All posts by h79snht.top

Last season, the Premier League gave us surprise packages such as Kyle Walker and Tottenham’s incredible form, while Swansea and Norwich carried on and bettered the tune of Blackpool from a year earlier.

With this Premier League season about to begin, we’re looking forward to success stories away from the big names at Manchester City and the likely outcome of the title race. The variety of football on display in the Premier League allows for smaller clubs to circumvent the power and resources of their top-of-the-table counterparts, adding weight to the advert that “anyone can beat anyone.”

We’ve already had surprises this summer, with Michael Laudrup landing at Swansea and Andre Villas-Boas taking over at Spurs. Will these managers be among those to feature in the season’s best moments and better the results of last year?

Click on Robin van Persie to unveil the 10 surprise packages

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Arsenal have made a last minute attempt to stall Nuri Sahin’s loan move from Real Madrid to Liverpool as they consider selling Alex Song to Barcelona for £15m, according to the Daily Mail.

The Gunners asked Sahin to delay any move until the future of Song had been resolved, a request which the 23-year-old Turkish international has agreed to. It is believed that Sahin would prefer a move to a club that can offer Champions League football, a lure which Arsene Wenger hopes will sway the midfielder’s mind.

The centre midfield star was considered the best player in the Bundesliga two seasons ago but has failed to adapt in the Spanish capital under Jose Mourinho. After barely featuring in Real Madrid’s triumphant La Liga campaign in the 2011/12 season and a pre-season of playing in a left-back role, it is obvious both player and club are keen to see a loan move. Sahin has five years remaining on his contract at the Bernabeu, and even a ‘sell and buy-back’ clause is included. There is no lack of confidence that the young midfielder can fulfill his potential and play regularly for the Spanish champions in the future.

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Former Liverpool star Luis Garcia believes that his old side can make a serious push for this season’s Premier League title.

Despite few having given them any chance of competing for the title before a ball was kicked, the Reds are currently just four points off of leaders Chelsea with ten games to go.

Pundits and former players have been talking up Brendan Rodgers’ sides chances of glory in recent weeks, particularly now that the Merseyside club are the division’s top scorers thanks to the prolific Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez.

Liverpool also have home advantage for upcoming clashes with big sides such as Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City and have already thrashed fellow contenders Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield.

Garcia – who was a big player for the club during their Champions League-winning 2005 campaign under Rafael Benitez – feels that his former side have a good chance of lifting the trophy, but only if they really push between now and the end of the season:

“Why not?” He responded when asked by talkSPORT if Liverpool can win the Premier League.

“I watch every game that I can, they’re playing very well and even when they’re not they’re still getting result – that’s the most important thing when you want to get a trophy.

“I think a lot of Liverpool people think finishing fourth is good enough, but they’re only four points away from the top, so all they’ve got to do is make sure they don’t get too far away and take it all the way until the end with Chelsea.

“If they do that they have a great chance at winning the title.

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“It’s not going to be easy, we know that, there are still a lot of games to play, but I certainly think it’s possible.”

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Andy Carroll is set to make a miraculous return to action next week after defying West Ham medical staff, according to The Daily Mail.

The England international forward was substituted in his debut for the Hammers, and it was revealed that he has suffered a hamstring strain.

The burly forward was expected to be on the sidelines for up to six weeks, but Carroll has responded to rehabilitation better than expected, despite only picking up the ailment 12 days ago.

Carroll has reportedly targeted a return to action in West Ham’s game against Sunderland at Upton Park a week on Saturday, in what would be a massive boost for the newly-promoted side.

Carroll played a part in all three goals in the 3-0 win over Fulham on his debut, and has a point to prove after being frozen out by Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool.

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Roy Hodgson will also welcome Carroll’s return as England are short of options up front due to Wayne Rooney’s injury.

Sir Alex Ferguson has responded to the controversial sending off of Jonjo Shelvey at Anfield on Sunday, and also the 20-year-old’s reaction which saw him berate the United manager on the touchline.

“Jonjo Shelvey’s sending off was a clear red card, there was a dangerous attempt to go for the ball. Jonny Evans went for the ball and got it, and I don’t think there was any other decision referee could make,” Ferguson said.

“He blamed me! But he is young and he will realise the stupidity of it.”

Shelvey apologised to Ferguson for the incident, but claims the United manager had influence over the referee’s decision.

Tweeting after the match, Shelvey said: “I apologise to the fans for getting sent off but no way was I pulling out of that tackle in a game of that importance. I’m sorry. I have also apologised to Sir Alex, just where I come from people don’t grass people up to get someone sent off.”

When leaving the pitch, it is thought Shelvey said to the United boss: “You control the ref, and the game.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers came to the defence of his young midfielder, claiming referee Mark Halsey had made the wrong decision.

Rodgers said: “I’m bitterly disappointed because I thought the best team lost. Our performance in the first half was outstanding, but what you can’t control are the decisions of the referee.

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“The players were outstanding and we dominated most of the game, but I know that if Jonjo Shelvey got sent off then Jonny Evans gets sent off as well.

“There were a number of poor decisions that went against us. They cost us the game. It was one of those days when we never got a decision that helped us.”

It’s only October some of our more optimistic fans saying and in a sense they are correct, it is still early days but Shrewsbury’s problems are plain for all to see.

We have failed to score a goal in our last three league games, have lost 3 of our last four competitive games, two of those being at home and we currently sit 2 points of the relegation zone going into the biggest derby of our campaign. Hardly encouraging is it?

In my last few posts I have pointed out Shrewsbury’s need for a striker constantly and it really is the hot topic at the club at the moment, it appears as though everyone other than Graham Turner has a solution to the problem.

As a general rule, if you’re not going to score then you need to make sure the opposition aren’t going to either. Shrewsbury centre back Darren Jones came out last week and admitted that the defence are currently giving away sloppy goals and this is causing us to not get the results we need and as a fan I couldn’t agree more. Moments of hesitation or lapses in concentration at the back have been at fault for a number of goals this campaign and with the strikers really not doing their jobs we need the defence to be doing there’s.

Sunday’s game against Walsall is the Saddlers first visit to the Greenhous Meadow and its sure to be a fiery encounter. Despite their fantastic start Walsall have not registered a win in their last four competitive outings and will be desperate to get themselves back to the winning ways. The game is being broadcast on Sky and this will no doubt spur on players for both teams as they will be eager to impress in front of the cameras.

Turner has fared well in local derbies since he took over two years ago but this will be a different game than the ones we were used too in League Two. We are coming into this on the back of two consecutive home defeats and morale is going to be low.

It’s going to be a very difficult game and as current form would suggest we should be happy with a point but as a fan against a local rival I want nothing more than a win. Will this be the case? We’ll have to wait and see.

You can follow me on Twitter @LiamHoofe

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chairman Tony Fernandes has privately backed Mark Hughes and dismissed suggestions that Harry Redknapp is set to steal his job reports The Mail.

The 48-year-old, former Wales manager has been under increasing pressure during the last few weeks after a summer of heavy spending and an influx of players failed to produce results on the pitch. Hughes is yet to see his side pick up all three points this season and they remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League with only two points from the first seven games.

Despite another defeat last weekend, Fernandes will now give Hughes more time to turn results around on the pitch after dismissing any talk of Harry Redknapp taking over the management position.

The former Spurs boss had admitted that he is looking for another high profile managerial role and QPR would fit his criteria. However it appears that the QPR chief wants someone who can gradually build a team which is not Redknapp speciality while also having concerns about his age.

Meanwhile Hughes has the full support of the Loftus Road dressing road according to defender Clint Hill. Hill is quoted as saying on Sky Sports: “The gaffer’s confident he can turn things around – he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t. He’s still got the full support of all the boys. We’re fully behind him and the staff.”

The R’s take on Everton at home next Sunday when the Premier League programme resumes with three points a necessity for Hughes.

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Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby is yet to sign a contract extension in Germany but his club’s general manager Horst Heldt is refusing to pressurise their star man.

Holtby has rapidly risen to success at Schalke and has since been capped by Germany, despite having an English father who wants him to play in the Premier League.

Manchester United are reportedly keen on the midfielder, who has one year left on his current deal, but Arsenal and Liverpool have also been linked with the Schalke star.

“We are in intensive talks with Lewis (Holtby),” Heldt told Deutsche Presseagentur.

“I would be glad to see him decide in our favour then.

“Still it is very important for him to take his time and look into options at other clubs.

“It’s the only way for him to find out that Schalke  04 is the right choice for him as a player.”

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Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill is adamant that he can keep the club clear of relegation.

The Black Cats currently occupy 18th position in the Premier League after an uninspiring start to the campaign.

Despite spending over £20m on Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson during the summer, the North East-based outfit have struggled, managing just two victories.

Ahead of their midweek clash with fellow relegation battlers Reading, O’Neill was boisterous in defending his position in the dugout:

“So what do you do then? So you go and put someone else in charge, he gets a group of 12, 13 games and can’t win any matches? It’s the same thing,” he responded when asked if he should still be in charge of the club according to ESPN.

“I don’t want to sound wildly boastful, but not only am I the best man for the job, I am actually the only man for the job.

“We will steer it through, we will get calmer waters ahead – it might take us a few months to do that – and then we will see.

“If we are continuing for the next couple of years to be in this position, then I will certainly question it then.”

He went on to reveal that he is surprised by the lacklustre performances of his players:

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“Progress eventually, no matter what you think about it, is determined by results on the pitch, and we are in a similar position, so you could say whether we have made that sort of progress or not.

“It’s interesting because it’s really the same squad that we have had – we still have, I think, about 19 players from last season.”

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will move for Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross in the January transfer window according to the Daily Mail.

The 25 year old, who came through the ranks at Manchester United, is reportedly unhappy with the new contract offer that has been tabled for him and may look for a big money move next month.

With just 18 months left on his current deal, the England defender is attracting major interest from all of the big clubs in the Premier League including City, United and Chelsea

Tony Pulis is desperate to keep his star defender and with the Potters wandering quietly up the league table, a push for European football could entice the bruising centre half to stay at the Britannia Stadium.

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Shawcross has been offered a contract renewal but the wage structure at Stoke could be an issue as their star man seeks a big money move to a major English club.