Roy Hodgson believes his Liverpool team will find it difficult to break down a well-organised Steaua Bucharest side when the two outfits meet in Thursday's Europa League clash at Anfield.
The Romanian side have an impressive European pedigree, including a European Cup victory in 1986 and run to the final three years later.
Liverpool have started the campaign in a mediocre manner and were particularly toothless in attack on Sunday in the goalless draw against Birmingham City.
Hodgson said in the build-up to the match:"I checked up on it – Steaua Bucharest have played 232 matches in Europe.
"They have won a Champions League, been finalists and have won 23 league titles – so please don't try to suggest they have no chance of getting a result tonight.
"We've only had a little while to assess them. I've been quite impressed with their two central midfield players. That is a strong part of their team and the two centre-forwards are good too.
"They are a well-organised team and, from what we've seen of them, we know we will have an interesting and important game on our hands, but that's what you want.
"You don't play in the Europa League to play against poor opponents. If I do change the team tonight then I want the players to go out there and perform against top-class opposition.
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"There's no point me watching them play against poor opposition because that might fool me into thinking they are better than they are.
"So, tonight we will play against a top-class team and I'm sure it will be a very good game. Hopefully we will come out on top."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
As the noisy neighbours begin to establish themselves in the blue half of Manchester, Sir Alex Ferguson will surely need to look over a number of incredibly disappointing results so far this season and re-establish his side as the dominant club in Manchester when the summer transfer window kicks in.
When Manchester City became the richest club in football, marking their intention with the signing of Robinho and then vowing to purchase every major superstar in Europe, Alex Ferguson simply seemed to dismiss them as an annoying younger brother trying to make himself heard—and rightfully so. The Manchester United boss has managed to overcome every challenge he’s had to face: from Keegan’s Newcastle, Arsenal’s Invincibles to, most recently, Abramovich’s millions, Ferguson continues to swat away those who attempt to dethrone him from the summit of the Premier League. But as the second half of the season begins to gather momentum, the reigning champions still find themselves in second place to their city rivals and off the back of a number of disappointing results over the festive period. With all the resources at Manchester City, and despite where the title ends up this season, could this summer be one of the most important during Ferguson’s time at United?
There is absolutely no reason to suggest that Manchester City will out-do United for the next five consecutive years; history dictates that there has never and might never be a situation like that where Sir Alex is involved. However, the shortcomings in this United side are plain for all to see; there could even be a suggestion that the purchases made by the club in recent transfer windows are not of the quality to combat the current threats in the league and in Europe. As Wayne Rooney has expressed in the past, he does not feel the club are showing enough ambition with the type of player they are bringing in.
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Now, far be it from me to suggest where Alex Ferguson is going wrong in his transfer policy, but there are supporters who can see that a creative outlet in the centre of the pitch is perhaps the area of the squad that needs addressing first. There is a great core of young players, especially in the possible future centre-back pairing in Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, but the squad do need taking to the next level. But if the unthinkable happens—from a United fan’s perspective at least—and City win the league title and continue to attract star players who will further their club’s reputation, should there be cause for concern for at least the short-term future of Manchester United, considering as well that Ferguson could be calling it a day within the next few years.
Surely the last thing the Manchester United manager wants to do is retire with the club as second best in the city. It would be a tremendous shame considering what he has done to overhaul Liverpool’s 18 league titles and continue to place the club in the top three or four in Europe. But much like the case at other clubs in the Premier League and around Europe, there is a necessary cause for action amongst managers who need to keep up with ever-changing landscape of football.
At the same time, I also believe Alex Ferguson has enough respect for every new challenge that comes up against the dynasty he has created. A manager who lives for the challenges that people such as Jose Mourinho present; there is very little reason to believe he won’t take action when it’s needed. But that time must come in the summer. As City look to impress the world and strike fear into the Premier League with a huge spending spree, Sir Alex needs to bite back with an equally impressive move. It allows the club to keep face in what will be another intense battle next season.
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Napoli missed a chance to move within three points of table-toppers AC Milan after they lost 2-1 at home to Udinese in the Serie A on Sunday.AC Milan now sit six points clear at the top and with just five matches remaining, look to have the title sewn up after slip-ups from their nearest title rivals, Inter and Napoli.
Udinese entered the match missing the Serie A’s top scorer, Antonio Di Natale (26 goals in 31 matches) and strike partner Alexis Sanchez (12 in 24) due to foot and thigh injuries respectively and were only given an outside chance of victory against the title-chasing hosts at the Stadio San Paolo.
But they were able to get through the opening half unscathed and stunned the home crowd when Gokhan Inler found the back of the net just 10 minutes into the second half.
Buoyed by the goal, Napoli had the momentum and grabbed another six minutes later when German Denis scored on the hour-mark and although Giuseppe Mascara scored a consolation goal in the fourth minute of injury time, Walter Mazzarri’s side slumped to their first home loss since October.
A Mauro Zarate-inspired Lazio won 4-1 at Catania, thanks to a goal and two assists from the Argentine.
Zarate had to start on the bench after turning up late to training in mid-week, but was introduced after 14 minutes as Lazio took a 40th-minute lead through Hernanes.
Catania hit back straight after the break thanks to a Ezequiel Schelotto but Zarate started to dominate, setting up firstly Stefano Mauri for his 56th minute goal before he again provided an assist, this time for Sergio Floccari with 12 minutes to play.
Zarate had time to cap off a terrific day with a goal in the 89th minute as Lazio closed with three points of third-placed Inter, who occupy one of the automatic qualification spots for the Champions League.
In other matches, goals to Fabiano and Daniele Corvia in the last five minutes secured a 3-3 draw for Lecce at home to Cagliari while Genoa also scored three, routing Brescia 3-0 thanks to second-half strikes from Rafinha, Luca Antonelli and a Gaetano Berardi own goal.
Fiorentina and Juventus played out a goalless draw in a match that promised plenty but delivered little while Chievo played the entire second half with 10 men but won 2-0 at home to Bologna thanks to goals from Kevin Constant and Michele Marcolini.
Erjon Bogdani’s 48th minute strike was enough to lift newly promoted Cesena out of the relegation zone, as they won 1-0 at home to bottom-side Bari.
Cesena have now been replaced by Sampdoria in 18th, who after losing key strikers Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini to AC Milan and Inter in January, have now just won two of their last 17 Serie A matches.
Jermaine Jenas’ career has not gone the way he would have wanted it to in the last few years. Jenas has largely become a bit part player for Tottenham Hotspur and has failed to find his way into the England set-up as a result. Jenas himself has admitted he had doubts about the future of his Spurs career this summer, and began considering a move in order to get the game time he craves, Sky Sports quote Jenas as stating,
“There has been constant rumours about me leaving but I just want to be settled and part of the Tottenham team again. At one time I felt I’d have to leave because all I wanted to do was play football and I wasn’t getting games here. But despite the offers that came in, they were not worth leaving for.”
Jermaine Jenas obviously feels he still has the quality to play regularly for Spurs, but you get the feeling that this season, or indeed merely up to this January, will be his last chance to impress at White Hart Lane.
Jenas has by no means had a bad career at Tottenham. When he first arrived at the club from Newcastle for £7 million, he instantly cemented his place in the first team. Over the next few seasons Jenas impressed for the club, he was a mainstay in midfield where his all-round capabilities made him an efficient and effective player, he also netted a decent amount of goals.
When Harry Redknapp arrived at the club in 2008 however, the new boss saw Spurs midfield as an area that needed strengthening. In his first January transfer window, Redknapp made a host of signings, including one that would directly threaten Jenas’ position in the team. Midfield powerhouse Wilson Palacios was signed from Wigan, and he went straight into the first team, and until the last few weeks, the Honduran has not looked back.
Redknapp’s preferred choice in central midfield has been Palacios and Tom Huddlestone. Palacios is a rambunctious and energetic defensive midfielder, whilst Huddlestone really seems to have matured in the last year or so and appears to be a favourite of Redknapp. The signing of midfielder Sandro also looked to have pushed Jenas down the pecking order, though as of yet we wait to see what the Brazilian can offer. When you consider that Luka Modric, Rafael Van der Vaart and Niko Kranjcar are all comfortable in central midfield, one gets a sense of the level of competition there is for starting places in the Spurs midfield.
At the start of this season though, a little window has opened up for Jenas which he may not have expected. Palacios seems to have gone compeletely off the boil for the time being and it has allowed Jenas some game time, and crucially, some starts. Jenas has looked quite good in these games, providing the well-rounded displays he is known for. If he can maintain this current form, Jenas might just be able to prolong his career at White Hart Lane.
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The problem for Jermaine Jenas is that he comes across as a jack of all trades, but a master of none. When the season gets into the nitty gritty you imagine that Redknapp will be looking for powerful performances in midfield that Jenas may struggle to provide. Despite starting the season reasonably well, I just cannot see Jenas getting regular starts this term, and a move next summer or even in January may prove to be the best thing he can do for his career.
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Wesley Sneijder has admitted that he is ‘90% certain’ that he will not leave Inter Milan for Manchester United during the January transfer window.
The Netherlands international was linked with a move to Old Trafford during the summer, but in the end the Serie A side kept hold of their star playmaker.
Sir Alex Ferguson has not replaced Paul Scholes, who retired in the summer, and is thought to covet a new attacking midfielder to give the side a creative boost.
Despite reports in the press that United have made another bid for the 27-year-old, Sneijder is not expecting to leave Claudio Ranieri’s men in the next month.
“If I must give a percentage for it, I think I am 90 per cent certain I will stay,” he told Voetbal International.
“I enjoy myself here at the moment and at this point I don’t have anything to choose from.
“I don’t say that I am 100% certain, because something unexpected can always happen,” he concluded.
By Gareth McKnight
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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