A review of the news from around the grounds of each Barclays Premier League club.
News in Brief - Tues 23rd Nov
ARSENAL
Norwich City have signed Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury on a 28-day emergency loan deal. Manager Paul Lambert swooped for the Gunners' academy product after seeing his options in midfield hit by injury in recent weeks. Lansbury, 20, scored five times in 34 Championship appearances for Watford last season and has also spent time on loan at Scunthorpe United. He was part of the England Under-21 squad which beat Romania 2-1 at Carrow Road last month and will come into contention for Sunday's East Anglia derby at home to Ipswich Town. Lambert said: "I'm delighted Arsenal have agreed to let Henri come here. I saw him when he was at Watford and Scunthorpe and he's a quality young player, very positive in his play. We have been hit with injuries and midfield is one of the areas where we needed strengthening. Henri gives us more options in there which is important."ASTON VILLA
Richard Dunne says Villa must start to show their ruthless side after the defeat to Blackburn Rovers. The stand-in skipper was brutally honest in his assessment of the team's performance in the 2-0 loss at Ewood Park, insisting his team need to display a harder edge to get results. Sunday's defeat was a similar scenario to Villa's recent away trips to Sunderland and Fulham, where Gerard Houllier's team had some promising spells but were unable to punish their opponents. Dunne said: "That is the frustrating thing - we can't put our finger on what is going wrong. We are playing all right - we've probably just not got that nasty streak in us to grind results out. I think we played some good stuff when the pressure was off us when we were 2-0 down already. It is easier to do it then and the manager said to us we need to be braver and try and play from the start when it is important and games are 0-0. We had a bit of the ball in the last 20 minutes but we didn't have many clear cut chances. To be fair to them they defended really well and played well. They were stronger than us all over." BIRMINGHAM CITY
Craig Gardner is battling to be fit for the upcoming Carling Cup quarter-final derby tie with his former club Aston Villa. Gardner, who is City's leading scorer with four goals this season, missed Saturday's shock 1-0 home success over Chelsea with an ankle injury. Blues manager Alex McLeish, who is guarded about Gardner's chances of being fit to face Villa on 1st December at St. Andrew's, said: "We are still awaiting the results coming from the specialist in London. We are hopeful Craig is only going to be out for two to three weeks so we will await the specialist report. We thought it (the ankle) might be worse than it actually is. Is he out of the derby? I don't know, I need to check with the doctor."BLACKBURN ROVERS
Sam Allardyce says Morten Gamst Pedersen is approaching his best form. Rovers made it three wins in four Barclays Premier League matches with a 2-0 victory at Ewood Park on Sunday in which Pedersen struck both goals, taking his personal tally to five in his last five matches. Allardyce feels the former Tromso man - who joined Blackburn in 2004 - is getting back to his best and regards Pedersen's signing of a new contract over the summer as a vital piece of business for Rovers. "It's not the best I have seen him play - I came and watched him when he played for Blackburn in his earlier days and I have spent many days at other clubs on how to stop the quality that he has," Allardyce said. "But he is getting closer and closer because there are goals coming on the end of his good performances and it shows what a key signing it was. We signed a free transfer this summer worth in today's market about £8-10m - a player with around 200 Premier League games who scores goals and delivers balls in to the box. Where can you find one of them for nothing?"BLACKPOOL
Ian Holloway says Blackpool will be pressing ahead with plans to sign Luke Varney permanently in January. The 28-year-old joined the promoted Seasiders in August on loan from Derby and has proved a big hit at Bloomfield Road. Varney bagged his fourth Barclays Premier League goal of the season in Saturday's 2-1 win over Wolves with a stunning early strike. Holloway says Blackpool have already brokered a deal with Derby County that will see Varney make a permanent move for £250,000. He said: "We are going to sign him in January. We have a massive clause in there. He can't go anywhere else and we get him for £250,000. They can't change that, there's nothing they can do about it. Unlucky." BOLTON WANDERERS
Owen Coyle says the prospect of Bolton once more playing European football next year is "fanciful" but a growing number beg to differ after his side's 5-1 defeat of Newcastle. Hot-shot Johan Elmander scored a brace to take his season's tally to eight while Kevin Davies scored two from the spot and Lee Chong-yung also netted to turn Kevin Nolan's return into a nightmare. Afterwards Coyle hailed the efforts of his unfancied side and put most of their dramatic improvement this season down to the confidence he has instilled in their ranks. Coyle said: "Coming in in January we were second from bottom and their confidence was fragile. We managed to keep ourselves safe with something to spare and the job in the summer was to build up that confidence and belief. Every player has bought into what I am trying to do. You can see that togetherness and work rate and intensity and we have the quality to go with it. When you bring that together you have a chance of getting points."CHELSEA
Carlo Ancelotti expects to come in for criticism following Chelsea's slump in fortunes. The Blues still lead the Barclays Premier League on goal difference from Manchester United, but Saturday's shock 1-0 reversal at Birmingham was their third defeat in four league matches. It was also the first time Chelsea had lost back-to-back league matches since May 2006. Ancelotti said: "Obviously (criticism) can happen when the team don't win. There is more responsibility on the coach but this is normal. This is my job. If the team is not doing a good job, it is normal to have more responsibility. I don't have a problem. Am I prepared for criticism? Yes, I am prepared. This is the life of the coach. This is a difficult moment but I think we are capable of moving on. It is true we didn't play well last weekend against Sunderland but we played very well against Birmingham. Everyone who saw the game can say this." EVERTON
Seattle Sounders forward Steve Zakuani has revealed he is set to train with Everton for a few days. The MLS season has just finished, giving its players the chance to play or train in Europe over the winter. And Zakuani has been invited to spend time with Everton. The 22-year-old began his career with Arsenal before being released and then opted to move to America - where he has become one of the brightest prospects in MLS. He has recently turned down the chance to represent USA, instead opting for the country of his birth DR Congo, who his brother Gabriel, who plays for Peterborough, also plays for. Zakuani, who grew up in London, is now looking forward to returning to Britain and joining up with Everton. "As for my off season plans, I plan to spend a few days in London visiting old friends and family before going up to Liverpool to train with Everton for a few days," he said.FULHAM
Fulham have been drawn against West Bromwich Albion in the Third Round of The FA Youth Cup. The fixture will take place at Craven Cottage on Wednesday 1st December (Kick-Off 7pm).LIVERPOOL
Spanish youngster Suso has signed his first professional contract - an initial three-year deal - after turning 17 on Friday. The striker who can also play in midfield, moved to Merseyside from Cadiz in the summer of 2009. He made a brief appearance in the first team's pre-season friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach in August and also played in Jamie Carragher's testimonial at Anfield two months ago.MANCHESTER CITY
Micah Richards admits it can be difficult at times to keep such a big squad happy, but knows it is important to have strength in numbers if the club are to fulfil their potential. He said: "We have got a lot of players and it's hard to keep everyone happy, but that's what football is all about. When you are given your chance you have to take it. It's good and if we are going to get to where we want to we have to have competition in the team."MANCHESTER UNITED
Darren Fletcher feels the Ibrox atmosphere could bring the best out of United on Wednesday night. One point against Rangers in Glasgow will guarantee the Red Devils' place in the UEFA Champions League's knock-out stages but Fletcher is targeting all three, the same yield from United's last visit to Rangers in 2003 when Phil Neville scored the only goal. "I am really looking forward to the game," said Fletcher. "Rangers are a massive club and it will be a special night at Ibrox, with a fantastic atmosphere. I experienced it from the bench when we went there a few years ago." As Scotland skipper, Fletcher doesn't expect a hero's welcome from the natives - far from it, in fact. "I am sure I will get plenty of stick from the home support," said the United midfielder. "But part of the challenge is playing in intimidating atmospheres. It's what playing in Europe is all about, it's something we all enjoy. But although we will enjoy it, we still have a job to do. We still need that point that is going to take us into the next round. We will produce a professional performance to try and win the match."NEWCASTLE UNITED
Mike Williamson has been charged with violent conduct following an off-the-ball challenge on Bolton striker Johan Elmander. The former Portsmouth player faces a three-match ban if he either admits or is convicted of the offence. A Football Association statement said: "Newcastle United defender Mike Williamson has today been charged with violent conduct. The charge relates to an incident involving Johan Elmander in his side's fixture with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, 20th November. Williamson has until 6pm on Tuesday, 23rd November to reply to the charge and under the FA's fast-track regulations, may admit the charge and accept a standard three-match suspension."
Tony Pulis says he is content to let other people get excited after Stoke extended their winning run in the Barclays Premier League to three matches with victory at West Brom. Matthew Etherington's penalty put the visitors ahead in the 55th minute before substitute Jon Walters converted another spot-kick with five minutes of normal time remaining and then netted again at the end to secure a 3-0 triumph for the Potters. The last time Stoke won three successive top flight matches was in the 1983/84 season and Pulis was keen to praise his side's efforts. "We have been on a bad run of four straight defeats in the Premier League and now we have three straight wins, which is the first time this club has done that in the Premier League," Pulis said. "It is a great achievement by the players, but as I have said, whether you are losing or winning, I think it is important the manager stays as level as he possibly can. I'll allow the supporters to get down and despondent or happy and getting carried away."SUNDERLAND
Nedum Onuoha would welcome a permanent move to Sunderland if Manchester City decide to let him go. The defender says he found it tough to leave Eastlands last summer and head north on loan after spending 14 years at City since being a schoolboy. But he is now relishing playing regular football with the Black Cats, including netting a wonder goal in the 3-0 win over Chelsea last weekend. Onuoha said: "It was difficult leaving City. In pre-season I didn't think I was going to be in Roberto Mancini's 25-man squad, so it was a case of staying and playing in the reserves or hopefully someone wanting you to be in their squad or side for the season. I did leave City with a heavy heart, because I never expected myself to leave to be honest. I'd been there so long, since I was 10, and I had the feeling I could be in the side. But I wasn't - so you have the moment when you say, 'You have to do this, you have to move on'. It was a sad time. Thankfully Sunderland came in and once they did it was a bit of a no-brainer. This is a new home for me, so I can't complain at all. It has worked out very well. Steve Bruce put some faith in me and said that he wanted me to be a big part of his season. You can't say no to that, can you?"TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Injury-blighted defender Jonathan Woodgate is making progress with his groin problem. Manager Harry Redknapp said: "He's got to go through a 'pre-season' now, if you like, a month of real intensive, hard work. If he can come through that okay then there's real light at the end of the tunnel for him, which would be great."WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Simon Cox believes luck has played a part in their current five-match winless run. After starting the season well and finding themselves in the Champions League places after a win at Arsenal, the Baggies have struggled of late and were beaten 3-0 by Stoke on Saturday. Two of those goals were penalties, one given away by Cox, and the striker wants his team-mates to keep believing as they look to arrest their poor run of form. "We need to be positive," he said. "We need to pick our heads up and move forward as a club. We're in a sticky patch and we need to come out of it. If we can do that as quickly as possible then we'll be okay. The management team, the players, have been looking forward to games and right now things aren't dropping for us. It's a little bit of luck we're lacking at the moment."WEST HAM UNITED
Anthony Edgar's recovery from a knee problem is going well and he could return to light training later this week. The flying winger, who was a revelation with the first team in pre-season with two goals, saw his progress hampered by injury in a reserve-team friendly at Queen's Park Rangers on 24th August. He had surgery a week later and has been committed to returning to form and fitness as soon as possible. The homegrown Hammer, who made his senior debut in last season's FA Cup third-round match against Arsenal, signed a new deal in the summer. It was a major lift for the youngster and he is pleased with his rehabilitation to date. "I am doing really well," he said. "I have been running for a week or two. Hopefully I will be in light training this week and push on from there. I am in the gym every day and working hard. It has been a long haul. The other lads have kept me going. They put their hand on my shoulder and said 'You did well [in the summer], just go again'. I believe in my ability. In a way I am happy it happened at the start of the season rather than in the middle. I just have to get back on my feet and keep going."WIGAN ATHLETIC
Steve Gohouri says Wigan must take points off bottom side West Ham this weekend to prevent relegation worries escalating. The defeat at Manchester United meant Roberto Martinez's side dropped back down to 18th. They are currently five points ahead of the Hammers, who have won just once in the league this season, but Gohouri believes they cannot afford a defeat in London - where they will be without Antolin Alcaraz and Hugo Rodallega. "Antolin and Hugo are going to be a big loss for us against West Ham, and it's a massive game against a team we're in direct competition with," said the Ivorian. "These are the games we have to be taking points from, it doesn't matter how we do it we just need to make sure we come back from Upton Park with points on the board."WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Mick McCarthy fears his side's spirit could evaporate if they do not arrest their alarming run of form quickly. Wolves remain 19th in the Barclays Premier League - five points behind Wigan above them - after slipping to their ninth defeat in 11 matches, 2-1, at Blackpool. The Molineux outfit have also conceded in every match and McCarthy realises he must turn around the slump to prevent a season which began with optimism, after survival last term, heading towards disaster. McCarthy said: "It is doom and gloom at the moment - or it can be very quickly. We have to make sure that doesn't happen. If we do start with our heads down it is going to be difficult. We have got to keep our chins up and keep going and take what positives there are out of the performance. But it is still a defeat, so it is difficult."
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