Football news round-up 18-24 Jan

Sunday 24 January 2010

Away from The FA Cup, England striker Wayne Rooney scored four goals for the first time in a professional match to send Manchester United to the top of the Premier League with a 4-0 home win over Hull. It was the only Premier League game of the weekend.

Former Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy will not be returning to England after agreeing to leave Real Madrid for Hamburg on an 18-month deal.

Spanish club Villarreal claim their Argentine striker Marco Ruben will sign for Wigan Athletic this week.

Arsenal’s Swiss international defender Philippe Senderos is to join Everton on loan until the end of the season.

Stacy Long scored both goals of the game in the second half against Kettering to keep Stevenage top of the Conference table.

Brett Romero scored a last-minute winner to lift Blackpool into the Championship Play-off places with a 3-2 victory over Watford.

Chris Martin scored the only goal of the game for ten-man Norwich against Brentford to send his side to the top of the League One table.

Rochdale’s 4-1 win at Cheltenham moves them nine points clear at the top of the League Two table.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson insisted it will take “ridiculous money” to sign striker Jermaine Beckford after his injury-time penalty secured a 2-2 FA Cup Fourth round draw at Tottenham.

Saturday 23 January 2010

Manchester City’s chief executive Garry Cook has stated the club’s ambitions to a fans' forum in New York. "This football club is, without doubt, going to be the biggest and best football club in the world," he said.

Steve Bruce has again dismissed reports that he is willing to let Kenwyne Jones go on loan from Sunderland to Liverpool. The Sunderland manager described the stories as “total nonsense” and said: “It’s the biggest load of rubbish I’ve read in weeks.”

Craig Gardner looks set to join his boyhood idols Birmingham City after Alex McLeish agreed a £3m deal with Aston Villa. The England Under-21 midfielder has not been a first-team regular at Villa Park and should join the Blues subject to a medical early next week.

Nolberto Solano, the former Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder, has joined Leicester City. The Peruvian, 35, had been on trial at Colchester and Sheffield United but was offered a contract by Nigel Pearson, one of his former coaches at St James Park.

Mike Williamson’s move from Portsmouth to Newcastle stalled late on Friday even though the two clubs had completed formalities. The former Watford defender had passed his medical but the move has been halted while Portsmouth discuss the fine detail of his sell-on clause with Watford.

Burnley have signed France Under-21 striker Frederic Nimani on loan from Monaco. Brian Laws has beaten off competition from Bolton and Birmingham to sign the promising striker on loan until the end of the season.

Harry Redknapp has said Spurs are not prepared to break their tight wage structure to sign Ruud Van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid. The Dutch striker is looking for wages of £100,000 per week and Redknapp said that has killed off their interest. Van Nistelrooy is in talks now with Hamburg about signing for the Bundesliga side.

Friday 22 January 2010

Sunderland have signed highly-rated defender Matthew Kilgallon from Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee. Kilgallon made 124 appearances for the Yorkshire club and was voted the fans’ player of the 2008-09 season.

Manchester City striker Jo has joined Galatasaray on loan until the end of the season. Jo struggled to command a regular first-team place at Eastlands and has been on loan at Everton this season.

Manchester United defender John O’Shea is set to miss the rest of the season with a leg injury. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "He's got a terrible injury - the blood clot became all knotted. It's a long process to clear it up and he'll probably miss the season now."

Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs is to undergo surgery on a foot injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Gibbs fractured the first metatarsal in his left foot during the Champions League game against Standard Liege back in November but has failed to make a full recovery.

Dunfermline have won their appeal against their expulsion from this season’s Scottish Cup. They must now replay their fourth round tie against Stenhousemuir and pay £30,000 for breaching competition rules after fielding a suspended player and three other team-listing errors.

Wolves have signed Belgian international Geoffrey Mujangi Bia on loan from RSC Charleroi until the end of the season. Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said: "He's a player we have been tracking for a while and will add some creativity and firepower to our squad.”

Kidderminster have named former Stalybridge Celtic boss Steve Burr as their new manager. Burr, 50, replaces Mark Yates, who took charge of Cheltenham back in December.

Cameroon edged their way into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter finals with a 2-2 draw against Tunisia. Zambia also reached the last eight of the competition following their 2-1 victory over Gabon.

Thursday 21 January 2010

Aston Villa booked their place in the League Cup final with a 6-4 win over ten-man Blackburn Rovers. Six different scorers found the net for Martin O’Neill’s side, who completed a 7-4 aggregate victory and will face either Manchester United or Manchester City in the Final next month.

Arsenal moved up to top spot in the Premier League after coming from behind to beat Bolton Wanderers 4-2 at Emirates Stadium. Gary Cahill and Matthew Taylor put the visitors two up before Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Vermaelen and Andrei Arshavin hit back for the Gunners. The result lifts Arsenal above London rivals Chelsea on goals scored, although Carlo Ancelotti’s side have a game in hand.

Liverpool beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to gain ground in the race for fourth place in the Premier League thanks to two goals from Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt.

The clash between League One strugglers Oldham Athletic and Tranmere Rovers finished goalless, meaning both sides remain in the bottom four.

Adebayo Akinfenwa and Luke Guttridge scored for Northampton as they won 2-0 at Macclesfield in League Two.

In the Football League Trophy, Michail Antonio’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 win for Southampton over MK Dons in the first leg of the Southern Area Final. The return leg will be played on Tuesday 9 February.

The overall debt of Manchester United’s parent company, Red Football Joint Venture Ltd, has been revealed at £716.5m on accounts filed for the year ending June 2009.

Newcastle United have signed defender Danny Simpson from Manchester United on a three-year deal after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee. Simpson, has been on loan at St James’ Park for the last three months.

New West Ham chairman David Sullivan has vowed to back manager Gianfranco Zola in the January transfer window and has said he wants to sign two new strikers for the Hammers.

Portsmouth are being sued by former player Sol Campbell. The defender, now at Arsenal, says he is owed in image rights and bonus payments.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has revealed his interest in signing Hamburg right-back Guy Demel, who is currently playing at the African Cup of Nations for the Ivory Coast.

Fulham have confirmed that Clint Dempsey, their American midfielder, does not require knee surgery and should be fit to line-up for the USA against England at the World Cup in South Africa.

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Carlos Tevez scored twice against his former club as Manchester City gained a 2-1 first-leg lead over Manchester United in the semi-final of the League Cup. Ryan Giggs scored first for United, who host the second leg next Wednesday.
 
Sheffield Wednesday climbed out of the relegation zone in the Championship by winning 2-1 away at Blackpool. In only manager Alan Irvine’s second game in charge of the Owls, they won thanks to goals from Tom Soares and Leon Clarke. Charlie Adam replied for Blackpool.
 
In the Football League Trophy, Leeds United suffered another shock defeat as they went down 2-1 at home to Carlisle in the Northern Area Final first leg. Graham Kavanagh opened the scoring for the visitors and although Jason Crowe equalised there was still time for Joe Anyinsah to head an 84th minute winner. The return leg is on  9 February with the Final played at Wembley.
 
Charlton scored a crucial 2-1 victory over Hartlepool in League One to move level on points with second-placed Norwich. David Mooney and Scott Wagstaff scored the goals. Leyton Orient beat Yeovil 2-0, Swindon won 1-0 at Stockport and Huddersfield and Bristol Rovers drew 0-0 on the same night.
 
Aldershot drew 1-1 with leaders Rochdale in League Two, Louie Soares earned the home side a point after Chris Dagnall put the visitors ahead. Bury are third after beating Bradford 2-1 with goals from Mike Jones and Ryan Lowe, the second from the spot. Bottom side Darlington scored a morale-boosting 2-1 away win at  Rotherham with Irishman Tadhg Purcell scoring in his first game in English football after signing from Shamrock Rovers. Gary Smith scored the second.
 
West Ham are under new ownership after David Sullivan and David Gold took over at Upton Park and promised to keep manager Gianfranco Zola in place. The two businessman, both West Ham fans, bought a 50 per cent stake in the club and held ad press conference on Tuesday morning. The Hammers’ new owners also say they want to move the club to the Olympic 2012 stadium in future.
 
Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos is wanted by Celtic and manager Arsene Wenger says a deal to sell the Swiss centre-back is possible.
 
New Burnley manager Brian Laws has now brought his backroom staff from Sheffield Wednesday to Turf Moor. Laws is joined by goalkeeping coach Billy Mercer, chief scout Tim Henderson and fitness coach Tom Little. The Clarets have also appointed Stuart Gray as their first team coach.
 
Weymouth manager Ian Hutchinson and his assistant Andy Mason have both been sacked, two weeks after signing new deals at the Conference South club.
  
Macclesfield manager Keith Alexander has agreed a new deal to stay at the League Two club until 2012.
 
England’s World Cup opponents Algeria are involved in a row after they drew 0-0 with hosts Angola to reach the last eight of the African Cup of Nations. Rivals Mali claimed both teams deliberately took it easy in the final stages of the game knowing they were both through – and lodged a protest.

Tuesday 19 January 2010

Thierry Henry will not be punished by FIFA for the handball that played a key role in ensuring France, rather than the Republic of Ireland, qualified for the World Cup. Football’s governing body said there was ‘no legal foundation’ to consider the case.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been sent home by Ghana from the Africa Cup of Nations due to a knee injury. The 27-year-old has partially torn knee ligaments and initial reports suggest he will be out for at least a month.

Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has been ruled out of action for a month after injuring his calf in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Everton.

Egyptian striker Amr Zaki has signed for Hull City on loan until the end of the season. The former Wigan star will have to wait until the game with Wolves on 30 January to make his debut, though, as he is waiting for a work permit.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has quashed reports that he has made a bid for Manchester United’s England goalkeeper Ben Foster. "I have no idea where this story has come from because we have never made an offer for Ben Foster, let alone had one rejected,” said Redknapp after it was claimed he had offered £4m for the 26-year-old. "He is an England goalkeeper and I cannot see him going somewhere as a number two anyway."

Newcastle have extended their lead at the top of the Championship to three points after drawing 2-2 with promotion rivals West Brom on Tyneside. The visitors – who are now three points behind second-placed Nottingham Forest – twice went in front through Jonas Olsson and Roman Bednar, only for Danny Guthrie and Peter Lovenkrands to level the scores.

Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot says he wants to spend his summer working with Kent and England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones in an unusual training job-swap. “Geraint likes to relate goalkeeping to wicketkeeping so I hope I can assist," said Elliot.

Cian Hughton has signed a new 18-month deal at Lincoln City. "It's good for me, I'm settled and I know what I'm doing so hopefully I can keep improving," said the defender.

Chester City have been served a winding-up order by HM Revenue and Customs. The Conference Premier club must appear at the Royal Courts of Justice on 27January.

Monday 18 January 2010

Arsenal could top the Premier League table if they repeat Sunday’s 2-0 win over Bolton when the two sides meet again at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. Goals from Spanish duo Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida were enough to see off Owen Coyle's new outfit at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday, and they will now meet again just three days later.

Blackburn Rovers also scored an important 2-0 Sunday win, beating Fulham at Ewood Park with goals from Chris Samba and Ryan Nelson.

West Ham won an important point in their battle against relegation with a hard-earned goalless draw at Champions League hopefuls Aston Villa on Sunday.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has a knee problem and faces a fitness test ahead of Ghana’s must-win clash with Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock has stated that teenage striker Victor Moses could have played his last game for the club, after scoring the winner at Plymouth Argyle. Warnock said: “I think that might be his last game for us. We can't keep turning people away.”

Portsmouth might start legal proceedings against the Premier League in an attempt to lift the transfer embargo on the club. Chief executive Peter Storrie said: "I can confirm we have issued a legal letter to the Premier League to demand that the transfer embargo should be lifted.”

England midfielder Joe Cole, who is out of contract this summer, is close to resolving his situation according to chairman Bruce Buck, who said: “I am personally a big fan of Joe Cole and we are in discussions with his agent and hopefully that will be sorted out soon.”

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has stated the club are not seeking to sell striker Kenwyne Jones, but has confirmed an approach for Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi. He said: “We did look at Kuranyi and spoke to his club Schalke. The idea for us was that it would make it even better at our club.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refuted reports that England Under-21 midfielder Jack Wilshere could join ex-England manager Steve McClaren on loan at Dutch side FC Twente. Wenger said: “I've heard Twente are interested, but I would prefer Jack to play in the Premier League.”