NYTT: Norske i britisk fotball

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Keegan is also keen on Liverpool defender John Arne Riise. (Mirror)

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COTTAGERS SET TO SIGN NEVLAND

Fulham are set to seal the signing of Norway international striker Erik Nevland.
The 30-year-old is currently at Dutch club Groningen, where he has been for three-and-a-half years following his move from Viking.

FULHAM REBUFFED IN NEVLAND BID
FC Groningen have turned down an approach from Fulham for striker Erik Nevland.
The former Manchester United frontman has been strongly linked with a move away from Groningen, and club director Hans Nijland confirmed that the Premier League club made an unsuccessful approach for Nevland's services on Tuesday.
However, Nijland indicated that Groningen were prepared to negotiate a fee for the 30-year-old, who has hit 53 goals in 116 appearances and signed a three-year contract extension in April.

Groningen have confirmed further talks will be held with Fulham regarding a deal for Erik Nevland. A statement on Groningen's official website read: "Tonight, FC Groningen will sit round the table with Fulham to discuss the possible transfer of Erik Nevland." (PA Sport)

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/transfer_centre/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/01/25/manual_201125.html

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Villa, Newcastle target Riise in Liverpool showdown talks

John Arne Riise has held showdown talks with Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
The News of the World says he held showdown talks with Benitez after being axed from last Monday's Premier League fixture with Aston Villa.
The Norwegian's future is in the balance as the club stalls on offering him a new deal.
His current contract runs out in 18 months, and the left back almost moved to Villa Park in a £7m deal last summer.
By his own admission, Riise's form has dipped alarmingly this season, but it was the first time in seven years at Anfield he'd been dropped from the 16-man squad for a league game.
That prompted an angry response, but Benitez will feel no sympathy for the 27-year-old who was ordered to buckle down and work on his game.
Villa and Newcastle are monitoring Riise's position and are likely to make a £6m move for defender in the summer.
Kevin Keegan would like to tempt Riise to St James' Park even sooner and is weighing up an offer before the end of the week.

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Groningen forward Nevland won't strike over Fulham hold-up

Erik Nevland will not go on strike in order to secure a move to Fulham, after Groningen rejected the latest bid for the striker.
Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson is keen to bring the Norwegian forward to England and the clubs met at Schiphol Airport on Friday evening, but a deal was not struck and Groningen have indicated a deal will not happen.
"The first offer of Fulham amounted to £800,000," stated Groningen general director Hans Nijland. ?We said that was inadequate.
"Eventually, Fulham went further to £1 million, but we find that insufficient.
"For that amount we cannot find a good substitute at such short notice and we cannot justify the sale to our supporters.
"Fulham have indicated that the negotiations are now closed."
The news has not sat well with Nevland, who stated: "The offer Fulham have made is high enough."
Nevland's team-mate Bruno Silva went on strike after Groningen denied him the chance to sign for Ajax, and eventually got his way, but the forward will not go down the same path.
"I will not react in the same way as Bruno Silva, even if that seems the best way to get a move."

[Dennis]

http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=503254

Nevland kun medical unna Premier League spill. Er dette en begynnende opptur for norsk fotball igjen?

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Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will allow £15m-rated midfielder Xabi Alonso to return to Spain in the summer, while John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch, Harry Kewell and Andriy Voronin will also leave Anfield. (News of the World)

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HAGEN DESPERATE TO STAY IN ENGLAND

New Wigan defender Erik Hagen is hoping to fulfil his Premier League dream and turn a loan move to the Latics into a permanent switch despite being ruled out of Saturday's clash with Sunderland with a hamstring injury.
The imposing centre-half agreed to join Steve Bruce's side on transfer deadline day after becoming disillusioned with life in Russia where he won the title last season with Zenit St Petersburg.
The 32-year-old Norway international, who is renowned for his rugged approach to defending, insists he has seen enough during his few days in the north-west to know he made the right decision in joining Wigan's battle for top-flight survival.
Asked if he would like to stay beyond the end of the season, when his current deal expires, he said: "Definitely.
"Just after a few days I'm really enjoying myself, so it is up to me and the club.
"Both me and my girlfriend are so happy to be here because the last year in Russia was difficult for us. People are so nice here compared to in Russia."
He added: "I'm a quiet person so it's always a little bit difficult to change club but people have been so open and friendly that it's made things easy."
Hagen's quiet off-field persona is in stark contrast to his demeanour on the pitch, which was aggressive enough to make him a hate figure among rival fans when he made his name with Valerenga in his homeland.
And he is modest enough to admit: "My strength has always been my strength and my will to win.
"I can obviously see my flaws as a footballer, so I live to defend - that's my job."
Hagen also freely admits that, at the age of 32, he believed his chance to play in the Barclays Premier League had gone.
"I was in contact with other clubs and I didn't think any team from the Premier League would come that close to the end of the transfer window," he added.
"But obviously when they made contact it was fantastic for me."
Far from being a deadline day panic buy, Bruce claims he has been aware of Hagen for years.
"The big attraction is that he's just played in the team that's won the Russian league, he's got 30-odd caps for his country," Bruce said.
"A Birmingham I had him watched, the scouts saw him and the reports were always the same - very favourable.
"To get him on a loan deal, I think I've got a decent deal.
"I hope he'll be a good acquisition for us. You don't want to mess with him, that's for sure."


PA Sport

[Sleivind]

Må vel nesten gratulere Carew med ekte hattrick idag! Imponerende!

Har det ENDELIG løsnet skikkelig for Carew?

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Villa boss O'Neill: Carew doesn't know how good he is

Boss Martin O'Neill believes that John Carew is "miles better than he thinks he is" and has tipped the Norwegian to net 20 goals a season for Aston Villa in the near future.
The giant striker's hat-trick against Newcastle took his tally to nine in an injury-hit season.
"To see him up to nine goals now is great. There's no reason why he shouldn't be a 20-goals a season man, O'Neill told the Birmingham Mail.
"To be a 20-goals a season man you have to play the requisite number of games, but he should be able to do that and there's no doubt he can do.
"That's the sort of thing I'm looking for from him and Gabby Agbonlahor, with Marlon Harewood playing a part at this minute because we're not getting enough goals from midfield from open play at the moment and yet we're the third or fourth leading scorers.
"The very fact we are talking about him means he might be getting a wee bit more consistent.
"I'm not asking him to score a hat-trick on a consistent basis - although it would be fantastic if he did - I want him to up that consistency a notch more.
"Even when he himself has felt he hasn't played well, that hasn't been my view of him.
"I think he's a miles better player than he thinks he is.
"When he has that sort of strength and determination about him, he does wonders for us.
"He's a nightmare for defenders, but not just with pace, power and presence - he has great ability to get it down, manoeuvre and being people into the game.
"Maybe he could be a bit more selfish at times, but he has that capability."
O'Neill continued: "I was delighted he scored the hat-trick and he has that ability and it's up to us to try to get it out of him on a more consistent basis.
"I think he can do it, without question. When he's in that sort of mood, not only is he a fantastic player but the crowd are right behind him and they love him.
"He's a player whose game is based on confidence - most players are - but some more so than others.
"Since he arrived at the football club in the swop with Milan Baros I've been delighted with him.

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Fulham's Hangeland happy to work for Hodgson

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland believes Roy Hodgson is ideally qualified to save the struggling club from relegation.
Hodgson drafted the Norway international centre-half into Craven Cottage during the January transfer window in a bid to arrest the club's slide towards the relegation zone.
Hangeland played in the Viking FK side which Hodgson saved from relegation from the Norwegian top-flight back in 2004 and the defender was left in no doubt as to why they eventually survived.
"He's doing the same thing here so far and I hope we will see the same result," he told the club's official website.
"It looks exactly the same. He's working really hard on the important things like the shape of the team and the way we defend, attack and keep everyone in good positions.
"There are signs when we're working in the sessions that we're moving in the direction he wants us to move. It's probably getting better with every day."

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Hangeland pleased with first weeks at Fulham  

Brede Hangeland is happy with his first weeks at Fulham.
The Norway defender told fulhamfc.com: "I think it's gone fairly well, it's always a big challenge to come to a new club and a new league - particularly when it's a league as good as this one," Hangeland explained. "There are a few things I have to overcome but overall I think it's gone alright.
"It will take some time to adapt to the speed and physicality fully but everyone has told me to be prepared for the speed of the game and lots of challenges. I've tried to do that as good as I can and hopefully I will improve in the future.
"The main thing for me is that the Team picks up the points, if the other players, the Manager or the fans are pleased with what I do that's good but points for the Team is the overall important thing."

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Southampton captain Claus Lundekvam is set to announce his retirement after a series of injury problems.  (Daily Star)

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Reading No2 Dillon on how to stop Carew: Grab 'im by the Vinnie Jones'!

Reading assistant boss Kevin Dillon has revealed how they plan to stop Aston Villa powerhouse John Carew this weekend.
Dillon told the Reading Evening Post: "You can defend against Carew - you can defend against anybody if you do it properly. You can get your body in the way, put them off, stand on their toes, grab them by the Vinnie Jones's!
"If you had 10 corners against Carew and were told that if he scores you'll get fined then you'd find he won't score - and that's the mentality you have to have."

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Morten has Ped the price

MARK HUGHES admits that Morten Gamst Pedersen is paying the price for David Bentley’s rise to fame with Blackburn.
Winger Pedersen, 26, has just two goals this term after bagging eight last season.
With Bentley, 23, starring on the opposite flank, Hughes fears Pedersen is being forced to take second billing to the England star.
Rovers boss Sparky said: “Maybe David’s emergence has shifted the focus of our play from Morten.
“I’ve seen enough from Morten in training and games to know he is doing his best to make an impact.
“Good players like him always come back.”

The Sun

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Arsenal are monitoring Rosenborg midfielder Per Ciljan Skjelbred, who is valued at £5m by his club. (Telegraph)

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Blackburn fan inspired me - Pedersen

Blackburn Rovers winger Morten Gamst Pedersen says a pep-talk from a local fan boosted his confidence ahead of scoring in Sunday's derby victory over Bolton Wanderers.
"I was at a gas station and met one fan, who said 'I'm sure you'll score soon' - and that made a real difference to me," said the Norwegian.
"It's nice when people believe in you and help you, rather than have a go at you. It really helps your confidence."

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Southampton captain Claus Lundekvam is set to announce his retirement after a series of injury problems.  (Daily Star)

Saint Lundekvam fears for career   


Lundekvam's career is in danger after 14 years at Saints

Southampton defender Claus Lundekvam is battling to save his career after suffering a recurrence of the injury that has sidelined him this season.
The Norwegian tore ankle tendons during a routine running test, and is now considering his future after tests revealed the extent of the damage.
"It is incredible bad luck that has set me back to square one," said the former Saints club captain.
"There is no chance of playing again this season."
Lundekvam added: "The ankle has been through a lot over the years and there has been a lot of wear and tear which is stopping it healing properly and I don't want to push it too far.
"I now have to decide where to go from here and also to consider my future life because I don't want to be walking with a limp."
Lundekvam, now 35, has made over 400 appearances for the club since his move back in 1996 from Brann Bergen for just £350,000.
He originally injured the ankle in the final game of last season at home to Southend.

BBC

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Tottenham are chasing Norway keeper Hakon Opdal, who let in eight goals against Everton, as a replacement for Paul Robinson. (Daily Mirror)

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Ped handy against Toon

MORTEN GAMST PEDERSEN is aiming to hand out some more pain to the Toon Army and Kevin Keegan today.
Blackburn’s Norwegian star palmed in the winning goal at St James’ Park two years to push then boss Graeme Souness nearer the exit door.
Now he aims to throw King Kev’s Newcastle reign further into disarray by leading Rovers to a third straight win on Tyneside.
Pedersen admitted the ‘Hand of Gamst’ goal in January 2006 should not have counted â€" but also revealed the secret behind it.

It may come as no surprise to Geordies to learn the former Tromso star was a Norwegian youth international â€" at HANDBALL!
Pedersen, 26, said: “I played handball when I was younger and was picked for the national Under-18s.
"I enjoyed it a lot, although football was always my first choice.
"Maybe it helped me when that goal went in at Newcastle â€" I think a few people in Norway spotted the connection!
“It was a funny goal. Shefki Kuqi got in a header over the goalie. I just followed the ball in â€" I think Lee Bowyer was also going for it and we clashed into each other. The ball hit my hand and went into the net.
“I didn’t know a lot about it but there was no whistle and it was an important goal as we were going for the Champions League at the time.”
Pedersen ended his year-long league goal drought with a late fourth against Bolton on Sunday.
He added: “Hopefully this time if I score it can be with my head and there’ll be no doubts about it.
“The manager Mark Hughes always believed in me, even though I wasn’t scoring goals and I must thank him.
“We’ve had some good results up there. They are desperate to get a win and get things started under Keegan.
“They were heavily beaten by Manchester United and you never know if that means it’s a good time for us to go there or not.”

Morten Gamst Pedersen was speaking at a new sports facility in Darwen, Lancs, opened as part of the £30million Barclays Spaces for Sports programme.

The Sun

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CAREW HOPES FOR LONGER DEAL

Aston Villa striker John Carew has spelt out his desire to sign a longer-term contract with the midlands club.
Carew is only 13 months into a three-and-a-half-year deal with Villa after signing from Lyon in a swap deal with Milan Baros during last year's January transfer window.
But the Norway international is so happy with life at Villa he would be willing to commit himself beyond the summer of 2010.
Carew is Villa's leading scorer with nine goals during the current campaign and has played a major role in Martin O'Neill's side challenging for a European spot.
He said: "Would I sign for longer? Absolutely, but that is down to the club and whether they are still happy with me. It has been a good season for me.
"I really love being here. The fans have been fantastic. It has been a great move for me. You will have periods when your form goes up and down but generally I think my form has been pretty good."
Carew is keen to play down his own goal contribution and prefers to concentrate on helping Villa push for a UEFA Cup or Champions League spot.
He said: "The best I've got in a season is maybe 15 or 16 goals. I used to do that quite regularly for Valencia but more importantly we have to think about winning the games and getting three points on the board as often as possible.
"The most important thing is the team, and doing a good job for the team, and we are all hoping we can keep things going and qualify for Europe.
"I've played in the Champions League before and those sort of nights are special."

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Carew can be top notcher - O'Neill

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill believes striker John Carew has the capabilities to become a 20-goals-a-season player.
The Norway international is Villa's leading scorer with nine goals so far this season, despite a two-month lay-off with a knee problem earlier in the season.
O'Neill is confident the former Lyon player can hit the target on an even more consistent basis.
"To see John up to the nine-goal mark is great - and there's no reason why he shouldn't go on to become a 20-goals-a-season man," said the Villa boss.
"John had a knee injury earlier in the season, and to be a 20-goals-a-season marksman you have to play the requisite number of games.
"But he should be able to do that and also reach that number of goals, no doubt at all.
"That's the sort of thing I'm looking for from him, and I think he's a miles better player than he thinks he is himself."
O'Neill believes Carew has all the right qualities for his job.
"He's a nightmare for defenders - but not just with pace, power and presence," he added.
"He has great ability to get the ball down, manoeuvre and bring people into the game.
O'Neill has often called for Carew to show more consistency and is aware he has the potential to become one of the more feared strikers in Europe.
"John is looking for consistency," he explained.
"You are striving for excellence every game you play. But if you don't achieve that, you still want to cause a lot of problems to defenders.
"Ironically, in some of the games I felt John wasn't as effective as he can be - but opposition managers have said afterwards that he has been a handful all afternoon.
"He has got the ability - and if he could get increase that consistency factor, there is no reason to stop him being one of the best centre-forwards in Europe."
O'Neill points to his players operating with a lack of fear as a major reason for them challenging for a European spot.
He said: "We are where we are in the table but we are improving and we are capable of causing teams problems - and we caused Arsenal plenty of problems last weekend.
"We are causing teams problems because we can get at them. At the minute, we are playing with no real fear -which is great, considering the stakes are pretty high.
"It is a level of performance that we are finding. Like anything else, it is not just a case of somebody telling the players to believe in themselves. You have to go out and you have to perform.
"The performances themselves will be enough for those players to believe that they can do it. We are winning consistently, or at least not getting beaten, and we have shown that we can attack."

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Fulham's Hangeland is Premiership's most cerebral

Fulham defender Brede Hangeland is emerging as the Premiership's most cerebral footballer.
In a recent Q&A, Hangeland was asked to name the latest book he had read: "I read quite a lot, the last one was a Norwegian book which you won't know. But the last English language book was Underworld by Don DeLillo."
So not only is Hangeland a fan of 800-page Pulitzer-prize nominated literature, but he also reads books in two languages!

[HåvardK]

Da er vel ikke homo-stempelet langt unna for Hangeland, tenker jeg.

[lojosang]

Garantert! En midtstopper i England som kan lese! Uhørt! 

[palle]

Er egentlig imponert over at journalisten greide å stave Pulitzer korrekt 

PålK

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- En enorm forskjell

Norske fotballtalenter advares mot å reise for tidlig til utlandet. Nå slår to av de største talentene tilbake.
Magnus Wolff Eikrem (17, Manchester United) og Lars Stubhaug (17, Everton) er to av de største norske fotballtalentene som har reist over og tatt sjansen på en karriere i engelsk fotball i løpet av de siste to årene â€" stikk i strid med hva mange profilerte, norske fotballtopper har rådet dem og andre norske fotballtalenter til å gjøre.
Og selv om begge fortsatt er et godt stykke unna en plass i toppklubbenes førsteellever, er konklusjonen klar.
- Vi angrer ikke et sekund, sier de unisont.

http://www.nettavisen.no/sport/fotball/england/article1644477.ece

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Blackburn face misconduct charge   


Beye (left) and Pedersen (right) argue over a throw-in

The Football Association has charged Blackburn Rovers with misconduct.
"Blackburn Rovers have been charged with misconduct for the actions of their players and officials in a match against Newcastle United," said the FA.
The incident which caused the FA to act is a touchline fracas which broke out as Habib Beye and Morten Gamst Pedersen argued over a throw-in.
Blackburn, who won the match 1-0 thanks to a late winner, have until 25 March to respond to the charge.
The FA took action after studying referee Rob Styles' report.

BBC

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SAINTS DEFENDER RETIRES

Southampton defender Claus Lundekvam has retired from the game after losing his battle with a long-standing ankle injury.
The 35-year-old underwent surgery on his ankle tendon last week and had hoped to train with the Saints' first team this month in a bid to return to action before the end of the season.
However the Norwegian international, who made over 400 appearances in a 12-year stint on the south coast, has endured more complications in his rehabilitation and has now admitted defeat in his battle to regain match fitness.
He told BBC Radio Solent: "That's it for me, it's game over. It's very sad, but it hasn't really sunk in yet.
"It's very difficult to come to terms with. Maybe once the season is finished and the players have gone I'll find it hard to deal with."

PA Sport

Også BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/7312314.stm

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Hodgson: Hangeland future Fulham captain  

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson sees January signing Brede Hangeland as a future club captain.
"It would depend on who else is playing in the team and where he is in terms of experience vis-is the others," Hodgson told fulhamfc.com. "He'll captain the Norwegian team certainly within the near future - whether he captains our team in the near future depends on what other players are around.
"When we have Brian McBride there's no way he's going to wrest the armband from Brian who is a senior player and has been at the Club a long time.
"I think he's outstanding," added Hodgson when asked about Hangeland's impact. "He has the capacity to be one of the better centre backs in the league. Since he's come to us he's been very important because of his quality. When I say quality, I mean quality defensively and offensively. He's a key figure in the team every week."

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Spurs are lining up a £1million bid for Molde FK defender Vegaard Forren. (The People)

http://www.moldefk.no/site/statistikk/spiller.php?page_id=20&season=2008&match_type=2&player_id=114