Fixtures October 3, 4 & 5, 2009

Saturday, October 3, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
15:00 UK Wolverhampton Wanderers v Portsmouth Molineux Stadium
15:00 UK Burnley v Birmingham Turf Moor
15:00 UK Hull City v Wigan Athletic Kingston Communications Stadium
15:00 UK Bolton Wanderers v Tottenham Hotspur Reebok Stadium
17:30 UK Manchester United v Sunderland Old Trafford

Sunday, October 4, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
13:30 UK Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers Emirates Stadium
15:00 UK Everton v Stoke City Goodison Park
15:00 UK West Ham United v Fulham Upton Park
16:00 UK Chelsea v Liverpool Stamford Bridge

Monday, October 5, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
20:00 UK Aston Villa v Manchester City Villa Park

Results September 28, 2009

Monday, September 28, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
FT Manchester City 3 - 1 West Ham United City of Manchester Stadium (42,745)

Report: Latics break Blues' record

Chelsea's proud 100% record under Carlo Ancelotti came to an improbable end at the DW Stadium given Wigan went into this Premier League match without a victory against any of the top four in 34 Premier League games.

But they turned the formbook on its head with not just a victory but an emphatic victory at that. Chelsea's cause was not helped by goalkeeper Petr Cech's second half dismissal but they could have little complaint about the outcome.

Wigan went ahead in the 16th minute through Titus Bramble, only for Didier Drogba to pull Chelsea level two minutes into the second half.

Then Cech was red-carded after tripping Hugo Rodallega and Henrique Hilario was unable to prevent the Colombian converting the spot-kick. Paul Scharner completed the scoring in stoppage-time.

Chelsea carved out a string of chances before Wigan took the lead against the run of play. They almost made the breakthrough after two minutes when Ashley Cole cut the ball back to Michael Essien. The midfielder got a good connection from 25 yards but Chris Kirkland turned his effort around the post.

Chelsea kept up the pace and Florent Malouda released Nicolas Anelka three minutes later but he sent his shot wide of the post. Malouda was then bowled over by Scharner and Frank Lampard tested Kirkland by driving in the free-kick.

Wigan again found themselves on the back foot after 11 minutes when Cole picked out Lampard but his effort went wide of the post. The home side responded and Jason Scotland forced a good block from Cech in the 15th minute.

Chelsea were stunned a minute later when Wigan took the lead after some slack defending. Bramble got away from his marker and sent his header into corner following a cross from Charles N'Zogbia for his first goal of the season.

Chelsea hit back and Malouda got on the end of a ball from Cole but his touch was poor in the 22nd minute and Kirkland was able to make the clearance.

Wigan were playing with plenty of spirit and N'Zogbia whipped in a free-kick in the 26th minute that Cech gathered low down.

This was a good spell by the home side and Scharner clipped a shot over the bar three minutes later after Scotland had carved out the opening.

Then Rodallega spotted Scotland in a good position but put too much weight on the pass and Cech gathered the loose ball.

Scotland was causing the visitors problems and had the ball taken of his toes by John Terry in the 38th minute as he prepared to shoot.

Then Cech made a marvellous point-blank save from Emmerson Boyce a minute later after Scharner had flicked on N'Zogbia's cross.

Chelsea, however, needed only two minutes of the second period to draw level with Kirkland left red-faced. The Wigan goalkeeper allowed a soft shot from Drogba to squirm through his legs following a surging run from Malouda.

Chelsea almost took the lead in the 50th minute, only for Scharner to block Terry's effort after Ricardo Carvalho's flick-on.

The game took a dramatic turn a minute later when Cech was given a straight red card for tripping Rodallega as he raced into the area. Cech was incensed at the decision and so were his team-mates as a penalty was awarded.

Hilario stepped between the posts - with Malouda coming off - and his first job was to pick the ball out of the net with Rodallega converting his spot-kick. It left Chelsea a goal down and playing with 10 men for the last 37 minutes of the match.

Wigan were not content to sit on their lead and Rodallega floated a free-kick from 25 yards narrowly over the bar in the 76th minute after Cole had barged over N'Zogbia. Chelsea almost drew level eight minutes later only for Lampard to see his header clear the bar following a cross from Drogba.

They were getting frustrated, however, and Essien was booked for a challenge on Scharner which left him on the floor in the 86th minute.

Chelsea went down to nine men with Cole going off injured and Scharner scored Wigan's third goal in stoppage-time following a cross from Maynor Figueroa.

Source: ESPN Soccernet, September 26, 2009

Results September 26 & 27, 2009

Saturday, September 26, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
FT Portsmouth 0 - 1 Everton Fratton Park (18,116)
FT Blackburn Rovers 2 - 1 Aston Villa Ewood Park (25,172)
FTTottenham Hotspur 5 - 0 Burnley White Hart Lane (35,462)
FT Birmingham 1 - 2 Bolton Wanderers St Andrews Stadium (28,671)
FT Wigan Athletic 3 - 1 Chelsea DW Stadium (18,542)
FT Stoke City 0 - 2 Manchester United Britannia Stadium (27,500)
FT Liverpool 6 - 1 Hull City Anfield (44,392)
FT Fulham 0 - 1 Arsenal Craven Cottage (25,700)

Sunday, September 27, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
FT Sunderland 5 - 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Stadium of Light (37,566)

Fixtures September 26, 27 & 28, 2009

Saturday, September 26, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Portsmouth v Everton Fratton Park
15:00 UK Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa Ewood Park
15:00 UKTottenham Hotspur v Burnley White Hart Lane
15:00 UK Birmingham v Bolton Wanderers St Andrews Stadium
15:00 UK Wigan Athletic v Chelsea DW Stadium
15:00 UK Stoke City v Manchester United Britannia Stadium
15:00 UK Liverpool v Hull City Anfield
17:30 UK Fulham v Arsenal Craven Cottage

Sunday, September 27, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
16:00 UK Sunderland v Wolverhampton Wanderers Stadium of Light

Monday, September 28, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
20:00 UK Manchester City v West Ham United City of Manchester Stadium

Results September 19 & 20, 2009

Saturday, September 19, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
FT Burnley 3 - 1 Sunderland Turf Moor (20,196)
FT Arsenal 4 - 0 Wigan Athletic Emirates Stadium (59,103)
FT Bolton Wanderers 1 - 1 Stoke City Reebok Stadium (20,265)
FT Hull City 0 - 1 Birmingham Kingston Communications Stadium (23,759)
FT Aston Villa 2 - 0 Portsmouth Villa Park (35,979)
FT West Ham United 2 - 3 Liverpool Upton Park (34,658)

Sunday, September 20, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
FT Manchester United 4 - 3 Manchester City Old Trafford (75,066)
FT Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - 1 Fulham Molineux Stadium (27,670)
FT Everton 3 - 0 Blackburn Rovers Goodison Park (35,546)
FT Chelsea 3 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur Stamford Bridge (41,623)

Fixtures September 19 & 20, 2009

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Time Home Away VENUE
12:45 UK Burnley v Sunderland Turf Moor
15:00 UK Arsenal v Wigan Athletic Emirates Stadium
15:00 UK Bolton Wanderers v Stoke City Reebok Stadium
15:00 UK Hull City v Birmingham Kingston Communications Stadium
15:00 UK Aston Villa v Portsmouth Villa Park
17:30 UK West Ham United v Liverpool Upton Park

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Time Home Away VENUE
13:30 UK Manchester United v Manchester City Old Trafford
14:00 UK Wolverhampton Wanderers v Fulham Molineux Stadium
15:00 UK Everton v Blackburn Rovers Goodison Park
16:00 UK Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur Stamford Bridge

Home grown rule enforced

The Premier League has announced that from next season every team must name a squad of 25 players, of which eight must be home grown.

A home grown player is any player who has played for an English or Welsh club for three years before their 21st birthday.

At present every Premier League club already passes the test, though Chelsea and Liverpool both have the bare minimum of eight.

In addition, there will be tighter controls on the spending of top flight clubs.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore revealed: "As of next season clubs will be required to have a squad named of up to 25 players, of which no more than 17 can be over the age of 21 and not home grown.

"The definition of home grown is trained for three years under the age of 21 by somebody in the English and Welsh professional system. Clubs will have to declare their 25 at the end of August when the window shuts and then again at the end of January.

But Scudamore was quick to rubbish suggestions that the rule would encourage Premier League clubs to sign foreign teenagers to train in their Academy for three years.

"It's not in the club's interests to stockpile players. It will make buying home-grown talent more attractive,'' he insisted. "We're not going down the route of a nationality test but what this will mean is that you just can't buy a team from abroad.

"We think it will give clubs an extra incentive to invest in youth. We think that one of the benefits will be that it will help the England team.''

The Premier League will also introduce strict new controls on clubs' finances.

"They will all have to annually submit accounts and future financial information,'' said Scudamore. "At all times the board of the Premier League will be applying a test which basically says this: can the club fulfil its fixtures, pay off its creditors when they are due and also to meet obligations to the Premier League's contracts and partners?

"If the board believe a club is at risk of not meeting those obligations, it has to then step in and agree a budget for the running of that club. Any transfers can be embargoed. It's absolutely crucial that these clubs are run as ongoing viable concerns. These financial rules apply immediately.

"This is tied in, and we passed the rule during the summer, to a 'fit and proper person test'. At our club meeting last week, the clubs absolutely endorsed our position of not linking expenditure to income.''

Source: ESPN Soccernet, September 15, 2009

FA to investigate Adebayor incidents

The FA will take a "good close look" at two incidents involving Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor during Saturday's 4-2 win over Arsenal at Eastlands, chief executive Ian Watmore has confirmed.



The former Arsenal player ran the length of the pitch to taunt the away support after scoring City's third goal and had earlier appeared to kick his old team-mate Robin van Persie in the face.

Watmore told the BBC: "I was pretty unimpressed really because the problems between the Arsenal fans and Adebayor are well documented, and he ran the whole length of the field to celebrate, so I think we're going to have a good close look at that one on Monday when we see it properly in the cold light of day."

Referee Mark Clattenburg booked the Togo striker for his goal celebration, which provoked fury among many Arsenal fans who had to be restrained by pitchside stewards, one of whom needed hospital treatment after being hit by a flying object in the melee.

"I thought the stewards did a great job of calming the situation down and it was to Manchester City's credit nothing worse happened," Watmore added.

Adebayor's clash with van Persie left his former colleague with a gashed face and the Dutchman later claimed he had been the victim of a "mindless and malicious stamp".

However, Watmore refused to be drawn on the possible extent of any punishment which could be meted out to Adebayor, saying: "Our governance team will take a good look at both of the incidents that have been highlighted and will come to the media with the answers early next week. The punishments are the decision of the individual commission, if we get that far."

Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporter's Federation, bemoaned the possible effects of Adebayor's actions in front of the Gunners supporters in the wake of the recent fan trouble between West Ham United and Millwall.

"The kindest thing you could say about this is that it was unwise,'' he said. "It was a very silly thing to do. It's likely to add to the risk of incidents in the future and it doesn't help eliminate the elements of disorder.

"I think most supporters, particularly following the West Ham and Millwall situation, would agree that this was a very unwise thing to do.

"Footballers get paid a lot of money to perform on a public stage so it is not realistic to judge players and fans on the same standards."

Source: ESPN Soccernet, September 13, 2009

Results September 12 & 13, 2009

Saturday, September 12, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
FT Portsmouth 2 - 3 Bolton Wanderers Fratton Park (17,564)
FT Blackburn Rovers 3 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Ewood Park (24,845)
FT Wigan Athletic 1 - 0 West Ham United DW Stadium (17,142)
FT Liverpool 4 - 0 Burnley Anfield (43,817)
FT Stoke City 1 - 2 Chelsea Britannia Stadium (27,440)
FT Sunderland 4 - 1 Hull City Stadium of Light (38,997)
FT Manchester City 4 - 2 Arsenal City of Manchester Stadium (47,339)
FT Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 3 Manchester United White Hart Lane (35,785)

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
FT Birmingham 0 - 1 Aston Villa St Andrews Stadium (25,196)
FT Fulham 2 - 1 Everton Craven Cottage (24,191)

Arshavin ruled out of City clash

Andrei Arshavin has been ruled out of Arsenal's games against Manchester City and Standard Liege with a groin injury after aggravating the problem playing for Russia against Wales.

The Russian risked the anger of Arsene Wenger by returning from injury to play for his country - having been forced to miss the victory over Liechtenstein in the World Cup qualifying match on Saturday - and it has come at a price after playing the full 90 minutes in Cardiff.

The forward has been troubled by a groin problem and has now inflamed his previous injury, which will not please Wenger who is known to be unhappy with his stars playing international fixtures after several, such as Robin van Persie and Johan Djourou, were injured while on national duty.

Wenger said: ''All the players are not back yet, so we have to wait a bit to see what damage has been done by the international games.

''We lost Arshavin, who played with Russia last night and should not have played. He will be out for Saturday, for Wednesday and certainly as well for Wigan. I took him out at Manchester United because of a groin problem.

''He did not play in Russia's first game, but played last night against Wales. He should not have played and is injured. You can say a lot about it, but it does not do a lot.''

Guus Hiddink, the Russia coach, apparently allowed Arshavin to decide himself whether he was fit to play in the group four match at the Millennium Stadium, having said: "If [Arshavin] cannot play, then he won't play. His improvement has been significant but he doesn't take stupid risks."
With a mammoth clash against unbeaten City at Eastlands on Saturday, before starting their UEFA Champions League group campaign in Liege on Wednesday, Wenger may disagree - although may have a fitness boost in the shape of Tomas Rosicky, who played for the Czech Republic against San Marino.

Source: ESPN Soccernet, Sept 10, 2009

Fergie: Ferdinand could face Spurs

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Rio Ferdinand is in contention for Saturday's Premier League clash with unbeaten Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

The England centre-back has been sidelined since suffering a thigh injury last month and has only featured in the Community Shield so far this season.

However, the 30-year-old's recovery from the injury has been quicker than expected and could feature at the weekend.

"Rio has been in training this week and has a got a chance for Saturday, I'm not sure how big a chance but he has got a chance," said Ferguson.

"We've had a good group of players training here at Carrington while the internationals have been going on - Ferdinand, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Anderson, Ji-sung Park as well as young Fabio and Michael Owen.

"So we have a decent squad. In fact, it's unusual to have that many players here [during the international break]."

However, full-back John O'Shea is set to be missing after suffering a calf injury on duty with the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland's coach Giovanni Trapattoni had warned that O'Shea could be ruled out for a couple of months if he is rushed back into action too soon.

Ferguson said: "O'Shea has not trained - he came back with a calf injury from Ireland's game in Cyprus and is doubtful for Saturday so we will see what he's like."

Source: ESPN Soccernet, Sept 10, 2009

Fixtures August 12 & 13, 2009

Saturday, September 12, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
15:00 UK Portsmouth v Bolton Wanderers Fratton Park
15:00 UK Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers Ewood Park
15:00 UK Wigan Athletic v West Ham United DW Stadium
15:00 UK Liverpool v Burnley Anfield
15:00 UK Stoke City v Chelsea Britannia Stadium
15:00 UK Sunderland v Hull City Stadium of Light
15:00 UK Manchester City v Arsenal City of Manchester Stadium
17:30 UK Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United White Hart Lane

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Time Home Away VENUE
12:00 UK Birmingham v Aston Villa St Andrews Stadium
16:15 UK Fulham v Everton Craven Cottage

Turner signs for Sunderland

Sunderland have completed the signing of Hull City defender Michael Turner on a four-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.

The 25-year-old, who enjoyed a brilliant first season in the Premier League which saw him linked with an England call-up and a move to Liverpool, had a £12m price tag slapped on his head by the Tigers earlier this month.

Delighted Black Cats manager Steve Bruce said: "I believe that Michael is one of the country's premier central defenders. I have been looking to add size and strength to the back line and Michael fits the bill perfectly in that respect, as well as being an excellent technical footballer.

"His aerial ability provides us with another dimension at set-pieces at either end of the field, and I am delighted that he has chosen to buy into what we are trying to achieve here at Sunderland.

"He has developed immeasurably as a player whilst with Hull - I am extremely confident he will continue that progress with Sunderland and go on to be a big success.''

The news of Turner's sale has already caused great concern to Hull fans who feel his departure will make it much harder for them to stay in the top flight for a third season. But Hull are already believed to be in advanced talks to sign a replacement, in addition to Paul McShane who moved to the KC from Sunderland on Sunday.

Turner played every single minute of the club's Premier League programme last season. He made 146 appearances for the Tigers and was voted player of the year at the club in each of the last two seasons.

But the centre-back believes working under former Manchester United defender Bruce at the Stadium of Light can bring on his game.

"A lot of things attracted me to Sunderland - the facilities, the stadium, the training ground, the fan base," Turner told his new club's official website. "But a big factor was the manager. Steve Bruce is a proven manager who played in my position as a player, and hopefully he can add to my game.''

Sunderland have six points from their opening four matches this season, and Turner is certain the team is going to keep improving.

"It's a great time to be here,'' he said. "The signings which have already been made show Sunderland want to move in the right direction and I want to be a part of that.''

Turner cost Hull just £300,000 when he was signed from Brentford three years ago and after the draw with Wolves at the weekend boss Phil Brown said bids were "getting towards a ridiculous valuation''.

The defender becomes Bruce's seventh summer signing after Darren Bent, Lee Cattermole, Fraizer Campbell, Lorik Cana, Paulo da Silva and loanee John Mensah.

Source: ESPN Soccernet, September 1, 2009

Ferguson rules out any last-minute arrivals at Utd

Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out any last-minute arrivals at Manchester United before the transfer window slams shut after pledging to "trust" the players currently at his disposal.

Although it seems as if that faith was shaken by United's defeat at Burnley two weeks ago, Ferguson is adamant that he does not need to spend the money remaining from the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.

"After the Burnley game, I examined our commitment, but after analysing our failings, I didn't think we were lacking in that area," Ferguson told The Independent. "I must always guard against complacency. Some players can drive themselves on while others are happy to settle for an easy life, but Manchester United cannot afford that kind of player

"We took a lot of flak after the Burnley game, and there was no shortage of suggestions as to what I should do - for example, dashing out to pay through the nose for a big-name signing. The bulk of the £80 million we got for Ronaldo is still there and seems to be burning a hole in the pockets of a lot of fans.

"But you don't suddenly scrap your transfer policy because of one defeat, even if it was a bad one. I have explained our strategy, based on my confidence in our squad with a few new faces, existing players maturing and eager beavers on the way up, and I have no intention of abandoning it. I know we have the right squad and I trust them."

Source: ESPN Sccernet, September 1, 2009

Wenger brands United tactics as "anti-football"

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has slammed Manchester United's methods of breaking up his side's play after they lost at Old Trafford on Saturday evening.

Wenger has spoken out after the defeat, claiming Sir Alex Ferguson's tactics were nothing short of "anti-football" - and he believes that is worse than Eduardo's alleged "dive" against Celtic in midweek.

The Gunners' boss launched a thinly veiled attack on United midfielder Darren Fletcher, who he claims is in the team purely to make tackles and is the chief culprit.

However, the match stats show that out of the seven players who committed the most fouls, five were from Arsenal. And as the Gunners had six players booked, they automatically receive a £25,000 fine from the Football Association.

"There are other points [than diving] that, for me, are more urgent - players who play only to make fouls and who are never punished; players who make repeated fouls and who get out of the game without a yellow card. That, for me, is more anti-football than a player who did what Eduardo did."

"I have seen a player who plays only on the pitch to make repeated fouls. Look at how many deliberate fouls some players make and get away with.

"I think that's a bigger problem [than diving] because it cuts the flow of the game. And people come and pay to see football. They do not come to see free-kicks. You should ask the referees [how they get away with it]."

Wenger also defended Eduardo over the claims of diving: "I think it is difficult with diving. Sometimes players dive to escape being hit. It's not always necessarily diving because you want to dive. Sometimes it's a way of getting out of the way.

"The borderline between being sensible, being shrewd or being a cheat is very slim so, in some cases, to assess which is which is very difficult.

"Uefa have made the case of Eduardo. If you watch the Super Cup on Friday then they will have to charge (Lionel) Messi for headbutting or they will lose credibility. They have opened something there that over the weekend I'll find you 50 situations where they can intervene, or if they don't Eduardo will be singled out for being a wrong victim. I do not want Messi to be punished but if they go for Eduardo then people will demand it. Pedro, also of Barcelona, dived as well [in the Super Cup] and so I don't think there's any logic to Eduardo's case. We have clear proof that from behind he was touched on his right leg.

"There is no common sense. I believe it was a more emotional decision really because if Uefa had said before the season starts, 'Listen, let's get together and no matter what happens in Uefa games, if we suspect someone of diving he will be punished' then you could say, OK, we've always been told they will do that. But suddenly, out from nowhere because it was an emotional situation in Scotland, we have this situation and have to live with that."

And Wenger was also quick to support the English stance on diving: "I think it's a quality in this country. In some countries it is a quality to dive. I'm still more proud to be part of England where they fight against that."

Source: ESPN Soccernet, August 31, 2009

Results August 29 & 30, 2009

Saturday, August 29, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
Final Chelsea 3 - 0 Burnley Stamford Bridge (40,906)
Final Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Birmingham White Hart Lane (35,318)
Final Blackburn Rovers 0 - 0 West Ham United Ewood Park (23,421)
Final Bolton Wanderers 2 - 3 Liverpool Reebok Stadium (23,284)
Final Stoke City 1 - 0 Sunderland Britannia Stadium (27,091)
Final Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 - 1 Hull City Molineux Stadium (27,906)
Final Manchester United 2 - 1 Arsenal Old Trafford (75,095)

Sunday, August 30, 2009
Status Home Score Away VENUE (ATT.)
Final Portsmouth 0 - 1 Manchester City Fratton Park (17,826)
Final Everton 2 - 1 Wigan Athletic Goodison Park (35,122)
Final Aston Villa 2 - 0 Fulham Villa Park (32,917)