Sentiment on all sides in Podolski’s Cologne move
January 19, 2009
Lukas Podolski has broken an unwritten rule in Germany: Thou shalt not leave Bayern Munich in the prime of one’s career for a small, struggling Bundesliga club.
Bayern’s decision to let the 23-year-old Podolski go back to the club he came from three years ago, once the current season is over, is an astonishing move from the Bavarians, who could probably have earned a far more handsome return on the Germany striker from another club abroad or even a wealthier Bundesliga side.
In all the years I’ve been watching Bayern’s transfer moves, I’ve never seen anything like this. Has Bayern sporting director Uli Hoeness grown soft in the twilight of his career?
But who could forget the scene in Cologne in September when Podolski set up one goal and scored a second after coming on for the final half hour to lead Bayern to a 3-0 win — and more than 50,000 Cologne fans cheered Poldi’s 90th minute goal against their team. Cologne players and Bayern managers were incensed, according to German media reports. It was an amazing scene.
In Cologne, Germany’s fourth largest city and the country’s party capital, the “Frohnaturs” on the Rhine were celebrating his return more than a week ago, well before the deal was finally agreed. Last Saturday more than 700 people paid 10 euros admission for a “Poldi Comeback” party at a local castle.
Cologne has been passing the hat for the last year, trying to scrap together money for the transfer for the player who started his career with them at the age of 11 and made his Bundesliga debut at 18. Cologne native Michael Schumacher was even asked recently in a tribute to his 40th birthday if he planned to donate a million euros or two to the Bring-Poldi-Home campaign.
One of the 40 questions from celebrities to Schumacher in a newspaper article was from the Cologne mascot, Hennes the billy goat: “Are you going to give money so we can pay for Poldi?” the goat was quoted asking Schumacher, who replied: “I didn’t know Hennes could talk? I don’t believe it. But if he can deliver the question personally to me, we can talk about it.”
Cologne, down in 11th place after being promoted back to the top flight this year, are hardly a threat to Bayern.
Yet why are they letting “Prince Poldi” go for a relative pittance when they could have commanded a royal sum elsewhere?
PHOTO: A Cologne fan holds a placard reading ‘Bring back Prince Poldi’ before her team’s Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim in Cologne. Nov. 22, 2008. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay
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Is Charlotte Church Set To Get Wed This Summer?
January 19, 2009
Charlotte Church is said to have been considering getting hitched to the gorgeous, albeit slightly orange, Gavin Henson, since she was pregnant with their first child back in 2007.
However, if rumours are correct, it looks like they could be getting hitched this summer, as Gavin was said to have promised her they would get married after the birth of their second baby.
Since the arrival of new baby boy Dexter, apparently, the couple are feeling even more pressure from their families to tie the knot.
They are said to feel they have the perfect family, a girl and a boy, and now they want to make it even more perfect by marrying.
Gavin is said to feel ready for marriage and Charlotte is rumoured to have said that as soon as she is feeling slim and happy about how she looks she would like to be a bride.
Sounds all very fairytale and lovely but it could take Welsh warbler Charlotte a little longer than the next six months until summer to shed her extra pounds. Don’t they say, nine months on, nine months off when you have a baby……I suppose that is true, unless you live in Celeb land and then you just need to find yourself a tasty personal trainer and a contract for a fitness DVD and voila….you look fabulous!
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Jade Goody Wants To Marry Boyfriend Jack Tweed
January 19, 2009
Jade Goody is said to be ready to marry jailbird Jack Tweed when he gets his release from jail.
The romance doesn’t end there, Jade Goody offered to buy her own engagement ring but romantic Jack said he would like to be with her when she buys it…..so does that mean she still has to buy her own ring?
Poor Jade really does deserve some happiness but I’m not sure if her 21-year-old boyfriend is the answer. Jade met Jack two years ago and said “He hasn’t formally proposed yet but we’ve been talking about it for months”
Jade needs security and support at the moment but i’m not so sure that marrying Jack will be the answer!
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MLS teams seek out native CONCACAF talent to restock for new season
January 19, 2009
By Michael Lewis
ST. LOUIS – Major League Soccer clubs have mined Central America and the Caribbean for young talent since its early days. The latest crop will get its chance later this year.
Four players from CONCACAF countries were selected in Thursday’s MLS’ SuperDraft, including three in the first round.
D.C. United selected midfielder Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica) as the sixth overall pick, Real Salt Lake tabbed midfielder-forward Jean Alexandre (Haiti) as the 11th overall selection and the New England Revolution made midfielder Ryan Maxwell (Jamaica) as the 15th overall choice. The Kansas City Wizards picked midfielder Akeem Priestley (Jamaica) in the fourth and final round at the St. Louis convention center.
Here is a quick rundown of the four players:
Midfielder Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica)
Wallace played a key role for the University of Maryland in its march to U.S. college championship in December, scoring three goals and adding three assists. A Costa Rican native who has obtained a U.S. green card as a permanent resident, the 1.80-meter (5-foot-11), 70-kilogram (155-pound) Wallace forged his reputation for speed and vision on the flank. Wallace, 20, who has been a part of MLS’ Generation adidas development program, lives in Rockville, Maryland, north of Washington.
"We feel like he’s got a huge upside," United coach Tom Soehn said. "He’s athletic, he’s a good soccer player, and he’s a winner: he just won a national championship. The first thing you see in him is his composure and his pace. He does a great job as a left back getting forward and creating stuff from the defensive position. His desire and his consistency, I thought, was one thing you could always say about him."
Midfielder-forward Jean Alexandre (Haiti)
Without a scoring threat up front, Lynn University moved Alexandre from central midfield to striker in his senior year. It turned into a great move as Alexandre became one of the U.S. college’s top scorers with 23 goals. The 1.80-meter (5-11), 86-kilo (190-pound) Alexandre impressed Real Salt Lake last season, standing out in a friendly.
"The staff felt that Jean was one of the best athletes at the [MLS] Combine," RSL general manager Garth Lagerway said. "With us moving to a fast and wide field at Rio Tinto Stadium, we feel the need to bring in athletic and versatile players, and selecting Jean helps us accomplish those goals. We took a chance taking a kid from a smaller school, but (assistant coach) Jeff Cassar and I both have numerous contacts in South Florida from our Miami Fusion days that we contacted about Jean, so we felt very comfortable taking a chance with him at that pick."
Midfielder Ryan Maxwell (Jamaica)
Maxwell, 25, was a two-time pick to the U.S. National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s honorary All-South regional select team out of the University of Tampa. The Jamaica native is a former member of the Jamaican Under-20 national team. He played three seasons at Tampa after transferring from San Jacinto Junior College, where Jamaican international and New York Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards played — after his freshman year. In 55 career games at Tampa, the 1.75 (5-9), 75-kilo (165-pound) Maxwell scored 16 goals, including 10 as a senior, and added 14 assists. "I was surprised to go so early, to be honest," Maxwell told the Boston Globe.
“We’re very pleased with our selections today,” Revolution vice president of player personnel Michael Burns said. “We came into the draft with some areas we wanted to address and we believe we accomplished that with these selections. When we open our preseason camp on Feb. 2, we’re going to have some good competition for spots on the field, and we believe that the seven players we chose today will be a big part of that.”
Midfielder Akeem Priestley (Jamaica)
Priestley, an attacking midfielder, was chosen by the Wizards as the 50th overall selection. Priestley, 23, has been capped with the Jamaican national team and was a three-year standout at the University of Connecticut. In 2007, the 1.78-meter (5-10), 75-kilo (165-pound). Priestley recorded 13 assists to earn All-Big East Conference second team honors.
"I think it’s a great opportunity for me, and I’m going to make the best of it," Priestley said. "I want to thank the Kansas City Wizards for giving me this chance. I look forward to working hard to make the team and play in front of their fans."
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Haitian-born Alexandre looks to start pro career in Major League Soccer, Salt Lake City
January 19, 2009
By Michael Lewis
ST. LOUIS — After Lynn University forward and Haitian native Jean Alexandre scored against Real Salt Lake in a friendly last year, coach Jason Kreis was impressed.
"We really felt he was the best player on the field for them and for us in that match," he said. "We walked away from the field trying to figure out how we could acquire him then. Once it was determined he had college eligibility left and it would be impossible, we would have to wait for this year’s (Major League Soccer) draft. So we’ve been keeping tabs on him. In the combine, I thought he was spectacular there. I thought he showed some of the qualities we were looking for. We were extremely and excited when he fell to us."
That came in the first round of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft as Real Salt Lake selected him as the 12th overall pick.
Alexandre, who moved with his family to the United States 13 years ago, just want to be taken anywhere in the draft. Now he will get an opportunity to pursue "my dream of since I was a kid," he said.
"When I heard I was selected, to be honest, I was speechless," Alexandre said. "I have worked hard for this moment for so long, and when it finally came true I dropped down to my knees and I prayed. The Real Salt Lake staff showed interest in me after we played in preseason last year and spoke to me again leading up to the draft, but I was still surprised when the moment happened."
Kreis, a former U.S. international and one of MLS’s all-time leading goal scorers, called selecting the 1.80-meter (5-foot-11), 86-kilogram (190-pound) Alexandre "a no-brainer" because of his versatility.
"He played midfield against us in the center of the park and was very strong," he said. "He obviously has got the stats last year to prove that he can put the ball into the back of the net as well. But I look at him as a guy who can play up front, play in the midfield and also play in the back. That kind of size, speed and technical ability, playing in the back would be easy for him. For me, he can play in all three areas of the field. When you can make an acquisition of a versatile guy like that with all those physical attributes, it’s a no-brainer."
Alexandre was invited to the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after enjoying a spectacular season with Lynn, finishing with 23 goals and seven assists. He led all players in the second division of American college soccer in goals scored per match. He was chosen for the honorary Division II All-America’s third team.
If you went by his first three seasons at Lynn, the 22-year-old Alexandre certainly would not have been a candidate to put the ball into the back of the net on a consistent basis.
He had totaled 11 goals and nine assists 50 games — as a center midfielder.
"I was playing a defensive role in three years of college," he said. "In my senior year, my coach couldn’t recruit a center forward and so I played center forward for the season. Lucky for me, I finished No. 1 in the nation in points per game."
A sports management major, Alexandre had played midfield for most of his life.
"I played it [forward], but not in high competition," he said. "Just for fun. Easy games I played forward."
"I have always been a good goal-scorer. Sometimes coaches look at my physical stature and see a defender. But I am good at scoring goals."
But even with all the goals and greater attention, Alexandre admitted he missed being in the middle of the action at center mid.
"Playing center mid is so much fun. You get involved in every play," he said. "Sometimes when you play forward you’re depending on everybody else to get to you. I kind of missed that feeling in the midfield."
Kreis, who played midfield and striker during his career, understood Alexandre’s situation.
"I’ve got enough history as a forward to know that it can be frustrating at times if you don’t get the proper service," Kreis said. "If your team is clearly outmatched, if your team doesn’t play a possession style, it could be a difficult job to be a forward to rely on everybody else. Somebody with his type of technical ability wants to touch the ball more. I can understand that frustration for sure."
According to the MLS Combine information guide, Alexandre had played three games for the Haitian national team last summer. But Alexandre claimed they weren’t full internationals. He started against Honduras and came off the bench against Trinidad & Tobago twice.
"Unfortunately I did not get a chance to get a cap because they were unofficial games," he said. "The World Cup qualifying games, I didn’t get a chance to play those.
"It was definitely a nice experience over the summer. It’s a nice experience to represent your country.
"It has always been one of my dreams to represent Haiti, and one of my goals, it may seem far-fetched, but I have high goals, one of my goals was to go to the 2010 World Cup in Africa. Haiti is out of the qualifying and I did not get a chance to accomplish it."
But there’s always in Brazil in 2004.
But first things first: Earning a job with Real Salt Lake in 2009.
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Allardyce says Santa Cruz can go for 40 million pounds
January 19, 2009
LONDON (AFP) – Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has said striker Roque Santa Cruz can leave for 40 million pounds (58 million dollars) – but he does not expect to be inundated with offers.
Allardyce has repeatedly insisted he does not want to sell Santa Cruz during the January transfer window.
However, the Paraguay international has made it clear he wants to join Manchester City and link-up again with manager Mark Hughes, who brought him to Ewood Park fromn German giants Bayern Munich last season.
But Allardyce, who took over at Blackburn from the sacked Paul Ince last month, said the only conceivable way he would let Santa Cruz join the world’s wealthiest football club was if City paid 40 million pounds, which he reckons is what it is worth for Rovers to stay in the Premier League.
"The bottom line is, we don’t want to sell Roque Santa Cruz," Allardyce, whose side’s 3-0 win over Newcastle last weekend lifted them out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time in two months, told Talksport Radio on Monday.
"For me, we won’t be selling Roque Santa Cruz, that’s a certainty. The money is no good to me at this stage of the season.
"Roque Santa Cruz is more valuable to me and more valuable to Blackburn Rovers than the money, whoever might offer."
Allardyce added: "There’s 40 million pounds at stake (to stay in the Premier League) per year and I don’t think anyone is going to offer us 40 million pounds for Roque Santa Cruz."
Asked if he would sell for such a price, Allardyce replied: "I think I’d have to. I don’t think the board would take too kindly to me saying ‘No, I’m still not taking that’."
Written by: AFP
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Selling Kaka would be a mistake, says Sacchi
January 19, 2009
ROME (AFP) – Former AC Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has told his former employers that it would be a mistake to sell Kaka despite a reported world record bid from moneybags Manchester City.
Sacchi is a legend at Milan having presided at the club during one of their most successful spells ever from 1987 to 1991, during which time they won Serie A once and the European Cup twice.
He left to take over the reins of the Italian national team and guided them to the World Cup final in the United States in 1994.
During his time at Milan he coached the likes of Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and Franco Baresi and he believes that Kaka cannot be replaced.
"If you sell Kaka to raise the funds to buy three or four players I think that would be a mistake because there’s only one Kaka," he told Rai radio.
"Kaka is not just a great talent but a professional who lives for football and you can’t measure the positive example he sets for those other talents who live for money or to climb socially or who don’t love football as profoundly as he does.
"If the club needs this money, because it’s only right that (president Silvio) Berlusconi stops putting his own money into the club, then sell Kaka and use the money to balance the books.
"But if instead the money is to buy other players then with regards the books it’s better to sell other players, keep hold of Kaka and promote youngsters to the team."
Sacchi said he feels for Berlusconi, who has a difficult decision to make.
"He must have an internal battle going on between the boy in him, the man and the president of the club," added Sacchi.
"Hence a battle between the heart and the mind. But I believe he has to make a choice, as club president, that is based on reason."
Written by: AFP
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PSG´s Villeneuve on the brink after blast at board
January 19, 2009
PARIS (AFP) – French giants Paris St Germain were mired in a boardroom crisis on Monday with club president Charles Villeneuve facing the axe over his role in a power struggle.
The former TV journalist, who only took over as president last May, set the stage for the clash by sending a scathing letter to his fellow board members demanding more powers for himself and denouncing the way the club is run.
This enraged the club’s main shareholders Colony Capital and, according to the L’Equipe sports daily, the company’s head representative at Paris St German, Sebastien Bazin, is set to fire Villeneuve and assume his position.
In the meantime the rest of the club’s board of directors have announced their resignation ahead of a new council meeting in two weeks’ time at which a successor was expected to be named.
The directors took their decision in a meeting at PSG’s Parc des Princes ground after the club’s 2-1 victory over Sochaux on Sunday.
Speaking after the meeting, former president Simon Tahar said he was "extremely shocked" by Villeneuve’s actions and said the club’s directors had had no choice but to step down.
"The situation is exceptional and it called for an exceptional decision," he said. "I’ve never seen a situation like this before, when everything seemed to be going well."
Villeneuve, 67, is believed to be frustrated at what he sees as a lack of ambition from Colony Capital, and L’Equipe suggests he may be seeking to attract lucrative investment from the Middle East.
"It could be that Villeneuve is in contact with potential new owners and has decided to take a stand against Bazin", said a source close to the club.
Villeneuve, meanwhile, refused to be bowed by the board’s condemnation.
"I’m keeping calm and I will consult my lawyers," he said on Sunday night.
"I find it very surprising that this has happened. I only asked for the right to exercise my powers."
The row over Villeneuve is just the latest in a succession of boardroom battles which have beset the club in recent years as it has struggled to take full advantage of its position as the only top-flight side in the densely-populated and wealthy Paris region.
Former Lyon and Glasgow Rangers manager Paul Le Guen took over from Guy Lacombe as head coach in January 2008 and narrowly steered the club away from relegation via a 2-1 win at Sochaux on the last day of the season.
Victory against Lens in the League Cup final secured a place in this season’s UEFA Cup, while PSG also made it to the French Cup final, where they lost to league champions Lyon.
This season the side have qualified for the knockout rounds of the UEFA Cup and currently sit six points behind league leaders Lyon in sixth place.
Le Guen was quick to distance himself from the speculation regarding Villeneuve following PSG’s victory on Sunday.
"Although I try to keep informed, what happens above me is not my business," he said. "I concentrate on the pitch and above all I protect my players."
Founded in 1970, PSG have won two French titles, seven French cups and the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup in 1996.
Written by: AFP
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Fans plead with Kaka to stay as father arrives in Milan
January 19, 2009
ROME (AFP) – AC Milan fans have left dozens of letters with the caretaker of the exclusive gated compound where Brazilian superstar Kaka lives, pleading with him not to quit their club to join Manchester City.
Mega-rich City have made a bid reported to be worth in the region of 100 million euros to Milan to try to lure the former World Player of the Year to the English Premiership.
Milan claim publically that they have not accepted City’s bid, although the club’s bosses have said they will not stand in his way if he chooses to leave.
The club’s fans, however, have taken a completely different approach and are begging him to stay in Italy.
"Our letter was one page long in which we wrote from the heart to remind him what he represents for us and to ask him to stay here," said 20-year-old Niccolo, a Milan fan.
Meanwhile other fans have started camping outside Milan’s headquarters where a protest against the propsed sale was due to start at 1800 local time.
Kaka’s father and agent Bosco Leite was due to arrive in Milan from Brazil in mid-morning with Italian news agency Ansa reporting that he has joined his son at Kaka’s home.
Meanwhile, Ansa also reported that club president and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and club vice-president Adriano Galliani met for an hour and a half on Monday to to discuss Kaka’s possible departure.
Written by: AFP
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Inter president rules out transfer window swoop
January 19, 2009
ROME (AFP) – Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti on Monday ruled out a January transfer window swoop despite his team’s 3-1 humbling at the hands of Atalanta on Sunday.
Jose Mourinho’s team were simply woeful in the first 45 minutes in which they conceded three goals and barely registered a single shot of their own.
But Moratti insisted there would be no knee-jerk reaction to Inter’s second league loss of the season.
"Yesterday was a terrible match, we played very badly, it was a match that really hurt," he said.
"It’s hard to say what I was happy about, it wasn’t a match, from the first whistle to the last there was no running, no concentration, nothing. It’s everyone’s and no-one’s fault.
"Yesterday’s match shows you that it would be absurd to look to the transfer market. Either you have 22 players who are washed out or it’s absurd to look to the transfer market."
Mourinho had left out two of his big money summer signings – Ricardo Quaresma and Mancini – as well as talented young forward Mario Balotelli while preferring a host of players in their 30s but Moratti refused to criticise his choices.
"Mourinho makes the decisions he feels are the right ones to choose those who are in the best form, regardless of their age," said the president.
"I have no problem with him not changing players or leaving out younger ones in favour of older ones.
"It’s difficult for Mourinho to pick the team but he picks who he wants."
Written by: AFP
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