Wayne Rooney has warned any England star that he will be on their case if they do not come up to scratch.
Rooney is set to skipper the side against the minnows San Marino due to the absence of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard.
The Premier League has signalled his intent of captaining the side like his idol Roy Keane used to, meaning that the striker will not be afraid to give out a few rollickings if needed, and will lead his team on and off the pitch.
Talking about his leadership qualities and who inspired him the most, he told The Sun, “Roy Keane, without a doubt, having played with him for a couple of years and seen how he played on the pitch and dealt with things off it.
“He was vocal on the pitch and helped me off it. He was a great captain.
“I was lucky enough to play with him, hopefully, I can gain some of the qualities in my own game.”
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.
The former Everton player did admit to there being times when he found himself in the firing line of the Irishman, but it only made him more determined to succeed.
The game will give Rooney a great chance to show that he has matured and his hot headed temper, which saw him see red last year against Montenegro, has been put to bed.
Newcastle United managing director Derek Llambias has admitted that the club will seek to cut spending during the next few seasons.
According to Llambias there are already eleven top-class players in the side and he suggests that the club will not be held to ransom in term of wages and transfer fees.
Alan Pardew is currently experiencing something of a defensive crisis with first choice centre-backs Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini both out through injury but Llambias still believes that the squad is good enough to cope with a depleted defence.
The club were close to bringing in French left-back Mathieu Debuchy and FC Twente centre-back Douglas in the summer but both deals fell through with Newcastle unwilling to pay the over-inflated asking fees.
“We’ve made it quite clear to everyone. We have 11 positions that are grade A players or Purples, as we call them,” he is quoted as saying to Sky Sports.
“Then, under them, we have the players who come in under them to take the positions so the squad gets bigger.
“Eventually we’ll have 33 players who will be pushing everyone. Where we are we have, in effect, 11 Purples if you count (Vurnon) Anita. He can play midfield, right-back, left-back. They are there. Centre-backs you have Colo and Steven Taylor, who are fantastic centre-backs.
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.
“To bring in another centre-back then you have James Perch who is doing a fantastic job, (Mike) Williamson, who is doing a fantastic job. You can’t have two purples per position because the club can’t afford it. You have to be realistic.”
There is no denying how much football has evolved as a sport over the years, with advancements in technology and facilities transforming the game completely.
Pitches no longer resemble the mud baths of yesteryear and are now akin to a brand new carpet, conducive to slick passing football.
Football boots have also been revolutionised by the various sports manufacturers to make them lighter and easier to wear in a fast-paced game.
Despite these advancements, one must question the relentless changes to our beautiful game and whether they are always necessarily beneficial – with a popular link to be made between technological changes and injury.
There is adding credence to the debate that lighter football boots are causing more injuries in the game, particularly those highly-publicised metatarsal injuries to Wayne Rooney and David Beckham in the past few years.
One of the leading innovative lightweight designs is Adidas’ F50 miCoach boots that supposedly has “a brain”, containing a micro chip to measure the wearer’s performance on the pitch. The boot also records statistics such as a player’s average speed, maximum speed, number of sprints, distance covered and distance at high intensity levels.
They were priced at a mammoth £245 when first released, weighing just 165 grams and Adidas were keen to take advantage of the public’s obsession to buy boots worn by their heroes.
But many doctors are warning amateur footballers against wearing boots owned by professionals, claiming the lack of protection to their feet can be dangerous and that the focus should be on safety rather than speed on the pitch.
They explain that professional footballers would receive rapid treatment for the common metatarsal injury, whereas a broken foot is the last thing a working man would want and recovery time is usually much longer.
Football boots are also known to cause injuries to other players, with the most high profile recent incident involving Hugo Rodallega inadvertently lacerating Wayne Rooney’s thigh with his studs.
It has led to calls for more thorough checks of players’ footwear before entering the field of play, despite Rodallega’s boots being given the once over by the fourth official.
The Colombian wore boots that had a mixture of studs and blades and narrowly missed Rooney’s femoral artery, as the Manchester United striker attempted to block the Fulham star’s shot.
Wigan manager, Roberto Martinez added to the debate by claiming this type of boot benefits wingers by adding more speed to their game, but is too dangerous for tackling.
But it is not only the technological changes in boots which are causing injuries, but the latest football pitches are also creating problems.
Modern day playing surfaces are lush on top with three per cent synthetic grass fibres, but require extensive watering to allow any give in the turf.
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.
Additionally, there is also belief that modern-day football pitches are causing harm to players, with the harder surfaces increasing the likelihood of picking up injuries.
They are so well-maintained with synthetic materials that a player going into a challenge will not be able to slide along in the turf and could damage bone or muscle instead.
Advancements in technology are all well and good, but it seems that football is becoming a victim of its own success in some respects, with the need to investigate the link between modern equipment and injury being apparent for all to see.
There’s something slightly LeBron James about Pep Guardiola and the fascination around where he’ll end up next season. That being said, the euphoria isn’t coming from the manager himself, in the same way that NBA star LeBron played to the crowd.
With his glowing record of successes at Barcelona, there’s sure to be no shortage of takers when he does finally decide it’s time to enter the game again. But does he guarantee immediate success if he were to arrive in the Premier League?
There’s an assumption that Guardiola will spawn a dazzling group of world beaters and successive champions wherever he goes; that’s the pressure talking even more than the expectation. At Barcelona, there were no such pressures. No one really knew who he was (in managerial terms, of course) and it was simply his job to guide the team out of the slump from Frank Rijkaard’s remaining days at the club.
But the Dutchman didn’t fare too badly either, picking up consecutive league titles and a Champions League trophy, the majority of which was built on the foundations of the excellent Ronaldinho. That was still a time when Xavi wasn’t the Xavi we now know, Andres Iniesta was still making his way in the first team and Lionel Messi was on the fringes and seen as a remarkable prospect rather than the sensation he is today.
For Guardiola, everything was in place to take over the world and establish that group of players as the best team many have and will ever see. The team had all the components to play the high tempo game that Guardiola was pushing, married with an exquisite passing game and devastating finishing. Were many people wrong when they said a toddler could have guided that team to glory?
[ad_pod id=’dfp-468′ align=’center’]
In England, wherever he goes, Guardiola will not have the same set up as what was in place at Barcelona. For one, no club can replicate the type of quality in abundance that his team had. The other problem is that Barcelona has a very specific and particular philosophy on how to play the game, one that was in place long before Guardiola took over. It was a case of needing the right mind and one who was familiar with the ideals at the club in order to take it forward again. Once more, Rijkaard didn’t do a bad job, but even with the same set up, he couldn’t do what Guardiola did.
English football has a zero tolerance on those who take a little more time to take off. Players are rubbished as weak physically and mentally for the state of the game in the Premier League, while some managers are headline-makers following less than a handful of games in charge. You’ve got to think that whoever is lucky enough to pick up Guardiola ahead of next season will have some level of sense to appreciate that he cannot form a Barcelona MKII overnight, if ever.
Let’s also not forget that the club’s successes under him were based on their youth academy, with only touches here and there added via the transfer market. But how good was Guardiola in the transfer market? Players like Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Keirrison, Martin Caceres, and Henrique came in and amounted to little if anything at the club. There’s a need to enhance and compliment those at Barcelona, but nothing came of a host of expensive signings.
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.
But above all, there’s no proof that Guardiola will be a success anywhere other than at Barcelona. He hasn’t tried his hand in Italy or Germany, nor has he had to deal with a squad that didn’t feature Lionel Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. Jose Mourinho is the safe bet, you know exactly what you’re going to get with the Portuguese manager.
With Guardiola, any club will be handing out the champagne should they capture his signature, but all of that excitement derives from his successes with a team that no other club in the world can replicate. There isn’t another Lionel Messi floating around waiting to be picked up, a player who can force the changing of formations and tempo mid-game.
There’s far too much expectancy. Guardiola may prove everyone right and go on to create a dynasty that reshapes football in this country—let’s not forget the effects his Barcelona team have had on the Spanish national team. But for now, it’s a fool’s game to expect everything on the basis of nothing.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has admitted that he would be interested in talking to David Beckham over a move to East London in January, but claims a deal is unlikely.
Beckham has revealed that he will be leaving LA Galaxy this winter and that he is looking for a new challenge in world football.
West Ham were installed as fourth favourites with the bookies to be the East London-born midfielders’ next club but Allardyce claims that in previous conversations with the former England captain, Beckham ruled out joining the club.
“David has always said to me when he has been available that he only wanted to play for Manchester United in this country, and I haven’t heard him say he wants to come back to England,” Allardyce told Sky Sports.
“It is speculation until David decides where he wants to go. I am not so sure about the situation at all.
“If David said he wants to come back to London in the Premier League, we would talk about it. I don’t want to say we will or we are. It is speculation.”
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.
When did it all go so wrong for Arsene Wenger? It is hard to locate the time, the place or the occasion, but in the period since Arsenal’s last trophy win in 2005 when they lifted the FA Cup, there has certainly been a turning point.
A man with his first name remarkably similar to his club’s name, an eloquent Frenchman who likes beautiful football; Arsene Wenger appeared to be the perfect fit for Arsenal, and it would have taken a brave man to suggest otherwise during ‘The Invincibles’ years.
But in my opinion, the Frenchman has been living off the past successes of a squad that are now all retired or firmly into their twilight years. It’s all well and good qualifying for the Champions League consecutively since the 1997/1998 season, but is that really an achievement? Surely, considering what The Invincibles accomplished around a decade ago, the knock-on effect should be a team that can consistently finish in the top four at the very least, not at best.
With Arsenal now tenth in the Premier League, rumours of dressing room bust-ups involving Steve Bould, and the Black Scarf Movement protesting against the commercialisation of the club, Wenger currently faces the most realistic chance to date of losing his job. Not that the Arsenal board would sack him – Wenger has been making the Arsenal politico and businessmen some serious money with his small-spending tendencies. Should Wenger resign, it would come through pressure from the fans, not because of the board.
The Arsenal first-team has become consistently worse ever since they last won the league, and furthermore, the Gunners are now a selling club – the Premier League’s answer to Ajax. Their best players have left after a couple of successful seasons at the Emirates, and often to sign for their league rivals. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that a team cannot progress or naturally better itself if their top players are continually leaving for clubs that Arsenal are meant to be competing with. Wenger tries to find the next young solution to the wavering quality in the squad, spending small or middle-ranging fees on potential stars, but the other side of the coin is that it leaves the team in permanent transition. Furthermore, those signings that prove successful subsequently leave.
The problems at Arsenal have been long-term, but something about this current season in particular seems to capture and symbolise them. In the summer, the two biggest stars left for teams Arsenal should be competing with. Robin van Persie jumped ship to Manchester United and Alex Song was a surprise signing for Barcelona. Wenger’s resolution to losing his only players that can truly be considered world class is the signing of Olivier Giroud – based on two good seasons in the French league – and the retraining of Mikel Arteta to play a deeper role in midfield.
Giroud’s price-tag should have been some indication of his abilities. Despite winning Ligue 1, with the French forward being the division’s top goal-scorer, Montpellier let their striker for leave for just £12million. I’m not one for all this big money spending that dominates the game nowadays but if Giroud was truly a world beater, he would have cost an arm and a leg. The same applies to Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla. It’s not that the new signings have been particularly poor, in fact Cazorla started the season in excellent form, but they have hardly reinvigorated the team. Arsene Wenger has already announced he will not be using the January transfer window as an opportunity to splash the cash and change his side’s fortunes – how unsurprising.
The fans are angry because it’s not as if the money hasn’t been there to invest in the team and replace the stars that have left the club. Arsenal charge the most for season ticket prices and match-day food out of any Premier League team. The club have collected sizeable fees for their exiting players, although they could have claimed even more had Arsenal won enough trophies to convince their players to sign new contracts. The move to the new Emirates stadium, leaving behind the Gunners’ historical home, has brought in huge revenues in sponsorship that the club should be benefiting from. Furthermore, no one seems to be taking responsibility for the club’s failings.
It feels like Arsene Wenger is steering a sinking ship down a tiny river, in the hope that he won’t submerge into the murky water or come unstuck in the muddy riverbeds. There is certainly a “damned if they do, damned if they don’t” feeling about Wenger potentially parting company with a club he has been with since 1996. But then again, he doesn’t look like a man capable of winning the league, or even capable of turning Arsenal back into title-contenders.
His transfer policy is out-dated. Not every player has to break the bank, but to maintain a level of quality in the modern game, large fees must be parted with to sign top-level talent. At the other end, too many good players have been allowed to leave to domestic and European rivals: Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri, Emmanuel Adebayor, Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song and Robin van Persie to name the most high-profile cases. Furthermore, Wenger has failed to win a trophy in nearly ten years. Since 2005, all of the top six apart from Everton have lifted silverware.
Now though, it appears that Wenger has finally lost the support of the fans. They are tired of the stalling progress, and with no real plan to turn the club’s fortunes around. With the board remaining muted by the large rolls of cash Wenger’s management style stuffs their mouths with, Wenger should listen to the fans and strongly consider his future before a peasants’ revolt has him and the board with their heads resting on the chopping block.
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.
Why have a messy divorce when you can walk away and remember the good times?
West Ham are one of a few clubs linked with a move for Nicolas Anelka after it emerged that Shanghai Shenhua are in talks with the striker about terminating his contract with the Chinese club.
Anelka has not enjoyed life at Shanghai since leaving Chelsea last January to sign a lucrative three-year deal with the Chinese Super League side.
The former France international found the net just three times as Shanghai finished a lowly ninth in the league last season, and the 33-year-old even endured a difficult spell as caretaker coach.
The Daily Mail has reported that the striker is prepared to give up the final year of his contract, thought to be worth around £7million, on the condition that Shanghai grant him a free transfer, with the English Premier League his preferred destination.
The news will have alerted Hammers boss Sam Allardyce, who is looking to boost his frontline in the January transfer window, with Andy Carroll currently out injured amongst other attacking players.
Queens Park Rangers are also thought to be interested, while other Premier League clubs may return to the fold upon learning that Anelka could be a free agent.
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.
Shanghai Shenhua spokesman Ma Yue told talkSPORT: “The discussion is between the club and himself, I don’t know about the specific details. But so far we haven’t got the final result.”
Anelka has already played under Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers, where the Frenchman enjoyed a successful 18-month stint, scoring 22 goals, before moving to Stamford Bridge in January 2008.
Norwich City manager Chris Hughton is keen on bringing Brighton and Hove Albion forward Craig Mackail-Smith to Carrow Road in January.
The Canaries gaffa failed in an attempt to bring the Scotland striker to Norfolk in the summer but with Norwich missing too many chances in recent games, a natural goalscorer could be the missing ingredient.
Mackail-Smith rejected both Leicester and West Ham in favour of higher wages at Brighton, but it seems that Gus Poyet’s team will struggle to make the play offs again this season prompting their star man to jump ship.
Norwich are relying on the goals of Grant Holt and Steve Morison this season, but they are yet to deliver despite an impressive first half of the season.
The Canaries are a huge eight points clear of the relegation zone and are once again surprising a few of the big boys this season.
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.
However, a striker in January will be the final piece of the puzzle for Hughton.
West Ham midfielder Mo Diame’s future is still in doubt despite the Hammers hanging onto him in the January transfer window, according to The Sun.
Diame was expected to leave Upton Park in January with Arsenal, QPR and Tottenham all reportedly interested in snapping up the impressive midfielder who has a £3.5million release clause in his current Hammers contract.
However no bids were forthcoming on transfer deadline day and Diame stays in the East End as West Ham look to confirm their survival in their first season back in the Premier League.
Hammers owners David Gold and David Sullivan have apparently opened talks with the Senegalese midfielder over a new contract that would improve both his wages and his release clause.
The 25-year-old is not happy with the deal that has been offered to him and is after £80,000 a week in wages from the East London club in order to reject the chance at a cheap summer move.
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 defender Martin Kelly has signed a new contract with the club just days after Jamie Carragher announces his retirement.
Kelly has been sidelined with various injuries this season but Brendan Rodgers still sees the boyhood Liverpool fan as a key member of his long term vision at the club.
The 22-year-old made his England debut in May 2012 and will look to battle with team mate Glen Johnson for a permanent role in the national team.
Kelly could well be seen as the long term successor of the departing Jamie Carragher who will hang up his boots at the end of this season.
The new long term contract will keep Kelly with the Reds for the foreseeable future and the local lad has expressed his joy at pledging his future to his boyhood club but he also understands the pressure that will now be on his shoulders to produce week in week out when he is fit.
“I’m delighted to have signed. It means everything to me and my family. I’ve been at Liverpool since I was seven, so it’s in my heart and I love the club,” Kelly told the clubs official site.
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.
“When you play in the Liverpool shirt, you have to show the fans what it means. I just love playing and trying my hardest for the supporters and for my family.”