Premier League - Owen confirms United exit

Thu, 17 May 2012

Manchester United striker Michael Owen has announced he has not been offered a new contract and will leave the club this summer.

 

Picture of Micheal Owen.

The former England international, 32, made just three starts in all competitions during the 2011-12 season, scoring three goals in the Carling Cup.
He has played only a marginal role since joining the club from Newcastle United on a free transfer in the summer of 2009 and departs Old Trafford having made only six league starts in three seasons.
Owen wrote on Twitter on Thursday morning: "The manager informed me after our testimonial match on Tuesday that the club would not be offering me a new contract.
"I have loved every minute of the three years I have spent at such a fantastic club.
"I now plan to have a short holiday during which I will contemplate my next move."
Owen, who started his career at United's bitter rivals Liverpool, was never able to secure a regular place in the United starting XI with Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney initially blocking his route.

A late strike by Thunder sink Lakers, gave Celtic Victory

1 of 6. Oklahoma City Thunder's James Harden (R) goes up to shoot past Los Angeles Lakers' Pau Gasol of Spain (L) and Jordan Hill during Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference semi-finals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma May 16, 2012.

Credit: Reuters/Steve Sisney

 

The Oklahoma City Thunder scored nine unanswered points in the final two minutes to edge the Los Angeles Lakers 77-75 on Wednesday and seize a 2-0 lead in their second-round playoff series.

There was no late drama in the Eastern Conference, where the Boston Celtics trounced the Philadelphia 76ers 107-91 to move ahead 2-1 in their best-of-seven series.
Although the 76ers lost by a bigger margin, it will be the Lakers who will probably be suffering more due to the manner of their loss.
Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum both scored 20 points as the Lakers led 75-68 with two minutes left and looked set to inflict a first defeat on the Thunder in the playoffs this year.
But Oklahoma then rallied with James Harden scoring four in those final minutes and Kevin Durrant five, including a soft floater to put the Thunder ahead with 18 seconds remaining, to leave the home fans ecstatic.
"We kept our composure," Durant told reporters after scoring a team-high 22 points. "We've been growing as a group at the end of games. This is the playoffs, every possession is important."
The Lakers had a chance to win the game but Steve Blake misfired on an open three-pointer with Los Angeles trailing by one with three seconds on the clock. Durant then landed a final free throw to add to the Lakers' pain.

Team GB not in rush to select Beckham, says Coe

British soccer player David Beckham (R) and the Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, Sebastian Coe, pose for a photograph during a visit to the main Olympic stadium, in London November 29, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Matt Dunham/Pool

Caption: David Beckham right in brown suite

Former Manchester united and LA galaxy Midfielder David Beckham will have to earn his place in Britain's Olympic soccer squad on skill and merit like any other player and can expect no special favors, London 2012 organizers said on Thursday. Speaking before the 37-year-old former England captain teamed up with a London delegation for the formal handing over of the Olympic flame, LOCOG chairman Seb Coe said there would be no attempt to twist the arm of Team GB manager Stuart Pearce.
"We have put absolutely no pressure on Stuart Pearce at all," he told reporters, a day after England manager Roy Hodgson named his provisional squad for the European championships in Poland and Ukraine next month.
"Stuart has to pick the team that he thinks will lift that (Olympic) trophy. I wouldn't expect any coach to be operating on any other basis, whether its wrestling or Olympic football," added Coe.
"You can never put pressure on coaches to choose people for any particular reason other than skill and merit."

Premier League - Dalglish reaction to his sacking as Red Manager

Reaction to the sacking of Kenny Dalglish by Liverpool, as club officials, ex-players and family members all have their say, with John Hartson calling the board "a disgrace".

Kenny Dalglish: "I am disappointed with results in the league, but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the club to be back winning trophies.
"It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool as manager. Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving, the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honourable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved and their continued desire to move the football club forward."
Principal owner John Henry: "Kenny will always be more than a championship winning manager, more than a championship winning star player. He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club. He has always put the club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield.

Premier League - Pennant suspended for jail sentence

Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant has been given a suspended jail sentence and banned from driving for three years after admitting multiple driving offences.

 

Pennant was given an eight-week sentence, suspended for 12 months, after admitting drink driving, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He was disqualified from driving for three years and ordered to pay costs at Trafford Magistrates Court.
Earlier, Pennant admitted drink-driving home from a nightclub after being dumped by text message by his girlfriend.
The Stoke player was more than twice the limit when he got behind the wheel of his BMW to drive back from Manchester in the early hours of April 29, the Court heard.
The 29-year-old was "depressed and stressed" after months of turmoil in his private life and suffering taunts while in the nightclub, it was claimed.

Bundesliga - Raul Quit Europe Football

Former Real Madrid striker Raul has joined Al Sadd of Qatar after leaving Schalke 04 at the end of his contract.

Raul Gonzalez Blanco, Raul called normal (born June 27, 1977, age 33 years) was a football player from Spain. He has played for Real Madrid at senior level since 1994. Now he served as captain. He has played more than 100 games for the Spanish national team and is the top scorer of 47 goals.

"Al Sadd Club will hold a news conference on Sunday to introduce Raul Gonzalez to the media after signing the player who will join the team starting from next season 2012-2013," said a statement on Al Sadd's website.
The club did not give any further details but Spanish media reported that Raul, 34, had signed a one-year deal with Al Sadd, who finished third at the World Club Cup in December.
"Raul has arrived in Doha and attended the final match of the Emir Cup between Al Sadd and Al Gharafa at Khalifa international stadium," the club's statement added.
The former Spain striker had been at Schalke for two seasons, scoring 28 Bundesliga goals in 66 matches.
Last month when it was announced he would leave Schalke, Raul said: "My future lies outside Europe in a league that is not so strong in playing terms as the Bundesliga.