Striker Fernando Torres is happy to put talk over his Liverpool future on hold until after the World Cup.
Torres' Anfield future has been brought into doubt following his claim that the ailing Reds need to sign "four or five" new players to bounce back from a disappointing season which saw them finish seventh in the Premier League table.
Chelsea have been linked with a £50million move for the Spain striker in recent weeks.
However, Torres insists he is thinking only of the World Cup in South Africa and shaking off a knee injury in time to be fit for Spain's opening game against Switzerland on June 16.
Speaking about the situation at Anfield with the club up for sale, Torres said:"I know the situation, I speak to the chief executive (Christian Purslow) and Rafa (Benitez) every week and I am aware of what is going on.
"I have tried to stay apart from them and re-focus on the national team so when the World Cup ends, we'll see what happens."
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Torres joined Liverpool in the summer of 2007 from Atletico Madrid and has since scored 72 goals in 116 appearances despite a number of injury problems.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Real Madrid are reportedly set to launch a bid for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and they will offer the club in excess of £30m plus either Rafael van der Vaart or Fernando Gago. With such a large offer would the club be making the right move in accepting the bid?
Everybody knows that Steven Gerrard is a world class midfielder and could probably play for any team in the world and so it’s no surprise that Real Madrid are interested in his services. As a symbol of Liverpool it would be heartbreaking for fans to see him go, just like it must be for Real Madrid fans to see Raul leaving the club this summer. However in both circumstances fans have to consider what more can they offer the club? And is it economically a good deal?
The answer in both circumstances is a resounding yes, Gerrard is now 30-years-old and to get that sort of money for someone that age is a great deal on it’s own, to get that amount plus quality midfield with it is even better. As for Raul the Spanish striker is 33 now and reportedly earns £3.3m a year at the club, so although he could maybe still have a part to play for them it would be better for Real Madrid to let him leave.
With Liverpool having very limited funds they probably need all the money they can get to go out and make new signings. The cash injection his sale would bring will enable Roy Hodgson to get them a lot of players and would significantly boost their chances of getting back into the top four next season. Both van der Vaart and Gago are great players and despite them being different types of midfielders, could both easily get into Liverpool’s team. It would just be a question of what is needed more, a defensive midfielder or an attacking one? Really a case could be made for either coming to the club with Liverpool already boasting Alberto Aquilani as an attacking midfielder and Javier Mascherano as a defensive midfielder. What would make an even better deal for the club would be if they could persuade Real to part with both midfielders plus the cash. Considering Madrid always seem to be happy to go out and buy new players it may not be such an improbable idea.
It will be very sad for everyone at Liverpool to see Steven Gerrard go and it will be a loss to the Premiership as well, but Liverpool have to look at the deal they’re being given and their current situation. It is a very generous deal and really they should be biting Real Madrid’s hand off. Nobody likes to see a symbol leave the club but unfortunately Gerrard isn’t Liverpool’s most important player anymore, that honour is now bestowed by Fernando Torres. The Spanish striker is the one player who Liverpool must do everything to keep as no doubt their resolve will be greatly tested this summer.
At 30-years-of age a move to Real Madrid would appeal greatly to Steven Gerrard as it is a club that everyone would love to play for, and the chance to represent them will probably not come around again for him. Although his departure would be with heavy hearts surely the fans would not hold it against him should he decide to leave. Gerrard himself will also recognise what a good deal the club will be getting with this transfer, and as a Liverpool lad himself he would want to ensure that they get the best deal possible for him.
Should Liverpool cash in on Gerrard, or simply spurn Real’s advances?
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Click on image below to see the Dutch babes at the World Cup
New Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson remains confident that star striker Fernando Torres will still be a Reds player next season.
The 26-year-old Spain international continues to be heavily linked with a move away from Anfield, but Hodgson has faith that Torres is going nowhere.
He told reporters:"As far as I know he is looking forward to coming back here – he is back on Monday.
"He is enjoying a holiday – a well-deserved break as he has not had one for three years.
"He is spending a lot of time with his family, keeping a low profile and as far as I know he is not really speaking to anyone.
"But he has told us that he is looking forward to Monday, looking forward to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season.
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"That is what I know, so other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
By Alex McLeish’s own frank admission another finish in the “Top 17” next season would be progression in itself for a Blues side looking to establish themselves in the top flight after their best place finish for 51 years upon their return to the Premier League. Whilst the Scotsmen is right to quell any over-exuberant and somewhat premature whispers about Europe..
Just how do Blues go about building upon such an excellent campaign?
1.Retaining the services of “Big Eck” – Alex McLeish’s signings last summer were as good as any, typified by the additions of Scott Dann and Roger Johnson from Coventry and Cardiff respectively as well as Barry Ferguson from Rangers but after such a startling season that saw Blues go 12 games unbeaten typing up McLeish’s contract may prove to be their best piece of business this time around.
2. Scoring more goals – Whilst there defensive performances took justified plaudits, Blues were a bit shy in front of goal scoring just 38 goals in 38 games and another striker to feed off 6ft 7inch Nikola Zigic may be essential if they are to try and match their achievements last term. Blues had been linked to Bobby Zamora for most of the summer and have more recently turned their attentions to AZ Alkmaar’s Moussa Dembele.
3. Looking to the future – Despite their experience the likes of Lee Bowyer, Stephen Carr and co will not be around forever and perhaps McLeish would be wise to take a closer look at January acquisitions Craig Gardner and Michel. The Spaniard has only featured nine times since arriving at St Andrews but his arrival was not without praise from SkySports Spanish correspondent Guillem Balague who described the former Sporting Gijon man as a good passer of the ball whilst comparing him in style to Javier Mascherano but with better passing range. After being given time to settle in, Michel may flourish this season under the guidance of a man who was so patient in the chase for his signature and he may add some much needed energy and elegance in the absence of Bowyer and Ferguson. Gardner made 13 appearances for Blues after the short trip from Villa Park, the last six matches on the right side of midfield due to Sebastian Larsson’s incline in form. A ‘bluenose’ himself, he endeared himself to the St Andrews crowds earning special praise for his performance against Aston Villa in an unjust 1-0 defeat. If Pre-season is anything to go by McLeish certainly seemed impressed with Gardner towards the end of last season and he may be used more frequently for Blues.
The addition of Crystal Palace full-back Nathaniel Clyne may also be a judicious signing if Birmingham are willing to stump up the £3million the club insist on for a player with such a bright future. Stephen Carr was resolute amongst the Blues back four but the eulogies about the young defender from the Championship tend to suggest he will one day play for a side in the top four and his natural pace and stature make him ideal to push Carr for a place in the first-team.
4. Continue to improve the infrastructure – If Birmingham are to progress on the pitch, progression off it may also be key and Peter Pannu’s pledge to invest heavily in the scouting network and the academy will be certainly enhance the club. Clubs like Everton and Fulham invest around £1.5 million into their scouting department in comparison to Blues’ £200,000 in the most recent past. If Blues are to stay in the Premier League for years to come, the right model for the academy set-up is required so that the club can prosper in future.
5. Hope that Foster can emulate Joe Hart’s season – The signing of Ben Foster from Manchester United is perhaps the best Birmingham could have done after Manchester City denied them the chance to keep hold of Hart. Hart was integral in Birmingham’s sensational return to the Premier League and this was reflected in his emotional farewell at the Reebok Stadium on the final day of the 09/10 season. They will hope that just like Hart, who struggled initially, Foster will exhibit his talents when thrust under the scrutiny regular first-team football will put him under and this may be key for Birmingham if they are to get anywhere near last season’s dizzy heights.
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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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For a moment, he was an Everton hero. His extra-time winner against Liverpool sent the Goodison faithful into delirium as the Toffees rallied to dump their cross-town rivals out of the 2009 FA Cup. Now, Dan Gosling will be remembered on the blue half of Merseyside for an altogether different reason: as a traitor.
Gosling has enraged Everton fans following his free-agent move from Goodison Park to Newcastle United. The midfielder retreated on a verbal agreement that would see him stay on at Everton and earn a significant improvement on his previous wages. The lack of a written contract meant Everton were powerless to stop Gosling from moving to St. James’s Park for no compensation.
Gosling’s decision to leave Everton is made all the more painful given that Moyes handed Gosling his first taste of top-flight football during his short two year stint on Merseyside. As my fellow FootballFanCast writer Zarif Rasul states, David Moyes has shown himself to be dedicated to developing youth talent within his ranks, with the likes of Jack Rodwell flourishing under Moyes’ astute stewardship. It seemed like a match made in heaven for a young midfielder looking to make a name for himself in the Premier League.
From a fan’s perspective, Gosling’s departure is hugely frustrating as a result of the hype that had been generated from a few good performances. As a young English midfielder at a prominent English club, Gosling’s on-field exploits were always going to garner speculation that he could be the next Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard. For those who bought into the some of that hype, his defection leaves those supporters feeling short-changed at the loss of a promising English talent to another club.
While some supporters might be feeling short-changed, Gosling’s agent certainly isn’t. Gosling’s agent, David Hodgson managed to secure his client a healthy pay-raise, along with a substantial signing-on fee to which he is entitled to a share of. The prevalence of an agent culture has led to accusations of greed towards players who attempt to hold their clubs to ransom during contract talks.
Moyes saw the potential in Gosling and he decided to repay the faith shown in his talents by leaving the club without a penny to show for their troubles. Gosling chose to turn his back on Everton after all they had invested in him, both on the pitch and off it. Since injuring his ACL against Wolves in March, Gosling had been using the Everton treatment room to rehabilitate himself back to match fitness whilst simultaneously trying to engineer a move away from the club.
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Rather than staying at Everton and attempting to break into the first team through dedication and hard work, Gosling has taken the easy way out.
What do you think? Will Gosling be a success at Newcastle or will his decision to leave Everton ultimately haunt his career?
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has returned to his former club, Fulham, to snap up the 29-year-old full-back Paul Konchesky on a four-year contract.
As part of the deal, Reds youngsters Lauri Dalla Valle and Alex Kacaniklic have moved to Craven Cottage.
The transfer comes as little surprise as Konchesky was at Anfield on Sunday to watch his new club edge past West Brom 1-0.
Konchesky made his name at Charlton Athletic, featuring in over 150 first-team matches for the Addicks before joining Tottenham on loan seven years ago.
After featuring in 15 games for Spurs, the defender returned to The Valley before moving to West Ham United on a permanent basis five years ago. He went on to make 70 appearances for the club before being transferred to Fulham in the summer of 2007.
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Konchesky made 122 starts for the Cottagers, helping Hodgson's then side reach the Europa League final last season.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez knows all about the highs and lows of a career in football. Tevez received national acclaim after scoring the winner that sunk champions Chelsea at the weekend, but was ridiculed for his miss in City’s defeat against Sunderland last month.
So here’s a few more horror misses that will make Argentine Tevez feel slightly better about his woeful effort against the Black Cats.
10. Jean-Claude Darcheville v Lyon
Former Rangers striker Jean-Claude Darcheville described his Champions League miss from three yards against Lyon as ‘the biggest disappointment of his career’.
The Scottish side needed just a point to qualify for the knockout stages in 2007 but conceded two late Karim Benzema goals following Darcheville’s unbelievable miss, and the chance to draw level from 1-0 down.
[youtube hnVyjzW_4Uk]
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9. Chris Iwelumo v Norway
Nerves obviously got the better of former Wolves striker Chris Iwelumo, who missed an open goal against Norway on his international debut.
Iwelumo was handed his first cap for Scotland at the age of 30 and the substitute proceeded to demonstrate just why he hadn’t been considered up until that point with a hapless miss in 2008. The World Cup qualifier ended 0-0 and was a major blow to the nation’s qualification hopes.
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8. Nwankwo Kanu v Middlesbrough
Former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu spoiled Bryan Robson’s return to management with West Brom in 2004 when he blasted the ball high into the stands from a yard in Albion’s 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.
Robson lamented the missed chance, saying: “It seemed far easier to put it in the net than over. It looked impossible.”
Luckily for Kanu, The Baggies survived relegation on the final day of the season and the lost points didn’t prove too costly.
Continued on Page TWO
7. Cristiano Ronaldo v Sheffield United
Proof that even the best player in the world can have an off day, after £80m man Cristiano Ronaldo missed from three-yards for Manchester United in 2006.
‘How did he miss from there?’ exclaims the commentator as the Portuguese superstar casually knocks the ball over the bar in a league game against Sheffield United, before looking for a hole in the ground to swallow him up. Watch the amazing miss below-
[youtube id3Q10Ntwmk]
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6. Peter van Vossen v Celtic
Dutch striker Peter van Vossen only made 22 appearances for Rangers and will be remembered for a shot described on the Ibrox club’s official website as ‘The Miss of the Century’.
Unfortunately for Van Vossen it happened in the Old Firm Derby against rivals Celtic in 1996. Luckily, Rangers held on to secure a 1-0 away win.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DEkKs_dj2I
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5. Yakubu v South Korea
Everton striker Yakubu can be inconsistent at the best of times and this conflicting streak was highlighted with this wayward miss against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup.
The Nigerians would have qualified from their group had they beaten the Koreans and Yakubu was blasted after the game by the slightly hypocritical Kanu, who also features on this list of astonishing misses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G55c8tFAIAQ
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4. Kei Kamara v LA Galaxy
Kansas City Wizards striker Kei Kamara does no favours for the tarnished reputation of the MLS with this astonishing miss earlier this year. He misses the ball completely before falling over and knocking it into the net with his hand. He even has the cheek to confront the linesman after the goal is disallowed!
Continued on Page THREE
3. Diego Forlan v Juventus
Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan restored his reputation as a clinical marksmen in Spain, during spells at Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, following a dismal two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford.
Forlan was also voted the best player at the 2010 World Cup, however here’s a little reminder of just why Sir Alex Ferguson sold him after this shocking effort in Manchester United’s 4-1 pre-season win over Juventus in 2003.
[youtube 6_A6QHdWcXg]
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2. Ilija Sivonjic v HNK Cibalia
Croatian footballer Ilija Sivonjic managed to miss from an incredible three inches away. Watch the attacker somehow manage to backheel it off the line below-
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[youtube QIa8UZ1S7yM]
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1. Rocky Baptiste v Borough and Waltham Abbey
Non-League striker Rocky Baptiste was guilty of one of the worst misses of all-time in 2009. After rounding the goalkeeper, Baptiste somehow managed to smash the ball out for a throw-in instead of rolling it into a gaping empty net.
Luckily the incident happened in extra-time with his side already 5-3 up, maybe this goes some way to explaining his casual execution.
Is there any I have missed? Leave your comments below. You can read more of my blogs HERE or follow me on Twitter. Thanks for reading.
There have been plenty of ‘dirty’ forwards in the game, usually in the form of big bustling centre forwards who seek to dominate the opposition’s defence by either fair means or sometimes foul. Football Fancast takes a look at five of the dirtiest forwards to have played the game.
1. John Fashanu
‘Fash’ was part of Wimbledon’s legendary ‘Crazy Gang’ of the early nineties, and he certainly fitted in with the club’s mantra of rough and tough play. Fashanu was a big, burly centre forward who acted as a target man and actually scored hatfuls of goals for Wimbledon. Fashanu though, is perhaps best known for a sickening elbow against Spurs captain Gary Mabbutt, which left his victim needing surgery for a fractured skull.
2. Kevin Davies
Kevin Davies has recently won a call up to the England squad for the first time in his long career, a reward for a very impressive spell at Bolton where he has constantly proven to be a thorn in Premier League defence’s side with his strong physical play. Davies physicality forms the crux of his game, and he holds the ignominious record of committing the most fouls of any player in Premier League history.
3. Alan Shearer
Alan Shearer is rightfully revered as one of the greatest strikers England has ever produced, and he is still the all-time top scorer in the Premier League. Shearer however, was also well known for his frequent use of his elbows which became an infamous part of his game as they flailed about inflicting damage on his opponents faces.
4. El-Hadji Diouf
El-Hadji Diouf is not one of the more well liked players in the Premier League arena. In fact, he can probably lay a strong claim to be one of the most hated after a series of incidents involving fans and rival players. Diouf is undoubtedly a talented player but his attitude stinks and he gained a reputation as a ‘spitter’ after gobbing in the face of Portsmouth’s Arjan de Zeeuw in 2004.
5. John Hartson
Welsh battering ram John Hartson played for a number of clubs in his career, and he always offered a big, strong and no-nonsense presence up front. He may not have been the most technically gifted of players, but there was no doubt he was effective at what he did, and his spell at Celtic was particularly successful. Hartson was not exacly averse to the physical side of the game however, and fouls by him were not rare. Hartson also leathered teammate Eyal Berkovic in the face with his sizeable boot in a training ground incident at West Ham.
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Whose missing from the list? Add the names in the comments below.
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As the curtains are drawn on the first quarter of the 2010/11 season and it is consigned to the archives of Premier League history, ready to be repeated ad infinitum over the summer months on ‘The Premier League Years’, there is one thing you can say about it; it has been far from dull. So as the clocks retreat an hour for the winter months, signalling frozen pitches, a cup of Bovril in the stands and the dreaded half-time temperature drop, here are 10 observations from the season thus far, in the months when a white football could still be seen at football grounds up and down the country.
IT’S ALL BUSINESS…
Surely the most talked about event in the first quarter of the season has been Wayne Rooney’s now infamous U-Turn on his contract at Manchester United, and with Robbie Savage’s comments yesterday about footballers being worth their outrageous salaries, this has highlighted once more that football is all about the money. With the EU trying to pull UEFA into line with other industries regarding its transfer policies, clubs treating their players like fiscal commodities and their fans like mugs, is it any wonder the players are treating clubs like cash cows?
…BUT FOOTBALL IS A VERY HUMAN GAME AT HEART
With all the greed and corruption rife within the sport, it is at times easy to overlook that at the most basic level these players and managers are human. Whether it has been the outpouring of emotion at Malcolm Allison’s passing, Avram Grant’s observance of Yom Kippur, Tony Pulis’ half-time intervention to guide Stoke to victory against Aston Villa after the death of his mother or Carlos Tevez’s alleged homesickness, these stories have put money and business to one side and brought the world of football down to earth.
THE MIGHTY CAN FALL
The shock of the season thus far must be Liverpool’s dismal start. The presence of the Merseyside giants in the relegation zone sparked a zealous bout of finger pointing at Anfield that is still continuing, with former manager Rafa Benitez having a somewhat cryptic go at current boss Roy Hodgson; ‘Some can’t see a priest on a mountain of sugar’, err, ok Rafa. But in the world of modern football this is a bit of a wake-up call to the bigger teams, namely that if you let things slip off the field, you can, and will, find yourself down the wrong end of the table.
IT IS STILL VERY OPEN With only 6 points separating Wolves in 19th and Tottenham in 5th the league is still very open after 10 games, and as Everton have proven with 2 wins and a draw in their last 3 games, a run of decent results can propel you up the table and have you chasing down European spots rather than glancing over your shoulder at the dark abyss of the relegation.
THE GAP BETWEEN THE CHAMPIONSHIP AND THE PREMIERSHIP IS NOT AS BIG AS WE ALL THINK There used to be a time when it was a matter of how many of the promoted teams would get relegated, not if any would at all. But with all three promoted sides lying in the top half of the table after 10 games for the first time in 10 years, there is a distinct possibility all 3 will experience a second consecutive season in the Premier League. But with the likes of Hull City and Burnley having made barnstorming starts over the past couple of seasons, Blackpool, West Brom and Newcastle will do well not to celebrate too prematurely.
The Title Race, United, Spurs and Holloway on PAGE TWO…
FORGET 5 HORSE OR 7 HORSE RACES, IT’S A 1 HORSE RACE… Having said how close the league table is at the moment, the biggest single points differential between two places is between Chelsea in first and Arsenal in second, and after 10 games there is already a 5 point gap. Of course it only takes two games to nullify this difference, but not only would that require Chelsea to slip up, it would also require the chasing pack to capitalise, something which, thus far, they have all failed to do. When Chelsea play well, they destroy teams, when they play badly, they grind out results, and having seen Manchester United do exactly this for the past two decades, the smart money must be on Chelsea to retain their title.
…HOWEVER, BEWARE THE RED DEVILS But with an unbeaten Manchester United sitting comfortably in 3rd place, on the same points as Arsenal, Chelsea, like the promoted teams, would do well not to count their chickens just yet. With the Wayne Rooney saga out of the way and a new striking sensation in Javier Hernandez beginning to hit top gear, United, under the indomitable Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking to cling to the reigning champions’ coat-tails as the season enters the New Year, with a particularly tasty looking tie at Stamford Bridge on December 19th providing a stern test of United’s credentials.
IT IS NICE TO HAVE A CHARACTER BACK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE Moaning is one thing, we hear it week in week out from Mick ‘broken record’ McCarthy, and to a certain extent from other managers, but moaning and ranting in a hilarious fashion is an entirely different entity. This is why it is great to have Ian Holloway in the Premier League. In a rather sanitised world of football it is always nice to watch an interview where you can honestly say you have no idea what is going to happen. Whether it is the fact he is a sandwich short of a picnic, or whether it is because of his thick West Country accent, Holloway provides entertainment every week and I salute him for that. A particular favourite must be his Wayne Rooney rant; ‘You buy a house you own the deeds… what if it’s 24 years you’ve had it for and then it can just toddle off and do what it likes’. What a world that would be.
SPURS CAN HACK IT IN EUROPE
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After a rather treacherous trip to Switzerland in qualifying, Tottenham very nearly didn’t make it to the Champions League at all, but having successfully negotiated that obstacle, Spurs are more than holding their own in Europe, currently sitting second in their group to reigning champions Inter Milan. With Gareth Bale lighting up Europe with sensational displays, Spurs will be hoping their first venture into Europe’s premier club competition for 50 years will carry on well into the New Year.
IT ALL BODES WELL FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON
As is the case with most seasons, the opening quarter has opened many a can of worms and, like an episode of Lost, has left you asking more and more questions without answering any of them. Will Liverpool rise out of their slump? Will Chelsea run away with the title? Will West Ham ever get off the bottom of the table? Will the promoted clubs stay up? And will Wayne Rooney ever be the same again? Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.
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West Bromwich Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo has admitted to being content at the Premier League high-flyers.
The Baggies temporarily moved up into fourth position in the table following Saturday's 2-1 success over Fulham.
But the Italian tactician is refusing to get carried away with life in the upper echelons of the top-flight.
He also paid special praise to playmaker Chris Brunt after he played a part in Youssouf Mulumbu and Marc-Antoine Fortune's goals.
"I am very happy where I am and very grateful for the opportunity I have been given here," he said.
"You can't have a long-term plan as a manager because you have a few bad results, you get questioned and then you get a ticket for your holidays.
"But my staff and I are very ambitious. When we arrived last year he had a season when he was in and out of the team, but I think he has matured a lot since then and he has become a tremendous asset for us.
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"He (Chris Brunt) is the kind of player who every week gives you a performance of eight (out of ten).
"He is somebody you can go to war with – you know he is on your side."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email