David Beckham has confirmed that he has been overlooked for inclusion in this summer’s Team GB squad for the Olympics.
The veteran midfielder was widely expected to be named in Stuart Pearce’s contingent for the London Games as one of the three players over the age of 23 allocated to each team.
However, the LA Galaxy man has confessed that he will not participate in the tournament.
“Everyone knows how much playing for my country has always meant to me,” Sky Sports report Beckham as saying.
“So I would have been honoured to have been part of this unique Team GB squad.
“Naturally I am very disappointed, but there will be no bigger supporter of the team than me. And like everyone, I will be hoping they can win the gold,” he stated.
The three overage players are now expected to be Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards, with the squad in full to be named next week.
Pearce has flown out to the United States to watch Beckham in action, but it appears that the former England star has been overlooked in favour of the Premier League players.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
We’ve all heard them. Yep. Wesley Sneijder is 100% CERTAIN to join Manchester United this summer. How do we know? Well, everyone says so. Oh and by the way, City are preparing a £100 million move for Wayne Rooney and he wants to leave. Why? Ermmm, well Sheikh Mansour has promised him unlimited wages and a free hair transplant every three months.
Football rumours are big business and part and parcel of the modern day game. Where would we be without the tabloid press telling us who’s going where or which club has sealed a sensational deal for which superstar? However, the development of football in the media has risen to new levels with the explosion of the internet and more specifically, Twitter. It’s given every man and his dog the opportunity to become an ‘in the know.’ Reasonably knowledgeable about football? Well, you can build yourself a bit of a reputation these days by simply making up utter tripe. Some people can spot the ‘in the knowers’ a mile off, but there are those who’ll get rather over excited when their club is linked with a big-named player and take your word as gospel.
Fancy the opportunity to trick the footballing world? Sick of the regular rumours doing the rounds every transfer window? Well, here’s your opportunity to change all that. Check out the ten ingredients needed to become a modern day ‘in the know.’ And please, we all know Sneijder’s joining United. It’s a done deal right?
Click on twitter below to unveil the top 10 ingredients
[divider]
[divider]
[divider]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“You’d think he was a Spanish player, a real European player.” beamed Brendan Rodgers as he finally captured the signature of Joe Allen on Friday night. South Wales’ very own version of Xavi was finally in his possession once again. Yet are the Kop faithful convinced by the Northern Irishman’s transfer policy that has seen acquire two players he is accustomed to working with? Are his targets really that limited? Theres a clear distinction as to the direction Rodgers wants to take the Reds in next term after offloading a number of senior players and replacing them with 22-year-old Allen and 21-year-old striker Fabio Borini. But at a combined £25 million there have been comparisons to the reckless spending that ultimately cost predecessor Kenny Dalglish his position in the Anfield dugout. Theres even talk of Daniel Agger being sacrificed in order to fund more signings on the scale of Allen and Borini – in terms of age and price. Will this strategy really take the club back into the Champions League? Answers on a postcard…
This week on FFC can Stewart Downing finally live up to his hefty price tag next term and how much would it cost Roberto Mancini to prise Agger away from Merseyside?
[divider]
Best of FFC
The Top 15 Players Who Only Look ‘Good On MOTD’
A bitter pill worth swallowing for Liverpool?
Liverpool’s new vision is impressive…given the time
Why Liverpool must hit the ground running
A long-term trend of rotten transfers at Anfield
The Boy’s a bit special…Jack Robinson
Make or break time for Liverpool ace
Does Liverpool star really have a price?
City need ridiculous offer to get Daniel Agger
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
The Most Important Signing of the Summer? – Live 4 Liverpool
Confirmed: £29m 30-goal star striker ‘wants to leave’ La Liga. Sign him, FSG! – Liverpool Kop
LFC – Living within our means – This is Anfield
Brendan Rodgers Stats 2008-2012: Entire career to date. Good enough…? – Liverpool Kop
Exclusive John Henry Q&A – The Tomkins Times
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
700 Examples Of Passion & Commitment, In Red – Live 4 Liverpool
Charlie Adam: The Latest Victim of Bullying in the Managers’ Playground? – This is Anfield
Signed! But Is Joe Allen Worth £15m? – Live4Liverpool
[divider]
Quote of the Week
[divider]
“You’d think he was a Spanish player, a real European player. I would have paid many more millions for this kid. He is a unique player in that he’s a British player who doesn’t give the ball away. When he comes into this team you’ll see the difference he can make. He’s incredible on the ball, his intelligence for a 22-year-old is frightening, his game understanding is very, very good and he’s in love with the football. He loves the ball.”Brendan Rodgers lauds over new signing Joe Allen.
Sometimes in life, we all go through spells craving something that we simply cannot live without. Be that money, beer or a certain someone, there is always something that makes us tick a little bit better than without it. But in the case of these gentleman, that comes in the form of a, err, profesional footballer.
Indeed, whether Brendan Rodgers craved Joe Allen for his midfield dynamism or simply someone to knock back a few glasses of Rioja with on the River Mersey, he decided he simply had to pay £15million to get him to move from Swansea with him. But he is by no means the first, or likely the last manager, to crave one of his old boys.
Here are ten, player-manager relationships that were so good, they simply couldn’t wait to seek each other out in an orgy of transfer fee based excitement. Some have tasted success together, others have tasted long-standing mediocrity together and some find life so hard without the other, they sign them four times and counting in their career.
Click on Joe Allen below, and feel the love for yourself
[divider]
Are you not feeling the love with any of these top ten picks? Or are you a supporter of a club who paid over-the-odds for one of their chums to come to your club? Tell me what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and get involved with the talk.
[divider]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has urged his players not to get carried away despite their impressive start to the 2012/13 Premier League season.
The Baggies are currently third in the league table with seven points from three matches, just two points behind leaders Chelsea. This has been West Brom’s best start to the English top flight for 34 years, but Clarke wants everyone at the club to keep their feet firmly on the ground. He told the club’s official website:
“I think everybody is pleased with the start. What’s good, though, is that even though the players are pleased with the start, nobody is getting carried away. We understand there are many tough games to come. We’re just focused on the next game and trying to get a positive result down at Craven Cottage. The good thing about it here is that it’s a good experienced squad. All the experienced players understand how difficult the Premier League is. Their feet are firmly on the ground.”
The Baggies have recorded two clean sheets and conceded only one goal in their opening three Premier League fixtures, with Arsenal the only side in the Football League who have yet to concede. Clarke has taken time out to praise Gareth McAuley, whose impressive performances alongside Jonas Olsson at the heart of defence have helped improve the Baggies’ defensive record since joining on a Bosman 14 months ago. He continued:
“Gareth has really stepped up to the mark. He’s risen to the challenge, which is something that comes better with experience. He understands and respects the fact he’s got a talent in football. There’s a lot of players like that, who just come in, do their job and try to do the best they can everyday in training and everytime they are picked to play in a match. It’s a great gift. It’s also fantastic for me as a head coach when you’ve got players like that.”
West Brom travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Complete the survey below to be in with the chance of winning a football shirt of your choice…
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world’s leading questionnaire tool.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reiterated that youngster Jack Wilshere will not be rushed back into the first-team after spending 14 months on the sidelines with injury, according to The Daily Mail.
Wenger had dismissed speculation that the Arsenal ace could be in line for a return against Chelsea on Saturday and says Wilshere will play for the Gunners’ under-21 side against West Brom on Monday.
The Frenchman believes that Monday’s game is another important step in the recovery from the 20-year-old’s persistent ankle problems, “It is another important step, but he has not played for 14 months so we have to calm your impatience a little bit.”
Wenger says that he is personally delighted that Wilshere is on the mend, “It is fantastic for him, especially for him.” Wenger also remarked that it had taken a lot of mental strength for Wilshere to recover from his injury woes which subsequently saw the midfielder miss the whole of last season and Euro 2012, “When you are that age and are out for such a long time, that is absolutely massive to take.”
With the international break forthcoming, England have a double-header in which Wenger is reluctant to let Wilshere partake in. The Gunners boss joked that whilst he would have reservations letting his starlet feature in the Poland match, he would happily let him play in the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifier, “I think that will be too early for him. He has not played for 14 months. Who does England play, San Marino? I think he can play in that game.”
The return of Wilshere will certainly come as a welcome addition for Arsenal. Now 20, the talented Wilshere is the youngest ever league debutant for the Gunners after making his debut aged 16 at Blackburn, and is also only the fifth sixteen-year-old to play in a Champions League game.
Meanwhile, the Arsenal boss has received further injury boosts this week after confirming that captain Thomas Vermaelen will return for the Chelsea game after missing last Sunday’s draw at Manchester City due to illness.
Additionally, dogged midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong came off the bench in Arsenal’s 6-1 victory over Coventry last night following a serious knee injury he sustained whilst on loan at Championship outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers last season. He is expected to once again start from the bench for the arrival of the European champions.
Despite this, Saturday’s London derby will come too soon for Frenchman Bacary Sagna, who like Wilshere, is back in full training.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Adam Johnson could miss Sunderland’s Premier League home tie with Wigan Athletic despite making a return from injury against the MK Dons in the Capital One Cup.
The 25 year old was kept out of first team training on Thursday and may not be ready for Saturday, regardless of his five minute cameo at Stadium MK.
Manager, Martin O’Neill said to safc.com: “Adam did a bit of training yesterday and came off feeling okay, then just had what I’m hoping is a superficial problem.
“He had some x-rays and everything seemed fine, or certainly there’s been no new damage. He didn’t train today; we’ll see how he is with a late assessment.”
Already stretched on the injury front, the Wearsiders were handed some boosts ahead of Saturday, rested centre back pair: John O’Shea and Titus Bramble trained, while Seb Larsson also came through the session after the hamstring injury he picked up away at West Ham.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
O’Neill added, “Titus trained today, Seb did a bit, so did John. I’m hoping Carlos [Cuellar] can come through too.”
Manchester United and Chelsea are both keeping tabs on young Lille defender Lucas Digne, according to The Daily Mail.
The 19-year-old left-back broke into the Ligue 1 side’s first-team last season, and has impressed with standout performances for Les Dogues so far this term.
The teenager has represented France from under-16 to under-19 level, and is adjudged to be one of the most promising prospects in the game in the country currently.
Both Premier League giants sent scouts to watch Digne play for Lille against Rennes on Friday, and were suitably intrigued to provide positive reports on the energetic full-back.
Chelsea are looking for long-term options at left-back with Ashley Cole in the last year of his current deal and ageing, with Ryan Bertrand marked as the England man’s successor.
United meanwhile signed Alexander Buttner in the summer to provide competition for places for Patrice Evra, but are still considering strengthening in this area.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Managers often moan that international breaks are a disruptive irrelevance during the season. Sir Alex Ferguson will certainly feel the current round of fixtures were extremely ill-timed given United’s superb victory in the North East last time out as they bounced back from an eye opening home loss a week prior. Any momentum gained from the win at St James’ Park was immediately lost as Ferguson watched from the departure lounge as several of his Red Devils jetted off to represent their country across the globe. The Old Trafford chief has only one objective this season and that is to wrestle the title away from the blue half of Manchester. With an uninterrupted run to the New Year he will eager to hit the ground running and ensure his players are ready the brutal Christmas schedule that usually sees United shift upwards through the gears.
This week on FFC does Ferguson need to majorly overhaul his defence and can United convince captain Nemanja Vidic to resist the allure of a bumper Russian payday in January?
[divider]
Best of FFC
Is it time for Manchester United to cash in?
Does he have a point about Wayne Rooney?
Major surgery required at Old Trafford?
£25m well spent at Manchester United?
Manchester United braced for £8m Fiorentina bid
Tom Cleverley: The future or merely a temporary solution?
No home comforts for Manchester United?
Is this advertising model the only way forward for football?
People shouldn’t be worried about England players getting matches
Russians look to tempt United ace away with bumper contract
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
Will Sir Alex Risk Making His ‘Biggest Mistake’ Again? – Red Flag Flying High
The Greenhoff Column : Good Evans – 7Cantonas
Patient Welbeck garners praise, but not always matches – United Rant
One United Player Looks Closer To Exit, One Looks More Vital – Red Flag Flying High
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
A Return Sure To Boost Manchester United – The Busby Way
[divider]
Quote of the Week
[divider]
“I have to disagree with Jason Roberts. I think he is making the wrong point. Everyone should be united, with all the players in the country wearing the Kick it Out warm-up tops. I don’t know what point he is trying to make. “I don’t know if he is trying to put himself on a different pedestal from everyone. But he really should be supporting all the rest of the players who are doing it.” Sir Alex Ferguson condemns Jason Roberts’ stance on the Kick It Out campaign
West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster insists that the team are not getting carried away despite moving up to fifth position in the Premier League.
The Baggies beat Southampton 2-0 at the Hawthorns to go to within goal difference of the Champions League positions following a solid start to the campaign.
However Foster is adamant the team are remaining grounded despite their lofty position:
“It’s a cliché but we are really not getting carried away we are taking each game as it comes and we will just see where it goes,” He SkySports after the game.
“For the majority of the table I think there are 14 odd teams probably hoping to get to the 40 point mark and take it from there and we’re no different”
“We will get to that 40 point mark as soon as possible and see what games we have left.”
Two goals from striker Peter Odemwingie were enough to decide the game and leave the Saints rooted to the foot of the table.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Nigerian broke the deadlock with a deflected 25-yard effort to give his side the advantage heading into the half-time interval.
He then doubled both his and the teams tally in the 60th minute, heading in a pin-point cross from Shane Long.