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Sunday, 31st
December
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Alex Ferguson has dismissed reports that Gary Neville will be
out for six weeks because of calf and knee injuries. The 31-year-old
England defender is in the squad to face Newcastle United on Monday. "He's
playing on Monday, so that six weeks has obviously been reduced by a miracle
drug. This has supposedly come from a great authority. What kind of
authority is it when he's going to play on Monday?" |
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Matthew Upson has again signalled his desire to leave
Birmingham City in January, saying he believes he no longer has a future at the
club. The 27-year-old, who is out of contract in 18 months, has already
been linked to Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle United. Upson's agent Barry
Neville said: "Matt has made it quite clear that he sees his future elsewhere."
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Jonathan Woodgate wants to see out his season-long loan deal
at Middlesbrough, despite reports from Spain that Real Madrid want to cut it
short. Real boss Fabio Capello is believed to want him back but Woodgate
is keen to stay at his hometown club. England defender Woodgate, 26, said:
"I'm here for the season and I'm happy and proud to honour that. While I can't
say where I will be playing this time next year I'm not going to leave now." |
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Saturday, 30th
December
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Joe Cole could miss the rest of the season through injury.
The England international, 25, last played as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at
Manchester United on 26 November. He was sidelined with what was then
termed as a minor stress fracture of his foot but has since been advised by a
club doctor to undergo surgery. The player has yet to make up his mind,
but Blues boss Jose Mourinho revealed: "Joe Cole, I think is an injury forever,
or at least for the season. He has a stress fracture and has to make a
decision about surgery or no surgery. I don't know his decision but time flies.
He has an opinion from our doctor, which is surgery, but we are waiting for the
player to make his decision." |
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Premiership
Andrew Cole scores a last minute goal for Portsmouth, but his team still lose
3-2 at Bolton Wanderers. Another penalty from Gareth Barry put Aston Villa
in the lead, but Charlton Athletic ran out as 2-1 winners, with an equalising
goal from Darren Bent with Gareth Barry later earning a red card. Phil
Neville grabbed a rare goal as Everton beat Newcastle United 3-0, the Toon had
Scott Parker cautioned. Kieran Richardson was cautioned as Manchester
United overcame Reading 3-2 to extend their lead at the top of the table to six
points. Emile Heskey scored for the second week in a row, Wigan Athletic
drew 1-1 with Watford, the match was abandoned after 55 minutes due to a
waterlogging pitch. Darius Vassell was cautioned as Manchester City beat
West Ham United. |
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Steven Gerrard
has received an M.B.E. in the New Year Honours.
It is given in honour of his services to sport. |
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Friday, 29th
December
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John Terry is back in training
less than 24 hours after undergoing successful surgery to cure his troublesome
back injury. The 26-year-old defender was pictured on the club's website
jogging at Chelsea's Cobham training ground. But Chelsea club doctor Bryan
English has refused to reveal how long the centre-half will be out of action.
"I won't say exactly how long he is going to take to recover." |
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Chris Sutton has been ruled out for six weeks with concussion
and blurred vision. The 33-year-old was substituted during the second half
of the Barclays Premiership game with Manchester United on 23 December.
Sutton has since seen a specialist and will be out until at least February.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "The prognosis is that things will get better
but while he has got blurred vision he can't play." |
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Peter Crouch is not leaving Liverpool in the January transfer
window, according to his boss, Rafael Benitez. Reports suggested Benitez
would sell Crouch to Newcastle United to fund the purchase of Valencia's David
Villa. However, Mapgpies boss Glenn Roeder described the reports as "pure
speculation" and Benitez said: "We are not interested in Villa. He's a
fantastic player but at this moment we're not thinking of buying him and we're
not planning to sell Crouch." |
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Thursday, 28th
December
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John Terry has undergone successful surgery to cure his
troublesome back injury. But Chelsea officials have yet to reveal how long
they expect the 26-year-old centre-half to be out of action. "The operation to
remove a sequestrated lumbar intervertebral disc was successful." |
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Stuart Pearce insists Chelsea have not made contact about
signing £18m-rated England teenager Micah Richards.
But Pearce revealed he is in touch with Chelsea about potential signings, one
of which is understood to be former City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Defender Richards, 18, has been linked with a January move to Stamford Bridge.
Pearce said: "There has been no contact from Chelsea, although I have rung them
about players coming here." |
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Wednesday,
27th December
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Premiership
Darren Bent scores for Charlton Athletic in the London derby, Athletic draw 2-2
with Fulham. |
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David Moyes has denied reports that striker James Beattie may
leave in next month's transfer window. Beattie, 28, who signed for £6m
from Southampton in 2005, has not been a first-team regular since Andrew Johnson
arrived from Crystal Palace in May. "James will not be sold in the
transfer window. He has done well for us and I have no doubt he will do well
again for us." Fulham, Newcastle and Blackburn had all been linked with
moves for Beattie.
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Boxing Day,
26th December
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John Terry may require surgery on his back injury,
Jose Mourinho has revealed. The England captain
has been sidelined for the last four matches but had been expected to return
within the next fortnight. Mourinho was less optimistic and said: "The
medical department have said surgery might be a possibility. I want them
to make a quick decision. I don't know how long John Terry will be out for -
three days, three weeks or three months, I don't know." |
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Premiership
Jermain Defoe scores a brace for Tottenham Hotspur in their 2-1 victory over
Aston Villa, whose reply comes from Gareth Barry, Gavin McCann was cautioned.
Teddy Sheringham scores a reply for West Ham United, but they still go down 2-1
to Portsmouth, Nigel Reo-Coker earned another yellow card. Kieran Dyer
opened the scoring for Newcastle United, but still lost 2-1 against Bolton
Wanderers, Nicky Butt was cautioned. |
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Saturday, 23rd
December
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Premiership The
Christmas fixture list begins with a bang. Paul Scholes scored his first
goal in 12 games, scoring Manchester United's second of three goals against
Aston Villa, the match also saw cautions for Scholes, Gavin McCann and Chris
Sutton, United won 3-0 and retained top spot. Chelsea clung on to second
spot with a victory over Wigan Athletic, Frank Lampard opened the scoring before
being cautioned, despite an Emile Heskey brace, Chelsea won 3-2. Sol
Campbell scored for Portsmouth as they beat Sheffield United 3-1. Andrew
Johnson got Everton back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Reading.
Kieran Dyer grabbed a rare goal for Newcastle United, but despite Danny Murphy's
equalising goal, United beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 with Scott parker scoring
what turned out to be the winning goal. Nigel Reo-Coker was cautioned and
Paul Konchesky sent-off for West Ham United as they drew 0-0 with Fulham. |
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Tuesday, 19th
December
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The German Football Association (DFB) say their national team
will be England's first opponents in the new Wembley Stadium on 22 August, 2007.
Germany coach Joachim Low revealed last week the game was due to go ahead even
though the Football Association had not made any announcement of the fixture.
The DFB have now said via their official website that the game will take place
with a 1930 BST kick off. The last game at the old Wembley was England's
1-0 loss to Germany in 2000.
The new stadium is set to be completed by mid-2007 after
several technical setbacks and budgetary problems. The FA have so far been
unable to confirm the game will definitely take place. |
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Bayern Munich appear to have softened their stance over Owen
Hargreaves. Since United first expressed their interest this year, Bayern
have remained adamant they will not sell the 25-year-old England midfielder.
But general manager Uli Hoeness said: "If ever we found a replacement for Owen,
who cost less than we'd get for him, we might think about it." But Hoeness
said any deal would take place next summer and not in January.
"We face Real Madrid in the Champions League in February so
we're not about to weaken our team. Our top priority is to strengthen the
team and we need Hargreaves for that." |
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Monday, 18th
December
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Gary Charles has been jailed after he
drunkenly threatened a bouncer while serving a suspended sentence for another
assault. Charles, 36, of Stretton, near
Alfreton, Derbyshire, admitted a public order offence by threatening a doorman
with an imaginary knife. He was jailed for 12-months at Derby Crown Court.
The former Nottingham Forest player had been given a suspended sentence for an
assault on a woman in 2005. |
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Sven-Göran Eriksson is involved in talks
with three clubs and expects to sign a deal with one of them early in the new
year, his agent says. Athol Still said: "Negotiations are going on in
three different areas. Nothing is signed, nothing is certain, but I hope things
are concluded early in the new year." The three clubs involved are
reported to be Marseille, Paris St Germain and a team from Qatar.
Still refused to confirm or deny the identities of the clubs.
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Dean Ashton may not make his comeback from
a broken ankle until February. The 23-year-old suffered the injury at the
start of the season and many believe his absence has contributed to West Ham's
poor form this term. He was planning to return in January but new manager
Alan Curbishley says that is unlikely. "He won't begin serious training
until the end of January or early February." |
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Luke Young
has been sidelined for six weeks. The 27-year-old Charlton Athletic defender damaged knee ligaments
in the second half of the defeat to Liverpool. |
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Sunday, 17th
December
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Premiership A
single Nigel Reo-Coker goal was enough to open up the Premiership title race.
Coker's goal gave West Ham United victory over Manchester United. Frank
Lampard had already scored one of the equalising goals for Chelsea as they came
from behind to beat Everton 3-2. The gap between the two clubs is now two
points. |
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Saturday, 16th
December
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Premiership
Steven Gerrad scores Liverpool's third of three goals against a pitiful Charlton
Athletic. |
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Friday, 15th
December
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Steve Stone has retired after his Leeds United contract was
terminated by mutual consent. The 35-year-old midfielder made only fifteen
appearances for Leeds after arriving in the summer of 2005 as he suffered a
series of injuries. The former England international said: "It's an
amicable settlement and I'm looking forward to concentrating on my media
interests." Stone was capped nine times for England during a career that
spanned 17 years. |
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Wednesday,
13th December
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Steve McClaren has named Manchester City's Joey Barton as one
of a select group of Premiership players who could make the national team.
Barton has been involved in several high-profile controversial incidents, but
McClaren said the midfielder's reputation was not an issue. "Joey is a
leader with great character. You need forthright people like that, on and off
the field. He has had his troubles but he has come through them. He
is a player who has matured over the year. I tried to buy Joey when I was
at Middlesbrough so he is a player who interests me." |
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Tuesday, 12th
December
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Steve McManaman says he will not be making a comeback with
Hong Kong Rangers. McManaman, 34, was expected to feature in a Senior
Challenge Shield game against South China on Thursday but a knee injury has
scuppered his plans. "With the injuries I have got, I don't think I can
play. I would have loved to have played in this game. Unfortunately, it
can't happen." |
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Monday, 11th
December
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Joe Cole is facing at least three weeks on the sidelines after
being diagnosed with a minor stress fracture in his foot. The 25-year-old
last played as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United on 26
November. After that match, pain in his foot stopped him from taking part
in training and bruising was discovered. Chelsea said a scan was carried out on
today after which the foot fracture was confirmed. |
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The FA has refused to comment on claims that Germany will be
England's first opponents at the new Wembley Stadium. Germany coach
Joachim Low said the FA has invited his team to play England in a friendly on 22
August. An FA spokesperson said: "We're not in a position to announce
anything, and have no plans to do so." |
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David Beckham has ousted Gary
Lineker from La Liga’s record books by playing 104 games in Spain’s top flight. Becks marked his milestone with a superb free-kick goal
after starting in the 2-1 defeat at Seville. The Real Madrid ace, 31, has
now made more appearances than any Englishman in Spain’s elite - although he has
yet to win a major trophy. Lineker won the Spanish Cup and league title
with Barcelona in 1988 and then the European Cup Winners’ Cup a year later.
Steve McManaman played 92 times for Real. |
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Sunday, 10th
December
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Terry Venables hesitated over becoming assistant manager to
England boss Steve McClaren because the ex-Tottenham coach had worked for so
long as a number one. Venables, 63, was England boss for two-and-a-half
years until the end of Euro 96 and also had spells as a club boss, including a
stint at Barcelona. He said: "I didn't think I could do the job because it
was going to be frustrating for me. I had been a decision-maker for 30 years.
Steve said to give it a go. I will be happy to do that for a period of
time to see if we do get on. Basically, that's where we are now."
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Saturday, 9th
December
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David Beckham is set to return to Old Trafford to play for a
Europe XI against Manchester United. The charity game, on 13 March 2007,
will mark the 50th anniversaries of United's European Cup debut and the signing
of the Treaty of Rome. The Real Madrid midfielder will be part of a squad
coached by Italy's World Cup-winning boss Marcello Lippi. "I'm delighted
by the prospect of such a game and am looking forward to taking on my friend Sir
Alex," said Lippi. |
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Premiership Wayne
Rooney scores the opening goal in the Manchester derby, United ran out 3-1
winners over City. Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher both score for
Liverpool against Fulham, they win 4-0. Tottenham Hotspur overwhelmed
Charlton Athletic in a 5-1 victory. Jermain Defoe scoring Spurs' fourth of the
day, Athletic's consolation was a Michael Dawson own goal. |
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Friday, 8th
December
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Steve Coppell has been named the Premiership's manager of the
month for November. Coppell previously won the award in September having
led Reading to their first season in the top-flight. Jim Hytner, from the
Barclays Awards Panel, said: "Coppell's second award in three months shows he
and his club really are at the top of their game." Reading recovered from
a defeat by Liverpool to beat Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic and Fulham in
November. |
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Thursday, 7th
December
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Jermaine Jenas is
out for a month due to an ankle injury. He
took the knock in Tottenham Hotspur's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal last Saturday.
Jenas has just returned from a calf injury. |
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Tuesday, 5th
December
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David Beckham is British football's richest player with a
personal fortune of £87m, according to a new poll. Beckham's wealth is
almost three times that of the next richest player, Michael Owen, who is worth
£32m. Robbie Fowler has amassed £28m, followed by Sol Campbell (£27m) and
Rio Ferdinand (£22m). Beckham earns £4.4m per season at Real Madrid and
has a number of lucrative sponsorship deals that earned him £19m last year.
Wayne Rooney and his fiancée Coleen McLoughlin could threaten the Beckhams in
future years, with their fortune up to £20m from £6m last season.
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Tuesday, 5th
December
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Champions League
Robbie Fowler scores twice, but Liverpool still go down 3-2 to Galatasaray.
Shaun Wright-Phillips made the Chelsea scoresheet as the Blue's topped their
group with a 2-0 win over Levski Sofia. |
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Saturday, 2nd
December
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Premiership
Gareth Barry scores yet another penalty to put Aston Villa in the lead at
Portsmouth, the match ended 2-2. |
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Matthew Upson has advised Birmingham City it will be in "their
interest" to sell him during the January transfer window to maximise his
transfer fee. The 27-year-old Upson is out of contract in 18 months and
has told the club he will not sign a new deal. Upson said: "I think it may
be in City's interest, if they want to get as much money as they can for me, to
sell me the sooner the better. Could things happen in January? It is something I
can't predict."
Upson was linked with a move to Liverpool before he ruptured
an Achilles tendon in April. Birmingham boss Steve Bruce has insisted it
will take "one hell of an offer" for him to consider selling the England
international in January. |
England Football Online