All posts by h79snht.top

The term ‘Sicknote’ may have been used to describe Spurs’ perennially-crocked former winger Darren Anderton, but it seems as though there are a host of current footballers who are all equally as deserving of this title. Whilst the intense and frenetic nature of the modern game means that the sport is more exciting to watch than ever before, the downside is that the game’s best footballers are increasingly susceptible to injury. The following eleven players seem to be better acquainted with the treatment room than the majority of their peers.

GK – Chris Kirkland – Wigan Athletic

The damning statistics:

213 career appearances since debut in 1999

Missed 15 Premier League games for Wigan Athletic over last two seasons

It has been said by many that Kirkland would’ve been England’s number one had he managed to remain free from injury for a prolonged period of time, but unfortunately the former Liverpool custodian has been dogged by injury for most of his career. Such problems meant that Kirkland was restricted to less than 50 outings in four years at Anfield, with his career marred by knee, finger, wrist and back ailments.

DF – Fabio Aurelio – Free Agent

The damning statistics:

50 Premier League starts for Liverpool in last four seasons (averaging 12.5 starts per season)

Defensively sound and in possession of an excellent left-foot, it is with great sadness that I learned of Fabio Aurelio’s recent exit from Anfield. The fact that manager Rafael Benitez offered him a (subsequently rejected) pay-as-you-play deal is indicative of the injury woes Aurelio has suffered on Merseyside, with Reds fans unaccustomed to seeing the Brazilian in the team for prolonged stretches. Aurelio’s early Anfield career was affected by a torn Achilles tendon, with his latter-day Liverpool absences caused by a torn adductor muscle and a knee injury sustained whilst playing beach football with his children last summer.

DF – Rio Ferdinand – Manchester United

The damning statistics:

36 Premier League starts for Manchester United in last two seasons (averaging 18 starts per season)

Rio Ferdinand’s well-documented back problems of the last two years have been of great concern to both Manchester United and England fans. The chronic nature of the injury suggests that the ailment may be degenerative, thus leading to genuine fears over the England skipper’s long-term future. Thankfully for the Old Trafford faithful, the likes of Jonny Evans, Nemanja Vidic and Gary Neville have managed to keep United’s rearguard impressively tight in his absence.

DF – Jonathan Woodgate – Tottenham Hotspur

The damning statistics:

Three Premier League starts last season

104 Premier League/La Liga appearances in last five seasons (averaging 20.8 starts per season)

12 appearances for Real Madrid in two seasons in Spain (no appearances in first season at Real Madrid)

The completion of just three Premier League games for Tottenham last season served to re-emphasise the injury-prone nature of Jonathan Woodgate. Regarded as one of England’s finest centre-backs when fit, Woodgate has constantly struggled to retain fitness for long periods of time. Back problems heartbreakingly prevented Woodgate from appearing at the 2006 World Cup, whilst his recent absence from the Spurs first-team has been attributed to a troublesome groin injury. Woodgate’s infamous injury problems whilst playing for Real Madrid even lead to him being voted the ‘worst signing of the 21st century’ by readers of Spain’s leading sports daily Diario Marca.

DF – Ledley King – Tottenham Hotspur

The damning statistics:

94 Premier League starts for Tottenham Hotspur in last five seasons (averaging 18.8 starts per season)

Considered by many to be the finest English defender of his generation, the curious condition suffered by Ledley King has served to hamper what could have been a glorious club and international career. Bereft of knee cartilage, King’s rare problem prevents the player from being able to play more than once a week. This problem has meant that only once in the last five seasons has King been able to feature in more than 25 Premier League games in a season.

Click here to see which midfielders feature in this most unique of XIs…

MF – Michael Essien – Chelsea

The damning statistics:

25 Premier League starts for Chelsea in last two seasons (averaging 12.5 starts per season)

An integral component of Chelsea’s midfield, Essien’s dynamic, all-action displays appear to have taken their toll upon his body. A regular during his first three seasons at Stamford Bridge, the man known as ‘The Bison’ has suffered a string of serious injuries over the last two seasons which have restricted his first-team involvement. Having sustained anterior ligament damage on international duty, Essien missed 6 months of the 2008/09 season. His 2009/10 season was also affected by injury; a hamstring injury sustained in December against Apoel Nicosia was followed by another knee injury sustained whilst competing in the African Cup of Nations, with this injury unfortunately set to rule him out of the forthcoming World Cup.

MF – Jimmy Bullard – Hull City

The damning statistics:

50 Premier League starts for Hull City and Fulham over last four seasons (averaging 12.5 starts per season)

Fulham’s decision to refuse Bullard a long-term contract is looking more and more like a wise decision now, given the inability of the former Wigan Athletic midfielder to remain fit. One of the most popular players in the modern game, the decorator-turned-professional-footballer has been very unfortunate with the nature of injuries that he has managed to sustain over the last few years. A knee injury sustained in 2006 kept Bullard out of first-team action for nearly 18 months, whilst a recurrence of this injury on his Hull City debut sidelined the tousle-haired midfielder for nearly 10 months. A month and a half after returning to Hull colours, Bullard suffered a knee injury against Aston Villa that kept him out of the game for nearly three months.

MF – Kieron Dyer – West Ham United

The damning statistics:

22 appearances for West Ham United in last three seasons (averaging 7.3 appearances per season)

52 Premier League starts in last five seasons (averaging 10.4 starts per season)

No list of crocked players would be complete without Kieron Dyer. If one were to label him as ‘injury-prone’ prior to his move to Upton Park, one would have to create an entirely new word to describe his level of fitness whilst at West Ham. Dyer’s injury problems at West Ham have been so bad that club-owner David Sullivan suggested that the former Ipswich man should do the decent thing and retire. In fairness to Dyer, he suffered a double fracture of his leg just ten days after making his West Ham debut. Since returning from that injury, Dyer has suffered from a string of hamstring-related niggles.

Click here to see which forwards complete this ‘sicknote’ side…

ST – Robin van Persie – Arsenal

The damning statistics:

81 Premier League appearances for Arsenal over last four seasons (averaging 20.25 appearances per season)

In 6 seasons at Arsenal, never managed more than 28 Premier League appearances in a season

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 stop-start nature of van Persie’s Arsenal career inspired me to create this XI in the first place. Blessed with exceptional talent, the Dutchman’s inability to remain injury-free has been cited as one the main reasons behind Arsenal’s failure to win the league in recent seasons. The former Feyenoord man is a rare breed of forward, one equally as adept at creating chances as he is finishing them. Alas, several of van Persie’s seasons at Arsenal have been ended prematurely, having suffered from ankle ligament, hamstring and metatarsal problems.

ST – Louis Saha – Everton

The damning statistics:

120 appearances for Manchester United in four and a half seasons (averaging 26.6 starts per season)

Missed 19 Premier League games for Everton over last two seasons

Undoubtedly a fantastic finisher, Saha’s opportunity to establish himself as a truly world-class player at Manchester United was regrettably destroyed by a string of niggling injuries. Groin, hamstring and knee problems meant that Saha had a disruptive tenure at Old Trafford, with his goalscoring record of 1 in 3 hinting at what could’ve been had he managed to stay fit. Currently contracted to Everton on a pay-as-you-play deal, Saha appears to have put the worst of his injury woes behind, having managed to make 57 Premier League appearances for the Toffees over the last seasons.

ST – Fernando Torres – Liverpool

The damning statistics:

40 Premier League starts for Liverpool in last two seasons (averaging 20 starts per season)

Liverpool’s attacking impotency in the absence of Fernando Torres is testament to the ability of the Spaniard; indeed, in his 40 Premier League starts over the last two seasons, Torres managed to score a phenomenal 32 times. Regarded as one of the world’s finest centre-forwards, Torres has suffered from hamstring problems several times during his stay at Anfield, with staff and fans alike irritated by the injuries sustained by Liverpool’s number nine whilst on international duty. The latter half of last season saw Torres troubled by knee problems, problems which threatened to prevent his involvement in this summer’s upcoming World Cup.

Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul

[youtube IEu_5sP9F0Q]

Veteran defender David Weir will play on with Rangers for another season after agreeing a new 12-month contract with the Scottish Premier League champions.

Weir, 40, who was named the top-flight's player of the year last season, has agreed a new one-year contract which will see him complete four campaigns at Ibrox.

"I'm delighted to announce that Davie Weir will be with us again next season," chief executive Martin Bain told the club's official website.

"We were always hopeful that he would agree to play in the 2010/11 campaign and we have now concluded a deal to that effect.

"It's great news for everyone because there is no doubting his importance to the team and his influence on those around him.

"Davie's professionalism and leadership qualities make him a superb role model and there is little doubt that he has become a great Rangers captain.

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.

"He did not miss a minute of our Championship campaign last season which is testimony to the terrific condition he keeps himself in."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Sven-Goran Eriksson has emerged as the favourite to succeed Roy Hodgson as Fulham's boss after Martin Jol turned down the opportunity to take over the managerial reins at Craven Cottage.

However, the former England manager's agent, Athole Still, has revealed that the Cottagers have not contacted his client.

When asked if Eriksson was interested in the Fulham job, Still told Radio Five Live:"It's a very attractive club, not just for Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"(However, there has been) no contact whatsoever. We've known for several weeks that Sven was one of the managers under consideration for the job.

"(But there has been) no interview, no discussion whatsoever.

"Of course he has unfinished business there (the Premier League). He was in my view outrageously sacked from his position (at Manchester City).

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.

"He did a first-class job with them – it was a personal non-compatability with Dr Shinawatra which caused him to be sacked. He should still be there."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

The imminent arrival of Benfica midfielder Ramires at Chelsea has caused much excitement amongst Chelsea fans. However, there is one player who probably won’t be welcoming the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge with open arms. That player is John Obi Mikel.

During the last few seasons, Mikel has displayed some of the potential that caused Jose Mourinho to shell out £16 million for the midfielder’s services after a long and protracted transfer battle with Manchester United. Injury to Michael Essien suffered during last season’s African Cup of Nations caused Mikel to be thrust into the starting line-up and the Nigerian put in some excellent performances in the heart of Chelsea’s midfield.

Mikel’s game is built around the accuracy of his short passing and his ability to break up play. While these attributes may seem inconsequential, they formed the base of many of successful attacks during Chelsea’s record breaking goalscoring season.

Last season served as something of a breakthrough for Mikel as he managed to eliminate most of the errors that have been hampering the progress of his game. He has cut out the lapses of concentration that caused him to needlessly give the ball away and has improved his disciplinary record, only receiving four bookings throughout the whole of Chelsea’s league campaign.

However, despite Mikel’s undoubted improvements, there is still more to come from the 23 year old and this season has to be the time for him to prove it. Mikel’s reputation has stemmed from his performances as a defensive midfielder but in order for him to challenge for a place in the starting line-up this season, he has to evolve into a more rounded midfield player.

This sentiment is echoed by Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon who has stated in no uncertain terms that Mikel must add more facets to his game or else risk being sold.

“We do not just want the ordinary player that will put in the normal shift. He has to be able to dictate and make splitting passes and also score goals… I believe that this is the season he has to fulfil all the promise that (Jose) Mourinho saw or else he should be let go at the end of the 2010/2011 season.”

Mikel need only look across at his midfield partner to see the type of player he could become. Michael Essien arrived at Chelsea primarily as a defensive midfielder but has since grown to become arguably the most complete midfield player in the Premier League.

To achieve this goal, Mikel needs to draw on his experiences of playing as a playmaker with the Nigerian national team and add it to his club game. Mikel has shown creativity and greater attacking verve in his role with the Super Eagles but has so far failed to incorporate these experiences into his role at Chelsea.

Mikel’s main problem seems to be that he is playing within himself. He has all the tools to be a fantastic player for the club but has maybe found the weight of expectation following his controversial move too much to handle. For Mikel to fulfil his potential, he has to shake off the shackles that have been limiting his game and display the potential that Mourinho saw in him, or else this season could prove to be Mikel’s last at Stamford Bridge.

Like my article? Follow me on Twitter or subscribe to my RSS feed.

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.

*

With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery

Take a deep breath; Kieron Dyer is fit. Everything is of course relative, but Dyer has been playing a part in West Ham’s pre-season friendlies, occupying six different positions in the process. Avram Grant looks set to play a 4-3-3, with two wider forwards supporting Carlton Cole, and the right-sided berth looks to suit Dyer, but the question remains over whether he will make it there?

Here is what West Ham have got out Dyer since his £6m transfer from Newcastle in 2007. Seven starts, 22 appearances in all, none of which have lasted the full 90 minutes, and no goals, and all for a basic salary of £60,000 per week that can swell to a rumoured £80,000 when factoring in image rights and loyalty fees. Following Dean Ashton’s retirement, West Ham’s new owner David Sullivan suggested that Dyer may want to follow suit. Dyer, who will turn 32 in December, is on his last chance.

Under the (false) impression that West Ham knew what they were getting themselves into when they signed Dyer, I was surprised to discover that he managed 250 games during his time at Newcastle, an average of 31 per season. At Ipswich, he averaged an even healthier 37 games in his three years at his boyhood club. It would seem that Dyer has saved up all the bad injuries for the Hammers fans.

Dyer has been admired by many, even during his spells on the side lines: Kevin Keegan, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren have all selected him for England duty and he even made three appearances at the 2002 World Cup. Ruud Gullit parted with £6m for him when he was still just 20, and he was the only Englishman the he signed during his tenure at St James’ Park. If managers can get games from Dyer, they are usually rewarded.

Hammers fans share a cocktail of feelings for Dyer: frustration, anger, sympathy, and ultimately, hope. Despite his lack of games for the club there is a sense the fans would like a fit Dyer playing for their club. The question remains whether, after three years effectively out of football, he can perform like he did at his previous clubs. If he can, and he can remain fit, it will be a like a new signing for Grant and his team, and a useful one at that. With just 47 goals in the league last season, the Hammers struggled up front and were too reliant on Carlton Cole. A fit Kieron Dyer could potentially inject an element of pace and creativity.

With the club still stifled by a debt that at one point exceeded £100m, Avram Grant’s first season in charge will not be an easy one. Hopefully Dyer knows that picking up his bulging wages each week for the last three seasons will weigh heavy on the mind of the club’s owners and fans. However, the injuries have not been his own fault, and a double leg break – his first injury after signing for West Ham that kept him out for 17 months – would put anybody’s career to the test. It is important that he is not rushed back into games unnecessarily, and that both he and his coaches can exercise some self-control. If Dyer has any aspirations to continue to play football, then he must work harder this season than he has ever done in his life. Although he wouldn’t have chosen to be injured, he has a debt to pay to West Ham, and they appear ready and willing to accept payment. An in-form Dyer will suit both parties in a big way, but failure to pay up this season, and Dyer could wave a tainted career goodbye.

Keep updated on my articles and follow me on twitter.

With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery

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.

After everything that has been argued, debated and written about Arsenal and England star Theo Walcott since he was left out of Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad, it was refreshing change on Tuesday when I picked up a newspaper to finally hear from the player himself.

Walcott is used to the hype and publicity of course, it has followed him around ever since he broke into Harry Redknapp’s Southampton side in 2005 as the youngest player to represent the club in its history.

It’s ironic that the shock and uproar which greeted the Italian’s decision to leave out Walcott this summer, was strikingly similar to the unrest caused by Sven Goran Eriksson and his decision to name the winger in his 2006 World Cup squad, despite never having actually seen him play.

Capello was castigated for his decision to drop Walcott from his 23-man squad, preferring to take experienced duo Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon in his place. Hindsight is a wonderful thing however and Walcott admits himself his form was not good enough to warrant a place on the world’s biggest stage.

“It’s always disappointing [missing out]. You want to play in the biggest competitions in the world. You want to play against the best. And you want to play for England,” revealed Walcott.

“But I couldn’t point fingers at anyone. I had to blame myself because the form wasn’t there at the end of the season and I just wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again.”

After firing in a sublime hat-trick against Croatia in Zagreb, to propel England towards World Cup qualification, injuries last season played their part in Walcott managing just 15 starts for Arsene Wenger’s side. The 21-year-old has started this season in magnificent form however, with four goals in three appearances, including an impressive hat-trick against newly promoted Blackpool. Despite Alan Hansen’s now infamous criticism on Match of the Day, Walcott is determined to continue his good form throughout the season.

“My involvement in general play is getting much better now,” he said.

“It has been up and down but I have been in the limelight since I was 16. I have been around for a very long time. I am 21 now.

“It has come right for me this season. You need to mix your game. For Arsenal especially I have been coming inside a bit more and getting on the goal sheet.”

Walcott has benefited from failing to make England’s World Cup squad and now looks fitter, fresher and more determined to prove Capello wrong this season. Arsenal’s No.14 started England’s first match since the World Cup last month and now hopes to star in the up-and-coming Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

Walcott now has a new sense of perspective and fresh outlook following his World Cup frustration and he can go a long way this season, as an England and Arsenal regular, to ensure he is never overlooked again.

If you enjoyed this article you can subscribe to this author’s RSS feed or follow him on Twitter. You can read more of this thoroughly nice chap’s blogs HERE.

*

A welcome addition to the Premier League’s Wag arena – Click on image below to view gallery

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.

An exciting and quite shocking set of results offered many what could be viewed as one of the premiership’s more entertaining weekends this season. The first offering, whilst not a particularly entertaining game marked what could be a significant step forward in the evolution of Manchester City. Liverpool was their first high profile and utterly convincing win of the season, but Chelsea was a completely different scalp for City. Courtesy of Carlos Tevez they recorded a win against title favorites and Chelsea tasted defeat for the first time this season. A significant result for City, however will not set alarm bells ringing for Chelsea fans – the Blues still sit comfortably at the top of the table, meaning a loss against one of the league’s strongest squads away from home is not disastrous.

The 3pm fixtures were a mixed bag and provided neutrals with something to get excited about, with a few high scoring games and one – if not two – notable upsets. Wigan – Birmingham was the lowest scoring event of the day and finished 0 – 0 with a point for either side appearing to be a fair return for both. The only real major talking point of the game was Johnson being sent off for clashing with Hugo Rodallega, and possibly the abuse dished out to Charles N’Zogbia whose transfer to Birmingham collapsed on deadline day. Branded greedy by the Birmingham fans N’Zogbia, in his own typical style, responded by saying he enjoyed the abuse and just wanted to carry on playing his own game.

Over on the West Coast, Blackpool suffered defeat in their second home game of the season to a Blackburn side expertly organised by future Real boss Sam Allardyce. The Riversiders took the lead through a Charlie Adam own goal and having battled hard to get the equaliser, it was so unfortunate for Blackpool to be defeated by such a late winner from Brett Emerton in stoppage time. Ian Holloway contested this goal with referee Mike Dean in the tunnel, claiming it was offside and the result of a foul; he has since been charged by the FA for improper conduct. Despite the result, credit should be given to Blackpool. It was tenacious and positive to chase for the win, and if the Tangerines carry on playing their admiral brand of football, then with a little bit of luck they could well survive a campaign in this league – as well as win a whole host of admirers.

Moving South from Blackpool to Anfield there was increasing pressure on Liverpool to record what would be only their second win this season. Things looked decent for Roy Hodgson’s side in the first five minutes when Dirk Kuyt managed to score what has since been confirmed as a perfectly legitimate goal. Steve Bruce questioned the decision to allow it to stand, although having scored a goal thanks to a stray beach ball last season it is fair to say that Liverpool possibly deserved this one. Sunderland battled extremely well to get involved in the game and were it not for Steven Gerrard coming to the rescue then Liverpool would almost certainly have suffered defeat. On a plus side for Liverpool, they at least scored a couple of goals and a Torres assist may play some role in him rediscovering his form. Sunderland can be happy with gaining an away point in a ground most still regard intimidating, and it is this kind of result that should hopefully help the Black Cats establish themselves as a top 10 side. As for Liverpool, like in many fixtures this season, they looked pedestrian and toothless and a large number of their shots came from outside of the box. It is of course still early days for Hodgson’s side but a poor points return from the first few games are certainly a cause for concern. Panic is still a long way off but Liverpool need to start performing considerably better or else an improvement on last season’s position could be further away than expected.

Continued on Page TWO

The three other three o’clock kicks offs took place in the capital and despite being lowscoring affairs were undeniably interesting in their own ways. West Ham gained their first win of the season thanks to a fairly early goal from Frederic Piquionne, West Ham dominated the early part of the game and most would agree that they were deserving of their victory. Cudicini aside (who had a marvelous game) Spurs looked shaky at the back, through no fault of their own they were forced to use Corluka as a centre half partnered with Sebastian Bassong, Hutton retained his place at right back and Bale was forced to left back thanks to an injury to Assou-Ekotto. Despite Spurs squad being stretched in a number of areas it would be unfair not to talk about what West Ham did right instead of what went wrong for Spurs, Piquionne was lively and took advantage of the unfamiliar pair of centre half and Victor Obinna gave Tottenham a hard time throughout the game until his substitution in the 89th minute. If West Ham can perform like this regularly throughout the season and act more clinically then a decent finish isn’t beyond the Irons. As far as Tottenham go they still look a good side but with the strain Champions League football will put on the squad and the firm objectives of Man City highlighted this weekend then another fourth place finish may just prove a step too far for Redknapps side.

Over to the Emirates next for a quick review of just how West Brom managed to beat an Arsenal side that many suggested could finally win the title this year and who managed to make a blunder in closing the ground on Chelsea who had just lost to Manchester City. Before mentioning how good West Brom were Arsenals frailties must be mentioned. Two late goals from Nasri cant hide just how much of a disaster Arsenal had and it is telling that a manager usually so defensive of his own players came out and said that there were question marks over many players performances, though refusing to indentify any individuals it is safe to say that one of these was surely Arsenals goalkeeper Manuel Almunia who quite simply had a nightmare. Often described as Arsenals major weak link his performance at West Brom must surely mark the end of his tenure as the Gunners number one but with Fabianski having stepped up midweek in the Champions league it is unsure as to how much reassurance this will give Arsenal fans. Question marks also ring firmly above his head as a top flight goalkeeper and January may offer more hope for supporters than just a mere change. Despite Arsenals obvious shortcomings across the pitch it is paramount to address how good West Brom were. Instead of opting for the ‘kick them’ approach heavily favored by many managers against Arsenal West Brom instead chose to continue with their admirable style of football. Odemwingie was tireless going forward as well as defensively when West Brom managed to go three goals up and at this stage already he is looking to be one of the transfer windows more special purchases. The back four of West Brom were pretty faultless and overall every Baggies player on the field should be proud of their performance. Arsenal fans will point to the superior obsession and shot advantage they had over the visitors but West Brom should be congratulated for acting efficiently and effectively against a more talented side many expected to roll over them.

The final fixture of Saturday to mention was the one that heaped further misery on Merseyside. Everton are still the only side this season who haven’t notched up a win and even though slow starts being fairly traditional under David Moyes this one is slower than ever. To question Moyes however much I would like to would be a shocking thing to do as the man is a clearly capable and talented manager. Instead the question marks lie over the belief the squad has in one another and in fairness to Everton just that little bit of luck that sides need to get the ball rolling. The Blues had the better of Fulham and managed to get 5 shots on target and have a 55% share of ball obsession, Hughes claimed after the match that Everton were in a ‘false position’ and most would share this view also. Everton it seems have too much quality to go down and eventually one would assume that their talent and squad belief will come together, it is still early days this season and though obviously disappointed with their worse than usual slow start alarm bells wont be ringing just yet for David Moyes or chairman Bill Kenwright. Fulham continued to be solid if not spectacular under Hughes and it can be safely said that maybe if they had a few more striking options on Saturday they could have gave Evertons backline a tougher job. The good news for Hughes is that summer signings Dembele is set to return in the next fortnight and despite it still being early days for the former Eredivisie striker he looks already to be quite a smart piece of business. Zamora is hardly worth mentioning as his return is still a long way off but at least forgotten man Andy Johnson is apparently returning to training this week and could offer a welcome boost for the Cottagers…

Continued on Page THREE

On to Sunday where the early kick off was at the Reebok stadium with Owen Coyle’s men gearing up to face Manchester United. The game was possibly the most exciting of the weekend with underdogs Bolton taking the lead twice during the game thanks to a close range goal from Zat Knight and a great move from Bolton that despite resulting in an unfortunate deflection for both Fletcher and United was still fairly deserving of a goal. United equalized first from a magnificent solo effort from Nani and finally a header from Michael Owen. Talking points of this game include Uniteds shaky defence this season and just how much better Bolton now look under Owen Coyle. Rooney continued to lumber through the season and if United are to improve then as well as their defence having to buck their ideas up Wayne also needs to rediscover some of his form from last season. Not to take anything away from Bolton of course, despite suffering a small share of the percentage they looked committed when going forward and managed 8 shots inside Uniteds penalty box.

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 second game on Sunday was to be Houlliers first in charge of Aston Villa. Despite the scoreline Wolves just edged Villa in this match and a draw could have been a more fair scoreline. Wolves goal was certainly an interesting one as it managed to bounce past Brad Friedel who was seemingly distracted by the site of Dave Edwards sliding into the box. Houllier recorded his first win as Villa boss but it is early days for the side and over the coming weeks or months Villa will probably begin to evolve and we will see them playing Gerard’s own brand of football. Whether this will involve big Emile Heskey as his main frontman remains to be seen but despite good early signs from the former England frontman that he may enjoy some success under Houllier few would back him to continue scoring at a regular rate.

The final game of Sunday was up at St James Park where the Toon army were set to take on glamorous footballing side Stoke City. The game got off to a dreary start and it is a good thing that a penalty was awarded for a silly challenge on Andy Carroll by Robert Huth to open up a mildly entertaining second half. Despite the loss for the Toon Newcastle still look prepared enough to try and avoid relegation and at this stage in the season seven points from six games is a good return for the Magpies. In regards to Stoke it was them in particular who brought the most to this game, if not with good football then certainly in belief and battle. The Sky commentators hilariously remarked that there must have been a teleporting device between Stoke and Sunderland but the fact is that Stoke are a very solid team to play against who have a great deal of courage and resilience, if relegation goes down to the wire this year which it looks already set to do then this kind of squad morale and belief in one another could prove essential to Stoke surviving the drop. Kenywne Jones is going through a good period in his career and is starting to look the player that many Sunderland fans once thought he was – quick, strong and powerful. If Jones can stay injury free this season then he looks a good bet to get at least 12 – 15 goals which would be a magnificent return for a player Steve Bruce so readily discarded from the Stadium of Light.

Next week again looks to be a decent weekend for the league, Wigan play Wolves in the first game of the weekend and it will be interesting to see which way this game goes, for a scrap between two of the leagues bottom half sides there will be a surprising amount of attractive football on display in this fixture and it will hopefully prove to be an enjoyable game. Everton will be looking to get their first win of the season against an intimidating Birmingham side at St. Andrews at 3PM as well as Stoke – Blackburn, certainly a one for the purists, Sunderland – United which is arguably a big test for both sides, Tottenham – Villa, definitely a tougher match for Houllier’s new side, West Brom – Bolton, a potential relegation battle with both teams riding high on the back of good results and finally West Ham – Fulham where both sides will be itching for wins. On Sunday Newcastle head to the Eastlands for a hard away fixture, this is followed by Liverpool – Blackpool – surely a game Hodgson will be eyeing up to maybe get the ball rolling for Liverpool and the final clash of the weekend takes place at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea and Arsenal will be desperate to get back to winning ways following the weekend results.

Arsene Wenger admitted he was relieved to see Arsenal come away with three points after claiming they played 'with the handbrake on' against Birmingham City.

Nikola Zigic opened the scoring for the Blues in the 33rd minute against the run of play with his first goal in the Premier League.

However, a debatable penalty awarded after Marouane Chamakh went down under Scott Dann's challenge was converted by Samir Nasri on 41 minutes.

Morocco striker Chamakh then went on to rub salt into the wounds with a winning goal two minutes into the second half.

The 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium brought a halt Arsenal's two-game Premier League losing streak.

"It was nervy for us because you could see our fluency was a bit affected by the fact that we had not won for two games," explained Wenger.

"We played a little bit with the handbrake in the final third, especially when we were 2-1 up, and it was never comfortable. You could see that and feel that in the way we played."

Meanwhile, Wenger accepted that Jack Wilshere deserved to be sent off for a crude lunge at Zigic in the closing stages.

Wenger has continually hit out at opposition players who he feels are overly aggressive when playing against the Gunners.

"He mistimed his tackle and he got the red card he deserved," acknowledged the Frenchman.

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.

"But he didn't spend the whole game kicking people. He played football and was one of the best players on the football pitch.

"Unfortunately it happened to him, but I think it was more frustration. He didn't want to harm the player – he mistimed his tackle.

"We do not complain about his red card but you cannot say he had a dirty game."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Sir Alex Ferguson hailed the brilliance of Javier Hernandez after the Mexican starlet fired Manchester United into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup.

Hernandez's sixth goal since arriving at Old Trafford for £7million before the World Cup earned United a 3-2 victory over Wolves.

The 22-year-old had scored both goals during Sunday's 2-1 Premier League victory at Stoke City in the absence of Wayne Rooney.

"He was absolutely brilliant – it was a magnificent goal," said Ferguson."He's shaped to shoot, dummied the defender and finished really well.

"They tend to build heroes quickly here but he's justifying the praise at the moment.

"He's very professional, the first out on the training ground and the last one back in every day and he's rightly getting a lot of praise for his goalscoring.

"When he gets a chance you know he's going to take it. His touch, control of the ball and vision are improving and that's because the training is intense.

"We care about it and making sure the players do improve."

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.

Hernandez came on in the 81st minute after goals from Bebe and Ji-Sung Park had been cancelled out by George Elokobi and Kevin Foley.

"It was a very open game in the second half, Wolves played very well and it was a really good cup tie," added Ferguson.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy was delighted to see his side see off Premier League big boys Manchester City 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.

The Midlanders fell behind to Emmanuel Adebayor's penalty before Nenad Milijas and David Edwards efforts secured a valuable success for McCarthy's side at Molineux.

Despite producing sterling performances at Chelsea and Manchester United in the last week without reward, McCarthy was ecstatic that his Wolves team managed to pick up all three points to ease their relegation fears.

He also paid tribute to defender Richard Stearman after he fouled David Silva for the Citizens' penalty.

"We're all delighted that we've got three points and the fact that we've beaten Manchester City, one of the top-four teams, makes it all the better," McCarthy said.

"We've actually been playing okay but City started well and so they should with the players they've got on show, but the game could've gone any way.

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've played well at Chelsea and got nothing and we played well at Old Trafford and got nothing and went out of the Carling Cup. So, it's the points that matter.

"It's a penalty. It's a mistake by Stears but his reaction was brilliant – I thought he defended brilliantly thereafter."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email