Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has admitted he is devastated captain Steven Gerrard is out for the season.The inspirational England midfielder had surgery on a groin problem in March and was returning to fitness but suffered a setback in training last week.
Liverpool will have to cope without the 30-year-old when they host Manchester City in the English Premier League on Monday.
Dalglish said: ?We know he will not be involved again this season.”
?We still don?t know exactly what the problem is.”
?It?s a blow for the players but we just have to get on with it.”
?With respect to our injured squad members, the most important ones are those who are fit because they are the ones who can be chosen.”
?We just have to get on with it and maybe this can test the resolve of our players. We will not be feeling sorry for ourselves because we have some players missing.”
?That is the position we are in and it is up to us to make the best of it. This football club is better than sixth place but you can only prove that on the pitch.”
?We have to prove we deserve to be higher in the Premier League.?
Despite the massive setback, Dalglish remained upbeat about the remainder of the season.
?Somebody?s misfortune can always turn into another person?s opportunity,” he said.
?Some players will be closer to the first team than they would have been otherwise.?
Monday?s opponents Manchester City are three places above Liverpool and occupying one of the Champions League qualification spots.
They have a FA Cup semi-final coming up next Saturday and Dalglish hinted they might already have one eye on that game.
He said: ?It will be a difficult test; Man City are going for a Champions League spot.”
?Next week they have a tough semi-final against Manchester United in the FA Cup and they will have half an eye on that because it is a massive game for them.”
?I am sure a Champions League spot is important for them but I think a trophy will be most important for them. If they can get that, I think they would say this season has been successful.”
?Sometimes when you see a trophy your concentration lapses a bit.?
As well as Gerrard, Liverpool will be without defenders Glen Johnson (hamstring), Daniel Agger (knee) and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (knee).
Javier Mascherano has called on Barcelona and Real Madrid to forgo the ‘theatrics’ when they meet in the Champions League on Wednesday.The lead-up to Wednesday’s ‘El Clasico’ semi-final first leg at the San Bernabeu has been marred by a war of words between Barca boss Pep Guardiola and Real counterpart Jose Mourinho.
Mind-game master Mourinho has been trying to get under Guardiola’s skin all season and was at it again following Real’s win over Barca in the Copa del Rey final, chiding the Barca boss for being a constant critic of referees.
The normally reserved Guardiola unleashed an astonishing outburst in response, sarcastically describing Mourinho as the ‘f—— chief’ and saying the Portuguese manager had won ‘his own personal Champions League’ off the pitch.
The ongoing row will no doubt have the Bernabeu at fever pitch by kick-off on Wednesday evening, but one man is hoping football takes precedence over the mind games – Barca midfielder Mascherano.
“I want a clean game without theatrics. What we like most is to play good football. That is what Barcelona do,” the former Liverpool man said.
“I think that the most important thing for us happens on the pitch, and we will see how it ends. Obviously we want a good game that everyone can enjoy.”
It’s getting closer isn’t it? Summer is in the air, bees and wasps (can’t stand them, more annoying than trying to decipher a Steven Gerrard interview) are starting to appear, that summer holiday is getting ever closer, and the transfer market is looming ominously, just over the horizon.
It’s that time of year when all things are possible (if only in journalists minds), when dreamers dare to dream, and the rumours have already begun. United are linked with hundreds of players every summer, but rarely are the media stories accurate. Last summer? Over 100 players linked with moves to United. How many signed? None.
It seems certain, however, that United will enter the market this summer, and strengthen in some pretty major areas, with Edwin Van der Sar hanging up his gloves and Paul Scholes (in all probability) hanging his boots on the next peg along. So where will United strengthen? And who will they sign? Here I’ll attempt to separate fact and fiction and hopefully provide a window into the summer ahead.
Goalkeeper
It seems almost certain United will sign a goalkeeper this summer, with the decorated Dutchman hanging up his gloves. So who are the candidates in this key position, and will Sir Alex learn from his mistakes when attempting to replace The Great Dane.
David De Gea
A goalkeeper of commanding presence, De Gea (nicknamed Van de Gea for his similar stature to Van der Sar) has already accrued experience under pressure in Atletico’s Europa League triumph last season, as well as facing Messi, Ronaldo, Villa and (last season) Silva in La Liga. Arguably one of the brightest young prospects around and is certain to become Spain’s first choice between the sticks.
Potential Price: £20m
Manuel Neuer
Neuer, older than De Gea at 24, has been linked with United for even longer than De Gea. Forced into Germany’s World Cup starting XI due to the death of Robert Enke and Rene Adler’s injury, Neuer was a key figure in Germany’s march to the semi-finals and has also been key in Schalke’s progression to a Champions League semi-final against United.
Potential Price: £15m
Pepe Reina
This would certainly be controversial wouldn’t it? Liverpool’s first class Spanish stopper, idolised by the Kop, moving to United. If his nationality was anything other than Spanish, Reina would be first choice for his country, but is held back by the excellent Iker Casillas. A keeper with excellent reactions and a tendency to frustrate penalty takers with his agility.
Potential Price: £25m
Verdict: For me it has to be De Gea due to his youth and potential to be United’s first-choice keeper for 20 years (or more). De Gea would provide a calmness and assurance and is certainly not inexperienced, despite his youth.
Central midfield
United’s central midfield has been the focus of much criticism from fans and pundits alike this season, accused of a lack of creativity, a problem which will only become worse if Paul Scholes were to retire in the summer.
Wesley Sneijder
Inter Milan’s world class attacking midfielder was at the centre of both their treble triumph of 09/10 and the Netherlands march to the World Cup final, where they were defeated by Spain. A class midfield operator (many would argue the best in the world), Sneijder pulls the strings, often from a position just behind the striker. May be a gamble as unproven in Premier League.
Potential Price: £35-40m
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Luka Modric
The man many United fans crave to replace the Ginger Prince, Modric, originally considered too lightweight when he arrived in England, is calm, composed, able to find space and pick a pass, as well as pop up with the odd goal, albeit only two this season in the Premier League. His passing range is excellent, although, like Sneijder, he seems to need the insurance of a purely defensive minded player alongside him in CM.
Potential Price: £30-35m
Charlie Adam
He had to pop up somewhere. A man who’s been a bone of contention on Twitter for weeks, as arguments rage between me an everyone else (it seems) concerning his merits as a future United player. The Blackpool captain has a superb passing range, capable of splitting a defence with a subtle ball or pinging 60 yard crossfield passes. Also provides a massive threat on free-kicks (something lacking at United right now), is a clinical penalty-kick taker and provides leadership and drive from the centre of the park.
Potential Price: £8-10m
Jack Rodwell
The young prospect on this list is player with great potential, a man who can play at centre-back and in defensive midfield, central midfield or attacking midfield. Unclear what his best position is, but some believe he has the potential to become another Roy Keane for United.
Potential Price: £15-25m
Verdict: I know there’ll be some stick for this but I feel that with United’s potential outlay probably standing at £20m or more on a goalkeeper alone if De Gea joins, we simply won’t be able to afford an outlay of up to £40m on Sneijder or £35m on Modric (Redknapp actually said he wanted £50m for Modric a few weeks ago). Therefore I’d sign both Adam and Rodwell from this list, adding another £23m to the £20m for De Gea.
Winger
A winger may well be a luxury rather than a necessity this summer, with Giggs, Valencia, Nani and Park already on the books but adding depth may well be useful given that, at times this season, players such as Fletcher, Hargreaves and Bebe have been pressed into service on the flanks.
Ashley Young
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An exciting winger who can also play through the middle behind the striker, Ashley Young will only have a year left on his contract this summer and, with Giggs now at the age of 37, United will need a replacement soon.
Potential Price: £15m
Alexis Sanchez
Has set Serie A alight this season, firing in goal after goal for Udinese, as well as impressing for Chile at the World Cup. Was likened by Sir Alex to a young Cristiano Ronaldo.
Potential Price: £25-35m
Gareth Bale
The exciting young Welshman was recently voted Footballer of the Year by his fellow professionals and has been likened to a young Ryan Giggs.
Potential Price: £30m
Verdict: A winger is probably not essential, although if perhaps just one CM was signed, Young may also follow behind.
Signings: De Gea, Adam, Rodwell/Young
Total Outlay: £43 million
Even if Young were to be signed instead of Rodwell, is would not affect the total outlay of the club, which would still be £43m. I also wouldn’t rule out a striker being signed for £10-15m, making this a summer similar to 07/08.
Potential departures:
Van der Sar (Retired)
Scholes (Retired)
Owen (Free)
Kuzczak (£4m)
Diouf (£2m)
Berbatov (£15m)
If these departures occurred, United would recoup £21m in fees, making net spend £22m.
Please note, this is just my opinion about what may happen based on simple logic about the players who will retire (and therefore areas which need to be strengthened), but guessing what SAF will do is very difficult. The signings I suggested (De Gea, Adam, Rodwell/Young) would add immeasurable depth to United’s squad and provide potential for variation tactically, providing SAF with options. Feel free to disagree (as I’m sure many of you will), and leave comments below.Read more of Josh’s articles at the excellent Red Flag Flying High[bet_365 type=’odds’ size=’300′ af_code=’365_050711′]
There was euphoria in the red half of Merseyside this January when Liverpool owners, Fenway Sports Group, announced the appointment of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish as manager for the remainder of the season. As a player, the Scot won three European Cups with the Reds and he was the last manager to lead Liverpool to the title. Since he returned to his beloved Liverpool, Dalglish has transformed a struggling side into one which is currently oozing confidence. It’s no coincidence that Liverpool’s change in fortunes has coincided with the appointment of the Kop idol. A win against Tottenham this weekend will guarantee European football on Merseyside, a prospect which seemed a million miles away at Christmas time.
Many sceptics would have initially viewed Dalglish’s appointment as a sentimental move by Liverpool’s new owner John Henry and one that had the potential to tarnish Dalglish’s reputation. Others will have taken the viewpoint that, no matter what would have unfolded this season, Dalglish wouldn’t be culpable and his god like status would have stayed intact at Anfield. However the move to bring back King Kenny has proved to be a stroke of genius from Henry. The American owner instantly gained the support of all those Liverpool fans who were calling for Dalglish’s appointment. Was the appointment a risk? Potentially yes, as Dalglish hadn’t managed in the Premier League since 1998, where he had a forgetful stint in charge of Newcastle. This posed the question if he would be up to the task of managing again, especially considering how much football has changed since his last tenure in the dugout.
I think the question has been soundly answered so far. Dalglish’s very presence in the dressing room has lifted players who, under Roy Hodgson, were disillusioned and languid. His introduction of youth players and the quality signings he made in the January window, albeit aided by Damien Comolli, have propelled Liverpool up the league. At sixty years old, stepping back into the pressures of football management will have come as a shock to many people outside of Liverpool. Some said a manager of his age will be out of touch with the requirements of a manager in today’s game, others said going back to Liverpool for a second time would a mistake. How wrong those assumptions have been.
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What Kenny has done for the club since January is nothing short of miraculous and it has gone some way to dispelling the myth, that he wouldn’t have what it takes to manage in the modern era. He has also disproven suggestions that managers should never go back to a former club. In the case of Kevin Keegan who returned to manage Newcastle in 2008, going back proved to be a huge mistake. However Dalglish’s return to Liverpool has been a complete contrast to Keegan’s, although, having to work with Mike Ashley may have something to do with that.
Returning to the helm as Liverpool manager is something Dalglish probably never thought would happen again, but when the club came calling in its hour of need there was only ever going to be one answer from King Kenny. Dalglish has proved that returning to the club where he had so much success as a player and manager has been the right decision. Surely the next logical step is rewarding him with a permanent contract for the astounding job he has done?
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The Carling Nations Cup should be scrapped, according to Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington.Worthington’s side finished last place in the four nations tournament after a 2-0 defeat to Wales in front of 2,100 in Dublin on Friday.
Northern Ireland have lost all three games and conceded 10 goals, without scoring.
“Not for me, and the fact I didn’t win any games is irrelevant,” Worthington said, when asked if he thought the tournament was doomed.
“I would like those three international dates for friendlies I want to play, for the style of our qualifiers.”
Wales dominated and secured Gary Speed’s first victory as manager with goals from captain Aaron Ramsey and substitute Rob Earnshaw.
Speed has also been disappointed with the tournament’s schedule that forced his side to play twice in the space of 48 hours.
“It’s been a difficult week in terms of planning and preparing but that is what you have to deal with. It was a good test.”
Defender Ryan Shawcross is set to stay at Stoke City, according to the English Premier League club.Englishman Shawcross is a reported target of Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, having impressed in Stoke’s 2010/11 season alongside German Robert Huth in defence. He also captained the club in the final of the FA Cup in May, which Stoke lost 1-0 to Manchester City.
Shawcross was last selected in the England squad for their friendly with Egypt in February 2010, but the 23-year-old is regarded as a bright defensive prospect for his nation.
Stoke have been linked with a move for Reading centre-back Matt Mills but it will not be as a replacement for Shawcross, according to club chairman Peter Coates.
“We see Ryan’s future at Stoke City. He is a very good young player and I expect him to be at Stoke next season,” Coates told soccernet.com.
“I think with Ryan and Robert Huth we have two of the best centre-backs in the Premier League, and we don’t want to change that.”
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“I thought Ryan did very well last year and got better as the season went on. All young players have dips in form, but centre-back is a position where you are going to get better as you gain more experience. He is already doing fantastically.”
Robin van Persie has urged Arsenal to empty their pockets for quality players in order to keep pace with English Premier League rivals.The Gunners have been on the wrong side of much transfer speculation during the close season, with a host of names – including Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy – linked with exits from the club.
Clichy’s move to Manchester City has already gone through, while Fabregas is believed to be destined for Barcelona and Nasri is expected to sign at a rival English club soon.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger finally got moving by securing Ivory Coast striker Gervinho from Lille on Monday, for a reported fee of 10.6 million pounds.
Though he acknowledges Gervinho’s signature is a positive start, van Persie is adamant the manager needs to spend much more if the club are to be serious challengers in the 2011/12 season.
“These days, proper players cost money,” Van Persie told The Mirror.
“Sometimes you see players go for loads of money and you think, ‘Is he that good?’ It needs to be seen. Most of the time, they are.”
“But the main thing is it’s not just a label, ‘multi-million pound signing’, it’s more about the quality. If you buy a player who has got one year left normally he’s not going to be worth 40 or 50 million, he’ll be a bit less.”
“So it’s not really that you get a clear picture of how good someone is when you play a lot. It depends on loads of things.”
He added: “You need investment to keep up because, when you look around, Man City is buying loads of good players, Liverpool are doing it now, Manchester United have been doing it for years.”
“So, in a way, you need to keep that up, because if everyone is doing something you need to do it as well.”
The Dutch striker was another reportedly headed for the exit after the 2010/11 campaign, in which the club failed to get their hands on any silverware despite being on target for a domestic treble.
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While the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are targeting the Champions League this season, Van Persie says the Gunners need to be less discerning and take whatever they can.
“The very least for us is to win something,” he said. “It doesn’t really matter what it is.”
“It’s time to win something now. Hopefully we can achieve that this year.”
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has stated that Robbie Keane may yet have a future at White Hart Lane.
The Republic of Ireland international found himself behind Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko in the striker pecking order in 2010/11, and was forced to go out on loan to West Ham. A transfer looked likely this summer, but with no concrete offers on the table, his manager has challenged him to fight for a first team place.
“I’ve said many times that Robbie’s a great professional, a great character and a great lad. He’s still a good player so let’s see what happens,” the 64-year-old told Sky Sports News.
“If he doesn’t go he’ll be here and start on level terms with the rest of the players so it’s up to him then to get in the team. If somebody wants to buy him and he feels he wants to move on then it’s great for everybody but we’ll wait and see.”
Spurs are believed to be interested in a number of new forwards including Leandro Damaio and Radamel Falcao, but have not reinforced in attack this summer as yet.
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When a new manager arrives at a club, there is generally a new-found sense of hope that accompanies him. The promise of a new start, of new players and of a different style of play brings great excitement to fans.
Arguably none more so than the arrival of Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool in January. With the backing of American businessman John Henry, Dalglish has begun to shape the squad in his image. Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez arrived in January, with Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing having followed in the summer.
Kenny Dalglish’s transfer dealings were always going to be scrutinised by fans and the media as he looked to rebuild confidence in a team that appears to have been dented over the past two seasons. Some have suggested that his transfer policy is likely to lead to the Anfield club playing an unattractive, results-based game this season. But will it be a case of substance over style this season?
It is clear to see from Dalglish’s purchases that he has targeted players who will not be afraid to get stuck in and pull the team forward. Under Roy Hodgson, the team appeared to lack the ability to put in the hard graft, which resulted in lacklustre displays and lost points. Jordan Henderson signing for the club raised a few eyebrows, mainly due to the £20 million price tag that he carried, but he is without a doubt a player who is willing to put in the hard yards for the sake of the team. Jay Spearing managed a similar job towards the end of the last season, and his performances received the praise they deserved as a result. Having two players that can play this role will be important for the squad, allowing other players to fully express themselves on the pitch.
An issue the team has had since the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth (I exaggerate, but it really does seem like it’s been quite a long time) is the distinct lack of width present in the side. Andy Carroll’s arrival at Liverpool has clearly been the springboard for action regarding this issue, with Stewart Downing’s signature a vital part of unlocking the Geordie’s aerial ability. This doesn’t necessarily mean Dalglish’s men will be doing nothing more than knocking balls into the box and hoping Carroll can head home, as Downing is a threat when he cuts inside, giving the team added variety.
The signing of Carroll in the January transfer window may have grabbed all the headlines, but it is important to remember that he was also joined by Suarez in arriving at the club over the winter. The Uruguayan put in a number of impressive performances in the second half of last season, and rightfully so Liverpool fans are excited to see him back on the pitch again this year. He is not the sort of player that will thrive on direct, pumped balls into the box however, and a compromise will have to be reached by Dalglish in order get the best out of the Uruguayan striker.
But it is this need for variety that the Liverpool boss looks to have satisfied during the two windows he has had to work with. It is easy to lump football style into one of two boxes; either pretty or ugly. Too often last year the team looked short on ideas, and the fans will be hoping that this added variety will be enough inspiration to push the team forward.
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Who’s your favourite team to watch? Let me know on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/_tomclose Answers of ‘Barcelona’ will be abruptly rejected.
Summer is the longest time of year for any football fan, but in particular Everton fans seem to face a tough one year after year. They see their rivals and clubs around them splashing the cash and bringing in new faces to strengthen, yet see their own side staying static and still throughout the close season. Unfortunately for Everton this year again has seen them lack investment, and David Moyes has once again been restricted to free and loan signings, but they have even struggled there, as they simply cannot afford players astronomical wage demands. With no deal imminent for fresh investment into the club, should they sacrifice one of their big hitters in order to generate some transfer funds to strengthen the squad as a whole?
Everton might have thought at the beginning of the summer, that they could have shifted on some of the fringe players like Yakubu or Joseph Yobo, thus generating some transfer funds that could have been reinvested. However, only James Vaughan has moved on to Norwich for £2.5 million. They have only brought in Eric Dier on a loan, and he’s unlikely to feature in the first team. So should they sell a Leighton Baines or a Phil Jagielka, a star man, who will generate funds?
Everton rejected a bid from Arsenal earlier in the summer for Jagielka, which immediately signalled Moyes’ intention to hold onto his stars. They have a solid squad, but it is a small one, and if they suffer a few injuries they could well struggle with a lack of back up. They also need a good centre forward who is going to get them goals, something they struggled with for large parts of last season. Jack Rodwell is another player who has been talked about with the potential to generate a larger transfer fee, and in terms of the current squad he would probably be the one Moyes would be most willing to sacrifice. Losing Rodwell would be damaging for Everton’s future, but not their present. Rodwell is highly regarded and a great talent, but he only played 20 times last season, so it wouldn’t be a disaster to lose him in the short term compared to other names. However, it would be a shame for fans, who would see yet another talented player moving on.
Moyes has done an admirable job on a limited budget in the past, qualifying for Europe, making the FA Cup final, and putting in pretty consistent finishes in the league. He has wheeled and dealed and got some players from lower leagues who have turned into great players for the club, hard workers, who fit with Everton’s team ethic, but it seems as if the investment isn’t even there for those sort of deals this season.
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Unfortunately for Moyes, he has become a victim of his own success, as expectations at the club are now high. Can they compete with the sides around them who are spending a lot more money or will they slip behind? Targets like Charles N’Zogbia and Shane Long who could have brought pace and potency into the midfield and attack have slipped by, leaving Everton frustrated. A player like Joey Barton could strengthen Everton’s squad, however they would struggle to pay his wages, and he could unneccessarily rock the boat. Big signings like James Beattie and Andrew Johnson have flattered to deceive at Everton in the past.
The other problem now facing Everton is that it is so late in the window, that if they do now decide to sell a big star-like they lost Joleon Lescott last minute in 2009-it could leave the side unsettled and badly prepared for the season. Also they would then have to replace that departing star, with a player of near or equal quality, which would not be easy in this inflated market, and at the last minute.
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So is it better for Moyes to just stick with what he’s got, hope that all the players play to their potential and that they don’t suffer many injuries? Everton do have some promising young players coming through like Ross Barkley and Apostolos Vellios, who might just be given a chance to shine this year, especially considering the small nature of the squad. If they were to perform well, then it would certainly take the pressure off Moyes and the board.
It seems as if it would only be worthwhile selling a big star, if they could bring quality in to replace that player, so Moyes might be better sticking with what he’s got for now, but whether it will be enough when those around them are throwing cash around, remains to be seen. However one thing Everton will always have in abundance is passion, spirit and determination, and those are things that money can’t buy.