Irish Daily Star - Fanatic
DORGU HAVING HIS DAY
IN November, Patrick Dorgu milled about Carrington’s second floor to fulfil a sponsorship duty. He was yards away from the press conference room, blissfully unaware that his manager had just knifed him. “You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick...
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LIONS READY TO PREY ON LEADERS NEXT
JOSH COBURN insisted Millwall were well worth the win as Alex Neil’s side fired a warning shot to leaders Coventry. Neil’s troops warmed up for tomorrow’s trip to the Championship pace-setters with a dominant victory against their top-six rivals...
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NEW MAN IN CHARGE
Michael Carrick of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington this week (left) Ruben Amorim and Darren Fletcher, who replaced him as interim coach
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IT’S BEEN MAD FOR MAX
MAX ALLEYNE was in Watford on Monday getting ready for a trip to Bristol City in the FA Cup. By Saturday night he was reflecting on his first two starts for Manchester City in a ‘crazy’ week that has seen him swap a Championship promotion battle for...
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PUTTING YOU RON SPOT
Brentford and Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher’s victims from the spot include Cristiano Ronaldo last year. Inset, his latest penalty save from Sunderland’s Enzo Le Fee on Wednesday in the Premier League
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CLANGER
LEWIS COOK loved the fact Bournemouth showed how to compete against the country’s best team – but now he wants them to show it for a full 90 minutes. The midfielder (above, tripping Gabriel Jesus) came on for the final 16 minutes as Andoni Iraola’s...
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TOP OF THE XMAS TREE
by STEVE JUDGE BUKAYO SAKA is thrilled to be the Christmas No.1 with Arsenal after Manchester City briefly replaced them at the top of the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. Viktor Gyokeres’ rst-half penalty in the evening win at Everton was...
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‘I’ll always be grateful to Scousers for what they did for me’
EMILE Heskey realised a boyhood dream when he signed for Liverpool in 2000. Then-reds manager Gerard Houllier made the striker the club’s most expensive ever signing when he made the £11m move from Leicester City. Heskey more than repaid the faith...
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BAYERN’S KANE SPOT ON AGAIN
Bundesliga HARRY KANE spared Bayern Munich’s blushes with a late penalty to rescue a draw against basement club Mainz. Vincent Kompany’s side took the lead in the 29th minute when Lennart Karl converted from close range. But the visitors stunned the...
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It’s carr too cushy for rivals
STEPHEN Carr has a theory when it comes to Tottenham’s poor home form this season. He reckons their new stadium is far too inviting for opposing teams - and that it lacks the intimidation factor that was there during his time as a Spurs player at...
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BRIGHTON WEST HAM
1 1 JARROD BOWEN netted an incredible goal to take him to the brink of a Premier League landmark – but it wasn’t enough to end the Hammers’ Brighton jinx. In a reverse of their comeback at Manchester United on Thursday – when West Ham scored a late...
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BEWARE THE SIDES OF MARCH
STEPHEN Carr says he is fielding calls from pals asking him to sort them out for tickets against Denmark next March. The former Ireland defender can barely believe the turnaround in confidence - and he has to remind people that there is still a huge...
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BLACK FRIDAY
VILLA ARE EMPOWERED BY UNAI EMERY heaped praise on his Aston Villa players for the way they have turned their season around. Boubacar Kamara’s stunning goal secured Villa’s victory and extended their fine run following a nightmare start to the...
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OUR SECRET
MEET the secret weapon behind Irish football’s revival. This is a man who never seeks headlines - even though he deserves them. Because not only is Paddy Mccarthy the best player never to win a senior cap for Ireland, he is also arguably the best...
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MOR MISERY FOR FARKE
BY DANIEL FARKE is facing questions over his future after Morgan Rogers condemned Leeds to a third loss in a row. With a torrid run of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool up next, there is a real risk United could go six games without a single...
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UNAI’S A NATURAL BOURNE KILLER
4 0 And as his Aston Villa side turned on the style, Unai Emery maintained an impressive record. Emery has now faced Bournenouth nine times in his managerial career – and never lost. This triumph was his seventh – along with two draws – against a...
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ARNE EARNS HIS RESPITE
FUNNY how a positive result can change the outlook of more than just the league table. Just ask Arne Slot. During much of Liverpool’s dismal recent run, Slot’s willingness to at least engage in some tactical discussion with the media prompted many to...
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PAQ WITH A BANG
LONG before the final whistle went, the despondent Toon Army chose to exit for an afternoon in the capital. It was supposed to have been the other way round. A planned protest by West Ham fans against their owners was replaced by the unexpected joy...
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POOL’S
IT all looked so promising. Liverpool had swagger again. Jurgen Klopp went out like a conquering hero, the banners flying, the songs echoing round Anfield. Arne Slot arrived with his neat suit, his tidy hair and his talk of “evolution, not...
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A star is bourne
2 0 By Rachel Steinberg Sunderland sat in second place on Saturday night, replaced by Bournemouth less than 24 hours later. Welcome to the season of the unexpected. Only Arsenal sit above Andoni Iraola’s side in the table after a victory inspired by...
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THE BIT BETWEEN HIS KEITH
KEITH ANDREWS’ old gaffer says he’s never been shocked to see the Irishman strutting his stuff in the Premier League. Colin O’brien, the man who gave the Brentford boss his first crack at coaching, reckons the Dubliner’s rise from rookie to top-flight...
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Unai has Hex factor
1 2 ASTON VILLA battled back to record a fifth straight victory in all competitions at Tottenham, who cannot seem to buy a Premier League win of their own on home soil. Morgan Rogers’ first-half firecracker and Emi Buendia’s ruthless, pin-point finish...
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MISTER nd MOTIVATOR
IT’S NOT often that Mohamed Salah is given a day off but that was the case last Sunday. Two goals from their talisman had secured World Cup qualification for Egypt four days earlier against Djibouti. So Salah sat out Sunday’s 1-0 win over...
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SCOTT OUT OF
IF Scotland do indeed end their World Cup exile then few will remember it took an unconvincing win against Group C whipping boys Belarus to help get them there. But if they are to play on the world stage for the first time since 1998, they will need...
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THE LATE ESCAPE
2 1 DAVID MOYES revealed before this game that he had told Jack Grealish he needed to shoot more. But although the winger grabbed a dramatic late winner, his boss could not have expected it to come in such bizarre fashion. It completed an Everton...
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NO DOUBTING THOMAS FITS BILL AT SPURS
THE HISTORY of English football might be very different if Alex Ferguson hadn't gone back on his word in 1984. Ferguson's reputation was high after winning the European Cup Winners' Cup with Aberdeen, and breaking the dominance of Celtic and Rangers...
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HE’S AN EV
THERE was a time when Manuela Spinelli was one of the most familiar faces in Irish sport. That was due to her ever smiling presence beside then Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni as his interpreter. It did often seem the Italian felt he didn’t need...
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TO VIKTOR GOES THE SPOILS
3 0 VIKTOR GYOKERES feels like one of the luckiest men alive right now. For the Arsenal striker gets to play with an embarrassment of riches at the Emirates. The Swede made it three goals in four games in his side’s win over Nottingham Forest, and...
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LAMMENS TO
BELGIUM boss Rudi Garcia seems to be a belt and braces kind of manager. That is one conclusion to be drawn from the squad he picked for their recent games with Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan. The initial squad chosen by Garcia contained four...
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TAKE IT TO THE MIX
SEVEN hours before kick-off at the Aviva on Saturday, thousands gathered a few hundred yards away outside the US Embassy in Ballsbridge. From there, they marched to the Department of Foreign Affairs, protesting against the slaughter in Gaza by Israel —...
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EAMON DUNPHY: Why Hallgrimsson’s Ireland need to take a leaf out of Jack Charlton’s playbook
GRISLY FACT: There is no English top division striker available to Ireland for the first time since the 1930s Yes, Ireland have played international soccer matches without a striker playing at England’s highest level before, but that was because of...
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KISS AND MAKE UP
FOREST WEST HAM JARROD BOWEN insisted “it’s never personal with fans” after firing West Ham to their first win of the season. 0 Bowen was involved in an angry confrontation with Hammers supporters following their midweek Carabao Cup defeat at...
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Lack of france call-up sees kop ace handed extra time to settle
Ian doyle It’s usually difficult enough for any big-money striker signing to hit the ground running at Liverpool. But the unique circumstances in which Hugo Ekitike has been trying to find his feet at Anfield have made his instant impact all the more...
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OPENING NDIAYE!
EVERTON 0 BY JACK GREALISH is back to enjoying his football as he starred in Everton’s curtain-raising win over Brighton at their new home. The on-loan Manchester City ace got the assists for Iliman Ndiaye and James Garner in this victory at Hill...
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THE TROY WHO WOULD BE KING
TROY PARROTT’S blistering start to the season, with an incredible nine goals in just six games for AZ Alkmaar, has made ripples across Europe. The Irish international scored again on Sunday in the 2-2 draw with FC Volendam – a sweeping right foot...
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NOTT’M FOREST
NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO hailed a “beautiful start to the season” after Nottingham Forest cruised to victory at home to Brentford. Debutant winger Dan Ndoye scored a stunning header and New Zealand striker Chris Wood bagged a clinical brace as Reds...
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GRASS NO T GREENER
ON THE bare facts, Heimir Hallgrímsson could be forgiven for running for the hills. Approaching a World Cup qualification campaign, the figures make grim reading for the Ireland manager. The Premier League kicks off tonight and Irish representation...
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Donegal’s Champagne Supernova
MICHAEL MURPHY is 35 years old. When his intercounty career began, his hair was black, and current Donegal corner-back Finbar Roarty was in nappies. Way back then, in that summer of 2007, the idea of Donegal ever winning another All-ireland appeared...
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GREEN WAVE Championship’s surprise package into last four as
IN any other year, beating Dublin, Kerry, Cork and now Galway in the Championship would probably mean you’ve won the All-ireland. That’s what Meath have done but the summer’s dark horses still have two steps to go before they can call themselves...
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PHEW! PRECIOUS
EDDIE Howe last night relived the 11-minute nightmare when he feared Newcastle had blown their Champions League hopes. After Carlos Alcaraz had headed Everton into a second-half lead at St James’ Park and Aston Villa were still level with Manchester...
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Brad will meet the challenge
Michael O’neill has backed conor Bradley to continue his progress at liverpool even as he is likely to face fresh competition for a place following the departure of Trent alexander-arnold. O’neill has welcomed Bradley back into his Northern ireland...
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RICE HITS afterthe HEIGHTS
ARSENAL NEWCASTLE By John Cross MIKEL ARTETA insisted Arsenal must not lose sight of the club’s progress despite failing to deliver a “big, big trophy”. Arteta gave a rousing speech to supporters on the pitch at the Emirates as Arsenal booked their...
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Cheers johnny
Sligo man Johnny Kenny takes plaudits from Adam Idah, Kasper Schmeichel and Co at Pittodire
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NOTT’M FOREST LEICESTER
AMAZING scenes at the end saw Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis storm on to the pitch at the City Ground yesterday. Emotional Marinakis remonstrated with Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo after Facundo Buonanotte’s late strike earned Leicester...
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Inter’s victory what we love
THE Champions League is the most coveted trophy in world football. And this week we learned why. On Tuesday, Inter Milan defeated Barcelona. It was an incredible victory, the highlight coming when Francesco Acerbi, a man of 37 years, scoring his first...
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You must bee joking
brentford 4 man utd RUBEN AMORIM claimed Manchester United are improving – despite a 16th league defeat in 35 games. After fielding the third-youngest starting XI in Premier League history, United boss Amorim now has the worst record for wins outside...
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RAGS TO R
EVERYONE loves a fairytale – Americans more than most. With their history of Walt Disney classics, that’s understandable and this campaign for defender Chris Richards could become the ultimate rags-to-riches story. Now, with the chance to pick up...
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Fantastic mr fox!
THE big screen at the King Power Stadium bore the message: “Goodbye to the GOAT.” Jamie Vardy stood before it, holding a royal blue shirt with his surname there for the world to see. As if anyone at Leicester City needed to be reminded who he was, or...
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HOJ! WE’RE ALL TO BLAME!
RUBEN AMORIM defended struggling striker Rasmus Hojlund after Manchester United slumped to a record 15th Premier League defeat this season. United were undone by a 77th-minute free-kick from Pablo Sarabia, just three days after their epic extra-time...
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Nuno: We are up for the battle
Nuno Espirito Santo says his Nottingham Forest side will fight until the end to achieve their Champions League dream. Forest’s excellent campaign has hit the buffers in the past fortnight with back-to-back Premier League defeats hurting their chances...
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WOLVES 4 SPURS
ANGE Postecoglou insisted there would be no lasting damage from a sobering defeat complete with a litany of errors. The Aussie made six changes with Thursday night’s return trip to Eintracht Frankfurt in mind as Spurs slipped to their 17th Premier...
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Hansi flicked the switch on raphina rise
IT WAS safety first, not that the record books will show that if Raphinha overtakes Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League landmark in the next few weeks. But the Barcelona forward was quick to say sorry to his team-mate for the goal which sent them on...
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TICK TICK
spurs southampton 3 FED-UP Ange Postecoglou continued his crusade against VAR after Spurs were made to wait five minutes for a goal to be ruled out because of a marginal offside. Tottenham condemned Southampton to the drop after Brennan Johnson...
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Mista to
if you were watching at home, you probably had to check one or two tv replays before believing your eyes. When the relief of seeing Beto’s strike hit the inside of a post and not go into Caoimhin Kelleher’s net had subsided, Liverpool fans looked at...
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SELS SAVES SHOOT-OUTS BY THE SEA SHORE!
STEVE JUDGE MATZ SELS put his third consecutive penalty shoot-out heroics down to research, practice and bravery. Nottingham Forest’s Belgian goalkeeper produced his third and fourth spot-kick stops of this season’s FA Cup to put his side through to...
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Forest jokers now trumps in premier pack
By PUNDIT Peter Crouch has put Nottingham Forest’s transformation from “laughing stock” to Champions League place contenders down to a strong team spirit. With nine games of the Premier League season left, Forest are firmly in the mix for European...
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Scots come acropolis
0 3 Nations League play-off greece win 3-1 on aggregate by IAN WINROW STEVE CLARKE admits Scotland were handed a tough lesson after slumping to a 3-0 defeat to Greece. The Hampden Park loss means the Scots are relegated to Nations League B and Clarke...
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RUBEN IS FOXING CLEVER
HOW Manchester United must wish they could play Leicester every week. United have faced the Foxes four times this season – twice in the Premier League, and in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup – and won every game. Yet not every opponent is as obliging as...
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Chelsea 1leicester 0
PAUL BROWN ENZO MARESCA revealed Cole Palmer spent two days on the toilet before Chelsea’s win over struggling Leicester. The England forward had a penalty saved and was substituted as Marc Cucurella (left) scored the winner at Stamford...
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PEP three And Easy
BY “the front three is the future,” said pep guardiola at tottenham last week. Jeremy Doku turned a second full-back inside out in the space of a week, Savinho continued his good form, and Erling Haaland scored again. A few days later, when Jack...
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THE HOME OF WORKWEAR
SHOE SIZE 3-13 CLOTHING SIZES XS-5XL AND MORE THAN 80 BRANDS
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Irish eye doubleagent PALACE v MILLWALL
IT’S a rare weekend off for some of Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Ireland squad but Dara O’shea and Sammie Szmodics at Ipswich will hope for a big boost when they travel to Nottingham Forest in the Cup on Monday before heading on international duty in two...
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Potter’s magic touch
muzzled gun Potter masterminded another victory at the Emirates over Arteta
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Stanley knifed..
Collymore bangs one in at Old Trafford in 1994 and below, Forest manager Espirito Santo
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OMAR’S ED START
Omar marmoush has thanked Ederson for the role he played in his first manchester City goal – on the way to his hat-trick which destroyed Newcastle. City keeper Ederson’s pinpoint long pass sent Marmoush racing clear of the Toon defence. And he...
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FIRST
Aidan Keena is not holding back on St Pat’s’ ambitions for 2025 – revealing the Saints aim to end the year as ireland’s no.1 side. After Shelbourne broke Shamrock Rovers’ stranglehold on the title, hope has spread throughout the league that this year...
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Old gold star
David anderson By VITOR PEREIRA has instructed contract thriller Matheus Cunha to make everyone at Wolves better. Cunha scored Wolves’ second at Blackburn in his first game since signing a new four-and-a-half-year deal but boss Pereira says he wants...
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