Southampton star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has pleaded with the clubs chairman to let him leave and fulfil his dream of playing in the Premier League, according to the Mirror.
The Saints wonder kid has attracted interest from the top flight ever since making his debut in March 2010 with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City on his tail.
Ten goals, two assists and a place in the League One Team of the Year did nothing to dampen that interest as he played a big part in Southampton’s promotion to the Championship.
But it’s being reported that chairman Nicola Cortese is not prepared to lose his £12 million rated winger.
He is refusing to acknowledge any interest in the 17-year-old despite Oxlade-Chamberlain being keen to leave and follow the same path as former St Mary’s favourite Theo Walcott.
He told the Mirror: “Southampton, and especially the fans, have been brilliant to me ever since I broke into the first team.
“It has been fantastic helping them to get promoted. But now I feel I’m ready to play in the Premier League.”
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But it seems his dreams may be put on hold as Cortese refuses to do business with any interested parties.
It’s a far cry from January when then Saints supremo held talks with Manchester United and Arsenal only to scupper any deal with his crazy demands, which reportedly included a 50% sell-on clause and the player back on loan for the second half of last season.
Brazil manager Mano Menezes has acted on his side’s Copa America failure by ringing the changes for the August 10 friendly against Germany.Botafogo goalkeeper Jefferson, defenders Luisao (Benfica) and Adriano Correia (Barcelona) and Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Jadson have been dropped for the match in Stuttgart.
Elano – who skied his penalty horribly in Brazil’s quarter-final shootout loss to Paraguay – has also been axed, while Sandro is absent through injury.
Real Madrid midfielder Kaka has missed selection once more, with Renato Augusto (Bayer Leverkusen), Dede (Vasco Da Gama), Jonas (Valencia), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich) and Ralf (Corinthians) brought into the squad. Only Jonas has appeared for his country before.
“We are at a stage where we are looking for reliable players in this phase of transition and those who can help with this. It depends on Kaka’s performances as a player and the form he is in,” Menezes said.
“I was always clear from the beginning regarding the future. There is no need for me to call him up and test him again. I think we have a good mix for a strong team, with ample support in reserve when we need it.”
Full squad: Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Victor (Gremio). Defenders: Andre Santos (Fenerbahce), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), David Luiz (Chelsea), Dede (Vasco de Gama), Lucio (Inter Milan), Maicon (Inter Milan), Thiago Silva (AC Milan). Midfielders: Elias (Atletico Madrid), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ganso (Santos), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Lucas (Sao Paulo), Luis Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Ralf (Corinthians), Ramires (Chelsea), Renato Augusto (Bayer Leverkusen). Strikers: Alexandre Pato (AC Milan), Jonas (Valencia), Fred (Fluminense), Neymar (Santos), Robinho (AC Milan).
As the dust settles on yet another tumultuous day on Tyneside there is only one topic that can be discussed.
The bubble has finally burst on Joey Barton’s supposed love affair with Newcastle United. much like his mate Kevin Nolan’s did just last month.
Yet again the club has become shrouded in controversy and discontent by the words of an unsettled player via Twitter. First Jose Enrique decided to have a pop at Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias for their reluctance to spend and now Barton has thrown his two cents into the mix for about the ten thousandth time and again criticised the two blokes above.
Since signing up to Twitter in May Barton simply turned into the anti-hero for Geordie fans and had them hanging off every tweet, every sentence and every word he typed. His comments sparked mass panic.
“If only we as players could tell the fans exactly how it is, without them above fining us lots of money,” Barton said.
“If it wouldn’t effect team morale and cause unrest within the dressing room, am certain Jose’s comments would be the tip of the iceberg….. “And again it would be left to those magnificent fans to pick up the remnants of their once great football club.”The midfielder added: “If I wanted to leave, I’d just come out and say “I want to leave.” Things need addressing as am not prepared to go through a relegation again.”The comments prompted Ashley and Llambias to do the unthinkable and place Barton on the transfer list with immediate effect. Rumours were that he had been sacked meaning Ashley would have to dig deep into his wallet for a massive payout. But what i’ve learned over the past four years is that Ashley doesn’t make bad business decisions he just makes really bad footballing ones.
Now to set the record straight I’ve never really taken sides when it comes to debates like this. I’ll never be Ashley’s biggest fan but people seem to forget we were in the monetary mire when he came in and, despite relegation and the whole Keegan fiasco, he has got us back on a sound financial footing.
Barton on the other hand has enjoyed one good season out of the four he’s spent as a Newcastle player. True, last season he was magnificent and was the man that made us tick but that doesn’t give him the right to disrespect his boss or the club. After all they pay him a handsome wage every week just to kick a ball around a grassy field. Like every human being he has opinions but in the media spotlight, have some sense and keep them to yourself.
While I’m at it lets not forget that the club stuck by him whilst he was grappling on the streets of Liverpool, which subsequently ended with him doing a stint at the behest of Her Majesties finest.
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I will admit that the way Ashley and co. have operated in the transfer window has been lacklustre and unambitious. Cabaye, Marveaux and Ba are sound additions but the squad is still threadbare and in need of quality. It’s my opinion that they’re scared to spend over £5 million incase they end up with another Xisco on the books.
Enriques comments which, saw him fined two weeks wages, and now Barton’s have set the cat amongst the pigeons in the St James’ Park boardroom. I will say that the Spaniard got off VERY lightly with his punishment with Barton bearing the brunt of Ashley’s fat filled knuckles (rules for one and not for the other?).
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For me his agenda has always been to get a move away from Newcastle after Nolan left. His words play right into the hands and hearts of the fans. It’s what they want to hear from a player who is opposing the regime they detest so vehemently.
But, I’ll reiterate, it doesn’t give him the right to lambast his boss. Aside from being a footballer Barton is an employee. If he or any footballer hasn’t wised up to that now then it’s about time they did.
In the real world any normal employee would have been sacked on the spot and black marked for the rest of their life. Employers don’t look too kindly on people who display signs of insolence. You might say you can’t compare the two or rationalise football but the positions of employee and employer are exactly the same.
To cut a long story short Barton dug his own grave on Tyneside. Too outspoken for a club like this. Yes he’s available on a free, with added baggage,but who would take the chance on him now?
The decision to select a GB football team for the 2012 Olympics has brought a mixed response within the game. Some players have welcomed the decision and suggested they would be keen to play, while managers and the football federations have questioned the fact it will impinge on their members preparations for their league programme. The very fact the Euro Championships will also be taking place some weeks earlier only goes to underline the worries that some football managers are likely to have and why they will be hesitant to release some of their players for the Olympics.
The ruling for the Olympic teams is the players must be 23 years of age or under; although three players over that age can also be included within the squad.
With that in mind I have included my Olympic XI for Team GB
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Click on the image below to see the GB XI
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Team compiled by Josh Sheridan
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Man United are scoring goals for fun and Rooney is certainly living up to his promise of trying to emulate Lionel Messi’s goal record this season. Wazza is on fire at the moment and shows what a real difference 12months make in football.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes Park Ji Sung the better alternative; Jose looks to gazump Fergie, while United keep tabs on Brazilian duo.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this week
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Greatest Premier League XI?
Do transfer deals suggest the age of the ‘selling club’ is over?
Why Barca isn’t United’s objective…for now anyway
Why Park Ji-Sung will prove the better alternative
Rooney v Aguero
Can Manchester keep setting the pace?
Hernandez v Welbeck v Berbatov – who should get the nod?
Jimmy Greaves: Easy for Manchester clubs to make capital
Fergie and Wenger warned off £30m+ bids…for now!
Fergie keeping tabs on Vitesse duo
Jose looking to gazump Fergie with offer
Best of WEB
Scapegoats For When Man Utd Don’t Win – Fashionable? – Red Flag Flying High
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Anderson and on and on – United Rant
VIDEO: Wayne Rooney talks ‘that’ goal with Nike – The Busby Way
How The Football Association Has Outdone Itself – Yet Again – The United Religion
When all the talk should have been about Tottenham doing one over their fiercest rivals, we found ourselves talking about sickening and
distasteful chants aimed towards Adebayor.
We know Adebayor likes to cause controversy, in the past he has done things that he has openly regretted and said things he wishes he could take back, but that is no excuse for the verbal bashing he received at the hands of Arsenal supporters (only a minority). Wenger, Redknapp, players and fans came together this week and said it has gone too far, a line has to be drawn because it has gone too far.
Hearing the fans chant such disregardful songs, must have brought such nightmares and horrific images back to Adebayor. What he had to witness back in Cabinda, and then being reminded and hearing people rant “it should have been you, it should have been you, shot in Angola,” you cannot imagine what kind of emotions were running through the Togolese striker.
We all love a bit of banter, that’s what gets the fans ticking aswell as the players, but the horror scenes witnessed at White Hart Lane was just pure sick. How can people wish death upon another person, he hasn’t done anything wrong, all he did was move from one club to another, and for that he deserves to die. What is wrong with people?
Adebayor was not the only player to be attacked this past weekend. We saw scenes of fans throwing items at the Liverpool players during their 2-0 win over rivals Everton. This has to stop or someday someone can actually get hurt. Football is meant to be a game of passion not violence.
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Roberto Carlos was a victim during his match against Krylya Sovetov when fansstarted to throw bananas at him. Maybe fun to a minority of people, but it certainly wasn’t for him or his family to witness. It affected him in such a way that he was forced to walk off the pitch.Maybe that is the answer, players should just walk off, or the match should be postponed. Something has to be done, because by simply just banning the culprits, it doesn’t change anything, someone will just follow the antics.
As expected, last week’s north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal was a heated affair, as much off the pitch as on it. Many of the chants from the fans inside White Hart Lane cannot be repeated, as ex-Gunner Emmanuel Adebayor was the subject of plenty of abuse.
On the pitch Kyle Walker became a Spurs hero by smashing home a winner from all of 30 yards, but as the final whistle blew that wasn’t the end of the action. Much like the whole John Terry and Wayne Rooney situation, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Tottenham coach Clive Allen didn’t shake hands. What’s being said between the pair here?
Leave your suggestions below…
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This week you can win a copy of Arsenal – The Making of a Modern Superclub!
Based on unprecedented access granted to the authors, including exclusive interviews with Arsene Wenger and key board members, current and former players, this book looks in detail at the club’s transformation into a global superpower under the stewardship of their French manager right up to the end of the 2010/11 season.
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.
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Last week’s winner: baz – click here to see all entries
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In Chelsea’s 5-3 home defeat to Arsenal last weekend, Frank Lampard reached a special milestone in becoming only the 5th player to play 500 Premier League games. Previously the feat had only been managed by Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed, Sol Campbell and David James.
It came as no surprise to those who follow the game, Lampard has been an automatic choice in his ten years at Stamford Bridge and it was the same at West Ham for the 4 years previous to that.
In those 500 games Lampard has scored an impressive 144 league goals, his strikerate one that most strikers would be proud of. Indeed, Lampard is the Premier League’s most prolific goalscorer from midfield.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said of Lampard, ‘There are very few midfielders today who can play 130 Premiership matches in a row. But there are freaks and that’s freakish.’ Frank would go on to play 164 consecutively before a virus kept him out. A veiled compliment from Ferguson maybe, but a compliment nonetheless and one that summed up Lampard as a player.
Lampard has long had a reputation as a model professional, first on the training pitch, last off it. Furthermore, on the pitch Lampard retains an exceptional disciplinary record, despite playing in the heart of midfield week in week out Lampard has received a mere 50 yellow and 3 red cards in his 500 appearances.
Earlier this season large parts of the mainstream media were queuing up to write off Lampard. The England veteran responded in the only way he knows how, by doing his talking on the pitch. A goal away at Valencia, a hat-trick away at Bolton and the opener in last weekend’s defeat to Arsenal surely confirmed that there is life in Lampard yet.
This article should not just be about Lampard however, it should be an appreciation of the dedication of those who have played week in, week out at the very top level to reach such a milestone.
Ryan Giggs is the leading Premier League appearance maker, at 579 games and counting. Giggs made his debut in the very first Premier League season, and has famously scored in every one since. He may have received stick in the United dressing room for releasing his very own fitness DVD recently, yet who can argue considering the players exceptional longevity. Giggs was monumental in the second half of the season for United last season and it would be foolish to write the Welshman off just yet.
In the other 3 players to play over 500 games, Gary Speed, Sol Campbell and David James were all flawless in their commitment to the cause throughout their careers. Such players are a rare breed.
Looking at the next players set to reach the milestone only gives further indication to the sort of character that plays so many top flight games. Emile Heskey (496) is the next on the list to reach 500, Jamie Carragher (472) is less than a full season away, while Phil Neville (466) will harbour ambitions to reach the milestone in his time as Everton captain.
Of course an element of luck in avoiding a multitude of injuries is essential, yet no one will deny that the players near the top of the appearance list are consummate professionals.
Naturally in professional football players have different lengths to their playing career, it is often the case that most footballers, once they have made it, will stay at the top level for a long time. However most players suffer injuries, or a dip in form, or find that they no longer meet the standards of the division they are in, there is normally something that sends a player into decline.
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The players mentioned in this article are the exception, model professionals and truly outstanding sportsmen who push themselves to remain at the top of their game for many years beyond what is expected.
Have your say on the likes of Lampard and Giggs, the games model professionals. Comment and follow me on Twitter @CamHumphries
A summer of speculation has been followed by three months of outstanding individual performances from Luka Modric, within a side that have surpassed all expectations to this point. So have Tottenham now convinced Modric that White Hart Lane is his long term home?
It was no secret; and Spurs fans should remember this; that the Croatian midfielder wanted to leave the North London club in the summer when Chelsea showed their interest in him. The Blues had three bids for the 26-year-old rejected by Tottenham Chairman Daniel Levy during the transfer window, even though Modric claimed he wanted to join the West London club.
The unsettled talented midfielder refused to play in Spurs’ opening game of the season, claiming his head was not in the right place, but Levy stated that Modric was not for sale at any price and told the player to focus on his game at Tottenham. The final bid of £40million from Chelsea would have been a record income for Spurs who did not spend a large amount of money themselves in the summer, another possible reason for Modric’s decision to move on.
After meetings with Levy, Harry Redknapp, Modric and his representatives, it was declared that Modric will stay and help push Spurs to fight for Champions League qualification for next season. Something that looks a real possibility as the club currently sit third in the Premier League, with a game in hand on all of their rivals. It is no coincidence that Modric has been in stunning form, running the midfield with his new partner in crime, Scott Parker, who together make up the best centre midfield in the division currently.
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Tottenham are currently on a ten game unbeaten run in the league and will look to continue that with a winnable trip at West Brom tomorrow. Both Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart are now scoring goals, with the pace of Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale causing all sorts of problems for opposition defences with their pace and attacking wing play. Summer recruit Brad Friedel has been protected fantastically by a now fit Ledley King and Younes Kaboul after long term injury has set back Michael Dawson. The whole team are now coming together to create one of the best sides seen at White Hart Lane for many years and surely Modric must be pleased that he was forced to stay.
Many people thought Levy was incorrect when he said that he felt Spurs could be on par Chelsea this season and forced a player to stay against his will, but it appears that he could be right once again. Tottenham are three points clear of fifth place Chelsea, who are stuttering under new boss Andre Villas-Boas and could be on the verge of going out of the Champions League after a defeat to Leverkusen on Wednesday night. Modric would have been a perfect addition to the Blues squad but his stay at White Hart Lane has proven to be the correct decision, with six months of the season remaining, Spurs definitely have the ability to finish above the Stamford Bridge club.
One thing that must be commended is Modric’s attitude. He wanted to leave the club, but Levy stood firm. He felt he had more chance of winning trophies in West London, understandable perhaps, but Tottenham have everything in place to surpass Chelsea and Modric may now be seeing that this season. A new stadium and training ground are on the horizon with European footballer the aim on a regular basis and a possible challenge for the title in the not too distant future.
Can we compare Modric to another player who wanted out of their club this summer? Carlos Tevez.
The Argentinean striker has caused no end of problems in Manchester since he was denied a summer move away from the club and is currently in Argentina refusing to return to England. Tevez ‘rufused’ to play for City according to manager Roberto Mancini and has not played since, whereas Modric has kicked up no such fuss, continuing his fine form for Spurs and looking happy on the field with his current team mates. His agent has not publicly demanded anything and the player is showing no sign of resentment towards the club.
Chelsea may well come back in for Modric in January, but Levy will once again decline their approach, with the possibility of an extended contract at White Hart Lane and Champions League football to entice the Croatian to remain at Spurs.
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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has stated that his squad are the reason for the club’s successful start to the season, and has downplayed his own role in Spurs’ revival.
The White Hart Lane outfit find themselves in third place in the Premier League standings going into the new year, and are in line for a top four finish this term.
Many are touting Spurs as potential title contenders, and Redknapp feels the club’s progression is largely down to the players.
“I think it is good players,” the tactician told Mirror Football.
“They are good lads and good characters. It is knowing who can do what for you and getting the best out of them. That is the key, really.
“But first and foremost, it is no coincidence that the top teams are the ones with the best players.
“At the start of the year, if you sent Sir Alex Ferguson to Wigan, they are not going to win the league. He will be doing well if he kept them up. Players are what they are – and you need good ones,” he concluded.
Tottenham take on Norwich at Carrow Road on Tonight, and can go four points clear of London rivals Chelsea with a win.
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