Harry Redknapp has defended his decision to leave a string of senior players out of Tottenham’s Europa League game against PAOK on Thursday night, and claims he is not disrespecting the European competition.
With a Premier League game against Liverpool at White Hart Lane on Sunday, and a growing injury list, Spurs will field a scratch side against the Greek outfit, but Redknapp feels he had no other option.
“It’s not a case of prioritising a game, it’s just [using] what I have got. I couldn’t bring players out here, play them on Thursday night and play the same group against Liverpool,” he told The Telegraph.
“If I get a few injuries I have no back-up. I have nine senior, very, very good players who are injured. Some of them have played two international games so I wanted to change the team around. I have done that. I have not been able to use the strong group I have for this first game because for this first game they’re not fit.
“After this we will be able to field almost two very, very good teams in Europe,” he stated.
Spurs have left the likes of Luka Modric, Emmanuel Adebayor, Scott Parker and Gareth Bale in England, and will field a team of youngsters on Thursday, with Roman Pavlyuchenko and Sebastian Bassong the most senior players on show.
[divider]
Fancy a Premier League Box Experience? Click on banner below to find out more
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 all started with a comment by Bobby Charlton. Manchester United’s new signing Phil Jones apparently reminded him of Duncan Edwards. Before long, endless journalists were calling him a future England captain and The Telegraph’s Mark Ogden penned a gushing interview including pictures of Jones in front of a picture of Edwards (and Ryan Giggs).
By all accounts Jones has had a great start to his United career, though when I have watched them the defence has been more porous than the much maligned Arsenal back four. That might be more down to Jonny Evans and a fading Patrice Evra however.
But either way, that’s not my point. I am not a bitter City fan jealous at the bargain that United have bought. Jones may well be a brilliant player. He may become a future England captain, he may have a glorious trophy-laden career. Who knows?
What grinds my gears (thanks Peter Griffin) is the ridiculous over-hyping of every young English player. Jones is 19 years old. He has barely started his United career, and has made mistakes like any young player yet already he is being labelled by all and sundry. And it probably does Jones no good to be compared to United greats anyway. Stop the stupid comparisons and just let him play football. Just as well he appears grounded, or he could just be another talent to fall by the wayside. I’m still waiting for Freddy Adu to reach his full potential – anytime now.
The media love to compare players to past legends. Incapable of describing the attributes of a new star, much easier to call them the new Giggs. The White Pele (arf). The English Platini. The next Romario. The new Steve Claridge.
The Jones hype is helped by him playing for Manchester United of course. There was no mention of him being a future England captain last season when he was a Blackburn player (he was their best player against Manchester City) There was no clamour for an England call-up for Danny Welbeck or Tom Cleverley when they were playing Premiership football on loan last season. There is now. Fair enough you might say, as they are now playing (sometimes) at the top level, but let’s hold back on the ridiculous levels of praise until players have performed consistently over a longer period.
Owen Hargreaves has a successful 57 minutes back from a 3-year injury and immediately he is being talked of as possibly securing an England recall. Michael Owen scores his annual Carling Cup goals and Ollie Holt demands that he too gets an England recall (conveniently getting a dig in at Capello in the process).
Any England fan will be happy to see some great English youngsters breaking through, especially strikers where the pickings seem particularly slim at the moment. But rather than build up another Golden Generation so we can knock them down again when they fail, let’s just wait and see how they develop, and in the meantime enjoy them for what they are, not for what they might be.
[divider]
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’s been 17 years since Tottenham last finished above Arsenal and you’d have to go back to my playing days to find a time when Spurs were hot favourites to defeat their bitter rivals. Jack Wilshere, Robin van Persie, and perhaps Bacary Sagna, are the only Arsenal players who would get into the current Spurs side. It’s not easy for a Tottenham man to talk with such confidence, because we’ve always had a bit of an inferiority complex about our neighbours. For while Spurs might have had a better team than Arsenal at times, they have never been a greater club.
When I arrived at White Hart Lane in 1961, Spurs were the best team in the land. And yet when we visited Highbury, with its marble halls, we were left in no doubt as to which was the classier club in north London. Even the dressing rooms were 10 times better at Highbury than anywhere else and Arsenal’s players were always dressed immaculately in club blazers, before and after a match. We had blazers at Spurs but we were rarely expected to wear them. In fact when one of our players, Alfie Stokes, was caught fare-dodging on the buses, Bill Nicholson specifically asked him to go incognito so as not to alert the press.
[divider]
Alf, a good player but not necessarily the brightest, took the mothballs out of his blazer and ended up splashed over every paper in the country. In Alf’s defence, fare-dodging was far more prevalent among the professional football community then than it is nowadays! But it was the sort of thing that was always more likely to happen at Spurs than Arsenal. They were the aristocracy and we were the proles – even when we were beating them regularly. So when you went to Highbury and won, it was a special feeling.
I can’t pretend that derby matches mean as much to players as they do to fans. Any Spurs fan would rather beat Arsenal and lose the next three matches, whereas a player would prefer a derby defeat followed by three wins. Either way, the smart money is on Spurs finally to finish above their fierce foes this season.
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.
[divider]
While Arsenal had a nightmare summer in the transfer market, with Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri making them look daft, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was having a blinder by keeping hold of Luka Modric. I don’t know Levy and haven’t always had much time for him but he stuck to his word that he would not sell Modric to Chelsea and the player seems to have got his head straight and knuckled down. But Emmanuel Adebayor will be the player who makes or breaks Tottenham’s bid to finish in the top four this season.
The on-loan striker is clearly a talent but he seems to start off well at every club he goes to, only to fade badly. Does he want to flit in and out of clubs, earning shed-loads in signing-on fees, but ending up being remembered as little more than a gifted mercenary? Or does he want to make Tottenham his home and become a proper legend at the club? The opportunity is there for him, if he has the staying power. Adebayor certainly doesn’t lack the confidence. And for once, when it comes to Spurs playing Arsenal, neither do I.
When Chelsea’s Jesper Gronkjaer scored the winning goal against Liverpool on the final day of the 2002/2003 season, not many could have imagined the chain of events it triggered. That goal secured 4th place and Champions League qualification for the club, in what was then labelled the ‘£20 million match.’
Indeed, had Chelsea not beaten Liverpool their long term existence was under serious threat due to growing financial problems. Champions League qualification was certainly going to help, however it equally was not going to fully solve the financial mire the club was in.
Step forward Roman Abramovich, 53 days after Chelsea’s vital last day victory the Russian billionaire bought the football club from long time owner Ken Bates. Not much was known about the Russian but early on it became clear that Abramovich had not invested in the club with any intention of making a profit, he claimed it would be all be about having fun and winning trophies. Surely music to the ears of any football fan.
Since then the relationship between Abramovich and the fans has been a harmonious one. Fans will always worry about an owner they know little about, however just from watching the Russian at Chelsea games, it is clear how much he cares about the clubs results.
In many ways, he is no different to the 40 odd thousand in Stamford Bridge every other week, yet there is one significant difference. Money. Abramovich has invested an estimated three quarters of a billion into the SW6 outfit and as such it is no surprise that he also cares about the bottom line.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]
After everything he has put into the club in the last 8 years, can Abramovich feel disappointed at last week’s Chelsea Pitch Owner’s (CPO) meeting, where shareholders voted against the clubs proposal to consider a move away from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea fans will be forever grateful to Abramovich for providing the platform for the club to go from both perennial contenders to league champions as well as transforming the club into a serious European heavyweight.
However, regardless of the legal documents ascribing Abramovich as the owner, it is the Chelsea fans who will forever feel an affiliation bordering on ownership with the club, the ground and the players.
In terms of business sense, with one taking a step back and looking at the entire situation from a logical point of view, it is clear that a yes vote at the CPO meeting would have been the correct one. Yet, while Abramovich may be a fan, try telling thousands of other Chelsea fans that matchdays away from Stamford Bridge are the best thing for the club. Financially it may be, yet every fan will have those special reasons why it is not.
This is where football fans and businessmen could not be more different, the financial and emotional side of things may be fairly balanced for the businessman. Yet for the football fan, however hard they try, emotion tends to rule.
Many other clubs have moved grounds with fans growing to love their new surroundings, it is often just a process that takes time, as it looks like it will in Chelsea’s case. Abramovich will most likely get his way, but for now he cannot be too disappointed, he must merely accept that the very nature of the football fan is not to let go of what they know without a fight.
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.
Following his significant financial investment, does Roman Abramovich have the right to be disappointed at the no vote at last weeks CPO meeting? Comment and follow me on Twitter @CamHumphries
Robert Huth was the unlikely match winner Stoke won the first second time in as many games after beating Everton at Goodison Park to move into the Premier League top half.
The Potters started the day in 13th just five points above the drop zone after beating Blackburn at the Britannia Stadium last week but climbed to eight after beating the Toffee’s who were searching for a third win on the trot. Tony Pulis’ side have recovered well from a recent slump in form and Huth’s first half goal was good enough to give Stoke their first win in the blue half Merseyside since 1981. The visitors created little else in terms of chances against David Moyes’ men who saw their best opportunity of the game fall to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. Everton struggled to create anything in the final third of the field on an afternoon where both defences came out on top. Everton were looking to complete a hat-trick of victories after beating Wolves and Bolton in their last two games but failed to get going in front of their own fans once again. Stoke fared little better on their fourth league visit to Goodison Park but managed to hold on for victory after Huth broke the deadlock after 15 minutes.
Matthew Etherington’s corner was cleared towards Dean Whitehead with his instinctive low volley being turned in by Huth who diverted the ball past Tim Howard. The Toffee’s keeper looked primed to make a routine save until the German defenders divine intervention gave Stoke a precious advantage. The Potters briefly went into the ascendancy and should have doubled their lead moments later but Ryan Shotton could only head wide before Peter Crouch nodded Etherington’s free kick wide of the Everton goal. The Merseysiders struggled to out strength a physically superior visiting defence although Bilyaletdinov should have done better when presented with a golden opportunity to level the game. Unfortunately for Moyes and the rest of the Goodison faithful the Russian midfielder could only fire wildly beyond Thomas Sorensen.
Jack Rodwell also had a chance for the the home side only to be thwarted by Andy Wilkinson who did superbly to block the newly capped England midfielders goal bound effort on the line. Leighton Baines then sent a teasing ball across the penalty area that managed to evade the legion of blue shirts stretching to get the decisive touch. However that was as good as it got for the Toffee’s who slid to their fourth home defeat of the season against a Stoke side who saw their win soured by injuries to Danish keeper Sorensen and defender Jonathan Woodgate.
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.
Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga has failed a medical at Newcastle, which has thwarted a January transfer.
The Mali international forward has been the subject of the Tyneside club’s admiration for quite some time, and a move was close to being completed in the summer.
However, with a £6 million transfer to Alan Pardew’s men negotiated with the Ligue 1 club, the 24-year-old failed a medical due to a recurring knee problem according to L’Equipe.
The player’s agent has denied that Maiga has any health concerns and admits that the news came as a shock.
“I am disappointed by the turn of events. Modibo is in perfect physical condition and this was confirmed by specialists,” Karim Aklil stated.
“I am surprised by what has happened since his medical and the diagnosis was established by doctors authorised by the club,” 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.
Newcastle are in the market for a new frontman, and may turn their attention elsewhere in the new year due to Maiga’s fitness problems.
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are looking to make a £25 million bid for Eden Hazard following renewed interest from Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
Eden Hazard has continued his phenomenal rise to stardom following his league title success last season with Lille, and has long been on the radar of Europe’s elite.
It is said that Zinedine Zidane, who is now Director of Football at Real Madrid, tried to bring the Belgian wonderkid to the Bernabeu in the summer. Hazard, however, wished to remain at his club for the Champions League run and another attempt at the French title.
Chelsea’s latest bid could prove to be fruitful as sources at Lille claim the player has already agreed provisional terms with the Premier League club.
Hazard – who has racked up seven goals and six assist in Ligue 1 so far this season – has expressed a desire to move to Spain when his time at the French champions comes to an end.
Andre Villas-Boas will need to act quickly if he is to secure his target, as a number of clubs continue to court the midfielder.
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.
With only one home win all season Bolton won’t be taking anything for granted as they continue their fight for survival against Liverpool who are still chasing the top four.
The Trotters’ have taken just four points from a possible 30 at the Reebok Stadium is the primary reason why they are currently battling to beat the drop. Owen Coyle’s men have endured a truly awful campaign with injuries taking their toll on a threadbare squad and the managers’ dealings in the transfer market failing to pay dividends. Two wins and a draw over Christmas indicated that they might be turning a corner but defeat at Manchester United last Saturday left them rooted firmly in the bottom three. Coyle suffered another blow during the week as Gary Cahill finally completed his protracted move to Chelsea and he will be looking are David Wheater and Zat Knight to hold the back four together. Doing that at home proved difficult in the first half of the season losing eight games and conceding 24 goals. Wheater and Knight will need to be at their best to quell a Liverpool attack that his hungry for goals and provide a platform for Bolton to end their dismal form at the Reebok.
Kenny Dalglish will be expecting his players to return to reignite their pursuit of Champions League after seeing the win just one of the last five. The loss of Luis Suarez to suspension has certainly hit them hard in the goal-scoring department and they are yet to find the net in 2012. Andy Carroll has struggled to step up in the Uruguayan’s absence and his impact from the bench in last week’s goalless draw with Stoke was minimal. However Dalglish might see an opportunity for the clubs record signing to regain some of his confidence against a fragile Bolton back four. The Geordie has found it difficult to adapt to Liverpool’s playing style and the Anfield chief could consider tinkering his system to play on Carroll’s aerial strength. It could prove to be a shrewd move from the Scot as he attempts to close the five point gap Chelsea have built ahead of them. The Reds are strong on the road winning five times on their travels and will be confident of sealing sixth victory against the struggling Trotters.
Bolton Wanderers 19th : 16 points
Last six: L W D L W L
Team news: Seven first team players are missing for Bolton but Mikel Alonso could return.
Key Player: David Wheater
With Gary Cahill long departed the Reebok Stadium it’s up to Wheater to lead the Bolton back four. His strength in the air will be put under a firm examination against Andy Carroll and he’ll need to come out on top if Bolton are to avoid defeat.
Liverpool 7th : 35 points
Last six: D L W D D W
Team news: Luis Suarez is still suspended but Daniel Agger could return after picking up a knock against Stoke.
Key Player: Andy Carroll
It’s been a rough season for the Geordie striker but he’ll be determined to prove his worth to Liverpool on Saturday. The Reds know where Carroll’s strengths lie and if they get the ball into the box then expect the big striker to punish Bolton without remorse.
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.
PREDICTION
Bolton’s form has picked up of late but their they seem to struggle at the Reebok and Liverpool should become the ninth team to win their this season. The Reds are still chasing Champions League football and their strong record on the road should see them leave with three points.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that player power and the introduction of football agents have ruined the beautiful game.
The Scottish coach has been in charge at Old Trafford for over 25 years, and feels that the changes he has witness have negatively impacted upon the sport.
“When I first started out in management 37 years ago there were no agents. Imagine that,” the United boss told the FIFA website.
“There was no freedom of contract either, so players were totally tied to their clubs.
“A change in that sense was inevitable, though I think that now the scales tipped completely in the other direction and I’m not sure it’s good for the game.
“Of course the way the media works has changed too, there’s a lot of pressure on journalists to publish huge news stories – not just about sport but about everything – and that’s had an impact on us, no doubt about it.
“In the playing sense, I think the biggest change over the last decade has been the improvement in playing surfaces. They’re fantastic now and, given the technological advances in that area, playing on a poor pitch has become very unusual.
“And the other big change has been in sports science, which has progressed at an astonishing rate.
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.
“For example, when I started out at Manchester United my entire coaching staff consisted of just eight people, and that included my assistant coaches, fitness trainers and scouts. Now I’ve got ten sport scientists! It’s a radical change,” he concluded.
Is there any stopping Manchester United at the moment? The Red Devils have initiated their customary late season gear change and are now in pole position to lift a second consecutive Premier League title. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men devoured Wolves last weekend to keep their noses ahead of rivals City and know that if they keep chalking up victories then the title will be heading to the red half of Manchester once again. With nine games remaining United will be confident of remaining in the ascendancy after chalking up five wins on the bounce to overtake their noisy neighbours at the top.
This week at FFC rumours continue to persist that Ferguson is preparing a lucrative bid for Benfica winger Nicolas Gaitan whilst the Scot has also had to deal with absurd criticism over his decision to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement.
Best of FFC
Why Berbatov will never be king
Hazard continues to flirt as Premier League elite lay in wait
Criticism of Manchester United is simple laughable
If Manchester United Win The Title, Don’t Just Blame Mancini
Manchester United’s setup doesn’t get the credit it deserves
Fergie set to make his move with £20m Gaitan bid
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
Evra and Valencia: A tale of two seasons – Red Flag Flying High
I would say he’s out best player this season – The Busby Way
Evans’ rising stock – 7Cantonas
The Fourth Striker – United Rant
Desperate times call for desperate measures – The Busby Way
The 5 ‘Frees’ Sir Alex Ought To Cast His Eye Over This Summer – Transfer Tavern
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.
[divider]
Quote of the Week
[divider]
“If it’s desperation bringing the best midfielder in Britain back for the last 20 years then I think we can accept that. I think he (Vieira) was programmed for that.
“Roberto (Mancini) had a wee dig a couple of weeks back. We’re all going to play our hand that way. There will be plenty of ammunition for that.
“If you talk about desperation, they played a player the other night who refused to go on the pitch, the manager said he’d never play again and he takes a five-month holiday in Argentina. What is that? Could that come under the description of desperation? Sir Alex Ferguson responding to Patrick Vieira’s criticism over his decision to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement