The agent of Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has dismissed reports linking his client with a move to Italy to join Juventus.
The 30-year-old Bulgaria international started the new season in fine form, but has suffered a dip since a superb hat-trick against Liverpool in mid-September.
However, agent Emil Dantchev confirmed:"There's nothing to say. He will stay in Manchester.
"All the reports of a move are nothing, they are false. He's happy and the club are happy."
Meanwhile, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has shouldered some of the blame for Berbatov's two-month dry spell in front of goal.
He told the Manchester Evening News:"In fairness to Dimitar, we have been changing the strikers quite a lot recently. I think I have to accept the responsibility for changing it too much.
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"Now we are going to have to be looking at getting consistency of performance.
"We have a lot of good young strike options who have played in a lot of games recently, but hopefully we can get Wayne (Rooney) back to his best and Dimitar is suited to playing with Wayne."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Striker Emile Heskey is to make his comeback for Aston Villa in Saturday's home derby clash against West Brom, while Ashley Young returns after suspension.
Young was forced to sit out the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool on Monday as he served a one-game ban for picking up five yellow cards this season, but is available again for the Villa Park showdown against the Baggies.
Heskey, who had scored three goals in six games for Villa, has not played for more than a month following knee surgery although boss Gerard Houllier says he will definitely feature at the weekend.
He said: ''Emile will definitely be involved on Saturday. It's down to other people to analyse the minutes we've played with Emile, the goals he's scored and made. But you would see the difference, he works hard for the team and we've missed him.''
The Baggies game will come too soon for midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, despite his return to training from knee problems, while skipper Stiliyan Petrov is a fortnight off a return to light training following his Achilles injury.
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Houllier added on ESPN: "Petrov is ahead of schedule and in two weeks he should be back in training. Reo-Coker had his first full training session with us yesterday. I'd be surprised if he is in contention (for Saturday)."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Arsenal avoided a shock defeat in the FA Cup this weekend as a last minute Cesc Fabregas penalty ensured that the Gunners are in the hat for the 4th Round. Arsene Wenger could have done without the replay, as the games come thick and fast during the second half of the season.
At FFC we have seen a mixed bag of articles which includes Wenger’s principles questioned; Arsenal miss a trick with Bergkamp and one deal in January that Arsene must get right.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week.
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VIDEO: The GREATEST Premier League goal ever…you decide!
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The most important DEAL Arsenal will complete this month
Time to revamp the January window so to avoid this annual circus?
The Top TEN January transfer window disasters
Principles are one thing, but success is another for Arsenal
Have Arsenal missed a trick with Dennis Bergkamp?
Top TEN Transfer Window guarantees this January
Has Wenger made a mistake with Aaron Ramsey?
Has time now come for Arsene to CASH in on winger?
Loan deal could prove the making of young Gunner?
One rule for the big boys and one for everyone else?
Another Wenger transfer masterstroke or a shrewd commercial move?
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Best of Web
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Exciting youngster flirting with Arsenal again \ Drug scandal \ He’s on his way out! – Le Grove
Stone Cold Friday: On The Right Track – A Cultured Left Foot
Random Thoughts From The Barnet Hills – Online Gooner
City boring, Fabianski bored! There will be days like this I guess…. – Highbury House
Undeniably, a deal Arsenal must swiftly secure – Gunnersphere
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With the Dutch press suggesting that new Ajax manager Frank De Boer will allow striker Luis Suarez in the January transfer window, I thought it might be interesting to look at the controversial Uruguayan striker in more detail. I have underlined three reasons below that make me uncertain over whether a move for him would be a good idea:
Courting Controversy – Two incidents over the last year have seen Luis Suarez being thrust into the limelight for the wrong reasons. The first came during the World Cup quarter final against Ghana. He handled the ball deliberately on the line in the last minute of extra time and was sent off. He was then seen celebrating when Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting spot kick leading to a penalty shoot-out which Uruguay won. Suarez has ever since been labelled a “cheat” or unsportsmanlike.
The second incident came back in November in a league game against PSV Eindhoven. After an argument between the players, Suarez bit opponent Otman Bakkal on the shoulder. The 23 year old was fined and was given a seven match ban by the Dutch FA. Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf pronounced him to be the “Cannibal of Ajax.”
Goal scoring record – The biggest doubt of course for any striker coming from Holland to the Premier League is whether they have the ability to continue their excellent goal scoring record they had in the Eredivisie. Mateja Kezman and Alfonso Alves are just two names that come to mind, who had excellent goal scoring records in Holland, but failed to impress in the Premier League. Suarez has an excellent goalscoring record for Ajax with 81 league goals in the last three and half years, but will this be replicated in England?
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Before his lengthy suspension, Suarez had gone nine matches without scoring a goal and had only scored 1 goal in five Champions League matches. European competition is where standards are highest and his record in this season’s group stage was not great, although he had success in previous seasons in the Europa League. The biggest deciding factor if he is to be successful, will be down to his technical and physical attributes. In this area though I think Suarez will be fine as he can hold up the ball as well as having a fair bit of pace.
Partnering Fernando Torres – Another question mark is whether Suarez and Fernando Torres could be partnered together at Liverpool. Kenny Dalglish has already reverted back to playing 4-5-1 and I doubt Suarez would be comfortable playing in any other position other than alongside Torres. The Uruguayan does not have the physical qualities to play as a lone striker like Torres nor would it be easy for him to play out of position in the two wide areas. A change back to 4-4-2 would be necessary and the question becomes, would Suarez compliment Torres in the forward line?
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Certainly they bring different attributes to the party. Suarez likes coming deep for the ball and getting involved in build up play, while Torres likes getting in behind defences. I still would however prefer a different stronger, target man figure alongside Torres, so the Spaniard could feed off knock downs and be free to play his own game rather than be the sole target man himself. Suarez would be a different partner but I could see the partnership working out.
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Bayern Munich have confirmed that Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel has signed for Italian giants AC Milan.
The 33-year-old’s contract with Bayern was due to expire at the end of the season and after being told it would not be renewed, he asked to be released early in order to secure his move to Milan.
“I am leaving FC Bayern with a heavy heart, but with my head held high,” Van Bommel said in a statement.”
“I had four and a half wonderful and successful years here and would like to express my gratitude to the club and the fans.”
“FC Bayern will always have a place in my heart.”
Van Bommel, who has only made 13 appearances for Bayern this season, had been linked with moves to Tottenham and Liverpool before signing with Massimiliano Allegri’s side.
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“The Dutch international asked for his contract to become void to transfer for sporting reasons,” a Bayern statement read.
Only a few months after Gareth Bale announced his arrival on the world stage in Tottenham’s 4-3 defeat to Inter Milan in the group stage of the Champions League, next Tuesday the Welshman and his teammates will take to the San Siro pitch for the second time this season. The venue might be the same but, of course, the stripes on their opponents’ shirts will be different. This time the Londoners will be lining up against Inter’s city rivals AC, the Rossoneri, in the latest instalment of their first campaign in Europe’s most prestigious club competition for almost half a century.
A two-legged tie against the Serie A leaders was the most daunting draw that Harry Redknapp’s team could have been given outside of a visit to Barcelona or Madrid. Nonetheless, Spurs can point to an undefeated record against Milan as they bid to reach the quarter-finals. It is astonishing that Tottenham, with such a long history of European competition, have only met their next European opponents twice before. Now is the perfect time to look back at those meetings from 1972.
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was renamed the UEFA Cup in 1971. European football’s governing body took over the competition’s running three years after qualification for it had become determined solely by a club’s league position, discarding the tournament’s previous idiosyncratic entry method that had had more to do with economics than sporting performance. Spurs qualified for the inaugural 1971/72 competition, then, by virtue of their third-place finish in the First Division the year before, and not because of London’s identity as a venue for trade fairs. Milan, meanwhile, entered the draw as the runners-up to Inter in Serie A.
Spurs and Milan would eventually meet in the semi-finals but to get that far both teams first had to see off four other opponents. Iceland’s Keflavík ĺF were despatched 15-1 by Spurs in the first round, with Nantes of France overcome next, before back-to-back victories over the Romanian sides Rapid Bucharest and UTA Arad took Bill Nicholson’s side into the last four. Milan, who had won the European Cup three years earlier under their incumbent manager Nereo Rocco, knocked out the Cypriot side Digenis Akritas Morphou, Hertha Berlin, Dundee, and Lierse of Belgium to earn their showdown with the Londoners.
The first leg took place at White Hart Lane on 5th April. In goal for Milan was Fabio Cudicini, Carlo’s father, whilst captaining the away side was the iconic Gianni Rivera. It was the skipper’s long pass that brought about his side’s opening goal after 25 minutes. Terry Naylor could only nod the ball into the path of the onrushing Romeo Benetti, who had given the ball to Rivera in the first place. The 26-year-old midfielder took one touch before steadying himself and firing past Pat Jennings in the Spurs goal from the edge of the box.
Milan’s lead only lasted five minutes. Cyril Knowles turned away from his marker to cross from the left towards Alan Gilzean, who beat three markers to head the ball down into the path of Martin Chivers. Chivers tried to set up Martin Peters but he couldn’t get his shot away, only for Steve Perryman to hit a rising drive that Cudicini could only help into the net.
Midway through the second half and the night got even better for Spurs and for Perryman. Giulio Zignoli gave away a corner that was subsequently headed clear but only as far as the 20-year-old hero from the first half. Perryman brought the ball down effortlessly before calmly striking it right-footed past Cudicini, this time without the keeper getting a touch. “He’s done it again!” exclaimed the commentator, Barry Davies.
The game finished 2-1 but, even as the home crowd celebrated what had been a momentous win against a team that had won the European Cup twice during the sixties, Davies was still keen to stress that Milan would need only a 1-0 win in Italy in a fortnight’s time to knock Spurs out.
The commentator should have shown more faith. Alan Mullery’s seventh-minute strike in the San Siro meant that Spurs had matched Milan’s away goal from the first leg. Tottenham’s captain had spent part of the season on loan at Second Division Fulham as part of his recovery from injury, but here he was swapping an away game at Leyton Orient for the opportunity to silence 68,000 Italians. Rivera made it 1-1 on the night from the spot with 21 minutes remaining but Spurs held on to claim a 3-2 aggregate victory and a place in the first UEFA Cup final against fellow First Division side Wolves.
Mullery scored again in the second leg of the final as his side claimed what was then their second European trophy, to add to the 1963 Cup Winners’ Cup, winning 3-2 on aggregate against their English opponents. Few Spurs fans are seriously contemplating another European final this season just yet, but a repeat of their team’s 1972 heroics against Milan will go a long way to changing the minds of the doubters amongst the faithful.
You can follow William Abbs on Twitter.
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The signing of Joe Cole from Chelsea on a free transfer last summer looked like a bargain for Liverpool, especially beating off potential interest from Tottenham and Arsenal for the England star. However after a sending off on his debut for the club and misfortune in injuries, he’s yet been able to shine in the Red jersey and with the likes of Newcastle United interested in the players services, would it be wise for the club to cash in on the player who has failed to live up to expectations or does the talented 29-year old deserve more of a chance at Anfield?
The player certainly has a lot of admirers from fans to players; with Steven Gerrard claiming that Cole is as good as Lionel Messi. At the World Cup last summer, England fans were demanding that Joe Cole saw more time on the pitch than on the bench but Fabio Capello showed he lacked faith in the player being a talisman in the first eleven. It is clear that Joe Cole has an abundance of talent and let’s not forget he played an integral role in Chelsea’s success in the last decade but the player is not the most consistent of performers. Although Liverpool manager, Kenny Dalglish commented on the player after he came on as a substitute against Sparta Prague last night :
“We have got to be patient with Joe. That is his first run out since I came here. We want to give him a bit of time and make sure he gets there. Form is temporary, class is permanent and that is where we stand with Joe”
It is important that Dalglish is showing faith in the player, something that was missing from the previous manager, Roy Hodgson but could it be a gamble? Hodgson is not the only manager who hasn’t favoured Cole, with his team work and lack of defensive qualities often cited. However, Cole is that typical talented attacking midfielder that gets played out of position. Whether on the left or right side of midfield, his best position is playing in the hole behind the striker but it’s that free role position that isn’t favoured by many mangers in England.
Personally I’ve always been a fan of Joe Cole and believe if it wasn’t for injuries, he would’ve achieved even more in the game by now. But the former West Ham player will be turning 30 towards the end of this year and with his fitness in question you have to wonder if the player can make it back to the form we knew a few seasons ago. On the positive side, Dalglish is being patient and allowing the player enough time to get his match fitness back and eventually with more games under his belt for Liverpool we should all start to see the Joe Cole we all like to watch, or at least I hope we do.
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Modern footballers are increasingly criticised for their exorbitant lifestyles and detachment from reality. The recent incidents involving England internationals Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney have heightened and justified public dissatisfaction with the some of the game’s most high-profile figures.
The much-maligned duo, who are key figures in the national team set-up, are undoubtedly amongst the most despised footballers in the Three Lions’ squad. Fortunately for messrs Cole and Rooney, England colleagues John Terry and Steven Gerrard have also tended to attract their fair share of hatred and headlines too. Each member of this illustrious quartet is subjected to a chorus of boos whenever they ‘play away’, but which one is England’s most hated football player?
Ashley Cole
The case for: Arguably the world’s greatest left-back, but undeniably a complete and utter wrong ‘un. England’s most capped full-back has consistently attracted the wrong sorts of headlines since his controversial move across London from Arsenal to bitter rivals Chelsea. Since then, the 30-year-old has shown himself to be quite the ‘player’ off the pitch too after cheating on wife and beloved national treasure Cheryl on multiple occasions.
With his reputation beyond repair, Cole has continued his mission to secure his position as the nation’s most hated footballer. Shortly after revelations about Cole’s private life were first revealed, Chelsea’s number three infamously turned his back on referee Mike Riley following a dangerous tackle on Tottenham defender Alan Hutton.
Having conquered the realms of infidelity and petulance, Cole, desperate to wrestle back the crown of ‘England’s most loathed’ from team-mate John Terry, decided to shoot a work experience intern with an air gun. A remorseful and regretful Cole has tried to make amends for this latest indiscretion by… failing to issue a public apology. What a guy.
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Defining moment: Describing contract negotiations with then-Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein, a hard-done-by Cole said: “When I heard Jonathan (Barnett) repeat the figure of £55k, I nearly swerved off the road.”
Schadenfreude moment: Cole is an extremely consistent player, and he seldom makes mistakes. However, his unintended assist for Danny Welbeck in Sunderland’s 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge earlier this season was highly satisfying, as was his Waddle-esque spot-kick in Chelsea’s FA Cup fourth round-replay defeat to Everton last month.
Wayne Rooney
The case for: Well, well, well. Since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old at boyhood club Everton, Rooney has courted controversy with clockwork-like consistency. The potty-mouthed striker, praised in some quarters for his passionate style, frequently displays a lack of respect towards officials. Rooney was sent off against Spanish side Villarreal in 2005 for sarcastically applauding a referee, and was dismissed against Fulham in 2009 for throwing the ball away.
England’s most disappointing performer at last summer’s World Cup, Rooney further aggravated the nation’s long-suffering fans after he opined “nice to see your home fans boo you” to TV cameras following England’s draw with Algeria.
Rooney even managed to invoke the wrath of his own fans earlier this season, handing in a transfer request in order to earn himself a cheeky new contract and bumper pay-rise, all whilst going through the most barren run of his career.
‘Wazza’, clearly perturbed by his recent failure to look anything look like a top-class striker, elbowed Wigan Athletic’s James McCarthy in a horrific unprovoked off-the-ball incident last weekend. Unsurprisingly, the notoriously lenient FA decided to let Rooney off the hook.
Defining moment: This one is a tough one. Prior to 2010, many would’ve highlighted his intimate ‘liaisons’ with some of Liverpool’s most liberal grandmothers, but cavorting with a prostitute whilst his wife Coleen was pregnant certainly takes some beating.
Schadenfreude moment: His recent barren streak, which saw the ex-Everton man go eight months without scoring a goal in open play for Manchester United.
Continue to the NEXT PAGE…
John Terry
The case for: No list of football’s most hated figures would be complete without the ‘Lionheart’ himself, John George Terry.
A string of moronic nicknames, a penchant for harassing officials and an irritating tendency to talk about himself in the third person all provide strong reasons to dislike Chelsea’s number 26. Factor in the sanctioning of unauthorised tours of Chelsea’s training facilities and running over a Stamford Bridge security guard, and it’s clear that Terry provides stiff competition for fellow Blue Ashley Cole.
Defining moment: Hands up if you’ve slept with the mother of your former team-mate/best friend’s son? John Terry has. 2009’s Dad of the Year allegedly went behind the back of his own wife and had it away with Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel. The nation subsequently rejoiced when Terry was ignominiously blanked by Bridge prior to Chelsea’s home defeat to Manchester City last season.
Schadenfreude moment: Being knocked out cold after he threw his head at Abou Diaby’s boot amused many, but seeing ‘JT’ miss the opportunity to secure Chelsea’s first ever European Cup is a treasured memory that I will never forget.
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Steven Gerrard
The case for: Superman in a red shirt, far from it in white, Liverpool’s very own Roy of the Rovers is almost universally despised amongst supporters of other clubs. Although Gerrard has chalked up fewer off-the-field indiscretions than his esteemed counterparts, ‘Stevie Starfish’ has earned himself a reputation as England’s worst diver. A tendency to go down far too easily has clearly rankled many football fans, with this irritation exacerbated by Gerrard’s claim that “peoplelike Carvalho are ruining the game”. Liverpool’s number eight also said, “if I saw one of my team-mates diving, I would definitely have a word.” Oh the irony.
A close friend of fellow Liverpudlian Wayne Rooney, Gerrard provided the inspiration for Rooney’s recent elbow with unpunished forearm smashes on Portsmouth’s Michael Brown and Sunderland’s Danny Welbeck last year.
Defining moment: Being caught punching a DJ (for failing to put on Phil Collins) on CCTV, and then, ‘against all odds’, being acquitted in the resulting court case.
Schadenfreude moment: Two comical backpasses which lead to goals scored against Liverpool; one against Arsenal in 2006, and another against Chelsea in 2010.
Who is England’s most hated player? Any glaring omissions? Let me know below or message me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul
The trials and tribulations of Liverpool Football Club over the past few decades has certainly meant that the club has had its fair share of players that have adorned cult hero status. But what is a ‘cult’ hero though? It’s a difficult thing to define, but more often than not, it’s a player that rarely meets expectations yet is adored by the terraces for the rare occasions that he reminds us that he’s still a professional footballer. Full-blooded commitment to the cause, eccentric characters and the ability to do something unexpectedly and inexplicably out of character in its importance are often essential ingredients in making up a cult hero.
Here are a list of 10 that plied their trade for Liverpool at one time or another in no discernable order. If there is anyone that you think is more deserving of a place on this list than the ones that I’ve chosen? Post your comments below.
Click on the image below to see the Top 10 Liverpool Cult Heroes
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Dimitar Berbatov scored a dramatic last minute winner to put Manchester United in pole position in the title race. Fergie will be absolutely delighted with the result; although I am sure he will be disappointed with the actions of Jonny Evans, especially given the defensive injuries at Old Trafford
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes the misguided scapegoat of Old Trafford; the creative force that Fergie is crying out for, while Rafael needs to take a leaf out of Neville’s book.
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We also look at the best Man United articles around the web this week.
WAG Weekly: Nani scores an absolute stunner!
Is this the ‘Most Hated’ Premiership XI of all time?
Three BIG Reasons why Fergie doesn’t need a transfer spree
The misguided scapegoat of Old Trafford
Old Trafford or Anfield – what represents the best move for £30m man?
The creative force that Fergie is crying out for?
Who needs Hollywood when you’ve got Hernandez
A warning shot from Manchester to London
Why Sir Alex signing him isn’t such a bad move for Manchester United
United starlet needs to take a leaf out of Neville’s book
Understanding Fergie’s transfer priorities this summer
How long before Fergie takes his wonderkid off the leash?
What is all the fuss about Ravel Morrison?
How do Manchester United stand with regards to UEFA’s pending ruling
Do Spaniard’s comments pave way for Man United move this summer?
*Best of WEB*
Hernández wins plaudits and trust – United Rant
The Red Report: SAF & The FA, should he stay or should he go & POTY – The Busby Way
Are We Asking Too Much Of Chris Smalling Too Soon? – Red Flag Flying High
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Ferguson’s Ban Is Anything But “Fair” – The United Religion