IRELAND will march confidently into the magnificent Stade de France tonight with spirits high and ambition soaring to face a French team reeling amid charges of mis-management.

WAYNE ROONEY is one of four Manchester United players nominated for FIFA’s World Player of the Year award in a list which is heavily influenced by the Premiership.

ALEX FERGUSON has been handed the complete backing of Manchester United's board as he looks to steer his way through the choppiest waters he has encountered at Old Trafford in 15 years.

MALCOLM GLAZER could have a few killer blows up his sleeve that may help persuade shareholders to give him control of Manchester United.

ALEX FERGUSON is convinced Manchester United will end Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run tomorrow - because they simply have to.

DAVID BECKHAM faces a shoot-out at the OK Corral saloon in the Wild West, as he turns cowboy in the latest Pepsi advert.

MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson wants influential captain Roy Keane to stay at Old Trafford for another five years.

RIO FERDINAND does not see any need for Wayne Rooney to clean up his act - he loves the fiery Manchester United striker just the way he is.

NOVEMBER may be the cruellest month according to TS Eliot, but David Moyes believes December will tell if Everton are in dreamland or the wasteland.

MARTIN O’NEILL is bravely standing by his after-match comments in Seville and has insisted the only people feeling embarrassed today should be the UEFA Cup winners.

ARSENE WENGER has defended his gamble not to make a significant investment in new players this season by insisting his current Arsenal squad should have been good enough to win the title.

RIO FERDINAND is in pole position to retain his place in the England side for today's friendly against Argentina - keeping Sol Campbell out of the team.

SINCE these troubled times for Manchester United and - to judge by the wall-to-wall news coverage - the whole world as we know it, this column feels duty-bound to try and cheer people up with a good, old-fashioned gag.

JOHN O’SHEA is refusing to concede the Premiership title to Arsenal.

IT’S not the first time I’ve said this but thank goodness for Manchester United’s ability to produce off pitch interest when the on-pitch entertainment value drops to zero.

ALEX FERGUSON has branded Tal Ben Haim a disgrace and claimed the furore surrounding Wayne Rooney should not be allowed to mask the Bolton defender’s attempt to get the England striker sent off.

MANCHESTER UNITED captain Roy Keane will set a modern era record of six FA Cup final appearances when he leads his side out against Millwall on Saturday.