Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has told Ledley King that he must play at least 20 games this season, or risk being released on a free transfer at the end of the season.
The England defender has been plagued with knee injuries throughout his career, and played only a handful of games last term.
Redknapp has said that despite the centre half’s quality, the club cannot afford to renew his contract if he is constantly unavailable.
“Ledley’s a difficult one. He has to play this year. I can’t go to the chairman and say: “Give Ledley a contract,” if he has only played two games because he isn’t going to do that,” he told the clubs official website.
“This is Ledley’s big year, he’s got to play 20 games or so, really. Ledley needs to put some games in this year to get another contract,” he continued.
Redknapp also confirmed that both Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor will make their Spurs debut’s against Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, and that he had an interest in bringing David Beckham to White Hart Lane should he be available.
Finally, when asked about want-away playmaker Luka Modric, Redknapp stated that letting the Croatian go may be an option.
“I’ve always been brought up with the belief that if someone didn’t want to play for your club then you move them on and bring someone in who does. And I was of that opinion in the end. If Luka doesn’t want to be here then take the £40million and move on,” he concluded.
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Spurs are pointless from their first two game of the 2011-12 Premier League season, and the fans will demand they get off the mark against Wolves today.
Sunderland avenged last month’s defeat to Blackpool at the Stadium of Light by beating the Seasiders 2-1 in their own backyard thanks to two first-half goals from Kieran Richardson.
Sunderland opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Richardson was put through by Asamoah Gyan and slotted past his Ghana team-mate Richard Kingson who was advancing out of the Blackpool goal.
Moments later, Gyan also raced clear of the Blackpool defence but an out-of-position Kingson recovered well to make the tackle on the edge of his box.
Blackpool created few chances until just before the half-hour mark when Craig Gordon was forced to make two fine saves.
The first was from Luke Varney who spurned a golden chance when he went through one-on-one with the keeper.
Then Gordon turned Charlie Adams’s vicious shot over the crossbar.
Blackpool’s pressure was undone by Richardson’s second goal in the 36th minute. This time the decisive pass came from Steed Malbranque and Richardson kept a cool head to slot past the keeper once more.
Just before half-time Gordon made another superb save, tipping over an Adam shot again, this time from a free-kick.
Despite their best efforts Blackpool struggled to find a way back into the game, although substitute Marlon Harewood went close when he sent a shot inches wide of the post.
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Then in the 86th minute Ian Holloway’s side were awarded a penalty, which Adam converted to set up a frantic finish to the game.
Blackpool pressured the visitors and Gordon was forced into another good save to ensure his side were victorious.
The result keeps Sunderland challenging for a European place, while Blackpool remain mid-table.
Arsenal fans may currently be enjoying a rich vein they find themselves in, whereby their club seems increasingly active in the transfer market, carrying out the strengthening that has been so badly craved season after season for the past few years.
One thing remains though, casting a shadow over everything Arsenal have done this summer. You don’t have to look far in the media for talk of Robin Van Persie’s failure to sign a new contract with the North London club thus far.
Nothing unfamiliar then. Another summer, another of Arsenal’s key players linked to a big money move elsewhere. The usual suspects are interested; Man City, Barcelona, and Chelsea depending on which gossip column you choose to delve into.
This summer simply cannot have the same familiarity as Arsenal have endured in the past however. Last summers relentless and tiresome speculation surrounding Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri was hugely detrimental to their former clubs prospects in the 2011/12 season. Their eventual move away from the club resulted in three panic buys on the last day of the summer transfer window, and Arsenal had to endure their worst start to a Premier League season since boss Arsene Wenger took over in 1996.
Whether or not Van Persie stays is almost irrelevant, as merely a quick solution will help Arsenal. Obviously keeping hold of their 30 goal a season captain is the ideal outcome, but if Van Persie is set on leaving, there is no point on delaying the inevitable for the sake of faint hope. Parting company with the Dutchman (should that be the agreed outcome) should happen as quickly as possible so as to get rid of the shadow that is cast over Arsenal with all the speculation, as it has already been proven to do no favours.
Obviously there are reasons why the outcome can’t be reached immediately. At 29, Van Persie is likely to be signing his last major contract, irrespective of which club said contract is with. He will be eager to draw out speculation, negotiating for as best a deal as he can possibly attain. Arsenal are also believed to be in the middle of restructuring their wage bill, so finding where Van Persie’s new contract would leave him financially also needs to be resolved.
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Whilst Arsene Wenger may be confident that Van Persie is staying, his reluctancy to confirm this in the form of a new contract being agreed is not helping the Gunners strengthen. If he is serious about strengthening his team for the upcoming season, then a Van Persie outcome will leave everyone knowing where they stand. Whether it’s adapting to life without him, or further building around their prolific striker, the sooner the resolution the better.
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.
Manager Simon Grayson was proud of the fight in his side after Leeds United went down to Arsenal 3-1 in their FA Cup clash on Wednesday.Grayson added that he felt Gunners boss Arsene Wenger’s decision to bring on stars Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie in the latter stages was the ultimate compliment to his players and the threat they provided to the Arsenal defence in their third-round replay at Elland Road.
“We showed some good qualities and if you are going to get knocked out of the FA Cup you might as well have it done by one of the best teams in Europe, if not the world,” Grayson told Sky Sports.
“I thought it was credit to us that at 2-1 Arsenal had to bring on Fabregas and van Persie. “
Grayson said his side was capable of maintaining its lofty position on the Championship table, with United fifth and targeting a return to the English Premier League next season,
He credited their near-upset at the Emirates in the third-round proper – with Arsenal needing a late penalty to salvage a draw – as invaluable experience.
“Hopefully the ambition of the players can be fulfilled here – we are not a selling club and don’t need to sell anybody,” he said.
“This has whetted the appetite for players to face these sorts of teams on a weekly basis and I believe we have come out of the two games with a lot of credit.”
Wenger said he would like to see United return to the top flight.
“I was impressed by the way they (Leeds) were organised and their spirit and physical qualities. I think they have a good chance to be in the play-off – we miss Leeds in the Premier League,” Wenger said.
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The French boss admitted his side was thinking about the prospect of a fourth-round clash with League One side Huddersfield Town in the next round.
“The team goes from strength to strength and we have shown again tonight we are hungry. This gives us a good opportunity to play at home against Huddersfield – of course we will be favourite and I think we had that in mind tonight,” Wenger said.
Manchester United winger Nani is thought to be weighing up his future, as negotiations over a contract extension at Old Trafford have stalled according to The Daily Mail.
The tricky attacker has been on international duty with Portugal at Euro 2012 over the last fortnight, but is said to be concerned at the lack of contact from Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in recent times.
Nani is said to be keen to sign a £120,000-a-week deal with the Red Devils, but no agreement has been reached as yet, leading the winger to evaluate his options.
Juventus are thought to be admirers of the Portugal international and are ready to pounce should an extension not be penned.
In the meantime, United are thought to be monitoring Porto’s highly-rated wideman James Rodriguez, who would be a ready-made replacement for Nani should he leave.
The Colombian youngster has starred for the Portuguese champions over the last 24 months, and has been repeatedly linked to leading clubs in Spain, Italy and England.
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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.
This could be the strongest test of Manchester United’s unbeaten season to date.
The concern for United’s title challengers is that Alex Ferguson’s men do not appear to have even left second gear in cruising to the top of the league. Questions may be asked as to whether the former champions possess all the gears they have had in previous years, however these queries will be answered later on in the campaign.
Tottenham have been excellent going forward, however Harry Redknapp will be mindful of the meeting between the two sides at Old Trafford, where despite the controversial Nani incident, Spurs were well beaten.
I expect a far better showing this time around. Tottenham will score goals, and with United still prone to conceding sloppily, the white half of North London have a real chance of grabbing the points. United, however, keep find a way of grinding out results and whilst they will not be as fluent as their hosts they will find enough to get the job done.
Roy Hodgson’s England squad for Euro 2012 contained some uninspiring selections, such as Liverpool’s Stewart Downing who failed to contribute a goal or an assist for the Reds in the Premier League last season.
It is the likes of Downing that our hopes for this summer rest on, which has understandably led to a lack of expectation as to how far England will progress in Poland and Ukraine next month.
However, the whole country will still get behind the team when the Three Lions play their opening fixture in Euro 2012 against France and the pressure will be on Hodgson to at least progress through the group stages.
Here are four of England’s wingers: Manchester United’s Ashley Young, Manchester City’s James Milner and Arsenal’s Theo Walcott alongside Downing, but a lion seems to have gate-crashed the photo shoot.
Can you come up with a funny caption for this picture?
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Leave your suggestions in the comments section below…
This week you can win a copy of FIFA Street on PS3!
FIFA Street is arguably the most authentic street football game ever made. From the creators of the award-winning EA SPORTS FIFA franchise, the gameplay has been inspired by street footballers around the globe.
Using Street Ball Control, FIFA Street allows you to perform pannas and compete in 5v5 futsal-style tournaments in the world’s biggest cities in more than 35 locations around the world.
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For the FootballFanCast.com Caption Competition Terms and Conditions click here
Check out our Caption Competition Gallery for some inspiration and to see the winners so far.
Last week’s winner: Steve – click here to see all entries
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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