Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has admitted that his side are in danger of being dragged into a relegation scrap.
The Midlands club are currently sitting in 15th, five points above the bottom three, and the Scottish coach is concerned that like the team could be pulled back into the relegation battle.
“I don’t think I have ever not been worried this season,” he told Mirror Football.
“We have to look to get to at least 40 points. That is the target I’d be giving to the players and get to that target as quickly as possible.
“I think we could have been better with some of the points we have thrown away.
“But we have been weakened by injuries. Birmingham were also definitely significantly weakened after winning the Cup final – losing about five or six key players.
“That does make your job much harder without doubt. But I care, I am conscientious and try and leave no stone unturned.
“I am a deep thinker about things. I am concentrating on winning enough games to make sure Villa is OK,” he concluded.
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Villa are currently without long-term absentees Richard Dunne, Darren Bent and now captain Stiliyan Petrov.
Liverpool have no chance of enticing Didier Deschamps away from Marseille, according to the French side's president Jean-Claude Dassier.
The former France international midfielder guided Marseille to the Ligue 1 title last term, impressing the Anfield hierarchy in the process.
The Reds are without a manager following Rafael Benitez's departure earlier in the summer, with current Fulham boss Roy Hodgson believed to be the favourite to take on the role.
However, Dassier claims Deschamps is the man Liverpool want, telling L'Equipe:"It's true, Liverpool's executive director, Christian Purslow, called me on Thursday morning. He speaks French very well and is very polite.
"I was expecting his call because I had heard of Liverpool's interest in Didier. He asked me if I would allow him to meet Didier and (agent) Jean-Pierre Bernes. I replied that I would never forbid anyone from meeting whoever.
"I also kindly indicated to him that there wasn't the slightest chance for him to pinch our coach. Even in his dreams.
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"With Didier, we have a trusting relationship. I hope he will commit himself to us for another year. I'm not worried. It's true also that Didier is flattered to see a great European club interested in him."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Manchester United chief executive David Gill says that manager Sir Alex Ferguson still has a free hand in the transfer market, despite talk of the club's debts placing a curb on potential spending.
Ferguson has stated that he doesn't expect to be very busy in the summer transfer market, with Gill insisting that funds are in place should the Scot decide that a number of new faces are needed at Old Trafford.
Gill told The Independent:"The money is there. People say Alex is saying that because he has to. Anyone who knows Alex Ferguson knows he wouldn't say that if he didn't mean what he said.
"The money is definitely there. The results for the quarter ending 31 March will show the figures are about £95million cash.
"We are not in a situation whereby Alex is restricted in what he wants to do with the club and his modus operandi as a manager.
"We have never said 'you can't do that, we have to pay interest (on the debt)'.
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"I can look you in the eye and say that. He would say exactly the same thing. People don't believe it.
"We never said to him 'you can't go for that player because he's too much'."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Another disappointing week for Roy Hodgson, after two poor results and performances have caused unrest among supporters on Merseyside. I am sure that no one was more disappointed that this afternoon’s game was called off than the Liverpool boss, who could have done with a confidence boosting result ahead of the Christmas period.
At FFC we have seen a mixed bag of articles which includes Liverpool’s transfer battle; six questions for John W Henry, while three things Reds fans want this Xmas.
We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.
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Ciao Elena – Bernardo’s woman puts the Premiership wags in the shade
The Top TEN Liverpool Tattoos…well sort of
Why a January move to Liverpool isn’t such a ridiculous idea
Liverpool face battle to secure January move
Whatever happened to Neil Mellor?
Lucas v Anderson – A Brazilian Battle
The Top TEN Premier League prospects for 2011
Tottenham swoop highlights Liverpool’s plight
The SIX questions I would like to put to John W Henry
Top TEN most wanted PL transfers in January
Three things a Liverpool fan wants this Christmas
Some stocking fillers for Liverpool fans
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Click here to see the best LIVERPOOL blogs around the web this week.
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The Great Liverpool FC cannot drift into the abyss – This is Anfield
Wake Me Up In May – Kopblog
Hodgson’s defence just doesn’t add up – Live4Liverpool
In defence of Roy Hodgson – This is Anfield
One positive change Liverpool need to make – Our Kop
FOUR Positions that HAVE to be strengthened in January – Live4Liverpool
A letter to Roy Hodgson: Please leave – This is Anfield
After winning their first European Cup last season through what can only be described as eight years of bad luck forming together to make a single cup run of sheer divine intervention, it seems Blues owner Roman Abramovich has got his mojo for the club back.
Big names have not just been linked to Chelsea but have arrived at the club. Eden Hazard and Oscar are the two that have created the most buzz in and around West London, and with the clear backing of the owner again, fans are expecting much better things in the league for their team this season.
There have however been some high profile departures, with the legend that is Didier Drogba being the most noticeable departee – note to AVB, that is how you let a player with multiple goals and years of service leave the club, as a hero, not as someone banned from the first team or Christmas Party.
How far these departures, especially the one of the big Ivorian centre forward, will affect the club remains to be seen, yet it is finally a chance for Fernando Torres to build on the end of last season and the relationship he evidently has with manager Di Matteo and flourish at the Bridge. Should this fail to happen, and another striker not arrive, the club could find themselves wanting in the goal department.
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The club also have to contend with the walking negative press story in the making that is John Terry and a potential FA ban, but Gary Cahill looks more than settled at Stamford Bridge, and whilst he may not be everyone’s cup of tea, David Luiz is growing in stature every game he plays. Likewise in the middle of the park, Ramires will be the one most people are watching and expecting to shine, with the player showing that not only does he have vision, never ending pace and ability, he also has a keen eye for a goal, and an important one at that – which I am sure Barcelona fans will attest to.
One thing that may have surprised a few, especially in the summer that Pep Guardiola departed Barcelona, is the fact that RDM remains in charge of the club. It seems clear that Abramovich tried in vain to persuade Pep to take over the club, and having failed turned to his backup plan of Di Matteo.
What cannot be argued with is the fact that every trophy RDM was able to win after rescuing the club from the dire situation the man more famous for his squat than results during his time at the club created, he did win. The team managed to win the FA Cup and Champions League, and could have made the push for fourth place in the league had they not been so focused on the trophy that had eluded them for so long.
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Yet Chelsea are still a team in transition, that need a huge deal of work and overhaul, and whilst you can be lucky in a cup competition, over 38 games it is always the best team that wins out, and when you cast a glance in the direction of Manchester, it is debatable if Chelsea are this team.
Of course, a club with the pedigree and experience of Chelsea FC can never be ruled out of winning the title, and it is entirely feasible that more players will arrive and the golden oldies will push for one more title to add to the long list. Never say never for the title, but a top four finish is a must for the club, and it is this first and foremost that they must make sure they get.
After 6 months of wondering since a trip to Southend on February 18th, Crewe fans finally experienced once more that empty, helpless frustration that floods through the system after a defeat.
20 matches without loss and Notts County, in the opening game of the two clubs’ respective League One journeys, devoured such a stat with clinical ruthlessness that this inexperienced side will have to adapt themselves to with haste if they are to compete in the third tier.
The learning process now becomes steadfast for Steve Davis and his young side, they were exposed here to the unforgiving side of the league through Keith Curle’s street-wise unit which displayed physicality and measured football in equal measure. Crewe provided the vaguest of answers, one that nearly earned them a point towards the end of a scrappy affair, but upon the final whistle there was an over-riding feeling that a point would have been harsh on the visitors who were not forced to work overly-hard to edge the Railwaymen out.
There will be the inevitable faith in Davis that the failings on show here will be sorted immediately and put into action for the trip to Scunthorpe on Tuesday, for his other record of not losing consecutive matches during his nine month spell in charge still remains intact for now. Perhaps he was the victim of his own success here in that such a convincing thrashing of Hartlepool in the League Cup last weekend resulted in no option but to persist with the same team. Yet that win was not without concern and to lay the same weaknesses at the mercy of a side with the nous and experience of Notts County, it had to be argued, was rather reckless.
For Curle had done his homework and was evidently familiar with the Crewe penchant for attempting to play quick, incisive passing football through the middle. The Magpies’ midfield pressed hard, cut off the short passing streams Crewe usually indulge themselves in, and aside from a few half chances such as Max Clayton’s speculative lob over Bartosz Bialkowski, there was nothing to really report from the home side in a first half that was noted by Francois Zoko’s back-post finish after a right-wing cross. Too many free headers was a negative from the Hartlepool match, yet it was in effect here, Zoko drifted behind the centre-halves and diverted the ball past Alan Martin when completely free. The timing, just before the interval, took any impetus out of what had been a brave first half display from Crewe in the face of some tough tackling that threatened to deviate the game from out of the referee’s control, but it was in microcosm, the difference between the two sides; County seized on the opportunities they grafted out, Crewe did not.
Crewe’s man of the match Mathias Pogba had Crewe’s other notable first half chance, drifting in from the left to take a long ball down in a central area and his turn and shot was well parried by Bialkowski, yet this should have been the plan B that Crewe were forced into by County’s intense pressing that allowed neither Ashley Westwood or Abdul Osman sufficient time on the ball to supply the forwards with cutting through balls. Too often they were going long to a duo of short forwards in Ajay Leitch-Smith and Clayton who were being suffocated by County’s physical centre-halves. Meanwhile, Pogba’s brute force was stuck out on the periphery for too long and when he was positioned centrally with Clayton spared the physical bruising by moving to the left, it was far too late, despite a neatly taken header from a corner that ultimately proved to be a consolation.
It was Yohann Arquin who netted Notts County’s second goal, originating again from Crewe’s left side as a result of Gregor Robertson failing to cut the crossing opportunity off, confusion reigned and Arquin was allowed to stroke the ball home after the ball had broken loose. That, compounded with Arquin’s moment of madness in which he kicked out at Ashley Westwood to earn a red-card, drew a stirring response from Crewe, but it came with the introduction of Luke Murphy for the otherwise flat Abdul Osman and Pogba’s move into the centre, two logical decisions that worryingly came when the deficit was unlikely to be overturned. Westwood had a late shot cleared off the line as Gresty Road collectively held its breath, but an equaliser would have been fortunate from a home side point of view, and harsh on County who had worked hard enough to warrant the three points to be filed under the drawer entitled “deserved”.
Keith Curle punched the air and left to begin a campaign that will probably see them challenge the upper echelons of the division, whilst for Steve Davis it is back to the chalkboard for Tuesday night’s trip to Scunthorpe. The problems were evident and it shall be nothing for the reactionary nature of Davis to fix, but as with all opening day defeats, the next game cannot come quick enough to present the chance to blow it out of the system. If some were still in disbelief over last season’s wonderful climax that ensured League One status, nobody will be in any confusion now of where the club reside. This is League One and Crewe found that out on Saturday; now it is time to take the lessons and improve, on to Glanford Park.
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Patrice Evra will play against Liverpool in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The meeting of the two Premier League heavyweights is the first time the sides have gone head to head since Luis Suarez racially abused the France international back in October, with a heated atmosphere expected at Anfield at the weekend.
Despite reports that the full back would sit out the trip, Ferguson has confirmed he will play, and feels he is a great choice for captain whilst Nemanja Vidic is out injured.
“I don’t see why there is any need for that, to be honest,” he told Mirror Football when asked if Evra would be rested.
“I think one of your players who has been playing all the time should be in the forefront to be captain, and that was the case with Patrice.
“He’s a very popular player with a good personality, which is important to have if you’re captain of a club like ours. He’s very friendly and has got a good humour about him, but he’s also quite a determined lad.
“Rio would have been captain if he hadn’t had all those inconsistencies in terms of his injuries.
“Patrice has got different qualities to Rio. He’s not as voluble, but certainly influences a lot of things, and his own team performance, for instance, is very good,” he concluded.
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Bacary Sagna will be on the sidelines for around three months, as Arsenal have confirmed the full-back broke his leg against Tottenham on Sunday.
The full-back fell heavily in the 68th minute of The Gunners’ 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane and had to be stretchered from the pitch.
With Sagna due to represent France in the upcoming international fixtures against Albania and Bosnia, the French Football Federation have confirmed the seriousness of the injury.
“The doctor of the France team, Fabrice Bryand, was informed by his Arsenal equivalent of a fracture to the right fibula of Bacary Sagna,” the statement reads.
“The player was hurt during his club’s 2-1 loss against Tottenham on Sunday. The defender will be operated on and is not expected to be available for three months.”
The news will be another blow to Arsene Wenger’s already struggling side, who are currently without Thomas Vermaelen, Jack Wilshere, Johan Djourou and Abou Diaby due to injury.
Youngster Carl Jenkinson replaced Sagna at the weekend, and now looks set to fill in at right back until the more senior man returns.
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Depression in football is regarded as something of a taboo subject. It is something that has cropped up more and more frequently over the years, and now could be argued a problem that is taken seriously.
Whilst there is so much talk of players ego’s, the vast amounts of money, and the celebrity culture that comes with being a professional footballer, the darker side that sadly does exist is so often overlooked.
A footballers vulnerability is never taken into account. The pressure’s of playing in front of thousands of people week after week, and the pressure to provide success in return for the huge amounts of money being battered about, alongside the physical and mental energy constantly needed can take its toll on a player. These pressures and strains can manifest themselves in different ways, and can often lead to depression.
It is almost a year since former Wales manager Gary Speed took his own life. Whether he was suffering from any sort of depression or mental health issue is unconfirmed, but the tragic nature of his death really made the football world sit up and take notice.
Colleagues queued up to tell us how Speed had a beautiful wife, two beautiful children, wealth and personal success. So how could he possibly be depressed?
This question proved the common misconception regarding depression – particularly amongst sports stars – which has been the root cause of the taboo nature of the subject.
Whether you are sitting on a pile of cash or not, depression can strike anyone at any time, as it is in fact a medical condition. It is not simply that Monday morning feeling, or the feeling you get when your team gets knocked out of the FA Cup. It is like breaking an arm, only the broken bits is in the chemical circuitry of the brain.
Between 20% and 25% of people will suffer from an episode of mental illness in any given year, whilst over a lifetime the risk rises to 40%. Britain has seen antidepressant prescriptions double in the last decade, whilst the world health organisation has warned that by 2030 depression will be the second only to HIV and Aids in the toll the illness exacts most on society. In other words, it is far more common than you would expect.
Going back as far as 1999, former Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore made himself unavailable for selection, citing depression as the reason. Rather than receive any sort of support from his club, his former manager John Gregory came out and said to the press: “Collymore should ask himself how it feels to be an unemployed man with four children to feed before he goes declaring himself depressed.”
Gregory may have been ill advised, or simply unaware, but his comments were undoubtably ignorant and the lack of support Collymore received took its toll on the player as he decided to retire from football at the age of 30. He was ridiculed in the media, the same way boxer Frank Bruno had been after suffering a mental breakdown.
Collymore wrote in his autobiography “Tackling my Demons” of the reasons behind his decision to call time on what had been such a promising career.
“Footballers aren’t supposed to retire when they are 30. Not unless they’re injured. Well, I was injured. I was damaged anyway. It was just that it wasn’t the type of damage that made me limp,” he wrote.
“I didn’t have dodgy knees or creaking ankles or cruciates that had to be knitted back together. Physically I was fine.
“Mentally, I was exhausted with it all. I was fried.
“I was full of resentment and bitterness and disillusionment about football and what it had done to me.”
Collymore was not the only player suffering with depression around this time, but whilst he went public many chose to suffer in silence due to fear of being ridiculed by supporters and the press.
Notorious hard man Vinnie Jones has since admitted to suffering from depression during his career, but spoke during a BBC documentary of how back then there was no support network or advice available.
“It was not recognized. Looking back now, there would have been plenty of lads who felt like me and were suffering in silence. There was nobody to talk to. The managers aren’t trained in things like that”, he said.
“If you were bottom of the league and one of the lads turned round and said look lads I’ve got depression you’d slap him round the side of the head. It would be considered a weakness. It wasn’t talked about.”
Whilst times have changed, the tragic case of Gary Speed may have been the wake up call everybody needed with regards to treating such cases differently. Not just in English football either. German goalkeeper Robert Enke tragically committed suicide in 2009 having suffered for many years with clinical depression.
Enke’s biographer Ronald Reng wrote of the reaction his tragic death drew across the world, and how it sadly provided proof that depression can strike anyone at any time.
“Robert was Germany’s number one goalkeeper. The last bulwark, calm and cool in the tensest situations, able to control his stress and anxieties at the most extreme moments,” he said.
“What power must this illness have if it can draw a man like Robert Enke to the mistaken conclusion that death is the only solution?
“Beyond the headlines, deep down, there was real pain of profound paralysis. Robert’s death reminded most of us how little we understand about the illness that is depression.”
In the days after Gary Speed’s death, national newspapers reported that the PFA had produced a handbook to be distributed to all footballers on how to deal with stress and anxiety – both signs of depression – in order to prevent another tragic suicide.
The article also gave the accounts of several other footballers that had suffered in silence with the illness, such as Andy Cole, Clarke Carlisle and Neil Lennon, and their stories were included in the handbook.
The tragic deaths of Enke and Speed seemed to have forced action from sport’s governing bodies. It seems that more is being done in order to help players suffering from the condition, and with more information available following the publication of Robert Enke’s biography and the broadcasting of a BBC documentary on the subject, it appears the illness is being given serious coverage.
As more big names have come forward opening up about their struggles with depression, the media have taken a far less aggressive stance than they did with Stan Collymore’s in 1999.
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Despite the tragic circumstances, it appears the deaths of Enke and Speed have proved a turning point in the way cases of depression in sport is handled.
More help is available nowadays to players suffering, with the option of seeing a sports psychologist privately if they are uncomfortable with revealing their condition to their teammates, managers the public and the press.
It is just such a terrible shame it took such a tragedy to make people sit up and finally take notice.
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Rickie Lambert believes Southampton can have no complaints after Saturday’s crushing 6-1 defeat away at Arsenal, The Southern Daily Echo reports.
Saints’ misery was compounded after Jos Hooiveld and Nathaniel Clyne both scored own-goals to add further gloss to the score line for the Gunners.
It sums up a brutal introduction to the Premier League for Nigel Adkins’ side, who remain the only side without a point this season and have conceded a whopping 14 goals in their first four matches.
He said: “I think they thoroughly deserved their victory, the margin as well,” he said. “We were unlucky with some goals, but they could have scored more as well. I think it was about right.”
The south coast side were constantly tormented by Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla, who are both proving to be very useful addition to Arsene Wenger’s team.
This led Lambert to admit that the visitors were simply not good enough to cope with the North Londoners.
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“We will have to look at it, but credit to Arsenal – I thought they were excellent. They had a couple of players we couldn’t handle”, he added.
Southampton will be aiming to get their first points of the season when they host Aston Villa at St Mary’s next Saturday.