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Government approves stadium use




By Japheth Kazenga



12th January 2011




The Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports has allowed the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to host Mainland Premier League matches at the ultra-modern National Stadium in Dar es Salaam effectively from this weekend.
TFF secretary general Angetile Osiah said the federation received the formal permission yesterday, adding that they were waiting for a written confirmation so they could officially start using the venue.
"We have already been given permission to use the National Stadium for all Mainland Premier League matches that will be played in Dar es Salaam thus all Dar es Salaam teams will be free to use the venue," he said.
He said the federation thanks the ministry for granting the permission.
The decision by the ministry to give TFF green light to use the stadium for premier league games means the country's big guns Simba and Yanga, plus other Dar es Salaam-based outfits Azam FC and African Lyon, will no longer use upcountry stadiums as their home venues.
The four teams were forced to play their home matches in upcountry stadiums throughout the first phase of the league following the decision by the ministry to temporarily close the Uhuru Stadium for minor renovation.
Simba, who are the league's defending champions, opted to play their home matches at the CCM-Kirumba Stadium in Mwanza while Yanga and African Lyon used Morogoro's Jamhuri Stadium as their home venue.
Azam FC, currently one of the strong contenders for the trophy in the league, chose Mkwakwani Stadium for home games.
The quartet were again facing the prospects of continuing to play in the same venues during the second phase of the league after the ministry delayed to respond to the teams' request to use the National Stadium.
Meanwhile, TFF has stopped local soccer stakeholders from organizing friendly matches in the country so that the federation's sports calendar could be properly observed.
Osiah said the calendar will effectively resume this weekend and TFF was determined to ensure all soccer stakeholders adhere to it.
"TFF will not allow local soccer stakeholders to organize friendly matches from this weekend because they are supposed to abide to the sports calendar. The federation will take stern measures against anyone who will go against the order," he said.
He also noted that TFF is the sole body that has the right to allow the stakeholders to organize friendly matches, adding that anybody wishing to either host friendlies between local teams or invite teams from outside the country should contact the federation beforehand.
In another development, African Lyon has permitted its talismanic striker Yusuph Soka to travel to Sweden where he is expected to undergo trials with Athletico Football Academy.
Osiah said Soka was earlier barred from leaving for Sweden by his club but TFF later solved the matter.



SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
 
Simba, Yanga kumwapisha upya Dk Shein
Tuesday, 11 January 2011 20:05

Jackson Odoyo,Zanzibar
SHEREHE za miaka 47 ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar, zitaitimishwa leo kwa aina yake wakati Rais wa Zanzibar, Dk Ali Mohamed Shein atakapokuwa akishuhudia watani wa jadi Simba na Yanga wakionyeshana ubabe kwenye Uwanja wa Amaan mjini hapa majira ya Saa 2:30.

Ugeni huo wa Rais Shein ndio uliosababisha kubadilisha ratiba ya mechi hiyo kutoka saa 10:30 jioni hadi saa mbili usiku kwa mujibu wa taarifa iliyotolewa na Mwenyekiti wa mashindano hayo Mohamed Raza.

"Tumelazimika kubadilisha ratiba ya mechi hiyo baada ya kumuomba Dk Shein kuwa mgeni rasmi naye kukubali, lakini akaomba yafanyike marekebisho kidogo ya ratiba hiyo kutokana na majukumu yake, "alisema Raza.

Alisema kamati yake imefurahishwa na hatua ya Rais Shein kukubaliana na ombi lao kwa hiyo wao kwa kushirikiana na kamati ya ulinzi na usalama watahakikisha mambo yote yanakwenda kama yalivyopangwa.

Miamba hiyo inashuka kwenye uwanja wa Amaan huku vikosi vyao vikiandamwa na majeruhi kibao pamoja na mapengo ya wachezaji tegemeo waliopo timu ya Taifa.

Simba inaingia katika fainali hizo ikiwa na majeruhi wanne ambao ni Mohamed Banka, Emanuel Okwi, Salum Kanoni na kipa Ally Mustafa, huku wapinzani wao Yanga huenda ikiwakosa Chacha Marwa, Ernest Boakye,Yew Berko pamoja na Iddy Mbaga kutokana na kuwa majeruhi.

Akizungumza na Mwananchi jana mjini hapa kocha wa Simba, Patrick Phiri alisema mechi hiyo itakuwa ngumu kuliko alivyokuwa akitarajia ingawa tangu awali alikuwa na hamu ya kukutana na Yanga katika hatua ya nusu fainali.

"Timu yangu inakabiriwa na majeruhi wanne ambao ni Okwi, Kanoni, Banka pamoja na Mustafa, huku wachezaji wengine wakiwa Misri, lakini sijakata tamaa kwa sababu bado ninaangalia hali za majeruhi hao mpaka kufikia kesho mchana," alisema Phiri.

Wakati Phiri akilia na majeruhi kilio hicho pia kimemkumba kocha wa Yanga, Kostadin Papic ambaye analalamika kuwa na majeruhi Marwa, Boakye, Berko pamoja na Mbaga, lakini anasubiri kauli ya daktari kuona kama ataweza kuwatumia.

"Mechi itakuwa ngumu sana hasa kwa upande wangu kwa sababu nina majeruhi katika timu huku wachezaji wengine wakiwa na timu ya taifa," alisema Papic.

ULINZI
Homa ya pambano hilo imepanda hali iliyosababisha kuongezeka kwa ulinzi kwenye kambi ya timu hizo.
Simba iliyoweka kambi katika maeneo ya Mbweni nje kidogo ya kisiwa cha Unguja imeongeza ulinzi katika kambi hiyo na kuzuia watu wasiojulikana kuingia kwenye kambi hiyo.

Hali kama hiyo pia imejitokeza katika kambi ya Yanga ambayo iko katika hotel ya Al Anoor iliyopo katikati ya mji wa Unguja, kambi hiyo imewekewa ulinzi mkali huku kila mchezaji akipigwa marufuku kutoka nje ya hoteli hiyo.

Wakizungumza na Mwananchi kwa nyakati tofauti wachezaji hao walisema hali ya ulinzi katika kambi zao si ya kawaida.

"Ebwanaee si unajua mechi za Simba na Yanga wakubwa wanavyokuwa na imani tofauti hapa kambini haruhusiwi mtu kuja, kuna ulinzi mkali hakuna anayeruhusiwa hata kutoka nje ya geti," alisema mchezaji mmoja wa Simba huku akiomba jina lake lisiandikwe gazetini.

"Hali si shwari katika kambi hii sijawahi kuona mchezaji akipewa ulinzi, hii ni mara yangu ya kwanza, hata Mwanza haikuwa hivi hii imezidi kipimo, yaani hapa ukitoka nje ni wakati wa chakula na kurudi ndani,"alisema kinda wa Yanga kwa masharti ya jina lake kutoandikwa gazetini.

Naye msemaji wa timu ya Yanga, Luis Sendeu alisema ulinzi umezidi kuimarishwa katika kambi hiyo na kwamba kila kitu kilibadilishwa haraka tangu timu ilipoingia fainali.

"Kaka hapa hali ni ulinzi tu si unajua mechi za Simba na Yanga ilivyo na vibweka vingi hivyo ni lazima tuzidishe ulinzi,"alisema Sendeu.
VIINGILIO
Viingilio vya mchezo huo vitakuwa Sh 10,000 badala ya Sh5,000 kwa jukwaa kuu ama VIP kuu na Sh 5,000 badala ya Sh 3,000 kwa majukwaa ya pembeni, huku jukwaa la Urusi likiwa ni Sh 3,000 badala ya 2,000.

Akizungumza mjini hapa Mwenyekiti wa kamati ya mashindano, Mohamed Raza alisema wamelazimika kupandisha viingilio hivyo kutokana na umuhimu wa mechi hiyo.

"Viingilio vimepanda kidogo ukilinganisha na vingilio vya zamani na tuna imani mashabiki wa soka katika visiwa hivi wataweza kuvimudu,"alisema Raza.
 
Viwango duni vyamsikitisha Papic
Tuesday, 11 January 2011 19:47

Clara Alphonce
KOCHA wa Yanga, Kostadin Papic amesema pamoja na timu yake na Simba kufanikiwa kucheza fainali leo, lakini bado hajaridhishwa na kiwango kilichoonyeshwa katika michuano hiyo.
Papic alisema timu hizo mbili zinashiriki katika michuano ya kimataifa mwishoni mwa mwezi huu,ambapo Simba itacheza dhidi ya mabingwa wa Comoro kwenye Ligi ya Mabingwa Afrika na Yanga itakutana na wakilishi wa Ethiopia katika mashindano ya Shirikisho lakini bado hazijaonyesha kiwango kizuri.

Alisema timu hizo zinajaribu kidogo kutaka kufikia kiwango ambacho anakitaka, lakini anaona bado zinasuasua na zinampa wasiwasi katika michuano ya kimataifa kama hazitabadilika basi zitaishia kwenye raundi hiyo ya kwanza.

Alisema hata hivyo kwa upande wa timu yake michuano hiyo ya Mapinduzi imeisaidia japo bado ana safari ndefu ya kuhakikisha kipindi hiki kidogo kilichobaki anaipandisha timu yake katika kiwango ambacho anakitaka.

Naye Afisa Habari wa Yanga, Louis Sendeu alisema kuwa ili kuhakikisha wanamsaidia kocha wao, uongozi umeandaa mechi mbili za kirafiki kabla ya kuanza kwa ligi kuu kwa ajili ya matayarisho ya Kombe la Shirikisho.

Alisema katika mechi za awali timu yao itashuka dimbani Jumapili kucheza na Zesco ya Zambia na baada ya hapo Januari 20, watakuwa wakicheza na Atrico ya Brazil yote ikiwa ni kwa ajili ya michuano hiyo ya kimataifa.

Pia, alisema pamoja na hayo yote baada ya michuano ya Mapinduzi kamati ya utendaji ya Yanga itakutana kwa ajili ya kuanza kupanga mikakati ya kufanya vizuri katika michuano ya Kombe la Shirikisho na kutengeneza historia mpya.
 
Kenny not fazed by Gerrard loss


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Updated Jan 12, 2011 3:37 AM ET
Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish has insisted no player is bigger than the club as he heads to Blackpool without banned captain Steven Gerrard.
The England midfielder was sent off in Sunday's FA Cup exit at Manchester United and is now serving a three-match ban which will also mean he misses this weekend's Merseyside derby at home to Everton.
Wed., Jan. 12​
Blackpool vs. Liverpool
Sat., Jan. 15​
Chelsea vs. Blackburn
Man City vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Bolton
West Brom vs. Blackpool
Wigan vs. Fulham
West Ham vs. Arsenal
Sun., Jan. 16​
Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

However, Dalglish has been quick to try to engender the close 'family' atmosphere he enjoyed more than 20 years ago as player and manager at Anfield.
And that means not worrying about star names and concentrating on the team.
"Any team which has Steven Gerrard in it is going to be much better than one without it," said Dalglish, who takes charge of his first Premier League match since taking over from Roy Hodgson last Saturday.
"But we have to get on with it and the most important people for us are the ones which are available, not the ones who are unavailable because they can't dictate the result of games.
"We will concentrate on the ones we do have, without being disrespectful to the ones who are not there."
Dalglish also stressed everyone was treated the same, which meant Fernando Torres would not get any special attention as they try to get their star striker scoring again.
The Spain international has scored just six times in 22 matches and only once in his last eight games this season.
"In the games I've been in charge he has been brilliant," joked Dalglish.
"It is strange when you talk about people of his calibre having a lack of confidence but at the same time he is still a top goalscorer and someone everyone fears when he goes on the pitch.
"We will do our best to get as much as we possibly can from Fernando, the same as we will do for every other player.
"This club has never been about one individual, it has been about a collection and a team and we are a team.
"It is up to us to try to help Fernando as much as we possibly can and also help each other."
Blackpool's 2-1 victory at Anfield helped push Liverpool into the relegation zone back in October and contributed to the club's worst start to a season since 1953/54.
Dalglish watched that game from the directors' box. He admitted Liverpool were second-best that day and is keen to avoid a repeat at Bloomfield Road.
"They came here and deservedly won 2-1 but we are going to their place so it is all on us to get a result," he said.
"But we have total respect for them and what they have done and the fantastic start they have had.
"On the pitch they have been fantastic and a breath of fresh air.
"I think they deserve fantastic credit for the way they have gone about their job.
"We have to be up for it to make sure we don't come away from Blackpool with the same result we had at Anfield - a defeat."
 
West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham


Mark Noble (right) scored West Ham's opener from an almost impossible angle


By Jonathan Stevenson at Upton Park


West Ham striker Carlton Cole stepped off the bench to earn the 10-man Hammers a potentially crucial first-leg advantage in their Carling Cup semi-final against Birmingham at Upton Park.
After the hosts had been pegged back to 1-1 and seen Victor Obinna sent off for a crazy kick out at Sebastian Larsson, Cole bagged the winner with only 10 minutes left - and it was a personal nightmare for Blues keeper Ben Foster, who let the striker's soft shot roll under his hand and trickle over the line.
That the east Londoners won - and did so despite playing for over half an hour with fewer men - might just keep manager Avram Grant in a job, despite reports that the Israeli is about to be sacked by the Premier League's bottom club.
Grant will be desperate to finish the job of getting West Ham to their first Wembley cup final in 30 years when they meet Birmingham in the second leg at St Andrew's on 26 January; although arguably of more pressing concern is whether he will still be at the helm for Saturday's Premier League encounter with Arsenal.
606: DEBATE
Was Foster to blame for the second goal?
The atmosphere at Upton Park before kick-off reflected the palpable tension surrounding the club right now, with nerves as big a factor as excitement ahead of the Hammers' first League Cup semi-final for more than 20 years.
Grant's future has been the subject of rumour after rumour for much of the season and last week's horrific 5-0 thumping at Newcastle was the catalyst for another round of fevered speculation.
Former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill and ex-Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce have been strongly linked with the Hammers hot seat, with the West Ham board reportedly due to meet on Wednesday to discuss Grant's future once more, perhaps annoyed almost as much by the Israeli's public rebuking of managing director Karren Brady for discussing transfer policy in her newspaper column as by results.
Grant may have considered that only a performance of the very highest quality could keep him in a job - and the way his players started the game gave the 55-year-old shelter from the storm that was brewing.
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Grant admits speculation is a distraction

The hosts flew out of the traps and with Scott Parker and Mark Noble working beautifully together in tandem in the centre of their midfield they began to exert serious pressure on Foster's goal.
Freddie Sears volleyed wide after a corner was half-punched clear by Foster before a Larsson clearance hit Matthew Upson - playing at left-back - and forced Foster into a fine reaction save at his near post.
The noise from the crowd grew as the stature of their team did and soon after, when the east Londoners took the lead, they nearly took the roof off.
A Noble ball in from the right was not cleared, Jonathan Spector's volley flew across goal from the left and fell beautifully for Noble to thump a volley in at Foster's near post from a seemingly impossible angle.
Foster had been left unsighted by Scott Dann's positioning at his post but the goalkeeper was about to prove his worth to Birmingham by keeping them in the game with a series of stunning saves as West Ham produced wave after wave of attack in their bid to find a crucial second goal.
Ridgewell brought Birmingham back into the match

Foster did superbly to parry away Spector's stinging 25-yard drive before showing wonderful reflexes to tip over a James Tomkins header.
Just after the half-hour mark the visiting keeper did even better to get down to his left and keep out Obinna's fiercely struck right-foot shot as Birmingham's defence continued to look suspect in front of him.
Despite enjoying more than their fair share of possession the visitors did not look like creating anything, with their lack of a killer ball painfully obvious as they harmlessly knocked the ball around outside the home side's box without ever looking like they would hurt them.
But Birmingham were clearly stung by some harsh words from manager Alex McLeish at the break and within 15 minutes of the restart the game had an entirely different complexion.
After Craig Gardner dragged a free-kick wide and Cameron Jerome's header was cleared off the line by Sears, the Blues got the goal their improvement warranted as Ridgewell beat Winston Reid to a corner and thumped in a header to send the travelling fans wild.
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McLeish feels hard done by in defeat

When Obinna was sent off shortly afterwards for a ridiculous kick on Larsson it seemed as though West Ham's hopes of reaching Wembley, and in turn Grant's of keeping his job, lay in serious jeopardy.
But they survived some real pressure as David Murphy flashed a header inches wide of Rob Green's right-hand post and then struck the killer blow on the night - and, they hope, the tie - after introducing the fresh legs of Cole and Zavon Hines.
It was a lovely build-up that created the chance as Parker slid Spector in down the right and he crossed to where Cole wanted the ball playing, about 15 yards out.
Cole would have been disappointed not to get a proper contact but it proved enough as a wrong-footed Foster made a horrible mess of saving it.
That was harsh on the former Manchester United keeper after a performance that kept his team in the tie at times. However, Grant, so often starved of luck himself, will feel both he and his side were worthy of the good fortune. Only time will tell whether it will be enough.
Live text and stats


Tuesday, 11 January 2011
Carling Cup
Home Team Score Away Team Time West Ham 2-1 Birmingham FT (HT 1-0)
  • Noble 13
  • Cole 78
  • Ridgewell 56
Hide team line-ups and match stats

West Ham


Substitutes



Birmingham


Substitutes



Ref: DowdAtt: 29,034

WEST HAM
BIRMINGHAM
Possession


  • West Ham 35%
  • Birmingham 65%

Attempts on target


  • West Ham 3
  • Birmingham 2

Attempts off target


  • West Ham 5
  • Birmingham 4

Corners


  • West Ham 3
  • Birmingham 9

Fouls


  • West Ham 6
  • Birmingham 5



Show all live text


  • Final Result
  • Full Time
  • 90:00+3:22 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
  • 90:00+1:32 Foul by Roger Johnson (Birmingham) on Julien Faubert (West Ham). Free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 89:49 Substitution West Ham substitution: Mark Noble replaced by Radoslav Kovac (tactical).
  • 89:25 Fantastic header by Nikola Zigic (Birmingham) from centre of penalty area (12 yards), missed right.
  • 88:40 Foul by Carlton Cole (West Ham) on Barry Ferguson (Birmingham). Free kick taken left-footed by Ben Foster (Birmingham) from own half, passed.
  • 86:05 Substitution Birmingham substitution: Sebastian Larsson replaced by Nikola Zigic (tactical).
  • 85:27 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 82:35 Substitution Birmingham substitution: Alexander Hleb replaced by Jean Beausejour (tactical).
  • 82:05 Defending throw-in by David Murphy (Birmingham).
  • 80:26 Defending throw-in by Mark Noble (West Ham).
  • 77:59 Assist (pass) by Jonathan Spector (West Ham) from right wing.
  • 77:59 GOAL - Carlton Cole:West Ham 2 - 1 Birmingham Goal by Carlton Cole (West Ham) right-footed (bottom-left of goal) from centre of penalty area (12 yards).West Ham 2-1 Birmingham.
  • 76:49 Attacking throw-in by David Murphy (Birmingham).
  • 75:10 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) to centre, clearance by Matthew Upson (West Ham).
  • 73:02 Substitution West Ham substitution: Freddie Sears replaced by Zavon Hines (tactical).
  • 72:31 Substitution West Ham substitution: Frederic Piquionne replaced by Carlton Cole (tactical).
  • 69:10 Foul by Julien Faubert (West Ham) on David Murphy (Birmingham). Free kick crossed left-footed by David Murphy (Birmingham) from left wing, brilliant save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 67:42 Stephen Carr (Birmingham) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 64:20 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 63:26 Foul by James Tomkins (West Ham) on Craig Gardner (Birmingham). Free kick taken right-footed by Barry Ferguson (Birmingham) from left channel, resulting in open play.
  • 61:11 Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Ben Foster (Birmingham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • Correction - 58:30 Sent off Victor Obinna is shown a red card for violent conduct.
  • 58:30 Sent off Victor Obinna (West Ham) dismissed for violent conduct.
  • 55:51 Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) to centre, assist by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) from left by-line.
  • 55:51 GOAL - Liam Ridgewell:West Ham 1 - 1 Birmingham Headed goal by Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham) (top-right of goal) from centre of penalty area (12 yards).West Ham 1-1 Birmingham.
  • 54:40 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) to centre, resulting in open play.
  • 53:05 Foul by Frederic Piquionne (West Ham) on Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham). Free kick crossed right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) from left wing, brilliant save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 52:07 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 51:28 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) to centre, resulting in ball out of play.
  • 50:41 Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) to centre, resulting in open play.
  • 48:52 Foul by Winston Reid (West Ham) on Craig Gardner (Birmingham). Free kick taken right-footed by Craig Gardner (Birmingham) from right channel (20 yards), missed left.
  • 48:20 Foul by Craig Gardner (Birmingham) on Jonathan Spector (West Ham). Free kick taken right-footed by Jonathan Spector (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 47:41 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 46:51 Attacking throw-in by David Murphy (Birmingham).
  • 46:33 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 45:40 Attacking throw-in by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham).
  • 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
  • 45:01 Substitution Birmingham substitution: Scott Dann replaced by David Murphy (injury).
  • 45:00+1:22 The referee calls an end to the first half.
  • Half Time
  • 45:00+0:59 Defending throw-in by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham).
  • 45:00+0:01 Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) to far post, resulting in open play.
  • 44:43 Attacking throw-in by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham).
  • 42:30 Handball by Frederic Piquionne (West Ham). Free kick taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) from right channel, header by Scott Dann (Birmingham) from left side of penalty area (12 yards), over the bar.
  • 41:11 Cross by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham), brilliant save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 39:40 Foul by Cameron Jerome (Birmingham) on James Tomkins (West Ham). Free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 39:12 Shot by Victor Obinna (West Ham) curled left-footed from left channel (12 yards), missed left.
  • 37:34 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 37:15 Shot by Freddie Sears (West Ham) curled right-footed from right channel (18 yards), over the bar.
  • 36:28 Attacking throw-in by Matthew Upson (West Ham).
  • 35:07 Foul by Keith Fahey (Birmingham) on Julien Faubert (West Ham). Free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 34:12 Defending throw-in by Matthew Upson (West Ham).
  • 33:04 Goal kick taken long by Ben Foster (Birmingham).
  • 32:34 Shot by Freddie Sears (West Ham) right-footed from centre of penalty area (12 yards), missed left.
  • 31:20 Attacking throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
  • 31:00 Defending throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
  • 30:15 Attacking throw-in by Matthew Upson (West Ham).
  • 29:49 Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Craig Gardner (Birmingham) to centre, brilliant save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 29:15 Shot by Victor Obinna (West Ham) right-footed from right channel (20 yards), save (tipped round post) by Ben Foster (Birmingham).
  • 27:51 Defending throw-in by Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham).
  • 27:20 Defending throw-in by Matthew Upson (West Ham).
  • 27:09 Attacking throw-in by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham).
  • 26:14 Attacking throw-in by Stephen Carr (Birmingham).
  • 23:16 Attacking throw-in by Stephen Carr (Birmingham).
  • 23:00 Attacking throw-in by Matthew Upson (West Ham).
  • 22:30 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 21:28 Inswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Freddie Sears (West Ham) to centre, clearance by Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham).
  • 21:14 Weak header by James Tomkins (West Ham) from left side of penalty area (12 yards),
  • 20:32 Shot by Jonathan Spector (West Ham) right-footed from right channel (18 yards), blocked by Ben Foster (Birmingham).
  • 19:41 Goal kick taken long by Ben Foster (Birmingham).
  • 18:54 Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Scott Parker (West Ham) to centre, clearance by Roger Johnson (Birmingham).
  • 18:25 Attacking throw-in by Matthew Upson (West Ham).
  • 18:07 Cross by Stephen Carr (Birmingham), fantastic save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 17:26 Defending throw-in by Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham).
  • 16:16 Defending throw-in by Stephen Carr (Birmingham).
  • 15:08 Cameron Jerome (Birmingham) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Winston Reid (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 14:08 Defending throw-in by Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham).
  • 13:20 Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham) to centre, clearance by Mark Noble (West Ham).
  • 12:12 Assist (cross) by Jonathan Spector (West Ham) from left side of penalty area.
  • 12:12 GOAL - Mark Noble:West Ham 1 - 0 Birmingham Goal by Mark Noble (West Ham) right-footed (top-right of goal) from right side of penalty area (12 yards).West Ham 1-0 Birmingham.
  • 11:45 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 11:22 Shot by Craig Gardner (Birmingham) left-footed from left channel (12 yards), comfortable save (caught) by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 10:59 Attacking throw-in by Stephen Carr (Birmingham).
  • 10:32 Foul by Scott Parker (West Ham) on Barry Ferguson (Birmingham). Free kick taken right-footed by Stephen Carr (Birmingham) from own half, passed.
  • 9:58 Attacking throw-in by Victor Obinna (West Ham).
  • 9:02 Defending throw-in by Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham).
  • 8:46 Attacking throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
  • 8:11 Attacking throw-in by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham).
  • 6:32 Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Mark Noble (West Ham) to near post, resulting in open play.
  • 5:36 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 5:12 Attacking throw-in by Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham).
  • 4:57 Goal kick taken long by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 4:32 Shot by Keith Fahey (Birmingham) right-footed from right channel (12 yards), missed left.
  • 4:04 Inswinging corner from left by-line taken right-footed by Craig Gardner (Birmingham) to near post, clearance by Robert Green (West Ham).
  • 2:22 Cameron Jerome (Birmingham) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Robert Green (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 2:04 Victor Obinna (West Ham) caught offside. Free kick taken right-footed by Ben Foster (Birmingham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 1:50 Foul by Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham) on Frederic Piquionne (West Ham). Free kick taken right-footed by Scott Parker (West Ham) from own half, resulting in open play.
  • 1:21 Defending throw-in by Julien Faubert (West Ham).
  • 0:55 Attacking throw-in by Liam Ridgewell (Birmingham).
  • 0:00 The referee gets the game underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
 
Terry concedes title slipping away




 Updated Jan 12, 2011 6:19 AM ET
Chelsea captain John Terry has conceded the champions' title dream is slipping away.
The defending Premier League champions are currently in their worst run of form for 15 years, with just one win in their last nine league games.

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Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

They have plummeted down the league from top to fifth, and are now some nine points behind Manchester United, who also have a game in hand.
And Terry admits Chelsea's chances of defending their crown come May are looking less and less likely.
"Our recent performances have not been good enough, we're not playing at the level we can and we're slipping further behind the leaders with every point we drop," he is quoted by the Daily Star.
"That's unacceptable for a club like this, where we expect to win every game, and now we have to start to put things right.
"This squad should be challenging at the top of the league, winning games and pushing hard in every competition.
"That remains our aim, even if we have gone off course recently. But, before we start thinking about silverware, we have to concentrate on starting to win games again."
 
Redknapp: Beckham won't face Red Devils




Updated Jan 12, 2011 6:26 AM ET
Harry Redknapp has confirmed David Beckham will not face his former club Manchester United even if he does sign for Tottenham this week.
Beckham is currently training with Spurs as the Premier League title hopefuls try to sign the midfielder on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.
Wed., Jan. 12​
Blackpool vs. Liverpool
Sat., Jan. 15​
Chelsea vs. Blackburn
Man City vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Bolton
West Brom vs. Blackpool
Wigan vs. Fulham
West Ham vs. Arsenal
Sun., Jan. 16​
Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

Spurs want the 35-year-old on a short-term arrangement, but as things stand, Beckham will only be at the club to train until February 10, with Los Angeles said to be concerned over insurance issues should their midfielder suffer another injury like he did when on loan at AC Milan ahead of the World Cup.
A deal could eventually be reached later this week ahead of leaders United's visit to White Hart Lane on Sunday.
However, Redknapp admits Beckham's fitness is not yet up to scratch and he will not pick the ex-England captain to face his old club.
"Manchester United this Sunday would be a non-starter even if he does sign," said Redknapp in The Sun.
"He is not fit to play yet and he knows that. It's going to take him a few weeks to get back to anywhere near the fitness levels he's used to."
Beckham has slotted into training easily with the Spurs squad and Redknapp is keen to have the player's experience at his disposal.
He added: "You cannot beat experience and David has it in bucket loads.
"No matter how well you are playing, when you are going into the second half of the season and have Champions League football as well as the Premier League, it's what you need."
 
UEFA warning over player salaries




Updated Jan 12, 2011 4:53 AM ET
UEFA have warned Europe's top sides they must comply with their "indirect salary cap" and have used Arsenal as an example of a well-run club.
UEFA's latest figures show that financial problems affecting European clubs are getting worse, with spending on player wages up almost 10% - and increasing at a faster rate than income.

 TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

Under their new rules, clubs will face possible bans from European competition from the 2014/15 season if they spend more than they earn over a three-year period.
UEFA's general secretary Gianni Infantino held up Arsenal as an example of a well-run club who have boosted their income without ever overspending.
He said: "Ten years ago Arsenal reported less income than Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle. Now it is more than those clubs and in 2009 more than double Newcastle's.
"This shows what is possible with good management and careful investment.
"What kind of healthy business model is it to wait for a knight rider on a horse with a lot of money to throw around and then one day jump back on his horse and ride away?"
He used the example of Scottish club Gretna to illustrate the danger of a rich benefactor spending heavily initially then leaving a club in peril.
Infantino admitted the new rules are targeted at the amount spent by clubs on players' wages.

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"It is about better cost management, in particular the wages of players - it is an indirect salary cap."
Manchester City's recent £121million losses mean they are the club in England facing the greatest difficulty to abide by the rules - even though owners are also allowed to inject £12million a year (15m euro) into their side.
They are one of 11 clubs competing in Europe this season that would fall foul of the rules were they in force now.
Leading Italian clubs also face problems but UEFA president Michel Platini said whatever their stature, the European governing body would not hesitate to take action.
Platini, speaking at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, said: "If a club doesn't fall in line and follow the same rules as everyone else then it will be time to face the music.
"Certainly it is not something we want to see.
"Our objective is not to put clubs into financial difficulty. Financial fair play is to help them escape from this devilish spiral and have a viable economic strategy in the long term. I will leave no stone unturned to do this.
"This is not a witch-hunt, this is so they no longer continue blindly and mindlessly."
Manchester City have already sent officials to meet UEFA about complying with the financial rules.
Andrea Traverso, UEFA's head of licensing, said: "We are in talks with the club - they are aware of the rules and they probably have a strategy to raise their income.
"They have been to see us and they are confident that they can manage this challenge."



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  • Report Abuse RedDevilz
    • 1/12/2011 6:53:42 AM
    I don't think UEFA is telling not to spend. You can spend as much as you like just as long as you have the income to cover your spending. I think its a good move.
  •  Report Abuse rkujay
    • 1/12/2011 5:56:38 AM
    No money buys no silverware.
  •  Report Abuse ManURebel
    • 1/12/2011 4:27:47 AM
    Yes, and Arsenal has not won a throphy since 2005. LOL.
 
Lampard reveals injury challenge






Updated Jan 11, 2011 9:57 AM ET
Frank Lampard has revealed he will never fully recover from the injury that destroyed the first half of his season.
England midfielder Lampard spent almost four months sidelined by a hernia and groin problem that was initially expected to rule him out only for a few weeks.
The injury was so severe, the 32-year-old admits he will have to nurse it for the rest of his career.
Wed., Jan. 12​
Blackpool vs. Liverpool
Sat., Jan. 15​
Chelsea vs. Blackburn
Man City vs. Wolves
Stoke City vs. Bolton
West Brom vs. Blackpool
Wigan vs. Fulham
West Ham vs. Arsenal
Sun., Jan. 16​
Birmingham vs. Aston Villa
Sunderland vs. Newcastle
Liverpool vs. Everton
Tottenham vs. Man Utd BPL Scores | Table | Fixtures

With club captain John Terry managing a thigh problem and full-back Ashley Cole having a chronic ankle complaint, it is another issue for Chelsea's medical staff to monitor.
Lampard said: "I've got to try to keep it strong because I've got a weakness there.
"My tendon came off the bone and it doesn't go back, you just have to stay very strong in that area.
"I've spoken to players who've had it and they know the frustrations and the aftermath and what you have to do.
"It's no problem - you just have to do an extra two or three sessions a week in the gym to keep it strong.
"It was a bad injury and I still feel it occasionally.
"There are no sharp pains or anything, but the more games I play, the sharper I'll be, and I'm determined to have a good second half to the season because I basically missed the first half."
Lampard returned to action two weeks ago but has so far been unable to help Chelsea arrest their alarming slide down the Barclays Premier League.
The champions have blown a five-point lead to lie nine behind unbeaten Manchester United having played a game more after their worst run in the league for almost 15 years.
Lampard admits the title may be beyond Carlo Ancelotti's fifth-placed side but has refused to concede it entirely.
The midfielder, who helped lift some of the gloom at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with a double in the Blues' 7-0 FA Cup thrashing of Ipswich, said: "There's a bit of a gap. We can't afford to look around too much.
"We just need to win game by game. That's the position we're in now.
"We were up there early in the season, playing some great stuff, but now we're not."
Ancelotti hopes the arrival of fresh blood will help the Blues kick-start their season.
Lampard agrees, saying: "If we add some new players in January, fantastic, and hopefully we can get back to where we know we can be."
 
Dzeko relishing City challenge


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Updated Jan 11, 2011 10:31 AM ET
New Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko is looking forward to joining the club's "project" after being unveiled.
The Bosnian, who signed from Wolfsburg for £27million last weekend, admitted it had been hard to leave Germany but he was lured by joining a side chasing the Premier League title.

 TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

He said: "I'm very pleased. I'm here at a big club like Manchester City with big ambition. I saw something else in Man City. It's a big club and I'm an ambitious player and I think we can have a lot of success together.
"It's a project. I need to say it's a very good team with a very good coach. It was three-and-a-half beautiful years with Wolfsburg and we had a lot of success, winning the league for the first time in our history.
"I was very happy there but I wanted to change, try something new and better and that's why I'm here."
Dzeko also made reference to the club's rivalry with Manchester United, adding: "I hear a lot about the fans and that most of the people from Manchester are Manchester City fans.
"I don't know too much about the rivalry but I hear the derby is something special."
 
Chris Woakes stars as England seal world record T20 win


First Twenty20 international, Adelaide:
England 158-9 (20 ovs) beat Australia 157-4 (20 ovs) by one wicket
Match scorecard
Chris Woakes and Ajmal Shahzad celebrate victory


 By Oliver Brett


Chris Woakes was the hero on his England debut as Paul Collingwood's side produced a record eighth win in a row in Twenty20 internationals.
In a tense finale in Adelaide, Woakes, 21, hit the winning single off the last ball, finishing unbeaten on 19.
Australia all-rounder Shane Watson hit 59 from 31 balls as they made 157-4 batting first, and so nearly won the match with superb figures of 4-15.
But the hosts were unable to defend the total, England winning with 158-9.
Until Watson's dramatic impact with the ball, England appeared to be coasting to victory.
Eoin Morgan, signed by Kolkata for the Indian Premier League earlier in the week, and one of the game's best finishers in a run chase, was to the fore as England began to eat up a modest Australia total.
But with 28 runs needed from the last 29 balls, and five wickets in hand, the chase began to go horribly wrong.
Morgan hit 43 from 33 balls

Having demonstrated his customary skill at shot selection, timing and placement, Morgan (43) surprisingly drove Watson straight to David Hussey at cover, and the next ball was nicked by Michael Yardy to wicketkeeper Tim Paine.
By the end of the over, England needed 27 from the last 24 balls but only had three wickets in hand - and suddenly the game was on a knife-edge.
Woakes, selected primarily for his bowling, promptly showed he might have the necessary tools for the big occasion. He smashed Shaun Tait for a vital six, but back came Watson to remove Tim Bresnan as Australia's revival continued.
When Brett Lee's last over went for 11, England needed only four runs from the last six balls.
Watson defeated Graeme Swann with the first delivery, clean bowling England's off-spinner, before last man Ajmal Shahzad scampered a leg-bye off the fourth ball.
Three were wanted off the last two balls, and Woakes finished the job, crashing Watson for two to the sweeper on the cover-point fence before clipping the last one over midwicket for the winning single.
In another corner of Australia, devastating floods struck Brisbane - having already wrought havoc across Queensland.
Accordingly, there was a minute's silence before play started, black armbands were worn and some players not involved in the action out in the middle spent periods of the game touring the perimeter collecting cash off spectators to aid the relief effort.
Watson, born in the Queensland town of Ipswich - which was swamped by floodwater on Wednesday - batted beautifully.
Just one of three players retained from Australia's Ashes squad, he hit Swann's first three balls for six, taking 24 runs off the over in all.
Having hit 59, Watson returned to take two key wickets

Midway through the following over, the ninth, Australia were 83-0 and looking on course for a really huge score.
But having raced along playing orthodox shots, Watson backed away to try to hit Yardy through the off-side, missed and was bowled.
Australia's innings never really recovered. David Warner, sometimes known as "Cow corner Warner", went two overs later... caught at cow corner.
Hussey compiled a somewhat laborious 28 before he was castled by a Bresnan yorker, and skipper Cameron White lofting a catch to long-on off Woakes.
The Warwickshire youngster bowled his full allocation of four overs, and overcame some early nerves to wind up with 1-34.
Aaron Finch, winning his first Australian cap, and Steve Smith attempted something destructive over the closing overs, but England were disciplined. Yardy's final over went for just five and Bresnan's for four including a bye.
The final over, bowled by Shahzad, was better for the hosts. It included a dropped catch by Yardy - England were not at their electric best in the field - a reverse-hit over third man for four by Smith, and 13 runs in all.
England's opening burst of batting was a helter-skelter of fours, sixes, dropped catches - and to the relief of the Australians - completed catches.
Ian Bell, a new Twenty20 opener for an England side without four players from the team that had lifted the world title in the Caribbean in May 2010, should have gone first ball.
606: DEBATE
A great win for England, well done, but they didn't make it look easy, did they?!


Amir Mir

But Steve O'Keefe dropped a chance at square-leg off Tait and England had raced to 16-0 after seven balls before Steven Davies picked out extra-cover off the 34-year-old Brett Lee.
Bell had another let-off, Warner spilling a tough chance, before departing when a searing drive was comfortably taken in the covers by Smith, giving Mitchell Johnson a wicket.
England were making fast progress. So when Kevin Pietersen, having hit O'Keefe for 10 from the spinner's first two balls, holed out to mid-off, there were no real alarm bells ringing at 63-3 in the sixth over.
Morgan began calmly, before greeting the return of Lee with a six pulled high into the crowd.
Initial support came from Collingwood, but when the skipper was caught off an attempted reverse sweep, and Luke Wright fell lbw second ball, the pressure returned.
The runs flowed for Morgan, however, and England were cruising until Watson's late intervention.
As the teams regroup for Friday's second and final match, there must be concerns in the Australian camp that Watson was the only one of their players to have a major impact on proceedings.
Pacemen Lee and Tait, expected to provide a cutting edge, went for a damaging 81 runs collectively while taking just one wicket each.
 
Dzeko relishing City challenge




Updated Jan 11, 2011 10:31 AM ET
New Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko is looking forward to joining the club's "project" after being unveiled.
The Bosnian, who signed from Wolfsburg for £27million last weekend, admitted it had been hard to leave Germany but he was lured by joining a side chasing the Premier League title.

 TRANSFER SPECIAL

Keep up with all the biggest moves around the globe with our 2011 January transfer gallery.

He said: "I'm very pleased. I'm here at a big club like Manchester City with big ambition. I saw something else in Man City. It's a big club and I'm an ambitious player and I think we can have a lot of success together.
"It's a project. I need to say it's a very good team with a very good coach. It was three-and-a-half beautiful years with Wolfsburg and we had a lot of success, winning the league for the first time in our history.
"I was very happy there but I wanted to change, try something new and better and that's why I'm here."
Dzeko also made reference to the club's rivalry with Manchester United, adding: "I hear a lot about the fans and that most of the people from Manchester are Manchester City fans.
"I don't know too much about the rivalry but I hear the derby is something special."
 
Darren Ferguson returns as Peterborough United manager


Ferguson won back-to-back promotions with Peterborough


 Darren Ferguson has been named manager of Peterborough United on a four-and-a-half-year contract, just 14 months after leaving by mutual consent.
The Scot, who led Posh from League Two to the Championship during his previous three-year spell with the club, was sacked by Preston two weeks ago.
He held talks on Tuesday with chairman Darragh MacAnthony and stayed to watch the 2-1 League One win over Brentford.
"I've actually missed the place," Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.
"I had a hard 12 months at Preston and I'm glad to be back.
When he came to the house and he walked in the door we had a bit of a hug . It was a tender moment

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony

"I don't know if I've lost the trust of the fans, we'll find out, but the fans enjoyed it [his last spell].
"People say you never go back, I don't believe in that. We're ambitious and we want to get into the Championship."
Ferguson, son of Manchester United boss Sir Alex, left London Road in November 2009.
At the time MacAnthony believed the former Wrexham midfielder was being distracted from his job by interest from other clubs.

But both parties insisted that any problems had been put behind them.
MacAnthony said: "We were probably naive and made mistakes and we both held our hands up to that.
"It was actually great meeting each other again, when he came to the house and he walked in the door we had a bit of a hug. It was a tender moment, a bit of a tear jerker.
"We had a real warts and all meeting, talking about everything about each other that maybe irritated each other at one stage, any problems we may have had and they were never massive problems."
606: DEBATE
Just because he got us promoted before doesn't necessarily mean he can do it again


fozzyposh

Ferguson added: "There was no falling out, we're young, we're ambitious.
"Maybe towards the end I got, not carried away, but you can get a little bit complacent with the success we had.
"But we never fell out about it, I think we both agree we've learned a lot in the last 12 months and probably were a little bit naive going into the Championship.
"And when we get back into the Championship we'll learn from that."
After ending his previous spell at the club Ferguson was out of work for almost two months before taking over at Preston in January 2010.

The Scot won only 13 of his 49 games in charge at Deepdale and left in December with North End bottom of the Championship, the same position in which he had left Posh only 13 months earlier.
But his memories of Peterborough, who he joined as player-manager in January 2007, will be predominantly good ones.
After leading Posh to promotion from League Two in is his first full season in charge, he repeated the feat a year later to secure a place in the Championship, and departed having won 73 of his 145 games at the helm.
Gary Johnson parted with Peterborough by mutual consent on Monday.
 
Did the wrong man win the Ballon d'Or?

Phil Minshull | 12:03 UK time, Tuesday, 11 January 2011

With Barcelona players having a stranglehold on the final three-man shortlist for the new-look Fifa Ballon d'Or, there was saturation coverage in Spain of Monday's gala in Zurich.

Six television stations across Spain, as well as many internet sites, showed the event live but commentators, almost to a man and woman, were surprised when Lionel Messi was announced as the winner

In a close contest, Messí got 22.65% of the votes from the captains, coaches and journalists from Fifa's national federations, while Andres Iniesta finished second with 17.36% and Xavi Hernandez got 16.48%.
Even Messi himself, looking just ever so slightly uncomfortable in his Dolce & Gabbana suit, seemed rather embarrassed at the outcome.
Never the most verbose of individuals, he was almost lost for words at the presentation.concerned.

Messi receives his award. Photo: Getty Images

"I'm happy but I didn't expect it because everyone had been talking so much about Xavi and Andres," said Messi later, after collecting his thoughts. "They also deserved it for the wonderful year they had. They won the World Cup, which usually goes a long way to deciding who wins this award, and they both had big parts to play in that. That's why I thought one of them would be going up to collect the trophy. It was a wonderful surprise."

There had been the widespread assumption - very wrong as it turned out - that either Iniesta or Xavi would become the first Spanish-born winner of football's top individual prize since Luis Suarez won the old-style Ballon D'Or in 1960.

"Iniesta is the favourite," predicted the Barcelona-based sports daily El Mundo Deportivo on its front page on Monday. The rest of the Spanish media generally agreed, although public sentiment seemed to go with Xavi. A recent poll in the respected magazine Don Balon said 62% of the public thought Xavi should take the prize. Other polls last weekend broadly concurred.

Not surprisingly, there was more than a modicum of outrage at the result on Tuesday morning, with Spanish sports newspaper Marca proclaiming Messi as "an unjust winner", although anger was not levelled at the player himself.

The Argentine's fantastic skills and 34 goals, which gave him the European Golden Boot last season, would make him a worthy winner in most other years. However, many in Spain and elsewhere feel he was the least likely of the Barca trio to win this time around.

Spain captain Iker Casillas, who was also at the gala after being included in Fifa's Team of the Year, added his two-centimos worth and backed his compatriots, grumbling that the outcome was "a bit disappointing for Spaniards".

It was not only in Spain where there was an adverse reaction to the result. Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport made its feelings clear with its front page headline on Tuesday: "Messi? Nooo!"

Spaniards may feel hard done by but the more staid mainstream El Pais newspaper broadened the debate into one of national introspection. "Spain just doesn't carry any weight in polls," ran the headline, followed by a rather self-pitying editorial that contained the line: "Perhaps we should ask why Spain has lost all the global sports polls: the 2016 Olympic Games, the 2018 World Cup, the 2010 Ballon D'Or."

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the result, Messi is the first player since Hristo Stoichkov in 1994 to take the Ballon d'Or without being on the winning team at the World Cup in the same year (Brazil's Romario won the Fifa World Player of the Year in 1994).

You could also argue it was the first genuine surprise choice in recent years, possibly since Michael Owen took the Ballon D'Or in 2001, the year Luis Figo won the Fifa version of the trophy.

At least there was nothing like as much controversy over the Coach of the Year award, even though Spain missed out again. Few pundits begrudged Jose Mourinho his honour after achieving an unprecedented treble with Inter Milan, winning the domestic league and cup double on top of the Champions League.

It in no way diminishes the achievements of Vicente Del Bosque but it was broadly accepted the Spain coach took over an already established and outstanding group of players when he succeeded Luis Aragones in 2008 in the wake of the Euro 2008 triumph.

With Messi winning for the second year - it has to be said that there are few who would disagree that he was a worthy winner 12 months ago - it once again opens up the debate about how the award is decided.

Even though the three men on the shortlist have performed outstandingly, there are many people, including myself, who were surprised that Netherlands and Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder was not among the final trio.

It is probably the least of Fifa's worries right now, given the fallout from the decisions to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively. However, Fifa president Sepp Blatter surely cannot be happy that many people have again been left feeling that football's world governing body falls short where credibility is concerned.
 
Adopt Arsenal money model - Uefa


Time is ticking for clubs to get their financial affairs in order


 By Phil Dawkes & Ian Dennis


Arsenal have been held up as a shining example by Uefa as European football's governing body prepares to implement tough new financial restrictions.
From the 2011-12 season, clubs must break-even over a rolling three-year period or risk a possible ban from Uefa European competitions.
Uefa compared Arsenal's approach to that of clubs with super-rich owners.
"What model waits for a knight rider on a horse and then rides away?" said Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger's meticulous and sensible approach to spending has helped the north Londoners strengthen their finances over the last 10 years, as some of their rivals' own position has weakened.
Something is awry in European club football and when you step on the accelerator something tends to go wrong. We need to step on the brakes and introduce rationale

European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Having moved to the Emirates Stadium in 2006, Arsenal now turn over more than £300m a year (including revenue from property sales) and made a pre-tax profit of £35m in 2009.
"Ten years ago Arsenal reported less income than Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle," Infantino added. "Now it is more than those clubs and in 2009 more than double Newcastle's.
"This shows what is possible with good management and careful investment."
In recent years, the Premier League has seen an influx of wealthy foreign businessmen acquiring control of clubs and embarking on lavish spending on players.
This has left some at risk of failing to adhere to Uefa's impending restrictions.
With recent losses of £121m, Manchester City would appear to be the English club with most to do to satisfy Uefa's rules, although one respected football financial blogger has suggested how the club could break-even.
City, who have embarked on an unprecedented spending in the wake of the 2009 takeover of the club by billionaire Arab tycoon Sheikh Mansour, have already sent club officials for talks with European football's governing body to discuss how they can comply with new regulations.
Uefa's head of licensing Andrea Traverso stated: "We are in talks with the club, they are aware of the rules and they probably have a strategy to raise their income."
Infantino was part of Uefa's presentation of the new guidelines

Uefa president Michel Platini also does not foresee a problem with City after revealing that he had been given personal assurances by the club.
"Last year in Abu Dhabi, I met up with the owner of Manchester City and he promised they would live with the rules and regulations," said the Frenchman.
City manager Roberto Mancini said on Tuesday that the £27m-signing of Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko from German side Wolfsburg was the end of his spending for the time being.
"This is my ideal squad at the moment. We don't need to buy another six or seven players next summer. Maybe two or three," said Mancini.
"We are building a great team at the moment. Every year we want to improve but with another two or three players next season, no more."
There will be some leeway for big-spending clubs as they look to reduce their outlay.
During the first two seasons that the rules are in force, clubs will be allowed to overspend by a total of £37m, a sum that will be reduced on a sliding scale for each three-year reporting period that follows.
In addition, clubs will be permitted an unlimited investment in stadium infrastructure and youth academies.
606: DEBATE
Which clubs will be in trouble then? In my opinion, Chelsea , Man United and Man City


FORGET YOUR HONDA CIVIC IVE A HORSE OUTSIDE

Under the new rules, Uefa would place clubs at risk of overspending in a special category and closely monitor them.
As it stands, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs would be placed in this bracket, although the Red Devils are insistent they would pass the financial fair play rules now.
Uefa has previously voiced its specific concern about the financial state of Premier League clubs, some of which - like Manchester United or Liverpool (prior to their takeover in October last year) - have taken on large levels of debt.
In addition, clubs continue to live beyond their means and risk falling into serious financial difficulty, just as Leeds did within the last decade and more recently Portsmouth, who in February 2010 became the first Premier League club to go into administration.
However, Platini insisted that the new rules are not designed to target Premier League clubs in order to curb their success in the Champions League, in which an English club reached the final for five straight years prior to the 2009-10 campaign.
"I want to be proud to have been pro-active and not [to have] ignored a problem everyone was aware of but no one wished to take on," he said.
Manchester City spent £27m to buy Edin Dzeko last week

Platini also insisted that any clubs who break the rules will have to "face the music".
"There will be no witch hunt," he continued. "If a club does not fall in line and does not apply the same rules as everybody else, they would have to live with the consequences."
Uefa's latest figures illustrate that clubs across Europe have yet to curb their financial outlay in order to fall in line with the impending restrictions.
Its review showed that more than half of 655 clubs reported a loss in 2009 and that the combined deficit across Europe's 53 football nations was £1bn.
Spending on player wages is up almost 10%, with clubs spending 64% of their income on these and other staff expenses.
European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and his 197 members are fully behind Uefa's new proposals.
But the German warned that clubs who fall foul of the rules and are subsequently barred from entry to the Champions League face "complete meltdown".
With 73 European clubs spending more than 100% of their revenue on wages, Rummenigge said: "[Uefa] has embarked on the right path".
But he added: "Something is awry in European club football and when you step on the accelerator something tends to go wrong. We need to step on the brakes and introduce rationale."

 
Federer not leaving the grand slam party yet





  • Reuters, Wednesday January 12 2011 By Ian Ransom
    MELBOURNE, Jan 12 (Reuters) - For many of his exasperated rivals desperate to clean up, Roger Federer is the epitome of the annoying party guest -- grudgingly invited but typically the last to leave.
    The Swiss 29-year-old has guzzled more than his fair share from the victory cups of a record 16 grand slams, frustrating the thirstiest of title contenders.
    Federer returned this week to Melbourne Park, where he notched his fourth Australian Open win in 2010 and savoured his first grand slam title with his wife Mirka and twin baby daughters.
    While his performances at the year's other three majors may have suggested a hangover, the Swiss maestro's recent form has shown efforts to usher him out the door may again be set to backfire when the year's first major starts on Monday.
    Federer's triumph in the season-ending ATP World Tour finals gave a timely reminder to fierce Rafa Nadal not to get too comfortable in the world number one position.
    The Swiss's belligerent form at the season-opening Qatar Open, where he did not concede a set and trounced Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in the final, suggests he is refreshed and keen to pick up where he left off.
    Dislodging Nadal, the form player with the French, Wimbledon and U.S. Open crowns, remains the tallest of orders, as Federer freely admitted.
    "Obviously Rafa has a lot (of ranking points) to defend, but at the same time, he's very confident and he's the one who is world number one and has all the confidence, really," Federer said after winning in Doha.
    "But I have to keep it up, and you need to do something special to get to world number one. It's not enough to win a grand Slam and the World Tour Finals anymore.
    "You need to do more than that, and I'm prepared for that, so we'll see how it goes."
    Federer himself has good reason to feel confident for the year's first slam, where he shares the record with Andre Agassi for the most wins in the open era.
    Last year, Federer arrived in Australia with 15 grand slams to his name and a raft of pundits questioning his motivation amid his new commitments as a family man.
    Having shed tears of agony after his loss to Rafa Nadal in the final in 2009, Federer left Briton Andy Murray blubbing after a straight sets humbling in last year's final.
    Despite bullish forecasts of a big year, Federer stumbled at the quarter-finals of the French Open, outplayed by Swede Robin Soderling to end his run of 23 consecutive grand slam semi-final appearances.
    Meanwhile, nemesis Nadal capped his brilliant recovery from knee tendonitis to storm to victory at Roland Garros and snatch Federer's number one ranking, leaving the Swiss a week short of matching Pete Sampras's record of 265 weeks at the top.
    The rot continued at Wimbledon where he lost to big-hitting Czech Tomas Berdych in the last eight, an unthinkable loss that prompted a rare admission from the Swiss that his usually bullet-proof vest of confidence was showing some wear.
    With epitaphs penned daily regarding his demise, Federer gritted his teeth and added Pete Sampras's former coach Paul Annacone to his coaching team.
    Federer enjoyed instant success to win the Cincinnati Masters. While he blew two match points to lose the U.S. Open semi-final to Serb Novak Djokovic, he rebounded strongly to win in Stockholm and at home in Basel.
    Federer capped the season with a record-equalling fifth ATP World Tour title, dropping one set in a field boasting the world's top eight and beating Nadal.
    Nadal has proved the only player capable of ruffling Federer's feathers and still holds the top ranking and a 14-8 record over the Swiss in a rivalry for the ages.
    Despite suffering a bout of flu at the Qatar Open, Nadal remains favourite to win at Melbourne in his bid to become the first man to hold all four slams at the same time since Rod Laver in 1969.
    "I think having had me and Rafa both making the career grand slam already at a young age is great for the game," Federer said at the close of the season.
    "We're obviously playing not only for ourselves and beating the other guys, but also for history."
    (Editing by Alastair Himmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com) Please double-click on: for more tennis stories
 
Arsène Wenger admits Arsenal want to sign defender in transfer window

&#8226; Thomas Vermaelen suffers fresh injury blow
&#8226; Wenger wants defender with Premier League experience



  • David Hytner
  • guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 11 January 2011 22.15 GMT <li class="history">Article history Arsenal's manager Arsène Wenger has admitted he is looking to sign a central defender with Premier League experience. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/REUTERS Arsène Wenger will move to bring a Premier League centre-half to Arsenal after the luckless Thomas Vermaelen suffered yet another setback in his battle to recover from a mystery achilles problem.
    Wenger had hoped that Vermaelen would demonstrate significant progress in his rehabilitation this month and thus spare him the need to enter the transfer market for cover in the position. But as he prepared for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg away to Ipswich Town, Wenger conceded that the frustration with Vermaelen would compel him to act.
    The manager, who said Sébastien Squillaci's hamstring injury would keep him out for two to three weeks, further reducing his options in central defence, said he would prefer the new signing to come from the Premier League. Wenger is an admirer of Gary Cahill at Bolton Wanderers while other targets include Manchester City's Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka at Everton, whom he attempted to sign in the summer.
    "Ideally, it would be better if they were adapted to English football because if you need players now in January you cannot wait three months before they can play for you," Wenger said. "We have always people in mind and we check out. We look everywhere.
    "It's difficult to find at this period of the season but overall I feel we have so many games that it's very important to focus on the next game. We still have solutions internally with [Ignasi] Miquel [the reserve-team captain], [Alex] Song, who can play centre-back and with Squillaci, who should come back very quickly. If we find somebody at the right level we will do it, if not we will continue like this."
    Vermaelen suffered the achilles injury in early September while on international duty with Belgium. His last appearance for Arsenal was at Blackburn Rovers on 28 August.
    "He [Vermaelen] had a little setback on Saturday that we are a little concerned with," Wenger said. "We are consulting with the top specialists in the world and we will know more on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I cannot give you any precise date [for a comeback]. I concede that with that little setback with Thomas, we are in a situation where we will have to look around."
    Wenger anticipates a tough task at Ipswich, having been reminded of the threat that Championship teams present by Leeds United on Saturday in the 1-1 FA Cup draw at Emirates Stadium. He also knows all about Connor Wickham, the England youth striker, who he feels will be Town's principal danger. Wenger has been linked with a move for him. "He is one of their star strikers," Wenger said. "We know him well, we have seen him many times. He is one of their players who can make a difference."
    Wenger will rotate his squad for the tie and he confirmed that the 20-year-old Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny would start.
 
Arsène Wenger admits Arsenal want to sign defender in transfer window

• Thomas Vermaelen suffers fresh injury blow
• Wenger wants defender with Premier League experience



  • David Hytner
  • guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 11 January 2011 22.15 GMT <li class="history">Article history Arsenal's manager Arsène Wenger has admitted he is looking to sign a central defender with Premier League experience. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/REUTERS Arsène Wenger will move to bring a Premier League centre-half to Arsenal after the luckless Thomas Vermaelen suffered yet another setback in his battle to recover from a mystery achilles problem.
    Wenger had hoped that Vermaelen would demonstrate significant progress in his rehabilitation this month and thus spare him the need to enter the transfer market for cover in the position. But as he prepared for the Carling Cup semi-final first leg away to Ipswich Town, Wenger conceded that the frustration with Vermaelen would compel him to act.
    The manager, who said Sébastien Squillaci's hamstring injury would keep him out for two to three weeks, further reducing his options in central defence, said he would prefer the new signing to come from the Premier League. Wenger is an admirer of Gary Cahill at Bolton Wanderers while other targets include Manchester City's Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka at Everton, whom he attempted to sign in the summer.
    "Ideally, it would be better if they were adapted to English football because if you need players now in January you cannot wait three months before they can play for you," Wenger said. "We have always people in mind and we check out. We look everywhere.
    "It's difficult to find at this period of the season but overall I feel we have so many games that it's very important to focus on the next game. We still have solutions internally with [Ignasi] Miquel [the reserve-team captain], [Alex] Song, who can play centre-back and with Squillaci, who should come back very quickly. If we find somebody at the right level we will do it, if not we will continue like this."
    Vermaelen suffered the achilles injury in early September while on international duty with Belgium. His last appearance for Arsenal was at Blackburn Rovers on 28 August.
    "He [Vermaelen] had a little setback on Saturday that we are a little concerned with," Wenger said. "We are consulting with the top specialists in the world and we will know more on Wednesday. Unfortunately, I cannot give you any precise date [for a comeback]. I concede that with that little setback with Thomas, we are in a situation where we will have to look around."
    Wenger anticipates a tough task at Ipswich, having been reminded of the threat that Championship teams present by Leeds United on Saturday in the 1-1 FA Cup draw at Emirates Stadium. He also knows all about Connor Wickham, the England youth striker, who he feels will be Town's principal danger. Wenger has been linked with a move for him. "He is one of their star strikers," Wenger said. "We know him well, we have seen him many times. He is one of their players who can make a difference."
    Wenger will rotate his squad for the tie and he confirmed that the 20-year-old Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny would start.
 
Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is Liverpool transfer target

&#8226; Kenny Dalglish looking for support for Fernando Torres
&#8226; 17-year-old attacking midfielder could cost £10m



  • Andy Hunter
  • The Guardian, Wednesday 12 January 2011 <li class="history">Article history Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, playing here for England U-18s, is a transfer target for Liverpool. Photograph: Jed Leicester /Action Images Liverpool have prepared a £10m bid for Southampton's highly rated teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as they attempt to rebuild for the future and to back Kenny Dalglish's pledge of support for Fernando Torres with action.
    The 17-year-old son of the former England international Mark Chamberlain has made only 14 starts for the League One club but is regarded by many at Southampton, and Liverpool's scouting department, as a better prospect than Theo Walcott was at the same age. Walcott's current club, Arsenal, are Liverpool's main rival for the signature of an attacking midfielder who has scored six goals this season, and the clubs hope to complete a deal in this transfer window.
    Liverpool have not yet made an offer for Oxlade-Chamberlain, the second youngest player to feature for Southampton behind Walcott, but the club's new owners, Fenway Sports Group, are willing to meet the south coast club's £10m valuation. FSG, advised by Liverpool's director of football strategy Damien Comolli, want to invest in young and coveted talent, and the teenager's arrival would serve as a statement of the new owner's intent should he choose Anfield over the Emirates.
    Anfield scouts view Oxlade-Chamberlain as one of the finest prospects in the country and, though he would likely be nurtured into the first team at Liverpool, the club are anxious to address the lack of support for Torres. The Spain international was substituted 13 minutes from the end of Dalglish's first game in charge at Manchester United on Sunday, with Liverpool in need of an equaliser in the FA Cup third-round tie. The club's record signing has struggled for fitness and consistent form for over a year and often appeared disillusioned during Roy Hodgson's ill-starred reign. Dalglish, however, is confident he can lead Torres out of his prolonged slump and has told the 26-year-old to look no further than his own career for evidence that even world-class strikers are not immune to a loss of form.
    Dalglish, who takes charge of his first Premier League game at Blackpool, said: "Someone asked me if I had a magic wand for Fernando. I said I don't need one, he has got one himself. He might be lacking a little bit of confidence, but he is still a top goal scorer and someone everybody fears when he goes on to the pitch.
    "I went through a worse spell than he has. I can pass on advice and I will try and help him in any way, shape or form, but it's the same for all the players. We've got to try and help each other. We've got to have respect and belief in what we are doing and carry that on to the pitch. We have to continue working as hard as we possibly can to turn things around."
    Steven Gerrard starts his three-match suspension against Ian Holloway's side and Dalglish, whom Torres has cited as a role-model in the past, added: "It's all about relationships between players and staff. I've got fantastic respect for Fernando, not only as a footballer but also as a person as well. When he signed for the club he really threw himself into learning about the history and the tradition of the club, he really soaked it all up. "I hope I can help him and I will help him in whatever way I possibly can. But then I would say that about any one of the players at this football club. We will give them as much support as we all possibly can, and not just to Fernando."
 
Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is Liverpool transfer target

• Kenny Dalglish looking for support for Fernando Torres
• 17-year-old attacking midfielder could cost £10m



  • Andy Hunter
  • The Guardian, Wednesday 12 January 2011 <li class="history">Article history Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, playing here for England U-18s, is a transfer target for Liverpool. Photograph: Jed Leicester /Action Images Liverpool have prepared a £10m bid for Southampton's highly rated teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as they attempt to rebuild for the future and to back Kenny Dalglish's pledge of support for Fernando Torres with action.
    The 17-year-old son of the former England international Mark Chamberlain has made only 14 starts for the League One club but is regarded by many at Southampton, and Liverpool's scouting department, as a better prospect than Theo Walcott was at the same age. Walcott's current club, Arsenal, are Liverpool's main rival for the signature of an attacking midfielder who has scored six goals this season, and the clubs hope to complete a deal in this transfer window.
    Liverpool have not yet made an offer for Oxlade-Chamberlain, the second youngest player to feature for Southampton behind Walcott, but the club's new owners, Fenway Sports Group, are willing to meet the south coast club's £10m valuation. FSG, advised by Liverpool's director of football strategy Damien Comolli, want to invest in young and coveted talent, and the teenager's arrival would serve as a statement of the new owner's intent should he choose Anfield over the Emirates.
    Anfield scouts view Oxlade-Chamberlain as one of the finest prospects in the country and, though he would likely be nurtured into the first team at Liverpool, the club are anxious to address the lack of support for Torres. The Spain international was substituted 13 minutes from the end of Dalglish's first game in charge at Manchester United on Sunday, with Liverpool in need of an equaliser in the FA Cup third-round tie. The club's record signing has struggled for fitness and consistent form for over a year and often appeared disillusioned during Roy Hodgson's ill-starred reign. Dalglish, however, is confident he can lead Torres out of his prolonged slump and has told the 26-year-old to look no further than his own career for evidence that even world-class strikers are not immune to a loss of form.
    Dalglish, who takes charge of his first Premier League game at Blackpool, said: "Someone asked me if I had a magic wand for Fernando. I said I don't need one, he has got one himself. He might be lacking a little bit of confidence, but he is still a top goal scorer and someone everybody fears when he goes on to the pitch.
    "I went through a worse spell than he has. I can pass on advice and I will try and help him in any way, shape or form, but it's the same for all the players. We've got to try and help each other. We've got to have respect and belief in what we are doing and carry that on to the pitch. We have to continue working as hard as we possibly can to turn things around."
    Steven Gerrard starts his three-match suspension against Ian Holloway's side and Dalglish, whom Torres has cited as a role-model in the past, added: "It's all about relationships between players and staff. I've got fantastic respect for Fernando, not only as a footballer but also as a person as well. When he signed for the club he really threw himself into learning about the history and the tradition of the club, he really soaked it all up. "I hope I can help him and I will help him in whatever way I possibly can. But then I would say that about any one of the players at this football club. We will give them as much support as we all possibly can, and not just to Fernando."
 
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