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Rory Smith

@RorySmith_Indy

Rory Smith is a football writer for The Independent.

Mine’s a pint: ‘People need more milk, and they want things like vegetable boxes, too,’ says milkman Simon Mellin
Home News

How coronavirus has given the milkman a modern makeover

Every club in Italy has a stadium announcer – a job the Italians call ‘lo speaker’ – but only Napoli has Daniele Bellini, the man everyone in this city knows as Decibel
Long Reads

Meet Decibel Bellini, the booming soundtrack to Napoli goals

<p>Massimilano Allegri won Milan the title last season, his first in charge</p>
European

The glory that was Serie A may have faded - but beware

<p>Harry Redknapp: 'They can have a Christmas party when they have a six week holiday in the summer'</p>
Premier League

Humbug Harry stands firm on Christmas ban

Luiz Suarez celebrates scoring against QPR on Saturday but faces an FA disciplinary commission today
heifi-sport-archive

Suarez to give testimony at Evra 'racism' hearing today

Chelsea are likely to want to sell Fernando Torres in the summer
heifi-sport-archive

Torres not being sold – until summer...

Brede Hangeland (left) and Aaron Hughes can hardly believe Fulham’s elimination
European

'Big blow' for Jol as Fulham Fall at last

Luiz Suarez celebrates scoring against QPR on Saturday but faces an FA disciplinary commission today
Premier League

Suarez to give testimony at Evra 'racism' hearing today

Fernando Torres has scored just three Premier League goals since joining last January
Transfers

Torres will not be sold – until the summer...

Lukas Podolski, FC Cologne: The German international is enjoying the most consistent campaign of his occasionally turbulent career and, at 26, still qualifies as a long-term signing. He returned to Cologne from Bayern Munich in 2009, but after seeing promises to build a competitive side around him fail to come to fruition, may be tempted away before his contract expires in 2013
Transfers

So, who needs what come the winter sales?

Juan Mata says the Chelsea squad are united behind their manager
Premier League

We are a big happy family, insists Mata

Asamoah Gyan earns £125,000-a-week at Al Ain in the UAE
News

Pioneers head east in game's latest gold rush

Mancini was happy to see Chelsea so delighted
Premier League

Roberto Mancini plays down tunnel row after City are halted at Bridge

Premier League

Roberto Mancini plays down tunnel row after City are halted at Bridge

Mancini was happy to see Chelsea so delighted
Nicolas Anelka (right) poses with his new shirt and Shanghai Shenhua club investor Zhu Jun after signing a two-year deal
Transfers

Shenhua target Drogba after sealing Anelka deal

Roberto Mancini and Andre Villas-Boas share a joke last night
News

Villas-Boas can only look on as the old guard close ranks

Arsenal full-back Andre Santos requires surgery on his ankle injury
Premier League

Santos blow may force Wenger into some January shopping

Harry Redknapp was unimpressed by the referee at Stoke on Sunday
Premier League

FA to let Redknapp off the hook after referee criticism

Harry Redknapp was unimpressed by the referee at Stoke on Sunday
Premier League

FA to let Redknapp off the hook after referee criticism

Robin van Persie is congratulated by Theo Walcott (right) after his spectacular goal for Arsenal
Premier League

Van Persie carving out place in pantheon

JUAN MATA: The Spaniard says his friend David Silva encouraged him to move to the Premier League
Premier League

Mata and Silva walk tall for 'little people'

Luis Suarez who has been accused of directing racist abuse at Patrice Evra
Premier League

Luis Suarez: Courteous, respectful, sensitive...

Andre Villas-Boas: Returned to the criticism he made of the media after Chelsea's win on Tuesday night
News

Villas-Boas rants at 'comic' Neville

Premier League

'Pivotal' King is doubt for Stoke

Alex Frei heads in the second to knock out Manchester United last night
European

Ferguson's humiliated men head for Europe's backwaters

Didier Drogba scores one of his two goals against Valencia on Tuesday
Transfers

Drogba to leave unless Chelsea improve offer

Luis Suarez has quickly adopted the role of pantomime villain during his time in England
heifi-sport-archive

FA decision on Suarez due today

Alex Frei heads in the second to knock out Manchester United last night
European

Ferguson's humiliated men head for Europe's backwaters

Didier Drogba scores one of his two goals against Valencia on Tuesday
Transfers

Drogba to leave unless Chelsea improve offer

Luis Suarez has quickly adopted the role of pantomime villain during his time in England
heifi-sport-archive

FA decision on Suarez due today

Andre Villas-Boas directs his players at the Bridge last night
European

Villas-Boas uses Mourinho template to ensure progress

European

Villas-Boas uses Mourinho template to ensure progress

Andre Villas-Boas directs his players at the Bridge last night
Didier Drogba celebrates giving Chelsea the lead on a night when he was back to his best
European

Villas-Boas uses victory to attack Chelsea 'critics'

Luis Suarez has quickly adopted the role of pantomime villain during his time in England
Premier League

FA decision on Luis Suarez's latest spat due today

heifi-sport-archive

Villas-Boas faces a night to determine his destiny

Andre Villa-Boas: The Chelsea manager is unwilling to contemplate defeat tonight
European

Villas-Boas faces night to determine his destiny

Andre Villa-Boas: The Chelsea manager is unwilling to contemplate defeat tonight
European

Villas-Boas faces night to determine his destiny

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas watches a training session at Cobham yesterday
News

Why isn't Villas-Boas's philosophy working yet?

Redknapp says that if King stays strong, so do Tottenham's unlikely title hopes
Premier League

Spurs' title ambitions are fit for a King

The Chelsea goalkeeper is not suited to be the 'sweeper-keeper' preferred by Villas-Boas
Premier League

Cech on hit-list for Chelsea's summer exodus

Fabio Capello has been offered many high-profile jobs but will still probably retire
heifi-sport-archive

Capello adamant he will not stay on after Euro 2012

Dougie Freedman: 'This will put a lot of money in the bank for us. I want to keep this team together'
FA & League Cups

Eagles must keep vultures at bay

International

Capello 'not interested in staying on after Euros'

News

FA admit failure as 11-a-side teams in England decline

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas faces some key fixtures this month
heifi-sport-archive

Players starting to turn on manager Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas watches Chelsea slump against Liverpool in the Carling Cup
News

Rory Smith: Whispers of disapproval spell danger for rookie manager

Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas faces some key fixtures this month
Premier League

Chelsea players turning against Villas-Boas

Palace's Wilfried Zaha (left) battles for the ball with Jamal Campbell-Ryce of Bristol City in the Championship at Selhurst Park
FA & League Cups

Gems from the Palace go on show

FA & League Cups

Gems from the Palace go on show

Palace's Wilfried Zaha (left) battles for the ball with Jamal Campbell-Ryce of Bristol City in the Championship at Selhurst Park
The pressure is mounting on Villas-Boas
FA & League Cups

'We need to get our fans behind us – Stamford Bridge has grown

Maxi Rodriguez (right) celebrates giving Liverpool the lead with Andy Carroll
FA & League Cups

Chelsea's callow surrender piles yet more pressure on Villas-Boas

Paul Pogba is expected to be handed his full United debut
Premier League

Manchester City lie in wait as Paul Pogba stalls on new United deal

Steve Kean is ignoring the obvious - Blackburn are bottom of the table
heifi-sport-archive

Kean's endless optimism turns crisis into a farce

Steve Kean is ignoring the obvious - Blackburn are bottom of the table
heifi-sport-archive

Kean's endless optimism turns crisis into a farce

'We have a very good relationship - not only professional but personal as well,' says Roberto di Matteo
FA & League Cups

Di Matteo insists he is staying put

Steve Kean is ignoring the obvious - Blackburn are bottom of the table
FA & League Cups

Kean's endless optimism turns crisis into a farce

Juan Mata (right) is establishing himself as a player whose importance at Chelsea rivals John Terry’s and Frank Lampard’s
Premier League

Blues are united behind Villas-Boas, insists Mata

John Terry rises above the Wolves defence to connect with Juan Mata's corner and give Chelsea a lead that was never under threat
Premier League

Chelsea revived as Romeu runs riot

Mancini is to revert to last season's style
Premier League

Mancini: City's cavaliers need to be boring again

Chelsea manager Villas-Boas insists there is no role at Stamford Bridge for Guus Hiddink
Premier League

Villas-Boas starts to feel the strain

Barton’s Scouse accent may flummox his Argentine team-mate, but in footballing terms the two midfielders understand each other
News

Faurlin hero happy at QPR

Michael Ballack felt Chelsea had lost some of their mental strength
Premier League

Ballack: Chelsea players must deliver now more than ever

A pensive-looking Andre Villas-Boas: Could he be heading for the Chelsea exit
News

Rory Smith: Is Villas-Boas heading the way of his predecessors?

Manuel Friedrich's header beats Petr Cech
heifi-sport-archive

Friedrich's blow piles more pain on Villas-Boas

Cavani celebrates his Napoli goal
International

Cavani is latest gem off Uruguay production line

International

Cavani is latest gem off Uruguay production line

Cavani celebrates his Napoli goal
Blackburn are resigned to losing Junior Hoilett in January
Transfers

Spurs want £9m Hoilett to bolster Europe hopes

Villas-Boas knows his job is under threat
European

AVB: 'Confidence is low but it is my job to lift the players'

Friedrich enjoys his late winner in unconventional style
European

Lacklustre Chelsea add to the agony for Villas-Boas

Andre Villas-Boas does not want a repeat of Chelsea’s run last winter
heifi-sport-archive

Villas-Boas: 'We can avoid a winter of discontent'

Andre Villas-Boas does not want a repeat of Chelsea’s run last winter
heifi-sport-archive

Villas-Boas: 'We can avoid a winter of discontent'

Andre Villas-Boas does not want a repeat of Chelsea’s run last winter
European

Chelsea can avoid a winter of discontent

Emmanuel Adebayor: The striker is happy at Spurs but his wages may block a permanent move
Premier League

Adebayor: I love Spurs but money counts

Nicolas Anelka: At 32, the France striker hoped to end his career at Chelsea but may depart in January
Transfers

Anelka will go as Chelsea target Napoli ace

Nemanja Vidic insists United are getting closer to Barcelona's level of play
European

Vidic: beating Barcelona is our obsession

David Luiz cuts a desolate figure after gifting Javier Hernandez a goal at Old Trafford last season
Premier League

Luiz lapses just a sideshow in Chelsea circus

Emmanuel Adebayor scores his spectacular first goal against Aston Villa last night
Premier League

Adebayor lifts Spurs to third as Villa show only fear

Jermain Defoe: Could kick-start his challenge for an England role tonight against Villa
heifi-sport-archive

Defoe could battle Bent for Euro 2012 place

Jermain Defoe: Could kick-start his challenge for an England role tonight against Villa
Premier League

Defoe could challenge Bent for England spot, says Jordan

Andre Villas-Boas: 'The owner did not pay €15m to get me out of Porto to pay me another fortune to get out'
News

Abramovich is not going to sack me, says Villas-Boas

Gareth Bale: Qualifying for the Champions League will help Spurs hold on to the Welshman
Transfers

Jordan: Spurs will repeat Modric stance if Barcelona try to buy Bale

News

Warnock: Player boycott might force out Fifa head

The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, is once again under pressure but global reaction has not been uniform
News

'Sorry' keeps Blatter safe as quit calls fall on deaf ears

Andre Villas-Boas: The Chelsea manager says Torres is helping the club by creating goals
Premier League

I'd pay £50m for Torres today, says Villas-Boas

Fernando Torres: 'The Liverpool fans have only heard that which the club let them hear, and they do not know the real story behind the move (to Chelsea)'
Premier League

Torres: Liverpool fans don't know truth

Harry Redknapp expects the all-clear to take his place in White Hart Lane dugout on Monday
Premier League

Fighting-fit Redknapp is back in hot seat for Villa

Captain John Terry directs his team-mates at Wembley last night
International

Terry's courage of a kind not to everyone's taste

Fernando Torres: 'The Liverpool fans have only heard that which the club let them hear, and they do not know the real story behind the move (to Chelsea)'
Premier League

Torres: Liverpool fans don't know truth

Harry Redknapp expects the all-clear to take his place in White Hart Lane dugout on Monday
Premier League

Fighting-fit Redknapp is back in hot seat for Villa

Captain John Terry directs his team-mates at Wembley last night
International

Terry's courage of a kind not to everyone's taste

Jack Rodwell, Kyle Walker and Phil Jones all impressed for England at Wembley last night giving Fabio Capello food for thought
International

New generation force way into Capello's Euro plans

England captain John Terry addresses the media yesterday
heifi-sport-archive

I have no reason to hide, says 'proud' and bullish Terry

England captain John Terry addresses the media yesterday
International

I have no reason to hide says 'proud' and bullish Terry

Sweden have been strangely unsuccessful with Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their team
International

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Swedish enigma

England’s Phil Jagielka tried to play down expectations
heifi-sport-archive

Jagielka: it doesn't mean we're going to win Euros

Robin van Persie shoots for the Netherlands against Switzerland
Premier League

Fabregas: Arsenal must keep Van Persie

David Silva 'was surprised at how defensive England were at home'
International

'Our style is fine. We will stick to it,' says Alonso

England’s Phil Jagielka tried to play down expectations
International

Jagielka: it doesn't mean we're going to win Euros

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