Viva Ronaldo: Why Cristiano should World's player of 2013

When FourFourTwo sat down in a darkened room to compile the finer details of this year's Top 100, there was one issue we knew would take longer to thrash out than most. We should have been used to it, of course - it's a debate we've addressed every year for the last five years, but this time it seemed even harder to settle.

Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? The Argentine was our Player of the Year in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, and every year the decision seemed to get easier.

In a way, Cristiano is the most underrated player in the history of football. Every glorious flash of skill, every thunderous strike, and every moment of mind-bending football magic is greeting by grumbles of "Messi could do it better".

Messi and Ronaldo are both immensely talented and idols in their own right, but are seemingly now almost completely defined by each other's existence and actions.

As a generation of football fans, we're very lucky. Not only do we get to witness the rare spectacle of two of the all-time great players plying their trade in the same league at the same time, we're also able to watch every single one of their matches. We should really just sit back and enjoy the show.

So why has FourFourTwo named the Real Madrid man our No.1 of 2013? A popular argument will surely be that Messi won a trophy in 2013, while Ronaldo didn't. A fair point, but team performance isn't always a complete indication of the ability or performances of the members of that side.


Clearly, Messi is no David May, the man famed for getting himself front and centre of Manchester United's 1999 Champions League celebrations despite his role in the triumph being minimal. The Argentine has been the star attraction at Camp Nou once again, but the supporting cast has also been stronger.

Had Karim Benzema had a better year, taking a few more chances, it's possible Madrid could have challenged more strongly for honours both domestically and continentally.

Madrid are no one-man team, but Portugal may well be. No match sums up Ronaldo's ability to single-handedly drag a team to victory than his second leg showing in the recent World Cup qualifying play-off against Sweden (although FFT's decision had long since been made by that stage).

With Portugal rocking after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had put Sweden into a 2-1 lead on the night, Ronaldo grasped at his chance to prove himself a national hero, and an international great. He scored twice to complete a memorable hat-trick and seal his team's place in Brazil next summer. In the process he displayed his trademark cocktail of skill, guile, pace and sheer power that so often sees him score goals few others in the history of the game could manage.

Ronaldo managed a la Liga goal every 84 minutes in the year up to November 1st, becoming the only player in Europe's top five leagues to score three league hat-tricks in the same period. He has also scored 14 goals in the Champions League this year - more than any other player.

The Portuguese predator has only looked like getting better now he has Gareth Bale alongside him, while if anything, Barcelona seem a little less reliant on Lionel Messi than they were before the arrival of Tata Martino and Neymar. The injury that curtailed the Argentina star's year and the 'goal drought' that has seen him not score in five league matches also worked in Ronaldo's favour.

It's also worth noting that in each of the last two years, the top three of FFT's 100 has been matched by the top three at the Ballon d'Or a few weeks later. We've also 'predicted' the winner of FIFA's big gong for four years running (granted, it was Leo Messi every time). We're not suggesting they're copying us, of course, rather that this may be some indication of how the big gig in Zurich early next year will end, and Ronaldo's 2014 will begin.

"I think we can win both the league and the Champions League [in 2014]", Cristiano says in an interview in the January 2014 issue of FourFourTwo, out December 4th. With the forward in this form, who'd bet against it?

Exclusive - David Beckham: 'Brad Pitt is the obvious choice to play me in a film'

David Beckham  discuss the new film, 'The Class of 92', along with a host of other topics. Here's what he had to say...

On winning the 1992 FA Youth Cup: “The medal is at home in the safe. It’s one of the proudest moments I had as a player. That was my happiest time as a footballer, to have come through the ranks as we all did, and to achieve what we did, was brilliant. It’s pride of place in my house.”

On 'The Class of '92’: “We’ve all kept in contact. I was obviously the only one who moved away from Manchester United so the other lads saw each other, day in, and day out. I left United and went to Spain and America but I always kept in close contact with them. I have always had a special and close relationship with them, that’s been built up over many years, and we’re all very proud of that.”

When asked 'who would be your first pick in the playground?', he said: “I would have to say Gary Neville, we had a great relationship playing over the years and he always had my back.”

On retirement: “I’m coping pretty well. I had lots of things set up for when I called it a day. I was very lucky I finished my career on such a high. My career was pretty successful over the last 20 years and to be able to finish my career at PSG with a trophy, and then walk away from football, was very special. It’s never easy retiring and it’s not easy to walk away from something that you love but there were a lot of things I had ready to go the minute I stopped playing, that was important. I’ve got a big family, four kids to chase around, that keeps you busy enough, I’ve not really had the chance to sit down and miss the playing side.”

On his sending off at World Cup 98: “We have been through great times and bad times, like the World Cup in 1998. Getting sent off was a really disappointing thing for me but having the players from the youth system around, helped me. Then four years later I can remember Diego Simeone, who was still playing, coming up to me during the England v Argentina match. I turned around and I saw Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville. I knew I had their support and you can’t replace that. To go through good time is special, but to have them through the bad times is amazing, that’s why we have relationship we do.”

Who would play you in the film: “Brad Pitt would be the obvious choice! Him or Leonardo Di Caprio, or maybe Bradley Cooper, they’re not bad looking guys!”

Champions League team of the season so far – Arsenal, Man United absent?

Five of the six Champions League group games have been played and the knockout stages of the competition are beginning to take shape. Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have all progressed to the next round with one match remaining and they’ll be joined by 11 more of Europe’s top teams following the final set of fixtures in two weeks’ time.

With that, the guys at WhoScored.com, using their unique player rating system, have formulated the current team of the Champions League campaign thus far of every player with at least three appearances and, as expected, there are a few familiar faces in there. However, that isn’t the case between the sticks with Olympiakos number one Roberto the highest rated goalkeeper so far.

The Spaniard has attained an average rating of 7.8 having kept two clean sheets and picked up two WhoScored man of the match awards in the competition this term. He has made 23 saves and his side stand a real chance of progressing to the latter stages of the competition, as they currently sit second in Group C as a result of his exploits in goal.

Ahead of him is teammate Kostas Manolas, with the Greece international securing an average rating of 7.6 in his four appearances this season. The 22-year-old has two goals to his name, a tally no centre-back can better, while his average of 2.5 tackles and 2.8 aerial duels won per game has helped out his teammate Roberto. Alongside Manolas is PSG’s Marquinhos, the Brazilian one of four players from the Ligue 1 champions in the team of the season so far. His rating of 7.7 means he’s the highest rated centre-back in the Champions League with at least three appearances.

Like Manolas, Marquinhos has two goals to his name, but has also impressed defensively, with the 19-year-old averaging 4.2 clearances per game. Boasting a 93.7 per cent pass success, he’s clearly abiding by manager Laurent Blanc’s wishes to hold on to the ball, which has seen PSG develop a WhoScored style of play of ‘possession football’ and ‘short passes’. PSG team-mate and right-back Gregory van der Wiel joins Marquinhos in defence after five notable performances, from which the Dutchman has accrued an average rating of 7.6.

The 25-year-old has four assists to his name; only Ángel Di María (five) has more in the whole competition. However, it’s his defensive qualities that have shone through, averaging 2.6 tackles and 2.2 interceptions per game, exhibiting his ability to read the game exceptionally well. On the opposite flank is Bayern Munich’s David Alaba, with the young Austrian registering two goals and one assist, while also averaging a total of four tackles and interceptions per game.

Ahead of him on the left is Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite missing the 4-1 win over Galatasaray on Wednesday night, no player has more goals in the Champions League this season (eight), while he also boasts two assists. Ronaldo has thus been directly responsible for 10 of Real’s 18 goals in the group stages, also averaging 2.8 key passes and 2.5 dribbles per game. On the right-wing is Dutchman Arjen Robben, with the wideman playing a pivotal role in ensuring Bayern currently top Group D. Like Ronaldo, Robben has attained an average rating of 8.9 having netted three goals and picked up three assists in four appearances, while also registering 2.5 key passes and 3.8 successful dribbles per Champions League encounter.

In the middle of the park, Arturo Vidal is in the team on the back of his hat-trick in Juventus’ 3-1 win over Copenhagen on Wednesday. The Chilean has put his high work rate to exceptional use having made 26 tackles this term, the most of every player in the Champions League. Alongside him in midfield is PSG’s Thiago Motta, with the experienced Italian attaining an average rating of 8.0 over his five appearances this season. The 31-year-old had expected to see his starting opportunities limited with all of PSG’s summer recruits, but he’s been a regular presence in the PSG midfield under Blanc and has rewarded the Frenchman with two goals and three assists in the competition, not to mention his competition-high of 118.4 passes per game and at a success rate of 91.7 per cent.

Up front is Zlatan Ibrahimovic with the Swede currently boasting an average rating of 8.3 having netted eight goals from five appearances. The talismanic striker is not only the focal point in the PSG attack, but is capable of bringing others into play as highlighted in his average of 51.2 passes per game at a respectable 81.3 per cent success. Barcelona’s Lionel Messi partners him in attack, with the diminutive Argentine having been in scintillating form prior to injury. Messi netted six times in that period, averaging two key passes and 3.3 successful dribbles in his 270 minutes of Champions League football, meaning his average rating of 9.1 is the highest of every player with at least three appearances.

Luis Enrique to Tottenham: why the talented coach would be a bigger gamble than AVB

Ensuring Tottenham take top spot in their Europa League group may have eased the pressure on Andre Villas-Boas momentarily, but there is little doubt that his Premier League results are those in most need of improving this season.

Some media outlets have claimed that the doubts over Villas-Boas are so strong among those in power at White Hart Lane that a shortlist of possible replacements has been drawn up, with Celta Vigo manager Luis Enrique at the top.

While the Spaniard is a talented coach with significant admirers at the highest level of the game, bringing him in would be an even bigger gamble than continuing with Villas-Boas in charge, thanks to a top-flight record that leaves much to be desired.

A fine attacking midfielder in his playing days, Luis Enrique crossed the Real Madrid/Barcelona divide in 1996, and established himself as a cult hero at the Camp Nou over the course of eight seasons in the Blaugrana shirt.

It was at Barcelona that he took his first steps as a coach, and gradually, Lucho began to build a reputation as an unashamedly attacking manager capable of getting the highest yield possible with the resources at his disposal.

The Spaniard had a tough act to follow when he took the Barcelona B job in 2008, replacing Pep Guardiola, who had just guided the side to promotion to the Spanish third division.

Guardiola took Sergio Busquets, a pivotal player in his B team, with him to the first team, so Enrique wasn’t handed a simple task with the Miniestadi side.

Enrique's strategy was a sound one: mix the finest young talents available at the Barcelona academy with more experienced players (like free-scoring striker Jonathan Soriano) who could help to bring balance to the team. It soon paid off.

After narrowly missing out on promotion to the second division in 2008/09, Enrique’s side really hit their stride in his second season.

With a team built around the likes of Sergi Roberto, Oriol Romeu, Andreu Fontas, Marc Bartra, Jonathan Soriano, and the additional help of Thiago Alcantara, who would split his time between the reserves and the first team, Barcelona B finished second in the league and achieved promotion to the second division. The best was yet to come however.

In the 2010/11 season Enrique guided Barcelona B to third place in the Spanish second division, taking the first play-off spot for promotion to La Liga.

Though Spanish football’s rules prevent ‘B’ teams from playing in the same division as a club's senior side, and Barca B could therefore not be promoted, in principle, Enrique had managed to take the side from the third division, to the second division, to contending for the top flight in a matter of three years. It was a major achievement that no Barca B coach had managed before, and is unlikely to match any time soon.

Notably, the aforementioned Jonathan Soriano excelled under the coach, scoring 32 goals in the Segunda and finishing Pichichi (top scorer). Prior to the B team's play-off finish, Enrique had long been sounded out as a future replacement for Pep Guardiola as Barcelona first team manager, but the 2010/11 campaign produced a level of success at a rapid rate that perhaps even the club's hierarchy had not foreseen.

As a result of his achievements, Lucho's name was soon known by some of the top sides in Europe that were in search of a coach, and it was AS Roma that would succeed in tempting him, making the Spaniard their new manager in the summer of 2011.

Instead of marking yet another step forward in his career however, it is around about this point in Enrique’s career trajectory that things began to plateau.

At Roma, the Spaniard struggled to implement his Barcelona-esque playing style, with the side eliminated from the Europa League at the play-off stage, and finishing the Serie A campaign in a distinctly average seventh position, one lower than the season before.

As a result, Enrique was relieved of his position at Roma with one game left to play in the season.

The Asturian took a year off from coaching, before being given the job at Celta Vigo in the summer of 2013, taking charge at a club that had narrowly avoided relegation from La Liga in the final day of the 2012/13 season.

Only weeks into his new job he was heavily linked with the FC Barcelona position that had unexpectedly become available due to the ill health of Tito Vilanova. The genuine interest in Enrique from Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta was a reflection of the strong reputation he maintained in Catalonia, despite a difficult season in Rome. In the end, Barcelona opted for Gerardo Martino.

At Celta, Enrique has once again attempted to implement his unashamedly attacking philosophy with mixed success at best. The coach brought in several of the players that once excelled under his tutelage at the Miniestadi, including Rafinha Alcantara (younger brother of Thiago) and Andreu Fontas, but that hasn’t helped him to bring back the magic that they once created together with Barca B.

With 15 games gone in the season, Celta have yet to win at home in La Liga, hovering precariously close to the relegation zone, and there are already some doubts over Enrique’s future. Their most recent defeat, a 4-3 loss to Real Sociedad despite leading 3-1 early in the second half, hasn’t helped his cause.

Looking back over his managerial career, Enrique’s record is impressive in the lower leagues, where he achieved incredible consistency with Barcelona’s B team and even made history, yet he has clearly faltered in the top flight, with neither Roma nor Celta replicating his feats in Catalonia.

Andre Villas-Boas has many doubters, but there is no denying the success he achieved across the board with Porto, as well as a strong Premier League campaign with Tottenham last season, missing out on the top four by a single point.

If sticking with the Portuguese coach is considered a risk to Tottenham’s Champions League ambitions, then surely replacing him with a man that has never even come close to guiding a side into Europe’s premier competition is an even bigger gamble.

Let’s be clear: this isn't an attempt to say that Luis Enrique isn’t a talented coach. He has excelled in the right conditions, and many of his pupils at Barca B have gone on to bigger and better things thanks to the excellent work he carried out with them in his formative years.

Eusebio Sacristan meanwhile, his replacement at Barcelona B, has shown that it isn't just as simple as throwing talented youngsters on to the pitch and letting them play, with the Catalan reserves suffering from his tactical naivety and a lack of the kind of older, more experienced players in the team that were essential to Enrique's side.

There is also a reason that Barcelona’s sporting director seriously considered him as a candidate for the first team job last summer, with the belief that he could still yet realise the potential he once showed as a manager.

Eventually however, potential has to be turned into tangible results for a manager to aspire to the highest level. Enrique has the credentials to be an excellent, top level manager, but only in the right conditions, and there is little to suggest that a Tottenham side already under huge pressure matches the criteria.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger doubts match-fixing can be wiped out

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger doubts whether match-fixing will ever be eradicated from football.

He spoke as two men appeared in court charged over alleged match-fixing in the English game.

The Gunners boss believes England is "99.9% clean" but says lower-league teams are more vulnerable.

"Can it be eradicated completely? I am not sure," the Frenchman said. "We absolutely have to fight against that with the strongest severity."

Singapore national Chann Sankaran, 33, and 43-year-old Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan - who has dual UK and Singapore nationality - are charged with conspiracy to defraud.

Mr Sankaran and Mr Ganeshan, who are alleged to be members of an illegal betting syndicate based in Singapore, are accused of committing the offences in "Manchester and elsewhere". Magistrates remanded them to appear at Birmingham Crown Court on 13 December.

International, invariably Asian, betting syndicates dispatch a fixer to search out semi-professional, non-league players in the lower tiers of English football who may be susceptible to bribes.

The players, once identified, are handed thousands of pounds in return for manipulating a game - from the number of goals scored to the number of yellow cards issued.

For the fix to work, the syndicate tends to need more than one player to be in on the scam.

The fixer, sat watching in the stands, waits for the signal from their co-conspirator on their pitch.

If the scam is to go ahead, the player on the syndicate's payroll deliberately gets a yellow card at the start of the match.

The fixer then calls his investors in Asia and tells them the fix is on. Bets are then placed.

At least three footballers are reported to be among those held across the country.

Sources have told the BBC that one of the other suspects is former Premier League player Delroy Facey, who is now a football agent.

Wenger was manager of Monaco when Ligue 1 rivals Marseille - the 1993 French champions and European Cup winners - were found guilty of corruption before being relegated and thrown out of European competition by Uefa.

"Once you don't know if everyone is genuine out there any more, that is something absolutely disastrous," he said.

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor says cases of lower-league footballers being approached by match-fixers are extremely rare but the sport must remain vigilant.

"Education is in place so that players know the dangers and they are encouraged to report any incidents, so the correct procedures can be followed," he told BBC Sport.

"Temptation will always exist and people will take advantage of that, but a monitoring process is in place and we will continue to work with the authorities on this to protect the integrity of the game."

Wenger hopes the current incident under investigation is an isolated one.

"Maybe the lower divisions are a bit more under threat because it is a bit more anonymous, there is less money so it is easier to buy people, but I don't think that exists in the Premier League at all," he said.

"I don't believe that in England people fix matches, but we live in an international world and you cannot just stop it at the border any more. It is a new problem that we all face.

"I still think that 99.9%, the English game is completely clean.

"When you see the happiness of the players when they score goals, even in the lower divisions, the passion of the fans when I was at Barnet for example, I can't believe there is a match-fixing problem in England."

Tottenham line up v Man United: surprise up front for Spurs?

It's Tottenham v Manchester United live on talkSPORT this Sunday 1 December 2013 and we're taking a look at how the Lilywhites could line up…

Tottenham have endured a tough week following their pathetic performance against Manchester City in a 6-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas’ is under pressure, £26million summer signing Roberto Soldado has seen his performances scrutinised, while Michael Dawson, who just a week ago was being looked at as a potential England defender, now faces a fight for his place at White Hart Lane.

The Portuguese boss named a strong Spurs side as they dispatched Tromso 2-0 in Norway to seal top spot in their Europa League group. It was a line up that could signal under-fire AVB is about to ring the changes as they face a Manchester United side who are finally hitting their stride under David Moyes. Could a man seemingly set for the exit door fire the Lilywhites to victory?

Last chance saloon for Defoe?
The form of Soldado has widely been criticised with TV pundits slating the Spaniard's displays and his lack of goals from open play. He was picked to play against Tromso and this once again suggests Villas-Boas is set to make an alteration to his side. Emmanuel Adebayor apparently suffered a groin injury during his substitute appearance against against Man City and this means the Portuguese boss could well turn to Jermain Defoe, even though the England striker seems set for a move to Toronto in January. The 31-year-old scored an acrobatic overhead kick against the Red Devils at White Hart Lane in 2009 and his probing runs off the shoulder could prove dangerous against David Moyes' men. And any success he has could have huge ramifications for him and his manager.

A case for the defence
Although the Tottenham backline were given a torrid time it's unlikely Villas-Boas will be making many alterations to a defence that had previously only conceded six goals. Hugo Lloris’ dodgy kicking put his defence under a lot of pressure in their thrashing at the hands of City but with Brad Friedel showing his age during recent Europa League displays it is unlikely the Frenchman will lose his place anytime soon.

The same will go for Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen. England right-back Walker, 23, is an automatic starter for the Lilywhites with Kyle Naughton yet to truly threaten his place, while Belgian centre-back Vertonghen will continue (reluctantly) on the left side in Danny Rose’s absence, even though he struggles against pace, which will worry Spurs fans.

Any changes are likely to come in the centre. Younes Kaboul didn’t have the greatest of games against Manuel Pellegrini's men but, having been left out of Spurs’ Europa League trip to Norway, it’s probable he will start again. Michael Dawson looked well out of his depth against Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo, and could be replaced by Romanian summer signing Vlad Chiriches, who has impressed the White Hart Lane faithful during his nine games for the club and helped force an own goal against Tromso. The £8million man is a calm presence and against Newcastle, although Spurs lost 1-0, he bailed out Dawson on a couple of occasions. He'll have to be at his best to stop Wayne Rooney though, who has bagged six Premier League goals this season.

Three is the magic number
Throughout the season so far, Villas-Boas has been using a number 10 in the form of either the currently crocked Christian Eriksen or Lewis Holtby, but the latter’s anonymous showing in their 6-0 drubbing, where he was replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor at half-time, could see Gylfi Sigurdsson handed a rare start in his more favoured role. The Icelandic star has often been shunted out on the left to make use of his inswinging crosses and ability to curl home with his right boot (he's hit three goals this season) but after a bright display in the middle against Tromso he could be given the green light to terrorise Manchester United's defence.

Brazilian beast Sandro is likely to retain his place and help shackle Rooney, should he drop deep in search of the ball, while £17million man Paulinho appears almost untouchable in the Spurs starting line up, despite recent poor performances. Mousa Dembele's well taken goal against Tromso and ability to retain possession will give Villas-Boas a headache but with Paulinho having fresher legs he's almost certain to reprise his box-to-box role at White Hart Lane. Iit wouldn't be a surprise if he plays in more controlled manner with less forays upfield.

Forget inverted wingers
Tottenham’s attempts to play with wide players who cut in and shoot, rather than cross from the flank, hasn’t fared too well. Andros Townsend looks a real danger with his pace, but the England man has become predictable with his final ball. Aaron Lennon and Erik Lamela hardly impressed against Manchester City, though Lennon could get another chance as he continues to return from injury. And if he does it should be expected he'll play on his favoured right flank having failed to find success in his cameos on the left. On the opposite flank, having seen Townsend play for 90 minutes against Tromso, Lamela should get the nod again, as he did against Man City, as he looks to show the form which saw Spurs part with £30million for his signature. Having players in wide areas who will be likely to cross rather than cut in will then, in theory, provide more ammo for Defoe.

Chelsea v Southampton: team news and predicted line ups

 

Jose Mourinho has said that he will not tolerate another loss and fully expects his Chelsea side to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Basel in the Champions League in midweek.

While the Blues still managed to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition thanks to the draw between Schalke 04 and Steaua Bucharest, Chelsea will need to take charge of their own fate when they host a very impressive Southampton side on Sunday.

The Saints are the surprise package of the Premier League season thus far, and sit just two points behind third-placed Chelsea. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Southampton have enjoyed great success with their high-energy pressing game and will undoubtedly look to use that against Mourinho’s men.

Following the defeat to Basel, the Chelsea boss cited fatigue as his main concern of late, and outlined a rotation plan as he plans for a busy few weeks, which sees the Blues play nine fixtures over the next month.

“It's not a question of punishment, it's a question of using the squad and the options we have and to make changes when we have so many consecutive matches,” he said.

Two players who will definitely not feature are David Luiz and Samuel Eto’o, with the pair suffering knee and groin injuries respectively. However, with away trips to Sunderland and Stoke next up, Mourinho will not want to field a wholly understrength side, as he looks to keep up the pressure on Arsenal – who could be seven points clear come Sunday.

While Chelsea looked a little shaky in their last home match against West Brom, they boast one of the more impressive home records in the league, having picked up 38 of the last 42 points on offer at Stamford Bridge.

Nevertheless, memories of Southampton’s 2-2 draw in SW6 last season will still linger and Mourinho will need to be smart in his selection.

Athletic Club Vs Barcelona

 La Liga leaders Barcelona visit Athletic Bilbao on Sunday as they look to bounce back from their first defeat under Gerardo Martino.

 Barca lost 2-1 to Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday, having already qualified for the knockout stages.  "It had nothing to do with a lack of attitude," midfielder Cesc Fabregas said.

"We were running hard, but not running right.  "If we were going to have to lose a game, that was a good time to do it."  The former Arsenal player added:

 "We have to demonstrate our ability to win matches and our mental capacity to react to defeats.  "We are a competitive team, and we know that these things can happen, but what happens next depends entirely on us."  As planned, forward Lionel Messi has gone to Argentina as part of his recovery from a hamstring injury which the club say is going to plan.

  Athletic, who are fifth going into the weekend's games, are unbeaten at home since moving to their new San Mames stadium in the summer.

Roberto Martinez heaps praise on Everton striker Romelu Lukaku

Everton boss Roberto Martinez insists there is a lot more to Romelu Lukaku than his predatory skills in front of goal.

The on-loan Chelsea striker has already scored seven goals this season, including two in last weekend's thrilling 3-3 Merseyside derby.

Martinez is delighted with Lukaku's goalscoring form, but has also been impressed with his work-rate and ability to read the game.

"It was great to see him scoring goals but I was more pleased with the manner he worked hard for the team," said the Spaniard.

"He was a real trigger for us in the way we stopped Liverpool from playing and he deserves huge credit for that.

"He is developing strong relationships with players and you can see Romelu is growing as a footballer week by week.

"If he scores goals everyone can be happy but I measure his performance a bit further than on scoring or not scoring.

"He is such an intelligent person, he always knows how to behave in every single situation and, yes, he needs to score goals but he has been very level-headed in every single situation he has had at the club."

Ed Chamberlin previews Everton's match with Stoke.

Lukaku's impressive displays as a lone striker have forced Nikica Jelavic to settle for a bit-part role at the club this season.

Barcelona youngster Gerard Deulofeu has also moved above the Croatian in the pecking order, but Martinez played down suggestions that he could leave.

"It (speculation) doesn't surprise me because obviously Nikica Jelavic is a terrific player to have, he's a goalscorer and you don't get them easily in the game," said Martinez.

"Because Croatia have qualified for the World Cup you can imagine he wants to be fresh and ready for it.

"From our point of view it is very important he stays with us and he needs to be ready to help the team when the opportunity arises, which could be very soon."

Malky Mackay hails influence of former Cardiff midfielder Aaron Ramsey at Arsenal

Malky Mackay is hoping hometown boy Aaron Ramsey gets a great reception from the Cardiff City fans on Saturday and is delighted to see a British player doing so well in the Premier League.

The Arsenal midfielder returns to his first club in the best form of his career, having scored 13 times for Arsenal and Wales this season and emerging as the dominant force in a midfield containing players of the calibre of Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil.

Ramsey's performances have been central in the Gunners' rise to the top of the Premier League, where they sit with a comfortable four-point lead.

Mackay is not alone in being a keen admirer of Ramsey's talents, but made a request in jest that the midfielder gives the club who started his career some respite.

"I hope he gets a great reception here and I am pretty sure he will," he said.

Malky Mackay says the former Cardiff player Aaron Ramsey deserves a great reception from the Cardiff fans.

"He is a fine young man, I met him a couple of weeks ago when the Welsh squad were here. He popped in and at that point I said to him to make sure that in a couple of weeks' time he goes easy with us.

"It's good to see a young British player grasping the nettle at Premier League level and actually being one of the main men at Arsenal.

"Sometimes maturity and experience comes at different parts of your career, but the biggest factor as far as he is concerned is the number of games he is getting on a consistent basis and he is beginning to show for club and country what a top young talent he is.

"We will deal with him as we deal with most teams and players, we have just got to concentrate on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.

"He (Ramsey) has really come to the fore this season. It has probably surprised some people, even inside Arsenal, in terms of the way he has grasped the game. That's probably one of the bonuses for Arsenal."

Mackay also had substantial words of praise for Arsene Wenger, who is the longest-serving manager in English football but who also came under some criticism on the opening day of the season when the Gunners were beaten at home by Aston Villa.

The Cardiff boss has himself endured an uncertain time at Cardiff at various points of the season but enjoyed the way Wenger 'sat and smiled' with an absolute confidence in his own abilities.

"I think that it was funny when you looked at it after the first week - after the Aston Villa game - people were calling for Arsene Wenger's head, saying there was a crisis at Arsenal," said Mackay.

"I think since that point he has just sat there with a big smile on his face, because I think he knows his squad and I think he knew what he was doing. He certainly did when he brought Mesut Ozil in.

"Overall a man that is experienced as him (Wenger) sits and smiles and keeps his own counsel when people want to get hysterical about the job he has done."

Cole set for Chelsea return

 

Jose Mourinho has promised Ashley Cole, Juan Mata and others seeking opportunities in the Chelsea squad that they will get their chance in the next week.

Sunday's Premier League match with Southampton is the first of nine matches in December for the Blues, who return to Stamford Bridge bidding to show improvement from their last home match, the 2-2 draw with West Brom, and most recent result, Tuesday's loss at Basle.

"Now is time for the squad," Mourinho said.

"And now is time for everybody to feel that they have a chance, when we play now Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Southampton, Sunderland and Stoke.

"The SSS week, everybody will have a chance."

Cole's absence in recent weeks - with Spain right-back Cesar Azpilicueta preferred - has been a surprise despite the England left-back's niggling rib problem.

"Ash will play for sure and will have the chance to show that he's fine," Mourinho added.

The Portuguese dismissed reports of a bid for Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao.

"I don't want Portuguese players," Mourinho said. "I always had them, but I think in this moment it's enough. Only Hilario is the remaining one and we don't need (others)."

A move for Colombia striker Jackson Martinez, currently at Porto, was also downplayed, with Mourinho happy with his forward options Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba.

Mourinho added: "It's not true what I read a couple of days ago, that the agent was in London and was meeting with me or Chelsea directors. It's not true at all.

"In the January market we are not going to buy any striker. We will go to the end of the season with Fernando, with Samuel and with Demba. Nobody to go in, nobody to go out."

Chelsea also have Romelu Lukaku, currently terrorising Premier League defences on loan at Everton, to return following his season-long loan at Goodison Park.

Asked again about Lukaku, Mourinho called on the Belgium striker to reveal why the loan move took place.

"Romelu likes to speak," Mourinho said.

"He's a young boy. But the only thing that he didn't say is why he went to Everton on loan.

"My last contact with him was to tell him exactly that. 'Why you never say why you are not here?'

"It's something that he should say, because he likes to speak, the reason why he is not with Chelsea and he is in Everton."

Torres is available again after returning in the Basle loss in place of Eto'o, who went off injured and faces around two weeks out with a groin injury.

David Luiz missed the trip to Switzerland and could again be absent with his knee injury despite returning to training.

Chelsea have won 38 of the last 42 Premier League points on offer at home, but needed a controversial penalty against West Brom on November 9 for Mourinho to extend his unbeaten league record at Stamford Bridge to 66 games.

Following last Saturday's comprehensive defeat of West Ham, the Basle trip, which saw Chelsea advance to the Champions League knockout stages despite a second defeat to the Swiss side in Group E, highlighted the team's inconsistent performances.

Mourinho afterwards attributed the limp display, where his side failed to muster a meaningful shot, to tiredness, but he may not be as forgiving in future.

"I never tolerate, but I have to live with it," he said.

"I didn't like the performance, of course not, and we will try everything to not repeat (it)."

The pressure on Sunday is on Chelsea to show that Tuesday's result was a blip.

Mourinho added: "If I forget the performance from the last match, our situation is fine.

"We are in a close distance to the (Premier League) leader, we are qualified for the last 16 in the Champions, we will play in the Capital One Cup quarter-final. We are okay. Our situation is okay.

"We have to improve stability in our game, we have to improve aspects, also individually we have to improve, especially the young players, but we are okay."

Manchester United boss David Moyes looking for right players

 

David Moyes says he will only strengthen his Manchester United squad in the January transfer window if the right players become available.

Moyes only managed to secure the £27.5m deadline-day purchase of Marouane Fellaini from former club Everton during the summer, despite being linked with the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Ander Herrera and Thiago Alcantara.

There has been general acceptance he will attempt to bolster his United squad at the first opportunity, but Moyes insists he will not spend unless he can strengthen the players already at his disposal.

"Only if the right players are available," he said. "They have to be able to fit into our squad.

    "Only if the right players are available. They have to be able to fit into our squad."

David Moyes

"We would like to but there are no guarantees."

Moyes attempted to prise left-back Leighton Baines away from Goodison Park without success and his replacement as Everton manager, Roberto Martinez, has already said another attempt would be pointless.

"If they are determined to hold on to him then he can't be going anywhere," added Moyes.

United head to White Hart Lane to face a Tottenham side on Sunday that are still smarting from their 6-0 hammering at Manchester City last weekend.

David Moyes says Ryan Giggs is the best player of the Premier League era and thinks there is more to come from the birthday boy.

Given that Andre Villas-Boas' men have also had a trip to northern Norway for their Europa League encounter with Tromso in midweek, now may be a good time for the Red Devils to face the north London outfit.

Yet Moyes is wary of reading too much into their recent results.

"It can vary," he said. "We know that no matter when you play Tottenham Hotspur, it will always be a hard game.

"The games against Manchester United have been good. It is one of these things, we are both coming off the back of European games as well.

"But we will go down there and try to win the game, as we always do."

David Beckham: United begining to gel under David Moyes

David Beckham believes it is no surprise that Manchester United are beginning to find their form under David Moyes.

United endured a shaky start under the former Everton manager but have since started to climb the Premier League table and on Wednesday booked their place in the knock-out round of the Champions League with a game to spare.

The 5-0 romp over Bayer Leverkusen was United's biggest away win in Europe for over half-a-century, however, Beckham says the signs of recovery were already there.

The United legend told Phil Edwards in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports that the transitional period since Sir Alex Ferguson handed over the reins at Old Trafford is over.

"I don't think it was a game changer because I think we've seen over the past few weeks that players are performing and players are gelling together, there's more confidence in the team. You can see that and you can feel that.

"David Moyes is a great manager he's had success with Everton over the years, the way they played the game, the way they had that togetherness.

"I've known David for quite a few years when we played together at Preston, I know how driven he is, I know how loved he is by the players and he'll have success.

"There was always going to be that transitional period of Sir Alex Ferguson leaving but like Sir Alex always said, 'Manchester United is Manchester United'.

"Big players leave and the club moves on and it's the same with the manager. He'll always remain part of Manchester United in such a huge, huge way but David Moyes is the manager now and you can see the players coming together."

DEALS CONFIRMED FOR JUAN MATA & ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI!

 

Deals are in place for  Robert Lewandowski to sign for Chelsea and Juan Mata to leave for the French League but as yet, it's unclear whether or not these deals will happen in January.

Do not ask me who my source is as I cannot reveal that information. What I can tell you is that it seems that Juan Mata has had enough, is concerned about his World Cup place and has accepted the fact that despite asking for him to be selected, Jose Mourinho continues to ignore him.

Reports are yet to be revealed but it's believed that an agreement is in place for him to move to France to sign for either Monaco or PSG!

On the plus side, after posting this last week, it's more or less certain that Robert Lewandowski has secured a deal to sign for Chelsea but again this is unclear whether or not this will be in January (so Dortmund can obtain some money before his contract runs out) or at the end of the season.

Top 5 strikers that Chelsea FC should try to sign

With Romelu Lukaku out on loan for the rest of the season, Samuel Eto’o having gone past his peak, and Fernando Torres and Demba Ba struggling for form in front of goal, Chelsea may well be looking to bolster their attacking options.


Here’s a look at five forwards Chelsea may look to next year in order to boost their squad...

Diego Costa

Having been linked with a plethora of Atletico Madrid attackers in the past, Chelsea usually miss out. They finally managed to make Fernando Torres a Blue, via a stint at Liverpool, but that deal hasn’t turned out quite the way they will have wanted, and so they may turn their attentions to Diego Costa. The Brazilian born forward has pace, skill, and energy, and has a fantastic return of 17 goals in 18 appearances in all competitions for Los Colchoneros.

Radamel Falcao

When Radamel Falcao signed for Monaco in the summer, it appeared the seemingly never-ending speculation linking him with a big money move to Chelsea would finally subside. Alas, with Monaco embroiled in an argument over tax with Ligue 1, they may have to offload their superstar striker just months after signing him. Real Madrid will be desperate to bring him in, but they’ll face stiff competition from Chelsea, who have been long time admirers of the Columbian forward.

Javier Hernandez

One thing about Chelsea’s frontline, is that there is a lack of versatility. The attacking players that Mourinho has at his disposal at this current time are all very similar. Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez would offer something different. Your classic ‘nippy’ striker, Hernandez’s main assets are his blistering pace and confident finishing ability. Whilst Mourinho has never really favoured a front two, the prospect of Hernandez playing off Lukaku is a ‘Plan B’ that would intrigue any manager.

Jackson Martinez

Chelsea won’t be the first English team to be interested in Porto’s Jackson Martinez should Jose Mourinho look to sign the striker that is lighting up his former club. The Columbian striker has exploded onto the scene from nowhere, after scoring an incredible 44 goals in 58 appearances so far for the Lisbon outfit. He arrived in Portugal with a reputation as a good goalscorer, having had a solid record in Mexico – he may well be leaving with the reputation as one of the best goalscorer’s in Europe. Chelsea will be one of just several potential suitors, with Liverpool and Tottenham reportedly interested.

Robert Lewandowski

With Lewandowski’s contract at Borussia Dortmund due to expire at the end of the current season, it would appear that much of the January transfer window’s rumour mill will revolve around a bidding war for the Polish striker’s services. Fast, strong, good in the air and clinical with both feet, Lewandowski is one of the finest examples in world football of the ‘complete forward’, with fantastic link-up play also a big part of his game. Bayern Munich are currently the favourites to secure his signature – but they’ll face stiff competition from Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester United, and possibly Chelsea.

Victor Moses warns Brendan Rodgers he needs more playing time at Liverpool

Victor Moses has hinted to Brendan Rodgers that he needs to get more playing time at Liverpool – or he will consider moving elsewhere.

The on-loan Chelsea forward sealed a switch to Anfield in the summer, in a bid to maximise his playing time.

But despite a bright start on Merseyside, he has been relegated to the bench in recent weeks, with Rodgers only using him an impact substitute.

And Moses has hinted that he is prepared to move to another club in January, if he doesn’t get regular matches.

‘The main thing is to be on the pitch and enjoy my football,’ he told the Daily Mirror.

‘That’s always been on my mind – to play games.

‘There was only a little spell at Wigan, when I first signed there, when I wasn’t in the team every week.

‘I’ve always gone to places for the football – places where I’m going to play. By playing, you learn.’

It’s thought that Liverpool are keen on making the loan move a permanent affair at the end of the season, with talk of a £7million deal already on the cards.
However, Rodgers will need to sit down with Moses to reassure him, with the winger clearly disgruntled

Top Gun Jack Wilshere eyes Tom Cruise for film role about Arsenal life

Jack Wilshere has earmarked Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise to play him in a film about his Arsenal career.

The pint-sized playmaker, 21, has enjoyed an action-packed start to his career since being trust into the limelight as a 16-year-old, and feels the Mission: Impossible actor would be the right man to do him justice on the silver screen.

When asked by a fan during a live Google Hangout who would play him in a film about his life, Wilshere said: ‘That’s a good question – [I'd pick] Tom Cruise. And Eva Mendes would be my leading lady.’

The midfielder also admitted he was gutted to see Cesc Fabregas leave the Gunners to return to Barcelona back in 2011, and expressed his gratitude to manager Arsene Wenger for nurturing him through to the Arsenal first team.

‘I was really upset about Fabgregas leaving. He was the captain and you always went to him if you had a problem,’ added Wilshere.

‘[Wenger] gave me a chance when I was 16 and brought me into the first team. He picked me out and gave me that chance to train with the first team. He put his arm around me.

‘Some games I didn’t play well but he still stuck with me, when you’re young you do make mistakes.’

Manchester City Defensive Woes Continue

Manchester City’s defensive record was the best in the Premier League each of the past three seasons. Under former Manager Roberto Mancini, the club may not have played the most attractive style of football but tactical shape and defensive organization were considered the keys to success.

 However this season under new Manager Manuel Pellegrini and without Captain Vincent Kompany for almost the entire campaign, the Blues are struggling at the back, conceding seemingly countless opportunities to the opposition. Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League saw the Czech side create countless opportunities and City had to rely heavily on the heroics of Joe Hart to salvage a victory.

It has been easy to point to the back line as a problem for the team but perhaps the problems lie deeper.

Midfielder Samir Nasri told the Manchester Evening News the following:

“We need to improve how we defend as a team. We conceded two goals. In the last game in the Champions League we conceded two as well and (against) Bayern Munich three.

“We need to improve, as a team, how to defend, especially in the Champions League. Then, if we can continue this form, it will be amazing.”

Post-match Pellegrini echoed Nasri’s sentiments.

We can attack and we can score four goals, but without giving (away) as many chances as we did today in defending.

“One of the most important things to be an attacking team is to know how to defend well. Today we did very, very bad.

“I am talking about the whole team. I think the whole team must know how to defend.

“We didn’t have the intensity or the pace today to do it and I am not talking about individual players.”

Where do City’s defensive woes lie? Too many attack minded players not marking properly? A shambolic back line who have been unable to function without Kompany? A messy goalkeeper situation? All of the above?

Manchester United advances to the knock out stage of the Champions League as they beat Bayer Leverkusen by 0-5

Manchester United who are not performing so well in the English League, put on a great show as they scored 5 goals past Bayer Leverkusen.

Goals from Antonio Valencia, Evans ,Smalling , Nani and an own goal by Spahic helped Manchester United to progress into the next round. Four of the goals were assisted by Wayne Rooney.

Antonio Valencia opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of the game. Wayne Rooney’s cross was met by Valencia, whose shot from the right side of the six yard box found the bottom right 

corner. 

 United’s lead was doubled when Spahic scored an own goal.

Later in the 65th minute of the second half, Jonny Evans extended United’s lead. Rooney’s shot rebounded and kindly fell into Evans’ feet as he had put the ball into the net from a very close range.

More was to come as Smalling added another goal to make it 0-4. 

Once again Rooney providing the assist as he chipped the ball over the keeper to Smalling’s feet. Samlling then scored in an empty, again from a very close range.

Nani wrapped up the scoring as he scored the 5th goal of the game for Manchester United.

Manchester United have 11 points from 5 games and have already qualified to the next round with a game in hand. Whereas, Bayer Leverkusen have 7 points from 5 games.

Former Tottenham chairman Alan Sugar wants Sir Alex Ferguson to come out of retirement and replace Andre Villas-Boas

 

Former Tottenham chairman Lord Sugar wants Sir Alex Ferguson to come out of retirement and replace current Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Villas-Boas' position as Tottenham manager has come under scrutiny in recent weeks because of a dip in form.

Tottenham lost 6-0 at Manchester City on Sunday and Sugar has become bemused with the way the Portuguese has set his team out in recent matches.

Sugar's main role in TV show The Apprentice is to fire contestants who are not up to the job, and the successful entrepreneur, who now sits in the House of Lords, clearly feels Villas-Boas has not been up to scratch himself so far.

"I've struggled to understand AVB's tactics," Sugar told talkSPORT "You wonder how we are going to get a goal.

"Four, five or even six games before [the 6-0 defeat to Manchester City] you couldn't see where the goals were coming from.

"The formation that AVB plays, I don't understand at all. I put my hands up, I am no great football expert, but I don't understand it at all."

And Sugar would like to see Ferguson replace Villas-Boas.

"My dream would be that my good friend Sir Alex Ferguson will get itchy feet in about a year or so and decide he wants to get back into management and maybe bring his wonderful wife down to London and manage our team," Sugar added.

"If he comes to watch the game, I will suggest some nice houses for him and his wife to stay in."

Andre Villas-Boas the manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur Andre Villas-Boas the manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur 

A £100million summer spending spree raised hopes among the Tottenham faithful, but that hope has given way to fear, especially as a rampant Manchester United team are due at White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Sugar added: "(Chairman) Daniel Levy did a very good deal with [Gareth] Bale. He was going, there was nothing he could do about it, and he has given (sporting director) Franco Baldini the money to go out and spend, but I wonder if it is just a case of spending for the sake of spending it.

"Maybe we should have sat back a few moments and been a bit selective, a bit like (Arsenal boss) Arsene Wenger."

Chris Smalling says Ryan Giggs is a role model for United team-mates

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has labelled birthday boy Ryan Giggs the role model all his team-mates look up to.

Giggs celebrates his 40th birthday on Friday, with United manager David Moyes believing the Welshman is still improving.

The United veteran shone in the 5-0 Champions League romp over Bayern Leverkusen on Wednesday night, controlling the game at the pace he wished, always seeming to make the right pass.

"Ryan is a role model for us all," said Smalling. "He is a cool head in the middle.

"Despite his age, even in the 90th minute he was still taking on three or four players.

"It is terrific to see such a legend playing amongst us.

"His pass for Nani's goal at the end just sums him up. He has that incredible vision. He is terrific and an example to everyone."

The biggest issue Moyes has with Giggs right now is when to pick him and when to give him the rest so obviously required.

It cannot be easy, especially with Michael Carrick on the sidelines and neither Marouane Fellaini nor Tom Cleverley able to match Giggs' influence in central midfield.

Leverkusen boss Sami Hyypia doubtless wishes Moyes had elected to save Giggs' legs in readiness for Sunday's trip to Tottenham given he was responsible for an overall United performance the Finn accepted was far too good for his own side.

"We really punished them," said Smalling. "Bayern Munich were the only team to take points off them at their ground in the league this season, which speaks for itself.

"But we put them to the sword.

"Once we got two goals ahead you could see their heads drop.

"They knew they were going to be well beaten because we were not going to let that lead slip."

Only once in their entire history have United won an away game in Europe by a greater margin.

That 6-0 win in 1957 was at the expense of Irish part-timers Shamrock Rovers, not the team presently second in the Bundesliga.

Remarkably, Leverkusen could still join United in the knockout stages providing Shakhtar Donetsk do not leave Old Trafford with a victory that would deprive Moyes' side of top spot in Group A when the sides meet in a fortnight.

Not even Sir Alex Ferguson won a European away fixture by five goals.

The best he could manage was a 6-2 success against Brondby in Copenhagen during the group stage of the 1999 Treble winning campaign.

It could, therefore, turn out to be a significant evening for Moyes, who has still not convinced everyone he is the right man to replace Ferguson.

Smalling can look back on the evening with satisfaction too.

Criticised by Moyes for conceding the injury-time free-kick from which Cardiff got their shock equaliser on Sunday, the former Fulham man was a far more confident presence at right-back.

He even chipped in with a goal, finishing off from close range at the far post, from a cross provided by Rooney.

"We have been threatening to do that all season," he said.

"There have been a few times when we have gone ahead in games and not got the second that would allow us to kick on to make ourselves a bit more comfortable.

"I am quite pleased to get on the scoresheet too.

"I have been getting closer and closer over the last few games, although my goal was probably the easiest chance I will ever have.

"We are starting to look a real threat from set pieces, which is important because the manager wants us to chip in.

"We have a few players who can be dangerous in those areas and with the delivery Rooney and Giggs were putting in, we were due."

Agent: "I would like a meeting with Liverpool in January. My player wants a transfer."

MIRROR REPORTS:

Liverpool's Fabio Borini 'wants transfer back to Italy to end Premier League frustration'
27 Nov 2013 22:30

Italy striker who couldn't get into Reds' side and is also a sub on loan at Sunderland needs game-time with World Cup looming

Liverpool forward Fabio Borini wants to return to Italian football in January, according to his agent.

The 22-year-old Italy international move to the Reds from Roma in a £10million deal in summer 2012 but failed to establish himself as injuries struck.

He's currently on a season-long loan at Sunderland, but isn't starting matches for them either.

And with next summer's World Cup approaching, he is apparently fed-up with life as a bit-part player.

Agent Marco De Marchi said: "Liverpool own him and in the summer didn't want him to leave, even though the player wants minutes. He dreams of Brazil in 2014 and needs games.

"He's only had a chance at Sunderland after the arrival of Gus Poyet, but it is still insufficient.

"I would like a meeting with Liverpool in January."

A MESSAGE TO JOSE MOURINHO - "YOU HAVE GOT TO PLAY JUAN MATA!"

As each game passes, I am more and more concerned that it's seems that Juan Mata is wasted on the bench and if we aren't careful, he will be off in January! Jose, now you MUST play him!

Being honest I am sick to death of hearing about players tracking back. I am sick to death of reading that Juan Mata is not being played in the side because of his work rate off of the ball and I cannot understand it.

Let's look at the situation with playing Juan Mata as the "number 10". For me, we would have the two wingers tracking back and working hard in addition to the two defensive midfielders. This would mean we would have NINE players to deal with the defensive side of the game off of the ball if you also include the centre forward being taken out of the equation.

That's NINE players to deal with the defensive side without the ball thus giving Juan Mata the freedom to pick the ball up and start to create and craft as we have all been so used to seeing over the past two seasons.

I appreciate that Oscar has been playing well but for me, I still believe that Juan Mata offers us much more in that position that our Brazilian does at the moment, much more of an end product!

If we ignore the West Ham performance, surely the performances against Newcastle and West Brom were bad enough but to not even create one shot on target against Basel last night, with Juan Mata an option on the bench and to leave him there is something i will NEVER understand.

Jose, swallow your pride and get over what ever the hell your problem is with Juan Mata. Do what's best for our football club and first and foremost our football team and make Juan Mata the first name on your team sheet from now on!

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet says Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are best duo

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet thinks his team-mates Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez form the top strike partnership in football.

The Reds have made a very promising start to the season and, following Saturday's dramatic 3-3 draw at local rivals Everton, sit second in the Premier League, four points behind leaders Arsenal.

A key factor in Liverpool's good run has been the fine form of their two front men.

Sturridge came off the bench to score a late equaliser at Everton and the England man and Suarez now have nine league goals each for the season, just one behind leading goalscorer Sergio Aguero of Manchester City.


"I come across them every day in training and I don't think there is a better partnership than the two of them."
Simon Mignolet
"I come across them every day in training and I don't think there is a better partnership than the two of them," said Mignolet.

"They can produce a lot of goals and hopefully they can keep doing that.

"We know what Daniel can do for us, he can score goals. He came on at the weekend and luckily he was there to equalise."

Title chances

Liverpool will play 15 Premier League games between now and the end of February, and Mignolet thinks this period will determine whether they are genuine contenders.

Asked his view on Liverpool's title prospects, the Belgian said: "We just take games as they come and try to focus on the next game in hand.

"We try to make sure we get three points there, then do the same the next week. The season is still long and, from now until February, there are a lot of games to be played.

"Last season, I think it was February, March when everybody knew the championship was going to be decided between Manchester City and Manchester United.

"So we just have to focus on ourselves and make sure that, in this time, we get as many points as we can."

Man City line-up v Viktoria Plzen: All change at the back?

Manchester City have already ensured their qualification for the knockout stage of the Champions League, but with first place up for contention in Group D, Manuel Pellegrini will still have his eye on the more comfortable draw that top spot facilitates. talkSPORT looks at City's possible line-up against Viktoria Plzen…

All change at the back?
One major change in the defensive side of City’s team has already been confirmed, with Manuel Pellegrini due to reinstate Joe Hart between the sticks. The manager will be tempted to rest a few of his defenders, too, and at the same time, won’t want to disrupt the good momentum his team built up from their 6-0 thrashing of Tottenham.

One player who could do with some rest is Pablo Zabaleta, who has started 13 games for City this season. In his place, Micah Richards could be handed a rare start. Martin Demichelis, on the other hand, could retain his place in the line-up, with the Argentine in particular need of a regular run of games due to a disruptive start to the campaign through injury. Alongside him, Joleon Lescott could continue, after coming on as a substitute in the victory against Spurs. Aleksandar Kolarov, meanwhile, could replace Gael Clichy should the Serbian make a sufficient recovery from illness.

Less changes in the attack?
City’s attacking play really clicked at the weekend, so Pellegrini may want to keep the same players involved as long as possible to avoid disrupting the understanding between his players. David Silva misses out through injury, so Samir Nasri remains favourite for one of the attacking midfield roles, while Jesus Navas may keep his place after a brace against Spurs, though could be replaced by James Milner.

Sergio Aguero and Alvaro Negredo are clearly City’s strongest front two at the moment, and could have a chance to continue their free-scoring form against weak opposition. One change to keep an eye out for is the introduction of John Guidetti. The Swede has featured in Manuel Pellegrini’s recent matchday squads, but has yet to make his return to the City first team, and Plzen could be the perfect opportunity for him to do so.

Aston Villa yet to make a decision on Charles N'Zogbia's future

Paul Lambert will wait until Charles N'Zogbia returns to full fitness before making a decision on his Aston Villa future.

The Villa boss says he is keeping an 'open mind' when it comes to the French winger - who remains sidelined with an Achilles complaint.

N'Zogbia is yet to take in a competitive outing for Villa this season, having sustained the unfortunate injury while training over the summer.

He is expected to be back in the New Year, but doubts linger over his involvement in the second half of the season.

It has been suggested that, as one of the club's high earners and having been stripped of the number 10 jersey for 2013/14, N'Zogbia does not figure in Lambert's long-term plans.

The Scot has, however, told the Birmingham Mail that no call has been made as yet, saying: "I always have an open mind. We'll see what happens in January but we need to get his injury cleared up first.

"I think an Achilles heel is a bad injury. When you get that, sometimes you're better off just breaking your leg because you can come back quicker than an Achilles heel. It's just a horrible injury to get, so we just have to see.

"He's still a way off. It's still a bit of a long-term one. I wouldn't have thought the whole season, but it will still be long-term.

"We need every player to be fit. I think, first and foremost, Charles has got to get back fit and then we'll see what happens from there. I think it's unfair pressure to put on him.

"It's going to take its time to heal. I just have to wait and let the medics here treat him the way they think is right and see where he goes."

Barça fall one match short of equalling best start to season

Martino’s Barça leave their unbeaten record at 20 matches

Pinto conceded his first goal in the Champions league

Pedro made his 50th appearance in the Champions League. He has scored 14 goals in the competition.

All the facts and figures from FC Barcelona’s first defeat of the season against Ajax (2-1) in the Amsterdam Arena:

    This was the first time Pinto has conceded a goal in the Champions league
    Actual playing time was 54 minutes and nine seconds; play was stopped for 40 minutes and 57 seconds.
    After going  20 games without defeat, last night’s result means that FC Barcelona just miss out on matching their best start to a season (21 matches unbeaten)
    Barça completely dominated the second half with 61.4% possession.
    Pedro made his 50th appearance in the Champions League.  He’s scored 14 goals in the competition.
    Barça made 917 actions compared with 596 from Frank de Boer’s Ajax.
    Ajax had 10 shots and Barça 7.
    Barça made 695 passes, 583 completed.
    Ajax committed 21 fouls compared to 17 by Barça.
    Barça received 5 yellow cards (Fàbregas, Piqué, Montoya, Iniesta and Neymar) and Ajax two (Van Rhijn and Schöne).
    Cesc Fàbregas picked up his third yellow card and will be suspended for the last group match against Celtic.

CSKA Moscow v Bayern Munich stats

Bayern have won their last nine Champions League games in a row, setting a club record and matching the all-time Champions League record (set by Barcelona in 2002-03).

Match Stats

    Franck Ribery has created more goal-scoring chances without assisting a goal than any other player in the Champions League this season.
    In the last meeting between the two teams, Bayern scored three times from nine shots on target. CSKA managed just two shots on target and 20 overall in that period - an average of 2.5 per game.
    Arjen Robben has scored (five) or assisted (four) nine goals in his last six Champions League appearances.
    Apart from David Beckham, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery are the only players in Champions League history to win 11 matches in a row. With Schweinsteiger ruled out for Moscow due to an ankle injury, only Ribery has a chance to surpass Beckham's record.
    Bayern Munich have registered 12 points from the first four Matchdays, equalling their best in in the group stages (2010/11).
    Alongside Viktoria Plzen, CSKA have conceded the most goals in this season's Championseague (12).
    CSKA have also conceded the most headed goals (four). On the other hand, Bayern Munich have only conceded one goal in this season's campaign, fewer than any other team.

The long and the short of it... Wenger slates Arsenal star Flamini for ignoring orders and cutting his shirt sleeves

Mathieu Flamini has been banned from cutting the sleeves off his match jersey after flouting a club tradition for the second successive game.

Arsenal players are expected to wear the same length sleeve as the match-day captain, but Flamini refused to abide by the unwritten rule, cutting off his sleeves at the elbow for the clash against Marseille.

Flamini did the same thing in Arsenal's previous game; the defeat against Manchester United earlier this month. 

His decision sparked an angry confrontation between the Gunners kit staff and Flamini.

But Wenger insisted Flamini would not be allowed to break the club tradition again.

Wenger said: 'I don't like that, it won't happen again.'

However, speaking after the game Flamini seemed defiant in his intention to continue with wearing short sleeves.

'I've been playing at the top level for 10 years and I like to wear short sleeves,' said the former AC Milan midfielder. 'It is what I like.'

Olivier Giroud also had short sleeves, though in his case the French striker had rolled them up rather than snipped them off.

England midfielder Jack Wilshere scored both goals for the Gunners, who following Borussia Dortmund's 3-1 home win over Napoli now just need to avoid a three-goal defeat when they travel to Italy next month to qualify with a draw securing top spot and with it seeding for the knockout stages
Wenger, though, will take nothing for granted.

He said: 'It is unbelievable, (not to have qualified yet with 12 points), but it is reality. We have to finish the job.

'It is not an easy situation - it is a tricky situation because you can think, 'Okay, let's just not lose big' but I think that would be a mistake.

'[We need to] go there, play in a positive way and try to win the game. Everything else would be a dangerous gamble.

'Having said that, Marseille will play the last game at home to Dortmund - they haven't lost [that game] yet. They will have to turn up. They will be under pressure to at least take some points from this group stage.'

Wilshere added: 'I've never scored four goals in a season before. I've set myself a target of 10 and hopefully I can reach that.'

Arsenal transfer news: Saints and Gunners mulling over Brazilian

Arsenal and Southampton will apparently battle each other for Wolfsburg playmaker Diego,
What’s the latest?
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season and the January transfer window just over a month away, Brazilian playmaker Diego has been sounding out potential future employers. The 28-year-old has made no secret of his desire to play in England and has welcomed speculation linking him with moves to Arsenal and Southampton.

The nitty gritty
1. Diego’s rise to prominence is a typical tale for Brazil players. Having shown promise for local sides in and around his home town of Ribeirao Preto, he was spotted by Brazilian giants Santos, where he developed his craft before turning professional with the club aged 16.

2. During his time at Santos, Diego gained recognition, shining alongside future international team-mates Robinho, Elano and Alex and before too long, he caught the attentions of European sides. Portuguese side Porto were the lucky beneficiaries of his signature, bringing him to Europe as the replacement for Deco, who left the club for Barcelona in 2004.

3. One of the main criticisms of Diego is his wild inconsistency. The playmaker regularly flits between dazzling artistry and anonymity, and it was this which ultimately cost him his place at Porto. Luckily, Werder Bremen saw fit to bring him to Germany in 2006 – a move which proved to be inspired with Diego enjoying perhaps the finest spell of his career. Despite acting as a creative spark, Diego still managed to scored 54 goals in three seasons with the club, taking them to their first ever UEFA Cup final in 2009 and inspiring them two domestic trophies during his time.

4. His inconsistency proved detrimental to his time at Juventus and despite joining the Italian giants for €24.5m in 2009, he failed to settle and frequently fell-out with then coach Ciro Ferrara. Arguments with his bosses is something Diego has shown a penchant for and after only one season he moved back to Germany, this time to Wolfsburg.

5. Diego’s time at the Volkswagen Arena has been mixed to say the least. His frequent clashes with former bosses Steve McClaren and Felix Magath resulted in the Brazilian receiving regular fines and even saw him loaned out for the season to Atletico Madrid where he played an integral role in their 2012 Europa League success. This season has been slightly better, although he has made it clear this will be his last with the German club.

He says
“I know there is interest from Premier League clubs. I have heard Arsenal is one of them. It would be the ideal destination for me because their style suits my characteristics perfectly. Of course I would say 'yes' to Arsenal.”
– Diego on speculation linking him with Arsenal

"Southampton have great organisation and discipline and big talents like Adam Lallana. But again there is nothing concrete. Playing in England is a very attractive option at the peak of my career but I'm focusing on helping Wolfsburg get to the Champions League."
– Diego on possibility of joining Southampton

HIGHEST AVERAGE ATTENDANCES IN EUROPE

#10 St. James’ Park, Newcastle 

With an average attendance of 50,517, St. James’ Park is the home of Premier League side, Newcastle United. 

#9 Amsterdam Arena, Ajax 

With an average attendance of 51,037, the Amsterdam Arena is home to Eredivisie side, Ajax. Ajax have always been a very successful club, winning 32 league titles, they’re not a team to be messed with 

#8 Imtech Arena, Hamburg 

With an average attendance of 52,916, the Imtech Arena is home to Bundesliga side Hamburg SV. Hamburg has always played attractive football and are constantly up there with the best in the Bundesliga. 

#7 Emirates Stadium, Arsenal 

With an average attendance of 60,079, the Emirates Stadium is home to Premier League side, Arsenal. Even though Arsenal haven’t won a trophy in 8+ years, they were unstoppable in their day and seem to be stepping up their game once again. 

#6 Veltins Arena, Schalke 04 

With an average attendance of 61,076, the Veltins Arena is home to Bundesliga side, Schalke 04. Schalke have consistently been up there with the best of them over the years and have produced some incredibly exciting players too, including Manuel Neuer and Julian Draxler. 

#5 Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich 

With an average attendance of 71,000, the Allianz Arena is home to Bundesliga side, Bayern Munich. Bayern are currently unstoppable, they’ve reached the Champions League final for the past two seasons running and won the famous treble last season too. 

#4 Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid 

With an average attendance of 71,368, the Santiago Bernabeu is home to La Liga side, Real Madrid. Madrid have won it all, with 32 La Liga titles, 18 Copa del Rey’s and a monumental 9 Champion League trophies to their name, their one of the best in the business. 

#3 Camp Nou, Barcelona 

With an average attendance of 73,660, Camp Nou is home to La Liga side, Barcelona. The Spanish giants are one of the best teams in the world and have been for most of footballing history. 

#2 Old Trafford, Man United 

With an average attendance of 75,529, Old Trafford is home to Premier League side, Manchester United. Said to be the biggest club in the world, United have 20 League titles, 11 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 3 Champions League trophies and more. 

#1 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund 

With an average attendance of 80,520, Westfalenstadion is home of Borussia Dortmund. Dortmund are basically the perfect football team, they don’t spend a lot on transfers so they can keep their season ticket prices really low.