Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has insisted that his squad are focussed on the Premier League season ahead and are not distracted by the ongoing transfer saga surrounding Luka Modric.
The Croatia international wants to leave White Hart Lane and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid all summer long, with the two clubs negotiating a transfer.
Despite the fact that Modric is yet to finalise his move to the Santiago Bernabeu, Villas-Boas has stated that his contingent are not going to be adversely effected by the situation.
“No, this is not a distraction. We set out a plan for the player and we have stuck to it,” Villas-Boas is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
“The player is training individually and he doesn’t disrupt our environment. I think we will have a conclusion in the next couple of weeks.
“We expect him here to train. He is still a Tottenham player but from what the chairman has told me talks are ongoing, they stalled a little bit two weeks ago, but they have picked up recently,” he concluded.
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Tottenham are ready to let Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini leave the club on loan, Mirror Football state.
The White Hart Lane outfit secured a transfer deadline day deal for France international stopper Hugo Lloris, who will now battle Brad Friedel for the No.1 jersey at the north London club.
The ex-Lyon man’s signature leaves Andre Villas-Boas’ side with too many goalkeepers in their squad, and Gomes and Cudicini will be allowed to pursue first-team football elsewhere, most likely at a Championship club.
Neither Gomes or Cudicini have made appearances for Tottenham in quite some time and the pair are believed to not be part of the club’s future plans.
The Championship window for loaning players opens soon, and Villas-Boas is thought to be keen for the pair to leave temporarily with an eye on a permanent sale when the January transfer window opens at the turn of the year.
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West Ham United winger Matt Jarvis hopes that his £7.5 million move from Wolverhampton Wanderers last month will help him earn an England recall, according to The Daily Mail.
The 26-year-old made his international debut during a 1-1 draw against Ghana in March 2011. However, this to date is Jarvis’ only England cap after falling out of favour.
The winger admits that he needs to be playing at consistently high levels for the Hammers first before he can consider being called up by England manager Roy Hodgson.
“You have to play well for your club and play regularly to be called up for your country and that is exactly what I want to do.”
Jarvis knows that asserting himself as a regular starter in the West Ham side isn’t going to be easy as competition on the flanks for the Hammers is stiff – with talented players such as Gary O’Neil, Matt Taylor and Ricardo Vaz Te all vying for a similar position to Jarvis.
“The squad we have is very strong and everyone we have is fighting for a place in the starting eleven,” he said.
However, Jarvis says he is determined to be a success for the Premier League newcomers, “I am no different and I need to prove myself if I want to be starting week in, week out.”
The former Wolves man came off the bench in Saturday’s goalless draw at Norwich on Saturday following a thigh injury which he picked up in training, leaving the midfielder out of action for two weeks.
Jarvis says that he is now fully fit to face Sunderland on Saturday: “Unfortunately I picked up a slight thigh injury in training, which has forced me to miss the last couple of weeks, but I am fully recovered now and I am delighted to be back in the squad and back on the pitch.”
The Hammers have made an impressive start to the campaign losing only one of their first four games and currently lie 8th in the Premier League table. Jarvis admits he is delighted with the start his new side have made to the season.
“I think the manager has got exactly what he wanted from us having a good start and hopefully we can keep the run going this weekend.”
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Jarvis replaced Matt Taylor in the 57th minute at Carrow Road on Saturday however the winger failed to make an impact in what he admits was a frustrating game for both sides.
“We had plenty of chances against Norwich and maybe we should have put one of ours away.
“It would have been nice to have got the win but it was very hot, which took it out of everyone involved. There were a lot of chances for both sides but it didn’t fall right for either one. Overall I was pleased to be involved in the game and happy to be back,” Jarvis added.
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is close to signing a new four-year contract with the Merseyside club, according to Mirror Football.
The Denmark international has become a crucial member of Brendan Rodgers’ Reds squad, but was linked with a move in the summer; Manchester City were accredited with an interest in the Scandinavian.
However, Agger is finally set to end speculation over his future by putting pen-to-paper on a new four-year deal worth £75,000 a week.
The centre-half has shown excellent performances for the Anfield outfit when fit, but has had niggling injuries blight his time in England.
The signing of Agger on a new contract would be a real boost for the Merseysiders, as Rodgers looks to continue his development at the club.
Meanwhile, impressive youngster Suso is also being lined up with a new contract also.
The young Spanish winger has broken into first-team consideration and has impressed so far in his fledgling career; however with less than a year left on his current deal Rodgers wants to tie the player down to a long-term contract.
Real Madrid have been rumoured as an interested party.
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Italian giants Juventus are said to be keen on Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and could line up a January swoop.
The Turin-based club are believed to have monitoring the speedy wide-man for some time and are keen to offer him the chance to swap the Premier League for Serie A.
Liverpool and Manchester City are also interested, but Juve boss Antonio Conte has urged his club’s hierarchy to splash the cash for the ex-Southampton man.
Walcott has slipped down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium this term and his refusal to pen a new long-term contract has opened the door for potential suitors.
Despite the interest, Wenger is keen to keep his man:
“They (talks) are going on, but there is no news about that.” He said according to the Mirror.
“My determination has always been the same, to extend his contract. That other clubs are interested or not, the determination is the same.”
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The Italians are also set to beat Arsenal again in the transfer market as they step up their pursuit of Spanish striker Fernando Llorente.
The Gunners are said to have been tracking the lanky forward for some time, but the Old Lady have reportedly agreed a £145,000-per-week deal with the Athletic Bilbao man.
West Bromwich Albion are already preparing their transfer plans for next summer, according to the club’s technical director Dan Ashworth.
The Baggies enjoyed a successful summer window in which they secured the likes of Claudio Yacob and Romelu Lukakau who have both looked promising in the Premier League so far.
Ashworth, who will leave the club later this season to become the FA’s director of elite development, has said that the club are already working towards summer 2013:
“For the first time there probably wasn’t any criticism (of Albion’s summer signings),” he told the Birmingham Mail.
“Short of any injuries, or any fantastic offers for any of our players, I can’t see us doing much in January.
“When the window closed on August 31, an email went the next day with our summer targets.
“We are now looking towards summer 2013 and we will spend the coming months doing that.
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“If any are available in January, either on pre-contract which we can do from abroad or people running into the final six months of their contracts, then maybe but we know the positions we want to strengthen next season.
“The board meetings we have all take into account where we might need to strengthen, who is getting older, who might want to move on.”
All eyes will be on Robin Van Persie as Manchester United welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford this Saturday lunch time.
It will be the first time the Dutchman has come face to face with his former employers since leaving them for £24million in the summer, and will surely be expecting a tough reception from the travelling Arsenal fans.
Both teams go into the game on the back of Capital One Cup thrillers, with Arsenal coming back from 4-0 down to beat Reading 7-5 on Tuesday, and United going down 5-4 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with both games going to extra time.
Goals look certain to come at Old Trafford, with United looking vulnerable at the back and often superb going forward, proving this in their 2-3 win at Stamford Bridge last Sunday.
Arsenal struggled to a 1-0 at home to QPR last time out, and will be slightly apprehensive of their trip to Old Trafford. The Gunners haven’t won in eight visits in all competitions, losing seven.
Ferguson will have a tough selection headache, with Javier Hernandez pushing for a start after scoring two goals in a week, whilst Wenger will decide whether to start Jack Wilshere after the midfielder played his first league game in over 18 months against QPR last week.
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Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar has revealed that he met representatives of Arsenal before deciding to sign for QPR.
The 33-year-old completed his Premier League switch from Inter Milan last summer, in a move that shocked many.
Having won the Champions League, it was expected that Cesar would move to a team fighting for domestic honours, but he instead opted to join the Tony Fernandes revolution at Loftus Road.
However, he revealed to the Sunday People that he held talks with their London rivals, but was more tempted by the package offered by QPR:
“I accepted this proposal because I wanted to live in London.
“I have an amazing way of life here and I’m giving my family a great opportunity to grow up culturally.
“I talked with Arsenal in the last transfer window, and they were really happy about me playing for them, but at the last minute I moved to QPR.
“QPR has a project, and I dream about that project coming true. But I came here because I was thinking about my future once I quit football, that’s true.”
The stopper also believes that his new team will achieve success on the field, once all of the new arrivals have settled into the system:
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“The directors have signed 11 footballers, and when you put them all into a team, it will be difficult for that team to work immediately.
“That’s why QPR haven’t won yet. We don’t have an identity yet. But let me tell you we are on the right track.”
The FootballFanCast.com Advent Calendar reaches day 3 and gives you the chance to win a Miscellany book of your choice. Whether you’re a supporter of Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur, we have a book for you!
The fully revised and updated 2012 edition of the Miscellany book is essential reading for fans of each of the above clubs. With its extensive array of facts, feats and anecdotes to chew over, this labour of love is the perfect Christmas present for the football fan in your life – young or old.
Congratulations to Sue Harrison who won an England shirt yesterday.
Fancy winning a Miscellany book?
FOLLOW and RETWEET to #win a Miscellany Book from the club of your choice! twitter.com/FootballFanCas…— FootballFanCast.com (@FootballFanCast) December 3, 2012
The winners will be announced tomorrow, when we will also be unveiling our prize for Day 4. Don’t forget to come back to FootballFanCast.com then!
Two games, 38 shots, an average of 60% possession, total domination and chance after chance created.
It was an exciting Christmas of football, but all this led to just 2 goals and 1 point, leaving the Blackpool fans, manager and players feeling like they had all the presents robbed on Christmas eve.
If there was a phrase to sum up the last two matches it would be “numerous chances”. It has been said numerous times by numerous people to describe the numerous chances that have been squandered by a profligate Blackpool frontline. The midfield has taken complete control of games and created enough chances to win every game from now until the end of the season, yet the frontmen can’t seem to put anything away. The fact that we were a last minute equaliser away from taking nothing from Huddersfield is cause for concern, but you can’t fault the effort of the players.
In the last few weeks we have seen a progression under Appleton. The defence has started to look pretty tight, we look like we can defend crosses, and we have taken control of games without leaving ourselves exposed. But you have to wonder whether working on the shape of the team and the defensive side of the game has left the strikers feeling a little rusty.
Against Wolves it was ‘one of those days’ where it just wouldn’t go in. Everything was thrown at the Wolves goal with Gomes twice hitting the post, Thomas missing an open net, Ince choosing to pass when he should shoot and vice versa, and Ikeme having to make save after save to keep them in it. Unfortunately, the Wolves keeper was inspired and did make save after save, including a fantastic set of three saves in 90 seconds. Wolves barely left their own half in the match, yet got an easy opening goal after 2 minutes and then were awarded, what turned out to be, a match-winning joke of a decision. A tug on the shirt that has never been a penalty. The majority of the time such a thing wouldn’t even be punished if it were on the halfway line, but the referee on the night (who judging by his performance must have been a blood relative of one of the Wolves players) saw fit to gift the visitors the game without even realising that the incident happened outside the box. One of those days indeed.
The players dusted themselves down and headed to Huddersfield along with a hefty away following. Boxing day footy. You just can’t beat it. Aside from any exciting or nerve-shredding final games of the season, the Boxing day fixture has always been my favourite, and it looked as though we would have a lot to celebrate when the game started.
Within about 6 seconds Blackpool should have taken the lead after a fine pass by Gomes sent Taylor-Fletcher through, only for him to boot it high over the bar. A minute later and he had another chance after a great cross by Thomas gave him a free header at goal, but he hit the post. Now, it would be churlish to suggest that Taylor-Fletcher spent the Christmas period munching too much turkey, but had he put just one of his ‘numerous chances’ away during that match, we would be sitting pretty.
He wasn’t the only one to blame though, not by a long way. After all, we are only in the second minute here. Ince missed a sitter, Thomas missed a sitter, Taylor-Fletcher missed more sitters, and even Isaiah Osbourne managed to wriggle his way into the box and miss a sitter. And this is just the first 20 minutes.
Ince later took on the entire Terriers defence only to consider it too simple before turning back and doing it all again. By the time he had a shot, it was blocked on the line. How that game was 0-0 at halftime I will never understand. It wasn’t a case of it could have been 5 or 6, it SHOULD have been 5 or 6. Proper, genuine goalscoring chances. Throw into the mix a dozen half-chances too and the game should have been out of sight and players should have been cruising, saving their energy for the trip to Middlesborough.
This wasn’t quite as unlucky as against Wolves though. For all the dominance and opportunities, I can’t recall a save in the first half. Their keeper didn’t put in the performance of his life because, if anything, he was underworked.
After the break it was more of the same with Blackpool creating chances freely yet failing to take them, and when the home side got a corner on 66 minutes, the inevitable happened. Against the run of play seems like a gross understatement, but it was and out of nowhere Gerrard popped up to give Huddersfield the lead and leave Blackpool fans furious at the wastefulness of their team.
Following the goal the same pattern continued, but the chances were starting to dry up. Blackpool’s players were losing patience and running out of ideas. Gomes missed a chance, a horrendous touch by Delfouneso led to another missed opportunity, another poor header from Taylor-Fletcher added to the list and it looked as if, somehow, Blackpool would leave empty handed.
That was the case right up to the 93rd minute when, in a moment of sheer wonder, Tom Ince discovered the had a right foot hanging from the bottom of his right leg. Buoyed by his latest discovery, he swung the previously unknown object towards the ball which fired into the box and was tapped home by Delfouneso via a deflection of a lunging Huddersfield defender.
Not so much a cheer as a roar of frustration released from the Blackpool fans. What would normally be one of the great sporting moments, grabbing a last minute goal, was enjoyed only momentarily as the reality sunk in at the final whistle. This game should have been dead and buried, yet here we are celebrating a last minute equaliser. The joys of football hey!
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Appleton’s interview after game was interesting listening. He sounded exactly how we felt. Stunned and annoyed. Laughing every few sentences as he struggled to come to terms with the game. And again, as is becoming the norm, he said all the right things. To paraphrase, he told us that after what he’d just said to the players in the dressing room, he will need to remind in training them how good the performance actually was. And that is exactly the right way round. The players needed a good rollocking for not winning that game, but we mustn’t forget some of the football which was scintillating at times.
So we head into the last game of the year in 11th place on 33 points. Only 4 points of the playoffs which, if we had finished properly, we would be sitting in right now. It’s easy to forget that we are only half way through the season and we don’t even require a string of results to get back into the mix. Just a little bit of consistency and some composure in front of goal, and we will be right up there.
It is hard to diagnose a problem really, because everything happened. Poor decision making, rushed finishing, taking too much time, snatching at shots, pretty much everything. In there somewhere, normally, would be about 10 goals. But there wasn’t and all we can do is look at the positives. We are back to dominating games and creating chances, whilst at the other end we look a lot more solid. Somebody is in for a right old tonking soon, so watch out Boro.