Premier League 2008/2009 Thread
Season 2008/2009 Premier League fixtures
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...es/default.stm
Prima etapă (16 august)
Arsenal - West Brom
Aston Villa - Manchester City
Bolton - Stoke
Chelsea - Portsmouth
Everton - Blackburn
Hull - Fulham
Man United - Newcastle
Middlesbrough - Tottenham
Sunderland - Liverpool
West Ham - Wigan
Owen opens new Toon deal talks
Newcastle United's Michael Owen has revealed that negotiations over renewing his contract have begun with the club.
Newcastle United's Michael Owen has revealed that negotiations over renewing his contract have begun with the club.
The England striker has just one year left on his current contract at St. James' Park and was the subject of plenty of speculation over his future for much of last season.
However, since returning to full fitness the 28-year-old has rediscovered his scoring form, netting 10 times in the last 19 matches of the season.
Owen has been linked with a return to Liverpool, the club where he graduated as a trainee and enjoyed the most successful years of his career.
However, his return to form has coincided with the arrival of Kevin Keegan as manager at Newcastle, and that relationship may be key in the club keeping hold of the man they bought from Real Madrid for £16 million back in 2005.
New liverpool 08/09 Home Adidas kit unveiled
Chelsea 08/09 home kit
Arsenal 08/09 home kit
Liverpool 08/09 away kit
Last edited by beavis; 22-07-2008 at 14:28.
Ince signs three year contract at Blackburn Rovers
Paul Ince has taken over from his former team mate at Manchester United, Mark Hughes, at Ewood Park.
Mark Hughes left Blackburn Rovers to take charge at Manchester City while Paul Ince has had an impressive start to his managerial career by firstly saving Macclesfield Town from being relegated from the Football League in 2006/2007 and secondly leading MK Dons to the League Two title in 2007/2008 as well as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, also this past season.
He had an illustrious career representing, amongst others, Manchester United, Liverpool and Inter Milano. Besides that he had also captained England.
Torres tipped to topple Ronaldo
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is convinced his Reds team-mate Fernando Torres is a viable challenger to Cristiano Ronaldo in the battle for the World Player of the Year award.
Ronaldo has been hot favourite for the prize having led The Red Devils to Premier League and Champions League glory.
The Portuguese banged in 42 goals as United repelled all challengers last term and many felt he was past the post in the race for the top personal accolade in the game.
Ronaldo lost a little lustre with his displays at the European Championship and Alonso feels Spain’s Euro 2008 final hero Torres is now on a par with the Red Devil.
Torres formed a superb partnership with David Villa, before proving he can fly solo when firing Spain to glory with the winner against Germany.
”It was a great strike from Fernando and on Sunday he showed he is the man who performs on the big nights,” said Alonso. “That goal has been key.
”He can be the best player in the world. He has all the qualities to get that award and he has a bright future in front of him.
“Winning against Germany is a massive step for him and for us. He is one of the candidates for World Player of the Year.”
Torres scored Spain's winning goal against Jens Lehmann but the Germeny keeper, who blamed everything but his side's own shortcomings for the defeat, feels the Spaniard is not yet on a par with Thierry Henry.
"Thierry was a god in England, so when you compare him to other strikers, there is a difference," said Lehmann. "Torres could get there, but it takes a while."
Everton Eyeing Aimar?
The 28-year-old is looking for a new club after Real Zaragoza were surprisingly relegated from La Liga only a single season after qualifying for the UEFA Cup.
The former Valencia playmaker has been linked with Liverpool, where he would reunite with former boss Rafael Benitez, as well as Newcastle United.
But according to The Sun, it is the other half of Merseyside that is expressing the most interest in the man once dubbed as the next Diego Maradona by the great one himself.
Moyes is keen to add genuine quality to his squad over the summer to give the Toffees the best chance possible of dislodging their cross-town rivals from the top four next season.
Aimar would no doubt be a welcome addition given Tim Cahill's injury woes and the uncertain future of Mikel Arteta, and he would likely cost much less than the ₤8.5million Zaragoza paid to lure him from the Mestalla.
Wenger frustrated by financial future
Arsene Wenger has expressed his frustration at Arsenal's financial situation, admitting that the club will have to continue to sell their best players to keep up payments for the Emirates Stadium.
The Arsenal boss has already been forced to part with midfielder Mathieu Flamini, while he is struggling to hold on to Emmanuel Adebayor and Alexander Hleb.
Wenger revealed that the ongoing payments required to fund the move to their stadium 2 years ago will restrict the club's activities in the transfer market for another two decades.
O'Neil pledges future to Boro
Gareth Southgate has received a boost after revealing Gary O'Neil has committed his future to Middlesbrough.
The midfielder found life tough in his first year on Teesside and it had been suggested he would look to head back to the south of England.
Southgate held talks with O'Neil following his return to pre-season and he claims the 25-year-old is focused on forging a successful career in the North East.
Injury-hit Spurs star raring to go
Gareth Bale has signalled he is ready to play a key role for Tottenham Hotspur in the coming season by declaring he feels great after shaking off his injury problems to impress in pre-season.
The 18-year-old Wales international started last season brightly following his move from Southampton but injuries took their toll and a foot problem sustained in December ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.
Having long since ditched his crutches, Bale has thrown himself into Spurs' pre-season preparations and has demonstrated a high level of fitness that has impressed coach Marcos Alvarez.
Now Bale is ready to make a real impact when Tottenham begin their campaign against Middlesbrough on August 16.
16 jucători ar putea pleca de la Tottenham în această vară
Echipa engleză Tottenham Hotspur s-ar putea despărţi în această vară de 16 fotbalişti care nu mai figurează în planurile managerului Juande Ramos, spaniolul dorind să alcătuiască o formaţie capabilă să termine pe o poziţie care asigură participarea în Liga Campionilor, informează Daily Mail.
Publicaţiile britanice susţin că gruparea de pe White Hart Lane va încerca să se despartă în primul rând de 14 jucători aduşi în perioada în care clubul era pregătit de olandezul Martin Jol. Este vorba de Pascal Chimbonda, Michael Dawson, Anthony Gardner, Young Pyo Lee, Paul Robinson, Younes Kaboul, Steed Malbranque, Teemu Tainio, Kevin Boateng, Hossam Ghaly, Paul Stalteri, Ricardo Rocha, Adel Taarabt şi Darren Bent.
Pe unii dintre aceştia s-au cheltuit sume mari, cum este şi cazul atacantului Darren Bent, pentru care Tottenham a plătit anul trecut lui Charlton suma de 16,5 milioane de lire sterline, însă a dezamăgit.
Gruparea londoneză ar putea să-i piardă şi pe golgheterii din sezonul precedent, Robbie Keane şi Dimitar Berbatov. Primul este curtat de Liverpool, în timp ce atacantul bulgar este dorit de Manchester United.
Tottenham care are ca obiectiv calificarea în Champions League, i-a transferat până acum pe internaţionalul croat Luka Modric de la Dianmo Zagreb, pentru care a achitat 16,5 milioane de lire sterline şi pe mijlocaşul mexican de 20 de ani, Giovanni Dos Santos de la FC Barcelona. De asemenea, pe White Hart Lane este aşteptat să ajungă şi portarul brazilian al lui PSV Eindhoven, Heurelho Gomes.
Managerul Juande Ramos intenţionează să îl transfere şi pe internaţionalul englez David Bentley, pentru care Blackburn cere 15 milioane de lire sterline.
Smertin pleads for Hodgson faith
Fulham midfielder Alexei Smertin claims he is in peak fitness and will not accept sitting on the bench under Roy Hodgson.
The former Chelsea ace was hampered by injuries last season but wants to make the last year of his Cottagers contract a memorable one.
With Hodgson busy adding new names to his squad after a close brush with relegation, it will not be easy for the Russian to make his mark but he feels a lot younger than his 33 years.
In plin razboi cu Manchester, dupa ce englezii refuza sa-i dea drumul la Real, Ronaldo spune ca va sta 3 luni pe tusa.
Ronaldo a recunoscut ca se simte sclavul lui Manchester. Portughezul spune ca nu se gandeste insa la fotbal, ci doar la recuperare.
"Prioritatea este recuperarea si revenirea pe teren. Voi sta intre 10 si 12 saptamani", a declarat Ronnie
Fletcher ignoring Everton rumours
Darren Fletcher has dismissed speculation that he could be set to join Everton this summer.
The Manchester United midfielder has been a squad member at Old Trafford for five years, but despite approaching his mid-20s now he is not looking to move elsewhere for regular first team football.
"You just learn to deal with that as your time progresses here," Fletcher told MUTV.
"The most important thing is you're focused on Manchester United. Unless someone tells you otherwise, that's what you do."
Fletcher admitted he would like to play more than the 24 times he did for The Red Devils last term but is prepared to be patient.
"To play in more matches than last season, that's obviously the target each season," Fletcher added.
"You do your bit, you're patient and you've got to wait for your chance. I'll be ready to take my chance when it comes and I'll hopeful play a few more matches.
"I don't think much needs to change but fresh faces are always good. Competition for places is always going to be at Manchester United.
"It's something you've got to rise to."
Aston Villa face a trip to Denmark in the Intertoto Cup after Odense overcame TPS Turku to book a date with Martin O’Neill’s men.
Odense took a 2-1 lead into Sunday’s home leg, and they completed the job in comfortable fashion – winning 2-0 for a 4-1 aggregate win.
Senegalese striker Baye Djiby Fall grabbed both goals, added to his growing reputation after scoring 12 league goals in 16 games last season.
The former three-time Danish champions have some familiar names in their squad, including ex-Milan veteran Thomas Helveg, former Manchester United youngster Mads Timm and ex-Derby favourite Morten Bisgaard.
Villa are away in the first leg, to be played on July 19 or 20.
They will then have the chance to bring Odense back to Villa park on July 26 to determine their fate.
Luiz Felipe Scolari este dispus sa faca orice pentru a-l tine la Chelsea pe atacantul ivorian, Didier Drogba.
Clubul englez este gata sa ii ofere atacantului un contract pe viata la Chelsea. Scolari a cerut conducerii sa ii ofere un contract valabil pe patru ani iar jucatorul va primi 200.000 euro pe saptamana, la fel ca John Terry. Drogba este curtat insistent de AC Milan in ultima vreme, iar atacantul parea dispus sa accepte oferta din Italia, dupa plecarea celui care l-a adus in Anglia, Jose Mourinho.
Bridge signs new Chelsea contract
Wayne Bridge has quashed speculation linking him with a move to Portsmouth by putting pen-to-paper on a new contract with Chelsea.
The left back was targeted by Pompey boss Harry Redknapp but has committed his future to Stamford Bridge despite facing strong competition from Ashley Cole for his place.
Contrary to the speculation of late, the former Southampton defender actually signed the terms even before Luiz Felipe Scolari took over as Chelsea manager.
Lennon issues Spurs pledgeThe winger has been strongly linked with a move away from Tottenham, with Newcastle reported to be interested in adding the flying 21-year-old to their squad.
Kevin Keegan has a penchant for direct wingers, but Lennon is not interested in leaving White Hart Lane and feels he can make up for lost time under Juande Ramos.
”There is no way I am leaving Tottenham,” Lennon told The Sun.
“I am settled here, I love the club and I feel my best form is yet to come.
“There is absolutely no reason for me to go anywhere else as I want to make a real contribution towards taking Spurs forward.”
Lennon has rubbished suggestions that Ramos was looking to offload him this summer.
He added: “The manager has never said a word to me about leaving — in fact it has been the opposite.
“Whenever I’ve spoken to him, he has given me tremendous encouragement. His words have been a real boost to my confidence.
“The manager has been right behind me since he came to the club and nothing has changed.”
City star dismisses exit talk
Manchester City striker Valeri Bojinov has dismissed talk of a return to Italy and instead aims to impress new manager Mark Hughes and make a real impression at Eastlands this season.
Bojinov joined City from Fiorentina last summer but was dealt a cruel setback when suffering knee ligament damage in his first start for the club in August - an injury that ruled him out of action for the remainder of the campaign under Sven Goran Eriksson.
Following the Swede's departure, there had been suggestions that Bojinov could also be leaving Eastlands with Torino strongly linked with a player who numbers Lecce and Juventus amongst his former clubs in Italy.
The 22-year-old is not ready to end his time in England though and is determined to win a place in Hughes' side, despite the club record capture of Brazil international Jo.
Queudrue to leave Blues
Franck Queudrue has rubbished suggestions he has been released by Birmingham, but says he will be allowed to leave on a free transfer this summer.
The French defender came in for fierce criticism from Blues co-owner David Sullivan, comments which seemed to spell the end of his spell at the club.
It was reported that Birmingham had released Queudrue, but he told that is still under contract for a further 2 years.
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