Manchester United Ferran Soriano, the Barcelona vice-president, has
spoken of the club’s admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, but denied that they
are trying to lure the winger to Spain. “We would like him, but I prefer the
players we have,” he said. Played 27 Won 21 Drawn 3 Lost 3 For 63 Against 18
Points 66
Chelsea Ashley Cole played 60 minutes for the reserve team during last
night’s 1-0 victory over Reading. The England defender strained a posterior
cruciate ligament last month and could make a first-term return in a
fortnight. Played 27 Won 18 Drawn 6 Lost 3 For 48 Against 19 Points 60
Liverpool Tommy Smith, the former Liverpool defender, believes Craig
Bellamy was lucky to be fined only two weeks’ wages after the incident at
last week’s training camp in Portugal. “They should be hit harder than
£80,000,” Smith said. Played 27 Won 15 Drawn 5 Lost 7 For 40 Against 19
Points 50
Arsenal Emmanuel Adebayor believes that the club’s fans will be crucial
when they try to recover from their 1-0 Champions League deficit against PSV
Eindhoven in a fortnight. “We’ll need them,” Adebayor said. “They can be our
twelfth man.” Played 26 Won 14 Drawn 7 Lost 5 For 48 Against 22 Points 49
Bolton Wanderers Sam Allardyce says his decision to take his squad to
Tenerife before Sunday’s visit to Tottenham Hotspur could prove decisive to
the club’s attempt to qualify for the Uefa Cup. “The benefits of a new
environment are immense,” he said. Played 27 Won 14 Drawn 5 Lost 8 For 32
Against 28 Points 47
Reading Dave Kitson has said that playing away to Middlesbrough on
Saturday will remind him of his worst moment in football. The striker, who
injured a knee on the first day of the season, said: “It was a chunk out of
my career when I needed it most.” Played 27 Won 13 Drawn 4 Lost 10 For 41
Against 34 Points 43
Portsmouth Harry Redknapp has denied that he would be interested in
signing Craig Bellamy should the Wales forward leave Liverpool. “He’s a good
player, but I haven’t even thought about him,” he said. “I would doubt we
will see him here.” Played 27 Won 11 Drawn 8 Lost 8 For 36 Against 26 Points
41
Everton David Moyes has tipped Tim Howard, who has agreed a five-year
contract after his season-long loan from Manchester United, to become the No
1 United States goalkeeper. “Tim earned the contract with the way he kept
performing,” he said. Played 27 Won 10 Drawn 9 Lost 7 For 33 Against 25
Points 39
Newcastle United Charles N’Zogbia, who has been absent since December
with a knee injury, is expected to return for the Tyne-Tees derby on March
3. Craig Moore and Shay Given have also returned to training, but Peter
Ramage has a hamstring problem. Played 27 Won 10 Drawn 6 Lost 11 For 34
Against 36 Points 36
Tottenham Hotspur Martin Jol is positive about the FA Cup sixth-round
tie away to Chelsea, which will be played on March 11. “We have given a good
account of ourselves in the last couple of seasons at Chelsea,” the head
coach said. Played 27 Won 10 Drawn 6 Lost 11 For 32 Against 39 Points 36
Blackburn Rovers Mark Hughes claims that the unusual 6.05pm kick-off
for tonight’s Uefa Cup tie against Bayer Leverkusen is an opportunity for
the club to attract younger fans. “Children can be home by 8.30, so that
encourages them to come along,” he said. Played 27 Won 10 Drawn 4 Lost 13
For 30 Against 38 Points 34
Middlesbrough Julio Arca has finally filled the gap left by Boudewijn
Zenden’s move to Liverpool in 2005, according to George Boateng. “When Bolo
left we were developing into a good partnership and Julio is getting into
that,” Boateng said. Played 27 Won 8 Drawn 8 Lost 11 For 30 Against 33
Points 32
Aston Villa Olof Mellberg realises that the influx of new players and
Randy Lerner’s millions mean the pressure on the team to perform has
increased. “People can now see the ambition,” the defender said. “Now there
is more pressure to do well.” Played 27 Won 7 Drawn 11 Lost 9 For 28 Against
33 Points 32
Fulham Vincenzo Montella has apologised after being sent off for the
first time in his career, against Tottenham Hotspur, last Sunday. “I’ll miss
three matches but I’ll still be training as hard as possible and watching
all the games,” the forward said. Played 27 Won 7 Drawn 11 Lost 9 For 29
Against 41 Points 32
Sheffield United Chris Lucketti is hoping Liverpool, who his side play
on Saturday, will be tired after their clash with Barcelona. “Playing on a
Wednesday catches up with you,” he said. “Especially when you’ve travelled
from another country.” Played 27 Won 8 Drawn 6 Lost 13 For 24 Against 36
Points 30
Manchester City Stuart Pearce feels that the main obstacle in his
attempt to sign Steve Sidwell is whether the Reading midfield player will
want to move north. City will bid for Sidwell if he does not sign a new
contract before his present deal expires in June. Played 26 Won 8 Drawn 6
Lost 12 For 20 Against 32 Points 30
Wigan Athletic Carlo Nash, the goalkeeper, has revealed that Preston
North End rejected four bids for him last month before he joined Wigan on
loan. “It upset me how things worked out because I wanted to move for
personal reasons,” he said. Played 27 Won 7 Drawn 5 Lost 15 For 28 Against
44 Points 26
West Ham United Christian Dailly will greet Alan Pardew, the club’s
former manager who is now in charge at Charlton Athletic, when the teams
meet on Saturday. “That is if he is in a talking mood as we will both have
huge jobs to do,” the defender said. Played 27 Won 5 Drawn 5 Lost 17 For 18
Against 42 Points 20
Charlton Athletic Thomas Myhre, the goalkeeper, believes that he was
misled by Iain Dowie last summer. “When Charlton brought in Scott Carson,
Iain didn’t tell me Carson had a clause in his contract stipulating that he
should be first choice,” he said. Played 27 Won 5 Drawn 5 Lost 17 For 20
Against 47 Points 20
Watford Fans are furious that television demands mean that the FA Cup
tie away to Plymouth Argyle will kick off at 6pm on Sunday, March 11. “We
have to negotiate with an array of people to get the schedule,” Roger Mosey,
the director of BBC Sport, said. Played 27 Won 3 Drawn 10 Lost 14 For 16
Against 38 Points 19
