Manager Paul Lambert heads to Aston Villa after a reported bust-up with Norwich City

ASTON VILLA ARE PREPARING TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL APPROACH FOR PAUL LAMBERT AFTER THE SCOT REPORTEDLY WALKED OUT ON NORWICH AND ROBERTO MARTINEZ SNUBBED RANDY LERNER FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 12 MONTHS.

On his way? Paul Lambert reportedly walked out on Norwich City on Wednesday night. (Photo: Getty Images)

RULING HIMSELF OUT: Roberto Martinez has declined an invitation to take on the Villa manager's job. (Photo: Getty Images)

Lambert is understood to have told Norwich he wants out after they refused him permission to speak to Villa, who identified the 42 year-old as their preferred option to succeed Alex McLeish following Martínez’s decision to stay with Wigan Athletic.

Martínez has agreed to remain at Wigan for another season after a meeting with Dave Whelan, the chairman, in Jersey on Wednesday afternoon.

Whelan on Wednesday night confirmed that Martínez had been approached by Villa but the Spaniard has opted to pledge his future to Wigan. Martínez also rejected the chance to take over at Villa last June and his decision will come as a bitter blow to Lerner, who had played a patient waiting game.

Whelan on Wednesday night admitted he never feared losing Martínez to Villa as they were, in his eyes, not a big enough club.

He said: “Roberto is staying at Wigan and of course I am absolutely delighted. He was never offered the job at Liverpool because he wasn’t happy with the way the job was presented to him.

“He has had some talks with Villa but he’s not going to go there. Villa are a fantastic club with great supporters but I never thought they were big enough for him. If Roberto is to go anywhere, it will be to one of the top clubs in Europe. We’re just so pleased he’s staying with us for another season.”

Lerner, the Villa owner, is now expected recruit Lambert, who has been prominent in Villa’s thoughts since McLeish’s dismissal earlier this month. Villa believe the highly-rated Scot has the strong leadership qualities required for the post, while it is understood Lambert would also be receptive to the move.

Lambert has masterminded two automatic promotions at Carrow Road and comfortably guided Norwich to safety in the Premier League, but there have been rumours of friction between the manager and his chief executive, David McNally, in recent months and a parting of the ways has looked inevitable regardless of Villa’s interest.

Norwich will insist on compensation for Lambert, and would expect around £1 million.

Villa are not considering any other manager and will now focus their efforts on signing up Lambert by the end of this week. The club’s search for a new manager is in its third week and has been an arduous process, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer interviewed before the former Manchester United striker decided to remain with Molde.

Martínez, meanwhile, could be in line for a new contract with Wigan after a frank discussion with Whelan. Whelan added: “We’ve discussed a lot of things and it was a very productive afternoon. He’s got two years left on his current contract and we will be looking to extend that.

“We’ve also agreed to build up the academy and the training facilities. We want Roberto to be happy at Wigan and we’ll be aiming to make sure we do everything to help him.”

Martínez is also likely to be promised substantial funds for the transfer window.

http://fulltimescores.wordpress.com (Main Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa)

Brendan Rodgers to become new Liverpool manager on Thursday after agreeing a three-year deal

BRENDAN RODGERS WILL BECOME LIVERPOOL’S NEW MANAGER ON THURSDAY HAVING AGREED A THREE-YEAR DEAL WITH THE MERSEYSIDE CLUB.

COMETH THE HOUR: Brendan Rodgers (right) could become the new Liverpool manager. (Photo: Getty Images)

Rodgers’ departure from Swansea City was confirmed in a statement released by his chairman, Huw Jenkins, on Wednesday night. Negotiations regarding a £5 million compensation agreement will not be a stumbling block and the Welsh club have accepted Rodgers’ decision to leave.

The 39 year-old met Liverpool’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, on Wednesday and received the reassurances he needed that he will have control over team affairs, and the style and philosophy he wants to impose on his side is entirely in keeping with what his new employers were looking for.

High on the criteria for a new manager was a young coach with a passion for fluid, attractive football. That is why Liverpool were prepared to wait patiently to meet Rodgers, despite his initial reticence to join the recruitment process. Rodgers harboured concerns about how the selection process was being handled at first and, latterly, whether the arrival of a powerful sporting director such as Louis van Gaal would compromise his position.

Those reservations were laid to rest during his conversations with the Liverpool hierarchy, particularly when the Van Gaal interest cooled.

Liverpool do not deny speaking to Van Gaal, as managing director Ian Ayre held talks with the 60 year-old last week, but they insist no job offer was made. The same applies to Wigan’s Roberto Martínez, who was granted an audience with the principal owner, John W Henry.

As Liverpool shook hands on a deal with Rodgers, Martínez was left to commit his future to Wigan Athletic rather than head to Aston Villa.

Martínez was a serious contender, but ultimately Rodgers’ broader experience, apprenticeship at Chelsea under his mentor and friend Jose Mourinho and success at keeping Swansea comfortably in the Premier League at his first attempt by playing an eye-catching brand of football, gave him the edge.

Rodgers’ cause was also assisted by the fact that he led Swansea on one of the few occasions Liverpool owner Henry attended a Premier League game at Anfield last season. On that day, despite a 0-0 draw, the Welsh side outpassed and outplayed Liverpool and were unfortunate not to win.

Liverpool made no statement on the imminent appointment last night, but confirmation was provided by Swansea. Jenkins said: “Following on from discussions with Liverpool’s owners, Brendan has informed us that he would like to take up their offer to manage Liverpool.

“We are currently in talks with the owners to agree compensation. We are trying to finalise that within the next 24 hours.

“Although we are very disappointed to lose such a talented, young British manager, we didn’t wish to stand in his way. As always at Swansea City, we want people working here who are fully committed to the task ahead. We wish Brendan every success in the future.”

Rodgers’ decision ends a three-week recruitment process at Anfield. He will be one of several appointments in a summer of transition.

Liverpool have been reviewing how to restructure the club, redefining scouting and technical roles, although there is a feeling much of this shake-up is being over-analysed amid a plethora of lavish titles.

Essentially, the club will be appointing a glorified chief scout, an experienced administrator to negotiate transfers and contracts and a figurehead to ensure a seamless transition between the youth and senior set-ups. Liverpool want the same brand of football played at all levels, a philosophy they stuck by rigidly during their most successful periods under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. Some of the new appointments will be internal promotions and will not intrude on Rodgers’ role.

It is not a summer of revolution at Anfield, but it would be an underestimation to suggest it is mere evolution. FSG are pursuing a modern reinvigoration of the club’s well-established values, and the appointment of a dynamic, young coach fits with the promises they made on buying the club nearly two years ago.

That vision has been subjected to compromises ever since FSG inherited an ageing, defensive coach in Roy Hodgson and had little option but to turn to club legend Kenny Dalglish as a short-term solution to stabilise a fraught situation.

In turning to Rodgers, there is a sense they are now finally following their own blueprint. Rodgers is likely to assess the coaching staff before determining his backroom team, with Dalglish’s assistant, Steve Clarke, set for further talks on his future. Clarke offered his resignation on the day Dalglish was fired. It was refused by the club hierarchy because they wanted Clarke to delay a decision until a new manager was appointed.

Clarke was instrumental in helping Rodgers join Chelsea’s coaching staff under Mourinho.

In another twist, Swansea’s potential record signing, Gylfi Sigurdsson, may now stall on penning a £6.8 million deal. An agreement is in place between Swansea and German club Hoffenheim, but part of the attraction for Sigurdsson was working with Rodgers. It remains to be seen if the Iceland international, 22, commits his future to the Liberty Stadium given the managerial uncertainty.

http://fulltimescores.wordpress.com (Main Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool)

Euro 2012: England set to call up Jordan Henderson in place of the injured Frank Lampard

ROY HODGSON WILL TAKE JORDAN HENDERSON TO EURO 2012 IF, AS EXPECTED, FRANK LAMPARD IS RULED OUT ON THURSDAY AFTER A SCAN ON A THIGH INJURY SUFFERED ON WEDNESDAY.

Big chance: Jordan Henderson (left) could take Frank Lampard's place at the Euro.(Photo: Getty Images)

The moment Lampard pulled up in training at London Colney, running into a corner to retrieve a loose ball, Hodgson placed Henderson on standby. The Liverpool midfielder has been chosen even though Michael Carrick has not retired from international football and has always told the FA he would be available in an emergency.

Carrick has returned from holiday but it seems the chances of his receiving a phone-call from Hodgson are minimal. Henderson has had a modest season but Hodgson clearly admires his commitment to the cause.

Even when a defender in Phil Jagielka replaced the injured midfielder Gareth Barry, Henderson stayed on standby in case of other mishaps after Uefa’s Tuesday deadline for naming squads. As Lampard’s injury is a new one, England can replace him and Hodgson has turned to Henderson.

A call to Carrick might have opened another avenue. The Carrick conundrum contains echoes of Paul Scholes before the 2010 World Cup. Scholes, 35 at the time, would have answered Fabio Capello’s call but it came too late. Carrick, 30, has enjoyed a good season for Manchester United, and many were surprised he was not in Hodgson’s original thoughts.

Gary Neville would have been an obvious conduit had Hodgson wanted to contact Carrick or clarify his exact situation. First capped in 2001, Carrick was known to have been frustrated at his experience of South Africa two years ago where he was an unused substitute.

Yet in the absence of Barry, most probably Lampard, and with Scott Parker easing his way back after an Achilles problem, the talented, in-form Carrick would have been a useful addition to the squad. Henderson has potential but Carrick has won the Premier League four times and the Champions League once.

It is a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Henderson, who has been criticised for failing to deliver at Anfield since his £20million move from Sunderland. If Lampard is out, Henderson joins Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll among Liverpool’s so-called misfiring signings now helping to carry the nation’s hopes.

The sight of England players limping towards scan machines or out of tournaments is a wearyingly familiar summer image, highlighting the stresses placed on their bodies during the intense season.

This plight was memorably summed up by the Uefa president, Michel Platini, with his verdict that “English players are lions in the autumn and lambs in the spring”.

Medical research at Linkoping University in Sweden indicated that elite male players were four times more likely to suffer stress injuries in countries such as England that do not have a winter break than in those enlightened leagues which do.

If he follows Barry to the sidelines, Lampard will become another pre-tournament statistic for the FA’s medical men to analyse when the National Football Centre opens shortly at St George’s Park.

The debate may then intensify about the need for a winter break, something that right-minded people within the FA and a succession of England managers have long campaigned for.

The likely loss of Lampard is a substantial blow, to him personally, to the squad and also represents another unwelcome reminder to Hodgson of the vicissitudes of the Impossible Job.

Not only has Lampard been playing some of the best football of his career, including shining as Chelsea lifted the FA Cup and Champions League, but he is a popular figure around the England camp, one of the FA’s “good tourists”.

Even if the expectation was that Hodgson would start Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker, Lampard offered a high-class option from the bench.

Before his injury, Lampard spoke on Tuesday of his belief that he could challenge Parker for the defensive role allowing Gerrard to push on. “I’ve been playing deeper for Chelsea,’’ Lampard said. “I’ve enjoyed the workload and enjoyed making blocks and tracking back as much as trying to get up and score goals. With age and experience you have to change but whether I’ll become a big holding midfield player, I’m not so sure.”

If he is ruled out, it will be a particular frustration for Lampard as he had reported for England duty in confident mood after conquering Europe with Chelsea.

“However much we talked down the idea of winning it after all these years, you really do feel that it was the one, the special one, that wasn’t in our grasp,’’ Lampard reflected of the Champions League. “Now it is, so it does make a difference to how you feel. If you’re at a top club and you’ve played over a number of years, it’s one that you really want to have on your CV.”

Lampard noted that Roberto Di Matteo had an instant effect on Chelsea, something that Hodgson seeks with England. “It’s certainly possible to kindle something very quickly,” he said.

“Man-management is of the utmost at top football these days. When you’ve got a very good squad of players, training and tactics are important but the man-management issue at Chelsea was the huge thing. Robbie took players aside, talked to them and made them feel confident.’’ Lampard added that Hodgson “certainly” had time to shape the team for the Euros.

He also spoke highly of Chelsea’s central-defensive axis of John Terry and Gary Cahill, a partnership expected to start Saturday’s friendly at Wembley against Belgium and in the Euros.

“They are both top players,’’ Lampard continued. “They complemented each other straight away. Left and right seems pretty natural to them. They are determined. They both throw their bodies in the way to make the blocks.’’

The pair soon head off to the Euros. An innocuous incident appears to have prevented Lampard following them, a sudden and harsh end to a fine season for one of English football’s greatest servants.

http://fulltimescores.wordpress.com (Main Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england)

Euro 2012: Mario Balotelli says he will walk off the pitch if he is racially abused in Poland and Ukraine

MARIO BALOTELLI HAS ADDED TO THE GROWING FEARS OF RACIST ABUSE DURING EURO 2012 BY CLAIMING HE WILL"LEAVE THE PITCH AND GO HOME" IF HE IS SUBJECTED TO RACISM WHILE PLAYING FOR ITALY DURING NEXT MONTH'S TOURNAMENT IN POLAND AND UKRAINE.

NO COMPROMISE: Mario Balotelli says he will walk off the pitch if he is racially abused in the Euro 2012. (Photo: AFP)

Balotelli, who once had bananas thrown at him in a Rome bar, also promised that if anyone repeated such an offensive gesture “I will go to prison because I will kill him”.

His comments came after former England defender Sol Campbell warned supporters not to risk travelling to eastern Europe for the competition “because you could end up coming back in a coffin”. Officials in both Poland and Ukraine reacted angrily to the comments by Campbell, who was speaking during a BBC Panorama exposé into football-related violence in the European Championships 2012 host nations.

Footage shown by Panorama highlighted shocking attacks on Asian supporters inside a Ukrainian stadium. The images were broadcast just days after it was confirmed that the families of black England players Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would not be travelling to the finals because of concerns over the possibility of being racially abused.

And with Uefa’s match officials having the right to abandon fixtures should racist chanting break out, Balotelli said he would not stand for such abuse if it was directed at him.

“Let’s see what happens at the Euro,” the Manchester City forward said. “I hope that there will not be a problem because I really can’t handle that. I cannot bear racism, it’s unacceptable for me. If it happened again I would straight away leave the pitch and go home. We are in 2012. It can’t happen.”

The spotlight is firmly on the potential for racially-motivated problems at Euro 2012, but leading figures from both Poland and Ukraine have insisted that the issues highlighted by Panorama, and Campbell’s comments, have been exaggerated.

Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said: “I want to stress, especially to British tourists and fans coming to Krakow, that every weekend thousands of people from England travel to that city. We have never had – and I emphasise never – a single incident of racism reported by a British tourist.”

Jacek Cichocki, Poland’s interior minister, said: “Panorama was a very one-sided programme. What upset me the most was that they spoke to a person unfamiliar with safety in this country. If they had asked an expert, then I think our reaction would have been different.”

Campbell’s comments particularly angered Ukrainian officials, with the bulk of the negative images appearing to have been focused on their country.

Ukraine’s Euro 2012 director Markian Lubkivsky said: “If the player Campbell has such a vision, then it is his own point of view, and it cannot be projected for the whole country.”

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Voloshyn, responding to footage of fans aiming Nazi salutes during games in Ukraine, said: “Nazi symbols can be seen at any match in England, but does it mean that fans should not come to London for the Olympics?”

Balotelli has been subjected to racist abuse throughout his career in Italy and with City. In 2009, Juventus were ordered to play a game behind closed doors as punishment for abuse aimed at Balotelli, who was then playing for Inter Milan.

The striker, who has Ghanaian ancestry, was also taunted by far-right groups during a friendly game for Italy in Austria two years ago.

In April, the Portuguese club Porto were fined £16,000 by Uefa as a result of monkey chants directed at Balotelli during a Europa League tie against City in February.

“I remember very well the Juventus game, but I also scored a goal.” Balotelli said. “I had to pretend I hadn’t seen or heard anything. I wanted to play. I was young. It was up to me to tell the referee, but if I had told the referee to stop the match I wouldn’t have scored. Occasionally, you’re so good that people can’t think of any other way to make you angry.”

Balotelli admitted that being racially abused could see him turn to violence in response. Speaking about the Rome bar incident, Balotelli told a French magazine: “These two or three lads were lucky the police came straight away because, I swear, I would have given them a proper kicking.

“I would truly have destroyed them. I hope that doesn’t happen again. If someone throws a banana at me in the street I will go to prison because I will kill him.

Balotelli added: “I’m black and proud to have African roots. I think I’m lucky to be black. People say about me that I’m a black boy who has fun, earns money and has girls. It’s not like that. It’s too easy to judge people through what you see.”


http://fulltimescores.wordpress.com (Main source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/european-championships-2012)

Petr Cech commits to Chelsea for four more years after signing new contract

CHELSEA GOALKEEPER PETR CECH HAS SIGNED A NEW CONTRACT WHICH WILL KEEP HIM AT STAMFORD BRIDGE UNTIL 2016.

TRUE BLUE: Petr Cech makes a crucial save in the Champions League Final. (Photo: EPA)

Cech joined Chelsea in 2004 and has made more appearances for the club than any overseas player.

“I am really happy to be part of this great club for another four years.” Cech told the club’s website.

“I hope the next four years will be as successful as the last eight years I have been at the club.”

Chief executive Ron Gourlay adds: “Chelsea fully appreciates the highly significant contribution Petr has made to the most successful period in the club’s history, and it is very important to our aim of continuing this level of achievement that he has committed himself to the club.”

“It is clear to anyone who watched the climax to the season just completed that Petr continues to perform as well as any goalkeeper in the world.’

Cech was between the posts throughout our triumphant FA Cup and Champions League campaigns.

His save from Andy Carroll’s header against Liverpool at Wembley is being described as one of the finest FA Cup Final saves ever, and in the semi-final of the Champions League away in Barcelona he finger-tipped a late Lionel Messi shot onto the post.

In Munich he saved three penalties, in extra-time from Arjen Robben and in the shoot-out, when he stopped a penalty from Ivica Olic, before touching Bastian Schweinsteiger’s onto the post.

Over the course of his Chelsea career Cech has kept 178 clean sheets, representing 48 per cent of his games played. He won the Premier League Golden Gloves for most league clean sheets in the 2004/05 and 2009/10 seasons.

He has made 369 appearances for the club and in addition to the Champions League, has won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two Carling Cups, and was the club’s Player of the Year for the 2010/11 season.

This summer he will play for Czech Republic at Euro 2012 having recently been voted his nation’s Player of the Season for a record seventh time.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea)

Didier Drogba proves his value to Chelsea is more than just as a Wembley talisman as he downs Liverpool

Everyone has been asking questions of Didier Drogba this season, even Graham Norton, but he keeps finding answers.

SAME OLD ROUTINE: Didier Drogba turns away after claiming his latest Wembley goal (Photo: Getty Images)

Oft criticised, oft written off, the Chelsea striker is now the first player to score in four FA Cup finals, the man who has struck eight goals in eight competitive games at Wembley yet he is still expected to leave Chelsea.

The club need to answer a question from their fans. Why? Why let Drogba go? The talisman with the occasional tantrum in him always has a goal in him. The player who always seems to have the final word in finals does not have the final word in his Chelsea career.

At 34, Drogba wants a two-year contract at the Bridge, which the club are loathe to offer as they seek to rejuvenate the squad. He is still a force, still a goalscoring threat, and still apparently booked on a slow boat or fast plane to China and the riches of Shanghai Shenhua.

The way he kissed a post and touched the Wembley turf amidst Chelsea’s post-match celebrations looked like a man saying his farewells to a favourite venue.

Maybe Chelsea should keep him just for Wembley. In the 2007 final, Drogba played a 1-2 with Frank Lampard and scored the only goal to beat Manchester United. Two years later, Drogba struck the equaliser in the 2-1 win over Everton (settled by Lampard). His free-kick finished off Portsmouth in 2010. On Saturday, Drogba drove in another fine goal here which proved the winner against Liverpool. No wonder he views Wembley as his “lucky stadium”.

Ever since watching pictures of Eric Cantona score against Liverpool in the 1996 FA Cup final, Drogba has been obsessed by the place.

His thoughts now turn away from Wembley. Drogba still has more to look forward to in the blue of Chelsea, a point made constantly by their fans with their chant of “que sera, sera, what ever will be, will be, we’re going to Germany”. Munich beckons. Drogba could be off with the greatest club prize of all, a winner’s medal from the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena.

After his frustration in the 2008 showdown with Manchester United, sent off in Moscow, Drogba will crave some redemption in Munich.

Drogba takes on a Bayern Munich defence shorn through suspension of that excellent centre-half, Holger Badstuber, and Gustavo, the defensive midfielder who shields the back-line so effectively. Drogba is a force against full-strength defences let alone weakened ones.

At Wembley, Drogba was up against an experienced, in-form centre-half in Martin Skrtel. Drogba’s face adorned the £10 Cup final programme, facing up to Skrtel, a duel that soon broke out here.

Within 28 seconds, Drogba was dropping off Skrtel, latching on to Lampard’s knockdown and trying his luck, sending a shot spinning over. Liverpool could not take their eyes off Chelsea’s No 11. Skrtel, probably Liverpool’s player of the season with Luis Suarez, had to be on his toes. When Drogba strode through early on, Skrtel calmly read the danger and nicked the ball.

Drogba was so obsessing Liverpool’s centre-halves, drawing Skrtel and Daniel Agger, that space opened up for Ramires to pour through for Chelsea’s 11th-minute opener. Even without direct involvement, Drogba had contributed. His work-rate was superb, his stamina exceptional.

Drogba feels so fit, smiling that he has “a few kilometres left” in him. He certainly put in the hard yards here, even chasing back to hound Craig Bellamy. Moments later, he was back upfront, linking with Juan Mata, then spreading play wide to Ramires.

Drogba kept imposing himself on all Liverpool defenders, inspecting the back-line like a particularly demanding Regimental Sergeant Major.

First Glen Johnson was worked over. Then Drogba moved across to trouble Agger. He then tested Jose Enrique.

Drogba has looked so sharp and hungry in recent semi-final weeks, bullying an array of centre-halves from Carles Puyol of Barcelona to William Gallas of Spurs. That decision to analyse the way Alan Shearer played during his Newcastle United days, muscling into centre-halves, giving them no respite, paid off.

On the eve of this final, Drogba had actually revealed that he did not enjoy playing the lone frontrunner role but he performs the duties so dynamically, so prolifically, keeping Fernando Torres kicking his expensive heels on the bench.

A beacon upfront, Drogba also proved a great “out” ball, controlling a clearance from John Obi Mikel. If Chelsea decide against keeping him, they also will miss the Ivorian’s presence at defending corners.

Just before half-time, following a Bellamy delivery, Drogba rose far more determinedly to clear the ball ahead of Skrtel. He has that strength, that determination. Up close, he is remarkably different from the battle-scarred heavyweight of popular perception. Drogba is lithe, slightly angular with an athlete’s frame rather than boxer’s. And deadly in front of goal. Seven minutes into the second half, Lampard released Drogba and he placed a low, firm shot between Skrtel’s legs and past Pepe Reina. Wembley was treated to a trademark Drogba celebration, sliding across the turf towards the Chelsea fans, arms outstretched.

If the attention then turned to the compelling Andy Carroll-Terry duel down the other end, Drogba proved once again the man for the great stage of Wembley, the man who has the answers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football