After last weekend’s goal-fest the Premier League faces the freezing temperatures once more.
Chelsea will be desperate to end the slump which has see them knocked off of their perch on top of the Premier League, and a game against struggling Everton could provide the perfect platform. Arsenal, who still remain in the mix, welcome Fulham.
The bottom two, Wolves and West Ham, both experienced wins last weekend, but both face tricky away ties this time around at Blackburn and Sunderland respectively.
Gerard Houllier returns to Anfield on Monday night with his struggling Aston Villa side to play a Liverpool side whose performances have improved dramatically of late. Manchester City will be hoping they can close the gap on third place, but they will face a tough game against this season’s surprise package Bolton who are unbeaten in five.
Congratulations if your fantasy team profited from the flurry of goals last week, but if it didn’t it’s even more important that you get it right this time around.
Click on image below to see my fantasy picks for this round of 11Kicks Fantasy Football (4-4-2 formation)
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There has been a lot of question marks over the credentials of Andy Thorn and whether he is the right man to take Coventry as a club forward. At the age of 45 he is a man that does lack managerial experience but he is not lacking in football experience.
He had a relatively good career as a football player in which he began playing centre half for the ‘crazy gang’ alongside the likes of Dennis Wise and Lawrie Sanchez. He experienced two FA cup finals, the first with Wimbledon in which he came out a winner and the second with Crystal Palace which unfortunately for him he came out a loser.
Despite this he was probably best remembered as a player for his time at Crystal Palace. He made an immediate impact on his debut helping the Eagles who hadn’t won away from home all season to an away win at old Trafford. He was described as tough, unrelenting and a fearsome opponent with the ability to subdue even the nation’s best strikers and after taking over the captaincy he won the Player of the Year award in 1993.
Unfortunately though a troublesome knee injury kept him out for a long period and he then returned to his first club Wimbledon. The knee injury kept coming back and after two more moves to different clubs he eventually retired at the age of 31.
He didn’t leave the football world altogether though and ended up being at Everton as a scout. In 2006/2007 he moved to Coventry and became our chief scout. He held this post for three seasons and was instrumental in the signings of players such as Scott Dann, Danny Fox, Keiran Westwood, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Richard Keogh to name a few. He clearly has an eye for talent and he was doing a great job.
In the 2010-2011 season Aidy Boothroyd was sacked as Coventry City manager and to the surprise of many people Andy Thorn was appointed as caretaker boss. He led the team to safety and was rewarded with the permanent job as Coventry City manager and the initial response from fans was good as our general play had improved and the passion had been brought back into the players.
But then came the summer that we would all like to forget. We lost the likes of Westwood, Turner and most notably King and then Thorn was given minimal money to replace them. He didn’t complain though despite the fact he would clearly have been frustrated and just got on with the task in hand which we all then knew was to try and keep us in the Championship.
We could see from the off that this was going to be an extremely difficult task. We were still in the fight come January but then the inevitable happened and we lost Jutkiewicz; our top scorer; and didn’t replace him. Thorn again stuck at it though when other managers would of walked away and I think we have to commend him for that. I don’t know who else would have been brave enough to take on what was clearly a sinking ship. He kept the players motivated and we kept battling away, then finally a bit of luck came our way as we managed to sign both Nimley and Norwood who to my understanding were having all of their wages paid by their parent clubs on either side of Manchester. These two gave us a chance and were brilliant but it wasn’t to be and despite Thorn’s efforts we eventually slumped to relegation to League One.
In the year and a half that Thorn has been in charge he has been getting his coaching badges and after getting his level 2 at the start of last season has now just began his UEFA B license. I think it has been clear that he has been learning his trade as he goes along but one thing he cannot be questioned on is his passion and commitment to the cause.
He seems to have many critics based on a multitude of different factors. At times he has been tactically suspect but personally I think Steve Harrison has to take some of this blame in that he is an experienced coach and should be advising Thorn. I also think he has been harshly criticised in relation to his inability to change things. We have to take into account not only the fact we have a small squad which lacks quality but that when we have had players on the bench who may be able to change things, they have been injured and not really fit enough to play.
In terms of his portrayal of himself he doesn’t sound like the smartest guy but you don’t need to be the smartest guy to be successful in football. We have to keep remembering that he is still learning, as are the majority of the SkyBlues squad. He clearly has the backing of the players who have given him their all and more since he has been in charge and surely that is the important thing.
They believe in his ability and the fact that the two best clubs in England allowed for two of their youngsters to come on loan to us means they must have at least some faith in Thorn’s ability which has to count for something.
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Personally I think given the financial situation we are in we should stick with Thorn and I think given a little bit of backing from the owners along with an attempt to keep some of our more important players we can have a real go next year. He along with the young players have had a valuable seasons experience in the championship and both will have learnt from their mistakes and I think we will come back much stronger for it next season
It could be all change in the left back position at Newcastle for next season. Jose Enrique could be on his way out, with Swansea’s Neil Taylor possibly on his way in on a £1 million deal, but the Welshman would need some competition for a starting place. Could that be provided by Wayne Bridge ?
According to the Express, Newcastle and Aston Villa are interested in former England international Wayne Bridge. Bridge is currently contracted to Manchester City following a loan spell to West Ham United in the 2010/11 campaign, but the player isn’t a part of City’s long-term plans and manager Roberto Mancini is keen to trim his squad.
However, City’s asking price of £5m and Bridge’s £90,000 a week wages are thought to be a stumbling block for both and Newcastle and Villa who aren’t prepared the respective fees. In addition to that, Bridge is a player who I think at 30 years of age is well past his peak and has gone downhill rapidly following a certain off the field incident involving his ex-girlfriend and teammate at the time John Terry.
A has-been, or someone who could resurrect his career at Newcastle? I’ll let you decide…
Article courtesy of the Gallowgate Gob at the NEW ‘Nothing But Newcastle’
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Wigan Athletic winger Charles N’Zogbia is determined to leave the DW Stadium in January.
The French star, who has been in superb form this season, was on the verge of moving to Birmingham City in a £9million deal in the summer, only for the transfer to fall apart at the last minute over personal terms.
Liverpool, Juventus and Marseille have all been linked with N’Zogbia, who was quoted in the Daily Star as saying:“Wigan’s just a stepping stone.
“They know very well I’m not a player who is going to stay at the club.
“I give 100 per cent on the pitch, but, if there’s a bigger club that wants me, the manager and the president have always told me the door is open for discussion.
“An offer from Marseille is not something you refuse.”
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Aston Villa are still in contention for automatic promotion to the Premier League following Tuesday night’s victory over Reading.
Steve Bruce’s side are seven points adrift of the top two with six games left to play, but as it stands, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City are making it into the Premier League via the automatic route.
Villa’s stock dropped slightly in recent weeks after failing to win three Championship matches on the trot.
However, goals from Birkir Bjarnason, Conor Hourihane and Scott Hogan against Reading ensured that the Midlands outfit got back to winning ways at Villa Park.
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Understandably, the supporters were delighted with the result, and special praise was given to Hogan and Jack Grealish.
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Bjarnason also dominated the social media channels, with supporters hailing his performance, in particular the 25-yard strike that rippled the back of the net in the one-sided clash against the Royals.
The midfielder has only started nine league matches this season and has come off the bench in a further 12, scoring three goals and creating one assist.
Oh silly season, once again you’re throwing up ridiculous transfer rumour after ridiculous transfer rumour with apparently no necessity for actual facts.
With Liverpool still five points short of a Champions League spot, the Reds are expected to strengthen this January despite spending a whopping £110million in the summer.
And whilst some transfer rumours will excite Anfield supporters, such as an audacious bid for Real Madrid centre-forward Karim Benzema, others, well… not so much.
January is always a uniquely chaotic time of year for Premier League clubs however and anything could happen between now and the end of the transfer window.
With that in mind, here’s the FIVE rumoured transfer targets Liverpool should be avoiding at all costs.
SAIDO BERAHINO
A January window booby-trap of the highest order, although Liverpool-linked forward Saido Berahino remains one of the brightest prospects in the Premier League, Tony Pulis has made it abundantly clear that he’ll fight tooth and nail to keep the 21 year-old at West Bromwich Albion this month.
The tabloids’ £23.5million valuation is already rather overzealous for a striker with just 14 Premier League goals under his belt, so one can only imagine the kind of fee the Baggies would actually demand for surrendering their top scorer amid a heated relegation battle. The whole thing smacks of Andy Carroll Mark II.
Although the England U21’s pace, fluidity and intensity suits Liverpool’s style of play, the Reds would be better off waiting until the summer before attempting to strike a deal.
MARTIN MONTOYA
Barcelona defender Martin Montoya has been flashing on Liverpool’s transfer radar for quite some time, so it’s no surprise that he’s linked with a move to Merseyside this month following news that he plans to leave the Catalan club.
Yet, any potential suitor for the former Spain U21 will likely have to activate his £16.5million release clause. Barcelona won’t be able to sign Montoya’s replacement until 2016, due to their three-window transfer ban, and will expect according reimbursement, whilst the known demand for Montoya throughout Europe, particularly from Arsenal and Juventus, means they’re under no obligation to accept a cut-price offer.
That’s a heck of a fee to pay for a 23 year-old, rather unspectacular No.2 with no Premier League experience – especially amid a campaign in which 3-4-3, a system without full-backs, has become Liverpool’s regular formation.
Decent right-backs are ten a penny – Liverpool already have three on the books in Glen Johnson, Javier Manquillo and forgotten man John Flanagan – and that £16.5million could be better spent on other areas of the squad.
EZEQUIEL LAVEZZI
Liverpool have been consistently linked with PSG’s Ezequiel Lavezzi over the last 18 months, suggesting genuine interest, and the rumours have spiked again this January due to the Argentina international missing the French Champions’ winter training camp, resulting in a three-match internal ban.
Some have even mooted him as the successor to Luis Suarez the Reds desperately crave, sharing that South American blend of pace, trickery and tenacity, but I’m yet to be convinced. In fact, the more I watch Lavezzi, the less I like him as a footballer.
Particularly, his output for PSG is rather uninspiring – 14 goals and 12 assists in 73 league appearances – considering how the Parisians have completely dominated the French top flight over the last two seasons.
It’s a barometer of his serial inconsistency, on some occasions looking like a world-beater, on others, looking more League One than Ligue 1, and at 29 years of age, it’s unlikely an Anfield move would bring a greater regularity to Lavezzi’s game.
JOHN RUDDY
With Simon Mignolet recently dropped for ‘an indefinite period’ and only returning to the first team fray following an injury to hap-hazard understudy Brad Jones, if Liverpool are to sign anybody this month, it should undoubtedly be another goalkeeper.
But is Norwich City’s John Ruddy, linked with an Anfield move in December, really the answer to the Reds’ woes between the sticks?
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The 28 year-old’s form once brought him to the fringes of the England squad and earned him Norwich’s Player of the Year award for 2011/12. But he’s hardly given a good account of himself since, plummeting out of the top flight with the Canaries and making a catalogue of individual errors.
If Ruddy can’t handle the heat of a relegation battle (or the Championship), he’ll struggle at Anfield to an even greater degree than Mignolet. Liverpool need a long-term solution to their goalkeeping problems, not a quick fix.
FABIAN DELPH
I’m a big fan of Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph, particularly his blend of work-rate, dynamism and trickery, but I do not see him being anywhere near the standard Liverpool should target to improve their midfield.
For lack of a better description, he’s a poor man’s Jordan Henderson and resultantly, shouldn’t even be mentioned as a viable long-term replacement for Liverpool’s departing skipper Steven Gerrard – whom, coincidentally, Jordan Henderson is a poor man’s version of.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, the England international could leave Villa Park on the cheap this month. But if the Reds are to ever become Champions League regulars once again, they need to sign a Gerrard successor with far superior quality and experience.
Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a move to Serie A in the future, goal.com reports.
The 31-year-old Serbian who is set to return to the Manchester United team for the weekend visit of Sunderland, has continually been linked with Italian league leaders Juventus among others including a big money move to Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.
“My future in Italy? Who knows? In the past I was close to Fiorentina and Parma. Juventus and Milan have the quality to compete for Champions League.” He told Corriere dello Sport.
Vidic became a key figure in the Red Devils recent success and took over as club captain when Gary Neville retired in 2011. He has however been plagued with injuries in the last two years, missing the majority of last season while not featuring in this campaign since the 4-0 home victory over Wigan in September.
United have struggled defensively in his absence but the attacking prowess the team possesses has seen them cope and they currently sit top of the Premier League table, six points clear of rivals Manchester City.
Vidic is refusing to get carried away with his clubs position though saying, “I don’t know if Manchester United is the favourite club to win Premier League.”
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Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted to see his captain return to help sure up his sides leaky defence which has already conceded 23 goals in the league.
At 31, Vidic still has time left in the game. If he can steer clear of injuries upon his return, he could once again become a vital component of United’s team.
Manchester United are set to release veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic from his Old Trafford contract imminently to allow him to move to MLS, as per the BBC.
The experienced frontman enjoyed an impressive debut season in English football and bagged 29 goals during his time at Old Trafford but a knee injury sustained in the Europa League quarter-final against Anderlecht last term was a huge setback.
The Swede did manage to recover to the extent that Jose Mourinho offered him a contract for a further season but in truth, that was a poor decision.
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It was always going to be a huge ask for the aging striker to come back strongly enough to make an impact at Old Trafford and the arrival of Romelu Lukaku provided another barrier for Ibrahimovic to scale.
Ultimately, he has been unable to do so. That hasn’t diluted Manchester United fans’ affection for him however, and we’ve taken a closer look at the best of the reaction…
The Premier League’s uniquely demanding winter schedule is part of what makes it the best top flight in world football, and it’s thrown up a classic fixture on Sunday in Everton’s visit to St. James’s Park.
It’s been a tough start to the campaign for the Toffees with second-season syndrome clearly kicking-in for Roberto Martinez; instead of affirming themselves as Champions League contenders, they’re currently battling to make it into the Premier League’s top half.
Meanwhile, it’s been a predictably turbulent season for Newcastle, but they’ll fancy their chances at St. James’s. Everton have been losing at both half-time and full-time in their last three Premier League away visits, whilst the Magpies have lost just twice at home since the summer.
Matches of such festive feistiness are often decided by who dominates the key battles however, so with that in mind, here’s FIVE that could eventually determine the outcome.
AYOZE PEREZ VS PHIL JAGIELKA
A contest of Spanish flair against English brawn, striker Ayoze Perez’ battle with Everton skipper Phil Jagielka represents the contrast of two completely different styles.
The young Spaniard reportedly rejected offers from Barcelona and Real Madrid to move to Tyneside this summer and is living up to all the hype with four goals in just eight Premier League starts.
The 21 year-old’s netted just once in his last seven – a consolation in the Magpies’ 4-1 defeat to Arsenal – but he’ll fancy his chances against the Toffees, who currently boast the joint-third worst goals conceded column in the Premier League.
SEAMUS COLEMAN VS SAMMY AMEOBI
Football – Everton v Aston Villa – Barclays Premier League – Goodison Park – 18/10/14Seamus Coleman celebrates after scoring the third goal for EvertonMandatory Credit: Action Images / Ed SykesLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for
Having made the left-wing slot in Newcastle’s starting XI his own this season and particularly impressed against Sunderland last weekend, it’s likely Sammy Ameobi will retain his spot for the Everton clash on Sunday.
The brother of Shola is hardly the most orthodox winger, measuring in at almost 6 foot 5, but he’s the Magpies second-best creator this season with two assists and their second most proficient dribbler at 1.7 successful take-ons per-match – two stats only bettered by Daryl Janmaat and Moussa Sissoko respectively.
He’ll be up against arguably his toughest test yet in Everton’s Seamus Coleman, who has emerged as the best attacking right-back in the Premier League in the last 18 months, amassing eight goals and three assists in his last 50 league outings.
This battle will be a delicate balancing act for both players. Coleman will bomb forward relentlessly so Ameobi needs to make sure he’s tracking every run, but that intrinsic ploy has become a bit of a dogma for the Toffees this season and it will undoubtedly leave space for the Newcastle winger to exploit on the counter-attack – especially if Everton are caught dwindling on the ball in midfield.
Romelu Lukaku vs Fabricio Coloccini
It’s not been the best of seasons for Romelu Lukaku compared to his usual prolific standards, finding just six goals in 16 Premier League outings.
But let’s not forget what the Belgium international is capable of; he’s a 6 foot 3 battering ram of goalscoring prowess and, perhaps most dangerously of all, comes with the youthful, arrogant swagger of a 21 year-old with the world at his feet.
His physical presence is enormous and Newcastle will have to prepare accordingly. Magpies skipper Fabricio Coloccini will likely be his predominant marker as a battle-hardened, experienced and powerful centre-half, but the Argentine may struggle to nullify Lukaku whilst simultaneously trying to organise Newcastle’s ever-chaotic back four.
MOUSSA SISSOKO VS GARETH BARRY
Football – Manchester City v Newcastle United – Capital One Cup Fourth Round – Etihad Stadium – 29/10/14Moussa Sissoko celebrates scoring the second goal for Newcastle Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason CairnduffLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your acc
Moussa Sissoko’s really beginning to stand out as a focal point of the Newcastle starting XI, excelling in the No.10 role almost as an anti-type, replacing precision passing and trickery with power and pace.
He’s strong defensively and a real handful on the counter-attack, so the task of stopping him will largely fall to Everton’s Gareth Barry.
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The former England international has struggled to replicate the incredible form of his Goodison loan spell this year, but his experience and quality as a Premier League enforcer remains undoubted.
That being said, the 33 year-old gets caught in possession at least a couple of times per match at the moment – Sissoko, through his brawn and tenacity, is the perfect candidate to cause Barry further problems.
ROSS BARKLEY VS CHEICK TIOTE
Just when doubts were beginning to surround Everton prodigy Ross Barkley, he goes and scores this absolute belter against QPR:
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There’s been plenty of talk about his role in the starting Xi recently, and whether the England international’s future lies in central or attacking midfield.
Either way however, his defining gift as a footballer is the power, skill and confidence in which he bursts forward in central channels to run at back fours, usually resulting in a shot at goal or a created chance for one of his team-mates.
Therefore, Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote will have to keep particular eye on the 21 year-old midfielder, especially when he’s bursting through the middle of the park. The Ivory Coast international is arguably the Magpies’ most impressive entity on paper however, so Toon fans will fancy his chances of keeping Barkley quiet.
That being said, Tiote’s ill-discipline could be a real issue against Everton. He averages the second-most fouls per match of any Premier League player:
But the Toffees’ options from set pieces – namely, Leighton Baines, Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley – are amongst the most prolific in the Premier League.
Manchester City will host Gianfranco Zola’s Watford at the Etihad Stadium, while Manchester United were handed an away trip to West Ham in the FA Cup Third Round draw.
The Premier League champions, who lifted the trophy in 2011, will fancy their chances of progressing to the fourth round against the Hornets, who are sixth in the Championship table, with Roberto Mancini facing off against former Italy international teammate Zola.
Meanwhile, local rivals United will travel to Upton Park to renew FA Cup acquaintances with West Ham in one of the ties of the round. It will surely evoke memories of one of the competitions most controversial moments that saw Paulo Di Canio score a controversial winner for the Hammers during a fourth round tie at Old Trafford.
Holders Chelsea will travel to Southampton, Swansea will be hoping to inflict more pain on Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, while Hastings United, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, will be eager to make home advantage count in their replay with Harrogate Town and earn a trip to Championship high-flyers Middlesbrough.
FA Cup Third Round Draw as follows:
Crystal Palace v Stoke City
Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle United
Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City
Wigan Athletic v AFC Bournemouth
Fulham v Blackpool
Aston Villa v Ipswich Town
Charlton Athletic v Huddersfield
Barrow or Macclesfield v Cardiff City
Barnsley v Burnley
Manchester City v Watford
Swansea City v Arsenal
Leicester City v Burton Albion
Millwall v Preston North End
Cheltenham or Hereford v Everton
Derby v Tranmere
Crawley Town v Reading
Aldershot Town v Rotherham or Notts County
Middlesbrough v Harrogate or Hastings
Accrington Stanley or Oxford v Sheffield United
Southampton v Chelsea
QPR v West Brom
Peterborough v Norwich City
Lincoln City or Mansfield v Liverpool
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