8 February 2006

Kroldrup - Technique More Valued in Italy

Speaking after returning to Serie A after a six month injury plagued spell at Everton, Fiorentina's Per Kroldrup said :

"I still feel I could have done well in the Premier League. Technical qualities are much more important in Italy. I am used to coaches and fans who prefer that you play yourselves out of trouble and pass to a team-mate."

Liverpool Link-up With Ghanaians

Liverpool have agreed a deal to link-up with Ghanaian side Ashgold. Under the agreement Liverpool will have first refusal on any young players from the club. Rivals Manchester United and Arsenal have similar deals in place with Belgian sides.

Spanish FA Fail Again

In another example of the ineptitude of the Spanish FA, Valencia were fined a meagre €6,000 after a linesman was cut open by an object thrown by one of their supporters during a Spanish Cup match against Deportivo. The Spanish Football Federation have showed an equal lack of backbone in dealing with a serious of racial incidents this season.

DFB Name Sammer Technical Director

Matthias Sammer has been named the new technical director of German football by the DFB (German FA). Sammer was named European footballer of the year in 1996 after winning the European Cup with Dortmund and leading Germany to glory at the European Championships. German national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who laughably wanted the men's field hockey coach to take the role, spoke of
his disappointment :

"We'll swallow this pill, even if we're convinced Peters would have been a better choice. The matter is now closed. We're now going to concentrate on the World Cup."

7 February 2006

Donadoni Quits Livorno

Roberto Donadoni has quit as Livorno coach after the club's president Aldo Spinelli
launched an astonishing attack following Sunday's 2-2 draw against Messina :

"Sunday's result is his fault. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it. On Sunday he
had a disastrous match, just like the referee. In my opinion that defeat, because that
was a defeat, is the Coach's fault. Let's be clear about it the substitutions, some of the
changes…. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it. From now until Thursday I hope that Donadoni matures and that these things pass. His choices and all the other things have made me think seriously."

Livorno lead the match 2-0 before conceding two penalties, including one in the 96th minute.

Donadoni said :

"It's the hardest and most painful decision I've had to make in my entire career but I was left with no option after what happened on Monday night when the President criticised my work live on TV. If the intention was for me to hand in my resignation, here it is."

Donadoni has done a simply phenomenal job, leading an average quality team with no budget to 9th place last season and 6th place this season. Donadoni is second favourite to succeed Carlo Ancelotti as Milan coach next season behind another of the club's legends, Marco Van Basten.

FIFA Give Turks 6 Game Ban

FIFA has ordered Turkey to play their next six games behind closed doors at a neutral venue as punishment for their part in the post match fracas in November's World Cup qualifying play-off defeat against Switzerland. The Turkish FA, who have been fined €129,000, will have to pay all costs involved in staging the matches.

Turkish players Alpay Ozalan and Emre Belezoglu were fined €8,651 and given 6 match
international bans. Serkan Balci was fined €3,217 and given a two match ban. Assistant coach Mehmet Ozdilek was banned from taking part in football, in an capacity, for a year and also fined €8,651. Swiss player Benjamin Huggel was also suspended for six matches and fined €8,651 and the team's physiotherapist, Stephan Meyer, was banned for two matches and fined €4,183.

6 February 2006

Parreira Warns Dida

Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has warned first choice goalkeeper Dida that he must improve his form after a mistake laden season with Milan or face the axe in the World Cup :

"It's too early to drop Dida. He has always been my first choice and his past form has
been a tremendous boost to previous campaigns. However, if he does want to go to the World Cup he must find his form quickly."

Barton Credits Adams for Turnaround

Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton has credited Tony Adams' Sporting Chance clinic with rescuing his career. Barton was fined for poking a lit cigarette in the eye of former team-mate Jamie Tandy at a Christmas party in 2004 and in the clubs pre season tour of Thailand last year he was sent home for fighting after hitting a 15 year old Everton fan at a hotel then team-mate Richard Dunne when he tried to break it up :

"The thing with me was not how much I was drinking but I would get into trouble when I had a drink. What I realized was that as a professional player you have to make the most of what you have got and give it 100%. For that reason I have not had a drink since being sent home from Thailand. It is not where I want to go with my life. I find it beneficial for my career not to do it. Of course I have been tempted. It makes your forget your problems but that would be the easy way. You wake up the next day with a massive headache and the same problems."

When sent to Adams' Sporting chance clinic :

"My first reaction was that I was not mad and that I could deal with it myself. I was expecting to see people in straight jackets and Jack Nicholson to come in like a scene from the film 'One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest' but when I came away from the place I felt as though I had left a bag full of worries down there. I think that has shown on the pitch this season."

5 February 2005

Big Phil Hints At England Job

Portugal's brilliant coach Luiz 'Big Phil' Felipe Scolari has dropped not so subtle hints that he is interested in the England job after he emerged as one of the favourites to success Sven-Goran Eriksson when he 'steps down' after the World Cup finals :

"England have a fantastic national team but it is not for me at this moment. I am very happy in my job with Portugal but when I finish my contract in July I will be free. I am a good coach and a man of the world. Portugal are a better team now than before. I am happy in any country. I have worked in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Brazil. If I want to go to England, I need to learn the language better and know more about the job. That could take two or three months but is not a problem for me. The language of the players I know very well but it is important to communicate to the people."

The incompetent FA missed a chance to appoint Scolari as England coach after he guided Brazil to their fifth World Cup in 2002.

Shepherd Wants Foreign Coach

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd appears to have set his sights on appointing a foreign coach as Graeme Souness' long-term replacement, quashing rumours that Bolton's Sam Allardyce was set for the job in the summer :

"In the past I have expressed a preference for a British manager but I feel that at this difficult time we have to look at every option open to us.  That means we will be looking at every available candidate, no matter which country they coach or manage in. It is a World Cup year and that could throw up one or two interesting possibilities. Ideally, I would like to have the managerial situation sorted out sooner rather than later, but if waiting until after the World Cup led to getting the right man then I would be prepared to bide my time."

Shepard was also critical of Graeme Souness' reign, despite taking an eternity to sack him :

"Graeme had a lot of injuries but he also let a lot of good young players go - either selling them or sending them out on loan. James Milner, Jermaine Jenas, Darren Ambrose, Craig Bellamy, Laurent Robert, Aaron Hughes, Andy O'Brien. All of them would have done a job for the team. I know better than anyone Craig could be an irritant but he wasn't so bad that he couldn't be handled. By falling out with him so publicly, Newcastle lost a star player for the knockdown price of £5 million (€7.28 million) and the team's attacking play has not been as fluent since."

"In recent weeks, there has been talk of an injury curse, which I don't buy. Certainly the club have suffered poor luck but there were still enough expensive players on the pitch for results to have been better. However many mistakes Jean-Alain Boumsong made at the back, communication with the rest of his defenders never improved under Graeme and his coaches, which baffled me, to be honest."

4 February 2006

Cascarino Admits To Being Doped

Speaking on Marseille player Jean-Jacques Eydelie claims that he and his team-mates, with the exception of Rudi Voller, were injected with foreign substances ahead of the 1993 European Cup final against Milan :

"To be honest with you, I had heard the same thing when I arrived at the club in 1994. From the first day I was told exactly the same story, so it was not an enormous shock when the news broke."

Cascarino backed-up Eydelie claims that doping was commonplace in France :

"I admit that I received injections but I know many other players who did the same.
I don't know exactly what it was but I'm 99% sure that it was not legal."

Despite Cascarino's revelations UEFA insist they will not investigate the claims.

3 February 2006

Solicitor  Insists Campbell Has No Personal Issues

Bon Battu, the solicitor for Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, insists his client isn't suffering from personal issues :

"Sol is absolutely fine. I have been in continuous contact with him since Wednesday evening. He needed time and space to gather his thoughts. He has no personal problems whatsoever. He will be back training next week."

Arsene Wenger however suggested otherwise :

"The only thing you can do is accept that every human being reacts differently to problems and the only thing we can do as a club is to support people when they need our help. Every human being has the right to privacy and you try to respect that. When players come out with their private life you have to support them but some don't like it and you have to respect that. Am I worried? No, not really. He is in a difficult period at the moment. And you can only help people if they are in touch. I haven't seen him since Wednesday night and I have no news from him at the moment. It is not a big concern for me because I feel he just needs a break. Will a few days to clear his head be sufficient? I think so. I do not know what the problem is. Frankly, really and sincerely
I don't know but I feel he is a very honest person. I like him very much as a person
because he is honest and straight and not malicious. He is just a guy I rate highly as a human being."

Sol Campbell walked out of Highbury at half time last Wednesday after a shocking first half performance which helped gift West Ham a two goal lead.

FA Sign €46.65 Million Deal With E.ON.

The FA have signed a FA Cup sponsorship deal with Germany energy company E.ON. at a cost of €46.65 over four years. As part of the deal E.ON. will also sponsor the FA Youth Cup and Women's FA Cup.

Beckenbauer Gives England The Kiss of Death

In preparation for his possible role as UEFA or FIFA chairman (i.e. playing politician) the legendary Franz Beckenbaur claims England are the best team in Europe :

"For me, England are still the best team in Europe. England's defence is excellent and they had only one loss in qualification. It would be great for them to win it 40 years after their last one. My personal top favourite is Brazil, they are full of world-class players and also impressed in the Confederations Cup but in 2002, I said France and Argentina were my favourites and both went home after the group stages!"

Beckenbauer questioned the chances of his home nation and hosts Germany :

"It is a young team, and I am really curious how they are doing. Two years of exhibition games are easy, but to play a World Cup is tremendous pressure - and can the young players take this?"

2 February 2006

Roma Supporters Face Action for Nazi Banners
 
Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said legal action is being taken against 11 Roma fans for displaying banners carrying Nazi symbols during last week's league match against Livorno at the Olimpico. Roma will play their next home game behind closed doors at a neutral venue.

Souness Sacked

Graeme Souness' 15 month reign as Newcastle coach has come to an end a day after the club suffered a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City. Despite spending somewhere in the region of €80 million euros the club finished 14th last season and this season were close to being dragged into a relegation dogfight. A statement released by the club read :

"Newcastle United today announced that the employment of Graeme Souness has been terminated with immediate effect."

Former Newcastle captain and, Glenn Roeder, who was the head of the club's youth academy, will be the first team coach until the end of the season with Alan Shearer as his assistant.

Klinsmann Ridiculed for Wanting to Bring In Field Hockey Coach

Germany national coach Jurgen Klinsmann wants the countries field hockey coach, Bernhard Peters, to be appointed director of the German FA (DFB) :

"Bernhard Peters is the man who can help us progress. It would do football some good to open up. In the last 10 or  15 years we have been sleeping in Germany."

Former national team coach and World Cup winner Berti Vogts replied :

"I think hockey is a different sport to football (no shit). You can not compare the two and I can not believe the idea."

1 February 2006

Wenger Confirms Campbell Walkout

Arsene Wenger has confirmed reports that defender Sol Campbell, disgusted with his first half performance in Arsenal's 2-3 defeat against West Ham earlier today, walked out :

"Yes, he left the ground. He was very down at halftime, he felt very guilty. I took him off as in his mental state he was too down to come back. He did not have permission (to leave) but he did not mean it to be disrespectful to the club or the team."

Lampard Wins Fans Award

Frank Lampard has been voted England Player of the Year for 2005 in a poll conducted by the FA on their website. Lampard finished in first place with 29% of the votes, Steven Gerrard in 2nd place with 18% and Wayne Rooney in 3rd place with 16%.