Arsenal Hope to Fix Defence With Bid for £10m Manchester City Star

Micah Richards is back on Arsene Wenger’s radar as the Arsenal manager sets about shoring up his defence this summer.

Manchester City star Richards has just a year left on his Eastlands contract and that has alerted Wenger, a long-term admirer of the player.

Arsenal have had problems in the heart of their defence, with Thomas Vermaelen missing through injury.

Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny played well together but Djourou has also had a spell on the sidelines, while a couple of high-profile gaffes

Redknapp rapt, Pulis blames defence

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said his side’s football was a pleasure to watch after their 3-2 win over Stoke at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Peter Crouch responded well from his dismissal in Spurs 4-0 loss to Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg, by netting the opener on Saturday, before Luka Modric doubled the hosts’ advantage after 18 minutes.

Matthew Etherington pulled one back for Stoke nine minutes later, but Crouch’s second put Spurs 3-1 up until Kenwyne Jones made it 3-2 four minutes before the break.

That was where the scoring ended, however, and Redknapp lauded the quality of the game in the first-half, before insisting his men had not given up on a Champions League semi-final berth despite their heavy defeat on Tuesday.

“I just enjoyed watching the way we played that first half so much. The football was absolutely fantastic. It was a pleasure,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“They never give up Stoke. They put you under pressure and we had to hang on at times.”

“I was delighted how we played, especially in that first half.”

“We had a setback at Real Madrid, but they could have beat anybody 4-0 when you’re down to 10 men.”

“We’ve still got a game to come here on Wednesday and who knows what can happen. We’ll give it our best shot for sure.”

“You’ve always got a chance. We need to get an early goal if we can. It’s a great game to look forward to – a dream game in the last eight of the Champions League. Let’s go and give it a real go.”

Stoke boss Tony Pulis felt his side let the game slip early on, but was pleased with the way his men fought the rest of the game out.

“It was a poor start,” he said. “I thought they were defending for the first 20-25 minutes just poor.”

“(They) just stood off and watched players play round us and there?s such good players at this football club and if you do that they cause you problems.”

“We?re really disappointed with the three goals we?ve conceded. Two great goals we?ve scored; Matty?s effort and Kenwyne?s were top, top draw, but we got a little bit closer in the second-half and gave them a run for their money.”

Sat 9 April, 2011

Redknapp rapt, Pulis blames defence

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said his side’s football was a pleasure to watch after their 3-2 win over Stoke at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Peter Crouch responded well from his dismissal in Spurs 4-0 loss to Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg, by netting the opener on Saturday, before Luka Modric doubled the hosts’ advantage after 18 minutes.

Matthew Etherington pulled one back for Stoke nine minutes later, but Crouch’s second put Spurs 3-1 up until Kenwyne Jones made it 3-2 four minutes before the break.

That was where the scoring ended, however, and Redknapp lauded the quality of the game in the first-half, before insisting his men had not given up on a Champions League semi-final berth despite their heavy defeat on Tuesday.

“I just enjoyed watching the way we played that first half so much. The football was absolutely fantastic. It was a pleasure,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“They never give up Stoke. They put you under pressure and we had to hang on at times.”

“I was delighted how we played, especially in that first half.”

“We had a setback at Real Madrid, but they could have beat anybody 4-0 when you’re down to 10 men.”

“We’ve still got a game to come here on Wednesday and who knows what can happen. We’ll give it our best shot for sure.”

“You’ve always got a chance. We need to get an early goal if we can. It’s a great game to look forward to – a dream game in the last eight of the Champions League. Let’s go and give it a real go.”

Stoke boss Tony Pulis felt his side let the game slip early on, but was pleased with the way his men fought the rest of the game out.

“It was a poor start,” he said. “I thought they were defending for the first 20-25 minutes just poor.”

“(They) just stood off and watched players play round us and there?s such good players at this football club and if you do that they cause you problems.”

“We?re really disappointed with the three goals we?ve conceded. Two great goals we?ve scored; Matty?s effort and Kenwyne?s were top, top draw, but we got a little bit closer in the second-half and gave them a run for their money.”

Sat 9 April, 2011

In Defence of Mark Clattenburg: Read Before Passing Judgement

6 comments by Poco T on March 7th, 2011

The internet is brilliant for meeting people and making friends, unfortunately I very much expect to do the opposite with this blog but here goes nothing

John W Henry And Linda Pizzuti Hail Liverpool Defence Under Dalglish

15 comments by The Newshound on February 25th, 2011

Liverpool owner John W Henry and his wife Linda Pizzuti have both praised the progress made under Kenny Dalglish.

Liverpool tickets available from Tixdaq.com

Watch West Ham v Liverpool live streaming with GetSport.TV

Arsenal play defence in Stoke victory

By Shourin Roy on February 23, 2011 10:12 PM | Comments | TrackBacksShare|

Theo Walcott was stretchered off with an ankle sprain which will keep him out of the Carling Cup final this Sunday. He was not the only injury substitution as Arsene Wenger decided to bring on Andrey Arshavin for captain Cesc Fabregas in the 14th minute amidst hamstring injury concerns. Arsenal were already missing Laurent Koscielny and Robin Van Persie.

However it was Sebastian Squillaci's 8th minute goal and his first for Arsenal that proved decisive. It was Nicklas Bendtner providing a deja vu moment and the assist for the central defender to nod the ball home. He had done the same last weekend against Orient with Rosicky the benefactor.

What followed in the first half was trademark high possession football without being too threatening. The killer entry pass was lacking although Arshavin tried putting Bendtner and Walcott through. The Russian seems to be relishing his role of instigator once more since his Barca goal with most of the attacks coming down the left.

But the second half was a different story as a renewed and physical Stoke came out smoking and put the defence to the test. Ryan Shawcross came close with a header deflected off Johan Djourou. Robert Huth came close with another header as Stoke resorted to set pieces. But Arsenal hung tough and one has to say Sebastian Squillaci had a good game at both ends. Johan Djourou was tough to beat in the air - he's been outstanding in that department.

Sunday's Carling Cup final will see an equally physical and determined Birmingham side. A bruised Gunners squad will have to dig deep to keep up with the crucial stretch end stretch.

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Mancini´s case for the defence

Roberto Mancini has called on his Manchester City team to tighten up in defence after their 4-2 FA Cup win over Leicester City on Tuesday.

Mancini’s side have conceded seven goals in their last three matches and were lucky to hang on for a 4-3 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League on January 15.

They shipped two goals in each of their FA Cup third-round matches against Leicester and Mancini knows they will need to improve if they are to maintain a title challenge.

“Our defending has been so-so,” Mancini told ESPNsoccernet.

“I don’t like 4-2 or 4-3 results. It is good for you but not good for me. I prefer 4-1s or 2-0s and 1-0s. Those are the results that win you titles.”

“We have conceded a lot of goals in the last three games, so we must be sure to work hard.”

Manchester City struggled to contain Leicester in the first meeting at the Walkers Stadium on January 9 and they were forced to contend with another spirited performance in the replay at Eastlands.

“It is always difficult in the FA Cup,” Mancini said.

“Leicester played very well in the first 20 minutes but after we played better and scored the three goals.”

“But again in the last 15 minutes, like against Wolves, we thought that it was finished and we conceded another one.”

Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was proud of his players for remaining in contention against one of the Premier League title challengers.

“We were in the game for 90 minutes at home, and 87 here, and that’s good,” Eriksson said.

“They were better than we were tonight, but we never gave up and from 3-1 down at half-time, coming back to 3-2, we’re in the game again and of course I’m happy with that.”

“It’s a little difficult. They have some better players than us, but I think we need to be proud.”

Former City manager Eriksson hoped his players would now reproduce their encouraging cup performances in the Championship.

“Maybe there will be some different type of games, but we have shown in these two games we can play good football and stand up to physically strong teams,” he said.

“The rest of the season is very much about that.”

Wed 19 January, 2011

Mancini´s case for the defence

Roberto Mancini has called on his Manchester City team to tighten up in defence after their 4-2 FA Cup win over Leicester City on Tuesday.

Mancini’s side have conceded seven goals in their last three matches and were lucky to hang on for a 4-3 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League on January 15.

They shipped two goals in each of their FA Cup third-round matches against Leicester and Mancini knows they will need to improve if they are to maintain a title challenge.

“Our defending has been so-so,” Mancini told ESPNsoccernet.

“I don’t like 4-2 or 4-3 results. It is good for you but not good for me. I prefer 4-1s or 2-0s and 1-0s. Those are the results that win you titles.”

“We have conceded a lot of goals in the last three games, so we must be sure to work hard.”

Manchester City struggled to contain Leicester in the first meeting at the Walkers Stadium on January 9 and they were forced to contend with another spirited performance in the replay at Eastlands.

“It is always difficult in the FA Cup,” Mancini said.

“Leicester played very well in the first 20 minutes but after we played better and scored the three goals.”

“But again in the last 15 minutes, like against Wolves, we thought that it was finished and we conceded another one.”

Leicester boss Sven-Goran Eriksson was proud of his players for remaining in contention against one of the Premier League title challengers.

“We were in the game for 90 minutes at home, and 87 here, and that’s good,” Eriksson said.

“They were better than we were tonight, but we never gave up and from 3-1 down at half-time, coming back to 3-2, we’re in the game again and of course I’m happy with that.”

“It’s a little difficult. They have some better players than us, but I think we need to be proud.”

Former City manager Eriksson hoped his players would now reproduce their encouraging cup performances in the Championship.

“Maybe there will be some different type of games, but we have shown in these two games we can play good football and stand up to physically strong teams,” he said.

“The rest of the season is very much about that.”

Wed 19 January, 2011

Arsenal Target £18m German Pair to Help Beef Up Defence

"Feb 20, 2009 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - BENEDIKT HOWEDES during the German league match between Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund at Veltins-Arena. The game ended in a 1-1 draw Photo via Newscom" /