Harry Redknapp On… Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Lionel Messi, England And David Bentley

White Hart Lane lifts the lid on his dealing with Emirates club, signing a Nou Camp legend and the ‘disrepectful’ St Andrew’s player.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp was the guest of honour on a special Absolute Radio breakfast show celebrating the 20 years of Sky Sports.

Hosts Russ Williams and Helen Chamberlain asked the colourful manager on his side’s upcoming derby clash with Arsenal, his relationship with Arsene Wenger, the England job, signing Lionel Messi and THAT moment when he was soaked by David Bentley.

Here’s the transcript of their chat:

Harry Redknapp on… Spurs vs Arsenal
Harry Redknapp: “I don’t mind, as long as we come out on the right end of the score.  Maybe 2-1, a bit like last year’s result, certainly we’d take that.

“The score tonight, I wish I knew. It’s going to be a tough game, they’re a good side and away from home they’ve got unbelievable form.

“They haven’t lost in the League for an awful long time, but we’re very good as well, so it’s got the makings of another great game.

“I mean, we’ve turned it round a little bit the last couple of years with Arsenal, we won at the Emirates this year for the first time in an awful long time, we beat them at home last year.

“So hopefully, I don’t mind, as long as we come out on the right end of the score.  Maybe 2-1, a bit like last year’s result, certainly we’d take that.

Russ Williams: “And a Danny Rose-like goal would be very handy.”

HR: “Yeah, that was an amazing goal for Danny, I mean, to make his debut and come in that night and score that goal, you know.

“You haven’t seen too much of Danny since, but I still think Danny’s a kid with a good future, and he’s certainly come back in good form recently, and I’m sure we’ll see a bit more of Danny.

Harry Redknapp on… Arsene Wenger
HR: “I get on okay with him, I don’t have too many problems with Arsene, we always seem to get on okay, you know. Everybody else has had problems with him, I don’t.”

Harry Redknapp on… Dream transfer signings
HR: “You’d have to say Messi, I think Messi is just an absolutely incredible player, you know, for me he’s almost unplayable.

“You look at his goal record, 60-odd goals in 60-odd games for Barcelona in the last 60-whatever matches, he’s just amazing.

“When you watch him play he’s unstoppable, he’s a little man who looks like he loves playing football, he’s an absolute genius, and for me he’s the best player in the world at the moment.”

Harry Redknapp on… The England job
HR: “You know, in this game one minute you’re going well, a few bad results and you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s an amazing game.

“So, you know, I love what I’m doing, I’m working at a great club at the moment, so who knows what happens in the future.

“I don’t tend to look that far into the future, I live a little bit for this week and see what the future brings when it comes, you know.”

Harry Redknapp on… David Bentley
Helen Chamberlain: “I want to know when David Bentley threw that bucket of water over you in celebration, was that the moment you knew you were sending him out on loan?

HR: “No. Well I’ve got to be honest, Helen, it was a bit of fun, but I wasn’t best pleased with it, I’ve got to be honest with you, I just thought it was a bit disrespectful if I’m honest about it.

“I could never imagine doing that with Ron Greenwood, who was my manager when I was a player, or Bobby Moore doing it to the manager.

“But no, David’s a good lad, I just think they got a bit carried away on the night.

“You notice it was all lads who didn’t play who did it, it was none of the boys who actually played?”

“They probably thought ‘We’ll let him have it for leaving us out tonight’.”

source

Read more...

Manchester United Hold Talks With David De Gea But Yet To Agree A £17.5m Fee With Atletico Madrid

Old Trafford club look set to land Vicente Calderón Stadium star.

Manchester United have held talks with Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea according to the player’s agent Hector Rincon.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants a long-term replacement for retiring Edwin van der Sar and has settled on the 20-year-old.

The Spain U21 international broke into the first-team in 2009 and has been scouted by the Red Devil’s goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

Ferguson himself watched De Gea play Valencia last September.

Rincon revealed his player does have a release cause but Atletico may be persuaded to sell for cheaper.

He also says Wigan have made an attempt to sign him as well as a host of big European and English clubs.

“Well, we did have talks with Manchester United but, first of all, they always look for an agreement with the club,” Rincon told Sport.co.uk.

“Anyway, most of the biggest European teams have shown interest in David De Gea.”

“What I can tell you is that his release clause now is €20 million (£17.5million), but I have no idea if the club would sell him for less.

“Right now, the player has a contract with Atletico Madrid and if Manchester United or any other team want him they will have to reach an agreement or pay the whole release clause.”

“Well, some time ago, before he became an important player in Atletico, Wigan made an offer, but the club rejected it,” Rincon added.

“Recently, I don’t want to say any names but all the big clubs in England and in Europe have asked about him.”

Manchester United Hold Talks With David De Gea But Yet To Agree A £17.5m Fee With Atletico Madrid, 9.0 out of 10 based on 3 ratings

source

Read more...

Martin Jol And Owen Coyle Join David Moyes On Shortlist For Aston Villa Job

Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner has put Martin Jol, Owen Coyle and David Moyes on his shortlist of successors for under-fire manager Gerard Houllier. Reports from last weekend suggested Houllier’s poor run of form this season will see the Frenchman axed regardless of how he performs in the final eight games of the season.

Everton manager Moyes is the front-runner for the post, as he was heavily linked with the job after Martin O’Neill quit at the start of the season. Moyes has endured another frustrating campaign on Merseyside, with limited financial muscle and a thread-bare squad. But he has performed wonders at Everton in the nine years at the club – an FA Cup final and, Champions League and Europa League action.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle is another possibility. The Scot has won many plaudits for the way he promoted Burnley and has transformed the Trotters in such a limited time. This time last year he was fighting off relegation with ease and now he is an FA Cup semi-final and on the verge of Europe. His availability could be a problem as he would not want to leave if he manages to secure Europa League qualification.

The last name on the list is ex Tottenham Hotspur manager Jol. He was another named link with this post before Houllier got the job. Lerner is attracted to the former Ajax coach because of his continental experience and he will be able to attract big-names to the club.

source

Read more...

Chelsea Star David Luiz Wants Blues to Sign Neymar

New Brazilian international wants Stamford Bridge side to nab hot prospect.

David Luiz has urged Neymar to join Chelsea after the Brazil striker admitted he wants to move to Europe. The teenage Santos star scored twice against Scotland at the Emirates, watched by scouts from Juventus and Barcelona.

Chelsea twice tried to buy the 19-year-old last year before he opted to stay in South America. But now Luiz, who has become an instant hit at Stamford Bridge after joining in January, said he wants Neymar to join him and their countryman Ramires in West London.

“I am very happy, because I’m at one of the best teams in the world,” said former Benfica defender Luiz. “I would love it if Neymar came to Chelsea. He is going to be one of the best players in the world.”

Any transfer will be complicated by the fact that, last year, Santos sold on 10 per cent of his future transfer fee to an investment company.

SOURCE: Daily Mirror

Whilst clearly Neymar is developing a names of himself as something of a ‘diver’ there is also no doubting he has a great deal of potential and though the youngster has stated his desire to play in Spain or Italy rather than move to the Premier League, David Luiz would like the Blues to make an offer for the Santos teenager.

Luiz himself has started very brightly since his move from Benfica and it is true that Carlo Ancelotti and Roman Abramovich appear to be looking to build a new generation of talent and given that strikers Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka are both heading towards the end of their careers, perhaps a move for Neymar would be a wise, if expensive, one.

source

Read more...

Aston Villa Hope to Replace Gerard Houllier With Everton Manager David Moyes

Villa Park to turn to Goodison Park boss this summer?

Aston Villa will put Everton manager David Moyes top of their short list this summer, with Gerard Houllier set to leave even if the club survive in the Premier League.
Chief executive Paul Faulkner said their ‘best chance of staying up is with Gerard’, but they have reserve-team boss Kevin McDonald available as a caretaker if results continue to slide.

SOURCE: Daily Mail

Would David Moyes elect to leave Everton for Villa Park? Would this be wise move? The Scot has made no secret about his displeasure at having to operate within very strict budgetary constraints, but would a move to Aston Villa not also have it’s own problems to deal with?

Moyes arrived at Goodison Park on March 14 2002 and has taken them to six top eight finishes in his eight full seasons, which is pretty good going and one can see why Randy Lerner would consider trying to nab the former Preston man, but is it a move that will appeal to the 47 year old Glaswegian?

source

Read more...

Manchester United Agree £17.5m Deal to Sign Atletico Madrid Keeper David De Gea: Spanish Press Claim La Liga side Have Accepted Offer

Old Trafford club to seal signing of promising Spaniard.

Manchester United have reportedly agreed a deal with Atletico Madrid to sign young keeper David De Gea this summer, according to reports in the Spanish press today. Sir Alex Ferguson has sent scouts to monitor the talented 20 year as the Old Trafford side look to replace Edwin van der Sar who is set to hang up his gloves and retire from the game this summer.

Spanish publication Sport suggests that a deal has been agreed between the two sides that will see the Spanish Under 21 international join Manchester United for a fee of €20m (£17.5m) dependent on the Madrid born goalie agreeing personal terms with the Premier League table toppers.

De Gea has shown maturity beyond his years to become the first choice custodian at the Vicente Calderon and helped his side to clinch the Europa League in his first season at the club last term. Ferguson has been linked to a myriad of potential replacements for Van der Sar with the likes of Manuel Neuer, Hugo Lloris, Maarten Stekelenburg and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina often being mentioned as possible purchases.

Atletico Madrid are reportedly in something of a financial predicament that has led to much speculation that some of their top talents may be offloaded this summer with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan linked with big money exits and the fact that Quique Sánchez Flores’s side are currently languishing in eight place and could miss out on European football altogether next term may force the club to sell to balance the books.

Manchester United brought in Anders Lindegaard as further back up and there has been much speculation that Tomasz Kuszczak will leave in the summer. Sir Alex Ferguson has been looking at bringing in top young talent to help build a new generation of players to mix with those coming through the youth ranks and the purchases of Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling appear to have paid off and David De Gea is seen by many as an ideal long term replacement for Edwin Van der Sar.

source

Read more...

David Beckham handed armband to skipper LA Galaxy

Former England captain David Beckham will skipper the Los Angeles Galaxy this weekend when they visit Real Salt Lake. Beckham has been handed the armband by Galaxy boss Bruce Arena with regular captain Landon Donovan away on international duty with the United States. 'Bruce has asked me to wear it,' Beckham told MLSsoccer.com. 'I'd be proud to wear it. I'm looking forward to that.' Logical choice: Galaxy boss Arena had no hesitation in handing Beckham the armband Beckham was initially made captain when he joined the club in 2007 from Real Madrid but relinquished the role to Donovan when he joined AC Milan on loan in 2009 and missed the start of the MLS season. Arena said the decision to turn back to Beckham, albeit on a one-off basis, was quite simple. 'He's a logical choice and he's worn the captain's armband here before and probably in a couple of other places as well,' he said. 'I don't think it's asking too much. It's not too overwhelming for him.'  Capello's five key questions ahead of England's Euro 2012 clash with WalesAdam, Bale, Vidic and co: Guide to the stars up for player of the year awardEight years after England debut, how did Jeffers become a Fox on the rocks?Carson called up to England squad to replace injured keeper Foster  Explore more:People: David Beckham Places: United Kingdom

source

Read more...