Cavaliering Newcastle full back Jose Enrique’s time at St James Park could well be nearing an end. Enrique, 25 has been linked with a host of top clubs after an array of fine performances so far this season for the Magpies.
The former Villarreal man signed a 5 year deal with Newcastle in 2007 and it was rumoured he was waiting until Newcastle secured their top flight status before renewing it. However, Liverpool legend Phil Thompson has revealed on Norwegian television thata deal has been struck for the Spaniard to move to Anfield in the summer. The deal isthought to be in the region of £15 million.
“From what I’ve heard, yes, the deal has been done” Thompson told the TV2 presenter.
Thompson is a close friend of Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish, and in an assessment of Enrique he went on to say “He had a difficult first season coming into the Premiership a couple of years ago but he really understands the game now.”
“He’s one of those full-backs who is good going forward but he’s also a good defender and I think that is the main thing.” After showing their persistence in the capture of Andy Carroll, Enrique’s future looks ominous for Newcastle fans.
There has been no official word from Liverpool or Newcastle on the matter, but potentially losing one of their top performers will be a huge concern to Newcastle.
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Manchester United put one leg in the Champions League final with an impressive 2-0 victory in Germany last night. Ryan Giggs was the standout performer for the Red Devils which led to Fergie claiming he only wished that the Welshman could carry on for a few more years. In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that include Chelsea apparently wanting Guus Hiddink regardless; Reina pledges future to Liverpool, while Etherington faces FA Cup final heartbreak. * Ferguson hails ‘one of our best displays in Europe’ – Guardian Chelsea want Hiddink regardless – Daily Telegraph Houllier may not return to dugout – Guardian Neuer’s fine audition could turn Ferguson’s head – Independent Reina wants to stay and ‘fight for titles’ – Guardian Gunners: We’ll sell Cesc – Sun Spurs can derail Chelsea’s title bid and keep pressure on City, says Defoe – Daily Mail With Tevez back in the fold City adjust sights from fourth to third – Independent Etherington facing FA Cup final heartbreak – Mirror Real boss Mourinho plans £25m summer raid for United winger Nani – Daily Mail
With the race for the Premier League title looking all but over following United’s hard fought victory, the attention now moves to the bottom of the table and who is going to stay in the division. With West Ham and Wigan both losing it has enabled both Wolves and Blackpool to move away after picking up a valuable point against Fulham and Newcastle respectively. You will be a brave man to put any wager down on who is likely to stay-up and you do sense it is likely to go down to the very last kick of the season.
In the papers this morning there has been a mixed bag of stories that includes news that Gerard Houllier’s progress is encouraging; Fergie admits Raul regret, while the Premier League’s chairman comes under fresh scrutiny.
*
Wenger retains trust in self-belief – Guardian
Houllier progress ‘encouraging’ – BBC
Ferguson wary of ‘resilient’ Germans – Daily Telegraph
Inter Milan in for £40m Tevez as Argentinian looks for Eastlands exit – Daily Mail
Sir Alex admits Raul regret – People
Premier League chairman’s role under fresh scrutiny – Independent
Real waiting in wings if Wenger decides to leave – Mirror
Spurs and Kop batte for £15m rated Gary Cahill – People
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Hernandez: My dream has come true at Manchester United – Daily Mail
The Cult Hero in football is a romantic and sentimental side to the beautiful game that will never fade away. In today’s game, the cult hero is even more important with the vast amount of money involved with the sport and the multi-media coverage of the top players in the game. So forget Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, even your Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand at least for the time being as I construct the essential ingredients as to what makes a Cult Hero.
When constructing the recent Top TEN Cult Hero article, I had a list of 50 odd players and probably even more if I kept on researching. The fact is, the cult hero is in abundance in the game and this week they should be celebrated because without them, it just wouldn’t be football as we know it! But what makes a cult hero? The standards are pretty high and wide so let’s go through some of the necessary traits…..
The Unsung Hero – The player that does not make the headlines but always gives 110% without fail. He may not get on the score sheet often or be partial to a step over or a Cruyff turn but when he’s out of the team you realise what an important player he is. Ian Holloway summed up this type of player with this funny quote : “It’s all very well having a great pianist playing but it’s no good if you haven’t got anyone to get the piano on the stage in the first place, otherwise the pianist would be standing there with no bloody piano to play.”
The Eccentric – This player is all about personality. Whether it’s the comedy factor of Jimmy Bullard or Gazza, or the crazy hairstyles like Marc Bircham or Taribo West, there is something about them than the average footballer. Or it could be players like Andrei Kanchelskis or Lee Trundle who liked to do some showboating on the pitch, check them out on YouTube for your own entertainment. Also the likes of former USA defender Alexi Lalas fit this bill perfectly.
The Trouble Maker – The pantomime villain that the opposition love to hate but you love him for exactly that. Whether it’s the exuberant tackles or moaning to the referee, it’s always a fiery encounter when they are on the field. Robbie Savage deserves a mention here although he could also fit the eccentric side of things with his flowing blonde hair. Other shouts have to be Vinnie Jones and FFC’s very own Neil Ruddock, without these types of players football wouldn’t have character.
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Mr Football Club – Joining the club as a young boy and playing out his whole career at the club. This Cult Hero is in the fans’ hearts forever although he may not have been the best they’ve ever seen, his loyalty is seen as something far greater. Southampton can boast a fair few of these players with the likes of Matthew Le Tissier, Jason Dodd and Francis Benali. Also former Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Steve Bull, these types of cult hero’s are usually involved with the club long after they retire.
The Foreigner – Perhaps more favourable away from the top clubs where players from abroad are in abundance, the foreign signing can become a bit of a cult favourite amongst a section of supporters. I fondly remember the likes of Argentinean left back Gino Padula at QPR who looked a bit out of place playing in the old Division Two but was admired at Loftus Road during his time there. Other shouts have to go to ‘Nobby’ Solano of Newcastle and Richard Sneekes at West Bromwich Albion, let’s not forget Juninho and Emerson at Middlesbrough.
It’s in the Name – Everyone loves a good football chant and some players’ names are just asking for it and in return they become a hit with the fans. It wasn’t that long ago down at QPR where we had Doudou and Shittu playing in the same team, other names include the likes of Uwe Fuchs (Middlesbrough, Millwall) and Joseph Desire-Job. It does not have to be a funny name for a popular chant amongst the terraces, I have a dozen of examples I could use to prove my point but such language would not be appropriate.
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So bad, they’re good – In some cases the Cult Hero stems from the player being so bad that they actually have an ironic following by supporters. That striker who never seems to score but always finds a way into the first team, Carl Leaburn anybody? Or it could be the likes of former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen or current Watford defender Lloyd Doyley who score once every solar eclipse but the fans love to shout ‘shoot!’ whenever they get the ball.
One Hit Wonder – Ever heard of Jimmy Glass? He is a Carlisle United legend despite only making 3 appearances for the club on loan. Why? Because the Goalkeeper scored, yes scored, an injury time winner back in 1999 in the last game of the season which kept the Cumbrian side in the Football League.
Borussia Monchengladbach moved a step closer to remaining in the Bundesliga next season with a 1-0 win over Bochum on Thursday.In the relegation playoff, featuring Monchengladbach (who finished third-last in the Bundesliga) and Bochum (third in Bundesliga.2), the winner across two legs wins a spot in next season’s top flight.
The first leg, at Borussia Park, seemed destined for a goalless draw as both sides were nervy in the season decider.
And as the match headed into second-half injury time, it seemed as if both sides would head to the Rewirpower-Stadion both level until Igor De Camargo’s stunning late impact.
A ball in from the left was met by De Camargo, who initially saw his header brilliantly saved by Andreas Luthe, before a goalmouth scramble ensued.
The ball did fall for the Belgian striker again and he produced a stunning strike with a flick of his foot to send the home crowd into raptures with the goal which came two minutes into added time.
The win has given Lucien Favre’s side the upper hand as they prepare for the second leg, to be played on May 25.
Some people may look and what is going on at Liverpool at the moment and be confused about what their strategy is. On one side they appear to be developing their youth set-up – but at the same time they look keen to sign big money signings.
Liverpool is owned by Fenway Sports Group (FSG) that also owns the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball (MLS) and wants to bring some concepts from baseball to the English Premier League. The major part of that is the concept of moneyball – which is the subject of another of my articles. But with modification to make it more suited to a big club that can benefit from big budgets. Therefore, it’s a hybrid version of moneyball that involves developing young players – but also acquiring stars. As with all moneyball strategies there is a significant emphasis on statistics. This is something that the Red Sox do and it will now be something that Liverpool will look to do.
As far as FSG are concerned some of the important work was done some time ago by getting the Liverpool youth setup in place with the appointment of the former Barcelona duo Jose Segura and Rodolfo Borrell. In the previous Premier League season there was the emergence of Liverpool youngsters Martin Kelly and Jay Spearing.
However, Liverpool isn’t just prepared to develop youth players and wait for them to progress into first-team players – they also need players they can use now. The January signings of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll showed that. FSG are clearly very ambitious and are targeting the Premier League title as well as getting back into the Champions League. The classic moneyball approach may well work – but it could take time and Liverpool will feel they need to spend now to try and make their targets reality sooner rather than later. Liverpool will be also keeping an eye on the financial fair play rules to be introduced for the start of the 2012/13 season. Liverpool will know that once this rules come in their spending will be more restricted.
The signings that are likely to be made during this summer are about the long-term success for the football club – but also players that are ready for first-team action. The signing of 20 year old Jordan Henderson may suggest the sort of profile of signing that Liverpool are looking for and young English players certainly seem to be one of those areas. The signings of Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll certainly fit that profile and other targets Phil Jones and Ashley Young would also have been terrific English signings. However, it now appears both players will sign for Manchester United.
But as ever I’m sure Liverpool have other irons in the fire and were not relying on the signings of Jones and Young bearing in mind they would have known that competition would be fierce. Premier League teams in the past have been guilty of signing players that they know very little about – but don’t expect Liverpool to do the same. The Liverpool owners will make sure that every new signing has been looked at from every angle. Scouts will watch the players in action to understand as much as they can – but then the statistical data will be analysed to ensure that what the scouts are saying is correct.
In addition to this Liverpool will look at the mental aspects and ensure that any players they sign have the right attitude to succeed. Will they work hard for the team and will they be able to live up to the pressure of playing for a big club?
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The latest target that Liverpool is after seems to be Charlie Adam. On paper Adam looks like he would be a great buy and he certainly did a great job for Blackpool last season. But to be fair moving from Blackpool to Liverpool will be a significant difference for him and it’s those sorts of transfers that makes or breaks players. Some players just can’t perform on the big stage, but it would be a surprise if that applied to Charlie Adam bearing in mind he started his professional career at Glasgow Rangers.
However, the point is Liverpool will want to know everything they can about any signing they bring in. The signing of a player could become very scientific with only a little room for error – it would certainly not be the process that Manchester City have gone through; where you sign any player that looks good at whatever price.
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What will be interesting is if this process works will other Premier League teams do it and will the face of football be changed? It’s weird to think but could baseball change football?
There continues to be a high level of interest from the US in the Premier League both in terms of fans and also the influx of US owners. Therefore, it’s only a matter of time until these sorts of American ideas come into the Premier League. It seems that Liverpool is as good a place as any to start with – given the owners have experience with a variation on moneyball from owning the Red Sox.
In the off-season, Premier League footballers go off on their holidays, but that doesn’t stop the rumours linking them with various different clubs.
Arsenal are no exception, and while Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are linked with possible exits, Arsene Wenger is of course looking to bring players in. He’s looking for players to compliment the likes of Robin van Persie, and it appears that the Dutchman is doing some scouting of his own.
Here’s RVP with former Brazilian international Ronaldinho, but is he trying to get Ronnie to move to the Emirates?
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
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Luka Modric, Jordan Henderson, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Kevin Nolan: those are some of the names we have constantly been seeing and hearing when reading, watching and listening to the press go to work since the season’s end, but there is, I feel, one glaring name missing from that array of player’s. And that is the man they call Tiny Tim on Merseyside, Tim Cahill.
The free-scoring midfielder with the bullet for a header would be a great acquisition for most football teams, but there has been less than even a mere hint of a whisper regarding the player who would, on recent and past evidence, benefit any side looking to improve themselves.
Maybe it is because or appears that he is so settled at Everton that clubs do not find it worth contemplating a move for him for the time it would inevitably waste. This hasn’t deterred clubs in the past or indeed now: now more than ever, what with the often interfering ‘gremlin’ by their side and voice in the head.
Or agents as they are commonly known, telling them that the ‘grass is greener on the other side’, a philosophy that can divert the player’s gaze away from the ‘gutter’ that the millionaire has made for himself, to a view of ‘paradise’ behind him. This often occurs with modern-day athletes especially as their ‘gremlins’ (agents) get a cut of the deal. When a player’s head is turned to seek pastures new, it doesn’t take long to reach football’s grapevine, but this is a situation that seldom crops up in the transfer window regarding Cahill despite his undoubted ability.
The presumption that he is firmly settled with the Toffee’s, thus them not being approached with a view to signing him, is much like that of ‘Fergie’s Fledglings’ at Manchester United whom would not be hounded by other club’s – not so much that it reached the press anyway – in acquiring the services of their home-grown first team regulars such as the newly retired Paul Scholes , a player of immense quality who would have been in with a chance of breaking into virtually any side in the world.
But because he was a local boy plying his trade with one of the best team’s in the land, there was hardly any talk of other club’s making bids to offer him their services because it would more than likely result in nothing but a waste of time. There is a difference between this and Cahill’s situation – one being that many people would hold Scholes in higher esteem than Cahill – but there’s also the fact that United are bigger than most clubs which means that there are not many other ones that could persuade a first team player to leave the Theatre of Dreams in order to better themselves.
Everton are often regarded to be top or at least close to the top of the mini league that has been created outside the top six and, whilst being one of England’s most successful clubs, they are not in the sort of position where it would be considered ‘mad’ for a top first team player to leave for a club lower than them in the table; not like, say, Nemanja Vidic quitting the Red Devils for David Moyes’ current Everton side.
That would be a shock, but it wouldn’t be such a shock if Cahill decided to quit the Toffee’s and went to a lower placed side like Newcastle United even though Everton are in historical and modern terms a far bigger club, because sometimes, stature doesn’t come into the equation if the price is right for both player and club. I am surprised the Magpies have not been linked with the dynamic midfielder what with the substantial windfall of finance generated by the sales of Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan .
The Australian international would be a good replacement for the latter and a welcome addition despite his 31 years. He still plays as if he’s in his mid-twenties, covering all areas of the pitch to defend and attack, often popping up with an impressive array of goals along the way. Again, it could be that Cahill and his representatives quash all talk of him leaving straight away or simply do not let the processions get out of hand, ones that would normally be scurried to the press in no time.
It may be because of Cahill’s age, but as he showed in the first half of last season, he can still do a very thorough job in the top-flight. Before his excursions with the Australian national side in order to compete in the Asia Cup in January, he was the top scoring midfielder and one of the leading marksmen in the Premiership with nine league goals up to the end of December.
After such an exhibition which resulted in fatigue and a slight injury, his season was affected, but had he not gone away for international duty, missing twelve games in the process plus the ones from February that were caused by the experience, he could very well have won the Golden Boot, needing just eleven more to have been level with twenty goal winners, Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov , not to mention the numerous assists he provided for his team-mates.
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Newcastle was just an example of the job he could do for a club with or without them selling one of their prized assets, but if they, like other team’s, find it hard to agree terms with a younger playmaker that they’ve got their eyes on then Tiny Tim could do a great job for a few more years yet. But again, as I said, he’s a ‘young’ 31 so teams from high and above would no doubt benefit from his experience and youthful exuberance I feel.
Read more of Ricky Murray’s articles at This is Futbol
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Former England captain David Beckham has expressed his disgust at his nation’s failed attempt to win the rights to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.England’s bid team – consisting of Manchester United legend Beckham, England Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William – managed only one vote, losing the bid to Russia.
Beckham, who plays for Major League Soccer side Los Angeles Galaxy, said he felt ‘sick’ that England’s bid failed to attract more than the solitary vote.
“The situation we see now leaves a sick feeling in your mouth,” Beckham told the Daily Mirror.
“We were happy with the bid we put forward and it gives you a real sick feeling not getting it.”
“There was so much hard work that went into that bid. Nobody could have done any more.”
“When you factor in that we also had the weight of the Prime Minister and the future king of England (Prince William) behind us, it doesn’t get much bigger and better than that.”
Beckham, who has not retired from international duty despite having not appeared for England since October 2009, said he was still feeling good about playing club football with the LA Galaxy, and that he had plenty of life in his career yet.
“One, maybe two more years, I still feel good, I still feel healthy and I’m still enjoying getting up in the morning to go to training,” he said.
“Until I get up and don’t feel the same, I’ll continue. I still have to play at a certain level, but I think I can continue to do that.”
“I’m just going to have to see how my body feels at the end of this year. I had my (Achilles tendon) injury last year and I’m getting a bit older now.”
“We’ll have to wait and see but if I carry on enjoying my football, then I want to continue.”
The ‘will he won’t he stay’ transfer dilemma continues for Cesc Fabregas as the Spanish midfielder is constantly linked with an exit from Arsenal. Every summer Barcelona are bidding for Cesc and surely it’s only a matter of time until they get their man. The Spaniard is still an Arsenal player for now at least (although at the time of reading this he may have moved to Barca) and will line up for the Gunners at the start of the new season. Here is Mr Fabregas joining in the Arsenal open training session, giving fans at the Emirates Stadium something that might soon turn out to be a collector’s item: a picture of Cesc in an Arsenal training top. Can you come up with a funny caption for this picture?
Leave your suggestions below…
This week you can win a spoof newspaper front page!
Make someone you know a football star for the day – by putting them on the front or back page of a spoof newspaper.
At Scooped! Spoof Newspapers (http://www.makingthenews.co.uk/categories.asp?id=24) you can ‘sign’ for your favourite footie team, ‘buy’ the club or be named their No1 fan.
All front pages are written and designed by real journalists – and it takes just 60 seconds to order.
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