There have been a few surprises in Fabio Capello’s latest England squad. Most notably with the selection of uncapped players such as Andy Carroll, Jay Bothroyd, Chris Smalling and Jordan Henderson. In light of Chris Smalling’s inclusion in the latest squad we take a look at his credentials and try to analyse whether he deserves his place or not.
Firstly, some would argue that the likes of Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson thoroughly deserve their place in the latest squad as their club form has proved impressive. Carroll is Newcastle’s top scorer and Henderson has established himself as an important figure in a Sunderland side that finds itself competing for a place in Europe.
However, slight debate surrounds Capello’s selection of Chris Smalling. His form at Manchester United hasn’t exactly set the Premier League alight, and along with his youth and inexperience is he really ready to take to the world stage?
Furthermore controversy surrounds Smallings inclusion as Kevin Davies has been omitted, which seems a bit harsh on the Bolton skipper, who made his debut against Montenegro last month and excelled in front of Capello against Tottenham last week.
However, It would seem that Chris Smalling’s introduction to the England set up is a shrewd move by Capello according to Gary Pallister, former Manchester United and England centre back. “I remember when I was in the England squad under Terry Venables and he called up Rio and Joe Cole from West Ham at the time to just get a feel of the set-up, he added. They trained with us as teenagers and they had a look around and got the feel of what it is like being in the set-up. It was great for them to be blooded like that because when they were eventually called up to play for England the nerves wouldn’t have been as bad.”
So what do you think? Is Chris Smalling’s elevation to the England full squad by Capello a clever move by the Italian, or will it prove detrimental to the defenders long term progression? What are your overall thoughts?
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A 3-3 draw in Holland on Tuesday meant that Spurs clinched top spot in Champions League Group A, job done. The game at Twente wasn’t pretty and it may be been riddled with bizarre goings on and refereeing decisions, but it at least it was good to watch – I think that, without using hyperbole, it’s now fair to brand Spurs ‘the entertainers of the Champions League’.
This week at FFC Spurs fans have taken a look into the future with the repercussions of their new stadium, a look into the past with their worst ever XI and a look at the now with the impending departure of Robbie Keane.
We’ve also got the best Spurs blogs from around the web.
Finances dictate that Spurs need to sort this problem and quick
Tottenham exit will prove to be the best deal all round
The top TEN Tottenham tattoos…well sort of
French signing could be just tonic that Tottenham need?
Tottenham’s Januray transfer nightmares
The Tottenham team from HELL
Which club represents the best move for Tottenham outcast?
Sad to see him leave Spurs, but is it the likely outcome?
The Top TEN derby day whippings
The TEN real surprises from the Premier League this season
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Click here to see the Best TOTTENHAM BLOGS around the Web this week
Taxi for the Haters – Dear Mr Levy
Twente-Twente vision – Who Framed Ruel Fox?
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Roberto Mancini has blasted his side's profligacy in front of goal, saying they need to start converting their chances.
A fourth-minute Carlos Tevez strike was the only goal in a 1-0 success against Bolton Wanderers at Eastlands on Saturday. However, after missing a hatful of chances against the Trotters, they were left hanging on at the end of the game, particularly after Aleksandar Kolarov had been sent off.
The win has consolidated City's position in fourth place as they pulled away from fifth-placed Spurs following the London side's 1-1 draw against Birmingham. However, this shouldn't hide the fact that despite playing some stylish football, they made heavy work of dismissing Bolton.
Speaking after the game, Mancini said:"Sometimes we were too selfish. We shot when it was better to pass – we must improve this situation.
"When we have a chance, we must score. If I had played I would have scored two or three goals."
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City face West Ham United at Upton Park next week and Mancini will hope they will display a greater ruthlessness against the relegation-threatened Hammers.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
There are few moments that carry as much pressure as having every eye on the stadium on you as you step forward to take a penalty. The goal is just 12 yards away from the penalty spot, but because you’re expected to score, the pressure on the striker’s shoulders is immense. For some players the pressure is just too great, while others have managed to deal with it expertly, with former Newcastle striker and all-time Premiership top scorer Alan Shearer one of many penalty specialists alongside Matt Le Tissier who had an incredible record from the spot for Southampton.
While there have been many penalty experts over the years, it takes something that little bit special to try a cheeky penalty in the heat of the moment, knowing that if you miss you’ll be on the end of a rant from the manager and thousands of fans. It’s these players that get their moment in the spotlight here, as we have a look the TOP 10 most audacious penalties.
Click on the image below to see the TOP 10
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West Ham’s Vice-Chairman Karren Brady has again criticised the motives behind Spurs proposed move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, labelling any such move as solely ‘money-making’. But it does beg the question, if West Ham’s motives aren’t to do with making money, then what are West Ham’s motives? And with Leyton Orient today stating that they are considering a move to the Olympic hockey ground in a bid to survive – could you accuse West Ham of being guilty of hypocrisy?
Brady’s somewhat disingenuous comments were: “Harry Redknapp was told to do his best to scaremonger. But, for my mind, his words ended up being a form of Harry-kiri that sounded the death knell on any credibility Tottenham had of getting support. Theirs is a Spur of the moment money-making bid.”
The former Birmingham Managing Director was of course reacting to the comments made by Harry Redknapp in his weekly Sun column, whereupon he described that any West Ham move to the Olympic Stadium would leave the area becoming little more than a ‘graveyard’. Redknapp’s strong stance is controversial, namely because of his involvement for years in various capacities at Upton Park both as a player and a manager.
While I don’t agree with Redknapp’s sentiments, neither do I with Brady’s. She is of course at West Ham, the club that accused Spurs’ pursuit of David Beckham as a ploy to secure favour for their Olympic stadium bid – a ludicrous suggestion. The bidding rivals have both become increasingly dirty in their tactics and distasteful in their comments of late and no matter who the winner is, neither party will emerge with much credit to their name.
Interestingly, Spurs Chariman Daniel Levy has stated that Spurs, should they lose the Olympic stadium bid, will still have to pursue a move to a new stadium. Levy stated that: “I think the problem with the current situation that we are now in at White Hart Lane is that the project is currently not viable so we would have to go back to the drawing board and that would obviously mean looking at other locations again.”
He went onto say: “I’m totally confident that we would have no problem selling out a 60,000-seater stadium (at Stratford). As far as the fans are concerned, I have to say that it is a very, very small group of individuals that are making it clear whatever happens – even if we couldn’t build a bigger stadium – that they would want us to stay here. There is always going to be competition between London clubs – we are all London clubs – so wherever we are located, there is still going to be rivalry.”
What becomes clear from this statement is that Levy and the Spurs board aren’t bidding for the Olympics stadium out of some spiteful money-making move as West Ham would have us believe, but out of a necessity to grow and attempt to take the club to the next level. Moving is of huge importance to the club‘s future, it’s just that this realisation of their ambitions has only coincided with the opportunity to bid for the Olympic Stadium.
If truth be told, West Ham are just irksome that until a few short months ago, their bid looked to be the only one on the table until Spurs came in with a viable alternative. That both their bids are hugely different, so much so that the Olympics Legacy Committee, the committee that will decided upon the stadium’s new owners after the Olympics, have requested an extension to make their final decision is worth noting. The competition has surely improved the professionalism and quality of ideas floating around of both bids for the better.
Also, returning back to the original comments made by Brady, surely any move to a new, bigger stadium, in it’s principle aim, is to make more money for the club. West Ham have a geographical claim to the site, but little else makes their bid any more worthy or right than Spurs. The notion that their bid is any more valid because they are simply closer to the site is a very basic way of looking at things and a deeply romanticised viewpoint. Geography has little to do with this bid, it’s all about the legacy each club will propose to leave behind them after the Olympics is over.
Brady’s words to have a sanctimonious air about them. West Ham are moving because they see financial benefits in moving to a bigger stadium, it just so happens to be in East London which strengthens their case somewhat. If the roles were reversed, would West Ham turn down the opportunity to move to a larger and newer stadium, just because it happened to be in North London? I very much doubt it.
With West Ham trying to portray themselves as the victims in this latest twist, that they are somehow bravely fighting off the behemoth that is Spurs football club, the true victims, the ones often overlooked amongst all the Premier League banter, are League One’s Leyton Orient.
Leyton Orient have never fully laid claim to the Olympic Stadium, the idea itself is somewhat preposterous, but they have today claimed that they are toying with the idea of a move to the Olympic Hockey Stadium. They currently reside just a stone’s throw from the Olympic Stadium at Brisbane Road, just 2 miles away from the Stratford site, closer than either of the Premier League bidders.
Their outspoken Chairman, Barry Hearn referred to them as “the forgotten tribe of East London” and the arrival of a Premier League club so close to their door will only strangle what passing trade Orient achieve on match day. He also accused West Ham’s co-Chairman David Sullivan of hypocrisy over the whole bidding process and West Ham’s complaints over Spurs moving to East London stating : “This is total hypocrisy on his (Sullivan’s) part. This is a case of Tesco’s moving next to the little sweet shop around the corner. It means a death-knell for Leyton Orient, London’s second-oldest club(behind Fulham).”
Karen Brady’s latest comments are disingenuous to say the least. Both clubs are moving with the aim of making more money, pure and simple – at least Spurs are being up front in stating that this is the primary reason for their bid, not the primitive territorial allegiance that West Ham currently subscribe to, whichseems to mask their true intentions of financial gain.
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Hearn is right in saying that it’s hypocritical of West Ham to accuse Spurs of moving closer to them, when that is exactly what West Ham propose to do to Leyton Orient – potentially driving them out of business. The irony that the knock-on effect of a successful West Ham bid shall force Leyton Orient to move elsewhere to survive seems to be completely lost on Brady.
I’d have more respect for Brady and the rest of the West Ham board if they were just a little more honest in the reasons for their bid and the motives behind their move. With the financial benefits of a bigger stadium in the Premier League palpable, it’s clear for everyone to see what their true motives are. This holier-than-thou act has to stop.
The next time Brady wishes to talk about death-knells, perhaps she should look a little closer to home as opposed to casting an eye towards North London. For Spurs’ move is one made out of necessity, their move off the pitch can only help sustain success on it – the sooner West Ham stop acting bitterly to the fact that they’re not the only bid in town anymore, the better.
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Anderlecht increased their lead at the top of the Belgian First Division to six points on Saturday with a 1-0 home win over Cercle Brugge.
They were made to work hard, however, with Morocco international midfielder Mbark Boussoufa scoring the winner with just two minutes to play. The result moves his side six points clear of second-placed Genk, who meet Standard Liege on Sunday.
Elsewhere on Saturday, KV Mechelen climbed to fifth with a 3-1 home win over 10th-placed KVC Westerlo.
Evariste Ngolok gave the visitors the lead after 12 minutes, but goals from David de Storme and Ebrahim Saveneh put Mechelen 2-1 up on the 22-minute mark and a third from Pan-Pierre Koulibaly six minutes from the end made sure of the result.
Club Brugge remain in fourth place after goals from Frenchman Wilfried Dalmat and Joseph Akpala handed them a 2-0 home win over Zulte-Waregem, while Lokeren stay in sixth after being held to 1-1 draw at home by bottom side Charleroi.
Charleroi had looked on track for just their fourth win of the season when Dudu Biton gave them the lead after 57 minutes, but an Alfred Finnbogason goal eight minutes from full-time secured a point for the hosts.
Lierse are still second from bottom but managed to secure a point at home to Germinal Beerschot thanks to a last-minute leveller from towering Hungarian striker Peter Kovacs.
Beerschot had taken the lead through a Guillaume Francois goal after eight minutes, but defender Kenny Thompson equalised for Lierse just before half-time.
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Faris Haroun restored Beerschot’s advantage 10 minutes after the break and they looked to be heading home with all three points before Kovacs’ intervention.
St Truiden played out a 1-1 draw with Eupen at Staaienveld after Vincent Euvrard cancelled out Abderazak Jadid’s opener for Eupen.
Liverpool have told Juventus that they will not be able to make Alberto Aquilani’s loan deal permanent for cheap – according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Reports last week claimed that Juventus had no intention of paying the entirety of his initial fee, and needed to renegotiate the £10million buy-out clause should he join the Turin giants in the summer, as they suggested that a mere £5million would suffice to acquire the Italian’s services.
Aquilani joined the Reds for £17m plus bonuses two summers ago, yet failed to make his impact on Merseyside following a string of lengthy injuries. However, the 26-year-old carried a large weight on his shoulders with Rafa Benitez confirming that he was a replacement for the £30m departure of Xabi Alonso.
Although with new manager Kenny Dalglish back at the helm, Aquilani could be subject to a disfavoured return to Liverpool but previously revealed his concern over his high transfer fee and problematic £85,000-a-week wages.
“There is a loan where they [Juventus] have a right, but it is a very high option. In football today the option to buy me is a high one, and so I know it will not be easy,” said Aquilani, according to Sky Sport Italia.
“I knew coming here would not be easy, but I am tranquil, and I don’t want to think about it, I have never thought about it.
“I want to end the year by giving everything as [Juventus] gave me the chance to come back to Italy and play an important role in the team.”
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Beppe Marrota, Juve’s general manager, told the Daily Mail of Aquilani’s need to maintain professional composure.
‘Aquilani must remain calm. We believe in him and he has shown he deserves to be at Juve.’
It has been reported that Liverpool will only consider listening to offers around the £11million mark.
Valencia midfielder Juan Mata has warned his team about complacency ahead of their La Liga clash with Sporting Gijon.
The third-placed La Liga outfit was held to a 1-1 draw at home to Schalke in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday, but resumes league duties against Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
Mata said it is vital the focus quickly returns to domestic competition as Valencia continues the fight to secure their Champions League spot for next season.
“We can’t underestimate Sporting, nor start a league game with a hangover from the Champions League,” the 22-year-old said.
“Sporting had a good game against Barcelona, they were intense and had a dangerous counter-attack against the league leaders. We have to be aware that we have to be in good form to beat them, because they have created problems for us in the Mestalla recently.”
Mata will return for Unai Emery’s side on Saturday from an ankle injury, and he said it was coincidental that his first game back would be against Gijon.
“I’ve been facing Sporting for four seasons, and I have been able to score against them at Mestalla and El Molinon. Some of my Sporting fans and friends have asked if I could keep on being injured for a little bit longer, but it is just coincidence that Sporting is my first game back,” he said.
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“We treated my recovery as a long, relaxed operation, so that my ankle would be OK and so that I could come back for last Tuesday in order to play an important Champions League game. I am happy, because we did a good job.”
“There are still three league games ahead of us: against Sporting, Barcelona and Athletic. Later we will think about the second leg in Germany, but what the team has to focus on now is the league.”
Barcelona utility Sergio Busquets believes he is ready to step into the big shoes of captain Carles Puyol on Tuesday.With Puyol and defensive partner Gerard Pique sidelined through injury and suspension respectively, the midfielder-cum-defender is likely to partner Gabriel Milito at the back for Barca when they host Arsenal in the second-leg of the Champions League round-of-16 clash.Arsenal won the first leg 2-1 in London on February 16, but Busquets is confident his side can cope with the absentees to progress to the quarter-finals.”Obviously we are missing two important players, and we had this situation last season in the same game. Pique and Puyol weren’t there, and everything went well,” Busquets said.”I offer myself, and have already played as a centre back. Gabi Milito can also play there and we have more defenders. It is probable that I will play there.”Busquets also spoke of his side’s desire to play and right the wrongs of the first leg, in which Barca conceded two goals in the last 15 minutes.But he is not getting carried away with last year’s second-leg performance between the same two sides at the Nou Camp, when Barca won 4-1 to erase a first-leg 2-2 draw.He said this year’s contest is a different match.”The dressing room atmosphere is good. We are dying to play, we know that it is a very important game and that it is maybe the biggest game of the season,” he said.”What happened last year is just statistics. This is a different game and we need to play well at home in front of our fans. Arsenal are one of the best counter-attacking teams, so they are very dangerous.”
Rivals Blackburn and Blackpool will meet in the Lancashire derby at Ewood Park on Saturday, with the winner set to gain a massive edge.Currently in 14th and 15th respectively on the English Premier League table, only goal difference separates the two sides.The winner could move four points clear of the relegation zone as the season approaches the home stretch.Rovers are winless in six and have conceded seven goals in their last two games, and 11 in their previous four.Young defender Phil Jones could give Blackburn a boost if he returns for his first game back from a knee injury.The 19-year-old has not played since Rovers drew 1-1 at home to West Ham United on December 19.It is vital Blackburn get a result in this game with fixtures against Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United all part of their last seven games.Although Blackpool’s form has not been impressive either, they have collected more points on the road than at home this season.The Seasiders have won only one of their last nine, but have five of their last eight league games at home.Keeper Matt Gilks appeared set to make his return after four months out with a broken kneecap, but strained his calf in a reserves match.Striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher, who has scored four goals this campaign, may return after spending the entire game on the bench in the loss against Chelsea.Frenchman Elliot Grandin was also an unused substitute, while defender Chris Basham may also be an option for Ian Holloway.