Whilst we are in the midst of the most enthralling title race in the BPL era, towards the foot of the table things of an ominous nature appear to be taking
shape.
http://www.thetexansfootballpro.com/texans-jon-weeks-red-jersey/ . If reports of apparent bullying at Villa Park and training ground punch-ups at
Swansea were not bad enough for a pair of clubs whose recent form has dragged
them into the end of season relegation dog fight, then what to make of the
alleged leaking of Cardiffs starting XI ahead of their crucial encounter with
fellow strugglers, Crystal Palace on April 5th. Almost a week would pass before
we got the first indications of what Cardiff are now alleging. By this point the
club had fired a member of staff and suspended another over the leaking of
Solskjaers team to their relegation rival. Yesterday the BBC revealed Cardiff,
in the form of a five page letter through their lawyers, had filed a formal
complaint to the BPL. Within the letter it is alleged they have proof Palace
knew the Cardiff team the day before the match. The central character in this
saga appears to be Crystal Palaces sporting director Iain Moody, who was head of
player recruitment at Cardiff until he was fired without explanation back in
November. Cardiff further allege in their letter Crystal Palace manager Tony
Pulis was aware Moody, through his contacts at the Welsh club, was attempting to
obtain the Cardiff team. To his credit, in an interview with a UK tabloid,
Moody dismissed the allegations and referred to them as, ‘extraordinarily
untrue. Now add this into the mix. Dougie Freedman, who played for Palace in the
mid-1990s and went on to manage the club during the 2011/12 season, is alleged
by Cardiff to have mistakenly received a text message from Moody on April 4th.
The text explicitly detailed Cardiffs starting XI and is also reported to name
the source of the leak as Cardiff midfield player, Aron Gunnarsson. Freedman,
who had met Cardiff boss Solskjaer when they took their coaching licenses,
remained in touch with the ex-Manchester United player and called him after
receiving the text. Solskjaer is reported to have not registered any formal
complaint but had words with Pulis when they exchanged their team sheets an hour
before April 5ths kick off between the two clubs. For its part the BPL, through
a spokesperson, said it will stage an investigation. Cardiff is demanding the
3-0 result is nulled. In todays pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrows
match against West Ham, Tony Pulis said he was willing to meet the league over
the matter. In some circles Pulis is being mentioned as a candidate for the
manager of the year following the incredible turn around at Selhurst Park. When
the ex-Stoke boss took over in late November the club were firmly rooted at the
bottom of the table, remarkably they now sit in mid-table respectability with
the 11thspot. No matter what the outcome of the investigation, the fact this is
part of the public debate casts significant embarrassment for a league and comes
at such a pivotal time of the season. There is no precedent. Comparisons though
are been drawn to 2007s relegation battle - when West Ham and Sheffield United
were embroiled in legal action following West Hams last day relegation escape,
which consigned this seasons FA Cup semi-finalists to the Championship. Carlos
Tevez, who was on loan to West Ham, scored the winner at Old Trafford that day
in a match they had to win. However, as the Argentine strikers rights at that
time were owned by a 3rd party this was in serious contravention of BPL rules.
West Ham was found guilty and fined £5m by the league. Sheffield United took the
matter to court and eventually received £18m in compensation from the London
club. For the three clubs who will suffer relegation this season to ease their
drop into the Championship they will receive so termed ‘parachute payments
amounting to approximately $100m over a four-year period. Even so, and as ever
increasing amounts of money pours into English footballs top tier, it becomes
inevitable clubs threatened by relegation will use any means necessary to secure
their place in the most lucrative domestic league in all of world football. Over
to you Mr. Scudamore. CITY WORLD BEATERSJust as reports surface UEFA will
shortly put the 2012 BPL Champions on the Financial Fair Play naughty step it
was revealed in the week by the splendid Sporting Intelligence website no team
on planet sport pays more in compensation to their players. Sporting
Intelligences annual Global Sports Salaries Survey is carried out in association
with ESPN The Magazine. Manchester City players earn on average over $10m a
season. Ominously for MLS the New York Yankees came in second place. NYCFC joins
the league next season. MANU NYSEStaying with the Manchester, New York, and
money theme, shares in Manchester United climbed over 10% Wednesday. The shares,
which trade on the New York Stock Exchange, had been trending down since David
Moyes took over last July. The dramatic move to the upside is thought to be
related to the clubs next apparel deal that is expected to net the club well
over $1 billion over a 10-year period. With first option to renew, Nike remain
the favourites to secure the deal but reports indicate Manchester United are
also in discussions with Adidas and PUMA. ANNUAL BPL GONGSEarlier today the
Professional Footballers Association [PFA] released the nominations for this
seasons Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards. Unsurprisingly,
Liverpool dominates the six man shortlist for the main award. Led by captain
Steven Gerrard, who won the award in 2006, Suarez and Sturridge also feature. A
name that also appears on the shortlist and would have been on no ones thoughts
before the season kicked off, is Southamptons Adam Lallana. The 24-year old
Sturridge, who has scored 20 league goals this season, is also named in the
Young Players category. Winners will be announced at the PFAs banquet April
27th. Cardiff Vs Stoke City - Live on the TSN2 Saturday 9:50am et/6:50am pt You
can reach and follow Noel Butler at:
[email protected] @TheSoccerNoel on
Twitter
http://www.thetexansfootballpro.com/texans-garrett-graham-red-jersey/ . They actually finished with a better record in ‘07 than they did in ‘06 but
only marginally, going from 61 victories to 66.
http://www.thetexansfootballpro.com/texans-j-j-watt-red-jersey/ . PETERSBURG, Fla.
http://www.thetexansfootballpro.com/texans-greg-mancz-red-jersey/ . Nine-year veteran Danny Granger did not make his debut with the Clippers
because of a technicality on the teams active list, which is signed by coach Doc
Rivers before every game and relayed to the officials. Grangers name was printed
by hand by a member of the public relations staff under the heading: "Updated
Roster Additions," but the number on the sheet was not circled along with the
other active players by the required deadline of 6:30 p. NEW YORK -- After
almost 4 hours of baseball filled with twists and turns, Matt Williams has his
first win as a major league manager. Anthony Rendon hit a three-run homer in the
10th inning and had a career-best four RBIs, twice rallying the Washington
Nationals against the New York Mets suspect bullpen for a 9-7 victory in their
season opener Monday. "I have a stomach ache right now," Williams said. "There
was lots of stuff today. I feel right in the thick of it." Denard Span hit a
tying double with two outs in the ninth off closer Bobby Parnell, and
Ian Desmond put the Nationals in front for the first time with a sacrifice fly
in the 10th. Rendon connected two batters later against former Washington
pitcher John Lannan, securing a win for Williams in his managerial debut. "Ill
probably sleep good tonight," Williams said. "Thats what we want to have as our
DNA -- never give up, never give in." Stephen Strasburg struck out 10 over six
innings in his third straight opening-day start. But he fell behind early and
was outpitched most of the day by Dillon Gee, given the starting assignment
because of injuries to Matt Harvey and Jonathon Niese. Several fill-ins came
through for New York, in fact. Juan Lagares and Andrew Brown both homered after
they were surprise additions to the lineup. Nationals star Bryce Harper was
shaken up in the second inning when he got kicked in the forehead by second
baseman Eric Young Jr. while breaking up a double play. Harper stayed down for a
minute or two and rubbed his head after Williams and a trainer rushed out to
check on him. The young slugger stayed in the game, though, and later began
Washingtons comeback. "Im OK, but Ive got a pretty bad headache right now. I was
seeing stars there, but Ive seen stars before," said Harper, who passed
concussion tests during and after the game. Aaron Barrett (1-0) struck out two
in a perfect inning to win his major league debut, with family in the stands.
"It was such an amazing team win," he said. "It was awesome to be a part of it."
Jeurys Familia (0-1) took the loss, hurt by Travis dArnauds passed ball.
David Wright hit a two-run homer in the 10th. Lagares put New York ahead 5-4
with a leadoff homer in the eighth against Tyler Clippard, but the Mets couldnt
hold it.
http://www.thetexansfootballpro.com/texans-arian-foster-red-jersey/.
Parnell failed in his first save opportunity since neck surgery for an injury
that sidelined him for the final two months last season. The Mets lost for only
the third time in their last 23 season openers at home. They still own the best
mark in the majors on opening day at 34-19. The temperature at first pitch was
44 degrees, with wind gusting to 25 mph, but it warmed up as the sun came out.
Gee pitched in short sleeves and retired 15 in a row after Adam LaRoches long
two-run homer in the second. Harper snapped the streak with a hard-hit infield
single in the seventh. "We got a great performance today by Dillon.
Unfortunately, we couldnt get him a win," Wright said. "Theres some things that
we need to work on moving forward and that was pretty glaring in game one."
Rendon, the new starter at second base, chased Gee with a two-out RBI double.
Washington tied it 4-all when relievers Carlos Torres and Scott Rice issued
consecutive four-pitch walks, forcing in a run. "That situation, I cant let that
happen," Rice said. Brown, a surprise starter in left field because newcomer
Chris Young sat out with a mild right quadriceps strain, hit a three-run shot to
left-centre on a 94 mph fastball from Strasburg in the first inning. "They came
out swinging, and I missed with some stuff that was off the plate," Strasburg
said. Chris Youngs injury also opened a spot for Lagares, who started in centre.
Eric Young, normally the left fielder, shifted to second base to fill in for
Daniel Murphy, who was in Florida with his pregnant wife awaiting the birth of
their first child. Eric Young had a sacrifice fly in the second. NOTES:
Nationals C Wilson Ramos left in the seventh after being hit on the hand by foul
ball. X-rays were negative and he will see a hand specialist Tuesday. Ramos was
replaced by Jose Lobaton, who singled during the decisive rally. ... After an
off day Tuesday, Chris Young and Murphy are both expected back in the lineup
Wednesday night, when RHP Bartolo Colon makes his Mets debut against LHP
Gio Gonzalez. ... Williams challenged a fairly close play at first base that
ended the top of the 10th. Umpires confirmed Clint Fagans call with instant
replay.
NFL Jerseys China ' ' '
