It is often forgotten that on Saturday February 27th 2010, there were two victims at the Britannia Stadium.
The pantomime villain in all of this was Ryan Shawcross, mention that name to most football fans and all they will say is ‘Ramsey’. The Stoke defender, was at the time, one of England’s best up and coming centre backs and was incidentally called up to the national squad for the first time that night. He didn’t get on the pitch, but it seemed many call-ups and caps were to follow.
However, ever since that dreadful incident two years ago, Shawcross’s development as a player has been stopped in its tracks. I, and most Potters fans, would have expected that by now Shawcross would be playing for one of the top 6 clubs, and a regular in the England squad. But the former Manchester United player hasn’t made the exact progress we predicted.
Last season he was made captain, after the dip in form of cult hero Abdoulaye Faye, and it was a bold move by Pulis to do so and one that I questioned. Shawcross, perhaps further burdened by responsibility, had arguably his poorest season to date with Stoke. He was a solid 6 out of ten for the whole season, where as his centre-back partner Robert Huth constantly over shadowed him at both ends of the pitch. Ryan looked a man slightly short on confidence, despite leading us to our first FA cup final in the clubs history. He was solid, but never as spectacular as he expected and hoped.
But this season he has grown, finally putting the Ramsey incident behind him. He oozes authority at the back, barking out orders and being a real team leader, something last season he wasn’t so much of. He has been ever present at the team’s heart, in a season where he has had to contend with alternating between Jonathan Woodgate, Matthew Upson and Robert Huth as partners in defence, and Asmir Begovic and Thomas Sorensen in goal.
He is far calmer on the ball then previously, is a massive threat from set-pieces and reads the game as good as any. His confidence has increased tenfold. Not a man who enjoys the public eye, he is rapidly proving me wrong as the right man to captain this side, another master stroke by Pulis, why do I ever doubt him sometimes?
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The best thing about it is that it is unlikely he will leave in the summer. Shawcross is our captain, our leader and our hero and Stoke is in his heart. Forget Crouch for a second, England may have to start making room for Shawcross in their 2012 squad.
Professional football is a notoriously ruthless business. The game is littered with stories of players cast aside after failing to make the grade, however, once a player reaches the top level, an uncharacteristic amount of faith and patience can come their way.
The recent signing of Kieron Dyer by QPR is a fantastic example of such faith. Dyer made 30 appearances in four injury blighted years at West Ham United and yet he has now been signed by another premiership club. Does Neil Warnock really believe that he can get a full season out of Dyer? Does this move simply show that there is a startling dearth of players available who have experience at the top level? Such a severe shortage that a player of Dyer’s woes is a tempting option.
The signing of Jonathan Woodgate by Stoke raises the same questions. Woodgate appeared 4 times for Spurs in the last 2 seasons. He has been plagued by injuries since 2004, and yet he is still considered a top defender, still worth the gamble. It seems that once you have shown yourself capable of competing at the highest level, managers will display an unending amount of faith and patience in your ability to recover. The hope that you will rediscover the form that once made you a top premiership player does not fade quickly. The possibility of a bargain and a glorious renaissance keeps managers interested far longer than the fans.
Both players have been signed on a pay-as you-play deal, eliminating potentially huge losses such as those suffered by West Ham where Dyer picked up a reported £83,000 a week during his spell. Even so, do these players represent good business? In a sport where careers can be so brutally short, why are these players deserving of such patience?
Would you take a gamble on this man?
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Manchester City first team coach Fausto Salsano has admitted that the club are keen to sign Marek Hamsik and Ezequiel Lavezzi from Serie A side Napoli the Mirror reports.
Salsano revealed that the pair are top of manager Roberto Mancini transfer hit list with the Italian still desperate to strengthen a squad still fighting for trophies on four fronts.
During their time at the Stadio San Paolo Slovakian playmaker Hamsik and Argentine striker Lavezzi have become regarded as two of the brightest stars in European football and Salsano has admitted City are monitoring their progress carefully.
He said: “Manchester City are watching Napoli very carefully. I can confirm Mancini’s interest in Hamsik because I have been to watch the Slovak.
“Marek has become a very important player with the right experience. Lavezzi, on the other hand, is a devastating player who can hurt you one-on-one. Hamsik and Lavezzi are players we like because our aim is to do great things.”
The coaches comments are likely to infuriate Azurri boss Walter Mazzarri with the Naples club in the same Champions League group as City and news of their interest could potentially unnerve the duo with bid from the Etihad Stadium is expected in January.
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Tottenham have made Iago Flaque’s loan move from Juventus permanent, and immediately loaned him out to Southampton for the rest of the season.
The Spain under-21 midfielder has impressed in a temporary deal at White Hart Lane and Harry Redknapp has moved to secure the prospect’s services.
Falque has made six first-team appearances this season so far, mainly in the Europa League, and has been farmed out to The Saints to get more experience.
“I’m very happy to be here at Southampton, and I am looking forward to training with my new teammates who have proved this season that they are very talented,” the youngster stated to The Championship side’s official website.
“I hope that I can help the team to great things this season.”
Meanwhile, Southampton boss Nigel Adkins feels that Falque will be an asset to the south-coast club, and hopes he can help the club back to the Premier League.
“He’s a very exciting player and I’m pleased that we’ve got him on board and I think the supporters will be excited by what he can do on the pitch.
“Like many of our players he’s a player who can play everywhere and he’s someone who can play on the left, on the right and in the number 10 position behind the striker, so he’s a talented footballer and one who I’m sure is going to excite everybody.
“Tottenham rate him highly and have loaned him out to ourselves where he will become another addition to the players that we’ve got to give us that opportunity to get back into the Premier League,” he concluded.
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Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez has stated that his side will look to beat Liverpool on Sunday, and if they do they will all but seal sixth place in the Premier League.
Alan Pardew’s men are currently eight points clear of the seventh-placed Merseysiders, and the Argentina international is hoping for three points at the Sports Direct Arena this Sunday to keep their good run of form going.
“We know we can open up a gap over Liverpool. It’s going to be a big game for us, so we’re going to have to be fully focused,” he told Mirror Football.
“We enjoyed ourselves against West Brom, and we know that we have a lot of games and a lot of points before the end of the season. We are taking it game by game and nothing else.
“We need to get as many points as we can before the end of the season, it’s not over yet,” he continued.
Hatem Ben Arfa was the Toon’s star player in last weekend’s 3-1 win over West Brom, and Gutierrez has went on to praise the talented France international.
“We know all about Hatem. We know what he can do when he has the ball, and he did that on Sunday.
“People say that he can’t adapt to English football because it is too physical, too tough, but he found the right moment and the right space to cause problems.
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“He’s an important player for us, he’s learning about English football, it’s different to other leagues. He’s learning that every day,” the South American concluded.
Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho’s inflammatory post-match accusations could be subjected to action by Barcelona.Mourinho was left enraged following Pepe’s sending off in the 61st minute in Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg, which also led to his dismissal to the stands and an ensuing 2-0 defeat to Barcelona at the Bernabeu.
Reigning Spanish champions Barcelona take a healthy advantage heading into the return fixture against their arch rivals at Camp Nou next Tuesday.
And the Catalan club is now deliberating whether it can refer Mourinho’s stinging post-match statement, in which he declared Barcelona constantly received favourable refereeing decisions to the UEFA Disciplinary Commission.
A statement on the club’s official site read: “Barca’s legal department will study the declarations made by Jose Mourinho following his team’s 0-2 defeat at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night to determine whether to refer them to UEFA.”
Mourinho claimed Barcelona were being afforded preferential treatment by match officials in his press conference after the loss, drawing parallels with his experiences as then-manager of Chelsea in the 2008/09 Champions League season.
“But I just do not understand why Barcelona always receives the help of the referee. All my life I will be asking myself this question, and one day I hope to receive an answer,” Mourinho said.
“I don’t understand why Barcelona have this power. It happened two years ago to Chelsea, almost to my Inter last year, and also to Arsenal this year.”
“Why do the opponents of Barcelona always have a man sent off? Where does this power come from? Maybe it is to give more publicity to UNICEF, maybe because of the power of (Spanish federation president Jose Angel) Villar in UEFA.”
Opposite Pep Guardiola refused to be drawn into a war of words and instead focused on his side’s winning performance.
Recently we have seen players getting into trouble for things they have done on the social networking website Twitter. In January of this year former Liverpool player Ryan Babel was fined £10,000 for posting a photo of referee Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt. The post was intended as a joke and a reaction to decisions that were made in the match featuring Liverpool and Manchester United refereed by Webb.
Within the last few days, Carlton Cole faces a charge for a comment he made on his Twitter account. Cole made the comment during the recent international friendly between England and Ghana. Cole tweeted “Immigration has surrounded the Wembley premises! I knew it was a trap! Hahahaha. The only way to get out safely is to wear an England jersey and paint your face w/ the St. George’s flag!”
It appears that charges for the use of Twitter are becoming more common and it is certainly something players will need to be vigilant of. The real issue here is who should be policing the use of Twitter, the club the player/s are contracted to, the players themselves or the FA?
At the moment it seems like the FA are taking control – but in the first case can matters of this nature be kept in house by the club? Is there any scope for an outright ban on Twitter or would that make matters worse?
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I think there is also a role that can be played by both the FA and the club in the form of education. It would be useful to everyone if the FA can release some information on what sort of things are likely to be investigated and what sort of things are just harmless banter. The club can let their players know that they should be careful on what they write on Twitter and again outline what sort of things the players should aim to stay away from.
Once players have a clear understanding on what they should and should not write then they can regulate themselves; if they then step out of those guidelines and get fined by the FA they really only have themselves to blame. But as Ipswich Town player Billy Clark recently found out, it’s not always a case of comments that can get you into trouble with the FA that you have to be wary of. Ipswich Town manager Paul Jewell recently made the decision to not offer Clark a new contract beyond the end of this season. Clark foolishly made a public tweet directed towards a fan to suggest he was glad to be leaving and after hearing about this Jewell has informed Clark that if he feels this way then he should leave immediately.
Twitter is a wonderful tool and used the right way can bring players, fans and the club closer together – but it should be respected and used sensibly.
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Sheffield United have responded to their relegation from the Championship by sacking manager Micky Adams on Tuesday.United finished second from the bottom in the Championship this term, with just 11 wins from their 46 games, and both Adams and his assistant Alan Cork have been dismissed by the club’s owner Kevin McCabe.
Adams became United’s third manager of the season in December when he replaced Gary Speed, who left to take charge of Wales.
Speed replaced the sacked Kevin Blackwell just three games in to the 2010/11 season.
In his 24 matches at the helm, Adams tasted victory just four times and McCabe said the club needed a new direction as it prepares for life in League One.
“Micky is an honourable, hard-working and honest man who has had difficult circumstances to deal with from the moment he came in,” McCabe said.
“No one can criticise the effort he and Alan put in to turn around what was already an awkward season for us.”
“The fact remains that we have been relegated. With that in mind I feel that in order to give ourselves the best opportunity we should make a clean sweep at the top and start afresh next season.”
Adams, a lifelong United supporter who began his youth career with the Blades in the mid-1970s, said he would continue to support the club.
“Obviously I am very, very disappointed with the decision but I still wish Sheffield United all the best,” Adams said.
“I am a Blade and will always be a Blade so I am just sorry that my move here has not worked out.”
Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola was once again on the touchline barking out orders on Tuesday afternoon as he managed a group of Indesit Football Talent competition winners at The Emirates Stadium in the pouring summer rain. I caught up with him post-match to talk all things Chelsea, Champions League and his managerial future.
Did you enjoy today, did it make you want to get back into the managerial game?
It was great, it was fun, but above all it wasn’t about us. It was about the people that came here and spent the day like a proper footballer. But I enjoyed it; they enjoyed it which is the most important thing.
Also, for me personally, the closer you get to the pitch, the better you feel. Obviously if I could get even closer it would be even better! But we are getting ready for another opportunity and we will see when it comes.
So the Champions League Final on Saturday, are you excited?
Very much so, it is a game which has lots of expectations and I am sure it will be a great final. There will be a lot of emotions in there.
Without the likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Ramires, can Chelsea still win it?
Obviously it is a difficult task because they are missing key players and they are playing against a very good team in Bayern, but if you analyse the season of Chelsea they have been through difficult times but they always come through. Also, you can’t forget that in the team that will line up on Saturday, there are players that played in the final a few years ago in Moscow, so I am sure they will be doubling their attention and strength in the game. But I don’t think it is right to say that Chelsea starts the game having already lost it, I would pay respect to them.
How pleasing is it to see Roberto Di Matteo doing such a good job at Chelsea?
I am delighted, delighted for Chelsea, delighted for Roberto because he is a good guy, he is a Chelsea legend and Chelsea boy, so to see somebody doing well in your own club, you feel so pleased for that.
You often hear that he was a quiet character in the dressing room, were you surprised he actually moved into management?
Yeah, he is quite calm, he is laid back, but he has so much determination. In his career, I have known him for a long time and I know he looks quiet but he is a very, very determined and strong person.
He brought back Eddie Newton, so there is a few Chelsea old boys back at the club, are you expecting a call soon?
No, you know Chelsea is a great club for me and for those who have played there, but as long as somebody is doing well at the club and on top of that if they are someone who has played with you and is friends with you I am very pleased for that. It would be fantastic to have that opportunity, but as long as the club is so well looked after I don’t mind, honestly I really just wish for the club to do well, that’s the most important thing.
In a fantasy world and you were starting for Chelsea on Saturday, who would you like to play up front with, Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres?
I think Didier Drogba is the one who has to start on Saturday because of what he has done. He is a guy that every time they play an important game he puts his trademark on it which is a guarantee for Chelsea. Obviously Fernando has done quite well, he came back so strong and I am sure when he comes on he can make a big difference but Drogba is the man. In every single final or important game we play, he scores; he has been such a leader. I think he will start, but Fernando could come on and change the game.
So how close are you to getting back into management, have you given it a lot of thought recently?
Yes, there have been a few opportunities but I preferred to take a little bit of time off you know to do things for me, but now is the moment and obviously I am looking forward to finding a job.
Is it also nice to see Paolo Di Canio doing so well at Swindon?
Oh I am delighted. I spoke with him after the promotion and he has done a great job and he really didn’t have an easy task, he has done it in his own style. Paolo is Paolo!
What are your thoughts on Italy’s chances in Euro 2012?
Unfortunately, he hasn’t got the best team honestly, but they are a very young team and I like the manager very much. I don’t think that on paper they can win it, but football is so incredible because you can say one thing and it can just turn around, I don’t think they will win, but they will play a good tournament. I think the cycle is now going towards Germany; they have some great young players.
When you managed the Italy under-21’s, you briefly coached Mario Balotelli, how did you personally find him?
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Hard, sometimes he can be very hard, or he can be very easy it all depends on him. For me Mario can be a top player, when I say top player I mean top, top, top player but at the same time he has to understand that the person goes with the player. Your personality, the way you handle your temperament also determines the value of you as a player. Mario could be the player of the Euros, it is all down to him and I think he will have an important role. I saw the strikers and he will probably become one of the main strikers for Italy so he has a big opportunity, it is just down to him to use it in the right way. You can’t control it, I can’t control it, he is the only one who can do that.
Another place where you managed was West Ham, they are in the Play Off Final on Saturday, do you think they will go up?
They have a great chance, there is no doubt they have the best side in the Championship in my opinion, so the ball is on their hand. Whether they can do it I don’t know, but they have players in the team that have enough experience and quality to play these teams and games so we will see what they can do. I keep my fingers crossed for them, it is a good club and I really wish to see them playing in the Premier League.
Do you think you were harshly treated at Upton Park?
I think football sometimes is like that, it is a rule of football. Sometimes you have to work with a chairman and a club and your ideas are not appreciated and they want to get on with that and maybe do something else. I can’t complain though, I had a very good time with West Ham and I am very grateful for them to allow me to manage a Premier League club, I done what I was supposed to do there, with all the difficulties and I have no grudges at all.
Finally, is it true you went on an eventful fishing trip with Faustino Asprilla, how was that?
Yes, yes, it was absolutely terrible! You know when fishing you line up one next to each other and throw the ropes, but you have to be very careful how you throw it because the waves can take it close to the others ropes. He made such a mess of it. He crossed all of the lines and it took us half an hour to get all of the lines in. We had to cut them with scissors. Never again! We can maybe use him as bait! Good players, very good friend, terrible fisherman!
Robert Pires, Daniele Massaro and Gianfranco Zola coached winners of the Indesit Football Talents competition which offered football fans across Europe the opportunity to compete at Emirates Stadium. For more information please go towww.indesit.com/weworkyouplay
With the half way point of the Championship season now passed, the table is really beginning to take shape and the runners and riders for promotion have set out their stall in their bid for a shot at the Premier League. The bookies favourites at the start of the season, West Ham, have been solid up until now and sit level on points with league leaders Southampton who have surpassed many people’s expectations.
The business end of the season is now upon us and January will no doubt give the punters a very good idea who they could expect to see earn promotion to the top flight and I feel West Ham will definitely be one of them. The confident and brave owners have given the manager a decent amount of funds to spend in January and some tough fixtures coming up will undoubtedly show if the Hammers have the class and strength to return to where they belong.
Here are the five things that Sam Allardyce and his team have to do to ensure they achieve their aim:
1.) Beat the teams around them – The big games at the top of the table will not tell us who will or won’t win the league but they usually go a long way to showing the best teams. West Ham’s inconsistent form of late has seen them beat play off hopefuls Middlesbrough and Hull away from home, but so far this season have lost too three of the top five sides, Southampton, Reading and Cardiff. Fortunately for the Hammers they have the entire top six; apart from Cardiff; to play at home from now until the end of the season and so will fancy their chances of picking up some vital points in them games.
Big crowds and big atmospheres at Upton Park have not really helped the team yet this season as they look slightly nervous at home, but with teams all around the table now needing to pick up points to achieve their goals, not many will come and park the bus in East London in the way teams have so far this season.
2.) Sign a striker and a winger – Allardyce has; on more than one occasion; told the media that he is desperate to bring in new faces to Upton Park this month but has so far been rejected more times Luke Chadwick on a night out. Bids for Billy Sharp, Jordan Rhodes, Nicky Maynard and Jimmy Kebe have all been reportedly turned down as the Hammers look to add to their firepower with much needed reinforcement.
The likes of Carlton Cole, Freddie Piquionne and John Carew have not been good enough despite knocking in the odd goal and the injury stricken wingers have been sorely missed with players being played out of position in the majority of games. David’s Gold and Sullivan are backing the manager all the way to try and take their club back to the top flight and so as long as Allardyce finds the right targets, there could be a new look frontline in the next few weeks in the East End.
3.) The fans have got to get behind them – Upton Park has been a tough place to play for West Ham this season as it seems the fans are too quick to jump on the back of the players at every opportunity. The negative vibe surrounds the pitch if the team are not dominating their opponents and winning every game.
It is not because the fans are too demanding and impatient; it is just purely frustration; that at times the players seem to have an overconfident attitude against the lower teams that they struggle to overcome. The realistic supporters understand that it won’t be easy to reach the top flight but when they get the chance to sing up and create Upton Park an intimidating place, then the better chance the team have of succeeding.
4.) Give youth a chance – The likes of Kevin Nolan, Carlton Cole, and Freddie Piquionne have not been anywhere near their best in the opening five months of the season, which has resulted in the team dropping valuable points at times. It has been a while since the last youngster came through the ranks to make a lasting impression (James Tomkins 2008) but word is going around that a new crop are ready to hit the big time.
Young left back Danny Potts has impressed in his opening few games for the club after injuries and suspensions gave him a chance and the likes of Robert Hall, Frank Nouble and Cristian Montano have impressed out on loan leading Allardyce to possibly include them in future squads. Why not give them a go?
5.) Improve home form – The Achilles heel of West Ham’s season so far has undoubtedly been their home form this season, as teams arrive at Upton Park and play for a draw, with the Hammers lacking in the required creativity to break them down.
Home defeats to Cardiff City, Ipswich Town, Aldershot Town (Carling Cup) and Burnley have shown the vulnerability to the Hammers play at home and draws with the likes of Bristol City and Leeds United at Upton Park prove the lack of spirit and quality among the players when under pressure at their home.
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Recent weeks have shown an improvement at Upton Park and if they can average two points a game from now until May they will more than likely be hosting the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur at the home of football next season.
What do you think West Ham need to do in order to gain promotion? Let me know on Twitter: @Brad_Pinard