Gary Speed: Ex-Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson on model pro

Former Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson has paid tribute to the late Gary Speed on the first anniversary of his death.

Speed, who was found hanged at his home on 27 November 2011, made 249 league appearances for Leeds.
Wilkinson had Speed in his title-winning side of 1991-92.
"If you looked at Gary you got a bit of everything. By the time he left the club he'd played every outfield position and never once complained," Wilkinson told BBC Radio Leeds.
"If you had one rule in a football club it would be that every player would swear to always do their best for the team. That was Gary Speed.

Police start racism investigation from Sunderland match

Police are investigating an alleged racist gesture by a fan during the Premier League match between Sunderland and West Brom last Saturday.

The incident occurred after Romelu Lukaku, who is black, put West Brom 3-1 up in their 4-2 victory.
"Police are carrying out inquiries after a report of racist abuse received at the Sunderland v West Brom match," said a Northumbria Police spokeswoman.
"A report was received at 2210 on Saturday, 24 November."
The man was pictured making an apparent "monkey" gesture.
A Sunderland spokesperson added: "SAFC operates a policy of zero tolerance towards racism and anti-social behaviour of any kind. Naturally we will co-operate with the police in fully investigating any such incidents.

Yohan Cabaye and Steven Taylor injury setback for Newcastle

Newcastle United duo Yohan Cabaye and Steven Taylor have been ruled out until February because of injury.

Midfielder Cabaye, 26 has not played since 11 November and is to undergo a second operation on his damaged groin.
Centre-back Taylor, 26, is out after picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat at Southampton on Sunday.

Yohan Cabaye

Since signing from Lille for £4.8m in July 2011, Yohan Cabaye has scored six times in 44 Premier League appearances for Newcastle.

"He's cursing his luck a little, but unfortunately for Steven, his record is that he does pick up injuries," said Magpies manager Alan Pardew.

"Maybe the fact that we have had to call upon him more than perhaps we would like with the injuries and Colo's [Fabricio Coloccini's] suspension has probably compounded the issue."
Newcastle currently have 11 senior players sidelined and Pardew says he is concerned at his team's form after one league point from the last 12.
Cabaye suffered his injury playing for France and, if Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote is involved in the 2013 African Cup of Nations , Pardew will be without two of his key players in January.
"He's [Cabaye] had one side of his groin done and that caused a potential weakness in the other side, so that needs to be done," added Pardew.
"That will be done, I think, on Tuesday or Wednesday and he will probably be out for eight weeks.
"We are probably looking at 1 February for both him and Steven, so we might as well get the bad news out of the way, because that's what it is, and just focus on what is important, and that's what we have got left."

Jack Wilshere urged to sign Arsenal contract by Wenger

 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants Jack Wilshere to show his commitment to the club by signing a new contract.

The 20-year-old midfielder, who has recently returned to action after a 15-month injury lay-off, has two-and-half-years left on his current deal.
"He [Wilshere] has always been very committed to this club and I hope he will show that," Wenger said.

Jack Wilshere factfile

• Born on 1 January 1992
• Joined Arsenal in October 2001
• Made senior debut against Blackburn as a substitute in a 4-0 victory
• Scored first Arsenal goal versus Sheffield United in a Carling Cup tie
• Spent second half of 2009-10 season on loan at Bolton
• Makes England debut versus Hungary in August 2010
• Arsenal's most-used player in 2010-11 season

"There is only one way to show that and it is to commit your long-term future to the club."

Wilshere has come through the ranks at Arsenal and has already broken through into the senior England side.
He was an unused substitute in Arsenal's draw with Aston Villa on Saturday, with Wenger resting Wilshere after two games in quick succession, but he is expected to figure against Everton on Wednesday.
Wenger added: "We have quite a lot of British players. Like [Kieran] Gibbs, [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and, of course, we still have the case of [Theo] Walcott.

Sky’s the limit for stellar Spain

Even after Spain's perfect Euro 2012 final performance in Kiev, it is very difficult to tell whether they really are the greatest-ever international team, though they do not look like stopping ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

Before and during Euro 2012, many had shared the opinion that time and fatigue were catching up with Vicente del Bosque's squad.
If the performance in the 4-0 thrashing of Italy ended that argument, it also made clear the strength of Spain's desire. A number of other cliches surrounding this oft-misunderstood team were also removed.
The final rubbished the notion that Spain's miserly defence was solely built on ball retention. La Furia Roja had a light possession advantage overall (52% to 48%) but Italy had 56% possession in the second period.

Continue reading the main story

“What is perhaps most ominous for future opponents is what appears to be an insatiable hunger to improve. On Tuesday, sports daily Marca published a list of the next seven challenges for Spain”

Andy Brassell

It was what Spain did with the ball that counted: they were incisive and decisive. Their second goal, by Jordi Alba, was a case in point. Seven seconds passed between Barcelona's newest signing starting the move in his own half and the ball hitting the net.

It showed another side of Spain's game that many had overlooked. Their impeccable technique and movement is taken for granted, but the sheer attacking power on display showed the extraordinary levels of fitness within the side.
What is perhaps most ominous for future opponents is what appears to be an insatiable hunger to improve. On Tuesday, Spanish sports daily Marca published a list of the next seven challenges for Spain.
The Confederations Cup and a fourth European Championship were on it, though writer Tomas Campos also identified "winning an official match against Argentina and Uruguay". The feeling at home is that Spain can do everything.
The London Olympics are certainly on the menu and the squad announced by coach Luis Milla on Tuesday pitched a few signposts to the future.
Milla's group includes the next generation eulogised by captain Iker Casillas in the immediate aftermath of the final. Among them are 13 of the squad that won last summer's European Under-21 Championship in Denmark.
Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera and Thiago Alcantara of Barcelona, who scored in the win over talented Switzerland in the final, are both in.
Nobody can guarantee that today's promising youngsters will be tomorrow's world-beaters. Yet it is clear that the representative levels provide a platform to the senior squad.

Women's Football

27 November 2012 Last updated at 15:21 GMT

Arsenal to meet ASD Torres in WCL

Arsenal Ladies will face Italian side ASD Torres CF in the quarter-finals of this season's Women's Champions League.

Stockport County to run Edgeley Park on day-to-day basis

Stockport County have reached an agreement with Cheshire Sport to run Edgeley Park on a day-to-day basis.

Cheshire Sport, a company set up by Sale Sharks co-owner Brian Kennedy in 2003 to oversee both teams, remains the owner of the ground.
But it has reduced County's rent payments by 65% and handed full control of the running of the stadium to the Blue Square Bet Premier football club.
Chairman Lord Snape called it a "great day in the history of the club".

“[Stockport] and their loyal supporters have wanted to run the stadium for a long time and, with the affordable rental agreement, the club's future is looking bright”

Sale co-owner Ian Blackhurst

Stockport and Sale began sharing Edgeley Park in 2003 when the two clubs merged.

Kennedy later ended his involvement with County, and the Sharks moved to the Salford City Stadium, home of rugby league side Salford City Reds, at the start of the season.
Snape continued: "Both Brian and Ian could not have been more helpful or accommodating in affording us the deal to run Edgeley Park.
"We, as a football club, can now move forward in the knowledge that all monies generated at Edgeley Park are ours. The generous rent reduction we have negotiated with Brian and Ian is so important to helping the football club."
Sale co-owner Ian Blackhurst, who is also the chairman of Cheshire Sport, added: "Hopefully, with the deal in place, the club will go on from strength to strength and ultimately regain their place in the Football League.
"The club and their loyal supporters have wanted to run the stadium for a long time and, with the affordable rental agreement, the club's future is looking bright.
"We are reassured by the board of Stockport County that they have a business model that works. Both Brian and I wish the club all the very best in the future."