All posts by h79snht.top

Atletico Madrid's former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan would welcome a return to England after resurrecting his career in La Liga.

The 31-year-old, who is currently in South Africa with the rest of the Uruguay World Cup squad, scored 17 times in 97 appearances for the Red Devils, before heading to Spain in the summer of 2004.

He has since emerged as one of the league top goalscorers with first Villarreal and more recently Atletico.

However, Forlan would like another crack in the Premier League, saying:"If there is an offer and it's good for Atletico and good for me, I would be really happy to go back to England.

"If a big chance to return to England came up, I would have to look at it. I loved my time in English football – the people, the fans, the football, everything.

"I wasn't sad the way it ended at United to be honest. I was really happy during my time there and thank the people at United for how they treated me.

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"During my period there I learnt a lot of things and had a good relationship with everyone. The reason I left was because I didn't have the chance to play as regularly as I wanted.

"Now I have the chance to play regularly the way I wanted and I am really happy I'm doing that."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Denmark head coach Morten Olsen praised the Netherlands after seeing his side beaten 2-0 by the Oranje in their opening game at the World Cup finals.

Olsen was disappointed that an own goal straight after half-time handed the Dutch an advantage that that never looked like losing.

He said:"It was a deserved victory, I think. The Dutch team is perhaps not the favourite, but certainly an outsider to win the World Cup.

"It could have been different if we didn't have the thing that happened a few seconds into the second half, but that's the kind of thing that decides football matches – the first goal and we know that.

"Obviously now the Dutch were in the position they really liked. They would have enjoyed the second half much more, that's for sure.

"What I would like to say about my own team is that they put in a good effort.

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"We were well positioned in the pitch during the first half, not so much in the second half."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has revealed that he had agreed to sign Germany hot-shot Miroslav Klose prior to this summer's World Cup finals.

The Hammers chief insists that a free transfer move was on the cards for the 32-year-old after he endured a torrid campaign in his homeland with Bayern Munich.

But he has excelled on the international stage by scoring four goals and helping his side to the semi-finals in South Africa.

Sullivan now thinks he could join a more illustrious club on the continent.

Speaking to Soccernet, he said:"We had a deal in place before the World Cup, after he had a bad season in Germany.

"However, as a result of what he has done at the World Cup, it's unlikely to happen."

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Meanwhile, West Ham's hopes of signing Frederic Piquionne from French club Lyon also appear to be hitting a snag.

Piquionne, who enjoyed a loan spell at Portsmouth last season, is believed to still have a future with the French giants as coach Claude Puel considers his pre-season plans.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Everton captain Phil Neville is pleased with his progress following summer surgery on a knee problem.

Neville will miss the first match on the club's pre-season tour to Australia against Sydney FC on Saturday as he is still recovering from surgery back in May.

However, he is hoping to feature during the tour in order to prove hit fitness ahead of the start of the new Premier League season.

"It has actually been fantastic. It's been nine weeks now and at eight weeks I was allowed to start running," he explained.

"This week has been more of me slowly settling back into training.

"I have been doing one session a day with the team and another session in the gym to keep the strength up in the knee.

"As pre-season gets closer to the full season I will step up my training.

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"I feel really fit, really strong, and for the first time in months I am running without pain in my knee, which is a great sign.

"There are three games this week and it would be great to take part in some of them and get some minutes under my belt."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has suggested that Fabio Capello showed David Beckham a lack of respect in effectively ending his international career.

Capello suggested that Beckham was "probably too old" to continue playing competitive international football in a television interview before Wednesday's friendly victory over Hungary.

The 35-year-old former captain immediately issued a statement claiming he was not ready to retire from international football despite missing the World Cup finals with an Achilles injury.

Capello's decision to effectively end Beckham's 115-cap England career without informing the former captain has been widely condemned and now Eriksson has added his voice to those criticising the Italian.

When asked whether he would have spoken personally to Beckham, Eriksson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme:"If it's a player with 20 to 50 caps or more, then yes, absolutely.

"I did it many times. David Seaman was one of them.

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"From my point of view, I would do it because I want to show respect to the players – especially those who have done a lot of good things for England in the past.

"David Beckham deserves all the respect you can give to him."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Tottenham have signed Rafael van der Vaart after the Premier League ratified their deadline day swoop for the Real Madrid midfielder.

The north London club made an late move to sign the Netherlands international on Tuesday afternoon after manager Harry Redknapp learned of his potential availability.

Spurs were left in limbo while the league looked into whether the deal had been completed in time.

However, they have now given the transfer the green light and van der Vaart will now move to the Premier League for £8million.

"We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Rafael van der Vaart," confirmed a brief club statement.

Van der Vaart moved to Real from Hamburg two years ago and went on to score 11 goals in 68 appearances for the La Liga giants.

He helped his country reach the World Cup final in July and came on as a substitute in the final defeat to Spain.

Speaking about the last-gasp nature of the deal, Redknapp had earlier explained:"It was a last-minute job. When I came in on Tuesday morning it wasn't something I was looking to do.

"I think he was going to Bayern Munich on Monday for £18million and suddenly he became much cheaper.

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"They let me know around 1600 BST that he was available for £8million and, for that money, he is a top player who will definitely improve us.

"The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini still believes Chelsea will win the Premier League title despite Saturday’s 1-0 victory over the champions.

City ended the table-toppers’ 100 per cent start to the new season as a Carlos Tevez goal earned the hosts all three points from a scrappy Eastlands encounter.

Before the match Mancini had raised eyebrows by suggesting that Chelsea would “easily” retain the title.

He suggested the Stamford Bridge club were still more likely than his expensively assembled side to finish the 38-game season on top of the table and Saturday’s hard-fought victory did little to persuade him otherwise.

“I still think they (Chelsea) will win it easily because I think they are the best team in the Premier League,” he said.

“Sometimes you might get a result like today. But they are the better team.”

Meanwhile, Mancini defended his decision to stifle Chelsea rather than go for goals at home.

He added:“It is not possible for them to score five goals every game.

“If Chelsea find space it is easy for them to score. But if they don’t have space it is too hard and our players defended very well.

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“But we cannot think everything is okay just because we won this game.”

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What is the modern day full back? If you’re looking for the best around you needn’t look much further than Dani Alves and Maicon. The marauding Brazilians deliver crosses, score goals, have great energy, and more importantly are rarely at fault for conceding goals. Bar the latter, this is also relevant to current England right back Glen Johnson. Unlike the mentioned pair, Johnson is increasingly suspect at the back. And it has got to the point where I can’t figure out why Roy Hodgson or Fabio Capello persists with playing him there.

One minute he’ll look like a rabbit in headlights whilst defending and then loses his concentration at vital times of a match. Then he’ll dribble past a few players and create havoc in the opposition penalty area moments later. This has been noticeable in England matches in the last couple of years. Considering these qualities, it’s a wonder why nobody has given him a chance in a more advanced role, with less defensive responsibilities.

Prior to Johnson, we’ve witnessed Gary Neville play consistently well in an England shirt for over a decade. Neville has been known in the past to be a “proper full back”. Defending well then playing from there. It seems that Johnson is built in the opposite mould. Attacking well then defending weakly. Maybe this is the way of the modern day full back. But it can damage your ‘goals against’ column quite severely if the full back isn’t quite the all rounder they need to be. Just ask Liverpool fans. If Johnson was played on the wing, he has the ability to affect the ‘goals for’ column much more frequently.

Switching a player from full back to winger has proven to bring the best out of certain players. Take Gareth Bale. Left Back all the way throughout his career until last season where Harry Redknapp gave the Welshman consistent starts on the left of midfield. That was the period in which his career took off. I specifically recall Bale carving open Arsenal and Chelsea within the space of three days last season from the left hand side.  Without question he’s now become a serious asset to Tottenham and their Champions League credentials.

We also see the best out of full backs when there are fewer defensive responsibilities placed on them. Dani Alves has Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano covering him when he thrusts up the Nou Camp turf. Similarly, Maicon has Lucio, Walter Samuel and Esteban Cambiasso keeping an eye on any astray positioning. World Class individuals who know each other’s games very well, and will always assist their full backs when they attack. Does knowing they can bomb forward and not get caught at the back make Alves and Maicon the players they are? It certainly gives them a positive mindset.

My point is not that Glen Johnson should be dropped, far from it in fact.  He just needs to be moved further forward.  He possesses all the qualities to be a good winger, however less of the qualities that are needed to be a top flight defender. He will score you goals, create you chances, and won’t be the last line of defence if he’s a midfielder. Surely it’s worth a go.

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Written By Rob Edwards

Defender Richard Dunne claims the arrival of Gerard Houllier as Aston Villa's new manager has provided a much-needed spark.

Houllier officially took the reins at Villa Park two weeks ago and the Midlands club have won two and lost one of the three games under the Frenchman.

The arrival of the former Liverpool manager brought to an end a period of uncertainty which enveloped the club following Martin O'Neill's surprise resignation on the eve of the new season.

Dunne has been impressed by the early days of Houllier's reign, which he believes has lifted everyone at the club.

"Sometimes clubs sign a lot of players to give them a spark," he told the club's official website.

"We've not signed a load of players but we've got a new manager who brings a new sort of energy to the whole place.

"People want to impress him. If we can start off well and get ourselves into a solid position over the next month or two it will really give us a good base for the rest of the season.

"I think we've played some good football over the last year, when the opportunity has allowed us.

"That's the new manager's way and that's what we have to settle into.

"As a defender it's probably more enjoyable because we're not kicking the ball long to see it coming straight back at us.

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"It gives us time to readjust after maybe a little bit of pressure – we can slow it down.

"I think as a team, as we progress and we see how well we do, when we're keeping the ball for longer periods it will really make the team grow.

"We could become a team that goes on and dominates matches rather than being the team that always has to go and break."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle picked out Kevin Davies for special praise after the England international had scored twice in the impressive 4-2 victory against Tottenham.

The former Chesterfield and Blackburn Rovers forward was given his first England cap by Fabio Capello in last month’s draw against Montenegro and the Italian was at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

Coyle believes Davies deserves more caps, saying after the six-goal thriller:“Kevin ran the game from the first whistle. He dominated the game. If he wasn’t scoring he was knocking things on.

“The great thing about Kevin is he doesn’t have to score goals to contribute to a game but, when he does, it takes him to another level. He was unplayable.

“I think it was nice Mr Capello was here. He’d have seen Kevin and Gary Cahill, who was outstanding at the back, as well as Fabrice Muamba.

“It’s great to have English players in your team because this is the country in which we operate.

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“It isn’t for me to tell anyone their job but you see Kevin’s performance today and it was outstanding. The reason I took him off was to give him a standing ovation.”

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