Premire League News

Chelsea V Man Utd at Stamford Bridge : Match Preview

MY best memory was on the bench - TorresFernando Torres has admitted he might have given up all hope of succeeding at Chelsea but for the support of the club's fans.And the World Cup-winning striker has revealed that one of the greatest memories of his career was off the field when a substitute at Wolves while the supporters chanted his name.Torres marked a year at Stamford Bridge this week but it was hardly an anniversary to celebrate for the 27-year-old, who remains on course to be remembered as one of the most expensive flops in the history of football.The #50million man has scored just five times in 44 Chelsea appearances since last January's move from Liverpool and is currently on his longest goal drought yet.Three and half months, 17 games, or 1,000-plus minutes - whichever way you look at it, the statistics make grim reading for the Spain striker.But at least he is being given the chance to end his long wait, having started every game in 2012 while Didier Drogba is on African Nations Cup duty.The same could not be said back in November, when he lost his place to Drogba, with the only thing keeping him going was the comfort of knowing the fans still backed him."I would like things to be much better but the support they give me every day is amazing," Torres told Chelsea TV."I remember a game against Wolverhampton and I was on the bench, and they were still singing my name."I've been very lucky to live very good moments but that game, when I was in the middle of nothing and not playing, was maybe the best memory I have in all my career."At the beginning of the season, I went through a hard moment, I was not playing, things were wrong and I was eight games without playing - I had never been in this situation before."The only thing that gave me hope was the support of the people."That game against Wolverhampton showed me there are important things to fight for, the love of the fans, the support of the club."My team-mates as well but the fans are the ones who have always been there from the first day until now."Torres acknowledged that would be difficult without the injured John Terry and Ramires and the suspended Ashley Cole, while he hoped Frank Lampard would be passed fit after the calf injury that has kept the midfielder out of the last two matches.Even if Lampard plays, Sunday's game could see Michael Essien start for the first time this season.The 29-year-old has made four successive substitute appearances since returning from his latest bout of knee surgery, something he admitted was "heartbreaking".Manchester United midfielder Ji-sung believes the club's impressive list of previous triumphs has created unrealistic expectations for the current team.Sir Alex Ferguson is currently embroiled in a spat with Match of the Day pundit Alan Hansen about the merits of the present United side.Ferguson has reacted with incredulity over Hansen's claim that United are woeful, and have been for 18 months.As Ferguson correctly pointed out on Friday, having won last year's title by nine points, reached the Champions League final and the FA Cup semi-final, they must have been doing something right.However, as Park acknowledges, the absence of a star performer in the mould of Cristiano Ronaldo has meant the Red Devils lack the stardust associated with recent campaigns.And whilst their results stand positive comparison with any previous seasons, it has been impossible to emulate the swashbuckling style of old."It might be that before we scored a lot of goals and that has a big impact on the fans," the South Korea midfielder said."Their expectations become too high."Maybe also because we are out of the Champions League and the FA Cup, people think Manchester United is no good."But we can show our strength on the pitch. We are still producing good performances, we are level with Manchester City and can still win the title."It is a matter of amazement to some that United are in their present position despite and obvious failure to reinforce the midfield.The only transfer window arrivals were a reserve-team player from Manchester City - Frederic Veseli - and 37-year-old Paul Scholes, who abandoned his retirement.With Wayne Rooney, Nani, Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley all set to return, United's resources are being strengthened significantly, even if Darren Fletcher and Nemanja Vidic will be sidelined for the rest of the season and questions continue to be asked of David de Gea, who is set to start in goal.end

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Newcastle V Aston Villa at Sports Direct Arena : Match Preview

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Krul wants top six finishNewcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul is in no mood to be patted on the back as he and his team-mates continue to defy their doubters.The Magpies climbed to fifth place in the Barclays Premier League table as a result of a hard-fought victory over Blackburn at Ewood Park on Wednesday night.Krul, whose penalty save from David Dunn proved crucial, is thrilled to see the men from Tyneside continuing to confound their critics.However, despite having seen his club defy suggestions their fine start to the season would prove something of a flash in the pan, the 23-year-old Dutchman is refusing to sit back and enjoy himself.Krul said: "We really want to push on for the second half of the season because we are up there and the chance is there."We really have to push on. I don't think we should rest on our laurels, we just have to really crack on now."We have got a fantastic squad and if we can prove we are a top-six team at the end of the season, that will attract more players to the club and then we can really push on."Alan Pardew's squad will be boosted for Sunday's game by their sole January signing, former Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cisse, who is available for the first time following his return, along with 15-goal leading scorer Demba Ba, from Senegal's ill-fated African Nations Cup campaign.With Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote still involved in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, the Magpies will be stronger still in a few weeks' time.Krul said: "Demba has been amazing, and to get his mate with him, that's a bonus and I am looking forward to seeing them both back."Hopefully Cheick won't be too much longer because he is a fantastic player for us as well."Newcastle's current standing - they entered the weekend with only Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea ahead of them and both Arsenal and Liverpool in their wake - has confounded those who expected them to slide down the table after their 11-game unbeaten start to the season ended.Krul has been one of their stand-out performers to date along with skipper Fabricio Coloccini, Tiote and Ba, although the Den Haag-born keeper insists the plaudits have to be shared around.He said: "The whole team has been amazing. I am glad everybody is getting praise."The defence in the first 11 games was amazing because we were unbeaten."It's great. We are working hard at it and we stand fifth in the league now, so we are doing great."Aston Villa striker Darren Bent has hailed Newcastle legend Alan Shearer as "simply the best" after joining him as part of the Barclays Premier League 100-goal club.Bent netted his 100th top-flight goal against QPR in midweek but heads to Newcastle still 160 short of hometown hero Shearer.Bent, who will be hoping to fill Shearer's old number nine shirt for England at this summer's European Championships, knows it would be something special if he could mirror the now-retired striker's achievements.He can go some way to maintaining some Shearer-esque form by scoring for a fifth successive game on Sunday, and he said: "I don't think I could ever be hero-worshipped like Shearer was at Newcastle. I'm not sure anyone could."He was a real icon of our domestic game - and world football too. He was someone I looked up to greatly."He is a real legend up there because he moved to Newcastle and stayed up there for the rest of his career. He is a true Toon icon."If I could be half as much of a icon for Villa as he is at Newcastle, it would be amazing. It would mean I was doing something right in claret and blue!"Bent has scored 19 goals in 38 games since joining Villa just over 12 months ago - an average of a goal every two games.He accepts he has work to do to catch up with Shearer, though, adding: "Alan is way out in front in that 100 goals club that I've been privileged to join. He's simply the best striker to have ever come out of this country. I have nothing but admiration for him."He's one of the three very best strikers to have played in the Premier League along with Thierry Henry and Andy Cole. For me they are the best three."Bent can expect a hot reception from the Newcastle fans after his spell at local rivals Sunderland, but he is keen to celebrate Monday's 28th birthday a day early.Villa will give a late fitness check to striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who missed the QPR game with hamstring and back injuries.end

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Premier League news

Ferguson to talk to Rio about Terry

Published: 03 Feb 2012 - 12:16:47

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Sir Alex Ferguson intends to speak with Rio Ferdinand ahead of Manchester United's Premier League encounter with Chelsea on Sunday to try and calm concerns about the pre-match handshake.

As John Terry is doubtful for the Stamford Bridge encounter with a knee injury, the issue over whether Ferdinand should shake his England team-mate's hand may not arise.

But Ferguson admitted: "John Terry might not play but I would have a word with Rio about the situation."

On Thursday it was confirmed that Terry would not face a court case into his alleged racial abuse of Ferdinand's brother, Anton, until after Euro 2012, and a tweet sent by Rio the same day seemed to indicate the 33-year-old was not too impressed by the situation.

The elder Ferdinand believed to be in two minds about whether to shake hands with Terry after the Premier League confirmed they had no plans to scrap the traditional pre-match greeting.

And Ferguson added: "Rio has been fighting racism for many years and the lad must rise above it.

"It doesn't detract from anything to shake John Terry's hand. He (Rio) has done nothing to be ashamed of."

It is the first of two such cases United are faced with on successive weekends given Luis Suarez is set to be in the Liverpool squad to face the Red Devils at Old Trafford on February 11.

It would be the Uruguayan's first meeting with Patrice Evra since he was banned for eight matches for making racist comments towards the Frenchman.

"Patrice Evra has already shown the courage to fight it by complaining about it," said Ferguson. "It is nothing to be ashamed of. There is not a problem shaking hands."

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Barclays Premeir League

Suarez return delights Dalglish

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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish admits it is 'fantastic' to have striker Luis Suarez back from suspension.

The Uruguay international has served the eight-match ban imposed after he was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United Patrice Evra.

He is available for Monday's home game against Tottenham, and Dalglish admitted: "It is great for everybody that we have Luis back in the squad."

Considering his lack of action he may be inclined to put him on the bench.

"He's been back training a couple of weeks now and he's stayed pretty fit," the Reds boss added.

"It is fantastic for us to have him available

"There is a lot to be taken into consideration: the fact he's not played for over a month and more importantly how well the other players have done in his absence.

"But it is good for us - and Steven [Gerrard] will be back so we should be pretty strong."

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International Football News

Terry stripped of England captaincy

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John Terry has been stripped of the England captaincy due to concerns about his racism court trial.

The Chelsea defender was informed of the decision by Football Association chairman David Bernstein in a phonecall at 10am.

It comes after Bernstein contacted all the other members of the 14-strong board to seek their views following the announcement that Terry's court case will not take place until July 9 - after Euro 2012.

The FA have refused to confirm the action but Press Association Sport understands Terry will still be eligible for the England squad for Euro 2012.

Terry denies racially abusing Anton Ferdinand in a match against QPR last year.

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Barclays Premeir League

Coyle insists Bolton spent Cahill money well

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Bolton boss Owen Coyle feels the club have made sound use of the funds that came from Gary Cahill's sale to Chelsea.

Since Cahill left for a reported £7million, Coyle has brought in another centre-half in United States international Tim Ream, 24, from the New York Red Bulls, and 20-year-old England Under-21s striker Marvin Sordell from Watford.

And given their respective ages, Coyle believes their acquisition also represents good business, and said: "I think we all accepted that Gary was going to go and once it was decided on the football side that it would happen, what we had to do on the business side was look to try to maximise the situation that we were in."

He added: "In doing that, we have then reinvested that money. We have not gone and spent the money on 32 or 33-year-olds where there is very little or no resale value.

"We have tried to invest it in young players who will become assets for the football club and whose value will appreciate.

"That is opposed to a quick fix, somebody who will do you a turn for a year and then all of a sudden you are back to square one. We are not in a situation where we feel we need to be doing that.

"I always look to try to put in place a plan where you invest in youth and bring them on year by year."

Sordell's move was finally confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, and the player revealed he knew nothing about it until the last minute, saying: "I heard about it on Tuesday (deadline day). I was originally set to go to Cardiff and I got a call later on asking if I wanted to go to Bolton.

"Obviously I said yes, it was a no-brainer really. Straight away I said 'let's get it done'.

"I didn't expect it at all. I was ready to stay at Watford the rest of the season. Now I just want to do as well as I can here."

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