Liverpool director of football Damien Comolli has stated that the club’s plans are impressing players in Europe, and that a number of big-name signings can be expected in the summer.
The Anfield outfit are fresh from winning the Carling Cup on Sunday, and are just off the pace in the battle for a top four finish.
Comolli feels the club’s reputation is starting to get back to its former days, and that the side can attract the top players from the continent.
“There’s a very positive vibe around the club across Europe,” he told Mirror Football.
“A lot players I know are very interested about joining the project because it’s a very interesting project.
“We already know that there are big players who want to join us next summer because they believe in the project.
“Everybody in Europe knows what Liverpool football club are trying to do,” he concluded.
Mirror Football indicate that Kenny Dalglish’s summer transfer targets included much-praised Lille playmaker Eden Hazard, Athletico Bilbao’s Spain international Javi Martinez and Barcelona veteran midfielder Seydou Keita.
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The age old debate, ‘club or country- who deserves the final say?’ has been reignited again this week with Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere being included in Stuart Pearce’s provisional 40 man squad for the U21s European Tournament this summer, despite Arsene Wenger warning against his inclusion fearing burnout (silly me thinking that 50 plus grand a week might now and then mean nearly a full calender year of football). Wilshere, however rightly or wrongly, has spoken out against his club manager, “I’ll never say no to England.” I’m sure you all proudly puff out your chests, let out a Three Lions’ roar and say ‘good on ya, Jack’, but surely Wilshere should consider that the team that pays his wages, Arsenal, along with Wenger, have helped mould Wilshere into the Young Player of the Year that he is, and that must warrant some appreciation of the Frenchman’s opinion.
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The last Arsenal player to be caught in the club v country saga was Theo Walcott, and this occasion Wenger was supportive of his player’s inclusion, “He is 19 and if he can contribute to the Under-21 team, why not?” But on returning from the Under 21 championships, Walcott then spent much of the next season accommodating himself with the treatment room at the Emirates; perhaps there is a case of once bitten twice shy for Wenger. With all due respect to Walcott, who has really come into his own (finally) this season, he isn’t as key to Arsenal as the feisty centre midfielder and Wenger’s reluctance to allow Wilshere to play in Denmark this summer is a manager protecting his own aspirations for Arsenal, to which Wilshere is key, and let’s be honest, why shouldn’t Wenger?
Obviously Wenger has previously thrown his toys out of the pram, so naturally there is another side to the story (even if Wenger doesn’t see it), and that is this: what 19 year old lad doesn’t want to represent his country at any level? I’m not just talking about Wilshere, I’m talking about me, I still dream of the day when Capello in his broken English says to me, “put down your pen and put on your boots”, so for Wenger to deny the young lad such a glorious opportunity is, well, narcissistic.
Wilshere has just about kept the door with the sign “England Matters” ajar, but with each ‘needed’ friendly that passes it closes just a little bit more.
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Another exciting weekend of Premiership football awaits, the highlight undoubtedly being the North-West derby between Manchester United and Liverpool.
Chelsea welcome newly promoted Blackpool to Stamford Bridge and will be looking to keep up their flying start to the season.
The Sunderland vs Arsenal game promises to be a thrilling affair and we will see if Tottenham can adapt to playing Premiership football after their travels in Europe.
Here are my predictions:
Stoke City v West Ham
The Hammers will be without their manager Avram Grant as he observes Jewish holy day Yom Kippur.
Stoke should have the wind in their sails after coming from behind to beat Aston Villa last Monday.
West ham have now gone twenty games without an away win in the Premiership and I can see it being twenty one the game at the Britannia Stadium this weekend.
My prediction: 2-0
Aston Villa v Bolton
Bolton are without suspended Gary Cahill and Jussi Jaaskelainen for this match which leaves their defence weakened.
The last three meetings between these two sides at Villa park have been high scoring victories for the home team.
This is caretaker manager Kevin Macdonalds last game in charge for Villa, before Gerard Houllier takes the reigns. The game may not be a high scorer, but I think Macdonald will end on a high note.
My prediction: 2-1
Blackburn v Fulham
Mark Hughes returns to the club where he earned his managerial trade this weekend and will be looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season following Fulham’s win over Wolves.
Fulham will still be hurting from the loss of their star player Bobby Zamora, which is a massive blow for their team.
Blackburn are difficult to beat playing at home and I can see this game ending in a draw.
My prediction: 1-1
Everton v Newcastle
Everton have had their poorest start to the season in years, securing only two points from their first four games.
They are starting to show definate signs of improvement though, following an epic comeback against Manchester United last weekend.
I can see Everton getting their first win of the season against Newcastle on Saturday.
My prediction: 2-0
Tottenham v Wolves
Tottenham will have to adapt to playing Premiership games in the aftermath of midweek Champions League games this season.
Many clubs performances can be seen to dip with the onset of a ‘Champions League hangover’.
We saw them slip up against Wigan following their last game in Europe, so could be a tricky fixture against Wolves.
My prediction: 2-0
West Brom v Birmingham
Birmingham are currently unbeaten in the Premiership and sitting at the dizzy heights of fifth in the league.
Not bad for a newly promoted team, though we know all too well from the likes of Hull that early promise can turn sour very swiftly.
West Brom have also had a decent start to the season, but I expect Birmingham will be the better team in this match.
My prediction: 1-2
Sunderland v Arsenal
Arsenal are enjoying their best start to the premiership since 2007, despite having the Premierships longest list of injuries.
They will be looking to keep the momentum going after a magnificent mid-week Champions League victory.
Fabregas looks to be getting back to his best and Arsenal will want to keep the pressure on Chelsea at the top of the league, though Sunderland won’t make it easy for the Gunners.
My prediction: 1-2
Man Utd v Liverpool
Following a spate of not so great results for United in the Premiership and Europe, Fergie’s hairdryer is sure to have gone into overdrive.
United have been unfortunate with some of their results so far this season and it has taken the shine of some otherwise very good performances.
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I think it wil be close, but United will win this one.
My prediction: 1-0
Wigan v Man City
City have had some underwhelming results of late, despite the overwhelming array of talent in their star studded squad.
Having failed to deliver in their previous two Premiership matches, this is a must win for City and Mancini to avoid coming under further scrutiny.
Wigan’s defence has major problems which will be exploited by City. I can only see one team winning this match.
My prediction: 0-2
Chelsea v Blackpool
Despite any fatigue from playing midweek in the Champions League, I expect Chelsea look to keep up their 100% win streak with yet another high scoring victory over Blackpool.
Blackpool provided a surprise result with last weekends away victory against Newcastle as they continue to exceed expectations in the Premiership, but the chances of them coming away from Stamford Bridge with any points are extremely slim.
Chelsea have conceded just one goal in their last seven games in the Premiership and I dont think they will leak any goals against Blackpool.
Tottenham winger Gareth Bale is the only player from the Premier League to make the Uefa.com users team of the year.
38,000 site visitors were polled and asked to vote for their team of 2011, with the Welsh man in high-quality company.
Bale is pleased to given the accolade, but has accredited the success of the Spurs team to his individual recognition.
“It’s great to be recognised in such illustrious company, and the fact that it’s voted for by fans across Europe makes it a special honour,” he told the club’s official site.
“But as I’ve said all along, I’m part of a team here at Spurs and any recognition I receive is down to my team-mates as much as anything that I do individually.
“The team has been playing really well and we’ve all played a part in that,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Barcelona and Real Madrid dominated the rest of the votes, claiming eight of the 11 places.
The Catalan giants had Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi included after Champions League and La Liga glory.
Jose Mourinho’s men had Cristinao Ronaldo, Iker Casillas and Marcelo selected in the dream team.
The rest of the contingent was made up by Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben and AC Milan defender Thiago Silva; Pep Guardiola was selected at coach of the year also.
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Stephen Ireland’s wretched 2010/11 campaign is over due to an ankle injury, Newcastle United announced on Wednesday.The on-loan midfielder sustained the injury during the Magpies’ 1-1 draw at Blackpool on Saturday, and scans have revealed the problem is serious enough to keep him sidelined for the remaining four matches of the season.
The news will come as a bitter blow to the former Republic of Ireland international, who was hoping to convince Toon manager Alan Pardew he was worthy of a long-term deal in the season run-in.
Ireland, on loan from Aston Villa, has managed just two substitute appearances since moving to St James’ Park in January due to ongoing injury problems.
The 24-year-old carried a knee complaint to the North East in the January transfer window, and was struck down by a thigh injury on his return to training at St James’ Park in March.
Ireland had hoped to resurrect his career at Newcastle after an unhappy sojourn in the Midlands, which ended in January after he failed to impress Villa manager Gerard Houllier.
The former Manchester City man was shipped to Villa Park in the off-season as part of the deal which saw James Milner join the Sky Blues, but he managed just 12 appearances – five as a substitute – in the Villa shirt.
The Premier League’s global popularity is unquestionable, its total income from foreign rights deals from 2010-13 inclusive will be £1.437bn, or £479m a year – four times that of La Liga, more than six times what Serie A earns annually and almost fourteen times the foreign income of the Bundesliga. So it is perhaps no wonder Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are maximising their potential with pioneering deals that could well see other clubs follow suit.
Manchester United recently announced a deal with Hong Kong-based telecommunications giant PCCW who will broadcast the club’s television channel, MUTV, in addition to making content available online, through mobile phones and its EYE2 portable media centre and the lucrative nature of such a deal could instigate a flurry of similar deals in the future.
United’s commercial director Richard Arnold said: “We continue to support the collective bargaining because it makes the Premier League incredibly competitive,”
“But there are other rights that centre around the club and players, where our access is not paralleled anywhere else. It would be very surprising not to put into place something that allowed you to communicate with fans all over the world.”
And such a deal may well open upon untold possibilities for both the club and the Premier League, as well as alleviating the debt amassed by the Glazer family since their controversial takeover in 2005.
Premier League clubs may be able to inflate their income through hi-tech media in other major countries where there is high demand for coverage and media has certainly become the lion share of ticketing, sponsorship and media.
Meanwhile, Tottenham have announced a sponsorship deal with specialist banking and asset firm Investec who will be their second sponsor for Champions League and domestic cups and this more set a trend whereby other Premier League clubs split sponsorship in order to maximise profits from shirt sales throughout the season.
Spurs fans will now have to purchase a different shirt as a token of their Champions League adventures and cutting their sponsorship cloth a different way may see a change in football shirts over the next few years if the venture is successful. Football shirts may become more like Rugby shirts with numerous sponsors on the sleeves – such is the popularity of the Premier League many companies would be more than happy to participate.
A sponsorship consultant said: “I think that other clubs may now look at ways of increasing the value of their shirt sponsorship.”
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It is highly likely that we see Daniel Levy’s clever ploy to earn more money from sponsorship around the country, the only question that would remain is whether fans would fork out their hard-earned cash on two shirts a season.
Birmingham City fans are dismayed at the lack of availability with regards to their new Xtep shirt due to the China floods and they try to exploit the Asian market with Carson Yeung at the helm and it is likely it will not be in shops until October. Although it is rare, such problems can arise and with the prices of football shirts around £40 for a few months of football before it is inevitably changed come the summer – two shirts may be that step too far.
Steve McClaren has returned to former club FC Twente, signing a two-and-a-half year deal with the Dutch side.
The former England manager led the Enschede-based side to the first Eredivisie title in their history back in 2009-10, before leaving to join Wolfsburg.
Twente parted company with coach Co Adriaanse on Tuesday, and despite reports linking Avram Grant with the vacant post, McClaren has returned to his old stomping ground.
The 50-year-old feels that it is an excellent opportunity for him, and he is looking forward to continuing the progress he made in his first stint with the club.
“I left, obviously, on a high with the title. I said at that time that I would be back. I didn’t know when, but I would be back,” he admitted to Sky Sports.
“The club is still developing, still growing and I think this is an ideal opportunity for me to go back and finish what we were starting.”
“I know the club very well. I know the people at the top. I can work with the people at the top.
“I think that is the most important thing. I had a good relationship with them the last time. I know where the club is coming from.
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“I know what their vision is. I know what their ambitions are. It is still there. That was the key thing for me,” he concluded.
Aston Villa eased their relegation worries and jumped to 14th place in the English Premier League table with a 1-0 home win over Newcastle.A James Collins header in the first half won the game at Villa Park, but in truth there could have easily been more goals as the home side dominated proceedings.
The goal came in the 24th minute, with Ashley Young?s free kick finding Collins, who glanced past helpless United goalkeeper Steve Harper into the top corner.
Striker Darren Bent went close to extending Villa’s lead when he headed over winger Stewart Downing?s cross from close range, while Downing himself almost got on the score sheet with a decent strike from 20 yards out.
Bent thought he had doubled Villa?s lead on the stroke of half-time after he converted Jean Makoun?s pass, but the striker was ruled offside when the decision could have easily gone the other way.
Villa started the second half in similar fashion, with forward Gabby Agbonlahor creating a chance for himself that had Harper at full stretch.
Ashley Young then finished off a patient build up with a shot that flashed inches wide of the goal frame.
Newcastle were a shadow of the side that beat Wolves so convincingly last week, with Brad Friedel in the Villa goal only called upon in the final few minutes.
Striker Nile Ranger had a chance early in the game, but he chose to place rather than use power and Friedel easily saved.
Friedel needed to be aware to deny Peter Lovenkrands twice in the closing stages, firstly stopping a header with two minutes left and then being on hand to save with his feet in injury time.
The result will bring a welcome three points for Gerard Houllier?s side, which is now five points clear of the bottom three with six games remaining.
West Ham United's hopes of signing Everton striker Yakubu appear to be slim, after Irons co-owner David Sullivan put a value of less than £2million on the Nigeria international's head.
The Toffees are reported to want up to four times the amount that Sullivan is prepared to pay, meaning that a deal is highly unlikely.
He told the Daily Telegraph:"We have cooled on Yakubu. When you have a good, hard look at him, we want younger and quicker and better.
"Everything has a price. You want to get Yakubu for £1-2million and they are quoting £8million and that is far too much.
"They have to be more realistic. If they said £1-2million we might go back.
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"We bid more at the start of the summer because we had more flexibility but, at this moment in time, having spent some of our money on other players we want him for £1-2million."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The rant you’re about to read is usually the classic sign of a paranoid football fan. After all, we all think that the world is against our team, the newspapers are biased, referees have got it in for us, we never get any credit. And as for opposing fans….
But still, despite all that, the ridiculous red card for Mario Balotelli last weekend against Liverpool suggests to me, that just sometimes, that paranoia is justified.
Referees will of course claim that they enter the pitch with no agendas, and make impartial decisions on each particular incident alone. This is clearly poppycock, because they are human beings, and human nature means they have pre-conceived ideas about certain players, and treat them differently as a consequence.
To suggest Wayne Rooney gets away with metaphorical murder on the football pitch is the same as suggesting that night follows day – you could offer many theories as to why some players are allowed to say what they want to a referee with impunity or get the benefit of the doubt over some hairy challenges, but they tend to be English, which is not to suggest a wave of xenophobia from referees in how they deal with players, but a certain leniency to many “stalwarts” of the game, a blind eye to many established Premier League players. Balotelli doesn’t fit this description, he is the crazy youngster from far away who fires darts at youth players, almost burns down his house with fireworks, walks around with bundles of cash in his pocket, gets his friends to chat up women for him, receives 2000 parking tickets in a year and hangs around with the mafia. Well I read all this in the tabloids, so consider it to be 100% true.
When Graham Poll is appearing on Talksport decrying his hairstyle, it gives you a good insight into how match officials enter the field with agendas and preconceived ideas. Maybe Balotelli deserves it then. Hey, he doesn’t smile enough for my liking, throw the book at him.
It’s the reverse of commentators mentioning that Player X is “not that type of player” when he is sent off for a knee-high challenge. That player could throw kittens off bridges every night, he could have been sent off 40 times in his career, or he could have never fouled before in an illustrious 20-year career. It’s all irrelevant – it was either a red card or it wasn’t.
Balotelli’s first yellow card was perfectly justified – an innocuous pull-back on an opposing player, but a text-book yellow card in the modern game. The second card was brandished on reputation alone, by a referee who has a knack of sending off opposition players at Anfield (Balotelli completing the hat-trick). Maybe I am being blinkered – after all I have read a few City fans and journalists write online that he led with his elbow, and thus it was a stupid challenge and he was asking for trouble.
But no, that simply isn’t true. There was no elbow sticking out, only an extended arm which I presume he was using to try and protect the ball from the opposing player, as part of his whole body. Clumsy perhaps, but nothing more. His fate was sealed when the Liverpool player went down as if shot, clutching a head that hadn’t come into contact with anything, whilst five or six of his team-mates crowded round the referee demanding a red card. Has football really become so averse to contact of any sort that Balotelli’s attempt at a tackle for his second yellow card is now considered as fair game for punishment?
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I’m not blinkered to Balotelli’s discretions. His demeanour makes him a target on the field, though a professional referee should be capable of looking beyond this. I can see when he has done wrong – the red card at home to Dynamo Kiev last season was utterly justified and put paid to City’s Europa League chances. A dismissal at West Brom though last season was even more ridiculous than the one at Anfield – we’ve been here before.
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He’s not the only one to be pre-judged on the field either, due to off-field controversies. Joey Barton is one that springs to mind (not that he is always innocent, as seen against Arsenal this season), a man whose reputation on the field is probably confused with what he has done off it. The truth is that there are plenty of Premiership players who have sinned on a football field far more than Barton, but attracted much less attention for it. Likewise, those footballers portrayed as professional wind-up merchants like Robbie Savage also carry a stigma onto the field with them. In 2008, the Daily Mail labelled Savage as the dirtiest player in Premier League history, based on numbers of yellow cards received (87), though apparently he has since been surpassed as the player with the most Premier League yellow cards by Lee Bowyer. And throughout his career, Savage was only sent off for his club side once. Was Savage really ome of the Premiership’s worst ever miscreants on a football field?
Players are the victims of soft red cards all the time – it doesn’t take much to get dismissed nowadays. If you agree Balotelli was hard done by, you’ll also agree that he isn’t the first, and he won’t be the last. But lets hope that in the future, referees have the ability to see through his reputation, and judge him on the foul alone. Otherwise, discussing the disciplinary record of Mr Balotelli could become a depressingly common occurrence in the future.