Week 13

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Week 13

Fletch · Cult Status

Well played mate.

Football Academy · Cult Status

Rumour Mill

Michael Owen is looking to revive his career in Madrid after being sold by Newcastle.

Victor Herrero Forcada has told an English newspaper he was 'surprised' Chelsea swooped to sign him following his move out of the Villarreal youth team.

Joe Cole has vowed to save Villarreal from their pending relegation this season.

Following the sales of Michael Owen and Scott Parker, Chris Mort is ready to walk out taking the profits from the sale with him.

Newcastle will be relegated by the FA should Mort leave without a replacement chairman prepared to pick up the financial shortfall.

Alou Diarra admits he probably has no future at Fiorentina after the manager loaned him out to Manchester United.

Jackie Yeo is in talks with Sampdoria to sell two of his solid defence; Bizzarri and Caire.

Victor Anichebe has added to the murmours surrounding Fiorentina by saying he's pleased to move back to England after feeling an 'outsider'.

Fernando Torres has told his team mates not to concede the title race, the Spaniard's double getting a precious point away to Chelsea.

Following his debut assist Craig Lindfield has said he thinks Liverpool can still win the Premiership.

Per Mertesacker believes Juventus will catch Roma despite being 5 points behind the league leaders.

Carlos Sureda is ready to discuss terms over the sale of Real Valladolid with an unnamed bidder.

A source from Fulham claims Mohamed Al Fayed will walk out of the club in the next few days leaving them in financial crisis.

A source from Fulham claims Mohamed Al Fayed is close to selling the club to a Scottish businessman.

Matthew Fryatt believes the hard work he's put in at Norwich over the last 2 seasons has finally paid off with a move to La Liga.

The ever supportive Petr Kellner has warned Stephen Wells he might be out the door before his name has been put on the door plaque as they slip further into relegation trouble.

Samuele Dalla Bona admits his late winner for Spurs over Watford was a shock to all the players because morale is so low at the club.

After scoring a double in his professional debut Antonio Montella has called his debut 'the stuff dreams are made of'.

-- Edited by Football Academy at 15:52, 2009-02-21

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Soccer Star got an exclusive interview with Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Davies-Evans. Wednesday were on a high off the back of their Sheffield derby win.

(Q) Well done on the Sheffield derby victory. Was that game more important than other league games for you as well as the fans?

(A) I worked with the players all week to make sure that they knew that 3 points was th most important thing. As much as the fans were dying for a win, I think they respect that if we got too caught up in the "Derby atmosphere" then we might not have won the game. I am glad however that the "Wednesday" fans can now go to work and have the bragging rights and be happy as we are 4 points ahead of "United".

(Q) Do you admit you're under pressure despite your high position in the league?

(A) I think that you are always under pressure as a manager. The chairman has spent alot of money and he wants success and rightfully so. I am trying everything possible to take this club from 11th place last season to promotion contenders and I think we are getting there. We need to push on in the 2nd half of the season and shoot down the top 3.

(Q) How will Drogba fit into your plans for the season knowing he will be retiring shortly?

(A) We knew that Didier was going to retire at the end of the season so that wasn't a shock. We got wind that he wasn't very happy at Zaragoza and we knew he could bring a real edge to our side. Didier is a hungry footballer and wants to finish his footballing career with success and he has already stated that we will do everything possible to fire us to promotion.

(Q) Do you accept you've had to change your transfer policy since you joined just to suit the increasing pressure?

(A) To a certain extent, you have to do what you can to make promotion and that might mean signing players that won't be around next season but I feel that if we can get into the Championship, We will have enough about us to stay in that division.

(Q) Can you enjoy such a high pressure job or do you prefer somewhere like Cagliari?

(A) I think the day that I stop enjoying any management job will be the time that I call it a day. Sheffield Wednesday is a great club with great fans and I am thoroughly enjoying my time here. Cagliari is also a great little club but I had limited resources there, It's up to me to show that I can spend the chairmans money correctly and gain prmotion.

(Q) And finally Steve, can you deliver what the board is demanding this season?

(A) Yes of course, I think that if I didn't believe I could, I wouldn't be here. We are currently 4th and just 7 points behind 2nd place. I have some great players here that are desperate to gain promotion so we will be doing everything possible to please both the board and the fans.

-- Edited by Bluebird99 at 19:25, 2009-02-21

Sinky2707 · Cult Status

Gazzetta got an exclusive interview with Jonny Sinclair. His Ascoli side sit rock bottom of Serie A.

(Q) Are you able to enjoy a season like this Jonny?

(A) Not really it hasn't been the greatest season at least we can enjoy still being in the cup also i enjoy training with the lads and being at the club of course it hasn't be great but i enjoy managing so i'm not complete down beat about this season it still has positives to come out of the other side.

(Q) You appear to have total backing from the board no matter what this season brings. Is that refreshing?

(A) Yes it is. Most board would have dismissed me after he season we've been having but they understand there is a long term plan for us to be at the highest level we can and relegation as always a possibility of that plan I'm glad we didn't get a new owner even more now as i'd have been out of the door long before today

(Q) Do you miss Norwich?

(A) Yes i do i miss the place i miss the club but i have the same love and affection for Ascoli now and that's why i didn't apply for the Norwich job when Chris moved to Geno of course i want to manage them but not yetim very much settled at Ascoli.

(Q) You barely lost to AC Milan this week. Is your team turning around or are the top teams just struggling with fitness now?

(A) I think its shows we're improving the losses we have been getting have been a lot less than they were at the start of the season we also drew against Inter Milan so it suggests we're finally getting to grips with the league fitness has a part to play AC Milan aren't going to be struggling at this stage tired legs will happen right near the end of the season

(Q) Can you afford to keep knocking back approaches for your star young players?

(A) Yes the chairmen says we don't have to sell them yes we have little money but but selling my talented players really isn't going to help the team with me keeping the same players around the confidence it brings stability and therefore confidence in the players and the team if i keep selling them we're not going to get anywhere in the long run

(Q) How impressed are you with the Ascoli academy from what you've seen of it since joining?

Ive been highly impressed by it i think of anagers would want the kind of academy we have Iva Iaconi who just know where to find them and know how to help them improve all the players that have come through since being here there has at least been one or more offers for them from Premier clubs Francesco Marigliano,Mauro Pucello,Mauro Sosi,Davide Raffaello and Giuseppe Bellusci to pick some of the players all managers would envy me for getting suh players from there youth squad

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Rollings coy on transfer talk

Sampdoria boss Mark Rollings today refused to deny reports that he had agreed a deal for Gimnastic pair Bizzarri and Maxi Caire. The Welsh manager is known to be in the market for a new left back and attacking full back Maxi would fit the bill. It is thought talented Chelsea stopper Jose Ramon will return on loan to the blucherati this week so any deal for young goalkeeper Bizzarri may well see Gimnastic benefit from resigning their youngster on loan til the end of the season.

However, there have been conflicting reports as to just how close any deal is to bring completed and Rollings was giving nothing away when he spoke to press outside Sampdoria's Genoa based training complex.

'It is no secret that I have been in the market for a left back. I like my teams to have skillful and attacking full backs to join in and link the play. I think making a link to a player as talented as Maxi could be construed as lazy journalism. What I can say is that we have been enquiring about a number of targets and I am hopeful of having someone in very soon.'

Sampdoria were on the receiving end of a 5 goal rout from league leaders Roma this week, but with many of the first team rested the result perhaps paints a clouded image of the clubs development.A fact supported by Rollings himself.

'We simply cannot compete with a team like Roma at present. They have quality all over tha park and we won't be the only team this happens to this season. But looking through there side they have a number of ageing stars. We are trying to put together a core group who could play together for the next 10 seasons. Torres, Castelazzi, Sodinha, Cisse and Arnulfo are all under 25 and are playing week in week out in Serie A. We have invested in an assistant manager renowned for bringing talent through the academy and have complete belief in where this club is heading. It won't happen overnight, but we will get there. I am lucky that I have a patient and loyal chairman and we both share the same vision of where we want to take this club!

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Davies-Evans confirms Barcelona link-up over!

Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Davies-Evans has today confirmed that the Yorkshire club will no longer be linked to Catalan giants Barcelona. Davies-Evans has blamed a break down in communication between the two sides and management as the reason for the break. We caught up with Davies-Evans outside Hillsborough this morning and managed to grab a few words as he went inside.

"All I am prepared to say at this point is that I have contacted Adam and made him aware that we are no longer prepared to take his players on loan."

When Davies-Evans was asked why this had come about, Davies-Evans suggested that Adam Gobles decision to put the loan players on the transfer list had left him bemused and annoyed.

"I had only had a conversation with Adam two weeks ago where we confirmed the dates that his players would come back over on loan. Therefor me and th chairman have decided to base our transfers around those players coming in. Then we find out that the players that were coming to us could then be sold off at any point leaving us abit high and dry. It's a clear break down in communication between me and Adam as I must have over-looked the part of his email that said he was planning to sell them.

We are trying to build for a promotion here so I need to know that we definatley have the players coming as agreed. We have therefor decided that we will now look elsewhere for loans and we have already sorted deals with two seperate clubs to bring in very good loan players over the next two weeks.

The supporters know that both myself and the chairman are pulling in the same direction and we will only make decisions like this if it benefits Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. I am convinced that the team will be alot stronger for it now and that we will be working tirelessly to make this squad as strong as possible.

I would like to thank Adam for the players that joined us on loan and that we will continue to look after Jonny Evans as agreed until he returns to Barcelona in the summer."

So Davies-Evans is clearly annoyed that Adam Goble had transfer listed players that were scheduled to join the Yorkshire outfit, we will now have to see if the decision to end the link up will be the right one. We will soon find out over the next few weeks.

Bryn Law - Sky Sports News, Sheffield

richj363 · Cult Status

Jefferies calls on big names to step up

Spurs manager Richard jefferies has called on his big name players to step up to the plate and show how good they are. This comes after Samuele Dalla Bona claimed morale was low at the premiership club.

Jefferies said on sunday "we really need the big players to play their part now, we have ten games left to stay up and if we do it will because my stars have performed to their full potential" he added "we have great youngsters at the club and they are looking to the big high paid experienced players for guidance both on and off the pitch, now is the time to show what we are made of, i have not left a job in la liga to come here and be relegated so now is the time to push on"

Tezza · Cult Status

FULHAM in CRISIS.

Fulham Manager Terry Manifold looked decidedly gloomy as he left Craven Cottage today. With all the speculation surrounding the Club and his job it is easy to see why. I really cant comment on what the Chairman has or is planning. Terry said. You really ought to be asking him. I came here to do a job and the job is not finished. When asked as to whether resigning had entered his head he replied Running away is not even a consideration.

Things have not gone too well for the young manager having his first crack at football management in this country. It is not for the want of trying Terry said Things just havent gone according to plan. There are some things that are just out of your control. Anyway, I am here until told otherwise, Its business as usual.

Since Terry arrived from Spain he has conjured with the team to create funds in order to make changes. These changes do not seem to have worked as they were intended but as the manager said as he left for home, Anything can happen in football, watch this space.

-- Edited by Tezza at 22:55, 2009-02-22

Football Academy · Cult Status

Carlos Sureda defends takeover talk

Marca can confirm in breaking Spanish news that La Liga side Real Valladolid are in the midst of a potential takeover. It is believed that manager Simon Jenkins has backed current chairman Sureda and disapproves of a takeover. However Sureda gave Marca an exclusive interview in which he confirmed talks were happening.

"Maybe a deal will be done maybe it won't, but talks are happening. I refused to negotiate with the Abu Dhabi group last season when they enquired about the club but this is a team on the up. Mr Jenkins should take this as a compliment to his hard work that a small Segunda club is attracting big investment talk. We are threatening to push higher in the league and that makes us an enticing prospect."

Semikov looking to invest

In a week where Valladolid, Fulham and Newcastle head an increasing period in takeover talks, wealthy Russian Yuri Semikov has told a Russian TV station that he is looking to invest some of his money into football. Semikov has a number of profitable Russian companies and his revelation will no doubt spark interest at all the clubs currently for sale despite him refusing to comment on specific clubs that may interest him.

Fletch · Cult Status

Fletcher believes League 1 Title is in the bag for Sunderland.

If I were a betting man then I would guess that the top two will be there for the final 10 games of the season and therefore be promoted top the championship.

Seeing all the teams play I think Sunderland and Birmingham deserve to be where they are, they are equipped to move up to the next level and have built squads ready for the challenge.

The play offs are going to be a tough ask for the outside ranked clubs but the pressure is on them not us at United, no one expects us to get to the play offs.

Sheffield Wednesday seemed to have gambled with more of their owners money on spending 3.5 million (350k per game) on a retiring Drogba, they dont even make that on ticket sales for one match !

Cardiff are consistent and a well run club so money has to be on them at the moment.

Rhino · Cult Status

CITY TO REST STAR PLAYERS

Manchester City boss Chris Hanton has spoken to the gathered press this morning after there defeat to Rivals Man Utd this weekend.

Press....How are you feeling this morning Mr Hanton after that result.

CH..." Gutted! what else can I say we played as well as we have all season and passed the ball around better than them but it counts for nothing."

Press....Samuel Eto looked tired at the weekend have you any plans to rest him.

CH...." Eto has been in fantastic form this season im not sure if anyone has scored more goals than him in Europe? We will be resting him for the next few weeks with a few others who deserve a break and it will give some of the squad players some match time."

Press...You have brought in Wright Phillips and Earnshaw in the last 2 weeks what are your hopes for them.

CH..." SWP is a proven at this level and he takes alot of pressure off Davis who has been in good form,Earnie is a player I tried to get while I was with Atletico so its nice to get the chance to work with him now and he will be replacing Eto this week."

Press...What are you goals for the rest of the season,

CH..." I would like to get that 4th place spot and the cup which is a tough ask but we are more than capable of doing it."

-- Edited by Rhino at 13:01, 2009-02-23

Stu · Cult Status

Cardiff talks about promotion

Press - Another draw against top teams must give you hope?

"Birmingham are a tough team. They have a really strong centre to the team and I'm proud we put two goals in. Acuna showed his skills and created everything for us. He deserves alot of praise"

Press - Sheff Utds manager has written you off for the top two can you do it?

"I think they can be caught. Sunderland and Birmingham are scoring less goals and letting more in than at the start of the season. I would encourage all the teams chasing them to keep going. They are beatable and teams should really attack them"

Press - Are you saying others can catch them?

"Sheff Wed could get up there. So could we. Even the teams lower could get there if they have a good run. Managers need to believe and keep fighting. This league is still open"

Press - Is your team going to keep changing?

"We have to change to try and match the teams with money in our division. I buy good players when they come available. It would be difficult to ever say the team is perfect"

Press - Are you looking forward to the end of the season?

"I'm excited about it. We have Nottingham F in the final game. Sunderland have Sheff Utd and I think Andy Fletcher could upset the form book there"

Cheers Stu

LAG01 · World Class Player

Interviw

Simon · Cult Status

RE: Week 13

JOP · Cult Status

Petty thanks Fletcher for confident boost, but will be telling his players not get complacient.

What do you think of the comments in the media from fellow League 1 manager Andy Fletcher?

"Its great that a manager in this league, who is also pushing for promotion has praaised our team and tipped us for the title. I agree with Andy that we have what it takes to stay on top, however we can't let it get to us and must stay focused."

Do you think it is a ploy from Sheff Utd to mess with the players heads?

"I don't think Andy is that kind of manager, and to be honest if we want to play in the best leagues then we must take everything that is thrown at as and comments will not affect us, good or bad. Again i'd like to thank Andy for his confidence in us."

Do you think the league will be wrapped up before the last game of the season?

"I personally think its all down to the us against Birmingham game, we have a good point advantage over 3rd place, ideally i'd like to have maximum points in the next few games before playing Birmingham, then it puts us in a terrific position and we can afford to draw against them. However I think we are strong enough to beat them, and hopefully we'll have one more Striker in then, who will help us that bit further."

Football Academy · Cult Status

Fulham plan club announcement

Fulham have released a statement on their website saying an official press conference will be held at 1pm today. Fans will no doubt be on the edges of their seats because the announcement is far more likely to relate to Mohamed Al Fayed's future as chairman rather than any team or transfer news.

Reports that Mohamed Al Fayed has quit the club and would not be stepping foot in the ground again were quickly dismissed as fans phoned into a local radio station to say they had seen Al Fayed getting out of his car this morning in the car park.

Fletch · Cult Status

Hope it works out for you Terry

Football Academy · Cult Status

Fulham breaking news

A spokesman for Fulham football club has confirmed what many fans have been fearing is on the cards. In a statement this afternoon the club confirmed Mohamed Al Fayed has quit the club with immediate effect.

"Fulham are disappointed to announce that Mohamed Al Fayed has left the club with immediate effect. Mr Fayed became extremely unhappy with the way the club was failing to progress results wise and was unwilling to remain to find a suitable replacement to head the board.

Fulham has notified the FA of the situation and will be meeting with the administrators later today to discuss a way forwards. Mohamed Al Fayed has taken his share of the club and we now find ourselves in £24 million debt and the team sheet will need drastic reshaping to cope."

Manager Terry Manifold has struggled to impose himself on the team since joining from Spain at the beginning of the season and his already unpressure position at the club will now be thrown into doubt with this latest development.

Fletch · Cult Status

Oops, what a mess.

(counts coffers)

richj363 · Cult Status

I think the vultures may be circling above Craven Cottage !!

Jozz · Cult Status

Napoli manager JD Jaques has commented on the Fulham situation today saying that his club have a deal agreed with Fulham for this week involving a swop of players and some money coming to Napoli. He said

"We agreed a deal a couple of weeks ago with Terry at Fulham. It is only because we had other transfers going through in the last couple of weeks that the deal was only going through this week. Terry contacted us during the week to confirm that the deal had been put through at his end but he had warned us that it may not go smoothly due to the situation the club was unfortunately facing."

"We hope that the deal can still go through but with the club in administration we suspect that it won't. We will be submitting the details of it in the hope that it still happens."

"I would like to say that having faced a situation of administration myself I know that it is a very frsutrating time. I left Chievo when the club entered administration rather than facing the complete desicration of my squad. Whether Terry chooses to do the same thing is a decision for him. I just wish that Mr Fayed had given him more of a chance as he is a relatively new manager, and this is bound to affect his confidence. I just hope that he continues in management somewhere as he seems to be an honest guy. I would personally like to wish him the best and all at Napoli wish him well in the future."

Tezza · Cult Status

FULHAM CRISIS.

With the news breaking of the Mohamed Al Fayed leaving Fulham the Club is thrown into administration. The Manager, Terry Manifold, was tracked down to his London apartment where we managed to get a brief interview with him.

"I know that this has been circulating for a couple of weeks but it still comes as a tremendous shock." "I have worked my socks off here with very little financial assistance from the Chairman and I really feel let down. " When asked what he intended to do he replied, "I dont know. I will have to let the news sink in and then decide what is best for me and the Club." "I can only say that I am extremely sorry for the many thousands of loyal fans here, they do deserve better." It was a dispondent Terry Manifold that called the interview to a halt and he left looking very tired and shattered.

-- Edited by Tezza at 13:49, 2009-02-25

Football Academy · Cult Status

Fulham consortium plan takeover

A group of dedicated Fulham fans have revealed they intend to purchase the shares needed to obtain ownership of the club. Following the news that the London club had gone into administration this week with debts of over £20 million, Al Fayed has seemingly disappeared leaving the fate of the manager and teams league status in doubt.

A spokeswoman for the consortium read a short statement. "The fans are shocked at what is happening to their club. They plan on doing everything in their power to stop this ending what is a well supported football club. However they are in agreement that no action can be taken until the administrators have left. They will then move to pick up the pieces left and try to rebuild in time to save the club from relegation."

The future of manager Terry Manifold is still in doubt however. His brief press statement revealed little about his thinking, hinting at a possible parting of ways and a source close to the manager has revealed he would relish the opportunity to move back to Spain.

Tezza · Cult Status

FULHAM MANAGER POSITION.

Following yesterdays departure of Mohamed Al Fayed and the subsequent move into administration Fulhams manager, Terry Manifold, today made a brief statement in relation to his position.

After giving some considerable thought to my position following Mohamed Al Fayed move away from the club and the financail situation he has thust upon us I intend to stay as long as I am needed and will assist in any way possible to ease Fulham through this difficult period. This fine old Club, and the many thousands of its loyal fans do not deserve this."

-- Edited by Tezza at 18:34, 2009-02-26

Jozz · Cult Status

Gazzetta got an exclusive interview with Napoli manager Johndaniel Jaques. His team currently hold a play-off spot in Serie B.

(Q) Johndaniel Jaques are you enjoying another season in Italy?

(A) Yes, it is a great country to work in. I enjoy the old rivalries from my days managing Chievo. At the moment I can see myself remaining here for the forseeable future.

(Q) Are you disappointed with the lack of cutting edge your team seem to be able to provide?

(A) I think that you are right in one respect, we are certianly drawing too many games. Having said that though, we have hardworking players, and Bianchi is doing the business up front at the moment, with 8 goals in 12 games. It has come to the point where he is short odds to score with the bookies virtually every game.

(Q) Is there any way you plan to add hat killer instinct to the team?

(A) Finances at the club are tight. I try to pick up players where I can and we have been active in the transfer market recently. I know the Chairman's feelings regarding clubs pumping loads of money into teams, from his comments a couple of weeks ago about Genoa being a joke. So I don't expect a large amount of cash to be invested in the club anytime soon. Obviously we have to balance what we have at the club with loan signings, but if the right player came up to partner Bianchi we would certainly take them on loan.

(Q) Some fans will say Dorian Dervite isn't good enough for your level of football. What was the thinking behind his signing and do you agree with that view?

(A) We had Cupi who was 35 years old until recently, when we swopped him for a 26 year old CB. We also have two 30 year old CBs, and whilst experience and quality is what any club strives for in defence we were facing a situation where, in a few years time we may not have had any CBs at all. So I made the tough decision to bring in a young defender, who may not be the top quality sort of player that we would normally target. But CBs are particularly hard to come by these days, and signing Dorian for £1m under his value in the current climate was a good bit of business in my opinion.

(Q) Can Napoli get promotion again or will this season go the way of last season?

(A) It looks like we will realistically be aiming for the play-offs. If we achieve that then we will work hard in the games we face, and given that we have performed well against the top three teams this season I think we can beat anyone on our day. We will have to be careful though if we did get promoted, because it is a big step up to Serie A, and I would not want expectations to rise unrealistically, like they did when I got Chievo promoted, but the club went into administration. If we went up I would be meeting with the Chairman to ensure we have the resources to compete in the top flight.

(Q) You seem reluctant to bring loan players in. Is that a decision you made or just a lack of available players?

(A) As I said earlier, there is a balance to be struck between bringing in loan players and ensuring that our own players get a fair crack at making the 1st eleven. However, we have brought RB Melli in on loan earlier this season and now have GK Marino on loan from Juve, so I dont quite understand why you think I am reluctant to bring players in. We find it difficult to capture good players on loan but are always on the look out for the right players that would fit into the team.

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

"Big side mentality a must" - Davies-Evans

Sheffield Wednesday manager Steve Davies-Evans has today told his side that they need to adopt a 'Big team' mentality if they are to be promoted this season. Wednesday currently sit in 4th place just 7 points behind Birmingham in 2nd place. The Owls travel to Wolves this week and Davies-Evans knows that they have to be ruthless infront of goal.

"We have spoken this week about having a new mentaility from now on. We are 4th and rightfully so. We have some excellent players here and we have more coming in so we need to start bosing games throughout and putting doubt into teams mind before we even step onto the pitch.

We have a tough game this week against Wolves but there are no easy games from now on so we will hav to approach each game with the mentality that we are going to claim three points from each game. We will never get complacent but we will always have ultimate faith!

We know we have it in our own hands with the big teams above us still to play so we need to start gathering points and claiming as many back from Birmingham. We are only 7 points behind them now