Roberto Martinez hailed Wigan’s performance despite losing at Manchester City and is convinced Latics will beat the drop.
A goal from Carlos Tevez seven minutes from time earned City all three points to leave Wigan in the relegation zone but Martinez says there are plenty of positives to take from the game.
Wigan created enough chances to win the game with Shaun Maloney, Arouna Kone and Franco di Santo all going close and Martinez admits they paid the price for not putting them away.
However the Spaniard says if they continue to play the way they did at the Etihad Stadium, they will get out of trouble.
“We didn’t take the chances, it is as simple as that,” Martinez revealed. “I thought we were magnificent from start to finish. We created four very good chances. I don’t think many teams come to the Etihad and create four very good chances in open play.
“Those chances need to finish in the back of the net and that’s why we lost the game. If we do that in every game, we will get a lot of points. I couldn’t be prouder of the performance.
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“We limited them to two shots on target, I don’t think many teams have done that. My players deserve huge credit. The performance is exactly what we need.”
Alan Pardew is set for talks with Joe Kinnear this week, primarily with Darren Bent at the top of the agenda. And while Newcastle’s surprise appointment of Kinnear will be afforded full license over transfer matters, it would be too swift and perhaps too reckless a move for Pardew to resign.
Maybe a wider question here is what Mike Ashley actually wants from all this. Why did he buy Newcastle if he’s willing to make such misguided and categorically stupid decisions? Alan Pardew himself was seen as a bad move when Chris Hughton guided Newcastle back into the Premier League, though Pardew proved his worth by taking the club to fifth place in the Premier League.
[cat_link cat=”newcastle-united” type=”list”]
If Ashley absolutely doesn’t trust Pardew for his abilities as a football manager – and of course that now spans the on-pitch coaching to behind the scenes work with transfers – then why appoint him in the first place? The Newcastle owner failed to back his manager last summer and in turn saw the club fall so far from competing for European places that they found themselves in a relegation battle. And now, in order to “right the ship” of his own mess, he’s brought in Kinnear.
We don’t know yet whether Kinnear and Pardew can have a working relationship. The manager wants Darren Bent as his big-name forward signing this summer and Kinnear would do well to oblige him, especially considering the general feeling among most football supporters in England of his return to the game. There could be grounds for something positive moving forward between the two, as much as a stretch as that may seem.
Yet for Pardew to resign now would be a huge risk on his part. English managers are not “in fashion” at the moment, with clubs wanting to explore their options with those based abroad. There is a feeling that a manager with an exotic name and a CV that has prominent football nations listed as previous places of employment will bring greater reward than those from England. Where Pardew was seen as to have greater experience in the Premier League over Hughton, or something ridiculous, the same line of thinking may not be considered when he’s weighed up against those arriving in England for the first time with European progressive thinking.
For Pardew, he’d do well to remain on board for the time being, gathering an understanding what it will be like to work with Kinnear. When names are being airdropped in and assets sold without the manager’s consent, then there is cause for concern – as we’ve seen in the past at St James’ Park.
There is little faith in what Ashley can bring to the table in terms of footballing matters, but somewhere there has to be a degree of hope that Kinnear and Pardew can see eye to eye and put the best interests of the club first, rather than a potential internal battle that should never have been a possibility through ill-judged appointments.
Should Pardew take a stand and resign?
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West Brom need to tie down key duo Shane Long and Youssouf Mulumbu to longer term deals, according to Gareth McAuley.
The Northern Ireland international central defender, who picked up the Player of the Year awards at the Hawthorns following an excellent campaign, pledged his own future to the club on Friday when he signed a new one-year extension to keep him at the club until summer 2015.
And the 33-year-old has been quick to point out that the priority now is to ensure influential striker, Long, and key midfielder, Mulumbu, are tied down to deal beyond two years’ time.
Long has been heavily linked with a move away over the course of the past season, but the Republic of Ireland international has always maintained that he is happy at the club, while Mulumbu has already said he is keen to sign a new deal.
McAuley told the club’s website: “They are big and important players for us and I’m sure it will be sorted out.
“It’s like my situation. I had next year as well so there’s no rush or real pressure on it.
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“But everyone will want it sorted out and the sooner it happens, probably the better it is for the lads and for the club.”
Barcelona are still deciding whether to let former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song join Manchester United in January, according to the Daily Express.
The Cameroon international has been linked with a move to Old Trafford after failing to secure a first team place at the Nou Camp. Italian giants AC Milan are also said to be interested.
Song is thought to be keen on a switch in order to play regular first team football, although Barcelona remain unsure as to whether they want to sell a player they signed for £16million barely a year ago.
Reports in Spain suggest the Catalan club will look to hold onto Song until the end of the season at least, meaning a January move to Old Trafford seems unlikely at this point.
It is also thought Song wants the opportunity to win over new coach Gerardo Martino before deciding on his future.
Barcelona will want to recoup the £16million they spent on Song if they are to sell him, with United understood to have made an offer in the summer that didn’t match their asking price.
David Moyes made no secret of his desire to recruit a midfielder in the summer, and saw bids for Song and his Barcelona and former Arsenal teammate Cesc Fabregas rejected.
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Maraoune Fellaini became Moyes’s only big name summer signing on deadline day, although the Manchester United manager is set to try and strengthen further in January.
Harry Redknapp has revealed in his new autobiography ‘Always Managing’ how he once was stood managing on the touchline with £30k stuffed down his trousers – thanks to former Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Paul Merson, reports the Daily Mail.
Redknapp tells the story of how Merson approached him before a game asking him to hang onto the money until after the game, when he could hand it over to an ‘Irish mob’ he owed it to.
“He was a great player for Portsmouth. He lifted everybody. I loved him but it wasn’t always so straightforward,” Redknapp said.
“One day at Millwall he came into the dressing room with a big, brown bag full of readies. ‘Would you look after this for me, gaffer?’ he asked.
“It’s 30 grand. It’s for a bookmaker, an Irish mob. They’re after me and I’ve got to meet them after the game. Will you look after it for me until then?
“I put a tracksuit on so there was more room to conceal these readies.
“It was OK until I sprung out of my seat on the touchline. As I did, I felt something move.
“As I was trying to get a message to the players I could feel Merson’s 30 grand making its way south along my trouser leg.
“I looked down and the notes were coming out the bottom of my trousers.
“I edged back to my seat like a bloke who needed the toilet quickly. The staff were very concerned.
“Are you all right, Harry?’ I was virtually doubled up, as if in pain.
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“I slid into my seat and didn’t move, stuck in this awkward position in case the money moved again.
“The staff kept asking if I needed to see the doctor, and I kept telling them it was nothing, I was fine, I just needed to be left alone. I was rooted to the spot.
“We ended up winning 5–0 and Merson got cheered off by the Millwall punters, he was that good.
“It wasn’t the only result he had that day. He told me afterwards that the money he owed was nearer £100,000 than £30,000 but the bookmakers had decided to cut their losses.”
When the then Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini bolstered his midfield with the signing of Javi Garcia – he’s also added to the Premier League’s legion of Wags.
Model Elena Gomez joined Javi in Manchester following his £16m move from Benfica. City ace Javi, who scored on his debut against Stoke, has already introduced his girlfriend to the delights of the local shopping centre since his transfer.
The couple started dating in 2009 when Javi was at Real Madrid. Elena worked in a shoe store at the time, but now, thanks to her increased profile, she’s become a lads’ mag favourite in her homeland of Portugal. Branches of Clarks in Manchester will be gutted – but you certainly can’t blame those Portuguese mags! The move to England can only boost her career, so I’m sure we’ll see more of Elena over the coming years.
It certainly is one of those perks of being a professional footballer, having model girlfriends – but Javi goes one better, with his Portuguese girlfriend carrying that extra Hispanic spice. He’s certainly a lucky fella…
Click on Ms Gomez below to see her in all her glory
He came to England in October 1996, and the London Evening Standard asked the question ‘Arsene who?’
999 games, three Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and an unbeaten league season later and the world are fully aware who Arsene Wenger is.
His impact on the development of the English game has been profound. He has nurtured some of the most talented footballers the world has ever seen and has revolutionised a club that was steeped in ye olde English tradition.
But eight years of starvation have followed eight years of feasting. So it begs the question, as Wenger sits on the brink of his 1000th game in charge of Arsenal, how should he be remembered?
It’s hard to define an epoch with one single characteristic, especially when there have been so many moments of note. For every Arsenal fan who remembers the triumphs of a bygone era, there are those who still cling to the lack of silverware and can’t disassociate the lack of ‘success’ with the underlying factors. The two distinct periods of Wenger’s reign – those WITH vs those WITHOUT trophies – must be separated in order to contextualise what he has achieved.
The unruly bunch Wenger took charge of in the 1996-97 season famously used to go on all-night mid-week benders, refuelled with Mars bars and dieted strictly on fish and chips. And his first influence was to kick old habits to the kerb. Out went takeaways, in came white meat and steamed veg. Out went kegs of booze, in came bottles mineral water. As a firm believer of the more good you put into yourself, the more you would get out, Wenger turned the studentesque culture of the club on its head. Tony Adams, struggling at the time with alcoholism, lauded Wenger for the transformation of his career. The ageing famous five in defence, upon which Wenger built his first championship-winning side, would no doubt each credit his training and dietary regulations in prolonging their careers.
Within a year at the helm Wenger began reshaping the squad by turfing out the likes of John Hartson, David Hillier, Andy Linighan and, most significantly of all, Paul Merson. He chose to bring in more familiar faces such as Emmanuel Petit and Gilles Grimandi from AS Monaco, both players whom he knew he could rely to accompany Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira. The squad began to have a more cosmopolitan feel to it from the English-centric nucleus of two years previous.
Wenger’s first full season in 1997-98 was an unprecedented success, winning the league and FA Cup double, becoming the first foreign manager to win the English top division whilst shaking off the ‘boring, boring Arsenal’ tag in the process. The solidity of the Dixon-Adam-Bould-Winterburn-Keown axis was supplemented by the industry and composure of Petit and Vieira along with the flair and technique of Bergkamp, Overmars and Anelka.
As the legs of his geriatric squad finally succumbed to the inevitable Wenger turned a mixture of youth and experience to create a winning formula. Winterburn soon become Ashley Cole (with a brief intervening period of Sylvinho), Dixon became Lauren, Keown and Adams became Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure. By the time the 2003-04 season rolled around Parlour and Keown were the only remaining fixtures of the George Graham era.
The period of 2002-2005 saw Wenger’s reformed side collect two league titles and three FA Cups, the zenith being the 2004 ‘Invincibles’ side, playing some of the most exhilarating football the Premier League has witnessed. The possession-based Wenger sides of today can’t match the power, pace and efficiency of the team that dominated in this short period. Henry, Bergkamp, Ljungberg, Wiltord and Pires lead the flying counter-attacks while Vieira and Gilberto Silva marshalled in front of the defence. Wenger had built a team of technically and physically superior footballers who harboured a ruthless desire to win.
In isolation, nearly nine years that have passed since Wenger last took the Gunners to a trophy would rightly be deemed a failure. Having created a side that challenged the hegemony of Manchester, how could a club that feasted on silverware go so long without it? As always, the answer is money.
The development and construction of the Emirates Stadium was to cost a whopping £390 million, incurring huge debts which would culminate to have its most significant impact on the pitch. Wenger undertook the challenge to keep the club amongst Europe’s elite whilst assisting with the transition into the new stadium.
Whilst being touted as the next potential manager for a host of Europe’s superpowers, Wenger has stuck it out through the toughest of times, which has seen Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City leave them in the dust and their great rivals, Tottenham, close the gaping chasm that existed between the sides back when Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ were enjoying a purple patch.
With the endless riches of Chelsea and City, and the countless revenue streams of United, Wenger acknowledged that the only way to keep in touch was to buy young and cheap, and sell at opportune moments. Despite the rancour at the time of selling the likes of Henry and Vieira, it’s hard to argue now against Wenger’s decisions when observing their post-Arsenal performances.
So in a period where Wenger admitted to a ‘fight with clubs who lose £150 million a year, when we had to make £30 million a year’, the downturn in success on the pitch was always likely.
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From 1998-99 up until the present day Arsene Wenger has navigated his side into successive Champions League competitions, a record only Real Madrid and Manchester United can match. Despite the relative lack of success in the competition in these 16 years, Wenger has guided the club into a position where they have been able to reap the financial rewards without too significant a detriment to the club.
But as a new dawn beckons at the Emirates, with new commercial deals and financial benefits as a result, the shackles of the clubs financial requirements have been lifted. Wenger has steered Arsenal out of the red and into the black. The club-record transfer of Mesut Ozil, sandwiched in between the contract renewals of a host of key players represents a club on the rise.
It’s easy to brand the past eight years as a monumental failure when you view it in contrast to the eight years previous. Arsenal fans were spoilt rotten with a quality of football which matched the glut of trophies in Wenger’s early years. But in recent times the club has faced an even greater battle off the field. Those who view success as purely based on trophy success should take a look at Portsmouth; FA Cup winners and finalists the following year, now floundering down in League Two.
Whether you see Arsene Wenger as synonymous with his first eight years or his last, the stability he has brought to Arsenal is an achievement which should never be overlooked. With just nine league games remaining Wenger’s side sits four points beneath top spot. With a real ‘six-pointer’ this weekend at Stamford Bridge, and a potential FA Cup final just around the bend maybe, just maybe, this could just be Arsenal’s year. Wenger would deserve no less.
Thomas Rooney is back with his three essential bets for this weekend, with Chelsea v Arsenal and Real Madrid v Barcelona to look forward to.
It should definitely be an enjoyable couple of days. We’ve reached what many describe as the ‘business end’ of the campaign and there’s can’t afford to lose games all over the shop.
Not least at Chelsea and Real Madrid. You’d argue that if Arsenal and Barcelona fail to pick up anything – they are out of their respective title race. It’s a pivotal, pivotal (nearly said it again, thought better of it) weekend.
Then comes my team – Norwich City. I feel rather nauseous at the idea of Saturday’s home game with Sunderland. It’s a must-win, no two ways about it. Lose – we’re probably going down. Ugh.
Anyway, on with the tips…
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to score
I’ve been very impressed with The Ox since his return from injury and he has a goal in him this weekend. A certainty for England’s World Cup squad, he’s one of the bright young talents.
Arsenal’s rather dodgy injury situation – Ozil, Ramsey and Wilshere are all out – actually suites the former Southampton man too. He can operate centrally and really make an impact on the game.
There’s absolutely no fear there either and he will drive forward all game long for the Gunners. At 11/2 with Ladbrokes, he’s certainly worth backing for an anytime goal.
Under 2.5 goals Norwich v Sunderland
I promised myself I wouldn’t touch this game. I’m too emotionally involved. One thing for certain though, surely, is that it won’t be a classic. Not in terms of goals scored anyway.
Norwich are actually unbeaten in six games at Carrow Road and have only conceded twice in this sequence. It’s only four goals for the Canaries too though and both wins have been 1-0.
These two drew 0-0 earlier in the season too and given how important it is for both sides, it’s certainly worth sticking a few quid on under 2.5 goals. Stan James over 4/6.
Lionel Messi to score anytime
El Clasico time on Sunday! It’s one of the biggest in a few years too, with both firmly locked in as far as the title race is concerned. Barcelona go seven points adrift if they lose this one.
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They’ve performed admirably under pressure in recent years though and one man has been at the centre of that – Lionel Messi. With a long list of famous El Clasico moments, he’s one to watch as ever.
Backing Messi to score isn’t normally a worthwhile bet, but Paddy Power are offering a rather tempting 5/6, as well as money back on selected other markets if he finds the back of the net!
According to Mirror Football, Leeds United are considering a contract offer for ex-Newcastle striker Nile Ranger.
The 23 year-old was once a hot prospect at St. James’s but a string of brushes with the law – most notably several charges of common assault and criminal damage – Ranger’s career has plummeted in recent years. He also got his own name tattooed onto his forehead, but that’s more a fashion crime than an actual legal issue.
With currently no criminal charges lingering over him, Massimo Cellino is reportedly prepared to offer the forward a route back into football.
But Ranger is undoubtedly a loose cannon and the Whites would be wise to consider viable alternatives first. Thus, we at Football Fancast have come up with FIVE…
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON NILE RANGER TO REVEAL
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BRITT ASSOMBALONGA
If Massimo Cellino is prepared to get his chequebook out, Leeds could do a lot worse than a bid for League One sensation Britt Assombalonga.
The former Watford youngster netted 15 times on loan to Southend in League Two in the 2012/13 campaign, and last term, following a club-record move to Peterborough, bagged 23 goals in 43 League One outings, also firing the Posh to Football League Trophy glory.
Here’s a short clip of the Zaire-born assassin in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/OQSeSQznviw?rel=0
As you can see, he offers power, pace and goal threat in abundance, and at just 21 years of age, the potential for further improvement is enormous.
But the Posh are well aware they’re sitting on hot transfer property following rumoured interest from the Premier League, and Director of Football Barry Fry claims the club wouldn’t even sell for £5million!
KIERAN AGARD
Another lower-tiers striking option for the Whites to consider is Rotherham United’s Kieran Agard. The 24 year-old opened a move to Elland Road earlier this month by rejecting a long-term contract at the New York Stadium, with his current deal set to expire in a year’s time:
The former Everton youngster destroyed League One last season, netting 26 times in all competitions as the Miners achieved promotion through the play-offs. Here’s a look at all his goals from the campaign:
//www.youtube.com/embed/2EY8tktd6HE
Massimo Cellino allegedly scouted Agard in person last season, but the Whites could face competition from Bristol City for his signature:
GEORGIOS SAMARAS
Opinions are fairly divided on Greek enigma Georgios Samaras, but a 6 foot 4 forward who sporadically produces moments of sublime individual quality, there’s no doubt he’d suit Championship football well.
You can’t question the 29 year-old’s ability to turn a match on its head either. The ex-Celtic winger-forward netted 74 times in 248 appearances during seven campaigns at Parkhead – his most important goals coming on European nights, including this historic header against Barcelona:
//www.youtube.com/embed/_a8amSuQEJ8?rel=0
The former Manchester City man was in good form for Greece at the World Cup too, as viewable below:
His highlight being this converted penalty to see his country through to the round of 16:
Most appealingly, although wage demands could prove an issue, Samaras is currently without a club after leaving the Scottish champions last season.
A swift return to Parkhead has been mooted however:
NICK POWELL
Entrenched hatreds aside, Manchester United’s Nick Powell would be a decent stop-gap solution to Leeds’ striking woes on a season-long loan.
The highly-rated Crewe product impressed in the Championship last year during a term-long stay with Wigan, as viewable below:
He also netted three times in six Europa League outings. Here’s a collection of the 20 year-old’s career highlights thus far:
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//www.youtube.com/embed/ZfclynD35gY?rel=0
Powell, who can operate as a striker, in attacking or central midfield, is tipped for a bright future at Old Trafford but will be expected to go out on loan again next season to gain experience after missing on a place in Louis van Gaal’s pre-season tour squad.
Elland Road would be an interesting destination that can offer him first team football. But Wigan are keen on his services permanently and Premier League side Leicester City have also been linked:
GLENN MURRAY
According to online speculation, Leeds have already entered talks regarding Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray:
The 30 year-old netted just once in 14 appearances last season after being sidelined for nine months with a serious knee injury.
But the campaign previous, the former Rochdale and Brighton front-man netted 31 times in the Championships to see the Eagles gain promotion through the play-offs.
Here’s all his goals from the 2012/13 season:
//www.youtube.com/embed/MSeEddgEn7g?rel=0
No doubt, Murray is a lethal finisher at Championship level, but with three years left on his contract and Tony Pulis in no great hurry to sell, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be allowed to leave Selhurst Park this summer.
Premier League managers are a notoriously hypocritical bunch. While defending their own players or ruing a controversial decision by the referee is understandable at any level of the game, the extremes to which many in the top flight’s gaffers take their partisan approach often borders on the absurd.
Depending simply on whether an opposition player or one of the manager’s own is the culprit, a red card for a dangerous challenge, a raised flag for a borderline offside or a booking for a perceived penalty box dive will either be incandescently deplored as a terrible call or praised as the correct one by the chameleonesque manager in a post-match interview, with his opinion on such matters able to change in a remarkably short space of time.
Sir Alex Ferguson was well-known for his two-faced attitude, and since his retirement Jose Mourinho has been more than happy to assume the mantle of the Premier League’s chief master of duplicity. The Portuguese makes no attempt to hide his hypocrisy, and even seems to relish it. For him, it is all part of the act – Mourinho the pantomime villain who still manages to triumph in the end, in spite of his numerous detractors. Though instances of his two-faced nature are as numerous as they are humerous – his hypocritical gripes can be trusted to be delivered with his trademark sardonic wit – a particular example from last season stands out.
After a debatable penalty was awarded to Sunderland in a league match at Stamford Bridge, which helped the Black Cats inflict a first-ever home league defeat for Mourinho as manager of Chelsea, the Portuguese stole the show in the post-match interview by sarcastically congratulating referee Mike Dean and, bizarrely, referee’s chief Mike Reily – who wasn’t even present at the game – for their work in supposedly derailing the Blues’ title charge. Mourinho had every right to feel aggrieved at the manner of the defeat and the awarding of a penalty was certainly a point of contention, however his own team have benefitted from such decisions in the past, after which the Portguese has felt no need to ‘congratulate’ the performance of the officials.
The truth is that Mourinho merely happens to be the most vocal and charismatic example of managerial hypocrisy, and most coaches in the top flight are equally as culpable of flitting between two different viewpoints when it suits their team best.
However, the arrival of a certain Dutchman in the Premier League has brought about a refreshing degree of honesty and transparency in the otherwise crafty domain of managerial interviews. Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal’s refusal to pin the blame on others for his team’s shortcomings has been like a breath of fresh air this season. After his side’s 5-3 loss to Leicester City, a defeat which must have been particularly grating given that the Red Devils were leading 3-1 at one point, van Gaal took the gargantuan step of criticising his team instead of the referee, saying the following momentous words when asked about a highly controversial penalty which sparked the Leicester comeback: “For the first penalty it is always the referee [who you talk about] but you don’t have to do that as a player. You know you are in the penalty area and you allow the referee to whistle if you make a challenge. I don’t know if it is a penalty but we have to look at ourselves because we made such big errors as a team.”
Such stoicism and good sportsmanship after a genuine miscarriage of footballing justice must have stupefied those interviewing the Dutchman, and van Gaal once again defied convention over the weekend by agreeing with the referee’s decision to send off Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney in the game against West Ham United. Unlike the penalty at the King Power Stadium, Rooney’s dismissal was the correct call, however siding with the match official rather than the club captain was still bold of van Gaal, his unwillingness to don the blinkers of hypocrisy admirable.
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Louis van Gaal’s honesty is a way of treating his players as responsible adults, and serves as a productive means for improvement and identifying weaknesses in the team’s play. More than anything, however, his approach makes for a refreshing change to the tiresome, two-faced attitudes of many other Premier League managers. Long may it continue.