Premier League - Blues offer for Keane 'accepted'

Yahoo sports
Fri, 14 Jan 21:27:00 2011
Birmingham have had a £6 million bid accepted by Tottenham for striker Robbie Keane, Press Association Sport understands.
City have reached agreement with Spurs to pay an initial £4 million for the Republic of Ireland international.
But this could rise by additional £2million via various add-ons and clauses in the deal.
30-year-old Keane has been a bit-part player for Tottenham this season, and all but two of the Irishman's appearances for the club this campaign have been as a substitute.
In last year's January transfer window Keane secured a loan to Celtic, but his form has not improved since his return.
Birmingham have scored just 20 goals in this season's Premier League - fewer than all but Wigan Athletic.
Eurosport / PA Sport

Premier League - Everton accept bid for Pienaar

 
Yahoo sports

Everton have accepted an offer from an unnamed club for midfielder Steven Pienaar.
Manager David Moyes has now given the South Africa international, who is out of contract at the end of the season, permission to discuss a potential move in the current transfer window.
It has been reported on Friday that the 28-year-old has already held talks with Premier League champions Chelsea but those negotiations have broken down.
It has also been claimed that Pienaar, who will be available on a free transfer in the summer, will sign a pre-contract agreement with a major European club.
Moyes did not comment on those reports at his weekly press conference but did confirm Pienaar could soon be leaving Goodison Park.
Moyes said: "We have had two offers and one of those offers has been accepted. We have allowed his representatives to speak to the other club, but whether it goes through or not I don't know yet."
PA Sport

FAMOUS WIN AGAINST NEWCASTLE EARNS STEVENAGE THE AWARD

The Manager Vioce
13 Jan 2011

The League Managers Association five-man Performance of the Week panel, comprising LMA Chairman Howard Wilkinson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Joe Royle, Dave Bassett and Barry Fry, were in agreement that this week, the F&C Investments Performance of the Week Award should go to Stevenage following their excellent 3-1 home win against Newcastle United in The FA Cup on Saturday 8th January 2011. 

Stevenage manager Graham Westley will receive a specially engraved crystal football in a presentation to be screened on Sky Soccer Saturday on 15th January 2011.

Stevenage produced a memorable display at Broadhall Way against a Newcastle side that was 73 places above them in the footballing ladder prior to kick off.

After a goalless first half, the hosts took the lead when a Stacy Long strike took a wicked deflection off Mike Williamson before Michael Bostwick added a second with a long range effort.

Joey Barton then pulled one back for the visitors late on, only for Peter Winn to complete the scoring by adding a third for Stevenage.

After the match, Westley was delighted with the performance and result which has earned his side a fourth round home tie against Reading;
"It was fantastic. They deserved what they got for putting in a performance like that against a Premier League side.
"We played the game on the front foot and played the better football over 90 minutes and it was good to see the goals go in.
"You've got to create the mindset amongst people that says we know we're at our strongest when we're going forwards, when we're dictating the terms of the game."

Ancelotti: Winning title would be huge

ESPN STAR

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed retaining the title with Chelsea this season would be the greatest achievement of his career.

The Blues' worst slump in the top flight for almost 15 years has seen them blow a five-point lead to lie fifth, nine points behind Manchester United having played a game more.
Ancelotti has refused to surrender the title completely but claims Chelsea overhauling such a points deficit and all four teams above them would rank even more highly than his two Champions League triumphs with AC Milan.
"Yes, it would be fantastic. It wouldn't be easy to do that, but we can try," said the Italian, who believes it could take as few as 80 points to win the title this season.
"We needed 86 points to win it last year. This year, the team will need less. 80 points is enough."
Even so, Chelsea would need to win at least 14 of their remaining 17 games to reach that target, and Ancelotti added with a hint of understatement: "It'll be tough."
While retaining the title could be beyond them, it is unthinkable Chelsea will fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Yet, the same could be said for Liverpool last term when they finished seventh.
Then-manager Rafael Benitez promised a top-four finish just over a year ago and ended up with egg on his face and ultimately his P45.
Ancelotti was not about to fall into the same trap.
"I don't like to promise because I have to stick with that promise," he said.
"I don't want to bet because I don't like to bet, but we have the possibility to stay in the top four."
With Luiz Felipe Scolari sacked just under two years ago when owner Roman Abramovich began to fear Chelsea would not qualify for the Champions League, Ancelotti knows his double win last season will count for little if he fails to finish in the top four.
"It would not be good to be out of the Champions League," he said.
"For us, one of the most important things is to stay in the first four places in the table.
"I don't want to speak about financial reasons, but about the motivation of the players, the club, the manager.
"We have to play the Champions League."
Ancelotti spoke over the telephone this week to Abramovich, who is obsessed with winning Europe's premier club competition.
"We didn't speak about that," he added.
"We're not considering being out of the top four.
"I don't think it's impossible - we have to pay attention - but we didn't speak about it."

Premier League – Fabregas injured three weeks ago

Eurosportsnews
Wednesday, November 24, 2010, 11:13

Cesc Fabregas Arsenal captain could be out of action for up to three weeks after his injured hamstring in Tuesday’s Champions League defeat by Braga said manager Arsène Wenger.

Fabregas was in the 69th Minutes of the 2-0 loss to Portugal with his team-mate Emmanuel Eboue also suffering a knee injury and replaced.
“Eboue will be for a while and we will assess Fabregas have tomorrow (Wednesday),” Wenger told the club’s website after the game.
“There could be two to three weeks. It is very disappointing because I had a hesitation to play him (Fabregas) began before the game. I took the game and it was backfiring on us.”
Arsenal face Aston Villa in the Premier League clash on Saturday and Wigan Athletic in the Premier League quarter-final on Tuesday.
Reuters

Premier League - Edin Dzeko to Manchester City

Yahoo Sport
Fri, 14 Jan 16:22:00 2011


Edin Dzeko may have to be content with a place on the bench as Manchester City look to secure top spot for 24 hours by beating Wolves.
The £27 million Bosnian has not played a competitive game since scoring a last-minute equaliser for Wolfsburg against Hoffenheim prior to the German winter break and boss Roberto Mancini is cautious about pitching him straight in against Mick McCarthy's men.
Mario Balotelli (knee) and Micah Richards (back) have been ruled out but David Silva is expected to be available after missing two games with a knee injury.
Wolves have a trio of players - including skipper Karl Henry – back. Manager Mick McCarthy confirmed midfielder Henry (knee) and defenders Jody Craddock (hip) and Steve Mouyokolo (back) will all travel to Eastlands after recovering from injury.
Didier Drogba, Florent Malouda, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole could all return to the Chelsea side for the Premier League game against Blackburn. The quartet were all rested for Sunday's 7-0 FA Cup third-round thrashing of Ipswich
Blackburn hope to have Roque Santa Cruz available to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Paraguay striker has rejoined Rovers on loan from Manchester City and the club hope to have him registered in time to play at Stamford Bridge.
West Ham forward Victor Obinna is suspended for the home clash with Arsenal after being sent off against Birmingham in the Carling Cup in midweek. Lars Jacobsen returns after a lengthy lay-off and Danny Gabbidon is available after missing the cup tie. Carlton Cole is also fully fit and could start against Arsenal after scoring as a substitute against Birmingham
Arsenal will be without goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) so Wojciech Szczesny will again deputise. Centre-back Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring) is also out and right-back Bacary Sagna serves the last of his three-match ban. Denilson has recovered from a thigh problem, while both Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri return to the squad having been rested for the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Ipswich. Midfielder Abou Diaby (calf), goalkeeper Manuel Almunia (ankle) and centre-back Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) remain out.
Stoke striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is doubtful for the Premier League home match against his former club Bolton because of a neck injury.
Bolton are again short on numbers for their trip to the Britannia Stadium. Striker Ivan Klasnic (groin) became the latest addition to their injury list when he was forced off at half-time during last week's FA Cup tie against York.
Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill will make his first Premier League start for West Brom when they take on Blackpool. Boss Robert Di Matteo has revealed Scott Carson will drop down to the bench to make way for Myhill,
Blackpool midfielder Elliot Grandin faces a late fitness test ahead. Grandin has suffered problems with his hamstring in recent weeks and was withdrawn in the second half against Liverpool.
Wigan have Charles N'Zogbia back for the Premier League clash with Fulham after the winger completed a three-match suspension.
Steve Sidwell could make his Fulham debut as Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson return from injury for the clash at the DW Stadium.
PA Sport