Wilson extends Celtic deal to 2012
December 3, 2008
GLASGOW (AFP) – Celtic full-back Mark Wilson has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2012.
Wilson, 24, who has been at Celtic Park for three years and has helped the Hoops claim three Scottish titles in a row, said he had no hesitation about extending his stay at the club he supported as a boy.
"I’ve always been a Celtic supporter and it was an easy decision to sign the contract," the Scotland B and under-21 international said.
"I think the best years are still ahead of me with Celtic. I don’t think defenders hit their peak until they get older and I don’t think I’ve hit top form here by any means."
Wilson has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Stephen McManus, Scott Brown, Scott McDonald, Shaun Maloney and Artur Boruc by signing long-term deals with Celtic and insists it is an exciting time for the club.
He said: "We are a strong side and a young side. It can only be good for Celtic if we all stay at the club for a long time. The longer we play together, the better we will get."
This season has been clouded by Celtic’s failure in the Champions League but Strachan’s squad look well set for a fourth Scottish title in succession after opening up a seven-point lead over arch rivals Rangers.
Written by: AFP
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United showdown with Blackburn at League Cup quarter-final
December 3, 2008
MANCHESTER, England (AFP) – Manchester United’s pursuit of honours on four fronts could spell trouble for one of their former heroes when Blackburn visit Old Trafford for a League Cup quarter-final tie on Wednesday.
Paul Ince was a key member of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team between 1989 and 1995 but is not having such an easy time of it as a manager at Blackburn.
Ince steps out at Old Trafford as a manager for the first time with his team sitting second bottom of the Premier League on a winless run of nine league matches.
That run was started with a 2-0 defeat to United at Ewood Park back in October but Ferguson’s fringe players will not think twice about piling more misery on the United legend.
The likes of Nani, Darron Gibson, Rafael Da Silva and Rodrigo Possebon failed to impress as they struggled past QPR with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in the previous round.
But United’s depth of reserves means Ferguson can also field significantly more experienced operators like Carlos Tevez, Jonny Evans, Tomasz Kuszczak and Anderson.
The Scot even hinted last week that veteran Paul Scholes, who has been out since September with a knee injury, could be gradually phased back into action and the former England midfielder might appear on the bench.
The win over QPR was the start of a five-match run of clean sheets for United and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is adamant that despite United still trailing in the Premier League, confidence and momentum are growing at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman said: "We feel quite comfortable. The only thing you can do is win your own games.
"Every club has 38 matches to play and somehow we have to find a date where we can play those extra games.
"Hopefully it won’t be too late, but either way, our task is quite straightforward. We just have to get more points than the others."
Despite winning two Premier League titles and two FA Cups at United, Ince endured an uneasy relationship with Ferguson after he left Old Trafford for Inter Milan in 1995, with the Scot famously branding his former player a "big-time Charlie."
That wound has subsequently healed but while Ferguson will have a degree of sympathy for his Blackburn counter-part, that will not stop him looking for a win that will greatly increase the pressure on Ince ahead of Blackburn’s game against Liverpool at the weekend.
Even though Blackburn’s position is precarious, Ince is adamant that the spirit in the squad is strong enough to pull through their current problems, starting at Old Trafford.
Ince said: "I don’t worry about myself but what does concern me is the lads.
"You’ve got to pick yourself up and what we don’t want is any negativity. A few of the senior players have spoken up in the changing room and the spirit’s great, we stick together, keep smiling and pick ourselves up.
"We don’t want any negativity around the club. If it’s going to be outside the club then we can’t change that but it’s important that the players, in my changing room and on my training ground keep their spirits high, that’s important and that’s what I feel and what they feel."
Ince will have Martin Olsson back from suspension but David Dunn is still out and Stephen Reid will be absent for the rest of the season.
Championship side Watford entertain Tottenham in Wednesday’s other quarter-final tie and holders Spurs could welcome back Croatia playmaker Luka Modric, who has been sidelined for the last fortnight with a groin injury.
Written by: AFP
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Carly Zucker & Nicola McLean Kicked Out of the Jungle!
December 3, 2008
Well not so much kicked, more like voted out! Carly Zucker and Nicola McLean have both been evicted, shattering our hopes of a WAG actually winning something!
Carly who was voted out before Nicola McLean, was more than happy to leave the jungle, in the hope she would get to see her ‘baller fiance.
The WAG has made no secret of missing Joe Cole and in fact spent most of her experience in Australia moaning and crying about it.
Seriously it was only like 2 weeks, it must be love!
To make matters worse Carly has been told she isn’t allowed to go back to England until the show finishes, and as Joe has commitments the pair won’t see each other until the weekend. Oh dear!
Carly told The Mirror: ‘I’ve had enough. I don’t want to be here anymore.
‘I just want to go home. Joe has been ringing me everyday saying he wants me back. I miss him so much. I wish I could get on a plane today.’
Unfortunately as no one is dying or ill she isn’t going anywhere!
Meanwhile Nicola Mclean who left the jungle last night admitted she was gutted because she wanted to win. But was glad she would get to see her footballer fiance and little boy Rocky.
She said: ‘I’m super excited. I was in it to win it, but I’m excited to speak to my fiancé and son. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.’
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Victoria Beckham Insists She Doesn’t Crave Fame
December 3, 2008
Victoria Beckham has been quite open in saying that she would rather stay in watching a DVD with her hubby than go out, well I think most girls would if their other half was David Beckham!
The Spice Girl reckons her family live quite a normal life, and if you’ve seen any of the pictures of the kids recently you could almost believe this to be true.
Victoria says: ‘We lead our lives in a much more low-profile way than people think. I’m not going to The Ivy in Beverly Hills. I don’t think I’ve been to a premiere since we moved there.’
She continues: ‘We’re not courting fame. I can give you a list of numerous restaurants that have underground parking so no one can get any photographs.’
‘Underground car parks and kitchens – that’s my grand entrance. But in LA, at least we can be freer. I think the obsession with celebrity is worse in the UK than in America.’
Instead insisting that her ideal night is cosying up on the sofa with a DVD.
Victoria also talks about the public image of her, saying: ‘I don’t really care what people think. I never made friends easily. For years, when I was in the Spice Girls, those were my four best friends. Now I’ve got David.’
The WAG who is about to launch her line of couture dresses says: ‘Nothing has ever come particularly naturally to me. It’s made me a hard worker and very disciplined.’
‘I was never that good a singer but I think I am good at fashion. Being in the Spice Girls probably didn’t open any doors. I’ve had to bang them down.’
I don’t know whether Victoria Beckham goes after the paps, but she sure dresses up for them!
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Scotland mulls joint bid for Euro 2016
December 3, 2008
GLASGOW (AFP) – Scottish football chiefs have begun exploratory talks with their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland about a possible bid to host Euro 2016, the first 24-team European Championship.
Scotland does not have enough stadiums to host a tournament of that size on its own but a link-up with Wales and Northern Ireland would make it feasible.
The talks with the Welsh and Northern Irish were confirmed Wednesday by the Scottish Football Association but described as "tentative".
Euro 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine will be a 16-team tournament.
Written by: AFP
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Scholes chomping at the bit after two-month lay-off
December 3, 2008
Ferguson told United Review that Scholes would probably feature in Wednesday’s League Cup clash with Blackburn at Old Trafford.
"He is on the verge of playing again following his operation," the United manager said. "He is training well and chomping at the bit to get started.
"A place on the bench with perhaps a few minutes’ pitch time could be good for him. We will see how things go."
Barring any setbacks, a cameo role on Wednesday could clear Scholes to start in Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Sunderland, also at Old Trafford.
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Man City offered 150 million euros for Casillas
December 3, 2008
MADRID (AFP) – Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has rejected a move to big-spending Manchester City, which was ready to pay a world record 150 million euros for the Spanish international, Spanish media said.
Under the deal, Casillas would have received 13 million euros a year to play for the English Premier League side, bought in September by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Private Spanish radio station Cadena Ser, which is usually well-informed, said Manchester City made the written offer to the player’s agent Luis Garcia Abad.
It was not forwarded to Real as Casillas immediately rejected it, the radio said.
The offer of 150 million euros (190 million dollars, 129 million pounds) would dwarf the current world record 76 million euros paid by Real Madrid to Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.
Casillas, 27, nicknamed Saint Iker in Spain, is one of the world’s best goalkeepers and played a leading role in Spain’s Euro 2008 victory.
Seen as very loyal to Real, he currently receives around six million euros per year at the Spanish champions, and his contract with the club was extended last February through the 2016-17 season. The buyout clause in the contract is 150 million euros.
Manchester City’s new Arab owners have shown they are ready to pay huge sums to attract international stars to the club.
Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport recently reported the club made an offer to sign Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for 75 million euros.
Manchester City last summer acquired Brazilian striker Robinho for British record transfer fee of 42 million euros.
Spanish media said Wednesday Robinho has asked the club’s owners to sign more big names, such as AC Milan’s Kaka or Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, winner of the 2008 Ballon d’Or award.
Written by: AFP
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Man City to face PSG in UEFA Cup match
December 3, 2008
PARIS (AFP) – Manchester City prepare to face Paris St Germain on Wednesday in a UEFA Cup group match that the French team must win to stay in the competition.
City are expected to rest their key players after booking their place in the knockout phase with a composed 2-0 win at Schalke 04.
The Germans can join the Premier League side in the knockout stages if they win at FC Twente.
Despite a recent revival in their league form, PSG, are desperate for UEFA Cup points after a draw and a defeat in their first two games leave them bottom of Group A.
The 2006 and 2007 UEFA Cup winners Sevilla have slipped off the pace in Group C as they prepare to host already-eliminated Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday.
Belgium’s Standard Liege top the group on six points, two points clear of Stuttgart and Sampdoria and three points clear of fourth-placed Sevilla.
Standard host Sampdoria on Wednesday night, with both sides knowing victory would probably be enough to seal their qualification.
With two rounds left to play in the group phase, only AC Milan, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow and Saint Etienne are through, with 36 teams still in with a chance of joining them.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, go into their third UEFA Cup group stage game at German side Wolfsburg on Thursday knowing that only a victory will keep their destiny in their own hands.
Roared on by a raucous home crowd against favourites AC Milan in their last match in the competition, Portsmouth went two goals up before conceding twice in the game’s dying stages to draw 2-2.
The result was enough to send the Italian giants through, but Pompey now sit fourth in Group E with only one point to their name.
With only the top three sides going through, a draw for Wolfsburg will secure their progress and give Portuguese side Braga the chance to join them in the next round if they win at Dutch outfit Heerenveen.
Pompey, though, will be boosted by the return to fitness of leading scorer Jermain Defoe, who was forced to sit out the Milan match with a calf problem.
He returned to partner Peter Crouch in a 3-2 league victory over Blackburn Rovers at the weekend and Crouch says his team-mates are thinking only of victory in Germany.
"I’m sure there is still a chance for us and while that’s the case we’ll go for it," he said. "A win on Thursday leaves it wide open."
The situation facing Portsmouth’s Premier League counterparts Aston Villa is an altogether rosier one, with the Birmingham side needing just a point at home to Zilina to progress.
Martin O’Neill’s men did not play in the last round of matches, but they stayed top of Group F on goal difference ahead of Ajax, who won 1-0 at Hamburg.
Villa were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Fulham on Saturday, but O’Neill flatly rejected accusations they were feeling under pressure.
"As regards choking, I do not accept that. Every game is hard and we are not brilliant enough at the moment to steamroll teams but we are doing fine," he said.
A win for Villa against the Slovakians would mean Martin Jol’s Hamburg will also go through if they win against Czech side Slavia Prague.
UEFA Cup fixtures
Wednesday (1945GMT unless stated)
Manchester City v Paris St Germain, FC Twente v Schalke 04, Metalist Kharkiv v Olympiakos, Hertha Berlin v Galatasaray, Standard Liege v Sampdoria, Sevilla v Partizan Belgrade, Spartak Moscow v NAC Breda (1700GMT), Udinese v Dinamo Zagreb (1700GMT)
Thursday (1945GMT unless stated)
Wolfsburg v Portsmouth, Heerenveen v Braga, Slavia Prague v Hamburg, Aston Villa v Zilina, Valencia v Club Brugge, FC Copenhagen v Rosenborg, Lech Poznan v Deportivo La Cornua, Nancy v CSKA Moscow
Written by: AFP
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It will take more than Huntelaar to save Real’s season
December 3, 2008
Real Madrid appear to need more than the couple of ‘youngsters with a future’ their president Ramon Calderon has promised for January if their season is not going to drift away from them.
Ajax striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar will be the first new arrival after Real came to an agreement to sign him, but he will not have been impressed with Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Getafe.
Real, already out of the King’s Cup, put on probably their worst display of the campaign and coach Bernd Schuster hit the nail on the head when he said the scoreline flattered them. They are now six points off leaders Barcelona.
A lengthy injury list is one of their problems.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has been ruled out for the season and fellow forward Gonzalo Higuain was missing against Getafe. Midfielders Ruben de la Red, Arjen Robben and Mahamadou Diarra, and defenders Gabriel Heinze and Fabio Cannavaro were also laid low.
Wesley Sneijder, Miguel Torres and Pepe picked up new injuries on Saturday while the fit players showed a worrying lack of fight.
Two of Spain’s Euro 2008 heroes, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas, were at fault in Getafe’s first and second goals, and the talented Guti had another of his all-too-familiar away days.
Fernando Gago gave the ball away too easily, Royston Drenthe tried hard but failed to open up the flanks, and new signing Rafael van der Vaart has yet to impress –Schuster seems unsure as to which position to play him in.
It will be a tough situation for a youngster to walk into.
Fans will expect an immediate impact from a new arrival as the Bernabeu faithful are annoyed with the club for continually overlooking the youth team. Young striker Alberto Bueno has been used sparingly, but has the backing of the supporters.
A winger is reported to be club’s next target, though the lack of options in defence also needs addressing.
Media have linked the club with Lazio’s Argentine striker Mauro Zarate and Brazilian Keirrison of Coritiba. Benfica’s Argentine winger Angel Di Maria and Zenit St Petersburg’s Andrei Arshavin are listed as other objectives.
Will Huntelaar or any of these names help Real catch an effervescent Barcelona in the Primera Liga and buck up in Europe? Or do their problems run deeper?
Klaas Jan Huntelaar (L) of the Netherlands scores past Vitaliy Mandzyuk of Ukraine during a friendly match in Rotterdam May 24, 2008. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen
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Do or die for Portsmouth as UEFA Cup hots up
December 3, 2008
Paris St Germain travel to City’s Eastlands ground, and despite a recent revival in their league form they are desperate for UEFA Cup points after a draw and a defeat in their first two games left them bottom of Group A.
Meanwhile Portsmouth go into their third UEFA Cup group stage game at German side Wolfsburg on Thursday knowing that only a victory will keep their destiny in their own hands.
Roared on by a raucous home crowd against favourites AC Milan in their last match in the competition, Portsmouth went two goals up before conceding twice in the game’s dying stages to draw 2-2.
The result was enough to send the Italian giants through, but Pompey now sit fourth in Group E with only one point to their name.
With only the top three sides going through, a draw for Wolfsburg will secure their progress and give Portuguese side Braga the chance to join them in the next round if they win at Dutch outfit Heerenveen.
Pompey, though, will be boosted by the return to fitness of leading scorer Jermain Defoe, who was forced to sit out the Milan match with a calf problem.
He returned to partner Peter Crouch in a 3-2 league victory over Blackburn Rovers at the weekend and Crouch says his team-mates are thinking only of victory in Germany.
"I’m sure there is still a chance for us and while that’s the case we’ll go for it," he said. "A win on Thursday leaves it wide open."
The situation facing Portsmouth’s Premier League counterparts Aston Villa is an altogether rosier one, with the Birmingham side needing just a point at home to Zilina to progress.
Martin O’Neill’s men did not play in the last round of matches, but they stayed top of Group F on goal difference ahead of Ajax, who won 1-0 at Hamburg.
Villa were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Fulham on Saturday, but O’Neill flatly rejected accusations they were feeling under pressure.
"As regards choking, I do not accept that. Every game is hard and we are not brilliant enough at the moment to steamroll teams but we are doing fine," he said.
A win for Villa against the Slovakians would mean Martin Jol’s Hamburg will also go through if they win against Czech side Slavia Prague.
The 2006 and 2007 UEFA Cup winners Sevilla have slipped off the pace in Group C as they prepare to host already-eliminated Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday.
Belgium’s Standard Liege top the group on six points, two points clear of Stuttgart and Sampdoria and three points clear of fourth-placed Sevilla.
Standard host Sampdoria on Wednesday night, with both sides knowing victory would probably be enough to seal their qualification.
With two rounds left to play in the group phase, only AC Milan, Manchester City, CSKA Moscow and Saint Etienne are through, with 36 teams still in with a chance of joining them.
UEFA Cup fixtures
Wednesday (1945GMT unless stated)
Manchester City v Paris St Germain, FC Twente v Schalke 04, Metalist Kharkiv v Olympiakos, Hertha Berlin v Galatasaray, Standard Liege v Sampdoria, Sevilla v Partizan Belgrade, Spartak Moscow v NAC Breda (1700GMT), Udinese v Dinamo Zagreb (1700GMT)
Thursday (1945GMT unless stated)
Wolfsburg v Portsmouth, Heerenveen v Braga, Slavia Prague v Hamburg, Aston Villa v Zilina, Valencia v Club Brugge, FC Copenhagen v Rosenborg, Lech Poznan v Deportivo La Cornua, Nancy v CSKA Moscow
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