Dropped points at West Ham this season is by no means an embarrassment. The Hammers have started the season well and look invigorated under Sam Alardyce, but for a side with genuine title aspirations, anything less than three points is a blow.
In truth, the Defeat revealed much about the Sky Blues this afternoon, with the steam-roller like winning machine of last season having disappeared. And with Chelsea looking like the team to beat, do City have any real chance of retaining their league crown? We at FFC Towers are not convinced…
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CLICK ON DAVID SILVA TO REVEAL THE THREE
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Lack of defensive presence
While Vincent Kompany is still one of the very best centre-backs in the league and Pablo Zabaleta one of the better full-backs, Eliaqium Mangala and Gale Clichy have been far from convincing in recent weeks. The pair were caught out for the Hammers’ opener, and fans on Twitter were less than impressed with the former in particular…
Reliance on Aguero
Okay, Aguero may be one of the better players to rely on, but such dependence on the Argentine has been a worry. The City hit-man was by no means poor this afternoon, but he wasn’t quite at his best when the ball was in the box.
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Yaya Toure has gone missing
For such a good player, Toure has one major flaw: going missing when he’s needed. Aside from a shot that grazed the bar at Upton Park, the burly Ivorian was fairly anonymous, with his languid style not suited to the hassling of the Hammers. Can City win the title without their tank performing in midfield… we’re not sure.
Every cup tournament has its heroes. That’s the brilliance of a competition where every game brings with it the possibility of elimination – take over a game in the Capital One Cup, and you’re remembered for the rest of the tournament.
The five men in this list have done just that – two with hat-tricks, and three with two-goal performances that decided a game in their team’s favour. There’s even an honourable mention for one man whose heroics should be remembered even though they weren’t enough to take his team through to the next round. Can you guess who we’re talking about…?
5. James McClean, Sunderland v Morecambe, Round 2
This season, midfield starlet James McClean hasn’t quite lived up to the hype surrounding him since he burst onto the scene in the first weeks of Martin O’Neill’s Sunderland tenure. Perhaps it’s the pressure, a blip in his form, or something else, but that aside, the youngster was back to his best against lower-league opposition with both goals in this comfortable victory, and added another in the win at MK Dons in the next round.
4. Luke Moore, Swansea City v Barnsley, Round 2
One of the forgotten men of English football popped up to propelSwanseapast stubborn Championship opponentsBarnsleyin this otherwise fairly close encounter.Moore’s first goal came on a perfectly-executed turn and strike in the closing minutes of the first half, before he struck again in the closing minutes to seal the win. His career may not have panned out as projected after bursting onto the scene as a youngster at Aston Villa, but clearlyMoorestill has goals in him.
3. Christian Benteke and Miles Storey, Aston Villa v Swindon Town, Round 4
This game was a story (no pun intended) of two very different tales – Benteke, the Belgium international brought in at considerable expense by Villa in the summer but struggling for goals and a regular place in the side, and Storey, who has progressed through the Swindon academy after being released byWest Bromand is only now embarking on the first steps of his professional football career. Benteke’s diving header (and a sweet strike from Gabriel Agbonlahor) had Villa 2-0 up as the game approached its final 15 minutes, but Storey, on as a substitute, sent the home fans into delirium with two goals in four minutes. TheBirminghamboy’s fairytale night was not to be however, as Benteke nodded home a Stephen Ireland free-kick to send Villa to the quarter-finals.
2. Theo Walcott, Arsenal v Reading, Round 4
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You’re all probably very familiar by now with Walcott’s heroics in inspiring one of the greatest comebacks in Arsenal’s recent history. A timely strike just before half time saved his teammates the embarrassment of trailing by four at the break, before Walcott came up with the 96th-minute goal to force extra time. And with the score at 5-5 and penalties just minutes away, who should pop up with the decisive goal before Marouane Chamakh put the icing on the cake? You guessed it. Having already scored twice in the third round demolition of Coventry, Walcott is currently the tournament’s leading goalscorer this season, and has played a large part in Andrey Ashavin climbing to the top of the assist charts.
1. James Collins, Swindon Town v Stoke City, Round 3
One of the most famous wins in Paulo Di Canio’s managerial career coincided with one of the outstanding performances of striker James Collins’ football life, as the League 1 side’s striker put Thomas Sorensen to the sword with a sublime hat-trick in this upset win. A poacher’s goal and a header helped Swindon take an early game, but the game was deadlocked at 3-3 after 119 minutes when Collins capped off a memorable night by sliding in to poke home the winner.
Plenty of Tottenham fans are loving the latest transfer rumour, as impressive World Cup performer Juan Quintero has been linked with a move to North London.
According to Argentinian outlet Ole, Spurs have joined the race to sign Porto playmaker Quintero, who has been wonderful for Colombia at the World Cup.
The report claims River Plate, where he has been on loan from Porto, are set to trigger a clause that makes his move there permanent, but he will then have a new release clause of just €22m (£19.5m).
Mauricio Pochettino is clearly keen to add even more firepower to his exciting young Spurs squad, and Quintero’s performances at the World Cup have shown he may finally be fulfilling his potential.
The crafty little 25 year-old has been highly rated for years, but attitude problems have seemingly held him back from succeeding at Porto, having been sent out on loan three times.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”257647″ player=”12034″ title=”Three reasons we love to hate… Brazil and Argentina”]
Quintero got his country off the mark in Russia with a wonderfully intelligent free kick against Japan, before providing a lovely assist for Radamel Falcao in the 3-0 annihilation of Poland.
Around £20m is pennies for a Premier League club signing a breakout World Cup star, but the report does say Real Madrid are also sniffing around the Colombian. If Tottenham can wrap up a deal around that price, it would be an absolute bargain, providing Pochettino can get him consistently playing to his potential.
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Fans are loving the reports, and you can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…
Andre Marriner has been confirmed as the referee that will take charge of Newcastle United’s huge Premier League clash against Southampton at St James’ Park on Saturday, and Magpies fans have all been saying the same thing about the big announcement.
The Tyneside outfit currently lie in 16th position in the standings, one point above Saints and two points above the relegation zone going into their match against the south coast outfit.
The fixture looks to be a must-win one for Rafa Benitez’s men in their bid to avoid the drop, and with Crystal Palace playing Chelsea and Stoke City facing Manchester City over the weekend, it looks to be the ideal opportunity to put some space between them, Southampton and the bottom three.
Marriner isn’t a popular figure among the St James’ Park faithful though, and he sent off Jonjo Shelvey on the opening day of the season for a stamp on Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli.
Newcastle supporters took to social media to give their thoughts on the appointment, and while one said “we are doomed”, another said “that’s no points then”.
Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…
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Following some protracted negotiations with FIFA over some late paperwork, Celtic secured a last ditchÂloan deal for Manchester City youngster John Guidetti on summer deadline day.The 22 year-old has struggled to find his footing in the Premier League but comes with a proficient reputation at U21 level and also enjoyed a very productive loan spell with Feyenoord in 2011/12.In fact, murmurings of the Sweden international’s immense potential have been bubbling under the surface of British football for some time, and it’s exciting to see Guidetti get his chance in the Scottish Premiership.And we at Football FanCast have such high hopes for the City prospect that we’ve come up with FIVE reasons why he’s set to take Parkhead by storm.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON GUIDETTI TO REVEAL THE FIVE REASONS
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GOALS
Of course, the obvious impact John Guidetti will be hoping to have at Parkhead is on Celtic’s goals for column.
The Bhoys hardly struggled for goals last season – they netted nearly 40 more than second-place Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership – but with the majority provided by midfielder Kris Commons, Antony Stokes was the only front-man to reach double figures in the league.
The Sweden international certainly has the potential to rectify that – he’s yet to get off the mark in the Premier League but netted an incredible 20 times in just 23 appearances during a season-long loan with Feyenoord in 2011/12. Check out all his goals for the Eredivisie side below:
//www.youtube.com/embed/SMM2H_0DGe4?rel=0
If he can bring that form to the SPL – as many players, such as Virgil van Dijk, have effectively transitioned their game from the Eredivisie to Scottish football before – then Guidetti will have a major impact on Celtic’s title charge.
SKILLS
Form is temporaryÂbut class is permanent, and despite struggling to break into the first teams at Manchester City and Stoke, John Guidetti is a very classy player.
Take this rainbow flick against an unexpected victim in training for example:
Or this sensational strike for the Citizens’ U21s:
Here’s another look at the City loanee strutting his skills on the pitch:
//www.youtube.com/embed/dLvlXr6RcsE?rel=0
BRAWN
Class is all well and good, but there’s nothing like a bit of basic brawn in a centre-forward.
Neil Lennon always wanted to bring a powerful front-man to Parkhead, targeting the likes of Nick Powell and Alfred FinnbogasonÂto name a few over the last year, and Ronny Deila appears to share that opinion, having attempted to sign big-n-burley former Stoke forward Cameron Jerome earlier this summer:
The now Norwich City forward rejected the Bhoys, and admittedly, in terms of pure, battering-ram style physicality, Guidetti isn’t quite the same calibre.
But the 22 year-old is by no means a lightweight; he measures in at 6 foot 1 and comes with a stocky build. He’ll bring power, strength and aerial ability to Celtic’s front-line and has more than enough about him to handle the rigorous nature of the Scottish top flight.
Up for the challenge
There’s a common feeling that many players use Celtic’s exposure to European football as a stepping stone to greater things, and you might assume that of a loanee from the Premier League, such as John Guidetti, too.
But the Sweden international has already publicly remarked on his adoration for the Scottish champions, promising to give ‘100%’ throughout his stay at Parkhead.
The striker continued; “‘I know so much about Celtic. As soon as the club came for me I knew straight away, Celtic is the one and that’s where I want to go. ‘I spoke to the manager and I felt a good connection with him and that Celtic was a club that knew about me and were genuine about what they liked, which is so important.
“With a good manager and good fans and players, you can never go wrong. ‘I’m just going to work my socks off to try to do my absolute very best every game and give 100% because that’s what the fans deserve.”
It may seem like a rather simplistic point, but in the modern era, it’s becoming rarer and rarer to find footballers who actually feel a connection with the clubs they play for.
Apparently, Guidetti was so pleased at finding out he was on his way to Celtic that he started dancing around a coffee shop in Manchester. Unfortunately, we are yet to find a video.
Character
Personality is important for modern players – it’s not the be all and end all, but with so much exposure on television and the internet nowadays, the bad apples get quickly found out.
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John Guidetti on the other hand, seems like a right laugh and a genuinely nice guy. The day after Sweden beat England 4-2, he turned up to training in a self-made Zlatan Ibrahimovic t-shirt:
//www.youtube.com/embed/ichaN3M0nXU?rel=0
He also once gave an incredibly delicate rendition of Last Christmas by Wham:
//www.youtube.com/embed/wrbvqR_XcB0?rel=0
And I can’t understand a word of Swedish, but he also seems like a decent rapper:
//www.youtube.com/embed/rCvGfvxKxm4?rel=0
The Bhoys aren’t only adding a talented player to their squad but a good character too. Guidetti is someone the fans can warm to, especially if he keeps his entertaining antics up at Parkhead.
Having beaten Liverpool at Anfield in the 4th Round of the Capital One Cup, Swansea City now face Middlesbrough at the Liberty Stadium in the 5th Round and Capital One is giving away the ultimate Swansea fans experience for supporters of the Swans.
Capital One is offering Swansea fans the opportunity to see their Football Club train and to take a tour of the club’s stadium.
Opened in 2005, the Liberty Stadium has been the home of Swansea City for the last seven years and has seen the Swans rise through the divisions, into the Premier League.
Fancy taking a sneak peek behind the scenes at the home of Swansea City Football Club with two of your mates in tow?
Simply answer a question posed by Capital One and review the T’s & C’s for more details on what’s included in these one day club experiences.
The closing date is the 25th November 2012, so don’t leave it too late.
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After underperforming hugely at Euro 2016, Harry Kane was under pressure to deliver as England captain at World Cup 2018 and so far he is doing just that.
The Tottenham hitman’s style is such that he can be anonymous for much of the game but devastating when opportunities are presented to him.
In a World Cup, that could prove to be deadly and he already leads the way in the race for the Golden Boot with five goals to his name so far after yet another clinical display as England thrashed Panama 6-1 on Sunday.
The Three Lions played better in their opening match against Tunisia but the ruthlessness that was missing then was present in abundance here as Gareth Southgate’s men scored with practically every attack.
Kane epitomised that with his hat-trick, netting two emphatic penalties before diverting Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s shot into the net, yet again getting the very most in terms of return out of a game when he was not heavily involved in open play.
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Southgate will be elated to have a man on such hot form in his ranks as he guides his side into the knockout stages; Kane is making England a side every other nation must be wary of as the tournament wears on.
Southampton have confirmed that their defender, Florin Gardos, has completed a return to Romania on loan.
What’s the story?
The Saints have confirmed that Florin Gardos has joined Clubul Sportiv Universitatea Craiova on loan for the remainder of the season. The defender has had a particularly difficult time during his Southampton career.
The 29-year-old’s new club are currently situated in the third position in Liga 1, Romania’s premier division.
What are his qualities?
There’s no doubting that injuries have had a severe impact on Gardos’ career, however during the pinnacle of his physical condition he was regarded as a good defender who is especially skilled at tackling and dominant when competing in aerial duels. He could have been a terrific option for the Saints had he remained fit.
Why is he leaving?
Gardos joined Southampton from Steaua București in the summer of 2014. Despite making 17 appearances during his first season with the club, the Romanian international has had his Saints career hindered by injury.
Over the duration of the past three seasons, the defender has only made a single appearance for the Saints. As per transfermarkt, the Romanian has been absent for 378 days through injury as a Southampton player, and he’s failed to recover from the setbacks that he’s faced.
Should Southampton replace him?
In light of Virgil Van Dijk’s highly-discussed departure to Liverpool in the January transfer window, further defensive reinforcement could prove to be exceedingly beneficial for the Saints.
Southampton are currently situated in 18th place in the Premier League, and their tendency to concede goals has been a severe issue this season.
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In 27 league games, the Saints have conceded 40 goals, averaging a ratio far higher than a goal conceded per game.
Wesley Hoedt and Jack Stephens are the only recognised centre-backs that Mauricio Pellegrino has at his disposal. Accordingly, the need for defensive reinforcement is apparent.
Manchester United is undoubtedly the most successful English club in the Premier League. They’ve won 13 of the 22 EPL seasons, as well as two Champions League triumphs. And a lot of their success is down to their good transfer business over the past two decades.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson, in charge of the club for 26 years, was a massive part to the Red Devils’ dominance signing players like Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo, and of course Eric Cantona.
However you can’t always get it right, with the United hierarchy purchasing several flop players during the Premier League era.
Here are the TOP FIVE WORST Manchester United signings in Premier League history…
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON MAROUANE FELLAINI TO REVEAL!
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5. Marouane Fellaini
Although it’s been only one year since Fellaini’s £27.5million deadline day deal from Everton, the transferred epitomized Manchester United’s worst ever season in the Premier League era.
United have just lost Sir Alex Ferguson for the first time with David Moyes replacing the legendary Scot, and fans expected to see Moyes spend big in order to challenge for the Premier League title once again.
But Moyes was over-cautious, before using a massive £27.5million to bring his former midfielder, who went from double digit league goals with Everton to none last season.
The powerful Belgian still has time to redeem himself under new boss Louis van Gaal, but many have already labelled him the biggest transfer flop of 2013-2014.
4. Juan Sebastian Veron
Juan Sebastian Veron was signed in 2001 from Serie A side Lazio as one of the best players in the world for a huge £28.1million, but failed to live up to the fan’s high expectations.
There was no doubt the Veron was a classy player, able to pick up players with the long ball and dictate central midfield. However he was never able to adapt to the pace of the Premier League, which saw him caught out more often than not.
After only two seasons United cut their losses by selling him to Chelsea for half the price at £14million, but the Argentine only managed seven league appearances during an injury ravaged season.
3. Massimo Taibi
//www.youtube.com/embed/esFAGx7RDL4
In the 1999 summer transfer window spirits were extremely high in the United camp after their incredible Treble of League, Cup, and Champions League success. But legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel left the club, forcing Ferguson to search for a successor.
His replacement was Massimo Taibi, purchased from Venezia for £4.5million and had a decent start for the Red Devils with a man-of-the-match performance against Liverpool. However in his third game against Southampton the Italian was the victim of one of the worst goalkeeping blunders in history, as he let a weak Matt le Tissier shot trickle under his legs (1:40 in the video).
The next match United lost 5-0 to Chelsea, which was the last Red Devils saw of the Milan youth goalkeeper.
2. Anderson
Anderson is still on the Manchester United roster, but it is a bit of a surprise the Brazilian hasn’t been offloaded already.
The 26-year-old was a massive £25million purchase from FC Porto back in 2007, after his exploits with the Portuguese side dubbed him as the ‘next Ronaldinho’.
Anderson arrived on £3million less than Veron, but although Veron showed signs of immense class, Anderson was never able to fulfil the potential legendary Brazilian World Cup winner Tostao dubbed to be as good as Neymar.
Many other flops – like Kleberson and Djemba Djemba – came as unknowns but the huge hype surrounding the Anderson signing and massive fee make the midfielder one of Ferguson’s worst ever transfers.
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1. Bebe
Number one on the Manchester United worst transfer list is none other than Bebe.
The Portuguese winger/striker was technically not even Alex Ferguson’s signing, as then assistant manager Carlos Quieroz recommended Bebe to his boss and the Red Devils went on to sign him for a £7million fee.
However the 24-year-old was unable to convince anyone at Old Trafford of his abilities, making only two appearances to the supporters’ bewilderment.
Not only were the fans confused, but so was Ferguson… who had reportedly never seen Bebe play.
This statement from Bebe summarized the relationship: “He told me to cut my hair, it will look better. So I cut it the same day. In the next training session, he didn’t recognise me. I went past him many times and he didn’t know me.”
Bebe was sent out on loan three times, but surprisingly, had a successful 2013-2014. He has however confirmed his departure recently, ending his Manchester United career.
Arsenal centre forward Olivier Giroud has come out and stated the importance of winning the Capital One Cup.
The French international is still adapting to the English culture, but believes it is important that his side are focussed for their next tie.
The North London club pulled out Bradford and a trip to the Valley Parade in the quarter final draw with the game set to be played out on December 10th.
He told London 24 sport after the match “I think it should be for us, an objective”.
Giroud recently told Sky sports that he believed the goal he scored for France again Spain in the recent 2014 World Cup Qualifiers will provide him a huge boost for when he plays domestically in the Premier League.
The former Montpellier man signed in a £10 million deal this summer and has had to deal with the burden of expectation, of trying to replace Robin Van Persie, who scored 37 goals in all competitions for Arsenal last season.
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It will be hoped that when Arsenal take on Bradford in the last eight that Giroud can replicate the form he showed in the French League last season, which made him top goalscorer.