The Championship is just starting to get into full swing as teams battle for places in arguably the most competitive and unpredictable league in English football.
Here at FootballFanCast we have teamed up with npower to offer you the chance to win a Pair of Tickets for three lucky home fans to the following three matches that all take place this Saturday on the 6th November:
Bristol City v. Preston North End Derby County v. Portsmouth Queens Park Rangers v. Reading
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All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning is to answer the following question correctly:
Which team are unbeaten in the Championship this season?
A) Bristol City
B) Derby County
C) Queens Park Rangers
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Email your answer along with the game you would like to watch (either the match at Ashton Gate, Pride Park or Loftus Road) to [email protected].
The competition closes on Tuesday 2nd November and as there is only one pair of tickets to give away for each match you’ll need to make sure you get your answers in now!
Andy Carroll’s rise to prominence has been nothing short of meteoric. One week he’s bothering Arsenal, the next he’s a media target for his off-field behaviour, then he’s called-up to the England squad. Whether the Newcastle striker will actually line up at Wembley against France remains to be seen as Carroll faces a late fitness test on a groin injury.
The 21 year old has lit up the Premier League this season with a series of displays which has seen him dubbed the old-fashioned centre forward that England have been lacking for so long. It will be a shame if he doesn’t have a chance to make his debut against France tonight, but there’s no doubt that Carroll will have plenty of other opportunities to step into the England fold.
The only concerns regarding Carroll are not those of his quality or his ability, but of his off-field problems. England boss Fabio Capello had this to say regarding Carroll’s development: “Everybody makes mistakes when they are young. It is very important for him to be in the seniors because we have a lot of important players, who can stay with him and speak with him about what happens outside the pitch.”
There are those who believe that Capello’s selection of a man with two separate assault charges under his belt sends out the wrong message to young players. Whilst I would never condone Carroll’s actions, I don’t view his England selection as poor judgement on Capello’s behalf. The man has made some mistakes, and if he’s remorseful and wants to better himself both as a footballer and a human being, then there’s no point ostracising him or fiddling with his development as a footballer.
Despite his looks and his build, Carroll is only 21-years-old. He needs all the role models and decent advice he can get. It’s a shame he’s injured because to spend time with the likes of Capello – who has a reputation for not suffering fools, is something that would be sure to affect the young striker. His call-up to the England squad shouldn’t be seen as a license to do whatever he likes, but as an encouragement to better himself and to focus on the football.
The fact of the matter is, if Carroll listens to his superiors and cleans up his act he has a good future ahead of him. It’s no exaggeration to say that he could be an England great. If he repeats his mistakes his future will begin to look bleak. There is no shortage of people willing to lend Carroll their support and help curtail the more reckless side of his personality. This is a man with a history of violence towards women. If he doesn’t change his ways nobody will have any interest in his England future. Carroll – you can have it all, or have nothing. It’s decision time.
If you’re interested and want to hear more feel free to follow me on Twitter, where you can also keep right up to date with the latest Newcastle United news!
The January transfer window is fast approaching, and in recent times it has become something of a ‘bargain market’, with Premiership clubs looking to unearth some cheap gems from the Football League. Here is a look at some of the more likely sought after players from the Football League, that the top-flight sides may decide to take a chance on.
Lewis McGugan
The Nottingham Forest midfielder has been in devastating form for the Reds this season, scoring some quite sublime goals to propel him to the top of the Forest scoring charts. It’s a fantastic turnaround for McGugan, after having to work a lot on his fitness in the summer after being criticised about his weight and attitude by manager Billy Davies. The Nottingham- born man has responded well to the Scot’s call, and has returned this season with a real appetite for the game. He already has nine goals to his name, of which at least five will all be challengers for the Championship goal of the season. McGugan has been linked to West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa and he is sure to be one of the most sought after players in this January window.
Andy King
The Welsh international has revelled in his new role as skipper of Leicester City, since manager Sven Goran-Eriksson gave him the role after he took over at the Walkers. King has really matured as a player over the last couple of seasons, and the Foxes are reaping the rewards this campaign with King being the catalyst in their side and the midfielder has chipped in with nine goals. After becoming a permanent fixture in the Welsh set-up, the 22-year-old is bound to be attracting the attention of some top-flight clubs. However, with Leicester now being bank-rolled by their new Thai owners, who are expecting promotion this season as a minimum, it is unlikely that they are going to cash in on their most prized asset.
Charlie Austin
The former brick-layer has come a long way since being released by Reading for being too small. After that set-back, Austin played semi-professionally for Poole Town in the Wessex league while continue to earn a living with his brick-laying. That was until Swindon Town took a gamble on him and he has repaid the Robins by firing them to the League One Play-Off final in his first season in professional football. Austin has continued his goal glut this campaign, already having 14 strikes to his name and he could be a gamble worth taking for some top-flight clubs, and almost certainly most Championship outfits.
Kris Commons
The Derby County playmaker is a hated figure in Nottingham, after he left Forest for arch rivals Derby in 2008, but outside of there the Scottish international has a whole host of admirers. Since Nigel Clough took charge of the Rams and moved Commons into a more central attacking role rather then his, at the time, accustomed role as a left winger, Commons hasn’t looked back with some eye-catching displays. He is the Rams’ top scorer this campaign, and with him stalling on a new contract he could certainly be a player that top flight clubs may look to take on the cheap in January- or even for free at the end of the season.
Scott Loach
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The Watford stopper earned national recognition when he was called up to the England squad earlier in the year, and since then has further enhanced his reputation with some fine displays in goal for the Hornets. Has been touted as a real star of the future and has been linked in the past to Villa, Fulham and even Arsenal. Whether Loach is ready to be plunged straight into a side going for the Premiership title remains to be seen, but Arsene Wenger remains less than convinced with his current goalkeepers and may be tempted to take a gamble on Loach- admittedly this is unlikely, but stranger things have happened.
A professional performance ensured a vital 3pts in the kick-off to Tottenham’s festive programme. Harry Redknapp’s men sit comfortably just outside the top four and in striking distance as they approach the second half of the season.
At FFC we have seen a mixed bag of articles which includes a power shift in North London; Benzema the ideal acquisition and Tottenham swoop highlights plight.
We also look at the best Tottenham articles around the web this week.
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The TEN Premier League Players of the season so far…in my view
TOP TEN Grand Entrances in Football sponsored by Heineken
If I can only sign one player for Spurs this January, it would be him
In light of George Graham’s comments, do Tottenham play more attractive football than Arsenal?
The FIVE most frustrating things about being a Tottenham fan
Tottenham’s young duo gives Redknapp food for thought
ITV’s insincere support for Tottenham is not welcome
Tottenham’s approach provides a refreshing change from the norm
There’s no power shift in Manchester, the real shift is in London
FIVE strikers Harry has his eye on to strengthen Spurs
Tottenham swoop simply highlights Liverpool’s plight
* The best TOTTENHAM blogs around the web this week. *
Me like Meelan – Dear Mr Levy
It’s a (Xmas) cracker – Spurs Musings From Jimmy G2
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I’m Not Modric’s Agent But… – Who Framed Ruel Fox?
Aston Villa 1-2 Spurs: The Barcelona Five Minutes – All Action No Plot
Harry & Levy Crash Spurs Player’s Christmas Party – Harry Hotspur
The Unwritten Rules of Football – Dear Mr Levy
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Defender Gabriel Milito is intent on staying at La Liga club Barcelona, despite being linked with a move away from the club.
The Argentina international has struggled to make an impact at Barcelona since his move in 2007 from league rivals Real Zaragoza, with an ACL knee injury one of several fitness setbacks during his time at the club.
Milito, 30, has made just six appearances for Barca in all competitions this season and has reportedly been targeted by clubs in the English Premier League and Italy’s Serie A.
But, after careful consideration, Milito has announced his intention of staying at the La Liga powerhouse.
“I have had a few days to make a decision, to take stock of the situation, when I haven’t been playing through injury,” he said.
“But I’ve realised that now is not the time to leave the club.”
“I enjoy the day-to-day atmosphere at the club, I like my teammates, I like watching the team when I can’t participate.”
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“I think that the best thing for me is to stay, to continue, and to respond when it is my turn to play.”
“I’m set on staying and am keen to play. I want to help the team to take points, and that is one of the reasons behind me staying. There are different situations, but I feel differently now.”
It’s always a sad moment when one of the great players who you grew up watching decides to hang up his boots. Edwin Van der Sar recently announced that he was going to retire from all forms of the game when the season ends in May. So in honour of the 40 year-old stopper, here is a rundown of the long and decorated career of Edwin Van der Sar.
Ajax (1990 – 1999)
Van der Sar’s first club in his native Holland was Ajax and he made his debut after graduating from their much heralded youth academy in 1990. He was at Ajax during a golden period for the Dutch giants and played in the same team as fellow Dutch greats Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Marc Overmars and the De Boer brothers. During his nine year spell in Amsterdam, Van der Sar not only helped Ajax win numerous domestic honours, but also the UEFA Cup in 1992 and the Champions League in 1995. It was while at Ajax that Van der Sar netted his only senior goal – a penalty against De Graafschap in 1998. Under the guidance of Louis van Gaal, Van der Sar became one of the best goalkeepers in the world and won awards such as the ‘UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year’ and the ‘Dutch Golden Shoe’.
Juventus (1999 – 2001)
Van der Sar joined Juventus during an uncharactically quiet spell for the Turin side – they failed to win a single major trophy during his two year stay and only triumphed in the now defunct Intertoto Cup in 1999. Juventus finished second to Lazio and Roma respectively in 99/00 and 00/01 but during these two seasons Van der Sar only conceded a total of 47 goals, by far and a way the fewest by any team during this time period. However, Van der Sar’s days in Italy were numbered when Juventus splashed out an astonishing £32.5 million for goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in 2001.
Fulham (2001 – 2005)
Van der Sar then shocked many when he made a £7 million move to newly promoted Fulham in 2001. It was thought that Van der Sar, who had just turned 30, had gone to Fulham to see out the remainder of his career, but that was not the case. Fulham secured their Premier League status in their first season and Van der Sar, who made 127 total appearances for the club, played in 37 league games that year. He continued to add to his medal collection when Fulham won the Intertoto Cup in 2002.
Manchester United (2005 – 2011)
Alex Ferguson finally ended his quest for a top quality goalkeeper when he signed Van der Sar from Fulham for a fee believed to be £2 million. While at Old Trafford, Van der Sar’s career experienced something of a renaissance. 14 years after winning it first time around, Van Der Sar won the ‘UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year’ in 2009. Domestic honours were the norm during his time at Old Trafford where he has added a further nine medals to his collection. In the 2008/09 season Van der Sar went 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal, breaking Premier League, English, British and world records along the way. United won the league that year and only conceded 24 goals along the way.
International career (1995 – 2010)
Van der Sar made his international debut in 1995 against Belarus at the age of 25. He represented Holland in six major tournaments and, at the age of 38, was included in the ‘Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament’. He had the ill-luck to be knocked out of three consecutive tournaments on penalties between 1996 and 2000. Van der Sar retired from international football after Euro 2008, but was convinced to play on two more occasions in the build up to World Cup 2010. He kept clean sheets in both games and took his total international cap tally to 130. Van der Sar has played more minutes in European Championships than any other player.
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At the time of writing, Edwin Van der Sar has 776 league appearances, 130 international caps and 25 honours to his name to his name.
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Louis Saha scored four goals against Blackpool on Saturday as Everton beat Blackpool 5-3. This showed what a really great player he can be on his day. Looking back on his career, I wonder what he could have achieved if the French striker had stayed fit. Sadly though, he will never be as good as he might have been because of his injuries and will be remembered along with the likes of Michael Owen as a player whose fitness hampered a potentially great career. After all, who gets injured as often as Louis Saha?
People may have had worse injuries that have caused them to quit the game, but few have had as frequent and as varied injuries as Louis Saha. Back, knee, hamstring, calf – Saha has done them all, and it begs the question; are his legs made of glass?
Saha began his career at ambitious Fulham and showed his potential and ability before being signed by Manchester United for £12.8m. Despite a bright start at Old Trafford, his career became riddled with injuries in the 2004–05, 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons.
In Saha’s five seasons at Old Trafford, he featured in only 86 games, and scored a respectable 28 goals. Many of these appearances were as a substitute while trying to return to fitness. But when fit he was good; Saha scored 15 goals in 2005–06 and his partnership with Wayne Rooney as well as his own goal scoring form were part of the reason why Sir Alex Ferguson allowed Ruud van Nistelrooy to leave for Real Madrid. He also represented France during this period and scored 4 times. Saha showed his class and displayed a good goal scoring record against the bigger clubs too, but never managed to put a few seasons together and become the great player he could have been at United.
When Saha joined Everton it was a bit of a gamble from David Moyes as his fitness was unknown. He played on a ‘pay-as-you-play’ deal because of his reputation, but he managed to prove his fitness over the next two years where he played quite regularly. With a fit Saha Everton did well in the Premier League, finishing 5th in 08-09. When he doesn’t play Everton miss him and they have been overly reliant this year on goals from Tim Cahill in midfield. They will welcome his return to fitness and form. Moyes’s gamble on Saha has paid off but he probably still needs a second striker, I don’t think Jermaine Beckford is ready to lead the front line quite yet, though he is showing promise.
Saha’s lack of fitness must have been frustrating for his fans but even more so for Louis himself, and I am as happy as anyone to see him back playing regularly and now scoring. I hope he stays fit this year and builds on the 6 Premier League goals he has now notched up, to back up the 14 he scored last year. He is definitely Everton’s answer if he starts firing. He might be 32 but I imagine he is still hungry for football as he has missed out on so much, so injuries aside, he could play for another few years.
The fact that he has maintained a good scoring record despite the constant interruptions from injuries shows what a good player he is, but let’s not get carried away. Before this weekend he had only scored 2 times in 17 appearances, he shows glimpses of the player he could have been but is by no means that player at the moment. Like David Moyes said after his 4 goals against Blackpool, on his day he is “unstoppable”, personally I don’t think there are many in the division as dangerous from 18 yards as Saha, but his day has not come enough this season.
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He will be remembered as one of the most injury prone players in the last ten years of the Premiership along with Hargreaves, Rosicky and Kieron Dyer, but like I said at the beginning, who else gets injured as often as Louis Saha?
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This week Premier League leaders Manchester United failed to match the feats of Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea and only managed to secure a goalless draw at the Stade Velodrome against Marseille in the first leg of the last 16 of the Champions League. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men put in an average performance, but will be confident that the Red Devils can progress following the second leg at Old Trafford next month. One player who has been struggling for form the whole season is Wayne Rooney and, his stunning overhead kick against Manchester City aside, the England striker looks a shadow of his former self. Rooney was forced to operate from the left on Wednesday and failed to make much of an impact yet again. Here’s Wayne pleading in France, but what’s he saying?
Leave your suggestions below…
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This week you can win a copy of Football Manager 2011!
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Last week’s winner: Craig – click here to see all entries
Since the days when we were hiding from the sun in caves, man has used numbers to give himself a sense of place in the world.
First, early man learned to count on his fingers then on his toes. But once he got passed 20, he was stuck. Then some cleverer men came up with numbers past 20. Then they came up with numbers past 100.
Numbers were useful in lots of different ways. They could be used to count items of food, people in your tribe, the number of legs you were missing because a bear had eaten one and a whole bunch of other things!
Nowadays, we haven’t got that much use for numbers. Computers do everything for us! But one thing we do like to do is use them when we talk about football! Nobody wins a match by ‘oh gee…a whole bunch of goals!’ They win by 1 or 2 or 3. And with the FA Cup 5th Round over and done with, what better time to celebrate the magic of numbers then by running down some of the figures involved in the magic of the cup!
1,569,797 – That’s how many people have come to watch the FA Cup so far this season, according to the FA.
446 – The number of goals scored in the Cup this season. The top-goalscorers with 6 each are Reading’s Matieu Manset and Leyton Orient’s Scott McGleish. Leyton Orient have managed to score 16 goals, whilst Hereford conceded the most at 10.
1,758 – The number of shots on target. The number of shots off target is slightly less at 1,622.
1,636 – There’s been over 1,500 corners in the Cup this year, but only 75 goals scored from headers.
2,906 – That’s how many fouls there’s been, roughly half of what occurs in a match between Rangers and Celtic. Of those fouls committed, we’ve seen 403 yellow cards, but only 30 reds. Mark Clattenburg can’t have refereed every match surely? Dover Athletic managed to commit the most fouls without getting punished; 22 in total.
4 – The number of penalties awarded to Sheffield Wednesday. They managed to score all 4.
So we’ve seen more fouls than goals, but more headed goals than red cards! And we don’t know who’ll win it. Numbers….they really do tell us nothing. At least that’s what I told my maths teacher when I only got a C on my GCSE’s….
Follow Peter Turner, but don’t ask him to divide anything, on Twitter @petermagpie
Sir Alex Ferguson blamed referee Martin Atkinson for Manchester United’s 2-1 loss away to Chelsea on Tuesday.English Premier League leaders United took a 1-0 lead through Wayne Rooney in the 29th minute at Stamford Bridge.But David Luiz equalised for Chelsea on 54th minutes.The defender was lucky to not receive a second yellow card from Atkinson after tripping Rooney midway through the second half.Chelsea then benefited from a contentious penalty decision to win the match through Frank Lampard’s spot-kick with 11 minutes to go.”The penalty kick was so soft,” Ferguson said.”Deary me. But we played very well. It was a great performance by us. We didn’t deserve that.””That’s three years in a row (at Stamford Bridge) referees’ decisions have changed the game.”Ferguson struggled to comprehend how Atkinson failed to spot Luiz’s foul on Rooney. “It was incredible,” he said.”Even before that he’d done Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) off the ball. He’d done him late. Nothing done, the referee’s in front of it.””He does Rooney clear as day, (the referee is) six yards from it, he doesn’t do anything. That changed the game.””These are decisions that change the game. And he’s going to be refereeing every week.””But I’m proud of the players. They’ve endured a lot of decisions against them but they’ve come through it, they’ve done their best. They’ve created good chances.””They didn’t deserve that.”Even Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti admitted that Luiz may have been lucky to escape without punishment. “There was a lot of intensity and it was not easy for the referee to decide every time,” Ancelotti said.”David Luiz could be lucky but there was a lot going on on the pitch so the referee decided he didn’t see this.””We kept going with strength, intensity and power in our performance.””It was really good but if you don’t play well, you cannot beat Man United.””It was a good performance and we are still alive.”