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Hoeness: We're tracking Neuer


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Updated Mar 29, 2011 11:35 AM ET
Bayern Munich chairman Uli Hoeness has admitted his interest in Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Manchester United are said to have scouted the Germany No 1, but he announced last week that he did not want to move away from his homeland.

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Unsettled Neuer has one year remaining on his Schalke contract and he is expected to be sold in the summer, with Bayern strong contenders for his signature.
Hoeness told Sportinformationsdienst: "We are thinking about signing a goalkeeper for the new season.
"And from the eyes of a Schalke supporter, I would very much feel my club's goalkeeper being tracked."
Schalke forward Jefferson Farfan has also been linked with Bayern in the past, as well as Juventus.
But the Peruvian's agent, Raul Gonzalez Jordan, claims his client is happy after the appointment of Ralf Rangnick as new Schalke manager.
Jordan told Uruguayan media Obvacion Digital Faran: "We have already been talking to the club with regard to a new contract, although his current deal will just expire in about 12 months from now."
Bayern are also being linked with Germany international defender Jerome Boateng, who has failed to make a positive impact since joining Manchester City from Hamburg last summer.



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  • Report Abuse rotwiessessen222
    • 3/30/2011 10:56:48 PM
    If Bayern can make the Coentrao deal go thru and end up sending Breno to Benefica plus cash then Uli has to find at least one solid central defender and two would be even better in the scenario that Bayern would be in. Bayern just need more depth at CB and quality is key in the middle of the defense. I would rather solve the back four issues first and then worry about the keeper spot.
  • Report Abuse Steve_Mannschaft
    • 3/30/2011 7:09:10 PM
    HaHa! Schalke_USA how do you really feel? What do you think of Kraft? Isn't it hard to judge him based on half a season and with the defense playing so dreadfully? He is still very young but seems to have good command on the pitch. Butt is no slouch and LVG benched him for Kraft. I do like Neuer though. We wouldn't have lost to the Socceroos if he was in net. Hope you guys win the CL. I'll be pulling for you.
  • Report Abuse ronaldinho_freak
    • 3/30/2011 2:39:20 PM
    thats what i wanted to hear really we have to get neuer plus 2 more world class defenders no doubt
  • Report Abuse Schalke_USA
    • 3/30/2011 8:57:45 AM
    I am very happy to read that Schalke may be able to keep Jefferson Farfan on the squad. That would be awesome! Farfan has had a great season and should have plenty more world-class seasons in his future. I'm glad he is happy with Ralf Rangnick and seems to be willing to stick with him. Ralf Rangnick is the real deal; he'll lead Schalke to glory!

    FC Bayern: Stop going after Neuer! Keep faith in Kraft and sign some badly-needed defenders!

    Lloris at Manchester United?! Oh, heck no!!! If Man Utd can't get Neuer, then they need to go all-out to get Rene Adler from Bayer 04 Leverkusen! Period.
  • Report Abuse Schalke_USA
    • 3/30/2011 8:54:48 AM
    Oh no, more speculation about Manuel Neuer of FC Schalke 04 possibly going to FC Bayern! I do not like it one little bit!

    Hopefully Manuel Neuer stays home in Gelsenkirchen or goes to Manchester United. Going to FC Bayern would be a total crying shame. He'd be better off going to Borussia Dortmund than Bavaria.

    I thought it was funny that Hoeness mentioned how Schalke supporters should be eyeing Kraft as the potential new Royal Blue goalkeeper. I got a good laugh out of that. I am a Schalke supporter and I don't want Kraft anywhere near my team. Giving up Neuer and signing Kraft would be adding insult to injury!
  • Report Abuse Mudig
    • 3/29/2011 5:44:08 PM
    It's shocking that they aren't looking for new defenders. You can have the best keeper in the world, but if you don't have the defense to back him up, he can easily look like an amateur out there.
  • Report Abuse Boarisch
    • 3/29/2011 4:21:38 PM
    I dont think its a big secret that FCB wants Neuer badly. If we get him and Coentrao, I would be very happy. Boateng doesnt do much for me......
    Forget the fans with the "KOAN NEUER" signs a few weeks back - they will welcome him with open arms. Kraft is still young, but I dont think he is an elite-level keeper. He reminds me of Rensing.
  • Report Abuse Dex
    • 3/29/2011 1:19:21 PM
    Yes on Neuer and NO on Boateng... unless he will strictly play as a CB and NO WHERE ELSE!!!!
  • Report Abuse Zidane510
    • 3/29/2011 1:03:46 PM
    Agreed, Juve made a great investment though I believe it was closer to 40M... Used Zidane's fee quite well back then. If I remember correctly they also brought in Thuram & Nedved that same year. Was a hell of team, now they look towards washed up Toni to lead the attack... Gettin off topic here.
    Im expecting Neuer to join Bayern this summer, since when do Germans leave their homeland aside a from very few here and there? The only ones I can recall in current and previous years are Ozil, Khedira, Ballack and Lehmann. I'd be leaning more towards United getting Lloris than anyone else.
  • Report Abuse marcbarca
    • 3/29/2011 12:40:00 PM
    Even 40m Euros would be a bargain for Neuer if they can get him to sign a long term deal. Look at Juve. They paid 30m for Buffon 8 years ago. He has been worth every penny.
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Wolfsburg U-turn for Magath


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Updated Mar 28, 2011 12:12 PM ET
New Wolfsburg manager Felix Magath has moved to retract the comments he made last week over the fitness of his squad.
The 57-year-old, who began a second stint at the Volkswagen Arena 10 days ago, criticised the 'poor condition' of the players he inherited from ex-England boss Steve McClaren on his arrival.

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But the boss, who returned to Wolfsburg two days after he was sacked by their Bundesliga rivals Schalke, performed a U-turn on those remarks on Monday, revealing he has since been impressed by the squad.
He told Deutsche Presseagentur: "At the start I had been surprised by the condition the team was in. They did not impress me.
"But now the players are working hard and enjoying it.
"This is why I am able to say I have to qualify my initial statement on the team."
Magath, who guided Wolfsburg to the 2008-09 Bundesliga title during his original spell with the club between 2007 and 2009, also revealed Denmark defender Simon Kjaer is facing a lengthy stint on the sidelines after picking up an injury while on international duty.
"Simon Kjaer will be out of action for some time," added Magath. "He has sustained an injury while in training with Denmark last week.
"He has returned to our club and his injury has been examined by our doctors."
 
Kean confirms Ruud interest


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Updated Mar 28, 2011 8:15 AM ET
28/03/2011 11:42 +0100

Van Nistelrooy, who is currently plying his trade at Hamburg, has previously admitted his interest in returning to England at some point in the future and Blackburn are ready to offer him that opportunity. Blackburn's owners Venky's are keen to bring in a big-name signing to boost their profile and van Nistelrooy could fit the bill. The Dutchman is out of contract at Hamburg at the end of the season and could arrive at Ewood Park on a free transfer. Kean has now confirmed the 34-year-old hit-man is on Blackburn's list of transfer targets for next season. "Yes, I can confirm we are interested," Kean told the ESPN soccernet.
 
Giovanni Trapattoni keen to stay on and gain revenge at 2014 World Cup

• 72-year-old Ireland manager voices fears of corruption
• 2014 World Cup in Brazil a chance to settle old scores




  • David Hytner
  • The Guardian, Thursday 31 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history
    Giovanni-Trapattoni-007.jpg
    Giovanni Trapattoni said he would like to stay on as Republic of Ireland manager to the World Cup in Brazil in 2014. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images Giovanni Trapattoni has voiced his darkest fears about corruption in international football as he suggested that he would like to stay on as the Republic of Ireland's manager until the Brazil World Cup in 2014 to settle old scores.
    The 72-year-old Italian's priority is to take Ireland to the Euro 2012 finals and, at the halfway point of the qualifying campaign, he has the team joint top of Group B with Russia and Slovakia. He is optimistic that, if his players can stay fit, they will advance as group winners.
    Trapattoni's &#8364;1.7m-a-year contract (£1.5m) will expire after the current campaign but the lure of Brazil and another tilt at the World Cup may prove impossible to resist, particularly as he feels that the tournament owes him something.
    He was the Italy manager at the 2002 finals, when the team were controversially eliminated in the last 16 by the co-hosts South Korea. The referee in that game, Ecuador's Byron Moreno, achieved infamy for his decision to send off Francesco Totti for an alleged dive and to oversee the disallowing for offside of a seemingly legitimate Italy goal by Damiano Tommasi. Italy had a total of five goals contentiously ruled out over the course of the tournament.
    Trapattoni was again undermined by forces beyond his control when France beat his Ireland team in the play-off for the 2010 World Cup, courtesy of Thierry Henry's infamous "Hand of Gaul" assist. Trapattoni can come across as the conspiracy theorist and he noted, pointedly, that France, at the time, were sponsored by Adidas.
    "Adidas is French," he said. "These competitions are very, very important for business. I know there is a lot of interest in this tournament [the World Cup], whether it is from the media, whether it is sponsors, whether it is business, whether it is money &#8230; there are other interests. There is too much interest. A colleague said to me after the Henry handball, 'Giovanni, you know football.'
    "When I was the Italian manager in Korea &#8230; it was not France but it was similar. If you want, I can show you the DVD of the Korean match at the World Cup. The referee from the Italy-Korea game was in prison, was he not?" Moreno was arrested last September for allegedly attempting to smuggle six kilograms of heroin into the United States.
    "I achieved good results at club level with strong teams," Trapattoni said, "but also with Uefa and Fifa &#8230; I have paid my dues and I am due something back. I am waiting for something back because of the experiences I have had."
    The draw for World Cup qualification is in July and Trapattoni would relish leading Ireland in Brazil. "Obviously, I would be proud to continue because the next World Cup is in Brazil," he said. "Brazil is Pelé and, psychologically, it is a feeling you have about the game there. I know Pelé from years ago and I had good experiences against Brazil as a player and manager.
    "Stay on in the job? Sure, why not? Why not? I am available. I don't have to start again because now we have many options on the pitch. I think we have improved the team with the young players."
    Trapattoni's next challenge is to plot a way past Macedonia in Skopje on 4 June, having beaten them 2-1 in Dublin on Saturday. It seems certain that he will revert to his tried and trusted players, despite the striker Shane Long, for example, pressing his case for inclusion in the 3-2 friendly defeat against Uruguay on Tuesday.

 
Surgery success for Lyon star Bastos


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Updated Mar 28, 2011 11:47 AM ET
Lyon boss Claude Puel has confirmed that Michel Bastos has undergone a successful knee operation.
The Brazil international picked up the knock in a recent 2-0 victory over Sochaux and it quickly became apparent that he would require surgery.

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It was decided that he would be allowed to return home for medical assistance, with renowned specialist Edilson Thiele scheduled to carry out the procedure.
Bastos has now been under the knife and Lyon are happy that the problem has been resolved.
Puel believes the full-back could be back in contention for a first-team recall before the end of the season.
He said: "The surgery went smoothly and he has already started his rehabilitation.
"He will work on his recovery for four to five weeks and then he should be available again."
Lyon have also revealed that Argentine playmaker Cesar Delgado is poised for a return to action after shaking off a groin complaint.
 
Lee Camp believes Northern Ireland can qualify for Euro 2012

&#8226; Nigel Worthington's team are two points off second place
&#8226; 'We've still got a wonderful chance of qualifying'




  • Jamie Jackson
  • guardian.co.uk, Thursday 31 March 2011 00.06 BST <li class="history">Article history
    Lee-Camp-Northern-Ireland-007.jpg
    Lee Camp wants to continue to be Northern Ireland's first-choice goalkeeper and qualify for Euro 2012. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA Lee Camp believes Northern Ireland have a "wonderful" chance of qualifying for Euro 2012 after the goalless draw with Slovenia on Tuesday night at Belfast's Windsor Park left four teams in Group C spanning only two points.
    Italy appear certain to take the automatic qualification place as they are five points clear on 13. But Nigel Worthington's team have six points, two behind Slovenia and Serbia, with Estonia on seven. Northern Ireland and Estonia have also played five games, one fewer than Slovenia and Serbia. The runner-up with the best record in the nine groups qualifies automatically for the finals in Ukraine and Poland, leaving the remaining eight second-place nations to play-off for four berths.
    Camp, the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper who was making his full international home debut, said: "We're still in a very good position in the group, especially with the other game [between Estonia and Serbia] being drawn as well. We've got a game in hand, and it's the Faroes [Faroe Islands] at home next [in August]. If we win that we'll be pushing hard for that second spot. We've still got a wonderful chance of qualifying."
    Camp believes that although Northern Ireland failed to qualify for last summer's World Cup the campaign offered Worthington's players vital experience.
    He said: "The squad looks stronger than last year and there's a lot more maturity. The belief is there and we've added one or two players to give us a bit more strength in depth. I think last year was a steep learning curve for one or two of the lads. They're stronger for it."
    The shoulder injury to Maik Taylor, the Birmingham City keeper who is now 39, paved the way for Camp to win his second international cap and he is determined to keep his place. "Obviously it's unfortunate on Maik and I wouldn't wish ill on anybody, but my opportunity has come probably a little earlier than people might have thought," he said. "I got a chance and I've done all I can to try and take it. I'm always pretty honest with what I say and I've made no bones about it: I want the shirt, and I want to play every game."
    Camp, who was born in Derby, represented England at Under-21 level but the 26-year-old is clear where his loyalties rest. "There was a suggestion about me hoping for an England call [for the senior team] but nothing could be further from the truth. That was just someone else banging the drum, and I want that on the record. It was probably someone being a bit mischievous," he said. "Playing for Northern Ireland is a real feather in my cap. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and maybe I should have done it earlier, but I'm here now.
    "I needed to rebuild my career and moving to Forest [from Queens Park Rangers] was my way of starting that. If you are going to do it [play senior international football] you have to do it right &#8211; I can give it my full commitment now because I am settled and happy at Forest."

 
Gervinho still loving Lille life


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Updated Mar 25, 2011 2:03 PM ET
Lille's in-demand striker Gervinho has refused to play down reports linking him with Newcastle, and admits the Magpies "are a good team".
The Ivory Coast international has enjoyed a productive 2010/11 campaign, helping to fire his current employers to the top of Ligue 1.
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His exploits have thrust him into the European spotlight, with numerous clubs reported to be plotting summer raids.
Spanish giants Atletico Madrid were believed to be leading the hunt, but the door remains open for other suitors to join the race.
Newcastle could be among those prepared to chance their arm, with Alan Pardew in the market for a striker following the January sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool.
Gervinho admits he would welcome the opportunity to turn out in Spain or England, but insists any talk regarding his future must wait until the end of the season.
"Newcastle are a good team," he said. "I have been linked to various teams now but I am still under contract at Lille until 2012, so I am not worrying.
"We are top of the league and I want to win that. At the end of the season we can sit down and see what the next step will be. I want to concentrate on my football.
"The Spanish and English leagues are two of the best in the world and it would be a privilege to play there, but I belong to Lille until 2012."
 
Cruzeiro close to Brandao loan deal


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Updated Mar 23, 2011 5:02 AM ET
RIO DE JANEIRO

Cruzeiro is close to completing the loan signing of Marseille striker Brandao.

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The Brazilian club announced on their website that the 31-year-old forward would return to his homeland on a temporary deal until the end of the year.
But a statement on OM's own site read: "OM indicate that no document has yet been signed concerning the eventual departure of Brandao to the Brazilian club.
"Marseille announces, however, that the two clubs are very close to finding an agreement."
 
French Ligue One Roundup, Mar. 20


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Updated Mar 21, 2011 10:30 AM ET
Defender Gabriel Heinze and winger Andre Ayew scored in the first half as defending champion Marseille beat bitter rival Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 at home Sunday to stay within four points of French leader Lille.
Heinze put Marseille ahead in the 17th minute with a free kick, but midfielder Clement Chantome equalized 10 minutes later, before the Ghana winger Ayew headed the home side back in front at Stade Velodrome in the 35th.
Marseille is in second place, one point ahead of Rennes and two ahead of fourth-place Lyon. PSG is fifth.

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"We really wanted to win in front of our own fans after what happened in the first game (where PSG won)," Ayew said. "From a personal point of view, it's very satisfying. For a player who was formed here to score the winning goal against PSG is a dream come true."
Marseille midfielder Benoit Cheyrou thinks Marseille can catch Lille with 10 rounds left.
"After our setback against Manchester United (in the Champions League) we had to show a lot of mental strength tonight," Cheyrou said. "We have to keep that going until the end of the season, to go as far as possible."
PSG coach Antoine Kombouare dropped goalie Apoula Edel after several poor performances and replaced him with 38-year-old veteran Gregory Coupet.
But Coupet stood rooted to the spot as Heinze curled the ball perfectly around the wall and into the bottom corner. Heinze, who had three seasons at PSG earlier in his career, scored Marseille's winner in the corresponding fixture last season.
PSG equalized when Christophe Jallet clipped the ball over the defense for Brazilian midfielder Nene, who chested the ball down before striking the post. The rebound fell to Chantome, and he stroked in his first league goal of the season.
Coupet was powerless to stop Marseille's second goal, again standing on the spot, when Ayew beat him with a downward header from Andre-Pierre Gignac's whipped cross from the right.
Moments later, Nene wasted a great chance to make it 2-2, intercepting defender Souleymane Diawara's poor clearance, sprinting through and clipping the ball over goalie Steve Mandanda but just wide.
"We had a lot of possession but couldn't make the difference in the last 20 meters," PSG winger Ludovic Giuly said. "They weren't that good tonight, they took their chances and we didn't."
Marseille started without playmaker Lucho Gonzalez, who was burgled by armed robbers at his home on Thursday night. He was unharmed but shocked by the incident, and coach Didier Deschamps decided to put him on the bench.
Deschamps welcomed back France winger Mathieu Valbuena, who started his first match since Jan. 19. Valbuena had partially torn knee ligaments and damaged a cartilage in his ankle in a training accident.
Both matches this season have not featured any away fans after violent fan clashes marred both games last season.
Shortly after the restart, Cheyrou released Ayew and he forced a save from Coupet with a low shot.
Valbuena struggled with his fitness and Deschamps replaced him with Gonzalez with 30 minutes remaining.
Marseille camped in its own half as PSG sought an equalizer, but two quick breaks almost led to a third goal for Deschamps' team, with Gonzalez and Loic Remy both shooting over from good positions.
Earlier, Morocco striker Youssef El Arabi scored his 14th league goal of the season as Caen beat last-place Arles-Avignon 2-0 in the French league to move six points clear of the relegation zone.
Caen struggled to break down a resolute defense before winger Yohan Mollo found the net in the 79th minute with a powerful free kick from the edge of the penalty area that flew into the top left corner.
El Arabi wrapped up the win in the 85th when he broke into the penalty area, cut inside a defender and then curled the ball into the bottom right corner.
"We were shy in the first half, we lacked rhythm," Caen coach Franck Dumas said. "Mollo's free kick was the breakthrough and I knew a second goal would come."
Monaco stays in the drop zone after stumbling to a 1-0 home loss to fellow struggler Nancy, which scored an early goal when Brazilian defender Andre Luiz headed in powerfully from Julien Feret's 19th-minute corner.
Monaco's South Korea forward, Park Chu-young, had a first-half penalty saved by goalkeeper Damien Gregorini, who made several other saves in the second half.
"The situation has been serious for quite some time," Monaco coach Laurent Banide said. "Things are very complicated now and we will have to respond very quickly."
Monaco is in 18th place and is three points behind 17th-place Auxerre. Arles is rock bottom and looks certain to be relegated, having only won one game out of 28 in the league this season.
Monaco will hope to pick up some points away to Arles-Avignon next week before hosting Lille. Monaco has averaged under a goal per game so far this season, but Arles-Avignon has conceded 55 goals.
"There are four or five teams in this relegation scrap," Monaco goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier said. "It's the team that fights the hardest that will make it.
 
Ray Ranson's resignation will not end probe into Cardiff City loan

&#8226; Former Coventry City chairman holds shares in club
&#8226; Football League questions his influence on transfers



  • Matt Scott
  • The Guardian, Thursday 31 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history
    Ray-Ranson-Coventry-City--007.jpg
    Ray Ranson was questioned by the Football League about a loan Cardiff City received from his company. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport Ray Ranson has this week stepped down as Coventry City chairman, with the former Southampton chairman Ken Dulieu taking over the role. In a statement published on the club's website Ranson confirmed he will remain a "football consultant" but indicated his skills did not fit the "new phase where the commercial side of the company will need dedicated focus under a new chairman".
    Ranson resigned from the chairmanship on Monday, less than four weeks after Digger revealed that the Football League is investigating the circumstances of a loan agreement held between Cardiff City and Sport Asset Capital.
    SAC is a company controlled by Ranson, and the League has sought his explanation about a new loan that emerged after the SAC agreement was renegotiated. The new loan is held with the Player Finance Fund, a Cayman Islands-registered company, and carries a "negative pledge" that, along with statements in Cardiff's accounts, might suggest Cardiff may not sell players without Ranson's prior approval. Cardiff's lawyer, Alan Whiteley, who was in the news last week, having been suspended from his firm upon his arrest by the Serious Fraud Office in a separate matter unconnected to Cardiff, insists Ranson cannot dictate any element of transfer policy to his club.
    Still, the League wants to find out for itself and is considering the responses it has received from both Cardiff and Ranson. Clearly it would be a serious problem for the chairman of one Championship club to have an influence over the transfer activities of another. But the resignation of Ranson, who did not return Digger's call on Wednesday, is not the end of the matter. Coventry's most recent annual return, from six months ago, stated that through his company R2 Sports Group, which describes itself as pursuing "sources of income in relation to the football industry", Ranson holds 16% of the club's shares.
    Birmingham's £5.2m loss

    Birmingham International Holdings, the parent company of the Carling Cup winners Birmingham City, this week announced its interim accounts for the six months to 31 December last year. The results show another big loss for the relegation-threatened Premier League club. With the wages-to-turnover ratio running at 68.5% for the period, the club made a £5.2m loss on £30m of turnover. The continued losses might explain why last Saturday the company gave itself another two months to fulfil its "best efforts" share placing, after raising only the underwritten, £6.8m element of a £23.4m total rights issue. As Digger revealed in January, since May 2008 the shareholders of BIH (or Grandtop International, as it was previously known) have agreed to inject £83.1m into the company in various forms. On average they have been asked to pump in £26.9m of fresh equity in each of the past four years, despite losses over that period amounting to more than double that sum. To give him his side of the story, Peter Pannu says that reports of Birmingham's "financial uncertainty [are] journalistic-induced scaremongering".
    Pandol leaves the FA


    Christine Pandol is leaving the Football Association after 13 years, a period during which she became one of its most respected employees. As secretary to the chairman, Pandol was the strong woman behind both Geoff Thompson and Lord Triesman. She had also outlasted the chief executives Adam Crozier, Mark Palios, Brian Barwick and Ian Watmore. But upon the arrival of David Bernstein as chairman, Pandol has chosen to leave the FA. It would not divulge whether she had received a severance payment or whether she had signed a confidentiality agreement, since it does not discuss individual staff contracts. But one thing is for sure: Pandol will take with her a huge amount of knowledge that could have been useful to Bernstein in his new job.
    Bosnia facing expulsion

    Manchester City's Edin Dzeko could have a lot more spare time on his hands this summer than is currently scheduled. Dzeko's Bosnia-Herzegovina is on the brink of being suspended from Fifa after the national federation refused to change its statutes under orders from Uefa and Fifa. Unless things are sorted soon, then Dzeko's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Romania and Albania in June will be cancelled. The football authorities want a single, elected president of the federation and are unhappy with the compromise agreement that sees the presidency handed round the nations' three ethnic groups by rotation. Given the strife that Croats, Serbs and Bosnian muslims have endured throughout the Balkans and in Bosnia-Herzegovina in particular, their expulsion from world football seems excruciatingly harsh.
    Ferguson wastes his ire

    Sir Alex Ferguson's remarks about the "absolute chaos" of his side's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley on 16 April were futile. Ferguson must know that the Football Association is contractually obliged to hold its FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley under the terms of its 10-year seat licences, without which the FA would be bankrupt. So there is no chance of the Manchester derby taking place anywhere other than Wembley. Perhaps what drove his comments, almost a fortnight since his five-match touchline ban for impugning the integrity of the referee Martin Atkinson, was anger at the FA. "I had a strong feeling that we'd get City," he added. "I'm not saying there's a hot ball and a cold ball, but it's maybe the kind of draw that a lot of people wanted &#8211; and maybe a lot of people didn't want." So for the avoidance of doubt, he is not saying there's a hot ball and a cold ball, because that would be impugning the integrity of the FA, and Ferguson would surely not do that.

 
Ray Ranson's resignation will not end probe into Cardiff City loan

• Former Coventry City chairman holds shares in club
• Football League questions his influence on transfers


  • Matt Scott
  • The Guardian, Thursday 31 March 2011 <li class="history">Article history
    Ray-Ranson-Coventry-City--007.jpg
    Ray Ranson was questioned by the Football League about a loan Cardiff City received from his company. Photograph: Mike Egerton/Empics Sport Ray Ranson has this week stepped down as Coventry City chairman, with the former Southampton chairman Ken Dulieu taking over the role. In a statement published on the club's website Ranson confirmed he will remain a "football consultant" but indicated his skills did not fit the "new phase where the commercial side of the company will need dedicated focus under a new chairman".
    Ranson resigned from the chairmanship on Monday, less than four weeks after Digger revealed that the Football League is investigating the circumstances of a loan agreement held between Cardiff City and Sport Asset Capital.
    SAC is a company controlled by Ranson, and the League has sought his explanation about a new loan that emerged after the SAC agreement was renegotiated. The new loan is held with the Player Finance Fund, a Cayman Islands-registered company, and carries a "negative pledge" that, along with statements in Cardiff's accounts, might suggest Cardiff may not sell players without Ranson's prior approval. Cardiff's lawyer, Alan Whiteley, who was in the news last week, having been suspended from his firm upon his arrest by the Serious Fraud Office in a separate matter unconnected to Cardiff, insists Ranson cannot dictate any element of transfer policy to his club.
    Still, the League wants to find out for itself and is considering the responses it has received from both Cardiff and Ranson. Clearly it would be a serious problem for the chairman of one Championship club to have an influence over the transfer activities of another. But the resignation of Ranson, who did not return Digger's call on Wednesday, is not the end of the matter. Coventry's most recent annual return, from six months ago, stated that through his company R2 Sports Group, which describes itself as pursuing "sources of income in relation to the football industry", Ranson holds 16% of the club's shares.
    Birmingham's £5.2m loss

    Birmingham International Holdings, the parent company of the Carling Cup winners Birmingham City, this week announced its interim accounts for the six months to 31 December last year. The results show another big loss for the relegation-threatened Premier League club. With the wages-to-turnover ratio running at 68.5% for the period, the club made a £5.2m loss on £30m of turnover. The continued losses might explain why last Saturday the company gave itself another two months to fulfil its "best efforts" share placing, after raising only the underwritten, £6.8m element of a £23.4m total rights issue. As Digger revealed in January, since May 2008 the shareholders of BIH (or Grandtop International, as it was previously known) have agreed to inject £83.1m into the company in various forms. On average they have been asked to pump in £26.9m of fresh equity in each of the past four years, despite losses over that period amounting to more than double that sum. To give him his side of the story, Peter Pannu says that reports of Birmingham's "financial uncertainty [are] journalistic-induced scaremongering".
    Pandol leaves the FA


    Christine Pandol is leaving the Football Association after 13 years, a period during which she became one of its most respected employees. As secretary to the chairman, Pandol was the strong woman behind both Geoff Thompson and Lord Triesman. She had also outlasted the chief executives Adam Crozier, Mark Palios, Brian Barwick and Ian Watmore. But upon the arrival of David Bernstein as chairman, Pandol has chosen to leave the FA. It would not divulge whether she had received a severance payment or whether she had signed a confidentiality agreement, since it does not discuss individual staff contracts. But one thing is for sure: Pandol will take with her a huge amount of knowledge that could have been useful to Bernstein in his new job.
    Bosnia facing expulsion

    Manchester City's Edin Dzeko could have a lot more spare time on his hands this summer than is currently scheduled. Dzeko's Bosnia-Herzegovina is on the brink of being suspended from Fifa after the national federation refused to change its statutes under orders from Uefa and Fifa. Unless things are sorted soon, then Dzeko's Euro 2012 qualifiers against Romania and Albania in June will be cancelled. The football authorities want a single, elected president of the federation and are unhappy with the compromise agreement that sees the presidency handed round the nations' three ethnic groups by rotation. Given the strife that Croats, Serbs and Bosnian muslims have endured throughout the Balkans and in Bosnia-Herzegovina in particular, their expulsion from world football seems excruciatingly harsh.
    Ferguson wastes his ire

    Sir Alex Ferguson's remarks about the "absolute chaos" of his side's FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley on 16 April were futile. Ferguson must know that the Football Association is contractually obliged to hold its FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley under the terms of its 10-year seat licences, without which the FA would be bankrupt. So there is no chance of the Manchester derby taking place anywhere other than Wembley. Perhaps what drove his comments, almost a fortnight since his five-match touchline ban for impugning the integrity of the referee Martin Atkinson, was anger at the FA. "I had a strong feeling that we'd get City," he added. "I'm not saying there's a hot ball and a cold ball, but it's maybe the kind of draw that a lot of people wanted – and maybe a lot of people didn't want." So for the avoidance of doubt, he is not saying there's a hot ball and a cold ball, because that would be impugning the integrity of the FA, and Ferguson would surely not do that.
 
Dutch beat Hungary 5-3 in Euro 2012 qualifying


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Updated Mar 29, 2011 5:58 PM ET
The Netherlands earned a sixth successive victory in European Championship qualifying Tuesday by beating Hungary 5-3 after two late goals by Dirk Kuyt.
Kuyt struck in the 78th and 81st minutes to keep the Dutch perfect in Group E with 18 points, nine more than Sweden and Hungary.
Netherlands forward Robin van Persie scored in the 13th minute with a dipping shot from Wesley Sneijder's corner.
Hungary leveled when Gergely Rudolf's shot found the net in the 46th, and Zoltan Gera gave the visitors a 2-1 lead in the 50th.

Fri., Mar. 25​
Hungary 0-4 Netherlands
Tue., Mar. 29​
Sweden 2-1 Moldova | Recap
Netherlands 5-3 Hungary | Recap

Sneijder equalized 10 minutes later, and Ruud van Nistelrooy made it 3-2 from the edge of the area in the 72nd.
But Gera hit his second goal three minutes later to give Hungary hope before Kuyt's late double.
''You need to have discipline,'' Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said. ''We started well, scored a quick goal but then things changed. We kept losing the ball uncessarily.''
The Netherlands, which last week beat Hungary 4-0 with its crisp passing game, produced a disjointed performance and struggled to counter the a well-organized Hungarian attack.
Van Persie stabbed a left-footed shot to put the Netherlands ahead after John Heitinga had flicked on Sneijder's corner.
Van Persie created a chance for Kuyt in the 16th, but the Liverpool forward fired wide under pressure from the defense.
Hungary winger Balazs Dzsudzsak had an effort ruled out in the 19th because his team had taken a free kick before Norwegian referee Svein Oddvar Moen had allowed them to do so.
Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay tried his luck with a hard shot from 25 yards in the 35th but Kiraly reacted well.
Rudolf came close to equalizing for Hungary after combining with Gera in the 40th, but his low shot was saved by goalkeeper Michel Vorm.
Hungary scored in the first minute of the second half, Rudolf dazzling past a disorganized Dutch defense before firing past a helpless Vorm.
''We were a bit naive but we scored some brilliant goals,'' Van Marwijk said.
Opportunities kept coming for Hungary, with Gera and Rudolf failing to convert clearcut chances. However, Gera, the source of Hungary's most potent scoring threats, put his team ahead after his side had mounted an attack down the left flank.
''It was a spectecular game but we made some mistakes,'' Van der Vaart said. ''We had to just play our own football.''
Sneijder and Van Nistlerooy gave the home crowd something to cheer, until Gera's second goal put them on edge again.
The Netherlands reacted with two quick goals to silence the traveling Hungary fans. Kuyt first converted Afellay's left-wing cross, before drilling a long-range shot for his 21st goal for the Netherlands.
Lineups:
Netherlands: Michel Vorm, Gregory van der Wiel, John Heitinga, Joris Mathijsen, Erik Pieters (Urby Emanuelson, 64), Nigel de Jong, Rafael van der Vaart; Dirk Kuyt (Eljero Elia, 90), Wesley Sneijder, Ibrahim Afellay; Robin van Persie (Ruud van Nistelrooy, 46).
Hungary: Marton Fulop, Pal Lazar, Vilmos Vanczak, Roland Juhasz, Zsolt Laczko, Krisztian Vadocz (Peter Czvitkovics 90), Balazs Dzsudzsak, Gergely Rudolf (Vladimir Koman,46), Tamas Priskin (Attila Tokoli, 73), Zoltan Gera, Adam Pinter



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Romania beats Luxembourg 3-1 in Euro qualifier


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Updated Mar 29, 2011 7:17 PM ET
Adrian Mutu scored twice Tuesday as Romania came from behind to beat Luxembourg 3-1 in a qualifier for the 2012 European Championship between the two last-place teams in Group D.

Fri., Mar. 25​
Luxembourg 0-2 France
Sat., Mar. 26​
Bosnia 2-1 Romania | Recap
Albania 1-0 Belarus | Recap
Tue., Mar. 29​
Romania 3-1 Luxembourg | Recap

After Lars Gerson had given Luxembourg the lead with a shot from 10 meters out in the 21st minute, Mutu leveled two minutes later from a similar distance following a raking 40-meter pass from Gabriel Muresan.
Mutu put the hosts ahead in the 67th minute with a header from Gabriel Torje's cross.
Ianis Zicu wrapped up the win in the 77th.
Romania improved to 5 points, seven behind group leader France. Luxembourg has 1 point.
 
Capello: Work to do for England


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Updated Mar 30, 2011 11:05 AM ET
Fabio Capello sent his England players back to their clubs with a warning that there is plenty of work to do to claim a place at Euro 2012.
Weekend results in Group G now make it virtually certain the battle for an automatic slot is between England and Montenegro.


Tuesday night's superb friendly with Ghana indicated Capello will have far more options at his disposal at the finals than he had in South Africa last year.
But the Italian is not getting carried away.
England's next commitment is against Switzerland at Wembley on June 4, with the final three qualifiers to follow next term, culminating in that potentially make-or-break trip to Montenegro in October.
And Capello is looking no further than that.
"We still need to play four games," he said.
"That is a lot of points. I don't know what will happen in the future. It is a long way to arrive at Euro 2012.
"But at this moment I am relaxed. I like being here and we are in a good position."
There were some negatives for Capello but they are mainly centred around a testy relationship with the media, which reached a crescendo in the build-up to the weekend win over Wales.
Even now, there has still not been a satisfactory answer given as to why Rio Ferdinand has not had the courtesy of a personal conversation with the Italian about the decision to remove him as skipper.
However, as Ferdinand has clearly moved on judging by his Twitter postings urging England on, it is probably time for everyone else to.

Sat., Mar. 26​
Wales 0-2 England | Recap
Bulgaria 0-0 Switzerland | Recap

And that allows a very positive assessment of Capello's squad, with Aston Villa's Ashley Young once again showing he is one of the most improved players around.
"All the players played well," observed the England coach.
"But Ashley Young is one of the most interesting players this season."
Rather than be restricted to the wing, where he has spent most of his career, Young has been released into more central positions at Aston Villa this term.
Capello has seen how effective the 25-year-old has been and has followed Gerard Houllier's lead, resulting in Young's best three England displays all coming in 2011.
"In this position he is free," said Capello.
"His movement on the pitch is really good at all times.
"He is a danger when he receives the ball because technically, his vision on the pitch is excellent."
Clearly, Young was not alone in impressing.
Jack Wilshere may not have stood out in last night's 1-1 draw but in a sense, that was further proof of how effectively the 19-year-old has adjusted to the senior scene.
With four caps to his name - and three successive starts - Wilshere looks like an old hand, finding the groove of England's play with ease and benefiting from Capello's decision to install a dedicated defensive midfielder to screen the Three Lions' defence.
That offers Wilshere the freedom to play his normal game in a new system, which looks to the naked eye like a very complex 4-1-2-2-1, but according to Capello is something rather more simple.
"Plan A is 9-1," he said.
"This is the new football. The new system is to go forward with a lot of players and to defend with nine.
"You have to be compact. Barcelona and Arsenal do it. If you want to win back the ball, you have to defend with a lot of players and attack the same.
"The players did not convince me to do it. I decide everything myself."
It is almost tempting to declare the death of 4-4-2, apart from the presence of one notable exception.
"Manchester United still play 4-4-2. They won something didn't they?" said Capello.
"Every style is good if the players are fit and focused on the game."
 
Xavi leads Spain to 3-1 win at Lithuania


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Updated Mar 29, 2011 7:23 PM ET
Defending champion Spain stayed perfect in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship by winning 3-1 at Lithuania on Tuesday in another dominant performance inspired by midfielder Xavi Hernandez.
Xavi scored in the 19th minute when his shot from outside the area deflected over goalkeeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas at Dariaus ir Gireno Stadium.
Despite having little of the play, Lithuania equalized through Marius Stankevicius' long-range shot in the 57th.
Xavi set Juanma Mata free down the wing before Lithuania defender Tomas Razanauskas guided the substitute's pass into his own goal in the 70th minute.

Fri., Mar. 25​
Spain 2-1 Czech Rep.
Tue., Mar. 29​
Czech Rep. 2-0 Liechtenstein | Recap
Lithuania vs. Spain | Recap

Mata scored the third goal with seven minutes to play.
Spain leads Group I with 15 points with three games to play, six points more than the Czech Republic, which beat Liechtenstein 2-0.
Lithuania is fourth in the five-team group with four points, the same as Scotland. Liechtenstein is last with zero.
''It was an important result today, especially with the state of the field, which was woeful,'' Xavi said after helping Spain to its 11th straight competitive win. ''We reached our objective, so we can go forward happy ... the team played a complete game.''
Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque made five changes to the team that beat the Czech Republic 2-1 on Friday, with Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta not used from the substitutes bench.
Athletic Bilbao trio Fernando Llorente, Javi Martinez and Andoni Iraiola all started on a playing field that Xavi compared to a ''sandlot.''
''That in 2011 we're playing on a field like this is sad,'' said the Barcelona playmaker, whose ninth goal came in his 101st appearance. ''You can't play football on a field like this.''
Spain's quick-passing game was slowed by the conditions, but the European and world champions were always in control.
Llorente laid the ball off in the 11th for Santi Cazorla, whose weak shot was smothered by Karcemarskas.
Eight minutes later, Xavi's shot hit Andrius Skerla and found the net to put the hosts further on the backfoot.
Mindaugas Panka shot wide in the 23rd in the Lithuanian's first real chance.
Llorente's ability to hold the ball up helped create many of Spain's chances, with David Villa also dangerous from wide positions. Karcemarskas denied Llorente's shot in the 41st after the Basque striker was played clear into the area by Cazorla's floated pass.
Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas was tested just before the break, stretching to stop Edgaras Cesnauskis' long-range shot.
Karcemarskas again saved from Llorente after the restart, before Stankevicius latched on to a bouncing ball well outside the area to fire through a crowd and beyond Casillas.
But Spain quickly responded.
Karcemarskas stopped Xabi Alonso's goal-bound free kick in the 65th before Razanauskas scored an own goal with Llorente poised to shoot the ball into the net.
Mata, who had replaced Cazorla, slipped a low shot from the left past Karcemarskas to score.
''We have a full squad and we have to use it and we used it well in this game,'' said Del Bosque, who also replaced Villa with David Silva in the second half.
Defender Sergio Ramos came on in the 90th, the 24-year-old Real Madrid fullback becoming the youngest Spain player to reach 75 caps.
''Our team did our best,'' Stankevicius said. ''But Spain is a team of entirely different class and our efforts were not enough to challenge them.''
Lineups:
Lithuania: Zydrunas Karcemarskas, Deividas Semberas, Tadas Kijanskas, Marius Stankevicius, Saulius Mikoliunas (Tomas Razanauskas, 71), Andrius Skerla, Edgaras Cesnauskis, Marius Zaliukas, Mindaugas Panka, Tomas Danilevicius (Dominykas Galkevicius, 85), Darvydas Sernas (Tadas Labukas, 74).
Spain: Iker Casillas, Raul Albiol, Gerard Pique (Sergio Ramos, 90), Andoni Iraola, Alvaro Arbeloa, Javi Martinez, Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Santi Cazorla (Juanma Mata, 67), David Villa (David Silva, 54), Fernando Llorente.
 
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