Football Results Todays

Villa To Go Fourth? It`s Possible...

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:41:00 +0000

In April 2007 I watched a mid-table Aston Villa destroy Middlesbrough and I came back to F365 Towers singing their praises to a sceptical Villan who had only just stopped panicking about a relegation battle that had not and would never materialise. He had all the doubts associated with long-suffering fandom, but I insisted I had just seen a team that would be in Europe within two years.

I wrote an article saying as much - a companion piece to my report in a national newspaper that suggested Villa had produced a performance the equal of any other in the top flight that weekend, with particular praise being reserved for the irrepressible Gaby Agbonlahor (who I had previously seen only on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and had summarily dismissed as a speedy but essentially headless chicken).

I bring this up not only to applaud my prescience in the face of not-unreasonable doubt, but because it's now time to re-assess Martin O'Neill's side and suggest that actually, I may have underestimated their potential. Never mind fifth, this is a team that could qualify for the Champions League.

It was less than 18 months ago that O'Neill's first-choice side included Craig Gardner and Shaun Maloney, while jobbing professionals like Aaron Hughes and Luke Moore came off the bench. Agbonlahor, Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry were impressive, but the team had a lack of quality beyond the four or five players who were top-six material.

Now look at the bench from Wednesday's win over Blackburn and you will see John Carew, Steve Sidwell, Marlon Harewood, Zat Knight, Curtis Davies and Gardner. Show me better back-up for any Premier League side and I'll show you a Champions League club.

Of course Villa have spent money to be in this position - over £30m in the summer that puts them in the same bracket as Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and curiously Sunderland - but there was no flabby spending and no risks taken. Of the eight players through the door this summer, six had Premier League experience and five were English. This may be Premier League management by numbers (getting the best English full-backs on the market does not suggest imagination) but it is Premier League management that works.

Can they finish in the top four? A kneejerk reaction says not, because we are all conditioned to think that way - with Everton's gatecrashing an anomaly consigned to history - but I now beg to differ. This Villa side is twice that Everton team, which - lest we forget - featured Marcus Bent up front, David Weir and Alan Stubbs as the default centre-half partnership and an awful lot of 1-0 wins.

By contrast, this Villa side is one of only two (with the other being Arsenal) that boasts a pair of strikers with at least five Premier League goals this season. They have a central defender in Laursen that would improve the Gunners at a stroke and a winger in Ashley Young who is currently the best in England in that role. And the likes of Barry, Reo-Coker, Milner and arejuvenated Stilian Petrov are no mugs either.

They might have been dismissed by Chelsea with little fuss, but Villa don't need to challenge Chelsea to finish in the top four. Defeat to Stoke was a blow but wins over West Brom, Wigan, Sunderland, Spurs and Blackburn since show that such slips against lowlier opposition will be rare. They are yet to drop a single point from a winning position, something which neither ManYoo nor Arsenal can boast.

And unlike Arsenal, Villa are likely to spend again in January, with O'Neill admitting he wants to push on and the eminently sensible Randy Lerner suggestion that the chequebook is open with a view to the riches the Champions League can offer. Emile Heskey is apparently a target and while that might not be the kind of signing that Arsene Wenger would ponder, it is the kind of signing that could see Villa usurp the Gunners in the top four.

Kinnear urges Owen action

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:39:00 +0000

Interim manager Joe Kinnear has urged Newcastle United to pull out all the stops in an attempt to keep Michael Owen at St James' Park.

Owen, 28, is out of contract at the end of the current season and therefore able to talk to other clubs regarding a free transfer move from January.

The England striker has battled a series of injury problems during his three years on Tyneside but has found the net five times in eight appearances for the Magpies this season.

Owen has yet to agree terms on a new contract with the club despite holding preliminary talks during former manager Kevin Keegan's reign, but Kinnear believes losing the former Liverpool and Real Madrid marksman would be a serious mistake.

"It's better that this club has Michael and players like him because it's a big club and he's a big player," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"I'm not privy to what any of the players are earning, what their contracts are, or who they've last spoken to.

"I would think it would cost a lot of money to replace Michael. I haven't given it any thought because I would have thought I could be gone by January.

Harry: What A Week!

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:36:00 +0000

Tottenham Hotspur's manager has reflected on a dramtic first week in his new job.

It is diffcult to believe that it was only a week ago that Harry Redknapp was appointed Spurs manager. Such a lot seems to have happened to the club since then.

They have collected seven points in their three games and gone from looking relegation certainties to one of the Premier League's form sides.

It all started with last Sunday's home game with Bolton Wanderers, which Spurs won 2-0. Redknapp was appointed onlu hours before the game, but got stuck in straight away, meeting the players at their hotel and delivering the team-talk to the side selected by Clive Allen.

Midweek saw Redknapp's debut North London derby and that amazing comeback, whilst yesterday, still only six days into the job, Spurs rode their luck to mount another comback and beat Liverpool 2-1.

"The Bolton match was vital for us," said Redknapp. "People talked about us showing character at Arsenal but we also showed a lot of character by winning against Bolton. That was a match we had to win and if we hadn't won that, we really looked like we were in trouble.

"Arsenal was amazing. Sometimes you get turning points and the draw with Arsenal was one. When we scored it was as though we had won the cup.

"Liverpool are such a tough team to play against and when we went behind so early it was going to be difficult for us.

"We kept going and when you do that and don't give up, you get your rewards.

"Let's be honest, we would have taken two points from Arsenal and Liverpool. We'd have taken five points against Bolton, Arsenal and Liverpool all day long so to take seven points is fantastic for us."

It's All About Age

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:33:00 +0000

The age of the teams in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying may surprise you, but does experience translate into success? Read on and decide for yourself.

When Russell Latapy (40 year old) and Dwight Yorke (36) scored against the United States, the pair was a combined 76 years old. This might not be the oldest duo ever to score in a World Cup qualifying match, but it was certainly close and got me thinking about the relative ages of the goal scorers in the semifinal round of CONCACAF World Cup 2010 qualification. With such a strong focus on the youth movement -- especially in the United States and Mexico -- what is the average age of players who have tallied during the group stage and what, if anything, does this tell us about the teams?

First, some raw data. Below are the goal scorers for the three teams that have qualified for the Hexagonal as well as Mexico, Jamaica, Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago, along with age of each player. The average age of the team's goal scorers is listed in parentheses next to the team name. (The number in parentheses next to a player's name represents the amount of goals he scored in the semifinal round.)

Costa Rica (29.6 years old) -- Alvaro Saborio-26; Froylan Ledezma-30 (2); Alejandro Alpizar-29 (2); Armando Alonso-24 (2); Celso Borges-20 (2); Alonso Solis-30 (2); Bryan Ruiz-23 (3); Walter Centeno-34; Junior Diaz-25; Victor Nunez-28
El Salvador (23.6) -- Rodolfo Zelaya-20 (4); Caesar Alexander Larios-20; William Torres-32; Shawn Hasani Martin-21; Eliseo Quintanilla-25; Own goal (2)
Honduras (26.3) -- Caesar Julio de Leon-29; Ramon Nunez (3)-22; Amando Guevara-32; Walter Martinez-26; Carlos Costly-26; Hendry Thomas-23
Jamaica (27.3) -- Andy Williams-31; Ricardo Fuller-29; Luton Shelton-22
Mexico (27.4) -- Pavel Pardo-32 (2); Andres Guardado-22; Fernando Arce-28; Johnny Magallon-26; Omer Bravo-28; Rafael Marquez-29; Carlos Salcido-28; Vicente Matias Vuoso-26
Trinidad and Tobago (31.5) -- Keon Daniel (3)-21; Cornell Glen-28; Russell Latapy-40; Dwight Yorke-36
United States (24.8) -- Carlos Bocanegra-29; Clint Dempsey-25 (2); Brian Ching-30 (2); DaMarcus Beasley-26 (2); Landon Donovan-26; Jozy Altidore-18; Oguchi Onyewu-26; Charlie Davies-22; Michael Bradley-21

A couple things jump out immediately. Due to the age of Trinidad and Tobago's dynamic duo, the team has the highest average age, although it's significantly lowered by of Keon Daniel's youth. El Salvador, led by 20-year-olds Rodolfo Zelaya and Caesar Alexander Larios, and 21-year-old Shawn Hasani Martin, boasts the youngest average age, with the United States nipping at its heels (thanks in part to recent tallies from Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, and Michael Bradley). Mexico, a team like the United States that is straddling between generations, has the third-oldest average age, with only one player under 26 finding the back of the net.

Every team, with the exception of Jamaica, has an age gap of at least a decade between its youngest scorer and its eldest. (The Reggae Boyz's Andy Williams is nine years older then Luton Shelton). That statistic demonstrates both the longevity of international soccer careers and also the weakness of the region as a whole. It's hard to picture a 40-year-old making an impact on a match in a UEFA or CONMEBOL match.

Surprisingly, if the numbers of goals scored by an individual are treated individually (for example, Zelaya's four goals count at four separate 20-year-olds scoring) and then the resulting average age is recalculated, the United States and Mexico are the only teams whose average age increases -- although both do by only half a year each. Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago get significantly younger, while El Salvador, Honduras and Jamaica stay relatively the same. To me, this suggests that the immediate offensive future of Los Ticos and the Soca Warriors looks bright, although the T and T figure is skewed because the sample size is only six goals, three scored by Daniel. Furthermore, while the numbers for the Untied States and Mexico would suggest that the teams skew older -- a possible negative -- followers of each team know that the squads loaded up on veterans and are bringing the younger players along more slowly. Essentially, they have the depth that teams from smaller countries do not.

Obviously, these numbers represent an abbreviated snapshot of seven CONCACAF teams. It's a rather arbitrary way to compare the squads, but nonetheless offers some interesting insights into the offensive strengths and weaknesses of teams in the Hexagonal. Going forward, it will be worth watching how the influx of youth on the American and Mexican teams alters these figures.

Blockbusting Benzema Earns Praise

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:27:00 +0000

Karim Benzema has received all-round praise for his part in helping Lyon to a 2-0 victory over Sochaux last night. The young forward scored a terrific opening goal for les Gones and then laid on Delgado’s late effort…

With seven goals already this season, Karim Benzema’s importance to Lyon was underlined again last night as he put Sochaux to the sword, scoring a thunderbolt of an opening goal then showing the presence of mind to play in Delgado for a late second.

For over an hour Lyon looked puzzled as to how to break their hosts down yet, just when it seemed they had run out of ideas, Benzema picked the ball up 40 yards out, drove at the defence and sent an outstanding shot into the top corner of the net to break their duck and help Claude Puel’s side to their first league win in three.

“It was a good game despite the difficult pitch and the rain,” he told OLTV afterwards, “It was also difficult because we had a good team, Sochaux, placed in front of us. They presented us many obstacles with their defensive unit but we managed to stay focused and unblock the defence.

“In the first period I missed two chances that could have brought goals. In the second half I scored a beautiful goal but I am especially happy because the victory does us a lot of good.”

President of the club, Jean-Michel Aulas, who has valued Benzema at €100 million, praised his young striker. “Benzema played a good match,” he said afterwards, “Curiously, we should have taken the lead in the first half when we were better but it was in the second we scored.”

Aulas finished on a word of caution. “The injuries to Pjanic and Grosso are worrying. They will have a scan tomorrow but there is not good news ahead,” he explained.

Pjanic has since been ruled out for a month while news on Grosso is awaited. There is more positive news for OL as Lloris, Juninho and Ederson are all expected to return to the squad at the weekend.

Di Stefano Hits Back At Ferguson's Franco Remarks

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:25:00 +0000

Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano has today hit back at remarks made by Alex Ferguson about the Franco influence on the club, saying what should they have done except win?

Alex Ferguson hasn't been helping his popularity in the Spanish capital of Madrid lately after first having a public feud with Gabriel Heinze and then remarking that Real Madrid are General Franco's club.

The Manchester United manager has received criticism for those comments across Spain and today Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stéfano has had his say about the reports.

"Ferguson, what is he going to say? We went for everything in Europe and at that moment the Franco government ruled. And what were we meant to do? Throw the games away? We had to win, we had a good team and the immigrants were happy with us. It was one of the fundamental things that [Santiago] Bernabéu did," he mused.

The former player showed his sense of humour too by initially replying to a question about Franco by saying, 'in Coruña there was a Franco who played on the left wing and he was very good.'

Aside from the Ferguson issue Di Stefano also spoke about another topic hot in the press at the moment, referees. The ex-Blanco said that that they make 'mistakes like players and everyone else' but believes he has already made good suggestions for the job.

"I already said that the Asociación de Futbolistas Españoles (AFE) had to do a referee school and to get referees from there, because football is for football. It is my criteria so that each one gets what they want," opined Di Stefano.

Top Five Dodgiest Football Games

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 02:10:00 +0000

Football News: Football is, as we all know, an honest game for gentlemen. Sadly there are some among us who try and bend the rules. 1. Spain v Malta, 1983 WC qualifying

Spain needed 11 goals against Malta to qualify past the Netherlands into Euro 84.

The Spaniards were only 3-1 up at half-time, Malta had more than held their own, but the second-half yielded a rout.

Nine goals went past the hapless Malta 'keeper as cross after cross was converted.

The scoreline provoked an inquiry by the Malta soccer federation with no further action taken. But what was not in doubt was Spain's advancement to France the following summer.

2. Akwa United v Calabar Rovers, 2006

This 13-0 victory in the Nigerian league saw Akwa promoted to the Premier League. An investigation was launched because any less than a 13-goal winning margin would have seen rivals Bussdor move up a division.

Chief among the suspects was the referee who sent off three Calabar players. Akwa had scored only 12 in 14 matches prior to the match.

3. West Germany v Austria, Spain '82

These two teams met in the final match of Group B with the knowledge that a 1-0 win for the Germans would mean both teams would qualify for the knock-out phase.

After 10 minutes, the score read 1-0 to West Germany and the game proceeded to take a comical turn as both sets of players stuck to their positions and made no effort to attack.

Unlucky Algeria protested at the result to FIFA. Ever since, the last batch of group matches have taken place at the same time to ensure there is no repeat.

4. AC Milan v Brescia, Serie A 1992/93

The Milanese needed only a point to secure the title ahead of rivals Inter as the League went into its penultimate weekend. Brescia figured that a point might be good enough to keep them up and so the game was as uneventful as West Germany's game with Austria 10 years before.

Although Milan took the lead on 82 minutes, Brescia then equalised two minutes later. However, the minnows got their comeuppance: results didn't go in their favour and Brescia were relegated.

5. Argentina v Peru, 1978 World Cup

The hosts Argentina needed to beat the Peruvians by four clear goals to make sure of a place in the final, after the tournament saw a second-round group format.

Argentina went on to record a 6-0 victory which left Brazil short on goal difference. The hosts then took the trophy when they beat Holland 3-1 in the final. (Sportasylum)

Why Diego?

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:07:00 +0000

Juventus are apparently interested in signing Diego. Antonio Labbate offers a theory or two behind the Old Lady’s courtship of the Brazilian

Werder Bremen’s Diego wouldn’t look out of place in a Juventus jersey. A Brazilian international, he’s demonstrated that he’s matured into a fine talent after his infamous failed bid to join Internazionale resulted in a Bundesliga switch.

Nevertheless, rumours that the Turin giants met with the No 10’s agent father on Tuesday don’t sit comfortably with those of us with suspicious minds. A swoop for the South American, no matter how good he is, undoubtedly provides more questions than answers.

The biggest doubt surrounds the fact that Diego doesn’t seem to be the kind of player that this Juventus can field. For starters, they already have Alex Del Piero who is still getting a regular first team jersey that he silently demands. The club have also recently dug deep into their pockets to secure the services of Sebastian Giovinco who won’t be used on the flank for that much longer.

Additionally, where would Diego fit into Claudio Ranieri’s 4-4-2 formation? A fantasista by nature, his inclusion in the side would surely force the Coach to use a 4-3-1-2 system. That would be a significant change of direction for a team which has been constructed, at his own requests, with a midfield that is high on quantity but low on quality.

As a result, we inevitably have to take into consideration the fact that Diego may be being recruited for someone else. Although the club have constantly confirmed that Ranieri will continue to lead a long-term project at Vinovo, the pressure is still very much on The Tinkerman.

Is it coincidence that President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, on the day that the Diego talks supposedly took place, insisted that the Scudetto is still a target this season? Sounds like a good excuse to axe Claudio should he fail to deliver come next May.

Pure conjecture? Possibly, but let’s throw in another hypothesis while we’re here. Could Diego primarily be a signing for the board, rather than the team? Market moves since the introduction of the Cobolli Gigli-Blanc-Secco triad have, after all, been rather hit and miss.

Amauri has been stellar so far, but it’ll take more than one Brazilian to make amends for the likes of Sergio Almiron, Tiago Mendes and Christian Poulsen. And with a Tuttosport poll showing that 80 per cent of those surveyed feel that the Werder star is the right man for Juventus, Diego would at the very least be a popular buy. Whether he would be a good one remains to be seen.

Reja: Bring on Milan!

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:55:00 +0000

Edy Reja says Serie A leaders Napoli are feeding off their enthusiasm and will go out to attack Milan.

The Serie A leaders come face-to-face with second-placed Rossoneri this evening at San Siro with confidence sky-high.

“There is so much enthusiasm around the side. I realise Napoli are physically and psychologically strong and it is truly a pleasure to see the spirit with which they step on to the pitch,” said the Coach.

“However, against Milan enthusiasm cannot be enough. We are facing a stellar side that is also on the ascendancy.

“We must try to play a game without mistakes, staying extremely focused in defence and adding our quality into the mix. It will be an extremely intense match.”

Having said that, Reja has no intention of changing his notoriously attack-minded approach to football.

“What cages can you possibly build when taking on Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Pippo Inzaghi, Marco Borriello or Andriy Shevchenko?

“Napoli have never adopted that kind of tactical neutralisation anyway. Of course we must be sharp to limit the supply to their strikers, because these are all world class champions. If they have the ball and run at the goal, they will show no mercy.”

The audacious approach has certainly worked well for Napoli this season with victories over Lazio, Fiorentina, Juventus and Palermo.

“We must not give Milan any reference points and above all try to impose our personality on the match, because we certainly cannot afford to leave them the initiative.

“We’re not making calculations over whether a point would suit us. These lads are young, enthusiastic and fired up, working with humility and feeling. Cynicism doesn’t suit us.”

Batista, Brown agree to assist coach Maradona

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:49:00 +0000

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Sergio Batista and Jose Luis Brown changed their minds and agreed to become assistants to Argentina coach-to-be Diego Maradona on Friday.

"I'm happy because (Maradona) said that we were a team, that we should share opinions, although it's clear the final decisions will be made by him," Batista told Buenos Aires-based television station C5N after meeting with the soccer great.

Batista will continue to be the Argentina youth team coach, and Brown remains as his assistant. Batista also coached the team that won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing.

Maradona, Batista and Brown were teammates for Argentina's 1986 World Cup win, coached by Carlos Bilardo, who will be the new manager.

Local media and fans are hoping the coaching group will restore some of the glory of the "Generation of '86" to the faltering Argentine team, which stands third in South American qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

Batista initially rejected the offer to assist Maradona on Wednesday because of a "lack of communication."

Meanwhile, Maradona postponed his weekend trip to England to remain in Buenos Aires for his official appointment next week as coach. Maradona and Bilardo will be confirmed on Tuesday by the Argentine Football Association's executive committee.

Maradona planned to travel to England on Saturday to meet with top Argentine players Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, who play for Manchester United and Liverpool, respectively.

Argentina's next match is a friendly against Scotland on Nov. 19 at Glasgow.

Van Persie Sent Off, Walcott Injured; Knocks For Adebayor & Sagna As Arsenal’s Problems Mount

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:43:00 +0000

Arsenal were left bruised and battered with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke City coming as a blow to their title challenge with Robin van Persie sent off and Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Bacary Sagna picked up injuries.

Dutch forward van Persie was left on the bench to start with and made his appearance in the 65th minute. And just 12 minutes on the field, the Gunners ace took out his frustration as he needlessly bumped into Potters goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to be sent off.

England winger Walcott was stretchered off with a shoulder problem, while Togo striker Adebayor and French right-back Sagna picked up knocks. Injuries had kept out skipper William Gallas and Emmanuel Eboue for the Stoke clash.

Arsene Wenger's side, who meet Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday, take on defending champions Manchester United in the Premiership showdown on November 8.

Foster agrees new Tykes deal

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:40:00 +0000

Barnsley boss Simon Davey has persuaded Steve Foster to agree a new contract that will keep him at Oakwell until the end of next season.

The 28-year-old former Crewe Alexandra and Burnley defender moved to the Tykes at the beginning of last term and has been a stalwart in the side ever since.

Davey told the club's official website: "Stephen's probably been our most consistent performer over the last year and it's fantastic for everybody connected with Barnsley FC that we'll have him with us for even longer."

Foster added: "I'm very, very happy to have agreed a longer deal with Barnsley Football Club. I believe that this is the right club for me and it's fantastic to have everything agreed."

Lippi returns to Azzurri helm

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:33:00 +0000

The Italian Football Federation have confirmed that Marcello Lippi has returned to coach the national team, following the sacking of Roberto Donadoni.

Donadoni has paid the price for the Azzurri failing to make it past the quarter-finals at Euro 2008, with Lippi returning to the post two years after he led Italy to World Cup glory in Germany.

For his part, Donadoni said he was proud of his time in charge, which ended with a penalty shootout loss to Spain.

He said after learning of the decision to send him packing: "I'm disappointed that a penalty kick can cause this situation.

"But over the last two years my Italy side have done something good and one game can't change that. It was a stupendous experience and I would do it all again immediately.

"In fact, I would do everything again because I have a clear conscience for everything I have done.

"There hasn't been any financial compensation, but that doesn't interest me. Money is useful for everyone, but it was never a problem for me.

"On the day I picked the squad, when president Giancarlo Abete mentioned the possibility of compensation I said that there was no need."

Is Theo Walcott a football genius or is he overrated?

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:27:00 +0000

He burst onto the scene against Croatia, and he's burst off of it again against Kazakhstan and Belraus.

Theo Walcott's dismantling of Slaven Bilic's side last month was hailed as the beginning of a new era.

After his shock inclusion in Sven-Goran Eriksson's 2006 World Cup squad, the Arsenal winger had been quiet as he tried to find his feet at a big Premier League club. But at 19, his coming of age had apparently arrived in Zagreb with a hat-trick that brought plaudits the world over.

"He must start every game" proclaimed Tony Cascarino, and the former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland striker was not alone.

Fabio Capello listened and picked Walcott in an unfamiliar 4-3-3 formation against the Kazakhs. It didn't work. Even Walcott admitted he had a poor game with England only recording their flattering 5-1 scoreline once the team shape had been changed and Walcott had been substituted.

Then last night, Walcott was once again a peripheral figure in the white shirt and this time there were no excuses as Capello learned from his mistake and fielded his line-up in a 4-4-2 right from the start.

Is this a good learning curve for the teenager? Should the manager persevere while England are winning and he is gaining experience? Or are competitive World Cup qualifiers not the place to learn your trade?

Should Walcott still be one of the first names on the team-sheet or has he had his chance? Should Shaun Wright-Phillips be given the wide right role instead? Or David Beckham?

Is Theo Walcott a football genius or is he overrated?

Source: Timesonline

This in my opinion is typical of the British media. Walcott was hailed a wonderkid after his superb performance against Croatia, however just two games on and they are already questioning whether he is overrated...

The answer of course is yes. Certain pudits went overboard after the Croatia game and hailed Walcott as the next England superstar. Even Wenger came out saying not to expect the same performance and that it was a one off. Walcott is a fantastic talent, however he is still very young. We should not expect performances like that everytime he pulls on an England shirt, and he should also not be an automatic selection purely based on one performance.

I would stick with him for now, however he would need to up his game in order to keep that shirt, with Shaun Wright-Phillips hot on his heals.

Do you agree? Would you stick with Walcott? Do you think he is a football genius or is he overrated?

Ballack still Low's captain

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:27:00 +0000

Germany coach Joachim Low has confirmed that Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack will remain captain of the national team.

It had been thought the 32-year-old would be stripped of the captain's armband after he criticised the coach's treatment of Torsten Frings and Kevin Kuranyi.

Ballack later apologised for his comments and a meeting between the two men appears to have resulted in harmony being restored.

Low said in a statement: "I am delighted that an excellent national team player who has played a major part in our success over the last few years is still available for selection and will continue to help us in achieving the goals we have set on the way to the 2010 World Cup.

"Michael Ballack remains my captain.

"It was important that we were very open with this discussion. Even as captain, he must understand he has to abide by the rules.

"He knows he can talk to me about anything, keeping it internal. But all sporting and personnel decisions are made by the coaching team and I have made this unmistakably clear to Michael."

RONALDO: I'LL WIN FANS OVER

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:19:00 +0000

Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has vowed to win back Manchester United fans - for the second time in his career.

The Portuguese forward was involved in a long-running transfer saga in the summer and was quoted saying he wanted to move to Real Madrid.

The 24-year-old eventually stayed at Old Trafford, and he has drawn parallels with the reaction he faced after the World Cup two years ago, where he was vilified for his part in Wayne Rooney's red card in England's quarter-final defeat.

He told The Sun: "A part of the supporters show themselves to be more unhappy than others. But I hope to change their minds.

"When I put on the United shirt I give my maximum. Nobody can condemn me on this.

"I hope it will be similar to when I came back to England after the 2006 World Cup and I can win the fans back."

United were critical of Madrid's approach and refused to sell their star asset, but Ronaldo insists it was his decision to stay.

"Nobody can convince me about anything," he continued. "Since I was young I've had to make decisions, I make them alone.

"I want to win more at this club. If the boss thinks I have to stay on the bench I respect that, even if it's difficult," he added.

RAFA: WE CAN STILL IMPROVE

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:58:00 +0000

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admits there is room for improvement in his squad as they chase Premier League silverware.

The Reds travel to Tottenham on Saturday hoping to reinforce their position at the top of the table as the Anfield outfit look to end an 18-year league title drought.

Benitez is pleased with the start to the season and the former Valencia boss believes he has the strongest set of players at his disposal since arriving in England in 2004.

But the Spaniard insists improvements can be made in order to bolster his long-term options.

"I think this is the best squad we've had during my time here, but hopefully in the next few years it can get better," Benitez told Liverpool's official website.

"To be contenders, you need quality, desire, passion, character - all those things together. That's the reason you need to change players.

"Little by little we are getting there."

Benitez is also surprised at the length of time it has taken to improve fortunes on Merseyside.

"When you arrive to a new league, you have a lot of confidence and you think that maybe in a few years you can change everything," he added.

"But then you see the Premier League is very difficult. And when you know that you need to change your squad to be contenders, then it has had to be done little by little.

"We have always been improving. Sometimes you think you can do it in a few years, but maybe we've needed more time because the other teams have been improving as well."

Sacchi Denies Juventus Links

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:12:00 +0000

The Bianconeri are undergoing a mid-season crisis with negative results causing turbulence at the club.

Real Madrid come to town later tonight and it will give coach Claudio Ranieri the chance to silence his critics.

The Tinkerman's career is on the line as is sporting director Alessio Secco's.

Sacchi has been linked with a role at the club but he has denied the speculation.

"Have Juve called me for the directors role? No. I have never been contacted by the club and I don't think they will get in touch with me either," Sacchi told Radio Kiss Kiss.

"Juve play Madrid at a bad time and the Spanish side will try and win. They are stronger but they don't defend well and this could be the key for the Bianconeri.

"I think Juventus will play closed up and they will be hoping for a great night from [Alessandro] Del Piero or from Amauri.

"I don't think too much blame should go on Ranieri either."

The Old Lady has a good record at home against Real Madrid and the Italians will be hoping it remains that way tonight. Real lost 3-1 the last time they were in Turin in 2003, Del Piero and Nedved were the heroes on that night.

Chelsea Plan To Snatch Balotelli

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:47:00 +0000

Following much hype and speculation regarding interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid, Chelsea have now jumped on the Balotelli bandwagon and they are ready to make old coach Jose Mourinho a mega offer for the Italian hit-man.

Fireworks are likely to start exploding between the English and Italian clubs, given the relationship 'Special One' and the Blues, who sacked him last year.

The Daily Mirror claims the West London club are keen on the Italian under-21 international following his outstanding performances. Balotelli fired the Azzurrini to a 3-1 win over Israel on Wednesday night and he is quickly becoming one of the hottest properties in football.

However, the striker is not finding much space at San Siro, fuelling speculation over his future as well as posing new questions on whether he would be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea are looking at Balotelli as an interim replacement for the injured Didier Drogba, but reports in Italy suggest the striker isn't keen on moving to the Premier League as it may ruin his chances of making a step up to Marcello Lippi's senior Azzurri squad.

A January bid for the player is expected and Inter may be tempted to part company with the rising star if they recieve a good offer from Chelsea supremo Roman Abramovic.

However, there is still the question regarding Mourinho, the coach is likely to shackle his player and scoff at his old club when he hears of their plans.

People Should Keep Their Virginity Until Marriage - Kaka

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:45:00 +0000

Although the Rossoneri star is active on the training pitch, the same cannot be said in the bedroom department following his latest revelations.

Kaka, who is a very devoted Evangelist, believes it's right not to have sex before marriage and he has a message for all those who have their doubts.

"I am a great example. The majority of people say that after marriage, they don't like jumping into bed with their partner because there is no desires. However, this is not true, my wife is the person I love and it was worth waiting," Kaka told Fohla de Sao Paulo.

"A lot of people were surprised and shocked with me but I think it's the best decision. I am an evangelist and I believe in those values. I think people need to prevent themselves from making love before marriage.

"Of course, everyone has their own opinions but I think it was worth the wait."

The Milan star has been away on international duty with Brazil but he will be back in action for his club on Sunday when Sampdoria make the trip to San Siro.

The Rossoneri are three points off the pace in Serie A.

'Little Kaka' Has Man Utd Trial

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:42:00 +0000

Partizan Belgrade's 17-year-old attacking midfielder Ljajić - dubbed 'Little Kaka' - is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in Serbia.

The attacking midfielder, already tested at U21 level for Serbia, is the first Partizan player to wear the number 22 since Saša Ilić left in 2005.

The youngster has already been thrown in at the deep end by the Grobari, who pitched him into Champions League action during the qualifying rounds.

Partizan's youth factory is regarded by FIFA as the second most productive in Europe, behind that of Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam.

Now, the Red Devils are set to have a look for themselves to see if 'Little Kaka' has enough potential to become like 'Big Kaka'.

Arsenal's Injury List

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:41:00 +0000

Arsenal's physio's will be working overtime over the coming days and weeks as six Gunners have returned from international duty requiring treatment.

Captain William Gallas has suffered a hamstring complaint, Bacary Sagna is sidelined due to a knee problem, Nicklas Bendtner has knocked his ankle, and all are likley to miss the Everton fixure this weekend when business resumes in the Premier League.

There are also question marks over the availability of influential Spanish midfielder Francesc Fabregas who has broken his nose, Robin Van Persie who has muscular problems, and Johan Djourou who is concussed.

Abou Diaby though is set to return to the first team and may be named amongst the bench for the home match against David Moyes' men.

Head coach Arsene Wenger told the club's official website: "Unfortunately we have lost some players over the 10 days – William Gallas, Bacary Sagna and Nicklas Bendtner."

"These are heavy losses and we have to compensate them... Fortunately the three of them don’t look to be out for a long, long time but they will be out for the weekend game and I think the game on Tuesday."

"As well as them, Djourou got concussion during his game with Swizterland and will be assessed tomorrow to see if he is available," the Frenchman confirmed. "He does not look too bad and he could have a good chance to play."

"I am still waiting for Robin to come back [after international duty] so I don’t know about him. However he should be OK. He went with a muscle problem but he came on after 56 minutes last night and, from the reports I got, he should be alright. Both of them will be assessed."

"Cesc has a broken nose," he added. "It should not stop him playing. He is here now [at training] and is being assessed."

"Abou Diaby is back in the squad again," Wenger confirmed. "Even though he has not played games he will be used, at the least in the squad, because we have lost those three players."

Messi Bests Eto’o And Henry

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:38:00 +0000

Henry and Eto’o had long been regarded as the club’s top earner strictly in terms of wages alone. Now, it appears that Lionel Messi has surpassed both of them, thus becoming the highest paid player.

The Argentine actually signed a new, improved contract all the way back in July this year, but the details had not been disclosed until several days ago, whenCatalunya Ràdio made the announcement public and it was subsequently confirmed by the club.

The 21 year old, six years Eto’o’s junior and ten years younger than Henry, is only in his fourth year as a professional footballer with Barcelona, but is already one of the world’s top-earning sportsmen.

Although the exact figures of his contract were not released, it is speculated that his terms will run until 2014 and he will earn anywhere between €10-14 million gross per annum, with a buy-out clause of €150 million.

Wenger: Walcott Has Edge On Messi

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:32:00 +0000

While Messi, 21, is widely regarded as one of the very best players on the planet, Walcott, 19, is just coming into his own, and has shot to superstardom courtesy of his hat-trick against Croatia last month.

“He’s different [to Messi at that age] and I think he’s more,” Wenger said at a press conference on Friday.

“If you have to look for a weakness in Messi you would say it is his ability to run without the ball, behind the defender.

“When he takes the ball to his feet he’s like a Ferrari. But Theo is more a guy who has the timing to run off the ball and that is something that is difficult to find.

“We had Marc Overmars who was especially good at that and I’m a great, great lover of movement off the ball.”

Wenger went on to credit Walcott's rapid development to a weight training regime they put him on since he first arrived as a very scrawny 16-year-old.

"He is a man now in the fight," he said. "You feel he has much more power than a year ago, or six months ago.

"We do a bit of strengthening of the upper body but not weights, because I believe in football it's more about coordination.

"Weights make you more rigid and coordination makes you more flexbile and Walcott is a guy who has natural power. He will naturally become a strong upper body player."

Vassell targets City return

noreply@blogger.com (etsen) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:07:00 +0000

Manchester City striker Darius Vassell is hoping to be back to full fitness and in contention for a first-team return by the end of October.

Vassell, 28, has been out of action since damaging medial knee ligaments in a pre-season friendly against AC Milan, but has now been given the green light to resume full training.

"It's an injury that I have done before, so I know that it will take time to heal. It's just one of those things but it's something you have to look to get over," the former England striker told the club's official website.

"I've been in rehab for eight weeks and I saw a specialist last week. He told me that I am alright to kick on in training for the next couple of weeks.

"I think I'm a week or two from getting my full fitness back and I need some games under my belt over the next couple of weeks, depending how the rehab goes."

Meanwhile, Vassell has spoken of his frustration at being unable to play alongside some of the big-money signings funded by City's new Abu Dhabi-based owners during the summer.

"If we can keep bringing in new players that will keep everyone on their toes and it excites me as well because I know that I will have to reach a high level to get a game," he continued.

"Getting injured at the time I did was so disappointing - it's been really frustrating.

"But at the same time, the direction the club is heading in is really positive, not only for myself but for the fans and the players as well."