Arsene Wenger is keen to add further players to his squad before the start of the season, according to The Guardian.
The anticipated sale of Robin Van Persie will give the Frenchman financial license in the transfer market. Having already secured Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud, it is expected that Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla will become a Gunner in the next few days with a reported fee of £15.6 million having been agreed.
The projected arrival of Cazorla could identify a definite end for Van Persie’s tenure at the Emirates. Signing a wide player suggests that Podolski and Giroud will be played through the centre, indicating the vacancy that would be filled by the high flying Dutchman.
Speaking to the press in Beijing as part of Arsenal’s pre-season tour, Wenger was coy but definite when talking about his planned transfer moves;
“I am ready to talk a lot, but not a lot about transfers, because it is a very fragile subject and a very secret subject. We bought Giroud and Podolski and I hope that we ‘bought’ Diaby and Wilshere too, who didn’t play at all last season. We will add Wilshere to the squad as soon as possible. But we are not at the end of it (transfers). We will still bring players in”.
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Whenever an important player leaves a club and a new one arrives, there is generally a rule in the footballing world were people must compare that player to the outgoing hero, or a previous star. Can they fill his boots? Will he rise to the challenge? But equally, newly arriving managers face the exact same scrutiny – a task made all the more daunting if sitting in the hot-seat of those who have achieved success and had a legendary status bestowed upon them. So can managers truly succeed, when directly following a ‘great’, in the modern era were results and success needs to be instant? Or is it virtually mission impossible?
It seems a catch-22 situation to be placed in from the start. Attempting to replace a legend is a thankless task. Win, and it’s expected – the norm. Lose, and the accolades of the former manager are thrust into full view, with negative headlines splashed across the papers. You could never just be ‘your own man’. Every decision, tactic, signing and substitution is scrutinised with unfair comparisons being made. Catch-22.
The recent intense pressure placed on Arsene Wenger in the media (maybe not helped by himself in some small part by the apparent, early stinginess in the transfer market) led to talk of him possibly walking out of Arsenal, or being shown the door. If that scenario was to occur, who would replace him? He has been an absolutely legendary figure at the Gunners since he arrived back in the 90’s, transforming the club’s playing identity, whilst also bringing it into the new century with his training, dietary and psychological methods that were virtually unheard of in the English game at the time. The success that followed only added to his adulation, thus ensuring a near-impossible task for whoever replaces him, whenever that time comes.
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It’s the same at Manchester United, though even more daunting. Talk of Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has been around for years. As to who his eventually replacement may be has been discussed many times with various names thrown into the hat. With United’s success, it has been safe to say that whoever is attaining similar success, or hype (or both) at the time, would have been named as Ferguson’s definite heir. But whoever sits in that hot-seat faces an almighty task. How do you replace the man who has guided a team through the most successful period in their history – by far!?? Who lasted over a quarter of a century, collecting the biggest trophies for much of that period? It will be a brave man who sits in that seat. Win, and it’s the norm – but they would also have to win playing a certain style. Lose? Well losing won’t be an option.
One man who is many people’s favourite to succeed Ferguson is a coach who himself attained legendary status at not one, but three successful clubs, thus ensuring his successors a tough time even before they began work; Jose Mourinho. Directly after leaving Porto having won the European Cup, the club burnt through four managers in little under two years as none could live up to what Mourinho achieved. At Chelsea, he (along with the help of a certain Russian’s bank account) won the league title instantly; a feat the club hadn’t achieved for 50-years. More silverware followed but success in Europe was never realised and after a fallout with the owner, the Portuguese moved to Italy. Chelsea, have had five managers since he left. At Inter, Mourinho walked in to a pressure situation; Inter, fresh from being winners of Serie A, were in the ascendancy. Not winning the Scudetto for Inter in the wake of Calciopoli would be seen as a massive catastrophe, bordering on embarrassment. However Mourinho’s remit was clear: deliver the European Cup. He duly obliged, cementing his status as Inter legend and ensuring his replacement would have an impossible task. That man was Rafa Benitez, and he lasted six months.
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Back to Chelsea, who had their brief dominance under Mourinho interrupted by Manchester United, and have now turned to the ‘new Mourinho’ in order to reclaim glory; Andre Villas-Boas. The comparisons are immense. Dubbed ‘mini-Mourinho’ by the press, Villas-Boas served under Mourinho, whilst at Chelsea and Inter, and that has also brought the instant pressure and hype of being compared with Chelsea’s most iconic former manager. But there is a difference this time that will put Villas-Boas in good stead; he’s done it before. Yes, at Porto he was finally the manager who filled Mourinho’s shoes, even surpassing some of his former mentor’s records at the club.
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An immense pressure is sat on Villas-Boas’ young shoulders, as it is for any manager who chooses to sit in the seat once occupied by a club legend. Can he succeed in ‘mission impossible’?
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It promises to be a busy weekend with the FA Cup 4th round and the final days of the transfer window. It is fair to say that the perennial silly season hasn’t really got going this season with the transfers of Darren Bent and Edin Dzeko the only transfers of any note.
In the papers this morning there has been a mixed bag of stories that includes Fabio Capello looking to give Jack Wilshere the Makelele role; Keys and Gray already lined up for TV return, while Blackpool would reject Holloway resignation.
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Sky rotates roster as it seeks new anchor – Guardian
Keys and Gray already lined up for return to TV – Mirror
Man Utd cut list of goalkeeper options to three – Guardian
Fergie may not need Roo after all – Sun
Capello to audition Wilshere in ‘Makelele role’ – Daily Telegraph
Liverpool turn down Chelsea’s £35m bid to sign Torres – Guardian
Niang admits Liverpool lure – Sky Sports
Sort out your private life, Capello warns Manchester City star Johnson – Daily Mail
Inter to make £40m raid for Bale – Guardian
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Blackpool would reject Holloway resignation – Daily Telegraph
Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Caminero has stated that star striker Radamel Falcao will not leave the club, despite interest from both Manchester City and Chelsea.
The Colombia international has emerged as one of the most lethal marksmen in the European game, with star performances for Porto in 2010-11 followed by an excellent first season with the Vicente Calderon club in 2011-12.
Falcao has won the Europa League twice in succession, leading the goalscoring charts, and was also on target on a regular basis last term in La Liga.
Chelsea have identified the South American as a possible replacement to Didier Drogba, who left the club this summer after his contract expired.
City are thought to be ready to shake-up their attacking options also, with temperamental pair Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli, and out-of-favour Edin Dzeko, all unsure over their futures.
However, the Spanish capital-city side have confirmed that they have no inclination of cashing in on their star striker.
“Falcao will remain here and any talk of an exit is misplaced,” Caminero told local press, translated to English by The Sun.
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Tottenham Hotspur have tabled a £22 million bid for Valencia’s left wing starlet Juan Mata. Should the diminutive winger for some reason choose Tottenham over Arsenal, what would this mean for Gareth Bale? And what would Mata bring to the north London club?
Finally, Tottenham have dared to do something. This bid is the first exciting move that Spurs have made in this transfer window. Not only does chasing Mata signal the ambition of the club. The attempt to hijack Arsenal’s pursuit of the player adds spice to the offer.
Juan Mata is a player with a growing reputation and no doubt a growing price tag. He was an outstanding performer for Spain at the European Under 21 Championships this summer and has cemented himself a first team slot in the Valencia side after three very impressive seasons there. Last season he provided 12 assists and scored 8 goals in La Liga, he is quick and creative with an eye for goal. He is small, only 2 inches taller than Aaron Lennon, but does not shirk from the physical side of the game and should be perfectly capable of playing on a cold night at the Britannia stadium. It is easy to see how he could cause problems and sharpen Spur’s attack.
Redknapp has consistently talked of his intentions to push Gareth Bale deeper, into the left back position and Tottenham’s interest in Mata suggests that Redknapp could be ready to make that step. When the Welshman’s terrific vein of form last season catapulted him into the limelight, the Spurs manager astutely noted that Bale’s successes came when running from deep and using his pace and stride and overall speed over distance to rip apart defences. When his concentration improved, Redknapp said, he could be pushed back and then he could get a really good head of steam up.
With Bale charging past Mata on the overlap the potential for goals from the left hand side would be greatly increased, although defensively Bale is definitely not the finished article. As a combination though, it could work. Mata likes to cut inside, vacating the space for Bale to surge into and both are more than capable of scoring goals whilst Mata’s record for providing was second only to Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez last season.
Even though the likelihood is that Mata will choose Arsenal over Spurs, does Tottenham’s bid indicate that Redknapp is willing to make the tactical leap of pushing Bale back to left back? It would be a progressive and attacking decision irrespective of who plays in front of him.
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Blackpool have confirmed the signing of midfielder Andy Reid from Sunderland for an undisclosed amount.
The English Premier League club have been one of the big movers on Monday’s transfer deadline day, swooping on Reid and reportedly fielding offers from Liverpool and Manchester United for captain Charlie Adam.
The Lancashire club are also believed to be close to a deal for James Beattie, with the former England and now Rangers striker reportedly undergoing a medical at Bloomfield Road.
Republic of Ireland international Reid has signed a contract for the remainder of the season, having made 78 appearances for the Black Cats following a move from Charlton Athletic in January 2008.
The 28-year-old could make a valuable contribution as a creative playmaker in Ian Holloway’s side – especially if Blackpool lose Adam – and the Tangerines boss was thrilled to have snared his man.
“I’ve just met him and had a chat with him,” Holloway said of Reid.
“I think he will be perfect for us, a little dinky-do football player and we’ll have him and it won’t take me long to get him going.”
“I think he has gone for about 12 million pounds in the past, so that is not a bad take for us, I don’t believe.”
Holloway also hinted Blackpool could be making further moves before the transfer window slams shut at 2300GMT.
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“The wheels are on the go but I can’t really disclose that yet,” Holloway said.
“They can change direction very quickly and end up going somewhere else on this crazy day because everybody wants a bag of carrots and they might be a bag of carrots, if you know what I mean.”
“We have managed to grab one, thanks Andy, that’ll do. As far as I’m concerned there are two more definitely travelling down, definitely, but that could end up horribly.”
Andriy Shevchenko struck two second half goals as Eur0 2012 co-hosts Ukraine came from behind to beat Sweden in Kiev to take top spot in Group D.
The 35-year-old rolled back the years with two vintage headed goals in the space of six minutes to cancel out Zlatan Ibrahimovich’s 52nd minute opener and give Oleh Blokhin’s side perfect start to their tournament campaign on home soil. Sweden had chances to snatch a point and Johan Elmander was the main culprit blasting over from 10 yards in the closing stages as they immediately plunged to the bottom of the group following England’s draw with France earlier in the day.
Priot to kick off both teams knew a win would give them the advantage rolling the stalemate in Donetsk but didn’t seem to take heed in a lacklustre first half that was deficient in both quality and incident. Shevchenko did have a few sniffs of goal and dragged an early shot wide after a neat interchange with Andriy Yarmolenko before seeing another effort blocked in the penalty area. Ibrahimovic, given the responsibility of captaining Sweden by manager Erik Hamrén, was also misfiring hitting the outside of the post with a header after being picked out by Sebastian Larsson.
The AC Milan striker made no mistake seven minutes after the break though instinctively stabbing the ball home from close range after Kim Kallstrom had returned Larsson’s deep cross. That seemed to jolt Ukraine into life and within three minutes they were level as Shevchenko displayed the sharpness that made him one of the most feared strikers in European football. Despite been robbed of his pace courtesy of age and injuries the former Chelsea hit man darted ahead of Olaf Mellberg to power Yarmonlenko’s cross past Andreas Isaksson and become the second oldest goal scorer in European Championship history.
Six minutes later more superb movement from Shevchenko yielded more rewards dashing to the near post to glance Oleh Gusev’s corner in at the near post to send the Ukrainian support into pandemonium. Starring down the barrel of defeat Sweden called up on their last reserves of energy and piled on the pressure in the hope of snatching an equaliser. Andriy Pyatov did superbly to keep out a thundering volley from Ibrahimovic before playing Elmander through in the dying embers only for the former Bolton striker’s composure to desert him a the crucial moment.
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Mellberg then came close to breaking Ukraine hearts as his back post volley agonisingly dropped just over the bar and onto the roof of the net as Shevchenko and his teammates rejoiced at the final whistle.
Fenerbahce’s Emre Belozoglu is required to testify as a suspect in the ongoing investigation into match-fixing in Turkish football.According to Turkish publication Zamen, the former Newcastle and Inter Milan midfielder will be forced to answer questions on allegations that he sent a series of text messages to Ankaragucu defender Kagan Soylemezgiller before the two clubs met in the last match of the season in May.
The messages are reported to have said: “Don’t let my president (Aziz Yildirim) be angry. Don’t play your best game.”
But the Fenerbahce club captain has denied those suggestions, with the messages supposedly sent by the Ahmet Bulut – business partner of his agent Ekrem Okumus – with the approval of the player.
Emre has also been accused of promising a number of Ankaragucu players that he would help them secure a move to Fenerbahce if they did not play in the fixture.
The midfielder’s most recent appearance in front of the media came on Monday, where he admitted the national team was struggling to focus on their Euro 2012 qualifiers with the saga hanging over their heads.
If Emre is found guilty he may join Fenerbahce patron Yildirim and Besiktas coach Tayfur Havutcu in being arrested.
Whilst most of the conjecture currently surrounding Liverpool concerns the future of beleaguered boss Roy Hodgson, speculation has increased over anticipated arrivals and departures at Anfield this month. The October ousting of Hicks and Gillett means that for the first time since the summer of 2008, the club will (theoretically) be able to enter a transfer window without having to balance the books.
The opening of the January transfer window has unsurprisingly sent the rumour mill into overdrive; the combination of Liverpool’s poor form and recent change of ownership has meant that the Merseyside club have been linked with more players than most. Of these players, Ajax captain Luis Suarez is the one most likely to excite Liverpool fans, and the individual most likely to improve the side’s fortunes this season.
‘El Pistolero’ is one of Europe’s most sought after players after racking up a sensational 110 goals in just 154 outings for the Amsterdam club. The £17m-rated Uruguayan, who is also a reported target for Tottenham Hotspur, is thought to be unsettled in Amsterdam after the December exit of manager Martin Jol.
Although the failed Premier League tenures of Mateja Kezman and Afonso Alves indicate that Premier League clubs should approach prolific Eredivisie forwards with caution, Suarez has demonstrated his pedigree by transferring his form and goalscoring ability to the international stage. He has scored 16 times in 38 appearances for Uruguay, including three at last summer’s World Cup as La Celeste Olímpica reached the semi-finals.
Encouragingly for Liverpool, Suarez is also versatile enough to play in a range of attacking positions; the reigning Dutch Footballer of the Year would be equally adept at playing alongside Torres in a conventional 4-4-2 system, or in a wider or more withdrawn berth in 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 formations. In addition to his three goals in South Africa last summer, Suarez also proved himself to be an exemplary auxiliary goalkeeper.
With Liverpool languishing in 12th position, just four points away from the relegation zone, it is clear that improvements need to be made. Although there are clear problems with the side’s defence, it is arguable that their toothlessness up front is a more pressing concern.
A below-par Fernando Torres has scored just six goals in 18 league starts this season, with strike partner David Ngog managing a meagre two goals in the Premier League. A move for Luis Suarez could prove to be the ideal antidote for Roy’s wretched Reds this January.
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Ruud Gullit has slammed the racists that are threatening to derail the Euro 2012 tournament and has called upon players to take action against it and not ignore it like he used to.
The Dutch Legend who helped Holland win the Euro Championship in 1988 has backed the stance made by Mark van Bommel in speaking out against it and claimed that he was powerless to do so back in the 80s and 90s, as black players weren’t backed by the authorities:
“When I played, I received racial abuse but I was just one of a few black players and we weren’t backed up by the authorities. Now there are so many at the top of their profession and they have the backing of important people.
“I used to ignore the abuse and felt powerless to change attitudes”
Gullit is hoping the tournament passes off without incident, but has called upon the authorities to ensure that everyone unites to rid this evil from the game:
“We are beyond that now though. We just have to hope that racism doesn’t haunt this tournament but that, if it does, the response is strong. We want to remember Euro 2012 for great football.
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The players need the support of UEFA and the football authorities need the support of the police.” (Daily Mail)