Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy is still waiting to see whether he will be able to bring former loanee Michael Mancienne back to Molineux next season.

The 22-year-old spent the whole of last season on loan with Wolves from Chelsea, but McCarthy is unsure of the defender's standing at Stamford Bridge.

He told the Express & Star:"If Chelsea say he is available then we would have an interest. Until they clarify what their plans for Michael are, it is very difficult to comment.

"We think the world of Michael at this club. He is a good player, he knows the set-up and he is a popular lad with the squad.

"I think Michael's future depends on what homegrown players Chelsea bring in because they have a balance to strike.

"It is not like going to Tesco and taking tins off the supermarket shelf – as we all know, getting the right players in is very difficult.

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"The biggest issue is where Chelsea see Michael's future."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

I never fail to be amazed at the sheer stupidity of footballers and their outlandish remarks. Carles Puyol believes Arsenal need to show Cesc Fabregas some respect and allow him to move to Barcelona:

“I think Arsenal need to respect his class and show the same class by giving the guy who has given so much to them the move that he and his family want.

“He isn’t just being deprived of moving to the best club in the world, more importantly, he is being deprived of coming home.

“He has tried everything to win trophies at Arsenal and when he sees the success so many of his Spanish team-mates are having at Barcelona, it’s only natural that he should want to be a part of that.”  (Sun)

I find it a bit rich that Puyol asking for a little respect given the shameless way he forced a shirt onto Cesc last week and the scandalous actions of his football club in tapping him up in the past few months, which has subsequently turned the player’s head. Success has clearly got to the officials and players of Barcelona’s heads and this great club, who use to go about their business with absolute class and decorum, find themselves acting in the same shameful and underhand manner as their great rivals Madrid. Unfortunately the game’s governing bodies continue to turn a blind eye on their actions, subsequently giving them the green light to carry on with their policy.

Speaking with Barcelona fans about this current situation I was surprised as to how many of them believed that the club was well within their right to adopt their behaviour, given the way we brought Fabregas to Arsenal in the first place. When I pressed them on what rules we had actually broken in obtaining a young Fabregas, a sudden silence and a quick shrug was the best they could muster in response. They failed to realise that there was no gun to Cesc’s head when he decided to walk out on this apparent ‘club of his dreams’ at 16 and no appreciation of what Arsenal had actually done in making him the player he is.

I have always questioned the final point about Cesc and his great love of Barcelona and whether he would have been so keen to move back to the Nou Camp had it not been for their current set-up and status. I guess we will never know but the fact remains that it was Arsenal that gave him the opportunity and platform to make him the player he is and that should never be forgotten. My own personal view is that not a lot has changed and the same reasons he decided to move from Catalan all those years ago is still relevant today, as there are too many obstacles still ahead of him and a place on the bench is going to be the likely place for Fabregas if he were to move on. Barcelona may now feel that they have the god given right to obtain his services, but the likes of Messrs Puyol, Rosell, Busquets and Xavi need to realise that it is their own and club’s lack of RESPECT that has prevented any move this summer reaching fruition.

Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer

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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is set to make Lazio's Serbia international left-back Aleksandar Kolarov his fourth capture of the summer.

The 24-year-old, who featured in his country's first two games at the World Cup in South Africa, had been expected to sign for Real Madrid only for Lazio to reject their £12million bid for the player.

It is believed that City will seal the capture of Kolarov for £16million.

Mancini is keen to sign a left-back to provide competition for Wayne Bridge and believes the former OFK Belgrade player is the man for that job.

Lazio president Claudio Lotito was quoted earlier this month as saying:"Kolarov is not a free agent. If it was down to me, I would not sell him.

"But if he wants to leave, he needs to bring an offer from a team that grants a fair economic solution.

"Those that claim that I am asking 50million euros for the player are mistaken. I am ready to discuss a solution that takes into account the wishes of everyone involved.

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"Kolarov is a good man and we have no intention to block his career growth but we have to bear in mind the needs of everyone involved. I am available to look at offers."

Mancini has already signed Valencia's Spain international David Silva, Hamburg defender Jerome Boateng and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure from Barcelona this summer.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

To say the transfer window (so far) has been uneventful is tantamount to saying the Arctic is a bit nippy, as the majority of Premier League clubs are seemingly being careful with their finances. In some cases clubs simply have to sell before they can buy, much to the frustrations, no doubt, of many managers and supporters.

The lack of spending at the top of the Premier League has surprised many, especially given the open nature of last season’s title race. You would have thought the likes of United and Chelsea would have looked at a big outlay this summer, to ensure the also-rans remain at an arm’s length in their pursuits of the title. Only City have made substantial moves this summer, although you do feel that they may well struggle to strike a balance. This means this season’s race for the title, Champions League and Europa League places are very much as they were last year, unless we witness a major change in the transfer wind in the coming fortnight.

The media is predicting that a transfer storm is set to erupt, but it begs the question as to whether Tottenham really need to partake in some last minute shopping.

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Does Harry need to bring any players in before the transfer window shuts in 16 days time and if so who would you like to see him bring in?

One thing nobody has control over is what they are to be named when they arrive on Earth. Here I’m going to give you five footballers whose parents were either a fantastic laugh or deliciously cruel. It can simply be that in some cases it was a matter of not knowing any English slang when naming their child. Whatever way these blokes must have took some stick over the years.

5. Quim (Braga, Benfica)

For those who don’t know Quim is a slang term for a woman’s downstairs parts. I first heard the use of quim on Bo Selecta. Go on Youtube and find ‘Marilyn Manson Bo Selecta’ and watch a posh toff parody of the musical freak calling everybody ‘Mildred’ and asking ‘where does he keep his quim?’

4. Danny Shittu (QPR, Watford)

Poor old Danny Shittu. An African name that had he stayed in Nigeria probably wouldn’t have caused many problems. Playing football in England however means Shittu must have been subjected to more ridicule already than most people would take in a lifetime. At least he sees the funny side though. In a post-match interview one time after he’d scored he said: “I’m not as bad as my name suggests.”

3. Rod Fanni (Nice, Rennes)

Do I even need to comment on his name? No? I didn’t think so.

2. Bernt Haas (Grasshopper, Sunderland, West Brom)

Hahahahaha. What a superb name. I can only imagine the one-liners Bernt must have heard a million times when he was out and about in the North East. ‘Howay Bernt, hoows your arse failing?” I can’t do a Geordie accent but you get the point.

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1.Stefan Kuntz (VFL Bochum, Kaiserslautern)

There was only ever one winner. English people around the World laughed themselves silly during Euro 96 whenever his name was mentioned. If you haven’t seen it you must Youtube Czech Republic’s Euro 96 game with Germany where John Motson says: “Bierhoff has a chance to stake his claim now that the two strikers have been taken off…..Kuntz.”

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When Harry Redknapp brought Rafael van der Vaart to White Hart Lane on transfer deadline day, it was not a move that was greeted with universal praise. Although the fee Spurs had paid was pleasing, many fans believed that the club simply did not need him, due to the plethora of midfield talent already available to Redknapp, in particular Luka Modric and Niko Kranjcar who were seen as similar players to the Dutchman. However, Van der Vaart’s performances so far have more than justified the decision to buy the him, and confirmed Harry Redknapp as one of the shrewdest operators in the transfer market.

Rafael van der Vaart’s career bloomed early. A graduate of the famous Ajax academy, Van der Vaart became a regular for the Dutch giants as a teenager, and picked up his first full international cap at the tender age of 18. He was seen as one the hottest prospects in European football but his career drifted somewhat, and when he moved to German outfit Hamburg it came as a surprise. Van der Vaart was excellent for his new club and when Real Madrid came calling, you got the feeling that he had finally got the move that his talent warranted. However, his time at the Bernabeu proved frustrating, as he was unable to hold down a place in the first team, with the signing of Mesut Ozil and Angel di Maria this summer, it was clear the Dutchman’s time was up.

It looked like Tottenham and Harry Redknapp were going to endure a disappointing transfer window, but when the call came that Van der Vaart’s proposed move to Bayern Munich had collapsed the night before, and that he was available for half of the price the German club were willing to pay, Redknapp wasted no time in making the deal happen. As much as he might hate it, Harry Redknapp has the tag of a master ‘wheeler-dealer’ and it is this kind of transfer that have earned him that title.

A few years ago Spurs fans would have been in euphoria at the prospect of a player like Van der Vaart joining them, yet the reception that greeted his signing was decidedly muted. Many believed that it was not an area Redknapp needed to be strengthening. For me though, Van der Vaart’s quality is such that there was never any doubt in my mind that it would prove to be a fantastic deal.

The Dutchman’s performances so far have been nothing short of brilliant. He has settled in well and already looks like one of the most dangerous midfielders in the league, some of the balls he has put in to the box, as he did this weekend against Wolves, have been world class. Van der Vaart is a hugely talented player who would not look out of depth for any team in the world, and for Redknapp to sign him for such a small price is a major coup.

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When you consider that £25 million was spent on James Milner this summer, Spurs’ deadline day signing must go down as one of the best deals of the window. He adds quality to Tottenham, and that is what they need in an increasingly competitive league if they wish to be challenging at the top table again this season.

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Arsenal fans will no doubt be delighted with the news that their prodigious midfielder Aaron Ramsey is back in training. It’s been almost 8 months since the 27th of February when a wild tackle from Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross left Ramsey with a career-threatening injury. In physiological terms he fractured the tibia and the fibula of his right leg – yet these terms do little to capture the full horror of Ramsey’s injury. In a very real sense Ramsey’s leg was left shattered. I’m sure everybody saw the pictures of Ramsey holding his leg slightly aloft, his injured foot swinging at an unnatural angle to the rest of his body (for those of you with iron stomachs, click here to see the picture). Seeing that picture again I am reminded how lucky it is that Ramsey is returning at all.

And yet, here he is. Ramsey has undergone an extensive rehabilitation programme and is now back at Arsenal’s London Colney training grounds. Unsurprisingly, Ramsey seems delighted with his progress. “I’ve been doing strengthening exercises and those sorts of things for a long time now and I’m starting to feel the benefits,” he told Arsenal TV Online. “I’m now outside training with the fitness coach and I feel good… I am a very motivated guy and I’ve missed football a lot, it’s made me realise how much it means to me. I just want to get back out there and start doing what I used to do”.

Obviously, it’s important that Ramsey isn’t rushed back into action as any set-backs would have a devastating effect on his career. This won’t stop the Arsenal faithful from salivating over the prospect of their talented young Welshman adding weight to their midfield. But this leads me to wonder; exactly what kind of role will Ramsey play when he returns to the Arsenal fold? For better or worse, things have changed for Arsenal since Ramsey’s injury. He will be returning to a highly competitive central midfield that includes the likes of Cesc Fabregas (who is a staple and will play almost every game he is available for), Diaby (whose stocky-build usually sees him picked against teams that present a physical threat), Denilson (who appears to have fallen out of favour at Arsenal), Alex Song (an essential part of Arsenal’s title challenge and likely to play every game he is available for) and finally, the burgeoning talent of Jack Wilshere.

It’s young Jack that I believe really throws a spanner in the works for Ramsey. Before his injury a string of excellent performances had seen Ramsey rise above Denilson in the pecking order. This meant if the likes of Fabregas, Diaby and Song were for some reason unavailable (or if Diaby was going through a bad phase as he is sometimes prone to do) that Ramsey could expect a game. Now, however, times have changed and if a space in the midfield opens up Wenger will have to choose between Ramsey and Wilshere. A difficult decision at the best of times, but with Wilshere’s meteoric rise through the ranks continuing at lightning pace as he proves himself capable from game to game, you have to feel that it is he who would be picked should such a situation arise.

So where does this leave young Aaron Ramsey? Does Arsenal have room for two prodigious young talents? I don’t picture him as a lad who will be satisfied getting his first-team experience solely in Arsenal’s Carling Cup exploits. Of course, there’s always the chance that Ramsey will put in a series of good performances as a sub, or in the Carling Cup and that this will throw him into contention for more first-team games. However, Ramsey needs game-time to recover his match-fitness and more importantly he will require a consistent challenge week-by-week so that he can rediscover his level. Then there’s always the worry that Ramsey will never be quite the same player he was before his injury. Arsenal fans will remember all too well that their Croatian striker Eduardo (who was moved on to Shakhtar Donetsk last summer) never fully recaptured his best form after returning from his own horrific leg-break. We can only cross our fingers and hope that the talented Welshman recovers his terrific form, whether or not that happens in the red-and-white of Arsenal is another question entirely.

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Everton captain Phil Neville believes Australia international Tim Cahill is the club’s talisman.

The midfielder scored the opening goal in Sunday’s 2-0 Merseyside victory against Liverpool, a result that lifted David Moyes’ side up to mid-table.

The 30-year-old free-scoring former Millwall star has now found the net five times against the Reds and has the impressive record of 60 goals in just over 200 appearances for Everton.

Neville said of Cahill:“I don’t think we should ever take him for granted. I look back at great players who’ve played for this club and Duncan Ferguson is one that stands out for me and Tim is right up there with him now.

“He’s our talisman and he’s the one who flies back from Australia and gets out onto the training field and plays in the derby.

“The only surprise is that he played it in with his foot and not his head. I think that is his first goal with his foot for Everton for a long time.”

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The noises from NESV this week, with regards to the long term plans at Anfield, has brought a mixed response among Liverpool supporters. One aspect that will have pleased all fans though was Henry’s claim that there will be no January departures for any of their stars, in response to all the recent speculation.

This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag blogs which has included…£30m splurge to save Liverpool, the brains behind the Reds lucrative deals and Inter look to hijack Liverpool bid.

Plus we have taken a look at the best Liverpool stories on the Web this week.

Featured Articles of the week

Liverpool’s Top 10 Transfer Bargains Of All Time

Are these the worst Liverpool Kits of our time?

The £30m splurge that might just save Liverpool

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Other Liverpool Blogs

Is blaming Rafa Benitez a little short sighted?

Liverpool’s Greatest British XI Of Our Time?

Liverpool’s bold NEW transfer policy

How long before Liverpool let wonderkid off the leash?

EXCLUSIVE: Liverpool in bad transfer rumour shocker

Has Roy Hodgson let his talisman down?

The REAL brains behind Liverpool’s deals

Inter look to hijack Liverpool and Man United with January bid

Click on PAGE 2 to see the BEST LIVERPOOL ARTICLES around the Web this week

Best of WEB

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Who is that bloke apparently upsetting all of our players? – Live4Liverpool

Roy Of The Ravers – Kopblog

Inside a disaster – Keith Salmon’s moving chapter on Hillsborough – This is Anfield

Iain Macintosh: Don’t blame Benítez – Guardian

THREE Issues that need to be resolved sooner rather than later – Live4Liverpool

Dean Austin, hardly a household name at the peak of his playing career, the former Southend, Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Woking defender is most remembered for being number 35 of the Times Online poll of worst footballers to ever play in the Premier League. He now finds himself a coach under George Burley at former club Crystal Palace.

Austin ended his playing career as club captain of Woking after he was unable to obtain a new deal at the end of the 2002/03 season at the age of 33. He had just ensured survival for the surrey club it what was then called the Conference National now the Blue Square Premier Bet Premier. After a brief spell managing in the Conference South he returned to the Football League as a coach with former club Southend United in 2007. Following their relegation the previous season and under the management of Steve Tilson, Austin helped the club achieve a playoff position in League 1 where they were beaten convincingly by Doncaster. Early into the following season he left Roots Hall to become Assistant manager under Brendan Rodgers at Watford. After Watford finished 13th in the Championship in the 2008/09 he followed Rodgers to Reading to take over the helm from Steve Coppell, along with Frank Lampard Senior who filled a football consultant role at both clubs. Austin’s nomadic coaching career continued as he followed Rodgers and Lampard Sr out of the Madejski stadium after Rodgers contract was ended by mutual consent in December 2009. He was to return to football in June of this year as first team coach at financially troubled Crystal Palace.

His appointment appears to be well received with the Eagles faithful. On the official Crysta Palace website comments have been quick to praise their former defender. One saying “Deano has been assistant manager at a couple of clubs and seems to know his stuff, so having him as first team coach looks like a great move.” Fondly remembered at Selhurst Park by some for his reverse clap it looks like he is being welcomed home with open arms to a club where some are proud to refer to his playing days as a talisman like. So perhaps he has found success and appreciation in his new career. And if he were ever to find himself back in the Premier League, this time in the dugout, he may be regarded more highly than the 35th worst player to take to the field in England’s top division.

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