Could Birmingham’s Hart be Capello’s England number one?

December 31, 2009


England manager Fabio Capello might well have found himself an unexpected Christmas present this year in Birmingham City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

Filling the gap between the sticks at next June’s World Cup finals in South Africa is perhaps the biggest conundrum Capello will face in the run up to soccer’s most glittering event, but Hart may just have made it a little easier.

The energetic England Under-21 international, on a season-long loan at the Midlands club from Manchester City, has been in inspired form this season — highlighted by two superb performances in recent games against Chelsea and Stoke City in the Premier League.

He is also currently the only in-form English keeper in international contention.

Current number one David James is 39-years-old and has not played in Portsmouth’s last eight matches due to injury, while West Ham’s Rob Green has never impressed in an England shirt and continues to be sporadic at club level.

Other contenders include Ben Foster, still residing third in Manchester United’s pecking order, and Paul Robinson, who has shown only slow signs of improvement at Blackburn Rovers.

In contrast, Hart’s form has coincided with Birmingham’s record unbeaten run and his consistency and relentless attitude to learn have earned plaudits from his manager Alex McLeish as well as opposition coaches such as Chelsea’s Carlo Ancelotti.

“I know the England coaches think a lot of him, and I think they will think even more of him now with his Birmingham performances,” McLeish said.

At 22-years-old, Hart has the agility, confidence and desire to at least earn him a spot on England’s plane to South Africa, if not the number one jersey. The serious lack of alternate options also helps his cause.

Have I missed anyone out? Wigan Athletic’s Chris Kirkland is a maybe or perhaps Capello should drop a division to look at West Bromwich Albion’s Scott Carson. Let us know your thoughts.

Source

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Evra relishing Beckham´s European return

December 19, 2009


Patrice Evra is looking forward to playing against former Old Trafford hero David Beckham after Manchester United were drawn against AC Milan in the Champions League.

England midfielder Beckham, who made his name with United, is set to begin his second loan spell with Italian giants Milan from US Major League Soccer side the Los Angeles Galaxy in January.

Beckham won the Champions League with United in 1999 before moving to Real Madrid four years later.

“I am happy for David Beckham because he did a lot for United and I know he wanted to play again at Old Trafford,” France international defender Evra told the club’s official website following Friday’s draw for the last 16.

“I will say ‘welcome home’ to him but I will make sure he doesn’t have an easy game! I like him because I have met him and he is a good person, a real gentleman.

“He’s a professional and that is why Milan wanted him. I’m sure all his old team-mates who are still here are looking forward to welcoming him back,” Evra added.

“But I’m looking forward more to playing against Milan rather than just Beckham, because Milan are much more than one man,” insisted Evra, a member of the United side that lost last season’s Champions League final 2-0 to Barcelona in Rome in May.

As well as wanting to go up against Beckham, Evra was equally keen to banish the memory of United’s 2007 semi-final loss to Milan when the Italians won 5-3 on aggregate.

“I remember it was a very frustrating tie. We won 3-2 at home but we didn’t play very well. In the second game I was suspended and watched it on TV.

“It was very difficult to see my team lose 3-0 in that way, but after that game we had more experience and we won the Champions League (beating English rivals Chelsea on penalties in the Moscow final) the next year.”

Meanwhile veteran United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted to be pitting his wits against Milan once again.

“We’ve come up against AC Milan many times in the quarter and semi-finals so it’ll be a fantastic setting for two great clubs,” he said.

Ferguson added the memory of last season’s tame loss to Barcelona will inspire United this term.

“What’s important is that we lost the last final. It was the first time I’d ever lost a European final.

“We know where we went wrong in that, it’s quite simple, and I think they’ll all want to get back to the final.

“It does that for you. Winning was great in Moscow, but in some ways losing in the final was even better for us in terms of you realise what a big occasion it is because you’re not part of the celebrations.”

United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and the club’s first choice back four have all been sidelines by injuries so far this season.

Van der Sar has been sent back to his native Holland for treatment on a knee injury and is set to be out of action for a further two weeks, missing the busy Christmas period.

Ferguson, who hopes to have him back in time for the first leg away to Milan on February 16, said the keeper’s experience was an invaluable asset.

“Van der Sar is unbelievable. His composure, organisational abilities, the control of the people in front of him…he’s a hell of a presence.

“Tomasz Kuszczak is 27 now but he hasn’t had a great deal of first-team football in the Premier League. The same with Ben Foster. You miss the composure that Edwin van der Sar brings.

“But on the positive side, Kuszczak has been fantastic.

“At Portsmouth he made three fantastic saves at a time when we needed the saves, so he’s playing his part.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Gibson double sees United into League Cup semis

December 2, 2009


Darron Gibson scored both goals as holders Manchester United defeated Tottenham 2-0 to book their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder found the net with two stunning long-range finishes as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side coasted into the last four without hitch.

Ferguson had come under fire last week after watching a relatively young side surrender the club’s long unbeaten home record in the Champions League as Besiktas triumphed 1-0 at Old Trafford.

But 22-year-old Gibson showed there is decent young talent at United.

Tottenham were disappointing and never looked like causing an upset as their hopes of making it to a third successive final sank without trace.

Despite failing their Champions League test against Besiktas six days earlier, the Turks ending United’s 23-match unbeaten home record in Europe, Ferguson once again put his faith in his young players as the hosts looked to take a giant stride towards winning the cup for a fourth time.

Five of the 11 that started were aged 22 or under including Belgian defender Ritchie de Laet, who was starting his first game of the campaign, while the highly-promising France under-21 winger Gabriel Obertan and striker Danny Welbeck also featured.

Yet it was another young talent who broke the deadlock in the 16th minute in what was a re-run of last season’s final, which United won on penalties.

Gibson still had an awful lot to do after being teed-up by Anderson just outside the area.

But he dispatched a crisp effort which beat Heurelho Gomes for pace and power as Gibson scored the fourth goal of his fledgling United career.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, whose team are third in the Premier League table, claimed before the tie he is more focused on qualifying for the Champions League than winning a trophy.

But despite leaving England’s Peter Crouch on the bench, Tottenham still fielded a strong side – Aaron Lennon, Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios and Jermain Defoe all on duty.

Defoe has been in awesome form this season, 15 goals already to his name after scoring five in his side’s recent nine-goal trouncing of Wigan.

But the England international will hope Fabio Capello, his national coach, did not witness his shocking 21st minute miss.

That served as a wake up call for the hosts as Gibson lifted the lull with another stunning long-range finish, curling the ball past Gomes seven minutes before half-time.

Redknapp reacted by hauling off midfielder Palacios and replacing him at the start of the second half with Tom Huddlestone.

Although Huddlestone’s introduction failed to spark a comeback, the visitors at least looked lively for the first time.

United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak justified his inclusion ahead of England’s Ben Foster with a fine stop to deny David Bentley following good work from Gareth Bale.

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Ferguson annoyed at ref as United´s home run ends

November 26, 2009


Sir Alex Ferguson claimed his side were denied a ’stonewall’ penalty by French referee Stephane Lannoy after Manchester United’s long unbeaten home record in Europe was ended by Besiktas.

Ferguson was annoyed that Lannoy waved away strong appeals after substitute Patrice Evra was fouled by Ibrahim Kas in the closing stages of Besiktas’s 1-0 win at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The United manager, who has found himself in trouble domestically for criticising match officials this season, is running out of patience after claiming it was the second successive game in Europe that United have been denied a penalty.

“That’s two games in a row we’ve been denied a stonewall penalty in Europe,” said Ferguson.

“It’s not in the spirit of the game, but what can you do? “If you can’t give these kicks then the game is in trouble.”

Asked whether he still stood by his view, which he aired earlier this season, that the standard of refereeing in Europe is better than in England, he replied: “I’m not going into that. No comment.”

Ferguson refused to criticise his young players afterwards as a United side made up of youth and experience suffered an unexpected setback which leaves them with work to do to secure top spot in Group B.

They must avoid defeat in their final game in Germany against Wolfsburg on December 8, but Ferguson refused to divulge what sort of side he will field for that fixture.

England striker Wayne Rooney was given a rare night off against Besiktas while the likes of Michael Owen, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher started on the bench.

The tactic backfired as Besiktas’s experience proved enough to secure a victory that will give United’s Champions League rivals encouragement.

Yet Ferguson declined to lay the blame at the feet of his youngsters. Danny Welbeck, who turns 19 on Thursday, started his first Champions League game for the club alongside 19-year-old Federico Macheda in attack.

“You need a bit of composute in the last third, but the young players were a bit anxious. It’s understandable,” added Ferguson.

“It’s not the biggest fault in the world.

“You have to be fair in terms of assessing the players we’re playing in these games at the moment.

“The fact we play them tells you how much we value them. The one thing we can give them is experience.”

Ferguson also refused to criticise keeper Ben Foster. The England international was beaten by a long-range effort by Rodrigo Tello which took a deflection.

“It was proably going a foot to his right hand side. It was a wicked deflection,” said Ferguson.

“I think he would have (saved it if it had not taken a deflection).”

Besiktas coach Mustafa Denizli saluted his players for an historic victory for Turkish football.

“To come to Manchester United and play at Old Trafford, we know it’s very difficult to win games here,” said Denizli.

“We’re obviously very pleased with the result. The whole world knows what a big team United is.

“The players did their duties and everyone did the job that was asked of them.”

MANCHESTER, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Life’s tough at Man United-Foster

November 16, 2009


Ben Foster started in goal for England for the second successive time on Saturday, against Brazil (0-1 loss). But at his club Manchester United, he’s only third choice.

“My situation at United is very disheartening,” Foster said. “But I can’t go to the manager and say Edwin (Van der Sar) is not doing his job because he is. It’s a weird situation, but we’ll see how it works out.”

“I was surprised to play against Brazil, but I trained well and obviously the national coach thought so to. I know I’ll have to play each week if I want to play at the World Cup. But I won’t say I want to leave this winter.”

Although he started the season as first choice following Van der Sar’s finger injury, a couple of high-profile mistakes, coupled with the veteran Dutchman’s return to action have forced Foster out of the side.

Paul Haring

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Rooney takes England armband as Terry ruled out

November 14, 2009


Wayne Rooney captained England for the first time here on Saturday after regular skipper John Terry was ruled out of the friendly clash with Brazil with an Achilles injury.

Rooney, winning his 57th cap at the age of 24, was supported in attack by Sunderland striker Darren Bent, who was given the chance to press his World Cup case ahead of Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe.

Head coach Fabio Capello handed an unexpected start to Manchester United’s Ben Foster in goal while Jermaine Jenas started alongside Gareth Barry in central midfield after Michael Carrick was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Everton’s Joleon Lescott replaced Terry in central defence in a line-up featuring only two of Capello’s first-choice line-up, Barry and Rooney.

Brazil had former Manchester City midfielder Elano in their starting line-up as part of an attacking midfield trio made up by Kaka and Nilmar, with Luis Fabiano operating as a lone striker and Felipe Melo and Gilberto Silva in the defensive midfield roles.

DOHA (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

England call for Foster

October 11, 2009


Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has been called into the England squad for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifier against Belarus as a replacement for the suspended Robert Green.

Foster originally missed out on selection after being sent for scans on bruised ribs sustained in Manchester United’s Barclays Premier League encounter with Sunderland last weekend.

However, at the time it was viewed by many as little more than a convenient excuse for England boss Fabio Capello to sideline the 26-year-old, who had been blamed for Kenwyne Jones’ second-half header for the Black Cats, just two weeks after he was held responsible for two Manchester City goals in the pulsating 4-3 derby win at Old Trafford.

But, with Green ruled out of Wednesday’s game following his dismissal in Saturday’s defeat to Ukraine, Capello has opted to show faith in Foster, who has been cleared to join up with the England camp after scans revealed nothing untoward.

It is ironic that Foster should benefit from someone else’s absence, given the number of times he has had to pull out of international squads himself as a result of various inuries.

For Green, serving a one-match ban will be a painful experience after he started the last seven internationals under Capello.

Eager to make an impression following the recall of David James, the West Ham goalkeeper lasted just 15 minutes at the Dnipro Arena before he brought down Artem Milevskiy after a mistake from Rio Ferdinand.

Initially, it seemed Ferdinand would take the punishment when he was shown the red card by referee Damir Skomina, which frustrated Capello intensely.

However, after consultation with fourth official Darko Ceferin, the decision was eventually reversed with Green the man correctly dismissed.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

James faces up to World Cup battle

October 8, 2009


As David James watched his England team-mates celebrate qualifying for the World Cup finals on his television, an unpleasant thought crossed the Portsmouth goalkeeper’s mind.

What if he was still be watching from the sidelines by the time England kick off their campaign to win the World Cup in South Africa next year?

In the five games James had missed as a result of a series of injuries, West Ham’s Robert Green had performed well enough and, more importantly for England coach Fabio Capello, the team had kept on winning.

James only had to look at the treatment handed out to Michael Owen – banished from the squad entirely – and David Beckham – reduced to a bit-part substitutes role – to know that experience and reputation are no guarantee of selection under the Italian.

Now James is fit Capello faces a tough choice between him and Green and the former Liverpool star acknowledges that he may not regain his place for Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.

“I don’t even know if I’m going to start on Saturday. Mr Capello, from here until the World Cup, will be making the right decisions,” James said.

“If I’m not the one who starts the game and it’s for the benefit of England, that’s fine.

“The process, my whole existence here, is for England to be successful. That doesn’t necessarily include playing because, at the end of the day, it’s the squad that will be victorious, not just the eleven players on the field.”

The 39-year-old, once dubbed “Calamity James” for a series of mistakes made during his time at Liverpool, is never mentioned as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, yet he has rarely let his country down.

Manchester United’s Ben Foster, who will miss the Ukraine game through injury, was regarded as James’s main rival going into this season, but the youngster has produced enough nervous displays for his club to suggest he may not be ready for the pressure of the World Cup just yet.

James believes the scrutiny of being England’s number one can prove too much for younger goalkeepers and he said: “It’s a difficult job playing for England, period, whether you’re a goalkeeper or a centre-forward.

“You have to go through these experiences. If you have criticism it’s a cliche to say you’ll come out right in the end. You don’t always.

“Most people won’t. But it’s a part of the process. I’m sure that, come the World Cup finals, we’ve got enough months ahead of us to ensure that the three goalkeepers in the squad will be well tuned and prepared.”

However, James expects Foster to emerge intact from his current malaise.

“I’m sure he’s in the right place to get the right advice at Manchester United,” James added. “The longevity of any career is going to have ups and downs.

“Depending on who you play when you’re having a down will depend upon how much scrutiny you’ll be under. You don’t get any higher scrutiny when you’re playing for Manchester United and England.

“There are things you can improve on and work on, rather than just analysing that you lost the game. Sometimes you lose good games. You play well but come up against a better side and they beat you. You can’t win every game.

“For every game that I’ve played, I’ve been under scrutiny anyway. The way the manager is, there’s no guarantee – even though I’d started every match – that that would continue, as far as I was concerned.”

WATFORD, England (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Elder statesmen may hold key to United’s title bid

October 8, 2009


Manchester United have a rich tradition of developing precocious young talents and relying on them to do a job that could be considered beyond their years.

But despite a squad packed to the rafters with players under the age of 25, United fans are hailing the evergreen talents of a 35-year-old left winger and eagerly anticipating the return of a reliable Dutch keeper three years his senior.

The two men could be crucial to their hopes of a fourth consecutive Premier League crown.

Ryan Giggs has arguably been United’s best player this season, while Edwin van der Sar will be welcomed back by many fans who have been less-than impressed by England keeper Ben Foster’s start to the campaign.

Following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, a World-Player-of-the-Year-sized hole has been left in the United set-up. The Portuguese wizard made a habit of conjuring goals from nothing and rescuing points that had long-since been given up.

While Wayne Rooney has done his bit to plug the goal-scoring gap, netting seven times in United’s early season skirmishes, it is Giggs who has stepped up to the plate when the Red Devils have found themselves in trouble.

He may not have the scorching pace of his youth – that departed long ago – but he still retains that precious ability to change a game.

Already this season, in matches against Tottenham, Stoke and Wolfsburg, where he grabbed his 150th goal for the club, the Welshman has hauled his side out of danger with crucial goals and important assists.

There were times last season when some United fans were suggesting he was past his best and should step aside, but the dissenting voices have now slipped back into the woodwork and been replaced by near universal admiration.

At the other end of the pitch, United have conceded goals at a rate that will undoubtedly have bothered Sir Alex Ferguson, as demanding a manager as they come.

Foster has been heir apparent to Van der Sar since a successful loan spell at Vicarage Road thrust him into the limelight, but United fans remain unconvinced he will claim the role long-term. One United blogger suggests it is possible he could be shipped out of Old Trafford all together before long.

England fans worried by the lack of an obvious successor to David James will hope Foster’s recent mistakes are little more than a hiccup and a good run of form in the run-up to this summer’s World Cup will see him book a place in the England squad.

Whether or not his place on the plane to South Africa is deserved or just an indictment of England’s current crop of keepers, only time will tell.

And if Giggs and Van der Sar are anything to go by, he will have plenty of time to prove his doubters wrong.

PHOTO: Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs gestures during a training session at the club’s Carrington training complex in Manchester, September 29, 2009. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Source

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

United warned “bully” Ferguson will pay for ref rant

October 6, 2009


Alex Ferguson has been branded a “bully” over his latest verbal onslaught on a referee and warned that Manchester United could face a backlash from outraged match officials.

Ferguson has been asked by the Football Association to explain why he labelled referee Alan Wiley as “unfit” after United’s 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday.

The move represents the first step towards a possible charge of improper conduct which could result in the Scot being fined or banned from the touchline for a number of matches.

Ferguson’s comments, widely interpreted as being designed to distract attention from a sub-par display by his side and the latest in a string of errors by goalkeeper Ben Foster, have caused outrage among leading English referees.

That fury was articulated by Jeff Winter, now retired but until recently one of England’s top match officials, who said he would not be surprised if Wiley decided to sue the United boss over the damage he had caused to his reputation.

“It was a cowardly attack — Sir Alex wouldn’t have said it to Alan Wiley’s face,” Winter told the Guardian.

“Every game Alan Wiley takes charge of now where he makes a decision which upsets some fans is going to result in chants of ‘You’re not fit to referee’, he’s going to be known as the ‘unfit ref’.

“Sir Alex won’t care though. He’s a knight of the realm and he thinks he’s untouchable, bullet proof.

“But he’s also a bully. He spoke at Sir Bobby Robson’s memorial service a couple of weeks ago and said he’d learnt a lot from Sir Bobby. But he hadn’t, they were totally different, Sir Bobby was a gentleman. He was humble and had respect for people.”

Winter predicted that the anger among referees would affect how they handle future matches at Old Trafford.

“I think Sir Alex may have overstepped the line this time and he may be about to get his come-uppance,” Winter added.

“I think referees will be so incensed about this that Sir Alex may find that United no longer get the benefit of the doubt on certain decisions.”

Wiley’s handling of the United match on Saturday had not resulted in any particular controversy but Ferguson nevertheless criticised the official in a post-match interview with the club’s in-house television station.

“He (Wiley) was not fit enough for a game of that standard,” Ferguson said. “The pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit. He was not fit. It is an indictment of our game. You see referees abroad who are as fit as butcher’s dogs. We have some who are fit. He wasn’t fit.

“He was taking 30 seconds to book a player. He was needing a rest. It was ridiculous.”

At 49, Wiley is one of the oldest referees officiating at the top level in England but his supporters have stressed that his fitness, like that of other officials, is subjected to weekly monitoring and a demanding annual assessment.

The Times reported that Wiley ran more than 11 kilometres (seven miles) during the match — more than most of United’s stars.

MANCHESTER (AFP)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Related posts

Next Page »

 



Calendar

    January 2010
    M T W T F S S
    « Dec    
     123
    45678910
    11121314151617
    18192021222324
    25262728293031

Related Sites

Free Page Rank Tool

eXTReMe Tracker


TinyPic Image and Video Hosting

Click Here

Categories

.