Ferguson sees United hitting form at right time

February 6, 2010


Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson feels that his team are hitting form just as the season is beginning to get serious.

United have already lost five Premier League matches this season and were knocked out of the FA Cup at the third round stage by League One team Leeds.

Having lost in the Champions League at home to Besiktas and also suffered defeat in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final with Manchester City, United have had an unusually inconsistent opening to the campaign.

But, having beaten Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates last weekend, Ferguson’s team are still firmly in the race for the Premier League title race with Chelsea.

They have also lined up a League Cup final date with Aston Villa and are through to the second round of the Champions League, in which they face AC Milan.

Ferguson thinks that overcoming City in the second leg and then beating Arsenal have put United’s season on track and he expects his team to get stronger and stronger as the end of the campaign approaches.

“Historically, we have always grasped the nettle at this time of the year. They realise there is something at stake and we can’t afford inconsistency.

“Teams will drop points in every run-in, there is no doubt about that, but we are experienced and know that if you’re going to drop more than the rest you’re going to lose the league. That’s a fact.

“Our aim is to try to be as consistent as we can, and try to produce the kind of performances we did on Sunday (against Arsenal) and that will take us very close.

“We are talking about the run-in to the league now and three points is three points, it doesn’t matter where you get them from.

“Whatever games we have got left, if we win most of them we have a good chance.

“We have got to keep the momentum going, we have an important time coming up. We have to go to Villa Park on the Wednesday, then we’ve got the Milan game and League Cup final, we have got a big time coming up, consistency and form is going to be important for us.”

Ferguson believes his team’s conditioning gives them an edge at this time of the season.

“It definitely has a lot to do with the training we do, but you have to have the players. You can have the fittest team in the world but if they can’t play, what chance have you got?”

Ferguson is hoping that the possibility of playing in the World Cup can help Owen Hargreaves win his battle against serious knee problems.

The England midfielder has been sidelined since September 2008 and Ferguson has left him out of United?s Champions League squad.

The United manager remains confident that Hargreaves will play before the end of the season and thinks he could contribute to Fabio Capello?s squad in South Africa.

He said: “It’s hard for him, of course. He’s been out for a year and a half. It’s bound to be hard for him. The physios are doing their best with him. There are some times we feel he’s almost there, and then he seems to be slow again.

“I’m confident he will be back before the end of the season. It’s the recovery, it’s slow.

“The biggest incentive should be to get back into our team, but if at the end of it is that carrot of being at the World Cup, then I’ll be happy with that. I think he would be an important player for England too.

“If he gets back, the confidence would come back. If he were to start playing, the confidence would come back. The confidence would be the key factor in that.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

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Fulham sign Shorey on loan

February 1, 2010

Fulham have completed the loan signing of Nicky Shorey from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.

The 28-year-old has recently returned to Villa Park after a successful loan spell at Nottingham Forest, but he has quickly left for a switch to Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers have lost regular left-back Paul Konchesky to injury, earlier this month and targeted Shorey.

Shorey is expected to go straight into the Fulham squad for next weekend’s game at Bolton and is the club’s second signing of the transfer window following the arrival of Stefano Okaka from Roma.

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O’Neill angry at Wenger

January 30, 2010


Aston Villa boss Marton O’Neill is angry at Arsene Wenger and blames the Arsenal boss of getting “carried away with his own importance”. O’Neill has been left fuming by Wenger’s criticism of his team following their goalless draw between the sides at Villa Park on Wednesday.

Wenger labelled Villa a a long ball team, something which has infuriated O’Neill who has attacked Wenger accusing the French tactician of being “on another planet”.

“Wenger has an opinion on everything,” O’Neill told The Sun. “There is not a subject in this world at this minute – whether it is political, religious, anything – that he does not have an opinion on.

“He does say things for effect. You can get carried away with your own importance, you really can. Sometimes he does.

“After what he said about my team on Wednesday, I did go looking for him. I told him what I thought about what he had said.

“He has made a great contribution to the game here but he is not on a different planet.

“What he wants to do is try and point out to everyone who is under his spell that Arsenal are the only delightful team around.”

O’Neill says Wenger’s touch-line antics can have an influence on games.

“There is a plan throughout. If he puts his hands in the air enough times, they (officials) will probably accept the fact he can see it from that distance, that Sol Campbell hadn’t fouled Richard Dunne, and the referee obviously agrees with him,” added O’Neill.

“He’s a very skilful manager but he has another record, like he has had something like 99 sendings off this year – and 98 of them weren’t his fault. That is the problem.

O’Neill also says that Wenger does not acknowledge when his players behave in a nasty manner.

“There are things that happen in the game you cannot always be fantastically proud of your team. There can be some nasty challenges made by Arsenal players – you cannot condone everything.

“William Gallas is just one the other week. You cannot condone everything. You have to say ‘On reflection, I’ve seen it again and it’s a nasty challenge’.”

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Wenger defends selection policy as Arsenal crash out

January 25, 2010


Arsene Wenger defended his right to field a weakened team in Arsenal’s 3-1 FA Cup fourth round defeat at Stoke and insisted his desire to lift the Premier League title had been behind his decision.

Wenger made nine changes at the Britannia Stadium but will recall the likes of William Gallas, Thomas Vermalaen, Gael Clichy, Andrey Arshavin and Eduardo for the crucial league trip to Aston Villa on Wednesday.

This disappointing defeat leaves Wenger still waiting for his first trophy since 2005 but the Frenchman places far more importance on the league.

After the visit to Villa Park, the Gunners – currently two points behind leaders Manchester United with a game in hand – face three more crunch encounters against Sir Alex Ferguson’s champions, then Chelsea and Liverpool.

And Wenger insisted injuries left him with no alternative but to operate a rotation policy ahead of those matches.

He said: “I wanted to win this game and I don’t regret the team I picked, I did not have much choice.

“If you look at our schedule it’s simply that you cannot always play with the same eleven.

“If you rotate and you don’t win it’s your fault. I can only stand up and say that’s the team that I picked.

“It’s unfortunate but we had 10 injuries and we’re going into a period where we cannot rotate a lot in the big games.

“We’ve got to focus on those games because we are in an interesting position. We didn’t want to go out of the competition. If we’d been at home we could have got away with it.

“You get no surprise when you come here. We weakened the more the game went on and they were more dangerous than us.”

The one highlight on an otherwise dismal afternoon for Wenger was an impressive ’second debut’ for Sol Campbell.

The former England defender – whose last appearance was at Morecambe in his ill-fated spell at Notts County – is likely to be replaced by Gallas for the Villa game but did enough to prove he still has a Premier League future.

Wenger added: “Sol did very well for a guy who’s not played for five months. He was tired for the last 20 minutes but he looked very fit.

“It was an encouraging performance. I believe he is motivated, he works hard in training and he’s been rewarded for that commitment here.”

Even with Campbell in the team, Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller proved the scourge of Wenger’s men.

Arsenal couldn’t handle the first exocet throw from Stoke’s Rory Delap and when Lukasz Fabianski flapped, Fuller stole ahead of the Poland international to find the net with a close-range header in the second minute.

The Gunners levelled in the 42nd minute through Denilson. Cesc Fabregas played a free kick outside the box across to the Brazilian midfielder and he arrowed a low drive past Thomas Sorensen, with the aid of two deflections.

But Fuller headed in Mamady Sidibe’s cross in the closing stages before Dean Whitehead grabbed the third goal four minutes from time to leave Stoke manager Tony Pulis hoping for a home tie in the fifth round.

Pulis said: “We’ve picked a strong side and I don’t think anybody can question the spirit and togetherness in the dressing room.

“I’m proud of the players and the supporters should be too. We’ve given it a right tilt and it’s gone for us.

“The last thing we wanted was a draw. We’ve got seven games in February so it was very important to get a result.”

STOKE, England (AFP)

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Ten-goal thriller gets Villa to Wembley

January 21, 2010


Aston Villa booked their first Wembley final appearance in a decade after a 6-4 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the second leg of their League Cup semi-final here on Wednesday.

Victory at Villa Park saw Martin O’Neill’s men win the tie 7-4 on aggregate and they will now face either Manchester City or Manchester United in the final.

But his pre-match claim that this was the best Villa team their supporters had seen in 20 years looked hollow as a double from Nikola Kalinic put fellow Premier League side Rovers 2-0 up.

But the way in which Villa fought back and then just about held their nerve at the end of this extraordinary match left O’Neill proud of the character his youthful side had shown.

“I’m just really pleased for the team, which I know is a cliched old phrase, but I’m really delighted for them,” O’Neill said.

“They’ve had to fight back, whilst the crowd were obviously getting very anxious and frustrated, and they grew up tonight.”

Meanwhile Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce bemoaned what he said was referee Martin Atkinson’s failure to spot a shove from Gabriel Agbonlahor on captain Ryan Nelsen that allowed Rovers old boy Stephen Warnock to make it 2-1.

“It’s a bit difficult to take, scoring four goals and not getting through to the final,” Allardyce said.

“We were in complete control of the game, and if anybody is going to score to make it 3-0 it’s us.

“But then the referee allows a blatant foul on Ryan Nelsen to go unpunished, and at this level you have to make sure the referee gets those decisions right.

“We are out of a cup final because of that decision perhaps.”

Villa endured a dreadful opening 25 minutes as they squandered the first leg advantage James Milner had given them in a 1-0 win at Ewood Park before the tie swung in their favour with the sending off of Rovers’ Christopher Samba five minutes before half-time.

Milner converted the penalty, which resulted from Samba’s foul in bringing down Agbonlahor, who later diverted in his team-mate’s shot for Villa’s fourth goal of the game.

But Blackburn continued to push Villa all the way, even a man down.

After Kalinic’s double, Stephen Warnock converted at the far post, following Ashley Young’s cross, to put Villa back into the tie and make amends for his earlier error that gave Rovers such an emphatic start.

Warnock was at fault at the far post, failing to challenge Croatia’s Kalinic for David Dunn’s corner under the crossbar and the Rovers striker’s header struck Warnock on the head before beating American goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

Villa were two down before the half hour mark when Kalinic started the move, which resulted in him tapping home the rebound after Martin Olsson’s header from Morten Gamst Pedersen’s cross had been half saved by Guzan.

Villa simply could not get to grips with Rovers’ five-man midfield, but that all changed when Samba was shown a straight red card for his trip on Agbonlahor as the pair chased Emile Heskey’s through ball.

Milner beat Paul Robinson from the spot before an own goal from Steven Nzonzi and further goals from Agbonlahor and Heskey left Villa with a seemingly comfortable lead.

At that point they could be forgiven for turning their thoughts to whether they played Manchester United or Manchester City, but at least Rovers demonstrated some character of their own to push Villa close.

Olsson produced a stunning volley from Gael Givet’s cross to reduce the deficit and when Brett Emerton’s volley from the edge of the area forced its way through a crowded penalty area, there were some nervous moments for Villa to endure.

But Ashley Young rounded off the evening with a wonderful solo effort, running from half way to beat Robinson with a curling shot.

BIRMINGHAM (AFP)

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Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…?

December 31, 2009

Snow. Looks good on those Christmas cards, doesn’t it? Fun for small children. Even nice for penguins in the zoo. But photographers covering soccer? Brrrrrrrrrr. Not really.

Let’s get one thing straight. We Brits go on about the weather like a stuck record, but when it comes to it, we can’t cope with it. That’s why we live in Britain.

We whinge when the mercury drops to -3 (26 degrees Fahrenheit). A colleague of mine in Canada will point out that’s not cold. Cold, proper cold, can’t feel your fingers, just walked into a fridge cold, is -25 (-13 degrees Fahrenheit).

So when the Met Office started predicting heavy snowfalls on the night of the Aston Villa v Liverpool game, I did my best boy scout impression, packed my shovel and set off four hours early, you know, in case of snowdrifts the size of elephants.

There weren’t any.

It was the sort of game where you could find yourself nodding off, a dull, tactical, stand-off between two Premiership sides fighting to finish in the top four to get a Champions League place.

Probably the only reason this match will ever be remembered – even by the most diehard fans – is the snow. Ninety minutes of sitting by the pitch feeling some sympathy with an ice lolly.

Aston Villa’s John Carew heads the ball clear during their English Premier League match against Liverpool at Villa Park in Birmingham, central England, December 29, 2009.   REUTERS/Darren Staples

But the weather – not the game – makes the picture. A slow shutter speed can make falling snow or rain look heavier than it is and a photograph even more dramatic. With a bit of good timing, or luck, you can capture a picture like this, with the water coming off the ball and the head of the player which makes it look like he’s got a halo.

Practically, focusing is difficult because your lens picks up on the falling flakes, not the players. You need to wear a glove that isn’t too thick – or thin – so you can still feel the controls on your camera. I wear a jacket that’s so padded, I look like I’m wearing a Sumo suit. And it’s not just me. Even the camera has a waterproof ‘jacket’ on as well. It’s made of fabric and protects my 400mm lens and the body (designed by an Australian snapper – do they get snow there then?).

Then there’s wiring. You have the picture, how do you send it to the desk when it’s wet and you don’t want your laptop to go bang? Simple. You get a roll of Reuters’ sticky tap and the groundsheet of a tent and turn it into a homemade bag that you can fit both your computer and your head.

It’s not just the weather that you’re up against. It’s the other 45,000 at the game who want to get onto their mobile phones and tell their mates what’s happening. It clogs up the networks and means that photos go so slowly it would probably be quicker to walk to London – or in this case Singapore – and deliver them by hand.

Then you’re into three minutes of injury time, the game’s 0-0 and what happens? Liverpool’s Fernando Torres scores…at the opposite end to where I’m sitting. Oh the frustration.

Liverpool’s Fernando Torres (2nd L) celebrates his goal against Aston Villa during their English Premier League  match at Villa Park in Birmingham December 29, 2009.   REUTERS/Darren Staples

And the next morning, when I’m looking forward to throwing a few snowballs with the kids, what happens? The snow’s all gone. C’est la vie.

Source

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Cuellar happy at Villa despite Real rumors

December 24, 2009


Aston Villa defender Carlos Cuellar has rejected the rumors that have linked him with a transfer to Real Madrid. Cuellar insists he is happy at Villa Park and wants to remain in England.

Reports in Spain have suggested that Real are targeting a move for Cuellar after losing Pepe through injury. Pepe is out with a long-term injury.

Cuellar, who is enjoying a very good season with Villa, is flattered to be linked with the Madrid giants. However, he says he is happy to remain a faithful player for Martin O’Neil’s team.

“It’s a great honour to be linked with teams of that stature,” Cuellar told the Birmingham Mail.

“Although it’s not true, that they mention you is important. I’m staying at Aston Villa. Nothing could happen. This is the path that I have chosen. I was not forced to do anything.

“My dream was to play in a foreign league. Where better to do that than the Premier League?”

28-year-old Cuellar is Spanish and began his career in Madrid before having his big break at Rangers, after which he was transferred to Aston Villa.

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Milner stars as Villa beat Hull

December 5, 2009


James Milner did his prospects of being included in England’s World Cup squad no harm with a fine all-round display as Aston Villa beat Hull 3-0 in the Premier League here on Saturday.

Milner helped create the opening goal at Villa Park for Richard Dunne and scored the second himself with a delightful lob.

Norway striker John Carew set the seal on Villa’s victory with a penalty two minutes from time.

Hull’s bad day was made worse by the sight of midfielder Jimmy Bullard leaving the field just 18 minutes in with a left knee injury.

The former Fulham playmaker had only returned to action in October after nine months on the sidelines due to an injury to his right knee.

Usually deployed as a winger, Milner, 23, found himself in a central midfield role against Hull.

Villa, fresh from their League Cup quarter-final win over Portsmouth, almost went ahead in the opening minute.

Milner’s chip was headed by Emile Heskey into the path of Luke Young but the advancing full-back shot just past the far post.

But Villa were 1-0 up in the 13th minute through central defender Dunne’s third goal of the season.

Milner’s precise pass found the Republic of Ireland international in space and he beat Hull keeper Matt Duke with a rising shot from 12 yards.

Villa went 2-0 up thanks to a quick-thinking 29th-minute goal.

Duke came out of his area to head the ball out but it went straight to Villa substitute Steve Sidwell on the touchline.

He quickly handed the ball to Ashley Young, whose throw-in found Milner and he cheekily lobbed the ball over the back-pedalling Duke from 20 yards and into the net.

Hull almost pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Craig Fagan’s shot beat Brad Friedel but hit the angle of post and crossbar.

But that was as close as Hull came and Carew added a third goal for Villa after Duke brought down Ashley Young in the box.

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

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Ricketts positive about Blackburn derby

November 22, 2009


Bolton defender Sam Ricketts insists pride will be at stake when they face their neighbors and is certain his side will finish the season in the top-flight’s top 10.

Ricetts, confident about his side’s form, however agrees it is crucial that his side rise above their two back-to-back defeats and bounce back to win their bragging rights against local rivals Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium.

He said: “We are more than capable of finishing in the top half. We have had a hard run of games and our performances deserved more than what we actually achieved.

“It’s time now to get those extra points and to start climbing the table. If we put a couple of back-to-back wins together then people will see us fly up the table.”

“Generally this season we have played well in the league apart from the game at Villa Park.

“It was one of those games where all of the outfield players had an off day and we need to write it off.”

“But we can only do that by putting in a good performance and hopefully getting a win against Blackburn.”

Ricketts insists pride will be at stake when they face their neighbors and former manager Sam Allardyce.

The Blackburn boss led the side into the UEFA Cup and also to the League Cup final during a successful eight-year spell in charge.

Since his move from Hull City in the summer, Ricketts has featured in every game for the Wanderers. The Wales international is determined to keep that run going with his side in the top 10 and said: “All derbies are big games and its bragging rights, the players and fans feel for that as much as anything.

“You always want to win in general but the fact that it is a derby does add something to the game.”

Bolton Wanderers, who currently sit just one point above the drop zone, face Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League game knowing they could do with a victory to stay clear of from the base three.

Anurada Bhat

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Ancelotti promises Chelsea crackdown

October 18, 2009


Carlo Ancelotti has pledged to eradicate the dreadful defending that is threatening to increase the pressure on the Italian after second successive Premier League defeat away from home.

Saturday’s 2-1 loss here to Aston Villa combined with Manchester United’s win over Bolton saw Chelsea surrender top spot in the table.

Defeat at Villa Park meant six of the eight goals conceded by Chelsea this season have come from set plays, evoking memories of the defensive problems that ultimately ended Luiz Felipe Scolari’s reign at Stamford Bridge.

James Collins delivered the killer blow with his first goal in four seasons to extend Aston Villa’s unbeaten home run to six games and heighten optimism that Martin O’Neill can unsettle the established order.

But the worry lines on Ancelotti’s forehead will become more pronounced with further performances like this, despite Didier Drogba’s seventh goal of the campaign gifting Chelsea the advantage.

Richard Dunne capitalised on dreadful defending to equalise and Collins pounced early in the second-half to condemn Chelsea to another alarming defeat on the road.

Two seasons ago Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich stormed out of Villa Park in a rage after a 2-0 defeat, with then manager Jose Mourinho sacked days later.

Italian boss Ancelotti is under no immediate danger but the alarm bells will surely be ringing already following Chelsea’s insipid defeat at Wigan.

And ahead of their Champions League game with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, it promises to be a busy few days on the training ground as Ancelotti works on his problems.

He said: “I am disappointed because Chelsea played a good match. We lost this game on the set plays and I don’t like to lose games on set plays.

“Aston Villa did a very good job. On the set plays we need to do better because we can. Those are the questions from this match.

“The first goal was from a set play and we need to improve on the situation. We have to pay more attention and more concentration in the box.

“We work every time on the set plays but we have to improve. We need more focus. At Wigan the first goal was the same.

“When we lose a game for sure we are not happy but I think that until this moment the team has played very well and done a very good job.

“But there are things we can improve on,” the former AC Milan manager added. “I’m sure the players will do this in the next game.”

This was no more than Villa deserved, however, and O’Neill possesses a vibrant squad that could deliver on their mission to gatecrash the Big Four – or Five, as it may be now.

O’Neill believes he has his best squad yet after three years in charge and this win came after an earlier victory over Liverpool.

“We’ve got some really good players and a decent squad with players that aren’t getting into the side,” said former Northern Ireland midfielder O’Neill.

“It’s the strongest we’ve been for three years. There’s only eight games gone, we’ve done fine and we’ve played three of those games who will be in contention and we’ve been okay.

“I’m absolutely delighted, I thought we played brilliantly. We had to defend in the second-half, they came at us strongly but we saw it through.

“The overall view of the game was that I thought we were splendid,” O’Neill, previously in charge of Scottish giants Celtic, said.

“We’ve beaten, in my view, a team that if anybody finishes above them they will win the Premier League.”

BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)

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