It was raining goals in the Premier League yesterday with no fewer than 36 hitting the onion bag. We can only hope that we will see much of the same at White Hart Lane and St James’ Park this afternoon, in what promises to be a feast of football.
In the papers this morning we have seen a mixed bag of stories including an exclusive interview with Gareth Bale; Michael Carrick wants a contract for life at Old Trafford, while Andy Carroll wants to make the headlines for all the right reasons and much more…
*
Ivanovic admits Wilkins shock – Sky Sports
Harry Redknapp’s strength is to let his players enjoy themselves – Guardian
Newcastle’s Carroll wants to make headlines for the right reasons – Daily Mail
Gareth Bale Exclusive Interview – Mirror
Michael Carrick desperate to stay at Manchester United – IM Scouting
Liverpool line up swoop for Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano – IM Scouting
Roy Hodgson deserves better than this – Guardian
England 2018’s late bid for votes – Daily Telegraph
Hiddink sheds some light on the monkey business at Chelsea – Mirror
Arsenal to make £10m bid for Bolton’s Gary Cahill – IM Scouting
Grant opens door for Di Canio – Sky Sports
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Arnesen’s departure will leave Ancelotti isolated – Daily Telegraph
It has been a fantastic season for Brighton this season. The brand new AMEX stadium is full week in week out and the team are performing superbly under Gus Poyet. At the beginning of the season, the target for the Seagulls was a mid table. They have exceeded all expectations and look set to finish in the play-off places.
However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing to Brighton’s current position. After a stunning start and even a period of being top of the table, the Seagulls slumped. Arch rivals Crystal Palace were in town with former Albion striker Glenn Murray on their team sheet. Record signing Craig Mackail-Smith put Brighton in front before 2 goals in 10 minutes gave Palace the lead. Then Judas (Murray) slotted in a 3rd. It was the first league defeat at the AMEX and a second league defeat after the first loss of the season away to Leicester the week before. The poor run would continue for a further 7 matches. Brighton, having been 3rd had slumped to 12th before they grabbed a scrappy 2-0 win over Barnsley.
The next game was a tough looking tie away to league leaders Southampton. The two south coasts’ clubs had developed a bit of a rivalry due to both teams coming up from League One last season and Saints manager Nigel Adkins quoting that Brighton would have to “keep up” with his side if both sides were to be competing for the title, which Brighton won with ease.
Poor refereeing handed the 3 points to Southampton and Brighton went down to 13th before 3 wins in a row lifted them up back into the play-off places. December started with a last minute victory over Nottingham Forest but ended terribly. Major injury problems lead to 4 defeats in a row without scoring and the Seagulls fell from a play-off position to 16th in the table.
The New Year came about with a visit from Southampton who had maintained their top spot. Brighton, still with massive injury problems throughout the side seemed destined to lose. But teen sensation Jake Forster-Caskey opened the scoring after Saints striker and pie lover Rickie Lambert was sent off for slapping Adam El-Abd. And then Matt Sparrow scored two stunners to give Brighton a hugely unexpected 3 points.
The win over Southampton became the start of a 12 match unbeaten league run. With the addition of an FA Cup run which saw a close victory over Wrexham and a 1-0 win over Newcastle which set up a dream tie away to Liverpool. 6000 Brighton fans turned the away end of Anfield into a sea of blue and white but where outclassed and were well beaten 6-1 (although 3 of Liverpool’s goals were scored by an Albion player).
The first league defeat of 2012 came at the hands of play-off hopefuls Blackpool who inflicted a 3-1 defeat. But a bounce-back 2-0 win over Derby lifted the Seagulls into 4th place, their highest position since September.
A draw against Middlesbrough has seen the team drop down to 6th but Brighton are under no pressure. No one expected the team to do so well and the performances have lead to plans for an additional 8,000 seats to be put forward early. The belief is strong that Brighton & Hove Albion will be in the Premier League sooner rather than later and a 30,000+ capacity stadium will help pave the way there.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Several teams below 6th spot still have the belief that they can sneak into the play-off spot and Brighton’s next few fixtures will be tough. They face a Burnley side that have just put 5 goals past Portsmouth. They then welcome Reading to the AMEX who have stormed into 2nd place and beat West Ham 4-2 at Upton Park, where the Seagulls then travel to before taking on mid table Watford and then play-off contenders Birmingham before finally travelling to Barnsley for the last game of the season.
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.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes must shoulder the blame for gifting the Red Devils their clinching goal in Saturday's 2-0 win at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian shot-stopper bowled the ball out of his hands anticipating a free-kick after Nani had handled in the penalty area.
But referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on after Nani's indiscretion and the Portuguese winger rolled the ball into the empty net.
The whistler allowed the goal to stand, much to Spurs' disgust but Ferguson insists the keeper should have known better.
"It was bizarre," he said."No-one knew at the time what was wrong. One minute the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands and the next it's in his net.
"Nani looked back and looked at the referee and the referee said play on, so what can he do but put the ball in the net.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
"You can look at the referee and look at the linesmen and blame them, but the goalkeeper should know better. He's an experienced goalkeeper. I thought he made a mess of it.
"The referee played on because the goalkeeper took possession of the ball. He then went to take a free-kick thinking it was a foul. He made an error."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
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. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Sir Alex Ferguson was named the League Manager Association’s Manager of the Year on Monday.It is the third time the Scot has collected the award and is a double as he also won the Premier League’s Manager of the Year prize, after leading Manchester United to the English title and a Champions League final.
Ferguson, speaking via video link at the awards ceremony in London, said he was honoured to bag the award.
“It’s a wonderful honour. It has been a fantastic season for us in the most difficult league in the world,” the Scot said.
It was United’s 19th Premiership title – a record in the English top flight – while they also went through the season unbeaten at their Old Trafford home.
Ferguson will be hoping to collect the Champions League trophy for the third time as United take on Barcelona in the final at Wembley on Saturday.
Norwich boss Paul Lambert was named Championship manager of the year after his side earned promotion to the Premier League by finishing second to Queens Park Rangers.
Brighton manager Gus Poyet and Chesterfield’s John Sheridan claimed the League One and League Two honours respectively.
Chief football administer Brian Marwood has admitted Manchester City are unlikely to repeat the massive spending spree they embarked upon during the summer.
City spent an estimated £120million on a host of big-name players before, during and after the World Cup finals.
Jerome Boateng, David Silva, Yaya Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov, James Milner and Mario Balotelli all arrived at Eastlands during a busy summer transfer window.
But on the same day that the club's Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour returned to the top of English football's rich list, Marwood has suggested that the days of big spending at Eastlands are over.
"Now the intensity of signing players is levelling off, allowing this group to build and develop – they haven't gelled yet," he told The Guardian.
"We have fast-tracked a lot. We need to put the structure in place. We talk about elite development, the academy, because that is the foundation. That is the future for Manchester City."
Meanwhile, Marwood has rejected criticism of City's transfer policy since Sheikh Mansour began his ambitious reign two years ago.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
"You have to chuckle to yourself," he continued.
"We were criticised for supposedly ruining English football by bringing foreign players in, then when the England team finished the last game against Switzerland, six City players were in it. That was a big jolt to a lot of people."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Thierry Henry scored what might be his last goal for Arsenal against Sunderland in the Gunners 2-1 victory. Even though the goals he scored in his second spell weren’t classic Thierry Henry, he scored some important goals in his first spell.
When Arsene Wenger signed Henry from Juventus in August 1999 for £11 million, even he didn’t think that this man would become an Arsenal and Premier League legend and surpass Ian Wright’s record of 185 goals. In his time at Arsenal, Henry won 2 Premier League titles, 3 FA Cups and 2 Community Shields. The Frenchman also won a huge amount of individual awards, including 2 European Golden Boots, 4 Premier League Golden Boots and was in the PFA Team of the Year 6 times.
This article is a selection of Thierry Henry’s greatest goals that includes exquisite volleys, stunning strikes and astonishing pieces of skill. I hope you enjoy my tribute to the great Frenchman.
10- Charlton
[youtube EDD89Gbo5hw]
[divider]
9- West Ham
[youtube h78nNROiQfo]
[divider]
8- Blackburn
[youtube LqaR4Rk1E_s]
[divider]
7- Real Madrid
[youtube 5H3a00QyoxQ]
[divider]
6- Weiz
[youtube gTuP0z6JmIw]
[divider]
Continued on Page TWO
[divider]
[divider]
5- Man United
[youtube YDIjFox0yHU]
[divider]
4- Tottenham
[youtube xJspFsCTqgI]
[divider]
3- Man City
[youtube cEX94IilhFs]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It is being reported in Mirror Football that Scott Parker will be allowed to leave West Ham United in the summer – if the club is relegated and Manchester City and Spurs are likely to head the queue for his services.
Parker does not have an official clause written into his four-year contract – but there is believed to be a verbal agreement, should West Ham be relegated that Parker can move to a Premier League club. Spurs would not look to increase his £60,000 per week wages and it’s now looking unlikely that they would be able to offer Champions League football. Manchester City on the other hand could offer to treble Parker’s current wages and are now looking likely to be able to offer Champions League football.
The interest in Parker is not much of a surprise because he has been in superb form this season. He has been a standout player for West Ham that has led him to be voted the FWA Footballer of the Year and also appeared in England squads. Parker has represented England twice this season and played 30 Premier League games for West Ham and even managing to score 5 Premier League goals.
However, Parker may choose to remain in London for personal reasons. His father recently passed away and at this time Parker is reluctant to leave his mother.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Newcastle United’s prestigious number nine shirt is currently in the ownership of Andy Carroll and it is not an object to take complacently or to treat whimsically. I can only hope that he doesn’t do so, for he holds such promise in the way he plays the game. He possesses a great deal of raw ability that could be moulded into making him a formidable striker. The only negatives, of which they are significant, come in the form of his private affairs. Only today did Carroll have to attend a court hearing over a previous incident involving his now ex-girlfriend. This now equates to two court appearances and an alleged training ground fight with Steven Taylor, the latter coming off worse, all very much baleful behaviour that doesn’t bode well for his future affairs. His mentality is obviously one that doesn’t reason possible consequences through, or maybe he does and he isn’t troubled over the consequences due to his profession as a football player. Either way, he still finds himself in these disreputable scenarios, having to deal with the criticisms that come with it. What he needs now is to be taken aside and, almost, restrained into concentrating on improving as a player. He holds so much potential, having been blessed with a domineering physical presence, that it needs channelling in the correct way.
Like many young players that emerge in an eruption of media attention, it is easily removed in the next few weeks when the same performances that earned the attention in the first place seem to diminish. This shouldn’t deter Carroll in any way or form due to what he has shown and this can be rekindled with dedicated training, the right mentality and experienced mentoring. Like many strikers, form is determined by confidence, which is why at present there isn’t any need to dismiss Carroll’s form or potential. Having scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa the media were quick to champion him for an England call-up, but when England are lacking in-form strikers, this could have be seen as inevitable.
What Chris Hughton and his backroom staff now have the tricky task to implement is to find the delicate balance for Carroll that will allow him to use his natural aggression but not sprint aimlessly across the pitch and lose his position that sees him at his most effective. To remove Carroll’s aggressive nature would be to negate what makes him as a player; it would merely be a utilization of this willing effort he represents. Carroll will also have to respond and not be obdurate if those around him feel that something in his game needs to be rectified. I have no doubt that an England debut will come soon and be one of many if Carroll can organise his affairs. The road to perdition will await Carroll if he continues to behave in the manner he has exhibited off the pitch, but the road to salvation and cult status remain a possibility if he is prepared to harness his raw abilities, add invaluable goals to his repertoire and keep these consistent.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
To read more articles of mine follow me on Twitter.