The word limbo can be defined as any status where a person is held up, and nothing can be done until another action happens. This definition can be translated perfectly when reviewing the careers of some of the Premier League’s less popular stars. Too often are genuine talents stuck in a contractual rut, with no obvious escape. The capacity of squads at Premier League clubs is understandably vast, which means that some quality footballers are required to stay sidelined for long periods of the domestic season. However, with a lack of playing time not allowing said players to display their abilities, interested clubs are few and far between. These circumstances mean that many professionals are trapped in limbo, seemingly unable to find their place at any football club in the league.
In this list, all 20 Premier League clubs for this season are represented, indicating the problematic circumstances that befall unfavoured players from all clubs. From players who have failed to make an impact from abroad, to youngsters who simply can not get the playing time that they so desperately require to improve, all facets of player are covered. Check out the 20 listed stars and see the player at your club whose career has fallen into limbo.
Click on Benayoun below to unveil the list
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Despite already upsetting the Tottenham board with an attempt to sign playmaker Luka Modric, according to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are now chasing Alan Gatagov, the Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder who is believed to have been on the Spurs radar for quite some time.
Although it has been suggested that Gatagov is being lined up as a back-up to Modric, should a deal not take place, this seems to be somewhat implausible due to the fact that the 20-year-old is simply not in the same bracket as the Tottenham man, at least not yet any way.
Gatagov is reportedly valued at around £7m by the Russian outfit, a price that is far more likely to appeal to Chelsea than Tottenham, particularly as Redknapp has been told he must fund any signings with the sale of players already at the club.
Redknapp is believed to have sent representatives of the club to meet with Gatagov when Lokomotiv came over to Bournemouth for a pre-season friendly last week, but with no deal in place, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich looks set to hijack any possible movement by the player by offering both Champions League football and a higher salary to help sway his decision.
So far Chelsea have been relatively quiet in the transfer window, however they will be looking to bolster their midfield after Michael Essien was ruled out for up to six months with a knee injury earlier in the month.
Whilst we are led to believe that Modric remains top of the Chelsea wish list, Gatagov could certainly bring some freshness to what has often been described as an ageing Chelsea side, and would undoubtedly relish a move to West London where the prospect of silverware Champions League football can be realised at such a young age.
We have seen throughout this window the kind of money clubs are willing to spend on young English players, and if Gatagov is able to play at the same level as these players, then £7m could well turn out to be a steal for either Spurs or Chelsea. It seems fair to assume that should a bidding war arise between the two clubs then Chelsea will be clear favourites so sign the youngster, and with the Modric saga still far from resolved, an improved relationship between Levy and Abramovich looks set to be put on hold a little while longer.
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This week we get a break from the magnificent 2010/11 Premier League season and can enjoy one of the stand-out weekend’s on the English football calendar; the 3rd round of the FA Cup. The 3rd Round of the FA Cup is all about upsets, so there are some great betting opportunities available for you and if you can predict which football minnows will triumph then you can win yourself a tidy sum of cash.
First things first, make sure you claim your FREE £20 BET, available to new Paddy Power customers here. Then it’s time to take advantage of the great odds that are available, but which matches should you be looking out for? Here are my top picks for the weekend…
Arsenal v Leeds: Carlos Vela to score first @ 11/2 – Leeds may well have dumped Manchester United out of the FA Cup last season thanks to Jermaine Beckford but don’t expect Arsenal to suffer the same fate. Arsene Wenger’s young Gunners are sure to win, and it’s about time that Vela showed us what he’s made of.
Reading v West Brom: Reading to win 2-0 @ 10/1 – West Brom are in big trouble and their defensive worries make it unlikely that they’ll keep a clean sheet. Reading on the other hand are going well in the Championship and Mark Lawrenson has predicted a 2-0 win for the Royals, and when is Lawro ever wrong!?
Sheffield United v Aston Villa: Sheff Utd to win @ 12/5 – A team struggling in the Premier League against a team struggling in the Championship. 12/5 isn’t a bad price for the Blades to win and given Villa’s current form, don’t expect Gerard Houllier’s men to have an easy afternoon at Bramall Lane.
Use your FREE £20 to bet on an FA Cup accumulator!
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Stoke v Cardiff: 4 or more goals @ 2/1 – This looks like one of the more interesting FA Cup ties of the weekend. Stoke are fairly strong at home and will cause Cardiff problems with balls into the box, but the Bluebirds will be a threat themselves and thus goals should be on the cards at the Britannia Stadium!
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Manchester United v Liverpool: Draw @ 14/5 – Roy Hodgson’s future at Liverpool is uncertain, but maybe a good cup run is on the cards for the Reds. United are unlikely to lose twice in two years in the 3rd round of the FA Cup at Old Trafford, but Liverpool could well earn a draw. The odds on that are 14/5 and you can also take advantage of the Paddy Power special that bets will be refunded if Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard score the last goal.
So there are my five picks from a selection of a wide range of different FA Cup markets available this weekend. Make your bets now and remember that new customers get a FREE £20 BET as well!
Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has refused to apologise to Sir Alex Ferguson after holding up a banner saying ‘RIP Fergie’ during his side’s title celebrations this week.
The Etihad Stadium outfit paraded the Premier League title through the city on Monday, with the Argentina international sighted holding up the banner taking a swipe at the Manchester United boss.
Although City and Tevez both issued apologises to the legendary Scottish manager soon after, claiming the banner had been handed to the South American by a fan, the temperamental forward has made statements to the contrary.
“It seems Ferguson is the president of England,” Tevez told reporters back in Argentina, published by The Telegraph.
“Each time he speaks badly about a player, and he has said the worst about me, I never asked him to apologise. But if somebody makes a joke about him, you must apologise to him.
“But I don’t apologise. There’s no relationship at all between me and Ferguson,” he confessed.
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Tottenham Hotspur have gained an edge over North London rivals Arsenal in the race to sign Blackburn centre-back Chris Samba, according to The Mirror.
Blackburn have valued powerhouse captain Samba at £12million, and hope that slapping such a big price tag on the defender will force clubs to look elsewhere after already losing young sensation Phil Jones to Manchester United this summer.
However Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been eyeing a deal which could involve a player or two going in the other direction in a player-plus-cash exchange, which could also allow him to get rid of some unwanted fringe players.
Blackburn will find it difficult to turn down this type of offer, although Samba’s wage demands could prove to be the problem, as he is reportedly looking for £60,000 a week.
Both North London clubs have been keen to add a big centre-half to their respective squads this summer; Jonathon Woodgate’s departure from Tottenham left the club with a gap in the position, and Arsenal’s defensive frailties were constantly exposed last season with the lack of a big man being pinpointed as a reason.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had an £8m bid for Samba rejected earlier this summer, and considers £12m to be too high a price for the giant defender. Wenger’s unwillingness to spend over the past six seasons has angered Arsenal fans, causing many to question his ambition after six consecutive trophy-less seasons.
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Arsenal look set to lose another defensive asset in goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, as him and forward Nicklas Bendtner did not travel with the squad to Asia for their pre-season tour.
Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins has agreed a compensation package with the club after he was dismissed on November 11.
The former club captain was relieved of his duties last month after helping manager Carlo Ancelotti guide the Londoners to a Premier League and FA Cup double last term.
With former Nigeia international Michael Emenalo handed the number two role, Wilkins is pleased the issues have been resolved and both parties can move on.
"It has obviously been a big wrench leaving such an illustrious club and one which has played such a huge role in my playing and coaching career," Wilkins said in a message left on the League Managers Association's official website.
"I have great affection for the club, the staff, the players and its supporters and wish them all the very best for the remainder of this season and the future.
"I would also like to thank the club and the LMA for ensuring that matters have been brought to a swift and harmonious conclusion."
LMA chief executive Richard Bevan added:"All parties are delighted that an agreement has been reached in a cordial and professional manner.
"I am sure that a manager of Ray's experience will be back involved in a managerial or coaching capacity soon."
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Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said on Chelsea's official website:"I am pleased to announce that we have come to a swift and amicable agreement with Ray Wilkins and all unresolved matters have now been settled.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ray for his service to the club and wish him all the best for the future."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
As reported by The Mirror earlier this week, Manchester United have been heavily linked with a potential move for Celtic defender Kieran Tierney this summer.
The paper reckon that the Red Devils are set to firm up their interest in the Scotland international with a formal offer for the player, who is rated at £25m.
Tierney has been a stand-out at the Scottish champions for a few seasons now and has flourished under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.
He’s won plaudits from Celtic fans for his committed displays at left-back, believing he could eventually become a future captain at the club, despite all the talk linking him with a move to the Premier League.
United badly need reinforcements in the position this summer with Ashley Young not getting any younger and Luke Shaw falling out of favour with Jose Mourinho.
Supporters though are not wholly convinced Tierney is the right choice.
Some reckon it’s a great idea…
Others though are less convinced and are looking for a signing like Alex Sandro or Ryan Sessesgnon…
Manchester City (4-4-1-1): Hart, Zabaleta, Mangala, Demichelis, Clichy, Navas, Fernando, Toure, Jovetic, Nasri, Aguero
Manuel Pellegrini still has a number of injuries to consider, with Aleksandar Kolorov, Edin Dzeko, David Silva, Matija Nastasic, and Vincent Kompany all unavailable for this fixture. Eliaquim Mangala returns from his suspension, meaning Dedryck Boyata, who played in the 4-1 win over Sunderland is likely to be benched to make room for French defender. With Dzeko still out injured, Manchester City may once again opt to play Stevan Jovetic on the left flank with Samir Nasri being deployed just behind in-form striker Sergio Aguero.
Roberto Martinez will likely keep his formation despite picking up a loss against Tottenham Hotspur followed by a draw with Hull City recently. He is still hit with three major injury concerns as John Stones, Antolin Alcaraz, and Darron Gibson all not going to take part in his match. James McCarthy is currently a doubt for this fixture, but Martinez could wait until the last moment before deciding whether he should include him into his upcoming plans. Samuel Eto’o could either start behind Romelu Lukaku or be brought into proceedings a little later into the match with his manager deciding to rest him during the increased game week. Steven Naismith is also a doubt for the match and based on his condition, it is believed that he won’t be able to return to full fitness in time.
What the fans are saying…
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Everton were so close to causing a huge upset towards Manchester City’s title bids at the end of last season, but a very vital 3-2 victory for City ensured that they were well on their way to being crown champions of England once again.
Last week I wrote an article suggesting Arsene Wenger should leave Arsenal gracefully, before his career in North London comes to a bitter end. At the time, the Gunners were 10th in the table, with their worst Premier League start under Wenger since he took over in 1996. I was labelled by Arsenal fans as an uninformed alarmist, and one commenter compared my opinions to those of Piers Morgan.
Perhaps my timing was bad, it was after a 2-0 defeat to Swansea that left Gunners fans slightly sensitive to say the least, and I admit my manner was rather negative, I did not do the French manager much justice considering his many achievements in the Premier League over the years. In total, Wenger and his philosophy has earned the club 11 major trophies.
Last weekend, Arsenal greatly improved to beat West Brom 2-0 in what may prove to be an important fixture come the summer should the Baggies, fuelled by successful management debutant Steve Clarke, continue their good form through to the business end of the season. But I still believe Wenger’s time at the club will eventually end with a nasty and brutal divorce unless he decides to quietly step aside.
It is not necessarily Arsenal’s performance this season, although in many games they have simply been not good enough, but more the long period of slow stagnation that seems to have come over the club. I believe the Frenchman and his philosophy is becoming more and more outdated in the modern era of football.
In defending his transfer policy, Wenger has highlighted some of my concerns: “It is about sweat, thinking, working hard. You have a big tradition of that in England. I am scared all these qualities today have less importance in the game. I don’t say that money doesn’t play a part in it, but it is not only about that. We have to continue to believe that it is not only about that because what is the game about then?”
You have to admire the man’s principles, Wenger never spent big in the past and generated a team that were nicknamed “The Invincibles” because of their successes, including their incredible feat of going a whole season undefeated.
He’s a man who’s bought young talent and slowly developed teenagers into World Class footballers. It is understandable for Wenger to think he can carry on doing that, the likes of Jack Wilshire, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will no doubt develop into top level players, but this process is beginning to work to the detriment of the first team.
There seems to be a constant transitioning at the club, between players who are learning their trade, and those edging on greatness, however the former tends to limit the heights of the latter. Arsenal haven’t won a trophy now since the FA Cup in 2005, however they have made their way to two cup finals since then, including the Champions League in 2006.
The problem is, it is near impossible to have enough young talent at one time to develop into a whole new starting XI of top class players in the future. Consider the sheer amount of youngsters who fail to develop after a certain level and never reach their full potential – there is always an element of luck involved. Other clubs tend to supplement the ones that make it by importing experienced players at the top of their game; however such players come with large transfer fees and wage demands, which are two principles Wenger’s philosophy stands firmly against.
The club’s wage structure severely limits Wenger’s ability to attract top level players, not to mention keep his stars. It is a fair point that money should not be the sole motivation to join a club and there should be an element of loyalty that some Arsenal players have lacked in the past, but unfortunately that is not how football works now days. Players are assets, and made constantly aware of it by their agents. Like any other business, employees need to be offered competitive salaries or they will be constantly lured to other clubs willing to offer them more.
Furthermore, there is another side to this argument that is over-looked by Arsenal fans who label those who leave the club for league rivals as traitors. Players remember winning trophies when their careers are over, and that will always be their overall aim. They will never strive to be a loyal servant to a club or to consistently qualify for the Champions League; they will strive to win accolades through their own skill and hard graft.
I’m a firm believer that you have to spend money to generate success in the Premier League, which has been proved by Chelsea and Man City, and therefore I will always dispute Wenger’s money-pinching transfer policy, but what concerns me more is the manner in which he lets his players leave. Letting Robin Van Persie leave for £24million has essentially handed the title to Manchester United, and ended Arsenal’s chances of making a title bid with one swift transfer. It is hardly the first time Wenger has allowed a player to leave for a bargain fee.
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I get the feeling that to Wenger no player is worth £50million for example, and in many respects that is true. The amount of money in the Premiership is deplorable, but Wenger’s failure to accept the rules of the market place is systematic of how his philosophy has endangered the club he loves.
I agree with many of Wenger’s principles; restriction of players’ wages, the notion that no player should be worth vast sums of money, the idea hard work and talent should outweigh the power of the purse, but I can only agree with them as principles. Pragmatically, Wenger’s philosophy can no longer work. It is impossible to compete with the over £900million spent by City’s Sheik owners, and the money spent by Abramovich at Chelsea. Manchester United still spend around the £20million mark on many of their recruits.
Unless Wenger can move with the times and accept that money is a vital part of the game, he is allowing the club and himself get left behind as the Premier League evolves. It is not that the club is moving backwards necessarily, it’s that its failing to move forward. Eventually, Wenger and Arsenal will have a difficult decision to make. If the fans ever wish to see trophies again, they will have to cast their talisman head coach aside for a fresher perspective of the game.
Leeds fans have been praising Bailey Peacock-Farrell again after the youngster was called up to Northern Ireland’s U21s squad.
Peacock-Farrell did not have a flying start to his professional career. The 21 year-old goalkeeper had made just one league appearance for Leeds before his loan move to York City.
The 21 year-old also had trials with League One’s Oldham Athletic and Swedish Superettan club Landskrona BoIS, both of which decided not to take up the loan option for the youngster.
Things change very quickly in football though, and the young stopper has gone from a turbulent spell with York, to the Leeds first team, to an international call-up in the space of a few weeks.
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The young stopper has been named as one of two keepers in Northern Ireland’s U21s squad for their upcoming friendlies, alongside Burnley’s Conor Mitchell.
Peacock-Farrell was thrown into the limelight in the 3-0 defeat to Wolves last week, thanks to Felix Wiedwald’s poor form and an injury to veteran Andy Lonergan. After a busy encounter with Wolves, he impressed again in the 2-2 draw at Reading on Saturday.
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Leeds fans have been reacting to Peacock-Farrell’s call-up on Twitter. While he certainly still has a few doubters, most fans are delighted for the man they see as their long-term number one.
Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…