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Weekend Football
07 December2007
by Jerrad Peters

JOSE Mourinho slipped into England, Friday, for a face-to-face meeting with the board of the Football Association. The ex-Chelsea boss was flown into Hampshire's Farnborough Airfield in order to avoid the inevitable media storm which would have been generated by an arrival at Heathrow or Gatwick. Nevertheless, word of Mourinho's return spread quickly; and rumors of an impending agreement with the FA continue to swirl. Chief executive Brian Barwick is believed to have already offered a salary package worth approximately 6M-pounds per-year to the 44-year-old. But Mourinho's appointment, if it happens, will hardly come through acclimation. Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking, today, voiced a preference for hiring an English manager. The 59-year-old is actively touting West Ham's Alan Curbishley for the position -- although neither Curbishley nor any other English manager was named to the FA's shortlist. Mourinho's presence on the document is no surprise. Neither, for that matter, are the names of Fabio Capello and Jurgen Klinsmann. But the listings of Marcello Lippi and Martin O'Neill were unexpected. Lippi has seemingly faded to the background since winning the World Cup with Italy in 2006. O'Neill, meanwhile, already ruled himself out of the running immediately following the departure of Steve McClaren last month.

Manchester City will be bolstering their squad when the transfer window opens in January. With 30-points from 15-matches, manager Sven-Goran Eriksson's side are joint-fourth in the Premier League and have a legitimate shot at a European berth down the stretch. Still, Eriksson and owner Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra aren't about to take any chances. City have been grinding results without a top-flight goalscorer; and the club has already been linked with out-of-favor Inter Milan forward Adriano. In comments to reporters yesterday, Shinawatra stated that "Adriano was a top player; but he lost his form when his father died. And he put on weight. Now he's returning to form." It is believed that Eriksson will offer cash and flop signing Rolando Bianchi in return for the 25-year-old Brazilian ace. Shinawatra also speculated about the arrival of a new midfielder and winger. Liverpool's Javier Mascherano may be on the move after Christmas. Manager Rafael Benitez has been unable to secure the required 17M-pounds in order to finalize last January's switch from West Ham and newcomer Lucas has already impressed in the position. Liverpool's Peter Crouch will be targeted if the deal for Adriano falls through.

Chelsea are of the mind that they have agreed a 15M-pound deal with Bolton Wanderers for Nicolas Anelka. The 28-year-old Frenchman reiterated his desire to join a big club, last week, and was immediately contacted by Stamford Bridge. Chelsea will be even more desperate to bolster their striking corps after learning that Didier Drogba will miss up to five weeks with a knee injury and an additional three weeks due to African Nations' Cup duty with Cote d'Ivoire. Complicating matters is the uncertainty surrounding the future of Andriy Shevchenko. While manager Avram Grant would prefer the veteran Ukraine international to step in for Shevchenko and regain his form, the 31-year-old is mulling a move to Major League Soccer. New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution have already been linked to him.

Tottenham Hotspur advanced into the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup, yesterday. Dimitar Berbatov's second-half equalizer rescued the London side; but the good result was dampened, somewhat, by a rain of metal from the rafters of Brussels' Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. Spurs' stand-in centre half Didier Zokora required treatment after being struck by a coin; and cameras caught goalkeeper Paul Robinson handing a steel rod to the fourth official. "This is bad for the players and those who work in football," stated Spurs manager Juande Ramos after the final whistle. Zokora took a somewhat lighter approach. "I played for four years in Belgium," commented the Cote d'Ivoire international, "and they hate me!" Defender Michael Dawson was also hit with flying debris. He remarked, "Myself and Pascal Chimbonda went in to make a block challenge and then a few things were thrown. Luckily enough they didn't hit me."

Bolton Wanderers supporters had an equally perious adventure in Serbia for their side's UEFA Cup encounter with Red Star Belgrade. Approximately 100 of the visitors were detained at the Hotel National in the capital in the run-up to the contest. Local police feared a repeat of the previous Sunday's violence which saw a gang of volatile Red Star fans attack a plainclothes police officer with burning flares. One of the mobsters has been charged with attempted murder. Additionally, the club's general secretary, Zoran Damjanovic, was arrested on Friday morning as part of the investigation into the disturbances.