English Barclays Premiership 2007/2008

Arsenal

2007-06-24T14:40:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1886

Ground : Emirates Stadium

Capacity : 60432

Aston Villa

2007-06-24T15:19:00.001+07:00

Founded : 1874
Ground : Villa Park
Capacity : 43000

Birmingham City

2007-06-24T15:23:00.001+07:00

Founded : 1875
Ground : St Andrews
Capacity : 30009

Blackburn Rovers

2007-06-24T15:24:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1875
Ground : Ewood Park
Capacity : 31367

Bolton Wanderers

2007-06-24T15:33:00.001+07:00

Founded: 1874
Ground: Reebok Stadium
Capacity: 27879

Chelsea

2007-06-24T15:34:00.000+07:00

Founded: 1905
Ground: Stamford Bridge
Capacity: 42055

Derby County

2007-06-27T14:28:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1884
Ground : Pride Park Stadium
Capacity : 33597

Everton

2007-06-27T14:30:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1878
Ground : Goodison Park
Capacity : 40170

Fulham

2007-06-27T14:31:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1879
Ground : Craven Cottage
Capacity : 24500

Liverpool

2007-06-27T14:33:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1892
Ground : Anfield
Capacity : 45362

Manchester City

2007-06-27T14:36:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1887
Ground : City of Manchester Stadium
Capacity : 48000

Manchester United

2007-06-27T14:37:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1878
Ground : Old Trafford
Capacity : 76000

Middlesbrough

2007-06-27T14:40:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1876
Ground : The Riverside Stadium
Capacity : 34500

Newcastle United

2007-06-27T14:41:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1892
Ground : St James' Park
Capacity : 52193

Portsmouth

2007-06-27T14:43:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1898
Ground : Fratton Park
Capacity : 20288

Reading

2007-06-27T14:45:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1871
Ground : Madejski Stadium
Capacity : 24200

Sunderland

2007-06-27T14:46:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1879
Ground : Stadium of Light
Capacity : 49000

Tottenham Hotspur

2007-06-27T14:48:00.001+07:00

Founded : 1882
Ground : White Hart Lane
Capacity : 36236

West Ham United

2007-06-27T14:48:00.002+07:00

Founded : 1895
Ground : Upton Park
Capacity : 35640

Wigan Athletic

2007-06-27T14:50:00.000+07:00

Founded : 1932
Ground : JJB Stadium
Capacity : 25000

Scholes: I stopped enjoying it

2007-07-23T01:18:00.001+07:00

Paul Scholes has revealed he retired from international football because he 'stopped enjoying it'.

The Manchester United midfielder quit the England fold in 2004 and he has now admitted the reasons behind hanging up his international boots.

"I'd stopped enjoying it," Scholes told the News of the World.

"Maybe it was just because I wasn't playing very well.

"I like being at home and there was an awful lot of time away from my family."

Scholes, who has 66 England caps to his name, produced rejuvenated form last season as he helped guide United to the Premier League title.

However, the 32-year-old has ruled out an England comeback, despite rumours pushing for his return.

"Quitting international football has helped me quite a bit," Scholes added.

"It's always nice to have a 10-day break in international week after so many games.

"I feel better for deciding. I'd like to think I can play longer than if I was playing for England.

"I have been lucky to not have too many serious injuries so I hope I can carry on like that."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Peter Fraser - Created on 22 Jul 2007

Southgate has Yak faith

2007-07-23T01:16:00.001+07:00

Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate remains confident that he will be able to call on Yakubu Aiyegbeni's services next season.

The Nigerian is understood to be unsettled on Teesside, but as yet no club have made a suitable approach to Boro.

The likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City, Portsmouth and West Ham are all thought to be keeping tabs on the situation - but Yakubu has started pre-season with Boro and Southgate wants it to stay that way.

"Yakubu is still part of my plans, absolutely," said Southgate.

"He has been with us in Austria and worked very hard with everybody else.

"I read the speculation the same as everybody else but we have had no contact from any other club.

"Whether people are trying to unsettle the player I don't know, but he seems very happy to be back with us having reported back from Nigeria and we are looking to him as being a big part of our team."

Meanwhile, former Hartlepool boss Martin Scott has been appointed Boro's new Under-18 coach.

"I’m really excited about the chance to work with Boro’s excellent young players," said Scott.

"The quality of players here is excellent and hopefully I can use my experience to help them."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Graeme Bailey - Created on 21 Jul 2007

Swede explains Wigan exit

2007-07-23T01:15:00.001+07:00

Andreas Johansson admits the desire to play regularly prompted his departure from Wigan Athletic.

The Swedish midfielder has signed a three-year deal with AaB Aalborg in Denmark after a frustrating spell at The JJB Stadium.

During his two-and-a-half years with the club, Johansson was never able to establish himself in the team and started just four Premier League games last season.

Johansson concedes he enjoyed his stint in England, but needed to move on in order to play more often.

"I would have liked to have played more games and that's the only reason I want to move on," said Johansson in the Manchester Evening News.

"I've enjoyed my experience here and being involved in the incredible Wigan story."

Wigan boss Chris Hutchings had no complaints with Johansson's attitude and accepts it was 'frustrating' for AaB's new recruit.

Hutchings said: "Andreas worked tirelessly to get into the first team.

"Unfortunately he has never truly found a regular place, but not for the lack of trying.

"It's probably been frustrating for him, but he has never shown anything other than total professionalism.

"He's never complained, always had a smile on his face around the training ground, and I wish him all the best because he's been a pleasure to have around the place."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Mark Buckingham - Created on 21 Jul 2007

Fergie hopeful on Tevez

2007-07-19T01:19:00.000+07:00

Sir Alex Ferguson remains hopeful Carlos Tevez will secure his summer move to Manchester United.

The Red Devils have been locked in talks for the Argentine star with Tevez set to undergo an Old Trafford medical later this week.

The deal has dragged on due to Tevez's contractual situation with United growing increasingly frustrated at the complexity of the transfer.

However, speaking after United's 2-2 draw with Urawa Red Diamonds, the Ferguson remains hopeful Tevez will begin the new season a Red.

"I hope Carlos Tevez arrives....things are bowling along," Ferguson told MUTV.

Second-half goals from Darren Fletcher and Cristiano Ronaldo turned around a one-goal deficit and Ferguson was not too down about drawing their Far East opener.

"We tired a bit in the second half," he added. "Understandable really with the long journey yesterday - 14, 15 hours travel and they found it difficult to sleep on the first night.

"They've applied themselves very well I think, and played some good football at times. We managed to give a few of them a good run-out tonight so we're happy with that."

Buck: No rush on contracts

2007-07-18T18:45:00.002+07:00

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck says the club are in no rush to sort out the futures of John Terry and Frank Lampard.

The England duo have yet to agree new deals at Stamford Bridge with contract talks stalling between all parties.

It has been feared that the highly-influential pair could leave the club if they do not get the right offers with a number of top clubs keeping tabs on the duo's situation.

Buck is remaining calm about the futures of the duo as they both have two years to run on their current contracts.

"I'm hopeful we will be able to sort all these contracts out but it's not something where there are negotiations every day," said Buck.

"I don't see there's a great rush but I do think they should be done properly.

"When there's approximately two years to go you want to think about re-signing the players, assuming you want to keep them because it preserves their transfer values.

"But I don't think you have to sign them when it's exactly two years.

"Sure we would like to get them done but there's no deadline and there doesn't need to be."

Source : www.skysports.com
By Peter ORourke - Created on 17 Jul 2007