International friendly - England v Egypt
Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Wednesday, 3 March Kick-off: 2000 GMT
Coverage: Live on ITV1, full commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and online, live
text updates on BBC Sport website.
Wayne Rooney is urging England supporters not to boo John Terry in the
friendly against Egypt on Wednesday. The Manchester United striker wants
fans to show support for Terry, sacked as England captain last month after
allegations of an extra-marital affair. "He [Terry] hasn't got the armband
but he's still a great player and a great leader," said Rooney. Rooney also
said he was fit for the Wembley fixture despite suffering discomfort in his
knee on Sunday. Wednesday's match is England's first since allegations were
made that Chelsea captain Terry had an affair with the ex-girlfriend of
Wayne Bridge - a former team-mate at Stamford Bridge and with England - who
now plays for Manchester City. Terry, 29, was taunted by City fans during
his team's 4-2 home defeat on Saturday, when Bridge refused to shake his
hand before the kick-off. Bridge said last week he no longer wished to play
for England because his position in the squad had become "untenable and
potentially divisive"
However, Rooney said he expected Terry to get "the same as normal" reception
at Wembley on Wednesday. "The squad has been no different since we met up,"
said the striker, who came off the bench to score Manchester United's winner
in their 2-1 Carling Cup final victory over Aston Villa at Wembley on
Sunday. "I've been in the team when a few players have been booed at Wembley
and it's not nice - it doesn't send the right message. "I hope he gets a
good reception. When you are leading up to a World Cup, you want the fans
behind us and giving us their full support because that will be really
important."
Fears of a hostile reception for Terry follow England fans' boos aimed at
his Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard during England's Euro 2008 qualifying
win against Estonia in 2007. Lampard's then team-mate Joe Cole slammed the
fans at the time, saying: "Frank has been one of England's most consistent
players over the years and he has never let England down. "It is not nice to
hear that, it is not nice to hear one of your mates getting that. He doesn't
deserve it."
Rooney, who has scored 28 goals in all competitions for Manchester United
this season, added: "Wayne Bridge is a fantastic player and especially now
with Ashley Cole being injured I'm sure he'd have been the one to take his
place. It's unfortunate but it's his decision and you have to respect it."
The striker suffered a knee problem during Sunday's final but said: "It's
OK. I went for a scan and it's just a bit of bruising. I'll be fit to play."
He added that there had been no disruptions in the run-up to England's final
game before manager Fabio Capello's provisional World Cup squad is
announced, despite the unusual circumstances surrounding preparations.
Meanwhile, Villa's James Milner said he is prepared to play at left-back,
should Capello want him to fill the problem position. "To have Wayne Bridge
available would be great but we'll move on," said Milner. "I've had 15
minutes experience at left-back but that was for England. If I'm asked to
play there I'll do the best job I can - but my best position is further
forward, in central midfield or out wide."
And both Rooney and Milner said Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross, who is in an
England squad for the first time and whose challenge on Aaron Ramsey at the
weekend resulted in a double compound fracture for the Arsenal midfielder,
had been made welcome. "I was with him at United for a couple of years and
he's not that type of player," said Rooney. "I'm sure he'll be OK, he'll be
welcomed into the squad and will be hoping to get a game on Wednesday. "It's
unfortunate but he's got to move on now. He's in the squad at a young age,
it's important for him to get a game and if he does I'm sure he'll do well."
Milner said: "He'll come to terms with it. Hopefully this will give him some
confidence, help get his mind back on football." Rooney had earlier revealed
he knew last Wednesday that he would not start the Carling Cup final but
said it was not because of the knee problem. "I had a little bit of a
stomach bug and the manager was looking for an excuse to leave me out," the
forward said. "When he found out about that it made his mind up. I was still
disappointed but it was the correct decision by the manager." Rooney's
Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand did not join the England camp in
Watford. Instead, he will have further treatment on his back injury in the
hope of being fit for Manchester United's Premier League trip to Wolves on
Saturday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Portsmouth are ordered back to court by HMRC
Portsmouth are to return to the High Court on Tuesday after Her Majesty's
Revenue and Customs challenged the club going into voluntary administration.
"We're having to go to court to show that the debenture [debt agreement] is
valid," said administrator Andrew Andronikou, the man running the club.
"We're not unduly worried and expect the administration to proceed."
Pompey's move into administration means HMRC is now ranked below their
football-related creditors in priority. Andronikou will also meet the
Premier League on Tuesday to discuss Pompey's proposed nine-point penalty
for entering administration. The deduction would leave the Hampshire club on
10 points - 14 from safety and virtual certainties for relegation to the
Championship. On Thursday, Andronikou will attend a meeting of Premier
League chairmen to explore whether clubs would consider allowing Portsmouth
to sell players and then take them back on loan for the remainder of the
season. There will also be a discussion of the possibility of television
revenue being forwarded early to the club, who have had four owners this
season and on Friday became the first Premier League club to enter
administration. A Pompey spokesman said: "We don't want to pre-empt anything
or pre-judge what will happen, but hopefully the Premier League and our
fellow Premier League clubs will be as sympathetic as possible to our
situation. "The Premier League have been incredibly understanding and [club
owner] Balram Chainrai would like to place on record his gratitude to chief
executive Richard Scudamore, chairman Sir David Richards, company secretary
and head of football administration Jane Purdon, general secretary Mike
Foster and director of finance and administration Javed Khan."
Meranwhile, Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said Portsmouth's financial woes
should act as a "wake-up call" to the sport's authorities. The game's
governing body had some "very tough questions" to answer about football
finance, the MP told the House of Commons. He urged the Football Association
to adopt the changes to the way the game is run that were recommended by
Lord Burns in 2005. And the minister said more clubs should follow the
example of Exeter City in his constituency - a football club run by its
fans.
"We do think that there remain some very tough questions for the football
authorities to address, given the events at Portsmouth and elsewhere, issues
around debt, around takeovers and strengthening the whole financial
governance of football," he stated.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Businessman Victor Cattermole hopeful of Pompey deal
New Zealand businessman Victor Cattermole claims his consortium "are still
interested" in buying Portsmouth. Cattermole's Endeavour Plan group was one
of four interested parties unable to agree a deal last week as the
debt-laden club went into administration. But Cattermole said talks had
been reopened with administrator Andrew Andronikou on Monday, and claimed
the chance of a deal "is quite good". "I really don't think the situation is
as bad as people think," he added. Pompey, who have had four owners this
season, became the first Premier League in history to enter administration
on Friday. The club claimed last week that a sale was not possible as none
of the parties had provided the club's chief executive Peter Storrie and
current owner Balram Chainrai with proof that funds were in place. However,
Cattermole contradicted this, saying: "We provided evidence of an offer for
a bank facility of 200m euros (£181m) last Tuesday to Peter Storrie. "That
was obviously not disclosed to any of the media. "We also wrote to them
advising that we were strongly opposed to administration but they had a path
they were on and it didn't matter what we said, that wasn't going to
change," he added. The Premier League is set to deduct the Hampshire club
nine points as a result of administration on Tuesday - which would leave
them 14 points from safety and virtual certainties for relegation to the
Championship. And Cattermole admitted this would be a consideration for his
consortium. "We still have to carry out due diligence and see what is owed,
what is expected to be paid for it and what the value's going to be once the
whole issue of relegation and the nine-point issue is sorted out," he said.
"Obviously if the club gets relegated then a lot of the income in the next
seasons is compromised. The club has to be cheaper because it's been
devalued. "We'll just look at it as a business that's effectively a going
concern and we'll make a decision on value based on what we see and what we
can negotiate."
After seeing his team win 2-1 at Burnley on Saturday, Pompey manager Avram
Grant protested that the points deduction was unjust. "Football should be
decided on the pitch not in the courts, not in the Premier League offices,"
the Israeli said. Andronikou, who has estimated that Pompey's debts will
"bottom at around £78m", said the club aims to challenge the penalty. "The
assumption that there is an automatic deduction of points has never been
tested before but we will do our very best to avoid a deduction," he told
BBC Radio 5 live on Sunday. "Our solicitors believe there may be a slight
opportunity but I don't want to say anything more because that prejudices my
position in achieving it.
"I would say everyone has taken for granted that there will be a deduction
of nine points."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Neil Warnock is named manager of Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers have appointed Neil Warnock as their fifth manager this
season after agreeing compensation with Crystal Palace. Warnock, 61, has
joined the Championship club on a three-and-a-half-year contract and
replaces caretaker boss Mick Harford. "This is the perfect time to come in,
with the new chairman and structure in place," he told QPR's website.
"Loftus Road is always a place I love because of the fantastic atmosphere."
QPR chairman Ishan Saksena said Warnock was "always our number one target"
as manager, adding: "He has great experience in English football and a
phenomenal track record." Palace are currently in administration, and
Warnock confirmed to BBC Sheffield last week that the clubs were in talks.
But he said: "There is no way I am going to walk out. If they can agree
compensation then that's different." Rangers are three points off the
Championship relegation places, while Palace went into administration last
month and suffered a subsequent 10-point deduction. It dropped them from
play-off contention in the Championship to a battle against relegation. The
deduction capped a difficult period for Palace during which they were
subject to a transfer embargo and players and staff had their wages delayed.
They also had to sell highly rated leading scorer Victor Moses to Wigan for
a cut-price fee believed to around £2.5m. QPR's turbulent season has also
seen them part company with Flavio Briatore, who stepped down as chairman of
Queens Park Rangers Holdings on 19 February. Warnock, who guided Sheffield
United to the Premier League in 2006, is the west London outfit's 12th
manager in four years.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Injured Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey in 'good spirits'
John Toshack has revealed his injured Wales star Aaron Ramsey is
"comfortable and in good spirits" in hospital after his horrific double leg
break. The Arsenal teenager had surgery to fix fractures to the tibia and
fibula in his right leg after a challenge by Ryan Shawcross in their 3-1 win
at Stoke. Wales boss Toshack said: "He is as comfortable as can be
expected. "He seemed in surprisingly decent spirits when I spoke to him. We
hope he has a speedy and successful recovery." The Welsh midfielder's double
compound fracture at the Britannia Stadium had echoes of the injury
sustained by Arsenal team-mate Eduardo at Birmingham two years ago. And the
surgeon who operated on Eduardo's injury has offered hope by saying Ramsey
should make a full recovery from the similar setback. The 19-year-old was
stretchered off and taken straight to hospital after the challenge by
Shawcross on Saturday, an incident in which the Stoke defender was sent off.
"It is a horrific injury, it makes you want to vomit," said Toshack. "It is
a sad and unfortunate incident. I saw the aftermath of the injury and I
thought 'oh no.' "I still haven't seen the incident on TV, I have just seen
the disturbing photographs in the newspapers and you can imagine how I felt.
"For anybody it is a sad, sad thing but for a young player like Aaron who
has improved immensely over the last six or seven months. "And the last
couple of games we felt as though we are on the right lines with him, so
this is a big blow for all of us involved with Wales - but the main thing is
the player's welfare at the moment."
Dr Khalid Baloch, who operated on Eduardo, said: "If it's a straightforward
fracture that's been dealt with appropriately with intensive physio then you
stand a good chance of returning back to the previous level of activity. "It
is quite variable, the simplest fractures may heal up in two or three months
and then there is a period of rehabilitation involved - especially with
elite-level athletes. "On the other hand, if it's a very serious injury it
may take many months for the area to heal up and return back to functional
activities. "You've got a time period of anywhere from two or three months
to six months for recovery. If it's a simple fracture then he is more likely
to return to his previous level of activity. "As the injury becomes more
severe then obviously the rehabilitation is much harder and it's harder to
return back to activity. "If you look at the way Ramsey was tackled, it
looks a fairly similar mechanism of injury (to Eduardo). "There are lots of
bones around that area so it's difficult to know whether it's the same bone
that has been injured or not, but the area that's been injured is similar.
"With anyone who breaks the lower part of their leg, what you do is look to
reduce the fragments, or the bone pieces, back to where they should be and
then they are held by screws or plates. "It varies on exactly where the
fracture is but in principle that is what you would do for a fracture around
that area."
Turning to the rehabilitation process, Dr Baloch added: "Initially most
people are trying to get a range of movement back and also try to build up
the muscles around that limb and reduce swelling and discomfort, that is the
early phase of the rehabilitation process. "Beyond that phase there is an
increase in the range of impact activities with gradual progression to
running and then back to sporting activities over a minimum six to 12
months."
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has condemned the tackle on Ramsey as
"horrendous and unacceptable" while he also criticises Stoke's overall
approach. While Arsenal great Bob Wilson has called on football authorities
to act in the wake of Ramsey's horrific injury. He said: "The game has moved
forward but the Football Association and the Premier League are content to
have a brutal side to the game. He added: "In my opinion this is born out of
most managers and coaches facing Arsenal, plus media pundits and even
ex-players, instructing their players to get in their faces. "Arsenal are a
relatively small team. Opposing players are told to shake them up, get in
their faces, tackle hard, bully them. I would defy coaches and managers to
deny that is the case. "The tackle by Ryan Shawcross was at best mistimed,
at worst reckless and desperate."
Former Gunners keeper Wilson, who had a 40-year association with Arsenal,
revealed he had contacted Ramsey after the incident at the Britannia
Stadium. "I was told that he was feeling very little pain following
surgery," said Wilson so I sent a text to Aaron and I received a little
message back saying 'I'm doing OK'. "But it is a career-threatening injury,
a double compound fracture. "In the time I played, Don Howe had a similar
injury, tibia and fibula through the skin, which is obviously horrific, and
he didn't play again.
"Clearly it's a huge setback but I think Aaron will be back. Modern science
will aid that recovery. He's a very, very special talent."
Stoke midfielder Glen Whelan had a first-hand view of the incident, helping
comfort the Arsenal youngster as he lay in agony. "I was just trying to do
what I could to take the lad's mind off it," said Whelan. "The lad held onto
me with the pain he was going through, and I was telling him not to think
about it. He was in a state of shock. "The medical team came on as quickly
as possible, and then you just let them take over. "First and foremost,
everyone hopes the young lad gets back as soon as possible, and at the
standard he plays at, because he looks a terrific player. "I was the next
one in from the tackle, and saw what had gone on. I was just trying to take
the lad's mind off it. "For Shawcross, he was disappointed what has happened
to the boy. "I have not seen the tackle again but when I first saw it, I do
not think it was a dirty tackle - maybe a bit late but no more. "I do not
think anyone goes into a tackle looking to break a leg or injure a player,
but there is fine line between being hard and being dirty. "The two players
could go in for that tackle 100 times again and nothing would happen.
Hopefully this was just a one-off."
Ramsey joined Arsenal in June, 2008, as a highly rated 17-year-old for £5m
from Cardiff City. He has made 29 appearances in all competitions this
season, scoring four times.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Group considers United bid
Financiers in secret meeting to discuss potential takeover offer
Last updated: 1st March 2010
Sky News sources understand leading city financiers have met to discuss a
potential takeover bid for Premier League champions Manchester United.
Representatives from law firm Freshfields and investment bank Goldman Sachs,
among others, are understood to have been involved in the secret meeting.
Informally known as 'the Red Knights', the group held talks regarding a
potential offer to buy out the Glazer family, who are unpopular with United
fans. The mammoth debts at Old Trafford have recently sparked a green and
gold protest from supporters as the fans call on the Glazers to leave the
club. A £500million bonds issue has been used to help refinance the debts,
and Sky sources understand the Glazers are not looking to sell. However,
Keith Harris, who has been involved with the group considering a potential
takeover, recently called on supporters to start boycotting matches in an
attempt to force the Glazers' hand. Harris said last week: "Turning up to
games 10 minutes late and things like that just doesn't do the job.
"The green and gold protest is fabulous, a symbolic and significant message
to the owners. It is like the white handkerchiefs in Spain. But that won't
force the Glazers to sell to us. "However, if enough people - and I am
talking about thousands - stop turning up to matches and do not renew their
tickets, then that does it. The supporters have to hurt the Glazers in their
pockets. "They have to be prepared to take the pain of not watching their
club in order to achieve a long-term gain. Supporters have to be galvanised
to say, 'We will not come. We will not buy programmes and merchandise'.
"It's a big ask, it's a risk, but that is what must happen. The Glazers are
thick-skinned and seem impervious to protest. They will not be impervious to
enormous drops in their revenue. "I would not talk about this if I didn't
have full confidence in our ability to raise the money to do this. I never
talk publicly unless I have confidence. Getting the money together is the
easy bit. "But we can't make an offer until the Glazers are placed in a
position where they are forced to consider it."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment