Tuesday, July 24, 2012
liverpool agree 13m fee for joe allen
Giggs says gold would be career highlight
Malaysia XI v Arsenal - Match Preview
LA Galaxy v Tottenham Hotspur- Match Preview
Koscielny agrees new Gunners deal
Werner: Rodgers decides on Carroll
The 23-year-old England international has been the subject of intense speculation ever since Rodgers hinted earlier this summer that he might not have a future at Anfield. Carroll's situation remained unclear as he headed for North America to join up with his team-mates in Boston, after an extended break following the European Championship.
However, Werner is adamant that any decision will be down to Rodgers and he told Sky Sports News: "The only thing I can say is we will do what's best for the club. Brendan is clearly the leader here, and hopefully the question will be answered shortly. But at the moment, Andy is on the team and we are looking forward to his contributions."
Werner added: "At the moment, Andy is on the squad. He was an important member of the English team, he has got a lot of talent and we will see what happens there."
Carroll's former club Newcastle have tested the water with a speculative bid to take the player back on loan with a view to completing a permanent transfer next year, prompting Rodgers to rule out a temporary switch to any club with West Ham and Fulham also monitoring the situation.
However, while the Magpies' interest is ongoing, it remains to be seen whether or not they are prepared to meet Liverpool's asking price, understood to amount to £20million.
Carroll was signed by former Reds boss Kenny Dalglish, whose departure at the end of last season opened the door for Rodgers to secure one of the biggest jobs in English football.
Werner is delighted with the appointment, and is backing the former Swansea manager to make a significant impact.
He said: "I don't think anyone could have been happy with our performance on the pitch last year, no disrespect to Kenny. I think he is an iconic figure for Liverpool and he will always be appreciated for the stability that he brought to the club.
"Brendan brings a very thoughtful, modern, attacking philosophy - I think our fans will be very delighted with the attacking philosophy that he brings to Liverpool - and hopefully we will see improvement."
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Liverpools Suarez relaxed about Old Trafford return
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez took a swipe at the English media on Tuesday as he prepared to return to Old Trafford for the first time since his spat with Patrice Evra last season.
The Liverpool forward was hit with a lengthy ban last year after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Evra during a match at Anfield in October.
Suarez then triggered a fresh firestorm of controversy in the return fixture at Old Trafford when he pointedly refused to shake Evra's hand.
However Suarez is relaxed about his return to Manchester this week as Uruguay kick off their Olympic campaign against the United Arab Emirates.
"I am representing Uruguay and that's all that matters to me," Suarez said. "I said before that the English press is what matters least to me. I am proud to represent my country."
Suarez also brushed off suggestions that he might benefit from the experience of having played at Old Trafford before.
"I don't really know Old Trafford that well," he said. "I have played one match there. I have played just once at many stadiums, so I don't have to give advice to anyone on the stadiums we play at.
"It's a great stadium. What we have to do is play football at a spectacular ground."
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Monday, July 23, 2012
Oscar vows to focus on Games amid Chelsea talk
The 20-year-old has long been linked with a move to the reigning European champions but Oscar said any talks with the club were of secondary importance ahead of Brazil's campaign that starts against Egypt in Cardiff on Thursday.
"I am not really even thinking about it (a move to Chelsea) much, I am just focused on the Olympic Games," Oscar said Monday.
"They (his agent and advisers) are sorting those other things out for me, and keeping me informed. I just focus on playing here and on growing and becoming better.
"Like all the team, I am totally focused on winning the gold medal."
Oscar, currently with Internacional, had no doubt his game could flourish in the English Premier League.
"I am confident in my ability. If I go to Chelsea it will be a dream come true. They are one of the greatest teams in Europe. I am confident I will have a good Olympics and, if I go to Chelsea, I will arrive feeling good.
"If I go, I will just keep on doing what I have been doing at Internacional, which is working hard to improve all the time."
For Brazil, Oscar has been given the No 10 shirt -- a jersey made famous by Pele, three-times a World Cup winner with the South Americans and widely regarded as one of football's greatest, if not the greatest, players.
"Everything is happening to me very quickly and it is a source of pride to wear the Brazil shirt, especially the No.10, so I will work very hard to prove that I am worth it," Oscar said.
"I have always worn the No.10 shirt when I played at lower levels and, obviously, my reference point was always Pele and then Ronaldinho. I am proud to follow in their footsteps and hope I will be worthy of it."
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Fans think players can save Pompey
The financially stricken club's administrators had announced last week that Portsmouth could fold unless more of the squad can be sold off to further reduce the wage bill at Fratton Park. It is understood eight senior players have yet to reach agreement with the club over unpaid salaries.
Supporters group SOS Pompey handed over an open letter to the players at Portsmouth's Eastleigh training ground on Monday morning in an attempt to make them compromise on their wages. Spokesman Bob Beech told BBC Solent: "This is the end game for Pompey, in a couple of weeks it will be over."
Beech added: "Some players were excellent and stopped to listen to what we said, others as expected weren't interested and drove straight on."
Administrator Trevor Birch fears former owner Balram Chainrai and his company Portpin could pull out of their proposed deal to buy the club if more players are not moved on.
Beech said: "At the end of the day, they have contracts and they expect those contracts to be paid and that is not an unreasonable stance to take. But the well is dry and if they stay and keep their demands going then there will be no club and they will end up with nothing."
In the letter, the fans said they sympathised with the players due to the money they had lost, but urged them to "demonstrate that footballers aren't the shallow, selfish people portrayed in the press".
The letter said: "With everything that has happened you, like us supporters, have every right to be angry, you are as much a victim of the incompetence that has left our club teetering on the brink as anyone. Now though, you have the chance to write your name in the history of our club, the decisions that you make will decide whether 114 years of history come to an end."
Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim, reportedly one of the club's highest earners, told Sky Sports News that the club was not in the current situation because of the players. Ben Haim, who revealed he had lost approximately £2.5million in net wages, said: "We sign contracts in good faith and try to play football, but still we want to help the club to survive."
Administrator Birch told ESPN at the weekend that the club will go out of business within two weeks if an agreement with the players could not be reached
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Drogba could have been Fergie target
After eight years at Stamford Bridge, the Ivory Coast star signed for Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua for a reported 200,000 pounds ($314,000) a week, making him the highest-paid player in China and in the top bracket globally.
Ferguson, speaking in Shanghai ahead of a friendly against Drogba's new team on Wednesday, said he may have pursued the 34-year-old if he had decided against going overseas.
Asked if he was ever interested in Drogba joining the Red Devils, Ferguson said: "I think that the decision was his anyway because he said he was going to leave Chelsea and not play in the English league -- that eliminated everyone. I could have been."
Drogba decided to join his old Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai, saying he wanted a "new challenge" outside of England's top flight.
He made an instant impact on his debut in the Chinese Super League, setting up his team's equaliser in a 1-1 draw away to Guangzhou R&F on Sunday.
United and former England defender Rio Ferdinand said Shanghai will face a test of how much they have developed with their new signings when the teams meet.
"I'm looking forward to it. Obviously there's been a lot of excitement and press coverage about Didier and Anelka coming to Shanghai so it's a great game for both clubs," Ferdinand said.
"Shanghai gets to see where they are at, and obviously at this stage it's our pre-season and the main focus for us is to get to another stage of fitness and get through the game unscathed by injuries."
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United target Brazils Moura
But Ferguson denied a deal, reported to be £26million ($40.3m), had been agreed for the 19-year-old Sao Paulo winger, who is a member of Brazil's Olympics squad.
"It's not correct. We haven't reached an agreement for the player," Ferguson was quoted on Man United's website as telling a press conference in Shanghai on Monday.
"We've shown an interest but until such time as we get a deal agreed we can't say he's our player."
United have already boosted their squad this summer with 23-year-old Japan international midfielder Shinji Kagawa and teenager Nick Powell.
And Ferguson confirmed that the club are hoping to bring in more than one player before the start of the season.
"We've signed two players in the summer: Kagawa and Powell," he said. "We think they both have fantastic potential.
"At this moment we're looking at other options in terms of bringing other players in. We're not lying on our backsides doing nothing. We're trying hard to bring other players to the club."
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Mata wants Olympic gold for Spanish clean sweep
The 24-year-old forward won the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and scored in the final of the European championship in July when they defeated Italy 4-0 in Kiev.
Mata, who also won the FA Cup and Champions League titles this year with English giants Chelsea, is one of three over-aged players in the Spain squad for an Olympic tournament where the bulk of squads must be under 23.
However, he insists neither he nor his compatriots have become jaded by their success.
"It would be amazing to win the Olympic tournament," said Mata on Sunday.
"I have had the opportunity to play in the World Cup and the European Championship and win both.
"Winning a gold medal at the Olympics would complete an amazing summer for me, but also for Spanish football.
"It would be great for us to win a gold medal and that is what we want.
"I think we are living a really good moment for Spanish football right now."
Spain, currently training in Scotland, had a boost Saturday when midfielder Iker Muniain was able to run during a practice ses
sion at Strathclyde University as he looked to overcome a thigh injury.
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Barton to train with Fleetwood
The QPR midfielder was handed a 12-game suspension following his red card and subsequent violent reaction in the club's 3-2 defeat to Manchester City on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season.
On Monday night, the 29-year-old wrote on social networking website Twitter: "Looking forward to training with Fleetwood Town for the week. Will get a much needed sweat on. Still have 3 years left at QPR. Exciting times for the club, which I intended to be a part of. Need to get some fitness in the meantime."
During the incident resulting in his ban, Barton elbowed Carlos Tevez and kicked Sergio Aguero before attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany.
However, as his QPR team-mates continue their pre-season preparations ahead of the 2012-13 Barclays Premier League campaign, Barton will work on his fitness with the Lancashire club, who won the Blue Square Premier last season.
Barton added: "Fleetwood are a young club going places. 5 promotions already in the last few years. If I help some of their young players, great.
"Training with them will certainly help me with my short term fitness and my plan on being as fit as possible during my 12-game ban."
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