Celtic have confirmed the appointment of caretaker Neil Lennon as their new full-time manager.
Lennon, a former Hoops midfielder, had been in temporary charge of first-team affairs at Parkhead following Tony Mowbray's sacking in March.
He had won all eight of his Scottish Premier League games at the helm as Rangers were crowned champions, but presided over an embarrassing Scottish Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of First Division Ross County.
"Celtic is my home. I've spent the last 10 years of my working life here and I look forward to bringing back the success our great club deserves," declared Lennon, who will be assisted by former team-mates Johan Mjallby, Alan Thompson and Garry Parker.
"Whether as player, captain or manager, I'm a Celtic supporter first and foremost and no-one will work harder to put a winning team on the park."
Lennon, now 38, won five titles during seven seasons as a player with the club and chairman John Reid believes he is the right man to bring success back to Celtic Park.
"The appointment of a manager is not a decision which any Celtic board can take lightly. Whilst some may have been calling for a quicker decision, we wanted the right decision," he told the club's official website.
"We have been thorough and professional and have made, I am very confident, a decision which will be proved to be a winning one.
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"Not so long ago Celtic supporters were enjoying dominance in domestic football and real progress in Europe.
"I know we can regain this position and I assure our supporters that the Celtic board will be giving Neil our full backing to ensure that he can achieve this."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
There’s no running away from corruption in football, as much as we try to ignore it. Sepp Blatter has, unfortunately, greatly accentuated his inability to hold down the role as a credible president of FIFA through accusations of bribery. His incompetence when it comes to matters on the football pitch is evident, yet the leading football governing body has consistently been thrown into drawn out sagas of corruption under his watch.
Mohamed Bin Hammam seemed like an interesting successor to Sepp Blatter when he ran for Presidency last year. At the very least, it would be an alternative to what we’ve become accustomed to. Polices were falling by the wayside because they really didn’t matter. The football world has become disillusioned with the current state and morals inside the headquarters of world football, and those who are responsible seem to hold untouchable positions.
Those positions of seemingly enormous power came to a head once more last year, with Bin Hammam accused of bribery in order pay his way into the FIFA presidential seat—subsequently leading to a lifetime ban from all football activities.
From one view, it’s a disappointing ending—allowing Blatter to remain president with no opposition. But at the same time, it is an indication of what a terrible state FIFA is in at the moment.
There can be little doubt that those brown envelopes, thick with promises from one to another, were present during the World Cup voting that took place two years ago. We are fed the story of taking football around the world and helping less fortunate countries to further their development. The darker and more realistic side is that the dollar now commands where football is played and who runs the show.
Sepp Blatter has unquestionably been in power for too long. FIFA need to look at re-addressing the length of time a candidate can remain in power, limiting it to just four years. It won’t be difficult to talk about the good of the game and the positives it can bring by introducing a new candidate regularly. But the corruption that is now common place has forced real football issues to the backseat.
And who exactly is voting during these elections? FIFA’s presidents are elected internally—highlighting another huge problem with the practices inside football’s leading governing body. The votes need to be collected from each football association, instead of Blatter’s mates in the office at the end of the corridor. Football—real football—has become a mask for the get-rich-quick activities that are taking place.
As of this year, Bin Hammam has seen his ban lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, they haven’t discredited him from wrongdoing and clearing his now tarnished reputation.
There’s an argument that questions the real effect ordinary fans have on the corruption that takes place in FIFA. The problem is, football can be forced into the 21st century where it belongs, with technology and an assurance of the safe running of clubs, and all the issues of corruption would instantly be forgotten. It’s disappointing but it’s true. As consumers of a product, we’re unhappy with the running of the game we’re seeing now. There’s nothing organic—as strange as that word may be in the modern game—and the pitchforks have been sharpened well before the most recent Bin Hammam saga came to light.
Even more so, there’s hardly anything “organic” about the way football is run on a smaller scale. Club owners are dealing with debt which has resulted from their own wrongdoing, and isn’t the promise of huge and unwarranted wages to players just another way of bribing footballers away from their current club?
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There are problems in FIFA, and the issues of corruption and it’s regularity is greatly disheartening to those who want to see a little more sense in the game. Unfortunately, however, FIFA represents an extension of what we’re seeing closer to home.
As is the case with Jack Warner, where is the sense in one accusing another of immoral and illegal activity when the accuser is just as likely to be exposed for wrongdoing.
Mikel Arteta has admitted that countryman Cesc Fabregas helped him settle at new club Arsenal, and has stated that he is at the Emirates to win trophies.
Arteta was signed by Arsene Wenger on transfer deadline day in a £10 million deal from Everton, and has been earmarked as filling the gap left by Fabregas, who left London to join Barcelona.
Despite this, the new man has been helped by his predecessor.
“I talked to him the day after I signed the contract. He advised me on two or three things and he was really nice to me,” Arteta revealed.
“He told me about the areas to live, about the team, about the club, how good they are, about the people at the club. It was really good.”
Arteta has slotted into The Gunners midfield in the absence of injured duo Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, and is looking for a successful season.
“When you play for a club like Arsenal, you’re going to have some pressure. You need to handle it, try your best. Every club that I’ve been at, there has been pressure but I think pressure is something positive. That means that people are expecting something from you. I don’t mind. I am happy with the players here, that they can make us good and to play some good football.
“The challenge here is to win trophies. At Everton, I didn’t have the chance to do that. Hopefully we are going to have it here and we can make it,” he concluded.
Arsenal were unlucky not to claim a victory over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday in the Champions League but still escaped Signal Iduna Park with a 1-1 draw, and will now take on Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday.
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Blackpool boss Ian Holloway faces a goalkeeping crisis after Paul Rachubka injured his knee in training and could be out for up to six months.
With Matt Gilks, the club’s first-choice stopper, still six weeks away from returning to action due to a knee problem of his own, Holloway will have to rely on Ghanaian Richard Kingson for Saturday’s game with Aston Villa.
Kingson had started 11 games in Gilks’ absence but was dropped for last weekend’s 5-3 defeat to Everton after suffering from head and knee injuries himself – and Holloway admits he will try and sign a keeper on an emergency loan.
“Paul Rachubka has gone and injured himself again, which leaves us with only one fit goalie,” said Holloway.
“He’s come through all that over the last five or six months, he’s got himself fully fit, and then an injury in training and he’s gone. And he might be out for another five or six months.”
“We are going to have to try (to sign another goalkeeper). Richard won’t mind me saying this – he is probably more patched up than anybody I’ve got in my squad.”
“He is a wonderful lad, but he was injured last week when he split his head open, and he had a bad knee the week before that. So I think we can easily prove that we are a little bit short and hopefully common sense will prevail.”
“We reported it straight away and I’m sure we can prove we need another one in – it’s just who, and from where.”
Holloway admits he is still unsure whether his side are good enough to avoid relegation. A fine start to the season saw Blackpool ease clear of the bottom three but a run of five successive defeats has left them just two points above 18th-placed Wigan.
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“Are we strong enough? No-one knew at the start of the season, and we still don’t know now because a win this week and a win next week and we could be way up the league,” he said.
“Last season, some teams at this level went down with 30 points, and one more win, whether that keeps us safe or not, puts us on 31 points.”
Fabio Capello has slammed the English FA, stating that he resigned because he could not stand their interference.
The Italian trainer stepped down from his role as national selector after John Terry was stripped of the Three Lions captaincy.
Capello has recently been announced as the new manager of Russia, and used his first press conference as the eastern European country’s boss to slate his former employers.
“I was really angry with the FA interference in my work. I could not bear it,” Sky Sports document Capello as saying.
“I resigned and wanted to retire completely but the desire to win a place in the World Cup finals with a national side remained.
“It made me change my mind and accept the RFU proposal. It is my main goal and I want to make it happen,” he confessed.
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’s proposed return to Liverpool has taken a step closer after Manchester City agreed to let him leave for nothing according to The Mirror.
The Welsh international has emerged as a target for Kenny Dalglish but the Anfield boss is not prepared to pay a fee
Much travelled Bellamy is on £95,000-a-week at the Etihad Stadium and City have agreed to cover the remaining 10 months of his contract to get him off the wage bill.
Roberto Mancini has made it clear he doesn’t want the 32-year-old and he is now set to return to Liverpool four years after leaving due to a falling out with Rafa Benitez.
Wales boss Gary Speed has welcomed the move stating Bellamy is a ‘top player’
Speed said: “It’s only natural Craig is going to be linked with top clubs because he is a top player.”.
“Liverpool are a fantastic club and if that’s true and it comes off, that would be great. Hopefully by the end of the transfer window things will be sorted out.”
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The Reds could face competition from Tottenham and QPR for Bellamy’s signature although it’s understood he wants to move back to Merseyside.
He’s already rejected offers from former clubs Celtic and Cardiff to pave the way for an Anfield return.
Sir Alex Ferguson admitted to taking a risk by fielding a makeshift defence in Manchester United’s FA Cup comeback 2-1 victory over Southampton.
United manager Ferguson picked new signing Anders Lindegaard in goal for Saturday’s fourth-round match, behind a back four of Chris Smalling, John O’Shea, Fabio and Johnny Evans, none of who would ordinarily be considered first-choice players.
The Premier League leaders went a goal behind to League Two club Southampton, but strikes from Michael Owen and the in-form Javier Hernandez turned the tie around and secured United’s passage to the fifth round.
“In fairness, I maybe meddled with the system somewhat,” Ferguson said after the match at St Mary’s Stadium.
“It wasn’t working at all.”
“It was a nothing first half and the goal, if anything, made us play.”
“We tried a diamond in the middle of the pitch and, of course, Manchester United are used to playing with width all the time and I think that was a problem for us.”
“We had some possession of the ball but we never really threatened. We had two or three shots from the edge of the box.”
Ferguson singled out reserve striker Owen – who seized upon a rare sight of goal to level in the 65th minute – for special praise.
“He only had one chance today: one chance, one goal,” Ferguson said.
Southampton boss Nigel Adkins was proud of his players after they matched the top flight title challengers for much of the encounter.
“I thought it was a cracking game of football,” Adkins said.
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“We tried to pass the ball about and we deservedly went in 1-0 up at half-time.”
“In the second half, for the first 20 minutes, we had opportunities.”
“In the end, we were playing against Manchester United and that bit of class told with the finishing.”
“They are top of the league, they’re undefeated in the league, and they have always got ways they can change the game.”
Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has revealed to The Independent that there is no sign his star striker Demba Ba wants to leave the North East, despite speculation otherwise.
The Senegalese striker is currently available to leave St James Park by the end of July for as little as £7 million due to a release clause in his contract, but Pardew insists his form in pre-season training suggests he’s going nowhere.
Ba started last season fantastically, taking the Premier League by storm before being outshone by strike partner Pappiss Cisse upon his return from the African Cup of Nations in January.
Speculation towards the end of the season linked Demba Ba to moves elsewhere in the forms of Liverpool, Manchester United and Galatasary, but his boss announced; ‘He has a contract to Newcastle and is loved here. I genuinely don’t see a situation where he wants to move on.’
Ba himself even took to social networking site Twitter last week to deny any rumours linking him elsewhere; ‘So much stuff about me lately. Rumours are rumours! Just forget about it.’
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Having already sold strikers Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best this summer, Newcastle are not ready to say goodbye to Demba Ba just yet.
Chelsea ended the last Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Everton, and without silverware for only the second time in six years. Since then,we have seen a change in manager at Chelsea, with 33-year-old Andre-Villas Boas replacing Carlo Ancelotti, despite the Italian’s domestic double just the season before. Comparably, Villas-Boas is a relatively inexperienced manager, but made a name for himself after an impressive season at Porto in which he won the Protuguese league, cup, and the UEFA Europa League. His Porto side also went unbeaten in the Portuguese league, scoring 73 goals in just 30 games in the process.
Despite an impressive CV, Villas-Boas will be fully aware that neither time nor patience is guaranteed at Chelsea with Roman Abramovich desperate to see a return on his heavy investment. While domestic glory is always going to be a target for Chelsea, the Champions League has become Abramovich’s most coveted prize and failure to deliver it may see Villas-Boas out of a job. Chelsea fans will be hoping for consistency at the Bridge and will want the new manager to be given time to build a team that can challenge on all fronts, if not this season, then the next.
Villas-Boas’ biggest task will be to find a formation that suits the whole team, and with Drogba, Torres, Anelka, Sturridge, and potentially Lukaku, all competing for a place in the side, the manager will face a tough challenge in identifying the most effective strike force.
Premier League:
In recent years Chelsea have been the only club to mount any real challenge to United in the league, and have been crowned champions three times in the last seven seasons. John Terry has claimed his side are still hurting after seeing United lift the trophy in May, but has insisted this has only given them more motivation and desire to try and win it back this season. The summer period has seen the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool strengthen their squads significantly, while Arsenal look set to lose two of their key players. I think City may struggle with the demands of European football while trying to challenge for the league title, while Liverpool’s priority will be a top four finish. Between United and Chelsea, I think the new manager could cause an upset this season. Villas-Boas has promised attacking football at Chelsea, and should his players replicate the kind of form of two seasons ago then they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with, and could pip United to the title this time around.
Prediction: 1st (just)
UEFA Champions League:
Sir Alex Ferguson last year claimed that the Champions League had become an “obsession” for Chelsea, an assessment that seems fair when you consider how previous managers have fared after a lack of success in the competition. Chelsea came within a penalty kick of European glory back in 2008, but have only reached the semi-finals once since then. While this competition may be seen as the priority for Abramovich, Villas-Boas will be hoping to compete on domestic fronts just as strongly as in Europe. Despite Europa League success last season at Porto, the new boss will come up against some of the European greats this season, and I can see Chelsea struggling at the semi-final stage as they have done so many times in previous years. For the sake of Chelsea fans, I hope this does not spell the end for Villas-Boas, but I feel domestic success may be crucial if he is to remain in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Prediction: Semi-Finalists
The FA Cup:
The FA Cup is renowned for being one of the most unpredictable tournaments in football, and has turned out some of the greatest upsets in recent years. Chelsea tend to fare well in the competition and have taken the trophy back to Stamford Bridge three times in the last five years. The unpredictability of the tournament does obviously make it difficult to ‘predict’ how Chelsea will fare this time around, but should they avoid any early upset, then they will almost certainly be one of the favourites to reach the final. The depth of Chelsea’s squad will allow them to field strong teams throughout the tournament, and should they reach the final, their success rate at Wembley will give them good reason to think they could lift the FA Cup once more.
Prediction: Finalists
League Cup:
The League Cup is generally seen to provide the younger or reserve players at the big clubs with an opportunity to play competitive first team football. This season we can expect to see the likes of Josh McEachran, Daniel Sturridge and Oriol Romeu leading the way for Chelsea in this competition, though these names are also likely to feature in the other competitions as well. Chelsea have been finalists three times in the last eight years, and winners in 2005 and 2007. However in more recent years success has been limited in this tournament, as it is perhaps not considered as important as the others. Though the League Cup will give us the chance to see what some of Chelsea’s younger players have to offer, I am skeptical as to how seriously Villas-Boas will take the tournament, and therefore cannot see Chelsea pushing to reach the final, or even the semi’s.
Prediction: Quarter-Finalists
Breakthrough season: Josh McEachran
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At just 18 years of age, Josh McEachran made a name for himself at Chelsea last season, making 17 first team appearances for the Blues in all competitions. His performances earned him Chelsea’s young player of the year award, and the midfielder has been tipped to become one of England’s finest in the years to come. McEachran is highly rated at Chelsea and is likely to feature regularly this season, with Villas-Boas reported to be hugely impressed with what he has seen so far from the youngster. I think this season will see McEachran really establish himself in the Chelsea side, and he may even earn himself an international call up to England’s senior squad.
Player to watch: Daniel Sturridge
After a loan spell at Bolton last season in which he scored 8 goals in just 12 games, Daniel Sturridge has returned to Chelsea desperate to fight for a place in the starting eleven. Villas-Boas has refused to let the forward go out on loan again this season, which would suggest first team opportunities will arise for the 21-year-old. Sturridge will face fierce competition up front from the likes of both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba, however he has been deployed on the wing in pre-season which is likely to boost his chances of regular football. If Sturridge can replicate the kind of form that he showed at Bolton last season then he is certainly going to be a player to watch at Chelsea, and I think he could well provide the goals needed to mount a serious challenge both domestically and in Europe this season.
Agree or disagree with my preview? Let me know either below or on twitter @sixthofficial
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is standing firm on his criticism of Spanish referees following his side’s 1-1 draw with Almeria on Sunday.Mourinho risked incurring the wrath of the Spanish Football Association when he criticised referee Miguel Perez Lasa for failing to award Real two penalties against Almeria.
When asked about the issue ahead of Thursday’s Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against city rivals Atletico, the Portuguese manager remained defiant.
“We played against Atletico Madrid and conceded a goal that was offside. I came out afterwards and said that I would like the same referee for every game, because he is fantastic and I like him,” Mourinho said.
“How can I always be against Spanish refs? If you are honest like me, and you saw the game against Almeria on the television like I did afterwards, then you say that there wasn’t any controversy; there were penalties that weren’t given.”
“Is that controversial? Controversial is when you invent stories that don’t exist. But there isn’t an argument about things that are basic and true. There is a humility that doesn’t exist for referees, who won’t come out and say ‘there were two penalties and I made a mistake’.”
Real take a 3-1 advantage into the second leg at the Vincente Calderon Stadium, but Mourinho is not taking anything for granted, particularly given that his side have conceded six goals in their last four games.
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“If we lose 2-0 or 4-1 tomorrow, then we won’t have any away games in the Copa del Rey. It ends tomorrow. The league is the league, and we will talk about it next Saturday,” he said.
“Today we are talking about the cup, and if tomorrow we lose 2-0 or 4-1, then there are no more cup games to play.”