Arsenal skipper Thomas Vermaelen believes his team can take a lot of confidence from last night’s difficult 3-1 win against Olympiakos in the UEFA Champions League.
Their second consecutive win in Europe leaves the Gunners top of Group B, and has also lifted the team after their 2-1 defeat to Chelsea last Saturday in the Premier League.
The scoring was opened by Gervinho, however Arsenal’s grip on the game quickly faded and Kostas Mitroglou equalised for the Greek champions just before half time.
Arsenal controlled the second half and goals from Lukas Podolski and Aaron Ramsey secured the win for Arsene Wenger – watching from the stands due to a touchline ban.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Vermaelen said: “I think it gives us a lot of confidence, six out of six [points] and that’s really important.”
The Belgium international was eager to address his side’s conceded goal.
“In the first half we were sloppy sometimes with passing, we lost a lot of balls.
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“We started with a high tempo and that was great but then we dropped a little,” he said.
However, the Arsenal defender was pleased with his team’s result. “The most important thing is to win your home games in the Champions League. We want to keep it going.” he added.
Liverpool Football Club have welcomed the announcement of a fresh investigation into police conduct surrounding the Hillsborough disaster.
The new enquiry has been described as a ‘significant step forward’ in the campaign for justice for the families and survivors of the tragic events that occurred on April 15, 1989.
It will study any possible crimes committed by South Yorkshire police and others in relation to the disaster.
The club’s managing director Ian Ayre, said:”We welcome today’s announcement by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and Director of Public Prosecutions. This is another significant step forward in the campaign for justice for Hillsborough families and survivors.” (Guardian)
The Independent Police Complaints Commission and Director of Public Prosecutions revealed on Friday that they would review the evidence looking at the circumstances in which the 96 fans died. They will then decide if they should bring any charges for manslaughter, perjury or perverting the course of justice to the courts.
The commission will also reassess if there was a cover-up by the police officers who were in charge of the original investigation of the Hillsborough disaster. While an investigation to find out if any officers perverted the course of justice by providing wrong information to journalists, leading to misleading and incorrect newspaper stories being published about Liverpool fans, will also be carried out.
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Mr Ayre added: “We will follow the progress of this investigation and remain resolute in our support of the families and survivors as they continue with their battle to bring those responsible for the tragedy to justice.”
Wayne Rooney’s new book, entitled “Wayne Rooney – My decade in the Premier League” released six weeks ago, has proved to be a huge flop, according to the Daily Mail.
Last Friday made it ten years since Wayne Rooney shot to footballing fame following his unforgettable goal against Arsenal back when he was a 16-year-old at Everton. Since then, Rooney has been an integral cog for Manchester United and England, developing into the world class player many expected him to. However, it appears the literary world has little interest in what Rooney has to say about his thrilling ten-year career.
The book’s release couldn’t have come at a better time for Rooney, whose media stock has been high of late. The striker has been in the headlines for his 200th club goal, the 10th anniversary of his first league goal, being appointed England captain and his wife Coleen expecting a second child. Despite this, the England international’s book has only sold 6,000 copies in six weeks since being published.
Publishers HarperCollins held an emergency meeting with the United Striker before his newest book went to print. Currently the two parties have agreed a record breaking 12-year deal, worth £5 million for five books, however it is now believed that the remaining three books are likely to be scrapped.
HarperCollins publishing director Nick Canham has recently spoken in defence of the deal, and insists it is not being terminated: “It’s a long-term agreement with the guy. Wayne is one of the top three players in the world, alongside Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.”
When asked about the topic of future books, Canham reasserted the deal with Rooney was one of longevity.
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“The simple thing is we have a long-term agreement with Wayne and that affords us a number of opportunities,” he added.
Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has dismissed rumours that he is set to return to Spain in the January transfer window, as reported by The Sun.
De Gea is happy at United, despite Sir Alex Ferguson regularly chopping and changing his goalkeepers, leaving nobody 100% sure who his current number one is.
De Gea arrived at Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid last year and it is rumoured that the other big club from the Spanish capital are interested in him becoming the long term successor of legend Iker Casillas.
However, the United stopper has put to bed those rumours and is keen to rise to the challenge that Sir Alex has laid down for him.
“I am happy at United and not thinking about a return to Spain,
“I’ve accepted the challenge to learn and improve as a professional.
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“And fighting for my place gives me a bigger incentive to play well.”
Comfortably perched at the Premier League’s apex with progression to the knock-out stages of the Champions League. Yet the Red Devils’ start to the season is still being described as mediocre. Sir Alex Ferguson won’t mind in the slightest now that his side have seized control at the top and avoided the humiliation of dropping out of Europe at the group stage like they did last term. The final two months of the year are usually when Manchester United shift up through the gears and barricaded themselves at the top-flight summit. Crucial to achieving that objective before entering 2013 will be Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie continuing to fire on all cylinders. Rooney has taken his time to find form, but he has looked back to his best in the last few weeks playing just off the shoulder of Van Persie and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
This week on FFC is Nani routinely victimised at Old Trafford and which United defender is reportedly a January target for one of the top clubs in Spain?
[divider]
Best of FFC
Does he receive a bad press at Manchester United?
Time for him to make a position his own at Old Trafford?
Was Ferguson wrong to have his say?
Have Manchester United ruthlessly exposed the downfall?
Manchester United’s win told us nothing of their worth
Diamonds aren’t forever at Old Trafford
Manchester United given transfer greenlight…should they want him
Manchester United to test Celtic’s resolve with £12m bid
Manchester United star rules out transfer exit
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
Has Midfield Legend Become ‘Too Good’ For Manchester United? – Red Flag Flying High
The Greenhoff Column : A Crucial Run – 7Cantonas
Frustrated Fergie challenges Reds on van Persie’s special day – United Rant
“It Is Clear In January He Will Leave” – The Busby Way
Is Wayne Rooney On The Same Path As Paul Scholes? – Red Flag Flying High
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Quote of the Week
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“No, not at all. Obviously I was disappointed at the weekend, not only to miss but to miss the target. I said after the game it wasn’t good enough and (against Braga) I was a bit fortunate; I slipped but thankfully it’s gone in so I’m happy with that. At the time it happened so quick, but obviously I’ve seen it going towards the goal and the keeper going the other way. I was happy with it going in but obviously I’ve been quite lucky with that.” Wayne Rooney confesses his relief at scoring from the spot against Braga after missing from 12-yards against Arsenal
Everton’s draw dropping last gasp win against Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park came with a hint of reality, as Kevin Mirallas suffered a setback with a recurring hamstring injury.
Sunday’s game marked a return to action for the Belgium international who had previously missed Everton’s last four games through injury to the very same hamstring.
David Moyes is awaiting further information on the extent of the injury after taking the player off at half-time. He’s hoping that this won’t be a long-term problem for the Toffees.
Moyes himself is sanguine about the latest injury complaint, stating that “We don’t think he has done his hamstring, he just felt it had tightened up.”
“I don’t think it is bad but the last thing you want to see is the recurrence of a hamstring injury,” said Moyes.
Moyes was full of praise for the player, stating that “You can see what he offered us in the first half, something which we have probably missed.”
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Whilst Everton might have missed the sight of Mirallas in the starting line-up, his team-mates certainly saw off Spurs with a 2-1 win, albeit in a rather nail biting fashion. Nikica Jelavic bagged the injury-time winner after Steven Pienaar’s 90th minute goal levelled terms.
The Toffees boss was happy with the Croatian getting his first goal in a month, “There were signs he was getting a little bit better but he looked a bit frustrated because we weren’t getting the ball to him enough.” Moyes then stated that, “If he can keep getting the goals, and with Steven getting one, it keeps us moving along nicely.”
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has endured a strained relationship ever since taking over the club in the summer with midfielder Stewart Downing, but after the player’s recent confession that he’s been told that he can look elsewhere for a new club in January is simply latest example in a whole line of bundled communicative measures which could prove the last straw in extending his time on Merseyside.
Back in September, the 39-year-old boss challenged both Downing and Jose Enrique to up their game otherwise the exit door loomed large for them at Anfield, explaining: “What is important is that you have good communication. I don’t waste time waiting until January to tell both players what I know now. We will give them everything to help them to be better, but if they don’t want to show that self-motivation – and if they haven’t got that desire and hunger to succeed – then it can be very difficult. Stewart is a good guy but it hasn’t quite worked out for him as he would want it. The big challenge for him now is that commitment to the cause – to fight – because he has the qualities. Talent alone is not enough. You have to work hard; you have to fight for the shirt. I will keep private the discussions Stewart and I have had but he is under no illusion that he has to fight.”
Quite aside from the fact that this wasn’t keeping the conversations between the pair private by any stretch, openly calling out a player in public and slamming him for his past form is a bold move to take as it leaves little wriggle room if things don’t improve, while also souring relations to an alarming extent, creating needless tension for the media to thrive on.
This prompted Downing to, sadly again, publicly lash out at Rodgers’ confrontational style and respond to claims that some of the players were ‘lazy’ during their 3-2 defeat at home to Udinese in the Europa League: “I was obviously upset. I always try to give my best. You’ll have to ask the manager what he meant by his quotes. I would have preferred it obviously if it was private. Bravery is a lot of things, if you want tackling, running around bustling, that obviously is not my game. But bravery is also taking the ball when you are losing a game and creating things, which I try to do. We’ve had a few conversations. You can sit in offices for hours and talk about my game, but the only way I can prove it is out on the field. When I’m given that chance I have to take it. I thought I did OK against Udinese. I’ve three years left on my contract so I’m going nowhere. I will fight.”
All is clearly not well between the pair, and while Rodgers praised Downing’s display and winning goal during the 1-0 win over Anzhi Makhachkala at home in his post-match press conference, his actions in walking onto the pitch and pointing to Downing for the applause of the crowd, while well-intentioned, only served to come across as deeply patronising.
The latest step comes after Downing revealed in a frank interview with Liverpool’s match-day programme before their game against Aston Villa last weekend: “The manager has said I can leave if I want to. But then all of a sudden I’ve come back into the team, it’s a strange situation. I’ve played for a long time and there are spells when you can be in and out of the side. At the minute I’m trying to play as many games as possible. If that doesn’t happen I’m at an age where I can’t be sat around. I need to play and the manager understands that. That’s how the situation is and we’ll have to see what happens in January or the summer.”
Putting aside quite how the club can ever hope to receive any sort of return on their £20m investment on such a clear flop, one who has frequently been played out of position at left-back and is known to have a fractious relationship with his manager, why the club deemed it intelligent to place that in the programme truly beggars belief. The club used to be known as one which kept matters such as this in-house; they were private and sorted between the two parties amicably, but this soap opera is being played out in the public arena and neither side is helping as they air their dirty linen in public.
You can hardly blame Downing for feeling marginalised, after all, he is the club’s fourth-most expensive player ever, yet he has been routinely humiliated and made to feel small by a manager who appears to think that getting right up in someone’s face is the correct approach for every single player, but each player responds differently; some prefer the arm around the shoulder, others being barked orders at.
It’s bizarre to say the least and this whole situation has been created by Rodgers ostracising of Downing in public, leading the player to try and get his own version of events across. You could comfortably attribute blame to both, but the conditions for this situation were first created by the manager back in September.
The 28-year-old has never played to the best of his somewhat limited ability during his time at the club and they would be well within their rights to try and move him on as he’s been granted numerous opportunities to impress. The truth of the matter is that Liverpool grossly overpaid for a one-dimensional winger with very little pace, so his failure should come as no surprise, for he’s been a divisive figure for years and was purchased off the back of his first truly exceptional season at club level which has proven to be the exception rather than the rule.
Despite all of this, though, Rodgers desire to create news where none exists and keep the media in the loop with his brutal honesty has only served to backfire and will surely only weaken the club’s negotiating position when they do come to sell. There’s nothing that has been said in public by either Rodgers or Downing that would not have had the same impact in private and by making this falling-out visible to everyone, while it may be honesty, in this case it has certainly proved not to be the best policy for the reaction it has caused, the tense environment it has created and the needless attention it has attracted.
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Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has agreed a new deal with the club which will keep him at Old Trafford till at least June 2016.
The 24-year-old Northern Irish defender has become an increasingly important figure at United in recent seasons and the new deal will come as positive news for manager Sir Alex Ferguson as well as the Old Trafford faithful.
“Jonny has risen through the ranks to become an integral part of the first team squad. He has developed into a top player for us and has scored a couple of important goals this season too. I am delighted he has signed a new contract,” the United boss told the clubs official website.
Evans made his United debut in the League Cup against Coventry City in 2007 and has gone on to make 141 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring four goals.
He spoke of his delight at the new deal saying, “I’m delighted to sign my new contract. I am so proud to play for such a great club, and there’s no better feeling than playing football in this team and winning games.”
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Players like Evans along with the likes of Chris Smalling, 23, and Phil Jones, 20, will be seen as the future of the club, with Rio Ferdinand and recently returned club captain Nemanja Vidic both now into their 30’s.
Fulham have pressed forward with a move for Tom Huddlestone after approaching Spurs with a £5 million bid, the Mirror report.
The Cottagers have been heavily linked with a move for the powerful midfielder during January and Martin Jol has finally decided to make his move with just over 24-hours before the transfer window closes.
Jol worked with Huddlestone during his three-year spell as manager at White Hart Lane after signing him from Derby in 2005 and is keen to be reunited with him on the Thames.
Current Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas told the 26-year-old he could leave at the start of the month after struggling to hold down a starting role this season but his £7m price tag deterred any potential suitors.
However, its thought Villas-Boas would be willing to accept a slightly lower offer and Huddlestone, who has four England caps, now seems destined for a move from north to west London after Fulham firmed up their interest with a serious offer.
Meanwhile, AC Milan utility man Urby Emanuelson is close to joining the ranks at Craven Cottage until the end of the season with a loan deal for the Holland international close to completion.
“I will finish the season with a loan deal,” Emanuelson confirmed.
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“I have worked in a very good way with him (Martin Jol) at Ajax and am happy as he gives me the chance.”
Anderson admits that despite finding life hard at Old Trafford he is happy there and denies reports of wanting to leaving the club.
The 24-year-old player joined Manchester United in 2007 in a £17million deal from Porto. Over the years of his career he has suffered a few injuries and concerns were raised about his conditioning. He has made just 4 Premier League starts this year and 12 altogether.
Last week it was rumoured that Anderson had said that he wanted to leave Old Trafford, fearing that he would risk his place in the Brazil national team next year during the World Cup.
However, Anderson spoke to The Daily Mail about his injuries and dispelled the rumours as nonsense.
“It’s not true. Everyone knows I’m happy at the club. I’ve had a lot of injuries but I’ve never let the smile go from my face. I try to help the team all the time,” he said.
“I have had some serious injuries, some problems. But when I don’t have these problems I know my quality. I know I can play. When I take two steps forward I seem to take three back. It is sad but I have to do my job. I need to play games and not to have any injuries.
“When I want to leave I will have to talk to the boss first. I don’t have any issues.
“The only places you could go to from here are Real Madrid and Barcelona. You can’t have another choice. The level at Manchester United is so big. You come here and you are definitely going to win titles. I have won the Premier League three times. I have won the Champions League once and lost two finals. I have always been there.”
The midfielder also admitted that he has struggled in the UK and says it is quite hard for South American players to settle here and play well
“I came to Manchester United as a Brazilian and I have been here six years,” he added.
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“It’s not easy to stay here. I love it here. But it is hard.
“It is not easy to play for Manchester United. A lot of top players came here and couldn’t do it – Juan Veron, some big players. Kleberson came here and didn’t play.”