The Footy Mumble: Terry not credible, Gerrard incomprehensible!

Hodgson apologizes to Rio Ferdinand

Roy Hodgson has apologized to Rio Ferdinand over ‘false’ reports that the manager had told fellow travelers on the London Tube that the players’ international career was over.

Hodgson said he would never take such a decision, and that it was up to a player himself to decide when to end his career.

The gaffer denied making such a statement at all, and said he had merely told a fellow passenger that Ferdinand wouldn’t be in the team for the next match.

Guilty conscience pricks the mind, eh Mr. Hodgson?

FA says Terry’s defence was not ‘credible’

The English FA has released a 63 page report regarding its decision to ban Terry.

And it claims Terry’s defence was not credible, and goes even so far as to say that Ashley Cole’s statement was altered to support Terry.

The report also says the FA does not believe Terry is racist. The committee was also convinced that Terry’s comments qualified as an insult.

The Disciplinary Committee apparently took into account body language and expressions to determine that his defence of merely repeating Ferdinand’s words did not stand.

Terry now has until the 18th of October to appeal against the decision to ban him for 4 matches and a £220,000 fine.

Reading advised to appeal more – by referee!

Poor refereeing has been the story of the season, and if Reading manager Brian McDermott is it to believed, appealing strongly immediately, which can sometimes warrant a booking in themselves, is the solution.

And this he says, was the advice given by a fourth official himself!

This was during the match against Newcastle when Demba Ba appeared to have controlled the ball with his hand before scoring the winner.

And not surprisingly, McDermott was left as confused as we are now.

Well actually, we are just wondering what the role of the referee is, then, if decisions are given based on appeals rather than the incidents.

Gerrard says Liverpool will qualify for UCL and win a trophy!

Moving on from surprising to incomprehensibility, Liverpool midfielder claims the club can qualify for Champions League this season, and also win a trophy!

While the latter may come true, considering they will field a full strength team against second string squads of other top clubs in the FA and Capital One Cups, the former point seems optimistic to the point of utmost foolishness.

The more realistic target we feel will be to avoid relegation, considering the Reds’ position is 14th in the league table, and just two points above the relegation places.

Juve in for Walcott and Drogba?

And in today’s transfer rumors from Italia, Juventus are reportedly targeting Theo Walcott of Arsenal, who is in the last year of his contract with the London club, and no closer to agreeing a new deal.

And if that wasn’t enough to spice up the news, the rumors also add that Juve will bring in Didier Drogba from the wilderness of Chinese football, who too may become a free agent if reports of financial problems at his current club are true.

So all in all, Juve will look to land two top players in free agency but also pay exorbitant salaries that will nullify any benefits arising out of not spending on transfer fees.