Aston Villa got back to winning ways in the English Championship on Saturday, defeating Sheffield Wednesday 4-2.
It was a hugely important three points, especially after poor results in recent matches, and Steve Bruce’s side showed tremendous spirit to come from behind twice to secure victory in the final five minutes of the match.
With the match poised at 2-2 heading into the closing moments, Conor Hourihane popped up with a fierce shot to put them ahead before Robert Snodgrass slotted home a penalty in injury time.
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Fans were delighted with the performance and result for the most part, but did have criticism for midfielder Josh Onomah, whose substitution on the hour mark was the catalyst for the comeback.
Supporters are now calling for him not to be selected in future, believing that the likes of Callum O’Hare would be a far better option.
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Is it time to stop playing the Tottenham Hotspur loan star?
Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke is sure that Louis van Gaal is the right man to be in the Old Trafford dugout after watching his Holland side at the World Cup.
The experienced Dutchman is set to make his switch to the Theatre of Dream proper when the Brazilian tournament finishes for his nation, which may be in three games’ time with the Oranje set to face Costa Rica in the quarter-finals.
Van Gaal has a wealth of experience at the very highest level following spells with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax, but some fans and pundits displayed reservations surrounding his appointment with club icon Ryan Giggs a name to have been tipped to take the role after being caretaker at the end of last season.
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Yorke was among that camp, but the ex-Trinidad & Tobago international says that he has been won over by van Gaal’s management of the Netherlands in recent weeks:
“I said on numerous occasions that I think Ryan Giggs was the one to be given the job and now I look back and reflect and think maybe Van Gaal is the right decision,” he told talkSPORT.
“You can’t question Van Gaal with what he has done and achieved in his career as a manager,
“Wherever he has gone, he has been successful, even if it is for a short period of time.
“He proved again in this World Cup that he is not just a great manager, but gets the maximum out his players, which is essential.
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“I think the players have lost their focus a bit and with Van Gaal coming in, with so much experience, he may get that focus back again and get the players achieving things United are usually associated with.”
Theo Walcott continues to make a good case for himself to finally get a role through the centre of Arsenal’s attack. His well-taken goal for the Gunners away at West Ham was another impressive finish to add to the two goals against Coventry in the League Cup. But is it enough to warrant a starting role for Arsene Wenger’s side?
I’m yet to be convinced of Walcott as a leading striker for a top Premier League team. He may flourish into one in the near future, but I’m not seeing it now. Goals in the manner that he put them away are impressive, despite the opposition, but the best thing the player can do at the moment is keep his head down and continue on the same path.
The injury while on international duty will be a big blow, and it’s something we’ve seen in the past from Walcott. He’ll get himself set for a good run of scoring form only to be sidetracked by injury. It was a regular occurrence prior to last season and was arguably a big contribution to his slow development. However, even with the issue of a new contract needing to be ironed out before January, Arsene Wenger may not totally trust Walcott as his central figure in attack.
There’s no doubt that the player can come off the bench and make an impact. Champions League ties against AC Milan and Liverpool in the past are good evidence of that, but we’re not seeing the second half scoring performance against Tottenham in last season’s 5-2 win regularly enough. The first half in that game was typical Walcott. Poor first touch and no great contribution is how those first 45-minutes will be remembered. Even the recent loss to Chelsea in the league saw Walcott provide very little, and that was also from an appearance off the bench.
Quite plainly, there’s nothing about Theo’s game that suggests he’s ready for the responsibility of the team’s main striker. But I do believe he’ll become one in the future.
He’s had enough with the wide position in the right flank, and rightfully so. Walcott was never a winger, despite his pace, and he lacks the attributes of a traditional wide player to be effective. He also doesn’t have the aggression and drive that you’d like to see from a key attacking player. He seems too hesitant to take a defender on and use his pace, often dithering on the ball and eventually losing possession. However, that may just be another indication that he’s not good enough for a role in the build-up play.
This system that Arsenal want to deploy using differing attacking styles with Gervinho and Olivier Giroud may work in Walcott’s favour. What if he does start putting away all his chances from the bench? What if he doesn’t use just one or two examples and point to his readiness for a central role? A flurry of goals and consistently good performances will only leave the manager with thoughts about starting Walcott. It’s another option for Arsenal and another system that will only leave the opposition ill-prepared.
I’ve made the point in the past that Walcott can’t be used as the striker in games where the opposition defend deep and have no intention to attack. In games such as those, Walcott becomes close to useless. He doesn’t have the intelligence to get behind a packed defence, nor has he displayed an ability to hold the ball up for his team mates.
Part of the reason he’s been so good coming off the bench is because the opposition have been worn out. They’re in no state to deal with his pace in the 80th minute of a game, often allowing him to race past and advance on goal. It was the theme in which we saw him capitalise in Milan and at Anfield, and how much would West Ham’s defenders have had in the tank to deal with his attack in the recent win at Upton Park?
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It’s a learning process at the top level that Walcott never had. He’s never had a run in either the Arsenal or England teams as a striker, thus making the transition a potentially problematic one. The role he has been given of late—one which surely has a lot to do with the contract situation—is one that works for both him and the team. The rest of the Arsenal players are not slowed down by his inferior technical skill, but he’s still getting goals when he finds an opportunity.
If he decides to stay at Arsenal and listen to Wenger’s advice, this could be the season where Walcott establishes himself as a successful central player rather than a frustrating and frustrated winger.
In promotion of the Men Ultra range and as part of their #JUSTWATCHME campaign, Head & Shoulders carried out a global survey across 8 nations, providing some interesting results on the decade defining football haircuts through the ages.
“Treating their scalps as blank canvases, footballers have long given their hairstylists full creative license in crafting artistic masterpieces that make statements, set trends and that grab the headlines when gracing football’s biggest stages” said football hairstylist Landry Agres.
The World Cup offers a stage where the planet’s most creative footballing talent can go head to head in pursuit of the most prestigious trophy in international football.
In a global survey of football fans across eight nations facilitated by Head & Shoulders, it has been revealed that Neymar Jr’s Bleached Barnet is the hairstyle that UK pollsters would most like to replicate.
Neymar’s bleached blonde locks have been subject to intense discussion on social media. Former United icon, Eric Cantona, had his say posting a light hearted picture where the Frenchman dons spaghetti on his head in homage to the Brazilian play-maker’s mop.
Cantona uploaded the image onto his Instagram account and puts his acting skills to the test holding a deadpan expression as he stares directly at the camera with spaghetti on his head.
He posted the photo the caption: “Neymar style. Spaghetti al dente!”
The picture was loved on social media, gaining hundreds of likes.
Despite the popularity of Neymar’s hairstyle in the polls, his new look was brutally trolled on social media.
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The same poll revealed that Belgium’s Radja Nainggolan has the unwanted title of having the hairstyle that UK pollsters would least like to replicate.
The fiery central midfielder and his Mohawk were both left out of Roberto Martinez’s World Cup squad.
According to reports in The Telegraph on February 5, former Watford manager Marco Silva is reportedly a target for West Ham United if they don’t keep David Moyes on at the end of the season, but Irons fans are not convinced that he would be a good appointment for them.
The Telegraph reported that the east London outfit had already decided that their Scottish boss wouldn’t be kept beyond his current contract even if they stay up – a story which has since been denied by the club – highlighting the currently unemployed Silva as a potential target.
The 40-year-old was sacked by Watford last month following a breakdown in the relationship between the Portuguese boss and the board – as well as with his players – after he was denied the opportunity to speak to Everton about their vacant managerial job back in November.
West Ham supporters were quick to have their say on Silva via social media, and while one said “I’d much rather have Eddie Howe”, another said “never understood the obsession people have with Marco Silva”.
Manchester City chief Manuel Pellegrini believes that his side have earned the Premier League title for the way in which they have coped with set-backs and performed this season.
The Sky Blues effectively need to avoid defeat at home to West Ham tomorrow to finish ahead of Liverpool and lift the trophy on the back of an excellent campaign, which has also yielded the Capital One Cup.
Although the Reds have been hailed for their attacking prowess and Chelsea – in third spot – have impressed with their defensive solidarity, City have powered on despite injuries to key men such as Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure.
Pellegrini feels that their resolute displays could not have been produced by their rivals had they had the same problems, and that his side deserve to be champions:
“Yes, I think so.” He is quoted as saying by The Mirror when asked if his side have played the best football this season. “As When I arrived here, my target was always to play well and try to win the title. The moment I accepted the job it was because I had a lot of trust that I could win the league.
“The first thing I can say is we chose the right squad we needed for this year,” said Pellegrini. “I don’t want to compare other teams but I think maybe we were without Aguero, he missed 14 or 15 games in the Premier League.
“Maybe some other teams, if you take Luis Suarez out of 15 games for Liverpool, Eden Hazard from Chelsea or Santi Cazorla from Arsenal…
“All the teams have injured players through the year.
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“But the reality in the way we did it is one of my best achievements. I’m happy with the whole squad.”
Kick It Out chairman Lord Ouseley has hit back at criticism of the organisation and blamed the FA for the continuation of racism in the English game.
A number of Premier League footballers including Rio Ferdinand refused to wear the company’s t-shirts as a front against racism in the weekend’s fixtures, with the players disenchanted with the organisation’s efforts.
Ouseley has stated that the FA are the governing body of the game and as such the players’ disillusionment should be aimed elsewhere.
“We don’t make the decisions, we don’t run football. We are a small charity trying to help football come to terms with the reality of the 21st century,” he is quoted as saying in The Guardian.
“We can shout from the rooftops and I can understand what the black players are saying: you are too involved in the game in the way you operate to be independent and say the things that have to be said.
“The power and decision-making is with the Football Association and the Premier League. We all would have liked the John Terry case to have been wrapped up within days last October, alas it’s lasted a whole year and it has caused a lot of pain and grief.
” They know what has to be done. We’ve been knocking on their door for a long, long, long time so they know what their responsibilities are. The absence of their voices during all this has been noticeable,” he concluded.
The English game has been blighted by acts of racism over the last two years.
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Porto have said they are open to offers for Newcastle target Yacine Brahimi, according to Portuguese website A Bola.
What’s the story?
Newcastle have been interested in the Algerian wide-man for a number of months following his impressive performances in the Primeira Liga.
Having scored nine goals and made nine assists from the left wing this season, the 28-year-old has attracted interest from a host of clubs, including West Ham.
A Bola report that the tricky winger has a release clause of £53million but it is believed a fee of £26million will be enough to secure the player.
Is he worth it?
Newcastle fans love a player who runs directly at defenders with pace and that is exactly what Brahimi is all about.
Averaging over five dribbles per game this season, he is an exciting player that gets fans off their seats and normally provides a good end product.
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He may not come cheap but this player is in the prime of his career and Newcastle will do very well to see off their rivals to his signature.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
On Tuesday morning, Marca claimed that Newcastle United were prepared to listen to offers for Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino.
However, Magpies boss Rafael Benitez denied the rumours during his press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Benitez insisted that the 21-year-old would not be leaving on deadline day despite what had been widely reported by the Spanish media.
The Newcastle fans are unconvinced, however, with many believing that the midfielder could still be sold before the winter transfer window slams shut on Wednesday night.
Merino only made his loan move from Borussia Dortmund permanent in October – signing a five-year contract with the Premier League club.
Merino, who is valued at £9m by transfermarkt.co.uk, has made 18 Premier League appearances this season, but just 12 of those have been starts.
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There is no question that the Spaniard is a popular figure with the Newcastle fans, and many are extremely fearful that he will be sold on transfer deadline day.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers launched a scathing attack on referee Lee Mason and his fellow officials after his side slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.
Prior to kick off the clash was billed as one of the most important games of the season so far, and it certainly delivered in terms of excitement.
Philippe Coutinho combined well with Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling to give the visitors the lead, before Vincent Kompany’s header and an Alvaro Negredo strike on the stroke of half-time sealed the three points for the Sky Blues.
Before the Reds’ opener, Sterling was adjudged to have been offside after being played through on goal, only for replays to reveal that the English starlet was indeed two yards from being in such a position.
Liverpool also has a late penalty call turned down after Suarez appeared to have his shirt pulled by Joleon Lescott.
After the final whistle Rodgers questioned the display and selection of Mason – who hails from the Greater Manchester area:
“Where do you want me to start?” he told Sky Sports.
“I thought we never got any decision. The linesman on the offside one – he wasn’t even on the same cut of grass.
“If you’re working at this level you have to get it right. It’s not even a difficult one.
“It is a perfectly-timed run and he is given offside when he is through one on one on goal. These are big moments in big games.
“There is another incident when Luis (Suarez) doesn’t get a free-kick when Joleon Lescott went right through him.
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“It is arguable it is a penalty at the end. Luis Suarez can’t jump because he is tugging at his shirt.
“I thought it was throughout the evening. Hopefully we don’t have another Greater Manchester referee again on a Liverpool-Manchester game.”