Roy Hodgson has admitted he is working hard to overcome the "disenchantment" that some of Liverpool's key players are currently feeling.
The Anfield futures of captain Steven Gerrard, Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano and star striker Fernando Torres have been the subject of much speculation following a disastrous last season for the Reds.
They finished a worst-ever seventh in the final Premier League table to miss out on a lucrative place in the Champions League and the campaign ended with the departure of manager Rafael Benitez.
Former Fulham boss Hodgson was appointed last month and made the retention of key players his number one priority.
However, with the first leg of a Europa League third qualifying round tie now just two weeks away, Hodgson has revealed that some players are still struggling to put last season's disappointment out of their minds.
"We are working very hard on making certain the players we have at the club, who you would call the 'good players', are going to be with us for next season," said Hodgson.
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"The board are working very hard in that area. Some players are a bit disenchanted after what happened last season and we want to make sure we get that enchantment back."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Life is always full of ifs, buts and maybes – Jimmy Adamson’s life more than most. The Turf Moor great, who died on Tuesday at the age of 82, was a title-winning skipper at Burnley in 1960, a fine footballer and a thoroughly good bloke. But he might also have been the manager of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning team. Jim was only 33 years old when the FA offered him the chance to succeed Walter Winterbottom as England boss. When Jim told them he felt he was too inexperienced for the role, the FA bigwigs rang up their second choice, a bloke by the name of Alf Ramsey.
With such great players and with the huge bonus of home advantage, there’s every chance England would still have lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy had Jim been in charge. Despite still playing for the Clarets at the time, Jim was Walter’s assistant manager during the 1962 World Cup in Chile. For England, that meant a month spent halfway up a mountain in the grounds of a copper mine with such primitive resources that one of the boys ended up contracting dysentery.
In a month when the FA revealed their base for next summer’s Euros to be a plush city centre ‘boutique’ hotel in Krakow, it’s worth remembering just how bad things used to be. One of my clearest memories of that copper mine was of Adamson’s Burnley team-mate John Connelly sitting on a cornerstone on the training pitch, simply staring into space for hours on end. A five-star holiday resort this place was not. It was also, as a working mine, completely dry of alcohol.
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But one evening, the boss tried to alleviate this crushing boredom by allowing us all out to the only bar within a 10-mile radius. As we got on the bus – thirsty for a taste of freedom – Adamson told us that, while we would be free to have a couple of jars, we were at a World Cup, we were representing our country and we had to act like ambassadors. Not that there were any blondes to grope or dwarves to toss in Rancagua. Anyway, a few hours later, as we clambered back onto the bus, Jimmy was standing at the front by the driver – this time leading the singing of salty songs on account of him being more inebriated than any of us!
When Jimmy did go into management with Burnley, Sunderland and Leeds, his record was not earth-shattering and it’s possible he might have been just too nice and too loyal a bloke to have made a great England boss. Had he taken the job, though, there’s no doubt that the Northumberland town of Ashington would have been officially crowned as England’s capital of football, as Jim hailed from there, as did the World Cup-winning Charlton brothers and their uncle Jackie Milburn.
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Titles
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Jimmy was part of a great Burnley team which, during the early 1960s, was vying with Tottenham to be regarded as the best side in the country. He was a one-club man as a player and, including his time as a coach and manager, he spent around 30 years at Turf Moor. These days, had any player half as good as Jim passed through the ranks at a club the size of Burnley, he’d have been snapped up by a larger outfit. But with no higher wages on offer elsewhere, this was a time when smalltown clubs could win titles.
When we travelled to Burnley, on the team coach after an overnight stay in Manchester’s Grand Hotel, the town used to rise from the mist like Brigadoon. And we always knew we would be in for a red-hot game, especially with a player as talented as Jim leading them out. He might never have enjoyed the worldwide fame of Sir Alf Ramsey, but in one Lancashire town at least, footballers don’t come any more legendary than Jimmy Adamson.
Over the years there have been many great players who’ve graced the Premier League, making it the most enjoyable entertaining and exciting domestic competition in the world. Players such as Cantona, Shearer, Henry, Ronaldo, Fabregas and Franny Jeffers have given even the non-football lovers a reason to tune in to Match of the Day on a Saturday night as they show us how the beautiful game can be truly just that. There have also been another set of players though, throughout the years, men who may have footballing ability but also have the knack of causing most of us to scream in anger whenever they touch the ball. I’m talking about the sort of players who if your daughter brought them home, you’d wish she was a lesbian. Players we love to hate.
Now, not many of us actually know Premier League players on a personal level, but we can pretty much garner all we need to know about someone from their attitude on the pitch. Some players such as Paul Scholes for example, will never be truly hated, which is somewhat surprising considering he’s fouled every single Premier League player at least twice, because they just get on with the game in a quiet manner. However for every Paul Scholes, there’s a Robbie Savage, the sort of player that even some of his own fans struggle to find a fondness for. Here’s my own personal Premier League XI made up of players you’d rather glass, than have a pint with.
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Click on William Gallas below to see the Most Hated Premier League XI of all time
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“I am Learning Italian.” Has Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano dropped the biggest hint to date that he will be departing Liverpool this summer?
Following the release of Rafa Benitez earlier this month, the ex-Liverpool boss was quickly appointed as the new Inter coach. Benitez has made it no secret that he wants Mascherano to join him in Italy this summer and has placed the Argentine on top of his wish list.
A move is considered very likely to ensue by both the Italian and English media even the midfielder is currently in South Africa. Masherano told gathering journalists yesterday (13th of June):
“Am I studying the Italian language? Yes, I am learning Italian while I’m here in South Africa,”
The midfielder swiftly tried to avoid further speculation growing by adding:
“I don’t know what I will do after the tournament. We shall see.”
Is this a clear indication that the Liverpool no.20 will be waving goodbye to English football this summer? The majority would most certainly think so.
Benitez officially bought Mascherano to the club in 2008 for approximately £18.6 million after a loan spell at the club in 2007. The new Nerazzurri manager has expressed his desire to work with the tenacious midfielder once again claiming ‘his football is my football’.
Speculation has been looming over Anfield in the past few months, as the Merseyside club endured a miserable season both in European and domestic competitions.
Several Liverpool players including the likes of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have also not yet cleared up rumours of their possible departures, and have kept a lid on their future for now. However, with the release of Mascherano’s newest comments to the media, it appears that the midfielder could well be joining Rafa in Serie A this summer.
The 26-year-old was reportedly offered a new contract in the region of £100,000-a-week by Liverpool in order to end rumours, but the midfielder has so far refused to put pen to paper, only adding weight to the rumours.
Mascherano has made it pretty crystal clear as to what his intentions are this summer…well to me anyway. If his snub to sign a new improved contract at the club is not enough to convince Liverpool fans that he is leaving, then surely the news of the Argentine learning the Italian language would have swayed their decision.
Of course nothing has yet officially transpired, but with the recent claims from the player himself, Liverpool football club and their fans as well should prepare to lose the midfielder to Benitez this summer.
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As we consider the idea that we may be on the cusp of our most exciting season yet can we feel proud that our league is the most competitive in the world or should we lament the drop in standards of certain teams? A decade ago the title race was a two-horse one between Arsenal and Manchester United, each taking their turn holding the trophy with mostly United coming out on top. Then came Roman Abramovich, then Sheik Mansour. Now as we look at our league we can see vast improvements in other teams to leave us with a situation where we have Tottenham, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and the Manchester clubs competing for the title and Champions League places. Then we have a whole host of other teams who have improved beyond what was previously thought possible. Teams like Stoke have been climbing gradually until they are now in a position where they are a force to be reckoned with in both the league and Europe.
So what’s the problem? Competition makes sport more enjoyable, more unpredictable, more entertaining. However, has this increased competition in the league come at a price? In what other league would the reigning champions lose 6-1 at home to a team that is struggling in Europe? What I mean is: in becoming more competitive it seems that some of our teams have become worse.
Best league in the world?
I can’t think of many English football fans, or indeed football fans, that would not say that the Premier League is the ‘best’ league in world football. It is the most commercial, the most competitive, the most exciting and is home to many of the world’s best players. But do we have the best teams? I’m not sure that we do, and whilst it’s nice to have a tough league how can our competition be the best if the best teams don’t play in it?
Man Utd, undoubtedly one of the world’s best teams, have not only been humiliated at home but have also allowed more shots on their goal this season than any other team. Manchester City look good but are struggling on their maiden Champions League excursion, Chelsea are aging at an alarming rate, Liverpool look as mediocre as ever despite spending vast sums of money and Arsenal are going to get worse before they get better. Can we say that any of our teams would beat Spain’s top two at the moment? Or Bayern Munich?
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Times have changed
I’m not saying that I expect the Premier League champions each year to reach the points totals that were possible even five years ago but you do expect our clubs to use this competitive nature in our league to better themselves. The old guard need to rise to the challenge of the up and coming teams. They need to progress and they need to reach the high standards that Barcelona and Real Madrid are setting. Otherwise we run the risk of merely swapping teams at the top like Man City for clubs like Arsenal. That doesn’t make the league competitive it just means a change in era. Our league is the most watched in the world because of the style of football and because we have the best teams, or should.
This could be our most exciting Premiership season yet, but is it for all the wrong reasons? I’m not saying for one minute that Man Utd are a team in decline or that the Premier League is getting worse. What I am saying is that teams like Man Utd and Arsenal and Liverpool have been stagnating for years now and they need to use the rise of other teams as a catalyst to push them back to the top. Have Man Utd really been that good since Tevez and Ronaldo left? Is their defence good enough? Have Arsenal ever recovered from the loss of their Henry/Vieira/Bergkamp generation?
It would be interesting to consider if teams such as Man City and Tottenham had not progressed whether our top teams would actually be better? Certainly there has been a dilution of the best players available to the top clubs, the market is tough and the top clubs have to fight hard amongst each other for the players thy want. Ultimately it comes to the question of how many teams can we have competing for the top before the standard of those top teams has to be watered down? And would we rather watch the most competitive league in the world or watch the best teams in the world?
For more debate follow me on Twitter @H_Mackay
Remember to join us for tonight’s LIVE Carling Cup Blog by clicking below
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Birmingham City upset the odds at Wembley yesterday to beat Arsenal 2-1 and win the 2011 Carling Cup. A header from Nikola Zigic put the Blues ahead before Robin van Persie’s strike ensured that the teams would go into the break on level terms, which would have been slightly disappointing for Birmingham given the way they played in the first half. Arsenal came into the match more in the second half as Birmingham’s players looked dead on their feet, but a mix up at the back gave Obafemi Martins an easy last-minute tap-in to win the cup for the Blues.
Like the tens of thousands of fans who travelled to Wembley from the second city, Birmingham manager Alex McLeish was obviously delighted with the result. He said “it’s an achievement when you consider who we were up against. We weren’t given a prayer by the pundits and the bookies but we believed today. It was a titanic performance by the players.” McLeish described the match yesterday as the highlight of his career, but with Birmingham now in Europe next season, will that achievement be bettered?
Birmingham City are 100/1 with bet365 to win the Europa League next season. bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth “Alex McLeish took great pleasure in telling us how we got it wrong by writing off his Birmingham side in the Carling Cup, so I hope we don’t upset him by quoting 100/1 about Blues landing the Europa League!” I’m sure Birmingham fans will just enjoy it while it lasts, but given the determination showed yesterday, European progress surely isn’t out of the question?
Birmingham’s next task is to secure their top flight status and there are much shorter odds on the Blues being relegated from the Premier League at 4/1. On a brighter note Birmingham are in the quarter finals of the FA Cup and are 16/1 to secure the cup double this season? So, does more success beckon for Birmingham City?
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It is commonly agreed that two players have single-handedly (and I use the word loosely) taken their teams to World cup glory, Garrincha for Brazil in Chile, 1962 and Diego Maradona in Mexico, 1986. If 44 years of hurt for England is to end in South Africa, then one man needs to do the same, that man is Wayne Rooney.
Now when I say single-handedly, I’m not calling the Brazilian side of 1962 or the Argentina one in 1986 as one-man teams, the same is said for this current England side. But what both winning sides had was a genius amongst their ranks, so does England’s 2010 side.
Brazil were dealt a heavy blow when Pelé, who just four years prior aged 18 took the world by storm helping Brazil lift their first of a record five world crowns, was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury sustained against Czechoslovakia. Up until that point, he had formed a deadly double-act with Manuel Francisco dos Santos, better known as Garrincha.
Described by the British press as: “Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney and a snake charmer all rolled into one,” Garrincha played for both himself and Pelé, blessed with phenomenal dribbling ability, he left opponents for dead as he guided Brazil in defending their crown, the only side to do so in world cup history.
Maradona like Garrincha was blessed with similar immortal footballing characteristics; the Chilean newspapers in 62’ asked the question: ‘What planet is Garrincha from?’ Maradona earned a similar nickname from a similar question in Mexico, 86’.
It was just after he scored, completing that mesmerising run against England in the quarterfinals so soon after his ‘hand of god’ (or mano de dios), commentator Víctor Hugo Morales, describing the unfolding moments, couldn’t contain his excitement, he shouted: “barrilete cósmico… ¿de qué planeta viniste?”, loosely translated as: ‘cosmic kite, what planet are you from!’, he then got the nickname of Barrilete Cósmico, which many Argentinean fans still refer to him to this day.
Like Garrincha, Maradona was an once-in-a-lifetime player and the same could be said of Rooney.
Rooney has come on leaps and bound, since bursting on the scene with that famous goal against Arsenal at Goodison Park in 2002, his latest season being his best domestically showed what a world class player he’s become.
He also finished as top scorer for England in their World cup qualifying group plus joint second with Bosnian Edin Džeko and one short behind the overall top-scorer Theofanis Gekas of Greece in the European section. Rooney, given his age, is on course to match or even break the legendary tally of Sir Bobby Charlton for England.
He will of course have plenty of support from equally gifted players in the World cup in the shape of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, compared to Garrincha who had Didi and Vava whilst Maradona was helped out by Jorge Valdano and Jorge Burruchaga.
But there’s no denying Rooney is just that little bit more special in this England team, Fabio Capello described him in his own way as a player who can wake up the rest of the team if things are not going to plan.
This will be his third tournament for England, with the previous two ending in personal disappointments as well as for his team.
A sending off in the quarter finals to Portugal in Germany, 2006 succeeded a broken foot sustained in Euro 2004 in Portugal, another quarterfinal exit to Portugal. On both occasions England losing on the dreaded penalties.
It was after that tournament in 2004, he made his big money move to Manchester United from Everton. His impact couldn’t have been any bigger, a debut hat-trick in the Champions League against Fenerbahçe.
Since then his after developing his game even more, he’s helped Manchester United return to the summit of English football bagging a European Cup along the way, but at times in a more of a sacrificial role for his side, especially in Europe.
Rooney’s exploits last season, grabbed the attention of two of the players he’ll be vying for as the number one player in the world.
Lionel Messi, who in the past, described Rooney as one of his favourite players to watch and one he would like to play alongside, commended Rooney on his performances during last season:
“He has become the striker who can do it all. He leads the line, he moves wide, comes deep, his heading ability seems to have improved so much and he is so strong when he plays with his back to goal.
“Rooney’s energy is amazing also and I give him all the credit for becoming a world class player,”
His international manager is also known to be a fan as well.
His former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo, who left Old Trafford for the Bernabéu in a record £80m move, when asked what he thought of Rooney’s season replied simply by saying it was no surprise to him, knowing what a truly world class player and winner he is.
And it is this word, ‘world class’, which often gets banded about at times inappropriately. Rooney like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, are genuine world class players – not only would they not look out of place in any of the top sides in Europe, but they’re a select few, count them on one hand, that can really decide games, the big ones that is.
Ask José Mourinho or Pep Guardiola if they would like Wayne Rooney in their side, you may just find them answering the same, and that is yes.
But for now and the foreseeable future, he’s staying put at Old Trafford, with incentives such as chasing Ryan Giggs’all-time club appearance record and Sir Bobby Charlton’s goal scoring one.
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One criticism, that I have alluded to, that he gets levelled at him, is because of his desire and eagerness to play, he’s more willing to sacrifice himself for the team by playing in a more restricted role, something Sir Alex has (sort of) regretfully pointed too.
It then comes as no surprise that his best goal-scoring season is due to him playing in a more ‘selfish’ lone-forward role, being the goal-poacher.
Despite this many of his traits still remain, notably the ability to grab a game by the scruff of the neck.
It is this, England needs to channel, if they are to be successful. I often have been sceptical about England playing a 442, especially when we have now seen Rooney having the discipline and knowhow to lead a line, especially with a player of Gerrard’s quality who can easily play off him.
Even if Capello goes with a 442, the story will be the same, Rooney needs to not only be on his A game, but guide England – he won’t do it alone, but with a special one-in-a-lifetime player in the English ranks, he can do what Maradona and Garrincha have done so before him.
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Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has admitted that although he is delighted his side are competing in the Champions League, they have been drawn in a tough pool.
The Citizens will face Napoli, Bayern Munich and Villarreal over the next coming months, and the Italian knows that any of the four teams could qualify.
“I think it is an exciting day for the club. To play in the Champions League after many years is very important, it is a special day,” he stated in a press conference.
“But I think we took the harder route in the Champions League. In this group there are four teams who can win the group or finish in fourth position. It will be very hard for every team.”
There will be high expectations over City’s European campaign, as the investment in the squad over the last number of years has accounted for a star-studded squad, however Mancini is taking it one game at a time – with Napoli the visitors on Wednesday.
“I think this is normal for us. Now Manchester City are one of the best teams in England and Europe. For us it will be very important to do our job very well in this group.
“Napoli are a good team, last year they did very well in the Italian championship. Several of their players have been capped for their national teams and (Walter) Mazzarri is a very experienced manager.
“I expect Napoli to be a challenge but a lot of our players have played in the Champions League and I don’t think they will feel pressure for this game,” he continued.
Despite being drawn in a challenging group, Mancini has eyed progression through to the knock-out stages.
“Our target for now is to get to the second stage. It is important we start well in the group. We want to do the best we can do but it will be very hard because the Champions League is a strange competition.
“We want to go to the second stage. After that we can talk in February,” he concluded.
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Bolton loan signing Daniel Sturridge scored a last-minute winner to break Wolverhampton hearts at the Reebok Stadium.
The Chelsea man came off the bench to hit the only goal of the game as he latched onto Ronald Zubar’s horrible back-pass.
The goal would have been a bitter pill to swallow for Wolves whose goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey made a number of excellent saves.
Mick McCarthy’s team are now bottom of the Premier League after their 15th defeat of the season.
Bolton welcomed back Chung Yong-Lee from the Asian Cup and he was quickly in the action setting up Matt Taylor but the midfielder shot weakly at Hennessey.
In the 28th minute Johan Elmander swung in a cross and picked out an unmarked Kevin Davies but Hennessey guessed the right way and made another superb block.
Bolton’s best effort came in first-half stoppage time when Sam Ricketts fired inches wide with Hennessey rooted to the spot.
Both teams looked poor in defence and lacklustre in their opponent’s penalty area, with visitors Wolves making almost no impact in the final third.
Twenty minutes into the second half, Lee made a searching cross from the right, but it was Wolves defender Christophe Berra who met it and almost scored an own goal only for Hennessey to make another great save.
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The visitors awoke from their slumber in the final ten minutes as Kevin Doyle threatened Bolton’s defence on numerous occasions.
Having earlier delivered a teasing low cross that nobody was in place to meet, Doyle made a dash for goal with three minutes to play but his effort hit the woodwork.
But there was still time for Sturridge to steal the headlines with his winner at the death that halts Bolton’s slump in form.
John Terry has decided to contest the FA charge of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand. An FA statement yesterday afternoon confirmed, “John Terry has today denied an FA charge of using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour, which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race, towards Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand.” The Chelsea captain has requested a personal hearing in which he intends to fight the allegations, although the FA have yet to decide a date at this point.
Elsewhere in the news Brendan Rodgers has told Luis Suarez to forget about Patrice Evra furore; Pienaar urges Everton to keep Baines, while Mourinho won’t stand in the way of Nurin’s possible loan move to Arsenal.
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Headlines
José Mourinho has told Arsenal he will not stand in the way of their attempt to sign the midfielder Nuri Sahin – [Guardian]
Craig Bellamy has admitted that he is enjoying taking part in the Games because he is viewed by fans as an Olympian rather than a hate-figure – [Independent]
Brendan Rodgers has told Luis Suárez it is in Liverpool’s best interests to “move on” from the Patrice Evra controversy – [Guardian]
Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton is poised to seal his loan switch to Fleetwood Town – [Sky Sports]
John Terry has denied a Football Association charge of racially abusing the Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand and has requested a personal hearing – [Guardian]
Robin van Persie’s reluctance to join Manchester City is putting his transfer deal on hold – [Independent]
Adalberto Baptista has dismissed speculation Manchester City have joined local rivals Manchester United in the race to sign Lucas Moura – [Sky Sports]
The Barclays Premier League have confirmed the creation of a new Under-21 competition to bridge the gap between the academy and first team – [Daily Mail]
Fabrice Muamba has revealed he made his football comeback on holiday in Dubai – [Sun]
Lambert full of praise for ‘lost boys’ Ireland and N’Zogbia – [Mirror]
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Salomon Rondon is ready to snub interest from Tottenham and to move to Russian outfit Rubin Kazan – [Metro]
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