latest euro-sport gist

60 pounds for ribery

2009-11-18T03:57:00.001-08:00

TRANSFER NEWS
Bayern stand firm over £60m valuation of Ribery
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent

November 11, 2009
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Chelsea and Manchester City have been shocked to discover that Bayern Munich are still holding out for nearly £60 million for unhappy French winger Franck Ribery.

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Uli Hoeness displays Bayern's determination to hold on to Ribery. For the time being.

The two big-spending Premier League clubs are waiting for Bayern to drop their asking price as the midfielder's contract winds down, and they are also behind Real Madrid in the player's wishlist of clubs.

ESPN Soccernet's 'insider' with close connections to the movers and shakers at Eastlands and Stamford Bridge said: "Bayern want 70 million euros, and that is unrealistic. In any case, the player retains his desire to play in Spain rather than England. His head has been turned by Real Madrid's interest and he is still waiting to see if they will buy him.

"I have got to say he doesn't want to go to England, and it's far too early to say what Real Madrid might do - whether they will have the cash after spending so much on Kaka and Ronaldo. If nothing happens with Real then perhaps Ribery will change his mind.

"If he does change his mind about England then he won't go to Manchester City, because Chelsea offers him the best option in terms of potential achievement, so the door could be open at Chelsea, depending on what they decide to do in the transfer market."

The struggling Bundesliga giants are disappointed with the 26-year-old Ribery's form this season and could accept less for a player they valued at £80 million in the summer, although they would still want a hefty price for a player considered to be one of the best in the world.

Ribery is said to have a poor relationship with coach Louis van Gaal and has shown earlier in his career that his behind-the-scenes problems can affect his form.

However, his contract ends in June 2011, meaning that, next summer, Bayern will be unable to command the kind of fee they have been looking for and, as Ribery declines any new deal on the table, the price will drop to one that will encourage Chelsea to make a good enough offer to tempt Bayern.

Manchester City will match Chelsea, and even surpass any transfer fee and wages. City are even prepared to meet Bayern's valuation and pay the player a record £200,000-a-week in wages, while manager Mark Hughes watched Bayern lose against Bordeaux in the Champions League last week.

For the moment, though, Real are leading the pack and both English clubs will face a tough test to persuade the Frenchman that his future lies in the Premier League.

three stars back for liverpool

2009-11-18T03:26:00.001-08:00

REMIER Liverpool's injury problems appear to be easing somewhat with the news that Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson should all be fit to feature against Manchester City at the weekend.

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Steven Gerrard came on as a first-half substitute against Birmingham

None of the three have been involved with their respective countries during the international break and of paramount importance to Benitez is the news that his captain, Gerrard, appears to have shaken off a troublesome groin problem.

Gerrard has made only one appearance as a substitute since England's game against Ukraine on October 10 but, along with defenders Agger and Johnson, should be available when Mark Hughes' men come to Anfield on Saturday.

Star striker Fernando Torres will not be available though as he continues to undergo treatment for a groin injury.

"Agger is okay. He had a small problem with his back but he's training," Rafael Benitez told the club's official website. "It was a very good decision from Denmark's manager (to withdraw Agger) because he is much better now. I think he'll be okay for the weekend.

"Johnson has been training. Not full sessions, but training, so hopefully he'll be okay for the weekend too. Gerrard is doing well. He finished a full training session today, so if he can carry on then he'll be okay as well. Fernando Torres is training with the physios, so I don't think he'll be available."

Meanwhile, Benitez is adopting a positive outlook regarding Yossi Benayoun and Albert Riera, both of whom were expected to be sidelined for four weeks after sustaining hamstring injuries in a 2-2 draw with Birmingham on November 9. David Ngog should be okay to face City despite breaking his nose on international duty but Fabio Aurelio will miss out.

"I was talking about four weeks but they (Benayoun and Riera) are working hard with the physios and doing special treatments," Benitez said. "We have to check but maybe they'll be back earlier than expected."

"We know Ngog has broken his nose but it's not serious. I am not sure yet because we haven't seen him but I think he'll be okay, it won't be serious. He (Aurelio) is improving but still has a little bit of a problem with his calf. It will be difficult for him to play against Man City."

In further news from Liverpool, the club have completed the signing of Luton Town's Under-15 player Dave Moli for an undisclosed fee.

ancelloti noy ready for italy job has he enjoys his stay at blues

2009-11-18T03:21:00.000-08:00

Carlo Ancelotti says he is tempted by the chance to lead Italy but is only thinking about Chelsea for now.
AP
Ancelotti wants to continue his "beautiful adventure" at Chelsea
Marcello Lippi, who led the side to World Cup success in 2006, has returned to coach the side following Roberto Donadoni's disappointing Euro 2008 campaign, but he has come under fire from fans and the press for his refusal to select the likes of Antonio Cassano and Amauri.
Lippi is expected to leave Italy after the finals next summer but, while Ancelotti admits he would love to coach an international side, he insists he is intending to stay at Stamford Bridge for the foreseeable future.
"I like the idea of coaching a national team, but at the moment, I'm staying at Chelsea," he told La Repubblica. "In June, I want to enjoy the live games as a spectator.

"I won't be the Italian coach next season. I'm the Chelsea coach and I want to finish this beautiful adventure."

Meanwhile, Napoli sporting director Riccardo Bigon has denied reports Chelsea are set to make a January swoop for Marek Hamsik.

Reports in England have claimed that Chelsea are lining up a bid for Slovakia midfielder Hamsik, who scored the only goal of the game as his country beat USA in a friendly at the weekend.

However, Bigon insists they have no intention of allowing the 22-year-old to leave and that the focus is more on potential arrivals than sales.

"There is no official request for buying him," he told Sky Italia. "Marek is indispensable to the club. He is not for sale.

"We have a huge team with 25 players, and it's tough to bring a new addition to the team but, if there's a chance to improve, we will. We will take a look in the next transfer window to see if there's something interesting to do."

alex ferguson believes man city would break top 4

2009-11-18T03:18:00.000-08:00

Sir Alex Ferguson has changed his tune on whether bitter rivals Manchester City are a top four candidate this season, but ruled out anything other than a two-horse race between his Manchester United team and Chelsea for the Premier League title.

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Have Manchester City's stars won over their harshest critic?

When City revealed a giant poster Manchester featuring former United striker Carlos Tevez in his new sky blue City strip in pre-season, Ferguson reacted angrily and was dimissive of the Eastlands outfit's chances of cracking the top four, let alone challenging the red half of Manchester.

Managers and players, including Chelsea's Frank Lampard, have since talked up City's top four prospects. While Ferguson holds firm that the status of title contenders is exclusively his and Chelsea's, he now also believes City stand as good a chance of any to steal a Champions League place that Liverpool increasingly look like vacating.

Ferguson said: "I could toss a coin and that could be my best chance of deciding who could break into the top four out of Tottenham, Aston Villa, Everton and Manchester City with all the money they have. That's a difficult competition in itself and any one of them is capable of doing that."

Despite the increased threat to the top of the league table, Ferguson insisted that Arsenal and every other team would drop off the pace of United and Chelsea in the early months of the new year.

"I had a feeling about there being a change last season. The top teams are losing games and more points than ever through the early part of the season," he said. "That gives rise to the hope that it could be a very competitive league. But my experience tells me that two teams break away towards the last part of the season.''

Ferguson was speaking at an inaugural dinner of the League Managers' Association Hall of Fame 1000 club, celebrating those who have managed more than 1,000 domestic league or cup matches. The English leagues have boasted 18 such managers, including the late Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Robson, Brian Clough and Alec Stock.

Ten surviving members were present at the Hilton hotel in London and as well as Ferguson they comprised Dave Bassett, Steve Coppell, Brian Horton, Lennie Lawrence, Harry Redknapp, Denis Smith, Jim Smith, Graham Turner and Neil Warnock. Ferguson also admitted football had been taken over by a new breed of chairmen and owners with a hair-trigger for sacking managers.

He said: "It's a different world we're in. Managers were always sacked but in most cases there was a reasonable cause. A run of bad results. But I remember Peter Reid was sacked after five games at Manchester City at the start of the season. Ruud Gullit was sacked a few games into one of his seasons at Newcastle. There is an instant response from chairmen which has been unusual in recent years.

"We have a new breed of chairmen and new owners. It's not the establishment we've got now. We have new owners from Americans, Chinese, Russians. How they achieved their money is not what football is used to. The sudden wealth (has brought) the quick reaction of chairmen to what happens on the football field.''

ronaldo misses play off

2009-11-17T03:34:00.001-08:00

BACK FROM ANKLE INJURY
Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to training with his Real Madrid team-mates for the first time since injuring his ankle in late September. He will still, however, miss Portugal's World Cup play-off with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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Ronaldo was injured playing for Real Madrid against Marseille
The £80 million world record signing suffered the injury in a Champions League clash with Marseille on September 30 but was put through his paces at Real's Valdebebas training complex today, taking part in some ball work.

Ronaldo's injury became the subject of controversy earlier this month when Portugal tried to call him up for duty in their World Cup qualification play-off with Bosnia-Herzegovina. He had risked the injury during his country's crucial final group game with Hungary in October but had broken down by half-time, causing an almighty club v country row.

This time, the player has ultimately remained with Real, while Portugal narrowly won the first leg of the play-off without him.

chelsea to sign new players

2009-11-17T03:16:00.000-08:00

CHELSEA NEWS
Terry hoping for January signings
By Soccernet staff

November 17, 2009
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Chelsea captain John Terry expects boss Carlo Ancelotti to make the most of the January transfer window and bring in some new faces to bolster the Blues' squad and consolidate their title ambitions.

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Chelsea are top of the league but John Terry reckons new signings will help the Blues consolidate.

Chelsea have had a transfer ban suspended pending appeal so will be free to bring players in when the window opens again.

And with the prospect of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel heading to Angola for the African Nations Cup in January, Terry expects Ancelotti and owner Roman Abramovich to discuss some possible signings.

"It's good news about the transfer ban being suspended but we lose four good players to the African Nations Cup in January anyway,'' he told the Sun.

"I'm sure the club and the manager are looking into that and having good talks with Roman. I wouldn't be surprised if we do go out and buy because we don't know what's going to happen in the summer - or the following summer.''

james see himself no 1

2009-11-17T02:10:00.003-08:00

England goalkeeper David James expects to be fully fit for next summer's World Cup final
David James is hoping to be England's No.1 in South Africa
The 39-year-old missed Saturday's friendly against Brazil because of an ongoing knee problem, which has also seen him given a special training routine which gives him time off on Mondays.

But the Portsmouth stopper is adamant that by the time the World Cup finals roll around, he will be fit and available to be Fabio Capello's first-choice keeper.

"I'm not concerned about my knee and it will not be a reason why I won't be fit for the World Cup," told the Daily Mail. "If the injury was a serious one I'd be looking to rest for a number of weeks and miss a load of games for Portsmouth.

"But I don't need to and that should tell you everything. By managing the situation, I am able to play every week. But I missed England squads earlier in the season because I couldn't train the way the manager [Fabio Capello] wanted me to.

"He has a very strict policy. If you can't do their training before a game he won't pick you and that's fair enough. And I missed the last squad for Brazil because it was considered more sensible to give me a two-week break.

"The same went for a number of the lads. For me, it has proved a good decision because the knee is getting better all the time.''

And James admitted he hopes to win his 50th cap when England next play in March.

"By the time England play again in March my left knee will be fine,' James said. ''I see it as a chance to win my 50th cap, something I'd love to do at Wembley, and if I'm selected I will be fully fit."

He added: "I can see why the manager might be a bit worried but it's not strictly true that I can't train for two days after every game.

"I just have a programme in place for now that is designed to allow the knee time to make a full recovery and it means I don't do any goalkeeping training on a Monday. I just go in the gym and do conditioning work before returning to goalkeeping work the next day.''

I QUIT IF TORRES GOES

2009-11-17T01:12:00.001-08:00

Rafael Benitez has revealed he would be prepared to quit as Liverpool boss if star striker Fernando Torres is ever sold against his will.
Rafael Benitez would not stick around if Fernando Torres was sold against his will.

The club's well-publicised debts have led to questions about whether owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett would be tempted should a big-money offer come in for the Spain striker.

But Benitez told the Times the 25-year-old would not be sold at any cost.

"I'm confident it will never happen,'' he said. "If it did, I'd resign.''

Liverpool's £20 million man Alberto Aquilani was their only high profile arrival in the summer and Benitez has often bemoaned his inability to compete with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea in the transfer market.

And while the Spanish boss admitted the situation had led him to make some mistakes, he was defiant about his transfer policy.

"When we have spent big, normally it's been very good business,'' he said. "Torres, [Javier] Mascherano, [Pepe] Reina, [Xabi] Alonso.

"[Robbie] Keane is a good player but we had to sell him because he was not playing at the level we knew he could play. "Ryan [Babel] was signed for the future and we are waiting for his improvement. He has to be more consistent.

"With the fringe players, we needed to take a gamble on Bosmans and one, two million-pound players. Some of these players have not been good enough for us. It is a risk you have to accept when there is not too much money about.''

Benitez defended the signing of midfielder Aquilani, who was bought for from Roma to replace Alonso after the Spain international joined Real Madrid in the summer, but is only now reaching fitness after injury problems.

"We can only buy one or two big, £20 million players a year,'' Benitez said. "If we want to have money available then we have to sell some players. We have to sell expensive and buy as cheaply as possible.

"Aquilani fit would be £20-30 million. We checked with doctors and they said he would be out one, maybe two months. We have lost some time, but I signed the player for five years, not five weeks.''

With Liverpool struggling for form and lying seventh in the table having lost five league games already this season, many believe their title aspirations are already dead, while qualification for the knockout stage of this season's Champions League has also been cast into serious doubt.

"People are worried,'' Benitez said. "But the team will improve. When we have key players on the pitch we are as good as anyone. We have proved this in the past.''

maradona is suspended

2009-11-16T01:39:00.000-08:00

Argentina manager Diego Maradona has been banned from football for two months and fined by FIFA as punishment for his rant at journalists following Argentina's qualification for the World Cup finals.

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Diego Maradona arrives in Zurich for his hearing.

The ban, announced by a FIFA disciplinary committee after a hearing with Maradona, extends to any "football-related activity" and is effective immediately, meaning the Argentina manager is suspended from November 15 to January 15.

"The committee reached this decision following a three-hour meeting at the Home of FIFA in Zurich,'' a statement from FIFA read. "The head coach of Argentina was heard by the committee during 40 minutes and apologised to FIFA and the world football family.

"The committee took into consideration the apologies and the sincere remorse shown by Maradona in its decision, which was communicated to him at the end of the meeting. The sanction, which was taken on the basis of article 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, applies from 15 November 2009 to 15 January 2010.

"The committee stressed that any breach of this decision or any repetition of a similar incident would mean that stronger sanctions would have to be imposed in the future.''

In practical terms it means that Maradona will not be able to manage his side when Argentina face Czech Republic in a friendly on December 12 although he will return for their following fixture - a friendly against Germany on March 3.

Maradona, who has had a succession of brushes with authority during a controversial career, was also fined £14,800 at Sunday's hearing in Zurich despite making an apology for his behaviour on October 14.

Following a 1-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo that confirmed Argentina's place at the World Cup finals, Maradona rounded on his critics in the press, using sexually-explicit language to denigrate journalists who had scrutinised his team's poor performance during qualifying.

It is not the first time that the 1986 World Cup winner has been punished for an altercation with the press. In 1994 he shot at journalists with an air rifle outside his home in Buenos Aires, injuring four people, and was given a suspended jail sentence of two years and ten months.

vanpersie out for six weeks

2009-11-16T01:34:00.000-08:00

Arsenal will be breathing a huge sigh of relief following the news that Robin van Persie will only be sidelined for "four to six weeks" after partially tearing an ankle ligament on international duty.

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Robin van Persie winces after sustaining his injury

Van Persie lasted only 15 minutes of Netherlands' friendly against Italy on Saturday as a tackle from Giorgio Chiellini left the striker writhing in pain and he was taken off on a stretcher. However, Van Persie said of the challenge: "There was no intent."

Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk said after the game: "The first diagnosis is a bad ankle injury. We are waiting for X-rays in hospital. It's terrible for Robin and is not good for Holland or his club."

Medical examinations have revealed that Van Persie has partially ruptured a ligament in his right ankle but it is believed that the Dutch Football Assocation feels that surgery will not be required.

And despite reports that Van Persie could be facing a spell of three months on the sidelines, or even the remainder of the season, the striker has confirmed that he could be back in as little as a month.

"The prognosis is that I will be out for four to six weeks," Van Persie told the Dutch television station NOS.

Van Persie has excelled as a lone striker in Arsenal's new 4-3-3 formation this season, scoring seven goals and claiming seven assists in 11 Premier League games.

With Nicklas Bendtner currently sidelined for a few weeks after undergoing groin surgery, the burden of leading Arsenal's front-line is likely to fall to Eduardo, who has started only three league games this season.

capello to include beckam on squad

2009-11-16T00:40:00.001-08:00

ENGLAND NEWS
Kaka: Capello must include Beckham in final squad
Brazilian midfielder Kaka believes Fabio Capello must include David Beckham in England's World Cup squad for next summer's World Cup final

Kaka and David Beckham: Former team-mates.

Beckham played his part in their qualifying campaign, although is not guaranteed a place in the final 23-man squad and Kaka, who played alongside the L.A. Galaxy star with AC Milan earlier this year, believes his experience and quality are invaluable.

"David Beckham is one of the most intelligent players I have ever played alongside," said Kaka. "I am pleased he is going back to Milan, even though I am no longer there.

''I see that as a great move by Milan to take him again because he will be important to them, as he showed last season. But Milan will also be important to him with the World Cup coming up.

"Through playing in Milan in Serie A and Europe, David will be in the right condition next summer, and that is certain to help England at the World Cup.

"That's why Capello must include David in his squad. There is no-one else who has the experience and quality of Beckham."

ffyghu

2009-11-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

Ibrahimovic has doubts over international future

2009-11-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

SWEDEN NEWS
Ibrahimovic has doubts over international future
By Soccernet staff

November 10, 2009
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New Sweden boss Erik Hamren has revealed that Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is considering his international future.

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Ibrahimovic has an injury, but that is not the main reason for not facing Italy

Ibrahimovic pulled out of the Sweden squad for the friendly match with Italy on November 18 and it had been thought it was due to a strained thigh muscle, but Hamren says the 28-year-old withdrew because he is unsure about his international future.

"I've spoken with Zlatan and, until he has made a decision, I won't call him to the squad," Hamren said. "I tend to think of the old saying - you can lead a horse to the water, but you cannot make it drink.

"This is something that he has been thinking about for some time. As a manager, it is important that players have the motivation to play. For me, the most important thing is that you have your heart in what you do."

Ibrahimovic's agent, Mino Raiola, was unhappy that Hamren revealed the news to the press and said he felt he ran the risk of exacerbating the situation.

"Zlatan is injured, he's worn out and he is very upset that Sweden didn't qualify for the World Cup," Raiola told Aftonbladet. "It would have been very easy just to say that he will sit out the match against Italy and then later Hamren could have sat down to discuss the matter with Zlatan."

Asked if Ibrahimovic would play for Sweden again, Raiola said: "I don't know. I respect Zlatan's decision but personally I want him to play for Sweden. Perhaps I am bit of a romantic but I think it's important for a great player to play for his country."

Hamren has revealed he expects to hold talks with Ibrahimovic before he reaches his final decision. Sweden finished below Denmark and Portugal in their World Cup qualification group.

rangers fans takes over

2009-11-10T06:33:00.000-08:00

RANGERS FANS' TAKEOVER TALK GATHERS MOMENTUM
Rangers fans' takeover talk gathers momentum

November 10, 2009
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Rangers Supporters Trust aim to convince sceptical fans they can succeed in taking over the club when they are addressed by representatives from Hamburg and Espanyol this weekend.

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Rangers boss Walter Smith has admitted his future may be affected by any takeover

The German and Spanish sides' members-run model will be discussed at the RST's annual GersPride conference at Ibrox on Saturday. The RST, whose goal is to deliver ownership of Rangers to the fans, have held talks with "heavy duty" investors over the possibility of joining forced to buy out majority shareholder Sir David Murray.

"I think some people believe a club like Rangers are too big to be fan-owned but that's why we're speaking to clubs of this stature," RST spokesman David Edgar told Press Association Sport. "Barcelona and Real Madrid work to a members model, which is a 'one member, one vote' model. Rather than just sit and talk theoretically about it, we want to get over a couple of people from successful clubs where this model is in place."

Cash-strapped Rangers are expected to announce debts of around £30million when their annual figures are released on Thursday and Edgar said: "The state that Rangers are in would not have been allowed to happen had we had people who were accountable.

"Part of the problems that have been caused at the moment has been the utter disregard of the previous regime for the support. They haven't been able to connect with us. They don't know what we want."

Murray is looking to sell his 90% stake, with Rangers confirming last month they had received tentative enquiries from interested parties. South Africa-based multi-millionaire Dave King has been linked with a potential takeover but the idea of a members-run model is also gaining momentum.

Edgar insisted the RST were not looking to emulate the Ebbsfleet concept, which saw fans voting on matters such as transfer and team selection.

"It's more like a government," he said. "You elect a board, you elect a chairman; they can run the club how they see fit. However, if they don't do a good job, you can vote them out. We're talking with various interested people about models going forward, some heavy-duty investors.

"The people who are circling around Rangers at the moment do understand the importance of fan representation, which is very positive from our point of view."

Edgar insists it is unfair to expect fans to bankroll the club without giving them a say in how it is run.

"Why shouldn't we have a say? We're not going to sit back, put this money in and just be told to shut up and buy a pie," he said. "Those days are gone. If they want our money, especially in this economy, then you're damn right we want a say in how this club's run."

van dar vat may rejoin ajax fc

2009-11-10T06:28:00.000-08:00

TRANSFER TALK
Van der Vaart considering his options for January
By Soccernet staff

November 10, 2009
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Out of favour Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has hinted that he could be ready to leave the club in January, but has ruled out a return to Ajax.

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The Dutchman is set to leave Madrid.

The Dutch international opted to stay and fight for his place in the summer amid the new era of galacticos, but he has found it hard to break into the side.

The 26-year-old has started just one game in La Liga this season, with five appearances as a substitute, and has not featured at all in the Champions League.

Van der Vaart knows he must play more regularly if he is to keep his place in Bert van Marwijk's squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa next year.

While the player admitted he may have no choice but to leave the Bernabeu, he insisted a return to the Amsterdam ArenA was not on the agenda at this stage in his career.

"In principle I find it too early (to return) and I say no,'' Van der Vaart told De Telegraaf newspaper.

"I do not know if I will stay at Real Madrid, but there are other options.''

Ajax coach Martin Jol told Sport1 on Monday: "I hope he comes. With him we would have the best midfield in Holland.''

baptista seeks chances

2009-11-10T06:24:00.000-08:00

TRANSFER TALK
Baptista has no plans to leave Roma, claims agent

November 10, 2009
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Julio Baptista is unlikely to leave Roma during the January transfer window despite limited playing time, according to his agent.

The former Arsenal striker has been linked with a move away from the Stadio Olimpico since the summer.

"Those are decisions that have to be made by Roma,'' said Baptista's agent, Herminio Menendez. "I don't know if he figures in the project of the club.

"What I can say is that he is likely to remain at Roma in January and that Julio wants to remain here. Will he leave at the end of the season? Anything can happen but there's still time until June.''

The Brazil forward scored nine goals in 27 league appearances for the Giallorossi last season, but he has struggled in his second campaign in Rome and has yet to find the back of the net after five Serie A appearances.

"He has not been given much playing time at the start of the season because he was injured,'' said Menendez. "But he has recovered and now I don't know why he is not playing. This is down to the coach.''

Baptista, 28, is under contract with Roma until June 2012.

Meanwhile, Roma president Rosella Sensi is willing to consider offers to sell the Serie A outfit provided the potential investors have the club's best interests at heart.

The three-time Italian champions have long been the subject of interest from a number of potential suitors.

Billionaire financier George Soros walked away from talks last year while the club denied this summer they had agreed to sell around 67% of the shares to a Swiss consortium for 201million euros.

"We are always available and ready to listen to those who present a serious project and who have the intention to do well for Roma," Sensi told Guerin Sportivo. "So far, those things have not happened."

Roma fans demanded fresh investment after the team finished sixth last season, missing out on qualification for the Champions League, and were excited about the possible takeover.

"It's incredible how much weight has been given to unfounded rumours, even after we openly denied them," Sensi said. "Roma fans are fantastic but they just have to focus on supporting the team without giving importance to speculation. A football team needs a united atmosphere to bring out its best.''

drogba son made impact on him

2009-11-07T07:48:00.000-08:00

babatov believes glory is btw blues and reds

2009-11-07T07:27:00.000-08:00

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
Berbatov: Title race is between United and Chelsea

November 8, 2009
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Dimitar Berbatov is convinced the two sides battling it out at Stamford Bridge on Sunday will also fill the top two positions in the Premier League this season.

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Dimitar Berbatov: It's a two horse race

Manchester United head south knowing victory will allow them to leapfrog present league leaders Chelsea and assume pole position heading into the international break.

Yet not everyone is certain it will stay that way.

Arsenal have started the campaign in excellent form and would draw level with United if they won their match in hand, while Manchester City seem to have spent their Abu Dhabi-backed fortune wisely and could well emerge as a threat.

Berbatov takes that knowledge on board, but he still feels the Red Devils will be taking on the biggest challenge to their bid for an unprecedented fourth successive league title.

"I always think Manchester United and Chelsea will be the top two and I don't think this year will be any exception,'' he told MUTV. "They will be our main rivals for the title.

"They have great players and a great coach. Everybody knows that. It is still early but I think the title will be between us two.''

Although United have not registered an away win over Chelsea since 2002, during Claudio Ranieri's time at the west London outfit, Berbatov has enjoyed some personal success against the Blues.

His record of four goals in 10 encounters includes a penalty for Tottenham during the 2008 Carling Cup final as the White Hart Lane club went on to lift the trophy.

In an ideal world, Berbatov's run would continue. But the Bulgarian admits he would take a single goal from a defender right now if it meant United could head back to the north-west clutching those precious three points.

"I scored plenty of times against them with Tottenham, now I want to continue with Manchester United,'' he said. "I would be glad to score a couple against them tomorrow but it is not about one player.

"If it was 1-0 and Nemanja Vidic or Patrice Evra got the goal it would be just as good because we would be taking the three points home and we would be above them again.''

The absence of Rio Ferdinand with a worrying injury, which started as a calf complaint but Sir Alex Ferguson now feels is linked to a lower back problem that has plagued him for the best part of 12 months, means Vidic will be without his normal central defensive partner when he returns to the starting line-up.

John O'Shea will replace suspended skipper Gary Neville at right-back, while veteran wide-man Ryan Giggs can expect some involvement after missing the midweek thriller with CSKA Moscow.

Yet it is one of the few occasions in the domestic campaign when United will meet an equal number of star names in opposition ranks.

Berbatov must take on John Terry for instance, while for Vidic it will be Didier Drogba.

The midfield will be congested not just by players like Giggs, Michael Carrick and Anderson, but Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack and, possibly, Joe Cole.

Edwin van der Sar will go head-to-head with Petr Cech for the goalkeeping honours.

"In this match it doesn't really matter whether you play at home or away,'' said Berbatov, addressing that woeful United record at the Bridge. "It is always 50-50.

"There are players who have the quality to decide a game like this in a second. But when I look at our dressing room, I see guys I know I can depend upon, just like they can depend on me.

"Everyone supports each other on the pitch, which is something we must have. We know it is going to be difficult. Chelsea have some really great players. But we have a really strong team too. They need to be wary of Manchester United because I believe we have what we need.''

rafa beleives on torres and gerrard

2009-11-07T07:03:00.000-08:00

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez believes he can see light at the end of the tunnel as his players return to fitness, with Steven Gerrard back in training on Friday.

GettyImages

Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard: Sorely missed by Rafael Benitez as a duo

Reds skipper Gerrard has managed just 25 minutes for his club in the last month, after a comeback against Lyon at Anfield in the Champions League was aborted midway through the first half.

However, it is more likely that Fernando Torres will feature against Birmingham City on Monday night after he almost completed the midweek draw with Lyon at the Stade de Gerland. It is then expected he will not be called up by Spain for their double header of international friendlies against Argentina and Austria.

Gerrard has trained and also done work with the club's physios and while he will be considered to play against a team with the joint worst scoring record in the Premier League on Monday it is likely that he will be given the international break to fully recover before Manchester City travel to Merseyside on November 21. Gerrard is not thought to be even close to being match fit for England's match against Brazil.

Benitez said: "The injury situation is improving, several players have been in light training and hopefully they will be able to do more over the next few days. Then we will see whether they can be available. There is a big difference, though, between being fit and being available.

"For example, yesterday [Friday] Gerrard was training and working with the physios. Will he be fit or just available? We don't know yet. That is something we will have to look at. For 15 days he has been without training, so can he play? At the moment I do not know.

"Torres has been to Spain to see a specialist and we have discussed it all with our medical staff. He is a little better than he was before. He will train and work with the physios. Whether he will be okay to play against Birmingham, we do not know that either, yet.

"He could play and we must be careful with him. We will look at the situation after every training session. The experience I have had for many years with this sort of problem is to carry on and see how players react. Some players react different.

"Some can play all season with the problem, some need to stop and rest. They are all different. Torres is the one who can play. He has played in pain and he wants to play for the team, he has a great mentality. I believe we can carry on with him.

"I have been very surprised by the criticism of my decisions, people can see that Fernando is not fit. We have had to decide how long he can play and when he must stop.''

Benitez has been stung by criticism of how he has handled Torres' problem, saying: "Sometimes it is clear he is not fully fit. But he is improving. He was much better after playing and scoring against Manchester United, and he was better still after playing and scoring against Fulham.

"And he played for 87 minutes against Lyon, he is still improving. It is not the same assessment for Gerrard, he has not been training with the team. It is totally different because he is clearly not fit and he will need time.

"I have talked to the Spanish people, their technical director and their fitness coach. They have talked to the Spanish manager and they all know that Fernando has to work hard with the physios to improve his condition.

"Let us see how we do in the next game, then they will have 15 days of the international break to get fit, then let's see how they are after that. I have discussed this all with the Spanish staff, it is not an agreement but they know the situation and they know he should not be involved.

"I have not spoken to the England staff, but they will surely know that Steven has not trained for two weeks and clearly cannot be fit for a friendly.''

Benitez revealed he has held talks with his Liverpool bosses over the implications if the club fail to reach the last 16 of this season's Champions League.

He said: "I spoke to Christian Purslow (Liverpool's managing director) the other day about the finances. The first thing, though, is that we have confidence we can still reach the last 16 of the Champions League this season.

"But whatever happens, the budget was done for this season based on us only qualifying for the group stages. And we did that, that is complete.

"Whether we can still bring in more money, we will wait and see. The commercial department is working very hard, for the next season (in Europe) it is a question of time.

"The Premier League is a long race, we must keep going. I am confident the team will finish in the top four and we are able to continue to do well in Europe, so let's start against Birmingham with the right result.

"We have to do our job against Birmingham, and then I can guarantee that things will start to get easier.''

di maria says chelsea wants me

2009-11-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

CHELSEA TRANSFER TARGET
Frank Arnesen confirms interest in Angel Di Maria
By Soccernet staff

November 4, 2009
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Chelsea's sporting director Frank Arnesen has revealed he is keeping a close eye on the development of Benfica winger, and tormentor of Everton, Angel Di Maria.

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Angel Di Maria grapples with Everton midfielder Tim Cahill.

Di Maria is an Argentina international and showcased his talents on the European stage when playing a starring role in Benfica's 5-0 humiliation of Everton at the Estadio da Luz on October 22.

His obvious potential has not escaped Arnesen, who is responsible for Chelsea's scouting system, and although the club are currently appealing against a transfer ban they are still keeping abreast of market developments.

Arnesen admits that Di Maria and his Benfica team-mates, Fabio Coentrao and Javi Garcia, are all players who could interest the club at a time when they are able to enter the transfer market.

"These are good players and we need to know details about this type of footballer," Arnesen told Portuguese publication O Jogo. "This does not signify that Chelsea are preparing contracts but it is necessary to follow the market.

"The club awaits a decision over transfers and when we will be able to next reinforce the squad."

Chelsea have appealed against FIFA's transfer ban which was imposed after they were found guilty of inducing Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in 2007.

fergie thinks wining blues is like winning the league

2009-11-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
Fergie: Chelsea are the team to beat in title race
By Soccernet staff

November 5, 2009
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Sir Alex Ferguson has highlighted Chelsea as the main title threat and hailed their tactics and consistency under new boss Carlo Ancelotti as he prepares Manchester United for a top of the table clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

• Harris: Chelsea have the advantage at the Bridge

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Sir Alex Ferguson is wary of Chelsea's consistency.

Manchester United sit just two points behind Chelsea in the table but there is a sense that something is not quite right with the Premier League champions.

Last month's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool was a sobering experience for Ferguson and appeared to be proof the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and Carlos Tevez to Manchester City has severely diminished his team as an attacking force.

There are also worries at the back with Rio Ferdinand clearly off the pace as he struggles with a back injury and Nemanja Vidic, who was sent off against Liverpool, jittery and also hampered by injury.

While defeat at Stamford Bridge would not be catastrophic, Ferguson knows that a repeat of the Anfield debacle at Chelsea could put Ancelotti's team in the driving seat in the title race as winter looms. And despite Arsenal's strong start to the campaign, it's Chelsea that Ferguson sees as his primary threat this season.

"It's always a hard game at Chelsea, but we'll deal with it better than we did at Anfield, I'm sure of that," Ferguson told Inside United magazine on Wednesday. "They're shaping up to be the main challengers. It seems they'll be the ones to get in front of."

United lacked fluency in their last Premier League game, a 2-0 home win against Blackburn Rovers, while against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday their defence, minus Ferdinand and Vidic, was a shambles.

Two goals in the last five minutes inspired by substitute Wayne Rooney earned United a 3-3 draw to secure their place in the knockout round but it was a performance that offered plenty of encouragement to Chelsea.

Ancelotti's favoured midfield diamond is beginning to shine, giving the Blues both security at the back and potency up front where Didier Drogba looks back to his best after two goals in the 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid on his return from a UEFA ban.

"Their consistency, compared to last season, has probably been a bit better under Ancelotti," Ferguson said. "He's brought in the system he used at AC Milan of the diamond in the middle of the pitch. It's hard to break down when you get into their third, because they've got bodies compacted into the central area of the pitch. Ancelotti's got the two strikers, and that is a major change compared to Scolari and Ranieri."

While United struggle to fire on all cylinders, Drogba said Chelsea have a great chance to put some early distance between themselves and their biggest rivals.

"It's really important for us to beat United at home," Drogba said. "The match against Atletico was far from a good performance - I think we were thinking about Sunday's game."

United could well be without Ferdinand against Chelsea while Gary Neville is suspended but Vidic and Ryan Giggs, both of whom missed the CSKA game, are likely to return.

Fast-improving Arsenal can creep above United on Saturday if they win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Fourth-placed Manchester City take on Burnley hoping to end a sequence of four consecutive league draws while Liverpool, who conceded a late equaliser in their disappointing 1-1 Champions League draw at Olympique Lyon, try to revive their flagging season at home to Birmingham City on Monday

harris thinks chelsea can win united

2009-11-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

PREMIER LEAGUE
Chelsea have the edge for showdown with United
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent

November 5, 2009
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It's a tough one to call, but Chelsea just hold the advantage ahead of the biggest Premier League clash of the season so far this coming Sunday- but only because they will be at home at Stamford Bridge.

• Fergie: Chelsea are the team to beat

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Two goals from Didier Drogba against Madrid put Chelsea through in the Champions League

It's as simple as that, because it's virtually impossible to separate these two teams otherwise. Chelsea's biggest advantage on Sunday is the fact that they are playing in front of their own fans. If the game was at Old Trafford, I would strongly favour United, especially after their storming comeback against CSKA Moscow.

Chelsea mounted their own fightback in Madrid against Atletico, where Didier Drogba was a one-man demolition squad, which emphasised the point I've been making all season, that Chelsea are nowhere near the same team without him.

Drogba's first with his head was powerful and intimidating, but nothing compared to his bludgeoning run past two defenders and putting away the rebound to his initial effort. Awesome.

United are going to find it tough to contain such a menacing centre forward playing the best football of his career, particularly as their defence is looking decidedly shaky, having conceded three against the side that almost produced the shock of Tuesday night.

Otherwise, there was little to no indication in their respective Champions League contests to give any kind of concrete pointer to the outcome of Sunday's encounter upon which so much will rest in the race for the title.

Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti rested half a dozen players from the starting line-up for their Champions League ties; both came back to record draws that put them into the knock-out stages with two games to spare. Both camps came through unscathed.

Chelsea have had the slight disadvantage of having to travel back from Spain through the night, while Untied had the comfort of home territory. That would appear to give United a slight edge come Sunday. But then it's United's turn to go on their travels to London, while Chelsea can recuperate at their training camp in preparation for a vital game with home advantage. For me that is the key factor.

Home advantage has been vital in this fixture over the past ten years, with away victories few and far between. United have won just once at the Bridge in the Premier League since 1998.

Don't let them tell you it's too early in the season for this match to have any bearing on the championship, its only three points at stake etc, etc; the usual football cliches churned out by the managers and the majority of pundits. It will set the tone for the rest of the season for both these powerhouses of English football.

Chelsea can open up a five-point gap at the top of the table if they win, and it would also enable the chasing pack to catch United, and perhaps mount their own challenge to Chelsea. As I've always said, that team might actually be from the other side of Manchester, as City have a game in hand in fourth place at the moment.

So this is a game neither side can afford to lose, and either side would take enormous satisfaction in winning as it would be a launch pad to take enormous strides toward landing the title.

CHELSEA WANT TO RENAME BRIDGE

2009-11-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

NAMING RIGHTS
Chelsea intend to sell naming rights for Bridge
By Soccernet staff

November 5, 2009
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Chelsea are preparing to follow Newcastle's lead by selling the naming rights for Stamford Bridge, new chief executive Ron Gourlay revealed on Thursday. Although insisting that Chelsea need the millions such a lucrative sponsorship deal would secure, Gourlay promised that the words 'Stamford' and 'Bridge' will remain.

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Stamford Bridge: To be renamed.

"We understand that this is a sensitive issue for our fans and that is why we would keep the name Stamford Bridge in any deal".

Although some may disagree, Gouray feels that the financial advantage of selling the rights is essential.

"What we are not prepared to happen, and I am sure our fans will appreciate this, is allow our rival clubs in England and Europe to gain a competitive advantage over us in terms of the revenue they can generate through either expanding the capacity of their existing stadia or moving to a new stadium and then invest that upside in their team or the club.

''Those possibilities are not open to Chelsea for the foreseeable future because of the restrictions in expanding our stadium and the issues around finding a new site, so that means we have to be creative and look at our sponsorship architecture and see if we can create new value and new opportunities that keeps us competitive".

In 2004, Emirates paid Arsenal £100 million to acquire naming rights on their new Ashburton Grove stadium for 15 years, and Allianz is charged £4 million every twelve months for Bayern Munich's ground to bear its name. In the USA, Citigroup pay £10 million so for the new New York Mets baseball arena, now called Citi Field.

league table

2009-11-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

English Premier League
November 5, 2009 P Pts
Chelsea 11 27
Manchester United 11 25
Arsenal 10 22
Manchester City 10 19
Tottenham Hotspur 11 19
Liverpool 11 18
Aston Villa 11 18
Sunderland 11 17
Stoke City 11 16
Burnley 11 15
Fulham 10 14
Wigan Athletic 11 13
Everton 10 12
Birmingham 11 11
Bolton Wanderers 10 11
West Ham United 11 10
Wolverhampton Wanderers 11 10
Blackburn Rovers 10 10
Hull City 11 8
Portsmouth 11 7

atlectico madrid increase aguero price tag

2009-11-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

CHELSEA TRANSFER NEWS
Chelsea put off by Sergio Aguero's £40m price tag
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent

November 6, 2009
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Chelsea have been quoted 45 million euros for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero, who scored twice against Carlo Ancelotti's side in the Champions League this week, but may cool their interest due to financial concerns.

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Sergio Aguero in action against Chelsea.

• CAS suspend Chelsea ban
• Harris: Chelsea will miss duo
• Harris: Agent warning

Aguero is one of world football's brightest talents but his price tag could halt Chelsea's pursuit as a slump in the value of the pound means that a transfer worth £32 million not so long ago is now in excess of £40 million.

Chelsea, as expected, had their transfer window ban lifted on Friday while the Court of Arbitration for Sport addresses the Gael Kakuta case, but that does not automatically mean they will recruit the players they want in January, as they may be forced to pay a premium price.

An agent with inside knowledge of the Chelsea link with Aguero told ESPN Soccernet: "Yes, Chelsea want him but they asked over 45 million euros in the summer, it was a problem then, and Atletico Madrid are not dropping their price so it will be a problem.

"Roman Abramovich has taken a much more hands-on approach now and he is no longer willing to spend silly money on players as he has a much better understanding of the transfer market.

"The player is just 21 and he is very good, but is he that good? So, on balance I would say unless Atletico drop their price considerably, there won't be a deal."

Atletico rejected a bid of £35 million from Chelsea in the summer; nearly £8 million short of the Argentina international's valuation.

But the slightly-built son-in-law to Diego Maradona gave a first-hand indication of his worth to Chelsea boss Ancelotti on Tuesday night when he came off the bench to score twice against the Premier League club, the first with a sublime volley and the second with a curling free-kick.

With their ban lifted for now, Chelsea are expected to strengthen their squad in January, with the loss of players like Didier Drogba and Michael Essien to the African Nations Cup in mind - but they will struggle to sign the top-rated players unless they pay over the odds. Aguero is also ineligible to play in the Champions League for another team until the 2010-11 campaign.

"I know that people were saying they [Chelsea] wanted me during the summer and that there were several teams tracking me but nothing ever came to me and I am happy at Atletico," Aguero said in As. "It's nice that people say I could play in a team like Chelsea, one of the best in the world.

"I like it [Chelsea's interest] and it makes me happy but I am the same person as ever and I think the same as before. I don't really want to think about any other team. I want to fight with Atletico to the death. I almost feel like I was born here. It's a club that has given me a lot, pleasure as well as pain, but it's a place I feel very happy."

chelsea will miss drogba and essien in january

2009-11-06T08:13:00.000-08:00

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
Chelsea fearing loss of Drogba and Essien
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent

November 6, 2009
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While Sir Alex begins the mind games by building up Chelsea in the expectation of knocking them down, there is a real fear among the Geriacticos of the Bridge that their championship charge will be hurt more by the African Nations Cup than by Manchester United on Sunday.

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Carlo Ancelotti will miss Didier Drogba's impact.

The Geriacticos, the Chelsea Pensioners with the oldest average age in the Premier League, will two of their irreplaceable stars to the tournament after the turn of the year - Didier Drogba and Michael Essien. The club will also lose Salomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel, reducing their options and cover considerably.

With Chelsea fielding six players aged 30 or over and not a single player under 25 at the start of their last Premier League game, the concern is that they may also hit some injuries to their vastly experienced superstars at the same time.

Publicly, Chelsea are keeping a brave face on the situation but inside the Bridge the alarm bells have been sounded.

A source close to Chelsea told ESPN Soccernet: ''There is deep concern that this could derail the clubs title aspirations. There is no doubt that they are going to miss key players like Essien and Drogba and their squad will also be tested to the limit if they have a growing injury list by the turn of the year.

''This is not something that the club want to highlight publicly but it is something they are fretting about behind the scenes.

''The club are fortunate that they do not have a daunting fixture list at this time, but there is no doubt that their squad will be over stretched if they have any injuries on top. Of course, Drogba and Essien are so key to the team, that is true, and they have been playing so well this season there is no doubt that they will be badly missed.''

While Chelsea have a vastly superior squad to Liverpool in terms of depth, losing Drogba and Essien is akin to Rafa Benitez doing without Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard. Chelsea do, though, have the ability to call upon Nicolas Anelka and may yet get the chance to sign some backup players in January after CAS suspended their two-year transfer ban on Friday.

For the moment Chelsea's focus is purely on United on Sunday, and Sir Alex's mind games are now transparent.

The wily old Scot has been talking up the coaching talents of Carlo Ancelotti, and the Chelsea side, to put his own team in the frame of mind that they will need something special to beat them, and to lower expectations just in case they don't.

Sir Alex also likes to install a mind set of complacency within Chelsea by suggesting that as they are so good, they might not have to try so hard to beat United. Sir Alex's tricks are now so old, they are unlikely to have much impact.

ferdinand ruled out of chelsea clash

2009-11-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

INJURY NEWS
Rio Ferdinand ruled out of Chelsea clash

November 6, 2009
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Rio Ferdinand is facing an extended period on the sidelines as Manchester United try to get to the bottom of his latest injury concern.

MatthewPeters/GettyImages

Rio Ferdinand has been wracked by injury.

Ferdinand has already been ruled out of Sunday's Premier League showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after failing to recover from a calf injury that has been plaguing him for a couple of weeks. However, Sir Alex Ferguson now fears the injury may be related to a lower back complaint.

''There has been no improvement,'' said the United boss. ''We are having to look at something different because usually you are back from a calf injury within two or three weeks. But there is no sign of recovery from this injury so we are looking at whether it is to do with his lower back.''

Ferdinand, who turns 31 on Saturday, has had his form widely questioned after indifferent performances for United and Fabio Capello's England team so far this season and the potential for an extended spell on the sidelines constitutes a major setback.

Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic has been passed fit for the clash with Chelsea, along with midfielder Darren Fletcher who has recovered from a minor injury collected in the midweek Champions League draw against CSKA Moscow.

aguero happy with chelsea swap move

2009-11-06T08:01:00.000-08:00

TRANSFER TALK
Aguero flattered by links with Chelsea move
By Soccernet staff

November 6, 2009
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Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero has insisted he remains happy at the Spanish club - but also revealed that he is flattered to be linked with a move to Chelsea.

DenisDoyle/GettyImages

Sergio Aguero celebrates against Chelsea

Aguero was strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge over the summer, with speculation that Atletico rejected a bid of £35 million, and he gave another nudge to Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti on Tuesday night when he came off the bench to score twice against the Premier League club.

Though Chelsea are not currently able to sign players until 2011 after the Gael Kakuta affair, it is thought that the Court of Arbitration for Sport will shortly confirm that the punishment has been lifted while an appeal hearing is scheduled. This will enable the Blues to sign players in January.

Chelsea are expected to strengthen their squad in January, should they be allowed, with the loss of players like Didier Drogba and Michael Essien to the African Nations Cup in mind - as well as looking to plug the hole any transfer ban may create in the long-term.

Aguero is certain to remain on the club's wanted list, though he would be ineligible to play in the Champions League for another team until the 2010-11 campaign.

"I know that people were saying they [Chelsea] wanted me during the summer and that there were several teams tracking me but nothing ever came to me and I am happy at Atletico," Aguero said in As. "It's nice that people say I could play in a team like Chelsea, one of the best in the world.

"I like it [Chelsea's interest] and it makes me happy but I am the same person as ever and I think the same as before.

"I don't really want to think about any other team. I want to fight with Atletico to the death. I almost feel like I was born here. It's a club that has given me a lot, pleasure as well as pain, but it's a place I feel very happy."

reina thinks its not over yet

2009-11-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

LIVERPOOL NEWS
Reina: UCL exit would not be a disaster for Liverpool
By Soccernet staff

November 6, 2009
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Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina has said that he does not believe an early European exit for the club would be a complete disaster.

CliveBrunskill/GettyImages

Pepe Reina: Putting on a brave face.

• Fiorentina injury blow for Mutu

Reina knows that his side must win their two remaining games and hope already-qualified Lyon can do them a favour against Italian side Fiorentina, but maintains that the Reds' rich European history makes up for this season's woes.

"I do not accept that not going through will be a disaster for the club," he said. "We have been in the Champions League now for several years, one failure is not a disaster.

"Not many teams have reached the semi-finals twice and two finals - including a title victory - in the last few seasons. It can happen again, we get closer to our real form with every game. Any team would miss the quality of the players who are injured at the moment, but we have others who can play and who can produce the right performances to get us out of this mess."

Liverpool's next game in the tournament is a must-win trip to Debrecen on November 24, and Reina believes his team have to dig deep if they are going to pick themselves up.

"We must show heart, passion and belief," he added. "If anyone can do this, Liverpool can. But now it (qualification) is not in our own hands, it does not only depend on what we do.

"Now it is very, very difficult for us. But we must show strong character and fight right to the end. We know we have enough good players to sort this out."

wenger tips van per as the best

2009-11-06T07:59:00.000-08:00

STRIKER DEBATE
Wenger: Van Persie is the best striker in the League
By Soccernet staff

November 6, 2009
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Arsene Wenger has claimed Robin Van Persie is the deadliest striker in the Premier League and that he would not swap him for anyone else in world football.

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Robin van Persie has flourished under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger.

• Arsenal's time is now - RVP

Van Persie has hit eight goals this season and Arsenal boss Wenger maintains that his strikeforce is even better now than the forward line-up from the Invincibles season of 2003-04.

"For me Robin is the best striker in the league at the moment, because he is a great link player, and that's what I like first," Wenger told the Daily Mirror. "We play a collective game so it's very important that the target man in our team links well with our other players.

"I wouldn't swap him for anyone. He knows how we play, we play together for four or five years now with all the team and everybody knows the movement of each other.

"He has adapted to our style and is suited to our style, like Drogba is suited to the Chelsea style. I have a huge respect for Drogba, he is a top class player, he is a fighter, he scores in the big games. In every single big game he scores. I know what kind of player he is."

Wenger also believes his wealth of options in attack makes his current attack even deadlier than the 2003-04 season when Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Jose Antonio Reyes and Freddie Ljungberg fired the Gunners to the title.

Wenger said: "There is depth, we have options. We have never had so many creative players. When you think against AZ Alkmaar, Rosicky came on, Eduardo came on. But you have to remember that Walcott was not there, Vela was not there, Bendtner was not there. You have plenty of offensive options available.

"Let's say they (the Invincibles) have done it, we have it all to do. We have a good potential, I believe we have a fantastic technical level, we have a good spirit in the team and it is all good ingredients.

"But let's show that we can do it. At the moment we are behind Chelsea and we should be in front of all of them already. We dropped two points at West Ham we could have taken and we lost at Man United and I still wonder how today."

Meanwhile, Wenger has revealed Fran Merida has agreed a new deal at the club, but has yet to sign it.

The 19-year-old's current contract expires next summer and Arsenal are keen to tie him down to a new long-term contract. However, Wenger admits other clubs have been undermining their attempts to agree a new contract with Merida and the Frenchman is not happy with the way Atletico Madrid have let their interest be known.

"He has an offer which he has agreed, but has not signed yet," said Wenger. "Some clubs are doing their work behind our back to destabilise him. We cannot stop that, but it is a fact."

chelsea appeal granted

2009-11-06T07:28:00.001-08:00

CAS suspend Chelsea transfer ban over appeal
By Soccernet staff

November 6, 2009
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The Court of Arbitration for Sport has granted Chelsea's request to suspend their transfer ban pending a final decision regarding their case.

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Gael Kakuta: Chelsea were banned for two transfer windows over his signing.

• Chelsea appeal against transfer ban
• Harry Harris: Chelsea will miss duo
• Chelsea consider selling naming rights

Chelsea were initially handed a FIFA ban over the next two transfer windows after they were found guilty of inducing French teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens in 2007, but the Blues appealed to CAS against the punishment and, as part of their appeal, requested the transfer ban be 'stayed' until the case had been dealt with.

Now the appeals body have given the London club a lifeline which will allow them to sign players again in January if the final decision is not taken before then.

A statement on the CAS website read: ''The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has granted the request for a stay filed by Chelsea Football Club Ltd and Mr Gaël Kakuta in relation to the decision taken by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009.

''The FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber imposed, inter alia, a restriction of four months' ineligibility on Mr Gaël Kakuta, and Chelsea Football Club Ltd was banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, for the next two complete, consecutive registration periods. Such sanctions are now stayed until the CAS renders its final decision in this matter.''

Professor Ian Blackshaw, a CAS lawyer, believes there is little chance of reaching a final decision on the case until well into the new year, meaning Chelsea should enjoy an unimpeded transfer window in January.

''Until the appeal is finally decided by CAS the position before the appeal is reversed. That means Chelsea are free, if they wish to do so, to deal in the transfer market in January,'' he told Sky Sports News. ''Once all the paperwork is there then it is possible to hold a hearing. In this case, because it's such an important one, I imagine there will be an oral hearing rather than a decision based just on papers. In that case it will be possible for Kakuta to present his version of the facts.

''I don't think we will get an appeal much before March or even April next year. It is possible for parties to ask CAS for an expedited hearing under the rules, which would allow the appeal to be fast-tracked but I know that CAS are extremely busy, not just with football disputes, and they have a very busy schedule.

''The chances of getting an expedited hearing are slim, if not impossible, so I feel a decision will be made in the first quarter of next year at the earliest.''

chelsea appeal granted

2009-11-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

chelsea vow to shut man utd down

2009-11-06T06:50:00.000-08:00

Chelsea v Manchester United
PreviewMatchLive CommentaryGameCastMatch Action
Deco: Chelsea will have too much power for United

GettyImages
Didier Drogba has been in fine form of late.
Team Stat Comparison
Chelsea Manchester United
Matches Played 11 11
Table Position 1 2
Points 27 25
Goal Difference 20 12
Goals for * 3.0 2.0
Goals against * 0.2 0.8
Last 5 W-W-L-W-L W-L-W-D-W
Last 5 home W-W-W-W-W W-W-D-W-W
Last 5 away W-L-L-W-W L-W-W-W-L
* Goals per match - home matches for home club and away matches for away club
· Club Stats: Chelsea | Manchester United

Competition Stats
Chelsea Manchester United
Goals Didier Drogba 9 Wayne Rooney 7
Reds Petr Cech 1 Paul Scholes 1
Yellows Didier Drogba 2 Paul Scholes 3
· Club Squads : Chelsea | Manchester United

Last Five Matches in Competition
Chelsea Manchester United
A: Bolton Wanderers 0-4 H: Blackburn Rovers 2-0
H: Blackburn Rovers 5-0 A: Liverpool 2-0
A: Aston Villa 2-1 H: Bolton Wanderers 2-1
H: Liverpool 2-0 H: Sunderland 2-2
A: Wigan Athletic 3-1 A: Stoke City 0-2
· Club Results: Chelsea | Manchester United

Next Five Matches in Competition
Chelsea Manchester United
11/8 H: Manchester United 11/8 A: Chelsea
11/21 H: Wolverhampton Wanderers 11/21 H: Everton
11/29 A: Arsenal 11/28 A: Portsmouth
12/5 A: Manchester City 12/5 A: West Ham United
12/12 H: Everton 12/12 H: Aston Villa
· Club Fixtures: Chelsea | Manchester United
Updated: November 6, 2009, 10:08 AM UK

Deco has stoked the fires ahead of the clash with Manchester United by claiming that he thinks Chelsea have too much fire-power for Manchester United to contend with.

The Premier League's top two meet in the top clash at the weekend, and Deco is backing the Blues - currently top by two points - to extend their lead. The Portuguese midfield maestro is going into the game fully confident that Didier Drogba will fire them to victory.

"The big difference between us and United is in attack," said Deco. "Drogba is enjoying a spectacular moment in his career and is superior to the front-line of United. For me, Didi will be the key - the star of the match, for sure."

Deco also believes that the game is worth more than just three points.

"This match has a four-point value, an extra one for the blow to United's morale because they also failed to beat Liverpool," he said. "If they fail in London they will need to think very much about things in the following days.

"Victories in classic matches like this always have enormous value. For Chelsea to begin November with a five-point advantage over United will be sensational."

Meanwhile, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insists his side will put up a better show against the Blues than they did at Liverpool.

"It's always hard at Chelsea but we'll deal with it better than we did at Anfield," said Ferguson. "It was difficult at Anfield. You have to have a winning mentality and it was missing at Liverpool. Players are human so that can happen."

One positive aspect for Ferguson is Antonio Valencia, who he feels is starting to hit his stride following a £17 million summer switch from Wigan.

"It is good to see him scoring," said Ferguson. "He did not show a scoring ability when he was at Wigan but when he came to us we talked about this and the fact if he is to progress his career, it was something he should work on.

"He is showing evidence of progress now. He has settled in and is emerging as a top performer. He has strength, good balance, speed and is a good crosser of the ball.

"But the main thing is that he is now playing with much more confidence. I am delighted with his steady improvement and hopefully he will prove to be another valuable source of goals as we move through the season."

John O'Shea is almost certain to step in for suspended skipper Gary Neville, while Rio Ferdinand is again set to be on the sidelines with a continuing calf problem, even if Nemanja Vidic has recovered from a similar injury.

As Patrice Evra will also return to the starting line-up in place of Fabio, whose defensive discipline let him down against CSKA Moscow in midweek, it means three-fifths of United's defence will have changed in the space of five days.
Jump To Scores -- English FA CupEnglish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueSpanish Primera DivisiónSpanish Segunda DivisiónItalian Serie AGerman BundesligaGerman 2. BundesligaFrench Ligue 1Dutch EredivisieDutch Eerste DivisiePortuguese LigaRussian Premier LeagueTurkish Super LigGreek Super LeagueBelgian Jupiler LeagueAustrian BundesligaDanish SAS-LigaenSwiss Super LeagueInternational FriendlyUSA Major League SoccerPrimera División de ArgentinaPrimera División de MéxicoFutebol BrasileiroPrimera División de ChilePrimera División de UruguayFútbol Profesional ColombianoPrimera Profesional de PerúPrimera División de ParaguayPrimera A de EcuadorPrimera División de VenezuelaJapanese J LeagueSouth African PremiershipSouth African National First DivisionPrimera División de Costa RicaPrimera División de El SalvadorLiga Nacional de Guatemala
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Hull City 0
Stoke City 0 13:30 UK

West Ham United 0
Everton 0 15:00 UK

Wigan Athletic 0
Fulham 0 15:00 UK

Chelsea 0
Manchester United 0 16:00 UK

injuries blow liverpool squad

2009-11-03T02:55:00.003-08:00

LYON V LIVERPOOL
Liverpool dealt Gerrard injury blow
By Soccernet staff

November 2, 2009
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Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard, midfielder Albert Riera and defenders Martin Kelly and Martin Skrtel will all miss Wednesday's decisive Champions League match at Olympique Lyon.

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Steven Gerrard was taken off after just 25 minutes in the match against Lyo two weeks ago.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez revealed the news but added that he was hoping Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani would recover from a virus that kept him out of Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Fulham for the Group E match.

Gerrard has a groin injury which may need surgery and is definitely out of a game that Liverpool cannot afford to lose after winning just one of their opening three group matches, including defeat to Lyon at Anfield two weeks ago.

"Gerrard won't travel to Lyon," Benitez told the club's official website. "He has no chance. He is improving but we have to wait. He has had an injection but we have to wait two or three days and see how he reacts.

"Aquilani had a virus," Benitez added. "He trained today but was a little weak. Hopefully, in two days time he will be better."

Benitez confirmed that striker Fernando Torres, who is nursing an adductor muscle injury, was part of the squad travelling to France, explaining: "We have to take Fernando to Lyon because we don't have too many options."

The club confirmed on its website that midfielder Riera and defenders Kelly and Skrtel were also definite non-starters.

platini happy with drogba return

2009-11-03T02:52:00.000-08:00

Didier Drogba Will Return To Europe 'Better & Stronger' - Michel Platini
Maturity, thy name is Drogba, says Platini...
Nov 3, 2009 8:46:21 AM
Photo GalleryZoomEPL: Didier Drogba, Chelsea v Hull City (PA)
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Chelsea
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Didier Drogba
UEFA president Michel Platini has explained that he expects Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to be back as a "better and stronger" player after the latter finished serving a three-match ban in the Champions League.

The former Olympique de Marseille forward was barred from participating in three games in the European competition, following his outburst against referee Tom Henning Overbo after the west London club lost to Barcelona in the semi-final of the prestigious competition last season.

Various appeals from the Blues against the ban were turned down by the governing body, and Platini is of the opinion that UEFA handled the situation properly. He also explained that he believes the Ivory Coast international will return to the European stage as an overall better footballer.

"What I saw on TV was the comportment of Didier," Platini is quoted by The Press Association as saying.

"All the TV showed the insult of Drogba, not the decisions.

"I was like Drogba in the past when I saw an injustice as a player. But I don't know Drogba's mind.

"He took the decision that he felt was right for him. He was alone in thinking that."

He added: "Drogba's a good guy. I know him very well. He understands now that he made a mistake. Everybody does.

"He will come back better, stronger."

Drogba has reportedly shaken off a minor knock he took during the recent Premier League game against Bolton Wanderers, and is expected to be in the line-up to face Atletico de Madrid at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday.

milan will land beckam back in january

2009-11-03T02:42:00.001-08:00

Milan confirm Beckham move
By Soccernet staff

November 2, 2009
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AC Milan have confirmed David Beckham will be returning to the Italian club in January. The 34-year-old helped Milan to fourth place in Serie A last season with two goals in 18 league appearances before going back to LA Galaxy in May.

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David Beckham will be returning to the San Siro.

Former England captain Beckham had been strongly linked with a second loan spell with the Rossoneri to improve his chances of making Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claimed last week an announcement was imminent - and it has been confirmed on the club's official website this evening.

Beckham moved to the San Siro during Major League Soccer's off-season last January, initially on a three-month loan deal, but impressed so much his stay was extended until the end of the Serie A campaign.

Milan have announced a six-month deal on this occasion, meaning Beckham will remain in Italy up until the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

"We are very happy to see again David Beckham with the Rossoneri jersey after the splendid experience of last season," AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said on the club's official website.

"We are certain that this time in Europe will help the player take part in the next World Cup and to continue after his career in Los Angeles Galaxy, to whom we thank for their time.''

His first Serie A game this season could be against Genoa at the San Siro on January 6.

milan will land beckam back in january

2009-11-03T02:42:00.000-08:00

pouthmouths back on form

2009-10-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

Dindane the destroyer

GettyImages
Aruna Dindane celebrates scoring Portsmouth's opening goal
Scoring Summary
Portsmouth Wigan Athletic
Aruna Dindane (35)
Frederic Piquionne (45)
Aruna Dindane (65)
Aruna Dindane (pen 90)

Match Stats
Portsmouth Wigan Athletic
Shots (on Goal) 25(8) 8(0)
Fouls 10 10
Corner Kicks 7 4
Offsides 5 1
Time of Possession 49% 51%
Yellow Cards 0 1
Red Cards 0 0
Saves 0 4

Match Information
Stadium: Fratton Park, England
Attendance: 18,212
Match Time: 15:00 UK
Official(s):
Alan Wiley (Referee)

Teams
Portsmouth Wigan Athletic
1 David James 1 Chris Kirkland
35 Marc Wilson 17 Emmerson Boyce
3 Younes Kaboul 19 Titus Bramble
11 Michael Brown 14 Charles N'Zogbia
26 Tal Ben-Haim 25 Mario Melchiot
16 Steve Finnan 6 Hendry Thomas
23 Kevin-Prince Boateng 27 Mohamed Diame
5 Jamie O'Hara 7 Paul Scharner
32 Hassan Yebda 20 Hugo Rodallega
9 Frederic Piquionne 16 Scott Sinclair
24 Aruna Dindane 9 Jason Scotland
Substitutes
6 Hayden Mullins Michael Pollitt 12
21 Jamie Ashdown Olivier Kapo 23
27 Nwankwo Kanu Antonio Amaya 4
4 Aaron Mokoena Daniel De Ridder 18
39 Nadir Belhadj Won-hee Cho 5
19 Danny Webber Jordi Gómez 15
20 Tommy Smith James McCarthy 24
Substitutions
Nadir Belhadj for Steve Finnan (41)
Jordi Gómez for Paul Scharner (59)

Nwankwo Kanu for Frederic Piquionne (57)
Olivier Kapo for Hugo Rodallega (59)

Hayden Mullins for Hassan Yebda (85)

Yellow Cards
Hendry Thomas (90)

· Club Squads: Portsmouth | Wigan Athletic
Updated: October 31, 2009, 7:09 AM UK

Aruna Dindane destroyed Wigan with a superb hat-trick but Paul Hart's side still remain bottom of the Premier League.
Dindane's treble was accompanied by a goal from strike partner Frederic Piquionne as Pompey scored four goals for the second time this week.

However, there was more concern for debt-ridden Pompey when Piquionne was stretchered off in the second half with a head injury.

Wigan were outfought and outplayed throughout and never tested England goalkeeper David James.

The home side almost made the perfect start when Kevin-Prince Boateng fired just over the crossbar inside the opening minute.

Pompey, 4-0 victors over Stoke in the Carling Cup in midweek, enjoyed a bright opening and a corner from Jamie O'Hara was almost turned home by Hassan Yebda.

O'Hara looked particularly lively and the midfielder sent an angled drive across the face of the goal in the sixth minute.

There was much concern for Wigan when Hugo Rodallega careered over the advertising boards after trying to cross the ball into the six-yard box.

The Wigan midfielder required lengthy treatment to an arm injury before being allowed to continue.

But it was still the home side making most of the running, with O'Hara firing a 20-yard shot straight into the arms of Wigan keeper Chris Kirkland.

Portsmouth continued to dominate the opening half and when O'Hara swung over a right-wing corner in the 23rd minute, the home side could not force the ball home.

O'Hara was looking very impressive in the Pompey midfield but he was not pleased with a 24th-minute effort which found the roof of the stand from 20 yards.

Another O'Hara corner forced Kirkland into a one-handed save that almost found its way into his own net, but fortunately for the visiting keeper it ran out for another flag-kick.

Boateng was just too high again when he let fly from 25 yards in the 28th minute but Pompey's pressure was beginning to tell.

Kirkland required two attempts to hold on to a shot from Piquionne moments later as the home side pressed forward.

Rodallega wasted a good chance for Wigan on the half-hour when the visitors won a free-kick 25 yards out in a central position.

But the Wigan midfielder sent his curling shot high over the crossbar.

Pompey finally broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a simple goal.

Michael Brown split the Wigan defence with a fine through-ball into the path of Dindane, who outpaced Mario Melchiot and flicked the ball over the advancing Kirkland for his first Premier League goal.

Pompey lost full-back Steve Finnan through injury in the 40th minute and he was replaced by Nadir Belhadj.

Moments later Wigan found a way through the Pompey defence but Jason Scotland's shot eventually finished closer to the corner flag than the home goal.

Pompey made the visitors pay the price in first-half injury time when Dindane, on loan from Lens, put Piquionne through and the striker ran clear to beat Kirkland with a low drive.

Piquionne was a constant threat but he squandered a great chance to get his second of the game moments after the re-start.

The striker, on loan from Lyon, hesitated far too long to get his shot away and Wigan's defence cleared the danger.

In the 55th minute Pompey almost added a third but Dindane's shot was deflected for a corner.

Pompey then lost Piquionne through injury moments later and he was replaced by Kanu.

Piquionne appeared to suffer a head injury in a challenge with Emmerson Boyce and Titus Bramble.

The Pompey striker appeared to get up initially but then went down again and was eventually stretchered off with his head and neck supported in a brace.

Dindane then missed a sitter in the 61st minute when he failed to connect with O'Hara's free-kick on the edge of the six-yard box.

Luckily for Wigan, Kirkland had his wits about him and managed to save well before Dindane could react again.

But Dindane atoned for his error in the 64th minute when he tapped home a cross from Kanu at the far post to put Pompey 3-0 in front.

Yebda then went close from another pinpoint O'Hara free-kick as the home side went looking for more goals.

Wigan tried to get back into the game but Charles N'Zogbia fired high and wide after bursting through the home defence.

But Pompey stretched their unbeaten run to three games when Kanu was brought down by Boyce and Dindane completed his hat-trick from the spot in the 90th minute.

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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Arsenal 3
Tottenham Hotspur 0 FT

Bolton Wanderers 0
Chelsea 4 FT

Burnley 2
Hull City 0 FT

Everton 1
Aston Villa 1 FT

Fulham 3
Liverpool 1 FT

Portsmouth 4
Wigan Athletic 0 FT

Stoke City 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 FT

Sunderland 2
West Ham United 2 FT

Manchester United 0
Blackburn Rovers 0 17:30 UK

liverpool lashed

2009-10-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

Red mist descends at Craven Cottage

Empics
Bobby Zamora of Fulham scores to put Fulham ahead
Scoring Summary
Fulham Liverpool
Bobby Zamora (24) Fernando Torres (42)
Erik Nevland (73)
Clint Dempsey (87)

Match Stats
Fulham Liverpool
Shots (on Goal) 13(6) 10(1)
Fouls 10 13
Corner Kicks 2 2
Offsides 3 2
Time of Possession 36% 64%
Yellow Cards 1 0
Red Cards 0 2
Saves 0 3

Match Information
Stadium: Craven Cottage, England
Attendance: 25,700
Match Time: 15:00 UK
Official(s):
Lee Mason (Referee)

Teams
Fulham Liverpool
1 Mark Schwarzer 25 Pepe Reina
5 Brede Hangeland 16 Sotirios Kyrgiakos
18 Aaron Hughes 23 Jamie Carragher
3 Paul Konchesky 22 Emiliano Insua
4 John Pantsil 27 Philipp Degen
6 Chris Baird 20 Javier Mascherano
27 Jonathan Greening 21 Lucas
23 Clint Dempsey 15 Yossi Benayoun
16 Damien Duff 18 Dirk Kuyt
15 Diomansy Kamara 9 Fernando Torres
25 Bobby Zamora 10 Andriy Voronin
Substitutes
20 Dickson Etuhu Andrea Dossena 38
10 Erik Nevland Ryan Babel 19
11 Zoltan Gera Damien Plessis 28
19 Pascal Zuberbühler Peter Gulacsi 42
26 Chris Smalling Jay Spearing 26
2 Stephen Kelly Nathan Eccleston 39
17 Bjorn Riise Daniel Sanchez Ayala 40
Substitutions
Zoltan Gera for Diomansy Kamara (45)
Ryan Babel for Fernando Torres (63)

Zoltan Gera for Damien Duff (45)
Nathan Eccleston for Yossi Benayoun (78)

Erik Nevland for Damien Duff (45)
Daniel Sanchez Ayala for Dirk Kuyt (84)

Dickson Etuhu for Jonathan Greening (86)

Yellow Cards
Chris Baird (55)

Red Cards
Philipp Degen (79)

Jamie Carragher (82)

· Club Squads: Fulham | Liverpool
Updated: October 31, 2009, 7:10 AM UK

Rafael Benitez grimaced on the touchline as nine-man Liverpool were given a mauling in a humiliating defeat at Craven Cottage.
Liverpool defenders Philipp Degen and Jamie Carragher were sent off for reckless fouls and by the end the Fulham crowd were chanting ''Easy, easy'' as Liverpool resembled a shambles.

Goals from Bobby Zamora, Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey gave Roy Hodgson's side a deserved victory with Fernando Torres grabbing the one consolation for Liverpool.

But this was a match which only demonstrated that Torres cannot do it all by himself.

He cannot keep producing the only quality in a Liverpool team which, without the injured Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson, looks bereft of ideas and creativity.

We had wondered what the significance was of that stirring victory over Manchester United last weekend.

Well, now it looks a one-off. A lone bright spot in a season which could get even darker next Wednesday when Liverpool travel to Lyon for a match which could see them effectively knocked out of the Champions league in the group stages.

After this result they might just be out of the Premier League race, too.

The pressure is building on Benitez. And with the Reds faithful once more booing his substitution of Yossi Benayoun the steam is hissing all around him.

Bizarrely, it was a match in which Liverpool enjoyed the majority of the possession.

A match in which they pressed forward with lots of effort, often against a wall of white shirts. But a match in which for vast swathes they struggled to supply the quality to go with their industry.

They must have wondered, however, quite how they found themselves behind after 24 minutes.

Fulham had not had a single shot on Jose Reina's goal. Let's be honest, they had barely crossed the half-way line.

But shortly after Benayoun had produced an acrobatic volley which fairly rattled the Fulham crossbar the home side broke away.

The ball came to Damien Duff on the left and that trusty left foot curled in a raking cross which bisected the Liverpool defence and allowed Zamora to tap home from close range.

A bit of a downer that, especially as Liverpool wags have been known to direct the following ditty in Zamora's direction, to the tune of 'Amore:' ''When the ball hits your head and you're sat in Row Z, that's Zamora.''

Well, now they know different. Zamora is lethal from six yards.

Benitez, however, must have been scratching his head, such was Liverpool's dominance.

The problem was that while Liverpool continued to press forward they struggled to produce the high tempo and urgency they had demonstrated against Manchester United last Sunday.

And when the equaliser came they could hardly put it down to rhythm and style. Instead it was fashioned out of nothing, but by the predator supreme.

There appeared to be little danger for the Fulham defence when the ball came to Andriy Voronin. His header was weak and misdirected but it cannoned off a Fulham defender and arced into the hitting zone of Torres.

He needed no more invitation. The Spaniard simply swivelled and swung his right boot and a fabulous volley from the edge of the box fairly scorched past Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

It was Torres' 10th league goal of the season and only demonstrated once more his value to Liverpool.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Zoltan Gera for Diomansy Kamara and Nevland for Duff.

It was an attempt to push Liverpool back and stem the pounding and it had some success. In fact, Fulham might have re-taken the lead on the hour mark when Zamora fired over a cross and Gera swivelled and shot but unfortunately straight at goalkeeper Reina.

The did take the lead, however, after 74 minutes and once more it was against the run of play.

This time Paul Konchesky surged down the left hand side and Reina could only parry his cross. The ball was headed back across goal by Gera and there was Nevland to slide the ball into the net.

It got worse for Liverpool four minutes later when Swiss defender Degen was sent off for a reckless lunge on Dempsey.

Incredibly three minutes later Liverpool were down to nine men when Carragher brought down Zamora and also received a red card.

And to wrap up an afternoon to forget for Benitez, Dempsey rolled in the third for Fulham as Liverpool disintegrated.

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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Arsenal 3
Tottenham Hotspur 0 FT

Bolton Wanderers 0
Chelsea 4 FT

Burnley 2
Hull City 0 FT

Everton 1
Aston Villa 1 FT

Fulham 3
Liverpool 1 FT

Portsmouth 4
Wigan Athletic 0 FT

Stoke City 2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 FT

Sunderland 2
West Ham United 2 FT

Manchester United 0
Blackburn Rovers 0 17:30 UK

arsenal fc vs tottenham

2009-10-31T10:16:00.000-07:00

Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur
PreviewReportMatchLive CommentaryGameCastMatch Action
Quickfire Gunners blitz Spurs

GettyImages
Cesc Fabregas nets Arsenal's second goal after waltzing through a sleeping Spurs defence
Scoring Summary
Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur
Robin Van Persie (42)
Cesc Fábregas (43)
Robin Van Persie (60)

Match Stats
Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur
Shots (on Goal) 18(8) 10(4)
Fouls 14 11
Corner Kicks 6 2
Offsides 4 3
Time of Possession 52% 48%
Yellow Cards 1 1
Red Cards 0 0
Saves 4 5

Match Information
Stadium: Emirates Stadium, England
Attendance: 60,103
Match Time: 12:45 UK
Official(s):
Mark Clattenburg (Referee)

Teams
Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur
1 Manuel Almunia 1 Gomes
5 Thomas Vermaelen 19 Sebastien Bassong
10 William Gallas 26 Ledley King
22 Gaël Clichy 32 Benoit Assou-Ekotto
3 Bacary Sagna 22 Vedran Corluka
17 Alexandre Song Billong 12 Wilson Palacios
4 Cesc Fábregas 6 Tom Huddlestone
11 Robin Van Persie 8 Jermaine Jenas
2 Abou Diaby 10 Robbie Keane
23 Andrei Arshavin 5 David Bentley
52 Nicklas Bendtner 15 Peter Crouch
Substitutes
6 Philippe Senderos Jonathan Woodgate 39
27 Emmanuel Eboue Michael Dawson 20
9 Eduardo Niko Kranjcar 21
8 Samir Nasri Alan Hutton 2
24 Vito Mannone Roman Pavlyuchenko 9
16 Aaron Ramsey Gareth Bale 3
28 Kieran Gibbs David Button 35
Substitutions
Eduardo for Nicklas Bendtner (37)
Gareth Bale for Tom Huddlestone (56)

Emmanuel Eboue for Andrei Arshavin (78)
Roman Pavlyuchenko for Robbie Keane (65)

Aaron Ramsey for Robin Van Persie (86)
Alan Hutton for Vedran Corluka (86)

Yellow Cards
Thomas Vermaelen (78)
Peter Crouch (62)

· Club Squads: Arsenal | Tottenham Hotspur
Updated: October 31, 2009, 7:48 AM UK

Arsenal forward Robin van Persie struck twice to earn his side bragging rights in north London and put a question mark over whether rivals Tottenham can sustain a top-four challenge in the Premier League.
• Wenger talks up title chances
• Kevin Palmer at the Emirates

Spurs have not won a league game against Arsenal since 1999, and they fell away after Van Persie opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium and Cesc Fabregas added the second after winning possession straight from the kick-off.

Both sides went into the weekend level on points, albeit with Spurs playing a game extra, but talk of the gap between the clubs being closed was well and truly ended when Van Persie tapped in the third after the break.

''It's difficult to judge just how good this Tottenham team is but they certainly have potential and they have a big, talented squad,'' wrote Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in his programme notes.

Unfortunately for Harry Redknapp, three of his most attacking talents were unavailable as Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon were injured and Jermain Defoe suspended - so the Spurs boss chose to match Arsenal's formation and play Peter Crouch up front on his own and Robbie Keane on the left.

The plan worked well initially, with the home fans starting to get restless in frustration until the two goals in as many minutes just before the interval.

Spurs did not create much themselves but limited their rivals to half-chances, aside from when Ledley King's tackle on Andrey Arshavin fell for Fabregas with most of the goal to aim for. Even then Heurelho Gomes threw himself to his left to save the effort and grab the rebound from Nicklas Bendtner's toes.

Keane's pre-match comments suggested Spurs' squad was as good as Arsenal's, although their gameplan relied on stifling Wenger's side through hard work and punting the ball forward to Crouch.

Former Arsenal winger David Bentley, predictably jeered throughout, typified the work ethic. He snapped at heels on the right flank and was fortunate not to receive a booking when he cynically tripped Thomas Vermaelen, with referee Mark Clattenburg happy to keep his cards in his pocket during a feisty opening.

Clattenburg was referee during Arsenal's last defeat, seven weeks ago at Manchester City when Emmanuel Adebayor kicked Van Persie. Despite dropping points since, Arsenal have shown massive improvement since that match and eventually they came good against Spurs.

The match totally turned just before the break, with Van Persie firstly giving Spurs a warning after Benoit Assou-Ekotto's error. The Cameroon full-back gifted possession to Fabregas on the edge of the area, with the Arsenal skipper weighting a pass through to Van Persie, who had Gomes to beat but scuffed his finish wide.

Arshavin then had an effort deflected over by Vedran Corluka after cutting in from the right - but the hosts were not made to wait long for the opener.

Bacary Sagna's cross from the right, after being allowed time to steady himself, was met by Van Persie and crept in at Gomes' near post after the Dutchman got across King.

The second came 11 seconds after Spurs kicked off. Wilson Palacios tripped over himself and Fabregas took charge, bursting through challenges from the Honduras international and Tom Huddlestone. The Arsenal skipper then skipped around King and planted his finish coolly past Gomes.

It emerged during the interval that the Spurs bench complained to stewards about the behaviour of Arsenal fans near the dug-out.

In the second half Arsenal looked to extend their lead. Eduardo, a replacement after Nicklas Bendtner picked up an apparent groin injury, was sent through by Fabregas and Gomes stood up well to save.

Sebastien Bassong cleared off the line from Abou Diaby, then the third came after an intelligent advantage played by Clattenburg.

Eduardo had been floored by Assou-Ekotto, the assistant referee flagged for a foul but Clattenburg allowed Sagna to continue after most had stopped. Sagna's cross went through the barrier formed by Gomes and King, with Van Persie tapping in.

All Spurs had to show for their efforts was a Bentley free-kick which was saved, while Crouch was booked for throwing the ball away in frustration.

Eduardo should have added another when he broke the offside trap but his finish went just wide. Bassong picked up a hamstring injury in stoppage-time as Arsenal counter-attacked.

Wenger talks up title chances

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger talked up his team's Premier League title chances after brushing aside Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium and denting their rivals' hopes of sustaining a top-four challenge.

''Do we have enough? I say yes,'' the Frenchman said. ''I've said that since the first day of the season and it won't change now. We want to show consistency and intelligence and that is not easy. I believe we have the opportunity and it will be down to our attitude.''

Robbie Keane suggested earlier in the week that Spurs' squad had a greater strength in depth, although the defeat puts a question mark over whether they will compete with the traditional heavyweights.

''We have to see over a longer period,'' Wenger said. ''I am positive for us because we have the minimum points with the performances we have produced. Will Tottenham be up there? I don't know. It's too early. It is not about opinion, it is about performance on the pitch. That is what is important.''

Robin Van Persie's 42nd-minute opener crept in at the near post from Bacary Sagna's cross, then Wilson Palacios lost the ball from the kick-off and Fabregas brushed past the Honduras international and Tom Huddlestone before skipping around Ledley King and finishing.

Van Persie said: ''They played with the right attitude and a good spirit, it was tight and tough to start with but they died after our first goal.''

Wenger also saw the period before half-time as crucial.

''We took advantage of the shock of the first goal and in the second half we always played a little restricted,'' he said. ''After the third there wasn't the impression that Spurs would come back.''

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp added: ''The two quick goals we gave away turned the whole game upside down. I thought they were edgy, they were giving the ball away, the crowd was moaning at every mistake. I thought we were going to come in at half-time in great shape. There is no gap between the clubs in my opinion. I think two mistakes turned the game upside down.''

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blackburn striker Roberts latest to get swine flu

2009-10-31T05:08:00.000-07:00

Jason Roberts has become the latest Blackburn player to come down with suspectected to be....
Roberts is unlikely to be available for Rovers' trip to Manchester United in the Premirer League after showing symptoms of the virus.

Manager Sam Allardyce, who has suffered with the illness himself in the last few days, said that he and most of his squad had recovered after an outbreak in the camp last week but confirmed that Roberts was being seen by a doctor.

"I'm okay now - I think we've only Jason Roberts,'' Allardyce said. "There was another player suffering with it earlier in the week and Jason looks like it now, so we've left him at home and sent the doctor out to see him.

"The symptoms look very much like the general swine flu symptoms, so we will obviously go and get a full check on him.''

Allardyce revealed on Monday that three of his players had contracted swine flu. One of those was thought to be David Dunn, who looked in good health when he came off the bench against Peterborough in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Another was Chris Samba, who Allardyce said was back in training but still feeling weak.

"We've just got Chris Samba back, who seems to have been affected the most by the symptoms,'' Allardyce said. "He's been left pretty weak, I think he has lost about four or five kilos. It is an incredible amount of fluid he has lost.

"We'll have to check if he is strong enough to be capable of being selected for the squad on Saturday. We'll run him through training and see where we go from there.

"(Pascal) Chimbonda is fit from injury, Vince Grella is back in training for us but it might be a bit too soon for him. The squad has strengthened from last week, which is very important when you are going to Old Trafford.''

Allardyce, who watched Tuesday night's match from the stand for fear of passing the virus onto his players, admitted he had been worried at times about how ill he really was.

"It was just your normal feeling of flu symptoms really, nothing worse that than from my point of view I'm glad to say,'' he said.

"But when you get home and you hear on the news that somebody has died from it, you wonder what the situation is. There was something particularly wrong (with that person) when they caught the virus and obviously that contributed to the death.

"I was achy, sweaty and had headaches. But it was bed for a couple of days and I'm alright now.''

Wenger: Andrei Arshavin will torment Spurs

2009-10-31T04:34:00.000-07:00

Andrei Arshavin is a key player for Arsenal and Russia.

• ESPN Soccernet preview: Arsenal v Tottenham
• Almunia to return for Spurs showdown

Only Tottenham's failure to agree a financial package with Zenit St Petersburg prevented Arshavin from becoming a Spurs player following his impressive performance at Euro 2008 but at Emirates Stadium he will be lining up as a key player for their North London rivals.

Arshavin has been a revelation since joining Arsenal in January, scoring five goals already this season, and Saturday will be his first real experience of the passionate derby as he was an unused substitute in a 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane in February.

Wenger fully expects the forward to show Spurs exactly what they are missing when they make the trip down Seven Sisters Road in search of their first victory in N5 since 1993. The two clubs are currently level on 19 points, with Arsenal having played a game less.

"Arshavin can change any game, anywhere at any moment so I believe he will have a great game tomorrow," Wenger said. "He is a player I love, not only because he is talented but because he is efficient. I am confident he will have a big impact on the game tomorrow."

Wenger also responded to another public comment from Emmanuel Adebayor regarding his former employers. In an interview on Thursday, the Manchester City striker claimed he was forced out of Emirates Stadium over the summer and that captain Cesc Fabregas could be the next player to leave.

However, Wenger is refusing to indulge in a public quarrel with the player he signed from Monaco in January 2006, with the Frenchman instead focusing attention on what is a significant game for his side on Saturday.

"Frankly, I'm not really bothered about what he says," Wenger said. "Why should I react to quotes that may not even be accurate? What is important for me is that we play well tomorrow. For the rest, we have to live with what people say but it is not really important.

"Nobody knows what's happening next week so why should you speculate or worry about statements of that calibre? They are not anything realistic, it's just talk."

Gerrard and Johnson out of trip to Fulham

2009-10-31T04:15:00.005-07:00

Steven Gerrard is taken off after just 25 minutes with an injury

Gerrard has managed just 25 minutes of action for Liverpool since going off at half-time for England against Ukraine with a groin injury at the start of the month.

The skipper made his return against Lyon in the Champions League but was unable to continue leading to an early exit. Johnson missed the game against the French side and will also not face Roy Hodgson's side due to a thigh strain, despite playing the whole of Sunday's win over Manchester United.

Alberto Aquilani, who made his debut for the Reds in the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Arsenal, will also not be part of the squad after coming down with a virus. Benitez joked: "It is a virus but not swine flu, we haven't got that here yet.''

But Liverpool are concerned over Gerrard's persistent problem and will be monitoring their captain closely in the coming days.

Benitez said: "Gerrard is improving but the next week will be crucial in terms of any decision about what we will do with him. I have talked to him today, he is working with the medical team and his progress is slow, but we will then have to decide what to do if he is not progressing as quickly as we would hope.

"He has had this problem for some time but when he has a lot of games for his club, as well as the national team, it is not easy to give him a rest. We will try to manage this differently in the future but we always have the same problem, that he wants to play in every match.

"And that applies to England as well. It is very positive, it is a fine mentality, but maybe we should be looking at the right way to handle a problem that continues to cause him trouble. I do not believe he will have this problem for the rest of his career but we certainly need to find a solution now. We have a good medical staff, I have confidence we can manage this problem.

"I do not know yet whether Steven will play in Lyon, we must work with him. But it is true there is a problem. We do have an issue if he is not fit for Lyon, it is a crucial time. In three days we will maybe have a better idea.''

Benitez' annoyance with England is barely below the surface when he discusses Gerrard, who has played just 25 minutes since the injury against Ukraine and will miss his third successive match tomorrow.

"Steven picked up this injury while playing for England. He lasted only until half-time of the game (in Ukraine),'' Benitez said. "He rested for two days and then had the same problem in his next training session for England. We rested him for one game and then he lasted just 25 minutes of the next match, against Lyon. Since then he has not been able to train or play.

"We now have to be careful. He is working with the physios and I have talked with the doctor. The decision is to continue with the same treatment for a few days. Then we will see. We do not want to put him under any further risk. He was unable to play against Manchester United and we won but we obviously need Steven to be fit and available.

"He has just been nominated for world player of the year, along with Fernando, and they both deserve it. And it also shows the quality we are missing when they cannot play. We are pleased for them and the club that they are being spoken of at such a level, so it is clear that they are not just any player, they are world class and we miss them. Any team would.''

adebayo insults jealous arsenal fans$player

2009-10-31T04:05:00.002-07:00

Adebayor celebrates in front of Arsenal fans

There is no love lost between the Togo international and the supporters who once chanted his name, something which appeared to reach a head last month when he ran the full length of the Eastlands pitch to celebrate in front of them after scoring a goal.

Adebayor, who was also banned for three games by the Football Association for raking his studs down the face of Robin van Persie during City's win over Arsenal, also insisted he moved to the City of Manchester Stadium to further his football career and not to line his pockets.

The striker told the Daily Mirror: "There may be people who are jealous of what I am about and have achieved in the game, despite my humble background. People can say what they want and I will just score goals in a team that wants me to be here, and in front of fans that appreciate me.

"I'm happy at City and people who question my decision to come here can go away. To be a part of City's first Premier League title, getting into the Champions League is a great challenge for me. I'm here for the football, not money.

"No-one likes bad things said about them but I am used to it now. I refuse to back down if I believe something is right - that is my nature. If people do not like it, then I am sorry.

"I feel I am a good influence on the dressing room and my team-mates and that is the main thing, above all. Sometimes I think I am disliked because I show too much emotion ... I'm afraid that will never change.

"My final year at Arsenal was difficult, so it was an easy decision to move. Some of the fans would never forgive me after some clubs tried to sign me a year ago, but what could I do?

"I scored 30 goals for Arsenal two seasons ago and it was all forgotten because the fans decided I was not loyal any more when Barcelona and AC Milan showed interest in me. It was hard to take and there did not seem to be anything I could do to change their mind."

Adebayor did, however, apologise for his "tackle" on Van Persie and his behaviour in that first game against Arsenal since leaving the Emirates. He said in an interview with CNN International: "When I come to the stadium, for me it was a special game because you're playing against your former team and was coming up against people who were like brothers.

"When I get to the tunnel and see my friends, I try to shake their hands & but they don't want to shake my hand and it was a shock. I was like a shock: what is going on? What am I? You know what I mean? I felt very hurt. After that I thought - okay, that's part of life and just have to deal with it.

"After that, when I get on the pitch and when I hear some singing insulting my dad, insulting my mum, I think, we can't take everything. We are only human beings and I think that is something that you cannot take. We've all got our limit.

"You can insult me, you can judge me on the football pitch, that's normal. But don't touch my family, don't touch my parents, I love them more than everything on this earth. So when I heard fans singing, insulting my family, yes, then my mind was like, I had to respond, respond - which way? I don't have a choice. I cannot go into the fans and start shouting, I cannot do anything, better way to respond is to score a goal against them. And that is what I managed to do.

"At that time, emotions took over me and I have done it. And you can see that I'm not insulting anyone, I just calm down, sliding on my knee, showing them that "yes, you insult me, you sack me from your team, I go, and now this means I'm not the bad player you think I was when I was playing for you.

"I think I wish I could not have done that, but we are all human beings and [Barack] Obama will make a lot of mistakes where he is now. Cristiano Ronaldo has done a lot of mistakes and Mr Alex Ferguson apologised recently for what he has said against the referee. He just made the mistake, he is a human being, we all do it and we all have to pass through a mistake to be a better man.

"I saw Robin in the tunnel and I told him: 'I'm very sorry for what happened'. He's like: 'Why, why you do that?' and I told him: 'Robin, I don't know, that does happen, I'm sorry'. And at the time he told me 'Okay, it's fine'."

ferguson unhappy with capello

2009-10-31T03:57:00.002-07:00

Sir Alex Ferguson: In FA's bad books again?

Ferguson has been in hot water with the Football Association already this season after his criticism of referee Alan Wiley's fitness after his side's 2-2 draw with Sunderland. Wigan boss Roberto Martinez has had to deny reports he said the FA gave preferential treatment to the outspoken Manchester United man, while Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez last season launched a rant at Ferguson's constant complaints about things such as match officials and timing of fixtures.

Ferguson's latest outburst is unlikely to please the FA, while Uniteds many fans in the Middle East could be left disillusioned by the dismissive comments about Qatar.

Fabio Capello's England team, including Red Devils Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand, will embark on a 6,500-mile round journey for the World Cup tune-up on a date that falls six days after United's trip to Chelsea and a week before the visit of Everton to Old Trafford.

While Ferguson did not specifically mention the Qatar trip he lamented "the intrusion of a friendly game in some unknown country'' in the midst of the club season. "You want them [the players] to play in the important international games, it's important to them and I want them to play,'' Ferguson said. "It's the friendly matches that are the problem.

"It's a coach's nightmare, especially if you are in the middle of a European campaign and going for cups and titles. You have all these fixtures and you have the intrusion of a friendly game in some unknown country, so that is a definite thorn in everyone's flesh.''

Ferguson conceded that such matches were important for national teams with next summer's World Cup in South Africa looming large, but he believes some national team managers would prefer not to play some friendlies.

"All international managers have their jobs to do and we support that, particularly when it comes to the issues of competitive games, ie the European Championships or the World Cup,'' Ferguson said.

"It's very important that these players play for their countries. But friendly games are a different matter. I don't think that anyone agrees with them if you're a football coach, a league coach, whereas international managers have a situation that they find themselves in.

Ferguson went on to suggest that even some international managers are against the concept of friendlies, while questioning the motivations of FAs to arrange friendly matches.

"I think that some of them actually could do without the friendly games themselves, but the FAs from every country warn them that sometimes it's a nice day for them, a nice trip for them, a sunny day, and in some cases it creates good revenue for them. So you can understand it.''

harry rules arsenal out the race

2009-10-31T03:39:00.008-07:00

Harry Redknapp believes Arsenal's young side won't overcome the experience of Manchester United or the "powerful men" of Chelsea to be Premier League champions this season - and he also reckons there will be a change to the traditional top four.

GettyImages

Harry Redknapp says Arsenal have boys not men

• Wenger: Arshavin to torment Spurs
• ESPN Soccernet preview: Arsenal v Tottenham
• Almunia to return for Spurs showdown

Tottenham boss Redknapp takes his side to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday with hopes of eventually joining or replacing Arsene Wenger's men among the Champions League places following their promising start to the campaign. Redknapp is not writing off the chances of his club's bitter rivals but feels United or Chelsea will be competing for the title.

"I think Arsenal are potential winners but personally I dont think they will win it, that's only my opinion,'' he said. "I'm not writing them off, they've got a good chance. But I think the winners will come from Chelsea or Manchester United.

"That's how I see it personally, I've been wrong a million times before, I could well be wrong but I see those two. Chelsea are powerful, they are men, you just feel they have that power. I think they will take all the beating.'' While Chelsea have "men'' in their ranks, Redknapp feels Arsenal's inexperience is a weakness.

"I don't think it's a soft centre, I think it's maybe a little bit of a lack of experience still,'' he said. "They're not an experienced team, it's still a young team, a fantastic young team.

"But I just feel Chelsea and Man United, they have players who have been there and done it all and been the full course in the championship race and that's where I think the winners will come from. And Liverpool, I'm not writing them off but I do fancy one of the two.''

Redknapp said he will look to profit from an attacking Arsenal side's overexposed defence when he goes in search of Spurs' first league win against their rivals in a decade. Their record on Arsenal's turf is even worse, with the last win coming in 1993.

"It's an attacking team isn't it?'' Redknapp said. "They go forward, they attack you, that's how they play. It's great to watch for sure. They have a go. The two full-backs probably wouldn't know what it was if you told them to sit in. They are like two wingers almost, the way they get up the lines and play.

"They attack from midfield, only (Alex) Song sits in but (Cesc) Fabregas goes, (Abou) Diaby goes, (Andrey) Arshavin is an attacking player, that's how they play. If you can get the ball and can attack them, you have got chances with them, for sure.''

Redknapp feels Spurs, Manchester City and Aston Villa will provide competition for the traditional top four, with the last team breaking through being Everton in 2005.

"I think there will be a change, for sure because they are getting stronger, Man City are certainly getting stronger, Tottenham are getting stronger, I think Villa have got stronger this year.''

Jermain Defoe is suspended so Peter Crouch looks set to start in attack, while David Bentley will replace injured Aaron Lennon on the right flank. Since scoring his wonder goal against his former club a year ago, Bentley's career has stalled and he has struggled for regular football. Redknapp admits the midfielder's profile means he may struggle to cope with his status as a squad player.

"If you said to anybody 'could you be a squad player?', they'd all say no,'' Redknapp said. "They all want to play. None of them would accept that.''

Meanwhile, Redknapp has backed England centre-back Rio Ferdinand to overcome his recent errors. Redknapp, who managed Ferdinand at West Ham, has been linked with the defender but said: "There's no chance of him leaving there if he has any sense. Unless someone knows something I don't know, he won't be coming here. I speak to him and send him messages. For me he's still the best centre-half in the world, he's that good. Everyone has a blip.''

harry rules arsenal out the race

2009-10-31T03:39:00.007-07:00

harry rules arsenal out the race

2009-10-31T03:39:00.006-07:00

ronaldo wants rooney at madrid

2009-10-31T03:32:00.002-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo says he would love to see his former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney follow him to Real Madrid, and that the England star has all the qualities to be a raging success in Spain.

Empics

Cristiano Ronaldo is keen to reignite partnership with Wayne Rooney

Ronaldo left Old Trafford in the summer for a record £80 million fee to complete a dream move to the Spanish giants, following in the footsteps of former United stars Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham in recent times. Now Ronaldo thinks Rooney should walk the same path.

The Portuguese winger immediately impressed with Madrid scoring nine goals in seven games before suffering an ankle injury which has kept him on the sidelines for the past month. And while he admits Rooney is unlikely to leave England any time soon, Ronaldo believes the 24-year-old would fit in at the Bernabeu.

"Wayne would be a sensation out here. I think we could do with Rooney to help us out,'' Ronaldo told The Sun. "He would be brilliant if he came. This is the ideal place for the world's best players and there's little doubt he is one of them.

"Wayne has all the skill and determination you need to make a fine career here. He has shown just how good he is over the last few years in England. And there's no doubt he would be the same sort of player in Spain. It would be lovely to see him here one day at Real Madrid.

"I realise it would take a lot for him to move from England. He loves the country, he loves Manchester and he is a Liverpool boy. And United is a good club for him. But you never know what could happen in the future.''

ronaldo to miss ac milan clash

2009-10-29T03:48:00.000-07:00

INJURY SET BACK
Ronaldo to miss Real Madrid's trip to AC Milan
Reuters

October 28, 2009
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Cristiano Ronaldo will not be fit in time for Real Madrid's trip to AC Milan in the Champions League next week, the La Liga club said on Wednesday.

The Portuguese forward, who has been out since aggravating an injury to his right ankle while on international duty three weeks ago, had been targeting a return for the trip to Italy.

Ronaldo will undergo another test in a week's time, Real said in a statement on their website.

Olympique Marseille's Souleymane Diawara caught Ronaldo's ankle during his side's 3-0 Champions League defeat at the Bernabeu on Sept. 30.

Manuel Pellegrini's side, who had won every match this season before Ronaldo's injury, have since slumped to three defeats, a draw and only one victory in all competitions.

Real, level on six points with Champions League Group C leaders Milan after three games, travel to the San Siro next Tuesday.

fixtures

2009-10-28T04:50:00.005-07:00

World Cup Qualifying

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English Carling Cup (Round 4) Collapse19:45 UKExpand + Emirates Stadium Arsenal v Liverpool
Competition Stats
Carlos Vela 1 David Ngog 1
A Javier Mascherano 1
Philippe Senderos 1 Sotirios Kyrgiakos 1

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + Stamford Bridge Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers
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Salomon Kalou 1 Kevin Davies 1
Joe Cole 1 A Kevin Davies 1

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + City of Manchester Stadium Manchester City v Scunthorpe United
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Shaun Wright-Phillips 1 Paul Hayes 2
Shaun Wright-Phillips 1 A Paul Hayes 1
Micah Richards 1 Matthew Sparrow 1

Preview | Match | Gamecast
Scottish CIS Insurance Cup (Quarter-finals) Collapse19:35 UKExpand + Celtic Park Celtic v Heart of Midlothian
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Scott McDonald 2 Michael Stewart 1
Mark Wilson 1 Suso Santana 1

Preview | Match
Spanish Copa del Rey (Fourth Round) Collapse19:00 UKExpand + El Collao Alcoyano v Valencia

Match
19:00 UKExpand + Balaidos Celta Vigo v Tenerife

Match
19:00 UKExpand + Coliseum Alfonso Perez Getafe v Espanyol

Match
19:00 UKExpand + Jose Rico Perez Hercules v Almeria

Match
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Match
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Match
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Match
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Match
21:00 UKExpand + Reino de Leon Cultural Leonesa v Barcelona

Match
Italian Serie ATable
Live TableCollapse19:45 UKExpand + Renato Dall'Ara Bologna v Siena
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L-L-L-D-W Form L-L-D-L-D
Roberto Guana 3 Abdelkader Ghezzal 4

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + Angelo Massimino Catania v Chievo Verona
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Takayuki Morimoto 3 Sergio Pellissier 4
L-W-D-D-D Form L-L-W-D-D
Nicolás Spolli 5 Giampiero Pinzi 4

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + Comunale Luigi Ferraris Genoa v Fiorentina
Competition Stats
Giandomenico Mesto 3 Alberto Gilardino 3
L-L-W-L-D Form L-D-D-W-W
Omar Milanetto 3 Riccardo Montolivo 3

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + Olimpico Grande Torino Juventus v Sampdoria
Competition Stats
Vincenzo Iaquinta 3 Giampaolo Pazzini 6
W-D-L-D-D Form W-D-D-W-L
Nicola Legrottaglie 3 Daniele Gastaldello 4

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + Olimpico Lazio v Cagliari
Competition Stats
Julio Cruz 3 Neves Capucho Jeda 3
L-D-D-D-L Form W-L-L-W-W
Aleksandar Kolarov 3 Daniele Conti 6

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + Armando Picchi Livorno v Atalanta
Competition Stats
Francesco Tavano 1 Simone Tiribocchi 4
W-L-D-L-L Form W-W-D-D-D
Cristiano Lucarelli 3 Thomas Manfredini 5

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + San Paolo Napoli v AC Milan
Competition Stats
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W-W-L-W-L Form W-W-D-D-L
Matteo Contini 4 Alessandro Nesta 3

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + Ennio Tardini Parma v Bari
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L-W-D-L-W Form W-W-D-D-L
Alberto Paloschi 3 Antonio Langella 3

Preview | Match | Gamecast
19:45 UKExpand + Friuli Udinese v AS Roma
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L-L-L-W-W Form L-L-W-D-D
Antonio Floro Flores 4 Marco Cassetti 3

Preview | Match | Gamecast
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Radhouène Felhi 2 Benedikt Höwedes 1

Match
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Naldo 1 Sidney Sam 1

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Selim Teber 1

Match
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Per Nilsson 1 Everson 1

Match
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Match
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D-L-D-L-L Form W-W-W-W-D
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Match
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L-L-D-L-W Form D-L-W-W-W
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D-W-D-W-D Form D-D-L-L-W
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L-W-L-L-L Form D-W-D-W-L
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Match
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D-D-L-L-L Form W-L-W-W-W
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W-W-D-W-L Form W-L-L-L-D
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D-W-L-W-D Form W-L-W-L-L
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Match
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L-W-W-L-L Form D-W-D-W-W
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Match
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Match
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Match
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Match
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Match
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Match | Gamecast
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L-D-D-W-L Form W-L-D-L-L
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Match | Gamecast
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L-D-W-W-W Form W-W-W-D-W
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Match | Gamecast
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L-W-D-D-W Form L-D-D-W-L
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Match
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L-L-D-W-W Form W-L-W-L-L
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Match
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W-W-W-W-D Form W-L-L-D-W
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Match
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L-W-L-D-D Form D-W-D-D-D
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Match
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L-W-D-D-L Form L-L-W-D-L
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Match
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L-D-W-D-L Form W-W-W-D-W
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Match
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Match
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D-L-L-L-D Form L-L-L-D-D
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Match
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L-L-D-L-D Form D-L-W-D-L
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Match
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W-D-W-D-D Form W-W-D-D-L
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Match
18:30 UKExpand + Alfredo Víctor Viera Wanderers v Cerro
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W-W-D-D-W Form W-L-L-W-L
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Match
22:10 UKExpand + Parque Central Nacional de Montevideo v Central Español
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W-L-W-L-W Form L-L-D-W-L
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Match
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L-L-W-W-W Form W-D-W-L-W
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67' Keita Sugimoto 1 - 2
Agg: 3 - 8
Match
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Ala'a Hubail 3 Denilson Nascimento 7
Mohammed Musa 3 Jae-won Hwang 2
First Leg: 0 - 2
Preview | Match
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W-L-W-W-D Form W-W-L-D-L
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Match
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Match
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L-D-W-W-L Form D-D-W-D-D
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Match
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D-L-L-D-D Form W-L-L-W-D
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Match
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W-L-L-L-L Form W-D-W-L-W
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Match
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L-D-W-D-W Form D-L-D-L-D
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Match
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Match
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Match
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W-W-W-L-L Form D-D-D-L-L

Match
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L-W-L-L-L Form W-D-L-L-L

Match
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L-D-W-W-W Form W-D-W-W-W

Match
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L-L-W-D-D Form W-L-W-L-L

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Match
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L-L-D-W-L Form W-W-L-D-W

ferguson favoured

2009-10-28T02:36:00.000-07:00

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
Roberto Martinez: FA favour Sir Alex Ferguson
By Soccernet staff

October 28, 2009
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Wigan manager Roberto Martinez claims Sir Alex Ferguson has the football authorities in England gripped by fear and that his fellow Spaniard Rafa Benitez has been unfairly treated by the Manchester United manager and a group of staunch allies.

GettyImages

Sir Alex Ferguson was the subject of a rant from Rafa Benitez.

Martinez's complaint comes in the wake of Ferguson admitting an FA charge of improper conduct following his controversial comments about Alan Wiley's fitness earlier in the month. But the Wigan boss says any other manager in the Premier League would already have been 'crushed' by the governing body for making similar comments.

The outburst from Martinez will no doubt strike a chord with Benitez, who last season infamously claimed that Ferguson received preferential treatment from the game's authorities as he attempted to lay bare the 'facts' that he said were favouring United.

Benitez said in January: "During the Respect campaign - and this is a fact - Mr Ferguson was charged by the FA for improper conduct after comments made about Martin Atkinson and Keith Hackett. He was not punished. He is the only manager in the league that cannot be punished for these things."

In April, Benitez was then criticised by Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce for making a "disrespectful" gesture during a game, with the Spaniard accused of waving his hands as if to suggest the tie was over as a contest when Liverpool scored a second goal in a 4-0 victory. Ferguson subsequently accused the Spaniard of showing "contempt" to Allardyce, even though Benitez said his gesture had been misinterpreted.

Martinez now claims that Allardyce hopes to succeed Ferguson at United and that both he and Steve Bruce are willing allies of the United boss, who exercises too much power in the English game.

"They (the FA) have just sanctioned Ferguson for saying that referee was not fit enough and the truth is that they're almost apologising to him for punishing him,'' Martinez told Spanish newspaper AS. "Any other coach would have been crushed for that.

"Ferguson has been here for a lifetime and that carries a lot of weight. Ferguson has his group of faithfuls, people who are committed to him: Steve Bruce, who was a player with him, Sam Allardyce, who thinks he will be his successor at Old Trafford, and others. On the other side there's Rafa Benitez and he gets attacked from all sides."

blackburn fears swin flu outbreak at chelsea

2009-10-27T07:34:00.000-07:00

ROVERS BOSS CONCERN AT VIRUS
Allardyce fears swine flu outbreak at Chelsea
By Soccernet staff

October 27, 2009
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Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce is concerned that Chelsea could be the next team to be struck down by an outbreak of swine flu after claiming the Premier League "shirked responsibility" by allowing the teams to clash at the weekend.

GettyImages

Sam Allardyce: Worried about spread of virus

• Swine flu affects Trotters • Rovers pair suffering from swine flu • Ligue 1 swine flu postponement

A number of Rovers' players are suffering from the virus and Allardyce revealed that he voiced concerns prior to Saturday's match at Stamford Bridge but the Premier League decided to go ahead with the match despite two confirmed cases of swine flu within his squad.

Chris Samba and David Dunn both missed the game with Chelsea, although Rovers have not confirmed the duo are among those suffering from swine flu, and Allardyce believes it is possible the virus could have been spread to the Chelsea camp.

"There is no doubt about that," Allardyce said. "When you look at the medical side of it, it is one of the most infectious viruses we have had."

But Allardyce is adamant Blackburn have operated by the book, by informing league authorities and letting them determine the next step of action.

He said: "They know that we went through the right procedures and that we did not call it off because we couldn't. There was no point in trying because back in February or March they told us we had to get a team out there, no matter what.

"It is their responsibility to consider how dangerous it might be to allow this to spread throughout football so they have shirked responsibility - not us. I don't think they have put much thought into it at all."

Blackburn's match with Peterborough in the Carling Cup is due to go ahead on Tuesday night despite three players and two members of the Rovers staff suffering from the N1H1 virus.

A similar case in France at the weekend saw Paris St Germain's match at Marseille postponed. PSG's Ludovic Giuly and Mamadou Sakho were diagnosed with the virus on Saturday and the confirmation of a third case in the squad on Sunday prompted Ligue 1 authorities to act. Two members of PSG's coaching team had also reported symptoms of swine flu.

The Premier League responded to Allardyce's concerns, by stating: "As ever, when it comes to health matters the Premier League will be guided by the relevant statutory authorities.

"If a club postpone any of their matches they would have to prove they were unable to fulfil their fixture, however we do not anticipate, at this stage, any circumstances under which a match could be justifiably postponed."

aquilanni could move to liverpool in window transfers

2009-10-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

ITALIAN READY FOR ACTION
Aquilani in line for Liverpool debut
By Soccernet staff

October 27, 2009
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Liverpool's £20 million summer signing Alberto Aquilani could make his long-awaited debut for the Anfield club against Arsenal in the Carling Cup on Wednesday.

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Alberto Aquilani: Closing in on his debut.

The Italian midfielder, signed as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who joined Real Madrid for £30 million in August, has been fully involved in Liverpool's training prior to the fourth round clash, and is set to feature from the substitutes bench at the Emirates Stadium.

Aquilani played for 15 minutes of a reserve match last week, having been recovering from a knee operation since his arrival at the club, and is now relishing a chance to show what he can do in the first team.

He said: "It was good to play for the reserves because I haven't played for a long time, but to play for the first team is something different again and I am looking forward to that.

"I really want to play, but I need to be patient, I know the time will come for me. I will be very happy when I make my debut. This is my job, it's what I am here to do, and I am looking forward to it."

With his first-team debut finally on the horizon, Aquilani was keen to thank his fellow players and the staff at the club's Melwood training ground for helping him settle into life on Merseyside.

He added: "I want to thank all the players and the people at the club because they have been very helpful to me since I arrived here.

"Obviously as Andrea Dossena is here and speaks Italian, he has helped me, but I want to take the opportunity to thank every player.

"It has been difficult, but now I want to build up my confidence and I hope to bring out the best of my game here."

ferguson accepts charge

2009-10-27T06:56:00.000-07:00

REF RANT PUNISHMENT
Ferguson accepts FA charge

October 27, 2009
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson could face a touchline ban after he accepted an FA charge of improper conduct following his comments on the fitness of referee Alan Wiley.

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Sir Alex Ferguson: Facing touchline ban

• Ferguson's best referee rants

Ferguson, who said after his team's 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford earlier this month that Wiley was "not fit" to officiate the game, has requested a personal hearing. The date for that has yet to be decided.

The United manager's comments infuriated the referees' union Prospect, who have mounted a campaign to land the 67-year-old Scot with a lengthy ban.

Ferguson said after the Sunderland game: "The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit."

The United boss later apologised for any embarrassment his comments had caused to Wiley, but did not retract the claim and said that he hoped he had highlighted "a serious and important issue in the game".

Ferguson has also come under fire for criticising referee Andre Marriner following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. The United boss said he thought his team "lost out to one or two major decisions" and questioned "whether he [Marriner] had enough experience".

hughes insist on robinho move

2009-10-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

BRAZILIAN STAYING AT EASTLANDS
Hughes: Robinho going nowhere
By Soccernet staff

October 27, 2009
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Manchester City manager Mark Hughes insists there is "no chance" that want-away forward Robinho will leave Eastlands in January.

Empics

Man City's Robinho is sidelined at present

• Robinho reasserts Barcelona desire

Barcelona have confirmed their interest in signing Robinho, and the former Real Madrid man has been quoted on several occasions in recent weeks suggesting he would welcome the move.

There have also been widespread reports that Hughes was unhappy with the behaviour of Robinho and Brazil team-mate Elano last season, and the latter has now been sold to Galatasaray. However, although Hughes admits he did have to contend with disciplinary problems last season, he feels he is now in complete control.

"Last year, there were occasions when I compromised my own standards and values and that didn't sit comfortably with me so I knew it wouldn't continue," he told the Daily Mirror.

"Little details involving disciplinary indiscretions become big problems if you don't address them but in the short term, I couldn't do anything about it. It was the wrong time. The benefit of addressing those little details at that time would have caused problems.

"Instead of solving problems, they would have created bigger problems. That was why at times I let things go. Not to my comfort, I have to say, but I knew there would be a time last summer where any of those issues created by certain people would be addressed because those people would leave.

"Managing a football club is about building a culture. I would suggest a lot of other managers don't get involved in trying to build a mentality but I don't think you can be successful without it. It is about trying to get a work ethic and a way of thinking that enables you to be successful as a group.

"If you have too many pulling in the wrong direction, you have to cut them off. My values won't be compromised in the future because we are in a different place now."

Yet, despite the rumours that Robinho will be the next to leave to maintain the unity at the club, Hughes insists the player will remain at Eastlands. Asked if he would be sold in January, Hughes replied: "No chance."

ancelloti hails kalou and lampard

2009-10-24T03:05:00.000-07:00

CHELSEA TRIUMPH
Carlo hails Kalou, Lampard ends goal drought

October 22, 2009
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Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti hailed the performance of two-goal striker Salomon Kalou as the Blues took a giant stride towards the Champions League knock-out stage with an easy win over Atletico Madrid.

AP

Frank Lampard celebrates bagging another Champions League goal

• Kevin Palmer on Chelsea
• Picture Gallery

Kalou, who missed two easy chances early on, scored in each half during the 4-0 victory. His efforts were followed by Frank Lampard's first strike in open play for the club this season and an own goal from Luis Perea.

The win left Chelsea in firm control of Group D. They are eight points ahead of Atletico and three in front of second-placed Porto, and Ancelotti was more than happy.

"I prefer to talk about the good performance because we did well," said Ancelotti. "The first half was more difficult because Atletico had good opportunities. The match was in the balance. But after Kalou's first goal, we did a good match, a good transition into attack and played very well.

"Kalou is an important player for us because, when we are without (Didier) Drogba, he can play and play well. He started the game 'no good' because he made a big mistake, but he maintained good motivation and good focus on his match to score twice after that. For him, it was very important to score. Also for us. He played very well for us."

Ancelotti was also happy with Lampard's first goal after a 10-game drought. "I'm happy for Lampard, for sure," added the Italian. "I think that Lampard is not only important scoring goals. He's important because he works for 90 minutes on the pitch for the team.

"He's very generous, an unselfish player, and for me that's important. Yes, if he scores it's better, but I want to speak about Lampard for his work, not just for his goals.

"We did better at set-plays. We scored two goals from our own set-plays. It's important to avoid losing concentration on set-plays.

"We are in control now of this group, but our aim is to arrive in first place. That's important for our future in the Champions League, and it's still not certain.

"We have to secure more points in the group. It's not been easy without suspended Didier Drogba, but all the players have done very well in this competition so far."

Kalou was delighted to score twice after a glaring miss in the opening few minutes.

"After not playing a couple of games, to come back into the team it was important for me to get confidence back by scoring," said Kalou.

"All the boys were saying after I missed the first opportunity, 'Don't worry about it, it will come', and I'm happy it came in the end. "It was very important to win that game because it gave us nine points.

"It's good to get confidence back by winning and everyone gave his best today and we have the result in the end. After the disappointment of last week [against Villa] we had the opportunity to show it was a mistake."

Atletico Madrid coach Abel Resino blamed the defeat on his team's failure to score from their own chances.

"It's one of those bitter tastes," said Resino. "We probably had as many chances as Chelsea, but the ball just didn't want to go in the net for us. It's not going for us. That's football. My job is to find a solution. You can look to blame someone if you want.

"I'm not just thinking about the group. I've also got to worry about our league form back home. It gets more and more difficult when you're confidence is down.

"Chelsea hurt us when it mattered and capitalised on the chances we missed. We have to stay calm, don't panic, and keep working hard to prepare for the next game.

"The boys tried right to the very end. We deserve credit for that. I'm a fighter. I will fight to the last second in this job.

"I never give up. Only mediocre people give up the fight. You have to keep your head up. With one result, confidence will start to grow.

"We haven't had many games where we haven't created chances. We were scoring for fun last season, but it's not going for us at the moment. That can happen in football."

bruce laments

2009-10-24T02:56:00.000-07:00

FORMER BLUES BOSS RETURNS TO ST ANDREWS
Bruce: I had to leave "impossible" Blues job

October 23, 2009
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Steve Bruce has revealed it had become "impossible" to remain as Birmingham City manager at the point when he left the club two years ago.

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Bruce felt he could not succeed at St Andrews.

Bruce will take his current club Sunderland to St Andrew's on Saturday and remains bitter about the manner in which his six-year spell at the Blues concluded. The 48-year-old's departure came at a time when Birmingham were subject to a failed takeover bid from Carson Yeung.

Coincidentally, this weekend's match will be Yeung's first home fixture since his successful purchase of the club earlier this month. But Bruce believes the uncertainty surrounding Yeung's first takeover attempt forced him to leave the club.

"I was left in an impossible situation and nowhere to go really," Bruce told BBC Radio Five Live. "It was becoming a soap opera. [I wanted to know] what we are going to do for the future of the football club. We had just got back up and there was no mention of the team or what we were going to do about the team and about players.

"It was just about the takeover of the club. I was left in a situation where promises were broken. To be fair Mr Sullivan [David Sullivan, the then co-owner] wanted to give me a new contract, then all of a sudden it became an issue with the board.

"It was an ongoing saga. It became impossible to manage. In the end I had to go."

He added: "It became nasty in the end and left a bad taste for what eight years down the line, six as a coach and two as a player - was sad really.

"I think the supporters of Birmingham realised that I had to go for my own self and my own sanity."

Bruce said he had felt particularly let down by comments made by Sullivan after leaving the club.

Sullivan described Bruce's departure to Wigan, which yielded the St Andrew's club £3million in compensation, as good business.

"Whether they [the board] had gone off me I'm not too sure," he said.

"After six years you'd think there would be a little bit of respect. Mr Sullivan's comments that 'We've got £3million and it's the best business the club has ever done' disappointed me.

"I didn't think I deserved that, but there you go it's what happened on the day and subsequently I've never spoken to them since."

terry questions liverpool squad strength

2009-10-24T02:39:00.000-07:00

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
Terry questions Liverpool's squad strength
By Soccernet staff

October 23, 2009
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John Terry has written off Liverpool's ability to challenge for honours when key men Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are unavailable, claiming the Reds' depth doesn't match that in the Chelsea squad.

AlexLivesey/GettyImages

Gerrard and Terry: Skippers head-to-head

The Blues captain has been delighted with the way his team have coped in Europe without suspended striker Didier Drogba. His replacements, Nicolas Anelka and Salomon Kalou, have responded with crucial goals as Chelsea have soared to the top of Champions League Group D.

Anelka scored winning goals in their opening two games against Porto and Apoel Nicosia while Kalou struck twice in the 4-0 demolition of Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.

Terry reckons Chelsea's strength in reserve contrasts markedly with a Liverpool team which struggles when they are without Gerrard and Torres. Liverpool have lost their last four games and could face Manchester United on Sunday without both key players, while Chelsea take on Blackburn at home on Saturday.

Asked if Benitez's men will be out of the title race if they lose to United, Terry replied: "I'm not sure, but when Stevie and Torres get injured they seem to be very short in the squad they've got.

"We're very fortunate at Chelsea. Since Roman Abramovich came we have had a lot of strength in depth in the squad, like with Salomon Kalou scoring twice against Atletico with Didier Drogba being out. People said we would struggle without Didier, but we didn't. If you take Torres out of their team, who do they bring in? It's difficult.

"We have players that are not here only to make up the numbers, but players that are fighting and working hard every day in training to come in and really prove themselves. Salomon seems to always come in and do well. Didier knows that the players behind him are working hard and wanting his place, the same goes for Nico. When Salomon comes in and does well, it gives the manager a real problem.''

kraft want liverpool fc purchase

2009-10-24T02:33:00.000-07:00

REDS OWNERSHIP
Kraft still keen on buying Liverpool

October 23, 2009
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American businessman Robert Kraft has admitted he is still interested in buying Liverpool. The 68-year-old tried to purchase the Anfield club in 2005 but lost out to fellow Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who have since endured a troubled tenure.

Photography/GettyImages

Robert Kraft owns the New England Patriots.

Kraft, who owns the NFL franchise the New England Patriots, tempered any notion he could be tempted into taking the club off their hands, however, admitting he harbours reservations about the lack of a salary cap in the Premier League.

Asked if he was still interested in buying the Reds, Kraft said: "Yeah, in the right situation. I love the game.

"I've said this before - I love competing with fair management - how well I can manage against you. [But] I don't like losing and at some point it's not economic, people just throwing money at it.

"I wanted to do the deal up there but in the end we only go into business ventures where we think we can compete at a high level. Because we like winning, and we like to win consistently."

Kraft has enjoyed success since buying the Patriots in the mid-1990s, following which they have claimed their three Super Bowl successes in 2001, 2003 and 2004.

He is due to arrive in London on Friday night ahead of their match against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Wembley this weekend - the third time the NFL has played a regular season game in the United Kingdom.

And Kraft believes the idea of a Premier League's 39th game would be successful in his homeland.

"We draw 50-60,000 people when we have teams playing an exhibition game," he added. "That would be smart. That's the sport of the world. And this is the best media market in the world."

Kraft said he did not blame the top Premier League players for trying to earn as much as possible but that it could create problems with fans, and he dislikes clubs having to sell off their young stars to bigger sides.

"We are involved in the NFL and in Major League Soccer and we are happy to compete where it's a level playing field," he added.

"We don't want to be a business where the wallet determines what kind of player you have.

"The ideal model is to develop young players and have them come into your system but to then sell them off goes against my grain.

"Fans don't want to hear about the money, if you win and do a professional job you will make money.

"But if the money starts taking over and you are paying players fantastic sums sometimes the incentive isn't there to play hard every day.

"I don't blame a player for wanting to get paid as much as they can but in the end the greatest rewards in team sports come when great players subjugate their egos to the team."

puyol extends contracts

2009-10-24T02:25:00.000-07:00

SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA
Barca captain Puyol agrees contract extension
By Soccernet staff

October 23, 2009
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Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has "agreed in principle" to a new contract with the European champions that will keep him at the Camp Nou until 2013.

EFE

Carles Puyol has agreed a new deal

The 31-year-old Spanish international, whose current accord was set to expire next summer, will sign the three-year deal in the next few days.

Puyol came through the ranks at the Catalan giants and has been a mainstay of the back four since making his debut in 1999.

"FC Barcelona and Carles Puyol have reached an agreement in principle to renew the captain's contract until 2013," the Spanish club said in a statement. "Now the new conditions will be drawn up and will be signed in the next few days.

"The coach Pep Guardiola and the footballer himself made the news known to the rest of his team-mates just before the start of training this morning. The Barca squad, united in a circle, welcomed it with a resounding ovation and congratulated the captain for the agreement in principle."

Puyol has won 10 trophies with Barca including two Champions Leagues, three league titles and one Copa del Rey, while he also helped Spain to win Euro 2008.

The 31-year-old has made over 451 appearances for his club, putting him in fourth place in the all-time appearance charts.

ancelloti returns from ill fathers trip

2009-10-24T02:18:00.000-07:00

ITALIANS FATHER TAKEN ILL
Ancelotti to make Chelsea return
By Soccernet staff

October 23, 2009
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Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is hoping to be back in the Stamford Bridge dugout on Saturday after rushing home to Italy to be with his seriously ill father.

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Carlo Ancelotti: Father has been taken ill

The Italian coach learned that his father Giuseppe, 86, had been taken sick after Chelsea's 4-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday night and jetted out to the family home in Reggiolo.

Giuseppe was in a stable condition on Thursday night and the club's assistant boss Ray Wilkins is confident that Carlo Ancelotti will be back in time for Saturday afternoon's Premier League match with Blackburn Rovers.

"I am sincerely hoping that Carlo will be back," said Wilkins, who will deputise for the Italian should he fail to return in time. "His father is not in the best of condition. I spoke to Carlo last night and his father was stable, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that he will be back. Carlo will decide who plays."

With Premier League leaders Manchester United playing Liverpool on Sunday, Chelsea have the chance to return to the summit against Sam Allardyce's team.

But Wilkins is expecting a difficult game against Rovers and even went as far as tipping David Dunn, who has scored three goals in his last three outings, as a possible candidate for a place in England's World Cup squad.

"Sam's side will always be extremely well-organised and cause massive threats from set plays," said Wilkins. "So once again we have to be rock solid from set-plays.

"David Dunn is playing very well indeed. Fabio has got his base of who he wants to take and there are definitely places out there for people to grab. Dunn is playing some really first class football just off the striker, and causing havoc and scoring goals. If we are going to do well in South Africa, we need to score goals."

rooney doutfull of anfield trip

2009-10-24T02:16:00.000-07:00

LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER UNITED
Rooney a major doubt for Anfield trip
By Soccernet staff

October 23, 2009
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney remains a major injury doubt for Sunday's trip to Anfield to face arch-rivals Liverpool.

GettyImages

Wayne Rooney: Missing in action.

• Jon Carter on Liverpool v Man Utd

The United striker has been sidelined with a calf injury since England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine a fortnight ago and is unlikely to recover in time.

Ferguson still harbours a slim hope that Rooney will feature but his star forward faces a fitness race along with Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher.

"On the injury front I can't give a clear picture, there are still some doubts about Rooney and Fletcher," Ferguson said.

Veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs is poised to return after suffering a knock in last week's defeat of Bolton Wanderers and Patrice Evra has overcome a heel problem.

Liverpool go into Sunday's match having lost four games in a row - the clubs worst run of form in 22 years - but Ferguson said that will count for little when the two arch-rivals clash.

"Derby games are derby games and anyone can win it," Ferguson said. "It has happened so many times and strange things can happen.

"I am not interested in their league form, I am more pleased with the kind of form we are in. We are consistent and consistent is important."

With Liverpool's star duo of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard unlikely to be fit for the United match, a loss this weekend could prove terminal for manager Rafa Benitez's ambitions on Merseyside.

premeirship agreement with baclays premiership

2009-10-24T02:14:00.000-07:00

Premier League agree £82.25m deal with Barclays

October 23, 2009
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The Premier League and Barclays have agreed a new three-year title sponsorship deal worth £82.25million to top-flight clubs.

The new deal has come after league chiefs initially rejected a lower offer from the bank.

Barclays have sponsored the Premier League since 2004 and their current three-year contract, which expires next year, was worth £65.8million.

The increase in the value of the deal reflects the continuing strength of the Premier League in a sponsorship market which has been badly affected by the economic downturn in other areas of sport.

The Premier League was formed in 1992 and has had a sponsor since 1993. From 2001 until 2004, Barclaycard was the official sponsor and before that it was the Carling lager brand.

The deal will run from the 2010-11 season to the end of the 2012-13 season.

ronaldo targets milan return

2009-10-24T02:13:00.000-07:00

£80 MILLION MAN TO RETURN
Real star Ronaldo targets Milan return
By Soccernet staff

October 23, 2009
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Real Madrid have pencilled in Cristiano Ronaldo for a return to action against AC Milan in their crucial Champions League clash at the San Siro in November.

GettyImages

Cristiano Ronaldo is injured playing for Portugal

Ronaldo limped out of Portugal's World Cup qualifier against Hungary on October 10 with an ankle injury and Bernabeu medics predicted to £80 million forward would be sidelined for a month. But the 24-year-old is confident he will be on the pitch at the San Siro a week ahead a schedule.

"The ankle already doesn't hurt me," he told Marca. "I think I am ready to play."

The news will be greatly welcomed by the Spanish giants who have struggled in his absence, while he would also be available for Portugal's two-legged World Cup play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Before his injury Ronaldo had scored nine goals in his seven competitive games since moving from Manchester United. Madrid have lost two of the three games he has been sidelined for, including a 3-2 defeat at home to Milan on Wednesday.

premeirship news

2009-10-24T02:10:00.000-07:00

PREMIER LEAGUE NEWS
Lampard: City will break into top four
By Soccernet staff

October 23, 2009
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Frank Lampard believes Manchester City will "stay the course" and become the first club to break into the top four since Everton in 2005, reflecting Chelsea's hasty ascent when Roman Abramovich pumped millions into the club.

MikeHewitt/GettyImages

Lampard thinks City are the real deal

Liverpool's four-match losing streak has only added to the chorus of people claiming that the top part of the Premier League ladder is more open than ever, including ambitious City boss Mark Hughes.

No team outside the traditional heavyweights have qualified for the Champions League since Everton but Lampard said: "I think it is more under threat this year with the emergence of Manchester City and the money they have got. Every year one of the Evertons, Villas or Tottenhams do very well and everyone says it is under threat but normally the four rise to the top.

"I think Man City will be different, I think they will stay the course. If you spend £150million then you should stay the course. We did the same here six years ago and it wasn't easy in year one. Year two and year three is where you really gauge progress and I am sure they are looking at the same things we were at that time.

"They have bought players who have been there before. Individually, if you look at them - Carlos Tevez, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor - they have been in very successful teams before anyway so I don't think that it is the issue. It is just the idea of throwing it all together which is not always easy, but they can do it for sure.''

manchester united fc vs liverpool fc benitez feels save

2009-10-24T02:06:00.000-07:00

LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER UNITED
Rafael Benitez: I feel safe in my job
By Soccernet staff

October 23, 2009
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Rafael Benitez has shrugged off the growing pressure on his position at Liverpool and revealed the depths of the soul searching that has dominated his troubled squad.

GettyImages

Benitez: Under pressure at Anfield

• Pennant: Rafa ruining Reds
• Jon Carter on Liverpool v Man Utd
• Six of the best: Derby games

With a crunch home clash with champions Manchester United to contend with on Sunday, it is not ideal for Liverpool to find themselves in such desperate circumstances. But Benitez and his injury-ravaged side know they must produce something to lift the gathering gloom at Anfield.

A protest march is being planned and American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will be the subject of increased security. It is not the atmosphere Benitez would want as he tries to end a run of four straight defeats, their worst spell for 22 years.

''I am relaxed in terms of my position,'' the Spaniard insisted. ''I know how we are working every day, the players know too. In the past we have been very good and the situation and players has not changed too much. It is about confidence and winning that first game. If we want to change things we must focus on football and not what is going on off the pitch here.

''We have done extra training sessions, the attitude of the players has been good and you could see how focused and positive they are. They know the situation. They know what they must do and they will try to do everything we are asking of them.

''I have had great support from Steven (Gerrard). He is a leader, he wanted to prove something in the week against Lyon, he wanted to play despite the injury problem. That shows the right mentality and what we expect from any player at Liverpool.

''The team is not as bad as people think. We have beaten United without Gerrard and Torres and we know that we can beat anyone. We have total confidence in that. I have been working on how to change things, how to improve. Everyone talks about pressure, pressure, pressure but we have confidence in ourselves.

''You do not see players happy when they are not winning games but you must see the responsibility in their faces. I have talked with them, the most important players, and I have been impressed with their positive attitude.

''When you are not winning, you cannot be too negative with players. When I push the players it is when I know that we can improve and they are already doing well. When we are not doing well we have to analyse carefully and not to push too hard.''

If Liverpool lose on Sunday it will be their worst run since the club was relegated from the old First Division in 1953. But Benitez maintains a change of fortune is only a win away.

''As a manager you know that sometimes there will be good moments and bad moments, and at this time we know that we have to improve,'' he added. ''But it is only a matter of time. If we win a game then everything changes. This game against Manchester United is just the right opportunity. It is a massive game, the fans will be right behind us from the first minute to the last.

''When people (John Terry) talk about our squad not being strong enough, I maintain that we are better than people think. If we have half a dozen players who are injured, then things will be difficult.

''If you take five players out of United, Chelsea or Arsenal, it will be very difficult for them to win games. The best way to regain confidence and to improve our situation is to beat Manchester United.''

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manchester united fc vs liverpool fc

2009-10-24T02:04:00.000-07:00

LIVERPOOL V MAN UNITED
Sir Alex backs Owen to handle Liverpool backlash

October 24, 2009
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is braced for another intense clash at Liverpool - but is confident the player likely to face the most flak will sail through.

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen was jeered by a minority on the Kop as a Newcastle player, but that is nothing compared to his likely reception as a United player.

Owen, who quit Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2004, did the unthinkable for many a Reds fan when he joined United on a free transfer from Newcastle in the summer.

The clash of the north-west giants is hugely significant for troubled Liverpool, after four successive defeats, but Owen's return is one of a number of side issues which will also command attention.

Ferguson said: "Manchester United and Liverpool games are always intense. It is THE game, as far as I am concerned. That won't change.

"We are going in in decent form - there is a good confidence in our play. But it is a derby game, and anything can happen in derby games. It will be interesting to see the kind of reaction Michael gets.

"There are very few players who have played for both clubs. Paul Ince obviously got a bad reaction from our fans when he went to Liverpool, and Michael might get that on Sunday.

"The goals he scored for Liverpool mark him down as one of their best-ever strikers. That stands him in good stead in terms of the Liverpool fans.''

United know victory would add considerably to the pressure growing on Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

Liverpool's dreadful recent run has left their Premier League and Champions League aspirations in a precarious state.

Ferguson was the subject of a remarkable verbal attack from Benitez last season, but the Scot would not be drawn into a war of words this time.

"I'm not going into that at all,'' he told the media. "I'm not making your headlines. I'm not interested in Liverpool. I'm only concerned about what we do on Sunday.''

Striker Wayne Rooney remains a doubt for the game as he continues to struggle with the calf injury suffered in England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine a fortnight ago.

Ferguson feels there is a possibility the England striker - 24 tomorrow - could be fit. But there are no certainties.

"He is always desperate to play,'' said Ferguson. "That is the nature of the boy - you won't stop that. It is important how he does in training. If he does train we will have a better idea.''

Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra are both poised to return after suffering knocks against Bolton last week, but Darren Fletcher is also doubtful.

athletico madrid appoints new manager

2009-10-24T02:02:00.000-07:00

LA LIGA NEWS
Atletico appoint Flores as new manager

October 24, 2009
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Quique Flores has been confirmed as the new coach of Atletico Madrid until the end of the season.

The former Benfica and Valencia boss will replace Abel Resino, who was sacked yesterday following the club's dismal start to the campaign.

"Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement with Quique Flores to become the new Rojiblanco coach until the end of this season,'' read a statement on club website.

"The coach will be officially unveiled next Monday, 26 October, at 1030 hours in the VIP Lounge at the Vicente Calderon.''

Flores, 44, spent last season in charge of Benfica after being dismissed by Valencia in October 2007. He guided the Lisbon outfit to a third-place finish in the Portuguese Liga.

The Rojiblancos have claimed just one win in 10 Primera Division matches and Wednesday's 4-0 drubbing at Chelsea left the Spanish club with little chance of progressing to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

fixtures

2009-10-22T08:18:00.001-07:00

Saturday, December 12, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Stoke City v Wigan Athletic Britannia Stadium
15:00 UK Birmingham v West Ham United St Andrews Stadium
15:00 UK Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City Reebok Stadium
15:00 UK Burnley v Fulham Turf Moor
15:00 UK Chelsea v Everton Stamford Bridge
15:00 UK Hull City v Blackburn Rovers Kingston Communications Stadium
15:00 UK Sunderland v Portsmouth Stadium of Light
15:00 UK Tottenham Hotspur v Wolverhampton Wanderers White Hart Lane
17:30 UK Manchester United v Aston Villa Old Trafford
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
16:00 UK Liverpool v Arsenal Anfield
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
19:45 UK Manchester United v Wolverhampton Wanderers Old Trafford
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
Postp Stoke City P - P Fulham Britannia Stadium
19:45 UK Sunderland v Aston Villa Stadium of Light
20:00 UK Birmingham v Blackburn Rovers St Andrews Stadium
20:00 UK Bolton Wanderers v West Ham United Reebok Stadium
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
19:45 UK Burnley v Arsenal Turf Moor
19:45 UK Chelsea v Portsmouth Stamford Bridge
20:00 UK Liverpool v Wigan Athletic Anfield
20:00 UK Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City White Hart Lane
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
15:00 UK Aston Villa v Stoke City Villa Park
15:00 UK Blackburn Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur Ewood Park
15:00 UK Fulham v Manchester United Craven Cottage
15:00 UK Manchester City v Sunderland City of Manchester Stadium
15:00 UK Portsmouth v Liverpool Fratton Park
17:30 UK Arsenal v Hull City Emirates Stadium
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
13:30 UK Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley Molineux Stadium
15:00 UK Everton v Birmingham Goodison Park
16:00 UK West Ham United v Chelsea Upton Park
Monday, December 21, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
20:00 UK Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers DW Stadium
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Birmingham v Chelsea St Andrews Stadium
13:00 UK Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur Craven Cottage
13:00 UK West Ham United v Portsmouth Upton Park
15:00 UK Burnley v Bolton Wanderers Turf Moor
15:00 UK Manchester City v Stoke City City of Manchester Stadium
15:00 UK Sunderland v Everton Stadium of Light
15:00 UK Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers DW Stadium
17:30 UK Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers Anfield
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
13:30 UK Arsenal v Aston Villa Emirates Stadium
16:00 UK Hull City v Manchester United Kingston Communications Stadium
Monday, December 28, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United White Hart Lane
15:00 UK Blackburn Rovers v Sunderland Ewood Park
15:00 UK Chelsea v Fulham Stamford Bridge
15:00 UK Everton v Burnley Goodison Park
15:00 UK Manchester United v Wigan Athletic Old Trafford
15:00 UK Stoke City v Birmingham Britannia Stadium
19:45 UK Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester City Molineux Stadium
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
19:45 UK Aston Villa v Liverpool Villa Park
20:00 UK Bolton Wanderers v Hull City Reebok Stadium
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
19:45 UK Portsmouth v Arsenal Fratton Park

fixtures

2009-10-22T08:18:00.000-07:00

fixtures

2009-10-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday, November 21, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Liverpool v Manchester City Anfield
15:00 UK Birmingham v Fulham St Andrews Stadium
15:00 UK Burnley v Aston Villa Turf Moor
15:00 UK Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers Stamford Bridge
15:00 UK Hull City v West Ham United Kingston Communications Stadium
15:00 UK Sunderland v Arsenal Stadium of Light
17:30 UK Manchester United v Everton Old Trafford
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
13:30 UK Bolton Wanderers v Blackburn Rovers Reebok Stadium
15:00 UK Tottenham Hotspur v Wigan Athletic White Hart Lane
16:00 UK Stoke City v Portsmouth Britannia Stadium
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
20:00 UK Fulham v Blackburn Rovers Craven Cottage
19:45 UK Hull City v Everton Kingston Communications Stadium
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
15:00 UK Blackburn Rovers v Stoke City Ewood Park
15:00 UK Fulham v Bolton Wanderers Craven Cottage
15:00 UK Manchester City v Hull City City of Manchester Stadium
15:00 UK Portsmouth v Manchester United Fratton Park
15:00 UK West Ham United v Burnley Upton Park
15:00 UK Wigan Athletic v Sunderland DW Stadium
17:15 UK Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Villa Park
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:00 UK Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham Molineux Stadium
13:30 UK Everton v Liverpool Goodison Park
16:00 UK Arsenal v Chelsea Emirates Stadium
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Portsmouth v Burnley Fratton Park
15:00 UK Arsenal v Stoke City Emirates Stadium
15:00 UK Aston Villa v Hull City Villa Park
15:00 UK Blackburn Rovers v Liverpool Ewood Park
15:00 UK West Ham United v Manchester United Upton Park
15:00 UK Wigan Athletic v Birmingham DW Stadium
15:00 UK Wolverhampton Wanderers v Bolton Wanderers Molineux Stadium
17:30 UK Manchester City v Chelsea City of Manchester Stadium
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
15:00 UK Fulham v Sunderland Craven Cottage
16:00 UK Everton v Tottenham Hotspur Goodison Park

latest gist

2009-10-22T07:54:00.000-07:00

Geoff Ogilvy vs Paul Casey In World Golf Matchplay
Latest Sport News Takes Geoff Ogilvy To Be Champion.

Hats off to Paul Casey getting to the Final of the World Matchplay in Golf and if he wins he will be the first Englishman to do so but just one thing stands in his way. And that my friends is Geoff Ogilvy who has already won this year and is playing outstanding golf so Paul Casey will really have to play solid golf to even have a chance of winning this.

I just have a feeling the occassion may be too much for Casey and I and my Latest Sport News team can see only one outcome and that is an easy win for Ogilvy. It's been a great few days of golf and a really cracking World Matchplay and I shall be watching it tonight. Anyways I really can't see Paul Casey winning this and will be surprised if he does.
at 04:42 0 comments
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Chelsea Go Back Into 2nd Place In The Premier
Latest Sport News Is Liverpool Lose 2-0 As Geoff Ogilvy Is in The Final Four In The Matchplay.

My guess is the bookies are laughing today as Liverpool slipped up and got beat 2-0 by Middlesbrough who are crap. Like how to heck can Liverpool beat Real Madrid 1-0 away then get stuffed 2-0 by a team that my granny could score against.
Chelsea however made no mistakes and beat Wigan 2-1 to sail into second place and within 7 points of Manchester United. So can Chelsea who are looking really confident catch Man Utd, who knows as sport brings you some weird news all the time. In todays other premier match Everton beat West Brom 2-0 but that's no big deal as me and 10 of my mates could beat West Brom.

Meanwhile in the Golf Matchplay the final four is now decided. Geoff Ogilvy is favourite to win it closely followed by Paul Casey who for me is too unpredictable. Stewart Cink and Ross Fisher are the outsiders but young Ross Fisher might just surprise us as the latest sport news team think he has been playing good golf in the last few months. Geoff Ogilvy is however really consistent but matchplay is a strange sport and even Tiger Woods got knocked out.

Anyways the Latest Sports News team fancy an outsider in Ross Fisher to win tomorrow and we will be bringing you the latest news on tomorrows Cup Final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur plus the latest news on tomorrows premier football and the World Matchplay.
at 13:09 0 comments
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Tiger Woods Beaten By Tim Clarke
Sport Just Throws Up Surprises.

There is just something about the game that is sport that throws up so many shocks and one tonight is that Tim Clarke has beaten the king Tiger Woods by 2 shots. Plus in the UEFA Cup A.C.Milan were 2-0 up within 15 minutes and cruising but the final score ended up 2-2. Sport is indeedy one heck of a funny sport and you can't really pick a winner.

But hey I was right about Manchester City who won 2-1 and yet again let in a last minute goal. Gotta say I didn't like Craig Bellamy but after his 2 goals tonight I am coming round to loving the bugger. City are now in the last 16 and have an easy draw so could make the quarter finals so happy days but I still want Mark Hughes out.

Tottenham drew 1-1 so they are out but that was a good result considering Harry played a weak side so all in all it's been a good night for sport. The great Tiger Woods is beaten by Tim Clarke and Manchester City go marching on to that dream of winning the UEFA Cup, oh happy days.
at 14:43 0 comments
Manchester City To Beat F C Copenhagen
Manchester City To Rule Europe For Years.

Ok so as you may have guessed I am a big Man City fan but last week they should have beat FC Copenhagen 2-0 but for two really stupid mistakes. For me the sooner Mark Hughes gets the boot the better but what can Manchester City expect when it brings in an ex Man Utd player to help us, jeez the guy is totally clueless.

But Manchester City will make no mistakes tonight and they will sail into the next round with a 2-0 or 3-0 win. I can see Tottenham only drawing or getting beat as Harry yet again won't be playing his full side and if I was a Spurs fan I deff would not be happy. But hey when has a Tottenham Hotspur fan ever been happy.

Anyways I am off to get a few beers to watch Manchester City win 3-0 and then win the U.E.F.A Cup which will only be the first of many trophies City will win over the next few years. Must say in Italy A.C Milan have been playing really class football and I expect them to win easy tonight as well. Throw in Valencia and there is a nice wee treble, yup methinks I will stop off at the bookies before the offsales, later peeps. !
at 09:44 0 comments
Tiger Woods is Back And The Tiger Is Hungry
Tiger Woods Will Win 2 Majors This Year.

Well the man himself the great Tiger Woods has returned to playing golf again and yep we have all missed the man himself. And well in the World Matchplay he of course started with a win and this guy made no mistake by putting a few pounds on him at 5/1 to win overall.

But there is a hunger about Tiger Woods and I feel this layoff will make him more hungry in the PGA Tour and his quest for Majors in the year 2009. I personally can see him winning at least two of golfs Majors and it will just be a joy to watch Tiger Woods again.

Who can forget the last time he played he was limping throughout but still went on to win a Major Trophy. Tiger Woods is a golfing genius and for me the all time best sports person ever altough George Best runs him a close 2nd. Anyways I will be back later with more news later about tonights European Football matches in which I expect Manchester City to romp home by at least 2-0.
at 05:19 0 comments
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Boxing Days Premier Fixtures and Forecasts
Chelsea To Top The Table After Boxing Day.

I don't know why but Boxing Day always throws up really weird results, personally I blame all the turkey and alcohol but it won't just be the turkey getting stuffed this Xmas.

West Brom are away to Chelsea and Chelsea are 1/6 whilst West Brom are 14/1. I will give you 100/1 on Albion beating Chelsea and I fancy the boys in blue to win either 3-0 or 4-0, sorry you Brom fans but your team is crap and are going back down this season.

Liverpool are at home to Bolton and trust me Bolton just seem to be Liverpools bogey team and I can see this one turning into a dull boring 0-0 draw. Hmmmm seems like most of Liverpools games this season actually and I can see the Pool dropping down the table over the next month. Liverpool are 1/3 and Bolton are 8/1 and to be honest 8/1 is a nice price and Bolton just might steal all 3 points. Oi stop laughing ok, just you wait and see !!

Villa are 11/8 against Arsenal who are 7/4 and like wowww I think Santa has arrived as Arsenal will steal this by the odd goal and 7/4 for Arsenal to win is a present from Santa. Manchester United at 1/3 are a banker away to Stoke and if Manchester City don't beat Hull at tasty odds of 5/6 I will streak round my neighbourhood in just my Man City scarf, come on you Blues.

Portsmouth and West Ham meet and I would rather visit my mother-in-law than watch this game, boring just not describe this fixture. Deff a boring draw at odds of 11/5 but if you fancy Portsmouth they are 11/10 and if you fancy West Ham you can get 9/4 but I would deff see your Doctor about getting your medication changed. Middlesbro at home to Everton is another dour affair but I can see Everton winning this at good odds of 8/5, not giving you Boros odds as they have no chance. Sunderland and Blackburn looks like a home win at 6/5 and in the final match Wigan play Newcastle and the geordies are on a roll. So Newcastle at 15/8 looks a nice price, jeeeeez I just noticed Newcastle are almost 2/1 to beat Wigan, Santa does exist !!

Anyways enjoy your footie whoever you support and have yourselves a Merry Xmas !!
at 09:32 0 comments
Monday, 22 December 2008
Chelsea Draw 0-0 As Vijah Singh Wins The Golf
Chelsea Fail To Go Top Of The Premier.

I don't know why but I just had a feeling in my water this weekend that Chelsea would draw 0-0 with Everton. To me Everton at home to a top 4 club equals total boredom and a total lack of goals. I hear all this talk that Chelsea are a much better club now that they were under the Special One, what total and utter crap.

As for Everton they are as boring as Bolton only harder to beat and as for the golf well it sure was over when the Vijah Sings. Thing was I fancied him to catch Kim in the final round but didn't go with my gut feeling because Singh has a habit of letting me down, a consistent habit may I say.

So hands up if you think Mark Hughes will get the boot as boss of Manchester City. As a City fan I hope he does as I never liked the idea of an ex Manchester United player gracing the halls of Manchester City. You deserve the boot Sparky and I for one will cheer as loud as a kid at Xmas when you get it.

Anyways all you lovely sports fans welcome to my new website and please visit me on a daily basis as I intend to cover every sport with a sarcasm and black humor and I welcome all your comments. Until tomorrow I bid you all a goodnight.
at 15:43 0 comments
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premeirship next fixtures

2009-10-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday, October 24, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa Molineux Stadium
15:00 UK Birmingham v Sunderland St Andrews Stadium
15:00 UK Burnley v Wigan Athletic Turf Moor
15:00 UK Hull City v Portsmouth Kingston Communications Stadium
15:00 UK Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City White Hart Lane
17:30 UK Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers Stamford Bridge
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
13:30 UK Bolton Wanderers v Everton Reebok Stadium
14:00 UK Liverpool v Manchester United Anfield
15:00 UK Manchester City v Fulham City of Manchester Stadium
16:15 UK West Ham United v Arsenal Upton Park
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur Emirates Stadium
15:00 UK Bolton Wanderers v Chelsea Reebok Stadium
15:00 UK Burnley v Hull City Turf Moor
15:00 UK Everton v Aston Villa Goodison Park
15:00 UK Fulham v Liverpool Craven Cottage
15:00 UK Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic Fratton Park
15:00 UK Stoke City v Wolverhampton Wanderers Britannia Stadium
15:00 UK Sunderland v West Ham United Stadium of Light
17:30 UK Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers Old Trafford
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
16:00 UK Birmingham v Manchester City St Andrews Stadium
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
19:45 UK West Ham United v Aston Villa Upton Park
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
15:00 UK Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers Villa Park
15:00 UK Blackburn Rovers v Portsmouth Ewood Park
15:00 UK Manchester City v Burnley City of Manchester Stadium
15:00 UK Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland White Hart Lane
17:30 UK Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal Molineux Stadium
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
13:30 UK Hull City v Stoke City Kingston Communications Stadium
15:00 UK West Ham United v Everton Upton Park
15:00 UK Wigan Athletic v Fulham DW Stadium
16:00 UK Chelsea v Manchester United Stamford Bridge
Monday, November 9, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
20:00 UK Liverpool v Birmingham Anfield

chelsea transfer appeal barn

2009-10-22T06:16:00.000-07:00

TRANSFER STORM
Chelsea officially appeal to CAS over transfer ban
By Soccernet staff

October 22, 2009
Comment
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Chelsea have begun the fight against their worldwide transfer ban by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and requesting a suspension of the punishment.

GettyImages

Kakuta starred in the FA Youth Cup last year.

The west London club were last month banned from registering any players until January 2011 over the signing of Gael Kakuta from RC Lens in 2007. They have always strongly denied any wrongdoing and insisted they would fight the ban all the way.

Kakuta, who was also banned from playing for four months, is appealing against FIFA's punishment too.

The timing of the appeal means it is very likely that the Premier League club will be able to sign players in the January transfer window. It typically takes a minimum of three months for the CAS to hear a case, during which time any punishment is usually lifted.

It would be exceptional for the CAS to be able to hear the case before Christmas, which means Chelsea could face a scramble for new players before any appeal is actually heard. It means they are likely to face paying a premium for any players they target.

Chelsea will discover early next month whether their request for a suspension of the punishment has been successful.

A statement on the official CAS website read: ''Chelsea Football Club and Gael Kakuta have filed appeals at the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the decision issued by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber on 27 August 2009.

''Both Chelsea FC and Kakuta have requested that the FIFA decision be stayed pending the outcome of the CAS arbitration. A decision concerning the request for a stay is likely to be issued by the CAS at the beginning of November.''

Chelsea have so far declined to comment.

fixtures and results

2009-10-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

Wednesday Oct 21

UEFA Champions League (Clubs)
Juventus - Maccabi Haifa 1 - 0
Bordeaux - Bayern Munich 2 - 1
CSKA Moscow - Manchester United 0 - 1
VfL Wolfsburg - Besiktas 0 - 0
FC Zurich - Marseille 0 - 1
Real Madrid - AC Milan 2 - 3
Chelsea FC - Atletico Madrid 4 - 0
FC Porto - Apoel Nicosia 2 - 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday Oct 20

UEFA Champions League (Clubs)
Debreceni VSC - Fiorentina 3 - 4
Liverpool FC - Lyon 1 - 2
Inter Milan - Dynamo Kiev 2 - 2
FC Barcelona - FC Rubin Kazan 1 - 2
Glasgow Rangers - FC Unirea Urziceni 1 - 4
VfB Stuttgart - Sevilla FC 1 - 3
Olympiacos FC - Standard Liege 2 - 1
AZ Alkmaar - Arsenal FC 1 - 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday Oct 19

Premier League (EN)
Fulham FC - Hull City 2 - 0

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday Oct 18

Premier League (EN)
Blackburn Rovers - Burnley FC 3 - 2
Wigan Athletic - Manchester City 1 - 1

Ligue 1 (FR)
Toulouse - Paris St Germain 1 - 0
Lorient - Nice 4 - 1
Monaco - RC Lens 2 - 0

Serie A (IT)
Catania - Cagliari 2 - 1
Napoli - Bologna 2 - 1
Udinese - Atalanta 1 - 3
Lazio - Sampdoria 1 - 1
AC Milan - Roma 2 - 1
AC Chievo Verona - AS Bari 1 - 2
FC Parma - Siena 1 - 0
AS Livorno - Palermo 1 - 2

La Liga (ES)
Malaga - Almeria 1 - 2
Athletic Bilbao - Sporting Gijon 1 - 2
Osasuna - Atletico Madrid 3 - 0
RCD Espanyol - CD Tenerife 2 - 1
Mallorca - Getafe 3 - 1
CD Xerez - Villarreal CF 2 - 1
Real Zaragoza - Racing Santander 2 - 2

Eredivisie (NL)
VVV Venlo - Roda JC 1 - 1
FC Groningen - FC Utrecht 0 - 0
Sparta - Feyenoord 2 - 1
NEC - ADO Den Haag 1 - 1
RKC Waalwijk - Heracles Almelo 0 - 1

Bundesliga (DE)
Borussia Dortmund - VfL Bochum 2 - 0
VfL Wolfsburg - Borussia M'gladbach 2 - 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday Oct 17

Premier League (EN)
Manchester United - Bolton Wanderers 2 - 1
Arsenal FC - Birmingham City 3 - 1
Stoke City - West Ham United 2 - 1
Portsmouth FC - Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2
Aston Villa - Chelsea FC 2 - 1
Sunderland - Liverpool FC 1 - 0

fantasy football

2009-10-21T06:38:00.002-07:00

Milan's past glories won't worry Madrid (Oct 21, 2009 14:33 UK)
Jon Carter on why Real Madrid won't fear the fallen giants of AC Milan in the Champions League.

Guardiola philosophical after shock loss (Oct 21, 2009 12:36 UK)
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola knows life has become much harder for them in Group F following their Champions League defeat to Rubin Kazan - but he had few complaints about his side's performance despite the 2-1 defeat.

Moir: Nightmare before Christmas for Gers? (Oct 21, 2009 09:51 UK)
Andy Moir picks through the wreckage of Rangers' humiliating 4-1 home defeat to Unirea Urziceni.

Xavi says Barca were unlucky in Rubin defeat (Oct 21, 2009 09:44 UK)
Barcelona midfielder Xavi bemoaned the holders' "rotten luck" after they crashed to a shock 2-1 home loss to Rubin Kazan in their Champions League Group F match on Tuesday.

Ballack reveals Terry read Chelsea riot act (Oct 21, 2009 09:10 UK)
Michael Ballack has revealed that Chelsea's players have held a training ground inquest into the defensive errors which are threatening to disrupt their season.

Fergie storms out after being quizzed on FA charge (Oct 21, 2009 08:00 UK)
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson thinks CSKA Moscow's artificial pitch will help his team's playing style.

Richard Jolly: Problems mounting at Anfield (Oct 21, 2009 07:59 UK)
Richard Jolly examines a Liverpool side suffering for a distinct lack of confidence after another loss.

Wenger laments naive Arsenal after late goal (Oct 20, 2009 23:38 UK)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted his side had been naive to throw away victory after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in their Champions League Group H clash at AZ Alkmaar.

Benitez insists Gerrard selection was no gamble (Oct 20, 2009 23:13 UK)
Rafael Benitez insists he did not take an unwise gamble on Steven Gerrard's fitness in Liverpool'a 2-1 Champions League defeat at home to Lyon.

Champions League: Rubin Kazan stun Barcelona (Oct 20, 2009 22:44 UK)
Rubin Kazan pulled off one of the greatest shocks in Champions League history by beating champions Barcelona 2-1 at a stunned Nou Camp.

Harry Harris: Liverpool sink further into the mire (Oct 20, 2009 22:36 UK)
Harry Harris is concerned for Liverpool after they suffered a fourth successive defeat against Lyon.

Zlatan likely to miss Euro clash with Rubin Kazan (Oct 19, 2009 20:54 UK)
Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains doubtful for Tuesday's Champions League match against Rubin Kazan, coach Pep Guardiola said on Monday.

Milan struck by double blow ahead of Real tie (Oct 19, 2009 17:10 UK)
AC Milan will be without injured duo Gennaro Gattuso and Marco Storari for Wednesday's Champions League showdown at Real Madrid.

United's mission to Moscow undermined by injuries (Oct 19, 2009 14:32 UK)
Manchester United have been hit by the absence through injury of five first-team players ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow.

Liverpool get Gerrard boost but Torres misses out (Oct 19, 2009 11:08 UK)
Liverpool will have Steven Gerrard back in their ranks for Tuesday night's Champions League showdown with Lyon after he trained on Monday morning, but Fernando Torres misses out again.

Giggs doubtful for United's trip to Moscow (Oct 19, 2009 10:40 UK)
Manchester United are set to be without influential midfielder Ryan Giggs for Wednesday's Champions League trip to CSKA Moscow.

Hoeness stunned at Diarra's rise to prominence (Oct 19, 2009 09:16 UK)
Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness has labelled Bordeaux midfielder Alou Diarra the "seventh wonder of the world'' ahead of the two side's clash in the Champions League on Wednesday.

fantasy football

2009-10-21T06:38:00.001-07:00

soccer gist

2009-10-21T06:32:00.003-07:00

soccer gist

2009-10-21T06:32:00.001-07:00

soccer gist

2009-10-21T06:32:00.000-07:00

uefa champions league top scorers

2009-10-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

UEFA Champions League - Top Scorers - 2009/10
Division | Top Scorers | Top Assists | Player Discipline | Fairplay | Attendance
Season: 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10October 20, 2009
Rank Player Team Goals
1 Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid 4
2 Grafite VfL Wolfsburg 3
3 Nicolas Anelka Chelsea 2
Dejan Stankovic Internazionale 2
Filippo Inzaghi AC Milan 2
Adrian Mutu Fiorentina 2
Luis Fabiano Sevilla FC 2
Sebastien Squillaci Sevilla FC 2
Alejandro Damian Dominguez FK Rubin Kazan 2
Miralem Pjanic Lyon 2
Alan Dzagoev CSKA Moscow 2
Stevan Jovetic Fiorentina 2
Thomas Müller Bayern Munich 2
14 Frederic Kanouté Sevilla FC 1
Michael Carrick Manchester United 1
Ryan Giggs Manchester United 1
Paul Scholes Manchester United 1
David Mendes Da Silva AZ Alkmaar 1
Gabriel Heinze Marseille 1
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Barcelona 1
Dirk Kuyt Liverpool 1
Raúl Real Madrid 1
Guti Real Madrid 1
Vincenzo Iaquinta Juventus 1
Walter Samuel Internazionale 1
Kim Kallstrom Lyon 1
Sidney Govou Lyon 1
Jaroslav Plasil Bordeaux 1
Igor De Camargo Standard Liege 1
Robin Van Persie Arsenal 1
Yossi Benayoun Liverpool 1
Mario Santana Fiorentina 1
Kaká Real Madrid 1
Ekrem Dag Besiktas 1
Andrei Arshavin Arsenal 1
Mounir El Hamdaoui AZ Alkmaar 1
Alberto Gilardino Fiorentina 1
Vassilis Torosidis Olympiakos 1
Pablo Brandán Unirea Urziceni 1
Peter Czvitkovics Debrecen 1
Renato Sevilla FC 1
Gonzalez Jesus Navas Sevilla FC 1
Eduardo Arsenal 1
Cesc Fábregas Arsenal 1
Thomas Vermaelen Arsenal 1
Abdoulay Konko Sevilla FC 1
Lionel Messi Barcelona 1
Adriano Sevilla FC 1
Gonzalo Higuaín Real Madrid 1
Nacho Novo Rangers 1
Hannu Tihinen FC Zürich 1
Ieroklis Stoltidis Olympiakos 1
Silvan Aegerter FC Zürich 1
Nicklas Bendtner Arsenal 1
Madjid Bougherra Rangers 1
Daniel van Buyten Bayern Munich 1
Serdar Tasci VfB Stuttgart 1
Michael Ciani Bordeaux 1
Bafetimbi Gomis Lyon 1
Gergely Rudolf Debrecen 1
Milos Krasic CSKA Moscow 1
Atanda Yussuf Dynamo Kiev 1
Oleg Gusev Dynamo Kiev 1
Taras Mikhalik Dynamo Kiev 1
Elson VfB Stuttgart 1
Edin Dzeko VfL Wolfsburg 1
Xavier Margairaz FC Zürich 1
Adamo Coulibaly Debrecen 1
Konstantinos Mitroglou Olympiakos 1
Traore Moussa Standard Liege 1
César Delgado Lyon 1
Pedrito Barcelona 1
Rolando FC Porto 1
Pavel Pogrebnyak VfB Stuttgart 1
Marius Bilasco Unirea Urziceni 1
Eliaquim Mangala Standard Liege 1
Maxime Gonalons Lyon 1
Radamel Falcao FC Porto 1
Aleksandr Ryazantsev FK Rubin Kazan 1
Karadeniz Gökdeniz FK Rubin Kazan 1
Milan Jovanovic Standard Liege 1
Gerson Magrão Dynamo Kiev 1
Dacian Varga Unirea Urziceni 1
UEFA Champions League - Goals

champions league fixtures and results

2009-10-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

UEFA Champions League - 2009/10
Season: 2009 First Phase2008 First Phase2007 First Phase2006 First Phase2005 First Phase2004 First Phase2003 First Phase2002 Second Phase2002 First Phase2001 Second Phase2001 First Phase Jump To LeagueUEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League European Championship QualifyingOctober 20, 20092009 First Phase - Group A Table
Overall Home Away
RK TEAM P W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD Pts
1 Bayern Munich 2 1 1 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 3 4
2 Bordeaux 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 4
3 Juventus 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2
4 Maccabi Haifa 2 0 0 2 0 4 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 1 0 1 -4 0

October 20, 20092009 First Phase - Group B Table
Overall Home Away
RK TEAM P W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD Pts
1 Manchester United 2 2 0 0 3 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 6
2 VfL Wolfsburg 2 1 0 1 4 3 1 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 1 2 1 3
3 CSKA Moscow 2 1 0 1 3 4 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 3 -1 3
4 Besiktas 2 0 0 2 1 3 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 2 -2 0

October 20, 20092009 First Phase - Group C Table
Overall Home Away
RK TEAM P W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD Pts
1 Real Madrid 2 2 0 0 8 2 1 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 5 2 6 6
2 AC Milan 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 3
3 FC Zürich 2 1 0 1 3 5 0 0 1 2 5 1 0 0 1 0 -2 3
4 Marseille 2 0 0 2 1 5 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 3 -4 0

October 20, 20092009 First Phase - Group D Table
Overall Home Away
RK TEAM P W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD Pts
1 Chelsea 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 6
2 FC Porto 2 1 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 3
3 Apoel Nicosia 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 -1 1
4 Atlético Madrid 2 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 -2 1

October 20, 20092009 First Phase - Group E Table
Overall Home Away
RK TEAM P W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD Pts
1 Lyon 3 3 0 0 7 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 6 1 6 9
2 Fiorentina 3 2 0 1 6 4 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 4 4 2 6
3 Liverpool 3 1 0 2 2 4 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 2 -2 3
4 Debrecen 3 0 0 3 3 9 0 0 2 3 8 0 0 1 0 1 -6 0

October 20, 20092009 First Phase - Group F Table
Overall Home Away
RK TEAM P W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD Pts
1 Barcelona 3 1 1 1 3 2 1 0 1 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 4
2 Dynamo Kiev 3 1 1 1 5 5 1 0 0 3 1 0 1 1 2 4 0 4
3 FK Rubin Kazan 3 1 1 1 4 5 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 3 4 -1 4
4 Internazionale 3 0 3 0 3 3 0 2 0 2 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 3

October 20, 20092009 First Phase - Group G Table
Overall Home Away
RK TEAM P W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD Pts
1 Sevilla FC 3 3 0 0 9 2 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 7 2 7 9
2 Unirea Urziceni 3 1 1 1 5 4 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 4 3 1 4
3 VfB Stuttgart 3 0 2 1 3 5 0 1 1 2 4 0 1 0 1 1 -2 2
4 Rangers 3 0 1 2 3 9 0 0 2 2 8 0 1 0 1 1 -6 1

October 20, 20092009 First Phase - Group H Table
Overall Home Away
RK TEAM P W D L GS GA W D L GS GA W D L GS GA GD Pts
1 Arsenal 3 2 1 0 6 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 4 3 3 7
2 Olympiakos 3 2 0 1 3 3 2 0 0 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 6
3 AZ Alkmaar 3 0 2 1 2 3 0 2 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 -1 2
4 Standard Liege 3 0 1 2 4 6 0 0 1 2 3 0 1 1 2 3 -2 1

Key
RK: Rank, P: Games Played, W: Wins, D: Draws, L: Losses, GS: Goals Scored, GA: Goals Against, GD: Goal Difference, Pts: Points

champions league fixtures and results

2009-10-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Status Home Score Away STAGE VENUE (ATT.)
FT Debrecen 3 - 4 Fiorentina Group E Stadion Oláh Gábor Útcai
FT Liverpool 1 - 2 Lyon Group E Anfield
FT Barcelona 1 - 2 FK Rubin Kazan Group F Estadio Camp Nou
FT Internazionale 2 - 2 Dynamo Kiev Group F Giuseppe Meazza
FT Rangers 1 - 4 Unirea Urziceni Group G Ibrox Stadium
FT VfB Stuttgart 1 - 3 Sevilla FC Group G Mercedes-Benz Arena
FT AZ Alkmaar 1 - 1 Arsenal Group H Almaarderhout
FT Olympiakos 2 - 1 Standard Liege Group H Karaiskaki Stadium
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Time Home Away STAGE VENUE
19:45 UK Bordeaux v Bayern Munich Group A Stade Jacques Chaban-Delmas
19:45 UK Juventus v Maccabi Haifa Group A Olimpico Grande Torino
17:30 UK CSKA Moscow v Manchester United Group B Luzhniki Stadium
19:45 UK VfL Wolfsburg v Besiktas Group B Volkswagen Arena
19:45 UK FC Zürich v Marseille Group C Letzigrund Stadion
19:45 UK Real Madrid v AC Milan Group C Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
19:45 UK Chelsea v Atlético Madrid Group D Stamford Bridge
19:45 UK FC Porto v Apoel Nicosia Group D Estadio do Dragao
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Time Home Away STAGE VENUE
19:45 UK Bayern Munich v Bordeaux Group A Allianz Arena
19:45 UK Maccabi Haifa v Juventus Group A Kiryat Eliezer
19:45 UK Besiktas v VfL Wolfsburg Group B Besiktas Inönü
19:45 UK Manchester United v CSKA Moscow Group B Old Trafford
19:45 UK AC Milan v Real Madrid Group C Giuseppe Meazza
19:45 UK Marseille v FC Zürich Group C Stade Vélodrome
19:45 UK Apoel Nicosia v FC Porto Group D Neo GSP Stadium
19:45 UK Atlético Madrid v Chelsea Group D Vicente Calderon
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Time Home Away STAGE VENUE
19:45 UK Fiorentina v Debrecen Group E Artemio Franchi
19:45 UK Lyon v Liverpool Group E Stade de Gerland
17:30 UK FK Rubin Kazan v Barcelona Group F Central Stadium Kazan
19:45 UK Dynamo Kiev v Internazionale Group F Lobanovsky Dynamo Stadium
19:45 UK Sevilla FC v VfB Stuttgart Group G Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
19:45 UK Unirea Urziceni v Rangers Group G Stadionul Tineretului
19:45 UK Arsenal v AZ Alkmaar Group H Emirates Stadium
19:45 UK Standard Liege v Olympiakos Group H Stade de Sclessin

ballack and terry clash

2009-10-21T05:15:00.000-07:00

CHELSEA V ATLETICO MADRID, 19.45 BST
Ballack reveals Terry read Chelsea riot act
By Soccernet staff

October 21, 2009
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Michael Ballack has revealed that Chelsea's players have held a training ground inquest into the defensive errors which are threatening to disrupt their season.

GettyImages

Goals like James Collins' winner have blighted Chelsea's campaign so far
Chelsea lost 2-1 against Aston Villa last Saturday, their second successive away defeat, with both goals being conceded from corners.

Captain John Terry was furious with their set-piece mistakes and midfielder Ballack, who missed the game with an ankle injury, revealed the squad are determined to put matters right, starting with Wednesday's Champions League tie with Atletico Madrid.

"John's reaction on the pitch showed that he takes a big responsibility not just for himself but for the team," said Ballack. "He was really disappointed when we conceded the second goal.

"That's what you need, emotions like that, to make sure it doesn't happen again. We speak with each other. We have no problem criticising each other in the dressing room. A good team with strong players has to do this."

Meanwhile, boss Carlo Ancelotti admits Chelsea have not been at their best in the Champions League despite a 100% record in the competition so far.

Chelsea are top of Group D having won both their opening games against Porto and Apoel Nicosia but the Italian coach is looking for a distinct improvement against Atletico. The Spanish side have made their worst start to a league season since the beginning of the 1994 but Ancelotti is wary of writing them off.

"Atletico have not started the season well, but they have a very good quality. In attack they have Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan who are dangerous strikers. We have to pay attention to this.

"Aguero has fantastic quality and he can resolve the match with his quality. They're a good team but, at this moment, they haven't found a good disposition tactically on the pitch.

"I think that Atletico has a possibility to return to playing well because they have a lot of quality. Now, at this moment, for them it's not easy because Porto have also made a good start.

"It's a very important game. Not only to get back to winning ways after Aston Villa, but to stay top of the group and move to nine points. This will make the next three games in the group easier."

ronaldo the billionaire

2009-10-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

Ronaldo set to be first billionaire footballer
21.10.2009
EAL Madrid superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo is set to become football’s first billionaire, earning £16,000 a minute.

The former Manchester United ace, 24, is being offered £1.5million a game by foreign tycoons to show off his skills in a series of friendlies.

It could see Ronaldo take over from David Beckham, 34, as the world’s richest player. And experts are tipping him to become the next sporting billionaire after golfer Tiger Woods, 33.

His club, Real Madrid, is considering a series of money-spinning games in the Middle East, with the Portuguese wing wizard as its star attraction.

Mega-rich Arab oil barons in Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar are willing to offer up to £3m a game to the Spanish side to play a series of exhibition matches during its winter break. But key to it going ahead is the inclusion of Ronaldo in the touring party.

Sources claim the £3m fee would be split 50-50 between the club and Ronaldo, giving him an amazing £16,000 for every minute he’s on the pitch.
A source said: “Real Madrid are the team of the moment and Ronaldo is the player everyone wants to see.

“He is the key to the deal. These wealthy businessmen are willing to break the bank to get him to play at their local stadium. Money really isn’t an obstacle for these people.

“Real can virtually name their price if they include Ronaldo in the squad.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ferguson moskow trip

2009-10-21T05:09:00.000-07:00

CSKA MOSCOW V MANCHESTER UNITED
Ferguson storms out after being quizzed on FA charge
By Soccernet Staff

October 21, 2009
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has given short shrift to questioning about the FA charge he faces for criticising referee Alan Wiley's fitness.

ShaunBotterill/GettyImages

Luzhniki Stadium: Artificial pitch holds no fear for visibly angry knight
Tuesday's obligatory UEFA Champions League press conference was Ferguson's first appearance before the media since being charged with improper conduct in the light of comments after a 2-2 draw at Sunderland on October 3.

But the 67-year-old was in no mood to answer questions on the subject and cut the conference short when it was raised.

"Silly question gets no answer," he said. "I'm not answering it."

Another reporter replied that "It's not a silly question", Ferguson then got up and left the room, saying only "Good night" as he stormed out.

Prior to that, Ferguson had said that he thinks CSKA Moscow's artificial pitch will help his team's playing style. United face CSKA in their Champions League Group B clash on Wednesday at the Luzhniki stadium where they memorably beat Chelsea on penalties to win the 2008 tournament.

"I watched CSKA's previous Champions League game and I didn't see any issue with it (the pitch) at all," Ferguson told a news conference on Tuesday. "It is a passing surface and we have good passers in our side. When (English league sides) Luton and QPR had them all those years ago we always played well on them.

"We had a great record at those artificial pitches and that was when the artificial pitches weren't as good. The one in Moscow has a far better covering on it.

Despite his confidence, Ferguson, who will be without the injured Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher, warned about the threat of the 2005 UEFA Cup winners. CSKA are third in Group B after following up their opening defeat at VfL Wolfsburg with victory at home to Besiktas.

"The Champions League for a few years now has had a tremendous amount of quality in it," Ferguson said. "I think the Russian teams in particular have improved a lot in the last few years thanks to big investment. There are a lot of Brazilian players in Russia now. So you can expect a difficult game there and it's a surface which we're not used to playing on."

Ferguson is hoping his United side, who won their opening two matches away to Besiktas and at home to VfL Wolfsburg, can book their place in the knockout stages. "We're in a strong position ourselves after winning our opening two games and, if we can navigate the back-to-back games against CSKA, we're through, I think," he said.

ronaldo honours messi

2009-10-21T04:33:00.000-07:00

Messi deserves Ballon d’Or - Ronaldo
21.10.2009
CRISTIANO Ronaldo believes that Lionel Messi should win the coveted Ballon d'Or award and feels that Barcelona is still a better team than Real Madrid.

The Portuguese star was in a generous mood, confessing that the Argentine achieved more than him last term and should be crowned Europe's best player.

Messi is seen as the favourite for the France Football prize, which is due to be announced in December, with Ronaldo also being mooted to retain the gong.

"He's the favourite. He won the Champions League, the Primera league title. Why not him? If he wins it, he will have deserved it," the Madrid star told France Football magazine.

Ronaldo was then asked about Barcelona and the differences between them and Madrid. He stated that, due to their unity, the Catalans are currently the stronger of the two outfits.

fixtures and results

2009-10-20T04:22:00.000-07:00

Premier League (EN)
Blackburn Rovers - Burnley FC 3 - 2
Wigan Athletic - Manchester City 1 - 1

Ligue 1 (FR)
Toulouse - Paris St Germain 1 - 0
Lorient - Nice 4 - 1
Monaco - RC Lens 2 - 0

Serie A (IT)
Udinese - Atalanta 1 - 3
Lazio - Sampdoria 1 - 1
AC Milan - Roma 2 - 1
AC Chievo Verona - AS Bari 1 - 2
FC Parma - Siena 1 - 0
AS Livorno - Palermo 1 - 2
Catania - Cagliari 2 - 1
Napoli - Bologna 2 - 1

La Liga (ES)
Osasuna - Atletico Madrid 3 - 0
RCD Espanyol - CD Tenerife 2 - 1
Mallorca - Getafe 3 - 1
CD Xerez - Villarreal CF 2 - 1
Real Zaragoza - Racing Santander 2 - 2
Malaga - Almeria 1 - 2
Athletic Bilbao - Sporting Gijon 1 - 2

Eredivisie (NL)
VVV Venlo - Roda JC 1 - 1
FC Groningen - FC Utrecht 0 - 0
Sparta - Feyenoord 2 - 1
NEC - ADO Den Haag 1 - 1
RKC Waalwijk - Heracles Almelo 0 - 1

Bundesliga (DE)
Borussia Dortmund - VfL Bochum 2 - 0
VfL Wolfsburg - Borussia M'gladbach 2 - 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday Oct 17

Premier League (EN)
Manchester United - Bolton Wanderers 2 - 1
Arsenal FC - Birmingham City 3 - 1
Stoke City - West Ham United 2 - 1
Portsmouth FC - Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 2
Aston Villa - Chelsea FC 2 - 1
Sunderland - Liverpool FC 1 - 0
Everton FC - Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 - 1

Ligue 1 (FR)
HSC Montpellier - St Etienne 2 - 1
Le Mans - US Boulogne CO 1 - 1
Auxerre - Bordeaux 1 - 0
AS Nancy - Marseille 0 - 3
Lille - Rennes 0 - 0
Valenciennes - Grenoble 2 - 0
Lyon - Sochaux 0 - 2

Serie A (IT)
Juventus - Fiorentina 1 - 1
Genoa - Inter Milan 0 - 5

La Liga (ES)
Valencia - FC Barcelona 0 - 0
Real Madrid - Valladolid 4 - 2
Deportivo La Coruna - Sevilla FC 1 - 0

Eredivisie (NL)
FC Twente Enschede - AZ 3 - 2
NAC Breda - Vitesse 4 - 0
PSV - SC Heerenveen 1 - 0

laliga -spain news

2009-10-20T04:19:00.000-07:00

Resino bemoans his luck

EFE
Abel Resino: Looking for a springboard
Atletico Madrid boss Abel Resino insisted his side's 3-0 defeat at Osasuna was "unjust'' as he battles to save his job at the Vicente Calderon. The Rojiblancos were well beaten in Pamplona, a woeful defensive display contributing largely to a disjointed performance. [+]

• MORE EUROPEAN NEWS: Italy | Germany | France | Scotland
News
October 19, 2009
Ball: A tale of two Rauls
Phill Ball explains how the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal has sunk to the bottom of the table.

Osasuna 3-0 Atlético Madrid: Pandiani double
Atletico Madrid's poor start to the season took another turn for the worse with a defeat at Osasuna which could spell the end for coach Abel Resino.

October 18, 2009
Villarreal star Pires insulted me, referee reports
French midfielder Robert Pires insulted the referee after Villarreal lost 2-1 away to Xerez on Sunday, the referee involved, Antonio Rubinos Perez, said in his report posted on the La Liga website.

Athletic Bilbao 1-2 Sporting Gijon
Miguel De Las Cuevas struck twice as Sporting Gijon continued their fine early-season form with an impressive 2-1 win at Athletic Bilbao in a northern derby in the seventh round of La Liga.

Real Zaragoza 2-2 Racing Santander: Late fightback
Racing Santander produced a late fightback at La Romareda to come from two goals down to steal an unlikely point against Zaragoza.

Espanyol 2-1 Tenerife: Alonso brace
Ivan Alonso struck a brace to give Espanyol a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tenerife and make light of the controversial absence of star striker Raul Tamudo.

La Liga: Atletico beaten again, Villarreal bottom
Atletico Madrid's miserable season continued on Sunday as they suffered a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at Osasuna to heap further pressure on coach Abel Resino.

Málaga 1-2 Almeria: Quickfire double seals win
Almeria claimed a deserved first away win of the season to build on their respectable single-goal loss at Barcelona and add to Malaga's early-season woes.

Xerez 2-1 Villarreal: Yellow Submarines sink to bottom
Xerez won the basement battle against Villarreal 2-1 to finally register their first victory of the season.
2009/2010 Spanish Primera División
CLUB P W D L GD Pts
Barcelona 7 6 1 0 14 19
Real Madrid 7 6 0 1 15 18
Sevilla FC 7 5 0 2 9 15
Deportivo La Coruña 7 5 0 2 5 15
Mallorca 7 4 1 2 6 13
Valencia 7 3 3 1 3 12
Sporting Gijon 7 3 2 2 1 11
Espanyol 7 3 2 2 -1 11
Osasuna 7 3 1 3 1 10
Athletic Bilbao 7 3 1 3 -3 10
Almeria 7 2 3 2 0 9
Getafe 7 3 0 4 -2 9
Real Zaragoza 7 2 2 3 -1 8
Racing Santander 7 1 3 3 -6 6
Atlético Madrid 7 1 3 3 -8 6
Tenerife 7 2 0 5 -8 6
Valladolid 7 1 2 4 -7 5
Xerez 7 1 2 4 -10 5
Málaga 7 1 1 5 -3 4
Villarreal 7 0 3 4 -5 3
· Complete Table
Spanish Primera División 2009/2010
DATE Home SCORE OPPONENT
10/17 Deportivo La Coruña 1 - 0 Sevilla FC
10/17 Real Madrid 4 - 2 Valladolid
10/17 Valencia 0 - 0 Barcelona
10/18 Mallorca 3 - 1 Getafe
10/18 Xerez 2 - 1 Villarreal
10/18 Málaga 1 - 2 Almeria
10/18 Real Zaragoza 2 - 2 Racing Santander
10/18 Espanyol 2 - 1 Tenerife
10/18 Athletic Bilbao 1 - 2 Sporting Gijon
10/18 Osasuna 3 - 0 Atlético Madrid
10/24 17:00 UK Atlético Madrid VS Mallorca
10/24 20:00 UK Sporting Gijon VS Real Madrid
10/24 22:00 UK Sevilla FC VS Espanyol
10/25 16:00 UK Racing Santander VS Osasuna
10/25 16:00 UK Villarreal VS Málaga
10/25 16:00 UK Tenerife VS Xerez
10/25 16:00 UK Getafe VS Athletic Bilbao
10/25 16:00 UK Valladolid VS Deportivo La Coruña
10/25 18:00 UK Almeria VS Valencia
10/25 20:00 UK Barcelona VS Real Zaragoza
· Complete Fixtures/Results

Top Scorers
PLAYERS Goals
David Villa 6
Zlatan Ibrahimovic 5
Walter Pandiani 5
Cristiano Ronaldo 5
Aritz Aduriz 5
Lionel Messi 5
· Complete Stats
Past Champions
Competition Team
2007/08 Spanish Primera División Real Madrid
2006/07 Spanish Primera División Real Madrid
2005/06 Spanish Primera División Barcelona
2004/05 Spanish Primera División Barcelona
2003/04 Spanish Primera División Valencia
2002/03 Spanish Primera División Real Madrid
2001/02 Spanish Primera División Valencia
2000/01 Spanish Primera División Real Madrid

ferguson moskow trip

2009-10-20T04:14:00.000-07:00

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE NEWS
Manchester United missing key men
By Soccernet staff

October 19, 2009
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Manchester United have been hit by the absence of five first-team players ahead of Wednesday's Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow.

GettyImages

Ferguson has never won a Champions League game in Russia.

Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher were all conspicuous by their absence as United flew to the Russian capital on Monday.

Rooney, suffering from a calf strain sustained on international duty that forced him to miss Saturday's win over Bolton, remains a contender to face arch rivals Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday but has not made the squad to face CSKA.

Giggs and Evra both picked up injuries in the 2-1 win over Bolton at Old Trafford while Park and Fletcher, both of whom missed the victory, further deplete Ferguson's midfield options by being unavailable once more.

Dimitar Berbatov and Nemanja Vidic have both flown with the squad despite having knocks but Ferguson is still facing a formidable task with a number of players absent. Indeed, United have even called up Jonny Evans' younger brother, Corry, to boost their numbers for the European trip.

The versatile youngster, 19, can operate in defence or midfield and is yet to represent the first team despite some promising performances for the reserves last season.

United have not beaten Russian opposition in five attempts in the Champions League with their only victory in the country coming in the 2008 final when they defeated Chelsea on penalties. Ferguson's men currently sit top of Group B with six points from two games, with Wolfsburg and Wednesday's opponents three points behind.

fixtures and results

2009-10-20T04:06:00.001-07:00

UEFA Champions League (Clubs)
20:45 Debreceni VSC - Fiorentina
20:45 Liverpool FC - Lyon
20:45 Inter Milan - Dynamo Kiev
20:45 FC Barcelona - FC Rubin Kazan
20:45 Glasgow Rangers - FC Unirea Urziceni
20:45 VfB Stuttgart - Sevilla FC
20:45 AZ Alkmaar - Arsenal FC
20:45 Olympiakos Pireus - Standard Liege

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday Oct 21

UEFA Champions League (Clubs)
18:30 CSKA Moscow - Manchester United
20:45 Bordeaux - Bayern Munich
20:45 Juventus - Maccabi Haifa
20:45 VfL Wolfsburg - Besiktas
20:45 Real Madrid - AC Milan
20:45 FC Zurich - Marseille
20:45 Chelsea FC - Atletico Madrid
20:45 FC Porto - Apoel Nicosia

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday Oct 23

Bundesliga (DE)
20:30 Bayer Leverkusen - Borussia Dortmund

Eredivisie (NL)
20:45 FC Utrecht - Roda JC

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday Oct 24

Premier League (EN)
13:45 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Aston Villa

Bundesliga (DE)
15:30 Borussia M'gladbach - 1. FC Cologne
15:30 1899 Hoffenheim - 1. FC Nuremberg
15:30 Hannover 96 - VfB Stuttgart
15:30 1. Fsv Mainz 05 - SC Freiburg
15:30 Bayern Munich - Eintracht Frankfurt

Premier League (EN)
16:00 Burnley FC - Wigan Athletic
16:00 Birmingham City - Sunderland
16:00 Hull City - Portsmouth FC
16:00 Tottenham Hotspur - Stoke City

La Liga (ES)
18:00 Atletico Madrid - Mallorca

Serie A (IT)
18:00 Sampdoria - Bologna

Premier League (EN)
18:30 Chelsea FC - Blackburn Rovers

Eredivisie (NL)
18:45 ADO Den Haag - Sparta

Ligue 1 (FR)
19:00 St Etienne - Valenciennes
19:00 Grenoble - AS Nancy
19:00 Nice - Lyon
19:00 Sochaux - Lorient
19:00 Bordeaux - Le Mans
19:00 US Boulogne CO - Monaco

Eredivisie (NL)
19:45 Vitesse - Heracles Almelo
19:45 Feyenoord - VVV Venlo

La Liga (ES)
20:00 Sporting Gijon - Real Madrid

Eredivisie (NL)
20:45 NAC Breda - RKC Waalwijk

Serie A (IT)
20:45 Inter Milan - Catania

Ligue 1 (FR)
21:00 Rennes - HSC Montpellier

La Liga (ES)
22:00 Sevilla FC - RCD Espanyol

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday Oct 25

Eredivisie (NL)
14:30 AZ - Ajax
14:30 Willem II - SC Heerenveen
14:30 FC Twente Enschede - FC Groningen

Premier League (EN)
14:30 Bolton Wanderers - Everton FC
15:00 Liverpool FC - Manchester United

fixtures and results

2009-10-20T04:06:00.000-07:00

terry my new maldini

2009-10-20T04:02:00.000-07:00

CHELSEA NEWS
Chelsea boss Ancelotti: Terry is my new Maldini

October 17, 2009
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Carlo Ancelotti has compared John Terry to Paolo Maldini and backed Chelsea's skipper to continue playing until he is 40.

SimonBruty/GettyImages

John Terry: A lynchpin at the back.

Ancelotti worked closely with AC Milan legend Maldini, considered one of the greatest defenders of all time, during his spell as coach of the Serie A giants.

Following an incredible career spanning 25 years at the San Siro, Maldini retired at the end of last season, shortly before his 41st birthday. Terry, also a product of his club's academy, is 28 and Ancelotti is confident he has at least another decade left at Stamford Bridge.

''The careers of Maldini and Terry can be compared. They are very close. They are both very professional,'' said the Chelsea boss. ''Like Paolo I think John can continue playing until he is 39 or 40 because he has no physical problems.

''Paolo was very quick and strong and I don't see much of a difference between him and John. ''John has a lot of patience and this is the most important thing if you want to continue until you are 39 or 40.

''Now, with the right preparation, physical training and injury prevention, the age of players has got older. I think that players can continue to 35, 36 without a problem.''

Chelsea hope to tie Joe Cole down to a new contract soon with Ancelotti deciding his best position is in support of the strikers, not down the left where he has played in more recent times.

''The best position for Joe is to play behind the forwards as an offensive midfielder,'' he said. ''He has the quality to play there because he is very good at dribbling and passing. But he can also play in left or right midfield because he's a dynamic player.''

2009-10-20T04:01:00.000-07:00

liverpool steven gerrad

2009-10-19T08:27:00.007-07:00

LIVERPOOL V LYON
Liverpool get Gerrard boost but Torres misses out
By Soccernet staff

October 19, 2009
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Liverpool will have Steven Gerrard back in their ranks for Tuesday night's Champions League showdown with Lyon after he trained on Monday morning, but Fernando Torres misses out again.

RyanPierse/GettyImages

Steven Gerrard: Back in action?

The Reds' skipper, along with striker Torres, was forced to sit out Saturday's defeat at Sunderland with a groin injury but has returned to the squad to face the French outfit.

But Torres was again absent from training with Rafael Benitez's side and will not feature against Lyon, although he could play some part in the weekend's game against Manchester United.

"Steven is fit," Benitez told a pre-match press conference. "He has been training so hopefully he will be available tomorrow. It is important as we have had some problems with injuries since the start of the season, so having Gerrard fit is a big boost for us.

"Torres is still not ready. Hopefully he will be for the weekend, but not for this game."

Benitez is eager to put an end to a poor run which has seen Liverpool lose their last three matches against Chelsea, Fiorentina and Sunderland and knows he needs his star duo back to full fitness as soon as possible.

It seems unlikely he will again experiment with the three-man defence used at the Stadium of Light, while Jay Spearing will surely make way for Javier Mascherano after being thrown in for his Premier League debut against the Black Cats.

Benitez, meanwhile, has urged his players to forget about the unfortunate loss on Wearside, courtesy of a Liverpool fan's beach ball, and concentrate on their Champions League task.

"You can guarantee that if we win against Lyon the mood will change, and if we can win against [Manchester] United [Sunday], the mood will be totally different," the boss told the club's official website. "When you are not winning, to play another game quickly and have the opportunity to change things is the best thing.

"We will try to win and then everything will be different. I have a lot of confidence because we are a good team. We have some problems with injuries but the squad as a squad is good enough to win some games. A positive result would be massive for our confidence. The Champions League is a different competition and the players know the fans will be behind them, so it can be a big boost for us.

"The fans know when the team needs support and they are behind us. Our fans are the best in the world, and when we need something they are there pushing us.

"We have some experience here among the staff and some of the players. When you are in the situation we are in, the main thing is to keep calm, analyse what is going on and be ready for the next game.

"Sammy Lee, Mauricio Pellegrino, Xavi Valero and Paco De Miguel - all the people working with the players on the pitch know how to stay calm.

"The only solution when you have a good team is to stay together and work hard. Again I will say that we got 86 points last year, not because we were lucky, but because we did a very good job."

liverpool steven gerrad

2009-10-19T08:27:00.006-07:00

liverpool steven gerrad

2009-10-19T08:27:00.005-07:00

liverpool steven gerrad

2009-10-19T08:27:00.004-07:00

liverpool steven gerrad

2009-10-19T08:27:00.003-07:00