Todays News

john the tinca · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:

John Terry has been told that he will captain England again.

While Rio Ferdinand was handed the armband for the game with France this week, Capello has stressed that he has yet to make a definitive decision on the long-term identity of the Three Lions captain.

As such, the captaincy will be rotated during the upcoming friendlies and, according to The Times, Terry 'has received assurances that he will be given an opportunity to assert his claim' and 'remains a leading candidate to take the job on a permanent basis.'

Perhaps mindful of reports that Terry was so agitated by the possibility of his omission from Chelski's Carling Cup final team that he had a training-ground bust-up with Ten Cate on the eve of the match, Capello's coaching staff are said to have reassured the defender that 'his time would come' before Wednesday's friendly.

But that promise may have only been limited consolation given the timing of the announcement that Ferdinand would captain the team against France - it is understood the players were informed as they were eating lunch at their hotel, 'leaving Terry to absorb the shock in public.'

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john the tinca · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:

Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg is doing his homework on new employers Juventus ahead of his move to the Serie A giants in the summer.

The Sweden international has called time on a seven-year stay in the Barclays Premier League and will head to Turin on a free transfer after representing his country at Euro 2008.

"I am following them (Juventus) all the time now," said Mellberg after Sweden's 1-0 defeat to Brazil at the Emirates Stadium.

"I watch all of the games on TV. They are doing well at the moment and it is important that they qualify for the Champions League.

"But obviously my main focus is to try to finish on a high for Villa and qualify for Europe."

Juve currently occupy third spot in Italy's Serie A, 10 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.

Mellberg, 30, admitted the lure of playing for one of Europe's biggest clubs before he retires proved too great.

"They came along and said they have been interested in me for quite some time. It is one of the biggest clubs in the world so it was an opportunity that was right to take."
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john the tinca · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:12 pm Post subject:

Stung by the criticism he has received in the wake of his dismal performance for England against France, Steven Gerrard has responded by blaming Wayne Rooney's positional indiscipline for the failure of their partnership to dovetail.

Having excelled in their respective positions of withdrawn forward and lone centre forward on club duty in recent weeks, the breakdown of their alliance was arguably the most disillusioning aspect of a thoroughly mediocre night in Paris.
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john the tinca · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:13 pm Post subject:

Arsene Wenger was proud to welcome French president Nicolas Sarkozy to Emirates Stadium on Thursday as part of his state visit to Britain - when both sport and politics were on the menu.

Before the president's Anglo-French summit with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the ground, the two leaders where shown around the impressive 60,000-seater venue by the highly-respected French coach.

The Barclays Premier League club also laid on a special lunch cooked by revered chef Raymond Blanc.

Wenger feels sport and politics can make a positive mix.
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john the tinca · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:14 pm Post subject:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes it will not be long before there is no room in busy football schedules for international friendlies.

England suffered their first defeat under new boss Fabio Capello when they were beaten 1-0 by a under-strength France side in Paris on Wednesday night.

Wenger was at the Stade de France, as a pundit for French television and he feels such encounters have little meaning now, with everyone so focused on competitive games.

"I am scared that in the modern game, there is no room any more for friendly internationals - not because countries take our players, just because people will not be interested in that any more," Wenger said.
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john the tinca · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:15 pm Post subject:

Arsenal full-back Gael Clichy insists his side have the necessary "quality" to get their Barclays Premier League title bid back on track following their defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger's men have suffered a slump in form since moving five points clear at the top of the table and a run of four consecutive draws, followed by the 2-1 reverse at Chelsea, means they are now six points off the summit in third place.

But Clichy insists the Gunners can still play their part in the title race.

"We may have lost against Chelsea but we played well," said the 22-year-old.
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john the tinca · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject:

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto insists captain William Gallas still has the support of the players.

The Gunners line-up are reported to have lost patience with the former Chelsea defender in the wake of their poor run of recent form, which has seen them slip from first to third in the Premier League.

Gallas showed his disappointment in very public fashion after Arsenal let two points slip against Birmingham last month, and conceded after Sunday's defeat against Chelsea his side were out of the title race.
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