All posts by h79snht.top

In an ever politically correct society, football continues to be thrust under the microscope and people’s comments upon certain issues are played over and over again in the hopes of coming towards a decisive conclusion on whether to punish a few foolish murmurings. In the light of Fabio Capello’s resignation and inevitable rumours encircling Harry Redknapp’s head surrounding the vacant England capacity, journalists and spokespeople everywhere have been urged to remain tight-lipped until the current season is out and the FA come towards an agreement about an appointment.

So if managers cannot comment on the current England role, should they be able to comment upon players from the opposing side? The question comes in light of Arsene Wenger’s public criticism of Luis Suarez in his knack of ‘buying’ penalties following the controversial penalty in the recent Liverpool-Arsenal league fixture. Kenny Dalglish has called on the FA to look into the Frenchman’s comments and thinks Wenger’s labelling of Suarez as a kind of cheat is out of order.

Time and time again, we hear managers referring in transfer terms to the repeated, tired old phrase ‘I won’t comment on another team’s player’ and then weeks later indeed that man has moved to the club. However, this gentlemanly conduct is not always maintained when referring to another playing following a contentious incident or sending off for example.

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When emotions are running high in the immediate aftermath of a match, the media grab hold of managers and obtain more raw and original versions of what has just taken place on the field of play. Whilst some managers tend to remain smart and refrain from naming any players to avoid FA punishment, both Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have been anything but silent in recent months.

Ferguson’s jibes were also in relation to Suarez and the Scot maintained the player shouldn’t play for Liverpool again. A scathing outburst and the standout quote from an intriguing interview after the ill-fated affair at Old Trafford in February.

But back to the case of Wenger, he damned the much documented public courting of Samir Nasri last summer whereby Roberto Mancini boldly claimed the club were looking to sign the midfielder, but what is the difference between commenting on player in transfer terms and commenting on a player in the way Wenger did relating to Suarez?

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It seems there is a grey area of uncertainty in relation to what verbal misconduct is and what isn’t when referring to players of the opposition. Does Kenny Dalglish have a point, is commenting on other teams’ players a manager’s trait that needs to end?

Follow me @ http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989

Nothing would please Liverpool fans more than putting a dent in United’s title chances tomorrow in what promises to be a lively game at Anfield. Kenny Dalglish’s men could certainly with a victory, having gone off the boil in recent weeks.

At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Liverpool blogs that includes five set for the chop at Anfield; realistic ambitions for Liverpool, while two cheap deals to solve the reds’ problems.

We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.

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Top TEN funniest football chants of recent times

The Top TEN Premier League Wag Imports…well I would!

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FIVE set for the summer chop at Anfield?

Will supporters be hit in the pocket in light of new rulings?

So why are Harry, Kenny and Fergie keen to splash cash on him?

Liverpool’s Top TEN Cult Heroes

Liverpool refuse to budge over £11m fee 

Premier League trio in battle for Hungarian Star

Who is England’s most hated footballer?

What is a realistic ambition for Liverpool?

14 reasons why the future is bright at Liverpool?

TWO cheap deals to solve Liverpool’s current problems

*Best of Web*

The honeymoon is over; looking forward to the future – This is Anfield

Should we stay or should we go? – Tomkins Times

Does Kelly’s Emergence Pile More Pressure on Spearing? – This is Anfield

The signings we need to make to capture title No.19 – Live4Liverpool

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5 reasons why Aquilani should return in the summer – Our Kop

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Click on image below to see a gallery of Christian’s lady wife

From the highs of Barcelona, to the lows of Brisbane Road. It’s been a strange week for Arsenal. One the one hand, they proved they could beat the best at their own game using skill, technique and finesse. But on the other, they underlined a problem we have become all too familiar with when questioning why the Gunners can’t seem to end their six-year trophy drought. Once again, Arsene Wenger’s men failed to see out a game which required some grit and what many would call ‘ugly football’. So is this the real problem? Do Arsenal need to learn to win ugly in order to win trophies?

It’s an age-old argument, I know. But if there was one of the ‘top four’ capable of not seeing through the game against Leyton Orient, speaking on past experience, it was Arsenal. They’ve certainly become tougher than they used to be. Players like Jack Wilshere have added a little bite more bite to their game which has been missing since the good old days of Patrick Vieira.

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But I’m not just talking about someone who’s not scared of putting their foot in. Against the O’s, Arsenal needed someone to score the ugly goal. Put the game beyond the home side – be it through the world’s best team goal, or in off Bendtner’s backside – they all count.

Before the Barcelona game, Wilshere himself said that Arsenal needed to be harder, more aggressive and close their opponents down quicker to get the ball back. I’d argue that if they added that to their game on a regular basis, the Premier League trophy would have been at the Emirates long before now.

It seems to be a recurring problem with Wenger’s style. He gets his team playing some unbelievable football and any real fan can appreciate just how good they can be at times. But there is another side to the game; the side where you go away to a small ground, with intimidating fans and a surface designed to upset the usual rhythmic passing of an established quality side. This is the side of the game where you need your players to stand up and be counted. Stick it out, defend together and take your chances, however few and far between they come.

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It’s a frustrating flaw which many have identified over the years. Every season Arsenal go without a trophy, Wenger declares them ‘better off and more experienced’ the next time round. But there always seems to be this result just around the corner. It may seem an over-reaction. After all, it was just a draw against a team who were buzzing for the occasion of an FA Cup tie against one of the best in the world. But the result is symbolic of the lack of trophies at the North London club over the past few years. It seems ridiculous to suggest it, but if Arsenal could be just a littler uglier, would it solve an ongoing problem at the Emirates club? Food for thought, Mr Wenger.

Like what you’re reading? Follow me on Twitter @joino

Roque Santa Cruz hopes he will now get the chance to impress Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini after a proposed loan switch to Lazio fell through on transfer deadline day.

The former Paraguay international had been expected to leave Eastlands after Mancini told him he would not be part of his first-team plans this season.

However, Santa Cruz hopes that Robinho's permanent move to AC Milan, which was confirmed on Tuesday, will give him a chance to shine.

Lazio had wanted to sign the 29-year-old on a season's loan with a view to a £6.5million permanent move, but Santa Cruz told the Manchester Evening News:"They were there right until the end but they didn't come to an agreement with the club.

"I have heard from the manager he won't be counting on me too much. I heard that a week before the season started and I had time to see if I could arrange a move.

"But in the end the club were happy to keep me and they weren't happy with anything that came through.

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"Now I'll try and prove myself in training and I'm looking forward to taking my chances."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Corinthians and Flamengo both won 1-0 away from home on Sunday to hold first and second place respectively in Brazil’s Serie A.Corinthians had to wait until the 70th minute at Estadio Serra Dourada to break the deadlock against struggling Atletico Goianiense.

A goal from striker Willian with 20 minutes to go ensured the visitors came away with all three points and secured their fifth-consecutive victory.

They remain top of the table and remain three points clear of Flamengo, who returned to second place after beating last season’s champions Fluminense 1-0.

Visitors Flamengo needed a goal from midfielder Willians one minute into first-half injury time at Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange to record a valuable win on the road.

Defeat leaves Fluminense ninth, already 10 points off the pace despite having played one more match than Corinthians.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Santos’ woes continued when they went down 3-0 away to Palmeiras.

First-half goals from Maikon Leite, Mauricio Ramos and Patrik wrapped up a comprehensive victory for the home side.

They are now who fourth in the table, four points behind the leaders.

Copa Libertadores winners Santos, with star men Neymar and Ganso absent as part of Brazil’s Copa America squad, have won just twice from seven matches played.

Jhonata Obina and Neto Berola were on target as Atletico Mineiro defeated America Mineiro 2-0 at home, while Gremio saw off visitors Coritiba by the same scoreline.

A 78th-minute equaliser from Fahel helped Bahia draw 1-1 at home to Botafogo, who had led through Elkeson’s first-half goal.

And Figueirense also had to come from 1-0 down to draw 1-1 at home, with Maicon netting just past the hour mark to cancel out Washington’s third-minute opener.

Aston Villa have clarified an approach to Alex McLeish, but Birmingham City still intend to prevent their ex-manager joining their rivals.New Championship club City have reiterated their right for compensation of up to 5.4 million pounds if Villa appoint McLeish to their vacant post.

Having led Birmingham to a League Cup triumph but also to relegation from the English Premier League, McLeish tendered his resignation on Sunday and has wore criticism from the club since.

City maintain McLeish is not a free agent, putting an approach from Aston Villa on Monday in dangerous territory. The English Premier League club has responded to Birmingham about the contact, claiming it was not an official approach.

Birmingham acting chairman Peter Pannu has hinted at legal action for McLeish, and is still likely to report the matter to the Premier League despite Villa’s reply to the allegations.

“I got an email from Aston Villa, finally replying to all of our queries. As expected, their legal department said, ‘Now Alex McLeish is a free agent having resigned, we’re free to speak to him’. This confirms all suspicions. This shows what has happened,” Pannu told Sky Sports.

“Within the first year he (McLeish), or the club who sign him, have to compensate us at 5.4 million pounds.”

“The first year expires on June 30. The second year starts July 1, when the compensation fee is three million pounds.”

“I’ll be seeking an injunction preventing Villa from hiring him.”

“I’ll be reporting what’s happened to the Premier League. This is like conspiracy to defraud.”

“It’s borderline criminal. That’s how strong I’ll put it.”

Despite a miserable few years for Liverpool, Brendon Rodgers is confident the club can finish in the top four this season and return to Champions League football.

The former Swansea boss can’t wait to get going, but fully understand the pressure that the Liverpool job brings with it.

“I’ve said right from the off I want to make us as competitive as we can possibly be,” The Liverpool boss told Sky Sports.

“The challenge at the top of the table is greater than ever. Now there are seven or eight teams involved but the top four is certainly not something we’ll shy away from.

“It’s where a club of this status wants to be but it’s always easier said than done and the reality over the past three seasons or so hasn’t been that.

“Our job is to try to push on. There has been a lot of work done over the last few years to try to get the club back into the top echelons of the league so we are hoping to do that.”

“There has been a lot of change and a lot of work going on and of course every manager wants patience but the reality of football means that’s not the way it works,” he added.

“The challenges are great and the pressures at this level are great.

“There is a long way to go for us. We will be better next year than we are this year because there will have been more time to work with the players and they will have adapted more to my methods.

“But all we can do is retain our focus and concentration to improve how we play and, more importantly, to be effective.

“A system or style is not very good if you’re not winning games. You have to win matches.

“Your principles are based on the players you have and hopefully over the next number of years we will be able to bring in certain types which allow us to play a certain way.

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“Until that moment comes the players are working tirelessly and relentlessly to improve their game and get results and at this early stage it is very promising for them.”

 

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Raheem Sterling’s electrifying Premier League debut against Manchester City conjured one of the most incredible atmospheres ever witnessed at Anfield. His pace, trickery and desire to impress raised fans to their feet as he dominated proceedings down the left flank, teasing the country with a glimpse of his much publicised potential.

The emergence of Sterling has disguised a somewhat indifferent start to Liverpool’s season, much in the same way that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Arsenal fans a glimmer of hope last year. The importance of gifting youngsters the opportunity to shine is an incredible undervalued managerial trait, especially as it seems to raise morale drastically and inspire the experienced professionals to raise their own standards.

With this in mind I have collated a collection of talented individuals who should be awarded the creative freedom to strut their stuff in front of an enthusiastic audience. If little else it will further disprove Alan Hansen’s theory that “you can’t win anything with kids”

Click on Suso below to reveal the top ten

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Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub

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It’s easy to come away from Arsenal’s win at Liverpool with a lot of optimism for the near future. It’s also easy to paint over any good work done by the club this summer with a black brush due to the high-profile departures. But so far, it’s hard not to find some form of understanding with Arsene Wenger’s thinking going into the season.

The obvious area to address was how the club would replace Robin van Persie’s 30 league goals from last season. Considering that Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski have come in from other countries and may need some time to adapt, it might be a fair assessment to say the club have moved sideways rather than forward. If, however, van Persie had remained at the club this season, Arsenal would look a much stronger side with ambitions that could match those further up the league table.

It’s not that Giroud or Podolski are bad players, but where’s the depth? Where’s the cushion to fall back on when your new recruits don’t hit the ground running? It was also brought up recently that Arsenal are in fact in the same position as they were last season with regards to their strikers; if Giroud is injured or out of action for any length of time, do the club really want to rely on Marouane Chamakh?

But I think it’s interesting to see that Arsene Wenger is making the most of the resources he has to him, both in terms of cash and playing personnel.

Santi Cazorla’s signing this summer was a masterstroke. It hardly needed the match away at Liverpool to tell that this is one of the most technically gifted and creative midfielders in all of Europe. But instead of raising the question as to why other big clubs didn’t go after him, rather look to the excellent eye for a bargain by the Arsenal manager. While clubs in the Premier league are looking for reinforcements in England, Wenger has found a real magician in a foreign league for a bargain price. I don’t think anyone could argue that Cazorla isn’t good enough for any club in the world. His versatility, calmness in the midfield and status in European football is such an incredible boost to Arsenal.

The loss of Alex Song certainly prompted many to expect an arrival of a similar player on transfer deadline day, and it would be foolish to suggest there wasn’t some degree of disappointment in Arsenal’s failure to strengthen or replace in that area. But what has been really pleasing to see is Arsenal’s lack of reliance on a genuine holding or defensive midfielder. Sure, I recently flagged up that area as a position of weakness even with Song in the team, but the combination of Mikel Arteta and Cazorla really add something different.

While trying very hard not to get carried away, Arsenal’s midfield—whether you want to include Diaby as the consistent third in the midfield trio—look to use their strength of awareness, ball retention and calmness under pressure to combat the loss of an Alex Song figure in the side.

I made the point recently that Arsenal looked like they were attacking with 11 players but defending with only 10. It was clear that Alex Song’s desire to get further up the pitch left a huge gap in the midfield for the opposition to exploit. Now, it seems like there is a real hunger from these current midfield players to help one another out and take up their defensive responsibilities. It would, however, be foolish to assume this Arsenal team could sail through the season without a real defensive midfielder. But it does appear that Wenger has a lot of faith in Francis Coquelin to fill in that role where needed, while Diaby—provided he can stay fit—will feature in the bigger and much more open games.

As I said, it’s important not to get carried away with this Arsenal side following their impressive win at Anfield, but it is clear that the squad is short of a few bodies. Attacking and at both full-back positions could prove to be a problem going forward: Arsenal are never far from a long term injury to a key player.

But Steve Bould has arguably been one of the signings of the season, as the new assistant manager has surely played an enormous role in helping the club to three league clean sheets in a row—two of which featured the third choice keeper.

It’s more of a frustration that the club didn’t do what they could to ensure this team could challenge for the title this season. But away from that, the versatility of a few members in the squad—namely Cazorla, Podolski, Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain—leave this Arsenal team deceptively strong.

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Key members have departed the club this summer, but at least Wenger has completed some very exciting and clever moves during the window.

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Sunderland centre forward Stephane Sessegnon has been backed to recover his form for the visit of Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light this weekend.

The Benin International has had an underwhelming start to the season and the team are keen to get the player firing on all cylinders again.

Scotland International forward Steven Fletcher has been deadly up front and if Sessegnon can also muscle in on the goal trail, the Black Cats could have a potent partnership.

It is a worry for the side with the striker still yet to record a goal in his 8 appearances this season, and he did not even manage to register a shot against Manchester City last time out.

However, midfielder Jack Colback is confident last season’s top goalscorer will turn it round.

The Sunderland ace told the Northern Echo “Sess was magnificent last year” and that he believed Sessegnon carried the team a little bit last season.

This is why he is confident that if the player gets more of the ball then he will re-deliver his flamboyancy he expressed in his opening season for the Black Cats.

Colback is aware that it is crucial to ensure that their attacking players, like Sessegnon, Mclean, Fletcher and Adam Johnson get on the ball.

With the side slipping to their first defeat last time out, the importance of their next fixture is not lost on the side.

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The last meeting ended 1-1 at St James’s park, but Sunderland will be looking to record similar heroics to their 2-1 victory over their rivals in October 2008.