Police appeal to Dundee derby fans in murder inquiry

POLICE investigating the murder of a Perthshire man have appealed to football fans attending the Dundee derby for help with their inquiries.

Father-of-five John McMurchie, 50, from Errol, was found lying in Dundee's Fintry Terrace in the early hours of last Sunday morning and died later in hospital.

Mr McMurchie was a Dundee United fan and police were at Tannadice Stadium during half-time yesterday to seek any further information about his last known movements.

It is known the grandfather-of-two began last Saturday evening with a group of friends at the Dolphin Bar on Fintry Road around 5pm.

Around three hours later, the group moved to the Balmore Bar in Dura Street, which they left about 9.45pm. Mr McMurchie and his companions then moved to the Albert Bar until last orders at 11.30pm.
From there, it is understood the men went to a house in Murrayfield Gardens, which the victim left some time between 3.30am and 4am on Sunday.

Police said they want to speak to two people seen in the area where he was found. The pair were spotted between 3.55am and 4am in an area known locally as the centre path.

Police are still hunting for the murder weapon and have been searching undergrowth in Fintry Terrace and surrounding streets, with particular attention understood to be focused on the area near the terrace's junction with Whitfield Drive and Murrayfield Gardens.

Detective Inspector Bobby Dow said: "We want to speak with people heading home from a night out, taxi drivers who were dropping off or picking up in the area, shift workers heading to or from work, or delivery drivers on early-morning runs.

"Did you see anyone walking in the area, on their own, with others, or even out walking their dog? Don't presume that you didn't see anything of interest. Contact us and let us decide."

He added: "As we piece together his last movements we are scouring the area to see if there is anything that can be found to help us establish exactly what happened to him. We are carrying out our searches but the public can also assist, and I would appeal to them to check their gardens, outbuildings and the area around them.

"If they find anything unusual or out of place, leave it where it is and contact the police."

Be careful of football credit cards

This article warns that  branded football credit linked to a particular club may not be all that they are cracked up to be.

  The amount that they give to the club is generally miniscule and the fan can probably getter a better deal for themselves elsewhere.

There are some exceptions in terms of cards that offer interest free deals on season tickets or other discounts or preferential offers.

More back page

Tottenham are planning to table another bid for Fulham’s Moussa Dembele, the Sunday Mirror say.

Dembele has previously been linked with a move to White Hart Lane and Spurs are again said to be pursuing him.

The same paper also suggest Luka Modric will snub a fresh approach from Chelsea to join Real Madrid from Tottenham, and that Chelsea have been tracking Newcastle midfielders Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye.

The Sun on Sunday pick up on Chelsea youngster Josh McEachran’s imminent loan move.

Wigan Athletic vs. Chelsea

The first game of the season is always full of optimism, the way that we finished the last campaign intensifies that optimism almost off the scale, a few shrewd additions to the squad and Martinez has fashioned a decent side

Welcoming the European Champions for the opening game casts my mind back to our inaugural season in the top flight, a sunny Sunday afternoon, a large crowd the TV cameras and a great game that we were unfortunate to lose in the dying moments

Chelsea will be aiming to get their season off to a flyer, just like us, but if we can replicate the form from last season, hit the ground running then we should fear no one, a good start can give the squad the confidence it needs to enjoy a good season, let's get the ball rolling today

What The Bosses Say:

Latics boss Roberto Martinez

'We finished the last campaign really well and thats what we will try to replicate'

'The start is tough, you couldn't get a harder game than the European Champions'

'But we are at home, we are excited, the fans are excited and everyone at the football club is ready to kick on the 8th season at this level'

Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo

'It's a difficult fixture to start with'

'Last season at the end Wigan were very strong, the last 12 games they were very good, so we know to expect a tough game'

Wigan Athletic Team News:

James McArthur and Ivan Ramis are slight doubts, it will be interesting to see the starting eleven and where Klone fits in if the Ivory Coast international makes his debut

Latics from - Al Habsi, Caldwell, Ramis, Alcaraz, Figueroa, Boyce, Beausejour, McCarthy, McArthur, Gomez, Watson, Moses, Maloney, Di Santo, Kone, Miyaichi

Player to watch: Victor Moses

On fire at the end of last season, subject of several failed bids from Chelsea

Moses with a point to prove?

By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

Chelsea Team News:

Marko Marin is doubtful

Chelsea possible - Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Mikel, Hazard, Torres, Mata

Player to watch: Eden Hazard

New signing Hazard is highly tipped to take the Premier League by storm, we'll see first hand if he is ready to live up to the hype

Di Matteo plans Lampard talks

Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo has revealed he hopes to discuss a new contract with veteran midfielder Frank Lampard in the near future.

Lampard, 34, was seemingly on the way out of the club with Andre Villas-Boas in charge 12 months ago. But after playing a key role in the club's run to Champions League and FA Cup success last season Di Matteo is eager for him to extend a deal which runs out next summer.

The player himself has no desire to leave Stamford Bridge and has openly spoken of his wish to put pen to paper.
Di Matteo said: "These are talks between the club and the player. I've been very happy with Frank and he shows his qualities that he has in every game that he plays, so a very influential player within the group as well.

"I don't think I'll be answering this question all the time. I think that's between the player and the club to sort out and when that's going to be, when the time is going to be.

"He's in good shape, he's not suffered any major injuries and he looks after himself. We've seen that many players who live a professional life can go on and play up to their late 30s.

"I don't think we're going to change exactly everything there is about Frank and take his qualities away. We want to enhance his qualities within the team. He certainly has a little bit of a different role but we're still wanting to do what is best for him, trying to go forward and he's got good timing or arrival in the box and scores goals for us as well.

"We have a lot of competition in midfield - that is very good - but we have a lot of games as well and competitions that we're going to be playing in. So, there will be time for everybody and that's the situation for all the players.

"He's an important player, Ramires is an important player, [Juan] Mata's an important, [John Obi] Mikel's an important player, [Michael] Essien. We can't think that we can only count on 11 players or 10 players.''

England boss Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, has indicated age will be no consideration when he selects his squad. Lampard was captain for the 2-1 win over Italy in midweek, but there are doubts about Lampard will be too old to travel to the World Cup in Brazil in two years.

"I remember having Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypia with Finland, one was 38, the other 34, playing in a side whose average age was around 31,'' Hodgson said. "Sami was a very similar player at 34 to when he was 19.

"Frank is a very fit lad. He is one of those players who plays a lot of matches one after another without injury. I am rather hoping he will keep fit, playing well and first of all helps us get to Brazil and then be a contender.

"It is not something that concerns me at this moment in time. It might if we qualify and either he is not playing well or showing signs of being past it.

"Players are looked after so well in their clubs now with the rehabilitation and recuperation, it is only really major injuries that can stop them. Michael and Frank are still doing what they did at 19 but with the added advantage of having all the experience, quality and ability that matches and experience give you.

"Age is not a crucial factor when it comes to a footballer. It is how good he is, how fit he is and how capable he is of doing the work required. At the moment, I prefer just to concentrate on our qualifying matches.

"In two years' time they might still be flying. On the other hand, they might have retired, so I don't even bother to look ahead.''

 Di Matteo hoping Lampard will extend Chelsea career

The 34-year-old is entering the final year of his contract but the Italian boss believes that he still has a part to play at Stamford Bridge by slightly adapting his role

Golden balls: West Ham United's co-owner reveals his cunning plan for the Olympic stadium

Brought up in abject poverty by a petty criminal, abused by a relative, written off as a greedy porn baron... David Gold has had to deal with plenty in his life – which means he’s not about to give up on his dream of taking over the Olympic Stadium with his beloved West Ham United.

  Twelve years ago, on Radio Five Live, presenter Nicky Campbell challenged David Gold to give a description of his Surrey estate in less than 60 seconds.

"I believe you have your own golf course," Campbell prompted his guest, in an ominously mischievous tone.
"Yes," Gold replied. "I am very proud of it."

"Outdoor Jacuzzi?" the presenter continued.

"I have an indoor Jacuzzi," Gold replied before describing, without irony, the "swimming pool, with the logo of Ann Summers [his jointly owned chain of shops selling lingerie and adult electricals] on the bottom. The greens on my golf course are each named after my various companies." Conversation then turned to David Gold's watch, and its unusually generous allocation of diamonds.

"I must say," Gold told his hosts, "that, all through my life, I have been very sort of, erm… what's the word…"

Read more 

What the back pages say:

DAILY MAIL

Sir Alex Ferguson has planned his exit strategy from Manchester United and will quit in two years' time after building his last great team around Wayne Rooney and last week's £24million capture from Arsenal, Robin van Persie.

Also: Kevin Pietersen will discover in the next 48 hours that all doors back to the England side are presently closed to him, probably for good.

THE SUN

Arsenal plunged into crisis last night in the wake of Robin van Persie's £22million move to Manchester United.
Also: Sunderland are poised to land Adam Johnson in a shock £10million raid...Kevin Pietersen could receive a huge cash bonanza if he plays in Australia's Big Bash Twenty20 event next winter.

DAILY MIRROR

Luka Modric is set to snub new interest from Chelsea to drive through his Real Madrid move this week.
Also: Joey Barton last night launched a new attack on the FA - by branding them 'a firm of muppets'...The full cost of Sir Alex Ferguson's sensational capture of Robin van Persie amounts to a massive £70million...Kevin Pietersen will remain in exile when England name three limited-overs squads on Tuesday - casting further doubt on his top-level future.

DAILY STAR

Manchester City are planning to discuss a new £180,000-a-week contract with Mario Balotelli in the new year.
Also: Adam Johnson is on the way out at Manchester City after Sunderland offered £10million for the winger...Rio Ferdinand has plunged Manchester United into a central-defensive crisis after being injured in training.

DAILY EXPRESS

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew faces an FA rap for pushing assistant referee Stuart Burt in last night's home win over Tottenham.
Also: Jonny Bairstow admitted he was gutted to fall agonisingly short of his first Test century for England in their Lord's showdown with South Africa...Roberto Mancini insists the Premier League title race will not be just a Manchester affair.

THE TIMES

England are facing an uphill struggle to win the third and final Test - as they must do to level the series and retain their number one rating - after another see-saw day at Lord's yesterday.
Also: Tottenham have approached Manchester City for Adam Johnson who has grown frustrated at his lack of playing time under Roberto Mancini.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Brendan Rodgers endured an horrendous start to his career as Liverpool manager as his new club suffered their heaviest opening day defeat in the top flight since 1937.
Also: Rio Ferdinand is expected to miss Manchester United's Premier League opener against Everton tomorrow and there are fears that the former England captain may be facing a month on the sidelines after sustaining an injury in training.

THE INDEPENDENT

Arsenal accepted the loss of a second regular first-team player last night when agreeing a £15million fee with Barcelona for Alex Song, who will have a medical in Spain today.
Also: For the next three weeks, Britain's Chris Froome, runner-up in the Tour de France behind his Sky team-mate Bradley Wiggins, will have the chance to prove whether he too is able to clinch a major Tour in his own right.

THE PEOPLE

Roberto Mancini has been ordered by Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners to stop his public attacks on football director Brian Marwood.
Also: Alan Pardew could face an FA rap after pushing assistant referee Stuart Burt during Newcastle's dramatic 2-1 win over Tottenham... Sunderland last night made a move to sign £5million Dimitar Berbatov as the race for the Manchester United misfit begins to hot up.

The worst start possible! Missing Song’s Vision? Park & Chamakh next to depart….

Not the best start yesterday, in fact I’d say it’s the worst start we could have had. Not the draw itself and certainly not the fact that we kept a clean-sheet but we didn’t score.

All that has done is fed Fleet Street’s finest this morning and they are loving it. Of course it is inevitable that they would associate our inability to find the back the back of the net to the departure of you know who but that’s all too easy isn’t it?

Sometimes there is more to it that, in fact if you look at team we fielded yesterday, we had enough strike force on the pitch and we should have won but we didn’t and Wenger has admitted he got it wrong:

The formula didn’t work with three strikers up front and we were not well-balanced, we didn’t create enough because they blocked our midfield. After that it was difficult for us. We need to be more creative in the final third.

You have to ask the question, why didn’t the manager change the formation earlier when it wasn’t working?
We need to find a way of breaking down sides who defend so resolutely, which of course brought up the question about why we are selling Alex Song, after all he managed to find the perfect pass to a striker last season, which on a few occasions ended up with a goal.
When asked why, Wenger said:

Because we have Wilshere coming back, I believe in one and a half months. We have Diaby back, we have Rosicky not far away and we might bring another midfielder in as well. You have to be patient a little bit over any new signings.

No Arsene, none of those you mention are defensive players and that is what we need. A player who can defend when needed and not leave us wide open at the same time.

There cannot be a ‘might’ bring in a midfielder, it has to be a must and then the players like Jack, Tomas, Santi etc can work how then will break through a midfield when it’s stifling ours. In fact go back to the days when we had a proper rock in midfield.

How many times would Paddy break up play, win the ball and either head on up the pitch on the attack or, after winning the ball he would take a quick look up and play a very early pass forward?
Before we knew it, we’d scored.

Yann M’Vila or Etienne Capoue could be that similar style of player and we need one of them. Soon!
Alex Song may have nabbed himself half a dozen assists last season but the downside to his game was how many goals conceded was his indirectly responsible for?

It seems that Barcelona will now have that worry, we’ll get £15 Million and that money, together with what we get from Fergie needs to be re-invested sharpish.

That’s if Arsene Wenger really wants to see Arsenal challenge for trophies this season.
Arsene Wenger confirmed that Bendtner is likely to leave before the 31st August although no deal is in place just yet and the absence of both Park and Chamakh yesterday could suggest they could join him….
Busy week Arsene??

I hope so!!

That’s it for another day, have a good one…..

Gunners Confirm Alex Song Exit, Wenger Hints at New Signing

After the departure of striker Robin van Persie to Manchester United, Arsenal have now confirmed they have agreed terms with Catalan giants Barcelona for the sale of Cameroonian defensive midfielder Alex Song.

 

Gunners confirm Alex Song Depature

"Arsenal Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for the transfer of Alex Song to Barcelona. Song will now travel to the Catalan club to agree personal terms and undergo a medical ahead of the proposed move," read a statement on the club's official Web site.

No Westcountry winners on first day of football season

Whats the odds of that ?

• LEAGUE ONE

YEOVIL TOWN 1 - 1 COVENTRY

Yeovil and Coventry's first ever meeting ended with a draw in the sunshine at Huish Park.
The visitors, relegated from the Championship last season, opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Cody McDonald.

But defender Richard Hinds equalised for The Glovers with his third goal in two games in the 21st minute.
Hinds thought he had won the game late on after volleying home Jamie McAllister's free-kick, but the referee disallowed the goal for a handball.

• LEAGUE TWO

FLEETWOOD TOWN 0 - 0 TORQUAY UNITED

Torquay picked up a point at League new-boys Fleetwood Town.

Gulls goalkeeper Michael Poke made several good saves to spoil the home fans' party.
Ian Morris missed Torquay's best chance five minutes from time, and Rene Howe also had a goal disallowed for a push.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0 - 2 ALDERSHOT TOWN

Argyle suffered an opening day defeat at Home Park.

Manager Carl Fletcher kept faith with the same team that eased past Portsmouth in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday, but despite having the majority of possession, they lacked the killer instinct in front of goal.

Aldershot sneaked an early lead with defender Troy Brown heading in a free-kick after just five minutes.
The visitors doubled their lead eight minutes into the second half from the penalty spot.

Michael Rankine was fouled in the area, and Josh Payne sent Jake Cole the wrong way.
Argyle's best chance of the match came immediately after the restart, but Conor Hourihane’s 20 yard half-volley dropped just over the bar.

EXETER CITY 0 - 3 MORECAMBE

Three defensive blunders gifted Morecambe the three points at St James Park.

In the 14th minute, defender Craig Woodman played the ball across his own box straight into the path of Andrew Fleming, and he didn't waste his present.

Fleming scored again ten minutes later when Artur Krysiak's attempted clearance hit the striker. City's goalkeeper could only watch as Fleming lobbed the ball over him and into the net.
And just eight minutes later, the Grecians' shocker of a first half was complete when Izak Reid scored after two defenders missed a simple ball into the area.

Newcastle and Sunderland fans on the Premier League’s big kick-off

Sean O'Driscoll to put faith in Danny Collins as skipper as search for new additions continues

SEAN O'Driscoll today said he would still like to sign a 'captain' style figure by the end of the transfer window.

But the Nottingham Forest manager also intimated Danny Collins will be given the armband in the short-term.
O'Driscoll still hopes to add two players to his squad, to take his number of summer additions to ten. And he hopes one of those will be somebody who can be a figurehead for the Reds.

But O'Driscoll also believes Collins can provide valuable leadership from the heart of defence.
"If I am totally honest, if I could sign a captain, I would. If I could sign that type of character, somebody who is used to it, it would be a great addition to the squad," said O'Driscoll.

"But I don't want to collect players for the sake of it. If it ends up being a signing in a position where we have already got two or three players, it might not be worth doing it.

"Alternatively, we try to develop a captain within the squad. Danny has the qualities. He is respected in the dressing room, he trains exceptionally well. He has the kudos about him."

O'Driscoll wants somebody in the team who knows when a tactical change is needed, without always needing instructions from the bench.

"We need somebody on the pitch who you are able to chat to; who can get messages across (to the rest of the team) for you," he said. "That is something we are trying to encourage in training.

"But we also want them to understand things, to solve things themselves. That is a better way of doing things than me just telling them what to do all the time. Some people find it difficult, others thrive on it. Hopefully Danny will thrive on it."

Collins himself says he hopes to provide some leadership to the team, whether he is made captain permanently or not.

"Playing at the back you see a lot of the play and I am quite vocal," said Collins. "The manager hasn't mentioned anything about having the armband on a permanent basis.

"He gave it me against Fleetwood, whether I have it permanently, we will have to see. If I was captain, it would not mean that I would be the only one who would shout and organise. At the end of the day, everyone should do that."

United Looking To Add Chilean Striker To Their Attack

After the capture of Robin van Persie, Manchester United are still on the lookout for more talent and will sign Angelo Henriquez this week according to his club.

The 18-year-old Chilean forward will apparently cost the Red Devils just £3.5million and is undergoing a medical right now. Henriquez rumours will no doubt fuel more transfer speculation regarding both Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov, despite Sir Alex Ferguson claiming the pair still have future at Old Trafford.

Henriquez’ club Universidad de Chile, released a statement yesterday which read: “Angelo Henriquez will join Manchester

“The player is physically and mentally prepared to take this determining step in his career.”

Universidad president Jose Yuraszcek said: “Manchester United’s representatives told us that it was fundamental for them to take him now.”

Aston Villa are no pushovers, says West Ham's Sam Allardyce

WEST Ham’s Sam Allardyce is hopeful of getting Premier League life off to a winning start but insists his side will not take Villa for granted.

The Hammers secured their return to the top flight via the play-offs last season, bouncing back at the first attempt after relegation under Avram Grant.

First up for the east Londoners are Villa and, while quietly confident of three points, Allardyce rejected the notion that the fixture is an easy one.

The match will mark Paul Lambert’s first at the Villa helm since leaving Norwich.

And Allardyce admitted: “I am expecting a pretty determined and well-organised side.
“Paul’s record in terms of moving into a new club and producing results almost immediately stands there in front of everybody.

“I think he will get them playing a system that suits the players and playing the best they possibly can play.
“For us it’s about making sure we are on top of our game because we’re playing a well-established Premier League side. While we have got some players with Premier League experience, it’s been a year since we have been there.

“We are looking forward to getting back there and hopefully we can deliver in terms of expectations and, of course, try and win.”

James Collins is fit to face his former club after a groin injury.

Premier League 2012/13 Chelsea v Wigan Athletic

The highs and lows of the 2011/12 Premier League will all be forgotten as the teams and players prepare for the first game of the new season. 

Fourteen clubs will be in action on the opening day of the 2012/13 campaign, with every team eager for the first goals, win and points of the season to instill as much confidence going forward as possible.

European champions Chelsea will travel with their expensively assembled new squad to take on Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium for the teams' opening games.

Overview
Chelsea had a fairy tale ending to last season, registering win after win and clinching the FA Cup and their maiden Champions League crown to turn an otherwise disastrous season around. Unfortunately, the cup games were the highs to the awful lows in the Premier League.

The Blues finished a lowly sixth place, behind Spurs and even Newcastle, while traditional rivals Mancheser United and Arsenal, as well as nouveau riche 

Manchester City were well beyond them. In fact, so disastrous was their campaign that had it not been for the surprising Champions League win, the Blues would not have qualified for the elite tournament this season. 

Roman Abramovich has spent big this summer in an effort to reel in that gap. Will that be enough? 


Chelsea's performances last season were inconsistent. The Blues started well, under former boss Andre Villas-Boas, before completely losing momentum and focus and further reports of player unrest meant the Portuguese manager had to be fired. AVB was replaced with his assistant Italian Roberto Di Matteo and the club recovered miraculously, playing particularly well in cup competitions. The league form did not improve very much but they did at least avoid defeats and picked up enough to ensure a reasonable finish, given the position AVB left them in.

The summer transfer window promised much, with the mega signings of Belgian Eden Hazard and Brazilian Oscar leading the way. The addition of German midfielder Marko Marin and the return to form of Spanish striker Fernando Torres heralded good times for Blues' fans.

 Unfortunately, the squad seems to have lost focus again. A strong 4-2 pre-season win over MLS club Seattle Sounders was followed by defeats to the MLS All-Stars and AC Milan, while the first competitive game of the season - the 2012 Community Shield - was lost 2-3 to Manchester City.

Chelsea is under significant pressure to improve performances relative to last season and a strong winning start to the season is what they need.

Wigan Athletic, on the other hand, will be satisfied at still being in the Premier League after avoiding relegation last season, mostly because of a string of good results towards the end. They finally finished five points above the relegation zone, earning them another well-deserved season in the Premier League.

However, this time the Latics will have to formulate a strategy so they do not have to count on last moment heroics to save the day.

Much of the credit for their survival should be given to manager Roberto Martinez, who was actively pursued by Liverpool in the summer as replacement for Kenny Dalglish.

Martinez was instrumental in squeezing the most out of the club's limited resources and, critically, took points off the big boys in the league, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

Wigan have often been threatened with relegation in recent seasons but always rely on a better second half to pull through.


Team News and Tactics

The departure of legendary striker Didier Drogba means Torres should have an extended run in the first team, something he has long been asking for.

However, he will have to improve significantly on earlier form to continue justifying his position and worth at the club. That said, scoring should not be a problem for the club. with the new trio of Hazard, Marin and Oscar capable of finding routes to opposition nets.

 In addition, last season's joint top scorers, Frank Lampard and Daniel Sturridge are still around, as is the ever creative Juan Mata. Di Matteo has no significant injury concerns going into this game.

Wigan will have to contend with the departure of some of the stalwarts from last season, including defensive midfielder Mohamed Diame and Colombian striker Hugo Rodallega, as well as the potential sale of Nigerian Victor Moses to, ironically, Chelsea.

However, the Latics have not been quiet in the market. Incoming faces include Scottish midfielder Fraser Fyvie (from Aberdeen), Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi (on loan from Arsenal) and Ivorian striker Arouna Kone (from Levante). Martinez too will go into this game with no fitness concerns.


Probable Line Ups

Chelsea: Cech; Cole, Terry, Ivanovic, David Luiz; Lampard, Obi Mikel, Ramires; Oscar, Torres, Hazard

Wigan: Al Habsi; Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Maloney, Beasejour; Di Santo, Moses

Not sure how this works ?

I never bet, so I thought I will pass this on. Let me know if you understand it and it works.

 A GUARANTEED PROFIT OF AT LEAST £70.0 ON NEWCASTLE v TOTTENHAM

link 

Song to join Barcelona on Sunday -Wenger's AOC revelation -Walcott's contract talks

The new season has arrived and I feel like a kid before Christmas. I'm just too excited. I don't care that Robin van P€r$i€ has left. It's not about who is not at the club when you kick off, it's  about those that are on the field. Only they can make the difference.

And while we've sold a world class player in the final year of his contract for £22.5m, the fact that Wenger knew van P€r$i€ wasn't going to renew just made the manager more proactive in the transfer market. The signings of Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla are superb and have got me really excited.

We know van P€r$i€ would find it hard to replicate the season he's just had ever again. But those three signings have given me real hope that we can move forward this term and challenge for honours.

While the manager's press conference yesterday was dominated by talk about a player who had left the club - van P€r$i€ and another who is standing by the exit door - Song and preparing to join Barcelona on Sunday, I think the most interesting thing the manager said regarded Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Wenger revealed that his pre-season experiment would continue and that Alex would play more centrally this season. This to my mind is why we are prepared to let Song leave the club when he has three years remaining on his contract.

I'm guessing but I think the manager will want to play with Arteta/Coquelin/Frimpong at the base of his midfield, alongside Oxlade-Chamberlain/Ramsey/Wilshere with Cazorla/Diaby/Rosicky playing behind the central striker.

Of course that won't happen straight away against Sunderland today as The Ox is injured, along with Laurent Koscielny who will also sit out the game with a calf injury.

I expect the team today to be:
Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud.

There could be a couple of changes. Song might play, but I'd imagine it would be doubtful if he is leaving the club. Diaby might start for Ramsey or Cazorla. And with Theo Walcott having been released from England duty through injury, Gervinho could come in for him.

And there is talk in the Daily Mirror the England man will sit down with the manager this week to discuss a new deal. The club are set to offer him £70k a week. By all accounts Walcott wants £100k a week.

If Song does leave, The Guardian say Nuri Sahin is lined up to joined, having snubbed the advances of Liverpool.

Elsewhere the Daily Mail have an interview with Wojciech Szczesny.

Link 

Harry Redknapp and Mick McCarthy join MOTD team

Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has joined Match Of The Day as a regular pundit for the new season.

Redknapp will feature on the show alongside Mick McCarthy and regulars Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer throughout the season. He was axed by Tottenham earlier this year and replaced by former Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Redknapp was widely touted as favourite for the England job, but lost out to Roy Hodgson after walking free from court following a 13-day trial over 
accusations of tax-dodging.

Hansen’s former Liverpool teammate Mark Lawrenson will also continue to feature on an occasional basis.
The show, hosted by Gary Lineker, returns to BBC1 tonight at 10:30pm with Colin Murray’s Match Of The Day 2 starting in a new slot on the same channel on Sunday nights.

McCarthy was sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers in February after a run of poor results.

Footballers 'Should Mirror Olympians' Spirit'

The Premier League season starts today - but it begins in the shadow of the Olympic Games.

It was hoped that London 2012 would "inspire a generation", and the success of Team GB has not been measured in gold medals alone.

Winners and losers alike have been praised for their sportsmanship and good humour; something that the England manager - rather more used to petulance than patriotism from his players - has noted.
"I think we can learn from how well the athletes perform in interviews after the event," said Roy Hodgson.
"The humility they show when they win, the grace that they show in relation to opponents that they've beaten."

Some would suggest, given the racism scandal, the allegations of sexual assault and the prima donna behaviour commonly associated with professional footballers, that such changes are sooner said than made.
But at one boys and girls football club in Cheshire, the behaviour of Olympics athletes is something they have long sought in their young players.

Colin Dowdy, chairman of Sale United FC said: "We have a code of conduct so we explain to the kids right from the start what's expected of their behaviour towards the referee."

Founded in 1975, and with 500 players and more than 80 coaches and volunteers, it is an attitude not limited to the pitch.

 "It's life skills as well," said Mr Dowdy.

"We try and teach them what's wrong and what's right."

Jessica Ennis has become the British poster girl for London 2012 since her gold medal in the Heptathlon, and Friday saw her cheered by thousands in her home town of Sheffield.

"I think the main thing that's come from the Olympics is how well we've come together as a team - how well we've inspired people" she told Sky News.

"The whole motto of the Olympics is 'inspire a generation'. Just how incredible the athletes have been at raising their game under pressure is something that a lot of people can learn from.

"Hopefully we can create future champions and move on from this."

Her fellow medallist, Olympic gymnast Louis Smith, thinks even football can be a power for good.
"I think a lot of kids like the stereotype - lots of money, nice cars, but I think it's important not to stereotype all footballers," he said.

 "If football's what you want to do there are great role models out there - it'd be easy to pick mistakes and just show all the bad things.

"Sport is a fantastic thing, no matter which one."

John Obi Mikel Reminds Us Of Chelsea's Priorities

Things got a little bit depressing towards the end of last season, at least when Chelsea were playing in the league. While in the very early going, it looked as though the Blues would challenge both Manchester City and Manchester United for the title, any dreams of winning the Premier League came to an abrupt halt in October. Things only got worse from there as the Andre Villas-Boas-led collapse reached rather epic proportions. By January, there were serious fears for our continued existence as a Champions League team, and when Roberto di Matteo replaced the sacked Villas-Boas in March, the priority was, apparently, to retain that top four slot.

Things didn't quite turn out that way, thanks to some absolutely heroic performances by the Blues against Barcelona and then Bayern Munich, but the message was, I think clear: We're not good enough to win the league, so let's settle for continuing to qualify for the Champions League. And frankly, that line of thinking is incredibly lame. It's the sort of thought process that sees teams like Arsenal celebrate their long run of trophiless competence as though it's some sort of badge of honour to not win anything. It's not a route I want Chelsea to go down.

Fortunately, Chelsea agree:

It hurts us that it was such a big gap [between Chelsea and the champions] last season. We spoke about it. We don't want that to repeat itself. We don't want a repeat of last season when we slipped out of the top four but, for us, the top four is not the target. The most important thing is to win the trophy. We want to regain the trophy.

-John Obi Mikel. Source: Mail.

This is exactly right. While we don't have the strongest squad in England -- I'd eyeball us for third, behind both Manchester teams -- Chelsea can't afford to start thinking small. They need to be competing for the Premier League title year in and year out to stay relevant. Winning enough to sustain our presence in the Champions League is not enough. The club doesn't just compete in the Premier League and in Europe for the money; they play to win the competitions themselves.

REDS TO THE FOUR INSISTS STEVE CLARKE

STEVE CLARKE believes Liverpool counterpart Brendan Rodgers is under pressure to secure a top-four finish this season – an outcome he and Kenny Dalglish had been confident of achieving.

Clarke, the former Liverpool assistant turned West Brom boss, faces new Reds manager Rodgers tomorrow at the Hawthorns in a typical quirk of fate in the fixture list on the opening day of the season.

Dalglish was axed in May after the Reds finished eighth – 17 points off a top-four spot – and, after initially staying on to hold the fort, Clarke has revealed for the first time that he was sacked too.

The Anfield hierarchy have insisted Rodgers is not under immediate pressure to deliver Champions League football, but Clarke is calling their bluff.

He said: “I don’t believe that. A club like Liverpool have to be challenging for the top four. I don’t think they can accept anything less.”

Clarke, appointed at the Hawthorns in June, launched a staunch defence of his time alongside Dalglish at Anfield.

“We didn’t quite get to where we wanted to be in the league but there were a number of factors in that,” he said.

 

“We were chasing two cups. Once the players realised they couldn’t get to the top four then they became a little disappointed in the league.”

Clarke added: “I actually got sacked by Liverpool. After they brought in Brendan, they must have decided to rejig the whole staff. That is part and parcel of football.

“But it’s now my first chance to be in charge of a team in the Premier League and that’s very exciting for me.”

James Morrison and Jonas Olsson are doubts for West Brom after picking up injuries on international duty, but Chris Brunt is winning his fitness battle following a calf problem.

Pardew pleased to make Ajax midfielder his fourth signing

ALAN PARDEW expressed satisfaction with his summer business yesterday as his side confirmed their fourth signing in midfielder Vurnon Anita, the 23-year-old Dutch internationalist joining from Ajax on a five-year contract.

That follows the arrivals of midfielders Romain Amalfitano and Gael Bigirimana and defender Curtis Good.
"It was pleasing [to get Anita]. Ajax are a fantastic club and to take a player out of there is difficult, especially one of their better players," said Pardew.

The manager added he would "not mind" if trading were to cease now, particularly given the key players he has so far managed to hang on to, but with the option to do more business still open to him until the end of the month, the 51-year-old remains hopeful of making a further addition to his squad.

Wenger: Selling Van Persie to Man Utd a bitter pill to swallow

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he would have preferred to sell Robin van Persie to an overseas club such as Paris Saint-Germain instead of Premier League rivals Manchester United.

Van Persie has undergone a medical with United on Thursday ahead of his prospective move to Old Trafford. Wenger, who earlier stated he had "no choice" but to part with the striker, says the Gunners were desperate to avoid van Persie moving to another Premier League club.

"That is the other negative point that we wanted to avoid at all costs but we couldn't," Wenger told French TV station TF1. "Honestly, I'd rather sell him abroad, to Paris Saint-Germain for example.

"Manchester United know him and know his qualities. He's an exceptional player in the pure sense of the term. I haven't seen many in my life who have that quality in the first touch, are so technically gifted and have that intelligence of movement in the final 20 metres.

"Van Persie is a great player so it's always sad to lose such a player. But we must consider the economic reality and the will of the player. When you can't succeed in extending the contract of a player that is in its last year, there is no other way but to let him go."

Juventus and Manchester City were the other clubs reportedly chasing van Persie this summer, before United made a decisive £22 million bid for the Netherlands international.

Wenger, meanwhile, has spent £35 million during the transfer window and expects new signings Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla to fill the void left by van Persie, who scored 30 league goals last term.

"It's sad because van Persie played for us for eight years," said Wenger. "He's 29 now. It's another bitter pill to swallow. A lot has happened before and we survived it all, but this is a real challenge because van Persie scored 30 league goals in a year, almost one per game. It's a tough challenge for our new forwards to replace him.

"The economic part of it is the only satisfaction. But money doesn't go out on the field and play, players do. It will give more chance to Giroud. When Van Persie is here, his name is the first on the teamsheet and the others follow. So there's a void to fill. It's up to whoever wants to seize their chance."

Meanwhile, reports in the English press continue to link Arsenal with a loan move for Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin despite the interests of Liverpool.

Fergie excited by attacking options

Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to party like it's 1999 when Robin van Persie joins Manchester United.

The Netherlands striker has undergonea medical and, providing he beats the 12 noon registration deadline on Friday (local time) will go straight into the United squad for its Premier League trip to Everton.
In addition to sending out a significant message to champion Manchester City, whose manager Roberto Mancini wanted to sign Van Persie from Arsenal himself at the start of the northern summer, it bolsters United's attacking options significantly.

Quite apart from the potentially mouthwatering partnership of Van Persie and Wayne Rooney, who scored 72 goals in all competitions between them last term, Ferguson also has England's EURO 2012 forward Danny Welbeck and Mexico sharp-shooter Javier Hernandez in a four-man strikeforce.

It reminds Ferguson so much of that 1998-1999 season, when Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke scored the bulk of the goals, but Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were the men who found the net in that sensational UEFA Champions League comeback against Bayern Munich.

"In 1999 I had Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the four best strikers in Europe," said Ferguson, who was speaking at the launch of a new partnership between United and online gaming group bwin.

"We are going towards that now."

In addition, Ferguson also has another new boy, Shinji Kagawa, who can play in an advanced role, as can Ashley Young, who enjoyed such success in that position for England.

"It is a fantastic collection of players and hopefully I pick the right combinations," he said.
Van Persie is the man everyone is talking about.

PFA and FWA player of the year last term thanks to an astonishing 37-goal haul, at 29, Van Persie represents Ferguson's most high-profile purchase since the arrival of Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur in 2008.

After a three-year period when so many big-name stars have been attracted by the lure of life at Manchester City, it is a statement of intent by the 19-times champion.

And even though the contract is still to be signed, Ferguson could not disguise his delight.
"He has not signed yet," said the Scot.

"We hope everything gets tied up as we hope and I am sure he will be available on Monday.
"It is great to have a player of Robin van Persie's qualities to come into the squad. I am very pleased."
Even one of the players whose place is threatened expressed his delight, with Welbeck keen to welcome Van Persie into the United fold.

"It is a massive boost to the club if Robin van Persie joins us," he said.

"I am really looking forward to playing with him."

The transfer does not come without risks.

Van Persie's injury record is not great and United needs the striker to retain his fitness if it is to get the best out of him.

The difficulties Berbatov has had at United, where he will surely now leave, are proof that not every Ferguson signing is a success and there will be some fans who wonder at the purchase given the perceived weaknesses that still exists in midfield.

However, without question, it has restored a sense of pride to Old Trafford, as the Red Devils get ready to try and rip the championship back from City's grasp.

"Last season was disappointing for us because we didn't win the league," said veteran defender Rio Ferdinand.

"Now it is about how we come back. We have shown in the past the mentality of the club and its history is that we always come back stronger.

"We want to give the fans what they expect and be battling at the top of the league.
"The gauntlet has been thrown down time and time again. It is up to us to pull in the right direction.

"We have to step up to the plate and produce. I am sure we will."

Graduates of Spurs Foundation degree course honoured at White Hart Lane

The first graduates of a university course run by Spurs were honoured with a special lunch at White Hart Lane yesterday.

The nine former students are the first graduates of a programme run by the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation in partnership with Middlesex University.

The graduates were given a short speech by Grant Cornwell MBE, chief executive of the foundation, congratulating them for their hard work and all of them were given an award from former Spurs Captain Ledley King.

The course offers young people who wouldn’t usually go to university the opportunity to get a degree with all of them completing a course in Applied Sport and Community Development which they did over two years.
Chris Blackwood, 22, from Tottenham who graduated from the course said: “This course has been amazing and it’s been great doing it with Spurs as they are such a big part of the community.

“I really enjoyed the whole experience and you were made to feel you were part of the club.”
The course focused on how to manage sports community sports projects and also trained the graduates in sport coaching, with some being offered a job at the Spurs Foundation.
Tottenham became the first Premier League club to run its own Foundation degree programme two years ago.

Many of the students who have been part of the programme will move on to full time employment and others will continue with their studies to top-up t a full degree at Middlesex University.

It's surprising and very honest!

Fernando Torres has given another interview while away with Spain and this time with Spanish daily newspaper La Razon. In the most revealing interview I think we have heard from Torres, he opens up about the success Chelsea had last season but, from HIS point of view.

It's surprising and very honest!. He said:

The season was not for me, it was for others.

Chelsea wins the FA Cup but I don’t play the semi-final nor the final. I didn’t taste anything.

I feel I participated a bit more in the Champions League but even so it was not the Champions League I wanted to win, not like that. I want to win another Champions League and in a different way.

The fans helped me a lot — and you don’t understand why.

You come from outside and you have played well in this league and, with the Spanish mentality, the first who should have turned against you are the fans. You are not living up to expectations but they still support you. These people are special.

At times I was thinking, ‘I will sit here on the bench, I won’t make any noise, I don’t even want to play.’ But they are demanding that you jump on the pitch and play. They lifted my spirits so many times. Not even my team-mates succeeded in doing that in this way. Whatever I do from now on will be for the fans.

That is why I want to win another Champions League. For them.

I lived things that had not happened to me before. A new manager came in and he was hardly counting on you and what you did in training didn’t count either.

You can’t do anything more but you’re not playing. People encourage you whether you play or not but I didn’t know what to do.

I counted on the support of team-mates that are on the bench, who don’t let themselves sink and always give an example.

Paulo Ferreira, the substitute keepers, the youngsters whose progression has stopped. It helped me to see the panorama sitting on the last step.

You can think ‘Maybe Chelsea was not the team’. But if you are a great player, you have to find your place, I’m not the first one to whom this has happened.

I think I didn’t know how to be a point of reference there. And that is what I am trying to achieve. I am obliged to succeed in making my team-mates need me. When you arrive at a club like this, what you had done up to that point means nothing.

It’s not a question of whether they welcomed me or not it’s the fact you are just one more player. It’s not a team or a club where they look at the details — your gestures, how you train, how you behave.

No, you arrive there and you are one more of the team. You only have to be a star on the pitch.

They are veterans and they don’t have to give an example. If I arrived now again for the first time, I would do things differently.

I would try to be one more of the team and adapt to the situation. Now I know that from the first day you have to think of yourself more and try to demonstrate to your team-mates that you are one more of them.

I was paying attention more to what was my place rather than worrying about earning a place.”

(Source)

It's not the first time we have heard from Torres is it since he has been at Chelsea but one thing remains, he is open an honest about the situation he found himself in here.

Also, the other constant is his appreciation of the fans who have stuck with him, encouraged him and supported him through thick and thin.

I can understand where is coming from. When your team win the Champions League and FA Cup but it's other players playing, of course you want to celebrate with them and at the end of the day you are happy for your club BUT, on a personal level, you want to play and feel as though YOU contributed to that success.

Be prepared for a very determined Fernando Torres this season at Chelsea. I have already had my say on him believing that he will score between 20-30 goals this season and will be a revelation.

What do you think about this latest interview and of Torres this season fresh from opening his account for the season against City last weekend?

Watford Betray Local Youngsters With Downgrade Of Academy

Stage one in the Italians' conversion of Watford into a nursery club for Pozzo Wood's Udinese. Why do you need to develop home grown talent when you can send Italian youngsters over to your very own Hertfordshire finishing school?

Godfather Nani has accepted responsibility for explaining this one, putting words into GianFredo's mouth as he assures Watford fans, "Gianfranco Zola has said there will be always be a place in his squad for talented youngsters." Of course there will! That's why the Pozzo Family have bought the club: no need to worry about results, it's development of young players for Udinese that counts!

Expect Consiglieri Duxbury to make a statement about "the Project" in the next 48 hours to keep Watford fans sweet, and for Nodding Dog GianFredo to be rolled out to tell the world that he is very 'appy with everything that is 'appening at Watford.

But tell me, if you are a bright young talent, why would you sign up for Watford's Category 3 Academy when other clubs offer a Category One alternative?

Short sighted or what? The £9.75m secured for Ashley Young has surely covered the Academy's costs for the last decade!

Basque Lion Heading for Emirates - Report

Bilbao's Spanish striker Fernando Llorente has once again been linked with a move to the Emirates. The news comes after confirmation that Arsene Wenger has agreed terms with rival Sir Alex Ferguson over the sale of club captain Robin van Persie. The Dutchman, it is believed, will now discuss personal terms and complete a medical, before the transfer is revealed.




Llorente has already informed Bilbao he will not be renewing his contract with them and therefore is likely to be sold before the transfer window closes on 31 August. Spanish newspaper Marca now suggests that Arsenal have registered unofficial interest in the player.
"He and his agent informed us that his decision was that he would not extend his contract," Bilbao's president Urrutia said, "Essentially there was no economic reason and what had the most weight was choosing to take part in a different type of competition with more chances of success."

Four arrested after firework explodes during cup tie

FOUR men have been arrested after two people were injured when a firework was set off at a Leeds United football game.

An investigation was launched after a loud bang was heard coming from the section of away supporters, in the John Charles West Stand at Elland Road, at half-time of United’s Capital One Cup match with Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, which the home side eventually won 4-0.

Attendance at the game was recorded at 18,194.

A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “It is believed that a firework had been set off, injuring two people who suffered minor burns.”

The men, aged 18, 20, 26 and 43, were arrested on suspicion of possessing a firework or flare at a sporting event. They were bailed pending further enquiries.

Leeds United has confirmed away fans arriving for the club’s opening game in the Championship against Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday will be searched as a consequence.
A spokesman said: “This follows the incident at the Shrewsbury game last weekend when a smoke bomb was let off inside the visiting concourse during the half-time interval causing discomfort to a number of visiting fans.”

In a separate development, new turnstile assistants will be on hand to offer help and answer questions from fans arriving at the stadium.

FA warn Team GB's footballers unlikely to appear at another Olympics

The FA have warned that Team GB’s appearance at London 2012 was their last at an Olympics, despite Tom Cleverley stating his desire to see the side compete at Rio in 2016.

Alex Horne, the FA’s general secretary, has admitted the FA don’t want to risk the status of the four home nations by continuing with the combined side.
‘Within the men’s game, it is not going to happen again – and on the women’s side I’m going to say it’s unlikely,’ he said, despite admitting that ‘you can understand why it is more compelling. ‘Olympic football for women is the pinnacle.’

Roll on Rio: Cleverley hopes Team GB reunite in Brazil for the next Olympics 

The stance will come as a blow for Hope Powell’s women’s side, who reached the quarter-finals and were watched by 70,584 at Wembley when they beat Brazil in their final group game.


But it will disappoint the men too. Manchester United midfielder Cleverley said earlier:

‘The way sport was showcased in the Olympics was an example for everyone in every sport. It was unbelievable, something I look back on, even now, as being just amazing.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/olympics/article-2188001/Team-GB-football-unlikely-appear-Olympics-says-FAs-Alex-Horne.html#ixzz23UojPHdV

GOVERNING BODIES GIVE CHELSEA A LIFT

CHELSEA received a double dose of good news on the disciplinary front yesterday.

John Terry’s European ban was reduced by one game on appeal and fellow defender Branislav Ivanovic will escape a suspension following his red card in the Community Shield.

Terry was sent off in last season’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Barcelona at the Nou Camp for an off-the-ball clash with Alexis Sanchez. The offence saw Terry handed an automatic three-match suspension for violent conduct – the first game of which was the final against Bayern Munich.

He will still miss the European Super Cup clash against Atletico Madrid in Monaco later this month but will be available for the opening Champions League group game in September.

A statement from UEFA read: “The UEFA appeals committee decided to partially uphold Terry’s appeal against the three-match suspension handed down to him on May 31.

“The third game of the ban has now been deferred for a probationary period of three years.”

Ivanovic, who like Terry also missed the Champions League final because of a ban, will be free to start the Premier League despite his ugly tackle on Manchester City’s Aleksandar Kolarov.

The FA have changed the rules about red cards in pre-season friendlies.

CARLOS TEVEZ REVIVAL CASTS DOUBTS ON VAN PERSIE

YAYA TOURE is certain that Manchester City can prosper without their top transfer target Robin van Persie.

The reason? The “perfect partnership” between rejuvenated Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero.

Toure says the return to form, fitness and favour of Tevez means that even if City fail – as seems likely – to land Van Persie, they will not be short of goals in their defence of the Premier League title.

Tevez has lost a stone after a rigorous fitness programme designed to return him to peak condition after he missed most of last season following his bust-up with manager Roberto Mancini and going AWOL to Argentina.

His intuitive understanding with compatriot Aguero has been a feature of City’s pre-season matches, while his superb strike in the Community Shield win over Chelsea on Sunday indicated he has not lost his eye for goal.

Midfielder Toure said: “We have a lot of fantastic players but Carlos is one of the best. He is one of our most important players. He was very dangerous against Chelsea. He and Aguero are the perfect partnership. They have played for Argentina before. Now they play for Manchester City and I am sure they will score a lot of goals for the club.

“We have some fantastic strikers. We also have Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli. They are all so sharp and clever. We put Carlos and Aguero there against Chelsea but it could have been Edin and Mario. The most important thing is that, no matter what team the boss picks, it plays well.

“Do we need Van Persie? That is not a problem for me. It is a problem for the club. My job is to make my way and help the team to win.”

Toure says once Tevez had apologised for walking out on the team last season he was welcomed back into the fold and has been a revelation in training.

He added: “Carlos made a mistake. But the most important thing when you make a mistake is to apologise. He done that to everyone. He has come back and wants to show he will give everything for the team.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Mexes/Bendtner swap deal??

The latest Arsenal-related transfer rumour (which apparently started in Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport) suggests that Philippe Mexes could be heading to the Emirates in a straight swap deal for Nicklas Bendtner.

Mexes has struggled with several injuries over the last few seasons and AC Milan are said to be looking to get rid of him because he has a costly £4.5m-a-year contract and is causing problems at the club. Milan are even said to be close to releasing the French international on a free, but will first see if they can swap him for somebody else. Mexes has been training on his own for the past few weeks; he did not go on the club tour of the USA because he had a bust-up with some of the other squad members and wanted to be with his pregnant wife.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of France’s friendly with Uruguay, France boss Didier Deschamps confirmed that there is a “situation” going on between Mexes and Milan. However, he did not go into further detail.

“I know Philippe well and he is part of the wider France squad.
“What is happening to him? I don’t know if he will leave Milan, as there is a particular situation going on with his club.”

Mexes to Arsenal does make some sense. He would add a lot of experience to the team and, as a seasoned French international, he is already familiar with two of our first-choice defenders. One big issue, however, is that Arsenal already have 4 centre-backs. Wenger has already made reference to a large squad size, so does he really need to add another centre-back unnecessarily? The obvious problem is that Nicklas Bendtner has been fantastically average during his time in the Premier League, which would suggest that this is probably just a fabricated story. Surely no club in their right mind would want to take Bendtner??

Milan have lost Zlatan Ibrahimovic, so it is understandable if they are looking to cut lose a veteran defender and bring in a new striker. Maybe the Rossoneri think that Bendtner’s luck will change at the San Siro? He certainly has the physical qualities needed to play in Italy and I guess he had an okay season on loan at Sunderland. He is only 24 and he has a lot to learn, so maybe he is worth a gamble.

Bendtner himself has confirmed that he will be leaving Arsenal this summer. Speaking to sporten.dk, St Nick said:

“Arsenal is not an option and that is something both the club and I agree on.
“I expect to have found a solution to my situation before the window closes. There are concrete negotiations in the works.

Let’s face it. This one is probably not going to happen. That said, I thought it was worth a mention and we will see what happens. Nothing it impossible.

Cech warns Terry to expect abuse from fans

John Terry has been warned by team-mate Petr Cech to expect jeers every time Chelsea play away from Stamford Bridge this season.

Terry was targeted by Manchester City's fans at Villa Park during the Charity Shield on Sunday as a legacy of his recent court case. However, Cech believes Terry has the experience to deal with the abuse and focus on performing for the Blues.

"He is a strong player," said Cech. "He knows that this will go on every time he plays away from home.
"It won't affect him. All I need is for to be JT and to play well. If he does that everybody will be happy."
Terry was found not guilty of racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League fixture last October due to doubt over the incident.

Cech, meanwhile, insists Chelsea should not abandon the tactics that took them to Champions League and FA Cup glory last term following the departure of striker Didier Drogba to China.

Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo has brought in diminutive midfielders Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar to support the likes of Fernando Torres, but Cech says there is no need to abandon their existing game plan.
"We will play a slightly different way but we still want to keep our way of playing which has been very successful over the last eight years," he said.

"You know you have to change players because they are ageing and it is sad to see players leave the club, especially someone like Didier who was a legend here. But that's the way it is.
"We have one or two new players with a lot of hunger and they are about to show they want to win things with us as well."

"We are a changing team but still the targets are the same - we want to win as many trophies as possible. If you don't win you have to be competitive.

"We want to win the Premier League for sure. This (top four) is the aim at the start. But we are ready for the challenge and it's only up to us how we are going to cope with it."

Zola: 'We need to move the ball faster'

Watford boss Gianfranco Zola pulled no punches in his post-match assessment following a hard-fought 1-0 win in extra-time over Wycombe Wanderers in the Capital One Cup.

Missing several of their new faces as well as Sean Murray due to a family bereavement, Watford were still able to include new faces in Manuel Almunia, Matej Vydra and Almen Abdi.

After a bright start the 'Orns went off the boil and allowed the visitors a foothold in the game.

Afterwords, Zola acknowledged that his side didn't move the ball as he'd hoped:

'We will need to be moving the ball a lot faster than we did today, that's for certain,' Zola told watfordfc.com

The boss continued:

'Sure we have one or two players that we're missing right now but we should have had enough without those names.

'It was good to have this game before the league starts. I know this game will be good for us in the long run; getting a chance to assess certain situations before we start playing for League points.'

Hard to disagree with that assessment, it was afterall, never going to be the finished article on the first day of the season. Some players - Abdi & Lloyd Doyley, are still not 100 per cent fit, whilst the unit is still gelling and learning the game and system that Zola preaches. The real test comes at Crystal Palace next Saturday.

Read more: http://www.watford.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=289709#ixzz23JwzTogb

Terry Brown delighted after AFC Wimbledon make new stadium progress

The Dons are looking to redevelop Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium

AFC Wimbledon manager Terry Brown is delighted with the news that the club have made progress on moving to a new stadium.

 

The south-west Londoners are looking to redevelop the Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium.

“It’s a fantastic fillip for the club,” Brown told London24. “It’s absolutely brilliant.
“It’s where every single fan wants to be.

“We are Wimbledon FC and we want to be back in SW19.”

If successful it will see AFC Wimbledon return to its spiritual home in the borough of Merton, though their original ground – which they vacated in in 1991 to play their home games at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium – has since been turned into flats.

The npower League Two football club’s plans centre around a plan for the creation of a 22,000 capacity stadium which will host sporting and non-sporting events for the wider community.

A statement by the club read: “Initially, the redevelopment will deliver a multi-purpose facility with a capacity of 12,000 which AFC Wimbledon can expand over time as it continues its extraordinary success on and off the pitch.

“The stadium will be part of a larger development which will help fund the stadium construction.”

Dev Squad comeback comes up short

Dagenham and Redbridge proved too strong for the Development Squad in a pre-season fixture on Saturday

A spirited second half fightback wasn't enough for the Development Squad as they lost 6-3 against a strong Dagenham and Redbridge side.

The Hammers went behind in the third minute when Jake Larkins was unable to keep out Dwight Gayle's point-blank header, and despite reacting well it was soon two as Gayle caught them on the break and finished well.

Ian Hendon's side were to endure more bad luck before the halfway stage as the home side got their third when Gale's tame shot took a wicked deflection rendering Larkins helpless.

The tide turned in the second half and the Hammers reduced the deficit after just one minute when Rob Hall was brought down and captain Jordan Spence hammered the spot-kick home.

Hall took centre-stage once more just two minutes later, drifting in from the right before bending a delicious ball inside the far post to make it 3-2.

On another day the Hammers would have completed their comeback and gone on to win and they almost equalised when Kenzer Lee's header was somehow tipped over as the away side continued to press.
Despite the Hammers' pressure, it was Dagenham's day as they struck twice on the counter-attack in quick succession - the goals coming from Billy Bingham and Jake Reed.

Sam Williams added a sixth before Jordan Spence converted from the spot for the second time before Sam Baldock and Frederic Piquionne were denied opportunities to further reduce the deficit.
Hendon accepted that his side should have shown more focus, particularly in the first half, but praised the effort of lone striker Paul McCallum.

"It was men against boys today, which is not necessarily a criticism as Dagenham are a very experienced, well-drilled side," said Hendon. "That said, we didn't dominate the midfield like we needed to and support Paul who showed a superb work-rate. He battled well against two big centre-halves and deserves a lot of credit."

Hendon also believes that positives can be taken in defeat. The Development Squad host Reading to begin their Barclays Under-21 Premier League campaign at Rush Green Stadium on Friday at 7pm, and he believes this result could provide the focus they need.

"We arrange these games with fitness and preparation being our main focus. Now we need to work hard to improve for Friday. They're all good players, but when it's tough like Saturday and we're up against it they need to show for the ball and want it more. That way we will create more and control the game."
Hendon bemoaned his side's lack of luck as the Daggers scored two goals from cruel deflections either side of the half-time break.

"I've seen a lot of positive signs in the past few games that suggest we have turned a corner. We have looked stronger, sharper and fitter. Maybe today is one of those days where things just haven't gone our way. We started the second half very well, got back into it, and then they scored via a deflection for the second time.
"We can count ourselves very unlucky."

Stoke City complete deal for Dynamo Kiev defender

Stoke City have signed Dynamo Kiev defender Goran Popov on loan, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis has been looking for a specialist left-sided defender for a while now with central defender Danny Wilson filing the void last season.

Twenty-seven-year-old Popov started his career with local Macedonian side Belasica and then moved to Greece with Proodeftiki and AEK Athens. He signed for Red Star Belgrade in 2004 but injuries prevented him from making an impact.

Popov  joined Dutch club Heerenveen in July 2008. After two successful seasons in Holland he returned to eastern Europe with Dynamo Kiev. The Macedonian international impressed Tony Pulis in Dynamo’s colors during last season’s Europa League games against Stoke City.

Popov has agreed a deal for the season, with a view to a permanent move. He becomes the second defender Stoke have signed in the close season,after American Geoff Cameron joined from the MLS.

That familiar feeling

Brentford lost 1-0 at Walsall yesterday in a performance well below the expectations of supporters who'd followed our pre-season form.

Uwe Rosler - hampered by his failure to bring in a left back and denied the services of the injured Farid El Alagui and Richard Lee - selected an unbalanced starting XI who conceded the decisive goal within eight minutes.

Shaleum Logan started at left back whilst a midfield diamond of Saunders, Douglas, Reeves and Forrester (in which JD appeared to be playing on the left) put in a fairly insipid shift. Reeves, for his part, was sent off after 25 minutes for a lunge with studs showing after Douglas had lost possession.

Centre backs Craig and Dean were pulled out of position for the goal and despite a valiant saving block by right back O'Connor (who had a decent game throughout) the ball was soon fired into Moore's net.

Moore made some decent saves throughout the first half and Brentford emerged after the break with a three man defence - with Kev at the centre - whilst Logan and Weston were shifted to wing-back. Logan looked more comfortable on the right.

Substitutes Diagouraga and Forshaw - on for Saunders and Forrester - made a real impact on the game and it no longer looked like we were playing with ten men. Our best chance fell to Dave but he struggled to find the necessary finish whilst Clayton Donaldson - who showed touches of class as ever - failed to capitalise on an opening he created late in the game.

Spurs loanee Fredericks made a late appearance for a cameo debut to forget - his game punctuated by missed tackles and shanked passing. Let's hope there is better to come.

Uwe confirmed after the game that Farid should be fit for next Saturday's game at Bury and that he hoped to have a left back in this week. He's also spoken of a box to box midfielder so there might be one of those coming too although Forshaw deserves a start next weekend.

All in all it's a disappointing defeat in a cup we've regularly underperformed in. The league is most people's priority but let's not forget the benefits to a club from great cup nights like the win over Everton two years ago - galvanizing the support during a period of mixed league form.

Beesotted is still shocked that we've gone into the season without an experienced left back whilst the lack of forwards at the club showed yesterday due to El Alagui's injury. Let' hope we can bring in Paul Hayes sooner rather than later.

Bees - Moore, Logan (Fredericks), Kev, Dean, Craig, Saunders (Dave), Forrester (Forshaw), Douglas, Reeves (sent off), Donaldson, Weston

Unused Subs - Gounet, Dallas, Legge, Redwood

Read more: http://www.brentford.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=289707#ixzz23Js8xJ76

West Ham United have been told to cough up £10m if they want Wolves winger Matt Jarvis

West Ham United have been told to cough up £10m if they want Wolves winger Matt Jarvis, according to the Daily Mail.

The Hammers had a bid of £6m plus £3m in add-ons rejected on Friday. Wolves would like the money to be paid upfront but it is felt they would accept a restructured offer.

Chief Executive Jez Moxley said: “We have received a bid for Matt Jarvis but, as we have said, no player will leave until our valuation is met.”

Jarvis was one of the few brights sparks in what was a miserable seasons for Wolves, ending in relegation. He provided six assists in addition to his eight goals and there is little doubt he possesses the quality to perform in the top division.
 
West Ham do require strengthening in the wide positions and Jarvis would fit in the squad very well.
If Jarvis were to move to east London he become West Ham’s sixth big signing after Modibo Maiga, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Mohamed Diame, James Collins and Alou Diarra as the club invest to secure their future in the Premier League.

Manchester United and Manchester City to battle it out for Jack Rodwell

It wouldn't really be a transfer window without rumours surrounding Everton's Jack Rodwell and the Sunday Mirror today fill what had been something of a void and link him Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.

The first two clubs seem the more likely, Chelsea have Essien, Romeu, Ramires, Mikel and Meireles who would all be battling with Rodwell for a place, if he was moved further forward he'd still face competition given the players the Champions League winners have brought in.

Roberto Mancini is a fan of adding midfielders to his squad and the club surely need to get him a player in soon before his toys are exited from the pram at all tangents. Jack Rodwell would be much cheaper than Daniele De Rossi and is also much younger at just 21 years old.

City brought in David Pizarro last season on loan which shows just how concerned Mancini is about his midfield area and Rodwell also counts as a home grown player for Premier League squad rules.
Manchester United have been linked with Jack Rodwell for some years and Sir Alex Ferguson has said he's working on new additions to his squad. Central midfield is the area many fans feel needs improving and Rodwell would tick that box.

For his age he's got huge Premier League experience and has been named in Roy Hodgson's next senior England squad, injuries have held him back slightly but once he's over those there's no reason he can't kick on and fulfill his huge potential, become a regular for a title challenging side and his country as well.

Tottenham eye Arsenal transfer reject as Spanish press get cocky over Luka Modric

It's been widely reported, especially in Portugal, that if Spurs sell Luka Modric then Andre Villas Boas would like to replace him with Joao Moutinho but the Porto midfielder would come at a similar price tag to the Croatian and AS reported last week that Daniel Levy just isn't willing to spend that amount on one player.

Medo Kamara, 24 year old Partizan Belgrade midfielder, was put forward as a much cheaper alternative and now the London club are being linked with a €12m move for Yann M'Vila who seemed destined to be joining Arsenal this summer.

The National say that Rennes want rid of M'Vila and that his patchy form and off field issues have put off a host of clubs, including Arsene Wenger's side. There was even talk of medicals with Arsenal at one point and it seemed just a matter of time before he was unveiled as an Arsenal player but more off the field issues put that in doubt when he was arrested and spent the night in a police cell after being accused of punching a 17 year old.

However, he does have talent and if he can find a manager strong enough to get a grip on him then he has a better chance of fulfilling that. He's a bigger risk than Joao Moutinho but also a fraction of the price and if Levy is looking to pick up a bargain then it's easy to remove the Porto player from any realistic Tottenham move.

A bid has been made from a Premier League club and Rennes chairman Frederic de Saint-Sernin told Canal+ yesterday "He has a very concrete offer from England."

Even though Arsenal have rejected the opportunity to sign him this summer, if Alex Song moves to Barcelona then it could change their thinking on the issue.

Over in Spain the press are increasingly cocky about Real Madrid's ability to get Luka Modric for just €30m plus variables. Marca say that Tottenham must be bluffing because they've had no other bids for Modric and Real Madrid are the only interested party.

The offer will remain open for Spurs until the end of the transfer window but Real Madrid aren't too concerned if they don't sign the Croatian midfielder because they only want him at the right price.