Rangers closed the gap on Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League to two points after a 1-0 win at Hamilton on Sunday.Hamilton’s last league victory came way back in November when they won 1-0 at Motherwell. Amazingly, they have not won a home fixture all season, meaning Walter Smith’s side entered the clash as red-hot favourites.
But the reigning champions were given a test by the SPL cellar-dwellers, with the first half almost entirely non-eventful until Nikica Jelavic scored on the stroke of half-time.
Jelavic’s strike was of the highest quality, with his free-kick from the edge of the box curling past the wall and leaving Hamilton shot-stopper Tomas Cerny with no chance.
Throughout a tense second half, Rangers failed to get the all-important second half and left themselves vulnerable to a late equaliser from the hosts.
But it never materialised as Rangers kept the pressure on their arch-rivals Celtic.
Hamilton remain 12 points behind their nearest competitor St Mirren and have amassed just 16 points in 32 league fixtures this season.
If Tottenham fail to get planning permission for their new stadium at White Hart Lane then there is only going to be one real loser in this piece and that is Haringey Council and the N17 area as a whole. Defeat in their application will see the Lilywhites explore other options out of the borough and away from its spiritual home for good.
I’m actually amazed that permission is yet to be granted and having appeased the conservationists at the Victorian society, by giving up the proposed open square and walkway to ensure the four listed buildings (apparently they are an important layer of local history) that the club planned to demolish remained; the Haringey Police have now intervened with a document outlining their concerns about the proposed stadium due to lack of segregation between home and away fans outside the ground. I may be somewhat naive but I have never been outside a stadium in the Premier League that I have been unable to walk around prior to kick-off in my colours, so what’s the difference? If they are really that concerned then how come the current away end of the ground at White Hart Lane is only manned by a handful of stewards and policemen along with four or five police barriers? It is hardly the kind obstacle that will keep warring factions apart? Surely the solution for the new stadium is to simply put up temporary fencing like they do at Eastlands, to steer supporters towards the coaches and car-parks.
It is like any obstacle that they can put in front of Tottenham’s development is being put in front of Haringey Council in order to ensure that they turn down our application. I don’t know how thin the Tottenham board’s patience is becoming but you cannot blame them for reconsidering other options and perhaps relocating away from N17. Here is a club who on top of building a new stadium is attempting to plough millions into regenerating the whole area that will be create jobs and bring business to the local shops and companies within the vicinity. All they have faced throughout this process is obstacles, and petty ones at that. You would think that they would be biting our arm off to get this project moving, not potentially dragging us out of the borough for good
Tottenham Hotspur is the only positive aspect of the area and brings a lot of wealth to neighbouring businesses as a result. Those causing obstacles need to realise that it is the football club that is keeping this area together and they should be embracing change. Tottenham needs a new stadium in order to compete and if Haringey Council and other factions think our plans are a hindrance to the local area; then I’m sure there will be plenty of neighbouring boroughs who will beg to differ and will only be too happy to accommodate.
Written By Roy James
With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
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After Manchester City produced their financial reports – or more accurately, losses last week, it resulted in the very predictable outcry around football and indeed the world. Much the same with Chelsea when Abramovich took over, or what PSG and Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala have to look forward to, the influx of money cannot suddenly balance the books, and although they are not in actual financial jeopardy, on paper they record staggering losses and are technically in grave danger.
However, this is not a ‘real situation’ and the clubs are in no danger of going into administration, rendering the figures basically useless, as they will almost certainly continue to spend and get into a ‘worse’ situation. Cue UEFA attempting to increase the financial fair play rules and do something about this – specifically preventing clubs who breach said rules from entering the transfer market.
In reality, any excuse for football’s governing bodies to create another useless rule that can easily be worked around seems to be welcomed, and in a time where there are much more pressing issues – racism anyone – as per usual the focus is on something far more trivial.
Yes, there will always be the people who say the billionaire owners are destroying football and making it untenable for the rest of clubs, but it is a fact of life now that such people exist in football, and no amount of good character tests or fair play rules are going to stop them from buying a club and pouring billions into it.
The latest proposals by UEFA have been placed on the shelves in Nyon for the time being, and will be collecting dust along with the files on racial chanting, bribing referees and Jose Mourinho’s latest misconduct, as they quite simply cannot legally enforce them.
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To impose a transfer ban on clubs who breach said fair play rules is flawed to say the least, with the EU and issues of restraint of trade being the most likely to be employed by a club or player affected by these rules, and would be laughed out of court. Not to mention the small fact that UEFA do not actually have any say over player registrations – it is a combination of FIFA and national associations who hold all the cards here, and UEFA can actually do very little.
The ‘sliding scale’ that Platini and Uefa wished to adopt – a range of sanctions before a club is barred from the competition all together – would range from the proposals above to stopping an individual player from participating in the competition or withholding prize money. Cue a huge range of lawsuits ranging from Human Rights issues, restraint of trade etc things that the ECJ love ruling on and take very seriously.
Although the idea from UEFA is commendable on some scale, and supported by clubs such as Arsenal, it is a non-starter, and would bring much more trouble than it would solve should it be implemented.
Yes without such sanctions the new proposals loses validity, but in reality did it really have that much anyway? To lose a maximum of £38 million over the next three seasons is nigh on impossible for clubs such as City, and even reducing losses will not achieve this – Chelsea, despite former exec Peter Kenyon’s claims had not broken even on schedule, and the way they are going a Roman revolution and more losses will be inevitable.
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For clubs with billionaire owners, the fact of the matter remains that they can and will buy players both their balance sheets and UEFA tell them they cannot afford, and UEFA’s proposals will end up putting them so far into debt with court cases and legal challenges should they come to pass that the whole sorry affair will end in tears.
Sir Alex Ferguson has reproved the decision to host this season’s FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley, in lieu of travelling “chaos” and financial outlay fans of the four northern participants will face. United’s fans are unlikely to be affected by Ferguson’s concerns, seeing as the majority of them are based in the Capital, but the Scot’s suggestion that a Manchester derby to decide an FA Cup finalist should take place at Anfield provides a farcical alternative. Albeit Ferguson proposed Villa Park as a secondary option, I would feel personally disappointed as a Stoke City or Bolton fan to relinquish a rare trip to Wembley due to travelling costs which are incurred on most Premier League weekends.
A growing concern amongst a number of fans and pundits alike is the fading ‘magic’ of England’s oldest Cup competition. In my view, the recent hosting of FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley have preserved at least some of the tournament’s gloss, as they have provided a handful of smaller clubs a unique opportunity to perform for up to 90,000 spectators in one of the world’s most recognisable venues. Barnsley fans may have been similarly content to feature in a semi-final at say Old Trafford in 2008, but the opportunity to feature at a stadium of Wembley’s prestige, however recently developed, occurs quite literally once in a lifetime for a club of that calibre.
Staging three FA Cup ties a season instead of one increases the odds for small clubs to realise such a unique opportunity, and certainly improves their chances of causing an upset as Portsmouth proved last season in beating Spurs. A regular reappearance at Wembley seems implausible for both Stoke and Bolton fans, but it is understandable that Ferguson, who has led his team out on eight occasions since the stadium re-opened in 2007, feels aggrieved at the heightened importance of such a fixture with a tense culmination of United’s Premier League and European challenges also occupying his thoughts.
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It is possible that Ferguson is attempting to alleviate some of the pressure on his squad and undermine the progress Roberto Mancini has made since his instalment as City manager. I have no doubt that City will be competing with their neighbours on all fronts before long, but next month’s semi-final affords the Sky Blues a first return to Wembley since the 1999 Second Division Play-Off Final. Two injury-time goals thrust City towards what is now referred to as the Championship just four days after their rivals had completed an unprecedented European treble with two stoppage-time goals of their own. The difference in stature provides evidence of just how far City have advanced since the turn of the century, as they are presently able to entice World Cup winning stars to a state-of-the-art 50,000 capacity stadium.
The chance to showcase that wealth of talent at Wembley and the incentive to humiliate their neighbouring adversary in front of a global audience should not be undermined by Ferguson. For City, April 16th provides a glimpse at the rewards their extensive and expensive project will soon repeatedly reap and the prospect of ratifying the Abu Dhabi regime against United at Wembley is an occasion no amount of Ferguson mind-games will dampen.
Football fans are susceptible to travel ‘chaos’ each and every weekend, but no supporter would dispute Wembley as a destination whether as a semi-final or show-piece venue. It is worth remembering that Ferguson refrained from similar rambling when, in 2008, fans of Manchester United and Chelsea embarked on a round-trip of over 3,000 miles to see their teams compete in the Champions’ League Final in Moscow. Perhaps on that occasion UEFA could have taken the logical step to re-locate the match to Birmingham’s St Andrew’s Stadium to allay Ferguson’s fear that supporters spend too much money following their clubs, but somehow I suspect the supporters would not have concurred.
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Caretaker manager Ray Lewington believes Fulham will appoint a top-quality new boss to replace Roy Hodgson.
Lewington was placed in temporary charge of the Cottagers following Hodgson's departure to Liverpool last month.
A string of top names have been linked with the Craven Cottage job in recent weeks, including former Spurs boss Martin Jol, ex-England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and veteran German Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Jol is the favourite for the role and Lewington fully expects a quality name to get the job ahead of the new Premier League season.
"I really don't know if I'll be in charge for the Sweden tour. All I know is that I'm in charge up until the new manager is appointed," he said.
"We don't know if it's Martin Jol. It's just another name that has been plucked out of the air as far as we are concerned.
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"What I do know is that they are going to try to go for a top-drawer manager. We are a big club and we should be attracting a big-name manager now.
"We go for the top now. Having had Roy, you need to bring in someone of that stature to match him."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
There have been plenty of highs and lows at Upton Park over the past ten years or so, with managers and players coming in and out on a yearly basis have made it extremely difficult for consistency and stability for the Hammers fans. A second spell in the Championship in the space of 7 years for West Ham has made the supporters more passionate and loyal than ever.
Areas of the media and rival supporters brand Hammers fans hard to please and fickle, something that is an understandable opinion but they will find it hard to back the statement up. With the farce that has been the running of the club since the Icelandic group took over in 2006, it has been tough to watch at Upton Park, but the clubs’ fans have never turned their back on their side and turn up week in week out.
This season has been a prime example of the support that is one of the best in country. The East-End club do not have the biggest stadium in the Championship but do have the highest attendances in the league. For a club that has been relegated after a dismal show last season that takes loyalty to consistently turn up each week and get behind your team. Away from home it is a similar story that has been the real positive from relegation in my opinion.
West Ham will consistently sell out their away end at opposition’s stadiums but this season has seen the club take that to another level. Once the allocation is sold out, the co-chairman applies for more tickets and that is something that the poorly supported clubs with bigger grounds are more than happy to accept.
For example a record breaking 6,800 Hammers will be at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday for the league visit to Coventry after there were 5,000 at Hull a week ago. The club have confirmed that the 4,700 tickets available for Reading away in two weeks time have also been snapped up, emphasising the terrific support this season for the promotion favourites.
Newcastle United had a similar situation when they were in the Championship a few years ago, going on to become a strong Premier League force once again and that is the long term aim for West Ham. For a team in the Championship to be supported as well as the Hammers have been this season is remarkable and people questioning their loyalty should rethink that.
The majority of supporters I have spoken to are fully behind Sam Allardyce and the owners; despite what the press may tell you; and with the club sitting second in the Championship table, there are reasons for optimism for all Hammers fans and it is the start of something special at Upton Park with everyone singing from the same hymn sheet once again.
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Arsenal forward Robin van Persie is a shock inclusion in his side’s squad that will take on Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Van Persie injured ligaments in his knee in the club’s 2-1 Carling Cup defeat to Birmingham just eight days ago and quotes at the time from Arsene Wenger indicated he would miss at least three weeks.
“I am not a specialist but he overstretched his knee at the back when he made the volley (to score against Birmingham),” Wenger said after the Carling Cup final loss.
“It is a ligament at the back of the knee, a tear in the ligament. It is three to four weeks, I take the short delay because I am an optimist but it could be four.”
But Van Persie has made a remarkable recovery and – after being photographed in full training on Monday – has been included in Wenger’s squad for the second-leg of the Champions League last-16 tie.
Van Persie scored to bring Arsenal level in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium before they won 2-1 thanks to Andrey Arshavin’s late strike.
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The result has set up a fascinating second-leg encounter in Barcelona, with van Persie and his fellow strikers hoping to make the most of the absence of Barcelona captain Carles Puyol and suspended defensive partner Gerard Pique.
Arsenal squad: Manuel Almunia, Wojciech Szczesny, Johan Djourou, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Eboue, Kieran Gibbs, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Sebastien Squillaci, Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri, Abou Diaby, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner, Marouane Chamakh, Robin van Persie.
Cesc Fabregas has reignited the speculation surrounding his protracted move from Arsenal to Barcelona after revealing his admiration for the Spanish club's coach Pep Guardiola.
Fabregas is believed to have told Gunners boss Arsene Wenger of his desire to return to the Camp Nou after seven seasons in north London.
Arsenal have already rejected one bid for their 23-year-old captain, who is currently away on World Cup duty with Spain.
But despite claiming he is totally focused on the World Cup , Fabregas has ensured his club future remains a hot topic after describing former Barcelona captain and now first-team coach Guardiola as his "idol".
"Guardiola has always been my idol since childhood," he said. "I played in his position and I noticed him. My coach even gave me a shirt signed by him."
Meanwhile, Fabregas claims the uncertainty surrounding his club future is not a distraction while in South Africa.
"I won't think about anything until after the World Cup," he told Spanish radio.
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"It won't be a problem if I return to Barcelona because Barca is my home.
"The people there are always sensational in the way they treat me."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Nicolas Anelka could be the latest big name player to make the move to the Russian Premier League with FC Terek Grozny lining up a move for the Chelsea striker the Daily Mail reports.
Stars like Samuel Eto’o, Roberto Carlos, Balázs Dzsudzsák and former Stamford Bridge teammate Yuri Zhirkov have all moved to Russia in the last 12 months to join Grozny’s rivals Anzhi Makhachkala who are also interested in the Frenchman.
Anelka’s contract in West London expires in June and has been linked with several Turkish clubs interested whilst a move to America a possibility with a clutch of Major League Soccer teams considering a move for him.
However it’s now emerged that Grozny who are drawing up a lucrative contract offer for the 32-year-old as they strive to compete with fellow Russian giants Anzhi, Spartak Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg, CSKA Moscow and Rubin Kazan.
Despite competing with a host of top strikers Anelka has featured in every Chelsea game so far this season making nine appearances and scoring one goal.
His cause has been helped with Daniel Sturridge and Fernando Torres both serving suspensions, Didier Drogba suffering a serious injury and 18-year-old Romelu Lukaku being eased into Premier League life making him the only senior forward consistently available to Andre Villas-Boas.
However his early season form may not be enough to warrant a new deal and his five-year stay at Chelsea could end next summer with a move looking increasingly likely.
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Wolverhampton manager Mick McCarthy was delighted his side could capitalise on their numerical advantage in their 4-0 win over Blackpool.Wolves led 1-0 at Molineux when prevalent Tangerines goalscorer DJ Campbell was red carded late in the first half, allowing McCarthy’s men to overrun their opponents in the second half.The win saw Wolves not only climb off bottom, but escape the clutches of the relegation zone.McCarthy said: “We started well and scored a great goal, but they had one sent off and I think that has a huge impact in the game. I know sometimes it can be hard to play against 10 men but I thought we kept it simple, we were professional and we managed to finish them off.” “Things change games for you – they lose a player who has been vital to them, in double figures for goals, teams make mistakes and players make mistakes that cost them.”Shattered Blackpool boss Ian Holloway said the defeat was one of the worst he had overseen as manager of the club, but also gave credit to their relegation rivals.”What disappoints me is I don’t mind losing but it’s the way you lose and today was probably one of the most disappointing performances I’ve seen from any team of mine in a Blackpool shirt,” Holloway told Sky Sports.”Well done to Wolves – they were terrific, they were up for it, they’ve got a terrific home record and we’ve got to get on with the next one.”