IT should be a time for a new coat of paint, the smell of freshly-mown grass and a joyful lift of the spirits as a new football season approaches.

GERARD HOULLIER is expected to include Steven Gerrard for the UEFA Cup clash with Vitesse Arnhem.

MANCHESTER UNITED legend George Best has revealed his disdain for the perpetrators of the food fight which took place at Old Trafford last weekend after the highly-charged game with Arsenal.

LIVERPOOL defender Jamie Carragher will not face any disciplinary action from the FA in the wake of his outspoken criticism of referee Mike Riley.

John Skilbeck

ARSENAL'S miserable week took a turn for the worse yesterday as captain Patrick Vieira was handed a two-match ban and £25,000 (€30.500) fine for insulting referee Andy D'Urso.

MANCHESTER United fans were recently showing symptoms of post takeover traumatic disorder.

KOPPITES won’t like the comparison but the thought just struck - could Liverpool be this year’s Greece?

ROOKIE title winner John O’Shea does not want to be landed with the tag of Manchester United’s ‘Mr Versatility’.

Charlton 0 Chelsea 2

MANCHESTER United goalkeeper Roy Carroll is hopeful of signing an extension to his contract early in the new year.

CLAUDIO RANIERI, who started his career as Chelsea manager with a draw at Manchester United, returns to Old Trafford today bidding to gauge how far his side have to go to catch the big guns.

THE president of Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad has confirmed his club approached former Manchester United captain Roy Keane but the Asian champions will not be signing the veteran midfielder.

EUROPEAN soccer bosses, assessing Ireland's joint bid to host Euro 2008, yesterday said they were "very happy" with the facilities inspected in Dublin last week.

ROY KEANE has virtually ruled out a return to the Republic of Ireland team even though he has nothing but admiration for manager Brian Kerr.

THE drawn-out Rio Ferdinand missed drugs test debacle is set to rumble on into a fifth month before it is eventually concluded.

BOBBY ROBSON insists he wants one last major job before ending his distinguished managerial career.

DIEGO FORLAN’S unspectacular Manchester United career looked to be drawing to a close last night after the club agreed to sell the striker to Villarreal.

MANCHESTER UNITED chief executive David Gill remained bullish yesterday about the financial implications of an unexpected Champions League exit.

PATRICK VIEIRA last night revealed his growing belief that Arsenal can finally match the status of Manchester United within Europe and conquer the Champions League.