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Tag: EPL

  • Almeria may block Ramon Azeez EPL switch

    Almeria may block Ramon Azeez EPL switch

    There are strong  indications that modest  Spanish side Almeria may block Nigeria star Ramon Azeez from joining Swansea City in the EPL.

    AfricanFootball.com has been specially informed that Swansea have tabled a bid for the 21-year-old Nigeria World Cup midfielder, but Almeria are not in a hurry to sell.

    “Yes, there is a bid from Swansea for Ramon. The player and his club are currently in Thailand for pre-season and that includes the club president, who does not wish to sell Ramon,” a source close to the former Flying Eagles skipper disclosed.

    “Almeria are due back in Spain at the weekend and Ramon has said he has been speaking with his agent on the transfer.

    “We just have to wait and see how things play out but at the moment, Almeria are not willing to let go one of their prized assets.”

    Almeria barely escaped relegation from La Liga last season with Azeez, drafted in from the reserves, popping up with some crucial goals and assists in the process.

    He played a total of 32 matches and scored two goals.

    The Spanish media, including the influential sports paper AS, have reported that Swansea City have lodged a £2.4m offer for the highly-rated youngster, who impressed in his breakthrough year in the Spanish top flight last season.

  • Odemwingie happy with draw against Southampton

    Odemwingie happy with draw against Southampton

    Nigeria striker Osaze Odemwingie has said Stoke City deserved the point after playing 2-2 with Southampton on Saturday.

    Odemwingie opened his Stoke City account with a 38th minute strike to bring the game to 1-1, MTNFootball.com reports.

    “We deserved a point in the game because we showed great organisation and we defended well,” he said.

    The former West Brom striker, who made a winter switch from Cardiff City to Stoke, was delighted to get his first goal for his new club.

    “Very happy to get my first goal for the club. Good team performance. Big thanks to our fans for the support in this tough weather,” he tweeted.

     

  • Efe Ambrose still dreams EPL

    Efe Ambrose still dreams EPL

    Efe Ambrose says he wishes to play in the English Premier League after he was linked with a winter switch to Fulham.

    “EPL is a well celebrated and followed league back home in Africa it has attracted a lot of big players and I won’t mind playing there at some point, but I am happy at Celtic, which is one of the best clubs in the world,” Nigeria defender Ambrose told MTNFootball.com

    On the winter transfer talk that linked him to Fulham, Ambrose described it as a rumour but was glad his contributions at Celtic were being followed.

    “There was no contact from Fulham or any EPL side this winter transfer that I know of, but when a player is been linked strongly to such league, it shows I am been watched and appreciated. I give God all the glory,” he said.

  • Chelsea on top by Christmas – Mikel

    Chelsea on top by Christmas – Mikel

    Nigeria star Mikel Obi has said Chelsea aim to be top of the English Premier League table by Christmas.

    The London club is fourth on the table with 33 points, three points behind leaders Liverpool and faces a litmus test in Monday’s capital city derby against local rivals Arsenal.

    And on Boxing Day the former European champions host Swansea City.

    “We want to be top of the table by Christmas and that’s what we are aiming for,” MTNFootball.com quoted Mikel as saying on Premier League Television (PLTV).

    “We need to put the finishing touches and finish off chances when we get them. At the same time we have to defend well too.

    “We want to go to the Emirates Stadium on Monday night and prove what we are made of.

    However, the Nigeria international midfielder is first to admit Arsenal will be a hard nut to crack at the Emirates.

    “There has been some stability at Arsenal. And I think people criticizing the team for failing to win a trophy have helped too. Arsenal has not won a trophy yet but you can see the team is heading in the right direction,” he said.

    “Arsenal has a very good chance of winning the league title but so do we.”

    Mikel said “The Special One” Jose Mourinho loves to win and hates losing.

    “Mourinho makes his views clear to us after games,” he said. “If we win, he’s happy. If we don’t, he’s not. Hopefully, by Monday, we will put things right. We are playing well and we are doing a few things correctly.”

     

  • 2013/2014 English Premier League fixtures

    2013/2014 English Premier League fixtures

    Saturday, 17 August 2013       

    Arsenal v Aston Villa

    Chelsea v Hull

    Crystal Palace v Tottenham

    Liverpool v Stoke

    Man City v Newcastle

    Norwich v Everton

    Sunderland v Fulham

    Swansea v Man Utd

    West Brom v Southampton

    West Ham v Cardiff

    Saturday, 24 August 2013           

    Aston Villa v Liverpool

    Cardiff v Man City

    Everton v West Brom

    Fulham v Arsenal

    Hull v Norwich

    Man Utd v Chelsea

    Newcastle v West Ham

    Southampton v Sunderland

    Stoke v Crystal Palace

    Tottenham v Swansea

    Saturday, 31 August 2013            

     Arsenal v Tottenham

    Cardiff v Everton

    Chelsea P-P Aston Villa (due to UEFA Super Cup)

    Crystal Palace v Sunderland

    Liverpool v Man Utd

    Man City v Hull

    Newcastle v Fulham

    Norwich v Southampton

    West Brom v Swansea

    West Ham v Stoke

    Saturday, 14 September 2013  

    Aston Villa v Newcastle

    Everton v Chelsea

    Fulham v West Brom

    Hull v Cardiff

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace

    Southampton v West Ham

    Stoke v Man City

    Sunderland v Arsenal

    Swansea v Liverpool

    Tottenham v Norwich

    Saturday, 21 September 2013    

    Arsenal v Stoke

    Cardiff v Tottenham

    Chelsea v Fulham

    Crystal Palace v Swansea

    Liverpool v Southampton

    Man City v Man Utd

    Newcastle v Hull

    Norwich v Aston Villa

    West Brom v Sunderland

    West Ham v Everton

    Saturday, 28 September 2013   

    Aston Villa v Man City

    Everton v Newcastle

    Fulham v Cardiff

    Hull v West Ham

    Man Utd v West Brom

    Southampton v Crystal Palace

    Stoke v Norwich

    Sunderland v Liverpool

    Swansea v Arsenal

    Tottenham v Chelsea

    Saturday, 5 October 2013    

    Cardiff v Newcastle

    Fulham v Stoke

    Hull v Aston Villa

    Liverpool v Crystal Palace

    Man City v Everton

    Norwich v Chelsea

    Southampton v Swansea

    Sunderland v Man Utd

    Tottenham v West Ham

    West Brom v Arsenal

    Saturday, 19 October 2013

    Arsenal v Norwich

    Aston Villa v Tottenham

    Chelsea v Cardiff

    Crystal Palace v Fulham

    Everton v Hull

    Man Utd v Southampton

    Newcastle v Liverpool

    Stoke v West Brom

    Swansea v Sunderland

    West Ham v Man City

    Saturday, 26 October 2013   

    Aston Villa v Everton

    Chelsea v Man City

    Crystal Palace v Arsenal

    Liverpool v West Brom

    Man Utd v Stoke

    Norwich v Cardiff

    Southampton v Fulham

    Sunderland v Newcastle

    Swansea v West Ham

    Tottenham v Hull

    Saturday, 2 November 2013       

    Arsenal v Liverpool

    Cardiff v Swansea

    Everton v Tottenham

    Fulham v Man Utd

    Hull v Sunderland

    Man City v Norwich

    Newcastle v Chelsea

    Stoke v Southampton

    West Brom v Crystal Palace

    West Ham v Aston Villa

    Saturday, 9 November 2013 

    Aston Villa v Cardiff

    Chelsea v West Brom

    Crystal Palace v Everton

    Liverpool v Fulham

    Man Utd v Arsenal

    Norwich v West Ham

    Southampton v Hull

    Sunderland v Man City

    Swansea v Stoke

    Tottenham v Newcastle

    Saturday, 23 November 2013     

    Arsenal v Southampton

    Cardiff v Man Utd

    Everton v Liverpool

    Fulham v Swansea

    Hull v Crystal Palace

    Man City v Tottenham

    Newcastle v Norwich

    Stoke v Sunderland

    West Brom v Aston Villa

    West Ham v Chelsea

    Saturday, 30 November 2013   

    Aston Villa v Sunderland

    Cardiff v Arsenal

    Chelsea v Southampton

    Everton v Stoke

    Hull v Liverpool

    Man City v Swansea

    Newcastle v West Brom

    Norwich v Crystal Palace

    Tottenham v Man Utd

    West Ham v Fulham

    Tuesday, 3 December 2013      

    Arsenal v Hull

    Crystal Palace v West Ham

    Liverpool v Norwich

    Man Utd v Everton

    Southampton v Aston Villa

    Stoke v Cardiff

    Sunderland v Chelsea

    Swansea v Newcastle

    West Brom v Man City

    Wednesday, 4 December 2013

    Fulham v Tottenham

    Saturday, 7 December 2013  

    Arsenal v Everton

    Crystal Palace v Cardiff

    Fulham v Aston Villa

    Liverpool v West Ham

    Man Utd v Newcastle

    Southampton v Man City

    Stoke v Chelsea

    Sunderland v Tottenham

    Swansea v Hull

    West Brom v Norwich

    Saturday, 14 December 2013  

    Aston Villa v Man Utd

    Cardiff v West Brom

    Chelsea v Crystal Palace

    Everton v Fulham

    Hull v Stoke

    Man City v Arsenal

    Newcastle v Southampton

    Norwich v Swansea

    Tottenham v Liverpool

    West Ham v Sunderland

    Saturday, 21 December 2013     

    Arsenal v Chelsea

    Crystal Palace v Newcastle

    Fulham v Man City

    Liverpool v Cardiff

    Man Utd v West Ham

    Southampton v Tottenham

    Stoke v Aston Villa

    Sunderland v Norwich

    Swansea v Everton

    West Brom v Hull

    Thursday, 26 December 2013    

    Aston Villa v Crystal Palace

    Cardiff v Southampton

    Chelsea v Swansea

    Everton v Sunderland

    Hull v Man Utd

    Man City v Liverpool

    Newcastle v Stoke

    Norwich v Fulham

    Tottenham v West Brom

    West Ham v Arsenal

    Saturday, 28 December 2013    

    Aston Villa v Swansea

    Cardiff v Sunderland

    Chelsea v Liverpool

    Everton v Southampton

    Hull v Fulham

    Man City v Crystal Palace

    Newcastle v Arsenal

    Norwich v Man Utd

    Tottenham v Stoke

    West Ham v West Brom

    Wednesday, 1 January 2014      

    Arsenal v Cardiff

    Crystal Palace v Norwich

    Fulham v West Ham

    Liverpool v Hull

    Man Utd v Tottenham

    Southampton v Chelsea

    Stoke v Everton

    Sunderland v Aston Villa

    Swansea v Man City

    West Brom v Newcastle

    Saturday, 11 January 2014          

    Aston Villa v Arsenal

    Cardiff v West Ham

    Everton v Norwich

    Fulham v Sunderland

    Hull v Chelsea

    Man Utd v Swansea

    Newcastle v Man City

    Southampton v West Brom

    Stoke v Liverpool

    Tottenham v Crystal Palace

    Saturday, 18 January 2014           

    Arsenal v Fulham

    Chelsea v Man Utd

    Crystal Palace v Stoke

    Liverpool v Aston Villa

    Man City v Cardiff

    Norwich v Hull

    Sunderland v Southampton

    Swansea v Tottenham

    West Brom v Everton

    West Ham v Newcastle

    Tuesday, 28 January 2014  

    Aston Villa v West Brom

    Crystal Palace v Hull

    Liverpool v Everton

    Man Utd v Cardiff

    Norwich v Newcastle

    Southampton v Arsenal

    Sunderland v Stoke

    Swansea v Fulham

    Wednesday, 29 January 2014 

    Chelsea v West Ham

    Tottenham v Man City

    Saturday, 1 February 2014           

    Arsenal v Crystal Palace

    Cardiff v Norwich

    Everton v Aston Villa

    Fulham v Southampton

    Hull v Tottenham

    Man City v Chelsea

    Newcastle v Sunderland

    Stoke v Man Utd

    West Brom v Liverpool

    West Ham v Swansea

    Saturday, 8 February 2014     

    Aston Villa v West Ham

    Chelsea v Newcastle

    Crystal Palace v West Brom

    Liverpool v Arsenal

    Man Utd v Fulham

    Norwich v Man City

    Southampton v Stoke

    Sunderland v Hull

    Swansea v Cardiff

    Tottenham v Everton

    Tuesday, 11 February 2014  

    Arsenal v Man Utd

    Cardiff v Aston Villa

    Hull v Southampton

    Stoke v Swansea

    West Brom v Chelsea

    West Ham v Norwich

    Wednesday, 12 February 2014

    Everton v Crystal Palace

    Fulham v Liverpool

    Man City v Sunderland

    Newcastle v Tottenham

    Saturday, 22 February 2014     

    Arsenal v Sunderland

    Cardiff v Hull

    Chelsea v Everton

    Crystal Palace v Man Utd

    Liverpool v Swansea

    Man City v Stoke

    Newcastle v Aston Villa

    Norwich v Tottenham

    West Brom v Fulham

    West Ham v Southampton

    Saturday, 1 March 2014

    Aston Villa v Norwich

    Everton v West Ham

    Fulham v Chelsea

    Hull v Newcastle

    Man Utd v Man City

    Southampton v Liverpool

    Stoke v Arsenal

    Sunderland v West Brom

    Swansea v Crystal Palace

    Tottenham v Cardiff

    Saturday, 8 March 2014

    Arsenal v Swansea

    Cardiff v Fulham

    Chelsea v Tottenham

    Crystal Palace v Southampton

    Liverpool v Sunderland

    Man City v Aston Villa

    Newcastle v Everton

    Norwich v Stoke

    West Brom v Man Utd

    West Ham v Hull

    Saturday, 15 March 2014

    Aston Villa v Chelsea

    Everton v Cardiff

    Fulham v Newcastle

    Hull v Man City

    Man Utd v Liverpool

    Southampton v Norwich

    Stoke v West Ham

    Sunderland v Crystal Palace

    Swansea v West Brom

    Tottenham v Arsenal

    Saturday, 22 March 2014       

    Aston Villa v Stoke

    Cardiff v Liverpool

    Chelsea v Arsenal

    Everton v Swansea

    Hull v West Brom

    Man City v Fulham

    Newcastle v Crystal Palace

    Norwich v Sunderland

    Tottenham v Southampton

    West Ham v Man Utd

    Saturday, 29 March 2014

    Arsenal v Man City

    Crystal Palace v Chelsea

    Fulham v Everton

    Liverpool v Tottenham

    Man Utd v Aston Villa

    Southampton v Newcastle

    Stoke v Hull

    Sunderland v West Ham

    Swansea v Norwich

    West Brom v Cardiff

    Saturday, 5 April 2014    

    Aston Villa v Fulham

    Cardiff v Crystal Palace

    Chelsea v Stoke

    Everton v Arsenal

    Hull v Swansea

    Man City v Southampton

    Newcastle v Man Utd

    Norwich v West Brom

    Tottenham v Sunderland

    West Ham v Liverpool

    Saturday, 12 April 2014 

    Arsenal v West Ham

    Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

    Fulham v Norwich

    Liverpool v Man City

    Man Utd v Hull

    Southampton v Cardiff

    Stoke v Newcastle

    Sunderland v Everton

    Swansea v Chelsea

    West Brom v Tottenham

    Saturday, 19 April 2014 

    Aston Villa v Southampton

    Cardiff v Stoke

    Chelsea v Sunderland

    Everton v Man Utd

    Hull v Arsenal

    Man City v West Brom

    Newcastle v Swansea

    Norwich v Liverpool

    Tottenham v Fulham

    West Ham v Crystal Palace

    Saturday, 26 April 2014 

    Arsenal v Newcastle

    Crystal Palace v Man City

    Fulham v Hull

    Liverpool v Chelsea

    Man Utd v Norwich

    Southampton v Everton

    Stoke v Tottenham

    Sunderland v Cardiff

    Swansea v Aston Villa

    West Brom v West Ham

    Saturday, 3 May 2014    

    Arsenal v West Brom

    Aston Villa v Hull

    Chelsea v Norwich

    Crystal Palace v Liverpool

    Everton v Man City

    Man Utd v Sunderland

    Newcastle v Cardiff

    Stoke v Fulham

    Swansea v Southampton

    West Ham v Tottenham

    Sunday, 11 May 2014    

    Cardiff v Chelsea

    Fulham v Crystal Palace

    Hull v Everton

    Liverpool v Newcastle

    Man City v West Ham

    Norwich v Arsenal

    Southampton v Man Utd

    Sunderland v Swansea

    Tottenham v Aston Villa

    West Brom v Stoke

    All fixtures subject to change.

  • Hull releases Olofinjana

    Hull releases Olofinjana

    Hull City has released Seyi Olofijana from the club after securing promotion to the English Premier League, Supersport.com reports.

    The former Nigeria international was offloaded along with 11 others, while four players including Senegal veteran, Abdoulaye Faye, were offered new deals.

    Without a Championship start since November, Olofinjana was allowed to join the Championship strugglers Sheffield Wednesday ahead of March’s emergency loan deadline for Football League clubs.

    The move effectively ended his four-year association with the Tigers, and his release on Thursday was confirmation that there will be no place for him as manager Steve Bruce reshapes his squad. His four-year contract was due to expire in June.

    An injury-plagued Olofinjana has dramatically failed to live up to expectations since his £3 million from Stoke City in the summer of 2009.

    Although he spent the 2010/11 season on loan with Cardiff City, he has earned about £6 million in wages during his four years on the Tigers books.

    In return, he made just 24 starts and scored once for the club.

    Olofinjana follows a similar path threaded by compatriot Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, who was released by Hull City at the end of the 2007/08 season after making only 11 starts for the club.

     

  • Osaze will leave West Brom- Manager

    Osaze will leave West Brom- Manager

    West Brom manager Steve Clarke has said that forward Peter Odemwingie will not be welcome at the club beyond this season.

    The Nigerian has been in consistent trouble with the club since his botched January transfer to Queens Park Rangers. Odemwingie, 31, drove from Birmingham to London only to be turned back at the gate by Rangers security. Afterwards he’s taken to Twitter to attack the club.

    His future will be decided in the summer. I don’t think he’ll be here next season,” Clarke was quoted by BBC Sport.

    “I’ve stuck by him because he’s talented and I need as many talented players as I can get.

    “I think over the last four months I’ve done as much I can to put up with it.

    “To be honest over the last four months he hasn’t really played for my side. He’s been in and around the place but his contribution since January has been very, very little.

    “The disappointment for me is that before January, when he was fit and available, I think he played over 70% of the games, produced good performances and scored goals.

    “And in the second half of the season I haven’t had that player, so that’s the disappointing thing for me as a coach,” concluded Clarke.

  • Man Utd Manager Ferguson steps down

    Man Utd Manager Ferguson steps down

    Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as Manchester United manager at the end of the season after 26 years in charge, BBC reports.

    The Scot, 71, has won 38 trophies for the club and will now become a director and ambassador.

    His haul includes 13 league titles, two Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups.

    “The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about. It is the right time,” Ferguson said.

    Jose Mourinho has been installed as favourite to take over from Ferguson by bookmakers, with Everton’s David Moyes and Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp also in the running.

    Ferguson is confident his successor will take over a club in good health after winning their 20th top-flight title 17 days ago.

    “It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so,” he said.

    “The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one.”

    Ferguson praised the people he felt helped him build the club from a team that had not won a title for 26 years into one of the biggest in the world.

    He said, “I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential,” he added.

    “My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career, providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement. Words are not enough to express what this has meant to me.

    “As for my players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs. Without their contribution the history of this great club would not be as rich.”

     

  • EPL return thrills Aluko

    EPL return thrills Aluko

    Hull City forward, Sone Aluko, is still in cloud nine after the team returned to the English Premier League on the last day of the season, MTNFootball.com reports.

    Hull City secured a return to the EPL after a 2-2 draw against Cardiff with closest rivals and threat to the promotion ambition Watford losing 2-1 to Leeds United.

    “Looking forward to the memories of right now!!! What a rollercoaster day of emotions! We did it!!! @hullcityteam WE ARE GOING UP! #SoHappy,” Aluko tweeted after ‘The Tigers’ roared back to the top flight.

    “Wow!! This feeling…if God doesn’t (do) nothing for me again forever he’s already blessed me beyond was I deserve or imagine!! #Blessed #buzzing.”

    Aluko has been out of action for several months due to a knee injury, which needed surgery.

     

  • Reading, QPR relegated from EPL

    Reading, QPR relegated from EPL

    Reading and Queens Park Rangers have been relegated from the English Premier League after they drew 0-0 on Sunday, Futaa.com reports.

    Both teams needed three points from Sunday’s duel to have a realistic hope of overtaking Aston Villa ( 17th on the log), but neither side managed to create many clear-cut chances in a game that featured little creativity or entertainment value.

    Reading is making an instant return to the second tier, while QPR is leaving the topflight after two seasons.

    Reading’s Hope Akpan, who is eyeing a possible stint in the Green and White jersey of Nigeria, will now be ready for life in the Championships as the club attempts a quick return to the top flight.