Football Focus

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Strangest items taken to a game? How about four of them like these lads....

We want to hear about the strangest items you've taken to a match.

Get involved with the debate via Twitter #bbcfootball, external or text us 81111 (UK only and don't forget to include your name and where you're texting from).

Image source, AP

British NBA star and Arsenal fan Luol Deng has pitted his wits against Mark Lawrenson this week.

The 30-year-old Miami Heat forward, who grew up in south London, says he cannot bear to tip Tottenham to beat Chelsea and is backing the Gunners to bounce back from last week's defeat at West Brom when they play Norwich on Sunday.

To read in this week's Lawro's predictions click here. 

Football Focus

Here's your 10 minute Football Focus alert. 

Former England left-back Graeme Le Saux and ex-Aston Villa striker Dion Dublin join Dan Walker in the Football Focus studio at 11:30 GMT to discuss the weekend's action.

Leicester's record chaser Jamie Vardy and Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce will be on the show.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has joined the debate over former Reds team-mate Daniel Sturridge's injury record.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Sturridge must learn "what is serious pain and what is only pain".

In his column for the Daily Mail,, external Carragher said: "The one thing I remember most of all from being his team-mate is that he had to feel 100% right mentally and physically in order to play.

"The thing is, with professional football, it’s not often any player will take to the field 100% fit. There is always a knock or something niggling and when that is the case, you just grit your teeth and get through it.

"But Sturridge’s continued unavailability is presenting Liverpool with a problem now. 

"If they put him up for sale, every top club bar Manchester City would take him over their strikers, but how long can Liverpool wait for him to be ready? Do the club start to think they need to move him on, to get a good fee and save on his big wages?"

In association with the Danny Baker Show on Radio 5 live, we are asking you about the strangest things you have taken to a match and you are not disappointing us. Some of these are downright bizarre...

Ian Fowler:  My step dad buys stupid stuff to take to football all the time, but taking a loo seat to West Brom vs Watford was a particular highlight!

Marc Starr: Not strangest but one of the funniest - at the NUFC v MCFC game prior to City winning the title in 2012, someone managed to get in with a full-size Alan Shearer cardboard cut-out and added a City scarf around its neck. Nice touch

Dave Hoare: Went to Barnet v Halifax years ago and a Halifax fan had his dog with him. A dog that had previously died and he had stuffed!

Get involved with the debate via the Match of the Day Facebook , externalpage, Twitter #bbcfootball, external or text us 81111 (UK only and don't forget to include your name and where you're texting from).

On the back of Chelsea being linked with Shakhtar Donetsk's Alex Teixeira, the Evening Standard, external are reporting that the 25-year-old has told Brazilian publication Lance that Chelsea have made him an offer.

"What I saw and what my agent said was that Chelsea, Juventus and PSG have made proposals," Teixeira told Lance.

"But Chelsea and Juventus are deeper in the negotiations. They are three big clubs. Where I go, I'll be happy.

"[The Premier League] is my dream. I'm happy to get a proposal from Chelsea, a big club in Europe, but my agent takes care of it.

"For January, I believe it is very difficult to leave because it is in the middle of the championship.

"Shakhtar told me they will not release me in January; only at the end of the season. But I'm with a clear head."

The Daily Express are reporting that Chelsea will make a move for Shakhtar Donetsk attacking midfielder Alex Teixeira to help spark their season into life...

Image source, .

Here are some more of the strangest items you have taken to a match...

John Milesi, from the Isle of Arran, Scotland:  The 1971 cup final at Wembley with my family Arsenal 2-1 up minutes to go, I look across to my aunt and she's praying with rosary beads.

Must have done the trick John as Arsenal held on to beat Liverpool.

Image source, AFP

Simon, from London: Bought a policemen fancy dress kit for murder mystery on weekend but forget about midweek game that evening. Ended up taking the kit including plastic gun, handcuffs and truncheon into the game. Luckily security didn't spot it!   

Image source, Reuters

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp says Daniel Sturridge must learn "what is serious pain and what is only pain" in order to overcome his injury problems.

The 26-year-old striker withdrew shortly before the Reds' Europa League win over Bordeaux on Thursday after picking up a foot problem in training.

Speaking before Sunday's game with Swansea (16:15 GMT), he said: "The situation is Daniel was very often injured in the last few months, and maybe years, so it is normal when you get back in training usually it is not the quality, but you need training.

"Your body has to learn to adapt to new intensities of training and in this time you have to learn what is serious pain and what is only pain."

The Sun back pages focuses on Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp talking about striker Daniel Sturridge dealing with pain management but there is also an interesting story in which Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho talks about forward Diego Costa's lack of reading of the game...  

Image source, .

Image source, Getty Images

Like every Saturday we have teamed up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live to ask for your unusual sporting stories.

Today we want to hear about the strangest items you've taken to a match...

Ryan Stayner: It wasn't mine, but I've played with a pet goat spectating, held off the pitch by two children holding a rope in front of it

Martin Baillie, from Ealing: My brother had a jar of my mum's homemade blackcurrant jam confiscated at the gates. I was meeting him in the ground and went hungry!    

KOBBORA: My twin sister. We are always together

Get involved with the debate via Twitter #bbcfootball, external or text us 81111 (UK only and don't forget to include your name and where you're texting from).    

Before we move on, I'd just like to point out you will be spoilt for sport today.

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is taking place this weekend and there's some practice going on before qualifying later on. You can follow all the action with Gary Rose right here.

Great Britain are in action in the Davis Cup final with the tie level at 1-1 going into today's doubles match and you'll be able to follow that live on the website as well.

Later on this evening, we will bring you the heavyweight boxing fight between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko.

So, if variety is the spice of life, you're covered when it comes to sport.

In his defence of his team's style - or lack of it, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says it's not all his side's fault.

"Of course [I am worried about the fans] because the fans have to be happy," said Van Gaal. "You are playing for the fans, so you cannot deny that.

"But also you have to see how our opponents are playing against us, and when you see how they play, you know the difficulty of organising against that type of opponent.''

Image source, EPA

Like every Saturday we have teamed up with the Danny Baker Show on BBC Radio 5 live to ask for your unusual sporting stories.

Today we want to hear about the strangest items you've taken to a match.

Get involved with the debate via Twitter #bbcfootball, external or text us 81111 (UK only and don't forget to include your name and where you're texting from).  

Tim Wheeler takes Zippy to the match. No word yet on whether Bungle or George join him...

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has taken umbridge at the Old Trafford outfit's lack of flair and now a former coach at the club, Rene Meulensteen, says the side suffer from a "lack of freedom" under manager Louis van Gaal. 

The Dutchman added that United no longer seem to have the "obligation to entertain" they had when he worked under Sir Alex Ferguson at the club.

"The word is maybe rigid at times," Meulensteen told the BBC World Service.

"You see players where the ball could have been played forward with a little bit of risk but they tend to go square or back. That's what the fans dislike at the moment.

"When Sir Alex Ferguson was at the helm there was a clear style and identity but we also gave them the freedom to come up with their own solutions. There's a lack of freedom now."

Manchester United fans have not been slow in voicing their frustration at the lack of entertainment on offer from manager Louis van Gaal's side and the Daily Star focuses on the Old Trafford boss urging the club's fans for patience... 

Image source, .

We want to know the strangest items you have taken to a match.

For Dave Smith it seems he can not go anywhere without his teddy...

As contrasting fortunes go, here is one for you...

On 25 March, 2014, Leicester drew 1-1 with Yeovil in the Championship and still have plenty of players from that game. The Foxes are now sitting proudly at the head of the top flight, while Yeovil find themselves the lowest placed team in English football's top four divisions.

Neil Lennon
Former Leicester midfielder and Bolton boss Neil Lennon on BBC Radio 5 live

“I love the whole Jamie Vardy story. He hasn’t come through that cocooned lifestyle that young players have now in academies. He has had to earn his crust and come right up through the ranks and now he is right at the top of his game. 

"I know there are players in the lower leagues. You are always looking for these hidden gems and it’s very rare that you find a player of Jamie’s stature. But I think it’s a great example to anyone that there is still an opportunity in football if you stick at it.”