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Portsmouth Boss Paul Hart Plays Down David James Injury
Pompey boss says goalkeeper not a World Cup doubt...
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Nov 22, 2009 7:33:15 PM
By Edward Pearce
Portsmouth manager Paul Hart maintains goalkeeper David James' fitness is not a cause for concern after the England international injured his calf during the warm-up and had to be replaced by Jamie Ashdown before his side's 1-0 loss to Stoke City on Sunday.
James recently admitted that he still suffers "irritation" in the right knee he had surgery on at the end of the 2008/09 campaign, but Hart declined to link that problem to the goalkeeper's pulled calf.
England coach Fabio Capello has repeatedly stated that he will not take any players carrying injuries to the 2010 World Cup next year, and recurring injuries could cost James, or any other player, his place in South Africa next summer.
"He pulled a calf muscle warming up," said Hart, as quoted by the Press Association.
"The World Cup is in June, a calf muscle is usually about three weeks. I think he will be fit for the World Cup.
"We are managing the situation [regarding James' knee] at the moment and up until now he has been out on the pitch.
"He has to do some gym work to help him through it but he has been there and it has not been a real problem."
James appeared to have sealed his position as Capello's first choice goalkeeper, but his absences this season have set up a three-way battle for the number one spot with Manchester United's Ben Foster and West Ham United's Robert Green.
Portsmouth manager Paul Hart maintains goalkeeper David James' fitness is not a cause for concern after the England international injured his calf during the warm-up and had to be replaced by Jamie Ashdown before his side's 1-0 loss to Stoke City on Sunday.
James recently admitted that he still suffers "irritation" in the right knee he had surgery on at the end of the 2008/09 campaign, but Hart declined to link that problem to the goalkeeper's pulled calf.
England coach Fabio Capello has repeatedly stated that he will not take any players carrying injuries to the 2010 World Cup next year, and recurring injuries could cost James, or any other player, his place in South Africa next summer.
"He pulled a calf muscle warming up," said Hart, as quoted by the Press Association.
"The World Cup is in June, a calf muscle is usually about three weeks. I think he will be fit for the World Cup.
"We are managing the situation [regarding James' knee] at the moment and up until now he has been out on the pitch.
"He has to do some gym work to help him through it but he has been there and it has not been a real problem."
James appeared to have sealed his position as Capello's first choice goalkeeper, but his absences this season have set up a three-way battle for the number one spot with Manchester United's Ben Foster and West Ham United's Robert Green.
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10:38 PM GMT
Milan owner and former Italy prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has this to say:
“I said to Ibrahimovic not to use his hands (in reference to slapping a Napoli player at the weekend) and only his feet – he did that tonight.
“He reminded me of Van Basten, whom I am very happy for with his new job at Heerenveen.
“As for the future, we already have a great coach in Allegri and we're very happy with him. I speak to him and give him suggestions as I did with all my previous coaches.
“Champions League or Scudetto? We will try to win everything, and I think we can do just that. We had a lot of injuries, but we have a big squad, so we should be able to compete on all fronts.”
“I said to Ibrahimovic not to use his hands (in reference to slapping a Napoli player at the weekend) and only his feet – he did that tonight.
“He reminded me of Van Basten, whom I am very happy for with his new job at Heerenveen.
“As for the future, we already have a great coach in Allegri and we're very happy with him. I speak to him and give him suggestions as I did with all my previous coaches.
“Champions League or Scudetto? We will try to win everything, and I think we can do just that. We had a lot of injuries, but we have a big squad, so we should be able to compete on all fronts.”
10:33 PM GMT
And now we have some reaction from San Siro, courtesy of our man in the field Sergio Stanco...
10:29 PM GMT
Robert Zeliang has this to say of Arsene Wenger: "Wrong tactics, fool. Arsenal have dug their own graves.”
Meanwhile, Tonde Chitonho has asked Thierry Henry to take Arsene Wenger back to the US with him!
And on the subject of Henry, Rizky Ferdiansyah humorously added: “King Henry couldn't beat the Prince Boateng!”
Meanwhile, Tonde Chitonho has asked Thierry Henry to take Arsene Wenger back to the US with him!
And on the subject of Henry, Rizky Ferdiansyah humorously added: “King Henry couldn't beat the Prince Boateng!”
10:19 PM GMT
After the match, I took to Facebook and Twitter again to get some fan reaction. Lets take a look at what our readers have to say:
Joel Peeperkoorn feels that Arsenal should rest their big guns in the second leg, saying: “There's no way we can beat Milan by five goals."
Jez Cook, however, takes a different perspective, singing himself back to positivity: “FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ....FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ...FIVE FOUR - just keep repeating it.”
Well, you have to admire his fighting spirit...
Joel Peeperkoorn feels that Arsenal should rest their big guns in the second leg, saying: “There's no way we can beat Milan by five goals."
Jez Cook, however, takes a different perspective, singing himself back to positivity: “FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ....FIVE FOUR we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four we're gunna win five four ...FIVE FOUR - just keep repeating it.”
Well, you have to admire his fighting spirit...
10:10 PM GMT
Stat time again, folks, as we can reveal that tonight is Milan's biggest ever win the Champions League, while it is Arsenal's biggest ever loss in the competition!
Incidentally, no team has ever progressed in Europe after losing the first leg by such a heavy deficit.
Incidentally, no team has ever progressed in Europe after losing the first leg by such a heavy deficit.
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