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Paper Round: Bob Bradley joins Harry the Hornet on naughty step as Giggs lined up for Swansea job

Jen Offord

Updated 28/12/2016 at 08:50 GMT

Ryan Giggs has been touted as Swansea boss after Bob Bradley is sacked after just 85 days, while Harry the Hornet avoids a sting. It's Wednesday's Paper Round.

Ryan Giggs

Image credit: AFP

Giggs favourite as Bradley replacement

With Swansea boss Bob Bradley sacked following a dismal performance against West Ham on Boxing Day, many of Wednesday's back pages focus on his possible replacement. Welshman Ryan Giggs is cited as the bookies' favourite to take over at the Liberty Stadium, and could be joined by former Manchester United team-mates Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt on his coaching team - but he'll have to fight off competition from Alan Pardew, says The Mirror.
Paper Round’s view: Giggs was linked to the job ahead of Bradley's appointment, but was said to have lost out thanks to a lack of experience having only previously worked in a coaching capacity as number two at his old club, Manchester United. The bookies' rival for the job, Alan Pardew, on the other hand has a lot - albeit without a huge amount of success. Perhaps its time Giggs got his big break?
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Fergie's pep talk with Mourinho

The Sun reports that under-pressure Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has returned to his winning ways thanks to a pep talk with none other than United legend Sir Alan Ferguson. Now unbeaten in 11 games, after a shaky start to the season, The Sun reckons his newfound success is owed to his profound respect for the 13-time Premier League winning Scot, who urged him to brush the dirt/unfavourable press reports off his shoulder and be himself.
Paper Round’s view: Sir Alan's shoes are some pretty big ones to fill, and one can't help but wonder if the ghost of Uniteds past has been at least part of the problem for some of his successors. You might also wonder how kindly Mourinho would take to managerial advice from anyone, even if they are an Old Trafford legend. Nonetheless, whatever Fergie allegedly said to Mourinho seems to have done the trick - for the time being at least. But maybe not for a decade.
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Klopp backs Firmino as Liverpool thrash Stoke

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has said that he had "no intention" of dropping forward Roberto Firmino after he was charged with drink driving following his arrest on Christmas Eve. The comments come in the wake of Liverpool's 4-1 victory over Stoke City on Tuesday, which saw the Merseysiders leapfrog Manchester City to take second place on the Premier League table, six points below Chelsea. "He was the best man in training," said Klopp of the Brazilian, who scored during the game, "there was no chance to leave him out."
Paper Round’s view: Liverpool have declined to comment on Firmino's alleged Christmas Eve indiscretion until the legal process concludes which, from their perspective, was wise in light of his performance on Tuesday. That said, you do wonder what statements such as Klopp's and perception that Premier League players are somehow less accountable than others does for the public image of the game.
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Harry the Hornet escapes rap after dive-gate

Watford mascot Harry the Hornet remains big news on Wednesday following his cheeky send-up of Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha, after he was booked for diving during the teams' Boxing Day clash. Zaha apparently saw the funny side on Wednesday despite something of a sense of humour failure at the time of the "incident" and it seems Harry's club did, too, as it was confirmed that neither they nor the FA would take action against the "out of order" mascot.
Paper Round’s view: Really? Did nothing else happen on Tuesday?
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