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[h=1]Arsenal's trophy wait goes on as Wenger sits on £57m transfer kitty[/h] Published 22:57 18/02/12 By Steve Stammers


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Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup to *ensure Arsene Wenger's men will endure seven years without a trophy.
After their 4-0 embarrassment at AC Milan last Wednesday, the Gunners were blown away by Sunderland.
Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal: Sunday Mirror match report
Even more annoying for Arsenal fans is the revelation that Wenger is *sitting on a £57million transfer kitty following the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri last summer.

Strikes from Kieran *Richardson, who Arsenal tried to sign on loan in the January *window, and an Alex *Oxlade-Chamberlain own goal proved decisive.
Roy Keane, an ITV *pundit, said: "This is the worst *Arsenal team I have seen in my time watching football. There is a lack of desire and a lack of *passion."
Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole said: "We were more determined and wanted to win it more. There is real belief in our side now."
AC Milan's massive first-leg lead ensures the *Gunners' Champions League dream now lies in *tatters.
And Arsenal fans, stunned by their team's current decline, will be astonished by the Sunday Mirror revelation that Wenger is sitting on an incredible transfer fund.
Wenger has been *criticised for failing to buy big and replace big name sales. Nasri fetched around £22m when he moved to Manchester City while Arsenal *collected £35m from Barcelona's *recruitment of Fabregas.
Arsenal's August signings – Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Andre Santos – were brought in using funds already set aside for Wenger.
And there could be *another £15m injection in the summer from Paris St Germain. The French club are keen on midfielder Alex Song.
The 24-year-old *Cameroon midfield *player will have three years left on his contract at the end of the season but Wenger wants him to extend his stay.

No agreement has been reached – and PSG want to make him their latest capture but Barcelona are also keen on the player.
EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal set to smash wage cap to keep RVP - and attract new star signings
We will 'stay united and fight' insists Wenger after FA Cup defeat to Sunderland


 
[h=1]EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal set to smash wage cap to keep RVP - and attract new star signings[/h] Published 23:00 18/02/12 By Steve Stammers


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Arsenal will scrap their wage cap in a bid to keep their best players and attract stellar signings.
The current limit is about £100,000 a week.
But amid the fall-out from their *disastrous 4-0 Champions League defeat at AC Milan there is an acceptance among the Gunners hierarchy that there must be a major change of direction.
The board believe there are *extensive funds available for *manager Arsene Wenger's transfer *targets.
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But Arsenal have found to their cost in recent times that the lure of sky-high wages offered by the likes of Manchester City can tempt *talented young players to leave. Last summer, they lost France *midfielder Samir Nasri to City where he is earning a *reported £200,000 a week.
Old school Arsenal had no chance of matching that and so Nasri left.
Now Wenger is to be given the green light to spend big – and pay big. The first *beneficiary of any new policy is set to be in-form striker Robin van Persie.
The Dutch star has one year left on his current deal and Wenger should now be able to offer him the chance to almost double his wages as well as push for transfer targets like Edin *Hazard of Lille and Mario Goetze of Borussia Dortmund in the summer. The club's finances have never been healthier and there is a sizeable war chest at Wenger's disposal.
But wages have always been a stumbling block and that barrier is now set to be dismantled.
The ‘cash is king' approach has been evident in recent years – first at Chelsea, then at Manchester City and more *recently at Paris St Germain who have been spending *fortunes on transfer fees and salaries under former Chelsea *manager Carlo *Ancelotti.
And at PSG, the myth has been blown apart about *participation in Champions League football being *essential to attract the best.
Now, at last, Arsenal are set to join to the big league. Their current wage bill is among the highest in the country but that is because Wenger insists that all squad players earn comparable sums.
But because of the wage limits, he has not been able to pay the £150,000 a-week plus deals on offer at other clubs.
He competed with Manchester United for Phil Jones, Ashley Young and Chris Smalling.
But the pay on offer at Old Trafford was a major factor in the trio going to join Sir Alex Ferguson's young squad.
Without the wage restrictions, Wenger will at least be able to *compete on a level playing field with the other big hitters after seasons of bargain hunting during the transfer windows.
Arsenal's trophy wait goes on as Wenger sits on £57m transfer kitty
 
[h=1]Asamoah Gyan quits Ghana 'indefinitely'[/h]
Updated 19 hr(s) 29 min(s) ago
[h=2]Related Stories[/h] [h=3] Ghana's Asamoah Gyan seems to always have a debt with football gods[/h] [h=3] Ghana and Mali through, Guinea eliminated[/h] [h=3] Botswana to face Ghana's Black Stars[/h] [h=3] When prosecution bit more than it could chew[/h] [h=3] Walking in the valley of death[/h] [h=3] Fantastic[/h]
Ghana star Asamoah Gyan has quit international football "indefinitely".
The move follows the Black Stars' semi-final defeat by Zambia at the Africa Cup of Nations, in which Gyan had a penalty saved.
The player has come under sustained criticism from fans in Ghana following the Black Stars' failure to win the continental crown.
Gyan's decision was confirmed to the BBC by his manager in Ghana.
He is currently on loan from English Premier League side Sunderland to the UAE-based team Al Ain.
Ghana face a number of crucial international matches in the near future - with 2014 World Cup qualifying beginning in June.
Amongst the teams in Ghana's group in the race to Brazil are the newly-crowned African champions, Zambia.
They will also face a two-legged tie in September and October for a place in the finals of the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.
Gyan's failure to score from the spot echoed the World Cup quarter-final in 2010, when he hit the cross-bar with a penalty in the final moments of extra-time.
Had he scored, Ghana would have almost certainly have gone through to the semis.
Instead they lost the subsequent shoot-out to Uruguay.

 
[h=1]Ghana's Asamoah Gyan seems to always have a debt with football gods[/h]
Published on 09/02/2012
[h=2]Related Stories[/h] [h=3] Asamoah Gyan quits Ghana 'indefinitely'[/h] [h=3] Ghana's Andre Ayew (right) celebrates his goal with teammate Jordan Ayew during their Africa Nations Cup quarter-final m[/h] [h=3] Gabon edge Tunisia as Morocco hit Niger[/h] [h=3] Bad season continues for Morocco and Arsenal striker, others shine[/h] [h=3] Underdogs use tag to offer stiff challenge to top guns at Nations Cup[/h] [h=3] Gabon struggles to get facilities working[/h]
By Robin Toskin in Libreville, Gabon
Was Zambia's beating of Ghana on Wednesday to reach the finals of the Africa Nations Cup a shock result or Chipolopolo's destiny to return to the site, Libreville, Gabon, where 18 of their countrymen died 19 years ago?
Or is the god of football not through with Asamoah Gyan since the missed penalty against Uruguay at the 2010 World that he/she also made him suffer an eighth minute penalty kick?
Forget about all that and just say Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic got his fielding and tactics wrong. But why Ghana failing tactically, it could just be that Zambia is a good side.
Such is the beautiful game called football. Intriguing just as it is entertaining.
Yet in the end, it comes to taking your chances.
Footballers or lets us say Gyan will never learn from past mistakes or even from old men like former Ghana President Jerry Rawlings.
Check your last year's newspaper cuttings for (March 3) Standard story titled, "When presidential tackle flattened Gyan" written by this writer.
In the story, Rawlings had made an impromptu visit to the Black Stars who were training at the Moi International Centre, Kasarani. And this is what he told Gyan in the aftermath of the missed penalty in South Africa.
"Where is Asamoah Gyan?" Rawlings asked as a chorus of "there!" drowned the Sunderland man's answer of "I'm here."
"You played well, the team played well but you made fundamental mistakes. Penalty taking is pure physics. It is about speed.
 
[h=1]Arsène Wenger says Champions League place is a 'trophy'[/h] • Finishing in top four is primary aim, says Wenger
• Arsenal contemplating seventh season without silverware




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Arsène Wenger is focused on securing fourth place with Arsenal and a place in the Champions League qualifying round. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Arsène Wenger has suggested that Arsenal should regard the prospect of securing fourth place in the Premier League and entry into next season's Champions League qualifying round as comparable to winning a cup. "The first trophy is to finish in the top four," said Arsenal's manager in the wake of Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Sunderland. "And that's still possible. I believe finishing fourth is vital for us, so let's focus on that."
Barring a Champions League miracle in the second leg of a tie in which Milan lead 4-0, Wenger is contemplating a seventh consecutive season without a trophy. The Frenchman's critics believe he is in denial about Arsenal's current decline but on Saturday evening Wenger mounted a robust defence of a team which Roy Keane, working as an ITV pundit, said was the worst Arsenal side he had watched and one who are letting their manager down.
"That we lost here is basically down to the fact that we had to give a lot in Milan on Wednesday night and then we had to travel again, and that is difficult for any team in the world," Wenger said. "But I thought it was a good performance from us."
Arsenal's next game, at home to Tottenham on Sunday, has now assumed even greater importance than usual, but the manager is approaching it with confidence. "We put a lot of spirit into playing Sunderland and if we keep that spirit and recover a little bit physically then we can win the next game," he added.
Asked if Arsenal's squad requires rebuilding or tweaking during the summer, the manager indicated that evolution rather than revolution is his preferred option. "When everybody is available we have what it takes at the club and we will add what it takes," Wenger said. "But at the moment we're not making plans for next season, we're making plans for the next game.
"We have many missing: big, big players, too. We're in February and [Jack] Wilshere has played zero games, [Abou] Diaby has played zero games, [Per] Mertesacker is out for the season and [André] Santos for three months. That would be difficult for any club in the world to deal with. But let's win our next game and we'll be fine."
The sentiments were endorsed by Martin O'Neill. "Arsène Wenger is a very bright and intelligent man and his work bears the highest scrutiny," said Sunderland's manager. "It's been a disappointing week for him, that's all – we all have them. There's nothing wrong with him. There's no problem – he's a great, great manager."
 

[h=1]Chelsea's Fernando Torres expected to be axed for Champions League tie[/h] • André Villas-Boas losing patience with striker's lack of goals
• Didier Drogba will probably play against Napoli on Tuesday




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Fernando Torres was taken off at half-time of Chelsea's 1-1 FA Cup draw with Birmingham on Saturday. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

André Villas-Boas is expected to drop Fernando Torres for Chelsea's Champions League tie at Napoli after warning the striker he will not alter the team's shape or strategy to try to restore the Spaniard's form.
Torres cost Chelsea £50m last January but has scored just three league goals in 34 appearances. On Saturday Chelsea were fortunate to draw 1-1 with Birmingham City at Stamford Bridge to force an FA Cup fifth-round replay, with Torres taken off at half-time following an unconvincing display. Asked if Villas-Boas would sacrifice the side's philosophy to help one player, the manager said that he would not and said: "Not on the way I put things together, not in a team basis. He is trying hard. This season shows that he's had some ups and downs on performance. We had him at a good level at the beginning of the season and at the beginning of January.
"We will continue to push for that level of performance. We have to help the players reach that level of performance and get to the top level. That comes with confidence and for Fernando with goals and he will have to find that eventually, for sure."
Torres was replaced by Didier Drogba, who only returned in midweek from the Africa Cup of Nations, and Chelsea became more effective in the second half with Daniel Sturridge's 62nd-minute header cancelling out David Murphy's opener on 20 minutes. Drogba, who appeared to give a team-talk in the tunnel before the players emerged for the second period, is expected to start in Torres's place in Naples. Drogba scored three goals for Ivory Coast and also found the net in his last match before departing for the tournament, in a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on New Year's Eve, whereas Torres has not scored since a Champions League group game on 19 October when he managed two in a 5-0 win over Genk.
Regarding the Ivorian's return, Villas-Boas said: "First, Torres, Drogba and [Romelu] Lukaku will compete in training to be in the team. There's competition in the striker positions and it will be a battle between the three of them. Drogba increases the level of competition. They are all top, top talents. We need that goal efficiency and we will try and get it one way or another.
"I think everybody is desperate for [Torres] to score. Everybody pushes him, praises him in training and it will come with him getting opportunities. His confidence is low but we will have to continue to persist with our belief in his talent. The belief is the same. The only thing that changes is the level of competition for him and maybe that will be the key. More competition will see him push himself that little bit harder and maybe he will eventually reach his goal and targets."
Curtis Davies, the Birmingham central defender who marked Torres out of the game and caused him to be substituted, said: "With Torres he wants to play on your shoulder, get in that right hand channel, and try to his famous cut in and whip. But we didn't let him do that, we managed to get on to him quite well.
"I didn't actually think he was that bad today. I thought he put himself about and he was not any worse than any of the rest. It's just one of those things that he got taken off because of their approach to the second half. We managed to keep them quiet in the second half, so that's how we did our job."
Davies, like Villas-Boas, believes Torres will eventually again become the world-class threat that allowed him to score 65 goals in 102 league appearances for Liverpool. "He is one of those players that you will to do well, because you know that the quality he has got and that he did bring to the Premier League, and hopefully he can bring that back again," Davies said.
 
[h=1]Chelsea badly need support striker and maybe change of manager[/h] André Villas-Boas is hobbling his team by playing only one up front and their dip in form may require drastic remedies


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Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge, right, and Birmingham City's David Murphy, the two goalscorers, battle for the ball. Photograph: Rebecca Naden/PA

Chelsea's selection suggested that André Villas-Boas had one eye on Tuesday's Champions League tie against Napoli. However, this group of players were sluggish and lacked understanding in the first half and fared little better in the second despite being given the opportunity to accept territorial advantage by Birmingham City.
In the early stages Branislav Ivanovic was too powerful for Nathan Redmond as he raced forward. The young winger showed a good attitude and determination to survive the whole 90 minutes but never as an attacking threat. Daniel Sturridge looked as though he might test David Murphy but, with Birmingham never caught short at the back, he was not allowed a clear run at the left-back.
Birmingham's back four sat deep, stuck close together as a unit and left little space between themselves and their five-man midfield. Jordan Mutch and, to a lesser extent, Keith Fahey, were calm, composed and never played difficult forward passes for Adam Rooney to deal with. After one warning Chelsea succumbed to a lack of concentration at Birmingham's second corner, from which Murphy scored.
Complacency was the main problem for Chelsea in the first half. They moved the ball slowly from side to side but rarely forward, allowing an efficient Birmingham to shield their goal comfortably (see diagram). With only one striker, the forward pass was discouraged. It would have been far more appealing for the midfield to have two targets to hit. Consequently Chelsea played across midfield and into their opponent's hands.
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With Fernando Torres isolated, Birmingham retreated and Chelsea played too slowly across the pitch. The hosts desperately lacked a second target in attack. Photograph: Graphic In the José Mourinho era Damien Duff and Arjen Robben would skin full-backs, running on to Frank Lampard's perfectly placed lofted passes. Now Sturridge, when wide, likes the ball to feet, while Juan Mata is a scheming midfielder. Chelsea desperately need a second striker to support Fernando Torres or Didier Drogba.
Mikel John Obi might have been sacrificed much earlier. His touch seemed unsure and Chelsea need a player like Wayne Rooney, someone who works hard but is also a natural striker. Torres is taking a huge amount of criticism but Drogba, who was also alone in the second period, coped no better. They were more dangerous when Salomon Kalou was introduced.
A striker's confidence quickly disappears when he does not receive early service from midfield or defence or, alternatively, a constant supply of crosses from wide positions.
Lampard is a strange omission by Villas-Boas. His game is built on getting into scoring positions and taking chances. David Luiz is an energetic luxury in defence, where reliability, simplicity and communication are paramount. In midfield Ramires and Raul Meireles were ineffective and never cohesive. Playing Mata behind two strikers in a midfield diamond could be the way forward for Chelsea.
Birmingham's 4-5-1 formation showed that a disciplined group, who accept that they will concede possession, can restrict superior opponents. Chelsea played in front of Birmingham but could not find an answer, as they drifted from side to side with only one main target up front.
Chelsea need goals and some inspiration. If they do not change managers or players immediately – the latter, of course, not possible – they will fail to turn this dip around.
Chris Hughton's side, playing the ball out of defence with admirable composure, were never overawed, never panicked and quelled their more illustrious opponents. Their only disappointment will be another game hindering their quest for promotion.
Should Birmingham win the replay at St Andrew's, though, Hughton will further press his case to be named manager of the year.
 
[h=1]Wenger told his job is safe for another TWO years[/h] Published 22:30 19/02/12 By John Cross


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Arsene Wenger has been assured his job is safe for another TWO YEARS.
Under-pressure Wenger still has the full support of the Arsenal hierarchy even though the club's exit from the FA Cup means this season will be seven without a trophy.
But Wenger, whose contract expires in 2014, is still hopeful of finishing in the Champions League places and the board will back him even if he does not.
An Arsenal source said: "We are committed to Arsene and we expect him to see out his contract."

The only danger to Wenger remaining in charge is whether he walks away at the end of the season as he has already warned he would consider his future if he felt he could not take the club any further.
But Arsenal's US majority shareholder Stan Kroenke and the rest of the board believe he will stay and the club will give him major funds this summer to rebuild.
Arsenal are legally obliged to release their financial figures by the end of February and they are expected to reveal profits of £50m-plus later this week.
The £50m will be available to Wenger to rebuild this summer with transfer targets like Lukas Podolski, Junior Hoilett and Matias Suarez on the radar while they will also hold contract talks with Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott in the next few weeks.
And Wenger has insisted he won't walk away from Arsenal despite the toughest week of his managerial career.
Wenger said: "We have what it takes at the club and we will add what it takes. But at the moment I believe we are not making plans for next season, we are making plans for the next game.
"I think we have what it takes at the club when everybody is available, because we had many missing and big, big players, too.
"Our main target now is to focus on the championship. We played away at Bolton and drew 0-0, we beat Blackburn at home and won away at Sunderland, so let's win our next home game and we will be fine.
"We have played 15 years at the top level and in the top four. It is remarkable consistency and one day when you manage a club, you will see it's not easy."
Wenger will not spend "crazy money" on transfers but the club insist there is no wage cap and van Persie is likely to be offered around £90,000-a-week to stay.
But Wenger and the board now see fourth place as the main target as the Arsenal manager called Champions League qualification his "first trophy" after crashing out of the FA Cup at Sunderland.
Wenger was "calm and controlled" after the Sunderland defeat which was in contrast to him to him shouting and swearing at the players in a dressing down at the training ground following the Milan defeat last week.
The Arsenal Supporters' Trust fans' group meet tonight (MON) for what could be a stormy get together as the club face a seventh year without silverware.
They are likely to ask questions of the club which has a transfer proceeds account with a deed of covenance put in place by late director Danny Fiszman. That is designed to legally ensure 70 per cent of any profit goes on strengthening the squad.
 
[h=1]AVB ready to risk Terry against 'amazing' Cavani[/h] Published 22:30 19/02/12 By John Cross


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Andre Villas-Boas is preparing to take a huge Champions League fitness gamble on John Terry.
Under-pressure Villas-Boas knows his job is on the line and desperately needs Terry to strengthen his defence in tomorrow's showdown at Napoli.
Terry is nursing a knee injury which has kept him out of the last four games and the Chelsea captain has managed just one full training session.
But Chelsea boss Villas-Boas is worried about Napoli's forward line of Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and, in particular, Edinson Cavani.

That is likely to persuade Villas-Boas to risk Terry in Naples as he will definitely travel today (MON) and then train in Italy tonight.
Villas-Boas, who is also set to risk Ashley Cole even though he is only rated at 50-50 because of injury, said: "He's (Terry) a player of great importance.
"I will leave it as late as possible and make a decision on him after the training of the team in Naples.
"The team is more important than any individual. But what we are trying to do with John is to respect his importance for the team. We will try to give him a late fitness test to give him every chance.
"There are enough characters to lead on the emotional sense. Of course JT is a great leader, gives you an extra emotional push. But at the moment, we've had to do without him.
"I think there is still enough emotion without him. If he misses out on Tuesday, then we will miss a top, top player and a player who gives us great defensive stability. It would be a massive loss for us, that's for sure."
There is no wonder as to why Villas-Boas – who had the players in on Sunday for a warm-down after Birmingham – is ready to risk Terry.
It is make-or-break for Villas-Boas who is running out of time to save his job and needs a strong performance against Napoli as he was brought in to deliver the Holy Grail of the Champions League for Roman Abramovich.
Villas-Boas has admitted his admiration for Napoli trio Hamsik, Lavezzi and Cavani and says they showed their quality in knocking out Manchester City from the Group stages.
Villas-Boas added: "He (Cavani) is an amazing player. To be fair, their strength is in the collective spirit. They have an inner belief in each other. They have a strong front three with Hamsik, Cavani and Lavezzi. They are a danger.
"It's a different competition. Napoli come into the game after a good result – not after a good run because they've been inconsistent recently – but won well at Fiorentina.
"It's a different type of preparation, different type of football, European football, played in a different way. We will have to be much more competent, play well and try to take the game to Stamford Bridge.
"If you go past Napoli then you can have a really good chance, depending on who you get in the draw. If you get a good draw. First Napoli, then we will see who we draw out and then we will see.
"But I think we are in with a really good chance. It will be a massive challenge. Everyone saw what Napoli did in a Group which put another English team out. We just have to be extremely strong to go through.
"Regarding the Champions League, the players will have a different outlook, it's a European game, all of the players will want to play. The Champions League is a competition that everyone wants to win.
"There are two weeks between the games and it's important for us to be competent and to bring the game to Stamford Bridge with a win of a draw, ideally a scoring draw. Then we can finish the business here."
Chelsea 1-1 Birmingham: Daily Mirror match report
 
[h=1]FA kingmaker sees Redknapp struggle to stalemate[/h] Published 22:30 19/02/12 By Mike Walters


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England kingmaker David Bernstein watched Three Lions boss-in-waiting Harry Redknapp dish up a long-ball stalemate.​
And as Spurs were held by the League One club Redknapp joked: "I bet he was impressed with the football I served up today." FA chairman Bernstein, who is expected to anoint Redknapp as successor to Fabio Capello before the season ends, looked glum as Spurs struggled to make headway against underdogs Stevenage.
Redknapp, who switched tactics to accommodate three centre-backs, laughed: "He must have been sitting there thinking ‘Who's this geezer?'
"But I couldn't see us playing swashbuckling football today. I looked at the pitch and had to make one or two changes. I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

"I was never too worried, but the longer it stayed goalless, the more you are aware that it only takes one mistake and you're out of the Cup."
Spurs will face Bolton at home in the quarter-finals if they win the replay on March 7, but Redknapp conceded: "Stevenage deserved another crack at us – it was a good Cup-tie."
Stevenage 0-0 Tottenham: Daily Mirror match report
 
[h=1]FA Cup draw: Gerrard getting double vision[/h] Published 22:25 19/02/12 By MirrorFootball


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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard led Liverpool into the FA Cup quarter-finals and set his sights on a cup double.
Kenny Dalglish's side were given a huge helping hand with three own goals by Brighton.
But Gerrard and Dalglish recognised the importance of a place in the FA Cup last eight – with a home draw against Stoke – as well as their appearance in the Carling Cup final next Sunday.
Gerrard said: "It's always nice to win convincingly, we went through the gears and got better and better.

"We know we've got a massive day next week but we want to go to Wembley in the FA Cup as well."
Dalglish said: "We've not done too badly. This stage last season we were out of the FA Cup, out of the Carling Cup and nowhere near the top four."
Stoke, beaten in last year's final by Manchester City, came through at League Two Crawley yesterday despite being reduced to 10 men before half time. And boss Tony Pulis said: "It is a great achievement by the club to have made a third successive quarter-final. We're one win away from Wembley again."
There will be a second quarter-final on *Merseyside after Everton and Sunderland were drawn for the March 17 and 18 round.
Everton have now been drawn at home eight successive times in the domestic cups.
Tottenham, held to a goalless draw at Stevenage yesterday, will have a home match against Bolton if they win the replay at White Hart Lane.
Boss Harry Redknapp was glad to get a second chance at Stevenage following a difficult away day. He said: "This wasn't a game to get the ball down and play football.
"We started hitting it long and it was difficult to get that much going.
"We are still in the cup and are at home now. It gives us a big chance but I wouldn't underestimate them."
Chelsea, winners of the competition in three of the past five seasons, face a replay at Birmingham if they are to reach the quarter-finals. If they win it, they will have a home tie against the only non-Premier League side currently guaranteed a place in the last eight - Leicester.
Liverpool v Stoke
Chelsea/Birmingham v Leicester City
Stevenage/Tottenham v Bolton
Everton v Sunderland
 
[h=1]United pick a fight with Gary Neville[/h] Published 17:39 17/02/12 By MirrorFootball


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Manchester United have defended their decision to oppose a planning application for a hotel and leisure complex at Old Trafford that has been submitted by Gary Neville.
In the build-up to his testimonial game at the end of last season, Neville confirmed his intention to create a bar for United supporters.
It was envisaged the scheme would be operational by at some point in the 2013-14 season and, at the time, United were fully supportive.
However, as plans have been reshaped, so United began to get cold feet.

And now they have lodged a formal objection on the grounds that the entire development, which includes a 10-storey 139-bedroom hotel and leisure complex, would be too big,
"The club has been developing its vision for the area over the last few months, following on from the very successful pedestrianisation scheme executed in July," said a United spokesman.
"As part of that vision, we considered in detail the changes to the sheer scale of the new project proposed, as distinct to the original plan.
"We had some projections done of what the view of the stadium would be from various angles on the other side of Wharfside Way and have concluded that, on balance, we do not want a building of that size so close to the stadium."
It now raises the bizarre situation of Neville - who celebrates his 37th birthday tomorrow and is forging an impressive career as a pundit with Sky Sports - being at odds with the club he represented for 19 years.
 
[h=1]Keane considers coming back in summer[/h] Published 22:24 19/02/12 By Football Spy


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ROBBIE Keane will return to the Premier League in the summer – if he cannot get over his homesickness in the States.
Keane has alerted Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish to the prospect of a permanent switch to Villa Park as he plans to return to MLS champions LA Galaxy.
But Villa have been blocked from any chance of making the deal for the 31-year-old striker permanent before the end of the season.
And, while Keane is determined to honour his responsibilities with Galaxy, he will not remain with the club if he feels he has made a mistake and walked away from the Premier League too soon.

He said: "I enjoyed my spell at Villa. It's a great club, but it was my choice to go to the States. I could have stayed in the Premier League for a few more years but I didn't.
"When I go back to LA it could be completely different, but people have seen over the years with the clubs I've been at how quickly I leave if I don't fit in."
 
[h=1]Hugo Rodallega tells Wigan he will quit in the summer[/h] Feb 5 2012
Hugo Rodallega has told boss Roberto Martinez he will quit Wigan in the summer.
The Colombian striker, 26, was pursued by FULHAM and TOTTENHAM last month - and would have left for Craven Cottage had Andy Johnson agreed to become part of a swap deal.
Rodallega will go on a free transfer, and said: "It's sure that I won't play anymore for them after this season. This will be my last three months with Wigan. I'm already talking with other teams, but I won't name them. I must respect Wigan.
Rodallega "Wigan have received many offers for me... but they always said no.
"I want to leave Wigan with the team having avoided relegation. I would love that Wigan fans recognise my effort when I leave the club in May."
 
[h=1]Modric keen on Man United switch[/h] Published 00:01 19/02/12 By Steve Bates


luka-modric-tottenham-cropped


A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Luka Modric has turned his back on Chelsea – and will head to Manchester United if he moves this summer.
The £40 million-rated Croatian midfield star is believed to have told pals he's glad he didn't quit Tottenham for Chelsea last summer especially after watching the turbulence and instability at Stamford Bridge under new boss Andre Villas-Boas.
Chelsea made two bids for Modric last summer which were both turned down by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy who insisted Modric stayed.

Read the full version of this story at People.co.uk

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[h=1]Modric keen on Man United switch[/h] Published 00:01 19/02/12 By Steve Bates


luka-modric-tottenham-cropped


A full version of this story appears in today's People. Read it online at People.co.uk
Luka Modric has turned his back on Chelsea – and will head to Manchester United if he moves this summer.
The £40 million-rated Croatian midfield star is believed to have told pals he’s glad he didn’t quit Tottenham for Chelsea last summer especially after watching the turbulence and instability at Stamford Bridge under new boss Andre Villas-Boas.
Chelsea made two bids for Modric last summer which were both turned down by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy who insisted Modric stayed.

Read the full version of this story at People.co.uk

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[h=1]Transfer news, rumours and gossip from Monday's papers[/h] Published 08:04 20/02/12 By Football Spy


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The transfer window may be shut, but managers up and down the country are already plotting for when the next one opens, and we've got all the gossip from all the papers right here.
Transfer stories from today's Sunday Mirror
Liverpool Kenny Dalglish has handed a trial to Portsmouth's teenage defender Sam Magri

LA Galaxy Robbie Keane is considering a return to the Premier League in the summer

Leeds manager Neil Warnock wants to be reunited with QPR Ronnie Jepson

Birmingham have extended a trial to Argentine striker Julian Cardellino

Stories from other papers and websites

Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Lille 's Eden Hazard is Spurs ' top summer target (Metro)
Arsene Wenger will be handed a £55 million transfer kitty to strengthen Arsenal in the summer (Daily Mail)
Andre Villas-Boas is considering dropping Fernando Torres ahead of Champions League game against Napoli (The Telegraph)
Steve Bruce is the favourite to take over from Mick McCarthy at Wolves (The Sun)
 
[h=1]Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson to retire 'in two or three years'[/h] • Regrets missing out on signing Joe Hart at bargain price
• Hails David Moyes's achievements at Everton as 'miraculous'




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Sir Alex Ferguson plans to maintain a role at Manchester United after he retires as manager at Old Trafford. Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson has lauded David Moyes's work at Everton and claimed Manchester United will need an experienced head to replace him as manager when retirement comes in "another two or three years".
The priority for the 70-year-old United manager is to retire on a "winning note" rather than a specific date. He has already shelved one retirement plan a decade ago and subsequently added five more Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph to his honours collection in that time.
In an interview with BBC's Five Liveon Monday night, Ferguson said he expects to remain in a role at Old Trafford when he finally steps aside but has never discussed the issue of his successor with the chief executive, David Gill, and the United board. He claimed his wife, Cathy, would rather he take a job as a milkman than get in her way at home.
"I will remain active," Ferguson said. "I think there will be a role at United after I finish, obviously. I don't know how long it's going to last now, but if my health holds up I don't see another two or three years would harm me. I think you need stamina in my job and I think I've been blessed with good stamina. I'll know when it's time when I'm not enjoying it. I think if I got to a point where I'm not enjoying it, I would definitely get out. I think you always want to go out on a winning note and hopefully we can do that."
He added: "Players ask how long I'll be around. They all do that or their agent asks the chief executive, David Gill. That becomes more difficult the longer it goes on, of course. I answer it the way David answers it and he says I have no intention of retiring at the moment, therefore it's not a question we can answer because we don't know."
As for who could eventually succeed him at Old Trafford, Ferguson said: "We need to go down that road with United. They will need someone with experience," and claimed that even he would struggle if taking the job in 2012 "because of the beast it [the club] is."
He elaborated: " "We've never discussed it. It's a dangerous game. At this moment, there are maybe half a dozen managers doing well in the Premier League. Only half a dozen because all the rest of them are fighting for their lives. Some are doing great jobs with the resources they have and David Moyes has been unbelievable. I put him in the top six because what he's done at Everton has been quite miraculous."
The United manager revealed he passed up an opportunity to sign the Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart at a bargain price, a deal that would have saved his clubs millions and solved the troubled search for a long-term replacement for Edwin van der Sar.
He admitted: "I could have bought Joe Hart for £100,000, so we all make mistakes. If you look at the goalkeeping situation in England for the last 20 years, then I think he's easily the best they've had."
 
[h=1]Newcastle would receive only £3.5m from Demba Ba sale, claim West Ham[/h] • Releasing Ba was 'worst mistake of my life' – David Sullivan
• West Ham co-owner claims striker has a £7m get-out clause




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Demba Ba has scored 16 league goals for Newcastle United since signing on a free transfer from West Ham. Photograph: Ian Horrocks/Newcastle Utd via Getty Images

David Sullivan has warned that Newcastle United are in danger of losing Demba Ba for as little as £3.5m this summer.
The West Ham United co-owner concedes that allowing the Senegal striker, who has scored 16 goals in 21 Premier League appearances this season, to join Newcastle on a free transfer last summer was one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
"I'm told he's got a £7m get-out at Newcastle and he gets half the money, so if they sell him for £7m they'll only net about three," said Sullivan in an interview with the fans' website West Ham Till I Die. "Getting £3m is not bad but, for a player of his quality, it's not fantastic. And Newcastle paid his agent £2m to get him out of here [West Ham].
"Newcastle keep denying it but I think you'll see in the summer he will either leave Newcastle or get a monstrous rise to stay there."
West Ham, then in the Premier League, bought Ba from Hoffenheim for around £500,000 in January 2010 on a £35,000-a-week salary, his seven goals in 12 appearances failing to prevent the team, then under Avram Grant, from dropping into the Championship. "Demba Ba signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with us," recalled Sullivan.
"We had a deal where his salary would be halved if we were relegated and he said, 'Well, on that basis I have got to be allowed to walk if we get relegated.' What we should have said was that, if we don't halve your salary, you haven't got a get-out. The failure to put that one line in the contract cost us very, very dearly. It's one of those mistakes that happen but it's probably one of the worst mistakes I have ever made in my life.
"If he was with us now and his knee had held up, because he did have a very, very bad knee, I think we'd be 15 points clear [in the Championship]."
Ba's presently manageable, degenerative knee condition – the striker has what Newcastle's manager, Alan Pardew, describes as "a deficiency" in the joint which prompted consultants to advise Stuttgart and Stoke City to pull out of proposed £7m moves to sign him from Hoffenheim – now appears the sole barrier to the striker enjoying a highly lucrative future on Tyneside or elsewhere.
Although Newcastle decline to discuss the matter it is thought they are keen to offer Ba a new deal. The striker's current agreement sees a significant percentage of his wages delivered on a pay-as-you-play basis. This is a legacy of his current contract having reportedly being redrafted after what Pardew described as "issues with his medical".
 
[h=1]Chelsea warn Napoli they are ready to complain over racist fans[/h] • Players subjected to monkey taunts as they arrived in Naples
• Napoli issue plea to own fans before Champions League tie




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Chelsea's players train in Naples before their Champions League tie with Napoli on Tuesday. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Chelsea have warned Napoli they will complain to Uefa should their players suffer racist abuse in Tuesday evening's Champions League first leg at Stadio San Paolo after members of the squad were subjected to monkey chants on arriving at the team hotel. A crowd of local fans had congregated outside the Grande Albergo Vesuvio hotel on the seafront and, while the Premier League side were all greeted with loud jeers, there were monkey chants from some present when the England striker Daniel Sturridge got off the coach. The chants began again when Chelsea players were spotted at windows on the first floor of the hotel while eating their lunch ahead of the team's evening training session at the stadium.
Chelsea officials were made aware of the abuse and issued a statement warning their opponents that, should the issue rear up again on Tuesday evening, they would take it up with Uefa. "Chelsea Football Club finds any form of discriminatory behaviour totally abhorrent and we believe it has no place in society whatsoever," said a spokesman. "If any members of our team or staff are subjected to racist abuse we would find that wholly unacceptable and it would be reflected in our conversations with Uefa." Napoli had issued their own plea to their supporters to behave over the weekend amid fears that Uefa might issue sanctions if there is crowd trouble. Their concerns had centred primarily upon the use of fire crackers and flares, while the top tier of the stadium, Fuorigrotta, is technically closed to the public for safety reasons, though supporters have apparently found ways of occupying the tier at fixtures.
"SSC Napoli invites its supporters to respect the rules of safety, in line with Uefa rules," read the statement. "If these laws are violated, the field would be disqualified, impairing the possibility of playing any other international matches at Fuorigrotta. Napoli invites its supporters not to use flares or fireworks, not to occupy the stairs and any other escape ways, not to occupy the third tier, which is closed to the public."
 
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