..::Football II::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Dinamo Moscow looking for fans involved in paintball attack

Russian Premier League side Dinamo Moscow has vowed to find and discover a group of fans that assaulted club players and staff on Friday.

Friday, a group of supporters dressed in camouflage unleashed a paintball attack on club players and coaching staff at Dinamo's training ground, leaving behind flyers threatening the club's foreign players and demanding improved results. Dinamo has lost eight of its 11 matches so far this season.

"We're set to use all the resources we have at our disposal to discover those responsible and bring them to court," said a statement on the club's official website. "We are also set to make the names of those responsible public."

The attack has left some Dinamo players in fear for their safety.

"I just can't find the right words," midfielder Alan Gatagov told R-Sport. "What are we supposed to do now? Should each of us hire a personal bodyguard? I was hit in the back of the head when they shot at us. Lots of players were also hit."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Pogba: Vieira advised me to join Juventus

Juventus' teen prospect Paul Pogba has spoken of how his desire to join the Serie A leader blossomed over the summer, after he opted to leave Manchester United when his contract expired.

Fresh from scoring his first goal in Bianconeri colors during the team's 2-0 victory over Napoli on Saturday, the 19-year-old highlighted the role former France and Juventus midfielder Patrick Vieira played in helping him select his destination of choice.

"There were other teams interested in me over the summer, but I wanted to sign for Juventus," said Pogba to Sky Sport Italia. "Many French champions have played here. I spoke to Vieira and he advised me to come to Juventus. I’m really happy and proud of my first goal in the black and white stripes. In those moments you don’t think about anything. You try to shoot and that’s all."

Joining the France Under-21 international on the scoreboard in Turin was defender Martin Caceres, who similarly came off the bench to make an immediate impact.

"I’m very happy about my goal, but above all for the victory itself, which came at the end of an even and difficult game," stated the Uruguayan international. "I’d like to congratulate everyone on the success. Once again we showed that our strength lies within the team. This particular game isn’t decisive as far as the Scudetto’s concerned however. There are still many games to go before the end of the season.”

Napoli's defeat saw Antonio Conte's men open up a three-point gap at the top of the league over the Partenopei, and playmaker Marek Hamsik says that they will need to learn from the result.

"We need to reflect on this result, and then forget it, because it is a painful one," said the 25-year-old to reporters after the match. "We could have done more up front. We weren't as dangerous on the counterattack as we know we can be."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Vilanova perplexed by referee's performance during victory over Deportivo

Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova says that he was unable to fathom certain decisions made by referee Jose Paradas as his side scraped to a 5-4 victory over Deportivo on Saturday.

The Camp Nou outfit went up by a three-goal margin within the opening 20 minutes, but Javier Mascherano's ejectionand a debatable penalty awarded to the host almost led to Barca surrendering its advantage.

"I was surprised at Cesc Fabregas' caution over celebrating a goal," said Vilanova to reporters. "You [journalists] have better images to judge his performance though.

"The penalty broke our rhythm. Before that, I had never seen our team play so well in the first 20 minutes.

"I introduced Xavi [after Mascherano's sending-off] because with 10 men, I wanted more control. He was fresh and could ensure that."

Long-serving keeper Victor Valdes' mistakes proved directly responsible for several of the promoted side's goals, but Vilanova says that he will stand by his first-choice custodian.

"Valdes has been giving us so much over so many years that we cannot doubt him at this point."

The 30-year-old has appeared in all of the Primera Division leader's games so far, conceding 11 goals in eight starts this season.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Allegri fears possible relegation battle for AC Milan

AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was unable to explain how his side managed to end up losing, after watching it slump to a 3-2 defeat to Lazio on Saturday evening.

The Rossoneri were trailing by a three-goal margin by the 50th minute, with subsequent goals from Nigel de Jong and Stephan El Shaarawy unable to spark a successful fightback at the Olimpico in Rome.

"Tonight, the team did create chances and worked hard," Allegri said to reporters after the match. "We've got to start winning games however, or we risk being embroiled in the relegation zone.

"We paid the price for Lazio's only chances in the first half unfortunately, and must learn to avoid errors, even if there were good points to take from this game.

"Recently, the team has not been getting the results it deserves. A coach will always be under examination, but we must keep working hard to climb back up the table."

The loss to Inter during the Milan derby and the latest capitulation to Vladimir Petkovic's men mean that Allegri has overseen the club's worst start to a league campaign in over 70 years.

Despite hovering just two points outside the bottom three in Serie A, the Milan board has, so far, continuously stood by their coach, maintaining that he has its full support.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Lazio 3-2 AC Milan: Clinical Klose decides five-goal thriller

Lazio heaped more misery on AC Milan by holding on to record a 3-2 victory over the struggling Rossoneri at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday night.

The visitors fell behind to a deflected effort from Hernanes midway through the first half before Antonio Candreva doubled the Biancocelesti's advantage with a stunning strike just before the interval.

Miroslav Klose made it 3-0 early in the second half and although Nigel de Jong and Stephan El Shaarawy dragged Milan back into the game after the introduction of the fit-again Alexandre Pato, last season's runner-up was unable to complete what would have been a remarkable comeback.

Even though the visiting side had made its worst start to a Serie A campaign in 80 years, the under-pressure Massimiliano Allegri looked like he did not have a care in the world before kick-off.

The Rossoneri coach was given very little cause for concern during an opening quarter in which Milan coped comfortably with what little Lazio had to offer going forward, while at the same time threatening sporadically themselves.

However, when it comes to struggling sides, anything that can go wrong, usually does go wrong, and so it was that the visitors fell behind 25 minutes in when Hernanes twisted and turned his way past Daniele Bonera before unleashing a speculative effort which struck the defender’s outstretched leg and looped up and over the stranded Marco Amelia.

Fortune frowned on Milan again just moments later when El Shaarawy, having latched onto a through-ball from Antonio Nocerino, fired the ball through the legs of Albano Bizzarri only to see Andre Dias seemingly come from nowhere to clear off the line.

It was hit with another devastating psychological blow just before the break when Candreva unleashed a long-range drive that seemed to swerve in several different directions on its way past an understandably bemused Amelia.

Despite the benefit of 15 minutes’ respite, Milan still appeared punch drunk at the start of the second half. It would be difficult to offer another credible explanation for the way in which they defended Lazio’s third goal, with right-back Ignazio Abate missing in action and a dazed and confused Daniele Bonera staggering about the box as Klose clinically volleyed home Candreva’s measured cross from the right wing.

That looked like the knockout blow but Milan kept swinging and their fighting spirit was rewarded with a goal from De Jong, who did well to get his toe on Urby Emanuelson’s low, in-swinging free kick.

Suddenly it was the hosts who looked fragile - both mentally and defensively - and Milan set up a fascinating finale when El Shaarawy cut in from the left with just over 10 minutes to go and curled the ball into the bottom corner.

Milan poured forward in search of an equaliser but to no avail, meaning it remains 12th in the standings. Lazio also stay where they are, but the third-placed Biancocelesti are now just one point behind second-placed Napoli.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'We should take Falcao' - Manchester City scout reveals interest in Atletico Madrid star

Manchester City chief scout Carlo Cancellieri believes Radamel Falcao is the only forward who could improve the Premier League champion's strike force.

Roberto Mancini's side is actively chasing additional attackers for January, with Goal.com revealing it has prepared a 25 million pound bid for Fiorentina ace Stevan Jovetic.

However, Cancellieri believes that the Montenegrin would not improve the squad at the Etihad, and that they should target the Colombian instead.

"He is an interesting player, he has quality," Cancellieri told tuttomercatoweb.com, when asked about Jovetic. "But in attack City are already good, we're happy with Tevez, Aguero and Balotelli.

"Moreover, I believe that our players are better than Jovetic. He is a very good player, but he is not one who could make a difference such as Falcao. I spoke about him in recent days with Mancini. If we were to take a player in January, we should take Falcao. He is an important player, the only one who could make us take the leap."

Cancellieri also claimed that City has targeted Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets, but a move for either is unlikely due to Barcelona's reluctance to sell.

"A midfielder? We like Busquets and Fabregas a lot, but Barcelona don't want to give these two players."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Deportivo 4-5 Barcelona: Messi hits hat trick as the Riazor rains goals

Barcelona made it 12 matches unbeaten in La Liga with a victory over Deportivo at the Riazor this evening, in a thrilling match that saw six goals scored before halftime.

Well-taken strikes from Jordi Alba, Cristian Tello and Lionel Messi made it 3-0 to Tito Vilanova's side inside 20 minutes, before Pizzi reduced the deficit with a penalty. Alex Bergantinos then beat Valdes with a half volley from distance before Messi made it 4-2 with a low finish from 15 yards shortly before the break.

Pizzi grabbed his second with a fine free kick shortly after halftime before Barcelona's Javier Mascherano was sent off for a second yellow card after an altercation with Riki. Messi completed his hat trick with an explosive run and finish in the 77th minute, but there was still time for more drama as Alba sent a volley past his own goalkeeper Victor Valdes to make it 5-4.

The visitors gave a firm signal of their intentions for this match by taking the lead after just three minutes through Jordi Alba. The Spain international took a pass from Cesc Fabregas in his stride brilliantly before stroking a shot past Dani Aranzubia to make it 1-0 to Barcelona.

Within five minutes they had increased their lead to two, after a driving run and clipped pass from Lionel Messi found Cristian Tello on the right. The youngster immediately set off for goal, turning the Deportivo left back Ayoze inside-out on the edge of the box before hammering a low shot between the legs of Aranzubia.

Not to be outdone by the goalscoring exploits of his teammates, Lionel Messi soon added his name to the scoresheet, smashing in Barcelona's third with his left foot from 18 yards after a delightful backheel from Fabregas had pulled Deportivo's two center backs Carlos Marchena and Ze Castro out of position and cleared the way to goal for his Argentine teammate.

Despite their imperious attacking play Barcelona offered Deportivo a chance to get back in to the match when Javier Mascherano caught Pizzi with a sliding challenge as he burst into the penalty area. The referee awarded a penalty despite the Barcelona players suggesting the foul was outside the box, and Pizzi wasted no time in stepping up to take the spot kick he had won and confidently dispatching it past Victor Valdes to reduce the deficit to 3-1.

Deportivo struck again shortly after through Alex Bergantinos, the midfielder making it 3-2 in the 37th minute with a well-struck half volley from the edge of the box that ricocheted off Valdes and into the back of the net.

The flurry of first-half goals did not stop there though, as Messi scored the sixth goal of the half, and his second of the evening, running on to a fine outside-of-the-boot pass from Fabregas before firing a low shot into the bottom left-hand corner of Aranzubia's goal.

Any who thought the second half would not live up to the first were given a jolt in the 47th minute as Pizzi curled an inch-perfect free kick into the top right corner from 25 yards to cut Barcelona's lead to just one and ensure the second 45 minutes continued in a similar vein to the first.

Minutes after Pizzi had made it 4-3, Barcelona was reduced to ten men following the sending off of Javier Mascherano for a second bookable offense. Referee Jose Paradas deemed the Argentine to have caught Riki with a flailing arm after the striker dribbled towards him but replays showed that he got the ball and made little contact with the Deportivo player.

Messi then came within millimeters of completing his hat trick from a set piece as his vicious free kick from 30 yards came cannoning back off Aranzubia's left-hand post and away to safety.

After hitting the crossbar with a wicked free kick, Messi did eventually notch his third of the night in the 77th minute. After dispossessing Ze Castro 45 yards from goal, the Argentine powered towards the Deportivo goal before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the bottom right corner with his left foot.

A moment of madness from Alba supplied Deportivo with a lifeline, as he volleyed the ball into his own net under pressure from Riki inside the Barcelona penalty area to make the score 5-4.

Deportivo committed men forward late on as it went in search of an equalizer but Barcelona's makeshift defense managed to withstand the pressure and hold out for all three points to retain its place atop of La Liga.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Deportivo Vs Barcelona patta gemak gihin

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League 2012.10.21 Fixtures

Barclays Premier League 2012.10.21 Fixtures

Sunderland Vs Newcastle United

QPR Vs Everton

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

La Liga 2012.10.21 Fixtures

La Liga 2012.10.21 Fixtures


Getafe Vs Levante

Espanyol Vs Rayo Vallecano

Granada Vs Real Zaragoza

Osasuna Vs Real Betis

Real Sociedad Vs Atletico Madrid​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A 2012.10.21 Fixtures

Serie A 2012.10.21 Fixtures​

Cagliari Vs Bologna​

Atalanta Vs Siena​

Chievo Vs Fiorentina​

Inter Vs Catania​

Palermo Vs Torino​

Parma Vs Sampdoria​

Udinese Vs Pescara​

Genoa Vs Roma​

 

[මුගටියා]

'We should take Falcao' - Manchester City scout reveals interest in Atletico Madrid star

Manchester City chief scout Carlo Cancellieri believes Radamel Falcao is the only forward who could improve the Premier League champion's strike force.

Roberto Mancini's side is actively chasing additional attackers for January, with Goal.com revealing it has prepared a 25 million pound bid for Fiorentina ace Stevan Jovetic.

However, Cancellieri believes that the Montenegrin would not improve the squad at the Etihad, and that they should target the Colombian instead.

"He is an interesting player, he has quality," Cancellieri told tuttomercatoweb.com, when asked about Jovetic. "But in attack City are already good, we're happy with Tevez, Aguero and Balotelli.

"Moreover, I believe that our players are better than Jovetic. He is a very good player, but he is not one who could make a difference such as Falcao. I spoke about him in recent days with Mancini. If we were to take a player in January, we should take Falcao. He is an important player, the only one who could make us take the leap."

Cancellieri also claimed that City has targeted Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets, but a move for either is unlikely due to Barcelona's reluctance to sell.

"A midfielder? We like Busquets and Fabregas a lot, but Barcelona don't want to give these two players."

munta nm kochchara hitiyath madi!

 

[charitha chandi]

'We should take Falcao' - Manchester City scout reveals interest in Atletico Madrid star

Manchester City chief scout Carlo Cancellieri believes Radamel Falcao is the only forward who could improve the Premier League champion's strike force.

Roberto Mancini's side is actively chasing additional attackers for January, with Goal.com revealing it has prepared a 25 million pound bid for Fiorentina ace Stevan Jovetic.

However, Cancellieri believes that the Montenegrin would not improve the squad at the Etihad, and that they should target the Colombian instead.

"He is an interesting player, he has quality," Cancellieri told tuttomercatoweb.com, when asked about Jovetic. "But in attack City are already good, we're happy with Tevez, Aguero and Balotelli.

"Moreover, I believe that our players are better than Jovetic. He is a very good player, but he is not one who could make a difference such as Falcao. I spoke about him in recent days with Mancini. If we were to take a player in January, we should take Falcao. He is an important player, the only one who could make us take the leap."

Cancellieri also claimed that City has targeted Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets, but a move for either is unlikely due to Barcelona's reluctance to sell.

"A midfielder? We like Busquets and Fabregas a lot, but Barcelona don't want to give these two players."

mewata num mala paninawa...! dzeko,balotelli,aguero,Tevez madida..!

 

[charitha chandi]

Tottenham 2-4 Chelsea: Marvellous Mata inspires Chelsea comeback

Di Matteo: Chelsea is more than Mata and Hazard

Chelsea's forward line caught the eye again during their 4-2 win over Tottenham but manager Roberto Di Matteo insists that the result was down to more than their brilliance.


Juan Mata scored two and set up another while Eden Hazard had a pair of assists and Oscar continued to show signs of his talent in a rip-roaring game at White Hart Lane.

"You focus on those players but, if you look at Mikel and Ramires in midfield, what kind of work they did and our full-backs and defence ... we always focus on the team," Di Matteo told Sky Sports after the match.

"I know those are the ones who are more creative and probably smoother on the eye to watch but we have a good team and we showed the team spirit as well."

The Italian was thrilled with his team's performance, having come back from a 2-1 deficit following Spurs' two-goal burst after halftime.

"If you look at the whole game, it probably was only those 10-12 minutes in the second half where Tottenham got back into the game, with the early goal after halftime, where we lost a little bit of our control," he observed.

"For the rest of the game, I think we very much took the initiative and had a lot of control of the game, created a number of chances and we deservedly won."

There are always question marks following international breaks, but Di Matteo is happy with the way his team responded on Saturday.

"The way we're playing, it's very pleasing for us," he said. "We go away from home and we have the same attitude as at home; we want to play forward, we want to keep the possession, we want to control the game and try to be the team who impose ourselves on the opposition."

The Chelsea board announced on Saturday morning that captain John Terry had been given a "very, very heavy fine" after not appealing a punishment for racial abuse and Di Matteo admitted that the affair had been a testing period.

"It's been hard for us as a club to deal with all these issues but today we showed that we can channel our energy to football, which is our priority," he added.

"The board decides what they want to do and they decided to announce it – and that's the way it is. I'm fully aware of what's going on. I support the decision and was involved in it and ultimately they make the decision."

Hazard & Mata 2nnama Patta

and oscar..!

Tottenham match eka godak amarui ... mata dan num confident team eka gana...! eth Toress ge finishing gana sathutu wenna ba..
mokada toress godak chance miss kala... kalin nidahasata heathu thibba support kernna MFs hetiya na kiyala..! dan ehema kiyanna ba.. toress place wenawa madi... J.MATA match eka finish wela eka gana kiwwa....!

and David luiz dan hondata defend keranawa..! pissu kelinna na....

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Crystal Palace give Bolton permission to speak to Freedman

Bolton has been granted permission to enter discussions with Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman about its vacant managerial post.

The Trotters have been without a permanent coach since sacking Owen Coyle on Oct. 9 and has had previous attempts to begin negotiations blocked by the fellow Championship side. Crystal Palace released a statement on Monday via its website, though, which announced that it has given Bolton permission to approach Freedman.

"Following further discussions throughout the day, Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that permission has been granted for Dougie Freedman to speak to Bolton Wanderers regarding their vacant managerial position," the club wrote in the statement.

The move by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside is not an unexpected one, as caretaker manager Jimmy Phillips revealed ahead of his side's clash with Wolves.

"Phil said from the outset he'd be open and honest with us and he came to the training ground yesterday [Sunday] and said he had made contact with Palace to speak to Dougie Freedman," Phillips told reporters.

When asked about whether he would consider taking the manager's job at the Reebok on a more permanent basis, Phillips remained coy.

"We've said all along, Phil and Eddie [Davies, the owner] will be the people who pick the next manager of Bolton Wanderers," he stated. "It won't be for anybody to put their names in the ring and suggest they want to be manager. In the meantime we said we would work our hardest to get the best out of the players."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

QPR 1-1 Everton: QPR stays bottom despite Pienaar red

LONDON -- If there was any doubt that QPR's ramshackle collection of free transfers and so-called mercenaries were longing for the post-Mark Hughes era, pining for Harry Redknapp perhaps, it evaporated in a pulsating game at Loftus Road in which the points were shared with Everton in a 1-1 draw.

The home side was full of commitment and attacking verve, largely inspired by the enigmatic Adel Taarabt and the mercurial Esteban Granero in a first half that simply overwhelmed a strangely flat Everton.

If this was a sign of life without Marouane Fellaini, who missed the game through injury, David Moyes will need all his transfer market acumen to pick up a suitable replacement. However, before Samba Diakite, Park Ji-Sung, Taarabt and Granero found their groove and imposed their game, Hughes' side had the lead.

With two attack-minded lineups on display, who would guess the opening goal would be created by QPR's Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar? The shot-stopper punched a corner clear inside four minutes and sparked a counterattack led by Junior Hoilett. The Canadian carried the ball under pressure, over the halfway line, and used Taarabt's intelligent dummy run to find space before hitting a decent shot from 20-yards that was ultimately deflected past Tim Howard by Leighton Baines.

Minutes later, Howard's slip allowed Hoilett to pressure him into a poor clearance and after some neat interplay on the edge of the box, Hughes was unlucky not to see his side double the lead as a back-post cross sailed just out of reach.

Everton responded with a Nikica Jelavic free kick but Cesar was more than equal to the Croat's effort, turning it wide. Though Granero and Co. found a rhythm sorely missed under Hughes this season, QPR was undone after a major lapse in concentration.

A deep Steven Pienaar free kick should be routine for a defense containing Ryan Nelsen and Stephane Mbia, but Sylvain Distin found himself unmarked just yards out. His low header at the far post rebounded back into play and was turned in by Cesar in an unfortunate twist to a solid 45 minutes.

It nearly got worse for the home as the imposing Mbia tangled with Jelavic in the box, before Phil Jagielka powered a free header onto the crossbar. QPR may have had the better of the half but Moyes would go into the break aggrieved that his side didn't hold the lead.

Park almost connected with Diakite's center after a lung busting run, only to see his prod denied by a superb lunging block from Jagielka before two separate incidents turned the game on its head. Pienaar, who had been unusually subdued, collected two bookings in 10 minutes for tackles that looked relatively innocuous.

With the onus on QPR, still chasing that elusive first Premier League victory, Hughes introduced Djibril Cisse for the frustrating Bobby Zamora, but not before Cesar denied Jagielka with a fine point-blank save and Mbia deflected Kevin Mirallas' goal-bound effort over the bar.

On 80 minutes, QPR appeared to be denied a stonewall penalty when Seamus Coleman's loose touch led to him tripping Hoilett, but referee Jon Moss waved play on. This only increased the drama though, and Hoilett drew a splendid save from Everton's American shot stopper.

Cisse worked hard to create the one chance he needed but by the time he found room for a shot, he was too wide to trouble Howard's goal. It wasn't the three points Hughes and QPR desired, but the signs were promising, whereas Everton will feel proud to come away with a result after Pienaar's red card.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter 2-0 Catania: Cassano and Palacio maintain Nerazzurri's league-best winning streak

Inter Milan stretched its winning streak in Serie A to four matches, emerging as a comfortable 2-0 winner over Catania at San Siro.

Goals from Antonio Cassano and Rodrigo Palacio proved good enough to beat Rolando Maran's team, as the 2010 champions dominated for large periods of the game. Catania had good chances in the first half but couldn't capitalize on them, and in the end was no match for its illustrious opponent.

The Nerazzuri began to take control of the match midway through the first half, and after Joel Obi tested goalkeeper Mariano Andujar from range, they took a deserved lead in the 28th minute. Diego Milito found Esteban Cambiasso in space on the edge of the area, and the Argentina midfielder produced an inch-perfect cross to the back post where Cassano headed home for his fifth goal of the season.

Andrea Stramaccioni's team continued to create the better chances, as Milito's low shot was fumbled round the post by Andujar whilst Palacio headed wide when well placed. Cassano was replaced by Ricardo Alvarez with 20 minutes remaining, and the forward almost made an instant impact as he danced through the Rossazzuri defense, but he was denied by a last-ditch block by Nicolas Spolli.

The home side continued to push for a second goal and almost sealed the win when Andrea Ranocchia's header came back off the post after another excellent centered ball from Cambiasso. Alvarez should have done better when in space but fired straight at Andujar, but the three points were confirmed when Palacio controlled Milito's reverse pass on his chest and volleyed home.

Inter is noew level with Lazio for third place in Serie A, with both teams on 18 points and a matching +7 goal differential, trailing leader Juventus by four points.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mepara Inter hodai

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Butt returns to Manchester United as coach

Former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt has returned to the club in a coaching capacity, aiming to gain experience ahead of a possible future in management.

The 37-year-old, who was part of the famous class of 1992 alongside the likes of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and David Beckham, made 387 appearances for the senior team before moving to Newcastle in 2004. Butt ended his playing career in 2011 after a brief spell in China and subsequently obtained his coaching badges, and he is set to earn his stripes with United reserve coach Warren Joyce before looking for a top job of his own.

"Nicky is with the reserves," United boss Sir Alex Ferguson told the club's official website. "He's completed his badges and is just getting a bit of experience with us, so there's every chance of [him going into management].

"He's had a few opportunities to take on jobs but wanted just a wee bit of a chance to revisit the training ground again to get himself back into sync, which we're happy to do, because he was a fantastic servant to us. I don't know what his long-term future is but, in the meantime, he's helping out with the reserves."

In addition to his glittering career at Old Trafford, during which he won a UEFA Champions League trophy and six Premier League medals, Butt also made 39 appearances for England, and United youngster Tom Thorpe welcomed his input.

"It's brilliant," the defender enthused, "Especially when a player with a lot of experience comes back and has done it from an early age. He was at the club for quite a while and has gone through to the first team. It's great for him to pass on his experience and different ways of playing with different styles."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Jol: Baird giving Fulham new identity in midfield

Fulham manager Martin Jol is delighted with Chris Baird's adaptation from defense to midfield and sees potential longevity in his successful transition.


The Northern Irishman has spent the majority of his playing career in the back line, having featured at both right back and center back but at times struggled to hold down a first-team place at Craven Cottage under previous managers Roy Hodgson and Mark Hughes - and even under Jol himself.

Due to the summer sales of midfield stalwarts Danny Murphy, Mousa Dembele and Dickson Etuhu, though, and the injury to Mahamadou Diarra, the 30 year-old has taken the opportunity and blossomed in his new position.

"This is a new role for Chris," Jol told reporters. "I explained to him that we needed a new identity in midfield and that he could help. He certainly did that. He is a good football player and had a good education at Southampton. Last year he played right back and center back, and I'm very pleased that he's so versatile and that he could do that job for us.

"He's important to us. He's getting fitter and fitter. He is playing for the national team in midfield now too, which is good, and they got a good result against Portugal. He is probably on top of his game and that was exactly what we needed."

Jol also expressed his side's desire to play the beautiful game and how Baird has adopted this football philosophy in his new-found role within his passing style.

"My midfield must be good, because I need to get the ball to my quality players," Jol said. "Sometimes you see that it was probably a bit better last year, no mention of names, but that is a matter of practicing, exercising, but we have to play the ball forward.

"We have to be confident to link up. That is what we want and as soon as we don't do that we start to drop our style and drop our quality. I'm happy that Chris understands that and he wants to play."

The former Ajax boss also hailed the influence of Baird's early development at St. Mary's Stadium, insisting, "It's about education. When I came [to Fulham], they said he was a defensive fullback, and then, six months later, someone told me he was a midfield player. Then they said he was probably a typical center back, and then you get this split identity.

"I feel that Chris wants to play. Southampton helped him, because over the last two decades they've had a very good education. I'm very pleased that a rigid defender can be a very creative midfield player as well. He played in midfield for Hodgson as well, once or twice. That gave me a little bit of hope that he could do that for me as well. He did that."