The Premier League has proposed a rule, which has been agreed to by clubs, which will have the effect of freezing out hostile shareholders like Arsenal’s Alisher Usmanov, reports The Telegraph.
Coupled with his business partner Farhad Moshiri the duo own a combined stake of 29.72 per cent in the club through their investment vehicle, ‘Red and White Securities’.
This puts them close to the 30% threshold that under current Premier League regulations would grant them the rights and responsibilities of club directors, allowing Usmaov access to all ‘material transactions’ such as records of transfer dealings as well as wage and agent expenses.
The Russian’s lawyers were set to argue that their client needed to view these records in order to maintain achieve satisfaction over their correctness. However, Arsenal can now deny Usmanov access to their data following the rule change that has been voted in by Premier League clubs.
A source with an understanding of the situation told The Telegraph: “The rule left clubs open to the possibility of a hostile shareholder who is not on the board getting access to the books.
“Now if you are not on the board but have between 30 and 50 per cent of a club you don’t need to sign off on material-transaction reports.”
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Red and White Securities refused to comment but it remains to be seen whether the new regulation will effect Usmanov’s investment strategy within the club. If he chooses to withdraw then it is likely that share price will fall, enabling supporters of the club and the Arsenal Supporters Trust to purchase shares at a more reasonable price.
Tottenham are lining up a sensational deal to bring Bobby Zamora back to White Hart Lane with the Metro reporting that Peter Crouch could be used in a swap.
Harry Redknapp is in the hunt for a new striker is a known admirer of the Fulham hitman.
It is thought Martin Jol would be reluctant to sell his top marksman without having a replacement lined up and Redknapp thinks throwing Crouch into the mix could make the deal a possibility.
Both players are 30-years-old and members of the England squad although Crouch has significantly more caps and experience than Zamora.
However Spurs boss Redknapp see’s the Fulham hitman as a more potent goal scoring threat than Crouch who, despite scoring crucial Champions League goals, managed only four strikes in the league last year.
If the move were to go through it would cap a remarkable turnaround for Zamora who has revitalised his career at Craven Cottage.
He originally signed for Spurs at the start of the 2003/04 season but failed to score in his 16 games before being sold to West Ham and then to Fulham.
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His performances for the Cottagers catapulted him into the England squad last year and now Redknapp is prepared to bring him back to Tottenham.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has hit out at Gerard Houllier in relation to Aston Villa’s signing of Darren Bent.
The Black Cats will face Blackpool at Bloomfield Road this weekend without the club’s former record signing, who joined Houllier’s Aston Villa this week in a 24-million-pound deal.
Bruce admitted to being devastated to lose his leading goalscorer so abruptly, and was furious about the way the deal was done.
“I would have liked even a phone call from Mr Houllier, for whom I did have the utmost respect for what he’s done,” Bruce said.
“I would have thought that, out of respect, maybe he would have picked up the telephone to say, ‘We are interested in buying your striker’.”
“That at least would have given me an opportunity to try to do something about it.”
Nevertheless, Bruce believes even without Bent and the injured Danny Welbeck, Sunderland can gain revenge over Blackpool for their fortuitous victory at the Stadium of Light last month.
“Losing Darren this week is a massive blow for us, of course it is, but how much it is going to affect us this weekend is difficult to tell – hopefully not at all,” said Bruce.
“When we played Blackpool last month with three strikers in the line-up, we didn’t score at all.”
“So maybe there’s something to be said about the balance of the team and if we play with only one striker this weekend in Asamoah Gyan, there’s every chance it will work for us.”
Bruce is still working hard in the transfer market to strengthen his attacking options, with Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller the most likely signing as things stand.
But for the moment Bruce is focusing on Blackpool and a mission to avenge a result which stands out as something of a statistical fluke.
“We lost 2-0 to Blackpool last month – our only league defeat at the Stadium of Light so far this season.”
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“But how we lost it I’ll never know.”
“We had more than 30 shots at goal in that game and I think there’s only once in a Premier League game – a game that Arsenal were involved in – where a team has had that many shots and not scored.
“I’ll settle for half as many chances this weekend because it’s something of a fluke not to score from that many opportunities.”
“The players have been disappointed by Darren’s departure but footballers are a thick-skinned lot and they move on quickly.”
Arsenal fans were pleasantly surprised with the singing of German Lukas Podolski from Koln before the 2011/12 season had even finished. Uncharacteristic of Arsene Wenger, the hope was that it was the start of a few signings, all of which were to be undertaken as soon as possible. The need to cement a strong squad together before the start of the season was something that escaped the Gunners last summer, and was for many, their downfall in a horrific to start to last season.
Hopes were dashed though, as no other additions were made to the Arsenal squad by the start of June, as players across the continent flocked to play for their respective countries in Poland and Ukraine for Euro 2012. Arsene Wenger will no doubt now be watching closely to see who impresses at the tournament, having already been linked to a few names. We look through some of the talent Wenger is said to be interested, and why.
The Montpellier front man recently announced he would not be deciding on his future until after the European championships. Having scored 21 goals in Ligue 1, Arsene Wenger will be interested in signing a prolific striker to complement new signing Lukas Podolski and Robin Van Persie should he renew his contract. With the French in the same group as England, Ukraine and Sweden, Wenger will be able to see how capable Giroud is against the likes of John Terry and Joleon Lescott as well as two other tough, physical opponents. At 33/1 to be top scorer, Giroud will look to impress when he does feature, as it is likely he will play second fiddle to Karim Benzema.
Subject to significant speculation from both Arsenal and Barcelona, it is no surprise that Rennes have upped the asking price for their 21 year old holding midfielder to as high as £20million. Playing in the same French team as Olivier Giroud, Wenger will be examining the performances of M’Villa closely. With the marauding forward of Alex Song costing Arsenal at times last season, it will be no surprise that Wenger looks to M’Villa to provide defensive stability. The physical 21 year old is not afraid to get stuck in, and will be eager to return to fitness and impress having sprained his ankle in a warm up game against Serbia.
The Russian attacking midfielder is said to be a replacement for fellow countryman Andrei Arshavin, who Zenit are looking to sign permanently having impressed on a loan spell. The 21 year old has been dubbed by Arshavin himself as one of Russia’s best young players, and a move to North London from CSKA Moscow will excel his career. Wenger will be looking for a creative player in midfield as last season saw Arshavin feature below standard, and Yossi Benayoun has returned to Chelsea on loan. Having already scored 2 goals in an opening Group A game against Czech Republic, Dzagoev will be hoping his form in front of goal continues to catch Wenger’s eye and bring a move to the Emirates.
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Whether or not these players will be wearing an Arsenal shirt come August remains to be seen. But Arsene Wenger can use the European Championships to scout some of the finest and most promising footballing talent the continent has to offer. If Arsenal are to clearout the underperformers, the introduction of these three would be the kind of quality players’ fans will be eager to replace them with.
Yokohama F Marinos are the new leaders on the J.League table following a 1-1 draw at Omiya Ardija on Sunday.The three-time league champions needed just a point from their trip to Omiya Park to ascend to the top after long-time leaders Kashima Reysol lost on Saturday.
Their progress seemed all but assured after a bright start was capped by 18-year-old attacker Yuji Ono’s goal in the 37th minute.
Ono, a fledging Japan Under-23 international, had not scored since a brace against Avispa Fukuoka in May.
Omiya improved as the game wore on and eventually evened the ledger in the 74th minute through Rafael, the Brazilian import finding the net for the fourth time this season.
But Yokohama held firm until the final whistle to replace Kashiwa at the top of the table on goal difference. Both clubs have 34 points from 17 games.
Elsewhere, Nagoya Grampus continued to improve with a 2-0 win at Montedio Yamagata.
Usual suspects Keiji Tamada (43) and Josh Kennedy (57) scored in either half to lift Nagoya to their third straight win, one that sees the reigning champions replace Kawasaki Frontale in third.
Tamada has scored nine goals this campaign, joining Gamba Osaka striker Adriano and Ventforet Kofu’s Mike Havenaar at the top of the scorers’ table.
Australia international Kennedy has added eight for Nagoya.
In other results, Kashima Antlers rose to 10th on the table with a 3-0 thumping of Vegalta Sendai.
Chikashi Masuda (13) and Takuya Nozawa (18) stunned the visitors with back-to-back goals inside the first 20 minutes. Yuzo Tashiro (69) sealed the game in the second half.
Urawa Red Diamonds’ uneven start to the domestic campaign continued with a 1-1 draw at Jubilo Iwata.
Urawa looked to have secured the three points as they entered injury time up 1-0 on Yosuke Kashiwagi’s 29th-minute strike.
But the visitors conceded a penalty in the final moments to Japan international Ryoichi Maeda, who gleefully converted to snatch a share of the points for Iwata.
It wasn’t too long ago that the greatest threat to ‘big fours’ monopoly on the Premier League came from the likes of Aston Villa and Everton. Both sides had gifted managers, acquired some great players for nominal fees and they really got the fans believing. How times have changed. The emergence of Manchester City and Tottenham have not only blown the title race wide open, but also the likes of Villa and Everton out of the water as far as competing for trophies is concerned.
Whilst watching the Tottenham Chelsea game at the weekend, a friend of mine, who is a Villa fan, confessed to his newly found hatred of Spurs which is all a result of jealously. A couple of seasons ago, many predicted big things from Martin O’Neill’s side, they even made the League Cup final last season. But that all seems a distant memory if you compare it to where the club stand today. Through little fault of their own, they have been pushed aside by clubs with more financial clout and find themselves in a position where their best players become poached; drawn to bigger clubs with the attraction of European football and massive pay increases. Just look at Gareth Barry and James Milner.
Even more frustrating for Villa fans is that, with the new wave of youngsters coming through, the added experience and quality of the likes of Milner and Barry could have really have brought something special to Villa Park. But now instead of worrying if their side really do have enough in them to push for a place in the top four, the biggest concern has to be which next best thing to come out of the Villa academy is going to end up at City?
Similarly, Everton have found themselves unable to continue to punch above their weight as clubs who surround them, or used to, have now improved beyond the capabilities of the Merseyside club. In their defence, chairman Bill Kenwright has been trying to sell for a long time as he knew he could no longer rival the finances of the teams they are trying to match, but unfortunately, his noble quest to find the right man for the club has left Everton falling further behind.
David Moyes has unquestionable done a remarkable job with little resources. His ability to spot a star player from the lower leagues has enabled him to build the foundations of a good side. But a good side is no longer good enough. Everton have also recently found themselves suffering from the same cruel occupational hazard Villa have done. Remember Joleon Lescott?
Both teams currently sit next to each other in the Premier League in unfamiliarly low places. Everton are hovering two points above the drop zone in 15th whilst Villa are a further two in front in 14th. Obviously misleading as neither side should finish in the bottom half of the table, they have too much quality for that, but as we approach the half way stage of the season, it does point to an alarmingly disappointing fall from grace.
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Whilst you consider their current standings, take a think back to the game at Villa Park between the two sides in April of last year. It finished 3-3, to the disappointment of both sides, as they were both still in the hunt of a fourth place finish. Also worth a mention – James Milner won the man of the match award for a stunning midfield display. Go back even further to the epic encounter in 2008 where Ashley Young scored a dramatic winner with seconds to go in a 3-2 win at Goodison Park. These games proved the quality of both sides and announced them to stage of the Premier League’s big guns.
Fast-forward to the present day and fans of both sides have massive causes for concern. If history repeats itself and more exciting young players decide to up-sticks and leave to pursue dreams of playing Champions League football, the days of Everton and Aston Villa as successful clubs could be over before it got going.
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We all thought we must have seen it all when Michael Thomas last gasp winner secured the title for Arsenal back in 1989; however scenes at the Etihad Stadium have simply gazumped that as two goals in injury time saw Manchester City take the points with a 3-2 win that sees them land their first Premier League title, in what will be arguably the first of many for the Citizens.
It was simply a dramatic afternoon and even before the 4th official put his board up to show 5 minutes of injury time it appeared they had handed their great rivals a 20th League title, as City appeared to have run out of huff and puff after 90mins of being camped pretty much in Queens Park Rangers’ half. Manchester United thought they had won it as the seconds were running out at the Stadium of Light and the players were all on the pitch waiting, until news filtered through from the Etihad of Sergio Aguero’s last gasp strike.
Roberto Mancini, the players and the fans were clearly emotional at the final whistle and rightly so after a gruelling 38 games that has seen them lift the trophy on what has proved to be goal difference. Sir Alex Ferguson was very gracious at the end of United’s game against Sunderland and wanted to offer his congratulations to their great rivals on their title success. Mancini felt that the best team in England had deservedly won the Premier League this year and believes that there will be one hell of a party in the Blue side of Manchester tonight.
How are Manchester City fans feeling at this moment – HAVE YOUR SAY!
Colombia manager Hernan Dario Gomez believes he will ‘go crazy’ if he worries too much about Argentina ahead of their Copa America meeting.Along with Chile, Colombia are one of just two nations to taste victory after the first round of matches, with short-priced favourites Brazil and Argentina held to frustrating draws by Venezuela and Bolivia respectively.
Hosts Argentina possess an array of attacking talent but could not score more than once as they came from a goal down against Bolivia, while Colombia edged Costa Rica 1-0 after the Central American nation had a player sent off in the first half.
At a press conference in Santa Fe on Tuesday, Gomez needed little reminding at what his defence would face at the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez.
“Out of respect, I base myself on an improvement in my team because if I start thinking about Argentina I’ll go crazy. How do I mark Messi, (Carlos) Tevez, (Sergio) Aguero, (Angel) Di Maria?” he said.
“I don’t know how to mark Messi. It’s very difficult. What we do have are support lines, back-up, work we can put into action.”
Argentina manager Sergio Batista bore the disappointment of an expectant nation following the Group A draw with Bolivia on Friday.
Against the 2001 Copa America champions – who boast their own attacking talents in Radamel Falcao, Hugo Rodallega and Fredy Guarin – Batista wants his side to show more composure in their second match.
“The national team always has pressure, the more so now with the obligation of winning after the draw,” he said.
“Messi had a good first half but when we gets disorganised maybe he gets lost.”
“Even if we’d won, there were things that needed correcting and working on. That concerned me. We didn’t play the way we had in friendlies.”
Fabio Capello has backed Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll to stay out of trouble and enjoy a long England career.
The Italian has included the volatile Geordie in his squad for Wednesday's friendly international against France even though Carroll is currently on bail after being charged with assaulting a former girlfriend.
Capello said of the 21-year-old:"Everybody makes mistakes when they are young.
"It is very important for him to be in the seniors because we have a lot of important players who can stay with him and speak with him about what happens outside the pitch. That is important.
"I haven't spoken to him but I talked to the FA, who have told me I can pick him. I also spoke with (England Under-21 manager) Stuart Pearce and he has no problems either. He is only young. He can change.
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"Carroll is a really interesting player. He is good in the air, has good movement without the ball and finds space. Technically he is very good and he is a fighter."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Last Tuesday saw Sheffield United return to the recognizable position of second place in League One, with a 4-1 victory over struggling Chesterfield under the floodlights at Bramall Lane.
The Blades came into the game fresh from having the weekend off, while Chesterfield secured victory in the glorious sunshine at Wembley against League Two high flyers Swindon. The Blades made only one change from the thumping 5-2 victory at Notts County the week before, with Marcus Williams coming in for Harry Maguire; sidelined due to a virus. Chesterfield made several changes as the energy sapping Wembley surface took its toll on some of their players.
The game started with misplaced passes from both teams, with no one being able to take advantage in the midfield and really control the game, and it was difficult to see which team had the weekend off. The first real quality in the game came from the right, with Lowton surging forward from right back, laying the ball in to Williamson, with the latter holding the ball up before lifting the ball back to Lowton, who had continued his run, and after chesting the ball down superbly, hit a fierce full volley, forcing goalkeeper Lee to make a near save at the near post. This followed with a spell of possession and a smattering of chances for the visitors, with Bowtry and Thompson both going close.
But the deadlock was broken by the Blades several minutes before half time. Quinn laid the ball back to Williams down the left, with the full back crossing first time into the box, with Evans cleverly placing the ball to the unmarked Williamson, who fired home a full volley from eight yards out. The United faithful would have been excused for thinking the Blades would now go into half time with the advantage, but that only lasted 5 minutes before the Spireites were level. A poor clearance saw the ball headed back into the United half, with the ball being played to Franck Moussa, who advanced unchallenged before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box past Simonsen.
The game went in to the break all-level, with the momentum surely to be with Chesterfield after scoring just before half time. But it was the home team who came out all guns blazing and were rewarded with a penalty on 47 minutes. McDonald playing in Evans, who, after letting the ball run, was fouled by Mendy on the edge of the box, with the referee showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Ched dispatched the penalty in clinical fashion, with United surely demoralising their opponents so soon after half time. United then made it three ten minutes later, with a simple free-kick at the side of the box rolled to Evans, who lost his marker and side-footed home from ten yards out.
The Blades were now clearly in control, with Chesterfield looking exhausted from their trip to London. The rout was complete only three minutes later, with Evans completing a second half hat trick with quite possibly the best of the bunch. A ball that looked like it would reach Evans at his feet with back to goal was dummied by the Welshman, and turning his marker who was way too close, ran the ball into the box and smashed the ball home from a tight angle to make it thirty for the season.
United then went into the weekend game again in third, as an early Wednesday kick off saw them leapfrog them back in second with a 2-0 win over Preston at Hillsborough. But by the time the 3 o’clock kick off’s were classified, United were back in the automatic promotion places, thanks again to Ched Evans. A scrappy game at Hartlepool on a shocking pitch saw United snatch victory with a late penalty. Evans receiving the ball in the box, was blatantly pulled over by the Hartlepool defence, giving the referee little option other than to point to the spot. Evans then stepped up to take the penalty, and in such a great run of form, it was hardly surprising to see him send the keeper the wrong way, and send United back to second.
Two great wins now gives momentum back to the Blades after a string of somewhat negative results with draws against Tranmere and Colchester. It seems that defences are struggling for ideas in how to contain United’s attacking options, most notably Ched. It is this kind of form that has seen the Blades become the highest scorers in the entire Football League, and third highest in Europe behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. I am not for one moment putting United in the same league as these teams, but the achievement should not go unnoticed, with huge praise going to manager Danny Wilson, who has turned the Blades into an attacking force, a far cry from the goal shy team of the Championship last year.
Wilson now has practically a full strength squad to pick from for the run in, which will be vital. All round passing and keeping possession has improved tenfold since McDonald had been back, whilst the clean sheet against Hartlepool will have delighted the boss. And with United in a rich vein of scoring form, it is difficult to see which teams are going to trouble United.
I did predict that the visit to MK Dons at the end of April would be a potential banana skin, but they themselves have seemed to fall away in recent weeks, and can largely consider themselves out of the race for an automatic spot. By then, United will be hoping that the Dons will have safely secured a playoff spot, and will have one eye on keeping key players fresh for whoever they come up against.
Meanwhile, to more immediate concerns, United will be eager to win at the weekend as Wednesday face a crunch match away at Huddersfield, with a draw suiting the Blades superbly. Even a Huddersfield win would be gratefully received, as a United win would see the gap widen to five points.
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But as we have learnt from this season in League One, nothing seems to go to plan, and there will be no counting eggs from the United manager, who will expect nothing less than victory against Bournemouth this weekend.
By Sheffield United blogger Will Ollett. You can follow him on Twitter for more Sheffield United discussion.