Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean believes one more victory will be enough to secure survival following a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers.Martin Olsson’s goal in the 20th minute at Ewood Park on Saturday was enough to secure Blackburn their first win since January.
They are now 15th in the English Premier League table with 38 points, three points clear of the relegation zone with three matches of the season left to play.
Blackburn are away to bottom side West Ham United next, before a home match against league leaders Manchester United.
They travel to second bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the season.
“We’ve got to play West Ham and we’ve got to play Wolves in the last game so everybody can’t get three points,” Kean said.
“So I imagine if you’ve got 40 points and a good goal difference, which we have, that’s going to see you safe.”
“I thought we performed with a lot of attitude and spirit and togetherness,” he added.
“Today there wasn’t a want for the points, there was a need which is a very different emotion. You could feel it in the dressing room.”
“The lads had a focus and I thought they gave an outstanding and professional performance. They gave me every single thing I asked for before the game and more.”
Bolton boss Own Coyle felt his makeshift team did not deserve to go home empty handed after a committed performance.
“I’m frustrated,” Coyle said.
“I felt the application the lads put in was terrific given again we were decimated by injury and really had a makeshift team.”
“We started the game well and probably could and should have scored and then we’ve shot ourselves in the foot with the goal we’ve lost.”
Bolton bounced back from a 5-0 FA Cup semi-final thrashing against Stoke to beat Arsenal 2-1 last week, but the match against Blackburn proved beyond Coyle’s team.
“I think a lot of them acquitted themselves very well in terms of the effort, both physically and mentally, they had to give given how big the last couple of weeks have been for them and coming off a tough midweek game as well,” he said.
Kenny Dalglish is looking to make QPR’s Moroccan international Adel Taarabt his first summer signing, and the Metro has reported that the Scot will use Joe Cole as ‘bait’ in order to get his man.
The former Spurs youngster has been instrumental in helping QPR regain promotion back to the Premier League with 19 goals and 16 assists. The Championship player of the year has also been rumoured to have caught the eye of Chelsea and Arsenal.
Joe Cole and his family have failed to settle on Merseyside since moving away from the capital after the Englishman’s free transfer from Chelsea and are eager for a return to London. One stumbling block could be Cole’s current reported wage of £90,000 a week, however Liverpool’s owners are keen to ‘splash the cash’ and could offer the former West Ham man a lump sum payoff to facilitate his move to QPR.
Kenny Dalglish is looking to make QPR’s Moroccan international Adel Taarabt his first summer signing, and the Metro has reported that the Scot will use Joe Cole as ‘bait’ in order to get his man.
The former Spurs youngster has been instrumental in helping QPR regain promotion back to the Premier League with 19 goals and 16 assists. The Championship player of the year has also been rumoured to have caught the eye of Chelsea and Arsenal.
Joe Cole and his family have failed to settle on Merseyside since moving away from the capital after the Englishman’s free transfer from Chelsea and are eager for a return to London. One stumbling block could be Cole’s current reported wage of £90,000 a week, however Liverpool’s owners are keen to ‘splash the cash’ and could offer the former West Ham man a lump sum payoff to facilitate his move to QPR.
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As things stand, there appears to be a significant risk of seeing more images of Harry Redknapp playing golf on Sky television this summer than there is of seeing Tiger Woods with club in hand in the coming weeks.
A day does not appear to pass without the Tottenham boss giving his green-side views on the transfer window and his club’s potential targets over the summer. Everyone, it seems, wants a piece of the cockney geezer, with many finding Redknapp’s wide-eyed enjoyment of his recent European adventure an endearing and refreshing trait in the cynical world of European qualification.
The goodwill shown towards the former Portsmouth boss by the football public and written press looks set to sweep Redknapp into the England job next autumn- an eventuality that was brought into sharper focus after England’s 2-2 draw with Switzerland on Saturday. However, no matter how you dress them, the accomplishments of the man who would be king in the last 12 months make for confusing reading.
Domestically, Tottenham have underachieved. Considering the strength of Redknapp’s squad, and relative struggles of each of the club’s nearest rivals, to finish fifth this season represents a real missed opportunity.
Tottenham fans will talk about the transformation that Redknapp has overseen in his near three year spell at White Hart Lane. To rescue the club from the foot of the table and catapult them into a Champions League is, on paper, remarkable. However, few sides have the sort of transfer budget afforded the former West Ham boss. To spend over £100 million across such a short period, one might rightly expect some significant improvement.
You only need to compare the first choice midfields of the league’s biggest guns to appreciate the narrowing gap between the top six in the division. Whereas once Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal would have six or seven players who would walk into their rival’s line up- it is arguably Tottenham’s creative engine that is most desired by the rest of the division.
That is not to say that Spurs are without holes to plug ahead of what looks set to be a very busy transfer window. A chronic lack of goals at key times last season undermined their European charge, and Redknapp has already moved to bring in reinforcements in goal after a number of high profile howlers from Brazilian stopper Heurelho Gomes.
The manager’s bizarre attitude towards the goalkeeping position warrants a blog post of its own, nevertheless the acquisition of Brad Friedel from Aston Villa is the strongest indication yet that the FA Cup winner is no longer prepared to accept the current level of performance- regardless of how well he claims his side have done in the face of more financially powerful foes.
It is, of course, in Redknapp’s interest to continually play the underdog card- Tottenham’s inability to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition will inevitably leave a number of his high profile squad members vulnerable to sizeable bids from potential suitors. The club may be able to stave off interest this time around- the club appear in a reasonable shape financially, and as Redknapp points out- if the club do not strengthen they will be left behind.
Nevertheless, there can be little doubt that this summer represents the most unique challenge of Redknapp’s career. In previous years, the onus has been on him to live within his means and punch above his weight in both the transfer market and the league table. With such a highly talented squad at his disposal, expectation management is not a policy that the Spurs fans and board will continue to endorse. Having given the White Hart Lane faithful a taste of the big time, Redknapp must deliver more. His cries about financial imbalances may hold water, but with the league in its current state, there is a fantastic opportunity to bring big glory to north London next year.
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Before he was made England coach in 2006, Steve McClaren had two achievements to hang his managerial hat on. One domestic cup competition and a brave but futile European campaign proved enough to encourage the FA that he was the correct man for the top job. Five years on, and with a strangely similar CV, Redknapp must prove that he is more than a sum of his silverware successes and the man to bring glory to both club and country.
For a full rundown of Harry’s summer tour of Britain’s golf courses, find me on Twitter.
In light of Newcastle’s epic 2nd half turnaround at the weekend I looked into the top ten football comebacks in recent memory.
10. Turkey 3-2 Czech Republic: European Championship, 2008.
We all know how crazy Turkish fans are, as football means more than life itself to them. They went absolutely mental when Turkey produced this shocker of a comeback.
2-0 down with just 15 minutes left, but Arda Turan pulled one back to make it 2-1, and a late brace from Nihat Kahvaci saw the Turcs mark down a most unlikely win against the Czechs.
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9. Bayer Uerdingen 7-3 Dynamo Dresden: German Cup, 1986. A comfortable 2-0 home win in the first leg put Dynamo forward as favourites to progress, and was comforted by a 3-1 half-time lead in away in the return game.5-1 ahead on aggregate by the break, Bayer Uerdingen produced one of the most exciting, spectacular comebacks of all time and scored another six goals to put them through to the semis.[youtube d__RkpJhfJQ]
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8. West Germany 3-2 England: World Cup, 1970.
We all know about this comeback, and what a one it was from the Germans. England looked to defend a 2-0 lead to progress to the Semi-Finals, but Sir Alf Ramsey took off star striker Bobby Charlton to rest him for the next game, but dramatically turned into a German Victory. Beckenbauer, Seeler and an extra-time (108’) goal from Gerd Muller sent the Deutchland’ers through to the semis.
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Continued on Page TWO
7. Liverpool 3-1 Olympiakos: Champions League 2004-05.
In a year which saw Liverpool lift the European Cup in Istanbul, before another stunning comeback against AC Milan, the Reds went into the game needing to score two following a 1-0 defeat in Greece but fell short of the wire in the first half, and two became three after Rivaldo scored a free-kick.
It was two substitute appearances which pushed Liverpool to victory. Florent Sinama Pongolle tapped in Harry Kewell’s cross from 6-yards out, whilst Neil Mellor raised the Kop’s hope just 9 minutes from time. However it was an absolute peach from skipper Steven Gerrard from 30-yards out which saw Liverpool progress to the next stage, making their comeback one of the best of all time.
“This is stuff of which dreams are made – but this real life”
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6. Tottenham 3-4 Manchester City: FA Cup 2004.
Manchester City scratched their names into history for arguable one of the best FA Cup comebacks of all time away to Tottenham at White Hart Lane, after Ledley King, Robbie Keane and Christian Zieger put Spurs 3-0 up by half time. Joey Barton was sent off just before the break, leaving City with an almighty task ahead of them in the second half – hoping to not increase Tottenham’s lead.
A deflected shot from Sylvain Distin gave the light blues a glimpse of hope, but goals from Paul Bosvelt and Shaun Wright-Phillips put City back on track, whilst a stoppage time header from Jonathan Macken gave manager Kevin Keegan an almighty 10-man comeback victory.
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5. Tottenham Hotspur 3-5 Manchester United.
Dean Richards scored on his debut for Spurs following an £8.1 million switch from Southampton a week earlier, Les Ferdinand made it two and Christian Zieger three all before half-time.
Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham scored as United to complete an amazing five goal comeback.
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4. Angola 4-4 Mali: Africa Cup of Nations 2010.
A Stunning comeback saw Mali score four goals in 11 minutes to prevent the hosts in winning the opening game of the Cup. A brace from Barcelona’s Samuel Keita, and goals from Kanoute and Yatabare saw Mali clench an exciting draw.
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3. Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich: Champions League Final 2007, Nou Camp – Barcelona.
Mario Basler took the lead after six minutes, and Bayern Munich managed to hold on all the way into stoppage time before an UNBELIEVABLE two goal comeback from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunner Solskjaer on 90+1’ and 90+3’ saw Sir Alex’s men take the title home to England.
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2. Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal: St. James’ Park – Premier League 2011.
Walcott, Djourou and Van Persie put the Gunners ahead 3-0 within ten minutes, and four up within 26’. Newcastle were lucky to not be down by more at the break, but they turned it around for one of the best games of football I’ve ever seen.
I don’t know what Alan Pardew said in that dressing room, but I would put money down that his voice hurt or maybe a spare boot thrown Ferguson-Beckham style.
Abou Diaby’s short temper and conflict with Joey Barton (who else?) let him take an early shower whilst two controversial penalties and an effort from Leon Best pulled the Magpies back to 4-3. However it took a contender for goal of the season for the Toon Army to grab an 87’ equaliser, with Cheik Tiote smashing one in from 30 yards out into the bottom corner.
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1. Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan (3-2 penalties): 2005 Champions League Final.
Milan went ahead after just one minute of play, nicely reinforced by a double brace from Hernan Crespo just six minutes before the referee put an end to a miserable Liverpool half.
Despite nearly going to bed, I stayed up to watch the rest, and I am thankful that I did!
What a comeback from the 18-time domestic league champions. Three goals in six minutes from Gerrard, Smicer and Alonso put the Reds firmly back on track, and a penalty shootout saw Rafa Benitez’s side clench their first European victory in 21 years.
Unbeatably the BEST comeback of all time.
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Have I missed any? Follow me on Twitter and ask me!
The Reds have seemingly been linked with every winger in Europe in the past week as the media try to second guess Kenny Dalglish. A deal for Downing is looking most likely; especially with reports suggesting that the winger is set to put a transfer request in so to force a summer move.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of blogs that include Meireles being an expendable asset; another Bosman flop that Liverpool have become accustomed, while X marks the spot in Liverpool midfield.
We also look at the best Liverpool articles around the web this week.
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Liverpool are far from being one-man team – but you already knew that
‘X’ marks the spot in Liverpool’s midfield
Why Liverpool are finally playing the squad game
Liverpool FC: Arsenal, Boston or bust?
Raul Meireles – an expendable asset
Another Bosman flop that Liverpool have become accustomed?
Liverpool urgent transfer priority at this moment in time
Seven reasons to be excited by his Liverpool return
The type of quality that Liverpool should be aspiring to?
Liverpool foiled with initial £15m bid
Sensible, but will it put off potential signings at Liverpool?
*Best of WEB*
One Fundamental Area Where We Can Now Match Man U- Live4Liverpool
Kenny Dalglish has got his man – now Liverpool must work out what to do with Charlie Adam – Daily Telegraph
LFC’s Transfer Policy Explained (Hopefully) – Tomkins Times
Charlie Adam – Statistical Breakdown of Season 2010/11 – Anfield Index
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He’s Fat, He’s Round, He’s worth a Million Pound, Sammy Lee – This is Anfield
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Click on Steven Taylor’s lady below to see her gallery
Vasco da Gama climbed to fifth in the Brazilian Serie A after a 2-1 win over Atletico Paranaense on Sunday.In Rio de Janiero, the hosts had to come from behind to record the victory after receiving an early scare from the league’s bottom side.
Kleberson was the man who scored the 10th minute opener, silencing the home crowd.
But Alecsandro’s goal on the stroke of half-time gave Ricardo Gomes’ side a much-needed boost heading into the break.
Vasco da Gama came out after half-time looking for a winner and they got it with 20 minutes to play, thanks to Alecsandro who netted his double.
In other matches, Santos were 2-1 winners over Atletico Mineiro in Sao Paulo.
Danilo and Borges both scored first-half goals to secure the win and continue the club’s unbeaten home record this season.
Goals to Marcos Aurelio, Pereira and Bill gave Coritiba a 3-1 home win over Fluminense while a battle between two sides in the relegation zone ended in a 1-0 win to Avai, with William’s 10th minute goal giving them victory against Atletico Goianiense.
The once great club Liverpool have now failed to win any silverware since the 2006 FA Cup but under Kenny Dalglish, who was the last manager to bring the league title to Anfield, could the five year drought soon be at an end?
Kenny Dalglish himself has not won any trophies since picking up the Scottish League Cup in 2000 during his short spell at Celtic. During his six year tenure at Anfield in the ’80s, he won three league titles and two FA Cups and the Reds never finished outside the top two. People have said that Dalglish took over from Joe Fagan when Liverpool were the best team in Europe and that the team was built for success. However, in his debut season as manager at Anfield he led the club to their only league and cup double and did so while still playing. Now that he has returned, Liverpool fans will be hoping he can replicate this success in the 21st century.
After the new owners New Sports England Ventures offered him the job last season, firstly on a caretaker role and then on a permanent three year contract, I think Dalglish has shown that he is the man for the job. The saviour of Liverpool football club didn’t spend the twelve years previous out of the game; instead he was heavily involved on a variety of levels and didn’t let his level of knowledge drop, regularly being spotted at Anfield, following his team’s progress. Since his appointment he has brought stability back to Anfield with his old-school mentalities that had been lost over the years and it looks like the players have embraced this approach.
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His presence last season lifted disillusioned players and the introduction of the Liverpool youngsters, that he had followed through their development at the club, propelled Liverpool to a sixth place finish in the Premier League. He has now brought in the players he thinks are necessary to bring success back to Anfield, sticking to a transfer policy of picking up young English talents with the potential to sell them on at an even bigger price.
These summer arrivals have certainly given hope to Liverpool fans that silverware could be back at Anfield soon. They now have the right balance of youth and experience at the club. With Luis Suarez leading the line alongside Andy Carroll they appear to have goals in the team and we all know about the huge competition for places in midfield. However, there is room for some strengthening in the defence as the left back position still needs sorting and a new centre back could be brought in before the end of the transfer window.
Kevin Keegan’s fated time at Newcastle proved that former managers should not always return to the club where they are loved. However, it seems that Kenny has managed to find the right balance and with owners, who appear to have the club’s interest at heart, things are looking positive for the new season.
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There is the prospect of ending the last five years without a trophy at Anfield and then maybe one day soon Kenny could be just the man to take Liverpool to that long-awaited 19th league title. It would be fitting.
Follow me on twitter @aidanmccartney for more football discussion.
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has called his side’s 8-2 defeat to Premier League rivals Manchester United ‘humiliating’, and targeted the signing of three new players to ease the club’s injury woes.
The English champions ran riot against their lacklustre opponents on Sunday, and the French coach was hurting after the game.
“After a game like that it’s terribly painful. It hurts, it was humiliating,” the 61-year-old told reporters.
“We were short in some areas, we had eight players out and they had class. They punished us in front of goal.”
The Emirates outfit have recently sold senior players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, but the former Monaco boss is standing by his decisions.
“I’m in a public job and I have to accept that. I make the right decisions for the club and I will continue to try to do that. The players we have sold I also brought to the club,” he continued.
“It’s difficult when you lose 8-2. It’s better that you don’t talk too much because it hurts and it looks like you’re looking for excuses.
“I feel it was under very special circumstances and what’s important is we’ve played three games of the season. It’s not like it’s the end of the season, when you make a balanced judgement of the season,” he stated.
The Gunners have had a tentative approach to player employment in Wenger’s span as manager, who is reluctant to spend extortion transfer fees, but he has stated that the London club are in the market for three new faces before the window shuts on August 31.
“We’re working very hard on transfers. We’re close to signing a striker at the moment and we want a defender and a midfielder as well,” the Frenchman admitted.
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“I say I’m very open to finding the right players. If we find the right players we will sign them. We have the money to sign the right players – if we find them we’ll do it – we have 20 people working on it, I’m not the only one.
“I know that in England when you lose a game the signing is a solution but we need first to get our players back. We had eight players out today and anybody would suffer with those players out,” he concluded.
Ivory Coast international Seydou Doumbia has never made a secret of his desire to play in the Premier League, and the CSKA Moscow striker may find his dream coming true sooner rather than later with reported interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
German media 4-4-2 have claimed that the striker is high on Harry Redknapp ’s wish list, as he continues to tinker with and rejuvenate his attacking options. Spurs were believed to be keen on adding new attacking threats to their squad this summer, following the departure of both Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane , but due to the ongoing transfer saga involving Luka Modric , they were limited to just bringing in Emmanuel Adebayor on loan.
Should Spurs follow up their interest in Doumbia, a fee in the region of €20M is believed to be needed in order to convince CSKA to sell their star striker. Although Spurs fans will be hoping that Redknapp is backed financially and allowed to bring in Doumbia without having to offload any players in the meantime, there is a cheaper option reportedly available to the North Londoners.
Ander Herrera of Athletic Bilbao is also thought to be in Redknapp’s sights, and would likely cost slightly less, somewhere in the region of €15M. At only 22, Herrera offers tremendous potential, and should Redknapp be able to convince Bilbao, a club notorious for keeping hold their talented youngsters, to sell, he may well have procured himself a real star of the future.
Article courtesy of Alex Shaw from the excellent Transfer Tavern
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Over the last 20 years Sky have brought numerous fantastic self-promoted innovations to the football viewer, all in the name of making football bigger and better than ever before, but none are more timeless and successful than Super Sunday.
Perhaps I’m just a sucker for the endless hyping of the Premier League, but when I see a Super Sunday coming up I know I’ll be watching. Every couple of months the scheduling fates collide and throw up two mouth-watering clashes, then Sky whack them back to back on a Sunday and that’s it. Six hours of my day are locked down and I know there will be absolutely no need to leave the house.
The question ‘what are you doing this weekend?’ is instantly met with ‘well on Sunday I’m watching the football.’ It makes absolutely no difference what the weather’s like – why would you need to know when the pre-match build starts at one and the pundits round it all off at 7? It’s a glorious medley of sofa sitting, split up only by jumping up and down with delight, burying your face in your hands and the occasional pee.
Sunday is traditionally a day of rest so I have no qualms with the lie-in, late breakfast and build up routine. Bring on the completely over-the-top half hour of endless adverts and montages, at one o’clock on a Super Sunday I’m ready to soak it all in. Build build build, I’m not going anywhere. If it’s a glorious day outside I might open the back door, maybe.
I face the row of pundits, responding as though I’m in the studio, agreeing, contesting, scoffing, even laughing with the banter with a worrying over-familiarity. ‘Oh Jamie! How could you! Hahahaa..’ (Seems surprisingly camp reading that back!) I’m in the zone and it’s a great place to be.
Sky do a fantastic job of getting you excited about teams that you don’t support, playing games that won’t necessarily matter at all in the long run. Every game is HUGE, every decision is HUGE, even every advert is bookmarked with epic Sky voiceovers and shots of crowds going mad. It’s impossible not to get sucked into Sky’s distorted world in which football matters more than everything else put together.
At the end of it all, six hours later, you realise that you’ve actually just watched two football matches, not the most important events of all time. There’s also a high chance that next weekend you’ll do the same again, but there’s no time to dwell on that. Just have some dinner and settle back into that sofa groove. Match of the Day 2 starts at 10.
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When I’m not watching football you can find me on twitter http://twitter.com/#!/philipwroe tweeting about guess what….