Manchester City's England midfielder James Milner has hit out at continuing rumours of a dressing-room split at Eastlands.
The papers seem convinced that there are problems at City following two consecutive defeats, but Milner insists that such talk is far from being true.
He told reporters:"When we see nonsense written in the papers it pulls us closer together.
"When it seems like the whole world is against you, that is when you pull together.
"These things will make us stronger as a football club. You go through times when things aren't quite right and it's important to keep things right off the field.
"I've been at Newcastle and Leeds where the press seemed be outside the training ground whenever you drove in. We can't control what's off the field, we can only control results.
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"Having on-field disagreements says we're very hungry to win football matches. We'd be worried if there wasn't that hunger because we're desperate to win trophies.
"In changing rooms up and down the country you'll see people disagreeing, but it's forgotten as soon as you step off the pitch. We're a tight group."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Arsenal have continued their excellent run of form by beating Everton 1-0 in a hard-fought fixture at Goodison Park on Wednesday night.
Thomas Vermaelen scored the only goal of the game less than ten minutes into the encounter, and the Gunners held firm to make it six straight victories in all competitions.
Arsene Wenger feels his side have regained confidence, and that they are focused to continue their winning streak.
“When the team is very confident you see that many players can score,” he told Sky Sports.
“I felt that the attitude was always very good from the players and the confidence comes from results. We turned a few results around and that creates belief.
“We had a very strong start in the first 20 minutes, 30 minutes, dominating the game.
“We didn’t take our chances and then Everton came back into the game. They became stronger and stronger and we became weaker in the second half, especially. Our link play was not good anymore.
“I felt it was a psychological circumstance. We just wanted to keep the result because it’s so important at the moment. But Everton played very well in the second half.
“For us, when you look at the fixtures you know the games when you’re in danger. To come out of that will strengthen our belief.
“For us it is very simple – we know for every game until the end of the season we have to stay focused. We have gone through a very difficult period and I believe we have learnt from that,” he concluded.
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Arsenal have leapfrogged north London rivals Tottenham into third place, and take on Aston Villa at home on Saturday.
Swansea City have booked their place in the Championship play-off final with a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest.The Welsh outfit held Forest to a 0-0 draw in their semi-final first leg at The City Ground, but Swansea took the upper hand in the space of five first-half minutes on Monday at Liberty Stadium, when Leon Britton and Stephen Dobbie both scored.
Robert Earnshaw hit back for the visitors with 10 minutes remaining, but after Forest shot-stopper Lee Camp came up for a late corner, Swansea sealed the win through Darren Pratley’s effort into an empty net from the halfway line.
After Swansea monopolised possession in the opening exchanges, it was the visitors who almost went ahead after five minutes courtesy of a brilliant counter attack.
Attacker Nathan Tyson was freed down the right hand side and his cut-back pass found a surging David McGoldrick, but his left-footed shot skimmed the crossbar with City goalkeeper Dorus de Vries beaten.
The home side responded with their own chance, going within inches of an 18th-minute lead when attacker Fabio Borini also struck the crossbar.
The Italian attacker produced a fine turn before his right-foot shot was deflected onto the bar after a desperate block from Forest defender Wes Morgan.
But Swansea did open the scoring 10 minutes later thanks to a fine individual effort from Britton.
The midfielder received a short corner before being given too much space by the Forest defence, curling a left-footed strike into the top corner from the edge of the area with Camp unmoved.
The tie was all but over when they got a second through Dobbie five minutes later.
He played a one-two with Nathan Dyer before beating two markers and placing across Camp and into the bottom corner.
Nottingham should have been back in the game early in the second half when Tyson again carved out an opportunity, cutting back for Marcus Tudgay, who inexplicably fired over the bar from close range.
Forest did pull a goal back when Earnshaw got in behind the Welsh club’s defence to fire home a right-footed shot in the 80th minute, making for a tense finale.
Earnshaw almost single-handedly forced extra time when he hit the woodwork in injury time, making it the third time Forest found a goal post in the match.
But with Camp desperately trying to help his side score an injury-time equaliser from a corner, Pratley took full advantage on the rebound by striking a swinging ball straight into the heart of an empty net, moving Swansea one step closer to the Premier League.
While Rafael van der Vaart is slowly becoming the transfer bargain of the summer, it begs the question as to where he ranks among the great foreign imports that have graced White Hart Lane over the years.
This article is a tribute to the top greatest foreign imports to wear the famous White shirt and while I am sure there are many players that we all agree on, I am certain there are other players that many of you will believe should have been included on the list. Scan the gallery and my reasons for each player’s inclusion in the team; however please feel free to add any glaring omissions that I may have made in the comments below….
Click on the White Hart Lane gates to see the top 10 foreign imports to grace the white shirt
Everton are expected to be one of the busier teams in the transfer window this summer both in terms of departures and arrivals. And one name that has been linked with a move to Goodison Park is Newcastle captain Jamaal Lascelles. However, according to the Evening Chronicle, Everton have cooled their interest in the central defender, which could end up being a mistake.
The Breakdown
There’s no doubt that Everton will be in the market for a centre-back during this transfer window. Funes Mori has already left the club with Ashley Williams set to follow, according to the Daily Star, while captain Phil Jagielka is at the age where his defensive performances are no longer as solid as they used to be.
Therefore, the interest in Lascelles made complete sense. The 24-year-old, who is valued at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, was one of the standout centre-halves in the Premier League last season and helped inspire Newcastle to a 10th place finish on the Tyneside club’s return to English football’s top division.
Lascelles inspired form and overall standing at the club has undoubtedly seen his valuation rise to a valuation Everton may be unwilling to meet.
The Toffees, though, thanks to billionaire majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri, have the funds and if they are looking to reinforce their defence, then Lascelles is exactly the kind of player that can help them do so.
On the other hand, new head coach Marco Silva and Director of Football Marcel Brands may just simply have other targets in mind for the centre-back position.
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But if last season is anything to go by, then the duo at Goodison Park will struggle to find a better defender than Lascelles.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez was desperate to add a new striker to his squad during the January transfer window with Joselu and Dwight Gayle struggling to do enough up top in the first-half of the season, and with Aleksandar Mitrovic out of favour at St James’ Park.
The Spaniard had said at the end of 2017 that he wanted all of his transfer business completed by January 20, but by January 31 and with hours until the deadline he still didn’t have the centre-forward that he wanted, despite the fact that goalscoring was proving to be one of his side’s biggest issues in their battle to beat to drop.
The Tyneside outfit had been heavily linked with the likes of Feyenoord’s Nicolai Jorgensen and Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge in the lead-up to the climax of the window, but they failed to agree a fee with the Eredivisie outfit for the former, while the latter joined relegation rivals West Bromwich Albion instead.
At one stage it looked as though the Magpies may not get anyone, but the club managed to get a deal for Leicester City striker Islam Slimani over the line, with the Algerian coming to St James’ Park on loan until the end of the season.
The club announced at the time that the 29-year-old wouldn’t be available right away as he was suffering from a thigh strain.
Soccer Football – Premier League – Leicester City vs Huddersfield Town – King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain – January 1, 2018 Leicester City’s Islam Slimani celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates REUTERS/Darren Staples EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
Benitez would have been hoping that the striker would play a key role in the run-in as Newcastle looked to avoid making an instant return to the Championship, and while he always looked likely to miss the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on February 4, the Spanish boss would have been hoping to have him available for the home clash against Manchester United last month.
That didn’t happen though and one day prior to the huge clash against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on February 24, Benitez announced that the Algerian had suffered an injury setback and would be out for a further fortnight.
That setback means he will definitely be out for the trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Saturday, and potentially the huge clash against Southampton at St James’ Park the following weekend.
The Tyneside outfit could find themselves in the bottom three by the time they play Jurgen Klopp’s side on Saturday evening if other results go against them – they only lie two points above the drop zone prior to their trip to Merseyside – and they may stay there with the trip to a free-scoring Reds team looking hugely difficult on paper.
The Magpies then host Saints in what is likely to be a huge six-pointer, which Slimani could be absent for, before they have a 21-day break until their next top flight fixture.
They could find themselves in a big predicament if they slip up against the south coast outfit, and they will have just eight matches left to save themselves when Slimani is finally fully fit to make his return – barring any more setbacks – when they host Huddersfield Town at St James’ Park on March 31.
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Considering the player was injured when they signed him just hours before the deadline, you have to question whether the 29-year-old was a bit of a panic buy, and if Newcastle made a mistake signing a player that has missed so many matches that have been crucial in the Magpies’ battle against the drop.
Of course, time will tell as to whether that proves to be the case, but the Tyneside outfit may have been wrong to sign Slimani rather than getting another player who was fully fit at the end of January.
Even though the transfer window has closed, that doesn’t mean that West Ham cannot get yet more business done. Sam Allardyce has shown a willingness to delve into the bargain basement in the past, with Carlton Cole a product of the freebie market, which could tempt him back in in the coming weeks.
Although the Hammers enjoyed a fine summer transfer window, a few more bodies could benefit their push for a top half finish, and there are a few tempting options out there for them.
In case ‘Big Sam’ hasn’t had time to scour the market, we at Football FanCast have been researching, and here are six free agents for the Irons to consider…
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CLICK ON RONALDINHO TO REVEAL THE SIX
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Jonas
Football – Stoke City v Valencia UEFA Europa League Second Round First Leg – Britannia Stadium, Stoke, England 11/12 – 16/2/12Jonas – Valencia Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Ed Sykes
A Brazilian international who represented the Selecao as recently as two years ago available on a free transfer? A bit of a no brainer for West Ham if they can pull the deal off. The versatile forward can play as a lone frontman or in a withdrawn role and is only currently without a club after agreeing a contract termination with Valencia due to Spain’s strict non-EU player quotas.
At 30, his best days are not too far behind him, and with his mix of pace, power and technique he could be a wise addition for Sam Allardyce as he looks to produce a more ‘easy on the eye’ Hammers XI. Let’s face it, he can’t be any worse than Carlton Cole.
//www.youtube.com/embed/NDdUUnXGfws
Hugo Almeida
Football – Germany v Portugal – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group G – Arena Fonte Nova, Salvador, Brazil – 16/6/14Hugo Almeida – PortugalMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul ChildsEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
‘Big Hugo’ is actually a player West Ham tracked over the summer following his release from Besiktas. Wage issues were understood to have scuppered the deal, but the burly Portuguese striker may be more willing to relent on his demands now that the transfer window has closed.
With Andy Carroll out of action, Almeida would be a good stand-in, and he can certainly do a job at the top level at 30.
Sotiris Ninis
//www.youtube.com/embed/vBrMDWmBfiU
Once the golden boy of Greek football, Ninis has endured a woeful few years which were capped with his release from Parma over the summer. The impish attacking midfielder has had his injury problems, but at just 24 he could be a big, big talent if he can be kept fit and firing.
After being dropped from Greece’s World Cup squad he has a point to prove, and he might add more guile to the Irons’ attack.
Ronaldinho
//www.youtube.com/embed/idYEGhn4LVo
It’s mad to think that the player dubbed the best on the planet less than ten years ago is now in the football wilderness. Everyone’s favourite buck-toothed trickster has bounced around the Brazilian top tier in recent seasons, but his time at Atletico Mineiro was brought to a close earlier this year, leaving him without a club.
The 34-year-old captained his country in 2013 and would certainly be a ‘wow’ signing for the Hammers if they could match his, almost certain, massive wage demands. A move to the MLS or Middle East is an option for ‘Ronny’, but it would be great to see such a star in the Premier League.
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Andrea Dossena
Football – Sunderland v Carlisle United – FA Cup Third Round – Stadium of Light – 13/14 – 5/1/14Andrea Dossena – Sunderland Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee SmithEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
A disappointing spell at Sunderland was brought to a close over the summer, leaving the former Liverpool left-back searching for a new employer. At 32, he could be a good back-up option for Aaron Cresswell and offer Sam Allardyce more depth as he sets about securing a top half finish.
Dossena impressed in Italy with Napoli and is adept in a 3-5-2 formation, which appears to be the new Premier League trend…
Anthony Reveillere
Football – France Training – London Colney – 10/11 – 15/11/10Anthony Reveillere – France during trainingMandatory Credit: Action Images / Steven Paston
Champions League experience and bags of ability, Reveillere is a decent right-back available on a free transfer. Joey O’Brien has long been a dependable option, but the Frenchman could well be an upgrade on the reliable full-back.
Napoli opted to release the 34-year-old recently, but he could well have a few good years left in the tank for West Ham to make use of.
Swansea City midfielder Leon Britton is adamant that he can still earn his place within the England set up, despite being 30 years old.
Britton feels he has now adapted to the Premier League and if he can keep up his good form then he can earn international recognition in a similar manner to 31-year-old Everton midfielder Leon Osman.
The Swansea ace is now looking to make an impression on Roy Hodgson and believes that if he is delivering for his club it does not matter what age he is.
Osman was the third oldest debutant since 1954 when he pulled on the Three Lions shirt on Wednesday night, and Britton feels this is encouraging for players such as himself.
“The manager is showing if you are playing well in the Premier League, he will pick you, whether you are Leon Osman at 31 or Raheem Sterling at 17,” Britton told Alan Brazil’s Breakfast show on talkSPORT.
“It gives everyone hope out there that it is never too late or it is never too early. If you are playing well week in, week out in the Premier League there are people watching the games and there is always an opportunity.
“I’ll never give up, I’ll try and do well for Swansea and if something comes from that then I’ll be absolutely over the moon.”
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Leon Britton will be looking to consolidate his bright start in the Premier League at St James’ Park this weekend, when his Swansea side take on Newcastle United.
Sceptics may argue Panama represent amongst the least formidable opposition to make any World Cup, but after a half-century of hurt England fans are entitled to dream again following Sunday’s 6-1 demolition of the Central American side.
It was England’s first ever World Cup win by that handsome margin and considering Panama are usually the kind of plucky underdog team the Three Lions end up painfully toiling against, the manner in which they were dispensed of before half time gives genuine cause for optimism.
So much optimism in fact, that it’s starting to feel like England can actually come back from Russia with the trophy. But is that the type of pressure-cooker-creating naivety that has forced English football to endure such relentless misery since 1966, or could there be sound logic to all the sudden hype? Here’s three reasons it’s coming home this summer…
They’ve got the World Cup’s top scorer
It may sound obvious but having the World Cup’s leading goalscorer is inevitably a huge advantage and Harry Kane is currently at the forefront of the Golden Boot race (at the time of writing) after netting a hat-trick against Panama – although Cristiano Ronaldo and Romelu Lukakua aren’t too far behind.
It of course highlights the extra cutting edge he gives England, which could well prove to be the difference between victory and defeat in the knockout stage, but gives Kane a crucial personal incentive too.
The Tottenham man is desperate to finish up as the tournament’s top scorer and that personal ambition can help drive on this England team, especially in terms of their attacking play.
Set Piece goals are key
England have already scored four times from set pieces at this World Cup, partly due to fantastic deliveries from Kieran Trippier and Manchester United’s Ashley Young and partly because it’s clearly something Southgate’s spent a lot of time working on in training.
There’s sound logic behind that too – set pieces have the capacity to decide any game at any level, but the statistics from Brazil 2014 are incredibly telling.
Three of the four countries to reach the semi-finals finished up in the top four for set piece goals, which shows how far they can take you in the tournament even when you’re not playing the best football. England arguably are though, which brings us nicely onto…
Playing better than any of the top teams
Starting is certainly less beneficial than ending a World Cup strongly and there are no prizes for simply playing the best football – it must be matched with efficiency in results as well.
On top of that, England’s opening two opponents have been of rather modest standard; although Tunisia are probably a little better than they’ve shown at times during the tournament, Panama are pretty strong contenders for being the least qualified side involved in Russia 2018.
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But from the opening rounds of fixtures, very few ‘top’ sides at the World Cup has produced football with as much freedom and flair as the Three Lions.
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Germany lost their first game against Mexico and required a stoppage time wondergoal to beat Sweden, France have nervously stumbled their way through both matches so far, Brazil drew with a physical Switzerland team and were a goal-filled stoppage time away from suffering the same result against Costa Rica, and Argentina are on the verge of elimination.
In fairness, Spain and Belgium have shown their quality – but also some of their frailties – more consistently, while Portugal will always have the tournament’s biggest match-winner in Ronaldo. But has any team really rivalled the relentlessly expansive philosophy England have adopted?
Providing that doesn’t result in too many sloppy goals at the other end, it could take Southgate’s side a very long way this summer.
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Celtic reaffirmed their nine-point lead atop the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win over Aberdeen.
Moussa Dembele turned in a cross from James Forrest at the back post to open the scoring for Celtic just before half-time, but the visitors risked letting Aberdeen back into the game when Mikael Lustig was sent off for a second yellow card with 15 minutes remaining.
Kieran Tierney doubled Celtic’s advantage just seven minutes later, though, and Dons’ Sam Cosgrove received his own marching orders when he lunged in on Scott Brown.
Dembele was perhaps the visitors’ most accomplished player on the day, having opened the scoring and produced a superb assist for Tierney to seal the deal in the final moments.
This was not a commanding performance by a Celtic side who are used to controlling their Scottish opponents with ease, but who do the club’s fans think was their team’s best performer at Aberdeen?
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Let us know by voting below and giving each player a performance rating out of ten…