From: tjc@ecs.soton.ac.uk (Tim Chown)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: English News: team news for Saturday
Date: 16 Aug 92 13:03:27 GMT

Celtic manager Liam Brady has signed West Ham forward Stuart Slater for a
club record fee of #1.5m.  Brady has already bought Middlesbrough
striker Andy Payton and Albanian Rudi Vata this week.
Slater, 23, has made over 100 league appearances for The Hammers and shot to
national fame during the club's FA Cup run in 1991.
"I am a very happy man," Brady said. "I worked with Stuart for three years at
West Ham and he is the kind of player who will excite a lot of people."

Southampton have been fined #20,000 by the FA for their appalling disciplinary
record last season.  The Saints received 80 cautions last
term and five sendings-off, including the now departed Neil Ruddock who was
ordered off twice.  All told 20 different players were
booked and 11 served suspensions during the season.
Manager Ian Branfoot pledged to clean up Southampton's act this season. He
said: "This is potentially a severe punishment and I would like to think
we will learn from it."

Everton have completed the signing of Glasgow Rangers striker Paul Rideout
for half a million pounds.  The deal was completed this morning at
the club's Bellfield training ground after the striker had passed a medical.
Rideout, 28 today, will boost the Everton attack often criticised for
a lack of goals.  It is the second closed-season signing
at Goodison Park following Barry Horne's decision to join the club
earlier this summer.

Norwich City have signed Manchester United striker Mark Robins for #800,000
to end weeks of speculation.  The 22-year-old rushed to Carrow Road
from the Canaries' training ground to sign just seconds before the mid-day
transfer deadline.  Robins comes in as a direct replacement
for Robert Fleck, who joined Chelsea for #2.1m earlier this week, and will
make his debut at Arsenal on Saturday.  "It was a wrench leaving United after
eight wonderful years but I hope to repay the tremendous faith Norwich have
placed in me by scoring goals," he said

Wimbledon full-back Terry Phelan has pleaded with The Dons: "Let me go to
Manchester City." City boss Peter Reid has offered
Wimbledon #1.5m for the Republic of Ireland international but the Selhurst
Park outfit want #2m.  "I have not been able to sleep since I
heard City wanted me," Phelan said.  "I'm a Salford lad and a move to Maine
Road would be the best thing that has ever happened to me," he added.
"I was on City's books as a schoolboy before I joined Leeds and Swansea."


ARSENAL v NORWICH CITY
Championship favourites Arsenal have to give a late fitness test to striker Ian
Wright before they kick off their campaign against The Canaries.
Wright has a thigh strain but rates his chances of playing as '70-30'.
Alan Smith, eased out of the first team late last season, stands by.
Norwich include new signing Mark Robins in their forward line.
Fellow striker Darren Beckford misses out with a thigh strain but skipper Ian
Butterworth is fit again and plays.

CHELSEA v OLDHAM
Chelsea parade record signing Robert Fleck along with other new boys Mick
Harford and Mal Donaghy, but John Spencer misses out through injury.
Spencer joins Tony Cascarino, Graham le Saux and a host of other players on
the inury list, while Dennis Wise is out through suspension.
Oldham keeper Jon Hallworth has won his fitness battle against a thigh strain
and plays at Stamford Bridge.  The Latics will give Steve Redmond his
debut, following a #600,000 move from Manchester City last week.

COVENTRY CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH
Unsettled City striker Kevin Gallacher is nursing an achilles tendon and will
miss the clash at Highfield Road.  Gallacher was linked with a #2.5m move
to Chelsea but the Sky Blues pulled out of the deal following reports in
national newspapers.  Middlesbrough include summer signings
Tommy Wright, Derek Whyte and Chris Morris in their squad.
Central defender Nicky Mohan has been ruled out through suspension after
being sent off in the promotion clincher with Wolves in May.

CRYSTAL PALACE v BLACKBURN ROVERS
England midfielder Geoff Thomas is expected to play probably his last game
for Palace against his likely new club.  Blackburn are poised to sign Thomas
for around #2.9 million next week but he lines up against them in a full-
strength Palace squad.  Rovers give debuts to new signings Alan
Shearer and Stuart Ripley, who between them cost Kenny Dalglish #4.5m during
the summer.  Dalglish also includes defenders David
May and Keith Hill in a 16-man Rovers squad.

EVERTON v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
The Toffees will be without defender Martin Keown and Tony Cottee, who are
both recovering from operations.  Unsettled winger Pat Nevin, involved in
talks with a Turkish club, is left out, but Dave Watson and John Ebbrell have
recovered from minor knocks.  Owls stars David Hirst and Carlton
Palmer have both passed late fitness tests and will play alongside new
signing Chris Waddle.  England keeper Chris Woods and Swedish
right back Roland Nilsson are both fit to play for Wednesday.

IPSWICH v ASTON VILLA
Ipswich will be without midfielder Steve Whitton, who is recovering from
knee surgery and is likely to be replaced by Simon Milton.
David Linighan (knee) and Jason Dozzell (ankle) are hoping to pass late fitness
tests after suffering knocks in pre-season friendlies.
Villa striker Dwight Yorke is on World Cup duty for Trinidad and Tobago and so
Dalian Atkinson is likely to be partnered by Cyrille Regis up front.
Ray Houghton, a #900,000 capture from Liverpool, will play in midfield.

LEEDS UTD v WIMBLEDON
Champions Leeds begin their defence of the title against Wimbledon with injury
doubts over three defenders.  Tony Dorigo (knee), Jon Newsome (calf)
and Chris Fairclough (ankle) all face fitness tests before manager Howard
Wilkinson can finalise his line-up.  Summer signings David Rocastle and
Scott Sellars are in the 18-strong squad but are not definite starters.
Wimbledon new boys Dean Holdsworth and Greg Berry go straight into the first
team squad although Berry may have to settle for a place on the bench.

SHEFFIELD UTD v MANCHESTER UTD
Blades manager Dave Bassett will be without the services of Dane Whitehouse
who has pulled out with of the United squad due to a thigh injury.
Bassett hopes first choice full-backs Kevin Gage and David Barnes will be fit
but skipper Brian Gayle is suspended and is replaced by Alan McLeary.
Reds boss Alex Ferguson is likely to stick with striking duo Mark Hughes and
Brian McClair and so new signing Dion Dublin may be left on the bench.
Paul Parker is the only major doubt after picking up a knee injury.

SOUTHAMPTON v TOTTENHAM
Saints' new strike force pairing of Kerry Dixon and David Speedie make
their debuts against Tottenham.  The duo, signed at a combined cost of
just under #1 million, will partner Matthew Le Tissier up front.
The home side have injury doubts about midfielder Terry Hurlock (rib) and
striker Neil Maddison (ankle).  Ian Walker has won the battle for
Spurs' goalkeeping spot ahead of Erik Thorstvedt. Ray Clemence and Doug
Livermore include 17-year-old Andy Turner in an 18-man squad.


Division One:

LEICESTER CITY v LUTON TOWN
Striker Bobby Davison makes his debut for Leicester, following his #50,000
move from champions Leeds.  But David Lowe, a #200,000 signing from
Ipswich is ruled out with a fractured cheekbone suffered in a warm-up match
against Borussia Moenchengladbach.  Hatters boss David Pleat hopes to give
a debut to former Cambridge striker Steve Claridge, whose fee will be
decided at a tribunal next week.  Australian goalkeeper Andy Petterson is
preferred to Alec Chamberlain, who was dropped and transfer-listed last season

NEWCASTLE UNITED v SOUTHEND
Magpies boss Kevin Keegan has called up striker Steve Howey to play in defence
replacing Kevin Scott, who is suspended with Kevin Brock and Liam O'Brien.
Teenager Steve Watson is preferred to Franz Carr while new signings Barry
Venison, John Beresford and Paul Bracewell are all expected to play.
Southend's leading scorer for the past two seasons, Brett Angell will miss
the clash because of a thigh injury and is expected to be out for six weeks.
Andy Sussex is named in a 14 man squad and is expected to lead the frontline.

OXFORD UNITED v BRISTOL ROVERS
The U's three summer signings, David Collins, Nick Cusack and Jon Narbett,
are included in a 14-strong squad.  Narbett may have to wait for his debut
after suffering a knock while Jim Magilton is suspended.
The Pirates' record #160,000 signing Paul Hardyman makes his debut at left
back in a full strength squad.  Manager Dennis Rofe has no injury
worries and he will be hoping striker John Taylor carries on from last season
when his eight goals in as many games took Rovers clear of relegation.

PETERBOROUGH v DERBY COUNTY
Derby boss Arthur Cox includes new signings Mark Pembridge and Darren
Wassall in a 15-strong squad for the trip to London Road.
Left back Michael Forsyth will lead out The Rams after the departure during the
close season of former skipper Geraint Williams to Ipswich Town.
Posh have major injury worries with skipper Mick Halsall suspended, David
Robinson definitely out and Ronnie Robinson and Darren Bradshaw doubtful.
Midfield men Marcus Ebdon and Gary Cooper also face late fitness tests.

SWINDON v SUNDERLAND
Former England international Terry Butcher is joined by Shaun Cunnington
and John Colquhoun in the Sunderland team for the trip to Swindon.
Butcher, who parted company with Coventry last season, is expected to
sign a one-year contract at the end of his two-month trial at Roker Park.
Swindon player-manager Glenn Hoddle has recovered from a calf injury and is
likely to take his place in the side.  Experienced midfielders Ross McLaren
and David Kerslake are both ruled out due to leg injuries.

TRANMERE ROVERS v CAMBRIDGE UNITED
Cambridge start the season with their new strike force of Devon White and
John Francis for the trip to Tranmere.  Manager John Beck is not revealing his
full line-up until just before the start of the match but only the left
wing position is in any doubt.  Striker Mike Norbury looks set to edge
out specialist flank player Lee Philpot in the position.

WATFORD v MILLWALL
Watford include new #50,000 signing Paul Furlong for the visit of Millwall.
Hornets boss Steve Perryman also selects former Crystal Palace keeper
Perry Suckling in place of David James, who joined Liverpool in the summer.


Division Two:

Brighton give debuts to loan strikers Paul Moulden and Steve Cotterill in
their opening Division Two clash against Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.
Steve Foster returns for The Seagulls after joining from Oxford United.

Leyton Orient have included former Wimbledon midfielder Vaughan Ryan in
their 14-man squad for the home game against Brighton. 

Fulham manager Don McKay names a 16-man squad for the opening clash of the
season at Port Vale but delays naming his side due to some small injuries.

Bradford name teenager Scott Partridge in their plans for the first time
against Chester. Boss Frank Stapleton includes two goalkeepers Chris Pearce
and Paul Tomlinson in a 15-man squad.

Carlisle give a debut to much-travelled striker Riccardo Gabbiadini in their
opening game with Walsall. Ian Knight also makes his debut for The Cumbrians.

Rochdale include transfer-listed striker Andy Flounders in their team
for the home game against Halifax Town.


Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar is hoping to regain his Zimbabwean
citizenship in time to allow him to play for his country against South
Africa on Sunday.

Crystal Palace chairman Ron Noades has said Geoff Thomas would only move to
Blackburn if he asked for a transfer, a #3m-plus valuation was met and a
replacement player was signed.

Maidstone United face a high-noon deadline on Monday to assure the
Football League they can carry on. They currently have just two registered
players and are #650,000 in debt.

Blackburn boss Kenny Dalglish and his Newcastle counterpart Kevin Keegan have
been given a disciplinary rap by the FA over allegations concerning comments to
match officials.  Keegan was fined #1,000 and both
managers were warned about their future conduct on the eve of the new season.

Coventry City have called off Kevin Gallacher's proposed #2.5m move to
Chelsea after details of the deal were published in national newspapers. The
move would have taken Chelsea's recent spending spree to #5.5m.

Queen's Park Rangers are refusing to co-operate with BSkyB for the live game
at Manchester City on Monday after the Premier League refused to rearrange it.
Rangers are being forced to play three games in five days because of TV
commitments and will not be filmed or give interviews in protest.

Leyton Orient midfielder Wayne Burnett has signed for Blackburn Rovers in a
deal worth up to #350,000, depending on how many times he plays for Rovers.