All posts by h79snht.top

The beauty of cup competitions is their unpredictable nature. As well as shock victories you tend to see unlikely heroes who grab the headlines, whether it is scoring the winning goal; saving a decisive penalty, or simply a moment of individual brilliance. As we fast approach the 3rd Round of the Capital One Cup we decided to look back at those unlikely heroes who simply made their name in one magic moment during this prestigious Cup Competition and find out what has happened to them since.

Whatever happened to Steve Morrow…

Anybody who’s ever written an article regarding calamitous sporting celebrations will have come across the name Steve Morrow. The versatile Northern Ireland international pulled on the Gunners shirt on 62 occasions in the Premier League, but his name is still notorious amongst fans of the North London club for what happened in the 1993 League Cup Final.

Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday were locked at 1-1 after Paul Merson cancelled out a John Harkes opener before Merson then turned provider for Steve Morrow who bagged the winner with what was coincidently his first goal for the club. However, in the aftermath of the game, Tony Adams attempted to lift Morrow up to parade the match winner round the pitch, only for Adams to slip, dropping Morrow, who promptly broke his arm, causing him to miss the rest of the campaign including the FA Cup Final against the same opponents.

Morrow hadn’t long broken into the Arsenal side, having only made his debut in 1992, coming on as a substitute against Norwich City. He proved equally adept at covering positions in either midfield or the defence and this helped him become a key member of the squad during that cup double winning campaign. Despite this, Morrow found himself more marginalised the following season, making just 13 league appearances in 1993/94, but he played the game of his life in helping Arsenal to victory in the 1994 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Final as the Gunners beat Parma 1-0. He also featured in the Cup Winners’ Cup Final the year after in the defeat to Real Zaragoza that is remembered most fondly in one half of North London more than the other thanks to Nayim’s outrageous lob.

Once Bruce Rioch took charge at Highbury, the writing was on the wall for Morrow and he played just five times in the whole of the 1995/96 season. The arrival of Arsene Wenger saw Morrow deemed surplus to requirements and the hero of the 1993 League Cup Final was shipped out to QPR, initially on loan before he made the deal permanent. Although the player was a regular during his time at Loftus Road, making 91 league appearances, he couldn’t stop the side being relegated from the First Division. A loan spell at Peterborough didn’t work out so Morrow headed over the pond in 2002 where he joined Dallas Burn. He made 41 appearances for the MLS outfit, and became their assistant manager after retiring due to a persistent neck injury.

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After a few spells in and out of the job, he became the permanent manager of the club in 2006 but lasted just two years in the role after struggling to help FC Dallas make any sort of impression on the division. Morrow came back to England and took up a role with Arsenal again as their International Partnerships Performance Supervisor – a role that involves scouting players in various countries and also working with a network of elite academies across the globe in grassroots football. Given Arsenal’s reputation for finding and cultivating overseas talent in their own academy, Morrow is charged with a pretty important role to find the next big thing waiting to be snapped up.

Although Morrow never produced anything as spectacular as his League Cup Final winner during the rest of his Arsenal career, he will always be remembered for his versatility and hard work at the club. He put in a decent shift in the Northern Ireland jersey as well, playing on 39 occasions and scoring just the one goal. Fortunately, his teammates were sensible enough not to pick him up and parade him round the pitch afterwards…

The world of football is intrinsically linked with the antics that occur in a school playground on a daily basis. In amongst the constant barrage of screaming and shouting, there’s arrogance, ignorance, people falling to the floor every 13 seconds and individuals with whistles, who possess very little authority over the events unfolding around them.

When a game of football breaks out there’s always a boy who refuses to pass the ball or those known simply as ‘goal-hangers’, while everyone else tries to avoid being told to go in goal. These traits are understandable given the endearing naivety of children but when did professional footballers suddenly rediscover these petty preferences and specify which position they should play on a football pitch?

The latest example of petulance concerns Arsenal ‘forward’ Theo Walcott, who insists he will not put pen to paper on a new deal until he is given assurances of his future role as a striker. The England international has also stated he wants to emulate club legend Thierry Henry, a player who enjoyed a similar transition from the wing, which has evoked a sense of confusion and hysteria from the national press. Despite measuring just 5 foot 9 inches, it would appear that Walcott has his head constantly buried in the clouds.

The most infuriating aspect about this ongoing saga revolves around Walcott’s potential to be one of the best wingers ever to grace the sport. His pace, agility and formidable dribbling skills allow him to glide past most full-backs with relative ease. He doesn’t possess the physique or ‘strikers intellect’ to flourish in the aggressive battlefield at the heart of the pitch, which leads me to believe he is simply trying to fulfil a selfish desire to grab more of the headlines.

It’s worth pointing out that Walcott isn’t the only player guilty of this crime, in fact many use ‘the manager’s playing me out of position’ as the default response to a poor performance. Diego Forlan recently deployed this exact excuse to justify his failure to make an impact in Serie A with Inter Milan.

“I was playing in a position where I had never played before. I accepted it because I had no other choice. I’m here now [at Internacional], though, and I hope to play in my natural position as striker again,” (Goal.com)

In the Premier League, the familiar names of Demba Ba, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Daniel Sturridge have all voiced similar concerns about the role at their respective clubs. But the truth is, players should be able to adapt and ‘do a job for the team’ even if they feel they would have a greater influence elsewhere. James Milner continues to work tirelessly for club and country despite the fact he’s a right-footed player, playing on the left wing when it was clear at Aston Villa that he performs best in the centre of midfield. He has attracted an unwarranted level of criticism but have you ever heard him complain? The game has not evolved to the extent where players have a greater tactical knowledge than their infinitely more experienced manager.

Barcelona, arguably the greatest club side in the world, are testament to the fact that versatility within a squad breeds success. Every Catalan player has the ability to thrive in a number of different positions, which allows Tito Vilanova to effectively rotate his team in order to avoid fatigue. Arsenal fans criticised Alex Song when he moved to the Spanish giants, but his flexibility allows him to play across the spine of the team and should see him play a considerable number of games.

Perhaps players, motivated by a fear of losing their starting place, try to fashion a new and less competitive role from themselves in the team. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has certainly lured the spotlight away from Walcott with a series of inspired performances, which should help soften the blow should contract negotiations continue to stall. Nevertheless the void left behind by Robin van Persie is still yet to be filled so maybe Walcott fancies his chances up against the misfiring Olivier Giroud and the inconsistent Lukas Podolski.

Away from the pitch, the beautiful game is fast becoming an unsavoury concoction of arrogance and gluttony. It is too much to ask that players leave these traits on the sidelines once a week? Just how many current players would realistically play in any position just to ensure they secured their spot in the starting XI? It’s easy to champion this sentimental theory when talking about the likes of Wayne Rooney, who ‘love playing the game’, but I think the reality would offer up only a handful of candidates.

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It strikes me that this is yet another example of a potential shift of power that seeks to give players a greater sense of control. My only hope is that clubs can remain unresponsive to the constant stream of unrealistic demands and the likes of Theo Walcott are the ones who buckle under the pressure. Otherwise these players can look forward to a new role on the bench, as an unused substitute, which is no different from the rest of us really, is it?

Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I hope this song is blasted out at the Emirates for the next few weeks.

Scott Wootton has admitted that he could have signed for Liverpool, instead he is ready to step in for Jonny Evans if the Northern Irishman is ruled out for the clash against Newcastle United.

An injury crisis at Manchester United has seen the young defender fast tracked into first team life at Old Trafford with Ferguson missing three central defenders and facing the probability of a fourth if Jonny Evans can’t shake off a dead leg.

Wootton, 21, appeared against Newcastle in the Capital One Cup to make his first senior start and came off the bench during Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Cluj.

“The last week or so has been amazing,” he told the Mail Online, and while Alex Ferguson is desperate for his injury crisis to be over, Wootton is happy to capitalise on his team mates’ misfortune.

“I got my chance against Newcastle due injuries. It’s just the way it is.

“It is always the way. As a young player, obviously you don’t wish injuries on someone, but that’s how you might get your chance.”

Wootton’s career could have gone a different route – the Birkenhead born defender was initially at Tranmere, before Liverpool signed him to their academy squad.

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All the time he was with the Anfield club, United kept in touch, and when Wootton hesitated to sign for Liverpool, Ferguson made his move.

“United invited me down for a week’s trial and said they wanted to sign straight after that. It was really good,” he added.

While Tottenham Hotspur’s 4-2 defeat at the hands of Chelsea last Saturday left many supporters frustrated, there was a feeling that Andre Villas-Boas’ side were somewhat handicapped before a ball was even kicked. But while the box office absence of Gareth Bale left many pining for the installation of a birthing pool at White Hart Lane, it was the absence of Mousa Dembele, that felt a little more palpable.

Nothing should be taken away from Roberto Di Matteo’s side, who exhibited a brand of football that was both classy as it was expansive and even if Bale and Dembele had been playing, there are no guarantees that the magic of Juan Mata wouldn’t have wielded a similar outcome.

You can take your pick from what part of the Spurs XI left you particularly exasperated, but it was matters in the engine room that seemed to impact a rather unique form of disappointment. With Bale, Spurs fans are all too aware of his mercurial talent and he’s been around long enough for supporters to at least brace themselves for a forthcoming absence – they know what to expect when he’s out the side and nine times out of ten, it isn’t particularly enjoyable.

But when Dembele’s name was left missing off the team sheet, a very more unfamiliar anxiety cast itself upon White Hart Lane. Fans have watched in glee over the last few weeks as the Belgian has imposed himself as one of the key pieces in the AVB jigsaw in recent weeks. It takes quite the player to inflict a similar level of woe in their absence as Bale, but Dembele seems to have managed to pull the trick off.

Indeed, after only five Premier League games in a Spurs shirt, Dembele has become not so much a key piece but a vital component in Andre Villas-Boas’ side and for the lingering few that harnessed any form of doubt about that, Saturday offered a very emphatic demonstration. Tottenham were outsmarted, overrun and overpowered in central midfield by Di Matteo’s side. Bale may be the more talented footballer and the one, true match winner at White Hart Lane but Dembele already sees to be the glue that bonds.

The central midfield pairing of Tom Huddlestone and Sandro, were themselves, relatively handicapped last Saturday. For all the analysis on his credentials, attitude and future at White Hart Lane, it’s worth noting that Huddlestone remains woefully short of solid Premier League playing time and until he harnesses a run of matches in this side, he’s going to find it difficult to get up to full speed. A first league start of the season against Chelsea was a baptism of fire to say the least.

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But as much of an age old cliché as it may represent, the 25-year-old’s lack of mobility seemed to be a perpetual issue for much of his 67 minutes on the pitch. At their very best this season, Spurs have been a flowing blur of attacking white and perhaps none more so than their first half display away to Manchester United. Yet it’s hard to imagine Huddlestone would have been able to shift defense into attack in the sort of manner Dembele did for Bale’s goal at Old Trafford. Without the Belgian, the fluidity was gone and there was Spurs were devoid of any form of catalyzing element.

But it’s not just from the attacking perspective that Spurs missed the Belgian, either. Spurs fans saw first hand the fragility of Villas-Boas’ 4-2-3-1 system when the midfield aren’t executing their roles properly. During their first three games, the midfield pairing of Jake Livermore and Sandro seemed woefully inept because the holding pair have to have an understanding of when to sit and when to go.  The common urban myth is that AVB likes to play two defensive midfielders at home, but that’s not necessarily the case.

The holding pair must be fluid, interchangeable and at least 50% of the combination must be able to create, not just negate. With Dembele and Sandro, we have seen the pair develop a growing understanding and they seem at ease at counteracting each other’s on pitch decisions. With Jake Livermore and Tom Huddlestone, they appear too defined in their styles of play to really make the 4-2-3-1 stick. This isn’t to say they don’t have great individual qualities, but in this set-up, Dembele is the jewel in the crown.

It’s easy to pick on Huddlestone and it’s worth mentioning that Sandro probably played as poorly as he has done in quite some time in a Spurs shirt. How much that can be attributed to Dembele’s absence is arguable, but you’d certainly like to think that the Brazilian doesn’t have too many off days like that in the near future. But for all his attributes, the difference is that Sandro’s job is of chief destroyer. Huddlestone was the one tasked with instigating a creative spark.

Yet throughout this team we saw a Spurs side visibly weakened by the loss of their key midfielder and it was felt from top to bottom. With no one to instigate sweeping moves forward from defense, Spurs’ counter-attacking weapons of Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe felt a little more redundant. With a distinct lack of midfield dynamism, the defense seemed exposed and less confident to build from the back with a very rigid midfield pair in front of them.

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Without their link from defense to attack, Spurs looked like a Ferrari running with a gearbox of a Range Rover. And they played like one, too. Of course, Clint Dempsey seemed flat, Gylfi Sigurdsson was at times anonymous and maybe the less said of William Gallas’ performance, the better. But Tottenham felt fundamentally flawed in midfield and the loss of Mousa Dembele reverberated throughout the entire Tottenham team.

But perhaps the alarming effect that Mousa Dembele’s absence had upon the team might give Andre Villas-Boas food for thought. The Belgian is the glue that binds the Portuguese’s new set-up together. Tom Huddlestone might represent the metaphorical Range Rover gearbox, but he’d probably work well, if actually put in a Range Rover. There’s more than one way to play and if Dembele continues to miss game time, a temporary tweak in style wouldn’t be so bad at all. The 4-2-3-1 seems lost at sea without it’s key, Belgian power source, to make it work.

In the meantime, Spurs physios will be doing all they can to get him fit again.  Make no mistake about it, the Belgian is now as important to Tottenham as anyone else in N17.

How do you feel about the impact Mousa Dembele has had since joining Tottenham Hotspur? Are Spurs already reliant upon him or does AVB simply need to tinker the team slightly in his absence? Let me know on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and tell me what you think.

Now in it’s 21st season, the Premier League has served up some fantastic players and performances in it’s time.

Unfortunately there are also a raft of players that should never have graced the Premier League. Players who lacked the talent, commitment and basic fitness and who in the end were an embarrassment to the managers who signed them—often for hefty fees!

There were hundreds to choose from, but this is my slightly lighthearted look at the 20 worst players in Premier League History—if your name is Graeme Souness you may want to look away now!

These players hide in big clubs and small football clubs alike. They profit excessively from your ticket stubs, yet do nothing but run around the football pitch doing nothing. Sometimes, if you’re very lucky, they might even throw in a pirouette and a dive for good measure.

There are players that are not worth watching, players not even worth the boots they put on—these players make you ask yourself “How is he paid to play football?” They make you question just how fair life is…

Click on Mido to unveil the 20

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[divider]

Have I missed any clangers? Let me know on Twitter @dudeyoungy

manager Andre Villas-Boas admits he knows all about the importance of the north London derby.

Spurs visit Arsenal this weekend in Villas-Boas’ first derby game since his arrival at White Hart Lane in the summer.

And with just a single point separating the London rivals in the Premier League table, the Portuguese boss knows how important the game is, not only for the teams involved, but for the fans as well.

He told Sky Sports: “People have been speaking about it quite often, between the staff and the chairman.

“You understand the importance of it. This is a game where passion is extremely high. It is a game which represents three points.

“But in the league it represents more than that in the history of north London derbies.”

Villas-Boas also believes Tottenham are slowly closing in on Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and hopes they can achieve the same kind of success as their rivals in the future.

“Arsenal have accumulated recently an amount of trophies, which is important, including being Premiership champions,” he added.

“I think recently they have also obtained more Champions League qualifications. This is a step up to where we want to be in the future.

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“We have been within their reach for the last couple of years, so we are certainly getting nearer in terms of what we are doing as a club.”

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“I know people will boo me but I love that. The more you boo me the more power I get. I don’t want people to love me – I just want them to respect me.” (Daily Record)

El-Hadji Diouf is no stranger to controversy. His attitude, conduct and general demeanour invite a weekly dose of abuse that rains down from the stands. However, is the Leeds United winger the only man who enjoys such unfavourable attention? It appears that a growing number of players are developing an addiction to the hatred that comes their way. Is it fair to suggest they can only produce their best performances to an unrelenting chorus of boos?

Luis Suarez carries the weight of an entire city on his shoulders. The footballing Mecca known as Liverpool is a breeding ground for hope and expectation, desperate to relive the glory days of decades gone by. The current strikeforce is so bereft of options that if he doesn’t find the back of the net, it’s difficult to see the club picking up three points. The heavy feeling of responsibility must be overwhelming.

Liverpool’s new number 7 – a digit with royal connotations – is perhaps the only recent acquisition on Merseyside to have justified his hefty transfer fee. However, he has still attracted more criticism and ridicule than the likes of Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson combined. Putting aside the race row with Patrice Evra, there’s no denying his frequent niggles at defender’s heels coupled with his apparent lack of balance have further damaged his reputation.

However, with the Uruguayan now pigeonholed and seemingly forced down to a path of no return, is it any wonder that he persists with this playing philosophy? When supporters focus all their attention on hurling insults, they neglect supporting their own team, which serves to benefit the victimised player and his team-mates.

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The club’s supporters have stood by him, singing his name with the same gusto that was once reserved for fellow adopted striker Fernando Torres. It seems that the more boos he receives, the further he is pushed into the arms of the Liverpool faithful. This love-hate relationship he shares with English football seems to be an effective motivational tool and has propelled him to the top of the goalscoring charts this season.

Another player rapidly accumulating an undesirable reputation is Gareth Bale. The Tottenham winger is seemingly desperate to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo, right down to his egotistical nature and distinctive free-kick technique. Having once been confined at left-back, Bale is now relishing his free role at White Hart Lane and all the attention that comes with it.

Tottenham’s recent victory against Fulham saw Bale pick up a hamstring injury as well as a second consecutive booking for diving. Ashley Young has distanced himself from the ‘serial offender’ tag since attracting criticism last year, but it will be interesting to see if Bale follows suit upon his return. If not, will the Welshman seriously pursue his desire to play abroad, perhaps in Spain, where theatrics are praised rather than persecuted?

Joey Barton is certainly a man who thrives on the negative attention. It’s unsurprising that he has decided to resurrect his career in one of more notoriously ‘intense’ regions of France. Unlike Bale and Suarez though, Barton is no world-beater – despite what he might say – and therefore resembles a pantomime villain. A successor to Robbie Savage.

The tenacity of Barton’s playing style will inevitably stir a negative reaction from opposing supporters, but as we’re all aware from his thought-provoking if slightly preachy website, the man likes the sound of his own voice – even if it is followed by a string of expletives. Barton may have failed to fulfil his potential, but there was certainly a time during his stint with Manchester City and Newcastle, when you would rather have him on your team than line up against him.

As much as it pains me to say it, football needs these characters; they provide an unpredictable element to a game built on raw emotion. Gary Speed once told the aforementioned Diouf that ‘people never boo a bad player’, and while I have definitely booed a few in my time, there is still an element of truth to his words.

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Supporters are unlikely to be unsettled by those who cannot make an impact on the game. When such players hear their name associated with all manner of derogatory terms, it’s like adding fuel to the fire. They thrive on the attention and strive to silence their critics by raising a single finger to their mouth or cupping their ears after putting their name on the scoresheet.

Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub

Arsenal are close to agreeing a £4m deal with Schalke for star striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, according to reports from The Metro.

The Dutchman is one of the most sought after front men in Europe following an impressive spell with the Bundesliga club.

His 58 goals in 68 top-flight games have alerted Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who is keen to strengthen his Premier League squad in the January transfer window.

Huntelaar’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and it’s looking unlikely that he will extend his stay in Gelsenkerchin.

This may force the club to sell in January for a minimal fee to avoid losing him for free in the summer months.

At 29, he is unlikely to move on for a large amount, which has led to speculation that a £4m price tag has been placed on his head.

Huntelaar is believed to have impressed Wenger during Arsenal’s meeting with Schalke in the Champions League during October.

The striker netted in the 2-0 victory for the Germans and provided al all-round impressive display.

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A lack of goal scoring prowess has been a problem since the departure of former club captain Robin van Persie during the last transfer window.

Olivier Giroud was drafted in following an impressive spell in the French league, but has failed to transfer his impressive form.

target Lewis Holtby has refused to sign a new deal with German club Schalke, paving the way for a potential move to Anfield in the summer, the Mirror reports.

It is believed that the German international has failed to agree terms for a new deal with his current club after several months of negotiations, putting a host of interested suitors on alert.

Liverpool have reportedly been monitoring the 22-year-old’s progress and manager Brendan Rodgers is now set to step up his pursuit of the midfielder as the player is allowed to speak to foreign clubs from January.

Holtby, who has been capped three times by his country has stated his desire to play in the Premier League despite criticising the lack of a winter break.

“The break in the Bundesliga gives everyone the chance to have a rest,” he said.

“We also get the chance to go back and spend time with our families over Christmas, which is important.”

“I know how ­important football is to English fans over the Christmas break, but it must take its toll on the players.”

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“For the rest of us it doesn’t make too much sense ­because when players are tired and playing so ­regularly you do pick up little niggles and ­injuries.”

An announcement on Holtby’s future is expected later today and Rodgers will be keeping a close eye on the situation as he looks to strengthen his squad after watching them slump to another defeat last night, this time at the hands of Stoke City.

Arsenal youngster Emmanuel Frimpong has moved across London to join Fulham on loan for the rest of the season as reported by Sky Sports.

The 21 year old has been on loan at Championship club Charlton this season after a spell with relegated Wolves at the end of last season.

The Gunners academy product has found first team opportunities at the Emirates limited since he turned 18 and will need plenty of game time at Craven Cottage to convince Arsene Wenger that he is worthy of a spot in his midfield.

Frimpong seems to have sold more t-shirts than he has had minutes on the pitch of late, but the Ghanaian born holding player will be keen to force his way into Martin Jol’s side.

After the departures of Danny Murphy, Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele in the summer, Jol has had to completely reform the middle of the pitch and Northern Irish defender Chris Baird has filled in for most of this season so far.

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[cat_link cat=”Fulham” type=”grid”]