All posts by h79snht.top

For every weekend of success at Liverpool there seems to be one of frustration lurking around the corner . Two wins in the space of a week, including an FA Cup semi final victory over their Merseyside rivals, provided a much needed morale boost to both players and fans who’ve had to endure a dismal season on and off the pitch. But in typical fashion the Reds managed to extinguish their positive momentum last Sunday succumbing to an embarrassing defeat at the hands of  West Brom managed by Kenny Dalglish’s predecessor Roy Hodgson. The days of Anfield being a fortress are long gone with five wins from 17 games at home shameful by Liverpool’s high standards. With nothing to play for in the Premier League the Kop faithful will turn their attentions to next months FA Cup final and hope Dalglish can deliver another trophy that will paper over the cracks of a disastrous campaign.

This week on FFC plaudits are heaped on one Liverpool defender and Dalgish’s decision to show faith in a misfiring striker may be the best he’ll make during his second managerial spell at the club.

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Best of FFC

One in the eye for Chelsea and Liverpool fans

One of the best decisions Kenny Dalglish’s can make as Liverpool manager?

A change in coaching philosophies needed in order to move forward

The Curse Of Individual Brilliance in football?

Does he get the praise he deserves outside of Anfield?

Kenny calls on Italians to play the transfer game

Premier League quartet given £10m price tag

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Best of WEB

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LFC Legend admits: Two cups may not save Dalglish from the sack. Agree? – Liverpool Kop

Is There Too Much Pressure On Suarez? – Live 4 Liverpool

Is Pepe Reina right with this shockingly defeatist view of LFC? – Liverpool Kop

Liverpool FC – Big changes in the summer? – This is Anfield

The Cultural Complexities Of Liverpool Football Club – The Tomkins Times

Our Midfield Also Needs To Be Held Responsible For This! – Live 4 Liverpool

The Beauty and Hope of Liverpool’s Jonjo Shelvey – This is Anfield

Liverpool linked with £7m Swede Rasmus Elm – Transfer Tavern

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Quote of the Week

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“We want to win games but it would be nice if we were rubbish and won a game. Our incentive is to get as much as we can from every game we play.We want to finish with as many wins and points as we possibly can and the incentive we have is just representing the football club as much as anything else.

We have always set ourselves high standards in terms of the level of performance and there are not too many times when we’ve let ourselves down on that front. But winning is what it is all about and points on the board is what it is all about.” Kenny Dalglish he’d sacrifice Liverpool’s in exchange for wins

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Match Highlights

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A Fairy-tale story straight out of Senegal, Demba Ba has become one of the most sought after players in the Premier League this summer, after an illustrious campaign with Newcastle. Unfortunately the ogre in this Fairy-tale is his evil contract, which states that Ba can leave the club for a meagre £7 million. With such a magnificent season under his belt, Derek Llambias refuses to increase Ba’s wages in order to eradicate the release clause, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph. Fans at St. James Park must be scratching their heads as to why they are choosing not to tie down their striker but are instead accommodating for a bombardment of transfer speculation and rumours that will undoubtedly unsettle Ba and his teammates.

The arrival of Papiss Cisse in January changed the entire landscape of Demba Ba and his future with Newcastle. The unexpected form of Newcastle’s new no. 9 left Ba in an unfamiliar position in the team. His ineffectual performances and Cisse’s incredible dominance in front of goal now means that Ba is not the Magpies’ most valuable asset. With this in mind, Chief Exec Llambias announced that no plans had been made to increase Ba’s wages in order to eliminate his ridiculous release clause. With finances on Tyneside running smoother than ever, the club are hesitant to increase one player’s wages on form alone. However, after one of Newcastle’s most successful seasons in recent years, the idea that the club would not accommodate a wage increase for Ba is unbelievable. To disrupt a team in such a sparkling vein of form by removing one of its foundations, could destroy the whole metaphorical building. Ba is pivotal in rebuilding the club as a top 6 team. Not only are his abilities on the pitch vital, his presence off the pitch is just as important. With Papiss Cisse admitting that it would have been tough to settle in the North-East had it not been for his Senegalese teammate, allowing Ba to leave could end the glorious form of the former Freiburg striker.

However, what has not been questioned is Demba Ba and his commitment to Newcastle. Obviously aware of the clause in his contract, the French Born striker could see this summer as an opportunity to advance his career by joining one of Europe’s elite clubs. It is no surprise that Ba has been linked with a never ending list of clubs that see his bargain transfer fee as an opportunity to snatch a player at the top of his game. Chelsea, PSG, Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man United and AC Milan will be laughing if they manage to prize Ba away from St. James Park for so little. For these interested parties, £7 million is pocket fluff. Newcastle’s number 19 is now in a win-win situation. If he stays at Newcastle, chances are his wages will increase considerably, if he leaves, he faces the prospect of joining a club where silverware is not uncommon.

Officially the manager of the season, Alan Pardew surely has the sense to refute Llambias’ stance on Demba Ba and the surrounding contract issue. Ba was the key man in seeing the Magpies meteoric rise in the table and to offload him is surely not in the current plans of the former West Ham manager. If Newcastle tie Ba down to a long term contract and he produces another dazzling season, the offers that the club could receive for him this time next year could triple from his release clause value.

Will Ba stay in the North East? Bleat me on Twitter @mattpegg1

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Borussia Dortmund are readying a bid for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, as the Gunners prepare to slash their wage bill, according to The Daily Mail.

The Denmark international has been on loan at Sunderland this season, but the Black Cats have decided not to make the Scandinavian attacker’s deal permanent and sent him back to the Emirates Stadium.

With Bendtner not part of Arsene Wenger’s plans, the forward will have to look for a new club, with the German champions ready to make a bid for him.

Arsenal want to strip at least £20 million off their wage bill this summer, with the likes of Marouane Chamakh, Denilson, Sebastien Squillaci, Johan Djourou and Carlos Vela also on their way out of the north London club.

Finally, Arsenal are also keen to offload Andrei Arshavin after a poor last year for the Russia international.

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The club’s record signing has spent the last six months on loan at Zenit St Petersburg, and Wenger hopes that the Russian Premier League side will finalise a permanent deal for the eastern European attacker.

By Gareth McKnight

Patience is not a virtue that is typically respected by all in the world of football. When results a lackin then a manager could last only a short few months in a job. With the impressive Brendan Rodgers announced as the new man to lead Liverpool, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) must exercise extreme diligence and equanimity under their new man’s reign if the potential success of the appointment is to come to fruition.

The club had been linked with a host of big names including Fabio Capello, Frank De Boer, Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Martinez, who reportedly turned down the job because of the increased management structure the club wished to put in place. Rodgers had similar concerns, but after the Wigan manager rebuffed their approach FSG dropped the idea which included employing Louis van Gaal as a director of football. They then turned back to their leading candidate who was willing to accept the move from Swansea with complete control of the team being offered.

The Northern Irishman has received much acclaim for the way in which he has set his teams out to play. Regardless of the quality of players, Rodgers insists on a possession-based passing game. Coupling control of the ball with crisp interplay and movement, the goal is to outmanoeuvre and tire their opponents. This is clearly borne out in the fact that Swansea defeated Manchester City and Arsenal on route to an 11th placed Premier League finish in their debut season.

Swansea also ended the season with the fourth best pass completion rate in Europe’s top five leagues, with only City bettering them in England. It is this attractive style of football that has won Rodgers so many admirers in England, but he remains a relatively inexperienced manager at the top level. The decision evokes some concerns as it represents a gamble for FSG so they must offer their ultimate backing to their new man. He will need time to instil his philosophy among the players and get the team working as a unit if he is truly to benefit the club.

Liverpool have a reputation as one of the biggest clubs in the country but they have failed to participate in Champions League football since the 2009/10 season. Rodgers now becomes Liverpool’s fourth manager in just two years but he must not be expected to challenge for an immediate return to Europe’s top competition. The club have not only bought into the man, but also his philosophy. They must therefore employ a greater degree of patience than under Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish, even if results are not instantaneous.

The hiring is a risk, and it offers Rodgers the greatest challenge of his managerial career. But lest we forget, the 39-year-old worked under Jose Mourinho as reserve team manager at Chelsea and gained the admiration of the Portuguese. It is a proven route to success. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left his post as Manchester United reserves manager and went on to win the Norweigan championship with Molde and is now attracting interest in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola also went straight from managing Barcelona B to the first team and ended up as the club’s most successful ever manager with an insurmountable 14 trophies. Whilst Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao and Jorge Sampaoli at Universidad de Chile have proved that with the right philosophy, glory could soon be in tow.

There could be a source of instability in the fact that the club have put their higher-tier management structure plans on the back burner. If things do not work out immediately then FSG may well regret their decision to forego their original plans. Any appointment at a later date could create friction, but Rodgers should thrive with the free reign he is set to be given.

It could well prove to be a shrewd appointment with a youthful, modern coach who claims inspiration from the Netherlands and Brazil sides of the 1970s. Yet it is of the utmost important that FSG and the Liverpool fans maintain prudence. As long as the club do not go backwards then the supporters will be happy. They can look forward to attractive football but must remember that Rome was not built in a day.

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Do you think Brendan Rodgers is the right man to take Liverpool forward? Let me know on Twitter.

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Tottenham’s efforts to sign Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen have seemingly hit a brick wall, with the deal on the verge of collapsing according to Mirror Football.

The Belgium international centre-half has been the north London side’s number one transfer priority this summer, with a deal thought to be close to completion.

However, a clause in Vertonghen’s contract that states that he is entitled to 15 per cent of the transfer fee, which the Eredivisie champions have refused to honour.

The defender has vocalised his disappointment at the talks breaking down, with Vertonghen now expected to report for pre-season training in Holland.

“As it looks now, I’ll be at Ajax on July 2. I’m hoping for a solution, but I’m not expecting a solution,” he is quoted as saying.

“This is a shame. I thought that it would be sorted out much sooner.

“I have one advantage: Ajax have got a good coach who knows me. I play in a good, stable squad. Let’s become champions with Ajax for the third time in a row,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Pre-season is now in full swing and Leicester City are wasting no time in their search for a championship winning squad.

After the acrimonious departure of Matt Mills, you could be forgiven for thinking Nigel Pearson was on the warpath. Any manager is well within his rights to make big decisions but with Lee Peltier, a solid performer in his time at the club, now also out of the door, and Jermaine Beckford also seemingly heading out of The King Power Stadium, Pearson is taking no prisoners in his desire to re-shape the squad for a title push.

Pearson’s overhaul has seen him sign seven new additions, with Jamie Vardy and Zak Whitbread, being the 2 most likely to make an immediate impact on the first XI.

The signing of Vardy could prove to be a very astute piece of business. The former Fleetwood Town striker had a wonderful time of things last season, bagging 31 league goals in his one season at the promoted club.

There is however question marks over whether he has the ability to cut it at a higher level. Leicester has provided him with the perfect platform for him to showcase his talents and prove the doubters wrong.

Pearson will be hoping Vardy and Nugent can be Leicester’s very own -York and Cole or Shearer and Sutton – and fire Leicester back into the big time. Goals were at a premium for The Foxes last year, so if Beckford does leave for pastures new, expect Pearson to be on the lookout for another striker to add depth to his frontline.

With plenty of time still left in the window, 24 days and counting, for clubs to delve into the market, Leicester’s transfer business is far from over. With so many new additions, and the likelihood of more moves in and out of the club, Pearson’s main worry should be making sure the players can gel in time for the club to reap the benefits.

Leicester’s main rivals for the title have also been making moves to strengthen their squads ahead of the season openers on the weekend commencing the 17th. The three clubs demoted from the Premier League last season will all be a major threat to The Foxes.

Whenever a club is painfully ejected from the top flight, the main objective is to hold onto as many of their best players as possible. Inevitably this almost always fails to happen. Big name clubs come calling, offering potential European football, bigger wage packets – and let’s be honest, what footballer isn’t driven by money?

In an age where the game is over aught with agents, staff and players all wanting their piece of the money pie, a club just relegated from the top flight can rarely afford to meet such demands.

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With that in mind, Bolton, Blackburn and Wolves have all done reasonably well in keeping some of their outstanding players. Sure Bolton has lost clinical Croat Klasnic, safe hands Jussi Jaaskelainen and the driving force of their midfield Reo- Coker. But they have also, so far, managed to keep hold of Mark Davies, Martin Petrov and Lee Chung-Yong, all of whom could set the championship alight.

It’s a similar story for both Blackburn and Wolves, both have lost some good players but have also managed to retain some even better ones. Fans of all three clubs will be praying that come August the 31st, Jim “Deadline Day” White isn’t screaming the bad news, what seemed like the almost inevitable departures, of the clubs better players at the 12th hour.

The upcoming Championship season is shaping up to be the best it’s ever been, with some outstanding players on show and a title race that has 5 or 6 genuine contenders. After several seasons of anguish and pain, Leicester fans can only hope and pray Nigel Pearsons plan will come to fruition and result in a jubilant return to the promise land.

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As a devoted Sunderland fan I often find myself debating the role of my beloved side and wondering how much they can realistically achieve. No doubt such behaviour can be attributed to the majority of thoughtful football lovers all equally concerned by their side’s potential aspirations thanks to the ominous nature of England’s domestic competition. Regardless, I still find myself schizophrenically debating the merits of both sides of an impossible argument due to my inability to assess my own club’s realistic ambitions.

Do I support a mid-table team who should be happy with their achievements having recently established themselves in the Premier League or a top ten side with a large stadium, passionate supporters and European expectations? Is it fair to demand European qualification when so many other teams are clearly better or am I lacking ambition by taking satisfaction in finishing in 8th place and enjoying a decent cup run?

Such concerns rattle back and forth in my red and white head but are difficult to resolve given the circumstances Sunderland find themselves in. One half of me understands that while mid-table mediocrity is not something any fan is happy to settle for, it’s a wonderful change from the days of yo-yoing between the top flight and Championship. There are far better teams above the Black Cats and finishing in the top ten is no mean feat given the competition for places. It sounds rational but then my other half retorts with the knowledge that Sunderland haven’t been relegated for five seasons and should be pushing on. They have a proud history and should look to reclaim it but then I remember there isn’t an obvious ‘next step’ in their progression that I can get behind. All any fan wants is yearly progression and for the most part the Black Cats have done that since their return to the Premier League, but given the obvious difference in quality between them and the bigger sides, at some point their improvements will peak and there will be little to play for other than taking satisfaction from being the best of the rest.

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The battle inside my Sunderland-themed mindset is ultimately between the conflicting emotions of appreciation and ambition. Do I look at the last decade of struggles and enjoy the more prosperous situation my club finds itself in or do I expect more every season and demand that further improvements are made so to compete with the league’s top sides?

It’s a difficult situation that fans of mid-table clubs often suffer and it leaves me stuck in no man’s land wondering whether I should be happy with minor achievements or be disappointed that my club cannot reach the summit of their profession. While I would never expect Sunderland to be Premier League champions, the knowledge that they almost definitely won’t be is still heartbreaking and yet many will feel I am being deluded for even considering it. Sunderland have had little pedigree for success during my lifetime and as such I shouldn’t have lofty expectations, but the truth is while I would never insist they win league titles, every fan likes to believe their team is working towards some sort of target. It would be naive of me to completely write Sunderland off but in reality they cannot finish higher than 7th so what can I realistically expect in the coming seasons?

Continuous development and attractive, enjoyable football would be a good start, plus an occasional triumph over rivals Newcastle wouldn’t go amiss, but sadly despite all the hope that surrounds the latest new era under Martin O’Neill, I still find myself experiencing an all too familiar sense of déjà vu. There’s been many a false dawn at Sunderland so as the years pass I’ve become accustomed to having rather watered down ambitions and this theme looks set to continue next season. Further investments seem unlikely to drastically improve the club’s fortunes so with little transfer business completed and the big boys stretching further ahead I cannot see how progression can be maintained beyond a certain point. It’s frustrating but I remind myself that the bigger picture is the team continually improving so they can hope to one day break the established mould. That’s the determined side of me that refuses to believe there is nothing to be achieved, however foolhardy that approach may be. After all, Newcastle showed last season that so-called ‘lesser’ sides can overachieve and begrudgingly they deserved their success. While envious glares are natural given my biased loyalties I can appreciate the difficulties that befell the Geordie enemy and take heart from the knowledge that such improvements can be achieved in the face of stronger opponents.

It may seem unfair of me to feel disappointed by last season’s proceedings as Sunderland cemented their place in the top flight, enjoyed a cup run and avoided the threat of relegation, but it would also be a crime if the club rested on their threadbare laurels. Acting rationally, such achievements constitute a marked improvement and are greatly appreciated after years of lower league turmoil, but like many I would love Sunderland to be challenging for Europe and the club’s owners should be aiming as high as possible.

While my realistic expectations tell me 8th place and a cup quarter final would be a decent season; my ambitious dreams persuade me to envisage an O’Neill inspired European qualification. As long as I enjoy the ride and don’t let myself be disappointed when my greedy aspirations are not realised then perhaps I can find some peace in the war between reality and ambition.

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Should Sunderland be aiming high next season or should they have more grounded expectations?

Let me know your views and opinions by following me on Twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher

Two seasons ago in the quarter-final of the Champions League, there was a high-profile tie including one (maybe two) English clubs and, naturally, plenty of excitement and interest. Not for me, thanks. Instead, I opted for a much more interesting affair in Eastern Europe as Barcelona travelled to the Donbass Arena for their tie with Shakhtar. It might raise thoughts of depression, and even the sunniest days are painted in nothing be grey, but there are a number of outstanding footballers in Eastern Europe. So when there is a rare chance to watch Shakhtar Donetsk, I take it.

Willian is one of the key talents on show, as is Douglas Costa. Both of whom take up important roles in the squad, but Willian is arguably the team’s best player; at least the best of their many Brazilian imports. With a fee around £12 million, it’s a real wonder how Willian escaped the clutches of big clubs further west. But like Douglas Costa later on, perhaps the move to a less reputable league was best.

Willian isn’t a flash in the pan or someone who will only succeed in leagues such as the Ukrainian Premier League; it’s for good reason that Shakhtar are holding out for a high price for one of their most talented assets. Impressively, when Willian does eventually leave, the cash will be spent again by Shakhtar to bring in another diamond in the rough.

If Tottenham were to land Willian they really would be pulling off a major coup. Chelsea were obviously linked last summer, but there have also been reports linking Willian with Spain in the past. He’s a player who finds comfort on the flanks but is equally capable of playing through the middle, where he often ends up as the game progresses.

An eye for goal, creativity and flair are the attributes you’d normally associate with any Brazilian attacker, and all of those qualities are correct to Willian’s game. The most significant quality he’d bring to Spurs is his ability to combine well with the other attacking players in the team and help to take the club up to the next level. There’s no doubting that is a player who could slot in comfortably at one of the bigger clubs around Europe.

It would also be a great signal to outsiders that Spurs are very much capable of moving on from the Luka Modric saga as a team still capable of challenging. Willian seems intent and in some way destined for the Premier League, and what a showing it would be if Spurs could parade a player of his calibre around the league.

Despite Willian’s ability to find the net in spectacular fashion, he is not someone who is likely to add a great number of goals to his name. Instead, he works well in a very fluid and attack-orientated midfield to supply the lone striker, usually Luiz Adriano. Players like Fernandinho work well deeper in midfield, while the other flair players weave their way through the opposition defence.

It was a brave move when the owner of Shakhtar declared the club would one day win a European trophy. Naturally, he was laughed out of the building but certainly not out of town. The make up of the club is impressive, with their incredible stadium and very successful scouting network. But Willian really is the crown jewel in this team (perhaps alongside fantastic club captain Darijo Srna). His transfer to an English club and specifically Spurs would definitely not see him surrender that status. He and Gareth Bale could form a wonderful attacking partnership, with both able to swap positions and use their individual strengths to find paths to goal.

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For now, it seems Spurs’ bid is well away from what Shakhtar want for their player. A deal will only come off if the valuation is met, as Shakhtar can be an extremely difficult club to negotiate with. But Willian will be a great addition to English football. £20-plus million and money well spent? In my book, definitely.

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Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has expressed his disappointment in how the club handled the Andy Carroll transfer saga and his eventual departure from the club.

The £35m striker left Anfield for West Ham on a season-long loan deal, but hasn’t been replaced by manager Brendan Rodgers. The Reds boss had hoped for a deal for Fulham’s Clint Dempsey to materialise, but the £6m asking price could not be met. An offer to take Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge on loan also interested Rodgers, but failed to come together.

Liverpool now look very short of options in attack with only Luis Suarez and Fabio Borini available as the senior strikers in the squad. And Fowler believes it would have made more sense for his former club to bring someone in before shipping England international Carroll out. Speaking to talkSPORT, Fowler declared his disappointment:

“It wasn’t great, we were all expecting someone else to come in and sign, but as per most things in the transfer window you’re either really excited by what has happened or really disappointed and I, along with the majority of fans, was disappointed. I just felt that if you did let Andy Carroll go then someone else was definitely going to come in. It wasn’t the case but I would have preferred to get someone else in and then get rid of Andy Carroll. I would have thought that would have been the sensible way rather than the way it was done.”

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Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has called for a sense of perspective ahead of what is certain to be an emotionally-charged clash with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

The Premier League encounter, always one of the most fiercely-contested in the English calendar, is the first home game for the Merseyside club following the publication of the Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report into the 1989 disaster. Liverpool are planning to honour the memory of the 96 supporters who lost their lives during the FA Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest, but there are concerns any tributes could be overshadowed by the actions of a minority of visiting supporters. Centre-back Vidic has joined Red Devils manager Sir Alex Ferguson in issuing a plea for all involved in Sunday’s game to show respect for each other, and knows the eyes of the world will be on Anfield. The defender told Sky Sports:

“Football is important, but it is never more important than life, any life. It doesn’t matter if it’s in England or Serbia or any part of the world, but football has had to deal with many tragedies too.  There is a lot of history with these two clubs. We have some history as well, we have some tragedies, just like Liverpool. We should respect each other because we are big clubs and clubs that are respected in the world. We have to show an example and be on top of the bad situation and behave well and, I would say, be an example.”

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and United defender Patrice Evra will be under greater scrutiny than their team-mates in the wake of the racism storm of last season and the missed handshake between the duo at Old Trafford. Vidic does not want to give too much thought to the pre-match meeting between the duo, with it widely expected that they will not cause further controversy on such a sensitive occasion, and admits he and his team-mates must focus more on the game. He continued:

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“It’s important to not do any stupid things in the game, to go there and play football – what we dream of, to play that derby and to be all about the football, not about the fighting or any other things.”