TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Premiership doesn't stop for holidays While the rest of the soccer world takes a well-deserved break at the end of the year, the English inventors of the beautiful game thunder on. Boxing Day sees a full Premier League programme and the following Monday they will all play again - until the last patches of green are wiped out and the first metatarsal bone gives way. cbc.cacbc.ca |
Portsmouth: player wages will be paid today Club's executive director claims money has been made available to pay players' December wages, which are now a week late. telegraph.co.uk |
Alex McLeish finding it tough to buy players for newly rich Birmingham • Birmingham manager being very cautious in transfer market• 'I'm not going to spend £20m on one player – we're not ready'Alex McLeish says Birmingham City are finding it difficult to sign players because of the inflated demands of clubs and players in the knowledge that the Birmingham City manager has between £20m and £40m to spend this month following Carson Yeung's takeover at St Andrew's.Reported moves for Kevin Kuranyi and Kenwyne Jones have yielded nothing and McLeish said: "Yes, that is a problem for me," he said. "That's what I have to consider, is when we take the next step. I know that if Birmingham keep improving we're going to have to bring in players – wages will increase, players already here will want higher wages and new contracts. It's a natural evolution. I don't want to take too big a step at this moment because I don't think it would be right."McLeish has already made one signing in the Spanish midfielder MÃchel who is undertaking his medical today in order to complete a £3m switch from Sporting Gijon. Regarding further new arrivals, McLeish said there is nothing imminent but that he "remains interested in one or two players".But he pointed to inflated prices at the start of January as the reason for Birmingham's relative inactivity in the market to date."If there's £20m to spend then I'm sure Carson means that but whether I spend that remains to be seen," he said. "I would probably need to bring four or five players in to get through that money. I'm certainly not going to spend it on one player because I don't think we're ready for that step."There are a few clubs that are desperate for cash and we're aware of that as well. So prices can be inflated at the beginning of the month and they start to see sense towards the end of January."He added: "Some prices abroad are definitely inflated but the Premier League managers and clubs tend to know the market value for players. It's like buying a house – it's whoever is prepared to pay the money. But the Premier League is a tough place to buy players because when you're an established player prices tend to go up very rapidly."Tomorrow night Birmingham, who are unbeaten in 13 matches, face Nottingham Forest at home in their FA Cup third-round replay.Transfer windowBirmingham CityPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Glory wary of Dadi threat Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell concedes Eugene Dadi will be out to prove a point when Wellington Phoenix come to town for an important A-League encounter on Friday night. foxsports.com.au |
Wigan 'close' to signing Marco Ruben from Villarreal Wigan and Villarreal have reached preliminary agreement for Argentinian striker to join Premier League club. telegraph.co.uk |