Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 10/10/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to.

The FA has unveiled plans to bring in an official ‘code of conduct’ for players on England duty.

Pic Courtesy of TeamTalk

Head Honcho David Bernstein wants the guidelines introduced following a string of indiscretions – the most high profile being Ashley Cole’s “Bunch of T****” outburst.

He said: "They are incredible role models with incredibly high profiles and their behaviour is extremely important.

"This really should have been brought in years and years ago." 

Players found guilty of breaking the code could be suspended from international duty, rather than the meagre fines currently handed out as punishment.

Marouane Fellaini is set to miss the next three weeks of Everton’s campaign after suffering a knee injury in Saturdays’ game with Wigan.

The powerful midfielder has been a force to be reckoned with this season, playing a key part in the Toffees’ strong start.

"Fellaini suffered a small tear at the juncture of muscle and tendon in the knee," said a Belgian FA spokesperson.

Meanwhile Fellaini’s boss David Moyes has been named Premier League Manager of the Month for September.

The Merseysiders are sitting pretty in fourth - just five points behind leaders Chelsea. 

Sunderland frontman Steven Fletcher took the player honours after bagging five goals in just four appearances since his £12 million move from Wolves. 

Kettering Town could be out of existence by the end of the month after failing to raise a side for last night’s game against Leamington.

The former Football League club have been in existence for over 130 years, but are facing extinction after a number of players refused to play for the club having not been paid for a month.

The Poppies could only name ten men for Saturday’s encounter with Bashley, which they subsequently lost 7-0.

There is currently no electricity at the club’s Nene Park ground after they failed to pay a supplier, and owner Imran Ladak must find £3,000 as part of a CVA to avoid a winding-up order.

At the other end of the financial scale, Newcastle United have signed a £24 million sponsorship deal with ‘pay day loan’ firm Wonga.

The link-up enables the Magpies to change the name of their stadium back to St James’ Park, rather than the reviled Sports Direct Arena moniker created by owner Mike Ashley.

The deal hasn’t been without controversy however. Nick Forbes, the leader of Newcastle’s city council, said he was "appalled and sickened" that the club would sign a contract with a ‘legal loan shark’. 

And Michael Martin, editor-in-chief of the Geordies’ True Faith fanzine, said the sponsorship was "shameful".

To add further salt to the wounds, this type of deal infringes Sharia Law, meaning Newcastle’s Muslim quartet of Demba Ba, Papiss Cisse, Hatem Ben Arfa and Cheick Tiote would not be able to don the new shirt.

Bolton Wanderers have relieved manager Owen Coyle of his duties.

The Lancashire club have had a disappointing start to life in the Championship, and currently lie 18^th in the table. They were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Coyle was dignified in his exit. "I had fantastic times here as a player and it has been a privilege to have held the post of manager," he said.

Trotters chairman Phil Gartside has admitted it was "the right time for a change". 

Names in the frame for the Bolton hot seat include Mick McCarthy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Billy Davies.

Shit Lids: The 30 Worst Haircuts in Football History (Numbers 20-11)

When you turn on the TV these days to watch a Liverpool game, one thing really stands out. Not their incompetent defending, but Fabio Borini’s hair. 

So, in homage to the Italian, we’ve put together our list of the worst haircuts in footballing history. A well trodden path of course, but one which will give you much mirth and merriment we hope...

Pic Courtesy of UEFA.com

20) Mario Balotelli

It seems that young Mario is a renegade in most areas of his life, if his bathroom firework displays are anything to go by. And his hair is no exception. 

Taking his inspiration from Stripe, the leader of the Gremlins in the film of the same name, Balotelli could quite possibly be the Last of the Mohicans if this do is anything to go by.

19) Romania 1998

In big international tournaments, farming a strong team spirit is key to success. Whilst many teams would opt for a night on the tiles or a spot of paintballing, in Eastern Europe they do things differently.

Pic Courtesy of the BBC

Romania’s 1998 World Cup squad – in an example of their togetherness - all bleached their hair for the tournament. And it kind of worked: they topped their group (beating England in the process), but lost to Croatia in the last 16. 

To make matters worse, one of the players was mistaken for Annie Lennox at the airport on the way home.

18) Kevin Keegan v Paul Breitner

Pic Courtesy of Numaraiki

This is the only England v Germany battle you need to worry about. Forget the two world wars and the epic 1966 World Cup final, this is all that rolled into one. A perm off...

The result? A rare win for Germany, as Breitner’s curls were just that bit tighter than Keegan’s.

17) Tony Daley

Pic Courtesy of EPLinform

With his hair reminiscent of a carton of cress, Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson was unsure whether Daley was a tricky winger or a greengrocer. 

Turns out he was the former...

16) Fabrizio Ravanelli

Ravanelli was grey and proud by the time he was 21-years-old. 

There’s nothing wrong with that of course, but for a bloke who was – at one time - the highest earning player in the Premier League when he signed for Middlesbrough, a few bottles of Just for Men are hardly out of the question.

15) Attilio Lombardo

 

Christened the ‘Bald Eagle’ by observant fans, Lombardo is another example of the sands of time being just as hard on professional footballers as on mere mortals like ourselves.

Unbelievable to think he’s just 17 in this photo though...

Pic Courtesy of Daily Dose of Lies

14) David Beckham

We almost made a whole category of Beckham shit lids to choose from – who can remember the cornrows, or the ponytail for example? 

His acts of hair terrorism are too numerous to mention.

13) Stefan Malz

Pic Courtesy of Kicker.de

When you’re more widely known for your terrible haircut than your footballing ability, you know times are hard. 

Stefan Malz was a midfielder who had a brief spell at Arsenal from 1999-2001, but the only thing he achieved whilst there was to sport a girl’s haircut with so much conviction that only a German could muster. 

12) David Seaman

Regardless of his achievements or his misgivings as a goalkeeper for Arsenal and England, Seaman will always be remembered for a) rocking a ponytail and moustache combination, and b) having a surname that also meant male reproductive fluid.

He did eventually have the pony put down for charity though, and banish the ‘Greek Carpet Salesman’ image that had followed him around for so long.

11) David Luiz

Last season, David Luiz’s crazy hair matched his crazy performance. This year, he’s reined in his forward gallops and shin shredding tackles on the pitch. Alas, his hair remains untamed. God bless you David.

Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 8/10/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to.

Pic Courtesy of Team Talk

Two moments of controversy this weekend has prompted two managers to call on the FA to act swiftly and decisively.

Alan Pardew believes that Robin Van Persie should be punished for seemingly elbowing Yohan Cabaye during his side’s 3-0 defeat to the Red Devils. The incident was missed by referee Howard Webb.

He said: "He [Van Persie] has looked at Yohan and he has elbowed him. I think that perhaps needs to be looked at, if I am honest.”

Meanwhile, Tony Pulis wants the FA to have a look at Luis Suarez’s ‘light footed’ performance against his team yesterday.

The Stoke boss believes the Uruguayan went to ground far too easily in the goalless draw at Anfield.

"I've been on about and banging the drum about people who fall over," Pulis remarked. "It's an embarrassment. The FA should be looking at this."

The FA is set to take action against Ashley Cole however, following the Chelsea man’s vitriolic tweet from Friday.

The England left back called the Association “a bunch of t****” in the wake of the full report of the John Terry race trial, in which the validity of Cole’s evidence is questioned.

The 31-year-old is still set to link up with the England squad for training later today.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice as the spoils were shared in the first ‘El Clasico’ of the campaign.

A typically frenetic game ended 2-2, with Ronaldo’s brace finishing off a remarkable week during which he has found the net eight times in just three games.