This player is presumably trying to find out whether Little Carlos has a matching ginger Afro! [Rob Parker]

Rio Ferdinand has revealed he is to buy an iPod for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. And he’s going to fill it with his favourite hip-hop and garage tracks before giving the gift! Rio told a United fanzine that Fergie was "totally confused" by his musical tastes. He said: "He just says ‘What is [...]

With Henrik Larsson nearly ready to play for Manchester United, it’s worth remembering that he isn’t just an incredible goal-scorer… but a tough nut too. Larsson came back from a horrific leg break twice the player he was before… and had a better haircut. Watch and whince. [Mof Gimmers]

A takeover deal to secure the future of Cardiff City FC has been signed just minutes before deadline. There were fears that the club could have been put into administration if a deal was not done by noon on today (Friday) but director Steve Borley confirmed the agreement was struck at 11.45 this morning to [...]

Does exactly what it says on the tin! Believe it or not, the noise made by Laurent Robert is caused by Chris Perry’s tackle and he is not simultaneously shot by a sniper! [Rob Parker]

1 Pro Action FootballSubbuteo’s geeky younger brother, Pro Action Soccer, relied not on flicking but pushing as the players glided around the pitch like under-dressed Torvill and Deans (in theory at least). As well as sliding around the pitch on a ball bearing, you could also make the players pass the magnetic ball by smacking [...]

SaturdayFulham v West Ham (12.45pm) The Cottagers and the Hammers to remind Sky why this is an odd choice for the early kick-off. 0:0Arsenal v Blackburn (3pm) I can only see a comfortable home win in this one. 3:0Aston Villa v Manchester United (3pm) Expect to see Fergie’s spittle still dripping from his players as [...]

Paul Jewell has leapt salmon-like to the defence of Chelsea gaffer Jose Mourinho after he received a fair bit of criticism for ‘card-waving’ at Newcastle. The Portuguese has been criticised for attempting (allegedly) to influence officials, but Jewell, whose Wigan side face the Blues at the JJB Stadium tomorrow, is adamant there are bigger fish [...]

These days, it’s perfectly fine to wish for a white Christmas with all this undersoil heating and such. It wasn’t always like this though… didn’t stop the tough nuts of the Bolton side in 1954 when they took on non-league Headington in the FA Cup 4th Round. As it’s the week of giant killing, did [...]

http://www.4thegame.com/media/00/03/31/Ibrahima_Sonko_Reading_Profile_2005.jpg Reading’s Ibrahima Sonko says he is “scared” ahead of the clash at Chelsea after receiving numerous death threats after his collision with Oilers’ keeper Carlo Cudicini. The Italian was hurt in a collision with Sonko in October, the same game that also saw Petr Cech suffer head injuries and John Terry take up a position between the sticks…

Fantasy Friday returns from a week-long sabbatical spent Christmas shopping with David Beckham to find that the title race is really hotting up. And we’re not talking Manchester United and Chelsea! Just two points separates the top three in the Pies Fantasy Football League, which sets us up nicely for the fixture-packed festive season. Follow [...]

Everton striker Andy Johnson has accepted the apology of Jose Mourinho over accusations that he dived against Chelsea. The Blues boss – presumably informed by Mrs Mourinho that she would have the forthcoming fine/slander payout spent on her Christmas present – issued an apology over his comments. Mourinho strained himself to state: "Everton, his manager [...]

During his time at Glasgow Rangers up in Bonnie Scotland, Paul Gascoigne, already known as ‘troubled genius’ by this point, was followed by a film crew. We all know that former Spuds and Newcastle player  Gazza (or G8) likes a joke, so see what happens when he took the film crew back to his new [...]

All these football freestylers are very impressive indeed. However, few show how it could be used in a game of footy, which is what we all like best. Showboating is only great when there are people trying to kick lumps out of the skilled one. Well, this Billy Wingrove bloke seems to be able to [...]

Charlton chairman Richard Murray has given his backing to woeful manager Les Reed and said that the Addicks’ board will provide funds for new signings in January….

Sheffield United are hoping to tie up the craziest Yorkshire-Brazilian partnership since Roque Junior pulled on a Leeds United shirt. The Blades are set to start talks with Sao Paulo over a deal which would see the finest up and coming Brazilian youngsters join them for experience. Director Simon McCabe said: "They’re keen to have [...]

If anyone spots the heinous crime committed by Besiktas‘s Croatian goalkeeper Marijan Mrmic during this video, please let us know! [Rob Parker]

The BBC is offering its website users the chance to vote for their favourite terrace chant of 2006. The 10-strong shortlist is drawn from chants sent in to be used in the site’s Quotes of the Week feature. Click the link below to see all the candidates.

http://www.football.co.uk/shared/images/teams/bury.jpg Bury have been chucked out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their 3-1 second-round replay win over Chester City on 12 December. Chester, who are surely buzzing their tits off, have now been reinstated and will play Ipswich in the third round as well as receiving all the cash that comes with being in the second round…

Rodrigo Taddei, Roma’s midfielder, decided to get in on the showboating act when he came up against Olympiakos with his stupendous trick called “The Aurelio” named after…

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42155000/jpg/_42155420_lordstevens203.jpg Having just watched the exhaustive enquiry into bungs, the Premier League has targeted 17 transfers that need further investigation following Lord Stevens’ look into illegal payments in football. Lord Stevens was initially investigating a total of 362 transfers and has not given details of the 17 questionable deals…

Aston Villa, Newcastle and Middlesbrough battle it out for newly-appointed England spokesman Joey Barton [Mail]Blackburn want to sign former player David Dunn from Birmingham [Mirror] And, in a happy turn of events, Birmingham want to sell him [Planet Blues] Villa boss Martin O’Neill wants to sign Leicester City defender Richard Stearman, not to be confused [...]

Giant-killing Southend United face Tottenham tonight with a place in the Carling Cup semi-finals at stake. Having seen off Manchester United, the Shrimpers now face Martin Jol‘s side at White Hart Lane. The Championship’s bottom-club have their kit supplied by Nike. It’s a basic but sleek navy blue shirt with white trim. Sponsors Insure and [...]

This advert for German TV show Sportschau settles once and for all the debate about how football was invented. German Football League – video powered by Metacafe More classic football adverts:Umbro dog commercialCarlsberg World Cup drawRyan Giggs, Johnny Vegas and a monkey [Rob Parker]

Les Reed is under-pressure after only a month in charge of Charlton Athletic with some reports claiming defeat against Wycombe in the Carling Cup tonight would earn him the sack. But while he has struggled to turn the Addicks’ season around, imagine the impact the poor run of form has had on his email coaching [...]