Managers moan constantly about referees, opposition players and anything else that draws away from their own short-comings. But is that really a bad thing when club bosses are drawing attention to acts of violent conduct or even more rarely if they are right.
I believe if in Alan Pardew’s situation if he’s sees his playmaker getting elbowed in the face he has every right to draw attention to the situation after the match. If Pardew is correct then Robin Van Persie has gone out and intentionally tried to hurt and possibly injure one of his star players, then he has every right to pressure in the FA into acting on the incident. Equally should Sir Alex Ferguson have come out and mentioned how incensed he was about Cheick Tiote’s disgusting, dangerous stamp on Tom Cleverley, I wouldn’t have had an issue with it.
I have less time and sympathy for Tony Pulis wanting Luis Suarez to be banned for diving. While I don’t deny Suarez’s dive displayed a willingness to cheat and con an official, he isn’t hurting anyone. Also within the context of the game, there were far worse actions displayed by those representing the Welshman at Anfield. While I wouldn’t be overly bothered if the Uruguay international was handed a three game ban I’d rather see Robert Huth reprimanded for his deliberate stamp on Suarez or Dean Whitehead handed further punishment for his scissor tackle on Raheem Sterling. Or maybe the FA ought to hit the pocket of the team who stepped out on Merseyside to hurt and injure more influential members of the opposition team. Football is a man’s game but the Potters often play with an aggression and ferocity that has no place in the sport.
While it is obvious referees have a tough job and managers often look to displace blame and perhaps ought to be more accountable for their own short-comings. I have no issue with managers speaking out against the actions of other teams. As fans we all do it, if I’m in stadium or pub watching a game and I disagree with a decision or action from a player I’m going to shout and moan, about it. Therefore for me to kick up a fuss when Newcastle’s gaffer is taking acceptation to a challenge from another team, it would hypercritical of me to be bothered or annoyed about it.
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Roberto Mancini has turned his attentions to Malaga midfielder Isco after cooling potential moves for Radamel Falcao and Steven Jovetic, according to Goal.com
The Spanish starlet has a relatively low £16.9m release clause which makes the youngster an attractive proposition for Manchester City during the January window.
It appears that City have baulked at the £48m needed to bring Falcao to the Premier League or the £28m that Fiorentina want for Jovetic and Isco represents better value for money while still offering class. Mancini watched the midfielder during Malaga’s clash against Atletico Madrid last week and was suitably impressed with his display.
Isco has done well for Malaga so far this season, scoring three times in nine appearances including a brilliant double against Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League.
The club’s sporting director Mario Armando Husillos has already confessed that he faces a real struggle to keep Isco in Spain with the cash strapped club eager to cash in on their top players.
“Isco is our player and is a very important member of the team,” Husillos said. “He’s not for sale. We want to keep him here, but everyone knows that players have a release clause. So, if a club meets this clause, it will be out of our hands.”
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The Premier League champions have made a slow start to the season and are already four points behind leaders Chelsea so Mancini is eager to strengthen during the upcoming transfer window to make sure the club can mount a title challenge again.
Demba Ba’s own goal four minutes from time rescued a point for Sunderland in a feisty Tyne Wear derby with bitter rivals Newcastle, who had Cheick Tiote sent off.
Martin O’Neill’s men trailed to Yohan Cabaye’s early strike but pegged the Magpies back at the death as John O’Shea’s header deflected off an unfortunate Ba to send the ball past a bemused Tim Krul.
It was harsh on the visitors as they held on for more than an hour with 10-men after Tiote was harshly given his marching orders following a late challenge on Black Cats striker Steven Fletcher.
A point was the least Newcastle deserved for their organised defensive efforts, underpinned by the return of goalkeeper Tim Krul and captain Fabricio Coloccini to the back line for the first time since September.
And any nerves prior to kick off were allayed when Cabaye slotted home from just inside the area after Simon Mignolet pushed Ba’s low cross into his path. Sunderland struggled to gain a foothold in the game and barely troubled Pardew’s measured Magpies with Cabaye going close to doubling his tally with a long range free kick that was tipped over by Mignolet.
But Newcastle’s honeymoon period didn’t last long as Tiote, under pressure from Jack Colback, lost control of the ball and caught Fletcher high on the shin prompting referee Martin Atkinson to show him a straight red card, forcing Pardew to send James Perch on for Shola Ameobi soon after.
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Sunderland controlled proceedings after the break but couldn’t break down their North East counterparts with Sebastian Larsson, James McClean and substitute Louis Saha all wasting good chances. But their pressure finally paid as Larsson floated a free kick into the area and O’Shea saw his header bounce into the net off Ba’s chest to salvage a draw.
Whilst many of us readers would love to have the lifestyle of a Premier League footballer – the adrenaline rush of playing in front of thousands of adoring fans, the tens of thousands going into their account every Friday, driving into three hours of training in an Aston Martin – life always has a way of teaching us that you can’t always have it all in this world.
What the following Premier League footballers have in ability, they lack in hair follicles. They may be superstars for their teams, but they can’t boast to waxing their before going to work in the morning.
So here is the list of the ultimate Premier League bald-headed XI, past and present, who have an abundance of skills, and an abundance of wigs.
Click on Jaap Stam to unveil the greatest ‘Bald XI’
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Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong has joined Championship club Charlton Athletic on loan until January.
The Ghanaian midfielder has recently returned to full fitness after recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury that he picked up last season while on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 20-year-old has been restricted to just the two first team appearances for the Gunners this season, both coming in Capital One Cup victories against Coventry and Reading.
“We’re really happy that he’s coming in to join our squad, and we welcome him to the club,” Charlton manager Chris Powell told the club’s official website.
“We’ve had our eye on him for a while, and with the busy Christmas period to come, I felt it was right to make sure that we are covered in all areas. We hope that he does very well for us in the red or black of Charlton.”
Frimpong joins a side who are on the back of a three match winning streak and the signing is somewhat of a coup for Charlton who have struggled in the transfer market this season when pursuing ‘big name’ targets.
The midfielder was rumoured to be heading back to Wolves where he spent time last season but will now stay in the capital in his quest for first team football.
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Arsenal and Charlton fans alike won’t forget the last time a player headed to the Valley from the Gunners, as former Addicks loanee Alex Song returned from his time in South London to became an integral part of Arsene Wenger’s midfield before leaving for Barcelona in the summer.
Andre Villas-Boas celebrated the performance of his team’s attacking players, following Tottenham’s 3-1 Europa League victory over Panathinaikos.
Spurs lost their 1-0 lead in the 54th minute, but were able to come back to take all three points with two goals in the final quarter-of-an-hour.
The Portuguese coach was happy with the resilience his team showed once the scores were levelled:
“The problem was 1-0 wasn’t enough. They had the determination and motivation to get a result. But we played really well and had opportunities.” He is quoted by BBC Sport.
“We felt a little bit of anxiety but managed to get the result which was fair.
“We’ve been scoring a lot of goals and I think the team is the second-best attacking team in the Premier League. We create chances and we took our chances.”
The three points were not enough to take top spot in Group J, with Italian outfit Lazio securing the position.
Tottenham’s runners up finish may see them face one of the teams eliminated from the Champions League.
Villas-Boas believes that clubs dropping out of the top European competition should not be allowed into the Europa League:
“(It is) Extremely unfair,
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“You can’t give a bonus to teams who’ve failed. I’ve raised it in UEFA meetings but it is for them to decide.”
Emmanuel Adebayor gave the Londoners the lead after 29 minutes, but Panathinaikos levelled the score through Zeca just before the hour mark.
An own goal from Orestis Karnezis and a Jermain Defoe effort secure the win for Tottenham.
Southampton winger Steve De Ridder has revealed his disappointment at being left out of manager Nigel Adkins’ squad for their Boxing Day clash with Fulham.
Having made his Premier League debut against Sunderland just a few days before the 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, the Belgian was believed to be in line for at least a spot on the bench.
The 25-year-old, who signed from De Graafschap in Holland in 2011, believes that he did enough to deserve a place in the squad and claims that he was “disappointed” to be overlooked:
“I was extremely pleased that I could make my debut, but I wasn’t unhappy with my performance so I was very disappointed I was not there on Wednesday against Fulham. I have received good feedback as well, which is strange.” He told Belgian magazine Sporza.
“I believe that I am still on a good path and I have proven that I can deliver something others don’t have.
“I was surprised with my non-selection and will ask for an explanation from the coach.”
It is believed that a number of clubs from Holland, Belgium and the Championship are interested in De Ridder, who hinted that he would be willing to move on unless he is given first-team football:
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“Of course I am thinking about my future. I am really aware that at a certain point I really have to start playing.
“There is interest from The Netherlands, Belgium and top sides from the Championship in England.”
Tom Ince looks certain to leave Blackpool in January but manager Michael Appleton remained silent on whether they had received any bids for their star winger, the Daily Mail report.
Appleton confirmed that the Seasiders are in talks with several clubs regarding the sale of the England under-21 international, rated at £7 million, with Liverpool and Manchester United heavily linked.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers wants Ince, who left Anfield for just £250,000 18 months ago, to form part of a new strike force with Chelsea attacker Daniel Sturridge, who is also on his New Year shopping list.
Rodgers is prepared to pay £6 million to prise him away from Bloomfield Road but will face stiff competition for his signature from Premier League leaders United, who are also monitoring his progress.
The 20-year-old has been in scintillating form this season bagging 13 goals for Blackpool as they battle for a spot in the Championship play-off places and a return to the top-flight just two seasons after relegation
At least one other unnamed club are hoping to sign Ince but Appleton, who replaced Ian Holloway in the dugout at the start of last month, insists that talks with the interested parties have yet to reach an advanced stage.
“There have been no bids as far as I’m aware,” Appleton told Sky Sports.
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“I think there have been conversations with a couple of clubs and the chairman, but nothing concrete.
“No-one has come in yet and set the marker in terms of price.”
The infuriating proficiency of Robin van Persie may have denied Joe Cole a fairytale start to his second coming, but early indications suggest this could prove an inspired reconciliation. The 31-year-old huffed and puffed his way through a debut that lasted 78 minutes and delivered two beautifully crafted deliveries that allowed James Collins to atone for his error in the recent defeat at Reading.
The former England midfielder will need to inject each performance with the same desire and tenacity if his return is to be dubbed a success, but he can certainly provide the creative spark needed to move Big Sam’s well-oiled machine up a gear. Cole lapped up his warm welcome and played with a smile that we haven’t seen since his time at Stamford Bridge. With this in mind, should more players seek out a sentimental return in order to resurrect their career?
West Ham have undoubtedly provided the foundation for a number of players to build promising careers. Two of which, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, look increasingly likely to end their spell at the summit of the Premier League sooner rather than later. Is it ludicrous to suggest that they too could retrace their steps to the Academy of Football? Neither player will be short of offers, but the Hammers may find themselves in the best position to offer both financial security and regular minutes on the pitch.
If we turn our attention back to the current playing squad, will Andy Carroll find himself fantasying about a return to Tyneside, now Chelsea have finally activated Demba Ba’s release clause? The 24-year-old has showcased glimpses of his capability to terrorise defenders but injuries have prevented him from rediscovering the form he displayed as the Magpies’ boisterous number 9.
Elsewhere in the league, there are a number of Championship graduates who have fallen foul of making the step up far too soon. Connor Wickham has made just 25 appearances – 18 of which have come from the bench – since his high profile move to Sunderland two years ago. Surely a six-month stint back in Ipswich would help revive his depleted confidence levels and help ensure the Tractor Boys steer clear of a relegation battle.
Likewise, Aaron Ramsey may have just secured a long-term contract at Arsenal, but his performances this season portray a player struggling to fulfil his potential. The former Welsh captain has perhaps become the victim of his own impressive versatility, with Wenger ushering him out on the wing to accommodate the return of Jack Wilshere. Considering Cardiff are flying high at the moment, a stint in Wales should offer the perfect environment to alleviate the pressure from his young shoulders.
It’s not just the British who can feel homesick. Perhaps the cure for the ailments hampering Fernando Torres isn’t the wise words of Rafael Benitez but a return to Atletico Madrid. Despite Roman Abramovich’s obvious affection towards his blonde bombshell, even he must be considering using the Spaniard as a means of extracting Falcao from the clutches of Diego Simeone. Torres may not want to admit it, but his newfound lack of pace would perhaps go unnoticed within the subdued nature of La Liga.
The history books are littered with stories of successful homecomings. After Ian Rush was lured to Serie A by the Old Lady, he quickly realised that life in Italy was “like living in a foreign country.” Liverpool swiftly answered his confused cry for help and re-signed the moustached magician a year later, where he would spend another eight successful years at Anfield.
Mark Hughes spent two years away from Manchester United in the mid-eighties in what must have felt like a disappointing backpacking holiday. After an unsuccessful spell under Terry Venables at Barcelona, Hughes was sent on loan to Bayern Munich before returning to Ferguson’s warm embrace, where he would enjoy seven more years of unrivalled success.
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I don’t begrudge players that move for money or a shot at the big time, who among would turn down the opportunity of a lifetime? However, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that even the best players are struggling to cope with their inflated price tags and the level of expectation that engulfs the modern game.
More and more players are beginning to understand that you can’t put a price on the reality of actually enjoying your football. It may not be pretty and the chances of silverware may turn to dust but sometimes a passionate chant from ‘your own’ supporters is all that is needed to perform at your best. I would argue that even in the world of sport, there’s no place like home.
Arsenal’s recent defeat in the north London derby to local rivals Tottenham has widely been hailed as the moment there was a change in the balance of power between the two clubs for the first time in nearly two decades, but are Arsene Wenger’s side suffering from a lack of belief more than anything else?
The biggest single factor to back up that point is the club’s record against the top four this season, otherwise known as their nearest rivals, which reads played seven, won one, drawn one and lost five. When you factor in that against better quality opposition in the Champions League this term, in games against Bayern Munich and Schalke, where they have drawn one and lost two, and it’s clear to see why they are finding it so difficult to bridge the gap between them and the level where they need to reach. They simply seem as if they are going into games of importance now resigned to their fate.
Far too many key players are not enjoying their finest seasons at the club, with Wojciech Szczesny doing little to dispel the notion that he’s the Emperor’s New Clothes and has only benefited from being compared to Manuel Almunia, while captain Thomas Vermaelen, centre-back Lauren Koscielny and the likes of Bacary Sagna and Aaron Ramsey have all fallen well below what’s expected of them on a consistent basis.
Against both Bayern and Tottenham, the side dominated possession, but seemed to lack that crucial belief to really take the game to the opposition when the scores were level and they only started playing against Chelsea in their defeat at Stamford Bridge after the break when the score was already at 2-0, therefore leaving themselves too much to do.
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A truly telling statistic is that of the club’s 14 games they have played since the turn of the year in 2013, they’ve gone behind in nine of them, five of those by two goals. In the five games where they have taken the lead first, they have gone on to win. Confidence is so fragile that it seems to often hinder on the first goal, which is not the hallmark of a side capable of challenging for a top four spot, let alone honours.
Looking around the squad, it looks woefully short on leaders, with only really the young Jack Wilshere standing up to be counted in any sort of way this campaign. Mikel Arteta is a quietly assured figure that leads by example, while Per Mertesacker commands respect for his international achievements with Germany, just like Lukas Podolski, but neither appear to have the authority of the dressing room.
Appointing Vermaelen as captain has proved to be a fatal error of judgement, though, considering that is has had an overwhelmingly negative effect on his form and looks more than anything to be like an albatross around his neck, weighing him down. Replacing Robin van Persie was always going to be a difficult task, simply because symbolically, he was the team’s go-to leader to make things happen when everything wasn’t going according to plan, and they’ve not only missed his goals, but the comfort his presence provided the rest of the side with.
Similarly to the William Gallas appointment, Vermaelen could well be stripped of the honour at the end of the campaign, with Wilshere the obvious favourite for the role, because it’s got to the stage where only the captaincy is keeping his place in the side as opposed to his performances meriting continued selection.
Blame for the team’s lack of spirit and belief in their goals ultimately rests on the manager, though, and once against Wenger is culpable for assembling such a weak-willed squad. His usual rhetoric based around the team’s mental strength is little more than hot air and a concerted PR effort to try and change minds despite the overwhelming evidence pointing to the contrary.
His refusal to adjust his methods and the team’s style of play, no matter what the opposition or context and importance of the fixture, is tantamount to gross negligence. Every manager has to adjust their side for certain fixtures, with only really Barcelona capable of impressing their style quite so forcefully; Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid are far more pragmatic and therefore successful. They will compromise their principles if it means winning, whereas Wenger will not.
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It’s not only that the side clearly doesn’t have belief in themselves or one another at the moment, but they have walked that well-worn path in big games far too often; dominate possession, fail to create or finish off clear-cut chances and then let a defensive error go punished at their end resulting in a sloppy goal. You can almost see their heads drop when they go behind now, with the knowledge that past scars have seen them incapable of turning round such a deficit. That points to a lack of belief in Wenger’s methods.
Arsenal’s performances this past month or so, which have seen them crash out of the FA Cup and all but certain to be dumped out of Europe, have been hailed as a ‘crisis’ the sort of which Wenger has never known at the club. Nevertheless, with a favourable run-in, they are still capable of pinching top four football, but the underlying issues within the squad go far deeper than just a poor run of form and they look ingrained in the squad’s psyche. Changing attitudes and the culture of the entire club is not small feat and it could take a slice of cut-throat and extensive surgery to turn their fortunes around in the long-term.