Newcastle midfielder Cheik Tiote has stated that he and his in-demand team-mates will stay with the club if they qualify for Europe next season.
The Tyneside club are currently in fourth place after an excellent campaign, with a real chance of finishing in the Champions League qualification places.
The Ivory Coast midfielder has impressed in his time at the Sports Direct Arena, with Manchester United and Chelsea believed to be potential suitors.
However, Tiote has revealed that he will be convinced to stay if Alan Pardew’s men qualify for Europe and feels that the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Fabricio Coloccini will do the same.
“For a long time the fans have not had European football but now, next season, we will be in European competition,” the African midfielder told The Sun.
“It is great for the club, the fans and for everyone. It will definitely convince players to stay.
“It is important. If the team is playing in Europe, it is better for us to keep our best players.
“It will be difficult to keep our very best players if we are not playing in Europe, so to achieve this is good,” he clarified.
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There is a rhythmic, enchanting, impulsive song which reverberates around the dark pine forests of Köpenick, a borough nestled deep into the East of Berlin. It arises spontaneously and once started, will continue relentlessly. ‘FC Union, unsere liebe, unsere mannschaft, unsere stolz, unsere verein’ goes the chant, hardly Lennon and McCartney stuff but words which define a club at the very forefront of German fan culture – ‘our love, our team, our pride, our club’.
Tucked away in the former GDR during the Cold War years, 1.FC Union Berlin have forged a reputation for being a ‘Kult’ club, with fans often voicing dissent towards the Soviet satellite regime on the terraces of their Alten Forsterei ground. In more recent times, however, the club has attained a reputation for more innovative fan practices, cited as the epitome of the fan-ownership model.
When promotion to the Bundesliga II was compromised by ground regulations, the fans rallied round, volunteering their services in order to renovate the crumbling terraces as the stadium was transformed into the modern, sleek arena it is today. This summer, fans will do the same to renovate another stand, as the club aim to bring the last remaining remnant of the Soviet era into the modern realm and up to standards that meet the side’s Bundesliga ambitions. Only the roof installation was carried out by contractors; the fans being the literal foundations of the club.
Essentially, the club is a model of everything that is seductive about fan culture in German football – fans have direct involvement with the club’s decision making process, a democratic system seldom seen in England, and the football watching experience is far excelled from the sterilised environment found at the majority of Premiership grounds. You can stand and have a beer without the threat of ejection; a luxury English fans pine for yet are unlikely to ever enjoy again. As such, the German experience is proving too hard to resist for disillusioned Englishmen in search of an authentic recreation of the English game before the moneymen arrived.
One such fan is Mark Wilson, who swapped a Sunderland season ticket for one at Union Berlin for the coming season. Having joined a growing legion of expats in Berlin two years ago, Mark spoke to us about his experiences and why the Germans do it best.
On why this was such an attractive proposition, Mark said that “FC Union Berlin are a community club. Being a Sunderland fan I identified with this. Union fans take it to a whole new level though. Being a true supporter of a club has to be about more than simply the football and the results. I have made friends for life due to football and choosing Union rather than Hertha appealed to me due to my love of the underdog. The terraces were a big pull also.”
Terracing is a divisive issue in English football – yet in Germany, the introduction of safe standing is one which has been implemented with minimal fuss and minimal hazard. Mark tells us that “terracing is critical to atmosphere. The cost is affordable and this means that you get a good cross-section of German society attending matches. Subsequently, the atmosphere is better. It reminds me of standing on the terraces at Roker Park in the 90’s when the crowd was mainly working class.” However, Mark believes the prospects of standing areas being reintroduced to British grounds is wishful thinking: “I personally think
you’ll never stand at an English ground again. I support safe standing areas but I support drinking a pint whilst watching the game and both will never happen in the UK.”
For all the laudability of German fans, they have not been without controversy recently – pyrotechnics causing great concerns for the authorities, whilst unsavoury scenes in the relegation/promotion play-off between Fortuna Dusseldorf and Hertha Berlin raising the specter of more a sinister side to German fandom. Mark, however, believes this is not representative of the wider football supporting population. “The scenes in Dusseldorf were great for the media, a good opportunity to sell papers and I think the Hertha players response during the hearing last week was embarrassing. The two issues are pyrotechnics and crowd control. On the subject of the former I’d advocate safe areas where they can be used – they look awesome. The Hertha fans who threw missiles at 4-2 down on aggregate were guilty and have unfortunately given the authorities a stick to beat fans with. It’s a stick they’ll use as well.”
As a football fan on foreign shores, Mark has found a welcome home on the German terraces. “One fan described Union as a club who are “multi-kulti” and at another game I was given a Union pin-badge by the trumpet player. The official Union site posted my blog and loved the fact that an “Auslander” (foreigner) was following Union.”
Additionally, Mark highlighted the stinging disparity in tickets and treatment of supporters. The price of tickets in England are a disgrace. I lived in London for nearly 10 years and never once went to Stamford Bridge. It was almost fifty pounds for a ticket. Although football is run as a business true fans are different from consumers. How many businesses have customers that did not even choose to become customers? In Sunderland you are born a supporter of the club.” On the standard of the German leagues, Mark implies that “the crux for me is not the quality that is on offer but how competitive a league is. The Bundesliga is arguably more competitive and this is largely to do with the ownership rules.”
Evidently, English clubs are falling into a terminal process of alienating supporters: Many are being squeezed out the game by spiraling ticket prices whilst the fatal decline in atmosphere at games is severely compromising the soul of English fandom. The case of Union Berlin and other similar models in Germany provide the ultimate demonstration of fan ownership reaping beneficial rewards. Following a football club in England can often feel like a chore, a burden or an obligation as opposed to a joy. Unless this is reversed, the core ideological essence of the English game is at threat; a move towards the German model would be forthright step towards addressing this.
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Finally, given the choice between England and Germany, which would Mark choose? “England, but only because of Sunderland. However the match day experience here in Germany – standing on the terraces with your mates quaffing a pint – can’t be beaten.”
Have your say – are you disillusioned with English fandom or are things better nowadays? Tweet me @acherrie1
You can also follow Mark Wilson’s exploits following Union Berlin @UnionBerlinMan
Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna has accused Norwich’s Bradley Johnson of deliberately trying to break his leg, after the France international suffered his second long-term injury in the space of six months on Saturday.
The full-back suffered a broken leg in the clash with the Canaries, and as a result will now miss Euro 2012.
The Gunners man has stated that he feels that Johnson targeted him on purpose and that the break was similar to the first injury.
“I think he did it on purpose,” Sagna told French newspaper L’Equipe, translated to English by The Daily Mail.
“He stepped on my leg right where the plate was. I think the plate pressured (the bone). It’s a neat break, just above the plate.
“When I tried to control the ball, I felt a crack, just like the first time at Tottenham.
‘That’s how it is. It’s football. I came back once, I will come back a second time. Even stronger,” he conceded.
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France crashed to a 2-0 defeat to Sweden on Tuesday night, meaning they finish as runners-up in Euro 2012 Group D.
Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sebastian Larsson sealed a pride-restoring victory for the Scandinavian side, and means that England leapfrog Les Bleus into first place in the pool.
Laurent Blanc was not happy with his side’s showing, and feels his men were second best.
“Sweden beat an average France team. They were better in all departments. If we analyse the game I think we struggled throughout,” Blanc told local reporters, translated to English by Sky Sports.
France midfielder Yann M’Vila has also admitted that the showing was not good enough, and knows that his side will have to improve in the quarter-finals against Spain.
“We came upon a team that was far stronger than us,” M’Vila stated.
“We are going to play Spain, the world and defending champions.
“It is up to us to show another side to our game and to prove that we can go far in this competition.”
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Manchester United have had a £30 million bid for James Rodriguez rejected by Porto according to The Daily Mail.
The Red Devils are looking to rebuild and strengthen after losing their Premier League title to cross-town rivals Manchester City last term, and have already added Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell to their first-team squad.
One of the criticisms of the United side last season was a lack of penetration in midfield, and Sir Alex Ferguson is said to have upped his efforts to bring Colombia international Rodriguez to Old Trafford.
The Porto star has been a key man for the Portuguese club for a number of seasons, and has impressed in performances domestically and on the continent.
Rodriguez has the ability to play on either flank or up front, and this versatility has caught the eye of the legendary Scottish coach.
However, Porto are said to have knocked back a £30 million bid from the Premier League giants in a bid to keep the South American.
However, it is believed that Rodriguez has a release clause in his contract at around the £40 million mark, with United now having to consider upping their offer.
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Bookmakers across the board are already reporting taking huge bets on the likely Premier League Golden Boot winner for the upcoming 2012-13 season and it is Sergio Aguero, whose 23rd goal of last season’s campaign won the Premier League for Manchester City in the most dramatic of fashion, who has been installed as the 8/1 favourite to finish top goalscorer in 2013.
There is little doubt that from the moment he arrived at the Etihad Stadium that Aguero was a very special player. He opened his Premier League account with a brace against Swansea on his debut and had scored eight of his total goals in his first five league games in England.
From then on, he scored regularly in what was almost an injury free season and one in which he was clearly marked down by City boss, Roberto Mancini, as a regular starter in an otherwise flexible selection process. That same situation should apply again this season, which should mean that Argentine will be scoring plenty of goals once again and barring injury problems, should once again be in contention at the top of the goalscorer table throughout the season.
Next in the betting is Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney who finished last season with 27 league goals, three behind Golden Boot winner, Robin Van Persie. Rooney’s 27 goals came from only 34 appearances, suggesting that if he was given an out and out strikers role at Old Trafford, he could well average more than a goal a game.
However, Sir Alex Ferguson recognises the all-round ability of his best player and uses the England international in a variety of roles which often takes him out of the firing line. Nonetheless, his profound ability will undoubtedly see him finding the net equally as regularly and he should not be ruled out of winning the Golden Boot for the first time and is a best price 9/1 to do so in the odds.
Robin Van Persie, whose thirty goals won him the 2011-12 Golden Boot, has expressed his desire to leave The Emirates and the Gunners are prepared to cash in now before he can leave on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.
The Bookmakers have installed Van Persie as a general 10/1 chance to win a second successive Golden Boot but those odds will shorten considerably should he move to another Premier League club. It is understood that Man Utd are in poll position and if that transpires to be true then both Van Persie and United would be threat to all on comers in both the league and Champions League.
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Fernando Torres is also listed as a 10/1 shot but before backing him with your life savings, be sure that his attitude is as good now as it was when he finished last season by scoring in the Champions League final.
As it stands currently, Torres will be heavily relied upon by Chelsea to lead their attack with goals, following Drogba’s departure. As the lead striker at Stamford Bridge, Torres could well begin to justify his £50m price tag during 2012/2013.
The Spanish international only netted six times in the Premier League last season, from 32 appearances, although the majority of those appearances were made as a substitute. If compared to his first season at Liverpool when he found the net 24 times from 33 games, then Torres has been a very poor purchase by Chelsea. However, should he recapture that level of form he showed in that opening season at Anfield, then there will be no stopping him in the race for the Golden Boot this season.
There are many Liverpool supporters who will be keeping the faith with Luis Suarez but he could only find 11 goals last season and was responsible for squandering at least as many again. The Uruguayan international has been welcomed with open arms by Liverpool fans and there is little doubt about his overall ability but to back him with odds of 16/1 to be this season’s Premier League top scorer is a non-starter.
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Carlos Tevez is a very interesting contender whose goal scoring exploits for both Manchester United and Manchester City have been well documented, sharing the Golden Boot in 2011 with Dimitar Berbatov. Roberto Mancini seemed in favour of playing the wayward Tevez alongside his Argentine team mate, Sergio Aguero, up front when he finally came back to the fold last season and when playing together, they were both regularly finding the net which is great for the team but sharing goals with Aguero does affect Tevez’s chances, which is why he is double the price of Aguero at 16/1.
Of course, one cannot mention Manchester City and its goal threat without mentioning the enigmatic Mario Balotelli, who without doubt, would back himself to win the Golden boot. However, the unpredictable Italian knows that until his behaviour becomes a little mote conformist then he will not be in a position to guarantee a place in the starting line-up.
That said, Balotelli, was still good enough to score 13 times in 23 games last season and showed signs, particularly when representing his country in the Euro 2012 that maturity is slowly but surely being reached. Given a run in the team, Balotelli would be hard to resist in the Golden Boot competition. He has odds as long as 20/1 with some bookmakers but whilst there are no guarantees he cannot be backed with confidence .
One player that should not be ignored is Papiss Cisse of Newcastle United who was a revelation when he arrived at St James Park from SC Freiburg during the January Transfer window. The Senegal international scored 13 times in 14 games, a ratio that would be almost impossible to maintain throughout the season, however, it is a record that strongly suggests that if Newcastle have an equally as good a season as they had last term, then Cisse is sure to feature amongst the Premier League’s top goalscorers and of all the pkayers, makes the most appeal at 25/1 to finish top of the pile.
One of the country’s most experienced and decorated footballers, Frank Lampard accepted football could learn from Olympic values.
Speaking in the build up to England’s friendly against Italy, the Chelsea midfielder claimed some aspects of the Olympic spirit could be transferred over to England’s national sport.
The 34 year old commented, “When you hear the athletes speak after winning or losing they are very humble people. We can take that on board. I’m not picking on individuals it’s a group thing.” (Mirror)
Footballers could hardly be perceived any worse currently in Britain. In the past month both John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, two of the biggest names in the sport, have been charged by the FA, due to racial allegations.
Meanwhile Olympians such as Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis won the hearts and minds of the nation. Lampard isn’t naive regarding the very different emotions the two sports evoke; “I enjoyed going to the Olympics and feeling that atmosphere but in football, we’re all born with our allegiances, it’s almost a religion to the people who watch it.”
The 90 cap England veteran, also cited the do or die nature of the way the sport is reported and viewed by fans, describing attitudes as “tribal.”
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A 27-year-old Brazilian left-back with one international cap to his name might not strike much interest from those away from La Liga. But Filipe Luis, who is currently on the books of Atletico Madrid, could arguably be the best left-back in Spain. No, really.
From the off, Manchester United springs to mind as a club who are in search of an alternative and eventual replacement to Patrice Evra. United have had a move for Leighton Baines turned down by Everton, while there was only ever one team likely to net Jordi Alba from Valencia. Yet, it’s incredibly difficult to understand why so many clubs have missed Filipe Luis off their transfer targets list.
The Brazilian would have created a bigger name for himself on the international stage had he not picked up a lengthy injury in 2010, subsequently ruling him out of that summer’s World Cup. He’s far more reliable defensively than Marcelo and can be equally impressive in attack. But highlighting Filipe Luis as “reliable” in defence and then moving on would be a huge discredit to his ability and accomplishments with Atletico Madrid.
Last season, as Atleti lifted their second Europa league title in three years and finished fifth in the league, a defence with centre-backs rotating in and out of the side were helped to be eased by the excellent work of the Brazilian on the left. His tackles and interceptions are outstanding and consistent throughout the season, and his strength and positioning always plays a big part in his very good overall game.
Filipe Luis was previously linked with a move to Barcelona when the Catalans only had Eric Abidal as a recognised left-back. That move fell through, obviously, and the club moved on to other targets later on with the capture of Adriano, while Filipe stayed at Deportivo.
His injury in 2010 was not to halt his club career in the same way it did his international career as Atletico decided to move for a player who should have grabbed more attention across Europe. His early career in the Spanish capital saw the Brazilian battle it out with captain Antonio Lopez for the starting role on the left of the defence. Lopez’s age and eventual departure from the club left the position in the hands of Filipe Luis. He really has not disappointed since.
At 27, the left-back represents a good buy for any major club looking for stability on that front. He never seems out of his depth when playing under a bigger spotlight, and many are right to claim him as the best overall left-back in the country. Jordi Alba and Marcelo obviously attract much more attention due to their clubs, but neither are as reliable and comfortable in the defensive aspect of the game. Fabio Coentrao and Nacho Monreal are also young left-backs who are better in their own half of the pitch, but neither offer the consistency that Filipe Luis does.
As Atletico rode easily to a 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on Monday night, Filipe Luis was given a lot of freedom to get forward and even got close enough to sting the palms of goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz. He’s a player who knows when to stay back and when the opportunity is good to supplement the attack. For that, it’s very difficult to get the best of the Brazilian.
The defender should find his way into many more games with his national side, but the real level of interest should come from those around Europe and specifically in the Premier League. Again, I’m particularly surprised at Manchester United’s lack of interest in the player considering their desire for another left back. The team’s choice to venture into the Dutch league for an alternative to Evra makes it even more questionable. But what about Everton? They could certainly have knocked on Atletico’s door had Baines left the club, and Arsenal are still lacking a genuinely world class defender on that left side.
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There’s a reason Atletico had the second most clean sheets in the league last season, amassing a total of 15. All Filipe Luis does is highlight the depth in La Liga beyond the top two. A key figure for Atletico and a great addition for the whole league, but he does have his price and he would be a great buy for many clubs in England.
Sunderland’s new signing Adam Johnson says manager Martin O’Neill has given him the “confidence and freedom” to play football again.
The 25-year-old joined the Black Cats from Manchester City last week and made his debut in the club’s 2-0 Capital One Cup victory over Morecambe on Tuesday evening.
Speaking to BBC Newcastle, the winger said: “The other night I felt like the chains had been taken off me. When you play one game and you know you could be out the next it’s tough.”
He continued: “When you haven’t played for five games and then you play for one and you’re expected to perform, it’s difficult. Martin [O’Neill] was brilliant and as soon as I spoke to him I knew what he wanted. He has good relationships with players and as soon as I spoke to him I knew it was a good decision to come.”
Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough, scoring 13 times in 120 appearances, before moving to Manchester City in 2010. The Sunderland-born winger admitted he could have moved to the Stadium of Light instead of City two years ago, but even now believes he made the right decision.
“I had the choice to go to Sunderland or City and looking back now I probably made the right decision,” Johnson added. “With the medals and experiences I’ve had, looking back I’d do it again.”
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Johnson has been included in the England squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, having been left out by Roy Hodgson for the European Championships.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has stated that the ongoing dispute between John Terry and Anton Ferdinand has the potential to turn into a mafia-style feud.
The QPR man refused to shake the England defender’s hand when the Loftus Road club hosted Chelsea at the weekend, with the player accusing Terry of racially abusing him in the corresponding fixture last season.
Taylor feels that the incident threatens to take a hold in the game and needs to be abolished.
“We have a responsibility to extol the best virtues of sport. We need to be very careful if there have been personal issues between players that they are not reflected on a football stage when this is a protocol for the good of the image of the game,” The Telegraph report the chief as saying.
“I don’t want it to be a vehicle for personal feuds that are never ending. We have to move on. These things will separate us and become like some mafia feud. Owners, managers, chief executives and players said ’yes’ [to the idea] and I do not know why we should say ’no’ now.
“I would like to say to the players that I see no reason why they cannot do it [shake hands]. They are not betraying any personal principles. It is being done for the image of the game and to set the right example to the mascots and youngsters playing at school.
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“Certainly it is disappointing in that this season, I feel that football has to live up to what the Olympics did over the summer showing sport being able to bridge all barriers and being inclusive,” he concluded.