SHEAR RUBBISH FROM FERGUSON
THAT well-known authority on strikers, Alex Ferguson, has expressed doubts about how well England striker Alan Shearer will play in the World Cup finals. The Manchester United boss is clearly an expert on such matters having paid £7m for Andy Cole, sold Mark Hughes for peanuts and pulled out of the race for Chilean ace Marcello Salas.
Ferguson, who lost out to Newcastle in the battle to sign Shearer, explained that the striker's long lay-off through injury had blunted his attacking skills. Ferguson said: When he headed a typically opportunist goal against Portugal last month there was a natural tendency to believe that the most important single member of England's World Cup squad was back to 100 per cent effectiveness. Much as I would love to agree with that assessment, I am troubled by lingering doubts.
He has appeared to be rationing his exertions, settling for less involvement than he demanded when able to compete at full throttle. All of that is probably sensible in the circumstances but the result is that he is a slightly less formidable presence in the opposition's penalty area.
Despite the fears of the Manchester United oracle Shearer is still bestowed the honour of inclusion in Ferguson's England World Cup team along with no fewer than five United players. A season in which United finished empty-handed and were dumped out the Champions' League by Monaco has not dampened Ferguson's enthusiasm. Gary Neville, Phil Neville, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Teddy Sheringham all make his starting line-up.
Ferguson justifies his selection with the curious observation that they are vital to England's chances because they are so used to winning things. He explained: England might find it hard to recover from an early setback, given their lack of experience at this level of competition. I think it would be wise to have a strong representation of players from Old Trafford in the team. With their experience of winning titles and of competing in Europe, our lads are mature beyond their years.

ARSENAL'S DOUBLE DUTCH DEALINGS
BARCELONA coach Louis Van Gaal has offered Arsenal £9m for Marc Overmars just a year after rejecting the chance to sign the Dutch winger. Van Gaal has admired Overmars since his days working with him at Ajax but stalled on a deal last year because he was not convinced the player had fully recovered from a terrible knee injury.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was prepared to take a £5m gamble and his hunch paid off as Overmars played a crucial role in winning the double. Having taken the risk Wenger moved quickly to block the new approach and Van Gaal has been forced to sign a player dubbed the next Overmars - PSV Eindhoven winger Boudewijn Zenden instead.
Meanwhile Arsenal could increase their Dutch contingent to three as Ronald De Boer continues to tell anyone within earshot how much he would love to play for the Gunners. Speculation has continued for weeks that the 29-year-old midfielder will move to Highbury from Ajax for £8m, but so far nothing has been resolved.
The stumbling block to De Boer joining Dennis Bergkamp and Overmars at the Gunners is that he still has six years of his contract at Ajax to run. However, De Boer has made it clear where he believes his future lies and said: "I know Arsenal are very interested in me and I would love to play for them.
"If I have to say no, they won't come back again. Ajax are scaring everybody away. There are few clubs that really fit my style of play. But Arsenal are one of them. English football is fantastic."

UNITED JOIN HUNT FOR THOMPSON
PREMIERSHIP managers are tripping over themselves to try to sign Alan Thompson from Bolton Wanderers. The normally frugal Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has joined the race to splash out on the versatile midfielder having persuaded the money men they must open the swollen coffers at Old Trafford in order to make a realistic challenge for the European Cup.
Leeds and Aston Villa, who both have their own European aspirations, are also ready to move for Newcastle-born Thompson. Leeds have bid £3.5m and Villa are prepared to match the offer, although both clubs are unwilling to get into an auction situation. Despite all the interest negotiations have been put on hold until Thompson's agent Paul Stretford returns from America on Tuesday where he has been with the Scotland squad.

IS MABBUTT OFF TO THE PALACE?
TOTTENHAM veteran Gary Mabbutt looks set to stay in London even though manager Christian Gross has dispensed with his services. The former Spurs skipper is set to leave north London after 16 years at the club and make the short trip over the Thames to either Charlton or Crystal Palace
Typically the Palace approach depends on who is in charge at Selhurst Park at the beginning of the season, Ron Noades or Mark Goldberg. Noades wants Mabbutt as an assistant for his preferred manager Gerry Francis, while Goldberg will appoint Terry Venables and Kenny Sansom if his £30m take-over is successful. The squabbling millionaires don't appear to have learned a great deal from Palace's nosedive out of the Premiership do they?

BECKHAM'S BIRD LOSES BUDDY
IN A dispute that would have made the Dutch football team proud, Geri Halliwell flounced out of the Spice Girls after the band failed to resolve their differences. England manager Glenn Hoddle must have been among the millions of people who breathed a sigh of relief as the split was revealed at a brief press conference.
Hoddle had been terrified key player David Beckham was cooking his brain with endless mobile telephone calls to his fiancee, Posh Spice, as the crisis deepened. The break-up of the band was a huge distraction for Beckham but at least Watford fan Geri has done the decent thing and left before the World Cup finals start.
And Ginger Spice's departure could be good news for Nicky Butt if he fails to make the England World Cup squad. We hear the four remaining Spicy ones are looking for another stroppy little red-head!