West Ham manager Avram Grant is gutted to have midfielder Gary O’Neil out for the rest of the season.The 27-year-old will be sorely missed for West Ham’s final five games as they battle the drop, starting with Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.
“It was a bad, bad injury. Gary was one of our best players, especially against the big teams,” Grant said
“He has experience to work hard, he knows how to pass the ball and he was good.”
“We missed him last week when it was not so easy for us to play.”
““He’s a good lad who came to a new team and has played like he’s been with us for many, many years.”
“It’s a fact that we have many, many injuries and we need to deal with them.”
“When all the squad was fit and we need to know how to take points even when players are injured. We need everybody.”
West Ham have been struggling at the wrong end of the table all season but Grant still believes they can avoid the drop and needs his players to have the same faith.
“I don’t want players who don’t believe,” Grant said.
“In football you have to have to believe because anything can happen.”
“Chelsea are a very good team but we have caused problems for Arsenal and Tottenham away and this is our target this season and we are thinking only about this.”
“I believe very much in the future of this club because there is a good future if we do the right things, but for the moment we are busy with the present.”
“These are big, big games in front of us and a big challenge and it’s not easy, but nothing in football is easy.”
“There are the words possible and impossible, but the players know that it is possible and we need to give a lot of effort.”
Scott Parker was named as the Football Writers’ Association’s 2011 Footballer of the Year on Friday but will miss this game against his former club with an Achilles’ tendon problem.
Midfielder Junior Stanislas (groin) will also be absent.
Wales midfielder Jack Collison (knee) is set to make his first start in more than a year.
Benfica are on the verge of signing Arsenal defender Armand Traore, according to the 20-year-old's agent.
The Frenchman is expected to complete his £3.2million switch to the reigning Portuguese champions at some point this week and will reportedly pen a four-year deal.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger already has Gael Clichy and Kieran Gibbs as his left-back options and has decided to dispense with Traore's services.
The player's agent, Richard des Voeux, told A Bola newspaper:"A number of European clubs were interested in Armand but the Benfica option is more important in many aspects.
"The interest is real and we are at a sensitive stage (of negotiations). Armand is aware of contacts between Benfica and Arsenal.
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"Benfica are a wonderful club that would interest any player. Obviously, Armand is very interested and excited about the possibility of coming to play at Benfica. Nothing is finalised, but things can be decided very soon."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
So with the January Sales in the football world opening imminently, the Guardian has today reported that the total amount spent will be less than half that of the 2011 amount – which to be fair included two vastly overpriced, underperforming donkeys, but luckily for both their managers are in need of a trip to Specsavers and feel both are performing just fine. In reality if either were to be sold now, they would come with an enclosed ‘with sympathy’ card.
That aside, the £225 million spent this time last year has no chance of being broken apparently. This is due to a number of reasons, and in no small part the FFP regulations, with clubs scrambling to adhere to these rules, or face being kicked out of the Champions League in the not so distant future – or in the Manchester clubs case, the UEFA cup should the precedent they set this season be repeated.
TV deals are also up in the air and will affect spending, especially in the case of Spanish clubs, who are currently attempting to end the dominance of the big two when it comes to this kind of revenue. Not to mention we are in a touch and go economy – sorry Mr Cameron but we are – and clubs simply do not have money to throw away – Chelsea and City being obvious exceptions here.
That being said, there are a number of clubs who for varying reasons simply have to enter the transfer market – yes they have to spend wisely, but spend they must if they want their seasons to stop going into disarray.
Let’s start with Blackburn – Steve Kean everyone’s favourite punching bag has claimed to have met with the Venky’s to discuss January targets and thinks they will sign 4 players, including a defender. Well considering their rate of conceding goals, this sounds like a stellar idea from Kean. Blackburn have injury issues and to be frank need a couple of players to come in and freshen things up. They also risk losing a couple of players, especially young prospect Junior Hoillet and will have to look to reinvest this money in the club.
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Right at the other end of the scale we have moneybags Chelsea, who are in desperate need of a defender, with Gary Cahill looking a cert to complete the move as soon as the window opens, and with the African Cup of Nations, Chelsea could do with a forward and some cover in the middle of the park as well. Now we all know Roman is not short of money, and with AVB eager to stamp his mark on the club, we could well see yet another big spending January from the Blues.
Wenger has stated there are funds to buy in the transfer window, and with players off to the African cup he may well be forced into doing so. The two month signing of Henry is brilliant news for not just Arsenal fans, but all Premier League fans who will love the chance to see a downright legend back even for a couple of months.
Clubs who have very little to spend may have to sell before they can buy, and take Everton – new players are needed so much it is not funny, yet the funds are not there – perhaps someone like Rodwell will be sold to make money available? This will again kick start the market likewise with players who are looking for a move, clubs will have to replace them, and will be forced to buy as a result.
Depending on which supporters you talk to, no fan would say their club does not need to buy anyone and is a complete squad. Yes, they may differ over where the money should be spent – United fans for example – some may feel a defender is where the money should be spent due to mass injuries, others may still long for a creative midfielder. Either way they feel someone should be bought.
Certain managers will be out for a bargain – Redknapp and Warnock to name a couple, and it would be no surprise if the transfer window threw up a shock or two. Never count big spending City out either, and they have the power to bid astronomical sums of money for any player.
Whilst the record of last season may not be breached, the fact remains, certain clubs simply have to invest, and a little money this January may mean big rewards at the end of the season.
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Do you ever wish you could play football but organising a kick about with your mates proves an impossible task? Or do you not want the hassle of playing in 5-a-side league that costs an arm and a leg for short 40 minute games once a week?
Well, for those of you that live in the London area why not join our group ‘Jumpers 4 Goalposts @ Regents Park’. We’re close to celebrating the group’s 3rd birthday and with the extra daylight since the clocks went forward, we run 3 events a week for your choosing!
We don’t take ourselves too seriously but we do have bibs and cones to keep games organised but with bags and jumpers used as goalposts, our main aim is to play football and most importantly have fun doing it.
Personally, forming this group back in 2008 has proved fantastic for me, not only has it connected me with some great people in and around London, I’ve also been able to lose weight, improve my fitness and my football skills for free!
The events take place at Regents Park in Central London which is very well connected to Camden Town, Great Portland Street and Regent’s Park tube stations. We have the group on Facebook which is open for new members to join and you will be invited to up and coming events every week.
All we ask is for the small commitment of turning up on time to events. If you fancy coming along, then post a message on group the event page and click you’re attending, so we know who to expect! Details on the meeting point and times are all on the group and event pages.
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At the moment, we are currently running THREE events per week: Saturdays 12 noon, Tuesdays 6pm and Thursdays 6pm. The Thursday event starting on the 14th April will be a training session by a qualified coach for members who want to improve their own ability and performance. If you are just after a kick about however, then I’d recommend the Saturday or Tuesday events.
Not much to talk about Old Trafford this week with the only news coming out of the football club is that David Gill has once again reiterated that there is money available to spend should Sir Alex choose to spend it. Fergie has also given his backing towards the Glazers once again, which isn’t likely to sit well with certain sections of the United faithful.
This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of Man United blogs which has included…Fergie unearths the new Ole Solskjaer; United star failed by lack of personal touch and should Sir Alex look to cash in on starlet?
Plus we have taken a look at the best Man United stories on the Web this week.
Has Sir Alex finally unearthed the new Ole Gunnar Solskjaer?
Has Sir Alex got a touch of the Arsene’s with policy?
United’s small signing is ‘bigger’ than you think
Hiring and firing at Old Trafford
United’s pre-season given added edge by Fergie’s comments
Man United star failed by the lack of personal touch
Would it be a Clever move by Fergie to cash in on Tom?
Fergie choosing to stick and not twist with Berbatov
Has Match of the Day had its day?
Premier League’s lesser lights set to benefit from new rules
Caption Competition: United duo trade blows
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Best of Web
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Chichonomics – United Rant
Be sure to be prudent: FC Barcelona’s amazing disappearing profits – The Andersred Blog
STATS: Which Teams Spend The Most? – RoM
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So what’s the story with Rodrigo Possebon? – The Busby Way
Ferguson misses point as he hits out at fans and lauds Glazers – United Rant
(Video) Sir Alex’s interview with CNN – The Busby Way
With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
With a third of the Premier League season now gone by, the table is starting to find its level and supporters are starting to get a better understanding of where their respective clubs are at this season and the challenge that faces them in the coming months. Once again the Premier League has been broken up into three tiers, with each team facing their own private battle.
Unlike previous years there has certainly been some stability on the managerial front with only Steve Bruce succumbing to the bullet so far, as clubs look to show patience with their managers to turn around their current plights. The managers may not be so patient with players at their disposal and may look to make significant changes in the January transfer window.
The January transfer window is loved and loathed in equal measures, with many managers and supporters alike welcoming the opportunity to freshen things up, while others see it as a source of distraction. History shows it is a renowned place for panic buying, as last January certainly proved, but there have been notable successes in the past that shows it can be a significant period to turn around a club’s fortunes. I feel the African Cup of Nations and the unprecedented amount of long term injuries we have seen will force many club’s hands and subsequently we can expect to see another expensive month for many Premier League chairman.
So how do you feel about Liverpool’s fortunes so far this season and would you look to see changes made in January? Who would you like to see brought in and ultimately who would you like to see moved on in the up and coming window?
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In keeping with the theme of taking stock during this most frenetic of Premier League seasons, our focus during this brief sojourn from top flight action switches to one of the relegation battle’s most intriguing of sub-plots- namely the plight of Aston Villa.
Although the papers have been dominated by stories of how the rise of Manchester City and Tottenham have facilitated the collapse of the big four mentality in the Premier League, the biggest losers in the battle for European football and top half supremacy have undoubtedly been a Villa side that slipped to 1-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Wolves last weekend.
Having been outside bets for the title two seasons ago, Gerard Houllier’s men are looking over their shoulder and are having to face up to a genuine battle for Premier League survival.
Of course they would not be the first side to suffer such a dramatic fall from grace. Fans of Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers remain scarred from their own sudden slips down the league ladder and Newcastle United have only just returned from their own sabbatical in the Championship.
Whereas these other clubs could have seen their slumps coming, Villa fans will struggle to comprehend relegation when the same squad of players reached Wembley twice last season and managed a comfortable top half finish.
Much blame will be attributed to Martin O’Neil’s departure from the Villa hot seat on the eve of the new season, but there is no doubt in the minds of many supporters that the appointment of Houllier has been a backward step for the club.
The Frenchman’s last spell in the Premier League was broadly successful, but by the time he left Liverpool in 2004 he was a figure of frustration for the club’s supporters.
The same can certainly be said for Aston Villa fans at this point in time. Many will struggle to see how a side capable of challenging on multiple fronts last season, have this year have struggled to maintain moderate league form.
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The meek FA Cup surrender to Manchester City was a particular bone of contention for the Villa Park faithful, who saw the Citizens treated with the sort of deference that lower league opposition might show a top flight outfit.
Tony Casacarino claimed in The Times this week that the former French national coach had lost the faith of the dressing room- but is an accurate picture of a club only two wins outside a place in the top ten?
Granted, this campaign has been monumentally disappointing for last year’s Carling Cup finalists, but should Houllier be given the chance to stamp his authority on the Midlands club, or have his tactical and management style been shown up as being outdated? Does he have the hunger and desire to build a team capable of sustained success?
Despite all of this, are Randy Lerner and the rest of the board likely to part company with a manager who has only been in charge at the club since the autumn?
History suggests that a change at this stage is unlikely. Few clubs would dream of giving a new manager such a small window of opportunity to stave off potential relegation. The club have publicly reiterated their support of the under fire Houllier, but concerns must have been expressed privately that in the midst of the closest fought relegation battle in the history of the Premier League, that the squad slip through the trap door.
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Looking across the bottom half of the division, it is not hard to pick out at least half a dozen teams you would imagine to be weaker than the current Villa squad. Of course, we have seen similar sentiments expressed previously, only for the most fancied of teams to slip into the mire, but with games against those closest to them on the horizon it certainly appears that the opportunity to rescue themselves from the unthinkable remains in hand.
Nevertheless, with games against Liverpool and Sunderland to come immediately before this, the resolve of the Villa board could be sorely tested if the club arrives at Easter with no further points in the bank.
For more posts like this, feel free to follow me on Twitter.
Manchester United will be going into the new Premier League campaign off the back of largely disappointing 2009 /2010 season. Last season threw up many nearly moments for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men and, after falling short in the major domestic and European competitions, United only had the Carling Cup to show for their efforts.
It’s widely recognised that if United want to regain their status as the biggest and best club in the world then Ferguson will have to dip into this season’s transfer market.
With the inevitable retirement of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville; question marks hanging above Owen Hargreaves’ fitness and a lack of back-up for an aging Edwin van der Sar, United need a major reconstruction.
The World Cup in South Africa has acted as a shop window over the summer and various players have caught the eyes of Europe’s top clubs.
A player that has certainly caught my eye is Dutch shot stopper Maarten Stekelenburg who was ever present at the world cup during Holland’s impressive run to the final.
Stekelenburg, who plays in Holland with Ajax, has put in some great performances this summer most-notably in the final against Spain.
This, along with his young age of only 27 makes him a realistic target for Ferguson this term. Reports have indicated that Stekelenburg would invite a move to Old Trafford and if the price is right then we could see a new understudy for van der Sar next season.
After watching Manchester United last season it’s become worrying how much pressure is put on the shoulders of Wayne Rooney. Without Rooney on the pitch the team seems to run out of ideas without any real cutting edge in front of goal.
Ferguson has recently renewed his interest in Italian bad boy Mario Balotelli despite him having yet another season riddled with disciplinary problems. Balotelli has been declared ‘priceless’ by Inter Milan sporting director Marco Branca. However, it’s understood that the Nerazzuri could let the troubled 19-year-old leave if a bid of around £30million is tabled.
More bizarrely, the media has even thrown former United player Diego Forlan into the mix following his Golden Ball performance at the World Cup. However, I think Ferguson will be wiser than to buy a 31-year-old who’s already proven that he can’t hack life in the Premier League.
In addition to these players come the usual suspects. Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema, despite not travelling with the troubled France squad, has cropped up as another familiar name on Fergusons wish list. The problem is, Real Madrid are likely to over-price the under-performing super star which would lead Ferguson to look elsewhere.
Written By Jordan William Ormrod
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Click on image to see a gallery of the BEST BABES at the World Cup this summer
Manchester United moved back to the top of Group C of the Champions League with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Otelul Galati on Wednesday night.
An early goal from Antonio Valencia had the Old Trafford faithful hoping that the floodgates would open, but they had to wait until the 87th minute for a second, when Wayne Rooney’s shot took a deflection off Cristian Sarghi to seal the victory.
After the game Sir Alex Ferguson spoke of the importance of getting three points against the Romanians.
“Winning was important. The opposition were very aggressive, they defended well, pressed us everywhere and made it difficult for us,” he told Sky Sports.
“The win makes it more comfortable for us at the top of the group and if we beat Benfica we win the group, it’s as simple as that. It should be a very good night.”
Ferguson started Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen in attack, but the English striker had to be replaced in the early exchanges with a new injury.
“It’s a blow for the lad. He’s done a thigh muscle and it’s a complete freak. I feel for him. It’s difficult to say how long-term it is,” the Scottish coach continued.
With the two fringe attackers starting up front, Rooney started in a central midfield role, and his manager was happy with the performance put in by the England star.
“I thought he was fantastic in central midfield. His awareness of people around him and choice of passing was really good. He did very well for us tonight.
“I think it’s a short-term thing at the moment. It’s difficult to say. The opposition played really well against us tonight but I’d be confident of playing him there (against bigger teams),” Ferguson concluded.
United received a boost in the other game in the pool, as Benfica dropped points by drawing 1-1 with Basel at the Estadio da Luz.
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Rodrigo Moreno put the Portuguese side into the lead after less than five minutes, but the Swiss visitors fought back and a goal from Benjamin Huggel in the second half meant the spoils were shared.
United host Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday, and will look to make up ground on cross-town rivals and current league leaders Manchester City.
Tottenham fans will still be celebrating this morning after making it through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It wasn’t vintage Spurs at White Hart Lane last night, but they showed plenty of resilience and manager Harry Redknapp is looking forward to the next round, as long as Tottenham avoid Barcelona!
Elsewhere in the newspapers this morning, the fallout from Arsenal’s loss at the Nou Camp continues, with Gunners ‘keeper Manuel Almunia questioning his teammate’s effort while Sergio Busquets has also stuck the knife in and accused Arsenal of lacking ambition. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has broken his media silence, Chelsea’s Ashley Cole is set to escape police punishment and Manchester City are set to take a financial hit on Felipe Caicedo.
Harry: Don’t give us Barca – The Sun
Arsenal criticised for lack of ambition – Daily Mirror
Sir Alex Ferguson breaks media silence – Guardian
Gerrard facing operation on injury – Daily Mail
City set to take £4m hit – Daily Mirror
Almunia accuses Arsenal of walking – Telegraph
Cole to avoid police punishment – Guardian
Newcastle line up move for Espanyol striker Jose Maria Callejon – Daily Mail
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Dzeko: I won’t flop live Shevchenko – The Sun
Stoke after out-of-favour Aston Villa defender – Daily Mirror