FIFA President Sepp Blatter

However, Blatter views the method of owning clubs in England as inherently unsatisfactory, putting the Premier League at an advantage compared to their major European counterparts.

“There are big associations, like France, Germany and Spain where there is a by-law that the owners of the club must be at least 51% from the club,” said Blatter.

“They must be members of the club or partners from the same country.

“This does not exist in the Premier League and it is a problem we have to address.”

Yet Blatter is currently at a loss as to how exactly he will achieve his aims, given UK law will not be changed to implement the same ownership rules that exist in other countries.

“We have no right to interfere in economic movements,” he admitted.

“We, the whole FIFA family, is aware of this.

“We have spoken before about financial fair play. Financial fair play is not only a licensing system and financing control but financing fair play means also that all participants should observe a minimum of fair play.”

Blatter’s comments are unlikely to have much of an effect on City’s summer recruitment drive.

Yet the return of Mark Hughes from his summer holiday on Tuesday evening might be spoiled by confirmation that Eto’o intends to see out the remaining year of his contract at Barcelona.

While Barca are keen to push through the “stratospheric offer” City have made the Cameroon star given he could leave for nothing next summer and will miss a month of next term at the African Nations Cup, it seems Eto’o will resist a £25million deal that could see him net £200,000-a-week.

The situation will be clarified on Tuesday when Eto’o's agent Josep Maria Mesalles holds a press conference to outline the 28-year-old’s intentions.

While a decision to remain at the Nou Camp would be a disappointment for City, at least Hughes would avoid the major headache of how to keep all his attacking players happy given Eto’o would have been joining a squad that already included Roque Santa Cruz, Robinho and Craig Bellamy and to which Carlos Tevez will be free to add his name on July 1.

Having already signed Gareth Barry, Hughes’ other priority is central defence, although he might have to increase his £15million valuation on Joleon Lescott if he is to lure the Everton defender away from Goodison Park.

Source: football365.com

Pic: independant.co.uk

Hugo Rodallega had given the Latics a deserved half-time lead but substitute Carlos Tevez came off the bench to grab the equaliser, before Michael Carrick smashed home the winner with five minutes remaining.

It was far from vintage United, but just as champions do, they ground out a victory despite not playing well against Steve Bruce’s stubborn side.

The hosts wasted a wonderful opportunity to grab an early lead with only a minute on the clock.

Antonio Valencia – reportedly a summer target for United – outpaced Johnny Evans and Nemanja Vidic to go clear on goal but when faced with only Edwin van der Sar to beat, the Ecuadorian made a mess of his attempted chip, miscuing the ball horribly wide.

The let-off stirred the champions but unusually, their finishing let them down twice in the space of 60 seconds as they began to take control.

Firstly, Wayne Rooney headed horribly wide in the tenth minute following superb work from Dimitar Berbatov on the right, before the England striker almost made amends by crossing low for Carrick, who was narrowly off target with a first-time effort from close range.

Van der Sar was then called upon to tip Valencia’s free-kick around his post before fielding Rodallega’s drive from outside the box as the Latics showed they were not prepared to roll-over for the title-chasing Red Devils, despite having little but pride to play for.

Rodellaga rammed home that point when he put Wigan in front on 27 minutes. The Columbian hitman out-muscled Nemanja Vidic to win a long-ball into the United box, before recovering his composure to lash the ball home inside van der Sar’s near post.

Going behind clearly rattled United, who struggled to break down the stubborn Latics resistance after their two early misses.

The second-half’s early exchanges showed no real sign of a United fightback so Tevez was thrown on for Anderson just before the hour mark, and the United fans’ favourite took just four minutes to make his impact.

Carrick miscued his shot from distance but with the ball heading wide, Tevez turned himself inside-out to brilliantly flick the ball past Richard Kingson.

The goal inspired United but they had to wait until five minutes from time to grab their winner.

John O’Shea bombed forward to cut the ball back to Carrick, who lashed home superbly with his left foot from the edge of the box.

The late winner leaves United needing only one point from their last two games to seal their third consecutive title, something they can do on home soil by avoiding defeat against Arsenal at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime.

Source + Pic: teamtalk.com

They are goals that could be worth up to 50 million pounds (70 million dollars) to Newcastle, who would lose a substantial portion of their income if they drop out of the Premier League.

With two games remaining against Fulham and Aston Villa, they are still far from safe, but they are out of the bottom three following a game Shearer described as the most important of his Newcastle career.

Middlesbrough, in contrast, must now accept they are heading for the Championship next season after losing a game where they took the lead and wasted several other chances.

An own goal from Habib Beye put Middlesbrough in front before Taylor equalised, with both goals coming early in a game that looked destined to end in stalemate before substitutes Martins and Lovenkrands condemned Gareth Southgate’s team to their 11th successive away defeat.

Only 45 miles separate the two teams, but – in football terms – the gap between them may be far, far wider next season after a Newcastle triumph on a date that looked ominous for Middlesbrough.

This derby fell on the anniversary of the birth of Jackie Milburn, United’s legendary centre-forward, and also Shearer’s testimonial, which marked his farewell as a player three years ago.

Five games under Shearer had produced two points and just one goal, although Middlesbrough’s form was no better, with only one win in their previous eight Premier League games – a sequence which provoked a few surprises in Southgate’s team.

The biggest was the inclusion of Dutchman Marvin Emnes, who started his first league game of the season in attack alongside Afonso Alves.

Emnes was called up because Middlesbrough – like Newcastle – had failed to score in their previous three games.

But Boro, scorers of only nine goals away from home this season, required just three minutes to go ahead through an own goal when the goal rebounded off Beye after Turkish international Tuncay Sanli’s shot was blocked by goalkeeper Steve Harper.

Mark Viduka, once a Middlesbrough player, led Newcastle’s response, hitting a post before Taylor fired over from the rebound.

Taylor proved to be far more effective with his head in the ninth minute when he outjumped Gary O’Neil and powered Danny Guthrie’s corner inside the same post.

It was the start of an awkward spell for Middlesbrough as Newcastle began to thrive on their extra possession.

Viduka’s footwork down the left led to a cross towards Michael Owen, whose header was turned over by Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones.

But Boro came close when Viduka carelessly lost possession in his own half in the 29th minute, leading to a shot by Emnes against the legs of Harper, who was fortunate when the 20-year-old forward wastefully steered the rebound wide.

Newcastle began the second half in an authoritative mood and, while pinning back Middlesbrough in the early stages, were unable to carve out clear-cut openings.

With the game becoming increasingly tense, Middlesbrough finally made some attacking inroads and Harper made a fine save from Gary O’Neil’s 18-yard effort in the 57th minute.

With an hour gone, the balance had switched in Middlesbrough’s favour as O’Neil became increasingly influential in midfield and Tuncay’s intelligent contributions were getting a response from the men around him.

But the arrival of Martins in place of Owen in the 70th minute proved decisive.

The Nigerian striker – wearing the No.9 shirt made famous by Milburn and Shearer – latched onto a header from Viduka and, as he slipped, managed to direct the ball past Jones.

And, after Jeremie Aliadiere went close to an equaliser, Newcastle put the game out of Middlesbrough’s reach when Lovenkrands turned in Kevin Nolan’s cross with just four minutes remaining.

Source: soccernews.com

Pic: skysports.com

MANCHESTER UNITED
- Since the 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane on December 13, United have won 11 consecutive games in the league, scoring 21 goals and conceding just two.
- The goal scored by Peter Lovenkrands was the first conceded by Edwin Van der Sar in 1,311 minutes of football.
- Wayne Rooney has scored five goals in his last six appearances. His sole scoreless outing in that period was his seven-minute cameo against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

CHELSEA
- Courtesy of their win at Fratton Park, Chelsea now boast the best away record in the league.
- Didier Drogba’s only other league goal this season was scored against West Brom on Boxing Day. Since last March, the Ivorian has netted just five league goals.
- All of the four wins enjoyed by Guus Hiddink in his first four matches at the club have been achieved by a single-goal margin.

LIVERPOOL
- With his first league goal for the club, David Ngog became the 12th different Liverpool player to score in the Prem this season.
- Pool haven’t scored a first-half goal in any of their last five games.
- Tuesday’s victory was only their third in eight league fixtures since the high of their 5-1 win at Newcastle in late December.

ASTON VILLA
- Villa haven’t drawn any of their away matches in the league this season.
Having taken just five points from their last five league matches, and failed to win any of their last six matches in all competitions, this is Villa’s worst run of the season.
- Two minutes away from taking an eight-point lead over Arsenal on Sunday, Villa are now just three points clear of the Gunners and have an inferior goal difference

ARSENAL
- BR>- The goals scored at the Hawthorns ended a run of four games without scoring for the Gunners.
- In the process of making his first-team debut at the Hawthorns, Fran Merida became the 25th different player to appear for Arsenal in the league this season.
Nicklas Bendtner has started 19 matches for the Gunners this season and is now in double scoring figures after his brace against WBA.

EVERTON
- The stalemate at Ewood Park was the second 0-0 draw Everton have recorded in their past three games and the third time they have failed to score in their last five league fixtures.
- Everton’s goal difference of +4 on their travels is the worst of the top six.

WEST HAM
- Carlton Cole’s dismissal was his second of the season. His tally of 62 fouls is the fourth-highest in the league.
- Based on the results of every team’s last eight games, West Ham are fourth in the Form League Table.

MANCHESTER CITY
- City have the third-best home record in the league.
- They are the only side in the league yet to draw a home game.

WIGAN
- Having been in seventh place since December, Wigan fell to ninth on Wednesday after being overtaken by both West Ham and Manchester City.
Their nine league games this year have produced just three goals.
- Lee Cattermole is one of five players to be dismissed twice in the league this season. Only Fellaini of Everton has collected more yellow cards and only four more players have made more fouls than the Wigan midfielder.
- After 28 games, Wigan have conceded 27 goals and scored 27 goals.

FULHAM
- No side in the top half of the table has scored fewer goals than Fulham and, of the entire league, only Boro have netted less.
Despite being in the top half, the Cottagers are only seven points clear of the relegation zone.

BOLTON WANDERERS
-No side in the league has drawn as few games this season as Bolton – three.
- Bolton have taken just a point from their last five away matches.

HULL CITY
- The victory at Fulham was only their second in 19 games and their first in 12.
- Since beating Boro on December 6, Hull had taken three points from a possible 33.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
- Despite their 4-0 victory over Boro, Spurs have still scored the first goal in a match on just seven occasions this season – the lowest number of any side in the league.
Spurs’ goal difference is now even.
Since the start of last season, Spurs have scored, in all first-team competitions, four or more goals in a single match 14 times.

SUNDERLAND
- Sunderland have the worst record of any side in the league against top-half opposition. From their 14 matches against sides in the top ten, Sunderland have collected just seven points.

STOKE CITY
- Stoke have collected 25 of their 29 points for the season at the Brittania Stadium.
- Only four teams have won more home games this season: Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Fulham. Among those clubs still to travel to Stoke this season are Boro, Newcastle, Blackburn and Wigan.
- James Beattie’s goal against Bolton was his fifth in seven league starts.

NEWCASTLE UNITED
- Newcastle have won just four of their 14 league games at St James’ this season. Only two teams – Hull and Blackburn – have won less on home soil.
- The Toon have led just three of their games this season at half-time – the second-worst record in the league.

PORTSMOUTH
- Pompey have won just one of their last eight games and just one of their last five home matches.
- Since November 1990, Pompey’s record against Chelsea is Played 15, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 14.

BLACKBURN ROVERS
- Since beating Stoke City on December 20 in Sam Allardyce’s first match in charge, Rovers have won just two of their next ten games.
- All three of their goals in their last five games have been scored between the 32nd and 37th minutes.
- Rovers’ home record is the second-worst in the league. They are also second-bottom in the Attendance Table.

MIDDLESBROUGH
- Boro have scored just three goals in 11 league games and haven’t scored any at all in their last five away matches.
- Boro have now conceded twice as many goals as they have scored this term – and remain the league’s lowest scorers with 20.

WEST BROM
- As befits the side bottom of the table, the Baggies have lost more matches than any other side in the league this term. They have also conceded more goals than any other Premier League team.

Source: football365.com

The Red Devils, with something short of a first-choice starting XI, beat Tottenham on penalties at Wembley on Sunday to lift the Carling Cup.

It was a second piece of silverware for the defending European and English champions, who also secured the FIFA Club World Cup title in Japan just before Christmas.

Chelsea moved back up into second place in the Premier League over the weekend but remain seven points adrift of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, who have a game in hand heading into the midweek fixtures, when Hiddink takes his side to relegation battlers Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

“I hope that we can stop him. I would love to stop him on this aim,” said the Dutchman, in charge of Chelsea until the end of the season.

“I have not had that many experiences with him directly, direct confrontations, although I remember once it was my birthday when PSV [Eindhoven] were eliminated by Manchester United.

“I have met him sometimes when I have been to Manchester United, for a couple of pre-season tournaments.

“I like him very much, although we don’t know each other very well. I respect him very much.”

Hiddink is impressed with the strength in depth United have been able to show, as the likes of England duo Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick were left out altogether at Wembley while reserve goalkeeper Ben Foster proved the hero in the shoot-out.

He said: “They have been a very dominant, organised club for many years. It’s a good philosophy, in my opinion.

“Other clubs may try to go the same way – some clubs have their own academies as well, like this club.

“You want to make your players competitive for the first-team squad, as well.”

Chelsea’s options could soon be boosted by the return of midfielder Michael Essien, who is on the brink of full fitness after long-term knee ligament problems and played for the reserves against Aston Villa on Monday night, completing the whole game and scoring in a 4-3 defeat.

“It is good for a manager to have a full squad. You can pick people out of luxury. That’s a nice problem,” said Hiddink.

“That is good with Essien coming back. As I have seen him in training sessions, he is close, very close.

“We will have some more options and we can look to the players regarding shape and tactics, but you can make some variations.”

Hiddink has won all of his matches since taking charge at Stamford Bridge and has been impressed by the response of the Chelsea players, who fought back to beat Wigan with a stoppage-time goal from Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Dutchman, who remains coach of Russia, has no intentions of staying longer than the end of the season, but is clearly enjoying his time in England.

“I know the demands are high. I am not going back, lying down and lighting a cigar,” he said.

“I demand high as well for my group where I have my influence, but I like the approach to football here in England.

“I like the approach, the professionalism at every level. The man in the street understands football perfectly.”

Hiddink, though, remains committed to helping Russia’s progress in the long term.

“I would like to finish this project with these guys with whom I have been working for several years,” he said.

“It is not just down to contractual obligations. I want to do it.”

Source: teamtalk.com

But Reds boss Rafael Benitez faces a test of his squad’s strength in depth as he seeks to keep the momentum going at Portsmouth on Saturday, less than 72 hours after a gruelling, extra-time FA Cup defeat by Everton.

With Manchester United not in action until Sunday’s trip to in-form West Ham, Benitez’s men can return to the top of the table — temporarily at least — by taking all three points at Fratton Park.

But the required victory will have to be secured without influential skipper Steven Gerrard, who tore a hamstring muscle early in the Everton defeat and is facing a three-week lay-off at least.

Benitez may also feel that star striker Fernando Torres, who looked distinctly weary in that match, may not be up to a third start in the space of seven days, a situation which will inevitably raise further questions about the wisdom of selling Robbie Keane back to Tottenham this week.

Portsmouth, with just two wins in 15 matches since Tony Adams took over as manager, are hoping for a boost from the arrival of Greek duo Angelos Basinas – who arrived in a deadline-day switch from AEK Athens – and Theofanis Gekas, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen.

First-team coach Johnny Metgod is backing the pair to lift the gloom around the club.

“Gekas has got a very good goalscoring record, not only in Greece but in Germany, and Basinas is a very clever, intelligent midfield player,” Metgod reported.

Chelsea welcome back key defender Ricardo Carvalho from injury as they attempt to put their title bid back on track at home to Hull, and the Portugal centreback believes the Blues will also get a boost from the involvement of his international team-mate Ricardo Quaresma.

The winger has been signed on loan from Inter Milan and Carvalho is backing him to provide the imaginative spark Chelsea have lacked of late.

“Quaresma is a very fast and explosive player who is a real warrior on the pitch, so he will be able to handle the physical nature of the Premier League,” Carvalho said.

“At the same time he is a very technical player and can score goals, which will be good for us. He will be a huge help to us at this time of the season.”

“He will add more pace, which is important. Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba will love playing with him because he gets a lot of assists.

“We have to be strong between now and the end of the season after the defeat to Liverpool and I just want to get back to help out.”

A 2-2 draw with bottom side West Brom enabled Hull to halt a run of six successive defeats last weekend but Phil Brown’s squad have since lost striker Daniel Cousin and midfielder Jimmy Bullard to injuries.

Any slip-ups from Chelsea could see Aston Villa move into third place provided Martin O’Neill’s side extend their run of away victories to a club record seven at the expense of relegation-threatened Blackburn.

Keane’s second debut for Tottenham will come against north London rivals Arsenal on Sunday in a derby that is critical to both Spurs’ hopes of pulling away from the relegation zone and the Gunners bid for a return to the Champions League next season.

Tottenham Manager Harry Redknapp has signalled that Keane will be his first-choice striker by naming him as team captain, leaving Roman Pavlyuchenko and Darren Bent to battle for the second forward slot.

With the advantage of a game in hand over their nearest rivals, Manchester Untied are looking very well placed to claim another Premier League trophy.

That impression will be bolstered on Sunday as their recent injury woes ease with the anticipated return of Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney from foot and hamstring injuries respectively.

Unbeaten in eight matches, West Ham could hand a debut to loan signing Radoslav Kovac, the experienced Czech Republic midfielder.

Source: supersport.co.za

Pic: footballpictures.net

The Gunners are now merely waiting on the Premier League to sign all the necessary paperwork for the deal to be made official.

The fee was far from the initial asking price the reigning UEFA Cup winners wanted of 20 million pounds, but included a substantial performance-linked bonus.

Conflicting signals had been emerging from Arsenal’s Emirates stadium and Russia throughout the day as the 1700GMT deadline came and went and a Zenit club spokesman had even said the deal had fallen through.

The deal apparently hit a last minute snag when Zenit demanded a portion of Arshavin’s signing on fee.

But other Russia news agencies were reporting that a deal had been struck on a three-and-a half year contract.

Gazeta.ru site nnounced that Arshavin, one of the stars at Euro 2008, had passed his medical and was now an Arsenal player, inheriting the Gunners’ number 13 shirt.

He will probably not make his debut for the Gunners for a few weeks because he will have to work on physical conditioning to adapt to the rigours of the English game.

The 27-year-old was a major revelation at the Euro 2008 tournament when Russia reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual champions Spain.

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has on many occasions spoken of his admiration for the player.

Source: soccernews.com

Pic:  dudee.blog.friendster.com

Reports says City have made a £100million bid for the 26-year-old.

“We believe the deal is very close,” said Bowen. “We are selling the future plans of the club to the player.

“I’ve read a lot about his love of Milan – and that goes without saying – but even when people said the deal was dead that was not our understanding.”

“We are still hopeful of signing Kaka,” added Bowen. “The situation has been a surprise to everyone but obviously negotiations have been going for a fair while.

“How close we are I don’t know, but our understanding is that it is very much a strong possibility that Kaka will be coming to Manchester City.”

City are ready to offer Kaka £15million in wages, according to reports.

Source: soccernews.com

Pic: goalvideoz.com

Saturday, 23 August 2008

Blackburn Rovers v Hull City – 16:00

Fulham v Arsenal – 18:30

Liverpool v Middlesbrough – 16:00

Newcastle Utd v Bolton Wanderers  – 16:00

Stoke City v Aston Villa – 16:00

Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland – 16:00

West Brom v Everton – 16:00

Sunday, 24 August 2008

Manchester City v West Ham Utd – 17:00

Wigan Athletic v Chelsea – 14:30

Monday, 25 August 2008

Portsmouth v Manchester Utd – 21:00