All posts by h79snht.top

How dull is the Carlos Tevez affair becoming? The Argentinean striker has caused controversy in every year that he has been in English football, whether it’s his fault or not, and many people will be glad to see the back of him, but not me.

The former Boca Juniors and Corinthians hitman was credited with keeping West Ham in the Premier League in 2007 after scoring vital goals in huge games that helped the Upton Park side beat the drop on the final day of the season at Old Trafford. His time in the East End though was overshadowed by the third party ownership from meddler and agent Kia Joorabchian that resulted in the Hammers paying around £25million over four years to relegated Sheffield United. Tevez unsurprisingly moved to Manchester United that summer where he felt he was harshly treated throughout by Sir Alex Ferguson even though he did manage to score 34 goals in 99 games that earned him a move to arch-rivals Manchester City for a reported £35million+ deal that is one of the biggest ever in English football.

Tevez, who turns 28 on Sunday, hit the prime of his career last season, becoming City captain, leading them to FA Cup glory, a Champions League spot and 23 goals in 39 games. The Argentine was a vital member of the Blues side that created history under Roberto Mancini. However, Tevez revealed he wanted to leave the Etihad Stadium in the summer with a move to his native Argentina the preferred option to allow him to be with his family. But City could not get the required funds from any club and Tevez was told to stay. Since then Mancini has claimed that Tevez refused to warm up in a Champions League defeat away at Bayern Munich and he has not played since after being dropped and suspended by the club. So it was a certainty that Tevez would leave Manchester in January, but with just over 24-hours to go of the transfer window, Tevez remains a City player.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

But in amongst the lengthy transfer saga, I feel that the majority of people are forgetting just how good Tevez is and that on his day he is one of the best strikers in the world. Scoring 52 goals in 84 games at City and an overall record of a goal in nearly every other game in his career is certainly an attractive stat that should be remembered. Plenty of clubs wouldn’t go anywhere near Tevez in this window as his off the field history is the first thing that comes to mind when talking about him and City’s understandably high asking price is a stumbling block.

Unfortunately for Tevez his agent Joorabchian’s approach to transfers have definitely had an effect on his move but it would be nice to hear from the player himself. The main man at City last year will need a few weeks to get match fit after not playing for so long but it would not surprise me if he went on to score bundles of goals if he was to move on this week and silence any critics that don’t really know what has happened at City.

Tevez will always score goals, work extremely hard and win a team games, well worth the asking price in my opinion and someone will take him in the summer if not tomorrow. The striker is one cap away from 60 for Argentina and although he is not far off of turning 30, he may still have a good few years left in him. A bad attitude? I’m not sure, but a world class footballer? Yes.

What do you make of the Carlos Tevez affair? Let me know on Twitter @Brad_Pinard

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[divider]

FREE football app that pays you CASH

[ad_pod id=’qs-2′ align=’left’]

CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer claims suspended FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has violated the terms of his ban.On Tuesday, Warner urged members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to vote for current FIFA president Sepp Blatter in Wednesday’s election.

But with Trinidadian Warner suspended from all football-related activity after being implicated in a bribery scandal with Asian Football confederation president Mohamed Bin Hammam, Blazer sees the move as a breach of that suspension.

Warner and Bin Hammam – the latter of who was originally slated to contest the election against incumbent Blatter – are alleged to have paid cash to CFU officials in return for them voting for Bin Hammam in the June 1 poll.

Qatari Bin Hammam pulled out of the election on Sunday, and later that day the pair were suspended from all football activity.

“We have clear evidence of a violation of his (Warner’s) suspension and we have reported that to the FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke,” Blazer said.

“He has also been meeting with (CONCACAF) members, which is against the rules of the suspension.”

Warner’s letter urged CFU members to vote for Blatter in Wednesday’s poll and implored them not to use the FIFA Congress to stage a protest.

“At our last meeting we agreed as a union to support the incumbent Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter in his quest to regain the presidency,” Warner wrote.

“I wish to assure you nothing has changed. Our mandate was set then and despite it all we must fulfil it.”

Warner was also adamant that there should be no protest on his behalf on Wednesday.

“I, Jack Warner, a servant and believer in the principles of this beautiful game do humbly besiege (sic) you, my brothers and sisters from the Caribbean Football Union to desist from initiating any protest action at tomorrow’s FIFA Congress,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, CONCACAF interim president Lisle Austin – appointed to the role on Monday after Warner’s suspension – has asked Blazer to explain his decision to engage Chicago law firm Collins and Collins to investigate Warner, leading to his suspension.

Austin also asked Blazer to cease working with Collins and Collins.

A London derby at Craven Cottage see’s Fulham host neighbours QPR in their first top flight meeting with the hosts continuing their search a first Premier League win of the season.

The Cottagers have been brilliant in the Europa League and recorded a fantastic 2-0 win on Thursday night away at Danish side Odense BK. Despite their successes in Europe manager Martin Jol has failed to transport that form into their league campaign seeing his side pick up only four points from their first six games. Hovering just above the relegation zone in 17th place wasn’t the start most Fulham fans envisaged when the season kicked off in August but the truth his the Cottagers have struggled. Despite signing Bryan Ruiz for £10 million from Twente on deadline day goalscoring remains a serious issue with Bobby Zamora, Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson also struggling to find the net. New Costa Rican signing Ruiz has begun his career in England at a startlingly slow pace but had the chance to make himself a hero in last Saturday’s 0-0 draw away at West Brom but contrived to stab the ball off the post and wide with a few minutes left on the clock. Jol, who was revered for the attacking philosophy he adopted at Tottenham, needs to get his players motivated and focused on making what do in the final third count. Aaron Hughes is an injury doubt with a knee problem and will require a fitness test with fellow defender Matthew Briggs also a worry.

Goalscoring is also a problem for Neil Warnock with his QPR strikers also coming across as shot shy after last week’s draw against Aston Villa at Loftus Road. Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell both failed to find the net with Richard Dunne’s late own goal giving the R’s a point they didn’t deserve. A week earlier they had brushed aside a tame Wolves side with Joey Barton and Alejandro Faurlin suppling the goals from midfield. Campbell also got on the scoresheet at Molineux and will be hoping to start at Craven Cottage on Sunday after recovering from injury. Warnocks side are unbeaten since his deadline day splurge and look a lot healthier after the addition of a few experienced Premier League heads. Their know how on the road has certainly come to good use with the Rangers claiming six of their eight points away from home. They’ve won both games in which they’ve taken the lead so victory should be assured against Fulham who have yet to open the scoring in any of their league fixtures this season. Armand Traore misses the game after his sending off last week with fellow defender Daniel Gabbidon also out through injury.

Key Players

Danny Murphy – The Fulham skipper has been in inspired form in the last few weeks rolling back the years with some commanding displays in the middle of midfield. They’ll need his experience and guile if they are to win their first Premier League game of the season.

Adel Taarabt – A glittering performance from the Moroccan in last week’s draw with Villa highlighted that he can mix it with the Premier Leagues best. Admittedly he did fade in the second period but is always a threat with the ball at his feet.

Verdict: 0-1

Fuham’s Danny Murphy is the highest ranked player from either club in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index in 21st place, while Alejandro Faurlin is QPR’s top ranked player in 62nd place Murphy has anchored the Fulham midfield this season, winning 85% of tackles entered into and making 10 interceptions. He has also put in ten crosses, while team mate Damien Duff stays top of the ranking for crosses with 30 this season. QPR are also due some goals. Taarabt is the player in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with the most shots on target without scoring (14) Faurlin and Taarabt also both occupy places in the top passers in the league, in 9th and 13th places respectively and above internationals stars such as Frank Lampard and Ashley Young

Fancy winning a million pounds??

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Take up our exclusive offer with Goaldash below to be in with a chance – what have you got to lose?

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that he and his players are delighted at Paul Scholes’ return from retirement, as the veteran midfielder played a part in his side’s 3-2 win over Manchester City on Sunday.

The Red Devils raced into a 3-0 first half lead at the Etihad Stadium, with a Wayne Rooney double and a Danny Welbeck strike giving the visitors a clear advantage.

Despite Vincent Kompany being sent off, goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and Sergio Aguero pulled City back into contention, but the Premier League champions held on for a derby victory.

Scholes came off the bench for the last half hour, and despite being slightly at fault for City’s second goal, received praise from Ferguson.

“The last few weeks, Paul has been training very hard with the reserves and doing a lot of work in the gym,” the Scottish coach told Sky Sports.

“He came to see me and said ‘I regret retiring’. There are no negatives for me. The players have been delighted. I am delighted. The fans are delighted.

“The last few weeks he has been stepping up his training and been taking part in our training sessions during the week.

“It is a terrific addition to our squad at a very important part of our season,” he concluded.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

By Gareth McKnight

[ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]

When looking into the history of the illustrious, handsome, and most stimulating club in British football, you would find many a hero. The double-winning side are all heroes, but success does not create cult heroes.

Today I want to look at cult heroes. A cult hero is a maverick, one who is often idolised by little pockets of fans. These players are revered for their oddities and their individuality and not so much for their greatness or success on the pitch.

I am going more along the lines of Ramon Vega, Andy Sinton, Gary Doherty (the ginger Pele) and David Ginola, rather than legends such as Greaves, Lineker, Blanchflower, Perryman, Mackay, Bobby Smith, Cliff Jones, Glenn Hoddle and Gary Mabutt.

[divider]

Click on the image below to see the Top TEN

[divider]

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[divider]

Paris Saint-Germain owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi has admitted that the big-spending Ligue 1 club want to sign Luis Suarez in the summer.

The Uruguay international has been a revelation for the Reds since moving to Anfield from Ajax in January 2011, but has been hounded by the media due to racist remarks made to Patrice Evra.

The French capital-city side are ready to end Suarez’s spell in England, and the billionaire owner has admitted that they club will spend big over the next five to six years.

“We are already looking at the market for next season,” the Qatari businessman is believed to have said according to Mirror Football.

“We have clear targets in mind. It is true that we want Luis Suarez and [Real Madrid striker] Gonzalo Higuain.

“Our real short-term targets are to win the Champions League and find a new Lionel Messi.

“We will spend what is normal for a top-class club. We prefer to invest a lot and immediately.

“In the next five or six years, we still spend this amount. Then the investments will slow,” he concluded.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

By Gareth McKnight

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho has survived a knife attack in a Spanish airport that left his bodyguard with a 4cm stab wound.Former Chelsea manager Mourinho was moving through the La Coruna airport and signing autographs for Real fans when a man armed with a knife approached. One of Mourinho’s minders thought he had been punched by the attacker as they moved through the crowd before discovering a wound near his armpit when they boarded the team bus. Mourinho was only told about the full extent of the incident on Friday, a week after it happened. Police are investigating the attack using security camera footage from the airport. El Periodico reported: “Mourinho stopped to sign autographs in arrivals, where a large number of Madrid fans were waiting for the team.””The bodyguard was near the manager and noticed he had been stabbed in the armpit. Mourinho was very worried by the incident.” The club said it suspects the attack was intended for Mourinho. It will arrange increased security around its coach while police investigate.

One of the most positive results of this year’s transfer deadline day was Tottenham Hotspur managing to keep hold of Croatian playmaker Luka Modric. To many this can be seen as a victory for football and evidence that player power doesn’t always win.

The Croat had previously admitted his desire to leave the North London club earlier this summer but his request was met with a firm response from Chairman Daniel Levy , the player would not be sold. Chelsea made no secret of the fact that they wished to sign him and had three separate bids rejected by Spurs.

The final bid, according to manager Harry Redknapp , came on the 30th of August and it is believed to have been worth £40m, £30m cash plus Blues defender Alex as part of the deal. Spurs stood firm and again rejected the advances of their London rivals.

Modric made a number of attempts to seal his exit from White Hart Lane and met with Levy more than once to discuss his future. Although the message from the club was clear a number of people, from the media especially thought it near impossible for them to hold on to an unhappy player.

The Croat’s exit seemed even more likely when he asked to be left out of the Spurs squad that travelled north to face champions Manchester United and even Redknapp made comments that indicated his departure could be likely.

More evidence to suggest Modric would be sold was the fact that Spurs had been in a similar situation in August 2008, when Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov sparked a similar sequence of events in an effort to secure his eventual transfer to United. Levy had at first taken the same hard line stance and insisted the player would not leave, but on deadline day he completed a £31m transfer.

Though it seems both Chairman and club have learnt from this and were determined not to lose arguably their best player, and especially not to one of their biggest rivals. The player stated he wanted to play Champions League football, but as manager Redknapp suggested keeping players like Modric will help get them back into Europe’s premier competition.

Similar again to this was Carlos Tevez’s situation at Manchester City, like Modric he had only recently signed a new contract but decided he now wanted to leave the club and yet again most expected him to do so. Like Spurs City stood firm and both players remain at their respective clubs.

Although many will argue that you can’t keep unhappy players this has to be seen as a victory for football as a whole. Players have for too long have been seen as the ones holding the power in the game but the situation of both Modric and Tevez demonstrates that this is not always the case.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Though it remains to be seen how dedicated they will be to the cause this year but for now both clubs have managed to hang on to two of their most prized assets.

Article courtesy of Patrick Giffney from This is Futbol

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]

Chelsea kept within three points of leaders Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with a commanding 3-1 win over Everton at Stamford Bridge.

John Terry and Daniel Sturridge gave the Blues a 2-0 lead before the half time whistle with Ramires adding a third in the second period before Apostolos Velios pulled one back for the visitors late on. It also kept up Andre Villas-Boas sides 100% at home this season barely having to break a sweat against the Toffees. After losing the Merseyside derby two weeks ago David Moyes’ side were desperate to bounce back but were comfortably beaten and have lost their last three slipping back into the bottom half of the table in the process. It was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Merseysiders with Chelsea riding high after trouncing Bolton 6-0 at the Reebok Stadium a fortnight ago and were full of confidence going into the game.

They were made to work in the opening stages though as Everton attempted to stifle their attacking threat closing down Juan Mata and Frank Lampard afforded little or no space in the centre of the park. Ramires did find some space though as Didier Drogba, partnered with Sturridge up front, released the midfielder only for Sylvain Distin to make a crucial interception as he bore down on goal. The visitors were swift on the counter attack and Louis Saha should have done better than to just fire straight at Petr Cech from close range. Chelsea were crying out for some inspiration and they found it in the 31st minute. Mata finally found some space in midfield with the Spaniard releasing the galloping Ashley Cole down the left and the full back’s first time cross was headed home by Sturridge.

Despite looking like they could force an equaliser the visitors were undone once again in first half stoppage time when Terry beat Tim Howard in the air to bundle home Lampards free kick. Everton came out strongly in the second period and Leon Osman almost halved the deficit shaving the outside of the post with a sweet effort. With a two-goal lead in the favour Chelsea soon started to exert their influence putting together some wonderful passing play and it was no surprise when they made it 3-0 on the hour mark.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Mata was central to it all again exchanging passes with Drogba before sending an inch perfect cross in towards Ramires who slid in to poke the ball past Howard. The Brazilian appeared to hurt himself after getting in-between two defenders to get to the ball and was replaced by Florent Malouda. Chelsea were in cruise control now and that let Everton back in with substitute Velios snatching a late consolation. The Greek striker sliding home Royston Drenthe’s cross but it didn’t take the gloss off another comfortable performance from a Chelsea side slowly coming into their own under Villas-Boas.

There is a rare beast in North London, a creature seen so scarcely its very existence has been questioned. Its name is the Tottenham Hotspur home-grown player. First team sightings are so few they can be counted on the fingers of one hand in recent years.

We are not talking here about players who fit the new home-grown criteria set to be introduced for the next premiership season, players like Dawson, Huddlestone and Lennon for example. We are talking about products of the Academy, the Spurs youth setup, brought in as youngsters and turned into top quality, valuable players.

According to the Spurs website, their ethos is: ‘to recruit the best potential which can be developed by the best coaches, working in the best facilities..’ but the results have been pitiful. They currently have Ledley King and Peter Crouch (even though the latter failed to make an appearance for the club as a youngster) representing the academy, before that we are harking back to such club legends as Luke Young, Dean Marney and Jamie O’Hara. There is no haul here, no golden era, not even close to a steady trickle.

The failure of youth team players to make it into the first team has been a problem for the past 20 years, and whilst the current crop of youth players look highly promising, it will be interesting to see how many actually make it.

During Tottenham’s many years of disappointment, Arsenal, West Ham, Manchester City and Manchester United have all nurtured top premiership talents. The recent approach at Spurs lodge has been to buy this young talent, developed elsewhere, before it gets too expensive. Whilst this policy has proved successful with the likes of Huddlestone, Lennon and even Bale, it is an acknowledgement of the failure of the club’s own development programme and also a nod to the need for instant success at this level.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

However, with the need for a new stadium looming, and the prospect of a severe belt tightening with it. The financial need of developing at least some home-grown talent will become apparent. Buying young players from other more successful academies to cover up the inadequacies of the youth programme is a short-term solution and an unsustainable one.

Harry Redknapp’s involvement at West Ham during the period in the 90’s that saw them bring through, Ferdinand, Cole, Lampard, Carrick and Defoe should encourage as surely he understands the importance of the youth system, but Spurs have a lot of catching up to do.