Following Liverpool’s surprise 3-1 defeat to Swansea in the Capital One Cup, Reds’ boss Brendan Rodgers told reporters he was less than impressed with the performance of out-of-favour Joe Cole.
The former England midfielder has struggled at Liverpool since joining in 2010. Cole spent last season out on loan at Lille, where the 30-year-old managed to regain some of his old form.
This campaign, Cole has been struggling with a hamstring injury, and kept out of the first team at Anfield by the rise in stock of youngsters Suso and Raheem Sterling.
Rodgers announced yesterday that he would give Joe Cole an opportunity to shine as he rotated his squad for the Capital One Cup clash with Swansea. However, the former West Ham and Chelsea man was hauled off by his boss at half time, failing to make any impact on the game.
In a post match interview, Rodgers explained “Joe Allen was virtually playing on his own in midfield in the first half with all due respect”, and continued by suggesting Cole’s time at Liverpool could now be up.
“The club have invested an astronomical amount of money on a talented player and Joe [Cole] had the opportunity” said Rodgers.
“He has been back fit a couple of weeks and his opportunities have been limited but you have to see.
“I thought it was difficult for him, it was too slow and it wasn’t what I would expect from a team I tried to set up to be dynamic” he added.
Cole is currently paid 100k per week, a deal brokered by England boss Roy Hodgson. Considering Rodgers has already offloaded the likes of Maxi Rodriguez and Andy Carroll in the summer to reduce the wage budget, Joe Cole’s costly Liverpool career could soon come to an abrupt end in the January transfer window.
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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has urged his side to concentrate for 90 minutes after they conceded a late equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday to draw 1-1.
Joleon Lescott had headed the Premier League champions into the lead in the first half, but Laurent Koscielny denied the hosts all three points with a late strike.
The Italian boss feels that his men took their eye off the ball and allowed the Gunners back into the game.
“I don’t know if we lost our concentration but it’s strange,” the home coach told Sky Sports after the game.
“Eight, 10 minutes to go to finish the game, we should have had our concentration 100 per cent.
“We had the game under control. [It was] only for the last 10, 15 minutes… I don’t know why we don’t continue to play.
“We were too deep. The problem is we need to close when we have a chance to score,” he concluded.
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Sergio Aguero made a return for City in the game, who now take on Aston Villa at home in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.
If a January move away from Blackpool seemed inevitable for Thomas Ince, then a summer transfer to the Premier League must now perhaps feel certain.
It’s been a mesmeric 18 months for the 21-year-old since he first departed Liverpool in the search for first-team football and while his future may have felt somewhat cloudy following his decision to leave the then-Kenny Dalglish led side, there can be doubts of the direction the youngster’s career is destined to head.
Following a stunning spell at Blackpool – where he’s now playing under the stewardship of his father, Paul – in which he’s scored 24 goals and counting during 68 showings for the Tangerines, the Stockport-born winger recently bagged the Football League Young Player of the Year award. And if recent reports are to be believed, that could well spell the beginning of a boomerang return to the club he once spurned, in the guise of a return to Liverpool.
Although while the interest from Merseyside has been well documented over the past few months, this morning’s suggestions that Tottenham Hotspur may well have thrown their hat into the chase for the one time-Notts County loanee, it appears Ince may well have a choice of top clubs to chose from should he move on this summer.
But although Brendan Rodgers’ side have long been assumed the best place for Ince to continue his development, with Spurs now a potential destination for the winger’s services, would he theoretically fare better at White Hart Lane, than he might at Anfield?
Superficially, should Ince really look to continue adhering to the principles that took him away from Liverpool in the first place, a move to Andre Villas-Boas’ side might not seem like the most logical of transfers.
Ince won plenty of plaudits following his brave decision to drop down a league in the hunt for first-team football, but for as well as he’s been served in moving to Blackpool, moving to a side which boasts such excellence in the wide areas could serve to seriously stall his development.
At 21, Ince needs to be playing week in, week out but in moving to a club which boasts both Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon as its preeminent left and right wingers respectively, he could find it’s only his bank balance which is receiving the real benefits.
Conversely, while he’s hardly likely to simply stroll into Rodgers’ side at Liverpool, the competition for places out wide doesn’t perhaps carry the same stigma of importance that it does at White Hart Lane and that could ultimately help his cause.
While naturally left footed, Ince found himself playing on the right-hand side for large parts of the first half of Blackpool’s league campaign this season and his versatility would sit very well indeed within Brendan Rodgers’ set-up.
The Ulsterman looks to have a job on his hands finding out just how he fits the likes of Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Stewart Downing all into one team – not to mention the talents of Raheem Sterling – as the recent 3-1 defeat at Southampton seemed to suggest. But with an ability to play either right or left, the chances of Ince disposing of a Stewart Downing in the Liverpool starting line-up, feel an awful lot more likely than say, an Aaron Lennon at Spurs.
Lennon and Bale are the undoubted lifeblood of Spurs’ attacking play and although the Welshman remains the box-office hit, you only have to look at how the Lilywhites have coped in recent games without the England man, to discover just how important Lennon also is to this side.
Should Ince fancy a move to N17, the aforementioned duo have blazed the way for the standard of wide-play that both the club and supporters have come to expect. Living up to such expectations would be a very difficult job indeed.
Yet while a move to Liverpool might represent a slightly easier route into first team Premier League football, the rewards could just be there for Ince should he wish to take on what would be a real challenge at Spurs, yet one that isn’t unassailable by any means.
With Gareth Bale’s evolution from archetypal winger to free attacking force still well under way, the left hand side is no longer an absolute shut-out in North London and there has been a growing argument this season that Spurs need to add depth and incisiveness within the ranks in regards to their wide players.
Much has been made upon the overreliance on Bale this season but while it’d be asking a little too much of Ince to rival the sort of impact the Welshman wields within Villas-Boas’ side, Ince could certainly offer a viable alternative to Aaron Lennon, and that’s something Tottenham have felt woefully short on at times this season.
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Past the jet-heeled pairing, Spurs simply don’t possess anything of the same mould on the bench and when Villas-Boas has looked to change a game this season, it’s often been with guile and industry, as opposed to pace and penetration. This isn’t to say that Ince would necessarily supplant Lennon or anyone else in the Portuguese’s side, although he would perhaps have a lot more opportunities at Tottenham than some seem to be suggesting.
For wherever Tom Ince’s future lies, the chances are that the 21-year-old is going to have his pick of a selection of Premier League clubs and should the interest from both Liverpool and Spurs prove concrete, then he won’t just be picking from any ordinary ones, either.
Liverpool may perhaps offer the better chance of securing a first-team berth, but with Villas-Boas’ side in with a chance of Champions League qualification, a move to White Hart Lane could just prove the more attractive, albeit a lot riskier, proposition,
One of the fears from many supporters of the game is that the art of tackling will be outlawed for one reason or another. Football has the history of being an aggressive game, but the ambiguity surrounding what is an acceptable tackle is taking away a vital dynamic that has made it such a joy for most.
Everyone has their opinion about what is a dangerous tackle and what is an exceptional example of that side of the game. The Paolo Maldinis are not bone crunchers, but the Italian remains one of the finest defenders we’ve seen. The biggest problem about the whole debate is the word ‘opinion’ and that most people – including referees – make their decision based on what they believe to be within the rules of the game.
Vincent Kompany’s tackle on Jack Wilshere two weeks ago became a hot topic for debate, and it’s not the first time the Manchester City captain’s tackling has sparked serious discussion. The argument in favour of Kompany is that he got the ball, while also carrying through onto Wilshere. So what’s the problem?
The issue is we don’t really know what we’re looking for. Yes, a few decades ago the debate and the boundaries of the rules had greater clarity. Now, do we punish tacklers for following through on the opposition player? Some would say Kompany’s tackle could have been dangerous had he got it wrong, but then why would Manchester City win their appeal?
What about the reaction of the player who is in possession of the ball? That brings into question another debate on diving or feigning injury, but it really does distort the view when at first glances a tackle looks to be a good one.
On that occasion, none of the Arsenal players protested; none of the Manchester City players expected much to come from the referee. So who really knows the rules? How can players compete if one week a dangerous tackle is deemed acceptable, yet the following week a strong but clean tackle is viewed as a red card offence?
Incidentally, there was a passage of play during Barcelona’s game against Malaga on the same weekend, where Javier Mascherano flew in to challenge Diego Buonanotte with a strong tackle which did leave the Malaga midfielder on the deck. It was a strong tackle but it was equally an excellent tackle. Mascherano went through the player but there was no doubt that he took all of the ball. It was notably one-footed and the referee had no hesitation about letting play carry on.
Now, it’s one thing to talk about foreign leagues coming down heavier on tackles, but a good tackle remains a good tackle no matter where it takes place. Mascherano’s challenge could have been dangerous considering the speed at which he came in, but then that raises the point that tackling is an art form perfected by some, and one to be admired. The greater problem here is that referees are calling a lot of their decisions on the fly.
And I’m not sure that ex-professionals don’t really help the cause either. Yes, they give their view on whether Kompany should have been sent off, for example. But do we ever get a definitive answer on what is an acceptable tackle in the modern game? One ex-pro will give their opinion – again, opinion, not precise rule of the game – and the following week another ex-pro will give a totally contrasting view. What if you bring together two footballers who played in the early nineties but in two different leagues? Doesn’t that just create further problems on what is a good tackle and what isn’t?
Tackling remains a pride of the English game, but it’s not something other nations particularly regard as highly. There’s a case to be made that a tackle is used by lesser players, those who don’t read the game as well as others and who aren’t able to stay on their feet to intercept or halt opposition play. But that’s a view from other parts of the footballing world and one that is unlikely to sit well with many Premier League fans.
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At this stage, the issue needs the intervention of football’s governing bodies. If UEFA and FIFA want to outlaw tackling then they should do so; it at least might be a little better than sitting in purgatory and arguing every other week over what are considered strong tackles and which cross the boundaries into dangerous play.
Manchester City caretaker manager Brian Kidd has doubts over Sergio Agüero after he picked up a knock against Reading in midweek. Kolo Toure lasted on 15 minutes in the win against the Royals after sustaining a knee injury and is out until August. Scott Sinclair remains sidelined after his recent surgery for a blood clot.
Norwich go into the game with a clean bill of health, other than Andrew Surman (knee) and Michael Turner (groin) with both not expected to play again until next season.
Brian Kidd…”If you had said to me before the (Reading) game that you are going to win and clinch second place, I would have accepted that. All credit to the players. They are the ones who have had to put up with stuff off the pitch as well and I am pleased for them. It would have been a travesty if they had not finished second.”
Chris Hughton…”I have a responsibility to keep improving. We’ll try to be as busy as we can. How many that sees us bring in we don’t know. When we look at the season as a whole defensively we held our own. We needed to get the goals that could win us games. That is from the team not just individuals. We must turn some of the draws into wins.”
Match Statistic: Norwich have managed just 10 points on the road this season – only relegated Reading (8) have taken fewer away from home.
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Prediction: Manchester City 4-1 Norwich City
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What the rest of the relegation rat pack wouldn’t give for Reading’s current home form. Cast your minds back to just before Christmas when Brian McDermott and his players were being savagely cast as relegation fodder and given little hope of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship. But since Boxing Day the Royal’s have taken an astonishing 14 points from eight games, with 11 of those gained at the Madjeski Stadium, and significantly increasing their survival prospects, especially with fellow strugglers Aston Villa, Southampton and Queens Park Rangers all due to visit. More impressive is their newly discovered resilience nurtured by McDermott and typified by the late comeback from two goals down to snatch a point from Chelsea, courtesy of super sub Adam Le Fondre. And they’ll be hoping form prevails against preservation experts Wigan this weekend.
Its at this stage of the season that the Latics usually mount their great escape act and defy the odds to close the seal on their top-flight status. Astonishingly this is their eighth consecutive season in English football’s top division despite and the odds are likely to be stacked against Roberto Martinez’s side despite their experience in wriggling to safety. With relegation determined by finer margins each season its difficult not to hold a degree of admiration for the job Martinez does each year whilst sticking to his principals of playing neat, attractive football. Three points will send Wigan above Reading and possibly out of the bottom three for the week at least and that will be at the forefront of the Spaniard’s mind going into the game.
Team News
Mikele Leigertwood is a doubt for Reading after sustaining an injury in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Monday but Jimmy Kebe could feature.
Wigan are boosted by Antolin Alcaraz’s return from six months out with a groin problem, while on-loan winger Ryo Miyaichi and Emmerson Boyce are back in contention.
What the managers said…
I don’t know what six pointers mean. I can’t be human. I don’t think about other teams. It keeps me focused. There is no such thing as a six pointer in my mind. Must-win games’, I don’t know what that means either. It’s the next game and I’m looking forward to it. I can’t wait to get going. The game at the DW will have nothing to do with Saturday, we’ve moved on, results have been good since and we learnt from it.” Brian McDermott says he doesn’t see the game against Wigan as a ‘six pointer’. (BBC Sport)
“We’re working towards a points tally. I think sometimes you get carried away and you think this is a vital game and if you win you get three points, but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll achieve your aim. In the same manner, if you lose and then go unbeaten until the end of the season, you’ll achieve your aim. It is an important game but what’s more important is that we can be consistent. It is a vital game because it’s one of 12 games left, nothing else.” Roberto Martinez insists Wigan’s trip to Reading won’t define their Premier League fate (Independent)
Pre-Match Statistic: Wigan haven’t beaten Reading at the Madjeski Stadium since October 1999 when both teams were still in the fourth tier of English football.
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Prediction: Reading 3-2 Wigan Athletic
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Manchester City are set to complete the signing of Japanese wonder kid, Hideki Ishige, from Shimizu S-Pulse.
The Asian youth player of the year has shone in recent weeks and has been a key factor behind the success of his club’s march to the Nabisco Cup final on Saturday, on top of their late surge up the Japanese league.
Shimizu manager Afshin Ghotbi would love to keep the 18- year-old at his club, but would not stop the teenager in gaining experience at a club like City.
“If you want to build top-class players, you have to give them various experiences and opportunities to see first-hand what the world level is about,” Ghotbi told Japans Kyodo news.
“And what better experience for Ishige than to train with the first team of Manchester City, the champions of England, and have manager Roberto Mancini see him first hand and train with some of the top players in the world.”
“There is interest in him, not just Man City but many clubs in Europe and he deserves it. He’s a real fantastic talent.
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“As far as I’m concerned, he’s not for sale and we want him to be a part of S-Pulse for the next few years to come. There has been no offer, City just want to see him and we are doing the same with other players with other clubs.
“The greatest asset of Japan is its youths. I’m very, very positive about the youth players in Japan and their qualities. Ishige is a perfect example of what I’m talking about.”
West Ham United have been, surprisingly, one of the most active teams in the transfer market this summer.
The Hammers have already purchased Argentine attacking sensation Mauro Zarate, defender Cheikhou Kouyaté, and marauding left-back Aaron Cresswell… as well as about to announce the signing of Diego Poyet.
At this rate many Irons fans are already hoping for the Premier League kick-off to see their new stars in action, but with two months of potential transfer activity still remaining, West Ham could do with a few more additions.
The World Cup has now reached the semi-finals and the we’re only a week away from celebrating a new world champion, but were there any players that stood out in the group stages that West Ham can swoop in to sign?
We take a look into Group F, which saw Argentina and Nigeria progress at the expense of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran. Are any players worthy of Sam Allardyce’s notice?
Here are SIX WORLD CUP STARS West Ham should sign from Group F.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON AHMED MUSA TO SEE THE FULL LIST!
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Ahmed Musa
Age: 21
Club: CSKA Moscow
Position: RW
Nationality: Nigeria
Estimated Value: £10million
Ahmed Musa has been regularly scoring at his young age but really burst into the scene when he scored both goals in Nigeria’s tight contest against Argentina this summer, the first Nigerian to score two goals in a World Cup fixture.
West Ham would love to have a winger capable of chipping in with a few goals, with his menacing pace and dribbling down the right side a danger for any opponent.
He would however be one of West Ham’s more expensive purchases, with a £10million believe to be the minimum.
Augusto Fernandez
//www.youtube.com/embed/vY5q36GZ7Os
Age: 28
Club: Celta Vigo
Position: RW
Nationality: Argentina
Estimated Value: £5million
Sam Allardyce has promised some attractive attacking football this coming season and a swoop for Augusto Fernandez could be exactly what the Hammers need.
Mauro Zarate’s adapting to Upton Park won’t be easy, but the signing of Fernandez would help with that aspect as well as give an added dimension to the West ham attack.
Usually deployed as a right winger, the 28-year-old is good on the ball and capable of putting through an incisive through ball to a forward… especially of Zarate’s calibre. A swoop of around £5million could see the La Liga outfit negotiate for his transfer.
Muhamed Besic
Age: 21
Club: Ferencváros Budapest
Position: CM
Nationality: Bosnia-Herzegovina
Estimated Value: £2million
One of the stars of the Bosnian side, the young central-midfielder has amazing stats of 91% passing accuracy in the group stages (6th in the rankings). Besic has also played centre-back, proving his versatility and ability.
Although West ham have just signed midfielder Diego Poyet, a player of this calibre for only £2million would be a steal and would provide the Hammers with for once a midfield capable of controlling the pace of the game.
Kenneth Omeruo
Age: 20
Club: Chelsea
Position: CB
Nationality: Nigeria
Estimated Value: £2million or Loan
Chelsea have been known to purchase young talent and send them out on loan, but with Omeruo’s amazing performances during the World Cup West Ham should come knocking to sign the Nigerian centre-back.
Omeruo is extremely strong in the air and a very capable tackler. The 20-year-old won 12/14 aerial duels (whoscored.com) and would be a reliable partner for the future to newly signed Kouyate. If not the Hammers should even consider a loan, making their back-line extremely difficult to penetrate.
Ashkan Dejagah
Age: 27
Club: Fulham
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Position: RM
Nationality: Iran
Estimated Value: £3million
Don’t let Dejagah’s choice to play for Asian side Iran fool you, the Fulham man has played for Germany in all Youth levels and impressed while doing so. He also won the Bundesliga back in 2008 with Wolfsburg, being an essential player in the triumph.
The right winger is quick and good on the ball, but more importantly tracks back well, contributing to the team’s defence. West Ham could use a player of this ilk, as Sam Allardyce may have promised attacking football but in the end still values defensive solidity.
With the Cottagers relegated, the Hammers could lure Dejagah for around £3million.
Efe Ambrose
Age: 25
Club: Celtic
Position: RB, CB
Nationality: Nigeria
Estimated Value: £4million
With the signing of Aaron Cresswell completed, ‘Big Sam’ has a left back that pushes up in support of the attack. And if the manager wants balance on the other side, could make a bid for Nigeria right-back Efe Ambrose.
The Nigerian is a useful outlet during an attack but is extremely solid defensively, and has a large amount of experience playing all four of Nigeria’s World Cup games as well as regular games in the UEFA Champions League for Celtic.
If Sam Allardyce can convince the 25-year-old to make a move to Upton Park, Hammer fans could very well see the revolution they were finally hoping for.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping his team’s problems in defence may soon be over with the return of 22 year old Chris Smalling to training this week. The defender has been out since last season, recovering first from a groin injury, and then breaking his metatarsal during training in July.
Man United’s backline has conceded first in six of their nine games this season and been subject to much criticism. Tottenham put three past the red devils in a famous victory at Old Trafford last weekend, and on Tuesday in the Champions League, Fergie’s side again conceded first to Romanian minnows F.C Cluj.
With key defender Nemanja Vidic sidelined another six weeks, and Phil Jones unable to train until next month, a change in personnel has not been an option for Ferguson. The United boss has had to rely on the partnership of Johnny Evans and Rio Ferdinand who have both been accused of poor performances, as well as youngsters such as Scott Wooton.
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Smalling, who can play at right-back or in central defence, may take a place on the bench this Sunday against Newcastle, however Ferguson will be hoping the defender is ready for more first team football sooner rather than later.
Ever since Crystal Palace fans started to sing “South London is ours” the way results have gone since January prove otherwise, yes they won 1-0 at The Den, but the Lions finished above them in the table, and on Saturday, despite having a 2-0 lead, the Lions fought back for a 2-2 draw.
Palace fan group ‘The Ultras’ welcomed the traveling supporters by hanging a banner showing a confused gorilla in a Millwall shirt holding a turkey flag (hilarious I know) with signs pointing to ‘League One” and “extinction”.
Not like Palace had to win on the final day to save themselves a couple years back or that they nearly went of existence just weeks later? Nice one ultras, but stick to your flags and balloons.
Despite the Lions not having James Henry or Andy Keogh in the squad they started out the better team with Darius Henderson heading just wide early on. Millwall were building pressure, but when Wilfried Zaha is on the other team, you know a counter attack is on the way.
Palace took the lead when a corner came out to midfielder Mile Jedinak, who hit a curling low drive from 35 yards to make it 1-0. One of the clichés of football is that you are most vulnerable when you just scored, but that should now be the other way round as the hosts doubled their lead just three minutes later when Damien Delaney headed home.
The Lions needed a way back into the game and quick.
A cross from Scott Malone was headed on by Darius Henderson and was going in, until Dean Moxey decided to play volleyball and pushed it over the bar, penalty to Millwall and Moxey was sent off. Lifeline! Up stepped Liam Trotter to put it in from 12 yards, the Lions were back in it, and almost went in level as a fantastic wide ball from Liam Trotter saw Chris Taylor head the ball on to the bar just before the break.
The second half was basically defense vs. attack.
The Eagles thought they had a penalty when Glen Murrary went down, but replays showed he dived. The Lions went full frontal attack to try and find a leveler and found it 13 minutes from time when Mark Beevers’ back leg connected on the crossed ball and past Speroni in the Palace goal. 2-2 it remained.
This meant the Lions had drawn their last three away games and are now unbeaten in four. I believe the main reason for the upturn in form is the change of style and formation. We’ve gone from playing tippy-tappy football in a 4-3-3 to a more “blood and guts” football in a 4-4-2 formation. With much better results.
Next up for Millwall is the visit of Birmingham City to The Den, a team surprisingly in the lower dregs of the table, or not surprisingly after appointing Lee Clark, a man who couldn’t get Huddersfield out of League One with a huge budget and 40-goal-a-season striker. With their poor form and the Lions starting to move up the table, I see the game as a 2-0 win for the Lions.
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