SkyBet have Southampton as the 2/1 favourites to sign Middlesbrough centre-back Ben Gibson in this summer’s transfer window.
Everton are believed to have turned to Gibson after cooling their interest in Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles.
The Toffees are the second-favourites to sign the 25-year-old, but if the bookmakers are to be believed, Gibson will join Southampton if he leaves Boro in this summer’s transfer window.
Southampton seemingly have big plans this summer after managing to stay in the Premier League last season, and Mark Hughes is staying on as head coach.
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Barcelona forward Paco Alcacer is amongst those to be linked with St Mary’s, but there is no question that the club are in need of some reinforcements at the back following the sale of Virgil van Dijk during the January transfer window.
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The Southampton fans have been reacting to the speculation surrounding Gibson, and it would be fair to say that they have some mixed opinions.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
With the competition for England’s right wing spot really heating up between Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon, the Arsenal winger seems to be the current favourite to be given a starting spot but the question is does he deserve it?
Walcott hasn’t had the greatest of seasons for Arsenal and hasn’t even been a regular starter, Lennon has been injured the majority of 2010 but prior to this was in outstanding form for Tottenham. The two players are fairly even but during England’s game against Mexico on Monday, Lennon coming off the bench arguably did more in that time than Walcott did in the whole game.
Lennon appears to have more ability in using his pace to run past a player and put a cross in, whereas Walcott is more technical and has more of an eye for goal. Also Walcott sticks to the team shape more and tries to pick his moments when to bomb forward, Lennon on the other hand gets forward at every opportunity. Whilst this direct play puts opponents under pressure it does have the capability of backfiring and leaving England exposed.
The expectations of Walcott have been hugely raised thanks to his hat-trick in England’s 4-1 win over Croatia in Zagreb. Since then everyone wants him to replicate that form, but the more and more chances he gets it just seems as though that was a one-off performance. In fact arguably had it not been for those three goals then Walcott would be unlikely to make the final squad. Whilst Lennon hasn’t had as great a performance as Walcott for England in one game, he has been much more consistent over the games he has played for his country.
It’s going to be a tough decision for Fabio Capello as to who he chooses to start; does he go with Walcott and hope that he can replicate his performance against Croatia? Or does he go with Lennon who has been the better player but is also prone to leaving England vulnerable, particularly with Glen Johnson getting forward at every opportunity. It’s pretty much neck and neck between the two as to who will get the number 7 shirt. But in Capello’s eyes it is a good problem to have with two quality players competing for a starting role.
If Walcott can get his confidence back then he could well be capable of being England’s star player at the World Cup because he undoubtedly has that ability inside of him. However if he can’t then he can still be a good player to bring off the bench if England need a fresh face or are chasing a game. Lennon because of his consistency would be the safe and logical bet to start and he is probably who Capello should go with.
Who do you think should be starting on the right for England?
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Chelsea will begin the defence of their Premier League title at home to newly-promoted West Bromwich Albion on August 14.
Their second game is a trip to Wigan Athletic where they lost towards the end of last season.
Meanwhile, predicted title challengers Liverpool and Arsenal will meet at Anfield on the opening weekend in an early heavyweight showdown.
Last season's runners-up Manchester United will open against another promoted club in Championship winners Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Blackpool, who earned their place in the top-flight after winning the Championship play-off final, have been handed a home game against Wigan Athletic at Bloomfield Road.
The Seasiders will also end the season with a mouth-watering trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
Elsewhere on the first day of the 2010/11 season, top four hopefuls Tottenham and Manchester City will meet at White Hart Lane.
Sunderland will be at home to Sunderland, Wolves take on Stoke City at Molineux and Bolton Wanderers play host to Fulham.
Aston Villa go head-to-head with West Ham United in the Midlands and Everton will travel to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers.
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Opening fixtures (Saturday, 14 August):
Aston Villa v West Ham United, Blackburn Rovers v Everton, Blackpool v Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers v Fulham, Chelsea v West Bromwich Albion, Liverpool v Arsenal, Manchester United v Newcastle United, Sunderland v Birmingham City, Tottenham v Manchester City, Wolves v Stoke City.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
It has shaped up to be, and probably is, one of the most talked about transfer sagas this summer…will Cesc Fabregas actually be leaving Arsenal in favour of Barcelona? Or will the Spaniard remain the Gunners captain for the forthcoming season?
As a Gooner through and through, it’s absolutely appalling to see, and read in the national papers the way the Catalan club have gone about tapping up our star man. Fabregas seemed fine last season before Barca came knocking on the door which has visibly unsettled Cesc this summer.
I’m not saying it’s all Barcelona’s fault because frankly it isn’t. As our captain, Fabregas should have clearly stated from the start of these allegations if he wanted to stay or leave…it appears he has done neither, which has left a number of Arsenal fans biting their nails in anticipation until he does.
There is no denying that Cesc Fabregas is one of Arsenal’s best players, and clearly one of the best in his position at present. However, if the rumours are true that he has been telling his Spanish team-mates this summer about wanting out of the Emirates, do we really want him wearing our beloved Arsenal jersey for the upcoming season?
Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy’s style, flair and movement on the pitch, I have even ditched my regular left-back slot when I play football just to imitate him in the middle of the park, but if he is not committed to the club, then ultimately it would be best if the midfielder does leave this summer. There is no point of keeping any player at a club if his heart is not 100% devoted to the cause.
I for one am very disappointed with Fabregas’ involvement in this whole saga. It frustrates me as a fan to see one of your best players linked with a massive club, yet the player keeps quiet about it, why? We’ve had these types of scenarios many times in the past with other top players like Patrick Vieira and Marc Overmars wanting out, and to see it happen again is awful.
Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique has recently come out of his busy schedule in South Africa to stir the pot even more by claiming that the Arsenal midfielder desires a move to his native country. As reported in the Telegraph earlier this week, the 23-year-old said on the matter:
“I have known that Cesc wanted to join Barcelona for many years – but now it is more than about wanting to do it. Now it is something he feels he must do. The World Cup has not been a good thing for Arsenal. It has meant that he has been spending every day with myself, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Victor Valdes – and he has made his feelings very clear to us. He is keeping his mind focused on Spain but his heart is in Barcelona. I think already in his heart he is wearing a Barcelona shirt next season.”
Contributions like this do not help the matter and further complicates the issue. Reading Pique’s statement has saddened me a little, yet I won’t believe a word to be true unless it comes straight from the horse’s mouth.
I would love to see Cesc develop his superb talent even further at the Emirates, as he is on course to be the best midfielder in the world in my view. However, with all that’s happened and being said by both parties’ in the past few months, I would question the commitment of the player if he in fact stays.
Barcelona will not meet Arsenal’s asking price of £50 million for Fabregas, as the Spanish champions have stated they will not go over the £40 million mark. If these reports are correct then it does look like a deal will not be met, and as a result, Fabregas will stay for at least another season at the Emirates. However, even if Wenger wants his talisman to remain in North London, the Frenchman cannot and should not keep Cesc at the club if the midfielder does in fact desire a move to his boyhood club this summer. If Cesc wants to leave then Wenger and the Arsenal faithful should not begrudge his inclination, and wish the player all the best in the future, end of.
Arsenal fans will want this chronicle to come to an end one way or another this summer, as it has certainly taken its toll on everybody concerned within the club. Whatever the outcome of this saga involving Cesc Fabregas, Barcelona must respect Arsenal’s decision. In my opinion, the quicker the issue is resolved the better it would be for both clubs involved.
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Click on image below to see the Argentinean babes at the World Cup
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Former manager Roy Hodgson has backed new boss Mark Hughes to be a success after he took charge at Fulham.
Hughes has agreed a two-year contract with the Cottagers, following Hodgson’s move to Liverpool earlier this summer and the new Reds chief is confident that the former Wales, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City manager is a good appointment.
Hodgson told reporters: “It is a good appointment. I am very pleased for him and Fulham Football Club.
“I think Mark is a very good manager and he has proved his worth many times. It is good Fulham have got such an experienced man to take over.
“I think he will enjoy working at Fulham, because it is a fantastic club with fantastic people and magnificent players.
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“I wish him well, but not too well when he plays against us – but I know he will do well.”
Sunday 27th June 2010. Bloemfontein, South Africa. England 1 Germany 4. The day the illusion died and the post-mortem began. England’s Golden Generation had been shown to be nothing more than average on the world stage. They had been stung by Schweinsteiger. Overwhelmed by Özil. Murdered by Müller. For the first time since the advent of the Premier League in 1992, there was a universal opinion that something had to change. If it didn’t, the national team would be arbitrarily condemned to a spectacular, humiliating and terminal decline. The new squad rules for this season may, therefore, come as a welcome change to many a patriotic Englishman desperate to see top managers ‘give the kids a chance’. After all, not since the footballing baptisms of Beckham, Butt, Scholes and the Neville brothers has a team made up mainly of young Englishmen had resounding domestic success. Aston Villa and Tottenham have come close in recent years but as England discovered in South Africa, being good and being brilliant are incomparably different.
The new rule change is designed to represent a change from the norm, with eight ‘home grown’ players required in each squad of 25. The theory, its supporters will tell you, is that the top teams can no longer gain success by filling their squad with expensive foreigners. Young, talented Englishmen, they will claim, will have to be given a chance by top teams. The pinnacle of their careers no longer needs to be a passionate relegation clash between Hull and West Ham or a flukey if heart-warming cup run. They can look forward to Champions League experience and challenging for the Premier League title, and in turn they will develop into world class players, capable of following in the footsteps of Bobby and the lads and bringing glory back to our tiny island. That’’’ be the result of the new rules, the supporters will say. In reality, the consequences may not be so beneficial…
Under the new rules, each squad can only use a squad over 25 players who are over the age of 21. Essentially, a maximum of 17 of these players can be ‘foreign’. The other eight players must be ‘home grown’. If a team only has six ‘home grown’ players, they can only name a squad of 23. Players under the age of 21 can be selected but do not need to be included in the squad. Clearly this adds great value to ‘home grown’ players, but could have a hugely negative impact on their careers. Take Michael Mancienne, seen by many as a future England regular. Chelsea currently have just five home grown players, so their squad size would be limited to 22, hardly enough to compete on two fronts in England and Europe. Therefore, the Blues will undoubtedly be desperate to add ‘home grown’ players to their squad – and prevent those already there leaving. Mancienne had a fine season at Wolves last year, and would undoubtedly have benefited from another season on loan with a mid-table Premiership club. While he is not yet good enough for the Chelsea first team, at 22 he has the potential to become a star for club and country. However, the new squad rules leave Mancienne’s career in danger of stagnating. Carlo Ancelotti will undoubtedly want to keep him to make up the numbers next year but he is unlikely to get a great deal of top-level game time unless a severe injury crisis hits Stamford Bridge. After all, there is no quota on the number of ‘home grown’ players in a team’s starting eleven or even their matchday squad of eighteen. In the past, Chelsea could have sent Mancienne out on loan again to aid his development, replacing him in the squad with an ageing foreigner in the mould of Sotirios Kyrgiakos at Liverpool. Mancienne could have come back when he was ready to challenge for a first team place. Under the new rules, however, he is likely to be a bench warmer at best.
Many feel that the new rule will give chances to younger players in particular. After all, in a squad of 25, it only takes a few injuries before some of the under-21s are required in the match day squad. However, the concept of under-21s are in the squad is not in itself necessarily beneficial to the England team. After all, apart from a few notable exceptions such as Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott at Arsenal among others, many of the under-21s who play a role, particularly in the tops sides, will be foreign. Kiko Macheda looks set to get a chance at Manchester United this season, while the equally talented Danny Welbeck will be shipped out on loan, playing a lower standard of football. At Manchester City, meanwhile, it is hard to see any under-21s making an impact at all unless Mario Balotelli completes his protracted switch from Internazionale. Even at Liverpool, with Englishman Roy Hodgson at the helm, only Jonjo Shelvey is likely to play a role in the first team this season, and even he may be surpassed by Daniel Pacheco. Yes, young players probably will get a chance, but how does it benefit the future of the England team if they aren’t even English?
But the problem isn’t merely restricted to under-21s. To be counted as home-grown, players must have been trained in England in three years before the age of 21. It seems a laughable criteria. Owen Hargreaves, if he overcomes his injury problems, will be a ‘foreign’ player in the Manchester United squad, despite the fact that his inclusion is quite clearly of benefit to Fabio Capello’s England team. Arsenal currently have seven ‘home grown’ players, but it is hard to see how encouraging their selection will benefit the Three Lions in Brazil in 2014. Their names? Fabregas, Bendtner, Clichy, Denilson, Djourou, Mannone, Song. ‘Home grown’ implies English, In fact, on paper it means something altogether different, and it seems that the FA may have spectacularly missed a trick when selecting the definition.
The rule change, it seems, were envisioned as a step that would benefit the English national team. Tragically, it appears to have been a misguided step. The intention was to encourage opportunities and development for young English players. In reality, it simply encourages clubs to ‘buy foreign’ earlier. More and more clubs will seek to find Fabregases and Machedas who they can sign at 16, exploiting the restrictions put in place due to their being classed as ‘home grown’ by the age of 19, whatever their nationality. The results could be disastrous. Many English players will be released earlier and replaced by top players from abroad. They will receive worse coaching for a greater proportion of their career and as a result could end up playing at an even lower level than before. Only the extremely gifted English youngsters (think Wayne Rooney, Joe Cole) will survive to be professional at Premiership clubs. The FA has made a grave mistake in the rules it has created for the 2010-11 season. Reforms have been required in England for years, but the reforms should have started at the bottom. In an ideal world, if we really want to produce a great England team in the future, we must concentrate on youth. Our clubs should be banned from signing foreign players under the age of 18. There should also be some kind of quota on English players in starting lineups. This may seem extreme, but at the very least the definition of ‘home grown’ must be altered so that it includes only players eligible for the England team. If necessary, the FA could gives clubs a few years to restructure their squads. The benefits in the long run would still be huge.
The dream is an England team where every player plays in the Champions League. Without changes, it may not be long before we have and England team where every player plays in the Championship. That really would represent the sounding of a death knell for English football.
Written By Gareth Roberts
With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
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After the drama of transfer deadline day the obligation of Premier League clubs to name a 25-man squad, which cannot include more than 17 overseas players passed by virtually unnoticed yesterday. Managers such as Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger labelled the new regulations as “ridiculous,” arguing that it will harm those who have to play games in European competitions. But with Arsenal’s staggering number of under-21 players who are not subject to the new restrictions, they boast a squad of 70. For all the scare mongering and dire predictions, prominent players including Owen Hargreaves and Roque Santa Cruz did make their respective squad lists. Whether through injury, inexperience or poor form below is a list of those who will be ineligible to play PL football at least until January.
Jonathan Woodgate
News reports have inferred that the last minute arrival of Rafael van der Vaart at White Hart Lane squeezed Woodgate out of Spurs’ 25-man squad. The 29-year old defender has been plagued by a persistent groin problem. Having not played since last November it is believed that one last ditch attempt at surgery may provide a cure. Harry Redknapp has said, “It’s so sad for Jonathan. He’s such a good player and a great lad as well.”
Ben Alnwick
Woodgate’s colleague at Tottenham, Alnwick has additionally been left out of their squad. The 23-year old goalkeeper who joined from Sunderland in 2007 made his PL debut on the final day of last season at Turf Moor. Although categorised as a senior home-grown player his place was effectively made redundant after Stipe Pletikosa joined on loan from Spartak Moscow.
Luke Daniels
Another young English goalkeeper who has been omitted from a PL squad is West Brom’s Daniels. The keeper has suffered from a back injury which scuppered his proposed loan spell at Bristol Rovers. He is expected to recover in the coming months but would have faced stiff competition from Scott Carson, Boaz Myhill and Dean Kiely. Daniels will be hopeful of a chance to feature in the Carling Cup of for the Baggies reserve team.
Luke Moore
A slightly more surprising omission at the west Midlands clubs is that of striker Luke Moore. The 24-year old who cost the club £3.5 million from Aston Villa in 2008 has been deemed surplus to requirements. The forward who once won the FA Youth Cup at his former club is expected to seek a loan switch to a Championship side.
Michael Kightly
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The 24-year old winger has not featured for Wolves since last November having suffered a patella tendon injury. He has faced further set-backs in his rehabilitation and is being tipped to go out on loan once he returns to fitness. The midfielder who scored 8 times during the club’s promotion winning season has been earmarked for a return to their PL squad in January.
Mamady Sidibe
The burly striker’s season and hopes of making Stoke City’s squad were cruelly dashed after he snapped his Achilles tendon during the home defeat to Tottenham. Stoke boss Tony Pulis has claimed that the Mali international may be back sooner than first thought but the Welshman and Peter Coates have been industrious in the transfer window. The club signed four players on transfer deadline day including former Barcelona forward, Eidur Gudjohnson and Jermaine Pennant.
With the season about to start I wrote an article about the possible gamble of a Premier League club choosing to buy Hatem Ben Arfa. The French forward had been linked with a number of clubs, both here and abroad, and was almost certain to leave Marseille for pastures of the greener variety. The abilty that Ben Arfa has is not the sticking point; he is good enough to make in the Premier League, good enough to make it in any league he chooses. But it is the petulant baggage that he carries on his shoulders which may have deterred clubs from making their move.
Newcastle have not been deterred. The canny piece of the deal in which they have done, is that Ben Arfa has arrived on loan, thus if there are any reoccurrences of the misdemeanours that have blighted his career, then Newcastle can wash their hands of him, without any real financial loss.
Newcastle did well to come away from Goodison Park on Saturday with a win. Although Everton are far from their best at the moment, for Newcastle to go away and get three points is a massive boost for the team. There were a few players in particular who shone for Newcastle; Joey Barton continues to impress and rehabilitate, and leading man Any Carroll was good without being spectacular, but it was Ben Arfa, making his first start for the club, who really caught the eye.
The former Lyon and Marseille man, and Clairefontaine graduate, is unerringly comfortable on the ball. Whether it is staying out wide on the left and heading to the by-line, or drifting inside from his flank to get more of the ball, he can be potent in either fashion. His pace and close control make him tough to dispossess, and as Tim Howard is now more aware of, has a fierce strike to add to the heady mix.
It appears Ben Arfa could fill a creative gap that may be lacking at St James Park. As mentioned above, Barton is having a really good season, and Kevin Nolan is a key figure in support of the lonesome Carroll, but Ben Arfa could really make the left-handed berth his own. And for Carroll, having Newcastle’s newest recruit on the left, a rejuvenated Wayne Routledge on the right and Nolan just behind, could provide him with both support and ammunition.
It is easy to see Geordie fans falling in love with Ben Arfa, he is just their sort of player. What money on him running Stoke ragged next weekend in front of the home fans? The only question mark is over his temperament. Joey Barton has obviously had his problems (seemingly all in the past), Andy Carroll is not retreating flower and there is still the Steven Taylor contract dispute rumbling on. Things seem to be going well for Newcastle at the moment, and a disruptive influence is not what they need. Ben Arfa has had scuffles and bust-ups with opponents, teammates and his managers at both his clubs in France – Chris Hughton will have to keep him in check.
Should the promising start to turn sour, then Hughton and Newcastle will be able to move on, and let Ben Arfa head back to his parent club. If his performance at Everton was merely a glimmer of what he will produce this season, thenNewcastle have pulled off a transfer coup.
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Hatem Ben Arfa has been awarded Goal of the Week for this stunner:
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is relieved that Dirk Kuyt's ankle injury has proved to be far less serious than was first feared, with the Dutch forward set to be back in action within a month.
The 30-year-old forward was injured during the Netherlands' Euro 2012 qualifier against Sweden on Tuesday evening, amid fears that he could be sidelined for a lengthy period.
However, after the injury was looked at by the Reds' medical staff, Hodgson told reporters:"The initial rumours coming out of Holland were that it was going to be a really long injury, maybe months.
"But our doctor and our sports science people are much more optimistic. They think it is more likely to be one month – or if we are lucky three weeks.
"He seriously twisted his ankle with ligament damage and we are going to miss him for some matches that's for sure.
"He does recover very quickly and the thing about Dirk is that he is always anxious to get back on the football field.
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"If it can be done in three weeks it will be three. If it can be two he'll do it in two, but we are looking at a lay-off.
"It's disappointing because it is the second time he has gone away with the national team and come back and missed weeks for us."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Celtic have apparently, on the face of league results, cruised through their first seven games this season but an air of concern still looms over the Glasgow team’s defence.
Celtic Boss Neil Lennon was pleased with the final result despite the visitors, Hamilton Academical, dominating the early stages Saturday’s match and taking an early lead only three minutes in.
This highlighted the all too familiar question that Celtic’s current defence is suspect and lacks the consistency and discipline that you would think a title contending team would possess.
Celtic Manager Lennon however, remained optimistic and refused to pile on any unnecessary pressure onto his centre-back pairing of Glenn Loovens and Daniel Majstorovic. Lennon furthermore, remained defiant and explained that any issues surrounding the team’s defence were minor and it was something they would be working on in the coming weeks.
Is Lennon’s optimistic nature matched by the 60,000 fans that invest their hard earned money and walk through the turnstiles every week? As a Celtic fan myself, I won’t have any complaints if the team is winning and we sit above the ‘blue side of the city’ in the league standings.
However, this skin deep approach does only scratch the surface. Currently the Hoops only top the table on goal difference and you soon realise that if it is a similar story come the end of the season every goal counts even at these early stages. Celtic will most certainly have to shore up a defence that flatters to deceive if they want to rescue the title from the West End of Glasgow.
The Celtic team’s nervy centre-back pairing of Loovens and Majstorovic, during the early stages of the Hamilton Accies match, did however, inadvertently highlight the fact that Celtic might have found a hidden gem in ‘on loan’ goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Lennon acknowledged one of his latest acquisitions by saying “Our goalkeeper was fantastic and he had to be. He had to make some very good saves to keep the score down and allow us to get back in to the game”. I think most; if not all, of the 60,000 fans would have matched Lennon’s confidence in his new stopper.
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It would not be unfair to say that since Forster’s arrival the Celtic defence has improved and there seems to be a new found assurance between the goalkeeper and the club’s defence
Individuals who have taken their place between the sticks prior to Forster shall remain nameless, but have not exuded the same amount of confidence that the current keeper instills in ‘the faithful’ who flock to Celtic Park each week. Communication between, not only the centre-back pairing, but the whole back four seems to be stronger and in turn has improved not only the manager’s but the fans’ confidence in the team.
This said, The Bhoys are showing signs of improvement every game since they crashed out of Europe earlier on in the season, which leaves me with this final thought: maybe, the 60,000 fans that invest their hard earned money and walk through the turnstiles every week should have total confidence in ‘Lenny’. How can we not when he is yet to lose a domestic league game.