All posts by h79snht.top

Shinji Kagawa has distanced himself from speculation about a future move as he instead concentrates on being a success at Manchester United.

The Japan international looks set to establish himself as a Old Trafford favourite after building up a burgeoning reputation while playing in Germany with Borussia Dormund.

Despite already playing for one of biggest teams in world football in Manchester United, there has already been speculation that he end up at Barcelona one day. However Kagawa has been quick to dismiss these reports.

“I have never thought about Barcelona or Madrid,” Kagawa is quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

“Paris are a great team that will continue to grow this season. It is also a very nice city, but I am focused 100 per cent on life in Manchester.

“You never know what the future will hold.”

In the meantime Kagawa is still getting used to playing for such an illustrious club that has dominated the Premier League era in England.

The 23-year-old playmaker, who scored a memorable winner for Japan in their 1-0 friendly victory over France on Friday, added: “I am now a Manchester United player and the fans and my teammates expect more from me.

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“Since arriving in Manchester I have had to watch my behaviour on and off the pitch. In Japan and Dortmund I didn’t have so much pressure.

“Three years ago I couldn’t have imagined evolving so quickly and being at a great club like Manchester United. It is proof that you never know what can happen.”

Day 8 of the FootballFanCast.com Football Advent Calendar sees arguably one of the best prizes yet, especially if you haven’t done all your Christmas shopping yet, as we’re giving away a copy of Football Manager 2013!

Football Manager is the best-selling, most realistic football management series ever made. Football Manager 2013 celebrates 20 years of games from the people at Sports Interactive by introducing an array of new features.

This year’s version allows you to take control of any club in more than 50 nations across the world and includes all of Europe’s biggest leagues as well as database of over 500,000 real-world players and staff.

As well as some landmark new features in the Career Mode, there are now new ways to enjoy your Football Manager experience.

Fancy winning a copy of Football Manager 2013?

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To be in with a chance of winning click below to LIKE FootballFanCast.com on Facebook

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The winner will be announced tomorrow, when we will also be unveiling our football prize for Day 9. Don’t forget to come back to FootballFanCast.com then!

Jordan Henderson is not good enough to replace Steven Gerrard, said former Liverpool star Steve Nicol in an exclusive interview with TalkSport.

Henderson left Sunderland for Liverpool in 2011 for a £20 million fee, and over time, has begun to reveal his potential, including his equalising goal in the win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Nicol, however, is not convinced that the 22-year-old midfielder has what it takes to succeed Steven Gerrard when he retires, claiming that Liverpool will need to sign a midfielder when the time comes. “Stevie G is only going to last for so long,” said Nicol. “I don’t think Jordan Henderson has shown or has had a run of games in the middle of the park to show he can [replace Gerrard].”

The former Reds defender added that physically, Henderson can fill Gerrard’s shoes. “He can get around the field but whether he has the knowledge and the understanding of the game to play in there we have yet to see.”

Nicol went on to say that Rodgers needs to fight to strengthen his team immediately, explaining that Liverpool doesn’t have several years to build a team. “ If you’re Liverpool…you need to get fighting and competing for the top four and to do that you need to be strong right up the pipe.”

The retired Scot pointed out that, as well as Gerrard, both Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher are reaching the end of their career, and the Anfield side will need “a proper centre-back who is dominant, big and strong and can lead.”

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“The spine of the team still needs to be built.”

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This last week may have been a quiet one on the field for Millwall with this being the international break, but this was a very busy week off the field with FA cup semi final tickets going on sale.

On just the first day of sales, the Lions sold 15,000 tickets, around half of the allocation, this was a interesting figures as this more then double the season ticket holders the club has.

Surprisingly it was also around a 50% increase on an average Saturday afternoon at The Den.

So, where are all these new fans coming from? And why only for wembley? The 10,000 strong crowd usually at The Den will be found at Wembley, but there will also be 20,000 worth of “daytrippers” usually family and friends and lapsed fans who will come just because it’s Wembley.

There’s not a problem with this, but why don’t some fans come to more home games instead of the big ones?

We average around 10,000 at home, one of the lowest in the division, which of course will have an adverse effect on the team as it means a low budget, not many teams will have as a low a budget as Millwall.

We are the closest club to central London which should be a vying point when attracting people in, this seems to work. Just like at the Blackburn game – I had around 20 Norwegians behind me wearing Millwall/Norway scarfs and looking like they spent a fortune in the club shop. It seems a lot harder to attract people alot closer to home.

Lets face it, with the reputation the club has it will always struggle to pick up “Floating fans” if you’ve not been born into, or not a fan of the club, your very unlikely to go.

For families a day out at football is expensive. Where would you rather go? At Millwall where you’ll end up spending around £70 for a family of four, or go down the road to Charlton where it will be around £50 with a friendlier atmosphere?

After all, this is how Charlton get such big crowds, selling cheap tickets in the hope that floating fans and daytrippers will fill the ground. Chairman John Berylson has talked about more fans needing to come to games in order for more money to be spent.

But I feel the club could do more with ticket offers to get people in. Yes the club offer £2-£3 off a ticket if bought in advance but I don’t think this is enough.

Why not use the Wembley euphoria in order to attract new fans?

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Why not for the many Tuesday night home games we now have, thanks to the cup run, offer anyone who shows a receipt or ticket stud from Wembley 50% off all tickets bought. Or spend over over £50 on tickets and receive a free home shirt, as it’ll most likely be on sale for a tenner by the end of the season.

Just a thought…

COYL

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The Premier League has seen some world class players since its inception in 1992, indeed the likes of Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona and Dennis Bergkamp have lit up the division during this time, cementing their personal statuses as legends of the game. We’ve also seen some dreadful players during that time, players simply not fit to lace the boots of the iconic figures of England’s top division.

However, there are other players who have somehow gained a reputation as decent footballers that nobody can quite understand. You know the ones, those individuals who get picked every week by the manager but simply don’t deserve their place in the team anymore, either because of their dreadful current form or perhaps the fact that they’re way past their best. Yet, they continue to baffle all those watching by taking their place amongst the elite every week, only to turn in performances that are simply rubbish. We take a look at the Premier League XI who are living off their reputations rather than their form.

Click on Daniel Sturridge to unveil the XI

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Sunderland and Everton have entered the race to sign Genk’s striker Jelle Vossen, as the search for Belgium’s next sensation continues.

Martin O’Neil is on the lookout to add to his attacking options, and the hitman seems the perfect candidate to form a partnership with in-form Steven Fletcher, who is the only player to score for the Black Cats this term.

Everton are also monitoring the striker who has scored 45 goals since the beginning of the 2010/11 season, and could tempt him to join up with fellow countrymen Marouane Fellaini and Kevin Mirallas at Goodison Park.

There has been an influx of Belgium players taking the Premier League by storm and Vossen has the qualities to add to the growing list, at 23-years- old the striker already has two international goals to his name in just nine appearances.

The striker was an integral cog in Genk’s league success last season scoring 17 goals and contributing a further 7 assists in just 27 games.

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Vossen has started this season in prolific form once again, scoring 7 goals in the first 11 games of the season as his side look to retain the league title.

We’re only two months into the new season and already there is plenty of speculation leading up to the January transfer window. Every club has had a taste of whats to come this season and will be fully aware of players that are surplus to requirements, and may try to engineer a transfer to offload these individuals – or a player may feel they need to consider a move to get more time on the pitch.

I have compiled a list of 15 players I feel could prove a real bargain in the January transfer window, whether that be because they are nearing the end of their current contract or simply wish to move on to get more first-team action. Some of the individuals on this list are truly talented players, and it would be a great shame if they decided to remain on the sidelines rather than make a transfer and get themselves back on the pitch.

Click on Ashley Cole to get the ball rolling

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Have I missed any potential bargain buys? Let me know on Twitter @dudeyoungy

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West Ham have once again been linked with a move for Leander Dendoncker, and he would be a far better option than William Carvalho for the Hammers’ midfield.

What’s the story?

This week, a report from RMC Sport claimed West Ham are in “pole position” to sign Dendoncker this summer.

It feels like the Hammers have been linked with the Belgian midfielder in every transfer window since the dawn of time, but the presence of Manuel Pellegrini may finally be enough to bring the impressive 23 year-old to East London.

Another name who has been linked with plenty of Premier League moves is William Carvalho.

The colossal defensive midfielder is expected to terminate his Sporting CP contract this summer after the team was attacked by a gang of fans at their training ground, but West Ham should avoid a summer swoop.

Carvalho is a typical defensive midfielder and could do a decent job for the Hammers, but his work rate is questionable, and his limited technical ability make him much less of a threat going forward than Dendoncker.

The Belgian is younger, hungrier and far more technically gifted, and could be the perfect missing link in Pellegrini’s midfield.

Why Dendoncker?

Valued at £15.3m by Transfermarkt, Dendoncker is one of the hottest prospects in Belgium’s next “golden generation”, and would be the ideal marquee signing to get Pellegrini’s reign off to a good start.

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While Carvalho is elite at breaking up play and stopping opposition attacks, Pellegrini needs a defensive midfielder who can dictate the game with the ball as well as without it, and that’s where the young Belgian has the edge.

Dendoncker is a superb passer, and any team that likes to keep the ball, as Pellegrini’s Hammers will, needs a player like the 23 year-old at the base of their midfield.

He is no slouch in a defensive sense either, averaging nearly two tackles and 2.5 interceptions per game last season.

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Carvalho boasts similar defensive stats, and would do the defensive side of the role for the Hammers, but Dendoncker is a truly special player, and could be a fan favourite for years to come.

So, West Ham fans, which defensive midfielder would you prefer to sign this summer? Let us know by voting in the poll below…

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan wants to make amends for his biggest disappointment of his career by reaching the Capital One Cup final.

The American played in every minute of the club’s run to the 2010 final before being replaced by Brad Friedel to play Manchester United in the final.

Guzan is now the club’s number one ahead of Shay Given and is hoping to help Villa get one step closer to the final with victory against Swindon Town this evening.

“Being left out for the final was one of biggest disappointments of my career,” he told the Independent.

“It was quite frustrating and a difficult pill to swallow.

“But that’s behind me and I think that has made me a stronger goalkeeper and a stronger person.

“If we can get back there to Wembley again, that would be great.”

For the Swindon clash Villa will be forced into one change following the suspension of Joe Bennett, who got sent off in the 1-1 draw with Norwich.

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As reported by The Daily Mirror, Everton are ready to say goodbye to Wayne Rooney this summer and will listen to offers for his signature when the transfer window opens.

What’s the story?

The Toffees are set for a summer of rebuilding after another disappointing season in the English Premier League, with the future of key players and even management staff uncertain under the rule of majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.

One player that could be set for an exit is Wayne Rooney, with The Mirror reporting that the club are ready to sanction the sale of the player after a lacklustre return from Manchester United.

Rated at £13.5m by Transfermarkt, is he a player that they should be willing to part with in the close season?

Is it time for him to leave?

With 10 goals in the Premier League this term, Rooney may have had a disappointing campaign at Everton but he is still the club’s top scorer. His initial return to his boyhood heroes was positive, scoring all ten of those goals before the Christmas period.

However, with no goals in his last 16 matches, question marks have been raised about his performances, with many wondering whether he still has the ability or desire to perform at the elite level.

There’s every chance that a new manager to spark a revival in his fortunes, but if there’s money on the table for him this summer, it would be tempting to take it from Everton’s perspective, who would also get extra resources from his salary coming off the wage bill.

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Now 32, there’s the reported potential of cash rich clubs from the likes of MLS or the Chinese Super League interested in his services, which could be a good move for all concerned.

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