James Morrison has revealed that he signed a new long-term contract with West Brom almost six months ago.
Graham Dorrans, Chris Brunt and Youssouf Mulumbu all penned new deals with the Baggies last month, but Scotland international Morrison signed a new three-year contract, plus a further year's option in the club's favour, in February.
He confirmed to the club's official website:"I wanted it kept low key because I wanted to concentrate on getting fit. I wanted to ensure I was over my injury when I signed it but it's quite settling to know that a club wants you to be part of their future.
"I was more than happy to sign it because I'm really happy at West Brom. I think I'm happier now than I've ever been and I'll probably think about settling in the Birmingham area.
"You obviously never know how football will go – there might be a manager here one day who wants something different. But while it's my choice, I'm happy to stay.
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"I like the club and I love playing at The Hawthorns and the atmosphere that's created by our fans. You sometimes go to a stadium and there's no noise – but it's compact at West Brom. It's good to play here."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Everton will be without Jack Rodwell for up to three months after the teenager damaged ankle ligaments.
The 19-year-old midfielder missed England Under-21s' recent double-header after being injured during the Toffees' 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa two weeks ago.
The Merseyside club's medical staff hoped a short period of rest would be enough for Rodwell to recover, but the injury has now proved worse that was his first diagnosed.
Rodwell was making his first Premier League start of the season against Villa but is now likely to be out of action until the New Year.
Meanwhile, Joseph Yobo has revealed that fears over his place in the Nigeria squad prompted him to seek a move away from Goodison Park.
Yobo joined Turkish side Fenerbahce on a season-long loan last week after falling down the pecking order in recent months.
"During that period, I was under intense pressure," he explained."But now, I am very much relieved and I can now give my 100 per cent to the game.
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"It was not easy for me, but I thank God that all is over.
"I have said it time and time again, my national assignment remains paramount to me whenever I'm going into any contract."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has admitted that his side would prefer to be playing in the Champions League rather than the Europa League, but stated that the Premier League champions now want to win the tournament.
The Old Trafford outfit find themselves in Europe’s second-tier tournament after finishing third in Group C of the Champions League and being eliminated at the hands of Benfica and Basel.
Although playing in the Europa League will be a new experience for most of the players and manager, Rooney is eager to lift the trophy.
“It’s a shame we’re out of the Champions League. That’s what we all want to play in,” he told the club’s official website.
“Unfortunately we went out and now we turn our attention to the Premier League and Europa League.
“I don’t think the manager’s won the Europa League, so I’m sure he’ll want to win it. Every competition we enter we want to win.
“There are some good teams but we have to believe, keep working and hopefully we can go on and win it,” he stated.
United continue their attempt to overthrow cross-town rivals Manchester City from the top of the Premier League, and take on QPR at Loftus Road on Sunday.
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Article courtesy of Twisted Blood at ‘The Busby Way’
*
There has been much talk about United’s unbeaten run. Since the 1-2 defeat by Chelsea last April (and he was miles offside), United have gone 25 games unbeaten across the end of last season and the beginning of this. In his piece yesterday, Yashi made the point that an unbeaten record may affect a team’s willingness to go for the win, as well as that a loss and a win is better that two draws (since three-for-a win came in in 1981/82). Here’s a little further expansion on that point, looking at the last five years of the Premier League.
Recent history tells us that draws can seriously damage your health. In each of United’s last three title-winning seasons, the team finishing second actually lost two fewer games than United, but let too many points dribble away in stalemates. In 2008/09, Liverpool only lost twice all season, but drew 11; that’s 22 points dropped in games they didn’t lose. United lost 4, but only drew 6, and took the league by 4 points. Similarly, Chelsea amassed 10 draws in 2007/08 and 11 in 2006/07, despite losing only 3 games each season.
(In fact, in 2007/08, United lost the most games of any of the teams in the top four, with 5 defeats. Chelsea and Arsenal only lost 3, while Liverpool lost four. Yet United only drew 6 – compared to 10, 11 and 13 respectively — and that’s what made the difference.)
Obviously, in any individual game, a draw is better than a loss. But a lack of draws across a spread of games is a sign of a side trying to win, taking chances, going for the throat. At the top of the table that means win most, lose a few. That’s the United way. It goes without saying that most teams in the Premier League (including, hilariously, City) are happy with a draw against United, and when the opposition is happy, you shouldn’t be.
It needs to be remembered, of course, that this is a side awaiting the return of its most potent attacker, who’s been off in America doing star jumps: United will be hoping that Wayne Rooney‘s return can turn those draws into wins. And our title rivals have been obligingly dropping points in his absence. But one final statistical point: over the last five seasons, since Mourinho’s second title, no team has won the league having drawn more than 6 games. So far this season, it’s Manchester United: W 6, D 7.
Read more excellent Man United blogs at ‘The Busby Way’ website
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has confirmed that he has accepted Carlos Tevez’s apology, will meet with the striker in the near future and may well select him once he is fit and ready to play.
The Argentina international has had a scandalous last year at the Etihad Stadium, between asking to leave the club, refusing to enter the field of play from the bench against Bayern Munich and going AWOL for three months.
After failing to land a transfer to a different club in the January transfer window, the South American has returned to England and apologised for his actions.
Despite being livid with Tevez earlier in the saga, Mancini has confirmed that things are close to being reconciled.
“Yeah, yeah,” the Italian coach confirmed when asked by ESPN if he had forgiven the temperamental forward.
“I checked what Carlos said in his statement and tomorrow I will talk with him.
“One week after Munich I called him and I said ‘Carlos apologise to everyone and it is finished’, I don’t have a problem.
“I think he needs two or three weeks to train, and then he will look at it – that is normal,” the manager concluded.
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As we come to the end of the year and look back over the past 12 months, some Premier League players have really stood out from the crowd. There have been fantastic saves by goalkeepers in between the sticks, committed defenders giving everything for their team’s cause, midfielders who have run games with ease and strikers who have put the ball in the back of the net for fun. Picking a Premier League Player of the Year for 2010 is no easy task, and there are certainly plenty of candidates to choose from, but who do you think deserves to win this accolade? These players are regulars in fantasy football teams up and down the country, so here are the nominees for the FootballFanCast.com Player of the Year for 2010…
Despite a negative vibe from the press Arsenal have only lost one game in the last six and have laid down a good foundation to work from. Wenger will be hoping that Ramsey’s last gasp winner in Marseille will breed further confidence in their pursuit to climb the Premier League.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Gunners blogs that include in defence of Theo Walcott; double deal suggests Arsenal have woken up, while time for a re-distribution of income and wealth at the Emirates.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week
Double deals suggest Arsenal have finally woken up and smelt the Coffee?
In defence of Theo Walcott
Transfer will leave Arsenal with only themselves to blame
Time at Arsenal for a re-distribution of income, wealth and talent
Arsenal simply in a referee induced crisis
Are fans starting to vote with their feet?
Wenger set to pip Dalglish and Pardew to £8m deal
Worth a £2.5m gamble from Arsene Wenger?
Best of WEB
[divider]
What next for Thomas Vermaelen? Striker to stay and Wenger is ‘parfaite’…. – Highbury House
Arsenal’s main hope of success is returning to the George Graham days –Le Grove
Crowd chants – Online Gooner
Arsène And The Wages Of Sin – A Cultured Left Foot
Which will come first for AOC – An Arsenal or England first-team call up? – Gunnersphere
[divider]
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Click on Roger Johnson’s misses below to unveil our current Premier League Wag XI
A revitalised Blackburn side head to St James’ Park on Saturday hoping to make it six wins in a row against Newcastle who have started the season magnificently.
The Magpies come up against their bogey team this weekend with Alan Pardew’s men yet to taste defeat in league and cup. The harmonious feeling that is now flowing through the club is a refreshing change from the drama and turmoil that usually makes the headlines. Credit should go to Pardew and chief scout Graham Carr for their recruitment drive this summer with Yohan Cabaye, signed for £4 million from French champions Lille, looking like an absolute steal. His performance in last week’s draw at Aston Villa was a joy to behold with the midfielder unlucky not to open his account for the club with former Magpies keeper pulling off three world class saves to deny him. Newcastle showed a growing resoluteness that is becoming a hallmark of Pardews reign and the manager seems to be able to squeeze every ounce of determination from his players. Tuesday’s 4-3 Carling Cup thriller at Nottingham Forest proved that with his troops refusing to give up eventually wining the tie in the dying embers of extra time through a Fabricio Coloccini goal. Another positive from that game was the return of Hatem Ben Arfa who appeared in black and white for the first time in nearly a year whilst fellow Frenchman Sylvain Marveaux also impressed giving Pardew a welcome selection headache.
What a difference a week makes with Blackburn now a high after two wins in the space a few days shifting some of the pressure from boss Steve Kean’s shoulders. The Scotsman pulled off an unlikely comeback to take all three points at home to Arsenal last week before seeing his side beat Leyton Orient 3-2 in the Carling Cup. It is certainly a massive turnaround for Kean who was the subject of protests before the game at Ewood Park last week. He definitely silenced his critics with Blackburn running out 4-3 winners gaining their first Premier League win of the campaign. It’s been a rough ride for Kean since he took over from Sam Allardyce but the signing of goal poaching Yakubu from Everton looks like a shrewd bit of business after he notched two on his debut. With confidence now beginning to rise a trip to Newcastle will provide a much sterner test although Kean should be positive of coming away with all three points with St James’ Park a welcome source of wins over the last few years. They recorded a 2-1 victory in this fixture last season and would certainly go for a repeat of that on Saturday.
Davide Santon, Alan Smith, Haris Vuckic and Mike Williamson are the only injury concerns for Newcastle.
Blackburn on the other hand welcome back David Goodwillie, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Michel Salgado. David Dunn and Ryan Nelson miss out on the trip to Tyneside.
Key Players
Yohan Cabaye – The French midfield playmaker has made Kevin Nolan a distant memory at St James’ Park with his box-to-box style of play. Will be intent on breaking is Newcastle duck this weekend after last week’s duel with Given saw the keeper come out on top.
Junior Hoilett – With pace and skill in abundance the young winger could be deployed on the right to have a go at makeshift left back Ryan Taylor. Will be expected to get the ball down and run at the defender at every opportunity.
Verdict: 2-1
Fancy winning a million pounds??
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Take up our exclusive offer with Goaldash below to be in with a chance – what have you got to lose?
Gerard Houllier has stepped down as Aston Villa boss with immediate effect.The 63-year-old Frenchman took charge in September 2010 following the departure of Martin O’Neill on the eve of the 2010/11 season.
But former Liverpool manager Houllier endured a turbulent time at Villa Park and suffered a heart scare on April 20 that left him unable to work for the remainder of the season, with assistant coach Gary McAllister taking over the first team in his absence.
Now Houllier intends to take further time off to fully recover, but said he will miss not being part of the set-up at Villa.
“I am extremely disappointed that I will not have the opportunity to manage Aston Villa next season,” Houllier said.
“My health has improved considerably since I was taken ill on April 20. I now intend to take the next few months to concentrate on recuperating fully before I may return to football.”
“I was very much looking forward to the prospect of my first full season as Villa manager and returning for pre-season training to prepare for the campaign ahead, a luxury that I did not have last season.”
“I am very grateful to the Villa fans for their genuine concern and encouragement and to the fans of clubs up and down the country for their kind sentiments.”
“I would especially like to thank my assistant manager, Gary McAllister, my staff, the players and all at Aston Villa for their support and, of course, for their efforts in securing a very positive end to last season.”
“It has been an honour to manage this great club and I wish everyone connected with Aston Villa every success for the future.”
Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner paid tribute to Houllier’s service to the club and wished him well in his recovery.
Faulkner also said the club had begun the search for a new manager.
“I would like to thank Gerard for his considerable efforts over the past nine months and for the dedication, commitment and work ethic he has demonstrated as Villa manager,” Faulkner said.
“We regret the circumstances of Gerard’s departure and, naturally, we wish him well in his continued recovery.”
“I know I speak for everyone associated with Aston Villa in expressing our hope that Gerard will return to full health as quickly as possible and we wish him all the best for the future.”
“As a board we are very conscious of the need to ensure that the club is prepared fully to meet the demands of the new season and, to that end, we have already embarked upon the process which will lead to the appointment of a new manager.”
Bolton Wanderers’ 11 year stay in the Premier League came to an end after a 2-2 draw away at Stoke. The reason we went down was simply due to a lack of consistency meaning that overall, we weren’t good enough.
Could a spell in the Championship be beneficial for the Bolton Wanderers? As of October 2011 the club were £110 million in debt and this figure continues to rise. This looks quite worrying for a team whose owner, Eddie Davies, is only worth an estimated £60 million.
As a result of this the club is looking to balance its books. A parachute fee of around £50 million and the aim of reducing the wage bill by half will come some way in fixing Bolton’s financial problems. The Wanderers took a step closer to achieving this with no less than 15 players who left the club a little over a week ago. Eleven of these players were released, with 3 returning to their parent clubs and Nigel Reo-Coker who decided to active a release clause in his contract.
Also in the past few weeks Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, has revealed both him and the owner are fully behind manager Owen Coyle and all three of them are determined to get Bolton back in the top flight, but Is this decision a good or a bad thing? It is a bit of both really in my opinion.
On one hand Owen Coyle has to take some responsibility for the clubs poor performances last season, however, the Scotsman has proven he is more than capable to escape this league as he did with Burnley a few years ago. He has shown a lot of promise as a manager, he is young and he worked wonders with Bolton in the 2010/11 campaign.
On to transfers, out of the players released Ivan Klasnic and Gretar Steinsson are the only two who would have featured in the approving season and these two can be replaced with younger players. Also Ryo Miyaichi has shown an interest in returning to the Reebok on another loan period, the young lad showed some potential in the half a season he was here from Arsenal.
As always there are some ridiculous transfer stories and the one that stands out is Jordan Rhodes to Bolton. With a number of Premier League clubs interested in him, this rumour is one of those. Other rumours include Adam Clayton from Leeds on a free transfer. I’ve not seen too much of Clayton but the little bit I have tells me he would be a great signing for us.
Bolton are also in need of a new centre back after David Wheater was ruled out for 9 months, it’s pretty much guaranteed there will be a defender arriving. A few names have been thrown around, one being Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough) who Owen Coyle tried signing in the January transfer window but was unsuccessful.
There is also a lot of speculation surrounding Zat Knight and Jussi Jaaskelainen. Neither of these have signed new contracts and can leave on a free if they don’t. Jaaskelainen, who has been part of the Bolton set up since as long as I can remember, is rumoured to be attracting interest from a number of clubs including newly promoted West Ham and also West Brom.
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Another player who has been attracting attention is Lee Chung-Yong. The 23 year old, who is highly rated by Bolton, is being target by Trabzonspor manager Senol Gunes who was the in charge of South Korea and handed Lee his international debut. Chungy has only recently revered from breaking his leg in pre-season and made 2 appearances, both as a substitute. This means the transfer could be very risky as there is no guarantee Lee will be the player he use to be, plus the move could prove an expensive one for Trabzonspor as CYL is a great prospect. However, Lee only has only 12 months left on his current contract and maybe this could be deciding factor in him staying or leaving.
This season is a chance to rebuild the team, Owen Coyle has already stated he is after younger players to take the club forward and this could mean if the right players are brought in then Bolton Wanderers could have a bright future.