The Rumour Mill - 23/11/09 (From Lancashire Telegraph)

The Rumour Mill - 23/11/09

10:09am Monday 23rd November 2009

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Thierry Henry has admitted he considered drawing a close to his international career after being overwhelmed by the furore over his now infamous handball.

The Frenchman occupied both the front and back pages last week after his handball played a key part in ending Republic of Ireland's World Cup dream.

Henry twice handled the ball before laying on for William Gallas to equalise on the night, a result which saw France progress to South Africa on aggregate.

The FAI called on FIFA to replay the game and Henry, albeit after football's governing body ruled out such a scenario, echoed Irish sentiments.

Having had his previous unblemished reputation tarnished by the incident, Henry admits he considered quitting in the wake of intense criticism.

When quizzed on whether retiring from international football had crossed his mind, he told French sports daily L'Equipe "Friday, when it all went too far, I was very worked up.

"It's not the first time (that I thought about retiring). After the 2006 World Cup, I thought about it, but it was too early. After Euro 2008, too, but it wasn't the right moment. There was a generation that needed me.”

Meanwhile. Cleaners in Ireland have decided their Henry vacuum cleaners really suck - after Thierry Henry's handball ended the nation's World Cup dream. Angry workers can't bear to look at the smiley-faced machines. Some have painted out the word "Henry" while others have daubed over its cheerful face.

Ipswich boss Roy Keane is on the brink of being sacked by the Suffolk club following a series of meetings on Sunday regarding his future. Town currently sit second bottom of the Championship.

AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso - a target for Manchester City - has no intention of leaving the Italian club, according to their coach Leonardo.

Liverpool face an injury crisis ahead of their must-win Champions League match with Hungarian side Debrecen on Tuesday, with major doubts over the fitness of Glen Johnson, Daniel Agger, Ryan Babel, Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and Javier Mascherano. The Reds are already without striker Fernando Torres.

Chelsea are hoping to win the race with Real Madrid for Bayern Munich's £45m-rated French midfielder Franck Ribery in January.

The Blues' pursuit of Ribery has been given a boost by Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness conceding the player will leave the German club if he does not believe they are ambitious enough.

Bayern have revealed that they turned down a £70m bid from Chelsea for Ribery in the summer.

Unsettled goalkeeper Ben Foster could be a January target for Bolton boss Gary Megson, despite Sir Alex Ferguson declaring the England man is going nowhere.

Derby want to sign Leicester striker DJ Campbell on loan before the window for short-term deals closes later this week.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is facing a fight to keep his Dutch coach Rene Meulensteen, with wealthy Qatar desperate to appoint him as their national boss.

Cash-strapped Charlton may be forced to sell a number of players, including star midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, this January as their financial woes increase. The club may also face administration next summer if a new investor is not found.

Manchester United defender Gary Neville says that a lack of strength in depth could ultimately prove England's undoing at the World Cup in South Africa next year.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that his side "lacked desire and sharpness" as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday.

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has revealed that a change of boots before the game with Wigan on Sunday helped him to score five in Spurs' 9-1 win.

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