THE FOOTBALL GRAPEVINE: ROB SHEPHERD on why United would sell Rooney to Arsenal... Holloway is still not safe at Palace... and how Willian can be Chelsea's new Ian Britton

THE FOOTBALL GRAPEVINE: ROB SHEPHERD on why United would sell Rooney to Arsenal... Holloway is still not safe at Palace... and how Willian can be Chelsea's new Ian Britton

Welcome to a new column every week on MailOnline that will take you inside football with ifomaomama.

 

Manchester United would have sold Wayne Rooney to Arsenal this summer… had the Gunners made a bid. And the door is still open.
Despite David Moyes talking Rooney up ahead of the clash with Liverpool making the largesse suggestion the striker could achieve legendary status at the United akin to Bobby Charlton (doubt that) there remains unease between the player - no longer top dog - and club.
Indeed Rooney was the at the centre of a new controversy which could threaten his participation in the big Anfield clash and cast new doubt over his future at the club.

English fire: But Manchester United would sell Wayne Rooney to Arsenal if an official bid was received

Pondering: United's stance on Rooney makes it clear they don't see Arsene Wenger's team as a title threat

But I’m told in a recent conversation with England boss Roy Hodgson, obviously concerned that one of his main players appeared to be in a state of limbo, Moyes made it clear United would have sold Rooney this summer but NOT, absolutely NOT, to Chelsea.
Moyes felt he had to set down a marker after succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson and there is no way he would take the chance of offloading Rooney to the Blues for fear of the player then helping Jose Mourinho to wrest the title off United.
Had serious offers from abroad or Arsenal been tabled then I understand United would have done business… which tells you much about how Arsenal's chances of making a title challenge are viewed.

Fresh start: But David Moyes did not want to hand Jose Mourinho (below) an advantage by selling Rooney

It’s strange therefore that after all the overtures Arsene Wenger made about signing Luis Suarez he did not bid for Rooney not least because he was telling some of his trusted confidantes at the end of last season that Rooney WAS the forward he wanted.
Wenger, now in desperate need of bolstering his squad especially upfront could still pick up the phone… but would Arsenal really pay Rooney anything like the £250,000-a-week wages he is on?

In action: Rooney was not allowed to join Chelsea, here attempting to get the ball past Ramires

 

Ian Holloway’s position as Crystal Palace manager is still under threat despite the relief of getting their first victory of the season with an impressive 3-1 win over Sunderland having lost their first two games.
On the face of it the prospect of Holloway’s job being on the line so soon would seem extremely harsh.

Jubilant: But Ian Holloway could soon find himself out of a job despite Crystal Palace's win over Sunderland

TWEET ROB

Rob Shepherd is on Twitter @RobShepherd5

But it should be remembered that Palace almost blew making the plays offs… which of course they then won… with a dire end of season run and there were rumblings then that Holloway was on the verge of being ousted.
And I understand there has been tension between Holloway and owner Steve Parish for some time.
If the situation doesn’t improve then Holloway will be on his way although if the club suddenly go on a good run the situation may be resolved. If not Palace have earmarked Alan Pardew, under pressure at Newcastle, as the ideal replacement.
In turn I hear that Gus Poyet would be lined up to take over the Toon.

Premier return? Sacked Brighton boss could be in line for the manager's job at Newcastle United

 

Southampton should be enjoying a near £20million windfall when Gareth Bale finally signs for Real Madrid.
Instead the south coast club could pick up just under £1mn depending on the fee that is finally agreed.
Bale joined Spurs for the Saints in 2007 for £5m rising to £10m with add-ons. There was also a sell-on clause on a sliding scale worth between 15 and 25 per cent.

Percentage: Southampton should be receiving £20million for Spurs' sale of Gareth Bale, but sold the clause

Fledgling: A young Bale in action for Southampton in 2007 before he hit mega-stardom

But a year later when Southampton faced financial meltdown then chairman Rupert Lowe sold off the sell-on clause for a sum believed to be between £1.5m and £3m and took on Spurs youth goalkeeper Tommy Forecast, who has since been released by the club.
FIFA rules still offer clubs ‘development’ compensation for players registered with a club between the ages 12 and 23 on a complex scale. Bale joined Southampton at 15 and moved on just before his 18th birthday, so the percentage would be put at around 1.25 per cent.
If the eventual fee is £78m then Southampton would get around £975,000.

 

LIBERO

Many fair-to-middling teams have favoured a cautious 4-5-1 formation in recent seasons.
Now there seems to be a trend towards a more positive 4-3-3 shape like some of the games bigger teams have been using, with Liverpool, Aston Villa and West Ham for instance deploying more attacking wide men to support the lead striker.

PFA executives have stood by Gordon Taylor with the ‘full support’ for the time being.
There was no way they were going to make a knee-jerk reaction to revelations about Taylor’s betting habits especially as they were made in the same paper the players union supremo successfully sued for hacking his phone.
But once the dust settles there may be a move to re-shape the structure of the union with Taylor moving aside and current deputies John Bramhall and Bobby Barnes assuming more control in the guise of chief executive officer and chief operating officer.

 

There is no chance of any mystery bidders making it into the dressing room of Tottenham’s training ground and plucking players away.
A dedicated ‘first team squad members only’ door is in place at the HQ near Enfield which is accessed by a fingerprint entry system.
Obviously there have been plenty of changes to the data this summer and the next dabs to be erased are likely to be those of Emmanuel Adebayor, wanted by one of Chelsea’s Champions League opponents in Schalke.

 

Good sign? When Tottenham won the Double in 1961, their celebration bus almost read a familiar name today

Former Tottenham striker Garth Crooks had a nice way of putting tall the comings and goings at Tottenham as a consequence of the Gareth Bale was like losing Elvis but signing the Beatles.
Now the pressure is on manager AVB not only to get Spurs into the Champions League but actually challenge for the title. And you have to come from the first wave of rock ‘n’ roll to remember when Tottenham last won the title back in 1961 - the year the Beatles first played at the Cavern Club
In fact Spurs did the Double that season - and here is proof from the Daily Mail vaults.
Note the number plate on the bus. A good sign for chairman Daniel Levy perhaps?

 

Misfiring: Demba Ba (right) worried Chelsea bosses with his poor performance against Aston Villa

Chelsea could loan out two strikers before the end of the transfer window. West Brom, Stoke and Liverpool have both asked about Victor Moses. Although Everton may come in late as Roberto Martinez was his manager at Wigan.
The other striker who can leave is Demba Ba, who surprised the coaching staff with how poor he was against Aston Villa, when he was regularly offside. A loan move back to Newcastle is on the cards.

 

iSay

M: Word ‘seeps’ out from Spurs that two mystery bidders have entered the race for Bale: It’s mystery to everyone, especially Man Utd and Marseille who won’t get involved in an ‘up the ante’ façade.
T: Ravel Morrison who ‘has had his problems’ and was shown the door by Man Utd stars on his full debut for West Ham in the win over Cheltenham. If he wants it this boy can go all the way.
W: AVB concedes Bale will be moving to Madrid after all. Two mystery bidders were found with Professor Plum and some lead piping in the conservatory.
T: Walcott says: ‘Everyone may say Arsenal’s squad is very weak but I feel we are stronger than Tottenham and its silly to suggest they are better than us.’ Silly? FOTB fella.
F: Wenger presses the panic button after the Champions League draw, and says he needs plenty of players - really ?! - and chases Madrid’s Karim Benzema, Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil. Watch your back Theo.

My sources tell me that Darren Bent is impressing new team mates at Fulham. ‘He looks fit and sharp and will score goals,’ my man tells me. Good news for England boss Hodgson, who is short on strikers.
     ......................................................................

Jose Mourinho gave personal evidence to the work permit review board for new - uncapped - Brazilian Willian. He told the commission how Chelsea needed to play differently and cited the tactics used at Old Trafford, where he played without a recognised front man. The next day, Chelsea took up the chance to sign Samuel Eto’o. Must have been a coincidence.

It will be interesting to see how Chelsea fans take to Eto’o considering how unforgiving they were towards Rafa Benitez for comments he had about the club when Liverpool boss.

A few seasons back when playing for Barcelona he said ahead of a Champions League clash: ‘I’d rather sell groundnuts in my village than to play for a pathetic team like Chelsea.’

     ......................................................................

It does seem bizarre that Brazil’s No 1 and preferred pick for a World Cup on home soil can’t get a game at QPR.
But Julio Cesar wasn’t even on the bench for the 1-0 Championship defeat at Leeds.
Cesar told manager Harry Redknapp weeks ago he wanted to leave, but a move to Napoli broke down. He still wants out, but what will Harry do once the window closes?
A last minute loan deal is still an option. Arsenal perhaps? But the player might have to accept a cut in wages if he wants game time this season, or he will risk his place at the World Cup. Italian club Fiorentina could be an option.

World star: But Brazil's No 1 keeper Julio Cesar can't get ahead of Rob Green at QPR

 

Y FACTOR

Why is that so many teams whose only hope of silverware is winning one of cups field second-string sides in the Capital One Cup just two games into the season and with an international break coming up?

Cray Wanderers proudly boast they are the second oldest club in the world behind Sheffield FC.
Yet for the last 40 years they have been homeless and the Ryman League side continue to ground share with Bromley FC.
But Cray chairman Gary Hillman, an associate director of Crystal Palace, has come up with an ambitious plan for a new stadium leisure facilities and housing development back in the club’s heartland of St Mary and St Paul's Cray but is being blocked by Bromley Council. Why is it so many councils appear so negative about local football clubs?

 

BTW
It can’t happen, can it? But some officials at Manchester United are still hoping for smoke signals from Real Madrid that Cristiano Ronaldo can leave after the arrival for Gareth Bale. They have hoped all summer to land him with a bespoke financial package in place and covert third party discussions have been ongoing for months. As I say, it can’t happen, can it? That would be crazy.

Unthinkable: But United officials are still hoping to secure an amazing return for Cristiano Ronaldo

Back heel
Much has been made of Chelsea new signing Willian’s wild hair style.
Comparisons with Marouane Fellaini, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Tom Huddlestone have already been made.
All show and no, er, blow dry ? High hair can have its benefits. David James once denied Michael Owen in a 0-0 draw between Pompey and Newcastle when his bushy hair deflected the striker’s shot over the bar.
It’s not often you see the quote James offered after the match: ‘It was my Afro that saved it.’

To and 'fro: Chelsea's new Brazilian playmaker Willian has already caught the eye with his afro hairdo

Blast from the past: New boy Willian's hairstyle harks back to the Blues'  midfielder in the 1970s, Ian Britton

Such funky hairstyles are hardly a modern fad. Brazil’s Socrates and Colombia’s Carlos Valderrama sported some of the most stunning locks in the Eighties and Nineties.
Of course in the Seventies Afros were all the rage (many with the help of a perm). George Berry, who now works for the PFA commercial department, had one of the best.
But it’s hard to top Chelsea’s bustling midfielder of the Seventies Ian Britton whose magnificent mop was au naturel, no Cossack spray required. His barber must have used hedge shears to shape his locks. Now that was some barnet!
Britton ended his career with Burnley and still lives in Lancashire where he is the manager of a fitness centre.

Then and now: Britton in action for Chelsea's veterans team, with considerably less hair than his heyday

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We now know Brits cannot be counted on': White House snub as US and France prepare to strike Syria as early as TOMORROW over chemical attack that killed 1,429

We now know Brits cannot be counted on': White House snub as US and France prepare to strike Syria as early as TOMORROW over chemical attack that killed 1,429
U.S missile strikes against Syria could start tomorrow after U.N. weapons inspectors left the war-torn country earlier than expected.
The team of chemical weapons inspectors left their Damascus hotel early today - possibly for neighboring Lebanon - fueling speculation of an imminent attack.
It came as the White House delivered an astonishing snub to Britain following Thursday's shock Commons defeat, with sources saying David Cameron had 'bungled' securing British support for military action and that Britain 'cannot be counted on'.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last night paved the way for war by saying the American intelligence community had 'high confidence' that the regime launched a chemical weapons attack on the outskirts of Damascus last week. 
Britain has been left sidelined in any U.S military action against Syria following the humiliating Commons defeat  - placing strain on the 'special relationship' with the U.S.

Scroll down for video

Strike: The team of chemical weapons inspectors left their Damascus hotel early today fueling speculation of an imminent attack

Leaving: U.N. experts arrive at the entrance of the private jet terminal at Beirut international airport, Lebanon, following their departure from Syria

Departure: A Lebanese special forces policeman escorts the U.N. vehicles at Beirut international airport

Mr Kerry pointedly made no mention of Britain during his speech and instead lavished praise on its ‘oldest ally’ France - which looks likely to join the U.S in a missile strike. 
He paid tribute to the French for standing ready to join the U.S in confronting the ‘thug and murderer’ President Bashar Assad. He also praised Australia and even Turkey for their support.
In a passionate speech in Washington, he urged the world to act as he warned 'history would judge us all extraordinarily harshly if we turned a blind eye to a dictator'
President Barack Obama yesterday said he is weighing ‘limited and narrow’ action as the administration put the chemical weapons death toll at 1,429 people - far more than previous estimates - including more than 400 children.
Downing Street insisted the U.S special relationship was still intact following a telephone call between the Prime Minister and Mr Obama.

Decision time: President Barack Obama meets with his national security staff to discuss the situation in Syria, in the Situation Room of the White House

Snub: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry lavished praise on France last night, calling it America's ¿oldest ally¿ as the two countries prepare for a missile strike against Syria

However, White House sources told The Times that David Cameron had 'bungled' securing British support for military action.
Another source with knowledge of how the White House reacted to Thursday's shock Commons defeat, said: 'It came as a real shock to them. They now know the Brits, because of their political system, cannot be counted on.'
Speaking to Channel 4 News, Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, expressed his frustration. He said: 'I'm disappointed , because we have a very close working relationship with the U.S.
'It is a difficult time for our Armed Forces - having prepared to go into this action  - to then be stood down and have to watch while the U.S acts alone or perhaps acts with France.'

Strain: Prime Minister David Cameron is pictured being driven away from the rear of Number 10 Downing Street last night . He has been left humiliated following Thursday's shock Commons defeat

Hard work: Labour leader Ed Miliband works in his office at Westminster yesterday after inflicting Thursday's humiliating Commons defeat for David Cameron

Halfway around the world, U.S. warships were in place in the Mediterranean Sea. They carried cruise missiles, long a first-line weapon of choice for presidents because they can find a target hundreds of miles distant without need of air cover or troops on the ground.
Seeking to reassure Americans weary after a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama insisted there would be no ‘boots on the ground.'
Russia's President Vladimir Putin said today that it would be 'utter nonsense' for the Syrian government to use chemical weapons when it was winning the war, and urged U.S. President Barack Obama not to attack Syrian forces.
Putin said: 'That is why I am convinced that it (the chemical attack) is nothing more than a provocation by those who want to drag other countries into the Syrian conflict, and who want to win the support of powerful members of the international arena, especially the United States,"
Mr Cameron- who spoke to the U.S. President following Thursday's defeat - acknowledged that 'politics is difficult' .
But he said he would not have to apologise to Mr Obama for being unable to commit UK military units to any international alliance.
Setting out the approach he would now take to Syria, the Prime Minister said: 'I think it's important we have a robust response to the use of chemical weapons and there are a series of things we will continue to do.

Destruction: Residents inspect buildings damaged by what activists said were warplanes belonging to forces loyal to Syria's president Bashar Al-Assad in Iskat, near the Syrian-Turkish border

Lone supporter: President Francois Hollande of France is the only country supporting the United States as they contemplate armed action against Bashar Assad's regime over a suspected chemical weapons attack on his own people.

'We will continue to take a case to the United Nations, we will continue to work in all the organisations we are members of - whether the EU, or Nato, or the G8 or the G20 - to condemn what's happened in Syria.
'It's important we uphold the international taboo on the use of chemical weapons.
'But one thing that was proposed, the potential - only after another vote - involvement of the British military in any action, that won't be happening.
'That won't be happening because the British Parliament, reflecting the great scepticism of the British people about any involvement in the Middle East, and I understand that, that part of it won't be going ahead.'
Following the Prime Minister's conversation with the U.S. President, a Number 10 spokesman said: 'The PM explained that he wanted to build a consensual approach in Britain for our response and that the Government had accepted the clear view of the House against British military action.
'President Obama said he fully respected the PM's approach and that he had not yet taken a decision on the US response.
'The president stressed his appreciation of his strong friendship with the Prime Minister and of the strength, durability and depth of the special relationship between our two countries.
'They agreed that their co-operation on international issues would continue in the future and both reiterated their determination to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict by bringing all sides together.'
After leaving Syria, the international contingent of weapons inspectors are heading to laboratories in Europe with the samples they have collected.
Video said to be taken at the scene shows victims writhing in pain, twitching and exhibiting other symptoms associated with exposure to nerve agents.
The videos distributed by activists to support their claims of a chemical attack were consistent with Associated Press reporting of shelling in the suburbs of Damascus at the time, though it was not known if the victims had died from a poisonous gas attack.

The White House released this map detailing its understanding of the areas where chemical weapons were used

U.S. INTELLIGENCE ON THE SOURCE OF SYRIAN CHEMICAL WEAPONS ATTACK

• U.S. intelligence community has 'high confidence,' short of actual confirmation, that the Syrian government carried out the chemical weapons attack on August 21
• Members of the Syrian regime were preparing chemical weapons in the three days prior to the August 21 attack and protected themselves using gas masks
• At least 1,429 Syrians were killed in the attacks, including 426 children
• The weapons were launched from government-controlled areas into opposition-held or contested territory
• The Syrian government has carried out smaller-scale chemical weapons attacks multiple times over the last year
• U.S. intelligence officials 'intercepted communications involving a senior official intimately familiar with the offensive who confirmed that chemical weapons were used by the regime on August 21 and was concerned with the U.N. inspectors obtaining evidence'
• On the afternoon of August 21, intelligence officials learned that Syrian chemical weapons personnel were directed to cease operations

The Syrian government said administration claims were ‘flagrant lies’ akin to faulty Bush administration assertions before the Iraq invasion that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.
A Foreign Ministry statement read on state TV said that ‘under the pretext of protecting the Syrian people, they are making a case for an aggression that will kill hundreds of innocent Syrian civilians.’
Residents of Damascus stocked up on food and other necessities in anticipation of strikes, with no evident sign of panic.
One man, 42-year-old Talal Dowayih, said: ‘I am not afraid from the Western threats to Syria; they created the chemical issue as a pretext for intervention, and they are trying to hit Syria for the sake of Israel.’
Obama met with his national security aides at the White House and then with diplomats from Baltic countries, saying he has not yet made a final decision on a response to the attack.
Mr Kerry said yesterday that the credibility and security of the U.S. and its allies are at stake.
'Some cite the risk of doing things,' he said. But we need to ask, “What is the risk of doing nothing?”'

The U.S. intelligence report said that about 3,600 patients ‘displaying symptoms consistent with nerve agent exposure’ were seen at Damascus-area hospitals after the attack.
To that, Kerry added that ‘a senior regime official who knew about the attack confirmed that chemical weapons were used by the regime, reviewed the impact and actually was afraid they would be discovered.’ He added for emphasis: ‘We know this.’

Shortly after Kerry's remarks, President Obama said he is considering a 'limited, narrow act' against Syria

Kerry: Syria's Assad is a thug and murderer

An estimated 100,000 civilians have been killed in more than two years, many of them from attacks by the Syrian government on its own citizens.
Obama has long been wary of U.S. military involvement in the struggle, as he has been with turbulent events elsewhere during the so-called Arab Spring. In this case, reluctance stems in part from recognition that while Assad has ties to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, the rebels seeking to topple him have connections with al-Qaida terrorist groups.
Still, Obama declared more than a year ago that the use of chemical weapons would amount to a ‘red line’ that Assad should not cross.
 And Obama approved the shipment of small weapons and ammunition to the Syrian rebels after an earlier reported chemical weapons attack, although there is little sign that the equipment has arrived.
With memories of the long Iraq war still fresh, the political crosscurrents have been intense both domestically and overseas. 

Kerry: There will be no U.S. boots on the ground in Syria

Dozens of lawmakers, most of them Republican, have signed a letter saying Obama should not take military action without congressional approval, and top leaders of both political parties are urging the president to consult more closely with Congress before giving an order to launch hostilities.
Despite the urgings, there has been little or no discussion about calling Congress back into session to debate the issue.
Lawmakers have been on a summer break for nearly a month, and are not due to return to the Capitol until Sept. 9.
Obama has not sought a vote of congressional approval for any military action. Neither Republican nor Democratic congressional leaders have challenged his authority to act or sought to have lawmakers called into session before he does.

Hundreds died in the alleged chemical attacks on Wednesday, including many women and children

Secretary of State John Kerry said images like these contributed to the U.S. assessment that chemical weapons were used in Syria

Senior White House, State Department, Pentagon and intelligence officials met for an hour and half Friday with more than a dozen senators who serve on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del. He described the discussion as ‘open and constructive.’
The White House will brief Republican senators in a conference call today at the request of Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a spokesman for the senator, Don Stewart, said.
Obama's efforts to put together an international coalition to support military action have been more down than up.
Hollande has endorsed punitive strikes, and told the newspaper Le Monde that the ‘chemical massacre of Damascus cannot and must not remain unpunished.’
American attempts to secure backing at the United Nations have been blocked by Russia, long an ally of Syria.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged a delay in any military action until the inspectors can present their findings to U.N. member states and the Security Council.

'President Obama will ensure that the United States of America makes our own decisions on our own timelines, based on our values and our interests,' he said. 'Now, we know that after a decade of conflict, the American people are tired of war. Believe me, I am, too. But fatigue does not absolve us of our responsibility.'

Obama says no decision on Syria yet

Military intervention: A US Air Force plane lands at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey yesterday. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said the inspection team in Syria is expected to complete its work by today

He said the U.S. should also feel confident that it has the backing of a number of other nations, including Turkey, Australia, the Arab League and what he called America's 'oldest ally,' France.
Half of Americans say they oppose taking military action against Syria and nearly 80 percent believe Obama should seek congressional approval before using any force, according to a new NBC poll.
The administration supplemented Kerry's remarks Friday with the release of the intelligence report.
'It’s findings are as clear as they are compelling,' Kerry said.
The report concludes with 'high confidence,' short of actual confirmation, that the Syrian government carried out the chemical weapons attack.
'Our high confidence assessment is the strongest position that the U.S. Intelligence Community can take short of confirmation,' the report says.
'We intercepted communications involving a senior official intimately familiar with the offensive who confirmed that chemical weapons were used by the regime on August 21 and was concerned with the U.N. inspectors obtaining evidence,' the report continues. 'On the afternoon of August 21, we have intelligence that Syrian chemical weapons personnel were directed to cease operations.'

British Prime Minister David Cameron failed to secure Parliament's backing for military intervention in Syria

The findings also claim that Assad is the 'ultimate decision maker' for Syria's chemical weapons program and that his regime has used the weapons on a smaller scale against citizens several times in the past year.
'This assessment is based on multiple streams of information including reporting of Syrian officials planning and executing chemical weapons attacks and laboratory analysis of physiological samples obtained from a number of individuals, which revealed exposure to sarin,' the report says. 'We assess that the opposition has not used chemical weapons.' Sarin is a type of nerve gas.
The report further reveals evidence that the regime had been preparing chemical weapons in the three days prior to the attacks and protected themselves using gas masks.
'Syrian chemical weapons personnel were operating in the Damascus suburb of 'Adra from Sunday, August 18 until early in the morning on Wednesday, August 21, near an area that the regime uses to mix chemical weapons, including sarin,' the report says.
The report also cited evidence that the attacks were launched from regime-controlled areas into opposition territory or contested areas.

Calling Assad a 'thug' and a 'murderer,' John Kerry declared, 'History would judge us all extraordinarily harshly if we turned a blind eye to a dictator¿s use of chemical weapons.'

 

Assad propaganda on Syrian TV says 'U.S. evidence is lies'

Several senior officials related before the release of the report that the intelligence was 'not a slam dunk' in terms of tying Assad's regime to the use of chemical weapons.
The term 'slam dunk' is a reference to the then-CIA Director George Tenet's assurance in 2002 that assessments showing that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction was a 'slam dunk.'
Kerry assured on Friday that the U.S. will not repeat the mistakes of the Iraq war.
'We are more than mindful of the Iraq experience,' Kerry said. 'We will not repeat that moment.'
He later added: 'Whatever decision [Obama] makes in Syria it will bear no resemblance to Afghanistan, Iraq or even Libya. It will not involve any boots on the ground. It will not be open ended. And it will not assume responsibility for a civil war that is already well underway.'

The administration briefed members of Congress on a conference call Thursday evening to explain its conclusion that Bashar Assad's government was guilty of carrying out a suspected chemical attack on August 21.
Following the call, House Democratic leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, sided with Republican Speaker John Boehner of Ohio in urging the administration to engage with the full Congress on the matter.
She also said that the administration must provide 'additional transparency into the decision-making process.'

U.S. Government Assessment of the Syrian Government’s Use of Chemical Weapons

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He scored last night, but Torres has lost it and must still get out of Chelsea... he's not the player I knew

He scored last night, but Torres has lost it and must still get out of Chelsea... he's not the player I knew
I remember the day Fernando Torres first whacked me. It was during a typically competitive training session at Melwood, just after he had become Liverpool’s record signing.
We both went for a high ball but such was his determination to win the header, nothing was going to stop him. He didn’t think twice about leaving me on the floor. Had the roles been reversed, I’d have picked him up and apologised for being overly exuberant.
But Fernando didn’t bat an eyelid and carried on regardless. Do you know what? I thought it was brilliant. Here was a winner, someone who wanted to go to war. He cost Liverpool  £26million but, in the summer of 2007, he was everything we were looking for.

Good old days: Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres while they were both at Anfield

   

Strong, fast and clinical, Torres was not the most technically gifted striker I have played with but he came alive on match day. With big open spaces to run into, he terrified defenders. He was fearless, too. On his Anfield debut against Chelsea, he laughed off John Terry’s attempts to intimidate him. 
One game away to Marseille in December 2007 stands out. We needed a win to progress in the Champions League but the outcome was never in doubt once Torres waltzed past a couple of defenders to score a superb solo goal. 
A little more than six months later, Torres  conjured up the winning goal for Spain at Euro 2008. He had cemented his burgeoning reputation. If a goal needed scoring, you would look no further than Fernando.
Which brings us to Monday night at Old Trafford. When Torres was left out of the  Chelsea line-up against Manchester United, I immediately said: ‘That’s the end’. To be overlooked for Andre Schurrle, simply because the German winger has more mobility, was a damning indictment.
Being on the bench for big Chelsea games is nothing new for Torres — think about the Champions League final in 2012, the trip to Juventus that cost Roberto Di Matteo his job —  but this feels like he has reached the point of no return at Stamford Bridge.
The Torres you see now bears no similarity to the one who dazzled during his first two seasons at Anfield. Consider this: in 102  Premier League appearances for Liverpool, he scored 65 goals. For Chelsea, 94 games have yielded a meagre 15. However, he has been a regular scorer in Europe — as he stylishly proved again on Friday night.
Yet it goes deeper. We knew when Torres left Liverpool in January 2011 that Chelsea were not getting a £50m striker. Injuries had started to take a toll on him — he suffered significant groin and knee problems during the 2009-10 campaign — and he had lost a yard of pace.

Hero to zero: From goalscoring machine at Liverpool, Torres now struggles for game time at Chelsea

There were other things. His attitude, for instance, dropped alarmingly. You could tell from his body language in a pre-match warm-up what type of performance you were going to get. If Fernando was going through the motions, a few of us would look at each other and say: ‘Here we go again’.
If he then started arguing with the referee after a couple of minutes, you knew you would be in for a four out of 10 performance from him. The days when he was at least a nine out of 10 became increasingly rare.
As the night in Marseille stood out for all the right reasons, a trip to Goodison in October 2010 was memorable for all the wrong reasons. The minimum expected of a Liverpool player against Everton is total desire and commitment but Fernando wasn’t interested.

Not interested: Torres looked like he would rather be anywhere else in the world as Liverpool lost to Everton

I played a couple of balls into space for him in the first half. They were not great passes by any means but, as I was under pressure, I needed him to give me an option. He made no attempt to chase them. 
That was the final straw. I lost my temper and we ended up exchanging words. Whether he was frustrated with the state of the club — we had just been close to administration and failed to qualify for the Champions League — or whether he felt he was too good for us was impossible to know. It always felt like he was an outsider.
So when he eventually left, I had no particular wish to see him do well but I do respect he has lifted the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League with Chelsea and added another European Championship to his World Cup winner’s medal.
Something, however, has never felt right about his time there. Torres has seen off four managers — Carlo Ancelotti, Andre Villas-Boas,  Di Matteo and Rafa Benitez — but there is little chance he will do the same to Jose Mourinho.

Haul: Torres has won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup with Chelsea

Chelsea's Fernando Torres, from Spain

Mourinho’s decision not to play Torres at Old Trafford, coupled with his signing of Samuel Eto’o, should leave nobody in doubt about his place in the pecking order. Surely now Torres has to think about  salvaging his reputation.
There is only one way to do that. This has been a summer when  players have pressed for moves, so wouldn’t it be refreshing if Torres actually said to Chelsea: ‘This hasn’t worked, I need to leave. I need to play.’
If he were to join Valencia, Atletico Madrid or Sevilla, just to become a regular starter, I’m positive people would have great respect for him. Should he end up staying at Chelsea, though, one thing is certain: more miserable nights beckon.
This is not about Chelsea cutting their losses. This is about Torres forcing a move to revive his career.

Return? Torres could rejuvenate his career with a move back to Spain with Atletico Madrid

Everton and Moyes can still become friends re-united

Everton are right to have adopted a strong stance in the face of Manchester United’s attempts to sign Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini.
No club should ever be pushed around in the transfer market but Everton would also do well to remember the good relationship they have enjoyed with United down the years.
United may have taken Wayne Rooney and David Moyes from Everton in the last decade but Phil Neville, Tim Howard, Louis Saha and Darron Gibson all went the other way and have been important players at Goodison Park. Moyes and Bill Kenwright had a great relationship when they worked together and that could yet end up working in Everton’s favour in the long run in terms of player trading.

Will they stay or will they go? Leighton Baines (left) and Marouane Fellaini are wanted by Manchester United

There are clearly tensions between the clubs but Roberto Martinez spoke wisely in his press conference this week when he said he did not want to get embroiled in any more discussions about United.
I am not saying Everton should cave in and sell their best players but, while these discussions continue, they should think about the bigger picture.

Five players... I hope will move before the deadline

THOMAS INCE — He has come on in leaps and bounds since he left Liverpool but, for his career to progress, he needs to test himself in the Premier League. Everton have been interested in Ince, so have Swansea.

Pen to paper: Will Thomas Ince sign for a Premier League club before the transfer window closes on Monday?

JACK BUTLAND — If he is to have realistic ambitions of going to the World Cup with England, he needs to get some game time. It is going to be difficult for him to dislodge Asmir Begovic at Stoke but West Bromwich Albion need a keeper after Ben Foster’s injury. Butland would do well at The Hawthorns.

JERMAIN DEFOE — He gave a reminder of his finishing ability on Thursday night in the Europa League. He is too good a player to sit on the bench and maybe a switch to Newcastle, who could do with a striker, would serve a purpose.
RYAN BERTRAND — It doesn’t appear he will be ousting Ashley Cole as Chelsea’s left back any time soon and, as a Champions League winner, he really should be playing regularly. He would certainly do a job for someone if the opportunity arose.

Benched: Ryan Bertrand (right) will struggle to dislodge Ashley Cole from the left back spot at Chelsea

JACK RODWELL — This is a big year for Rodwell. He has always had a big reputation but, again, Rodwell has not played anywhere near as much as he should have done.  Will he get opportunities at Manchester City? It is looking doubtful. He could do worse than return to Everton on loan if they sell Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United.

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