IF you were to ask the man on the street the question “What do Manchester City need?” you could be there for a long time listening to the responses.

IF Jim Tobin of Meelin in North Cork was still alive today he would be having the best business week of his life. You see Jim in his day was the best lemonade maker in the locality and also made and sold boot polish!

IF Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was sceptical about the merits of alternative medicine beforehand, Saturday’s defeat to Sunderland could lead the Frenchman into a rethink.

IF Stuart Pearce — Psycho himself — winced as he witnessed at first hand the rigours of Roy Keane’s training regime, it is no wonder the Sunderland manager is now questioning whether he is pushing his players too hard.

After 90 days’ respite Ireland’s best forum for unreasonable soccer supporters is back for the rest of the season under the affable guidance of our chief correspondent Liam Mackey.

After 90 days’ respite Ireland’s best forum for unreasonable soccer supporters is back for the rest of the season under the affable guidance of our chief correspondent Liam Mackey. Liam will run an arbitrary eye over your prejudices every Tuesday between now and May and be handing out glittering prizes for reasoned, and unreasoned arguments.

IF Finance Minister Brian Cowen’s stamp duty reform was on the property market, some slippery estate agent would no doubt describe it as “niche and bijou”.

IF Justice Minister, Michael McDowell, is really worried about the burden of stamp duty on first-time buyers, why does he not simply suggest it be a tax paid by the builder/speculator?

Chelsea 2 Tottenham 1

With the draw for the European Championship qualifiers and a match with Sweden looming, Steve Staunton will have to learn fast, writes Liam Mackey.

IF Government has no place in the bedrooms of the nation, and formal religion no place in the governance of the State, then why should Government be able to make the study of Irish compulsory in the classrooms?

CORK City take a step up in class tonight at the Rasunda Stadium when they meet Swedish title contenders Djurgardens IF in a UEFA Cup second qualifying round first leg tie (6pm Irish time).

AIDAN O’BRIEN looks to have another useful juvenile on his hands in Rumplestiltskin, who landed the Swordlestown Stud Sprint Stakes at Naas yesterday despite looking inexperienced.

Tralee IT 2-8 Waterford 0-9

Newcastle 2 Norwich 2

IF some of the owners of Ballybeggan Park have their way, today’s race meeting will be the last ever held at the track in Tralee, where there has been horse racing since the 1700s.

Tipperary 3-15 Galway 2-18

Limerick 2-21

IF Equality Minister Willie O'Dea is feeling totally frustrated over the entire controversy involving publicans and Travellers and the issue of equality, it would be hard to blame him.

Alvaro Recoba returned with a vengeance from a year of torment and goes to the World Cup living up to his status as the world’s best-paid footballer.