From the category archives:
Barnsley FC
Everton, Newcastle and Aston Villa battle over £10m trio, but who can offer the best future?
Three teams moving in the right direction up the Premier League table appear to be battling for the same three British talents.
All three are apparently keen on Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey, valued in the 3m bracket, who said of the attention:
“At the end of the day I’m still at Wolves and I love it here. The club and the fans have been fantastic to me and I just want to keep going and playing my games. When you look at the table it’s all still there for us with our games in hand - we’ve just got to go and grab it.” (various)
Next up, another Wolves star, 4m rated striker Sylvain Ebanks-Blake
However Wolves’ chief executive Jez Moxey has vowed that none of the club’s big hitters will be leaving this summer.
“We won’t lose anyone that we don’t want to lose,” said Moxey. (various)
And the final member of this trio Barnsley captain Brian Howard
Howard will be offered a massive £10,000-a-week deal to make him the highest-paid
Oakwell boss Simon Davey is desperate to keep the £3million-rated midfielder, who has a year left on his deal Howard said of the possible deal: “I would be delighted to talk about it.” (The Sun)
So will these player resist moves away? If Wolves fail to make it through the play-offs then it will be harder to keep these youngsters and Brian Howard, having now had a taste of the big-time in their fabulous cup run, may seek an even bigger pay packet in the Premier League or indeed he may just see a move to the top tier simply a more ambitious move regardless of salary and I don’t think anyone could blame him. Unlike the Wolves pair, who are a good three or four years younger, Howard may see this as the right time to move up the ladder. Would Villa, Everton and Newcastle fans welcome their arrivals?
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BBC pundit sacked after anti-Cardiff remarks
There’s never been any love lost between Cardiff and Swansea, two of the three Welsh clubs in the Football League. Indeed, ex-Swan Lee Trundle received a pretty hostile reception when he recently visited Ninian Park with new club Bristol City. He won’t be forgetting that in a hurry!
The Times reports that this rivalry has led to BBC pundit Leighton James being dumped by BBC Wales after admitting he wants Barnsley to trounce Cardiff in the FA Cup semi-finals. Surely the bloke’s entitled to an opinion?
James, who played 88 times for Swansea in a career that included spells with Burnley, Derby County and Queens Park Rangers, made it plain in his column in the South Wales Evening Post that he retains his loyalty to “his” Welsh club. “To see Cardiff in the final would be hard to take for Swansea fans,” he wrote. “So, to be brutally honest, I think I’m behind Barnsley on this one.”
Is this harsh or should the pundit not be making these sort of comments, considering BBC Wales are representative of all Welsh clubs? It doesn’t stop other pundits on BBC, Sky and ITV from having a clear preference for certain teams to win, although it appears the broadcasting company have no option other than to incur the wrath of their viewing public by keeping the guy on.
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Chelsea manager: Barnsley deserved to win
Minnows Barnsley continue their giants killing habit. They got the better of Premiership giants Chelsea 1-0 in the last 8 of the FA Cup on Saturday at Oakwell.
Barnsley had earlier beaten Liverpool and now they have added Chelsea to their credit. Chelsea manager Avram Grant though doesn’t hesitate to admit that Barnsley deserved to win the match and says:
We started the game well then we conceded the goal and we couldn’t score.
We didn’t play well, especially in the first half, and all the credit to Barnsley. They won against Liverpool, they won against us. All credit to them and I congratulate them.
I am very, very disappointed and sad about this. It’s an important competition. We had a chance to do something in this competition and we didn’t do it so now we need to look forward for the league and Champions League.
A couple of weeks back, the London Blues were in contension of winning 4 trophies. Now they have the chance to notch up just two. It seems more and more likely that Grant will have to depart from Staford Bridge in the summer.
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Barnsley star: Liverpool rotated and paid the price.
The Daily Mail reports that after beating Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield, Barnsley’s match winning star Brian Howard said:
“Benitez didn’t play his strongest side against us. He was thinking about Inter Milan on Tuesday and it backfired.
“They are out of the FA Cup now and well behind in the Premier League, so they’ve got to produce in Europe.”
Rafa on the other hand continued to dismiss the notion that rotation had anything to do with the defeat, even though Steven Gerrard started on the bench and Torres wasn’t even in the squad, Rafa said:
“Torres wasn’t fit and if you are playing at Anfield against Barnsley and you need to think about one player, well…last week people were talking about Xabi Alonso and he played today.
“Pressure is always there. If you want to win games, you must try to change small things. But it was incredible how many chances we had, and if we get that many against Inter Milan, we will score goals. But we must show more confidence in front of goal.”
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Liverpool manager ‘I’m no flop’
The People report that Rafael Benitez is well and truly fighting his corner, following criticism that he’s fast becoming a failure at Anfield. The Liverpool manager presided over arguably his most humiliating day in charge of the club on Saturday, when the Reds were beaten 2-1 at home to Barnsley.
“If you analyse the last few years since I came to the club we have won four trophies and been in seven finals, including two in the Champions League.
“How many other managers have done the same in their first three or four years at a club? People can talk about being successful but nobody is winning trophies every year.
“To do that is really difficult so I think we are in a really good position with a very young squad, so I have a lot of confidence in the team for the future.”
The question remains whether Rafa will have the opportunity to turn things around at Anfield in the future. He’s enduring his toughest season as manager of Liverpool and won’t be able to reflect on former glories forever.
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Thursday’s Transfer Rumours
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has added to the garrulous Nou Camp gossip layer cake that Didier Drogba will no doubt leap out of in the summer by claiming that the Ivorian would be welcomed with open arms at the Catalan club. (Daily Star)
…Meanwhile, Barca defender Lilian Thuram may leave the Catalan giants and waltz over to Arsenal to take up a player-coach role. (Daily Telegraph)
Lanky Portsmouth striker Kanu is mulling over a move down under to Australian club Gold Coast Galaxy, who unfortunately have links with the LA Galaxy. (Various)
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley will make a summer move for Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell, and he will bid £5 million for his services. (Daily Mirror)
Liverpool to make a profit on something! The Anfield club may sell ‘keeper Nikolay Mihaylo to FC Twente, especially as the big spending Dutchmen are willing to shell out £4m on a player that Liverpool spent a mere £225,000 on. (The Sun)
…And the spawn of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish (no we’re not talking about the “stunna” Kelly Dalglish) – tepid footballer Paul Dalglish has been snapped up on trial by Leeds. (The Sun)
And over on the other side of Stanley Park…Everton are wincing at the thought of an audacious Cardiff City loan bid for striker Victor Anichebe. (Daily Mirror)
Dwight Yorke is playing every minute like it’s his last at the Stadium of Light, his Sunderland contract runs out in the summer and he wants to impress Roy Keane. (Various)
Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill will be given a huge war chest marked “transfers”, in a bid to gatecrash the Big 4’s stranglehold on the Premier League. (Daily Star)
…While Villa ‘keeper Thomas Sorensen has turned his nose up at a potential loan move to Barnsley. (The Sun)
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Two out, one in for Everton - a good deadline day?
Despite Everton manager David Moyes’ declarations that he didn’t expect to have a busy transfer deadline day, the Toffees actually had quite a lot of transfer activity, moving two players out and bringing one in on loan.
Veteran defender Alan Stubbs was shipped off to Derby County, Brazilian midfielder Anderson made a permanent switch to Barnsley, whilst Tottenham defender Anthony Gardner was brought in to Goodison on loan.
Derby boss Paul Jewell seemed over the moon with the acquisition of Stubbs, saying:
“It’s a terrific capture for us.
“Stubbsy is a first-class pro, someone who has been there, seen it and done it.
“I’m delighted to have him on board and he will add experience and steel to the backline.
“He will train with us on Friday and is very much in contention for a place in the team on Saturday.”
So has the last minute wheeling and dealing by Moyes left Everton in a stronger position?
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What was the biggest FA Cup shock of the day?
Upsets left right and centre in today’s FA Cup action. But what was the biggest shock?Coventry somehow managed to obliterate Blackburn 4-1, whilst League One Huddersfield beat Birmingham 2-1. Special mention should also go to Sheffield United who booted out Bolton with a 1-0 win lowly and injury ravaged Oldham, who beat Everton 1-0 at Goodison Park.
So what was your upset of the day?
Here are today’s 3rd round results in full:
Barnsley 2-1 Blackpool
Blackburn 1-4 Coventry
Bolton 0-1 Sheff Utd
Brighton 1-2 Mansfield
Bristol City 1-2 Middlesbrough
Charlton 1-1 West Brom
Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff
Chelsea 1-0 QPR
Colchester 1-3 Peterborough
Everton 0-1 Oldham
Huddersfield 2-1 Birmingham
Ipswich 0-1 Portsmouth
Norwich 1-1 Bury
Plymouth 3-2 Hull
Preston 1-0 Scunthorpe
Southampton 2-0 Leicester
Southend 5-2 Dag & Red
Sunderland 0-3 Wigan
Swansea 1-1 Havant and W
Swindon 1-1 Barnet
Tottenham 2-2 Reading
Tranmere 2-2 Hereford
Walsall 0-0 Millwall
Watford 2-0 Crystal Palace
West Ham 0-0 Man City
Wolverhampton 2-1 Cambridge Utd
Manchester United LATE KICK OFF Aston Villa
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Arsenal still looking to add to squad
With Jens Lehmann apparently determined to leave the Emirates, Arsene Wenger is in the market to acquire a goalkeeper in this month’s transfer window. Spain is Wenger’s shopping centre of choice, according to media reports.
Espanyol Barcelona keeper Kiko Casillas, an U21 international who came out of Real Madrid’s system, is said to be rated highly by Arsenal’s Spanish scout, according to DiarioSport. Another Spanish net-minder said to be in Wenger’s sights is Deportivo La Coruna’s Fabrico, according to the Daily Mail.
The Gunners have also been rumoured to be pursuing Aston Villa’s Danish goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and Barnsley’s Heinz Muller as possible replacements for Lehmann.
As for Lehmann, The Mirror says the German veteran was offered the chance to be Victor Valdes’ back-up at Barcelona but turned it down because he is seeking regular first-team action - presumably to cement his spot as Germany’s number one in June’s Euro 2008 tournament.
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Transfer Rumour Frenzy!
Arsene Wenger is keen to bring Barnsley keeper Heinz Muller to Arsenal. The cost? A very Arsene Wenger-like £1m. This move would also pave the way for Teutonic gaffe-lord Jens Lehmann to move back to Borussia Dortmund. (Various)
…And there is “no chance” of a Cesc Fabregas move to Real Madrid according to Cesc’s agent. (The Sun)
Manchester City are apparently in the lead in the frantic scramble to secure Luka Modric’s signature. The Croatia and Dinamo Zagreb midfielder will set Sven-Goran Eriksson back a whopping £20m. (Daily Express)
…Avram Grant is also keen on Modric, especially as Frank Lampard has added himself to Chelsea’s swollen injury list. (Guardian)
…And in his first opportunity to mould the Chelsea team in the way he desires, Avram Grant is set to blow £50m on Nic Anelka, Daniel Alves and Maicon Douglas too. (Independent)
…Avram Grant is also looking to emulate Arsene Wenger’s success with Cesc Fabregas by making a move for Barcelona’s 16-year-old wunderkind Thiago Alcantara. (The Sun)
Tottenham striker Darren Bent is reportedly eager to join his former Charlton gaffer Alan Curbishley at West Ham, and selling Bent could free up some more dosh for Tottenham boss Juande Ramos. (Daily Star)
Sunderland’s Roy Keane is frothing at the mouth with joy about bagging “kicking, screaming, Gucci little piggy” Robbie Savage. Keane is set to pay Blackburn Rovers £1.5m for the midfield agent provocateur. (Daily Mail)
Ginger Mourinho Gary Megson wants to take Portsmouth’s Matt Taylor to Bolton, but the £5m price tag that ‘Arry has placed on Taylor is leaving the Bolton gaffer feeling a little queasy.(Daily Mail)
…And it looks like Everton’s very own Moyesiah is trying the same tactic with Mikel Arteta, putting a huge £25m price tag on the Spaniard’s head in a bid to ward off Valencia. (Daily Mirror)
…And the hunter becomes the hunted! Moyes is planning a double swoop on Valencia for midfielders Albelda and Manuel Fernandes. (various)
…Celtic meanwhile are determined to bag James McFadden and have doubled their efforts, and are hoping to bag their man in time to play Rangers on 2 January. (The Sun)
…Bobo Balde will have a natter with Celtic about his future, and if things aren’t satisfactory he could leap into the arms of either Birmingham or Sunderland. (Daily Express)
Rangers are sniffing around Aston Villa’s young striker Luke Moore and Martin O’Neill may agree to the deal, but only if it is a permanent move and not a loan transfer. (The Sun)
Steve Coppell is hoping to bag Nigerian striker Udo Nwoko. The Reading boss with wave £1.25m in the face of Portuguese club Leixoes hoping they accept. (Daily Mirror)
Middlesbrough’s Gareth Southgate is having a hearty sniff around Sheffield United’s Rob Hulse, and could secure the striker for £2.2m (Daily Mirror)
Sheffield United head honcho Bryan Robson wants new acquisition Gary Speed to convince Bolton’s Ivan Campo to follow suit and leg it to Bramall Lane. (The Sun)
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