Arsenal look set to move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Arturo Vidal, according to Mirror Football.
The 24-year old moved to the German side from Chilean club Colo-Colo in the summer of 2007 and the South American club would still be entitled to 30% of any transfer fee. He has since made 117 League appearances for Leverkusen and scored 10 goals last season.
Interest is thought to be high in the Chilean international. The player was reportedly keen on a switch to Bayern Munich whilst AC Milan had a bid in the region of £9 million rejected. However, the club are keen to hold out for £15 million for the versatile midfielder.
Arsenal manager Arene Wenger is keeping an eye out for midfield reinforcements with captain Cesc Fabregas again linked with a move to Barcelona. Arsenal are willing to let the midfielder leave this summer but the Champions League winners must first increase their initial £27 million bid.
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French midfielder Samir Nasri has also been linked with a move away from the Emirates. He is entering the final year of his current contract but is yet to agree an extension with the club. Rather than lose the player for nothing next summer the club could be tempted to cash in on Nasri during this transfer window.
FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam has rejected allegations the organisation is corrupt.FIFA’s executive was again thrown into the spotlight this week when former English Football Association chief Lord Triesman accused several members, including vice-president Jack Warner, of seeking bribes in exchange for votes in the World Cup bidding process.
President Sepp Blatter, who Bin Hammam is challenging in an election in June, has announced FIFA will launch an investigation into the claims, but Bin Hammam defended the organisation.
“I will happily and unreservedly restate that I firmly believe FIFA, as a decision-making body and as an organisation, is not corrupt,” Bin Hammam said.
“However it is impossible to deny that its reputation has been sullied beyond compare. It’s time for that to change.”
“A new atmosphere needs to descend upon FIFA; there needs to be an opportunity for new ideas to take hold and for the organisation to take a new direction.”
Bin Hammam also criticised Blatter for donating funds to Interpol match-fixing investigations.
FIFA announced on Monday they would be donating 20 million euros in a 10-year commitment to assist the international police organisation in their efforts to fight match-fixing.
The move is apparently part of Blatter’s stated program of reform in FIFA as the Swiss 75-year-old seeks to retain the office he has held since 1998.
But his Qatari rival has rejected the move, with Bin Hammam describing the donation as ‘arbitrary.’
“Currently, the President has taken on too much of an Executive role, as evidenced by the recently announced initiative to donate 20 million dollars to Interpol. Imagine FIFA financing Interpol’s activities,” Bin Hammam said via Twitter.
“This decision was taken arbitrarily by the FIFA President and was not discussed with the Executive Committee.”
“It is just another example of the current regime choosing to run football how it sees fit, rather than doing so in a manner that is consistent with the governing body’s proper procedures. How on earth can we convince people of FIFA’s innocence?”
It feels like the first Premier League encounter between Arsenal and Liverpool this season was a lifetime ago. Just in case you’ve forgotten, it was the first weekend of the season, Joe Cole and Laurent Koscielny were both sent off at Anfield and a late Pepe Reina mistake cost Liverpool all three points. Well, the teams are set to meet again at The Emirates Stadium on Sunday, and the Reds are the team on the rise.
Arsenal’s season is falling apart before their own eyes, while Liverpool are making a late surge for European qualification. Andy Carroll has said that he’ll add to his Liverpool goal tally against Arsenal, having already scored at The Emirates while wearing a Newcastle shirt earlier in the season. Talking about football shirts, as we near the end of the season, Premier League clubs start to reveal their strips for next year and here are two away strips to feast your eyes on…
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The new Liverpool away shirt (on the left) was launched earlier this week and if you ask me looks like a real classy strip. The black and silver looks uber cool, and some Reds fans on Live4Liverpool.com have already been saying it’s the best Liverpool away shirt they’ve seen in years. In contrast, thanks to ArsenalInsider.com we have access to a sneak preview of Arsenal’s away shirt for next season (on the right). How would you describe the 125th Arsenal Anniversary Away shirt? Modern? Unique? Or just plain stupid?
Whatever the result this weekend, off the pitch it looks like Liverpool are streets ahead of Arsenal with their new away strip. Arsenal and Liverpool fans – what do you think of your new away kits?
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Fulham are reportedly set to make a last minute attempt to beat Everton to the loan signing of American midfielder Landon Donovan.
Donovan spent two-and-a-half months on loan at Everton last season and his desire to return to the Premier League on a temporary basis has alerted the attention of Fulham boss Mark Hughes.
Both David Moyes and Mark Hughes have bemoaned their lack of fire-power recently, but have also expressed concern at the cost of bringing Premier League quality striker to their respective clubs.
In regards to possible loan moves in January, Moyes said: “We know we need a striker, but the sort of money it will cost… it is probably a reality that we will have to look at bringing in a loan player.”
Fulham boss Mark Hughes also admitted that his he could be tempted to look at the loan market in order to bring in a new striker: “But more often than not strikers cost a lot of money at Premier League level, so we will have to see.”
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Donovan’s record in with the LA Galaxy is very impressive. Despite not being an out-and-out striker he has managed to score 71 goals in 156 games, and in a previous spell at the San Jose Earthquakes he netted 32 times in 87 games
Should Donovan choose Fulham then he would have the chance to link up with USA team mate Clint Dempsey who he played with during the 2010 World Cup.
Liverpool can’t seem to keep themselves out of the headlines at the moment. Struggling in the league, ownership debates, managerial changes and now King Kenny Dalglish is back in charge after almost 20 years.
The FA Cup provided the Merseyside club with their only real chance left at winning some silverware and rescuing this disastrous season. A trip to Old Trafford is never easy at the best of times, but after Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat, what did we learn from the result?
1. It’s not all Roy’s fault
Admittedly, it wasn’t surprising to see that Roy Hodgson was finally shown the door. After a short six-month spell in charge, his Liverpool side have failed to deliver on pretty much all fronts. However whilst watching them attempt to get one over on the old enemy, it became painfully clear that the squad is just not good enough. Hodgson inherited a very poor team from Rafael Benitez and then continued to add mediocrity to the ranks. Although he did very little to improve the situation, the damage was done long before the former Fulham boss took charge.
2. Dalglish must be given money and time
There is no denying Liverpool are a club in transition. The team needs tearing apart and starting again, but that can only happen in time. The defence must be a priority for Kenny. Paul Konchesky and Sotirios Kyrgiakos to name just two aren’t good enough whilst Jamie Carragher isn’t getting any younger. Questions must be asked also about the future of the likes of Ryan Babel, David Ngog and Maxi Rodriguez. None of these shout out trophy winning players. It’s time for everyone associated with the club to accept that change is needed, but it will take time.
3. It’s time for Fernando Torres to go
As good as he is, it is becoming increasingly apparent that Torres is becoming disillusioned with life at Anfield. Not only does he show frustration at the club’s inability to challenge at the top, but his body language suggests he is unwilling to do much about it himself. Torres is in danger of going stale, which would be a shame for a player who two years ago showed signs of becoming one of the greatest strikers in the game.
4. Dalglish must make sure Gerrard and Reina are staying for the fight
Although it may be time for Torres to move on, Kenny Dalglish must keep hold of Liverpool’s other prize assets. Until he was sent off, anything positive the away side produced came through their talismanic captain. I fail to see how Liverpool would create anything without him. Likewise, Pepe Reina provides the type of assurances in goal that all defenders love to have and need. His distribution is second to none and can turn defence into attack in seconds. Both players are world-class, but the longer the club wallow in mid-table, the temptation to leave must continue to grow.
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5. Jonjo Shelvey could be a star in the making
One positive the club can take from the game is that of youngster Jonjo Shelvey. He replaced the disappointing and ineffective Raul Meireles after an hour and once again showed he does have the quality to cement a place in Liverpool’s midfield. The 19-year-old can go from strength to strength with Gerrard as his mentor and epitomises the type of players Dalglish needs to bring through if Liverpool are to once again return to challenge for major honours.
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Rangers boss Walter Smith has taken responsibility for the poor discipline shown by his players in Wednesday’s 1-0 Scottish Cup loss to Celtic.But the veteran boss insists the sides have moved on from the fracas, and anticipates more cordial relations with their arch-rivals when the sides clash again in the League Cup final at Hampden Park on March 20.Wednesday’s match saw three Rangers players – Steven Whittaker, Madjid Bougherra and El-Hadji Diouf – ordered off, and then an ugly spat between Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist and Celtic boss Neil Lennon after the final whistle.The scenes sparked criticism from police and the Scottish Football Association has launched an investigation into the match.Smith admitted he was disappointed with the actions of his players, and said he would try to rectify the problem.”I was a little disappointed with the reaction of some of the players to decisions later in the game,” Smith said.”They did get a little frustrated. You can argue about the right or wrong decisions of the referee but our reaction towards the end was a wrong one.””That’s something I have a responsibility to try to rectify. I don’t hide away from that, that’s part of management.””I’ve got to take responsibility for that and will try to do so.””From a Rangers point of view I was disappointed with the reaction which was mainly out of frustration towards the end.”Smith feels the match at Celtic Park was a one-off, after the four previous meetings this season had been played without incident.”I don’t think we should start saying that every Old Firm game will finish up like that one,” he said.”It doesn’t mean the two remaining fixtures will be like the one the other night, they might be like the other four this season which didn’t throw up any great problems at all.”The manager revealed that McCoist and Lennon had spoken since the game, and did not anticipate any lingering ill-feeling between the pair when McCoist takes over as Rangers boss at the end of the season.”Alistair and Neil were on talking terms after the game,” he said.”It’s something that won’t carry on after the game.”
As 2012 gets into gear, struggling football managers will be looking over their shoulders as they ready themselves for the season of sackings.
Last season a staggering ten bosses got the boot in January 2011 following poor results. And now a new study shows that appointing a new manager mid-season can actually mean the difference between relegation and staying in the Premiership.
The study was conducted by Sports Interactive, the developers of the Football Manager series to mark the launch of their new iOS release Football Manager Handheld 2012, which is already topping charts around Europe.
The report shows that replacing a failing gaffer mid season can gain a team on average an extra 4.7 points. In the 2010/11 season the four managers who took over Premier League clubs mid season had an overall positive effect on the team.
A specific example of the new manager effect is Liverpool in the Premier League season 2010/11; Roy Hodgson managed 20 games for Liverpool and gained 25 points. Thus gaining a points per game average of 1.25. Kenny Dalglish managed the club for 18 games and amassed 33 points. Thus having a points per game average of 1.83. This means that Kenny Dalglish gained 0.58 points per game more than his predecessor. Over the 18 games that Dalglish managed he amassed an extra 10.4 points.
Normally, more managers are shown the door at the end of the season (around June). But the economics involved in staying in the Premier League is making clubs look to a quick-fix rather than long term stability.
And stats show that more and more clubs in the top division are latching on to this trend. They are more prepared to pull the trigger to make a fresh start to the New Year in order to keep their team in top flight football.
This research will be a big concern for the managers of clubs lurking at the bottom of the table around the New Year, as well as for Andre Villas-Boas who is coming under increasing pressure. Both the morale boost and the extra 4.7 extra points a season delivered by a new manager will not go unnoticed by clubs that are looking for a turnaround of fortunes. This may make the 2011 /2012 festive period and transfer window the bloodiest in football history.
Will AVB, Owen Coyle and Steve Kean make it to February 1st?
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For further information please go to www.sigames.com or www.footballmanager.com
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp believes the club can match the ambitions of midfielder Luka Modric.Redknapp has called on the Spurs board to invest in the squad after Modric declared his intention to join London rivals Chelsea.
The 25-year-old midfielder wants to leave White Hart Lane after Tottenham failed to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Modric was the subject of a failed 22 million pound bid by Chelsea but has also attracted interest from a number of other clubs.
Redknapp admits Spurs need to keep the Croatian and other key players if they want to challenge for silverware next season.
Tottenham’s North London rivals Arsenal say they have been contacted by Barcelona over the potential transfer of captain Cesc Fabregas.
But Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood denied a bid had been made by the Catalans.
Fabregas has continually been linked with a move back to the club where he started his career.
And the 24-year-old has been open about his desire to return to the La Liga champions at some point in his career.
But Barcelona president Sandro Rosell recently claimed they would not pay over the odds for Fabregas, saying the player’s value had decreased.
Meanwhile, Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti says England manager Fabio Capello is on a shortlist of candidates to become the new manager of the club.
Inter are searching for a new boss after Leonardo left to reportedly take up a role with Paris Saint Germain.
Capello still has three years remaining on his England contract, but says he intends to leave the job after Euro 2012.
Moratti did however rule out a move for Porto coach Andre-Villas Boas despite reports to the contrary in the Italian media.
Inter are not prepared to pay the required 15 million Euro release clause for the Europa League-winning manager.
Former player and assistant Sinisa Mihajlovic is also out of the running after vowing to stay with Fiorentina.
And FIFA have suspended the Football Federation of Belize due to government interference.
Belize now face expulsion from the 2014 World Cup after the second leg of their preliminary qualifier against Montserrat was postponed.
FIFA decided to intervene after the government of Belize declared they would not be providing match security for the visiting team or officials.
Belize will be expelled from qualification if the situation is not rectified by July 10.
Manchester United dropped their first points of the season after Stoke came from behind to snatch a well deserved point at the Britannia Stadium.
Peter Crouch was the Potters hero heading in his first goal since his deadline day move from Tottenham to cancel out Nani’s opener and ruin the Premier League leaders 100% start to the campaign.
The Red Devil’s had much criticised goalkeeper David de Gea to thank for pulling off a number of outstanding saves to keep out the hosts and keep his side level.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side remain a point ahead of rivals City in the table but could have easily lost the game with the second half an entertaining end-to-end affair.
United were without top scorer Wayne Rooney who missed the game due to a hamstring injury and also lost Johnny Evans in the warm up meaning winger Antonio Valencia played at right back.
Ferguson suffered a further blow when Javier Hernandez was forced off after clattering into Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic. The incident should have seen United given a penalty as the Mexican darted clear only to be tripped by Jonathan Woodgate causing him to smash into Begovic.
The contest was certainly a feisty one with tackles flying in all over the place with referee Peter Walton being called into action more times than he would have hoped.
He was forced into booking Glenn Whelan after a rash lunge on Patrice Evra that had Ferguson off the bench and remonstrating for a tougher punishment for the midfielder.
Stokes physical style didn’t perturb a patched up United side and they took the lead courtesy of Nani with the Portuguese winger exchanging passes with Darren Fletcher before shifting the ball onto his left and firing it low beyond Begovic from just inside the area.
The Potters responded immediately and finally called De Gea into action. The Spanish keeper showed outstanding reflexes to tip Andy Wilkinson’s rasping drive onto the bar and preserve his sides slender lead.
He then showed his agility getting down low to tip Jon Walters’ low effort round the post as the Tony Pulis’ side dominated in the minutes leading up to half time.
They continued that supremacy after the restart penning United back into their own half and finally making the breakthrough with Crouch breaking his Potters duck in the 52nd minute.
Matthew Etherington fired over a delicious corner from the right finding the head of Crouch after the England striker had ghosted in between Phil Jones and Rio Ferdinand to nod the ball home.
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United’s defence was looking weaker by the minute and they had their young goalkeeper to thank yet again for keeping them level. Crouch again found space in the area only to see his header from Jermaine Pennant’s cross batted away by De Gea’s elbow.
The visitors were then adamant they should have had a penalty with Evra’s shot appearing to hit Ryan Shawcross in the arm only for Walton to wave away any appeals.
With just minutes left on the clock both sides had chances to snatch victory with Crouch dragging a shot wide after chesting the ball down in the area.
Ryan Giggs then squandered a fantastic opportunity slicing his volley wide of the goal after Nani had picked him out with a beautifully floated cross leaving the veteran staring into the heavens.
Sir Alex Ferguson has described Chelsea’s £50million acquisition of Fernando Torres as an attempt by Roman Abramovich to satisfy his obsession with winning the Champions’ League. Unfortunately for the Russian, his passion will remain unfulfilled for at least another year, having seen his Chelsea side fall at the hands of United in last week’s quarter-final.
What’s more, his expensive addition to the squad still hasn’t scored in his twelve appearances so far for his new team nor has shown anywhere near the ability required to warrant such an extortionate transfer value. Torres still has a chance to prove his move to Stamford Bridge was worth while, having secured a five-and-a-half year contract in January, but he is just one of a number of players who made a move to the Premier League and failed to justify their price tag, which begs the question; why do fans always agitate for new signings when they never guarantee immediate improvement?
There are a number of benefits a club can enjoy by making big signings, and not all of them encourage an instant leap up the League table. Of course signing players of a certain calibre improves the average quality of a squad, which can affect and alter a team’s style of play, and this prevents teams from going stale and predictable which in turn allows the fans to reap the most out of their expensive season tickets. Fans always expect a progressive level of advancement and are never shy in expressing their ambitions, which are usually realistic to what their club could achieve.
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Most fans advocate specific transfer targets that they believe will assist their current squad. For example, most Blackpool fans don’t expect Ian Holloway to announce a summer bid for Kaka, and last year a large number campaigned to sign DJ Campbell permanently. Several Blackpool fans felt that making Campbell’s loan deal permanent would be an advantage going in to their maiden Premier League season, and have been proved right in thinking so seeing as he is currently their top scorer with ten goals this season.
Another reason fans encourage their club’s owners to spend money on players is perhaps a little more subtle than wanting a higher number of goals, tackles and saves than the previous season. Supporters are the majority representatives of any football club even if they are not necessarily the most powerful, and are therefore constantly challenged to defend their team’s performances, staff, stadium, form and history by fans of other clubs. Behind trophies and league positions, a big signing characterises and enhances a club’s prestige and stature as they demonstrate how a team is perceived and respected on a wider, and sometimes universal, scale.
When Tottenham signed Gareth Bale in 2007 he had already been subjected to widespread interest from ‘bigger’ clubs, most notably Manchester United, who appeared to be best placed to snare the teenager from Southampton. When the youngster turned down Old Trafford in favour of a move to London, all Spurs fans enjoyed a sense of moral victory over a club which has dominated English football for the past two decades. Tottenham’s ability to convince Bale to sign a four-year contract at White Hart Lane reassured the supporters of the club’s ambitions and not only increased the Lilywhites’ status, but also provided their fans with a heightened impression of the team’s standing compared to other clubs.
Fans attend their clubs’ games up to three times every week, and without being able to directly influence their team’s performances, they require reasons to support their side in times of adversity or when their clubs’ values are being scrutinised. Signings have proved to be an important indicator of a clubs intentions and desire which offers every fan the reassurance they need in order to maintain faith. Chelsea were able to sign a player with a profile as high as Torres’ at a time when they were evidently declining, and despite his slow start, the psychological impact he has made implies that the club are heading in the right direction. Although his impact in terms of goals is yet to be determined, Chelsea supporters are comforted by the owner’s craving to improve the playing staff, as well as the club’s capacity to attract the best talent.
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