Realistic Expectations for the the 2010/2011 season?
Article By Callum Rothwell
World Cup Round-Up – Day Four
After Germany set the tone for the tournament on Sunday, another pair of Europe’s big guns took centre stage.
First up were Holland and their group E match against Denmark. After yet another goalless first half, Holland took the lead seconds into the second half, Daniel Agger putting past his own keeper.
Robin van Persie ‘s cross was headed by Simon Poulson onto the back of Agger, hit the post and finished in the back of the Danish net. Holland wrapped the game up with five minutes left. Eljero Elia ran through on goal but his shot hit the post and rolled for Dirk Kuyt to tap home. Nigel de Jong played 88 minutes of the game but was also booked. Another card for him will see him miss Holland’s final group game.
So Holland off to a good start, but what about those other two Group E heavyweights Japan and Cameroon?
Well it was another yawn fest which saw Japan scrape a 1-0 win thanks to a first half goal from Keisuke Honda, who controlled a far post cross superbly before slotting home a left foot finish.
Cameroon seemed to lack the spirit of their previous World Cup campaigns, despite boasting star striker Samuel Eto’o in their ranks and seem to have lost the passion that took them to the quarter finals in 1990 when they narrowly lost 3-2 to England after leading 2-1.
And so to the third game of the day and Group F’s opener. Roque Santa Cruz was named on the bench for Paraguay ahead of their clash with Italy. The holders were looking for a comfortable win but were behind when Antolin Alcaraz headed home in the 38th minute.
The unconvincing holders managed to gain a point when alleged City target Daniele de Rossi prodded home in the 63rd minute after the Paraguay keeper flapped at a corner. Santa was brought on five minutes later but failed to make any real impact in the game as the tournament saw its fourth draw in eleven games.
Tuesday sees the mighty New Zealand taking on Vladimir Weiss’ Slovakia at 12.30, live on the BBC website if you can get away with it, while the afternoon match sees Kolo and Yaya Toure in action for the Ivory Coast as they take on Portugal. Come on Ivory Coast.
And in the evening, Brazil are going to show us exactly how it’s done as they face North Korea. Let’s hope Robinho proves his worth so we can get a good price for him.
City Want Valencia Man
City boss Roberto Mancini is set to return to the Spanish side Valencia in order to sign winger Pablo Hernandez.
The Daily Mail reports Valencia are ready to listen to offers for Hernandez but any chance of a deal for David Silva is all but dead as the playmaker has already rejected speculation about a move to the blues and has stated he wants to remain in Spain.
However, Valencia president Manuel Llorente is ready to listen to offers for his three midfield amigos: Silva, Hernandez and left winger Juan Mata and a deal for Hernandez could be struck soon.
Hernandez made 58 appearances for Valencia last season, scoring five goals and his signing could cast fresh doubt over the future of City’s England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips.
Do we need another winger? Is SWP’s time up?
World Cup – Get Off Green’s Back And Support The Lads
Okay, so Robert Green made a mistake on Saturday when he allowed Clint Dempsey’s shot to slip away for the USA equaliser. But the way the British media are reporting on this is making it look like Green’s error meant the end of England’s participation at the World Cup.
We all screamed in agony on Saturday watching the ball roll over the line and anger was initially aimed towards the West Ham keeper. But that kind of mistake could have happened to anyone. And it did the following day with the Algerian keeper.
Rob Green had a bad moment but it isn’t the end of the world but the media focus on it like the whole World Cup will rest on that error. What they seem to forget is Green made a terrific save to deny the Americans the lead when he tipped Jozy Altidore’s shot onto the post. What they also seem to forget is that fact that there are ten outfield players all capable of creating and scoring goals yet they didn’t. Aaron Lennon crossed in the first half when it would have been better to shoot and Emile Heskey missed a golden chance in the second half but hit it right down Howard’s throat.
The British media seem to want England to fail. Either that or they’re all Scottish. In some sort of sadistic way, they enjoy writing stories about our failures rather than our successes and in doing so, they pinpoint on certain players, hammer them for one incident which then knocks their confidence for the next game.
It is about time they got behind the lads in South Africa. If they are to even attempt to win the World Cup, they could do with everyone on their side. But it will be impossible if the media are constantly printing negative crap about them.
So do us a favour British media, stand up and get behind Rob Green and the boys. It’s going to be hard enough to beat teams like Germany without having to battle the press as well.
We’re English. Start acting like it.
World Cup Round-Up – Day Three – City, Please Buy The Germans
After the disappointment of England’s failure to get a win under their belts against the USA, attention turned to Group C’s other game featuring Algeria and Slovenia.
Both teams played an open game but in the end it was a solitary goal by Slovenia’s for West Brom player Robert Koren that secured the win. Algeria keeper Faouzi Chaouchi looked like he’d been taking goalkeeping lesson from Rob Green as he tried to scoop up the shot but missed hopelessly mis-timed it and allowed the shot to sneak into the net, giving Slovenia their first ever win at a major tournament.
With such goalkeeping on display in Group C, Friday’s game between England and Algeria should see a glut of goals. The win means Slovenia top the group while Algeria sink to the bottom.
With Group C done and dusted in the first games, Group D took centre stage with Ghana’s match against Serbia, which saw the tournament’s first penalty but the supporters had to wait until the 85th minute to see it. Zdravko Kuzmanovichandled and Asamoah Gyan stepped up to give Ghana the points in a 1-0 win.
Serbia, coached by a certain Raddy Antic, had to play the last sixteen minutes with ten men following Aleksandar Lukovic’s sending off for a second bookable offence and the Serbs face a tough battle if they are to remain in the competition as they face Germany next.
Talking of Germany, if City buy anyone this summer, please make it the German national side. I know they were only playing Australia but Germany were ruthless as they powered their way to a 4-0 win to become the tournaments top scorers.
Lukas Podolski opened the scoring after just eight minutes when he rifled home a left foot shot from the edge of the area. Miroslav Klose mad it 2-0 with a header on 27 minutes to give the Germans a 2-0 lead at half-time. Australia did have their chances to score but were denied by either excellent defending or poor finishing.
In the 55th minute, Everton’s Tim Cahill was harshly given a straight red when only a yellow at the most would have sufficed when he made a clumsy challenge on Bastian Schweinsteiger.
But by that time, Germany were in complete control and a third goal came in the 68th minute. Thomas Mueller made himself some space before hitting a shot that went in off the post and two minutes later, Brazilian born Cacau made it four when he converted Mesut Ozil’s cross.
So Germany easily top the group and on this display should have no problems qualifying to face the runners up in England’s group.
For God’s sake Fabio, win the group.
Monday’s game see group E start with Nigel de Jong’s Holland taking on Denmark at 12.30, followed by Japan v Cameroon at 3pm. If you have internet access at work you should be able to watch it live.
The evening game sees Group F begin with holders Italy taking on Roque Santa Cruz’s Paraguay. I don’t understand why the Italian squad doesn’t feature former blues Bernardo Corradi and Rolando Bianchi. Must both be injured.
Villa Legend Demands Loyalty From Milner
Aston Villa legend Tony Morley has said James Milner needs to show some loyalty towards the club and resist the urge to join City.
The call from Morley, who won the league title and European Cup with Villa in the early 80’s, comes on the back of the news that Martin O’Neill will ask Milner to stay for another season, echoing the Gareth Barry saga of two seasons ago.
The England man was the subject of a £20m bid from the blues last month and City are reportedly planning an increased bid once England’s participation at the World Cup has ended. But O’Neill will attempt to convince Milner to stay, spurning the advances of City and Chelsea.
Morley believes O’Neill is in a difficult situation, faced with the prospect of either losing his best player or keeping an unhappy player at the club. “What chance has Martin O’Neill got if he keeps losing his best players?” asked Morley. “Martin is in a catch 22 situation. His best player has been offered a massive amount of money but will the club replace him with anyone better?”
Morley also believes Milner needs to show more respect to Villa, as it was the Midlands side who gave his break when they signed him from Newcastle. “If I was James Milner I would stay at the Villa and show some loyalty,” Morley added. “It is Villa who has put him on the platform he is on now. What has happened to loyalty?”
“He has had a great season, got in the England squad and now all of a sudden it seems like he wants to leave because Manchester City have come in. He was saying he was happy at the club a few months ago.”
Milner was replaced after 30 minutes of England’s opening match of the World Cup against USA, ironically by City man Shaun Wright-Phillips, one of four who were apparently on offer to Villa to replace Milner.
If That’s You’re Attitude Silva, You Know What To Do
With all the excitement of the World Cup and particularly England, transfer rumours have taking a bit of a back seat so now is the time to catch up.
First of all, David Silva has stated that, in no uncertain terms, that he will not join City because they can’t offer Champions League Football. The Valencia midfielder is apparently waiting until after the World Cup to decide on his future but seems to have already decided that City will not be his next destination.
Basically, Silva is looking for a team that is already successful and wants to join a bandwagon, rather than be there at the start of something big, so this glory hunter can do one and we can sign players who want to play for the team.
Next up is the rather ridiculous rumour that City want to sign Nemanja Vidic from the Stretford Rangers. Rumours have been rife that the Serbian is looking to leave the Theatre of Crap this summer and part of the reason he apparently wants to leave is because his wife doesn’t like England or Manchester, so quite where this rumour has come from is anyone’s guess.
And finally, City target Milos Krasic has stated he wants to play in Italy. The 25 year old currently plays for CSKA Moscow and now looks likely to join Juventus for £9m.
World Cup Round Up – Day Two
Finally, it was England’s turn to take centre stage in South Africa but before we get to that, there were the two games in Group B.
Firstly, South Korea became the tournament’s top scorers when they beat Greece 2-0. A first half strike from Lee Jung-Soo after just seven minutes was doubled by Ji Sung-Park in the 57th minute to send South Korea top of the group.
In the group’s other game, Gabriel Heinze scored a bullet of a header for Argentina as Diego Maradona’s team beat Nigeria 1-0. Lionel Messi was in fantastic form but was unable to beat the even better Vincent Enyeama, who produced a series of excellent saves to keep out the Argies.
Carlos Tevez played the full 90 minutes but he too was unable to beat Enyeama when he saw his curling shot brilliantly tipped away. Supposed City target Angel Di Maria played 85 minutes before being substituted and giving his replacement an affectionate kiss on the cheek. Nice.
And so to England v USA, conveniently starting just as Doctor Who finished, so a huge round of applause for the TV schedulers there. City target James Milner started for England, as did Emile Heskey up front.
And it was Heskey who laid on the tournament’s quickest goal so far, playing a neat pass to Steven Gerrard who took one touch before flicking the ball beyond Tim Howard for the opener. Heskey was playing brilliantly when he wasn’t being caught offside but it was Aaron Lennon who could have doubled England’s lead but decided to pass rather than shoot.
But England’s dream start was dashed by west Ham keeper Robert Green, who allowed Clint Dempsey’s shot to roll from his grasp and into the net for the equaliser. Green later made up for his error when he palmed a Jozy Altidore shot onto the post and Heskey could have given England the lead but shot straight at Howard.
Shaun Wright-Phillips replaced Milner after 30 minutes following Milner’s booking but, despite some good runs, failed to provide a spark for the Three Lions.
So the game ended in a draw between the two favourites to qualify from the group and England now have to wait until next Friday night before playing again against Algeria, while the USA take on Slovenia.
Sunday sees Group C completing their first games when Algeria and Slovenia meet in the day’s first game, while Group D opens with Serbia v Ghana and Jerome Boateng’s Germany take on the Socceroos of Australia.
Should be another good day of football.
Barca? Besiktas? We Don’t Care. Just Go
City’s expensive waste of time Robinho is now a target for Besiktas and apparently the Brazilian is open to the move.
It was rumoured that the British record signing from Real Madrid was interested in a move to Barcelona and could have been used as bait to get Yaya Toure or Zlatan Imbrahimovich to Eastlands.
But it appears Robinho would be open to moving to the Turkish club because of former Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster, who was Robinho’s manager at Real Madrid and is now in charge of Besiktas.
“If Schuster is there, I could go too,” said Robinho, who is currently on world Cup duty with Brazil.
Robinho became an instant hero when he signed for then manager Mark Hughes and was the first big money transfer of the ADUG regime. But his status amongst City fans has fallen so much that most blues fans couldn’t care less where he ends up as long as he goes.
Don’t suppose we could interest in Jo as well? Buy one get one free?
Capello Thinks Barry’s Fit
No, Fabio Capello hasn’t been eyeing Gareth Barry in the showers, but has declared the City midfield man fit enough for Saturday’s World Cup opener against USA.
“He’s been training normally for three days,” says the Italian before confirming that Barry will at least be on the bench for the game and may play some part in the match.
Barry was one of Capello’s key players during the qualifying rounds and the injury sustained during the Spurs game threw the possibility of his participation at the tournament in doubt.
But now Barry has made an amazing recovery, justifying Capello’s decision to take him to South Africa.
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