Ferguson slams Premier League on referees

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has hit out at Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Ham.

Scudamore has accused managers of not showing enough respect to officials and Ferguson is currently serving a five-match FA touchline for criticising referee Martin Atkinson following his side’s defeat at Chelsea.

“Richard Scudamore has not got a lot to do, has he? He’s trying to elevate the Premier League and fine, good – that’s his job. I don’t think managers disrespect referees,” Ferguson said on Friday.

“I got done for what I considered a fair comment but he didn’t, he gave me a five-match ban. That’s fine, but that doesn’t say we don’t respect referees.”

“It’s a difficult job, we all know that, you wouldn’t referee a game would you? But I think Richard is jumping off a high diving board here without thinking about it.”

With just eight games remaining the Premier League title race is still wide open.

United lead the way but Arsenal, Chelsea and even Tottenham are still in with a chance of lifting the trophy in May, according to Ferguson.

“With eight games to go you can’t exclude anyone. Arsenal, ourselves, Chelsea and Tottenham – you can’t exclude anyone,” he said.

“Whoever becomes the most consistent will win this league, I can guarantee that. We want to be consistent, we hope we will be and if we are, we have a good chance.”

“We are involved in three competitions which is great. The difference between now and 1999

Ferguson slams Premier League on referees

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has hit out at Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore ahead of Saturday’s trip to West Ham.

Scudamore has accused managers of not showing enough respect to officials and Ferguson is currently serving a five-match FA touchline for criticising referee Martin Atkinson following his side’s defeat at Chelsea.

“Richard Scudamore has not got a lot to do, has he? He’s trying to elevate the Premier League and fine, good – that’s his job. I don’t think managers disrespect referees,” Ferguson said on Friday.

“I got done for what I considered a fair comment but he didn’t, he gave me a five-match ban. That’s fine, but that doesn’t say we don’t respect referees.”

“It’s a difficult job, we all know that, you wouldn’t referee a game would you? But I think Richard is jumping off a high diving board here without thinking about it.”

With just eight games remaining the Premier League title race is still wide open.

United lead the way but Arsenal, Chelsea and even Tottenham are still in with a chance of lifting the trophy in May, according to Ferguson.

“With eight games to go you can’t exclude anyone. Arsenal, ourselves, Chelsea and Tottenham – you can’t exclude anyone,” he said.

“Whoever becomes the most consistent will win this league, I can guarantee that. We want to be consistent, we hope we will be and if we are, we have a good chance.”

“We are involved in three competitions which is great. The difference between now and 1999

Mancini slams fixture congestion

Roberto Mancini has lamented Manchester City’s fixture pile-up ahead of their trip to Fulham on Sunday.

City’s trip to Craven Cottage is the first of three fixtures in a week.

“We are not machines,” Mancini said.

“I have never seen one team play every two days in February or March.”

“It’s not just impossible for us, it is for every team.”

“I think that here we should change something because for all players, for English players and every time after England play World Cup, European Cup it is a problem because all the players are tired.”

“I think we should have more respect for the players because it is impossible.”

“We should use these two days to recover very well and I hope we can be fresh against Fulham.”

“We should try to win every game that’s possible, we will try to win but it is very hard to play so many games.”

“I think that we are very tired, it is important some players recover for Sunday and it will be a difficult game because Fulham play very well at this moment in time.”

“It will be a different game but I hope we can play like we did at Fulham.”

“Bobby Zamora is fit again and is an important player for them. It will be very difficult for us.”

Reserve goalkeepers Shay Given and Gunnar Nielson both sustained long-term injuries this week, leaving just Joe Hart and the unfancied Stuart Taylor as cover.

City faced a similar crisis last season when they were forced to sign Marton Fulop on an emergency loan after receiving special dispensation.

“Last year we were unlucky, it is impossible that we are as unlucky again, we have Stuart Taylor but I hope Joe Hart can play every game,” Mancini said.

“We have I don’t know how many players injured; I hope that Joe doesn’t have any problems. He is young and I hope that he can be strong.”

Vincent Kompany (hip) and James Milner (hamstring) are both doubtful.

Nigel De Jong (ankle), Adam Johnson (ankle) and Micah Richards (calf) are all definitely missing.

Fri 25 February, 2011

Mancini slams fixture congestion

Roberto Mancini has lamented Manchester City’s fixture pile-up ahead of their trip to Fulham on Sunday.

City’s trip to Craven Cottage is the first of three fixtures in a week.

“We are not machines,” Mancini said.

“I have never seen one team play every two days in February or March.”

“It’s not just impossible for us, it is for every team.”

“I think that here we should change something because for all players, for English players and every time after England play World Cup, European Cup it is a problem because all the players are tired.”

“I think we should have more respect for the players because it is impossible.”

“We should use these two days to recover very well and I hope we can be fresh against Fulham.”

“We should try to win every game that’s possible, we will try to win but it is very hard to play so many games.”

“I think that we are very tired, it is important some players recover for Sunday and it will be a difficult game because Fulham play very well at this moment in time.”

“It will be a different game but I hope we can play like we did at Fulham.”

“Bobby Zamora is fit again and is an important player for them. It will be very difficult for us.”

Reserve goalkeepers Shay Given and Gunnar Nielson both sustained long-term injuries this week, leaving just Joe Hart and the unfancied Stuart Taylor as cover.

City faced a similar crisis last season when they were forced to sign Marton Fulop on an emergency loan after receiving special dispensation.

“Last year we were unlucky, it is impossible that we are as unlucky again, we have Stuart Taylor but I hope Joe Hart can play every game,” Mancini said.

“We have I don’t know how many players injured; I hope that Joe doesn’t have any problems. He is young and I hope that he can be strong.”

Vincent Kompany (hip) and James Milner (hamstring) are both doubtful.

Nigel De Jong (ankle), Adam Johnson (ankle) and Micah Richards (calf) are all definitely missing.

Fri 25 February, 2011

Brady slams Spurs´ stadium plans

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has blasted Tottenham’s development plans for London’s Olympic stadium.

The two clubs are competing for the right to inherit the Olympic stadium in Stratford after the London 2012 Olympic Games.

While West Ham’s proposal would retain the running track around the pitch and promote the use of the stadium for other sporting events, Spurs intend to convert the arena into a football-only stadium.

The original deadline for the decision was delayed to allow more time to consider the two clubs’ proposals, but a final decision is expected this week.

And Brady has stoked the flames of the argument once more.

“It’s a corporate crime to spend 500 million pounds on a stadium and, just four weeks after the Games have finished, bring the bulldozers in,” she said.

“The Olympic Stadium was built on a promise, made in the Queen’s name, to have a legacy for athletics.”

“Through

Brady slams Spurs´ stadium plans

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has blasted Tottenham’s development plans for London’s Olympic stadium.

The two clubs are competing for the right to inherit the Olympic stadium in Stratford after the London 2012 Olympic Games.

While West Ham’s proposal would retain the running track around the pitch and promote the use of the stadium for other sporting events, Spurs intend to convert the arena into a football-only stadium.

The original deadline for the decision was delayed to allow more time to consider the two clubs’ proposals, but a final decision is expected this week.

And Brady has stoked the flames of the argument once more.

“It’s a corporate crime to spend 500 million pounds on a stadium and, just four weeks after the Games have finished, bring the bulldozers in,” she said.

“The Olympic Stadium was built on a promise, made in the Queen’s name, to have a legacy for athletics.”

“Through

Hoeness slams FIFA

Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness has launched a scathing attack on FIFA, singling out the World Cup bidding process for special criticism.

The game’s governing body provoked a considerable backlash from some countries after awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

Hoeness, 59, is the latest figure to call for reform within the organisation, while also accusing the World Cup bidding process of corruption.

“It’s a scandal how things (are) run there,” Hoeness told Bild.

“Apparently, a bid nowadays can only be successful if payments are additionally made under the table.”

“One scandal comes on the heels of another. They must ask themselves if things can go on like this.”

“I must say that football’s good image is being wrecked.”

Hoeness believes it is up to the established European football federations to force change within the much-maligned global governing body.

“It’s time for the strong federations from Germany, England, Spain or France to start to clean things up,” he said.

“A change can only take place when the big federations say they’ve had enough.”

Wed 5 January, 2011

Lennon slams play-off proposal

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has voiced his opposition to a proposed Scottish Premier League play-off to be introduced as a title decider.

Lennon was joined by Old Firm opposite Walter Smith in describing the idea as ‘ludicrous’, after Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson coined the proposal that the top four teams could have a finals-like play-off period at season’s end.

A play-off involving the SPL’s top four teams would undoubtedly threaten to break the duopoly that Celtic and Rangers have over the other 10 teams in the division, but Lennon rubbished the proposal.

“I don’t think it’s fair at all, I think it’s absolutely ludicrous. I saw the headlines today and I didn’t even bother reading them because I just think it’s a piece of nonsense,” Lennon said.

“I’ve been here 10 years and if you look at the gap between the top team and the third and fourth-placed team, the gap is always quite big. So basically you’re saying your season comes down to two or three games at the end of the season? Absolute rubbish.”

Smith said the play-off idea had already been trialled, and failed, in European football.

“From memory, I think they tried it in Holland on one occasion. It was one occasion and then they got rid of it. If you look at the Championship in England, play-offs work as long as your first and second teams get the rewards that they deserve,” the Rangers boss said.

In regards to his job, Lennon said he felt his future beyond the current season – which has Celtic sitting in second place, three points from leaders Rangers – would depend on whether they held the trophy aloft on the season’s final day.

“It will be based on results. We’ll see how things go over the next few months but I’m not going to bang any doors down. I’ll just concentrate on what I’m doing at the minute,” Lennon said.

“Yeah, but my remit was to turn things around. You won’t be able to evaluate that until later on down the line.”

Tue 21 December, 2010

Lennon slams play-off proposal

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has voiced his opposition to a proposed Scottish Premier League play-off to be introduced as a title decider.

Lennon was joined by Old Firm opposite Walter Smith in describing the idea as ‘ludicrous’, after Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson coined the proposal that the top four teams could have a finals-like play-off period at season’s end.

A play-off involving the SPL’s top four teams would undoubtedly threaten to break the duopoly that Celtic and Rangers have over the other 10 teams in the division, but Lennon rubbished the proposal.

“I don’t think it’s fair at all, I think it’s absolutely ludicrous. I saw the headlines today and I didn’t even bother reading them because I just think it’s a piece of nonsense,” Lennon said.

“I’ve been here 10 years and if you look at the gap between the top team and the third and fourth-placed team, the gap is always quite big. So basically you’re saying your season comes down to two or three games at the end of the season? Absolute rubbish.”

Smith said the play-off idea had already been trialled, and failed, in European football.

“From memory, I think they tried it in Holland on one occasion. It was one occasion and then they got rid of it. If you look at the Championship in England, play-offs work as long as your first and second teams get the rewards that they deserve,” the Rangers boss said.

In regards to his job, Lennon said he felt his future beyond the current season – which has Celtic sitting in second place, three points from leaders Rangers – would depend on whether they held the trophy aloft on the season’s final day.

“It will be based on results. We’ll see how things go over the next few months but I’m not going to bang any doors down. I’ll just concentrate on what I’m doing at the minute,” Lennon said.

“Yeah, but my remit was to turn things around. You won’t be able to evaluate that until later on down the line.”

Tue 21 December, 2010

Manchester City Boss Roberto Mancini Once Again Slams English Drinking Culture

"Roberto Mancini Manchester City 2010/11 Manchester City V FC Timisoara 26/08/10 UEFA Europa League Play-Off Round Second Leg Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" /