Ryan Giggs will be playing for another team next season – but Manchester United fans have no reason to panic. He will play for the Rest of World team who will face an England team of footballers and other celebrities for Soccer Aid 2010. Other Welshmen set to feature include presenter Gethin Jones and boxer Joe Calzaghe.
Owen Hargreaves apparently went off in a huff after not being selected for Manchester United’s squad to play Stoke City but as it comes from the Sun, there’s a good chance he didn’t. No-one has even bothered starting any rumours that he might be leaving so I won’t bother either.
Michael Owen was also not in the England squad but he’s hoping to be back from injury in time for Manchester United’s pre-season.
Jason Brown could be leaving Blackburn Rovers this summer. He is rumoured to want first-team football while Blackburn have been linked with a new goalkeeper.
Boaz Myhill says he’ll be happy to stay with Hull City and is eager for Iain Dowie to remain as manager. However, Hull are in danger of going into administration and need a mass clear-out. Bo has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur, who are looking for a second-choice goalkeeper to replace the injured Carlo Cudicini.
The rumours that Craig Bellamy has fallen out with Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini just will not go away. But that doesn’t mean they’re true. Mancini has said Craig ‘could stay’. But if he doesn’t, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton could be ready to make a bid.
West Ham United are said to be willing to listen to offers for Danny Gabbidon and Jack Collison. The only player who is apparently not on the transfer list is Scott Parker.
Jason Koumas is almost certainly looking for a new club after being frozen out by Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez. Newcastle United, West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City were all said to be interested in the last transfer window.
Wayne Hennessey lost his place in Wolverhampton Wanderers' starting line-up this season and still hadn't regained it. Liverpool are rumoured to be interested in signing him as a backup goalkeeper but Wayne might prefer to stay at a club where he has more chance of winning his place back.
Friday, 14 May 2010
Thursday, 13 May 2010
League One Play-off Semi Final fixture 14th May
Swindon Town v Charlton Athletic
Swindon face Charlton in the first of League one’s semi-final matches. Charlton finished ahead of Swindon in the final table but that means nothing. Both are former Premier League sides.
Swindon’s players are nearly all fit so I don’t expect to see Billy Bodin on the bench.
Grant Basey is still out with an ankle injury so he won’t be available for Charlton. Stuart Fleetwood however is an option for Charlton following his return from his loan to Exeter City.
Swindon face Charlton in the first of League one’s semi-final matches. Charlton finished ahead of Swindon in the final table but that means nothing. Both are former Premier League sides.
Swindon’s players are nearly all fit so I don’t expect to see Billy Bodin on the bench.
Grant Basey is still out with an ankle injury so he won’t be available for Charlton. Stuart Fleetwood however is an option for Charlton following his return from his loan to Exeter City.
Europa League Final Result 12th May
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Fulham (aet)
Fulham have done so well. To take a team like Atletico Madrid to extra time is really quite something. And then they only just lost. Atletico Madrid took the lead early on but Simon Davies was right there with an amazing equaliser – and not for the first time either. Simon is the first Welshman to score in the UEFA Cup/Europa League since 1974. My mum was still at school then. Simon could have got a second, it was only prevented by a great save,
Then, four minutes from the end of extra time, one of Europe’s best strikers scored a second goal and gave Atletico Madrid a narrow victory.
It’s heartbreaking (and I’m not even a Fulham fan) but Fulham have done so, so well. And they did it without a fully-fit striker too. But the closer you get, the more it hurts.
Fulham have done so well. To take a team like Atletico Madrid to extra time is really quite something. And then they only just lost. Atletico Madrid took the lead early on but Simon Davies was right there with an amazing equaliser – and not for the first time either. Simon is the first Welshman to score in the UEFA Cup/Europa League since 1974. My mum was still at school then. Simon could have got a second, it was only prevented by a great save,
Then, four minutes from the end of extra time, one of Europe’s best strikers scored a second goal and gave Atletico Madrid a narrow victory.
It’s heartbreaking (and I’m not even a Fulham fan) but Fulham have done so, so well. And they did it without a fully-fit striker too. But the closer you get, the more it hurts.
Championship Play-off Semi-Final Result 12th May
Cardiff City 2-3 Leicester City, aggregate 3-3 after extra time, Cardiff win on penalties
Cardiff went into this match with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg and once the aggregate score became 2-0, it looked as though there would only be one winner.
However, Leicester scored against the run of play and then added two more - the third coming from Welsh international Andy King - to put the English side were in front. From then on, it still looked like there would only be one winner – but it now looked like Leicester, not Cardiff.
However, an admittedly not stonewall penalty for Cardiff brought the scores level, and both teams hung on through extra time.
Penalty shoot-outs are always heartbreaking, even when my favourite team win. Cardiff despatched all four of their penalties including one from Joe Ledley. But Leicester missed two and the Welsh team advanced to the play-off final to play Blackpool.
It’s such a shame for Leicester but they were predicted to struggle yet they came close to two promotions in two seasons – that's impressive really. Blackpool will be thrilled as Leicester loanee DJ Campbell will be able to play in the final against Cardiff.
I am sad for Leicester as it would have been great to see them back in the play-offs but Cardiff are my Welsh team and I would love them to be in the Premier League next season. And at this moment in time, they’re very much still in it. They’re up against Blackpool at Wembley.
Darcy Blake also played for Cardiff and had another excellent game. I’m sure he’d have been called up for Wales on merit if he hadn’t been in the play-off final. Aaron Wildig was on the bench but there was again no sign of Adam Matthews. There’s also been no injury news.
Nicky Adams wasn’t on the bench for Leicester so perhaps he’s had a recurrence of the leg injury which kept him out of the match before last.
Cardiff went into this match with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg and once the aggregate score became 2-0, it looked as though there would only be one winner.
However, Leicester scored against the run of play and then added two more - the third coming from Welsh international Andy King - to put the English side were in front. From then on, it still looked like there would only be one winner – but it now looked like Leicester, not Cardiff.
However, an admittedly not stonewall penalty for Cardiff brought the scores level, and both teams hung on through extra time.
Penalty shoot-outs are always heartbreaking, even when my favourite team win. Cardiff despatched all four of their penalties including one from Joe Ledley. But Leicester missed two and the Welsh team advanced to the play-off final to play Blackpool.
It’s such a shame for Leicester but they were predicted to struggle yet they came close to two promotions in two seasons – that's impressive really. Blackpool will be thrilled as Leicester loanee DJ Campbell will be able to play in the final against Cardiff.
I am sad for Leicester as it would have been great to see them back in the play-offs but Cardiff are my Welsh team and I would love them to be in the Premier League next season. And at this moment in time, they’re very much still in it. They’re up against Blackpool at Wembley.
Darcy Blake also played for Cardiff and had another excellent game. I’m sure he’d have been called up for Wales on merit if he hadn’t been in the play-off final. Aaron Wildig was on the bench but there was again no sign of Adam Matthews. There’s also been no injury news.
Nicky Adams wasn’t on the bench for Leicester so perhaps he’s had a recurrence of the leg injury which kept him out of the match before last.
Championship Play-off Semi-Final Result 11th May
Nottingham Forest 3-4 Blackpool, second leg (agg 4-6)
Blackpool might have gone into this game with the advantage but I’m sure not many people thought they’d actually preserve it. I mean, Nottingham Forest and Blackpool? Even I remember (well I think I do) when Forest were in the Premier League and Blackpool in League Two.
But Forest’s home record was ended by a Championship side for the first time for months when Blackpool paid them a visit. Forest took an early lead through Wales international Rob Earnshaw, who put his team ahead again after 77 minutes, making the score 2-1 with an aggregate score of 2-2. Rob could have got a hat-trick if the assistant referee hadn’t been paying attention but the offside flag ruled it out.
But Blackpool weren’t finished yet. Three goals in seven minutes put them well ahead. At this stage it wasn’t clear whether they’d be facing Cardiff City or Leicester City but there is no doubt which team was Blackpool’s preference. As their hat-trick hero DJ Campbell is on loan from Leicester, he would not be able to play if they faced Leicester in the final.
Rob Earnshaw and Chris Gunter were rightly back in the starting line-up for Forest and I do wonder if the first leg might have been slightly different if Forest has played their best defender and top scorer. But we’ll never know now.
David Vaughan again played really well for Blackpool (and might have got an assist) with Rob Edwards coming off the bench in the 94th minute. Neal Eardley and Daniel Nardiello were again both left out of the squad.
A big well done to Blackpool and big hugs for Nottingham Forest, who have been great this season. Whatever happens now, Blackpool and Ian Holloway have had an incredible season and achieved something really special. Nottingham Forest have the strength, depth and reputation to be right up there again next season.
Blackpool might have gone into this game with the advantage but I’m sure not many people thought they’d actually preserve it. I mean, Nottingham Forest and Blackpool? Even I remember (well I think I do) when Forest were in the Premier League and Blackpool in League Two.
But Forest’s home record was ended by a Championship side for the first time for months when Blackpool paid them a visit. Forest took an early lead through Wales international Rob Earnshaw, who put his team ahead again after 77 minutes, making the score 2-1 with an aggregate score of 2-2. Rob could have got a hat-trick if the assistant referee hadn’t been paying attention but the offside flag ruled it out.
But Blackpool weren’t finished yet. Three goals in seven minutes put them well ahead. At this stage it wasn’t clear whether they’d be facing Cardiff City or Leicester City but there is no doubt which team was Blackpool’s preference. As their hat-trick hero DJ Campbell is on loan from Leicester, he would not be able to play if they faced Leicester in the final.
Rob Earnshaw and Chris Gunter were rightly back in the starting line-up for Forest and I do wonder if the first leg might have been slightly different if Forest has played their best defender and top scorer. But we’ll never know now.
David Vaughan again played really well for Blackpool (and might have got an assist) with Rob Edwards coming off the bench in the 94th minute. Neal Eardley and Daniel Nardiello were again both left out of the squad.
A big well done to Blackpool and big hugs for Nottingham Forest, who have been great this season. Whatever happens now, Blackpool and Ian Holloway have had an incredible season and achieved something really special. Nottingham Forest have the strength, depth and reputation to be right up there again next season.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Championship Play-off Semi-Final Fixture 12th May
Cardiff City v Leicester City (aggregate 1-0)
Cardiff have a one-goal advantage as they play Leicester in the second leg of their play-off semi final. The winner of this match will play Blackpool in the Final at Wembley.
Joe Ledley is almost certain to keep his place in Leicester’s midfield while injuries mean that Darcy Blake should keep his place in central defence – which he deserves to in any case. Adam Mattthews and Aaron Wildig could also be in the squad.
Leicester would be a bit silly to start without Andy King, but Nicky Adams will probably have to be content with a place on the bench – although Leicester might be glad of him if the match goes to extra time.
Cardiff have a one-goal advantage as they play Leicester in the second leg of their play-off semi final. The winner of this match will play Blackpool in the Final at Wembley.
Joe Ledley is almost certain to keep his place in Leicester’s midfield while injuries mean that Darcy Blake should keep his place in central defence – which he deserves to in any case. Adam Mattthews and Aaron Wildig could also be in the squad.
Leicester would be a bit silly to start without Andy King, but Nicky Adams will probably have to be content with a place on the bench – although Leicester might be glad of him if the match goes to extra time.
Europa League Final fixture 12th May
Fulham v Atletico Madrid
Fulham take on Atletico Madrid after an amazing run of results that have taken them to the Europa League Cup Final This is now their only chance of Europa League football, as the Fair Play League place has been allocated to a league in another country which has overall better disciplinary record than the Premier League.
If Simon Davies plays for Fulham, he will be only the 21st Welshman to appear in a European final. And he probably will play. He’s been one of Fulham’s star players since returning from a long-term injury.
Fulham take on Atletico Madrid after an amazing run of results that have taken them to the Europa League Cup Final This is now their only chance of Europa League football, as the Fair Play League place has been allocated to a league in another country which has overall better disciplinary record than the Premier League.
If Simon Davies plays for Fulham, he will be only the 21st Welshman to appear in a European final. And he probably will play. He’s been one of Fulham’s star players since returning from a long-term injury.
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