Rumours...

THAT WAS THE WEEKEND THAT WAS

fact and fiction from the Sunday papers

George Graham may have money to spend at Leeds, but that does not mean he will not sell, according to the News of the World, who report that Lee Sharpe is out of favour with the new manager just two months after Howard Wilkinson signed him for pounds 4.5m. Leeds are one of the clubs permanently linked with Trevor Sinclair, but he could be bound for Goodison Park in the view of both the Mail on Sunday and the People, with Everton ready to agree a pounds 4m package that may include Vinny Samways and Anders Limpar. The Sunday Mirror predicts that the end is nigh for Savo Milosevic at Aston Villa, with Italian and Spanish eyes watching the Serb. The People says Brian Little wants to replace his pounds 3.5m misfit with Stan Collymore. Also in the Mirror, Manchester United have reportedly offered Lazio pounds 800,000 for the South African defender Mark Fish, while Georgi Kinkladze has apparently told "friends" he would quite like a move from Manchester City to Liverpool.

Red card

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Specifically, whichever bright spark came up with the idea of posing Benito Carbone with a fat man in a Pavarotti mask. Heaven knows what the embarrassed Italian said to that... nessun dorma until I find the culprit, probably.

Take a bow

BRIAN CLOUGH

His assessment of Paul Gascoigne is loud and clear. "He's a thug," said Clough, who still insists that Gascoigne's fateful attack on Gary Charles in the 1991 Cup final should have got him sent off, never mind carried off.

Missing person

Vinny Samways (Everton)

Mike Walker signed him from Tottenham for pounds 2.2m in 1994 and got sacked three months later, leaving the subtly-skilled Samways at the mercy of a manager who likes his midfield kingpins a little more robust. Joe Royle loaned him to Wolves and Birmingham last season but has not given him a game for Everton in a year. He can go, it is said, for pounds 1m.

Watch out for...

Alexander Manninger (Casino Graz)

Given the English taste for foreign goalkeepers, here is one name that might soon be circulating among Premiership managers. The 19-year-old stepped into the breach against Internazionale in the Uefa Cup last week and a string of brilliant saves restricted the Italians to a single goal. NOISES OFF Wimbledon were excellent in that they paid attention to the small details. That is what football is about at this level and today we just weren't very good in those areas. Ruud Gullit, not afraid to give credit where it is due as the Crazy Gang continue to party. We know there may be banana skins around the corner but I have talked before about winning a place in Europe next season and now we are starting to believe it is possible. Joe Kinnear, still having to pinch himself after Wimbledon's seventh straight win. The referee let me rant and rave for a moment or two but I think the FA go on holiday with what I give them so I'm saying nothing. Martin O'Neill, keen to avoid a fine despite his fury at Steve Walsh's dismissal for Leicester. Before this match it had been getting better, but today was two steps back. We need new players, no question. George Graham, after Leeds gave their "poorest performance" under his care. We've had no luck this season. Tony Coton has broken his leg, we've also lost Niall Quinn and it seems we never finish games with the same 11 as we started. Peter Reid, bemoaning Sunderland's continuing misfortune at Southampton. Yes. Walter Smith, the manager of Rangers, asked by a reporter at Saturday's match against Aberdeen whether he had had any doubts about picking Paul Gascoigne. Good boys THE PREMIERSHIP'S LEADING SCORERS Fabrizio Ravanelli 11 (Middlesbrough) Premiership 7; Coca-Cola Cup 4 Ian Wright 10 (Arsenal)Premiership 8; Europe 2 Les Ferdinand 10 (Newcastle)Premiership 7; Europe 3 Alan Shearer 8 (Newcastle)Premiership 7; Europe 1 ...old boys... After Saturday's unsavoury scenes at Highbury, Arsenal may not wish to be reminded that six years ago yesterday, 20 October, 1990, their team's reputation for unruliness dipped to a new low. During a match at Old Trafford, an incident involving Anders Limpar and the Manchester United full-back Denis Irwin provoked a brawl involving 21 players. The only non-participant was David Seaman, the Arsenal goalkeeper. Ironically, given current attitudes towards referees, it might never have happened had Keith Hackett been of a more Dansonian disposition. Using the advantage rule to let the game flow, Hackett let Limpar's late challenge on Irwin go unpunished. Tempers on both sides, simmering already, boiled over. Nigel Winterburn launched a violent challenge which left Irwin injured and the ensuing mayhem made television's evening news. However, only Winterburn and Limpar were cautioned. The FA was mocked for fining each club only pounds 50,000. Arsenal had two points deducted (and United one) but that did not stop them winning the title. and bad boys THE SEASON'S RED AND YELLOW CARDS 1 Chelsea Two more booked on Saturday 2 Middlesbrough Fifth yellow card for Emerson against Tottenham 3 Sunderland After Ord's disgrace on Monday kept a clean sheet on Saturday 4 Arsenal Hartson is now on seven cautions in 10 matches