Porto manager Andre Villas-Boas does not want the credit should his side make him the youngest coach to win a major European title.Villas-Boas, 33, can create history if Porto wins the all-Portuguese Europa League final against Sporting Braga on Wednesday, which they are strongly favoured to do.
Porto went undefeated on their way to the Liga Sagres title, and can claim a treble if they triumph in the Europa League and the Taca de Portugal final against Vitoria Setubal on Sunday. But speaking on Tuesday, the highly rated manager said the club’s exploits are not about him.
“People focus a lot on the work of the manager and I don’t see it that way,” Villas-Boas said on Tuesday.
“I don’t see myself as a one-man show. Football isn’t won by one person but by collective competence. It is the quality of the players and the structure of the club.”
“I just want to make my players give their most. I give them room to express themselves because that’s how they develop. I promote their talent and let them make their own decisions. There are no dictators.”
“We don’t see the game as a tactical game. If you are a dictator of choices, players won’t be able to explore their possibilities to the full. You have to be able to free them.”
Villas-Boas is a former assistant to Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, but said the reason he left his role under his countryman at Inter Milan – after also working with him at Porto and Chelsea – was to further his own managerial ambition.
Villas-Boas joined Liga Sagres side Academica and guided them free of relegation trouble, before his appointment as Jesualdo Ferreira’s replacement at Porto in June 2010.
”The position I had with him was a position he needed some help on. I understood my role from the beginning and tried to fulfil it with maximum professionalism,” Villas-Boas said.
“When I left him, he took on another person who I hope gives him the same level. Regarding why I left Inter, it was because I wanted the extra edge to fulfil my ambitions as a professional coach, so I took the risk to find my own job at Academica.”
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Anderson will be out of action for at least another month through injury, and that Dimitar Berbatov may well be sold in the summer due to lack of regular football.
The Brazil international has had a frustrating season due to injuries, and the Old Trafford manager has admitted that the midfielder’s hamstring is still causing him problems.
“Anderson could be out for four or five weeks due to his hamstring,” Ferguson told the club’s official website.
“Some hamstrings are relatively straightforward but we have to wait and see how he is in the next week or so to get a better idea of where we stand with him.”
Ferguson did confirm that Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans would start against Athletic Bilbao in San Mames, as the Premier League champions try to overhaul a 3-2 first leg defeat in the Europa League.
“Phil Jones went down with flu yesterday.
“It’s a difficult tie for us. Bilbao have a tremendous advantage after winning at Old Trafford. It’s a challenge but not one that is beyond us.
“Our record away from home helps us – we’ve done very well. We’re going to need a good performance,” he continued.
Finally, Ferguson admitted that fringe forward Berbatov may leave Old Trafford in the summer in search of regular action.
“At 31, he is looking at first-team football. It is difficult for me to guarantee that, so it could lead to him looking elsewhere
“We will be taking up the option on his contract but, having had chats with him, I understand he wants to get first-team football.
“It is something we need to consider at the end of the season. For a player of his age and his ability, it is disappointing for him that he is not getting first-team football.
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.
“We will look at the end of the season but until then, he remains at United,” the coach confirmed.
Liverpool have been linked with a move for out-of-favour Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago, according to the Daily Mail.
The 25-year old moved to Real from Argentine side Boca Juniors in January 2007 and has made 121 appearances for the club. However, he has fallen down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho in favour of Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira and only made 7 appearances last season. With the summer arrivals of Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop from Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively the Argentinean’s opportunities next year could be even more limited.
Real signed the midfielder for a fee in the region of €20 million but are willing to do business for £15 million. However, Liverpool look like starting the bidding at closer to £10 million.
The club have already splashed £20 million on ex-Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson and continue to be linked with a move for Blackpool’s Charlie Adam. However, the club must first look to offload high-earners such as Maxi Rodriguez, Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen. The future of Alberto Aquilani is also to be decided whilst Raul Meireles has recently been linked with a move to Inter Milan.
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.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has also been linked with a move for Newcastle due Jose Enrique and Jonas Gutierrez but has yet to make a move for either player.
Last night, the IndigO2 theatre in London held the Stella Atrois World Draught Master Final for the United Kingdom, where 28 bartenders battled it out for a place in the Global Final set to take place in Buenos Aires on October 26th. Stella Artois are a brand desperate to empahsise the importance in pouring the ‘perfect Stella Artois’, and their Quality Draught Masters programme was set up to ensure a superior customer experience through the art of pouring lager. In a stylish and sophisticated theatre inside the O2, guests arrived to this ‘smart and 60s chic’ dress-coded event to watch these bartenders compete with one another to represent the United Kingdom at the World Draught Master Global Finals.
Mark Dolan presented the evening to a crowd made up of friends and family of each bartenders, as well as some of biggest names in Stella Artois. Alongside Dolan, ‘Master Beer Sommelier’ Marc Stroobandt talked the audience though the ritual of pouring the perfect Stella Artois, and explained just what these bartenders had been training to achieve. Bartenders from over 600 pubs across the UK had registered with the programme, and attended exclusive masterclasses throughout April, May and June with Stroobrandt, where they were taught not only the ritual behind pouring the perfect pint, but how to appreciate different beets, which food pairings work with Stella Artois, as well as improved serving standards.
These 28 finalists were the crème de le crème of the UK, the “best of the best” according to Stroobandt, and would compete in pairs over 14 rounds where a panel of judges including the 2010 World Draught Master Chris Myers, Stella Artois marketing manager Alexander Lambrecht, and brewmaster Paul Van de Walle would decide their fate. The contestants had just two minutes to perfect the ritual and serve the perfect Stella Artois to the judges in the first round, and only 7 of the 28 would make it through to the next round. The nine-step ritual that these bartenders must follow is one of such intricate detail and skill, that those thinking there can be no ‘art’ or ‘beauty’ in pouring a pint of Stella Artois will surely think twice in making such assumptions. The contestants are given a mark between 1 and 10 for each step of the ritual, which is broken down as follows.
1. ‘The Purification’ – the glass must be perfectly clean and rinsed, held by the stem at all times, and with the Stella Artois logo facing forward throughout.
2. ‘The Sacrifice’ – the tap is opened in one quick action, with the first drops of beer allowed to flow away; “sacrificed”.
3. ‘The Liquid Alchemy Begins’ – the glass is held at a 45° angle just under the tap but must not touch at any point.
4. ‘The Crown’ – the glass is lowered to allow the natural formation of the foam head, a ‘two finger’ head is necessary with a slight overflow to be removed.
5. ‘The Removal’ – the tap is closed quickly and the glass removed so that beer does not drip into the head.
6. ‘The Skim’ – while the head overflows slightly, it is smoothed over gently with a ‘head cutter’ at a 45° angle “with the flow of the bubbles.”
7. ‘The Cleansing’ – both the bottom and sides of the glass are cleaned and dabbed dry, and a drip catcher is placed on the stem of the chalice glass.
8. ‘The Two Finger Rule’ – the right amount of foam is usually about two fingers, and the head should be “rounded and without big bubbles.”
9. ‘The Bestowal’ – the beer is presented to the consumer on a clean coaster with the logo again facing forward at all times.
Alongside the nine-step ritual, contestants are judged on their preparation, attention to detail, and for their personality in engaging with both the audience and the judges.
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.
After 14 rounds, the judges had narrowed the 28 bartenders down to just seven. In the next round the remaining contestants would again perform the ritual, but this time on their own, and would be asked a question by the panel of judges as to why they deserved to be in the Global Final. After much deliberation and discussion among the judging panel, the evening came to a close when Alexander Lambrecht announced this years winner was Mark Simmonite of Henry’s in Sheffield.
Speaking after the UK finals, Simmonite was overjoyed not only with the result, but with the opportunites that Stella Artois were giving himself and others. “The commitment, passion, and drive from the team at Stella is fantastic” he told us, and the UK champion shared the belief that the “perfect pouring ritual can only improve business” for pubs and bars across the country. Simmonite claims that “Pubs are in competition with Facebook”, and they “need to give people a reason to leave their home, because anyone can pour a bottle of beer.” The UK Champion seems adamant that the Draught Masters programme will certainly make a difference to pubs, and believes it already has in some places.
On stage, Simmonite was presented to the audience for having the best shoes out of all the contestants, and he told us he had been “up all night” polishing them to impress the judges. Until October, where he will now represent the UK in the World Global Finals, Simmonite plans on making a microbrewery with his brother in Sheffield, so that he can continue to offer people “something better than sitting at home” He described his experience so far to have been “mind-blowing, awesome, and crazy”, and expressed his relief to being on the other side of the panel next year. Before then, Simmonite will prepare to tavel to Buenos Aires, where he will compete with the best bartenders from around the world for the Stella Artois World Draught Master 2011 title – and we wish him the best of luck from all here at FFC.
Bouncing back will be the order of the day at Ewood Park on Saturday with both Blackburn and West Brom desperate for a win after suffering disappointing defeats last time out.
Rovers boss Steve Kean looked crestfallen once again as his side conceded two late goals at Sunderland last Sunday to lose a game they look destined to emerge victorious from. Having led through Simon Vukcevic’s early goal it looked as if Kean was about to guide his side their first away win of the season only for the Black Cats to score twice in the final six minutes and send Rovers home empty handed. It was another bitter blow in what has been an awul campaign for the Blackburn boss who has had to endure numerous protests regarding his position in the dugout whilst watching his side plummet into the bottom three following a run of two wins in 15 games. Their latest success was in the 4-2 win over Swansea a fortnight ago and Kean will be hoping his players can reproduce that performance against The Baggies on Saturday. The goals of Yakubu and emergence of young stars like Junior Hoilett, Jason Lowe and Mauro Formica has given supporters a new found optimism that their side can battle their way out of the drop zone before the new year. Picking up all three points at home against Roy Hodgson’s side will provide a much needed confidence boost going into their relegation six-pointer against bottom of the table Bolton next week.
Albion are going through a similar crisis with their stuttering start to the campaign showing no signs of easing up. Hogson’s side have been arguably the most inconsistent side in the league this season with the Baggies recording some impressive victories but always seeming to follow them up with a series of substandard performances. Their excellent away win at Midland’s rivals Aston Villa in October was followed up by two spiritless displays against Arsenal and Liverpool where they barely even put up a fight. Fast forward to the win over Bolton last month, which should have been the catalyst for Albion to go on and pull away from the drop zone. Unsurprisingly that didn’t occur with their last three games providing no victories. Last week’s home defeat against bottom of the table Wigan was by far the worst West Brom have played this season and left them perched precariously just three points above the Latics in 15th. Hodgson knows performances have to improve if his side are to get through the festive period unscathed and need’s his big players to step up and be counted. Whilst record signing Shane Long has impressed sufficiently since his summer move the likes of Peter Odemwingie, Chris Brunt and James Morison haven’t performed as consistently as they did in the previous season. A win against Blackburn on Saturday will provide a nice cushion and a major morale boost ahead of a tough run of games against Newcastle, Manchester City and Everton.
Blackburn – 19th
Last Five: Lost 2-1 v Sunderland (A). Won 4-2 v Swansea (H), Lost 3-1 v Stoke (A), Drew 3-3 v Wigan (A), Lost 1-0 v Chelsea (H)
Potential Starting X11: 1. P. Robinson 39. A. Henley 4. C. Samba [C]* 15. S. Dann 31. G. Hanley 29. S. Vukcevic 8. D. Dunn 15. S. N’Zonzi 12. M. Gamst Pedersen 10. M. Formica 24. Yakubu
Injury News: Blackburn could be without eight first team players with new injury victims Gael Givet Martin Olsson, Ruben Rochina, Jason Lowe and Michel Salgado all doubtful for Saturday.
Key Player: Christopher Samba
The Rovers skipper was a tower of strength at Sunderland last week and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. His commanding performance made it difficult for the Black Cats to find a route through to goal winning the game with two long range efforts. Samba will be put to the test again this Saturday against the speedy duo of Long and Odemwingie.
Match Fact: Blackburn have lost only once in 10 Premier League meetings with West Brom with their only defeat coming back in February 2006.
West Brom – 15th
Last Five: Lost 2-1 v Wigan (H), Drew 1-1 v QPR (A), Lost 3-1 v Tottenham (H), Won 2-0 v Bolton (H), Lost 3-0 v Arsenal (A)
Potential Starting X11: 1. B. Foster 12. S. Reid 3. J. Olsson 33. P. Scharner 20. N. Shorey 14. J. Thomas 21. Y. Mulumbu 7. J. Morrison 11. C. Brunt[C] 14. P. Odemwingie 9. S. Long*
Injury News: Albion have only one player in the treatment room with Zoltan Gera out for the rest of the season.
Key Player: Shane Long
The Irishman has settled into life in the Midlands with ease since his record breaking move from Reading and looks every inch the Premier League striker. His pace and movement can be devastating at times and he’ll be expected to utilise both against a Blackburn defence that will be keeping a close eye on him throughout.
Match Fact: The Baggies have never won a Premier League match at Ewood Park and have failed to score in their last three visits.
Last Time at Ewood Park
Premier League 23 January 2011
Blackburn 2-0 West Brom
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.
Tamas OG (41) Hoilett (47)
Attendance: 24,057
PREDICTION
Both sides are in poor form at the moment with Blackburn still deeply rooted in the bottom three. West Brom are hovering just above the drop zone with their form away from home one of the stronger aspects of their season. Rovers fans will be looking for a repeat of their win over Swansea although Albion will prove a much sterner test at Ewood Park.
With Charlie Adam signed, Liverpool ’s next high profile target is Stewart Downing . The England winger has made no secret of his desire to leave Aston Villa this summer and is expected to force a transfer by handing in a transfer request if Liverpool ’s advances continue to be knocked back. The proposed transfer has been met online by a group of whingeing Liverpool fans, many crying ’sign Mata, sign Mata’ or alternately stating that Downing is average at best, or simply not good enough. Such comments display the naïveté of some fans in terms of how they perceive the modern game.
What seems to escape the attention of these fans is that in January of this year Liverpool paid a club record £35m to sign Andy Carroll. Call me crazy but I believe this would suggest that Andy is seen as a key first team player for next season. One only need look at Liverpool’s last two games of last season, when Carroll, despite clearly not being fit, was chosen to play alongside Suarez as a striker ahead of the in-form Dirk Kuyt. Carroll is seen as first choice. As such Dalglish will be looking to construct a side to get the best from his £35m man.
To think that Kenny Dalglish gave the go-ahead on signing Carroll for £35m without realising that he needs good service borders on insulting the King’s knowledge of the game. We all know Andy’s main strengths, he has great physical presence and colossal heading ability. He gets less praise for his ability to pick a pass and he also has a decent touch, impressive attributes for such a big man. Carroll also has a ferocious shot, it is clear to see why, in this department, parallels with Alan Shearer have been drawn.
Carroll however, also has weaknesses. He could do with working on his ball retention and hold-up play, as he is often clumsy or wasteful when playing a simple pass. Also, for a man who to look at, appears at a glance to be something of a beast – Carroll could also improve on his strength.
Upon his signing I had noticed in his medical photos that his upper-body could do with a lot of work, he did not cut the figure of a toned, conditioned and muscular modern pro, but then he did have a reputation. Carroll is also not the quickest, which diminishes our ability to thread through-balls to Carroll as a viable, steady supply-source of goal-scoring chances.
This is precisely the problem in the debate over Mata that so many fans seem to miss. Liverpool need someone who can deliver a cross. This is not Mata’s style. He is a great little player but a gamble in terms of getting the best from Carroll. Mata is a typical Spanish schemer, playing in a floating role on the left, looking to playing quick one-twos, or to pick an incisive through ball. Mata plays most of his football in a more central area of the pitch, drifting in on the left side of a front three. The same people who clamour for Mata would also likely state that Liverpool need width. Mata would simply not provide the desired width we need.
Whilst the thought of Mata and Suarez linking up on the left, playing intricate, incisive football on the deck is great in theory, such a system would not suit big Andy, who thrives on good crosses (or indeed even average ones. Man City anyone?). Make no mistake – next season we will be looking to get crosses to him. Whilst Mata does not provide traditional, touchline-hugging, by-line-driving width, Downing certainly does.
It is the width offered by Stewart Downing which puts him ahead of Mata as a priority signing for Liverpool. The left-footer whipped in more crosses in open play than any player in the Premier League last season, 135 in total. According to Opta stats, this is more than any other player has accumulated in a season in the last three campaigns. Very impressive. We are all aware too that Downing is not overly elaborate and could hardly be described as a ‘flair’ player, but then the same can be said for the likes of Antonio Valencia at Man Utd, who was widely praised for his simplicity on the ball at the tail end of last season (rightly so in my opinion, he rarely loses the ball).
Downing is not a ‘one-trick pony’ as many lazily suggest – some, with dreams of comedy superstardom have described him as a ‘no-trick pony’. Again, this is lazy – if not just downright idiotic. As we can see, Downing’s main ‘trick’ is offering width and providing crosses, but he is also capable of scoring goals as well as creating them (as we found out to our detriment) – eight in total last season. Downing can also pick a pass as well as deliver crosses. Strikers with pace, such as Gabriel Agbonlahor, and more recently Darren Bent have both benefited from Downing’s ability to split a defence over the last few years. Were it not for Bent’s famed profligacy in front of goal, and inability to stay onside, Downing may have claimed many more than the nine assists he contributed last season.
Continued on Page TWO
Downing also displayed his versatility when playing on the right-wing last year, showing that he can cut inside and create havoc in such a role. Were Kenny to employ a 4-3-3 next season. Suarez would naturally play on the left, where he creates so much trouble for club and country. As such, were Mata to sign where would he fit exactly? He is untested on the right. Downing provides better options in this regard – added to this, Downing has also shown he can still provide crosses and width when playing on the right if the system is a 4-4-2. Something Mata cannot provide from either side.
Which brings me back to Andy Carroll.
I wish we weren’t building a side around Carroll but lets face it, we are. His price tag makes him almost undroppable. It is for this reason I feel that, barring injury to Carroll we will employ a 4-4-2 next year. In every game Carroll played last season, we utilised this formation. That Downing is a desired signing theoretically re-enforces this view.
Parallels with Dalglish’s signing of Alan Shearer can be drawn here. Dalglish recognised that Jason Wilcox and Stuart Ripley could provide ammo for Shearer in what turned out to be a masterstroke. Neither player was flash or full of tricks, but without these two it is hard to see how Shearer would have scored such an alarming amount of goals. Width was a crucial factor in getting the best out of Big Shearer – the same goes for Carroll.
What Blackburn under Dalglish did not have was creativity from the centre. Their title-winning side contained David Batty and Tim Sherwood in central midfield. Whilst both were good players, neither possessed great vision, or the ability to deliver a defence-splitting pass. This was not essential however, as neither Shearer or Sutton possessed great pace. Their title win was largely based on a strategy of bombarding the opposition with crosses, they played to their strengths.
But Blackburn did not have a Luis Suarez.
In Gerrard and Adam, Liverpool have players capable of releasing Suarez with quality through balls – both can pick a telling, defence-splitting pass. Liverpool have the quality to be creative in the central areas, many would argue that Aquilani or Meireles could also provide such options. I agree. We are not lacking in creativity in central areas, which is what Mata would provide us with more of.
Mata can pick a pass, but then so can Downing. Mata can score goals, but then again so can Downing. Mata can drift into central areas, but then isn’t this the type of narrow football we have been looking to get away from? Creativity in central areas is not what we are looking for – it is what we already have. It is the predictability of this style which has led to the clamour for width in the fist place.
Width is where we have been lacking. As such, Downing can give us the added option of natural width which we so desire. Mata cannot.
Downing would give us the ability to drag and pull defences apart, to keep them guessing where the next threat is coming from – making as dangerous from wide areas as we are from central midfield. As all Liverpool fans know, this is something we have lacked badly for years. Dalglish is looking for a player that provide such width, a player who can get the best from both Carroll and Suarez.
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.
This is why Mata, however talented, is simply not what we are looking for..… Perhaps in some alternate reality where we have Suarez and Sergio Aguero up front it makes perfect sense. But not in this reality.
In this reality it’s £35m worth of 6ft 3” of Geordie bruiser we’ve got, and Dalglish isn‘t afraid to use what he has.
In addition to chasing Downing, the signing of Charlie Adam further demonstrates the importance that Dalglish has placed on getting good service to Carroll. In Adam’s case – particularly in regard to set-pieces. Carroll in particular is going to be salivating over those patented Charlie Adam ‘corners from hell’.
Even the greatest sceptic must admit that the thought of Downing providing the ammo for Carroll from the flanks next season, in addition to Adam’s delivery from set-pieces – is a very juicy thought indeed!
Read more Barry Henderson’s articles at Live4Liverpool
The big football news this week has been England manager Fabio Capello taking the captain’s armband from Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and giving it back to Chelsea star John Terry. As a former England captain himself who has had the armband taken away from him, ex-Arsenal defender Tony Adams is in a better position than most to comment on the subject. Here’s Adams talking about the captaincy issue and England’s chances…
How important is the captain on and off the pitch?
He’s the mouthpiece; he’s someone who puts the managers’ ideas onto the pitch. The relationship between the manager and the captain is so important for me. Me and George Graham, me and Terry Venables, me and Graham Taylor, me and Arsene Wenger, I always thought I was carrying that managers’ ideas, game plan, structure, discipline and professionalism onto the pitch so I think you have to set an example. It’s really, really important – it sets the tone.
Who in the current England squad has those qualities?
John Terry definitely has them, he’s a leader. He is for me of the right character. In that central defensive area you can get your message on to everybody. Also central midfield, I can understand why they make central midfielders and central defenders captains. My captain is a central defender. If you’re a right back and you’re playing on the other side of the pitch, you’ve got to shout to get a message over and that’s a bit difficult. I’d never put a forward as a captain, they’re a different breed. It would be a defender every time for me and John Terry has certainly got those qualities.
[ad_pod id=’unruly’ align=’right’]
Do you think there is any chance of England challenging the likes of Spain next year (at Euro 2012)?
I think we’re hitting (the FIFA rankings) where we are supposed to, eighth best in the world. I think radical change needs to go on in the development (of English players). The National Football Centre is long overdue and we need six regional camps. We need to educate the educators for better quality coaching and improve the whole structure if we are ever going to compete with Spain. We’ve got the passion but we’re lacking in some other areas. I don’t see this current group of players challenging Spain.
While England are looking forward to Euro 2012, first they have to overcome Wales at the Millennium Stadium. Former Wales international Chris Coleman knows it will be tough for his nation…
What is Wales’ best chance to beat England?
The problem you have got when you are playing a team and there is such a big difference in quality is to set up too defensively and get everybody behind the ball. An international manager only has his players for so long, so they will often work on that first. But, once you concede a goal, how do you change it? How do you change the mindset of the players and make them play offensively to try and get the goal back. You have got to find a happy medium.
You can’t go all gung ho against a quality team like England because you will get beaten 5-0. You need to find that fine line. Tactically you have really got to get into the nitty-gritty with the players, telling them to concede possession in certain areas but once the ball is in a certain area then let everyone know where they have to be, literally go through all 11 players.
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.
That can be a bit boring for the players, but it can be very effective. They all know their jobs both individually and collectively, and when they get the ball on the counter-attack, they know how they can hurt the opposition.
If Speedy can find that happy medium, then I’m sure we will be OK.
Visit the Dugout www.yahoo.co.uk/dugout for new interviews every week with England’s top football managers
It has been reported that Arsene Wenger will make an enquiry to the F.A about attaining an emergency loan goalkeeper following the injury sustained to Wojciech Szczesny on Tuesday night against Barcelona.
The Frenchman told the media today that Szczesny will be out of action for a ‘while’, which has left him considering a move for a temporary substitute.
Manuel Almunia has taken up the position between the posts for now, and is currently the only fit goalkeeper Wenger has at his disposal. Whilst second-choice goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski, has been ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery to his shoulder injury he picked up in January against Manchester City.
Wenger has since recalled reserve team keeper James Shea early from his loan spell with Southampton, and is rumoured to be on the bench this Saturday at Old Trafford.
Vito Mannone is another option for the Arsenal boss to ponder over. However, the Italian goalkeeper, who is currently on-loan at Hull City, has picked up a knock and it is unknown how long he will be out for.
So, if given permission by the F.A, who should Wenger look to acquire?
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.
Manchester United visit Arsenal on Sunday with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men closing in on what would be a record 19th championship.Until recently, this match was considered a pivotal one in deciding the eventual destination of the English Premier League title, but the form of Arsene Wenger’s side has dipped so markedly that they have slipped to third place behind Chelsea, nine points off the pace.
Interestingly, it has been Arsenal’s form at home that has let them down this season.
Since the New Year they have been held by Blackburn (0-0), Sunderland (0-0), Newcastle (4-4), Manchester City (0-0) and Liverpool (1-1) – with all but the Newcastle game at the Emirates.
In their most recent match, a 90th-minute header from Tamir Cohen lifted Bolton to a 2-1 win at the Reebok Stadium, prompting Wenger to all but concede his side’s title challenge was over.
For Ferguson’s men, the march towards a 12th Premier League title continues relentlessly – and they could also be heading towards a third Champions League crown under the Scotsman’s watch, after taking a 2-0 lead over Schalke in the first-leg of their semi-final on Tuesday.
In their most recent league match, a late goal from Javier Hernandez handed United a 1-0 win over Everton at Old Trafford.
Both squads are in excellent shape for this time of the season, with Arsenal’s only casualties being goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, whose season is over with a shoulder injury, and midfielder Abou Diaby who is nursing a calf problem.
In better news for Wenger, Belgian centre back Thomas Vermaelen made it through 90 minutes of Arsenal’s reserves clash with United on Thursday unscathed, after missing most of the season with an Achilles tendon problem.
For United, striker Dimitar Berbatov did not feature against Schalke and is in doubt, midfielder Darren Fletcher is still battling back to full fitness after a virus and Owen Hargreaves is still unavailable.
Rangers’ Champions League hopes have been thrown into disarray after the Scottish champions were beaten 1-0 in qualifying by Malmo FF.The first leg of their qualifying tie at Ibrox on Tuesday was meant to be smooth sailing for Ally McCoist’s men, but an 18th-minute strike from Daniel Larsson was enough to hand the Swedes an unlikely triumph.
The loss continues Rangers’ uneasy start to their overall campaign, after they were forced to come from behind in their Scottish Premier League opener against Hearts to force a draw.
The result means the SPL title holders must score at least once in the second leg next Wednesday at Malmo’s Swedbank Stadion, to avoid an embarrassing pre-group stage exit from Europe’s elite football competition.
Last season’s Europa League quarter-finalists Dynamo Kiev were beaten 2-0 by Russian side Rubin Kazan in Ukraine.
A sixth-minute opener to Alan Kasaev gave the visitors the ascendancy, before Bibras Natkho’s penalty midway through the second half sealed a commanding victory for the Russian club.
Racing Genk pulled off a stunning come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Partizan Belgrade at their Cristal Arena home.
The Belgians were in strife when South African defender Anele Ngongca was shown a red card just past the half-hour mark.
But before the first goal, the sides were both down to 10 when Partizan’s Stefan Babovic was shown his marching orders also in the 48th minute.
Despite their setback, Partizan led on 65 minutes through a Nemanja Tomic goal, which seemingly sparked the hosts into action.
An equaliser within five minutes from the penalty spot, converted by Jelle Vossen, gave the Belgians hope of a result, before Marvin Ogunjimi struck the winner deep into injury time to give Genk the lead heading into a second leg in Serbia.
In other results, Poland’s Wisla Krakow beat Lovech 2-1 in Bulgaria, BATE Borisov, a Belarusian club, held Ekranas to a scoreless draw in Lithuania, Georgian side Zestafoni earned a 1-1 draw at home to Sturm Graz, APOEL’s battle with Slovan Bratislava ended 0-0 while a Marc Janko brace gave FC Twente a 2-0 triumph over Romanian side Vaslui.