Premier League - News and Rumors

[Andi Istiabudi]

Sampai segitunya yach saking tidak betah ....

Clancy Ingin Bunuh Harry Redknapp



Bola.net - Tidak semua orang bisa bahagia walaupun sekelilingnya begitu memujanya. Itulah yang tengah dialami Abbey Clancy yang tengah membutuhkan hiburan beberapa hari ini. Kepindahan Peter Crouch ke Stoke City ternyata tidak membuat Clancy nyaman, sebab hatinya masih tetap mencintai London.

Berbicara kepada Daily Mirror Clancy berkata, "Aku menderita karena Peter harus pindah. Aku mencintai London. Aku memiliki pekerjaan di sini dan kami sudah senang hidup di sini, ditambah Ibu baru saja pindah kemari. Kami bisa saja pulang pergi, tapi itu tidak ideal."

Clancy rupanya benar-benar tidak suka tinggal di Stoke, kejengkelannya itu bisa terlihat saat dirinya bertemu Jamie Redknapp di acara penghargaan GQ bulan lalu. Dengan sedikit bercanda Clancy berkata, "Aku ingin membunuh ayahmu!" Mantan gelandang Liverpool itu menanggapi gurauan penuh maksud Clancy dengan tertawa dan menjawab, "Semua akan baik-baik saja. Aku yakin Stoke cukup bagus."

Ucapan Redknapp mungkin ada benarnya, jika saja Clancy mau beradaptasi dengan lingkungan barunya ada banyak tempat yang indah di Stoke seperti Trentham Gardens dan Staffordshire Oatcake yang menggoda untuk dicoba.

Crouch harus terdepak karena kalah bersaing di White Hart Lane setelah kedatangan Emmanuel Adebayor musim panas lalu. Dirinya kemudian bergabung bersama pasukan Tony Pulis. Keputusannya untuk memilih Stoke City diambil berkat bujukan mantan rekan satu timnya, Jonathan Woodgate. “Woodgate menelepon Peter nyaris setiap jam untuk meyakinkan Peter untuk pindah ke Stoke,” kata Clancy. Bahkan Woodgate terus mengungkapkan, hal-hal yang baik tentang Stoke City dan hal itu akhirnya menjadi faktor yang cukup besar yang membuat Crouch memutuskan pindah dari Tottenham

Abbey mungkin tidak senang pindah ke Stoke, namun para pendukung Stoke City sangat menyukai dirinya. Ketika Crouch menandatangani kontrak bersama Stoke mereka malah meneriakkan nama Clancy bukannya Crouch. "Kami telah mendapatkan Abbey Clancy!, Kami telah mendapatkan Abbey Clancy!" teriak pendukung Stoke City kala itu.

Pasangan ini sepertinya tidak akan menetap di Stoke sebab Abbey lebih suka pindah ke Cheshire, tempat tinggal Crouch ketika masih berkostum Liverpool. Sayang sekali, keengganan Abbey Clancy untuk menetap telah mematahkan hati 25.000 penggemar Stoke City yang begitu bahagia akan kehadirannya di kota mereka. (Mirr/jef)

Source : http://www.bola.net

[Sheyro_07Seven]

wahhh,..makin mantab neh musim bwt The Magpies,...

Newcastle Belum Terjegal

Newcastle - Newcastle United terus melanjutkan tren positifnya. Menghadapi Wigan Atlhetic, The Magpies berhasil mengamankan poin penuh di kandang sendiri usai menang dengan skor 1-0.

Melakoni pertandingan di St. James Park, Sabtu (22/10/2011) malam WIB, Newcastle lebih mendominasi permainan dengan 54%:46% perbandingan penguasaan bola dengan Wigan.

Dari sisi agresivitas, kedua kubu sama-sama saling menyerang namun Newcastle lebih efektif. Terbukti dari 12 tembakan, empat di antaranya mengarah ke sasaran sedangkan cuma dua yang mengarah ke target dari 14 tembakan Wigan.

Wigan lebih dulu menekan di awal pertandingan tetapi upaya Moses berhasil diselamakan oleh Tim Krul. Selanjutnya, Newcastle yang memiliki sejumlah peluang dari Best dan Cabaye tapi hingga babak pertama berakhir skor masih 0-0.

Di babak kedua, Demba Ba nyaris membuat Newcastle unggul tapi sepakannya hasil crossing Gutierrez bisa diselamatkan Al Habsi tepat di garis gawang.

Wigan kemudian balik menekan. Mereka bertubi-tubi melakukan serangan dari Hugo Rodallega namun tidak ada yang berujung gol.

Yohan Cabaye memecah kebuntuan di menit 81. Menerima umpan silang Steven Taylor dari sisi kiri lapangan, Cabaye melepas sepakan ke tiang jauh yang tidak dapat dijangkau Al Habsi.

Tertinggal, Wigan tak mau menyerah begitu saja. Beberapa peluang lahir dari Mohamed Diame namun hingga laga usai tak mampu mencetak gol balasan. Skor 1-0 untuk kemenangan Newcastle bertahan sampai bubar.

Tambahan tiga angka ini tak mengubah posisi Newcastle di peringkat empat klasemen sementara dengan nilai 19 tanpa pernah kalah. Koleksi angkanya sama dengan Chelsea di atasnya yang lebih unggul selisih gol. Sedangkan Wigan tetap terpuruk di peringkat 19 dengan nilai lima.

Hasil pertandingan lainnya:

Wolverhampton 2-2 Swansea City
Aston Villa 1-2 West Brom
Bolton 0-2 Sunderland


Susunan Pemain
Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Obertan (Marveaux 77'), Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Best, Ba (Ameobi 68')

Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Alcaraz, Caldwell, Figueroa, Jones, Watson (McArthur 82'), Diame, Moses, Rodallega, Crusat (Sammon 82')

http://detiksport.com

[Sheyro_07Seven]

emang match yg seru neh,.... sampai trjd cemoohan,...hemmm,....

McCarthy Enggan Komentari Cemoohan Penonton

London - Wolves melakukan serangan balik yang dramatis untuk menggagalkan kemenangan pertama Swansea di laga tandang musim ini, Sabtu, dengan mencetak dua gol pada enam menit terakhir untuk memaksakan hasil imbang 2-2 di Molineux.


Swansea tampaknya akan dengan mudah mendapatkan tiga poin, dan mereka memimpin 2-0 melalui gol dari Danny Graham dan Joe Allen pada babak pertama, sementara pertandingan tinggal tersisa kurang dari 10 menit.


Tetapi bayangan enam kekalahan beruntun bagi Wolves yang sudah ada di depan mata, tiba-tiba sirna saat pasukan Mick McCarthy secara luar biasa mencetak dua gol pada enam menit terakhir. Kevin Doyle memperkecil ketinggalan pada menit ke-84, sebelum Jamie O'Hara menyamakan kedudukan dua menit kemudian.


Hasil imbang ini melegakan McCarthy, yang bersama pemainnya telah menjadi bahan ejekan penonton setelah gol kedua Swansea. Tapi McCarthy menolak memberikan komentar tentang sikap fans yang mencemooh timnya.


"Ini tidak tepat bagi saya untuk membahas," katanya kepada Sky Sports. "Mari kita menekankan semua hal positif. Semua omong kosong itu terus berlanjut, kita akan berurusan dengan waktu lain."


Sementara itu manajer Swansea, Brendan Rogers mengaku kecewa setelah melihat kemenangan yang sudah di depan mata tiba-tiba hilang dalam 10 menit terakhir.


"Untuk 80 menit, kami tampil luar biasa," katanya. "Kita perlu mengelola permainan lebih baik lagi, tapi saya harus memberikan penghargaan besar untuk para pemain."


"Selamat kepada Mick, mereka mendapat poin mereka," katanya.

(AFP/ANTARA)

[Sheyro_07Seven]

hemm,..klub manakah yg akan di latih,..????? kita tunggu ja,...

Ancelotti Kembali Ungkapkan Minatnya Latih Klub Inggris

London - Carlo Ancelotti mengaku masih berminat melatih melatih klub-klub Premier League. Meski enggan menyebut nama, namun pelatih kondang asal Italia ini hanya mau menangani tim yang memiliki ambisi.

Ancelotti memimpin Chelsea meraih gelar dobel pertamanya dengan memenangi Liga Inggris dan Piala FA namun dia tetap dipecat usai gagal meraih satu trofi pun pada akhir musim lalu.

Sejak meninggalkan Stamford Bridge, pelatih berkebangsaan Italia ini tak jarang dikaitkan dengan beberapa klub Inggris. Tetapi Ancelotti memilih melihat situasi dan menunggu tawaran yang tepat.

"Premier League adalah kompetisi terbaik di Eropa karenanya saya ingin berada disana jika mungkin. Saya tidak ingin menyebut nama karena klub-klub itu masih punya manajer," tutur Ancelotti seperti dikutip Sky Sports.

"Tapi saya ingin menangani tim yang punya ambisi dan saya ingin menunggu dan melihat apa yang terjadi pada musim depan. Saya ingin berada di sini jika mungkin menemukan klub lain - saya suka dengan atmosfir disini."

Fabio Capello akan meninggalkan posisi sebagai pelatih Inggris setelah turnamen Piala Eropa 2012 dan Ancelotti sempat dimunculkan sebagai suksesor kompatriotnya itu. Apakah dia berminat jadi suksesor kompatriotnya itu?

"Saya membaca surat kabar seperti Anda dan semuanya berkata manajer selanjutnya haruslah orang Inggris. Saya tidak tahu. Saya pikir Capello sedang melakukan pekerjaan yang bagus dan saya harap Inggris memiliki Kejuaraan Eropa yang fantasis," tutup Carletto.

Belum lama ini, Ancelotti diberitakan tertarik menangani Liverpool dan Tottenham Hotspur. The Reds saat ini tengah ditangani oleh Kenny Dalglish sedangkan Spurs dibesut Harry Redknapp. Nama terakhir dijagokan untuk menangani 'Tiga Singa' setelah kontrak Capello habis.

http://detiksport.com

[zudomiriku]

Anton Ferdinand to discuss John Terry racism allegations with QPR

• Terry denies reports of alleged slur on QPR defender
• 'I am saddened to be dealing with these allegations'



QPR will meet with Anton Ferdinand on Tuesday to discuss reports he was subject to an alleged racist slur by the Chelsea captain John Terry.

Videos circulated on the internet in the aftermath of Sunday's Premier League match at Loftus Road, with some claiming the footage shows Terry insulting the Rangers defender using racist language.

Terry has categorically denied making such comments during the 1-0 defeat but Rangers officials will meet with Ferdinand to discuss whether the defender wants the incident to be investigated.

Terry said in a statement released on Sunday: "I've seen that there's a lot of comments on the internet with regards to some video footage of me in today's game.

"I'm disappointed that people have leapt to the wrong conclusions about the context of what I was seen to be saying to Anton Ferdinand.

"I thought Anton was accusing me of using a racist slur against him. I responded aggressively, saying that I never used that term. I would never say such a thing, and I'm saddened that people would think so.

"I have known Anton for a long time and spoke to him about it after the game, and there was no problem between us. I congratulated him on their win. He has not accused me of any wrongful remark.

"It was clear it was all a misunderstanding at the time. After the result, I am saddened to be dealing with these wrongful allegations.

"I am the proud captain of one of the most internationally diverse teams in the Premier League and I absolutely believe that there is no place for racism in sport and indeed in any walk of life."

The Football Association has refused to comment on the matter.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/bbBPp

[zudomiriku]

5 Things We Learned from Premier League Weekend



What a weekend it was in the Premier League. In case you still had some doubts, Manchester City is for real, and they made plenty of noise in the Manchester Derby on Sunday, hammering Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford.

The weekend also saw plenty of controversial moments and a handful of red cards.

After nine rounds of games, the Citizens are sitting pretty atop the pile with a five-point cushion over the Red Devils, and at the other end of the table, things are starting to take shape as well.

Let's look back at five things we learned from this weekend in the Premier League.

Liverpool Not on Chelsea and Manchester United's Level, Yet setuju banget


John Henry and Fenway Sports Group purchased Liverpool FC just over a year ago, and their effect on the historic club is obvious.

With the purchases of Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and more, and the second coming of club legend Kenny Dalglish at the helm, Liverpool plays with more flair and is not nearly as destitute as it has been in recent years.

But the Reds aren't on par with Manchester United and Chelsea yet either, and Saturday's draw with newly promoted Norwich City at Anfield proved that once again.

Liverpool spurned numerous chances in the first half but took the lead thanks to Craig Bellamy's eagerness to prove himself and a cruel deflection off Marc Tierney that gave Liverpool the lead in first-half stoppage time.

Norwich didn't buckle though and scored a deserved equalizer through substitute Grant Holt's header in the 60th minute.

Norwich played well at both Chelsea and Manchester United earlier in the season, but those two teams were able to force mistakes out of the new boys or at least score when they should have. Liverpool couldn't do the same and dropped to sixth in the table because of it.

Henry said before the season that if Liverpool did not qualify for the Champions League, it would be very disappointing, and though it's still early, the Reds certainly didn't look like top-four quality on Saturday.

Gary Cahill Should Be Regretting His Decision to Stay


England centre-back Gary Cahill opted to stay at Bolton this summer despite being one of the most-wanted defenders on the market, and that's probably a decision both he and his club are regretting.

After opening the season with a splendid 4-0 thrashing of new boys Queens Park Rangers, Bolton have been nothing short of terrible and sit in the relegation zone with six points from nine games.

In the summer, Cahill's fee was reported to be about £17 million. There's no way he'll fetch that much if he decides to leave in January, and his contract is up next summer, so Bolton will get nothing in return.

Really Didier?


Chelsea had a pretty miserable day in the West London Derby Sunday at Queens Park Rangers, and Didier Drogba did his best to make up for Fernando Torres' absence.

The Ivorian slid in two-footed on Adel Taarabt and was sent off in the 41st minute. It's stupid enough to make such a foolish challenge, but to do so when your side is already a goal and a man down on the road is just plain ridiculous.

You wouldn't put it past a team like Chelsea to steal a draw from being down a goal and a man at halftime, especially against a team that hasn't won at home all season, but down to nine men is just too much to ask.

After Drogba's red card, things unraveled fast for Chelsea, and though they didn't allow anymore goals, they did pick up seven more yellow cards.

One good note may be that Drogba's three-game suspension will begin right when Torres' ends, and we all know they play better when they aren't both on the pitch.

Manchester United's Worst Day Ever


Manchester City made their title aspirations very clear Sunday with a 6-1 demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford, and Sir Alex Ferguson called it his "worst ever day."

Mario Balotelli opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, and City went into halftime with a 1-0 advantage. Then, just minutes after the restart, Johnny Evans let Balotelli get by him and had no choice but to pull him down and take a red card.

Balotelli and Sergio Aguero each added goals to put the game away soon after, and even after Darren Fletcher's 81st minute strike, City weren't done.

The Citizens added three more goals in stoppage time to complete United's embarrassment.

After the huge win, will City canter to the Premier League title? Looks hard to bet against them.

No question they'll still have their doubters. After all, this was really their first test of the season, and United were without Nemanja Vidic at the back.

That all being said, City is the real deal. They've got a roster full of world-class talent and a no-nonsense manager to lead them.

It's hard to doubt them after this weekend.

Managers on the Hottest Seats


Managers don't get long to prove themselves in the Premier League these days, and chances are, at least a handful of managers who finish the season won't be the ones who started it.

Roberto Martinez of Wigan and Steve Kean of Blackburn are on the hottest seats around, with their clubs at the bottom of the table with just five points from nine games.

Bolton's Owen Coyle also must be sweating it out quite a lot these days along with Mick McCarthy at Wolverhampton.

Who will be the first to go and when?

Martinez's days at Wigan have to be numbered at this point. Wigan just barely stayed up last season, they've had a miserable start this year, and some sections think the manager has spent too much time on his broadcast career lately than his team.

Chances are though, at least three of these managers and more will be out by next May.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/907441-5-things-we-learned-from-premier-league-weekend#/articles/907441-5-things-we-learned-from-premier-league-weekend

[zudomiriku]

5 Things We Learned from Premier League Weekend

Another wild and eventful weekend in the English Premier League.

With November upon us, many teams will soon be shifting some of their focus to European and cup competitions, and just about everyone will start looking at possible transfers in January.

Let's look back at the weekend that was in the Premier League.

Arsenal Are Quietly Climbing Up the Table
Not long ago, Arsenal were languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table. They had just come off a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford, and the handful of deadline transfers Arsene Wenger had been able to pull off weren't helping at all.

Now, the Gunners have quietly pulled themselves into seventh place with 16 points and are on a three-game winning streak.

Arsenal had the result of the weekend on Saturday with a 5-3 mauling of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a game in which the score really doesn't tell the whole story.

Seventh place certainly isn't good enough for Arsenal, and competition for Champions League places won't be easy, but they at least look like they're up to the challenge now.

John Terry Can't Be Happy with That Defense
Both Chelsea's and Arsenal's defenses were horrible in Arsenal's 5-3 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but everyone already knew Arsenal's defense was their weakness.

Chelsea on the other hand, and captain John Terry in particular, have always prided themselves on their defense, and it was downright embarrassing this weekend.

Neither side seemed all that committed to defense as both back lines were carved apart with ease, and Terry more than ever looked slow and vulnerable at the back.

Arsenal repeatedly passed right through Chelsea's back four, and it's somewhat surprising they could only get five goals out of it.

It's Not Just Chelsea and Arsenal Who Are Lacking in Defense
Goals, goals, goals. Goals have been the name of the game in the Premier League through the first 10 rounds of games.

So far, there have been 290 goals scored, and there have only been eight scoreless games. Four teams have kept four clean sheets, the most in the league.

Is the Premier League overall becoming a more attacking league, or are defenses just not what they used to be?

Do more goals mean more entertainment, or are games like Arsenal 5-3 Chelsea more like an exhibition than anything else?

How Can an Assitant Give Penalty When Referee Was Right There?
Liverpool were awarded a penalty early in the match at West Brom, and it sent the Reds on their way to a rather easy 2-0 win over the Baggies.

The penalty itself wasn't as controversial as who awarded it, though.

Referee Lee Mason was right in front of the action when Jerome Thomas tripped Luis Suarez ever so slightly in the box, but Mason initially waved it off. A couple seconds later, however, he awarded the penalty to Liverpool after his assistant gave him the signal.

It was a soft penalty for sure and obviously not a stonewall one, but how could the assistant have had a better view than Mason, who was standing right there?

Mason clearly did not think Thomas had fouled Suarez as he allowed play to continue for several seconds before seeing his assistant's flag, from 20 yards away no less.

Transfers; Who's Staying, Who's Going, Who's Arriving?
Adam Johnson scored a fantastic goal for Manchester City on Saturday to make it 3-1, and to kill off any hopes Wolves may have had of earning a draw.

Oddly enough, he may have helped City in more ways than just securing three points. Johnson is just one Premier League player struggling to get into the first team, and he could very well be on the move in January.

With two months to go before the winter transfer window opens, clubs will be looking at which of their players are expendable and who else's players they'd like to have.

Arsenal are full of confidence right now, but an injury to just about any player could ruin their season. Another centre-back (because Per Mertesacker hasn't been what people thought he'd be) would be a prudent purchase.

Another striker and/or winger wouldn't be a bad move either. Ditching Andrei Arshavin is a must.

Liverpool, meanwhile, may also want another centre-back and a midfielder or two (Adam Johnson perhaps?), while Chelsea may need to start looking for John Terry's eventual replacement. Manchester United's defense without Nemanja Vidic is nothing to brag about, either.

Manchester City really don't need anyone, but they'll surely do some shopping in January nonetheless.

Then there's players like Roman Pavluychenko, Giovani dos Santos and Heurlho Gomes who are all praying to be sent somewhere, anywhere but where they are. Wasn't life better when Harry Redknapp liked you?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/917989-5-things-we-learned-from-premier-league-weekend#/articles/917989-5-things-we-learned-from-premier-league-weekend

[zudomiriku]

Newcastle United are winning plaudits – what is Alan Pardew's secret?

French flair, keeping the ball, defensive solidity and captain Coloccini have helped lift Newcastle to third



With more than a quarter of the season gone, Newcastle United remain unbeaten in the Premier League, stand third in the table and, after conceding only seven goals, boast the division's meanest defence. How, particularly after radically cutting costs, has Alan Pardew pulled it off?

The Gallic charm offensive
In conjunction with Newcastle's influential super-scout, Graham Carr, the board took a strategic decision that France was the place where they should be aiming to do much of their transfer market shopping. The cross-Channel presence of technically adept players on comparatively low wages explains why French is the predominant language in Pardew's dressing room. The club has adopted a Gallic charm offensive which has seen leading European agents receiving the best hospitality Tyneside can offer after touring the team's new state of the art training facilities.

Similarly French media have offered Newcastle some priceless publicity after consistently being granted generous access to Pardew's players and finding powerfully persuasive compatriots such as Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa eager to talk about the manager's healthy disdain for "le hoof ball" and reassuring refusal to rush individuals back from injury. "Don't underestimate Newcastle United's pulling power in France," says Carr, a frequent user of Newcastle-Paris shuttle flights and convenient onward connections. "I would say that outside the traditional top four we're the biggest draw. Playing in front of 52,000 at St James' Park is a big attraction."

Switching to a possession game
Pardew believes the ability to retain and monopolise possession is an essential prerequisite to sustained success. Under his management, Newcastle have begun exerting greater control over games while passing and moving with increased fluidity. Not that Pardew's quest for what he terms "rhythmic" football is based merely on aesthetics. Big on statistics, his perusal of computer print-outs have more than vindicated the controversial decision to sell the side's popular, but not always fluent, former captain, Kevin Nolan to West Ham.

"The stats we're producing in games excite me," says Pardew, whose signing of Cabaye, the France playmaker, from Lille, has been integral to this philosophical makeover. "Our passing levels are up and our passing has certainly improved in terms of controlling games. That's something we needed to get better at. Last year we got into winning positions but couldn't control things sufficiently to stop the other team putting pressure on us. In one recent game though we achieved 400 plus passes, which we hadn't done since I've been here. That puts you up with the top sides."

Pardew is Hodgson in disguise – with a twist
Like Roy Hodgson at West Brom, Pardew believes the devil is in the training-ground detail. During a typical practice session Newcastle's manager stands, whistle to lips, in the centre circle, frequently halting play to adjust individual positioning and suggest alternative runs. Such instinctive analysis is underpinned by Newcastle's deployment of not one but three expensive computerised GPS tracking systems which monitor each player's every movement in both games and training. Before matches, the squad are given an in-depth analysis of their opponents' tactical ploys and foibles. During such meetings all players are encouraged to voice ideas and opinions.

Meanwhile the dramatically improved defenders have extra duties. They attend additional pre-match tutorials concentrating, specifically, on dealing with set pieces and resisting specific attacking manoeuvres. Steven Taylor, the centre-half, says Pardew is the "hardest to please" and "most demanding" of the nine managers he has played under on Tyneside. "He's always on my tail," says Taylor. "His standards are so high it's hard to make the manager smile. He's a perfectionist but he's got us really playing together as a defence."

Captain Colo and his crew
Fabricio Coloccini's habit of always endeavouring to build play from the back is a cornerstone of Newcastle's revamped style but the thoroughly renascent Argentina centre-half has also defended brilliantly since being made captain. Like Taylor, Coloccini arguably feels better able to express himself, on and off the field, since the departure of his larger than life predecessor Nolan and the outspoken Joey Barton.

Some fans feared Newcastle's morale might crumble with the dissolution of the old, powerful, players' committee – (in addition to moving Nolan and Barton on, Pardew has loaned Steve Harper to Brighton and sidelined Alan Smith) – but Coloccini demurs. "Our character is different to before," says a man described as a "Rolls Royce person and a Rolls Royce player" by his manager. "We have a winning mentality which may have been missing last year. We have a great changing room who push and challenge each other to produce their best. Our team has great personalities now."

Players in top form
Eyebrows rose when Pardew picked the young Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul ahead of Harper but, benefiting from expert tuition from Newcastle's specialist goalkeeping coach, Andy Woodman, Krul has excelled. The Senegal striker Demba Ba, the only Premier League player other than Wayne Rooney to score two hat-tricks this season, has registered eight goals, with his latest treble at Stoke leaving Geordies "Walking in a Pardew Wonderland". Ba has a history of problems with his left knee. Leading surgeons advised other clubs, including Stoke, to avoid signing what one termed a "ticking timebomb" but, able to recruit Ba on a free transfer from West Ham, Pardew gambled. So far at least, Newcastle's meticulous medical team have kept a reportedly degenerative condition well in check.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/bbNPm

NU musim ini sedang mencoba mengalahkan prestasi NU pas zamannya Shearer. kita liat apakah NU mampu mempertahankan performa mereka hingga akhir musim nanti dan lolos ke Eropa

[zudomiriku]

Carry on cherry-picking: field day for Premier League talent poachers

It is staggering nobody is fighting against the EPPP. This is a nail in the coffin of Football League clubs


Richard Scudamore's Premier League appears to be doing as it pleases without any opposition. Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

There is no other word for it. The Football League has been blackmailed by the Premier League into accepting radical new proposals which will allow the richest clubs to cherry-pick the best young talent for a fraction of their worth.

The ramifications of the elite player performance plan (EPPP) are far-reaching and incredibly damaging. This proposal will supposedly radically modernise youth development in England, introducing a four-tier academy system. The new deal will see every club receive an increase in their funding for a guaranteed four-year period, with the amount determined by their academy status.

When I owned Crystal Palace my prized asset was our youth academy. It was regarded as one of the best in the country, producing a string of high-calibre players, the lifeblood of any football club. An FA academy is the jewel in the youth development crown and I fought hard to get our licence and to keep it. That also meant fighting bitter battles with the so-called bigger clubs who basically sought to steal our starlets, leaving Palace at the mercy of a fatally flawed tribunal system.

Now we have the latest indignity foisted on the smaller clubs by the Premier League. It staggers me that nobody is standing up to be counted in the fight against these shotgun tactics, and I include the body who actually licenses the academies – our beloved Football Association. It is hardly surprising, though, that the FA is not riding to the rescue of the 72 clubs outside the elite when the Football League chairman, Greg Clarke, is conspicuous by his absence. That he calls the plan "a major step forward" speaks volumes.

This latest scheme as well as the solidarity deals signed between the Premier League and the Football League back in 2007 are a sham. The reality is English football is run by the Premier League which is systematically doing as it pleases without any opposition.

Four years ago, the Premier League came up with a gift of money for youth development and redistribution of unclaimed parachute payments from teams that have been relegated and gone back up without using their entire entitlement. The trade-off, and the real reason for the move, was the Premier League clubs had voted for and sanctioned bigger parachute payments to relegated clubs, thus creating even bigger disparity. Not only were the riches in the Premier League so vast but teams being relegated to the Championship were now getting significant funding for longer, creating a huge and unhealthy gulf in that league.

The then Football League chairman, Sir Brian Mawhinney, thanked the Premier League for its generous gesture of up to £90m of extra money. Richard Scudamore, the Premier League chief executive, was glowing in his commentary, claiming: "Football League clubs will have the ability to increase investment in critical areas such as youth development." Subsequently this has proved to be nothing more than a sprat to catch a mackerel.

Three years later in 2010, this "gift" transformed into a formal contract with new obligations that saw the Football League forced into adopting the Premier League's model for "fit and proper directors and owners test" and, more sinisterly, rumblings about youth development as some of this money was allocated specifically for it. Something was obviously afoot.

Recently we found out exactly what that was. The Premier League has decided that, in order to keep on providing the now budgeted for funding for youth development, it is going to offer it solely on the condition a new approach to monies paid for young players is devised, one designed by them and for them. What was the response of the Football League, which consists of 72 clubs of the 92 that exist in this country? It meekly accepted.

Make no mistake about it, this is a nail in the coffin of clubs outside the Premier League. Every Football League club has just given up the opportunity to produce young players and, if needed, get fair compensation if they are snatched away or wanted by the big boys. The Premier League only wants top academies in its division and if any young talent is produced at other clubs' expense outside the top flight, they want it on the cheap, dressing it up as EPPP or hiding behind the guidelines of the 6+5 homegrown player rule. Ultimately what it is saying is the Premier League is the only league that matters.

Our good friend, Mr Clarke, has done absolutely nothing. The 72 clubs have voted for it chiefly because, with their differing ambitions and opportunities, they have seen the financial carrot dangled by Scudamore and bitten into it with all their might. You look at clubs who have little or no chance of reaching the Premier League and they get the same voting rights as Championship sides with real aspirations of making the top flight. So what happens? The majority see £70,000 per annum waiting to be snatched and devil take the hindmost.

If anything this is now a call to arms to the Championship clubs to ensure they negotiate future deals on their own and not as a collective unit. Their interests are not best served by being outvoted by clubs in Leagues One and Two who have completely different agendas and ambitions. Unless the 24 Championship clubs adopt a mind-set similar to their vastly richer brethren, the Premier League will continue to pick away at the carcass until there is nothing left but bare bones.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/bbRbT

[VaDLi]

sampai gameweek 11 musim 2011-2012, kemenangan man.city 3-2 atas QPR baru bisa menyamakan jumlah gol memasukan dan gol kemasukannya (717-717)

bandingkan dengan united...



pic hasil crop dari statistik @ premierleague.com