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Webster
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Jan 22 2017, 05:34 AM
Post #421
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
League-leaders Chelsea couldn't've written Saturday's script in the Premier League better than what did transpire across England....
(SA) Despite leading 2-0, Manchester City dropped points to Tottenham Hotspur, finishing the match with a 2-2 draw (SA) Down on Merseyside, Liverpool's 12-month at-home unbeaten streak came to an end courtesy of a releagation-threatened Swansea City side 3-2 (SA) While Wayne Rooney now is Manchester United's all-time goalscorer, it didn't help the Red Devils as they drew 1-1 to Stoke City out at the Britannia (SA) Everton edged a little closer to the top-6 with a 1-0 road victory over Crystal Palace (SA) Sunderland slipped deeped into the bottom three, losing 2-0 to West Bromwich Albion (SA) Over at the Olympic Stadium, West Ham re-entered the top-half of the table with a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough and (SA) Bournemouth & Watford fought to a scrappy 2-2 draw out at the Vitality Stadium
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Jan 24 2017, 04:46 AM
Post #422
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Three matches rounded out the weekend's action in the Premier League.....
(SU) A clincal Southampton swarmed over the champions Leicester City 3-0 down on the South Coast (SU) A stoppage-time Alexis Sanchez penalty gave a 10-man Arsenal squad a 2-1 win over Burnley at the Emirates and (SU) Chelsea kept its' lock on the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Hull City
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Jan 28 2017, 01:24 AM
Post #423
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note: cross-posted over at Yaketys
The Guardian: Arsenal Manager Given Four-Match Ban For Misconduct

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Arsène Wenger has been given a four-match touchline ban by the Football Association following his altercation with the fourth official, Anthony Taylor, at the end of Arsenal’s dramatic 2-1 home win over Burnley last Sunday.
The manager has avoided a stadium ban, which the independent regulatory commission that heard the case was empowered to hand out but he has been barred from the touchline with immediate effect.
The sanction applies to Arsenal’s FA Cup tie at Southampton on Saturday and the Premier League fixtures against Watford, Chelsea and Hull City.
Wenger had admitted the misconduct charge and he requested a personal hearing that took place on Friday. The FA had considered it as a “non-standard” issue because of the serious or unusual nature of the offence and it meant there was no set sanction. Wenger was also fined £25,000. Arsenal said in a statement they did not intend to appeal.
Wenger was accused of using “abusive and/or insulting words” towards Taylor after Jon Moss’s decision to award Burnley a stoppage-time penalty. It is alleged the manager called Moss a cheat, which he denies.
Having been dismissed from the technical area for that reaction, Wenger then tried to push Taylor out of the way when the official informed him he was not allowed to watch the game from the corridor of the tunnel. Arsenal snatched victory with an even later penalty.
The commission took into account the fact Wenger had already been sent off and that he then put his hand on Taylor more than once. It was also noted Wenger had a reasonably clean recent disciplinary record.
He will not be allowed in the dugout or on the touchline during the four matches of his suspension but he can speak to his players before and after them and, also, in the dressing room at half-time. He can communicate with his staff on the bench during the games via telephone, walkie-talkie or earpiece, or through a runner.
Wenger apologised for his behaviour after the Burnley game. “I regret everything,” he said. “I should have shut up, gone in and gone home. I apologise for that. Look, it was nothing bad. I said something you hear every day in football. Overall, nine times out of 10, you are not sent to the stand for that. If I am, I am, and I should have shut up completely. I was quite calm during the whole game, more than usual. But just in the last two or three minutes.”
Asked about the push on Taylor, Wenger said: “I was sent to the stands. I didn’t know if I was sent to the stands but I was sent out. I thought I could watch it from the corridor, you know.”
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 1 2017, 08:00 PM
Post #424
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
Tuesday was a day of missed opportunities across the Premier League.....
(TU) Burnley bolstered their survival hopes at Leicester's expense with a 1-0 win at Turf Moor (TU) A surging Swansea continued its' own survival efforts, defeating Southampton 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium (TU) Traveling up to the Northeast, Spurs missed a chance to tighten the gap w/league leaders Chelsea, drawing 0-0 with Sunderland (TU) Likewise Liverpool missed a chance to do so as well, drawing 1-1 with the league-leaders at Anfield (TU) Worse luck went to Arsenal, who traveled to Watford and got a 2-1 tattoo from the Hornets for their efforts (TU) Crystal Palace finally got their win under Sam Allerdyce with a 2-0 win over Bournemouth and (TU) Out at the Riverside, Middlesbrough and West Brom fought to a 1-1 draw
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 2 2017, 03:58 AM
Post #425
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....congrats, Mr. Crouch, on joining the Premier League's 100-Goal Club!

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(BBC Sport) Veteran striker Peter Crouch scored his 100th Premier League goal as Stoke were held to an entertaining draw at home to Everton. Crouch, 36, applied a simple finish early in the first half to bring up his century almost 15 years on from opening his account for Aston Villa against Newcastle in April 2002 - a goal scored against his current Stoke team-mate Shay Given. Everton equalised when Seamus Coleman, on his 200th league appearance for the Toffees, saw his cross-shot fly in off Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross. The goal was initially ruled out for offside after Romelu Lukaku strayed beyond the last Stoke outfield player, but after a conversation between referee Craig Pawson and his assistant, the decision was reversed. Stoke were incensed by the decision, their frustration no doubt compounded by the knowledge that they should already have been out of sight, with Crouch seeing a crisp volley flash just wide and Marko Arnautovic denied superbly by Joel Robles when one on one. Both sides had chances to take all the points in the second half, with Stoke new boy Saido Berahino almost marking his debut off the bench with a goal only for Ramiro Funes Mori to head off the line, while Everton teenager Tom Davies saw a bullet header saved brilliantly by Lee Grant. The stalemate sees Stoke move into ninth place on 29 points, while Everton - eight points better off - stay seventh. Crouch has had a varied 20-year professional career, taking him from non-league football on loan with Dulwich Hamlet in 1999 all the way to a Champions League final with Liverpool in 2007. He has played for 10 different clubs - including two separate spells at both Portsmouth and Tottenham - but while the surroundings have been ever-changing, the constant has been goals. Crouch had hit 28 in the second tier for QPR and Portsmouth before he was handed a chance at the top level with Aston Villa in 2002. He marked his debut with a goal against Newcastle on the same day that Alan Shearer, on the opposing side, scored his 199th in the competition. Fifteen years on, Crouch is still doing the business, and found himself in the right place to put Stoke ahead in the seventh minute, turning the ball home from six yards after Charlie Adam's long ball forward was brilliantly brought down and laid off by the influential Arnautovic. Crouch's strike sees him become the 26th man to bring up 100 Premier League goals and further underlines the renaissance the former England striker has enjoyed in recent months. Last season, Crouch appeared surplus to requirements, featuring in just 18 games and failing to score in the league, but this term he has repaid manager Mark Hughes' faith in spades, with seven goals in all competitions.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 3 2017, 02:44 AM
Post #426
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
A thrashing and a pair of draws marked Wednesday's Premier League action....
(WE) Down at the Olympic Stadium, Manchester City put a thrashing onto West Ham, winning 4-0 (WE) Another match, another Old Trafford draw for Manchester United, this time 0-0 vs. Hull City and (WE) Peter Crouch's 1ooth Premier League goal notwithstanding, Stoke could only manage a 1-1 draw at home versus Everton
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 5 2017, 09:22 PM
Post #427
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Saturday saw the league-leaders tighten their grip on 1st in the Premier League as others dropped points elsewhere....
(SA) Chelsea continued their winning ways with a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge over their London neighbors Arsenal (SA) Its' been 35 days since the year's beginning and Liverpool are yet to win, falling to a relegation-threatened Hull City 2-0 out at the KCom Stadium (SA) Romalu Lukaku's star continues to rise; this time, it was a 4-goal display that helped give Everton a 6-3 shootout victory over Bournemouth at Goodison Park (SA) In the day's relegation six-pointer, Sunderland laid a 4-0 beatdown on a clearly struggling Crystal Palace (SA) A Harry Kane penalty was all Spurs needed to hold off a feisty Middlesbrough 1-0 at White Hart Lane (SA) West Ham climbed back into the top-10 with a 3-1 road victory down on the South Coast over Southampton (SA) Former West Brom striker Saido Berahino was greeted with boos from the Hawthorns faithful as he saw his now-current Stoke City side fall 1-0 to the Baggies and (SA) Watford also climbed into the top-half of the table with a 2-1 win out at Vicarage Road against Burnley
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 6 2017, 05:18 AM
Post #428
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BBC Sport: Jesus Lifts City To Victory Over Swansea City

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Gabriel Jesus scored twice as Manchester City moved up to third in the Premier League by overcoming a battling Swansea City in injury time at Etihad Stadium.
Jesus had an immediate impact in front of his home crowd, using his natural pace to dart forward and put his side in front with a tap past Lukasz Fabianski.
The hosts dominated the first half, but the visitors had the better of the second half, taking advantage of Manchester City's lack of intensity as Gylfi Sigurdsson picked up Luciano Narsingh's cross and steered the ball beyond a diving Willy Caballero.
However, the goal spurred the home side on. They picked up the pace again and Jesus was on hand to slide home a winner after his header was parried by Fabianski.
BBC Sport: United Shred Leicester 3-0

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Premier League champions Leicester are just one point above the relegation zone after defeat at home by Manchester United left them still searching for a first league win in 2017.
A dour opening half came to life just before the break when the visitors scored twice in two minutes.
First, Henrikh Mkhitaryan latched onto Chris Smalling's flick-on and raced through on goal before beating Kasper Schmeichel with a clinical finish.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic then took advantage of terrible Leicester marking to side-foot home his 15th Premier League goal of the season.
Juan Mata ensured there was no way back for the hosts when he finished off a one-two with Mkhitaryan early in the second half.
Leicester never looked like scoring, with their only shot on target a tame Wilfred Ndidi strike just before half-time.
Manchester United remain in the hunt for a top-four finish. They are sixth, one point behind Liverpool and two behind fourth-placed Arsenal.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 12 2017, 07:29 PM
Post #429
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The fight to catch leaders Chelsea took an interesting turn Saturday across the grounds.....
(SA) Remember Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal from the 1986 World Cup? Well, Alexis Sanchez pulled off a similar goal to help Arsenal win 2-0 over Hull City at the Emirates (SA) Sadio Mane made his PL return from the African Cup of Nations with a brace to give Liverpool a 2-0 win over fellow title contenders Tottenham Hotspur (SA) Manchester United extend their unbeaten streak to 16 games with a 2-0 win over Hull City out at Old Trafford (SA) In the day's snoozefest, Middlesbrough and Everton played to a 0-0 draw at the Riverside (SA) Down on the South Coast, Southampton ran riot over Sunderland, beating them senseless with a 4-0 victory (SA) Crystal Palace's woes continue as Stoke City took a 1-0 win from them at the Britannia courtesy of former Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen and (SA) A stoppage-time equalizer allowed West Brom to split the points with West Ham 2-2 over at the Olympic Stadium
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 13 2017, 05:40 PM
Post #430
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
BBC Sport: Chelsea Expand Lead To 10 Points With 1-1 Draw Vs. Burnley

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Chelsea missed the chance to move 12 points clear at the top of the Premier League as they were held to a draw by a resilient Burnley at Turf Moor.
The hosts had won all four of their previous homes games without conceding but fell behind early on when Pedro finished off a sweeping attack.
The visitors dominated possession and it seemed only a matter of time before they added to their advantage.
However, Burnley's record signing Robbie Brady - making his full debut following a January move from Norwich - equalised with a stunning free-kick.
The Clarets almost went ahead before the break but Thibaut Courtois superbly denied Matt Lowton from close range.
Chelsea did not have a single shot on target in the second half as Burnley took the game to the Premier League leaders, Andre Gray testing Courtois with a low drive when he was through one-on-one.
In the end, manager Antonio Conte will perhaps consider this a point gained as the Blues moved 10 points ahead of Tottenham. Manchester City can close the gap to eight points if they beat Bournemouth on Monday.
Burnley, meanwhile, are 12th.
BBC Sport: Leicester Woes Continue With 2-0 Drubbing At Swansea

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Premier League champions Leicester were plunged deeper into relegation trouble as they were beaten by Swansea, whose vital victory gave their own hopes of survival an enormous lift.
After a cagey start, Alfie Mawson's thumping volley and an incisive team goal finished by Martin Olsson gave the hosts a commanding 2-0 half-time lead.
Leicester offered more resistance in the second half - substitute Islam Slimani was denied by a fine save by Lukasz Fabianski - but fell to a fifth successive defeat, increasing the pressure on manager Claudio Ranieri.
The Foxes, who are just one point above the relegation zone, are the only side in the top four English divisions without a league goal in 2017.
They are also the first reigning champions to lose five consecutive top flight matches since Chelsea in March 1956 and now find themselves embroiled in a congested relegation battle in which the bottom six teams are separated by just five points.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 14 2017, 05:47 AM
Post #431
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The Guardian: Aguero Makes Point As Manchester City Jump To 2nd In The Premier League

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This was a slog for Manchester City, but after a fiercely contested game on the south coast against opponents who refused to wilt it should probably be considered evidence that Pep Guardiola’s side will pose the most credible threat to Chelsea’s advantage at the top of the Premier League. City have sprung into second place, taking advantage of the leaders’ slight stutter on Sunday at Burnley and Guardiola could arguably draw more positives from this hard-fought victory than the 4-0 thrashing they had inflicted on West Ham United in their previous away fixture.
That had proved a stroll at the London Stadium but, confronted by opponents yet to win a game in 2017, City had to scrap to impose themselves. In the autumn, once City’s scintillating start to life under Guardiola had petered out, they might have shrunk in the face of the resistance offered by an energetic and eager Bournemouth team.
Yet they have steeled themselves in recent weeks. A fourth successive win in all competitions in what will be their last league fixture until the first week of March maintained the momentum. This team have been revitalised, with Leroy Sané and Raheem Sterling irrepressible, David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne orchestrating their play expertly from deeper roles, and Sergio Agüero eager to reassert himself as their predator-in-chief.
The Argentinian, who had come on as a substitute for the injured Gabriel Jesus, left the field insistent that he had scored for the first time since early January. Agüero had held off another substitute, Tyrone Mings, as he darted across his marker midway through the second half sensing Sterling would have the beating of Adam Smith down City’s left flank, and stretched out for the winger’s low centre on the edge of the six-yard box. There was a flick on the loose ball, but it cannoned beyond Artur Boruc off Mings as the centre-half desperately sought to get ahead of the striker. He will grumble in frustration to be denied his own reward, but his attacking instinct had still drawn the error. City will await news of the extent of Jesus’ foot injury, sustained in the early exchanges, but know they have a match-winner who is glad to be back. -Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/feb/13/bournemouth-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 17 2017, 09:32 PM
Post #432
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note: cross-posted over at Conversations
The Guardian: Bournemouth Charged With Anti-Doping Violations By FA

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Bournemouth have been charged by the Football Association for a breach of the organisation’s anti-doping rules.
It is understood the charge relates to Bournemouth’s failure to keep the governing body informed on the location of their players in order to facilitate drug-testing, which leads to an automatic sanction under the FA’s rules if the offence is committed three times. Two of the tests are believed to concern a member of the club’s under-21 squad who had been called up to train with the first team, who are based at a different site. The other is understood to relate to an unnamed player who failed to provide details of his new home address, which resulted in a tester turning up to his former home.
The club has until next Thursday to respond to the charge, although it appears likely that they will be handed a similar punishment to Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s side were fined £35,000 on Thursday after admitting they failed to provide accurate details of training sessions and player whereabouts so they are available for testing at all times.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 23 2017, 10:48 AM
Post #433
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(BBC Sport) Arsenal's Cazorla out for the season
 --Santi Cazorla WILL miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
Cazorla has been out since limping out of the Champions League group stage game against Ludogorets at the Emirates Stadium in October.
He underwent surgery in December and Gunners boss Arsene Wenger hoped the 32-year-old would be back before the end of the season.
But Spain international Cazorla is now focusing on being fit for next season.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 23 2017, 07:47 PM
Post #434
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....well, this royally sucks....

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(The Guardian) Wayne Rooney has ended speculation over his immediate future by confirming he will not be leaving Manchester United, despite admitting he has received offers to depart Old Trafford this month. Rooney has been linked with a move to China, with his agent, Paul Stretford, understood to have been in China this week speaking to interested clubs. But the United and England captain confirmed in a statement on Thursday that he is not interested in moving with United still involved in the FA Cup and Europa League. “Despite the interest which has been shown from other clubs, for which I’m grateful, I want to end recent speculation and say that I am staying at Man United,” he said. “I hope I’ll play a full part in helping the team in its fight for success on four fronts. It’s an exciting time at the club and I want to remain a part of it.” The 31-year-old’s contract worth around £300,000-a-week is due to expire in 2019 but speculation that United’s record goalscorer could leave Old Trafford mounted this week after José Mourinho, the manager, admitted that there was “no guarantee” Rooney would stay. However, a deal with a Chinese Super League club worth up to £500,000-a-week was always going to be difficult to achieve before their transfer window closes on Tuesday.
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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Webster
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Feb 24 2017, 07:25 PM
Post #435
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ntoe: cross-posted over at Yaketys
BBC Sport: "No Player Revolt At Leicester" Says Caretaker Manager
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Leicester City caretaker boss Craig Shakespeare has denied a player revolt led to the sacking of Claudio Ranieri.
BBC Sport understands some players were summoned to meet the chairman after the 2-1 loss to Sevilla and Ranieri's fate was sealed by the negative reaction. The Italian was sacked by Leicester on Thursday nine months after leading the club to the Premier League title.
"There was a lot of frustration because of the results, but he had not lost the dressing room," Shakespeare said. "A lot of the talk of unrest has been speculation. I've not had one problem with the players.
"I always feel sorry when people lose their jobs. I'm not aware of the club having spoken to any candidates. My relationship with Claudio has been fine all along. I spoke to him last night and he thanked me for my support throughout. It was not brief and we exchanged views. A lot of what we said will stay private."
Leicester are 17th in the Premier League table, one point above the relegation zone, with 13 matches left and are out of the FA Cup after losing 1-0 to Millwall in the fifth round.
Despite losing 2-1 to Spanish side Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, they could yet reach the quarter-finals. The second leg is on 14 March.
Shakespeare, who will take charge of Monday's home league match against Liverpool, said it was "very sad" Ranieri had been dismissed but added that the decision "must be respected".
"Whether I think it's right or not is irrelevant," he added.
"We all know in football people lose their jobs because of results - and the results haven't been good enough. He will get the utmost respect in terms of what he has achieved with this club."
Leicester started last season as 5,000-1 outsiders for the title, having almost been relegated the season before.
Former Leicester, Everton and England striker Gary Lineker described his hometown team's achievement as "the biggest sporting shock of my lifetime".
The remarkable title win saw Ranieri named best men's coach at Fifa's awards in January, and top coach at the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year awards in December. -Read more: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39079683
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Conversations 'Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.' - Bill Shankly, Liverpool F.C.
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