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.
Newcastle are battling it out with Juventus for the signature of Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko, according to reports from talkSPORT.
The Magpies have been tracking the French international for some time and could make a move during January with manager Alan Pardew keen to bolster his squad in a bid to improve their Premier League form.
Russian big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala were thought to be front-runners for his signature, but reports have now emerged that Juventus are Newcastle’s main opponents.
Sissoko is a key member of the Ligue 1 outfit’s squad, but with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, a transfer appears to be on the cards.
It’s unclear whether the St James’ Park club will look to force through a move in January, or simply attempt to agree a pre-contract agreement for a free transfer at the end of the campaign.
The Frenchman has made over 150 appearances for his current club since breaking into the first-team set-up during 2007.
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He has been on the radar of many of Europe’s top clubs for some time, with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool having been linked with moves on numerous occasions.
Well 2012 has been an eventful year for Coventry City Football Club both on and off the field.
On the field the Skyblues have been relegated from the Championship, have changed their manager and had a high number of players both depart and arrive at the club.
Off the field the delicate relationship between Coventry’s owners Sisu and the fans hit melting point with weeks of protests taking place against Sisu’s running of the club. Sisu’s other relationships fared no better with discussions over the Ricoh breaking down resulting in unpaid rent and a row which is going to stretch into the new year.
Looking at the facts and 2012 looks like a very bad year in Coventry City’s history. I however am beginning to think that it could in fact be the year that started the revival of the club.
The clubs form on the field over the last couple of months has been second to none and we have been steadily climbing the table to finish the year in 9th a mere 2 points off of the playoff positions. In my eyes it is the beginning of a new era at Coventry City. Now I never thought I would say that with Sisu still having ownership of the club but they look like they are genuinely beginning to turn things around.
Yes people can point to the Ricoh row as a sign that this isn’t the case and Sisu are in fact as inept as they have ever been. I believe they are turning the corner and have genuinely learnt from previous mistakes. I also still firmly believe a deal will be struck which will allow Coventry to continue playing at the Ricoh Arena and doing so for a drastically reduced price which everyone must agree is in the clear interests of the club going forward.
The pivotal moment now is January. For me January will be what defines our season as a whole. Bailey’s initial loan spell has come to an end but thankfully the club have wasted no time in snapping him back up on loan until the end of the season along with Moussa. This is a big step towards a successful end to the season and the next step is to keep players like McGoldrick and Adams. These players have brought so much to this team and the club needs to do everything in its power to keep them here for as long as possible be it on loan or permanently.
We are perfectly poised to mount a serious promotion challenge and Saturday’s victory over the Mk Dons showed we are ready for it. Mk Dons are one of the outstanding sides in League One and are certain of a top six finish. They have quality throughout their side which is complemented by a manager who clearly knows what he is doing. Everything is in place for that club to be a huge success and I can only see good things in their future.
We however went to their place full of confidence with five away wins on the bounce and nine games unbeaten. These were records that you could clearly see the players wanted to extend. It was a game blessed by two of the best sides in League One and this was clear for everyone to see with some real quality football on show.
Coventry fell behind relatively early on and for the first time ever since I have been a Coventry City fan I actually wasn’t worried. I had complete belief that we would get back into it and even go on to win it. My new found confidence was rightly placed as the Skyblues fought back and ended up winning the game 3-2 thanks to 2 goals from Stephen Elliot along with a brilliant goal from Frank Moussa. There were plenty of nervy moments but to go to a team like Mk Dons and come away with the 3 points is a fantastic achievement and I think truly showed how far Mark Robins has brought us in such a short space of time.
We now look like a side who is hungry for success and is no longer content to under achieve. Long may this continue and it was clear on Saturday that the fans are responding. 4,988 was the official figure for away fans and that is a truly incredible following. I would just like to say a huge thanks to everyone who travelled down and made it a match to remember. That sort of support could carry us all the way, the fans being a 12th man is a disputed notion but it is one that I have full belief in. If we can get a few more down at the Ricoh for the home games and make it a noisier and more intimidating place to come then we are definitely onto a winning combination.
I for one cannot wait for 2013 and what it might bring for Coventry City fc. The prospect of going to Wembley not once but twice is enough to make any football fans mouth water. It is now a distinct possibility and the time is now to start believing. We are good enough to do it that I am sure of but what I am not sure of is whether Coventry’s usual bad luck has gone or if it is lurking just round the corner waiting to pounce and destroy our dreams once more.
Bad luck was the story on new year day as we fell to a 1-0 defeat to Shrewsbury. It wasn’t a bad performance by any means but it wasn’t at the level we have been at. This is going to happen from time to time but the positive was that we still created a lot of chances which we should have at least taken one of. It was just one of those days and one which we should be able to move on from quite quickly. Bring on Spurs!
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is confident that the returning Fabio Borini from injury can make an impact on his side and add a spark to their attack.
Borini is nearing a return to full fitness following three months out after surgery on a fractured foot, and Rodgers believes the Italian can add fresh impetus to the Liverpool attack along with new signing Daniel Sturridge, who scored on his debut in with FA Cup victory at Mansfield on Sunday.
Luis Suarez has been in scintillating form for the Reds this term, surpassing his league goals tally of 11 for the whole of last season, with 15 already this time around.
Rodgers is now excited about the prospect of having a full compliment of forwards to choose from and was quoted by the clubs official website as telling the Liverpool Echo:
“Other clubs have the depth to bring people off the bench and make an impact.”
“We have been unable to do that in the opening months of the season, which gives incredible credit to the players who have kept us going until now.”
“We have Daniel here now and will have Fabio fit soon and that will give us that spark.”
“Hopefully over the years Fabio can develop into a top performer which I think he can be.”
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Borini is only 21-years-old so still a young prospect, and everyone associated with the club will hope he is able to fulfill the potential that Rodgers believes he has.
All four of the Spanish entrants of this season’s Champions League have made it through to the knockout round. All three of the German participants have advanced (as well as all of the Bundesliga’s representatives in the Europa League). Yet England are only two from four.
The Premier League title race is said to be over following Manchester United’s 2-0 over Everton on the weekend. A 12-point gap and as good as done. In February. Whichever way you want to paint it, that’s devastating for the top flight of English football. It’s exactly the same state La Liga are in at the moment, with Atletico 12-points off Barcelona, who were once again impressive in their 6-1 win over Getafe on Sunday.
The problem here is that Manchester United are coasting, rather than destroying. They’ll win the league title this year, provided something miraculous doesn’t happen, but not necessarily because they’re the conquerors of a league in its prime. The quality of Premier League football has taken a massive nosedive in recent seasons. Ahead of their Champions League group tie against Real Madrid, Manchester United haven’t been able to face a team of the quality of the Spanish champions.
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And let’s not get too bogged down with how poor Real Madrid have been this season. They were pathetic in their 1-0 loss away to Granada last week, a loss which came via a Cristiano Ronaldo own goal and where Madrid only registered their first shot on target just after the hour-mark. In contrast, Ronaldo was at his very best this past Saturday night, scoring three goals, the first of which was sensational, inside 60 minutes as Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1.
Xabi Alonso was out of the line-up, so was Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil. Kaka came in and did a very professional job amid talk that he would likely be one of the first names out the door in the summer. And yet you feel that games such as that and the wins over Valencia and Getafe in recent weeks have been showcases of the tension inside the Bernabeu rising towards this two-legged tie against Manchester United.
Real Madrid have already outplayed Barcelona this year. They’ve had to battle against opposition like Borussia Dortmund, who beat Madrid in Germany earlier in the season, and managed to emerge from a Champions League group which could have been much trickier than it actually was.
Manchester United, you feel, haven’t been hardened in the same way Madrid have this season. This is very much a title-winning squad at Old Trafford this season, but they haven’t had to do much. They advanced out of their Champions League group without much hassle, despite being troubled on occasion by teams like Galatasaray and Braga. The Premier League, however, hasn’t been a test for them. United haven’t had to deal with at least two teams who are equal or better in quality than they are. Sure, teams like Newcastle and Norwich have given them games this season, but you feel United only really looked weak in the opening weekend against Everton, who have now dropped off since the start of the campaign.
It’s not that Manchester United may not be good enough to overcome Real Madrid, it’s that you wonder how prepared they are mentally. Not only that, Madrid have nothing else to play for this year, other than the Copa del Rey. All the focus is on this competition for the La Liga champions. The Bernabeu will become a fortress, the best players in the squad have played to their optimum since the turn of the year, Mourinho wants to go out on a high, and after 10 years of failure in Europe, Madrid are hungry for the holy grail of their tenth European cup.
It gives a greater insight as to the state of the Premier League now than what it was four or five years ago. And that’s not to say English football is in a bad way, but it’s that the Premier League is not as strong as it once was. Yes, clubs like Bayern, Barcelona and obviously Real Madrid under Mourinho have either risen up or dominated UEFA’s elite competition, but it’s the sense that English clubs have dropped off, rather than remained at the zenith and welcomed those from the continent who have been able to raise their game that little bit further.
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Alex Ferguson wanted to get the job done this past weekend against Everton when the opportunity was there. United won and have now probably sealed the title, however it didn’t seem like a game where silverware was on the line. Of course, there are many more games left and the cushion of an almighty points gap at the top. But if United remain in cruise control going into the glamour tie of this round of Champions League games, their perceived strength will be washed away without mercy. Nothing yet this season has prepared them for Real Madrid at their very best.
Alan Hutton has thanked Real Mallorca for giving the Scotsman a new lease of life, reports The Sun.
Hutton claims that he was “wasting away” during his spell at Villa Park and that he was frozen out by current manager Paul Lambert when he took over as manager in the summer.
The defender saw his Villa hell end as he secured a deal away from the struggling Midlands club in January, after they agreed to loan the former Tottenham player to Spanish club Real Mallorca.
” I can savour these times more because of the frustrations I’ve been through. I was training with the kids at Villa and thought ‘What am I doing here?’ said Hutton.
” To go from doing nothing at Villa, feeling as if I was wasting away, to be playing Real Madrid the next minute, makes it more special.” he added.
The Scottish defender faces Gareth Bale at Hampden tonight and admits that his run of first team games has saved his International career.
“When I was joining up with the Scotland squad I knew it was getting to the stage in the season where, if I wasn’t playing for my club, I couldn’t expect to turn up and play for my country, so I knew I had to do something,” said Hutton.
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Hutton will be hoping to fare better than he did against Ronaldo and co last weekend as his Real Mallorca side went down 5-2 away at Real Madrid.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin has accepted his time away from the German top flight could have gone much better.
The playmaker decided to leave Borussia Dortmund to join Real Madrid back in 2011, before making a loan move to Premier League outfit Liverpool earlier this season.
Sahin is still contracted to Real but is currently on an 18-month loan spell back at Dortmund, after spells at the Santiago Bernabeu and Anfield.
The 24-year-old has admitted he enjoyed working under Madrid boss Jose Mourinho but has accepted his time away from Germany did not go as he would have wished.
He told Sport Bild: “It was an honour to work with Mourinho. He was always honest to me and treated me fairly. He always said everything to me in private.
“From the outside, people will perhaps say that I failed abroad. It was simply not meant to be, though, and I also played my part in it.”
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Newly promoted Cardiff City have made Fenerbahce attacker Dirk Kuyt a summer transfer target in a bid to build a Premier League squad, according to the Metro.
The former Liverpool striker left Anfield for Turkey last summer for just £1million and has enjoyed success in his first season at Fenerbahce that could even end in Europa League glory.
Kuyt was a fans favourite on Merseyside with his tenacious, energetic style but also for popping up with crucial goals in huge games.
Cardiff boss Malky Mackay wants Premier League experience in his squad before the new season begins and Kuyt will be 33 years old by the time the Bluebirds kick their first Premier League football.
The finances should not be an issue and so the Dutch international will have a big decision to make as to whether he wants to return to the Premier League or remain in Turkey.
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Monday morning could have been the most bitter and unbearable ‘morning after’ in a long time for Arsenal fans had Newcastle found a way to equalise at St James’ Park. Actually it would have seemed quite appropriate for Arsenal to hit that self-destruct button in the manner in which they had done so many times over the years. In contrast, celebrations were befitting, not just because it’s the Champions League – Arsenal supporters understand there is a long way to go before the team can genuinely challenge the best in Europe for that trophy. But the importance of finishing fourth this season is that it holds significance over the long term and short term for Arsenal. This summer should be seen as the marker for change.
I get it, from the outside it’s very easy to mock Arsenal for the way they celebrated. But who wouldn’t have done the same? Tottenham certainly. Everton. Manchester City celebrated their first trip into the Champions League because they knew it would be an important step. Moreover, for Arsenal it just went to showcase how big this rivalry with Tottenham has become in recent seasons.
That’s a part of the problem. Tottenham have put together their best points total in a Premier League season and have fallen just one point behind Arsenal; credit to them for making up the ground. But then what about Arsenal? Yes, the club have regressed. It would have been easy to comment on Tottenham’s best points total still being too short to overcome Arsenal, but this is a place and a situation Arsenal fans surely don’t want to be in again. For the second season a row, the call was far too close.
Forget for a moment what the immediate future may bring off the back of another top four finish, the fact of the matter is that Arsenal and Spurs were not competing for a title; Arsenal have been reduced to fighting for a qualifying position in the Champions League. To reiterate, Arsenal don’t want to be in that position again.
It will act as a wakeup call for Arsenal. The experience of Champions League football is engrained in this club, so too is the mentality of winning trophies; although it would be fair to say that aspect has been a little lost on the club’s hierarchy in recent years. The club need to move on from selling their best players every summer. Sure, Tottenham do the same, but it has played a vital role in closing the gap between both clubs.
For Arsenal, the winning mentality over their local rivals has also been lost, or at least chipped away from what it used to be. The 4-4 draw at the Emirates in 2008 can arguably be seen as the turning point. From then on, Tottenham have beaten Arsenal at the Emirates, have regularly taken all three points at White Hart Lane and even offered a scare when a man light during this past season’s 5-2 result. It draws necessary and valid comparisons with the rivalry between Atletico and Real Madrid. It’s a set a fixtures that used to be fairly routine for the traditionally bigger club. For the Premier League rivals, Arsenal have allowed themselves to fall down from the heights of title challengers to those in the race for the top four. It doesn’t matter that Spurs have won a trophy, been to two finals, finished in the top four (twice, technically), and risen up the standings in the market in order to compete for some of the best names available. Likewise in Spain, it shouldn’t matter that since 2010 Atletico have won more trophies than Real. The difference here is that Real will be mindful of keeping their distance. There may be a one-off title race involving both sides from Madrid, but it won’t last.
Arsenal have come out on top on yet another occasion in which they opted to play with fire. Tottenham won’t sit back this summer because they can’t really afford to. Arsenal, however, have a history on being quite content with what they have – and that is what has brought about a new dimension to this rivalry. It’s about being a football club first. There might be criticisms for the way in which Tottenham conduct their business in the market, but you still look to them as a club who want to progress for football reasons and not those which are deemed secondary.
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Maybe you can put together a valid argument that Arsenal had to endure these past few seasons because of the move to the Emirates. The important factor here, and the reason why Arsenal celebrated in such a manner is that many view this as the end of a difficult cycle.
For the biggest cynics, Wayne Rooney’s head injury came at the perfect time. Here was another opportunity for a major star to pull out of the England squad ahead of another set of meaningless fixtures. No, no one likes international football.
The criticism of the Manchester United forward was profound, with many suggesting that he could have travelled with the England squad despite being unavailable for selection. What was interesting was that there were few highlighting the importance of Rooney returning to match fitness for Manchester United, as if it was a commonly held belief that international football was paramount.
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Yes, there does need to be an acceptance from the media that perhaps England’s stars don’t hold international football with as much importance as they do club football – and isn’t that correct? Manchester United pays Rooney, not the FA. Will England compensate David Moyes or force a rule break of the transfer market to accommodate United if Rooney is lost to injury while on injury duty? It doesn’t really need an answer, does it?
There has been plenty of discussion as to why England’s players can’t perform to their max or replicate their club form when representing the national team. All the questions are aimed elsewhere instead of looking closer to home. Maybe the coaching isn’t right (it isn’t), maybe England don’t have a player who can dictate the tempo of a game like a Xavi or Andrea Pirlo (they don’t, at least they haven’t realised).
But if a player is injured, then there needs to be an acceptance of it. Not a volley of criticism and a questioning of how legitimate the injury is or whether he can still be of use. Yes, I’m sure Rooney, one of the Premier League’s best paid, will be happy to lay out the cones and put together the end-of-training refreshments.
But on top of that, is it such an unspeakable horror that most players, like fans, maybe don’t care too much about international football? There’s being patriotic, and that’s fine. But take a look at the fixtures throughout a domestic season and maybe some are happy to see the arrival of an international break, especially when it signals a week of the ultimate in pointless football – an international friendly.
Why isn’t there more of a campaign or criticism towards international governing bodies for putting together these fixtures and disrupting the domestic calendar? How can the same media who criticised Rooney champion the Premier League as the best product and then immediately begin a witch hunt when players start to underperform due to fatigue?
But of course, there is the option of sacrificing England’s best forward in a pair of fixtures in which the rest of the England team should gain maximum points, only to then jeopardise his involvement in the World Cup next year. We can talk about how great football is, but it doesn’t always make sense, does it?
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Were the English media right to criticise Wayne Rooney during the international break?