BIRMINGHAM (DF) -- Deep in the midst of an all-out battle for Premier League survival, Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy now believes his Wolves side have the upper hand and that a first England cap for Matt Jarvis will be enough to save his club from Premier League relegation this season.
Jarvis was given his full England debut by Fabio Capello on Tuesday evening, replacing Jack Wilshere in the 69th minute of the 1-1 draw against Ghana at Wembley Stadium. Despite spending most of his time on the pitch defending without the ball, the exciting young winger showed glimpses of his fine club form and gave reason for Capello to consider him in future England squads.
"How many clubs have gone down with a regular England international in their side?" asked Wolves' Irish boss McCarthy after the game. "I don't know the number exactly, but I don't think it's ever happened. I've been begging for it all season, and now that Matty has his first full cap, we're not going to go down."
"You don't see sides like Chelsea and Manchester City going down and they're chock-full of England internationals," continued the former Republic of Ireland manager. "Now that we have one at our club, we're going to stay in the Premier League. It's a lift for everyone involved because results won't matter. Come the end of the season, we'll be where we deserve to be."
Dr. Jack Cavendish, a Professor of Football Statistical Analysis at the University of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton supporter, took issue with the Wolves manager's frame of reference. Cavendish claimed, rightly or wrongly, that the number of regular England internationals at a club has absolutely no bearing on the club's relegation chances.
"I don't quite understand his logic or his reading of history," said the renowned Dr. Cavendish. "Portsmouth were relegated just last season with David James in their side and he was a regular England squad member at the time of their relegation. He even played at the World Cup as part of a relegated side."
"To me, Kevin Doyle being ruled out for the rest of the season will have a greater impact on Wolves' survival chances than Matt Jarvis's first cap, but I am just a scholar and I do only study the game for a living. I guess anything is possible through Irish eyes."
England manager Fabio Capello plans to risk the wrath of the Wembley faithful by sending out a team of reserves to face Ghana on Tuesday. Capello insists he will keep the regulars on the bench in reserve for when the regular reserves flounder against the World Cup quarterfinalists. -- (Daily Mail)
Arsenal wonderkid Aaaron Ramsey will resign as Wales captain as early as next week, citing a consensus in the press that his lack of experience, and not the inept tactical gameplan laid out by Welsh manager Gary Speed, caused the team to lose 2-0 against England on Saturday. -- (Daily Mirror)
Wayne Rooney has hit out at the England coaching staff for not reminding him he was on a yellow card before Saturday's game in Wales. Rooney claimed he had "no idea" he had picked up a yellow card earlier in the campaign, and that he "shouldn't have to care" about being booked for petulant challenges. -- (Daily Star)
Disgruntled Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has ruled out future move to manage Manchester United by saying he would require at least a £20 million salary and a transfer budget in excess of £150 million if he were to return to England. United would only be able to offer a transfer budget of that size by selling their entire first team squad and Old Trafford. -- (Daily Express)
Blackburn manager Steve Kean is keen on bringing Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy back to the Premier League, but the move could be scuppered by Hamburg's asking price for the player. The former PSV hitman has been shopped around on a free transfer, a price much too low to meet Blackburn owners Venky's demands for a headline-grabbing, big money signing. -- (The Guardian)
Manchester United's glass midfielder Owen Hargreaves fears he will be out for the remainder of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in training. The club's medical staff hopes the former England international will be fit in time for the start of the 2013-2014 Premier League season. -- (Daily Mail)
Aston Villa's American goalkeeper Brad Friedel has denied media claims of a player revolt against under-fire manager Gerard Houllier by insisting the Villa players will stand by their manager until he's sacked at the end of the season. -- (Telegraph)
NEWCASTLE (DF) -- Newcastle United's Irish duo Leon Best and Stephen Ireland have apologized to teammates after being pictured at a Newcastle nightclub last Friday, the night before their side were lumped 4-0 at the Brittania Stadium by a rampant Stoke City.
The pair had been ruled out of last Saturday's trip to Stoke due to injury and Magpies boss Alan Pardew insisted they both stay at home to continue their recovery. After unflattering pictures of Best and Ireland appeared in several local tabloids, the two were forced to issue an apology to teammates and supporters.
A statement released through the club read: "Because we had both been ruled out of the game at Stoke and didn't travel with the team, we thought that going out to a bar was appropriate ahead of Saturday's game and we fully regret being caught."
"We were asked to have our photograph taken and we removed our shirts because we are good friends, but of course the resulting coverage in the press suggests a far different night out. Whilst our actions were not wrong, we feel inclined to mention neither of us had consumed much alcohol and we were out for only a very short period of time, several hours at the most."
Local journalist and Newcastle United supporter Andy McLean said he believed the statement to be an empty gesture from both players. "I hope the club investigates this further and punishes these kids for their behavior. I'm sure by now they've both seen the first Goal film. They should know this sort of clubbing doesn't fly in Newcastle."
Speaking to the Evening Chronicle, United manager Pardew confirmed discipline would be forthcoming and that he was waiting for everyone to return to the club before taking action.
"All I want to say on that is that as Leon Best has travelled with Ireland, we've not faced each other yet," said Pardew. "There will be discipline involved, for sure, they broke club rules, but I want to see them together in my office before I say anything more."
"Dropping them won't be a difficult decision for me, should it come to that," he continued. "They're both short on form and I think their attitude and level of talent would fit in well with the reserves."
LONDON (DF) -- Tottenham playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart will leave Spurs in the summer following a heated argument with manager Harry Redknapp, set off by the Dutchman's decision to storm straight down the tunnel after being substituted in the 71st minute of Spurs' 0-0 draw against West Ham at White Hart Lane.
Redknapp took to the press immediately after the game to make it clear he was unimpressed with Van der Vaart's actions. He told a group of gathered reporters that he believes players should be respectful and watch the game with their teammates after they're substituted, regardless of circumstances or ego.
Van der Vaart, currently away on international duty with the Netherlands, later claimed his petulant act wasn't meant to be disrespectful, but those who know the Spurs midfield maestro well believe it's just the tip of the iceberg.
"He finds his position within the squad completely untenable," said a source close to the former Real Madrid man. "I think the relationship between him and the manager has gone beyond repair. Rafael has been in this situation before. He came to Tottenham to play full games and that's not happening. If he wanted to play 20 minutes, he could have stayed in Madrid. This stuff doesn't just blow over."
"It will blow over," claimed a Spurs spokesman regarding the row. "Rafael is away with Holland and Harry is in Bermuda, vacationing with his son and several agents. When they come back, I'm sure it will no longer be an issue. Time heals all wounds and ten days is well long enough to heal anything in football."
With Spurs on the outside looking in for next season's fourth and final Champions League spot, the source close to Van der Vaart believes any argument with Redknapp over playing time could prove to be a moot point in deciding the Dutchman's future.
"Rafael needs to play in the Champions League and Tottenham won't be there next year. He's already planning on leaving, the club knows this, so, at this point, anything the English manager says is really only meant to attract attention to himself."
England manager Fabio Capello insisits his decision to restore John Terry to the England captaincy, just over a year after he took it away, was made for purely footballing reasons, as the Italian didn't want to be forced into selecting misfit defender Rio Ferdinand to start every match. -- (The Sun)
Jose Mourinho is Sheikh Mansour's first and only choice to replace ineffectual Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini at the end of the season, with the Portuguese boss finally ready to leave Madrid for Manchester and United kingpin Alex Ferguson unwilling to open up a job at Old Trafford. -- (Daily Mail)
Arsene Wenger has labeled the lumpy pitch at the Hawthorns "scandalous" and "unfit for rugby," after Saturday's 2-2 draw with West Brom. The Frenchman believes his Arsenal side could win the title if they were allowed to play all of their remaining games on the pristine pitch at the Emirates Stadium. -- (Daily Mail)
Chelsea's wonderkid defender David Luiz has described his goal against Manchester City on Sunday as the "best moment of his life." Luiz was desperate to prove City wrong after the Blues mysteriously rejected the opportunity to sign him in 2009 in favor of Everton's world-class centerback Joleon Lescott. -- (Telegraph)
Manchester United supremo Alex Ferguson has shrugged off suggestions he was laughing at bench-ridden striker Dimitar Berbatov during Tuesday's Champions League victory over Marseille at Old Trafford, claiming he's not the only person who laughs at Berbatov on a regular basis. -- (The Metro)
Barcelona's Brazilian right-wing back Dani Alves is ready to reject a move to Manchester City in the summer, after revealing he'll only play for a manager willing to allow his fullbacks to enter the opposition's half. -- (News of the World)
Aston Villa stand poised to renew their interest in Manchester United's Michael Owen following suggestions United could cancel his contract at the end of the season. Villa manager Gerard Houllier believes he can bring the former England international back to his Liverpool best, even if he's out injured. -- (Daily Mirror)
BIRMINGHAM (DF) -- On a day where Arsenal had hoped to celebrate the return of Jens Lehmann by going level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League, it was Anglo-Spanish keeper Manuel Almunia who stole the next morning's headlines during the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns with a world-class demonstration of bush-league goalkeeping.
Newly-restored number one Almunia, starting in goal due to long term injuries to accident-prone Polish duo Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny, was at fault for both West Brom goals, staying on his line to give Steven Reid a free header two minutes in, and later tripping over Sebastien Squillaci to gift a goal to Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie.
"I don't know why, but Arsene now seems to prefer eccentric keepers," said former Arsenal and England goalkeeping legend David Seaman in a television interview after the match. "Maybe they enjoy mirroring their manager's personality, maybe they just get bored with their side having so much possession, I don't know, but they all seem to have a screw loose."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been roundly criticized by supporters for his refusal to sign an experienced replacement for stalwart Lehmann, who left the club after the 2008 season. Seaman believes Wenger's stubborn belief in his own innate ability to develop talent has left the club without a leader at the back.
"When I left the club 2003, Arsene made a smart move by bringing in Jens Lehmann. He was a rock and provided the experience in goal that the team needed. When he left, his backup Almunia was thrust into the spotlight and he wasn't capable. When Almunia failed, young Fabianski came in and did the same, and, obviously, Szczesny played his part at Wembley last month. Now we're back to Almunia. I really think he wants to be a backup again."
Seaman held nothing back when describing the state of his former club. "They attack like men and defend like schoolgirls. This inept defending, starting in goal, has cost us the League Cup, a shot at the Champions League, and now it might cost us the Premier League."
"I'm glad Arsene brought Jens back. He might be old, German, and a little off his head, but you won't see him doing stuff like what Almunia, Fabianski, and Szczesny did without getting away with it."
MANCHESTER (DF) -- In the wake of his five game touchline ban for improper conduct by the FA, Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has vowed not to appeal the decision, instead deciding to shift his focus onto a new policy towards the media-- one which will see him ignore the press and refuse interviews at every opportunity.
The FA's disciplinary panel charged Ferguson with improper conduct on March 3rd after the Scot criticized match official Martin Atkinson for his poor performance during United's recent Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge. Ferguson's comments received widespread condemnation in the English press, which many feel may have contributed to the FA's swift action.
"He's going to take a step back from the mainstream media," confirmed a United press officer early Friday morning. "We've never understood why, but there is a clear bias against Manchester United in the press and that bias directly contributed to the disproportionate ban he received this week."
Ferguson's incendiary remarks regarding Martin Atkinson were made in a post-match interview with MUTV, Manchester United's internal television channel. After the interview aired, the United manager reportedly cut off all contact with the channel, refusing an opportunity to defend himself and his comments in another taped interview.
Jack Wick, a senior producer for MUTV, refuted claims the channel has a bias against Manchester United and insisted they take an open and honest approach to their reporting. "Even though we're funded directly by Manchester United and BSkyB, we like to provide balanced coverage to our viewers."
"We've been broadcasting for nearly 15 years and we feel as if we've always given him a fair opportunity to make his case to our subscribers. If someone finds our coverage to be biased, then we have a simple solution-- don't watch. We love United and we have a deep respect for Alex Ferguson. It's our job to keep people honest."
"Sometimes you just have to poke them with a stick," Wick continued. "That's how you show love."
MANCHESTER (DF) -- Volatile Manchester City wonderkid Mario Balotelli could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, possibly for the rest of the season, after it was discovered the young Italian international is allergic to certain types of grass.
Balotelli was forced off early in the second half during last Thursday's UEFA Europa League tie against Dynamo Kiev. His manager Roberto Mancini confirmed the freak injury during the post-match press conference. "Mario had an allergy, I don't know what, his face was swollen, I don't know why. Maybe he was cold."
A Manchester City physio, speaking in a condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the allergy and Balotelli himself, revealed the young Italian suffered the same reaction after coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 FA Cup victory over Reading.
"He's allergic to certain types of grass. I'm told, mostly the green kind," said the City physio. "It's really quite extraordinary. He's perfectly fine on our artificial indoor training pitches, but as soon as he gets outside onto the grass, something goes horribly wrong."
Respected sports kinesiologist and allergy expert Dr. Steven K. Daniels feels Balotelli may have to take radical steps if he hopes to have a future in the game, given the recent revelations regarding his health.
"Mario is obviously a fantastic talent and I'm sure everyone would love to see how he develops," Daniels said. "He should really take a step back and consider his options. The only way for him to further his career might be to move somewhere where artificial pitches are the norm, avoiding grass altogether. Russia, Scandinavia, the United States-- he has options."
"I know those aren't the top leagues, but given the choice, which would you prefer: stability and good health in Tromso, or fame, fortune and a puffy face in Manchester?"
NEWCASTLE (DF) -- Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has begun his search for a new striker following the £35 million January departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool by setting his sights on a sensational swoop for Newcastle legend, retired centre forward and former United manager Alan Shearer.
Sources inside St. James' Park have confirmed Pardew's intent to contact Shearer about coming out of retirement, but, as of yet, refuse to speculate if the former England international's return is a possibility. The sources believe disgraced Newcastle owner Mike Ashley will allow Pardew to spend most of Carroll's £35 million fee in order to tempt the former captain back to the club.
"Alan is completely serious about trying to bring Alan back to Newcastle," revealed one of the club sources. "He feels the club have been lacking someone of his ilk since he retired, and who better to replace the man than the man himself?"
Tyneside media first began reporting the story on Friday evening when Pardew announced his desire for a new striker to bring goals back to the Newcastle front line. United supporters, desperate for a new hero since the departure of Kevin Keegan in 2008 and Shearer in 2009, have been buoyed by the news.
"They thought they had found one in Carroll," said regional journalist Andy McLean. "A local lad, powerful striker scoring loads of goals, but [Mike] Ashley sold him in January to help balance the books. They were gutted again. First Kevin, then Alan, and now Andy Carroll? We've had a tumultuous few years."
"I think bringing Alan back to the club would be an absolute masterstroke for Pardew and Ashley," continued McLean. "It would give instant credibility to the regime-- something which they both have been lacking since day one. It might take most of that £35 million to get Alan to come back, but I think he'd be open to it."
"I'm sure he's still fit as a fiddle. If Teddy Sheringham can play until he's 55, why can't the great Alan Shearer make a comeback at 40 and save Newcastle United?"
BIRMINGHAM (DF) -- Bolton forward Kevin Davies took time out of celebrating his team's 3-2 FA Cup quarterfinal victory at St. Andrews on Saturday to thank Birmingham central defender Curtis Davies for his part in all three Bolton goals-- an effort which assured the Wanderers a trip to Wembley in April.
"We couldn't have done it without him," said the elder Davies of the younger Davies. "His dreadful defending gave us the opportunities we needed and we took full advantage. Should we win the FA Cup, I'll be sure to send him a bottle of whatever he drinks before games."
Thrust into the spotlight following an injury to Roger Johnson, Curtis Davies, making only his second appearance for the Blues, looked out of place in a ragged, hastily assembled back four and was caught out badly for Bolton's first goal. Davies then bundled over Kevin Davies for a penalty and Bolton's second, and was caught out of position again for Bolton's eventual winner.
Sources close to Birmingham manager Alex McLeish feel Davies could already be on his way out of St. Andrews, despite having only joined the club in January. Once Johnson and his first choice partner Scott Dann return to full fitness, Davies, they say, will be surplus to requirements, if he's not already.
"Yeah, Alex doesn't really rate him at all," claimed one of the sources. "He was only playing because we're in crisis mode with all the injuries. Had Nikola [Zigic] been fit, I'm sure he would have been picked ahead of Curtis in central defense."
"I don't know why he played the way he did today. Maybe he felt bad that we've been hogging all the trips to Wembley lately, maybe he felt it was his duty to give Bolton and their supporters a chance to experience the Wembley atmosphere."
"Honestly, I think we're just a stepping stone," continued the source. "I think he has a dream of playing poorly for all the big clubs in Birmingham. He's been at West Brom, Aston Villa, and us. I'm sure he'll move on to Wolves in the summer and help them fall even further down the ladder."
