Harry Redknapp is reportedly chasing Roma striker Mirko Vucinic, according to Mirror Football.
Redknapp is on the lookout for a new striker with the 27-year old high on his list. The Montenegrin scored 9 goals in 24 league appearances as Roma stuttered to 6th place and bidding is expected to start at £12 million.
Spurs are looking to overhaul their striker force after inconsistent performances from Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuvchenko whilst Robbie Keane’s Tottenham career is seemingly over.
Vucinic first signed for Roma in the Summer of 2006 and has gone on to score 62 goals in 196 appearances for the club. Preferring to play on the left side of the attack, Redknapp apparently sees the forward as key to Spurs re-qualifying for the Champions League.
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Vucinic has scored 11 times in 21 caps for Montenegro but was injured during the 0 – 0 Euro 2012 qualifying match with England in October of last year. Having scored twice in the qualifying stage already he will be looking to add to his tally in the return leg this October.
Leeds United ended their travels for the 2011/12 season with a long trip to South Wales to take on play-off bound Cardiff City. Trips across the border to slay Welsh Dragons have been pretty fruitless for the Whites in recent times; in fact it has been 28 years since Leeds have returned home with the spoils.
That fact alone would be enough to dishearten most supporters from making the long trip from West Yorkshire to South Wales. When you throw in the fact that the game was a 12.30 kick off, that Leeds had absolutely nothing to play for, and for the last few weeks have looked like they were planning their summer holidays then you would expect a pitiful turn out from most clubs.
But Leeds United are not most clubs and over 1400 hardy supporters set off for the 4 hour journey to Cardiff. Whilst not one of the largest contingents to follow the Whites this season, it was still a remarkable number of fans to travel to a game, which to all intents and purposes meant absolutely nothing.
The level of support the club receives on its travels is perhaps one of the reasons that the away form of Leeds United has been their saving grace this season. When on the road, it is a given that you give the team your unequivocal backing, and get behind them, no matter what.
At home things have been hugely different. Ten defeats at Elland Road tells its own story. That is not to say that the fans have not got behind the team, but with the support spread around a ground which has been sparsely populated for most of the season, it has been difficult to generate the febrile atmosphere the ground has been known for.
There are many reasons for the lack of spark from the home fans this year. Attendances have generally been relatively poor, in the main due to the prohibitive ticket prices. With the cheapest ticket generally around the £26 mark, it has been a case of pick and choose for most supporters in these difficult economic times. This has seen attendances fluctuate from the 33K who turned up for the match against West Ham, to the paltry 19K against Birmingham and Peterborough.
There has also been the split between fans at how the club is being run. As was seen from the comments following my last post, there are differing opinions as to the success of the Ken Bates regime. A series of protests at how the club is run took place around the turn of the year, and although there has been a truce in recent weeks following the appointment of Neil Warnock, it can be taken as read that should there be no investment in the side during the summer, then the protests will return.
It does seem that there is to be a huge revamp of the squad. Following the release of Mika Varaynen and Ben Parker early last week, Darren O’Dea had his loan from Celtic cancelled on Friday following his dismissal in the 1-0 defeat at Blackpool.
The Republic Of Ireland international was rumoured to be interesting Neil Warnock next season to join the club on a permanent basis, with initial talks taking place. However that deal is now dead and Leeds look to be on the verge of making Jason Pearce of Portsmouth the first addition to the squad for 2012/13, especially now that Pompey have been relegated to League One.
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If Pearce does sign it is a signal of Warnock’s intent, looking for hungry young players to rise to the challenge of playing for a big club. It’s that sort of signing that will excite the fans, and get them back behind the team next season, restoring Elland Road to the fortress it once was. With the fans behind them home and away, Leeds United will be a different proposition to the team that has been masquerading as them this term.
Midweek England debutant Andy Carroll has admitted he wants a lengthy career in the national set-up following a promising showing against France on Wednesday.
Although the Three Lions crashed to a disappointing 2-1 setback against France at Wembley, Carroll was one of only a few positives in the capital as he played 70 minutes.
The bulldozing attacker was selected by head coach Fabio Capello after scoring seven Premier League goals and the Newcastle United man is hoping to win a place in the squad for years to come.
"I was happy with my performance on the night and it obviously leaves you wanting to experience a bit more," he told the Evening Chronicle.
"For me, it was a great experience to be out there and playing with top international players. I've really enjoyed it.
"The atmosphere in front of 86,000 people was a real buzz and it's something I'll never forget.
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You know those pages on Facebook that clog up your news feeds? Annoying aren’t they. Usually pointless advertising and spamming of my own personal social media space (an oxymoron if ever there was one), however in amongst the adverts making me feel inadequate about my manhood (why these are on a Fifa banter page, god only knows) but one fan asked a question that got me thinking, ‘Who is the best left back in the Premier League?’
Firstly let me say, Ashley Cole is not going to be considered because my twenty year plan to make Cheryl Cole/Tweedy my wife will be ruined if she reads this article about what a wonderful left back he is/was.
Jose Enrique appears to be one of the bargains of the season so far at £6 million, with the Spaniard being key in Liverpool only conceding 18 Premier League goals this season, which is only bettered by Manchester City (16). The former Newcastle United player has defended with maturity and attacked with force, encompassing everything the modern day full back is about, however Enrique is yet to make his international debut which is surprising given his form and Spain’s supposed shortage at left back.
Leighton Baines, arguably the most consistent left back over the last two years or so which has started to earn the defender recognition at international level. The former Wigan Athletic man has an attribute that hasn’t been seen in a left back since Roberto Carlos and that is his ability from dead ball situations, which has proved invaluable to Everton with the likes of Louis Saha making Emile Heskey look prolific.
Neil Taylor has been one of several positives from the Premier League new boys Swansea this year, the Welsh outfit have been a great addition to the world’s best league. The Wales international has it all, the pace, the calmness when under pressure and the attacking tendencies; admittedly at 22 the former Wrexham defender isn’t the complete package but given a season or two at the top level and rumours such as the ones linking him with Arsenal will, no doubt be a common occurrence.
Admittedly I started this article thinking there were going to be five or six decent left backs but clearly I’m mistaken.
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Overall, you can’t overlook consistency and Baines has been a solid performer for two seasons now. Although the Englishman may not have the Spanish flair or the ability to reach the levels Neil Taylor can, at the moment you can’t look past the Everton man.
Let me know who you think is the best or just give me advice on how to make Cheryl Cole mine at www.danieltblazer.com or on Twitter @DanielTBlazer
I think it’s fairly certain that the 2022 World Cup will be held during Winter. So certain that if I were a gambling man, I’d place a bet on it. If I’m wrong, so be it. Come back to me in 12 years time and berate me all you like.
This may have some football purists up at arms – as if having the World Cup during the summer is an essential and integral part of the tournament’s makeup. The fact is when the World Cup is being hosted in a Nation like Qatar, you have to make some compromises.
To be clear, I in no way endorse the decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but that is our lot, and we might as well get behind it and make the most of it.
On a realistic level, you can’t help but feel that a traditional June/July tournament would fail given the Qatar climate. Summer temperatures are said to rocket to an incredible 50 degrees Celsius. The heat gets so bad during the Summer months that Qatar regularly requests that tourists do not travel to their country. If you’re a fan of slow, sluggish, football and don’t mind seeing most of the players burnt out before the end of the group stages, go ahead and get behind a summer world cup. If you’re hoping to see some decent football, pledge your support to a winter World Cup.
It’s not surprising that the World Player’s Union is behind the change. Heat like this causes a serious risk to the health and safety of players. I have a feeling that the only people to benefit would be the manufacturers of sunblock.
The trouble is, despite the support of the Player’s Union, for FIFA to start considering a winter World Cup, the Qatar Football Association has to send in a request.
Beyond the risk to players and fan’s health alike, there are a couple more benefits to a holding a winter tournament. The first benefit is that the football itself is likely to be more exciting. Given that a winter World Cup would take place mid-season, players will turn up fitter than they would at the start of a Summer World Cup and would thus be less likely to burn out over the course of a game. In other words there would be no excuse for another lazy and lachrymose England performance.
Another benefit is that the winter schedule is often disrupted by weather conditions. By introducing a Winter World Cup, fan’s, players and schedulers will no longer have to worry about playing football in difficult conditions.
In short, there’s no need to view a Winter World Cup as a disadvantage. It’s time that we start to consider each and every option.
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If you’re a footballing fan and want more debate and discussion, please feel free to follow me on Twitter @ThePerfectPass.
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I may just be imagining it but I do get the feeling that there is a tension among Liverpool supporters recently about how the team should play. I alluded to this in a previous article yesterday about the use of set pieces and the importance of both Charlie Adam and Andy Carroll next season, and I think it is something worthwhile elaborating a bit further on.
A lot of supporters, both young and old, could be termed to be “Football Purists.” Although it is not really right to pigeon hole fans so specifically, if you did generalise slightly, there are those who like to see the beatifically game played as exactly that, beautiful. It is a style of play most perfectly demonstrated by the current Barcelona side, and it is a winning, attractive style which has won them many plaudits as well as many trophies. Great Liverpool teams of the past, playing the Liverpool Way have also come close to matching this style in the pass and move philosophy instilled first by Shankly, and latterly perfected by Dalglish in the late 1980s.
For this reason then, there are a higher percentage of “Football Purists” among Liverpool supporters than anyone else, and so there should be, considering how we have all been brought up believing in this way of playing the game, watching the Reds over the years. It was a big factor in fans hostility towards Roy Hodgson as in no way did he befit this style despite proclaiming its virtues before the start of last season.
The argument has reared its head again during the last 6 months though after the purchase of Andy Carroll. Why do we need a big burly old style English number 9 some have asked? Won’t he mess up our style of play, and prevent the pass and move style from being established again?
This feeling that the Reds may revert to playing more direct is certainly notable among some fans and it has also crept in to concern at the type of players that the Reds have signed this summer. For all intents and purposes, you could very well see the signings of Adam, Henderson and more specifically Downing as a reversion to a more direct style of player being bought, all bought to suit Andy Carroll rather for someone like Luis Suarez .
I cannot deny I would like to see similar players to Luis Suarez and although I haven’t joined the clamour for the likes of Juan Mata and Sergio Aguero, I have to admit I would have loved the Reds to bring in these sorts of players. Who wouldn’t want them? Especially alongside Suarez, the Reds could have been playing some great pass and move footballl, but at this point in time I don’t think its too realistic, King Kenny is being a hell of a lot more pragmatic than that. If you are going to buy a £35million striker you must utilise him to the nth degree.
At Blackburn Rovers , Dalglish showed he has the ability to change styles to suit the players he has, and with both Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll in his armoury, Kenny again has the ability to adapt, switch styles and capitalise on the weaknesses of opponents. If you are going to win the Premier League title, you need to be able to adapt against different sides. Arsenal have showed that a lack of a plan B can be fatal, Dalglish will not make the same mistake. To beat teams such as Stoke, you need a different game plan, and I have full confidence in Liverpool ’s coaching staff that they have every plan available to make a full frontal assault this coming season.
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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has stated that referee Chris Foy did not play enough injury time in his side’s 3-2 defeat to Tottenham on Saturday.
The official indicated that four minutes of additional time should be played at the end of 90 minutes, however the Red Devils failed to capitalise and in the end slumped to their first loss to the north London club at Old Trafford in 23 years.
However, the legendary Scottish trainer feels that his team were hard done by and that Spurs were guilty of time wasting.
“It is a flaw in the game that referees are responsible for time-keeping. It is nearly 2013 and the referee still has control of that,” he commented to Sky Sports.
“They gave four minutes. It is an insult. It is ridiculous. It is denying you the proper chance to win the football match.
“There were six substitutions and the trainer came on. That is four minutes right away.
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“The goalkeeper must have wasted two minutes. They took their time at every goal kick. That is obvious to everyone,” he concluded.
Southampton have agreed the signing of Japan defender and Olympic captain Maya Yoshida, subject to international clearance.
The 24-year-old will move to the Premier League side from Dutch Eredivisie outfit VVV-Venlo on a three-year deal. The centre back, capped 17 times by his country, captained Japan to fourth at the London 2012 Olympics and scored in their 3-0 last-eight win over Egypt.
In a statement on Southampton’s official site, Yoshida expressed his delight at joining the Saints: “To come to the Premier League was one of my biggest dreams since I was a child. I am very grateful to be able to become a Saint and I will do my best for the team and for the supporters.”
Manager Nigel Adkins added “We are delighted to bring in Maya to the Club. He is a centre half who is comfortable on both the right and left-hand side as he is good with both feet and has a good physical presence about himself. We are really looking forward to working with him here at Southampton.”
Yoshida becomes the second Japan international at St. Mary’s, joining forward Tadanari Lee.
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Swansea have agreed a £5.5 million fee with Valencia for Spanish midfielder Pablo Hernandez, Mirror Football claim.
The Liberty Stadium side have started to splash the cash made from the sale of Joe Allen to Liverpool, and have this week secured Ki Sung-Yueng from Celtic for a club-record £5.5 million.
However, Michael Laudrup’s spending is not over yet, and after having a number of offers for the right winger rejected, agreed a fee with the Mestalla side on Wednesday night.
Hernandez, who has been capped by Spain four times, will now travel to Wales to discuss personal terms, with a deal likely to be finalised before the end of the week.
Laudrup worked with the 27-year-old at former club Getafe, and the player is said to want a move to the Premier League to be reunited with the Dane.
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Swansea have started the campaign in convincing style, winning both of their first two fixtures.
Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has called West Ham’s last gasp equaliser as “stupid” after the Black Cats were pegged back from a winning position for the third time this season.
The Belgian international produced one of the saves of the season denying Kevin Nolan in the first half.
But the ex-Newcastle man wasn’t to be stopped striking in injury time to leave the Wearsiders still winless having drawn all four Premier League fixtures.
Mignolet told the Sunderland Echo: “I was pretty pleased [with the save] at the time, it kept us in the game.
“However as a goalkeeper you are always frustrated to concede no matter when. When you get into stoppage time, you shouldn’t be conceding goals.
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“After the game you always reflect on the goals you concede rather than the saves you have made. I feel like the rest of the lads that if we had defended like we had for the rest of the game, we wouldn’t have conceded such a stupid goal.”