Fergie: Chelsea will be up there

September 17, 2011 under Sports

Sir Alex FergusonManchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted it would be an incredible achievement for Andre Villas-Boas to win the Barclays Premier League title in his first season as Chelsea boss.

The former Porto chief became the Premier League’s youngest manager when, aged just 33, he was appointed by Roman Abramovich in the summer to replace axed Italian Carlo Ancelotti. He has made a decent fist of his first five games, securing 10 points and a Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, but he faces his biggest test so far at United on Sunday.

And Ferguson is certain Chelsea will be a major threat to the Old Trafford outfit this term and he said: “That somebody so young could go and do that would be incredible. You can’t dispute that. They will be there at the end of the season though, there is no doubt about that.”

Villas-Boas’ youthfulness contrasts sharply with Ferguson, who will celebrate his 70th birthday on New Year’s Eve.

However, the Scot is not alone. Fellow top flight managers Arsene Wenger, Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson are also in their 60s and England coach Fabio Capello is 65.

So, whilst Ferguson has praise for the manner in which Villas-Boas has handled his introduction to English football, he is equally pleased the value of his fellow old stagers is being recognised.

“If you go back a few years, top teams were giving jobs to players who were just finishing their careers,” Ferguson said. “That was quite surprising but it seemed to be a trend to have younger managers.

“That’s changed nowadays and experience is coming to the fore again. Young managers have more of a future. Their time will come.

“I am pleased clubs are not ignoring the values of experienced managers.”

Plenty of changes are anticipated for United, with the majority of those left out of Wednesday’s draw with Benfica set to return.

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Football Shirt Blog News – Vermaelen to return in a month

September 6, 2011 under Sports

Thomas Vermaelen Football Shirt

Arsenal expect defender Thomas Vermaelen to return to training in “around a month” after undergoing ankle surgery.

The news comes as a minor relief for the Gunners after the defender’s father had said earlier on Tuesday that Vermaelen would be sidelined for as much as six weeks after he flew to Sweden to have the surgery on his left ankle.

He told Belgian website Sporza: “The doctor in Stockholm, where Thomas was operated on last time too, recognised the problem now. He would not take any chances and immediately operated on Thomas. He expects a five to six weeks of unavailability.”

However, Arsenal say that after undergoing a “minor procedure to remove an inflamed plantaris tendon” Vermaelen will be back in training within a month. They chose the surgery route to avoid the issue becoming “a persistent problem”.

Vermaelen suffered the injury against Udinese two weeks ago and the club had hoped he would not require surgery given his key role within the Gunners defence.

He will miss the Gunners’ opening two Champions League group stage games and the north London derby at Tottenham on October 2.

The former Ajax man missed eight months of last season with a similar Achilles injury on his right foot.

Vermaelen missed the Gunners’ 8-2 mauling at Manchester United nine days ago but has otherwise been an ever present at the heart of Arsene Wenger’s defence this term.

Per Mertesacker, who signed just before the transfer window shut last week, is now likely to have to step up to fill Vermaelen’s place in the team over the next two months.

The German, who arrived at Arsenal from Werder Bremen for £8 million, also has competition from Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou and Sebastien Squillaci at centre-back.

The London club have conceded 11 goals so far this season and currently sit fourth from bottom of the Premier League table with one point.

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Premier League transfer spending on the rise

September 1, 2011 under Sports

English Premier League

English Premier League clubs spent some 485 million pounds ($789 million) in the summer transfer window, a 33 percent rise on last year, according to analysis published by advisory firm Deloitte on Thursday.

The figures showed that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and United all exceeded 50 million pounds of transfer spending, accounting for around 66 percent of the total.

“This summer’s spending is largely focussed amongst the top end Premier League clubs most strongly competing for domestic and European success and the consequent financial rewards,” commented Deloitte’s Dan Jones in a statement.

“The football authorities’ encouragement for home grown players has contributed towards the increased scale of fees for the transfer of young English talent this summer,” he added.

“The resurgence of transfer spending is also apparent in other top European leagues. Despite domestic difficulties delaying the start of their seasons, transfer spending is considerably up amongst clubs in Serie A and La Liga.”

Manchester City, the world’s richest club owned by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour, have spent about 76 million pounds with Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and French forward Samir Nasri their two biggest signings in the window which closed on Wednesday.

Deloitte said clubs had spent around 165 million pounds, or 34 percent of their total outlay, on English players.

Transfer fees to foreign clubs were some 205 million pounds, down 25 percent on the same period in the previous year.

“Compared to the top leagues in other countries, the Premier League generates significantly more revenue and continues to redistribute significant financial value to overseas clubs through the player transfer market,” the Deloitte statement said.

“Clubs in Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, France and Italy have particularly benefitted this summer.”

Gross transfer spending by top division clubs in Italy, Spain and France was also higher than the same period last year. German clubs spent at a similar level to 2010.

“As in England, in order to meet UEFA’s break-even requirements, clubs will need an appropriate balance of revenue generation against these expenditures,” said Jones.

European soccer body UEFA has issued rules, to be phased in over the next two seasons, to stop reckless spending on wages and transfer fees.

Under the requirements, spending cannot exceed revenue from TV rights, gate receipts, competition prize money and sponsorship. Clubs who break the rule face expulsion from European competition ($1 = 0.614 British Pounds)

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Premier League – Grygera completes Fulham move

August 31, 2011 under Sports

Grygera

Grygera, 31, was released from his contract at Juventus and his new club have the option to extend his stay into a second year.

The Czech Republic international, who played at the 2006 World Cup and the European Championships in 2004 and 2008, said he welcomed the chance to play in England.

“I am delighted to have completed my transfer to Fulham Football Club today,” he told the club’s official website.

“It has always been an ambition for me to play in the Premier League and I am looking forward to an exciting new chapter in my career with Fulham.”

Grygera joined Ajax from Sparta Prague in 2003 and spent four years in Amsterdam before signing for Juve.

He is not expected to be the last player to arrive at Craven Cottage with FC Twente star Bryan Ruiz poised to sign for the club, and reports linking Marseille striker Andre-Pierre Gignac with a move.

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Man City ready to prise title from United

August 5, 2011 under Sports

Man City ready to prise title from United

LONDON (Reuters) – Manchester City stand ready to emerge from the long shadow cast by their illustrious neighbours when the new Premier League season begins next weekend.

City last won the English title in 1968, the year Manchester United first became European champions, and United have since secured 12 Premier League crowns, all under manager Alex Ferguson.

Once dismissed by Ferguson as noisy neighbours, Roberto Mancini’s City team and last season’s runners-up Chelsea are the biggest threats to United’s hopes of retaining the title.

“We expect a big challenge from those two,” Ferguson told Inside United.

City showed improvement by finishing third last season. It ensured Champions League football and provided a valid reason — other than eye-bulging salaries — for the world’s best players to flock to Eastlands.

Argentina striker Sergio Aguero is the latest A-lister to join the City revolution. His move from Atletico Madrid is the stand-out signing of a transfer window that has been relatively short of spectacular deals.

Chelsea will begin a new era under Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas — the latest occupant of the hottest seat in English football that normally results in ejection by owner Roman Abramovich if a season ends without silverware.

Villas-Boas, 33, must get the maximum out of an ageing squad that pushed United close last season. Chelsea’s pursuit of Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric could persist until transfer deadline day.

Villas-Boas will also need to solve the riddle of Spain striker Fernando Torres, who since his record 50 million-pound move from Liverpool in January has managed only one goal.

“Andre is a modern manager,” Chelsea captain John Terry told reporters. “The thing that impresses me, he understands the players. I’ve been really impressed and everyone seems to finally understand the way he wants us to play.”

LIVERPOOL CHALLENGE

Arsenal, fourth last season and facing a potentially tricky Champions League playoff tie, have spent the summer trying to hold on to skipper Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri after left-back Gael Clichy joined Manchester City.

Of the other teams expected to threaten, Liverpool have been the most progressive as they try to restore their faded glamour and challenge for their first title since 1990.

The optimism of Kenny Dalglish’s return to Anfield midway through last season has been fuelled by the signings of England winger Stewart Downing from Aston Villa, playmaker Charlie Adam from Blackpool and Jordan Henderson from Sunderland.

“It has given the supporters a bit of hope and put a smile back on their faces,” Dalglish said. “In and around the city, you can see the feel-good factor is there for us. Now we have got to go on the pitch and win games.”

Tottenham Hotspur, fifth last season after cracking the top-four the season before, will expect to be in the mix, although manager Harry Redknapp has warned that the Europa League’s demands could be an unwanted distraction.

Ferguson believes United’s main rivals could be stronger by the time the transfer window closes at the end of August.

“I expected more buying,” Ferguson said. “Especially the likes of Arsenal. I thought they’d have bought a few players. But it’s early days — 31 August is a long way off and a lot can happen.

“Liverpool have bought a few players, but the important thing is to look at ourselves. We’re experienced and have the players to go the distance in all the competitions.”

WELSH INTEREST

Staying in the money-spinning elite will be the raison d’etre for around half the clubs, including Premier League newcomers Swansea City, who provide Welsh interest in the top flight for the first time since they were relegated after a two-year stay in 1983.

They will need to make a quick transition from the Championship if they are to avoid the fate of Burnley and Blackpool, both of whom reached the top division via the playoffs but lasted just one season.

Norwich City and Queen’s Park Rangers are also back in the Premier League having sunk to third-tier status since they were last there.

The big question, however, is whether the limitless spending power of Manchester City reaps the ultimate reward in the league.

Those looking for clues will turn to Wembley this Sunday, as United and FA Cup winners City meet in the Community Shield, the traditional season curtain-raiser.

Ferguson, who led United to a record 19th league title last season, will not be taking the threat from City lightly.

With his 70th birthday looming he shows no sign of resting on his laurels and has been busy adding strength to his squad, which will be missing some familiar names this season after Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar retired.

Ferguson’s love of width and pace prompted the signing of England winger Ashley Young from Aston Villa. Highly-rated defender Phil Jones Was snapped up from Blackburn Rovers and Spaniard David de Gea was bought from Atletico Madrid as Van der Sar’s successor.

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