All posts by h79snht.top

Aston Villa's striker shortage has become even more acute after John Carew was ruled out for around three weeks by a torn calf muscle.

The 31-year-old Norway international had been expected to lead the line against Fulham this weekend in the absence of both Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor, but Carew has now joined his colleagues on the sidelines.

Manager Gerard Houllier had earlier challenged Carew to show that he is worth a new contract, with the striker's current deal set to run out at the end of the season.

The Frenchman had said:"John is a centre-forward. What you expect from a centre-forward is goals. He can do that.

"On his day he can be absolutely awesome – practically impossible to stop. We want the top John Carew that I know.

"John is at the end of his contract. It is an opportunity to express what he wants – whether he wants to stay at the club or whether he wants to go somewhere else.

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"But in both cases I would say he has got to be at his best to be in the shop window."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Unsurprisingly the biggest news to immerge from the red side of Manchester this week is the return of a certain Mr. Rooney. It still may take time before he is fully welcomed back by all Red Devils fans, but his cool conversion of an 87th minute penalty at Ibrox would not have harmed things. It was a good week for Manchester United qualifying for the next round of the champions league and closing the deficit at the top of the league to mere goal difference.

This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of Man United blogs which has included…The title spark that Manchester United needed, The problem with Dimitar Berbatov and unsurprisingly a couple of United players in the Premier League DREAM team of all-time?

Plus we have taken a look at the best Man United stories on the Web this week.

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Hallå Underbar – Christian’s lady puts Premiership WAGS in the shade

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Would United fans really be sad if Fergie CASHED in?

VIDEO: A tribute to a Manchester United Legend

Caption Competition: The Pretenders to Fergie’s Throne?

The problem with Dimitar Berbatov

The Premier League DREAM team of all-time?

Said & Done – Fergie’s Transfer Plans

Why Manchester United must now revert back to 4-2-3-1

The title spark that Manchester United needed

Why Sir Alex must front the queue with this signing

List only serves to highlight Manchester United’s great flaw?

Is it just the Glazers responsible for the gloom at Old Trafford?

Is this the Premier League team from HELL?

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Click here to see the Best MANCHESTER UNITED BLOGS around the Web this week

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Rooney: an argument for the left – United Rant

This Is How It Feels To Be City: Part XII – RoM

The Future May Be Dim For Berbatov – The United Religion

The Great Power Shift – Manchester or London? – RoM

Video: Could PSV star be a cheaper alternative to Bale? – The Busby Way

Premier League remarkable only for its mediocrity – United Rant

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It is widely thought that Arsenal play some of the most attractive football in the Premier League, and the style of the Gunners isn’t a million miles away from that of Barcelona. However, this season in the Premier League north London rivals Tottenham have proved to be one of the most exciting teams to watch, and this hasn’t been lost on George Graham.

Today in the Sunday Star George Graham has said that “We all go on about Arsenal, their possession and all that but Spurs are really exciting to watch. That’s because they have an end product to all that possession and beautiful play. They have shots on goal and they have wonderful ­crosses coming from both flanks. That makes them really exciting – and it’s something Arsenal still have to work on.”

Football FanCast opens the question up to Arsenal and Tottenham fans and asks them whether it is Spurs or in fact Arsenal who play the most attractive football in north London? – cast your vote!

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Blackburn Rovers are attempting one of the biggest transfer coups of the season after their new owners confirmed that they have made a bid to bring Brazilian star Ronaldinho to Ewood Park.

The club’s owners, Venky’s, has said that it has been in talks with the player’s manager about a move that the group hope will be a serious statement of intent for their Premier League ambitions.

Venky’s chair, Anuradha Desai, said of the possible move: “He is keen to play in the EPL [English Premier League] and I think that goes in our favour.”

She also insisted that their company would have no problem financing the move and outlined what payments Ronaldinho would be likely to receive should he join: “To be precise [it is] 7.6m Euros for the first year and about 8.5m Euros for the second and third years,”

It is thought however that Ronaldinho would prefer a move back to Brazil where Flamengo, Gremio and Palmeiras are interested.

Desai ended her statement by assuring fans of her company’s dedication to bringing success to Blackburn Rovers: “The fans have to trust us and give us some time and you will see for yourself that we are sincere people, very passionate about the football team and football club and our fans. We will not let you down.”

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In case you need reminding of Ronaldinho’s quality, here’s a video of his best bits:

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Bolton manager Owen Coyle admitted he was left hugely disappointed after seeing his side demolished 4-0 at home by Chelsea on Monday.

The Blues, who had not won away from home in any competition in three months until their trip to the Reebok Stadium, took the lead in the English Premier League encounter through Didier Drogba and also had strikes from Florent Malouda, Nicholas Anelka and Ramires.

All four goals were helped in by some poor Bolton defending, on a day when Coyle’s side were hoping to honour the memory of Bolton legend Nat Lofthouse, who died last week.

“We are hurting. I never envisaged that outcome going into the game,” Coyle said.

“The goals we conceded were all self-inflicted. If you give the ball away cheaply to this kind of opposition that’s what happens. They have punished us severely.”

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“We need to pick ourselves up. You can either go away and sulk or come back and be determined to work hard. We need players to stand up and put it right. We have to get back to work. But it’s been a less-than enjoyable evening for everyone at the football club.”

Newcastle have completed the loan signing of midfielder Stephen Ireland from Premier League rivals Aston Villa until the end of the season.

Ireland, 24, was allowed to leave Villa Park after the club announced that American international Michael Bradley will join the club on loan from Bundesliga outfit Borussia Monchengladbach.

The signing will boost Newcastle’s attacking options with the imminent departure of striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool.

“Stephen has shown over the past few seasons that he’s a real top player so we’re really pleased to have got him until the end of the season,” Newcastle manager Alan Pardew told the club’s official website.

“He can create chances for others and score goals himself, and we think he can be a big factor for us in the second part of this season.”

“I think Stephen feels he can deliver more than he’s shown at Villa so far, so he’s got a point to prove and I believe we can reap the benefits of that.”

Ireland joined Villa as part of the deal that saw James Milner move to Manchester City in the off-season but failed to secure a regular place in the side.

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The Republic of Ireland International has fallen out of favour with Villa manager Gerard Houllier, who criticised the attacking midfielder for his work ethic.

Ireland has just made six Premier League starts this season and is yet to score a goal.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp says the club desperately need a new stadium if they are to compete at the top of the Premier League.

The north London club were dealt a huge blow on Friday when West Ham were chosen as the preferred bidders by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) for the use of the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.

The decision still has to be ratified by two government departments and the mayor of London, but it appears certain that Tottenham will have to look elsewhere as they seek to move into a new 60,000-seat stadium that would allow them to compete financially with the matchday revenue of the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal.

And Redknapp admits that is a blow as the club looks to maintain their push for a Champions League place against Sunderland on Saturday.

“Tottenham need a new stadium,” said Redknapp. “We need a new 60,000-seater stadium because we haven’t got room to accommodate all the people that want to come and watch us every week.”

“Am I disappointed West Ham have been chosen as the preferred bidder? Yes, because the club wanted it.”

“I work for them so it would’ve been nice for us if we had got it if they thought it was the best way forward. The chairman couldn’t have tried any harder but that’s it. That’s life. You have to move on.”

Redknapp’s main focus is on Saturday’s tricky tie at the Stadium of Light. With Chelsea not playing until Monday night, Spurs will move into the top four if they win in the north-east.

But with Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Ledley King all out injured, Redknapp is expecting a tough test as his side battle to keep their Champions League spot.

And with an away game against AC Milan in the last 16 to come on Tuesday, the former West Ham and Portsmouth boss is not happy about the timing of Saturday evening’s kick-off.

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“The timing isn’t ideal is it for us, it’s not perfect for sure,” said Redknapp. “But we have to focus on getting into the top four now, that’s the key.”

“AC Milan shouldn’t be a distraction. We have a difficult game tomorrow and Steve Bruce has done a great job there.”

“He has taken a good couple of players. Steve rang me about Sulley Muntari and I said I would take him all day long, having had him at Portsmouth, and (Stephane) Sessegnon is a good player. They have some quality and it will be a difficult game.”

Yet another product of the esteemed Ajax academy, foraging full-back Gregory van der Wiel could be the latest de Godenzonen graduate to depart the Amsterdam Arena for pastures new this summer.

van der Wiel has attracted admiring glances from across the continent for the last couple of years, with Barcelona, Manchester City and Arsenal all rumoured to have kept tabs on the 23-year-old. Chelsea are the latest Premier League team to be linked with the Ajax man. With Jose Bosingwa out of contract in the summer and Branislav Ivanovic preferring to play at centre-back, van der Wiel could be an ideal signing for Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.

After coming through Ajax’s academy system (initially as a centre-back before being switched to right-back by then-manager Marco van Basten), van der Wiel made his senior debut for the club in March 2007, featuring in a 4-1 win over FC Twente. He has since gone on to appear 97 times for the Netherlands’ most successful club, scoring nine times in the process.

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Amassing 14 appearances over the course of his first two seasons at the club, van der Wiel established himself as a key member of Ajax’s starting line-up during the 2008/09 season. Indeed his performances during that season lead to him being named as the club’s “Talent of the Year”. He continued his impressive progress last season, and was deservedly awarded the Johan Cruijff “Young Player of the Year” accolade for 2009/10.

The right-back has also established himself as part of the national team set-up. Capped 20 times, van der Wiel made his debut for The Netherlands in a friendly match against Tunisia in February 2009. He also featured in the side’s ultimately unsuccessful bid to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, starting twice for the Oranje in their group stage wins over Denmark and Japan.

As an attacking right-back, van der Wiel has unsurprisingly drawn comparisons with Barcelona’s Daniel Alves. Much like the Brazilian, van der Wiel is equipped with pace and stamina. He is also a good crosser of the ball.

With van der Wiel’s stock continuing to rise, suitors such as Chelsea should look to move quickly if they are to secure his services. AC Milan are reported to have opened negotiations to take the 23-year-old to the San Siro, in a move which would see him reunited with compatriot Urby Emanuelson. A failure to agree a fee prevented the defender from joining German giants Bayern Munich after the 2010 World Cup finals, but it seems likely that this season will prove to be van der Wiel’s last in Amsterdam.

The following video highlights Van der Wiel’s talents:

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Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul

Whether it’s a club in the Premier League or the SPL, no club is anything without its fans. They are dependent on you for your support and no matter who owns, manages or plays for your club, as long as the fans continue to support their team they’ll keep going.

It is often argued who are the best football supporters in Britain. You have Newcastle fans, who always fill up their away allocation while 50,000 of them cram into St James’ Park every week, then there’s thousands of Arsenal and Tottenham fans who can’t get hold of a season ticket for love nor money.

However, in the Football Fans Survey 2011 carried out here on FootballFanCast.com, it was Liverpool fans who were given the nod. The Anfield faithful secured 27% of the vote, beating off competition from Newcastle and Manchester United to win the tag of being the best away supporters in Britain.

I’m sure Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish knows just how great the Reds fans are, having pulled on the Liverpool shirt in the past, and the American owners must be getting an idea too! So, the fans have spoken, Liverpool are the best away supporters in Britain. The question is, do you agree?

To see the rest of the results from the Football Fans Survey 2011, brought to you by ZOO Magazine and FootballFanCast.com, click here

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Harry Redknapp will be missing influential duo Gareth Bale and William Gallas when Tottenham travel to play Wigan on Saturday.But the Spurs boss has stressed the importance of keeping alive their chances of finishing in the top four.

Tottenham have struggled to find their best form in their past three league games and have picked up only two points against relegation strugglers Blackpool, Wolves and West Ham.

The north London club have slipped out of the top four and have now fallen four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

But despite the importance of facing Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night, Redknapp believes his side cannot afford to drop any more points if they are to stand any chance of playing in the prestigious European competition again next season.

“They are all focused, they know how important it is for us to make that top four again,” he said.

“We have worked hard all year at it and have been fighting on both fronts. We have always been in the top five all season and it has not been through a lack of effort in trying to stay up there.”

“The game is all important for us. We have to look to get Champions League football for sure next year, so we have to keep picking up points. Wigan is a vital game for us.”

Although Bale is expected to have recovered from a hamstring injury to play against Real Madrid, Gallas is now facing a race against time to prove his fitness as he is suffering with a knee injury.

Gallas has already been for two scans this week to assess the damage and broke down once again when he attempted to kick a ball on Friday morning.

I couldn’t be sure (if he will be fit for Madrid). At the moment, he can’t kick a ball,” Redknapp said.

“His knee is sore. He has had two scans this week. The first scan he had didn’t look too bad and he went out training but didn’t feel good.”

“He had another scan and went out this morning and did some running but when he went to strike the ball he had problems.”

“I’ve got two central defenders left, Sebastien Bassong and Michael Dawson and hope they don’t get injured.”