Former Reading manager Brian McDermott is on the list of candidates to take charge of Championship outfit Leeds, according to Sky Sports.
The Yorkshire outfit are on the lookout for a new boss after Neil Warnock stepped down after a 2-1 defeat at home to Derby.
It was no surprise to see Warnock step-down at Elland Road after making it publically clear that he’d leave if he failed to get them into the Premier League, and although it’s not mathematically impossible to reach the play-offs, it is deemed an unrealistic task.
It now looks as though the Leeds board are setting their sights on potential candidates, with McDermott being one of them.
McDermott was harshly sacked from his job at Premier League strugglers earlier in the year, and was swiftly replaced by former Southampton manager Nigel Adkins.
Leeds are said to be looking for somebody who can lead the Elland Road outfit to the Premier League next season. Meaning that McDermott fits the bill exactly, having led Reading to the Championship title last season.
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Brighton and Hove manager Gus Poyet is also linked with the vacant job, however it’d be somewhat of a surprise to see him leave the seaside club when he’s taken Albion to the verge of the play-offs.
Theo Walcott wants his Arsenal team mates to try and ease the pressure on Arsene Wenger as he believes it is their responsibility to start winning, reports Sky Sports.
Arsenal were knocked out of the FA and Capital One Cup by lower division sides this season and face the possibility of finishing an eighth season without a trophy especially if they fail to turn around the defeat against Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League.
Despite being unbeaten in their last five games and moving slightly up the table, it hasn’t silenced Wenger’s critics and the manager is still very much under-fire.
Walcott was interviewed for the Arsenal magazine in March and he spoke passionately about repaying Wenger for having faith in him.
“The boss has always had so much belief in me from a young age, but we haven’t won anything for a long time now, so we want to pay him back by winning something,” Walcott said.
“If we don’t perform he always takes it back on himself, but at times it is not fair because we are the players that go out there and do it.
“He definitely lets us know when we are not performing, though, which is the right way to do it.”
The Gunners have sold some of their best players over the last few years and this has had an detrimental effect on the team. Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy are just some of the Arsenal greats that have left for other teams so they can achieve their ambitions.
Theo Walcott almost became one of those players to leave after he refused to sign a new contract with the North London Club but he appeared to have a change of heart last month and signed a new deal, stating that he now believes with the other English players that make up the core of the team, they can start to win trophies.
“Once the team wins the first trophy, you will start to see us coming back to where we should be,” he added.
“When your team is playing well it makes your job easier and when you are winning games it is fantastic to be a part of it. However, it is when things aren’t going too well that you need to stand out and get your team back involved.
“We have got players in the dressing room who can create something out of nothing, and I want to be part of that backbone.
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“I think we will get to a stage when we win games even when we haven’t dominated.
“We are starting to get there and as soon as we hit that target, I am sure we are going to be flying.”
It would have seemed a little pointless to send glowing praise Everton’s way had they started this season in their usual manner. Slow starts, big finishes, but not quite making the grade. This season, however, David Moyes has taken his squad of players onto a new level. They should have been knocked back by the disappointment of losing another one of their products from that incredible youth system, but they soldiered on and made this a squad that can beat anyone on their day. With a rocking Goodison Park, who’s to say Everton can’t make Champions League football?
The thing with Everton lately is that everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon to praise David Moyes and his team. Iain Macintosh wrote a great piece—and fully deserving—on the unsung hero that is Tony Hibbert. It was fitting and not just a testament to some good work shown over the past month. If anything, Hibbert is the poster boy for Everton Football Club. The full-back is incredibly hard working, gets up and down the pitch without a fuss, and typifies the no nonsense attitude of his manager. Isn’t that the real embodiment of English fighting spirit?
It’s easy to talk about Marouane Fellaini as this beast of a player who can brawl with the very best and somehow manage to throw some continental style into the mix, too. But what about that ever-reliable goalkeeper between the posts? The best goalkeeper in Merseyside at the moment? Certainly the most consistent. What about that back four that can see players come in and out but maintain it’s hard working ethos? Goal-line clearances are the norm, but it once again sums up the never say die attitude of the manager and his players. And then there’s a forward line led into battle by a real predator in the box, a player who would fit right in at any of the bigger clubs in the Premier League, an absolute bargain of a buy from Rangers, and a player who should leave many, many managers and scouts wondering how they ever missed his undeniable class.
If that’s not a squad that can form a strong charge on the Champions League for next season, then what’s the point? Is this a league that has it’s mind made up in October or November like, say, La Liga? Should we dismiss Everton and what they genuinely are capable of just because it’s not really the norm? Tottenham challenging for the league title isn’t the norm, but people fancied a ride on that train for a while. Who told Chelsea they were allowed to overcome internal struggles, beat the best team in the world and see off a fantastic Bayern Munich in their own stadium to win the Champions League? It can’t be done, it really shouldn’t have been done. Shouldn’t we exercise a little caution when dismissing teams like Everton from making a real impression in the league?
David Moyes is one of the finest managers of the Premier League era in England. He could manage Manchester United one day, one day when he feels the time is right to move on. But taking him out of the Everton fold would really smack of something wholly disappointing. Why break up a project that’s been in the works for 10-years?
Wayne Rooney’s move to Manchester United should have set the club back, even with the injection of cash the player saw going in the opposite direction while on his way to Old Trafford. What about Mikel Arteta leaving last year at the last minute and with no hope or time or even cash to find a ready replacement? What does it tell you of Moyes and the great togetherness of Everton when Kevin Mirallas turns down Arsenal and Champions League football and big crowds in the capital for the blue half of Merseyside? It isn’t really a fluke or a mistake. It wasn’t when the club found Fellaini or Nikica Jelavic and snapped them up before the big guns of Europe.
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What’s the point in sports if we tell clubs or athletes that it can’t be done? This is a group of international players who are good enough to play at the pinnacle of club football in Europe, and definitely not only because there might be one spot in the top four that’s up for grabs. What kind of message will it send out to the rest of Europe about English football? What sort it message will it sent out to the rest of English football if Everton can land another Champions League place?
Everton are working to a budget, they don’t have the biggest stadium or anywhere near it. They will have to sell in order to move on, but that’s no worry, Moyes will just find another gem to add to his squad and carry on. But there are no real internal struggles at Everton, they are not dealing with players flirting with the big teams in Europe and, importantly, they’re all buying into the idea that David Moyes is selling.
Chris Hughton maintains there will be no psychological hangover when Norwich City face Aston Villa in a critical relegation match next weekend.
The Canaries boss was responding to questions about his Norwich side’s 4-1 demolition at the hands of Villa in the Capital One Cup back in December, since when City’s form has nosedived.
The spectre of former Carrow Road boss Paul Lambert hammering a nail into City’s coffin this season is already beginning to haunt Hughton after his side’s away defeat to Stoke on Saturday leaves them just six points above the Premier League relegation zone.
Hughton concedes this is “a nervy time” with his team having won just two league games since mid-December, and with only one win in their past eight, they are displaying relegation form.
But the manager is adamant that that Cup defeat, which ended a 10-match unbeaten run, will not play any part in the build-up to Saturday’s crunch home clash.
“It’s a massive game for us because of the fact we are playing a team around us, so there is a little more significance in the game,” said Hughton. “As for the game back in December, I don’t think it has any bearing on the one coming up.
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“You might have seen the away game [a 1-1 draw at Villa in October]. I don’t think there is anybody who saw that who didn’t think we were the better team on that day, so the cup game is irrelevant.”
Ipswich have already made a few additions to their squad since the end of the 12/13 season, but the club may well have to wait a while before making any more.
It is strongly rumored that financial fair play rules are preventing the club from making any more additions as new signings would stretch the current wage bill past what is allowed based on The Tractor Boys revenue.
This news is surprising as the current Ipswich squad is not overly big and they do not have any particularly great players. However, it is thought that both Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Micheal Chopra are on large contracts that are holding the club back in the transfer market.
When the two players were first signed by the club they had good reputations and looked as though they would be solid purchases for a Championship side. I think the club were desperate for players at the time and had more money than sense, which allowed players to negotiate good contracts for themselves at the clubs expense.
Although neither player will be considered a success at the club, JET is not causing the club as many problems as Chopra. The former Arsenal youngster isn’t paid as much as Chopra and it will be much easier to offload JET onto another club.
JET would be a useful signing for a lot of Championship sides and would only have to take a minor pay cut in order to move on.
The former Cardiff man on the other hand will struggle to find a club willing to take him. Chopra has been poor as a player and as a professional of late so I can’t see many teams that would be happy to pay anything close to what he is on at Ipswich. He has been linked with a few foreign clubs but a move abroad is unlikely as it would prevent him from visiting his young son that lives with his ex-wife.
It is an unfortunate situation for Mick McCarthy as he has inherited a squad weighed down by decisions that were made long before he arrived. Signing Chopra was a huge mistake, giving him a highly paid and lengthy contract was an even bigger one.
When Ipswich made the signing, either nobody thought about the possibility of Chopra failing as a player or they were so desperate that they decided to take a huge risk that didn’t pay off.
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Regardless, that doesn’t change the current situation. Ipswich need to somehow find a club that has a lot more money than sense to sign their dead weight before they can make any decent moves themselves. It will be a frustrating time for the fans but they will have to hope that McCarthy make it work even if nobody does sign Chopra.
Paris St Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out any big money signings in January as he is happy with his talented squad.
The former Chelsea manager has been able to splash the cash since he arrived at the French capital in the summer but new signings are not currently at the forefront of his mind.
The likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva were bought in the summer and despite the club being back by mega rich foreign owners; it is unlikely that they will throw money around in this transfer window.
Chelsea left back Ashley Cole and England legend David Beckham have both been linked with a free move to the club which is something that Ancelotti is refusing to rule out.
Ancelotti has not dismissed the chance that PSG will do business in the January transfer window but he is delighted with his current squad and despite losing a few fringe players, he doesn’t see January as a busy time.
“We will not refuse (new signings) but we do not need other player,” Ancelotti told French paper Sport Style
“We have very good players back, middle and front.
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“Managing over 30 players is not easy.
“I already said that if players want to leave the club, we can think but today there is nothing official. Some players were asked to leave, but there is nothing official.
There was a feeling that last weeks antagonistic contest with the Blues was an early title decider despite the season being only eight games old. Coming away with all three points was a massive boost to United as they closed the gap on the West London club at the top and finally worked themselves into some sort of stride that has eluded them thus far. Defensively there is still some work to do with goals being shipped thick and fast, but with Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand the only two fit centre backs available to Sir Alex Ferguson at the moment there is not a lot the Red Devils boss can do to correct those problems until his options are boosted by players returning from long spells on the sidelines. That will certainly hinder Ferguson’s hopes of taking charge at the top of the table during the exhaustive winter period and ultimately thwart his ambition of finishing the campaign at the top-flight’s apex.
This week on FFC is Wayne Rooney being wasted in his new position and which veteran Uruguay defender is Ferguson targeting for a January move.
[divider]
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Gerard Pique – From Crewe to Catalonia
Is Wayne Rooney simply wasted?
David Beckham – From the Goldstone Ground to Galactico
Diamonds aren’t forever at Old Trafford
Manchester United and Arsenal braced for Juve bid
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Sir Alex chases £16m Spanish wonderkid
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Five Things We Learned – Chelsea vs. Manchester United (Capital One Cup) – Red Flag Flying High
[divider]
Quote of the Week
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I don’t believe Mark Clattenburg would make any comments like that. I refuse to believe it. I think it is unthinkable in the modern climate. I just don’t believe it – simple as that. There is no way a referee would stoop to that, I am convinced of that. I think in the modern game, the way we see the game today rather than how it was 25 years ago, it has completely changed.” Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t believe Mark Clattenburg was racist towards Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel
It is an odd feeling for Ipswich fans right now, normally it is the time of year that the Tractor Boys call out for big changes to be made in the squad to try and prevent disaster.
However, the table right now makes for pleasant reading with Mick McCarthy’s side sitting nicely in the top six with an impressive unbeaten run still going.
Of course we are all guessing who will be targeted by the Suffolk side but another question we have to ask first is; should Ipswich be looking to sign anyone?
It may seem like madness at first to even suggest it but given the nature of the January transfer window the wrong signing could do more harm than good for Ipswich.
The mid-season window has a reputation for tempting managers to pay over the odds for players that are likely to disappoint. The price of any half-decent player will soar because of other clubs throwing silly money around in order to try and salvage their season. Ipswich have over-paid in this window a number of times and Marcus Evans will no doubt be reluctant to splash out this month.
Secondly you have to consider the effect of new signings on the squad harmony. When the team were under the control of Roy Keane and Paul Jewell there was no sense of togetherness within the squad and it showed on the pitch.
Under McCarthy there is a completely different vibe coming out from the dressing room that can be seen in the player’s body language and the way they interact with each other. I firmly believe that a large part of Ipswich’s success this season has been down to an improvement in the team chemistry so it would be careless to make a move that could potentially disrupt the dressing room.
The Tractor Boys boss has sent two defenders out on loan though so naturally he will have to bring in one or two faces. I can’t imagine McCarthy bringing in any top signings though as he won’t want to break up his current centre back partnership and it would be harsh to remove either of the two full-backs from the first team.
It has been rumoured that Richard Stearman could make a return to Portman Road but the rumours are far from convincing at this stage. The Wolves defender has six months left of his contract and the talk is that if he is not willing to sign a new contract soon then McCarthy’s former employers will cash in on Stearman instead of losing him for nothing in the summer.
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I wouldn’t rule it out from happening but it is worth noting that Stearman has expressed his happiness at Wolves and with them looking as though they are set for promotion he could easily stay put.
Personally I believe that the addition of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and the retention of Ryan Tunnicliffe are good enough positives to take from the January transfer window. It will be great to see the squad strengthened with one or two back-up signings but I am not expecting anything close to a spending spree from the Tractor Boys this month.
It’s to no one’s great surprise that Andy Carroll is injured again. Not only that, but the striker will miss the next four months, returning sometime around November, though you’d be brave to bet on that.
West Ham, in the meantime, will be in need of plugging that gap and bringing in someone who can work effectively in the Premier League until the striker’s return.
The club have already brought in Enner Valencia and Mauro Zarate, but between them they have half-a-season’s worth of experience in the English top flight. Bringing in someone already based in the Premier League should be a must.
Here is a rundown of five options to replace Andy Carroll in the West Ham squad.
[ffc-gallery]Click on Fellaini to start the gallery
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Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck’s future at Manchester United isn’t really in danger or any great doubt, but the striker hasn’t done enough to be a regular in the team’s starting XI, failing to hit the back of the net with the regularity that’s expected of him.
Welbeck could be the perfect short-term answer for West Ham. The England international is good enough to be a starter in Sam Allardyce’s team, with the versatility and work rate to be deployed anywhere across the front line.
Welbeck could have a good career at Old Trafford, but now he really does need to develop further as a forward. A loan move would suit all parties.
Jordan Rhodes
There are surely some who are still waiting for Jordan Rhodes to make the step up from the Championship to the Premier League.
The Scotland international has scored over 20 goals in each of his two seasons with Blackburn and very much looks capable of producing in the top flight.
West Ham will find trouble in negotiating with Blackburn, who will not want to lose their star forward. But while it is a gamble, if Sam Allardyce can land the 24-year-old, it could pay off in a big way.
Nicklas Bendtner
Nicklas Bendtner is currently a free agent after seeing his contract at Arsenal expire. The Dane hasn’t the best of reputations in England, but that’s largely due to his off-field actions.
Bendtner may have frustrated Arsenal supporters in the past, but his form for Denmark has generally been very good – and that’s what his next club will need to unlock, the consistency to perform effectively at the highest level.
The Dane would be a good signing for West Ham, provided they can get round his wage demands. Bendtner is a good footballer who, on his day, can produce far more than many of the mid-table strikers currently in the league.
Connor Wickham
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Connor Wickham arrived at Sunderland in 2011 with plenty of promise, but hasn’t featured as much as many would have expected over the past few seasons, seeing a couple of loan moves during that period.
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But most would have been reminded that he still plays for the club during their stunning run of form at the end of last season, in which the 21-year-old scored against Manchester City and Chelsea.
Wickham wouldn’t be a bad shout for West Ham this summer, even as a loan signing from now until January.
Marouane Fellaini
Marouane Fellaini doesn’t look to have a future at Manchester United with Louis van Gaal now in charge. The Belgian international had a hugely disappointing season at the club last term and will more than likely be shown the door at some stage this summer.
Even though he isn’t a striker, he’d be a perfect replacement for Andy Carroll at West Ham, with experience of having played in an advanced role during his Everton days.
Fellaini ticks all the boxes of a typical Sam Allardyce signing, and if the club can get a loan move off the ground at the very least, he should be able to kick start his career, which is currently going nowhere at Old Trafford.
Wayne Rooney bounced back from scoring an early own goal to score twice for Manchester United as they beat Stoke in a six-goal thriller at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side bounced back from a disappointing home defeat against Tottenham with an impressive win away at Newcastle before the international break. The Red Devil’s hadn’t lost successive games on their own turf since 2003 but must have been fearing the worst after Rooney handed the Potters into a shock 11th minute lead.
Paul Scholes, making his 400th Premier League start, gave away a free kick that was delivered by Charlie Adam and indadvertedly headed into his home net by Rooney with former United youngster Ryan Shawcross lurking behind.
Adam then forced David De Gea into a smart save and Jonathan Walters fired wide as the visitors looked to capitalise on their shock lead but were pegged back just before the half hour mark. Rooney atoned for his error to score head home his first Premier League goal of the season from a fizzing Robin Van Persie cross.
Van Persie then steered in Antonio Valencia’s centre to deservedly put United in front heading into the break extending their lead just a minute after the restart as Rooney took advantage of a napping Stoke defence to set up Danny Welbeck for his first of the campaign.
But the home sides defensive frailties were once again brought to the fore in the 58th minute as Michael Kightly bulldozed his way through four challenges before finding the net via the post to give Stoke hope of mounting a stunning comeback.
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Luckily for Ferguson and his players the visitors switched off again and Rooney was on hand to restore United’s two goal cushion and score his second of the game to ensure they stay hot on Chelsea’s heels at the top.