Holger Stanislawski will leave St Pauli at the end of the Bundesliga season and is rumoured to be in line for the Hoffenheim job.Stanislawski, 41, became St Pauli coach in 2008, guiding the team to promotion from the 2. Bundesliga last season.
The Hamburg-based club have announced that Stanislawski will activate an opt-out clause to release him from his contract one season early.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim have confirmed that caretaker coach Marco Pezzaiuoli – promoted from assistant following the departure of Ralf Rangnick in January – will not stay beyond the end of the current campaign.
Hoffenheim are 10th in the Bundesliga, but have only recorded one victory in their last eight matches.
“Obviously, it was not easy for Marco with the coach changes and the players who left in the winter,” club manager Ernst Tanner said.
“But following the developments in the last weeks, we decided to go into the new season with another coach.”
Stanislawski has quickly been installed as the most likely candidate to assume control at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
“Stanislawski is a favourite, but I cannot say whether he will come,” Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp told the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper.
“He is always passionate about his team and is a coach who looks after his players.”
West Ham United midfielder Gary O’Neil will miss the remainder of the English Premier League season after undergoing surgery on his ankle.The 27-year-old will be missed as the Hammers try and avoid relegation in the last five games of the season.
O’Neil, who suffered the injury after a tackle from Nigel Reo-Coker in West Ham’s 2-1 loss against Aston Villa on April 16, has made eight appearances for the club since joining from Middlesbrough in January.
“I have got some joint damage in the ankle which they had to sort but I am told it went well,” O’Neil said.
“I am disappointed not to be involved for the last five games but (I’m) looking to get back as fast as I can next season.”
West Ham are two points from safety but face a tough trip to Stamford Bridge and second-placed Chelsea on Saturday.
O’Neil said he was ready to support his teammates while maintaining focus on his comeback.
“I have got my head around the timescale involved for my comeback. I have just got to keep my foot up for a few weeks and then take it from there,” O’Neil said.
Arsene Wenger is hoping for a ‘clean’ game against Stoke in a rematch of the clash that left midfielder Aaron Ramsey with a broken leg.Ramsey spent nine months on the sidelines after a Ryan Shawcross tackle last season and has only recently returned to Arsenal’s starting line-up and his fourth appearance for the club this season will be against the man almost ended the 20-year-old’s career.
“I said many times that only Aaron can forgive Shawcross,” Wenger said.
“He has been hurt and I don’t think that a debate is needed before the game. I believe Aaron is 20 years old, he has a long career in front of him, so the earlier the plays in Stoke the better it is.”
“The only thing that is important is to focus, to play well and win the game.”
“We cannot want to have a clean game and prepare football games like that.”
Ramsey scored the only goal in Arsenal’s win against Manchester United last week and will continue to deputise for the injured Cesc Fabregas who has a thigh problem.
Long-term absentee Thomas Vermaelen is fit again after recovering from an Achilles’ tendon injury.
Alongside the Welshman is likely to be Jack Wilshere whose recent inclusion in the provisional squad to play for England in the Under-21 European Championships in the summer has angered his club manager.
“I personally believe it does not have to be Jack Wilshere’s decision. It is the FA’s decision because only they can make this decision and they have to act in a responsible way,” Wenger said.
“You cannot ask Jack if he wants to play – do you really think he will say no? I don’t think that’s realistic.”
“I will ask Fabio Capello to consider the consequences of a boy who is 19 years old who has played around 50 games at the end of the season, who has played for the first team and then a tournament on the back of it.”
Central defender Johan Djourou will undergo a fitness test to assess his ankle and Abou Diaby is struggling with a calf problem. Gael Clicky could also miss out with a hamstring complaint.
David Ginola was a fantastic footballer as well as a fantastic advert for Pantene, shame the same can’t be said for Ian Wright, I mean he was a good footballer but the advert he did for Chicken Tonight, was car crash television. Trawling through the internet I found some absolute gems and it’s a shame I can’t do the Top 50 Football related ads, I mean who can ever forget the Paddy Power “You’re in the bath with Carlton Palmer advert”?
[divider]
The Good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUSpjZEhNU8
We have all experienced this moment down the park with our mates. Classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a6B95wP3fQ
Footballing Legends, an enclosed environment and one ball. This advert was never going to fail.
Arguably one of the greatest football advert ever made- no “cool” music, no flashy camera shots – just a great narrative from start to finish and some above average acting from a bunch of footballers. What I would have done to grow up in an era with these legends of the beautiful game.
[divider]
Continued on Page TWO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEGrbLFgj2g
Pure world class talent or pure world class editing? Either way, what an advert.
A fantastic tribute to grassroots football; Hackney Marshes and David Seaman, a combination I’d never though I’d see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy-3QHK7i-Y
Living the dream.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEIcJ9ugr7c
Lineker is still winning the Walkers battles nearly twenty years on (only this time against Lionel Ritchie)
[divider]
Continued on Page Three
The Bad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ-NwZQAwt4
This advert has all the ingredients of the perfect aftershave advert, a footballing icon and gorgeous girls but why does it just make me cringe.
This Sharpie permanent marker pens advert featuring David Beckham single handedly destroys the reputation the former Manchester United star has worked so hard achieved, some might say it leaves a permanent black mark on his record.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xf-4Gbqyni4
Ignoring the fact that Kevin Keegan looks like something out of ‘Fame’, this homoerotic advert is just terrible.
“After 90 minutes of pure hell, you’re gonna be thirsty” Right, cheers for that John; this ill advised Lucozade advert from the 1990s was shocking back then and it is safe to say it hasn’t become vintage TV over a decade later.
Good on Kev doing his part for road safety, however Keegan made a huge mistake and forgot about the publics ‘eye safety’ with the most horrendous choice of outfit…ever.
Continued on Page Four
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z23jLO1Yk0
Really Jamie? Are you sure?
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Nothing says oil filters like Pat Jennings making some impressive saves.
Gareth Southgate Pizza Hut Advert
Sadly for those who haven’t seen this ‘advert’ you will have to use your imagination as Southgate’s agent has scoured the net and removed all traces of evidence that this advert ever took place.
Just picture this, Chris Waddle, Stuart Pearce and Southgate eating pizza, bags over their heads and the worst line ever from Pearce “this time he’s hit the post!.” Priceless.
The Ugly
So this is what £50 million buys you.
FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage Face in a a baby Scan
A Justin Braun hat-trick helped Chivas USA to a surprise 3-2 win at New York Red Bulls in the MLS on Sunday.New York, who top the Eastern Conference, had a three-match winning streak broken in their last hit-out – a 1-1 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy on May 7.
A power blackout at Red Bull Arena delayed kick-off by 31 minutes, and New York seemed to be more affected when they conceded after just six minutes as Braun began his match in style.
Former Arsenal legend Thierry Henry scored his fifth goal in his last four matches as a 21st-minute response for the Red Bulls.
But Braun had a reply, netting again just after the half-hour mark.
The fans at the Red Bull Arena continued to be entertained as Canadian Dwayne De Rosario netted the fourth goal of the first half, courtesy of a 35th-minute penalty after English forward Luke Rodgers was bundled over in the area.
But the visitors could not be stopped and Justin Braun sealed his treble 11 minutes into the second half.
It was a remarkable showing for Braun, given they were his first goals since September 2010.
Chivas USA continued to push for a fourth goal to put match beyond doubt. They could not find it, but were well-deserved winners in New York.
FIFA has made CONCACAF acting president Lisle Austin’s ban worldwide, the governing body said on Thursday.Austin, who was deputising for the suspended former president Jack Warner, had been provisionally banned from the federation on Saturday for allegedly violating rules.
But FIFA said that ban had been extended to global.
“We can confirm that FIFA has today notified CONCACAF that the FIFA disciplinary committee has extended the provisional suspension of Lisle Austin at a worldwide level,” the body said in an email to Reuters.
Warner, along with Asian Football Confederation chairman Mohamed Bin Hammam, were both suspended after allegations of bribery.
CONCACAF are yet to explain the decision to suspend Austin, citing ‘apparent infringement’.
FIFA will not explain their decision either, only pointing to CONCACAF as the body who made the initial ban.
But Austin’s spokesman Ryan Toohey said he knew nothing of FIFA’s latest decision.
“Mr Austin has not been notified of any action by FIFA regarding any suspension. There is no existing suspension so there is nothing to extend,” he said.
“Lisle Austin remains acting president of CONCACAF and has urged FIFA to intervene and resolve these so-called leadership questions.”
Before FIFA’s statement, Austin said he was the victim and he planned to continue in his role as acting president.
“These actions and additional statements questioning my leadership are being engineered by a faction of CONCACAF attempting to unlawfully seize control,” he said.
“The actions and statements of these persons are beyond their authority and are neither the actions of, nor binding upon, CONCACAF. As acting president I will take all appropriate steps to remedy these actions.”
“The organisation is under attack from within by those who refuse to respect the statutes of CONCACAF and have no regard for the rights and interests of the members at large.”
“I will not stand idly by while this happens and hope, through FIFA intervention or other means, to restore order to CONCACAF as soon as possible.”
Prior to being suspended, Austin attempted to fire general secretary Chuck Blazer and was planning an audit of the organisation’s bank accounts.
Honduran Alfredo Hawit has been put in charge of the confederation for the time being.
Newcastle will be boosted ahead of the 2011/12 season by the news that French international winger Hatem Ben Arfa has returned to full fitness.
The 24-year-old had a promising start to his career at St James’ Park, scoring the winner against Everton on his full debut, but broke his leg in a challenge with Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong back in October. The bulk of the player’s rehabilitation has occurred in Clairefontaine in his homeland, but the ex-Marseille midfielder has revealed he is fit and available for selection.
“It was a very serious injury, of course, and took a long time to recover from, but I’m 100% fit now,” he told the club’s official website.
“A lot of my recovery was done at Clairefontaine, the French football centre, where I was under the control of the doctor who did the operation back in October. I also came back to Newcastle for various updates with the club’s medical staff here, then back to Clairefontaine to continue the recovery, and I managed to get a couple of breaks in as well because you need that to keep the morale going.
“And now I’m no longer under the doctor, so all the hard work has paid off. It was a very, very difficult few months and I’m really happy that now it’s all over and I can get cracking. I’m really eager to get back,” he continued.
The Tyneside club have had a busy summer in the transfer market thus far, and have signed two French players in the form of Yohan Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux, which is great news for Ben Arfa.
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“It’s good for my morale that we have signed such good players from France, players that I know and that I have played against. It’s going to be really good. I spoke to Sylvain Marveaux before he came here and it was a very good conversation. I told him it was the right place for Sylvain to come and I’m very glad he took my advice,” the Clamart born man concluded.
Newcastle open their 2011/12 Premier League campaign with a home game against Arsenal on August 13.
Juventus have signed Chile international Arturo Vidal from Bayer Leverkusen, allowing Felipe Melo to join Galatasaray on loan.Turin-based side Juventus, who finished seventh in Serie A last season, will reportedly pay an initial fee of 10.5 million euros for Vidal, rising to 12.5m with additional clauses.
Vidal, capped 34 times by Chile, joined Leverkusen from Colo-Colo in 2007, going on to score 15 times in 117 league appearances.
He helped Leverkusen to second place in the last Bundesliga campaign and will join Stephan Lichtsteiner, Reto Ziegler, Andrea Pirlo and Michele Pazienza as the fifth player to sign for Juventus in the off-season.
Vidal’s arrival coincided with the departure from Juventus of Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo, who joined Galatasary on a one-year loan deal.
The Turkish club have an option to sign Melo for 13 million euros at the end of the next season.
In other transfer news, former Manchester United and Real Madrid defender Gabriel Heinze has joined Roma from Marseille.
Argentine Heinze remained under contract at the Stade Velodrome until 2012, but is believed to have fallen out with Marseille officials last season.
No details of the transfer have been made public, but the 33-year-old has reportedly signed a one-year contract with the Serie A club.
Finally, Diego Capel has completed a switch from Spanish club Sevilla to Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon for 3.5 million euros.
Capel, 23, passed a medical on Friday and has signed a five-year contract with the Liga Sagres team.
He is the 12th player to join Sporting in the close-season as the squad undergoes a major overhaul.
Carlos Tevez’s hopes of signing for Corinthians appears to have fallen through after the Brazilians pulled out of a £40m move for the Manchester City striker. Rumours are suggesting that they are simply looking to play hard ball with City in order to drive down the asking price, given the transfer window in Brazil is set to shut within the next 48hrs.
Elsewhere Blackburn pulls out of their Indian tour; Luis Suarez hailed by Tabarez, while David Beckham is relishing the challenge against Manchester City – plus much more…
*
Breaking FFC News
Corinthians fail to sign Tevez
Blackburn back out of Indian tour
Tabarez hails Suarez masterclass
Beckham relishing City challenge
Modric all class, says Terry
Arsenal conduct their transfer business in private
Sir Alex Ferguson conceding defeat in transfer pursuit
Oxlade-Chamberlain seeks Premier League move
Harry wants Ade on the cheap
Elsewhere in the Press
Ferguson: Berbatov may want to leave United – Daily Telegraph
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Scudamore says Premier League could have goal-line technology next year – Daily Mail
McLeish: I’m big enough and ugly enough to handle stick from Villa fans – Mirror
Balotelli: Utd so right to fear City – Sun
Guardiola joins Barcelona’s public chorus over Fabregas – Independent
Last weeks disappointing draw away at Stoke wasn’t the start new Chelsea boss was hoping for and will be looking for a better performance in his first match at Stamford Bridge. His side lacked any sort of creativity from midfield although Fernando Torres looked like he was getting back to his best. Opponents West Brom travel to North London on the back of an opening day defeat to champions Manchester United.
It’s a tough start for Baggies boss Roy Hodgson having to play last seasons top two but his life will be made much easier with Peter Odemwingie set to return along with winger Jerome Thomas. Record signing Shane Long made a goal-scoring debut last weekend and Hodgson will be looking for him to do the same.
Chelsea on the other hand don’t have any major injury concerns with Michael Essien the only long-term absentee. David Luiz could be in contention after recovering from a knee injury. All eyes will be on Torres though after his encouraging display against Stoke and whether he can open his account for the season.
Frank Lampard: With creativity lacking in last week’s game Lampard will have to step up his game and form the link between midfield and attack to get Chelsea firing once again.
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Youssouf Mulumbu: He is the heart of Albions engine room and he’ll need to be ready to put in a massive shift to thwart Chelsea’s attacking threat.