April 2015 - Football-RSS

Archive for April, 2015

Ramsey throws arm around Rodgers

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

QPR manager Chris Ramsey believes criticism of Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has been unfair and insists he would gladly trade the pressure of fighting relegation for the disappointment of missing out on the Champions League.

Rangers are four points adrift of safety with four matches remaining and Ramsey’s side will be desperate to capitalise on Liverpool’s poor run of form when they visit Anfield on Saturday.

Taking just one point from trips to West Brom and Hull has shattered the Reds’ hopes of finishing in the top four, less than a fortnight after Aston Villa knocked them out of the FA Cup in a semi-final at Wembley.

Anything other than a Liverpool victory against QPR will intensify the scrutiny on Rodgers’ future, but Ramsey insists it his side who should be feeling the heat this weekend.

“I would really love to have that pressure that he’s got,” Ramsey said.

“I don’t know how you guys work if I’m being honest. He’s at a big club, he’s done very very well.

“He said it himself the other day – three months ago he was a tactical genius. You don’t become a bad manager overnight.

“We understand there is pressure on them because they are a huge club with big expectations.

“But the pressure is on us really because we don’t want to go out of the division.

“The implications of going out of the division are huge so I think we actually have much, much more to lose than him.”

Liverpool came within a whisker of winning the title last season but have failed to deliver this term in the absence of star strikers Luis Suarez, who left for Barcelona, and Daniel Sturridge, who has endured an injury-ravaged campaign.

Ramsey believes Rodgers should be given more credit for what he has achieved on Merseyside but admits the former Swansea manager may not get the time he deserves.

“I don’t know if he’ll get much more time because ultimately in the pressure cooker of football statistically managers don’t stay in their jobs very long,” Ramsey said.

“I think he’s done a good job. He’s a young man and for what he’s achieved and how he’s influenced the game in England, his bravery has been remarkable and the flak that he’s getting is unwarranted.

“When you are at a big club the expectation is so great that you only have to slip up once or twice and people are writing you off but knowing him and his self-belief I’m sure that Liverpool will always be near the top.

“He plays Mario Balotelli when people would probably be saying ‘why are you playing him?’

“If you watch his teams play they’ve always played attractive football and he’s been very humble with that as a person.

“He’s been fantastic for the Premier League and it would be good to see more young managers of his ilk.”

Rodgers’ gamble on Balotelli has failed to pay off, with the striker scoring just four goals since his Â£16million move from AC Milan last summer.

Balotelli is not expected to remain at Liverpool next season but Ramsey defended the striker, insisting other foreign signings have had far less of an influence on the Premier League.

“I wish I had done half the things he has had done in his career,” Ramsey added.

“If you go through the depths of the Premier League – and this is me getting on my soapbox about English players – there have been a lot of players that have come into the country with great agents and offered players that are nowhere near the ability of Mario Balotelli.

“They have had an equal amount of difficulties, if not worse, but they’ve gone under the radar.

“Unfortunately for Mario he’s carrying the flak for those players and I do believe that he will come good and that he is talented.

“We just don’t want him to be too talented on Saturday.”

Source: PA

Monk backs Mourinho for boss award

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

Garry Monk believes Jose Mourinho’s tactical expertise sets him apart in the manager of the year stakes – even though the rookie Swansea boss has his own backers to win the end-of-season award.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew, another candidate for the award after leading the Eagles from relegation candidates to mid-table safety, suggested Monk should take the prize for his work at the Liberty Stadium.

Swansea were tipped for relegation by many pundits at the start of the season but 36-year-old Monk has guided them to the club’s best-ever Barclays Premier League points tally and the Welsh club are currently closing in on what would be their highest finish of eighth.

But Monk was unequivocal where his vote was going, saying: “I think Jose Mourinho is without doubt the manager of the year.

“Chelsea have won the League Cup and they are just about to win the league.

“They have been unbelievable and Chelsea are probably the perfect example of how to win games in different ways.

“This is how you win championships, by having different ways to win and different ways to get results.”

Chelsea need only beat Palace at home on Sunday to win the club’s fourth Premier League title but Mourinho’s side have had their critics and have been accused of playing boring football.

But Monk does not subscribe to that theory and says it is the Portuguese manager’s tactical knowledge which sets him apart from his contemporaries.

“They have been excellent, by far the best team in the league,” Monk said.

“They’ve got a fantastic squad and you can’t tell me (Eden) Hazard, (Diego) Costa and (Cesc) Fabregas are boring to watch because if that’s the case I’m not sure what we are expecting to see from football in the future.

“But the tactical side is the reason Mourinho has done what he has done in the game, he is superb in that respect.

“It’s by no mistake what Mourinho does, you can see what his sides are trying to do and how he sets them up.

“He’s got results and trophies for it playing against the elite teams in the world and you can’t help but admire that.”

While Mourinho and his Chelsea players are preparing for a Stamford Bridge party this weekend, Monk has his own big occasion to look forward to with Stoke visiting the Liberty Stadium on Saturday.

Stoke are three points behind Swansea in ninth spot and Monk admits the match has the feel of a title decider with the two sides playing for eighth and what many consider as “the best of the rest” tag outside the top seven who have competed for the European places.

“It has that type of feeling and it needs to be that way,” Monk said.

“Finishing eighth will feel like the perfect end to the journey we have been on.

“We wanted to finish in the top 10 and we have got a great chance to consolidate on Saturday, but we have to try and cement ourselves in eighth place.”

Source: PA

City 3-2 Leicester

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

City EDS will play FC Porto in the International Premier League Cup final after a thrilling 3-2 extra-time semi-final win over Leicester.

A poor first-half performance from the hosts meant that Leicester deserved their 1-0 half-time advantage given to them by Harry Panayiotou’s spectacular volley.

However, a much improved City emerged after the break, inspired in no small part by second half substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, who levelled the game after 57 minutes.

Panayiotou struck again, this time against the run of play, five minutes later, scoring a goal which for a long time looked like it would be enough to set up a final meeting with FC Porto.

However, Jose Angel Pozo found a second City equaliser with six minutes to go, running onto Inheanacho’s through ball and slamming home definitively.

That took the game to extra-time where the Blues continued to dominate, getting their just rewards after 107 minutes.

Kelechi’s fellow second half substitute Manu Garcia had been another key contributor in City’s improvement and so it was fitting that he should score the winning goal, finishing emphatically from Pozo’s cut-back.

That sets up a mouthwatering cup final against the Portuguese giants and a shot at the first piece of silverware in Patrick Vieira’s EDS reign.

There had been mitigating circumstances behind last Friday’s narrow defeat to West Ham United in the league with so many players rested for Monday night’s FA Youth Cup final second leg.

With a league and cup double still very much to play for this season, despite a whole host of loaned out EDS regulars, motivation was sky high for this semi-final of the inaugural International Premier League Cup.

They faced a familiar foe in the shape of Leicester who had already visited City Football Academy twice this season since January’s grand opening.

The Foxes had already inflicted a 3-2 defeat upon the hosts when the sides met in the group stages of this competition in January but City had taken a measure of revenge with a 4-2 victory at the start of this month.

Vieira made two changes to the side which started the quarter-final win over Celtic a fortnight ago, bringing George Evans, newly returned from his loan at Scunthorpe United, and Brandon Barker into the side in place of Kean Bryan and Angelino.

From the look of the line-ups just before (Click for a free £25 bet) Kick-off, Leicester would enjoy the physical advantage in this clash, with their XI noticeably taller and broader than the hosts.

This difference showed in the early exchanges as a succession of crosses were fired into the City area but a combination of misfired efforts and diligent defending kept the scores level.

There had been an average of five goals scored in the five previous meetings between the teams at under-18 and under-21 level going into this one but this trend of high-scoring games didn’t look like continuing based on a poor quality opening half an hour.

It was an uncharacteristically flat half from City overall, versed with none of their usual dynamism, aggression and attractive, ball-hungry possession play.

Misplaced passes and lack of pressure on the opposition are not traits you would associate with this side from what we’ve seen over the season but the home side were soon punished for their low key start, albeit by virtue of a goal of the highest quality.

Perhaps the defence had been guilty of standing off Panayiotou when he lined up to strike from the edge of the area but there was no doubting the quality of the strike, a stunning volley into the top corner which left Angus Gunn beaten all ends up.

Vieira was clearly not impressed with what he’d witnessed and made a double substitution at the break, bringing Iheanacho and Angelino on for James Horsfield and Jorge Intima.

The two substitutes didn’t take long to make their presence felt, combining via Jose Angel Pozo to level the game up after 57 minutes.

Angelino did brilliantly to win the ball back on a recovery run inside his own half before laying the ball out to the right wing for Pozo who showed great vision to pick out Iheanacho.

The Nigerian didn’t have much of the goal to aim for and had to take his shot on quickly but he produced the cutest of left foot finishes into the far corner beyond Adam Smith in the Leicester goal.

It was City’s first shot on target at the end of a flowing team move but parity would last just five minutes.

The home side switched off at the back for a moment and the Foxes pounced, Panayatiou again slamming the ball into the far corner past Gunn, this time low and from just inside the area.

City responded well, with Pozo and Iheanacho linking up to good effect on a couple of occasions to produce balls into the box for one another which were just snuffed out by a hard-working Leicester defence.

Gunn kept City in the cup with a fantastic fingertip save from a Simonas Stankevicius header with 15 minutes remaining before Iheanacho stung Smith’s palms twice in quick succession with close range efforts.

Eventually the equaliser did arrive with six minutes to go courtesy of Pozo who raced onto an Iheanacho through ball and slashed clinically past the onrushing goalkeeper.

Ntcham would have won it in the last minutes of normal time with a brilliant curling strike from the edge of the area but Smith turned it inches over the bar, meaning like the quarter-final, an extra 30 minutes was required.

Just as the prospect of penalties was entering supporters’ minds in the second half of extra-time, Pozo cut the ball back from the left flank for his compatriot Garcia and the 17-year old made no mistake, slamming the ball past Smith to put City ahead for the first time.

They would not waste the opportunity, showing professionalism and maturity to close out the game and book yet another cup final for City’s youth setup.

Match details

Thursday 30 April 2015, 7:00PM

Academy Stadium
U21 Premier League International Cup

Referee:
Rob Massey-Ellis

Teams

Manchester City:

Gunn, Horsfield (Angelino 45mins), Evans, Plummer, Smith-Brown, Glendon (C) (Garcia 76mins), Byrne, Ntcham, Intima (Iheanacho 45mins), Barker, Pozo

Unused subs:
O’Brien, Maffeo, Nemane, Celina

Bookings:
Byrne 28mins

Leicester City:

Smith, Pearson (c), Chilwell, McCourt, Davis, Sesay, Dodoo (Kennedy 83mins), Rowley, Stankevicius, Panayiotou, Barmby

Unused subs:
Maddison, Miles, Scott, Dawson.

All times are taken from a live feed and are approximate at time of publishing.

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We don't fear Premiership – McCall

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

Rangers manager Stuart McCall has been in charge of Rangers since March

30 April 2015
Last updated at
20:28

Rangers manager Stuart McCall believes Rangers would do well in the Scottish Premiership next season.

McCall is also confident should they fail to make it through the play-offs they will be promoted from the Scottish Championship within a year.

“If you look at Hamilton this season, top three until they lost their three best players, Dundee have finished top six,” McCall told BBC Sportsound.

“If we were in the Premiership we would do well.”

The Ibrox club trail Hibernian by a point ahead of the final day of the league season on Saturday, with McCall taking Rangers to champions Hearts, and Hibs travelling to fifth-placed Falkirk.

Whoever finishes third face a two-legged tie against Queen of the South, with the winner then playing the side who finishes second, over another two legs.

The winner of that tie will then play home and away against the side finishing 11th in the Scottish Premiership to determine who is in the top-flight next season.

“I believe if we were in the Championship next year we would get things right and bounce straight up,” said McCall.

“If we got promoted, there might be a long way to go before we’re challenging Celtic and possibly Aberdeen to maybe an extent.”

Rangers battled Celtic in the League Cup semi-final in January

McCall, who has taken charge until at least the end of the season, said their celebrations will be muted should they finish second ahead of Hibernian.

He said: “We are aiming to finish second but it won’t have any impact on how play-offs finish.

“There are no favourites going into the play-offs, it comes down to who handles the games.

“There won’t be a great deal of celebration if we finish second, because we won’t have achieved anything.”

McCall also believes the club are right to

defy league bosses and allow season ticket holders into their play-off clashes for free.

That would breach the rules of the Scottish Professional Football League, which claims 50% of the gate receipts from each play-off match and shares it amongst its remaining clubs.

Rangers insist they will hand over half the cash they receive from the sale of one-off tickets, but their decision could cost the SPFL thousands of pounds.

“A full Ibrox would be a big advantage in the play-offs. It’s totally right for the clubs,” said McCall.

“When I bought season tickets (Click to find tickets) you would get all the league games and pay for the cup games. The play-offs are classified as league games, so fans should be let in. The supporters have paid, they’ve shown loyalty in buying season tickets, they deserve to be there [for free].”

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City to take on Houston Dynamo in May

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

City will travel to Houston for the first time as part of their 2014/15 post-season tour.

MLS outfit Houston Dynamo will provide the opposition at the BBVA Compass Stadium on May 28.

The match, which comes one day after City’s friendly against Toronto in Canada, will be the first-ever meeting between the sides and will form part of the Dynamo Charities Cup, presented by BBVA Compass.

Manchester City CEO, Ferran Soriano said: “We are delighted to play in Houston for the first time and have again the opportunity to play in the US in front of our American fans.

“We are all looking forward to visiting this great city.”

Dynamo president Chris Canetti said: “We are extremely excited to have the Dynamo playing Manchester City and to be hosting this historic match at BBVA Compass Stadium.

“We have dreamed of having a home match versus a globally-relevant club like Manchester City, and now we can finally say it’s going to happen.

“This is a special opportunity for the Dynamo, our fans, our sponsors, and the City of Houston.”

The Houston Dynamo are a Major League Soccer club which have won two MLS Cup championships and four conference championships in its first nine seasons and qualified to represent the United States in international competition six times.

The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

Ticket details TBC.

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Legends, friends, family and fans pay tribute to Dave

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

The rock of Bill Nicholson’s all-conquering, double-winning team of the early 1960s, Dave passed away at the age of 80 on March 2.

His funeral in Edinburgh on March 24 was well attended by a host of former team-mates, supporters and football dignitaries and as a further tribute – and to allow those closer to White Hart Lane to pay their respects – the club arranged Thursday’s service at St Stephen’s Church in Bush Hill Park, Enfield.

Dave’s friend and fellow Spurs legend Cliff Jones and our Head of Publications John Fennelly, who has worked at the club for over 30 years, led the tributes.

The service was also attended by double-winner Terry Dyson, goalkeeping great Pat Jennings, Jimmy Robertson – who scored in the final as Dave lifted the FA Cup as skipper in 1967 – Dave’s Scottish team-mate Frank McLintock, our former coach and manager Peter Shreeves and modern-day legend and Club Ambassador Ledley King.

The service was conducted by the Reverend Paul Atherton.

Flying winger Cliff, who played with Dave throughout his career at Spurs, closed his eulogy with the following words.

“Whenever I hear the swirl of bagpipes playing ‘Flower of Scotland’ I think of Dave, a proud Scotsman who never forgot his roots, a great family man who loved life and was a truly great footballer.

“On behalf of myself, Tottenham Hotspur and all of football, we thank Dave for his football legacy. It was an honour to know him. Until we meet again, dear friend, rest in peace Dave. Diolch-yn-Fawr. Thank-you.”

Below: The Order of Service

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Arsenal win joint grounds team award

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

Arsenal and Manchester United have shared the award of Barclays Grounds Team of the Year in the Barclays Premier League.

The quality of the pitches at Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford were deemed the best of the 20 in the Barclays Premier League by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI).

Run by the Playing Surfaces Committee in conjunction with the STRI, the awards recognise the importance of the quality of pitches for professional football, encourage all groundstaff to produce high-quality pitches and acknowledge the head groundsmen and their staff who produce the best playing surfaces in each division.

The committee judging the award for the Barclays Premier League declared the two pitches at Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford the joint winners, while there were three highly commended grounds teams: Aston Villa, Southampton, who shared the award with Arsenal last season, and Swansea City.

The scoring system for the Barclays Premier League Grounds Team of the Year is based on marks for specific aspects of pitch and management performance. It is compiled using marks from match officials and match delegates.

There is also a pitch assessment visit by Dr Stephen Baker, head of sports surface technology at the STRI, and an assessment of each club’s management of the pitch as well as factoring in other elements such as environmental issues, shade and resources available to the club, as well as how much use a pitch has sustained.

Arsenal groundstaff cut the grass at Emirates Stadium

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Kids Season Tickets 2015/16

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

Following some comment earlier today regarding Kids Season Tickets the Club would like to clarify the following.

For the third consecutive season, the price of kids’ season tickets (Click to find tickets) at Celtic Park have been kept at the same price and they remain amongst the cheapest available for top-flight football in the whole of the UK. With the Season Ticket renewal campaign now well underway the Club remains fully committed to bringing as many children to Celtic Park as possible. Keeping kids’ season ticket prices low is central to this objective.

In the event of Rangers FC being promoted the terms and conditions revert to those which were previously in place from 2012, these haven’t changed. In the past two seasons Celtic increased the number of matches on Kids Season Tickets from 19 to 21 at no additional cost and that will remain the case should Rangers remain in the Championship. With the prices from just £2.63 per match we believe we are continuing to keep football affordable for our younger fans.

In the event that Celtic should play Rangers in a league match next season the Club will endeavour to provide fans with Kids Season Tickets their regular seat where possible.

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Carver desperate to “stop rot” at Newcastle United FC – Winner Sports

Thursday, April 30th, 2015

John Carver insists Newcastle have to “stop the rot” in a “huge game” against Leicester this weekend.

The caretaker Newcastle boss has overseen an appalling recent run of results which has seen them hrown them into the relegation mire.

Carver has become the first Newcastle manager in history to see his side lose seven games on the trot as his slim hopes of landing the job full-time have vanished.

They face Leicester who had won four on the bounce ahead of their 3-1 defeat to champions-elect Chelsea on Wednesday night so fear a backlash.

Carver hoping to avoid another defeat

With Newcastle’s recent form and fans staging protests, there could be more misery for the Toon at St James’s Park this weekend so Carver knows they have to bring an end to their misery.

He said: “Saturday is a tough game. Leicester are very well-organised, very strong and are a big, physical team.

“It’s the biggest game of the weekend, and huge for both sides. We need to stop this rot and get a result.”

Carer has come under fire from section of the Newcastle fans who have tuned on him after winning just two games of heir last 14 Premier League games.

He called for more protection from anr supporters yet has revelad he will meet with two disgruntled fans this weekend over “a cu of tea” and try to explain his maanaagement ways to them.

He said: “I’ll show them a little of the preparation going into the game so they have some understanding – without giving away too much of the team – and the planning we put into the week.

“It’s not to get them in to have a roll around the office. I’m happy to answer their questions and have a really good conversation and say ‘this is what we do’.

“I’m not one looking for sympathy but it’s about getting them to understand better.”

Fans turns on Carver during last week’s defeat to Swansea

Written by: Ray Ryan

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