Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas has denied that there has been a bust-up between himself and Ashley Cole, and has defended his team selection for the defeat to Napoli on Tuesday.
The Stamford Bridge club were beaten 3-1 in Italy, with senior figures Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard starting the fixture from the bench.
Despite Cole replacing an injured Jose Bosingwa during the game, Villas Boas has rejected claims that the pair had been involved in an argument.
“It’s not true,” the Portuguese trainer stated in a press conference, published on Sky Sports.
“You don’t expect them to be jumping up and down with excitement when the manager doesn’t use them.
“The club is more important than any individual. Full backing, part backing or whatever backing – it doesn’t matter,” he admitted.
Reports in the English media have stated that Lampard was also fuming about not starting the match at San Paolo, but Villas Boas has stood by his team selection.
“In the end it is the decision of the manager and Frank accepts that.
“Of course it is difficult for him. It is a difficult decision to take, but it is always taken in the best interests of the team.
“Sometimes whatever you say to players is not enough to convince them your choice is the right one.
“I don’t have any regrets about team selection. It was what I felt was completely right. The team was well set up,” he stated.
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.
Chelsea have not won a game in six matches in all competitions, and face Bolton at home this weekend.
Stoke winger Matthew Etherington has denied claims that he has returned to gambling, after rumours that below-par performances on the pitch were due to a lapse.
The Potters’ midfielder revealed in the past that he has blown £1.5million on greyhounds, horses and poker, but after scoring the winner in the Britannia Stadium outfit’s 1-0 win over Stoke at the weekend hit back at his critics.
“I don’t think I’ve been awful this season but it just hasn’t happened for me,” he stated to The Daily Mail.
“I still think I’m putting in performances but obviously not at the level I was previously.
“You get that sometimes and I’m just as frustrated as the fans are. I’m not doing anything different, my personal life’s still brilliant as ever, no problems on that front. It’s just not happened for me.
“I’ve heard a few people talking and shouting their mouths off as usual but no, I’ve not gambled in two and a half years. I’m not gambling and I’m very happy.
“I’m not going to go into it but I’ve heard a few people talking, they put two and two together and make five sometimes. Just because my form’s not been as good as it has the last two years at this football club doesn’t mean that I’m gambling again, I’m not.
“You get on with it and now hopefully after this goal it’ll be a bit of a boost,” he admitted.
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.
Reports have emerged that the FA are finally ready to act in a bid to find a new England manager, with Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson set for approaches.
Fabio Capello quit the position earlier in the year over a fall-out surrounding John Terry’s captaincy, with the governing body stripping the Chelsea defender of the armband without consulting the Italian first.
Tottenham boss Redknapp has been the frontrunner for the position since Capello’s resignation, whilst Hodgson’s work at West Brom has also meant that he is a candidate.
The Daily Mail indicate that the FA are keen to approach both managers in mid-April, with the next boss to be in place shortly after.
Although Redknapp is believed to be the number one option, the FA will approach both men in a bid to ensure that neither has a position of power when negotiating wages or contract.
Capello earned £6million a year in the position, but the newspaper also stated that the FA are reluctant to spend as much money on the next manager’s pay packet.
With Euro 2012 only two months away, the FA feel that it is time to bring someone new on-board, without wanted to disrupt clubs’ campaigns.
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.
Tottenham have kept their chances of finishing in the Premier League’s top four alive by beating Bolton 4-1 at the Reebok Stadium on Wednesday night.
Luka Modric opened the scoring for the visitors, before Nigel Reo-Coker equalised for the relegation-threatened Trotters.
However three goals in the space of nine minutes by Rafael van der Vaart and an Emmanuel Adebayor double saw the three points go to the north London side.
Harry Redknapp was pleased with his team’s performance and feels that all is still to play for in the battle for fourth.
“We have got good quality in the team and we have had a great season, we just had the little spell but it is all to play for, two tough games left – Aston Villa away and Fulham at home and they are difficult games,” he told Sky Sports.
“But Newcastle have gone to Chelsea and won and it is all to play for, I said we needed four wins – we have got two of them and now another really hard two more to come.
“We have a great chance, we are playing well as we have all along as I have said but we have come back strong in the last few weeks.
“We have always been full of confidence.
“I felt first half we played ever so well, we came in 1-0 up and should have been more, but credit to Bolton they came out second-half and were much sharper and they got the goal back and at 1-1 they started to look like they could win it from us dominating.
“But we came back strong and showed tremendous ability on the break,” he praised.
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.
Spurs are now equal on 65 points with Newcastle but ahead of the Geordies on goal difference, with Arsenal a point adrift in third.
Chelsea have confirmed that they have appointed Roberto Di Matteo as their new manager on a two-year contract.
The Italian coach took over at the west London club on an interim basis after the dismissal of Andre Villas Boas last term, and helped the Blues to an FA Cup and Champions League double.
Despite the former midfielder’s heroics, other names such as Pep Guardiola have been linked to the vacant Stamford Bridge role, however Di Matteo has now been confirmed as the club’s full-time boss.
“Roberto’s quality was clear for all to see when he galvanised the squad last season and helped the club make history, and the owner and board are very pleased he will be continuing his good work,” chief executive Ron Gourlay admitted to Sky Sports.
We all believed he was a young coach with much to offer when we first asked him to take charge of team affairs in March and the manner in which he worked with us, the players and all the staff, and the success that followed, made him the clear choice when it came to selecting the person to take us forward in the seasons to come.
“We will be working closely with Roberto in the weeks ahead, some exciting signings have already been made and Roberto has had input into those.
“Although he has set the bar very high in the short time he has been in charge, we know that Roberto is the right man to lead Chelsea onto further success,” he revealed.
Meanwhile, Di Matteo has confessed his delight at being appointed in the position on a full-time basis.
“I’m obviously delighted to have been appointed as manager and first-team coach. We all achieved incredible success last season that made history for this great club,” he told the side’s official website.
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.
“Our aim is to continue building on that and I’m already planning and looking forward to the squad’s return for pre-season.”
Jermain Defoe has left England’s Euro 2012 camp to fly back home after his father Jimmy passed away.
The Tottenham striker’s father lost a long fight against cancer, and the diminutive attacker has flown home for an undetermined amount of time.
It is yet to be seen how long Defoe will be absent for and whether he will return in time for the Three Lions opener against France on Monday.
“England striker Jermain Defoe has returned home to England this morning following the passing of his father overnight,” read an FA statement.
“Jermain will rejoin the England Euro squad in due course. There will be no replacement player called in.
“We would ask all media to respect Jermain and his family’s privacy at this difficult time.”
Defoe thanked all concerned after the sad event for their support and understanding.
“I want to thank the fans, my family and friends, the England boys, the FA and the manager for their support,” he said on Twitter.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me.
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.
“I love you all may God bless you. A special thank you to Royal Marsden’s doctors & nurses who looked after my dad v.special people.”
With the much anticipated news that FIFA have finally announced goal line technology will be introduced into football, fans, managers and players alike have been celebrating a new era for the sport. After years of yearning for more conclusive evidence to be made available to referees, there is now a system in place to remove any questions marks over whether the ball has crossed the line.
Despite this progress, there are still concerns that the new system will be the end of the professional game as we know it. Sepp Blatter v Michel Platini may not be a prize fight that fans would flock to witness but the two leaders of World and European football are at loggerheads over how intrusive the latest technology will be. I for one have always favoured the idea of technology playing a role but I could never see how it would be introduced without it spreading to every facet of the beautiful game. With this in mind I must admit to agreeing with the concerns raised by UEFA’s outspoken President.
While Blatter has responded to constant cries from the professional game to introduce such a system, Platini has remained steadfast in his concerns that it will be the beginning of the end for football as we know it. The Frenchman insists he’s against all form of technology, not simply on the goal line, and has been vocal in his concerns for the future of the sport as more and more incidents become scrutinised. A recent example of this was Ukraine’s disallowed goal against England at Euro 2012. The ball was over the line so a goal should have been given and yet replays showed there was an offside in the build up meaning in fact the goal shouldn’t have stood. While two wrongs by the linesman do not make a right, the correct decision was made but the manner with which it was reached is not a precedent for future refereeing. Platini believes extra officials are the key to increasing the success rate of decisions but in this instance both the linesman and his little helper behind the goal got it wrong. In all honesty, the involvement of the extra officials will be regarded as completely unnecessary until they are seen to actually make a decision but clearly however many eyes the authorities place around the ground, there will always be room for human error.
As much I dismiss Platini’s naivety when introducing 5th and 6th officials, I do understand his attempts to avoid technology for as long as possible because unfortunately there are still far too many loop holes to be found and controversy will inevitably follow. Had a goal line system been in place in Donetsk then Ukraine’s goal against England would’ve been given. The logic is officials must assume every decision they made in the build up was acceptable and ultimately the only debatable issue is whether the Ukrainian shot actually crossed the line. Well as we all know it did, so Ukraine are given a goal but England are left bemoaning technology once more, especially considering the ease with which spectators have seen the replays. Suddenly technology has given a goal that wasn’t and this will be heightened when a handball or a foul is also involved during the build up.
Blatter believes the bottom line is that goals are most important thing for officials to get right. If we start debating offside calls as well then we have to look at handballs, throw ins, fouls and every other decision made since the ball last went dead. It would be impossible to sift through minutes of footage to find the smallest inconsistencies so perhaps the technology is better suited to its finite role. Since fans currently suffer through plenty of controversial decisions, surely any improvements will be to the benefit of the game, however limiting the authorities are being at the moment.
If supporters accept that goal line technology is the only system to be introduced then there’s no reason why it cannot be embraced amidst the remaining contentious decisions that surround the game on a weekly basis. I may fear the potential repercussions but I appreciate there will be a number of teams who will benefit from system even if it doesn’t spread throughout the game. That said I still wait with trepidation for the day a player is rewarded for standing offside and handling the ball over the goal line.
Are you pleased to see goal line technology introduced? Do you think it will be the downfall of football as we know it?
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.
Let me know your views and opinions by following me on Twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has stated that Manchester City must make a ridiculous offer for Daniel Agger for him to consider selling the defender.
The Denmark international has emerged as a summer transfer target for the Premier League champions, but the Anfield boss is determined to hold onto the centre-back.
“There’s no way I want to lose one of my best players and Daniel is one of the leading centre halves in European football,” The Daily Mail quote Rodgers as saying.
“There’s been contact from City, yes. But it’s nowhere near the valuation of what the player is worth and you can only consider something like that if it is going to benefit you.
“Of course you might lose a top player but if it benefits you going forward – and you can make two or three steps because of it – you may have to consider it.
“But we don’t want to sell Daniel. So unless someone comes in with a ridiculous offer, that makes you think you can benefit in one or two other areas, (we will not).
“Daniel and I have had a number of conversations so he knows where I am at, he knows where the club are at and he doesn’t want to leave, which is great, Rodgers confirmed.
Meanwhile, Mirror Football indicate that City will return with another bid for Agger of around £23 million, and will also offer Adam Johnson on a season-long loan deal.
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.
Hartlepool United’s opening game of the season – a Capital One Cup first round tie at Crewe – involved them being the recipients of a romping, and watching an exhibition of football played in front of them.
However good Crewe were, Pools were poor. Scratch that, diabolical is a better word.
The front two of Max Clayton and Ajay Leitch-Smith caused dizziness that matched only that of a drunken night’s out for Peter Hartley and Sam Collins through the duo’s perpetual movement and ingenious dances behind the back line. The sickness feeling wasn’t a direct result of the circles been ran round the blue and white shirts, it was a result of watching appalling defending. Last season’s defence was, on the whole, locked shut. Clayton and Leitch-Smith had obviously turned locksmiths during the summer, unlocking the defence as easy as an open door.
Yet it would be criminal not to laud Alexandra. For every misplaced, slack and predictable pass served up by Pools, Crewe responded with their own brand of tika-taka.
Crewe arrived at kick off on the back of a highly successful pre-season, and they were clearly fine tuned for the start of the new campaign. Neale Cooper’s side, on the other hand, dished up a performance marred with rustiness and the fair few doses of calamities. Against a forward line of Clayton, Leitch-Smith and the robust Mathias Pogba, being punished was inevitable.
Such damage arrived after only 7 minutes. Peter Hartley clattered into a red shirt, making its way towards goal. A yellow followed, but worse was to come. The ball was chipped over the wall and Leitch-Smith swiveled, demanding the scoreboard’s first work of the season.
The scoreboard was quickly back in use, signalling goal 2, 3 and 4. Leitch-Smith portrayed poetic running in tandem with Clayton, the former tucking the ball back inside off the by-line, teeing up Clayton who side footed beyond Flinders.
Goal three was next, and the third episode in what would later be a series of defensive nightmares being broadcast. Neil Austin turned ball-watcher, allowing Pogba to slip in behind him and meet a driven ball from the right.
If Austin was embarrassed then he was well and truly custard pied on 41 minutes. Clayton made another laughing stock out of Austin – and Jonathan Franks – to make full use of a counter attack and make it four.
If Crewe were fortunate to lead so early on having been on the end of an opening 7-minute battering, which saw Franks target Steve Howard with delicious crosses and Howard, Evan Horwood and Simon Walton both testing their fortune, their 4-0 half time lead was certainly not flattering; it was deserved.
James Poole was introduced at the expense of Luke James at half time but Pools couldn’t mastermind what would have been a cup comeback to end all cup comebacks. Yes, Pools enjoyed the ball’s comfort at more periods in the second half, but they failed to make any use out of it.
Walton, Monkhouse and a dejected-looking Howard registered efforts from outside of the box, but the chances of success ebbed away almost as soon as connection with the boot was made
Evan Horwood was the delivery man from the left. The deliveries were good, but there was no enthusiasm to meet them. Antony Sweeney – guilty of not assisting Walton in the middle – looped an effort over. Monkhouse was denied by the post, the closest Pools coming.
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.
Abdul Osman and Ashley Westwood controlled the midfield as if presented with the ground’s deeds. Allowing Pools in sight of the ball didn’t unease Alexandra, for they were safe in the knowledge that their cup run was never in doubt.
Pogba made sure of the hosts’ passage into the next round by adding Collins to his victim tally late on, outmuscling him before finishing cooly. Pools were thankful the ninety minutes was up. At least it wasn’t the league.
You can find me on Twitter @cmbell310 for more football chat.
They may well be the Premier League’s 21st century equivalent of the old Wimbledon F.C. with their small home gates, miniscule away following and they are a club that no-one would really miss if they weren’t there, but Wigan and their manager know how to get results in this league.
This is something that Southampton manager Nigel Adkins needs to learn, and needs to learn fast if the Saints are to remain at English footballs top table for longer than 10 months.
Roberto Martinez – Wigan’s modest manager who has been headhunted by chairman of several clubs in the past couple of close-seasons – used all of his Premier League managerial experience to lead Wigan to what amounted to a smash-and-grab raid at St. Marys on Saturday.
This was supposed to be Southampton’s triumphant homecoming, a return to top-flight football at St. Marys after a seven year absence, but the match would end in frustration for the large majority of the 29,000 crowd. Martinez got his tactics spot on, as Wigan defended deep and defended well, it was the football equivalent of a boxer staying on the ropes, letting his opponent punch himself into exhaustion, before striking a couple of knockout blows to snatch the spoils.
It was a tactic that worked, as the Saints flew out of the traps from the first whistle, but despite dominating the possession in the opening 25 minutes the breakthrough never came, although things may have been different if Adam Lallana’s long range effort had not been tipped spectacularly onto the bar by El Habsi in the Wigan goal. The Latics managed to weather the storm and they were content to let the Saints have plenty of possession in the middle of the pitch whilst snuffing out any threats on their goal. Half-time came without Kelvin Davies having had little to do in the Southampton goal as Wigan posed little in a way of an attacking threat, as they looked like a team missing the pace and attacking threat of the recently departed Victor Moses.
It took only 6 minutes of the second-half for the visitors to take the lead when a great through ball by Maloney put Di Santo in and his fierce shot beat Kelvin Davies, who found himself beaten at the near post for the second match running. After that opening goal the visitors were content to sit back and hit the Saints on the counter attack.
The Saints attacks became less and less effective as the half wore on and they found themselves trying their luck from long range, hoping desperately for a slice of luck, a deflection, anything to level the scores, centre-back Jos Hooiveld came closest but his looping header only found the crossbar. That slice of luck never came and Wigan sealed the points in the last minute when Kone robbed Jose Fonte on the half-way line and sprinted clear to slot past Kelvin Davies.
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.
So what now for the Saints?
Well with the transfer window being slammed shut this week, a number of new signings are required, especially at the back. Also new signing Jay Rodriguez must be wondering why he came here if he is going to be played out of position in a formation that is clearly making some of the players less than ecstatic. Adkins has promised new signings this week, and he needs to keep to his word, otherwise there are going to be plenty more afternoon’s like this come the end of the season.