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      Man Utd’s history means nothing – thinking they can win the league in three years is arrogant and delusional

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      IT was an FA Cup weekend which showed just how far Manchester United have fallen.Which showed how little their history means, how shockingly bad their recruitment has been — and how many clubs have overtaken them.Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim is underestimating the size of his taskCredit: GettyWayne Rooney was correct to warn the Red DevilsCredit: X formerly Twitter / @BBCMOTDRooney was also spot-on to say United could do with Danny WelbeckCredit: GettyAnd it showed how correct Wayne Rooney was to criticise the naivety of United’s hierarchy for targeting the Premier League title within three years.In a fascinating quarter-final line-up, there are four clubs — Bournemouth, Brighton,  Fulham and Crystal Palace — who have never won the Cup but who have realistic ambitions of doing so on May 17.All four are infinitely smaller than United but sit above Ruben Amorim’s men in the  Premier League table.So when Rooney doubts United’s stated ambition of winning the title in their 150th anniversary year of 2028 — chief executive Omar Berrada’s so-called ‘Project 21’ — he is absolutely right.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRooney called it ‘naive’. He might have added ‘arrogant’ and ‘delusional’.United haven’t won it in 12 years and are now further away from doing so than at any point during that time.Portuguese Amorim is a searingly honest press-conference operator but he was wrong to sneer at Rooney with his ‘that is why I’m manager of Manchester United at 40’ jibe.That Rooney’s managerial career has stalled after four underwhelming jobs by the age of 39 does not mean his comments lack credibility.Most read in FootballUnited face more high-pressure games this monthBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSAre only successful football managers allowed to assess football managers?Sir David Attenborough has never been a Rwandan mountain gorilla but he made a decent fist of talking about them.Man United fan The United Strand vows to not cut his hair until Red Devils win FIVE games in a rowAmorim claims being a pundit is easy — which doesn’t explain why so many ex-players are so bad at it.Rooney, meanwhile, is far more articulate and insightful than he’s often given credit for.He’s United’s record goalscorer and he understands that the club’s fame, its history, means little to current footballers — especially those from overseas.“If I’m a player and United try to sign me, I’m thinking, ‘I’m not sure’,” said Rooney. “The top players want Champions League.”United’s 13 titles under Sir Alex Ferguson are an irrelevance to the elite young players they want to recruit.Those potential transfer targets will instead regard a shell of a football club, stuck in the bottom half of the table.The idea of United targeting the title in 2028 is nonsense.Before they can even think about challenging Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester City, they must get past that little lot of FA Cup quarter-finalists — Brighton, Bournemouth, Fulham and Palace.Joshua Zirkzee was gutted after a shootout miss as Fulham KO’d UnitedCredit: GettyMarcus Rashford is flourishing on loan for Aston Villa from UnitedCredit: GettyAll are well-run clubs benefiting from the ‘levelling up’ effect of Premier League TV revenue and Profit and Sustainability Rules.United are not experiencing a one-season blip. They are suffering from a dozen years of rank boardroom mismanagement.Would you bet on them finishing above Brighton, Bournemouth, Fulham or Palace next  season?When Fulham won at Old Trafford on Sunday, United cast-off Andreas Pereira shone, as did Sander Berge, the holding midfielder United tried and failed to sign from Burnley last summer.Fulham manager Marco Silva was one of several bosses United sounded out before they offered a new contract to Erik ten Hag.Silva is a gifted coach, who prioritised the Cup by resting several first-choice players for last Tuesday’s visit to Wolves, a match which Fulham won after their manager changed his favoured formation — showing an admirable flexibility which seems alien to Amorim.Fulham beat United without playing well. Despite three key injuries of their own, they had a far stronger bench than United.They are nine points clear of United because they are simply better.United would love a forward as good as Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert, Evanilson or Dango Ouattara, or a winger anywhere near the standard of Brighton’s Kaoru MitomaThis is the Premier League’s new order. Smaller clubs have strong squads, well-scouted, recruited, assembled and coached. They don’t often need to sell their best players either.They can work without the white noise that  surrounds United, because of a history which only serves to drag the club further down.Earlier on Sunday, United old boy Danny Welbeck scored an excellent winner for Brighton at Newcastle.And at 34 Welbeck would still be a huge improvement on what Amorim has at his disposal — as Rooney pointed out.On Friday night, Marcus Rashford was enjoying his freedom at Aston Villa — who haven’t won the Cup since 1957 but also have a decent chance of doing so.And how United would love a forward as good as Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert, Evanilson or Dango Ouattara, or a winger anywhere near the standard of Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma.Bournemouth and Brighton are diamond miners in the global transfer market, Fulham are more adept at recycling unwanted Premier League players and at Palace it’s a mix of the two approaches.But all have succeeded while United have continually failed.And these are the clubs United must surpass before they even think about challenging to be champions of England again.Champions by 2028? Naive isn’t the half of it.Mocking was sickWHO says FA Cup romance is dead, when Saturday brought us a kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace v Millwall, a headbutt at Bournemouth v Wolves and a racism row at Preston v Burnley?If the assault by Millwall keeper Liam Roberts on Palace striker Jean- Philippe Mateta wasn’t bad enough then the sick mocking songs of Lions fans were even more reprehensible.Amazingly this challenge on Palace attacker Jean-Philippe Mateta by Liam Roberts wasn’t the worst aspect of the FA Cup derbyCredit: GettyPalace supporters did retaliate sarcastically with a similar ‘let him die’ chant when a Millwall player was receiving treatment for a far less serious injury.The FA say Millwall chants, which gloried in Mateta’s trip to hospital, cannot be punished because they do not breach their rulebook.Well, either update your rulebook or use some common sense.Millwall can have all the community initiatives they like but while they  continue to be followed by such a high percentage of moronic lowlife, they will continue to be the pariahs of English football.Mint’s missed momentBRIGHTON’S Yankuba Minteh really should have celebrated his goal against former club Newcastle on Sunday.It’s not just that Minteh, 20, was flogged in the summer without having ever played a minute of first-team football for the Magpies.Yankuba Minteh had extra reasons to enjoy his goal at NewcastleCredit: AFPIt’s that the talented Gambian winger refused a move to Lyon after realising Newcastle merely regarded him as a saleable commodity to help them comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules.Even though a £40million fee had been agreed, Minteh held out for the Premier League move he wanted and proved his worth with a goal which helped knock Toon out of the FA Cup.He should have fully enjoyed his moment because he owed his opponents nothing.Stat’s it, big AngeIF Ange Postecoglou does not last as Tottenham boss, can we please beg all major broadcasters to offer him a blank cheque to head into punditry?Because nobody cuts through football’s mountain of bulls**t quite like Big Ange.Postecoglou’s disdain for VAR already earned the Aussie immense credit from this column — and now he has weighed in on the myth of ‘assist’ stats.Ange Postecoglou is rightfully disdainful of statistics for assistsCredit: Alamy“The assist is the most useless statistic in world football,”  said the Spurs chief. “It could come off your backside, fall to somebody on the halfway line, he scores, and it’s an assist. So it doesn’t impress me.”As usual, the big man is bang on.Now blame the robo-flopTHE problem with VAR is the personnel, not the system, they lied.Just wait until robot linesmen come in, with 30  high-speed cameras tracking 10,000 data points on every player — that will speed up checks, they promised.READ MORE SUN STORIESYeah, because that’s the thing you find with technology in your everyday life — it never fails, does it?And then the robot linesmen arrived — and malfunctioned — and we waited for EIGHT minutes to find out whether a Bournemouth ‘goal’ against Wolves had been offside. More

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      All this week’s transfer exclusives from SunSport’s man in the know as Aston Villa battle Everton for Mings replacement

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      ALAN NIXON is SunSport’s Boss of Goss.Check out this week’s red-hot transfer whispers from our man in the know…Joel Ordonez is wanted by both Aston Villa and EvertonCredit: GettyTHRILLY JOELASTON VILLA are fighting Everton for Joel Ordonez — who stands between them and Champions League glory.The Club Brugge star, 20, can play centre-half and right-back and looks ideal for the Premier League with his ability and strength.Ecuadorian international Ordonez helped shut Villa out in the group stage and they have been on his trail ever since.The sides meet again on Tuesday in their last-16 first leg — and Everton will be watching closely as they are desperate to land him, too.Ordonez, 20, is rated at £40million by the Belgian side and Villa see him as an ideal replacement for Tyrone Mings.The Toffees also plan a summer revamp and fancy him as the right-sided centre-back in a five at the back.Everton also rate Maxime Esteve, 22, at Burnley but he plays on the left.ROB’S JOB WAITRob Edwards could be forced to wait for his next jobCredit: GettyFORMER Luton boss Rob Edwards faces a frustrating wait for a new job because of a huge compensation fee on his head.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSInterested clubs were told the 42-year-old would cost them £1million as part of his Hatters exit package.Blackburn overlooked Edwards and has been linked with Middlesbrough — but may be sitting it out until the ‘transfer’ fee drops in the next 12 months.MOYES IN DARKDavid Moyes made his return to Everton earlier this seasonCredit: ReutersNEW Everton owners The Friedkin Group are looking for a football supremo to be overlord for their whole organisation.The Americans also own Roma and want someone to run both clubs in the future.Director of football Kevin Thelwell is set to leave his role at Goodison — as we revealed — and now boss David Moyes is waiting to learn what structure the new owners plan to put in place . . . and where it leaves him.MAXED OUT IN MILAN SPREEMaxime Estève is a target for AC MilanCredit: GettyAC MILAN scouts made a shock visit to check out Burnley centre-half Maxime Esteve.The classy Frenchman, 22, may move in the summer — and will definitely do so if the Clarets fail to win promotion.Crystal Palace star Mateta stretchered off with horror injury after shock kung-fu kick from Milwall keeper who sees redEverton are keen on Esteve while Crystal Palace have shortlisted him.But the Italians are on the trail of a player too good for the second tier.CATS CHASE QUICK CASHKyril Louis-Dreyfus owns 64 per cent of SunderlandCredit: ReutersSUNDERLAND are in talks with US financiers MSD Holdings about a quick £35million loan.Wealthy Kyril Louis-Dreyfus owns Black Cats yet they are still seeking funding — even with interest at £5m a year.The timing is odd as Sunderland chase a Prem jackpot and have players to sell for big money this summer.But the cash is wanted quicker than that.A REAL DEAL BUT NOT FOR HORNETSMillonarios striker Neyser is wanted by WatfordCredit: ConmebolWATFORD’S chances of signing young Colombian star Neyser Villarreal look slim — as Porto set up a deal.The Portuguese giants have been ‘promised’ striker Villarreal, 19, by his agent and could get him for nothing at the end of the year.Brazil’s Vasco da Gama made a £3million bid plus extras that his club Millonarios accepted but the player and agent refuse to speak to them.WHICH Premier League sporting director is making a fool of himself in the VIP box at games?The foreign wheeler-dealer is given to celebrating goals wildly and arguing about refereeing decisions with rival fans and even directors.This loud chap was recently seen gesturing so much that a ‘minder’ in the entourage was forced to calm a brewing row with home supporters.ROBINS KEEN ON NEW RECRUITSMark Robins is concerned by the squad at Stoke CityCredit: PASTOKE boss Mark Robins will look for a major change in recruitment plans in the summer.Robins, 55, has been alarmed by a thin squad bulked out with young players and loan captures.The Potters have tried to sign their own players but ended up with a mixed bag.That is partly because of so much upheaval with Robins their third boss this season.PRODIGAL SONDavid Moyes Jr is wanted by Hull CityCredit: AlamyHULL are after David Moyes Jr for a top scouting role.The Everton manager’s son has previous experience with West Ham, where he worked for his dad.Now the Tigers hope to tempt the ex-agent to their transfer team, which has changed regularly over the past couple of years.ROVERS RETURNValerien Ismael is looking to add to his staff at BlackburnCredit: GettyBLACKBURN boss Valerien Ismael will bring in coach Adam Murray in the summer.Eastbourne gaffer Murray worked with the Frenchman at Barnsley and Besiktas and will join Rovers No .2 Dean Whitehead at Ewood Park.Ismael took over last month and is happy with the rest of his staff. More

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      Man City 3 Plymouth 1: Nico O’Reilly double spares Pep’s blushes after almighty scare against Championship strugglers

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      PEP Guardiola found his FA Cup hero just in the Nico time…but he didn’t half sweat for a while first.With just 15 minutes of this last 16 clash left, Argyle were still all square and dreams of an even greater shock than dumping Liverpool in the previous round were alive.Maksym Talovierov headed Plymouth ahead in the first halfCredit: GettyNico O’Reilly netted the equaliser for Man CityCredit: GettyHe then netted the go-ahead goalCredit: GettyKevin de Bruyne sealed the victory in the final momentsCredit: GettyYet then, Nico O’Reilly, the local-born teenager in a galaxy of Galacticos, pounced to head in his second goal of the day and there was an almighty sigh of relief all around the Etihad.Everywhere except the massed ranks of travelling Pilgrims, that is, who were instead cursing O’Reilly for giving their fairytale a Grimm ending.For seven magic minutes they actually led the Premier League winners of the last four years as well, thanks to Maxi Talovierov’s never-to-be-forgotten header.But a minute before the break O’Reilly ghosted in to meet a Kevin De Bruyne free kick curled in from the right and it was even stevens again.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLAlthough, if you wanted to be harsh, questions could be asked of Argyle keeper Conor Hazard, who got a full hand to the ball, without the strength to palm it to safety.Having said he had plenty of moments prior to that, most notably getting fingertips to De Bruyne’s low angled strike a couple of minutes before City’s leveller.But he had also been rooted to the spot when Ilkay Gundogan had rattled an upright when it was still goalless – although to be fair it was struck so ferociously no keeper on earth would have moved.There were also occasions the Plymouth keeper was left thanking the men in front of him, too – none more than when Maxi had deflected a Phil Foden shot wide.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSYet equally he had a few heroic moments of his own as well, as City – well, certainly their manager – grew increasingly frustrated.Admittedly not as many, and rarely with the same sense of drama, as the stack-‘em-high number of stops when Liverpool were whipped off at the knees in the previous round.’Endangered his life’ – Crystal Palace owner gives Mateta injury update live on BBC and slams ‘reckless’ Millwall starPlymouth put in a brave performance at the EtihadCredit: GettyPep Guardiola will be relieved after seeing his team come from behindCredit: GettyThat unforgettable fourth round triumph when the Pilgrims became the favourite other team of every fan in the country outside Anfield.And with Guardiola at one stage getting so frustrated that he was throwing his arms around like a bald-headed Bruno Fernandes, you did wonder if they could possibly do it again.After all, despite City’s monopoly on possession for long periods, there will be days Plymouth’s backline boys work harder for their dough in the Championship than this.Largely, it should be said, thanks to Maxi Talovierov and Nikola Katic prowling the backline with such a fearsome menace they were like a pair of footballing Krays.Put it this way, Argyle’s defensive duo have such an intimidating air, you imagine they rarely get below a seven in the local paperHow fitting, then, that when Plymouth did snatch their out-of-the-blue lead, one of them was the hero.It came from Matthew Sorinola’s 37th minute corner, which Maxi met unopposed to head into the corner. The City boys were probably too scared to get close enough to stop him.At the opposite end of the pitch 8,000 travelling fans went wild. First Liverpool, now this…it was fast becoming the ultimate FA Cup fairytale. Only it didn’t end that way.For just when they looked destined to reach the base camp of taking their lead into the second half, up popped O’Reilly and it was suddenly all square again.And with Argyle barely setting foot in the City half – let alone penalty box – after the break, surely it was only a matter of time.Hazard had to react smartly to paw one over the tip when De Bruyne tried to catch him out, while Rico Lewis went close with the most acrobatic of volleys.It was fast becoming a repeat of the Alamo-style onslaught they had faced in the fourth round…only this one didn’t have the same happy ending for the underdogs.They could claim a mini-victory, at least, in forcing Guardiola to chuck on Erling Haaland from the bench after an hour as the hunt for a winner grew more frantic.Yet when not even he could find a way through as Hazard pulled off a stunning rub-your-eyes double stop 15 minutes from the end maybe, just maybe, they could hang on.When Jack Grealish curled one from the left to hand Haaland a point blank header, he surely had to score.But only did Hazard block his header, he somehow managed to turn Bernardo Silva’s follow-up behind as well.It was a jaw-dropping save on a par with Jim Montgomery’s unforgettable effort in Sunderland’s 1973 Wembley triumph.Only this one didn’t have the same memorable ending…in fact barely 60 seconds later he was picking the ball out of his net.READ MORE SUN STORIESFrom Phil Foden’s corner, O’Reilly outmuscled Jordan Houghton at the far post and it was relief all round at last for the men in sky blue.Breathing space that became feet up and relax when De Bruyne tapped in a third seconds from the end…but it took one hell of a fight to get there. More

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      Burnley stars SNUB handshake with Preston player accused of racially abusing team-mate before he taunts fans after goal

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      BURNLEY players refused to shake hands with Preston’s Milutin Osmajic’s amid a racism row before their 3-0 FA Cup defeat. The two Championship clubs drew 0-0 in February in the league. Burnley players refused to shake hands with Preston’s Milutin Osmajic’s amid a racism rowOsmajic laughed off the snubCredit: X @BBCMOTDBut the match was marred in controversy after Osmajic was accused of making a racist remark to Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri.The FA are still investigating the incident meanwhile the teams drew each other in the fifth round of the cup. During the pre-match handshakes, Burnley players snubbed Osmajic.But the drama did not stop there as the Preston forward scored before half-time to double the host’s lead after Robbie Brady’s opener. READ MORE IN football And Osmajic caused more controversy after putting his hands to his ears to goad the travelling Burnley fans. And ex-Manchester United forward Will Keane made it 3-0 to wrap the game up. Burnley manager Scott Parker confirmed Hannibal was fit but he left out the Tunisia midfielder to protect him from the spotlight.Parker told BBC iPlayer before kick-off: “As I said earlier in the week in the press conference, fundamentally I need to protect Hannibal and making sure of the right decision.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS”It has been a tough decision and we come here a bit weakened today because Hannibal is a vitally important member of this squad, and I felt it was the best decision for Hannibal.”I wouldn’t want to put him in a situation here, so we have made the decision for the best for Hannibal. How Man Utd could clinch a win in Fulham FA Cup clash – Expert’s best bets | Weekend Wager”That is why he is not in the matchday squad.”Asked whether he spoke with Hannibal, Parker said: “It was mainly my decision. “Hannibal was selectable today but he is a young boy that experienced something here only a few weeks ago and I just made that decision to keep him out of here and we have another game on Tuesday.”If found guilty, Osmajic faces a minimum six-match ban as the FA continue their probe. Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom admitted he had not considered the idea of leaving Osmajic out. Asked whether he was taking an approach of “innocent until proven guilty” – Heckingbottom replied: “Yes, exactly – 100 per cent.” In October, Osmajic was hit with an eight-match ban after biting Blackburn’s Owen Beck.The incident took place during Preston’s 0-0 draw with Rovers in September.Osmajic last year bit Blackburn’s Owen BeckCredit: GettyOsmajic was accused of making a racist remark to Burnley’s Hannibal MejbriCredit: RexOsmajic was only shown a yellow during the game and was able to play in Preston’s next two games.But the FA launched an investigation and subsequently charged him.Osmajic missed Preston’s next eight matches and was also fined £15,000.Parker backed his squad after their handshake snub, as he said: “The players made that decision as a group.”The players decided that that was a stance they were going to take. I was fully supportive of that when I found out.”If that’s the decision this group wanted to take out of support and an understanding of more clarity and more of an understanding of the situation, that’s the decision they made.”I was fully supportive of that.”Parker held talks with Hannibal this week and despite the ex-United man being in a good frame of mind decided to leave him out.He said: “Hannibal is in a good frame. There was an opportunity to play him and I made the conscious decision.The players decided that that was a stance they were going to take. I was fully supportive of that when I found out.Scott Parker “I made the decision to take him out of that situation. There’s a live investigation going on now and there’s no conclusion to it.”I didn’t want to put Hannibal in a situation today which is still up in the air. Because that’s what it is.”He’s coming to an away stadium. Maybe against a player that the allegations are against. And a fan base which people are making up their minds about whether it was or whether it wasn’t.”My decision which took me a long time and a lot of thinking about was one that I just wanted to protect Hannibal.”Osmajic scored the second of Preston’s three goals as they reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1966.Preston fans responded late on by chanting “Are you watching Hannibal?”.Parker added: “It’s made me sad really.”I’m sure he would have been fine today. But I’ve been around football a long time. I understand fanbases.”I didn’t want to put him in this situation.”North End boss Paul Heckingbottom said: “It’s about could he be professional enough to give a performance for us? READ MORE SUN STORIES”That was it. That’s what the conversations were about. If I felt or he felt that he couldn’t be professional enough then we wouldn’t have been involved.”Osmajic scored and taunted Burnley fansCredit: GettyHe cupped his ears to goad fansCredit: Getty More

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      ‘IQ score beat my wife’s… that’s the best thing’ – Brainiac Frank Lampard on why he’s proving smart choice at Coventry

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      AFTER failing his last two tests at Chelsea and Everton, Lampard is gaining pass marks again.It does not take a genius to work out why… but if it did the high-flying Coventry boss would certainly fit the bill.Frank Lampard is loving his time with Coventry CityCredit: GettyThe Chelsea legend has taken Coventry from 17th to play-off contentionCredit: PAAfter all, how many football managers qualify for Mensa with an IQ of 150 — which puts him in the top one-two per cent of Britain’s brainiacs?Lampard, who also has a GCSE A-star in Latin, told SunSport: “It’s true, I do have an IQ of 150!“I was tested at Chelsea in the aftermath of John Terry getting kicked in the head in the Carabao Cup final.“Our doctor, who was Brian English at the time, made us do IQ tests to get us all a base-level IQ so we could be registered again if you had a concussion or a head injury.Read More in Football“I just breezed it. Other people seem more interested in it than me.“But I am quite proud of it. My score of 150 just beat my wife, Christine, which was the best thing about it.“She was just below me. I don’t know the exact numbers but we were around the same.“But I think she’s smarter than me — at least it feels that way in the house!Most read in ChampionshipCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“It was a strange test. I’d never done one before. For whatever reason, I came out on top of it.“That was my one and only IQ test. I retired after taking one, just in case it was a false test!”Fans spot Frank Lampard do his trademark face change as clip of his first day at Coventry training emergesLampard admitted he was thrilled when he found out his IQ was higher than his wife’sCredit: GettyLampard was also a smart cookie as a schoolboy, dreaming of following in the footsteps of his father and making it as a professional player with West Ham.He added: “I got 11 GSCEs. Four or five A passes, the rest Bs and one C, as well as one A-star-plus for Latin!”Lampard replaced Coventry fans’ favourite Mark Robins in November when the Sky Blues were 17th in the Championship.Yet three months on, it is beginning to look like one of the smartest moves of the season as Lampard has lifted Robins’ relegation candidates to within one point of the play-off positions.Coventry head to Oxford United tomorrow with the confidence of a side who have won seven out of their last eight games — their only defeat coming against leaders Leeds.But I am quite proud of it. My score of 150 just beat my wife, Christine, which was the best thing about it.Frank LampardAfter being burned at Everton and his second stint at Chelsea, Lampard is clearly loving life again in the dugout.Having enjoyed success as a TV pundit it would have been easy for him to take the easy option of becoming a full-time football critic.But he admits he has been bitten by the managerial bug and believes he is young enough — and wise enough — to succeed as a top-level boss after learning some harsh lessons from his past.He said: “I enjoyed the media when I packed up playing. I did it for a year and it was lovely to still have one foot in the game.“When I’ve been in between jobs, sometimes you want to rest, other times you want to work a bit and the media is great for that.“You work with great people. You see the game from the outside. You look at other teams more.“But this is what I love doing the most. I love the day-to-day involvement of being a manager.“I love the challenge, with all of its frustrations.“People tell me: ‘You don’t need to do it’. But it’s not a monetary thing.“I’m 46 years of age. I love working and I’m doing something I love to do.“The media life is easier, that’s for sure! It’s so much easier to comment on everyone with the benefit of hindsight. Management is much tougher.“I’ve been criticised before by former team-mates. Does it feel like betrayal? No, I’m pretty balanced about it now.Coventry have won seven of their last eight gamesCredit: Getty“I’ve experienced that situation, it’s not so much former team-mates, as some ex-players who don’t know what it’s like to manage.“They’ve never worked in management so they don’t understand the rigours.“They don’t understand the working week, don’t understand the challenges of team selection and injuries and managing players and formations.“It doesn’t mean you can’t be in the media.“But if you haven’t worked in management then I take what you say not with a pinch of salt — that sounds disrespectful.“But if I sense that it’s a little bit of a loaded dig or something that’s not well backed up, then I note it and move on.”So has Lampard ever dug up an ex-pro for his on-air comments? He replied: “I’ll answer that by not answering it… what do you think?”Lampard was a battler on the field and he has not lost his competitive edge now he is back in the dugout and in a tracksuit on the training ground.Management has chewed up and spat out so many of England’s so-called Golden Generation.Wayne Rooney has become the latest casualty, following in the footsteps of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, John Terry to a lesser extent, and Steven Gerrard, who have all experienced failure and criticism.The media life is easier, that’s for sure! It’s so much easier to comment on everyone with the benefit of hindsight. Management is much tougher.Frank LampardLampard said: “I don’t feel like I’m the one left holding the torch for the Golden Generation. It’s a lazy generalisation.“Anyone that goes into this job as an ex-player who’s had a highly regarded career should get a lot of credit because you understand that there’s a bigger fall for you.“There’s a bigger level of interest. Maybe we’ll succeed but what about if we fail?“It’s a little bit of a cultural issue. I think we’re all a bit guilty of that in our British culture.“So I don’t listen to the Golden Generation stuff.“It’s just a really lazy thing to say: Great players don’t make great managers.“And then you actually start listing them. Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti, Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola and all the other ones.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It’s just a fallacy. It’s just picking an argument with confirmation bias.“It’s nonsense.”Lampard’s ex-England team-mate Wayne Rooney was axed by Plymouth on New Year’s EveCredit: Getty More

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      Chelsea chief Todd Boehly proposes dramatic rule change that would see EFL clubs become Premier League owners

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      TODD Boehly has proposed dramatic rule change to help bridge the gap between the Premier League and the Championship.The under-fire Chelsea chief also took the chance to brush off the fan protest outside Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.Todd Boehly proposed dramatic rule change to help bridge the gap in English footballCredit: GettyFans descended before Tuesday’s league game against SouthamptonBoehly drew upon his knowledge as an investor to suggest a ground-breaking rule change for the Prem to boost competitiveness.Speaking at the Financial Times’ Business of Football summit, Boehly explained: “There is a bit of an unorganised landscape in European football.”It reminds me of the Retail Sports Network market in America. There is a handful of things that needs to be sorted.”One of the challenges is relegation in football. It’s hard to price. If everyone was equal, you’d have a 15 per cent chance of relegation.READ MORE CHELSEA NEWS”But everyone isn’t equal, so you have to work out how best to address that valuation challenge.”Relegation is cultural and not going anywhere. So why not every season when a team is in the EPL, you get one share of EPL stock and even if you go down you keep that stock.”The gulf between the Championship and Prem cannot be understated.Last season saw all three promoted sides, Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United, suffer immediate relegation for the first time since 1998.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThe same fate currently awaits Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich, with the trio occupying the drop zone with 11 matches remaining.But Boehly also shrugged off the fan protests which preceded Chelsea’s 4-0 win over the Saints on Tuesday.Chelsea fans can’t name their OWN PLAYERS after another wild transfer window under owner Todd BoehlyHe said: “I just think it is par for the course.”The sooner you learn you are not going to keep all the people happy all the time, the freedom shows up.”We are just trying to execute a plan and recognise things aren’t linear, and we are trending in the right direction.”The trend is moving in the right direction and that’s the thing that really matters.”In June, it will be three years in charge. That’s not a lot of time, especially when you get to 50, 60 or 70 years old in life.”Promoted Southampton sit bottom of the Prem with two wins from 27 gamesCredit: PASupporters directed their anger towards Todd Boehly and ownership group BlueCoOn Chelsea’s poor No 9 recruitment, he added: “Strikers are hard to find.”You don’t go into the grocery store and say, ‘I’m going to get a striker’.”It is an amazing skillset and you also have to have a fantastic mentality.”The final question by moderator Arash Massoudi was whether the ownership will change given the talk of disagreements between him and Clearlake. He answered: “Listen, I can’t predict the future. If I could, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAs for Chelsea, Enzo Maresca’s side are well in the hunt for a top four finish after beating the Saints this week.The Blues are one point adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City in fifth.Chelsea ratings vs Southampton as Cole Palmer STILL can’t score or assist… and gets a horror grade More

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      Wayne Rooney tipped for next manager job at ambitious EFL club two months after Plymouth sacking

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      WAYNE ROONEY has been tipped for his next role in the dugout following his sacking from Plymouth Argyle.The Manchester United legend was axed by the Pilgrims back in December.Wayne Rooney could be on his way back into managementCredit: GettyHe was sacked by Plymouth in DecemberCredit: PARooney, 39, has not stopped working completely, as he has been a pundit for Amazon Prime.He has also been coaching for Football Escapes at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai.It has now been suggested that he could be in line with a return to the dugout.An insider has told Heat World that he could become the next boss at League Two side Salford City.READ MORE ON MAN UTDThey said: “There’s talk of Wayne getting another managerial role at Salford City FC.”It’s local, so he doesn’t have to move out, but he won’t be home 24/7 and will have something to focus on.”The Ammies could be on the search for a new manager if they miss out on promotion to League One.Current boss Karl Robinson has been in charge of the club since January 2024.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSHe has won 23 of his 60 matches, drawing 16 and losing 21.The club is currently ninth in League Two, seven points shy of the playoff spots.EXCL Wayne Rooney spotted training his England teammate Kyle Walker’s six-year-old son at £5k a night Dubai hotelKarl Robinson is the current Salford City managerCredit: AlamyRooney has worked for Amazon Prime as a pundit since leaving PlymouthCredit: GettyRooney’s managerial careerHere is a look at Wayne Rooney’s career in the dugout so far…Derby County, Nov 2020 to Jun 2022Games – 84Wins – 25Draws – 21Losses – 38DC United, Jul 2022 to Oct 2023Games – 53Wins – 14Draws – 13Losses – 26Birmingham City, Oct 2023 to Jan2024Games – 15Wins – 2Draws – 4Losses – 9Plymouth Argyle, May 2024 to Dec 2024Games – 25Wins – 5Draws – 6Losses – 14Average points per game – 1.03The insider has also suggested that Rooney could continue his work in punditry.Rooney could take up an opportunity at BBC’s Match of the Day which is filmed in the Dock10 studios at MediaCityUK in Salford.They said: “There’s also talk of him joining Match Of The Day as a pundit, which would be perfect as it’s filmed in Manchester.”So he wouldn’t have too far to travel.”Should Rooney take over at Salford City, then it would be the lowest level he has managed at.He has never dropped below the Championship before in his managerial career.Rooney has managed three English clubs with varying success at Derby County, Birmingham City and Plymouth.He would be working with some familiar faces with Salford’s owners consisting of former Man United stars.The Class of 92 Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt first took over the club in 2014.David Beckham became a shareholder of the club in 2019.Rooney has previously told the Stick to Football podcast that he would open the door to a managerial return – with the right club.He said: “I would like to go back in.”It’d have to be the right club. Certainly the right club.”And he even admitted he would accept a role as assistant manager.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe added: “I’d have no problem dropping into an Under-21 team or going in as a coach.”I’m still young enough to learn and develop. Just having a good group of players who were at a [good] level.”Wayne Rooney’s record-breaking careerWAYNE Rooney took the football world by storm when he made his debut for 2002 with Everton.He quickly became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer aged 16 years and 342 days and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year.The striker joined Manchester United in 2004 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford. He went on to make 559 appearances for the Red Devils and scored 253 goals. To this day he is still the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.Following his spell with United, Rooney returned to Everton for a season. He also spent one-season stints with D.C. United and Derby County at the end of his career.As well as his impressive club career, Rooney is also England’s second-highest goalscorer with 53 goals in 120 appearances, behind only Harry Kane.After hanging up his boots, the England icon turned to a career in management.He took charge of Derby County in 2020 and managed to just about save the club from relegation from the Championship at the end of his first season.However, with Derby handed a 21-point deduction the following campaign, he was unable to keep them up again and subsequently left.Then came a 15-month spell in charge of MLS side D.C. United. He failed to impress during his time in Washington and parted ways with the club at the end of the 2023 regular season.Rooney was controversially handed the Birmingham job in October 2023, replacing John Eustace with the club doing well and sixth in the Championship table.However, in 15 games he suffered nine defeats and managed just two wins. He was sacked in January 2024 with Birmingham down in 20th. The club were relegated to League One at the end of the campaign.He returned to management in May with Plymouth Argyle but managed just five wins in 25 games. The United legend now finds himself out of work once again. More

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      Bournemouth star, 21, switches international allegiance to play under ex-Premier League boss after representing England

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      BOURNEMOUTH star Daniel Jebbison has switched his national allegiance away from England.The 21-year-old striker has agreed to represent Canada, according to reports.Daniel Jebbison has switched his national allegiance away from EnglandJebbison was born in Oakville, Ontario, but is eligible to represent England and Jamaica through his parents.He has been capped 13 times across three different age groups in England’s youth set up.The Prem star was part of the Three Lions side that won the 2022 Under-19 Euros, where he scored against Serbia in the group stage.But he has swapped his allegiance as Canada Soccer has landed one of the most sought-after dual-nationals in the programme’shistory. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSJebbison has started the process of his Fifa one-time change of association.An official announcement from Canada Soccer is expected soon, reports The Athletic.Should that be completed in time, he would likely attend his first Canada training camp in March as part of the Concacaf Nations League finals.Canada will face Mexico in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to meet either the U.S. or Panama.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSEx-Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has managed Canada since May 2024.Marsch attended Bournemouth’s 1-0 loss to Wolves at the Vitality Stadium to see Jebbison come on in the 89th minute.Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen couldn’t be happier being nominated for Premier League player of the month Marsch had several conversations with the striker and stressed the importance of Canada being one of three host nations for the 2026 World Cup.Jebbison has been a regular substitute for Bournemouth in the second half of this season, since returning from a loan to Championship side Watford.He has two goals in two FA Cup appearances this term and previously starred for Sheffield United in 2019.Jebbison last played for England’s Under-20 side in May 2023 at the Fifa U-20 World Cup.He was also partly convinced of how he could thrive with Canada thanks to a video Marsch and his staff created.Canada turned to three top stars in Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David and Alistair Johnston, to record video messages expressing their interest in having Jebbison join.Marsch also put a personal touch in his recruitment plan by creating a one-off Canada-themed pair of Air Jordans to gift to Jebbison.Ex-Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has managed Canada since May 2024 More