De Ridder leaves Wigan on loan

January 23, 2010

Dutch forward Daniel de Ridder will spend the rest of the season on loan at Israel’s Hapoel Tel Aviv, after failing to make a regular appearance in Wigan Athletic’s line-up.

The 25-year-old, who also holds the Israeli nationality through his mother, has not played a single league match this season, after featurinf in 18 games in the 2008-09 edition of the Premiership.

De Ridder began his career at Ajax in 2002, and has since represented Celta de Vigo and Birmingham City before joining Wigan in the summer of 2008.

The player also formed part of the Dutch Under-21 side that won the European Championship in 2007, delivering three assists in the final against Serbia.

Tags: Ajax, appearance, assists, birmingham city, Daniel, daniel de ridder, Dutch, European, games, hapoel tel aviv, israel, nationality, premiership, s line, Tel Aviv, Vigo

McCarthy delighted with Wolves’ White Hart Lane triumph

December 13, 2009

Kevin Doyle scored the only goal of the game as early as the third minute as Wolves defended brilliantly to hold on to claim a sensational win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

Spurs enjoyed much of the possession but could not pose great threat to goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann and so, Harry Rednapp’s men failed to score.

McCarthy was full of praise for his players and said they deserved the win, but also thanked the Wolves away “fabulous” support.

“The players were magnificent for 96 minutes,” he told Sky Sports.

“It’s a bit of hand in glove, when we play well they (the fans) get the benefit from it and when we’re holding on we get the benefit from their fabulous support.

“We did hang on, but I think we deserved our victory.”

Doyle headed home as early as the third minute after Nenad Milijas whipped in a good cross and McCarthy praised the Serbian’s skill.

“Nenad is settling into life in the Premiership,” he added. “I don’t know how many assists he had. When you put balls in like that its difficult to defend.

“And Doyle, we bought him to score goals and he’s done just that today.

“If you don’t get a good delivery you’ve got no chance of scoring, he’s putting them in right on the button at the minute and we look a threat from every free-kick and corner.”

McCarthy admitted that he did not even watch Wigan’s nightmare 9-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham, believing that the result would have never had any kind of impact on his team’s visit to White Hart Lane.

“That result was a bit Disneyworld, wasn’t it,” he remarked. “Everything went right.

“I would imagine every time the ball went in the box it ended up in Wigan’s net and Wigan responded properly and beat Sunderland the week after.

“I never looked at it, I never read the report from it. I watched them against Manchester United and I watched them against Everton.”

Tags: assists, balls, disneyworld, Doyle, hand in glove, harry rednapp, Hart Lane, Hotspur, kevin doyle, Manchester, manchester united, Marcus Hahnemann, mccarthy, nightmare, possession, premiership, serbian, Sky Sports, Sunderland, triumph, victory, white hart lane

Ronaldinho says smile is back on his face

November 3, 2009

Ronaldinho said on Tuesday that he is finally happy again playing for Brazilian compatriot Leonardo at AC Milan.

The Italians tackle Real Madrid in the Champions League at the San Siro on Wednesday as the two most successful clubs in European competition go head to head for the second time in two weeks.

The 29-year-old has endured a difficult last two seasons, proving to be a shadow of the player he once was when he inspired Barcelona to Champions League glory and won successive world player of the year awards.

But he has been improving lately, and proving decisive for Milan by creating many crucial goals recently.

“With Leonardo (the coach) I’m happy. Football is like this, right now I feel good and I’m happy,” Ronaldinho said.

“And when I feel like this, things work better. What’s the secret? I’ve worked hard and I’ve had the time to do so.

“The coach and the physio are helping me, I’m going onto the pitch at 100 percent and my body is responding, things are coming easier to me.

“Last season I didn’t play much, now I’m playing more and the coach has confidence in me.”

Ronaldinho actually made a pretty good start to his Milan career last season, scoring the winner in the Milan derby with a rare header.

But injury and some ill-discipline during the winter break affected the second half of his season, in which he struggled to earn a place in the starting line up and rarely bristled even when he did play.

All he wants now is to start adding goals to his repertoire.

“I’m delighted to help my team-mates, I’m providing assists but I want to do better by scoring goals,” he added.

“I’m expecting a great night for the whole team and I want to give my all.”

Leonardo has been trying to boost his player’s confidence by claiming he would go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.

“Surely we have to insert Ronaldinho in the list of the top 10 players of all time,” he said before turning attentions to Wednesday’s game.

“These matches between Milan and Real have a history all of their own. Our results have been good, we’ve got a good atmosphere and it’s always the right time for a game like this.”

Milan are sweating over the fitness of centre-back Alessandro Nesta while Leonardo will have to decide who out of Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Borriello will partner Ronaldinho and Pato in his three-man attack.

While the game is probably the biggest in Europe this week, it is not a winner takes all clash for these two.

Whatever the result in this Group C match they will both come out of it still in a good position to qualify for the Champions League knock-out stages.

They both have six points with Marseille and FC Zurich three points back and Real’s Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini is thinking more about top spot than qualifying.

“Both teams are aiming for first place in the group and will be trying to win,” he said.

“We’ll have a go from the first minute and we’ll see what happens but I’m sure we’ll play a great match.”

Pellegrini also insisted his team had not taken Milan lightly in their first match in the Bernabeu, where the Italians scored a shock 3-2 win.

“We weren’t over-confident, until they equalised (at 1-1) we had controlled the game,” he said.

“Then we lost our shape and with the great players they have, Milan made the most of that.”

Despite not scoring in six matches, France forward Karim Benzema looks likely to start alongside Argentine Gonzalo Higuain in attack with Raul dropping to the bench.

MILAN, Italy (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Alessandro Nesta, assists, attentions, Barcelona, champions league, compatriot, Europe, filippo inzaghi, France, greatest of all time, italians, Karim, leonardo, MADRID, manuel pellegrini, Marco Borriello, Marseille, Milan, physio, pitch, raul, real madrid, ronaldinho, San, san siro, scoring goals, second half, second time, team mates, world player of the year, ZURICH

Benayoun signs new contract with Liverpool

July 6, 2009

Yossi Benayoun has signed a new contract with European powerhouse Liverpool, keeping him with the club until 2013.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who had two years remaining on his existing deal, agreed a two-year extension on Monday.

The Israel captain told official webiste: “I am very happy that we have reached an agreement. Of course, to be at a club like this is a dream come true and I want to keep playing here.”

“Hopefully now I can concentrate on the hard work that needs to be done and try to play better and better and win some silverware.”

Benayoun scored nine goals in 42 matches last season as Liverpool finished second in the league and reached the Champions League quarterfinals.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez said: “You know that our idea was to extend the contracts of some players and Yossi was one of these players.”

“He has been really good for us over the last year, scoring crucial goals and getting assists, so we wanted to keep him and I’m really pleased with the extension.”

Benayoun has followed Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt in committing his long-term future to the club.

By: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: assists, benayoun, champions league quarterfinals, contracts, daniel agger, dirk kuyt, English Premier League, Fernando Torres, israel, Liverpool, midfielder, new contract, powerhouse, rafa benitez, signs, Steven Gerrard

Donovan blasts Galaxy teammate Beckham

July 4, 2009

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Landon Donovan has issued the Los Angeles Galaxy an ultimatum — compel English superstar David Beckham to clean up his act or risk alienating Donovan, the club’s all-time top active scorer.

“Let’s say he does stay here for three more years,” Donovan said in passages from a upcoming book on Sports Illustrated’s website. “I’m not going to spend the next three years of my life doing it this way. This is (expletive) miserable. I don’t want to have soccer be this way.”

US national team captain Donovan blasted Beckham in the book, “The Beckham Experiment”, questioning the former England captain’s work ethic, leadership and teammate skills on the Major League Soccer squad.

“Maybe he’s not a leader. Maybe he’s not a captain,” author Grant Wahl quotes Donovan as saying in the book, scheduled to be released later this month.

“But at a minimum you should bust your ass every day. That hasn’t happened.”

Donovan feels he and Beckham can still mend their fractured relationship but not unless the team takes a tough stance against Beckham.

“I’ve got to confront it somehow,” Donovan said. “If that is the way he is going to be, fine, then hold him accountable. Bench him. Just say ‘We are not going to play you, we don’t think you are committed.”

Donovan, who led the Americans to a surprise runner-up finish on the weekend at the 2009 Confederation Cup, is one of the most decorated players in Galaxy history.

He leads all active Galaxy players in career goals (58), assists (44), shots (226) and game-winning goals (14). He holds club records for multi-goal games (14) and penalty-kick goals (17).

Donovan believes that Beckham, as the highest-paid player in the league, has a responsibility to his team and especially to his Galaxy teammates to set an example through hard work.

“If someone is paying you more than anybody in the league, more than double anybody in the league, the least we expect is that you show up to every game, whether you are suspended or not.

“Show up, train hard, show up and play hard.

“As time has gone on, that has not proven to be the case in many ways, on or of the field.”

Beckham is currently on loan from Los Angeles to AC Milan. The 34-year-old Beckham was originally supposed to return for the entire 2009 season but got his stay in Europe extended to halfway through the MLS season.

Beckham is scheduled to return to the Galaxy for a game in New York against the Red Bulls on July 16, two days after the release of the book.

“I can’t think of another guy where I would say he wasn’t a good teammate,” Donovan said. “He didn’t give everything through all of this. He didn’t still care. But with (Beckham) I would say no, he wasn’t committed.”

Donovan said Beckham’s attitude changed after the team got rid of former coach Ruud Gullit.

“He (Beckham) just flipped a switch and said, ‘Uh-huh, I am not doing it anymore.’

“It coincides with Ruud being let go.”

Donovan said Beckham was sincere about helping the sport grow in North America when he arrived but became discouraged easily.

“He cared. He wanted to do well. He wanted the team and the league to do well,” Donovan was quoted as saying in the book.

“My sense is David is clearly frustrated that he is unhappy and honestly, that he thinks it is a joke. I don’t see dedication or commitment to this team and that is troubling.”

Beckham has left only a modest footprint on the North American soccer landscape in two ineffective seasons so far with the Galaxy.

The Galaxy have failed to make the playoffs since his arrival in 2007.

Even when he has suited up for Los Angeles, Beckham has had little impact. He played just five games of an injury-filled first season and had five goals and 10 assists last season.

American fan interest in Beckham has faded since his splashy introduction in 2007 when more than 66,000 showed up for his first game at Giants Stadium in San Francisco.

Television ratings in 2008 were 22 percent higher for Beckham games than they were for games he didn’t play. But that figure was down from 67 percent during his first year in the league.

Some criticized Beckham and his handlers for misleading the American sports fan. When he arrived, the Galaxy and Beckham’s handlers hyped up a 250 million dollar “agreement”.

But it was a pie-in-sky figure, which Beckham’s handlers slipped past many of Los Angeles’ tail-wagging media which many didn’t check to see if it was true before rushing it into print.

Beckham was also stripped this season of his captaincy as the armband has been handed back to Donovan.

“It is difficult to know how to approach him with things, to be critical of him,” Donovan said. “because he doesn’t take it well.”

Tags: assists, captain Donovan, career goals, confederation cup, David, David Beckham, England, england captain, Europe, expletive, giants stadium, goal games, Grant Wahl, landon donovan, Los Angeles, los angeles galaxy, Major League Soccer, Milan, MLS, New York, North America, North American, passages, penalty kick, San Francisco, soccer squad, sports illustrated, team captain, teammate, teammates, U.S., work ethic, years of my life

Berbatov hits back at lazy jibes

May 25, 2009

MANCHESTER (AFP) – Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov has hit back at allegations he doesn’t care enough about playing for the Premier League champions.

The jury is still out on the Bulgarian after an underwhelming first season at Old Trafford following his 30.75 million pounds transfer from Tottenham.

Berbatov, 28, has infuriated fans with some lacklustre displays and a perceived lack of fight when the team are struggling.

Although United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has supported Berbatov in public, he is not certain to start Wednesday’s Champions League final against Barcelona.

Berbatov has grown tired of the jibes and is adamant he is fully committed to the United cause.

“I know people sometimes think I don’t care. Trust me. I do,” he said. “I get frustrated and if I don’t play well I am very disappointed.

“People should not just look at my face and make an assessment about me, depending on what it shows.”

Ferguson pursued Berbatov for well over 12 months, believing the former Spurs star could add an ingredient missing from his team by being able to unlock the tightest of defences in the most difficult of games.

A tally of 14 goals and an equal number of assists suggests Berbatov has added guile to the United attack.

Yet as the season has reached its dramatic conclusion, he has been gently eased out of the United starting line-up and Berbatov concedes there is still room for improvement in the quality of his performances if not the effort.

“I know what I have done. And I know I can do a lot more,” he said.

“I can improve because I didn’t produce 100 percent in some of the games I have played since I came to the club.

“I still get nervous. I play for the biggest club in the world. The nerves are always there.

“Barcelona will give us a tough match but every game is like that for us.

“The opposition think, we are playing against Manchester United, we are going to give it everything. We don’t expect anything else.”

Tags: 12 months, allegations, assists, Barcelona, berbatov, care trust, champions league, defences, dramatic conclusion, guile, Manchester, manchester united, match, nerves, old trafford, premier league, sir alex ferguson, spurs, starting line, tally, Trafford, UEFA Champions League

Pienaar wins plaudits as Everton look for 5th spot

May 9, 2009

LIVERPOOL (AFP) – Leighton Baines has hailed Steven Pienaar as one of the keys to Everton’s success this season as David Moyes’ side look to continue their push for fifth place against Tottenham on Saturday.

South African winger Pienaar has taken on plenty of creative responsibility since Mikel Arteta’s season was ended with a serious knee injury in February.

Moyes has a hard-earned reputation for unearthing bargain signings of real quality and capturing Pienaar has to be one of the best pieces of business he has ever done.

Former Ajax player Pienaar, 27, spent last season on loan at Goodison Park after a miserable year in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.

He impressed Moyes sufficiently for the manager to spend two million pounds on making the signing permanent last summer.

Pienaar, who has already made 70 appearances for the Blues, has not been a prolific goal-scorer but, as well as his regular assists, he has managed two goals in five appearances going into the game against Harry Redknapp’s Spurs.

And full-back Baines, whose performances this season have earned him a place in the England squad, feels Pienaar’s contribution has been crucial.

“He’s got such fantastic ability that if he gets that space he’s not going to lose the ball,” Baines said.

“He will pick out a pass or will beat somebody, he’s always productive so I think we have a good understanding at the moment down our side and Steven is someone I absolutely love playing with.

“We have an understanding with each other and he helps me out defensively, he tracks back and works hard.

“Going the other way I’ll run past him and create a bit of space.”

Everton are battling for fifth place with Aston Villa and trail Martin O’Neill’s side by three points with three matches remaining.

Tottenham are also looking for a victory to boost their chances of qualifying for the Europa League in a four-way fight for seventh place.

They trail West Ham, who currently occupy the final European place, by a point and are level on 37 points with Fulham and Manchester City.

Spurs enjoy a solid record at Goodison Park, having lost just once in 11 Premier League games.

England midfielder Jermaine Jenas, who has been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan this summer, accepts Tottenham will have to be at their very best to find a way past Moyes’s team.

But even though he acknowledges that Spurs are in for a serious examination of their European credentials, he feels that Tottenham, who have lost just twice since February and have won three of their last four matches, are in bullish mood going into the match.

He said: “It’s a big test. They always pack out the midfield, the have a holding midfield player and the forwards drop off in there as well.

“They aren’t scared of putting in a tackle, they win headers that’s how David Moyes likes his teams to play.

“They are all honest players who work hard and when players are like that, you’ll get a lot of out of them. We’ve seen the results of that this season.

“They’re a tough side to play, very consistent and tough to beat at Goodison although we’ve had a good record there in recent seasons.

“We’re on a good run and we’re looking forward to it.”

Tags: Ajax, assists, aston villa, Borussia, creative responsibility, dortmund, earned reputation, england squad, English Premier League, Germany, goal scorer, good understanding, Goodison Park, Harry Redknapp, Jose, knee injury, leighton baines, Liverpool, manchester city, martin o neill, Martin O'Neill, Mikel Arteta, Milan, Moyes, spurs, Steven, steven pienaar, west ham, winger

Ferguson backs Ronaldo to break 20-goal barrier

January 31, 2009

LONDON (AFP) – Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Cristiano Ronaldo to break the 20-goal barrier for a third successive season.

The Portuguese star, who racked up 42 last time round as United romped to a Premier League and Champions League double, has 13 to his name so far.

"People are saying Cristiano has not had a good season but he has got 13 goals and 11 assists," said Ferguson.

"If you dismiss last season altogether they would be saying it is incredible for a winger to score 13 at this stage. I am absolutely certain he will end up with over 20 again."

Ferguson added that it was impossible for Ronaldo, now one of the most heavily-marked players in the Premier League, to repeat his "miracle season" of 2007/2008 when he was also named world player of the year.

"It’s hard to replicate a season like that but I am not sure that Cristiano understood it was a miracle season," said the United manager.

"He had the belief it was normal for him and I think he just expected to carry on. But one of the situations he had to face was that this year couldn’t be as good as last season.

"Now he has started to come to terms with the whole thing, we will see more goals from him."

Ronaldo suffered an ankle injury at the start of the season and was at the centre of a long-running controversy caused by Real Madrid’s attentions.

Written by: AFP

Tags: AFP, ankle injury, assists, attentions, belief, boss, champions league, controversy, English Premier League, last time, london, manchester united, miracle, portuguese, premier league, real madrid, ronaldo, sir alex ferguson, winger, world player of the year

Ferguson backs Ronaldo to break 20-goal barrier

January 31, 2009