Football Talk

Usmanov's mystery approach
Is Alisher Usmanov ready to give up on Arsenal? A City dealmaker this week revealed being approached about finding a buyer for the Russian's 23 per cent stake in the club. Usmanov, who bought David Dein's shares for £75million last August, had been tipped to launch a takeover bid, but his attempts to acquire more stock have been frustrated by the Arsenal board's "lockdown" agreement on share sales and a failure to strike a deal with American investor Stan Kroenke, who owns 12 per cent. Usmanov's London spokesman, however, insists he is not looking to sell.

Dubai deal is dubious for Yossi
Yossi Benayoun will be watching Dubai International Capital's bid for Liverpool with interest. The company is the investment arm of Dubai's government and - under United Arab Emirates law - is supposed to adhere to an official boycott of all Israeli goods. What the club's prospective new owners will make of paying Israel's national team captain £50,000 a week remains to be seen.

Not everyone feels for Rafa...
The turmoil at Anfield has been greeted with smug satisfaction in a corner of south-east London. Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock is still fuming over Rafael Benitez's decision to field a weakened team at Fulham last season allowing the Cottagers to gain a crucial advantage in their relegation battle with Sheffield United. Warnock said this week: "I still feel the same way about Liverpool as I did last season because of what they did. I said no good would come of it." Coincidentally, Fulham host Liverpool in their penultimate home game this season in a match which could again influence the relegation scrap.

Chimbonda warms to the task
From Dave Mackay to Graham Roberts to Neil "Razor" Ruddock, Tottenham have a proud tradition of steel to match their silk. So what would the infamous hardmen have made of Pascal Chimbonda and his approach to British conditions? Spurs kit man Steve Dukes said: "There are some players who like to keep themselves warm whether it's boiling hot or freezing cold and Pascal is one of them. For the warm-up, he always has a pair of gloves and then puts on a different pair for the game. He has ankle socks [to go underneath his main socks] and always wears leggings in matches too. Under his shirt is a long-sleeved bodywear-style top which he replaces at half-time along with his shirt."

Roy rages over England snub
Roy Hodgson was in combative mood when he addressed a group of coaches on this week's Pro Licence refresher course at Warwick University. The Fulham boss attacked the Football Association for the process used to select Fabio Capello as England coach. Hodgson is not against a foreigner holding the post, but believes the FA sent out the wrong message to homegrown coaches by not interviewing an English candidate. The snub, said the former Finland boss, will be viewed as a signal to English managers that no matter how hard they strive they will not be considered for the top job.

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