Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has dropped a hint that he is likely to try and keep winger Jermaine Pennant beyond the end of his loan spell in January.
The 27-year-old has made seven appearances since his arrival from Real Zaragoza, with Pulis impressed by the performances of the former Arsenal and Liverpool wideman.
He told The Sentinel:"I wouldn't say Jermaine is on trial here, he is too good a player to say that. I have been really pleased with him and impressed with his attitude in training.
"When we signed Matt Etherington, he had been written off really and he wasn't in the West Ham team.
"But Matty has been a revelation. His performances have been top drawer.
"We're hoping we can do the same for Jermaine – give him a new start, a new opportunity and a chance to prove what a good player he is.
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"The big thing with Jermaine is getting him at a place where he is comfortable and happy and then making sure you look after him properly."
Meanwhile, Pulis has dismissed rumours linking him with a move for Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Lucas, adding: "I haven't spoken to Roy Hodgson since he went to Liverpool."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Since Harry Redknapp took over as Tottenham manager he has compiled a squad that has strength and depth at every position. However, as most Spurs fans are able to identify there is a key weakness in the squad which needs to be resolved – Tottenham need a new striker. Quite how immediately this issue needs resolving is dependent on how quickly Jermain Defoe recovers from his injury and how well he is able to link up with Rafael Van der Vaart. The January transfer window isn’t a great time to sign a star-striker, teams are reluctant to sell in mid-way through a season and you are presented with the problem of star players being cup-tied, but if Harry is looking to splash the cash, who should he go for?
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1. Diego Forlan
Age: 31
Clubs: Independiente, Manchester United, Villarreal, Athletico Madrid
Pros: Despite being remembered in England for his disastrous spell at Old Trafford, Diego Forlan is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the world. He has a strike rate of better than one goal in two games for both Villarreal and Athletico Madrid and also weighs in with his fair share of assists. We saw at the World Cup that he is a striker in every sense of the word, scoring a variety of goals from a variety of distances.
Cons: At 31 years old, Forlan is no spring chicken. He arguably has two or three top quality years left in him and would demand a large wage and transfer fee. It has also been seen that his style of play isn’t best suited to the English game, so despite his caliber his signature would still prove to be a gamble.
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2. Luis Suarez
Age: 23
Clubs: Nacional, Groningen, Ajax
Pros: For a player of 23 years of age, Luis Suarez already has over 100 career goals to his name. Ajax’s mounting debts meant that they were prepared to listen to offers for Suarez over the summer, and this means good news for any potential suitors weighing up a bid for the Uruguayan frontman in January. Up to last season he had scored 81 goals in 106 games for Ajax, and has followed that up with a further seven goals in ten games this season. As a further plus, Suarez could always fill-in in goal should Gomes spend any more time on the sidleines!
Cons: Ajax are his current employers and they are also currently competing in the Champions League, so if Spurs make the next round he would be ineligible.
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3. Edin Dzeko
Age: 24
Clubs: Zeljeznicar, Teplice, VfL Wolfsburg
Pros: Edin Dzeko is built like a classic centre forward: big, strong and 6 ft 3in tall. His stature means that he is threat from all over the field and is very good in the air. He can fill a number of roles, from link-up play to being the lone target man. Unlike all of the other players on the list, Dzeko isn’t playing in a European competition with Wolfsburg this season so Champions League football could prove to be tempting for the Serbian front-man.
Cons: Since his breakthrough with Wolfsburg in 2007 just about every major team in Europe has been linked his signature, so if Spurs are to sign him they will have to beat a whole host of competition.
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4. Luis Fabiano
Age: 29
Clubs: Ponte Preta, Rennes, Sao Paulo, Porto, Sevilla
Pros: Luis Fabiano has scored a lot of goals both at club and international level. He starred for Brazil during the World Cup and his international strike rate reads 28 goals in 43 games. But perhaps the most attractive aspect about a move for Fabiano is that, despite signing a new contract over the summer, he is growing restless at Sevilla. Since the start of the season Fabiano has only made four appearances and said about his current situation: “If my life continues like this until January, I will need to find a solution”
Cons: Over the summer Harry Redknapp expressed his liking of Fabiano, but refused to meet Sevilla’s high asking price, and this price is unlikely to have dropped over the space of a few months.
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Who would you like to see Harry Redknapp bring in during the January window?
Chelsea defender Ashley Cole admits he still has the hunger and drive to play for years to come as he approaches his 30th birthday.
The England left-back, who has claimed 86 caps for his country, has no desire to start winding down his career as he prepares to enter his fourth decade next month.
Looking at the club's youngsters pushing through the ranks, Cole admits to feeling his age, but insists everything is still in place to make him stick at the game at the highest level for the foreseeable future.
"You do get a bit reflective at this stage in your career," he told the London Evening Standard."There are a lot of youngsters coming through – we have Josh McEachran, who is 17, and you sit with him thinking: 'How old are you?'
"You do feel your age, but being on the pitch makes me feel young and enthusiastic and healthy. That's what keeps me going every day in training. I am just doing my job – playing as well as I can for Chelsea and trying to win things.
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"I try my best for England, too, and what people think is out of my hands. I can't do anything about it."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The Arsenal squad has pretty decent strength in depth. If you’re an Arsenal player and you don’t perform over a few games, chances are there’s a youngster ready and waiting to take your place. With quality young players like Aaron Ramsey, Henri Lansbury, Craig Eastmond and Jay-Emmanuel Thomas waiting in the wings, some players may have to move on if Arsenal’s youngest and brightest are to get the chance to develop as best they can within the team. Assessing this Arsenal side, there are two or three players who just don’t seem Arsenal quality. With that in mind, these are the three players I’d be happy to see the back of at the Emirates.
The first is Manuel Almunia. Good thing too considering he’s likely to be the first Arsenal player out the door during the January transfer window. Almunia isn’t a bad goalkeeper by any means – he is, for instance, a good shot stopper – but the consistency of his errors have always been a cause for worry. Wenger persisted with Almunia for quite some time but now seems content to let the Spaniard move on. It’s likely that Almunia will attempt to engineer a move to a Spanish club in January. One benefit of this is that we’ll get to see more of 20 year-old goalkeeping prodigy Wojciech Szczesny.
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Another player I’m ready to see move on is Nicklas Bendtner. I don’t like to say it, but at the moment he isn’t quite good enough for Arsenal and I’m not sure I can see him becoming a force to be reckoned with any time soon. He has a tendency to lumber around the pitch, he’s slow and he has a bad touch. He’s also not the great goal-scorer people like to make out. Robin van Persie and Marouane Chamakh have the quality necessary to compete at a club like Arsenal. Bendtner, on the other hand, I’m not so sure about.
My final choice is Carlos Vela. I realise that this might ruffle a few feathers. He’s young, talented and looks to be a genuine prospect. However, he’s really struggling to get a look in this season. Arsene already has to contend with Theo Walcott who impresses and frustrates in equal measure. They are a similar age, but it’s clear that Wenger rates Walcott higher.
On the odd occasion we’ve seen Vela this season, he has appeared to be lacking in confidence. Given that Arsenal already have bundles of talent down the wings, perhaps the best thing Vela can do for his career is move on.
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I imagine there will be a few people readying their “but so-and-so is a good squad player” defence. Yes, all these players are decent enough, but the three I’ve listed are players I don’t believe are capable of challenging for a regular first-team position at the moment. There must be competition for places at all times within the squad so that the team avoids complacency. Why settle for second-class squad players?
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Napoli will meet holders Inter Milan in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia after beating Bologna 2-1 on Tuesday.Algeria international Hassan Yebda headed Napoli ahead nine minutes into the match at the Stadio San Paolo, rising to convert a corner from Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Argentina forward Lavezzi turned goal-scorer on 23 minutes, meeting a cutback from Marek Hamsik before guiding the ball into the corner of the net.
Riccardo Meggiorini won a penalty for Bologna ten minutes into the second half after being fouled Emilson Cribari.
Inter youth product Meggiorini converted the spot-kick to pull a goal back for Bologna, but the visitors proved little threat thereafter and were unable to produce an equaliser.
Napoli, a lofty second in Serie A, will now take on Leonardo’s resurgent Inter side for a place in the semi-finals.
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In other Round of 16 matches, Roma meet local rivals Lazio and Sampdoria host Udinese on Wednesday, while Bari visit league-leaders AC Milan on Thursday.
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
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.”
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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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.
Sir Alex Ferguson is relishing the prospect of renewing hostilities with Arsenal ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash between the sides.Both teams enter the match on the back of some poor form, with United losing three of their past five English Premier League matches and Arsenal suffering the heartbreak of a Carling Cup final loss to Birmingham and a Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona.Yet the United boss said his men would put recent struggles behind them as they continue their quest for three trophies as the season nears its business end.”You have to look forward. We have big opportunities at the club and there are a lot of challenges ahead for the rest of the season,” Ferguson said.”It is terrific to be involved in the middle of March. Every game you play is of importance.””That is why you get to March and hope you are going to be involved in all these things. We are.” Already missing Rio Ferdinand, Park Ji-sung and Portuguese winger Nani through injury, Ferguson insists he will field the strongest field he can in the tie, regardless of the looming Champions League round of 16 second-leg clash with Marseille on Tuesday.”I think the importance of a quarter-final tie against Arsenal is always an exciting game, an opportunity to get to the semi-finals, so I’ll do my best to play our best team available,” he said.”For Manchester and Arsenal games, since I’ve come down here, they’ve always been competitive, they’ve always meant something.””Arsenal have always been there as one of our main challengers since I have come down here so that in itself takes away all that, all thoughts of what’s going to happen on Tuesday night, it’s well away from my thoughts at this moment in time.”