Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has said that he doesn’t think he should be judged just three games into the season, according to The Mirror.
The 25-year-old signed for the Gunners for a fee of around £12 million in the summer on the back of a championship winning season at French side Montpellier, where the forward ended the campaign as Ligue 1’s top goal-scorer bagging 21 goals.
However, the Frenchmen hasn’t enjoyed the best of starts in an Arsenal shirt, missing several opportunities that have been presented to him at the start of this Premier League season. Giroud’s lack of composure in front of goal so far this campaign has also been worsened by the fact that former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie, who scored 30 goals for the Gunners last season, has already scored four goals in his opening three games for Manchester United.
Despite this, Giroud says that he is not interested in people making comparisons between himself and RvP, “People seem to think [van Persie] is something that weighs on me, but I know that the manager has confidence in me.”
To add to this, Giroud claimed that any judgement of him is unfair as van Persie himself took a while to settle in North London, “I’m coming in after someone who scored 30 goals last season, but who took eight years to reach that level.”
Meanwhile, one man who hasn’t needed any time to settle in the Premier League is explosive Chelsea winger Eden Hazard. Hazard is a man Giroud knows well after playing against him on many occasions in the French league when Hazard was at Lille.
Giroud says he is not surprised by the impressive start the Belgian winger has made to his Chelsea career, who has already scored one goal and provided six assists for the Blues, “He’s very comfortable everywhere he goes. He’s a very good player who is going to give Chelsea quite a boost.”
Giroud will be hoping to rectify his fruitless start to the campaign when the Gunners welcome newly-promoted Southampton to the Emirates Stadium, whose position at the foot of the Premier League table may be deceiving given that they have lead against both Manchester City and Manchester United so far this season.
At Blackpool we have a weekly cycle that is very rarely broken. In the build up to the game everyone tries, without success, to predict the team. Many variations, very few even close. Then an hour before kick-off everyone finds out the team and groans.
Generally something in the region of two to seven changes. “He shouldn’t be there”, “What’s he done to be dropped”, “Those two CANNOT and SHOULD NOT play together”. The messageboads turn into a playground fight, with sensible footballing debate giving way to “well if you think that then you’re stupid”. And then three hours later, the majority of the time, everyone hails Ollie for being brave, making changes and quite simply knowing best. The team performs well, players link up nicely and there is a real cohesion to the team. A week later, the cycle begins again with team predictions. Every time. Lather, rinse, repeat.
This process isn’t unique to Blackpool at all, but the circumstances are certainly different. Most clubs have a general starting 11 that will be changed due to injuries, form or opponent. Some clubs have a rotation policy where one or two changes will me made for most games to keep fresh legs on the pitch. At Blackpool, under Holloway, you just never know.
We beat Leeds 2-1 at home with a fantastic performance, then we beat Ipswich 6-0 with the same team. So, strangely, we made two changes to that winning side for the trip to Leicester and lost. It is simply too unpredictable to even begin guessing. Which is possibly why it works so well. Opposition scouts needn’t bother watching us, because they have no idea who they’ll be facing. Of course, there is another reason it works. The main reason really, is that Holloway has now built what he was aiming for. A full squad of players, all of similar ability, where he can slot anyone into any position without them being a weak link.
We have a squad of around 46 professionals at Blackpool, which seems ludicrous, but the whole point is that they work together to win games. The wage bill must be huge now, in spite of our policy of paying players peanuts. But if we go up, it will certainly be worth it and we will be so much better prepared.
So, the point of all this team selection talk is that for the Middlesborough game we made six changes. The main thing that raised eyebrows was the inclusion of both Ferguson and Osbourne. “Those two shouldn’t play together” was the main thought. Choosing to play two defensive midfielders at home seemed a strange thing to do, but it worked wonders. ‘Ya Ya’ Osbourne sat in front of the defence and won everything, whilst Ferguson was pushed a little higher up into what he must consider nosebleed territory. But Ferguson was fantastic all night, keeping the ball with his usual steady passing, only further up the pitch. He helped maintain the pressure because every time they tried to escape, he would just get the ball in their half and pass it around.
The other notable change was including Delfouneso from the start. His two goals and one assist will tell you how he did. He was strong, ran the channels, won headers and, more importantly, scored goals. Exactly the kind of striker we need. Everybody has been excited about the prospect of DJ Campbell’s return, but if ‘The Fonz’ can play like this regularly, then we might not need DJ.
As for the match, it was again a pretty one-sided game. Without exaggerating, Blackpool should have been 5 or 6-0 up at half time. And I say nil because the goal they conceded right on half time, although a great header by Amougou, was straight from the ‘how not to defend corners’ textbook. Blackpool’s goals both came from Delfouneso. The first after a slick passing move sent him through on goal and his second after Ince’s brilliant work chasing down a defender, winning the ball and squaring for the new loan man to hammer into the bottom corner. Chance after chance was coming Blackpool’s way and Delfouneso had a chance to grab a first half hat-trick as he met a Taylor-fletcher knock down, but hoofed it into the stand. Ince could probably have had a brace of his own too but squandered chances. Somehow Middlesborough went into the changing rooms 2-1 down when it really should have been game over.
The second half started poorly, with both sides coming out slowly and looking like they would rather not be on the pitch in the sporadic torrential rain.
Boro finally began to click into gear, never creating anything but at last starting to chase the ball, press players and pass the ball when they got it. I am sure Boro fans will be disappointed with their teams display because, although they were outclassed, they were simply lacklustre, which is always hard to take when you have travelled all that way on a wet and windy Tuesday night.
Blackpool finally got moving in the second half, and when they did it again became one-sided. Less chances were created than in the first half, but still enough. Ince eventually got through, after a nice pass by Delfouneso, and kept his cool taking it past the sliding defender and diving keeper, to slot into an open goal. With the game wrapped up, Holloway made a triple sub, resting the legs of Ince, Gomes and Taylor-Fletcher and introducing, for the first time this season, a rejuvenated Elliot Grandin who looked eager to impress. He was getting on the ball, running at defenders and looked hungry. He then got his reward from the spot after earning himself a penalty. There was a little debate over whether he should give the ball to Delfouneso for his hat-trick, but the Fenchman declined instead opting to get his season up and running. A good decision for me, but not to some idiotic Blackpool fans who, as he was about to step up, chose to chant Delfouneso’s name. An act which surely won’t help Grandin’s confidence.
Aside from that final gripe, there was really nothing to complain about as we coasted to another home victory. It will be interesting to see what Brighton, Hull and Cardiff fans say about their start. All three sides are on the same point as us, but I wonder if any are as pleased as we are. It is obviously early days, but there is an atmosphere around Bloomfield Road that is quite special. A quiet confidence. It’s not just the points haul, or the goal difference. It’s the way in which we have gone about it. Matches have been, well, unmatched at times. The games we have won have been incredibly one-sided affairs. Against good opposition too. And even the draw at Barnsley turned into a case of attack against defence. On top of that, despite a relatively poor performance resulting in loss at Leicester, we created enough genuine chances to win and were only denied a point by some horrific refereeing.
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Everyone from the fans, players, coaches and manager have one goal: to go up. Every other season, it has been a case of being happy to be here. Anything’s a bonus. Now though, there is a determination. Almost a realisation that this team is good enough. Knowing football though, we’ll probably get hammered by Huddersfield on Monday then…
Frustration and apprehension is building ahead of next Sunday’s pivotal North East derby after Sunderland’s unbeaten record was brutally dismissed at the Etihad.
Sunderland were severely dominated by Roberto Mancini’s men and their 7 points total for the season looks more modest, now it is now longer representative of an unbeaten team.
The major annoyance surrounding the Black Cats this term is how little they’ve been able to depend on their most influential players.
Through no fault of his own, inspirational signing Adam Johnson, has yet to match the expectations of his invigorating summer deal. Facing his old club there was great hope that the England international would inspire his new side, but a weak frail version of the 25 year old was roped off with just over 20 minutes to go. The former Middlesbrough man was violently sick in his return Eastlands with a stomach problem.
The injury and comedown summed up the beginning of Johnson’s stay on Wearside. The winger had been given the big billing before the game returning to the club where he claimed to be wronged in terms of how little first team opportunities he got. Expecting a backlash, it was dumbfounding to discover he was throwing up prior to full-time in a comfortable 3-0 loss. With one good performance from three league starts, still fit enough for England duty there will be no excuses ahead of the North East derby.
Stephane Sessegnon was Sunderland’s marquee player prior to Johnson’s arrival and penned offered a new lucrative extension at the North East club. However this season the Benin international has looked a shadow of his former self. Previous performances could be forgiven due to the 28 year old’s failure to contribute in pre-season, had left him short on fitness, but now in mid-October that excuse has wore thin. The one smear on the diminutive forward’s 2011/2012 term was a sending off at the Sports Direct Arena, next week Sessegnon must seek redemption.
Another player of the season of the candidate Sebastian Larsson looked lost in the middle of the park and must force himself to stay relevant in Martin O’Neill’s plans after the arrival of Johnson. James McClean has been a major disappointment with the winger looking one-dimensional and easy to deal with now he is no-longer an unknown commodity. The Irishman also put needless extra pressure on himself with his Twitter rant, criticising Giovani Trapattoni.
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Manchester City exposed the limitations of Sunderland’s defence, a major fear considering the opposition that the Wearsiders have met this season have rarely had attacks of the standard of Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba. Lee Cattermole’s tenacity in defence and ability to inspire and lead Sunderland in defensive efforts was sorely missed against Manchester City. While Cattermole improves the Sunderland team, fans have a right to feel aggrieved at the midfielder’s inability to keep his temperament in check.
A morale boosting or sapping exercise, next week’s derby could go a long way to shaping O’Neill’s first full season in charge of Sunderland. Steve Bruce now admits that the writing was on the wall after commencing the season with a home defeat to the Toon Army. The Ulsterman will need big performances from his best players to avoid a similar fate on October 21.
One of the many things I don’t understand about professional footballers is why they would put fellow pros in such awkward situations. Luka Modric spoke post-match in the World Cup qualifier between Croatia and Wales of his desire for Gareth Bale to re-join him at Real Madrid. Surely openly suggesting Bale should leave his current club, does nothing but upset fans and make life more difficult for the winger. Also having endured two extensive summer transfer sagas you’d expect the Croat to have a greater understanding and awareness of the awkward spot he just put his teammate in. Further it damages his connection with the fans who watched him blossom into a world-class midfielder.
This incident is the worst of its kind because Modric should have more respect for his former employers, but it is not an isolated case. When on international duty for Spain Cesc Fabregas was subject to endless encouragement to play for Barcelona. The former Arsenal man was famously wrestled and made to don a Barca shirt after Spain’s World Cup triumph. Eventually it appeared that speculation got the better of Fabregas who was often lethargic and bellow par in his year at the Gunners. He infamously cost Arsenal a goal with careless back heel during their enthralling Champions League tie with the Catalan club. I find this incident of players stitching up each other far more understandable. It was done in a moment of joyous celebration and also players based in Spain would maybe have less of an understanding as to just how important Fabregas was to Arsenal. Although former Barcelona youth team goalkeeper Jose Reina’s role in the prank was somewhat more careless considering how long he has been based in Liverpool. But I would still dismiss this as good run after an excellent World Cup victory.
One of the most obscene pieces of disrespect I can recall from a footballer offending fans was Mario Balotelli’s decision to wear an AC Milan shirt while he was still contracted to Inter Milan. While footballers have allegiances from before they break in at the first team that cannot be helped and shouldn’t hidden, the point remains fans deserve more respect. Long-time Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher is from the Blue side of Merseyside but still understands more than most the responsibility and respect required when playing for Liverpool. The fact Balotelli was tactless enough to be seen showing support for the rivals of his supporters shows a lack of awareness and judgement which is fairly inexplicable considering the Italian’s position of privilege.Although when listed among the 22 year old’s other displays of immaturity is the most shocking footballing act.
My club Sunderland have been severely disrespected by players happy enough to pick up a wage on Wearside. First Lee Clark appeared at the FA Cup final with Newcastle fans wearing a t shirt saying, “sad makem ba****ds”. Insulting the fans of the club that pays your wages is unacceptable, and to defend such actions as peer pressure or banter would be massively miscalculating the passion and emotion involved in supporting a football club. This action was the ultimate slap in the face of fans who accepted the midfielder despite his allegiances to Newcastle United. He would go on to play for his boyhood club Newcastle and remains one of the most unpopular figures on Wearside for his moment of ill-judgement and ill-discipline.
Liam Noble of Carlisle United is also another Geordie who found himself a few miles down the road at Sunderland, where he was given his break and opportunity in football, only to disrespect the Wearsiders. The young central midfielder enjoyed success in the Black Cats youth set-up and reserve sides but ultimately failed to make the grade at the Stadium of Light. Noble found a home at Carlisle and soon after, making his move between the clubs’s permanent chose to mock his former employers online, in a series of explicit tweets. This delusion that after a season of decent performances at League One level means you can command a position of power to mock those who believed you couldn’t makes it a much higher level is staggering. While also not having the intelligence to think it’s unprofessional and unwise to mock another club and its fans on Twitter, displayed a staggering show of unintelligence of even for a modern footballer. Noble was made to apologise and quit the social networking site.
Talking about footballers contracted to other clubs is just one of many ways footballers should think more carefully before opening their mouths. They have a duty to act more respectfully to those who turn up every week to help fund their giant wage packets.
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Former Everton striker James Vaughan admits his time at Goodison Park was filled with both pride and pain.
Seven years ago the Birmingham born striker scored his first goal for Everton at just 16 years and 271 days old, netting his team’s fourth goal against Crystal Palace back in 2005.
With that goal, it inevitably drew similarities between himself, and another former 16 year old scorer, Wayne Rooney, however what followed unfortunately did not live up to the early hype that the goal had created.
Vaughan failed to live up to early potential on Merseyside due to an unfortunate amount of injuries that he picked up.
“Being Everton’s youngest ever scorer still makes me proud, Vaughan told the Liverpool Echo.
“I grew up at Everton after starting in the academy at the age of six, so to do that was a dream. I’d already been on the bench a few times before the Palace game and read in a paper that if I scored I’d break Joe Royle’s record as the youngest.
“When we were 3-0 up on the day I thought I’d get a run out.”
Vaughan was a prolific striker at Everton as he progressed through the ranks, but was not able to reproduce his form in the first team scoring just seven goals in 47 outings.
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The striker is now 24 and is currently on loan at Championship side Huddersfield Town from Norwich – the club he signed for after leaving Everton back in the summer of 2011.
Tottenham slumped to an embarrassing 5-2 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend, the second in as many seasons by such a scoreline, with Emmanuel Adebayor’s dismissal proving absolutely pivotal in turning the tide against the visitors, but how much can we truly glean from the two teams first meeting this season and will the balance of power ever definitively shift?
Make no bones about it, Arsene Wenger’s side so far this season have struggled at both ends of the pitch, and for a 2-minute period against ten-man Tottenham, shortly after half-time, they seemed baffled by Andre Villas-Boas’ brave and bold tactical shift, and an element of panic was clearly present. After a poor recent run of results, confidence and belief are obviously in short supply, but never has a game turned so much on one decision, with Tottenham in the ascendancy prior to Adebayor’s crazy and reckless red card challenge.
Praise must be attributed to Arsenal for the way that they went about their business after that point, though, and they were ruthless, persistent and clinical, driving home their man advantage, while Tottenham once again, and not for the first time this Premier League season, displayed a worrying tendency to capitulate under pressure.
That all three of the club’s summer signings in Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla all scored, on a day when a Robin van Persie-led Manchester United side slumped to a deeply disappointing 1-0 defeat away at Carrow Road is symbolic, and all three appear to be more than finding their feet in their relatively new surroundings. Cazorla was absolutely outstanding throughout, Podolski is an intelligent, unselfish, instinctive player, while Giroud has hit a purple patch of form in front of goal at a time when it was greatly needed.
We are often told that Arsenal are a team in decline, and they may well be, but performances like this one, with the added caveat that it was against ten men, must remind observers of the frightening attacking threat that they still possess. If only they could defend with even the slightest measure of conviction, then they’d surely be assured of a top four place.
That the club have clung quite so readily to the hope that Financial Fair Play (FFP) is going to be implemented strongly speaks volumes of the steady but gradual slide from the pinnacle of the English game that the Gunners have suffered in recent times. This current squad is vulnerable in several areas and mentally fragile, but the fact that they are still just four points off fourth place in the league points to two things – that the competition throughout the league is fierce but that the spot still remains up for grabs, and that despite their struggles at both ends of the pitch and failing to find their best form, they are still within touching distance.
Look at Tottenham and it’s clear that they were missing several key players and their inability to properly replace Luka Modric in the summer with a like-for-like player capable of dictating the tempo from deep has hurt them badly, as does the continued absence of the team’s driving force from midfield, the increasingly important Moussa Dembele, through injury.
Elsewhere, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Scott Parker and Younes Kaboul were all missing, which is pretty much the spine of the side, and when you approach it from that perspective, their start which sees them lie in eighth in the table, two points behind their rivals, isn’t that bad a start.
Villas-Boas’ assertion that they were the better team during the game was patently ridiculous and can be seen as little more than an attempt to deflect attention away from Adebayor’s terrible challenge on Cazorla. They are a team in transition, more so than Arsenal, still coming to terms with life after van Persie, and the change in style and formation will take time and lead to several more frustrating performances.
When you analyse both squads, it’s pretty much a dead heat in terms of quality and the two have certainly grown closer in recent years. When everyone is fully fit, Tottenham perhaps have a slightly better, more balanced starting XI but Arsenal have more deadwood but also more strength in depth and over the course of a long campaign, as it proved last term when Harry Redknapp’s baffling refusal to rotate his squad caught up with the side down the home straight, it can certainly play a part.
The 1994-95 season was the last time that Tottenham finished above Arsenal in the league, and quite how they threw such a big lead away last term to end that run beggars belief, but signs of progress are there for all to see. Nevertheless, while Wenger’s side are a declining force in terms of silverware, they still remain competitive and on their day, capable of beating almost anyone in the league.
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It’s an extremely difficult question to come to a definitive conclusion with, as one club is at the beginning of a new cycle and another looks to be coming to the end of one. In terms of ability, there’s barely anything between the two teams, but it’s all about that crucial consistency against the other teams in the league, which both have struggled with this term.
You sense that any power shift over the next few years will be temporary and it may switch back and forth several times, but just so long as Arsenal retain bragging rights and a higher league finish, it’s hard to look anywhere else for the time being.
Two late goals from Michu earned Swansea a shock victory over a below-par Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
After drawing their last two games on the road Arsene Wenger’s men were hoping to get back to winning ways on home soil, but they were left stunned by devastating late double from the Swans’ leading scorer.
The 26-year-old Spaniard was a virtual unknown when signed by Michael Laudrup from Rayo Vallecano for £2 million in the summer, but is quickly forging a fearsome reputation as one of the Premier League’s deadliest hitmen.
How the Gunners could use a goalscorer of this ilk as they once again looked blunt in attack and struggled to contain the visitors sharp passing and movement – a trait that used to be their hallmark – as a collective groan rang around the Emirates at the final whistle.
They had plenty of warnings before Michu’s double hammer blow at the death and should have been alerted when Angel Rangel nipped in behind a back four that was bailed out by a double save from Wojciech Szczesny.
Thomas Vermaelen then denied Nathan Dyer with a lunging block before Gervinho went close for the hosts, the Ivory Coast forward finding himself just inches from connecting with Carl Jenkinson’s cross.
After the break Santi Cazorla tested Gerhard Tremmel with a low drive, while Szczesny saved again from Rangel. Mark Clattenburg then waved away appeals for a penalty after substitute Olivier Giroud was brought down by Chico Flores in the penalty area.
Vermaelen then planted a header straight at Tremmel and their lack of potency up front was punished with two minutes left on the clock when Michu played a neat one-two with Luke Moore before curling the ball past Szczesny.
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And a superb afternoon for Swansea was wrapped up when the Spanish striker took advantage of Jenkinson’s poor back pass to score and leave Wenger pondering another looming crisis.
Liverpool are said to be interested in out of favour Barcelona striker David Villa, who could be available at the end of the season for £10million, the Metro reports.
The 31-year-old Spanish international has fallen further down the pecking order at the Nou Camp under new manager Tito Vilanova, and Spanish paper AS have suggested that the Reds could be ready to make a bid for him in the summer to bring him to Anfield.
Barcelona have ruled out selling the player in January but are keen to strike a deal for Santos striker Neymar in the summer, which if completed would supposedly pave the way for Villa to move on.
Villa who was regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in world football not too long ago, started his career at Sporting Gijon followed by a spell at Real Zaragoza. However it was when he joined Valencia in 2005 that he rose to prominence in a prolific spell which secured him a move to Barcelona in 2010.
He has also been a huge part of Spain’s recent triumphs at major tournaments, finishing with the Golden Boot at Euro 2008 and once again topping the scoring charts at World Cup 2010, only to be pipped to the award by Germany’s Thomas Muller as he had provided more assists.
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Villa’s contract expires in 2014 and a deal in the summer could appeal to both clubs, potentially setting up a potent strike force for the Reds alongside Uruguayan Luis Suarez.
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has criticised referee Anthony Taylor for sending off striker Carlton Cole and changing the game at Upton Park.
Cole had earlier put the Hammers in front with a superb low effort before Everton slowly worked their way back into the game and brought the game level just after half time.
The former England striker was then sent off for a ‘high foot’ with the score at 1-1 in a decision that seemed to change the game in the visitors’ favour and infuriate the West Ham bench, players and supporters.
Everton went on to win the game, but Allardyce piled the criticism on the official and claimed his consistency had ruined the game.
West Ham have confirmed that they will appeal the red card, but that is no conciliation for Allardyce who admitted he was bitterly disappointed with the lack of consistency shown by the referee.
“The sending off has changed the game dramatically,” Allardyce told talkSPORT.
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“After 32 minutes Victor Anichebe has done exactly the same thing on James Collins as Carlton has done on Leighton and one is shown nothing and the other is a straight red.
“That for me is the inconsistency we have had and that makes me bitterly disappointed with the decision of the referee to send Carlton off.”
You either love tattoos or hate them, but among the football fraternity it is seemingly a must have for footballers who clearly have too much money and time on their hands and who therefore see the need to decorate their bodies in all different types patterns and designs. Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger are arguably the most prolific in the Premier League, with the latter being a trained tattooist.
It is not only by players on the pitch, but those supporters off it who choose to cement their allegiance by getting their clubs crest and name emblazoned on certain body parts.
It is fair to say some of the body artwork is good, bad and in cases some damn right ugly. This list is a celebration of the best tattoos that have featured on Liverpool fans in the past few years.
Click on the tattoo below to unveil gallery
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