January 16th, 2010 by admin

Fegie has opened the door for Michael Owen to try and regain a World Cup shirt by stating that he will get more first-team opportunities in the coming weeks.

Capello has already stated that those who want to be selected for the World Cup squad must be playing first team football so Owen must see this as perhaps his final chance to fight for a place in the squad.

“I haven’t used Michael for the last two or three games, but he needs the games and we are going to try and solve that problem because his training performances are still very good. I have no problems with him – it is just the blend of your strikers. Sometimes playing with one striker, like against Birmingham last Saturday, suits us with the strength we have in midfield,’ The Telegraph quoted Ferguson, as saying.

“So, it’s a matter of choice at the moment, but Michael is not out of the equation at all. He will come into it. We like to see Rooney through the middle, though, and I think his goalscoring form has been excellent this season,” he added.

Ferguson further said that Owen is one of the best forwards available in the country.

“Michael is a last defender player. There is no one better at that, his movement and positional sense is excellent, so it is a difficult choice to play two through the middle in the modern-day game,” Ferguson said.

“I think there will be times when we change the pattern of the team, though. Wayne can’t play every game anyway and, if you want to retain his freshness for the important games ahead, then you sometimes need to make changes,” he added.

January 15th, 2010 by admin

Liverpool FC Fernando Torres has issued a stark warning to Liverpool’s owners that they must the cash to buy better players, following Wednesday night’s shocking FA Cup loss against Reading.

Torres has diverted the spotlight firmly on George Gillett and Tom Hicks and away from the manager, in a stark appraisal of the club’s fortunes, said: “It’s now the owners’ turn. They have to sign players so that this does not happen again.”

“If we want to compete with Chelsea and Manchester United, we need a much, much more complete squad,” he added.

His remarks make his position clear to all that if Liverpool don’t get out the check book he will leave.

January 14th, 2010 by admin

Things don’t look at all good for Rafa Benitez at Liverpool. Already suffering a poor season things plummeted to a new low after his club crashed out of the FA Cup after losing to Championship strugglers Reading 2-1.

Benitez as always has vowed to fight on, despite Liverpool being ousted out of the Champions League, Premier League title race and now the FA Cup.

“For three months everybody was talking about me, and it doesn’t matter if you play a strong team or not. Lots of people have spoken about me, but I have to just keep moving forward and working hard. How do I cope with the talking and the pressure? I try to do the best I can,” The Sun quoted Benitez, as saying.

“It’s not the best season. Sometimes you have bad moments and sometimes better moments. At this time we have to carry on and be ready for the next game. We have to be focused,” he added.

January 13th, 2010 by admin

As we suggested many months ago it looks like 35 year old Sol Campbell is about to return to Arsenal. Campbell is ready to complete a shock return to Arsenal after stating that he is still good enough for Premier League football.

Campbell said: “I’ve missed it and I’ve a gut feeling this is the right move.”

“I do believe I can contribute. I really have my confidence and fitness back,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.

January 10th, 2010 by admin

It does not taake a genius to work out that things are not going well for Berbatov at United. Even Alex Ferguson, one of Berbatov’s greatest supporters, is losing starting to lose faith with the Bulgarian, as he has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford since joining from Tottenham 18 months ago.

Berbatov has also had a rough ride some United fans who have stared to target him , which has led to him shrinking even further into his shell, the News of the World reports.

A source close to Ferguson said: “Berbatov is a real puzzle and a problem. He’s so lacking in confidence that it’s almost as if he’s scared to go out and express himself.”

“On the big occasions, somebody like Wayne Rooney grows in stature, but Berbatov hides away. He just seems to shrink. He should have everything it takes to succeed and Fergie certainly believed in him, but it’s just not working out,” the source added.

Looks like Berbatov will be on his way out of United come the summer.

January 8th, 2010 by admin

Mancheter City have offered Viera an amazing £130,000 per week over 18 months for a total of £10,000,000. Remember Viera is 33 and many feel he is past his best so as you can imagine many are shocked at City’s offer.

“There are players in the world paid more but they are still in their prime. He’s getting an amazing deal for someone of his age who was not going to get in the Inter team. But it shows money does not matter to City,” The Sun quoted an Inter source, as saying.

January 7th, 2010 by admin

Cristiano Ronaldo who some may say is well known for going down far too easily is again at the centre of a new dive storm at Real Madrid. The Portuguese winger put his diving skills to good use during Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Osasuna. Livid Osasuna fans chanted ‘Portuguese son of a bitch’ and jeered his every touch following an outrageous first-half dive in the area.

Ronaldo did not seem at all rattled and shrugged off the abuse, insisting: “It goes in one ear and out of the other.”

“To be received in a bad way is normal for me,” The Sun quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

“After the 2006 World Cup it happened everywhere I went in England yet I was still voted Player of the Year,” he added.

Ronaldo has admitted to using abuse as motivation. “Many people hate me but there are many more people who love me.”

January 6th, 2010 by admin

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger senses that Arsenal have turned a corner and that the momentum is with his team at present to win the Premier League. The have had a great holiday period with a 10 point turnaround and will move to within one point of leaders Chelsea if they beat Bolton.

“One month ago we were a long way from the top teams, but now we have momentum on our side and the chance to keep that going. I said when we lost to Chelsea at the end of November that they would drop some points, but I never expected it to happen so quickly,” The Sun quoted Wenger, as saying.

“One month has given us a good springboard to go even further. Why should we stop here when we have taken so many points from our opponents? We refused to give up. The mental strength and solidarity of my players has been tested and they have come through it.

“Now I know that within our team we have a great hunger for success. We are a team that has grown up together and now we want to win things together. What was most important was how we responded to the opportunity to come back when the other teams dropped points,” he said.

“We have put ourselves in a better mathematical situation and we must keep up that momentum by being consistent. We are on a good run and we want to test the resistance of the other teams. We have a good opportunity to get close to Chelsea and we want to take it,” Wenger added.

Wenger is aware his young team have little experience of going the distance. But he is adamant his youngsters are better equipped this time.

January 4th, 2010 by admin

Chelsea are now clear favourites to retain the FA Cup. With United’s shock defeat to Leeds plus Arsenal also going out perhaps at 3 to 1 Chelsea are great value.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti reckons that striker Daniel Sturridge’s two-goal display in the last round gives the team increased depth for some crucial games to follow.

“It was a good performance and Sturridge played very well. ithout Drogba, it was important to have him in good condition. He scored two goals and that’s important for a striker, to score, but he deserved that,” Ancelotti said.

“It will improve his confidence and his possibilities. He has a lot of potential and great quality and can show it on the pitch in January. We can do well in January without the African players,” he added.

January 3rd, 2010 by admin

Capello has stated that those fighting for a World Cup place must play regular club football to have a chance of catching the plane to South Africa. This is indeed very bad new for Michael Owen the now former England striker who has scored 40 times for England.

Ferguson admitted that Owen faces a straight fight with Wayne Rooney for a starting jersey at Old Trafford. With Rooney in the form of his life, unless Rooney becomes injured Owen’s chances look very slim.

Ferguson said: “I am sure he would love to go to the World Cup, I don’t think there is any doubt about that, a player with that history and goal scoring ability.

“He would want to re-enact what he did in 1998 when he had a great World Cup. It is difficult to leave out Rooney. That is the thing because I think Owen is identical to Wayne in the position he plays in terms of being further up the pitch, with Berbatov in the team.”

“The combinations are more likely to be Berbatov and Owen, or Berbatov and Rooney. Rooney and Owen together, well then you have to have Rooney dropping in, I prefer him up the pitch a bit more, I must admit,” Ferguson added.

January 2nd, 2010 by admin

Latest rumours suggest that Dutch football stars Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Rafael van der Vaart could sign for Liverpool FC to help the club make the last four in the Premier League. According to The Sun, a decision on this could be taken over the next few days.t is a dramatic double swoop as under-fire boss Rafa Benitez desperately seeks to turn around a disastrous season.

Former Manchester United star Van Nistelrooy, 33, is out of contract at the end of the season out of favour at Real and wants to play regular first team football to resurrect his international career and go to the World Cup with Holland this summer.

Rafael van der Vaart also knows his chances of first team footbal are limited at Madrid as he is behind Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Raul in boss Manuel Pellegrini’s pecking order.

There does though seem be a major problem with who will pick up the wage bill which could kill the deal.

December 6th, 2009 by admin

Fabio Capello is not one for showing his emotions, but he did find it hard to conceal his delight with England’s World Cup draw.

English supporter must be delighted as they avoided the Group of Death, instead had been granted a place in the Group of Breath with the USA, Algeria and Slovenia.

“I don’t think it is an easy draw. I will be telling the players it is not an easy group,” News of the World quoted Capello, as saying.

Look elsewhere and you see Germany lined up against Australia, Serbia and Ghana, or Brazil pitted against Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

However, Capello says that England won’t have it easy.

“Look, we respect everyone but we fear no country. That has to be the attitude. The biggest test, though, will be the first game. There is always a massive amount of pressure when it comes to the first game, especially psychologically,” he said.

“In that respect, I see the USA as potentially dangerous opponents because they are a very physical team but they also now have good technique. They showed how good they are in the way they performed in the Confederations Cup here in South Africa last summer, especially when they beat Spain,” he added.

Capello’s message is clear – we respect all teams but we fear none.

“There will be no easy games. We respect all of the teams but we have to do what we have to do. Yes, there are stronger groups than ours. But that doesn’t mean to say ours is easy,” he said.

“Every game at a World Cup is different, especially because of the psychological pressure. But, yes, I am in a good mood. I think this is England’s time but I also respect the other teams,” he added.

Bring it on!

November 30th, 2009 by admin

If football history is to run to form then Hughes will not be the city manager for much longer. We all know that when a football club owner gives you a vote of confidence that your days are numbered.

According to The Sun, Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak are believed to be willing to give Hughes time to turn the draws into three points as the club chases its first trophy in 33 years.

Hughes said: “Arsenal and Chelsea could be a big springboard for us. We’re all looking forward to going up against Arsenal. It will be a huge night. We have to be up for the challenge. I sense we will be.”

Asked if he had spoken to Khaldoon about the current situation, Hughes replied: “I don’t think that’s an issue yet.”

Hughes out of a jon before the end of the year?