Hodgson: Sterling Told To Remain Realistic After Surprise National Call-Up

England national team manager Roy Hodgson said that his decision to call up 17-year old Raheem Sterling for their upcoming fixture against Ukraine is approved after talks with the winger's Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers earlier announced that he will not allow Sterling to accept the call-up from the national Under-21 team, saying that it is better for him to stay with the Under-19s. His senior team call-up is due to Theo Walcott and Daniel Sturridge's unavailability due to illness.

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger Suggests Spending Controls for Premier League Clubs; Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney Open to Playing As Midfielder

Joey Barton, who transferred from Queens Park Rangers to Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille, will not have the outstanding portion of his match ban relinquished on his new club. The midfielder stirred trouble in QPR while playign against tough oponnent side and eventual champions Manchester City in their final match last season. He got a red card and quarrelled against Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany.

According to FIFA rules, remaining punishments on players shall continue to have effect even if the player has transferred to another club. The French League approved that the rule applies to France and announced in an official statement that Barton will not be able to play for the league until November.

Barton is a known controversial figure who has previous records of participating in violent confrontations. He will debut for the club in a September 20 away Europa League match against Turkish club Fenerbahce.

Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna expressed his shock on the departure of his teammate, defensive midfielder Alex Song. He said that he never expected Song to follow striker Robin van Persie’s departure – one that he calls a predictable one within the team.

Sagna, presently recovering from injuries, has appeared in 153 Arsenal matches since 2007. Apart from expressing his disbelief on the transfer of Song, he noted that he was envious of Manchester City’s title victory last season, which featured his former teammates Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri. He added that he has not yet signed an improved deal with the club.

Chelsea defender Ashley Cole is currently in talks on a new agreement with the club. His contract is nearing expiration next summer and The Blues are reportedly keen on extending his stay for another year.

Cole, resting his injured ankle, has not reached any terms yet on an improved financial package from Chelsea. The England international’s talent has become a magnet for past transfer reports, including one that involved Real Madrid.

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Photo credits:

Joey Barton [Photograph]. (2012). Retrieved 7 September 2012, from < http://www.caughtoffside.com/2012/09/02/image-gallery-marseille-unveil-new-signing-joey-barton/>

Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers Asked FA to Stop Raheem Sterling’s Promotion to England’s Under-21 Team

Raheem Sterling is a rising star in Liverpool, having recorded impressive showings in his first two matches with the club as a starter. While several observers duly recognize his inspiring efforts, manager Brendan Rodgers is wary on the winger’s rapid rise to fame.

Now, the manager has asked the FA to stop their plan to promote Sterling to England’s Under-21 team. The former Queens Park Rangers trainee gained recognition for his brave presence while playign against tough oponnent sides Manchester City and Arsenal, replacing the starting position of £20 million signing Stewart Downing.  Rodgers is seeking to tone down the winger’s exposure in light of his sudden popularity by suggesting that the player should stay with the Under-19 team first.

Rodgers noted that postponing Sterling’s Under-21 promotion would benefit the player greatly. While he is aware that the promotion provides a great boost to the winger’s record, he finds it best for him to continue with the Under-19 team to prevent carrying the burden of too much expectation from people. He wants the player to maintain his great training form without being distracted with too much pressure

The manager said that the decision to keep Sterling out of the Under-21 team is rooted on meeting player’s “individual needs”. He wants to preserve the “quality, courage and attitude” of the winger in playing intact, which is why he chose to keep him away from anything that might bring more pressure.

With a vast experience in training youth teams of Chelsea and Reading, Rodgers has effectively built his knowledge on managing young players. The manager is aware that Sterling, like most young players with great talent, can rise up hastily. Saying that young players need careful handling, he is conscious that the winger might not become fully fit in the future anymore if he gets early exposure to high expectations.

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Photo credits:

Raheem Sterling [Photograph]. (2012). Retrieved 6 September 2012, from <http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/lGiQqK5dvA6/Liverpool+v+Southend+United+FA+Youth+Cup/gYuZR5MJ8v5/Raheem+Sterling >

Dimitar Berbatov Displeased At Man Utd’s Ferguson

Former Bulgarian national team captain Dimitar Berbatov left Premier League side Manchester United to secure a £5 million-worth transfer to Fulham.

Berbatov sent his goodbyes to his former teammates at United following his release. He did not give the same polite treatment to manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who he criticised for giving him unfair treatment at the club last season.

Arsenal Gain First Win Over Weak Liverpool Side

Arsenal’s road towards impressive football predictions for this season’s Premier League look more assured as they dealt with a downtrodden Liverpool squad in a 2-0 victory.

The clean sheet gave recognition to Arsenal’s Robin van Persie replacements Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, with both scoring their first goals for the club following their first two goalless draws. Abou Diaby kept impressive control of the midfield, to the delight of manager Arsene Wenger.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers faces more pressure in light of another disappointing defeat at the start of the season. Striker Andy Carroll’s West Ham United loan transfer placed the manager under further stress after his club failed to bring in a replacement before the closing of the transfer window.