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Arsenal
Extra work on the training pitch and extra hours in the gym are the twin pillars of Theo Walcott’s improvement this season, according to the player. “It has gone very well so far for club and country,” said Walcott. “I had a very good pre-season, no injuries, I had a nice break over the summer and everything is going well so far. I stay behind to improve on things like the final ball, the end product, stuff like that. .This season I’ve been going to the gym more. I don’t want to slow myself down but if I got kicked when I was younger I probably would have stayed down. Now I get up. That’s when a full back thinks, ‘I’m going to have a torrid day.’”
Aston Villa
Kevin MacDonald has been backed for Aston Villa hotseat by former manager Graham Taylor. “Where he should be is out there on the training pitch, bringing players on and in charge of team selection,” said Taylor. “He is well respected, and he is a strong man. Just as he should not be judged on winning 3-0 against West Ham one week, he should not be judged on losing to Newcastle the next.”
Birmingham City
Birmingham City acting chairman Peter Pannu has dispelled concerns about a rift with manager Alex McLeish over the Scot’s ongoing contract negotiations. Pannu was quoted as saying McLeish was asking for “a very large amount of money which I was not prepared to meet” and that he was “no Jose Mourinho”. But Pannu has insisted the comments had not been meant as a criticism and that McLeish could sign a new contract as early as next week. He said: “This is all nonsense. We are just perhaps inches away from Alex signing a contract, possibly by next week. Our relationship is phenomenal, we are very strong and close, and I want to dispel this notion that there is anything wrong. In fact, I spoke to Alex about the Mourinho reference and we laughed about it. In the whole context of the interview I did, it would not have had a sting to it. But to take out the extract like that made it look worse than it was.” Blackburn Rovers
Striker Benjani is looking forward to rediscovering his form and fitness after joining Blackburn Rovers on a one-year deal. He said: “I didn’t have any problem proving my fitness. I’m happy here – I hope to score goals and if I’m fit I know I will have to fight for my place. The Premier League is the best league in the world and I always wanted to stay here. I know Blackburn are a good team. I need to be playing to gain full fitness – I hope to play some friendly matches and hopefully I’ll be match fit within the next month. It’s going to be hard work because sometimes if you return from one injury and pick up another it’s difficult. So I just hope nothing more will happen to me.”
blackpool
Matt Gilks says Scotland was always his first choice international team despite being born in Rochdale. The 28-year-old Blackpool keeper was drafted into the Craig Levein’s squad for the first time for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Lithuania in Kaunas on Friday and Liechtenstein at Hampden on Tuesday week. Gilks is eligible through his grandmother from Perth whom he claims instilled in him the Scottish spirit. “I do (feel Scottish) to be honest,” he said. “Scotland was definitely my first choice. My grandmother was born in Scotland and she was a massive influence on me growing up and within our family so I have always leaned towards Scotland, rather than England. I’ve been to Scotland a few times. I’m good friends with David Marshall and I came up to Hampden for the Macedonia game. The atmosphere at the game was fantastic. At half-time, the place was jumping. I was having a coffee, listening to all the singing, and just thought to be a part of it all would be amazing. So I’m more than grateful to be here. To be a part of it, to be called up now, it’s going to be even better.”
bolton wanderers
Bolton Wanderers have released Danny Shittu from his contract at the Reebok Stadium. The defender, who turned 30 on Thursday, joined Bolton from Watford in August 2008 and made 12 appearances in his first season. However, he did not play for the first team at all last term and Bolton confirmed they have reached an agreement with the Nigerian to terminate his contract with immediate effect.
Chelsea
Youngster Jeffery Bruma has signed a new contract, tying him to the Barclays Premier League champions until 2014. The 18-year-old defender, who has been with the club since 2007, is a rising star at Stamford Bridge and, despite making only four substitute appearances for the Blues, he was handed his full international debut by Holland this summer. “I am very happy to stay here,” he said. “I have been working to improve all the time I have been here and a next step is getting your next contract, and now it is time to improve again. I have made my international debut already and that was the aim for two or three years’ time. It has come so early, and when you reach your targets, you obviously have to set new ones, so my new targets are to play as much as I can at Chelsea in the first team and get in the Dutch full squad again as soon as I am fit.”
Everton
Louis Saha has used a strange alternative therapy to treat his long-standing knee trouble. The French striker has admitted to using blood-sucking leeches on his knees in the past. It is an ancient remedy and is believed to be beneficial for Saha because the saliva of the leeches acts as an anti-inflammatory treatment and reduces swelling. Saha, who has been recalled to the France squad for Friday night’s Euro 2012 Qualifier against Belarus in Paris, said the gruesome procedure, which he last used 18 months ago, has helped overcome his injury problems greatly. “You’re never going to believe how I treated my swollen knees,” Saha told the French media this week ahead of Friday’s international. “I went to visit my grandparents, who live in Guadeloupe, and I put leeches on my knees. I have had a knee that is not normal, but given what happened before to my ligaments I have to accept it. It swells up less and I feel fine now.”
Fulham
Bobby Zamora has started the 2010/11 season in scintillating fashion and Mark Hughes has clearly been impressed by the striker’s all-round game since his arrival at the club. “I’ve been surprised at the quality that is within the building and Bobby’s very much in that group,” Hughes explained. “When you come into a new situation you’re not quite sure what you’re getting but Bobby is a top class Premier League striker. His link up play has impressed me and is better than people give him credit for. When he’s in possession in the final third he’s very difficult to dispossess and he’s got good awareness of the players around him. His appreciation of a pass to bring players into a game is good and along with that he’s adding goals. He had an outstanding season last year and he’s continuing that form. I hope he maintains it because it’s important for Bobby and it’s important for us. At the moment, with the way we’re playing, Bobby is a real focus for our attacking play and we need him to keep playing well so we can flourish. He’s quite a package and a threat. His link up play and team work is excellent and he’s a big factor in why we’ve started so brightly. He’s very confident in his game and he’s enjoying his work. At the moment he’s able to transfer the work on the training ground on to the field of play and he’s playing really, really well.”
Liverpool
New signing Christian Poulsen believes he too will improve given a run of matches in the first team. “When I came here I had not played since the World Cup so I feel I need some time to get into the rhythm,” said the 30-year-old, a summer arrival from Juventus. “But last Thursday (in the second leg against Trabzonspor) I did better than in the first game. We have a lot of games so with Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani leaving we need quality players for the team because for the next six months we will have a game every four days.”
manchester city
Lazio president Claudio Lotito does not consider it a failure the club did not secure the services of Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz. The Paraguay forward came close to joining the Serie A outfit but the deal fell through earlier this week. “It’s not a disappointment,” said Lotito. “We decided to take some time and wait for the winter transfer market in order to evaluate whether to make that signing, considering that in that role we already have Mauro Zarate, Sergio Floccari, Tommaso Rocchi and Pasquale Foggia.”
manchester united
FIFA’s technical experts picked Wayne Rooney out as one of England’s “outstanding” players in the World Cup.The Manchester United striker did not score in any of England’s four matches in South Africa and appeared to have been affected by an injury picked up towards the end of last season. Rooney is described as a “hard-working, energetic striker; worked hard for team; good technique”. The report was put together by FIFA’s 16-man technical study group, including former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier and ex-Scotland manager and now UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh.
Newcastle United
Newcastle’s Carling Cup Third Round tie will be played on Wednesday, 22nd September, it has been confirmed. Kick-off at Stamford Bridge will be at 7.45pm. That means the match is sandwiched in between the Barclays Premier League trip to Everton and the United’s home encounter against Stoke City. Ticket information will follow shortly on the club’s official website.
stoke city
Eidur Gudjohnsen admits he lacks match fitness after spending pre-season without a club. Gudjohnsen, 31, penned a one-year deal with Stoke after leaving French club Monaco. “I just need football, to play games and get as many minutes under my belt as quickly as possible,” he said. “You can only do so much on your own. I have done a lot of individual training so I don’t just walk in the door completely out of shape. It’s more just getting into the day to day football training again which I need and playing games to reach my best level again.”
sunderland
Steve Bruce is hoping his side can maintain their impressive return against the Barclays Premier League big boys. The Black Cats beat Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Stadium of Light last season, and have already disposed of moneybags Manchester City this time around. However, they face a real test over the next few weeks with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United waiting in line in successive league games after the trip to Wigan on 11th September. Bruce said: “The fixtures are difficult, but that is the Premier League. Going into the end of the month, we know there is a run of fixtures – but we had them last year. We had a run of fixtures where we thought, ‘Oh, I don’t fancy that’, Liverpool and Arsenal at home back-to-back. But we beat them both – and went to Wigan, Birmingham and Burnley and lost. You can never call it, but certainly, the big teams brought out the best in us.”
tottenham hotspur
Jermain Defoe’s goal against BSC Young Boys means that he’s now scored 92 in all competitions for Tottenham Hotspur and is determined to make it a ton. Only 15 players in the club’s history have returned a century of goals in Spurs colours – and that list includes Defoe’s team mate Robbie Keane who has notched 121. Jimmy Greaves tops the list with 266 ahead of the likes of Bobby Smith, Martin Chivers, Cliff Jones, Alan Gilzean, Glenn Hoddle and Teddy Sheringham. “There are some stunning names on that list, great players who are legends at this club,” said Defoe. “I would love to join them… scoring goals for Spurs makes me proud, as would being included in that chart.”
west bromwich albion
Striker Luke Moore and goalkeeper Luke Daniels are the only senior players to have been left out of West Brom’s 25-man squad for the first half of the Premier League season. Manager Roberto Di Matteo`s list includes 11 home-grown players – three more than required under new Premier League rules. New signings Pablo Ibanez, Gabriel Tamas, Steven Reid, Peter Odemwingie, Somen Tchoyi, Marc-Antoine Fortune, Boaz Myhill, Nicky Shorey and Paul Scharner are all included while promising youngsters such as Chris Wood, Joe Mattock, Sam Mantom and George Thomas remain eligible for first-team duty.
West Ham United
Kireon Dyer believes West Ham United can upset the odds and overcome champions Chelsea when the teams meet in their next fixture. “We believe we can beat Chelsea,” he said. “It’s a completely different game. It’s a derby game and form will go out of the window. We’ll have the crowd and it’s one of those games where Scotty Parker gets in the tackles and gets the crowd going, so it’s going to be a completely different challenge to Man United so who knows? The manager is trying to change the mentality of players and we have to change it because, like I said, we have to start winning games. We’re obviously playing catch-up already.”
Wigan Athletic
Chairman David Whelan has lent his support to manager Roberto Martinez after the Latics bounced back from two big defeats to victory over Tottenham. He said: “I rate Roberto highly and said to the fans, if you want his head, you’ll get mine as well. Had they insisted, and even if we would have lost at Tottenham and they start crying for his head and had he asked to go, I would definitely have resigned with him.”
wolverhampton wanderers
Winger Stephen Hunt has returned to light training after a foot injury and is hoping to be fit to make his debut for the club next month. Manager Mick McCarthy signed the 29-year-old from Hull in June knowing he would not be available for at least the first couple of months of the season. Hunt has not played since February after picking up the problem that subsequently required surgery. But he has now started running again and is targeting a return after the international break in October at the latest. Hunt said: “I’ve been out on the pitch jogging for the first time since being here. It was the first time I’d set foot on the green grass and it was only a slow pace, but it all helps. The next step will be to get a pre-season under my belt. Then there’s another international break in October and hopefully I’ll be ready to play in the first team somewhere around then. After the internationals in October is looking like a realistic date, although I’m thinking differently. But I know how far I can push it and to be jogging is a bonus. When I come back, I want to be fit for the whole season.”
“The Premier League is the best league in the world” – Benjani
Credits: PremierLeague.com
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