Inter Milan dominated the annual Serie A awards ceremony, the Oscar del Calcio, in Milan on Monday.
Argentine striker Diego Milito took out three awards – best foreign player, the league’s player of the Year and best striker.
Former Inter coach Jose Mourinho, now at Real Madrid, was named best coach after last year’s treble with Inter.
Milito’s success was the icing on the cake for Inter. The Italian champions were voted team of the year and scooped four other major honours.
Julio Cesar was named best goalkeeper for the second time, Walter Samuel shared the best defender award with Giorgio Chiellini and Douglas Maicon’s strike against Juventus was recognised as the goal of the year.
It was an emotional night for Udinese striker Antonio Di Natale who was voted Italian Player of the Year and leading goalscorer.
Palermo starlet Javier Pastore deservedly won the best young player award.
But Napoli striker Edinson Cavani was seen as the most popular of all nominees after coming out top in a fans’ poll.
In a video message, Mourinho claimed that his time in Italy had made him a better tactician.
“I am sorry not to be there with you, but the Copa del Rey semi-final against Sevilla has impeded me,” Mourinho said.
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“Receiving an Oscar is wonderful because for me to have respect is important and fortunately I have always had it from my players.”
“If the Italian League is so beautiful and difficult, it’s down to the great coaches that work in Serie A.”
“I have been in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain and the difficulty of the Italian championship has helped me become better.”
In a week that has seen one player out, one player on the move subject to a medical, and one joining on a two year deal, it has been another week of progression for Northampton Town in their preparation for the new season.
Well done to Michael Jacobs on his move to Championship side Derby County for an undisclosed fee which so many seem to be nowadays. We will probably never find out the real price that Crackers was sold for but we do know that only a small amount of this fee will go back into the playing side as the club has other costs to cover in wages etc. This is fair enough by me as the safeguarding of our football club is paramount and we know that David Cardoza will spend what is required and back his manager if needs be. Crackers also mentioned in a local newspaper that our great rivals from Peterborough United would have been hard to turn down had it been the only option as he felt the time was right to move on. On the bright side thank god for the top class facilities on offer at Pride Park which I know will be top notch a lot better than that chicken coup that Peterborough play in.
Another player who could also be on the move is Arron Davies he could be on his way to Exeter City on a free which is currently subject to a medical. Arron joined us on a two year deal last season and looked good in patches but he always seems to me to be afraid to put a tackle in even more so since his injury in the opening months of the season. I just don’t think he has the capacity for a fight and in League Two we need a battling midfield who can compete for 90 minutes and in my eyes Arron just does not fit the bill. The writing has been on the wall for Arron since Aidy Boothroyd has taken over as he has not figured in a first team squad and I just don’t think he is Aidy’s type of player. I hope he can get his career back on track as you don’t win international caps by not being a good player, sometimes players just don’t work out at certain clubs and unfortunately for Arron that is the case with us.
Another new signing was made this week when we managed to sign the exciting Ishmel Demontagnac on a free transfer after he was released by Notts County. He burst on to the football league scene as a 17 year old at Walsall but left there after many disciplinary issues as the manager at the time said he had a lot of talent but let himself down with his attitude and off field problems. He also has Premier League experience with Blackpool and is a pacy left sided midfielder who is also known for the extravagant goal or two. I am excited about this signing but it may go one of two ways. He could be disruptive for the rest of the squad or could be that missing link on the wing floating in the crosses for Bayo and Clive Platt in the new season and then we will all be raving about him. Welcome to Sixfields Ishmel we wait with baited breath.
Still no news on the potential signing of Clarke Carlisle but as they say no news could be good news, and at the end of it all you can only respect the big mans decision. There are rumors that a couple of northern sides are interested in the no nonsense defender and if he chooses that option it will be for family reasons as all of us know a big move can be disruptive for a family and relocating your family south will be hard but we can just hold out that glimmer of hope that he will sign.
Up The Cobblers!!
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Fabio Capello has ruled out any possibility of Joey Barton becoming part of the England squad that will play Holland in a friendly on Wednesday evening. While Capello insisted that the midfielder was a “good player” his concern seemed to be with the “dangerous” side to Barton’s game, and the Italian suggested he would not be able to trust the 28-year-old to keep his cool and was therefore unwilling to risk his inclusion anytime soon.
Barton was released by Newcastle United last week after his Twitter rant against the clubs transfer policy, and a reported dressing room confrontation with manager Alan Pardew after defeat at Leeds United. Despite his “dangerous” reputation, Barton has shown that he has the ability to play at the top level and was instrumental in Newcastle’s achievements last season. Barton’s placement on Newcastle’s transfer list is reported to have attracted a number of Premier League clubs, with his agent insisting there will be no problems in finding the midfielder a new side.
The retirement of Paul Scholes has left a void in the Manchester United midfield that will be difficult to fill. Despite reports that United are keen to sign Wesley Sneijder from Inter Milan, Barton’s availability is believed to have triggered an interest from the United hierarchy. Though Barton may not have the same kind of ability as the Dutchman, he would be at least £30m cheaper. One thing Barton is not particularly renowned for is his goal scoring, and with the likes of Carrick and Anderson already occupying a defensive role, Ferguson is unlikely to be keen on bringing the Scouser to Old Trafford.
Despite already bringing in three midfielders this summer, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish was reported to be keen on bringing in Barton as well. With Gerrard, Lucas, Henderson, and Adam already competing for a place in the centre of midfield, Barton would be an unlikely starter at Liverpool and is believed to be keen on first team football more than anything. Ultimately, Barton would be surplus to requirements at Anfield and would be better off playing regular football for a club that would benefit from his services.
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Tottenham are another club believed to be interested in signing Barton, after an initial interest in acquiring Scott Parker is believed to have withered away. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has insisted that additions will be made to his side before the transfer window closes on August 31st, but has claimed that whilst funds are available to make signings themselves, the club is struggling to meet the demands of player salaries. Barton is reported to be earning around £55,000 a week, and while his free transfer would save Spurs money, this kind of salary is believed to above what Redknapp is willing to offer the midfielder.
Finally, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is reportedly keen on bringing the former England international to the Emirates. Having been relatively quiet so far in the transfer window, Wenger is believed to have been eager to address the defensive frailties that have been evident in recent years at Arsenal and Barton would, at least in part, help to do this. Though Arsenal’s defence itself needs to be strengthened, Barton would protect the back four similarly to, if not better than, Alex Song does at the moment. Arsenal can offer Barton the kind of salary he is after, and regular football would not necessarily be out of the question.
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Though some fans of the clubs mentioned here are bound to be opposed to the idea of Barton joining their side, this seems somewhat rather unfair. Despite the “dangerous” reputation he has made for himself, Barton has proven to be one of the top midfielders in the league, and was arguably Newcastle’s best player last season. Whilst a call up to the England squad might be out of the question any time soon, Barton would have the opportunity of European football at Arsenal, and could even be the kind of addition to the squad that Wenger has been missing in recent years.
When Fabio Capello arrived in English football at the beginning of 2008, one of his most crucial mission statements was to pick his squad and sides on form – reputation, he said, would not be a substitute for form.
The former Real Madrid coach, at that point the darling of the English media, took a tough stance on the misfiring Michael Owen, consigning the striker to the international scrap heap after a poor run of performances and injuries with club side Newcastle.
It is then with some interest that I have followed the recent form of two of England’s premier strikers. Both Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe have found themselves short of goals despite recent runs of good results for their club teams.
Rooney’s lack of goals is particularly concerning. For a man hailed as England’s single great white hope for World Cup glory as recently as last March, Rooney’s solitary goal in open play so far this term has become one of the statistical anomalies of the season. Remarkable considering Manchester United’s unbeaten start to the season and commanding position built up at the top of the Premier League.
Rooney has hardly had a low key season, regardless of his sometimes anonymous performances on the pitch. The furore surrounding his desire to leave Old Trafford and resultant new contract was extraordinary, and with further accusations in the tabloid press about his extra-marital activities surfacing, the one time Everton striker has hardly had much chance to work on his game.
Jermain Defoe’s lack of goals has been more excusable. The former Portsmouth striker’s year has been blighted by an early season ankle injury and whilst he is yet to hit the heights (or a league goal) thus far, Harry Redknapp has not relied heavily on the diminutive striker due to the deluge of goals coming from other sources.
Capello’s charges looked toothless, at best, during their damaging stalemate with Macedonia at Wembley in the autumn, and the much maligned coach will not want his strike force to go into an important clash against Wales with only a handful of league goals between them.
There are, however, several factors likely to ease Capello’s selection worries. England’s next competitive fixture is not until March, plenty of time for both men to re-discover some form. Should neither player show signs of improvement, the Italian’s mettle might be tested, however, the English media have learnt to run a sceptical eye over Capello’s selection guidelines – he has been known to break them for certain big name players.
Furthermore, Capello has shown a pathological reluctance to select Peter Crouch, England’s most prolific striker over the last four years, in any capacity other than an occasional substitute appearance. Many of England’s other striking options are beset by injury or form problems, and the immediate international futures of Kevin Davies, Jay Bothroyd and Andy Carroll are not clear.
It must be pointed out that Defoe is by no means guaranteed a berth in Capello’s starting XI, regardless of how he plays at this stage. For a man that has had his international career dogged by misfortune and crucial omissions, this recent goal drought will no doubt damage his aims of making himself indispensible to the national team ahead of Euro 2012.
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If dropping Defoe would not be a major shock, omitting Rooney would be a big step for any England manager, particularly one under the level of scrutiny that Capello finds himself.
With the Champions League restarting in a few weeks time, any sign of an improvement in performance will surely be enough to dispel doubts about the suitability of Manchester United’s star man when it comes to selecting the side to face Gary Speed’s men. Even with an under-par Rooney, if England fail to beat a Wales side without a point in qualification thus far, the England manager will have more questions to answer than just about his choice of striker.
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Cesare Prandelli has demanded calm ahead of Italy’s make-or-break Group C encounter with the Republic of Ireland on Monday night with a place in the last eight of Euro 2012 on the line.
Draws with Spain and Croatia in their first two games has left the Azzurri needing a win in their deciding match against the already eliminated Irish if they are to stand a chance of making it to the quarter finals.
The 54-year-old believes a a considered approach will bear the desired result for the Italians and was keen to emphasise that his players need to keep their minds focused on the task in hand.
“It’s very difficult to say,” he said in his pre-match press conference. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we are just thinking about tomorrow’s game.
“We want to win the game, that’s it. Just let us play, let’s get on with it, come on. We always want everything before it comes, we want everything now.
“We are always getting ahead of ourselves, us Italians, but I always say that if you get ahead of yourself, you fall over.”
Ireland were knocked out after being thrashed 4-0 by Spain on Thursday evening with head coach Giovani Trapattoni has charged his players with giving the fans something to cheer before they head home.
It’s been a disappointing tournament for Trapattoni who held hope that qualification would still be achievable going into the last game against his home nation and believes the scars of Italy’s elimination in Euro 2004 could play into his sides favour.
He said: “When things like this go on, we are all ready to think that we Italians are masters at making these agreements.
“We are famous – in fact, infamous – for it. Everything is the same in other countries. These things have happened all over the place. Great scars were left by this.
“We need to play our own game and ask for commitment from players for the people who pay our wages and our supporters.
“We have worked well. We will not change our approach because we lost two games. It would undermine our honour.”
Team News
Mario Balotelli be rested after limping out of training on Saturday with a knee injury although he was present for the session on Sunday. Defender Andrea Barzagli is also expected to play after returning from a calf problem that kept him out of the first two matches.
Damien Duff will captain Ireland on his 100th appearance and will be joined in the starting XI by Kevin Doyle who comes back into the side at the expense of Simon Cox.
Key Players
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Antonio Cassano
Goals have been in short supply for the Milan striker as he seeks to break his Euro 2012 duck after failing to score in Italy’s first two group games. Cassano’s performances haven’t exactly been bad and finally getting off the mark against Ireland and leading the Azzurri into the last eight.
Richard Dunne
It’s been a tough tournament for the Aston Villa defender who’s played every minute so far and seen his back four breached seven times in total during their first two games. Dunne’s experience will be key to keeping Italy’s strike force at bay and giving Ireland a platform to leave the Euro’s on a high with a win.
Arsenal have given Barcelona 10 days to sign captain Cesc Fabregas and end one of the longest running transfer sagas in history or risk missing out on the midfielder, reports The Guardian.
It seems that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has grown tired and wants the deal done quickly so he has time to replace his midfield lynchpin before the transfer window slams shut on 31st August.
The Frenchman is hopeful he can hang onto Fabregas for at least one more season and insists he’ll be staying at the Emirates if the Spanish giants can’t conclude a deal soon.
He told the Guardian “We know that this story for Barcelona goes on for years now and we have to close that and for ourselves to focus on the season, hopefully with Cesc Fábregas.”
Barcelona head coach Pep Guardiola stated the club will ‘fight to the end’ to bring their former player home although admitted that signing Fabregas wasn’t his number one priority.
A move for Udinese winger Alexis Sanchez is the Spaniards current focus and a move for Fabregas will have to wait until the that deal is tied up.
Guardiola said: “This year Arsenal has agreed to negotiate and we are working on [it]. Barcelona has made an offer [of £26m], Arsenal another [between £35-40m], and we have time until 31 August and we’ll try to reach an agreement.
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“There is a sum of money in the strong box set aside for this signing but if it doesn’t work out it will be kept in the box for something else. We will fight to the end to try to get Cesc because we believe he will improve the team and the squad.”
Freddie Sears, a player who had only ever scored one goal for West Ham, on his debut in March 2008, a player who had had relatively unsuccessful loan spells at Crystal Palace, Coventry and Scunthorpe in the past couple of seasons, reignites West Ham’s flagging season in three games. It’s an unlikely tale, but since being recalled by the Hammers on December 21st, Sears has been in scintillating form, and grabbed a deserved goal in the vital 2-0 win over relegation rivals Wolves at Upton Park on New Year’s Day.
I must admit, when I saw Sears’ name on the team sheet against Fulham on Boxing Day, I felt that this was perhaps the final throw of the dice from a desperate man in the shape of Avram Grant. Either the Israeli was very lucky, or very, very astute, because by playing wide right in a very attacking 4-4-2, or what could even be described as 4-2-4, Sears has excelled along with his fellow academy graduate, Junior Stanislas, who has been playing on the opposite flank.
But could it solely be Sears’ influence that has caused the turn around in fortunes at Upton Park? Of course not, but I believe he has played a big part. Through his endeavours on loan, although not particularly successful, Sears has managed to actually play first team football, gaining the experience vital to his footballing progression, and this was evident from the start. His performance against Fulham, just five days after he was recalled from Scunthorpe, was a man-of-the-match worthy outing, and showed his desire.
Having been out of the first team for quite some time, Sears must have been wondering when his chance would come again, and with Avram Grant’s job on the line, he must have envisaged a new manager coming in and another season on loan in the offing. So when Grant gave him the opportunity, he really needed to take it, not just for his own career, but for the club as well. Good performances and good results meant that the status quo would be maintained; with Sears in the starting line-up, and Grant in charge, and so it has proved, as Sears also started the matches against both Everton and Wolves.
Sears’ inclusion may not be the overriding reason for West Ham’s Christmas renaissance (I believe that may lie in a formation and attitude change) but his inclusion has certainly breathed life into a West Ham side that were staring at the Championship through the long months before May.
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Football fans are a funny old bunch, particularly from the perspective of a manager. Bring success and they will elevate you to a mythical, legendary status, forever to be enshrined within the club’s history; ruffle their feathers a little and it’s down the job centre the next morning. The popularity levels of football managers can turn in an instant, and above all it is the supporters who best dictate these fluctuations.
Alex McLeish’s dismissal in the past week has seen a flurry of activity on social network sites, with the predominantly positive reaction in Aston Villa quarters to his sacking displaying the pure vehemence and animosity felt towards the man. As a marker of the sheer inanity of the situation, disgruntled fans even sent Glasgow student Alex McLeish, of no relation to the former Villa boss, a barraged mixture of comical and abusive tweets upon hearing the news.
From the very beginning of McLeish’s reign his card was marked. Regardless of the absurdity of pinching your most hated rival’s manager, Villa fans were quite rightly baffled by the appointment of a man who had overseen two relegation campaigns in his time in charge of a Premiership club. Whilst clearly an unpopular and slightly bewildering choice on behalf the Villa hierarchy, those of claret and blue persuasion in the Second City were consistently militant in their slating of McLeish, organising regular protests and emphatically displaying their discontent in the Holte and beyond. All this led to a poisoned and pernicious atmosphere at Villa Park, with dwindling attendances a prominent feature of Villa’s season. The permanent ‘12th Man’ banner affixed upon the middle section of the Holte End often appeared more a twisted joke soaked in irony and planted by Blues fans than a statement of Villa’s vocal intent.
Though Villa fans have a distinct right to be fundamentally appalled at a disastrous season which so nearly ended in the unthinkable, there are a number of queries to be raised as to the detrimental effects of negative supporter influence upon a side’s performances. Villa’s squad this season has mainly been a ragtag collection of experienced pros brought in by previous managers combined with products of Villa’s youth academy in only their first or seconds campaigns as professional footballers. Marquee signings Darren Bent and Charles N’Zogbia have been relative disappointments, the use of Emile Heskey as a right winger was utter chagrin and the awarding of Player of the Season to Stephen Ireland belies the disappointment of Villa’s year; yet through all the blatant shortcomings of the playing and management staff, the fans of Aston Villa must also assume some form of liability.
For young players breaking into the first team, the dimensions of confidence and belief are of vital importance to their performance. Generally, this is significantly shaped by the prevailing atmosphere surrounding the club, the prominent sentiments being eschewed from the corridors of the training ground to the player’s car park after the game. For the likes of Ciaran Clark, Gary Gardner and Nathan Baker the patent toxic mood which characterised Villa’s season can only have been detrimental to their development. Though only rare spatters of Villa fan’s anguish was aimed at the players, the adverse effects of the outward hostility shown towards McLeish this season would have been felt deeply, particularly by those developed and matured by the club from an early age. With Mcleish increasingly reliant on his young charges as the season progressed, the enmity only exacerbated Villa’s problems and this the failure of McLeish’s reign became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The decision to sack McLeish was the correct one. Aston Villa fans deserve better than extensive flirtations with the Championship, and were right to criticise McLeish’s ineptitude. Yet the downright vexation which was all too evident on matchdays at Villa Park and in the virtual sphere only moved to heighten Villa’s turmoil.
In an age where an innocent student is abused for being the simple namesake of a failed football manager, we must ponder: can too much fan power be truly detrimental to a football club?
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Whether you agree or disagree, I’d love to hear your opinions. Tweet me @acherrie1
The Mirror are reporting that Stoke City are on the verge of bringing Juventus midfielder Momo Sissoko back to the Premier League.
Tony Pulis has identified the former Liverpool enforcer as the man who can add an extra bite to his midfield as prepares to lead the Potters into Europe.
Stoke qualified for the Europa League after reaching the FA Cup final last season and Pulis has set about assembling a squad capable of holding it’s own in the competition.
The Mali international would bring bags of European experience and a tenacious style of play well fitted to the Potters system.
He signed for Juventus for £8 million in 2008 but they are prepared to sell him after he dropped down the pecking order in Turin.
Manager Antonio Conte keen to offload the 26-year-old meaning Stoke could wrap up a deal before the end of the month.
The Potters do have concerns over the player’s physical state after a knee injury in February ruled him out for the rest of the season.
A thorough medical examination would be required to rule out any underlying problems.
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There is still interest in the player from around Europe with Hamburg, Paris Saint Germain, Villarreal and Real Sociedad all chasing his signature.
Stoke will have to move quickly if they want to bring the player to the Britannia Stadium although it seems a move back to England is Sissoko’s preferred choice.
Rory Delap is hoping Stoke City can thrash out terms with Real Zaragoza to turn Jermaine Pennant’s loan spell into a permanent deal.
The Potters long-throw specialist believes the winger would be a great addition to the club in the long-term and can see why City boss Tony Pulis wants to keep him.
Delap told The Sentinel:“Of course I’d love to see him stay, but not just from a selfish point of view. He’s been terrific since he came to the club because he gives us a different dimension.
“He gives us that added bit of pace and attacking flair that we’ve missed on the right. It gives us good balance and hopefully things can be sorted with him.”
However, Stoke have made it clear they won’t be held to ransom by his Spanish club during the negotiation process, but Pulis is quietly optimistic about securing his signature when the transfer window reopens again in January.
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