Villa plays down apparent rift with Raul
February 26, 2010
David Villa has made it clear he has no problem with Real Madrid legend Raul.
Recent comments made by former Real coach Bernd Schuster have led some to suggest that Raul blocked a move for Villa by Los Blancos, but the Valencia striker has rubbished such suggestions.
“That rumour is not true,” Villa told Marca.
“It is impossible that a player with as much class on and off the pitch as Raul would speak poorly of me.
“I have always had a good relationship with Raul, even though we have hardly met on international duty.”
Villa then commented on the summer transfer saga in more detail: “Before the Euros, the club told me what my asking price was, and I thought they were going to sell me.”
“But when I returned from my vacations, (club president) Vicente Soriano said that he did not want me to leave Valencia.”
“That removed all doubt for me.”
Portsmouth set to go in Administration
February 26, 2010
Portsmouth are set to go into administration after the club announced it was unlikely that the club would have a new owner would be found before Monday’s winding-up hearing in the High Court. The Fratton Park club will become the first Premier league club to enter administration.
The move will mean the automatic deduction of nine points, a fact which may very well seal Pompey’s relegation to the Championship at the end of the season.
In a statement on the club’s website Phil Hall, spokesman for the owner Balram Chainrai said, “There is now only a short window of opportunity for buyers to come in with a credible offer. We have to be realistic and having the club wound up is not an option as far as we are concerned.
“The partners have put £17 million of their own money into the club and have a responsibility to ensure Portsmouth Football Club survives.
“Administration would mean the club re-emerging as a healthy financial entity. The club would then become an attractive proposition for a potential buyer who could invest new funds in rebuilding the club’s future.
“We would like to ask the fans, the staff and management of Portsmouth Football Club for their support and patience should this step be taken, as they believe it is the only route left open to them.”
The South Coast club face a winding-up petition from the government’s Revenue and Customs department in the High Court on Monday and manager Avram Grant revealed his fury at the club’s current miserable situation that made his job impossible.
“I feel very sad, very angry, but I need to understand more of the situation. I came to do a football job here and at every step, I couldn’t do the job, I am very sad for me and for everybody.”
Lennon to visit specialist
February 25, 2010
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon will see a specialist for his groin injury. Lennon has been out of action for Spurs since picking up the long-term injury in December during his team’s 2-0 win over West Ham.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp had hoped the England international would be back in action last month, but Lennon faces a further spell on the sidelines after suffering a setback in training earlier this week.
Redknapp said he is unsure when Lennon will be fit to play again for the White Hart Lane outfit and stated that Lennon is missed.
“He is seeing a specialist tomorrow,” said Redknapp, speaking after Tottenham’s 4-0 FA Cup replay win over Bolton on Wednesday. “We just hope we get some good news from Aaron.
“He is going to see somebody abroad and hopefully we can get somebody who can get to the bottom of the problem for him because he is desperate to play.
“It’s shame for him and it’s a shame for us. We all miss him, he is a fantastic player.”
Swindon youngster on trial at Liverpool
February 25, 2010
16-year-old Swindon goalkeeper Jamie Stephens will spend next week training with Premier League side Liverpool. Stephens has impressed scouts during his appearances for the Robins’ youth team.
The young goalkeeper has been handed a chance to train with the Reds at the Reds’ Kirkby Academy.
Swindon manager Danny Wilson has agreed for the youngster to head to Merseyside for a week, but the club says that there are currently no plans in place for a transfer.
Wayne Bridge shuns England
February 25, 2010
Wayne Bridge has shunned England and declared himself unavailable for the world cup in South Africa. The defender, who has been at the centre of a media maelstrom since news broke over an alleged affair between John Terry and his former partner, Veronce Perron.
Ina statement to the press, Bridge referred to his position with the England Camp as “untenable and divisive.” Bridge went on to say that “I feel for the sake of the team and in order to avoid what will be inevitable distractions, I have decided not to put myself forward for selection. I have today informed the management of this decision. I wish the team all the very best in South Africa.” This stands in stark contrast with Fabio Capello’s conviction earlier in the week that Wayne Bridge would be starting in the game against Egypt.
Proof, if it were needed, that events off the pitch can spill over and affect the composition of those on it was confirmed in this shock statement issued. There has been much debate over recent weeks regarding the role of professional footballers over whether events in their private lives should remain private or be publicized and chewed over by the general public. Bridge, it seems, has taken enough and has put himself in the media spotlight here so that he will eventually be able to withdraw from the issue. No doubt the players decision is partly to do with the belief that the public would continue to question his feelings of animosity towards John Terry and his impact on the England squad consistently, up to and including the finals themselves in June.
Although Bridge has potentially exposed himself to some criticism for putting personal feelings before national pride and patriotism, one could argue that he is perfectly entitled to do so. While John Terry will no doubt squirm as uncomfortably as he is able to at this news, he should take on board that his role within the squad was not just team mate and captain, but a respected colleague and, he claims, former friend. Bridge’s announcement shows the impact that this betrayal has had on him, and for all the hype, has shown that he is a human being who has been put in a position that most would sympathise with. It is one thing to cheat on your wife, but to do so with a colleague and friend is the ultimate betrayal; this is just as true for everyone as it is for International footballers.
Bridge has decided that he cannot forgive and forget and sweep his issues with John Terry under the carpet for the sake of the England football team. Whether this is commendable or not is a different question, but the Manchester City defender has emphasized to the squad, the nation and to Terry that the Chelsea defender remains unforgiven.
Luckily for Capello, ‘A Different League’ has already undertaken to answer the question of who will fill in for Cole at left back by highlighting the qualities of Leighton Baines and Stephen Warnock. It is worth remembering too, that on a footballing level Bridge has been unspectacular at international level, and that the squad is likely to contain both James Milner and Gareth Barry, who can both play left back if necessary. Therefore it seems that the biggest problem facing Capello is not filling the positional void left by Bridges withdrawal from the squad. Rather, he needs to bring together a squad that may be in jeopardy of separating itself on moral grounds.
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