start comparing him to the likes of Nicolas Anelka and Ashley Cole – to follow on from the post by my colleague Henry Deedes.

By Ian Herbert

Manchester City fans should have saved their breath with their plea that a minute's silence be dispensed with before the game against United that comemorates the Munich anniversary next month. To do so would tarnish attempts to remember those who died and United fans would never forgive the club for that. Let City fans heap ignominy upon themselves if they want, by polluting commemorations of those – including Frank Swift, the former City goalkeeper working as a football reporter for the News of the World - who died in the crash.

By Henry Deedes

Following up Sam Wallace's post on Theo Walcott yesterday: from what I saw of last night's Carling Cup highlights, I fear we may see him playing elsewhere in the not too distant future.

Of course, it's a terrible burden to play under the heavy weight of expectation, but Arsene Wenger has never been afraid to throw young players into the lion's den. Ashley Cole, Nic Anelka and the brilliant Cesc Fabregas were all given their chance at Walcott's age and took it.

By Ian Herbert

"You need stability," says Tom Hicks, without a trace of irony in a fascinating web interview which reveals a whole lot more about his plans for Liverpool than last year's offer document which the Anfield hierarchy welcomed with open arms.

By Sam Wallace

It’s make or break for Theo Walcott against Tottenham in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg tonight. In fact it’s always make or break for Theo Walcott. He’s a child prodigy, and child prodigies play by very different rules.

Two years at Arsenal, already an England international, a member of the 2006 World Cup squad, a transfer fee that could reach £15m. But what’s the most important statistic that concerns Arsene Wenger’s young Englishman? He is 18 years old. He is not even 19 until March. But no other 18-year-old is scrutinised quite so much as Walcott - and none so harshly.

...so it's another chance to show this again:

By Sam Wallace

"I wanted to play Croatia in September, because that’s when English players are at their freshest," said Fabio Capello, speaking through a second-rate interpreter to a group of us reporters in a Zagreb hotel on Monday.

We nodded sagely. Of course, September; England always win in September. Fabio had already told us something we didn’t know. It made a change from Steve McClaren who never sounded 100 per cent certain about anything. Or Sven Goran Eriksson who never seemed 100 per cent certain exactly what kind of team England were playing against, never mind what month was best to play them.

Capello’s 2010 World Cup qualifying strategy is an interesting one: is September the best time for England to play a qualifying game for a major tournament?

By Ian Herbert

Not a leader column headline you'll read in the Liverpool Echo any time soon, while the sources who have suggested to us that Hicks is looking at selling the club at a £80m profit after one year's involvement and the investment of not a single penny of his own cash are from the very top tier of British football. But when it comes to the Klinsmann revelations, there is a case for the defence. It is that Hicks is candid, if nothing else.

By Ian Herbert

Brian Clough wouldn't have been embarrassed to see a statue of himself in the centre of Nottingham. Ol' Big 'Ead thought he was underselling himself when he said the River Trent was lovely "because I have walked on it for 18 years." But the man would have been moved to tears by the work which, without ceremony, has been on the go for the last three years to provide the kind of lasting memorial to Clough that has become a shrine for fans at Leeds and Everton, with their bronze Billy Bremner and Dixie Dean.

By Sam Wallace

Fabio Capello was filmed eating his breakfast today. It's a professional hazard when you take the England job. One minute you're innocently turning the options over in your head – Ashley Cole or Wayne Bridge at left-back; fried eggs or scrambled – and suddenly an ITN cameraman ghosts into view like Frank Lampard making a late run into the box.

By Ian Herbert

Liverpool fans might be in limbo about the future shape of their ground - the two-week delay over which of two plans for a new stadium might be chosen has more to do with the financial problems of Tom Hicks and George Gillett than architectural aesthetics - but the most sorely needed improvement for one small enclave of Reds watchers has arrived without a crane or a draughtsman's pencil being wielded in anger.

By Sam Wallace

Jamie Carragher’s response at Kenilworth Road to the Luton Town fans who lobbed a drink at him on Sunday? Understandable in the circumstances. While we would never condone Liverpool’s famous No 23 actually clouting a fan, he had plenty of provocation.

There is a grainy mobile phone picture on the front page of today's Sun of Carragher climbing up to one of the executive boxes to confront a group of Luton fans. The newspaper alleges that he offered to fight one of those who threw a drink at him when Liverpool came out for their post-match warm-down. Liverpool say that Carragher went over to sign autographs for some kids and had beer thrown at him – as well as being spat at – by one or more Luton fans.

By Ian Herbert

It takes a wise - or foolhardy – soul to assume PR responsibilities for Thaksin Shinawatra, a man with half the human rights lobby on his case, but Manchester City think they are up to the task. Next month, they will acquire from Bell Pottinger the role of smoothing out the public image of ‘Frank Sinatra’ as the blue half of city likes to call him because it’s easier to pronounce.

By Ian Herbert

While the rest of the nation’s talking about whether Fabio Capello (pictured here in 1973 when he played for Juventus) has got what it takes to pull off the England job, the North West managers are talking – arguing – about whether he’s got the requisite standard of English.

Yes, says Sven, though he says he speaks to Capello in Italian so that’s no guide. No, says Rafa Benitez, who often starts his weekly press briefings by trying out his latest vocabulary. (“Hee-roglyphics, hy-eroglyphics” he repeated last week, for no apparent reason.) Rafa says Capello needs to brush up because if you “want to express yourself, it is better that you have control”.