Veteran Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that he has had to change his methods to cope with modern footballers' 'fragile' personalities.
Ferguson is famed for his so-called 'hairdryer' technique of drawing the best out of his United charges, but accepts that that is no longer the right approach at all times.
He told a conference in Doha:"I've mellowed a great deal. The world has changed and so have players' attitudes.
"I'm dealing with more fragile human beings than I used to be. They are cocooned by modern parents, agents, even their own image at times.
"They need to be seen with their tattoos and earrings. It's a different world for me, so I have had to adapt.
"There is nothing wrong with losing your temper if it's for the right reasons, but I never leave it until the next day. I don't believe in that."
Ferguson also spoke up for Wayne Rooney, who recently signed a new contract at Old Trafford after earlier having stated that he wanted to move on.
"You don't necessarily have to heed advice after listening to it," Ferguson added."Some young people take bad advice.
"He has an agent who is not the most popular man in the world and he obviously sold it to Wayne to ask away. The boy rushed in.
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"But the minute he heard the response of the public and our supporters, he changed his mind, he knew he'd made a mistake.
"There's nothing wrong with that as long as you recognise it. He immediately apologised and agreed a new contract within a couple of hours."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Before the Easter weekend had you asked a Cardiff City supporter if they would take four points from the games against Middlesbrough away and Watford at home most would have happily taken them, however all that changed after the resounding victory against Boro away, thanks in large part to Joe Mason who came on as substitute for Kenny Miller after just three minutes.
Miller was racing onto through-ball, with the Middleborough defence static, goalkeeper Jason Steele raced out of his area and clattered into Miller who had controlled the ball and looked through, Steele made no contact with the ball instead scything Miller down with a two footed tackle that’s contact point was at knee level Miller crumpled into a stricken mess the ball dribbling tantalisingly a few foot in front of him, incredulously referee Kevin Friend turned his back, only to be chased by incensed Cardiff players.
However their protestations were stone walled Malky Mackay berated the fourth official also in vain. Miller was eventually helped from the field of battle hopping on one leg, the old warriors part in the conflict was done for the day enter; young buck Joe Mason who owned and bossed the park with an authority astonishing for someone of his age at this level. Within minutes of coming on he had the ball over the line although the deflected shot which struck the underside of the crossbar before bouncing out and being hastily scrambled away by a Boro’ defender Justin Hoyte was adjudged not to have not crossed the line.
The score was opened five minutes later by Ben Turner – who came to Cardiff City in the summer from Coventry City along with Aron Gunnerson. Turner rose above everyone to slot home the ball from a Liam Lawrence corner 0-1 Cardiff. Eight minutes later The Bluebirds were two up.. Mason causing all sorts of problems raced into a perfectly flighted early ball down the right from Stephen McPhail before cutting inside into the area, keeping his calm brilliantly to turn his marker first one way, then the other before dispatching the ball under Steele in the ‘Boro goal. City continued to run the show for the first half but failed to find the net again due to Steele who undoubtedly should have no longer even been on the pitch.
The second half Middleborough had more possession. But other than one finger tip save from City keeper David Marshall, didn’t look like getting on the score sheet.
So with the harder of the two fixtures on paper yielding three points, Easter Monday, a sizable crowd braved the cold and the rain at the Cardiff City Stadium, but it was to be one of those matches you left the ground wishing you had stayed at home in the warm and dry. Lacking spark and marred by fussy referee Darren Deadman who handled so many cards (seven) he seemed to think he was Paul Daniels.
The games saving grace from Cardiff City supporters view point was the end for Kenny Miller’s of his run of thirteen appearances without a goal, a drought not brought about by lack of trying it has to be said. But all in all it was extremely disappointing to have only taken one point from a poor and struggling Watford team and in the dying minutes of the game if truth is told City were very lucky to get even that point Watford went that close!
It all had City fans again shaking their heads and wondering what on earth was going on with their team. After all the Easter programme had started so differently wearing the lucky St David’s yellow and black third kit, Cardiff City had been ruthless in their domination of Middlesbrough especially in the first twenty minutes and sealed the fate of the Boro’ who suffered not only defeat but a mass walkout of their fans half an hour before the final whistle. The Mogganaut had been halted! But then came Watford!
That sort of inconsistency, as dogged Cardiff City all season supporters unsure which Cardiff is going to turn up or not as the case may be! The passion some games just is not there from the team..which is a worry because it means many of the current crop of players haven’t connected with the club.
Cardiff fans have a saying “Once a Bluebird always a Bluebird.” Which was demonstrated perfectly by former Cardiff City striker Jay Boothroyd on Wednesday night who when coming on as substitute for QPR against old firm derby rivals Swansea ran onto the field a smirk on his face repeatedly doing the Ayatollah. He’s not the only one to have done this the south Wales rivalry is a powerful one, once you’ve been sucked in, another thing peculiar to the Bluebirds old players when returning to play Cardiff with their new teams is they receive a very warm welcome, the players in turn behave with similar respect. When Michael Chopra scored against us for Ipswich this season at CCS he didn’t celebrate his goal, when he scored again in the return match, caught up in the moment he celebrated his goal after the game he immediately took to twitter to apologise for any offence he may have caused City fans! Other players who will remain nameless simply don’t ‘turn up’ for the team they now play for.
I can’t help but think few of the current squad would be the same. Is that is down to the fact that the team; for the large part came together during the summer under a manager who through no fault of his own had barely got his own feet under the table?
And I have no wish to sound xenophobic, but the squad has only two Welsh players, both are Cardiff lads, lifelong Bluebird supporters and who are regular current Welsh internationals. However, both Robert Earnshaw and Darcy Blake have rarely played a part under Mackay who has surrounded himself with fellow Scots…Now here maybe lays the problem. Ask a Scot; what are you? and the immediate reply will always be I’m Scottish!! Then if you push them for more information you’ll get I’m a builder ect. Ask one of us and you’ll get I’m a Bluebird on being pushed we’ll explain that means we support Cardiff City FC, that we are from Wales but the first answer will always be I am a Bluebird! That pride and passion is missing I’m not saying only welsh players should play for Cardiff City because the aforementioned Boothroyd and Chopra are English as is Peter Whittingham and no one would ever doubt this passion and Bluebirdness.
No too many players had to be drafted into the team in too short a space of time it as resulted in the failure of the integration into the right mindset that’s needed to get what is to be a Bluebird to find that something extra, the never say die spirit epitomised by the likes of Phil Dwyer (A man who died on the pitch having swallowed his tongue after a clash of heads, was revived where he fell and then turned out and had a blinder the next week!) This lack of connection is crippling the squad now that they are tired and understandably emotionally drained following the Carling Cup defeat against Liverpool. (who have also fallen by the wayside following the Carling Cup final!) As much as Mackay’s seemingly blind faith in a handful of his side or even the lack of an out and out striker and pacey winger does.
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Having said all that, results have kept going our way so this you feel must be our year but we all now have to play our part. City supporters have to be that never say die Bluebirds spirit. Now is your time, time for all City supporters to launch the rallying cry, for all Bluebirds to vocally show the passion and pride from the stands keep the songs plain and simple cheer all good touches till you have no voice….
Keeping the faith… in full song raise lets the roof!
If recent news and rumours are to be believed, big spending, billionaires Manchester City have joined their bitter rivals Manchester United and their Premier league competitors Chelsea in pursuit of Tottenham ’s Croatian star, Luka Modric.
Chairman Daniel Levy and Manager Harry Redknapp have made it quite clear to these clubs that neither Modric or PFA player of the year, Gareth Bale will be sold this summer. Welsh winger Bale has pledged his immediate future to the club, however, Modric has been reportedly quoted by the Daily Star saying, ‘I’m a Tottenham player and will be in London on July 7 to begin preparing for the season,’ he added, ‘But I want to say that transfers could occur later.’
This news will have surely unnerved a few in N17, although Levy has been a top negotiator with United especially in the past few seasons and if he were able to achieve an offer in the region of £40 million, would it be such a bad thing to see him go?
Understandably, the majority of Spurs fans are against the sale of yet another of their star players, especially as United have managed to lure both Carrick (£18 million) and Berbatov (£30.75 million) away from White Hart Lane in recent years. But were both those deals not great pieces of business by Spurs? Yes, they lost a ‘big’ player, but they also received ‘big’ money, money that financed the transfers of multiple players such as Palacios, Pavlyuchenko and even Modric himself.
What Spurs do have in their favour is that the ball lies firmly in their court; they only have to sell, if and when they want to. They can afford to hold out for a giant sum and if the aforementioned interested clubs really want Modric that badly, they will offer it. He only recently signed a 6 year contract and isn’t the type of guy to throw a tantrum and make a fuss to force through a deal. Therefore, Spurs seem to be in the ideal position, they can keep their star midfielder unless a ‘crazy’ money deal is offered, allowing Levy to re-invest across maybe 4 positions, no doubt strengthening the team as a whole.
Another large bonus for Spurs is that they are not exactly short of options in midfield. Although Redknapp himself has described Modric as ‘irreplaceable,’ it is important to remember that he was injured for fair length of time earlier in the season. In that time, his Croatian team-mate Niko Kranjcar was given a chance and scored brilliant winning goals in two games. They also have other international players such as Palacios, Sandro and Tom Huddlestone, all capable of playing in a top side and this is before any ‘replacements’ have been brought using the vast sums of money Modric’s sale would generate.
I know that too many fans, the sale of one the clubs best talents would be seen as a ‘backwards’ step but just look at Liverpool, they sold their ‘talismanic’ player in Torres and are undoubtedly now a stronger side after the additions of Suarez, Carroll and now Henderson.
For most fans it is a matter of pride, a matter of not letting their club be bullied into selling, resisting the advances of Europe’s giants but if the offer of ‘crazy’ money similar to the Torres transfer was put on the table, with Levy’s promise of signing a ’20 goal a season forward’ and more than adequate replacements or keeping hold of Modric, which would you really choose?
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Read more of Richard Baker’s articles at This is Futbol
The dust is just beginning to settle from the Man United Tottenham game last weekend and I’ve decided that we should have a little look at the top 10 most devious footballers. The list doesn’t fail to entertain and reminds us of all those conniving and deceitful footballers through the years.
10. First up we have El-Hadji Diouf. The former Liverpool player was fined two weeks wages for spitting on a Celtic fan during the two clubs UEFA cup quarter final clash back in 2003. This was not the first time Diouf had been at the centre of such an incident. The previous November he was accused by West Ham fans of spitting at them. Police investigated however no further action was taken.
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9. Next up we have Wayne Rooney. Remember the Manchester United Chelsea match in January 2009. Cristiano Ronaldo had what United considered a perfectly good goal disallowed in the 45th minute – the assistant referee insisting Wayne Rooney’s quick corner was illegal because he failed to place the ball first.
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8. I’m a massive fan of this next player but his relentless diving has confirmed his place in the list. José Mourinho has also finally admitted that Didier Drogba, the Chelsea forward, is a diver. When your former manager who holds you in such high esteem stops defending you, then things must be bad! Check out this compilation.
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Continued on Page TWO
7. In seventh place we have Montenegro’s Mirko Vucinic. Devious might not be the best word to describe him but damn right silly is. During a qualifying game for the 2012 European Championships he scored and celebrated by putting his shorts on his head. He deserves recognition but only for his terrible choice of celebration.
[youtube Xw7uarSzAV8]
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6. This one is a blast from the past. In 1990 Gary Crosby scored one of the most devious and controversial goals I have ever seen. After stopping a Forest attack Manchester City goalkeeper Andy Dibble stood in his 18-yard box with one hand on the ball, waiting to clear his lines. Just then Forest winger Gary Crosby nipped in from behind Dibble, headed the ball out of the goalkeeper’s one hand. Crosby then finished off by scoring a goal. Check this out!
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5. Starting off our top 5 we have Rivaldo. During Brazils World Cup clash against Turkey in 2002 Hakan Unsal kicked the ball to Rivaldo who was waiting to take a corner kick. Clearly hit in the leg the Brazilian fell to the floor obviously feeling the pain searing in his face. This consequently led to Unsal being sent off. However, after the game Rivaldo was fined £5180 for his devious ways.
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4. In fourth position we have Diego Simeone. “Before he was deified, David Beckham was a sack hanging from lamp posts.” He owed his unpopularity to Diego Simeone, who, flicked by Becks’s back heel in retaliation after a foul, toppled theatrically in England and Argentina’s World Cup match up in 1998.
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Continued on Page THREE
3. So here’s where peoples blood really starts to boil as we see three of the most devious footballers to ever grace the footballing world. Heurelho Gomes thought his team had been awarded a free-kick. The Spurs keeper puts the ball down accordingly, only for Nani to nip in and put the ball into an empty net.
[youtube 7ycZoJb51Ak]
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2. Its not surprising that this man finds himself on our top 10 most devious footballers. Diego Maradona’s goal against England at the 1986 World Cup is also known as the Hand of God. In the fifty first minute of the match the Argentinean Striker scored a completely illegal goal with the use of his hand. How devious is this?
[youtube DbbsytHDp2o]
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1. Henry was once known for being one of the best footballers in the world; however this image seems to have been tainted slightly since setting up William Gallas to score a massively controversial goal against Ireland. Henry intentionally handled the ball to set up William Gallas’s decisive goal against the Republic of Ireland in a World Cup play-off match.
[youtube jxw1-Id91lQ]
So now you’ve seen the top 10 most devious footballers. What do you think? It’s inevitable that I have missed some, so why not comment and bring some to light. I must admit my favourite was the Gary Crosby goal for Nottingham Forrest, Pure devious Genius!
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Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, after picking up a knee injury against QPR.
The Scotland international suffered lateral knee ligament damage at the fixture at Loftus Road a week ago, being replaced shortly after half-time, and will now need to focus on returning for next season, The Guardian reports.
Meanwhile, Spanish full-back Jose Enrique has stated that the players are responsible for the Anfield club’s inconsistent league form, not manager Kenny Dalglish.
Defeats against QPR and Wigan in their last two games see Liverpool down in seventh place, and Enrique has stated that Dalglish should not take the brunt of criticism.
“In the cups we are doing well; in the league I think we deserve more than where we are now. But the truth is we are in seventh position,” he told the club’s official website.
“We have played good football in many games but against Wigan we didn’t deserve to win.
“This team is in production. The owners have signed young players. I think we have a really good squad already but of course we have to improve – everyone.
“The manager takes pressure for us and of course that is good. But the truth is, when we make mistakes or have a bad game, we know where the mistakes come from. Who plays the games? The players. Who has to win them? The players too.
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“The players are frustrated just the same as the fans,” he concluded.
Brazilian midfielder Denilson wants to leave Arsenal in the summer after what he says is the ‘worst season of my life’.The 23-year-old admits the lack of success at the Gunners is a major reason behind his decision.
“A footballer’s career is over very quickly so it is time for me to move on. This has been the worst season of my life,” Denilson told The Sun.
“I made up my mind eight months ago. But I haven’t said anything because I did not want to disrupt the team during the season.”
“I’ve been to see Arsene Wenger and told him how I felt and he agreed to let me go. I know some people will think I’m crazy. They are right. It is a great club, with a great organisation, a great manager and so many talented players. I need a fresh challenge and although I’m taking a big gamble, I’m ready to take that risk.”
“I am a footballer and I want to play every week because I want the chance to play for Brazil. Look at Lucas (Leiva) at Liverpool. He’s been playing regularly and he’s in the Brazil team. That’s where I want to be.”
“I would love to be able to do that at Arsenal but based on how things have gone this season, I think it’s time for a change. So I am flying home to Brazil on Sunday and I’m hoping I can make a fresh start in Spain or maybe Italy.”
Denilson arrived at Arsenal in 2006 from Sao Paulo but failed to win a trophy with the club, who lost the Carling Cup final to Birmingham before falling to finalists Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League this year.
“I am so upset. I am a winner and I came here to win trophies but I’ve been here for five years and won nothing,” he said.
“There’s something missing at Arsenal but no-one knows what it is. Not the manager, not the players – nobody. Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool spend millions and millions on players.”
“But we are still the best footballing side in Britain, we play beautiful football. Only Barcelona do it better. But we don’t win trophies. That’s so frustrating, you can’t imagine how frustrating. Some people say we don’t succeed because we are too young and naive – but that’s no excuse.”
“That (losing the Carling Cup final) was the moment our season was ruined, it started a domino effect and no-one could stop it. I knew it was a massive moment, the point where it all started to go badly wrong and I think we all knew. I went home afterwards and just cried. I was very upset, very sad and I was ashamed.”
Matt Jarvis was a star performer in the Championship the year Wolves won the title, but the question was whether or not he could make the step up into the Premier League. The answer is an emphatic ‘yes’. Now a star performer in the Premier League, many are wondering if Jarvis can make the grade at international level. But a question that’s just as relevant is whether or not he will get the chance.
There have long been claims that the England national team is elitist and that players who represent less glamorous sides don’t get a look in. So is the colour of Matt Jarvis’ shirt blinding England selectors to his ability?
Wolves’ last three games have been against Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City, and Matt Jarvis has been a star performer in each of them. The form of Jarvis has finally started to hit the back pages and they are saying things that many Wolves fans have known for a long time. He has a threatening final ball, good pace and isn’t frightened to take on full backs and get to the line – what you would call a traditional mould for a winger, something that is arguably missing from the current England set-up.
In an England team where there is reasonable strength and depth in almost every position, the right side of midfield is a role crying out for a fresh face. Since David Beckham; Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Young and Theo Walcott have all recently tried, but ultimately failed to make right midfield their own. The position is up for grabs, so why not let one of the most on-form Premier League players have a chance?
Of course, Matt Jarvis isn’t the only player struggling to get England recognition while at an ‘unfashionable’ team, but there is evidence that the tide is starting to turn. In the last few games Fabio Capello has given the Bolton duo of Gary Cahill and Kevin Davies time on the field to prove themselves. Darren Bent was wrongfully omitted from the World Cup squad over the summer, but he kept scoring goals for Sunderland and has since scored his first international goal. Phil Jagielka has also recently put himself in serious contention for a regular England place due to his form for Everton.
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So it doesn’t seem like players from ‘lesser’ clubs don’t get their chance, they just have to prove themselves for a little longer. Jarvis appears to be in a similar situation to Andy Carroll of Newcastle. Both have found top form so far this season for their clubs but are yet to get the England call, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Jarvis and Carroll are both relative new comers to the Premier League, and while they have played very well so far, I don’t see any harm in waiting a few more months to see how they progress. If they carry on playing well for their clubs they will get noticed, I have no doubt about that.
A call-up for the England team is the highest honor a player can achieve, and the last time Wolves fans saw one of their own in England colors was back in 1990 when Steve Bull wore the No. 9 shirt against Poland. But in Matt Jarvis they have a player who looks set to add his name to the increasing number of players who are breaking the glass ceiling and getting into the England fold. It may take time, but I am confident that should he continue to light up the Premier League his time will come.
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Scottish giants Rangers have announced that they have appointed administrators to help reduce their debts, and have subsequently been docked ten SPL points due to financial mismanagement.
It was announced on Monday that the Ibrox club were in the process of trying to foot a tax bill that could be as much as £75million, and with no way to pay the amount, administrators Duff and Phelps have come in to help the side fulfil a deadline set by Court of Session in Edinburgh.
The Glasgow-based team had been set a deadline of 3.30pm on Tuesday to officially appoint administrators, as the process of removing the debt begins.
Rangers owner Craig Whyte has stated that the move will benefit the club in the long run, and is the start of a long recovery process.
“This was the best way to take the club forward and end the uncertainty that’s surrounding Rangers at the moment,” he told Sky Sports.
“What we’ve done today is the start of a road to recovery. Rangers will always be around, Rangers will always be here at Ibrox and this is the start of the healing process.
“We will get over this and we will come out fighting and come out stronger, there’s no question about that,” he defied.
The decision as good as hands the Scottish championship to Celtic, who were already four points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of the SPL.
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Barcelona’s Xavi insists his side will stay true to their attacking style when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.The Catalans head into the semi-final second-leg clash with a 2-0 lead courtesy of a brace from the inspirational Lionel Messi, but Xavi said as far as his side is concerned, the best form of defence will always be attack.
“They will need to go out and look for the game more,” the Spanish playmaker said.
“They’ve lived on a counter-attacking game and been ultra defensive, but we have to be prepared for them to play higher up the pitch tomorrow.”
“Whatever happens though, Barca will stay true to their own way of playing. Our game won’t change at all.”
“We always attack and never try and sit back and defend a lead – we don’t know any other way to play and our fans would never let us.”
Xavi said he was disappointed about the furore surrounding the first-leg meeting between the two sides, which resulted in Real defender Pepe being dismissed and their manager Jose Mourinho being sent to the stands for his protests.
Barcelona substitute goalkeeper Jose Pinto was also shown red for his involvement in a half-time fracas, but Xavi insists these incidents are water under the bridge and his sights are set firmly on Tuesday’s match.
“I’m not one to judge the behaviour of the Real Madrid manager,” Xavi said. “We try to talk about football, and it feels as if it isn’t talked about much.”
“There is a bit about Madrid’s strategy and Barcelona’s strategy, but we focus on things that don’t have any importance in football.”
“It makes me a little sad to talk about things that are outside of the game of football that we love so much. We try to do our best on the pitch and respect our opponents, and then play our game.”
“Madrid have their weapons and their manager, who is a controversial figure – not just now, but always.”
“We try to stay away from this. We would prefer that we all talk a bit more about football and not outside factors that reflect badly on the sport.”
Harry Redknapp has come out and suggested that for all of Rafael van der Vaart’s abilities, he is providing him with a selection headache as it makes balancing the team difficult. I personally find that hard to fathom, especially when in MY VIEW, there is an easy solution.
Van der Vaart has been an absolute sensation since his arrival and we finally have a midfielder that is capable of chipping in with 15-20 goals a season. As much as I admire Luka Modric as a footballer, I do get frustrated at his reluctance to test the keeper from distance, or get in and around the front men like Van der Vaart seems to do with relative ease. Maybe the real problem facing Harry is can he afford to play VDV, Modric and Huddlestone in the same midfield, week in, week out, given the lack of defensive cover they’ll provide.
I personally believe that we should solely go with Van der Vaart in centre midfield and give him the freedom of the park. Harsh on Huddlestone and Modric perhaps, but Rafael is far more dangerous in the final third and is just more effective in creating chances than the pair of them. Huddlestone and Modric don’t provide a suitable amount of steel in the midfield to justify their selection alongside him in the centre, unless Harry looks to play five across the midfield. After Saturday’s performance there could be a call to play him upfront alongside Crouch or Pavlyuchenko in the absence of Defoe, although whether Harry will look to carry on with it remains to be seen.
So how does Harry solve his dilemma? Do you agree with my view that Van der Vaart should be given the sole playmaking role in midfield? Or should Harry persevere with Modric, Huddlestone and VDV in a midfield three?
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