With every remaining match crucial in the La Liga title race, Dani Alves believes Barcelona must be at their best when they meet Villarreal.Defending champions Barca top the table by five points with nine games left this season and face a challenging fixture away to fourth-placed Villarreal on Saturday, with second-placed Real Madrid waiting to pounce on any slip-ups.
“We have to be as focused as we can,” Alves said.
“They (Villarreal) are one of the most dangerous rivals that we have, but we have enough quality to not fear anyone. We will try to earn the win – that’s always our goal.”
“We are playing against Villarreal for three more points, which in the worst case (if Barca lose) would maintain the gap over the second-placed team.”
“There is no turning back now – every game is a unique opportunity. The end is getting closer, and any mistake could be costly.”
Alves signed a new contract at the Camp Nou earlier this month, ending speculation that the Brazil fullback might be tempted by the riches on offer at Manchester City.
“I am very happy. I said many times that it wasn’t just about the money. It is an important part – I won’t deny that – but all the details have been resolved and I am very happy,” he said.
“I made my desire to stay here very clear, and to maybe finish my career here.
The new four-year deal ties Alves to the club until 2015.
Now 27, he hopes to become one of the longest-serving Brazilians to have played for the Catalan giants.
“Xavi (Hernandez), (Carlos) Puyol, (Andres) Iniesta, they have their stories within the club,” Alves said. “I am reaching three years here and want to have my own story. I want that respect.”
“To compare myself to them wouldn’t be a good idea, because they are the club’s history. I don’t like comparisons, but I want to make history.”
“I want people to have another opinion of Brazilians here; not that they are here for three or four years and then leave. I have always left clubs on good terms.”
Barcelona midfielder Xavi has told Arsenal they are only "delaying the inevitable" when it comes to Cesc Fabregas returning to his former club.
Fabregas has been the subject of one unsuccessful bid from the Spanish champions earlier this summer and his future in north London continues to look uncertain.
Manager Arsene Wenger has vowed to fight to keep hold of his captain, who he signed as a raw teenager from Barca back in 2003.
However, Xavi has warned Wenger that he is wasting his time as Fabregas will eventually return to the Camp Nou.
"We know where Cesc wants to be this coming season, but perhaps there is not enough time for Barcelona and Arsenal to agree a deal," Xavi told the Daily Express.
"Arsenal need to understand they are only delaying the inevitable.
"If we don't manage to get his signature this season then Arsenal only really have him on loan for a year – because there is nothing they can do to stop him joining next summer.
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"I haven't given up on him joining us this season but, if he doesn't, it won't be more than a year before he is back home.
"His people will have a whole season to sort out the deal between the two clubs and it will happen at the very latest next summer."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Everyone tends to be suspicious of new owners. After all who are these people who have suddenly decided that they love your club and they’re going to take it over? Do they really have the best interests of your beloved at heart or are they merely attempting to use this extravagant purchase as some kind of over zealous phallic extension to compensate for when they were called a ‘nerd’ at school.
The truth is: you can’t know until it’s too late. New owners are like politicians: they say one thing, think another and get abuse from fans no matter what they do. But, that doesn’t always mean that they have to have a negative impact. Everyone has different ideas about how clubs should be run and, with the exception of a few ruthless businessmen, they tend to have their heart in the right place, even if they’re disgracefully under qualified.
So what does Stan Kroenke bring to Arsenal, and is he the right man to usher in a new era of success for the north London club? A lot of people won’t want Kroenke trying to interfere at all in the actual running of the club but I think it might be necessary. The current board seems to have stagnated slightly. They sound like a broken record and I don’t think they put pressure on Arsene to be more lavish in the way that David Dein did.
The best way to understand Kroenke is to look not only at what he’s been saying to the press but also how he has managed the other sports teams he owns in the States.
What he’s said?
One clue Stan recently threw to the press was his defence of the Glazer family’s running of Man Utd. The American said: “Since they took over they have won and increased revenues by a huge amount. If I was a fan of that club, I would go there and go ‘Wow!’ because how could you do it any better? We have a whole different philosophy I think in the States…but I think it’s time maybe for everybody to think a little bit….He (Glazer) took money out of the club. So What? (LA Lakers owner) Jerry Buss takes money out of his club…Did the Lakers win anything? Well, yeah. They did. How big’s their revenue? Pretty darn good.”
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Hmm…what about the obsession with Wengeristic sustainability for our club? Have you only been going on about making our club profitable so you can take money out of it? I don’t think so but it is interesting to hear him say things that are in stark contrast to what he has said in the past. Kroenke announced recently that he was at Arsenal for the ‘long-term’. Whilst this might be a reassuring note for some for others including myself it denotes that he is prepared to play the long game. Something that Arsenal fans have been doing for a while.
What he’s done?
If Arsenal fans want to look at the other members of Kroenke Sports Enterprises to see how likely their owner is to inspire success in doesn’t make for good reading. So out of Stan’s ‘successful’ teams the St Louis Rams are pretty much just not successful at all, the MLS team Colorado Rapids did win the league last year but through the play-offs, Colorado Avalanche last won the Stanley Cup in 2001 which makes our trophy drought look good and Kroenke boasted that his Denver Nuggets team has reached the play-offs in each of the last eight seasons. This would seem impressive were it not for the fact that Arsenal have been one of only two teams to reach the Champions League every year for fifteen years and they are still considered a bit of a flop.
So what can we see of Kroenke’s vision for the future? Not much. As much Arsenal fans would love to see him be the catalyst for some action amongst the Arsenal board I don’t see it happening. I know that he has been on the board since 2008 but for him it probably feels like Arsenal were successful really recently and will soon be back there. I don’t think this is necessarily the case. Of course Arsenal can make it back to the top but something about the way the club is run at the top needs to change before they can reach the heights they previously held.
It will be interesting to see how long Gazidis remains at the club. The man is far from loved by some Arsenal fans who see him more as a politician than a chief executive and he is clearly a weak negotiator. Anyone who sells Fabregas for an initial fee of £25m needs a clip round the ear to say the least.
Kroenke might be known as a reserved owner who avoids the limelight and only conducts things behind closed doors if at all but I think he will find the premier league different from his American enterprises. At a club that is looking for leadership at every level Silent Stan might have to carve out a more public role for himself in the future.
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Blackburn’s owners Venkys have backed manager Steve Kean to keep Rovers in the English Premier League despite their horrid form.Rovers went down 3-2 to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday courtesy of a late Bobby Zamora penalty, causing the media to speculate whether the club’s owners at Ewood Park would sack their manager for a second time in a season after losing their fourth league game in their past five.The club’s owners dismissed Sam Allardyce on December 10 with the club 13th on the league table. Then-assistant Kean was initially installed as caretaker manager, but was handed a three-year deal in January after a early run of good form.But Blackburn are now in 14th place and just two points from the relegation zone, and have statistically the worst form in the Premier League.But co-owner Venkatesh Rao moved to dispel the theory that Kean was on borrowed time at the club.”The truth is absolutely nothing like that, absolutely,” Rao told Sky Sports.”He is very much there, he has just signed a contract and we like him a lot, he is very enthusiastic and he is very positive.”Rao admitted the side was struggling to finish off the season on a positive note, but believed Rovers could do enough in the final two months of the season to stay in the English top flight.”Yes, we are very concerned (with Blackburn’s form), but we are now trying to improve all aspects,” he said.”Plans are looking very positive and I am sure in the future we will do something better.”
New president Sandro Rosell has warned Arsenal that Barcelona will not pay over the odds for Cesc Fabregas.
The Spanish champions have already seen one bid for the Spain midfielder rejected by the north London club this summer.
Fabregas is reported to have told manager Arsene Wenger of his desire to leave the Gunners to rejoin his former club following seven years in the Premier League.
But following reports that Arsenal are holding out for a £40million fee for their unsettled captain, Rosell has issued a financial warning.
"We will never pay 50 or 60million (euros) for Cesc," he told Spanish radio."The whole world knows he wants to come and that we want to sign him.
"It's a topic that has become so public and that's the worst thing you can do with a transfer, because it makes the selling club raise their expectations and you end up paying over the odds."
Rosell's claim comes on the same day that he revealed that cash-flow problems were behind the sale of Dmytro Chygrynskiy back to former club Shakhtar Donetsk.
The 23-year-old defender has left the Camp Nou for a cut-price 15million euro fee just 11 months after joining Barcelona.
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"This operation is necessary for the club, above all to solve some short-term cash-flow problems," Rosell told the club's official website.
"The coaching staff have been very understanding which we greatly appreciate. The club's finances are a priority right now."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Football agents: whether you hate, loathe or just dislike them it is almost universally agreed that something needs to be done about the way they operate. Maybe I’m being a little harsh: not all agents are bad news and some really do have the best interests of their players at heart, but most of them are clearly looking out for number one and the result is that they manipulate the transfer system to bleed both clubs and players dry.
Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson reflected on the involvement of agents and the negative effects they have on their clients saying:
“Management today is complex in terms of the type of player we have to deal with. A lot of players today are dominated by their agents” (Daily Mail)
Ferguson has a tempestuous relationship with many agents, including Paul Stretford – Wayne Rooney’s agent, and revealed some of the demands he has faced from agents in the past such as one agent asking Manchester United to buy him a block of flats before the player would sign for the club. Needless to say Ferguson refused but the mere fact that agents believe they are in a position to demand such things is evidence for how out of hand the role has become in our sport.
And it’s not just personal demands that the agents are making says Ferguson who also criticises the unrealistic representation of their clients abilities as a problem for clubs:
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“When I get annoyed is when managers phone me and say such-and-such player – and I’m talking about players that couldn’t lace my reserve-team players’ boots – is asking for £1m a year. That’s when it becomes disappointing…the way some agents work a miracle by getting these terms for players who are not stars.” (Daily Mail)
And it’s not just Ferguson who has come across difficult agents. They exist throughout football and every season there are examples of more shady dealings. Take Joey Barton’s agent Willie McKay who received a fee for persuading his client to join QPR. Did Willie have the best interests of his player or himself at heart when making that decision?
So with the news that the FA will now be sending Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs full details of all the agents fees for the 2010/11 season finally we can see something done about the professionals in football who appear to give nothing back to the sport. It is estimated that the way that agents are paid their fees cheats the public coffers out of millions each year and HMRC are determined to clamp down on this tax evasion.
HMRC said that intends to audit all of the deals made last year in order to find out how to close down the current loopholes. Football is notorious for widespread corruption from the lowest to the highest levels and with the transfer market exploding at an exponential rate it is important that we propose checks for those involved in it so deeply, as agents are.
For updates on this and other football stories follow me on Twitter @H_Mackay
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As we moved into the final 15 minutes of Arsenal’s meeting with Barcelona on Wednesday night, Gunners fans were facing up to the reality that their Champions League aspirations were circling the drain.
After a bright start, Barcelona dominated possession and chances in a way that suggested the Spanish champions were keen to make a radical statement to those still believing football played in the English top flight is superior to that displayed in La Liga.
In truth, the 2-1 win over the Catalan giants is unlikely to be enough to secure progress, regardless of the landmark feel of the victory amongst those present at the Emirates. The football world has an extremely short memory, and the level of optimism with which Arsenal fans travelled to Spain last season after rescuing a similarly precarious situation, should not be forgotten when we dissect the permutations of this first leg.
Nevertheless, after witnessing that first half display at the Emirates by the Barcelona engine room, to come out of that first leg with a lead is remarkable.
Many of the plaudits in yesterday’s newspapers have surrounded the performance of Arsenal’s youngest gun, Jack Wilshere. Despite a paucity of big game, Champions League experience, the diminutive youth team product looked instantly at home in a game that pitted his wits against some of the finest passing talents in the sport.
Wilshere’s distribution and accuracy may not have matched the exemplary Xavi in terms of sheer numbers, but the manner in which he moved around the pitch, consummately picking the correct passes was a joy to behold. Equally enchanting, was the youngster’s display of inventiveness and initiative that has been missing from many Arsenal midfields of previous seasons. The package underlined his remarkable ability and went a long way to justifying the excitement that surrounds his growth.
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If Wilshere’s performance against Denmark last week was promising, this display took the young midfielder to a different level, impressing amongst far more revered opponents than those he dealt with in Copenhagen last week.
Arsene Wenger made special mention of his young prodigy in his post-match press conference, hailing the display as “outstanding.” Whilst Wenger was reluctant to include Wilshere in his first team squad last season, any doubts of his status as a permanent fixture in the starting XI have been dispelled with this showing.
Arsenal have struggled to kick on from important results in the past – there have been several false dawns over the last four or five seasons, and this would represent another if they fail to convert this slim advantage into a major scalp.
There are lessons for Wilshere too. He only needs to look around at his captain, Cesc Fabregas and remember the Arsenal victory against AC Milan at this stage of the competition in 2008. Despite landing, what appeared a major breakthrough victory at the San Siro, Fabregas and his team mates showed a naivety in stumbling to defeat to Liverpool, before capitulating in the league – neither trophy has been close since. One swallow does not make a summer.
Wilshere is going to find the game at the Nou Camp like something he has never experienced before. Successful teams there have been able to stick men behind the ball and defend resolutely, whilst maintaining the ability to break with pace against what remains a fragile Barcelona defence.
The threat going forward is something that is beyond question, but there are major, major questions about Arsenal’s ability to hold off a ruthlessly efficient Barcelona for 90 minutes. We saw last season, that despite scoring an early goal, the Gunners made too many mistakes and were comprehensively beaten. Memories of the club’s last away game – the remarkable 4-4 draw with Newcastle, will do little to convince Wenger that his men can keep their illustrious opponents at bay.
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When Arsenal do get possession in the return leg, Wilshere’s key assignment will be ball retention – something the North Londoners have really struggled with against this Barcelona side. This will be something the whole side must do well – an extended game of attack versus defence will only end one way.
Such was Wilshere’s level of performance and calmness under pressure this week, older and far more experienced players might just be knocking on his door for help and advice on completing the task.
If you want to hammer me for Monday’s article on Jack Wilshere, get stuck in on Twitter. I deserve it.
With Robert Green set to be England’s number 1 goalkeeper for the World Cup the question must be asked, is it the right choice?
After all should England’s number 1 really be a goalkeeper whose side finished 4th from bottom of the Premiership and were very lucky not to get relegated. This season Green let 66 goals into the back of his net which meant that West Ham had the joint-5th most conceded goals in the league. Now it could be argued that he didn’t have the greatest of defences in front of him and whilst to some extent this may be true, it mustn’t be forgotten that this backline did include England defender Matthew Upson.
However in the majority of games Green played in he did look assured and pulled off some great saves this season, so it could be argued had it not been for Rob Green then West Ham could well have been relegated. But it is still worrying that the club’s overall form wasn’t the best as it does reflect on the player. The same can be said about England’s alternative, David James, whilst he had a good season for Portsmouth the fact that they were relegated and finished bottom of the Premiership doesn’t make good reading. Still James has shown great character to force his way back into the reckoning ever since his “calamity James” days and recently had the backing of one of the greatest goalkeepers in the world, Dino Zoff.
Zoff was virtually the same age as James when he lifted the World Cup for Italy in 1982 and the legendary goalkeeper said of James: “I’ve seen James and he has quality and is physically strong. The important thing for him now is to show tranquillity, and I think he is starting to do that.”
So therefore whilst club form does play a part, it shouldn’t mean everything and as long as the individual applies himself and plays well then he should be considered for the team. But if players were going to be selected on club form then Joe Hart should be England’s number 1. The on-loan Manchester City ‘keeper has been in stunning form for Birmingham this season and was voted into the PFA Team of the Year. The only thing going against Hart is inexperience, having picked up just three England caps and England would hate to see another Scott Carson moment occur should he be selected for a crucial game.
England currently have a good blend of goalkeepers in the squad which gives them various options, James brings a wealth of experience to the team, Hart is young but getting better and better and Green is an assured presence. It’s a good problem for Fabio Capello to have and the best bet would probably be Green but whoever Capello does decide to go with, all have valid reasons to be number 1.
Who do you think should be England’s Number 1?
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Following a summer of upheaval at Nottingham Forest, the season is finally about to kick off.
New owners and eight new players have left fans itching for the season to start, anticipating a great ride.
The fresh approach from the Al-Hasawi family, and their willingless to spend money has been welcomed. They key point being though, they’ve spent money in the right places, largely thanks to the shrewd appointment of Sean O’Driscoll as boss, who is reluctant to splash the cash to an unimaginable extent.
With the money available, it would’ve been easy for Forest to spend unwisely, plucking for Premier League players who quite frankly, haven’t got the inner desire to perform for the club. The new arrivals have been solid Championship players, and individuals who have played at a higher level, and yet to prove themselves.
Simon Cox being a prime example. Performing admirably at Swindon Town, knocking in goals on a weekly basis, he was a recognised name. Having moved to West Brom, he didn’t really establish himself as a striker in the league, meaning the opportunity to prove himself at the highest level escaped him. Cox has something to prove, and is reaching what should be the peak of his career.
Cox needs Forest as much as Forest need a 20 goal contribution from him, and that should show in his performances.
The two biggest signings of them all, Jamaal Lascelles and Adlene Guedioura. Lascelles represented more than just a young player signing on for 4 years. With reported interest from Spurs and Arsenal, it showed he has a wise head on those young shoulders.
Many individuals may have attempted to turn Lascelles head, but he stayed stubborn and stuck by Forest. An indication of where he thinks the club is heading, and he wants to be a part of it.
Adlene Guedioura. Forest supporters can’t say his name without wanting to pinch themselves, in shock that the permenant deal has been completed this summer. To say fans were excited, wouldn’t be doing the emotion everyone felt justice.
Dan Harding, Danny Collins, Daniel Ayala, Sam Hutchinson, Simon Gillett the other names to arrive at the club. Not headline names, but men that get the job done, and get it done efficiently. O’Driscoll wanted to buy good characters. The fact they are very good players too, make it a recipe for success.
Forest could’ve done what fellow East Midlands team, Leicester City did, when they first caught sight of money. Signings that got the headlines, and were a disruptive influence on the dressing room. In August 2011, when Leicester took a 2-0 lead at the City Ground, things were looking fairly bleak for The Reds. One event turned the game. The event could’ve been prevented, but so could the disastrous collapse of the Leicester team afterwards.
Kasper Schmeichel got sent off. John Paintsil had a strop. The small amount of spirit there was, was rapidly torn apart. Forest went on to score twice, and Leicester were left investigating their failures. If they analysed well enough, they would’ve realised the failures that occured on the day could be put down to one one thing.. The summer transfer market.
Leicester are still catching up and recovering from their Sven summer spending spree, attempting to put a new look on their side.
Forest have avoided that.
They have a side for the here and now. They have players young enough to gel into a promotion chasing squad. They don’t have any bad eggs. Players with something to prove, that believe in O’Driscoll’s methods, who enjoy his style of management.
Last season the mood was doom and gloom throughout. From around 15 games in, the feeling spreading was that everyone wanted the season to end. Players looked unhappy, and that reflected in their performances. Fans were resigned.
Now we have happy players. A happy manager, delighted with the squad he has at his disposal, with money to spend for additions if necessary. The feel good factor around the club now, spreading from the mood of our new owners on Twitter, down to the fans, can’t be matched by any team in the league.
Promotion a possibility?
No Nottingham Forest fan should expect promotion this season. If you do, kindly drop your season ticket in the River Trent and turn around.
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A gentle flirt with the playoffs should be the aim. Anything more would be a welcome bonus.
If every fan remains patient, and singing from the same hymn sheet, our club will be a joy to watch.
Tottenham are lining up a move for Switzerland goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic as a replacement for Heurelho Gomes the Daily Mail understands with the Brazilian keen to leave the club in January.
Jakupovic has emerged as a target for manager Harry Redknapp after the keepers side Olympiakos Volos were relegated to the Greek amateur league for their part in a match-fixing scandal.
The 26-year-old is now available on a free transfer after Volos were placed in the Delta Ethniki league and Spurs could swoop for him as a replacement for Gomes.
A move away from White Hart Lane is expected for the 30-year-old once the transfer window opens in January after he slipped to third choice behind summer signing Brad Friedel and Carlo Cudicini.
His potential replacement in North London certainly isn’t a stranger to the club after he had trials in 2009 whilst on the books at Locomotive Moscow only for a move to break down.
Jakupovic was tracked by Everton and Newcastle United over the summer and could finally make a move to the Premier League after confusion over his future in Greece became evident
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He could now finally make the move to the Premier League with Redknapp said to be keen to capture his signature with Gomes almost certainly heading for the exit door.