Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com |
- Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton: match preview
- Norwich City v Sunderland: match preview
- Newcastle United v Crystal Palace: match preview
- Manchester City v Fulham: match preview
- Chelsea v Arsenal: match preview
- Aston Villa v Stoke City: match preview
- West Ham United v Manchester United: match preview
- Hull City v West Bromwich Albion: match preview
- Cardiff City v Liverpool: match preview
- Blatter coy over Qatar 2022 future
- Russia sanctions: little bark, less bite | Editorial
- José Mourinho says Arsenal stuck by Arsène Wenger in 'the bad moments'
- Hull supporters invited to vote on proposed Tigers name change
- Van Persie could be ruled out for season with knee injury
- How Kenny Jackett reversed Wolves' relegation run | Stuart James
- Everton v Swansea City: match preview
- Valdés: Barcelona must be brave
- The Fiver | Smash his goose and nut his swan
- David Moyes says he can look United supporters in the face again
- Chelsea's José Mourinho: 'I admire Arsenal' – video
- Steve Bruce accuses FA of 'kangaroo court' over George Boyd ban
- Arsène Wenger looks ahead to 1,000th game as Arsenal manager – video
- Sport picture of the day: Paul Pogba's airborne control
- Why Gosport Borough believe they can win the FA Trophy
- Robin van Persie hopeful of making Manchester derby after knee injury
| Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 02:38 PM PDT Spurs restored some pride in the second half against Benfica on Thursday but, after the defeat by Arsenal last weekend, their aim of securing a Champions League place lies in tatters. Injuries have not helped Tim Sherwood's case but he will be desperate to end a four-game winless run at home to Southampton, whose England players remain determined to earn World Cup call-ups. Alan Smith Kick-off Sunday 1.30pm Venue White Hart Lane Last season Tottenham 1 Southampton 0 Live Sky Sports 1 Referee A Taylor This season G15, Y53, R2, 3.8 cards per game Odds H 5-4 A 3-1 D 12-5 Tottenham HotspurSubs from Gomes, Fryers, Veljkovic, Sandro, Dembélé, Kane, Lennon, Soldado Doubtful Adebayor (ankle), Dembélé (hamstring), Kaboul (leg) Injured Dawson (leg, 30 Mar), Chiriches (back, 30 Mar), Paulinho (calf, 30 Mar), Walker (pelvis, 30 Mar), Capoue (foot, unknown), Lamela (back, unknown), Lloris (calf, unknown) Suspended None Form LLWLWW Discipline Y54 R3 Leading scorer Adebayor 8 SouthamptonSubs from K Davis, Gazzaniga, Clyne, Ramírez, Yoshida, Chambers, Hooiveld, Gallagher, Do Prado Doubtful K Davis (match fitness) Do Prado (knee), Lovren (groin), Schneiderlin (pelvis) Injured Cork (ankle, 29 Mar), Wanyama (calf, unknown) Suspended None Form WWLLWD Discipline Y52 R0 Leading scorer Rodriguez 12 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Norwich City v Sunderland: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 02:35 PM PDT Another meeting of two sides struggling to keep their heads above water. Chris Hughton's future at Norwich is in a near constant state of doubt and if they are to maintain their Premier League status, they need results against the teams around them in the table. Sunderland, while third bottom, have games in hand due to their cup runs but that could yet prove their downfall as fixtures pile up. Alan Smith Kick-off Saturday 3pm Venue Carrow Road Last season Norwich 2 Sunderland 1 Referee P Dowd This season G19, Y84, R1, 4.5 cards per game Odds H 5-4 A 14-5 D 9-4 Norwich CitySubs from Bunn, Whittaker, Gutíerrez, Turner, Howson, R Bennett, Johnson, Pilkington, Hooper, Elmander Doubtful Gutíerrez (calf), Turner (hamstring) Injured E Bennett (knee, 5 Apr), Fer (hamstring, 12 Apr) Suspended None Form LDLWLD Discipline Y46 R2 Leading scorer Hooper 5 SunderlandSubs from Ustari, Vergini, Cuéllar, Celustka, Dossena, Cattermole, Larsson, Gardner, Giaccherini, Scocco Doubtful None Injured Fletcher (ankle, unknown), Westwood (shoulder, unknown) Suspended None Form DLLWWD Discipline Y43 R6 Leading scorer Johnson 7 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Newcastle United v Crystal Palace: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 02:34 PM PDT The good news for struggling Palace is that Newcastle are without the injured Loïc Rémy for a seventh Premier League fixture this season. When the France striker, on loan from QPR, has been absent, Alan Pardew's team have lost five league games, drawn one and failed to score a single goal. "Rémy's not our player but we struggle to score without him," acknowledged the one-time Palace midfielder who, because of a stadium ban, will watch the match on television at the training ground. Much may depend on if and when Hatem Ben Arfa is liberated from the home bench. Louise Taylor Kick-off Saturday 3pm Venue St James' Park Last season n/a Referee L Probert This season G13, Y19, R2, 1.8 cards per game Odds H 10-11 A 19-5 D 13-5 Newcastle UnitedSubs from Alnwick, S Taylor, Haïdara, Marveaux, Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi, Sammy Ameobi, Armstrong, Gosling Doubtful None Injured Santon (knee, 29 Mar), Debuchy (groin, 5 Apr), Rémy (calf, 5 Apr), Elliot (knee, unknown), R Taylor (knee, Aug), Obertan (knee, unknown) Suspended None Form LWWLLL Discipline Y41 R4 Leading scorer Rémy 13 Crystal PalaceSubs from Guedioura, Puncheon, Jerome, Thomas, McCarthy, Bannan, Gabbidon, Hennessey Doubtful Bannan (illness), Gabbidon (match fitness) Injured Chamakh (hamstring, 29 Mar) Gayle (calf, 5 Apr) Suspended None Form DLDLWL Discipline Y40 R2 Leading scorer Chamakh 5 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Manchester City v Fulham: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 02:31 PM PDT There is no margin for error against the Premier League's bottom club for Manuel Pellegrini's side. With an away sequence that reads Old Trafford, the Emirates Stadium and Anfield to come, Manchester City must put maximum points on the board regardless of Vincent Kompany's suspension and injury to Sergio Agüero. Only Norwich City have conceded more goals on their travels this season than Fulham, who have lost 10 of 15 away games but secured their first win under new manager Felix Magath last weekend. Andy Hunter Kick-off Saturday 3pm Venue Etihad Stadium Last season Man City 2 Fulham 0 Referee J Moss This season G18, Y62, R2, 3.7 cards per game Odds H 1-6 A 18-1 D 15-2 Manchester CitySubs from Pantilimon, Clichy, Rodwell, Boyata, Milner, García, Navas, Jovetic, Nimely, Wabara, Lopes Doubtful None Injured Nastasic (knee, 29 Mar), Richards (muscle, 29 Mar), Agüero (hamstring, 5 Apr) Suspended Kompany (one match) Form WWDLWW Discipline Y51 R1 Leading scorer Agüero 15 FulhamSubs from Stekelenburg, Riise, Burn, Amorebieta, Bent, Zverotic, Boateng, David, Roberts, Rodallega, Tankovic, Dembélé Doubtful Burn (calf) Injured Dejagah (thigh, 30 Mar), Mitroglou (knee, 30 Mar), Parker (knee, 5 Apr), Karagounis (thigh, 5 Apr), Duff (knee, Aug), Briggs (groin, Aug), Suspended None Form WLLDLD Discipline Y43 R0 Leading scorer Sidwell 6 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Chelsea v Arsenal: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 02:20 PM PDT Arsène Wenger will take little satisfaction in overseeing his 1,000th match if the derby he has labelled Arsenal's "game of the season" is lost. This contest will go some way towards determining these clubs' respective title challenges, with the visitors aware that, if Wenger secures a first victory in 11 attempts over a team managed by José Mourinho, then a follow-up success at home to Swansea on Tuesday will send them top. Mourinho suggested this game was of no greater significance than last weekend's trip to Aston Villa, though that fooled no one. The loss of Willian and Ramires to suspension feels significant. Dominic Fifield Kick-off Saturday 12.45pm Venue Stamford Bridge Last season Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1 Live BT Sport 1 Referee A Marriner This season G21, Y64, R6, 3.6 cards per game Odds H 10-11 A 3-1 D 5-2 ChelseaSubs from Schwarzer, Hilário, Blackman, Ake, David Luiz, Kalas, Mikel, Ba, Salah, Torres Doubtful None Injured Van Ginkel (fitness, 5 Apr), Cole (knee, 5 Apr) Suspended Ramires (first of three), Willian (one match) Form LWWWDW Discipline Y46 R3 Leading scorer Hazard 13 ArsenalSubs from Fabianski, Jenkinson, Sanogo, Vermaelen, Zelalem, Kallstrom, Gnabry, Hayden, Podolski, Bendtner Doubtful Rosicky (ankle) Injured Özil (hamstring, 13 Apr), Ramsey (thigh, 20 Apr), Wilshere (ankle, May), Diaby (knee, unknown), Walcott (knee, Aug) Suspended None Form WLWDLW Discipline Y41 R3 Leading scorer Giroud 12 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Aston Villa v Stoke City: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 02:17 PM PDT Aston Villa, buoyed by last week's surprise triumph over Chelsea, aim at Villa Park to make it three successive victories for the first time since October 2007. Hope can be taken from Stoke's poor away form – they have not won a league game outside the Potteries since August – and the fact that Charlie Adam and Jonathan Walters are suspended for the visitors and Stephen Ireland is ineligible. Anastasiia Tikhomirova Kick-off Sunday 4pm Venue Villa Park Last season Aston Villa 0 Stoke 0 Live Sky Sports 1 Referee M Clattenburg This season G21, Y71, R2, 3.6 cards per game Odds H 6-5 A 11-4 D 12-5 Aston VillaSubs from Steer, Bennett, Clark, Albrighton, Sylla, Lowton, Holt, Robinson, Tonev, Luna, Helenius Doubtful None Injured Okore (knee, unknown), Kozak (leg, unknown), N'Zogbia (achilles, unknown) Suspended None Form WWLDLL Discipline Y59 R0 Leading scorer Benteke 9 Stoke CitySubs from Sorensen, Pieters, Shotton, Palacios, Wilkinson, Etherington, Guidetti, Assaidi Doubtful Pieters (leg), Assaidi (knee) Injured Huth (knee, Aug) Suspended Adam (last of three), Walters (second of three) Ineligible Ireland (terms of loan) Form WDWLDD Discipline Y64 R4 Leading scorers Adam, Crouch 6 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| West Ham United v Manchester United: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:58 PM PDT The picture is looking much brighter for Manchester United now. Wednesday's victory over Olympiakos in the Champions League has lifted the gloom for David Moyes after last Sunday's humiliation at home to Liverpool, although United will have to be at their best at Upton Park, a ground where they have often come unstuck. The doubts will return if United lose to West Ham, who are not quite clear of the relegation battle just yet. West Ham have lost their past two matches but this is unlikely to be easy for the champions. Jacob Steinberg Kick-off Saturday 5.30pm Venue Upton Park Last season West Ham 2 Man Utd 2 Live Sky Sports 1 Referee L Mason This season G18, Y58, R5, 3.8 cards per game Odds H 7-2 A 5-6 D 13-5 West Ham UnitedSubs from Jaaskelainen, Spiegel, Tomkins, Armero, Johnson, Razak, Diarra, Diamé, Nocerino, J Cole, C Cole, Vaz Tê Doubtful None Injured O'Brien (shoulder, Apr), Borriello (hamstring, unknown) Suspended None Form LLWWWW Discipline Y46 R5 Leading scorer Nolan 7 Manchester UnitedSubs from Lindegaard, Giggs, Buttner, Fletcher, Valencia, Kagawa, Nani, Hernández, Fellaini Doubtful Valencia (eye) Injured Evans (calf, 29 Mar), Smalling (hamstring, 29 Mar), Van Persie (knee, May) Suspended Vidic (first of two) Form LWWDDL Discipline Y53 R3 Leading scorers Rooney, Van Persie 11 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Hull City v West Bromwich Albion: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:31 PM PDT Pepe Mel finally guided West Brom to victory in his eighth game by coming from behind at Swansea last weekend. But they must now build on that because, with Sunderland holding two games in hand, Mel's team are by no stretch of the imagination safe. Hull, with only one win in their past eight home league games, could still be dragged into the fight for survival, despite sitting 14th. West Brom would leapfrog Steve Bruce's team with a win, outlining how tightly bunched the bottom half of the table is. Alan Smith Kick-off Saturday 3pm Venue KC Stadium Last season n/a Referee C Foy This season G18, Y48, R5, 3.2 cards per game Odds H 5-4 A 5-2 D 11-5 Hull CitySubs from Harper, Jakupovic, Faye, Bruce, Koren, Sagbo, Aluko, Quinn, Henderson, Fletcher, Dudgeon Doubtful None Injured McShane (ankle, Aug), Brady (groin, Aug) Suspended Boyd (first of three) Form LLWLWD Discipline Y45 R3 Leading scorers Brady, Jelavic 3 West Bromwich AlbionSubs from Myhill, Sinclair, Vydra, Bifouma, Berahino, Tamas, Jones, Popov, Daniels, O'Neil Doubtful None Injured Yacob (hamstring, 29 Mar), Lugano (knee, 5 Apr), Brunt (knee, May), Amalfitano (knee, unknown) Suspended Olsson (first of two) Form WLDDLD Discipline Y59 R0 Leading scorer Berahino 4 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Cardiff City v Liverpool: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:29 PM PDT Second in the league against second bottom. Assuming Liverpool play close to their potential, it is difficult to see anything other than a sixth straight league victory for Brendan Rodgers's title-chasing side. Liverpool have scored more than three times as many goals as Cardiff; Luis Suárez has two more than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's entire squad. Unlucky to lose at Everton last Saturday, Cardiff know their survival hopes are likely to hinge on the following two games, against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace. Stuart James Kick-off Saturday 3pm Venue Cardiff City Stadium Last season n/a Referee N Swarbrick This season G15, Y50, R0, 3.3 cards per game Odds H 8-1 A 2-5 D 17-4 Cardiff CitySubs from Lewis, Turner, Bellamy, Théophile-Catherine, Jones, Taylor, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Cowie, Daehli, Eikrem, Berget, McNaughton Doubtful None Injured Hudson (hamstring, unknown) Suspended None Form LWLLDL Discipline Y38 R0 Leading scorer Campbell 5 LiverpoolSubs from Jones, Coutinho, Lucas, Sakho, Cissokho, Touré, Kelly, Aspas, Moses, Alberto, Teixeira Doubtful None Injured José Enrique (knee, 12 Apr), Coates (knee, 12 Apr) Suspended None Form WWWWWD Discipline Y44 R0 Leading scorer Suárez 25 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Blatter coy over Qatar 2022 future Posted: 21 Mar 2014 01:17 PM PDT • Fifa president under renewed pressure over 2022 The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, has refused to speculate on whether Qatar could be stripped of the World Cup over a new round of bribery allegations, which have been referred to its ethics committee. Despite having previously insisted that the tournament would be held in the Gulf state come what may amid continuing concern over the treatment of migrant construction workers and the climate, Blatter said he "was not a prophet" when asked whether Qatar could lose the World Cup. He confirmed that investigators from Fifa's ethics committee would look into a report in the Daily Telegraph that the former Fifa executive committee member Jack Warner and his family requested payments of more than $2m from his Qatari colleague Mohamed bin Hammam shortly after the World Cup vote. "I am happy now that we have an independent committee for ethics and this is now to be dealt with by this committee," said Blatter. Warner later resigned from Fifa in disgrace, while the prospective presidential candidate Bin Hammam was banned from football for life after offering bribes of $40,000 in cash to members of the Caribbean Football Union at a meeting attended by the Trinidadian former Concacaf president. Bin Hammam and Warner deny any wrongdoing. With neither of them involved in football any longer, it is hard to see what sanctions Fifa could take against them. Michael Garcia, the head of the investigatory arm of Fifa's ethics committee, is continuing to examine the chaotic and controversial bidding race for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. He has toured each of the bidding countries and was in Zurich this week to interview the executive committee, causing consternation among some. In a statement, Garcia said: "The ethics committee is aware of the material in the published article. As with any allegations of misconduct by officials, the ethics committee will take whatever action it feels appropriate." Theo Zwanziger, the German Fifa executive who once said awarding the World Cup to Qatar was a mistake, updated the committee on moves to address criticism from human rights organisations over the treatment of the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers preparing the infrastructure for the 2022 World Cup. He said a Fifa delegation, probably led by Blatter, would visit the country, and he was hopeful that the situation would improve. "On the basis of the visit we will have further talks. We expect the others building there and making money also to have a clear stance. We want to improve the human rights situation in that country," he said. Human rights groups said Fifa must speak to workers rather than just visiting sites selected by the Qatari authorities. Jérôme Valcke, Fifa's secretary general, paid tribute to the resilience of football in straitened economic times, revealing his organisation had record revenues of $1.38bn (£835m) in 2013 and a surplus of $72m, leaving it with reserves of $1.435bn. Fifa has always argued that the huge reserves are necessary to protect it against the possibility of a World Cup, its main cash cow, being cancelled. With 80 days until the 2014 tournament, Valcke will travel to Rio de Janeiro on Monday to meet World Cup organisers. He reported record ticket sales and said he hoped to hear positive news on the handover of the remaining outstanding stadiums. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Russia sanctions: little bark, less bite | Editorial Posted: 21 Mar 2014 12:57 PM PDT The EU and US have been talking tough and producing lists of high-profile Russians they have identified for asset freezes The international community does not like it, but Ukraine has lost Crimea to Russia. The question now is how to persuade President Vladimir Putin against taking another pound of Ukrainian flesh or, more likely, attempting to render the country ungovernable. To this end, the EU and US have been talking tough and producing lists of high-profile Russians they have identified for asset freezes and travel bans. The EU yesterday announced it was adding 12 people to the list of 21 officials it will punish. On Thursday, the US came out with its own second tranche of individuals to target. Neither the rhetoric nor the sanctions have looked convincing, but the US Treasury's list is at least a fascinating account of where Washington believes the bodies are buried in the Putin administration. Among the four men and one bank listed under the heading "members of the inner circle" is the close Putin ally Gennady Timchenko. Mr Timchenko was until recently co-owner of Gunvor, which rose from nothing to become the fourth largest oil trader in the world on the back of contracts awarded by the state. According to the US Treasury, Mr Putin has investments in Gunvor and "may have access to Gunvor funds". (The Kremlin denies this). The US list also fingers Arkady Rotenberg, a former judo partner of Mr Putin whose companies won more than $7bn worth of contracts for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Bank Rossiya, meanwhile, sometimes described as "Putin's bank", owns major stakes in many of the Russian media companies that have been cheerleading the Crimean conquest. The targeting of these asset freezes is smart, but they do not represent much of a stick. In Kiev, the sanctions have been derided as a "mosquito bite", and Mr Putin himself yesterday laughed them off. Any crony worth his salt will have long made plans to keep their money out of western clutches, as Mr Timchenko did by dumping his Gunvor stake on Wednesday. Europe has threatened a possible third, more intrusive round of economic sanctions, but we can read in their sluggish responses the double bind the 28 EU states are in, loth to cut off their stuttering economies from Russian trade and gas and unable to set a clear foreign policy objective. Wider economic sanctions are also a blunt, unpredictable instrument: they take years to work, hurt the innocent as much as the guilty, and can even align the people behind a nationalist leader. More effective perhaps than any of these measures would be the suggestion floated by Andy Burnham: a threat to pull the 2018 World Cup from Russia. Withdrawing the propaganda opportunities of such a large event might – just might – make Mr Putin think twice. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| José Mourinho says Arsenal stuck by Arsène Wenger in 'the bad moments' Posted: 21 Mar 2014 12:42 PM PDT • '... and the bad moments were quite a lot' Amid the glowing tributes to Arsène Wenger ahead of his 1,000th match in charge of Arsenal there was one sour note struck, predictably by José Mourinho who chose to remind the Frenchman of his trophy drought which now stretches to almost nine years. Arsenal's most recent silverware came in the 2005 FA Cup; in his 500th game they lost to Mourinho's Chelsea, who successfully defended their Premier League title in 2006, and the two meet again in Saturday's early kick-off. "I admire him and I admire Arsenal, because it's not possible to have 1,000 matches unless the club is also a fantastic club in the way they support the manager, especially in the bad moments and especially when the bad moments were quite a lot," Mourinho said. The pair endured a frosty relationship during Mourinho's first spell and a truce proved temporary when the Portuguese felt so riled by Wenger last month that he re-engaged the hostility. Mourinho described Wenger as a "specialist in failure" after the Frenchman commented that anyone ruling themselves out of the title race was doing so out of a fear of falling short. The Chelsea manager on Friday refused to apologise for the "failure" barb, after which he felt he was unfairly portrayed as the villain, and stopped short of joining those lauding Wenger's career. "The tribute is to say that I believe that any one of us would love to have the same privilege [of getting to 1,000 games] with our clubs," Mourinho said. He insisted his personal record against Wenger was incidental as it was team against team, not manager against manager. "It doesn't matter," he said. "It's not against him. It's Chelsea against Arsenal. I didn't even play Arsenal with Inter Milan or with Real Madrid or with Porto, I just played with Chelsea. "It's Chelsea-Arsenal, Arsenal-Chelsea, it's not me against him. Records don't play any role. A match is a match. It's not coach against coach, it's team against team." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Hull supporters invited to vote on proposed Tigers name change Posted: 21 Mar 2014 11:18 AM PDT • Chairman Assem Allam hints he could walk away A ballot opened to Hull City season ticket holders over the club's controversial name-change plans contains another strong hint that the owner, Assem Allam, could walk away from the club if he does not get his way. Fans have until next week to vote on one of three options regarding the planned change to Hull Tigers, although the Football Association's membership committee has already recommended the club's application be rejected when the full FA Council meet on April 9. In the ballot posted on the club's official website, Allam appears to be giving fans a stark choice – back the name-change, or hasten the exit of the Egyptian owner and his family. The three options in the poll, of which fans have been asked to pick just one, are: • Yes to Hull Tigers with the Allam family continuing to lead the club. • No to Hull Tigers. • I am not too concerned and will continue to support the club either way. The worst fears of fans' group City Till We Die appear to have been realised, with the group expressing its concern earlier this week that the ballot would be used as a vote of confidence in the Allam family. The poll does not appear to present the option of both no name change and the continuing support of the Allam family. Allam has consistently stated his intention to sell the club "within 24 hours" if the name-change bid is finally defeated. The owner is convinced a change in branding will raise the club's commercial profile and make it more marketable. Allam told the Guardian this week: "If the FA does not allow our plan, we will walk away, put it on the market to sell the club. We would not put it into liquidation; there is a lot of money at stake. I will get my money when I sell." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Van Persie could be ruled out for season with knee injury Posted: 21 Mar 2014 11:02 AM PDT • Dutch striker informed of need for caution over sprained knee Robin van Persie may not play for Manchester United again this season because of a sprained knee, with the striker concerned his World Cup hopes could be ruined if he returns too early. Although the club stated that the Dutchman would miss "four to six weeks", it is understood that Van Persie, who had the injury rescanned in Holland on Friday, has been informed of the need for caution. The striker is to undergo treatment on the knee and, even if Van Persie waits the full six weeks, which would take him into early May, he will have to be very careful returning then so as not to compromise playing for Holland at Brazil 2014. Van Persie suffered the injury towards the end of the 3-0 Champions League last-16 win over Olympiakos on Wednesday evening at Old Trafford, in which he scored all of the goals. The problem occured when he was hit from behind in the last minute by the centre-back Kostas Manolas and collapsed on the turf clutching the back of his left knee . Van Persie had to be taken off on a stretcher but at the time Moyes downplayed the problem , stating the forward had taken a knee in the back of his leg. Given Van Persie's three goals took him to 14 in 23 United outings to make him the club's top scorer during the current campaign, his loss is a blow to Moyes, with the forward now out of thee Champiosn Leaguie quarter-final against Bayern Munich. After a virtually injury-free season last year, Van Persie has again been cursed by setbacks this season as he was for most of his Arsenal career. On United's summer tour Van Persie suffered a muscle injury in Japan; he had issues with his toes and groin once the season started; and a problem in mid-December put him on the sidelines for six weeks. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| How Kenny Jackett reversed Wolves' relegation run | Stuart James Posted: 21 Mar 2014 10:50 AM PDT The club had fallen from Premier League to League One in successive seasons but now they are on course for promotion Kenny Jackett leads the way up the stairs before pointing to a couple of chairs in the boardroom, where a balcony looks out across Wolverhampton Wanderers' vast training ground. "It's a privilege to come to work here. It's like a five-star hotel," the Wolves head coach says. "From the pitches to the gym to the canteen, the players want for nothing." Surveying the impressive surroundings, including the building work going on nearby as part of an £8.5m academy development, it is hard to believe that the facilities are home to a League One club. Relegated from the Premier League in 2012, Wolves became the first club since Swindon Town, in the mid-1990s, to slide through the top two tiers in successive seasons when they finished second from bottom of the Championship last May. The club was in a mess and the mood among supporters was mutinous. Fans vented their anger towards Steve Morgan, the Wolves owner, for presiding over some disastrous managerial appointments, and also turned on high-earning underachieving players, such as Jamie O'Hara and Roger Johnson. "Joke club" was written across one of the flags held up in the away end at Brighton & Hove Albion last May, when Wolves were relegated. Three days later Dean Saunders was sacked after 20 games in charge. Fast forward 10 months and Wolves is a much happier place to be, which is testament to the superb job that Jackett has done in not just rebuilding the team and winning matches but also introducing an attractive style of play and repairing relations with a fanbase that had lost trust in the board, manager and players prior to his appointment as head coach at the end of last May. "To drop two levels in two years is unusual and financially it's very painful," Jackett says. "Relegation can breed a lot of negativity and I felt that the confidence around the place had been drained out of it. That needed to be changed. The relationship between the supporters and the players had broken down and I felt that we needed a new team for the fans to encourage and try to back. There has been a big turnover of players. There is only one of the current starting XI that played at the back end of last season, that's Bakary Sako." Since last summer, 17 players have left Molineux, 12 have gone out on loan and seven new faces arrived. At the same time a number of promising academy graduates have been given a chance to impress in the first team. Jackett could have chosen to go down another route, by turning to the more experienced players who remain under contract and, in some cases, continue to earn Premier League salaries. But in all three of his interviews for the job, the 52-year-old made it clear that he felt Wolves needed to start all over again. "After two relegations the supporters needed a new focus. And also I felt the team needed new energy, new freshness, new enthusiasm, some people coming in who were genuinely excited to play for Wolves and wanted to personally start climbing up the ladder, achieving things in football and being successful. I felt that was the right thing and I stated that in the interviews," Jackett says. "I also felt that for those particular players [Johnson and O'Hara, ] and many others, a new start was needed for their own career. We could have named a hell of a team sheet in League One but I didn't think it was right for the club and I didn't think it was our best way of being successful in the future. Only time will tell whether it is the right reason or not for doing that." The signs are encouraging. Wolves are enjoying the view from the top of League One with 10 games remaining, starting with Saturday's trip to in-form Sheffield United. Jackett's side had won a club-record nine successive league matches before drawing with Shrewsbury Town last Saturday and losing at Crawley Town on Tuesday. Wolves, by Jackett's own admission, were poor against Crawley but it was also the sort of game that the former Watford, Swansea and Millwall manager had warned his players to expect on the day they reported back for pre-season in June, when he told the squad how "the motivation level of the opposition is going to be massively high everywhere we go". With huge travelling support – an incredible 8,800 away tickets have been sold for the trip to MK Dons next weekend – together with their recent Premier League history, Wolves are viewed as a big scalp. "I've been around this division enough," Jackett says. "I've seen Leeds finish halfway down, I've seen Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United struggle for that very same reason. And I've been the underdog myself in those situations – to a degree it's a free game: no pressure, a great occasion, the game starts and every throw-in you get on the halfway line gets a round of applause. We know that is coming but it's not something that Wolves can't overcome. Your application has to be right more than your ability." Listening to Jackett talk for more than an hour, it is easy to see why Wolves chose him to bring some stability to a club that was appointing its fifth manager in 16 months. As well as having a decent track record as a manager – he won promotion with Swansea from League Two at the start of their revival and took Millwall into the Championship in 2010 – Jackett comes across as an erudite man who recognises the way that football has evolved on and off the pitch. He says that Wolves' decision to give him the title of "head coach" rather than manager, as part of a structure that requires him to work closely with Kevin Thelwell, the head of football development and recruitment, is "the correct set up for modern day football" and reduces the risk of the club repeating the costly mistakes they made in the transfer market. In an era where there is more emphasis on possession and fluid formations, Jackett also has a clear vision of how Wolves should play on the pitch. "I think over the last few years football has changed a lot and Wolves have to change with it and play what I consider to be the right way. The philosophy right from day one has been to encourage people that are comfortable on the ball. We want to pass and we want to pass out from the back. That's part of our coaching philosophy at the club and also our scouting philosophy in terms of the players that we bring in." As for Morgan, the club's much-maligned owner, Jackett paints a picture of a man whose passion for Wolves extends well beyond what is happening with the first-team. "He keeps in touch with everything that happens, including the under-21s and the schoolboy teams. He has a high level of interest right the way through the club. He wants to get the club back to the top level, which is inside everybody's level of aspiration. His commitment is first class and if people want proof of that, just look at the youth facilities that are being built." While the financial pain at Wolves will go on for a while longer yet – their most recent set of accounts showed a £33.1m loss and the majority of the senior players out on loan are tied to the club for at least another 12 months – Jackett stresses "the important thing is that the progress on the pitch doesn't stop or wait until those contracts run out". That progress is there for all to see and, if everything goes to plan, will culminate in Jackett taking Wolves back to the Championship at the first attempt. "The main aim has always been promotion. And particularly now, with ourselves being top with 10 games to go, that's an outstanding opportunity," he says. "It's a big chance. It's in our hands. We win enough of those 10 games and we'll be OK." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Everton v Swansea City: match preview Posted: 21 Mar 2014 10:03 AM PDT A win would see Everton leapfrog Tottenham into fifth and, despite a lengthy list of absentees, the omens are good. Roberto Martínez's team have not only won their past seven games at Goodison Park, they have also beaten Swansea in five of the last six meetings. For Garry Monk's team, the threat of relegation looms large – they lie five points off the bottom – and points are required. Alan Smith Kick-off Saturday 3pm Venue Goodison Park Last season Everton 0 Swansea 0 Referee M Oliver This season G20, Y76, R3, 4.1 cards per game Odds H 4-6 A 5-1 D 3-1 EvertonSubs from Robles, Barkley, McGeady, Naismith, Jagielka, Hibbert, Garbutt, Browning, Alcaraz, Gueye, Vellios Doubtful Hibbert (knee), Jagielka (hamstring) Injured Pienaar (knee, 12 Apr), Traoré (hamstring, May), Koné (knee, May), Gibson (knee, May), Oviedo (leg, Aug) Suspended None Form WWLLWL Discipline Y43 R1 Leading scorer Lukaku 10 Swansea CitySubs from Cornell, Tremmel, Taylor, Amat, Hernández, Shelvey, Lamah, Tiendalli, Cañas, Rangel, Pozuelo, Vazquez, Richards, Ngog, Emnes Doubtful Michu (ankle), Dyer (heel) Injured Bartley (hamstring, unknown) Suspended None Form LDLDWL Discipline Y46 R2 Leading scorer Bony 9 theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Valdés: Barcelona must be brave Posted: 21 Mar 2014 09:33 AM PDT • Outgoing keeper hoping for all three points Víctor Valdés is preparing for his last clásico in the expectation that it could settle the La Liga title race. The outgoing goalkeeper whose contract expires this summer said Barcelona would be travelling to the Bernabéu in a positive frame of mind on Sunday in search of all three points. "You need to be brave and confident when you play at the Bernabéu. We have learned how that is the best approach if you want to get a positive result there," he told the Barça website. "They are three important points, but they generally have been when we've played there. We have been working on defensive issues ahead of the game, but we should remember that there will be two teams on the pitch, and we have to avoid any mistakes at the Bernabéu, as we will pay a heavy price". Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are chasing the treble of Champions League, Spanish League and Copa del Rey, a feat the visitors achieved in 2008-09. Barça are most in need of a win, lying four points behind Real in third and a point adrift of Atlético Madrid in second. To add some extra spice, they drew Atlético in the Champions League quarter-finals, while Real will come up against last season's losing finalists Borussia Dortmund. El clásico is generating huge interest, with 700 journalists and 200 media agencies from five continents in attendance. In addition, television coverage of the match will be broadcast all around the world. Agencies from Europe, Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Mexico, Japan, the UAE, Australia and the USA will be represented along with 11 radio commentators and 33 television commentators . Nevertheless, the Real midfielder Xabi Alonso said he would approach it like any other game. "I think these are always very intense matches because of history and tradition because it is normally the two of us who are fighting for the titles," he said. "Their importance dictates that they are very competitive, with maximum tension. The matches are also very intense in the stands. The best possible news after the match would be that we played well, that the fans enjoyed it and that we are celebrating a win," he told the Real website. Real Madrid v Barcelona, Sky Sports 1, 8pm GMT Sunday 23 March theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| The Fiver | Smash his goose and nut his swan Posted: 21 Mar 2014 09:07 AM PDT THE WENGER BUS IS COMINGGoing through 999 matches unscathed is a remarkable feat, as Weird Uncle Fiver points out with pride when recalling his pyromaniac phase, but Arsène Wenger's 1,000th game as Arsenal chief could prove his most testing yet. Because in the opposite dugout, gurning with all the charm of a landlord exercising his droit de seigneur, will lurk José Mourinho, who would like nothing more than to sully Wenger's big day. How entertaining that this milestone match should throw up such a confrontation. Whether you bill it as the Special One versus the Specialist in Failure, the Moral Crusader against the Unscrupulous Winner, the Loyal Defender of Self-Sustainment against the Fickle User of Financial Dopers, Mourinho surely represents the antithesis of everything that Wenger stands, sits and throws water bottles in frustration for. And as if that's not enough, this bout could also go a long way to determining the destination of the Premier League title. "It is the game of the season for us, simple as that," bugled Wenger, who has never won against a team managed by Mourinho but is starting to think the time could be right for him to break his duck or, indeed, smash his goose and nut his swan. It's his 1,000th game, he can get away with anything! He even fancies his chances of landing the title! "If you look at the table, what is very interesting is you have Manchester City, you have Chelsea, you have Liverpool and you have Arsenal – that has not happened for years to fight for the Premier League," noted the perceptive one. "None of these four teams can say they are not going for it, that would be stupid." Is that a barb at Mourinho, who has been downplaying Chelsea's chances for months? Yes, let's say that it certainly is! Fight, fight, fight! This one could define an era. It is ON! QUOTE OF THE DAY"It was frustrating watching from the hotel. I didn't get angry. I had different feelings. I had like a butterfly feeling you get when you're watching your favourite team play. I never get that as a manager so it was a bit strange. Because I was detached I was a bit more nervous'" – the emotions of banned Newcastle boss Alan Pardew find a new way to get the better of him. FIVER LETTERS"I'm sure I won't be the only person to send you this link from the Reading Chronicle. The writers have used the innovative technique of researching their own imaginations and the film Green Street, and transposing their findings to the notorious badlands of Reading. Inexplicably, all traces of this brave exposé have been removed from the Chronicle's website, but the sorry affair has a bright ending with this magnificent piece from Supporters Not Customers, whose Ben Dudley risked life and limb to see Reading v Yeovil" – Nick Reed (and no others). "Re: AVB wanting to build a Zenit team as great as Peter the Great (yesterday's Bits and Bobs). Peter the Great taxed beards. Worked undercover in a shipyard. Executed his son. Possibly not a good role model" – Dan Levy. "Re: yesterday's Quote of the Day. Now, admittedly, I have not read the entire interview, but surely Pep Guardiola could be agreeing with his son that Coldplay are absolute bobbins, rather than the (admittedly chilling) alternative?" – Patrick Brennan (and others). "In response to Paul Dixon's assertion that you could mark a blank piece of paper 'Long Term Vision' via the use of a Post-it note (yesterday's Fiver letters). I find this a childish form of cheating, as the paper clearly isn't blank, it has a Post-it note stuck to it. I suggest using a projector to project some light on to the paper with the words 'Long Term Vision' visible. The paper remains blank, assuming various light spectrums don't count towards making a piece of paper non-blank" – Jordan Glossop (and 1,056 others). "Oh, Paul Dixon! No! Just no! You would have a blank piece of paper to which a Post-it had been attached, appended, stuck, adjoined, glued, connected or tacked. You would have a blank piece of paper supplemented or tagged by, or subsidiary to, a Post-it. But under no conceivable definition of the word would said blank piece of paper be marked with the contents of the Post-it. A practical proof of this can be found in the Premier League. If a Fulham defender is pressed against an opposing player, is that player, in any way, marked? I think we can all agree that he is not" – Barry Etheridge. • Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. And if you've nothing better to do you can also tweet the Fiver. Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is: Dan Levy. JOIN GUARDIAN SOULMATESWe keep trying to point out the utter futility of advertising an online dating service "for interesting people" in the Fiver to the naive folk who run Guardian Soulmates, but they still aren't having any of it. So here you go – sign up here to view profiles of the kind of erudite, sociable and friendly romantics who would never dream of going out with you. BITS AND BOBSPo' David Moyes was left staring forlornly at his Big Cup bingo card after Manchester United were drawn against Bayern in the last eight. "I have to say we have probably drawn out the favourites," he sniffed. The other balls pitted Chelsea against PSG, Barça with Atlético and Dortmund against Real Madrid. Lord Ferg, who only got a collection of bolded-up subheads off Big Website to mark his 1,000th game in 2004, has gritted his teeth and said some things about Arsène Wenger. "I congratulate Arsène in reaching this momentous landmark. Playing against them always presented special challenges that I burned many hours over the years thinking about," half-hearted Ferg. Meanwhile, José Mourinho's brain generated some faint praise and his mouth damned the Arsenal boss with it. "It's not possible to have 1,000 matches unless the club is also a fantastic club in the way they support the manager, especially in the bad moments and especially when the bad moments were quite a lot," honked Mourinho, who also plans to contest his FA improper conduct charge. Premier League, Football League, FA Cup and Conference matches will be delayed by seven minutes to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Glenn Hoddle was almost offered the Tottenham job, according to, erm, Glenn Hoddle. "I nearly went there this time round till the end of the season. I said I was prepared to do that. I wouldn't have been prepared to do it for any other club," parped the man whose last action as a manager was to leave Wolves eight points off the Championship play-offs in 2006. In the wake of Spurs' Big Vase exit in Benfica, Tim Sherwood has kept to his party line and talked himself up. "I think it's evident [the players are] on my side," he scowled. "My little rant has done them no harm." Jon Flanagan's recent impressions of a copper-topped 1980s Liverpool left-back should earn him a new contract, according to Brendan Rodgers. "He reminded me of Steve Nicol against Manchester United. He will definitely be given a new deal in the summer," cheered Rodgers. And Robin van Persie's stiff-leg knack will rule him out of tomorrow's clash with West Ham but he should be back to face Manchester City on Tuesday. "Robin went on Thursday morning directly to the hospital and his upper leg was very stiff," diagnosed Patrick Kluivert. STILL WANT MORE?"This insatiable super-club in its great gleaming space-doughnut on the northern fringes of its dedicated regional capital will eat German football – and may even eat itself. But only after it's eaten you first." Good luck David Moyes, writes Barney Ronay. If you wear camouflage, sit still and look really closely at the Goodison Park pitch this Saturday, you may even see Michu. For the other nine things to look out for this weekend, click here. Want to click 999 times on every Arsenal result under Arsène Wenger? Lucky you. Jacob Steinberg and Daniel Harris love West Ham v Manchester United clashes so much that they dedicated a 5,600-word Joy of Six to them. With the José Mourinho of non-league football at the helm, Gosport Borough are obviously feeling bullish about pulling off a shock FA Trophy victory against Cambridge United, writes Simon Burnton. Oh, and if it's your thing, you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. SIGN UP TO THE FIVER (AND O FIVERÃO)Want your very own copy of our free tea-timely(ish) email sent direct to your inbox? Has your regular copy stopped arriving? Click here to sign up. And you can also now receive our weekly World Cup email, O Fiverão every Thursday; this is the latest edition, and you can sign up for it here. THREE MORE SLEEPStheguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| David Moyes says he can look United supporters in the face again Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:36 AM PDT • 'In some of the games I have felt ashamed' David Moyes says he can look Manchester United's supporters in the face again after his side's Champions League great escape against Olympiakos. Moyes has had a torrid opening season at Old Trafford but United's 3-0 win on Wednesday, courtesy of Robin van Persie's hat-trick, overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit to set up a quarter-final meeting with the holders Bayern Munich. That came just three days after United's disappointing season plumbed new depths with a 3-0 home defeat by arch-rivals Liverpool in the Premier league – a result that raised serious questions about Moyes's position. "In some of the games I have felt ashamed because we haven't played well enough and I have not got a team out that has got a good enough result," Moyes said. "I think the big thing on Wednesday was that I could look at the supporters in the face after the game. We had given them something to shout about. There was nothing to be ashamed of about our performance." With a top-four finish in the Premier League now looking almost impossible for United, who are 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, winning the Champions League is their only realistic hope of qualifying for it next season. United are the least favoured of the eight teams left in the draw but Moyes said he was just glad to be still in the mix. "In a lot of ways it didn't matter who I drew but I've probably drawn out the favourites," said Moyes, whose side will be at home in the first leg next month. "They are the holders as well, so it's a tough draw but one I'm looking forward to. I've got us to the quarter-final and now the aim is to get to the semi-final. "If you're old-fashioned you'll probably say you want to be at home in the second leg and that would be the preference but we'll just have to take it." United will look to build on their win over Olympiakos at West Ham United on Saturday when they will be without Van Persie who injured his knee on Wednesday. "There is no guarantee that one good result will lead to another," Moyes said. "But you would rather have a good one than a bad one and we got a really good one in midweek. After the trip to West Ham United have a home derby against City on Tuesday. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Chelsea's José Mourinho: 'I admire Arsenal' – video Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:28 AM PDT Chelsea manager José Mourinho says he respects Arsenal for having supported Arsène Wenger through bad moments – 'of which there have been many'  |
| Steve Bruce accuses FA of 'kangaroo court' over George Boyd ban Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:24 AM PDT • Hull manager claims player denied fair hearing over spit Steve Bruce has accused the Football Association of allowing Hull City's George Boyd to be tried by a "kangaroo court" after the winger received a three-match ban for spitting from an independent disciplinary panel. Bruce has maintained Boyd's innocence following the incident with the Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart in the second half of Hull's 2-0 Premier League defeat last Saturday. The Hull manager has called for an overhaul of the disciplinary system after claiming his club were given neither the time nor space to make a case for the defence in light of the initial FA charge on Wednesday evening. Bruce said: "It's like a kangaroo court – we don't know who sits on it or who is accountable for it. The problem is we can't go down and see anyone, we can't be represented on this commission and we don't know who sat on it. "What we got was three referees on Monday morning saying that in their view he [Boyd] deliberately spat at him [Hart]. We're totally disappointed and the whole system needs looking at. "For me we don't get a fair hearing because George Boyd would never spit at anybody but that's what he has been found guilty of and we are aggrieved over it. George feels so strongly about it that if there was legal action he could take he would take it, because they are accusing him of something that is not in his make-up at all." Bruce said Boyd's charge and ban had thrown his plans for Saturday's home match against West Bromwich Albion into turmoil as Boyd was due to start the game after two impressive displays as a substitute. Last week's defeat left Hull looking anxiously over their shoulders and Bruce is standing by his prediction his side need two more wins from their remaining fixtures to ensure top-flight survival. Bruce said: "I think we'd be very unlucky to go down with 10 wins because you expect to pick up a few draws along the way. It's usually enough to keep you in the league. With so many teams playing each other it could be separated by goal difference." He insisted Shane Long has nothing to prove as the striker prepares to come up against his former club for the first time. Long was surprisingly allowed to leave The Hawthorns in January, a decision some in the west Midlands have come to rue in light of their side's slide down the table and the departure of Nicolas Anelka. Bruce said: "Make no mistake, Shane will want to do well and he will go to bed tonight dreaming that he will get the winning goal against his former club but Shane has got nothing to prove to West Bromwich Albion. Over the years he proved to be a terrific player for them and a great signing. "We chased him for a long time and we're delighted to have him here. He and Nikica Jelavic have really given the place a lift." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Arsène Wenger looks ahead to 1,000th game as Arsenal manager – video Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:14 AM PDT Wenger set for milestone on Saturday when his team plays against Chelsea in the Premier League  |
| Sport picture of the day: Paul Pogba's airborne control Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:04 AM PDT A nicely composed and well executed shot of a flying Paul Pogba during Juventus's 2-1 aggregate Europa League victory over Fiorentina  |
| Why Gosport Borough believe they can win the FA Trophy Posted: 21 Mar 2014 07:16 AM PDT With a manager who has been called the José Mourinho of non-league football, the Conference South side are confident of pulling off a shock against Cambridge United at Wembley Last summer the News, Portsmouth's unimaginatively titled local paper, published an interview with the Gosport Borough manager, Alex Pike. Introducing him with a warning that "many think him an annoying motormouth with an inflated ego", it contained a selection of self-promoting pronouncements. "I heard someone remark that I thought I was the José Mourinho of non-league football, but I've been doing it long before him," Pike said at one point, adding that "I haven't got into football to make friends". Right now he has few enemies in Hampshire, with the possible exception of those who support Gosport's near-neighbours Havant & Waterlooville. Last month the Hawks were beaten 3-1 on aggregate in the FA Trophy semi-finals to earn Pike and his players a visit to Wembley, where on Sunday they will play the Conference Premier high-flyers Cambridge United. Five years ago Gosport's league visit to Hayes attracted a crowd of just 27. The second leg of this year's semi-final derby brought 2,901 to Privett Park, and on Sunday they could have four times that number cheering them on in London. Even if the visit to Wembley ends with the resounding defeat most bookmakers are confidently predicting, the final will gild a golden period for Gosport, whose big day out caps a seven-year sprint up the football pyramid from the Wessex League – the ninth level of English football – via three promotions to the previously unexplored heights of the Conference South. Strictly speaking Gosport's first ever visit to Wembley will come on Saturday, when the team will be shown around the ground before taking their places among the 85,000 watching Saracens play Harlequins. But their manager has been here before, with Wimborne Town in 1991-92, when the then 31-year-old's first full season in management culminated in a run to the FA Vase final, where they beat Guiseley 5-3. And if his ego is sizeable now, it must have been terrifying then. "I was an arrogant man in 1992 and it all passed in a blur," says Pike. "I don't remember too much about it. I'm going to make sure I appreciate it this time. I remember after that match my chairman at the time coming on the team coach, and I'm all full of enthusiasm, and he said, 'If I was you I'd retire now because it's all downhill from here.' To a certain degree he's been proved right." There will be no fourth promotion this season. Defeat to third-placed Sutton United on Tuesday pushed Gosport to 20th, just two off the bottom, albeit with between one and four games in hand on those around them. "The step up from the Southern League is the biggest I've seen. We've been hampered by the weather, plus the Trophy run," says Pike. "Since we qualified for the final, our experienced players have been managing their bodies. They're not going to put their foot in and get injured when we're about to go to Wembley. They realise they may never get this kind of opportunity again. I've got one player in my side who's 19. He started when he was 16, and since then he's had two promotions and now he's going to Wembley. He thinks it'll come along again next year." Jamie Brown, Gosport's 32-year-old midfielder and captain, is certainly not taking the occasion lightly. "I've never even been to the new Wembley," he says. "As much as my last couple of clubs were brilliant, I think it's everyone's dream to play with a bunch of lads you can class as your friends, and then to achieve what we have – the promotions, and now the cup run – has just been unimaginable and amazing. We've all dreamed of playing at Wembley, just to see the arch will be incredible. I think we're all going to be nervous, when we're singing the national anthem, with the names on the back of our shirts and looking out at the crowd. But we're not going there to sightsee and enjoy the view, we're going there to win." Whatever the odds, Cambridge's impressive league position hides some unexceptional form. The U's won 11 of their first 16 games as it took until November for anyone to beat them, but they have now won only two of their last 11 league matches. "I've always found it difficult to worry about the opposition," says Brown. "I'm not too interested in how good Cambridge are. I'd rather concentrate on what we need to do, and take it to them. We want to go there and give them a good game." An upset is not beyond the realms of possibility, even if it might take all of Pike's self-proclaimed powers to earn it. "From outside looking in, it's an amazing achievement what he's done," says Brown. "Going up three stages and also reaching your second Wembley final is pretty amazing for any manager at any level. At one stage last year we were second bottom, and a lot of heads were down. But he's like a motivational speaker – one thing Pikey gives you is belief, and with belief you can achieve anything." theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| Robin van Persie hopeful of making Manchester derby after knee injury Posted: 21 Mar 2014 07:10 AM PDT • United striker carried off after scoring hat-trick Patrick Kluivert, the Holland assistant coach, is confident that Robin van Persie's injury is not serious enough to keep him out of the Manchester derby on Tuesday. The striker, who is suffering from a "stiff leg", will not recover in time for the weekend trip to West Ham United but is hopeful of making Old Trafford next week. David Moyes confirmed Van Persie would miss the trip to West Ham, adding: "We're getting Robin rescanned today. We're not quite conclusive on everything we've seen." Kluivert had been in contact with the Dutchman's camp on Thursday and they were optimistic that Van Persie, who took a knee in the back of his leg in the 3-0 Champions League victory over Olympiakos on Wednesday, could recover quickly. Kluivert, who is Louis van Gaal's No2 with Holland, said: "Robin went on Thursday morning directly to the hospital and his upper leg was very stiff. We now have to wait but we have good hope. Maybe he can play the Manchester derby." As expected, City's Sergio Agüero is ruled out of the derby with hamstring injury. Van Persie's hat-trick ensured the Greek champions' 2-0 lead from the last-16 first leg in Athens was overturned to put United in the quarter-final draw. The Dutchman suffered the problem when he was hit from behind in the last minute by the centre-back, Kostas Manolas, and collapsed on the turf clutching the back of his left knee. Van Persie had to be taken off on a stretcher but Moyes downplayed the problem, stating the forward had taken a knee in the back of his leg. Given Van Persie's three goals took him to 14 in 23 United outings to make him the club's top scorer during the current campaign, Moyes will not want to lose his services. After a virtually injury-free season last year, Van Persie has again been cursed by setbacks this season as he was for most of his Arsenal career. On United's summer tour Van Persie suffered a muscle injury in Japan, issues with his toes and groin once the season started, and a problem in mid-December that put him on the sidelines for six weeks. theguardian.com © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Written by TBMU Admin
We are Manchester United Fan located around the World which provides user friendly, effective and easy to browse info regarding our Team. Each support/info is free. Support us by clicking the ads located in this site. Thanks
Posts
0 comments :
Post a Comment