Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has stated that he is not interested in a move away from Stamford Bridge, despite rumours of interest from Real Madrid.
The versatile centre-back or right-back has been one of the west London club’s most consistent performers over the last number of seasons, and as such as been linked with a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Despite this, Ivanovic has spoken of his contentment at Chelsea and admitted that he is not thinking about a move at the current time.
“I know what has been written about my future and that Madrid are following me, but now is not the time to talk about this,” he told Marca, translated to English by The Daily Mail.
“I am focused on the national team now and I am very happy at Chelsea.
“I won the Champions League just one week ago and to think about changing clubs now is complicated. I am very happy in London,” he confessed.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
When looking through a Tottenham Hotspur team sheet you will never be short on flair and attacking creativity. Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale are just a few of the names that possess the skill to win Spurs’ matches in the attacking third. But the one glaring admission that haunted Tottenham last season was a lack of a genuine leader. Much was said about Tottenham’s failure to reach the Champions League last season but was the lack of this big character the reason Spurs’ missed out on the top four?
Every successful team needs that a natural leader on the pitch as well as on the sidelines. The Premier League is rife with big characters who can drive their team forward (for example John Terry at Chelsea, Steven Gerrard at Liverpool and Rio Ferdinand at Manchester United). The Spurs’ team is never short on quality but across the squad there is a lack of leaders to inspire and organise the team. Many Spurs’ fans would argue that the natural leader of the team is Ledley King but unfortunately for Harry Redknapp, King continues to spend more time on the treatment table than he does on the pitch.
King only made nine appearances for Spurs last season in what was another frustrating campaign for the former England international. Injuries once again took their toll and whilst King has had successful knee surgery this week, doubts still remain over what role he can play for Tottenham next season. The absence of King and the effect that had of Spurs’ push for the top four last season can be seen in the stats for the 2009/10 campaign. That season King made 19 starts for Spurs in the Premier League and captained the side to a fourth placed finish, securing their Champions League entry.
Obviously the absence of King was not the only reason Spurs failed to make the top four. In such a competitive league with six teams pushing for four places, it was always going to be hard for Spurs to replicate a top four finish year on year. Spurs also dropped crucial points in the second half of the season, only struggling to draws against smaller clubs like Wolves, West Ham, Wigan and West Brom. But would a fully fit King have made a difference in those sort of games?
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’right’]
Well many of the dropped points and frustrating 0-0 draws may have been down to a lack of goals (with only 17 league goals scored by Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch combined). But King’s towering presence at the back may have helped in games like the 3-3 draw with Wolves, a fantastic spectacle for the neutral but one to make most Spurs’ fans tear their hair out! Spurs also have experienced pros in their ranks, with both Michael Dawson and William Gallas having experience in captaining teams.
King’s absence, combined with a lack of solid spine down the heart of Tottenham’s team, cost the London club last season. Whilst settling for the Europa League is not a disaster for Harry, he needs to invest in leaders across the pitch who can drive the team forward and compliment the raft of attacking threats that would make most Premier League managers jealous.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
If you want to read more of my bite size, 160 character views and thoughts follow me on Twitter @jennyk5
With Manchester United going well in the Premier League as well as having a relatively safe passage through to the Champions League quarter finals, only a small amount of tinkering needs to be done at Manchester United this January. However, that small bit of tinkering could be very effective. This January, it is time for Manchester United to enter the transfer market and purchase Steven Defour. Manchester United are still fairly light in the central midfield department and Defour will offer more creativity than Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher, and would not shy away from the combative role needed in the Premier League.
Sir Alex Ferguson is an admirer of Steven Defour, after breaking his leg last year, Sir Alex sent him a letter of encouragement, something the player hasn’t forgotten. This mirrors what the United boss did for Ruud Van Nistelrooy when his Manchester United dream seemed to have been destroyed by injury. Sir Alex Ferguson knows that Defour is one of the most exciting prospects in Europe and we will have to act quickly if he is to secure the services of the Belgian international. It is not for nothing that Defour has drawn comparisons with World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas. Like the Spaniard, Defour has exceptional vision and manages to combine creativity with an excellent work-rate. He is not only a playmaker, but also a bit of a ball-winner.
Steven Defour has to be considered a realistic target this January, and Manchester United should step up the chase for the Belgian. It is clear that Manchester United need to strengthen in the centre of midfield and although Anderson has come on leaps and bounds in the last month or so, Defour would compliment his boundless energy. The signing of a creative talent like Defour would allow Manchester United to rest Paul Scholes in ‘lesser’ games without losing too much of a creative threat. Manchester United need Paul Scholes in the big games this season, his age will start to creep up on him towards the back end of the season, so some much earned rest could benefit United’s domestic and European charge.
If Manchester United are looking for a talented, creative, energetic spark in the centre of midfield, Defour has to be their man. If they do not make their move somebody else will, and it will be one of the top clubs in Europe. Defour offers Manchester United some superb options, something the midfield has lacked at times this season. However, Defour could well be another option. Like Scholes, he displays a similar creative ability to make things happen and combines this raw talent with tenacity. Without a doubt, Defour would be a massive hit at Old Trafford.
For more transfer gossip follow me on twitter
Use your FREE £20 to bet on United winning the title!
Colombian youngster Luis Muriel; a target of Arsenal and Manchester United has disappointed his potential suitors with his agent maintaining the 21-year-old will remain with Udinese for another year at least.
The forward who is currently on loan at Serie A strugglers Lecce has won plaudits for his eye-catching displays and striking seven goals in 24 appearances, which has even got his parent club keeping an even closer eye.
Talksport reported that the players’ agent, Mauro Cesarini told La Gazzetta dello Sport
‘I think he needs to mature a year and his immediate future should be the Udinese although the club will have the last word’
Both Arsenal and Manchester United have looked to youthful talent from the America’s before in the cases of Carlos Vela and Javier Hernandez and scouts were purring at the potential luring of another in Muriel.
Nevertheless, eyes of the English persuasion now seem resigned that the striker will continue to learn his trade in Italy following a spell in Spain with Granada and before that a breakthrough in his homeland with Deportivo Cali. Muriel is yet to represent Colombia at full international level but has made a number of appearances for their Under-20 side.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
All the talk around the Emirates this week has been about players leaving the Gunners with Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy linked with a move away. Theo Walcott has suggested that a long of players have grown restless and could be looking to move on this summer.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Gunners blogs that include Lee Dixon’s exclusive interview; Q&A with Ivan Gazidis and why Wenger should learn a lesson from 1998.
We also look at the best Arsenal articles around the web this week.
*
VIDEO: Lee Dixon talks to Football FanCast about all things Arsenal
Why Arsene Wenger should learn a valuable lesson from 1998
Arsenal’s ‘Greatest British XI’ of our time
Slowly becoming the transfer priority at Arsenal?
Arsenal set to move for Milosevic
Ivan Gazidis’ Q&A with the Arsenal Supporters Trust
Gervinho – what’s all the fuss about?
Why Arsenal fans must stay loyal despite his apparent disloyalty
Did Wilshere and Baines pour cold water over this tired excuse?
*Best of WEB*
It’s time to let Theo Walcott go…………. – Highbury House
10 Questions for Ivan Gazidis… – Online Gooner
Gazidis wasn’t lying – 4 Targets we’re going for / The exits you’d hoped for – Le Grove
Amusing Sandro, Bemusing Media & Imminent Arrivals – A Cultured Left Foot
Should Wenger acquire this French midfielder for £13.2M this summer? – Gunnersphere
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Click on Wayne Bridge’s lady below to unveil our WAG XI of the season
It’s been a disappointing week all in all for fans up on Tyneside. The magpies went down 5-1 at Bolton on Saturday. Whilst a red card to Fabricio Coliccini and a violent conduct charge resulting in a three match ban for centre back partner Mike Williamson ensures they are without both first choice centre back’s for the visit of Champions Chelsea. The very small silver lining though is it has never been a better time to play Chelsea and Carroll continued his fine goalscoring form on his return from England duty.
This week at FFC we have seen a mixed bag of Newcastle blogs which has included…Newcastle transfer dealings are in safe hands, an ‘opportunity’ Newcastle TRIO can’t afford to pass up and What is their obsession with Newcastle and Liverpool.
Plus we have taken a look at the best Newcastle stories on the Web this week.
*
Hallå Underbar – Christian’s lady puts Premiership WAGS in the shade
*
Will Newcastle star’s face ever really fit?
An ‘opportunity’ Newcastle TRIO cannot afford to pass up
Newcastle’s transfer dealings are in safe hands
What is their obsession with Newcastle and Liverpool?
Top TEN post or pre-match interviews of all time
The Premier League DREAM team of all-time?
Is this the Premier League team from HELL?
Top TEN ridiculous football rulings
*
Click here to see the Best NEWCASTLE BLOGS around the Web this week
The Strange Situation With Steven Taylor – The Newcastle United Blog
Consistently inconsistent? – NUFC Blog
From tearful nights to cult heroism for Coloccini – Journal
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Will The Real Newcastle United Please Stand Up – The Newcastle United Blog
Time to get back to basics in Toon – Chronicle
Is Hughton’s contract scuppering his search for an assistant? – NUFC Blog
Manchester City midfielder James Milner has hit back at criticism of his team by Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen.
The Dutch trainer stated that Roberto Mancini’s squad is made up of selfish players who do not play for each other and are only interested in personal objectives; Milner feel this criticism is unfair.
“Look at the season we have had – and winning the FA Cup last year,” he told Mirror Football.
“That first trophy as a group was great, and you can look at games this year when we have been losing and shown character and fight.
“Even in the FA Cup game against United, we were a man down and losing heavily at half time. But we came back and could easily have got a draw.
“I can’t see a team of individuals doing that.
“You need that spirit, determination and togetherness to get through the low points of the season, and we have done that.
“We want to finish the season strongly, to reward our fans for their support. If that’s good enough, great. But if not we have improved as a club and as a team. We are progressing.
“We are playing good football and had a great performance at the weekend.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“All season we have fought in all competitions, and we will do that until the end,” he concluded.
I’ve heard a lot of names bandied about for the West Ham job since Avram Grant got the tin tack last week. Martin O’Neill, Sam Allardyce, Steve McClaren, the usual suspects, and then there’s Neil Warnock, Dave Jones, Chris Hughton and Paul Lambert, to name but a few. If it were up to me, though, I’d tell David Gold and David Sullivan to forget that lot, even if the boy Lambert does fit the young-and-smart bill I’d be looking for.
Now I understand why he is tickling their fancy – he’s done a phenomenal job at Carrow Road and had two great years. But if I was him I’d want to see that job through and give at least one season to having a crack at the Premier League. I’d miss Delia’s cooking, too. That’s why my choice for West Ham would be Neil Lennon.
I was up in Scotland at a function with my old pal Saint last week and, from what I picked up, it’s going to be very hard for Celtic to hang on to him the way things are going. And whatever you think about Lennon, the one thing everybody agrees on is that he has a tremendous attitude and fantastic drive. It certainly wouldn’t be a case of the same-old, same-old that West Ham need to avoid.
[divider]
A complete overhaul and change of image is what my old club needs now. They’ve won three FA Cups and a Cup Winners’ Cup in the last 50 years and that doesn’t show any ambition. It’s why the move to Stratford is vitally important and so, too, is getting the right manager. Lennon has proved he’s up for the fight, so why not get him out of his situation?
Things are going to be very, very awkward for him and everybody else in Scotland, and it’s not going to get any easier. So get Lennon, get a new stadium… and maybe even a new strip. Keep the claret and blue, of course, but make it claret and blue stripes. West Ham need something that’s going to make the team look radical. They have to say, ‘Right, this is us, we’re a Championship side now’, and then concentrate on getting back to the Premier League.
They’re also going to need new players to do that. I’d move Heaven and Earth to keep Scott Parker, even though it won’t happen, and I’d let the rest go. Why not buy the entire QPR team? They did it this season and a lot of them won’t now get a look-in. West Ham’s a great club but they can’t live on their past any longer.
[divider]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The five most identifiable players remain Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Trevor Brooking and Billy Bonds … and Bonzo, the most recent of the lot, hasn’t kicked a ball for the club for 23 years. My old mate Mooro would look at the current situation and, just like everyone else who’s ever played for them, shrug his shoulders and say, ‘Well, that’s West Ham’. But that’s how everyone else sees it as well and it’s an image that needs to be changed.
Arsenal and Tottenham fans have been moaning about ticket prices, their teams and their managers… and they’ll both finish in the top six and have seen European football next season. West Ham fans don’t moan like that, they’re phenomenal. They just say, ‘Right, what you having, pint of Guinness?’ And my bet is a few of them will say they’re looking forward to the Championship because at least they might win a few games.
Gold and Sullivan know what they’re doing, and I don’t think a lot of people give them credit for that. I know Gold, he’s a very nice bloke, although there are mixed feelings about the two of them because of how they make their money. Sure, some people look on it as immoral because it’s the pornographic scene. But they’re two genuine guys who obviously have an eye for a market and good luck to them – I wish I’d been with them when they were starting out.
Arsenal's Belgium international centre-half Thomas Vermaelen has suffered a setback in his recovery from an Achilles injury and will be out for the foreseeable future.
The 24-year-old was close to a return to action after more than two months on the sidelines, but suffered a recurrence of the injury during training on Monday.
Manager Arsene Wenger told the club's official website:"We don't have good news about Thomas Vermaelen. He had a little set-back in training and he has to see specialists again.
"I don't know where we go with Thomas time-wise, but at the moment he cannot play. I can't give you any timescale at all.
"On the scan his Achilles is completely clear, but as soon as he stays out for a while it tightens up and he has pain. We don't know the source of his pain."
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Vermaelen joined the Gunners in the summer of 2009 from Dutch giants Ajax and has since made 48 appearances for Wenger's side, scoring eight goals.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
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.
[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]
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.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
If you have a spare 5 mins then why not watch the latest ‘Football Coffee Break’