By FRANCO PANIZO
David Villa may not be living up to expectations this season with Barcelona, but that doesn't mean the club is in any rush to get rid of him.
Pep Guardiola spoke to reporters in Japan ahead of Barcelona's FIFA Club World Cup campaign and said he has no intentions of disposing of Villa, who has been linked to several Premiership clubs. Guardiola also went on to say that while he hasn't spoken to Villa since last weekend's win over Real Madrid, the 30-year-old striker remains in Barcelona's plans.
Villa has started in eight of the 15 league games he's played in this season and scored five goals.
Here are more stories from around the soccer world:
SUAREZ-EVRA RACISM CASE UNDERWAY
The highly-discussed Patrice Evra-Luis Suarez racism case should reach a conclusion this week after England's FA began disciplinary hearings on Wednesday.
Both Suarez and Evra are expected to provide evidence at the hearing, and a decision should be made in the next couple of days.
Suarez, Liverpool's star Uruguayan striker, had been charged with racially abusing Evra during an early-season clash between Manchester United and Liverpool.
U.S. SOCCER SUPPLIES WPS CONDITIONS
Reports circulated Tuesday that U.S. Soccer granted Women's Professional Soccer conditional sanctioning for Division I status for a 2012 season, and now the details of those conditions have come out.
WPS must increase from its current five-team set-up to six in 2013 and eight — the usual standard for Division I sanctioning — by 2014. There are also undisclosed financial requirements that must be met by both the league and its teams.
"At all levels of professional soccer in the United States, our goal is to ensure the long-term sustainability of each league," U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said in a statement. "WPS is optimistic about their ability to continue to grow in the next two years, and we believe these conditions will help the league accomplish those goals."
SCHWARZER OUT SIX WEEKS
Fulham has lost starting goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer for the next six weeks as he recovers from a spinal injury.
Schwarzer suffered the knock this past weekend after falling awkwardly in Fulham's match against Swansea City, and as a result, Fulham has recalled David Stockdale from his loan to Ipswich Town.
Fulham's decision to summon Stockdale could open the door for U.S. Under-20 goalkeeper Cody Cropper to become the primary backup at Ipswich Town.
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Think Barcelona should sell Villa? How do you see the Suarez-Evra case unfolding? What do you think of U.S. Soccer's conditions for WPS? Hope to see Cropper get some minutes at Ipswich Town?
Share your thoughts below.
Look up the numbers, only a team like Barca can complain about his form
Villa has started in eight of the 15 league games he’s played in this season and scored five goals. I dont undertsand why everyone is down on Villa, the man scores goals Nats/club…one of the most prolific scorers in the world
I think it would be a VERY difficult argument to make.
The women need their own version of Phil Anschultz, who single handedly ensure MLS was going on where while the league put down roots and began to grow. His deep pockets kept the league running when teams were bleeding money.
WPS needs their own Uncle Phil to be their benefactor…
Sadly, I don’t the future is bright for WPS, in this or any foreseeable form. The attention and acclaim given the WNT are more a function of the rarity and international importance of their competitions — an outlet for patriotism/nationalism that appeals to the casual fan — than a reflection of intense interest in the women’s game per se.
Not nearly as slow as John Terry’s case which was completely swept under the rug.
has anyone heard of this guy who wants to play for the nats?
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city/cardiff-city-fc/2011/12/06/cardiff-city-striker-rudy-gestede-reveals-his-dream-to-play-for-usa-at-world-cup-91466-29900540/
great idea actually
they should keep the NT’s intact and create a league out of it. It’d be like the WC, but all the time!
I think 10 teams is possible within 5 years for WPS. Just need better PR and work with the USWNT and other female NT’s like Germany, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, France, Japan, England and Canada.
Villa is arguably one of the best strikers of the past decade.
I cant believe how slowly the suarez issue is moving. It seems like we won’t have an answer until after we’ve crowned an EPL winner.
On an unrelated note the Schwarzer injury is no bueno, but Stockdale has played quite well for Fulham in the past so I’m not too worried