TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Chelsea draws Birmingham: English roundup Chelsea missed the chance to extend its lead to seven points in the Premier League on Saturday when it was held to a scoreless draw at Birmingham. cbc.ca |
Donovan – I was wrong to criticise Beckham • I didn't give him a chance, admits LA Galaxy forward• American backs veteran for place in England World Cup squadLandon Donovan, Everton's new loan signing, said he was wrong to dismiss David Beckham as a poor leader and team-mate at LA Galaxy and believes the midfielder's form will warrant a place in England's World Cup squad this summer.The United States international has joined David Moyes' side until the MLS season opens on 27 March to maintain match fitness and to experience the Premier League before a World Cup campaign that opens against England on 12 June in Rustenburg. The 27-year-old has arrived on Merseyside on the back of a successful season with LA Galaxy, where he won the Golden Boot award for a fifth successive year and was named the MLS Most Valuable Player, having regained the captaincy from Beckham after the latter's controversial decision to remain on loan at Milan.Beckham's absence from the start of the MLS season prompted a withering condemnation from Donovan, who claimed the former England captain "wasn't committed" to LA Galaxy and should have been consigned to the substitutes' bench on his return from Italy. Last season brought reconciliation for the pair, however, and the USA's all-time leading goalscorer claims Beckham has since disproved the allegations thrown at him."Off the field I've learnt a lot about myself in the last few years with everything that's gone on and I've learnt a lot about David," said Donovan, who spent a similar, albeit unsuccessful loan spell with Bayern Munich last year. "He's a very humble, good human being. Unfortunately I didn't give him a chance to show that. I had an idea of what he was like before he got here and that was unfair on my part."On the field he's a fantastic soccer player and, for me, very suited to the way I play. I like to make runs and with someone like that who can pass the ball, it's a very good combination. David is just so famous around the world, so sometimes you have expectations or ideas of what people are and you don't give them a chance. I learnt a lot about myself in that way and David is just a good person and a good team-mate."Donovan revealed he received a text from Beckham shortly after England were drawn to meet the USA in South Africa this summer and believes that, even with the midfielder turning 35 in May, his team-mate can have an influence on the World Cup. "Absolutely he can," said Donovan, who will be in the Everton squad for tomorrow's game at Arsenal. "He played 76 minutes on Wednesday and was instrumental in a lot of important plays for AC Milan. In my opinion he's a very good footballer and I can't imagine him not being considered for a spot at least."EvertonDavid BeckhamLA GalaxyAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Campbell eyes Arsenal contract after turning out for reserves • Defender set for return after training with club• Named in reserve team to face West Ham tonightSol Campbell appears ready to complete an astonishing turnaround and rejoin Arsenal, three-and-a-half years after leaving the club in controversial circumstances. The centre-back will play for the reserves against West Ham tonight and his familiar on-field qualities would provide much-needed cover at centre-back until the end of the season."Tonight's reserve team to face West Ham United at Upton Park features Sol Campbell, who plays on a Reserve League registration, with a view to a permanent move back to Arsenal Football Club," the club said in a statement.West Ham would provide apt opponents for Campbell's comeback as it was a 3-2 defeat against the same club in February 2006 –albeit their first team in the Premier League – that proved to be the beginning of the end of his first stint at Arsenal. After a nightmarish first half in which he was responsible for two goals being conceded, the defender walked out of the stadium at half-time and did not play again for two months. He left at the end of the season.Arsène Wenger's current first-choice centre-backs, Thomas Vermaelen – a £10m summer signing from Ajax, and William Gallas – have struck up an impressive partnership this season but Wenger's alternatives are limited to Mikaël Silvestre, the 32-year-old Frenchman who has been far from convincing since joining from Manchester United in 2008. Johan Djourou is out for the season with a knee injury, Philippe Senderos is out of favour and on the transfer list and Alex Song – a midfielder who can cover at centre-back – is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon.The 35-year-old Campbell, who left Highbury for Portsmouth in the summer of 2006, has been training at Arsenal's Hertfordshire base since leaving Notts County in September and was keen to resume his career as quickly as possible after settling his contract dispute with County.It is understood there were also offers from Hull and Newcastle, but Arsenal was always Campbell's first choice, as the club where he achieved great success – including being a key part of the 2003-04 Invincibles side – following a highly controversial move from Tottenham during 2001."He has a fantastic attitude and good fitness," Wenger said last week. "Of course he is not the youngest, but he is in a very good shape. He can still play in the Premier League, I've said that many times. He is important in the dressing room as well. He's positive with the young players. Every year we have one or two like that and I think a Premier League club will sign him."Campbell spent five years at Arsenal, and won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and scored in the 2006 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.The impending return of the veteran defender will cast further doubt over the future of Senderos. The Swiss centre-back, currently out with a foot injury, spent last season on loan at Milan and almost joined Everton in the summer.Sol CampbellArsenalTransfer windowPremier LeagueEdward Gibbesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Portsmouth 2 Sunderland 1: match report John Utaka scored in each half as Portsmouth overcame an early Darren Bent goal to earn a place in the fifth round. telegraph.co.uk |
AP Source: Mexico-Ecuador Possible at Meadowlands NEW YORK (AP) -- Mexico and Ecuador could play a World Cup warmup match at the new $1.6 billion Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on May 7, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. feeds.nytimes.com |