liverpool 1 reading 2- long goodbye - shanes winner has rafa reeling

shane long's first goal since april condemned rafa benitez to yet more humiliation in a season that has already been full of it. benitez gambled by taking off skipper steven gerrard at half-time with his side 1-0 up at anfield, only to see long win the last-gasp penalty that gylfi sigurdsson converted to take this fa cup third-round replay into extra time. long then added the winner 10 minutes into the added half-hour.

stoke city throw portsmouth keeper david james world cup lifeline

... pointing the way: portsmouth stopper david james wants to go on loan to stoke that would mean a commitment in the region of another £2million for a football club that seems to be heading for administration after failing to pay its players on time for the last three months

futurists predict fewer butchers, more space pilots – and spare legs for top football stars

forget the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker: in 20 years some of the most popular jobs could include vertical farmer, space pilot and body part maker, according to a government commissioned report.shape of jobs to come predicts advances in science and technology, coupled with the expected onset of climate change, could make for career paths that are virtually unrecognisable today.

southend slam 'confetti' effect of hmrc winding-up petitions

... "hmrc appear to be sending out winding-up petitions against football clubs like confetti," martin said ... " hmrc has indeed become more aggressive in its dealings with debtors after it lost its protected creditor's status, meaning that once football debts have been settled in full in insolvency cases, the taxman must wait in a queue alongside all other creditors ... the presence of lord triesman's predecessor as football association chairman is a strong sign of a thaw in what has been a frosty relationship ... with thompson present, the board resolved to cancel plans to hold a reception for confederation of african football delegates in angola, an event that would have been inappropriate given the recent tragedy at the africa cup of nations

rafael benítez under pressure as reading stun liverpool in fa cup

rafael benítez was under renewed pressure as liverpool manager last night after the club's torrid season reached a new nadir with an fa cup third-round exit following a 2-1 loss to managerless reading.a campaign that has witnessed a champions league group exit, defeat in the carling cup fourth-round and no premier league title challenge produced further misery for benítez as shane long's extra-time header condemned liverpool to a humiliating upset and an fa cup departure at the first hurdle.

arsène wenger turns to sol campbell for to restore arsenal invincibles' touch

... "there is a football decision and there is the psychological impact of a player of that stature coming in," wenger said at the time

brian laws pleads his case as burnley spring a surprise

... shown the door by the championship strugglers sheffield wednesday last month, the 48-year-old has never managed at the top level and is perhaps best known for hurling a plate of chicken wings at one of his former grimsby town players, ivano bonetti, fracturing the italian's cheekbone and leading to laws being charged with misconduct by the football association ... "barry kilby, the burnley chairman, certainly believes laws is the man to not only keep the team – currently hovering two points above the relegation zone – in the top division, but also to ensure they do so playing the brand of sweet, passing football established by coyle ... while he secured two promotions with the former, burnley's board were "very impressed" by his ability to not only keep wednesday in the championship but preside over some admirably "pure" football despite working with one of the smallest budgets in that division ... such words were underpinned by a deloitte study showing laws's results/budget ratios to have been one of the best in the football league between 2006-09 ... "the players are disappointed owen has left but i like my teams to get the ball down and play good football so nothing will change in that regard

david james set for surprise switch to stoke city

... with the club eager to avoid that situation, the goalkeeper is keen to secure a move that would guarantee first-team football as he tries to win a place in england's squad for the world cup in south africa

manchester united bond issue faces stiff competition for investor cash

... while the banks behind the issuance are believed to be confident, the counter view is that the inherent risk in investing in a football club might count against it

roberto mancini uncorks the red wine to shake up manchester city diet

... "here it is about football and gossip, and not referees, dodgy goals and suspicions," he said ... that is the fascination of english football – the spirit