”I’ve extended my contract and I’m staying with Bayern until 2016. Long live Bayern!” – Just the words that Manchester United fans didn’t want to hear. Up until his announcement, Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger had been linked with a potential summer move to Manchester United. It’s quite a loss for United – Schweinsteiger is one of world football’s best midfielders. He’s a genuine box-to-box player, has boundless energy, an incredible drive, a passion and determination that sees him dive into every challenge with everything he’s got. He’s also supremely talented – he’s good on the ball, delivers well from a set-piece and has been known to knock home the odd screamer.
All of these aspects of his being make him easily comparable to Manchester United’s Paul Scholes. Both are quality all round footballers with a competitive edge that makes them not just talented, but winners through and through. Scholes is 36 now, and despite still being an important part of Manchester United’s squad, can only have another couple of years left at the very highest level.
Bastian Schweinsteiger was being touted as a potential replacement for Scholes when he eventually retired or left United. Now that that possibility has been quashed, who can United turn to? I don’t believe for a moment that Anderson, O’Shea, Fletcher, et al will ever reach a level similar in quality to Scholes. I think it’s fair to say that Manchester United will have to look outwards for their inspiration.
One man who could fill the Scholes shaped void is Roma’s Daniele De Rossi. Despite being something of a one-club man, Roma may be persuaded to sell if United were to make an impressive offer. De Rossi is a real force. Energetic and passionate, De Rossi would add strength and steel to any midfield you care to name. He has the defensive nous of Mascherano and the vim and vigour of Steven Gerrard.
The next candidate is another Inter Milan player: Sulley Muntari. The Ghanaian has Premier League experience through his time at Portsmouth (‘07/’08) and I believe he has the ability to fill Schole’s boots. He’s a genuine ball-winner, he’s committed and has a wonderful positional sense. It’s his immaculate reading of the game that must make him such an enticing prospect.
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However, the perfect man to replace Scholes has to be Wesley Sneijder. He’s tough, versatile, has an impressive engine, and like Schweinsteiger, is something of a deadball specialist. He currently plies his trade for Inter Milan, yet you can’t help but feel as though he would fit into the Premier League with the greatest of ease. He’s competitive and he can give and take tough tackles. He would be a perfect fit.
Fun Fact: Schweinsteiger is German for “Pig Climber”. For more ‘knowledge’ feel free to follow me on Twitter: @ThePerfectPass
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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
Arsene Wenger is reportedly ready to make a move for Valencia forward Juan Mata, who is valued at £15 million. The Spaniard, fresh from winning the under-21 European championships, can play as either a winger or second striker. He has been involved in Vicente Del Bosque’s senior side and was part of the squad that won the 2010 World Cup.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the 23-year-old’s capture could be motivation for Samir Nasri to stay at the club as Arsene Wenger shows his intention to spend in the transfer market and compete for trophies in 2011/12.
The former Real Madrid youth player was a key figure at the Mestalla last term, and inspired Los Che to a third placed finish in La Liga as a key goalscorer and at times captained the team.
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Liverpool have been linked with a move for the Burgos born man also, but a move from the Anfield side will depend on whether they can pry Stewart Downing away from Aston Villa.
West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo was left purring after watching his Midlands side smash Everton 4-1 at Goodison Park on Saturday.
After picking up just one point from a possible 15 in November before the Merseyside clash, the Baggies turned the tide in emphatic fashion.
Goals from Paul Scharner and Chris Brunt shocked the hosts and, although Tim Cahill offered hope before the break, Somen Tchoyi and Sylvain Distin's own goal late in the day secured the victory.
Mikel Arteta saw red for a stamp on Gonzalo Jara as the game turned sour and Youssouf Mulumbu was also dismissed for two bookings, a decision that irked di Matteo.
"We played fantastic football today, got some great goals and it was a very entertaining game too," he said.
"The second one was an absolute world-class goal in my opinion from Chris Brunt and we played well. We deserved to go ahead. We were always very good going forward.
"We picked the players up at half-time. It's a difficult ground to come, we hadn't won here for 31 years so we knew it wasn't going to be easy.
"In the second half we just kept going and we stuck to our gameplan, fortunately we scored the third goal too. The third goal was a very good goal, the fourth goal ended the game really.
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"I think everybody saw he (Arteta) stepped on our player. In terms of the second yellow card for our player I think it was a very innocuous challenge.
"If you give yellow cards for those ones then you are probably going to get 20 yellow cards in a game."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
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.
Italian giants Inter Milan have had a £26 million bid rejected for Real Madrid midfielder Kaka, according to talksport.
The Brazilian midfielder has failed to live up to expectations since his £56 million switch to the Bernabeu two summers ago. He has struggled with injury and form and only made 53 appearances for the club.
Kaka, who has represented Brazil 82 times, has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League with both Chelsea and Manchester City reportedly interested in the 29-year old. But it is 2010 Champions League winners Inter who have made the first move for the player.
Kaka first made a name for himself during a 6-season spell in Italy with Inter’s bitter rivals AC Milan. He first signed for the club from Sao Paulo and made 266 appearances winning Serie A, The Champions League and FIFA World Player of the Year along the way.
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Real are reluctant to make a huge loss on the player and are holding out for £40 million. Kaka is also reluctant to take a pay cut and Inter could struggle to afford him unless they sell Dutch star Wesley Sneijder. Manchester City and Chelsea are in a far better position to afford the player but will refuse to pay over the odds for the Brazilian.
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has admitted that he is looking to make several major signings in the January transfer window.
Hodgson's side have made a slow start to the new campaign and the former Fulham boss is keen to strengthen his squad, having been promised funds by New England Sports Ventures following their Anfield takeover.
He told the club's official website:"If we want the right quality, we have got to be prepared to pay the right price.
"The owners know that perfectly well. We have got to make certain that if we go out and spend £20million, we are getting a £20million player.
"We want to be attracting the players that Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter are chasing. It would be nice to think that we can shop at a high level.
"I'm like all managers in that I'm wary of the January transfer window. I think it can be dangerous as clubs try to correct mistakes.
"But, having said that, we are going to very interested in trying to improve our squad in January. There is no question about that. I am sure we will sign players.
"What I would hope to do is get this group of players playing well enough so we don't need to panic.
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"Then I can say to the owners 'if we are going to spend a lot of money, let's get the right man'.
"I don't want to spend half the money that might be available on someone for the sake of buying, when the player we actually want might not be available until the summer."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
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.
Tottenham’s have seemingly missed the boat this season after a shocking run of form in the last third of the season has cost them dear. Harry Redknapp must be forever wondering what if, especially given the amount of points they have thrown away in particular at White Hart Lane.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Spurs blogs that includes fingers pointed at White Hart Lane; Van der Vaart debate, while Tottenham rumours simply out to stir the mix.
We also look at the best Spurs articles around the web this week.
*
Spurs finally unearth the complete midfielder they crave
Where do Rafa van der Vaart and Spurs go from here?
Fingers to be pointed at White Hart Lane
Injury saves Tottenham a transfer circus this summer
Why Tottenham have handed it on a plate
Harry and Arsene on transfer alert as a fire sale looks likely
These Tottenham rumours simply out to stir the mix?
Bad attitude or badly treated at White Hart Lane?
Harry and Tottenham should keep the £12m and shop elsewhere
Why White Hart Lane provides him the best platform at this juncture
* Best of WEB *
Clutching at straws – Spurs Musings From Jimmy G2
Slip Sliding Away – Tottenham On My Mind
Ain’t no pleasing you – Dear Mr Levy
The conundrum of the football manager – Martin Cloake Online
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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will remember one autumnal week in 2010 for many years to come. It started with the England international stating that he needed to leave Man United and ended with an extraordinary u-turn in the form of the signature of a new multi-million five year contract. What happened in between may well be long gone but it definitely hasn’t been forgotten and as a result Wayne Rooney still has plenty of bridges to build at Manchester United.
We all know that football fans are incredibly fickle, but you can’t just flick a switch and pretend that something didn’t happen. A small number of Manchester United fans showed their feelings by protesting outside Rooney’s house in that extraordinary week, but will they be singing Rooney’s name when the striker next takes to the field at Old Trafford? I’ve no doubt that the majority of the Man United fans will get right behind Rooney, but so far it’s what hasn’t been said rather than what has that we should stand up and take notice of.
At the Britannia Stadium on Sunday as Manchester United battled past Stoke in an enthralling Premier League encounter, and it was silence from the United fans as far as the name of Wayne Rooney is concerned. Rooney never left the lips of the away fans, who are renowned as being die-hard followers of United, that day. I don’t think too much should be taken from this, the fans didn’t show their dislike for him but neither did they support him; it could be read as a silent protest if you like against Wayne Rooney’s actions.
As far as Rooney’s Manchester United teammates are concerned, they have unsurprisingly got behind the striker. Gary Neville told BBC Sport that “It will take time to settle down but once it settles down and time heals he will go on to have a great career and win trophies here.” While Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson won’t have enjoyed playing second fiddle to Rooney, Roo was quick to show his appreciation for Fergie by calling him a “genius” and the Scot will be happy to have the United number 10 for the rest of his Old Trafford tenure.
So Rooney’s United teammates are right behind him, and I’m sure the Red Devils’ fans will take a similar stance in the near future if they haven’t already, but what about the rest of the footballing world? As PR expert Max Clifford rightly stated, “if Wayne Rooney cares about what people think, he has got a lot to do over the next two or three years.” Many football fans already think that the lack of loyalty of footballers these days is disgusting and while Rooney said he wanted to leave Old Trafford due to a lack of ambition, when United Chief David Gill offered him significantly more money he didn’t turn it down, did he?
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Wayne Rooney has said that he always wanted to stay at Manchester United and we’ll never know whether it was purely his agent Paul Stretford who was hankering over more money or not. One thing you can rest assured will happen is that as soon as Rooney hits some form fantasy football players up and down the country will be transferring him into their team. And what about United fans? Well, if Rooney nets the winner at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday the 10th November you can guarantee that all will be forgotten.