Bolton manager Owen Coyle has stated that he would not be surprised if Fabrice Muamba returned to Premier League action, but knows the midfielder has a long recovery ahead of him.
The former England under-21 star collapsed in an FA Cup clash against Tottenham last month, and was rushed to hospital after having a cardiac arrest.
Muamba was recently released from care, and Coyle has saluted his player’s bravery.
“Given what a fighter he is, it wouldn’t surprise me if Fabrice comes back,” he told The Sun.
“But I’ve got to stress he still needs that time with his family unit.
“For me, it’s about Fabrice getting better and if that progress continues to a level where he comes back and starts playing football, then great.
“But I’ve never broached the subject because it wasn’t appropriate as far as I was concerned at this stage,” he concluded.
By Gareth McKnight
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As a passionate Sunderland fan I normally look forward to the summer with added excitement. It’s a period that renews anticipation and this time around Martin O’Neill gets his first real chance to renovate his squad and push the club forward to the next level.
There’s a feeling that this is the club’s time to finally realise its potential but deep down I know that sentiment is more akin to a Stadium of Light PR sheet than my own expectations.
Sadly amidst all the hope that surrounds our new era, I find myself feeling an all too familiar sense of déjà vu. There’s been many a false dawn at Sunderland and as the years pass it becomes harder to assess why I would submit myself to so much pain and heartache when there’s so little my beloved club can achieve.
Like so many fans of a team stuck in the mid table pack, my best hope for a successful season is finishing in the top ten and possibly enjoying a cup run. It’s become acceptable to have these watered down ambitions and it stifles the giddy enthusiasm I once possessed.
Experts say this is the most competitive league in the world. Where else will relegation threatened Wigan Athletic overturn title chasing Manchester United? Any team can beat anyone on their day and the increasing regularity of shock results means the League has a more attractive flavour. This trend certainly helps motivate lesser teams to raise their game but just because Sunderland beat Manchester City with an epic last minute goal from Ji Dong-Won, doesn’t mean I expect them to suddenly challenge for the title.
With that in mind, what’s constitutes realistic ambition for a mid table club?
For starters the Premier League has an obvious pecking order. Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have dominated the last decade while Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have managed to break rank and edge ahead of Liverpool. Everton and Newcastle United have both made strides to follow but it remains to be seen if they can build on their occasional success. Still they’ve worked their way out of mid table so are perhaps the best inspiration for the teams below them.
That leaves the likes of Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke City, Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion to battle over who finishes 9th to 14th. For the last few seasons these teams have been separated by a handful of points and often a win on the final day is the difference between them. Fans find it impossible to read anything into their final standings and any sense of achievement is soured because it’s such an underwhelming end to the campaign. These teams were good enough to avoid the relegation dogfight yet have nothing to play for.
Villa are Premier League mainstays but lately they’ve fallen from grace while the others have all managed to establish themselves since promotion. Fulham and Stoke have even tasted European football and are an excellent example for teams like Norwich City, QPR and Swansea City who will be looking to push on after survival but are happy just to remain in the league once more.
While it’s frustrating having nothing to play for, the bigger picture is your team progressively improving year on year so they can eventually break the mould. The problem is everyone is constantly improving so in order for teams to get better they must invest in superior players. This seems obvious but the best young talent is snapped up by the top sides while their ageing castoffs provide progressively deteriorating experience to the lesser sides and end up leaving or retiring with little or no sell on value.
It’s a vicious cycle that’s tough to break and given that soon there will be no place for billionaire investors it’s hard to see how things will ever change. Newcastle showed last season it can be done but if they lose their best players this summer it will illustrate how difficult it is to sustain regular progression without peaking just outside the elite group. With a hint of jealousy I can begrudgingly admit they’ve made giant strides but if they can’t replicate this season’s success then what hope is there for the chasing pack?
As much as I would love Sunderland to be challenging for Europe, the recurring trend is we’re in small group of teams that are left with nothing to play for and end up taking pride in ruining the aspirations of others. After effectively relegating Wolves, Black Cats fans celebrated the culmination of our season by taunting heartbroken Manchester United supporters with The Poznan after City snatched the title.
Acting as rationally as possible, it’s bizarre for me to be disappointed by Sunderland establishing themselves in the top flight, enjoying a cup run and avoiding the threat of relegation. That constitutes improvement and is greatly appreciated after years of yo-yoing between the Premier League and Championship.
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It’s just saddening to have to accept that the only realistic place for my team is as perennial spoilers and not as genuine challengers.
Would you be happy if your team finished mid table? Do Sunderland have realistic expectations? Will Sunderland ever challenge for Europe?
Let me know your views and opinions by following me on twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher
Roberto Di Matteo is ready to reject a one-year contract offer from Chelsea to become their manager, as he wants a long-term deal according to The Sun.
The Italian trainer took over from the axed Andre Villas Boas and transformed the west London club’s fortunes in a couple of months, winning the FA Cup and the Champions League in a historic end of season run.
However, despite Di Matteo’s heroics as interim boss, rumours have continued that Roman Abramovich wants a more experienced man to drive the club forward next season.
The report indicates that Di Matteo will be offered a 12 month deal, but that he is fed up of continually having to prove his ability and will look for opportunities elsewhere.
Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay has admitted that he wants the managerial position filled as soon as possible, and that Di Matteo is firmly in the running.
“We know Robbie could go somewhere else,” he confessed.
“But he’s known how we were going to handle this. He’s aware as soon as we’re ready to talk, in the next few days or the next few weeks, Robbie will be the first to have the conversation.
“The players report back on July 4. In an ideal world we’d want the coach by then.”
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It was no significant revelation when Manchester United secured the first option on the signing of a 15-year-old Chilean called Angelo Henriquez in 2009, after all the club have a whole feeder club of potential in Brazilian side Desportivo Brasil. The deal was set to last until 2014 with the striker travelling to Manchester every year to display his evolution on the field. But following the striker’s scintillating early form for Universidad de Chile, The Sun have reported that United have decided to take up their option a few years earlier. Sir Alex Ferguson has discovered some awesome talents in his time in Manchester, but will Henriquez rank up there with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Javier Hernandez?
Universidad de Chile were the best team in South America last year as they won both domestic titles (opening and closing stage) as well as enjoying continental glory for the first time in their histroy by winning the Copa Sudamericana (the Europa League equivalent). It was not only what they won, but the way in which they achieved it that was so awe inspiring. Coach Jorge Sampaoli is a self-confessed Marcelo Bielsa disciple and set his team out to play a possession-based high-intensity game with just three defenders. The crowning moment of their indomitable year came in the 4-0 win in Rio de Janeiro against Brazilian giants Flamengo, part of a 36-game unbeaten streak.
Such success attracted the attention in some of their star talents and soon after the Sudamericana top scorer Eduardo Vargas, striker Gustavo Canales and experienced centre-back Marcos Gonzalez were all lured away by richer clubs. The departures lowered expectations for 2012 but the team commonly known to as ‘La U’ have remained a force at the highest level, booking their place in the national Apertura finals once more as well as a Copa Libertadores semi-final against the mighty Boca Juniors.
The transition has been managed impeccably by Sampaoli with some astute signings that have proved to be more than adequate replacements. But perhaps the most satisfying for all associated with the club is the rapid progression of Henriquez.
Having made his debut last year at the tender age of 17, Sampaoli showed a tremendous degree of faith in the striker and has involved him heavily in the first team this season. Henriquez made an immediate impact with a late goal in the 5-1 win over Godoy Cruz on his Copa Libertadores debut and it proved to be the start of a series of excellent displays belying his age.
He has shown an innate ability to peel off his marker, seeking out space to make himself available to his team-mates. His prowess was perhaps best displayed in his goal against Santiago Wanderers as he found space between the centre-backs and was put through on goal. He stayed strong to hold off a challenge from a chasing defender and then instantly poked the ball around the keeper and found the back of the net. Three succinct movements in the space of a few seconds was all it took. Having played in a team that earned the nickname ‘Barcelona of South America’ Henriquez has developed exemplary movement as well as remaining comfortable under pressure with the ball at his feet.
His clinical nature in the box has seen him go on to find the net eight times in 10 league appearances this season. Now 18-years-old, he looks set to be on his way to the Premier League with Manchester United agreeing to pay the necessary £3million fee for the youngster. The agreement is yet to be confirmed in the Chilean press, but having already agreed on a first option for Henriquez the move is extremely likely.
He certainly looks like he will be able to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League and is by no means slight. However, United fans may have to wait until they can see him in the famous red shirt unless they can acquire a ‘special talent’ visa for him to work in England. Otherwise Henrqiuez could find himself loaned out to another European team, something that could well prove beneficial anyway.
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Henriquez is one of the most exciting talents in South American football at the moment and he will absolutely thrill Premier League fans. It is another display of expert scouting by the Red Devils who could have secured a fantastic young talent for an extremely low price. There are always worries when a player moves so young as the culture shock can often make it difficult for them to adapt. But Henriquez looks to have the character to succeed in England and may prove to be one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most shrewd signings.
Are you excited by Henriquez’s Premier League potential? Let me know on Twitter.
Newcastle striker Demba Ba has finally spoken out regarding speculation he could be leaving St James’ Park, as reported in The Daily Mirror.
Ba, 27, took to social networking site Twitter to deny rumours linking him with moves to Manchester United, Liverpool and even Galatasary, writing; ‘So much stuff about me lately. Rumours are rumours! Just forget about it.’
Alan Pardew is looking to hold on to key players as well as adding even more quality ahead of what promises to be a demanding Europa League campaign in addition to domestic matters this season.
The Senegalese international took the Premier League by storm at the start of last season, scoring 8 goals in the first 11 games, only to then be overshadowed by the goal scoring prowess of strike partner Pappiss Cisse.
His contract contains a £7 million release clause which prompted interest from a host of Premier League and European clubs, so Newcastle fans will be comforted to hear of his commitment to the Toon Army.
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Ba has returned for pre season training this week and his willingness to stay in the North East should mean that Newcastle do not need to search the transfer market for a striker, having been strongly linked with FC Twente’s Luuk De Jong.
Every football fan knows that Pre-Season is a time for the rumour mill to start churning out stories faster than Usain Bolt.
They also know that most of these rumours are utter nonsense spawned from false social network accounts or drunken conversations down the local. These rumours quickly die down and are usually forgotten about within 48 hours.
You know the sort: Michael Owen on loan to Bristol City confirmed by the man in the queue at the Post Office who mows the chairman’s lawn. Speculation often turns to rumour which soon turns to ‘fact’ and before you know it you’ve got four hours worth of coverage on the sports news channels.
Of course some stories just ring true from the minute you hear them. One of those stories appears to be the departure of Shakers boss Richie Barker to League One new boys Crawley Town. The Red Devils have been looking for someone to take the reins ever since Shaun O’Driscoll left for Notts Forest just two months into his tenure at the Broadfield Stadium. Dean Holdsworth ruled himself out of the job before Sheffield United’s Academy Director John Pemberton also denied his interest leaving Craig Brewster to step in as Caretaker for a second time.
Barker, who guided Bury to promotion just over 12 months ago, seems to be firm favourite with the bookmakers although reports from both clubs would suggest that negotiations are at a very early stage. The Crawley Observer report that Barker is in talks with the West Sussex outfit and that a deal is almost complete. The Local Press in Lancashire seem to be unsure. The Manchester Evening News published an online article at 2:30pm that carried the headline “Bury FC deny Richie Barker has left to join Crawley” only for it to be replaced shortly after with a contradictory article entitled “Bury FC manager Richie Barker set for Crawley switch”.
Whatever the truth of the matter it can only have a negative effect on Bury F.C. If Barker leaves, the Gigg Lane outfit are likely to be managerless for their first competitive game of the season. If Barker stays, then his already wavering relationship with the fans is likely to take a big hit.
Many Shakers fans seem to know more than the club itself and are already contemplating names for the next appointment, with most of the debate taking place on the Official Bury F.C. messageboard. The general consensus seems to be that of bringing back an ex player with Chris Lucketti, Nicky Daws, Phil Parkinson, Andy Morrell and even MKDons new-boy Ryan Lowe all being mentioned.
Most of those names will be ruled out before this article goes live. However, the one name that may well end up in the Shakers dugout is Andy Morrell. His work at conference side Wrexham has not gone unnoticed in the football world and there are reports that he may already be on his way out of the Racecourse Ground, although these are unconfirmed. Of course the very likely possibility is that the directors will stick with the rumoured Caretaker duo of Peter Shirtliff and Ben Futcher no matter how unpopular the decision may be.
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Any change in manager comes with a change in feeling amongst a clubs supporters. The right appointment could see Shakers fans fully confident of a successful season, whereas if the wrong appointment were to be made supporters would be talking about relegation as if it were a certainty.
All in all the next few days will be a very interesting time to be a Shaker, although I’d prefer a bit more stability at this stage of proceedings.
Follow me on Twitter for even more views on Bury FC.
The Europa League isn’t the useless parody of the Champions League it once was. With Tottenham unlikely to replicate a similar near-title challenge as they did last season, the club may be well-suited to launch a genuine assault on this European trophy.
At the moment, there’s simply too much weighing against Tottenham and another pre-February run in the league like they had last season. Their form was facilitated by some very good football from their themselves, but also due to the horrendous and unpredictable form of their nearest rivals. Now, however, those clubs have strengthened significantly and Spurs could find themselves in another tough battle for a top-four finish.
It would be extremely disappointing if Tottenham dismissed the Europa League in favour of a good finish in the league; they have a very good opportunity to land a trophy whose reputation is growing, and really, does anyone expect them to challenge for the title this season?
The sacrifice may come in the league, where Tottenham would likely lose out on a top-four spot if they performed well in European competition. But despite the financial benefits Champions League football brings, is it worth it throw away the prospect of a very realistic trophy come May?
Without Champions League football going into next season, Spurs have done a good job of landing a young and ambitious manager, one who was once highly thought of in England. The club have bought in two very good players in Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson, and any possible proceeds from a Luka Modric sale would surely be reinvested. The club now have a manager who has shown his worth in this competition with Porto, and the team are not far off from being a genuine threat to other major clubs in the tournament.
Tottenham are hardly a major contender in the Premier League, despite what Harry Redknapp says—their budget simply doesn’t allow them to be a consistent close rival to the Manchester clubs or Chelsea. Instead, Tottenham have done extremely well in cup competitions in recent years, reaching two Carling Cup finals and last year’s FA cup semifinal. What was most promising is that on the whole (and discounting Juande Ramos’ time at the club) Spurs have found a good balance between cup commitments and the necessity to finish as high as possible in the league.
The battle they had with Manchester City a few seasons ago for fourth place is unlikely to be repeated, as City are now firmly above fighting for just a top-four place. It was also hugely disappointing for the club last season to finish in a spot that didn’t guarantee Champions League football, but again, are we likely to see them as close to the genuine title contenders over the next season?
Instead, Spurs need to continue to increase their global brand beyond being just a good English side and Champions League hopefuls. By landing the Europa League this season the club can continue to make a name for themselves on the continent, helping to attract a wider market of players and sponsorships.
It can sometimes be infuriating that the current generation of football fans consider Champions League qualification to be the highest achievement if a league title is out of reach. Again, the income from Europe’s top competition makes it seem worthwhile, but a trophy is still a great marker for a club and an important stepping stone.
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Harry Redknapp may not have seen much worth in the Europa League last season, and perhaps rightly so. But the competition drew a large audience due to it’s knockout round matches and Tottenham should look to take advantage.
The club’s budget for now will keep them firmly on the borders of Champions League and Europa League football. But Spurs are good enough to spread their ambition to more than just a good league finish. The club have the resources to win the Europa League, and it would be an excellent step forward for both the club and English football if they were to do so.
In just under a week, Chelsea the current European Champions will fly to Monaco to face the Europa League Champions, Atletico Madrid, with both teams having to take time out of a full list of fixtures to do so. The fixtures that would have fallen the weekend of the Super Cup have to be rearranged for both teams with Chelsea forced to play the middle of this week for the game against Reading.
Whilst a midweek game is not really a big game changer for clubs, the fact that Chelsea have to fly to Monaco for a fixture many some deem to be pointless is something that concerns many at the club. Whilst Uefa may bill the fixture as somewhat of an honour it is not exactly deemed to be so by the majority of people in the game – Jose Mourinho left both Porto and Inter before the Super Cups were played following winning the Champions League at both – for a man who is so set on collecting sets of trophies he calls himself the Only One, it speaks volumes about how the match is viewed.
Of course the governing bodies in football bill the match as the best against the best and a showpiece of the ‘beautiful game’ and for us mere mortals to discount the value of the game would show exactly how little we really understand about the sport – mind you we are the little people who have been advocating for goal line technology for years whilst the big guns drag their heels, but then again what do we know?
Imagine if one of Chelsea’s players were to get injured during the game or a serious incident was to occur – you couldn’t really blame either manager if they decided to play less than what we would see as their first team. Chelsea have to face Newcastle this weekend before the Super Cup on Friday evening and then have an international break before their next fixture on the 15th of September.
It is pretty clear which of those games both Chelsea and Atletico would want to win – their league games are paramount, and having to rearrange fixtures to fit in with the Super Cup is not exactly what either club really want. In addition to the Super Cup, Chelsea have also had to rearrange their fixture against Southampton because of the World Club Championship in the not exactly next door Japan – again not exactly a trophy that will take pride of place in their hefty trophy cabinet and one which will fall just as the Champions League is hotting up to boot.
After going back to the summit of the Premier League for the first time in a very long time, Chelsea are getting a taste of being winners again and will not want excessive and unnecessary traveling getting in the way. Despite the fixtures being re arranged, they still have to play extra games and their already full schedule just expands even further.
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Uefa may feel that such competitions add to the value of the game – and they do – by lining their pockets. For the clubs involved it is not exactly their highlight of the season and is quite frankly viewed as an unnecessary bother and one a club wishes they were not a part of.
Off the bat, it might seem a ridiculous notion that Wayne Rooney is in any kind of trouble on the pitch. He’s England’s best player, was Manchester United’s leading light up until this past summer, and carries most of the load when the national team head off into the great unknowns of international competition.
Rooney’s injury—one that could have been much more severe—has allowed Alex Ferguson to circumvent those obvious selection headaches when all his strikers are fit. The problem is, are they all firing?
Wayne Rooney was once spoken about in the same breath as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with many proclaiming that England’s finest was better than what the rest of the world were able to put forward. Rooney had power and aggression in his game, qualities that were equally comparable to those two stand-out figures in Spain. But those comparisons aren’t fair now and they weren’t fair then. What is obvious, though, is that Rooney is head and shoulders above the players who have been around the England setup for the past few years.
Wayne Rooney seems to flutter in and out of each season, with moments of brilliance punctuated by sloppy or wasteful play and, of course, that self-destruct button. His goal scoring exploits are not always as spectacular as we know it can be, with the goal against Barcelona in the Champions League final with the backdrop of Wembley being the true showcase one of England’s most gifted players. But that’s the problem, we haven’t seen it enough, while Messi and Ronaldo continue to reach milestones and defy belief.
The season opener against Everton saw the disappointing side of Rooney, as Manchester United failed to overcome a team who should be a level or two below the 19-time league champions. It’s games like that where we see the greats of the game shine through, even when the rest of their team is performing poorly. Unfortunately, we haven’t seen United’s number 10 light up patches of darkness for his team on a regular basis.
With the arrival of Robin van Persie and Shinji Kagawa this summer, it looks as though Rooney finally has the surrounding cast to support him: a late address of the issues raised by the player in that 2010 statement. But are they a supporting cast to Rooney, or has Rooney been pushed down a level onto the second tier?
In van Persie, United have one of the most technically gifted players in Europe. His scoring record does most of the talking, but it’s his brilliance—consistent brilliance—that should separate him from Rooney. A number of years ago, most would have laughed off the idea that van Persie is a better footballer than Rooney. Fair enough, but were those dismissals based on the Dutchman’s lack of trophies, the fact Arsenal hadn’t made a successful charge on the league title for a number of years, his injuries, or was it something a little closer to home? Perhaps players like van Persie represented a real threat to Rooney’s position as the jewel in England’s crown; the foremost player for the country representing one of the most successful teams in the league.
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But now those fears are right on the doorstep for Rooney. Alex Ferguson would surely be mad to bench van Persie upon Rooney’s return from injury. The Dutchman’s form almost guarantees goals, without any need for adjusting to his new team. Does Rooney really guarantee anything positive? And I’m talking about guarantees you get from players like Messi or Xavi or now van Persie? If not, that’s the problem. When does he get out of this “slump” as a very good player and become the great player that he was projected to be as a teenager? What has England really seen from him on the international stage, what has United seen from him when things start to get a little blurry in European competition? Is it any coincidence that those stories of a move away from United surfaced over the last few weeks (how accurate they are is a whole other story).
Maybe all will be well. Maybe Rooney will rise to the challenge of a new king at Old Trafford and become the player who reaches a consistent level of excellence. He can score the goals, certainly, but has he really been the driving force for United since that outstanding season in 2009/10? That is the Rooney we want to see more of, and perhaps his versatility will shine through, too; there is a spot that needs addressing in the midfield. For Rooney, he needs to turn those hopes and promises into guarantees.
Shaun Derry is keen to move on from Queens Park Rangers after dropping down the pecking order at the club.
Derry captained the team and made 28 appearances for Rangers last year, but no longer figures in the club’s plans after Mark Hughes’s summer spending spree.
At 34 Derry is running out of time to optimise his career and said to Open All Rs that he will be looking for regular football: “I need to be playing football and will try to play at some place.”
Competition for places is fierce in central midfield for the London outfit. Alejandro Faurlin and Esteban Granero were favoured in that position against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. Stephane Mbia and Samba Diakite are also comfortable in that position as the ex-Crystal Palace man faces a struggle to even make the substitute’s bench for the R’s.
It was thought that many of Rangers fringe players would be sent out on loan once the Football League emergency loan window opened but so far no moves have materialised.
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