Cardiff have made it through to the Carling Cup final, beating Crystal Palace on penalties in dramatic fashion.
The Welsh side went into the semi final second leg one goal down, but an Anthony Gardner own goal levelled things up. Neither side could find the winning goal in normal or extra time, so the game was decided on penalties.
Bluebirds goalkeeper Tom Heaton was the hero, saving both Jermaine Easter and Sean Scannell’s spot kicks, before Jonathan Parr blazed wide to send the hosts through.
Cardiff boss Malky MacKay was ecstatic after the victory, and spoke of his pride at reaching the final.
“I’m delighted for everyone at the football club. It’s a fantastic achievement for everyone and I thought the players were terrific tonight,” he told Sky Sports.
“I think the first goal settled the whole stadium down and it certainly settled the players down.
“I thought we started at a fantastic tempo and with real belief. Getting the goal meant we could sit and probe.
“We knew the way Crystal Palace were going to play, they wanted to hit us on the counter-attack with pace. We had to make sure that we manipulated the ball.
“I think the fact that there were so many chances in and around their goal meant that the team kept believing,” he concluded.
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Cardiff will play either Manchester City or Liverpool in the final, with the second semi final being decided on Wednesday night.
Striker Carlo Costly netted a hat-trick as Honduras thrashed Grenada 7-1 in Group B of the CONCACAF Gold Cup on Friday.Luis Fernando Suarez’s team conceded first but were 3-1 up at the break before hammering home their advantage in the second half at the FIU Stadium in Miami.
Grenada forward Clive Murray had given his side an unlikely 20th-minute lead, but it only lasted six minutes as Jeremy Bengtson equalised.
Costly put Honduras ahead and forward Bengtson completed his brace as they found the net three times in a 12-minute spell.
Grenada would have been hoping for a comeback as they began the second half, but Costly scored twice in the space of five minutes to effectively end the contest.
Walter Martinez and midfielder Alfredo Mejia also found the net in the dying minutes as Honduras romped to a huge win.
Earlier, a brace from midfielder Demar Phillips put Jamaica through to the quarter-finals thanks to a hard-fought 2-0 win over Guatemala.
Theodore Whitmore’s team struggled in the first half before Phillips swept home goals in the 66th and 76th minutes after good movement down the left hand side.
Jamaica are top of the group on six points with Honduras two points adrift, while Guatemala have one point and Grenada’s hopes of progressing to the next round suffered as they are bottom without a point.
Bolton boss Owen Coyle looks set to fine striker Ivan Klasnic, after the forward was given a straight red card for an altercation with Marc Tierney in The Trotters 2-1 defeat against Norwich.
The Croatia international was given his marching orders in the first half on Saturday, whilst his team were 2-0 down, and Coyle is not happy with his player.
“The skipper [Kevin Davies] and Tuncay both had to be sacrificed because of Ivan’s folly in getting himself sent off. Will I fine him? He certainly knows my feelings on the subject,” the Scot told The Telegraph.
“Sometimes, you can understand it when a young boy gets caught up in the heat of the moment, but he is an experienced player. He is a seasoned international who has played at the very highest level all his career.
“That is when you have to use your experience, because going down to 10 men when you are already 2-0 behind is not exactly ideal,” he stated.
Coyle has revealed that Klasnic is repentant after the sending off, but this may not be enough to avoid the 31-year-old getting a fine.
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“He is full of remorse, but the bottom line is, you’ve got to keep your full personnel on the pitch. It is tough enough in this league as it is,” he concluded.
Pep Guardiola has proved himself to be an exceptional coach. His success in all available competitions has players and managers everywhere apart from Madrid cooing in delight as they watch his ever-evolving team. Whilst initially his success was put down to the outstanding players he has at his disposal after seeing such consistent success in the face of the equally impressive Real Madrid squad it would be bigoted and ignorant to deny that he is indeed an extremely tactically astute manager. With that in mind to what extent will his emphatic opinions and tactics be copied around the world? The most interesting comments that he has declared in recent months are those about the future of football, about teams without strikers, about teams made up almost entirely of midfielders. Guardiola has, since 2008, reshaped the Barcelona team in to one more dominated by midfielders than ever. He told FIFA.com in an interview:
“The midfield is a crucial part of any team. Midfielders are intelligent players who have to think about the team as a whole. They’re selfless players who understand the game better than anyone and the more midfielders you have, the easier it is to slot them into other positions. That’s how they become versatile and helps us to have smaller squads that are still able to offer more options.”
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Before Cesc Fabregas moved to Barcelona many wondered how he would even get in to the team yet Guardiola has not only found a place for him alongside Iniesta and Xavi, he has made Fabregas into Barcelona’s second highest goal scorer for the season. The versatility he inspires in his players is nothing new. He began by using Yaya Toure in defence as well as midfield and now he does the same with Javier Mascherano and Sergio Busquets. On top of that David Villa has been converted in to more of a midfielder than a striker and Dani Alves’ role in the team is far more like a winger than any defender in world football. At times this season Barcelona have been playing with two defenders, a goalkeeper and eight midfielders. It works pretty well too.
What he is trying to instigate here in football not only appears to make sense from a footballing point of view, but also a financial one as less players are needed to have a more complete squad. Barcelona’s success over the last few years has been achieved with a very small squad yet the success they have achieved is remarkable considering how many competitions they have been in. It makes a mockery of English teams’ that claim they don’t have the squad size to pursue multiple competitions. Guardiola is talking about squad rotation, but squad rotation in a positional as well as personal sense.
People might say that this is only the future for Barcelona, that only they have the players capable of performing well in positions other than their natural ones, but that isn’t necessarily true. It is always the best teams and managers in football history that inspire tactical evolution. Not all teams will evolve in this way but players could. In fact it is already happening, particularly with defenders. These days it isn’t enough at the top level to simply be an excellent defender, there has to be more to a defender’s game, they have to be technically better. Defenders like Thomas Vermaelen, Thiago Silva, Gerard Pique and others are demonstrations of the value of having a player who is more versatile. Similarly whereas in the past having full backs capable of going forward as well as being able to defend was a luxury, now it is almost a necessity. Strikers too have to have a more accomplished game. The value of a striker that can help out in midfield as well as attack is a priceless option; you only need look at Wayne Rooney for evidence of this.
Perhaps what Guardiola is talking about is less a ‘team of midfielders’ and more a team of players whose roles are interchangeable, with players who are capable of performing multiple positions. As I said before it not only makes sense on the pitch but also off it financially. With that being the case it seems only a matter of time before more managers and more players try to replicate this idea.
Follow me on Twitter @H_Mackay
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Marseille are a step closer to repeating as French champions after a 4-2 win over Nice moved them top of the Ligue 1 table on Wednesday.It was a family affair at the Stade Velodrome as Ghana international Andre Ayew scored a hat-trick and younger brother Jordan added another in the second half, ending Nice’s six-game unbeaten run in convincing fashion.
The win, four days after Marseille became the first team in history to retain the Coupe de la Ligue, moves Didier Deschamps’ men one point ahead of Lille on the table with six games left in the run-in.
Lille had to have feared this day was coming after taking just two points from their past three games, allowing their lead on the table to be whittled down as Marseille surged.
But perhaps the title hopefuls would have allowed themselves a small sigh of relief as Marseille went into the break locked in a 1-1 stalemate with Nice, after Abdou Traore cancelled out the elder Ayew’s goal on the half-hour.
Ayew was in no mood to be generous however, restoring Marseille’s lead on the hour on an assist from his sibling.
The younger Ayew, who had replaced Andre Gignac in the 58th minute, then found the net on his accord 12 minutes from injury time as Marseille took a commanding 3-1 lead.
Ayew’s hat-trick goal in stoppage time gave the hosts an insurmountable three-goal buffer, one that Argentinean defender Renato Civelli pegged back to two with a consolation goal before the final whistle.
Elsewhere, a late winner from France international Yoann Gourcuff handed Lyon a thrilling 3-2 win over visiting Montpellier in a seesawing battle at the Stade de Gerland.
Brazilian midfielder Ederson put Lyon ahead in the 23rd minute, but the hosts could only hold on to the lead for six minutes before Oliver Giroud struck for Montpellier.
The visitors, coming into the match on a low after losing to Marseille in the league cup final on Saturday, showed plenty of heart to get back into the contest once more after Lisandro Lopez found the net for Lyon 10 minutes after the break.
Souleymane Camara drew Montpellier level once more in the 84th minute, but there was still time for former Bordeaux midfielder Gourcuff to find the net once more for the hosts in the final seconds before stoppage time.
Lyon, third on the table, now sit within four points of Lille and five of the title, keeping alive their hopes of securing their eighth league trophy from under Marseille’s nose.
QPR manager Mark Hughes has stated that he is confident that his side will avoid being relegated despite their difficult remainder of the season.
The Loftus Road club are currently in 18th place in the Premier League standings, and are embroiled in a five-team scrap to stay in the English top flight.
With a tricky game against Liverpool on Wednesday, Hughes admits his side are up against it.
“It’s not easy — we make no bones about that. It’s a difficult run-in,” he told The Sun.
“Maybe, going into those games, the pressure is off somewhat, bizarrely.
“We’re the underdogs and we’re not expected to win. We can use that as a positive and hopefully gain from that. There are going to be twists and turns.
“We know each game is going to be crucial, irrespective of the opposition we’re going up against.
“It’s really key we perform at our maximum. If we do that then, certainly in our home games, we can take on anybody.
“It’s been frustrating. We haven’t helped ourselves on some occasions and, on other occasions, circumstances have gone against us.
“But we’re still very, very confident that we have enough ability to make sure that we’re still in the Premier League next year.
“It’s going to take hard work — we realise that — and we’re not going to stick our heads in the sand and think otherwise.
“But we’ve got enough quality to score enough goals and defend our goal as well. That gives me confidence that, in the next games that we have, we’ll get points on the board.
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“We just need a fair crack of the whip.
“If we perform as we know we can, at our maximum, and we get that element of luck that you have to have to be successful then we’ll be fine. But it needs to start quickly and it needs to start on Wednesday,” he stated.
Adel Taarabt is a transfer target for cash rich Paris Saint Germain, according to reports today. (Mirror Football)
The club from the French capital spent heavily in the summer and are now looking to QPR’s playmaker Taarabt to further strengthen their squad.
The club are lining up a bid of around £20 million for the Moroccan international, a fee they believe the West London club will find hard to resist.
In the summer QPR rejected a bid of around £15 million, however PSG now hope that a bid of around £14 million with incentives of up to around £6 million will be too good to refuse for a player that has failed to perform up to expectations thus far this season.
As well as PSG, Italian club Napoli are allegedly weighing up a bid for the player, however they are unlikely to be able to match PSG’s spending power.
PSG, now under ownership by Qatar Investment Authority, are looking to re-emerge as a force in both French and European football and alongside Taarabt the club are looking to sign David Beckham from LA Galaxy.
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It remains to be seen whether Taarabt himself wants to leave the club, with the player stating that it is entirely the clubs decision, ‘I am prepared for any event in January but the decision depends on QPR.’
Considering Arsenal have been eliminated from three cup competitions over the last few weeks, there has been a magnifying glass held over the Emirates to find the ‘how, what and why’ this season could be the club’s 6th year without a trophy. Although manager, Arsene Wenger has urged fans to keep the faith in the team for a successful season with the Premier League title still to fight for, the defeats at the Nou Camp and at Old Trafford have certainly harmed confidence.
Whilst the popular focus tends to be on the squad’s ‘maturity’ in big games, there has been less attention on the coaching staff at the North London club. Arsenal fans have nothing but praise for assistant manager Pat Rice who’s been Wenger’s right hand man since he joined in 1996 having previously been the Youth Coach for 12 years.
Rice, also a former skipper of the Gunners side that won the double in the early seventies, is the one barking orders from the dugout and keeping up team morale whilst Wenger works on his analysis of the game. And although they have achieved success in the past, is the time coming that the duo has become too comfortable at the club?
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It’s not just Pat Rice who’s been with Wenger since the start. First-team coach, Boro Primorac joined in 1997 and still fulfils the same role and Reserve team coach, Neil Banfield has been in his current role since 2004 having previously been the Youth team manager. The only addition of late has seen former defender, Steve Bould take charge of the youth sides, but should there be more of a shake-up?
In comparison to Arsene’s main rival in his 15 years in the Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson has had various changes to his backroom staff and I believe it’s played a huge part in their consistency. Since Wenger and Rice began in ‘96, Fergie is now on his 6th assistant manager (Brian Kidd, Steve McClaren, Jimmy Ryan, Walter Smith, Carlos Queiroz and currently Mike Phelan).
Whilst it’s important for a club to keep familiarity with coaches in order to build solid foundations and create a strong identity, there is a danger of complacency. I believe Fergie’s changes of assistant manager have been very important to his success and things may have been different had he kept the same man for 15 years.
Steve McClaren was praised by players for his coaching ability, whilst Carlos Queiroz provided Ferguson with a more up-to-date view on European football and most noticeably there were changes in Manchester United’s formation and tactics.
So, would Arsene Wenger benefit from a few changes? There could be a danger of his current staff being ‘yes men’ to Wenger’s decisions and actions while someone new could challenge Wenger and give him a different insight.
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One criticism I heard of Wenger since the two recent defeats has been that Arsene chooses his team’s tactics at the start of the season, whilst everyone else chooses them every game. It may be harsh as Arsenal have been one of the best teams to watch over the last decade and a half but this third generation squad seem to lack the ability to win ugly.
Arsenal still have a chance of winning the Premier League title but he faces a tough task in getting his squad in the right mind set for the remaining games if they are to go on a winning streak. A positive from the United defeat, was the side were still creating chances, there wasn’t a lack of effort and if the team keeps persistence there could be a silver lining.
A setback for Liverpool today in a controversial game at the Britannia. Mark Clattenburg awarded a harsh penalty against Jamie Carragher, which ultimately proved the decisive moment of the game.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of blogs that include Kenny’s words lost in translation; Henry thinking bigger, while Cole’s demise came before his Liverpool move.
We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.
Liverpool’s proposed deal could prove a good example to follow
‘Six of the Best’ – Merseyside derbies of recent memory
Kenny Dalglish’s words get lost in translation
Should Henry and LFC be thinking bigger?
Demise came well before his move to Liverpool
Is this really the limit for this Liverpool side?
A welcome headache for Kenny Dalglish?
Second time lucky at Anfield?
The ideal retirement place for former Liverpool stars
Jose looking to tempt Kenny with €40m bid
Best of WEB
IT’S NOT BOSMAN’S FAULT, IT IS PURE GREED.- Live4Liverpool
Dalglish – Top V Bottom | The Secret to Success – Anfield Index
KENNY DALGLISH: First 27 games analysis – Is he still the King…? – Liverpool Kop
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A Refreshing Change from the norm in our new signing – Live4Liverpool
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Chris Hughton ’s sacking seems like an awfully long time ago now. Newcastle fans were devastated and opposition fans were perplexed. It was a move that just didn’t appear to make any sense. During his brief reign at the club Hughton had done a stand-up job and deserved better treatment. When I ask if Ashley was right to sack Hughton, I don’t mean was he right in the moral sense, because Chris had done nothing to merit his dismissal. But surely it is worth considering that it may actually have been the best move for the club?
Many Newcastle fans were flabbergasted with Alan Pardew ’s appointment and saw him as something of a step-down in class. He has turned out to be anything but. Discounting the second-half of last season where he seemed to be biding his time until the summer, he’s had an excellent start to his Newcastle tenure.
I remember fans at the time claiming that Pardew couldn’t match Hughton in terms of man management, but it strikes me that Pardew’s getting the most he possibly can out of each and every one of his players right now. Furthermore, I can’t help but feel that Pardew is tactically more astute that Hughton too. Not such a step-down after all.
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Hughton had managed to obtain the backing of both players and fans, something of a rare occurrence on Tyneside and deserved more of a chance to show what he could do. Mike Ashley ’s decision to send him packing could well have triggered a mutiny in the dressing room and potentially another relegation for the club. It was simply awful timing.
Luckily Pardew proved to be a better manager than most people thought and over the course of his ten months in charge he has more than proven that he knows how to galvanise a dressing room. It’s not like Pardew has had an easy ride. He has overseen some high profile departures that led fans to question the future of the team.
Instead, Newcastle has only grown stronger and Pardew deserves a healthy share of the credit for how the club has improved. Given his professionalism and ability, is there anybody out there who really believes that Hughton is the better manager?
Still, that doesn’t make the decision to sack Chris any more right. Strange that what first appeared to be a moment of madness may end up being one of the best decisions of Ashley’s career.
Article courtesy of Harry Cloke from This is Futbol
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