Everton boss Moyes blasts FA over cup final tickets

Everton manager David Moyes has attacked the Football Association for being 'disrespectful' and 'hypocritical' in their allocation of FA Cup final tickets.

Both the Toffees and Chelsea have been given about 25,000 tickets each for the showpiece event at the 90,000-capacity venue on May 30.

Moyes said that was woefully inadequate considering the huge demand on Merseyside with Everton in their first final since 1995.
We get 25,000, Chelsea get 25,000 and I think the FA get 40,000,' he said.

'Something is not right when 40,000 tickets have gone to corporate people.

'I understand these people are the ones putting some money into it and probably helped build Wembley in the first place but it's not right for the average punter.

'It disappoints me when all through the season when the managers get questioned about not putting out their strongest team, leaving one or two players out, in FA Cup ties.

'The biggest disrespect has come from the FA in how many tickets they have given teams who get to the final.

'It is a little bit hypocritical. They want us to support the competition, speak well about it, play everyone in it and then when we get there give the teams a limited amount of tickets.

'There is nothing Everton can do but I feel really bad for the supporters. We could probably take three times the number of tickets we have got and I'd love them to be there.

'I just hope they all get in somehow.'

Fergie warning for United stars

Sir Alex Ferguson was warned Manchester United superstars like Dimitar Berbatov no player is guaranteed first-team football – no matter what their price tag may be.

Despite his club record £30.75million price tag, Ferguson still left Berbatov out of his starting line-up to face Arsenal on Wednesday.

The on-going uncertainty over Carlos Tevez's United future will not save him either on Tuesday should Ferguson decide the Argentina star is not what he needs for the Champions League semi-final second-leg at the Emirates Stadium.
It is part of a focus that has stood Ferguson in good stead throughout his managerial career, most famously when he axed goalkeeper Jim Leighton for the 1990 FA Cup final replay with Crystal Palace after a miserable performance in the first game at Wembley.

And, no matter what the circumstances, Ferguson will not change.

'Players react differently,' said the United boss.

'Some accept it, others find it hard. It depends on the nature of the personalities. But it doesn't deflect me from picking what I feel is the correct team.

'In 1990, I made the right decision. I was disappointed for the lad at the time because Jim took it badly but that is why I speak to my players before I pick my team.

'You cannot think about how much a player costs when you are picking a team.

'Once that player is signed it is not as if you can go to the tax man and ask for a rebate if he doesn't play.

'Others might not agree with my choice and the recent FA Cup semi-final was a case in point.

'But I never allow anyone to cloud my judgement. I am very clear-minded about that.'

Almunia good enough to play for England, insists Arsenal boss Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger still believes Manuel Almunia could represent England one day and declared: 'He is the best.'

The Spaniard produced a superb display in the midweek Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford, helping keep the score down to just 1-0.

Almunia joined the Gunners from Celta Vigo in July 2004, and so under residency laws would soon be eligible to apply to become a naturalised British citizen.
Given the 31-year-old has yet to be called up into the Spain national team, there remains genuine possibility Almunia would, under FIFA regulations, be available for selection to England coach Fabio Capello in time for the build-up to the 2010 World Cup.

However, the issue continues to draw controversy, with both former England keepers Peter Shilton and Ray Clemence voicing their concerns. Nevertheless, there are plenty of precedents.

Arsenal's Brazil-born striker Eduardo is a regular for Croatia having moved there when he was a teenager.

Manchester United and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves was born in Canada.

And Marcel Desailly, born in Ghana, and Zinedine Zidane, of Algerian descent, both helped France win the World Cup in 1998.

In other sports, England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen was born in South Africa and rugby player Riki Flutey is from New Zealand, but is now a British resident.

'There are international rules which have to be respected, but if it is possible legally, why not?' said Wenger.

'Then it is more a choice left to the English Football Association or to Manuel Almunia's desire.

'I believe he is not only good enough, but he is the best.'

The Gunners boss added: 'It is down to what you expect morally and mentally from a national team.

'I believe at some stage you have to observe just the rules and decide what you want.

'On the English side, for the national team, it is not so much a problem because if the guy decides to become English, he has had to observe and respect the rules like anybody else.

'Why should he then not be qualified to play for the national team?

'It is more a moral problem maybe for Manuel Almunia, because does he consider he has a chance to play in the Spanish national team or not?'

Arsenal head to Portsmouth tomorrow looking to extend a 20-game unbeaten run in the Barclays Premier League.

However, Eduardo is out for around three weeks with a groin problem, and defender Mickael Silvestre is struggling to face his former club again because of a similar problem.

Gael Clichy (back) will miss the Champions League second-leg against United on Tuesday, but leading scorer Robin van Persie (groin) could return next week.

Russian playmaker Andrey Arshavin is available tomorrow having been cup-tied for the Champions League clash.

Agger close to new Liverpool deal

Daniel Agger is believed to be close to signing a new long-term contract with Liverpool.

The Danish central defender has been involved in a lengthy saga over his future, and it was feared he was waiting to buy himself out of the final year of his contract.

He has been linked with AC Milan, Juventus and Barcelona in recent months with talks seemingly at a stalemate with Liverpool.

It had been thought that Agger wanted a wage rise from £50,000 a week to £70,000 a week.

However, his agent Per Steffensen has recently visited Liverpool for discussions with manager Rafael Benitez and it is thought that a deal is now on the table that suits both player and club.

Benitez said: 'These conversations have gone really well and we are very close. Maybe we will soon have a solution.'

Liverpool recently agreed new deals with Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt while verbal agreements have been made with youngsters Nathan Ecclestone, Peter Gulacsi, Krisztian Nemeth and Nabil El Zhar.

Ferdinand should be fit to face Arsenal

Rio Ferdinand could be fit for Manchester United's second-leg Champions League showdown with Arsenal after scans revealed he had not cracked a rib.

The England defender was forced off and had to be taken to hospital during the first leg of the sides' semi-final meeting at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

He will miss United's Premier League game with Middlesbrough tomorrow but manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident he could be fit to face the Gunners.
'It's good news with Rio. It is not a cracked bone, he had a bit of bruising on the lung which was why he was coughing up blood but there has been nothing since then,' Ferguson said.

'Hopefully we can get him ready for Tuesday, he seems almost back to normal. But he won't play tomorrow.

'Of course when you see it at the time you fear the worst but now it is just a case of getting him back training, hopefully on Sunday, and getting him ready for Tuesday.'