TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Ferguson: Man City behaved unacceptably to Hughes Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson says the way that rival Manchester City fired Mark Hughes last week was "unacceptable." cbc.ca |
Everton to meet Liverpool Council to discuss stadium • Talks over Blues move will take place on 11 January• Council wants new ground within city boundariesEverton will enter into new talks with Liverpool City Council over a new stadium. A date of 11 January has been set aside for the two sides to meet following the rejection of a planning application for a new stadium in Kirkby.That proposed £400m development of a 50,000-seater stadium, in partnership with Tesco, collapsed last month. Liverpool City Council was opposed to the project. It will send a high-ranking delegation to the 11 January meeting, which was promised after the Kirkby decision. It is considered that redeveloping Goodison Park is too expensive.Everton's head of public relations, Ian Ross, said: "Throughout the Destination Kirkby process, Liverpool City Council always made it clear that if the project was to fail they would step forward and seek to help us. As a consequence, a working group is to be formed and meetings held to actively explore all the options and possibilities which are open to Everton."Despite the disappointment of seeing our proposed move to Kirkby collapse we as a club remain convinced that a move to a new home is not only the right way forward but the only way forward."Of course, it does remain to be seen if the City Council can provide us with the level of help and assistance which we will require if we are to [re]locate to any new stadium within the Liverpool boundaries but we will enter these preliminary talks with a measure of optimism."The City Council leader, Warren Bradley – who is an Everton fan – said: "We have got a meeting with Everton where we will put all our cards on the table."I will be there as will be council chief executive Colin Hilton and executive director of regeneration John Kelly. We want to make sure that we can facilitate things for Everton."EvertonPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Tragedy off the pitch, goals galore on it It's a full-on edition of Football Weekly, as James Richardson, Barry Glendenning, and Sean Ingle reflect on a remarkable few days in football.Jonathan Wilson brings us the latest from Angola, where – despite the attack on the Togo team bus on Friday which put the tournament in jeopardy – the Africa Cup of Nations got under way with an astonishing opening game.Kevin McCarra looks back on Arsenal's latest failure to seize the advantage in the Premier League title race, as well as Manchester United's continuing malaise, Birmingham City's 12-match unbeaten streak, and Liverpool director Tom Hicks Jr's foul-mouthed email exchange with a fan.Finally, Sid Lowe reveals the Spanish for wunderkind as he marvels at Racing Santander's Sergio Canales, and Paolo Bandini wraps up a stonking weekend in Serie A. You know what to do. Have a listen and post your comments on the blog below, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. And if you want to waste time on YouTube, check out this rather splendid strike by Massimo Maccarone.James RichardsonBen GreenSean IngleBarry GlendenningJonathan WilsonKevin McCarraSid LowePaolo Bandini guardian.co.uk |
Liverpool knocked out of FA Cup Liverpool's season has suffered another setback, being knocked out of the FA Cup by struggling Championship side Reading. foxsports.com.au |
Alex McLeish urges Birmingham board to sanction signing of top striker • Birmingham manager believed to want Roman Pavlyuchenko• 'I would hope that they trust me with my judgment'Alex McLeish has challenged the Birmingham City board to deliver on their financial promises by approving the signing of a stellar centre-forward.The Birmingham manager has submitted two names to Carson Yeung, with Roman Pavlyuchenko believed to be one of them, and is now waiting to learn whether the St Andrew's owner will give him the support to step up his pursuit of a proven goalscorer.McLeish maintains there is no need to spend the £40m that Yeung promised would be available this month when he took over at Birmingham in October, but he is desperate to recruit another striker to strengthen his attacking options. He has previously failed with an attempt to sign Ryan Babel from Liverpool and was reluctant to meet Kenwyne Jones's wage demands but he is hopeful that his latest requests will be looked upon favourably."I am trying my best," said McLeish when asked about the likelihood of adding to the signings of Michel and Craig Gardner, who have both joined this month. "I have asked the board for one or two players and I'm waiting on the go-ahead. I've told them who I want and it's up to them now. I'm not going to say any names but we've certainly targeted one or two pretty decent centre-forwards. I would hope that they would trust me with my judgment."McLeish is expected to hold talks with Yeung about his transfer targets after tonight's match at Chelsea. "We just need to wait and see what unfolds," he continued. "I've always said that I didn't need to spend £20m-£40m but I do think we need to spend some money. We need a striker. We were running on empty at the weekend, when a 17-year-old [Jake Jervis] came on late in the game [at Everton]. It's great for the kid but we need to bolster the squad."Cameron Jerome is set to return to the attack this evening, when Birmingham's unbeaten run, which now stretches to 15 matches, faces its most severe test. "We go to Stamford Bridge with confidence, and belief," said McLeish. "We have done well at the big venues. Not necessarily taken as many points as we should have, but we've acquitted ourselves well, played well and had the bottle to go to these cauldrons, these intimidating arenas, and that is what I ask of the players again."Birmingham will take encouragement from their goalless draw with Chelsea on Boxing Day, when Carlo Ancelotti's side failed to score for the first time in 34 matches. McLeish believes that the result was crucial in the context of Birmingham's season, with the Scot claiming that from that moment on the perception of his players as well as the club changed."It was one of those [matches] that we were expected to lose," he added. "We changed peoples' minds about the team and the club. I have to keep telling players that we have achieved nothing. We have had plaudits from some terrific performances, real top-class consistency, but I am telling the players from my soap-box that we have got to do it again. At Chelsea, the eyes of the world will be on us."Birmingham CityPremier LeagueTransfer windowStuart Jamesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |