Did John Carew “lap-it-up” before Ajax came to town?

Comment & analysis round-up

Quote of the day: “Money is killing the spirit of the game. I don’t want to mention a name here, but good players are made to be in a great team. And most of the players are not in a bad team, but they are not in their right place or position. Money is killing football because some people are making the decision because of money. If I made my decision because of money, I would not be at Arsenal. I would have been in Milan or Barcelona. You know how I could be earning a lot more money than I am earning here. I made my decision because I love playing for Arsenal and don’t regret anything.” - Emmanuel Adebayor.

Runner-up: “When I was a player at Spurs there was a base of home-grown people there. What the club stands for now is increasingly difficult to see. Everyone seems to be just passing through. Tottenham is not the same club I knew. It’s Hollywood. It’s not real. We were not passing through. I did 19 years at Spurs. We had a depth of feeling about the place. We had our cobblers kicked by the supporters when we did badly, we were lifted on their shoulders when we did well.” - Steve Perryman.

Today’s overview: The Saturday’s open with a classic sleaze rumour, with reports that John Carew is in hot water with Martin O’Neill for apparently partying till late on the eve of Villa’s UEFA Cup match with Ajax.

As reported by the Guardian’s Stuart James, “if the allegations are proved he is likely to be fined two weeks’ wages, which equates to about £100,000.” Peter Lansley adds that “the Norway striker, who has had blood tests after complaining of fatigue, was allegedly spotted with a female companion in The Rocket Club, an ‘exclusive gentleman’s club’ in the centre of Birmingham, in the early hours of the morning of the game.”

Emily Benammar links Kuwaiti billionaire Masser Al-Kharafi with the takeover of Newcastle claiming that “talks with the 48th richest man in the world have been ongoing this week, and sources close to the businessman believe a firm offer will be made to Mike Ashley.”

Several columnists look ahead to Chelsea-Liverpool tomorrow. Ian Herbert questions Liverpool’s title ambitions noting “Liverpool are not on an inevitable straight trajectory to their first title since 1990,” while Terry Venables (The Sun) hypes-up Rafa’s “moment of truth” arguing that “should Chelsea take the lead, not only can you write off Liverpool’s chances of getting a result. You can write them off for the title as well.” Focusing on the Blues, Jonathan Wilson (FT) highlights the importance of John Obi Mikel to the Chelsea side.

Arsenal also receive attention in the Saturdays. Arsenal fans are criticised by the Mirror’s John Cross for being too silent, leaving James Lawton to deliver some choice words for unhappy Gunner supporters - “Imagine supporting Spurs.” Lastly Tony Cascarino boldly charges Arsene Wenger as being more super-agent than manager.

Some find themselves trying to understand why Iain Dowie got the boot from QPR yesterday. David Hytner revealed that “Briatore is understood to have suggested yesterday that Dowie ought to start certain players in today’s game at Reading. A disagreement ensued and the club statement announcing the termination of Dowie’s contract with ‘immediate effect’ swiftly followed.” Paul Jiggins added that “QPR are a club at war. Yesterday, Dowie became its first casualty — but there will be more.”

There are several interviews to devour. Henry Winter interviewed three Dutch masters - Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp and Robin Van Persie - to discuss the art of football. With Louis Saha set to line-up against his former employers today, Daniel Taylor speaks to the Everton forward. George Caulkin sat down with Steed Malbranque to discuss life at the Black Cats, while the Independent’s Saturday interview has Wes Brown talking with Ian Herbert.

Lastly, Victoria Beckham has reportedly been offered £10 million to host a documentary about her David’s move to AC Milan, as reported by Charlotte Bailey, and Scott Murray delivers “The Joy of Six: great sporting TV programmes.”

As reported by the Guardian’s Stuart James, John Carew is in hot water with Martin O’Neill for apparently partying till late on the eve of Villa’s UEFA Cup match with Ajax. “It is alleged the Norway international was in the nightclub until the early hours and, if so, is guilty of breaking Villa’s pre-match curfew. If the allegations are proved he is likely to be fined two weeks’ wages, which equates to about £100,000. Although O’Neill omitted Carew from the squad that faced Ajax, the Villa manager was not aware of the allegations that he had visited The Rocket Club in Birmingham’s Broad Street and was instead responding to the forward’s claims earlier in the week that he was suffering from fatigue since returning from international duty. Carew, however, did not learn that he would be rested for the Ajax match, which Villa won 2-1, until the day of the game, meaning that he breached club rules by going out in the city.”

The Times’ Peter Lansley offers more details into John Carew’s alleged partying. “The Norway striker, who has had blood tests after complaining of fatigue, was allegedly spotted with a female companion in The Rocket Club, an “exclusive gentleman’s club” in the centre of Birmingham, in the early hours of the morning of the game. The blood tests were negative but it is believed that O’Neill had still to confirm his team when the striker chose to go out. There is no suggestion that Carew was drinking alcohol although he did arrive from Lyons last year with a reputation as an active socialiser.”

The Telegraph’s Emily Benammar links Kuwaiti billionaire Masser Al-Kharafi with the takeover of Newcastle. “Talks with the 48th richest man in the world have been ongoing this week, and sources close to the businessman believe a firm offer will be made to Mike Ashley. Though a spokesman has claimed “nothing serious” is going on, Al-Kharafi was named one of the seven groups interested in the club a few weeks ago. Should the deal go through it will be channelled through an Abu Dhabi company, but Al-Kharafi will be the man behind it.”

The Independent’s Ian Herbert questions Liverpool’s title ambitions. “Liverpool have honed the knack – against the two Manchester sides and Wigan – of coming from behind to win. That is a sign of a team with title pretensions, you might conclude. Or one of a defensively fragile side who shouldn’t have gone behind in the first place. The truth, as always in football, lies somewhere in the middle. Liverpool are not on an inevitable straight trajectory to their first title since 1990 – as anyone who saw them play in Liège or Sunderland will vouch – but there is no doubt that their winning habit is an infectious one. It engenders the kind of spirit needed in a side who have won only once at Chelsea since their title winning days ended 18 years ago and who are facing that ever-lengthening unbeaten home record of Chelsea’s. (Four years and 86 matches for those who’d lost count.)”

Keeping with Liverpool, Terry Venables (The Sun) hypes-up Rafa’s “moment of truth” on Sunday at Chelsea. “If Liverpool are to be rated true title contenders, tomorrow is their moment of truth… it does not get any tougher than Chelsea away. This is where we will find out what Liverpool are really made of. I will be surprised if they win. Yet a draw would be enough to let them believe they really have closed the gap. But one word of warning. Much is being made of Liverpool’s ability to go a goal down but still fight back and emerge winners. If they think they can do that tomorrow, though, forget it. Should Chelsea take the lead, not only can you write off Liverpool’s chances of getting a result. You can write them off for the title as well.”

Focusing on the Blues, Jonathan Wilson (FT) highlights the importance of John Obi Mikel to the Chelsea side. “no side needs a holding midfielder as much as Chelsea. Whether in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3, their gameplan this season is based on the fluidity of a host of attacking midfield talents, supplemented by the surges from full-back of Jose Bosingwa on the right and either Ashley Cole or Wayne Bridge on the left – and that requires ballast. Even Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack, two of their more complete midfielders, are better players when they can make late runs into the box, safe in the knowledge that there is cover behind them. Far from being a weak link, however, Mikel has thrived. Middlesbrough were inexcusably lethargic in losing 5-0 at home to Chelsea last week but they are not the only team unable to settle against Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side this season. There is a sharpness in their pressing and a precision in their passing and movement that renders other teams sluggish. From the point of view of stopping other teams playing, that stems from Mikel. He may not be Chelsea’s best player of the season so far – although he would be on a shortlist – but he is almost certainly their most improved.”

Arsenal fans are criticised by the Mirror’s John Cross for being too silent. “Arsene Wenger is spot on when he says the Emirates is too quiet. Do these fans not realise that they are being served up with some of the best football in Europe? Get behind the team and remember those dull, murky days of the early 1980s and endless goalless draws. Ooops, sorry you probably weren’t there. The Emirates has become a place for too many corporates and the Nick Hornby brigade of “new trendy fans” with the older, vociferous ones being in the minority… I lost a lot of respect for Arsenal fans at the AGM. If indeed they are fans or just members of the prawn sandwich brigade.”

James Lawton has some choice words for unhappy Arsenal supporters in the Independent. “Imagine supporting Spurs. When Arsenal shareholders complain about a porous defence and three whole years without any kind of title, perhaps they should really be celebrating a brilliant young team and the fact they are managed by someone without equal in the matter of identifying some of the world’s best talent. For several years at Tottenham this job has been in the hands of a football nonentity named Damien Comolli. He did it in the role of sporting director, a job definition whose credibility this former youth player of Monaco has done much to single-handedly demolish. We are now told that Tottenham’s directors, having exposed the club to such ridicule while jettisoning Martin Jol last year, now consider Comolli just as vulnerable as the embattled coach, Juande Ramos. This, bemused Spurs fans must realise, is some kind of start to making Spurs a properly run football club. There can only be one boss at a football club. He needs to know the game and in his near perfect form he would resemble as closely as possible the man who this week found himself criticised by a number of ingrates otherwise known as Arsenal shareholders.”

Tony Cascarino charges Arsene Wenger as being more super-agent than manager in The Times. “Arsenal should mix and match like Chelsea do now. They’ve toned down their spending and are buying more carefully than they did, and putting a lot of effort into their youth policy, aiming for a squad with a blend of youth and experience, home-grown players and foreign imports. Wenger may not alter his philosophy but he is 59. He might leave in a couple of years and then his successor could change the whole ethos of the club. Wenger’s been a genius but in football you can’t spend your whole time building for the future because it’s so fragile. He still believes he can do it his way, of course, be champions with a young and relatively cheap team, but I’m not sure he can now. In the earlier years of his Arsenal career he inherited some outstanding veterans who made big contributions, such as Dennis Bergkamp and Tony Adams. Those he has signed lately, the likes of William Gallas and Manuel Almunia, have not been as good.”

The Guardian’s David Hytner tries to explain why QPR, who have won their last six matches, sacked manager Iain Dowie. “The Italian has been unhappy with Dowie, who took over in May, for some weeks and suspected the manager had criticised him behind his back for a lack of support in the transfer market. Briatore helped to bring a clutch of players to the club, including Daniel Parejo, who is on loan from Real Madrid and on a huge contract by Championship standards. But Parejo and Emmanuel Ledesma, who joined on loan from Genoa, have not been in the starting line-up in recent games and Damiano Tommasi, the Italian midfielder, has yet to make a first-team appearance. Briatore is understood to have suggested yesterday that Dowie ought to start certain players in today’s game at Reading. A disagreement ensued and the club statement announcing the termination of Dowie’s contract with “immediate effect” swiftly followed.”

The Sun’s Paul Jiggins gives his reasons for why he believes Iain Dowie was given the boot. “QPR are a club at war. Yesterday, Dowie became its first casualty — but there will be more. What makes this battle so bloody is that it is being waged by some of the world’s richest men behind the decaying facade of Loftus Road. Well, they say you need money to fight a war. And this conflict has billions. Wars also usually feature ruthless leadership and this one’s no different. Co-owner and chairman Briatore is the millionaire Formula One playboy who came to Rangers’ rescue when he bought them for £14million in December — with a little help from his pitlane pal Bernie Ecclestone. But his desire to run the club in the same hands-on fashion as he manages his Renault F1 team is turning Loftus Road into the pits. He has already upset the Hoops’ long-suffering fans. And now his apparent determination to have total control over everything he touches has led to Dowie’s exit.”

Henry Winter interviewed three Dutch masters - Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp and Robin Van Persie - to discuss the art of football. “Van Persie recalled Esteban Cambiasso’s goal – after 24 passes – for Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup. “We were in the same group and everyone clapped. What a goal! I scored a fantastic volley against Charlton two years ago , and if I had to choose between that and the goal of Cambiasso, I would chose Cambiasso because the whole team is involved. So beautiful.”  ergkamp agreed. “It is better to have three or four players involved than just one volley – for the camaraderie. If Marco Van Basten scores that goal [the famous Euro 88 volley ] five players might think ‘fantastic goal’ and another five might say: ‘OK he scored but he should have crossed.’ If everyone is involved, then everyone says…” “It’s our goal!” intervened Van Persie.”

With Louis Saha set to line-up against his former employers today, Daniel Taylor speaks to the Everton forward for the Guardian. “‘I look at my [2008] league winner’s medal and, in some ways, I’m not sure that I really deserve it,’ says Saha. ‘I know that I worked hard to get fit and when I played I did as well as I could so, yes, I probably did deserve it because I gave everything. But it’s difficult to feel you have made an important contribution when you have missed half of the season. If you ask any competitor, they will tell you the same.’ His sympathisers will cite his one-in-three scoring ratio and, lest it be forgotten, it was Saha’s form towards the end of the 2005-6 season that helped to convince United’s manager it was right to sell Ruud van Nistelrooy. The flipside, however, is that Saha suffered so many knee, ankle, calf and hamstring problems he eventually became more of a problem to Ferguson than opposition defenders.”

The Times’ George Caulkin sat down with Steed Malbranque to discuss life at the Black Cats, and to understand how he moved to the North-East. Malbranque: “I was surprised when they told me a fee was agreed with Sunderland, because they had said to me two weeks before ‘we don’t want to sell you’… So that was a big shock for me. But when you know a club is trying to sell you, you don’t think about them in the same way. I still don’t know why they changed their mind. They never told me. Leaving was not easy, but I liked the way Roy Keane talked to me. It was a new challenge and I wanted to be part of it. We don’t know where this journey at Sunderland will end — it is still the beginning — but sometimes you have to challenge yourself, start again. If the gamble works, it could be very special.”

The Independent’s Saturday interview has Wes Brown talking with Ian Herbert. Brown: “I’m really into my boxing – always have been – and I was lucky enough to be ringside in Las Vegas when Ricky Hatton fought Floyd Mayweather back in December. It’s a passion I share with Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney and we all know Ricky well. Perhaps the reason why I follow the sport is that I was so keen at karate when I was a boy. I became a brown belt in no time but at the age of 11, I had to choose between karate and football. I’ve always been an all-round sport nut. The interest I have in basketball began when I played at secondary school and for me one of the great sporting legends will always be Michael Jordan. I’ve always enjoyed cycling too, and one of the memories of growing up was the day I rode between Manchester and Blackpool to raise some money – I think my mum said it was £300 in the end – for the premature baby unit where my brother Clive was born early.”

Victoria Beckham has reportedly been offered £10 million to host a documentary about her David’s move to AC Milan, as reported by Charlotte Bailey (Telegraph). “Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wants her to present a film charting the couples move, including their arrival, house-hunt and their first shopping trips in the European fashion capital, it has been reported. It is also hoped that the couple’s friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will appear in the show. If she accepts the deal, it will make Victoria Beckham the most highly paid presenter in Italian television history. Berlusconi owns Italy’s three biggest television channels and will apparently extend the project until next summer if the show is a success.”

The Guardian’s Scott Murray delivers “The Joy of Six: great sporting TV programmes.” “A Question of Sport… The brilliance of David Coleman-era QoS, however, was most certainly not: you simply cannot argue with the entertainment provided by the picture board round, the mystery guest, or What Happened Next? Coleman’s schoolmasterly demeanour was perfect for the show – his exasperation with the childlike Emlyn Hughes, forever demanding points for vague ballpark answers, was a continued highlight – and the result of the quiz somehow seemed to matter, even to the ever-calm Bill Beaumont. And there was nothing shameful in that. In these more knowing times, some of that’s been lost under the quasi-Hancockian quip-heavy regime of Sue Barker. But no matter how much Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell try, you can’t destroy a genius format.”