Bolton manager Owen Coyle has urged his players not to get caught up in the heat of the moment as the season enters its crucial final stages.After Wayne Rooney was banned for two games following his foul-mouthed outburst at a television camera, Coyle has called for his Bolton side to remain calm despite some massive games for the club on the horizon.
Despite their lofty position of eighth in the Premier League table, Bolton are just eight points clear of the relegation zone.
They also have a massive FA Cup semi-final coming up at Wembley next weekend and host West Ham on Saturday in the Premier League
Coyle said: “It is such a passionate and emotional game – these players are not robots.”
“Sometimes that emotion can spill over but you need to be very careful and very wary of your actions.”
“The Premier League gets global coverage and everything comes under scrutiny. Whatever you do is analysed and over-analysed.”
“We know the margins we have to deal with and you just have to do your best and conduct yourself as well as you can.”
Bolton could be buoyed by the return of central defender Zat Knight when struggling West Ham travel to the Reebok at the weekend, after the 30-year-old has been sidelined with a knee injury since February.
“Zat Knight managed to play 45 minutes in the reserves the other night and came through really well,” Coyle said.
“Before that he had played every game under me. He had been outstanding in doing that and is somebody I have a lot of time for as a footballer and equally as a man.”
“He has trained now for two weeks and I felt it was important he got 45 minutes in the reserves to get his distancing and timing right.”
“He looked very comfortable and will train with the team now with a view to being involved on Saturday.”
While Knight represents a huge injury boost for Coyle, Bolton will be missing defender Sam Ricketts (Achilles) while midfielder Stuart Holden is out for the season with a knee problem.
Here is my list of the ten worst rules in football. This week, we are looking to the future at Footballfancast.com. Amidst all the opinion of which players are going to be the next big thing, I thought about how the game might be different over the next ten years because of the rules. In 2015 new FIFA fair play rules will come into play. These will look to curb overzealous club spending and try and stop clubs running at a loss.
The effects will surely be large scale. Here I look at ten other rules that I would like to see changed in the not too distant future.
Click on Gianfranco Zola to look at the top ten rulings that need to change
[divider]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Although mathematically it isn’t impossible, the likelihood of Arsenal winning the title is minimal and Arsene Wenger’s side has little more than pride to play for. The Gunners will certainly be up for the visit of United at the Emirates and a win will almost certainly guarantee automatic qualification for the group stages of next year’s Champions League.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Arsenal blogs that includes Bendtner becoming an egotistical headache; right man wrong philosophy at Arsenal, while Eboue set to lead a clear out at the Emirates.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week.
*
Would Arsenal fans really be sad to see him go?
Arsene Wenger’s ‘Greatest XI’ of all time
Arsenal set for another transfer circus, or has it simply rolled out of town?
If I was you Arsene Wenger…
Have United and Arsenal missed a transfer trick with German?
Nicklas Bendtner, an egotistical headache?
Just a case of right man, wrong philosophy at Arsenal
Arsenal’s Top TEN Celebrity Supporters
The man set to lead Wenger’s summer clearout?
Trying to understand Arsenal’s problems
Fergie gazumps old foe to £3m deal
* Best of WEB *
Arsenal’s ‘STAN’ [Eminem parody] – Gunnersphere
Arsenal miss out because we don’t do the basics – Online Gooner
Djourou On Hope, Expectation & What Might Have Been – A Cultured Left Foot
Wenger thinks things will change with more of the same…? – Le Grove
Is this the End for Thomas Vermaelen?? – Highbury House
Raising ticket prices would be grossly unfair on fans – Gunnersphere
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
[divider]
Click on image below to see Carles’s latest lady in all her glory
According to The Telegraph, Manchester United are all set to hijack Manchester City’s deal with Udinese to sign their star winger Alexis Sanchez. It has been reported that Sanchez’s agent met with City officials on Friday as they attempted to agree upon the terms that would bring him to Eastlands. Now however, United have made it clear that they too wish to sign the 22-year-old and there could be a fierce battle at hands as to who will receive his signature.
It’s believed that Sanchez is a boyhood United fan and would prefer to join the Red Devils if a deal could be agreed upon. However, City may have the financial clout that may well prove decisive. It’s too close to call just yet. At the moment it’s United’s global appeal against City’s ceaseless wealth.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]
Sanchez has been linked to both clubs for the last two-or-three months and it was originally believed that Serie A side Udinese would hold out for about £35.4m before they let go of their star player. Now however, if we believe the Telegraph that figure has plummeted to about £18-26m – a much more reasonable fee.
It still surprises me that we keep seeing United linked with big money moves for wingers. Are they really so lacking in that regard? They have Nani down the left, who for my money has been the best player in the Premier League this season (certainly the most effective) and Antonio Valencia down the right, who combines a workmanlike ethos with genuine ability and continues to impress on a weekly basis. Given that they have Park Ji-Sung and Ryan Giggs to fill in when necessary; it doesn’t strike me that the wings are a priority for United at this moment in time.
There has been much talk about the need that United have to bolster the centre-of-midfield. With Scholes on the way out, I’d agree that now is the right time to start seeking out a long-term replacement. Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder is thought to be Sir Alex’s main target in this regard, but any move for the Dutchman would be very costly for United.
It’s clear also that United can’t afford two big money moves this summer (unless they sell an important player or two) and that Sir Alex has to prioritise the central midfield over and above the wings. Whilst I’d be happy for United to bring in a cheap but talented winger (if one can be found) I don’t think it’s necessary for Sir Alex to splash that kind of cash on Alexis Sanchez.
The Chilean international is supremely talented; it’s just that United don’t have any great need of his services. If there is set to be a transfer battle between City and United for Sanchez, I wouldn’t lose too much sleep if Roberto Mancini’s side were to end up the victors.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Read more of Harry’s articles at This is Futbol
[divider]
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
Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has been cleared to play in the Champions League final against Manchester United.Busquets was found not guilty of the charge he racially abused Real Madrid’s Marcelo during last month’s 2-0 victory in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Marcelo alleged Busquets called him a ‘monkey’ during the clash, but a statement on Barcelona’s website confirmed the charge had been dropped and that the 22-year-old is free to play in the final.
“Sergio Busquets will be able to play in the Champions League final,” the statement read.
“UEFA has informed FC Barcelona that it rejected the complaint filed by Real Madrid.”
A statement on the UEFA website read: “The chairman of the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body, acting as a judge sitting alone, has today (Monday) decided to dismiss the complaint lodged by Real Madrid CF for racial abuse against its player Marcelo by FC Barcelona player Sergio Busquets in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg between the clubs in Madrid on 27 April, due to a lack of strong and convincing evidence.”
The Champions League final will take place at England’s Wembley Stadium on May 28.
A pair of first-half goals have helped Panama to a shock 2-1 win over the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday.Panama’s win means Bob Bradley’s side – who reached the last 16 of the 2010 FIFA World Cup – must at least draw with Guadeloupe in their final group stage clash to assure themselves of third position.
With two of the third-placed sides in the three groups reaching the quarter-finals and the fact that Guadeloupe have lost both of their matches, the US are still well placed to qualify.
But the US will be aware it will be potentially do-or-die in their final match, after they paid the price for beginning slowly against Panama.
Panama striker Luis Tejada tucked away a 19th-minute opener and his side’s lead was doubled nine minutes before half-time when Gabriel Gomez converted from the spot.
The US were expected to come out firing in the second half and they did, finding the back of the net in the 66th minute through Clarence Goodson.
That left the favourites with 24 minutes to snare an equaliser. But despite their best efforts, they were kept out by Panama.
In the day’s other match, Dwayne De Rosario’s 51st-minute penalty handed Canada a 1-0 win against a 10-man Guadeloupe.
The losers had defender Jean-Luc Lambourde sent off after four minutes and were always up against it, with New York Red Bulls attacking midfielder De Rosario converting his spot-kick after Stephane Zubar had given away the penalty.
Football is constantly changing and evolving. 1981 saw the introduction of three points, instead of two, in the English football league. This immediately increased the value of a win and stands today as one of the most successful and simple changes ever made o the game. All-seater stadiums were made compulsory in the Premier League from as recently as the 1994-95 season, while this term has seen the introduction of the home-grown rule aimed at protecting the national game.
Despite FIFA’s reluctance to discuss goal-line technology, the international governing body of football, alongside the Premier League and UEFA, are prepared to make changes when deemed necessary. So what changes are we likely to see in the future? Find out below….
A debt free Premier League?
UEFA has made tackling the enormous debt threatening to engulf European football their number one priority after approving new spending plans in May. By 2012 clubs must start to at least break even at the end of each financial year and a failure to do so will lead to UEFA imposed sanctions, the most severe being exclusion from European football.
The new spending regulations will have major implications on the Premier League. Portsmouth became the first club in Premier League history to go into administration, while a recent report showed that England’s top-flight clubs owe an astonishing 56% of Europe’s total debt.
Clubs will now have to spend wisely and work tirelessly to move away from the red and this can only be positive for the financial stability of English football. It could have a major impact on the transfer market over the next few years and the influence of foreign ownership and other benefactors. A debt free Premier League may be too ambitious but the initial steps taken will help protect the future of the game for years to come.
A breakaway super league?
Despite UEFA’s honest intentions for reducing debt, their severe stance on lending and borrowing could back-fire. Nine of the last ten Champions League winners are also amongst the top ten clubs in European football carrying the most debt. Manchester United are top of this list with a total debt standing at £727m, although they are closely followed by the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
UEFA rely on these major clubs to attract viewers, sponsorship and revenue and they are realistically too important to the competition to ban completely. UEFA would be left with a glorified Europa League. These clubs may also make the decision for UEFA and decide they do not need the Champions League and enter into discussions to form a breakaway league, something which has been discussed in the past between members of the now defunct elite G-14 unit.
Robotic linesmen and further rule changes?
Linesmen up and down the country will be pleased to hear that they could be replaced in the future by robots. A university in South Africa has created a programme which can learn human behavior, something which could be developed further and used to make decisions on matchday. Although, we are still undecided if they will be able to get their head around the interfering with play rule.
Goal-line technology remains the obvious potential change, however FIFA are refusing to discuss the matter and rejected a proposal from the Italian Football Federation to trail run the technology in a pre-season friendly. Global positioning systems could also be implemented to give the referee instantaneous live feedback on players and the position of the ball on the field, helping eradicate human error. A ten-minute sin-bin rule for a yellow card offence has also been discussed in a bid to deter sides from repetitive fouling.
Genetic superhuman athletes?
Players would wear their own bespoke kit designed to replace the vital fluids lost through sweating during a game. Such minerals could be incorporated into the fabric of a football kit.
Training would also be revolutionised so club’s can asses a player’s nervous system capabilities throughout a session, as well as electronic equipment which could adapt instantaneously to ensure an optimum workout. This, and other advances, will lead to players being able to cover 50% more ground than today’s Premier League players and increase speed of movement by 15%. Recovery times will also be increased by 300% through cryotherapy and magnetic therapy. Individualised pre-match drinks will also release nutrients at specific times during a game, meaning fatigue will be a thing of the past.
Stadium living and an interactive live match experience?
Newly built stadiums will be complete with villages, residential areas and retail complexes. Fans will be able to live in a campus-style compound around the ground in their own little community, for the ultimate supporter’s experience.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The match day experience will also be revolutionised with miniature monitors placed in each seat with varying camera angles and in-seat services. Food and drink will also be able to be ordered over the internet and brought to your seat. Vibrating seats could also be optional.
You can read more of my blogs HERE or follow me on Twitter.
Brazil were once a class apart, they delighted us with their stunning finishes and beautiful free flowing passing, but gone are the days of the Ronaldo’s, Ronaldinho’s and Rivaldo’s of the world. Brazilian football today is a shadow of the past, going through a transitional period, with new stars who are yet to set the world on fire.
The 2011 Copa America was the first real hurdle for this new look Brazil side and unfortunately they failed to get over it. They went out of the tournament in the quarter final to Paraguay, after a calamitous penalty shoot out, where they missed all four of their penalties. Their overall record in the tournament was less than impressive, with three draws alongside a flattering 4-2 win over Ecuador. The young and mostly inexperienced side seemed to struggle to understand how to play together as a team.
Of course winning the Copa America was never the main goal for Brazil, their focus is 100% on building up to the 2014 World Cup on home soil. However, with a lack of matches now ahead-as hosts, their only competitive matches will be in the Confederation’s Cup in 2013-times are worrying for fans of the samba nation.
The transitional period for Brazilian football, which began under Dunga, has seen them lose their glorious flair, in favour of a more industrious kind of play, with an emphasis on team play and defense. This style of play lacks the sparkle that Brazilian teams have shown in the past, and they still seem to be struggling to regain that characteristic flair that has always defined them. The fact that most of their best current players are defenders seems to say it all.
New coach Mano Menezes seems fully aware of the job in hand, to get this team at their peak for the World Cup. He has put his faith in the ability of young players, and has used the Copa America to blood youngsters like Pato and Neymar, giving them vital experience at this level before the World Cup, a move which may pay off well in the long run. However, like his predecessor Dunga, Menezes, has also placed heavy emphasis on the defensive aspect of the game, with his side based around two defensive midfielders, Lucas and Ramires, at the expense of any sort of creative spark, or talismanic figure that can push them forward.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]
Brazil have three years to prepare for the World Cup, so there is certainly time for youngsters like Neymar and Ganso to develop and build on their early promise, but the lack of competitive matches before then is a concern if they are to knit together as a team.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Come 2014, Brazil will be under the highest pressure imaginable. Anything other than a World Cup victory will be a catastrophic failure for the home nation. The home fans will be expecting glory and they will be expecting it in a style of play that they have become accustomed to. Brazil need to break away from the defensive style they seem stuck in and rediscover their traditional flamboyant football, if they are to challenge for, let alone win, the 2014 World Cup.
Let me know your thoughts on the current state of the Brazilian national team. Comment below or follow me on Twitter @LaurenRutter.
Liverpool Director of Football Damien Comolli was asked whether the Reds would be signing anymore players after the sealing the signature of Stewart Downing :
“In terms of players coming in, it’s difficult to say. I think we are going to sit down, look at the situation, see where we are, see who might leave and then we will reassess later. But we have done most of what we wanted to do.”
Considering I feel the Reds are still in need of a left back, I hope this is just a bit of smoke and mirrors from Comolli. After spending over £40million this summer already, it wouldn’t unsurprising if the Reds had exhausted their resources, but I feel if the squad is left as it is at the moment, we would not be fully prepared for an assault on the top four next season.
I think one of the reasons behind Comolli’s hesitancy about any more new signings is because of the number of players that the Reds still need to offload. I would be in the wholehearted agreement with Comolli if the focus is now put on shipping out a number of players, as he intimates in his interview with Liverpoolfc.tv:
“I’m sure there will be players going out because some players would like to play more and have more minutes. We will probably have a few loans as well, players who we would like them to develop, into the Championship or the leagues abroad.”
Certainly, the squad as it stands looks pretty unbalanced and I have seen many comments on this site jokingly suggesting that we should play 1-8-1 next season because of the amount of midfielders we have at the club. I am hopeful that come 1st September, the squad will be on the more manageable side again.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]
Still, you have to find buyers for your misfits, and this is more easily said than done. Milan Jovanovic has even been authorised by Liverpool to look for another club, and I would suspect that the likes of Philipp Degen, Brad Jones, Nabil El Zhar and perhaps Christian Poulsen will be given the same sort of authorisation over the next month too.
Question marks still remain over the futures of Alberto Aquilani , Raul Meireles , Emiliano Insua and David Ngog too, but I think it is likely the club will hang on to them until a buyer comes along with a realistic offer, unless Kenny feels he can fit them into his first team plans. Insua’s agent stated over the weekend that they are uncertain over the Reds’ plans for the Argentine, and they have been similar statements from Aquilani’s and Poulsen’s agents suggesting that Comolli and Dalglish still need to sit down and decide on some of these player’s situations.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Once these have been sorted though, I still think that a left back and perhaps a centre half are needed. Considering the Reds have made offers for Gael Clichy, Phil Jones and Connor Wickham already this summer, it suggests that Liverpool’s spending is not done yet, but if Comolli’s comments are anything to go by, offloading players is the priority for the immediate future.
Wesley Sneijder has issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to the Manchester clubs. The Dutch playmaker who scored a spectacular goal against rivals Milan at the weekend claimed that Inter needed the money and if the right offer came in then he will be sold. It remains the be seen if either Fergie or Mancini will raise to the bait and sign one of Europe’s most talented footballers.
Elsewhere in the papers Daniel Levy has condemned the weekend violence in Tottenham and vowed to help to reunite the community in any way possible; Alan Pardew vows to fight to keep Enrique at Tyneside, while Wenger insists that Jack Wilshere will not play for England.
*
United gave City a lesson in football, claims Rooney – Guardian
Riots cause concern for chairman Levy – Guardian
Tevez returns to training with City – Guardian
Wenger: Wilshere will not play for England – Daily Telegraph
Arsenal target Cahill after Vermaelen gives Wenger more worries – Daily Mail
Spurs’ striker search could be over as Redknapp targets Twente forward Ruiz – Daily Mail
Sneijder in Manchester plea – Sun
Pards will battle to keep Jose – Sun
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Barton: I can prove to Capello I am good enough – Mirror
Mancini defends Balotelli after he is branded an ’embarrassment’ – Mirror