All posts by h79snht.top

The term ‘relegation six-pointer’ gets thrown around a lot these days but it really was the case for the game on Saturday, when Plymouth Argyle travelled to Hampshire to face Aldershot Town.

With the Pilgrims placed precariously above the relegation zone and one point worse off than their hosts before kick-off it was all too clear how bad the repercussions of failing to take any points back to Devon would be. Despite going in to the game on the back of successive goalless draws it was perhaps more important to not lose the game, rather than win all three points.

Argyle started the game on the front foot and won a free-kick a couple yards outside the box. The Aldershot defence, too preoccupied with arranging a wall, failed to notice Jason Banton lingering on the edge of the area and were made to pay. Conor Hourihane squared the ball to the loanee from Crystal Palace, who struck the ball home via a fortunate deflection.

The lead, sadly, did not last long as just five minutes later the home side levelled the tie. Another deflection, this time in favour of the home side, sent Danny Hylton through on goal. Argyle keeper Jake Cole did well to keep the shot out but could only divert the ball in to the path of Peter Vincenti, who will never get an easier finish in his career.

With the goal came a shift in momentum in the game as Aldershot looked to take the initiative through a barrage of long throws and corners. Under the previous management regime I have no doubt that the Argyle defence would have cracked under the pressure but during the four games John Sheridan has overseen as Argyle boss so far the defence has looked solid and have not yet conceded from a set piece.

It was actually from an Aldershot corner that Argyle took the lead. The corner was over-hit and fell at the feet of Reuben Reid on the edge of the Argyle box. The striker, now in his second spell with the club, took off with the ball and before the Aldershot defence could react and get back to defend, the Yeovil loanee had run 50 yards of the pitch and was squaring the ball to Banton inside the Shots’ area. What happened next was quite magic. Banton still had plenty to do but made turning his defender and curling the ball low inside the far post look easy. It was a great counter-attack goal and whilst Banton will receive most of the plaudits for his finish, Reid deserves massive credit for his part in the goal.

Argyle headed into half-time 2-1 to the good, much to the delight of the 907-strong travelling contingent.

The second-half saw a very composed performance from Argyle. Aldershot, as you would expect, threw everything at the Greens’ goal but just could not find their way through two defensive rocks in Guy Branston and Anthony Charles. With the hosts going for the equaliser Argyle were able to counter well, and could have put the game to bed on a couple of occassions, especially through Paul Wotton who sent his free header just wide of the post.

Despite immense pressure, Argyle held on for a massive victory, their biggest of their season, as well as their first away from home in 10 attempts.

There is still a lot of football to be played, but to this point John Sheridan is doing a marvelous job of trying to keep Argyle in the football league. An unbeaten return of eight points from four games, whilst only conceding twice, has certainly seen the Pilgrims’ league position look a lot less ominous. All but one of his signings have so far proved to be great bits of business and I cannot even start to describe how impressed I have been with Guy Branston since he arrived.

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To sum-up, it’s been a solid start for Sheridan and we seem to be heading in the right direction. Four cup finals down, 15 to go.

For more Argyle talk you can follow me on Twitter.

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain says he is fully focused on the club despite reports linking him with a move to Arsenal, according to the Marca.

The Gunners are on the look out for a new striker this summer and the Argentina ace along with Barcelona striker David Villa are said to be on Arsene Wenger’s list of targets.

Higuain has struggled to establish himself in the Real side this season due to niggling injuries and the form of Karim Benzema but he has still managed to ship in with five goals in the last six games.

There have been suggestions Higuain could head to the Premier League in the summer with the Gunners and Tottenham both keen, but the player says he is staying focused on Real for now.

“I’m not going to talk about that now,” the striker revealed. “I can only say that I’m committed to the club and will help the team until the end of the season.”

Whether Arsenal could conclude a deal remains to be seen as the transfer fee coupled with the player’s wages would mean Wenger having to break the bank to land him.

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In what is being billed as a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup final Manchester City and Wigan meet in the Premier League just a matter of days after booking their tickets to Wembley in May. For City the competitions showpiece is something to relish for their supporters in a season of underachievement at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Mancini’s men go into the game 15 points behind leaders and arch rivals Manchester United after watching their title defence alarmingly disintegrate over the course of an erratic campaign. But there is a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel with victories over United and Chelsea in their last two games putting City in pole position for second spot with Arsenal

The stakes for Wigan are much higher as they continue their bid to secure top-flight safety. The Latics will be riding the crest of a wave after progressing to their first ever FA Cup final with victory over Millwall last Saturday and have the luxury of games in hand on the teams around them. Despite dropping back into the bottom three Robert Martinez’s men have been in good form of late, winning three of their last five in the league, and make the short trip to Manchester in high spirits regardless of the opposition that awaits them. The three teams above them, Aston Villa, Stoke and Sunderland, are all locked on 34 points and a draw would undoubtedly keep the heat on them.

Team News 

Jack Rodwell (hamstring) is back in contention for Manchester City, as is Maicon, but Roberto Mancini is unlikely to risk David Silva. Micah Richards could play some part after six-months out.

Wigan have no fresh injury concerns after Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final triumph meaning manager Roberto Martinez has a fully fit squad to choose from.

What the managers said… 

“We’ve got such an important game now that we’re not allowed to celebrate too much. We have the final in front of us and we will enjoy that occasion, but now we’ve got to go into that mode again and think about the league. I think we have shown a natural way of switching from the Cup to the league and that’s what we must do again.” Roberto Martinez insists Wigan are focused on Premier League survival (Mirror Football)

“United deserve to win this title but we deserve to fight until the last two or three games. Our target at the start of the season was the Premier League and FA Cup. We knew the Champions League would be difficult because we had a difficult group. We had a chance to win another Premier League if we worked well last summer. But we didn’t. We made some mistakes. We are frustrated about that but we know we are a good team. Roberto Mancini says he Man City won’t just hand the Premier League title over to rivals United (Daily Mail)

Pre-match Statistic: Manchester City strikers Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero have two of the last three home against Wigan at the Etihad Stadium. 

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Prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Wigan Athletic

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Amid denial and conflicting reports, Wayne Rooney is likely to be the second big name leaving Old Trafford this summer, with clubs both in England and abroad looking to offer him a fresh start in his career. You can’t help but feel that a move would benefit both club and player, with Rooney failing to live up to the expectation of him and Manchester United looking to alter the look of their frontline this summer.

The part of this story that is most intriguing is whether Rooney, one of the biggest English names, is suited for a move abroad – and I’m not just talking about talent or playing style. Players like David Beckham have been the exception to the rule, that being that English players rarely break out of their comfort zone. The Premier League may be billed as the best, but for English players it’s what they know and are accustomed to.

For United, this summer may be the best opportunity to start again. Here is a player who has sent in a second transfer request since being at the club, and this time there isn’t such a need for Rooney to remain at Old Trafford. The player’s performances have been down, he’s scored only 12 league goals – a number which is not befitting of his reputation in football – and, most importantly, United have found ways of winning and surviving without him in the team.

It’s also a matter of what Rooney represents and that he is often the first name most would think of when thoughts of United come to mind. His adaptability at various positions in the team also make him a great asset to have, but just because he does well in the centre of midfield doesn’t mean that is the best option for the long term.

One of the problems going into this summer is that United will do all they can to avoid selling domestically. You really have to applaud that level of thinking and strength in holding that position. Despite being off their books, Rooney would still prove to be an issue, either directly or indirectly, if he remained in the Premier League. But do PSG, one of the frontrunners abroad, tick all the boxes?

Interestingly, it might make the most sense. Both PSG and Rooney could be argued to be on similar paths at this stage. The player is trying to regain (or attain) a higher standing in the game, while PSG will be keen to build their own reputation across Europe after their Ligue 1 triumph. With Zlatan Ibrahimovic likely to depart this summer, there is an opening for a big-name striker to take over.

And let’s not assume that Rooney would be off in some obscure corner of European football and lacking any kind of competition. For all their wealth, PSG will still face competition from the other big names in French football. Monaco will re-join Ligue 1 and will do everything their wealth allows to put together a strong title challenge. And it also shouldn’t be forgotten that PSG did well in this season’s Champions League; with players like Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi, they’re sure to make an impression next season again.

From a footballing standpoint, PSG does look to be one of the better destinations, and one who United would certainly do business with. The question remains as to how Rooney himself would adapt to life in France. As mentioned, there isn’t really much to go by in terms of other big English stars moving abroad. Beckham did all he could to embrace Spanish culture, but you certainly feel that Rooney and his personality would be a little different in France.

And then there are the options in England, with Chelsea and Arsenal rumoured to be possible destinations. Either of these teams would seem ridiculous for what it would mean in the Premier League, and for all the shouting they may do, it appears beyond reality for what may actually happen this summer.

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Manchester United are not Arsenal, they won’t sell to a rival if they don’t want to. Moreover, why strengthen Chelsea in such a way when the focus will be to put themselves and David Moyes in a position of absolute strength in England?

Bayern Munich have been touted too, as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona. But for everything that can be made sense of at this time, France would appear to be Rooney’s best destination should he depart United this summer. If Rooney could lead PSG to title glory he would more than elevate his status in European football. It would be a signal that amid all the frustration and disappointing performances, a very good player just needed a fresh start, a new challenge and unwavering confidence as a club’s most important asset.

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Yesterday afternoon, it was announced that the Premier League’s managerial merry-go-round took another swing with the appointment of Roberto Martinez as David Moyes’ replacement at Everton. A popular club and a popular manager – from the day of Wigan’s relegation, it seemed almost inevitable that the two would join forces over the course of the summer.

Yet, according to Bill Kenwright, regardless of Roberto Martinez’ glowing reputation in England and natural suitability for a club that has never had the privilege of the powers of the purse, the former Wigan boss had to do his fair share of convincing around the conference table to stave off competition from the other candidates.

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What Martinez showed during the first few minutes of his meeting with the Toffees chairman was a belief that he could get Everton into the Champions League, breaking the glass ceiling between the Merseyside club and the Premier League’s top four, a feat only accomplished once by David Moyes during his eleven year reign.

According to Kenwright, the simple phrase from the Spaniard’s lips of “I will get you into the Champions League” resonated with Moyes’ first words to the Everton chief; “You will not be relegated”. Belief and desire are one thing, but is Champions League qualification an achievable goal for the Toffes? Is Martinez simply adding pressure to what will already be an intense situation? What stands in the former Wigan man’s way in bringing success to Goodison Park?

Sometimes, ambition and intent is all you need to get the ball rolling. The sheer subtle difference in tone from Moyes’ manner of remaining continually hopeful that Everton can claim fourth spot, but with the clear knowledge that the slightest injury crisis or dip in form could scupper their whole season, in comparison to Martinez’ self-confident and self-imposed target of achieving continental qualification could be enough to get the fans and the players at Goodison thinking in a more positive light, and galvanise the club to begin working towards a tough and challenging goal that will require full collective and individual effort.

Yet, to make the dream a reality, Martinez will need something far more substantial than simply words. The Spaniard has announced that he will be tinkering with Everton’s currently typically English philosophy, and he will be hoping that an evolutionary rather than revolutionary opening-up of the Toffees’ game will go some way to reducing the ten point gap between themselves and Arsenal this season.

There is a concerning naivety on Martinez’ part considering Everton have recorded their best results this year by remaining sturdy, physical and combative, with victories against Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham,  in addition to draws against Arsenal, however, the myth that Everton aren’t capable of playing expansive football is simply untrue.

Leighton Baines, Steven Pienaar, Leon Osman and Darron Gibson are all very accomplished with the ball at their feet, and the four are very much the Toffees’ creative hub that provide the vast majority of their goals. Furthermore, just as with Swansea and Wigan, Martinez will be hoping his more stylish philosophy will create an institutional legacy at Goodison which outlives the coming and going of players, and even his own tenure.

Before the former Latics boss can begin installing his fresh, forward-thinking and open approach on the Everton roster however, his first battle will come in the transfer market. David Moyes is reportedly very keen to bring Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines with him to Old Trafford, whilst Phil Jagielka has been lined with a move away from Merseyside for a number of years. Of course, Martinez will be hoping he can hold onto all three, and that the trio have been convinced to stay put by his appointment and the ambition he brings to Goodison.

Yet with Chelsea, Arsenal and the two Manchester clubs all looking to bolster their squads and bring in added quality over the summer, it remains unlikely that the Toffees’ will be able to stave off interest from the Premier League’s elite. Keeping two of Everton’s three key men will be an acceptable loss, however, the new boss will have to get the best return possible on any departures, as it will make up a sizeable chunk of the club’s summer transfer kitty.

In regards to incomings, the first priority is undoubtedly a forward whom can consistently provide goals. Everton’s current collection of strikers – Nikita Jelavic and Victor Anichebe – recorded just 13 goals between them this season, and there is a common feeling at Goodison that a number of results could have been different if the Toffees possessed a forward that provided a greater cutting edge and could be a determining factor in his own right during matches.

Martinez’ acquisition of Arouna Kone last summer proved to be a solid piece of business,  but the Spaniard will have to pull off a real master-stroke to bring a forward to Merseyside that can make a substantial difference to results without putting the club’s finances in jeopardy. There aren’t too many obvious candidates on the horizon, and Martinez will have to use his knowledge of Europe, ability to spot potential and his eye for a bargain to find a cut-price summer recruit whom can contribute at least 15 league goals a season.

Martinez is young, bold, enthusiastic and ambitious, yet the pressure of the Everton appointment makes it the most challenging step of his career to date. With the club already operating at full capacity in terms of finance and resources, it will be a tough task to bridge the gap between the Toffees and Champions League qualification within the space of four years – the length of the 39 year old’s contract – let alone within his first season.

From a more negative viewpoint, the margin for failure is incredibly slight; whilst Moyes had the Everton squad continually performing to the best of their abilities, and any slump in standard of performance could easily see the Merseysiders plummet down the Premier League table. Similarly, there will undoubtedly be teething pains from one era to the next, in addition to the change in philosophy.

Bill Kenwright is no fool – Martinez will be given time to complete his goals, as Everton have experienced more than any other club the benefits of overall stability and consistency. But the Spaniard’s tenure could unravel very quickly should it get off to a poor start. The Toffees’ home form must be maintained – David Moyes recorded just a single defeat at Goodison Park this season, the best record in the English top flight – and it would be a shame if plans for continental qualification are scuppered by a slow start to Martinez’ inaugural campaign.

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It will take a miracle to get Everton into the Champions League next season, yet for a manager of Martinez’ abilities, conquering the Premier League’s top four as a project with a duration of four years is achievable. The squad is in good shape, even if it is in need of a few extra pieces to complete the jigsaw, and the sense of collective effort and shared mentality at Goodison remains strong even after Moyes’ departure.

But the seeds for European success will have to be sewn within Martinez’ first season – it will undoubtedly be his biggest opportunity to spend, with Bill Kenwright giving his new manger a chance to imprint his own vision upon the Everton roster via purchases in the transfer market, and it will be the only year where any step backwards in terms of league standing will be judged by the fans as acceptable. Furthermore, and most importantly, he will have a single season to strike a healthy balance between philosophy and pragmatism, or it will not be long before the argument of the Spaniard and the Toffees being chalk and cheese begin to re-emerge.

Can Martinez lead Everton into the Premier League’s top four?

Join the debate below!

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Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Brad Friedel believes the new look Spurs side is stronger than last season despite losing Gareth Bale.

Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas has spent over £100million revamping his squad with Bale joining Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee.

Despite Bale being considered as one of the best players in the world at the moment, Friedel feels the North London club  are now stronger with their new additions and he is ultimately pleased that Bale was shipped off to Spain.

Friedel admits that losing a key player is usually a negative at a club but he sees this summer as a massive positive for Tottenham and their supporters.

“It’s not always that a manager and a board can turn what could have been a massive negative, losing someone like Gareth Bale, into a massive positive,” Friedel told talkSPORT.

“Losing a player like Gareth Bale would normally make your squad weaker, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think our squad is stronger for it.”

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England are fast approaching the 2014 World Cup, where in just six months time they will be tested against the best nations in the world, in the quest to lift the famous trophy for the first time in 48 years.

After so many attempts that have ended in disappointment, pain and heartbreak, the expectations seem to be lower for the Three Lions this time. Maybe it was due to the tough group draw, where England were lined up against Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica, or a hope that lower expectations may lead to better results – who knows?

Either way, even to qualify out of their group, Roy Hodgson’s men will have to be close to their best in Brazil. With the likes of Balotelli, Buffon, Suarez, Cavani and Ruiz in the first three matches, England’s superstars will need to step up if they want to stay in the country for the knockout stages of the competition.

But who are the three key players that can help England succeed in next summer?

Steven Gerrard

‘Captain Fantastic’ will need to stay at his motivating best if he wants to lead England to a successful campaign. The Liverpool midfielder will be 34-years-old when the tournament commences, with it quite possibly set to be the last international competition he will play in. With youngsters like Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley already pushing for a first team place, Euro 2016 looks a long way away for Gerrard, meaning he should be prepared to give it his all in Brazil, and finish on a high.

Now playing in a defensive midfield role, Stevie G will be looking to control the tempo of the match, as well as unlocking the opposition defence with key passes and through balls. With the ability to drive forward and score from outside the box, Gerrard can be a match winner both passing and shooting. A player who has always led by example, the skipper will be as driven and committed as ever to push his nation on. But if Gerrard struggles to make an impact on the game, then things could turn dark for the Three Lions. If Rooney begins to get frustrated at a lack of service from Gerrard, then suddenly half the team will start dropping if the Reds legend doesn’t control the game.

Wayne Rooney

The striker has one mission to complete this summer. Score his first World Cup finals goal. It’s incredible to think that Rooney, one of the best strikers in world football, is yet to score a goal on the biggest of stages. The 28-year-old may have played a deeper role in the last 18 months than the last time he made an appearance at the tournament, but he’s still one of the biggest scoring threats that will be in Brazil.

A strong, physical forward, Rooney’s experience playing just behind a striker has developed his game further, meaning he can create opportunities as well as being able to finish chances himself. But while the United striker has his stunning moments, he has also his negative side. Discipline is still an issue. We all remember his red card against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup, and he has had familiar incidents since. The forward missed all three of England’s Euro 2012 group matches after kicking out at Montengro’s Miodrag Džudović. And just last month the forward was lucky not to be sent off after kicking out at Cardiff City’s Jordan Mutch.

It comes down to which Rooney flies to Brazil. Will we get the star striker who scores vital goals, terrorises defenders and earns a standing ovation? Or will the quick-tempered, hot-headed forward get unhappy at a lack of service in matches, and take his frustration out on the opposition?

Phil Jagielka

England will be flying to Brazil with arguably their weakest defence at a World Cup. For the last four tournaments, the Three Lions manager has had Premier League and possibly Champions League winning defenders at his disposal. Be it Campbell, Keown and Adams around the turn of the new millennium, or Terry and Ferdinand in 2006 and 2010. But now the pair, barring any shock comebacks, look set to be watching the matches as retired internationals.

While, in the greatest of respect, Phil Jagielka hasn’t yet been recognised as a world-class centre-back, he has the opportunity to make an impact against the world’s best strikers. The 31-year-old has stepped up since Terry and Ferdinand retired from the international stage, and has raised his game for both club and country. The former Blades defender has had a terrific start to the current Premier League season, helping Everton keep eight clean sheets, and concede only 15 goals, the joint best defence in the league. His composure, and ability to read the game and intercept crucial passes looks set to earn him a starting place in Hodgson’s team, with the opportunity to showcase his talent against the likes of Balotelli, Suarez and Cavani in the group stage.

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But, on his international competition debut, if the Toffees defender struggles to cope under the new pressure, in the heat and humidity of Manaus, England could be exposed at the back, with players like Giovinco, Balotelli and El Shaarawy all looking to skip past the England back line.

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Stoke City chairman Peter Coates thinks defender Robert Huth may not return to Premier League action until next season, reports Sky Sports.

Huth has been out of action since injuring his knee against Sunderland on November 23, an injury which subsequently required an operation.

The German featured for 45 minutes in a behind closed door friendly on February 25, but is yet to return to the match day squad and has now missed 20 fixtures in all competitions.

“It is my understanding that it is very unlikely he will feature again this season,” Coates told The Sentinel.

“If that is the case, then all the focus now is getting him ready for next season.

“It will be good to have him available again because, along with Ryan Shawcross and Asmir Begovic, he has long been part of the backbone of our team.

“But the fact we have done so well without him is a tribute to the team in general and to Marc Wilson in particular.”

Marc Wilson has featured prominently as Huth’s replacement, with the Potters likely to finish the season in mid-table.

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They currently occupy 12th spot in the Premier League, and sit six points above the drop zone.

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It doesn’t get much better than a 3-0 home victory over your bitter rivals but, after the week Swansea have suffered, beating Cardiff will have felt all the more sweeter.

After a fairly dull opening 45-minutes, Garry Monk’s decision to bring Pablo Hernandez on for Marvin Emnes proved to be a masterstroke as the midfielder set up Wayne Routledge for the opener within just 90 seconds of the re-start and was then involved the Swans’ two other goals.

And it was one way traffic from then on as Nathan Dyer and Wilfried Bony rounded off the victory for the Swans as they leaped up to tenth in the Premier League four points clear of the relegation zone.

The result might well hand Garry Monk the full-time job as Swansea manager but, more importantly, keep them in the top-flight come the end of the campaign. Here’s three reasons why Monk might just be the man to take Swansea forward…

1. His substitutions were game changing, especially Hernandez’s introduction at half-time…

https://vine.co/v/MW7QuYgAFUp/embed/simple

2. The players love and respect him, particularly captain Ashley Williams…

3. He has a connection with the club and the fans, which is incredibly rare with managers these days…

Meeting Ian Wright, Jeff Stelling and Paddy McGuinness on the set of the Carlsberg World Cup TV advert was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. I had mulled over what I thought it was going to be like and in reality, it wasn’t like how I had imagined…

I turned up at Park Royal studios in West London on a cold March morning to a crowd of people excitedly waiting outside with the England flag painted on their faces. It was slightly weird; 10.00am was too early for face painting in my opinion!

I made my way through the crowd and finally reached the door where two burly security guards were standing. I’m still not quite sure why they were there as I walked straight on through to be met by a throng of journalists and PR execs milling around, organising interviews with Ian, Jeff and Paddy.

It wasn’t as glamorous as I thought it was going to be, although there was an excitement about the place as extras frantically ran to and from the set. I wondered when it was going to be my turn to get in on the action. A rumour had gone round the office the day before that whoever went could be used as an extra. It was my time to shine; first stop Park Royal studios in west London, then Hollywood.

After lunch (a honey and soy chicken dish that was surprisingly nice) I was taken on set and was formally introduced to Ian, Jeff and Paddy. I had interviewed Ian Wright the previous day so we were pretty much best friends already. It must be said that all three gentlemen were incredibly warm, welcoming and eager to talk about why we were all there.

I was still unsure if I was ever going to get my moment to show the world my remarkable acting skills. Then, rather fortuitously I was taken to the costume department to be made up into the stereotypical England fan down the pub watching the game. It was decided that what I wearing was fine. I didn’t know how to feel about this!

Before I knew it, I was on set being ordered around. Take after take I tried to get in shot and, after two-and-a-half hours of yelling at a fake TV screen showing the England game, I was physically and emotionally shattered. The thought of being on the big screen at half-time during one of England’s games at the World Cup spurred me on though, and I powered through.

In true Carlsberg style the ad turns a bad scenario good. Take a look at the link and watch Ian, Jeff and Paddy, the Carlsberg Fan Squad come to the rescue.

I never made the cut and my acting dream carries on. For now I’ll settle for FFC HQ!

The Carlsberg Fan Squad aims to make football BETTER for fans by listening to real fans, celebrating what is great about football and improving the experience of being a fan. Head to www.CarlsbergFanSquad.co.uk for the chance to be one of 1,000 England fans at the Ultimate England Experience at Wembley. That calls for a Carlsberg!

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