Both Wayne Rooney and Tom Cleverley will miss England’s international friendly against Holland through injury.
Rooney has a throat infection, whilst Cleverley is still not back playing after a long-standing ankle injury.
Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed the pair’s absence, and the Scottish coach hopes to have the duo back for Manchester United’s game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane next weekend.
“They’ll be out,” he told Sky Sports after his side’s Premier League win at Norwich on Saturday.
“Wayne has still not recovered from his throat infection, so hopefully we’ll get him ready for next Sunday, when we have a big game at White Hart Lane,” he concluded.
The Telegraph also indicate that Gareth Barry is a worry for Stuart Pearce, as the Manchester City midfielder is still suffering from a back spasm that he picked up against Porto in the Europa League.
Darren Bent is also ruled out as the Aston Villa man has an ankle knock; Danny Welbeck may well be in line for a start duo to the injuries.
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Newcastle could face the threat of losing Demba Ba to Paris Saint-Germain, according to TalkSport.
The Newcastle forward has been the subject of plenty of transfer speculation in and around Europe in the past few months, given his impressive form for the Magpies that has seen Ba yield some 16 goals so far this term.
PSG are the latest club to express an interest in the Senegalese striker and join a plethora of clubs who have been alerted by the reports that the striker has a buyout clause in his contract of just £7m.
Why Demba Ba has previously dismissed all transfer speculation, claiming to be happy and content on Tyneside, the type of money that could potentially be on offer in the French capital may be too hard to resist if the Ligue 1 giants meet the initial £7m fee for the striker.
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Bolton are hopeful that Fabrice Muamba will be healthy enough to return to his north west home by the end of the week.
The former England under-21 international had a cardiac arrest on the White Hart Lane pitch in the Trotters’ FA Cup fixture with Tottenham on February 18th, and has been in a battle for his life since.
Muamba has been making steady signs of recovery however, and Owen Coyle is optimistic that the midfielder can get back to a normal life.
“He’s doing well. My hope is that he comes back to have a great family life and anything on top of that will be a bonus,” the Scottish coach told The Sun.
“With his improvement there’s always hope, but we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves.
“Although we got an incredible lift from his improvement we still have to give it some balance,” he concluded.
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Brazil is a country that has provided an endless conveyor belt of talent across the Atlantic Ocean and onto European shores. Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho are just a select few of imports from the Samba nation that took the continent by storm, achieving huge success. There are many youngsters hoping to follow the well-trodden legendary path onto the greatest stage of club football and one such player is Interncaional striker Leandro Damiao. The 22-year-old has been incessantly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur recently and with the club being accused of faltering at the final hurdle, he could certainly be the man to end their status as underachievers.
Damiao is not your typical Brazilian striker. He is an imposing, languid forward who provides a tremendous physical presence. Capable of scoring any kind of goal, he has already amassed a large portfolio from acrobatic finishes to poacher’s strikes. He rose to prominence last year as he netted an impressive 38 goals in 51 games for Internacional. Deadly in the box, Damiao has a fantastic sense of positioning that frequently puts him in the right place at the right time.
His excellent form for the Porto Alegre side was noted by Brazil coach Mano Menezes who drafted the prolific forward in for international duty. Damiao has since made five appearances for the Selecao with his first international goal coming against Ghana in September last year. Having made a strong case for regular selection, the 22-year-old is now widely tipped to lead the line for Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.
Despite his youth, Damiao is no stranger to responsibility. A fixture in one of Brazilian football’s premier clubs, the commanding striker is not one to shy away from the big occasion. Not long after his 21st birthday Damiao came on from the bench in the 2010 Copa Libertadores final. With his team narrowly hanging on to a first-leg advantage the striker made an instant impact, putting his side into the lead within four minutes of being on the pitch and leading the side to continental glory.
Another part of that Copa Libertadores winning unit was Sandro, a player who has enjoyed immense development in north London since his transfer. The deal was struck as part of the two clubs affiliation and the midfielder will no doubt attempt to encourage his compatriot to join him at White Hart Lane. Sandro may have endured a difficult start in the English capital but his progression will provide sound reasoning for Damiao to seriously consider a move to Tottenham.
Damiao rapid progression never ceases to amaze and he is becoming an ever more rounded player. Tottenham are looking to make Emmanuel Adebayor’s loan move from Manchester City permanent, but in the Brazilian they would possess ambitious striker, eager to make his mark on the European stage. The Togolese may have impressed during his spell at White Hart Lane, but Damiao offers different qualities. He thrives with the ball played into him and remains composed under pressure. He can retain the ball and involve the players around him, bringing the best out of the supporting wide players and midfielders.
He may not be proven on the European stage but the 22-year-old represents a cheaper and more exciting prospect. Tottenham will face stiff competition to acquire his services with both Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus taking an interest in the striker, but if they can win the race for his signature it could prove to be a real coup in the coming seasons.
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Who do you think could be the man to solve Tottenham’s striker problems? Let me know on Twitter.
I mentioned in my blog ‘Africans at the Palace’ a few weeks ago that Palace striker Kwesi Appiah had signed up to play in the inaugural iPAY2PLAY charity football tournament.The brainchild of former Ghana U21 International Papa Agyemang and Peterborough United’s Gabriel Zakuani, iPAY2PLAY aims to raise money for HIV awareness projects in developing areas of Africa through sponsorship, particularly by means of professional footballer and celebrity endorsement.The first ever tournament is scheduled to kick off Monday 21st May at 1pm at Lucozade Powerleague, Wembley Stadium.Each participant will pay towards their place and also raise money.TeamIMANI alongside Tackle Africa (www.tackleafrica.org )will provide a platform for participants to raise funds to help bring change to the lives that really need it.TackleAfrica deliver HIV education through football coaching in six African countries, helping save lives through the beautiful game. Peterborough and Congo player Gabi Zakuani and TeamIMANI will be visiting Ghana with TackleAfrica in June.I’ve actually had the huge privilege to visit Uganda, Zambia and Kenya to help deliver TackleAfrica projects in those countries, alongside a team of other UK-based, TackleAfrica trained volunteers. TA have developed an amazingly innovative training mannual which combines basic football drills such as passing or shooting, with HIV education messages, and I’ve seen first hand how well this works. It provides behaviour changing education in some of the communities in sub-Saharan Africa worse hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The overwhelming love for football, and the English game in particular means that TackleAfrica have a fantastic platform for delivering these projects to an audience that laps it up.The iPAY2PLAY tournament has managed to land some major players from the Premier League and international areas, and in addition to our Kwesi, the long list of players and celebrities is below. Click on their names to donate to their fundraising pages.Gabriel Zakuani – Peterborough and DR CongoKwesi Appiah – Crystal PalaceLeon Legge – BrentfordEmmanuel Frimpong – ArsenalYannick Bolasie – Bristol CityEddie Kadi – Comedian and DJKazenga LuaLua – Brighton and Hove AlbionLomana Tresor LuaLua – Blackpool and DR CongoCraig Mackail-Smith – Brighton and Hove AlbionAlbert Adomah – Bristol City and GhanaMatthew Briggs – FulhamKevin J – ComedianKwadwo Asamoah – Udinese and GhanaJustin Hoyte – MiddlesboroughLethal Bizzle – Rap starKojo – Comedian and DJCarlton Cole – West Ham and EnglandNile Ranger – Newcastle and England U21
iPAY2PLAY will consist of four 5-a-side teams; three of which are comprised of professional players & celebrities and one of a corporate sponsors. Teams will play each other once, after which there will be a further two matches between the first and second-placed teams and third and fourth-placed teams to determine the Champions and third and fourth places respectively.
iPAY2PLAY will be covered by Sky Sports, BBC Sport, VOX Africa TV, The Voice Newspaper and many more.
Partners include: TeamIMANI, The Sports Clinic, Tackle Africa, Lucozade Powerleague and Everyday I’m Tackling.
If anyone wants to get involved, there are opportunities for much needed corporate sponsorship.
If your company are interested in entering a team to play against professional footballers, contact [email protected]
To donate £20 or more, text ‘IPAY12’ and your amount to 70070 or visit www.justgiving.com/ipay2play
TeamIMANI® (Swahili: Faith) is a London-based sports and lifestyle apparel brand which aims to transcend religious and political divisions, instead promoting the idea of unity, inspiration through faith alone.
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There’s no end to the drama being a Nottingham Forest fan.
Whilst fans of other clubs rest, put their feet up, and cheer on the nation in their Euro 2012 campaign, the Forest takeover saga has occupied the minds of the supporters, and largely occupied their tweets.
We knew it was set to be an exciting, rumour filled summer, but we didn’t quite expect it to be this hectic.
Kuwaitis, Russians, Americans, Chinese, Malaysians and Irish have all been linked to the takeover of the club, either through the newspapers, or those intent on being at the heart of a rumour on Twitter. Some rumours though, have been beyond ridiculous. Big Phil Scolari was allegedly seen wandering around Nottingham, searching for a new home. This link may seem bizarre to some, but Scolari took an interest in Forest under the Brian Clough days, and since then, has often been labelled a ‘Forest admirer’. Surely the rumours could struggle to top that.
What next, the Queen arriving in Nottingham to finalise a deal to take over the club?
Oh no, we’ve had that as well. Luckily however, there was a lot more humour connected to that, than the others.
Forest, a few days ago, were without a sponsor, without a kit, ownerless, and player sales seemed inevitable, and the mood was fairly gloomy. Fortunately, having found a sponsor, in ‘John Pye & Sons Auctioneers’, and with that, releasing an away kit, things seem to be picking up, improving the mood.
Following the arrival of the new sponsors, came contrasting statements. John Pye claiming “a takeover is imminent”, with Mark Arthur, the CEO, attempting to lower the expectations, and calm the people down who may have got carried away by Pye’s words, by stating, “We are hopeful to have new owners in for the new season”,
The last thing Mark Arthur said he was more than hopeful for?
Darren Pratley and Peter Whittingham “wanted to join the club”, commented the much criticised Chief Executive. The Forest fans can be forgiven, for taking what he says with a pinch of salt.
The summer at Forest up to this point, has been eventful, to say the least. The fascinating factor being, most of these rumours have come from journalists in Kuwait, linking businessman Fawaz Al-Hasawi with the takeover. It doesn’t take much to get Forest fans excited, and dreaming of being the next Manchester City, and this has certainly been the case.
Many of the Forest faithful urging this pending takeover to hurry up, as they wait impatiently, seeking assurances of Forest’s future.
To these fans, it must be asked, would they rather the process was long, drawn out, and strenuous, consequently meaning the owner could be intensely researched, to find out whether they do have the financial tools they’re promising…
Or, do they want a rushed takeover, because those involved in the takover looking after the Forest side of the technicalities are too keen on ensuring Forest’s short term future is secure, so they could now focus on starting the season?
The latter introducing the strong risk everything could go wrong within months, and Forest would be left in tatters. Whilst it may be frustrating, the delay the fans are suffering currently, is the best thing for us, although it may not feel it.
If recent rumours are to be believed, the sleeping giant of Nottingham Forest may finally be awoken. Despite the uncertainty over the Kuwaiti businessman’s wealth, the plans that have been reported would get even the most pessimistic of Forest fans sitting up, and taking notice.
Neil Warnock’s name has been frequently linked over the past few weeks, and his tussle with Ken Bates continues, increasing the likelihood that this may happen. Warnock, a proven winner and Championship expert “has always wanted to manage Forest”, according to David Johnson, who knows him from his loan spell at Sheff Utd.
Whilst all of this speculation goes on, Steve Cotterill is preparing for the worst case scenario, that Forest won’t get new owners, and he has to begin the season with a threadbare squad. As he posed for photos during the away kit reveal, it must have been lingering in the back of his mind, that all of this may plunged into irrelevance, in just a few weeks time.
One thing that can’t be doubted about Cotterill, is the way he’s conducted himself, when his position has been questioned, by either newspaper rumours, or fans.
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When the time comes, and the takeover does indeed go through, Twitter and fans forums will combust with excitement.
What may not be visible, is the reality needed when a takeover goes through. Nottingham Forest aren’t Man City. Money does not buy success.
It feels like the chapter of finding a new owner may be coming to an end, but there’s a longer chapter to come, with a lot more drama…
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is condemned to roll a large boulder up a hill for the entirety of his afterlife. Zeus creates a situation whereby every time Sisyphus nears the top the boulder rolls to the bottom again, the Greek king is condemned to the perpetuity of futile effort and frustration.
Without meaning to sound melodramatic, there are comparisons between Sisyphus and David Moyes. Despite the Glaswegian’s best efforts, over a decade at Goodison Park has brought him little success. The 04/05 season saw Everton qualify for the Champions League yet their dream was short-lived. Moyes’ side also made it to the FA Cup final in 2009 only to lose out to Chelsea; yet apart from those instances there have been few moments where silverware was within reach.
Moyes’ Everton have always been a formidable side, always capable of beating the best in the league. There isn’t one team in England that looks forward to an away day at Goodison Park and the city’s ‘family’ club have a number of players coveted by other managers.
Why, then, has David Moyes not achieved the success that a three-time LMA Manager of the Year perhaps deserves? The uncomfortably familiar trend to each season must be wearisome for both the talented manager and the fans. In the last ten years Everton have come 7th, 16th, 4th, 11th, 6th, 5th, 5th, 8th, 7th and 7th.
So, in his first full season at the club Moyes took Everton to 7th place, last season he did the same. There have been peaks and troughs in between but the pattern is largely tainted by a sense of déjà vu. However, this consistency should not be undervalued. For Moyes to have come in the top eight for eight out of his ten seasons at the club is hugely impressive considering the budget on which he operates.
Arsene Wenger often receives praise for how he maintains Arsenal’s Champions league status whilst spending very little and, proportionately to the amount of money Everton have, Moyes’ achievements are not dissimilar.
Nobody could claim that Everton’s Premier League performances have been below par during Moyes’ tenure. However, what is evident is that with the club’s competitors increasing their financial investments, Everton are in danger of being left behind. To have consistently built and managed strong sides at Everton, despite his financial restraints, is an achievement that cannot be underestimated yet neither is the fact that Everton have been riding their luck with Moyes – few managers could run the club as efficiently as he does, yet if this lack of funding continues he could be tempted away from the north-west.
Without investment from Bill Kenwright, Jon Woods or Robert Earl the club will be unable to keep up with those around them yet the three majority shareholders in the club have already explained that investment on their part is not a possibility.
The only option, it would therefore seem, would be to sell the club. Easier said than done. Everton are haemorrhaging money.
Their most recent financial statements revealed that although their loans had been reduced from £30.5m to £23.7m their overdraft has increased from £5.1m to £9.1m. The service charges and interest on these debts alone is a huge burden.
On top of this they also sold their Bellefield training ground in 2007 for just over £9m. That money, however, has already been spent and the club now has to pay £1m per year to rent their new training ground at Finch Farm in Halewood.
In order to stay afloat it has been said that Everton will need to sell, on average, one decent player every summer.
Consequently, finding a buyer has been a difficult task. Moreover, the comparison between David Moyes and Sisyphus becomes a little clearer. Just as Sisyphus suffers catastrophic set backs every time he nears the top of the hill, David Moyes is forced to sell one of his star players at the end of every season. How he is ever supposed to build a truly successful team under such circumstances is something of a mystery.
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Perhaps Everton’s owners are happy to merely cling on for now, hoping that Moyes’ stewardship will safeguard them until some frivolous and foolhardy new buyer steps up to save the club; however until such time it appears the satus quo of the club will remain.
You can comment by following me on Twitter @H_Mackay
Spain and Barcelona’s success in recent seasons has led to both the club and national teams being discussed as among the best teams ever. It is not just the amount they have won, with Spain becoming the first ever country to achieve three consecutive major international tournament triumphs, but the way in which they have done it. An aesthetically pleasing brand of quick, high-intensity pass-and-move football, coupled with high pressing and squeezing of opponents to win the ball when not in possession. In short, ‘tiki-taka’.
Both sides appear to be turning the whole of the pitch into midfield. Every player is technically gifted and comfortable with the ball at their feet, similarly to the Dutch ideology of ‘Total Football’. It makes it difficult to win the ball in any area of the pitch and opponents must be on guard as they can be picked apart at any moment. As seen at Barcelona and with Spain at Euro 2012, even conventional strikers made way for midfielders as the ‘false nine’ role took to the international stage.
At the heart of the team are Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Two midfielders of a slight build whose deft control and unerring precision with the ball, as well as the amount they utilise it, have made them icons of the game. And with countries across the globe worshipping this style of football, many want to replicate it.
In Brazil, the lack of shorter technically gifted players in the ilk of Xavi or Iniesta is being bemoaned by their national press. In their squad they only possess midfielders at either end of the spectrum. Robust holding-midfielders or energetic, playmaking attacking-midfielders. Spain have stolen the moniker of ‘home of the beautiful game’ from Brazil, and it seems the general consensus is that they must join them in their style of play to regain that title.
It would not work.
Many of the Spanish team have grown up with the possession-based philosophy promoted at every stage of their development, while in Brazil the dedication is less intense and there is still that extra admiration and encouragement of individual brilliance. The majority of the Spaniards also adhere to such notions week in week out whereas none of the Brazilian side can boast that they play in such a 4-2-3-1 system, with a similar passing style, at club level.
The desire to imitate the Iberian teams suggests there is a notion of the right way to play, something which Jonathan Wilson speaks at in length in Inverting the Pyramid. This is not the case. While Barcelona’s football may have wowed fans all over the world, they found themselves stifled by the defensive tactics of Chelsea in last season’s Champions League semi-finals. The Blues were derided for their negative ‘anti-football’, but they ended up as champions. Added to Real Madrid’s dethroning of the Catalan club in La Liga last season, it show the ‘right’ way is not always the winning way.
Brazil have become far more of a pragmatic sideover the last 30 years. Current coach Mano Menezes has recently introduced a high pressing game as part of Brazil’s make-up, but when it comes to possession they should aim to utilise the current tools they have to their maximum. If they cannot hold the ball against a team like Spain then they must exploit their pace on the wings (Hulk, Neymar and Lucas Moura) and robust midfield (Lucas Leiva, Sandro, Ramires) to counterattack. It is a method that has frequently been used in an attempt to best La Roja and the Catalan club, though admittedly only to limited effect.
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It is not as easy as suggesting playing in a completely different manner in two years time. You need the correct players to do it. If the success of Spain has encouraged Brazil to return to the more fluid, dynamic football of old then that is what they should seek to begin instilling at youth level. Of course, the successes of Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao and Jorge Sampaoli at Universidad de Chile have shown that such a philosophy can be rapidly installed at club level, but they train their players on a far more regular basis than at international level. If they attempted to implement such changes on the senior national team with the current crop of players in two years time, it would be a complete failure.
When it comes to the World Cup in 2014, Brazilian football fans will be desperate for glory. If they manage to lift the trophy, it will not matter too much if they do not win by playing the swaggering passing game with which the Spanish have been so successful. La Roja did not become successful overnight. It has taken years of work in youth development yet while ‘tiki-taka’ may be lauded and put upon a pedestal, it is not the only way to claim silverware as both Real Madrid and Chelsea have shown.
Joe Hart and Daniel Sturridge have pulled out of England’s squad for Wednesday’s international friendly against Italy, the FA have confirmed.
The Three Lions face the side that eliminated them from Euro 2012 in Switzerland in midweek, but will be without two members of Roy Hodgson’s experimental squad and will not call up replacements.
Hart did not feature in Manchester City’s 3-2 triumph over Chelsea in the Community Shield on Sunday, and has withdrawn due to a back strain.
This means that either Jack Butland or John Ruddy will make their international debut against Cesare Prandelli’s men.
Sturridge has been competing for Team GB this summer in the Olympics, but has also been forced to miss the game due to a toe injury.
It is not known whether Hart and Sturridge will be fit for the new Premier League season that starts next weekend.
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Fulham are ready to battle Tottenham for the signature of Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, The Daily Mail state.
The Netherlands international moved to the Italian capital from Ajax last summer, but is said to have failed to settle at his new club.
As such, Stekelenburg has been linked with a move elsewhere, with Tottenham eager to bring him to White Hart Lane after being priced out of a move for Hugo Lloris.
However, Andre Villas-Boas’ men are set to be rivalled by Fulham, who are also set to launch a £6 million offer for the stopper.
Martin Jol hopes to bring his Dutch countryman to Craven Cottage, who would follow in the footsteps of former fans’ favourite and compatriot Edwin van der Sar .
By Gareth McKnight
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