Tag Archives: gets

Hodgson gets Henry’s backing

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New Liverpool owner John W Henry has told boss Roy Hodgson and his Liverpool squad that New England Sports Ventures will ’support you and encourage you’ ahead of Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Everton (Everton 6/4, Liverpool 11/5, Draw 15/8 90 Minutes).

NESV’s head man Henry has chosen to speak out about the current manager and team following a meeting with them on Saturday, the day after the £300million takeover from former US owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks finally got the go-ahead.

And the current owner of the successful Boston Red Sox baseball team insisted that NESV will give them every opportunity to shake of their disappointing start to the Premier League campaign and begin to climb the table (Liverpool 15/2 Top 4 Finish).

Henry told the News of the World: “I think our message was simple: ‘We’re here to support you and encourage you’.

“Our feeling is we’re here to stabilise and to answer questions that might be lingering, and to just come in and have the same attitude we had in Boston.

“That is to be smart managers and to listen. Our first intention is under-promise but over-deliver.”

Henry claims NESV’s main aim with Liverpool is to get them consistently battling it out with the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the same way they managed to get Boston on a par with baseball giants New York Yankees since taking over there.

However, he added: “It’s a huge challenge but we’re aware how much work it’s going to take to do that.”

Meanwhile NESV chairman Thomas Werner showed he is singing from the Henry’s hymn sheet when he pledged his support for Hodgson and the current staff at Liverpool in their pursuit of success (Liverpool 10/1 Europa League Outright).

And Werner also promised the supporters, who he compared to the Boston Red Sox faithful, that they will do all they can to achieve big things on Merseyside.

He added on www.liverpoolfc.tv: “They’re loyal, they’re passionate and it’s our good fortune to be stewards and we hope that we will take care of this extraordinary club and provide it with the resources and the commitment to win in the near future and hopefully restore some of its lustre.”

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Cahill gets England nod

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Gary Cahill has been called up by England to replace the injured Phil Jagielka for Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro at Wembley (1/7 to win Group G).

The Everton defender was forced to sit out training on Friday after suffering a hamstring injury earlier in the week.

Jagielka, who started last month’s win in Switzerland, underwent a scan and the medical team confirmed he would not be able to play any part against Montenegro (11/1 to win Group G).

The 28-year-old has now been replaced by Bolton’s Cahill, although Fabio Capello is expected to recall Rio Ferdinand and John Terry to the starting line-up.

England should also be able to call upon Gareth Barry in midweek, after the Manchester City returned to the Three Lions (8/1 Euro 2012 Outright Winners) camp.

Barry was allowed to have additional time at home because of personal reasons, but the midfielder is likely to start on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, there remain question marks over whether Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere will play any part for the senior squad.

The Gunners’ youngster is expected to team up with Capello’s men despite featuring for the Under 21’s on Friday evening.

Wilshere played a key role in helping Stuart Pearce’s men claim a 2-1 victory over Romania at Carrow Road, in the first leg of their Euro 2011 play-off.

Pearce said afterwards: “I spoke with Fabio before the match was played, and I think Jack will be meeting up with the seniors.

“Part of me is pleased that he is going, as it shows to the rest of the squad the pathway which is there for the players, part of me would have liked to have him in Romania.

“However, we feel as if we have quality in the squad and whomever plays will do themselves proud on Tuesday.”

England are currently second in Group G having played a game less than Montenegro, who defeated Switzerland 1-0 on Friday evening.

Tuesday’s match will be England’s final game of the year, with Euro 2010 qualifying not resuming until March 2011.

Following the international break, Capello will take his squad to Cardiff to face Wales (33/1 to qualify for Euro 2012), still pointless in the group, on Saturday March 26.

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Houllier gets Heskey backing

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Emile Heskey is hopeful that his former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier ‘can bring good times’ to Aston Villa (10/1 Premiership Top 4 Finish) following his recent appointment as Martin O’Neill’s successor at Villa Park.

Former England striker, Heskey, revelled under the Frenchman’s stewardship at Anfield 10 years ago when he bagged an impressive 22 goals in his first season alongside the prolific Michael Owen after being signed by Houllier for £11million from Leicester City.

Ironically, Heskey immediately found his golden touch in Houllier’s first game in charge of Villa on Wednesday when he scored one and set up two Ashley Young goals as a second half substitute in the side’s 3-1 Carling Cup (Villa 7/1 Outright) win against Blackburn Rovers.

And the 32-year-old is now backing Houllier to emulate his record at Liverpool – where he won an FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup treble in 2000-01 – to bring some long-awaited success to the Villains.

Ahead of Houllier’s first Premier League game in charge at Wolves on Sunday (Wolves 17/10, Villa 7/5, draw 12/5 90 Minutes), Heskey said: “It’s nice to be reunited with the manager. I know all about him and fingers crossed he will bring good times back to Villa.

“He did brilliantly at Liverpool and I am sure he can do the same here.

“He has many qualities and discipline on and off the park is one thing he definitely brings.”

Meanwhile, Heskey is now looking to try and have more of an impact with Villa, where he has struggled to play regular first-team football since being snapped up from Wigan in January 2009.

He added: “I’ve been working hard in training to be ready for when called upon.

“Even when (caretaker manager) Kevin MacDonald was in charge, he said ‘make sure you are ready’ so I’ve been working on that.”

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Upson gets Slovenia nod

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Fabio Capello has revealed Matthew Upson will play in central defence when England take on Slovenia in Wednesday’s must-win clash.
(England 4/9 to win).

Capello has been heavily criticised after reports claimed that he only named his side to face Algeria a couple of hours before kick off, but now he has made it clear well in advance that Upson will play.

England will be without Jamie Carragher through suspension against Slovenia while Ledley King will miss out with a groin injury so Capello is forced to turn to Upson.

There had been suggestions that Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, who was called up as a late replacement for Rio Ferdinand, could step in but the Italian is going with the tried and tested Upson.

The West Ham stopper, who has been dogged by injury problems, has played alongside John Terry in the qualifiers and Capello will go with him again rather than take a risk on Dawson, who has yet to win a cap.

“Upson will play because he always played with John Terry and I probably will change some others,” Capello confirmed.

What other changes Capello makes will probably be kept under wraps but it comes as no surprise following the dismal performance against Algeria in the 0-0 draw on Friday.

Something has to be done to get Wayne Rooney more into the game and it would certainly help if Steven Gerrard was playing in the right position.

It looks as though Emile Heskey will make way which would allow Gerrard to slot in just behind Rooney with Joe Cole expected to come in down the left flank.

Other than that you cannot imagine the Italian will tinker too much and the majority of England’s under-performing stars should get a chance to put matters right on Wednesday afternoon.

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Dindane gets Cup final go-ahead

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Aruna DindaneOn-loan striker Aruna Dindane has been given the green light to play for Portsmouth in the FA Cup final against Chelsea by his parent-club Lens (Pompey 9/2 to win the Cup).

The news is a major boost for Pompey ahead of the Wembley showdown next month (Chelsea 1/8 to retain the trophy) after it initially looked like the key forward would be denied the chance to play for Avram Grant’s side again this season.

Under the original terms of his season-long loan switch to Fratton Park, Portsmouth would have had to sign him on a permanent basis for £4million if he had made one more appearance but, after holding discussions with the French side, Pompey have now received clearance to play him without having to fork out any cash.

The administrator in charge of the south coast club, Andrew Andronikou, says the player has been told by Lens he is now free to play in any of the club’s remaining four games – including the Cup final  (HT-FT draw-Portsmouth – 18/1).

“Aruna in on his way back with a letter from Lens,” Andronikou said.

“I have been told he can play the rest of our games – including the Chelsea final – and we won’t have to pay any money.”

Dindane has scored seven goals for Portsmouth in all competitions this season but, following the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool in March, the Ivory Coast international has only featured in one more game for Grant’s side – the 2-0 Cup semi-final win over Spurs  – because they were unable to afford to pay the money to Lens another appearance would have triggered.