Todays News

john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:40 am Post subject:

Reading's Ivar Ingimarsson is warning his team-mates not to expect Tottenham to be a push-over on Saturday.

Spurs appear to have little to play for, while Reading are fighting for Premier League survival, just one point clear of the relegation zone.

Ingimarsson told BBC Radio Berkshire he doubts Spurs will be demotivated and that he expects them to be dangerous.

He said: "They can go out there on Saturday and play their best football without any worries."

After Saturday's 0-0 with Wigan Athletic, Reading remain 17th in the Premier League.

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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:40 am Post subject:

Newcastle United defender David Edgar believes he needs to bulk up if he is to compete in the Premier League.

The Canadian centre-back was given a tough test by West Ham's England striker Dean Ashton and hopes to build on the experience in the coming games.

"I'm playing against England internationals who are big strong lads," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"I've got to get bigger and be able to compete with them, but it's a learning curve and I'm excited to be playing."
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:41 am Post subject:

Champions League organiser Uefa is confident English supporters will be able to get Russian visas in time for the final in Moscow.

More than 42,000 fans will travel to Russia to watch Manchester United take on Chelsea on 21 May.

"We are finalising an express way to get visas," Uefa spokesman William Gaillard told BBC Sport.

"We've had extreme goodwill from the Russian government to make it easy for fans. It will be a major breakthrough."

Hours after United booked their place in the final on Tuesday, club officials confirmed that supporters planning to travel would find it easier than normal to get a visa, suggesting those on charter flights approved by the club would be eligible for special arrangements.

United chief executive David Gill will fly to the Russian capital on Thursday to meet Uefa officials, with the matter of visas high on the agenda.
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:41 am Post subject:

Emmanuel Eboue is determined to cement his place as first-choice on the right side of Arsenal's midfield.

The 24-year-old originally started out as a defender at the club but Bacary Sagna has pushed him further forward.

Eboue's place is under threat after the resurgence of Theo Walcott but the Ivory Coast international is out to show he deserves to be a regular.

He said: "I have enjoyed playing there. The manager asked me to and I felt I could do a good job in that position."

Eboue added: "It was not easy, first because it is such a different position to right-back. I needed a bit of time to adapt myself and I feel that, little by little, I got better.

"I have worked very hard to change my game to be able to play in midfield. Now, I want to keep playing there and keep improving to become a better right midfielder.
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:42 am Post subject:

Derby County have agreed an official link-up with Holland's FC Utrecht that will see an exchange of coaching ideas and youth players.

The Rams will play a pre-season friendly against the Dutch side at Pride Park ahead of next season.

Meanwhile, Darren Moore has been named the club's Player of the Year. The defender took the accolade ahead of Kenny Miller and Stephen Pearson.

Goalkeeper Lewis Price took the club's Young Player Award.
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:42 am Post subject:

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish has told the club website their style of play does not suit winger Daniel de Ridder.

McLeish was reacting to the player's decision to speak out about a lack of first team opportunities at St Andrews, having not played since January.

"He's been available but Olivier Kapo, Gary McSheffrey and Sebstian Larsson were ahead of him," he said.

"I said to Danny a while back that I felt if we were more of a passing team, I may think more about him."
De Ridder has made only 12 appearances since his summer move from Celta Vigo, not featuring since that FA Cup upset against Huddersfield.
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:43 am Post subject:

Aston Villa's leading scorer John Carew is still hoping to help the club into Europe, despite being held at Everton.

Villa are three points behind the Merseysiders in the battle for fifth position with two games remaining, but the 13-goal striker is optimistic.

"We have a real chance ahead of us. They play Arsenal next week, while we have Wigan at home," Carew told BBC WM.

"We're 100% confident we can take three points from that game then the week after we just have to focus."
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:43 am Post subject:

Derby 2-6 Arsenal

Emannuel Adebayor struck a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal piled more misery on relegated Derby at Pride Park.

A ludicrous Darren Moore mistake let Nicklas Bendtner fire in the first before Jay McEveley poked in to level.

Robin van Persie chested a cross down and lashed home and then Adebayor tapped in at the back post.

Robert Earnshaw slotted in for Derby, but Theo Walcott scored a fine solo goal before Adebayor slid in a cross and then rolled home in stoppage time.
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:44 am Post subject:

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has been named as the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year.

The 23-year-old wins the award for the second successive season after another outstanding campaign that has seen him score 38 goals in all competitions.

"I feel very happy. It is a great moment, it is an honour, a pleasure," said the Portuguese star.

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas picked up the young player of the year award.
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:45 am Post subject:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned Inter Milan they will be reported to Fifa if they continue their 'illegal' pursuit of Alexander Hleb.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini has confirmed Hleb is one of the players the Italian club "would like to sign".

But Wenger has slammed their attempt to sign the 26-year-old Belarus winger as 'totally unacceptable.'

"For a club to come out with a statement like that...I think it is disrespectful. It is illegal," he said.

"We will not accept that between big clubs. If I want a player from Inter Milan, I call Inter Milan," added Wenger.

"If they are interested, why do they not call me? If I want to buy someone, I call the chairman and I ask him if he is for sale."
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:45 am Post subject:

Thierry Henry has insisted he is happy at Barcelona - and suggested he would only return to the Premier League if he could play for his former club Arsenal.

The France striker, 30, has been linked with a move back to England after an unsuccessful first season in Spain.

He told the BBC's Football Focus: "I'm happy - I don't regret leaving Arsenal.

"But there's only one team in England for me. Everybody knows the love and affection I have for Arsenal. I was so into it, I became a fan."

The Frenchman left north London in a £16.1m move in June 2007 but his inaugural season in La Liga has been ravaged by injuries, the most recent being a back problem.
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:46 am Post subject:

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has promised Paul Scholes will play in the Champions League final after his goal knocked out Barcelona.

Scholes, who was banned for the 1999 final, scored a superb goal to settle the semi-final at Old Trafford and set up an all-English showpiece in Moscow.

"He's one of the great players to come through the ranks here," said Ferguson.

"But I'm so pleased for everyone. It's a great feeling, marvellous. This club deserves to be in the final."

Scholes's swerving strike from 25 yards was only his second goal of the season - and the 33-year-old's first in the Champions League since October 2006.
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john the tinca · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 12:47 am Post subject:

Wales manager John Toshack says Cardiff City's promising midfielder Aaron Ramsey should not succumb to the temptation of a Premiership move.

Everton manager David Moyes is among clubs to have shown interest in Ramsey, 17, and Joe Ledley, 20.

Toshack believes young players are better off playing regularly in the Championship rather than struggling for game time in the Premiership.

He told BBC Sport Wales: "It's a bit early for Ramsey to make such a move."
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