A West Ham star is held at gunpoint, Arsenal’s spectacular Christmas photo, England are set to defy FIFA, and Claudio Ranieri will take on super-coaches for a prestigious title.All that and more in Thursday Paper Talk!West Ham striker Andy Carroll was held at gunpoint on his way home from training according to reports from English media outlets.A club statement said later that the police were investigating an incident involving one of their players, believed to be Carroll.Police reportedly believe it was a targeted attack, but the club revealed he wasn’t harmed.The statement said: “West Ham United can confirm an incident targeting one of our players on Wednesday November 2. The matter is now being handled by the police.”Carroll was driving home from the club’s training ground when he was reportedly attacked by two motorcyclists, who pulled up alongside him at a junction, waved a gun and demanded he pull over.But Carroll apparently sped off in his Mercedes 4×4 to escape the assailants, before reportedly colliding with several cars as he was chased by the two bikes.

However, the attackers couldn’t keep up with Carroll, who returned to the West Ham training ground and called for police, say reports.Carroll has not played for the Hammers since the Europa League qualifier against Astra Giurgiu on August 18, a game in which the England international sustained a knee injury.The problem was only meant to sideline Carroll for six weeks, but he has only just returned to training this week.The Hammers next game is against Stoke City at the London Stadium.Michael Cockerill, Daniel Garb and David Weiner react to the Socceroos squad news and analyse the key A-League and Premier League talking points. Arsenal have taken part in a Christmas jumper photoshoot to help raise funds for charity, Save the Children.The Gunners clinched a Champions League knockout stages spot with a comeback 3-2 win over Ludogrets, and followed that up with the whole first team posing for a team picture in their sweaters.The club will sell the festive kits with a percentage of the sales going towards the charity, and the players will also donate their a day’s wages to the cause when they take on Stoke on December 10.Photo: The Arsenal players in Christmas jumpers.

☃ #/p5iDjWWeq6— Arsenal Relevant (@ArsenalRelevant) November 2, 2016 ENGLAND TO DEFY FIFA OVER POPPY BANEngland’s players will wear black armbands with the red poppy when they face Scotland in a World Cup qualifier on Armistice Day, despite the threat of sanctions from FIFA.afrocentric hoodiesThe English and Scottish football associations had been negotiating with the world governing body, which bans political, commercial and religious symbols on team outfits during matches.triple aught hoodieBut the FA insisted Wednesday that the wearing of a poppy represents an “appropriate tribute” to Britain’s war dead.“iowa hawkeyes hoodie 3xlThe poppy is an important symbol of remembrance and we do not believe it represents a political, religious or commercial message, nor does it relate to any one historical event,” said an FA statement.“sirens hoodie allen free download

The FA intend to pay appropriate tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice by having the England team wear black armbands bearing poppies in our fixture on Armistice Day.”northern uprising hoodiesEngland play Scotland in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley on November 11, the day when Britain traditionally remembers its war dead.hoodie allen song for an actress rap geniusMany Britons wear red poppies as a tribute to those who have died in conflicts which have involved the country.Earlier, British Prime Minister Theresa May branded as “outrageous” FIFA’s opposition to the wearing poppies on their shirts.“It is utterly outrageous,” May said when asked about the matter in parliament. “Our football players want to recognise those who gave their lives for our security.“It is absolutely right that they should be able to do so.

A clear message is going from this house before they (FIFA) start telling us what to do they jolly well ought to sort their own house out.”RANIERI AND COLEMAN TAKE ON SUPER-COACHES FOR FIFA TITLELeicester’s Claudio Ranieri and Wales boss Chris Coleman are on a FIFA shortlist for coach of the year against the managers of Europe’s major club and international sides.Fernando Santos, who guided Portugal to their upset victory over France in the Euro 2016 final, also makes the 10-man list released ahead of the start of voting on Friday.Ranieri, Coleman and Santos could not have expected at the start of the year to be taking on super-coaches such as Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, Barcelona’s Luis Enrique or Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp for the best coach gong.But their feats in making Leicester the English champions, taking Wales to the Euro semi-finals and Portugal to their first Euro triumph have made the trio outstanding candidates.France coach Didier Deschamps, Tottenham Hotspur’s Mauricio Pochettino, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and Real Madrid’s Champions League winner Zinedine Zidane make up the list.

Initial voting will end on November 22 with 50 per cent of the decision based on a public poll and 50 per cent on captains and coaches of national teams.A final three will be announced on December 2 and FIFA will unveil the winner on January 9.RANGERS ALLOW BAD-BOY BARTON BACK FOR TRAINING Controversial midfielder Joey Barton can return to training with Rangers after a nearly two-month exile following a bust-up, the Scottish team said, but his short time with the club looks over.The 34-year-old Englishman, who has a woeful disciplinary record, was banished from Rangers after a training ground dispute in mid-September with manager Mark Warburton.He will be allowed back to train but seems unlikely to get another game with the Scottish giants and probably will be allowed to leave during the January transfer window.“Joey Barton has been told he will return to full-time training following the conclusion of a disciplinary procedure,” the club said in a statement.“The management team will inform the player of appropriate training arrangements to which he must adhere for as long as he remains a Rangers player.“

Neither the club nor the player will comment further.”WATFORD CHAIRMAN STEPS DOWN PROTESTING HIS INNOCENCE Raffaele Riva announced he is stepping down as executive chairman of Premier League club Watford on Wednesday but said it had nothing to do with allegations made in the Daily Telegraph last week.Watford also announced they had concluded their own investigation into the allegations that the club forged a letter from HSBC bank during Italian Gino Pozzo’s 2014 takeover of the club, which was bought by his family in 2012.Watford said they will send the report to the English Football League (EFL) (they weren’t in the Premier League at the time) stating the club “is not guilty of any wrongdoing”.Riva said he “fully refutes, and will protect vigorously my integrity against, any recent speculation”.The EFL has also launched an investigation, leaving Watford facing the prospect of a large fine or even a points deduction.The case centres around a proof of funds document sent to the EFL in order to ratify a change in shareholders.