Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated the performances of Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez during his side’s 4-0 Premier League win against Wigan.
Both the Dutchman and the Mexican scored twice as the Red Devils maintained their seven point advantage at the top of the table.
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini singled out Robin van Persie as the key man in this term’s title race recently, praise that was echoed by Fergie after the game:
“We knew we were getting a top player who would make a difference to the team. That is why we went for him.” He told Sky Sports.
“Robin is a completely rounded footballer. He has great international experience, he’s played for Arsenal for seven years and he came to us at the very peak of his career.
“His ability to make and take goals is fantastic. His play for his first goal was absolutely magnificent, his turn, his balance, no drawback, just side footed it in. It was a really good goal.”
Although Hernandez has not stolen the headlines in quite the same fashion as RVP this season, his brace took his tally to 12, drawing applause from his manager:
“Since Javier came, he has shown he is a penalty-box player,
“He is tremendous. He latches onto things. He is brilliant.”
The Scot went on to say that a number of key players will be rested for this weekend’s FA Cup clash with West Ham:
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“We will make a few changes for the cup tie,
“We took Michael Carrick off as soon as we got the third goal. They deserve a break and they have played in all the games.
“We’ll have a look at the situation. We’ve got plenty of players to freshen it up.”
Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping that Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday will be free of controversy, the Independent reports.
The two rivals meet at Old Trafford in the Premier League in a fixture that has always been fiery down the years, but has had added tension recently due to Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez’ racism row.
The Uruguayan refused to shake Evra’s hand when the sides last met at Old Trafford, however the two players have since made their peace at Anfield in September in the sides first meeting of the season, and Ferguson is hoping for more of the same this time around.
“There will always be a certain build-up to a Manchester United-Liverpool game, simply because of the history between the two clubs, the two most successful in the country,” he said.
“It brings its own agenda in terms of profile and pre-match discussion.”
“Last year it was unfortunate with the Suarez behaviour.”
“I think hopefully it is behind both clubs now and we can just look forward to the game.”
United go into the game as league leaders while Liverpool have also seen an improvement in their form over recent weeks, and the match up will see the Premier Leagues two leading scorers go head to head.
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Robin van Persie currently has 16 league goals, with Luis Suarez just one behind him and both have been in tremendous form.
Players come and go from football clubs all over the world (the turnover of players at Newcastle is greater than most clubs in the Premier League!) and we fondly remember those players who have given us such great memories wearing our teams’ colours. In contrast there are also those players who didn’t live up to the expectations and hype when they signed for our clubs and it is those players that we would rather forget.
I am going to single out a selection of Newcastle United players who in some cases quite frankly may as well have not bothered turning up at all, were a huge waste of money and whose performances didn’t warrant them wearing the Newcastle shirt.
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Compiled by Tom MacGregor
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Everton are lining up Wigan boss Roberto Martinez to replace David Moyes, according to reports from The Express.
The Scot’s future at Goodison Park is far from certain, with negotiations regarding a new deal at the club having stalled.
Moyes’ stock is at a real high, leading to speculation that he could take charge of Chelsea ahead of next season, or move abroad to manage a top European club.
Everton are aware that their man could choose to leave, and have drawn up a list of potential replacements.
Martinez is said to be top of the pile, with the Toffees’ hierarchy impressed by his work at Wigan.
The Spaniard has kept the Latics in the Premier League against all the odds for some time now, playing attractive football along the way.
Despite having rejected approaches from both Aston Villa and Liverpool during the past two off-seasons, Everton are confident that they can tempt their target to move on in search of a new challenge.
Martinez is widely regarded as the man who built the current Swansea side, having taken control of the club during their time at the lower end of the domestic footballing ladder, guiding them up the divisions.
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Everton are thought to be keen on the style of football he brings, and are optimistic that he can get the very best out of their talented squad.
Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has been advised to “take a step down” and join a smaller club, by Hamburg sporting director Frank Arnersen.
The Danish forward left the Premier League to join Serie A giants Juventus on a year loan, but has failed to impress, having only started three games with La Vecchia Signora.
Bendtner, who has featured in eight games but is yet to score for ‘The Old Lady’, turned down Hamburg twice as he was expecting to join a bigger club.
But the Bundesliga side’s Sporting Director believes the striker has set his sights too high.
“He must take a step down and choose a good club where he can rediscover the joy of playing and play a lot,” Arnersen told The Daily Mail.
“He said no to me twice because he wanted to play in an even bigger club. He must make sure he is always in the best shape and so he should be more humble and think about how he can get the most out of his talent.”
Hamburg tried to sign Bendtner back in the summer of 2011, before he was loaned to Sunderland. A year after, the Germans struck again but the Danish international eventually joined the Serie A leaders.
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Recent reports suggest Hamburg will try for a third time this summer, hoping the offer of first-team football will convince the striker.
On numerous occasions this year, it has seemed Arsenal’s season was all but over. Their defeat to Bradford in the Capital One Cup was embarrassing, their elimination of the FA Cup was concerning, and losing the second North London derby in the Premier League appeared to be the final nail in the coffin.
But with just a handful of games remaining following the Gunners recent surge in form triggered by an odds-defying 2-0 victory away to Bayern Munich, it looks as if Arsene Wenger has turned it round in time to maintain their Champions League status at the Emirates.
However, as we at Football Fancast love to play devil’s advocate, we’ve come up with some reasons why it could be beneficial for the North Londoners to miss out on Europe’s most prestigious cup competition this year.
Click on Marouane Chamakh to reveal the FIVE reasons why it’ll be a blessing for the Gunners to miss out on the Champions League
Despite the fact they must have been seething at losing the Champions` League Final on their own pitch just a few months earlier it didn`t show as Bayern Munich began their quest for redemption with the opening game of Group F at that same Allianz Arena against Valencia.
It was to be the perfect start for Bayern. Bastian Schweinsteiger scored with a fierce cross shot, which may have taken the slightest of deflections, just before the interval.
Tony Kroos then made it 2-0 with a stunning 25 yard strike in the second half before Valencia pulled a goal back with a Valdez header that beat Neuer just inside the post to ensure a three point haul for the Bavarian club seeking its third Champions` League Final in four years.
Munich were to be grateful for that winning start as Match day 2 didn`t go at all to plan.
Bayern dominated the first half and Tony Kroos hit a post but they couldn`t prevent BATE Borisov from racing into a 3-0 lead that stunned the visitors. Alyaksandr Pawlaw gave the Belarussian side a 23rd minute lead then Vitali Rodionow made it 2-0, 12 minutes from time. Renan Bressan completed the scoring for BATE and if Frank Ribery hadn`t managed an injury time consolation goal who knows what the consequences might have been for Jupp Heynckes` players. Bayern`s caution in sitting back because of the threat of BATE`s counter attacking was to be their undoing. The unexpected reverse ended Bayern`s nine-game winning streak, in all competitions and stopped them from achieving a new club record with ten consecutive victories.
Putting that shock set back behind them Bayern went to Lille where they could only manage a 1-0 win, courtesy of Thomas Muller`s penalty just short of the midway point in the first half. Philipp Lahn`s drive into the Lille penalty area `bought` what can only be described as a fortuitous spot kick award graciously bestowed by Premier League referee Martin Atkinson.
Week 4 of the Champions` League produced a more expected result against Lille than the game in France and Bayern ran out convincing winners, 6-1.Claudio Pizarro ran in a first half hat-trick, his treble came inside 15 minutes, and further goals from Schweinsteiger, Arjan Robben, both free-kicks, and Toni Kroos inflicted a heaviest ever defeat on Lille in European competition. Although the win took Bayern to the top of Group F their coach didn`t seem overly impressed. Jupp Heynckes admitted afterwards it had been a performance of contrasting halves by his players. `Outstanding in the first half, but our opponents were not really all there today`.
With both Bayern and Valencia seeking progress from the group, indeed the La Liga club were already there due to BATE`s defeat earlier in the day to Lille, it was no surprise that they played out a draw, 1-1, at the Mestalla in week five of the qualifying group. Despite losing Antonio Barragan to a first half red card Valencia went 1-0 up through Sofiane Feghouli 13 minutes from time but a late Thomas Muller equaliser meant both teams reached the knock-out stages.
With progress assured that left Bayern with just one job to accomplish, revenge for their shock defeat in the Ukraine on Match day two. The home side ensured, with ruthless efficiency, that there would be no repeat. Mario Gomez, one of seven changes on the night for the German side, opened the scoring for Munich with his first goal in the competition. Further goals from Thomas Muller, Xherdan Shaqiri and David Alaba ensured that Bayern went through as Group F winners, despite a 90th minute consolation goal from Egor Filipenko. Both sides finished with ten men as Jerome Boateng, just after half-time, for a bad challenge and Denis Polyakov, on 69 minutes, were both given red cards.
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Despite earning more favourable opponents, and avoiding the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United in the Last 16, by finishing as group winners the Bayern achievement was lauded with an `air punching` response from Heynckes who said afterwards. “Our primary goal was to win the game and with it the group. We did that in an impressive manner. I think we can be satisfied with the performance.”
I was fortunate enough to meet former Football Italia legend and new European football expert and presenter James Richardson of BT Sport yesterday. BT Sport clearly mean business in the league of sports broadcasting, signing up talent like Richardson as well as great figures in the game like David Ginola and Uwe Rosler to their arsenal of pundits.
My day started off with a journey to the BT Sport studios at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. To my delight, BT Sport is among several companies trying their best to utilise facilities that remain from the glory days of the Olympics in the summer of 2012. Their commitment to basing their channels in the former International Broadcast Centre of the Olympics in a clear commitment to enhancing its legacy.
Upon arrival, I was treated to a tour of the BT Sport studio. Our minder reminded us that unlike previous broadcasters of European football placing their coverage in a ‘box-like’ studio with a sub-standard feed for matches, BT have really tried to go the extra mile in enhancing the viewer’s experience. This was no more evident to me than in the broadaster’s LED interactive pitch for both football and Rugby coverage. Impressively, they also had the capability to run several shows at once in the same studio from different presenting points.
After the tour it was time to get down to the nitty gritty and grill James Richardson about European football, his new show on BT Sport and Serie A.
What is it like to be working in such an impressive studio?
“I’ve worked on European football for other broadcasters but I’ve never has the pleasure of working on something that has as much relevance as the Sunday Night Football show we’re doing for BT because we’ve committed a lot of resources to it.
“It’s a four-hour slot, so we’ve got time to do all the news and goals from Germany, France and Italy as well as a featured live game. It feels like there is a real buzz about it.”
What can viewers that haven’t seen your Sunday night show expect?
“The resources we’ve been given allows us to update every game in progress broadcasting the goals from all the European Leagues we cover to viewers from other matches while our featured match is still live.
“We really have made the biggest effort to enhance the viewing experience and entertainment for viewers. Our Sunday Night show will bring all the goals, with expert opinion and news on all the players people wouldn’t have heard of as much.
You presented coverage of Italian football during the 1990s in what many football fans saw as the glory days of Serie A – do you think the league is anywhere near rekindling those days?
“I don’t think any league is or will ever be as dominant as Serie A was in the 1990s. Nowadays, I don’t think there is anything to suggest Serie A will ever be as dominant as it was. Before they had more money like the Premier League has currently, but they were also tactically and technically far more adept than any of their rivals.
“In the present time, Italian managers are the most sought after in the world so that could be viewed as a strength of Italian football. Serie A never used to need to innovate because it was so dominant, now it’s getting stronger again it will have to if it is to sell itself around the world like the Premier League. At the moment, I can’t see anything bursting the Premier League bubble.”
With the strength of Italian football in mind, how do you think Napoli, Juventus and AC Milan will get on in the Champions League this season?
“Napoli are looking very, very strong. Rafa Benitez obviously knows his onions at European level.
“They’ve made some great signings; the only problem is they’ve been drawn into a hugely difficult group with Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund and Marseille.
“AC Milan – frankly no – the DNA of the club means they can always pull a result out of the bag but I don’t think they’re strong enough.
“Juventus you can make a big case for because they were strong last year and with the addition of Carlos Tevez anything could happen.”
Of the Premier League’s acquisitions from Serie A, who catches your eye?
“I’m always surprised Premier League clubs don’t go for goalkeepers like Samir Handanovic.
“I think Erik Lamela can do really well – he’s 21, super confident and a great dribbler, I think he’s a great signing for Tottenham even if he’ll get less playing time in the Premier League.”
Paolo Di Canio is manager at Sunderland, can he turn their poor start around?
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“The Italians won’t be able to turn it around there. He’s talking about bringing back the old backbone of the team even after signing 14 or 15 players.
“Di Canio tries to get his teams super fit and this is great but you run the risk of starting off the season completely shattered and this may be the case with Sunderland, or they may just be rubbish.”
I can’t leave here without asking you about Gareth Bale, can he live up to his price tag?
“I don’t think anyone can live up to that price tag but Bale has proved he is world class player more than capable of playing in Europe. However, at the moment he doesn’t look an integral part of their team yet.
“When Ronaldo called him over to celebrate against Galatasaray – it was almost as if Bale said ‘who, me?’ I have no doubt he’ll do well for Real Madrid though.”
Watch BT Sport’s exclusively live coverage of AC Milan v Napoli on BT Sport 2 from 7.30pm on Sunday 22 September. Build up to the big game with Sunday Night Football, which covers the game across the continent, from 6.45pm on BT Sport 1 on Sunday 22 September.
Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi is hoping that playing at the World Cup next summer could open the door to a new club challenge for him, as reported by Sky Sports.
Ameobi is now part of the Nigeria set up after giving up on his dream to represent England after a number of caps for the under-21’s.
Nigeria qualified for the World Cup in Brazil yesterday and the 32 year old is set to be part of the African’s squad to travel to south America next summer.
Ameobi is out of contract at the end of the season and the North East-born striker knows it may be time for a new challenge after spending his entire career with Newcastle.
“I am not one to look too far ahead. But I know it is a big year for me. I have been at Newcastle almost all of my career and it could be a fresh start, a change, which I am excited about,” Ameobi told the Northern Echo.
“If I can go to the World Cup and do well, anything could happen.
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“It is a big season before that though, there are a lot of good players Nigeria can pick from so the priority is to play well for Newcastle, get in the team and play well. If I can do that, I have a better chance of being in the Nigeria squad.”
Liverpool vice captain Daniel Agger has admitted he was tempted to move to Barcelona upon hearing of the Catalan giant’s interest over the summer, reports the Daily Express.
The Danish defender was the subject of intense interest from the Spanish champions, who made an offer of £15million for his services, which the Reds firmly rejected.
And with Agger contracted to the club until 2016, he reveals he was happy to stay loyal to the Liverpool cause.
“I think you are always tempted when stuff like that happens,” Agger said.
“You would not be human not to be, but I keep to my principles.
“If I have a contract here for two or three years and the club want me to stay, then I stay with them because, when I signed that deal, that’s what I told them — that I’d be here for four years. I can’t just turn around and say I don’t want to be here any more.”It might have been different if the club had said it was in the best interests of both of us to go our different ways.
“In that case Barcelona would have been the best place to go, without a doubt, but the club came to me and told me they wanted me here.
“I’m not saying I wasn’t tempted, because anyone would be in that situation, but for the club to say that to me was enough. I am happy here and my family is happy here also and that’s a good combination.”
Agger is set to start for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Saturday lunchtime, after winning his place back in the 4-0 win over Fulham a fortnight ago.
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The Dane had previously not featured for seven games, as Brendan Rodgers elected to go with a back three of Martin Skrtel, Mamdou Sakho and Kolo Toure.