Comment & analysis round-up

Quote of the day: “I was not depressed at all. I knew what I did and there is a kind of football law that says ‘what happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch and that’s the end of the story’. I know against Man United it is going to be tense because I’m going to face Evra. But I’m used to having fans whistle at me. I hope nothing unusual happens. I’ll have to forget what happened for that moment. I do know Man United fans are going to try to make me feel uncomfortable. But I have to tell them — they are going to spur me on if they whistle at me.” – Luis Suarez.

Runner-up: “I don’t understand at all where it’s coming from, to be honest with you, I don’t understand it at all. This is a moment where we have to take stock and we should do something about it if it’s surfacing again, and be really hard and firm on any form or shape of racism. There have been a couple of examples recently which is not good. In 2012, you can’t believe it. It was obvious maybe 20 years ago and the improvements have been for everyone to see. I have had some fantastic black players, absolutely magnificent black players, and with every one of them I have enjoyed my working relationship with them. But this is a moment where we have to take stock. I think we should do something about it if it’s surfacing again, and be really hard and firm on any form or shape of racism.” – Sir Alex Ferguson.

Top stories

Should Evra shake Suarez’s hand?

Evra ‘to be asked to shake Suarez’s hand’ (David Maddock, Daily Mirror) Patrice Evra will be asked to shake hands with Luis Suarez when the pair come face to face on Saturday.

Why Dalglish’s stance on Suarez is dangerous, disingenuous and irresponsible (Ollie Holt, Daily Mirror)

Cool heads are needed – yet Dalglish still fuels the fires (James Lawton, Independent)

Manchester United fans ready to ratchet up the abuse for Luis Suarez and Liverpool (Jim White, Daily Telegraph)

Fabio Capello on the brink

Capello on the brink! Furious FA insist Fabio backs down over Terry row (Matt Lawton & Charles Sale) “Fabio Capello will on Wednesday meet Football Association chairman David Bernstein for showdown talks that will determine if he remains England manager. Capello will be asked to explain why he committed a serious breach of FA protocol in his explosive  Italian television interview on Sunday. The FA were completely unaware of the fact that Capello intended to criticise their board decision to strip John Terry of the captaincy over his forthcoming racist abuse trial.”

FA to warn Fabio: Shut it or get out (Shaun Custis, The Sun)

Fabio Capello increasingly isolated in row with FA over John Terry (Daniel Taylor, Guardian)

So, what do you get for your £24m? Confusion… and not much else (Matt Barlow, Daily Mail) 

Scott Parker and Steven Gerrard raise stakes in battle to lead England (Andy Hunter, Guardian)

Rio Ferdinand refuses to be forced out of England’s Euro 2012 plans by on going race case involving John Terry (Jeremy Wilson, Daily Telegraph)

John Terry is subbed by Umbro (Nick Parker, The Sun) 

AVB receives another visit

Chelsea owner Roman marches in to tell Villas-Boas: Sort it out! (Neil Ashton, Daily Mail) “Chelsea’s manager Andre Villas-Boas has been ordered to improve results after holding a second round of talks in four days with Roman Abramovich over his future on Tuesday.”

It’s never much fun when the Chuckle Brothers turn up (Martin Samuel, Daily Mail) Samuel feels the writing may well be on the wall for AVB.

The Harry Redknapp trial

Jurors’ deliberations to continue in Redknapp trial (Independent, Sam Wallace) Tottenham manager back in court for 13th day as jury yet to return a verdict in tax case.

Gossip

Arsenal eye Sturridge as Chelsea star grows weary of wide role (Sami Mokbel, Daily Mail)

How Arsenal can help Barca buy Bale (John Cross, Daily Mirror) An eye catching title with absolutely no explanation – tremendously shoddy work in the Mirror.

Manchester City could be ready to rival neighbours United for Benfica forward Nicolas Gaitan (John Cross, Daily Mirror)

Liverpool are keen on Barcelona’s Seydou Keita (The Sun)

Argentina names top flight after General Belgrano

Argentina names top football league after ship sunk in Falklands war (Rory Carroll, Guardian) “Nobody ever thought the General Belgrano would give Argentinians reason to cheer but that’s because nobody, until now, thought to name the nation’s football league after the sunken ship.”