Source: Telegraph
Manchester United: running scared or running on empty?
11.00 THE HEADLINES THIS HOUR
Bobby Zamora is a target for Villarreal, according to a Daily Mirror report which was clearly intended for last Wednesday's paper.
Arsene Wenger has somehow turned Emmanuel Adebayor into the world's best footballer, certainly on the evidence of last night's goal, but may have to do without William Gallas for the rest of the season.
And Barcelona are now favourites for the Champions League after Manchester United's fortunate 2-2 draw with Porto, a game during which all three visiting attackers looked infinitely more dangerous than the World Player of the Year.
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10.50
John Terry says he will never forget his Moscow penalty miss. Largely, you suspect, because people keep asking him if he can ever forget his Moscow penalty miss.
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10.00 THE HEADLINES THIS HOUR
England are now just one place behind Argentina in the Fifa world rankings after beating Ukraine at home was somehow deemed impressive enough for a two-place bump into seventh spot.
Sheffield United's Kevin Blackwell and Barnsley's Simon Davey had to be separated by police at Bramall Lane last night in another stunning success for the FA's Respect campaign.
And Arsene Wenger has stormed through the field to take the Bung's Understatement Of The Week award with this description of Emmanuel Adebayor's absolute screamer against Villarreal: "It was unexpected," was Wenger's winning entry.
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RUNNING SCARED?
Manchester United chose not to celebrate their Carling Cup success with an open-top bus tour through the city's streets - a decision they may now live to regret.
Say whatever you like about United, but it must be distinctly possible they will end this season without winning any of the three prizes for which they are still competing.
Only a fool would write them off (especially because bylined articles from three weeks ago can be so easily found). But there can be little hiding the fact that United have hit a wall. Winning two games a week until the end of May now seems a mighty ask. On current form, keeping a single clean sheet before the end of May would be cause to celebrate.
Why? Tiredness, Japan, injuries, and an unsettled Cristiano Ronaldo have all been put forward. Rafa Benitez, however, prefers a more simple explanation. They're just plain scared.
RB: 'We have to concentrate on our team but he [Alex Ferguson] likes to talk too much about other teams. It is not mind games. He is a little bit scared.''
And whether that is 'fact' or fiction, United fans can't escape some harsh truths.
It says plenty that Porto, thumped 4-0 by Arsenal earlier this season, sensed United's vulnerability and attacked them from the off. The Portuguese side, 50-1 outsiders for the tournament, were certainly not 'scared' of the defending champions.
The defence that broke records earlier this season has now conceded 11 goals in four games, nine of them at home. With United scoring through a dodgy backpass - and getting away with a stonewall penalty shout against Carlos Tevez - things could have been even worse.
And it is hardly the team's fault, but supporters were pouring out of Old Trafford last night when Porto equalised. Those same fans that left early may have seen their last Champions League action for this season. You wonder if they care.
