Sir Alex Ferguson believes that ten more wins will be enough to secure Manchester United a record breaking nineteenth title this season. The Red Devils currently find themselves five points clear at the top of the table and have a golden opportunity to stretch their lead further at Molineux this afternoon; a victory that would arguably bring an end to both Chelsea and Man City’s title aspirations.
In the papers this morning there has been a mixed bag of stories that includes Harry Redknapp ruing the chance to sign Van Bommel; Premier League chief cites £100m transfer, while Carlos Tevez concedes that City have blown the title.
*
Redknapp rues Van Bommel snub – Sky Sports
I never kissed the Liverpool badge, says Chelsea’s Torres – Guardian
Fifa consider snood ban – Daily Telegraph
Blues bill hits £172million – Sun
Scudamore predicting £100m transfer – Guardian
Wenger defends youth policy as rivals spend – Daily Telegraph
Tevez: We’ve blown the title – Sun
Moyes remains defiant in Fábregas row – Guardian
We’ve been sold short! Newcastle and Sunderland rue striker departures – Daily Mail
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Grant – Parker for England – Sky Sports
Ferguson says 84 points will seal title – Guardian
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.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Amongst the late flurry of transfer deals being completed in the latter days of August, one capture seemed to go unnoticed and awry from the public’s insatiable gaze.
Whilst Spurs were busy attempting to quash and quell rumours of the possible departures of Luka Modric (for whom they were successful) and Peter Crouch (alas, unsuccessful), a diminutive, prodigious Spaniard was being ushered into the revolving doors of White Hart Lane.
Iago (or Yago, depending on lingua franca) Falqué is only 21, yet the attacking central midfielder has already been on the books of several European powerhouses: firstly Real Madrid, then Barcelona, and then Juventus, with a loan spell at Villarreal amongst that whilst at i Bianconeri. And now, in a small victory in their hankering for European recognition, Spurs can now be added to that roll call, for Iago, his preferred moniker, was plucked from obscurity by Harry Redknapp as someone with a bright future. But, with those previous employers in mind, it beggars the question: how and why hasn’t he accomplished that potential?
As the Spain Under-21s vanquished, in a fashion similar to their La Roja Furia senior counterparts, all before them in this summer’s Under-21 European Championships, certain names became synonymous with the ensuing inevitable praise: David de Gea, Thiago Alcantara, Juan Mata, Iker Muniain to name but a few. With Spanish football at its zenith (any Spaniard seemingly has a zero added to their transfer fee, just because of their nationality), the future’s promising for the Spanish youth; but how has Iago’s bright star faded from this galaxy?
[ad_pod id=’vip-2′ align=’centre’]
After starting off at Real, he was poached by their Catalonian rivals, only to not make the cut (just one appearance, in seven years, in a Barcelona B team led by Pep Guardiola), which is nothing to be disheartened about: if Barca set the bar for today’s standard, nobody could blame Falqué for failing to penetrate outer-space and proceed to vault that bar.
But he also never settled in northern Italy, as he made no appearances for Juve. He was shipped out first to Bari (again, no appearances) and then to Villarreal’s B team, where he did, eventually, enjoy a fruitful spell, albeit in their B team.
So, he clearly has potential as these luminaries of football keep picking him up; but what should Redknapp be wary of? What is it that is so hindering his progress? The answer, it could be said, is purely bad luck. Not your usual Owen Hargreaves-style injury bad luck, but just a victim of poorly-advised decisions, maybe made by him, maybe made for him. For starters, competition’s always going to be tough for those exiting the Barcelona academy of La Masia. It’s understandable, yet not apocalyptic, if the youngster doesn’t make the cut; messrs. Fabregas and Piqué seem to have recovered suitably after initially being deemed surplus to requirements.
In addition, he shouldn’t have gone to Italy. He doesn’t speak the language, he had no previous accomplishments upon which to base his claim for a place in the team, and he was in crass competition with seasoned signors.
But is Tottenham a better decision? On paper, it would appear not. Principally, Spurs are currently, whilst starving in the striking department, overrun with midfielders; at the last count, they have ten player who would probably be ahead of him in the pecking order for those two central midfield positions. Furthermore, Spurs don’t have a fabled reputation for nurturing youth. They’re not renowned for it and, preferring to import players, they don’t rely on it for success. The most recent example of Gio dos Santos is an alarming citation of what can happen to a prodigious youngster starved of first-team chances.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Alas, the jury’s out for Iago. He may yet have some Sandro-esque luck and be granted a first-team chance due to extraneous circumstances. Or, speaking historically, he may just be a glorified bench-warmer. Whilst time will tell, there is no doubt that this was one of the more bizarre transfer deals, for all concerned.
Article courtesy of Theo Rowley from This is Futbol
Few shocks in the FA Cup yesterday with non-league Crawley the only club punching above their weight. Notts County will be hoping to do a job on Manchester City today, as the once highly ambitious County faces a club who actually had the resources to make that a reality. It will be tough for Paul Ince’s men, although as they say anything is possible in the FA Cup.
In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include Tottenham denying ground claims, player plus deal could secure Torres, while Gareth Southgate to take key role in FA coaching set-up.
*
Spurs deny ground claims – Sky Sports
Player plus cash could seal Torres deal – Guardian
BBC backs Groves after sexist comments – Daily Telegraph
Kenny Dalglish: I’d have gone potty over a bad call – Daily Mail
David Silva has no regrets about choosing the Blue half of Manchester – Mirror
Southgate to take key FA coaching role in shake-up – Independent
Redknapp to make last-ditch Diarra loan raid – Mirror
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
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.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
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.
If the Premier League get the chance to test out goal-line technology, it will be the first time in a while I have used these words: Great decision. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it should be introduced to the game. We should have had it for the past 10 years and I don’t know why FIFA haven’t done it before now. It’s just common sense and this is an era when we should have clear-cut decisions, because there is no need to debate whether a ball has crossed the line. There have been so many incidents over the years – and that ridiculous Spurs goal at Old Trafford still gets to me. How was that not given?
The issue has become a joke and I’ll be very glad when it’s sorted out. Think about how long people have debated Geoff Hurst’s controversial 1966 World Cup final goal. No one knew if it had crossed the line, and it was only really given because Roger Hunt put his hand up to claim it. Hunt deserved to have his name on that goal. In fact, a few years ago he went to the funeral of the Azerbaijani linesman who awarded it. We all asked Roger if he knew the great man’s last words. Roger reckons he said: “It’s over.”
[divider]
At least the introduction of video technology will bring an end to corny jokes like that and bad decisions. I think Frank Lampard’s non-goal against Germany at last year’s World Cup was the final straw. Even Sepp Blatter couldn’t bend that one if he tried! It should have counted – end of story. It’s been proven beyond doubt that match officials make mistakes. And it’s understandable, as linos have to keep up with play and if someone scores from 20 yards, how can they reach the touchline to see in time?
Modern sport has grown with TV, with millions of people watching who see things the officials can’t. You get technology in cricket, horse racing and tennis, so it must come into football too – but only for goal-line decisions. We do not want somebody appealing for a foul or penalty and holding up the game, as it would kill it.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
[divider]
This reminds me of when football first started to be televised. At the time, Jimmy Hill was bringing it to the BBC, and I can remember Joe Mercer having a word with him. Joe was a terrific player from Arsenal, but he wasn’t impressed with his games being on TV and told Jimmy so. Back then, players liked to exaggerate their goals to people who hadn’t been at the game. Joe liked to tell people he had beaten five men and banged one in the top corner, even if it was just a tap in! As soon as he couldn’t embellish how great he was, he said the romance of the game was dying.
For sure, when goal-line technology is introduced, the romance will be dead. But we’ll have that one thing we all love more than anything – proper goals.
Robbie Keane’s hunt for a new club reminds me of an advert where an owner is looking to offload their pet somewhere: ‘Wanted – a loving home for a striker who we no longer have room for.’ It’s all been a little sad really, because he was once a much wanted man. So where has it all gone wrong for the Tottenham forward?
I think the easiest explanation is Liverpool. Keane was offered the chance to join one of the biggest clubs in the world and he just couldn’t resist. In all fairness to him, not many strikers would have turned them down. But it never really happened for him, well it never did at all. His all too brief spell at Anfield not only lowered his stock, but seemingly lowered his confidence as well.
On return to Spurs, we all expected him to pick up from where he left off. The goal-scoring hero, the captain of the side and the driving force. But times change and so did Spurs. He now finds himself down the pecking order, out of favour and unwanted.
But surely he couldn’t have just lost all that ability? We can’t forget just how good he has been for most of his former clubs. Ask any Wolves fan who they want to see the club sign this season to help them stay in the Premier League and you’ll only get one answer.
So maybe that is the problem. At 30 and not scoring, Keane is no longer an attractive option to some of the top clubs but the teams like Wolves and Stoke, who have also expressed an interest, do recognise that he is still a good striker. The problem they face, just as Birmingham found out last week, is Keane still considers himself one of the best thus prices himself out of a move to the lower tier of the Premier League’s cliental.
It’s time he woke up and realised that if he is to continue asking for excessive wages, he will carry on warming the White Hart Lane bench and potentially could go stale. It would be a shame as Keane has the ability to be a big player once more, it would just be at a smaller club.
He would be a legend if he scored the goals at Wolves that kept them in the league. What about Aston Villa? They’re on a roll, his goals could propel them further up the league and into Europa League places contention.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Keane has options but only if he recognises that he is no longer a player worthy of the wages he asks for. Time to find a new home, Robbie.
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.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Daniel Levy is fast becoming the marmite-man of English football. Some fans, most notably those of London rivals Chelsea, are far from happy with the way the Tottenham chairman is standing stubbornly in the way of Luka Modric’s ‘dream move’ to Andre Villas-Boas’ side, seeing his protestations as no more than petty time-wasting. Others look at his actions as standing-up rather than standing in the way. Too many times players have held clubs to ransom over transfers, and this is surely a case of it going too far.
It is hard to look at the situation at White Hart Lane and not feel utter despair for the fans as well as the management. Harry Redknapp, love him or hate him, is without a doubt one of the most open and to-the-point managers in the game. And this openness has given the Modric issue a refreshingly different angle to outsiders than with normal transfers. While moves are often left to speculation and wild rumour, Redknapp has come out and told reporters exactly what was offered, exactly what the player has told him and exactly why they have so far rejected all advances for the Croatian.
One of the main reasons for this, apart from the Tottenham manager’s no BS approach, is the fact that his chairman is unequivocal in his stance that Modric will remain at the club. This kind of support has been lacking elsewhere this summer, most notably at Arsenal where Arsene Wenger looks to be fighting a losing battle to hold onto his players.
But one thing that separates the two North London clubs in their transfer battles is the issue of the contract. Daniel Levy’s position is strengthened by the fact that Modric has a whopping 5 years to run on his 6 year contract. Compare this to the Arsenal situation, where Samir Nasri has only a year left to run, and it is clear to see why Levy is so hardened in his resistance.
The supposed ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ that Luka Modric has spoken of in a recent interview with a Croatian newspaper is the one thing that he is able to cling to in this episode, but even that looks to have been worded well enough by Levy that there is little wiggle room for Modric. If it did in fact take place, the Croatian has been quoted as saying that Levy said he would consider an offer that suited, “both parties.” It seems the recent bids have only satisfied the Modric camp, and so the Spurs chairman is well within his rights to reject the offers, as they simply don’t suit Tottenham.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]
And some of this hard-line stance looks to be rubbing off on North London rivals Arsenal. Arsene Wenger has recently come out stating that he is 100% determined to keep hold of both Nasri and Cesc Fabregas despite the vocal interest from Manchester and Barcelona.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The very fact that forcing players to adhere to the contracts that they signed is becoming the exception to the rule shows what a worrying state the game is in. In the real world there wouldn’t be any quibbling; you agree to the contract and you see it out. For some reason football has taken on an inflated sense of self-importance that has allowed it to separate itself from reality. The game needs more people like Levy to stand-up and make it known that they will no longer put up with this arrogance.
Ready to join the revolution? Or is this all coming across just a little too self-righteous? Let me know on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/_tomclose I’ll be sharpening my guillotine.
Chelsea finally ended their awful run of results with an unconvincing win over high-flying Bolton at Stamford Bridge. My biggest concern for the Blues is their inability to change their system should a game not go to plan. Under Jose Mourinho, this was one of the cub’s greatest strengths, however with a lack of pace and attacking resources, Chelsea have looked short of ideas. If they go behind, Ancelotti’s men lose.
Aston Villa have been equally poor this year, and with their threadbare squad still struggling to get results this game cannot be simply written off, despite the 7-1 humbling they experienced here last season. Gerard Houllier will be hammering on Randy Learner’s door as the clocks strike on New Years Eve with requests for funds to strengthen a poorly balanced squad.
It must be pointed out that the current league champions are not even close to the side that tore into Villa in March, however their response to finally getting three points will be an interesting indication of how they will finish at the end of the season.
The first meeting between these two ended in a tight draw, and I can see the same unfolding on the Kings Road this weekend.
Prediction: 1-1
Click to see match odds at Paddy Power below
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.