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England do not posses a world-class holding midfield player

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As the retreat from Podgorica began, the high-ups at the Football Association were already in damage limitation mode. This, they told one former England international, was a transition period. Maybe all that Club England nonsense has gone to their heads. Transition does not exist in international football as it does at clubs, because there is less room for manoeuvre. Clubs can turn around in a season, sometimes in one summer. Get a few in, get a few out, ride a difficult 12 months of bedding down and then go again. International football does not permit that luxury. Head in hands: Wayne Rooney scored England's opener on Tuesday night before Montenegro equalised Transition: Manager Roy Hodgson is failing to get the best out of this current crop of England players Regroup for a year in the international game and the best part of a decade goes west. Say this is a transition for England and as a consequence Roy Hodgson does not get this team to Br...

Wilfried Bony (right) is a target for several Premier League clubs

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Chelsea have reportedly joined West Ham in the pursuit of Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony and are ready to hijack the move. The £12million-rated player’s agent, Francis Kacou, was at Stamford Bridge on Monday to propose a transfer, according to the Sun. Also there was Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s potential next manager, as well as Vitesse owner Merab Jordania, who has links with Roman Abramovich, and Erwin Kasakowski, managing director of the Dutch outfit. Wanted man: Wilfried Bony (right) is a target for several Premier League clubs The topic of discussion was the Ivory Coast international, who has scored 26 goals in 24 league games to fire Vitesse into an unlikely title race. West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan met London-based Kacou earlier that day but chances of a switch to Upton Park cooled after Bony’s wage demands of nearly £80,000 emerged. Spotted: Jose Mourinho was at Stamford Bridge on Monday ahead of a potential return to Chelsea ...

Roberto Mancini says Yaya Toure will not leave Manchester City this summer

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Roberto Mancini is at loggerheads with his captain Vincent Kompany after claiming the Belgian defied him by playing for his country in midweek. Having not played for Manchester City since injuring his calf at the end of January, Kompany surprised everybody by playing for Belgium in their World Cup win over Macedonia in midweek. Despite the Belgian FA telling Sportsmail last night that Mancini’s medical staff were fully aware of Marc Wilmots’ intention to play Kompany, the City boss launched a wide-ranging attack at the player and his national coach. Defiant: Roberto Mancini says Yaya Toure will not leave Manchester City this summer How they stand: City are 15 points behind United Mancini said: ‘I said to him, “Stay here to have more treatment but don’t go to play because it would be taking a risk for us because these next two months are really important”. He said that the manager called him and he should go. ‘I can’t put him in jail for two weeks, can...

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius successfully appealed against some of his bail restrictions on Thursday

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Oscar Pistorius could make a sensational return to the track at this summer's World Championships after a judge today changed his bail conditions as he awaits trial for killing his girlfriend. Lawyers for the 'Blade Runner', who was not in court for the hearing, applied for the conditions to be changed to allow Pistorius to travel abroad to compete. The 26-year-old is on bail after being charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who was shot dead at his home in Pretoria last month. Verdict: Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius successfully appealed against some of his bail restrictions on Thursday Pistorius is likely to stand trial before the end of the year, the High Court in Pretoria heard today, and his next court appearance is on June 4. Meanwhile, Pistorius' agent, Peet van Zyl, said soon after the ruling that his client could even run at the world championships in Moscow in August and the IAAF later confirm...

Federico Macheda's stunning strike against Aston Villa is the first thing people recall about him

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Federico Macheda is a young footballer in grave danger of being defined by just one moment: the drag-back turn and perfect finish that marked his debut as a substitute for Manchester United. That goal, at home to Aston Villa in April 2009, and the one that followed at Sunderland a week later helped United win the league title and shaped a teenage life. At Stuttgart FC’s Mercedes Benz Arena this week, all that seems a long time ago. Tall and lean, Macheda is 21 now, with the early signs of a beard. ‘It makes me look like a grown-up,’ he smiled. Remember? Federico Macheda's stunning strike against Aston Villa is the first thing people recall about him Then and now: Sportsmail's Ian Ladyman talks to Macheda at the Stuttgart training ground VIDEO: Macheda's debut strike against Aston Villa In football terms, though, the Italian has certainly not matured. To use the beloved racing parlance of his manager Sir Alex Ferguson, Macheda has no...

Jarvis faces the press before England play Wales

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Earlier this year Matt Jarvis bared his torso to appear on the front cover of gay magazine Attitude. The reaction that followed offered the West Ham winger a taste of what it might be like were a current footballer to come out. There was added attention from family friends, the media, and fellow players, and Jarvis, who is happily married to wife Sarah, admits he hadn’t anticipated such a level of interest. But he does not regret the choice. In fact, the episode has given the 26-year-old, capped once by England, a unique insight into the issue of homosexuality in football and he is able to add a confident and considered voice to the debate.   Stomach for a fight: Jarvis poses in a retro West Ham shirt for attitude magazine   Cover star: Jarvis strips for the camera   Jarvis poses in the February edition of attitude magazine Jarvis can now talk about the training ground banter provoked by his cover shoot, imagine the added pressures of playing w...