It has been a quiet weekend on the transfer front, with most of the weekend reports focusing on the qualifying draw for the 2014 World Cup. England have avoided a potential group of death with France, although there is certainly no guarantee that Capello’s men will have it their own way with the draw.
Elsewhere Harry Redknapp has revealed his interest in Juan Mata; Paul Scholes reveals that Fergie could have kicked him out, whole Alex McLeish shows concern about the three tiered Premier League.
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Harry reveals Mata interest – Sky Sports
Capello warns England against World Cup complacency – Guardian
Lampard’s England career ‘is over’ with Wilshere set to become Capello’s main man – Daily Mail
Paul Scholes: Fergie could have kicked me out – Mirror
Goalline technology decision delayed – Guardian
N’Zogbia tells Villa team-mates: I’m here to create something special – People
McLeish concerned by ‘three-tier’ Premier League – Guardian
Ferguson denies Sneijder offer – Daily Telegraph
Show us the money! No loans or swap deals – City want cash for Tevez – Daily Mail
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John Terry: Villas-Boas must be trusted – Mirror
Redknapp plots Zamora swoop with Crouch offered in part-exchange – People
Manchester United will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to 24 matches with a positive result at home to Aston Villa tonight. It will match United’s record for top league form dating back to the late 1990s, but Ferguson will be aware that Villa can cause a threat tonight considering how close they came to victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season.
United should welcome back Rio Ferdinand and Rafael in defence, but Michael Carrick is still out with an ankle problem. The first team regulars should all be back in the starting eleven tonight considering the changes that were made in their FA Cup win at Southampton at the weekend.
Gerard Houllier will be happy to call upon super signing Darren Bent for this game, who was cup tied for their FA Cup win over Blackburn. There could also be a debut for deadline day loan signing Michael Bradley, if he is given international clearance in time. Houllier is only second behind Arsene Wenger in successive head-to-head meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Prediction: 2-1
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England coach Gary Neville has admitted that he is struggling to control his emotions on the nation team’s bench.
The former Manchester United defender took a role with the Three Lions after Roy Hodgson’s appointment, and has confessed that it is taking some time to move from the club to international set-up.
“I was quite passionate on the pitch, but on the bench, I can’t control myself,” The Daily Mail report Neville as saying.
“It’s good to have someone calming next to me, because I’m bobbing up and down like a cork really.
“Hodgson is calm, doesn’t get carried away by things, brings a great deal of humility, trusts in his players and has faith in them and I think they are recognising that he is someone they like and want to play for.
“I think that’s important and one thing about the group in this last three, four weeks, the work rate, the endeavour, the effort has been absolutely incredible.
“Even for me having played with quite a few of them, to see it from the other side is inspiring really,” he revealed
Neville will look to inspire his England team to victory as they take on Italy in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals on Sunday.
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Yossi Benayoun could be used as bait in Chelsea’s attempts to sign Luka Modric the Daily Mail understands.
The Stamford Bridge club are still in the hunt for the Croatian midfield despite Tottenham insisting they aren’t selling.
A new bid of £30 million was rumoured this week but now it seems that Benayoun could be used as a makeweight.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is a huge admirer of the Israel captain and tried to snatch him from under the nose of Chelsea after he left Liverpool last summer.
It was a season to forget for the 31-year-old creative midfielder as he ruptured his Achilles tendon and spent seven months on the sidelines.
Despite his bright pre-season performances and ability to link up with former Liverpool room mate Fernando Torres, new boss Andre Villas-Boas is prepared to sacrifice him to snare Modric.
The Portuguese coach has already stressed the importance of players who can add a fluidity and unpredictability to Chelsea’s stiff system with both Benayoun and Modric fitting that profile.
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However Villas-Boas sees Modric as the one who is more adept at playing ‘between the lines’ and is prepared to tempt Spurs with the prospect of a cash-plus-player offer.
A move to White Hart Lane is likely to appeal to Benayoun who will struggle to break into the Chelsea midfield next season and Redknapp could be persuaded to take him and let the unhappy Modric leave.
After reading Fergie’s mission impossible scouting task of finding his next three United legends.
Fergie Sets Scouts Mission Impossible (click link to view article)
I thought what makes this class of 92 trio so special? Is it that these 3 are truly United through and through, or their never ending loyalty to the club? I don’t think any player could be more Man United than David Beckham but he eventually got the boot… quite literally. Don’t get me wrong all 3 are legends in my eyes, but I wouldn’t consider any of them to be one of the best players in the world. OK Zidane said Scholes was the best player he played against so that does count for something.
Could you say that winning the FA Youth Cup in 92 was a defining moment for United, and what we would go on to achieve over the next decade and beyond? Defining for the players such as Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Beckham, Butt and the rest that went on to be professional footballers. What did Fergie see in these players at that age that he hasn’t seen in the youth players that have come through since?
We have a fantastic youth academy that over the years has created many decent professional footballers, just look at the list of footballers that play in the premiership brought through from United’s academy:
Ben Foster – Birmingham City
Paul Rachubka – Blackpool
Craig Cathcart – Blackpool
Phil Neville – Everton
Danny Simpson – Newcastle
Danny Higginbotham – Stoke
Danny Pugh – Stoke
Ryan Shawcross – Stoke
Phil Bardsley – Sunderland
Kieron Richardson – Sunderland
Frazier Campbell – Sunderland
Danny Welbeck – Sunderland Loan
Jonathan Spector – West Ham
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake – Wolves
David Jones – Wolves
Guiseppe Rossi – Villareal
Aswell as current United players:
Wes Brown
John O’Shea
Darren Fletcher
Jonny Evans
Federico Macheda
Darren Gibson
Danny Welbeck
Not to mention the many other players playing in the lower leagues, Scotland, or other foreign countries.
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Looking at the list could we already have had the new trio, but for whatever reasons, let them go? What makes United players so great, is them being ‘United’ players. At the academy in Carrington from the ages of 10 players mix and integrate with the first team, whether it’s sitting down eating dinner, seeing the physio or working out in the gym. The United way is instilled in them from a young age, brought through the youth ranks and then flourished into the first team. We should be proud to say that we have one of the best youth academies in the world, one that should be compared with the likes of the world famous Ajax youth system and the newly growing Johan Cruyff youth philosophy at Barcelona.
(click link to view) Johann Cruyff interview: Barcelona’s Soul
You could go through the list and safely say that all those players are doing well at their respective clubs, they’re all starting every week anyway. If Man United wasn’t so big, the need and demand for success wasn’t so high, could any of these players be still at United, playing well, and moving onto ‘legend’ status themselves, Possibly? Who?
I’m not just interested in United’s youth development but the development of English players, I remember the debuts of Phil Bardsley and Danny Simpson, they certainly didn’t look out of place, played well for a few games and I remember thinking this could be the end Gary Neville. But Fergie kept the faith in his ageing right back and it now looks as though one of the da Silva twins looks to be given the opportunity of fulfilling that position. Ryan Shawcross, centre half at Stoke, playing regularly and well for them, just a shame Rio and Vidic are arguably the best centre half pairing in the world right now.
The point I’m trying to make is do we have to scour the globe trying to find the next trio of legends? Look at Kiko Macheda, signed from Lazio at 16. I personally don’t think he is ‘United’ class, I know he’s scored a few goals, most notably against Villa, but when strikers score goals it can sometimes mask a players performance, and I feel that’s what happened with Macheda. Now because we signed him from Lazio, paid some compensation, does he warrant more of an opportunity than some of the other youth players? Look at Welbeck at Sunderland, playing fantastic and scoring goals, he looks like a premiership footballer. Do these players need to be moved on to become established pro’s? Is playing for United just too big of a stage for them?
We’ve created some decent footballers over the years, just unfortunate that the timing of their progression into the first team means they’re up against established world-class players. Do we have time and patience to let them progress, learn first-team football and allow them to make mistakes? I must admit I was one the many doubters in Darren Fletcher, I thought his technique was poor, gave the ball away to easily, his passing wasn’t the best, but he had a good engine, would do the ugly stuff.
He was given the chance, the time to settle in and become a first-team regular maybe even considered to be one of the first names on the team sheet. A perfect example of if you give them time and the opportunity they can succeed at ‘Uniteds’ level. After all who is likely to stick with the club and fight to the end if times ever go so tough that we weren’t succeeding? The scouser that cost over £25million or the academy product that’s been with the club from the age of 10.
One of the main reasons that the players that came through from that 92 youth team succeeded, was that all of them were thrown in together, left to develop and progress as a group, a sink or swim attitude that left Alan Hansen eating his own words. Did the winning 2003 youth team not have enough quality to be thrown in like the 92 team, or were they simply just not good enough? 14 of that squad have gone on to be professional footballers. Or has the game changed so much that taking such a risk on youth will never be done again?
So who out of the current youth players can step up? We’ve got some decent looking players coming through?
James Chester
Ben Amos
Tom Cleverley
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Reece Brown
Richie de Laet
Daniel Drinkwater
Magnus Eikrem
Cory Evans
Matthew James
Joshua King
Ravel Morrison
Oliver Norwood
Davide Petrucci
Cameron Stewart
Nicky Ajose
So to answer my question, How far should Fergie search for his new legends, not very, in my opinion. I feel Fergie might not be waiting very long to find his next ‘legends’ for the club. In fact he might have already found them. Already at the club under his nose we have Tom Cleverley, Matthew James, Ravel Morrison and James Chester. I personally think these four all have the quality and potential to be top class players for United. But as they say, potential is one thing, fulfilling it is another. It’s just whether they’re given the time to fulfil it.
Article written by Sam Hewitt at the excellent NEW Manchester United Blog ‘Red Flag Flying High’
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Mario Gomez scored 18 minutes from time as Germany began Euro 2012 with a narrow win over Portugal in a game that looked destined to end in a stalemate.
With both teams deadlocked and heading toward a goalless draw in the Bayern Munich striker popped up to head Sami Khedira’s deflected cross past goalkeeper Rui Patricio.
It will have been sweet relief for head coach Joachim Low as the tournament favourites struggled to break down a hard working Portugal team that could have snatched an equaliser late through Silvestre Varela but his close range effort was blocked by Manuel Neuer.With both teams expected to progress into the knockout phase and a wealth of talent on the field it appeared as if this would be one of the tournament’s most exciting games. But sadly it was anything but.
Despite dominating possession Germany, who were beaten finalists in 2008, failed to suitably test Patricio for much of the half with Gomez testing him once in the second minute with a tame header from right back Jerome Boateng’s cross. Portugal head coach Paulo Bento set his side out to stifle their opponents despite having Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored 60 goals for Real Madrid last season, and Nani in his attack. It worked splendidly as the German’s were restricted to half chances although they should have taken the lead in the 31st minute when new Arsenal frontman Lukas Podolski blazed Khedira’s pullback over from 15 yards.
And just Denmark’s Group B victory over Holland earlier the Portuguese almost broke the deadlock against the run of play as Pepe rattled the crossbar as Germany failed to deal with Nani’s corner with the ball bouncing on the line before being cleared. Referee Stephane Lannoy waived away appeals with television replays proving he made the correct decision. The game was crying out for some divine intervention and Ronaldo almost provided it forcing a smart save from Neuer after cutting in from the left before delivering a delicious cross that forced Mats Hummels to head behind.
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Boateng then denied the Ronaldo with a brilliant goal saving challenge in the 64th minute as the Portugal skipper looked primed to pull the trigger inside the area. It proved to be crucial as eight minutes later Gomez popped up at the other end to brilliantly steer home Khedira’s cross for his 23rd international goal and put Germany on course for all three points. They had to cling on to that advantage though as Portugal staged a late rally with Neuer saving brilliantly from Varela after he connected with substitute Nelson Oliveira’s low delivery before Ronaldo teed up Nani but the Manchester United winger saw his shot blocked by Holger Badstuber.
Aston Villa have accepted a £20m bid for Stewart Downing in a deal that will take Liverpool’s summer spending close to the £50m mark. Kenny Dalglish clearly is looking for the best of British, as he aims to restore the Reds back to their former glories.
In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that includes Patrick Viera taking up a coaching role at Manchester City; Arsene Wenger accuses Barcelona of a lack of respect, while Sneijder reportedly has agreed terms with Manchester United.
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Modric hands in Spurs transfer request – Guardian
Villa offer £7m for Parker to rival Chelsea’s shock loan swoop – Daily Mail
Villa accept Liverpool bid for Downing – Mirror
Villas-Boas was like a 12th man – Sun
QPR line up Taarabt replacement – Sky Sports
Vieira to take up City role – Sun
Liverpool striker set to join Anderlecht… on his wife’s orders – Mirror
Wenger accuses Barça of disrespect – Guardian
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Mino Raiola, Mario Balotelli's agent, claims he will remain at Manchester City for 'several years' after ruling out a move to AC Milan in the summer.
The 20-year-old Italian international striker only joined City in a £24million switch from Inter Milan recently, but that has not stopped speculation linking him with a return to his homeland with AC.
However, despite reports that Balotelli is struggling to adapt to life in England and him also being involved in a training ground bust-up with Jerome Boateng last week, Raiola has spoken out to confirm that he is going nowhere.
"Balotelli went to City and will remain there for several years. It is impossible for him to join Milan in June, almost impossible," Raiola told Telelombardia.
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"He went to City with a strong commitment to Mancini and he should thank him for his confidence. But, the fate of Mario doesn't depend on Mancini."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
England manager Roy Hodgson has announced his England squad for Euro 2012, with no real surprises in the new head coach’s selection.
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is joined by Norwich’s John Ruddy and West Ham’s Robert Green in the 23-man contingent.
As rumoured in the press over the last 24 hours Rio Ferdinand has been left out at the expense of controversial Chelsea centre back John Terry, whilst Kyle Walker also misses out through injury.
Glen Johnson has been included as an option for right-back, with Phil Jones seemingly as backup, but there is no place for Micah Richards.
In midfield, seasoned campaigners Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are included, as is Scott Parker despite an injury scare. However Paul Scholes has not been selected, despite reports linking the Manchester United man to be interested in coming out of international retirement.
Stewart Downing is included on the flanks, as are Arsenal duo Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but there is no place for Aaron Lennon.
In attack, Hodgson has only decided to take four strikers despite Wayne Rooney being suspended for the first two games, with Jermain Defoe, Andy Carroll and Danny Welbeck also travelling to Ukraine and Poland.
In reserve, five players including Phil Jagielka and Daniel Sturridge have been name in a stand-by list.
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Butland, Jagielka, Henderson, Adam Johnson, Sturridge.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed the club has completed a deal to sign striker Gervinho from French club Lille.The Ivory Coast international, who scored 15 goals and contributed 10 assists to help the French side to their first league title in 57 years last season, arrives at the Emirates Stadium for a fee believed to be 10.6 million pounds.
Wenger revealed the news about Gervinho as his side arrived in Malaysia ahead of their lucrative pre-season tour of Asia.
The 24-year-old has not joined his new club on the tour, but Wenger will be keen to give him plenty of time on the pitch with his new team-mates prior to the start of the season.
The Gunners reportedly agreed personal terms with the striker last month, but have spent the intervening period in talks with Lille over his price.
Gervinho becomes the second off-season arrival at the Emirates Stadium after the signing of full-back Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic, as Wenger looks to revamp his squad in a bid to end the club’s six-year trophy drought.
The Frenchman has also vowed to keep star duo Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri at the club.
There has been much speculation around the future of the pair, with both rumoured to be keen on a move away from London.
But Wenger insists he will be doing his best to keep the duo.
“Our position is always the same, we want to keep Cesc and I will fight as hard as I can to keep him,” Wenger said.
“Samir Nasri is exactly the same. We will do everything we can to keep him.”