http://www.yardbarker.com/content/sport/11 Recent Yardbarker articles: Soccer en-us Manchester United are considering offers to play a friendly game in India, with the English Premier League and European champions keen to tap into the growing demand for football on the sub-continent. Sir Alex Ferguson and his United squad are currently preparing for the [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:37:01 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295225 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295225 David Gill, Manchester United's chief executive, has admitted the club will seek the opinion of Sir Alex Ferguson before naming his successor when the Old Trafford manager finally retires. Ferguson, 66, continues to leave observers guessing as to his likely departure date from Old [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:37:01 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295226 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295226 There is absolutely no chance of "hooliganism" happening in the U.S. None. Zero. Zilch. Nada. The null set. There are many reasons for this (socio-economic reasons, cultural reasons, geographic reasons and many more. Too much to get into at this point. Sometime later, maybe). What we will continue to see--and not only in this country--are episodes of violence or unruly behavior when you put large numbers of young men in a confined space at the same time and add alcohol... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:54:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295200 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295200 Barcelona reaffirmed Thursday that it is not obligated to release Lionel Messi so that the Argentine striker can represent his national team at the Olympics next month as demanded by world football governing body FIFA. In a statement posted on its website, the Spanish [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295177 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295177 New coach Pep Guardiola led Barcelona to a 6-0 friendly win over Scottish side Hibs here Thursday in his first match since taking over the Spanish side in June. Former Chelsea forward Eidur Gudjohnsen opened the scoring after just five minutes with a well-placed [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295178 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295178 Everton's Nigerian striker Ayegbeni Yakubu expects to terrorise Premier League defenders again this season after setting his sights on another 20-goal haul. Yakubu, 25, became the first Everton player to score 20 goals in a single season since Bob Latchford in 1978 as he [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295179 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295179 It has been reported that Arsenal are ready to make a ?12 million bid for England Under 21 and Manchester City midfielder Michael Johnson. Even though Everton and Tottenham Hotspur are also reported to be interested in the midfielder it could be that he may choose Arsenal seeing that Arsenal are short on midfielders and given [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295180 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295180 Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said Thursday Lionel Messi was "very important" for the club, and expressed the hope the Argentine striker will not join his national team at the Beijing Olympics. Messi has repeatedly voiced his desire to help Argentina defend its Olympic title [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295181 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295181 Gilberto Silva has spoken out about his former Arsenal club. The Brazilian midfielder has just left Arsenal after six years for Greek side Panathinaikos for a fee of ?11 million. He saw this season as a pressure one for the club as they would need a trophy or two to ease that pressure. Speaking on Arsenal TV he [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295182 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295182 Gambian teenager Omar Krumah is set to sign for FA Cup winners Portsmouth after impressing manager Harry Redknapp during a trial. Krumah, nicknamed 'OJ', has spent the last two weeks training with the Premier League club and a series of dazzling displays in pre-season [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295183 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295183 UEFA on Thursday fined Russian club FC Zenit St. Petersburg 60,000 Swiss francs (36,880 euros) after its Control and Disciplinary Body ruled some of the club's fans had racially abused players from French side Marseille in last season's UEFA Cup clash. The pair met [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295184 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295184 Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has revealed he plans to spend just two more seasons at Old Trafford. Scholes, 33, helped United win the Premier League and Champions League last season but Sir Alex Ferguson is gradually grooming younger players like Brazil's Anderson to [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295185 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295185 Chelsea new boy Jose Bosingwa may be forced out of their pre-season tour after picking up an injury in his debut match, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said on Thursday. The Portugal defender is being assessed after walking off with a thigh problem just 20 [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295186 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295186 Italian press reports claimed that Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari will sign for Inter Milan on Thursday. With Chelsea refusing to let Frank Lampard leave for the Italian champions, Inter coach Jose Mourinho is said to have turned his attentions to Muntari with a 14 [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295187 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295187 Liverpool signed highly-rated French striker David Ngog from Paris St Germain for an undisclosed fee on Thursday. Ngog, 19, agreed a four-year contract with the Premier League club and becomes Rafa Benitez's fourth close-season buy after Andrea Dossena, Diego Cavalieri and Philipp Degen. [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295188 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295188 Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has warned Gareth Barry that he won't protect the unsettled England midfielder from the hate-mob in Saturday's Intertoto Cup clash with Odense. Barry was subjected to vicious abuse during Tuesday's friendly at Walsall as Villa fans showed their displeasure [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295189 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295189 According to the Corriere dello Sport, Barcelona are set to launch a fresh transfer bid in the region of €20m to €25m for Juventus hitman David Trezeguet. Trezeguet has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona over the past couple of months, and new manager Pep Guardiola is said to be desperate to sign the [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:21:25 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295190 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295190 The boos were relentless as Aston Villa beat Walsall 3-2 this week, with Villa fans letting former idol, Gareth Barry, know exactly what they now think of him. He was stripped of the captaincy, with the armband going to Marlon Harewood instead, as he was forced to play with the Reserves. Cries of "Judas" and "You're [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:21:23 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295130 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295130 Arsenal are a team I have a certain amount of sympathy for. They are a 'team in transition', with Arsene Wenger selling off the last of his 2004 'Invincibles' team this summer, eagerly anticipating the success of years gone by to return. This is a situation, as United fans, that we are very familiar with. After [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:21:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295126 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295126 Sir Alex Ferguson clearly put a few Chelsea noses out of joint with his recent comments about their ageing squad. Whilst Scolari managed to resist taking the bait, Ron 'Chopper' Harris couldn't help himself. He launched a scathing attack on our boss, claiming that Ferguson was 'talking out of his backside'. Clearly Harris missed the RoM [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:21:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295127 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295127 Rio Ferdinand is a player that I have taken several years to warm to, with the player's change in attitude aiding my change in opinion. Whilst he has matured immensely in his time at United, his form has improved every season, which culminated in last season's brilliantly reliable presence that he provided. Had Ronaldo not [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:21:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295128 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295128 Following Sir Alex Ferguson's claim that Chelea's players were getting on a bit, Paul Scholes has championed the great young players we have in our squad. Of our seven players involved in the penalty shoot out against Chelsea in the European Cup final, four were 23-years-old or younger. Whilst it was Scholes' goal against Barcelona that earned [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:21:22 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295129 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295129 They become the centers of attention, even outside of their element. Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:50:00 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295108 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295108 As Ronaldo pulled away from the inadequate marking of Michael Essien to head United into the lead in the Champions League Final, he arguably reached the zenith of his United career and everything that has since followed has led him on an ever downward course to his eventual exit. As he turned away to celebrate, United fans piped up with yet another chorus of "Viva Ronaldo!" and the Portuguese winger could feel satisfied that he had finally put paid to the accusation that he fails to influence the really big games. Yet it all began to unravel within hours... Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:47:21 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295107 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295107 MLS All Stars VS West Ham Live Streaming Online International Friendly 2008 Live Date - Fri 25 July. Highlights & Live Streaming at Goalcentre.com Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:41:18 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295104 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295104 Celtic VS Cardiff City Live Streaming Online International Friendly 2008 Live Date - Thursday July 24, 2008. Highlights & Live Streaming at Goalcentre.com Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:11:30 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295059 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295059 David Beckham has admitted he is relishing the prospect of returning to London's East End as he prepares for his clash with West Ham for an all-star MLS team tonight (Thursday). Former Manchester United star Beckham will front the Americans' side, and after growing up and beginning his football career in the capital, the LA Galaxy [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:09:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295017 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295017 Hull City have agreed a fee of £2.5million for Tottenham's out-of-favour defender Anthony Gardner, according to the Mirror. Speculation has been rife all summer that Gardner could be on his way out of White Hart Lane, and after leading the chase for his signature, Hull finally appear to have got their man. Centre-back Gardner has failed to [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:09:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295018 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295018 Yesterday we reported that Alexander Hleb was all about heaping praise on Arsene Wenger, today we see a different side of Mr. Hleb. I'm guessing Arsenal fans are getting a little tired of hearing him open his mouth about their club on a daily basis. Hleb has questioned Arsenal's desire to hold on to their [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:09:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295019 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295019 Tottenham legend Les Ferdinand feels that Spurs cannot afford to sell Robbie Keane if they have realistic aims of breaking into the top four, writes Craid Rodhouse. Keane has been continuously linked with a £20 million move to Liverpool throughout the summer and Ferdinand believes that Ramos cannot afford to sell one of his star players. "Robbie [...] Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:09:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295012 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/295012 81 San Antonio Spurs