Nadal: Don't write Federer off

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal has said that no-one should right off record breaker Roger Federer just yet, the World no one insists that the Swiss is no spent force and is backing the player to add to his 16 grand slam titles.

"He won at the Australian Open and won in Cincinnati (Federer's 17th Masters 1000 title), got to the final in Madrid and Toronto ... so it's a good year for him," Nadal told reporters at this week's Japan Open.

"It's very difficult to always be 100 percent and what Federer did the last seven or eight years is almost impossible to repeat. It's unbelievable."

Nadal has kept us the pace with Federer this season in winning all four grand slam crowns winning last month's U.S. Open to move to nine overall titles.

But the Spaniard has warned that it was far too early to write off Federer, who has won 63 career titles but has slipped to third in the world rankings.

"Of course he is going to challenge to win the big tournaments," said Nadal, who is making his first appearance in Japan this week. "He is still -- what? -- number two or three in the world and his game is still at a very high level."

Liverpool on the verge of a takeover

The owners of the Boston Red Sox who are run by New England Sports Ventures have pledged to remove all of Liverpool's debt and stabilize the and turning the Premier League club into winners should its £300 million pound takeover bid be successful."

"NESV wants to create a long-term financially solid foundation for Liverpool FC and is dedicated to ensuring that the club has the resources to build for the future, including the removal of all acquisition debt," they said in a statement."

"Our objective is to stabilise the club and ultimately return Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successfully competing for and winning trophies."

"Since 2001, New England Sports Ventures has made successful investments in sports and entertainment properties."

"Our portfolio of companies, including the Boston Red Sox and Fenway Park, New England Sports Network, Fenway Sports Group and Roush Fenway Racing are all committed to one common goal: winning."

"NESV wants to help bring back the culture of winning to Liverpool FC. We have a proven track record, shown clearly with the Boston Red Sox. The team has won two World Series Championships over the past six years. We will bring the same kind of openness, passion, dedication and professionalism to Liverpool FC."

"We are hopeful with regard to the pending legal and English Premier League procedures now under way, however, in light of these issues, we will respectfully refrain from comment or further actions at this time."

Mark Schwarzer to leave Fulham

Arsenal need for a goalkeeper has spurned Fulham goalkeeper into confirming that he wants a move away from Craven Cottage, Mark Schwarzer was a summer target for Arsenal and the new Fulham boss Mark Hughes dug his heels in to keep hold of the Australian stopper. But now Schwarzer has come out publicly expressing his desire to leave the West London club owned by former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed.

“A lot can happen between now and January. What will be, will be,” said Schwarzer.

“If there's an opportunity in January, then we'll explore it.

“This is the only time in my career I have ever tried to force an issue. I don't have time on my side. If you were a 30-year-old you would walk away and say 'fair enough, I understand'.

“But I'm almost 38 and I want to fulfil an ambition. The sheer opportunity that was there. That was very flattering, but sometimes you've just got to grin and bear it and just get on with normal life again as much as possible.”

Henry sorry for hard tackle

Wolves hardman Karl Henry has apologised following his dismissal against Wigan on Saturday. Herny was red carded for a dreadful late tackle on Wigan's Jordi Gomez at the DW Stadium last weekend. Referee Lee Mason issued Henry with a straight red card, Henry has said he regrets the challenge and would like to apologise to everyone connected with club.

"Having watched it again I can see that it looks horrific and realise that it was a deserved red card," he told the club's official website.

"I've already apologised to the manager, TC and the boys, but I'd also like to apologise to the supporters, especially the ones that travelled up to Wigan.

"If we had had 11 men on the pitch, there is no doubt in my mind that we would have won that game.

"I'm desperately disappointed - if I could go back and rerun it all again I wouldn't make the challenge and I would have stayed on my feet.

"It's something that I'll learn from. But things happen so quickly. I'd made the decision to go and win the ball and it turned out to be the wrong one.

"We started really well and I thought we were well in contention - especially in the first half. And so again, I'd like to stress how sorry I am because I know that I have let people down.

"And, on top of everything else, I'm going to miss three important games. For me it's a bad situation, but I've got every confidence that the boys can get a result against West Ham and kick on from there."

Check the tackle out below:

Olazabal keen on Ryder Cup captaincy

Jose Maria Olazabal is said to be keen on taking over the role as Ryder Cup captain as Monty has expressed his has no intention of staying after his teams heroic performance of winning the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor yesterday. Monty has backed the Spaniard to take up the position saying Olazabal has all the requirements and experience to be successful should he fell well enough when the Ryder Cup returns in 2012.

It's been mentioned by the players and by Monty and we talked about it a little, but there is just one issue and that is my health," Olazabal said, "I would love to do it, but you have to fulfil certain things.

"For instance I think you need to be close to the players and play with them during the qualifying process, compete with them if possible, and that's why it is the only question mark, but time will tell."

And if his health was okay and he was asked? "There's only one answer - yes.

"It's always an honour to represent the European Tour and an entire continent, it has always been this way and it will always be like this."

Olazabal was involved behind the scenes on European soil for the first time, and voiced his appreciation for the fans at Celtic Manor this weekend.

"It was the first time I have been a vice-captain at the Ryder Cup on this side of the Atlantic and I could feel the difference - the crowd support, the atmosphere," he said.

"The Ryder Cup, I've always said is a special and unique event and it has been great to be a part of it."

Forlan hints at move

Atletico Madrid's hot shot Diego Forlan has issued a come and get me plea, Forlan trying to force himself out the door in Spain is reportedly keen on a return to the Premier League, the Uruguayan is largely seen as a flop with his time in the Premiership at Manchester United and Forlan is keen change that.

The striker won a second European Golden boot award for netting 32 goals in the 2008-9 La Liga season, winning the Europa League last season beating Fulham in the final.

Forlan said, "If I have the chance to go, I will go. You know, it's like I always say, when I came here to Europe it's because I left my home and I left everybody so I'm not attached to a team.

"You look at the best offer you have and if you have a chance and it is good and it is good for the team and it is good for you, I don't see it as bad, I see it is good and I will move."

Monty hails McDowell

European Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie has hailed Graeme McDowell's birdie putt on the 17th hole and admitted that moment will live with him for "many, many years".

Super Mac's superb performance in the singles helped the Europeans clinch victory at Celtic Manor yesterday with the final day going down the last match for the first time in 19 years, US Open champion McDowell saw Europe over the finish line finishing 3&1 over Hunter Mahan sealed a 14½-13½ success.

"There were some superb victories with Luke Donald's victory down the last hole and of course G-Mac's.

"To hold him as 12th man, if you like, towards the end was a good decision by us all.
Fantastic

"He was the Wales Open champion on this golf course, he is the current US Open champion and he was put there for a reason because he can handle himself in that situation and by God he did.

"That birdie on the 16th will live in my memory and live in all our memories for many, many years to come."

Kevin Davies shock England call-up

Bolton forward Kevin Davies in the shock inclusion for Fabio Capello's England squad for the European qualifiers against Montenegro coming up next week, the robust striker has long been linked with an international chance after impressing for the Trotters in recent years and now got his call-up to international football.

West Ham's Robert Green and Liverpool's Joe Cole have also been recalled to the Squad. Manchester United's Wayne Rooney has also been included despite revelations about his private life still hitting the headlines. John Terry returns to the England setup after missing out last time due to injury. With Emile Heskey snubbing a return to England, Davies has now been given the chance to prove himself at this level.

England currently sit top of Group G and have made a 100 per cent start to their qualifying campaign after wins against Bulgaria and Switzerland.


England squad in full:

Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City); Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa); Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa); Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin Davies (Bolton), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Hodgson fears survival battle

Roy Hodgson has admitted that Liverpool could be a relegation dogfight come the end of the season, the under fire boss the Reds could find themselves at the wrong end of the league table following the weekends dismal 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Premiership new boys Blackpool. Hodgson has said that Liverpool's start to the campaign is unacceptable and suggest they could find themselves struggling if performances don't improve.

The Liverpool boss said, "Things are looking really, really bleak. It has been said that if you are in the bottom three, you are in a relegation fight, and I would have to go along with that," admitted Hodgson.

"But I'm not thinking too much about relegation with 31 games left. My concerns are that we are not playing to our full potential, or are only doing it in periods. In the first half we were punished for a lacklustre display.

"We had the ball as much as they did but didn't do anywhere near enough with it to satisfy my demands, the club's demands or the players' demands on themselves."

He also added, He said: "The fans are entitled to voice their frustrations, they are a frustrated group at the moment.

"I am the one responsible because I am the team manager. When the team does badly then the criticism is going to fall my way and I have to accept it."

Europe win the Ryder Cup

Europe have today won the Ryder Cup beating USA 14½ to 13½, after much rain this weekend the Ryder Cup final day went into Monday with Europe leading 9½-6½ overnight. With both Lee Westwood and Rory McIlory losing groundb. The stage was set for Graeme McDowell to steal the show and win it for Europe. USA had struggled to find any consistency and were always chasing Europe clawing back 13½ each and the Ryder Cup came down to the final match thanks to some clutch putting by 21-year-old Rickie Fowler. But it was then left for McDowell to finish things off nicely.


Needing a full point to secure the win, US Open champion McDowell sent cheers reverberating around the course as he sunk a brilliantly-judged 15-foot putt for birdie at the 16th to move two-up with two to play. Victory was then confirmed when Mahan, following a poor chip, failed to sink a long putt for his par at the short 17th, conceding McDowell's putt to hand Europe to spark wild European celebrations.

FINAL SCORE: EUROPE 14½ – USA 13½
Match 1: Westwood v Stricker - US wins 2&1
Match 2: McIlroy v Cink - Halved
Match 3: Donald v Furyk - EUR wins 1 UP
Match 4: Kaymer v D Johnson - USA win 6&4
Match 5: Poulter v Kuchar - EUR wins 5&4
Match 6: Fisher v Overton - USA wins 3&2
Match 7: Jimenez v Watson - EUR wins 4&3
Match 8: F Molinari v Woods - USA wins 4&3
Match 9: E Molinari v Fowler - Halved
Match 10: Hanson v Mickelson - USA wins 4&2
Match 11: Harrington v Z Johnson - USA wins 3&2
Match 12: McDowell v Mahan EUR wins 2 up