Rangers extended their advantage atop the Scottish Premier League to four points with a 4-0 win over Hearts on Saturday.Rivals Celtic will play Kilmarnock on Sunday and a win would close the gap back to one point with both sides on equal games.
Three first-half goals set Walter Smith’s side on their way before a comfortable second half at Ibrox.
It took 23 minutes for the hosts to break the deadlock as Croatian attacker Nikica Jelavic struck low through Hearts goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.
In the space of five minutes just before half time, Rangers took the game away from their opponents.
Attacker Kyle Lafferty was played behind the defence after strong work from Steven Whittaker and he made no mistake with a neat finish.
Steven Davis made it three a minute before half time when he headed home a deflected cross from Greg Wylde.
Hearts were reduced to 10 men on 62 minutes when a poor challenge from Eggert Jonsson saw him shown a straight red card.
Midfielder Ryan Stevenson was unlucky to find his own net to wrap up the scoring seven minutes before the end.
Hearts are five points clear of fourth-placed Dundee United, who recorded a 4-0 win over Motherwell thanks to a hat-trick from striker Jon Daly.
After dominating the majority of the first half, United had to wait 36 minutes to find the opener through Daly.
But they only had to wait seven minutes for a second as Daly headed home to complete his brace before half time.
A fine volley saw him get his hat-trick early in the second half before Keith Watson made it 4-0 two minutes from the end.
Motherwell sit in sixth, three points adrift of Kilmarnock.
In the relegation play-off group, Hamilton Academical moved within three points of safety with a 1-0 win over 10-man Hibernian.
Dutchman Nigel Hasselbaink scored the only goal of the game seven minutes before half time to extend their unbeaten run to four games, while they benefitted from the dismissal of Hibs defender Francs Dickoh.
St Mirren are only three points clear of the Accies, but hold an eight-goal better goal difference after they lost 1-0 to Inverness.
Terry Butcher’s Inverness were reduced to 10 men in the 71st minute when Russell Duncan was sent off for retaliating to a challenge from Lee Mair, but that did not stop Adam Rooney coming off the bench to score the winner in the 85th minute.
Elsewhere, St Johnstone maintained the pressure on them with a 2-0 win over Aberdeen.
Carlos Salcido showed enough on his debut to confirm he will be a big hit with Fulham, according to manager Mark Hughes.
The Mexico full-back made his debut during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers and made an immediate impression after providing the cross for Clint Dempsey's second-half equaliser.
The 30-year-old defender arrived at Craven Cottage in a £1.6million deal from PSV Eindhoven towards the end of the summer transfer window.
"I was really pleased with Carlos' debut against Blackburn," Hughes told the club's official website.
"He hasn't had a lot of time with the team in training but obviously he very quickly understood what the game was about after a nervous couple of minutes.
"He looked like he was really enjoying himself at the end of the match and produced a great ball for the equaliser.
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As the ever crazy January transfer window rolls on, there is one player who should seriously be turning heads in England, yet despite a few tepid links not much has been done. This player is Real Madrid fringe player Esteban Granero, who at 24 years of age just wants to play football and is finally willing to seek a move away from the Bernabeu to do this.
Granero possesses a great many attributes, and can provide an attacking flare from the middle of the park, or even play just behind the central striker. Add to this an engine that never seems to stop, not to mention a very impressive work rate and you have a player that seems a steal for around the £8 million Real Madrid are willing to let him go for.
The player has so far been linked with Liverpool and Arsenal, and judging from what both have displayed this season, the purchase of Granero is not something that is beyond the realms of possibility.
It is also possible that Real would consider a loan deal for the remainder of the season with the option to buy in the summer, as the player features in Mourinho’s plans about as much as losing yet another Clasico does.
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Liverpool who are enjoying somewhat of a renaissance under King Kenny are still struggling at home and it is this that will see them miss out on a top four spot if things do not change fast. With the addition of Granero, they would add some much needed fire power in the middle of the park, and legs willing to do the running and cover behind inspirational skipper Gerrard when he makes those frequent bursts forward.
The Merseyside club have been strongly linked with Granero in the last few days, with the player’s agent stating that Liverpool was a possibility, yet with the player and manager so keen to move Granero on, the January transfer window may come slightly too soon for Liverpool who are thought to want to wait until the Summer for the sought after player.
One club who are more than in need of someone like Granero to bolster their squad is Arsenal, who despite the return of Henry still look lacking at times- their recent away game at the liberty stadium being a prime example of this – and have lost players to the African cup of Nations to boot.
Although the player prefers to start in a more advanced position, he is the very definition of versatile, and is well capable of filling a defensive role in the middle of the park – and possesses a wicked shot on goal. Granero could be just the type of versatile player that Wenger needs, and has both the youth and experience to make a real impact for the Gunners. Granero also has a determination about him and a physicality that would not go a miss in the Arsenal midfield.
It would be a mistake for clubs and fans to discount Granero due to the lack of playing time he has under Jose Mourinho when essentially their squad is the best in Europe and Granero is just not fancied by Mourinho. What could be Real’s loss should, if they have any sense about them, be either Arsenal or Liverpool’s gain.
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Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez has been boosted by the return of Maynor Figueroa ahead of Saturday’s game with Everton.Figueroa has missed the last two games with a suspension and Wigan conceded five goals in the defender’s absence.
And the manager believes the Honduran’s return has his squad fighting for places in the starting 11, a good sign as Wigan battle for their Premier League survival.
“You can see that competition and desire in the training ground,” Martinez said.
“Our biggest asset is the competition for places because we have a fully-fit squad and everyone is desperate to play a part.”
“That is where we need to carry on with the same focus and concentration and just making sure that we do everything we can in the next four games.”
Wigan have been near the foot of the table for most of the season but Martinez thinks that could turn out to be a positive thing.
As they have been struggling for so long, he thinks the players will not panic as the season draws to a close and that composure could be the thing that keeps them safe.
“I think it is nothing different for us because it is not like all of a sudden we have found ourselves in this situation,” Martinez said.
“We have been dealing with this situation for the last six months so from our point of view nothing changes.”
“I think we have found a very consistent level of performance in the last 10 games so in that respect that is all we need to do: carrying on with our level until the last game of the campaign.”
“Playing at home we really feel the support from the fans really helps us to perform to the best of our abilities.”
“We are really excited for Saturday knowing that Everton are a very experienced side, they are very competitive and unless we are at your best we will not be able to compete against them.”
With James Milner having finally departed to Man City for £16m plus Stephen Ireland, who went in the opposite direction, it would seem that the most obvious transfer of the summer has finally taken place, so while attempting to stay in the same vein, here are the 5 most obvious transfers yet to happen that spring to mind and their chances of going through before the end of the transfer window rated and assessed.
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1. Javier Mascherano – to Inter Milan/Barcelona – It’s been well documented that the fiery Argentine is on the lookout for a move elsewhere for family reasons, after his wife reportedly refused to settle on our fair shores, but the Liverpool board’s prerogative, as well it might be, has been not to baulk in the face of interest valuing the player at significantly less than themselves. Hodgson has repeatedly stated that unless the club’s £25m valuation is met with, then he won’t depart and for a player who’s undoubtedly the best at performing his role in the world, it seems a fair price.
With former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez now at Italian champions Inter Milan, and the Liverpool player already effusive in his praise of Benitez before conceding that he’s already started learning Italian in preparation ahead of the proposed move, the fee remains a stumbling block and Inter seem unwilling to part with their hard earned for anything more than £20m.
Barcelona have chased around all summer like a desperately scorned ex-lover, for the signature of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, but to no avail, and with the club stating, despite their debt problems, that they have at least £40m burning a hole in their pockets, it would seem that with the departure of Yaya Toure on a ludicrously hefty deal to moneybags Man City this summer, that a move is all but assured, especially considering their strong interest in Mascherano last summer.
Reports that Mascherano had been left out of the club’s Europa League tie at home to Turkish outfit Trabzonspor, because a deal is imminent appear to be extremely wide of the mark, as the player in question picked up a calf injury in the home game against Arsenal on Sunday, but a deal, if the valuation is met, which by Barca it might well be, still looks close, despite Liverpool’s admirable stance.
Chances of move to Inter 5/10, Chances of move to Barcelona 7/10
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2. Shay Given to Arsenal/Fulham – All summer it looked as if Shay Given would remain as Man City’s number one and that despite rapid progress in returning from his shoulder operation, that Joe Hart was merely keeping the gloves warm ahead of his inevitable usurping. But an excellent performance in the opening game draw against Spurs at White Hart Lane from Hart appears to have put a spanner in the works.
‘Sources’ close to the player have released a comment in the Manchester Evening News stating that: “Shay is confused and torn over what to do. He only joined City 18 months ago and wanted to win things after 10 years at Newcastle. But he just wants to play and he doesn’t see Roberto Mancini leaving Hart out now, even if he makes a mistake. He’ll want to stand by his man. Shay is watching the situation with the goalkeepers at Arsenal at Fulham. A loan move might be something he’d consider but he’s finding it really difficult to know what to do. The last thing he wants to do is risk his place in the Ireland team.”
While this has to be taken, not with just a pinch of salt, but rather a whole dollop, both moves do make an awful lot of sense. Everyone can see that Arsenal need a strong number one, and they have done for as long as Alumnia has been between the sticks, particularly in light of his poor efforts at being beaten at his near post by a powerful David N’Gog effort to gift 10-man Liverpool the lead at the weekend.
But Wenger seems a stubborn old goat and his one word protestation in the post-match interview after the Liverpool draw of ‘no’ when asked the question of whether he’s likely so sign a new goalkeeper before the end of the transfer window, looks likely to have put paid to any hope that the Arsenal faithful may have harboured. Like I said, it makes sense, we can all see that, but Wenger seems to have either a blind spot everyone else can see, some sort of bizarre unwavering faith in Alumnia or he has some rather uncompromising photos of Arsene, for there really can be no other reason for his continued loyalty to a clearly inept keeper’. But Wenger seems like a man of his word, and I can’t see it happening to Arsenal.
Given to Fulham has a nicer ring to it, but the knock on effect of Wenger not moving for any goalkeeper, means that Mark Schwarzer’s transfer request to get a move going again was all for nothing, and without any other side sniffing around him, he looks likely to stay, and the need for Shay Given at Craven Cottage comes to an end. It’s all a transfer roundabout, if Wenger makes a move, then I can see Schwarzer going to Arsenal and Given to Fulham, but without it, expect everyone to stay put, for now at least.
Chances of Given to Arsenal and Fulham 3/10
Continued on Page TWO
3. Robbie Keane to Villa/West Ham/Everton – I thought Keane looked nailed on to go to Villa until O’Neill’s departure, and with things up in the air over there at the moment with concerns to who is in charge, with Kevin McDonald the favourite, it looks harder to foresee what transfer deals Lerner will sanction, the Stephen Ireland deal aside.
Keane has had either a fantastic pre-season or looked slow and off the pace depending on which Spurs fan you talk to, but it’s safe to say that Keane has failed to settle back in at White Hart Lane since his return quite how he would have hoped. Redknapp doesn’t appear to be a massive fan, despite signing him back, and whether it is a loan move or a sale, Keane could leave if Redknapp isn’t continually frustrated in his search for a new striker.
Keane had a decent game when brought on against Young Boys Bern on Tuesday night, and his introduction alongside Tom Huddlestone would suggest he’s still got a role to play in Europe, but without guaranteed football at the Lane, Keane may want another loan move, this time in the full eye of the entire Premiership, as opposed to the nether regions of Scotland, to display his talents.
West Ham are the latest club to have reportedly shown an interest and there are murmurings of a move to Everton around, with Moyes known to be a fan, despite his Liverpool connections. West Ham would probably be able to offer him a regular role but Spurs would be reluctant to let him leave to a rival club. Whereas Moyes, known to be in the market for another front man, with attacking midfielder Marat Izmailov on the radar at £4m, would perhaps fancy a cheaper Premiership proven man in Keane, but Villa still remain the favourites.
I can see Keane moving on loan to Villa until the end of the season as Redknapp once again delays making any real decision on the player’s long-term future.
Chances of Keane to Villa 8/10, West Ham 5/10, Everton 4/10
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4. Roque Santa Cruz to Stoke/Liverpool/Fulham /West Ham or anyone else for that matter – The media has gone into a frenzy of sorts since the new Premiership rules were announced and after it become abundantly clear that there were going to have to be several big name departures down at Eastlands as Mancini desperately tries to trim his squad. Well step right up Roque Santa Cruz, a player on the fringe of the fringes at Man City, and a baffling signing in the first place from former manager Mark Hughes for a whopping £17.5m considering the other options available in his squad.
The move was always doomed to failure, as City simply have far too much money at their disposal for Santa Cruz to ever be a regular starter, he’s simply not big enough a name for them, and with the arrival of Roberto Mancini and his favourite Mario Balotelli from former club Inter, with the new striker already off the mark, there looks to be no return.
Prior to his move to City, Cruz struggled with injuries all season in 2008/9 as he failed to build on a successful debut season in England’s top flight, and he’s been blighted by them in his time at City too. The proposed exodus at City has taken place, but instead of the high profile transfer deals, sensibly by my reckoning, the majority of players have been allowed to leave on loan and that’s exactly the sort of move that’ll benefit Santa Cruz.
The teams in for his signature are supposedly Fulham, Liverpool, West Ham and Stoke. I personally can’t see the West Ham move coming off, but the links with Liverpool and Stoke have been strong all summer, and perhaps they’ve just been waiting to cash in on City’s desperation all summer with a significant lowering of the loan fee.
Stoke boss Tony Pulis has hinted at a move for a player of Cruz’s pedigree by stating that he “wants to shake things up” at the Britannia Stadium, whereas Liverpool desperately need another striker added to their squad. Fulham have come into contention solely down to Mark Hughes’ arrival as Fulham manager and I’m afraid you’re going to see a lot of this 2+2=4 sort of journalism from the tabloids over the next week or so until deadline day, but Hughes has signed the player twice before and there is a dearth of forward talent at Fulham, so it does again make sense.
Cruz looks certain to depart, like he was always destined to, injuries have of course played their part, but they were dogging him before his move to City and quite frankly, he was never going to settle in at City and become a key player. He’ll move on loan before the end of the deadline as needs must, but the team that he’ll find himself at remains hazy at best, although I’d put Stoke as the favourites fractionally ahead of their rivals just down to manager Tony Pulis’ insistence that transfer deals need to be done and done quickly. City look to be operating on a first come first served basis and Stoke seem to want him the most, so for Stoke fans he could well be this summer’s Tuncay.
Chances of Roque Santa Cruz moving to Stoke 8/10, Liverpool 6/10, Fulham 7/10 and West Ham 4/10
Continued on Page THREE
5. Liverpool Football Club to Kenny Huang and the Chinese consortium, Syrian’s and Yahya Kirdi, or anyone else that’ll take them – Okay, so technically this could be considered cheating because it’s a club, and it can hardly be considered a straightforward transfer like the others listed above, but it’s been an ongoing issue for a couple of years now, and it finally looks as if something might actually happen for once, so it deserves it’s place and that’s final.
Liverpool fans could be forgiven for hardly believing their luck the last few weeks, after the surprise arrival of Joe Cole, promising sounds from new manager Roy Hodgson, the futures of messrs Gerrard and Torres sorted out for the time being, and finally some movement on the sale of the club.
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Christian Purslow the managing director of the club has since stated that any potential takeover won’t be rushed, which does seem to contradict Kenny Huang’s consortium’s wishes to get in charge before the end of the transfer window, but it seems a wise route to take.
Rumours that Huang is ready to walk away after the deal has somewhat stalled could be nothing more than a rushing tactic to get things moving again, and he remains the frontrunner. Whoever buys the club, because of the due diligence needed for a takeover of this magnitude, it seems unlikely that Hodgson will be handed any sort of transfer war chest that the newspapers like to prattle on about day after day until at least January.
The significant RBS interest payments that will shortly need to be paid by the club do mean that Hicks and Gillett will be keen to sell before August 31st, as it makes the club a more sellable asset and attractive proposition to clients, but Liverpool fans will have to ask themselves, if Huang is getting this impatient about buying the club and delivering transfer money to manager Hodgson, while enthusiastically pleasing as it may be, if he follows his promise to walk away if a deal is not reached before the end of the transfer deadline, is Huang the real deal or simply another false prophet with grandiose dreams?
There are numerous other interested parties and a sale looks likely to happen this time around, but I remain unconvinced that it’ll take place before the 31st and a timetable of around another two months would look a lot more reasonable. I think the club will be sold to Huang, but not for a while yet.
Chances of Liverpool FC sale before the end of the transfer window – 4/10
So what does everyone else think – will Keane hang around White Hart Lane? Are there any more obvious ones that you think that I’ve missed? You know the drill, post them below.
Written By James McManus
Click on image below to see the gallery of Mario Balotelli’s stunning girlfriend
There are so many wonderful aspects to the beautiful game, which we are entertained by week in week out. Whether its a glorious goal, a wonderful passing move, or an exceptional last minute challenge, we are extremely lucky to be able to witness such enjoyable feats every week in the game. However modern day football isn’t perfect and there is also a darker side which pervades across the sport and continually threatens to ruin our enjoyment of the game.
The game has come a long way in the last few decades and whilst it still provides a great spectacle, a lot of the changes that have come into the game have negatively affected the sport. The sport is now filled with frustrating rules and aspects that threaten to ruin our enjoyment of the game. Petty rules can end up spoiling the game as we just want to see the fairest match possible. A lack of certain rules can also threaten our enjoyment of the game, as some players take advantage of this, and try in any way they can to gain an advantage for their sides. Poor behaviour by certain players is another negative aspect of modern day football and something which needs to be cracked down upon.
The game now seems overrun with certain aspects that blight matches every single week and if we aren’t careful to get a grip on some of these aspects by either changing the rules, bringing in new rules or dealing out harsher punishments for those bringing the game into disrepute, then these aspects will continue to ruin our enjoyment of the sport.
Click below to see the top 10 worst aspects of football:
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Luigi Delneri is hoping not to make substantial changes to a winning team when Juventus host Genoa in Serie A on Sunday.Juve secured an impressive 2-0 win away to Roma last week and now tackle mid-table Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino.
Veteran forward Alessandro Del Piero – who missed the Roma match – remains in doubt due to a thigh injury.
But on-loan midfielder Alberto Aquilani, who did not participate fully in training during the past week, is expected to retain his place.
“The line-up won’t be that different from last Sunday’s,” Juve coach Delneri said.
“Having seen Alessandro (Del Piero’s) condition today I don’t think he can start the match.”
“From a tactical point of view I think it will be important to have a player near (Alessandro) Matri to help him.”
“And (Milos) Krasic’s qualities were very important on Sunday, he created a lot of problems for the Roma defence.”
“(Marco) Motta is fine, as for Aquilani, it’s just a precaution. He’s tired but then he has played a lot recently for both Juventus and the national team, so we wanted to let him rest for a bit after the Roma game.”
Delneri was more than satisfied with his team’s performance during their victory over Roma and called on the players to control possession again when they take on Genoa.
“I have to say that apart from winning the match something else I’m pleased with was the quality in our attack, which not many people noticed,” he said.
“It’ simple, when we have more possession the others have less and I can breathe more, and it was something which clearly helped us.”
News that Wes Brown has decided to retire from international duty has been met with a mixture of disdain and incredulity from many both inside and outside Old Trafford.
The ‘hardest man in all the town’ has called an end to his international career after 23 caps, which considering he made his England debut 11 years ago is hardly a great amount.
Brown stated: “After a lot of thought and with a very heavy heart, I have decided the time is right for me to retire from international football.
“At the age of 30, I feel it is right for me to stand aside and let younger players come through, which allows me to concentrate on my club career.
“I regard it as an honour and a privilege to have represented my country at every level from under-15s upwards. I have always been very proud to play for England and wish them well in future tournaments.”
Brown’s decision comes just as Paul Robinson made his to also retire from England, although he stated it is more to do with being way down the pecking order than any wish to concentrate on his job at Blackburn.
While Robinson’s decision was a little surprising, after all as Robert Green showed, even a mediocre season can get you a place between the sticks for England when Capello’s in charge, Brown’s was actually pretty pragmatic.
Brown has never been a real first choice for England either at right back or centre back, due to either his injuries or having Gary Neville in his way. Since Neville more or less dropped out of the international scene Glen Johnson has emerged as the preferred choice at right back for Capello.
The world cup may well have been the final straw for Brown when it comes to England. After seemingly working his way back into the international fold under Capello, Brown was omitted even from the provisional 30 man squad for South Africa. Although he had recently returned from injury, the fact that the England manager chose to coax Jamie Carragher out of retirement and take a player who’d played a lot less football and has severe knee problems in Ledley King may well have irked the quiet defender.
Gary Neville wasted no time in questioning Capello’s decision to leave Brown out-although call me cynical I feel he may well have been having a dig due to his own omission but as with most things concerning ‘r Gary, who knows.
What amazed me about his world cup omission was that last season Brown played all his football for United at centre back and did a fine job as with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic missing large chunks of the campaign he was called into action a total of 26 times. Admittedly that hardly constitutes the term ‘mainstay’ but considering United’s defence was the best in the country and Brown put in some marvellous performances- Stamford Bridge for example- then for me he was a far better option than either Matthew Upson, Michael Dawson, Ledley King or Jamie Carragher. Like King and Carragher he has international experience but is capable of playing more than one game a week and didn’t need convincing to play, like Carragher he can play at right back or centre back but is far better in either position, and unlike Upson and Dawson he is truly world class. I know many Tottenham, West Ham and Liverpool fans may disagree but other than King, I think Brown is the more naturally gifted defender.
Regardless of whether he made it into the World Cup squad, another major factor which seems to have swayed his thinking towards retirement is Brown’s falling down the United pecking order.
When everyone is fully fit, Brown can no longer be guaranteed the right back spot that he made his own during the successful 2007-08 campaign. What is even more worrying for the ginger-ish- haired one is that even when the likes of Ferdinand and Neville are injured, Jonny Evans and John O’Shea, not to mention even Rafael Da Silva, seem to find themselves starting games with Brown often on the bench.
Sir Alex Ferguson loves to rotate his squad but certain players are pretty much guaranteed to start every game, or at least the big ones, if they are fit. Patrice Evra seldom gets rested and when he does it’s usually for an ‘easy’ Champion’s League tie or the Carling Cup. Fergie has pointed to France’s version of Leon Trotsky’s huge appearance record over the past few seasons as a reason for giving him an extra week off recently. Vidic is another defender who is only really rested when he’s either just returning from injury or it’s not a truly testing game. Ditto Rio- although if he’s fit he’ll play due to the rarity of the occasion. Brown is nowhere near this level of importance to Fergie, yet in 2007-08 he appeared more than any other United player- including Cristiano Ronaldo.
Brown knows that if he’s not careful he could find himself fourth choice right back and with the recent signing of Chris Smalling, possibly fifth choice for a centre back spot. Playing for England may not entirely prevent him from gaining his place in the starting XI but if he were to pick up an injury on international duty, would Fergie be as understanding or patient with him as Brown would hope?
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Brown has two years left on his United contract, by which time he’ll be 32 and if he wants to ensure the next two seasons at Old Trafford aren’t spent keeping the bench warm or being an important member of the reserves, retiring from international football may be a step in the right direction. United have reaped the benefits of Paul Scholes decision to retire from England as the –truly- ginger haired one is still going strong –as he showed by winning man of the match in the ‘Community’ Shield.
England and Capello may regret Brown’s decision but I have a feeling that United and the defender himself won’t, the question is will Rio be joining him?
With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
Carlo Ancelotti has stated that the ageing players at Chelsea are responsible for the club’s dip in form, and not manager Andre Villas Boas.
The Portuguese coach is under immense pressure to turn the outfit’s fortunes around, after losses to Arsenal, QPR and Liverpool in the league have them ten points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
Meanwhile in Europe, a draw against Genk and defeat to Bayer Leverkusen means that qualification to the Champions League knockout stages is not guaranteed.
Despite this, the former Blues boss feels it is the ‘old’ players who are to blame, not the manager.
“Villas-Boas cannot work miracles. This is an old team now,” the Italian told Mirror Football.
“It is exactly the same team as the one I left, with the exception of Juan Mata and Raul Meireles.
“The problem is not Villas-Boas, it is with the team that he has. Andre is young and inexperienced, but he has done well and he is talented.
“I feel Roman (Abramovich) needs to give him time to sort it out and make his ideas work.
“The problem is in the organisation and with the players – all the things that they have to change to make it better.
“Maybe he does lack experience. But they knew that when they appointed him. He needs time,” Ancelotti concluded.
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Chelsea beat Wolves 3-0 in their last game, and now travel to take on Newcastle on Tyneside this Saturday.
Since January 5, Newcastle have not won a game at home. They have collected three points just once, away at Birmingham. I am sure many people think that Andy Carroll’s departure, and a lack of replacement, is the reason for this.
When Carroll left, the remaining players must have felt a bit deflated. After he was not replaced, there must have been a feeling of, ‘well we are going to stay up anyway’ and ‘now our top goal scorer has left, let’s wait for next season’. It must have been difficult to motivate the players. Admittedly, Carroll left on the last day of the window, but if Newcastle had plans of selling, they should have brought in a new player earlier in January. Also, Newcastle could have signed a player on loan. I was surprised they were not interested in John Carew, who although is getting old still can offer a lot. But maybe Mike Ashley has his sight’s set higher, only time will tell.
Contrary to this, I don’t think Carroll’s absence has been hugely detrimental to Newcastle. I think they have actually been very unlucky in the last two months. Had it not been for last minute equalisers by Gyan at Sunderland, and Lennon against Tottenham, Newcastle would have four more points and sit above Sunderland, Everton and Bolton in the table at 7th. You can hardly say their spirit has been crushed; just look at their comeback against Arsenal.
In Newcastle’s defence, it is very difficult to sign a player in January who makes an impact in the first season. Torres has shown just how difficult it is to move clubs, mid-season. It would have been even more difficult for Newcastle to find someone from abroad to come in, settle down and start scoring goals. A panic January buy could have resulted in wasting the Carroll money.
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But next season Newcastle could be an even better team. Their midfield in particular looks strong. Newcastle fans will be delighted with the contract extension by Tiote, who has been one of the finds of the season. If you add to that players like Barton, and now the loan of Stephen Ireland, in addition to the goals of Kevin Nolan, they look very strong in the middle. Furthermore, with the exciting Ben Arfa coming back to fitness, they could even have a strong finish to this season.
Newcastle are still in need of a striker, and will no doubt look to bring one in this summer. But that is the best time to look for one. Newcastle have £35m from Carroll, and Mike Ashley has reportedly said that all that money will go back into the club. I wonder how much faith Newcastle fans have in Ashley to keep to this?
But, should Newcastle look to spend their money this summer, where should they look to spend it? Their defence at home has become a worry; they have conceded 22 goals at St. James’ Park this season, that is the fourth most in the Premier League. But Steven Taylor has been out for most of the season. His return, along with Steve Harper, should restore their defensive stability.
With their squad looking relatively strong in all areas other than attack, it would make sense to invest as much money as possible in a striker; they need someone to lead the line. If Nolan is going to play just behind the striker, like he has done effectively this year, Newcastle need a Carroll like player up front who can hold the ball up, but also contribute with goals. This type of player does not come cheap. Newcastle are more likely to find one in the summer, than they would have been in January.
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As it stands, Newcastle have hardly missed Andy Carroll as of yet. Sorry Newcastle fans, but I think this was a good decision by Mike Ashley.