Todays News

john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:04 pm Post subject: Todays News

Northern Ireland's very slim hopes of replacing Spain in this summer's Euro 2008 finals appear to be dashed.
Uefa warned Spain they could be thrown out of the Championships if their government attempted to interfere in the Spanish FA's presidential election.

However, the Spanish FA voted on Monday to ignore any advice from their government and will proceed with their election as originally planned.

Spain topped their qualifying group for the Championship with NI in third.

Luis Aragonés side along with second-placed Sweden qualified for this summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland from Group F, with Nigel Worthington's side missing out.

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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject:

Feyenoord coach Bert van Marwijk will take over as Holland manager after Euro 2008, replacing Marco van Basten.
The 55-year-old has been handed a two-year contract, taking him up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"This is the best thing you can achieve as a coach. When the chance comes, you must take it," said Van Marwijk.

Van Basten revealed last month he is to step down as Holland coach after the finals in Austria and Switzerland to take over as manager of Ajax.

Van Marwijk, who had a previous spell at Feyenoord from 2000-2004, has also coached German side Borussia Dortmund.

He added: "Fortunately neither the players nor the board of Feyenoord begrudges me this job."

Van Marwijk, who won the Uefa Cup with Feyenoord in 2002, is the father-in-law of Bayern Munich and Holland midfielder Mark van Bommel.
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:05 pm Post subject:

Scotland manager George Burley has revealed that he is weighing up the prospect of calling on Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley.
The 22-year-old right-back was born in Eccles but qualifies for Scotland through his Glasgow-born father.

"I will watch Bardsley and assess if he warrants selection," said Burley. "If he does it would be a case of speaking to Phil.

"If he didn't want to play for us that would be the end of the story."

Bardsley agreed a three-and-a-half year deal with Sunderland in January after starting his career with Manchester United.

While at Old Trafford, Bardsley was farmed out on loan to Royal Antwerp, Burnley, Rangers, Aston Villa and Sheffield United.
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject:

Cesc Fabregas insists Arsenal will show no fear when they face Champions League holders AC Milan in the San Siro on Tuesday for a place in the last eight.

The Gunners drew the first leg 0-0 at the Emirates two weeks ago and Fabregas insists they will stay true to their vibrant attacking style in Italy.

"We are young, but we are not scared and we will play our game," he said.

"You have always seen if we are winning or losing, we will never go to defend. We will always want to attack."
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject:

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says Lyon's Karim Benzema is a big threat to their chances of reaching the Champions League last eight.

Benzema, 20, scored in the first-leg 1-1 draw and is expected to star again in the second leg on Tuesday.

"Benzema plays as a lone striker and he's a goal threat because of that," Ferguson said.

"The way Benzema took his chance tells you he can score out of nothing and you worry about players like that."
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

Former international referee Graham Poll says players are better behaved when playing in European competitions than in the Premier League.

"They're more respectful because they recognise they're being refereed by one of the elite referees in Europe," Poll told BBC Sport.

Now retired from refereeing, Poll believes familiarity breeds contempt for players in the Premier League.

"Players see the same refs all the time. They have an impression of them."

This season in the Champions League, red cards have been handed out approximately at a rate of one in every 17 games.

In the Premier League, where Poll says the pressure on referees is far more intense, there is a red card in nearly one in every 12 games.

"Regular performances in the Premier League are far more difficult to maintain [for referees]," he said.

"To find that consistent level when you are under constant scrutiny is harder than it is nipping off to Spain once a year, and Italy and Germany once every year.

"Talk to [Premier League] players about why they can behave so much better when playing for England or in the Champions League... their behaviour is very different."
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject:

Dumbarton goalkeeper Peter Shaw has signed for Junior club Arthurlie on loan until the end of the season.
Shaw last played for the Sons' first-team two weeks ago in the 3-0 league defeat by East Fife.

He has made only three appearances for the Third Division club since signing from Dunfermline in 2006.

Shaw has struggled to establish himself in the first-team and has been back-up to Stephen Grindlay, Anton Nugent and David Crawford.
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:

St Johnstone have signed Barry Wilson and Sean Lynch on emergency one month loan deals.
Wilson, 36, has joined from Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Twenty one-year-old Lynch has moved to McDiarmid Park from SPL outfit Hibs.

Saints manager Derek McInnes said he was delighted with his additions.

"I'm very grateful to Craig Brewster and Mixu Paatelainen for their help with these loans and I'm sure both players will add something," he said.
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:

St Johnstone have signed Barry Wilson and Sean Lynch on emergency one month loan deals.
Wilson, 36, has joined from Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Twenty one-year-old Lynch has moved to McDiarmid Park from SPL outfit Hibs.

Saints manager Derek McInnes said he was delighted with his additions.

"I'm very grateful to Craig Brewster and Mixu Paatelainen for their help with these loans and I'm sure both players will add something," he said.
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

Gretna's Scottish Premier League match with Dundee United has been postponed for a second time.
The game - which was also called-off on Saturday - failed a 1300GMT pitch inspection because heavy snow on Monday has left the Fir Park pitch saturated.

A new date for the tie will be announced in due course although United boss Craig Levein has stated he would like it to be played on Wednesday.

It becomes the latest match to be postponed at Fir Park this season.
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

The Scottish FA has backed referee Iain Brines over the yellow card he gave to Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
Brines booked the Polish keeper for gesturing to the home supporters after the 2-0 win at Easter Road on Saturday.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said the booking was unfair and asked for the rules to be clarified.

But the SFA said Brines was correct to show the yellow card if a player made gestures which are "intended to incite or ridicule opposing spectators".

A player may also be booked if his gestures are "provocative, derisory or inflammatory
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

Gordon Strachan says there is plenty of pride at stake for Celtic in Tuesday's second leg of their Champions League tie against Barcelona at the Nou Camp.

With the Hoops 3-2 down from the first game, the manager said: "We are angry that we lost the first leg although we understand that we played a great side.

"We want to leave Barcelona players and fans with a good impression of us, that's what we are going to try and do.

"Hopefully, the Nou Camp does inspire the players."
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has had his red card from the 4-0 Premier League victory at West Ham rescinded.
Lampard tangled with Luis Boa Morte and then pushed the winger after appearing to get caught by a kick.

Referee Peter Walton consulted his assistant before brandishing his red card and then booked Michael Ballack for his part in the melee that ensued.

Lampard is now free of suspension and can play in Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final against Barnsley.
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject:

Middlesbrough captain Julio Arca is hoping the lure of a trip to Wembley will spur his team-mates to bounce back from Saturday's home defeat to Reading.
Cardiff City travel to Teesside for Sunday's televised FA Cup quarter-final and Arca believes a win would provide the perfect tonic for all concerned.

"Hopefully we'll have a long week to rest," he told BBC Tees.

"It's a big chance to get into the semi-final and then we can look forward to a massive game at Wembley."

Arca was part of the side that completed a sapping FA Cup tie with Sheffield United earlier in the week and he admitted it was tiredness that led to Reading's late winner.
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john the tinca · Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:11 pm Post subject:

Forest Green manager Jim Harvey plans to let Terry Burton continue in goal ahead of Ryan Robinson.
Harvey told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that Robinson needs to refocus.

"It was just a case of 'just take a breather, let Terry come back in and carry on for a couple of games and we'll see how we get on'," he said.

"When I was playing I could lose my way through the course of the season and the manager pulled me out. You come back again bigger and stronger for it."
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