Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona has revealed Alejandro Sabella is the favourite to take charge of the national team.Sabella was expected to arrive in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday ahead of pre-season after being appointed Al-Jazira’s new boss in June.
But the 56-year-old failed to turn up, infuriating the Abu Dhabi outfit and adding to speculation that he had been lined up to replace Sergio Batista as Argentina coach.
Batista left his post on Monday after failing to lead Argentina past the quarter-finals of the Copa America.
Grondona revealed former Estudiantes manager Sabella had been in talks with the AFA over the Argentina role, and also distanced himself from speculation Carlos Bianchi was also in the running.
“I do not think the appointment of Sabella will cause criticism in Argentine football,” Grondona told Radio Rivadavia.
“I went to get (Bianchi) twice after the 1998 World Cup in France and he said no.”
“Then he made some remarks I did not like. He said things that make it very hard for us to see eye to eye.”
When these clubs last met back in October, the Baggies went into the fixture with a real opportunity to embed themselves in the European seats at the top of the league, and Blackpool were without a home win since Sean Connery last played James Bond.
Whilst it would be unfair to say that things have gone all wrong for Roberto Di Matteo since his bright introduction to Premier League life, he will be desperate to secure a home win here to silence the whispers of a relegation battle in the weeks ahead.
Blackpool keep getting stronger. After coming from behind to beat Liverpool in mid-week, Ian Holloway’s men are looking more and more assured of top-flight football next season- a stunning achievement. There have been a few rumours circulating about the future of club captain, Charlie Adam, however Holloway has looked to douse speculation linking the influential midfielder with a move, labelling bids received so far as “disgraceful.”
It might be easy to get carried away and back the Seasiders to get another good away win on Saturday. Do not, however, underestimate how big this fixture could be in defining how the rest of the season plays out for the hosts. I fancy them to nick it.
When Luka Modric used the outside of his foot to whip a majestic cross over the entire Spanish defence to his compatriot Ivan Rakitic in Croatia’s Group C game against Spain, Spurs fans must have been hoping that nobody was watching.
Looking on as your star players perform well at international tournaments is always a bittersweet occurrence, especially when you’ve just missed out on the Champions League and said player has got the itch.
The prospect of Modric remaining in north London, whilst still a possibility, appears unlikely considering the departure of Harry Redknapp, his desire to play in Europe’s top competition and a host of suitors knocking at his door.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid have all been credited with an interest and it’s not hard to see why. Despite the added competition the price is not thought to be as high as it was last year when Chelsea had a £40m bid rejected. Times have changed, Redknapp is gone, Modric’s Croatian team-mate Vedran Corluka suggested that the playmaker could leave and Spurs have the chance to take that money and reinvest it.
However, the problem for Spurs runs deeper than just Modric. There are also rumours that Rafa van der Vaart could be tempted by a move to Schalke to meet up with former boss Huub Stevens. Stevens expressed his desire to work with the Dutchman again and with the Spurs midfielder now 29 he could be open to one last big contract, especially as Schalke are in next year’s Champions League. The former Ajax, Hamburg and Real Madrid man did state that he was willing to stay at Spurs for another year but that was before Redknapp was sacked.
Parker is now 31, with a history of injury problems and is bound to return from Euro 2012 physically exhausted – Tottenham have some difficult decisions to make. Whilst Spurs are lucky enough to have excellent back up to the first team in Huddlestone and Sandro, without the attacking flair of van der Vaart or Modric the midfield would lose some of it’s cutting edge.
This is clearly a crucial time for Spurs. To miss out on the Champions League once or twice can be excused by the players but if they fail to break in to the top four this year the exodus of certain players could begin. Modric was crucial to Spurs’ early season form last year and Tottenham have to decide whether to cash in on the Croatian now or hold to him to his, quite lengthy, contract for another year or two.
It seems somewhat ironic that Spurs, who have so enjoyed, and in fact benefited from Arsenal’s demise in the past decade should now begin to experience some of their rivals’ problems. The prospect of losing your best players is a biannual occurrence for the Gunners as each transfer window brings new rumours. Unless Spurs’ fortunes begin to change, they too could see the vultures circling.
The difference between the two north London clubs is that Arsenal have Champions League football and Spurs have their players tied down to much longer contracts. The problem for Daniel Levy is whether or not an unhappy Modric, held against his will, would perform as well as he has over the past two seasons, especially without the man management skills of Redknapp.
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There are positives for Tottenham fans however. Just as other clubs may be using the European Championships as a shop window for Modric, so too can Spurs look for a replacement. Dzagoev and others have impressed in Poland and Ukraine but just as in their pursuit of a manager, Tottenham need to act fast. Lessons can be learned from Arsenal’s nightmare summer of 2011 in which they dragged their transfer business out until the last day. Spurs must ensure that the mistakes of their rivals are not repeated.
Kenny Dalglish’s focus on improving Liverpool’s midfield this summer has seen three new midfielders arriving at Anfield already. Jordan Henderson, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam join nine senior midfielders on Merseyside and whilst they will no doubt be a clear-out of some of the existing unwanted players, is variety in the midfield a selection headache for Kenny?
One of the clichés of modern football is that it is a squad game, the ability to give a rest to the tired and freshen up the team if things are not going your way. Liverpool’s small squad was often stretched last season and Dalglish has clearly recognized the need to add more bodies in the midfield.
Henderson, Downing and Adam join Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles, Joe Cole, Maxi Rodriguez, Jay Spearing, Lucas, Christian Poulsen, Jonjo Shelvey and Alberto Aquilani as Dalglish’s senior midfield options. I wouldn’t be surprised if a handful of these are sold (the obvious candidates being Cole, Poulsen and Aquilani) but that still leaves Dalglish with a variety of choices in the middle of the park. He will also have various young academy players pushing for a breakthrough, though their opportunities could be limited as Kenny continues to invest.
The rumoured departure of Meireles is a perplexing one. Whilst he has confirmed that he is looking to stay, interest in his services has been building all summer. The Portuguese midfielder enjoyed an impressive first season at Anfield and whilst Henderson and Adam play in similar positions, Dalglish should keep hold of the former Porto man. If Dalglish is looking for variety, Meireles is the perfect player to have amongst your squad.
With a lack of natural width Dalglish’s tactics have often concentrated on the centre of midfield, where the likes of Lucas and Spearing can sit and hold whilst Gerrard, Dirk Kuyt, Maxi and Meireles offer support to the strikers. In this respect Dalglish has made two perfect acquisitions with the creativity and energy of Henderson and the passing range of Adam adding to the Reds’ midfield. But all these options may cause some sleepless nights for Dalglish as he works out how best to fit his new big money stars around the established squad. Henderson’s £20 million price tag means he can’t simply be a squad player whilst Adam’s ability would be wasted on the bench. Dalglish must find a formation that suits Liverpool’s style of play and balances their attacking guile and defensive responsibilities.
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But whilst Dalglish has a variety of players for one position, a lack of width always hindered Liverpool. Maxi and Kuyt are crucial players for the Reds as they can occupy the flanks but neither are your typical running at defenders wingers. Liverpool’s capture of Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing will address that problem. In Downing Dalglish has a player that is willing to run at defenders down the flanks and deliver the telling crosses for the likes of Andy Carroll.
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Dalglish’s summer transfer policy has meant that the Liverpool boss has plenty of variety in midfield and whilst balancing all these players may give Dalglish the occasional headache, it is a headache worth having in the Reds’ push for success next season.
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Southampton’s new young prospect Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is attracting the interest of Premier League clubs Liverpool and Arsenal according to reports.
Oxlade-Chamberlain will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Southampton graduates Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale who have gone on to experience success at both a domestic and international level.
The St Mary’s youngster, who joined the Southampton academy when he was seven, is a strong, versatile player who can play across the midfield or even as a striker.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal could both provide a good destination for Oxlade-Chamberlain should be opt for a move in January. Arsene Wenger has a good record of developing youngsters through the Arsenal academy with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere all around the first team this season. While Liverpool have also proved lately that they are dedicated to developing youth by bringing in Jonjo Shelvey and Danny Wilson over the summer.
A source from Southampton has tried to ward off any suitors by apparently saying that Oxlade-Chamberlain won’t be available on the cheap: “A lot of the big clubs are watching Alex but it will take serious money to get him,”
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Southampton manager Nigel Adkins has been keen to shield Oxlade-Chamberlain from too much publicity, but after scoring five goals from 11 appearances and earning an England U-18 call-up, this season he has suddenly become the newest hot property.
It was billed as the biggest game in Premier League history. For Manchester United it turned out to be an evening to forget. Monday’s demoralising loss at rivals City not only handed their rivals all the bragging rights but virtually presented them with the Premier League trophy. United appeared to be overcome by the occasion turning in a timid display that had Sir Alex Ferguson fuming as he almost came to blows with Mancini on the touchline. It’s not often that Ferguson rises to the mind games of his managerial counterparts but the Italian clearly irked him enough to spark confrontation. For once in his career the 70-year-old was on the losing end of his famed psychological scuffles. Reclaiming top spot won’t be an easy feat for the Red Devils after providing City with a massive boost of momentum with two games remaining. The war of words between Ferguson and Mancini over who has the easier run-in is akin to a meaningless schoolyard spat. Maximum points from Swansea and Sunderland is require to give United a fighting chance.
This week on FFC debate has arisen over whether Wayne Rooney should have been the incumbent of a top end of season award and Hernandez puts his contemporaries to shame.
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Best of FFC
Should Rooney have been given the nod?
When Did Play-acting Become Fashionable in football?
The Top TEN Manchester Derbies of all time – VIDEO
Deep rooted personnel – how would they ever leave their clubs?
Javier Hernandez puts his contemporaries to shame
Fergie keeping tabs on Icelandic ace
Has this January transfer window myth finally been dispelled?
‘The Final Countdown’ – The Football Coffee Break 11
5 ways for Manchester United to stop City
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Best of WEB
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The Complete Waste Of Phil Jones – Red Flag Flying High
“For me it is just another league. For the supporters it is special.” – The Busby Way
We Shall Not Be Moved? – Some Ramblings – 7Cantonas
Hope and despair – United Rant
“That doesn’t mean to say I’m bitter and twisted towards Man United” – The Busby Way
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Is The £7m Rated Kagawa Really The Right Man For Sir Alex? – Transfer Tavern
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Quote of the Week
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“I don’t think we have easy games. If you go to Sunderland on the last game of the season, with the support they have and the manager they have got, you don’t expect an easy game and the way Swansea has played this season has been admirable. City have got two games left. If they win their two games they win the league.” Sir Alex Ferguson hits back at Roberto Mancini’s claim that Man Utd have an easier run in that title rivals City
Mexico and Honduras have qualified for the semi-finals of the Gold Cup after both won their last-eight matches on Saturday.Mexico had to work for their place in the last four as they came from behind to defeat Guatemala 2-1 in New Jersey.
Carlos Ruiz’s fifth minute opener gave Guatemala a shock lead, and they were able to hang on to their advantage until half-time.
But after the break, Mexico looked a different side and a half-time change from manager Jose de la Torre paid almost immediate dividends.
Aldo De Nigris had been on the pitch for just two minutes when he found the back of the net and the goal energized Mexico, who looked like they would go on from there and notch the victory.
Guatemala did push them hard, but a goal just after the hour-mark from Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez decided the contest and saw Mexico reach the semi-finals.
In the day’s other match, a 4-2 penalty shootout victory for Honduras earned them progression against Costa Rica after their match finished 1-1 after extra time.
After a goalless first half, the eventual winners burst out of the blocks when Javier Portillo laid on an assist for striker Jerry Bengtson to open the scoring after 49 minutes.
The lead did not last long as Denis Marshall struck an equalizer just seven minutes later for Costa Rica, and they should have taken the lead with just 14 minutes left after Honduran shot-stopper Noel Valladares gave away a penalty.
But the subsequent penalty was missed by Alvaro Saborio, and he was again the villain when he missed from the spot in the shoot-out, as did team-mate Celso Borges, handing Honduras a dramatic victory.
Carlton Cole is one of the most divisive characters to grace Upton Park in recent years. Signed from Chelsea in 2006 after a journeyman existence of loan moves whilst contracted to the west London club, Cole struggled to establish himself in the West Ham side before Gianfranco Zola took charge of the team, when he began to flourish. But since the Italian’s departure earlier this year, the 27 year-old appears to have regressed, and with Cole, as well as many fans, unhappy with the state of affairs at the club, is it time for West Ham to cash in?
There was plenty of interest from Anfield for the striker back in the summer, but all advances were respectfully declined in east London. However, with Cole’s outburst that he felt he has been ‘starved’ in Avram Grant’s defensive formation, perhaps it is time for West Ham to listen to any overtures for the striker in January. After the Liverpool game Cole said;
‘That was diabolical. We didn’t even turn up. We had lost the game in the first 10 minutes, psychologically anyway. I had just one cross. Apart from that I had nothing and, as a striker, that’s starvation, that’s famine. What am I supposed to work on?’
With Cole clearly frustrated with his manager and team mates, Avram Grant rather surreptitiously laid the finger of blame squarely at Cole;
‘Some players, when they don’t perform well and are a little bit disappointed with themselves, say some things,’
So with life running anything but smoothly at Upton Park, dissenting voices are the last thing the club needs, and as chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan are all too willing to note, the club’s finances are also not in great shape. With Cole’s price-tag apparently being around £10m in the summer, if those kinds of offers come in for the striker in January, West Ham surely won’t be able to resist.
After grabbing a couple of goals in the demolition of Manchester United in the Carling Cup last week, Cole once again came to the fore, but perhaps only served to up his asking price in January, especially after once again disappointing, and looking vaguely disinterested, having been given a starting place ahead of Frederic Piquionne in Sunday’s match against Sunderland.
All these factors conspire to leave the door wide open for a January exit, and judging by the mood of some around Upton Park, there won’t be too many tears if he goes.
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In one of their most difficult challenges of the season, Middlesbrough pulled off the unthinkable as they managed to beat automatic promotion chasing Southampton.
So with Championship teams heading into the final league game, there is still a possibility of Boro reaching this year’s play-offs after all.
Who would have thought it? Well, definitely not me. In my previous blog I had completely lost faith in Boro. I wrote about how our season was definitely over and that the Saints would be sealing their second consecutive promotion with a convincing win over us. I couldn’t have been more wrong, which has left me eating my words.
It did seem like it was all going to go to plan for Southampton when Billy Sharp found an empty net to put the Saints ahead after just forty-six seconds. But Boro obviously hadn’t read the script. A first home goal for Nicky Bailey and a perfectly placed free-kick from Merouane Zemmama in the 77th minute gave us a 2-1 win – ruining the promotion party for the 3,000 travelling fans, as well as handing Reading this year’s Championship trophy. Our late kick-off, Cardiff’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United and the pressure resting mainly on the Saints was a good mix that enabled us to pull off this result – keeping us within reaching distance of the top six.
As it stands, Boro are currently seventh with 70 points and Cardiff City sit in sixth with 72 points. It is a simple situation – the last play-off position and a chance to play West Ham or Southampton will go to either us or them.
The Bluebirds obviously hold all the cards at the minute and it is in their hands to throw away as anything but a loss away to Crystal Palace guarantees them their third consecutive play-off spot – unless they draw and Boro win 10 – 0 away to Watford. I am confident we will win our game so most of the focus will be on proceedings at Selhurst Park. The cliché pre-match quotes are already doing the rounds that “Palace is a hard place to visit” and that “they are a tough team to beat”, but I just think Cardiff are too experienced in this league to throw this opportunity away. However, I was convinced we wouldn’t beat Southampton so what do I know. Anything can happen on Saturday and it is definitely going to be one of the most nerve-wracking and nail-biting afternoons in recent years for us.
The victory over the Saints really was a fantastic and morale-boosting win for the Boro, especially with the Sky Sports cameras watching, and it has left fans full of optimism. The atmosphere at the Riverside during and after the match was electric.
Fans were in full voice throughout the game, with the chants “stand up if you still believe” and “with Tony Mowbray we’re going up” ringing from stand to stand. I haven’t seen the home supporters react like that for a long time and although we are the underdogs this weekend, there seems to be a genuine belief around Middlesbrough again. Not only for the Watford game but also for next season already. This was a huge contrast to the previous match after a bore draw with the worst team in the league, Doncaster Rovers, left fans, including myself, very angry and frustrated.
Regardless of the outcome at the weekend and whether or not we actually reach the play-offs, Boro have given a good account of themselves this season, despite the slide during the past month or so. We have genuinely challenged for the top six in one of the most unforgiving and competitive leagues in the world, so to still be within touching distance as we head into the final game of the season is very respectable, especially after our past few seasons.
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Looking forward, we have a great local chairman and manager who both have the interests of our club at heart and we are obviously moving in the right direction. I am positive we will continue to improve next season and that the fans will soon celebrate promotion back to the Premier League. But for now there is just the small matter of sixth spot to resolve – come on Crystal Palace and up the Eagles.
have kickstart their spending this summer with a double deal for Phil Jones and Ashley Young. It is a real signal intent from Sir Alex Ferguson who is looking to build what will arguably be a strong youthful legacy at Old Trafford.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes Da Silva twins coming of age; expecting nothing less than Paul Scholes, the ideal solution to the Nani problem.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this week.
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Is this really ‘The Greatest Premier League XI’ of all time?
Da Silva twins coming of age at Old Trafford
FIVE reasons I’m excited about United next season
Not the kind of signing that Manchester United need
Would you expect anything less from Paul Scholes?
What does the season hold for United’s Youth?
The ideal solution to the Nani problem?
Manchester United’s REAL transfer priority at this moment?
Does Fergie’s transfer policy signify intentions?
*Best of Web *
36 days later – United Rant
Evolution is all part of the game at Old Trafford – The Busby Way
Already Plus One To Sir Alex Ferguson And Manchester United – The United Religion
Off Topic: Countries’ Playing Styles – Who has the best Philosophy? – Expertise on United
Will United’s Talented Youngsters Go To Waste? – Red Flag flying High
Clichy: If You Only Think About Money Then You Join City – RoM
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