Author
|
Topic: FA Premier League (Read 14488 times)
|
|
Seleção Mujer
Moderator
SPECIAL-DESIFAN
Fan for life
LYKES: +1754/-69
Posts: 2381
Its all about the drive.
|
 |
Gravesen eyes Premiership return
« Reply #144 on: August 02, 2006, 10:37:11 AM »
|
|
Gravesen eyes Premiership return
By Dan Warren
Thomas Gravesen's agent admits Real Madrid want to sell the former Everton midfielder - with the 30-year-old keen on a move back to the Premiership.
Gravesen made seven appearances for Real last season and John Sivebaek told BBC Sport: "He would like to stay, but the club want him to look elsewhere.
"He loved England and he is only 30 so he could still play at the top level. So why not move back to England?"
But Sivebaek played down a report linking Gravesen with Newcastle.
"I think some teams have contacted Madrid, but I don't know anything about Newcastle," said Sivebaek, after a claim which appeared in Wednesday's Daily Express newspaper.
"He's not looking to leave Madrid, but it seems that he's not going to play there.
"He's not keen on leaving but if he's not going to play, he will look at other options."
The Express claims that Gravesen is part of a triple swoop being lined up by the Magpies, along with Jonathan Woodgate and an unnamed striker.
The Dane's future at Real was already in doubt after the Spanish club signed Brazilian Emerson from Juventus.
And he was involved in a training ground punch-up with team-mate Robinho on Tuesday, an incident which was sparked by a tackle by the Dane.
The rest of the squad had to intervene after both men's tempers flared.
Gravesen, who has also been linked with a move to Scottish champions Celtic, played just seven times for Real last season and made just one appearance in the league.
Everton sold the Danish international to the Spanish club in January 2005 for £2.5m.
Gravesen made more than 130 appearances for the Toffees during his successful five seasons at Goodison Park.
Source: BBC Sport
|
Neema for my sig which was done upon request.
Kendz for my avvi
|
|
|
|
|
Seleção Mujer
Moderator
SPECIAL-DESIFAN
Fan for life
LYKES: +1754/-69
Posts: 2381
Its all about the drive.
|
|
Gunners trio to miss start of season
« Reply #145 on: August 02, 2006, 10:44:50 AM »
|
|
Arsenal hit by triple injury blow
Arsenal trio Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos and Abou Diaby will miss the first six weeks of the season.
Midfielder Diaby, 20, suffered a broken and dislocated ankle in May and manager Arsene Wenger said: "He is ahead of what we expected for him.
"But it is November at the earliest for him. The news is quite good for Diaby, Clichy and Senderos but the first of these will be back in October."
Left-back Clichy has an ankle injury while Senderos dislocated his shoulder.
The Swiss defender suffered the injury at the World Cup.
Wenger is confident that Freddie Ljungberg will only miss the first game of the Premiership season as he recovers from an ankle problem.
"He is doing well," said the Gunners boss. "He may not be there for the first game of the season but he will be there around the start."
Source: BBC Sport
|
|
Gunners trio to miss start of season
Arsenal are set to be without injured Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos and Abou Diaby until at least October, Arsene Wenger has revealed.
Clichy (foot), Senderos (shoulder) and Diaby (ankle) are making good progress in their respective comebacks but are set to miss the first six weeks of the season.
Diaby, who suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in May, is recovering well but will not be rushed back.
Gunners boss Wenger said: 'He is in front of what we expected for him. But it is November at the earliest for him.
'In fact the news is quite good for Diaby, Clichy and Senderos. But the first (of these) players will be back in October, not before.'
Freddie Ljungberg is almost certain to miss Arsenal's Premiership opener against Aston Villa, but Wenger hopes his ankle injury will not hamper him too much after that.
'Ljungberg is doing well,' the Gunners boss told his club's official website.
'He may not be there for the first game of the season but (he will be there) early, around the start.'
Meanwhile, boss Wenger has confirmed striker Thierry Henry and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will play no part in Arsenal's Champions League qualifying round first-leg tie next week.
Lehmann is suspended following his red card in last season's Champions League final, while Henry will return to pre-season training today.
Wenger said: 'Jens is suspended, and Thierry will be short as well. He comes back on August 2, so it is very short until August 9.'
Source: ESPN
|
Neema for my sig which was done upon request.
Kendz for my avvi
|
|
|
Seleção Mujer
Moderator
SPECIAL-DESIFAN
Fan for life
LYKES: +1754/-69
Posts: 2381
Its all about the drive.
|
|
Mourinho dismisses Liverpool title challenge
« Reply #146 on: August 02, 2006, 10:46:06 AM »
|
|
Liverpool not a threat - Mourinho
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says Arsenal and Manchester United will provide greater competition for his defending Premiership champions than Liverpool.
Mourinho's captain John Terry has tipped the Reds to run Chelsea close as they go for a third successive title.
But the manager said: "I still believe United and Arsenal will be the biggest threat. They will be the better teams.
"I say that because of the quality of their football, the way they play, the improvements in their squads."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has bolstered his attack with the arrivals of Craig Bellamy and Jermain Pennant, but Mourinho remains unconvinced.
"Liverpool are different. They are very competitive, it's very difficult to beat them," he said.
"If they score a goal before you score it's very difficult to change it because they defend really well with 11 players very, very compact.
"They are tactically very good and they are potentially fighting for the front pack but I still fancy more the way Manchester United and Arsenal play football."
Mourinho is impressed by the summer purchases of both Arsenal and United.
"United will improve a lot by having Michael Carrick. He's a very, very good player and he will improve them," said the Chelsea boss, currrently in the US with his team on a pre-season tour.
"Arsenal have a very good group of players, and some young players with great motivation.
"Tomas Rosicky is also a very important player for them and can bring them the kind of quality - I don't want to compare him to Dennis Bergkamp because he was more than special - but Rosicky can bring that kind of quality to the left side."
Source: BBC Sport
|
|
Mourinho dismisses Liverpool title challenge
Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United and Arsenal pose a bigger threat to Chelsea's Premiership crown than Liverpool.
The colourful Stamford Bridge manager disagrees with captain John Terry's prediction that Rafael Benitez's men will be leading the chasing pack in the race for the title this season.
Liverpool have bolstered their attack with the arrivals of Craig Bellamy and Jermain Pennant but Mourinho believes United and Arsenal will be stronger, especially with the respective arrivals of Michael Carrick and Tomas Rosicky.
He said: 'I still believe that Man United and Arsenal will be the biggest threat, in spite of the fact Arsenal finished fourth and Liverpool third. They will still be the better teams.
'I say that because of the quality of their football, the way they play, the improvements in their squads.
'Man United will improve a lot by having Michael Carrick. He's a very, very good player and he will improve them.
'United have had some problems since Roy Keane went to Celtic. But they have already a very good team and don't need 10 players to improve their team, they just choose the right players for the right position.
'It's the right choice to get Michael Carrick. He's a big improvement for them and I think they can be a very strong team.
'Arsenal were not successful in the Premiership but had success, you can say that because they reached the final of the Champions League playing always very good football.
'They have a very good group of players, and some young players with great motivation. Rosicky is also a very important player for them and can bring them the kind of quality - I don't want to compare him to Dennis Bergkamp because he was more than special - but Rosicky can bring that kind of quality to the left side. I think they are a very strong team.
'Liverpool are different. They are very competitive, it's very difficult to beat them. If they score a goal before you score it's very difficult to change it because they defend really well with 11 players very, very compact.
'They are tactically very good. And they are potentially fighting for the front pack but I still fancy more the way Manchester United and Arsenal play football.'
But Mourinho believes Chelsea have raised the bar further with the additions of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.
Ashley Cole is expected to follow and the Portuguese boss added: 'In leagues with 38 or 42 matches, the best team wins.
'It's different in knockout competition where anything can make a difference, but not in the Premiership. We were the best team for sure in England in the last two years.
'The fight is against ourselves. We must challenge ourselves. We don't need for other people to put pressure on us. We have to put pressure on ourselves and push us with big motivations to keep improving.
'The new players we have are not many but are high quality players and they are new motivation for us. Sheva and Ballack don't come here just to make more money, they don't come here to learn English or enjoy London they come here for a big challenge.
'It's a crucial part in their career at 29-30 and they come here to find a new challenge and be successful.
'I was telling the players this group here the way they are working together reminds me of our group in the first year I came here. In the first year from the first day we were feeling and smelling a fantastic group and a great family.
'These kind of feelings are back. We feel very, very comfortable all together, living together and working together. Of course leaving our wives and families behind is difficult and that's normal but we feel very very comfortable.
'I don't believe it will be easy for other clubs to stop us because we are building a very strong football team and also a very strong family.'
Source: ESPN
|
Neema for my sig which was done upon request.
Kendz for my avvi
|
|
|
Seleção Mujer
Moderator
SPECIAL-DESIFAN
Fan for life
LYKES: +1754/-69
Posts: 2381
Its all about the drive.
|
|
Sir Alex: We were interested in signing Vieira
« Reply #147 on: August 02, 2006, 10:49:06 AM »
|
|
Sir Alex: We were interested in signing Vieira
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he expressed an interest in signing Patrick Vieira.
The former Arsenal midfielder has now moved on to Inter Milan from Juventus, following their relegation from Serie A as punishment for their involvement in a match-fixing scandal.
Ferguson said: 'The Italian situation was interesting because everyone wanted to find out what would happen.
'Once they were relegated, Juventus were the club everyone wanted to target.
'Milan were not affected by the ruling and their players were not leaving.
'Patrick Vieira was someone we considered but I understand he has accepted a really good deal from Inter Milan, so that is the end of it.'
In the meantime United have secured the services of midfielder Michael Carrick from Tottenham - he was unveiled on Wednesday - for a fee that could reach £18.6million and Ferguson made it clear he hopes to further strengthen his squad in that area.
'The midfield area was something that we maybe had to bolster,' said Ferguson.
'We kept saying about replacing Roy Keane and that kind of thing, you can't replace Roy Keane, we've been trying for five years.'
Ferguson is looking for Carrick to bring his passing game to the United midfield.
'Michael's an excellent footballer and a very, very good passer of the ball,' Ferguson told a press conference.
'The good thing is he's been playing English football. He went into a West Ham team very young and most players who come through West Ham get a good education.'
Ferguson revealed he could sign another player before the start of the Premiership season.
He added: 'We may bring in another one anyway.'
Ferguson felt it was impossible to directly compare Carrick with midfield general Keane, who left the club by mutual consent last November.
'Roy was a possession player, a straightforward A to B passer,' Ferguson said.
'Michael is a far more inventive passer of the ball, but the most important thing to mention is keeping possession.'
Carrick insisted he felt no pressure to live up to Keane, whose number 16 shirt he has inherited.
'People are always going to talk about Roy, he is one of the legends in the game, but I'm on my own man and (replacing him) not something I'm focused on. I'm focused on my own game and that's the best way to go for me.
'Once I heard United were involved (in trying to sign him) I wanted to come, simple as that. It's a terrific club and I just wanted to come and improve my game, achieve things and win trophies.
'It's an awesome set-up and I'm settling in pretty quickly. Everyone has been great, the backroom staff have been superb. I'm delighted to be here now and I'm just looking forward to playing my first game.'
United chief executive David Gill also defended the transfer fee paid for Carrick, revealing the basic fee was £14million rising to £18.6million depending on the success of the club and the player.
'The figure of £18.6million has been bandied around, but that is the maximum we have to pay for Michael, we have to achieve success as a team and Michael has to be successful personally. The figure is £14million and that is appropriate.
'There is a premium on English players but we are very comfortable with the fee, we have got a great player at a great price.'
Source: ESPN
|
Neema for my sig which was done upon request.
Kendz for my avvi
|
|
|
Seleção Mujer
Moderator
SPECIAL-DESIFAN
Fan for life
LYKES: +1754/-69
Posts: 2381
Its all about the drive.
|
|
McCarthy vows to fire Rovers into top four
« Reply #148 on: August 02, 2006, 10:50:09 AM »
|
|
McCarthy vows to fire Rovers into top four
Confident Benni McCarthy has vowed to fire the goals to take Blackburn into the Premiership's top four.
The 28-year-old former Porto striker has arrived at Ewood Park in the wake of Craig Bellamy's departure believing he can keep winning the trophies he has been used to throughout his career.
McCarthy has cost Rovers around £2.5million after a year long chase to sign the South Africa international.
Now McCarthy, who has won doubles with Ajax and Porto, said: 'I am used to finishing in the top four and being top scorer. I believe I can do that with Blackburn and be amongst the top four or five scorers in England.
'I must feel that way otherwise there is no ambition for me, Blackburn have won the title and been in Europe. Now they are back there again and I believe we can achieve a top-four finish.
'I am experiencing an amazing time in my career, I am in England at last, and Blackburn have made it possible.
'I am just grateful to this club that they kept trying, they waited for me for a long time. Over 12 months, and they have kept hanging in there and made it happen.
'I hope now I can give them the best football that I have left to give.
'From what I have seen they have got everything it needs to be successful, but maybe I can produce that little bit of quality that I have, that bit of extra experience from playing in Holland, Portugal and Spain.
'Maybe I can bring that extra flair and class to the team to help win medals.'
He added: 'Portugal was all about technique and skill, Spain is the same, but in England it is work rate and strength. I have to be confident that I can produce my skills in this environment.
'I know I have to be hard and fit, but I feel I can fit in. I have done that in training here I believe, and I know that Blackburn have a reputation for fitness and strength.
'So if I can produce my skill here, I will be able to do so in the league games.'
Source: ESPN
|
Neema for my sig which was done upon request.
Kendz for my avvi
|
|
|
|
|
Seleção Mujer
Moderator
SPECIAL-DESIFAN
Fan for life
LYKES: +1754/-69
Posts: 2381
Its all about the drive.
|
|
Reading make club record bid for Mensah
« Reply #149 on: August 02, 2006, 10:51:16 AM »
|
|
Royals make record bid for Mensah
Reading have made a club record £3.5m bid for Rennes defender John Mensah.
"We're waiting for things to happen. We're not in a position to start the ball rolling," Royals boss Steve Coppell told the Reading Chronicle.
"We depend on others, and our resources are such that we're waiting for the fall-out on other deals."
Mensah, 23, was an ever-present at the centre of Ghana's defence at the World Cup and signed a new three-year contract with Rennes in April.
Coppell also confirmed that he has earmarked several other targets as he looks towards the new Premiership season.
"At the moment we're hovering around," he added. "We know our targets. Sooner or later something will happen."
Source: BBC Sport
|
|
Reading make club record bid for Mensah
Reading manager Steve Coppell has confirmed they have made a club record bid for Rennes centre-back John Mensah.
The club have made an offer of £3.5million for the Ghanaian and Coppell revealed they were waiting for developments.
'We're waiting for things to happen. We're not in a position to start the ball rolling,' the Royals boss told the Reading Chronicle.
'We depend on others, and our resources are such that we're waiting for the fall-out on other deals.'
Coppell also confirmed that he has earmarked several other targets as he looks towards the new Premiership season.
'At the moment we're hovering around,' he added. 'We know our targets. Sooner or later something will happen.'
Source: ESPN
|
Neema for my sig which was done upon request.
Kendz for my avvi
|
|
|
Seleção Mujer
Moderator
SPECIAL-DESIFAN
Fan for life
LYKES: +1754/-69
Posts: 2381
Its all about the drive.
|
|
Jose rules out Reds threat
« Reply #150 on: August 02, 2006, 11:00:03 AM »
|
|
Jose rules out Reds threat
Jose Mourinho claims Manchester United and Arsenal pose a bigger threat to Chelsea's Premiership crown than Liverpool.
The Stamford Bridge manager disagrees with captain John Terry's prediction that Rafael Benitez's men will be leading the chasing pack in the race for the title this season.
Liverpool have bolstered their attack with the arrivals of Craig Bellamy and Jermain Pennant but Mourinho believes United and Arsenal will be stronger, especially with the respective arrivals of Michael Carrick and Tomas Rosicky.
He said: "I still believe that Man United and Arsenal will be the biggest threat, in spite of the fact Arsenal finished fourth and Liverpool third. They will still be the better teams.
"I say that because of the quality of their football, the way they play, the improvements in their squads.
"Man United will improve a lot by having Michael Carrick. He's a very, very good player and he will improve them.
"United have had some problems since Roy Keane went to Celtic. But they have already a very good team and don't need 10 players to improve their team, they just choose the right players for the right position.
"It's the right choice to get Michael Carrick. He's a big improvement for them and I think they can be a very strong team."
Mourinho also believes the Gunners will mount an improved showing in the league this season after their topsy-turvy campaign last time round.
"Arsenal were not successful in the Premiership but had success, you can say that because they reached the final of the Champions League playing always very good football.
"They have a very good group of players, and some young players with great motivation. Rosicky is also a very important player for them and can bring them the kind of quality - I don't want to compare him to Dennis Bergkamp because he was more than special - but Rosicky can bring that kind of quality to the left side. I think they are a very strong team.
"Liverpool are different. They are very competitive, it's very difficult to beat them. If they score a goal before you score it's very difficult to change it because they defend really well with 11 players very, very compact.
"They are tactically very good. And they are potentially fighting for the front pack but I still fancy more the way Manchester United and Arsenal play football."
But the Portuguese tactician believes Chelsea have raised the bar further with the additions of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.
Ashley Cole is expected to follow suit and he added: "In leagues with 38 or 42 matches, the best team wins.
"It's different in knockout competition where anything can make a difference, but not in the Premiership. We were the best team for sure in England in the last two years.
"The fight is against ourselves. We must challenge ourselves. We don't need for other people to put pressure on us. We have to put pressure on ourselves and push us with big motivations to keep improving.
"The new players we have are not many but are high quality players and they are new motivation for us. Sheva and Ballack don't come here just to make more money, they don't come here to learn English or enjoy London they come here for a big challenge.
"It's a crucial part in their career at 29-30 and they come here to find a new challenge and be successful.
"I was telling the players this group here the way they are working together reminds me of our group in the first year I came here. In the first year from the first day we were feeling and smelling a fantastic group and a great family.
"These kind of feelings are back. We feel very, very comfortable all together, living together and working together. Of course leaving our wives and families behind is difficult and that's normal but we feel very very comfortable.
"I don't believe it will be easy for other clubs to stop us because we are building a very strong football team and also a very strong family."
Source: Fox Sports
|
Neema for my sig which was done upon request.
Kendz for my avvi
|
|
|
Seleção Mujer
Moderator
SPECIAL-DESIFAN
Fan for life
LYKES: +1754/-69
Posts: 2381
Its all about the drive.
|
|
Wenger bemoans injury woe
« Reply #151 on: August 02, 2006, 11:01:35 AM »
|
|
Arsenal hit by triple injury blow
Arsenal trio Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos and Abou Diaby will miss the first six weeks of the season.
Midfielder Diaby, 20, suffered a broken and dislocated ankle in May and manager Arsene Wenger said: "He is ahead of what we expected for him.
"But it is November at the earliest for him. The news is quite good for Diaby, Clichy and Senderos but the first of these will be back in October."
Left-back Clichy has an ankle injury while Senderos dislocated his shoulder.
The Swiss defender suffered the injury at the World Cup.
Wenger is confident that Freddie Ljungberg will only miss the first game of the Premiership season as he recovers from an ankle problem.
"He is doing well," said the Gunners boss. "He may not be there for the first game of the season but he will be there around the start."
Source: BBC Sport
|
|
Gunners trio to miss start of season
Arsenal are set to be without injured Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos and Abou Diaby until at least October, Arsene Wenger has revealed.
Clichy (foot), Senderos (shoulder) and Diaby (ankle) are making good progress in their respective comebacks but are set to miss the first six weeks of the season.
Diaby, who suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in May, is recovering well but will not be rushed back.
Gunners boss Wenger said: 'He is in front of what we expected for him. But it is November at the earliest for him.
'In fact the news is quite good for Diaby, Clichy and Senderos. But the first (of these) players will be back in October, not before.'
Freddie Ljungberg is almost certain to miss Arsenal's Premiership opener against Aston Villa, but Wenger hopes his ankle injury will not hamper him too much after that.
'Ljungberg is doing well,' the Gunners boss told his club's official website.
'He may not be there for the first game of the season but (he will be there) early, around the start.'
Meanwhile, boss Wenger has confirmed striker Thierry Henry and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will play no part in Arsenal's Champions League qualifying round first-leg tie next week.
Lehmann is suspended following his red card in last season's Champions League final, while Henry will return to pre-season training today.
Wenger said: 'Jens is suspended, and Thierry will be short as well. He comes back on August 2, so it is very short until August 9.'
Source: ESPN
|
|
Wenger bemoans injury woe
Arsenal's are set to be without injured Gael Clichy, Philippe Senderos and Abou Diaby until at least October, Arsene Wenger has revealed.
Clichy (foot), Senderos (shoulder) and Diaby (ankle) are making good progress in their respective comebacks but are set to miss the first six weeks of the season.
Diaby, who suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in May, is recovering well but will not be rushed back.
Gunners boss Wenger said: "He is in front of what we expected for him. But it is November at the earliest for him.
"In fact the news is quite good for Diaby, Clichy and Senderos. But the first (of these) players will be back in October, not before."
Freddie Ljungberg is almost certain to miss Arsenal's Premiership opener against Aston Villa, but Wenger hopes his ankle injury will not hamper him too much after that.
"Ljungberg is doing well," the Gunners boss told his club's official website.
"He may not be there for the first game of the season but (he will be there) early, around the start."
Meanwhile, Wenger has confirmed striker Thierry Henry and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will play no part in Arsenal's Champions League qualifying round first-leg tie next week.
Lehmann is suspended following his red card in last season's Champions League final, while Henry will return to pre-season training on Wednesday.
Wenger said: "Jens is suspended, and Thierry will be short as well. He comes back on August 2, so it is very short until August 9."
Source: Fox Sports
|
Neema for my sig which was done upon request.
Kendz for my avvi
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
