What on earth do you say when the football team you manage gets thrashed?

1) Make the heavy defeat sound like a draw …

Norwich boss Chris Hughton (beaten 4-0 by Manchester United): "We were still very much in the game." (Norwich had only one shot, but at least it was on target!)

2) Concede that the opposition were better. Well, almost... 

"You have to give Liverpool credit... but I think we were to blame for the scoreline" – Wigan's Roberto Martinez after a 4-0 defeat at home.



3) Deny it's your fault – especially if the team you picked were 5-0 adrift within just 76 minutes…



"I don't think it was down to our system or tactics" – Birmingham boss Lee Clark (lost 5-2 at Hull).



4) Divert the blame (it was so unfortunate!) …



"It wasn't a corner and then we conceded… the second goal led to a capitulation. The two goals that followed came as a result of us thinking about the misfortune we suffered" - Huddersfield boss Mark Robins after losing 4-1 to Brighton. Nothing to do with Ulloa's well-taken hat-trick, of course.

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Kenny Dalglish leaves Liverpool FC after meeting with US owners in Boston

Kenny Dalglish has left Liverpool FC as manager after talks with the club's American owners in Boston and many fans are in a state of shock.

He had delivered an end-of-season report, according to the Guardian, to Fenway Sports Group, including the owner and chairman. The group was not happy with Liverpool's 8th position in the league and the FA Cup Final defeat.

GUARDIAN STORY

UPDATE:

Club statement:
"Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and Liverpool Football Club announced that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as Manager after having his contract terminated.
After a careful and deliberative review of the season, the Club came to the decision that a change was appropriate. It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily."

ITV NEWS


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Pub can show football on foreign decoders - landlady wins Premier League case.

A landlady in Portsmouth has won her latest battle to show Premier League football games in her pub using a foreign TV decoder.

Karen Murphy had taken her case to the European Court of Justice after being fined for using a cheap Greek decoder to overcome controls on screening matches.

BBC

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Brighton and Hove Albion - brilliant video

If you liked my video on The Seagulls' opening game (and it is still getting some good viewing), you'll love this brilliant cinematic video of the game against Doncaster.

OPENING SCENES VIDEO

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RoboCup: soccer playing robots in football world cup - video

Robot soccer teams from around the world are playing in a football world cup in Turkey. And the BBC has a great video about the finals in Istanbul.

The play is a bit slow... but very interesting none the less.

BBC VIDEO

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Tackle check: footballer sent off because private parts were pierced - Australia video

A footballer in Australia was sent off because he refused to remove the piercing from his penis, according to the website Anorak, which has a video of the incident.

Now a fierce debate is raging about how the referee knew about the piercing - and, indeed, if you can be sent off for refusing to remove such jewellery.

Aaron Ecclestone, who emigrated to Australia from Macclesfield in England, plays soccer for Melbourne's Old Hill Wanderers reserves.

The referee stopped the match against Swinburne reserves and marched Aaron to the dressing room to check his tackle. When they came out again, the ref showed him a red card.

Despite the ruling, Old Hill won the match 3-0.

ANORAK STORY AND VIDEO

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Want to see the Champions League Final? That'll be £20,000 for two tickets, please

Touts have been offering two tickets for the Champions League football final between Manchester United and Barcelona at Wembley for £20,000 - 30 times more than the face value of £300 each.

A Spanish firm offered one ticket for more than £8,198, says the Sun newspaper.

Good excuse to watch it on TV down the pub.


SUN STORY

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