A quiet night for Kelvin Davis at St Mary's?

By Martin Sanders

This was my first game of football i have seen in a few weeks now, Southampton V Birmingham and what a game it was. Where do you start to talk about a game that everything.

For Saints fans, was it a good win over one of the fancied teams that shows Saints are now among the promotion contenders? they almost surrendered a three-goal lead - and not for the first time!

With Chris Baird having just inadvertently flicked Radhi Jaidi's header into his own net to make the score 4-3 with only stoppage time left and Saints having earlier led 3-0, tensions were more than high at St Mary's for the last Minutes of this game.

Baird and Davis came to blows and had to be pulled apart by team-mates after the Blues had made the score 4-3. The pair were at each other's throats. They escaped punishment from the referee

Southampton boss George Burley admitted to BBC Sport that he had to read the riot act to defender Chris Baird and keeper Kelvin Davis after Saints' win over Birmingham.

"When you're 3-0 up and then 4-3 and just conceded a goal it was an emotional game, but they're best of friends in the dressing room.

What i night of football. i went home a happy chappy that's 6 unbeaten for my team now!!!! Could be be in the mix come May we will need to be with it worth over £25 million to get back in the Premier League!

great-save.com set to meet Tim Flowers Goalkeeping legend

Today great-save.com are please to announce that we are set to meet Tim Flowers (ex Southampton FC, Blackburn Rovers FC and England) Legend.

After the massive success of great-save the Magazine we are gearing up for the new 2007 mag and Tim Flowers is one of many top goalkeepers/ex goalkeepers we are set to meet in the months to come. We would like to give the opportunity to our customers to ask Tim Flowers questions, all the answers will be pubished in our great-save mag next year. To ask your question please e-mail martin@great-save.com

Tim Flowers won 11 caps with England between 1994 and 1998. He was in the squads for both Euro 96 in England and the 1998 World Cup in France.
A move to Leicester in 1999 saw Tim lift another trophy, this time the League Cup in 2000, after an exciting 2-1 win over Tranmere Rovers. Loan spells at Stockport County and Coventry City followed before making his way to Manchester City.

Tim made over 600 appearances in a career that spanned some 16 years before turning to full time coaching with the Manchester City

Keeper Ruddy returns to Everton

Everton keeper John Ruddy has been recalled from a loan spell at Stockport and will be on the substitutes' bench against Manchester United on Wednesday.
Ruddy, 20, returns to Merseyside as cover for on-loan Tim Howard, who is ineligible to face his parent club.
He played 11 times for League Two club Stockport after joining in September.
Iain Turner is on loan to Crystal Palace, so Ruddy will deputise for Richard Wright, who is set to make his first Premiership start of the season.
Meanwhile, Everton full-back Gary Naysmith will return to full training this week after recovering from knee ligament problems.
The Scot suffered the injury at Newcastle on 24 September 24 but is not ready to feature at Old Trafford.
Toffees physio Mick Rathbone said: "Gary is fine, he is doing absolutely everything we have asked. He has been blasting the ball around and we just want to ease him back into full training."

Source www.bbc.co.uk

Keeper owes Reading

Marcus Hahnemann admits he owes Reading 'a lot' for helping him to forge a career in England.
The United States keeper first arrived in English football in 1999 when he joined Fulham, but he made just four appearances during his time at Craven Cottage.
Since signing for Reading permanently over four years ago, Hahnemann has established himself as a reliable keeper.
He has now been rewarded with a contract until 2008 and the American offered his gratitude to Reading.
"It's fantastic, it's a club that I've loved and now played over 200 games for," Hahnemann told Sky Sports News.
"I really made a name for myself here again, I've got back in the national team, so I owe a lot to the club."
With The Royals residing in the top half of The Premiership, Hahnemann is optimistic about a second season of top-flight football.
He added: "The way we've been playing, we've been playing really well and we've been digging some results out.

for more visit http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=431685&CPID=8&clid=108&lid=2&title=Keeper+owes+Reading

Woking bag Saints goalkeeper Poke

Woking boss Glenn Cockerill swooped to beat the loan deadline and sign Southampton goalkeeper Michael Poke.

The highly rated The 21-year-old has joined the Cards for a month following Shwan Jalal's move to Sheffield Wednesday.

EX Southampton Goalkeeping Coach now at Portsmouth David Coles told www.great-save.com, " Michael is a fantastic young keeper, the lad has a great future in the game, in my time at Southampton he was a pleasure to work with and has come on really well"

This will be a great chance to gain some 1st team football for the young keeper.

Poke is yet to make a senior appearance for Southampton but got a taste of first-team football during a loan spell with Northampton last season.
Cockerill also wanted Stevenage's Jon Nurse but was unable to get the striker on loan for a second time this season

Portsmouth goalkeeper Dean Kiely has joined Coca-Cola Championship strugglers Luton Town on a month's loan.
Kiely, 36, has been out-of-favour at Fratton Park since the arrival of David James in the summer.
The former Charlton player could make his Hatters debut against Southampton at St Mary's on Sunday.
Kiely will be competing with Marlon Beresford for a place in the starting line-up as Mike Newell's men look to end a run of six straight defeats in all competitions.


Dean Kiely Stats

Details
Name
Dean Kiely
Club
Portsmouth
Squad No
33
DOB
10 Oct 1970
Height
6 1
Born
Salford
Transfer history
From
To
Date
Fee
Coventry City
Ipswich Town
30 Oct 89
On Loan
Coventry City
York City
09 Mar 90
On Loan
Coventry City
York City
01 Jul 90
N/A
York City
Bury
01 Aug 96
£125,000
Bury
Bury
25 May 99
£1,000,000
Charlton Athletic
Portsmouth
25 Jan 06
Undisclosed Amount

Source www.skysports.com

Kiely ready to quit Pompey

Dean Kiely has conceded he is becoming increasingly exasperated by his situation at Portsmouth, having been forced to accept a bit-part role since David James' arrival in the summer.
Despite having played his part in last season's miraculous effort in maintaining Portsmouth's top flight status, after a miserable start, Kiely has been cast to the sidelines this term.
James has established himself as the club's number one and whilst Kiely insists he holds nothing against his rival, he is angry at the manner in which he has been treated by the South Coast outfit.
"We did a miraculous job, played really, really well and got out of trouble and I find myself discarded as you will know," he told Sky Sports News.
"And that doesn't sit too well with me really because I've always played and done the business with the clubs I've been at!"
Kiely accepts that he may have to reluctantly seek pastures new in the winter transfer window, having accepted he will not garner the playing time he craves at Portsmouth.
"Well, you know it's probably looking that way and this has really been forced upon me," he replied, when quizzed on a possible January move.
"After remaining in The Premiership and making a good contribution, my big picture was maybe move the family down and settle in the area.
"I have nothing against any other keeper. We come and we do our jobs. I just find it really, really difficult.
"Wherever I go I try to make a contribution. I don't want to sit here and pick up my wages for doing absolutely nothing.
"I'm concentrating on keeping myself fit and well. Physically and mentally I need to keep myself sharp because within a week things might change."

Source www.skysports.com

2007 Adidas & Nike glove images released

We have new released images of the Adidas and Nike Gloves to be on sale in January 2007. All the Styles will be available to PRE-ORDER in the next few days.


Nike have a large range for 2007 with the launch of the new Nike T90 Spyne Range, this will be Nike's finger protection range for the first time. They also have a new updated T90 Gunn Cut, you will either love them or hate them, the glove will be all back with a black palm and a tint of red on the back hand.

Adidas have updated their range for early 2007 with both new Fingersave Alround and Fingertip seeing a face lift for the new year. The Fingersave will have Customised Protection, this now gives you the chance to separately exchange the protective fingersave spines by a small zip opening at the base of the backhand. The finger tip looks string and we feel this could be Adidas best selling glove of 2007.

For more infomation and images go to http://www.great-save.com/2338Yx113528/Gloves/Coming-Soon/c-1-6-175/

Fans forced keeper axe - Mowbray

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray has blamed the Baggies fans for goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler's fall from favour.
The Swiss international started the season as first-choice keeper but was then dropped and made available for loan after abuse by Albion supporters.
Mowbray said: "Ultimately, the decision to leave him out was taken because of the negative impact from the terraces on the team rather than him.
"The team needs backing, support and everyone behind it."
Mowbray added: "I would like to think I stuck by Zubi for a period of time."

www.bbc.co.uk

Neville 'predicted Saha's miss'

Manchester United skipper Gary Neville predicted team-mate Louis Saha's penalty miss at Celtic, according to Bhoys captain Neil Lennon.
French striker Saha had his spot-kick saved by Artur Boruc to hand Celtic a 1-0 win over the Premiership side in their Champions League group game.
"Neville came over and said 'I think he'll miss it - his head's gone down'," said Celtic midfielder Lennon.
"Saha had an earlier miss and that's when his head had gone down."
United striker Saha spurned a glorious chance shortly before the spot-kick miss when he assumed he was offside and attempted an audacious flick with just Boruc to beat.
Poland international Boruc emerged as one of the heroes for Celtic, along with goalscorer Shunsuke Nakamura.

The keeper remained modest about his moment of brilliance, saying: "Penalties are a lottery.
"I just had more luck than the guy who was trying to score. I remembered the penalty when he scored against me. It was in the same corner.
"I thought he might try and so the same again. I was not sure it should have been a penalty in this game either.
"I have made some better saves in my life, but that is one of the most important."

Source www.bbc.co.uk

Jens Champions League glory ahead of Premiership success

JENS LEHMANN admits boss Arsene Wenger has put Champions League glory ahead of Premiership success.
The Arsenal keeper reckons the Gunners’ main priority should be catching Chelsea and Manchester United in the league.
Lehmann, 37, said: "I know it would mean more to him to win the Champions League but I don’t feel we can afford to neglect the Premiership.
"If the time comes in March and April and we’re still in contention for both, then maybe we’ll reassess it.
"For me the title comes first because that’s the biggest test for a team’s consistent quality."

www.thesun.co.uk

Friedel builds for the future

A career in management or the media is the preferred option for most footballers when they end their playing days - but Brad Friedel has bigger ideas.
While the veteran Blackburn goalkeeper has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet, he is already building a £4.2m football academy that will carry his name and promises to revolutionise the sport back home in America.
The 35-year-old is keen to give under-privileged youngsters there the opportunities in the game that they would otherwise miss out on.
The plan is to provide the USA's first free year-round residential football school which will also be a base to young players recruited from around the world - and will fund their development with scholarships.
Some familiar names from the Premiership in the shape of Barry Venison and Scott Sellars are on board as directors of the project.
And following five years of planning the state-of-the-art facility in Cleveland, Ohio - where Friedel grew up - will be ready in August 2007.
Friedel told BBC Sport: "Anyone who generally goes over to America to do this sort of thing goes to take money off people.
"We have done it in a different way and gone for Federal State local grants and gained sponsorship so we can go out to get the top young athletes and train them as academies do around the world.
"It will be predominantly for Americans but we have scouting networks all over the world and the mix will be about 60-40.

FRIEDEL FACTS
Born: Bay Village, Ohio
Age: 35
Clubs: Brondby (94), Galatasaray (95), Columbus Crew (95-97), Liverpool (97-00), Blackburn (00-06)
Liverpool games: 36
Blackburn games: 273

"Football in America is a mid to upper-class sport and I want to change that."
Friedel has been running summer soccer schools in America since 2003 but a year-round academy was always his ultimate aim.
He has taken a hands-on approach in the camps he has run before but is still completing his coaching badges - as well as turning out for Rovers - and does not feel qualified to do the same when the academy opens its doors.
"This isn't just a run of the mill camp set-up where you pay your money and you get in," he explained. "These are elite players we are talking about and they need to be coached in the correct manner.
"I think one of the most difficult areas of coaching is in youth development.
"I have hired three coaches that are going to be there on a full-time basis that have between eight and 25 years experience of coaching and development.
"I do not have the expertise to do that at the moment. Maybe in the future I will, but now it would be unjust for me to say that I will be coaching the kids because I'm not a coach."
Friedel came through the college system in the USA himself before moving to Danish side Brondby in 1994.
Work permit problems stopped him joining Newcastle or Sunderland and he eventually moved to Turkey with Galatasaray - where he met Venison - before returning to America's Major League with Columbus Crew.
Premier Soccer Academies will provide the highest quality soccer education, experience, training and enjoyment to talented soccer players without regard to economic or social condition
Premier Soccer Academies' mission statement
He eventually got the chance to move to England with Liverpool in 1997 but it took his move to Blackburn in 2000 for him to establish himself as one of the best shot-stoppers in the Premiership.
Now Friedel is keen to see young talent get the same chances he had to make it in the game.
"When I do get a good player to come out, if they are good enough to go to Europe we'll try to do that, or Mexico or South America," he said.
"But the great thing is that we have a lot of options to try to help the kids out.
"If they are not ready or possibly not good enough to go into the professional game then we have a fantastic university system over in the states that they can go into and get an education."
Friedel has an unmistakable passion for his project but - luckily for Blackburn fans - it is matched by his desire to extend his playing career here as long as he can.
"I've got this season and next season left on my contract - and it all comes down to what the club's needs are and what my personal needs are at the time when my contract's up," he said.
"All I can say is that if I feel the way I do now in 18 months time then by all means I'd want to stay.
"I try to look after myself and I anticipate myself feeling good for at least an extra season."

Source www.bbc.co.uk/sport

Warnock furious after Kenny brawl

The 28-year-old was involved in a brawl in Halifax on Monday.
Warnock told BBC Radio Five Live: "He's let himself down and I think he's more embarrassed about it than anything else. This should have been avoided.
"The lads have got to learn that wherever you are when you're a Premiership footballer, you're news."
Warnock, whose side take on Premiership leaders Manchester United at Bramall Lane on Saturday, added: "I've told Paddy in the past he shouldn't be going out in Halifax.
"All of a sudden he's back out and it isn't a coincidence. He's let himself down and I think he's more embarrassed about it than anything else.
"He won't be going out in Halifax again. He knows he's let me down, but things happen with young lads like that."
Republic of Ireland keeper Kenny is often the subject of jibes about his weight from rival fans and Warnock joked: "He takes a lot of pressure off me because the chants he gets during a game.
"You asked is he big enough, I think the answer to that would be yes!"

Source www.bbc.co.uk/sport

Darryl's brotherly glove

WAYNE ROONEY and Cristiano Ronaldo must have felt like they were up against two goalkeepers during Manchester United’s stunning Carling Cup defeat by Southend.
And after defying the Premiership leaders with an heroic performance, Darryl Flahavan feels much the same.
He revealed he dedicates his career to the memory of his tragic brother Aaron, the Portsmouth keeper who was killed in a car crash in August 2001.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006520096,00.html

Upping the Antti

Antti Niemi Performance of the season so far,

http://www.great-save.com/j2tzzk105840/Premier-League-Saves/Antti-Niemi-Performance-of-the-season-so-far/p-179-798/

Keeper Hedman seals Chelsea move

Chelsea have signed former Sweden goalkeeper Magnus Hedman until the end of the season.
Hedman won 55 caps for his country and has experience of British football after spells at Coventry and Celtic.

The 33-year-old has been working for Swedish television channel TV4 since retiring from the game in 2005.
He will act as cover to Carlo Cudicini and Henrique Hilario with Petr Cech set to be on the sidelines until late January after fracturing his skull.
Czech international Cech had two metal plates inserted into his head after sustaining the injury in October's Premiership win at Reading.
Previous third-choice Hilario has deputised for Cech and Cudicini, who was also knocked unconscious at Reading but returned for Chelsea's League Cup win over Aston Villa.

Sorce www.bbc.co.uk/sport