Новости за 01.03.2019

It's difficult to focus on Gameweek 29 of Fantasy Premier Leaguewhen the mighty Larne FC are setting themselves up for an Irish Cup quarter-final against Coleraine tonight.There's zero chance of Paul Pogba or Sergio Aguero scoring at Inver Park, however, so reluctantly we'll stick to the Premier League.Again, there are blanks (GW31 and 33) and double gameweeks (32 and 35) coming up, so keep them in mind when you're thinking of incoming transfers. As an example, Arsenal face Tottenham in 29, Chelsea in 30 and a blank in 31... Читать дальше...

Scott Parker received some “truly inspirational” advice from Sir Alex Ferguson after being appointed caretaker manager of relegation-threatened Fulham.The 38-year-old has been inundated with messages of support since replacing the sacked Claudio Ranieri on Thursday, including a text from former Manchester United boss Ferguson.Parker has a difficult first assignment as a football manager, with the Cottagers 10 points adrift of safety and only 10Premier League games remaining.“Yesterday – I don’t really have many friends ... Читать дальше...

Mauricio Pochettino says people questioning Tottenham’s league position after back-to-back defeats are living in “different realities”.Spurs were right in the Premier League title race up until two games ago, but they crashed to successive losses against Burnley and Chelsea.That leaves Pochettino’s side looking over their shoulders in the race for the top four and defeat in the north London derby against Arsenal at Wembley on Saturday would leave them just a point clear of the Gunners.#PL Matchweek 28: or for your team? Читать дальше...

Chelsea head coach Maurizio Sarri is aware of the new manager bounce and is wary of Sunday’s opponents Fulham after Claudio Ranieri’s sacking.Sarri’s future appeared to be in jeopardy until a mini-resurgence, with Sunday’s Carabao Cup final loss to Manchester City on penalties following the Europa League win over Malmo.Wednesday’s 2-0 defeat of Tottenham was a further fillip, particularly following the furore which followed goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s refusal to be substituted with penalties looming... Читать дальше...

Rafael Benitez has told Newcastle to continue fighting for Premier League points as if they will still need something at Fulham on the final day of the season to clinch survival.Back-to-back victories over Huddersfield and Burnley in the last week have eased the Magpies six points clear of the relegation zone and raised hopes they can match last season’s top-10 finish.However, Benitez knows there is still plenty of work to be done before they are sure of a third straight top-flight campaign, starting at West Ham on Saturday evening.He said... Читать дальше...

Goalkeeper John Ruddy will make his first Premier League appearance for almost three years as Wolves prepare him for their FA Cup quarter-final.Rui Patricio has been ever present but boss Nuno Espirito Santo will start Ruddy in Saturday’s visit of Cardiff before the last-eight clash with Manchester United in two weeks.The former Norwich player, 32, has been Wolves’ keeper for the cup competitions.Ruddy’s last top-flight appearance was in Norwich’s 3-0 defeat at Everton in May 2016.Nuno, who has no fresh injury worries... Читать дальше...

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists every player – including captain Jordan Henderson – has to accept they cannot play every match in the Premier League run-in.The Reds boss was forced to play down claims of a fall-out after the pair did not shake hands, a misunderstanding according to Klopp, when the England midfielder was substituted in the goalless draw at Manchester United. Henderson started the midweek win over Watford on the bench.Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park is a match all... Читать дальше...

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has urged his players to seize their moment and beat rivals Tottenham on Saturday to move within a point of their neighbours.The Gunners head to Wembley knowing they can close right up on Spurs, who currently occupy third place in the Premier League table.After three successive wins – a run which has seen Emery nominated for Premier League manager of the month – Arsenal head into the third north London derby of the season in better form than their hosts.Arsenal are in... Читать дальше...

West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini has refused to rule Jack Wilshere out of his plans this season.There are fears that former Arsenal midfielder Wilshere’s campaign could be over as he continues to battle ankle problems.The injury-hit 27-year-old has made just one brief substitute appearance since September and there is still no comeback in sight.However, when asked if he could confirm where Wilshere would be out for the season, Pellegrini said: “No, because I’m not a doctor.“We must wait for Jack when he comes back and see how he feels. Читать дальше...

When Frank Brugel brought an end to his largely unspectacular playing career – one that took him to middling clubs like RBC Roosendaal and Willem II – he probably assumed his chances of having any influence at the top of the Dutch game had long gone.His main footballing focus at that stage was taking young son Jordy to games at local amateur side WDS’19 on a Saturday morning. Yet it was there Brugel made a discovery that would eventually hand Dutch football a huge boost in a time of desperate need.Jordy... Читать дальше...

Fulham players have admitted that they realised Claudio Ranieri had to go when he became irrational and appeared to believe he had won the Premier League title with Leicester City.The ex-Chelsea manager was relieved of his duties after 106 days in charge, with Fulham languishing in 19th and in dire danger of relegation – and behind the scenes, players at Craven Cottage had begun to worry about the 67-year-old’s state of mind.As the pressure mounted, Ranieri increasingly started to fall back on a... Читать дальше...

This weekend, we're likely to see the 800th Premier League goal of the season hit the back of the net. There have been 791 goals scored in 2018/19 so far, with almost 200 plundered by Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal alone.When it comes to players, though, the joy has been more evenly distributed: no one forward is running away in the race for the Golden Boot, and more than 50 have enjoyed putting one away on at least five occasions this season.Eighteen teams are represented on the list (sorry... Читать дальше...

Tottenham 5-0 Arsenal, 1983If there's nowt worse than a heavy defeat at the hands of your rivals, then there's nothing better than sweet revenge –as Tottenham discovered in April '83.In Christmas 1978, an Arsenal side inspired by Alan Sunderland and Liam Brady hadhammered five past Spurs. But by 1983, Tottenham were a different beast; here,Chris Hughton opened the scoring and Alan Brazil netted his first goal for the club as Spurs powered to a 3-0 lead in under 20 minutes.Some hapless defending from... Читать дальше...

What the papers sayWith Claudio Ranieri’s reign over at Fulham, talkis now moving to who is in line to replace him. According to the Mirror, Bristol City’s Lee Johnson and Kilmarnock’s Steve Clarke are the frontrunners to take over thissummer, as it was announced Scott Parker will take up the caretaker role until the end of the season.Chelsea are said to have eyes on Zinedine Zidane (Nick Potts/PA)Meanwhile, Chelsea could be facing a managerial battle of their own, with Juventus said to be moving in on top target Zinedine Zidane. Читать дальше...

Manchester United Women boss Casey Stoney believes it will be many more years before she would consider a risky move into coaching a men’s team.The 36-year-old former England captain feels not only would attitudes have to change, but that she would need to be financially secure before taking a job she claims would have an average tenure of just over a year.In a wide-ranging interview with the Offside Rule Exclusives podcast, she has also talked frankly about the bullying she endured while playing football as a child... Читать дальше...

Liverpool defender Andy Robertson’s admission that playing alongside Virgil Van Dijk makes his job easier is evidence enough of why the Dutchman is the favourite to be crowned player of the year.The world’s most expensive defender arguably leads the race for the accolade ahead of Manchester City trio Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and David Silva and his own 20-goal team-mate Mohamed Salah.Since the Professional Footballers’ Association brought in its awards in 1974 a defender has won the main prize only five times... Читать дальше...

Roy Hodgson has expressed his dismay at the sacking of Claudio Ranieri by Fulham.Ranieri left the relegation-threatened Cottagers on Thursday after just over three months in charge of the Premier League club.The Italian, who masterminded Leicester’s stunning 2016 title success, oversaw just three wins in 16 league matches and leaves the club 19th in the table.They are 10 points off safety with 10 games remaining but Crystal Palace boss Hodgson, himself a former Fulham manager, believes his old club have acted too hastily.“I’m very sad... Читать дальше...

Former football agent Willie McKay believes he and his son have been made scapegoats for the plane crash that killed Emiliano Sala.The 28-year-old Argentinian striker died, along with pilot David Ibbotson, when the Piper Malibu aircraft they were travelling in came down in the English Channel on January 21, two days after Cardiff had made him their record signing.McKay helped broker the deal and arranged the flight while his son Mark was acting as the agent for selling club Nantes in the £15million... Читать дальше...

Kevin De Bruyne says he would be among the first to congratulate Liverpool if they can wrest the title off a determined Manchester City.Champions City kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Ham on Wednesday, ensuring the gap at the top remained at one point.Both teams now have 10 games to play and De Bruyne has warned the Reds that he feels City’s play is matching the standards they showed last year.View this post on InstagramHUG ME BROTHERS... Читать дальше...

Boss Marcelo Bielsa has taken the blame for Leeds’ recent inconsistent form.United will return to the top of the Sky Bet Championship with victory over West Brom at Elland Road on Friday ahead of the weekend’s gamesLeeds sit third in the table, a place ahead of the Baggies, but have lost five of their last 10 league games, including Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat at QPR, to leave themtwo points behind leaders Norwich.Bielsa has eased the burden on his players as he told a press conference: “We don’t have any... Читать дальше...