P179 Teletext 179 Oct27 17:00:50 —— —————————————— ————————————— BALL'S BEASTLY BURDEN Over on the red side of Manchester, the decline of neighbours City is proving a constant source of amusement. And the butt of many of the cruel jokes is Alan Ball, the latest in a long line of City managers desperate to lift the the Blues out of the Reds' shadow. City are rooted at the bottom - six places lower than last season - after their worst ever start. Three months gone and relegation looms ever larger. ——————————————————————————————————1/5—— Stan Steer's latest betting news 593 C4 WEN VIP TICKETS TO M'BORG-LEEDS >>> UK Results Soccer Poll RugbyP179 Teletext 179 Oct27 17:00:48 —— —————————————— ————————————— BALL'S BEASTLY BURDEN Ten games into the new campaign and Man City are fulfilling the widely-held pre-season predictions of relegation. $hey have got off to a terrible start - seven straight defeats with not a win to their credit - and the lowest points tally in all four leagues, just two. Much of the blame must rest with Alan Ball who, despite the fanfare that heralded his arrival at Maine Road, has it all still to prove in management ——————————————————————————————————2/5—— All the latest sports headlines 130 WEN VIP TICKETS TO M'BORG-LEEDS >>> UK Results Soccer Poll RugbyP179 Teletext 179 Oct27 17:01:06 —— —————————————— ————————————— BALL'S BEASTLY BURDEN Alan Ball has spent 33 of his 50 years in football - and despite achieving it all as a player - has done little to shout about in the manager's hot seat. Given the heights Ball had reached as a player, he sjemjd the perfect candidate for management. But his record is poor. His CV points to a unique full house. He took Portsmouth down to the second, Stoke to the third, Blackpool to the fourth and Exeter close to non-league. ——————————————————————————————————3/5—— TV sport: region-by-region 139 WEN VIP TICKETS TO M'BORG-LEEDS >>> US Results Soccer Poll RugbyP179 Teletext 179 Oct27 17:01:13 —— —————————————— ————————————— BALL'S BEASTLY BURDEN Tomorrow, Alan Ball's Man City travel to Anfield hoping - perhaps against hope - to take points off Liverpool. The omens are ominous. City have not won in front of the Gop for 15 years, and Liverpool bagged four in midweek. Ball is realistic about City'u future. He feels it will take five years bufore they can compete with the best. But, it is unlikely that hj will bj afforded five years before his goose is cooked. ——————————————————————————————————4/5—— The ultimate sports quiz 451 C4 WEN VIP TICKETS TO M'BORG-LEEDS >>> US Results Soccer Poll RugbyP179 Teletext 179 Oct27 17:01:32 —— —————————————— ————————————— FACT FILE m Alan Ball Clubs Blackpool, Evjrton, Soton, played for Arsenal and Bristol Rovers Honours World Cup winner in 1966, League Championship medal with Evjrton in 1970. — M'BORG v LEEDS at Cellnet Rivjrsidj - To win two tickets for Novjmbjr 4 plus signed shirt by Juninho, just tell us: Who manages Middlesbrough? a) K Keegan b) B Robson or c) R Wilkins Call 0891 787 667 with your answer! ——————————————————————————————————5/5—— T+ Calls/min 39p cheap, 49p other Lines close midnight on Nov 1 Winner drawn at random on Nov 2 UK Results Soccer Poll Rugby