All posts by h79snht.top

Leading into the World Cup, the German side were looked upon as an unknown quantity. A side without their talisman Michael Ballack and the investment in youth by Joachim Löw failed to fill many pundits with confidence they resembled great German teams of the past. They were regarded as a team in transition rather than tournament contenders.

But one man above all should have been aware of the threat the German side held. Stuart Pearce. Six members of the German U21 side graduated to their senior side after leading Germany to a 4-0 triumph over Pearce’s England in the final of the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. You could almost call it déjà vu in Bloemfontein.

Amongst them was Mesut Özil, the man who out shone any England player on the pitch and ultimately sent the Three Lions home. The midfielder broke English hearts in Sweden last year causing England all sorts of problems. He set up two of the goals and added the second, with a little help from Scott Loach. He proved to remain a thorn in England’s side in the Free State Stadium. He and his team mates condemned Fabio Capello’s side to their heaviest defeat at a major championship.

Manuel Neuer, Dennis Aogo, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira and Marko Marin were the other five players to break into the senior side. England, however, have only integrated James Milner and Joe Hart from the England U21 squad. The Aston Villa midfielder has made a big impression on Capello keeping Joe Cole out of the side, despite the country’s plea to start the former Chelsea winger. Hart has failed to make an appearance during the tournament.

England and Fabio Capello, if still in charge, must follow Germany’s rebuilding process if they stand any chance of future success. The ‘golden generation’ have again failed to meet the semi-finals requirement at another major tournament. Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and others will all surpass 30 by 2014. The current England squad are entering a transition stage, much like the Germans, and their bitter rivals have shown what Capello must do.

Germany are not the only team to have benefited from the 2009 U21 tournament. Serbia have included Gojko Kačar, Zoran Tošić and Ivan Obradović in their squad while Javi Martínez earned a call-up for Spain.

So who are England’s main future prospects? Manchester City winger Adam Johnson failed to make the 23-man squad but the Three Lions have long cried out for a left winger. His goal against Sunderland last season currently proves he has a creative instinct England’s left-hand side lacks.

Having established himself as a first team regular last season, Everton’s Jack Rodwell was rumoured to be wanted by Sir Alex Ferguson who wanted to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford for 15 million. This level of interest demonstrates the potential the 19-year-old possesses.

Missed out because of an injury plagued season, Theo Walcott has failed to fulfil the potential he promised as a youngest at Southampton. The forward needs to replicate his goal scoring form he showed against Croatia.

Capello must keep a close eye on qualifying for the 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship in Denmark as the senior squad needs reshuffling with a few new aces added to the pack.

Written By Michael Muncaster

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

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 image below to look at the SPANISH babes at the World Cup

The Football Association has attempted to diffuse the continuing controversy surrounding England coach Fabio Capello and the player index bearing the Italian's name.

The 'Capello Index' website remains live despite Capello demanding its removal immediately after it went live over the weekend.

The site first made headlines before the World Cup when it claimed it would, with the input of the experienced coach, rate the performances of every player, including Capello's own England squad, during the tournament in South Africa.

Capello distanced himself from it before the tournament, but the fact that it went live over the weekend and remains accessible is believed to be a source of embarrassment to both the Italian and his employers.

However, Club England managing director Adrian Bevington insists there is no problem between Capello and the FA.

Speaking about any direct link between Capello and the website, he said:"After the developments of the weekend, this will not happen while Fabio is England manager.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

"We have been consistent with this view, but managed sensitively.

"However, as has been made clear, Fabio had absolutely no involvement in the ratings that have appeared from the World Cup and did not give his name or approval to them."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed that he may remain Ivory Coast manager until the next World Cup, dampening down rumours suggesting he was set to be revealed as Fulham's next boss.

The Cottagers were believed to have identified the Swede as the perfect replacement for Roy Hodgson who was unveiled as Liverpool's new manager earlier in the summer.

Former England manager Eriksson took over as Elephants boss on a short-term contract before the World Cup but was unable to guide his team through the group stage in South Africa.

However, Eriksson enjoyed the experience, telling Swedish broadcaster SVT:"They (Ivory Coast) were really pleased and I guess that I can stay on if I want to. If so, it will be for four years until the next World Cup finals.

"I'll make up my mind in a week or so. I have to do it soon since there are friendlies in August and qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations in September and October."

When asked about the Craven Cottage vacancy, the 62-year-old added: "I do not know, honestly. I do not think Fulham have decided what they want to do,"

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Fulham are also believed to be interested in appointing Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld or United States boss Bob Bradley.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

During his two years at Arsenal, Samir Nasri has been a good player. There is a sense however, that he has not yet consistently performed to the potential he displayed at Marseille where he was branded the ‘new Zidane’. Although these comparisons are overused, Liverpool fans will know all about Bruno Cheyrou, they rarely come without some back-up and Nasri is a player with a lot of talent, and that is what persuaded the usually frugal Arsene Wenger to part with £12.5 million for the then 21 year old. Now at 23, Samir Nasri along with several other Arsenal players, needs to step it up to another level and become the top-class player he has the ability to be. If he can do this, he could be one of Arsenal’s most important players and could play a pivotal role in the Gunners’ quest for trophies this season.

Samir Nasri was widely regarded as a star of the future during his time at Marseille, a club where he made his league debut at just 17 years of age. In 2007 he won the award for the best young player in Ligue One and it was year later that Arsenal swooped to sign him, beating off competition from a number of top European clubs in the process. Nasri came with a fairly hefty price-tag, but his arrival was welcomed by Gunners’ fans as one of the most exciting prospects in European football. In his first two seasons at Arsenal one word has really summed up Samir Nasri; inconsistent. The player has looked like a world beater on occasion and has shown touches of brilliance, his superb solo effort in a Champions League tie against Porto last season particularly springs to mind, as well as a brace he scored against Manchester United in 2008 which won Arsenal the game. The problem for Nasri has been consistency, he will have a great game followed by an anonymous one. In the Frenchman’s defence he has experienced injury problems, and he is of course still a young player; inconsistency is often the curse of inexperience.

At 23 though, Nasri is not the callow youth he once was. Surprisingly omitted from the French World Cup squad, although Nasri might now be glad about this fact, he will want to perform for his club and force his way into Laurent Blanc’s newly forged plans. Arsenal fans will be hoping to see Nasri inject the consistency a top-class player requires into his game. Nasri is certainly not alone in the list of players who have not yet fulfilled their full potential at Arsenal, Theo Walcott, Abou Diaby and Nicklas Bendtner are all in a similar position to Nasri. Arsene Wenger has been banking on players such as these to move their game up a gear for the past few seasons, but as of yet these wishes have not materialised.

In Arsenal’s game against Liverpool, in the absence of Cesc Fabregas Nasri was played in a central position, as he was during much of the end of last season, with Andrei Arshavin and Emmanuel Eboue employed on the wings. At such an early stage in the season it is difficult to predict what formation or personnel Wenger will settle upon, but this is position Nasri can grow into. He has excellent technique, vision and is a good passer of the ball, with Fabregas likely to leave next summer, Wenger may well be grooming him as Fabregas’ replacement. It remains to be seen whether Nasri can consistently step up to this role, but his ability is not in question and if he can perform this season, the potential blow of losing Fabregas next year could well be softened.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

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 liked this article please follow me on Twitter. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

Six years after leaving Merseyside for the bright lights of Real Madrid, former fan favourite Michael Owen returned to Anfield wearing the red of Liverpool for Jamie Carragher’s testimonial last Saturday.

Carragher and Owen were both members of the club’s 1996 FA Cup youth winning squad and made their first-team debuts within months of each other. Defender Carragher has since gone onto become a club legend, making over 600 appearances for Liverpool, in a career spanning over two decades. Owen of course cut his ties with the club in the summer of 2004 after 297 games and 158 goals for The Reds. Yet despite this and his two FA Cup final goals against Arsenal, which helped clinch a unique cup treble in 2001, Owen still divides fan opinion today.

While Owen received a warm reception from the majority of Reds fans at the recent testimonial, there were still an undercurrent of boos ringing out around Anfield during his 45-minute cameo. Owen is no stranger to this however after previously receiving a barrage of abuse from the Kop fans that once idolised him on his return with Newcastle in December 2005, when he was greeted with chants of ‘Where were you in Istanbul?’ and ‘What a waste of talent’.

It was more of the same last season when Owen received a venomous reception upon returning with rivals Manchester United. Liverpool fans are however renowned for applauding their returning players and most in attendance were attempting to uphold this tradition throughout the game for the return of the prodigal son.

So has Owen finally been forgiven for walking out on the club during Rafael Benitez’s first year at the club? Not just yet he hasn’t. Owen should however be commended for returning to run the fiery Anfield gauntlet to celebrate the career of one of his closest friends in the game. With all the proceedings from the match going to local charities through Carragher’s 23 foundation, it would have been harsh to be too cruel on the returning marksman. Steven Gerrard, who also managed a ten minute appearance, confirmed his former team-mate was worried about the reception he might receive:

“I suppose he was slightly concerned about the reception he’d get, which was a mixed bag, but he went for Jamie.

“They were so close when he was at the club and are still close now, so credit to Michael for getting involved.”

Yet some fans refuse to forgive the former No.10 for his perceived lack of loyalty to The Reds. Owen failed to agree a new contract with Liverpool towards the end of Gerard Houllier’s reign before signing for Los Blancos in a cut-price deal with just a year left on his contract. Rafael Benitez claimed he wanted to keep Owen but found the situation ‘impossible’.

“Real Madrid started talking with his agent and in the end it was an impossible situation to control,” claimed Benitez.

Owen, of course, then went onto sign for hated rivals Manchester United last summer, a move regarded as the final nail in the coffin for most LFC fans. Despite this, Owen remains one of the top ten goal scorers in Liverpool’s history, finishing as the club’s top scorer in every season up until he left.

As the saying goes, time heals old wounds and Saturday went some way to repairing the damage caused by Owen’s acrimonious departure from Anfield six years ago.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Do you think Owen should be forgiven? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Alternatively you can read more of my blogs HERE or follow me on Twitter.

See all the goals from the Jamie Carragher testimonial HERE & watch Michael Owen grab the winner for Liverpool in the 2001 FA Cup Final HERE

Former England striker Emile Heskey took the plaudits from new manager Gerard Houllier after helping Aston Villa beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 in the third round of the Carling Cup.

Heskey came off the bench just before the hour mark to score the equaliser before having a hand on Ashley Young's two goals.

Houllier said afterwards:"I know what Emile can do. He showed a few things in training to indicate he was in good form.

"He was decisive. With Emile it's a matter of confidence. It's the same with all strikers, but probably more so with him.

"Emile came on and was showing freshness, scored one goal and played a part in the other two.

"I was not disappointed by the effort and application in the first half but there was no flow to our game, but I changed the system in the second half and I thought it suited the players more.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

"I did not feel down at half-time. I have seen the team a bit in training and I thought it was a matter of getting ourselves into the game."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has warned Wayne Rooney that the grass is not always greener after vowing to deal swiftly with his unsettled striker.

Rooney went public with his wish to leave Old Trafford in the build up to Wednesday's 1-0 Champions League victory over Bursaspor.

The 24-year-old striker cited a lack of ambition going forward for his decision to snub a new contract and seek an exit.

But following Rooney's personal statement, Ferguson has issued a firm warning to the England striker over his future.

Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City have all been mentioned as possible destinations for the striker who still has 18 months remaining on his contract.

"Sometimes you look in a field and see a cow. You think it is a better cow than the one you see in your field. It never really works out that way," warned Ferguson.

"Some players like to think the world is better somewhere else. It never really works."

Meanwhile, an irritated Ferguson suggested he would look to deal swiftly with the situation and will meet with chief executive David Gill on Thursday morning.

"I've not read the whole of Rooney's statement," he said."I have a meeting with David Gill at 10am on Thursday. David has spoken to the owners which is important.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

"What is really important is for us to put it to bed, we don't want it to become a saga.

"Sunday's game against Stoke is the most important thing. This is a bagatelle, believe me."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Chidge and the Chelsea FanCast crew discuss the games against Newcastle and Man City, and are also joined by Neil Fissler the author of new Chelsea book: Where Are They Now – Chelsea.

First we lose to Newcastle in the Carling Cup, but Chidge and the boys actually enjoyed a game we lost more than when we win. Can’t beat a bit of fight and passion and backs to the wall spirit, and we were privileged to see Josh McEachran’s transformation from a boy into a man. He didn’t put a foot wrong.

Next up we had Man Citeh in what was billed as our first big test of the season. What did we get? A bit of a feeble performance in midfield and another mugging from Man City. It was more like a game of Italian chess, but we don’t really think we deserved to come home empty handed when all is said and done. And when all is said and done, both the Arse and Man Who screwed up, so we’re still top of the league and having a laugh!!

We have a very special guest on the show in the form of Neil Fissler. Neil has written an excellent book entitled “Where Are they Now – Chelsea” which gives the true football anorak details on what has happened to Chelsea players from the past. Players like: Rati Aleksidze; Wilf Chitty, Jack Cock, Perry Digweed, Frode Grodas, and even Slavisa Jokanovic, as well as players we’ve actually heard of!

As well as all that the boys discuss the matches from the last week and award their Man of the Match; Chant of the Match; Celery and Guinness moments, as well as another classic terrace song from the terraces in “we’re out show the world the way to sing”.

And with the Dr AWOL again this week, there’s a joint effort on the Dear Mart front, and back by popular demand Chidge reads out the best of your posts in “You’re on CFFC”. Who says we don’t give the listeners what they want!!!

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

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 Chelsea Football FanCast: To be Frank, we missed him!

Click here to listen to the Podcast

Follow Chelsea Football FanCast on Facebook and Twitter

Subscribe to the show in I-tunes

A stereotype the majority of us associate with your average Premier League footballer would be one of greedy, over paid pre-Madonna’s who hardly justify fame and fortune. But according to the Manchester United striker, Michael Owen, this generalisation is grossly unfair.

The former Liverpool and England hit man protested that many professional footballers give a lot of their spare time to do work for charities and local community projects, yet remain undetected by the media.

Talking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he said: “People like to judge footballers as a whole but I think that’s pretty unfair.

”Everyone’s different. I’ve met some footballers that are absolutely fantastic people, are always visiting sick kids, they do things for charities, but they don’t ask for any press coverage. They just go about it because they want to do it.”

Firstly, I’m as encouraged as anyone to hear that such stars are anonymously using their countless monies and iconic status to help those in need. But really, are fans that interested in how much of their hard earned cash they give up, as long as players’ performances are still winning football matches?

Take Wayne Rooney for example. His initial decision to leave Man United was met with some cynical opinions from biased fans, myself included. ‘He hasn’t been good enough for a while, anyway. With the money from his transfer, we could re-build the squad.’ However fast forward a week and the general consensus around Old Trafford is, ‘£20ok a week? Well he maybe over-paid, but he is still world class, after all.’

Owen, who has been ruled out for a further three weeks with a hamstring tear, made his comments at a time where footballers are being hung out to dry for the amount they earn due to the current financial climate.

But the modern day footballer now seems so far out of the realms of real life, that as long as our team is winning and our favourites are providing us with moments of football genius, we can excuse the fact they earn more in a week than we do in five or even 10 years.

Seeing your team lift a trophy is the stuff of dreams for every football fan. But this comes at a cost, particularly given the spending power of some of the bigger teams in England. The only way it seems to be successful nowadays is to pay for it. Chelsea have shown us that.

If fans of lesser clubs picture their captain, who earns over £100, 000 a week, lifting the F.A Cup at Wembley for the first time in decades, I’m not so convinced at that moment in time they would be thinking of the consequence of these professionals being so handsomely paid.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

So as fans do we care how much professionals are being paid? I wouldn’t have thought so. Just as long as we’re winning.

Fancy playing your mates every week in a Premium Fantasy Football game?

Thomas is a man who will be remembered for one important moment in his life. But what happened after that immortal night in Anfield 1989?

It has to be said that Michael Thomas is a man of protean allegiances. He was born in London on August 24th 1967 and grew up as a Spurs fan. Despite this he signed for Tottenham’s North London rivals Arsenal as a schoolboy in 1982. He would later move from Arsenal on to rivals Liverpool. By 1986 Thomas had broken into the Arsenal team and was eventually switched from the right back position into midfield. In fact, his position in the midfield was the perfect forum for his surging runs and allowed him to exhibit his deadly strength and pace.

Michael Thomas made 206 appearances for Arsenal and scored 30 goals. He won the League Cup, and the picked up two League Championship trophies as an Arsenal player. Despite the plaudits and the achievements, Thomas is a man who will be remembered by Arsenal fans (and, likely by Liverpool fans) for one career defining moment.

Brian Moore’s commentary will live on in connection with that moment: “Thomas, charging through the midfield… it’s up for grabs now! Thomas! Right at the end!” Arsenal headed to Anfield needing to beat Liverpool by two clear goals to win the title. Early in the second-half Alan Smith headed an Arsenal goal home to give the Gunners a chance. But it looked as though they were going to spurn the opportunity before Thomas received Smith’s lay-off, scooted forward and flicked the ball past a despairing Bruce Grobbelaar. Arsenal won that game 2-0 and picked up the League title. Michael Thomas won Arsenal the league at Anfield in 1989.

Despite being known as an Arsenal legend, Thomas also spent a significant portion of his life playing for Liverpool. This is slightly surprising considering that he broke the hearts of Liverpool fans with his goal just two seasons before he agreed terms with the Reds.

Thomas made 126 appearances for Liverpool scoring only 9 goals. The best of the bunch was a turn-and-volley against Sunderland in the 1992 FA Cup Final.  As well as an FA Cup Winners medal, Thomas also won the League Cup with Liverpool in 1995.

As his career dialled down he played for Middlesbrough before moving abroad to play for Benfica. He bought a house in Portugal by the sea, where his family came to live with him, but unfortunately, wasn’t able to hold down a regular place on the team. Two years later he returned to England for one last season with Wimbledon before retiring in 2001.

Now 43 years old, Thomas still lives in Merseyside where he has remained a loyal Liverpool fan (despite being voted the 37th Greatest Gunner in 2008’s official poll). In his spare time he even plays for the Liverpool legends in Masters football tournaments. He runs a security and chauffeur firm from for ‘high-level individuals’ – that means Presidents and the likes – based in Wirral.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Of course, he still gets stopped on the streets and asked about that moment. Despite all his various achievements and accomplishments, his League-winning goal against Liverpool will, for better or worse be his career defining moment.

If you’re interested and want to hear more feel free to follow me on Twitter