Monthly Archives: October 2010

Ferguson rejects transfer talk

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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out making any new signings in the January transfer window (United 9/2 to win the Premier League).

Ferguson saw his side beat Tottenham 2-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday to sit five points behind leaders Chelsea. And he insisted he is happy with the squad he has, and is not considering adding to it this season.

“We won’t be buying in January, definitely not,” said Ferguson in the Independent. “If you want someone to play in Europe, you are limited right away. There are hundreds of players cup-tied.”

The United boss added: “You have five months left of the season, I will have Antonio Valencia back hopefully towards the end of February, which is a new player coming back.

“If Michael Owen gets back, it is another new player coming back. So with the squad I’ve got, I don’t see any reason for us to buy anyone.”

Ferguson is not panicking over the size of his squad, or the fact that Wayne Rooney may not be back in action until mid-December (United 1/14 Top Four Finish).

Rooney was on hand at Old Trafford yesterday after returning from a mid-season break to Dubai with his wife Coleen.

“I think Wayne Rooney will be out for another five weeks,” Ferguson said in the Sunday Express. “He’ll have to pick up his fitness again. I would think five weeks should be about right.”

Rooney could miss a total of 15 games for club and country, after initially having targeted the Manchester derby against City next week.

United’s match at Blackpool on December 4 is now his comeback target, though the Champions’ League visit of Valencia three days later could also be in his sights (United 9/1 to win 2010-11 Champions League).

Ferguson went on to add: “With any player who has been out a few weeks, you want them 100 per cent and not breaking down. That is what happened to Ryan Giggs – he came back and trained a full week and maybe did too much.

“He lasted only 25 minutes against West Brom and it was a loss, because we didn’t have real cover for the wide positions.”

Ferguson said that Rooney would have to battle to regain his place in the team because of the form of Javier Hernandez, who has scored seven goals in 13 games for United.

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Nani reveals Ronaldo boost

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Nani of Manchester UnitedManchester United (9/2 to win 2010-11 Premier League) winger Nani has hailed former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo as a key factor behind the player’s good run of form this season.

Nani has been in the headlines after scoring a dubious goal in the 2-0 win over Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Portuguese international touched the ball with his hand before tapping the ball past Heurelho Gomes who believed a free-kick had been given.

Nani has been a key player for United this season already scoring four goals in 10 appearances for the Red Devils.

The 23-year-old has revealed that his good form has been down in part to the encouragement he has received from Ronaldo.

United (9/1 to win the Champions League) sold Ronaldo for £80m last summer as he desired to leave the club for Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Nani has praised his former team-mate for his advice since his departure for the Santiago Bernabeu.

He said: “Cristiano is always there for me. We are big friends and he helps me with my game – even though he is in Madrid we speak all the time. It is great to have a friend like that, someone who can hear me out and give me encouragement.”

“Things are going well this season and now people are seeing the real Nani. My performance in the team has been very good, but I want to do more and I have to keep learning and improving,” he explained.

Nani has been tasked with filling the void left by Ronaldo and the talented winger has been putting in some good performances so far this season.

United have struggled for goals in the forward positions this season with Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen sidelined through injury, while Dimitar Berbatov failing to find the back of the net in his last six outings.

Nani has contributed to the goals this season and has praised Sir Alex Ferguson for his support this season.

The Portugal international said: “The manager has already played a big part in my form. He has a meeting with all the young players because now we are getting more opportunity.

“He is always impressing on the young players how it is important to get better. United is a big club and we need to win, so every player on the pitch needs to think he can be the best in the world.

“The manager tells us we are here because we are the best.”

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Davies has no scores to settle

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Bolton skipper Kevin Davies says he has nothing to prove to Roy Hodgson ahead of his side’s clash with Liverpool (Bolton 11/5, Draw 11/5, Liverpool 13/10 – Match Betting).

Hodgson signed Davies when he was Blackburn manager 12 years ago, but the move did not work out for the striker.

But while Davies (8/1 to score first goal) says he hopes Hodgson feels sick after today’s game, he did not criticise the manager for what happened during his time at Ewood Park.

Davies said: “Blackburn at the time was a difficult place and I wasn’t particularly happy, but the experience made me the man and player I am today.

“Roy Hodgson is a top bloke and brilliant coach. I hope he’s whingeing after the match just as other managers have when we’ve had big scalps in the past.”

Hodgson admits he remains a big fan of Davies, who recent earned his first cap for England (1/6 to win Group G) in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro.

“Kevin has done really well for himself and he is a fantastic footballer,” Hodgson told Liverpoolfc.tv.

“A lot of Bolton’s success has been largely due to the fact that he’s been such a handful up front. He has scored goals and created so many goals so he is a player I have a very special eye open for.”

Meanwhile, England international Gary Cahill says the Wanderers faithful have played a big part in making sure that the Trotters are unbeaten at the Reebok Stadium.

The defender told the club’s website: “The support this season has been superb. It’s important that we go out there and give 110 per cent and put in a performance that they deserve having paid their money to come and watch us every week.”

Bolton boss Owen Coyle has confirmed that striker Ivan Klasnic, who was suspended for the 1-1 draw at Wigan last weekend, is available for this afternoon’s clash against Liverpool.

Joey O’Brien, Ricardo Gardner, Jlloyd Samuel and Sean Davis are all still sidelined with long-term injuries, so Coyle has a settled squad to choose from.

Liverpool will give full-back Glen Johnson a fitness test prior to the match – the England international has missed the last three games with a thigh injury.

Dirk Kuyt is sidelined with a knee problem but is making good progress, while Daniel Agger is still missing with the calf injury which has kept him out for the past month.

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No fear, Harry tells Tottenham

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Harry Redknapp has told his Tottenham players to have no fear when they go to Manchester United on Saturday determined to prove they can mix it with the Premier League heavyweights (4/7 Man United 14/5 draw 5/1 Tottenham – 90 minutes betting).

Whisper it quietly to seasoned Tottenham followers, but you have to go back to 1989 to find the last time the north Londoners won at Old Trafford – just five months after Gareth Bale, who could be rested, was born.

It is an unwanted record Redknapp wants to shake off if Tottenham want to seal another place in the Premier League top four.

The White Hart Lane boss said: “Our league position is really the key because we need to finish in that top four if we want to be in the Champions League again.

“It’s important that we keep trying to pick up league points, even though we’re going to a great stadium with a special atmosphere and great tradition.”

Tottenham have failed to win any of their last 25 meetings with United in all competitions and Redknapp accepts it is a statistic which has to change.

He added: “It’s always a massive game and hopefully we will go up there and perform.”

Redknapp has admitted he is toying with the idea of wrapping Bale in cotton wool ahead of the visit of holders Internazionale FC in the Champions League on Tuesday (4/9 Tottenham – Uefa Champions League Group A – To Qualify).

He said: “Gareth Bale is fine but we’ve got two big games and I’ll look at it.

“He’s had a real hard spell of playing game after game and internationals. He had a few days off and went abroad – to Cardiff!

“He could have gone away but he wanted to spend a bit of time with his family.”

Tom Huddlestone will miss the trip north to take on Sir Alex Ferguson’s men because of an ankle injury, while Ledley King, Vedran Corluka, Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson, Jamie O’Hara and Jonathan Woodgate are all out.

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Jose hints at Herculean task

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Jose Mourinho has warned his Real Madrid players they cannot relax when they travel to Estadio Jose Rico Perez on Saturday to take on Hercules (9/1 Herucles, 21/5 draw, 3/10 Real Madrid – 90 minutes).

Spain’s capital club have banged in 16 goals in La Liga either side of the recent international break – going back to the 6-1 drubbing of strugglers Deportivo La Coruna – and head to Alicante determined to stay ahead of the chasing pack at the top of the table (10/11 Real Madrid – La Liga Outright).

However, Mourinho has called for a reality check from Real followers and has warned his players they must not expect a cakewalk against the La Liga newcomers.

He said in his Friday press conference: “We are in good shape. We are playing well and working hard. We are not children. There will be close calls because we cannot always win 6-1.

“We must stay on track and score goals, but this is a difficult championship and every match is different.”

Hercules caused a seismic shock when they beat champions Barcelona 2-0 at the Nou Camp on September 11 and the Portuguese coach know there can be no excuses, adding: “There is a long way to go. We have only played eight games.”

Xabi Alonso, Mesut Ozil, Marcelo and Ricardo Carvalho – who all missed the surprise goalless draw against Real Murcia in the Copa del Rey in midweek – will all return for Saturday’s trip.

Mourinho knows there can be no mistakes against Hercules, who also held Villarreal to a 2-2 draw at home recently, and has demanded his players pick up where they left off in La Liga (5/6 Real Madrid-Real Madrid – Half-time/Full-time).

He added: “I will make some changes against Hercules. It is an important match; even more so than a Champions League game because we cannot lose points. We want to win and remain on top of the table.

“The players I called up are those who are in the best form, and those who start will either be the same or very close to previous line-ups.

“I hope my players help bring home the three points so that we are still first come Sunday.”

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Players must ignore criticism – Hodgson

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Roy Hodgson has urged his Liverpool players to rise above the criticism and concentrate on turning around the season over the remaining seven months (Liverpool 13/10 in the match betting to beat Bolton).

The Reds have suffered their worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign and currently sit in 18th place in the table with just nine points from their first nine games played.

The boardroom battle for ownership of the club has hardly helped matters but, with John Henry now in charge, the financial side of affairs at Anfield appear to be sorting themselves out (Liverpool 11/1 to win Europa League).

The low point came in the 2-0 Merseyside derby defeat to Everton, which left Liverpool staring up at all but two teams in the top-flight table, while last Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers gave the club a boost and ensured that they are now only in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Such is the current state of the standings that one win from a team in the lower reaches could propel them into the top half and Hodgson’s men will have a chance at moving in the right direction when they face Owen Coyle’s side at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The former Fulham tactician admits that the early part of the campaign has been one to forget but believes that it is how the players react to adversity that will ultimately determine if they come out of the season with any credit.

“It is quite easy to kick people when they are down,” he said. “We are down at the moment so the kicks are going to rain down on us. We just have to deal with it.

“The first quarter of the season has not been a good one for us in terms of league form. The next three quarters is going to be very important.

“At the moment we are still in a poor position as far as our league position is concerned. We need to get a result in every game to get out of it.”

The 63-year-old is determined not to get carried away with things, after the successful takeover and the Blackburn victory, but he is confident that there is enough quality in his squad to improve their league position over the next couple of months.

“I am a bit wary of saying the problems are over, we have turned the corner, but I believe in the team and I believe we are capable of doing a lot better in the next quarter of the season than we have in the first quarter,” he added.

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Hughton receives Nolan backing

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Newcastle skipper Kevin Nolan has given his support to under-fire boss Chris Hughton, claiming he should remain in charge at St James’ Park no matter what happens in Sunday’s Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland (Black Cats 5/2 to beat Newcastle).

Speculation has been rife this week that the former Republic of Ireland international would be getting the hook in the coming weeks despite having got the Toon promoted last season.

The Tyneside outfit haven’t made a bad start to life in the Premier League after blitzing the Championship and are currently tenth with three wins from their first nine matches.

Despite having guided the team through a difficult period following relegation Hughton is still one of the favourites to become the next Premier League manager to get the sack.

Wednesday’s Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal did nothing to relieve the press on Hughton and Newcastle were forced to issue a statement insisting they had no intentions of sacking their manager, claiming they want to extend his current deal.

Despite the statement all the build-up to the Tyne-Wear derby continues to be focused on Hughton and whether or not he will be in charge for much longer.

The likes of Alan Pardew and Joe Kineaar have been linked with the job but Nolan has now come out to lend his support to his manager, insisting that he is “110 per cent” behind Hughton.

“No matter what happens on Sunday we are going to still be 110 per cent behind Chris Hughton,” Nolan told Sky Sports News.

“For the statements, for anything else we don’t care what anyone else says outside. As a group of players, as a squad, as a staff and I believe as fans too, we believe we are going in the right direction and the main focal point and the main leader in that is Chris Hughton.

“I think the talk is absolutely ridiculous on him having to win a game to stay in his job, it is absolutely ridiculous.

“No matter what, we want to see Chris Hughton in charge of us and we believe we are going in the right way with him in charge of us.”

Sunday’s visit of local rivals Sunderland (14/1 to be relegated) will be Hughton’s biggest test since he  got Newcastle (9/2) promoted and could go a long way to sealing his fate as Newcastle boss.

He will be hoping the Toon can keep up their recent good record against the Black Cats having lost just three times in 16 Premier League matches against their local neighbours.

Having rested the majority of his big-name players for this fixture Hughton has no new injury concerns, although Steven Taylor did lose his race against time to recover from a shoulder injury.

Sunderland have an almost fully-fit squad to choose from after Kieran Richardson returned from a hamstring injury, with just David Meyler and Frazier Campbell sidelined with long-term problems.

The Black Cats will be looking for their first win at St James’ Park since 2000 when now chairman Niall Quinn won the match with a towering header.

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Torres returning to form – Hodgson

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Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson firmly believes that striker Fernando Torres (14/1 Premiership Top Goalscorer) is now returning to his best form following his performance and winning goal against Blackburn last weekend.

The Spain international World Cup-winning hitman has endured a difficult campaign to date due to a lack of form following some injury problems which have blighted him since he underwent a knee operation in April.

However, Hodgson witnessed Torres put in a good shift against Rovers at Anfield and felt he looked a lot sharper, while his second goal of the season only heightened his belief that the former Atletico Madrid man could be set to hit top form.

Hodgson insists that Torres has always had the desire and will to do well for him since he replaced Rafa Benitez at Anfield in the summer, but claims the extra confidence the team are starting to show on the pitch is now having a positive impact on his game.

He added on LFC TV: “You do need, if you are going to have a good team, your good players in good form producing what they are capable of producing.

“With Fernando on Sunday we definitely saw that.

“I see it in training every day and I just hope he keeps going and we have a good few months of it.”

Torres will get a chance to add to his goals’ tally this weekend when the Reds travel to face Bolton at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday (Bolton 2/1, Liverpool 13/10, Draw 11/5 90 Minutes).

And Hodgson is looking for his side as a whole to secure a third Premier League win of the season and start pushing up the table (Liverpool 7/1 Top 4 Finish).

“The performance we gave in the second half against Everton and the whole of the game against Blackburn – that is what we need for the whole 90 minutes in the remaining 29 games.”

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Klose KO leaves Bayern bare

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Miroslav Klose has been added to Bayern Munich’s growing injury list, leaving Louis van Gaal with fewer options going into Friday’s must-win Bundesliga clash at home to Freiburg (Bayern 2/7 to win in 90 Minutes).

The Germany striker is set to spend the next three weeks on the sidelines at Bayern Munich after aggravating a thigh muscle injury in training.

Klose was originally injured playing for his country and he was enjoying a superb run of form for the national side, with six goals in four games this season leaving him only 10 away from equalling Gerd Mueller’s all-time record of 68 in a Germany shirt.

But his domestic record has not been impressive for a while, failing to notch in six Bundesliga appearances this term following on from his most meagre year when he bagged three times in 25 league appearances for the double-winning Munich club.

Having sat out Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over Werder Bremen in the German Cup with ‘flu, Klose pulled up in training and a scan revealed the damage.

Van Gaal will turn to Mario Gomez again tonight with Tony Kroos and Thomas Muller in support as the champions bid to stop a run of results which has seen them take just four points in the last four games.

Injuries can easily be blamed with wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben out for long spells, the latter not having played all season.

The key duo have now been joined on the sidelines by captain Mark van Bommel, defenders Diego Contento and Breno as well as midfielder David Alaba.

With Klose out and fellow striker Ivica Olic still required to wear a facemask to protect a broken nose, Gomez is Bayern’s only fit all-out striker – and he has only scored three times – a hat-trick against hannover a fortnight ago.

Bayern’s lowly tally of eight goals represents the worst return from any club in the Bundesliga this season and they sit 12 points behind pacesetters Mainz going into this weekend’s matches, in 11th place.

Muller, a star of the World Cup who bagged a hat-trick against England, has now failed to score in nine matches for club and country and looks to be struggling in the elevated expectations  of him post-South Africa.

Freiburg are not expected to get much from their Friday night trip to the Allianz arena but can at least boast an in-form striker in Papiss Cisse.

The 25-year-old has scored eight times in nine Bundesliga matches this season and bagged in their shock midweek Cup defeat to second division Energie Cottbus.

Freiburg, however, have lost their last three away matches by a 2-1 scoreline (Bayern 2-1 7/1 in Correct Score) and will be expected to go down again on Friday.

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Rooney doubtful for derby return

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Wayne Rooney (12/1 in Premiership Top Scorer 2010/2011) could be out of action for more than three weeks, according to Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Rooney suffered another ankle injury in training last week in a tackle from Paul Scholes prior to United’s Champions League victory over Bursaspor.

The England striker’s return had been pencilled in, by media and fans at least, for the Manchester derby at Eastlands on November 10, but Ferguson’s comments cast doubt on that now.

When asked if three weeks remained the prognosis, Ferguson, speaking ahead of Saturday’s late Premier League game against Tottenham at Old Trafford, replied: “I think it may be longer. There is no recovery, it is just rest. Before he went away we did his remedial in terms of what we could do at the time. Thereafter, rest – we’re quite happy with that.”

Ferguson’s message to Rooney following his new, record-breaking five-year deal last week, appears to be about him remaining the boss, but his continued praise for the lively Javier Hernandez (25/1) also could be construed as a word of warning to the England striker to pull his socks up.

The United boss said he was happy with the form of ‘Chicharito’ and stated that when Rooney does come back he will have some big decisions to make about team selection.

Hernandez has taken his opportunity well in the last month and banged in four goals in his last three starts, including the winners against Stoke City and Wolverhampton Wanderers (4/7 Man United 11/4 draw 9/2 Tottenham – 90 minutes betting).

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