Argentine club Independiente defeated Penarol of Uruguay 3-0 in their Copa Libertadores Group Eight match on Thursday.In a clash between seven-time competition winners Independiente and five-time champions Penarol, it was the Argentine hosts who came out comfortably on top at Estadio Libertadores de America in Buenos Aires.After a goalless opening 45 minutes, it was forward Facundo Parra who broke the deadlock just 60 seconds into the second half. Midfielder Cristian Pellerano made it 2-0 from a Nicolas Cabrera header on 70 minutes.Substitute Nestor Silvera capped off a comprehensive win when he struck five minutes from time.Independiente are joint top of Group Eight, alongside fellow Argentine club Godoy Cruz de Mendoza.In Group Three, Argentinos Juniors came from a goal down to win 3-1 at home to Mexican side America.Argentine attacking midfielder Daniel Montenegro struck against his countryman to put America 1-0 ahead 27 minutes in at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.But the hosts were level when Pavel Pardo fouled Santiago Salcedo inside the box moments before the half-time whistle. The Paraguayan centre-forward picked himself up to convert the spot-kick and make it 1-1 going into the break.Salcedo was on target again on 73 minutes, meeting a Gustavo Oberman corner to put Argentinos 2-1 ahead.Substitute Cristian Sanchez Prette, on loan from Romanian side Cluj, snatched a third to make it 3-1 in the 90th minute.Argentinos top Group Three with four points, ahead of America who are second with three points.Elsewhere, Columbians Atletico Junior came from a goal down to beat Gremio of Brazil 2-1.Borges had put the visitors in front just four minutes in Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez, but Giovanni Hernandez levelled for the hosts on 28 minutes.John Edwis Viafara struck the winner for Atletico 16 minutes from time.
As Liverpool plan the next chapter of their illustrious history it is important that they do not get blinded by their own greatness in their search for a new manager. Liverpool do not need another clever tactician like Rafael Benítez, instead they simply need someone who can do the basics right by consistently signing players that fit in with the Anfield culture and getting rid of those who don’t.
Liverpool fans may, quite rightly, blame Tom Hicks and George Gillett for the precarious position in which their club finds itself, but Benítez cannot leave Anfield without taking some of the blame. In the upper echelons of football every manager ends up being judged on his success in the transfer market and, despite his obvious success in winning the Champions League in 2005, this is what has let Benítez down and what has contributed in part to Liverpool finding themselves in such a difficult position on the field as well as off it.
What is inexcusable regarding Benitez’s reign is that, despite all the money he spent during his six years in charge, he never found a plan B to the brilliance of Steven Gerrard and, later on, Fernando Torres. The former Valencia boss tried with the likes of Harry Kewell, Craig Bellamy, Robbie Fowler, Peter Crouch, David Ngog and Luis Garcia along with many others- but ultimately never got it right. The nail in the coffin came this season when Benítez paid the best part of £40million for full back Glen Johnson and holding midfielder Alberto Aquilani. In hindsight, how much better could Liverpool have done this year had that money been spent on one or two experienced attacking players to support and supplement the dynamism of Gerrard and Torres?
Sure enough they both had poor seasons and now, due largely to Benitez’s misjudgments, Liverpool find themselves deep in debt with no Champions League revenue to look forward to, with few attractive assets that they can afford to sell and the prospect of falling adrift of Manchester United and Chelsea ever looming.
So where do Liverpool go from here? Can they be saved? Or will it soon be an achievement for them just to reach the Europa League?
What has to be remembered is that just over a year ago Liverpool finished second in the Premiership, and if Cristiano Ronaldo hadn’t of shown the form akin to George Best at his peak that season, then they probably would have won it. Therefore all is not lost. On top of this they are the most decorated club in the history of English football and attracting a top manager to Anfield shouldn’t be difficult, despite all of the off field problems they have.
But what Kenny Dalglish and acting Chairman Martin Broughton simply must do is find a manager who has a history of buying and selling players to good effect. This is not a time for fancy tactics but instead, in the words of Benítez himself, it is the time to state the facts and face up to them. Liverpool are in a terrible financial state and need an experienced manager who can judge a player’s potential effectively, and at the same time is ruthless enough to sell any players that simply aren’t good enough for Liverpool football club in order to raise some much needed cash.
As someone who has a balanced experience in management Roy Hodgson is the obvious choice. The current Fulham boss has had success at big clubs such as Inter Milan and has also proved his worth at acquiring a strong team on a shoestring budget. Hodgson’s proven ability to purchase the unknown likes of Brede Hangeland for little money and turn them into top class players is just what Liverpool needs at this time.
Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail last week stated that this managerial appointment will be more important for Liverpool than the hiring of Bill Shankly in 1959 (who was charged with the task of taking Liverpool out the old second division back into Europe and duly succeeded creating a dynasty in the process). I tend to agree with Samuel. For if you examine the circumstances surrounding the forthcoming decision Liverpool have absolutely no room for error. This season saw Chelsea strengthen on the back of Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment, it saw Manchester United consolidate despite the loss of Ronaldo, it provided the stage for Spurs to acquire a fine attacking squad of players and it also witnessed the rise and rise of Manchester City through some serious financial backing.
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Combine all this with the fact that the world’s finances are still in a state of turmoil and that the club is in mega debt without a buyer, and it becomes strikingly apparent that if Liverpool fail to get the right man this time around then they may well be forced to walk alone.
When Liverpool lost 1-0 against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, no-one was really that surprised. An example of just how far Stoke City have come in just four years in the Premier League.
It seems that the Potters have developed the prototype for every club trying to reach the Premier League and eventually managing to survive there, establishing themselves as a top half club and even featuring in the Europa League this season.
Stoke only reached the Promised Land of the Premier League in 2008, ending a 23-year absence, and then went on finish in 12th place despite being tipped as favourites to go back down. Their unexpected survival was built around their fine home form, as the Staffordshire side took an impressive 35 points from the 46 available with ten wins. Their outstanding home form has continued in the subsequent years.
They have given newly promoted clubs an outline of how to survive in the tough and uncompromising world of the Premier League. In the first season they did what was necessary to stay up, playing effective and no-nonsense football. This style attracted many critics, but it was ultimately successful. They then built on their strong points, added more quality to the team and then strengthened in the two most important positions (in defence and attack) again this summer. They may have detractors but they have now established themselves in the league while setting a benchmark in terms of sensible planning and taking a strategic long-term view of Premier League survival.
Stoke have always played to their strengthens under Tony Pulis, firstly using Rory Delap’s long throw as a way of causing problems to even the best defences. They were a strong and physical side who would get stuck into sides and make them work hard for any points they won. But recently Stoke have moved on from this approach with two exciting wingers, Matt Etherington and Jermaine Pennant, aiming to get crosses in for Kenwyne Jones and now Peter Crouch, with Jon Walters working hard to create space for the two forwards. In defence, Pulis relied heavily on a dependable back line during their early seasons but he has now added quality to that with first the excellent acquisition of Robert Huth last season and now former England international centre-backs Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson.
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In the now-unlikely circumstance that Stoke are relegated in the next few years, they would have the increased parachute payments to fall back on but it would still indicate a drastic and immediate revenue reduction of around £40m for the club. This is the rather large risk the club is taking by bringing in such quality but expensive players however at present this risk seems minimal with the side having easily enough expertise to survive.
This summer has been a step up in Stoke’s recruitment with international players brought in to add quality to an established side that could challenge in the Europa League this year and no longer are they expected to struggle. The side now have the strength in depth on the bench that is needed to succeed in the league and on Saturday they had the luxury of resting an £8m striker. When Pulis guided the club to the FA Cup final last season, they proved that they are capable of beating anybody on their day – especially at Fortress Britannia – using two mobile strikers, full backs who get forward with fast wingers and a solid midfield.
After a bright start in the league there has been some unsubstantiated talk about them challenging for a Champions League place but this seems unlikely, especially with the Europa League to distract them. However, I am sure Potters fans will accept a season in the top half of the Premier League and maybe even another trip to Wembley.
The Potters spent £60m in their debut three years in order to establish themselves as a Premier League side but, although Pulis won’t fully admit it, the club now has more lofty ambitions and I think it might not be too long before Stoke are regularly representing the Premier League in Europe. Quite a model of how a Championship club can become a successful Premier League side in just a few seasons.
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This week’s theme on FootballFanCast.com is ‘Heroes and Villains’. The most obvious talking point on villainy at the moment is Fernando Torres’ transfer from Liverpool to Chelsea. But I don’t think a player of Torres’ ability should be vilified for wanting to move away from Liverpool.
I think Liverpool fans begrudge the transfer because it is conformation that they are no longer a super power in the English game. It is the first time they have been a feeder club to another Premier League side. They didn’t want to sell, Torres wanted to move. This has never happened in the club’s history.
The truth is, for the last eight years, the two biggest clubs in England have been Chelsea and Manchester United. Liverpool fans may still think it is themselves and United, but sadly, in modern football, the present is more important than the past. Owners want success instantly and history books have been thrown out the window, to be replaced by cheque books. This transfer proves rather starkly that Chelsea’s rise above Liverpool is now permanent. At this moment in time Chelsea are the bigger club.
Torres is not a Liverpool player born and bred. He was brought up at Atletico Madrid and supported them as a child. Rather than moving to one of their rivals straight away in Barcelona or Real Madrid, he came to England. He owes Liverpool nothing. He arrived as a world class player for a decent amount of money. He has left for more than double what they paid for him. In his time at Anfield he has been spectacular, but is now too good not to be playing Champions League football.
Players want to win trophies, almost all of Torres’ team mates in his Spanish World Cup winning squad have won the Champions League. He is one of the only players not to have any club medals, and after 82 international caps, he is one of their senior players. You cannot blame him for chasing the success that all his compatriots have achieved.
Players who think they are better than they are can be vilified. If a player gets above himself and decides he is too good for his team when he is not, they are a villain. But each case is separate. Andy Carroll for example, was a victim of Newcastle’s board wanting to sell him. He did not kick up a fuss and ask to leave his club, in my eyes Mike Ashley is the villain, not Andy Carroll.
Torres is not the villain in his case either. He has established himself as a top class player and deserves to be playing in a top class European competition. He was not going to achieve this with Liverpool this year, and probably not next year. Torres is 26, so is too good to spend 2 years of his prime not playing against the best players in Europe.
The days of the ‘one-club player’, like Matt Le Tissier, are behind us. Alan Shearer proved to be a hero on the Tyneside when he turned down a move to a bigger club, but who, Newcastle fans aside, would not have relished watching Alan Shearer playing for a major European club?
Other than him, all of the ‘one-club men’ playing at the moment have never had to face the prospect of moving. These players are either at the best sides or are not realistically good enough to warrant a move. While I respect the loyalty of a man like Steven Gerrard, he has already achieved great European success, and is coming to the end of his career. Giggs and Scholes have played for the top club in Europe, and have never had to worry about not winning trophies. Had they began their careers at Everton, I am sure they would have eventually moved on, just as Wayne Rooney had to do.
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The game has become rewards driven. If clubs do well they get a lot of money, this mentality is just the same for the players as for the clubs. Every player wants to win trophies; just like every fan wants to see their side achieve success. Sadly for Liverpool fans, they have to face the fact that they are no longer in the ‘big 4’, and despite resurgence of late, will face an uphill battle to make it into the top 5 this year. They have to accept that they were not successful enough to hold on to a player Fernando Torres’s ability and ambition.
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Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has stated that he is motivated to show new boss Brendan Rodgers that he has a future at the club.
The Northern Irish manager replaced Kenny Dalglish in the Anfield hotseat this summer, with Andy Carroll already being stated as a player who can leave Merseyside.
With question marks over the heads of a number of other players, the Scotland international is out to prove his worth.
“Criticism is part of the game. That is what happens, but as a group of players it was not about the seven or eight who Kenny Dalglish signed but the 25 players who were there at the time,” Adam is quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
“You win or lose as a group. People get criticised but that’s how football is and you move on from that. If we learn from last season we’ll be a better side.
“When the manager who brings you in leaves the club it is tough. It’s difficult. That’s the way it goes. Kenny Dalglish is a living legend at this club who can walk back through the door at any time, so although it was disappointing, he was the right man at the right time to take the club forward.
“Now you’ve got to look to the future. We have a new manager in charge with different ideas of how to play and we want to go in a good direction. This is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so for Brendan to come here and get us playing in the style he wants is something to look forward to.
“When you bring in your own ideas there is a freshness and a buzz. It takes time and miracles don’t happen overnight, but we’ll look to put his ideas into practice. Hopefully the warm-up games will show we’ve taken on board what he has said in the first three weeks he has been here.
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“For me it’s about getting fit and being available for him and giving him the options. I don’t see my future away from Liverpool,” he concluded.
We are almost three games into the new season, yet the transfer window still remains open. As we draw closer to the inevitable frenetic end of the window on deadline day, transfer rumours are flying about, with clubs trying to sort out their final deals for the summer. For players and managers alike the transfer window poses a distinct threat to their sanity. As rumours continue to circulate there may be unrest or trouble in sides before all deals are done. In light of this, should the transfer window be reformed and closed before the start of the season for everyone’s sake?
The summer long transfer sagas-like the uncertainty over the future of Luka Modric at Tottenham-continue to rumble on, and have now been carried over into the new season. This is highly unsettling for both squads and individual players, as uncertainty remains about whether players will leave and who will be their team-mates for the season ahead. Harry Redknapp has said that Modric has not been in the right frame of mind to play for Spurs, and it isn’t any wonder with the uncertainty surrounding his future. A negative cloud is hanging over Spurs with the whole affair, and they would of benefited from having the saga dealt with before the season had actually started.
While the window remains open, clubs remain in flux and unfinished. Yet points won throughout this period are very real, and those points could be crucial in a title decider or relegation battle. Clubs should be forced to do their pre-season strengthening in pre-season, and start the new campaign with a squad set in stone. This way everyone knows where they are and who they are playing for, at least for the first half of the season.
One benefit of the transfer window being open after the beginning of the season is that it gives clubs the chance to see where they may need to strengthen, if at all, and it gives managers a chance to have a few weeks of league play to make their minds up about certain players and their squads. Surely it is fairer for both players and clubs, if sides are decided before the season, with all deals wrapped up before the start of the new campaign. Sure it is a bigger gamble for a manager if they don’t get to assess their squads in those first few games of the season, but it could certainly make it interesting, with managers forced to deal earlier in the summer and have to live by the consequences of the decisions they make before the start of the season.
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While the transfer window remains open, the beginning of the season is taken over by transfer rumours, which though exciting throughout the summer, can became tedious and irritating at the beginning of the new campaign, when the focus should be purely on the football. It takes attention away from the opening games of the season, as players are unable to fully concentrate on football, with off-field matters seeming to take precedence.
The stumbling block in terms of moving the transfer window is a logistical one. Due to the different starting dates of the European leagues, it would be a disadvantage to other leagues if the English window was to close earlier. It is difficult to see any solutions to this problem, and the current window is a compromise that suits the majority.
With silly season almost over for another year, questions will remain as to whether we should close the window earlier. Managers should have to have their squads ready in time for the start of the new campaign, otherwise it takes away from the new season, and is just another example of how business is taking preference over sport.
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Do you think the transfer window should be closed before the start of the season? Let me know your thoughts below or follow me on Twitter @LaurenRutter
Inter Milan’s Leonardo said his side’s near-miss in their 3-2 victory over Palermo got his heart pounding in the Serie A on Sunday.
The European and Italian champions trailed at the San Siro 2-0, before debutant Giampaolo Pazzini got Inter’s first goal in the second half.
They were spared another life when J Pastore had a penalty saved by goalkeeper Julio Cesar, before Pazzini equalised and striker Samuel Eto’o finished off the comeback with a 76th-minute penalty.
The Brazilian boss admitted he was in panic mode at half-time, but praised the performance of the visitors, who left empty-handed.
“It’ll take a little more time for my heart rate to get over this match,” Leonardo said.
“That was a spectacular game. If it had been another result, then nobody could’ve said Palermo didn’t deserve it. They are a great side and created a good nine or 10 scoring opportunities in the first half alone.”
“After the break my team needed courage and character. Julio Cesar passed a late fitness test to start, Pazzini scored twice on his debut and Douglas Maicon had an extraordinary performance.”
“There are so many positives from this match. We can try the trident attack, as there are many alternatives. The work Samuel Eto’o did in the second half was crazy.”
Palermo boss Delio Rossi said his side underestimated Inter Milan’s fighting abilities to recover from a two-goal deficit.
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“It was such a great performance against a world-class squad, but we were na?ve, because we had the game in our hands,” he said.
“We had the chances to seal it, but those we wasted also must make us understand that at a certain level we’ve got to do better. We threw away a huge opportunity.”
“We must improve in our efficiency, as it’s not enough to just play beautiful football. We have progressed, though clearly we lack experience.”
Swansea have announced that they have signed Villarreal attacker Jonathan De Guzman from Villarreal on a season-long loan deal.
The former Netherlands under-21 international worked with new Swans boss Michael Laudrup at Mallorca, and after Villarreal’s relegation from La Liga the Spanish club are keen to lower their wage bill.
De Guzman joins Jose Manuel Flores, who moved from Genoa, as the Liberty Stadium club’s new additions, and is eager to get started in the Premier League.
“Once the opportunity came along to join Swansea and Michael Laudrup it was a done deal. I didn’t have to think twice about it,” he confessed to the side’s official website.
“I watched Premier League football every week on the TV last season. I was aware that Swansea are a good footballing side, but they really caught my eye when they beat Manchester City. They had a great season and I am really looking forward to the challenge of playing on a new (stage) in the Premier League.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity and grateful that the manager has acknowledged me as a player,” he concluded.
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Sylvain Distin has claimed that Arsenal will fail in their pursuit of Everton teammate Phil Jagielka reports the Guardian.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been trailing Jagielka for the last two seasons but Distin claims he doesn’t want to leave for the Emirates Stadium.
The Toffees’ French centre half believes his 29-year-old defensive partner will stay at Goodison Park and hasn’t indicated a willingness to depart Merseyside.
“Jags is an amazing player, you don’t play for your country if you’re not.
“He’s still young and still improving. He had some injury problems but seems to be over them now and he is quality” Distin said.
“He’s got top clubs after him and that’s a sign of his quality but there’s no sign that he’s going. There’s no reason to be worried.”
The Frenchman added: “He’s not come out and said he wants to go anywhere, so I guess that means he wants to stay. I don’t think any players want to leave here, to be honest.
“There’s no point in saying anything to them about it unless they come out and say they want to go. If he came to me and asked about his future, then I’d tell him what I think, but that has not happened and we are happy he’s staying.”
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Wenger has had two bids rejected by the Toffees so far this summer and after Distin’s revelations he may decide to pursue his other top target Gary Cahill.
Per Mertesacker has also been linked with a move to North London after indicating his desire to play in the Premier League.
It promised to be a frantic January window and it certainly didn’t disappoint as two British transfer records were smashed within hours of each other. First Andy Carroll completed his switch to Liverpool in a £35m move claiming that he was being forced out at Newcastle, which is likely to wrangle with the Toon Army, before Fernando Torres secured his expected £50m move to Stamford Bridge.
In the papers this morning there is more fallout from the transfer window as Tottenham reveals their near misses; Giggs blasts Wayne Rooney, while Gareth Southgate is appointed to key FA role.
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Torres: Joining Chelsea is a ‘big step forward’ – Guardian
For £35m Carroll will have to be Toshack and Rush rolled into one – Guardian
Southgate appointed to key FA role – Daily Telegraph
Shearer: Toon will be furious – Sun
French winger Obertan demands shock exit from Manchester United – Daily Mail
Houllier believes USA World Cup star Bradley will be a Premier hit – Mirror
Edwin expects United input – Sky Sports
Tottenham’s efforts to secure striking reinforcements meet with failure – Guardian
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Giggs swipe at ‘stupid’ Rooney – Sun
Official Massey still stuck on the sidelines as Sky sexism row continues to rumble – Daily Mail