Melbourne Heart skipper Simon Colosimo says reaching the A-League finals is the minimum requirement for the club in the 2011/12 season.The Heart finished eighth and six points outside the playoffs in their debut season, but Colosimo is confident an intense pre-season campaign will have the club in good shape come the season opener against Newcastle on October 8.
“We need to crawl before we walk, that means getting out there and cementing a finals spot as early as possible,” Colosimo said on Monday.
“Which position that is, hopefully we’ve got a few games up our sleeve to decide where we sit, but playing finals definitely is our number-one priority on the football field.”
Heart have lost a wealth of experience since last season with the retirements of former Socceroos’ John Aloisi and Josip Skoko, along with the departure of mercurial Dutchman Gerald Sibon.
Australian internationals Michael Beauchamp (Sydney) and Dean Heffernan (Perth) are also gone, leaving some room in the salary cap for coach John van ‘t Schip.
But Heart have been somewhat quiet in the transfer market during the off-season and are yet to announce a major signing.
They have been linked with former Melbourne Victory star Fred, who is plying his trade at MLS outfit DC United, and Ukrainian midfielder Yevhen Levchenko.
Even so, Colosimo believes opportunity will knock for a number of Heart’s emerging talents this season, just as it did for the likes of Aziz Behich, Adrian Zahra and Nick Kalmar in 2010/11.
“Our coaches and JVS especially don’t care where players come from, whether it may be State League Division 2, the Victorian Premier League or overseas,” Colosimo said.
“They come in and get the same opportunities as the guys sitting next to them, if they can perform they will play.”
One player Colosimo expects to make an impact is 18-year-old defender Brendan Hamill, who may find himself alongside the skipper in central defence after the departure of Beauchamp.
Hamill made 12 appearances last season and Colosimo has tipped big things ahead for the Sydney-born stopper.
“Brendan Hamill is a future Socceroo in the making, he’s going to be a superstar,” Colosimo said.
Manchester City and Arsenal haven’t had the best of relationships of late. Defender Gael Clichy has switched allegiance from Arsenal to City, Arsene Wenger has had a pop at City’s lucrative sponsorship deal and now the Arsenal boss has attacked City manager Roberto Mancini over comments about Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri.
Manchester City have done little to hide the fact they want Nasri. The Arsenal midfielder is an in-demand asset with City one of many teams reportedly interested in acquiring his services. But with Arsenal insisting the player will not be leaving the Emirates this summer, Mancini admitted that he hoped to sign Nasri “by the end of the month”.
Mancini’s claims obviously didn’t go down well with Arsenal or Wenger. Wenger claimed that the comments “were not allowed” and against “the basic rules of football”. But with penalties or punishment for such practice very rare, should Wenger stop complaining and speak out himself about who he wants to sign?
Tapping up is a complicated yet ever-present problem in football. A quick search of the term on the internet will bring a long list of cases where clubs are reportedly at fault for tapping up in their pursuit of a player. Arsenal themselves have been at the centre of such storms in the past, including their pursuit of Marouane Chamakh back in 2009. Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud then criticised Wenger for reportedly declaring his interest in the player. Whether cases like Nasri’s would be deemed tapping up would be up to investigators if the matter was reported but the culture of expressing an interest in a player is commonplace. In a summer where Cesc Fabregas’ transfer saga to Barcelona continues (with now Barcelona players weighing in with their own public comments), Arsenal may have to resort to playing dirty themselves to really compete.
Mancini’s comments obviously didn’t help the strained relationship between Arsenal and City. Whilst he did mention that Nasri is under contract, he probably shouldn’t have come out and sounded so confident or assured of signing a player under contract with another club within a certain time-frame. A club or manager publically expressing their interest in signing someone can easily unsettle that player but with the risk of punishment so small, making your transfer interests public may be the best way to get a potential transfer moving.
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In his criticism of Mancini, Wenger was insistent that Arsenal “don’t make any comments on players who are under contract in other clubs”. That is a fine moral stance from a well-respected figure in football but if Arsenal are keen to compete for the best players in the world they may have to start making their voices heard in a competitive and tough transfer market.
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Chelsea have produced a strong performance in a 4-0 hammering of a Thailand All-Stars XI in their friendly clash in Bangkok on Sunday.Having recorded an unconvincing 1-0 victory over a Malaysia XI last time out, Andre Villas-Boas’ side were more comfortable this time around thanks to goals from Frank Lampard, Jose Bosingwa, Branislav Ivanovic and Florent Malouda.
It took 37 minutes for them to find their breakthrough, with Lampard firing home from the edge of the area.
Having made 11 changes against Malaysia XI at the interval, Villas-Boas was content with just one in Bangkok, with Cech being replaced by Hilario, as a tepid performance from Fernando Torres was prolonged into the second half.
It was not long before the Stamford Bridge side accelerated into a three-goal lead with a quick-fire double within seven minutes of the restart.
Bosingwa, having been denied in the first half, saw his luck change as his 30-yard effort was diverted off the post after a lapse in concentration from the All-Stars’ keeper.
Chelsea had a third on 52 minutes as a deft exchange of passing between Josh McEachran and Ivanovic saw the Serbian apply the finish.
Mikel, impressing in the middle of the park, found substitute Malouda’s darting run and the Nigerian’s inch-perfect pass allowed the winger to rifle home on 72 minutes.
Liverpool’s pre-season has so far been marked by one thing; a propensity to concede goals, and lots of them. What may have first begun as little more than a training exercise is now beginning to take on a more worrying aspect as the dawn of a new Premier League season looms less than two weeks away. Which brings my to the point – have the Liverpool hierarchy missed a trick in recruiting a new centre half this summer?
It’s clear that certain positions required priority with concerns to the club’s transfer policy going into the summer. A winger and a creative midfielder appeared to be right at the top of the pile and in Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam they appear to have purchased wisely. Jordan Henderson has arrived for a large fee based on his future potential and Brazilian goalkeeper Doni has come in to add competition to the ranks.
However, there have been no reinforcements in defence despite the club having little strength in depth and too man square pegs in round holes. A new left back is still required, despite the progress of Jack Robinson, return of Emilano Insua and good form of recognised right back Glen Johnson in that role towards the end of last season.
The position that has gone rather unnoticed in terms of recruitment has been at centre half with side crying out for some fresh blood.
Jamie Carragher is another year older this season and at 33 years of age, he cannot be factored into the club’s long-term planning too much. Not to mention the fact that the whole defence has to play a deeper line to compensate for the vice-captain’s famed lack of pace.
Martin Skrtel can either be exceptional or ridiculous in equal measure. His ability to attack the ball in the air is both a gift and a curse as it means he can either dominate his opposing number of frequently get caught out of position under a high ball. He remains the quickest centre half on option and when in form, he’s one of the best in the top flight, but he needs constant attention and only appears to play at his best when partnered with a calming, steadying influence such as Carragher.
Daniel Agger is a fans favourite. His ability to pick a pass and bring the ball out of defence often draws admiring glances from neutrals. I may be alone in thinking this, but I’ve never found Agger to be the best of defenders. He doesn’t thrive on it. He’s simply not a natural defender and while he may be pleasing on the eye to the puritan, he simply makes far too many mistakes to be a nailed on starter.
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Danny Wilson and Sotirios Krygiakos are acceptable back-up options but nothing more. It would appear that on the surface the side are well stocked, but dig a little deeper and the options are somewhat threadbare.
Crucially, a lot still factors around the presence of Carragher. His ability to organise and co-ordinate the Liverpool back line is of paramount importance. It’s without him that I begin to question the options available.
Daniel Agger stated after the 3-3 draw with Valerenga, of which he scored 2 of them, that: “The amount of goals that we have conceded is not good enough. We need to show we can keep a clean sheet and we have got to defend better.” Pepe Reina echoed his sentiments by stating: “We have a lot of work ahead of us. We cannot afford to conceded so many goals. To let in three is not our identity.”
Fifteen goals in five pre-season games against the likes of Guandong, Malaysia XI, Hull, Galatasaray and Valerenga isn’t the best of pre-seasons, that much is certain. Perhaps too much has been made of the club’s defensive frailties so far – pre-season is often a time to gel new players and improve the squad’s base level of fitness, and while that may be happening, the lack of cohesion at the back is a cause for concern.
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Good centre halves do not grow on trees, but with the club looking to shift towards a more attacking and attractive style of play, based on the evidence so far in pre-season, something appears to have been lost in terms of the overall balance of the side. Tougher tests await the club and while Dalglish is sure to have something up his sleeve, with plenty of time left in the transfer window, a move for a commanding centre back certainly makes sense both in the short and long-term. Gary Cahill is the latest name to be linked and he would certainly signal a step in the right direction.
To put it quite simply, the issue over the tightening up the side’s porous back line now has to be the club’s top priority for the remainder of the summer transfer window, otherwise a season marred by inconsistent results and defensive uncertainty awaits.
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Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is happy his team got their first points of the season by beating Wolves 2-0 at Molineux on Saturday, and has praised his new signings.
Goals from debutant Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe clinched the victory for the London side, and Redknapp felt Spurs deserved to get the three points.
“This is a difficult place to come and we worked hard to get a win, but it was a deserved win,” he told Sky Sports after the match.
“It is nice to see them both (strikers Adebayor and Defoe) get on the scoresheet and it is a great start for them. It is a good and positive result for us today as this is a difficult place to come.”
Scott Parker also made his bow for the White Hart Lane outfit, and his new boss was pleased with his contribution and that of third summer signing Brad Freidel also.
“I am delighted with his (Adebayor’s) performance and also with Scott Parker’s. He had a good game in the midfield today, patrolled the midfield for us, broke up attacks and played up front as well.
“I am glad that the two debutants combined for the first goal but we must not forget that Brad Friedel made a good world-class save in the first half when it was still 0-0,” he concluded.
Spurs fans will be relieved to have got off the mark after heavy defeats in their first two games, but the fixtures start coming thick and fast.
A trip to Greece to take on PAOK on Thursday will be followed by a tricky home game against fellow Champions League contenders Liverpool on Sunday.
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Tottenham are considering a January move for Athletico Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera with the club already drawing identifying players who could help ensure a top-four finish this season according to the Metro.
Boss Harry Redknapp along with chairman Daniel Levy are determined to get Spurs back into the Champions League and have already began discussions over a list of targets in preparation of the transfer window opening.
22-year-old Herrera, who was part of the Spain side that triumphed in the under-21 European Championship’s this summer, the is one of those in Redknapps’s sights.
Despite stating that signing a striker is the main priority in January the Spurs boss also wants to strengthen his midfield and the Bilbao midfielder as a serious target.
The La Liga side are considering Herrera but have indicated that offers below the £15 million asking price won’t be considered which could hamper any bid from White Hart Lane.
Levy has overseen a prudent summer in North London with the agenda focusing on squad trimming and inexpensive signings with Scott Parker the only cash purchase.
There is also the matter of Herrera’s current injury status with the player facing a month sidelines due to knee problem. Spurs scouts were hoping to track his progress over the next few weeks but will have to wait until November at the latest to him.
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After years of speculation over the highly anticipated Great Britain football team, the British Olympic Association have confirmed England Under 21’s manager Stuart Pearce as boss for the the London 2012 games.
The former England left-back will be trusted with the task of bringing home the gold medal in front of a home crowd after it was decided that Team GB will enter a team into the competition for the first time since 1960.
Plenty of names have been linked to the post, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Hodgson and even David Beckham, and as attentions begin to turn to the biggest event held on these shores for years, people will begin to wonder whether he can bring home the gold medal.
But despite his lack of experience at the highest level, Psycho is most definitely the man for the job.
Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor threw his support behind the former Man City manager.
Having played under him for the Under-21’s he said: “What better man to take the job than Stuart Pearce?
“He was like Alan Shearer in the dressing room – when he speaks, you listen.
“When I was a player [for England Under-21’s] and he was manager – before the games his inspirational speeches were amazing. They’d get you up for the game straight away.”
The main strength that Pearce will have at the tournament is his motivational skills. He will be able to rally a team with his enthusiasm and get every player giving that little bit more when it is needed most. Nobody can ever doubt his passion and desire to win. This is a man who won 78 caps for his country, carried on playing in a game despite having broken his leg and we all remember the penalty celebration at Euro 96!
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Another factor that will benefit Pearce is his four years as manager of the Under- 21 team. With the Olympic football rules meaning that only three players in his 18-man squad can be over the age of 23 and he will have a good knowledge of the players at that age, having scouted many of them as opponents or to bring into them England set-up.
He is alsoexperienced in dealing with the problems that affect the younger players. The problem can often be fatigue and after a long season the Olympic preparations will begin shortly after the end of the season and that can cause the possibility of burnout and muscle injuries.
But it isn’t something new for him to deal with and he will know how to manage the players in terms of pushing them and resting them to make sure they can get through a hectic schedule.
Also, for some players in Team GB’s squad it will be their first experience of a major tournament and nerves could begin to get the better of them. But Pearce is well practised as a player and manager of dealing with these pressure cooker moments and will be able to calm the hot heads in a young and temperamental dressing room before it shatters our chances at another tournament.
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To have a manager already experienced in the workings of international football is beneficial as well because there will be no time needed to adapt his own style of football. Psycho has managed the Under-21’s at three major championships, including a European Championship semi-final so is well skilled in what is needed to be successful at that level, whereas appointing somebody like Harry Redknapp to the role would mean it took time to find his feet and by then the Olympics would be over.
With Stuart Pearce as manager of our landmark Olympic football team for next summer, it may finally be the time to be positive of our chances. In a world now consumed by player power, a manager needs to have an aura that gets the attention of everyone and if Taylor comments are correct then Pearce is that man. Nobody else could offer as much enthusiasm to the role and he will undoubtedly bring a new group of players together with his spine-tingling team-talks. Don’t be surprised to see Team GB taking gold.
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Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract at Old Trafford that will keep him at the Premier League champions until 2016.
The Mexico international had a scintillating first season in England last term, and has become an important player for United since moving from Guadalajara in July 2010.
A new deal has been in the offing over the last couple of months, as interest from Real Madrid circulates, and the Premier League holders have confirmed that the contract has been signed.
Sir Alex Ferguson was full of praise for the Central American, comparing him to a United hitman of the recent past.
“The last player I remember making an impact as big and as quickly as Javier is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and he reminds me of Ole a lot,” the Scottish coach told the club’s official website.
“His talent for creating space in the box and his finishing ability mark him out as a natural goalscorer. Off the pitch, he is a pleasure to manage. He works very hard and is a popular member of the squad,” he concluded.
Hernandez could not hide his delight at signing the new deal, and is hoping 2011-12 will be a successful campaign for The Red Devils.
“I never expected my first year to go so well and I’m delighted to commit my future to United.
“To win a title and appear in a Champions League final was fantastic. I’m looking forward to helping my team-mates as we bid to win more trophies for this great club,” the Mexican stated.
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Hernandez started on the bench in the 6-1 loss to Manchester City on Sunday, but will be in contention for a starting berth in the club’s next fixture against Everton at Goodison Park.
Andrei Arshavin has admitted that he is has not been happy with the level of performances that he has put in for Arsenal since joining the Premier League club, calling his personal displays average.
The Russia international has shown some glimpses of brilliance since moving to North London from Zenit St Petersburg in a club record £15 million deal back in January 2009, with the four goals he scored at Anfield in an epic 4-4 draw in April 2009 still in the memory.
Despite this, the attacker has not lived up to his considerable ability, and finds himself a bit part player at the Emirates, no longer guaranteed a place in Arsene Wenger’s starting XI.
As his inconsistency continues, the Eastern European admits that he needs to improve.
“Speaking honestly, I think my performances for Arsenal have been average,” Arshavin is quoted as saying in The Telegraph.
“I’ve done some good things, but I don’t assess my game on goals or assists. I look at the whole picture. Normally when I’m on the pitch I take control of a game but I haven’t really done that here. I’m an extra tool in the team rather than the main one, so it’s been difficult,” he admitted.
Arshavin’s current deal runs out in the summer of 2013, and his future in England hangs in the balance as he looks to be in the best possible form going into Russia’s Euro 2012 campaign next summer.
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Maybe I’m biased but I can’t help thinking that England might have employed the wrong veteran Italian coach when they appointed Fabio Capello. It may be because when I was a 21-year-old kid, who had been sold against his will to AC Milan, Giovanni Trapattoni was the kindest of team-mates and a true friend. It may also be that Capello reminds me so much of the square-jawed, mean-hearted Milan manager Nereo Rocco, whom I loathed during my brief spell in Serie A. But it is mainly down to the outstanding job Trapattoni has done in leading the Republic of Ireland to Euro 2012. And in a month when I was made to feel very old by reading that it was me who had scored England’s 1,000th goal – and that our national team had scored another 1,000 goals since – it was certainly heartening to hear that Trapattoni, who is a year older than me, is in talks over a new deal.
Trap will be 73 by the Euro finals and he will be 75 when the next World Cup comes around, yet he’s desperate to lead the Irish to Brazil. Good on him because it shows that if you are mentally and physically healthy, it does not matter how old you are. Trapattoni is one of only two managers to have won league titles in four countries. He also won the European Cup as a player with Milan, the year after I left, and as a manager with Juventus. From having known him as a player, I’m pretty certain Trap will be the sort of man-manager who is warm and decent with his men – which, for me, is the key quality of any international boss.
At Milan, Trap and Gianni Rivera were the two players who took me under their wing, as they both spoke more English than the rest. During my frequent training-ground rows with Rocco, I can always remember Trapattoni saying: ‘Yimmy, Yimmy, don’t say nothing, Yimmy’. It was good advice – but I usually ignored it, answering back and causing another blazing row with the boss. Trap was a typical Italian player, a ball-winning midfielder who would grab his opponents by the throat or the testicles – yet he was also a visionary passer of the ball.
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It does not surprise me that many Irish fans and commentators have complained that his teams have been too cautious or negative – not that they’ll be moaning any more, of course. That great Milan team was not exactly free-flowing and cavalier. When it comes to football, Italians have always tended to be safety-first. It just seems that they are a little more liberal when it comes to spending euros! But in many respects, Trapattoni reminds me of another former team-mate of mine, Jack Charlton, who transformed Irish football thanks to the strength of his personality.
On a player-by-player basis, Trapattoni’s Ireland should be well beaten when they meet Capello’s England – either in a post-season friendly or in the group stages in Poland and Ukraine. But from what I saw against Sweden the other night – and from knowing how well Ireland always seem to do against the English – I think there’s every chance they could get a result against us. Not least because of Trap’s vast experience and know-how.
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The funniest thing for me about watching the Sweden match on ITV was Adrian Chiles introducing a clip of me scoring England’s 1,000th goal in a 5-1 win over Wales at Wembley in 1960. I’m absolutely convinced that nobody ever told me at the time, nor at any moment since, that I’d achieved that landmark. I wasn’t aware that I had scored the 1,000th goal until they started writing about who would score the 2,000th in Tuesday’s newspapers. Nobody was that botheredabout stats back then – but now football is a vast ocean of facts and figures. Perhaps they’ll present me with a plaque to mark my achievement. Gareth Barry has now been given the 2,000th goal, which is just as well because Swedish defender Daniel Majstorovic sure as hell wouldn’t have wanted any recognition for the milestone goal.