Hearts came from behind twice before snatching a late winner to beat St Mirren 3-2 in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday.Michael Higdon put visitors St Mirren in front in the 14th minute at Tynecastle, before Rudi Skacel levelled for Hearts 10 minutes into the second half.Striker Higdon was on target again to restore St Mirren’s lead on 69 minutes, but this time it was the turn of Ryan Stevenson to level for Hearts with nine minutes to go.And there was a final dramatic twist, with Czech midfielder Skacel grabbing the winner from a corner three minutes into injury time.Hearts remain third on the table, 10 points behind second-placed Rangers. St Mirren are second from bottom, seven points clear of Hamilton Academicals and with a game in hand over the last-placed team. Elsewhere, Kilmarnock came from a goal down to beat Motherwell 3-1 at home.John Sutton opened the scoring for Motherwell in the 15th minute, but Kilmarnock were in front by half-time with Manuel Pascali levelling and Jamie Hamill making it 2-1 a minute before the break.Liam Kelly found the net just six minutes into the second half to complete the scoring and wrap up all three points for the hosts. Kilmarnock are fourth, 10 points behind Hearts while Motherwell are eight points further back in sixth.Daniel Swanson’s first-half strike saw Dundee United beat visitors Inverness 1-0, while Hamilton Academical played out a goalless draw at home to St Johnstone. Hamilton finished with 10 men following the 91st-minute dismissal of Simon Mensing.
Owen Hargreaves looks to have played his last game for Manchester United.Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted on Friday that the 30-year-old will not be fit enough to play any part in this season’s run-in.
The England international midfielder’s contract expires on June 30 and, while recent speculation suggested that he may be offered a one-year extension, the news of his latest setback might put paid to those chances.
When Ferguson was asked if Hargreaves would play again this season, he replied: “I don’t see it all.”
“It is a shoulder injury. It has just brought his season to an end.”
“He has just carried bad luck all the time he has been here. I am pretty sure he won’t be playing this season.”
Hargreaves cost a reported 17 million pounds when he joined the Old Trafford outfit from Bayern Munich in July 2007, but despite playing a big part in United’s Premier League and Champions League double the following season, he has managed just 39 appearances since the big-money transfer.
“His contract is up at the end of the season but I don’t know what is going to happen,” said Ferguson.
“David Gill had a discussion with the boy last week. But no more than that. We have to make a decision.”
Ferguson, meanwhile, has dismissed suggestions that city rivals and FA Cup semi-final opponents Manchester City are lacking in the kind of experience that United possess in abundance.
“They have plenty of experience in their team, they’re not carrying any young players really, maybe Adam Johnson is probably the youngest but they have a lot of experience in their team,” he said.
“Playing at Wembley, you have to play well to win. It’s very seldom a team plays badly and wins, you have to play well so hopefully we can do that.”
“We’ve got a strong squad now, I think that our bench the other night reflected that and we’re going into this game in good confidence.”
Other than Hargreaves and the suspended Wayne Rooney, United are only without Darren Fletcher, who is out with a virus, while Anderson may be in contention after scoring two for the reserves on his return from a knee injury.
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has denied the club is in talks with former coach Jose Mourinho over a move back to the San Siro.Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reported the 48-year-old has enrolled his children in a school in Lugano, near Inter’s training ground, prompting speculation the Real Madrid boss could be poised for a return to the Italian champions.
Mourinho guided Inter to a historic treble in 2010 when he led them to glory in the Champions League, Serie A and the Coppa Italia, but Moratti has hosed down the speculation.
“I’ve read it in the newspapers, but there is nothing going on with Mourinho,” Moratti said.
Moratti defended new Inter coach Leonardo, who took over from Rafael Benitez in December, after the club’s exit from the Champions League at the hands of Schalke, and their tumble to third in the Serie A standings after a 3-0 thrashing by fierce rivals AC Milan.
The president believes a tired squad is responsible for the club’s predicament.
“I don’t think Leonardo has changed much. I think he did fantastically well up to the derby against Milan,” Moratti said.
“We expected a great result, but the big mistake was sending the players away to play with their national teams, and having them come back convinced they were in peak form, when they were actually very tired.”
“Everything went wrong from there. The coach has tried to do what it has been necessary to do and he usually does his job very well, as far as I’m concerned.”
“We are going through a crisis period at the moment and everything has been highlighted even more from the outside.”
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re considering this moment for what it is: we’ve had a drop in form mainly due to physical and mental tiredness. Therefore we have not been playing well in our recent matches.”
Inter have a chance to pick themselves up on Tuesday when they take on Roma in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final at the Stadio Olimpico.
Arsenal’s defeat at Stoke last weekend was representative of how the end of the season has gone from bad to worse for the Gunners. Another season has gone by without a trophy for Arsene Wenger’s men, but there has been one positive for Arsenal in this campaign, namely Jack Wilshere. The young English midfielder has been outstanding in the middle of the park and looks like someone who will be wearing the Arsenal shirt and the Three Lions of England for many years to come. Perhaps somewhat understandably seeing that Jack is just 19, the youngster is still a bit raw and doesn’t half like flying into tackles. Here he is getting acquainted with Stoke’s Dean Whitehead at the Britannia Stadium last Sunday, but how are Wilshere and Whitehead making their introductions?
Leave your suggestions below…
This week you can win a copy of Arsenal: The Double 70/71 on DVD!
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the 1970/71 Double winning Arsenal team and to celebrate a special DVD is being released so that you can relive that season in all its glory, or see it for the first time if you’re a young Gunner. Arsenal: The Double 70/71 allows you to take a trip back to the days before the Premier League and relive the season that has gone down in Arsenal’s history and will always be remembered.
Click here to read our review of Arsenal: The Double 70/71
For the FootballFanCast.com Caption Competition Terms and Conditions click here
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Check out our Caption Competition Gallery for some inspiration and to see the winners so far.
Last week’s winner: Nils – click here to see all entries
Harry Redknapp is resigned to losing out on the Champions League this season after Tottenham drew 1-1 with Blackpool on Saturday.Spurs are now seven points off Manchester City with three games to go following a disappointing draw and Redknapp was left frustrated following another opportunity missed.
Charlie Adam scored a penalty to put Blackpool 1-0 up but Jermain Defoe equalised with a fierce drive three minutes from time.
It was not enough for Spurs, though, and Redknapp admits his side have a mountain to climb.
“I am disappointed as it was a game we needed to win. We have struggled to score at home lately but we haven’t managed to beat teams,” Redknapp said.
“We haven’t taken our chances. Strikers haven’t scored goals this season and it’s difficult to put your finger on it.”
“Credit to Blackpool, they had a real go and they are a breath of fresh air. They lifted their game and full credit to Ian. We have thrown it away in the last nine games.”
“Whether the Champions League has taken its toll, I don’t know. We played great football in spells. We had half a chance today but it’s going to be very tough now.”
“We will keep going. The Champions League spot is very difficult – you have to be realistic for next season. Manchester United and Chelsea won’t drop out. Manchester City are getting stronger and Arsenal are there every year.”
“We were just short this year and maybe not good enough.”
Ian Holloway said he was proud of his players after earning a point which moves them out of the bottom three.
“Quite a day for us. I feel so proud. I couldn’t have asked for any more I thought my lads were terrific,” Holloway said.
“It’ll go right to the wire, we know that, but we looked today like we could win a game at this level.
“We believe in ourselves again after having a bit of a wobble but there’s a lot of football still to play and if we continue to play like that who’s to say we can’t get out of this.”
“Charlie’s had a tough season. He’s only going to improve, he’s only 24, and that shows the character he’s got. Today shows me there’s massive hope for the future. We don’t want to give up our place in this league. I loved it out there.”
Dutch Footballer of the Year Theo Janssen has joined Ajax from Eredivisie rivals Twente for an undisclosed fee.Midfielder Janssen, 29, played an influential part in Twente’s season as they reached the Europa League quarter-finals and defeated Ajax 3-2 in the Dutch Cup final.
Twente failed to retain their Eredivisie title by two points after losing away to Ajax on the last day of the season.
And the man who scored 13 goals for them in the campaign will line-up for their rivals next season after agreeing a two-year deal with the Amsterdam outfit.
“I want to become champions again,” Janssen said.
“I leave Twente with a good feeling, they are a top club. They will be at the top again next season.”
Janssen put the reason for an impressive season down to the greater freedom he was allowed under Michel Preud’homme, who replaced Steve McLaren as coach in May 2010.
“When I arrived there, I had a more controlling role but under Preud’homme I was given more freedom. He said from the first day on, ‘You will become the best player in Eredivisie’.”
You sensed a sigh of relief came out of Anfield at the club’s failure to secure a Europa League spot last weekend. Jamie Carragher in particular believes that missing out will enable the club to focus solely on getting back in the top four without the added interference of Thursday night games to trips all over Europe.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Liverpool blogs that includes the right transfer attitude for Liverpool to adopt; Barca’s success bodes well for Liverpool FC and Carragher caught red faced.
We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.
*
Caption Competition: Carragher caught ‘red faced’
Liverpool’s transfer plans are commendable but foolish?
Wilshere and Carroll’s omission shows the attitude is all wrong
The right transfer attitude for Liverpool to adopt?
Liverpool set sights on Monaco ace
What next for Liverpool’s young duo?
This Liverpool transfer saga rumbles on and on
Why Barcelona’s success could bode well for Liverpool FC
A Liverpool player that deserves his plaudits
Signing for Liverpool…I guess we will know soon enough
*Best of WEB*
Why I can’t see the sense in this £13million bid – Live4Liverpool
Kenny v The Top 5 – Half A Season In Stats – Tomkins Times
Guardiola not the first manager inspired by Cruyff – This is Anfield
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The Future is Bright, The Future is Scouse – This is Anfield
[Video] Top 4 Liverpool goals of the season – Our Kop
[divider]
Click on Wayne Bridge’s current lady below to unveil our WAG XI of the season
Despite the rumblings of the Tottenham hierachy insisting that Modric will not be sold it seems his departure is now inevitable with the player declaring in the Daily Mail “If somebody comes to the club and the offer is good for me and acceptable to them, then I want to leave.”
Well, so far the £22m offer that has been received has been neither good or acceptable to his employers representing a mere £5.5m profit on a prospect they spent a £16.5m gamble on on from Dinamo Zagreb in 2008.
Now the players potential has come to fruition at Spurs the Tottenham chairmen will no doubt play hard ball. Should player power prevail then Levy will be a reluctant seller and hope to instigate a bidding war between prospective suitors to maximize the players fee. Modric’s recent comments will anger the chairman though as it will compromise his market value meaning Spurs may eventually be forced to negotiate a price for a player who has openly stated he wants to leave.
Modric who only signed a new contract last season committing his future to Spurs until 2015 has now put his cards firmly on the table. His ambition to further his career is perhaps understandable but his timing barely 2 months after Spurs quarter final Champions League departure in a thrilling campaign where they superseeded Chelsea’s own progress will no doubt disappoint fans.
You would have to be naive to think that such commitment by Spurs would be met with enough loyalty by the player to give the club one more season to win back a coveted Champions League spot. However Luka is either ill-advised or extremely naive himself to think he can “leave Tottenham as friends” after admitting “It has happened to Tottenham before. It is normal for a player to dream about playing for a bigger club” like Chelsea.
Time for Tottenham to start looking for a replacement.
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Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic insists his side are not afraid to face Barcelona.The Red Devils have been successful domestically in recent years, winning four of the last five English Premier League titles, but lost Champions League finals to Barca last season and in 2009.
After the second defeat, manager Sir Alex Ferguson himself admitted that Pep Guardiola’s men are the best team his side have ever faced.
But Vidic insists fear is not an emotion that he would feel if he is confronted with the prospect of playing Barcelona again.
“I don’t know why you are always asking Manchester United players how we are going to bridge that gap,” Vidic told reporters. “Like I say again, this team is successful. We are doing some good things.”
“We don’t have any problem with the Barcelona players. We respect them but we are not scared to play against them. It is hard when you get to the final and lose, especially because it was the last game. It is always in your mind.”
“Barcelona performed much better than us. We could and should do better. But this is a new season. We have to forget what happened, take some points from that game and improve.”
With Paul Scholes having retired, Inter midfielder Wesley Sneijder has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.
When quizzed about whether the potential signing of the Dutchman would represent the completion of the rebuilding of the squad, the captain said: “We have a lot of players for that position.”
“We have Anderson, [Darren] Fletcher, [Ryan] Giggs, [Michael] Carrick. Tom Cleverley can play in that place.”
“It is important to have new players to bring energy and hunger and to fight for positions. We have really healthy competition in the team.”
“The most important thing for a team like Manchester United to remember is that in the last five years we have won four titles and played in three Champions League finals.”
Ferguson has so far taken to bringing in younger replacements for players who have left the club this year, with Wes Brown, Gary Neville, John O’Shea, Scholes and Edwin van der Sar among the players to have moved on.
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United’s rivals Manchester City have managed to make a plethora of big signings since the takeover of the club by Sheikh Mansour in 2008.
Now Vidic feels that the Red Devils need not feel threatened by their city rivals, but should instead concentrate on improving themselves for the challenges that lie ahead.
“It is clear Manchester City have the money and they will sign new players,” he said. “They will definitely be in position to fight for the league.”
“But we have to focus on ourselves. We have to think about what happens at our door not our neighbours and I believe we have enough good players and a good team to challenge for the trophy.”
Aston Villa on the verge of signing West Ham captain Scott Parker for a fee of around £7m, according to The Mirror.
The imminent departure of Stewart Downing, as well as Ashley Young’s move to Manchester United last month, has left Villa with a midfield to reconstruct and almost £40m to help them do so.
Parker, voted the Football Writers’ Player of the Year last season, is anxious to leave Upton Park, but up until now, West Ham chiefs David Sullivan and David Gold had only been keen on discussing a possible loan move for the 30-year-old. Sullivan insisted that whilst the club “would love a deal” for their captain, “when we get promotion, he comes back to us.” The possibility of a loan move was believed to have been of interest to Chelsea with Michael Essien ruled out for up to 6 months with a knee injury, however it seems as though Villa are only interested in a permanent move for the midfielder, and are preparing a bid that they hope will secure his signature for longer than just the one season.
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Villa are also said to be chasing Charles N’Zogbia and Joe Cole in order to fill the voids left on each wing, however it seems as though new boss Alex McCleish is just as eager to acquire the services of Scott Parker in the centre of his midfield and considers the Englishman to be the kind of player that a new Aston Villa midfield can be built around.