Tottenham’s Robbie Keane has reportedly been targeted by Martin O’Neill and the Villa boss is supposedly eager to sign the striker in the summer window. Weekend reports stated Harry Redknapp would want Gabriel Agbonlahor in exchange for the Irishman. So, if the deal was to ensue this summer, which club would benefit most, Spurs or Villa?
Keane has failed to hit the heights since his Spurs return and failure to secure a regular first team start prompted a loan move to Scottish giants Celtic in February. 16 goals in 19 games saw Keane recapture some form, but it remains to be seen whether Tottenham will give him another opportunity next season to prove he has a future at White Hart Lane.
The weekend reports suggest that Spurs have valued Keane at approximately £12 million; a fee that the NOTW suggest Villa are after for Agbonlahor. Redknapp is looking to add to his current squad this summer, as he plans his assault on the next season’s European and the domestic competitions, and Agbonlahor’s pace will certainly add a different dimension to the Tottenham attack. It remains to be seen if O’Neill would be tempted to part company with Agbonlahor in any swap deal, or whether a straight cash move for Keane would be the preferred option.
The 23-year-old Villa forward appeared 41 times, whilst bagging 16 goals in all competitions for his club this season. Agbonlahor is not known to be a prolific striker, far from it, but his explosive pace no doubt causes the opposing defence some major problems.
So with that in mind, which club would profit most from the proposed transfer this summer?
Having looked at both players’ statistics last season, it’s clear to see that Keane’s goal ratio is far better than that of the Villa striker. The Spurs man goal ratio stands at 1 goal in every 2 games, where as Agbonlahor’s is 1 goal every 2.5 games.
The Villa no.11 unquestionably possesses more pace than Keane, but the Spurs man is a far better finisher without a doubt. Many will question Agbonlahor’s quality when bearing down on goal, but these critics must take into consideration that the Englishman is still young and learning the trade. At 29 years of age, Keane bags more experience and as such has a vaster knowledge of the game than that of the Villa striker. Both players share European experience but of course not at the highest level.
If you were to ask the neutral fan on who the better striker is, and as such, which club would benefit most from the possible move, the result may prove to be a fairly unanimous one.
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Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber hopes to keep Landon Donovan in his homeland for the rest of his career, dashing Everton's hopes of signing their former loanee.
The 28-year-old forward impressed while on loan with the Toffees last season, but a permanent deal for the LA Galaxy ace looks increasingly unlikely.
Garber commented:"He's become a real football hero.
"MLS needs football heroes and we have a great American football hero playing for us in LA, holding the torch for the sport in our country and that's very important.
"I don't believe that it's something we can do without.
"Landon proved in England last year on loan and he proved in South Africa that he's a world-class player and he's also proved that he loves our league and really has accepted the mantle of really being one of the leaders of the sport.
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"It is my hope and my expectation that we will have him for the rest of his career, because I think the contributions that he makes are invaluable to our future success."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Owen Hargreaves persistent injury problems have alerted Sir Alex Ferguson to the possible availability of the Real Madrid midfielder Lassana Diarra. The 25-year old Frenchman may be deemed surplus to requirements at the Madrid club following Jose Mourinho’s purchase of the German midfielder, Sami Khedira. Injury concerns and the need for new blood in midfield have led to reports that Manchester United are preparing a bid for the French international.
The player who was spared the ignominy of being included in France’s 23-man World Cup squad due to a stomach condition, arrived in West London in 2005 amid talk of being the new Makelele. However a lack of first team opportunities saw the midfielder leave Chelsea for Arsenal where he was largely outshone by Mathieu Flamini. Dissatisfied with his lack of playing time once more he moved to Portsmouth where he was finally able to showcase his combative style of football. The player felt the move was vindicated as he helped the south coast club win the FA Cup for the second time in their history and won a place in France’s Euro 2008 squad. His consistent performances at Fratton Park did not go unnoticed especially by the former Tottenham boss Juande Ramos. When the Spaniard arrived at the Bernabeu for a brief sojourn as manager he identified Diarra as the man to provide some defensive resilience to balance the side’s attacking flair.
Soon after arrival there in January 2009, Diarra won the support of the fans due to his exceptional work rate and presence in midfield despite his size. He is accurate and strong when tackling allowing him to come away cleanly with possession of the ball. The player is not known merely for his defensive qualities as once in possession he has the ability to set the tempo of the game, distributing long range passes and quick incisive ones too. These considerable and varied qualities have seen him deployed in varying positions, including at right back for Los Blancos.
With injury concerns and the need to refresh their midfield in the coming years, could Manchester United be tempted to snap up Diarra? His industrious agent would surely be only too happy to facilitate another big money move for him but there are questions over his potential place in United’s midfield. Sir Alex Ferguson does not have a reputation for being a tinkerman but the United boss shuffles the pack in terms of personnel and formations more than most. Diarra would therefore be sure of a role in their midfield but it is unlikely he would be the fulcrum of the side. The Real Madrid player may find his chances limited by the ever improving Darren Fletcher. The Scottish international has been a revelation at Old Trafford in recent seasons winning the confidence of his manager and playing regularly in the biggest games. His commanding displays have allowed him to control the midfield, neutralising even the most skilled players whilst charging from box to box assisting goals and scoring them too. Despite the all-round skills of Fletcher and Diarra the manager may feel that deploying two players of the same ilk would sap creativity in midfield.
Diarra’s qualities would make him an asset to any club and the player is to be admired for his desire not to be a bench-warmer. His chances at Madrid have recently been restricted by the World Cup winning Xabi Alonso. While he would provide strength and quality to United’s midfield he may find himself in a similar position up against Fletcher whose stock continues to rise in Manchester.
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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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Defender Martin Skrtel is the latest Liverpool player to pledge his future to the club by signing a new contract.
The Slovakia defender has penned a two-year extension which ties him to the Anfield club until summer 2014.
The new deal for Skrtel follows the pledges of allegiance made by key duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres following Roy Hodgson's arrival as manager earlier in the summer.
"I have been at Liverpool for nearly three years and I really like it here. I like the city, I like the club and I like the fans so I'm happy I am able to sign a new contract," he told the club's official website.
"Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in the world so I am proud I can play here for four more years.
"Before I came here a lot of people thought I wasn't good enough to play for Liverpool, but I think I have shown I am."
Liverpool paid Zenit St Petersburg £6million for the centre-half in January 2008 and Skrtel has gone on to make 55 Premier League appearances.
He added:"Lots of things have changed at the club this year with new players, a new manager and new medical staff.
"The spirit is very good and we showed that against Arsenal with a great performance. We can build on that and carry it on.
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"We have quality in the dressing room and I know we will do better this year.
"A club like Liverpool deserves to win trophies and I will help them do that, hopefully this season."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Wigan Athletic have bolstered their defensive options with the capture of Scotland international Steven Caldwell.
Caldwell, 29, is the older brother of current Latics defender Gary and has signed a one-year contract at the DW Stadium.
He was available on a free transfer after leaving Burnley following their relegation from the Premier League last season.
"We have seen what Steven is all about during his time here – a leader on and off the field and he is a great personality to have in the dressing room," manager Roberto Martinez told the club's official website.
Caldwell has been training with the Latics for a number of weeks and Martinez hopes his arrival can help tighten up a defensive unit which has conceded ten goals in their two opening Premier League games.
He continued:"He has shown real professionalism in his time with us and we are delighted to have him on board.
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"He has good experience of the Premier League and has played in the Champions League and UEFA Cup, plus is a full Scotland international.
"He is a totally committed defender who will add fantastic competition to the squad."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
To be dubbed ‘the next Zidane’ or ‘the next Ronaldo’ is usually the kiss of death for aspiring, young footballers. Whereas other players tipped for the top, will go onto prove themselves as the real deal and reach the peak of their profession. Here is a list of ten of Europe’s best young talents who just may actually live up to the hype and expectation.
10. Douglas Costa, 20, Shakhtar Donetsk
Eye-catching 20-year-old Douglas Costa’s reputation soared following a string of impressive performances for Brazilian side Gremio, where he scored on his debut. Compared favourably to Brazilian legend Ronaldinho, Costa also starred at the South American Youth Championship in January last year.
His performances led to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk tying the quick-footed attacker down to a five-year deal earlier this year. Costa has astounding vision, magical dribbling skills and is a specialist from set-pieces. His early performances at his new club have seen him linked with a move to Old Trafford.
[youtube LcZPye-oSqY]
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9. Alan Dzagoev, 20, CSKA Moscow
Dubbed as the ‘future of Russian football’, attacking midfielder Alan Dzagoev has spent the last two years plying his trade with the Army Men. Similar in style and stature to Arsenal’s Andrei Arshavin, the 20-year-old is quick, intelligent and extremely skilful.
Dzagoev already has eight caps for Russia and has recently been linked with a move to Chelsea. The playmaker impressed Sir Alex Ferguson during his side’s 3-3 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford in November 2009, scoring an outstanding goal from an acute angle in the entertaining Champions League clash. Watch the goal below-
[youtube HW7rZrYDPBE]
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8. Marko Marin, 21, Werder Bremen
German sensation Marko Marin made a multi-million pound move to Werder Bremen last summer where he has impressed with some inspiring performances.
Marin made two appearances at the World Cup in South Africa, however the midfielder made little impact. Despite this, Marin has been tipped to light up the Bundesliga this season and Inter Milan manager Rafael Benitez admitted he was a huge fan of the attacking midfielder before his side’s clash against the Germans yesterday evening.
[youtube YlMCNLUj0A4]
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7. Moussa Sissoko, 21, Toulouse
Tottenham Hotspur had a bid of over £15.5m rejected for box-to-box midfielder Moussa Sissoko last summer, a player who is also attracting interest from Barcelona and Inter Milan, as well as a host of other Premier League sides.
Having broken into the TFC side at 18, Sissoko quickly established himself as a first-team regular, where his powerhouse performances have earnt rave reviews. He has also featured for France on several occasions. Check out his best bits, in a questionable Big Brother style montage below-
[youtube 3ITBvggd3R0]
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6. Edin Hazard, 19, Lille
Modestly described on one sports website as ‘the best talent in the world’, sprightly attacker Edin Hazard has spent the last few years terrorising defenders in France where he has made 77 appearances for Lille.
Already a key member of the Belgian national side, Hazard was voted Ligue One’s Young Player of the Year consecutively from 2009, the first time the award has ever been presented to a foreign player. It has been won in the past by luminaries such as Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery and Zinedine Zidane. The former has also personally recommended the player to the Real Madrid hierarchy, saying:
“Eden is technically gifted and very fast. He will be a major star in the future. I would take him to Real Madrid with my eyes closed.”
[youtube VQTyv2oh5AA]
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Continued on Page TWO
5. Stevan Jovetic, 20, Fiorentina
Curly haired Serbian winger Stevan Jovetic announced himself to the rest of Europe with a well-taken double in Fiorentina’s 2-0 win against Liverpool in the Champions League in September exactly a year ago.
The player’s agent claimed both Manchester United and Real Madrid were trailing the ‘Montenegrin Messi’ over the summer. Jovetic however suffered a knee injury in pre-season, a cruel blow which will keep him on the sidelines for up to six months.
Technically-gifted playmaker Miralem Pjanic moved to French side Lyon in 2008 where he has established himself under manager Claude Puel.
Pjanic scored the goal that knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League last season and has since taken Brazilian legend Juninho’s No.8 shirt at the Stade de Gerland. The future certainly looks a bright one for this talented youngster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hKBoofuHDY
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3. Romelu Lukaku, 17, Anderlecht
Romelu Lukaku is currently scoring for fun in the Belgium league and is at present one of the hottest properties in world football.
Lukaku was prolific at youth level, scoring an astonishing 68 goals in 68 matches with FC Brussels and 121 goals in 88 matches with Anderlecht.
At 15, the forward managed to score 26 goals in 17 matches despite playing against opponents four years his senior. Since breaking into the Belgian side’s first-team, the striker has already plundered 25 goals in 57 games and attracted interest from both Chelsea and Barcelona.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zwqE3dxwps
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2. Sotiris Ninis, 20, Panathinaikos
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Greek sensation Sotiris Ninis has been hitting the headlines in his homeland ever since becoming the second youngest player ever to wear the Panathinaikos shirt at the age of 16.
His performances have seen him linked with a move to Old Trafford as a potential replacement for midfield maestro Paul Scholes. Football’s world governing body describes him as:
“Ninis is equipped with delightful technique, incredible vision, staggering pace and a shot of considerable power.”
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1. Alexis Sanchez, 21, Udinese
Known in his homeland as ‘the wonder boy’, winger Alexis Sanchez has already made over 100 appearances in club football.
Sanchez has pace, trickery and confidence in abundance and has already been linked with a host of top European sides. The exciting talent is a major fan favourite at the Stadio Friuli and any side keen on Sanchez will have to break the bank in order to sign one of the world’s most wanted footballers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY9FoCNlSsM
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Alexander Hleb is one of football’s oddest cases. During his time at Arsenal it was clear to see that he was a supremely talented footballer. Whilst never exactly a showboater, Hleb was always mightily good with the ball at his feet, capable of floating over challenges and he had the ability to pick out some wonderful passes. Yet one could never quite get away from the feeling that something was missing from his game. Perhaps this was a certain indecisiveness in the final-third – in fact, the figures speak for themselves. From 2005 – 2008 Hleb made 89 Premier League appearances for Arsenal – he scored just 7 goals. Just for a point of comparison, let us contrast this with Samir Nasri, who plays a similar role in the Arsenal set-up to the one once filled by Hleb. Nasri’s Arsenal career began in 2008 and he has since made 61 Premier League appearances, scoring 11 goals, a statistic more becoming of an attacking midfielder.
Despite this, it would be churlish of me to disregard the quantity and quality of the assists Hleb bestowed to Arsenal. He was also very much a player in the ‘Wenger-mould’ – in that he is one of the last players on Earth you’d expect to see belting a hopeful long ball forward. Hleb, perhaps to his detriment was predominantly an unselfish player, only daring to shoot when no other option presented itself to his left or right. Despite Arsenal and Barcelona sharing a similar style of attacking football and overall philosophy, it was still something of a shock when Hleb made his move to the Nou Camp in 2008. Many pundits wondered where Hleb would fit into the Barcelona squad. Unsurprisingly, Hleb found the competition too tough in Barcelona’s scandalously good midfield. At one stage Hleb admitted to the Daily Mail: “I regret my move from London, but unfortunately nothing can be done about it now.” He was sent out on loan in the summer of 2009 to his former club: VfB Stuttgard. Yet, the following year there was still no room for him within the Barcelona set-up and Hleb found himself seeking a return to the Premier League.
Hleb has mentioned numerous times in interviews that he misses Arsenal’s style of play and longs to be part of Wenger’s set-up once more. However, an offer from the Gunner’s chief was not forthcoming. Despite reports that there were offers on the table from Tottenham and Liverpool (although he appears to have dodged a bullet here) Hleb eventually found the healthy wage-packet he would be receiving from Birmingham City’s billionaire owner too tempting an offer to turn down. On deadline day the Blues were able to secure Hleb’s services on the basis of a season-long loan from Barcelona. Alex McLeish seemed delighted claiming that “On paper he’s up there with the best players I’ve ever signed. He’s definitely in that bracket of ‘world-class player’.” Hleb, himself is certain that Birmingham will combat ‘second-season syndrome’ and that they “can move much higher than ninth place” (where they finished last season).
On that account, time will tell. Time will also tell whether Hleb turns out to be a good fit for the Blues. Obviously Birmingham City is a whole different kettle of fish from the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona. Does Hleb have what it takes to alter his style of play and get ‘stuck-in’? Despite all these questions remaining up in the air, having a player of Hleb’s quality and ability can only be a good thing for City. My feeling is that if Hleb works hard for the Birmingham City cause, gets his head down and adds a few more goals to his game, he could find himself being courted once more by the top teams in the Premiership and abroad. He might even find himself peaking Arsène Wenger’s interest, who has shown in the last couple of seasons that he is not afraid to re-sign players. You have to wonder, when Hleb took to the field for the Blues last Saturday and Arsenal began to reassert their control during the second half of a rather tetchy game, did Hleb long once more to be a part of this fast, free-flowing football?
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Like some sort of anti-hero suit, whoever dons the Arsenal goalkeeping jersey seems to lose any sense of decision-making, command, communication or skill. Whether it is Manuel Almunia or Lukasz Fabianski, they are likely to fall victim to the intense pressure and scrutiny that they now face on a daily basis (as I myself am doing as I write these words). There is a target who the club approached, who subsequently turned them down out of loyalty to his current employers; not the Irishman on the Eastlands bench, or the aussie beach-bum in West London, but a Mr Krzysztof Dowhań. The coach has been brought to my attention by Michał Zachodny, who wrote an excellent article about the man HERE.
He is nearly as anonymous as his name would lead you to believe, but Dowhań is the current goalkeeping coach at Legia Warsaw, and just after the Gunners signed Fabianski, they tried to tempt his old coach to follow him to London. Dowhań was tempted, but ultimately decided that his heart remained in Warsaw, and that there was still work to be done.
The Polish national team have never been the most feared side in world football, and by the same token haven’t churned out a huge amount of talent to the top leagues. They do have however, have a decent record in producing goalkeepers. With Fabianski at Arsenal is the, in my opinion, more exciting Wojciech Szczęsny. Manchester United have Tomasz Kuszczak, Celtic employed the services of Artur Boruc before his move to Fiorentina, and Liverpool’s most recent Champions League victory included a memorable performance form Jerzy Dudek. All of the above have worked with Dowhań at some point in their career.
Having never made it as a professional himself, Dowhań began coaching at a relatively young age and hasn’t stopped since. He has adapted his own style of coaching with an emphasis on enjoyment, and easing pressure out of situations to maximise concentration. Those that have come under his tutelage have only the highest praise for him.
Maciej Szczęsny, father of Arsenal’s current understudy, and a former Polish international keeper himself (for anyone wondering, he is also the only player to win the Polish league with three different clubs) said of Dowhań:
“At 33, with the majority of career behind me, I didn’t think I could learn anything new. That is until I trained with Dowhań.”
Arsenal’s current goalkeeping coach, Gerry Peyton, has been at the club since 2003. After the particular relationship shared by David Seaman and Bob Wilson which was such a fruitful success, there may have been a problem filling that void. Jens Lehmann was a very good goalkeeper, clearly erratic at times, and obviously mad, but very good none the less. Since his departure, a problem has existed.
Under Dowhań, Fabianski was considered arguably the brightest light in young goalkeepers across the continent. At the moment his confidence is shot, and what may have done him the power of good was having his friend, and mentor with him when moving to a new country, new league and new challenge in his life, all at the age of 22.
Maybe there is now an argument for the club to try and lure Dowhań once more, even on a part-time basis? The goalkeepers I have mentioned above have all made mistakes, but their form was far better under Dowhań, and attracted their big moves in the first place. Perhaps it is merely a pipe-dream, and a solution that is, in all reality, not that feasible. For Arsenal, they have two young Polish keepers who flourished under a former teacher, and it is potentially much cheaper to acquire his skills in some form, rather than shell out on an expensive replacement. Wenger has publicly backed his keepers in blind vehemence; this could be a far more discreet, and in-house solution to a problem he, deep down, knows exists.
To READ Michał Zachodny’s article ‘Why Fabianski Isn’t Working’ then click HERE
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Today we have a look at the Premier League’s Top 10 most heated match ups. This countdown has everything from Hooliganism to boycotted breakfast cereal. Now it’s inevitable that some teams do not feature, they weren’t forgotten. So let’s see who made it!
10. Arsenal Vs. Manchester United:
Firstly, starting off our countdown with a huge bang, we have Arsenal vs. Manchester United. Who can forget Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane’s exchange in the tunnel prior to kick off? United were still smarting from Arsenal’s unbeaten season, and Arsenal were still smarting from United ending that unbeaten run in acrimonious circumstances the previous October. That game itself had a little extra curricular activity, with Cesc Fabregas showing early signs of his simply charming personality by (must say ‘apparently’ here) throwing pizza of all things at Sir Alex Ferguson. What a way to kick off our Premier League top 10 most heated match ups. This game had it all!
9. Next up we have Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal. These two teams have played out some truly memorable encounters. During the 2005/2006 season the rivalry intensified as the campaign threw up n engaging finale as the two clubs battled it out for fourth place. The outcome went to the final day when Spurs, hit by food poisoning, lost to West Ham and Arsenal triumphed to finish two points above their rivals and deny them a Champions League berth.
8. Swansea vs. Cardiff is another encounter that never fails to entertain. The question remains why? Is it Swansea’s inferiority complex as they remain the countries second city, or is it because in 1965 the Swans annihilated their rivals Cardiff 5-0? This match has always been tainted by not only on field competition but by “off field violence leading to away fans being banned from the fixture for many years.” Check out this clip to get a sample of the rivalry between the two clubs.
7. One of the oldest derbies in the world is the ‘Black Country Derby’ fought out between West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. This rivalry is said to be so fierce because the competition goes much deeper than football. For that reason it is perhaps no surprise that it came out top in the Football Rivalries Report 2008.
6. This next fixture has amassed the most amount of red cards than any other in English football history. With Everton and Liverpool football clubs in such close proximity it comes as no surprise that these two clubs have developed such a rivalry. It must be said that the rivalry between these two clubs goes beyond their close location. The rivalry between the clubs, and the divide between the fans, is always ferocious and passionate and the matches always reflect that. Look how much it means to the fans as Everton score in the dying minutes of extra time to take them through to the next round of the FA Cup.
5. The rivalry known as ‘The Roses Rivalry’ is between Manchester United and Leeds United. “The name of the rivalry is derived from the historic Wars of the Roses which was carried out between the House of Lancaster and the House of York” It is fair to say that the intensity of this rivalry is just as fierce on the pitch as it is off. “During the 1970s when British football hooliganism was at its height, the fights between Leeds’ Service Crew and Manchester United’s Red Army, two of the most notorious hooligan firms in Britain, became known as some of the most violent clashes in British football.” Even today there is high level security on match days proving that the rivalry is still and as tense as ever.
4. Next up we have Newcastle vs. Sunderland. In light of yesterday’s game it is fair to say that this one of England’s biggest and most heated match ups. This rivalry is at once a historical one, however it is noted that some Newcastle fans refuse to buy bacon, because of its red-and-white appearance and some Mackems boycott a particular breakfast cereal, because of the Newcastle-orientated marketing of its brand.
3. Who can forget Keegan’s famous outburst prior to Newcastle United’s match against Manchester United? It was during the race for the 1995–96 title that Keegan famously directed remarks at the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson during an interview on live television. You can see how much this match up meant to Newcastle Boss Keegan in this clip
2. West Ham and Millwall both originated in London’s East End. They have one of the most bitter and longstanding rivalries in English football history “starting in the early years of the 20th century between rival dockers at two London shipyards on either side of the Thames.” Even to this day the rivalry is still as fierce and bitter, during a league cup game in 2009 tempers flared, there were three pitch invasions, violent clashes between supporters and horrifically one fan was stabbed and left fighting for his life. Check out these match highlights to see the ill feeling between the two sets of supporters!
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1. Finalising our count down we have the ferocious and bitter rivalry between England’s two most celebrated Football Clubs. Liverpool and Manchester United’s rivalry “can be considered as a manifestation of one which already had existed between the two cities since industrial times. During this time both were competing with each other for supremacy of the north-west” On the field the rivalry is even fiercer, Gary Neville, die hard united fan and player has never hid his emotions. In 2006 Neville was berated by Liverpool fans for his role in celebrating in front of the kop, kissing the crest on his jersey and appearing to shout angrily towards the fans. The look of passionate hate on his face led to an FA review.
So as I previously said some teams have not made it onto the count down so why not leave comments and bring them to the attention of everyone.
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In case you missed it, Spurs beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates this weekend. They haven’t beaten Arsenal away from home since 1993 – that’s 17 years. They’re currently sixth in the Premier League table but the result was important not because of the 3 valuable points that Spurs garnered, but because of the significant confident boost it’s likely to offer the players. It’s a result that’s sure to play as significant a role in Tottenham’s season as their two performances against Inter Milan in the Champion’s League. It means that they’re not looking over their shoulder any more to see which teams are catching up with them, but looking forward with the confidence that they can overtake the likes of Bolton and Manchester City.
Yet prior to the second half of the North London derby, things were cast in a significantly different complexion. Arsenal were 2-0 up and dominating the game. I’d love to know exactly what Redknapp told the players as they slouched into the dressing room. Whatever it was, the reaction is sparked was nothing short of amazing.
Arsenal looked like they thought they had the game won. They decreased gears, started coasting and gave Spurs a chance to get back into the game. A chance that their two star players this season, Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart took with glee. Arsenal seem to be too soft, too malleable to be considered title-contenders this season, but what of Spurs?
I will not side with the BBC’s Phil McNulty who believes Spurs to be genuine title contenders this season. Such a belief is nothing but reactionary. The fact is that Spurs have yet to add consistency to their game. One week they’ll beat Inter Milan, the next they’ll lose to Bolton. They do not have the steel and spirit we associate with teams like Manchester United.
For the moment they need to concentrate on picking up fourth place. They have tough competition from the likes of Bolton and Manchester City, but they have the squad, and in Harry Redknapp, the manager to see them make it into the last Champion’s League position. Despite being sixth in the League, the result against Arsenal has put them in the driving seat. If they show that kind of spirit and determination week in and week out, they’re sure to see their way to fourth place.
Where they’ll be in two-three years time is another question entirely. Harry Redknapp, if he isn’t snapped up by England is a man capable of turning Spurs into a real force in the Premiership and beyond. He has told the press that all he needs is two more world-class signings to be competing for the title. I don’t disagree – if Spurs had two more players on their books of the quality of van der Vaart or Bale, they’d certainly be competing for honours.
Before Spurs can consider themselves title contenders, they need to start expecting wins and not hoping for them. That means that they should come to Arsenal not as outsiders, but as a team expecting to win. It’s consistency, which Arsenal currently have and that Spurs are lacking. If things continue in the same vein for Tottenham, that’s something that’s sure to change.
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