Rutashubanyuma
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Rutashubanyuma
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Inter Striker Samuel Eto'o: TP Mazembe Are Making Africa Proud
Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o says he's proud of TP Mazembe's performance at the Club World Cup.
By Kingsley Kobo
Dec 15, 2010 5:00:00 PM
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Inter striker Samuel Eto'o says he is following the performances of African representatives TP Mazembe at the Club World Cup with great pride.
"I followed their debut by the time I arrived in Abu Dhabi," the Cameroon captain told FIFA.com on Wednesday.
"Their opening match against Pachuca was underway, and they were already winning. All the Africans in our team began to encourage them, hoping they kept the result.
"I was very pleased and proud that they won that game. They're proudly representing our continent, after their second stunning victory against the South American representatives [Internacional] and I would like to send big congratulations to them."
Inter qualified for the final on Wednesday after beating Asian representatives Seongnam 3-0. They will now meet the Crows on Saturday.
Cameroon international Samuel Eto'o says he's proud of TP Mazembe's performance at the Club World Cup.
By Kingsley Kobo
Dec 15, 2010 5:00:00 PM
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Samuel Eto'o - Inter (Getty Images)
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Inter striker Samuel Eto'o says he is following the performances of African representatives TP Mazembe at the Club World Cup with great pride.
"I followed their debut by the time I arrived in Abu Dhabi," the Cameroon captain told FIFA.com on Wednesday.
"Their opening match against Pachuca was underway, and they were already winning. All the Africans in our team began to encourage them, hoping they kept the result.
"I was very pleased and proud that they won that game. They're proudly representing our continent, after their second stunning victory against the South American representatives [Internacional] and I would like to send big congratulations to them."
Inter qualified for the final on Wednesday after beating Asian representatives Seongnam 3-0. They will now meet the Crows on Saturday.
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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- #704
Last edited by a moderator:
Rutashubanyuma
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Mancini: Tevez will play against Everton
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By David Anderson
Roberto Mancini wants to secure Carlos Tevez's future at Manchester City by tomorrow night.
He will today meet Tevez, who has handed in a transfer request, for *showdown talks at the club's Carrington training complex.
Tevez was rested last night but the Italian announced that his striking star will play on Monday against Everton at Eastlands.
And the Blues boss is confident he can now persuade him to stay beyond that despite Tevez having handed in a written transfer request.
Mancini said: "When I arrive at the training ground, I will speak with Carlos. It is important that it can finish quickly.
"I haven't had this situation before, but it can happen at any club in England or Italy.
"It is important I speak to him because I want to understand what he wants to do because I think this can finish in the next two days.
"He will play on Monday. He recovered and rested on Thursday, so he will play on Monday. He has trained well since Tuesday and he doesn't have a problem.
"On Monday we have a very difficult game and I want all of my players to be there, 100 per cent."
Mancini was boosted ahead of his meeting with Tevez by City's draw against Juventus which earned them top spot in their Europa League group.
Jo grabbed his chance in Tevez's absence by bagging City's equaliser and Mancini was delighted with the result.
"I'm very happy because we wanted this and it was very important to finish on top of the group," he said.
"I have known of Jo for five years. He played against Inter in the Champions League and scored two goals. He was young, but he was a good player and he still is a good player.
"He played the last two games for us and didn't score, but he has done very well, so I am pleased that he scored tonight.
"Juventus are a good team and we started very well. We had three or four chances in the first-half and it was strange to concede the goal. But we played well and, for me, this is important.
"We have a chance to go all the way in Europe, but it is important to have a good draw for the next round. After that, we will see."
Juventus fans shamed themselves by shouting abusive chants at Mario Balotelli, even though City's Italian striker was back in Manchester.
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By David Anderson
Roberto Mancini wants to secure Carlos Tevez's future at Manchester City by tomorrow night.
He will today meet Tevez, who has handed in a transfer request, for *showdown talks at the club's Carrington training complex.
Tevez was rested last night but the Italian announced that his striking star will play on Monday against Everton at Eastlands.
And the Blues boss is confident he can now persuade him to stay beyond that despite Tevez having handed in a written transfer request.
Mancini said: "When I arrive at the training ground, I will speak with Carlos. It is important that it can finish quickly.
"I haven't had this situation before, but it can happen at any club in England or Italy.
"It is important I speak to him because I want to understand what he wants to do because I think this can finish in the next two days.
"He will play on Monday. He recovered and rested on Thursday, so he will play on Monday. He has trained well since Tuesday and he doesn't have a problem.
"On Monday we have a very difficult game and I want all of my players to be there, 100 per cent."
Mancini was boosted ahead of his meeting with Tevez by City's draw against Juventus which earned them top spot in their Europa League group.
Jo grabbed his chance in Tevez's absence by bagging City's equaliser and Mancini was delighted with the result.
"I'm very happy because we wanted this and it was very important to finish on top of the group," he said.
"I have known of Jo for five years. He played against Inter in the Champions League and scored two goals. He was young, but he was a good player and he still is a good player.
"He played the last two games for us and didn't score, but he has done very well, so I am pleased that he scored tonight.
"Juventus are a good team and we started very well. We had three or four chances in the first-half and it was strange to concede the goal. But we played well and, for me, this is important.
"We have a chance to go all the way in Europe, but it is important to have a good draw for the next round. After that, we will see."
Juventus fans shamed themselves by shouting abusive chants at Mario Balotelli, even though City's Italian striker was back in Manchester.
Rutashubanyuma
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Juventus 1-1 Man City: Daily Mirror match report
Published 18:53 16/12/10 By David Anderson
Job done, top of the group. Now Roberto Mancini will be hoping today's summit with Carlos Tevez will also have a happy ending.
Mancini last night jetted back for his crunch talks with Tevez at Carrington, buoyed by this fine result against his boyhood heroes.
Unlikely lad Jo's equaliser secured first place in their Europa League group and made sure they will not face a Champions League drop-out in the last 32.
It is ammunition for Mancini as he attempts to persuade Tevez to withdraw his transfer request at stay at Manchester City.
Mancini has rejected talk that his star striker is unhappy at Eastlands and believes he can talk him round.
He can also point to the strides he has made as he celebrates his first year in the job this weekend and the Italian has turned City into genuine title contenders.
Also in Mancini's favour is Tevez's lack of alternatives and no club in the world can match the wages City can pay.
This is the task facing Mancini today, but last night he could take credit for City's successful group campaign.
His side are growing in stature and no-one more so than Adam Johnson who lived up to his promise to produce a performance as a tribute to his close friend Dale Roberts.
Roberts, the Rushden and Diamonds goalkeeper, died unexpectedly on Tuesday and Johnson put aside his grief at losing his friend to star against Juve for the second time in the group.
He was a real threat to Juve and he set up Jo for City's equaliser with his sliderule pass.
City should have scored before then and three times they went close early on in the Stadio Olimpico, which was so deserted with just 7,000 spectators it could have doubled as a meeting for Silvio Berlusconi's fan club.
Mancini showed the depth of his squad and despite fielding his second string, he was still able to put out nine full internationals.
One of them, Jo, was denied by Giorgio Chiellini after skipper Micah Richards had tried to pick the Brazilian out in the box from a surging run down the right.
The Blues then had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Istvan Vad when James Milner's cross struck Zdenek Grygera on the hand before ex-Gunner Alex Manninger touched Wayne Bridge's cross behind after it took a deflection off former Red Momo Sissoko.
Mancini handed Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely his first start and the rookie striker headed well wide from a good position before a second effort hit the post, although the ref had already blown for a foul.
Despite City's dominance, the wily old Alessandro Del Piero showed aged has not robbed him of his talent and after Dedryck Boyata denied him with a last ditch challenge, he opened up the visitors for the opener.
He picked out Niccolo Giannetti two minutes before the interval, who at 19 is 17 years his junior, and Juve's Italian striker beat Boyata to stab his cross home.
With Lech Poznan winning in Salzburg, City needed to score to finish top of the group, but they were frustrated by some poor finishing and the referee.
Jo headed wide from six yards out from Johnson's cross before the Brazilian striker had an effort harshly ruled out for offside when he was just about level.
It was hard to fathom out why Juve failed to qualify on the evidence of this hot display in the freezing cold and Shay Given made a great save to touch over Milos Krasic's 25-yard dipping shot.
It was also difficult to figure out what City had to get a decision off the ref and Vad the Bad turned them down again when Tchuimeni-Nimely's shot clearly hit Chiellini on the arm.
The Blues eventually equalised on 77 minutes and this time not even Vad could deny them. Johnson picked out Jo in space in the Juve box and the Brazilian spun on the ball to turn a night of frustration into one of joy by firing home into the far corner.
It was the least the Blues - and their 1,500 hardy travelling fans - deserved and was a fitting way to round off their fine group campaign.
Juventus: Manninger 6; Grygera 6, Legrottaglie 5, Chiellini 6, Traore 5 (Boniperti 67mins 5); Krasic 6 (Camilleri 57mins 5), Sissoko 6, Felipe Melo 6, Pepe 6; Giannetti 7 (Buchel 79mins 6), Del Piero 7. Subs not used: Storari, Iaquinta, Bonucci, Giandonato.
Manchester City: Given 7; Boateng 6, Richards 7, Boyata 6, Bridge 6; Wright-Phillips 6 (Chantler 89mins 5), Milner 6, Vieira 6, Johnson 8; Tchuimeni-Nimely 6 (Zabaleta 61mins 6), Jo 6. Subs not used: Taylor, Kay, Mee, Ibrahim, Elabdellaoui.
Referee: Istvan Vad
HERO
Adam Johnson: Fitting tribute to Dale.
VILLAIN
Vad the Bad. Gave City nothing.
ANORAK
City have not won in Italy in three attempts.
Published 18:53 16/12/10 By David Anderson
Job done, top of the group. Now Roberto Mancini will be hoping today's summit with Carlos Tevez will also have a happy ending.
Mancini last night jetted back for his crunch talks with Tevez at Carrington, buoyed by this fine result against his boyhood heroes.
Unlikely lad Jo's equaliser secured first place in their Europa League group and made sure they will not face a Champions League drop-out in the last 32.
It is ammunition for Mancini as he attempts to persuade Tevez to withdraw his transfer request at stay at Manchester City.
Mancini has rejected talk that his star striker is unhappy at Eastlands and believes he can talk him round.
He can also point to the strides he has made as he celebrates his first year in the job this weekend and the Italian has turned City into genuine title contenders.
Also in Mancini's favour is Tevez's lack of alternatives and no club in the world can match the wages City can pay.
This is the task facing Mancini today, but last night he could take credit for City's successful group campaign.
His side are growing in stature and no-one more so than Adam Johnson who lived up to his promise to produce a performance as a tribute to his close friend Dale Roberts.
Roberts, the Rushden and Diamonds goalkeeper, died unexpectedly on Tuesday and Johnson put aside his grief at losing his friend to star against Juve for the second time in the group.
He was a real threat to Juve and he set up Jo for City's equaliser with his sliderule pass.
City should have scored before then and three times they went close early on in the Stadio Olimpico, which was so deserted with just 7,000 spectators it could have doubled as a meeting for Silvio Berlusconi's fan club.
Mancini showed the depth of his squad and despite fielding his second string, he was still able to put out nine full internationals.
One of them, Jo, was denied by Giorgio Chiellini after skipper Micah Richards had tried to pick the Brazilian out in the box from a surging run down the right.
The Blues then had a penalty appeal waved away by referee Istvan Vad when James Milner's cross struck Zdenek Grygera on the hand before ex-Gunner Alex Manninger touched Wayne Bridge's cross behind after it took a deflection off former Red Momo Sissoko.
Mancini handed Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely his first start and the rookie striker headed well wide from a good position before a second effort hit the post, although the ref had already blown for a foul.
Despite City's dominance, the wily old Alessandro Del Piero showed aged has not robbed him of his talent and after Dedryck Boyata denied him with a last ditch challenge, he opened up the visitors for the opener.
He picked out Niccolo Giannetti two minutes before the interval, who at 19 is 17 years his junior, and Juve's Italian striker beat Boyata to stab his cross home.
With Lech Poznan winning in Salzburg, City needed to score to finish top of the group, but they were frustrated by some poor finishing and the referee.
Jo headed wide from six yards out from Johnson's cross before the Brazilian striker had an effort harshly ruled out for offside when he was just about level.
It was hard to fathom out why Juve failed to qualify on the evidence of this hot display in the freezing cold and Shay Given made a great save to touch over Milos Krasic's 25-yard dipping shot.
It was also difficult to figure out what City had to get a decision off the ref and Vad the Bad turned them down again when Tchuimeni-Nimely's shot clearly hit Chiellini on the arm.
The Blues eventually equalised on 77 minutes and this time not even Vad could deny them. Johnson picked out Jo in space in the Juve box and the Brazilian spun on the ball to turn a night of frustration into one of joy by firing home into the far corner.
It was the least the Blues - and their 1,500 hardy travelling fans - deserved and was a fitting way to round off their fine group campaign.
Juventus: Manninger 6; Grygera 6, Legrottaglie 5, Chiellini 6, Traore 5 (Boniperti 67mins 5); Krasic 6 (Camilleri 57mins 5), Sissoko 6, Felipe Melo 6, Pepe 6; Giannetti 7 (Buchel 79mins 6), Del Piero 7. Subs not used: Storari, Iaquinta, Bonucci, Giandonato.
Manchester City: Given 7; Boateng 6, Richards 7, Boyata 6, Bridge 6; Wright-Phillips 6 (Chantler 89mins 5), Milner 6, Vieira 6, Johnson 8; Tchuimeni-Nimely 6 (Zabaleta 61mins 6), Jo 6. Subs not used: Taylor, Kay, Mee, Ibrahim, Elabdellaoui.
Referee: Istvan Vad
HERO
Adam Johnson: Fitting tribute to Dale.
VILLAIN
Vad the Bad. Gave City nothing.
ANORAK
City have not won in Italy in three attempts.
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Wenger: Shawcross won't need extra protection at Emirates
Published 15:20 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Arsene Wenger insists Ryan Shawcross will not need any extra protection at Emirates Stadium on Saturday - and called for all Arsenal fans to respect the Stoke defender.
Shawcross is set to face the Gunners for the first time since his challenge resulted in young midfielder Aaron Ramsey suffering a double leg fracture during the Premier League game at the Britannia Stadium in February.
Ramsey has now recovered full fitness and is currently on loan at npower Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Shawcross, though, can still expect a rough reception from the home supporters - although Potters boss Tony Pulis today laughed off suggestions the player will be provided with his own personal security into and out of the ground.
In the immediate aftermath of the match at the Britannia Stadium, Wenger labelled Shawcross' challenge as "horrendous" and highlighted similar incidents against his players, Abou Diaby and Eduardo.
However, the Gunners boss insists with Ramsey now on the road back to full fitness, it is time to draw a line under the saga.
Asked whether Shawcross would need extra protection at the weekend, Wenger said: "I can reassure you that will not be needed.
"What happened in the past, happened in the past.
"We have come out on that - I don't think there is any need to add any fuel on it and just focus on playing football as we always do and respecting our opponents.
"What is important is we want to see a football game where both teams play good football.
"It is Arsenal against Stoke. Every game is different and it is a new start.
"We do not have any preconceived ideas before the game happens on any individual.
"We want to win the game, focus on it and respect our opponent as we always do."
England Under-21 international Shawcross, who was called up for the senior squad against Egypt in March, was distraught following the incident, and has sent messages of support to Ramsey.
Wenger reflected: "It is only Ramsey who can forgive Ryan Shawcross for what happened to him. I cannot forgive. I have not that power.
"If you were the manager of Aaron Ramsey, who is 18 and has two bones broken in his leg, you cannot say you are not upset, it absolutely normal you are upset.
"I gave my feelings at the moment, what we were focused on after that was to get Ramsey back to playing again, what he is just starting to do now.
"We care about Aaron Ramsey and his career. We did not focus on Shawcross, that is why I don't feel there is any need to talk about that."
Arsenal were beaten 1-0 at Manchester United on Monday night, but could return to the top of the table with victory against Stoke as all their other title rivals are not in action until later over the weekend.
Wojciech Szczesny could continue in goal if Lukasz Fabianski fails to recover from a hip injury, with Manuel Almunia facing another three weeks out because of an ankle problem.
However, Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner is likely to miss the game as he is set to become a father for the first time.
Captain Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie are all in contention to start after coming off the bench at Old Trafford.
Wenger said: "They are close - not completely yet 100%, but we have some players who have played many games so I may consider to rotate a little bit."
Published 15:20 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Arsene Wenger insists Ryan Shawcross will not need any extra protection at Emirates Stadium on Saturday - and called for all Arsenal fans to respect the Stoke defender.
Shawcross is set to face the Gunners for the first time since his challenge resulted in young midfielder Aaron Ramsey suffering a double leg fracture during the Premier League game at the Britannia Stadium in February.
Ramsey has now recovered full fitness and is currently on loan at npower Championship side Nottingham Forest.
Shawcross, though, can still expect a rough reception from the home supporters - although Potters boss Tony Pulis today laughed off suggestions the player will be provided with his own personal security into and out of the ground.
In the immediate aftermath of the match at the Britannia Stadium, Wenger labelled Shawcross' challenge as "horrendous" and highlighted similar incidents against his players, Abou Diaby and Eduardo.
However, the Gunners boss insists with Ramsey now on the road back to full fitness, it is time to draw a line under the saga.
Asked whether Shawcross would need extra protection at the weekend, Wenger said: "I can reassure you that will not be needed.
"What happened in the past, happened in the past.
"We have come out on that - I don't think there is any need to add any fuel on it and just focus on playing football as we always do and respecting our opponents.
"What is important is we want to see a football game where both teams play good football.
"It is Arsenal against Stoke. Every game is different and it is a new start.
"We do not have any preconceived ideas before the game happens on any individual.
"We want to win the game, focus on it and respect our opponent as we always do."
England Under-21 international Shawcross, who was called up for the senior squad against Egypt in March, was distraught following the incident, and has sent messages of support to Ramsey.
Wenger reflected: "It is only Ramsey who can forgive Ryan Shawcross for what happened to him. I cannot forgive. I have not that power.
"If you were the manager of Aaron Ramsey, who is 18 and has two bones broken in his leg, you cannot say you are not upset, it absolutely normal you are upset.
"I gave my feelings at the moment, what we were focused on after that was to get Ramsey back to playing again, what he is just starting to do now.
"We care about Aaron Ramsey and his career. We did not focus on Shawcross, that is why I don't feel there is any need to talk about that."
Arsenal were beaten 1-0 at Manchester United on Monday night, but could return to the top of the table with victory against Stoke as all their other title rivals are not in action until later over the weekend.
Wojciech Szczesny could continue in goal if Lukasz Fabianski fails to recover from a hip injury, with Manuel Almunia facing another three weeks out because of an ankle problem.
However, Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner is likely to miss the game as he is set to become a father for the first time.
Captain Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie are all in contention to start after coming off the bench at Old Trafford.
Wenger said: "They are close - not completely yet 100%, but we have some players who have played many games so I may consider to rotate a little bit."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Lampard set to return against United
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By Martin Lipton
Frank Lampard is set to return to the Chelsea starting line-up on Sunday after coming through his big test.
The England midfielder has got the all-clear to face Manchester United.
Since hernia surgery three months ago, he has played just 13 minutes, at Tottenham last weekend.
But Lampard emerged unscathed from a hour-long practice match involving the Chelsea second-stringers and youth team at the club's Cobham HQ yesterday.
And unless the 32-year-old suffers an unexpected *reaction over the next 48 hours, he will be named in Carlo Ancelotti's side heading to Old Trafford.
Lampard, whose last start came against Stoke on August 28, is desperate to help Chelsea end their worst run for 11 years.
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By Martin Lipton
Frank Lampard is set to return to the Chelsea starting line-up on Sunday after coming through his big test.
The England midfielder has got the all-clear to face Manchester United.
Since hernia surgery three months ago, he has played just 13 minutes, at Tottenham last weekend.
But Lampard emerged unscathed from a hour-long practice match involving the Chelsea second-stringers and youth team at the club's Cobham HQ yesterday.
And unless the 32-year-old suffers an unexpected *reaction over the next 48 hours, he will be named in Carlo Ancelotti's side heading to Old Trafford.
Lampard, whose last start came against Stoke on August 28, is desperate to help Chelsea end their worst run for 11 years.
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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- #709
Hodgson's Torres U-turn let down fans, says Kop legend
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By David Anderson
Liverpool legend Alan Kennedy claims he feels for the young Kopites let down by Fernando Torres' non appearance against Utrecht.
Roy Hodgson did little to improve his standing with Reds fans when he broke his promise to start Torres in the Europa League game at Anfield.
Many young fans among the 40,000 crowd, who took advantage of the club's offer of free entry, were gutted by Hodgson's decision to leave the star striker on the bench for the drab goalless draw.
Kennedy remains close to Reds supporters and says they felt disappointed.
"The fans were certainly excited when they read in the papers that Roy said Fernando was going to start," he said. "That was in the papers on the day of the game that Fernando would be playing.
"Some of the fans might have been influenced to come to the game because of that and it was a chance to see him play.
"I thought watching the game that the longer it went on, Fernando could have done with coming on.
"Let's be fair to the manager and he wanted to keep faith with the players he had used in the other Europa League games and Ryan Babel has been doing all right up front.
"But, yes, when we need goals, then we all want to see Fernando on the pitch if we are being a little bit selfish."
Hodgson's U-turn over Torres was an own goal he could have done without and some supporters remain to be convinced that he is the right man to lead the club.
Hodgson claimed he changed his mind on the recommendation of his medical team, who felt it would be better to rest Torres for tomorrow evening's clash with Fulham.
Kennedy understands Hodgson's dilemma, but claimed he would always play the Spanish hitman if he were fit.
"If you have a player who is fully fit and raring to go, then I don't see why they shouldn't play," he said.
"But the manager knows Fernando better than me and maybe he feels he still needs some training. If he had played him and he had got injured, then more questions would have been asked.
"I said at the start of the season when asked about Fernando, that if he'd had a good pre-season's work that would stand him in good stead. But he didn't get that because of the injury he suffered in the World Cup Final.
"The manager has to think about Saturday's game against his former club Fulham and the Premier League is the priority.
"The time to judge it will be on Saturday night and if Fernando scores a couple of goals after having a rest, the manager will be proved right."
Although Torres has managed just five goals in his 18 appearances of his stop-start campaign, Kennedy claims he is still one of the best strikers in the business.
"When I look at Fernando and the way he's playing at the minute, he's not making some key decisions at the right time," he said.
"He's still trying to get back to the striker he was a season or two ago before he was hit by injury.
"But there is no doubt that Fernando is a great player and nothing will change my opinion of him."
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By David Anderson
Liverpool legend Alan Kennedy claims he feels for the young Kopites let down by Fernando Torres' non appearance against Utrecht.
Roy Hodgson did little to improve his standing with Reds fans when he broke his promise to start Torres in the Europa League game at Anfield.
Many young fans among the 40,000 crowd, who took advantage of the club's offer of free entry, were gutted by Hodgson's decision to leave the star striker on the bench for the drab goalless draw.
Kennedy remains close to Reds supporters and says they felt disappointed.
"The fans were certainly excited when they read in the papers that Roy said Fernando was going to start," he said. "That was in the papers on the day of the game that Fernando would be playing.
"Some of the fans might have been influenced to come to the game because of that and it was a chance to see him play.
"I thought watching the game that the longer it went on, Fernando could have done with coming on.
"Let's be fair to the manager and he wanted to keep faith with the players he had used in the other Europa League games and Ryan Babel has been doing all right up front.
"But, yes, when we need goals, then we all want to see Fernando on the pitch if we are being a little bit selfish."
Hodgson's U-turn over Torres was an own goal he could have done without and some supporters remain to be convinced that he is the right man to lead the club.
Hodgson claimed he changed his mind on the recommendation of his medical team, who felt it would be better to rest Torres for tomorrow evening's clash with Fulham.
Kennedy understands Hodgson's dilemma, but claimed he would always play the Spanish hitman if he were fit.
"If you have a player who is fully fit and raring to go, then I don't see why they shouldn't play," he said.
"But the manager knows Fernando better than me and maybe he feels he still needs some training. If he had played him and he had got injured, then more questions would have been asked.
"I said at the start of the season when asked about Fernando, that if he'd had a good pre-season's work that would stand him in good stead. But he didn't get that because of the injury he suffered in the World Cup Final.
"The manager has to think about Saturday's game against his former club Fulham and the Premier League is the priority.
"The time to judge it will be on Saturday night and if Fernando scores a couple of goals after having a rest, the manager will be proved right."
Although Torres has managed just five goals in his 18 appearances of his stop-start campaign, Kennedy claims he is still one of the best strikers in the business.
"When I look at Fernando and the way he's playing at the minute, he's not making some key decisions at the right time," he said.
"He's still trying to get back to the striker he was a season or two ago before he was hit by injury.
"But there is no doubt that Fernando is a great player and nothing will change my opinion of him."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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- #710
Pardew won't be making wholesale changes
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By Simon Bird
Alan Pardew has insisted he won't be ripping Newcastle apart and starting afresh – because he's less brash than when he started out in management.
The Newcastle boss says the club needs tinkering rather than surgery, after completing his first week in charge on Tyneside yesterday.
Pardew has ordered his players to show they are big enough to wear the "heavy" Newcastle United shirt, as he looks to evolve the "delicate" balance within the squad he inherited from sacked Chris Hughton.
He has also spent the week watching DVDs of all United's matches this season. "I've now seen three quarters of the games. We're doing great, buy I've identified areas to improve," he said.
The younger Pardew might have taken a bold route to shaking up a new club. Also he was once said to have shocked his players when West Ham boss by turning up for training driving a Ferrari and loved to get involved in their laddish banter.
But now he is a more measured character learning from experience.
He has held face-to-face talks with a number of key players to explain his style - which including being a stickler for good time-keeping - and a focus on the small details that can add up to significant improvements.
The 49-year-old has had spells at Reading, West Ham, Charlton and Southampton who sacked him in August.
And he said: "I've changed as a manager I'm not as brash as I was at first and that's made me a more rounded manager to deal with certain players. Anyway I never had a Ferrari at West Ham.
"I've adapted my playing style a little bit. Sometimes you can get wrapped up with being aesthetic rather than effective so it's about getting the balance right. It's important to retain the ball in the Premier League, but it's also important to pressure defences. It's about getting the balance right."
Pardew got off to the perfect start with the home win over Liverpool last weekend, and now faces a trip to Birmingham with the club well placed in the Premier League.
He knows the legacy left by Hughton has to be nurtured, including not upsetting the balance of the dressing room spirit with wholesale changes in January or next summer.
Pardew added: "This is tinkering more than surgery. You've got to be delicate with this group. The senior players are important. We need to stabilise and make sure we're a Premier League club next year, that's our priority. Birmingham is our priority.
"With the likes of Barton, Nolan, Campbell and Harper it's no surprise to me they're a success here because they have that character about them.
"We have to make sure the character of the player here can carry the shirt. It can be a very heavy shirt. My coach Steve Stone said to me we've signed players in the past who haven't been big enough to play for the club and I understand that.
"I've always had a good relationship with senior players as a whole. There are always going to be one or two you leave out who're disconcerted if they don't fit into your plan. I try to be honest."
Pardew says he wants to uphold the traditions of Newcastle with a competitive, entertaining style full of endeavour.
He added: "If I didn't do that I'd be doing the club a disservice. My work needs to reflect the history of the club. The way we play needs to represent Newcastle in the manner that it should be.
"The crowd wants the Newcastle team to play a brand of football to get them on their feet. Of course that ain't going to happen all the time. I'd love a few 1-0 wins, there's nothing would give me more pleasure.
"Coaching is like a drip fee, putting the right things in place that might not bear fruit immediately. Things like what my back four should do, what the disciplines round the training ground are. The discipline breed into each other things, on a throw for example our throws were poor against Liverpool. You keep going over it and keep reminding."
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By Simon Bird
Alan Pardew has insisted he won't be ripping Newcastle apart and starting afresh – because he's less brash than when he started out in management.
The Newcastle boss says the club needs tinkering rather than surgery, after completing his first week in charge on Tyneside yesterday.
Pardew has ordered his players to show they are big enough to wear the "heavy" Newcastle United shirt, as he looks to evolve the "delicate" balance within the squad he inherited from sacked Chris Hughton.
He has also spent the week watching DVDs of all United's matches this season. "I've now seen three quarters of the games. We're doing great, buy I've identified areas to improve," he said.
The younger Pardew might have taken a bold route to shaking up a new club. Also he was once said to have shocked his players when West Ham boss by turning up for training driving a Ferrari and loved to get involved in their laddish banter.
But now he is a more measured character learning from experience.
He has held face-to-face talks with a number of key players to explain his style - which including being a stickler for good time-keeping - and a focus on the small details that can add up to significant improvements.
The 49-year-old has had spells at Reading, West Ham, Charlton and Southampton who sacked him in August.
And he said: "I've changed as a manager I'm not as brash as I was at first and that's made me a more rounded manager to deal with certain players. Anyway I never had a Ferrari at West Ham.
"I've adapted my playing style a little bit. Sometimes you can get wrapped up with being aesthetic rather than effective so it's about getting the balance right. It's important to retain the ball in the Premier League, but it's also important to pressure defences. It's about getting the balance right."
Pardew got off to the perfect start with the home win over Liverpool last weekend, and now faces a trip to Birmingham with the club well placed in the Premier League.
He knows the legacy left by Hughton has to be nurtured, including not upsetting the balance of the dressing room spirit with wholesale changes in January or next summer.
Pardew added: "This is tinkering more than surgery. You've got to be delicate with this group. The senior players are important. We need to stabilise and make sure we're a Premier League club next year, that's our priority. Birmingham is our priority.
"With the likes of Barton, Nolan, Campbell and Harper it's no surprise to me they're a success here because they have that character about them.
"We have to make sure the character of the player here can carry the shirt. It can be a very heavy shirt. My coach Steve Stone said to me we've signed players in the past who haven't been big enough to play for the club and I understand that.
"I've always had a good relationship with senior players as a whole. There are always going to be one or two you leave out who're disconcerted if they don't fit into your plan. I try to be honest."
Pardew says he wants to uphold the traditions of Newcastle with a competitive, entertaining style full of endeavour.
He added: "If I didn't do that I'd be doing the club a disservice. My work needs to reflect the history of the club. The way we play needs to represent Newcastle in the manner that it should be.
"The crowd wants the Newcastle team to play a brand of football to get them on their feet. Of course that ain't going to happen all the time. I'd love a few 1-0 wins, there's nothing would give me more pleasure.
"Coaching is like a drip fee, putting the right things in place that might not bear fruit immediately. Things like what my back four should do, what the disciplines round the training ground are. The discipline breed into each other things, on a throw for example our throws were poor against Liverpool. You keep going over it and keep reminding."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Wenger: Only Ramsey can forgive Shawcross
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Arsene Wenger last night insisted only Aaron Ramsey has the "power" to forgive Ryan Shawcross of the foul that broke his leg.
The Arsenal manager dismissed the idea that Stoke defender Shawcross would need extra protection when the Potters visit The Emirates tomorrow in the first clash between the two clubs since Ramsey's leg was shattered by the horror tackle.
And while Wenger attempted to heal the wounds with Tony Pulis' men after accusing them of being little more than a "rugby" side earlier this term, the Gunners chief maintained that he alone could not excuse Shawcross for his conduct in last February's controversial clash.
Wenger said: "It is only Ramsey who can forgive Ryan Shawcross for what happened to him. I cannot forgive. I have not that power.
"If you were the manager of Aaron Ramsey, who is 18 and has two bones broken in his leg, you cannot say you are not upset, it is absolutely normal you are upset.
"I gave my feelings at the moment. What we were focused on after that was to get Ramsey back to playing again, what he is just starting to do now.
"We gave 90 per cent of our energy focused not on Shawcross, but on Ramsey. We care about Aaron Ramsey and his career. We did not focus on Shawcross, that is why I don't feel there is any need to talk about that."
Pressed on Stoke's fears over Shawcross' safety, Wenger added: "I can reassure you that extra protection will not be needed.
"It is Arsenal against Stoke. Every game is different and it is a new start. We do not have any preconceived ideas before the game happens on any individual.
"We want to win the game, focus on it and respect our opponent as we always do. What happened in the past, happened in the past. We have come out on that - I don't think there is any need to add any fuel on it and just focus on playing football as we always do and respecting our opponents.
"What is important is we want to see a football game where both teams play good football.
"When I was asked about their style of play I didn't want to blame Stoke for anything. I was just making an example. I didn't target Stoke."
Pulis hit back yesterday by pointing to the disparity between his side's disciplinary record and their reputation, and Arsenal's status as a footballing team when they have picked up far more cards already.
"He's right we've got more yellow cards," said Wenger. "It's surprising about our yellow cards. Like the other night we picked up yellow cards but I thought it was fair game."
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Arsene Wenger last night insisted only Aaron Ramsey has the "power" to forgive Ryan Shawcross of the foul that broke his leg.
The Arsenal manager dismissed the idea that Stoke defender Shawcross would need extra protection when the Potters visit The Emirates tomorrow in the first clash between the two clubs since Ramsey's leg was shattered by the horror tackle.
And while Wenger attempted to heal the wounds with Tony Pulis' men after accusing them of being little more than a "rugby" side earlier this term, the Gunners chief maintained that he alone could not excuse Shawcross for his conduct in last February's controversial clash.
Wenger said: "It is only Ramsey who can forgive Ryan Shawcross for what happened to him. I cannot forgive. I have not that power.
"If you were the manager of Aaron Ramsey, who is 18 and has two bones broken in his leg, you cannot say you are not upset, it is absolutely normal you are upset.
"I gave my feelings at the moment. What we were focused on after that was to get Ramsey back to playing again, what he is just starting to do now.
"We gave 90 per cent of our energy focused not on Shawcross, but on Ramsey. We care about Aaron Ramsey and his career. We did not focus on Shawcross, that is why I don't feel there is any need to talk about that."
Pressed on Stoke's fears over Shawcross' safety, Wenger added: "I can reassure you that extra protection will not be needed.
"It is Arsenal against Stoke. Every game is different and it is a new start. We do not have any preconceived ideas before the game happens on any individual.
"We want to win the game, focus on it and respect our opponent as we always do. What happened in the past, happened in the past. We have come out on that - I don't think there is any need to add any fuel on it and just focus on playing football as we always do and respecting our opponents.
"What is important is we want to see a football game where both teams play good football.
"When I was asked about their style of play I didn't want to blame Stoke for anything. I was just making an example. I didn't target Stoke."
Pulis hit back yesterday by pointing to the disparity between his side's disciplinary record and their reputation, and Arsenal's status as a footballing team when they have picked up far more cards already.
"He's right we've got more yellow cards," said Wenger. "It's surprising about our yellow cards. Like the other night we picked up yellow cards but I thought it was fair game."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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- #712
McLaren wants to take Denilson to Wolfsburg
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Wolfsburg manager Steve McLaren has made Arsenal's Denilson his surprise January transfer priority.
The industrious midfielder, 22, started the season injured and has struggled to re-establish himself in Arsene Wenger's first-team since returning from an abdominal problem.
The emergence of teenager Jack Wilshere has forced Denilson down the midfield pecking order and the Brazilian has made just three Premier League starts all season.
And McLaren is ready to offer Denilson the chance of more regular first-team action at *Wolfsburg, who are currently only four places above the bottom of the Bundesliga.
According to sources in Germany, Wolfsburg would be ready to pay as much as £11million to land Denilson, who has been at Arsenal since 2006.
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Wolfsburg manager Steve McLaren has made Arsenal's Denilson his surprise January transfer priority.
The industrious midfielder, 22, started the season injured and has struggled to re-establish himself in Arsene Wenger's first-team since returning from an abdominal problem.
The emergence of teenager Jack Wilshere has forced Denilson down the midfield pecking order and the Brazilian has made just three Premier League starts all season.
And McLaren is ready to offer Denilson the chance of more regular first-team action at *Wolfsburg, who are currently only four places above the bottom of the Bundesliga.
According to sources in Germany, Wolfsburg would be ready to pay as much as £11million to land Denilson, who has been at Arsenal since 2006.
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Spector: Hammers must beat Blackburn
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
West Ham midfielder Jonathan Spector believes his side face one of their biggest games of the season against Blackburn tomorrow and wants to ease the pressure on under-fire manager Avram Grant.
Grant has reportedly been given three games to save his job and knows he needs to get a result at Ewood Park if he is to improve his chances of staying at the east London club.
West Ham are rooted to the foot of the Premier League and have taken just 12 points from 17 league games.
Spector is no stranger to relegation battles, having saved West Ham from the drop back in 2007 and hopes they can produce another miracle this season and retain their top flight status.
Spector said: "We have been hard at work this week and are focusing on the game against Blackburn on the weekend.
"It was a disappointing defeat against Manchester City. It is a really big game for us against Blackburn and it is one we are going to be looking to get three points from."
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
West Ham midfielder Jonathan Spector believes his side face one of their biggest games of the season against Blackburn tomorrow and wants to ease the pressure on under-fire manager Avram Grant.
Grant has reportedly been given three games to save his job and knows he needs to get a result at Ewood Park if he is to improve his chances of staying at the east London club.
West Ham are rooted to the foot of the Premier League and have taken just 12 points from 17 league games.
Spector is no stranger to relegation battles, having saved West Ham from the drop back in 2007 and hopes they can produce another miracle this season and retain their top flight status.
Spector said: "We have been hard at work this week and are focusing on the game against Blackburn on the weekend.
"It was a disappointing defeat against Manchester City. It is a really big game for us against Blackburn and it is one we are going to be looking to get three points from."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Murphy gives Hodgson a glowing reference
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By Mike Walters
Danny Murphy renews acquaintances with Roy Hodgson tomorrow assuring Liverpool: "You've got the right man for the job."
Fulham skipper Murphy was heartbroken when Hodgson walked out on Fulham six months ago to land a plum assignment at Anfield, but it did not stop him giving his old boss a glowing reference when Kop stars rang to ask about his management style.
Murphy captained Hodgson's underdogs all the way to the Europa League final last season and he said: "Back in the summer, I was getting calls from some of the players at Liverpool asking me about Roy, and it gave me a dilemma about what to tell them.
"I didn't want him to leave Fulham, so could have said nothing and they would still have employed him - but I ended up singing his praises to the boys at Anfield because that's what he deserves.
"They say honesty is the best policy, and I knew that speaking up for him would probably help him and help them he was the right man for the job.
"From a selfish point of view, I didn't want to see him go. We had a great relationship, but in football success generally means that people move on.
"For Roy personally, the great thing about him moving on was that he got to manage one of the great teams in Europe, and Liverpool got one of the best coaches around - he is very astute and articulate.
"Also, with the club being in a bit of a predicament, you couldn't ask for a more humble gentleman to deal with that and make sure the club's views and morals are expressed properly.
"He is a likeable man, he says and does the right things, and if I was a betting man - which I'm not - I would not bet against them finishing in the top four."
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By Mike Walters
Danny Murphy renews acquaintances with Roy Hodgson tomorrow assuring Liverpool: "You've got the right man for the job."
Fulham skipper Murphy was heartbroken when Hodgson walked out on Fulham six months ago to land a plum assignment at Anfield, but it did not stop him giving his old boss a glowing reference when Kop stars rang to ask about his management style.
Murphy captained Hodgson's underdogs all the way to the Europa League final last season and he said: "Back in the summer, I was getting calls from some of the players at Liverpool asking me about Roy, and it gave me a dilemma about what to tell them.
"I didn't want him to leave Fulham, so could have said nothing and they would still have employed him - but I ended up singing his praises to the boys at Anfield because that's what he deserves.
"They say honesty is the best policy, and I knew that speaking up for him would probably help him and help them he was the right man for the job.
"From a selfish point of view, I didn't want to see him go. We had a great relationship, but in football success generally means that people move on.
"For Roy personally, the great thing about him moving on was that he got to manage one of the great teams in Europe, and Liverpool got one of the best coaches around - he is very astute and articulate.
"Also, with the club being in a bit of a predicament, you couldn't ask for a more humble gentleman to deal with that and make sure the club's views and morals are expressed properly.
"He is a likeable man, he says and does the right things, and if I was a betting man - which I'm not - I would not bet against them finishing in the top four."
Rutashubanyuma
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Zamora returns to Fulham training
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Bobby Zamora has given Fulham a massive lift by stepping up training from his broken leg.
The England striker has been undergoing rehab in the gym but yesterday went outdoors at the club's Motspur Park HQ for running work.
Cottagers boss Mark Hughes has been delighted with the 29-year-old's progress after three months on the sidelines - and hopes to have him back in February.
"Bobby went out there and was running on the pitch for the first time," Sparky said.
"He's done a lot of work in the gym and worked on the machine that increases the load and the weight bearing he can manage.
"He hit 100 per cent load early last week so we got him outside.
"It's very early days for him and it's a case now of building up his confidence and getting his body to where it was before.
"But he is bang on track, bang on schedule and hopefully we'll have him back sooner rather than later. I think he'll be February."
Hughes is still planning to bring a striker in when the transfer window opens and is keen on Roque Santa Cruz from ex-club Manchester City.
"There will be a period of adaptation, so we cannot hang our hats on Bobby," he added.
"We're having conversations (about players) and hoping something will develop."
Hughes also confirmed full-back Matthew Briggs has undergone surgery on his calves.
"He had a minor operation to release the pressure in his calves," Hughes said.
"It's obviously a problem that became very acute in the Arsenal game.
"He's not had an episode like that to that extent and that is why he had to come off during the game.
"We had to get to the bottom of it and thankfully understood what was going on.
"He's a young boy and still growing and that has been a factor. He should be free to ramp up his training in 10 days and hopefully we'll get him back fit and well."
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Bobby Zamora has given Fulham a massive lift by stepping up training from his broken leg.
The England striker has been undergoing rehab in the gym but yesterday went outdoors at the club's Motspur Park HQ for running work.
Cottagers boss Mark Hughes has been delighted with the 29-year-old's progress after three months on the sidelines - and hopes to have him back in February.
"Bobby went out there and was running on the pitch for the first time," Sparky said.
"He's done a lot of work in the gym and worked on the machine that increases the load and the weight bearing he can manage.
"He hit 100 per cent load early last week so we got him outside.
"It's very early days for him and it's a case now of building up his confidence and getting his body to where it was before.
"But he is bang on track, bang on schedule and hopefully we'll have him back sooner rather than later. I think he'll be February."
Hughes is still planning to bring a striker in when the transfer window opens and is keen on Roque Santa Cruz from ex-club Manchester City.
"There will be a period of adaptation, so we cannot hang our hats on Bobby," he added.
"We're having conversations (about players) and hoping something will develop."
Hughes also confirmed full-back Matthew Briggs has undergone surgery on his calves.
"He had a minor operation to release the pressure in his calves," Hughes said.
"It's obviously a problem that became very acute in the Arsenal game.
"He's not had an episode like that to that extent and that is why he had to come off during the game.
"We had to get to the bottom of it and thankfully understood what was going on.
"He's a young boy and still growing and that has been a factor. He should be free to ramp up his training in 10 days and hopefully we'll get him back fit and well."
Rutashubanyuma
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- Sep 24, 2010
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Why Blackburn's turkeys are voting for Xmas by sacking Big Sam
By Robbie Savage
Published 22:59 16/12/10
When your business is poultry farming, you expect a fowl-up or two.
But Blackburn's new owners Venky's are my pre-Christmas turkeys for hatching the daft idea to sack Sam Allardyce.
Okay, my chicken jokes aren't funny. But neither is what has happened to two good Premier League managers - Chris Hughton and now Big Sam - within a week which makes me wonder whether football has gone completely mad.
I've captained Blackburn and I love the club and the fans.
But they must be cringeing when they hear Venky's talking about qualifying for the Champions League when the most realistic outcome now must be a battle against relegation.
Blackburn people aren't daft. They know that glorious season under Jack Walker was a one-off and in truth, the most they can really hope for is to be an established, mid-table Premier League side.
That is what they were becoming under Allardyce and now he has gone. I feel sorry for him, the supporters and chairman John Williams, a loyal man who I know will not have been happy with this decision.
And I feel sorry for the players. I've spoken to a couple and I know that some loved Sam while others didn't get on so well with him. But all of them will have been shocked to see him go with the club only five points off a place in Europe.
The new owners talked about wanting to play more attractive football. That's a fine ambition, but it comes at a price.
Just because the Premier League currently has two bosses, Owen Coyle and Ian Holloway, playing winning, passing football on a shoestring budget doesn't mean everyone can do it.
And it doesn't make Sam's tactics old-fashioned or wrong. Look at Bolton's second goal against Rovers last weekend - a long pass, a flick-on, a finish. Right out of the Allardyce coaching manual.
To build a stylish team capable of a top-four finish, the new owners would have to open their wallets to the tune of at least £30m - not the poultry sum of £5m Sam was apparently offered to spend in January. And you have to ask if those players would go to Blackburn in the first place when Manchester United, City, Spurs and Liverpool will all be shopping at the same time.
The only other way of challenging near the top would be for Venky's to bring in Martin O'Neill, who has a fantastic record of making mediocre players better, creating stars and adding one or two each year to make a winning blend.
But I doubt he would go there either to work for owners who run the risk of looking like a bunch of eggs.
**
Watching Soccer Saturday last week I was surprised to hear Phil Thompson dismissing my comments about Wigan getting relegated with the words, "what's he ever won?"
I couldn't believe he said that while sitting next to Matt Le Tissier, who is a legend in my eyes but, like me, never needed to bulk-buy Duraglit. Does he think Matt's not entitled to his opinion too?
The equivalent would be me sitting next you in a pub and telling you to shut up about football as you'd never played the game.
Not many players have won what Phil has - seven league titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups, three European Cups, two UEFA Cups, one European Super Cup and six Charity Shields. Do none of them have the right to talk about football either?
As I said last week when Roberto Martinez criticised my credentials, I think 346 Premier League games gives me the right to an opinion.
And I also think not having won much gives me an advantage - if means I can speak on the same level as the millions of other football fans who haven't either. It makes me the people's pundit.
I don't like falling out with Phil Thompson as, first, I was a Liverpool fan as a kid and second, for obvious reasons, I happen to think a big hooter looks good on a man.
Maybe we should get together and have a conk-off sometime
By Robbie Savage
Published 22:59 16/12/10
When your business is poultry farming, you expect a fowl-up or two.
But Blackburn's new owners Venky's are my pre-Christmas turkeys for hatching the daft idea to sack Sam Allardyce.
Okay, my chicken jokes aren't funny. But neither is what has happened to two good Premier League managers - Chris Hughton and now Big Sam - within a week which makes me wonder whether football has gone completely mad.
I've captained Blackburn and I love the club and the fans.
But they must be cringeing when they hear Venky's talking about qualifying for the Champions League when the most realistic outcome now must be a battle against relegation.
Blackburn people aren't daft. They know that glorious season under Jack Walker was a one-off and in truth, the most they can really hope for is to be an established, mid-table Premier League side.
That is what they were becoming under Allardyce and now he has gone. I feel sorry for him, the supporters and chairman John Williams, a loyal man who I know will not have been happy with this decision.
And I feel sorry for the players. I've spoken to a couple and I know that some loved Sam while others didn't get on so well with him. But all of them will have been shocked to see him go with the club only five points off a place in Europe.
The new owners talked about wanting to play more attractive football. That's a fine ambition, but it comes at a price.
Just because the Premier League currently has two bosses, Owen Coyle and Ian Holloway, playing winning, passing football on a shoestring budget doesn't mean everyone can do it.
And it doesn't make Sam's tactics old-fashioned or wrong. Look at Bolton's second goal against Rovers last weekend - a long pass, a flick-on, a finish. Right out of the Allardyce coaching manual.
To build a stylish team capable of a top-four finish, the new owners would have to open their wallets to the tune of at least £30m - not the poultry sum of £5m Sam was apparently offered to spend in January. And you have to ask if those players would go to Blackburn in the first place when Manchester United, City, Spurs and Liverpool will all be shopping at the same time.
The only other way of challenging near the top would be for Venky's to bring in Martin O'Neill, who has a fantastic record of making mediocre players better, creating stars and adding one or two each year to make a winning blend.
But I doubt he would go there either to work for owners who run the risk of looking like a bunch of eggs.
**
Watching Soccer Saturday last week I was surprised to hear Phil Thompson dismissing my comments about Wigan getting relegated with the words, "what's he ever won?"
I couldn't believe he said that while sitting next to Matt Le Tissier, who is a legend in my eyes but, like me, never needed to bulk-buy Duraglit. Does he think Matt's not entitled to his opinion too?
The equivalent would be me sitting next you in a pub and telling you to shut up about football as you'd never played the game.
Not many players have won what Phil has - seven league titles, one FA Cup, three League Cups, three European Cups, two UEFA Cups, one European Super Cup and six Charity Shields. Do none of them have the right to talk about football either?
As I said last week when Roberto Martinez criticised my credentials, I think 346 Premier League games gives me the right to an opinion.
And I also think not having won much gives me an advantage - if means I can speak on the same level as the millions of other football fans who haven't either. It makes me the people's pundit.
I don't like falling out with Phil Thompson as, first, I was a Liverpool fan as a kid and second, for obvious reasons, I happen to think a big hooter looks good on a man.
Maybe we should get together and have a conk-off sometime
Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
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- #717
Bale: Spurs won't underestimate Blackpool
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Gareth Bale insists Tottenham will not be taking three points from Blackpool for granted this weekend.
The Spurs winger says he has been impressed when he has watched the Seasiders on TV this season.
Ian Holloway's side are up to 10th in the table and have lost just one of their last seven matches.
And Bale knows a trip to Bloomfield Road will not be an easy ride for title-chasing Spurs.
He said: "It will be a difficult task but we have to be up for it as much as we were up for the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.
"We'll prepare right and hopefully we'll get the right result up there. We can't underestimate Blackpool and won't do that.
"A lot of teams have this season and come off on the losing side. We know it will be tough.
"We always attack and watching a few of their games, they like to attack as well, so I'm sure it will be a great match.
"But if we're on our game, I'm confident we've got enough to beat them."
Meanwhile, Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas is praying for heavy snow to get the game called off - to allow him extra time to recover from injury.
The England international has a calf problem and limped out of Tottenham's Champions League match at FC Twente 10 days ago.
The 27-year-old says the problem came about after he returned to action too quickly after a similar injury.
And he says he will not be making the same mistake again.
He added: "I've been running for the last three or four days. The problem before was that I probably rushed it a bit too much.
"The squad had been pretty stretched over a busy period so I was hoping I could help out but pushed it a bit too far.
"I think the Blackpool game might be a game too soon. Hopefully it will get called off, then I will have another week."
Published 23:00 16/12/10 By MirrorFootball
Gareth Bale insists Tottenham will not be taking three points from Blackpool for granted this weekend.
The Spurs winger says he has been impressed when he has watched the Seasiders on TV this season.
Ian Holloway's side are up to 10th in the table and have lost just one of their last seven matches.
And Bale knows a trip to Bloomfield Road will not be an easy ride for title-chasing Spurs.
He said: "It will be a difficult task but we have to be up for it as much as we were up for the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea.
"We'll prepare right and hopefully we'll get the right result up there. We can't underestimate Blackpool and won't do that.
"A lot of teams have this season and come off on the losing side. We know it will be tough.
"We always attack and watching a few of their games, they like to attack as well, so I'm sure it will be a great match.
"But if we're on our game, I'm confident we've got enough to beat them."
Meanwhile, Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas is praying for heavy snow to get the game called off - to allow him extra time to recover from injury.
The England international has a calf problem and limped out of Tottenham's Champions League match at FC Twente 10 days ago.
The 27-year-old says the problem came about after he returned to action too quickly after a similar injury.
And he says he will not be making the same mistake again.
He added: "I've been running for the last three or four days. The problem before was that I probably rushed it a bit too much.
"The squad had been pretty stretched over a busy period so I was hoping I could help out but pushed it a bit too far.
"I think the Blackpool game might be a game too soon. Hopefully it will get called off, then I will have another week."
Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
- 219,468
- 911,184
- Thread starter
- #718
Why City will go for Torres if they lose Tevez
By Robbie Savage
Published 22:58 16/12/10
Recorded 6-0-6 in London last Saturday and the Strictly Come Dancing crowd were in the bar afterwards.
Billy Connolly was there with his wife Pamela Stephenson and I was amazed and delighted when he came over to saw that he loved listening to me on the radio.
Now I know what I want for Christmas - a DVD of the Big Yin so I can have a laugh AND see what I'll look like in 20 years!
**
If Carlos Tevez's next destination is River Plate or Boca Juniors, I will take my hat off to him. If it is Real Madrid or Barcelona we will know he has been selling us a pack of lies.
We hear that Tevez is homesick for Argentina and his kids but we really suspect that his goal is guaranteed Champions League football and another big payday.
If he gets his wish to leave, it will be a big loss for Manchester City and for the Premier League. My friend Roberto Mancini will have to alter the way he has been setting City up, because their system of three holding midfielders is entirely designed to let Tevez do what he does.
And how well Carlos does it. He workrate and dedication makes him almost a one-off and the only possible direct replacement I can think of is Wayne Rooney, who has closed the door on a move to City.
Roberto says he will convince Tevez to stay, but if he fails to pull that off the only rom losing a player who has been sensational this season is that as a club going places and with a bottomless pit of money, City can virtually pick who they want to replace him.
The bad news for Liverpool fans is that I think that would be not Porto's Hulk or Edin Dzeko of Wolfsburg but Fernando Torres.
**
ROBBIE LOVES... Taking over Twitter. In last week's column I offered one of my followers a night out with me and my mate Tuffy - and we had over 11,000 votes in two hours! You can see Daniel D Bacon's hilarious winning video entry at YouTube - @DanielDBacon - #savagenight Final 12 Video
**
ROBBIE HATES... Christmas shopping with my wife. It would be easy if she was a typical WAG - a Rolex here, a handbag there and we'd be done in an hour. But Sarah is completely different to those girls. She won't make a decision and tells me she's already got enough. It's one of the reasons I love her but it leads to a massive row every Christmas.
By Robbie Savage
Published 22:58 16/12/10
Recorded 6-0-6 in London last Saturday and the Strictly Come Dancing crowd were in the bar afterwards.
Billy Connolly was there with his wife Pamela Stephenson and I was amazed and delighted when he came over to saw that he loved listening to me on the radio.
Now I know what I want for Christmas - a DVD of the Big Yin so I can have a laugh AND see what I'll look like in 20 years!
**
If Carlos Tevez's next destination is River Plate or Boca Juniors, I will take my hat off to him. If it is Real Madrid or Barcelona we will know he has been selling us a pack of lies.
We hear that Tevez is homesick for Argentina and his kids but we really suspect that his goal is guaranteed Champions League football and another big payday.
If he gets his wish to leave, it will be a big loss for Manchester City and for the Premier League. My friend Roberto Mancini will have to alter the way he has been setting City up, because their system of three holding midfielders is entirely designed to let Tevez do what he does.
And how well Carlos does it. He workrate and dedication makes him almost a one-off and the only possible direct replacement I can think of is Wayne Rooney, who has closed the door on a move to City.
Roberto says he will convince Tevez to stay, but if he fails to pull that off the only rom losing a player who has been sensational this season is that as a club going places and with a bottomless pit of money, City can virtually pick who they want to replace him.
The bad news for Liverpool fans is that I think that would be not Porto's Hulk or Edin Dzeko of Wolfsburg but Fernando Torres.
**
ROBBIE LOVES... Taking over Twitter. In last week's column I offered one of my followers a night out with me and my mate Tuffy - and we had over 11,000 votes in two hours! You can see Daniel D Bacon's hilarious winning video entry at YouTube - @DanielDBacon - #savagenight Final 12 Video
**
ROBBIE HATES... Christmas shopping with my wife. It would be easy if she was a typical WAG - a Rolex here, a handbag there and we'd be done in an hour. But Sarah is completely different to those girls. She won't make a decision and tells me she's already got enough. It's one of the reasons I love her but it leads to a massive row every Christmas.
Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
- 219,468
- 911,184
- Thread starter
- #719
Why Speed can bring Giggs and fan passion back for Wales
By Robbie Savage
Published 22:57 16/12/10
Gary Speed has got to be a serious rival to my mate Roberto Mancini for the title of best-looking manager.
But after seeing Roberto's new look this week, there's only going to be one winner when it comes to the Gaffers' Woody Allen Lookalike Contest.
**
Gary Speed's job at Wales is about so much more important than whether he brings me back into the international fold.
I think Gary knows my views on that subject and he's got about 44,000 missed calls to remind him.
But his most important challenge is to make the Welsh public love the Wales team again.
In the heartbreaking qualification campaign for Euro 2004, when we lost to Russia in a play-off, we were packing the Millennium Stadium. Now 15,000 are turning up to see the national team and that simply couldn't go on.
The fact is that Welsh football stood still for six years under John Toshack. Now that will change with a man who will have a vision for the Under-12s up to the seniors.
Gary always liked to take games by the scruff of the neck and he will do the same for Wales.
And he really couldn't have a bigger incentive than the game in Cardiff against England in March.
It is a one-off occasion that gives him the perfect chance to reconnect the Welsh public with their team.
If I'm playing a few might turn up to see if I've still got what it takes.
But if Speedo can persuade Ryan Giggs to return, the place will be full, rocking and full of optimism again.
And if I know Gary, that is how it will turn out.
**
ROBBIE'S STORY OF THE WEEK
Picked up an ankle knock last week which ruled me out of our defeat at Bristol City. I hate being injured because I love playing but also because it gives you a brief taste of what life is like outside of the privileged bubble we footballers live in.
You have to be in work at 8.30 for treatment instead of 10, and rather than heading home after a couple of hours, you're in until three at least. It's a taste of how normal people live and I'm not used to it.
Because I live 80 minutes from our training ground, I asked my missus to wake me at 6.30 to be sure I'd be there on time. Sure enough, at 7.05 she sent the kids up to wake me and I had to rush out of the door without my tea and cornflakes. Not happy.
When I asked Sarah what had gone wrong, she said, "I shouted you from the kitchen but you didn't wake up."
Maybe that was something to do with the fact that she's not got the loudest voice, our bedroom is two floors up and the door was shut.
By Robbie Savage
Published 22:57 16/12/10
Gary Speed has got to be a serious rival to my mate Roberto Mancini for the title of best-looking manager.
But after seeing Roberto's new look this week, there's only going to be one winner when it comes to the Gaffers' Woody Allen Lookalike Contest.
**
Gary Speed's job at Wales is about so much more important than whether he brings me back into the international fold.
I think Gary knows my views on that subject and he's got about 44,000 missed calls to remind him.
But his most important challenge is to make the Welsh public love the Wales team again.
In the heartbreaking qualification campaign for Euro 2004, when we lost to Russia in a play-off, we were packing the Millennium Stadium. Now 15,000 are turning up to see the national team and that simply couldn't go on.
The fact is that Welsh football stood still for six years under John Toshack. Now that will change with a man who will have a vision for the Under-12s up to the seniors.
Gary always liked to take games by the scruff of the neck and he will do the same for Wales.
And he really couldn't have a bigger incentive than the game in Cardiff against England in March.
It is a one-off occasion that gives him the perfect chance to reconnect the Welsh public with their team.
If I'm playing a few might turn up to see if I've still got what it takes.
But if Speedo can persuade Ryan Giggs to return, the place will be full, rocking and full of optimism again.
And if I know Gary, that is how it will turn out.
**
ROBBIE'S STORY OF THE WEEK
Picked up an ankle knock last week which ruled me out of our defeat at Bristol City. I hate being injured because I love playing but also because it gives you a brief taste of what life is like outside of the privileged bubble we footballers live in.
You have to be in work at 8.30 for treatment instead of 10, and rather than heading home after a couple of hours, you're in until three at least. It's a taste of how normal people live and I'm not used to it.
Because I live 80 minutes from our training ground, I asked my missus to wake me at 6.30 to be sure I'd be there on time. Sure enough, at 7.05 she sent the kids up to wake me and I had to rush out of the door without my tea and cornflakes. Not happy.
When I asked Sarah what had gone wrong, she said, "I shouted you from the kitchen but you didn't wake up."
Maybe that was something to do with the fact that she's not got the loudest voice, our bedroom is two floors up and the door was shut.
Rutashubanyuma
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 24, 2010
- 219,468
- 911,184
- Thread starter
- #720
Why the disgraceful Second City derby violence can't disguise Gerard Houllier's problems at Aston Villa
By James Nursey
Published 12:26 02/12/10
Last night's appalling scenes at St Andrew's are rightly dominating the fall-out from Birmingham's progress into the Carling Cup semi-finals.
And I hope the police, FA and both clubs take firm, swift action to ban any perpetrators from future matches and ideally hit them with further punishment if possible.
Birmingham fans who invaded the pitch deserve a lot of the blame but so too do the ******, seemingly in the away end, who responded by letting off a flare.
I made my views on the fiasco perfectly clear in today's paper as myself and colleague Mike Walters took aim at the troublemakers who have jeopardised our 2018 World Cup bid.
But given how much fans tend to prioritise club over country, then Villa fans will rightly be predominantly concerned about their team's fortunes on the pitch.
Defeat to the Blues has well and truly ended Villa's superiority over their neighbours which was established when Martin O'Neill masterminded six successive wins over City.
And it is now three successive defeats for Villa and just four wins in 13 games since former Liverpool manager Houllier arrived at Villa Park.
I appreciate there have been mitigating circumstances for Houllier - namely the club's injury crisis.
But there is still no excuse for a side that has finished sixth the last three seasons to be only three points off the relegation zone.
And I am particularly alarmed to see that Villa's once solid defence is now shipping goals at an alarming rate.
Six games have gone by since Villa kept a clean sheet.
Yet their defence of Luke Young, James Collins, Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock, in front of keeper Brad Friedel, is arguably the club's most experienced and successful rearguard.
But Dunne no longer looks the player who got into the PFA team of the season in the last campaign.
The elementary errors, slack marking and own goals which Dunne appeared to have driven from his game have returned.
And at 31 years old, it appears age is catching up with the Republic of Ireland stopper.
Fellow veteran Friedel, so consistent for two seasons at Villa, is also looking worryingly shaky.
He made a crucial mistake at Blackburn recently and I thought he had a poor game in the cup defeat to Brum. It is probably no coincidence that Villa are now scouting other keepers, including Rangers' Allan McGregor.
So Houllier has a lot to ponder ahead of a televised return to his old club Liverpool on Monday.
By then, Villa's relegation fears could have increased with other Premier League teams in action before them.
The biggest problem is actually not just injuries to the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker, Stiliyan Petrov, Emile Heskey and Marc Albrighton, but rather that so many of the club's fit senior players seem to suffering from a lack of form.
Everyone can see Stephen Ireland is having a nightmare, and he could move on in January because he clearly hasn't settled since being a makeweight in the James Milner transfer to Man City.
And I personally don't think Ashley Young is having a good season, despite his England recognition.
Regularly switching from the hole to the wing, Young hasn't played in a consistent position this term. And although the player has admitted he prefers playing upfront, Young's finishing is just not clinical enough - as he showed in the first half against Arsenal.
Stewart Downing, so brilliant against Manchester United, has since returned to his trademark frustratingly inconsistent form.
Meanwhile, Robert Pires looks so slow at 37 years old that the suggestion the free agent's arrival could spark a revival already appears wildly optimistic.
Indeed, if it wasn't for the emergence of Albrighton and Agbonlahor's return to fitness, I would be very pessimistic indeed.
The press like Houllier and will give him time to implement his ideas and philosophy and to make signings of his own.
But the Frenchman arguably faces one of the biggest challenges of his career in trying to take Villa forward from O'Neill's reign while simultaneously implementing the cuts owner Randy Lerner is insisting on.
Birmingham, on the other hand, are upwardly mobile after reaching the Carling Cup semis and taking points off Chelsea and Manchester City recently.
By James Nursey
Published 12:26 02/12/10
Last night's appalling scenes at St Andrew's are rightly dominating the fall-out from Birmingham's progress into the Carling Cup semi-finals.
And I hope the police, FA and both clubs take firm, swift action to ban any perpetrators from future matches and ideally hit them with further punishment if possible.
Birmingham fans who invaded the pitch deserve a lot of the blame but so too do the ******, seemingly in the away end, who responded by letting off a flare.
I made my views on the fiasco perfectly clear in today's paper as myself and colleague Mike Walters took aim at the troublemakers who have jeopardised our 2018 World Cup bid.
But given how much fans tend to prioritise club over country, then Villa fans will rightly be predominantly concerned about their team's fortunes on the pitch.
Defeat to the Blues has well and truly ended Villa's superiority over their neighbours which was established when Martin O'Neill masterminded six successive wins over City.
And it is now three successive defeats for Villa and just four wins in 13 games since former Liverpool manager Houllier arrived at Villa Park.
I appreciate there have been mitigating circumstances for Houllier - namely the club's injury crisis.
But there is still no excuse for a side that has finished sixth the last three seasons to be only three points off the relegation zone.
And I am particularly alarmed to see that Villa's once solid defence is now shipping goals at an alarming rate.
Six games have gone by since Villa kept a clean sheet.
Yet their defence of Luke Young, James Collins, Richard Dunne and Stephen Warnock, in front of keeper Brad Friedel, is arguably the club's most experienced and successful rearguard.
But Dunne no longer looks the player who got into the PFA team of the season in the last campaign.
The elementary errors, slack marking and own goals which Dunne appeared to have driven from his game have returned.
And at 31 years old, it appears age is catching up with the Republic of Ireland stopper.
Fellow veteran Friedel, so consistent for two seasons at Villa, is also looking worryingly shaky.
He made a crucial mistake at Blackburn recently and I thought he had a poor game in the cup defeat to Brum. It is probably no coincidence that Villa are now scouting other keepers, including Rangers' Allan McGregor.
So Houllier has a lot to ponder ahead of a televised return to his old club Liverpool on Monday.
By then, Villa's relegation fears could have increased with other Premier League teams in action before them.
The biggest problem is actually not just injuries to the likes of Nigel Reo-Coker, Stiliyan Petrov, Emile Heskey and Marc Albrighton, but rather that so many of the club's fit senior players seem to suffering from a lack of form.
Everyone can see Stephen Ireland is having a nightmare, and he could move on in January because he clearly hasn't settled since being a makeweight in the James Milner transfer to Man City.
And I personally don't think Ashley Young is having a good season, despite his England recognition.
Regularly switching from the hole to the wing, Young hasn't played in a consistent position this term. And although the player has admitted he prefers playing upfront, Young's finishing is just not clinical enough - as he showed in the first half against Arsenal.
Stewart Downing, so brilliant against Manchester United, has since returned to his trademark frustratingly inconsistent form.
Meanwhile, Robert Pires looks so slow at 37 years old that the suggestion the free agent's arrival could spark a revival already appears wildly optimistic.
Indeed, if it wasn't for the emergence of Albrighton and Agbonlahor's return to fitness, I would be very pessimistic indeed.
The press like Houllier and will give him time to implement his ideas and philosophy and to make signings of his own.
But the Frenchman arguably faces one of the biggest challenges of his career in trying to take Villa forward from O'Neill's reign while simultaneously implementing the cuts owner Randy Lerner is insisting on.
Birmingham, on the other hand, are upwardly mobile after reaching the Carling Cup semis and taking points off Chelsea and Manchester City recently.
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