Veteran striker Michael Owen is hoping his stay at Manchester United will be extended beyond this season.Owen, 31, signed a two-year-deal when he joined the Old Trafford outfit on a free transfer from Newcastle United in 2009, but now has less than six months running on his contract.
The forward has netted 13 goals in 37 matches during an injury-plagued stint with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, but still remains hopeful of signing a new deal.
“I am not sure about my future yet – my contract expires at the end of this season,” Owen told the club’s official website.
“I’ve made no secret that, in an ideal world, I would extend my stay. I would love to play here for longer, but I will just wait and see what the club say. We’ve not held any talks yet.”
Owen is in contention to play for his side against Chelsea in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Second-half goals to David Luiz and Frank Lampard gave the Blues a 2-1 victory in the last meeting between the two sides in March, but Owen believes United can reverse the scoreline this time around.
“Since I’ve been at the club the games at Stamford Bridge have been odd. We don’t get outplayed there, that’s for sure,” he said.
“Unfortunately we haven’t had many good results, though. I’m sure our luck will change at some point.”
“In the league last month we were 1-0 up and put on one of the finest displays of football Stamford Bridge has probably seen from a visiting team. I don’t think many teams go to Chelsea and play like that.”
“Then they got back into the game from nothing, really. Maybe we were a little guilty of contributing to our own downfall but we won’t let that happen again.”
Following Sunday’s final submission of any hope of a title run in, you could tell in Arsene Wenger’s eyes that 3 seasons of falling away in the last quarter of the season had finally taken its toll on the Frenchman.
They say the only way to start therapy is to admit there is a problem in the first place. I think now Wenger has finally admitted to himself that maybe things weren’t quite right.
The players, he believed would prove ‘project youth’ to be right and true, had succumbed again to a last minute panic. Arsenal had passed Bolton to death but, as has happened too many times this season, all that precision hadn’t led to the required bulge in the net.
The team, he set-up to allow Cesc Fabregas to display his undoubted talents, had finally shown that it was to the detriment of others, and that all the youthful exuberance and skill needed to be complimented with experience and good old grit and determination.
Don’t get me wrong, this is in no way an anti Wenger rant. The Frenchman knows the way and a damn sight more than I will ever know. However, maybe the Frenchman now realises that all is needed is a slight realignment!!!
So, with that all being said, here is my humble opinion. I believe we need 4 players and a slight tweak to our current formation to compliment ‘project youth’ and push the team into becoming serious title contenders.
Per Mertesacker
To play alongside Thomas Vermaelen. The German is a tall, no nonsense, imposing defender, who can bring calm and resolve to our defence, as well as cure our unbelievable weakness both defensively and offensively at set-pieces. Gary Cahill and Phil Jagielka are other options, but even if you have the money would you want to spend £25m on either?!
Javier Mascherano
The Argentine is struggling to hold down a place in Barça’s first-team. Mascherano knows the Premiership inside out and would add that desperately needed steel to a predominately lightweight Arsenal midfield.
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Eden Hazard
Probably the world’s worst kept secret. Arsene Wenger has tracked this kid for the past 3 seasons, and I think it’s about time we stumped up the cash before City or Chelski flash the millions and steal football’s most prestigious talent from under our nose.
Gonzalo Higuaín
This would prove real intent by the new owner and be a coup of monumental proportions. Given Ronaldo’s ego, Benzema’s resurgence and able backup from Ade ‘IdleBarnDoor’ and Kaka, Jose may be tempted by a substantial offer this summer. Most importantly, this would give Arsenal an out and out goal-scorer, something we’ve been craving since Ian Wighty left.
So, this would leave the Arsenal starting line-up for 2011/12 as:
Szczesny
Sagna Vermarlen Mertesacker Clichy
Mascherano
(2 of) Cesc Nasri Wilshere
Hazard Higuaín RVP
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The bench would read as seven from; Fabianski, Mannone, Koscielny, JoDjo, Gibbs, Rambo, Song, Diaby, Theo, Arshavin, Chamakh.
Plus, with the arrival of Wellington Silva and Ryo Miyaichi (visa’s permitting) and the emergence of players such as JET, Frimpong and Afobe, we wouldn’t miss the likes of Eboue, Denilson and (Big Time) Bendtner, now, would we?
I know a lot of you will say Championship Manager is a great world to live in, but these transfers are possible and just maybe, might be the ones to perform the revitalisation required to take The Arsenal to the next level and back to The Invincibles.
Well there you have it another Gooner telling Arsene what he should do!! Not really, just all hail the Internet to allow a fan who is as frustrated as Wenger to be able to ramble on and ‘just put it out there’.
We’re in hell right now gentlemen. Believe me. And our only two options are as followed – stay down there and get the sh*t kicked out of us, or fight our way back into the light and climb out of this hell.
Written By Steve Wellman at the excellent Gunnersphere
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Listen to the third episode of our brand new podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, who performs a live version of his cult tribute to Mark Viduka, with Razor on backing vocals!
Manchester City sealed their Champions League place with a 1-0 victory at Eastlands over Tottenham on Tuesday.Striker Peter Crouch – Spurs’ hero when the two sides met in almost exact circumstances a year ago – put through his own net in the 30th minute for the game’s only goal, settling what was in essence a fourth-placed playoff for a spot in the qualifying rounds of Europe’s premier club competition.
And the result means that the Blues can now turn their full attention to Saturday’s FA Cup Final against Stoke City and their first piece of silverware in 35 years.
The first chance of the game came when City winger Adam Johnson’s lay-off found Micah Richards, but his shot was blocked.
Moments later, City striker Edin Dzeko found David Silva and he pulled back cleverly for the Bosnian, but he shot straight into the stomach of Tottenham’s second-choice keeper Carlo Cudicini.
Cudicini was in goal for Heurelho Gomes, who Spurs claimed was the victim of injury and not overlooked after several uncertain showings.
Spurs controlled much of the play without troubling City, though they finally created a chance in the 20th minute when winger Aaron Lennon picked out Luka Modric, only for the Croatian to drag his shot inches wide.
City got the breakthrough when Spurs were punished for slack marking at a corner.
James Milner and Johnson exchanged passes before the former drilled in a low cross that Crouch could only divert past Cudicini.
Straight after the break, Steven Pienaar’s header from Aaron Lennon’s cross appeared destined for the bottom right corner, but City goalkeeper JoeHart managed to change direction and drop to make a fantastic save.
City adopted a negative style of play in the second half, leaving Spurs to try to break through.
A free-kick from 30 yards in an attractive position was sent straight into the wall by van der Vaart.
The hosts had a chance when Yaya Toure passed across the box from the right, but Silva slipped as he ran into acres of space to meet it.
Dzeko missed his own opportunity after a flick on from Silva, when his strike from in front of goal went high and wide.
The visitors took a short corner which was fed back to van der Vaart, but his shot from well outside the area was far off the mark.
Carlos Tevez’s substitution with seven minutes to go gave City much-needed energy and the striker made an almost instant impact when he worked the ball into the box and laid off for Patrick Vieira, whose shot narrowly missed the target.
Liverpool fans must be wondering what if Kenny had been appointed manager sooner as the Reds close in on a top five finish. Dalglish has performed absolute wonders at Anfield and you sense it is only a matter of time before he is given the job on a permanent basis.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Liverpool blogs that includes FSG deserve great credit for deal; £9m solution to the Reds pressing problem; while it would be criminal for Kenny to leave duo out.
We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.
*
Should Newcastle take Liverpool’s £5m and run, or hold firm?
Pledging future the final piece in Liverpool’s resurgent jigsaw?
Liverpool’s Top TEN Terrace Cult Heroes
It would be criminal for Kenny to leave duo out
Should Liverpool undertake such a transfer policy?
Why hasn’t it worked out at Anfield?
FSG and Liverpool deserve great credit for pulling off deal
Liverpool’s Top TEN Celebrity Supporters
Why Liverpool’s top transfer target won’t make the grade at Anfield
The £9m solution to Liverpool’s pressing problem?
Spurs and Liverpool to lead the £15m chase
* Best of WEB *
What it will take to become the ‘Bastion of Invincibility’ – Live4Liverpool
Class of Istanbul – Where are they now? – This is Anfield
Who needs Villas Boas when you have Dalglish? – Our Kop
Kenny For Good? – Tomkins Times
They are showing glimpses of Man Utd’s Class of 91 – Live4Liverpool
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Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes has revealed his delight at being able to secure the Champions League trophy at London’s Wembley Stadium.Goals from Pedro, Lionel Messi and David Villa were enough to hand Barca a 3-1 triumph over Manchester United on Saturday to claim their fourth Champions League trophy.
But it was at Wembley in 1992 under the legendary Dutchman Johan Cruyff that they claimed their first European Cup win, and Valdes said he was pleased the current crop of players had been able to replicate that victory.
“It is the fourth European cup for this club. You only need to speak about that,” Valdes said.
“It is a magical scenario for us like it was at Wembley in 1992 and we have won the title again in the same place.”
“For us it is something very special. It is without doubt very special. I hope that all the fans and people of Barcelona celebrate this victory a great deal.”
Valdes’ team-mate Xavi echoed the goalkeeper’s sentiments about the magnitude of the win, saying their triumph was one for fans of beautiful football.
“I am very happy, it is an historic and special moment for Barcelona,” Xavi said.
“The truth is it’s a unique moment. We have enjoyed it a great deal on the pitch, the people who have come to watch or stayed at home to watch it have enjoyed it.”
“We try and play for the people, we try and do it for the people. Today we think Barcelona played great football and deserved the win.”
Movies. Movies are great aren’t they? A wise man once said; “Men like films where lots of people die very quickly and women like films where one person dies very slowly”. Failing this of course, sports films can often do the trick for men in lieu of a decent body count per minute ratio. Except that is, if they’re football films. Football films are almost all universally rubbish. If they’re actually about football.
American sports fans can get stuck in to a wide variety of over dramatic cheesy waffle. Their homegrown sports are ready made for it. Ostensibly, a lot of American sports are geared more towards entertainment than sport anyway. Cheerleaders, hot dogs, silly mascots. All things football has tried to appropriate with varying degrees of cringe worthy success, and all aimed at making it more of a “day out”. Even the multi point scoring “something must be happening at all times or else our bums’ll fall off” logistics are cater made for the all action brainless blockbuster treatment. In fact almost all sports are so inherently dramatic and possessive of rich narratives that it’d be hard to find one you couldn’t make into a suitable movie of the week starring Ted Danson’s hair and Sean Maguire.
Of course, most sports dramas don’t depend largely on the sports themselves. In football films, the good ones don’t at all. Fever Pitch or Looking For Eric for example are both great films, that succeed entirely by virtue of at no point having any of the main characters be footballers.
When they are, the main bulk is usually taken up by the heart warming life story of some dashingly hansom yet brooding individual and their struggle to find time for their passion whilst working 3 jobs as a single parent and looking after their crippled black lesbian transsexual brother on life support …or something. The sports action usually comes as a climax and will almost always involve someone scoring something in the last seconds of play, often from a daringly maverick tactic of some sort that’s “never been done before” or has, but with disastrous consequences.
My point, if I have one, is that these clichés seem to work in almost all sports films, but football/soccer ones. The jaded football fan will yawn at such dramatics on the silver screen. Not because it’s so implausible that the young renegade with a heart of gold can come on with 5 minutes to go and score a hat-trick against the club that killed his parents, but because the drama can never be as potent or emotive as it is in real time.
Invictus, Clint Eastwood’s film about South Africa’s stirring 1995 Rugby World Cup victory staring Matt Damon as François Pienaar and Morgan Freeman as Morgan Freeman in a hat, is a good example of it working for another sport. The political and social backdrop was the main focus, with the Rugby itself being ramped up dramatically with slow motion, music, and all sorts of other manipulative jiggery pokery that works because Rugby can be made more emotional with the use of such tactics. Take for example England’s 2006 World Cup win. Johnny Wilkinson won it with the last kick of the game. It couldn’t possibly have gotten any more dramatic than that, and yet if you watch a replay of that moment, you can see a plethora of England fans behind the sticks, joyfully standing up with their arms raised aloft, already in mid “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” in a sort of “Yes! My 8 year old son has just won the 100 meters at his school sports day” type celebration. The level of euphoria differed from person to person of course, but that kind of fist pumping is the general reaction you get from the climatic moments in most sports.
Now imagine, if you will, that Wilkinson had been Beckham, and old golden balls had converted a last minute free kick in the football World Cup final to send England to glory. Finding just one person in the crowd even able to stand up with their arms aloft amidst the melee of flying legs, arms, cups, wallets, phones and teeth would be a monumental achievement. The reaction would be seismic.
Because football makes us wait for it’s scores, the emotional out pouring that results from a particularly dramatic late goal trumps anything in any other sport on the planet. Even most players themselves say the sensation can’t ever be topped in life itself, so it’s hardly going to be achieved by a slow motion hero shot of Shia LaBoeuf.
You could make quite passably adequate films of both Manchester United and Liverpool’s ‘99 and ‘05 European Cup final wins. Both would seem ludicrously over the top to someone without knowledge of the games themselves but those with that knowledge, would never be able to top the feeling of actually watching it. United’s almost identical 5 goal comebacks against Spurs in 2001 and 2009 would seem appallingly Disney on the big screen, as would Kiko Macheda’s debut winner for the reds, or Deportivo’s four goal comeback against Milan in 2004. I could reel off hundreds of these, because football’s scripts are weirder, odder and more unbelievable than any hack writer could possibly come up with.
And this is why football can never be made into a good film, as long as the narrative focuses on the action. Because football is too good for film. But it won’t stop them trying. Here are some of the more notable efforts.
Goal: The Dream Begins – A young Mexican immigrant gardener is spotted having a kick about by a kind hearted gruff Scottish football scout and rescued from his harsh, dangerous life in lush, affluent, sunny Los Angeles and taken to the hallowed heavenly promise land of Newcastle upon Tyne to fulfill his destiny of becoming the 345th Messiah at St James Park. Complete with bizarre wistful hero shots of Kieron Dyer and Titus Bramble, the film also treats us to an awkward cameo from Becks, and a bar scene to match anything written by Tarantino as Raul and Zidane impart their guru like wisdom to our young hero, by telling him “hey, you look good, keep it up”…or something equally inspiring. The most interesting thing about this terrible film is that the actors were constantly positioned in full kit along the touchline at Newcastle games, and instructed to run on the field to celebrate any actual Toon Army goals in order to achieve the quite commendably realistic action sequences. This is all rendered useless however, as Anna Friel failed to get her kit off.
When Saturday Comes – Sean Bean lives out his own personal fantasy by playing a tough, maverick Sunday league player inexplicably scouted and signed by his boyhood love Sheffield United. After drinking, swearing, shagging, fighting and occasionally doing a passable impersonation of someone who can just about play football, Bean is brought on to face the evil Manchester United who, in contrast to the efforts of the Goal team, are portrayed here by fat, balding middle aged extra’s in ill fitting kits. Inspired by Sean’s natural skill and mullet, the Blades come back from 2-1 down to triumph 3-2, thanks to two goals from our hero, one from the penalty spot, which I do sort of have a problem with realism wise. No one would let a trainee on their debut take a penalty would they?
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Escape to Victory – Pele, Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles and Sylvester Stallone fight the Nazi’s with the help of Michael Caine and Ipswich Town. This is quite possibly the most fantastical football film ever made and is so ludicrous that it’s actually quite good. The highlight being Sly Stallone’s slow motion penalty save at the climax, which is the most pointlessly over the top save seen since Bruce Grobbelaar hung up his tash. The ball is basically hit straight at him, as he’s so small anywhere near the corners would’ve been too much of an ask, but the very fact he actually catches it, in a completely non goalkeeper-like way and a bit like he’s handling a hot egg, makes it’s surrealism all the better. The only football film with any football in it that deserves the status classic.
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You can follow Oscar on Twitter here; http://twitter.com/oscarpyejeary, where you can remind him of some other, equally appalling attempts to make films about football.
Talk of building a new stadium in Liverpool has been around since the time a Texan cowboy owner and co-owner infamously stated: ‘The first spade will start going into the ground on that [stadium] project by March’ back in February 2007. Thankfully the dastardly duo were (eventually) shown the door, however the issue of a new stadium remains (the above statement never coming to fruition).
Increased revenue through an increased capacity is a must for Liverpool Football Club if they are to compete in the upper-echelons of the Premier League. The club’s new American owners, FSG concur. They made it clear upon arriving, that boosting gate receipts through an increased capacity is paramount if club is to go forward and reclaim its position as the most successful side in English football. But just how should the club achieve this?
Should Liverpool and its new owners follow the Arsenal model?
The Gunners also foresaw the need to generate extra income through ticket sales and chose to leave their historic home, Highbury, way back in 1999 when it was ruled the stadium could not be suitably renovated. They chose to build a brand new stadium, moving there in 2006. However, their brand new home also came with a brand new name – a brand; Emirates. The middle-eastern airline paid £100m in 2004 to secure naming rights on the stadium in a deal will run for 15 years. This is the route Liverpool’s new Managing Director; Ian Ayre has stated the club will go down if the Red’s choose to leave Anfield, much to the ire of many Liverpool fans.
Even though the extra revenue is now pouring in for Arsenal, building a new stadium has had some negative impact. The cost of the project has been felt, not least on the pitch. Gunner’s fans have lamented the fact that over the last few years, they’ve been unable to compete at the very top when it comes to signing new players – most available cash being swallowed up by the ground investment. With the purse-strings tightened Arsene Wenger has had to rely more and more on his youth ranks, whilst any shopping (with the odd exception) has been done in the bargain basement. It has been commendable that the Gunner’s have still managed to remain competitive, always finishing in the top four of the Premier League. However, the bottom line is they haven’t won a trophy since 2005. This barren spell is finally starting to take its toll on some of the more ‘senior’ players who have had their heads turned with the lure of more money, or trophies, being offered elsewhere (though no player will admit to the former!)
With this in mind, should Liverpool follow suit? They themselves are without a trophy since 2006 and with Manchester United finally overhauling the clubs record 18 league titles, challenging sooner rather than later is paramount. However, most Liverpool fans are looking forward to this immediate future with a degree of sense and optimism. They recognise the club is in the midst of a massive restructure, but appear to be moving in the right direction. If the club were to go ahead and vacate Anfield, youth, like at Arsenal, would certainly be the key. At the forefront of this, Liverpool could not ask for a better man to be in charge, especially when it comes to putting the club first; step forward Kenny Dalglish. The manager and club legend has already fast-tracked some of the squads youth players through to the first team with success. Youngsters like Flanagan and Robinson joining Spearing and Kelly, who have benefitted from more playing time, as well as the canny man-management skills the Scot possesses. It is also worth noting that at this present moment in time Liverpool’s youth academy is widely recognised as one of Europe’s finest: ‘the only one that can compete with La Masia’ as Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola put it. Names such as Sterling, Suso and Coady are already tipped for stardom. With such apparent strength here, would now be the perfect time for Liverpool to move to a new stadium, tighten the purse-strings, and rely on youth?
As of yet, no decision has been made on whether the extra capacity will be found through redeveloping one of football’s most historic grounds, Anfield, or by building an entirely new stadium for the club. The former is something FSG (Liverpool’s owners) already have a track record in. Upon purchasing the Boston Redsox in 2002 FSG were placed in a similar situation. They chose to redevelop the baseball outfits historic home, Fenway Park with much success – the baseball team has enjoyed consecutive home sell-outs from 2003-2011 and remained competitive throughout.
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So the question remains: should Liverpool follow the Arsenal or Boston method? Doing nothing is not an option.
Alexandre Pato was thrilled to play a part in Brazil’s 4-2 win over Ecuador that secured their place in the Copa America quarter-finals.Needing a win or draw from their final Group B match on Wednesday to avoid elimination, Brazil ran out 4-2 winners thanks to an excellent second half display.
Pato and Santos’ starlet Neymar both scored a brace each to assure Brazil’s passage to the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the game, the AC Milan striker praised the attitude of his team-mates after their difficult start to the tournament, and admitted that a win was the most important thing.
“It was the match that we were all hoping for. It was crucial for us, we had to win no matter what. We went looking for a good result and we found it,” Pato said.
“We qualified and in first place, it was what we wanted. Now it is time to work and forget all that happened. A new Copa America begins.”
Pato also highlighted the team spirit inside the Brazil camp, which he said was decisive.
“Here when you win, everybody wins and when you lose, everyone loses. It was an excellent game by the whole team, they all gave something extra and this enabled the 4-2 victory and a great game,” he said.
Brazil now play Paraguay in the quarter-finals, after drawing 2-2 with Gerardo Martino’s men in the group stage.
Meanwhile, Ecuador forward Felipe Caicedo was disappointed following his side’s defeat, a loss that confirmed his team’s exit at the group stage for the fifth Copa America in succession.
“We played well, we could at least have drawn the match,” Caicedo said.
“We lacked concentration at the end and gave Brazil too much space. We could not keep the same rhythm, and that hurt us in the rest of the game.”
Manchester City are ready to hand bumper new contracts to key duo Vincent Kompany and Nigel de Jong.City officials have already begun negotiations with Kompany over an improved five-year deal and will then turn their attention to de Jong.
It is understood the pair, who are regarded by manager Roberto Mancini as two of the most important members of his side, will rocket up the City pay league.
Kompany, 25, who has three years to run on his current deal, will more than double his wages to around 120,000 pounds a week, while De Jong, 26, can expect a similar agreement when he sits down to discuss terms with the club.
“Kompany’s new contract should be sorted out soon and de Jong is also due for a renewal and will be offered a new deal, although he is considered less of a priority,” a City source told Goal.com.
It is expected that Kompany will be named as new club captain in place of wantaway leader Carlos Tevez on the club’s current US tour to seal his position as one of the most influential players at Eastlands.
The Belgium centre-back, who was named in the PFA Premier League team of the year, was outstanding for City last season as they won the FA Cup and claimed a place in the Champions League for the first time.
De Jong, who has two years to go on the contract he signed in January 2009 when he joined the club, was barely less influential in the midfield anchorman role.
However, the pair’s pay will still be dwarfed by that of City’s top earners Tevez and Yaya Toure, who are both on more than 200,000 pounds a week including bonuses.
Tony Pulis has worked miracles at the Britannia Stadium over the last three years guiding the Potters to the FA Cup final and into Europe during the last campaign. They’ve only managed to bring in the injury prone Jonathan Woodgate in from Tottenham this summer though. Whilst they have enough quality to stay up and hit mid-table comfortably they need to strengthen for Europe. Their squad isn’t exactly big enough to cope with the rigours of domestic and European completion and a few injuries or suspensions could see them hurtle down the table at an alarming rate. An opener against Chelsea isn’t the kind of way to start a season but they’ve already been in Europa League action so should be prepared.
Chelsea haven’t been very busy in the transfer market with last season’s squad seemingly impressing new boss Andre Villas-Boas. Big things are expected of the 33-year-old brought in from Porto at a cost of £13 million. He’ll need to stamp his authority on the squad from the get go and build up the confidence that was lacking at times last season. Getting Fernando Torres back on the goal trail is another problem facing the new coach with the Spaniard a pale imitation of his former self. If Villas-Boas can get off to a good start and make a play for the top spot early on then Chelsea could have a new Special One on their hands at Stamford Bridge.
Stoke will prove to be tough customers on the opening day but I believe Chelsea will want to start the season at a hundred miles an hour. They want the title back and no one is going to stand in their way.
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Verdict 0-3
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