While it may have been the Reds may be anchored in the Premier League’ lower half after the club’s worst start to a season in more than 100 years there was cause for optimism in the wake of the Europa League victory on Thursday. It may not be how Brendan Rodgers envisaged his first month in the Anfield dugout playing out but it’s no surprise to see him marked down as the favourite to be the first managerial casualty of the new term. Still, the win in Switzerland will have lifted spirits inside the dressing room ahead of Sunday’s clash with fierce rivals United. A win against all the odds would almost certainly kickstart Rodgers’ managerial career on Merseyside and if he can harness the spirit and resolve shown in midweek, that saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, they stand a genuine chance of causing an upset against Sir Alex Ferguson’s title chasing side.
This week on does Rodgers need to continue blooding his talented youth contingent and which Spanish duo is he lining up to replace Steven Gerrard?
[divider]
Best of FFC
Liverpool’s TEN starlets looking to be fast-tracked
The perfect platform that Brendan Rodgers must utilise
Leaving a huge void at Liverpool once more
Bitter…or does Rafa Benitez have a point?
Liverpool of the 80s vs Man United of the 90s – Who was the greatest?
Liverpool sites to team up for Sunday’s LIVE blog
Could Europa League be the chance to win over the doubters?
Liverpool look to Spanish flair to replace Gerrard
French ace on the radar of Premier League trio
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
Reina’s Class Is Permanent… Hopefully – Live 4 Liverpool
Evra handshake? Rodgers makes worrying admission about ‘ethical’ Suarez… – Liverpool Kop
Rodgers right to prioritise League over Europa – This is Anfield
‘He was perfect! – Benitez explains how LFC lost out on £12m Man City star… – Liverpool Kop
Striker Light: Send For Gerrard? – The Tomkins Times
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Was Letting Ince Go A Mistake? – Live 4 Liverpool
You’ll Never Walk Alone? – This is Anfield
[divider]
Quote of the Week
[divider]
“We will be doing a handshake as there always is and, as regards to the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra thing, I think it’s just a non-story for this day. Despite what the media says, nobody has gone and told Luis Suarez what to do. Luis is a grown-up, as I’m sure is Patrice Evra, and I think those players, like every other player on the pitch that day and everybody in the stadium, will recognise this isn’t a day to talk about who is going to shake whose hand. This is about everybody being together for a much more important cause.” Ian Ayre plays down the pre-game hysteria over the ‘handshake’ between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra
Alan Pardew chose to hand Gael Bigirimana his full Premier League debut against Reading ahead of the more experienced Vurnon Anita, due to his extra experience of English football.
Bigirimana partnered Cheick Tiote in United’s midfield in the absence of Yohan Cabaye, and was a bright spark for the North East club who continue to toil and struggle to find last season’s form, struggling to a 2-2 draw at the Madjeski Stadium.
Pardew told the Shields Gazette, “I thought this game might suit him more than Anita. I knew the intensity of the game –it was going to be like a Championship game. It would have that type of energy.
“I didn’t want Vurnon to get caught out by that. I knew Bigi, being at Coventry last year, would know what it was all about. I thought he played well he can be very proud of his performance.”
Summer signing from Ajax, Anita will be keen to impress and prove Alan Pardew wrong in the Toon Army’s Thursday night Europa League clash with Bordeaux.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
England manager Roy Hodgson has stated that he is confident that he has the players at his disposal to get a favourable result against Poland in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.
The Three Lions beat San Marino 5-0 at home on Friday night, but will face a more difficult test in Warsaw.
“It’s always nice to have experience in your team and it’s also sometimes quite nice to have some younger players,” Hodgson told reporters, published on Sky Sports.
“I was told today how many players we’ve actually used and how many players have changed since the World Cup in 2010.
“Experience is important but I do think at the moment we have a good balance between youth and experience.
“The key unfortunately is nothing more complicated than playing well.
“We know we’ve got a strong opponent, we know that they’re going to be very well supported by the home crowd.
“For them it’s an important moment playing at home against England to try and get their qualifying campaign off to a good start.
“We’re aware of those things and all we can do is go onto the field well prepared and do the best we can do.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“There are quite a few (selection decisions) and that’s good to have. I’d prefer not to quantify them or put them in any order, but it’s good that the players who came in against San Marino who people did not see as first choice played well.
You do get more a selection headache, but all coaches will tell you selection headaches are what we’re after,” he concluded.
Liverpool’s Jose Enrique is desperate to force his way back into the first team, after making his comeback from injury.
The Spanish full back returned to action on Saturday after coming on as a second half substitute against Reading after being side-lined for a month.
Due to injuries and fine performances from other players, Enrique has had a frustrating season as he has found himself slipping down Brendan Rodgers’ pecking order.
The Spaniard is in contention for a start in tomorrow’s Europa League clash against Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala, as he looks to set out to impress boss Brendan Rodgers.
“It’s been difficult as every footballer just want to play.” Enrique told the Liverpool Echo.
“I tried to but was getting a lot of pain in my knee and because of that I couldn’t perform at my true level.
“I got injured in training when I tried a shot. I twisted something and it didn’t feel right.
“It took a few weeks to recover but no it finally seems to be okay again.
“Brendan Rodgers style of play suits me as his formation and tactics are the type of football I like to be involved in.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Enrique is having fierce competition from youngster Andre Wisdom, who has started the last three games and is making a big impression at Anfield.
Despite being a new comer to first team football, a true tribute to his talent is in the form of representing England at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.
It wasn’t too long ago that English football claimed there were too many foreign stars taking up places in the top-flight over home grown talent. But following recent international tournaments and the displays in Europe from the continent’s finest and most glamorous, there can be no doubt that the majority of non-British stars are plying their trade in either Spain, Italy or Germany.
But English football and the current makeup of the game in this country owes a lot to the influence of foreign players and the traditions and styles of other nations. We’ve seen football develop from the muddy, rain soaked game towards something much more pleasing on the eye. The English approach to the game is still deep in the foundations, but the continental and south American style has helped to modernise Premier League football and play a hand in the variety regularly on show.
Click on Eric Cantona to see the full list of Premier League legends
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Tottenham and Manchester United are set to go head to head in the battle for Crystal Palace starlet Wilfried Zaha, according to reports from talkSPORT.
The 20-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League after an impressive start to the Championship season.
Arsenal were thought to be in pole position for his signature, but reports have emerged that their interest has cooled, opening the door for Spurs and United.
It is believed that both clubs are willing to allow Zaha to remain at Selhurt Park for the remainder of the season, with the duo keen for him to continue to develop.
It is likely that the Eagles will demand a fee in the region of £15m, but may accept a lower figure if they are offered a fringe player on loan for the rest of the season.
Zaha has enjoyed a fine start to the season, helping Palace in their bid for promotion to the top-tier of English football.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Despite his young age, and the fact he is playing outside of the Premier League, England manager Roy Hodgson called up the winger for his side’s friendly against Sweden in November.
This was speculated to be a measure taken by the FA to prevent the player electing to represent the Ivory Coast, his country of birth, later in his career.
Manchester United managed to grab a dramatic victory against Newcastle last time out with a Javier Hernandez 90th minute winner.
In a pulsating 4-3 match at Old Trafford United managed to show their battling qualities once again and it has helped them extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to a healthy seven points.
They will be in no hurry to relinquish this advantage, and Fergie will be looking to put the pressure on his rivals just as he did onto the officials last time.
Mike Dean did not press charges against Mr Ferguson though despite complaints from his opposite number last time out Alan Pardew. He responded by sniping that Newcastle were a “wee club” in the North East.
The Red Devils have won their last seven consecutive Premier League games and will see no reason as to why the Baggies can put an end to that run.
West Brom though have been one of the Premier League’s surprise packages this season and currently lie in 6th place in the table after halting their slide with back to back wins against Norwich and QPR.
The Albion rocketed as high as third earlier in the campaign and an upset at Old Trafford could boost their European hopes.
West Brom have never won a Premier League game at Old Trafford but came close when they drew 2-2. Two seasons ago.
Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young could be welcomed back into the side against West Brom after missing scintillating match against Newcastle through illness and injury respectively. Wayne Rooney (knee) and Phil Jones won’t play and the two persistent veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are expected to be rested. Kagawa looks set to make the bench.
For West Brom things look a little bleaker on the injury table. Defenders Jonas Olsson (groin) and Goran Popov (hamstring) and midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu (hamstring) all sustained injuries during the Boxing Day three point Haul at Loftus Road.
Claudio Yacob (hamstring) remains sidelined causing Steve Clarke to recall George Thorne from a loan spell at Peterborough.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
West Brom have won none and lost 10 of their last 13 visits to Old Trafford and will hope for a change for the better here.
Prediction: Man United 4-2 West Brom
Check the odds ahead of the game at Old Trafford with William Hill here
You can also Get a Free £25 Bet on the game by clicking here
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero believes his club deserve more credit and that too much focus is put on their riches, the Daily Mail reports.
The Argentine international has been angered by the fact that rival fans dismiss the current Premier League champions achievements by bringing up owner Sheikh Mansour’s influx of money into the club.
He believes that City have followed the same route that the majority of the top clubs have in order to achieve success, saying Barcelona are the only exception.
“Some people say this team was built only through money, as if other clubs weren’t.”
“I want to be clear, only Barcelona have footballers from their youth system. The rest of the clubs, including us, don’t.”
“Sometimes I think people don’t value what we have done. We are the Premier League champions.”
The 24-year-old has also expressed his desire to emulate compatriot and good friend Lionel Messi by winning the Ballon D’or one day, saying:
“I know that if i work hard, maybe some day I will win it. I hope so. Every footballer dreams of being the best in the world.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Aguero has had a more inconsistent time of it this season in comparison to last, and is currently out of action with a hamstring injury.
His side also trail rivals Manchester United by seven points in the title race.
Considering their reputation as one of the Premier League’s most hard to beat teams it’s difficult to fathom why Stoke are still searching for their first Premier League win in 2013. Since beating Liverpool on Boxing Day the Potters have trundled through a sequence of six winless games that has put their Europa League objectives on hold. Tightening up that once impenetrable back four, which has shipped 16 goals in half a dozen matches, will be Tony Pulis’ main concern especially as they come up against in-form Reading. They showed signs of recovery against Arsenal last week and Pulis can also take solace in their record of one defeat in 12 matches at the Britannia Stadium this season. He will undoubtedly be advising his side to keep an eye on Adam Le Fondre following his heroics for Reading last month.
The Royal’s frontman came off the bench to score five goals in his last four league games, with braces at Newcastle and Chelsea earning his side four valuable points. It earned him the Player of the Month award for January and Brian McDermott, who picked up the manager’s prize, will almost certainly call on him to make the difference if Reading find themselves in another sticky spot with time running out. McDermott will undoubtedly want his side to take a leaf out of Stoke’s book in terms of modelling themselves as consistent top-flight peformers and knows victory in Staffordshire would push them closer to the magic 40-point mark.
Team News
Deadline Day signing Break Shea could be in line for his Stoke debut but Marc Wilson won’t feature despite making his comeback from a broken in a friendly on Tuesday.
Adrian Mariappa, Jobi McAnuff and Garath McCleary will all have their fitness evaluated after playing for Jamaica against Mexico in midweek, while Noel Hunt returns after a two-game absence.
What the managers said…
“There’s been a lot of talk about Begovic. But no-one from the big clubs – Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal – have called me. There was no thought in my mind that we were bringing Butland in just in case Begovic went. We thought Butland was a great opportunity for the club to sign a top young goalkeeper. If United or someone else come in and offer an enormous amount of money for Begovic we’d have to look at it, but I haven’t brought Butland in because of that.” Tony Pulis insists Asmir Begovic has a future at Stoke despite the signing of Jack Butland (The Sentinel)
“It’s fantastic to win it and the most important thing is that the team and staff have done a fantastic job. And the bigger picture is that we’ve got a lot more points and given ourselves a real chance. We are competitive in every single game and we’ve learned a lot in a short space of time. We’ve changed a lot of things in the last six weeks to find a way to win. We’ve hung in games, played good football, and the players deserve credit. We need to keep doing it in February as well. People talk about what happens when you win manager of the month – but I knew I’d won before the Sunderland game and we’ve already won our first game in the month!” Manager of the month Brian McDermott heaps praise his players for Readings recent upturn in form (Reading.co.uk)
Pre-match Statistic
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Reading haven’t tasted defeat against Stoke in their last six league meetings and expect the net to ripple at the Britannia Stadium with the Royal’s last five Premier League games seeing at least three goals scored.
During the recent Rooney-Gate scandal, in which every paper around the country blindly followed the story that Wayne Rooney was to be sent packing in the summer, based on the fact he had been caught smoking earlier in the season and was benched for the second leg of Manchester United’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid, Steve McClaren described Sir Alex Ferguson as having a ‘helicopter view’ of the club, in which he could see the direction that every player, youth product and staff member were inadvertently moving in, and whether their paths clashed with his vision of the near future at Old Trafford.
And despite running away with the Premier League in some style, all be it due to the inadequateness of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal to mount any serious challenge to United’s dominance of the Premier League table, Fergie is still not happy.
While he has been fairly outspoken over the future of Wayne Rooney, insisting he will be donning a United jersey next season and is not for sale, banning several tabloid papers from club press conferences until they formally apologise for implying the England man and the Red Devils gaffer had a damaged relationship, he is yet to state his position on the transfer status of his ostracised winger, Nani.
The Portugual international became the scapegoat for a 5-4 defeat to Chelsea in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup, with Ferguson revealing after the game: “We gave the ball away for the third goal having been in complete control of the match at that point. All we needed to do was see the game out with good possession. Nani is experienced but he’s a player who wants to beat men and I often discourage him from that.
[cat_link cat=”manchester-united” type=”list”]
“In that situation, if we’d kept the ball at the corner flag, the game’s over. We had a lot of attacks and nothing came of them, and their counter-attack was very good, but if you’re winning 3-2 in the final seconds of the game then you should see it out. We’ve only got ourselves to blame really.”
If you substitute the words “we” and “ourselves” with “Nani”, you begin to understand why the United winger has played just seven games since the October 31st, and only turning out for the full 90 minutes in a single fixture, against QPR. But is the Portugal international being treated unfairly by Fergie? Should one season really dictate a player’s future? Or is it for the best if he’s scrapped in the summer transfer window?
In a year of incredibly slim pickings for Nani, he’s picked up one goal and two assists in 14 appearances. However, as Fernando Torres has found out during his Chelsea career, form can be incredibly self-fulfilling. Usually, when it’s pointed out an individual isn’t playing well, it does little to halt his bad run. Similarly, once a manager gets it into his head that one of his players is underperforming, the tendency to use him sparingly only serves to amplify the situation.
This season has been a disaster for the 26-year-old. Even when given the opportunity to redeem himself against Real Madrid, his evening ended in drama with the now infamous red card for dangerous play. Although at the time Fergie sternly protested against the refereeing decision, behind closed doors it could well be the final nail in the coffin.
It’s Nani’s addiction to drama and controversy which is one of the main arguments supporting his future departure. Almond Holmes recently described him as “an accident waiting to happen” and it’s certainly true that his lack of composure and concentration can be a burden on the rest of the team, as it appears his head is sometimes quite simply not in the game. Furthermore, as pointed out by Ferguson, the selfish nature of Nani’s play, the constant desire to beat the opposing full-back in a glorious fashion rather than using his brain to successfully analyse the situation can be incredibly frustrating for those around him.
Yet there is little doubt over the United man’s ability, which is exactly why Ferguson picked Nani for one of the most important games in the club’s recent history in their Champions League clash. During his tenure at Old Trafford, he stands with an impressive record of 49 assists and 26 goals in 133 Premier League appearances. Although perhaps he isn’t quite the next Cristiano Ronaldo, as many assumed upon his arrival to England, he is up there with the best wide men in world football, and if transfer fees and wages were no issue, only a handful of clubs would actively turn down signing the winger in the summer.
Perhaps if the Red Devils had not had such a successful season, this debate would not be happening. Fergie knows that despite having a bit-part role, Nani is arguably the club’s best and most natural winger. He has more quality than Ashley Young, he’s twice as fast as Ryan Giggs and provides a more adventurous attacking threat than the hard-working styles of Antonio Valencia.
But having two hands on the title already has given the United boss the freedom to pick and choose for his next campaign, without getting tied up in what would have been incredibly important fixtures against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City at the business end of the season, during which Nani’s presence on the pitch as one of the best wingers in the Premier League would have been more vital.
Alas, with the Premier League already over, opportunities for Nani to prove himself are now rather muted by the lack of pressure for results. Similarly, the lack of game time has created the assumption that he is no longer an integral element in the United starting line-up.
With Wilfried Zaha’s summer transfer to United already agreed, it is clear that someone has to go, and it will unlikely be the ageing veteran Ryan Giggs. Personally, I believe that Nani has a lot more to offer the Red Devils than Ashley Young, who is not only older but much less consistent, and unable to make as considerable an impact in the big games.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The England man’s six goals in 41 league appearances since moving to Old Trafford leaves a lot to be desired, and quite frankly, apart from winning penalties with mazy runs into the box against Premier League minnows, I fail to see what the 27-year-old actually gives to the team that they don’t already have.
But one thing is certain at Old Trafford; no matter who you are, what your reputation is or how regularly you play in the starting XI, if Fergie doesn’t like you, you won’t last long. He’s gotten rid of some of United’s best players, in their prime, often based upon personal preference, or his interpretation of new trends developing within the Premier League. Jaap Stam, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Carlos Tevez and Dimitar Berbatov were all moved on for the sake of the team, despite never failing to deliver good performances on a regular basis.
I do not believe it would necessarily be the right decision to axe the Portugal international, but it is always difficult to criticise a man who has been so consistently successful, and expelled players in the past that have been far more integral than Luis Nani.
Yet I believe next season, the title race will be a lot closer, as Chelsea and Manchester City especially come to realise that they were quite simply not up to the task this year. And in those big games, that will effectively decide the title, having that real quality, the difference between the Nanis and the Ashley Youngs of this word is perhaps where the Red Devils will be found lacking.