West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo has backed his players to bounce back from their season-opening rout at the hands of Chelsea.
The Baggies travelled to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening and were outclassed by the reigning champions in a one-sided game.
The newly-promoted side fell behind inside six minutes as former Blues midfielder Di Matteo watched on from the sidelines.
"Playing the champions away on the first day of the season, you know it is going to be a tough day for you but I thought the scoreline was a bit harsh," he said.
"There are not a lot of teams which come away from Stamford Bridge with much.
"We know we will have to learn very quickly, but on the upside, we will not be playing Chelsea every week.
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"Not every team has the quality this one does."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has no doubt that he will be handed the England captain's armband again when he finally returns to action.
Fabio Capello turned to Ferdinand after stripping John Terry of the responsibility last season following the Chelsea star's off-pitch antics.
However, when injury prevented Ferdinand playing in the World Cup finals in South Africa, Steven Gerrard was handed the role.
The Liverpool midfielder also skippered the side for this month's two Euro 2012 qualifying wins over Bulgaria and Switzerland and there have been calls for him to be handed the captain's armband on a permanent basis.
Capello recently said: "For me the performance of the player is important, not the armband. It is not a priority for me. The armband is not important."
However, Ferdinand, who is close to returning to action after a knee injury, expects to captain his country for next month's qualifier against Montenegro.
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He told The Sun: "I think Capello said that (I would be captain when I'm fit) a while ago. I think he answered it the last time the squad were together."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Earlier this summer Liverpool managed to leapfrog Tottenham to the signing of England international Joe Cole, snatching him from right under the nose of avid admirer Harry Redknapp. One-nil to the Reds you might say, as they look to reclaim there position in the top four this season.
It was Redknapp’s Spurs who replaced them as one of the league’s elite members club, after an impressive campaign and 70 points last term. Many Tottenham fans viewed their Champions League qualification success as the platform to attract the first-class players needed to transform them into regular title challengers. Yet Cole’s decision to sign for the Anfield club and Spurs’ subsequent frustrations in the transfer market left many fans feeling like an opportunity had been lost.
Yet at the last minute Spurs defied all expectation by landing Holland international Rafael van der Vaart from Real Madrid, delivering the marquee signing demanded so feverishly by the White Hart Lane faithful. Van der Vaart immediately endeared himself to his new North London neighbours by claiming that he had snubbed the advances of Liverpool to join Redknapp’s revolution at Tottenham.
Van der Vaart told Sky Sports News: “Liverpool were interested. Bayern were not interested.
“In the end you have to have a good feeling, and with this manager I got a good feeling. I am happy and I am going to Spurs.”
Yet you have to wonder how much of Van der Vaart’s opening reflections are a real representation of the truth. The Reds had of course enquired about the availability of the Dutch maestro when in negotiations with Real Madrid over the sale of Xabi Alonso last summer and you would imagine the Spanish side would have been keen to involve VDV in a deal. Liverpool were not the only side linked to the playmaker however. Redknapp claimed Bayern Munich were set to complete an £18m deal for VDV just before the transfer deadline, something which was dismissed outright by the player himself just a couple of days later.
Liverpool may have been interested in his signature at one stage but it is unlikely they were still actively chasing a deal and competing with Spurs for his signature in the final few hours of transfer window activity. It is more likely Roy Hodgson had looked into a potential deal earlier in the window before deciding to explore other options. Of course, if the claim is a truthful one then VDV would have struggled to choose a club who finish seventh last season over one which boasts Champions League football, stability, Big Ben and an even bigger transfer and wage budget.
VDV however does not explicitly say an offer from Liverpool was definitely on the table, more specifically stating that they were ‘interested’. Hodgson had already made the final additions to his midfield engine room, replacing both Alberto Aquilani and Argentine captain Javier Mascherano with Juventus’ Christian Poulsen and cultured Portuguese midfielder Raul Merieles from Porto. It would have been difficult to accommodate VDV into a team already boasting the talents of five international central midfielders. More specifically, two players who like to play as the central point of a midfield diamond in captain Steven Gerrard and Cole.
It is easy to see why Van der Vaart’s decision has been used to emphasise Liverpool’s decline and Tottenham’s emergence, yet that maybe too simple a notion. Cole signed for a club who have qualified for Europe’s elite competition eight times in the last ten years and won the competition itself five times. Spurs on the other hand last played in the European Cup 48 years ago.
Liverpool are not a spent force just yet, although should Van der Vaart help inspire Spurs to another sublime campaign this season then he could inflict more damage on one of the league’s most endangered sides.
Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.
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According to reports, Aston Villa and England ace Ashley Young is attempting to negotiate an escape clause into his new Villa contract. Young’s current deal lands him £65,000 a week, but comes to an end July in 2012. That’s still some time away, but new Villa boss Gérard Houllier is seeking to get his most talented players locked down with long-term contracts. This new deal would be worth a reported £75,000 a week and would see Young tied down to Villa for the foreseeable future.
Difficulties have arisen during the negotiating stage as a result of Tottenham monitoring Young’s availability. Harry Redknapp attempted to sign Young over the summer, but found that Spurs did not have the funds to match Young’s price tag or personal terms. Young may have very well been keeping his eye on the news and seen that Redknapp is looking for two more world-class players to join his squad in the coming years. Young is keen not to sign away his future to Villa in case Tottenham should come in for him in the near future.
The Aston Villa star is reportedly seeking a £12-13 million escape clause to be written into the terms of his new contract. Thus, should Spurs come in for Young this summer, Villa would be powerless to prevent his leaving. Villa shelled out £9.65 million for the quick footed youthful forward back in January 2007, so this new deal would still see Villa turn a profit should the escape clause come into effect. Yet Villa fans would no doubt be sad to see such a vital part of their future leave to join a rival premiership team.
Given that these difficult negotiations are occurring at the same time as the whole Wayne Rooney palaver, this will no doubt be taken as a further sign that in modern times it’s the player that calls the shots, not the club. As I noted in a past article things do seem to be swinging depressingly in that direction, but can we really blame Young for showing ambition? It’s not like he’s trying to screw the Villa faithful over – the escape clause ensures that Aston Villa turn a tidy profit on Young in terms of transfer value and it’s a sign of good faith that Young is seeking a contract extension whatsoever instead of waiting for his contract to run out and join Spurs on a free.
Young’s case, is, for me, analogous to the Cesc Fabregas situation over at Arsenal. Most Arsenal fans have now come to accept that Cesc’s long-term dreams do not lie with Arsenal. It’s difficult to deal with the fact that one of your most talented players isn’t looking to stay with your club in the long-term, but as long they remain respectful to the club and its fans can you really blame them for following their dreams? The situation is significantly different from the disrespect and furore that Wayne Rooney has created at Manchester United.
What’s your take on the Ashley Young situation over at Aston Villa? Is it another sign that players are taking too much control in the modern game?
If you’re interested and want to hear more feel free to follow me on Twitter.
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Wales caretaker manager Brian Flynn has revealed that Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey is close to making a return to training.
The 19-year-old Wales midfielder has been out of action since suffering a double leg break during a Premier League game against Stoke City in February.
Ramsey was left stricken by a tackle from Potters defender Ryan Shawcross which immediately threatened his career.
However, following successful surgery he is expected to make a full recovery and could be back in training by the end of October.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger suggested Ramsey could return to training in November when speaking earlier in the season.
"I've spoken with Aaron and he's making great progress," said Flynn.
"He told me he will be back in full training in three weeks.
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"He's a great talent and we all want him back playing again.
"It's great news for Arsenal, Wales and of course for Aaron himself."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis was left to lament Sunday's 2-1 Premier League loss to Manchester United.
Young Mexico international striker Javier Hernandez scored twice to grab all three points after Tuncay had equalised.
But Pulis was quick to berate referee Andre Marriner after failing to send off veteran full-back Gary Neville.
The 35-year-old wiped out winger Matthew Etherington when sat precariously on a yellow card, but he survived a second caution to stay on the pitch, much to Pulis' frustration.
He also praised Tuncay for his recent endeavours and insists he has a future at the Britannia Stadium despite media reports that suggest he is on the verge of departing.
"We're desperately disappointed. If that was a Stoke player at Old Trafford do you think he'd still be on the pitch?" he mused.
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"Their player should have been sent off in my opinion and if we're at Old Trafford and a Stoke player makes two challenges like that then he sends him off.
"Tunny has been as good as gold. People report this and that and obviously he's disappointed because he wants to play all the time, but you have to accept that. He's a good lad."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
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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