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The manager: the rise of the bastard

In the second of a six-part series, Barney Ronay investigates the ironmen of the dugoutBarney RonayElliot SmithPeter SaleMatt HallChristian Bennett

England will pay for overusing Walcott, warns Wenger

• Under-21 call-up made winger's pre-season too short• 'I knew at the start what could happen, it's frustrating'Arsène Wenger has told Fabio Capello he will "pay the price" for his short-sightedness over Theo Walcott as he revealed that the winger was now a selection doubt with a...

O'Neill urges Aston Villa fans to lay off the boos

• Martin O'Neill says 'nothing fundamentally wrong' at Villa• Manager admits poor run has affected the squad's confidenceMartin O'Neill has admitted that Aston Villa's confidence has suffered following a poor start to the season but the Northern Irishman maintains there is "nothing...

Babel faces season of reckoning, says Benítez

• Forward must prove his worth this season• 'Ryan knows he needs to perform at a different level'Rafael Benítez has told Ryan Babel he must give Liverpool a return on their £11.5m investment this season or risk becoming surplus to requirements at Anfield. The Liverpool manager...

'Barracking your own players can work'

Like using a car horn, barracking annoying heroes is inefficient and indiscriminate – but there are occasions when it's acceptableFootballers are not performing elephants; they should not be beaten with brooms to get them to improve, much as we might sometimes like to. However, as the Great...

Yeung's takeover of Birmingham nears completion

• Confident of passing fit-and-proper-persons test • David Sullivan and Gold brothers to sell Blues stake for £40mCarson Yeung will submit the directors' declaration form to the Premier League within the next 48 hours as his proposed takeover of Birmingham City gathers pace and is...

Ancelotti: Shevchenko has Chelsea future

• Ukrainian is in Chelsea manager's plans• 'No mental problem' insists ItalianCarlo Ancelotti is adamant that Andriy Shevchenko still has a role at Chelsea. The manager believes that a forward who cost the club £30m in 2006 is at last ready to make a significant contribution in the...