Whoever the New England manager proves to be and whatever squad he subsequently picks will play a hugely significant part in Stuart Pearce’s Team GB squad for the London Olympic Games that begin just 23 days after the Euros have concluded. With Team GB meeting up around two weeks before the opening game of the Olympics, that could leave a player with one weeks holiday throughout the whole summer if he is selected in both squads.
Even if a player does not feature heavily at the Euro’s they still shouldn’t be selected for the Olympics as playing football for 51 of the 52 weeks in a year is too much. So I have drawn up my side for the opening Team GB game at the Olympics and have taken all things into account.
The squad as a whole must have no more than three players over the age of 23 and can currently be selected from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland but politics may mean that changes nearer to the date. So here is my Team GB starting 11.
Click on Aaron Ramsey below to unveil the Olympic XI
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CONCACAF acting president Lisle Austin has been provisionally banned from the federation for allegedly violating rules.Austin – who is deputising for the suspended former president Jack Warner – will be the subject of a hearing in July, but details of the case were not specified on Saturday.
“Mr. Lisle Austin, is hereby provisionally banned from taking part in any kind of football related activity within CONCACAF and at the national level,” a CONCACAF statement said.
Austin only assumed the interim presidency on Sunday and quickly made an enemy in CONCACAF general secretary, Chuck Blazer, whom he suspended from duty before the pair traded insults through the week.
This provisional ban can be appealed, but Austin would have to file a written notice of appeal to the CONCACAF Executive Committee before June 13.
Warner, alongside Asian Football Confederation chairman Mohammed bin Hammam, are the subject of an alleged bribery investigation, with Blazer the whistle-blower in that case.
Speaking ahead of Manchester United's Champions League clash at Bursaspor on Tuesday, Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Europe's elite competition is better than the World Cup.
This summer's showpiece in South Africa hardly lived up to lofty expectations and, although the Champions League has received negative coverage in recent times, Ferguson is adamant the club competition wins hands down over the four-yearly event, despite some fixtures failing to stir the imagination.
"Have you seen the last six World Cups? It is better going to the dentist I suppose," he said.
"It is a natural thing. If you look at the great teams in the European Cup now and think of the Premier League, you are not going to get the same crowd for Arsenal playing a lower team in the league, or the same tension and drama as you would Arsenal against Manchester United.
"It is the same in the Champions League. Inter Milan playing one of the smaller teams will not get the same crowd. The important thing is the Champions League has proved itself since its inception.
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"It is better than the World Cup. It is unbelievable. There are some fantastic games. Yes, you have to get through the group stages before you get to the really exciting stage but it is a fantastic tournament."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Normally, these type of pieces are where supporters pick the world’s best players as the ones that their club should sign, but lets face it, Chelsea aren’t going to get Messi or Ronaldo to Stamford Bridge. So I did the thing that the past six Chelsea managers didn’t and chose a right back and in particular, Dani Alves.
For years the position has been Chelsea’s downfall and year after year a suitable replacement hasn’t been found, with poor old Bransilav Ivanovic being moved out of his position of centre-half and forced to ‘become’ a right-back who if you watch closely, his positioning isn’t that great and the better teams do find him out, (Chelsea vs. Manchester United Champions League 1/4 final first leg). That’s nothing against Ivanovic as a player, personally I think he has been out of the better players in the team so far this season, but surely he is better suited to play centre-half allowing David Luiz to move into midfield?
It’s hard to criticise Alves for his performances since he joined Barcelona in 2008 for around 30 million Euros, his attacking prowess is vital to Barcelona’s style of play and along with the left back becomes an extra man in midfield to help continue the endless flow of passing that graces the Nou Camp pitch. But when the pressure is on Barcelona and teams are attacking, you can be sure Alves is there and you can trust me to get the job done.
People often claim that Alves would not be able to cope with the defensive mind needed to play in the Premier League, but if you look at his record, it’s hard to provide any evidence to suggest anything other than success. At Sevilla, he won the Uefa Cup twice, the Copa Del Ray and the Spanish Super Cup before moving to Barcelona where he has won La Liga three times, the Champions League twice, one Copa Del Ray, three more Spanish Super Cup’s, two Uefa Super Cups and two FIFA cup world cups, surely the only thing missing is a Premier League title?
He has only been first choice right back for a lot of football critics and pundits for the past five years, being selected in the Uefa team of the year twice, the FIFPro World XI twice, the European Sports Media’s team of the year four times and been voted La Liga’s best defender and the player of the tournament for the Uefa Cup. You don’t win a selection of trophies this vast if you aren’t a capable defender.
Think Chelsea should sign somebody else or a different right back? Tweet me your ideas @deanmears.
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Highpoint- The big number 19. In the years after the 26 year title drought was finally broken in 1993, we were still taunted by Liverpool fans telling us we’d never beat 18 titles. This is the year we officially ‘knocked them off their perch’, with it clearly meaning as much to Fergie as it did to the fans.
Lowpoint- Men against boys, a centre forward we couldn’t handle, and over ran in midfield. Not the Champions League final, the League Cup defeat at Upton Park. Standing in the cold snow, watching a reasonably strong United team being taken apart by Carlton Cole and Jonathan Spector. Jonny Evans’ season never recovered from that, Bebe and Obertan played like, well, Bebe and Obertan. The disappointing performances from Smalling and Hernandez fortunately proved to be an exception in excellent seasons for them both.
Player of the season- Nemanja Vidic. Honourable mentions go to Hernandez and Van der Sar, but Vidic has been a rock at the heart of the defence all season. The partnership of Vidic-Ferdinand often looks unbeatable, and he has also played his part in the impressive development of Chris Smalling.
Best Away Trip- Schalke in the Champions League Semi final. An absolutely fantastic stadium was a suitable setting for one of the best European away performances from United in recent years.
We will miss you- Edwin Van Der Sar. The big dutch keeper enjoyed arguably his best season since joining the club, cementing his place as a fans favourite and leaving us with plenty of happy memories.
Season of two halves- Dimitar Berbatov. With Rooney carrying his England form into the start of the new season, it was left to Berbatov to pull the team through. However, once Rooney started to find form, Berbatov seemingly lost his, cumulating with him losing his place in the squad for the Champions League final.
Hats off to- FC Barcelona. There is no shame in losing to a team that could easily rank as one of the best club sides of all time. Fergie was brave with his tactics and picked the team that most of us wanted him to, but we were still outplayed. Messi, Xavi and Iniesta play football with such ease that you can only admire.
Comeback of the season- Antonio Valencia. Came back from a horrific leg break, arguably a better player than he was pre injury. His return offered the team more balance, and enabled the rotation of Giggs and Nani.
Remember me – Owen Hargreaves. After a single 4 minute appearance in 2010/11, United decided not to renew Hargreaves’ contract. He will now surely figure on every ‘big money flops’ list that the tabloids spew out, but rememeber that without Hargreaves there would have be no Moscow.
Bizarre fans moment- In Ibrox, Rangers fans singing ‘England’ with United fans singing ‘Argentina’.
Don’t mention- FA Cup Semi Final
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A legend- Gary Neville. A lifelong United fan who made over 600 appearances for the club winning domestic, European and world honours, and despite a couple of shaky years at the end, has proved himself as United best ever right back. If that’s not enough of a ‘schoolboys dream’ career, he got Ian Brown to sing for him at his testimonial. Legend.
Hopes for next season- With a couple of players already on the way, and a few more seemingly packed and ready at the exit door, it looks like we might be looking at a bit of an overhaul at Old Trafford this summer. A keeper is obviously vital, and a goalscoring central midfielder is needed. It would be nice to see a few youngsters given a chance, Cleverley and Welbeck have both had decent seasons out on loan and deserve an opportunity. Fergie says there is money available but it needs to be spent wisely and I would be happy with a couple of solid players and a couple of exciting youngsters rather than one big marquee signing.
Chelsea captain John Terry has urged his side to learn the lessons of the 2-0 defeat at Liverpool which cut their lead at the top of the Premier League to just two points.
The Blues were far from their best at Anfield on Sunday afternoon and paid the price by falling to just their second league defeat of the season.
Terry told the Evening Standard:"I don't think we ever take things for granted at this club, but maybe this is the kick up the backside we all needed.
"We haven't been playing too well recently but have been grinding out results.
"We have another gear to find and we're still at the top of the Premier League, so we have to be encouraged by that, but we can't forget what has got us there in the first place.
"In the last couple of games away from home, we have started the game very slowly and we did the same yesterday.
"I am disappointed to lose in the manner we did. I just think the tempo was missing early on. We tried to take the sting out of the game but it backfired on us.
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"The next thing we knew we were 2-0 down and by the time we got our game together in the second half, it was too little too late.
"We let it go too easily early on. It was frustrating and we need to look at it."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Newcastle striker Demba Ba has quashed rumours that he is eager to leave the club, stating that stories that he may be on the move are mere media speculation.
The Senegalese forward has been in blistering form this season, and scored his 16th Premier League goal of the campaign against Aston Villa on Sunday.
Despite rumours stating that he has a £7 million release clause in his contract and that a number of leading sides are pursuing the African hitman, Ba has spoke of his intention to stay with the Tyneside outfit.
“I never talked to anyone to say I wanted to leave,” Ba told The Telegraph.
“I was just listening to people saying or writing he’s going there, he’s going there, he’s going there, and I had a big smile on my face.
“It was funny to me. The most important thing is being happy with your football and I am happy here,” he commented.
Ba reportedly turned down the legendary Newcastle No 9 jersey, but has confirmed it was because he wanted to keep his own number, and that new signing and countryman Papiss Cisse is welcome to it.
“I always said that I wanted to keep my number [19]. I always said that if someone comes in and you want to give him No 9, don’t even ask me – just give it to him if he wants it.
“He [Alan Pardew] asked me if I didn’t mind it going to him [Cisse]. I said just give it to him if it helps to sign him.
“I have told him everything about the No 9 shirt, but I have also said it is just a number. He is a very quiet guy. All the fuss and hype with not affect him,” Ba confessed.
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Newcastle are currently fifth in the Premier League standings and face Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
Controversy seems to follow Emmanuel Adebayor everywhere he goes, and so it is only fitting that he should be linked with his former employer’s Arsenal’s local rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. The Togolese striker is currently on loan at Real Madrid from Manchester City, and with the Lilywhites obvious troubles up front, is signing the former Monaco forward worth the aggravation he will no doubt cause?
The former Gunners ace has proven his ability at the highest level, time and time again; averaging just over a goal every two games for the Gunners, and the same ratio for Manchester City. Adebayor has all the attributes of an ideal target man, very much like Peter Crouch, but the difference between the two is that Adebayor actually uses these attributes. The Togo star is strong in the air, holds up play and has a huge presence when in and around the final third.
The problem with Adebayor is that for every fantastic goal or entertainment he produces, there are always outspoken, controversial and blunt actions or comments. You have the infamous celebration against the Gunners, the ‘stamp’ on Robin Van Persie and the continual argument via the media with Roberto Mancini. It is these moments of madness that can overshadow a season, cost you a Cup Final or bring down a team’s morale, can Spurs really risk such an occurrence on their quest for Champions League football?
Liability or not, the fact of the matter Spurs are desperate for new faces in their frontline after the abysmal form of Defoe, Crouch and Pavlyuchenko this season. Yes Adebayor poses a risk, but what decision is football doesn’t? The knock down price that Adebayor will be available for, the guaranteed goals he will bring and yet another chance to get one over on Arsenal, after the success of Gallas, I think Spurs fans should embrace such a signing as Adebayor despite his ‘baggage’. Some of the games current greatest managers have seen real talent in big forward, and no doubt in true Adebayor style, he will endear himself to the White Hart Lane faithful, but for how long is a totally different question?
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Imogen Thomas Joins Paddy Power For a Champion Offer! They will refund losing Champions League Final bets if Man United lose the match Make your bets now!
Tottenham have moved quickly to quell the mixed interpretation of quotes that were made from AEG yesterday with regards to the club’s interest in the Olympic Stadium. I for one was pleased to hear this, especially given what was coming out of AEG’s Chief Executive David Campbell yesterday.
Maybe I am just an old romantic, but the prospect of leaving Tottenham for Stratford would be like ripping the heart out of the football club in my view and shouldn’t even be contemplated despite the vast difference in cost. Some of the business minded amongst you may think that financially the Olympic stadium would be the more viable option, and while that may well be the case I will still be totally opposed to any such move.
So am I letting my heart rule my head here with regards to the Olympic move? Apparently it will only cost in the region of £150m to transform the Stratford site to one suitable for football, whereas the new White Hart Lane will cost anywhere between £300-400m. It is a huge difference in price and although Sponsors would likely make up a large chunk of the costs with naming rights of the stadium, we have to accept the fact that for a few seasons the manager will have to rely on minimal investment and will have to lean largely on our youth set-up, like the other mob down the Seven Sisters to see us through. The Olympic stadium would enable us to remain competitive in the transfer market and start generating greater revenues sooner than the proposed new White Hart Lane; therefore you can understand why Tottenham shareholders would be interested in such a proposal given the current financial climate.
While I understand the pros and cons, I would rather use £150m to ensure that Tottenham remain loyal to their roots, even if it means we have to remain prudent for a few years as a result. That is the question that Tottenham fans have to ask themselves as they contemplate the two stadium proposals and whether they’ll be happy for the club to lose their roots for the sake of a cheaper option.
Written By Roy James
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We all know the big names in football, the Messis, the Ronaldos, the Beckhams and the Shaabans. Wait a minute, sorry who? Rami Shaaban, the former Arsenal goalkeeper? Never heard of him? Well don’t worry because here is an A-Z of footballers you never even knew existed until now. Serious tekkers if you did though. (Note: To qualify for a Randomness Rating, said player must have appeared for the club.)
A – Arphexad, Pegguy – Won 6 major honours by sitting on Liverpool’s and Leicester’s substitute’s bench. 9 different clubs, 40 appearances. Randomness Rating: 4/10
B – Bischoff, Amaury – Signed by Wenger as a talented youngster in the mould of Fabregas etc, but ended up making just a single appearance. Shows Wenger doesn’t always get it right. Randomness Rating: 7/10
C – Cordone, Daniel – £500k he cost Newcastle, but in the end just became one of many useless strikers signed to partner Alan Shearer. Shame they didn’t play 4-5-1 back then. Randomness Rating: 6/10
D – Donk, Ryan – Shockingly badly West Brom defender. Whatever you do, don’t put a donk on it when it involves Ryan. Randomness Rating: 7/10
E – Espinoza, Geovanny – Signed for Birmingham in 2009, made 2 League Cup appearances, then had his contract cancelled by mutual consent. Hapless. Randomness Rating: 8/10
F – Fumica – Another entry for Newcastle United, who pulled this Brazilian out of the bag after seeing rivals Middlesbrough’s Samba Star. Juninho he was not. Randomness Rating: 9/10
G – Gekas, Theofanis – For a man who smashes them in for Greece at international level, he disappointed somewhat when on loan at Portsmouth. One solitary appearance to his name. Randomness Rating: 6/10
H – Hay, Danny – Nobody thinks of New Zealanders as good footballers, but Leeds took a punt on centre-back Danny Hay. He played four times…Randomness Rating: 6/10
I – Inamoto, Junichi – A hero in Japan, a nobody in England. Less-than average stays at Arsenal, Fulham and West Brom. Randomness Rating 4/10
J – Jardel, Mario – Smashed in goals galore all over Europe, so when he joined Bolton in 2003, it appeared Big Sam had pulled out a massive coup. Left after just 7 appearances due to homesickness. Randomness Rating: 2/10
K – Katan, Yaniv – When a striker can’t beat Marlon Harewood for a first team spot, you know they’re just plain shit. Six extremely forgettable appearances in 2006 for West Ham before being shipped back into the wilderness. Randomness Rating: 10/10
L – Laslandes, Lilian – 7 caps for France, 3 goals. 12 appearances for Sunderland, 0 goals. Terrific French striker. Randomness Rating: 4/10
M – Manucho – Fergie doesn’t get many wrong but not sure this Angolan striker was ever going to worry his Premier League rivals. Couldn’t even make the Hull team whilst on loan there. Randomness Rating: 2/10
N – Negouai, Christian – Remember the days when Manchester City couldn’t afford to buy everyone on the planet? Well this is what they ended up with. 6 appearances in 4 years. Randomness Rating: 9/10
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O – Olisadebe, Emmanuel – The Nigerian-born Polish striker who discovered he had a heart defunct and could no longer play. Portsmouth still gave him 2 appearances in 2005/06 though. Randomness Rating: 5/10
P – Prica, Rade – A Roy Keane move this one, essentially proving why Keane is so well renowned for wasting his chairman’s money. He has won three different Scandinavian Championships though. Randomness Rating: 7/10
Q – Quaresma, Ricardo – The other Portuguese wizard of the dribble has played for top clubs all over Europe. But he was anonymous when on loan at Chelsea. Randomness Rating: 1/10
R – Rankin, Isaiah – Bradford City paid £1.3million for him to spearhead their Premiership strikeforce. Probably why they’re languishing around at the bottom of League 2 then. Randomness Rating: 8/10
S – Sava, Facundo – ‘The ma with the mask’ produced a famous Zorro celebration every time he scored. Unfortunately for Fulham fans, that just wasn’t enough. Randomness Rating: 6/10
T – Toda, Kazuyuki – Spurs went all Japanese for a season in an attempt to corner the Asian market for merchandising. No Park Ji-Sung though. Randomness Rating: 8/10
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U – Unsal, Hakan – Blackburn must have thought buying a Turkish defender who reached the World Cup semi-final would tighten their defence up considerably. It didn’t. Randomness Rating: 4/10
V – Vaz Te, Ricardo – 7 years at Bolton, just 58 appearances. The Portuguese striker was signed a wonderkid, but left as nobody. Did score for Barnsley last week though. Randomness Rating 5/10
W – Wapennaar, Harold – It’s no wonder Portsmouth are in dire financial straits given how many random signings they made during their stay in the Premiership. This Dutch goalkeeper made just 5 appearances. Randomness Rating: 8/10
X – Xisco – Another Newcastle blunder, they should stay well away from buying foreign stars. And this one cost £6million. Randomness Rating: 6/10
Y – Yordi – A journeyman Spanish striker was never going to fit the bill in the Premiership. Shipped in and shipped out. Randomness Rating: 7/10
Z – Zuniga, Ysrael – The second best Peruvian to play in the Premiership behind Nolberto Solano turned out for Coventry City. However, only 2 Peruvians have ever played in this division. Randomness Rating: 9/10