Browse Month: December 2010

CLUBS NAME 25 MAN SQUAD

English Premier League clubs have named their 25-man squads for the new season. Manchester United have included injury-plagued midfielder Owen Hargreaves, while striker Roque Santa Cruz makes Manchester City’s roster.

Stoke have omitted forward Mamady Sidibe, who snapped an Achilles tendon.

Arsenal have not listed any Englishmen but Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are among the English under-21 contingent.

Michael Kightly has also been left out of Wolves’ squad for the first half of the season because of knee problems. Santa Cruz figures in City manager Roberto Mancini’s 25-man Premier League squad, despite much speculation that the Paraguayan striker would not.

Santa Cruz joins up with Mario Balotelli, Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Jo in a fearsome array of firepower which will be at Mancini’s disposal.

The new Premier League rule required clubs to name a squad of 25 senior players by 1700 BST, 1 September, with only players under the age of 21 allowed to supplement that line-up until January.

The Premier League says the new rules are designed to increase the number of young “home-grown” players in the Premier League, with a long-term aim of giving more options to the England manager.

HIDDINK COMMITTED TO TURKEY

Guus Hiddink has said that he will not be joining Chelsea and will be staying loyal to Turkey. Hiddink is contracted to Turkey until the end of Euro 2012 but could leave this autumn if they fail to qualify.

“He is focusing on his job and he likes what he is doing,” said Cees van Nieuwenhuizen.

“Once [Turkey’s European Championships campaign] is finished, he will start thinking about his future.”

On Sunday, Chelsea sacked Carlo Ancelotti after he ended his second season at the club without a trophy.

They finished as runners-up in the Premier League after Manchester United clinched their 19th title, lost to United in the Champions League quarter-finals, and also missed out in the FA Cup and League Cup.

BOLTON AND BLACKPOOL DRAW

Bolton managed to to come from two goals behind to draw with Blackpool. Defender Ian Evatt headed the visitors ahead in the first half from a precise Elliot Grandin corner.

Luke Varney headed another Grandin corner into the Bolton net to make it 2-0 just before the hour.

But Martin Petrov pulled one back with a delightful volley and Mark Davies rescued the home side with a calm side-foot finish a minute from time.

Before the match, Blackpool manager Ian Holloway had spoken of his admiration for Owen Coyle, who has turned Bolton into attack-minded entertainers this season.

Indeed, with 26 goals from 14 matches, Wanderers came into the game unbeaten in November and with a goal tally bettered by only four Premier League sides.

HOULLIER RELIEF AT WIN

Gerard Houllier has said that he is relieved to win the match against West Brom in the Barclays Premier league. Villa’s sorry 3-0 defeat at Houllier’s former club Liverpool had raised questions, but the French boss felt his players responded well to adversity.

“I was pleased with the attitude. When you go through a bad patch, you need to keep cool and more focused,” he said.

“The feeling is one of relief. I was proud of the response of the players.”

Goals in each half from Stewart Downing and the fit-again Emile Heskey, both from Marc Albrighton crosses, ensured that former Wigan star Paul Scharner’s late header counted for nothing as the impressive visitors pushed the hosts hard at Villa Park.

MUNTARI JOINS SUNDERLAND

Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari has signed for Sunderland on loan till the end of the season. Muntari, 26, played for Portsmouth in the Premier League during the 2007-08 season before moving to Inter.

The Ghana international won the treble of the Italian Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League under ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho last season.

But he has struggled to secure first-team football at the San Siro since then and handed in a transfer request.

WELLINGTON JOINS LEVANTE

Arsenal striker Wellington has joined Spanish side Levante on loan. Wellington, 18, joined Arsenal from Brazilian side Fluminense earlier this month in a deal worth around £3.5m.

But the striker’s application for a work permit was turned down leaving Arsenal little option but to loan him. Napoli had the same problems.

“Levante have reached agreement on principle with Arsenal for the loan of their player Wellington Alves da Silva,” Levante said on their website.

Diego Cavalieri is also tipped to join Levante.

WENGER WORKING WITH A BUDGET

Arsene Wenger says that he respects Arsenal’s budget constraints in the English Premier league. Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger has stated that he would have to remain inside the budget allotted to him, for the winter transfer window.

Although, Wenger is not known to be a big spender in any Football transfer window and for him to say that he would respect the budget, would mean, no signings this winter.

Wenger is the manager known for signing young players, who show some sort of talent, in leagues all around the world. However, Arsenal has not won a single trophy for the past five years and the manager’s transfer policy has been criticized owing to that.

JONES SIGNS EXTENSION

Blackburn Rovers player Phil Jones has signed an extension to his existing contract. Currently injured, the 18-year-old England Under-21 international agreed a one-year extension on Tuesday.

“This is great news, especially on the back of so many other key players committing themselves to the club,” said Rovers manager Steve Kean.

“Phil has made incredible progress and his form, prior to his unfortunate injury, attracted a lot of attention.”

CLUBS HIT 700 MARK

Seven clubs have hit the 700 mark having now played their 700th Premier League matches. Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have featured in all 19 Premier League campaigns since its inception in the 1992/93 season.

Everton and Manchester United became the first clubs to hit the 700 mark when they met in Saturday’s early kick-off at Goodison Park. They marked the milestone in style with a pulsating 3-3 draw which encapsulated all that is good about the Barclays Premier League. To mark the occasion 7 Everton fans were given season-long Everton Hospitality packages.

They were quickly followed to the landmark by Arsenal who beat Bolton Wanderers 4-1, Chelsea who won 3-1 at West Ham United and Spurs who drew 1-1 at West Bromwich Albion. The following day Liverpool drew 0-0 at Birmingham City and Villa made it to 700 at Stoke City losing 2-1 on Monday night.

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