The Soccer Blog: March 2011

Thursday, 31 March 2011

Grant laments bad timing

West Ham manager Avram Grant is angry last week’s international break came when his team had finally hit a good run of form.

Grant’s men spent long periods of the season slumped at the foot of the Premier League table but a recent upturn in fortunes has seen West Ham haul themselves out of the relegation zone.

Before the international break West Ham had suffered just one defeat in six league games but the side could have lost that momentum going into Saturday’s match against Manchester United.

Grant said: “We wanted to play last Saturday because we were on a good run.”

“We had good momentum but this is how the fixtures have worked out and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.”

“International breaks are not good for the clubs because there are so many Premier League players in international teams. We need to respect the way the fixtures are.”

“From our point of view things are good because it looks like everybody is fit but with West Ham you never know.”

Influential midfielder Scott Parker impressed in England’s 2-0 victory over Wales on Saturday – a mature performance just days after the death of his father. Grant was full of praise for the 30-year-old’s attitude.

He said: “He is a good lad, a positive lad who is good for the team. Scott Parker is maybe the best midfielder in the league this season.”

“He is doing a job that some other players don’t like to do so much. I am pleased he has been recognised by England because he has deserved that for a while.”

West Ham will be without goalkeeper Peter Kurucz (knee) and midfielders Jack Collison (knee) and Junior Stanislas (groin).

Thu 31 March, 2011

Champions League qualification crucial for Bayern

This season Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have endured an awful season by their high standards.

The Bavarian giants are currently fourth in the German top flight, seven points behind second place Bayer Leverkusen.

Second

Germany currently only has two automatic Champions League spots and a place in the Champions League play-offs.

Finishing in the top two of the Bundesliga is imperative for the German giants. As striker Mario Gomez admitted the Bayern players don’t fancy a trip to Bulgaria to play in front of 3,000 fans.

Bayer Leverkusen, as I have mentioned in previous articles seem to get an attack of nerves just when they look set to be successful. Ironically Bayer are managed by Bayern-bound head coach Jupp Heynckes but look to be in pole position to clinch the automatic Champions League spot.

Leverkusen have enjoyed another good season and if they can avoid their annual end of season collapse then they should be able to clinch one of the automatic Champions League spots. However it’s unlikely that they can catch runaway leaders Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga.

The Bundesliga surprise package Hannover 96 are currently third two points ahead of Bayern. Bayern will be confident that they can leapfrog the minnows into third place.

Underachieving

Bayern Munich should have performed far better than they have this season with the players they have in their squad. Unfortunately even the biggest clubs struggle when their star players pick up injuries.

Bayern star wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben have been missing from the side through injury for large periods of the season. If the pair had been fit then maybe the season wouldn’t have been the struggle it has been.

Bayern had a lot to live up to following last season’s fantastic campaign, as Bayern won a domestic treble and also got to the final of the Champions League. It would have been near impossible for Bayern to have been as successful as last season.

Future

Bayern will be looking to secure Champions League football for next season with ex-head coach Jupp Heynckes returning to the club from second place Bayer Leverkusen. Heynckes won two Bundesliga titles in his first spell at Bayern and he will be hoping that when he arrives the club are in the best possible shape.

He will inherit a squad from Louis Van Gaal full of underperforming international players. The current Bayern squad will need to impress between now and the end of the season if they are to be in Heynckes plans for next season.

I can see Heynckes having a full overhaul of his squad. If reports are to be believed Heynckes could raid his former club for some of their top players.

Reputation

For now though current boss Louis Van Gaal has the task of trying to ensure the club make the Champions League and retain their reputation as one of the biggest clubs in Europe. No doubt next season the Bavarian club will enjoy a better season because by Bayern’s standards it couldn’t really get any worse.

Can Bayern secure an automatic Champions League spot in the Bundesliga?

Thu 31 March, 2011

Seedorf: Leonardo no issue in derby

AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf insists the team will not be distracted when they tackle the Inter Milan side of former coach Leonardo.

Serie A leaders Milan meet cross-city rivals Inter – second on the Serie A table – in an all-important derby clash on Saturday.

Of added significance is the fact that Inter will be lead by Brazilian manager Leonardo, who coached Milan last season.

But Dutch veteran Seedorf is confident the squad will not be deterred by the sight of the Milan favourite on the opposition bench.

“We will play against the players, not against Leonardo,” Seedorf said.

“I wish him good luck as I wish good luck to everyone.”

Milan – aiming to win the Scudetto for first time since 2004 – top the table by just two points ahead of Inter, who have claimed the last five championship titles.

“I think Inter Milan deserves respect, but AC Milan too for what we’ve done this season up to now,” Seedorf said.

“We must keep looking for the respect and possibly increasing it by playing a great match. A great match by a great team and great group (of players).”

“In my whole career I’ve always thought it is important to have class on the pitch, any moment, really any moment.”

“We need facts, and not words and we know how to do it.”

Thu 31 March, 2011

Arrest made in Dortmund bomb threat

German police have made an arrest after three explosive devices were uncovered outside the stadium of Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.

A 25-year-old man was arrested in Cologne on Tuesday after attempting to email anonymous tips to the authorities about planned attacks.

Explosive devices were found and defused in a car park outside the Signal Iduna Park stadium.

Another device was found in the man’s flat, together with chemicals and extensive material on creating explosives.

The man was reportedly intending to blackmail local businesses and had no connection to terrorist groups.

He had previously been detained in 2010 as a suspect in an unresolved extortion attempt.

“The suspect was apparently acting on his own with a criminal motivation. There was no danger to any third parties at any time,” an interior ministry spokesman said.

Dortmund have confirmed that Saturday’s home match against Hannover will go ahead as planned.

“We expect no security threat at all for the upcoming Bundesliga match on Saturday,” Dortmund police spokesman said Michael Stein.

“The visitors are invited to come to Dortmund. They will be safe here.”

The Federal Crime Office launched an investigation in February after the German embassy in Islamabad received an email tip off about possible attacks.

Fri 1 April, 2011

Schalke´s Rangnick hoping first impressions last

New Schalke coach Ralk Rangnick is satisfied with the effort shown by his players and wants them to match it on the pitch against St Pauli.

Rangnick, who resigned from Hoffenheim in January, took over at the Veltins-Arena on March 17, replacing Felix Magath.

The 52-year-old, entering his second spell in charge of the club, likes what he has seen from the squad so far during training sessions.

Rangnick’s first match back in charge comes away to relegation-threatened St Pauli on Friday, where he will be looking for a win to kick start his new reign.

“My first impression is very good. The boys worked well,” Rangnick said.

“They paid attention and showed a good effort. It’s the first game tomorrow and I hope we get three points against St. Pauli.”

“I expect a team that is willing to go out and work hard for 90 minutes … then you can afford one or the other little mistake. And I don’t think St Pauli will be free of mistakes.”

“For me it is important that the team is lively and shows our supporters that they know what it is all about. They have to do it happily and with great effort.”

Rangnick, who has also coached Stuttgart and Hannover in a 28-year managerial career, believes the club’s expectant fans must be patient while he seeks to make changes from Magath’s tenure.

“It is clear that we can’t teach the team a complete new way of playing within eight or ten days, especially if you have an incomplete squad. This would be unrealistic. We have to be patient now. It is about showing the team step by step.”

“Some might have thought it works if you skip a step here and there, but that is not right. We need to show patience now. You also need to show intuition and develop the team towards the direction we want it to be.”

Fri 1 April, 2011

Premier League to crack down on ref abuse

English Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has announced a crackdown on the behaviour of players and managers next season.

A new campaign will target the abuse of match officials, specifically incidents of players surrounding referees during matches and managers calling the integrity of referees into question.

The Football Association, the Premier League Match Officials’ group and the Professional Footballers’ Association will all be consulted before the campaign comes into force.

According to Scudamore, all 20 top-flight clubs agreed to implicate the new policy, following a string of high-profile rows over referees this season.

“The clubs unanimously backed the idea that at the start of next season we want to raise the bar,” Scudamore said.

The most notable incident involved Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who received a five-match touchline ban after criticising the performance of referee Martin Atkinson during United’s 2-1 defeat away to Chelsea on March 1.

“I think we do need to concentrate on the player and manager relationship with the referee this time, as every one of us knows that there have been elements of unacceptable behaviour,” Scudamore said.

“As to what we think is unacceptable; it’s vitriolic abuse towards match officials and that has on occasions gone unpunished; the surrounding of referees is unacceptable … and also the undue criticism, where it spills over into questioning the referee’s integrity or his honesty.”

The League Managers’ Association have reportedly expressed their support for the program.

Fri 1 April, 2011

Penarol beat Copa group leaders

Penarol beat Godoy Cruz de Mendoza 2-1 on Thursday to move within a point of the Copa Libertadores Group Eight leaders.

Uruguayan club Penarol took the lead three minutes before half-time at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

Striker Juan Manuel Olivera connected with a corner from Antonio Pacheco to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

Argentine visitors Godoy Cruz de Mendoza levelled through an own-goal from veteran Penarol fullback Dario Rodriguez on 57 minutes.

But the home side were not to be denied and midfielder Andres Freitas restored their lead with what proved to be the winner in the 70th minute.

Penarol are now third in the group with six points, behind second-placed LDU Quito on goal difference and a point back from leaders Godoy Cruz.

Independiente are bottom with four points.

Fri 1 April, 2011

Spurs hoping for repeat performance in more ways than one.

By: Elmesy | March 31st, 2011
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bagdes Spurs travel to Wigan on Saturday for an away trip that brings back good memories of last season. As the season comes to a close there is a feeling of deja vu for us spurs fans. Have we not been here before? A boggy churned up pitch at the JJB stadium, Wigan struggling at the bottom while Spurs are fighting it out with Man City for fourth. Of course we have seen this before.

Last season, the situation was almost identical going into the corresponding fixture as Pavlychenko and Defoe grabbed the goals in a three nil win as we ran out comfortable winners.

Roll on twelve months and only a fool would predict an equally comfortable victory this time round, as a stuttering Spurs side are in danger of passing up the opportunity to establish themselves in the top four. Even less of a man would go for Defoe and Pavylchenko to get the goals (or any of our strikers for that matter). With our forwards hitting more blanks than Les Dawson and his chequebook and pen, there is much cause for concern as the 2011 version of this fixture draws nearer.

Roberto Martinez has got Wigan playing some good football since he took over the club and that is exactly why they find themselves at the foot of the table. It is a testament to Martinez pav scores that he has tried to adopt this total football ethic. Particularly at a club that is not blessed with the quality of squad that some managers may have at their disposal. It seems to be common among the up and coming managers these days that attractive football is the way forward. Holloway, Martinez and Di Matteo have all adopted this philosophy and although it has won the team many neutral admirers. The more important commodity of points has not been so easy to come by.

Teams that are struggling at the foot of the table have to dig in and produce the fighting qualities that are needed to survive a relegation scrap. Playing your way out of trouble in the premier league is almost unheard of. Many teams have been relegated despite attempting to play good football and the phrase “they are too good to go down” usually applies to these clubs. Teams like Stoke City and Birmingham have prided themselves on their dogged performances and never say die attitudes that have kept them afloat in the premier league in recent seasons. Martinez will need to instil some of this fight in his side if they are to remain a premier league club for next season.

Of course Spurs are the stronger team and of course we will be clear favourites, but despite all the similarities with the fixture of 2010 one glaring difference if apparent. In 2010 Spurs did not have the distraction of a Glamour tie against Real Madrid waiting just round the corner.

Having to focus on qualifying for next seasons champions league instead of enjoying the over achievement in this years competition, is something that has proved beyond us in recent games. One could lay the blame at the feet of our strikers, but they would probably miss that too. Luckily for us, these dropped points and misfiring games have come at a time when other teams in the top echelons of the league have also dropped points or taken them off each other.

martinez Due to our slip in form recently the league table is taking another familiar look to that of the 2010 season. The showdown with Manchester City at Eastlands looks like it could once again determine the outcome of the much coveted fourth spot.

The good news is that City are falling apart quicker than Gareth Barry’s England career. First they had the Kolo Toure slim fast plan, and now Mario Balotelli seems to be on a mission to prove he can waste his undoubted potential by becoming the biggest self obsessed idiot in world football. He is currently more “Moron d’Or” than “Ballon d’Or”. The problems at the club are rife and the pressure on them to qualify is more than it is for Spurs and this will work in our favour.

After Wigan away at the weekend we will play five home games and three away games in the league. Despite the away games being Chelsea, Liverpool and of course City, the home games are very winnable (including the scum). That sets the importance of the Wigan result even higher. As the saying goes “every game is a cup final from here to the end of the season”.

In reality, the only Cup Final Spurs can play in is at Wembley in May. That would be after victories over the two best sides in World Football. That’s some ask, and with reality in check our players need to realise that if they don’t beat Wigan on Saturday, they had better make the most of their visit to the Bernabeu, because it could be the last time they get to go there.

Some Related Spurs Posts:Spurs Are Where They Should Be, Without Over-PerformingSpurs’ Ideal ScenarioPressure Is Getting To Spurs In Push For Fourth PlaceJermain Is Not A Happy TeddyThe Dynamic Way Forward For Spurs.

Category: Team News

Tags: Champions League, Jermain Defoe, Players, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Spurs, Team News, Tottenham, Tottenham Hotspur, Tottenham Hotspur Official Site
Tweet « A Last Hurrah For Spurs | Home | Comments | Add your comment hhggffki | March 31st, 2011 at 2:45 pm

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Harry Redknapp, England manager? (Awful writing) Is It Too Early to Get Excited About Sturridge? Denmark 1 - 2 England (Via Hamlet) more news...

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Ashley Young - a good addition?

Ashley Young – a good addition? - The Offside - Manchester United blog

« Vidic plays 90 mins for Serbia | Home | Ashley Young – a good addition?By: Shaun | March 31st, 2011
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young So we’ve been persistently linked to Young as of late. The rumors will no doubt intensify on the back of some solid performances in an England jersey and being personally commended by Fabio Capello.

I’m trying to imagine where he would fit based on the personnel we currently have.

If Valencia stays fit, I can’t imagine him not commanding a regular spot on the right wing. God knows that would be our key to helping Rooney go on a scoring tear again.Nani’s form has been sensational this year and he’s flexible enough to play out on the left wing and drift infield to get his fill of shots on goal.

Where then does Young fit in? He’ll cost too much to merely be a sub or Carling Cup regular. Would we play him behind the forwards in a role that he’s thrived in the past 2 weeks? To go with a formation that consists of Valencia, Nani, Young and a duo of Rooney/Berba/Chicharito/Wellbeck?? would require strong clean up guy sitting in front of our backline.

Ultimately, a failure to first shore up our midfield defensively with the addition of more guts and grit would reduce our (potential) acquisition of Young to nothing more than a really expensive luxury.

Some Related Man United Posts:News/rumors from around the web – Jan 2ndNews/rumors from around the web – Feb 15thNews/rumors from around the web – Jan 20thNews/rumors from around the web – Jan 11thWayne Rooney – gone?

Category: Manchester United, Transfer Speculation

Tags: Manchester United, transfer rumors, Transfer Speculation
Tweet « Vidic plays 90 mins for Serbia | Home | arn00bI see him not so much behind Berbs/Chich and Rooney, nor taking Valencia's place, but more on the wing and and slightly advanced than Raul Meireles. He's most probably going to Liverpool, if not Spurs.

Don't think he'll go to United, there's no place for him and you already have forwards/strikers playing as wingers. You need someone in the central midfield soon since Giggs, Scholes and what'shisface number 4 are leaving soon. Unless you think that Park-Fletch-Carrick is a good midfield trio.Avfc_christypical manc talking out ya arseThomas K5he wont play in the championship with you bunch of spazs next yearblog comments powered by Disqus

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Thursday, 31 March 2011