Premier League could be canceled due to London riot
by danang on Aug.10, 2011, under Premier League
English football was in a state of chaos with the Premier League concerned that the rioting in London could now force them to postpone matches on the opening weekend of the season.
After holding discussions with the Government and the Metropolitan Police yesterday morning the Football Association called off the friendly international England were due to play against Holland at Wembley on Wednesday, citing concerns over the safety of the players as well as the 70,000 supporters expected to attend.
But the state of anarchy across the capital, as well as other parts of the country, has forced the Premier League to consult with the police amid concerns that the three games in London on Saturday — at Tottenham, Fulham and QPR — may have to be postponed.
The Football League are also talking to the police about their fixtures and a decision on this weekend’s matches will be made before the end of Thursday. (continue reading…)
Premier League could be canceled due to London riot
by danang on Aug.10, 2011, under Premier League
English football was in a state of chaos with the Premier League concerned that the rioting in London could now force them to postpone matches on the opening weekend of the season.
After holding discussions with the Government and the Metropolitan Police yesterday morning the Football Association called off the friendly international England were due to play against Holland at Wembley on Wednesday, citing concerns over the safety of the players as well as the 70,000 supporters expected to attend.
But the state of anarchy across the capital, as well as other parts of the country, has forced the Premier League to consult with the police amid concerns that the three games in London on Saturday — at Tottenham, Fulham and QPR — may have to be postponed.
The Football League are also talking to the police about their fixtures and a decision on this weekend’s matches will be made before the end of Thursday.
A joint statement from the Premier League and Football League said: ‘We are in ongoing discussions with our London-based clubs, the Metropolitan Police and statutory authorities in regard to the staging of the coming weekend’s fixtures in the capital. (continue reading…)
Real Madrid signs Leo
by danang on Aug.09, 2011, under La Liga
MADRID — He has a contract with one of soccer’s biggest clubs and the same long, floppy hair and nickname Leo of his idol, Lionel Messi.
It may take awhile, however, before Leonel Angel Coira can match the wondrous Messi: He is 7 years old.
Real Madrid said Monday it signed the Argentine prodigy to its youth academy after seeing him in tryouts. He will start training with Madrid’s youth team Sept 6.
Coira hopes to follow the path set by Messi, a countryman who joined Barcelona from the Argentine club Newell’s Old Boys as a teenager and has gone on to win the World Player of the Year award two times.
“(My) dream is to meet Messi, play in the first division with Madrid and for Argentina in the World Cup,” Coira told the Spanish newspaper ABC.
The signing underscores the tactics of top teams scooping up fresh talent as early as possible to avoid paying huge transfer fees when their potential blossoms. And the Spanish soccer power didn’t have to look as far as Argentina to find this gem.
Coira’s family moved to Madrid three years ago after his father, Miguel, was offered a job in the Spanish capital. Miguel Coira coaches a local youth club where Leonel played and first caught the eye of a Madrid scout.
The 7-year-old was then invited to a trial with Madrid and signed a one-year contract with the club’s youngest team, the “Benjamin” squad, made up of mostly under-9 players.
Madrid reportedly made the push to sign Coira because Atletico Madrid was also pursuing the youngster.
“After tryouts with both clubs, he felt more comfortable with (Real) Madrid,” Miguel Coira told ABC. “I trust the club a lot. I know they will take good care of him.”
Club spokesman Juan Tapiador said Coira wasn’t the youngest player ever to sign with Madrid, although he couldn’t name anyone younger. He said players of any age can join Real Madrid, with one stipulation.
“They only have to be a standout,” he said. “We look for something different, that quality or talent that makes them stand out from the rest.”
Signing children is nothing new in soccer, where almost every professional club has an extensive youth academy — like Barcelona’s famous “La Masia,” where dozens of young players live and train from the age of 11. Coira even looks downright old compared to the 18-month-old toddler that Dutch club VVV Venlo signed to a largely symbolic 10-year contract this year after seeing his ability to kick a soccer ball.
While many of the young talents never develop into professional players, clubs are constantly hoping to strike gold with the next Messi, who has already helped Barcelona win 15 trophies, including three Champions League titles and five Spanish league championships.
Miguel Coira said his family receives no financial compensation from Madrid, but the team does “pay for transport.”
“The contract is for one year and if everything works out it can be renewed for another,” he said. “When he is 16 years old, he can play in the first division and then the terms are different.”
The Real Madrid youth squad will play in a league of seven-a-side teams in Madrid, which also includes Real’s cross-city rival, Atletico. The youth squad usually has about 18 players split into two teams. Every year, the club reviews each player’s development and a decision is made on whether he should continue.
Madrid has dozens of scouts on its payroll scouring the capital for the next great star, and many more across Spain and other countries.
“It is an important network for capturing talent,” Tapiador said, adding that scouts draw up reports on possible targets and confer with youth coaches on which players to approach and possibly sign.
Goalkeeper and senior team captain Iker Casillas, for example, began training with Madrid’s youth system when he was 9.
Last week, Coira told the Argentine sports daily Ole that his favorite move is the “cano” — a difficult dribbling maneuver in which the ball is passed between the legs of an opponent. He prefers to “provide the pass” rather than score.
Coira has a Facebook page featuring photos of his visit to Real Madrid. He also has an older brother who plays for the Spanish team Real Valladolid.
Juanjo Montaner, a spokesman for the Spanish professional players association, told The Associated Press that Coira is not a member of the group and there is no organization that represents the interests of youth players.
“Obviously, he is not affiliated,” he said. “He must be in the top three divisions, and no child is.”
Corinthians yet to agree deal for Tevez
by danang on Jul.19, 2011, under Premier League
Brazilian club Corinthians say they have not yet struck a deal to sign Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez.
On Sunday, City boss Roberto Mancini claimed a deal had been reached for the 27-year-old, with only personal terms still to be agreed.
But a Corinthians statement said: “We would like to clarify to the public that City did not accept our offer.
“City sent a counter-proposal in the early hours… and this will be analysed by Corinthians.”
Tevez’s representative Kia Joorabchian also insisted that, contrary to Mancini’s comments on City’s pre-season tour, the clubs had not yet settled on a fee despite Corinthians returning with an improved bid understood to be about £40m.
“There is no agreement at the moment but we are working hard and we will see what happens,” he told BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty. (continue reading…)
Liverpool completed Adam signing
by danang on Jul.08, 2011, under Premier League
Liverpool have completed the signing of midfielder Charlie Adam from Blackpool.
The Scot, 25, signed a contract on Thursday after successfully completing a medical, the club’s official website said. The length of the contract or the fee have not yet been disclosed.
“I am absolutely delighted to be here,” Adam told Liverpoolfc.tv.
“It has been a long process but now I can’t wait to get started and hopefully this will be a successful period in my career and in the club’s history.”
He added: “Liverpool is a massive club with terrific players and a terrific manager.
“I see this as the perfect development for me to come here, play with such wonderful players and hopefully help the team to win trophies, because that’s the most important thing. (continue reading…)
Jerome Boateng deals with Bayern
by danang on Jun.15, 2011, under Others
Manchester City defender Jerome Boateng says he has agreed a four-year deal with Bayern Munich, pending approval from Eastlands.
The 22-year-old arrived from Hamburg in 2010 but after failing to win a regular starting place at City has repeatedly said he wants to leave.
“It’s true that I have agreed a four-year deal with Bayern. Now it is up to Manchester to make it work,” he said.
“At the moment they are making things a bit difficult.”
After a successful 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Germany international signed a five-year contract with City that summer, but his first season was disrupted by injury and he was limited to 24 appearances.
Boateng was also played at right-back, rather than in his favoured central defensive position, something a move to Munich would end.
“It is about the position. Bayern want me as a central defender. That is also an advantage for the national team,” Boateng told Kicker magazine.
His last game for City was on 2 March in the FA Cup fifth-round victory over Aston Villa.
“My dream is to have a starting spot within a year, hopefully at Bayern, and then I want to win the European Championship [with Germany],” Boateng added.
Gary Lineker : Barca should beat Manchester United
by danang on May.25, 2011, under Champions League
Gary Lineker says Manchester United will only win Saturday’s Champions League final at Wembley if Barcelona play badly.
Barca beat United in the 2009 final and are tipped by many to repeat their Rome success this weekend.
“If Barcelona turn up, they win,” said former England captain Lineker, who has also played for the Spanish giants.
“Barca have got to have a bad day for United to realistically have a chance. Either that or United get lucky.”
Lineker did concede that, with the game being a one-off played in England, United had a chance of prevailing, but insisted that La Liga champions Barcelona were heavy favourites.
“The fact it is in England and they will probably get the vast majority of the support and it is 90 minutes, not two legs, gives them a better chance,” said the BBC presenter.
“But if they played 10 times, United might win one or two of them, there would maybe be a couple of draws and Barca would win the rest.”
Both sides head into Saturday’s final as recently crowned champions of their respective domestic leagues. (continue reading…)
I want to leave City!
by danang on May.21, 2011, under Premier League
Carlos Tevez has told Manchester City that he wants to leave this summer.
The striker is quoted in an interview on an Argentinian radio station as saying he is ready to walk away from Eastlands.
Tevez desperately misses his two daughters who live in Buenos Aires, and came close to quitting City midway through last season.
It now appears that Tevez - who has again been overlooked for a place in Argentina’s squad - is ready to force his exit at the end of the season.
He is reported to have told Radio del Plata, said: ‘I want to leave Manchester City. Football has changed a lot for me and I don’t know if I will even make it to the next World Cup.
‘And that has nothing to do with whether I’m selected or not. I’ve been treated very well here and I’m grateful. I also gave my everything for the club to receive the results it has had. But I need a change of scene.’ (continue reading…)
I won’t cry if Chelsea sacked me
by danang on May.21, 2011, under Uncategorized
The Italian, who has a year left on his contract, looks destined next week to become Roman Abramovich’s fifth managerial sacking in eight years but said: ‘I’m not desperate to keep this job.
‘This is my character. I don’t know if it’s a weakness or not. I don’t want to fight to keep my job. The club have to judge two years of my job. If they decide to change, it’s not a problem. You won’t see (me) crying.
‘My desire is to stay here because I feel happy here. I’m very quiet and calm. I just want to wait and see what the club have decided.’
Ancelotti’s opposite number at Goodison tomorrow, Everton boss David Moyes, dismissed talk that Aston Villa have lined him up to replace Gerard Houllier.
‘Villa have a really good manager, who is ill,’ said Moyes. ‘The last thing he needs is someone talking about his job. I’m not interested.’



