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

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Kewell is on trial at Liverpool over new contract
Harry Kewell has been challenged to prove he is worth another Liverpool contract after finally making his first appearance of the season.

KEWELL MAY HAVE TO WAIT

Harry Kewell may well have to wait for next week's Champions League clash with Besiktas for another chance to prove his worth to Liverpool.
The Australian has been told by boss Rafael Benitez that he must justify a new contract at the end of the season when his current deal runs out.
But whether Kewell will be given a key place even on the bench at Blackburn this evening is open to debate.
The winger has been troubled by groin, foot, knee and thigh problems over the past two seasons and has managed just 96 minutes of senior playing time since hobbling off in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham.
He made his comeback on Wednesday in the last 20 minutes of the Carling Cup victory over Cardiff, his first senior match since the Champions League final in May last season.
However, Benitez considers that Liverpool have such a punishing workload over the next few months that he will have to consider very carefully whether he can use a player so short of match fitness.
That creates a catch-22 problem for 29-year-old Kewell, who needs time on the pitch to stake his claim for a new deal.
Benitez said: "Harry will need time, the problem is that when you have important games and only 16 players to select, it is difficult for him.
"But at least he has played and scored for the reserves, playing only until half-time, and then he had a 20-minute spell against Cardiff.
"He is now training with the senior players, but it is not easy to say when we will use him in the future. Maybe for a European match when I can name 18 players, that might be the time."
He added: "We will have to see, but the Champions League looks the best bet, maybe that will be easier. But we have other players also coming back from injury and we cannot field a weakened squad.
"I can make no promises, he will have to wait for the opportunity to come along."

PA Sport

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Gamle kjente 3/11



16:49 Goal - Fulham 3 (David Healy 90) Reading 1


16:26 Goal - Dunfermline 0 Livingston 3 (Mark Tinkler 66)

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Strachan Shrugs Off Rumours He's Leaving Celtic



GORDON STRACHAN has dismissed rumours he is on the verge of quitting Celtic.
Speculation spread like wildfire throughout Glasgow yesterday morning that his two-and-a-half year reign as boss was about to end, despite Celtic being three points clear at the top of the SPL.
Fans even started to gather outside Celtic Park waiting for news and the Record Sport switchboard was jammed with calls from anxious fans.

Hele saken: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football-news/scottish-football/spl-football/celtic-fc/2007/11/03/strachan-shrugs-off-rumours-he-s-leaving-celtic-86908-20055493/

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ROBINSON NOT UNDER THREAT - COMOLLI
Sporting director Damien Comolli insists Paul Robinson's position at Tottenham will not be affected by his comments following the infamous meeting between club officials and Juande Ramos at the start of the season.

Hele storyen: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_2849775,00.html
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Spurs don't plan Robbo sale
Comments won't see keeper moved on
Tottenham Hotspur are adamant first-choice goalkeeper Paul Robinson will not be transfer listed in January.
Reports had claimed that Spurs would look to move the England No.1 out of White Hart Lane following the player's criticism of the board.

Hele: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_2849801,00.html

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CARSON EYES PERMANENT VILLA SWITCH



Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson has revealed his desire to make his loan move from Liverpool permanent and is optimistic Martin O'Neill's side can provide him with European football.
Carson is currently only at Villa Park for this season but is keen to stay after adjusting to life with the midlands club.
Carson said: "I think something has been agreed whereby, if everyone is happy, it could be made a permanent transfer

Hele: http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/11/04/SOCCER_Villa.html

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Venables: Plenty of clubs would snap up Tottenham's Robinson
England assistant boss Terry Venables has jumped to the defence of underfire Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
He said: "Paul is finding he's just like anybody else in that situation in that when it's hot you have to keep a very cool head.
"He has that backbone you need. Pressure can destroy people so you have to be mentally strong. I know a lot of clubs would be happy to have Paul as their goalkeeper."

Tribalfootball.com

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Owls Track Former Leeds Man



Wednesday are tracking former Leeds United and Chelsea midfielder Jody Morris to bolster their midfield according to reports in the weekend papers.
The 28-year-old, who has attracted attention for his off the field antics as much as his on the pitch capabilities, is a free agent after failing to find a club since leaving Millwall in the summer.
And the News Of The World is reporting that Owls boss Brian Laws is one of a number of managers looking at the possibility of bringing the midfielder to S6 to bolster their midfield following the departure of Graham Kavanagh to Sunderland following his loan spell.
Laws could also be looking to add competition for places in the middle of the park should star man Glenn Whelan leave for pastures new in the January transfer window, with a number of clubs already been linked with the Irishman.
Morris started his career as the 'next best thing' with Chelsea before joining Leeds on a free transfer in 2003, making just eleven league starts before moving on to Rotherham and then Millwall.
It's thought that the Fulham-born midfielder is also being tracked by Luton Town and MK Dons as he looks to get his career back on track.

sheffwed.vitalfootball.co.uk

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Joe Royle and Peter Reid have been interviewed for the Leicester job.  (The Sun)

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Dose of Kewell could be cure to Benítez's creative ills

Harry Kewell's return will give the beleagured Rafa Benitez and Liverpool fans cheer ahead of the must win tie with Besiktas.
If absence truly did make the heart grown fonder Harry Kewell would be one of the the most beloved footballers who ever lived. Since the summer of 2006, he has made only five appearances for Liverpool, all of them as a substitute. This attendance record might be used as a charge sheet by those who want to convict the 29-year-old of a squandered career.
The accusation would be unfair. Contempt for him reached a peak of injustice when the Australian went off in the 23rd minute of the 2005 Champions League final, with his side 1-0 down to Milan. He was booed from the pitch by his own supporters, who might have been contrite upon learning that he had torn an adductor muscle. Vivid as that episode was, it does not really typify Kewell's relationship with Liverpool followers.
He is popular and his emergence from the bench was one of the few events that perked up the visiting fans in the goalless draw with Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday. None the less, those observers and the Australia international himself cannot avoid being struck by the peculiarity of this career. After a productive showing at the start of the 2006 World Cup, for instance, he was sidelined by an ailment first described as gout before the diagnosis was corrected to septic arthritis, a bacterial infection.
Kewell is in danger of adding more to the medical lore of the game than he is to its conventional history. His contract with Liverpool expires at the end of this season and reasons for making another offer to a man who will then be nearing his 30th birthday are debatable. Unexpectedly, it is Rafael Benítez, the arch-pragmatist, who has displayed a marked commitment to Kewell. Under the Spaniard's regime, he has featured in the finals of the Champions League (twice), the FA Cup and the League Cup.
On that evidence, Kewell, in peak condition, is more of a mainstay than a luxury to Benítez. The manager knows that the attacker is still short of perfect condition but characterises him as an impact player who can be introduced from the substitutes' bench. Kewell may have lost some pace but his belated participation, along with that of Peter Crouch, brought the cogency that could have given Liverpool an undeserved win over Blackburn.
The Australian has never lacked for believers. Manchester United, keen to buy him from Leeds United in 2003, were peeved to learn how eager he was to join Liverpool. The financial mechanics of that move turned Kewell into a grave symptom for all those who wished to diagnose a terrible sickness in contemporary football. According to evidence in a subsequent libel case, just £3m went to Elland Road, while £2m was paid to the agent Bernie Mandic's company, with a further £2.4m loyalty bonus due to the player over a three-year period.
It is guessed that Kewell, with wages taken into account, might cost Liverpool £27m over the course of his time at Anfield. Should he still be on Liverpool's books next season, the deal must surely be linked to appearances. Despite the expressions of distaste, Kewell does not differ from the bulk of prominent footballers who have made the most of a lush financial environment. The disparity between his meagre appearances and the extravagant rewards does him harm, but he is no hypochondriac. Even if he showed scant compassion towards Leeds' impending collapse, his transfer fee would have been far too weak a dosage to cure that cancer.
Once, a player with Kewell's stuttering appearance record would have been cut loose and left to find himself another line of work. As it is, managers are highly averse to dispensing with anyone of his ability, equipped as he is to be playmaker as much as winger. Benítez is evidently tempted to have him on the bench for tonight's game with Besiktas.
"He was very good when he came on against Blackburn and he was good in training," said the Spaniard yesterday, "but it depends on what other players we have available." Benítez, with signings such as Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel, has been looking for the flair that is far from a luxury now that Liverpool know they must break down Besiktas tonight if they are to survive in this season's Champions League.
Kewell, in theory, offers just such style and perhaps negotiations will be opened to keep him at Anfield. There is even a chance, too, that a moment will come this evening when they turn beseechingly to the Australian.

Guardian

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I farta 6/11




21:31 Goal - Norwich 1 Watford 3 (Marlon King 88)


20:01 Goal - Huddersfield 1 (Danny Cadamarteri 12) Hartlepool 0


19:58 Goal - Darlington 1 (Julian Joachim 27) Shrewsbury 0


19:57 Goal - Scunthorpe 0 Stoke 1 (Richard Cresswell 26)

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Gary Speed still has role to play at Bolton Wanderers

Gary Megson, the Bolton Wanderers manager, has blocked Gary Speed’s loan move to Sheffield United and insisted the veteran midfielder has a big role to play at the Reebok Stadium.
Speed has played down suggestions of a major rift with former manager Sammy Lee, but Bryan Robson, the Sheffield United boss, moved to get the former Leeds United man to Bramall Lane on loan.
The deal was at an advanced stage when Megson was confirmed as Lee’s successor a fortnight ago and Speed has now been assured he still had a part to play in the Lancashire club’s fight for survival.
“Gary will not be going out on loan,” said Megson. “I see him as an integral part of what we need to try and do.
“Since I have been here, Gary has been fantastic. He is a terrific lad and a positive influence, in the dressing room, on the training ground and on the pitch, which is exactly what I expected.
“He has had a fantastic career. We want it to finish on a high and so does Gary.”
Megson also gave a hint that he could revert back to the long-ball tactics that proved a success under Sam Allardyce.
“What we must do is get round pegs in round holes and square pegs in square ones. A lot of these players were brought in to play a certain system, so invariably, we have to use the same system,” he said.
“We must remember the players got very good results in the past playing that way, so we have to hope that clicks in again.”

Times

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Keogh set to have groin surgery



Wolves star Andy Keogh is set to have a minor operation on a niggling groin injury but is hoping to be back to face West Brom later this month.

Hele saken: http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1786_2866672,00.html

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Fowler seeks to solve hip worry 

Fowler has felt discomfort in his hip over recent weeks

Cardiff City striker Robbie Fowler will see a specialist in Germany next week over a recurring hip problem.
Fowler will be treated by renowned sport's injury surgeon Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller Wolfhart, whose former patients include Michael Owen and Ronaldo.

Hele storyen: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/7087020.stm

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Manchester City may also be ready to mount a double raid on Tottenham for star striker Dimitar Berbatov and goalkeeper Paul Robinson. (News of the World)

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Robinson: I don't want to leave Spurs



Paul Robinson has vowed to remain the No 1 at Tottenham.
The Spurs keeper has been linked with a £6m move to Manchester City in the January transfer window as new boss Juande Ramos wants to shake up his squad.
But Robinson told the Ham&High: "We will see what happens and whether he makes any signings, but I am confident I'm the No 1 at this club and that it will stay that way."
And the England international claims he will have a say in who will replace Hans Segers as goalkeeping coach.
"I have not got a goalkeeping coach at the moment," he added.

Hele: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=492837&in_page_id=1779

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Former England manager Terry Venables has emerged as a candidate along with Gerard Houllier to be the next Ireland boss. (Sunday Express)

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CARSON EYES PERMANENT VILLA SWITCH
Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson has revealed his desire to make his loan move from Liverpool permanent and is optimistic Martin O'Neill's side can provide him with European football.
Carson is currently only at Villa Park for this season but is keen to stay after adjusting to life with the midlands club.
Carson said: "I think something has been agreed whereby, if everyone is happy, it could be made a permanent transfer
Hele: http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/11/04/SOCCER_Villa.html

Carson set for £10m move to Villa
Scott Carson is heading for a British record £10million transfer after Rafa Benitez revealed that Aston Villa had agreed an option to buy him.
The Liverpool manager was initially reluctant to sanction Carson's loan move to Villa Park but admitted yesterday that he had cleared the way for the England keeper to join Martin O'Neill's side on a permanent basis.

Hele: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=492782&in_page_id=1779

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To ex-spillere nominert som rundens spiller i FA cupen's 4. kvalikrunde_
Keeper Shaun Allaways (Staines)
Spiss Chris Farrell (York)



http://www.leedsfans.org.uk/leeds/players/754.html

Stockport 1-1 Staines

Shaun Allaway, the Staines keeper who once had a trial at Stockport, showed he may have been worth a second look by helping to earn his side a replay.
Allaway spent a week at Edgeley Park but did not make the grade. He certainly enjoyed his return to Stockport.
During the week, County made the mistake of insisting Staines was famous only for Sacha Baron Cohen's suburban gangster Ali G.
But the 24-year-old keeper had the last word and Stockport will be showing Staines plenty of respect come the re-match at Wheatsheaf Park.
"I got injured after two days of the trial and never really got a chance to show Stockport what I can do," lamented Allaway, a former England Under-19 keeper who has also turned out for Leeds and QPR.
Marc Charles-Smith was the Ryman Premier League side's other hero with the 76th minute equaliser that kept the part-timers in the competition. And not even the most myopic of County diehards would deny that Steve Cordery's side fully deserved a draw after holding their own on a miserable day for Stockport.
The opening half-hour was poor and the windy conditions did not help. Staines were no doubt more than happy with the gusty wind that stopped the hosts from stringing much passing football together.
Stockport had the majority of what few chances there were but Staines, in the first round for the first time in 23 years, looked comfortable and were rarely in danger.
Just three minutes had gone when Stockport full-back Michael Bowler crossed for Matty McNeil, but the striker headed his effort inches wide.
Staines' Dwain Clarke then saw two shots blocked in rapid succession following a free-kick just outside the home box, while at the other end Jason Taylor's low drive was well gathered by Allaway.
Stockport then had an almighty scare on 31 minutes. Clarke hit a hopeful shot from all of 25 yards, but it somehow eluded the grasp of goalkeeper Chris Adamson and bounced back out after hitting the base of a post.
The home side responded with a few chances of their own. Liam Dickinson's curling free-kick was saved by Allaway, then McNeil again headed wide, this time from only eight yards out. Dickinson tried an acrobatic scissor kick which flew over the Staines crossbar, but the part-timers were deservedly still on level terms at the interval.
It only took Stockport two minutes to pounce after the restart, however.
Substitute Greg Tansey floated in a corner and McNeil timed his arrival to stoop and head home at the far post.
Staines hit back â€" with Clarke seeing his superb shot brilliantly beaten away by Adamson. At the other end, youngster Paul Turnbull hit a great volley which flew narrowly over the bar.
The visitors eventually claimed their precious equaliser with time running out. Striker Mark Nwokeji, whose goal at Conference neighbours and rivals Woking in the last qualifying round had earned Staines this shot at cup stardom, saw a decent effort spilled by goalkeeper Adamson.
Charles-Smith reacted quickly to bundle home the loose ball, sending hundreds of visiting supporters wild and dreaming of more heroics in the replay.


Daily Mail

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Speed - will focus on playing

MEGSON WON'T CHANGE SPEED ROLE
Gary Megson has no plans to bring Bolton midfielder Gary Speed back onto the club's coaching staff.
Speed started the campaign by combining his playing duties with the role of first-team coach before leaving the role in October.
The veteran Welshman made the decision to ensure he is focused on playing, and new Bolton boss Megson wants it to remain that way.
"You are either a player or a coach, but not both," said Megson in the News of the World.
"It is an impossible job. You can't do both. Player/manager is a bridge too far and player/coach is two bridges too far.
"I tried it at Norwich and it can't be done.
"If you are playing, you need to be training and if you are running the session, you can't train."

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Keepere Ian Andrews er vel ikke den som har satt de dypeste spor etter seg i Leeds United. Hentet fra Celtic i desember 1988 - og fikk en kamp i Leeds-trøya (0-0 mot Crystal Palace borte 17/12).

Har nå snublet over den tidligere Leeds- (1 kamp), Leicester- (126 kamper), Celtic (8 kamper)Southampton- (10 kamper), Swindon- (1 kamp) og Bournemouth-keeperen (64 kamper).

Han er fysio ved University of Bath (ved deres toppidrettsenter og Team Bath F.C. Tidligere har han vært sju år som fysio Leicester City

Han var også med i BOOPS (Boys Out On Bikes), som sist sommer syklet Wembley - La Manga til inntekt for brystkreft-saken. Her var han sammen med bl.a. Tory Dorigo og Gary McAllister.'
http://www.boysoutonbikes.org/
http://www.teambath.com/?p=2949



http://www.leedsfans.org.uk/leeds/players/9.html
http://www.teambath.com/?p=2378

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Robins are Wright club for Alan

Cheltenham have confirmed that defender Alan Wright has signed a deal to stay with the League One side until the end of the season.



Final negotiations were concluded after he had played in the Robins' 1-1 draw with Brighton in the FA Cup - the experienced left-back signing a six-month contract.
The 36-year-old could complete 500 league appearances during his stay at Whaddon Road - he has made 483 in a career spanning 18 years.
He told the club's official website: "If I can lend my experience to some of the younger members of the squad then everybody wins.
"The work ethic at this club is superb and there is a great spirit around the club. That is what attracted me here and I'm enjoying my football at the moment.
"We've been playing well without getting the wins that we deserve but the passion and the commitment from the players is fantastic and the wins will start coming."

TeamTalk

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(...) Meanwhile, striker Rob Hulse is set to return for the reserves on Wednesday night following his eight-month lay-off after breaking his leg in a Premier League clash with Chelsea last season. (YP)

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Former Wigan boss Paul Jewell has decided not to return as manager. The club may now turn to Joe Royle or Gary McAllister. (Daily Mirror)

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LEWIS PULLED OUT OF USA SQUAD
Derby have withdrawn winger Eddie Lewis from the USA squad for this weekend's friendly against South Africa.
The Barclays Premier League's bottom club were not keen for the 33-year-old to travel to Johannesburg - but team-mate Benny Feilhaber has been released.
"We've pulled Eddie out of the squad," Derby boss Billy Davies told his club's official website.
"What with all the travelling and the nature of the game, we thought it would be best to keep him here and keep him fresh.
"Benny will go, because it will be good for him to be involved and get the minutes on the pitch."

Sportinglife.com

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Spurs threaten Villa deal for Liverpool's Carson
Tottenham are threatening Aston Villa's £10 million deal for Liverpool goalkeeper Scott Carson.
The Daily Mail says Carson would welcome a permanent switch to Villa Park and a £10million transfer fee has reportedly been agreed with Liverpool. But Spurs could yet enter the fray for Carson, with doubts persisting over No1 Paul Robinson.

[lojosang]

Og som vanlig har vi vel ingen sell-on-clause 

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Scott Carson's chance to stake England claim



Scott Carson's England debut in the Ernst Happel Stadion on Friday will be a realisation of the precocious talent Leeds United identified playing for non-league Workington in the FA Youth Cup five years ago and a further endorsement of the fiercely ambitious 22-year-old's belief that he has to make a permanent move away from Liverpool in the January transfer window.

Hele storyen: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2007/11/14/sfncar114.xml

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Is Tel ready to step back into hotseat?


Quick fix: the FA could turn to Terry Venables if they decide to axe Steve McClaren

Terry Venables is the man the Football Association are most likely to turn to next week, should they decide that Steve McClaren's game is up.
There is currently no great appetite for a change at the top but things can change quickly at Soho Square.

Hele storyen: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=493366&in_page_id=1779

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Republic must spend big to lure coach like Venables, says Hunt

Stephen Hunt last night urged the Football Association of Ireland to "spend big" when appointing a replacement for Steve Staunton, with the Reading and Republic of Ireland midfielder also suggesting that Terry Venables, the current England assistant, would be a favourable choice. The FAI was prudent when selecting Staunton and his predecessor, Brian Kerr, but Hunt believes that mindset must change if Ireland are to reclaim their place among the game's elite.

Hele saken: http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2210510,00.html

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Charlton hope to sign Hull midfielder Dean Marney and Luton's Matt Spring in January. (Daily Mail)

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Knarvik forlater Sandefjord

Onsdag ble det klart at Tommy Knarvik spiller for TIL kommende sesong.
Tommy Knarvik blir Lars Iver Strands erstatter i Tromsø. 28-åringen har signert en fireårskontrakt med «Gutan».
Sandefjord-kapteinen har tidligere vært i TILs søkelys, og prøvespilte for TIL på La Manga før han ble Sandefjord-spiller i 2005.
Etter nedrykket med Vestfold-klubben i høst, var Knarvik blant spillerne som ønsket å forbli i en eliteserieklubb.
- Tommy er en spiller vi lenge har ønsket oss og vi er derfor utrolig glade for å ha landet denne avtalen, sier sportsdirektør Morten Kræmer i TIL i en pressemelding.

Nettavisen