The pressure is starting to grow on Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier. After last night’s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at Villa Park, a match in which striker Emile Heskey was sent off, Villa now find themselves in the bottom three. The result last night was even more disappointing given the encouraging performance put in by the players in the 3-3 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge at the weekend. Villa are just one point off the foot of the Premier League table and definitely find themselves in a relegation scrap.
Many Aston Villa fans and journalists from the print media have already called time on Gerard Houllier’s tenure at Villa Park, but if he were to be sacked by Randy Lerner, who should replace him? The early favourite for the job is Sam Allardyce, who himself has only recently been fired by Blackburn, but other contenders include Aston Villa favourite Kevin MacDonald and maybe even former manager Martin O’Neill. Who would you like to be installed as the next Aston Villa manager?
Jose Mourinho admits it will be ‘difficult’ for Real Madrid to win the La Liga title after their shock 1-0 loss to Osasuna on Sunday.
Javier Camunas was the hero for Osasuna at the Estadio Reyno de Navarra, with his second-half winner meaning Real have now slipped seven points behind league leaders Barcelona.
Barca have lost just once this season and seem destined to claim their third straight title, and even Mourinho admits his side have a mountain to climb if they are to resurrect their championship hopes.
“This is our second defeat in La Liga and we are in a very difficult situation with respect to the first-place team,” Mourinho said.
“I don’t like to lose when you give the match away by not playing, not fighting or not being committed or focused. That is not the case.”
“Tonight the other team played its heart out and had a week to prepare for the match. They played to the brink.”
“My players have done their jobs with dignity and I have nothing to reproach them for, they fought to the end. We lost three points that we didn’t deserve to lose.”
“Tomorrow is a new day. There will be another match and we will be there.”
Mourinho paid tribute to struggling Osasuna, who broke an eight-game winless run with their victory on Sunday.
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“Osasuna are a tough team and the crowd was fantastic,” Mourinho said. “I don’t think many teams win here.”
“We had opportunities to score in both halves, but we haven’t done it. And if the opponents score first it is very difficult. Congratulations to Osasuna.”
Claudio Ranieiri is under no illusions about the threat Napoli pose to Roma ahead of their clash at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Napoli are second on the Serie A table, just three points behind league leaders AC Milan and seven points ahead of Ranieri’s Roma.
But they lost their last match 2-0 at Chievo, leading former Chelsea and Juventus boss Ranieri to detect a potential weakness in Napoli when they are playing away from home.
“I’m expecting a very difficult match,” Ranieri said.
“Napoli have got to where they are in the table because they deserve being there, they are playing excellent in the league ? not as well away from home, but they know how to counterattack and use spaces that most others don’t.”
“We have a great team and they will manage (to) stop them.”
Roma lost 5-3 away to defending champions Inter Milan last time out, but Ranieri insists the reverse had little effect on the morale of his squad.
“Luckily, we don’t read too much into a result and manage to resist whatever gets thrown at us,” Ranieri said.
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“We don’t win a match and think we have won the championship and when we lose a match, we pick ourselves up and move on.”
“We have the right balance and have already shown that. The team is in good shape, we are focused, we are determined and it will be a great match.”
Chelsea captain John Terry has rejected speculation that coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to be dismissed by owner Roman Abramovich.
With the side underperforming and a distant fifth on the English Premier League table, speculation has mounted throughout the season that Ancelotti may pay the price for poor results on the pitch.
A penalty shootout defeat to Everton on Saturday that ended the club’s defence of the FA Cup has reportedly pushed the Italian manager further towards an exit from Stamford Bridge.
But centre-back Terry insists the players have no doubts about the long-term future of their coach.
“I don’t know why I’m answering the question really because there’s no speculation,” Terry said.
“The players are 100 percent behind the manager, he’s got total confidence in us and that will remain the same.”
“We believe in the manager and the players that we have can go on and win the (Champions League) competition.”
Ancelotti also remained defiant, insisting the press would be wise to defer judgement until the end of the campaign.
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“I say to you journalists wait, because the season is not finished yet and a lot of times I have been able to manage these situations,” Ancelotti said.
“I’d like to remind you of 2010 – it was the same situation and the Italian journalists know this. Wait, the season is not finished. This could be the best season in the memory, it could be the worst. I don’t know, but wait. Chelsea has not died, it is still alive.”
Amid the almost unprecedented transfer mêlée that accompanied the final hours of the transfer window at the back end of January, one Spanish striker was attracting attention from across Europe. Unlike another Spanish Fernando, Fernando Llorente has as yet resisted the big money move and despite interest from illustrious suitors, Liverpool and Tottenham, remained with Athletic Bilbao as the clocks struck twelve.
Fernando Llorente’s stock has risen dramatically over the last 18 months. No doubt aided by his presence in the incredibly successful Spanish national squad, the striker has been in particularly impressive form this season for Athletic Bilbao, prompting considerable interest from major players across Europe.
While the Spaniard is yet to have a genuinely prolific campaign, his return of 15 league goals in 26 appearances so far this term, suggest with a stronger team around him that he could achieve substantial goal scoring feats in the coming seasons. Powerful in the air, and with no small amount of technical ability, the chances of him starting next season at the San Mames stadium appear remote.
His detractors may argue that a move to England, which is looking more and more likely, would be one that would need to catch light immediately. At 26, his peak years are fast approaching and the time that may be needed to help the former Baskonia man adjust to a new league could be significant.
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His scoring record for the Spanish national team is impressive. Seven goals in 13 appearances suggest a man that can cut it at the highest level, however a £30 million price tag, would have in previous years landed you more evidence of success than the hope of reasonable promise. After all, Llorente made only a solitary appearance for Spain during their successful World Cup campaign last summer- a half hour cameo against Paraguay the only reward for a man stuck behind the woefully out of form, Fernando Torres in the pecking order.
In fairness, the man who scored his first international goal against England in February 2009, has played a far more prominent role in Spanish fixtures since the World Cup, scoring twice against Lithuania and once against Scotland in key Euro 2012 qualifiers.
This, however, is indicative of the market conditions several top clubs have found themselves dealing with. In an environment where Andy Carroll is worth £35 million, the asking price for Llorente is not exorbitant- particularly when there are several key interested English rivals who appear set on landing the striker at a similar price.
Liverpool, it would appear, look set to end their interest in signing another forward, having landed two during the final hours of the transfer window. Manchester United have become the latest club to be linked to the player, although with Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Javier Hernandez all impressing at different points this season a move to Old Trafford would certainly be a competitive one.
Tottenham look best placed to land the Spaniard, although a potential lack of Champions League football next season could be a fly in the ointment if Llorente decides that at 26 he cannot afford to wait for exposure to the highest level of European club football.
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Whichever way you look at it, Llorente’s star is most certainly on the rise, and should he continue to perform for both club and country, the clamour for his signature will become one of the stories of the summer.
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Manchester United’s Brazilian right back Rafael has shown a lot of promise over the last 18 months or so, so much so that the retirement of club stalwart Gary Neville went relatively unnoticed. But there is a feeling that persists, that for the player to truly reach his potential, he must rein in his temper and his passion to the extent whereby he isn’t considered a reckless inclusion by Sir Alex Ferguson for the bigger games any longer.
The only noticeable drawback to Rafael’s immense talent is his failure at times to control his temper. He is very quick, rarely turned inside out by a winger and combines a fierce tackle with enthusiasm going forward – in short, the perfect modern day full-back.
It has even been suggested by many, particularly in light of the side’s 2-0 over Arsenal in the FA Cup last week, that he and his twin-brother Fabio may find their true calling further forward on the wing rather than at full-back. The fact that the notion cannot be regarded as absurd is as big a testament to their versatility as it is an indictment of the likes of Obertan and Bebe.
The hangover from Rafael’s red card against Bayern Munich in last season’s Champions League is still evident though. That game-changing dismissal has ensured that Rafael is not quite yet the club’s first-choice right back, even when there appears to be little standing in his way. He kept Franck Ribery perfectly quiet for almost an hour until his dismissal and yet again his ill-discipline appears to get in the way of his development. His harsh sending off against Spurs almost nearly cost the club a point away at White Hart Lane earlier in the campaign too.
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John O’Shea has been a steady and dependable presence at the back this season and has to be considered Rafael’s main rival for the slot. On ability alone, it’s a no-contest, Rafael wins hands-down. Yet Ferguson has still plumped for O’Shea over Rafael at times last season and this season, most notably in wins against both Chelsea and Man City last month.
Rafael was also fortunate to stay on the pitch after tempers flared against Liverpool on the 6th March, after a two-footed lunge on Lucas that the midfielder was lucky enough to escape unharmed from. Fortunately for both sides, Phil Dowd’s ineptitude in not sending off Jamie Carragher earlier on in the game for a horrific lunge on Nani only helped to serve as a precursor for such inadequately lenient officiating that has become Dowd’s hallmark.
O’Shea offers the no frills approach that Ferguson sometimes prefers in the bigger games. Rafael, though the better player and right back, does come with the footnote of being liable to let his passion get the better of him, particularly when faced with players of Argentinean descent it would appear.
At just 20 years of age, there is of course time for Rafael to develop this side of his game. He will do well to take note of Gary Neville’s attitude during his Man Utd career too as a role model to follow for the future. Neville drew a thin line between antagonising his opposite number and performing an effective role in the team. Other than against Liverpool, Neville rarely let his emotions get the better of him on the pitch and for all his faults, he was undoubtedly a consummate professional.
Upon his retirement, Neville was downplayed in some quarters as being a player that got the best out of what limited ability he had through sheer force of will to succeed – for me, that is a gross underestimation of one of the best right backs the English game has ever seen, which in his pomp, had a delivery to match even the best wingers’.
While Neville’s talents and technique have been swept under the carpet, Rafael’s will surely not. His boundless energy, while his greatest strength, can also be his greatest weakness in certain situations. Out of Man Utd’s current crop of young players, barring perhaps Chris Smalling, Rafael represents the club’s greatest prospect.
International honours may have to wait for some time with the likes of Maicon and Daniel Alves in front of him, but when it comes to club football, the only thing standing in Rafael’s way in terms of pinning down the right back slot, ahead of John O’Shea, for the forseeable future would appear to be his questionable temperament.
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The naivety of youth can lead to hot-headed actions in the heat of a match sometimes, and the only thing standing in Rafael’s way at the moment is his decision-making in the tackle. But, and it’s a big but, until he learns the time and place to go in full-blooded, he will not earn the full trust of manager Alex Ferguson to perform without incident in the big games and he will have to contend with rivals for his position of lesser ability and potential such as John O’Shea.
Rafael is a Manchester United star of the future, as is Ravel Morrison…
As snow fell heavily in the winter of 1996 Kevin Keegan introduced a player to the Newcastle fans who would be remembered for a variety of contrasting reasons. If you haven’t guessed yet I’m talking about the maverick Colombian Faustino Asprilla. Tino signed for Newcastle for a fee of 6.7 million pounds from Italian giants Parma. He was purchased with the intention of bolstering the Geordies’ attacking options for their title push. Asprilla made an immediate impact in his first game when he came off the bench and swung the momentum in the Toon’s favour. They were trailing to local rivals Middlesbrough 1-0 until Asprilla emerged with 20 minutes to go and instantly become a hit with the fans. He left Steve Vickers in knots with his dazzling footwork before his Cruyff turn and cross set up Steve Watson to level the game which Newcastle then went on to win 2-1.
Despite the start he made Asprilla never really found his feet in terms of his goals for Newcastle and clearly that is the underlining requisite for any striker. His return of 9 goals in 48 domestic games doesn’t make for great reading, and does this stat class Asprilla’s purchase as a bad one? What Tino did do in his time at Newcastle was leave a lasting impression on the Premiership and Newcastle fans though, whether it be the head-butt he dished out to Keith Curle or his trademark goal celebration. Furthermore, his European goals tally makes for rather more pleasant viewing – 9 goals in 11 games – and aren’t the great European nights often those the fans remember most?
One night in particular he lit up St James’ Park, in what is unquestionably Asprilla’s finest moment in the black and white. It is of course the Champions League group stage game against the mighty Barcelona. Barca came to town boasting world stars such as Rivaldo, Luis Enrique and Figo, but the night belonged to one man alone and it will ensure Asprilla remains a cult like figure among the fans for some time to come. For those of you who aren’t aware of that incredible evening Asprilla scored a hat-trick – a penalty and two fantastic headers which resulted in the team winning 3-2. It actually ended up being the last time Tino found the net for Newcastle, and he was sold back to Parma by Kenny Dalglish soon after. Asprilla won the hearts of the fans for his performances in Europe. Another distinctive moment was his celebration against Metz where he removed his shirt and held it aloft on the corner flag. I wonder if Newcastle fans would swap these moments in time? The reason I pose this question is that if Newcastle had never signed the mercurial Colombian maybe the team would have gone onto win the league in 95-96? Surely Asprilla can’t be the scapegoat for Newcastle’s incapability that season, can he?
Since he left Newcastle Asprilla was linked with a shock move to Darlington back in 2002 which never materialised. He has also been in hot water for firing his machine gun on his farm in Colombia, but the latest venture in Asprilla’s life is his purchase of his own Colombian football club, the modestly named Club Athletico Faustino Asprilla. Inevitably Asprilla’s time on Tyneside was seen by some as a failure. Although, he brought a certain showmanship and eccentricity to the team he was consequently considered as a factor in the disappointing climax to the 95-96 season. You may think he revelled with his skill and craft, or you may think his inconsistency and antics on the pitch as well as his lifestyle off it cost Newcastle. Whatever you say about Tino Asprilla there’s no denying his spell in the Premiership has provided the fans with many talking points and fond memories.
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Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier believes midfielder Stewart Downing has improved beyond recognition while he has been in charge.The England international was lacking confidence when Houllier took over at Villa Park, but the French manager has seen Downing flourish since moving from the left of midfield to the right.
And the manager expects Downing to shine on the flank when Villa host Newcastle United on Sunday.
“I think he has stepped up. I think he?s made one step, but there are several steps,” Houllier said.
“He seems to have become a more regular international and is in the squad all the time.”
“My aim is to see him playing practically two games out of three for England very soon and to take part in the 2012 European Championships.”
Houllier had favoured a 4-4-1-1 formation until last weekend when he switched to a more straight-forward 4-4-2 for the 2-2 draw at Everton.
But he said he could revert to playing Darren Bent upfront on his own against Newcastle.
“I’ll see the games how they come,” Houllier said. “I knew that we would pose more problems to Everton with Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor upfront together.”
“We will see game after game, but it?s not set in stone.”
“I prefer to deal privately with how Darren and Gabby played together – all I know is that we scored two goals.”
“But it would be hard for you to quote me teams that play with two strikers – there are not many.”
Houllier has a welcome headache at the selection table with Villa reporting no injury problems.
Manchester United extended their lead at the top of the Premier League with Javier Hernandez once again the hero on the occasion. The Little Pea has arguably been the transfer find of the season as his goals have delivered some vital points this campaign.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes room for an exodus at Old Trafford; Evra letting United down, while six reasons why Giggs deserves this honour.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this week.
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The Greatest Premier League Goals Of All Time…YOU DECIDE!
Room for a mass exodus at Old Trafford?
The right time to cash in on him at Old Trafford?
United have earned the right to be selfish over any new deal
Is Mr Reliable starting to let Man United down?
What actually makes a BIG club then?
SIX reasons why Ryan Giggs deserves this honour
A Champions League travel guide to Schalke for Man United fans
Much, much more than just a bit part player at Old Trafford
Keeper set to snub Manchester United move
WHL or Old Trafford – who represents the best move for Diego?
*Best of Web *
Reds keeping options open – United Rant
Give Dimitar Berbatov a break! – The Busby Way
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United’s Potential Summer Signings Examined – Red Flag Flying High
Putting Players On Pedestals Is A Dangerous Game – The United Religion
Eric Cantona – Great but not the greatest? – Stretford End
Last month former England manager, Sven Goran-Eriksson, told the BBC of his “big, big mistake” following fresh reports that he was deceived by an elaborate fraud in to taking the managerial post at Notts County in 2009. The Serious Fraud Office is investigating allegations that Russell King orchestrated an intricate scam which targeted Eriksson, Sir John Walker and the North Korean Government, and the claims that the current Leicester City boss assumed control of over half of a London investment bank without paying for any shares.
King acquired 49% of First London PLC’s shares in 2008 by falsely claiming he was managing billions of pounds for the Bahraini royal family, according to the BBC investigation. The program focussed on the astonishing deal that saw the Swede become director of football at the League Two side following a takeover which promised substantial investment from the Middle East. Of course no such cash injection materialised and the club were left with debts of over £7million as a result.
Eriksson’s error was just the latest in a series of controversial incidents which have coloured the career of the former Lazio, Sampdoria and Benfica manager, including much publicised affairs with Ulrika Jonsson and Football Association assistant, Faria Alam, as well as continuous and evident connections to Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea side whilst still in the England manager’s post. Sven never completed a move to Chelsea – the west Londoners instead appointed Jose Mourinho, and the merits of this decision remain unquestioned – but it could be argued that his prolonged existence in the England set-up, having signed a contract extension soon after revelations linking him to Stamford Bridge, is to blame for the relentless disappointments of the ‘golden generation’ throughout the previous decade.
It’s not that Eriksson is a bad manager, evidenced by a trophy haul which includes League and domestic cup wins in three different countries in addition to UEFA Cup, Super Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup triumphs, but that he was the wrong option to take England forward at a time when the country’s most talented crop were beginning to harvest. I don’t tend to agree with the likes of Arsene Wenger, Steve McClaren and Harry Redknapp that English nationality is a prerequisite for the ‘toughest job in football,’ especially seeing as modern international competition has allowed Brazilian-born Alessandro Santos (aka Alex) to make over 80 appearances for Japan and seen Dutchman, Guus Hiddink, manage five different nations.
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But the FA’s decision to appoint the Swede in 2001 was misguided on the basis that England required a coach willing to implement a philosophy, idea or identity to direct the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Ashley Cole towards glory. Eriksson maintains an interesting reputation as he is fondly remembered in his home country for winning the UEFA Cup with Gothenburg in 1982, but is considered the ‘perdente di successo,’ or ‘successful loser,’ in Italy following a 14 –year pursuit of Serie A success, eventually achieved in his final season in charge of Lazio in 2000. It is worth mentioning that Eriksson benefitted from President, Sergio Cragnotti’s, £300million investment over the four seasons he was manager at the Stadio Olimpico and has never expressed a distinctive style at any of the nine clubs and 3 countries he has coached.
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His most significant characteristic has always been a close affinity to the large egos he has controlled, and was ruthless in omitting Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Lee Bowyer from international duties because he deemed them all unruly influences, but Eriksson’s attention to detail throughout his five years in charge was justifiably criticised for apparently rarely researching the opposition before games or becoming acquainted with upcoming match officials and was a largely marginal figure during training sessions. His reluctance to make sweeping changes was often criticised in the context of making his best players feel secure about their status, but this was only detrimental in terms of his inability to mould said players in to a team that were aware of their roles. He was entrusted with the job of forming the most effective system for English football’s greatest ever collection of players and never applied it, or even demonstrated that he was searching for it. There wasn’t a plethora of English managers available at the turn of the century to replace Kevin Keegan, but in hindsight it is obvious that Eriksson was far from the most suitable option.
Football teams are dynamic, particularly at international level, and they decline and are reconditioned on a basis that may seem brutal but is natural and necessary. Eriksson’s appointment interrupted that cycle of renewal, and his successors, Steve McClaren and then Fabio Capello, failed to cure the ‘golden generation’ of the apathy that had been instilled over the course of the last decade. McClaren’s appointment was questionable on the basis that he was the individual most closely associated with the Eriksson regime, so that by the time Capello took England to South Africa last summer, the Italian faced the impossible task of reversing years of dispiritedness in a squad that was reaching its natural twilight in terms of average age anyway. The England manager’s position should always be decided by taking ability in to account ahead of nationality, but a knowledge of English players and traditions is vital, facets ignored by Eriksson to England’s long-suffering fans’ detriment, having wasted a generation of English talent the likes of which we are unlikely to witness again for decades.
If you think Sven Goran-Eriksson should umpire at Wimbledon this year, follow me on Twitter
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FootballFanCast.com WORLD Exclusive, Robbie Savage Face in a baby Scan