http://www.aboutaball.co.uk About a Ball :: about football Latest News en-gb Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:00:28 -0500 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/Inc/Images/RSS.gif http://www.aboutaball.co.uk http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=897 Roberto Di Matteo was unveiled as the new West Bromwich Albion manager yesterday. The likable Italian had barely been in charge of MK Dons for a year but like Paul Ince and Martin Allen before him, he moved on to a bigger club. Why has this happened again to a club most certainly on the up? http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=897 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=896 Stuart Pearces England Under-21 side finally made the European Championships final after beating Sweden on penalties in Gothenberg. They flew into a first half three goal lead only to be held back by a second half comeback from host Sweden, before a penalty shootout decided the tie. Yes you read it right, England won a match on penalties! http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=896 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=895 There have been several clubs recently linked with moves for various Everton stars such as Joleon Lescott and Mikael Arteta, all of whom have been politely and firmly rebuffed by David Moyes, so far. And rightly so if -Everton ever want to close the gap to the big-four they will need to keep hold of their stars. But one player who has never generated much rival interest is Steven Pienaar. His excellent Confederations Cup tournament for South Africa may change all of that. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=895 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=894 After arriving at Anfield two summers ago from Dutch club Ajax for a hefty £11.5 million, Liverpool fans had high hopes regarding their new acquisition, and Babel was presented to the media on the same day as Fernando Torres. How their two fortunes have contrasted at the club. With Babel tipped to be heading for the Anfield exit, Aboutaball.co.uk assesses his impact at Liverpool and suggests that his failure to shine isn’t entirely down to him. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=894 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=893 After Newcastle Uniteds relegation on the final day of the season, it would have got a lot of people thinking, what is the point of all that money if its going to be wasted? Wigan, Fulham, and Stoke, have all done brilliantly without a massive bank account, so why have they all done so well? The answer: The manager. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=893 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=892 The Premier League new boys Wolves, have been linked with a move for central defender, Zat Knight. The Aston Villa centre-back could go to midland neighbours Wolves for around £2.5 million. Villa chief Martin O’Neill is willing to let the Solihull born defender go as he believes Knight isn’t the man to replace the retired Dane, Martin Laursen. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=892 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=891 Arsene Wenger is an academic, a well read, fine linguist who is one of the most cultured individuals to ever grace the English game. So it would come as no surprise to hear that he has read Charles Dickens classic Hard Times If he has, again, it would not be a shock if Wenger did not warm to the character of Mr Thomas Gradgrind. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=891 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=890 Football is often recognised as the beautiful game across the world, a unique atmosphere only found at football stadia and the virtuoso delight of some the worlds superstars gracing the hallowed green turf. Yet as with everything, the sport has an ugly side, which has re-emerged once again. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=890 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=889 Summer blockbuster season is truly upon us, and it seems nowhere would it be more fitting to break out the popcorn than for the big-money drama, action (and comedy) unfolding at the Santiago Bernabeu over the next few weeks. Domestic disappointment and European humiliation once again for once European football’s most prestigious club, left Real Madrid looking on enviously as Barcelona brought home the treble in emphatic style, winning hearts and minds across the world in the process, with their free-flowing, uninhibited, attack minded football. The very sort of football that was once associated with the ‘Galacticos’ of the Real. Ever since Di Stefano et al reshaped the history of Madrid’s main club back in the 50’s, the people of Spain’s capital (and indeed the rest of the world) have come to expect nothing but the very best from Real Madrid. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=889 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=888 It is always a neutral fan’s dream to see one team pay ludicrous amounts of money for a dressing room full of superstars and then proceed to come so close, yet so far to winning anything. It is sods law that a team of the worlds best does not guarantee auto victory, yet the divine powers at Real Madrid seem to think otherwise with their 160 million pound total for the services of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=888 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=887 The summer season sees Football limited to the odd World cup qualifier, a World cup warm up in South Africa (Confederation Cup) and the Under 21’s European Championship. However there is plenty of backroom hokie-cokie to amuse, entertain and bewilder. Here I will summarize this summers managerial movers and shakers as clubs up and down the country maintain the kind of revolving door policy that makes Cabinet Ministers look like a stable occupation. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=887 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=886 After news that Chelsea are thinking of making a bid for Ashley Young’s service, news from the continent indicates that Barcelona have now registered a tentative interest in the England international. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=886 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=885 Reports from France suggest that Fulham may be making a bid on Bordeaux’s Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh. The striker has been touted for a move to the Arsenal, but it now seems as if Fulham may look to jump their London rivals by making an offer first. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=885 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=884 The Italian press are speculating today that Roma could be lining up Andriy Shevchenko as a replacement for Mirko Vucinic, if, as widely rumoured, Manchester United make a move for their Montenegrin forward. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=884 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=883 Media reports in Scotland have linked the Premiership pair of Wigan and Burnley with a move for Celtic captain Gary Caldwell. The Scottish centre-back could be available for a cut-price fee, as he has just under 12 months left on his contract. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=883 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=882 Fulham and Portsmouth have both emerged as rivals to Spanish side Atletico Madrid for the signature of Croat defender Josip Simunic from Hertha Berlin. The international centre-back has declared his intention to quit his current side this summer, alerting a number of Premiership sides to his availability. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=882 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=881 Reports today indicate that Wigan are set to fend off the competition of several other Premiership clubs in the race to snap up Spanish forward Raul Tamudo from Espanyol. Several other clubs including Sunderland and Portsmouth were believed to be monitoring his availability, but it now seems as if Wigan are favourites for the Spaniard’s signature. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=881 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=880 Stuart Pearces England Under-21 side gained a valuable win against Spain in their quest for glory at the European Championships in Sweden. Second half goals from Manchester Uniteds Frazier Campbell and Aston Villas James Milner gave the Young Lions a 2-0 victory, and guarentees their participation in the semi finals of the competition. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=880 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=879 Everton and Aston Villa are going to go head-to-head in the race to sign Portuguese right-back Miguel from Spanish side Valencia. The cash-strapped Valencians have invited offers for their entire team, and it’s believed the Premiership duo have both earmarked Miguel as a possible target. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=879 http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=878 Recent rumours linking Arsenal with a move for Wolfsburg’s Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko seem to be a bit far off the mark. The German club insist that despite half of Europe, including The Gunners, being linked with their top striker, they are yet to receive one official bid for the former FK Teplice striker. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=878