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Wenger fears Chelsea dominance
« Reply #368 on: August 19, 2006, 11:55:12 AM »
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits it will be "terrible for the Premiership" if Chelsea walk away with the title again.
Wenger remains determined to close the gap on Chelsea, who ran away with the championship for a second successive campaign and have further strengthened their ranks with the summer signings of German captain Michael Ballack and Ukrainian hitman Andriy Shevchenko.
"They have bigger names in the team," said Wenger. "If they are stronger, then it is terrible for the Premiership because last year it was nearly won in February."
The Arsenal chief admits it will be a step into the "unknown" when he leads the team out for their first competitive match at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners will open the post-Highbury era against Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa at their new £390million, 60,000-seater home in Ashburton Grove.
Wenger admits he felt Arsenal's famous old home had a "special soul", and accepts it may take time to get a similar feeling among the new surroundings.
"We go a little bit into an unknown place," he said.
"We have not the same feeling we had at Highbury yet.
"We had a special soul there, when you came in the morning you felt at home. It will take 10 games to create that."
Wenger also knows the importance of making the impressive stadium an intimating venue for opposing sides, having been so used to managing in the compact atmosphere at Highbury since his arrival at the club almost a decade ago.
He said: "We want to win the title this year, so therefore the first target is to be strong at home.
"To create a home feeling it is first important to win the games there.
"It has advantages because we have a bigger support, bigger crowd and bigger pitch - but we will keep the same quality on the pitch."
Source: Fox Sports
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Pearce: Don't write off Wright-Phillips
« Reply #369 on: August 19, 2006, 11:56:10 AM »
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Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce has cautioned against writing Shaun Wright-Phillips off as a Chelsea flop just yet.
Wright-Phillips left City with high hopes just over 12 months ago after a £21million offer from the Stamford Bridge outfit was accepted.
However, while the winger did pick up a Premiership winners' medal in his first season, he was little more than a bit-part player in Chelsea's success.
Wright-Phillips' lack of match action was a major contributing factor in Sven-Goran Eriksson's decision to leave him out of his World Cup squad and there is no immediate prospect of the situation improving.
Despite having only 15 senior players available for the opening-weekend clash with City on Sunday, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is not expected to name Wright-Phillips in his starting line-up.
However, while he accepts life in London has not gone quite as his former team-mate would have planned, Pearce knows enough about Wright-Phillips' character to believe he could yet prove to be a success.
"All of us have to make decisions in life; some work out, some don't," said the City chief.
"Knowing Shaun as I do, I would sit tight a little bit before suggesting this one has not worked out for him.
"He could still be a success at Chelsea and he could still play a lot of matches for them.
"If he does start doing well and gets in the team on a regular basis, people will just put last season down to a transitional period.
"I don't think you could say his time at Chelsea is a total loss. When I look at the situation, the saddest thing for me is that he is not playing for us against Chelsea this weekend."
Source: Fox Sports
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Fergie's Owen chase is nothing new
« Reply #370 on: August 19, 2006, 11:57:20 AM »
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed his first enquiry for Bayern Munich star Owen Hargreaves came before the World Cup.
The Red Devils are currently attempting to prize Hargreaves from Bayern Munich's grasp, even though the Bundesliga champions have made it perfectly clear they are not interested in doing a deal for the 25-year-old at any price.
Hargreaves has suddenly become one of the most sought-after properties in Europe, largely as a result of his performances in Germany this summer when he was virtually the only England player to enhance his reputation.
The Canada-born midfielder has since produced a man-of-the-match display in England's friendly win over Greece, emphasising all the discipline and defensive qualities Ferguson finds so attractive.
However, rather than be influenced by what Hargreaves did at the World Cup, Ferguson has admitted the initial enquiry came earlier in the summer and the player's subsequent performances have only made the situation more difficult.
"We first enquired about Owen before the World Cup," Ferguson told MUTV.
"What he did in the tournament was a nightmare. I knew it would happen - it happens all the time.
"The boy wants to come so we hope to be able to do something."
With less than a fortnight remaining before the transfer window slams shut, Ferguson knows chief executive David Gill faces a tough challenge trying to persuade Bayern of the merits of Hargreaves' sale, knowing the German giants have already lost one key midfielder in Michael Ballack already this summer.
However, if Gill is successful in his quest, Hargreaves would be a welcome presence in the United dressing room according to utility man John O'Shea.
"Owen would be a good addition," O'Shea said.
"There were lots of question marks around him before the World Cup but he showed in Germany what a quality player he is.
"Obviously, Bayern Munich are going to try to hold on to him, so we will just have to wait and see but he is a quality player."
Hargreaves is due to play for Bayern at Bochum on Sunday, around the same time as the Red Devils open their Premiership campaign against Fulham at Old Trafford.
Having faltered at the start of the past two seasons and been unable to make up the ground lost, the Red Devils realise there is little margin for error over three relatively easy fixtures before the first international break.
With visits to Charlton and newly-promoted Watford to follow the Cottagers clash, nine points is a wholly achievable target, even though Gabriel Heinze, Nemanja Vidic, Alan Smith and new signing Michael Carrick all miss the Fulham encounter, with Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes joining them on the sidelines when their respective three-match suspensions begin next week.
"Nine points is the aim for the three games going into the international break," said O'Shea.
"That would put a big statement out on our behalf.
"It is a big challenge because we are missing some players, but we cannot be looking for excuses like that.
"We will be without players through injury and suspension all season. All it does is give someone else an opportunity. That is why the manager has built such a strong squad."
Ferguson has already identified the aerial threat Fulham boast in striking duo Brian McBride and Heidar Helguson and, after a series of high-scoring meetings between the clubs in recent years, O'Shea is expecting another pulsating encounter.
"I think it will be an open game," said the Republic of Ireland international.
"Fulham have good attacking players, so they will be looking to utilise them.
"They will also be looking to
Source: Fox Sports
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Fowler penalty saves Reds at Lane
« Reply #371 on: August 19, 2006, 11:58:41 AM »
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A controversial penalty spared Liverpool's blushes against Premiership newcomers Sheffield United in a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane.
The home side had taken the lead through an unmarked Rob Hulse just 52 seconds into the second half.
But they were denied all three points when referee Rob Styles ruled Steven Gerrard had been brought down in the area by Chris Morgan, Robbie Fowler converting from the spot.
For Blades manager Neil Warnock, serving the first game of a two-match touchline ban and watching from the stands, it was a frustrating way for the club to return to the top flight after a 12-year exile.
Starting with just one new face in his line-up in Hulse, it was the £2.2million buy from Leeds who had the ball in the back of the net late in the first half. He slipped a shot beyond Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, but the offside flag had long been raised to stifle celebrations.
Prior to that, Liverpool had come closest without seriously troubling United's backline, marshalled superbly by captain Morgan.
Craig Bellamy, a £6.5million summer capture from Blackburn, drilled an angled shot through the six-yard box, but beyond the far post in the ninth minute.
Midway through the half a long ball from Sami Hyypia was picked up by John Arne Riise, who made his way to the edge of the area.
Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny was slow off his line and beaten for pace as Riise turned the ball into the area, before the Norwegian went over on his ankle after being challenged by Leigh Bromby.
Morgan was on hand to head away the danger, while for Riise it was the end of his game as he was taken off on a stretcher a few minutes later with his left leg in a brace.
Just moments before Riise's departure, Chris Armstrong was lucky not to turn the ball past Kenny, inadvertently steering Gerrard's free-kick goalwards, only for United's alert goalkeeper to pounce.
Following a clash of heads between Mohamed Sissoko and Armstrong, there was further trouble for Reds boss Rafael Benitez when Jamie Carragher limped off in the 35th minute.
Benitez, though, could still have been smiling come the break but for Kenny who brilliantly tipped over the crossbar a dipping 30-yard free-kick from Fabio Aurelio after Morgan had handled and been booked.
Then on the stroke of half-time the Reds finally prised the United defence open, but a poor first touch from Fowler on the edge of the six-yard area allowed David Unsworth to lash the ball away.
Then came the breakthrough within a minute of the restart, with Unsworth the supplier with a whipped free-kick from the left wing.
No Liverpool defender picked up Hulse, and he was allowed to rise unmarked and power a five-yard header past Reina in front of Bramall Lane's own Kop.
After Hyypia headed against the outside of the right-hand post soon after, and Kenny saved a diving header from Craig Bellamy in the 67th minute, Liverpool saved face three minutes later.
Fowler and Gerrard exchanged a one-two on the edge of the area, with Morgan sliding in to make a challenge on the latter.
There appeared to be minimal contact, with Gerrard's momentum as he clipped in a shot that was scooped up by Kenny, sending him tumbling.
Styles immediately pointed to the spot, allowing Fowler to send Kenny the wrong way after the United keeper had committed himself.
Liverpool pressed for the winner but at the end it was the Premiership newcomers left feeling aggrieved.
Source: Fox Sports
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Warnock puts ref Styles on the spot
« Reply #372 on: August 19, 2006, 11:59:49 AM »
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Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock claimed Liverpool did not deserve their penalty in Saturday lunchtime's Premiership draw at Bramall Lane.
The Blades were on course for a notable victory on their first game back in the top flight but Robbie Fowler made it 1-1 after Steven Gerrard was controversially awarded a spot-kick.
Gerrard went down in the box after Chris Morgan slid in but replays appeared to suggest there was no contact.
Warnock said: "We just worked hard all week. The top referees get paid to make the right decisions but he made the wrong one there.
"I thought Rob (Styles) had a good game to be fair but no way was that a penalty.
"He had given advantage if there was a foul in the first place, then he gave the penalty so he has given everything there."
Nevertheless, Warnock was pleased with a draw, earned after Rob Hulse had given his side the lead early in the second half.
He added: "I'm delighted - disappointed with what happened, but we have to get used to that. It was a good start, a good point."
Styles explained that he felt Morgan had made contact with Gerrard.
He said: "I had the ability in law to delay one or two seconds to see if there was an advantage.
"I saw the Sheffield United player come in and there was slight contact with Steven Gerrard.
"He subsequently lost the ability to score and I came back for the penalty. I certainly thought there was contact."
Source: Fox Sports
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Title rivals off to stuttering starts
« Reply #373 on: August 19, 2006, 12:01:03 PM »
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Title hopefuls Arsenal and Liverpool were both frustrated by draws as the new Premiership season got underway in typically controversial style.
Both sides drew 1-1 with the Gunners held in their first league match at the Emirates Stadium by an Aston Villa side revitalised under new boss Martin O'Neill.
Olof Mellberg headed Villa into a surprise 53rd-minute lead when he rose to head home Sean Davis' free-kick.
Arsenal responded well with Emmanuel Eboue hitting the bar and Gilberto grabbing the equaliser after a cross from substitute Theo Walcott reached him at the far post after a deflection.
Liverpool needed a controversial second-half penalty to save a point from a testing opener against promoted Sheffield United.
The Blades had stunned Rafael Benitez's side with a Rob Hulse goal early in the second half but Robbie Fowler secured a 1-1 draw after Chris Morgan was adjudged to have fouled Steven Gerrard.
Replays suggested Morgan had not made contact but United could still reflect on a satisfactory return to the top flight after a 12-year absence.
Fellow newcomers Reading made an even better start as they produced a brilliant fightback to beat Middlesbrough 3-2 in Gareth Southgate's first game in charge.
Boro had raced into a 2-0 lead at the Madejski Stadium with a Stewart Downing volley and a close-range Yakubu strike but the Royals were level before the break.
Dave Kitson pulled one back when he scrambled the ball home after 43 minutes and Steve Sidwell turned in an equaliser almost immediately.
Leroy Lita then put the hosts ahead when he turned in the third after a goalmouth scramble and Boro were left to rue disallowed Mark Viduka goal.
Everton benefited from a controversial penalty as they saw off Watford 2-1 at Goodison Park.
Andrew Johnson had made an immediate impact by giving Everton the lead on 15 minutes but it was Mikel Arteta's spot-kick in the 82nd minute, after a Chris Powell handball, which proved decisive.
Watford pulled one back through Damien Francis late on but it was no more than consolation.
Scott Parker and Shola Ameobi were on target as Newcastle opened with a 2-1 win over Wigan at St James' Park.
Parker's glancing header from a deft Ameobi cross gave Newcastle a 38th-minute lead but Lee McCulloch curled in a fine equaliser on 59 minutes.
The Latics were not level for long, however, as Ameobi turned in Newcastle's second just after the hour.
Portsmouth overcame 10-man Blackburn 3-0 at Fratton Park after two goals from new signing Kanu and another from Svetoslav Todorov.
Todorov tapped home on 26 minutes after Benjani Mwaruwari broke clear and squared across goal and Kanu headed a second within two minutes of coming off the bench in the second half.
Rovers had Lucas Neill sent off soon after for a second bookable offence and Pompey eased to victory when Kanu heading his second late on. Kanu could have had a hat-trick but saw a late penalty saved by Brad Friedel.
West Ham came from behind with two Bobby Zamora goals to secure a 3-1 win over 10-man Charlton at Upton Park.
Darren Bent gave new Charlton manager Ian Dowie the perfect start with an 11th-minute opener but things started to go wrong when new signing Djimi Traore was sent off for two bookable offences.
Bobby Zamora equalised when he turned in Lee Bowyer's 52nd-minute cross and then put his side ahead when his shot hit the post and somehow looped past Scott Carson and a forlorn defensive clearance.
Source: Fox Sports
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Honours even in Emirates opener
« Reply #374 on: August 19, 2006, 12:02:11 PM »
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Gilberto Silva's late strike rescued Arsenal as their first game at the Emirates Stadium finished as a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
The Brazilian snatched an equaliser six minutes from time to deny Martin O'Neill a dream win in his first Premiership game as Villa boss.
Olof Mellberg stunned the home fans eight minutes into the second period with the first ever goal at Arsenal's new ground.
The Swedish centre-half rose to head home Steven Davis' corner after Emmanuel Adebayor and Toure failed to clear their lines.
Arsene Wenger sent on Theo Walcott as a second-half substitute and the youngster had an immediate impact on his first appearance for the club as his cross was flicked on by Robin van Persie for Gilberto to claim a point for the Gunners.
It was not the winning start Wenger wanted to the new era and Chelsea will be thrilled to see both Arsenal and Liverpool drop points on the first day.
But the Gunners will be relieved to have avoided defeat after swapping Highbury for their new £390million home at Ashburton Grove.
The 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium offers more seats, greater earning power and a bigger pitch which Wenger hopes will suit his team's pass-and-move football.
That is the theory, at least but, in practice, it proved less straightforward.
Arsenal passed and passed but struggled to find the net as Villa defended and defended and struck from a set-piece.
It was a familiar feeling for many home supporters who have grown accustomed to their team's over-elaboration.
Eboue went close to the ground's first goal when he surged forward from right-back in the fifth-minute.
Eboue nipped past Jlloyd Samuel and unleashed a fierce right-footer from a tight angle.
Thomas Sorensen seemed to have misjudged it at first but stuck up his left arm at the last second and turned the shot wide.
From the corner, taken by Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor towered above everyone else and arrowed a powerful header towards goal. Samuel, guarding the post, was alert and blocked it on the line.
For Villa, like Arsenal, the new season marked the start of a new era. Randy Lerner's £62million takeover looks set to end the long and often controversial rule of Doug Ellis.
New boss O'Neill famously demands honest graft from his players and Villa certainly offered that in defence.
Liam Ridgewell blocked a Gilberto effort with a last-minute lunge and Sorensen saved from Freddie Ljungberg.
The Danish keeper was beaten in first-half stoppage time when Kolo Toure latched onto a deep free-kick from Fabregas and headed into the net.
Toure wheeled away in delight but the flag was up. He had crept offside and was spotted by the linesman. The goal was ruled out.
Mellberg struck eight minutes into the second half when he took advantage of confusion in the home defence to put Villa in front with a simple header from a corner.
Arsenal defenders pointed accusing fingers at each other as the Villans celebrated.
Graham Poll, in charge of his first Premiership game since his three-yellow-card blunder at the World Cup, was the referee.
He kept his cards in his pocket until the 70th minute when he booked Toure for a tackle from behind on Juan Pablo Angel.
Poll felt the pain when Fabregas stood on his toe in the first half.
Wenger turned to Walcott and Robin van Persie in his bid to get back into the game and they helped rescue a point.
Walcott was one of only two Englishmen in Wenger's 16. Wantaway full-back Ashley Cole was not in the team and Justin Hoyte started at left-back.
Source: Fox Sports
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Shola strike denies battling Latics
« Reply #375 on: August 19, 2006, 12:03:03 PM »
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Scott Parker and Shola Ameobi scored as Newcastle opened the season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Paul Jewell's Wigan at St James' Park.
The 24-year-old Ameobi - much derided by the Toon faithful - fired home the winning goal on 64 minutes to hand Glenn Roeder's men three points just as it looked as though they had surrendered at least two of them.
Skipper Scott Parker had headed the Magpies into a 38th-minute lead, but Newcastle's defensive frailty struck once again 14 minutes after the break as Lee McCulloch levelled.
But with his side struggling, Ameobi converted after Chris Kirkland could only block Charles N'Zogbia's stinging drive to claim victory in front of a crowd of 51,569.
The visitors, who had earlier hit the post through Henri Camara and seen Shay Given keep out a McCulloch header and Nolberto Solano hack an Arjan de Zeeuw effort off the line, will feel they should have left with at least a point.
But Ameobi's intervention justified Roeder's belief in his team with three new signings in the pipeline.
The big talking point on Tyneside all summer has been the task of replacing retired skipper Shearer and the injured Michael Owen, and while Roeder remains optimistic for a successful campaign, there was a sense of trepidation at St James' Park as torrential rain heralded the start of a new era.
But by the time the half-time whistle sounded, some, if not all, of the fans' fears had been quelled.
A half played on a treacherous surface saw Ameobi lead the line well, new signing Damien Duff cause problems and Given once again at his excellent best.
There was also closure for midfielder Nicky Butt, starting his first Premiership game for the club in 16 months.
The former England international's days at St James' seemed to have drawn to a close when he was sent out on loan to Birmingham after apparently failing to ackowledge supporters at the end of the FA Cup semi-final defeat by former club Manchester United two seasons ago.
However, he was applauded warmly from the pitch when he was forced to make a premature exit after a clash of heads.
But perhaps most significantly, Parker, the man handed the armband in the wake of Shearer's swansong, took over the Geordie legend's mantle in more ways than one.
Not only did he lead by example, but he who made the decisive contribution seven minutes to put his side ahead.
Ameobi did well to control Stephen Carr's long ball on his chest and then twist and turn before delivering an inviting cross from his captain to plant an emphatic header past Kirkland.
The on-loan Liverpool keeper had earlier tipped away a long-range Parker drive and a Nolberto Solano header, but the Magpies did not have it all their own way.
Wigan, with six new arrivals in their starting line-up, held their own for much of the half with record signing Heskey and Camara causing problems.
Camara was unfortunate not to level two minues before the break when his header came back of the foot of the post, and Given had earlier had to claw away a McCulloch effort.
Newcastle re-emerged determined to kill the game off and they might have done so within two minutes when Solano met Emre's quickly-taken free-kick with a lob which sailed just over Kirkland's crossbar.
But Dutchman Denny Landzaat might have dragged his side back into it on 53 minutes after substitute Steven Taylor fouled Heskey 20 yards out, only to drill his free-kick high over.
Solano had to come to the home side's rescue two minutes later when de Zeeuw climbed high to head a Landzaat corner towards goal and he hacked the ball off his own line.
The reprieve proved to be only temporary
Source: Fox Sports
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