Wolves winger Michael Kightly has backed manager Mick McCarthy's decision to leave him out of the 25-man squad named for the first half of the Premier League season.
The 24-year-old continues to be plagued by knee problems and has not featured for Wolves since November 2009, meaning that he has been overlooked by McCarthy for the time being.
However, Kightly would be more than happy to head out on loan once he gets closer to a return to full fitness following yet another setback in his recovery.
He told the club's official website:"Obviously any setback is disappointing, but it's something I've learned to cope with over the last year or so.
"This is a serious injury and one which is complex to deal with. But I'm staying positive and carrying on with the rehab without any pressure on when I need to be fit again.
"Once it was realised I wasn't going to be ready, it was always going to be the right decision not to be included in the 25.
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"I am ready to give it as long as it takes, but obviously when I do get fit again it would be good to get out on loan if any clubs were interested.
"If that was to happen then by the time January comes around I could be ready to try and challenge for a place in the squad here."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
A sustained challenge on a place in the top four, the return of inspirational captain Steven Gerrard, and a quick-fix to the problem of Lucas Leiva’s long-term injury may be the things at the top of Liverpool fans’ Christmas wish lists. But what of a certain former Spanish striker who has struggled considerably for form and who may be available for extremely less than he left Anfield for 12 months ago.
The talk of a return to Liverpool for Fernando Torres is bound to intrigue fans, even those who expressed fervent displeasure at the manner of his exit last January. But with reports of Chelsea looking to cut their losses on the Spanish striker and very little chance of a return to Spain (for a host of reasons), the arrival of Torres could be the catalyst that turns the race for Champions League places heavily in Liverpool’s favour. Of course, there’s the issue of a player who has been lacking form for the best part of 18 months. He’s struggled to rediscover his composure, pace and finishing even under a number of different managers and the change in system during his time at Chelsea. The arrival of compatriot Juan Mata was also clearly not enough to re-energise Torres and get him out of his seemingly lifelong trough in form.
But with new arrivals at Liverpool and a system that is perhaps more in tune with Torres’ game, could Luis Suarez and Charlie Adam be enough to entice Fernando Torres back to Anfield and complete the challenge he so frustratingly failed to accomplish the first time round?
The dilemma facing manager Kenny Dalglish regarding the unavailability of Lucas in the centre of midfield is also cause for concern. Fans would like nothing more than to see one of their one excel at that position, and Jay Spearing may be heading the queue to fill the void left by the Brazilian. However, other avenues of possibility could be a switch in tactic from the frequently used lone striker—which obviously has left Andy Carroll starting from the bench—to something more suited to using what Kenny Dalglish has at his disposal. Something to bring out the best qualities of a number of new arrivals at Anfield could be deploying Carroll in a permanent role in the starting XI. Stuart Downing, from wide positions, has shown thus far that he is capable of stepping up to a team with far greater ambitions than Aston Villa, and full-back Glen Johnson has shown his own capabilities in the final third.
Moreover, the turn of the year could signal a welcome return to the line-up for Steven Gerrard. The Liverpool captain, who has been troubled by injury for much of the season, is expected to resume training in the coming week and will likely play a part over the busy Christmas period. While there is still uncertainty to a number of the players who arrived at Anfield over the summer, the return of Gerrard is something that will hugely increase Liverpool’s fortunes on the pitch. The prospect of Wembley in the new year is also something fans will look to, and with Gerrard’s performances in finals in recent years, the occasion is set-up up for successful run to the Carling Cup final.
While it’s difficult to asses how Liverpool will react to the loss of a key player as well as their inconsistent form thus far in the league, what is certain is the desire for the team to be back among the finest Europe has to offer—the Champions League. The January window may represent a welcome pit stop in the season to re-evaluate what is needed for the squad—and it isn’t very much. Another midfielder to help protect the back-four? Yes, maybe. But at what cost for those lining up from the recently impressive youth academy? Similarly, a move for the out-of-favour Fernando Torres could reignite the Spaniards seemingly lost desire to play the game, but Liverpool fans would surely rather love to see Andy Carroll turn a corner and live up to the huge sum of money that brought him to Anfield and become an integral part of the side for years to come.
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Auckland City boosted their hopes of qualifying for this year’s FIFA Club World Cup in Japan by beating Vanuatu’s Amicale 2-1 in the first leg of the Oceania region’s club final.Auckland thanked a lucky deflection for the decisive 82nd minute goal in Port Vila on Saturday, a clearing kick from Amicale defender Selwyn Sese Ala rebounding off Luis Corrales across the goal line after the grounded Costa Rican striker had slid in to meet a cross.
There was some doubt about whether Corrales would make it to Vanuatu – he arrived a day later than the rest of the squad – but City will be delighted they got him on a plane.
“There was a problem with his visa but he has been doing very well so we were keen to get him involved,” a relieved City co-coach Ramon Tribulietx said.
“The win has come via a little bit of luck in the end and I think we would definitely have settled for a draw,” said Auckland coach Aaron McFarland.
“Considering they played very well and dominated possession, we’re very happy with 2-1.”
Spanish striker Manuel Exposito scored from the penalty spot after being brought down by the keeper to put Auckland 1-0 up in the 22nd minute, before Amicale captain Fenedy Masauvakalo fired in a 67th minute equaliser.
The second leg for a place at the Club World Cup, and a guaranteed 250,000 pounds payday, is in Auckland on April 17.
Arsenal fans will rise each morning this summer facing the grim prospect of Cesc Fabregas’s departure for Spain and their discomfort will not be eased by a glance at this morning’s papers. Whilst the nagging question of will he won’t he still looms large, today fans may pose a different question: What business is it of Carles Puyol’s?
The Barcelona defender has publically questioned the intelligence of Arsenal in “keeping a player who doesn’t want to be there” and whilst such a notion may hold some truth, it is Arsenal’s business and not his.
Keeping Fabregas at Arsenal actually requires little intelligence having seen the Spaniard score 15 Premier League goals and assist his teammates the same amount of times and despite his heart seemingly being set on a move to Barcelona, even Puyol admits “He is professional enough still to have a great season”.
Puyol’s class as a player himself was laid down for all to see in South Africa as he helped his side secure their first ever World Cup victory but his latest comments will add yet more unnecessary decibels to what Arsene Wenger described as Barcelona’s “noise”.
That “noise” has also come from Puyol’s Barcelona team-mates who have shown a distinct lack of respect for Arsenal Football Club during the long running transfer saga which was exemplified when they forced Fabregas into a Barcelona shirt amid wild World Cup celebrations.
Both Arsenal and Barcelona play beautiful football but it is perhaps with Barcelona’s trophy laden season that they feel themselves to be justified in their manner.
Their certainly seems to be a certain air of arrogance amongst the Barcelona squad and Puyol’s latest comments lend themselves to suggest they feel Arsenal should grant Fabregas’ wish because his “heart is already in Barcelona.”
The defender, capped 90 times for Spain, added “I won’t say he is in a prison, as we know how privileged we are as football players, but after how clear Cesc made it that he wanted to be in Barcelona, I thought they would have granted him that.”
However, it seems with the stance Arsene Wenger has taken, the unremitting talk from both Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and the crop of players who appear so desperate for the club to add the talents of Fabregas to their squad may close more doors than they open.
Barcelona’s pursuit looks to have ended in failure as Arsenal continue to show no inclination to talk to the Catalan giants over letting Fabregas leave and although Barca may return in a year’s time, Arsenal have rightly shown they will not be bullied into selling their captain.
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
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The Chelsea manager’s latest scathing tirade against former Manchester United and Sky pundit Gary Neville was as shocking as it was ill-advised. Whether it be that he’s just unfamiliar with the all-encompassing nature of the English press or that he’s genuinely cracking under the pressure, the state of paranoia that Villas-Boas is currently operating under is both bizarre as it is unsettling.
The young Portuguese manager railed against his critics after his side’s 3-0 thumping of Valencia that saw them progress top of their Champions’ League group after a sticky run of form. He stated that: “My players deserve respect they don’t get. We’ve been chased by different kinds of people and pressures. Here we have given everyone a slap in the face.”
It seems odd to blast your critics after such a convincing victory to begin with. Chelsea have justifiably been criticised this season for a series of displays that only served to highlight what a comparatively fragile squad they have when you look at season’s gone by, they’ve lacked discipline, consistency and have been guilty of far too many individual errors. Most importantly, up until the Valencia game, whenever the opposition was of a continental calibre, Chelsea were soundly beaten.
To my knowledge at least, the media have gone relatively easy on Villas-Boas so far. He’s been criticised, correctly in my opinion, for trying to change too much, too quickly. Obviously eager to get his Stamford Bridge revolution under way, he’s overhauled their style of play, integrated a higher defensive line, changed the club’s transfer policy and started to tear apart a previously successful side, ruthlessly dropping the likes of Frank Lampard to the bench and Alex and Nicolas Anelka to the reserves.
Almost every article that I’ve seen written on Villas-Boas criticises the current state of the Chelsea side, without heaping the blame solely on the man in charge. How could you? He’s only been in charge for four months. Criticisms of the club have almost always been directly followed with the caveat that Villas-Boas, unlike a few of his predecessors, needs more time. The main issue that’s prompted this so-called ‘persecution’ is the history of Chairman Roman Abramovich and his happy trigger-finger.
It also appears to have taken on a personal effect on Villas-Boas too, with him continually singling out of Gary Neville for criticism. The Chelsea manager clearly doesn’t like Neville, not many people do, but that doesn’t mean that he’s a poor pundit. Far from it in fact, Neville has proven, despite some early nerves, to be bother irreverent, funny and insightful. He’s been a breath of fresh air.
Villas-Boas stated after the Valencia game: “We see a (former) Manchester United defender (Neville) say in the preparations for the game things like, ‘I don’t want to be one of the Chelsea players today, I couldn’t play this game and it is a difficult game for them’. This is out of this world for me, I don’t believe this. This is a continuous persecution; it is aggression towards one club.”
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That continued today with: “I’d say this to his (Neville) face with most pleasure. You can’t speculate and invent things that are going on. Some people can have more or less an idea. But not him. He cannot know. You cannot approach a top Brazil central defender saying he’s commanded by a kid with a PlayStation. That’s ridiculous. Comic criticism and the lack of in-depth criticism from top ex-professional players… when they take the route to the ridiculous; I think I have a word to say. He (David Luiz) plays for the team with most [world] titles, so be careful with what you’re saying. What does he know about the Chelsea dressing room? What does Gary Neville know about our dressing room? How can you imagine what is going on in the Chelsea dressing room? How can you know? Have you been here? Do you know where Cobham [Chelsea’s training ground] is? You don’t even know how to get here. I’m normally indifferent, not watching on the telly to see what these people say. But I was watching the television at that moment and I was gobsmacked.”
Ironically the only thing comical is this quite frankly baffling rant against a man who is paid handsomely on TV for his opinions. The only thing gobsmacking about this is that a Premier League manager has saw it fitting to launch such a stinging personal attack on a pundit. Gary Neville will be grinning from ear to ear today. Mission accomplished. Villas-Boas has taken the bait and been made to look downright foolish as a result.
It’s reminiscent of Joe Kinnear’s infamously childish rant against Daily Mirror journalist Simon Bird back in October 2008 after the former Wimbledon manager had just unexpectedly taken over a struggling Newcastle side. Kinnear said to Bird “you’re a c**t” before he’d even sat down in his chair at the press conference. While it may be hilarious to watch, it’s simply not the type of behaviour befitting of a Premier League manager.
David Luiz has been terribly poor this season. There is no other word for it. Kudos must go to Neville for providing a genuinely witty piece of punditry. According to Villas-Boas’s twisted and flawed logic, you can only criticise Luiz if you have driven to and played at Cobham training ground. Well I have, Andre, and he’s bobbins, so there.
Villas-Boas stated after the Valencia game: “It is unfortunate for you guys (the media) because you have to report on a brilliant win for Chelsea and we qualify first in the group. It is difficult for everybody and today this is difficult for you.” Putting aside the fact that AVB is doing a handy trade in irony and a startling lack of self-awareness, the problem with attacking the media is, is that you become the story. It detracts from the player’s efforts.
The defeat to QPR for example, Villas-Boas raged after the game after seeing both Didier Drogba and Jose Bosingwa dismissed, correctly may I add: “The ref (Chris Foy) was poor, very very poor and it reflected in the result. I spoke to him at the end and I was very aggressive to him. I don’t care if he’s OK or not.
“Everyone can have a bad day, but this was not a bad day for us. It was a good day for us and a bad day for the referee. Three of the games played by Chelsea were influenced by the referee, and this is not Premier League level. Conspiracy theories can lead to bans and lead to you calling us cry-babies and we’re not, but it keeps happening.” The story should have been about how well Chelsea played with 9-men after the break, how close they came to forcing a result and about the team’s spirit, instead we were treated to little more than the Andre Villas-Boas show and he was fined £12k for his inflammatory and petulant remarks.
Creating a siege mentality at a club is fine, but not when it’s this contrived. It’s just not believable. Villas-Boas, obviously under intense pressure from above, is seeking to galvanise an underperforming side, but it’s just so obvious. It’s been fabricated entirely by their manager. There is no underlying agenda. I very much doubt whether the players even believe it themselves.
Villas-Boas has and always will be compared to his counterpart and former colleague Jose Mourinho. The thing is, whenever Mourinho launched into one of his rants, he did it with a degree of style, panache and a knowing smile. Villas-Boas just appears to have lost the plot, seemingly detached from reality.
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Villas-Boas is a promising manager, he needs to be given time to address the myriad of complex issues that face this current Chelsea side. The task in hand is simply far greater than anyone had previously envisaged and their decline has been sharp. However, the current plan by Villas-Boas to attack the media for perceived ‘persecution’ is both embarrassing and laughable in equal measure. Dare I say it; the only person with a biased viewpoint is the manager himself.
Sao Paulo edged within a point of Palmeiras at the top of the Campeonato Paulista after they beat Corinthians 2-1 on Sunday.In a battle of two of the division’s heavyweights, Sao Paulo needed to bounce back from a 3-2 loss at Paulista while Corinthians had extra motivation knowing a win could move them top.
But it was not to be as Sao Paulo joined Corinthians in a tight battle at the top and kept the pressure on the league leaders.
In a fiery match, Dagoberto gave Sao Paulo the lead at the Arena Barueri just four minutes before half-time to give his side a boost.
Goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni then doubled the lead after 53 minutes, with the keeper’s free-kick marking the 100th goal of his career.
Ceni holds the world record for goals scored by a goalkeeper and was booked for taking his shirt off amid the celebrations.
He was not the only player booked with Corinthians’ Alessandro, Dentinho and Sao Paulo’s Dagoberto all sent off within a 10-minute period early in the second half.
Dentinho managed to score six minutes before he was given his marching orders, but it was not enough for his side as Sao Paulo defeated their rivals for the first time in 12 meetings.
Santos joined Sao Paulo and Corinthians on 34 points, one off the lead, with a 3-2 away win at strugglers Ituano.
Jefferson fired the 17th-placed side into the lead after 23 minutes but goals before half-time from Tiago and Keirrison handed Santos the lead.
The win looked wrapped up when Jonathan Cicero added a third and although Allan added a late consolation, Santos held on for a win that keeps them very much in title contention.
In other matches, Linense thumped Botafogo 4-0 thanks to a double from Pedrao and strikes from Tarracha and Eder Marcelo, Americana won for the first time in seven with a 3-1 home triumph against Sao Bernardo and Ponte Preta and Paulista played out a goalless draw.
Everton have been handed a massive boost just one week before the start of the new Premier League season after midfield maestro Mikel Arteta agreed a new five-year contract with the club.
The 28-year-old Spaniard will now remain at Goodison Park until the end of the 2014-15 campaign and becomes the fifth player to agree new terms this summer, following in the footsteps of Tim Cahill, Seamus Coleman, Jack Rodwell and Leighton Baines.
Arteta told the club's official website:"What this summer has made me realise is how important I am to the club and how important the club is to me.
"The chairman and the manager wanted me to stay 120 per cent and that makes me feel proud. We are all seeing the club and the future in the same way and that is special – something that you don't always find.
"I believe in this squad. We have got a very strong squad now and it is getting difficult to pick an 11 because of the players we have. Something is happening here and I want to be a part of it."
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Arteta has been with the club since January 2005, scoring 30 times in 173 appearances for the Toffees.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
In light of yesterday’s article about the dwindling support for youth prospects perhaps it’s time to consider some of the positives we are faced with. Just because our top clubs aren’t directing the sort of effort that they should be it doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of bright young talents about. Whether they’re closely guarded or out in the public eye these young talents are what remind us to laugh us to laugh at Rio Ferdinand’s downturn in form rather than lament it. Every time we fear a replacement for certain positions won’t turn up we’re relieved to find out that someone called Jack Wilshere appeared and that Carrick or Barry won’t have an important role in the European Championships this summer. Thank god.
So here are the top ten English youth prospects – click on Lewis Dunk to unveil list
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Sunday’s showcase friendly between Brazil and Scotland has been marred by allegations of racial abuse directed at Santos star Neymar.Brazil emerged 2-0 winners in the international friendly match, with forward Neymar scoring both goals in a stand-out performance at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
But reports have emerged of a banana being thrown onto the pitch in north London, with 19-year-old Neymar claiming to have been racially abused during the match.
“This atmosphere of racism is totally sad,” Neymar told Brazilian television channel Sportv.
“They were jeering me a lot, even when I was about to kick the penalty the entire stadium was jeering.”
“We leave our country to play here and something like this happens. It’s sad. I would rather not even talk about it, to keep the subject from escalating.”
Neymar became the target of Scotland fans after a lengthy period of treatment by the Brazil physio following a seemingly innocuous challenge in the first half.
“The reason Neymar was booed was because we believed he was feigning injury during the course of the game,” Scotland fan groups representative Hamish Husband said.
The throwing of bananas at black players was a regrettably common occurrence during British football in the 1970s and 1980s.
Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva is believed to have removed the banana from the pitch.
“There is no more space for racism in the world,” Leiva said.
“They say it’s the first world here in Europe, but it’s where it happens the most.”
“That has to change. Everybody is equal today, it’s a matter of respect.”
Neither manager claimed to have witnessed the incident.
“I didn’t see that,” Brazil coach Mano Menezes said.
“We didn’t have the displeasure of watching it. If it happened it is lamentable but we don’t have confirmation of the event.”
Scotland boss Craig Levein added: “I don’t know anything about that.”
It is not certain who threw the banana, which came from a section of the stadium populated largely by Brazil fans.
Reports suggest Everton midfielder Dan Gosling has left the club and is available on a free transfer after a tempestuous saga.
The Premier League were asked to make a ruling after the highly-rated 20-year-old midfielder was not given a new contract offer in writing.
The club claimed that they offered Gosling a new deal verbally, but nothing was put down in writing by the required date.
The Premier League have now ruled that Gosling is free to move on as Everton did not make a written contract offer.
Newcastle United, Sunderland and West Ham United have all been linked with Gosling who is currently recovering from a serious knee injury.
The England Under-21 international is rated at £4million but Everton are not expected to earn a penny for his services because of a legal loophole.
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The former Plymouth Argyle youngster is free to speak to any club and negotiate his own terms, which are likely to include a huge signing-on fee.
He scored six times in 18 starts and 19 substitute appearances for Everton since making his debut on Boxing Day 2008.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email