☆ Barclays Premier League Season 2014-15 ☆

[Dzeko]

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[Dzeko]

Tony Pulis leaves Crystal Palace on eve of new Premier League season after disagreement with board over transfers

• Tony Pulis was annoyed club failed to sign Gylfi Sigurdsson, Steven Caulker and Michu
  
• Palace have bought in Fraizer Campbell, Brede Hangeland and Chris Kettings and Martin Kelly
• Pulis and co-chairman were locked in crisis talks on Thursday
• Neil Lennon and Malky Mackay early favourites for the job

By Neil Ashton
Published: 14:57 EST, 14 August 2014 | Updated: 08:39 EST, 15 August 2014

Tony Pulis walked out on Crystal Palace on Thursday night, less than 48 hours before the start of the Premier League season.

The 56-year-old manager spent hours in a crisis meeting with Palace chairman Steve Parish following a row over the club’s transfer policy, before it was revealed that he had left by mutual consent.

However, it is understood that Pulis refused to carry on, in protest against the entire running of the club.

End of the Road: Tony Pulis has left Crystal Palace after a meeting with co-chairman Steve Parish

Award winner: Tony Pulis was named Barclays Premier League manager of the season

NEXT MANAGER ODDS

Malky Mackay - Evens
Tim Sherwood 6-1
Neil Lennon 8-1
Steve Clarke 10-1
David Moyes 10-1
Billy Davies 16-1
Roberto Di Matteo 16-1
Alex McLeish 20-1
Gareth Southgate 20-1

Odds supplied by Coral

Pulis, who remarkably kept Palace in the Barclays Premier League last season after taking over in November when they had only four points, is believed to be devastated by the collapse of what he felt was a long-term plan to establish the club in the top flight.

Dave Kemp will take charge of the team at Arsenal on Saturday but will then also leave. Keith Millen will help him and stay on in a coaching role. Although former Stoke boss Pulis took training as usual on Thursday morning, Parish summoned him to their meeting at a central London location.

The pair’s relationship deteriorated in the summer over a difference of opinion about the type of players they wanted.

Plenty to shout about: Pulis was unhappy with the transfer policy at Crystal Palace

Talking tactics: Tony Pulis gives Marouane Chamakh some direction during the friendly against Augsburg

The Premier League Manager of the Year wanted to be backed heavily in the transfer window, but Parish adopted a cautious approach because of the finance involved.

Pulis believed he had put together deals for Steven Caulker, Michu and Gylfi Sigurdsson but these did not materialise.

Palace went into administration twice because of a catastrophic transfer policy under former chairman Mark Goldberg and, more recently, Simon Jordan. Parish, who is one of four Palace fans with a 25 per cent share in the club, didn’t want to overstretch the budget.

Missed out: Steven Caulker (left) was wanted by Palace but joined London rivals QPR

Moving back: Gylfi Sigurdsson (left) left Tottenham to resign for old club Swansea

Pulis took over from Ian Holloway at Selhurst Park last season when the club looked doomed to relegation, but they staged a remarkable recovery to finish in 11th place.

Palace director of football Iain Moody is believed to want his former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay to take over from Pulis.

 

[Dzeko]

Martinez: Barkley could be out for five months
The Merseyside outfit are unsure on the severity of the 20-year-old's injury and Roberto Martinez has admitted the England international could be out for up to five months

Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace: Ramsey bags late winner for relieved Gunners
Arsene Wenger's side got off to a winning start but they laboured to victory against a well organised Palace side who looked strong despite the loss of manager Tony Pulis

Official: Liverpool sign Moreno from Sevilla
The Spain international has finalised his move to Anfield, after the clubs belatedly agreed on a reported €15 million fee for the left-back

QPR 0-1 Hull City: Chester gets Tigers off to a winning start
It was an unhappy return to the Premier League for Harry Redknapp and his side as Steve Bruce's men triumphed by a solitary goal, thanks in part to Allan McGregor's penalty save

Stoke City 0-1 Aston Villa: Bojan debut ends goalless as Weimann seals win
Paul Lambert's side have been tipped for the drop this season but kicked off their 2014-15 Premier League campaign with an invaluable three points at the Britannia Stadium

West Ham 0-1 Tottenham: Dier scores dramatic late winner on Spurs debut
Mauricio Pochettino's reign got off to a winning start as the summer signing from Sporting hit a late winner to end Spurs' dismal run of results against their London rivals

West Brom 2-2 Sunderland: Larsson snatches equaliser after Berahino double
The midfielder bagged a late leveller to ensure the Black Cats left the Hawthorns with a point, ruining Alan Irvine's managerial debut for the Baggies on the opening day

Leicester 2-2 Everton: Wood rescues point for Premier League new boys
The striker came off the bench to net a late equaliser on the Foxes first game in the Premier League since 2004, cancelling out Steven Naismith's 44th minute strike

Manchester United 1-2 Swansea City: Sigurdsson condemns Van Gaal to opening day defeat
The Iceland international struck late on to give Garry Monk's men a famous victory, despite Wayne Rooney cancelling out Ki Sung-Yueng's first-half opener with an acrobatic strike

Wenger confident over Arteta contract
The new Gunners captain is entering the final year of his current deal and the Frenchman is hopeful that he will not become the latest skipper to leave the Emirates Stadium

 

[Dzeko]

Echoes of Moyes: Swansea loss highlights scale of Van Gaal's problems

Aug 16, 2014 17:09:00

The Dutchman suffered defeat in his opening game in charge at Old Trafford and the extent of the job at hand in transforming the team was laid bare

COMMENT
By Peter Staunton at Old Trafford

It's difficult to ascertain just exactly where Manchester United go from here. Their first six matches in the Premier League all appeared to be games in which they would have expected to take three points but it is necessary to reassess that now. It was a positive pre-season but Van Gaal now has a true sense of the battle he faces at Old Trafford after this 2-1 defeat to Swansea. For all the talk of a new start following the departure of David Moyes, it remains a wearyingly familiar tale. Possession not penetration and opponents no longer overawed by the occasion or simply making up the numbers.

Same old United, Ander Herrera notwithstanding. The signing from Athletic Blibao was busy in the midfield without standing out in the manner he did on the American tour. It was hard to see where the inspiration was going to come from. Wayne Rooney toiled for his half-chances and flattered to deceive aside from his goal. Chicharito was eager but ineffective. The early promise of Jesse Lingard burned out with an injury. Adnan Januzaj tormented his left-back but there was little end product.

And for all their possession, there was never the suggestion that United would get the requisite goals for the win. While injuries don't help - United are without nine first-team players - that is as much to do with fatigue after a long pre-season trip as it is to do with luck. It's difficult to isolate events on the field from what's been going on, or not, in the transfer market and United's troubles in that department, for the second successive summer, are telling. To be so light on numbers, so early in a season, is alarming. Even more so when the potential replacements keep slipping through Ed Woodward's fingers.

Van Gaal, who worked well with unheralded players at the World Cup with the Netherlands, was supposed to be the man to coach United's fringe men back to health. Ashley Young and Javier Hernandez were both given reprieves here as they started on the opening day of the season. That however, may speak as much of the current problems faced by United in the injury department as it does for Van Gaal's desire to allow his squad to prove themselves.

Either way, picking Young proved an exercise in futility. He was neither left-back nor left-winger in the first half as Swansea aimed the majority of their attacking passes down his flank. He had Tyler Blackett for company on that side but neither had the measure of Nathan Dyer. He reverted to a more orthodox left-back role in the second half and it was from his sector that the winner came. Van Gaal cannot count on Luke Shaw and has not yet got Marco Rojo to select and so Young became an unlikely candidate for United's left-back. He lost Wayne Routledge, who shunted the ball into the path of Gylfi Sigurdsson for the winner.

Swansea will be aware of their status of party poopers here and the grander story will be about the fight Van Gaal has on his hands at Old Trafford but take nothing away from Garry Monk's side. They executed a formidable game plan and, despite the losses of Michael Vorm, Chico Flores and Ben Davies in summer, have conducted smart decent business.

The late cameo from Ecuador World Cup star Jefferson Montero prompted the goal, while Sigurdsson played like he'd never been away. The Icelander, Ki Sung-Yeung and Jonjo Shelvey dominated the midfield area where United continue to struggle despite the signing of Herrera.

United's squad players from last season came in and were asked to stand up and couldn't. They are where they were at the start of last season - with a lack of activity in the transfer market and no apparent strategy on the field. The difference this time is that they beat Swansea last year on opening day.

Van Gaal wrote in his programme notes of the need for his players to rely less on their intuition and to follow directions better. It is clear from this performance that they have not yet got that message on board. It will be a different United once Van Persie, Carrick, Shaw and others come back but for now Van Gaal has to work with what he's got. It's not good enough.

 

[Dzeko]

Van Gaal doubts Manchester United title credentials

By Sam Lee
Aug 16, 2014 17:28:00

The Dutchman was at pains to point out that he learned nothing new from Saturday's defeat to Swansea City, insisting that he was already well aware of his side's problems

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has conceded that his side may not be capable of winning the Premier League title, but insists he knew that before Saturday's defeat against Swansea City.

The Red Devils lost 2-1 at Old Trafford and despite stating throughout pre-season that he wants the club to challenge for first place, he has admitted that it is not possible with his current squad.

Asked if the players at his disposal are good enough to win the title, Van Gaal replied: "That is not the question because I knew that before this game.

"But also with other players it's also a question of if they can play like a team and if they can reach the level. And today we don't reach that level and then you cannot play as a team so easily.

"And that we have seen today. But in spite of that we could have won also.

"But when you don't play like a team and you miss the chances then it's very difficult because every team should also create possibilities or chances against us. Because we are playing with a big space behind us. That's always difficult to defend."

Van Gaal fielded youngsters Tyler Blackett and Jesse Lingard in a 3-5-2 formation at Old Trafford after losing a raft of experienced players on free transfers and new signing Luke Shaw to injury.

And he says he already knew of the importance of signing new players before Saturday's defeat.

"Yes, but I have thought that before this match also so that is not the difference," he added. "But when we are playing in the USA, I thought the same.

"I know in what positions we need a better player. But you have to buy only when the player can fulfil the way of playing what I ask. And we have to wait and see. But we could have won today also."

On the subject of showing players the Old Trafford exit door, Van Gaal added: "I don’t think it’s only up to me, it’s up to the players to decide because we have given them problems.

"I shall tell the players what I think and what I want from them but I shall never say they have to go."

United fell behind to a Ki Sung Yeung goal in the first half, but even after Wayne Rooney equalised with an acrobatic effort from close range it was Gylfi Sigurdsson who struck the decisive goal.

And Van Gaal admitted he made the decision to ditch his much-heralded 3-5-2 system during the first half.

"[I decided to change] in the first half. They made the pitch very big and we had to press in front, so 4-3-3 is better system to press.

"In the beginning, we did well, we scored, and we had chances to make it 2-1 but chances are not enough, you have to [score] the chances.

"I think that we can do it with both systems. You have seen the first half that we are not playing very good and we are behind and that's why I have changed the system and this system they have played always in Manchester United.

"And then I changed it again. So I do everything to win. And to my players I cannot say that you didn't do your utmost best. Unbelievable work and fantastic mentality they have shown.

"But reaching the level is different, not only running but also using your brain and then you can play like a team. But that we have failed today."

 

[Dzeko]

Manchester City have 'advantage' of stability, says Pellegrini

By Matthew Scott
Aug 16, 2014 11:46:00

The Argentine manager believes that having a year's experience of working in and winning the Premier League will stand his side in good stead to retain their crown

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini believes that a year's worth of experience with the club gives them an edge in this season's Premier League title race.

After arriving from Malaga, Pellegrini went on to secure two trophies in his maiden campaign in England - the Capital One Cup and Premier League.

With neighbours Manchester United getting to grips with new boss Louis van Gaal and a fresh system, the Argentine is optimistic of sustaining success at the Etihad Stadium into a second season.

"Maybe last year, when I arrived here, nobody believed that we could win the title because it was my first season here in England but we did it," he told the press.

"This year we have the advantage that I already know the players and they know me, we have already won the title. It is difficult for a team who wins the title to repeat it but we will try to do it.

"I think the most important difference was work. We were just starting the season in a new style of playing.

"This year we know how to do it, we have new players that must understand also the way we want to play but I think it is important to continue playing that way."

 

[Dzeko]

Bird poo lands in Man U star's mouth

Brooks Peck | Dirty Tackle, Yahoo7 Sport August 17, 2014, 8:53 am

With the likes of Luke Shaw and Robin van Persie injured, Manchester United began Louis van Gaal's reign in underwhelming fashion.

The Red Devils went down 2-1 to Swansea City in their first match of the Premier League season at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal's nightmare was nothing compared to Ashley Young's, though.

Early in the match, Young was minding his own business, enjoying having no foreign substances in or and around his mouth area, when this happened:

<iframe class="vine-embed loaded " src="https://vine.co/v/M37F1mB5IzB/embed/simple" frameborder="0" height="600" width="600"></iframe><script async="" src="//platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That appeared to be heat-seeking bird poo landing right on Ashley Young's mouth, which prompted everyone who saw it to feel unclean.

But closer inspection of higher resolution video appears to show the foreign substance landing behind Young just as he spits up a bit.

Still kind of gross, but not forever unclean. And that explains why Young didn't immediately vomit everywhere for the rest of the match.

Man United went on to lose 2-1 and Louis van Gaal would probably prefer bird poo in the mouth and three points than a loss and no bird poo at all.

 

[Dzeko]

Newcastle 0-2 Manchester City: Silva & Aguero get champions off to winning start
The Spaniard rounded off an excellent team move to give Manuel Pellegrini's men the lead on 38 minutes with the Argentina international adding a second in stoppage time

Arsenal want Lavezzi
The Gunners are said to be on the verge of wrapping up a deal for France Under-21 international Adrien Rabiot but are now also considering signing his Argentine team-mate

Sturridge: Liverpool have proved we can cope without Suarez
The England international believes the Reds are a far stronger outfit this season despite the departure of last season's top scorer to Barcelona

Liverpool 2-1 Southampton: Late Sturridge strike saves Reds
The England international began life after Luis Suarez in impressive fashion as Brendan Rodgers' men opened the new season with a win over Ronald Koeman's men

Monk: Swansea can improve on Manchester United win
The manager was thrilled with his team's shock result at Old Trafford but still believes that they can get "sharper" as the new Premier League season progresses

'Swansea grounded Van Gaal's mediocre Manchester United side'
The Welsh outfit sprung a major surprise on Saturday by spoiling the Dutch coach's Premier League debut by triumphing 2-1 at Old Trafford

Wenger: Wilshere was sick before Palace clash
The England international was substituted after a lacklustre display on the opening day of the new Premier League season but his coach reveals that he had been feeling unwell

Liverpool must not overpay Sterling, warns Rodgers
The Reds manager plans to reward his young winger for his excellent form last season but wants to ensure that he keeps his feet on the ground, unlike some British players

Arsenal reject Joel Campbell approach from Liverpool
The Anfield club are still aiming to sign a striker this summer following the departure of Luis Suarez, but Arsene Wenger is keen to keep the Costa Rican at least until January

Hart & Dzeko next to sign new Manchester City contracts
The goalkeeper and striker will follow Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Sergio Aguero in agreeing fresh terms but there are no talks scheduled with Manuel Pellegrini

Ramsey delighted to end run of poor Arsenal starts
Before the Welshman's goal delivered a late victory over Crystal Palace, the Gunners had not won on the Premier League's opening weekend since beating Everton 6-1 in 2009

Liverpool still keen on Falcao
The Anfield club are still looking for a new striker to replace Luis Suarez and hope to lure the Colombian to England.

Lovren 'had better offers' than Liverpool
The Croatian made his intentions clear that he wanted to leave St Mary's this summer but has stated he had better options available than the one on Merseyside

Manolas undergoes Arsenal medical
Arsene Wenger is close to securing a deal for the Greece international, who has also attracted interest from Juventus this summer

Pochettino praises 'hero' Dier after West Ham winner
Saturday's clash at Upton Park appeared destined to end in a goalless draw until the 20-year-old rounded Adrian to slot home an injury-time goal on his debut

Wenger pleads for patience over Alexis
The Arsenal boss believes the Chilean has yet to fully click with his team-mates despite a promising showing, while he also singled out fellow new-boy Calum Chambers for praise

 

[Dzeko]

Pitch invader takes free-kick during Tottenham's win over West Ham

Aug 16, 2014 23:30:00

Christian Eriksen's set-piece was hijacked by the fan, who drew a save from Hammers goalkeeper Adrian before being led away by stewards

Tottenham were reduced to 10 men against West Ham at Upton Park on Saturday but that didn't stop one pitch invader trying to even up the numbers.

Christian Eriksen was lining up a free-kick in the 63rd minute but the Denmark international was stopped in his tracks as the pitch invader ran towards the ball and clipped an effort towards goal.

Despite being pursued by a steward, the fan was able to get his effort on target and draw a save from Adrian, while Eriksen's subsequent effort flew over the crossbar.

The pitch invader led away by stewards

Kyle Naughton was sent off for Tottenham before the break for a handball in the area but Mark Noble was unable to get his penalty on target.

West Ham were unable to capitalise on their numerical advantage and their efforts weren't helped by James Collins' dismissal after the defender brought down Emmanuel Adebayor.

Eric Dier, a summer arrival from Sporting, netted the winner in the 90th minute for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

 

[Dzeko]

Moyes: I wanted to sign Bale & Ronaldo for Manchester United

By Luke Sheehan
Aug 17, 2014 09:51:00

The Scot says he wanted to bring in the best players in the world during his short reign at Old Trafford, but would not blame under-fire Ed Woodward for failing to do so

David Moyes has admitted that he wanted to sign Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo for Manchester United.

The Scot was hand-picked by Sir Alex Ferguson as his successor last summer but oversaw a disastrous campaign as the Red Devils finished seventh and was sacked at the end of April.

The club's failings in the transfer market were subject to an internal inquiry 12 months ago, and they are faring no better this time around with new boss Louis van Gaal fielding a line-up consisting of youngsters and players tipped to leave the club for the defeat against Swansea.

And Moyes, who arrived at Carrington at four in the morning on the day he was sacked, admitted that he wanted to sign the very biggest names in football during his short reign, though he was reluctant to blame executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward for those failures.

"It's been well documented that we wanted Fabregas, Bale and Ronaldo," Moyes told the Daily Mail. "There was talk of Ronaldo when I first arrived. We were close to getting a couple of major names. I'm not getting in a blame game here but things just didn’t materialise.

"I had taken over from the most successful manager in history. The chief executive had taken over from one of the most renowned administrators in the game [David Gill]. So it was a new job for two people."

Moyes insists he was the right man for the United job, but accepts that following Ferguson would be beyond most managers.
"It was a step into the unknown and, looking back now, it was near enough the impossible job," he added.

"But it was the right job for me. I'd been at Everton for more than 11 years. We'd qualified for the Champions League, got to an FA Cup final, I'd been voted manager of the season three times. I was among the most experienced managers in the Premier League. United had always had British managers.

"I was devastated to lose the job because it was something I felt I could make a real success of. We knew it was going to take time to make the necessary changes. It was going to take time to evolve but we were in the process of making other important changes. In the end, I don't feel I was given time to succeed or fail."

Moyes said he would continue to follow the Red Devils' fortunes after his first close-season without a club since he was 16.

"It's going to hurt that I'm not managing Manchester United because that's obviously what I'd have liked to have been doing," he continued, "but I'll watch the games. I won't be running away from it. Football is something I've been involved in since I was a boy."

 

[Dzeko]

All Chelsea players will get their chance, says Mourinho

By Mark Bowering
Aug 17, 2014 11:07:00

The Blues boss says that he has too many fixtures to stick with one preferred XI and intends to give every one of his charges the chance to impress

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has pledged that all of his players will get a chance to stake a claim for a first-team place over the coming weeks.

The Portuguese has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal heading into the club's Premier League opener at Burnley on Monday, with the Blues squad bolstered during the close-season with Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis and Didier Drogba.

Mourinho, though, does not expect his packed squad to be frustrated as there will be more than enough fixtures on his plate to have to rotate.

"You play 60 matches a season and you cannot play with the same players every time," he the club's official website.

"In the first three weeks you have one match per week but, after that, the cups start, the Champions League, internationals, so you have to rotate players.

"Everybody will have a chance. Nobody will feel as though they are first choice or second choice.

"For example, in midfield we have [John Obi] Mikel, [Nemanja] Matic, Ramires, Fabregas and [Marco] van Ginkel, so everybody will play and will feel useful, important."

 

[Dzeko]

Suarez texted Rodgers before Southampton clash

By Gill Clark
Aug 17, 2014 17:29:00

The Northern Irishman says the Barcelona striker wanted to show his continued support of the Reds - despite his summer switch to Camp Nou

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Luis Suarez texted him ahead of the Reds’ clash with Southampton and says that forward's heart is still at Anfield.

The Uruguay international left for Barcelona in the summer after a traumatic World Cup that saw him banned from football for four months for biting Giorgio Chiellini during his country's 2-1 defeat to Italy.

Suarez's ban has subsequently been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), although he is now able to train with his new club.

However, despite all of the drama of the past few months, Rodgers says that Suarez has not forgotten his former colleagues.

“He sent me a lovely text this morning wishing us all the best and telling his old team-mates to start strongly," the Northern Irishman told reporters. "He’s a friend of Liverpool now.

“I sent one back. He’s a good boy but he’s gone. His heart is with Liverpool. He’ll always be Liverpool and it was a lovely touch."

Liverpool beat Southampton 2-1 in their opening Premier League game, with Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge on target for the Reds, and while Rodgers was not too impressed with his side's performance, he was thrilled with the three points.

"I think pre-season was broken with players coming back late. We had to grind out a result," he added.

"Today was a brilliant win for us. It was a tough game and we had to grind it out so I’m really happy with the determination and character. As the season rolls on we will play better.

"You know you want to make a good start and get going. We weren’t as fluent, it was all about the win and the victory.

"Southampton are a good side with some very good players. We had to show guts and determination. We put Rickie [Lambert] on and changed the way we played. I think that unsettled them a bit."

 

[Dzeko]

Palace chairman not let down by Pulis

Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish does not feel let down by former boss Tony Pulis but expects to see him working again soon.

Monday 18th August 2014

Pulis stunned Palace by asking to leave his role as manager just two days before the season started, with Parish agreeing to his request.

Former Stoke boss Pulis - who guided Palace to a miraculous escape last season - was reportedly unhappy with the way the club had done their transfer business in the summer.

But although Parish is sad to see the Welshman move on, he is adamant he did the right thing by not stopping him from walking.

"I can't explain it, I'd love to be able to tell you everything that went wrong," he told Match of the Day. "There was a good transfer budget agreed, there was a lack of targets that I think the manager felt was good enough in the window and it came to a point where he felt he didn't want to carry on.

"I can't have people at the football club who aren't 100 per cent committed to what we're trying to do, so reluctantly I agreed to let him out of his contract.

"I can't be let down for what he achieved for us. He doesn't owe us but we don't owe him. He did a fantastic job for us but we are what we are. I got this club from administration to where we are now by taking decisions to create a positive environment.

"If people don't feel they can work in that environment then it's fine for them to move on."

Caretaker boss Keith Millen is keen to be considered as a possible replacement for Pulis and Parish added that he is looking for someone with experience and who can start ahead of the end of the transfer window.

He also thinks that his old boss will be back working again soon.

"You'll have to ask him but I think he intends to work," Parish said. "You have to assume that if he doesn't want to be at this club there's one that can give him the things that he wants and can make him happy."

 

[Dzeko]

Premier League fine Crystal Palace over 'Spygate' scandal

By Liam Twomey
Aug 18, 2014 17:07:00

The Eagles have been found to have breached rule B.16 and fined an undisclosed amount after Cardiff City accused them of acquiring sensitive team information

Crystal Palace have been fined for their role in the 'Spygate' scandal relating to a crucial relegation clash with Cardiff City back in April, the Premier League has confirmed.

After the match - which Palace won 3-0 - Cardiff owner Vincent Tan accused Eagles sporting director Iain Moody of using his contacts at his former club to obtain Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting XI in the days before the game.

Cardiff sacked a club employee and reported the incident to the Premier League, who have now found Palace guilty of breaching rule B.16 and fined them an undisclosed amount, which rule W.8 states cannot exceed €30,000.

Premier League rule B.16 states that "In all matters and transactions relating to the League each Club shall behave towards each other Club and the League with the utmost good faith".

Palace's punishment is unlikely to satisfy Tan or Cardiff, who suffered relegation from the Premier League while their opponents eventually finished 11th, 12 points clear of the drop zone.

Former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay is currently among the favourites to join Moody at Selhurst Park as manager, following the surprise departure of Tony Pulis just a day before the start of the new Premier League season.

 

[Groove Armada]

Mourinho wants Cech to stay

Jose Mourinho hopes Petr Cech will stay at Chelsea despite his demotion to second-choice goalkeeper.

Tuesday 19th August 2014

Cech's days as Chelsea's first-choice stopper appear to be numbered.

The 32-year-old, who has been Chelsea number one for 10 years, had to settle for a place on the bench on Monday night as Mourinho opted to field Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in the first match of the season against Burnley.

Mourinho confirmed Courtois would keep his place in the team after an impressive performance in the 3-1 win, which came courtesy of goals from Andre Schurrle, Diego Costa and Branislav Ivanovic.

But the Chelsea boss insisted Cech is capable of winning the jersey back if he stays at the club.

"Yes, I want to keep (him)," Mourinho said.

"The club wants to keep him and hopefully he stays.

"Courtois was my first choice today and he played good enough to be my first choice in the next game.

"He is not my first choice for the rest of the season.

"When you have a top professional working hard like Petr, if you don't perform you are in trouble."

Paris St Germain and Monaco are said to be two of the parties interested in Cech's signature.

Mourinho admitted he has a hard task on his hands keeping Cech happy, but he thinks the goalkeeper will not give up without a fight.

"No player is happy when he is not playing every game," he said.

"But I know Petr for 10 years, I know he will not relax, he will not sit in a chair and say 'I have no chance'. He will be exactly the opposite. I am expecting him Wednesday to go to the training ground and fight."

When it was put to him that Cech could request to leave, Mourinho said: "He didn't ask and I hope he doesn't ask."

Scott Arfield was the only man to beat Courtois on Monday with a 14th-minute volley.

The Londoners hit back just three minutes later through Diego Costa and they went on to record an impressive victory thanks to strikes from Andre Schurrle and Branislav Ivanovic.

Cesc Fabregas, who had a hand in all three goals, picked up the man of the match award for a stunning display on debut.

A shell-shocked Sean Dyche is not panicking about his team's chances of survival as he knows easier opponents lie ahead for the newly-promoted side.

"Chelsea have quality in all areas,'' the Burnley manager said.

''We kept going, which is important. The will and demand is there.

''We have a strong mentality. Ian Holloway said last year we had the strongest jaw in the division.

''We know it is not a sprint, it is a marathon and it is going to be a tough marathon.''

Dyche has brought in seven new players this summer, but he feels more additions are needed.

He said: ''We need to build a squad. It is not just a starting 11. We are carrying light numbers. We definitely need strength in depth.''

 

[Groove Armada]

Courtois to sign five-year Chelsea deal

Aug 19, 2014 18:51:00

The €110,000-per-week contract has been on the table all summer, but the Belgium international held back from putting pen to paper until he was confirmed as the Blues' No.1

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey | UK Correspondent

Thibaut Courtois is set to sign a new Chelsea contract after his status as the club's No.1 was confirmed, Goal can reveal.

An improved five-year contract that will triple the Belgian's wages to €110,000-a-week has been on the table since Jose Mourinho decided earlier this summer to recall the goalkeeper to his parent club.

Courtois held back from putting pen to paper while he waited to see if he would get the nod ahead of Petr Cech to start the new campaign in goal.

Mourinho's team selection for the 3-1 win over Burnley on Monday night demonstrated his faith in the 22-year-old and he is now set to sign an extension which runs until 2019.

Courtois has two years remaining on his current €37,000-a-week contract and the new package will bring him in line with the second tier of earners at Stamford Bridge alongside the likes of Ramires, Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic.

As revealed last week, Cech will be encouraged to find a new club in the final fortnight of the transfer window following a decade as Chelsea's undisputed No.1.

Real Madrid and wealthy French duo Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco are closely monitoring the 32-year-old’s situation and formal bids could now be forthcoming following confirmation of Cech’s downgraded status.

Mourinho claimed on Monday that he wants to keep Cech but the west Londoners are believed to be ready to cash in on the keeper, who has two years remaining on his current contract, if they receive an offer that matches their €12 million valuation.

Chelsea already have an experienced understudy in place should he leave. Mark Schwarzer, Cech’s understudy last season, signed a one-year extension in July.

Cech, whose agent confirmed PSG and Monaco made an informal enquiry for his services last month, has admitted he will not be happy if he is left on the bench.

The Cezch has established himself as one of the world's outstanding keepers during his decade at Stamford Bridge.

Since joining Chelsea from Rennes for in 2004, he has made 479 appearances for the club and won the Champions League, the Europa League, three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and three League Cups.

 

[Groove Armada]

Swansea close to Fernandez signing

Swansea expect to complete the signing of Argentina World Cup defender Federico Fernandez on Tuesday.

Tuesday 19th August 2014

The 25-year-old will make the move to the Liberty Stadium from Italian side Napoli for a fee understood to be in excess of £7million.

Fernandez will be a direct replacement for Chico Flores, who joined former Swansea manager Michael Laudrup in Qatar last week.

The centre-half made nearly 60 appearances for Napoli after arriving from Argentinian club Estudiantes in 2011 but went out on loan to Spanish club Getafe last season where he made 14 La Liga appearances.

Fernandez started the first four of Argentina's matches during their run to the World Cup final in Brazil before missing the rest of the tournament through injury.

The player spent Monday in Swansea undergoing the final part of his medical and the deal will be completed on Tuesday.

Fernandez should make his Swansea debut at home to Burnley on Saturday as Garry Monk's men seek to build on their shock 2-1 opening-day victory at Manchester United.

 

[Groove Armada]

Lambert unhappy with Koeman

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has criticised Southampton boss Ronald Koeman over his public chase of defender Ron Vlaar.

Wednesday 20th August 2014

The Saints manager has made no secret of his admiration for the Villa captain, who he managed at Feyenoord, saying he would "really like" to have him at St Mary's.

Vlaar, who impressed in Holland's run to the World Cup semi-finals in the summer, has just one year left on his deal at Villa Park although the club are planning to offer him fresh terms.

Lambert cast doubt over Vlaar's future when he said he was unsure if his skipper would stay but insisted Koeman should not have gone public.

"I think he is disrespecting when talking about other team's players when they are still their players," he told Sky Sports. "I think that's wrong.

"I wouldn't mind if he picked up the phone, but you don't go public on it. That's the thing that annoyed me the most and the stance is still exactly the same with Ron."

Vlaar joined Villa in a £3m move from Feyenoord in 2012 and helped them to a 1-0 opening-day win at Stoke in the Barclay's Premier League on Saturday.

And Lambert insisted the 29-year-old's performance proved he was not distracted by speculation over his future.

"I don't have a problem. You saw Ron play on Saturday, he was fantastic for us so I don't think anything like that is preying on his mind at all," said the Scot.

"I just thought it was the wrong thing to have done."

 

[Groove Armada]

Official: Rojo in, Nani out at Manchester United

By Gill Clark
Aug 19, 2014 18:49:00

Sporting have confirmed that their former winger will return to Portugal, while the Argentina international becomes the Red Devils' third major signing of the summer

Sporting have confirmed the sale of Marcos Rojo to Manchester United with Nani moving the opposite way on a season-long loan deal.

United have been pursuing the Argentina international full-back for the majority of the summer and have now struck a deal to bring him to Old Trafford, which Goal understands is worth €20 million.

Nani's salary will be largely subsidised by United as they look to trim their squad ahead of their summer recruitment drive.

United have already signed Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw for a combined total of over €62m, and are now set to announce the signing of the 24-year-old.

Capable of playing as one of three centre-backs or as a wing-back in Van Gaal's favoured 3-5-2 formation, Rojo has emerged as a key target in recent weeks after Thomas Vermaelen's decision to leave Arsenal for Barcelona.

The star attempted to force through a move to United earlier this month by going on strike though he later issued an apology to his team-mates in an interview with the club's television channel.

"It was all a misunderstanding, I was a hothead. I'm sorry for what happened because I feel that I was unprofessional," he said.

"My career depends on Sporting. Now I will try to correct the situation. At the time Sporting signed me, it was not a good time. I can only thank Sporting.

"I want to tell the people that I didn’t behave correctly, but I’m am very fond of this club. They are the ones that will decide my carreer, and I hope it will be for the best both for me and the club. But I want to stress that I’m very happy at the club, and I like the way I’m treated and the care they give me."

Nani, meanwhile, has failed to impress Van Gaal during pre-season and will return to the club where he began his career before earning a €21m move to Old Trafford in 2007.

He has four years remaining on his current deal but made just 11 appearances under David Moyes and, later, Ryan Giggs in 2013-14.

 

[Dzeko]

Fellaini loan move to Napoli in doubt

Marouane Fellaini's proposed loan move to Napoli is in doubt after the Belgian was pictured on crutches following a reported training ground injury.

Thursday 21st August 2014

Manchester United are yet to comment on the extent of the injury, but it is expected to hit the club's intention to off-load the midfielder to the Italian Serie A side before the end of the transfer window.

Photographs of Fellaini in The Sun showed the 26-year-old on crutches with his left foot in a protective cast.

New United boss Louis Van Gaal has made it clear he does not see a future for Fellaini at Old Trafford despite mounting injury problems at the club.

Fellaini's midfield partner Michael Carrick is already ruled out for around two months with an ankle injury, leaving Ander Herrera, Tom Cleverley and Darren Fletcher as United's only fit central midfielders.

Fellaini has endured a disappointing career at Old Trafford since his £27.5million move from Everton on transfer deadline day last summer.

He was booed by some United fans during the pre-season win over Valencia but also scored the winning goal.

Fellaini also appeared as a substitute in Saturday's Barclays Premier League defeat to Swansea, replacing Herrera for the last 23 minutes of the match.