Holger Stanislawski will leave St Pauli at the end of the Bundesliga season and is rumoured to be in line for the Hoffenheim job.Stanislawski, 41, became St Pauli coach in 2008, guiding the team to promotion from the 2. Bundesliga last season.
The Hamburg-based club have announced that Stanislawski will activate an opt-out clause to release him from his contract one season early.
Meanwhile, Hoffenheim have confirmed that caretaker coach Marco Pezzaiuoli – promoted from assistant following the departure of Ralf Rangnick in January – will not stay beyond the end of the current campaign.
Hoffenheim are 10th in the Bundesliga, but have only recorded one victory in their last eight matches.
“Obviously, it was not easy for Marco with the coach changes and the players who left in the winter,” club manager Ernst Tanner said.
“But following the developments in the last weeks, we decided to go into the new season with another coach.”
Stanislawski has quickly been installed as the most likely candidate to assume control at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.
“Stanislawski is a favourite, but I cannot say whether he will come,” Hoffenheim owner Dietmar Hopp told the Mannheimer Morgen newspaper.
“He is always passionate about his team and is a coach who looks after his players.”
To say the transfer window (so far) has been uneventful is tantamount to saying the Arctic is a bit nippy, as the majority of Premier League clubs are seemingly being careful with their finances. In some cases clubs simply have to sell before they can buy, much to the frustrations, no doubt, of many managers and supporters.
The lack of spending at the top of the Premier League has surprised many, especially given the open nature of last season’s title race. You would have thought the likes of United and Chelsea would have looked at a big outlay this summer, to ensure the also-rans remain at an arm’s length in their pursuits of the title. Only City have made substantial moves this summer, although you do feel that they may well struggle to strike a balance. This means this season’s race for the title, Champions League and Europa League places are very much as they were last year, unless we witness a major change in the transfer wind in the coming fortnight.
The media is predicting that a transfer storm is set to erupt, but it begs the question as to whether Arsenal really need to partake in some last minute shopping.
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Does Wenger need to bring any players in before the transfer window shuts in 4 days time and if so who would you like to see him bring in to the Emirates?
Stoke ended a run of four consecutive Premier League defeats after they saw off a feeble fight from Blackburn at the Britannia Stadium to move into the top of half of the table.
The Potters went into the game desperate not to make it five top flight defeats in a row for the first time since the 1984/85 season and after a nervy opening finally took the lead through the unlikely source of Rory Delap. Tony Pulis’ side had to wait until the second half before securing victory with Glenn Whelan steering in his first goal for 18 months just before the hour before Peter Crouch wrapped up the win with 18 minutes left. It was their first three point haul since beating Fulham in mid-October and kept Blackburn deeply rooted in the relegation zone with boss Steve Kean once again presiding over a lifeless display from his side with Ruben Rochina grabbing a late consolation. Rovers had showed great resilience to claim a point at fellow relegation rivals Wigan last week but that fights spirit was missing at the Potteries as the home side strolled to an easy victory. The pressure is now firmly on Kean who, despite signing a new deal this week, was once again subject of protests from his own fans with the club looking like firm candidates for relegation. Stoke on the other hand moved back into the top half after inflicting an eight defeat of the season on a beleaguered Rovers side.
It was the away side who started the game in the ascendancy though with Kean’s players looking full of running and energy in the early exchanges although a distinct lack of quality in the final third with Rochina’s long range effort on the stroke of half time their only real effort. By the time that came Stoke had already taken the lead with Delap meeting Jermaine Pennant’s superb free kick to power a header past Paul Robinson just before the half hour. After a rather dour first forty five minutes the second half proved to be much better viewing with Blackburn once again starting with vigour only for them to fade as the game went on. They did have a superb chance to equalise just after the restart with Rochina’s dribble and subsequent cross finding Mauro Formica only for the striker to mis-cue his shot from six-yards. The away side’s confidence soon fizzled out allowing Stoke to take control of the game and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead on 58 minutes through Whelan. Some neat build up from Matthew Etherington and Jon Walters saw the ball find the Republic of Ireland midfielder 18-yards from goal and he made no mistake slamming the ball past Robinson via a deflection off Scott Dann.
Two became three soon after with Crouch smashing home a precise finish from 12-yards after Marc Wilson’s long ball had caught the Rovers defence cold allowing the England striker the freedom to pick his spot and wrap the points up for the Potters. The travelling Blackburn support continued to vent their frustrations over Kean’s tenure but did have something to celebrate after Rochina drilled home a consolation with four minutes to go. However a the pressure remains on him to turn things around at Ewood Park with a run of six wins in 33 good enough to get any other manager the sack rather than a new contract. Rovers fans will be demanding improvement in the coming weeks with the club four points adrift of safety and facing games against Swansea, Sunderland, West Brom and Bolton over the festive period.
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Kenny Dalglish’s midas touch is paying great dividends at Liverpool and the Reds look a good outside bet for a top four finish this season. It would be a remarkable achievement and more than justify the decision of NESV to part company with Roy Hodgson.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Liverpool blogs that includes what to do with Raul Meireles; £58m well spent by Liverpool, while Kenny’s the man to restore the Reds to glory.
We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.
*
The Premier League’s LET DOWN XI
Top TEN Premier League Wags…well I would!
Liverpool braced for a transfer spree?
THREE deals to solve Liverpool’s underlying problem
What to do with Raul Meireles?
THREE deals to solve Liverpool’s underlying problem
Is he really that irreplaceable at Liverpool?
£58m well spent by Liverpool?
Have Liverpool unearthed their own Wilshere?
Why Liverpool could do a lot worse than sign City reject
The man to restore Liverpool to their former glories
Are we set for the biggest summer transfer sprees in years?
*Best of Web*
Summer reconstruction still essential – This Is Anfield
Little Red Shoots of Recovery – Kopblog
The Unwritten Law of Managerial Suitability Tomkins Times
5 Keepers Who Could Be Ready To Step Into Reina’s Shoes? – Live4Liverpool
David N’Gog – Should he stay or should he go? – This Is Anfield
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that he has been offered the opportunity to manage England twice in the past but rejected the chance on both occasions.
It is believed that Ferguson was considered as a replacement for Terry Venables in 1996 and was handed the chance to succeed Glenn Hoddle three years later.
Ferguson, speaking as his side prepared to begin their North American tour, said:"I was offered the chance to manage the England team on a couple of occasions but, of course, it was just out of the question.
"It's a poisoned chalice anyway. I think it's a terrible job, plus the fact that I would have had a tremendous handicap being Scottish. No matter which way you look it, that's important."
Meanwhile, the veteran Scot has reiterated his belief that England's dreadful displays during this summer's World Cup in South Africa were down to tiredness.
He added:"The English season is exhausting. Look at December, for instance, when we play eight or nine games even though it's the worst time of the year for the pitches, when they are heavier and the weather is at its worst.
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"In the second half of the season, you then find lots of players are carrying little strains and pulls. But because of the importance of the games they keep on playing and, when they get to the end of the season and there's an important tournament such as the World Cup, they are not 100 per cent.
"They can't be because they need that rest factor to bring the energy back into their system."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Harry Redknapp is a seldom a man who likes to mince his words. Whether it’s expressing admiration for someone else’s player, or providing a flippant appraisal of Darren Bent’s finishing ability, he rarely leaves anything to the imagination.
The Europa League, the scourge of domestically-inclined managers across the continent, is another subject which has felt the full force and scorn of Redknapp’s tongue. The 64-year-old has certainly not been shy in admitting his disdain for the Champions League’s ugly little sister.
“It is a nuisance,” he cried before Spurs’ recent trip to Salonika.
His condescension is not unreasonable, especially when considering the whirlwind nature of the club’s maiden Champions League voyage last term. The aim, as Redknapp has stated, is for Spurs to feast upon the delights on offer at Europe’s top table once more.
White Hart Lane’s prized assets, including messrs Bale, Modrić and van der Vaart, excelled throughout Spurs’ trips across the continent’s footballing cathedrals last season while Europe’s traditional powerhouses sat up and fluttered their eyelashes. Redknapp is all too aware of this – midfield orchestrator Modrić pleaded with the club to consider Chelsea’s offers throughout the summer – and ensuring another top-four finish is high on his list of priorities.
Despite the prioritisation of domestic pursuits, the Europa League has certainly proved to be more than just a mere nuisance this season.
Mindful of fatigue, Redknapp has, for the most part, eschewed the use of first-choice players and instead opted to go with youth. And this approach appears to be paying off, with Spurs recently installed as the bookmakers’ favourites to win the trophy. Despite last night’s defeat to Rubin Kazan, Tottenham’s European fate is still in their own hands, with their next home game against PAOK Salonika likely to be the decisive tie.
Spurs made the 2,000 mile journey to the “Third Capital” of Russia on the back of a five-match tournament unbeaten run, a sequence which was made all the more impressive by Redknapp’s selective use of his squad.
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The side selected for Spurs’ opening Europa League Group A clash at PAOK Salonika included six players aged 21 or under, with the average age of the starting eleven weighing in at 23 years of age. Redknapp has used the competition to hand club debuts to four Academy graduates (Jake Nicholson, Ryan Fredericks, Thomas Carroll and Harry Kane), and as a platform to allow the likes of Jake Livermore and Andros Townsend to develop and flourish.
Redknapp has been particularly effusive in his praise of Europa League ever-present Jake Livermore. The 21-year-old midfielder has blossomed this season, and Redknapp has admitted that the club paid a premium for Scott Parker in order to keep Townsend at White Hart Lane.
“West Ham wanted to take him and, in the end, he didn’t want to go anyway. It didn’t happen and I’m pleased to have him here because he’s important for us,” he said.
“We paid more money for Scott in the end rather than throw Jake in as part of the deal.”
Like cross-city rivals Chelsea, Spurs have struggled to extract the best from their Academy over the last decade – club captain Ledley King is the only first-team regular to have been developed at the club – with successive managers preferring to buy rather than nurture.
With the impending implementations of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations and the Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan, the onus on grooming one’s own products will be greater and more important than ever. Spurs have already taken steps to rectify the quality of their production line, such as actively limiting the presence and prevalence of birth bias and disbanding their reserve team set-up.
However, there is no substitute for first-team exposure, and Livermore’s displays in the Premier League (he has featured for the club domestically too) seem to vindicate his manager’s selection policy in Europe, with Spurs permitted the opportunity to exhibit the finest collection of youth talent they’ve had in a generation.
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Nuisance? What nuisance?
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Manchester City face an uphill battle to keep their hopes of a European title alive when they host Dynamo Kiev at Eastlands on Thursday.City’s trip to Ukraine for the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie did not go according to plan, the visitors going down 2-0 and returning to England on the brink of European elimination.City were still in good stead after former Chelsea man Andriy Shevchenko found the opener for the Ukrainian giants, but a poorly conceded second to Oleg Gusev and their subsequent failure to get an away goal could come back to haunt Roberto Mancini’s men.Mancini and his expensively assembled squad need silverware to justify the considerable financial outlay that brought them together.But there still other avenues for the Sky Blues, who are just seven points behind Manchester United in the Premier League title race and face their cross-town rivals at Wembley in an FA Cup semi-final in April.Dynamo, meanwhile, have not lost a match in any competition in over four months, and will fancy their chances of protecting their aggregate against a City side whose goal-scoring has dried up.Argentine ace Carlos Tevez has barely been sighted since his hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion early last month, while temperamental Italian starlet Mario Balotelli seems to have gone cold again and reacted poorly to be substituted off during the trip to Ukraine.Shaun Wright-Phillips, who was recalled to the first team for City’s defeat of Reading in the FA Cup, believes his team can still make it through to the last eight.”If we create one or two chances and we take them, then it’s a whole new ball game,’ Wright-Phillips told the club’s official website.”We know we have to go out there and start firing straight from kick off and create as many chances as possible. You never know what may happen.””It all depends on what tactics the gaffer gives us but we know once we get one chance we have to take it to open the game up a bit more.”Dynamo striker Artem Milevskiy, who has scored five times in the club’s Europa League campaign, has been ruled out with a fractured hand suffered against FC Vorskla Poltava at the weekend.City have no fresh injury concerns.
Real Madrid midfielder Rafael Van Der Vaart has stated his desire for a move to the Premiership to secure first-team football, and it would appear Liverpool and Chelsea are at the front of the queue, but for the Merseyside club at least, a move for the Dutchman should remain low down on a list of priorities.
The ever-changing state of the future of star striker Fernando Torres remains the most pressing of issues, and should the striker depart, which sadly looks increasingly likely going off of what new manager Roy Hodgson came out and stated today, that the player is unsettled, going onto add that “his issues are with what has gone on in the past rather than the future. If he has problems with the club for things in the past, it is difficult for me to dismiss that” then replacing him is the main worry.
Of course, replacing a player of this magnitude will be difficult to say the least, but perhaps a lack of viable escape routes will keep him at Anfield for one more season at the very least. Some quotes from the player himself in late April this year seem to have been swept all rather too conveniently under the rug with regards to ongoing transfer rumours linking him with a move to another Premiership club.
Torres argued that “The Premier League is such a tough competition and I have always admired this championship and the players who are here. This is my third season and I’m still amazed to see Gerrard, Rooney and Lampard, players who have been here a long time, still playing at such a high level and with such impressive rhythm because the English league really wears down a player. I just can’t imagine what state I’ll be in within five or six years if I continue to play here – it could easily give me problems when I stop playing. The physical level is superior to all other countries.”
Well this would seem to rule out the two main players for his signature, Man City and Chelsea, for what would be the point in committing yourself to a new club in a league that you’ve openly described as being responsible for all of your injury troubles? A move to either of the aforementioned clubs would only be a short-term switch; such is Torres’s fear over the physical demands of the league, as highlighted by his decreased lack of playing time year on year, a move back to his native Spain remains his preferred choice.
It’s my contention at least, that Torres will stay one more season at Liverpool, until Barcelona can afford him, for that is his only viable alternative out of England, and most probably one that he would relish. His prior links with Atletico and his deep affection for his boyhood club should surely rule out any potential switch to Real.
Javier Mascherano looks set to leave the club this summer, with the only sticking point being the fee. He’s openly stated his desire to follow Benitez to his new club Inter Milan, he’s praised the club, described any potential move to the Serie A giants as ‘a dream’ and stated that he’s learning Italian, coupled with the fact that his wife has failed to settle, and a departure looks all but secure, so replacing the scrappy Argentine is of paramount importance also.
With Fabio Aurelio having left the club, a solid player whose potential was always blighted by the restrictions of his time on the treatment table and Emiliano Insua having been sold to Fiorentina, a left back is also important with the club lacking a recognised first choice player in that position.
Van Der Vaart plays best in the hole behind the front man, and can go missing in a four man midfield, lacking the physical gifts to present him with the platform to show off his technical abilities in certain games. The Bundesliga and Eredvisie are both quick tempo leagues, so the pace would not be a problem, but the physical nature which Torres attests to might.
With the arrival of Joe Cole, a player who looks to have moved to the North West, not only as the cynics will point to, for a bumper pay packet, but because of a guaranteed first-team slot, something he wasn’t guaranteed at Spurs, Van Der Vaart would have strong competition for a starting berth.Hodgson may have given Cole some firm reassurances that he’ll allow him to play in a more central role, something which would make sense given that he’s lost what yard of pace he once possessed.
Alberto Aquilani, a player who was rather ignorantly labelled as a like-for-like replacement for Xabi Alonso last season, despite the fact that he operates a full 15-20 yards further forward is also looking to prove himself after a stop start campaign last term, but when fit and even rarer, started, the Italian looked a lively and exceptional talent. This is not to even mention club Captain Steven Gerrard, whose dynamic partnership just behind Torres can be as destructive as anything else seen in world football when at its best.
Van Der Vaart stated that “I have heard of the interest from Liverpool and Chelsea – and that is very flattering. I expect the majority of transfers to be concluded in the next two weeks, and if Chelsea or Liverpool wanted to talk with me I would at the very least listen to what they have to say. They are both giants, and if they could offer first-team football it may prove impossible to turn down.”
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But while it’s nice to be linked with this sort of calibre of player still, Liverpool fans will probably realise that strengthening down the flanks and the issues of replacements for both Torres or Mascherano should they depart are much more salient issues.
There is also no guarantee that Hodgson is going to be given the majority of money recouped from the sales of any player this summer to spend on replacements, so signing the inventive Dutchman would most definitely show a lack of foresight and leave the squad lacking serious depth in certain areas. With Benayoun and Riera sold, it’s clear that a winger needs to be added to the squad too, as well as forward cover for Torres, a role that Ngog and Kuyt performed ably at times last campaign, yet neither of them can be relied upon to consistently provide the side with goals.
It’s unclear what the formation will be going into the new season, but Hodgson has a reputation for picking players in their best and most favoured positions, a novel idea given the Benitez era, but to sign Van Der Vaart, an area where the club is extremely well stocked, although undoubtedly a good acquisition, would make little sense in the grand scheme of things.
Van Der Vaart has been derided throughout his playing career for being a luxury player, a view that I’d reject, but perhaps in such pressing times as these, he represents a luxury Liverpool could do without.
Danny Wilson , at just 19-years-old has already displayed a great deal of ability and has the potential to go on and be a top defender if he’s managed right. It’s finding the youngster regular game-time that may prove difficult for Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool . In total Danny has racked up eight appearances for the Reds, yet he’s found his opportunities extremely limited lately.
So far this season he has made just the one appearance, back in August. He’s just not getting the opportunity to prove himself. Jamie Carragher may be growing in years and Agger may be perpetually injured, yet the 19-year-old doesn’t seem to be any closer to first team football. Most Liverpool fans recognise the need for an experienced defender to join the club this January and don’t see Danny as the answer to their centre-back problem.
His lack of game time this season even saw him dropped from the senior Scotland squad for this month’s Euro 2012 qualifiers. Danny himself is just itching to play:
“There’s nothing worse than not being able to go out on the pitch on a Saturday and play, but I need to just keep my head down and hopefully I’ll either get some game time at Liverpool or get the chance to go somewhere else and try and prove myself.”
Given that chances at Liverpool are extremely limited the only way Wilson can prove himself is with a move to another team. Yet in his few appearances for the club he has shown Liverpool that he has genuine ability and for this reason Liverpool wont want to let him go on a permanent basis.
The best move for both player and club is this surely for Danny to go out on loan. It’s my personal hope that he joins a top Championship side (in the same way that Jonjo Shelvey was recently loaned out to Blackpool). If Wilson went to a club like Middlesbrough or Southampton who are performing well it would represent a chance for him to build confidence. I don’t think it’d help to have him at a club that is struggling to pick up results.
Young players don’t always have the mental strength of experienced older heads. So why not send Danny out on loan where he can develop a winning mentality? Either way I hope that he gets the move he needs to further a promising career.
Article courtesy of Harry Cloke from This is Futbol
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Win tickets to Legends Lounge to see the titanic clash at Anfield
Napoli manager Walter Mazzarri has asked his players to narrow their focus as the Serie A season heads toward a thrilling finale.The Naples club slipped from second to third on the table following a 3-0 loss at AC Milan on Monday, and they now trail the league leaders by six points.With second-placed Inter Milan just a point away and Lazio, Udinese and Roma all pushing for a Champions League place, Mazzarri is wary of his squad becoming distracted.”We should only be focused on ourselves and continue to play in the championship as we have done so far,” Mazzarri said.”There is no use in looking at the others.””Mathematics confirms also that teams such as Roma and Juventus can achieve higher positions in the league depending on the results on the pitch.””Events affect the results, therefore anything can happen.”Next up for Napoli is a visit from lowly Brescia, who are mired in a relegation battle after taking just 24 points from 27 fixtures so far this term.But Mazzari has warned of the challenge facing his team on Sunday, and every matchday until the season has concluded.”I totally respect Brescia – they have great skills and players such as (Alessandro) Diamanti and (Andrea) Caracciolo,” he said.”The defenders are also very good, such as (Jonathan) Zebina, and their coaching staff is very good.””It shows the high level that Serie A has reached since there isn’t the gap between the bigger and smaller teams.””I already know it will be tough and I’d like the people to get prepared for it. The matches are going to be difficult, even home matches.””There will be moments when we won’t be able to play as we may want to do since the other teams will stop us from doing so.””We’ll have to suffer, but we should all find the best way in order to win as many matches as possible out of the 11 matches from here until the end of the season.”