Manchester City winger Adam Johnson will be sidelined for three months due to an ankle injury, City boss Roberto Mancini has revealed.
Johnson suffered ligament damage to his ankle during midweek training at the Eastlands, and scans have revealed the injury is worse than initially feared.
Speaking after City’s 1-1 draw at Notts County in the FA Cup fourth round, Mancini confirmed that the England international faces a long road to recovery.
“We have lost Adam Johnson for three months,” Mancini told reporters.
“This will be a very big problem because he is an important player. The injury is like the one Aleksandar Kolarov had earlier this season. We do not have another player like Adam.”
Johnson’s absence is a blow to City’s pursuit of league leaders and local rivals Manchester United, as well as Mancini’s attempts to secure a Champions League berth.
It is also bad news for fellow City midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips, who has reportedly had a transfer request denied by the Eastlands club.
Mancini confirmed that City were unlikely to part with Wright-Phillips now that Johnson is unavailable.
“I can understand his position,” Mancini said of his wantaway winger.
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“We haven’t had any offers for Wright-Phillips at this moment but it is difficult for Shaun to join another team now.”
“We still have another 24 hours, so anything can happen but it probably affects it.”
West Ham chairman David Gold has admitted that the club are interested in sign Liverpool forward Andy Carroll.
The England international’s future at Anfield hangs in the balance as new coach Brendan Rodgers evaluates whether the targetman fits into his future plans.
With rumours of the burly forward being sent out on loan, the Hammers have emerged as a shock potential destination for Carroll, as the newly-promoted side look to add quality to their ranks.
Despite no negotiations happening as yet, Gold has confirmed that the Upton Park club will be keeping tabs on Carroll’s situation and may make a move for him should he become available.
“I am not aware of any talks between ourselves or Liverpool over Andy Carroll,” Sky Sports quote Gold as saying.
“But that’s not to say we don’t have an interest should he become available.”
Liverpool are said to be closing in on the signing of Roma’s Fabio Borini, and as such Carroll’s place at Anfield looks under threat.
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A theme has been developing in recent transfer windows. Whilst there have still been the big money moves, the back pages of newspapers have been dominated by numerous stories of transfer sagas. Clubs across England have had to face unhappy stars looking for moves or potential deals that have dragged on and on. Whilst Cesc Fabregas continues to redefine the term with his now tedious transfer tug of war between Arsenal and Barcelona, Arsene Wenger is not the only manager having to deal with the headache these transfer sagas can cause.
Pre-season is best used as a time to plan, build and strengthen your team ahead of the new season. But all this can be thrown off course when your star player announces they desire to move on before the new campaign. If these wantaway players are not moved on quickly then their continued presence can become destructive ahead of the new season.
Some of the biggest transfers of this summer are still in the pipeline even though the start of the season is under a week away. The biggest of these as I mentioned previously is Fabregas and Barcelona. Arsenal’s Spanish captain clearly wants to make the move back to the Camp Nou but the London side’s resistance (and a inability by both clubs to agree a fee) has meant that this potential move has dragged on for years. Once again it has cast a shadow over Wenger’s pre-season plans and the inevitable move continues to be destructive around the Emirates.
Arsenal’s London rivals Tottenham face a similar dilemma with their star midfielder Luka Modric. Modric has publicly stated his desire to move to Chelsea but so far Spurs have rejected Chelsea’s approaches for the playmaker. You could say that chairman Daniel Levy is right to hold firm when it comes to his best players but with no big names arriving at White Hart Lane this summer, Tottenham’s pre-season has been dominated by talk of Modric’s desire to leave. The effect on the dressing room is questionable but it will be hard for Modric’s focus not to falter as his own transfer saga drags on with no clear conclusion in sight.
The continued presence of Carlos Tevez at Manchester City has also become a saga but in this case both club and player seem willing for a deal to be done (at the right price). For now Tevez remains with City but questions and doubts still remain for Roberto Mancini about the role he could play this season.
But what options do these managers have? The clear choice would be to get rid of their wantaway stars. If the hierarchy of the club can agree then all three could slip away to their new clubs, leaving a healthy bonus in a club’s bank balance (though possibly less than the club’s would want if they really pushed for a quick deal) and a more settled squad focused solely on looking forward to the new season.
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Arguably Liverpool avoided a potential transfer saga by selling Fernando Torres to Chelsea in January rather than holding on to their obviously unhappy star. The Reds’ cashed in on the striker at the right time before it became a saga and potentially affected their revival under Kenny Dalglish (the sale also freed up funds for the captures of direct replacements Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez).
The other option would be to keep hold of the players and resist any possibility of a move. Fabregas’ transfer to Barca has been on the cards for years yet he has continued to play for the club with reasonable success. These footballers are also professionals and whilst their heads may get turned, it is unlikely they would choose to sit on the sidelines for a whole season if a move doesn’t materialise. But this is a risky move for any club and manager as players with one eye on the exit door can easily become a destructive liability on the pitch and in the dressing room.
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Whilst the idea of selling their key players may not be a manager’s ideal plan for pre-season, managers like Harry Redknapp and Wenger may be better off letting these players leave now in their search for stability and success over the next ten months.
Should Arsenal and Spurs sell their wantaway stars before the start of the new season? If you want to read more of my bite size, 140 character views and thoughts follow me on Twitter @jennyk5
The fortunes of Newcastle and Sunderland have certainly been mixed throughout the Premier League years.
While the Magpies have enjoyed title challenges, Champions League football; they have also had the indignity of dropping out of the Premier League back in 2009 much to the amusement of their local rivals. The Mackems themselves are no strangers to relegation and have been something of a yoyo club throughout the Premier League years; however you do sense that times are changing at the Stadium of Light and Steve Bruce is building a strong squad that is more than capable of holding its own among the upper echelons of the league.
Tomorrow sees Sunderland looking to heap revenge, after a humiliating defeat at St James Park, and while the pundits and media will be focusing on who will be coming out of the game with the Tyne/Wear bragging rights, we will focus on the major battle set to take place in the player’s lounge at the Stadium of Light.
In the second part of our new series of ‘Wag War’ we look ahead to the likely battle at the Stadium of Light tomorrow afternoon and ask you the viewer to decide which team wins this epic battle.
Let the battle commence: click on the badge below to see the line-up and cast your vote at the end:
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Now that the dust has firmly settled on Merseyside and the commotion that followed Brendan Rodgers appointment as Liverpool and attentions now turn towards who will be following through the Northern Irishman through the entrance into Anfield. After being given a week to settle into his new surroundings and gauge the expectations of supporters, who did well to hide their exasperation when he was announced as Kenny Dalglish’s successor, it’s time for Rogers to get down to brass tax. Changes are already afoot under the new regime with Dirk Kuyt ending his six-year association with the club after agreeing to join Turkish giants Fenerbache as the former Swansea boss and his team of back room staff try to stamp their authority on the dressing room. His summer shopping list will prove intriguing with the onus likely to be on players who will benefit his tiki-taka philosophy. Gylfi Sigurðsson is an obvious target with Rodgers having brought the Icelandic international to the Liberty Stadium on-loan last season. His short but prolific spell in south Wales will have given the Premier League a glimpse of his goalscoring capabilities from midfield and penchant to change the game with the swing of his boot. A long-term replacement for Steven Gerrard perhaps? Thinking that far ahead would be awfully optimistic from Mr Rodgers.
This week on FFC will staying at Anfield benefit Liverpool in the long run and how important is it to play attractive football in lieu of Rodgers’ appointment as manager.
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Best of FFC
A Wise Choice for Liverpool to remain?
Time for the Premier League to recapture it’s interest in Huntelaar
How important is style in football?
Liverpool Must Exercise Patience To Exorcise Demons
Have Liverpool missed a big trick here?
A huge investment that delivers no guarantees
Gone but certainly not forgotten at Anfield
A true Measurement of Success within the Premier League?
Clearly Tempted by £6.8m Liverpool switch
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Best of WEB
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Rodgers Appointment Breeds Great Expectation – Live 4 Liverpool
New ‘keeper? Is the man Rodgers has lined up to replace Reina? Let’s hope so… – Liverpool Kop
Farewell Dirk – Our Working Class Hero – This is Anfield
‘The public knows the truth’ – Robbie Fowler slams ex-LFC manager. Fair? – Liverpool Kop
Brendan Rodgers, The Tactician – The Tomkins Times
Why There’s No Longer Room At Anfield For This Dutch Legend – Live 4 Liverpool
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The Liverpool Story – This is Anfield
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Quote of the Week
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“Criticism makes you stronger. You are always going to get criticised at a big club like Liverpool but it is a great club to play for.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my first season and I am sure we will be better next year.” Stewart Downing responds to the criticism received during his first season at Liverpool
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.
Shay Given is quite possibly the best number two goalkeeper on the planet right now. Giovanni Trapattoni thinks he’s the best keeper in the world, Gianluigi Buffon aside, and with a great pedigree and bundles of experience at playing at the highest level for over a decade, it’s puzzling why the Irish stopper isn’t being looked at more seriously by the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United, both of whom find themselves in a bit of a goalkeeping quandary at the minute with concerns to the current options available to both of them.
At 34 years of age, while not the spring chicken he once was, Given is currently at a terrific age for a goalkeeper in a position which tends to favour the late bloomer. His transfer to Manchester City looked to be a shrewd move on Mark Hughes’ part and he started 35 of City’s 38 league games last season until a dislocated shoulder in a league fixture against Arsenal on the 24th of April ruled him out of the rest of the season.
Unfortunately for Given, Joe Hart has firmly established himself as the club’s new number one and there doesn’t appear to be a way back into the starting eleven for him now. It has to be said though, that Joe Hart’s form this season for both club and country has been simply fantastic and he’s the country’s most naturally gifted goalkeeper since the heady days of David Seaman around the mid ’90s era of Terry Venables.
Given has gone on the record as stating his interest in any potential move to Celtic with “I’m a huge Celtic fan and always have been. I’m not saying anything yet but if Celtic want me then that’s where I want to end up because they are a terrific club.” On the face of things, a move for Given to Celtic would seem a good fit, but manager Neil Lennon has entrusted a lot of faith so far in Newcastle loanee goalkeeper Frazer Forster and he doesn’t look like moving for Given, just yet anyway.
Given may have to hold out until the summer if he is to clinch his dream move to the SPL giants and with the player having already stated his desire to move on this transfer window, he’s there for the taking right now for the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd.
His connection to Man City would most definitely rule him out of any potential transfer between the two, especially considering relations have become bitterer over the last couple of years, with Fergie referring to City as a ‘small club’ before calling them ‘noisy neighbours’ after the now infamous ‘Welcome to Manchester’ banner was unveiled upon the club securing the signing of Carlos Tevez.
But purely from a footballing perspective, he’d be perfect for United. His experience in the top flight of English football is vast and Ferguson could rest assured that the position was sewn up for another 3-4 years with Given in between the sticks, knowing that the Irishman could perform straight from the off, much like Van Der Sar did straight away after Ferguson signed him from Fulham back in 2005.
Continue to PAGE TWO…
A much more likely move however could be to fellow title challengers Arsenal. Again, with both of these currently battling it out for the title, a move this January looks extremely unlikely, but a move at the end of the season could be just what Arsenal need. He’s also been linked with them countless times before and it’s baffling that Arsene Wenger didn’t stick in a bid when Man City signed him from Newcastle. Every manager has a blind spot, it appears Wenger’s is with goalkeepers.
Too often they’re undone by goalkeeping howlers. Almunia is a frightfully poor goalkeeper and it’s unfathomable to me how he secured the number one spot for so long. A lack of competition can be the only reason. The current holder of the number one jersey, in the absence of the ever-improving, but gaffe-prone Fabianski, is young 20 year old Wojciech Szczesny who has looked decent when called upon, but he should be looked at as one for the future, despite his apparent itchy feet and insistence that he’s ready to secure a first-team spot now.
Fabianski has performed dutifully this term, yet the feeling still persists, that no matter how good his shot stopping is, and it can be quite simply excellent at times, a mistake still looks like it lurks just right around the corner. He’s a decent goalkeeper now that he’s been given a real run of games for the first time since signing for Arsenal. Ring rustiness is particularly applicable to goalkeepers, unless your name is Wayne Bridge of course, and that some of his mistakes earlier on in his Arsenal career may be partly attributable to the fact that he was thrown in the odd match every now and again and unable to develop as he would have hoped, but with that reasoning aside, whether he’s a good enough keeper to help you win the title, I’m not so sure.
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Cast your mind back to a substantial Given error though? Keep thinking? Drawing a blank still? The fact of the matter is, that allied to great reactions and handling, Given is ever so reliable and rarely ever makes mistakes. He won’t be the leader that the Arsenal back line are crying out for admittedly and his communication skills aren’t the best out of the top flight’s custodians, but he’s a class act.
It’s an odd situation where such a good goalkeeper can find his opportunities so limited, especially considering when the two clubs currently challenging Man City most for the title are the ones just crying out for a man of his talents. Man Utd need a replacement for Edwin Van Der Sar, whereas Arsenal need to finally address their shortcomings and move for a reliable number one capable of putting an end to any debate over the position at the club. While Fabianski has done well until now, the debate still persists.
A move to Man Utd looks unlikely and the same can be said for a move this term to Arsenal. Given may have to wait until the summer for the move he deserves, but if he’s patient enough, he could be rewarded with a dream move to Celtic or as part of a new-look Arsenal back five come the summer.
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The King has left his throne. On the back of one of their worst Premier League seasons in recent memory, Kenny Dalglish has been sacked as manager of Liverpool. Despite winning the Anfield club their first trophy in 6 years, owners Fenway Sports Group decided to take action and are keen to find a replacement as soon as possible.
Even with no Champions League Football and a squad that needs improvement, the Managers position at Liverpool will still be one of the most sought after jobs in the game. As shortlists are drawn up by John Henry & Co. a look at some of the potential candidates may give an indication as to who is the right man to lead the Reds into battle next season.
1. Andre Villas-Boas
So much was expected of the 34 year old Portuguese tactician when he arrived at Chelsea last summer. Having just guided Porto to a Domestic and European Championship double, shouts of a new Mourinho were heard around Stamford Bridge. Suffice it to say, things didn’t work out for Villas-Boas. If he were to take over at Anfield, he would have to connect with the players on a far better level than he did in West London. Fractions within the Chelsea camp led to poor performances on the pitch and his inevitable sacking. However, with his reputation only slightly tainted from his time with The Blues, Villas-Boas is still a very good manager. His fast, attacking style of play and his tactical prowess make the young coach a very good candidate for the Anfield hotseat. It would be a risk considering his Premier League record but if Liverpool grasp Villas-Boas’ philosophy with both hands, it would be a gamble that ultimately pays off.
2. Rafa Benitez
A dream come true for many Liverpool fans, the return of the popular Spaniard would be one of the more surprising appointments of the summer. His first stint at Liverpool was a huge success guiding the team to two Champions League finals and delivering a second placed Premier League finish in 2009. He would certainly lift the mood in Merseyside should he return to the hotseat. However, expectation levels could see Rafa’s reputation tarnished if he fails to deliver. Considering his success in his previous time with the club, an immediate turnaround of Liverpool’s fortunes could be demanded. With the squad lacking the real quality that it had during Rafa’s last reign, it could be a tough task for the Spaniard to get Liverpool back toward the summit of the table. However, with fans showing their excitement at the prospect of Benitez returning, his appointment could bring a buzz about Anfield that had been missing for periods of last season.
3. Roberto Martinez
After battling relegation with Wigan for the last three years, Martinez has quite rightly gained national notoriety as an astute manager capable of keeping a team competitive on a shoestring budget. At just 38, Martinez has an experienced attitude way beyond his years. The free-flowing attacking formation that he has adapted to his Wigan side worked wonders for the club and saved them from relegation. Not only would Martinez put a stamp on the playing style at Anfield, he would be able to handle the Media in a manner that was so lacking when Kenny was at the helm. Even in his darkest hours at Wigan Athletic, Martinez remained upbeat and never let his guard down in front of the cameras. This type of conduct may be exactly what Liverpool need to kickstart a new campaign. Although he may not be the ‘big name’ that some Liverpool fans desire, he probably is the best candidate for the job.
4. Brendan Rodgers
It comes as no surprise that the Swansea City boss is among the candidates to take over at Anfield. Rodgers has had such an impressive season in Wales that he has been linked to the only other Premier League managerial vacancies, these being Chelsea and Aston Villa. After guiding the Swans to an 11th place finish in the clubs first ever outing in the Premier League, Rodgers is a sought after manager. His record this season has been very impressive; however, his lack of experience at this level of football may hinder his chances of taking the vacancy at Anfield. His man management skills are on a par with the best, being a popular figure with the clubs he has managed but this may just be too much too soon for the Northern Irishman.
5. Fabio Capello
A look at the favourites for Liverpool’s next manager show former England Boss Fabio Capello among the shortest odds. A surprise choice if asked, Capello would certainly not be many Liverpool fans choice of new manager. However, his club record speaks volumes of the quality managerial abilities he possesses. He has one the league for every club he has managed, Guiding, Juventus, AC Milan, Roma and Real Madrid to domestic glory. The problem that would undoubtedly arise should he become Liverpool manager would be the connection with players. It was made clear by some of the England squad that they did not like the way the Italian approached certain matters. His poor grasp of the language was also a problem in the dressing room, an issue that would certainly be prevalent if he were to take the vacancy at Liverpool. Whilst Capello is an underrated manager, it does not appear that Liverpool will look for a coach of his age and will instead go for a fresher, younger approach.
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6. Jurgen Klopp
A relative unkown for many English Football fans, Jurgen Klopp has gained notoriety in Germany for his guidance of Borussia Dortmund to back-to-back championships. At just 44 years of age Klopp has now put himself in the spotlight across Europe and Liverpool may take a gamble with him. Having managed Mainz for 7 years, Klopp was appointed Dortmund manager in 2008 and has changed the fortunes of the team dramatically. Particularly impressive this season, the team from West Germany have stormed the Bundesliga and played some impressive attacking football. He certainly fits the criteria that Fenway Sports Group are looking for. However, he is completely untested in English Football and his appointment may backfire on the Reds. Klopp is currently achieving his best work in the Bundesliga and it may be advantageous for him to stay there for a few more years before he tries his hand at managing in the toughest league in the world.
Who would you like to see take the managerial reins at Anfield?
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.”
Manchester City have assembled a pretty impressive squad since their takeover in 2008. However, in recent times news of unrest and training ground bust ups have certainly given those on the outside looking in, the impression that not all is well at the Manchester Club.
It would be fair to say that City boss Roberto Mancini has some issues on his hands, namely under-performing players and dressing-room egos. The Italian needs to shake-up his squad and get rid of players such as Roque Santa Cruz and Emmanuel Adebayor who, having watched them this season, appear to be pinching a living at the moment. Should these two depart Eastlands, places on the roster would be freed up.
In selling players the inevitable happens, players who have grown unhappy at the lack of first team opportunities see a glimmer of hope and suddenly the future looks a little brighter. Surely this can only prove beneficial in terms of squad happiness and harmony?
From a business point of view would it not make sense to cut the wage bill? Ok, Manchester City have the money to squander, but surely looking at the situation from an economical perspective it makes sense to start running the club as a business and not just a money wasting entity.
If Man City were to have a clear out come January then obviously the money recouped would be thrown back into the pot for Roberto Mancini to acquire his idea of the perfect City team. With Lescott, Wright-Phillips, Adebayor, Bridge, Santa Cruz and Jo all thought to be available for departure in the coming transfer window it is clear Mancini would have a tidy sum to play with.
This said, the biggest motive for a clearout at Manchester City is surely the new financial fair play rules UEFA is to introduce. “Under new regulations enforced by European football’s governing body from next season, no club should make an aggregate loss of more than 45million euros (about £39million) over the three seasons from 2011-12, or it will face being excluded from European competition.”
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Earlier this month City announced losses of £121million for the 12 months up to May 31, 2010, up from £92.5million for the previous year. However Manchester City’s chief executive, Garry Cook, stressed the club do not plan to fall foul of the new rules, so will not head into the next transfer windows with the same “intensity”. A clearout would certainly fulfill the promise made by Cook.
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