TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Tottenham in for Craig Bellamy as turmoil at Manchester City encourages Harry Redknapp Harry Redknapp hopes to exploit turmoil at Manchester City with a move for Craig Bellamy in the January transfer window. telegraph.co.uk |
Hodgson agrees new Fulham contract • Manager rewarded for continued excellence• Asks for 'realistic' approach from fansRoy Hodgson has agreed a new 12-month rolling contract with Fulham. The former Internazionale and Switzerland manager has been rewarded for guiding the London club to seventh in the Premier League last season – their highest top-flight finish – and for a strong start to the current campaign.Fulham are ninth in the Premier League. They have beaten Liverpool and Manchester United at home, scoring three goals in each match. They have also reached the knockout rounds of the Europa League, where they will face Shakhtar Donetsk."I'm delighted to have committed my future to Fulham for the years to come," said Hodgson, who went on to appeal for a sense of realism among the club's fans."Unfortunately, we must emphasise all the time that for us the important factor is to continue this run of years in the Premier League," he said. "We must be realistic that some years are better than others, not necessarily because we play much worse or work less hard, but because circumstances can contrive against you."At the moment we're in the top half of the table. Last year we finished seventh and it would be really good if we can keep that up. But we must be careful not to constantly raise the barrier because to do that we would have to change the fundaments of how we work."Those fundaments are that we are trying to run the club in a sensible way and to use the chairman's money wisely. We're working with what we think are the right elements to keep this club growing at a level it should be at."If we can do better than mid-table finishes we'll be busting a gut to do that but I'd like to think we will not sell our soul or alter our principles."Known for his technical approach, Hodgson's extensive coaching CV includes a spell at Blackburn. Off the pitch he is a respected voice in the game."It's nice that the club want me to stay and I've always made it clear I'm very happy and enjoying my time here," he said. "The club and team are growing constantly. We're always running as fast as we can to make certain we don't ever go backwards."It's nice to know that I'll be here for the years to come and I'm looking forward to that work. People know me well enough to understand that I will be doing my best not to let anyone down."We will, of course, continue to work tirelessly to ensure that continued success is enjoyed on the pitch in the years to come."Roy HodgsonFulhamPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Malawi 3-0 Algeria Malawi took advantage of Algeria's slapstick defending to record a comprehensive 3-0 victoryMalawi, making their first Africa Cup of Nations Cup appearance for 26 years and only their second overall, stunned England's World Cup group opponents Algeria 3-0 in their opening Group A match.Russel Mwafulirwa gave the outsiders a 17th-minute lead when he took advantage of slapstick defending and Elvis Kafoteka headed a second before the break in a near-deserted November 11 Stadium.Davi Banda scored early in the second half to complete Malawi's first ever win at the tournament and send them top of Group A, ahead of the hosts Angola and Mali whose tournament opener ended in a 4-4 draw yesterday.Malawi, who took one point from three games on their debut appearance in 1984 when their results included a 3-0 defeat by Algeria, were not expected to do much better this time around with an apparently lightweight squad.But with nine Europe-based players in their starting line-up and the game kicking off in mid-afternoon, Algeria struggled in the stifling heat and made life even more difficult for themselves by gifting Malawi the opener.The goalkeeper, Faouzi Chaouchi, and the Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra collided as they tried to clear a pass that was played into the Algeria penalty box and the ball ran to Mwafulirwa who put the ball into an empty net.Algeria's best chance came shortly afterwards when Rafik Saifi broke clear of the offside trap but lobbed the ball over the bar. Malawi increased their lead in the 36th minute when Moses Chavula crossed from the left and Kafoteka headed home.Three minutes after the break, the dangerous Mwafulirwa drilled a shot against the post but the Algeria defence failed to clear and the ball fell to Banda who scored with a low shot.Africa Cup of NationsAlgeriaMalawiguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Liverpool sign Rodriguez Argentina international winger Maxi Rodriguez left Atletico Madrid for Liverpool as the Barclays Premier League giants attempted to rescue their faltering season. foxsports.com.au |
Next games crucial for Arsenal's title credentials, says Arsène Wenger • 'If we win these games we have a big hope'• Liverpool comeback was a vital win, says Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger says Arsenal's next four matches represent the most intense and meaningful period of his Premier League career but, as the team prepare to kick off the sequence at Aston Villa tonight, the manager believes that they are set fair to make a grand statement about their title-winning chances.Arsenal will go on to play Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in a spell which has been billed as make-or-break for their prospects of a first championship since 2003-04 and, having hit form and broken down a major psychological barrier with the come-from-behind victory at Anfield last month, Wenger is bullish. Since the 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea on 29 November, his team have taken 23 points from an available 27."I have never known a run of four league games as significant as these," he said. "I believe we are in a strong position [despite] having lost at Manchester City, at Manchester United and against Chelsea at home, so you cannot say it is a make-or-break because in this league, a lot can happen. But if we win these games, then we can really have a big hope. It is a great opportunity to send a message to the rest of the Premier League. We want to take it and I am very confident that we are in a good position."Wenger highlighted the importance of the 2-1 away win against Liverpool, when a 1-0 deficit was overhauled following some choice words from him at half-time. "It was a massive turning point and we've since come from behind in many games. It shows immense mental strength to come back. Before Liverpool, we had not won the big games. Even if we felt we should have won, we didn't and it was in the head of the players. But we did it at Liverpool, we beat Villa as well [at home, two weeks later] and we overcame something in our head."Wenger said "we know we can beat Villa and they know it as well, don't worry" and, ahead of the trip to a happy hunting ground – Arsenal have won five and drawn five of their previous 10 Villa Park fixtures – the Frenchman was cheered by news from his injury list. Nicklas Bendtner is expected to return to the subs' bench, having not played since 31 October because of groin trouble, and Wenger said this meant he would not sign a striker before the closure of the transfer window. Bendtner has scored only three goals this season but Wenger's faith in him is total.Samir Nasri, too, is also expected to be named as a substitute.ArsenalArsène WengerPremier LeagueDavid Hytnerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |