jose - soccer

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp rubbishes talk of a reported £30m swoop for Portsmouth trio Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Glen Johnson. The January transfer window has opened, which gives clubs their first opportunity to buy or sell players since the end of August. Several deals have already been agreed, including Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra's £20m move to Real Madrid while a number of others are being finalised. A record £150m was spent by Premier League clubs in January 2008.

But that figure could be eclipsed this season if, as expected, Manchester City boss Mark Hughes is given major funds to strengthen his squad by his club's billionaire Arab owners. Any buys by City could kick-start activity from other Premier League sides but the Eastlands club are yet to delve into the market.

Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz is believed to be top of Hughes' wish-list but Rovers boss Sam Allardyce says he has not received any offers for the Paraguay star, while Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge is widely tipped to be heading to Eastlands.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has underlined his desire to sign new players, and has already had a bid of around £6m rejected for West Ham striker Craig Bellamy as well as confirming his interest in Pompey frontman Jermain Defoe and Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing. But teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea insist they will not be buying and others, like Portsmouth and the Hammers, may be forced to sell some of their stars to balance the books.

Wigan are keen to keep hold of England striker Emile Heskey, who is out of contract in the summer, while Newcastle striker Michael Owen and goalkeeper Shay Given are also in demand. Most Premier League managers have already had their say over how they see the next month going:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger:
"Although we are not close to signing anyone at the moment, if we do buy I think what we need is maybe someone with a bit of experience. I need a creative midfielder and eventually another midfielder, because we are short. "We already have many young players so, if we buy, it will be somebody who is ready to play straight away. A loan deal could also be a possibility. "What we might need is someone who can create a little spark."

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:
"We are definitely looking at trying to do something if it is at all possible. "I do not know whether the credit crunch has affected the market but this is a chance for all clubs to add to their squads."

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce:
"There have been no bids whatsoever for Roque Santa Cruz. "At the moment I am more focused on getting him fit because I haven't seen him play since I've been here. I'm looking to getting him fit and producing the form he produced last year to get us out of trouble. I'm also more focused on getting players in rather than players out. Certainly my focus over the last two days has been speaking to the chairman about that. "We're both going to go out and try and improve our squad as quickly as possible."

Chelsea manager Luiz Filipe Scolari on his side's transfer policy:
"I knew that it's a different time for Chelsea but, if we suffer more injuries, the board understand that I'll need one or two players to replace some [injured] players. "They understand this. If, on the other hand, the players are in good condition and there are no more injuries, I think it's maximum one player they'll replace because we need one more. Only one. A striker.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon says transfer activity will be kept to a minimum:
"I don't think we will be doing any business in the January transfer window because the type of players we are looking for are not available. "Another reason is that we have still got some long-term injuries coming back and in January or February, Chelsea will have more player availability."

Everton manager David Moyes:
"We are actively looking at what will make a difference, but I don't think I will be able to do much in January. I am more likely to be looking at loans. "Anything the club have got they will give me. But that doesn't mean to say I am not out there looking for loans or Bosman signings or anything else that can help us. "I don't think we will be selling because we don't have the numbers. We are short at this present time and that limits what I can do off the bench."

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez admits signings are unlikely:
"It will be difficult to bring anyone in January because we have a good squad. "To bring in anyone better than what we've got isn't easy and could be expensive."

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes:
"We're aware of this assumption about the level of finance that we'll throw at the project in January, but we still have realistic market values. "There is also an assumption that we will stimulate the market, that the money sloshing around will be from the deals that we have started, but we have to make sure we protect the club as well. "We're hoping to go into the market and acquire players that we think will help us, but it is still dependent on whether clubs are willing to deal with us or not. "The deals that we do will have to be good ones, but we are quite happy at the moment. We know that there will be a premium that we will probably have to pay because it's January, and teams don't want to lose their better players. "But it will not be to the extent where we are paying hugely over the market value."

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson:
"I do not think there will be any January transfers, I am happy with what I have got. "We are probably going to bring back a couple of young players who have been on loan. That may just give us extra protection. "We took 23 players to Japan (for the Club World Cup) and they are substantial players. I would be happy to play any one of them."

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear insists goalkeeper Shay Given is not for sale:
"Shay won't be leaving - he has no interest in that whatsoever. He loves the football club - he's part of the city and that suits us because he's a world-class goalkeeper."

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams:
"The board are going to do exactly what they did for [former boss] Harry Redknapp to me, and I had money anyway [before Real's move for Diarra]. I have had new signings in mind since I have been in the job."

Stoke chairman Peter Coates:
"We've got a few things on the go. I think Tony Pulis would like about three players, but I don't want to give too much away. "I do know we'll have a stronger squad at the end of January than what we have now."

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp on his January targets:
"If could find a wide-left player I would like to get one. That and a frontman would be the priority." "I think Portsmouth have had a massive offer from somebody for Jermain Defoe, so good luck to them - I paid about £9m when I signed him. He is a good player but we're not going to pay over the top for anyone. "It's not finished but if they don't want to sell him [Defoe] it's up to them. I am not going to upset the applecart. "If they say 'we'll have that', then we can do something. If they say 'we don't want to sell him' then it is end of story. "I like Stewart Downing but I don't know whether Middlesbrough want to sell him."

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury:
"We must not be afraid of interest in or bids for our leading players. "Each approach will be considered in terms of fee, fitness, form and where the manager thinks the player is in his career. "We have to consider the will of the player and whether he is committed to what we are trying to achieve. "A bid may be evaluated by the manager as allowing him to significantly improve his team."

(source: BBC, goal)

LIVERPOOL have maintained their grip on first place in the Barclays Premier League table with a stunning 5-1 win against a toothless Newcastle United at St James' Park. Reds captain Steven Gerrard scored twice and had had it not been for Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given, the hosts could have been on the wrong end of a double-figure disaster after being completely outclassed. The Republic of Ireland international made five world-class saves in 10 minutes to prevent Newcastle from total capitulation before the midway point of the first-half.

Liverpool assistant manager Sammy Lee said: ``I think we are improving with every game we play and that is all we can look for. You haven't seen the best of Liverpool yet. "You win nothing in December but you can certainly lose a lot. We're very pleased to be going into the New Year at the top."

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear - whose 62nd birthday celebrations on Sunday have been distinctly muted having been beaten by Wigan on Friday and now Liverpool - said that his depleted side had not been able to hold off the attacking hordes from Liverpool. "We were short of six or seven players and everything that could go against us did go against us. "We had to play one of the best teams I've seen for a long while. You have to take your hat off to Liverpool. They were in command for a long time and could have put the game to bed in the first half."

Arsenal target Given began his run of jaw-dropping stops in the 10th minute as he pushed away a fierce near post strike from lone Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt. Within a minute England midfielder Gerrard weaved his way around three United defenders only to see his left foot shot palmed away by Given.

However, the onslaught had only just begun and in the 14th minute the Magpies 'keeper denied Gerrard again as he sprung to his right to claw away a rising left footed shot. But that stunning save was eclipsed by an even better show of agility five minutes later as Given denied the Brazilian midfielder Lucas from point-blank range. When the former Gremio player saw his header, from a Gerrard corner, beaten away by the Newcastle goalkeeper moments later, the visitors must have begun to fear this would be no easy win on Tyneside.

United, for their part, had barely managed to break beyond halfway and the Magpies' owner, Mike Ashley, must have been wondering whether he had been premature in announcing his decision to take the club off the market for the foreseeable future. If his aim had been to usher in a period of calm at St James' Park, the effect had not extended to the pitch. Liverpool continued to press forward at will and two goals before half-time appeared to end the game as a contest. Inevitably, given his sensational start to the match, it was Gerrard who broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when he drilled Yossi Benayoun's pass in off the post. Poor Given had no opportunity to reprise his heroics and the Irishman was stranded again five minutes later when defender Sami Hyypia was given the freedom of the Newcastle penalty area to head home Gerrard's corner.

The experienced Finn could have grabbed a second three minutes before the break only for a diving Given to push the ball into the path of Newcastle's Charles N'Zogbia, who cleared. These were torrid times for United but, incredibly, Canada international defender David Edgar reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time by heading in Danny Guthrie's corner.

Liverpool's third, five minutes after the restart, had an element of luck about it, with referee Mark Halsey failing to spot Lucas's hand ball, but Dutch international Ryan Babel tapped-in from five yards despite being surrounded by several Newcastle players. Gerrard grabbed his second from Lucas's astute through ball in the 66th minute. And when substitute Xabi Alonso wrapped things up with a well taken penalty 13 minutes from time with Gerrard off the field, after his fellow replacement David Ngog had been brought down by Edgar, Liverpool could celebrate heading into 2009 on top of the Premier League pile.

Agence France-Presse, source: foxsport)

A Robbie Keane double helped Liverpool regain the lead at the top of the Premier League after a 3-0 win over Bolton at Anfield. Rafael Benitez's men had dropped to second after Chelsea's win over West Brom earlier, but Keane's brace and a first-half strike from Albert Riera was enough to see off Gary Megson's side. Liverpool put the opposition under intense pressure from the kick off and took the lead after 25 minutes when Riera tapped home a Steven Gerrard corner. Keane scored his second goal in two games when he coolly slotted past Jussi Jaaskelainen after being played through by Gerrard. It took Keane only five minutes to get himself on the scoresheet again as he latched onto a Yossi Benayoun through ball and drove past Jaaskelainen to put the game beyond doubt.

Didier Drogba's first league goal of the season helped Chelsea to a 2-0 win over West Brom at Stamford Bridge. Luiz Felipe Scolari started with both Nicolas Anelka and Drogba for the first time this season and the Ivory Coast striker took only three minutes to break the deadlock when he headed Joe Cole's cross past Scott Carson to give Chelsea the lead. Frank Lampard then picked up on Ashley Cole's deflected cross to chip over Carson for the winner on the stroke of half time.

Manchester City dragged themselves out of the relegation zone in emphatic fashion with a 5-1 thrashing of Hull at Eastlands. Robinho cut inside and chipped over to Stephen Ireland who squared his cross to Felipe Caicedo. He hit the ball into the roof of the net from close range to open the scoring. Caicedo scored his second after 26 minutes before Ireland sent Robinho through on the half hour and the Brazilian slid the ball past Boaz Myhill for City's third. Robinho's second came 10 minutes before the break when he tapped home a low Shaun Wright-Phillips cross. Craig Fagan pulled one back for Hull in the second half but Ireland scored City's fifth to complete the rout.

Manchester United had to wait until seven minutes from the end to hit the winner at Stoke. Tony Pulis' side, who had Andy Wilkinson sent off, held United until Carlos Tevez turned home a Dimitar Berbatov cross to send the Potters back into the relegation zone.

Craig Bellamy underlined his importance to West Ham by scoring twice in the Hammers' 4-1 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Nadir Belhadj gave Portsmouth an early lead but the Hammers levelled soon after through Jack Collison. Carlton Cole turned home a Valon Behrami cross to put West Ham ahead before Spurs transfer target Bellamy raced through the Pompey defence and beat David James with 20 minutes left. Bellamy picked up a return pass from Luis Boa Morte to seal the Hammers' fourth with seven minutes left.

Everton clocked up their seventh away win of the season at the Riverside Stadium thanks to a Tim Cahill goal. An injury crisis at Goodison Park meant that midfielder Cahill had to be employed as a lone striker and the Australian showed a true goalscorer's instinct to tap home from close range after a goal-mouth scramble just after the break.

Ryan Taylor and Amr Zaki were on target for Wigan in their 2-0 win over Newcastle at the JJB Stadium. Taylor's 22-yard free kick put the Latics ahead before Zaki scored from the penalty spot after Sebastien Bassong was sent off for a foul on Emile Heskey. Newcastle pulled one back late on with a Danny Guthrie penalty, but Wigan held on to complete the win.

Despite their best efforts, Tottenham could not find a way past Fulham in their drab 0-0 draw at White Hart Lane. And Jason Roberts missed an open goal in stoppage time as Blackburn had to settle for a 0-0 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. Aston Villa reclaimed third place after Zat Knight struck late on to give the Villans a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Villa Park. Denilson and Abou Diaby had given the Gunners a commanding lead and they looked in control until the 65th minute when William Gallas hauled down Gabriel Agbonlahor just inside the box. Referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot and Gareth Barry powered his spot kick past Manuel Almunia. Arsenal looked set for victory until Knight picked up a deflected Barry cross inside the box and fired past Almunia to rescue a point for Villa and keep them level on points with Manchester United.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech reckons Arsenal will be out of the title race if they lose to the Premier League leaders at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Arsenal have lost five league matches already this season, have slipped 10 points behind pacesetters Chelsea and Liverpool and are currently not even in the top four. Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger believes the London derby offers a chance for his side to kickstart their title challenge. "Ideally, I do not want to be 13 points behind Chelsea so let's make it seven on Sunday night," he said. "We know that direct confrontations with top teams become vital when you are in our position."


Champions Manchester United are also in action, knowing they can ill afford any slips at local rivals Manchester City. United, eight points behind Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand, were beaten home and away by City last season.

Tottenham Hotspur's resurgence under new manager Harry Redknapp will be tested when they host mid-table Everton at White Hart Lane looking to move clear of the relegation zone.

United have only won one of their lat three Premier League matches and Ferguson says they must start grinding out results even if they are not playing at their best. He added: "Results are important and we need to start grinding out results. Last season we had a period where we kept winning 1-0. "If that's the way we need to do it this season, then we need to start doing it very soon. Chelsea and Liverpool are out there at the moment, and it's about us getting back into the race."

United are currently eight points behind Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand. The Blues and Reds both dropped points last week only for United to do the same against Aston Villa. Ferguson will therefore hop United can improve on the 1-0 defeat they suffered to City in the corresponding fixture last season.

AIG recently posted a third-quarter of $24.5 billion, prompting the US government to rework the terms of it’s aid to the insurance giant in order to a) extend more money to AIG (another $40 billion, after $123 billion had already gone into buying up AIG equity and b) significantly reduce repayment terms to help stabilise the company and allow it to recover fully (as opposed to collapsing under the current crisis or under the weight of the government handouts).

For Manchester United, the message is clear - if there was any hope that AIG would recover in time to renew their deal as sponsors of the Manchester United shirt, they are now shot. David Gill was recently quoted as saying that United would have no trouble in finding a replacement if the need arose - it’s time for the Manchester United chairman to put that to the test and ensure that a shirt sponsor paying as much (and if possible more) than AIG’s 14m / year deal is brought in before the agreement with AIG ends, or worse, before AIG says they can’t pay their next year’s installment.
The US government has stepped in with a new package of aid for troubled insurance giant American International Group. It comes after the firm - which sponsors Manchester United Football Club - announced third quarter losses of £14.7bn.

AIG made a £1.8bn profit the year before. The rescue package includes a £20.5bn cash injection in return for partial ownership of the firm. Announced jointly by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department, it takes the sum pumped into the company to around £90bn. As part of the new deal, the Fed is reducing a £51bn loan it had made available to AIG to £36bn. It is also replacing a separate £22.7bn loan to the insurance company with a £31bn aid package. The government said the measures were needed to "keep the company strong and facilitate its ability to complete its restructuring process successfully." The Treasury Department, which is overseeing the rescue operation, has promised to invest £150bn in America's banks to get them lending again.

Until now all of the help provided for AIG was coming from the Federal Reserve.
It said earlier this year it would lend AIG a total of £74bn, then gave it access to a further £12.5bn to help it pay wages and other key expenses. AIG has said repeatedly its kit sponsorship deal with Manchester United will not be affected by its financial woes. The contract, which is worth £56.5m over four years, is the most lucrative in the Premier League.

source: Forbes, Sky

Samir Nasri struck twice as Arsenal beat Manchester United and delivered an emphatic confirmation of manager Arsene Wenger’s belief that they are still serious Premier League contenders. Nasri’s deflected shot opened the scoring in the 22nd minute and he doubled their advantage three minutes after the interval with a powerful finish from Cesc Fabregas’s precise pass.

Substitute Rafael da Silva volleyed United back into contention with a minute of normal time left - but Arsenal survived six extra minutes and an outbreak of mass anxiety at The Emirates to claim three points. It was a victory they merited, with United creating and wasting chances, but never carrying the same sense of self-belief as Arsenal in a highly-charged atmosphere.

It was a victory that made all the supporters of this London club very happy. They needed it desperately and it came perhaps at the best time that they could imagine. Well, the final score was 2-1 and I said I would have kept the lead of 2-0 until the very last moment. Manchester united could pull back one goal at the 87th minute but it was too late and too little. With this win, arsenal is now at the third position in the league table. On the other hand, Manchester united is at the fourth position in the league table and they have played one match less than arsenal.

BBC reported:
"Samir Nasri struck twice as Arsenal beat Manchester United and delivered an emphatic confirmation of manager Arsene Wenger’s belief that they are still serious Premier League contenders".

The best thing that the London based club was the emergence of a new star in Samir Nasri. There is a lot of the expectations from Samir Nasri but until now, he was not up to the mark to satisfy the supporters.

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Manchester United shirt with a big AIG, have become icons in the successful club in English persepakbolaan. However, in the last week, the company is steady cook disintegration of the disintegration of other United States companies. Will the disintegration of the sponsor of this disastrous also for the team "Red Devil"?