Blackburn’s mini-revival was brought to a stuttering halt at Ewood Park as Peter Crouch scored twice in the first half to give Stoke their first win of the New Year and enhance their European prospects.
After their shock win against Manchester United 48 hours prior relieved most of the pressure on manager Steve Kean’s shoulders Rovers returned to their old ways succumbing to an eight home defeat in 10 games. Whilst the victory at Old Trafford appeared to be a turning point in their season they fell back into old habits as the Potters left the North West with maximum points and moved to within inches of a Europa League place. Tony Pulis’ side will be grateful to emerge victorious from this one with Crouch wrapping the game up before the half time whistle with two expertly taken goals before David Goodwillie set up a tense finish scoring with 20 minutes remaining.
Supporters offered Kean and his players a rare warm reception before kick off with their New Years Eve win over United doing much to repair the relationship between the two. That seemed to rub off on the Rovers starting eleven who begun the gum with a vim and vigour that has been absent from their play for much of the campaign thus far. Christopher Samba rattled the bar with a powerful header before seeing a goal ruled out for a foul by Yakubu on Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen. The Dane than had his palms stung after David Dunn decided to try his luck with vicious strike from distance. However the Potters soon eased themselves into the contest and took the lead just after the quarter hour with Crouch expertly controlling the ball on his chest before firing past Mark Bunn for his 100th Premier League goal. Still the home side attacked with purpose and Samba was denied again seeing Sorensen tipping away another header before denying Yakubu as the missed chanced began to pile up. They were made to pay just before half time as Crouch again found the net smashing a left footed effort into the roof of the net after brilliantly taking Matthew Etherington’s centre down on his thigh.
He could have completed his hat trick just after the break but could only volley over the bar after Jonathan Woodgate’s had picked him out at the back post. Stoke continued to control the game stifling the home side in the final third and it was the introduction of Goodwillie that gave Rovers a chance of rescuing the game. The Scottish striker came on just before the hour and ten minutes after his introduction he was on hand to prod home after the Potters failed to clear Morten Gamst Pedersen’s corner. They than came within inches of equalising after Samba flicked a long throw onto Yakubu who’s strike was saved superbly on the line by Woodgate. It was the best Rovers could muster as they missed the chance to lift themselves closer to safety.
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Former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has revealed a spat with striker Didier Drogba was behind his early exit from Stamford Bridge.Scolari was sacked by Chelsea in February 2009, merely seven months into a three-year contract with the Blues.
A player revolt against the Brazilian manager was rumoured to have led to his departure, something Scolari was quick to dispel at the time.
But the 62-year-old has confessed in an interview to a troubled relationship with Ivory Coast international Drogba, who was hampered by a knee injury in the 2008-09 season.
”Drogba had a bad knee, and the previous year he had played 12 to 15 games with the help of cortisone injections,” Scolari said.
“I wouldn’t accept that, I did not want it. He had to go through physiotherapy, and he thought he had to get it done in a big clinic in Cannes, in the summer.”
“So the dummy here said ‘no’, and the problems began.”
”To this day I do not believe in this sabotage conspiracy, but I did not know how to handle certain things, or handle it like I do in Brazil.”
Scolari landed at Uzbek club Bunyodkor after leaving Chelsea, and took over at Brazilian side Palmeiras in June last year.
His tenure at Palmeiras is beginning to bear fruit, with the club one point clear on the Campeonato Paulista table and assured of reaching the play-offs.
Asked if he would consider a move back to Europe, Scolari was reticent but would not rule it out altogether.
”I won’t say I won’t go back to Europe, but I think to myself, I am 62, almost 63 years old,” he said.
“Will I have to go back there to a medium sized team to make my name?”
“No, I think I have to stay here in Brazil and find a solution for Palmeiras, which is a team I like.”
”The basis of this group is that the players want an opportunity. They are giving me the chance to show them that opportunities in life are few and far between.”
Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has no plans to retire following his impressive start to the new season.
The soon to be 36-year-old midfielder took the plaudits after man-of-the-match displays in both the Community Shield victory over Chelsea and Monday night's opening 3-0 Premier League win against Newcastle United.
Scholes has made almost 650 appearances for the Red Devils during 17 seasons in the first team and insists he will carry on playing as long as he continues to enjoy his football.
"I haven't set any limits," said the midfield playmaker."I'll just keep going, hopefully keep playing well and getting in the team and just see where it goes from there.
"It depends on performances and how you play. I did go through last season thinking this might be the last time I played against this team or stuff like that. But I just don't know. My performances will decide when I finish.
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"At 35 I thought that would be it. From being young and first getting into the squad, you just presume everyone will finish at 35 and that's it. Whatever you do after that is a bonus. At the end of last season I felt okay and hopefully this season I will do as well."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Sources in France Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has set his sights on Marseille defender Nicolas N’Koulou, according to InsideFutbol. The 21 year old only recently signed for Marseille after his previous club Monaco was relegated last year and it could be difficult to pry the Cameroonian away from the French club. However Didier Deschamps only paid €3.5m for N’Koulou and if a significant offer came in it could represent a good bit of business for Marseille.
Despite being so young N’Koulou has already notched up twenty-five appearances for Cameroon and came through the same academy as Samuel Eto’o and Carlos Kameni. His adaptation to the Champions League has been has been smooth enough for the Arsenal manager to know that N’Koulou is capable of playing at the highest level. Despite Wenger having recently signed Per Mertesacker to leave him with five central defenders N’Koulou’s ability to play in a defensive midfield role provides an extra attraction for Arsenal, especially considering the reports that Alex Song is unsure where his future lies.
Wenger has been sending scouts to watch N’Koulou since his time at Monaco and should this season not demonstrate an improvement in Arsenal’s defensive abilities interest in the Cameroonian could intensify.
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The USA have begun their CONCACAF Under-20 Championship campaign with a comfortable victory over Suriname in Guatemala.The Americans took the lead in the 19th minute when Greg Garza’s free-kick was flicked on for Bobby Wood to score his side’s opening goal of the tournament.
The US doubled their advantage ten minutes later thanks to Joe Gyau before Conor Doyle added a third.
Kelyn Rowe completed the rout in the second half, collecting the ball off Doyle before unleashing a low, right-footed drive as the Americans ran out 4-0 winners.
The USA now face Panama in their final Group B match on Sunday and look likely to progress to next week’s quarter-finals.
Elsewhere, Guatemala beat Jamaica 2-0.
An early own-goal by Jamaican defender Jhamie Lettini and a 35th minute strike from Guatemala midfielder Gerson Danilo were enough to seal the win for the hosts.
The top four teams at the end of the competition will qualify for the FIFA U20 World Cup which is being held in Colombia later this year.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has admitted that it is looking increasingly unlikely that he will be able to prise Cesc Fabregas away from Arsenal this summer.
Barca had made the Gunners skipper their main target this summer, but the chances of the midfielder leaving north London have faded as the weeks have gone by.
The 23-year-old Spain international has said at the end of last term that he would welcome the opportunity to return to the club where he started his career but Arsenal have already rejected one bid for Fabregas from Barca.
"I think bringing in Cesc will cost a lot," Guardiola said at a press conference on Monday. "We want him to come, but if Arsenal don't want to negotiate, he won't come."
Meanwhile, Guardiola has spoken of his decision to sign a new one-year contract with last term's La Liga champions, adding:"I'm very happy to continue for one more year. I want to keep on doing my job well and make people proud of us.
"I feel more comfortable with one-year contracts. I am grateful to the confidence shown in me by the new board in offering me a six-year contract, but I prefer working with short contracts, it's something personal.
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"I need to feel that things are working and that what I am doing is right, but if everything is going well and I feel strong, I will carry on next year.
"I don't see any change but, if after this first year the feedback with the players, the feedback is not good or the results aren't good, I won't stay on."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Say Cristiano you get the response Leo. Hear Messi someone thinks Ronaldo. The best two players in Spain – well let’s face it the world – are somewhat intertwined through no fault of their own. Last week Messi reached the goal mark of 200 for Barcelona, being only the second player in their history to do so. Ronaldo then replied with a hat trick on the weekend to send Real three points clear at the summit of La Liga – incidentally his twelfth hat trick so far in the Los Blancos shirt.
So who would make the cut in your dream team? It would be easy to sit here and do a comparison of stat after stat and see who provides the most assists or goals, and who has a better win percentage in the team – yet no matter how many pages of data someone can provide you with, if you believe one is better than the other, there will be no dissuading you.
Both players are head and shoulders above everyone else in the world – there is no player past or present who could boast such impressive records and performances week in week out, with improvements always being made. No one else in Europe can touch either player – imagine Fernando Torres if he went just three matches without a goal – it would be like his birthday and Christmas’ for the next decade all rolled in to one – yet Messi went three games without a goal and the media were asking if he was in crisis. Due to the goals he has banged in since, it seems safe to assume that is not the case.
Where Messi may have previously had the edge over Ronaldo is the way he plays for the team. Ronaldo, and rightly so, in seasons gone by could have been accused of only being interested in the Cristiano show, and whilst prolific, he did not give enough to the team as a whole, whereas Messi did. However, under the guidance of Mourinho, Ronaldo has evolved as a player, and the entire approach to his game is now much more about the team and what he can give to them. Not only does he still score at a phenomenal rate – 103 goals in 106 games to be precise – but he has now adopted more of a team mentality and this can clearly be seen in his game.
This is both blatantly obvious when watching Ronaldo as an individual, but also when watching Real as a team you can clearly see how they function more effectively and fluidly, with Ronaldo adding more assists to his game, and a harmony not seen at the club before.
One thing Ronaldo does have in his locker that Messi does not and will never have is the ability to track back and defend when the team is under pressure. When at United, this was not one of Ronaldo’s strong points, yet under Mourinho you learn to defend and you learn sharpish. Ronaldo has done this and is again adding to his all round game, becoming a stronger player for it.
Neither Messi nor Barcelona really subscribe to the art of defending – playing Mascherano and Busquets as their centre back pairing being a personal favourite to illustrate this – yet Messi is never expected to track back or should he lose the ball – rare I know – and Guardiola would prefer Messi further up the field waiting for his team to retain possession.
Although in Spain reliance on corners and free kicks is not as prominent as in England, when in Europe, defending set pieces becomes a vital task. Again this is something Ronaldo is able to do, being strong, tall and powerful not just scoring but also defending said situations. Can you really imagine Messi defending a set piece away at the Allianz arena? In a word – no.
Ronaldo has also proven he can cut it in the Premier League – Messi, whilst brilliant at Barcelona under the whistle happy officials has never played his trade in another league, and it is doubtful if he is really cut for the style of English football. Ronaldo however has proven he can withstand the kicks and the rainy away nights over the winter period – whilst Messi was on his winter break on a beach in the Caribbean. That is not to say Messi could not perform in England, I am sure he could, but on a Monday night at the Britannia I know who would make my starting line-up.
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The Messi supporters amongst you will now be ready to point out to me that to win the Champion’s League, you have to play teams from countries other than Spain. Yes, I realise this, but even so the referees in Europe are somewhat softer than in the premier league – hence the well-used commentators phrase ‘well in Europe that’s a yellow.’ Again there is substantial protection from officials, and let’s face it even if it isn’t a foul on a Barcelona player, 9 times out of 10 they get the free kick anyway, and the opposition player can count himself lucky not to be sent off – Pepe anyone?
Another little point here is their performances for their respective national teams. Messi has had roughly the same level of success with Argentina as Balotelli had when trying to have a bonfire in his bathroom. Ronaldo on the other hand has become the talisman for Portugal, and is surrounded by players of much less quality than Messi.
One reason why Ronaldo is seemingly less loved than Messi around the footballing world is undeniably the way each comes across as a person. Whilst Messi appears to be Mr Approachable, humble and just like the average man on the street just with a gift from god, Ronaldo is flashy, very in touch with his metrosexual side and knows it.
Not to mention the fact that Ronaldo, when asked why some people are less than kind about him felt the need to reply that it was certainly jealousy, as he is rich, good looking and talented. Well he is not wrong there – he just missed out the fact he also has a girlfriend who is a super model to boot. However, this is no reason to dislike Ronaldo as a player or even to prefer Leo Messi. As much as I hate to break it to pundit Gerry Francis, you can’t prefer Messi as a player just because ‘he plays the game with a smile on his face.’
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They may both feel that due to the other, they do not get the plaudits they deserve – Ronaldo certainly feels that due to the fact Messi plays for Barcelona, who can be seen to do no wrong in UEFA’s eyes, he can lose out in voting at certain times, and there is some truth to this. After receiving the Golden Boot, when asked about his chances to win the Ballon D’or, both Ronaldo and Mourinho replied that the golden boot was done on ability and hard fact, not votes and emotions – clearly alluding to the fact they feel had the Golden Boot been decided in the same way, it would have been on its way across Spain to Cataluña.
Whatever the case, due to the existence of the other, neither can coast on the tag of ‘best player in the world’ and both have to improve their game on a constant basis, almost to the extent that when in form, they become unplayable. Come the 11th of December, all eyes will be on the most watched footballing game in the world – El Classico, and with so many scintillating match ups and wealth of talent on both sides this may be the best one of all, and may mean that for once, the match can be remembered for all the right reasons. If this will be the case remains to be seen, but what is certain is that the two best players in the world will be on display – both at the very top of their game, but who do you think is better?
Joachim Loew has extended his contract as Germany manager, ending speculation of a move to Bayern Munich.Loew led the national team to third place at the 2010 World Cup, winning fans for blooding the likes of Mesut Oezil and Thomas Mueller.Bayern Munich are yet to announce a replacement for manager Louis van Gaal, who will leave the club at the end of the season after his side failed to mount a serious defence to their Bundesliga defence.But despite rumours he was top of the candidate list, Loew will not follow the same path predecessor Juergen Klinnsman took from the national team to the Munich club.”I am delighted that we were able to agree early on continuing our work until the 2014 World Cup,” Loew said in a statement on Tuesday.”Together, with German Football Federation (DFB) chief Theo Zwanziger and general secretary Wolfgang Niersbach, we believe that it makes sense to continue our successful path with the team in the same style.”Loew has been in the Germany job since 2006, and extended his contract to 2012 after the World Cup.
Liverpool striker David N'Gog does not harbour any desire to leave Anfield on a permanent or temporary basis.
The 21-year-old was criticised by many Reds fans for his poor displays in a lack-lustre team last season although he did manage to score eight times in 36 matches.
The former Paris St Germain star has been linked with a summer switch to West Brom but is keen to stay on Merseyside and show new boss Roy Hodgson what he can do.
"I know speculation is part of football and we have to deal with it. If we bring in new players, it is good for the team," he said.
"But I am a Liverpool player. I want to be involved in the first team at Liverpool.
"My confidence is good. Now I have to do my job and give my best for the team.
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"I am more experienced now and I want to be involved, play as many games as I can and score goals to help the team win.
"The club had a difficult season last year but I want to prove we can get back into the top four. I am confident about this."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Norwich City right-back Russell Martin has been doing a sterling job playing as a centre-back for the club in recent games. It is a role that the defender will be expected to continue in when Norwich face Liverpool on Saturday. Zak Whitbread, Elliott Ward, and Daniel Ayala are all currently out injured, but they are fighting their way back to fitness.
Should Russell Martin keep his place when one of these players is fit to play? There are clearly two very strong arguments for and against this. Firstly, Russell Martin deserves the right to continue to play due to the performances he has put in, in the last few games.
However, the likes of Whitbread, Ward, and Ayala would argue that as recognised centre-backs a right-back should not be played ahead of them.
Overall though there has to be a bigger reason to drop Russell Martin than simply there is another player available. Russell Martin may not be a central defender by trade, but watching his performances this season you wouldn’t really know that. On Saturday against Swansea, Martin put in a solid shift at the back and even managed to get himself on the score-sheet in Norwich’s 3-1 win at Carrow Road.
Paul Lambert has been in the privileged position over the last few games of playing at the same starting –eleven. The Norwich City manager certainly would not want to disrupt his team’s rhythm by making unnecessary changes. The likes of Whitbread, Ward and, Ayala have to work hard in training and play well for the reserves. Then it is up to them to make an impact from the substitute’s bench when given the opportunity in the first-team.
The place at centre-back occupied by Russell Martin should be his to lose. As long as he continues to play well in that position then really he has nothing to worry about. He should be mindful of the fact though that a few costly errors cost Ritchie De Laet his place in the team. Martin therefore needs to ensure that his performances stay at the level they have been in the last few games. Lambert has already proved this season that he will make big decisions, if he feels they will benefit the team.
Few Norwich City supporters would have expected Grant Holt to be dropped from the first-team this season. However, it has quickly become apparent that no one’s place is completely safe. This includes Russell Martin, so he must continue to play well to stay in the team.
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