Bolt from the Blue

Monday, Tuesday, Happy Days: Ray enjoying a joke with Ancelotti and Terry

Yesterday evening, Chelsea Football Club announced the shock departure of Ray Wilkins as their assistant manager.

Ray was one minute putting the ground-work in at their Surrey training base in a reserve-team game with Bayern Munich, and the next being told his services were no longer required.

Senior members of the backroom staff are rightly stunned by the decision to part company with such a popular character and this is a travesty not just for Chelsea, but for the football community.

In an age where loyalty is seemingly on the wane in the game, Ray was a breath of fresh air at a club that defines everything bad about the modern game: 1. foreign ownership and 2. debts only manageable by securing ludicrous loans and qualifying for the Champions League season-in season-out.

Ray has been associated with his boyhood club on and off for 37 years and, despite Chelsea’s flirtation with countless foreign managers, he has provided a solid English pillar.

Leader of the pack: A youthful Wilkins was handed the captaincy at just 18

He made 179 appearances for Chelsea, joining them as an apprentice in 1973, and filled in as caretaker manager twice, before assuming his role as assistant manager in 2009.

To sever ties with him is saddening, while the timing sickening.

Why wait 12 games into a season before rendering his services redundant? Surly it would have been preferable for an amicable parting of the ways in the summer.

The press have come to the conclusion there must have been a falling out with the manager, Carlo Ancelotti.

Such a scenario would make sense. In his latest book, The Beautiful Game of an Ordinary Genius released in August, Ancelotti was full of praise for his assistant.

“One of the reasons I fit into the locker room was thanks to the fundamental role played by Ray Wilkins, my number two and my friend,” it reads.

“It's one thing to translate words – plenty of people can do that – but translating feelings is the gift of only a select few.

“Ray is one of those select few, always present, noble in spirit, a real blue-blood, Chelsea flows in his veins.

“Without him, we couldn't have won a thing.”

The book also states what a great bloke John Terry is.

The fact Ray is held in such high esteem by the same man who was part of consultation process to oust him is telling; so I wouldn’t get too ahead of yourself John.

So all points to a very bitter, and recent falling out.

But I believe in an all-too-sinister alternative.

Today the game is run as a business; a cut-throat industry ran as meticulously off it as on it.

If an owner pours billions into a club and is dissatisfied with even the most minute of irritants, the axe is wielded, with timing and the individual concerned barely taken into consideration.

Quite how Ray fell victim to Roman Abramovich's regime is left open to speculation.

But from the outside looking in, the way this ‘blue-blood’ has been treated is despicable, and both Ancelotti and Abramovich should hang their heads in shame at this apparent coups d'état.

Anyone who has met Ray will tell you how likeable he is and, from a football fan’s perspective, he is a rare gem.

Ray spotted collecting his Barclays Merit Award for services to CFC

He is not of the Mick McCarthy or Ian Holloway school of comedy, nor part of the cryptic crew of Messrs Cantona, Ferguson or Benítez.

But his charm offensive is unique and likeable.

His tone of voice and charisma in discussing a John Terry elbow or a Didier Drogba dive is as eloquent as if he were giving a treatise on a Monet, or a Mozart violin concerto, all while sitting back to a glass of burgundy.

Quite what his views on French impressionist painting and Classical music is anyone’s guess.

But his passion for Chelsea is insatiable and was evident not least when he acted as a judge in Sky One’s Football Icon, a nationwide talent search for the next Frank Lampard.

Ray had no obligation to get involved in such a charade, but never-the-less offered four-decades worth of experience to these kids as if they were his own.

Perhaps this paternal instinct, evident when he skippered a youthful Chelsea team to promotion in 1977 and his work under two managers for the England Under-21s, is wasted on prima donnas such as Drogba and better suited to a youth set-up.

There is no doubting should he pursue this career path next there will be no shortage of admirers.

But the way he has been treated this week by Chelsea is despicable, and should be a wake-up call for football – loyalty is not something that can be bought, nor taken for granted.

With Chelsea looking down on the Football League, flying high in Europe and with an FA Cup to defend, don’t be surprised if Karma makes a timely appearance when the pots are handed out in May.

Henson Circus Set To Continue At Sarries

Strictly professional: Henson with his new Saracens team-mates

Gavin Henson revealed this week he hopes to play rugby for Wales again after signing a deal with Saracens until the end of the season.

The exiled Henson raised a few eyebrows when he was chosen to launch the new Wales kit last month, but this move is the first step towards international redemption.

And after signing for the Sarries, Henson hopes to grace the Millennium Stadium sooner, rather than later.

“I know I still have so much to give to rugby, and I can’t wait to get back on the field, playing for Saracens and hopefully for Wales,” he said.

“Now it’s time to start working hard, getting back to match fitness as soon as possible and then to let my rugby do all the talking.”

Henson has been in self-imposed exile from rugby for 19 months, and after suffering a turbulent year off the field, the rugby world was beginning to wonder whether he had fallen out of love with the game.

But Henson dispelled any such fears, adding: “I am genuinely delighted to get this opportunity to play for Saracens.

“They have created a special vibe at the club and just being around them has rekindled my enthusiasm for the sport.”

Time will tell whether Henson has rekindled his love-affair with rugby, as to date he has seemingly courted more publicity off the field than on it.

He is not alone, however, as a number of sports stars have looked to make a name for themselves away from the day job.

Danny Cipriani

Not dissimilar to Henson, Cipriani has made more headlines off the field than on it in his short career. Set to make his England debut against Scotland on 8 March 2008, Kelly Brook’s former hubby was removed from the starting fifteen after been snapped leaving a nightclub a few days before. Currently waiting for his visa to join the Melbourne Rebels, Cipriani allegedly spent the summer ‘maintaining his fitness levels’ at Tottenham, QPR and at Lindsay Lohan’s.

Anna Kournikova

Probably the biggest pin-up of a generation, Kournikova broke onto the scene as an innocent 15-year old at the 1996 U.S. Open. Her singles career never took off, however, with a semi-final appearance at Wimbledon a year later the furthest she progressed in a major. The Russian has earned millions off the court, appearing in numerous FHM and Maxim shoots, and was the face of the highly successful ‘only the ball should bounce’ billboard campaign for Berlei's shock-absorber sports bras. She has dated pop star Enrique Iglesias since 2001 and appeared in his music video ‘Escape’.

Ana Ivanovic

Like Kournikova, Ivanovic is fast becoming more of a pin-up than a tennis sensation, also appearing in FHM. Despite winning the 2008 French Open, she has disappointed in all majors since and after defeat in the first round of Wimbledon this year, fell to 64^th in the world rankings.

Jenson Button pre-2009

The current Formula One World Drivers’ Champion did not always have it his own way on the track. After a staggering 113 races, Button won his first Grand Prix in Hungary in 2006. In this period, Button did have the consolation of having a series of stunning spouses. During a five-year romance, Button was engaged to actress and singer Louise Griffiths. He has also dated Rose McGowan and model Florence Brudenell-Bruce. It has taken nine years, but Button has finally managed to successfully juggle life in the fast lane with his love-life, currently back with the dazzling Jessica Michibata after a short break.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr

Mayweather is an undoubted force in the ring, but labelling him a ‘great’ will have to wait until his protracted fight with Manny Pacquiao is sorted out. The five-division world champion has courted publicity elsewhere, and his self-proclaimed money tag has seen him dabble in wrestling, appearing in WWE's No Way Out in February, 2008. Like Henson, he has also appeared in a reality-series dance show, lasting four rounds in America’s Dancing with the Stars in 2007.

Mike Tyson

Where do you start? Since becoming the youngest boxer to win the WBC title at the age of 20 and the first to simultaneously hold all WBA, WBC and IBF titles, Tyson’s private life could be held accountable for regularly stalling one of the greatest heavy-weight boxers of all time. In 1992, Tyson was convicted of sexually assaulting Desiree Washington, and served three years in prison. He re-gained a portion of the heavyweight title in 1996, but lost it to Evander Holyfield later that year by an 11^th round TKO. In their 1997 rematch, Tyson’s troubled past reared its ugly head once more when he was disqualified for biting off part of Holyfield’s ear. Tyson declared bankruptcy in 2003, despite receiving around $300 million during his career. In May 2009, Tyson's 4-year-old daughter tragically died after becoming tangled in an exercise treadmill’s cord.

Player Power on the Wayne

Roo-turn: Rooney has signed a multi-million pound deal to stay at Old Trafford

So, the inevitable has happened. Wayne Rooney has thrown his toys out the pram and today managed to secure a new five-year deal at Old Trafford.

But, despite the recent circus surrounding Rooney, are the events of the past week in fact a victory for football, rather than a smash-and-grab job from Wazza?

Ian Holloway expressed his concern in a manner only he knows how on Thursday, but his emotional rant did highlight an increasing concern in the modern game: player power.

“If Alex Ferguson is being bullied by his player and his agent, how wrong is the game?” he said.

“Some say it’s unfair on the player – rubbish! He’s had his wages every week guaranteed come rain or shine, whether he’s injured or not.

“They bought him, they work with him – he belongs to them.”

But as Rooney looks set to stay at United for the foreseeable future, perhaps Ollie’s concerns are not as widespread as he would have us to believe.

The conclusion of this week’s events proves Sir Alex is still the master, that he and he alone decides the comings and goings through the proverbial door at Old Trafford.

Although this is arguably the most high-profile case of a manager biting back in recent times, there have been examples of players publically expressing a desire to leave, only to find the door slammed in their faces, and a large slice of humble pie to accompany their new contract.

In July 2005, weeks after captaining the side to Champions League glory, Steven Gerrard submitted a transfer request at Anfield.

But, in a similar twist to close-friend Rooney, Stevie G performed a miraculous u-turn and opted to stay with his beloved Reds.

The same could be said of Cesc Fabregas this summer.

After winning the World Cup, the Arsenal skipper made it clear he wanted to rejoin his compatriots at Barcelona.

But Fabregas’ expected move to the Nou Camp will have to wait for now, as Arsène Wenger, like Fergie, has shown who is boss and managed to persuade his want-away star to stay.

“I convinced him to stay. I am confident we will keep him for a few more years,” said the Frenchman, after rejecting two bids for his star man in the summer.

Dismissing the theory there is a gentleman’s agreement in place for his captain to return to his home city next year, Wenger said: “He deeply loves this club – if he did not love the club, he would have gone.

“You have to remember that Barcelona has an attraction because he grew up there, but I believe he wants to win with this club.”

Arsenal fans may well cite Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Real Madrid as an example of player power eventually coming to the fore to secure a desired transfer.

But in the time after Sir Alex managed to convince Ronaldo to stay in the summer of 2006, United won a further three league titles, a League Cup and a Champions League, before Ronaldo tottered off to the Bernabeu with the club’s best wishes.

If Cesc delivers the goods in the next couple of seasons, ending Arsenal’s six-year wait for a trophy, then he too may well leave with a pat on the back.

Rooney’s high opinion of himself to the extent where he feels he can pull a stunt like he has is surprising only for the timing.

He has so far failed to replicate the stunning form of last term, but one player who is currently scaling the heights is Tottenham’s Gareth Bale and, refreshingly, he remains grounded.

The Welshman hit a stunning hat-trick this week in The San Siro against Inter Milan, but refreshingly remains grounded on his future.

“I don't see a team in my mind that is not Spurs," said the former Southampton man.

“I don't have another club in my mind in Italy, Spain nor England. I am fine here at Tottenham.”

This must be music to the ears of the White Hart Lane faithful, and proves loyalty can prevail in an era of mercenary footballers.

Roongate is over, for now, but when football scholars many years from now look back on this protracted saga, they may well pinpoint this as a crucial victory for football. Let’s all raise a glass to Sir Alex.

Arsenal on cloud nine

UEFA Womens Champions League – Round of 32

Arsenal 9

Yankey 19, E. White 23, Little 26, 42, Davison 51, Nobbs 55, Sampanidis og 79, Carter 84, Ludlow 90

ŽFK Mašinac 0

(Arsenal win 12-1 on aggregate)

Davison jumps for joy, while her team-mates mob Ellen White

Laura Harvey praised her strongest ever Arsenal squad as they eased to a 9-0, 12-1 aggregate win over ŽFK Mašinac and into the last 16 of the Champions League.

Despite playing in their off-season, Rachel Yankey, Ellen White and a Kim Little double put the hosts four up by half time to put the tie well beyond the Serbs.

Not content with this, the home side scored five more in the second period, with Gemma Davison, Jordan Nobbs and an own goal from Hristina Sampanidis making it seven.

Two late efforts from Danielle Carter and Jayne Ludlow sealed the rout, and Arsenal now face Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano in the next round.

For manager Harvey, it was a pleasing day at the office.

She said: “Not conceding’s always good, but as we were four up at half time, it was nice to enjoy ourselves in the second half.

“It’s been tough recently, not playing consistently, then having to play a Champions League game.

“But we’re pleased with how the players we’ve brought in are playing, and they’ve added an extra quality.

“This is the most competition we’ve had for a while, our bench is the strongest it’s ever been.

“It’s difficult to put your finger on a starting XI and this keeps the performances high.

“It’ll be tough against the Spanish as they’re in season, so I’m going out there to see them next week.”

The home side dominated throughout, playing an attacking brand of football which no doubt pleased the on-looking England coach Hope Powell.

Yankey was enjoying a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges, and had a couple of half chances before opening the scoring.

After a quarter of an hour, the England international sprayed a super 40-yard ball out left to Davison, who cut inside to return the ball to Yankey, but her powerful left-footed drive was well saved by Allysa Clark.

Moments later, Little showed decent trickery on the left of the area, before finding Yankey, who was once again foiled by Clark.

Despite her heroics, Clark was powerless to stop the breakthrough and, 19 minutes in, Ellen White’s right-wing cross found Yankey, who netted at the second attempt.

The hosts were finding their rhythm, and four minutes later doubled their advantage.

Ellen White played a neat one-two with Little on the edge of the box, before firing past a helpless Clark ten yards out; her defence failing her once more.

With the tie all but over, Arsenal’s approach was anything but relaxed as they continued to pass the ball with flair and purpose, and this brought about their third of the afternoon just before the half-hour.

Little powers through for her first of the day

Following a passage of neat passing, Little picked up the ball from just inside the opposition’s half and after a mazy run, she finished emphatically into the left-hand corner.

Three minutes before the break, Davison found Little inside the six-yard box and she powered home her second.

On 51 minutes, the hosts had their fifth when a short corner found Davison on the edge of the box, and after hurdling a challenge, she curled a delightful effort into the top right-hand corner.

Four minutes later, substitute Nobbs got in on the act, rifling home from the right side of the penalty area after the ball ricochet off a ZFK defender.

To further add to coach Perica Petrovic’s woe, his side had to play the final 18 minutes with ten players, Ivana Kostic seeing red for a second yellow after a cynical lunge on live-wire sub Carter.

With just over ten minutes remaining, the ladies got number seven when Little’s menacing ball from the right was turned into her own goal by Sampanidis, while Carter bundled home a eighth six minutes from time.

An injury-time ninth came when Yvonne Tracy squared for Ludlow to tap home the easiest goal of the afternoon to end a miserable day for the visitors.

“We want to offer our congratulations to Arsenal. At this moment we are not at their level,” said Petrovic.

“Our team is very young, and they need to work hard to reach the standards Arsenal are playing.

“In the first leg, we matched them physically, but today we never reached the same standards.

“We hope we will be able to play at their level as we are the best team in Serbia, but it may take two or three years before we are there.”

Arsenal: Byrne, Houghton, F. White (Tracy 56), Flaherty, Fahey, Davison, Ludlow, Grant (Nobbis 45), Yankey (Beattie 68), Little, E. White.

Subs not used: Spencer, Carter, Bruton, Fay.

ŽFK Mašinac: Clark, Kostic, Sampanidis (Smiljkovic 89), Dimitrijevic, Nikolic, Vujosevic (Trisic 45), Pavicevic (Ristic 63), Stojanovic, Lilic, Krstic, Radojicic.

Subs not used: Marinkovic, Stankovic.

Referee: Marina Mamayeva

Attendance: 325

Star player: Gemma Davison, Arsenal left-winger

Commonwealth Games Farce

All eyes will be on India in the coming weeks

This week revealed some shocking images from India as it prepares to host the nineteenth Commonwealth Games.

New Delhi plays host from the 3^rd–14^th October, and India 2010 has been billed as a celebration of diverse culture, traditions and heritage.

But this week’s news highlighted the difficulties facing the Indian Organising Committee as it builds up to the opening ceremony, with the footbridge collapse on Tuesday triggering a whole host of revelations.

Sky revealed a hole in the ceiling of the weightlifting hall which eventually gave way, while various media outlets have exposed the filthy state of the accommodation provided for the athletes.

Images of stained wash basins, urine-splattered bathroom floors and paw marks from wild dogs who roam around Delhi’s streets all came to light on Thursday – just hours before the first lot of English athletes were due to fly out.

Wales, having previously set a deadline of 5pm on Wednesday, seem to have been convinced by India’s efforts, and will send out their athletes tomorrow, but others are less than impressed.

Despite Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh taking control of the dire situation, the federal government have ordered the Organising Committee to hand over management of the village, the Scotland team are delaying their first party of 41.

Now William Hill is offering 5-1 odds the games will fail to go ahead as scheduled, and 2-1 that either England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland will pull out.

Big names of the athletics world have already said they will not compete, further casting doubt over the credibility of this year’s games.

Great Britain’s quadruple Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy withdrew in July, admittedly sighting a clash with the European Championships which carry Olympic qualification points.

However, Sir Chris is not the only Brit to have snubbed the games.

He has been joined by 400m’s reigning Commonwealth and Olympic Champion Christine Ohuruogu and triple jump’s World Champion and reigning Commonwealth Games Champion Phillips Idowu in the last week.

Not to mention Jamaica’s 100m sprint-sensation Usain Bolt, above, and fellow countryman and defending 100m champion Asafa Powell.

Both speed daemons have sighted niggling injuries and a preference to get into shape ahead of next year’s World Championships in South Korea as their reasons for withdrawing.

Elsewhere, Australia’s Minister for Sport Mark Arbib claimed more could follow world discus champion Dani Samuels’ tearful withdrawal over health and security worries, while Canadian officials have described the Indian officials as ‘incompromisable’.

All in all, it has probably been the worst build-up to a games in recent history, if not of all time.

But how has it been allowed to get to this calamitous stage?

Seven years ago, The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), chose India as its nation to host the quadrennial event.

Few could blame them.

India, the second most populous country with over 1.18 billion people, has a wealth of commercial and cultural heritage.

It has as diverse a culture as you can imagine, founding four of the world’s major religions – Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism – while Judaism, Christianity and Islam joined during the first millennium CE.

Add to this one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, The Taj Mahal (pictured), and fellow UNESCO World Heritage Site The Mahabodhi Temple, and none can argue India lays host to some of the world’s finest beauty spots.

Responsible for the direction and control of the games, the federation’s 71 nations all gave consent to India; therefore it is difficult to pass the buck.

However, once India was chosen, in the same way as when London was awarded the 2012 Olympics in 2005, the CGF passed all responsibility to the Indian Organising Committee.

The latter must take responsibility for this farce, but it does cast serious aspersions over the handing-over process.

With just nine days remaining, the fact they find themselves in this precarious position is laughable, and surely the CGF are ultimately responsible and must re-asses the handover process and their responsibility during the build up to the games.

It also begs the question: are the withdrawals solely due to the horrendous conditions at the time of writing, or because the Commonwealth Games are becoming devalued?

The irony is that in dismantling the British Empire, Britain was supposed to relinquish control over its former colonies.

It is now thirteen years since the handover of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China, thus giving independence to most of the Empire’s former territories, and yet the way Britain has reacted to India’s preparations does smack a little of a parent telling their child “I told you so”.

Perhaps justifiably so, as there can be no excuses for the state of the village.

But you can be sure that if was the World Championships at stake, there would not be this spate of withdrawals from the top athletes.

The star withdrawals, and the shambles in which preparations have been allowed to develop thus far, do lend to the idea the games are in decline and one lasting remnant from the Empire.

Australia's retired marathon runner Steve Moneghetti said that Indian organizers ‘have got two days to do what's probably going to take about two weeks’.

I for one hope they get it right as, at its best, India is a spectacular setting and a fitting venue for any games.

One which, potentially, could capture the hearts of even the most cynical of critics.

Why Henson would be better off foxtrotting his way over to Adams Park

Welsh Dragon: Henson dancing to his own tune at the Millennium Stadium

This week saw the BBC reveal their line up for this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.

Among the names set to light up our Saturday evenings is Gavin Henson, Welsh rugby’s former darling who helped his nation to two Grand Slams in 2005 and 2008.

For non-rugby enthusiasts, Henson’s involvement in the dance competition will add a rare panache to a show which usually showcases former sports stars, rather than current ones.

But Henson is the poster boy of Welsh rugby – what David Beckham is to English football if you will – and, however much Becks is perceived to be a prima donna, you will not see him tiptoeing around a ballroom dancefloor anytime soon.

And nor should Henson.

Henson has come to prominence playing rugby, and playing it rather well. There are few who can combine the flair, elegance and brutality on the field as the boy from Bridgend.

Despite his club side Ospreys winning the Magners League in his absence last term, Henson's talents have been missed by both club and country since his self-imposed exile from the game some 18 months ago.

In many ways, there are similarities between Henson and Beckham. Both enjoy the spotlight, the fast cars, the good looks, and the celebrity partner (although Henson has recently split from his fiancée Charlotte Church).

There is, however, one major difference between the two.

Beckham has excelled in his sport and, despite earning millions in non-sporting endorsements, has never forgotten what put him on the map: playing football.

Golden Balls still harbours a burning desire to represent his country in the autumn of his stellar career, and revealed this week he is chomping at the bit to be involved in the LA Galaxy’s fixture with Columbus Crew this Sunday after a six-month absence to an Achilles injury.

Henson, by stark contrast, appears happy to dip in and out of the sport which gave him his name, and this disrespect for the most unforgiving of sports, at least physically, will surely come back to haunt him.

Those close to the mercurial Welshman have no doubts he still harbours hopes of donning the famous red jersey again, and representing his nation in a World Cup.

After tasting Grand Slam success twice, he has yet to appear in a World Cup after being omitted from Gareth Jenkins’ squad that performed so dismally in France in 2007.

This glaring omission from his playing CV still haunts Henson, and he still hopes to address this as New Zealand 2011 approaches.

Just how he expects to do so when he is messing around on a television show is anybody’s guess, especially when he is approaching the peek of his career.

Henson may well go on to reproduce his top form for both club and country, and point to the fact he had this break from the game. But how many have followed a similar decision?

Strictly is only on for four months, while rugby is Henson’s bread and butter.

To even be considered for Wales in 2011, he must be playing regularly for a club, which brings us nicely onto this week’s rumours that Wasps are set to sign him in January.

The move would make perfect sense. Shaun Edwards is the current head coach of the London outfit, while also juggling this role with his part-time position as the Welsh defensive coach.

Edwards knows Henson inside out, and also has a direct link to the national team and Warren Gatland should Henson turn out eye-catching displays at Adams Park.

For Henson to figure for his country in a World Cup though, he must look to eradicate this playboy image – one that has seen him appear on The Jonathan Ross Show, banned from numerous Cardiff night spots, engaged to a celebrity, and appear on the said talent show.

There is no doubting Henson has talent, I just hope he decides it is best utilised on a rugby field, rather than in a ballroom.

EFC Injury Jinx Strikes Again

    Going in for the kill: Ex-Liverpool player Neil Warnock's reckless lunge

Apparently Tottenham are suffering an injury crisis at the minute.

Michael Dawson and Jermain Defoe were today ruled out for six weeks with respective knee and ankle injuries.

Their absence leaves Tottenham in a bit of a fix and comes at the worst possible time, according to the Daily Mail (it must be true).

The gremlins at the Mail also revealed in their injury-blow-themed back page that Manchester City's latest big-money acquisition Mario Balotelli will be facing, you guessed it, six weeks out after undergoing knee surgery in Italy.

Cry me a river...

Evertonians would have chocked on their cornflakes to learn their star protégé, Jack Rodwell, will face up to THREE MONTHS on the sidelines.

The England Under 21 star has suffered ankle ligament damage after an ex-Liverpool player, Stephen Warnock, hacked him needlessly in the centre circle during Aston Villa's game with Everton last week.

Anyone who saw Dawson's horrific fall last Friday will tell you the defender is lucky not to be facing at least six months out, rather than the six-week prognosis, while City will hardly notice Balotelli's absence.

For Spurs and City, these 'injury blows' should not derail their plans for success both domestically and abroad.

Rodwell's injury, however, is the latest in a long line of lengthy lay-offs to have affected the club since Yakubu was cruelly ruled out for 10 months in November 2008.

Show me an injury crisis, and I'll show you an injury crisis.

Everton's treatment room:

Yakubu, ruptured Achilles (November 2008-September 2009, 10 months)

Mikel Arteta, ruptured cruciate knee ligament (February 2009-January 2010, 11 months)

Victor Anichebe, damaged knee cartilage (February 2009-January 2010, 11 months)

Phil Jagielka, ruptured cruciate knee ligament (April 2009-February 2010, 10 months)

Phil Neville, posterior ligament damage (September 2009-December 2009, 3 months)

Steven Pienaar, knee (September 2009-November 2009, 2 months)

Marouane Fellaini, ankle ligament damage (February 2010-August 2010, 6 months)

Dan Gosling, ruptured cruciate knee ligament (March 2010-present)