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Weekly Football News 28 11 11
Weekly Soccer News, November 28, 2011
Shock and surprise at Speed passing
The sad death of Wales manager and former national team captain Gary Speed aged 42 has prompted one of the biggest outpourings of grief within the football community because his popularity, according to former team-mates and managers across the UK.
Speed, who won the First Division title with Leeds United in the early 1990s before going on to play for Newcastle United, Everton, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United, took his own life on Sunday morning.
Shock and surprise have been reiterated by all those who knew the affable Speed, who guided Wales’ recent upturn in international fortunes as manager after winning a record 85 caps as a player.
Speed was awarded an MBE in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours list and leaves behind his wife Louise and two sons.
We are still a fantastic team: Alves
Barcelona defender Dani Alves is targeting the Spanish season’s first El Clasico derby on 10 December at the Bernabeu as a crucial point in this year’s La Liga after the champions dropped six points behind rivals Real Madrid over the weekend.
Real continue to set the pace after a 4-1 derby win over Atletico, while Barca once again struggled outside Catalonia, losing 1-0 at Getafe.
“A nine-point difference - if we lose at the Bernabeu - would be tremendous but I am not thinking like that because we are going to bounce back,” claimed the Brazilian after the loss at Getafe.
“We will go and compete as we always do.
"Our margin for error is now over and we must get ourselves ready for the challenge. You cannot go from being a fantastic team to being nothing.”
Mancini blames Liverpool’s antics for Balotelli’s red card
Roberto Mancini, the Manchester City manager, has accused the Liverpool players of intimidating the referee into sending off Mario Balotelli in Sunday’s pulsating 1-1 draw at Anfield.
The combustible Italian striker was dismissed after receiving a second yellow card for an alleged elbow on central defender Martin Skrtel – but only after referee Martin Atkinson was surrounded by Liverpool players demanding a second caution.
“My impression is the referee gave a free kick and didn’t want to give the yellow card, but he did after all the Liverpool players went there,” Mancini said after a game in which the Italian manager had goalkeeper Joe Hart to thank for salvaging a draw.
“I’m disappointed with him [Balotelli] for the first yellow card but not for the second. I have said many times Mario can do everything. We can’t change him in one month and today he didn’t deserve it.
“The last three months he has played well and scored goals. He is an important player for us.”
Beckham delays decision on future
David Beckham has postponed making a decision on his future until after LA Galaxy’s post-season tour in December.
Reports that the 36-year-old midfielder has already agreed to sign for PSG are reported to be premature, although it is clear that Beckham will choose between joining the ambitious French club – where he would link back up with Brazilian manager Leonardo who he played under at Milan – or take up the option of a one-year extension with Galaxy.
The recently crowned MLS champions flew to Indonesia on Saturday and will play the national team in Jakarta on Wednesday before facing the Philippines national side in Manila and Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory.
Compiled by Marc Fox
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