Sir Alex Ferguson heaped praise onto striker Dimitar Berbatov, whose hat-trick against Birmingham took his season tally to 17 for the season.
Ferguson’s men ran rampant at Old Trafford to post a 5-0 win, with Ryan Giggs and Nani adding to Berbatov’s treble.
And Ferguson said the Bulgarian’s game had been outstanding.
“It was marvellous,” Ferguson said. “He could have scored more and we were a bit wasteful at times with our finishing, but you can’t complain at that performance.”
“I think it helps when you score an early goal. When we scored they had to open up and I think we capitalised on that.”
The Scot also had kind words for Wayne Rooney who, despite not getting on the scoresheet, linked up well with Berbatov to turn supplier.
“The third goal was very, very exciting with the interchange between Berba and Rooney. It was right at half-time and it killed the match,” Ferguson said.
“Wayne showed fantastic control in the fourth goal to bring the ball from Edwin (van der Sar) out of the clouds.”
“The control of Rooney and setting up Ryan to square the ball for Berba – it was a fantastic goal.”
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish bemoaned some of his side’s defending in the encounter, and said his senior players were determined to make amends.
“You can’t come here and lose an early goal like we did. To lose a goal like that in the first minute was criminal,” McLeish said.
“I thought there was bit of apprehension. Coming to places like this is a lot about belief as much as anything and I thought we lacked that a little bit.”
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“It was a gift the second goal as well and was verging on the amateur.”
“You have to say we shot ourselves in the foot.”
“The feedback I’ve got from some of the senior players in the dressing room is that they are more angry than anything else. We have got to get the team right and the tactics right for the coming games.”
By all accounts, we had a fairly successful January window. We moved on a few players who, for a number of reasons, needed to be moved out of the club and brought in a substantial amount in return (moving Paul Konchesky on alone feels like we gained an extra £50 million). In return, we got our money’s worth and what – I believe – will be a great strike partnership to last us for many years. In many ways though, the summer window could prove to be pivotal for both the club and for the Kenny (let’s be honest, it’s the worst kept secret). In the summer, the club needs to show it is ready to take the next step and invest again in the squad. But given our activity in January, the indications are positive, so let’s look at areas that need to be looked at when the time comes.
Starting with the area touted as Liverpool’s weakest by so-called football experts this season: defence. Many have claimed that the Red’s back 3/4/5 has been poor because of the personnel; that the likes of Agger, Kyrgiakos, Johnson and Skrtel are simply not good enough and that Carragher is a fading force. And while the latter is true, to a certain extent, Jamie is not finished just yet; nor are our defenders individually lacking. For proof of this, you only have to look at the last four games: 4 clean sheets. Kenny has played about with our back line (stop sniggering at the back), given the likes of Agger and Kelly another chance and we haven’t let a goal in for 360 minutes or 6 hours. By anyone’s margins, that’s an impressive feat. The facts are simple: we have good defensive players, they showed on Sunday that they’re capable of shackling a frontline that included Anelka, Drogba and Torres – three of the best there is and not only that, they made it look easy. So you may be wondering why, if I’m so impressed with our defenders, have I even mentioned it. Well, we still need cover. We have good young central defenders waiting in the wings, in Wilson and Kelly but given that Kelly appears to have made right back his own now (and the sad reality that Carragher is a fading force)means we need at least one new CB. We also need a first choice left back. Aurelio is a top-quality footballer but his fitness cannot be guaranteed. Once Konchesky moves on permanently, there will be a hole that needs filling and that must be a top priority.
Into midfield, and you have to say that there’s a handful of players that need to be moved on, either for our sake or their own. Namely: Joe Cole, Christian Poulsen and Jay Spearing. Poulsen was unlucky in that he joined the club too late in his career; when a change in pace was too much for him. He is not a bad player, despite what some will have you believe.
As for Cole and Spearing, sadly, they’re just not as good as we hoped they were. Cole mixes the odd moment of brilliance with total mediocrity. As for Spearing, he has effort and willingness to spare but that alone is not enough. Moving these three on could see us recoup about 10 million, potentially. Which we can put toward an area we are most lacking in going forward: out wide. We need cover for Lucas and probably another squad player that can fill in in midfield – adequately – when needed but if we only strengthen one position in midfield over the summer months then it has to be a wide player. We have enough creativity going forward to cope during this ‘transitional’ period and Suarez can fill in as an attacking midfielder if we were to get totally desperate but we must see the acquisition of a winger as being high on our list of priorities. If for no other reason than to give us something different in attack; to give us an alternative to plan A. Whoever the player is he doesn’t need to cost 30 million. As long as he can beat a man, can cross a decent ball in and is quite fond of the touchline, then our radar should be picking him up.
As for the other two key areas – goalkeeper and up front – we’re not exactly lacking. The January window saw one great striker replaced by two very good (albeit potentially great) strikers. We also have David Ngog who, despite barely playing at all lately, is still one of our top scorers and has oodles of potential. I believe that promoting Dani Pacheco to the first team squad permanently next season would see us quite adequately covered going forward. As for goalkeepers, it is hard to see past Pepe Reina. Should he – God help us – succumb to injury then we’ll need cover. Peter Gulacsi looks a top prospect and I’d be more than happy for him to be number two. The fact that Kenny prefers him as such to Brad Jones speaks highly of the regard the Hungarian youngster is held in. However, two backup keepers are usually required so we might need to bring in a decent, experienced third choice.
We’re in a period of what can only be referred to as ‘transition’, at the moment so sweeping and all-encompassing changes aren’t going to happen overnight. Should we bring in a left back, a wide player and some stronger cover in goal before next season though, that will have marked a successful second step, as far as I’m concerned.
Article courtesy of the excellent Live4Liverpool
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PSV Eindhoven took the lead in the Dutch Eredivisie with a 4-1 win over NAC Breda on Sunday after Twente could only draw.PSV and defending champions Twente were level on 50 points ahead of their respective matches, but Fred Rutten’s PSV side are now out in front with 53 points.Visitors Breda got off to a bad start at the Philips Stadion when Nemanja Gudelj saw a straight red card after just 15 minutes.Balazs Dzsudzsak gave PSV the lead in the 25th minute. Anthony Lurling levelled for Breda on 64 minutes, but goals from Jeremain Lens, Ola Toivonen and Francisco Rodriguez wrapped up a comprehensive win for the hosts.Twente meanwhile were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to NEC Nijmegen.Niki Zimling had NEC ahead after 17 minutes at De Grolsch Veste, but Emir Bajrami equalised. A point each leaves Twente second, two points behind PSV, while NEC are 10th.Mounir El Hamdaoui’s goal in the 11th minute at the Amsterdam Arena gave Ajax a 1-0 win over visitors VVV Venlo.Ajax are third, three points behind Twente and five behind PSV. Venlo, who finished with 10 men following the sending off of Ken Leemans in the 74th minute, are second from bottom, five points above last-placed Willem II. Two late goals saw ADO Den Haag snatch a point at home to Feyenoord.Visitors Feyenoord led through a first-half double from Luc Castaignos at the Het Zuiderpark and the strugglers looked on course to collect three valuable points, before Charlton Vicento pulled one back for the hosts in the 81st minute.Dmitry Bulykin then struck with five minutes remaining to ensure a share of the spoils for ADO.The draw leaves ADO fifth and Feyenoord 15th, just three points outside the relegation zone. Vitesse Arnhem climbed above Feyenoord and into 14th place following a 2-0 win at home to De Graafschap.Bonno Wilfried broke the deadlock for the home side 72 minutes in at the Gelredome and Serbian Nemanja Matic – on loan from English Premier League club Chelsea – doubled the lead with six minutes to go.The defeat leaves De Graafschap 12th, just a point better off than Vitesse and only four clear of the drop zone.
The agent for Belgian international Steven Defour believes the central midfielder’s future is in the Premier League.Player representative Paul Stefani told Sport.co.uk that the 22-year-old Standard Liege star is ready for a summer move after recovering from a couple of serious injuries.Defour has been linked with a number of English clubs in the past, with Liverpool one of those keen on buying the player, who would command a 10 million pound transfer fee.”He has returned and made a full recovery, so we must keep our fingers crossed for the future, and hope that he doesn’t get a fresh injury,” Stefani said.”Now he has a very big hope that things are going well. Every top club is following him and regularly watching him, but there is no concrete contact.”The Premier League is something he likes very much, and he has performed well against Liverpool and Everton in Europe, he was one of the best players on the pitch. I think in the summer the Premier League would suit him for sure.”Kenny Dalglish has hinted at a number of summer additions as he looks to revamp the Liverpool squad in his mould, and the centre of midfield is thought to be a position of interest to the Scotsman.Christian Poulsen has failed to impress with his limited opportunities, and Sport.co.uk claims Defour has his ‘heart set’ on a move to England. Manchester United and Arsenal have also been monitoring the player in the past, with Sir Alex Ferguson famously writing the player a letter after a serious injury back in 2008.Liverpool were first linked with the player last year, with the Daily Mirror claiming the Merseysiders would challenge United for the player’s signature.
Juventus coach Luigi Delneri has dismissed speculation he could leave his post at the Stadio Olimpico at the end of the Serie A season.Juve have been below their best at both domestic and European level this term, having slumped to seventh on the Italian table and failing to make it past the Europa League group stages.Their poor form has led to speculation Delneri could be departing the Turin club in the coming months, but the Juve manager said such talk was without truth.”The coach lives on his working beliefs and does not change his mind on the job he has done so far from one day to the other,” Delneri told reporters ahead of Juve’s clash with AC Milan on Saturday.”I’ve never done this and I’ll never do it. I’ll always keep on following my path, despite what the others say and write.””I already have a contract for next year. I don’t have to ask, I already have the contract.””I think that no one can ask me if I’ll still be coach of Juventus next year. Of course the football world is kind of special, and what is right today could be wrong tomorrow afternoon and vice versa.””I only have to focus on my job and my job today is also to talk about AC Milan.”League leaders Milan travel to Turin desperate to maintain their five-point margin over rivals Inter Milan, who have risen to second on the table following a remarkable turnaround under new boss Leonardo.A Juve win would potentially throw the Scudetto title race wide open, and Delneri is confident his side can come away with such a result.”We’re motivated. We know that we’ll be facing a very competitive team, which is proving to deserve their position in the ranking,” he said.”The players have great technical skills, but we have proved to have competitive skills as well and we’ll bring them on the pitch.””There is still time to achieve important performances and to be able to reach a certain position in the league.””We are committed to achieve a great objective and this is much more difficult than working without an objective in mind. We are very clear in mind about what we want to achieve. “
Fans of Liverpool will be eager to see what new faces turn up at Anfield in the summer as the club aim to make some new signings in the transfer market for the club to continue its transformation and rebuilding process. But whilst players like Charlie Adam of Blackpool are being linked to a move to Anfield in a big money transfer, there could be a cheaper option for boss Kenny Dalglish and the Liverpool board if they want it.
Midfielder Alberto Aquilani, currently on loan at Serie A club Juventus, is set to return to Liverpool in the summer, although many expect that trip to see him collecting the rest of his belongings as he moves back to Italy for good. But the midfielder has said he hasn’t ruled out a possible return to playing in the Premier League if Juventus or another club do not come in for him.
Whilst Blackpool manager Ian Holloway seems to want over £10 million for Charlie Adam, could keeping Aquilani on the books at Anfield be a more viable option? Quite possibly, despite his unfortunate start at Anfield with injuries, the Italian made 26 appearances in his debut season although rarely completed a full game.
Whilst on loan at Juventus this season he’s got 2 goals in 22 appearances in Serie A, but the club may struggle to match the transfer fee that was agreed to be completed after the year loan. With Liverpool extending the contract of midfielder Lucas Leiva recently there could also be an option to keep Aquilani as long as his fitness has improved.
The Italian could also move to former club Roma if Juve fail to sign him on a permanent contract or will Liverpool welcome him back? He could be an excellent playmaker in the middle for the likes of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez to feed off from, although Reds fans will question his fitness.
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After all, despite the player coming back from a loan deal, we can’t forget that he cost the club £17 million in the summer of 2009 under Rafa Benitez. Towards the end of that debut season he did put in some impressive performances in the midfield for Liverpool and perhaps Dalglish may want to take a gamble on the player whilst using the transfer budget for other positions like a top Left-Back.
A big week for Tottenham as Harry Redknapp takes his charges to the Bernabeu for the first leg of their Champions League quarter final. Jose Mourinho doesn’t believe Tottenham have what it takes to knock out his Real side, although it wouldn’t be the first time that the North Londoners have upset the odds in the competition this year.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Tottenham blogs that includes Van der Vaart need not to worry, the rise of Luka Modric, while Harry has bargain transfer bucket.
We also look at the best Tottenham articles around the web this week.
*
Premier League XI of the Season… so far!
Tottenham’s financial investment cannot just be given up
A £15m gamble by Spurs, or a shrewd bit of business?
Why Rafael van der Vaart need not worry
The ‘rise and rise’ of Luka Modric
Harry’s bargain transfer bucket this summer
Transfer gamble pays off for Harry Redknapp
Advantage Tottenham in this battle with City?
WHL, Loftus Rd, Upton Park… The Allen Football Dynasty Simply Grows
A 10 year rollercoaster for Levy at Tottenham
Talented youngster, but is he exactly what Tottenham or Arsenal need?
Old Trafford, WHL or Anfield – where represents the best move?
Tottenham’s Top 10 Transfers – When Levy Got it Wrong
Worth a transfer punt by Tottenham this summer?
*Best of WEB *
Every day I count my blessings – Sun
Two games at a time – Spurs Musings From Jimmy G2
If Spurs Were United, We’d Never Be Defeated – Tottenham On My Mind
Spurs and my part in Supporting Our Future – Martin Cloake Online
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And…we’re back – Dear Mr Levy
Should Harry Buy The Best Player By A Mile In The Championship? – Harry Hotspur
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Click on image below to see a gallery of Christian’s good lady
Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are preparing for four fixtures against each other in the space of 18 days.Should Barcelona claim the first Clasico on Sunday at the Bernabeu – a league match – then the Catalans will most likely seal their third consecutive title.
Pep Guardiola’s side, who defeated Jose Mourinho’s men 5-0 earlier in the season, currently hold an eight point advantage over Real at the top of La Liga.
Their second meeting will be in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday, and then in the semi-finals of the Champions League over two legs.
Former Real Madrid coach and current Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque dismissed the title race was over, insisting last week’s results proved Barcelona could still be pipped to the crown.
“It’s true that in La Liga there’s an eight point difference between Barcelona and Real Madrid and that everything seems to be over,” he said.
“But I always say “it seems” because last Sunday, for instance, Almeria were about to defeat Barcelona.”
“It seemed like an easy game for Barcelona and they found it difficult to win, whereas Real Madrid’s game at Bilbao seemed difficult and they won easily.”
Del Bosque does not believe the heavy schedule will compromise the performance of both sides.
“Both teams have sufficient resources to win the three competitions. Barcelona have been a bit more solid, that’s why they’re eight points clear, but they’re both very efficient even though they have different styles and different players.”
The former Real Madrid coach reckons the previous El Clasico, in which Barcelona romped to a resounding win, would not have had a telling effect on either side.
“I don’t think that the 5-0 will have any influence on the game. That result happened some months ago and there’s no aftermath anymore… Barcelona won’t feel more confident for that 5-0, and Real Madrid won’t be afraid either, after the 5-0 loss”.
He also weighed in on the Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duel, noting that the differences between the two players made it hard to compare them.
“Cristiano and Messi are the stars of each team, and in addition to it they mark the style of the team. I don’t want to make it overly simple, but those long transitions that Madrid play fit Cristiano’s game. On the other hand, Messi’s combinative style is also Barcelona’s trademark.”
As a sixth trophyless season draws to a close for Arsenal, there are two things that will still be the same from the previous five, number one is that the pies will still be incredibly overpriced and Cesc Fabregas will be the centre of yet another transfer saga. This is I’m sure, not only just tiresome and boring for Arsenal fans but for fans in general of the beautiful game. Barcelona will pretend they aren’t interested, Wenger will say the usual cliché ‘We need to build the team around him’ and Joey Barton will beat up a team mate for being too cheerful, all the previous three things are undeniable facts. But come the end of the transfer circus this summer where will the Spaniard find himself? With each day, will come a different back page story about how close the deal is or isn’t to completion but would it be such a bad thing for Arsenal if they lost their ‘El Capitan’.
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Stop press, hold the back page and ignore the above (apart from the the Joey Barton bit). Gareth Bale, Neymar, Carlos Tevez and Didier Drogba all come to mind before Cesc in the silly season that is the transfer window; add to this Nasri, Wilshere and Szczensy all of which are stronger candidates for Arsenal’s player of the season, is Fabregas really big back page news any more?
Yes he is a playermaker, yes he can score goals and yes you still think something might happen when he has possession but doesn’t this ring true of the ‘lesser’ players such as Blackpool’s Charlie Adam, Birmingham’s Sebastian Larsson and West Ham’s Mark Noble. I’m not for one second suggesting, with all due respect, that the aforementioned players will make the Barca starting eleven but would Fabregas necessarily? Because after all 2009/10 was a brilliant season for Arsenal’s talisman and yet throughout the 2010 World Cup, Fab found himself playing the role of the monkey to Spain’s numerous Catalan organ grinders.
“Fabregas sets up Camp somewhere Nou” this headline in the Saturday morning papers, if it were to happen, would certainly interest all us football fans. However come Sunday morning’s headlines would it only be the red contingent of North London who would be dwelling on Fabregas’ departure ? Everything is about timing and the Emirates Nou Camp tug of war, peaked last summer and as for now will be the warm up act to this year’s media circus, which no doubt will be White Hart Lane versus Old Trafford.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry left at the height of the media frenzy. Francesc Fabregas leaves Arsenal in the summer of 2011 after the media circus has left town?
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Listen to the third episode of our brand new podcast – The Football FanCast. – Featuring Razor Ruddock, Gary O’Reilly and singer/songwriter Alistair Griffin, who performs a live version of his cult tribute to Mark Viduka, with Razor on backing vocals!
Blackpool were left teetering on the edge of the relegation zone after a scrappy goalless draw against Stoke City at Bloomfield Road.It could have been far worse for Blackpool but for Kenwyne Jones’ late entry into the miss-of-the-season competition after the striker inexplicably missed the target from 12 yards with no one between him and the empty net.
It was Blackpool’s first home clean sheet of the season – but also the first time they had failed to score in the Premier League at Bloomfield Road – and leaves them looking nervously looking over their shoulder.
Stoke were the better of the two sides but, with an FA Cup final to look forward to, were concerned about injuries, and defender Andy Wilkinson was taken off as a precaution with Danny Higginbotham, Ricardo Fuller and Matthew Etherington all already doubtful for Wembley.
With tough trips to Tottenham and Manchester United to come, it was a must-win game for Ian Holloway’s men, but they started nervously against a side free from relegation worries.
The visitors created the first chance in the 10th minute, typically, from a Rory Delap long-throw.
Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks spilled it to Robert Huth, whose first time volley was cleared off the line by Stephen Crainey.
Ian Evatt then almost sliced a dangerous Delap cross into his own net before making last ditch tackles to deny Jones and then Jermaine Pennant.
The Seasiders’ only real opening of the first half came when DJ Campbell got on the end of a Crainey cross, but his flick header from eight yards out comfortably cleared the bar.
However, on the stroke of half-time, Jones should have broken the deadlock for Stoke when he beat the offside trap, rounded Gilks and, with an empty net, shanked his shot horribly wide.
Blackpool started the second half much more brightly and almost scrambled an equaliser in the first minute when Matt Phillips met Charlie Adam’s near post corner, only for Begovic to save well from close range.
But Stoke roared back with a fierce Glen Whelan 20-yarder, which was well saved, and a close-range header from Jones that was squeezed clear by the Blackpool defence.
With five minutes to go, Whelan hit another thumping low drive that drifted inches wide of Gilks’ far post.
Blackpool mounted a late charge for all three points and came close with a Sergei Kornilenko header, which looped into the arms of Begovic.