Liverpool full back Jose Enrique has stated that despite Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Manchester United, the club are still in the race for Champions League qualification.
The defeat at Old Trafford means that the Merseysiders are four points adrift of Arsenal in fourth place, but the Spaniard feels that this deficit can be clawed back.
“We lost against United but the truth is that we have to win more games at home,” he told the club’s official website.
“We are still in the race to be in the Champions League next season.
“It’s hard but Chelsea and Arsenal have lost many points too. Chelsea lost this weekend and we can’t forget Newcastle.
“It’s really important that we have to play these teams at home and we’ll have another man – you play with 12 with our fans.
“It is hard to beat Manchester United at home but against teams like Blackburn and Swansea at home we need to win the points.
“There are many games left and we have to beat many teams to try and be there.
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“You never know in football – that’s why everyone likes it. But we’re still in the race,” he concluded.
The Premier League’s elite are constantly rummaging around the lower divisions searching for that diamond in the rough. Whether it’s a striker that can’t go five minutes without scoring or a tricky winger who goes past players for fun, managers are prepared to spend big to acquire the next generation of stars.
This season we’ve had the pleasure of witnessing the success stories of Norwich and Swansea, who barring a major meltdown look set to grace the top flight again next season. In amongst the squads that helped them achieve promotion, both clubs have spent wisely from their former Championship rivals. Swansea’s Danny Graham and the Canaries Steven Morison have both proved they are capable of strutting their stuff at the highest level.
However, these are perhaps two shining examples in an otherwise wasteland of broken promises and unfulfilled talent.
Click on Wayne Routledge to unveil the top 10 who failed to make the step up
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The magic of the cup – one of football’s well worn clichés churned out year after year. In England, it’s often used to describe the premier domestic cup competition, that being the FA Cup.
It’s labelled by the FA as the best cup competition in the world but recent finals belie this. The semi-final line up this year theoretically will provide a good final but to eclipse its European rivals, the FA Cup Final will need to be special judging by the matchups the Copa Del Rey, the DFB-Pokal and the Coppa Italia have produced.
This year’s Copa Del Rey final for example has an intriguing matchup even though it’s not an El Clásico final. Manchester United know very well the talent which Athletic Bilbao possess, having been pressed into submission by the Basque side. Such is the tactical genius of Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa their opponents in the final will be well aware of the threat posed.
Barcelona may have swept all that have come before them in the last few seasons. Earlier in this campaign though, they were held 2-2 in what was an entertaining game in Bilbao as Bielsa further illustrated his tactical nous against Europe’s finest. What’s more it showed his players ability to carry out his instructions effectively, something which shouldn’t be underestimated against teams like Barça. With the free flowing nature of Spanish football mixed with the two teams competing, an entertaining final will hopefully ensue in May.
Six days prior to the Copa Del Rey final though, Barcelona will want to participate in the Champions League final in Munich. One of the tenants of the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich, are also vying to reach that final. They too though have a cup final to look forward to though as they take on the side above them in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund.
The DFB-Pokal final perhaps won’t be as effervescent as its Spanish counterpart but it nevertheless will showcase Germany’s two best teams against each other. Champions Borussia Dortmund have led the table since January and are currently unbeaten in their last 22 Bundesliga games. Bayern Munich meanwhile are closing on Jürgen Klopp’s side despite being shaky on the road. Their prior meeting this season saw Dortmund sneak past Bayern 1-0 and it wouldn’t be too surprising if there was another tight encounter at the Olympiastadion.
The Olympiastadion was a scene of great joy for Italy in 2006 when they beat France on penalties in the biggest cup final of them all – the World Cup. The final of the Coppa Italia doesn’t quite compare but like other domestic cup finals around Europe, it offers a good match up as unbeaten Juventus take on the ever entertaining Napoli. These two played out a six goal thriller earlier in the campaign with Juve maintaining their unbeaten record by coming back from 3-1 down to claim a draw.
Napoli’s flair is doubtless and as a result, they’re always a good team to watch especially with the fluid front three of Lavezzi, Hamsik and Cavani. This is countered by the Juventus defence, which is currently the best in Seriea A. Now take into account the earlier meeting between the two sides and the Coppa Italia final could well be the best of them all.
In response, the FA Cup final does “on paper” (another great cliché) offer a decent final with either Chelsea or Spurs facing Liverpool or Everton. However, predicting thrilling finals is very difficult such is the somewhat erratic nature of modern football. What’s more each fan in their respective country has their definition of what makes a brilliant game; such is the subjective nature of football. This is a must. After all, if everybody played football in the same way, the game wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining and exciting than it is currently.
Nevertheless, the respective cup finals in Spain, Germany and Italy seem to eclipse the spectacle which the FA Cup Final will offer. Arguably there hasn’t been a good FA Cup Final for the neutral since Wembley was rebuilt. The 2006 final in Cardiff where Liverpool defeated West Ham on penalties isn’t easy to live up to but no final has even come close to this.
This doesn’t mean that goals necessarily make for a good game. Jonathan Wilson has pointed out before that, “If goals alone were a mark of excellence, there would be thousands queuing to watch primary school football.”
It’s also hard to be definitive as the finals of course haven’t been played yet. However, take into account also the individual stories of the underdog which help to characterise cup competitions. England hasn’t lived up to those of Spain and Germany this season.
The tales of Mirandes, a team from the third tier of Spanish football and Fürth of the 2.Bundesliga have added something special to the Copa Del Rey and the DFB-Pokal respectively. Both sides reached the semi-finals, beating first division opposition on their way, before being eventually undone by Athletic Bilbao and Borussia Dortmund.
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The FA Cup this season cannot compete with this. Perhaps then in 2012, unless the FA Cup final does produce a fantastic game, the “magic of the cup” will belong to the finals in Spain, Germany and Italy.
This article was originally written at Gone With The Rhind
For more football musings on Twitter, follow @archiert1
Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has stated that he does not feel Kenny Dalglish will give him a proper run in the team, and that he may well have to leave the club because of this.
The Netherlands international has been largely a fringe player at Anfield this term, and he has vented his frustration at Dalglish’s selection policy.
“Under this manager I don’t have the feeling any more that he will put me in the side every week,” the Dutch attacker is reported as saying by Fox Sports
“I’m under no illusion about playing every week. But I believe I am still good enough to play for Liverpool every week.
“My physical stats are better than ever before.
“Last season I was scoring goals all over the place. But this season the manager bought three players who all played in my position.
“In the rotation system he used, I never found my rhythm again and never felt my old self.
“Deep in my heart I’d love to stay at Liverpool so I could have full revenge on everyone in my final season at the club,” he concluded.
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Kuyt has been linked with a move to Hamburg, Roma and former club Feyenoord.
The January transfer window has frequently been described as a potential banana skin for Premier League managers, who have been keen to delve into the winter sales in search of new players. More often than not fresh personnel arrive with inflated price tags, and fail to make a real impact with the season already past it midway point. However, this campaign has seen the window used to great effect by a handful of managers, who have succeeded in strengthening to their squads, boosting the quality of football produced on a weekly basis.
Perhaps the finest arrival has been is Papiss Cisse, who moved at Newcastle in a £10 million deal from German outfit Freiburg. The Senegalese forward has quickly adjusted to life with Newcastle, striking up a good understanding with fellow countryman Demba Ba, and the creative Hatem Ben Arfa. As a result of this Cisse has netted a staggering 13 goals in 12 appearances, including excellent finishes against the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool.
As well as Alan Pardew’s flurry into the market, Brendan Rodgers, Roberto Martinez and David Moyes, among others, have benefited from delving into what was a relatively quite January window.
After 2011’s antics with helicopters, last minute deals and vast quantities of Roman Abramovich’s cash exchanging hands, this winter’s exploits were fairly low key, with very few of the ‘elite’ clubs daring to enter the fray. As a result a relatively small amount of cash exchanged hands, with clubs looking at snapping up cost effective squad members for the Premier League’s run-in, thanks in part to the looming threat of Financial Fair Play. Due to this ‘panic buying’ has been kept to a minimum, preventing prices from becoming overly inflated.
Managers have moved away from big names, as a result of spending cut backs, instead looking at players with proven records abroad, or through the football league set-up. As well as Cisse, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Nikica Jelavic arrived, at Fulham and Everton respectively, with impressive tallies in front of goal during spells with their previous clubs. Jelavic in particular impressed in the SPL, becoming Rangers focal point, averaging better than a goal every other game. Moyes managed to snap up the Croatian for a fee of around £5 million, due to the Glasgow club’s much publicised financial issues, freeing the forward of the burden that comes with a large price tag.
Away from centre-forwards, Swansea bagged Gylfi Sigurdsson, on loan, which has proved to be a fine piece of business. The 22-year-old Icelandic midfielder has slotted seamlessly into the Swans midfield, adding a dynamic edge to a sometimes blunt second attacking line. His displays may have shocked some, but for those who witnessed his performances at Reading, prior to a move to Germany, would have been all too aware of the outstanding quality he possesses, which is testament to the South Wales club’s scouting network.
Wigan have also benefited from the signing of Jean Beausejour, whose energy and all-round ability have allowed the club to switch formations, and employ a 3-4-3 set-up. Allied to Emerson Boyce on the opposite flank, the Chilean has become an effective performer, since his move from Birmingham, revelling in an advance wing-back role.
The deals this winter have proved that with the application of some common sense and decent scouting, the January transfer window can be a useful tool. So often it has been used as an arena for panic, with managers hoping that copious amounts of cash can turn their season around. Although sometimes this works, the majority of the time the method fails, with players not fitting the system and becoming burdened by inflated price tags.
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Newcastle, Swansea, Wigan and Fulham have proved that a little preparation can go a long way.
What are your thoughts? Comment or follow @Alex_Hams on Twitter to have your say
In amidst all of the thrills and spills of Euro 2012 Arsene Wenger was gracious enough to offer the Gunners supporters a fleeting update on the (long-winded) deal to sign striker Oliver Giroud. Tying up the transfer of 25-year-old has proved problematic for Wenger owing to the French international’s involvement in Poland and Ukraine but he did reveal that it is ’90 percent’ complete meaning Giroud will almost definitely be wearing red next season. With Lukas Podolski also bound for the Emirates Stadium following the European Championship’s are we seeing a shift in Wenger’s transfer strategy? For much of the early part of his reign the 62-year-old relied heavily on unearthing and developing young talents turning them into world class players. The last few years saw him seemingly cornered into buying big names with little long-term value to end a trophy drought that now in it’s seventh year. The acquisitions of Podolski and Giroud along with the chase of midfielder Yann M’Vila seem to indicate that Wenger has meshed the two ideologies together. The Gunners will be the ones to watch next season.
This week on FFC should Wenger look to bring Mathieu Flamini back to North London, which Magpies star is he reportedly chasing and what does Giroud’s imminent arrival mean for Robin Van Persie?
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Quote of the Week
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“He will stay at Arsenal. There is no reason why a top player, a big champion would want a move to Serie A in terms of the prestige of the League, the level of play or financial considerations. If he moves there I will buy you a Caramello.” Arsene Wenger bets an Italian journalist that Robin Van Persie will remain at Arsenal
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has stated that his team must ‘deactivate’ Cristiano Ronaldo in the Euro 2012 semi-finals on Wednesday night.
The Real Madrid superstar has re-found his form in the last two games for the Iberian nation, scoring three goals in Paulo Bento’s side’s progression to the last four.
With the world champions knowing the quality of Ronaldo due to him playing his club football in La Liga, Del Bosque is wary of the threat the attacker presents.
“It’s logical that there is so much talk about Ronaldo.” Del Bosque told reporters, published in The Telegraph.
“He is not only a great player, but he plays in Spain, so that’s obviously a factor. We have to deactivate him.
“But this is going to be one of the most important matches of our lives. It can take us to the final.”
Meanwhile, Alvaro Arbeloa will be charged with marking his Madrid team-mate on Wednesday and has revealed that he is looking forward to the challenge of playing one of the world’s best players.
“I will probably speak with him when I see him. If I’m lucky, the coach will put me alongside him. He is very demanding to play against, but I am confident I can do well,” he confessed.
“You have to be prepared mentally and physically when you play against someone like Ronaldo. He’s one of the best players there is.
”But I like to measure myself against the best in the world and it’s a great challenge for me.”
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The winner of the clash will face either Germany or Italy in the tournament final.
QPR are thought to have won the race to sign highly-rated attacker Junior Hoilett, according to Sky Sports.
The Canadian forward has impressed over the last number of seasons for Blackburn, and was one of their few positives last term despite relegation.
However, Hoilett’s contract at Ewood Park expired this summer and the winger has opted not to extend with Steve Kean’s men, starting a scramble for his signature.
It was believed that German club Borussia Monchengladbach were interested in Hoilett, along with a raft of Premier League sides, but the North American has decided to move to Loftus Road.
It is thought that Hoilett was keen to remain in England, and impressed by Mark Hughes’ ambitious plans for Rangers.
The London outfit have already signed Ji-Sung Park, Andrew Johnson, Robert Green and Fabio this summer.
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Manchester United started their 2012/13 Premier League campaign with a 1-0 defeat against Everton at Goodison Park on Monday night, with their players left asking many questions of each other.
The patched up Man United defence couldn’t cope with Belgian forward Marouane Fellaini all night and it was ultimately he who scored the winner.
Here are Manchester United duo Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic remonstrating with each other after the goal, presumably discussing why Michael Carrick was left to pick up Fellaini from the corner.
Can you come up with a funny caption for this picture?
Leave your suggestions in the comments section below…
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This week you can win a copy of 32 Programmes!
32 Programmes tells the story of how Dave Roberts made the selection of his most important programmes, and how the process brought back a flood of nostalgia for simpler times.
It’s the story of youthful football obsession, crushes on disinterested girls, rubbish jobs and trying to impress skinheads.
But most of all, it is the story of a man’s life and loves, of family, friends and football.
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England manager Roy Hodgson has decided to get rid of any standby list for future squads after he received nothing but criticism for his secondary selections prior to Euro 2012.
Hodgson was snubbed by the likes of Micah Richards and Michael Carrick who were offered the chance to sit around and wait for their place in the Euros squad and it seems Hodgson is happy to keep that sort of information to himself.
“I won’t have a standby list,” Hodgson told the Guardian, “I have made that mistake once in the past. The future standby list will be in my head. I will know who I want to bring in if anyone goes out.”
After receiving much criticism for selecting Liverpool’s Martin Kelly ahead of Rio Ferdinand on the standby and subsequent first team list, it is understandable that Hodgson will now keep this information secret as he selects his first World Cup qualifying squad this Thursday.
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