All posts by h79snht.top

Liverpool arrives in North London looking to secure a win double in the capital. After the setback at the Britannia last week Kenny Dalglish will be hoping for a positive response tomorrow against arguably one of their main rivals for the Champions League spot.

At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of blogs that include the unfair treatment of Carroll; the reasons behind £51m splurge, while Henry and LFC should think bigger.

We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.

Shall we take Comolli’s lack of transfer plans with a pinch of salt?

Treatment of Liverpool ace is unfair and unjust

Caption Competition: Liverpool new boy up to his old tricks

The reasoning behind Liverpool’s £51m splurge

Managers should stop short of conspiracy theories

The ideal retirement place for former Liverpool stars

Should Henry and LFC be thinking bigger?

Do transfer deals suggest the age of the ‘selling club’ is over?

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IS THIS LIVERPOOL’S BEST STARTING ELEVEN? – Live4Liverpool

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Kenny Dalglish Is Ruining Liverpool – The Tomkins Times

Is Jamie Carragher Still a Certain Starter for Liverpool? – Anfield Index

Liverpool FC Summer 2011 – Who went where – This is Anfield

TIME FOR THIS LIVERPOOL LEGEND TO BE PHASED OUT – Live4Liverpool

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When you’re getting ready to watch your team play, either in the stands or on television, isn’t there always one song that really gets the blood boiling? Either way, you can be stood next to somebody, joining them in a chorus of ’Never Walk Alone’ in the Kop at Liverpool preparing to really get behind the team, or alternatively, you could belong to the section of Manchester United fans (amongst others) whose ears bleed at the very sound of the Rogers and Hammerstein show tune.

Club anthems have become a huge part of football. Certain songs have become synonymous with football clubs and they are recited by fans as proudly as owning and wearing any merchandise. So what are the best cult football chants? We all think our team’s are the best, but let’s be honest, a lot of them don’t hold up to some of the really great songs. I use the term ‘great’ loosely – after all, we won’t all appreciate seeing our biggest rivals’ anthem listed as one of the best around. But below are my top 10 cult football chants from around the Premier League. Some may be connected to the club, others a legend of the game but all in all, these are the ones I think are most renowned in English football. If you feel I’ve unfairly excluded one of your favourite football tunes, feel free to argue your case in the comments section below! Oh, and just before you ask: no, ‘pass and move like the Liverpool groove’ does not count.

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Click on the fans below to see the Top TEN

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Harry Redknapp admits he was worried that his Tottenham side would be the subject of an upset on Thursday night, after semi-professional Shamrock Rovers give the London side a fright in the Europa League.

A Stephen Rice strike early in the second half gave the Irish team a 1-0 lead, in what would have been a massive turn up for the books, but three goals in five minutes from the Premier League outfit restored order.

Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe and Giovani Dos Santos all found the back of the net in the revival, but Redknapp was concerned it could have been different.

“When we went one down you are concerned as you think ‘is it going to be one of their nights?” he told Sky Sports News after the match.

“But we came in at half time at 0-0, and I am not being disrespectful to Shamrock they played okay and worked their socks off, but we could have been at least 3-0 we hit the woodwork and their keeper was making saves.

“I had no problem with how we played first-half, I was pleased, the tempo was good, we got after them.

“I thought it was just a matter of time before we scored but then they scored with their first real strike at goal and then maybe it is one of those nights, but we stuck a couple of chances away and won it,” he concluded.

All Spurs eyes will not look to the North London derby against Arsenal at home on Sunday, with Redknapp’s team looking to take advantage of The Gunners’ current vulnerability.

Written By Gareth McKnight

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As the transfer window slammed shut, there was the usual flurry of activity from Premier League clubs in a bid to do some last-minute business. Arsenal were one of the busiest clubs, concluding the window with the signature of Mikel Arteta from Everton, while Chelsea had the last word by signing Raul Meireles from Liverpool.

Elsewhere there was plenty going on, with Tottenham turning down a player swap for Bolton’s Gary Cahill, while Spurs tried to hijack Liverpool’s move for Craig Bellamy. Finally, in the newspapers this morning away from transfer dealings, Man United are set to announce record profits and one of their ex-goalkeepers turns down England’s advances.

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Coyle wanted Defoe in exchange for Cahill – Daily Mirror

Arteta takes pay cut to join Arsenal – The Sun

Suarez helps Liverpool bring in key target – Guardian

Man City take gamble on Owen – Telegraph

Spurs tried to hijack Bellamy move – Daily Mail

SWP snubs three clubs to join QPR – The Sun

Roy the Real deal for Moyes – Daily Mail

Crouch in move after learning he didn’t make the 25 – Daily Mirror

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Man United to annouce record profits – Guardian

Foster turns down Capello cry for help – Telegraph

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Liverpool attacker Craig Bellamy has admitted that he is glad to be back at Anfield for a second spell, and has a good feeling about the club under Kenny Dalglish.

The Welshman spent an ill-fated spell at the Merseyside club in 2006-07, and has revealed that he was not comfortable under Rafa Benitez’s guidance.

“Sometimes it’s not quite as romantic as we all like to make it out to be,” Bellamy told The Telegraph.

“I was in the office speaking to Rafa, speaking about certain things and it didn’t feel right. If it was not Liverpool FC, I wouldn’t have signed. I didn’t feel right about the positions I was going to be used in and thought I was being signed because I was the right price at the right time.

“I do go on instinct and my gut feeling, and that was a time when I went against it. I ended up signing just for one reason, because it was Liverpool. I just thought we were on different wavelengths to what I felt I was as a player and how I would be involved at Liverpool. We were two different people on the way Liverpool should go about their business. But he was the manager – he had his own views.

“This now feels right. This is everything I wanted from the first time I was here. I’d never sound negative to Rafa or Gerard Houllier because they were outstanding for the club, but this was what I grew up with.

“I watched Liverpool towards the end of last year, I watched the way they were playing, and this is what I’ve supported, the pass and moving, the free-flowing football. How Liverpool go about their business now feels like how it must have been in the past. To me, this feels like Liverpool again, and the opportunity to be a part of that was just too big of a deal to turn down,” he concluded.

Bellamy played a part in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Chelsea on Sunday, and will be motivated to take on former club Manchester City this weekend.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Desperation drives people into committing acts of mind boggling lunacy. In it’s most extreme form it can range from robbing a bank to scrimping for lost pennies that have fallen down the back of the sofa cushions. In football terms it equates to paying £6 million for Bobby Zamora. Or maybe it’s plying Joey Barton with £70,000-a-week to quote famous philosophers and become embroiled in twitter wars with everyones favourite former news editor Piers Morgan. QPR are guilty of both. The R’s have navigated the last two transfer windows like a 12-year-old would on a fresh Championship Manager save. Keeping your finger pressed on transfer fee until the offer is irresistible. Contract negotiations operate with a similar surrendering mentality. Every players’ demands are met without dispute to ensure they sign on the dotted line. No strategy is employed whatsoever. However it’s a naive blueprint that could come back to haunt the R’s should they fail to secure Premier League football next season.

Like every team promoted from the Championship QPR had only one objective; to survive. At the beginning of the campaign they were the favourites to achieve that goal ahead of rivals Norwich and Swansea who were perceived to have weaker squads. The arrival of owner Tony Fernandes at the backend of August was followed by an influx of signings concluded before the summer deadline snapped shut. Seasoned top flight performers Barton, Anton Ferdinand, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Luke Young all arrived at Loftus Road to offer strength to the belief that the Hoops would achieve their survival goal. It never transpired and ultimately cost Neil Warnock his job with replacement Mark Hughes adopting a similar panic buying philosophy. Djibril Cisse, Nedum Onuoha and Zamora all joined the club during the final week of January but have failed in their mission to lift Rangers out of the relegation zone. However with the prospect of a return to the Championship now very real with 10 games to play their guileless recruitment system could cripple them financially.

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It was revealed during the week that the club have reportedly failed to insert relegation clauses into the contracts of their recent purchases with a majority of them earning between £50,000 and £60,000-per-week. Should the club find themselves back in England’s second tier all the players signed to those deals would still be entitled to that sum putting Rangers in a very precarious position. Usually the custom for a club in their position is to stipulate that in the event of relegation wages be sliced by between 33 to 50 percent. QPR’s reported failure to implement that would see them take on the burden of paying around £3 million-per-year to six or seven players they’d find difficult to move on.

Could you see a Premier League club matching the demands of Barton or 30-somethings like Wright-Phillips and Zamora who have performed way below expectations?

The outlook does look bleak. Ever since taking over from Bernie Ecclestone as chairman in August Fernandes has been signing cheques like it’s going out of fashion in attempt to preserve the clubs top flight status. Newcastle are the most recent example of a club failing to insert relegation clauses into the contracts of their players. When they suffered the torment of demotion it left their finances in an apparent state of disrepair. Luckily for them they were able to move on a majority of their squad whilst also having the infrastructure to soften the substantial blow their accounts took. Unfortunately for QPR they don’t have a 52,000 capacity stadium that would contribute to a major part of their revenue. Whilst £18 million worth of parachute payments will be forthcoming it isn’t enough to sustain a wage bill that pales in comparison to that of Norwich and Swansea. Losses in TV money will also hit them  hard in the pocket. To cut a long story short the club could follow a path tread by Leeds United and Portsmouth – two clubs who have paid the price for over spending.

All the signs point towards an apocalyptic financial meltdown that would take the R’s years to recover from. The sustainability of their current squad would make it difficult for them to operate in an economy that now prides itself on prudent spending. The arrival or Fernandes was expected to herald a bright to new era at Loftus Road. However quite the opposite now appears to be on the horizon with a badly organised transfer master plan owing heavily to their demise. Should relegation occur supporters should be very worried. In fact they should be on tenterhooks fretting over whether their club can survive outside of the Premier League as they continue to burn money at a rate of knots.

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If you have a spare 5 mins then why not watch the latest ‘Football Coffee Break’

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Japan’s winning FIFA Women’s World Cup team has received thanks from the nation’s prime minister upon their return home.The players and coaching staff flew into Narita International Airport after beating the United States 3-1 on penalties in the final in Frankfurt, Germany on Sunday.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan thanked the side as the nation continues to recover from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck in March.

“This has given the whole nation – but especially those in the disaster-affected north – courage, and I would like to thank them deeply from the bottom of my heart for this,” he said.

The players and staff met the Prime Minister and presented him with a signed jersey at the airport.

Coach Norio Sasaki said it was a huge achievement for his team, who became the first Asian nation to win the competition.

“I think the fact that they are here and invited by the prime minister is a reminder of what they have done,” he said.

“They have, for the first time in the history of women’s soccer in this nation, given so much courage and touched so many people – that is why they are here.”

Next up for Japan is the final stages of qualifying for the 2012 Olympics in September, when they will meet China, North Korea, South Korea, Thailand and Australia.

Club Name:  Coventry City              

Last season in brief:  started the season off well sitting pretty in the top half of the table, looking like after ten years we could actually make the play-offs! But around Christmas time the club got stuck in an 18 match win-less run which ended up with Aidy Bothroyd losing his job after 10months in charge. The Sky Blues form didn’t really seem to pick up until the last month of the season, winning three, drawing four and losing just one of the last eight games. The good end of season form stopped any worries of relegation.

So, it has been many seasons gone by since we were relegated from the Premier League and it was the same old story forCoventryCity! Start the season off on a flyer as the fans dream of promotion. But by December those dreams were dashed, as yet another manager loses his job. By the end of the season we some how manage to save ourselves from relegation Again! So we live to fight another day.

2010/2011 Final Finish: 18th

Who’s New: Joe Murphy (Free Transfer from Scunthorpe Utd), Chris Dunn (Free Transfer fromNorthampton)

Who’s Out: Marlon King (Free Transfer to Birmingham), Keiren Westwood (Free Transfer to Sunderland), Isaac Osbourne (Free Transfer to Aberdeen), Aron Gunnarsson (Free Transfer to Cardiff), Stephen O’Halloran (Free Transfer to Carlisle United) Michael McIndoe (Released)

Who to Watch: Lukas Jutkiewicz – showed much promise in first season at the club, scoring 9 goals. Andy Thorn has high hopes for the young striker as he’s been handed the Number 9 shirt.

Who’s going up:

Birmingham – I think they will have strong side particularly with signings such as Marlon King. Also they haven’t lost many of there premier league players.

Leicester City – They already had quite a good squad last season but they have made some good signings such as Kasper Schmeichel and David Nugent to add to their squad. They also have a board willing to spend money and a high class manager in Swen-Goran Eriksson.

West Ham Utd – Again like Birmingham, they haven’t lost many of their premier league players and they have also signed a quality midfielder in Kevin Nolan. They have a top class manager in Sam Allardyce. He has proven in the past with Bolton, he knows how to get a team out of the Championship and not only into the premier league but able to stay there and progress into Europe.  

Who’s going down:

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Brighton – They have made a few good signings including Craig Mackail-Smith but he has been at this level before withPeterborough and struggled. I don’t think they will have the strength in depth to survive in the Championship.

Doncaster – They do indeed play very attractive passing football. But I do feel that they will struggle to score many goals as they have done in previous seasons and particularly with the championship being so strong this season.

Peterborough – Posh are they much a team likeScunthorpe, who have too much class for league 1 but not enough class for the Championship. I think they will struggle with the loss of key player Craig Mackail-Smith, who scored most of the goals that got them promoted last season.

Where will you finish: 10th

Long before Roman Abramovich’s millions bought the subsequent title wins under Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti; a well known Dutchman got the ball rolling at Stamford Bridge by landing Chelsea’s first trophy in 26 years. Ruud Gullit was one of the first foreigners to arrive in the Premier League, when Glenn Hoddle snapped him up from Milan and it didn’t take him long to get immersed by the English game.

Gullit took the reins at Stamford Bridge when the national job came calling for Hoddle and provided the foundations of what has been a successful 15 years in West London.

“It was the beginning of winning things again, so it was great for Chelsea for that reason. I remember also at the beginning it was very difficult to play the way that we wanted. We were trying to keep possession all the time, and the crowd wanted the ball into the box as quickly as possible. We tried to do something different because when you are in possession the opposition can’t do anything. At the start, the fans had difficulty with that but later on they accepted it because we started to win. Therefore it was a great beginning for the club.”

The Dutchman believes that the influx of foreign players has been positive for English football, as both sets of players were able to pick up attributes to benefit their game. A firm balance was struck at Chelsea during his time and was one of the reasons for their success:

“The thing is, we had a good mixture between English and foreign players. The foreign players were learning from the English, who had a different way than they played in Italy or France, so for that reason they had to adapt to the quickness and the physicality of the game, but keeping also the technique and the tactical awareness. So we were learning from the English and the English were learning from us, so it was a good mixture. We also had Mark Hughes, who played a very British style but had experience of playing abroad. Dennis Wise was the best example of a player who grew with the team because he ended up playing for the national team.”

Obviously one topic that has engulfed Chelsea fans in the past week is the proposed decision to move from Stamford Bridge and to a new stadium close by. Gullit believes that it is important that the Blues increase their capacity, but not if it means they move away from the Chelsea area.

“The problem is the capacity at Stamford Bridge – they can’t build more. At the same time, they need to stay in their local area because that is why they are called Chelsea. Where do you have space for a 60,000 capacity stadium in Chelsea? Earls Court is a possibility, but it’s not Chelsea. If you are looking to the future it is a good thing to have a bigger stadium and more income – but if you cannot do it in Chelsea then it’s a problem. It’s a good thing that the fans have a say in the matter (through their ownership of the Stamford Bridge pitch) and I hope ultimately they get to decide what happens.”

For more insight from Ruud Gullit and other leading managers plus exclusive Barclays Premier League highlights go to www.yahoo.co.uk/sport

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Successive victories have now been juxtaposed by successive defeats, and Southend now find themselves back to square one in the search for an increasingly elusive run of form. A cause has proven to be difficult to pin down, but Bilel Mohsni’s inclusion out wide must now be questioned.

The clamour for Bilel Mohsni to pick up the mantle and lead this side to promotion is extraordinary. His infectious enthusiasm for the game and substantial time he dedicates to the fans have made him the people’s champion, but Sturrock’s persistence with him in an unfamiliar position may just cost him the title of League Two’s champion.

This desperation for him to succeed has ultimately led to him being forced into the side in an unfamiliar position, which he is unfortunately incapable of carrying out.

On occasion, Mohsni is capable of exceptional technique and vision. His deftly executed chip-pass to David Martin during the build-up to Southend’s second against Gillingham was sublime, as was his swerving attempt at goal 10 minutes prior. Unfortunately for both Mohsni and Southend, the glimpses of magic have become all too rare as of late, and they’ve become sprinkled with a dearth of positional sense and discipline that has cost the side.

During the 17-game unbeaten run earlier in the season, a solid defensive record was enforced by a settled and balanced midfield. Ryan Hall’s ability to operate on either flank, coupled with Michael Timlin’s metronomic passing and Kane Ferdinand’s industrious bursts forward, produced a midfield that operated as a unit.

The early-season midfield had something for everyone. For every piece of fanciful guile from Ryan Hall, there was a bone-crunching dispossession of an opposition player courtesy of Jean-Paul Kalala. Somewhere along the line, possibly owing to a loss of confidence or familiarity courtesy of forced changes, this midfield balance has been lost, and it’s been to the detriment of a defence that has come to look fragile, and a forward line that has come to look inexplicably blunt.

Additions to the squad and a rampant loss of form have forced Sturrock’s hand in terms of changes, but it’s now time for the manager to settle on a selection and leave it be. Too much ground has been lost while previously key players search for missing form, and on current results, Southend’s promotion credentials are fading fast.

Southend’s two most encouraging results of late, the back-to-back wins against Gillingham and Crewe, both came whilst using the tried-and-tested 4-5-1 formation and, whilst it may not be the most aesthetically pleasing styles of football, it has been proven to produce results. A midfield five including both David Martin and Ryan Hall on opposing flanks, with two defensive midfielders to protect the back four, makes immediate sense given their prevalent creative abilities.

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Discussion is, however, futile. It is ultimately up to the players and manager to remedy what has been labelled a crisis in some quarters, or face ending the season wondering what might’ve happened.

By Southend United blogger Liam Stoker 

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