NYHETER: Ex-player/-manager news, Part II

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James Milner keeps feet on the ground

Early stardom is not always good for one's health. Ask any number of washed-up footballers who were once the George Bests of the playground.
The secret, says James Milner, is not how brightly your feet twinkle on the pitch but how tightly they stick to terra firma off it.
One minute, the young Milner was collecting balls at Leeds United's Elland Road ground, the next he was signing them for teenagers older than himself, having made his debut in 2002 aged 16 years and 309 days.
One minute he was cheering on his hero Alan Smith, the next he was sharing a dressing room with him and calling him 'Smudge' like everyone else, enough to turn any young head. Luckily for young Milner, he had supportive family and friends, his father Peter insisting that he continue his education after joining the Leeds academy at 10, resulting in 11 GCSE passes.
Looking back, Milner admits that it was all a bit scary but says: "At the time, you just go along with the ride. It's only afterwards that you think, how did this happen, how did that happen? Smudge was an inspiration to all of us because he did what we all aspired to, he came through the system to play in the first team for his hometown club. It doesn't get much better than that.
"It was funny to end up playing alongside him but when I first stepped up to the reserves, I looked round to see David Batty on one side of me and Olivier Dacourt on the other. You had to pinch yourself sometimes but it's all about learning from big players. It's easy for youngsters to play one or two games and then lose their heads, get excited and get ahead of themselves. That can be the difference between playing at the top for 10 or 15 years and going out of the game after a couple of games because you think you've made it."
Milner, 21, took the opportunity to watch another master at work and play when he joined Newcastle for £3.6 million in the summer of 2004. He says: "When I arrived that summer, we went on a pre-season tour to the Far East and Alan Shearer was absolutely mobbed all the time. You wondered how he dealt with it but the sort of person he is and the professionalism he has, he just took it all in his stride. It's from being associated with people like that, day in and day out, that you learn how to deal with things on and off the field."
Milner's performances this season have put him on the verge of Steve McClaren's England team but unlike Blackburn's David Bentley, who refused to play in the summer's Under-21 championships, he would never turn down a shirt bearing the Three Lions crest. He won his 28th Under-21 cap in Friday's 3-0 win in the Euro 2009 qualifier in Montenegro and should get a record 29th in Bulgaria on Tuesday.
He says: "Getting to the semis in the summer was a great experience and a great disappointment. I've now lost two European championships to the hosts on penalties in the semi-finals after winning all the way through. But it's how you cope with that, so that the next time you get in that position, you can produce a different outcome. Hopefully, it will stand all of us in good stead."
He is cautiously optimistic about the fortunes of Newcastle under new manager Sam Allardyce, who he says has provided the most professional set-up most of the players have seen. Allardyce has brought his entire 'science set' to St James' Park, involving a lot more preparation before games and debriefings afterwards, and giving the players more detailed analyses of opponents. Even the compulsory ice baths have not put the players off.
Milner says: "Expectations are always huge at a club like Newcastle. My first season here, we got to the quarter final of the Uefa Cup and the semi-final of the FA Cup and in the space of four days, we were dumped out of both.
"When things are tough, there are days when you think, 'I don't really want to go in today', but right now it's a pleasure to go in in the morning. And we are so lucky to do what we do, play football for a living."
When did you last hear a Baby Bentley-driving, champagne-guzzling, perennially exhausted Premier League player say that? But then you know Milner is different when he tells you that he celebrated that debut at 16 with a quiet night in. And how about when he became the Premier League's youngest goalscorer on Boxing Day 2002? The same.

Telegraph

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MATT HAPPY TO BE GIVEN A LEADING ROLE AT CITY

Dominic Matteo says he is flattered to be captaining Stoke City, but feels it would be presumptuous to make a claim to keep the job.The 33-year-old former Liverpool, Leeds United and Blackburn midfielder was an obvious choice to take over once it was evident former skipper Danny Higginbotham was on his way to Sunderland.
Matteo says he is proud to take the job, but won't feel snubbed if the Stoke manager, Tony Pulis, eventually decides to hand the responsibility to someone else.
He explained: "It is always an honour to captain a club, and I know this club has a great footballing tradition.
"I wasn't expecting to be captain at first because obviously I was expecting Danny to be fit.
"I am not saying I am captain of the club or anything like that, but I am just happy to fill in for the time being.
"After all, the manager might want to bring in someone else but, while I am doing it, I will give it my best shot.
"It is not for me to say about the long term. That is the manager's decision but it has been great to do it so far.
"I was captain of Leeds for a few years so it is something I have done before, but it won't really alter my game because I talk and moan at everyone anyway."
The Scotland international has every reason to feel pleased with the way the last few weeks have gone, having returned to City this summer hoping to win a contract.
Pulis granted him a deal and Matteo has responded by starting each of City's four league games.
He added: "I was looking at the fixtures the other day and I think we have had the toughest start of anyone in the division. Had you said we would get seven points from our first four matches, then I think we might have taken that.
"We could have nicked the game against Wolves last week, but as a team I think we have worked very hard.
"I think, in a way, we are working too hard because we need to keep the ball better. But if you have our work rate and the togetherness we have in the dressing room then you always have a chance.
"That spirit is especially important when we have to dig in to get a result as we did to win 1-0 at Cardiff.
"I am sure there will be 25-30 more games like that this season where the result could go either way so we have to dig in."


thisisstaffordshire.co.uk

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Ex-Leeds man on Walsall board
Former Leeds United vice-chairman Peter Gilman has emerged as a new face on the board at Walsall.
Gilman, who was on the Elland Road board in the 1990s, is a long-time friend of Saddlers chairman Jeff Bonser and has now been confirmed as a director.
The property developer was involved in Walsall’s move from Fellows Park to the Banks’s Stadium in 1990 and his current firm also helped build the new Floors-2-Go Stand.
His former company, Denglen, was involved in the construction of the stadium and the redevelopment of the Fellows Park site as a supermarket.
Denglen was effectively Walsall’s landlord when the club moved to the Bescot site before Denglen went into administration, leaving Bonser to take over.
Gilman left Leeds before the takeover by the Peter Ridsdale regime, which has since been blamed for the club’s slide from the Champions League to the foot of League One.
But he is now back in football with a seat alongside Bonser, Richard Tisdale, Clive Welch, Roy Whalley, Nigel Bond and Stefan Gamble on the Saddlers board.
Bonser said: “Peter is a long-standing friend of mine and a long-standing supporter of the club.
“He is a valuable member of the board.”
Bonser confirmed that Gilman, who now runs GMI Construction, joined the board last September.

expressandstar.com

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Wilkinson and Moore leave County
Howard Wilkinson has resigned his position as technical director of Notts County - hours after chairman Jeff Moore announced his own departure.
Wilkinson managed the Magpies in 1982/83 before spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds and Sunderland, and a stint as the FA's technical director.
He returned as a non-executive director of County in 2004, becoming technical director in June 2006.
But the club announced on Monday afternoon that he had resigned.
Fellow director Joanna Adams - former commercial director of the Football Conference who had been on the Notts board since June - submitted her notice of resignation at the same time as Wilkinson.
The duo's resignations came on the same day that Moore revealed that he would relinquish the chairmanship once the shareholders and board had elected his successor.
"When I was first approached to become chairman at the end of the 2005-06 season, I was surprised and flattered," Moore told County's website.
"But my position as chief executive of the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA) is a full-time role.
"I no longer feel it is fair to Notts County to continue as chairman while being unable to afford the requisite amount of time."
County have also launched a five-year business plan entitled "Vision 2012", in which the club is aiming to reach the Championship within five years.

BBC Sport

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HEALY SCARE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
David Healy's fitness will be monitored in the next 48 hours as Northern Ireland's record goalscorer skipped training on Monday.
The Fulham striker had taken a kick on the calf and missed the session as a precautionary measure, according to the Irish Football Association.
Healy has been a pivotal figure in the Euro 2008 qualifiers and is anxious to face Iceland on Wednesday in Group F.
He has scored 11 goals in the campaign and 31 overall in 58 international appearances.
Healy would be sorely missed but he is not the only concern for manager Nigel Worthington as he looks for the team to bounce back after the defeat in Latvia.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/09/10/SOCCER_N_Ireland.html

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Robbo glove affair with Macca
PAUL ROBINSON has paid tribute to Steve McClaren for helping him through the toughest spell of his career.
The England keeper arrived for international duty last week expecting the axe after his Wembley blunder against the Germans.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007420033,00.html

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Liverpool's Pennant involved in pizza bust-up
Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant was caught up an alleged row at a takeaway pizza shop.
The Sun says Pennant got so hammered in a nightclub he could barely stand up.
Liverpool winger Pennant, 24, was then involved in a bust-up at a pizza takeaway - and ended up falling over.
Witnesses said he tried to ease the situation by waving his hands and slurring "calm down, calm down" before hitting the ground. One of his pals, also believed to be a footballer, was arrested for a public order offence.
The pair had been drinking in a trendy bar in Bournemouth, Dorset, before apparently going to the takeaway.

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Sharpe: I couldn't match Man Utd's Ronaldo party antics
Lee Sharpe says he would have been "sacked" by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson if his parties had matched what Cristiano Ronaldo allegedly got up to with teammates Nani and Anderson, plus a handful of escort girls.
Former United winger Sharpe, who famously once had a soiree personally broken up by Ferguson, said: "If it was me, I'd expect the sack, but I wasn't the best player in the world - he is.
"My parties weren't as good as his, either."

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Fighting talk â€" why David Batty and I came to blows on a shameful day in Moscow
In the latest extract from his autobiography, Graeme Le Saux reveals his embarrassment at an incident that left him ‘wanting to die’

The fight between me and David Batty came to symbolise the fall from grace of Blackburn Rovers and I have nothing but regret over it. There was no justification for my behaviour.
I apologised to David after the game in the dressing-room in front of our teammates, then I sat with him in the airport lounge and we talked about it. He was absolutely fine, absolutely calm. He told me not to worry, which was never going to be an option. I talked to my wife, Mariana, on the phone. I told her I felt like I wanted to die.
It was amazing how quickly it all began to unravel for us at Blackburn. Just a couple of months after the high of winning the league in 1995, it was as if the glue that had kept us together began to dissolve.
Ray Harford had replaced Kenny Dalglish as manager and there was an edge between the players. Groups started to form. Tim Sherwood, Batts, Chris Sutton and Mike Newell â€" the stronger characters â€" got away with things that would not have happened under Kenny and started to break the unity of the team. I could feel the atmosphere changing. It was breaking down and we began to turn on each other. Suddenly, we were desperately vulnerable.
In the midst of raging against the loss of our dominance at home, we travelled to Moscow to play Spartak in our doomed Champions League campaign. It was against this back-drop that Batty and I fell out so spectacularly.
People had started looking after themselves rather than playing for the team and there were a couple of games where David and I had had a go at each other. David was one of those players who would always come short to get the ball. Occasionally, I’d tell him he didn’t need to come so close. But if I didn’t pass to him and ended up losing the ball, he’d have a go at me.
Gradually, that started to worsen. Then, two weeks before the incident in Moscow, I nutmegged him in training and he got the hump. He came after me and I got prickly about that. There was a sharpness developing.
The next game, he said something to me about being selfish and I came in at half-time and had it out with him in front of everybody. I told him to repeat what he had said and he backed off. I thought that was it. I was frustrated at the way things were going and I knew he was, too, but I thought we had got rid of the problem.
It was a horrible atmosphere in Moscow. It was bitterly cold, the pitch was frozen and the dressing-rooms were miserable. I felt weighed down by a general air of anxiety even before kick-off. They scored early and things felt fraught, as though they were unravelling. Everything was going from bad to worse.
It was still the first half when I set off after a loose ball. I was running up the touchline, the ball in front of me. I was going to intercept it. David was coming across the pitch to try to get there as well. We arrived at the same time and ran into each other.
I hit the deck and, as I got up, he came at me very aggressively. He was being threatening and screaming things. His face was contorted with anger, as if he was going to rip my head off. Hitting him was more of a pre-emptive strike than anything. If I had not hit him, I felt he was going to hit me.
It is a myth that he was hurling a stream of homophobic abuse. It wasn’t the words that got to me, but a combination of four or five things. I was upset at what he said and that he was accusing me of being selfish again; I was upset that we were not doing well as a team and I reacted because of the way he behaved.
His words were irrelevant, really; it was just that he was right in my face and I felt I had to protect myself. I swung at him, connected and knew immediately that I had broken my left hand. I am not a fighter. I hadn’t closed my fist properly. Tim Sherwood ran over to intervene and I thought he was going to hit me, but he pulled us apart. He was embarrassed. So was I.
I was in a lot of pain, which just made me feel more ridiculous. I knew I could not come off. Mainly, I was in shock at what had happened. At half-time, Ray had a go at us. He said he was ashamed. He said he hadn’t been able to believe what he was seeing and that no manager had been asked to deal with that kind of situation before. I was getting my hand strapped.
David didn’t say anything. He seemed OK. I suppose he might have had a sore cheek. The whole scene was very weird, a terrible situation. I was in bits because of the injury and the realisation of what I had done.
There has always been speculation about what David said to me. Most have assumed that a homophobic taunt made me snap. But I never considered this incident similar to the one with Robbie Fowler, nor even in the same league. What David said was between me and him. I am not condoning it, but I am not condoning what I did, either.
People at Blackburn had started to lose respect for each other, the European campaign was the most embarrassing part of that season and I don’t think it was a coincidence that our problems flared up abroad. We were just two men who were deeply p***ed off at what was going on at our football club and who felt powerless to stop the slide. We were in an inhospitable environment
getting beaten, heading for more misery, more criticism, more underachievement and, when we ran into each other, we just lost it.
The aftermath was appalling. We were miles away from home, we had been battered 3-0, I had a broken hand and I had just hit my own teammate. I sat by myself on the coach to the airport, cowering at the back.
The atmosphere was terrible. Ray Harford was distraught. He felt that it was a reflection on his management, that it showed he must be doing something badly wrong. Poor Ray â€" he didn’t deserve that.
More than anything, that night is the one thing I wish I could erase from my career.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article2426480.ece

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Pennant puts Liverpool ahead of England
Jermaine Pennant admits he'll accept being ignored by England if it means winning silverware for Liverpool.
"Of course I want to play for England," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "It's everyone's dream to play for their country and I'm no different.
"I know the manager said I was close to being included, but obviously I wasn't close enough.
"All I can do is keep working hard for Liverpool and see what happens. Liverpool is my priority. If it came down to a choice of winning the league with Liverpool or playing for England then there's only one winner there. It would be Liverpool every time.
"It's so long since we won the league and I'd love to be a part of the first team to do it for many years."

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Cat Harte sets playing priority
HE was forced to do his pre-season training in isolation, but as Ian Harte prepares to make his first appearance for Sunderland, the Irishman is adamant he will soon be up to speed in a red-and-white shirt.
And having experienced relegation twice in the last four years, the full-back is not anticipating another fight for survival after insisting he has joined a club with what it takes to thrive in the Premier League.
Following Levante’s decision to release him, Harte (pictured right) signed a one-year contract with the Black Cats six days ago and, although a problem with the paperwork prevented him from making his debut in last week’s reserve-team game against Newcastle United, his international clearance has since been secured.
The 30-year-old is expected to be involved for the first time this evening when the club’s second string return to action at Everton. It will be an invaluable exercise as a defender lacking match practice prepares to take a step closer to top-flight participation.
“It’s important that I get some games under my belt,” said a player who was recruited to fill Sunderland’s problematic left-back position. “It would have been ideal to play for the reserves against Newcastle, but the international clearance didn’t come through in time and it’s good that this game has come around so soon.
“I reported for pre-season training at Levante but I was told that I wouldn’t be allowed to travel with the team to matches so I had a pre-season on my own. I was out running every day in the heat over there and that was good for me. Then I got the chance to come over and train with Sunderland. That’s where I’m at, I just need some games.” Tonight’s game in the North-West is the reserves’ sole scheduled fixture before Roy Keane’s team resume their Premier League campaign against Reading on September 15. But with the chance to take part in regular team training sessions and some practice matches during the next fortnight, Harte will hope to be involved when Steve Coppell’s team head to Wearside.
"I’m looking forward to playing for Roy,” said the Republic of Ireland international. “I was lucky enough to have played with him (at international level) so I know what he’s like. Then there’s Niall (Quinn), the chairman. This club’s full of Irish people.
“There are a few Irish lads here who I knew already and I’ve found it to be a really friendly place. I was due to train with another club before I came here, but this was a great chance to come back and play in the Premier League again. When I spoke to the other club, they just said ‘It’s a great opportunity, you’ve got to take it’. I’m delighted that I did.”
Harte spent three seasons in Spain and although his career in Valencia came to an unfortunate end when he was given the cold shoulder at Levante having been told that his contract would not be renewed, the former Elland Road favourite has no regrets.
“It was a fantastic experience,” said a player who joined the La Liga club in 2004 following Leeds United’s relegation from the Premier League. “The first year that I was there we played in the top division and although we were relegated, I helped the team get promoted again (during the subsequent season). I scored nine goals that year and was the second leading scorer.
“It was good, but the facilities and the stadium over there weren’t too professional so this was a great chance to come back. It’s over and done with now and I’m just delighted to have the chance to join a club like Sunderland â€" a club that is organised and where our main objection isn’t just to stay in the Premier League, but to do well in it. With our mixture of youth and experience, I hope we can do really well. This is a great opportunity for all the players here.”


http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/sunderlandafc/news/tm_headline=cat-harte-sets-playing-priority%26method=full%26objectid=19730102%26siteid=50081-name_page.html

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NEIL WARNOCK has stunned Milan Mandaric by snubbing his offer to become Leicester’s new boss.
Warnock held talks with chairman Mandaric but does not want to be considered for the post.
Gary Megson and Peter Reid are the new favourites. (the Sun)

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Gordon Strachan's appeal against a four-match touchline ban will be heard by the Scottish Football Association's disciplinary committee on Sept 25. The Celtic manager was sent to the stands by referee Stuart Dougal during the home SPL match against Hearts on April 29. (Telegraph)

[fmtj]

quote:Originally posted by kjelvi

NEIL WARNOCK has stunned Milan Mandaric by snubbing his offer to become Leicester’s new boss.
Warnock held talks with chairman Mandaric but does not want to be considered for the post.
Gary Megson and Peter Reid are the new favourites. (the Sun)

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[Sheridan]

quote:Originally posted by fmtj

quote:Originally posted by kjelvi

NEIL WARNOCK has stunned Milan Mandaric by snubbing his offer to become Leicester’s new boss.
Warnock held talks with chairman Mandaric but does not want to be considered for the post.
Gary Megson and Peter Reid are the new favourites. (the Sun)

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Hånet Brolin på direkten
TV 4-profilen Patrick Ekwall hånet Tomas Brolin direkte på TV.

Det var i en reklamepause i fotballprogrammet «Andre halvlek» at svensk TV 4s kanskje mest kjente sportsreporter tabbet seg skikkelig ut, skriver Expressen.
Han trodde TV-seerne hørte lyden fra reklameinnslagene - men de fikk istedenfor høre Ekwall håne den svenske fotballprofilen Tomas Brolin. Innslaget ble lagt ut på kanalens egen hjemmeside.
- Den bitreste fotballspilleren jeg noensinne har truffet, sa Ekwall om Brolin, som deltok i studio sammen med programleder Ola Wenström og de tidligere fotballstjernene Andreas Alm og Magnus Hedman.
Ekwall la deretter ut om Tomas Brolins utested Undici.
- Traff Ravelli på puben på lørdag etter kampen. Han var i godt humør, for å si det sånn, lo TV 4-profilen.
Den svenske keeperlegenden Tomas Ravelli svarte slik da han ble oppringt av Expressen.
- Visst, jeg var på Undici, men jeg tok det rolig, og gikk hjem halv tre, sa han.
TV 4 legger seg paddeflate etter tabben.
- Det var overhodet ikke tenkt at dette skulle bli publisert. I studio trodde de at seerne hørte reklameinnslaget, sier Bella Tidblad, utviklingssjef og ansvarlig utgiver for TV 4s fotbollskanalen.se.
Nå skal TV 4 se gjennom rutinene.
- Vi skal undersøke hva som gikk galt, sier hun.

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Healy fit for Iceland qualifier
Northern Ireland striker David Healy has declared himself fit for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Iceland.
The Fulham player had aggravated a calf strain picked up in the weekend defeat by Latvia but he trained with the rest of the squad in Reykjavik on Tuesday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/6989877.stm

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Lennon poised for Spurs comeback  
Aaron Lennon may give Tottenham boss Martin Jol a boost by making a surprise return against Arsenal on Saturday.
Lennon, 20, is back in full training following minor knee surgery in May and was close to making a comeback in the 3-3 draw at Fulham on 1 September.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/6990804.stm

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Micky Adams has emerged as a leading candidate for the vacant hotseat at old club Gillingham. (Daily Mirror)

Martin Jol is ready to gamble on Aaron Lennon in Saturday's North London derby against Arsenal. (The Sun)

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Harte ready for Sunderland debut
Ian Harte hopes to make his Sunderland debut this weekend against Reading.

The former Leeds and Levante left-back told the Sunderland Echo: "I know that Ross Wallace has done very well at left-back, though he's naturally a left-winger and Danny Collins has played the last game at left-back, even though he's a centre-half.
"But left-back is my out-and-out position and so I know that, if I hit the right standard in my preferred position, I have a chance of earning a proper run in the team.
"At the end of the day, it's the manager who picks the first 11, though, and I just have to show I'm worth selection by what I do on the training pitch.
"I'm fit to play should I be called for the Reading game.
"I am definitely fit and very excited about the prospect of playing."

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Williams denies Adams rumours
Colchester boss Geraint Williams played down reports linking his assistant Micky Adams with the managerial vacancy at Gillingham.
Adams, a former manager of Fulham, Brighton, Leicester and Coventry, joined the Us' coaching staff in July after leaving the Sky Blues, and has been mentioned as a possible successor to Ronnie Jepson at the Priestfield Stadium.
Williams admits that with such an impressive CV, Adams will possibly seek a return to management one day, but he is confident his number two is happy at Layer Road for the time being.
"It's no surprise to hear Micky's name crop up, but if there's anything in it he'll come to me and we'll talk about it, we have a very open relationship," said Williams.
"We know what football is like, there are a lot of ifs and maybes, but we try to deal in facts here.
"Obviously he's been a successful manager and he might like to get back into management. But he's very happy working here."

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Arsenal legend Seaman backs Tottenham's Robinson
Arsenal and England hero David Seaman has backed Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson to re-establish himself as the national team's outright No1.
Seaman is certain the current No.1 is good enough and told Setanta: "Paul is coming up to the perfect age for a goalkeeper and he is getting lots of experience by playing in all the big games. If he carries on there is no doubt he will be regarded as a good goalkeeper."

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Spurs keeper Robinson delighted with successful week
Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson is delighted to return from England duty with two clean sheets.
His position as England No 1 was under threat following his latest mistake in the 2-1 friendly defeat to Germany last month.
But he saw off the storm to shut out Israel and Russia this week.
Spurs stopper Robbo said: "I'm really, really pleased. A week is a long time in football. I feel slightly different to the way I felt a few weeks ago at Wembley.
"Yet I know as quickly as it can turn one way, it can turn the other way as well. I'm not going to take anything for granted."

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Wigan's Olembe admits still short of fitness
New Wigan Athletic signing Salomon Olembe admits he is still short of fitness.
He said: "The most important thing is to make the fans happy, and to do that we must win the games.
"I like to give everything I have in matches, and let the fans know what you do for the team.
"It's not my specific ambition to play against Fulham, my ambition is to be fit and be ready to make a difference.
"My fitness is good but I've not done a pre-season and I am going to train hard and then I'll be ready to play."
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OLEMBE RELISHING WIGAN CHANCE
New Wigan defender Salomon Olembe admits he was hungry to return to English football after being given a taste of the Premier League at Leeds.
The Cameroon international made a dozen appearances during a loan spell at Elland Road in the 2003-04 season.
And despite offers from clubs in Germany and France when he left Marseille during the summer, Olembe was happy to join the Latics on a free transfer after agreeing an initial 12-month deal.
"I had options to go to Metz or a German team but I have been in England before and I like the football here and the way people live with football, so I chose to come here," he said.
"I had contact from Wigan and I decided to come after I spoke to a lot of people here, including Antoine Sibierksi, who told me it was a good club for me and an ambitious club.
"I played with Leeds and I know it's a good quality in the Premier League. I hope I will progress and give a good, positive attitude to Wigan to help them keep winning."

Hele storyen: http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/09/14/SOCCER_Wigan_Olembe.html

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Watford sign Boro winger Johnson  
Watford have received a double boost with the arrival of Middlesbrough winger Adam Johnson on loan and Jay DeMerit's decision to sign a new deal.
England Under-21 international Johnson, 20, will spend three months on loan at Vicarage Road as he looks for first-team experience.

BBC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Johnson_%28footballer%29

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King rejected Villa, Derby for Watford stay
Watford striker Marlon King has revealed he rejected several Premiership offers to stick with the Hornets.
King has revealed he turned his back on a posse of big clubs including Aston Villa and Derby in the summer to help Watford boomerang back into the top flight.

tribalfooball.com

[kjelvi]

Koser meg over Farsley Celtic, Leeds by's lag i Blue Square Premier (Conferance).
Laget gjør det bra!
Klubben, som neste år vil hete FC Leeds, er et bra supplement for Leeds-kamper på lørdager. De spiller mange av sine hjemmekamper på søndager.
At laget har en drøss med ex-Leeds-spillere i stallen gjør det hele mer interessant!

Ex-spillere er: Mark Jackson (også reservelagstrener), Ryan Serrant, Mark Wilberforce, Nick Smith, Damien Reeve og Bailey Camfield, samt James Knowles som har hatt trial på Elland Road. (http://farsley.bpweb.net/firstteam.html)


Farsley continue to confound the pundits
Two goals in 11 second-half minutes was enough to earn Farsley Celtic a 2-1 victory at the Glassworld Stadium, the home of Histon, on Saturday in the contest between two of last season’s promoted teams.
When Farsley eased themselves into the Blue Square premiership via the end of season play offs, they were given scant hope of success from the pundits. But three victories in the opening eight fixtures see them sitting comfortably mid table and gradually growing into the demands of non-league’s toughest challenge.
“Only time will tell if we are good enough for this league,” Lee Sinnott, the Farsley manager said. “It is my job to drive the players on individually and collectively. I know what they are capable of and they are capable of a lot more.
“Some of the approach play today was first class but perhaps we need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. So I am pleased with the progress that we have made so far but it is important that we keep putting points on the board.” Both Farsley goals came from 22-year-old former Leeds United youngster Damien Reeve, some solace for a first-half penalty that he crashed against the bar. The first, three minutes after the interval, was calmly rolled under Mark Osborn, the goalkeeper, and on the hour he blasted an unstoppable volley that had Osborn grasping at fresh air. In between, Jamie Barker had briefly restored parity.
"There were two great goals,” Sinnot said. “But the most important thing was to get another three points on the board. Once again we have caused a team problem, as we have done in all our eight matches. We just have to make sure that we can transfer our home form into away performances like we did today.” After dominating the first half, including Reeve’s miss from the penalty spot, it appeared as if it may not be Farsley’s day, but Sinnott explained that he would not countenance any such sentiments. “I have had a long career and I don’t believe in that,” he said. “If you can create so many chances in the first 45 minutes there is no reason that you cannot repeat that in the second half. If you start to feel sorry for yourself you might as well stay in the changing room.” With Farsley’s next three fixtures against three of the league’s strongest teams in Exeter City, Stevenage Borough and Aldershot Town, Sinnott will soon have a better idea on how his season will progress.

The Times


http://farsley.bpweb.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farsley_Celtic
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/farsley_celtic/default.stm
http://www.farsleyceltic.com/

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Milner: I can be Newcastle's marathon man
James Milner has told manager Sam Allardyce he wants to be Newcastle's marathon man this season, reports the Daily Star.
The England Under-21 winger was surprisingly rested for their last game against Wigan, having been a fixture in the Toon starting line-up this term.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=482234&in_page_id=1779

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Wilkinson: Foreign influx now hitting Championship
Former Leeds and England manager Howard Wilkinson says the amount of foreigners in the top two divisions of English football will hurt the national team.
He said: "The fact is that the numbers of domestic players in the Premier League are going down year by year, and that is now spreading down to the Championship.
"The rewards for ...

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=57024
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Carson: O'Neill passion convinced me to choose Villa over Man City
Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson says he chose Villa Park over Manchester City due to the passion shown by manager Martin O'Neill.
The on-loan Liverpool keeper told the Villa website: "There was talk I could go to Manchester City, but a deal never got done.
"I just came here and as soon as I met the manager it was a factor in me signing. I said: 'Yes I want to play for you'

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=57061
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Adidas upgrade status for Fulham's Healy
The success of Fulham's Northern Ireland striker David Healy has not gone unnoticed by boot sponsors adidas.
The People says adidas have bumped him up into the category of players in their stable who have their boots handmade.
The Northern Irishman's boots - as with those of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard - will bear his country's flag and game dates.
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Middlesbrough's Johnson happy at Watford
Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Johnson is happy with his loan move to Watford.
Johnson played a part in Saturday's 3-2 win for the Hornets and said: "I spoke to Steve Harrison and he said Watford is a great club where I could come and do well.
"It's a long way from home, but it's an opportunity for a great learning experience.
"I know I'm going to one of the best teams in the Championship and that Watford will be up there at the end of the season and that's very important."
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Bowyer: Hammers camp has changed
West Ham midfielder Lee Bowyer believes there is a "different feel" to things at the club this season.
Bowyer netted the opening goal in Saturday's 3-0 win over Middlesbrough and although he is not getting carried away, the former Newcastle man insists confidence is high at the club.
He told the club's official website: "Things already feel and look different to last season, it is a clichi but it is all about confidence in football and that is what winning brings which you take into the next game.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1808_2736184,00.html

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Curbs keen to see West Ham's Bowyer grab more goals
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley admits he was delighted to see Lee Bowyer score against Middlesbrough on Saturday.
Curbishley told whufc.com: "I've known Lee since he was 13-years-old and he's always thrived on getting into the box but it just hadn't happened for him since he's been at West Ham. It was a great finish for a great goal and let's hope that there's more to come from him now."
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West Ham's Bowyer: New depth key to success
West Ham United midfielder Lee Bowyer believes the depth of this season's squad will set them up for a successful campaign.
He told whufc.com: "Things already feel and look different to last season, it is a clichîSut it is all about confidence in football and that is what winning brings which you take into the next game.

http://www.tribalfootball.com/article.php?id=57211