France manager Laurent Blanc rued missed chances in his side’s 0-0 draw with Croatia in their international friendly on Tuesday.mBlanc’s men entered the clash with six consecutive wins to their name, but they failed to capitalise on their goal-scoring opportunities to make it seven straight, with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema and Lille’s Adil Rami the main culprits in front of goal.
Benzema missed a good chance from six yards out just prior to half-time, but Rami came closest when he hit the crossbar with an acrobatic bicycle kick.
Rami injured his shoulder after coming back down to earth from his attempt on goal, and Blanc joked it was due punishment for missing.
“He should have scored. He would have forgotten his injury more quickly,” the French boss said.
The French side were heckled at the final whistle after finishing the game goalless at Stade de France, but Blanc said he was satisfied with the result.
“I enjoyed watching this game, even though there were some things to improve. I thought it was quite pleasing, even though it was nothing to jump up and down about,” he said.
Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery were back in the squad in front of their home fans for the first time since they were outed as ringleaders of France’s training boycott at the World Cup in South Africa.
Ribery came off the bench as a substitute but Manchester United defender Evra was not required.
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Blanc said it was a step in the right direction that the pair were back in the mix for France selection.
“We next come back to Stade de France in October. You will see that things will be better,” Blanc said.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini admits the absence of Carlos Tevez for Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United has come as a huge blow for his side.Mancini confirmed on Thursday that Tevez could miss the next four weeks with a hamstring injury – at a time when City are not only fighting for their first trophy in 35 years, but also to finish in the top four in the English Premier League.
The club’s hopes of finishing in the Champions League places were dented on Monday night after being thumped 3-0 by Liverpool – and Tevez limped off in that match with an injury that now rules him out of Saturday’s derby.
“Tevez is not available for Saturday. I think he will recover in three or four weeks. It is a big problem but we can’t take any risks,” Mancini said.
“We have six games left and hopefully we can get Carlos back for the last two or three games.”
The Argentina striker, City’s top scorer, could be fit in time for the FA Cup final if Manchester City get there, with either Stoke or Bolton the opponents at Wembley.
Mancini will have to rely on either Edin Dzeko or Mario Balotelli to shoulder the goalscoring burden in Tevez’s absence.
“I still have to decide what to do. But both players know this is an important chance for them,” Mancini said.
“Every player knows this is an important moment for the club. If we will we can go to a final, so every player will give 100 percent.”
Mancini has had to fight off speculation regarding his job at Eastlands and there have been reports that he could be sacked if City fail to finish in the top four.
But he insists everyone at the club should be content as he looks towards the Wembley showdown with rivals United.
“We should be happy at the moment as it’s the first time in a long time are in the semi-final. We have a good chance of this and the Champions League,” Mancini said.
“The fans should be happy for this situation and for this game. We need to focus on this game and we need to understand it is very important. If we play well, we can get to the final.”
“United are in good form. They are very strong but I am not worried about this game – I am sure we will play well.”
Another weekend of Premiership action and it’s a slight understatement to say that the temperature is rising. The fight for Champions League spots has at least five teams in it and arguably the battle to avoid the drop into the Championship has twice as many teams dicing with death.
Manchester United vs Everton
This will a fiercely competitive game and I tell you this, Everton are going to give United a genuine run for their money here. The Toffees’ is superb of late. They haven’t lost in six and only drawn two, which at this end of the season is a credible achievement. Hernandez as an anytime goalscorer has to be worth a punt as does a 2.5+ goal line. I predict a 2-2 thriller which is 18/1.
The Cup specialists travel to Villa Park with the scent of victory still in their nostrils then, eh? We’ll have to wait and see. The Villans are obviously with Gerard Houllier, but perhaps this will simply serve to rally the troops. Stoke’s away form (Wembley aside) has been abysmal. Prediction a conservative 2-1 home win for me is 15/2.
Blackpool vs Newcastle
Oh Blackpool, you came and you gave without taking…. It’s looking like what you gave us were a few one liners from a village idiot and the services of Charlie Adam. Like ropey old seaside rides of yesteryear the wheels have fallen off. Toon distinguished themselves against United and in their post apocalyptic post Carroll sweat they are looking remarkably good. Prediction any price on an away win.
Liverpool vs Birmingham
Hardly ‘season defining’ but if Liverpool want to emphasise that they are back on track whacking Brum out of Anfield, over the Kop and into the car park for a six is the order of the day. Birmingham are probably looking for a point here to keep them just out of that relegation scrap. Liverpool must be like Ming. Merciless. Prediction of a home win has got to half attractive to lump on at 4/9.
Sunderland vs Wigan
Eeeeesch. Here’s one for hardened fan. A pair of past their sell by date pasties battling it out for pole position on the reduced to clear shelf. I hope Barclays bring us this game with a health warning. The sad thing is Sunderland are probably better than this. Or at least they were. I think Wigan may well do ’em and 11/4 seems value in my eyes.
Tottingham vs West Brom
Spurs were back to their lightening attack mode against Arsenal and I just wonder if they will now ‘do the usual’ and stroll into this game against a supposedly lesser side and get stung. It happens frequently. The Baggies have won their last two away games… Look out Lilywhites. I’ll take the draw at 3/1.
The last nail in West Ham coffin was hammered home by none other than Sir Geoff Hurst yesterday. He told Keys & Gray on talkSPORT that his beloved team were certain for the drop. Chelsea could get a hockey score here. 4-0 is only 9/1. This game ought to come with an 18 certificate.
Bolton vs Arsenal
Oh dear. I can see Mr Wenger spontaneously combusting at the Reebok here. Bolton were taken to the front of the class and rather uncharacteristically had their pants pulled down against Stoke. They will be wanting to remind their fans and indeed themselves they can still play football. A draw is no good for the Gunners. But 1-1 is an inviting enough 6/1.
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Laurent Blanc’s future is uncertain after newspaper reports claimed the maligned France coach had tendered his resignation.Ouest-France, France’s highest-circulating daily, reported the 1998 World Cup-winning defender had handed in his resignation to the French Football Federation amid growing public pressure over the racial quota scandal which has engulfed French football.
The FFF, who have opened an inquiry following allegations of applying racial quotas in the national training centres, however have denied such speculation.
The report also claimed that France President Nicholas Sarkozy was planning to veto any resignation plans Blanc may have had.
The Ligue 1-winning coach initially denied partaking in such discussions over the implementation of a racial quota – designed to limit the number of players of African and Maghreb descent over concerns of physicality and the issue of dual nationality.
“I admit some remarks made during a work meeting, taken out of their context, may be misinterpreted. As far as I am concerned, I apologise if I have hurt some feelings. But I, who am against any form of discrimination, do not accept being accused of racism or xenophobia,” he wrote in a statement.
Blanc has come in for criticism from former national team-mates, Lilian Thuram – France’s highest-capped player – and Patrick Vieira.
Thuram, while doubting Blanc harboured racist attitudes, did question the lack of wisdom with which the France boss made the comments regarding black players, while Vieira expressed shock at the idea FFF could even entertain such options.
“I am shocked. I would never have believed that the directors of football in our country could conduct such discussions about the national team in the heart of the federation offices. Never!” Vieira told Le Monde.
“I know Laurent Blanc. I’ve always got on well with him. I do not believe that he is a racist but I am surprised by the tone of his comments (about ‘blacks’). People can say what they like but no-one seems to have raised any objection during the meeting. (And) that’s shocking to me.”
Others – namely former Les Bleus captain Didier Deschamps, France captain Alou Diarra, former international Christophe Dugarry and French playmaker Franck Ribery – have thrown their support behind Blanc.
The joint FFF inquiry is expected to hand down a verdict on the futures of Blanc, FFF technical director Francois Blaquart and two other staff members on Monday.
The issue of identity and religion in France has been deeply politicised in recent years, and the outbreak of ‘QuotaGate’ has ensured the FFF and Blanc would be garner much publicity.
FROM the opening day of the season to the final swansong at Old Trafford it was a season of trials and tribulations for the Blackpool faithful.
It was quite some stay, a rollercoaster ride to say the least. Full of ups and downs, a season filled with excitement and exhilaration.
It has been a stay cut shorter than many would have liked, but nonetheless it was one that has left us with some fantastic memories and on behalf of the footballing family I’d personally like to take this opportunity to thank Blackpool for this Premier League season.
For the Seasiders more famous for their pier, their tower and the pleasure beach than their football side a season in the Premier League was always going to be a tall order.
It was a rapid rise to the top flight – just nine years previously the 1953 FA Cup winners were languishing in the fourth tier of English football.
A 4-0 victory away from home on day one was a statement of intent from a team making their first appearance in England’s top flight since 1971 and it was from that moment that a nation fell in love.
It didn’t last long. Arsenal soon lowered the tone and brought Blackpool back down to earth with a six goal drumming of Holloway’s men and from that moment it was always going to be a battle for survival rather than the ‘dream’ first season many had hoped for.
53 goals and a series of exciting games in their debut season left no doubt in the fans’ minds that they had earned their place alongside the likes of United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
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Over the course of the season Blackpool completed the double over Liverpool and reigned victorious over Champions League quarter finalists Tottenham Hotspur. But despite being able to beat the Premiership big guns what they oozed in abundance against the teams towards the top of the table they lacked severely against those towards the bottom.
It was the story of their season, quality football, taking the game to the opposition, scoring good goals, but most costly conceding far too man, most notably when losing at Bloomfield Road to Manchester United despite leading 2-0.
It proved all too costly and ultimately their downfall, even on deadline day. Again, they took the lead against United but lacked the conviction and in the end the ability to see out the game. A harsh own goal shattered the dream and United punished Blackpool as they tried in vein to get back into the game.
In was something of a harsh goodbye from the Premier League. A survival Sunday clash with the Premiership champions. Did anyone really believe they had a chance? Well in fact yes, many of whom United fans themselves – caused in no uncertain terms by ‘the Holloway factor’.
Holloway has been a breath of fresh air to the Premier League – the Bristolian ‘Special One’. At times a comedian, but always the ultimate professional. A man of words and wisdom with charisma in abundance. An all round performer.
Not only did Holloway and his team entertain us on the pitch, but he also cheered us up off it, quickly providing us with some brilliant quotes and unforgettable outbursts.
They’ll no doubt lose their best players. Most obviously Charlie Adam, heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, others are also likely to part company. But perhaps, just maybe they can hold on to one or two, even all, and if Holloway is allowed to invest and build a side capable of propelling Blackpool back into the Premier League, it will allow the man that deserves it so much a chance, one more crack at the big time.
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Last year 100,000 fans lined the streets of Blackpool after the Tangerines secured promotion to the Premier League.
It goes without saying that they’ve gained a few more avid followers that will be wishing them and Ian Holloway all the best and good luck in their quest to return to the top flight of English football.
Blackpool have brought glamour, excitement and colour- tangerine to be precise. The tangerine dream has been the story of the 2011/2012 season. Unfortunately, everyone has now woken up. “She’s put the mic down, the fat lady’s finished singing and I don’t like her tune.” Holloway’s final words in the Premier League – for now at least.
It’s sad to parting company, but to leave with one of Holloway’s quotes: “Are castle was made of sand but there’s concrete underneath.”
For now, the tide has come in. Let’s start to rebuild that castle.
As the season draws to a close, with Manchester United celebrating the winning of another title, and West Ham mourning a relegation to the Championship, the enquiries start to begin. Where did one club prosper where another failed? Who was a poor signing, and which player represented excellent value. In this article we will observe the five worst signings of the Premier League this season:
5) Christian Poulsen (Liverpool)
Number five on our list is the much maligned Christian Poulsen who joined Liverpool in the summer transfer window from Italian giants Juventus in a deal totalling £4.5 million. With Alonso having left for Madrid the season before and Mascherano leaving for Barcelona Liverpool started the season with a large hole in central midfield. The hapless Roy Hodgson had been appointed manager of Liverpool shortly after leading Fulham to the Europa League final, and had the task of replacing Alonso and Mascherano.
Step forward Christian Poulsen, the Danish international who was plying his trade in Italy. He failed to adapt to the pace and vigour of the Premier League and looked atrocious in the Liverpool midfield, and has appeared slower than treacle alongside Steven Gerrard. Poulsen has made 12 Premier League appearances for Liverpool the season in uninspiring fashion, and most of these appearances were under Hodgson with the second half of the season seeing Poulsen disappearing into obscurity.
4) Sebastien Squillaci (Arsenal)
Arsene Wenger has always had a soft spot for rank average French centre backs, with the history books citing the laughable Silvestre, the dreadful Pascal Cygan and the newest addition to the list is Sebastien Squillaci. Squillaci was signed from Spanish club Sevilla late in the Summer transfer window for a reported £6 million, and to say it has been a disappointing season for the Frenchman would be an understatement. Squillaci was highly rated when signed by Wenger, with a view to partnering Thomas Vermaelen at the centre of the Gunners’ defense, however this season hasn’t reflected this faith.
Many of the worst defensive capitulations in the Gunners’ season had Squillaci present, with the second half crumbling against Spurs at the Emirates (3 goals conceded in a 3-2 loss) and the infamous second half capitulation against Newcastle (4 goals conceded in a 4-4 draw) where Squillaci came on at half time. Squillaci looks set to be shipped out in the summer after his catastrophic season.
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3) Paul Konchesky (Liverpool)
Poor old Roy Hodgson, another of his ill fated transfers makes our top five. When Hodgson joined Liverpool in 2010 he attempted to bring one of his most dependable performers from Fulham with him in left-back Paul Konchesky. The deal totalled £3.5 million and was necessary due to Liverpool’s loaning of Insua to Galatasary and the release of perennial sick note Fabio Aurelio. Konchesky made 15 appearances for Liverpool in a disappointing spell, and he has since been shipped out to Nottingham Forest where the team recently lost in the play offs.
2) Stephen Ireland (Aston Villa)
Where to start with Stephen Ireland? An immensely talented yet bizarre player with a long history of controversy wherever he goes. One such controversy was his infamous series of lies regarding his grandmothers dying in order to not go on international duty for Ireland. He was frozen out of Manchester City following an injury and the club’s ambition with regards the top players worldwide. Due to this Ireland agreed to join Villa in the summer with Milner going in the opposite direction. However, Ireland’s career plummeted yet further, with his debut coming against Newcastle in a humbling 6-0 defeat where Ireland was anonymous. Houllier soon decided that Ireland was a poor investment and sent him on loan to Newcastle where he again has been a major disappointment.
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1) Bébé (Manchester United)
Drum roll please … at number one we have the enigmatic Portugese winger Bébé who was signed to Manchester United for £7.4 million during the summer transfer window. The signing was made under the recommendation of Carlos Queiroz and was meeting with denigration from the media due to the rumours that Ferguson hadn’t seen him play and that the player had represented Portugal in the Homeless World Cup. Bébé has only represented Manchester United 7 times over this season, with 3 starts and 2 goals. 2 goals in 7 appearances doesn’t seem too poor for a new player acclimatising to the Premier League, however the manner of the performances have been dire. Bébé has returned to the reserves, and has shown little over this season to suggest he is worth anything close to resembling his £7.4 million fee.
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti believes reluctant coach Leonardo could be set to leave the San Siro.Leonardo, 41, took over from the sacked Rafael Benitez at Inter in December 2010, guiding the club to second place in Serie A.
But the Brazilian, who also spent the 2009/10 season in charge of AC Milan, is not believed to harbour ambitions of a long-term career as a head coach.
He has been strongly linked with the vacant director of football position at Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain, where he spent a successful season as a player in 1996/97.
“Leonardo has a great opportunity,” Moratti told the Inter website. “We’ll try to find a solution which suits him and the club.”
After an unhappy spell at AC Milan, where Leonardo clashed with club owner Silvio Berlusconi, Moratti reportedly had to work hard to convince the former Brazil international to replace Benitez mid-way through last season.
And despite winning the Coppa Italia last month, Leonardo’s tenure at the club has not been a complete success.
He came in for criticism when the team surrendered their Champions League crown in the quarter-finals with a 7-3 aggregate defeat to unfancied Schalke.
Inter also effectively conceded the league title with a 3-0 derby loss to eventual Scudetto winners AC Milan.
Moratti believes Leonardo’s long-term future lies away from the dugout, but did not entirely rule out the possibility of his coach remaining in charge next season.
“He worked as a coach with good will and passion, but being a coach was certainly not what he aspired to be in the future,” Moratti said.
“It makes sense that he follows his ambitions and that we look for a new coach. Then should Leonardo change his mind then we could change ours too.”
Former Argentina and Chile head coach Marcelo Bielsa has been touted as a replacement if Leonardo does leave the San Siro.
After initially denying reports that Inter had spoken with the 55-year-old, Moratti confirmed that preliminary contact had been made by the club.
“I do believe that there has been a first contact with Bielsa, even if that wasn’t made by me,” Moratti said.
English Premier League newcomers Norwich City have signed Manchester United’s Ritchie De Laet on a season-long loan on Friday.De Laet, 22, has made just six first-team appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side since joining from Stoke City in 2009.
He has enjoyed spells on loan at Sheffield United, Preston and Portsmouth in the lower tiers of English football but will have his first real opportunity to impress the Premier League champions when he competes against the best teams in the country on a weekly basis.
De Laet is likely to form a vital part of the Norwich side, who have been promoted in successive seasons since manager Paul Lambert took over at the East Anglia-based club.
“He’ll be great for us,” Lambert said after the signing was announced on Friday.
“He’s young and one of his main strengths is pace and he comes from a great club where he’s played first-team football. He’ll come in and help the other lads out. He’s played a lot of first-team games out on loan last season and I’m sure he’ll do great for us.”
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The deal is subject to the completion of paperwork but will bolster Norwich’s defensive options ahead of their first season in the English Premier League since 2004-05.
As soon as the fixtures for the 2011-12 Premier League season were released, they themselves became a fixture on Sky Sports News’ information bars. Fans of each Premiership club had the pleasure of seeing the first 6 games of the season emblazoned on their television screen, with the slow, monotonous rotation through each team a genuine spectacle to behold. That is, if it is 3 in the morning and you can’t muster the effort to go to go to bed. But hey, that’s was Sky Sports News is for; killing dead time.
Personally I find it tedious that these fixtures are paraded almost a whole 2 months before the season even kicks off, although I understand that it gives fans a chance to earmark important games and gives them an opportunity to prepare for their arrival. But how important are the 6 games that float so tantalisingly on the screen for such an extended period?
The general consensus seems to be that pre-season matches are not all about the result, but instead about fitness and, towards the end of the friendly fixtures, the performance. The jump from that into the new season is quite spectacular. Let’s look at Liverpool last year, ‘enjoying’ life under new boss Roy Hodgson so much that they languished in the bottom 3. 6 points from these 6 games was not enough for the hungry Liverpool support, sowing the seeds of doubt regarding the former Fulham manager’s ability to perform at a club with high expectations. With hindsight we can see that Liverpool ended the season 6th, failing to achieve their target of getting back in to the Champion’s League places.
At the other end of the table, Chelsea had picked up from where they left off the season before. The London club had been crowned Champions on the last day of the previous season with an 8-0 victory over Wigan, and were continuing their formidable goal-scoring form. They opened-up with a 6-0 thrashing of newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion, and repeated that scoreline in the next game away to Wigan. Of the opening 6 games, Chelsea won 5, scoring an impressive 21 goals and losing only to Manchester City, 1-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium. Their form was so imperious that many in the footballing world had all but handed the West London club the title. They held top spot in the league until the 15th round of fixtures, before surrendering their grip in the midst of an atrocious run of form between November and January, and ultimately finished second, not high enough to save Carlo Ancelotti’s job.
Down at the bottom of the league, Wolves found themselves staving off relegation from the very start of the season. 5 points from the opening 6 fixtures saw them below Liverpool in 19th, and after they had lost to Chelsea on the 14th game of the season, they had only 9 points and were looking as if they were free-falling out of the league. Obviously by the end of the season they just managed to turn their fortunes around, but the results from their first few games did them no favours.
It really is hard to try and see any kind of link between the first 6 fixtures and where your team finds itself come the end of the season. The old cliché goes that you can’t win it in August, but you can lose it. Apparently, that is a whole load crap. The idea that you could be in an irreparable position after so few games is reserved for those that don’t deserve to be in the Premier League. The fact that relegation, the title race and the hunt for Europe were all closely fought shows the strength of the league as a whole, and a few bad games at the start of the season will not change that for any club.
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Jordan Henderson made his much anticipated Liverpool debut at Anfield, in last Saturday’s opening game of the season, and I for one, was more than a little surprised. When I say ‘a little’, it has nothing to do with the young midfielder’s actual ability or current form. No, I believe, and I hope I’m wrong in saying so, that his instant start was all down to his hefty price tag. If this was, and is, going to be the case, then obviously it is the wrong choice for both club and player.
Of course, nobody at Liverpool is ever going to admit it if it is true, but like it or not Henderson’s hefty fee brings with it a pressure that calls for his instant inclusion – even if he isn’t ready just yet. Don’t get me wrong. I am in no way insinuating that Henderson isn’t ready just yet, or that he had a poor game on his debut, or anything else negative regarding the player’s new Liverpool career. It is more of a plea in hope that he is given the time to continue his development at his own pace, and in doing so, turn into the player Kenny Dalglish, and, especially Damien Comolli, hope he can become – without having any added pressure heaped on him, which will come from the media during every appearance in the starting eleven. Whilst the media are never going to be as patient – keen to generate any story into sensationalist headlines, the management and fans should allow his progression to occur naturally rather than have him play him just for the sake of his fee.
Eyebrows were raised when Liverpool forked out the £16-odd million it cost to take Henderson from his hometown club Sunderland, where he had only played two full seasons. But the youngster was seen as one of the rising stars of English football, making his full senior England debut last season and even touted by FIFA as one of thirteen young players to watch in 2011, on their official website back in January. His then manager Steve Bruce, hailed him as ‘the best young British footballer there is’ however, more key to his eventual hefty price was that he was actually English – and we all know the going rate for English players in today’s market; especially young ones – proven or otherwise. Not only were eyebrows raised at the price, for the lack of consistent proven quality on his part, but for the fact that Liverpool had acquired a player who, whilst can play on the right-hand side of midfield, is not a specialised right-winger. Many say he is going to eventually fill the role left by Steven Gerrard once he decides to hang-up his injury prone Predators, in a more central-role, and if this is the case, then Liverpool can afford to groom him into that role when ready and needed. On his debut, Henderson was selected to start – as a right-winger. They may think he was ready, but he certainly wasn’t needed in that position for Saturday.
On Liverpool’s bench were two players who, whilst themselves are not specialised right-wingers, have played for the team in that role, to a high standard – and have vastly more experience than the 21-year old Henderson. Step forward Dirk Kuyt and Raul Meireles. Both were available and ready for action. Both between them, were regular starters last season on the right-hand side of midfield, Meireles himself becoming something of a revelation in the team last year, when roving around the pitch from his right-hand starting position. As for Dirk Kuyt, he had occupied that area for a number of years now, weighing in with a number of important goals. Both are also experienced internationals with Portugal and Holland. The point here is that whilst the other Liverpool debutants on Saturday (Enrique, Adam and Downing) were needed for their specialised positions, Henderson wasn’t. Whilst he may become a world beater, he needs time to grow and acclimatise to the intense pressure playing for a club like Liverpool brings. Maybe the management thought it better for him to make his debut against players he knows extremely well at his former club. If so, I can understand. I just hope it doesn’t set precedence for ‘feeling’ a need to start him, before he is ready.
Liverpool are now in good footballing hands with Kenny Dalglish back in charge. The fans just hope that any non-footballing influences don’t start to take it back out of his hands.
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