Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants his ‘wounded’ team to bite back when they host Manchester United on Sunday.Wenger’s men were on target for a quadruple for a long period of the season, but one by one, Arsenal have fallen out of contention for each trophy.
It was Manchester United defender Patrice Evra who likened Arsenal to a wounded animal and Wenger agreed with that analogy.
“That’s what we want to show. We are certainly wounded and we have to build up the animal until Sunday,” Wenger said.
“We have been hit very hard. In fairness, I believe as well that we had an unfortunate run of fixtures because we played a run of Wednesday, Sunday, Wednesday, Sunday.”
“We missed that little bit extra that Bolton had in the decisive moments when they beat us recently and that is because of our fixtures.”
“That happened to us many times this season where the fixtures did not go our way.”
Arsenal are now nine points behind United which has taken some of the edge out of what could have been a potential title race decider.
Wenger added: “It is disappointing from that point of view. This game was targeted as being a decider for the championship but now it certainly will not be.”
“We still have to give absolutely everything and you never know if we beat United, it would come back to a six point gap.”
“You never know and it is important for us to show some fighting spirit, some fighting attitude and some pride. There is more at stake on Sunday than just the mathematics.”
“We will never give up as long as there is a mathematical chance, because if that is the case we have not the right to be at Arsenal Football Club.”
Arsenal will be missing defender Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles tendon) and midfielder Abou Diaby (groin).
Barcelona may have already claimed their third straight La Liga title, but the competition for European places will be on in earnest come Sunday.Barca’s 1-1 draw at Levante on Wednesday was enough to secure Pep Guardiola’s men the title because of their superior head-to-head record against second-placed Real Madrid, and they can celebrate their win at home when they host Deportivo La Coruna.
Real have second spot sewn up but they travel to meet fourth-placed Villarreal who need to claim full points if they are to have any chance of catching Valencia and securing automatic Champions League qualification.
Although Jose Mourinho’s team have little to play for but pride, they still want to finish the season with two more wins.
“The coach has asked us to finish the league by winning our games and we will try to do that,” said star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 36 goals for the season, just two behind the all-time record of 38 set by Athletico Bilbao’s Telmo Zarra in 1951 and Real’s Hugo Sanchez in 1990.
Villarreal are five points behind Valencia and are already guaranteed fourth spot and a place in the qualifiers, which looks like their most likely path to glory with Valencia needing only a point from their home clash with mid-table Levante to be sure of third.
Most of the action centres on the tussle for fifth and sixth place, and the Europa League places that go with them.
Athletic Bilbao are in fifth on 54 points, trailed by Sevilla (52), Atletico Madrid (52) while Espanyol (49) are also still in the mix.
Espanyol travel to Real Zaragoza, who need a win to escape the bottom three, while Bilbao will be looking to rebound from their 2-1 loss at Deportivo on Tuesday.
Atletico have the easiest match of all four Europa League contenders, taking on the already-relegated Hercules at home.
Getafe are just one point outside the drop zone, but will have to beat an Osasuna side who are riding a hot streak of form.
Osasuna have picked up three big wins in succession – posting a 1-0 win over Valencia on May 1 before thrashing Zaragoza 3-1 a week later and then coming from 2-0 down to beat Sevilla on Wednesday.
Sporting Gijon are still an outside chance to go down, and they play host to Racing Santander, while only pride will be on the line when Almeria – who are already relegated – tackle mid-table Mallorca.
After a lengthy and somewhat confusing period of deliberation, the Football Association finally decided not to deduct points from Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers this morning. The west London side, who mathematically secured the Championship title last weekend, can now start planning for life in the Premier League after fears that the FA’s decision would have left them in the play-off places.
However, the manner in which the FA has handled this case has attracted criticism. The uncertainty created by the long wait for a verdict (which was delivered eight months after initial investigations began) meant that QPR and the Football League had to make contingency plans for the end of season play-offs. These plans would have had a knock-on effect on several other Championship clubs had they been effected.
The QPR case has unsurprisingly drawn comparisons with the Carlos Tevez/West Ham United case of 2007. Ironically, QPR manager Neil Warnock was adversely affected in that instance, as his Sheffield United side were relegated as a result of the decision not to dock West Ham United points. He described today’s outcome as a “relief”, and was spared the ridiculous scenario of effectively being punished as a third-party victim and offender of a third-party ownership breach.
With two high-profile cases decided in the last four years (with both offending parties being punished by way of a fine), the FA has now set a clear precedent with regards to breaches concerning third-party ownership. The increased media coverage on third-party ownership means that clubs should be well prepared on how to avoid falling foul of FA regulations.
Although the FA’s tendency to approach breaches of its regulations on a case-by-case basis has its merits, it must try to adopt a uniform, arbitrary response to dealing with infractions. A failure to do so would lead to further confusion and unfairness in the future, and these are things that no-one in the football fraternity would like to see again.
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Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul
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Listen to the latest episode of our award nominee podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and King Jacks! Don’t forget to help Razor and O’Reilly become award winners in the 2011 EPL Awards
Liverpool fans must be wondering what if Kenny had been appointed manager sooner as the Reds have an outside chance of a top five finish. Dalglish has performed absolute wonders at Anfield and you sense it is only a matter of time before he is given the job on a permanent basis.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Liverpool blogs that includes wondering where Glen Johnson fits into Liverpool masterplan; Kenny faces up to transfer dilemma, while Dalglish weighs up swap deal.
We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.
Young talented and local – the ideal signing for Liverpool?
Kenny Dalglish faces up to transfer dilemma
Where does Glen Johnson fit within Kenny’s masterplan?
The TEN Liverpool starlets set to breakthrough next season
Realistic transfer targets for Liverpool FC?
Liverpool’s Greatest Ever Moments In ‘Pictures’
Liverpool’s transfer ambition sways opinion?
The Andy Carroll Conundrum
Is Kenny Dalglish right to question the silence?
Kenny set to offer Cole as bait to secure deal
Liverpool success will depend on them missing out
*Best of WEB*
We are just ONE Key Ingredient away from challenging again- Live4Liverpool
Current Squads and Age-Old Issues – Tomkins Times
Could This Be The Biggest Summer in LFC History? – This is Anfield
Will Liverpool regret selling him? – Our Kop
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5 Reasons Why Liverpool Still Have A Long Way To Go – Live4Liverpool
Tottenham missed the Champions League 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 Tottenham join the £12m race; the rise of Luka Modric and Harry would be mad to take the job.
We also look at the best Spurs articles around the web this week.
*
How Championship Manager’s FINEST fell by the wayside
Spurs join the £12m race for Montenegro ace
Is he really the right signing for Tottenham Hotspur?
Sell Gareth Bale or you’re doomed to fail, Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur – The ‘unofficial’ end of season awards
Harry would be mad to take the job…wouldn’t he?
Top TEN: Tottenham should never have let him go
The ‘rise and rise’ of Luka Modric
Could Tottenham and Arsenal benefit from a little faith?
Where do Rafa van der Vaart and Spurs go from here?
Deal hits stalemate as Tottenham hold out for full price
*Best of WEB*
Life gets tedious don’ it? – Spurs Musings From Jimmy G2
Tottenham Hotspur That Was The Season That Was. The Manager – Tottenham On My Mind
Tottenham’s Got Talent and the Daniel Levy connection – Dear Mr Levy
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Harry’s game – Martin Cloake Online
A Bid Rejected, A Bid Accepted & Another One On The Radar – Harry Hotspur
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Click on Wayne Bridge’s current lady below to unveil our WAG XI of the season
A staggering 123 players were released by Premier League clubs at the end of this season in order to trim their wage bills, or to make room in their 25 man squads for next season. In amongst the players released are World Cup, Premier League and FA Cup winners, players who have played for Inter Milan and Barcelona, as well as those who have valuable Champions League experience.
With the newly promoted clubs looking to add much needed Premier League experience to their squads the players won’t be short of contract offers, with many still able to offer something to the already established Premier League teams as well.
Like all football fans out there, I love making up unrealistic ‘dream teams’, and this is my ‘Out of contract All-Stars’.
Click on John Carew to see the free agents’ who made my XI
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It has long been argued if Steven Gerrard is indeed, the greatest midfielder ever to grace the Premier League. His records and achievements over the course of his long and illustrious career speak for themselves. Often known for his leadership qualities, Steven Gerrard has been Liverpool’s saviour on many occasions over the past 13 years of his career. His attitude towards the game and hunger for success truly make him one of the greatest players in the club’s famous history.
Since kick-starting his Liverpool career back in ’98, Steven Gerrard has played an amazing total of 556 games for his club, finding the back of the net 140 times. He was awarded MBE in 2007 and went on to add countless number of trophies and personal accolades to his name.
However, for many years Steven Gerrard remained the highlight of the team – and at times, the only one. He was often burdened by the weight of expectation but never did he surrender. Most Liverpool fans looked to him to be their savior, sometimes the players too. Gerrard was Liverpool’s only GO-TO man. He often became frustrated at the lack of big names in Liverpool’s squad of yesteryears which in turn resulted in their inability to compete at the highest levels. Gerrard always walked out onto the pitch with a level of expectancy only a few could handle, and yet he played his heart out week in, week out.
When Fernando Torres joined Liverpool in the summer of ’07, he instantly forged a threatening partnership with Steven Gerrard. With Torres’ arrival, Gerrard found in him a player who thrived on pressure and willfully shared some of his burden. Soon both players began to gel. In 08/09, Steven Gerrard scored 24 goals finishing as Liverpool’s top goal scorer. That season, the world saw a new Steven Gerrard – his attacking partnership with Torres being the prime factor.
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Consequently, Fernando Torres was sold in the January transfer window of 10/11 and the 50 million pounds Liverpool received were instantly invested in highly rated Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez. Moreover, FSG and Liverpool’s rich owner John Henry splashed heavy cash in the summer on other mercurial talent such as Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing. To sum it up, Liverpool FC now has the financial backing to bring in quality players to help Steven Gerrard lift this club to dizzying heights.
To put it into perspective, Gerrard is no longer the only highlight of the team – nor is he Liverpool’s only GO-TO man. He will thrive on the huge skill capacity of Luis Suarez and his ability to bamboozle defenders at will, along with the physical presence of Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing’s ball-crossing attributes. Dirk Kuyt looks to have finally found his goal scoring boots following his move to the English Premier league from the Dutch Eredivisie after failing to make an impact on the scoring charts in the Premier League during his initial years at the club. However, Charlie Adam’s arrival at Anfield will perhaps be the signing which will benefit Gerrard the most. His vision and eye for goal is unquestionable – and as Sir Alex Ferguson said, his set-piece deliveries alone are worth 10 million pounds. Adam can fill the gaping hole left by Xabi Alonso’s departure, a feat many have failed to achieve before.
As a result, Gerrard can now play with fewer burdens on his aging shoulders. He will have the support of Downing, Kuyt and Adam in midfield and will be able to feed Suarez and Andy Carroll to devastating effect. Provided he stays fit, Gerrard will be able to play with less pressure on his mind and could very well turn out to be a high scoring season for Liverpool’s Talisman.
Hence, it is safe to say Liverpool now has a team full of match-winners – players who can share responsibilities and form a team capable of challenging for top honours. With the squad Liverpool now possess, they will pose a menacing threat to all Premier League teams and a rejuvenated Steven Gerrard could very well be the man to look out for!
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Article is courtesy of Waleed Ahmed at Live4Liverpool
It’s 1956 and the UK has found its first heart throbs of the post-war era in the “Busby Babes” – a good looking and prodigiously talented team of young football players, including young teenager Bobby Charlton (Jack O’Connell: Harry Brown, This is England) and team mates Duncan Edwards (Sam Claflin: Pirates Of The Caribbean), Mark Jones (Thomas Howes: Downton Abbey) and Eddie Colman (Philip Hill-Pearson: Shameless).Coach Jimmy Murphy, played by the superbly talented David Tennant (Dr Who) and the revered but intimidating boss Matt Busby (Dougray Scott: Mission Impossible II, Hitman) guide the club to glory after glory.
By 1958 the Babes are riding high on the crest of a wave until the scheduling of a European Cup Tie in Belgrade demands that Busby charter a special flight to return the team to Manchester in time for Saturday’s kick off. During a refuelling stop at Munich airport, the arctic weather closes in. On a third attempt at take off, the plane never leaves the ground crashing into a fuel dump. Twenty three people on board the aircraft die as a result of their injuries, including eight of the Busby Babes…
The disaster sends shockwaves around the world. While Manchester mourns its sporting heroes, the surviving players are devastated, unsure whether they will ever play again. Critically injured, Busby is riddled with guilt about his decision to charter the plane, and with no insurance on the players, the powerhouse that was Manchester United seems doomed.
With its superbly talented cast and powerful script drawn from first hand interviews with survivors and their families, United tells how the extraordinary spirit of a community rebuilt the team in the aftermath of the crash, providing a powerful tribute to a tragedy that spurred the beginning of the global legend that is Manchester United.
See the trailer below:
[youtube ZRL-gH85p18]
If you would like to pre-order a copy of the DVD ahead of its launch on August 8th then click on the link below:
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Scotland manager Craig Levein has announced a relatively inexperienced 24-man squad for a friendly against Denmark on August 10.Just four members of Levein’s squad for the match at Hampden Park in Glasgow have won more than 20 caps for their country.
Captain Darren Fletcher and fellow regulars Craig Gordon and James McFadden will miss through injury, giving the likes of Barry Bannan, Robert Snodgrass and David Goodwillie a chance to be involved.
“The most important thing just now is to win matches but at the same time trying to build up this bank of players who can help us in the future,” Levein said after unveiling the squad.
“It is a young squad but if you have a look at the recent friendly matches, we’ve tried in all of those to add a group of maybe a handful of players who I believe will be future, regular Scotland internationals.”
Scotland squad: Charlie Adam (Liverpool), Barry Bannan (Aston Villa), Phil Bardsley (Sunderland), Christophe Berra (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Scott Brown (Celtic), Gary Caldwell (Wigan Athletic) Kris Commons (Celtic), Stephen Crainey (Blackpool), Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion), James Forrest (Celtic), Matt Gilks (Blackpool), David Goodwillie (Dundee United), Grant Hanley (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur), Craig Mackail-Smith (Brighton & Hove Albion) Allan McGregor (Rangers), Kenny Miller (Cardiff City), James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion) Steven Naismith (Rangers), Barry Robson (Middlesbrough), Robert Snodgrass (Leeds United), Iain Turner (Preston North End), Steven Whittaker (Rangers), Danny Wilson (Liverpool).
After watching his side in the 8-2 thrashing by Manchester United, Arsene Wenger cut a despondent figure at Old Trafford. It was after this display that Wenger and the board realised that they desperately needed to strengthen the depleted squad. After collecting nearly £80 million of transfer fees over the summer, it wasn’t like they didn’t have the money to spend in the window.
Wenger reacted to the horrific result with three days of hectic activity, spending an estimated £30 million, before the transfer deadline came to pass. Arsenal’s team of worldwide scouts went through their intensive scouting notes and turned to a supply of options that the club have been tracking for years. By the time the transfer window closed Arsenal had a new look defence with Brazilian left-back, André Santos, and German centre-back, Per Mertesacker joining the club. In attack, Spanish midfielder, Everton’s Mikel Arteta, had joined South Korean striker, Park Chu-young, on the late arrival list, along with Israeli international Yossi Benayoun, who joined on loan from Chelsea.
Looking over the signings I think that Mertesacker is just the sort of defender Arsenal needed to sign with a no-nonsense commanding style that will provide much-needed strength to their defence. Benayoun and Arteta may be proven Premier League players but they are not in the same league as the recently departed duo of Fabregas and Nasri. Benayoun has left Stamford Bridge after being deemed surplus to requirements while Arteta has only made an average of 26 appearances during the last three seasons, a worrying statistic. The other two arrivals are both unproven players who may have featured for their respective international sides but it is difficult to tell whether or not they will make a huge impact at the Emirates this season. This is the risk Wenger is taking, by rushing through the late transfers he has gone against his usual transfer prudence and as a result they have ended up with older players on extended lucrative contracts.
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The team will certainly have a fresh look in their next Premier League game against Swansea and Wenger has instantly appeased the loyal fans by signing experienced players without really bothering about the fees and wages paid. Not only did he manage to refresh an inexperienced squad but he also shifted out some deadwood who were taking up vital wages.
While I can understand why Wenger has felt the need to sign so many players in such a short space of time I fail to see why it could not have been completed earlier in order to get better value for money. Nasri and Fabrgeas departed a full week before the transfer window closed and if Wenger would have just matched Chelsea’s offer for Juan Mata it is much than likely the former Valencia player would have ended up there instead.
Wenger was left in a difficult position after the Manchester United defeat and I that is probably why they made a late bid for Arteta and even offered him a four-year contract, despite the fact he will be 34 when it finishes. It appears quite a desperate move but I think it could out to be quite a coup as Arteta has always been regarded as a top-class performer and if he can stay fit he could be an excellent purchase by Wenger, although there is an element of risk involved.
While Ferguson and Mancini were able to sit back with a relaxing day last Tuesday, Wenger was desperately trying to secure some new recruits for his team. By deciding to strengthen so late I think he has taken a gamble by bringing in quantity over real quality. New faces were certainly required at the Emirates but by going against his own transfer policy he showed his desperation. The only way we will find out if it was the right thing to do to from their results at the end of the season.
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Let me know your thoughts and follow me on twitter @aidanmccartney for even more football debate.