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    No TV interest, dismal ticket sales and furious bosses… ‘ridiculous’ Club World Cup is nothing but Fifa vanity project

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    FRANK by name and frank by nature, as Brentford boss Thomas Frank has got his Bees in the right bonnet.His sting was aimed at the Club World Cup, which he described as “ridiculous”. And I agree with him.Fifa’s revamped Club World Cup has not gone down well with some Prem bossesCredit: APBrentford boss Thomas Frank is refusing to watch the tournamentCredit: PAFurious Frank said: “Who wants it? No one. “The addition of the Club World Cup is ridiculous and there is a bigger conversation needed about the number of games being played over a year – but that is not for us and more for the teams in Europe.”You sometimes feel Fifa is run by Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em’s Frank Spencer and this is further proof.Frank criticised Fifa for hugely expanding a tournament for which there is little interest.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThat’s not exactly true as the winner could bank £97MILLION for seven games, which does give the bean counters an incentive, if not the players.The fact that it has been turned down by BBC, ITV, Sky Sports and TNT Sports suggests the TV execs aren’t that bothered either, even though Manchester City and Chelsea are in it.But what Frank is angered by is simple – the players are bloody knackered.Come the end of a gruelling Premier League season, often with European games in midweek, footballers have run themselves into the ground.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKLike anyone else, they need a few weeks in the sun to relax and recover.‘Ah’, I hear you shout, ‘but what about all those pre-season tours to the Far East?’ Fifa show off incredible new Club World Cup trophy that has be opened with a giant gold KEYIt’s a fair point, but these tours can get players back up to fitness.As well as the Club World Cup, what is also a concern is the increasing gap between Champions League qualifying clubs and the rest.For instance, if Chelsea or City both finish in the top five, that will now guarantee them Champions League football next season and around £150m.If one of them wins the Club World Cup that all adds up to nearly £250m! How are the other 15 Premier League clubs supposed to compete with that?The Club World Cup strikes me as a vanity project for Fifa.City boss Pep Guardiola is unhappy clubs must field their strongest squads in the 32-nation tournament, which starts in America in mid-June and lasts a whole month.If Guardiola is cheesed off now, can you imagine his temper if Erling Haaland got injured in the big match against Morocco’s Wydad AC.Frank insisted there is absolutely “no chance” he will even be watching it.He’s not the only one, as by all accounts, ticket sales have been dismal.No wonder the TV giants didn’t want to touch it as nothing stinks out a sporting event more than banks of empty seats. Everyone has worked out there is no glory to it, only money.Read More on The SunThe 24-carat gold-plated trophy was unveiled in the White House. At the rate things are going there, Donald Trump might be melting it down to flog it soon. More

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      Forget the sob stories, five years without an Arsenal trophy means Mikel Arteta risks facing same fate as Poch at Spurs

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      WHEN was the last time the manager of a Big Six club was allowed to go five years without winning a trophy and stay in his job?The answer is Mauricio Pochettino, sacked by Tottenham early in his sixth season.Arsenal have once again failed to keep pace in a title raceCredit: GettyMikel Arteta is facing a fifth season without a trophy at the EmiratesCredit: RexBefore him, it was Arsene Wenger, who already had three Premier League titles – including two Doubles – to boast about before his long eight-season trophy drought.So unless Arsenal are going to be crowned champions of Europe this year for the first time in their history – and without a striker – Mikel Arteta is going to be entering into some pretty exclusive company.Arteta is under no immediate threat at the Emirates.Arsenal remain likely to finish as Premier League runners-up for a third straight season and if they defeat PSV Eindhoven, they will reach a second successive Champions League quarter-final.READ MORE ON ARSENALBut there comes a time when questions must be asked.And five seasons without a trophy is that sort of time.Sure, Arteta has improved Arsenal substantially but is he the man to take them over the line and win a Premier League or Champions League?Arteta did win the FA Cup just months after succeeding Unai Emery – with the team he inherited and then comprehensively dismantled.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSPierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored both goals in that behind-closed-doors 2-1 victory over Chelsea but was stripped of the captaincy the following year and bundled out of the door along with Mesut Ozil.When Kieran Tierney leaves this summer, Bukayo Saka and out-on-loan Reiss Nelson will be the only remaining Arsenal players to have won a trophy at the club – although they were both unused subs in that 2020 triumph over their London neighbours.‘Second again, ole ole’ – Brutal West Ham fans taunt Arsenal with three cheeky chants after stunning the EmiratesThe team Arteta subsequently built appeared young, vibrant and hungry during the previous two seasons, when they ran Manchester City close for the Premier League crown on both occasions.This year, there has been no title race, despite City’s extraordinary implosion. Liverpool have been allowed to run away with it.Arsenal failed to score for the third time in four matches in a God-awful goalless draw at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.That was a clash between the second and third teams in the table, which showcased exactly how far Arne Slot’s Reds are ahead of everybody else.Unless Arsenal are going to be crowned champions of Europe this year for the first time in their history – and without a striker – Mikel Arteta is going to be entering into some pretty exclusive company.Now 13 points ahead, the Merseysiders might well surpass Manchester City’s record 19-point winning margin of 2018.Any current conversation about the Gunners has to revolve around the absence of a fit striker.Season-ending injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, as well as a long-term lay-off for Saka, represent extremely bad luck. But then neither the German nor the Brazilian are authentic centre-forwards.Arsenal’s need for a striker predates those injuries.The debate was raging during the previous two seasons.Arsenal ratings vs Forest as NOBODY looks like scoring for Gunners but Saliba’s a Rolls Royce againMIKEL ARTETA may not have anyone to put the ball in the back of the net but in William Saliba he has one of the best defenders in the Prem.The Arsenal boss watched his side’s faint title hopes go well and truly up in smoke in the goalless draw with Nottingham Forest.But his brilliant backline emerged, once again, with credit from this tricky clash at the City Ground.Together with Gabriel, Saliba kept a tight lid on Forest dangerman Chris Wood, who scored a hat-trick in his last appearance on this ground.But the fact the Gunners’ biggest threat at the other end of the pitch came from left-back Riccardo Calafiori – who was subbed off at half-time – says it all about the dire situation Arsenal somehow find themselves in.Here is how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated the Gunners stars’ displays…And if Arteta had prioritised a striker, the club would have signed one last summer, rather than having to leave it until late in January to make a failed bid for Aston Villa’s England international Ollie Watkins.Havertz, who was most effective as a No 10 in his Chelsea days, has the height and ability to link up play but he is not a top-class finisher.When Jesus was at City, Pep Guardiola preferred him as a winger and often played with false nines rather than employing the Brazilian through the middle.Talk of former Brentford hitman Ivan Toney, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres came and went and RB Leipzig’s raw 21-year-old Slovenian striker Benjamin Sesko looks the most likely summer recruit. But Arsenal’s failure to bolster their forward line has been negligent.Still, even when Havertz and Jesus were fit, Arsenal’s playing style had clearly regressed this season.They have become Set Piece FC, an upper-class version of Tony Pulis’ Stoke City and a difficult watch.Mikel Arteta bizarrely hints Arsenal should be mid-table but still won’t give up on title An image of Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover has been painted on to a mural near the Emirates.The days of Wenger’s Arsenal playing eye-candy football and being obsessed with scoring the perfect goal are long gone.Five red cards in the Premier League have cost the Gunners up to ten points.Dark conspiracy theories among Arsenal fans cannot mask a basic lack of discipline and game-management.Forget the sob stories, half a decade without silverware simply isn’t good enough.Arteta has done much to foster a bond between players and supporters after years of the ‘Wenger Out, Wenger In’ civil war and the short reign of Emery.The atmosphere at the Emirates has improved greatly — sometimes vast swathes of the crowd do not leave early to catch their trains.But this term there have been rumblings of discontent.Arsenal have gone backwards and most supporters recognise it.Opposition to the ownership of ‘Silent’ Stan Kroenke has been silenced but if it kicks off again, the manager will be in danger.Pochettino improved Spurs immeasurably, reaching a Champions League final after two successive near-misses in title races.But even at Arsenal’s bitter rivals, five years without a trophy was enough to see the Argentinian gone.READ MORE SUN STORIESUnless Arteta oversees a miracle in Europe – and Arsenal would probably have to beat Real Madrid in a quarter-final and Liverpool in a semi to do so – then the Spaniard will be on trial at the beginning of next term.Forget the sob stories, half a decade without silverware simply isn’t good enough. 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      Troy Deeney: Beware Sir Jim Ratcliffe, keep making staff redundant and you’ll lose heart and soul of Man Utd, trust me

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      MORALE among Manchester United’s players must be low enough as it is.But when you throw in a total of 450 staff losing their jobs – around 40 per cent of the club’s workforce – it is hardly going to help matters.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has announced another sweeping round of cuts at Old TraffordCredit: PANothing is going right on or off the pitch for Manchester UnitedCredit: GettyTroy Deeney has seen first hand what staff redundancies at a club can meanCredit: The SunFirst and foremost, it must be ­killing boss Ruben Amorim to have to keep answering questions about something which is not his fault, when he has only been at the club for two minutes.And from a PR point of view – with United in the bottom half – the optics are terrible.When was there last any positive news at Old Trafford?Probably when Amorim was appointed – although that optimism didn’t last long.Having spent most of my career at Watford, a far smaller operation with fewer employees, I was gobsmacked to hear United employed as many as 1,140 people before Sir Jim Ratcliffe got his axe out.Maybe many of the roles Ratcliffe is slashing are non-essential. Maybe there genuinely was fat to trim.And maybe the players themselves wouldn’t ever have met a lot of them.When you hear about 450 job losses – 250 in the last round of redundancies, with 200 more to follow – it can sound like just a figure.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut then I started thinking about the behind-the-scenes staff at ­Watford, people I actually know, and then it became more personal.Because some of these people are the heart and soul of a football club.Andy Goldstein insists Sir Jim Ratcliffe has got everything wrong at Man Utd after drastic cuts For instance, in the training-room canteen at Watford, there were Linette and Sharon.They served us food and drink but they did far more than that.If we’d lost a few games, they were the people who lifted us.If we needed bringing down a peg or two, they would keep us grounded.Some of these people are the heart and soul of a football club.”Oh yeah, you scored the winning goal in an FA Cup semi-final but do you think you can leave your dirty plates lying around?”Linette had been at the club for 35 or 40 years – since Graham Taylor’s first spell as manager.If you were feeling down, just try moaning at her and Sharon and you would hear something along the lines of ‘oh yeah, it must be so hard being a professional footballer, my heart bleeds for you’.There will be staff like that at United’s training ground.Man Utd ratings vs Ipswich as Maguire saves the day after Onana makes case to be WORST ever signingMANCHESTER UNITED eased their fears of the drop in a topsy-turvy relegation six-pointer with Ipswich.The Red Devils triumphed 3-2 despite playing the second half with ten men.A major cock-up from Patrick Dorgu and Andre Onana saw Ipswich take a third-minute lead through Jaden Philogene.Then, after United had recovered to lead 2-1, Dorgu saw a straight red card for a poor challenge on Omari Hutchinson.Philogene scored again to level it before the break only for Harry Maguire to nod in to be United’s saviour.But who was United’s best player on the night?Here, SunSport’s Phil Thomas reveals his Manchester United player ratings…And I hope for the sake of the players, that those sorts of people are not being made redundant.Then there was Gail, Watford’s club secretary. Or should I say the club secretary/therapist.When I needed to vent, I’d go and vent at Gail in her office and the world seemed a better place.It was the same for a lot of players.And then there was Scott — also known as ‘Eeyore’ — the miserable head groundsman, who was actually one of the funniest blokes you could ever meet. He won awards for the playing ­surface at Vicarage Road.He took such pride in his work that he resented you actually playing or training on his pitches.If he could have erected a ‘Keep Off The Grass’ sign at the training ground, he would have done.There was Richard, the long-serving media officer, who protected the club’s image with his life.And another Richard, the player liaison officer, who was a godsend.His was a role which some might reckon showed how pampered footballers can be – but I disagree.We’d have so many youngsters, aged 18 to 21, coming over from abroad, with little grasp of English, who had never lived away from home.Rich would do everything for them.Even when the club’s owners don’t actually care. All of these people were invaluable and would have excellent ­relationships with many players.He would tell them where to live, how to pay their bills, work out where their parents would stay if they came to visit.For older players, he would find schools for their kids.As captain, I’d have to tell players not to take the p*** because Richard was so dedicated he’d be sorting out their social diaries.Some of the biggest unsung heroes at any club are those who work in the community department – many of whom are volunteers.They ensure a club is in touch with its roots, playing a proper role in the local area.United’s players have endured a horror season and their mood won’t be improved by staff redundanciesCredit: GettyEven when the club’s owners don’t actually care. All of these people were invaluable and would have excellent ­relationships with many players.When Watford were relegated, quite a few people I knew were made redundant by the club and that was what killed me more than anything.As a player, you know you have a short career, and that you’ve worked hard to get to the top in a very ­competitive industry.But you also know you are very well paid, that you could go six months without money if you had to — and you were fully aware that most of these people being made redundant were facing the possibility of real hardship.I don’t believe that United can make 450 people redundant without it having any impact on the players. Cut away too much ‘fat’ and you can end up losing your heart and soul.I thought long and hard about whether I should dig into my own pocket to help them out.Now, I’m a rarity in the modern game in that I stayed at one club for ten years and really got to know many of the staff at Watford.Many players who are just passing through won’t be so bothered because they don’t have those ­personal relationships with staff.And in a workforce of over a ­thousand, there will be people who are expendable.Footballers can be a selfish breed. In some ways, it is part of the ­mindset needed to be a successful professional sportsman.But I don’t believe that United can make 450 people redundant without it having any impact on the players.Cut away too much ‘fat’ and you can end up losing your heart and soul. More

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      All this week’s transfer exclusives from SunSport’s man in the know with England pair set to switch Premier League clubs

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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…Taylor Harwood-Bellis looks set to move on from Southampton in the summerCredit: AlamySAINT EASY SOUTHAMPTON pair Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Aaron Ramsdale are in line for Premier League rescue moves.England cap Harwood-Bellis is fancied by West Ham and could escape from the drop at the end of this season as Saints head back to the Championship.The centre-half, 23, has just changed agent and will be up for a move after signing from Manchester City last year.Classy Harwood-Bellis would cost about £15million and the Hammers are in the market for new faces at the back. Three Lions keeper Ramsdale, 26,  is another who should beat Saints’  slide into the second tier – with his former club Bournemouth on alert.Rambo impressed at Cherries and Sheffield United before his surprise move to Arsenal in 2021.He jumped at a switch to Saints to play but will not fancy the Championship.Bournemouth have goalkeeper Kepa, 30, on loan from Chelsea but should be in the market for a new No 1 and Ramsdale still has fans within the club.ANFIELD ROADLewis Koumas is being eyed by Crystal Palace for a summer swoopCredit: AlamyLIVERPOOL babe Lewis Koumas has joined fellow Red Ben Doak on  Crystal Palace’s wanted list.The Eagles are looking at a handful of new faces in a busy summer and Welsh international Koumas, 19, is on their radar.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSKoumas, currently impressing on loan at Stoke, could be ready for the step up to the Premier League next season.Palace are already jostling with Bournemouth for Scottish winger Doak, also 19, and considering a big offer for him.But Koumas could also be brought in after catching the eye in the second tier. Aaron Ramsdale COMPLETES £25m Southampton transfer as England goalkeeper’s Arsenal career comes to an endNEY BOTHERWATFORD head the race to sign young Colombian strike sensation Neyser Villarreal.The Hornets hope to agree a £5million deal with the 19-year-old’s club Millionarios.Villarreal shone for his country in the recent Under- 20 championship in South America, scoring a hat-trick against Paraguay.Watford want to move quickly as Palmeiras are also tracking him.MARC’D MANMarcus Edwards is a summer target for Sunderland – if they reach the PremCredit: ReutersSUNDERLAND are watching how Marcus Edwards does at Burnley – in case they have a second stab at signing him.The winger, 26, joined the Clarets on loan from Sporting Lisbon in the January window but they only just beat the Black Cats to his signature.But if Sunderland make the Premier League and Burnley fail, they will be back in again.WHICH Championship manager is fuming with his director of football after hearing he had been bidding for players the boss knew nothing about?The experienced coach was stunned to discover some of the targets the club had in the last window.Most were ones he had never been consulted on and fortunately did not sign — but the damage is done between the manager and transfer guru.IN DEMANDInigo Perez is being eyed by Premier League clubsCredit: GettyINIGO PEREZ, the talk of Spain, is ready to come to England at the second attempt.The Rayo Vallecano coach, 37, has been superb this season — and Prem clubs are watching.Perez missed out on a move to Bournemouth because of post-Brexit rules which stopped him from joining boss Andoni Iraola.Now he is a coach in his own right and would qualify.HARD PRESTTHE FA will face a chunky bill for fitting new VAR cameras at Preston’s fifth-round tie against Burnley on Saturday.North End – bossed by Paul Heckingbottom – have never used the system so the FA must find a way of installing all of the tech needed.ROVERS RETURNBLACKBURN are after a new gaffer  — but their pay deal is putting many off.Rovers are offering about £600,000-per-year plus bonuses but it is not attracting targets like Steve Cooper and Gary O’Neil.There is a potential promotion jackpot too but the deal is not attractive to some, even if they are out of work.Meanwhile, Blackburn technical director Adam Owen, 44,  has been taking a bigger part in team affairs behind the scenes.Owen will work closely with the next coach and that boosts interim David Lowe’s chances of staying in charge. More

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      Harry Redknapp: I would choose to boss this Spurs side over Man Utd EVERY time – and I’d make young starlet my captain

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      WHEREVER that old saying about the darkest nights making the brightest stars comes from, it certainly isn’t Tottenham.But if you had to pin it to a Premier League club, it’d be Ange Postecoglou’s side every day of the week.I would much rather manage this Tottenham squad over Man UtdCredit: Darren FletcherAnge Postecoglou has so many stars in his squad but is being let down by injuriesCredit: GettyRuben Amorim is the right man to turn around Man Utd but it will take years to get the right playersCredit: GettyAnge would probably be glad of it, to be honest, as there’s been little else to light up the place this season.Last summer, the thought that today’s game against Manchester United would be a meeting of two mid-table teams was unbelievable. But that’s exactly what it is.I do think Ruben Amorim is the right man to turn United around but there is so much work that it will take years.If I had the choice of who I’d like to manage, it is Spurs every time as Postecoglou has so many stars in his squad.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut it doesn’t count for much when they’re in the treatment room rather than the dressing room — and loads are.At times Postecoglou has been without a whole team of injured players, which is where that stuff about dark nights and bright stars comes in.And with so many key men missing, Ange has had to rely on some of his kids at a time he needs players AND leaders.But in Archie Gray he has a young man who ticks both boxes despite only making his full Premier League debut in December. And if everyone was available he may still be waiting.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSGray’s dad Andy had a long playing career, his grandad Frank is a Leeds legend, and his uncle Eddie an all-time great.So although he’s only 18, Archie has had more experience of football life than many senior players before he joined Spurs from Leeds last year.Ruben Amorim admits he and Man Utd players ALL fighting for their jobs between now and the end of the seasonAnd while all the lads who’ve been thrown in have done well, Gray has been an absolute diamond — and I have to say it doesn’t surprise me.Everything I’ve seen about him has been positive from day one, wherever he’s played, which is three different defensive positions and midfield already.The way the teenager strolls around at the back reminds me of Franz Beckenbauer or Alan Hansen, which is some comparison.I’m not saying he will ever be that good, of course, as not many got within a mile of those two legends.Last summer, the thought that today’s game against Manchester United would be a meeting of two mid-table teams was unbelievable. But that’s exactly what it is.But there is a real style and elegance in everything he does.There was a moment at Aston Villa last week when Marcus Rashford tried to run at him one-on-one, but Archie got his body across, won the ball and shut down the danger. It was class.From what I hear, he is a good talker too, despite being so young. He’s confident, says the right things, and is not afraid to put his message across in the dressing room.So you can forget his age as he is already a natural leader — and Ange certainly needs one with his team in this position.I would make Archie Gray the club captainCredit: RexCloser to the bottom three than the top six in the Prem — like United — out of both domestic cups and just the Europa League left with just over three months of the campaign to go.Spurs may have a team with no inspiring voice on the pitch but at least Amorim has a couple in Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.Even with a fully fit squad, Ange has no obvious choice for the armband. As much as I love Son, who has it now, he’s never struck me as a captain.In my book Ange should be brave and give Archie the armband now as he won’t be handing it back for a decade if he does.There’s more to it than just calling heads or tails, believe me. As a manager, the skipper is someone you can rely on.You will pick his brains, he will be the link with the rest of the team and almost your right arm in many ways. So it is a vital role.READ MORE SUN STORIESI have said for ages that Gray is a captain of the future — and maybe even an England one — but up to the job at Tottenham already.In my book Ange should be brave and give Archie the armband now as he won’t be handing it back for a decade if he does. More

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      Troy Deeney: Arsenal will NOT sign Alexander Isak – Mikel Arteta is too frightened of having a genuine maverick No9

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      TEN days ago, I watched Arsenal get knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United at St James’ Park.During that semi-final second leg, I spotted Eddie Howe and his assistant Jason Tindall screaming at their centre-forward Alexander Isak to sprint back and help his team defend.Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side are severely lacking attacking threatCredit: EPAAlexander Isak showed the Gunners his goalscoring instinct in the recent Carabao Cup semi-finalCredit: GettyThe Gunners are without a recognised No. 9, with Gabriel Jesus (pictured) among those out injuredCredit: GettyIt must have happened five times and, on each occasion, Isak smiled at them and carried on jogging.Howe and Tindall weren’t happy but they know that Isak is a proper goal-scorer and a match-winner.It seems to me that the man in the opposing dug-out that night, Mikel Arteta, is frightened of signing a genuine No 9 like Isak.True centre-forwards always have that element of selfishness, of single-mindedness.They are often mavericks, they can often be disruptive, they usually have minds of their own and they live for scoring goals.Arsene Wenger almost always had a world-class finisher, from Ian Wright to Nicolas Anelka to Thierry Henry to Robin Van Persie, right up to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in his final season.But I believe Arteta is so wrapped up in his team ethos that he shies away from signing such players.Fans paint murals of Arsenal’s set-piece coach when I’m sure they’d much rather be splashing the Dulux in homage to a world-class number nine.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe policy of not signing a genuine centre forward backfired spectacularly after Kai Havertz suffered a season-ending injury on the club’s mid-season break to Dubai.I know there was a £60million bid for Ollie Watkins in January but for me that just felt like a PR stunt. Watkins was never going to leave Aston Villa in mid-season.Newcastle’s Alexander Isak talks to Alan Shearer about Champions League desires Arsenal will be without Kai Havertz for the remainder of the seasonCredit: PABut it meant Arsenal could tell their fans ‘at least we tried’. It didn’t feel as if the club tried too hard.When Ivan Toney was available last summer, Arsenal didn’t do the deal because of finances – but it was a false economy. Victor Osimhen was on the market too but Arteta didn’t go for him.Back-up striker Eddie Nketiah was sold to Crystal Palace and no replacement was bought.Arsenal have been transformed and greatly improved during five years under Arteta – but while they have spent big in defence and midfield, they have not invested anywhere near as much in their front line.The summer was the time to strike. In the January window you are always going to be struggling – especially when other clubs know you are desperate.Gabriel Jesus, Arteta’s other option at centre-forward, had already been ruled out for the season so the idea of a serious injury to Havertz was always the nightmare scenario.Fans paint murals of Arsenal’s set-piece coach when I’m sure they’d much rather be splashing the Dulux in homage to a world-class number nine.Neither Jesus nor Havertz is an out-and-out centre-forward but the German has done a really decent job there.People are going to realise how effective he is in both boxes – and as an attacking focal point – now that he is on the sidelines.Without Havertz, Arteta is now into ‘false nine’ territory – with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli also out, his only attacking options are Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri.Those might be enough to beat Leicester handsomely today but they are not going to allow the perfect 14-match run-in Arsenal will need to have any chance of hunting down Liverpool – which would have to include a win at Anfield.As an old-school nine, I’m sceptical about the idea of false nines.The only two clubs who have been consistently successful playing such a system were Barcelona, with Lionel Messi, and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, between Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland.Those were two of the greatest teams in history.To play that way, you have to pass teams to death, grind them down. Only the very best are good enough to do that.ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Saliba will be having nightmares about Isak as Lewis-Skelly is only Gunners star to show upARSENAL were humbled by Newcastle at St James’ Park as the Magpies beat them 2-0 to secure a spot in the League Cup final.The North Londoners knew they needed to take an early advantage if they were to overturn the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates.But Jacob Murphy was on hand to put the Magpies a goal ahead after Alexander Isak’s shot rebounded off of the post and out to him.Shortly after the break, Anthony Gordon doubled the lead to all but confirm a second League Cup final in three years for Eddie Howe.Here’s how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the Gunners.David Raya – 5Stitched Declan Rice right up for the second goal.And that absolutely killed this as a contest for his side.Jurrien Timber – 6Tried to get forward and support the attack early but soon found himself dropping deeper to avoid being caught on the counter.Tough night for the Dutchman up against Gordon in front of the red-hot home crowd.William Saliba – 4Let frustration get the better of him when he got himself booked for grabbing Anthony Gordon’s shirt.And the winger almost embarrassed him again at the start of the second period when he caught the defender sleeping, nicked the ball from him, but could only shoot wide.The usually assured star will be having nightmares of Gordon and Isak.Gabriel Magalhaes – 6Another who struggled to contain Toon’s two pacey attacking threats but did fair slightly better than his usually formidable partner.Myles Lewis-Skelly – 7Another assured performance from the full-back in a raucous atmosphere.Could not be faulted for any of the goals and showed flashes off his potential despite the humbling.Martin Odegaard – 6Everything Arsenal did try came through the skipper.Although he loses a mark as things could have been a very different story if he had finished his first half effort had hit the inside rather than outside of the post.Thomas Partey – 6Plenty of running about but very little to show or product for his efforts.Declan Rice – 6Looked to take a knock late in the first half and continued to struggle on after the restart.Was hung out to dry by his goalie for the second goal and he did keep pushing until the very end.But it was a disappointing night for the England star and his partner Partey as they came up short against Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes.Gabriel Martinelli – 5Struggled to get past big Dan Burn during his brief time on the pitch.And his night was brought to an abrupt end when he limped off before the break.Kai Havertz – 4Outmuscled, outbattled and outthought but Svan Botman and Fabian Schar.Produced zilch on an evening when he and his team-mates lacked creativity and ideas.Leandro Trossard – 5Many will have been fancying him to cause some problems for the 34-year-old Kieran Trippier but the veteran had him in his pocket all night.Arteta had seen enough by the hour mark and opted to let Raheem Sterling have a go instead.Subs usedEthan Nwaneri (37 mins for Martinelli) – 6Desperately tried to inject some pace and threat into the faltering Arsenal attack but the task proved too much for the young Gunn.He should have plenty more big occasions to look forward to though in his career.Mikel Merino (70 mins for Odegaard) – 5The game was already done and dusted when he entered the fray for battle.Some nice touches, but like those before him, he couldn’t produce anything for the visitors.Raheem Sterling (61 mins for Trossard) – 4Got half an hour to try and get at Trippier but, just like Trossard before him, he was not given an ounce of joy.Riccardo Calafiori (78 mins for Timber) – 4Was brought on simply to get some minutes in his legs.Jorginho (78 mins for Partey) – 4See above. Little chance to make an impact with the game well and truly over.In the last two seasons, Arsenal could argue that City were a truly great team, more experienced and more expensive than them.But when they miss out on the title again, this one is all on Arsenal – and their failure to sign a goalscorer.Liverpool have only signed one player in the last year and they have overtaken Arteta’s team.City have fallen off a cliff and Arsenal haven’t been able to capitalise.I know there was a £60million bid for Ollie Watkins in January but for me that just felt like a PR stunt. Watkins was never going to leave Aston Villa in mid-season.The Gunners don’t have a single player with ten league goals to his name this season – while Chris Wood, a veteran who has been around the block, has 17 for Nottingham Forest.The other day, I was talking to a proven Premier League goalscorer, a centre-forward who is likely to be on the move this summer.I told him that Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and perhaps Tottenham could all be options – because there aren’t many good young centre-forwards around.This player could easily have done a job for Arsenal for the next few months had they come in for him.Kai Havertz ruled out for rest of SEASON with torn hamstring in devastating blow to Arsenal’s title dreamsNow Arsenal will be relying even more on set-pieces, meaning opposing teams will be extra determined not to concede corners against them.Yet without Havertz Arsenal lack one of their prime targets from set-pieces too.It seems crazy to me that they have allowed themselves to get into this situation.Maybe it’s arrogance, maybe it’s tactical pigheadedness.But for me it’s more a case of a manager too afraid to sign a striker with a one-track mind.Tifo madnessWHAT on Earth were Manchester City thinking of with that giant banner and those posters of Rodri with the Ballon d’Or before their Champions League clash with Real Madrid?Real boycotted the awards ceremony, believing their man Vinicius Junior should have won the prize rather than Rodri.If that was a bit childish, then City’s response before a match against the 15-time European champions was sillier still.Why would you want to go out of your way to wind up Vinicius and his team-mates?City’s tifo against Real Madrid massively backfiredCredit: ReutersCity are in no position right now to be taking the p*** out of the greatest club in the world.I’m sure City’s own players wouldn’t have appreciated it.The closest thing I can remember from my career was whenWatford’s mascot Harry the Hornet dived to ridicule Wilf Zaha during a match against Crystal Palace.And I think the bloke inside the big wasp’s costume got sacked for that! 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      in Boxing

      Daredevil Chisora keeps putting his life in danger.. a fight vs Anthony Joshua or Dubois must NEVER be allowed to happen

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      DEREK CHISORA thoroughly deserved his standing ovation after his outstanding victory over Otto Wallin in Manchester last Saturday.The thousands who packed the Co-op Arena were every bit as emotional as Del Boy after seeing him twice bludgeon the Swede to the canvas on his way to becoming the mandatory challenger for Daniel Dubois’ IBF world heavyweight title.Derek Chisora gave Otto Wallin a battering – but he should hang up his gloves nowCredit: ReutersThe 41-year-old has nothing left to prove after another warrior performanceCredit: GettyChisora soaked up the adulation as blood gushed from his badly cut eyes before his war wounds were eventually stitched.It was certainly an incredible performance for a man who has had a brutal 18-year, 49-fight career that has seen him win British, Commonwealth and European titles and twice fight for the world championship.But I’m afraid I can’t join in the general Chisora cheerleading party.There’s no getting away from the undeniable fact that after slugging it out over 12 rounds, at the final bell the battle-scarred Chisora looked every one of his 41 years.There’s no doubt Derek will be encouraged to take on Dubois or even Anthony Joshua as a 50th fight finale – either at a London stadium or in Riyadh.I will be accused of being a party-pooper, but that is a fight I would hate to happen.Two years ago, after Chisora took a terrible beating from Tyson Fury’s educated fists at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground, this column implored him to retire.I was in excellent company because so did his promoter Frank Warren.They may not be prepared to admit it publicly, but most boxing people – fighters, trainers and managers – know Chisora should have hung up his gloves a long time ago.But Chisora is a one-off law unto himself and he has no intention of taking advice from anyone – however good it is.There is no doubt he has become a cult figure with the fans – in fact his thousands of followers are boxing’s equivalent of cricket’s Barmy Army.Derek Chisora opens up on retirement and says people ‘don’t care’ about him in ‘scumbag’ sport of boxingDel Boy was left bloodied and bruised after his bout with WallinCredit: ReutersChisora asked fans if he should fight Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk next – but the answer should be NONE of themCredit: GettyThey sing his name as soon as he climbs through the ropes and never stop.That’s because he gives them what they want to see – blood and guts. That’s all very well but it’s his blood and his guts he’s spilling – not theirs.I just wish I could understand Del Boy’s intransigent addiction to fame and pain.Chisora is a one-off law unto himself and he has no intention of taking advice from anyone – however good it isHe dotes on his two daughters and has given his family wealth and stability, having earned his fortune the hardest way possible.Yet this immensely brave and eccentric man continues to put his life in danger every time he goes to work when he has no need to.Maybe it takes a fellow fighter to fully understand Chisora’s mentality.A needless showdown against Anthony Joshua (left) or Daniel Dubois (right) could prove a step too farCredit: GettyJoe Calzaghe, one of Britain’s greatest world champions who retired with a perfect 46-0 record, perhaps has the answer.Calzaghe in a Foreword to Gareth A. Davies’ recently published and highly entertaining and informative book A Call of the Warrior, wrote: “Many people feel the call of the warrior.”And some of us find ourselves dedicating our lives to fighting in the ring. “It is a calling although we are not always able to fathom where it comes from.”But it’s there. To ignore the call of the warrior is to go against ourselves, to deny a deeply fundamental part of what makes us all human.”Whatever Chisora’s wishes, it must NEVER be allowed to happenSurely there can be no better way for Chisora to have taken his final bow than the adrenaline high and love he experienced as he walked back to his dressing room last weekend.The thought of him tangling with a young, fearsome punching tyro like Dubois – it has already been mentioned – sends shivers of fear up and down my spine. Whatever Chisora’s wishes, it must never be allowed to happen.Surely Del Boy wouldn’t risk going out being beaten up and counted out? But then, you can never legislate for Chisora. More

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      in Soccer

      Ancelotti has been sacked more than Mourinho but never loses his cool unlike rivals… he’s the greatest of them all

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      HOW can somebody so good have been sacked so often?Ice-cool Carlo Ancelotti has ­suffered a manager’s ultimate fate more times than fireball Jose Mourinho.Carlo Ancelotti is one of the greatest managers of all timeCredit: ReutersThe Italian has been sacked more than any other managerCredit: AFPBut ice-cool Ancelotti always keeps his coolCredit: RexHe has won trophies all across his glittering careerCredit: GettyThe Italian leads six to five, give or take the odd ‘mutual consent’ — which of course can mean whatever you want it to.Yet there is not a silver-fox hair out of place, the dashing blue ­overcoat fits like a glove and even at 65, he puts many of his younger peers to shame with his elegance and eloquence.That was on crystal clear display as Real Madrid dismantled Manchester City’s Champions League aspirations on their own turf three days ago.Coming from behind to beat the pride of English football with a last-gasp winner against the team Ancelotti describes as his own ‘great rivals’ — yet not even a twitch in the pulse rate in the Spanish technical area.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThat unique characteristic among coaches sets Ancelotti apart. No head scratching, no bottle kicking, no digital a**e probing. Precious few examples of super calm Carlo losing the plot with the officials or opponents.Which when you consider he has also managed Europe’s titans in Chelsea, Juventus, AC Milan and Bayern Munich, to stay in control takes some doing.Ancelotti has shared rooms with shadowy Russian oligarchs, endured penalty shootouts in Champions League finals and managed Everton — it’s debatable which is most scary.Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSYet while Pep Guardiola flicks phlegm through pursed lips by way of a nervous tick, spindly Thomas Tuchel leaps and gestures and Joachim Low reaches for his backside in stressful moments, Ancelotti is having none of it.And for that alone he should be considered the greatest of them all.Five Champions League titles does help. EXCLUSIVE: How ‘lovely’ Carlo Ancelotti stunned Chelsea TV worker with humble act after taking over at the BluesBut to reach such heights and still not break sweat dealing with the egos and the snipes at such  a high level in the game is the ultimate accolade.As he assembles the latest troupe of Galacticos at the Bernabeu with the expected summer addition of Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold,  that trait stands him in good stead.The nice guy nature has been his undoing but Ancelotti has learned from that. He managed Chelsea on a peer-to-peer level, treating his players as equals, hoping they would do the same.Some took advantage of that in his second season at Stamford Bridge. That contributed to him being sacked in the away dressing room at Everton in May 2011 — having won the Double the previous season.Yet despite the relentless pressure of working for ruthless Roman Abramovich, Ancelotti did not desert his humanity and never will.After trips back home to Italy, he would return bearing salamis made by a friend for one staff member’s son who was obsessed with Peperami sticks at the time.He fought hard behind the scenes for staff members who struggled to cope with life. And the guard never drops.Carlo Ancelotti managerial honoursJuventus – UEFA Intertoto CupAC Milan – Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Champions League x2, UEFA Super Cup x2, Club World CupChelsea – Premier League, FA Cup, Community ShieldPSG – Ligue 1Real Madrid – LaLiga x2, Copa del Rey x2, Supercopa de Espana x2, Champions League x3, UEFA Super Cup x3, Club World Cup x2, Intercontinnental Cup Bayern Munich – Bundesliga, DFL-SupercupDuring his short and surprising stint in charge of a troubled Everton team at the height of Covid, he secured an injury-time 5-4 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup fifth round. As the 97th-minute goal crashes in, Ancelotti stops to blow steam from the top of his piping hot cup of tea, then takes a sip while his coaching staff lose it around him.Everton fans with half a brain have accepted him walking out to rejoin Real Madrid where he is now furthering his already stellar reputation.Those with a fully functioning noddle are still shocked why he chose their underperforming, underwhelming club in the first place.When you deal at the top table you need to keep your cards close to your chest.And Ancelotti is smart enough to know never to say anything in a press conference that could be considered genuinely interesting.The arch-diplomat, he plays the game straight, takes his severance money and doesn’t burn bridges.Ancelotti’s only complaint about life in England was the poor standard of coffee. And he has a point. The washed-out Espresso being his main bone of contention.And it’s probably why he won’t ever come back to manage here again. Shame.Don’t sit ‘n take itTottenham fans need to rethink their protest strategyCredit: RexTOTTENHAM fans plotting a protest against club chairman Daniel Levy on Sunday should rethink their strategy.Planning a sit-in demo after the home game against Manchester United is the wrong way to go about things in this time of turmoil.With the team playing so badly and the whole matchday experience being one big letdown, why prolong the agony?Surely a walkout as soon as possible after kick-off would be far more appealing?That way the aggrieved supporters make their point and get to p*** off home early and do something far more enjoyable instead.It means sweet FAArne Slot didn’t care much for the FA Cup in realityCredit: PAAPPARENTLY Arne Slot will be kicking himself at Liverpool’s embarrassing exit from the FA Cup at the hands of second-tier Plymouth Argyle.Uh-huh.Sadly, with a Premier League title to chase down, genuine aspirations of winning the Champions League and a place in next month’s Carabao Cup Final in the bag, something has to give.Unfortunately, in this case, it’s our national cup competition.As exciting and unpredictable as the FA Cup is, I imagine it was fourth in line on Slot’s list of ­priorities — and he has probably forgotten where Plymouth is already.Vini kicks City in tifoVinicius Jr got his own back at Man City after their tifo displayCredit: GettyIT’S SAFE to assume that Manchester City gave the nod to the most tactless tifo in football with the giant banner poking fun at Vinicius  Jr and Real Madrid.In which case it’s going to be fun waiting to see whether the Spaniards hit back on Wednesday when they stage the second leg of their Champions League last-16 play-off.The poster featuring the Etihad midfielder Rodri kissing the Ballon d’Or trophy along with the caption ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ was successful only in winding up ungracious loser Vinicius Jr.Would love to know where it is now?PITY the poor sods who are working in the Manchester United public relations department.READ MORE SUN STORIESOn the very day Red Devils legend Denis Law was laid to rest on Tuesday, hard-pressed staff in the communications team were dealing with questions that between 100 and 200 club workers are to be axed in the latest round of redundancies.Not easy that.Man Utd PR has been nothing short of disastrous recentlyCredit: PA More

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      in Soccer

      Five reasons Man City have fallen away as title contenders – and why Pep Guardiola’s side can still win it

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      I’M STILL not willing to write off Manchester City from winning the Premier League title this year.And yet, on Tuesday night, Phil Foden claimed that top four is what they are aiming for this season.Troy Deeney isn’t writing off Pep Guardiola and Man City just yetCredit: GettyPhil Foden declared City were aiming for the top four after the 2-2 draw with BrentfordCredit: PAWhat the f*** are you on about?Where’s the confidence of reigning champions?If City had beaten Brentford, they would have been six points off Arsenal, who are being tipped as Liverpool’s greatest threat.And with 17 games left, there is only one team, one squad and one manager on the planet capable of putting together a near-perfect run worthy of winning a title and that’s Pep Guardiola and City.READ MORE ON MAN CITYWho in their right mind would bet against that when they’ve done it before?But, and there is a big but, we’re also in a situation where it has become a taboo to question the great man that is Pep, which in itself is really scary.He needs to be called out when he is in the wrong and he has got a lot of big decisions wrong this season — including on Tuesday in the 2-2 draw at the Gtech.City were 2-0 up and cruising. Are you telling me taking off Foden and bringing on James McAtee was the best tactical situation to see out that game?Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThat’s not a dig at McAtee but is he going to put his foot on the ball, run it into the corner or kick it into Row Z if needs be?Pep left the far more experienced Jeremy Doku and Jack Grealish on the bench.Pep Guardiola ‘SPLITS from wife after 30 years and three children together’ according to reports in SpainHis decision-making generally has been bizarre – why is Ederson not starting regularly? Isn’t he your No 1? Kevin De Bruyne wasn’t getting a kick and now he is starting most weeks.Why does it feel like there are more disgruntled players in the squad than ever before?Has Pep’s man-management changed with the underachievement so far this season?Why is Kyle Walker still at the club if he wants to leave?Normally, City get transfers done and dusted before you’ve even heard about it. Now, they’re dithering.Man City vs the Premier League: Q&ABy Martin LiptonBOTH Manchester City and the Premier League were claiming a win after their legal scrap over Associated Party Transactions.SunSport sifts the claims to try to explain the latest issues.What was the case about?City were furious that Prem bosses brought in new tougher regulations – by the smallest possible majority under League rules – in February. They were aimed at blocking clubs bypassing financial controls by earning “unfair” amounts via sponsorship from a company with the same owners, or selling players on the cheap to teams under the same ownership umbrella.Why were City so upset?The Etihad club argued that the rules were illegal and had been deliberately aimed at them by rivals and were both flawed and politically driven. They also branded the “two thirds support” rule that has been part of Prem regulations since its inception as a “tyranny of the majority”This was an Arbitration Tribunal – explain that?Under Prem rules, any club has the right to ask for Arbitration if they are unhappy about the regulations or due process. The three retired judges heard evidence in June and their full ruling was distributed to the 20 Prem clubs on Monday afternoon.And what did they say?Depending on who you listen to, they either totally vindicated one side or the other. The actual answer is that there were “wins” for both City and the Prem. But it’s your choice which ones meant more.OK, what were City’s wins?Maybe the most important one in terms of the repercussions. That both the new rules and the previous version – brought  in after Saudi Arabia’s PIF bought Newcastle in 2021 –  were “unlawful” as they exclude shareholder loans to clubs in any APT calculations.  City also won over their claims that the rulebook prevented them from responding to Prem decisions over whether two proposed deals with Abu Dhabi companies represented “Fair Market Value”, access to the “databank” of comparable deals and the time it took for decisions to be reached.That sounds pretty big. So what about the Prem’s side?The key finding as far as the League is concerned is that the Tribunal backed the concept of APT rules as well as the Fair Market Value tests. Additionally, City’s challenges to the actual decisions on the two proposed deals “failed”. Prem bosses insist the “rulebook has been found to comply with competition and public law standards and is an effective and necessary system”.Is that it, then?Of course not. That shareholder loan issue is a big deal, given that it is believed owners have loaned around £1.5bn at low or preferential rates across the Prem. Those loans will almost certainly have to be calculated at commercial rates now, unless the owners convert them into shares. But the League is convinced the main thrust of the rules remains valid.And what will be the impact on the “115 charges” case?Probably nothing. That is an allegation of breaking the rules, while this matter was City questioning whether one small element of the current rulebook was legitimate. But City are using the same legal team, headed by £10,000 per hour Lord Pannick KC. And the stakes on the bigger case are a great deal higher.Why didn’t they go big in the summer with signings? Because of the 130 financial rule breaches they have been charged with? Because the manager’s future was undecided before he signed a two-year deal in November?I get the feeling Pep is overthinking it, almost double bluffing himself and the club are following suit.As a result, City just aren’t as tough to beat or nick points off as they used to be and they no longer feel or look like an efficient machine away from the pitch.Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were dominant forces and then went off the boil – are we seeing this now with City and Pep?Maybe it is as simple as losing the best player on the planet in Rodri to a long-term injury, but I don’t buy that.City have nailed down Erling Haaland to an incredible long-term dealCredit: GettyBut it’s not just Pep. When you look at City as an organisation this season, it’s been sloppy.Signing up Erling Haaland until 2034 is great business but as a team and as a club, they have fallen asleep at the wheel.And because of that, we have heard more excuses coming from their camp in the last three or four months than the past five years.They have injuries but so does everybody. And look at that squad — world-class talent capable of beating most teams comfortably.There’s a lot of moaning. Maybe some of the players are not used to the fight because they usually win everything with ease.They’re not being accountable. They’re not stepping up.READ MORE SUN STORIESDon’t try and suggest they have an ‘ageing squad’ either. Last season, no one mentioned their ages because they have a terrific squad. This ‘ageing’ stuff is the biggest cop out.Yes, they have tough games coming up – Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, Spurs and Nottingham Forest by March 8 – but they’re brilliant chances to get back on track. More