Cesc Fabregas finally turned his back on Arsenal as a deal was agreed with the Catalan giants. The Spanish midfielder played a glowing tribute to manager Arsene Wenger on his departure claiming the Frenchman made him the player he is.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Gunners blogs that include one rule for Arsenal and one for everyone else; last chance saloon for Arsene Wenger, while Lucescu confirms Arsenal interest.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week.
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Last chance saloon for Arsene Wenger?
Arsenal flop set for another Premier League chance?
Why Arsenal should give transfer a wide berth
Blankety Blank – Arsene Wenger
Cearly one rule for Arsenal and one for everyone else
The ideal signing to kickstart Arsenal’s rebuilding task?
United succeed where both Chelsea and Arsenal fail
Last minute dealings at the Emirates?
Lucescu confirms Arsenal interest
Does Arsene Wenger Trust Himself to Spend Big?
Wenger looking to pip Fergie to £11.5m Ghanaian
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Best of WEB
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Why signing kids is a mistake – Gunnersphere
What Arsene Wenger is Doing is Simply Not Good Enough…… – Highbury House
Making Nasri play is a petulant decision that shouldn’t happen regardless… – Le Grove
Why Fabregas Should Be Remembered and Not Reviled – Online Gooner
Replacing Nasri Is Not The Problem… – A Cultured Left Foot
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South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae was a proud man after watching his side finish their Asian Cup campaign undefeated in third place.
Speaking after his team’s 3-2 win over Uzbekistan in the third-place play-off at Al Sadd Stadium, Cho said he was satisfied he had played his part in guiding the Koreans in playing an attractive and effective style.
Ji Dong scored twice and Koo Ja-cheol netted another as South Korea held on to secure their spot in the 2015 Asian Cup to be held in Australia.
“We haven’t lost a game at the Asian Cup. The penalty shootout defeat against Japan was my fault. I want to say thank you to all the players who sacrificed for the team, they never gave up with excellent fighting spirit,” Cho said.
“I believe that we could have won the tournament but when it comes to penalty shootouts, not many people can predict the result.”
“This tournament gave us a lot of opportunity to show the world the new possibilities of Korean football.”
“I believe we’ve changed the way we play. It’s a much better way so I want to keep working on this progress to better Korean football.”
Cho said his side were able to control their midfield game in their Cup campaign, but he wants the side to bookend their neat play in the middle with precise finishing and solid defence in future tournaments.
“Throughout the Asian Cup, I found the players were able to pass the ball through midfield much quicker than before so that aspect I was quite satisfied about,” he said.
“I would like to improve on what we’re doing, be faster in front of goal to make us much more effective and also strengthen the defensive organisation.”
Uzbekistan boss Vadim Abramov credited his team’s mental toughness after they recovered from three goals down to almost snatch a draw as Alexander Geynrikh’s double either side of half-time drew them closer.
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The result was a vast improvement on their 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Australia in the semi-final as they achieved their best result at Asia’s premier soccer tournament.
“Their psychology, I don’t know why the players made so many mistakes but after our goal and half-time, I told players we have a chance, we have 45 minutes to use all preparation for this tournament and then players in the second half played much better and we had a chance to draw,” Abramov said.
“I think the reason was that we did not have belief in our self in the Australia game. In that game we played well but our defensive line made too many mistakes. We had more possession but it was too easy for Australia to score.”
Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has stated that he feels his side’s defeat to Spain in the European Championships final will help temperamental Mario Balotelli learn in the long run.
The Azzurri were put to the sword 4-0 by a Spanish masterclass, whilst Balotelli remained largely ineffective during a one-sided game.
The Manchester City forward stormed straight down the tunnel at the final whistle, brushing off the attempts of Italian officials to keep him on the pitch, before later returning to collect his runners-up medal.
Despite the act of petulance from the at-times troubled striker, Prandelli feels that Balotelli will learn that losing is a part of the game.
“I told Mario that these are experiences you have to deal with and have to accept,” the Italy tactician told reporters after the game, translated to English by Sky Sports.
“You have to hold your hands up and say the opponents were better, accept defeat.
“But you also have to make sure this helps you going forward and you can grow from the experience.
“This has happened to a number of players, and will happen again, but this is what sport is all about,” he admitted.
Prandelli went on to praise the efforts of his team, but feels that Spain’s extra recuperation time could have played a part in the result.
“You could tell right away that they were fresher physically. We didn’t have time to recuperate, especially against players like these. It became very, very difficult indeed to come back from 2-0 down.
“We came up against a terrific side. They’re world champions. Obviously, when you go down to 10 men, the game’s over.
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“Anyway, it has been a sensational tournament and I pay my compliments to my players.
“We must grow and arrive at these important competitions with the right space during and after the Italian championship,” he concluded.
Whether Manchester United ever get round to signing Wesley Sneijder remains to be seen, but you can’t help feel that this current squad is certainly good enough to retain their title this coming season. The fringe players have certainly stepped up in pre-season and given Fergie some genuine food for thought.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes five signings for Fergie to ponder; Javier Hernandez a footballing throwback, United braced for £18m approach.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this week.
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VIDEO – The ‘Greatest’ Premier League Goals Ever?
Have United’s rivals got what it takes to knock them off their perch?
Javier Hernandez – a throwback from the past
United star to finally etch his name among Europe’s elite?
Five signings for Fergie to ponder
Has Fergie simply ignored this pressing problem?
One rule for United and one for everyone else
Will injury see the changing of the defensive guard at Old Trafford?
Manchester United braced for £18m approach
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Best of MUFC
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So is it farewell Berba the magician, enigma and eternal frustration? – United Rant
VIDEO: Paul Scholes signs off in style thrashing the NY Cosmos – The Busby Way
The Only Time A Prince Could Ever Trumped Over A King – The United Religion
Why Sunday’s Game DOES Matter – Red Flag Flying High
VIDEO: Scholes’ Passing – RoM
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Click on Miss Suric below to see her in all here glory
Think drama, think controversy, think tragedy, think of a Saturday night spent with Ulrika Johnson and grown men rolling around in spandex and what do you get? No, not a selection of Stan Collymore’s neurosis from the best part of 1999, but a snapshot of one of the most colourful characters to have graced English football in the last 30 years, John Fashanu.
Readers of a certain age will remember Fashanu, or ‘Fash’ simply as the guy who hosted Gladiators next to Ulrika Johnson, having only to contend with scripted outbursts from a 45 year old man masquerading as a wolf. To a generation of Wimbledon fans, however, it was Fashanu who was a key component of the ‘Crazy Gang’ ethos that kept the Dons in the top flight of English football through the late 1980’s and through the early years of the Premier League era.
The early years of Fashanu’s career threatened to drift the British born Nigerian into obscurity. A frustrating spell at Norwich City, Fashanu’s first club, was followed by less than inspiring terms at Lincoln City and Millwall. In 1986, at the age of 24, Wimbledon, then a promotion chasing second division side acquired the young striker for £125,000.
As the ‘Crazy Gang’ team spirit at Selhurst Park was slowly fostered, Fashanu found a consistent level of goal scoring form as his new club were promoted to the top flight and quickly became a fixture of the first division.
Fashanu’s only silverware came as a result of one of the biggest FA Cup upsets in the history of the competition, when in 1988, Wimbledon beat league champions Liverpool, 1-0 to secure the club’s first and to date, only trophy.
From that point Fashanu acquired a cult following, and following two international caps for England in the summer of 1989, became revered as a hard working, physical target man. His goal scoring exploits in the early seasons of Premier League football attracted a bid from Aston Villa, the now 32 year old making his move to Villa Park in the summer of 1994.
Injury curtailed his spell at Villa, the forward limping out of the game, and presumably out of the limelight in early 1995. It was his involvement in the match-fixing scandal, brought about by an expose in The Sun that propelled the retired Wimbledon target man back into the public consciousness.
The legal dispute arising from the allegations, took more than two years to conclude. Fashanu was finally found not guilty of conspiracy to corrupt, after two trials at which a jury was unable to find a verdict. Fellow defendants Bruce Grobbelaar and Hans Seggars were also acquitted.
Nevertheless, the legal wrangling ultimately cost Fashanu his slot presenting Gladiators on ITV- the platform having introduced the controversial figure to a whole new generation of television viewers.
After leaving Gladiators behind, Fashanu spent several years in the wilderness. Having been dealt the financial blow of having a defamation settlement from The Sun slashed by the House of Lords, tragedy struck, when Fashanu’s estranged younger brother, Justin, committed suicide in 1998.
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A revival of sorts began when the former England international was welcomed back to ITV to appear on I’m a Celebrity: Get me out of here!’ Finishing runner up in that year’s competition, a return to the small screen beckoned. However, after fronting his own show; ‘Fash’s Football Challenge’ Fashanu dropped off British television screens for good.
Recent years has seen a stint presenting the Nigerian version of ‘Deal or No Deal’, a strangely apt reflection of the man’s career. Had the banker offered Fashanu what he has enjoyed and endured over the last twenty years when a struggling young player at Norwich back in the early 1980’s, I suspect he might have just taken it.
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So, here we are. Twenty-four hours away from the European Championships quarter final against Italy who, as demonstrated in their group, have been the most unpredictable team so far. Pretty much the only team to have radically tinkered with their formation Italy have match-winning assets in every area of their team. Yet they’re also one of the weakest Italy sides for a generation. The same, however, could be said of England.
In a recent press conference Gianluigi Buffon, Italy’s 34 year old captain said of tomorrow’s game: “I think it is a very balanced game against England, totally equal.”
That the game is a fair match up is a contentious issue. Italy seem to posses more individual talent yet the organisation Hodgson has instilled in this England team has proved it can stand up to strong attacking opposition. Whether Cesare Prandelli will opt for the 3-5-2 as he did against Spain and Croatia or the 4-4-2 as he did against Ireland remains to be seen. What we do know is that the match will be won or lost in a number of battles going on around the pitch.
As Italy’s captain said: “On paper against England it is 50/50 who will win. It will be a game where little episodes will make the difference.”
So what are the key battles for England to overcome if the Three Lions are to take their place in the semi finals of Euro 2012?
Wayne Rooney vs. Andrea Pirlo
Easily the most important match up of the game. Rooney is, on his day, England’s most dangerous player whilst Pirlo totally controls the game for Italy. Pirlo will sit in between the defence and midfield spraying passes out to the rest of the team, controlling the tempo of the game and generally trying to snub out attacks. Rooney will be sitting in the hole between midfield and attack trying to do a not dissimilar playmaking role from the number 10 position.
The battle between these two will not be an ordinary ‘attacker vs. defensive midfielder’ match up as Pirlo will have to worry about Rooney closing him down as much as Wayne will have to worry about stifling Pirlo’s attacking threat.
Ultimately the best way for both players to do so is make no mistakes in possession. The more time either player has to spend worrying about the other’s attacking threat the less chance they have on concentrating on their own job. One thing England fans can be certain of is that if Rooney’s touch and use of the ball does not improve from the Ukraine game then we will be in for a difficult evening.
Joleon Lescott vs. Mario Balotelli
It remains to be seen whether or not Balotelli will start against England. You get the feeling that Prandelli would like to select the enigmatic Manchester City man but may be worried about his temperament, especially against England.
Nevertheless, should he start then Joleon Lescott will surely be the man charged with keeping tabs on Mario. Both know each other’s strengths and weaknesses from their time together at City and, as Ibrahimovic proved against Terry in our Group game, the Chelsea captain no longer has the required pace to deal with quick, powerful forwards.
Whatever friendship Lescott and Balotelli may have is totally irrelevant. It might sound like underhand tactics but England should be looking to exploit their knowledge of Balotelli’s quick temper and, often poor, judgment.
Ashley Young vs. Christian Maggio
Whether Italy play 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 Young and Maggio will inevitably end up facing each other. When Italy play a three man defence Maggio is used as a right midfielder/wing back and when they play four at the back he is the full back.
Both Young and Maggio’s key strengths are revealed when they are higher up the pitch and it is an area that England can look to exploit. Young’s cross against Ukraine, which Rooney missed, demonstrated why he is in the team. If he produces similar crosses tomorrow don’t expect them to be missed.
However it will not be plain sailing for Young how needs to recognise that Maggio will be looking to pen him back by marauding forward himself. Moreover, with Ashley Cole pushing forward as well England must ensure they do not underestimate Maggio’s threat and leave themselves exposed.
Steven Gerrard vs. Daniele De Rossi
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The Italian midfielder has expressed his delight at the prospect of coming up against England’s captain on Sunday. De Rossi is, after all, the Italian version of Gerrard. Admittedly he is slightly more defensive than Gerrard but so is Italian football as a whole. De Rossi said himself that he would like to attack more and in this game he will undoubtedly see more of the ball than England’s captain. The stereotypes of each player will be reversed on Sunday. Gerrard will play the more defensive role and will have to choose his moments to break forward extremely wisely.
Each player will be waiting for the other to wander out of position before venturing forward with any real purpose, let’s hope that Gerrard is the more disciplined of the two tomorrow night.
So these are the four key areas that I have identified that really matter for Roy Hodgson ahead of the game; however our friends at Samsung are curious to know what you the fans believe will ‘matter most’, whether it be a Rooney cameo, or a Joe Hart master class – let the good people of Samsung know and who knows your entry may win you a whole host of goodies.
Click here to let Samsung know what ‘matters most’ to you in football…
Wayne Bridge’s career at Manchester City seems to be in danger as we near the end of the transfer window, and it is hardly surprising given the kind of season he had. Loaned out by City to relegation strugglers West Ham in January, Wayne failed to make his mark at Upton Park and has been unable to reach the top-level that he seemed to be nearing at one stage of his career.
Off the field however, it seems as though Wayne has been more successful. Currently going out with Frankie Sandford from the Saturdays, it can’t all be doom and gloom for the 30-year old. The distraction of Frankie, 22, may well be the reason for Bridge’s lackluster performances on the pitch, and if we’re honest, we can’t really blame him!
Click on Miss Sanford below to see her in all her glory
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Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is frustrated after failing to bring a striker to St Andrews before this weekend’s trip to Old Trafford.
Ireland striker Robbie Keane reckoned Blues were never serious about signing him, indicating the club’s pursuit of the much travelled forward was all for media exposure.
And Turkish club Bursaspor convinced Scotland striker Kenny Miller his future lay with them instead of joining his old boss at Birmingham.
McLeish wanted at least one of the deals done this week and though given the opportunity the former Scotland manager did not question Keane’s doubts that City never really wanted to sign him.
“We’ve already lost out on a couple this week in Keane and Miller,” he explained.
“We wish the two guys well in whatever they do and we’ve just got to move on and look at the other names we have on the list.”
“It is always frustrating this time, this transfer window, and this one has proved to be the case yet again.”
“As far as I’m concerned, I asked our board if they could get Robbie and they tried for him.”
“That is up to them. They handle the financial side. We work together on that on the basis that I identify the players and they do the finances.”
There are a few areas that McLeish would like to strengthen but a striker is the priority.
“If I could get one quality goalscorer that would be excellent,” McLeish explained. “I do believe there are goals in the players that are here because we have created chances and I believe they will score goals.”
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McLeish is relishing pitting his wits against his old Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
He said: “We know Old Trafford is a very difficult place to go and win but it is a great challenge for the players. It is not worth getting out of bed in the morning if you don’t think you can go and do something.”
Tottenham are locked in negotiations with Ajax as they try to agree a fee to sign defender Jan Vertonghen, according to The Daily Mail.
The Belgium international is highly-rated, and after leading the Amsterdam Arena side to back-to-back titles is ready to leave the Eredivisie for a bigger club.
With one year left on his contract Spurs are thought to have offered £7 million, but the Dutch champions are holding out for £9 million for their captain.
Vertonghen and his agent Nakhli Mustapha were in attendance at White Hart Lane on Sunday to witness Spurs seal fourth place with a 2-0 win over Fulham, and a deal to bring the centre half to north London is thought be close if the teams can agree a fee.
Arsenal are also thought to be interested in Vertonghen, who looks Premier League bound this summer.
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Having read endless books on the Busby Babes and the terrible events of Munich, you can forgive me for thinking a film about the disaster would bring little more to the table than I already knew; however ‘United’ surprised me, not only as the excellent portrayal of that harrowing day, but brought to life the real characters and personality of the players involved. It also for the first time emphasised the importance of the role that Jimmy Murphy (brilliantly portrayed by David Tennant) played in keeping the football club together, in what was its darkest hour.
‘United’ was beautifully put together and the filming encaptured what 1950s England was like in every regard. The filmmakers had clearly done their research and the portrayal of the muddy pitches, the back streets of County Durham, to the watering holes in Manchester brought authenticity to the proceedings and this sense of realism had you gripped. The filming of the actual crash, whilst harrowing, was done tastefully and appropriately, without the need to over dramatise the shocking event. It is clear that no stone was to be left unturned in this production which showed great sensitivity to all those involved with the event.
I suppose it would have been easy to do a Hollywood-esque blockbuster around the crash, like so many other tragedies have been depicted before, but ‘United’ wasn’t about that but instead focusing on the human response to tragedy and how a community came together as one to fight through it. It is a deeply moving movie and I wholeheartedly recommend that everyone watch it.
See the trailor below:
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