Tag Futebol

Only a decade old, now is the time for MK Dons to really kick-on. Everything seems in place for them to do so; a state of the art stadium, ambitious chairman, talented manager and a squad more than capable of promotion to the Championship this season.

Since promotion to League One in 2008, the Dons have secured a play-off place three times without making the final. Their first season back in England’s third tier was the closest they got, finishing just two points outside an automatic promotion spot before losing to Scunthorpe over two legs.

The greatest day in the club’s history until the start of this season was winning the Football League Trophy in 2008. A 2-0 victory of Grimsby at Wembley gave the club it’s first ever bit of silverware. Fast forward six or so years and the club are well on course for Championship promotion for the first time.

It has been a season to remember for MK Dons, and we’re not even half way through it. Their 4-0 victory over Man Utd in August was a day many of the MK faithful will never forget. Although it wasn’t the strongest United side, they still scored four goals against one of the Premier League’s best keepers in David de Gea.

Their league form has been impressive as well, as they currently sit in third position, only two points off top spot with a game in hand. The 1-0 win at Sheffield United in the club’s last league game stretched their unbeaten run to nine League One matches, and manager Karl Robinson looks to have finally assembled a squad full of quality at this level with the right mixture of youth and experience.

Dele Alli has been the stand out performer for the Dons, scoring nine league goals and featuring regularly at just 18-years-old. The wonderkid usually plays as a box-to-box midfielder but can also take up a more attacking role. He has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs and MK Dons will certainly have a tough time keeping hold of him.

On-loan striking duo Benik Afobe and Will Grigg have impressed up-front. Afobe, who is on-loan from Arsenal, has scored 18 goals in 25 matches, nine of which have come in the league. This is even more impressive considering nearly half his appearance have been off the bench. His strength and finishing abilities have allowed him to be a key man so far this season.

Grigg, on-loan from Brentford, has also chipped in with five goals, but is used more as a defensive forward who can hold up play well.

Perhaps Karl Robinson’s smartest buy was former Coventry captain Carl Baker on a free. The 31-year-old adds much needed experience in midfield along with his influential qualities. He recently won the League One player of the month award for November and will hope to continue his impressive performances for the rest of the season.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

With a number of players in good form and a squad full of talent, despite all the close calls in the past this season seems to be the one for MK Dons to finally reach new heights.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

The signing of Robin van Persie should have given Alex Ferguson a new lease of life for the game, a new-found motivation to go and do it all again next summer. Talk of bargain signings from Spain continue to fill the air as the best moves of 2012, but no one can deny that £24 million for the best striker in England is a remarkable piece of business. Even if van Persie is pushing towards the age of 30, the Dutchman’s talent is enough to make any manager rethink the idea of retirement.

So why not go for another round next summer? Bild recently reported that Manchester United were after Borussia Dortmund’s Robert Lewandowski, stating that the Polish striker was keen to move to the Premier League for a fee just over 22 million euros. And why not? The are very few strikers in Europe who are better than Lewandowski. Few have managed to create a hybrid of the traditional, tall no 9 and the dynamic modern equivalent.

Does the Dortmund striker signal a quick-fire address to van Persie’s age, or is there something else in there?

Dortmund are in a similar state to Arsenal of last year, whereby their most valuable forward is nearing the end of his contract and the club are in a position where they may need to sell. You can bet the German champions will do everything in their power to keep hold of one of their assets, and the reported wages of £5 million a year that United are willing to offer should quite easily fall into their comfort zone.

[post_link url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/manchester-united/striker-willing-to-wait-for-chance-at-united,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/manchester-united/ferguson-keen-on-nani-stay,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/manchester-united/manchester-united-rule-out-january-transfers” target=”_blank” type=”tower”]

If Dortmund go all the way in the Champions League—and they’re more than good enough to do so—then it may be a case that Lewandowski opts to stay. Even if the club do not retain their Bundesliga title this season, the loyalty of their other stars would signal a more than ferocious attack on the title next season. Bayern Munich may have the financial means to outmuscle Dortmund, but Jurgen Klopp’s side won’t be put down by the reinvigorated powers in the south of the country.

So how would Lewandowski fit in at Old Trafford? How does one of the Bundesliga’s most impressive forwards fit into a group of strikers who Alex Ferguson claimed were on par with his 1999 treble-winning squad? Javier Hernandez has already spoken out about his desire to leave should first-team opportunities remain limited in the future and the signing of Shinji Kagawa last summer gives the team an option of playing just one striker in attack. Ferguson has done so a few times this season, notably when the pressure was off, but how do you leave van Persie out of your starting XI for an extended period of time—even for Lewandowski?

What about Wayne Rooney? The idea of letting Rooney go would be more of a blow to the club from a symbolic perspective rather than for football reasons. Rooney is yet to fulfil the potential he had and become one of Europe’s finest attackers, while his inconsistencies, coupled with the presence of van Persie, means it’s not all that difficult to leave him on the bench.

Regardless of form and where the level of his talents may be in two or three years time, Rooney is a name who would bring in a royal fee from any number of the growing powers around Europe. Lewandowski is younger and can only continue to get better—as mentioned, there are few strikers in Europe who play the role as well and importantly as he does—so the prospect of swapping one for the other hardly seems catastrophic from a footballing perspective.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

But the real concern for United remains the other areas in the squad, notably defence and the centre of midfield. On one hand, you simply can’t pass up the opportunity to sign Lewandowski for the rumoured price, but those problem areas in the squad are unlikely to heal themselves. Maybe the manager has big plans for Nick Powell in the near future, maybe Phil Jones will convert to midfield and become the all-action defensive player the team needs. Maybe Rooney’s known versatility will mean he stays on at the club and fills a role elsewhere in the squad. He’s capable of scoring 30 goals a season, but how sure can the club be of that every year? He can play the wide positions and even in midfield, however a role on the flanks will limit the productivity he can bring from a central position.

For all the talk of where Lewandowski may fit and whether Rooney’s future at the club is certain, it may simply be that Alex Ferguson is loading the deck for one last charge on the Champions League. A Premier League and European double would undoubtedly be the grandest way to exit the game, and who can really complain when a squad has the most fearsome attack in English football?

Newcastle United fans want the anniversary of signing Rafael Benitez to be a national holiday, after his side thrashed Southampton on Saturday.

The Toon Army are now 13th in the Premier League table, five points clear of relegation. Southampton were completely outplayed and outfought on Saturday, as goals from Kenedy and Matt Ritchie secured an emphatic win for the Magpies.

Sunday marked the two-year anniversary of Rafael Benitez taking over at the club, and needless to say the fans just can’t get enough of Rafa.

Benitez has an exceptional knack of connecting with fans, and the relationship he forged with fans at Liverpool is being replicated on Tyneside.

[ad_pod ]

The Spaniard was relegated upon arrival, and brought the team back up in style at the first time of asking. Despite clashes with the board over the lack of transfer dealings, Benitez seems content on Tyneside and has shown no clear signs to ditch the club.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Now, with another six pointer to come at the end of the month vs. Huddersfield, Newcastle could find themselves clear of the relegation scrap going into the final months of the season. In Newcastle fans’ minds, there’s only one man to thank.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

England are now gearing up for what should be a guaranteed six points in their EURO 2016 qualification campaign, with games against San Marino and Estonia on the schedule for this international break. There have been a few shock calls by Roy Hodgson in terms of his squad for the clashes, with Nathaniel Clyne set to make his Three Lions debut, while the likes of Jonjo Shelvey and Fabian Delph are also present.

But, there are a number of players left at home scratching their heads, with their form having been impressive but their phone having failed to ring. We here at FFC Towers have compiled a list of FIVE Englishmen who have every right to feel aggrieved at not being in the squad…

[ffc-gallery]

CLICK ON STEWART DOWNING TO REVEAL THE FIVE

[/ffc-gallery]

Fill out our survey and win a pair of PUMA EvoPOWER boots as worn by Mario Balotelli, Cesc Fabregas and Marco Reus!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Curtis Davies

Despite being a key member of Hull’s impressive first XI, Davies’ England career is yet to get off of the mark. The Tigers centre-back has represented the Three Lions at U-21 level, yet his displays both last term and so far in the current campaign have, for reasons unknown, not been recognised by Hodgson.

With just two orthodox central defenders in the entire squad, surely sacrificing a midfielder for an in-form enforcer would have made sense? Davis has already confessed that he may look to pursue a late international career with Sierra Leone, and we would not blame him if he does.

Mark Noble

A hero at West Ham and a very consistent performer, it looks as Noble will never get the chance to do his thing on the international stage. The Hammers midfielder looks to be some way down the pecking order following Shelvey and Delph’s call-ups, but it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t deserve a chance thanks to his showings in the claret and blue shirt over the course of the past few seasons.

Nathan Dyer

With Swansea having been riding high in the Premier League so far this season, it looked as if Dyer may get a long-awaited call-up to represent his nation. Alas, the impish winger was once again overlooked, despite having rattled home three goals in seven outings.

With pace, tricky and end product, now would have been a great time to test Dyer in some winnable games, but Hodgson stuck with a rather tried and tested set-up.

Stewart Downing

Rejuvenated in the ‘No. 10’ role at West Ham, Downing has been in great form in recent weeks. The former Liverpool man gave his old captain, Steven Gerrard, the run-around in a thumping 3-1 win as Hodgson was gathering names for his squad, but he was overlooked.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

With Andros Townsend in the squad despite having not performed on a consistent basis for around a year, Downing must be questioning the decision as he ponders his international future.

Saido Berahino

The promising Baggies forward has a tally of five in seven this season, yet he will be spending this international break with the U-21s instead of the senior squad. The Burundi-born forward is sure to get his chance in the not too distant future, but seeing the out-of-form Rickie Lambert ahead of him in the pecking order must be frustrating for the 21-year-old.

Rio Ferdinand believes that Manchester United must improve defensively if they are to regain their Premier League title.

The Red Devils’ Boxing Day win over Newcastle saw their lead at the summit of the table extended to seven points, with local rivals Manchester City losing to Sunderland.

Although they secured all three points, United dropped behind three times to the Magpies, before Javier Hernandez’s late winner.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have recovered from a losing position on eight occasions in the league this term, and whilst Ferdinand maintains that it’s nice to be victorious, he feels that they must improve their defensive record:

“When you’re conceding goals at any level, you want to stop it,” he is quoted by The Mirror.

“We’ve let in far too many goals and need to change that.

“We have to make a big effort to push on from a good position. If we’re going to maintain where we are, we have to sort ourselves out.

“We seem to make sure the punters get their money’s worth when they come to the ground at the moment.”

He went praise the character shown by the team to take all three points against Newcastle:

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“But it was a great show of character from the lads at the start of a really busy schedule.

“It was really important to get the win, no matter how we did it.”

When Manchester United announce a new signing, more often not, the fans react with excitement and joy.

On Friday, though, it was a different story as the Red Devils confirmed on their official website that Marouane Fellaini has signed a new contract until 2020, with the option of a further year.

The midfielder is a controversial figure at Old Trafford in that he has divided the fanbase.

The majority of United supporters have grown frustrated with Fellaini’s antics on the pitch, as well as he tendency to throw an elbow.

Is this the best World Cup ever? Give us your thoughts here and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

Many assumed that the Belgium international would move on this summer, but manager Jose Mourinho clearly feels that he can still use the midfielder.

Perhaps the Portuguese coach has a point, particularly when considering Fellaini’s performance for his country in Thursday’s World Cup Group G clash against England.

The former Everton player was given the nod to start by manager Roberto Martinez, who made nine changes due to the fact that his team had already secured a place in the last 16.

Fellaini’s role allowed him to showcase attacking and defensive attributes, and in fairness to the midfielder, he had a presence, particularly in the air.

The 30-year-old won more aerial duels than any of his teammates, and he also managed to create two shots at goal and feed the ball through in attacking moves.

Fellaini will not suddenly become a staunch figure in United’s team, but one can argue that he is capable of making an impact off the bench.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255883″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Man United’s opening fixtures for the 201819 Premier League season”]

West Ham were left frustrated in their attempts to sign Leander Dendoncker in January and despite claims by the London Evening Standard that the Hammers intend to try again in January, there’s still a chance they won’t be able to get a deal over the line before next season, too.

If there’s one fan base in the Premier league that always feels short-changed by its owners, it’s West Ham (although Newcastle might be in there with a shout). The Hammers have rescued their season somewhat, but are certainly not clear of the relegation scrap, which seems remarkable given the size of the club.

Just one of their summer signings has had the intended impact, with Marko Arnautović currently in the form of his life, halted only temporarily by injury. David Moyes is desperate to add another midfielder to his ranks, and despite Dendoncker publicly saying he would like to move to West Ham, there is a growing sense that Anderlecht are not going to lower their price enough to get a deal done.

Here are three players the Hammers could turn to instead…

Abdoulaye Doucouré, Watford

Watford fans may feel a little aggrieved by this one, but given the success of Arnautović, poached from Stoke last summer, it wouldn’t be surprising to see West Ham hunt for their midfield man within the Premier League.

Doucouré has been somewhat of a revelation at Watford this season, and has even drawn interest from Spurs. The French midfielder has been brilliant as a defensive midfielder for the Hornets, and has even got himself involved on the attacking end.

He has the strength and pace required to compete in a Premier League midfield, and the passing ability to aid the Hammers attack. He also averages over two tackles per game in the league this season, which is actually better than Dendoncker.

William Carvalho, Sporting CP

This probably feels a little familiar to Hammers’ fans, as Carvalho’s name has cropped up as a potential target more than once. Still, it’s easy to understand why, as Carvalho has developed from one of Europe’s young stars to one of its sturdiest midfielders.

More of a classic defensive midfielder than Doucouré, Carvalho would offer complete protection to Moyes’ defence. His languid style is often mistaken for laziness, but his reading of the game and physical style make him a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the park.

Carvalho could be pricey, but with his power and eye for a pass he could be worth it.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Fabián Ruiz, Real Betis

Ruiz is a different mould of midfielder to the two mentioned above, but could be the missing ingredient needed in the Hammers’ midfield. A fantastic dribbler and passer, the 21 year-old has excelled in Betis’ midfield this season after a loan spell at Elche.

His recent performance against Real Madrid caught plenty of eyes, bossing the first half in an almost effortless manner with his control and passing, although Betis did fall apart after the break.

Ruiz recently signed a new contract with Betis, so any move for the midfielder would likely be a pricey one, but if Moyes could manage to convince the youngster to join he could be a fan favourite for years to come.

Situated in the no-man’s land between stand and pitch at every Premier League game – ignored, unacknowledged and taken for granted – is the football photographer. While the crowds, players and managers scream, cheer and gesticulate for ninety minutes of a matchday, the photographer quietly clicks away through the gaze of his telescopic lens, his cold-blooded assuredness enabling him to capture even the most frenzied, impassioned moment of football drama with clear-as-crystal transparency.

The fruits of his labour are the images which give life to the beautiful game, the snapshots which decorate our blogs, match reports, programmes and back pages, allowing us to relive – or even to experience for the first time – the most memorable moments of the game. Once in a while, a gem is unearthed amongst the thousands of photographs churned out by the camera, a single frozen memory of such iconic, poetic brilliance that manages to epitomise the most dramatic, comic and tragic aspects of the game. As the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words.

Such an image emerged over the weekend of Alan Pardew during his Newcastle side’s 4-0 defeat to Southampton. The secret to this particular work of art’s magnificence lay in its prophetic nature; Pardew, peering haplessly into the sky, lips pursed, hunched over in his dugout behind an advertising board bearing the fatalistic, monochrome message ‘Out Today’ seemed a gloriously adequate pictorial summary of the man’s current predicament.

For many, Pardew is now the overwhelming favourite to win the Premier League’s early-season sideshow – the sack race. Rooted to the foot of the table with one point from four games – a dire run which began at the end of the last campaign – Newcastle seem to be in freefall, and Pardew is the fall guy.

The Toon Army have never warmed to the Londoner, not even when he celebrated an injury-time Papiss Cissé winner against Fulham two seasons ago by launching himself into the ecstatic St James’ Park crowd, like some troubled soul seeking redemption at an Evangelical gathering by abandoning all inhibitions and losing himself in a delirious cacophony of noise and worship. The club’s current travails have seen his unpopularity soar to unprecedented levels, and a banner bearing the slogan ‘Pardew Out’ can be spotted at most Newcastle games, home or away.

The fans are right to feel aggrieved at the way the club is heading, and Pardew should carry some of the blame; he is responsible for the tactics, the team talks and the tinkering, which his players seem to have responded to with the same degree of enthusiasm as the average Scotsman when told of David Cameron’s heroic charge north aboard the Westminster Express in a valiant effort to save the Union.

However, one gets the feeling that Pardew is being made something of a scapegoat in Newcastle’s sorry affair. Though he may have his limitations as a manager, he has proved in the past that he is capable of leading the Magpies to success; under his guidance, the north-east club finished the 2011/12 season in fifth place, narrowly missing out on a top four berth. Pardew was named the Premier League Manager of the Season – the first Newcastle manager ever to have received the award – for his efforts.

He is often portrayed by Newcastle fans as a villain, a spineless stooge who will obey the orders of owner Mike Ashley without hesitation. Though Pardew has never spoken out against Ashley, a man equally as disliked by Newcastle fans, this may simply be an effort to maintain some fragile stability at the club. It was not Pardew’s decision to bring Joe Kinnear back to the club as a Director of Football last season; though such an appointment was a clear undermining of the manager’s authority, Pardew dealt with it with minimal fuss. Tensions and in-fighting within a football club is never a healthy sign, and through his actions Pardew seemed to recognise this.

Alan Pardew will never be a world-class manager; his behaviour can also be idiotic at times, as Manuel Pellegrini and the forehead of Hull City’s David Meyler can attest to. However, he has shown that he is capable of achieving great things with Newcastle under difficult circumstances, which many fans seem quick to overlook. The frequent selling of the club’s best players – Yohan Cabaye, Mathieu Debuchy and Demba Ba to name but a few – was orchestrated by Ashley rather than Pardew, and it is towards the owner that the fans should direct most of their anger.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

His green-lighting of the sales of the aforementioned trio, not to mention his increasing interest in Scottish side Rangers, tell us that this is a man for whom money comes first, which often comes at the expense of Newcastle. Offloading the star performers of any football club is bound to have a demoralising effect on both players and manager, and this is something that Pardew has had to cope with almost every season.

The eight-year contract Pardew was awarded in 2012 was an absurd decision by Ashley, and makes any sacking before its expiry an expensive call. If results continue to be bad until Christmas, then Pardew should go. Until then, however, Newcastle fans should afford their manager more time and affection; by getting behind their team and their manager and displaying a united front, Newcastle can make Ashley’s meddlings as inconsequential as possible. Patience for Pardew can pay off.

[ffcvideo file=”TopFiveVideosoftheWeek” type=”mp4″]

13 may be unlucky for some, but today we’re giving away arguably the most popular prize of our Football Advent Calendar so far – Football Manager 2013.

Football Manager is the best-selling, most realistic football management series ever made. Football Manager 2013 celebrates 20 years of games from the people at Sports Interactive by introducing an array of new features.

This year’s version allows you to take control of any club in more than 50 nations across the world and includes all of Europe’s biggest leagues as well as database of over 500,000 real-world players and staff.

As well as some landmark new features in the Career Mode, there are now new ways to enjoy your Football Manager experience.

Fancy winning a copy of Football Manager 2013?

[divider]

To be in with a chance of winning click below to FOLLOW FootballFanCast.com on Google +

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[divider]

The winner will be announced tomorrow, when we will also be unveiling our prize for Day 14. Don’t forget to come back to FootballFanCast.com then!

Rolando Aarons is a target for West Brom, and Newcastle fans all agree it’s time to dump the skilful 22 year-old.

According to The Chronicle, West Brom are considering a swoop for Aarons, who spent the second half of last season on loan in Italy.

The report says Newcastle are not actively looking to sell the youngster, but will listen to any “tempting” offers.

The young winger recently plead guilty over a violent incident that occurred in a Newcastle bar in 2016, and that incident combined with injuries have hampered his young career.

How far will England get in Russia? Tell us now and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

The 22 year-old speedster looked an extremely exciting prospect when he broke onto the scene in 2014, scoring one and assisting one in a 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace.

His loan spell with Hellas Verona wasn’t exactly a glowing success though, failing to find a goal during his short stint in Italy.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Fans all agree they’re better off without the winger, and they like the idea of cashing in on a struggling prospect. You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…