Wigan manager Roberto Martinez has confessed that he needs to strengthen his defence in order to escape relegation from the Premier League.
The Latics dropped to 19th in the table over the weekend, with defeat at home to Sunderland exposing their defensive shortcomings.
Antolin Alcraraz has missed almost the entire campaign and Ivan Ramis has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2012/13 season, which has left Martinez rather short of options.
The Spaniard has admitted that fresh faces are a must if he is to reassemble his backline for the second-half of the season:
“What is clear is that we weren’t strong enough defensively,” he is quoted by Sky Sports.
“If Ramis had been on the pitch it would have been a very different situation. I need to make sure we rectify that and bring someone in who will give us the same strength Ivan was giving us.
Although he is still seeking additions, one signing Martinez has made this month has enjoyed a solid start to lift at the DW Stadium.
Angelo Henriquez arrived on loan for the rest of the season from Manchester United recently and notched his first goal for Wigan against Sunderland.
Martinez believes that the 18-year-old has all the attributes to be a real success in English football:
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“Whether he is scoring or not, Angelo has the profile of a goalscorer, his movement off the last man is fantastic and he has that knack of being in the right place.
“Scoring on his Premier League debut is going to do a world of good for his confidence but I don’t think it will change his way of playing or the high esteem he holds himself in.”
Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna is expected to be fit for Sunday’s crucial Derby against Tottenham.
The full-back missed last weekend’s triumph against Aston Villa with a knee ligament injury, but his recovery seems to be beating the clock and Arsene Wenger will be able to count on Sagna, according to the DailyMail.
If the defender makes it for the crunch game, he will have the difficult task of stopping Spurs winger Gareth Bale, without a doubt the man in best form in the Premier League.
The Welsh midfielder has proved himself vital for Tottenham in the last few weeks, scoring eight goals in the last six games, including late winners against West Ham and Olympique Lyon.
White Hart Lane battle could have a decisive influence in both club’s aspirations for the current – and also the next – season, as the North London teams fight for finishing among the top-four with Chelsea.
Tottenham and Arsenal lie in third and fifth position respectively separated by four points (51 and 47) with South Londoners Chelsea in between them with 49.
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Should Sagna fail to recover in time for the game, Wenger would have to play Jenkinson on the right-back to try to minimise the danger of Bale.
If Everton harbor serious hopes of bring European football back to Goodison Park it is games like this that they have to start winning. The Toffees have stuttered of late after starting the season in uncharacteristically consistent fashion and the FA Cup quarter final mauling suffered at home to Wigan was just the wake up call they needed. That fierce shock to the system certainly came at the right time as they improved to see off Manchester City at Goodison Park two weeks ago to remain in touch with the top-four. With six points separating them from Tottenham there is still a slight chance they could end the campaign celebrating qualification to the Champions League. Realistically though entry to the Europa League is more likely and they must beat Stoke, without top scorer Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar, to retain breathing space above local rivals Liverpool and West Brom.
Europe was the objective for Tony Pulis this term but with just one win in 2013 the Potters have fallen way off the pace. Having ended 2012 unbeaten in 10 games Pulis has watched his side endure a crushing change of fortune and are only seven points clear of the relegation zone in 11th. Getting back on track is the main priority now but with just one solitary success in their last 24 Premier League away games avoiding defeat will be viewed as a step in the right direction by the travelling Stoke contingent.
Team News
Phil Jagielka (ankle) and Tim Howard (back) could return for Everton after missing the last three games. David Moyes will have to do without key midfield duo Marouane Fellaini and Steven Pienaar who are suspended. Tony Hibbert (calf) remains sidelined.
Stoke can call upon the services of defender Robert Huth after he completed a three-match ban. Tony Pulis has a full Potters squad to choose from for the visit to Merseyside.
What the managers said…
“What I am trying to do is make sure I give Everton the best chance of going forward. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I would never do anything, in any way, to jeopardise Everton or the football club. I want to make sure the supporters see a promising, fresh-looking team for the seasons to come. We have to make sure the finances we have give us the opportunity to do that. We have a small squad, and in truth we have an ageing squad as well, which we need to look at. I need to be capable of being able to make those changes for the best of Everton.” David Moyes insists he wouldn’t to anything to harm Everton’s future ambitions (The Sun)
“From the first game of the season, where we played at Reading (a 1-1 draw) and they scored a late penalty, to the last away game at Newcastle (a 2-1 defeat), where we should have been home and hosed (but conceded two goals towards the end), we have managed to shoot ourselves in the foot. We have done that continuously. Every time away from home, it is about concentration levels as much as anything. In the Premier League, if you switch off for two minutes or do something silly, nine times out of 10, you get caught. So concentration levels are vital, although it is also important they enjoy themselves – make sure they go out there and express themselves, and work really hard.” Tony Pulis admits poor concentration is to blame for Stokes poor away form (Independent)
Pre-Match Statistic: Everton have scored just four times in their last seven meetings with Stoke, recording a solitary victory.
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Prediction: Everton 1-0 Stoke City
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Summary: Stoke moved a step closer to Premier League survival with a close-fought victory over Norwich at the Britannia Stadium.
The Potters are now eight points above the bottom three after back-to-back wins and leave Chris Hughton’s side still looking over their shoulder after third defeat in five games.
It was the visitors that went close to breaking the deadlock first when Robert Snodgrass headed over and Bradley Johnson fired over the bar in promising opening to the game for the Canaries.
Unfortunately for them it didn’t last and Tony Pulis’ men took control when Cameron Jerome’s hooked effort was blocked by the arm teammate of Steven N’Zonzi, who was lucky to remain on the field after a late lunge on Kei Kamara.
After the break, however, Stoke finally made the breakthrough a minute into the second half when Peter Crouch nodded on a long punt for Adam to control and smash past Mark Bunn.
Adam attempted to return the favour soon providing with a dangerous cross that Crouch missed completely despite being well placed with pressure from two Norwich bodies putting him off.
Tony Pulis post-match…”We deserved to win today, we created more opportunities. The three points are vital because we have tough games coming up. Our first challenge is always to stay in the Premier League, anything else is a bonus.”
Chris Hughton post-match…”We were in good form but we came up against a Stoke side that were back to their most direct. We didn’t do enough to win the game. We’ve got two home games now, which I’d like to think helps. But it’s a nervy part of the season.”
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Good day for…Charlie Adam: For so long Stoke have suffered without a creative hub in midfield this season with Adam unable to recreate the form from his Blackpool days. That changed against Norwich as he orchestrated ever attack from the Potters and popped up to score the winning goal in the second half.
Bad day for…Steven N’Zonzi: Was lucky to still be on the field after a dangerous lunge on Kamara in the second half and was a red card waiting to happen for Stoke all afternoon. Thankfully for Tony Pulis referee Anthony Taylor was of the lenient persuasion.
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison has urged his team mates to end the season on a high with victory over Reading on Sunday.
Sam Allardyce’s side lost 2-0 away to Everton last Sunday, and the 24-year-old believes that they must give the fans something to be proud of in their final game of the term.
Victory over Nigel Adkins’ side on Sunday will guarantee the Hammers a top-half finish in their first season back in the top-flight.
The Wales international also revealed he is excited for next year and feels that the club has responded well to relegation two years ago.
Collison said: “We’re really looking forward to the Reading game, back at home, in front of our fans and hopefully we’ll have reasons to celebrate. It has been a magnificent season for us. Safety was the main aim and we’ll look to finish as high as possible and put on a real show for our fans.
“Reading have been our bogey team over the last two seasons and obviously we’re going to try to send out a statement and score as many goals as we can.”
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After helping Aston Villa secure Premiership football for another season, there has been a lot of speculation regarding Christian Benteke’s future. The Belgian forward is wanted by a host of top clubs.
Benteke has revealed that he would be tempted to leave if Villa receive an offer from a top club. His decision is simple. Either he stays at Villa Park and continues to play every week and learn, or he moves to a top side and tests himself.
Benteke can do a job for a host of sides. The big striker has good feet, is strong, very good in the air and has become clinical in front of goal.
He is wanted by Arsenal and Spurs as they both look to bolster their attacking options. He’s also wanted by Atlético Madrid after they sold Radamel Falcao to heavily invested AS Monaco. Borussia Dortmund are also keen, but will only consider making a move if Robert Lewandowski leaves the club.
Benteke arrived at Aston Villa after an £8million move from Belgian side Genk. Paul Lambert decided that Benteke was going to lead the line for Villa and not £24million man Darren Bent.
This decision confused some fans. When times were bad, an unproven striker was being preferred to a proven Premier League goal scorer. But how Villa have now reaped the rewards of the managers faith.
Benteke got 19 league goals this season. The most ever by an Aston Villa player, beating the previous record of 17 held by Dwight Yorke. His goals helped Villa beat the drop.
But Lambert is not happy after Benteke revealed he would be tempted to leave. He told talkSPORT.
“He’s had one of those seasons where he’s never been injured or hasn’t been suspended, except the last day. He’s got to remember that he’s only 22 years of age, he’s got so much to learn.”
“He’s only a kid starting out and he’s going to have ups and downs. Once he’s played 400-500 games, then you can start to think, yea, he’s a good player.”
“I think sometimes we need to have a reality check. He’s only been in Britain 10 months.”
Lambert is right. Benteke has had a great season. But many players have had good first seasons in the Premiership and then gone on to struggle. It would be more impressive if he stays at Aston Villa for next season and gets 19 league goals again. He has got so much to learn still. He’s far from a complete player. If he moves to a top side and isn’t first choice, his development could be hampered and his confidence might get knocked.
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But playing in Europe and playing with better players will help Benteke improve.
Aston Villa won’t be willing to sell their star player. The front three of Benteke, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann have been brilliant in the second half of the season. Benteke is vital to that three. He is the vocal point of the attack and Agbonlahor and Weimann feed off him.
It’s a tough one for Benteke. He needs to prove he isn’t a one season wonder. But he also wants to get the most out of his career. He wants to play for his country in the World Cup. If he feel he has a better chance of improving as a player and being Belgium’s main striker at a top club, then Villa should get the most amount of money they can for him.
An impressive if not sparkling start to the season has seen Liverpool rise to the summit of the Premier League table. A comprehensive victory over Manchester United last time out has gone a long way to dispel the fears of those that thought a resurgence would be a long time coming.
Liverpool are a club famed for their European exploits, and therefore to suffer the ignominy of European exile will be a painful experience for many this season. A club that have been on the decline following season after season of mediocrity, is it dangerous to underestimate the sleeping giants of English football?
Too many have been quick to discount the red half of Liverpool as Premier League also-rans this year, with many seeing them as possible contenders for best of the rest. I think this has played well into the hands of the Merseyside club.
Overshadowed by the extravagant spending of clubs like Manchester City and Spurs, Brendan Rodgers has gone about his transfer overhaul both shrewdly and quietly. Quick to offload the deadwood of previous failed regimes, the departures of Shelvey, Carroll and Downing are as much a masterstroke as the clubs various acquisitions this summer. Keen to avoid the upheaval caused by mass change, Rodgers has gone about his reshuffle in both a precise and methodical manner.
Long gone are the days of knee jerk panic and short-termism, instead Rodgers has looked towards a certain style of footballer with the onus heavily on youth. This has manifested itself in a slick attack minded passing game that has looked to promise so much without perhaps delivering the goals it should. A resurgent Henderson along with the youthful flair of Aspas and Coutinho has already seen the backlines of Villa, United and Stoke terrorised this season.
I count myself amongst those who tipped Liverpool to struggle without the talismanic Luis Suarez, but few could have foreseen the meteoric rise to prominence of Daniel Sturridge as the centrepiece of the Liverpool attack. We may only be three games in but many are already touting the Englishman as the player to build the national side around going forward.
A week or so ago you may well have been right to suggest this squad just simply didn’t have the depth to maintain its form. If you discount the sensationalised Ozil deal, Liverpool were probably the most successful club in the last few days of the window. The addition of Mamadou Sakho is a standout buy for me, £16m may seem like a hefty price but the Frenchman offers both international and Champions League experience which may just be priceless to Liverpool going forward. Add to this the captures of Victor Moses and Tiago Ilori and you get an idea of the depth Rodgers has added to a squad that could previously be criticized as being a bit bare.
So how seriously should we be taking Liverpool?
I think a title tilt is for the delusional this season but comparing the club to those in and around them a Champions League berth is certainly not out of the question. For me the battle to dine at the top table of European football this year is between four clubs looking at two places. To argue Liverpool are the best placed is not as unreasonable as it might sound.
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Arsenal fans are still probably celebrating the Ozil deal like it’s a trophy, but for me they are simply papering over the cracks. A side that desperately needs a destructive midfielder and some defensive cover going out to buy an advanced playmaker just smacks of a misguided transfer approach. Spurs by contrast have spent big but spent well. Clearly success isn’t going to be immediate and a certain teething period could well benefit a more settled squad like Liverpool’s. Then we come to United, a club who appear to be embroiled in a desperate political vacuum that only looks like worsening before getting better. I actually believe their struggle against Liverpool last time out may well be a sign of things to come.
So yes if you haven’t already, take Liverpool seriously. If their early season form isn’t enough to convince you, just look at their squad strength compared to their nearest challengers. Of course it is easy to sensationalise Liverpool’s start, but for me it really isn’t a fluke.
For too long this great bastion of English football has been resigned to the doldrums. Is this the season for the sleeping giants to finally awaken from their stupor?
With 12 games played in the Championship this season it is safe to say that a reasonable amount of matches have been played.
As a result many will see now as a good time to use what they have seen so far to predict how the rest of the season will pan out.
Right now Ipswich sit in 12th place, seven points off the play-offs and seven points from the relegation zone, which suggests that they are set for another mid-table finish.
The Tractor Boys are one of the most unpredictable teams going forward for a number of reasons. First of all if Mick McCarthy is snatched up by the Republic of Ireland then the team is likely to be rebuilt and the season becomes one of transition rather than aspiration.
Some fans believe that if McCarthy leaves then the club will be unable to adequately replace him but whilst I am a huge fan of the former Wolves boss I do not think this is completely true. A few of the names mentioned are decent managers that have great potential, they just aren’t as solid and reliable as the current man at the helm.
However, the main point is – if a new manager comes in it is likely that he will have to replace most of his team as a large amount of the players only joined the club because of McCarthy. This will instantly move the team into a transitional phase where results will be inconsistent and finishing anywhere above the relegation zone will be a good achievement.
Of course this is only one scenario, if Ipswich can keep their current boss then I firmly believe that the only way is up this season. It is true that 26% of the season has been played but some of the most difficult games have already been crossed off the list.
The other good news is that McCarthy will be given money to spend in January if he does stay. Additionally, when Ipswich have played the likes of Reading, QPR and Burnley they have only narrowly lost and performances have remained reasonably consistent.
As I said before the start of the season; Ipswich are looking like they will finish just outside the play-offs but could sneak in if they make one or two top signings and get a bit of luck. The one thing you can be certain of with McCarthy at the helm is that the team will certainly not be around the relegation zone.
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I would love to reassure fans that McCarthy will be staying at Ipswich but I can’t. From what he has said to the media I think if he is offered the Republic of Ireland job there is a good chance that he will take it.
My reasoning is based upon the fact that if he was not going to accept then he would have said as much in order to stop the headlines having a negative effect on his team. The question isn’t whether he would accept or not, it is all about whether the FAI are prepared to pay out close to £1 million in compensation to Ipswich.
The Premier League is the richest football league in the world and it’s no surprise that it’s biggest stars are amongst the wealthiest athletes in the world. Here are the top 10 richest Premier League footballers.
10. Sergio Aguero – £24m net fortune
As the youngest player on this list at 26, Aguero has years ahead of him to add to his colossal fortune. The Manchester City striker is on a £200,000 a week deal, but is willing to share the wealth. Last summer Aguero offered to buy five players for his former team Independiente last summer, only for no one at the Argentine club to get back to him.
9. Yaya Toure – £25m net fortune
Aguero’s Manchester City teammate signed a new four-year contract last April, which will net the 29-year old £45m at £210,000 per week. Toure’s fortune could be even greater but for his charitable nature. He receives no money for his boot deal with Puma, having instead negotiated a deal whereby football equipment is distributed to underprivileged children in West Africa.
8. Fernando Torres – £26m net fortune
Torres might not have hit top form since joining Chelsea from Liverpool in a £50m deal, but he did hit the jackpot. Torres signed a five-year contract in 2011 worth £175,000 a week plus bonuses, which might hint at the reason why Chelsea have yet to sell the misfiring striker.
7. Ryan Giggs – £27m net fortune
At 40-years old it’s no surprise that Ryan Giggs’ current salary of £75,000 a week is dwarfed by some of the other names on this list. Giggs earnings at Manchester United have been supplemented by lucrative endorsements with the likes of Reebok and Fuji, allowing him to build a huge fortune over a long career.
6. Steven Gerrard – £29m net fortune
The Liverpool and England captain enjoys a £140,000 a week salary and his high-profile has won him endorsements with the likes of Adidas and Persil. Such off the field earnings could continue to grow if the veteran leads England to a successful World Cup campaign.
5. John Terry – £29m net fortune
John Terry may have to take a pay cut from next season, as his £165,000 a week Chelsea deal comes to an end, but his recent windfall in the property market should soften the blow. Terry sold his Surrey mansion for £5.25m last year, moving to a newly built property within the grounds of his former home, only to unexpectedly receive a £16m offer for his new house from the Sultan of Oman.
4. Frank Lampard – £31m net fortune
Lampard is another Chelsea star to use the property market to boost his bank balance. The midfielder is now on £50,000 a week after renegotiating his previous £150,000 a week contract but is very wisely putting his money into bricks and mortar. Lampard lives in a £10m Chelsea house with his fiancé Christine Bleakley and also owns multiple properties across London, Surrey and Cambridge.
3. Rio Ferdinand – £37m net fortune
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Like Lampard, the Manchester United defender also had to take a pay cut when renegotiating last summer, but looks to be assured of a new deal for next season following recent assurances from David Moyes. Off the field Ferdinand is also a busy man, with a restaurant in Manchester and a media empire that includes his #5 Magazine.
2. Samuel Eto’o – £39m net fortune
Eto’s £75,000 a week salary at Chelsea is not to be sniffed at but it’s dwarfed by his wages at his former club Anzhi Makhachkala, where he was the world’s highest paid player on £364,583 a week and the second highest-earning athlete in the world behind Tiger Woods, when endorsements were taken into account. The striker is another African footballer with his own charitable foundation, which helps to provide basic healthcare and works on improving social inclusion.
1. Wayne Rooney – £45m net fortune
Rooney has just signed a five and a half year contract with Manchester United, who will pay him £300,000 a week. The England striker had held endorsements with the likes of Nike, Nokia, Ford, Coca Cola and has a five-book deal with Harper Collins for which he received a £5m advance. Off the field Rooney has recently been investing his money in racehorses without much success. The striker’s £60,000 thoroughbreds Pippy and Switcharooney were trained at the stables co-owned by Rooney’s former teammate Michael Owen and Betfair founder Andrew Black, but were retired last year having only won one race between them.
Liverpool owner John W Henry has made various comments regarding the Suarez to Arsenal transfer saga of 2013 and how he took a gamble by refusing to let Suarez leave.
Suarez had a buyout clause of £40m and Arsenal met those terms by offering £40m + £1 to legally trigger the buyout clause. The Liverpool owner sees Suarez as an important player and refused to let him leave for Arsenal. He stated that he would rather take Arsenal to court than to let his star man leave.
Here’s what John Henry had to say about this:
“Luis Suarez is the top scorer in the English Premier League, which is arguably the top soccer league in the world. He had a buyout clause of £40m. Arsenal, one of our prime rivals – this year we’re tied for 2nd … we’re actually 2nd because of goal difference.
“They offered £40m+£1. What we’ve found … is that contracts don’t seem to mean a lot in England – actually, in world football. It doesn’t matter how long a player’s contract is, he can decide he’s leaving.
“We sold a player, Fernando Torres, for £50m, that we did not want to sell, we were forced to. Since apparently these contracts don’t seem to hold, we took the position that we’re just not selling [Suarez].
“It’s been great for Luis, it’s been great for us, and what will happen at the end of the year I think we’re going to make the Champions League, we have a small chance of winning the Premier League this year.
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“We have 3 gentlemen up front Suarez/Sterling/Sturridge, [they] are young, I think Luis and those three could be together for a long time.”
You have to hand it to Arsenal, though. That’s one clever way to activate a buy-out clause without paying over the odds. Bravo.