Todays News

john the tinca · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject:

Arsene Wenger insists he does not feel any more pressure this season to win a trophy - and revealed he does not rate some football managers who have been successful.

The Arsenal manager, who last picked up a trophy when his side won the FA Cup in 2005, believes there is more to the game than winning silverware.

Wenger, whose side lead the Premier League by one point from Manchester United and who progressed into the Champions League quarter finals in midweek, said: "To win trophies is important but it is not the only thing about sport.

"Somebody can say to you if you don't win trophies you are nobody. Maybe. I don't know. I think it is something more than that."

Wenger was responding to comments from former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho who observed that while Arsenal have won no trophies in recent seasons, Wenger remains revered at the Emirates

_________________

BRAINSTORMING FORUM

FOOTBALLPOSTS

john the tinca · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject:

Reading defender Ivar Ingimarsson is confident the Royals have rid themselves of their losing habit at just the right time.

Steve Coppell's side host Manchester City on Saturday in the knowledge that a point would be enough to lift them out of the bottom three.

Victory at Middlesbrough last week ended an eight-game losing run that had seen the Royals slip from relative safety to the Barclays Premier League drop zone.

And Ingimarsson is convinced ending that sequence at a time when no fewer than seven teams near the bottom are separated by just four points could not have been better timed.
_________________

BRAINSTORMING FORUM

FOOTBALLPOSTS

john the tinca · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

Chelsea manager Avram Grant has refused to get drawn into a war of words with Jose Mourinho, insisting he is only concentrating on moving the club forward from the era of the Special One.

Mourinho, in Spain this week, revealed he would welcome an eventual return to England and added he felt "nothing" for his successor, although Grant was diplomatic with his response.

He stressed he had the utmost respect for Mourinho's work for the club - bringing consecutive Premier League titles, the League Cup twice and the FA Cup - but is focused on the future rather than the past.
_________________

BRAINSTORMING FORUM

FOOTBALLPOSTS

john the tinca · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

Bolton striker Kevin Davies would have no qualms if he was axed by boss Gary Megson for next week's UEFA Cup return against Sporting Lisbon.

Free of Premier League commitments this weekend, and away from the worries of the relegation battle, Megson fielded a full-strength side in Thursday night's 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium.

But for Thursday's second leg of the last-16 tie at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, the team on show could be vastly different.

Megson's over-riding priority is top-flight survival, and with a crucial clash at relegation rivals Wigan three days later, a number of key players are likely to be left behind.

Should Davies be one of those, he would understand the reasoning.
_________________

BRAINSTORMING FORUM

FOOTBALLPOSTS

john the tinca · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

AC Milan stalwart Paolo Maldini has revealed he may change his mind about retiring and instead play on for another year.

The 39-year-old centre-back announced in December this would be his last season as a player after 23 years in the Rossoneri shirt.

But Maldini admits he is now considering a U-turn and staying on with Milan for the 2008/09 campaign.

"I still have lots of energy," Maldini said. "I realise you should stick with what you say, but on the other hand you'd also be stupid not changing your mind if the situation also changes.

"In recent months the pain in my knees has gone, and the club and its supporters would like to see me play for another season."

The veteran, who retired from the Italy national side shortly after the 2002 World Cup, underwent knee surgery last year and revealed a positive recovery has prompted him to consider an extended spell on the pitch.

"I have to admit that three months ago things were much worse than they were five months ago because of the surgery I had to my knees," he added.

"But now I'm fit and playing at left-back in a position I haven't played in for a long time."
_________________

BRAINSTORMING FORUM

FOOTBALLPOSTS

john the tinca · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Zapatero has assured the country's football fans that the national team will be at Euro 2008, but was firm in his stance that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has to obey Spanish law.

The government have ordered the RFEF and other non-Olympic federations to hold presidential elections before the Beijing Games, a ruling FIFA president Sepp Blatter said could lead to serious consequences.

Blatter declared last month that government interference in the administration of football in Spain could result in the national team and Primera Liga clubs being excluded from international competition.

The RFEF lost their appeal to the courts against the government's ruling, but on March 3 the federation insisted they would not obey the mandate following a vote on the subject by the RFEF's general assembly.
_________________

BRAINSTORMING FORUM

FOOTBALLPOSTS

john the tinca · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has been released from hospital after being detained under the Mental Health Act for more than a fortnight, it was reported on Saturday.

The Daily Mirror said Gascoigne, 40, had gone to stay with his father John in Dunston, Gateshead, after his release on Friday from the Middle St George Hospital in Darlington.

Gascoigne was sectioned on February 20 after he was said to be acting as a "potential menace" at the Hilton Hotel in Gateshead.

It followed an incident at the Malmaison Hotel in Newcastle hours earlier, where the hotel said the star made other guests and staff feel "threatened".

The Mirror said Gascoigne looked frail as he left the hospital wearing a beige jacket, designer shirt, gold necklace and a diamond earring. It said he arrived at his father's home at 5pm on Saturday.

Gascoigne had an illustrious football career and is still perhaps best known for his exploits in the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy.

He played for a number of clubs including Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers, appearing 57 times in an England shirt and scoring 10 goals for his country.

But the talented midfielder has had a troubled history of emotional instability and erratic behaviour.

Once regarded as one of the world's best footballers, Gascoigne's playing career was plagued by personal problems, many linked to his heavy drinking.

In 2005, he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia, sparking fears over his long-term health, and last year he underwent emergency surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer.

He has also had several run-ins with the police over the years.
_________________

BRAINSTORMING FORUM

FOOTBALLPOSTS