Cup hero Defoe ‘up with the best’ says Redknapp

February 4, 2010

Harry Redknapp believes Jermain Defoe went a long way towards cementing his place in England’s World Cup squad after watching him score a hat-trick to take Tottenham Hotspur into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The 27-year-old England forward might have wasted several chances but he still managed to score a hat-trick at Elland Road to spare Tottenham’s blushes in a 3-1 win away to League One promotion-chasing Leeds here on Wednesday.

That took his tally for the season to 23 goals with his third hat-trick which helped secure Spurs a last 16 clash against Premier League rivals Bolton Wanderers.

Defoe remains one of the leading goalscorers in England and Redknapp was full of praise for the impish striker who, barring injury, will surely be part of Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad in South Africa later this year.

“It was well deserved in the end,” said Redknapp of Defoe’s treble.

“But it was a difficult game against a good Leeds team.”

Redknapp, who knows Defoe well, having first signed the front man back in 1999 when he was manager of West Ham before working with him again at Portsmouth, added: “He could have scored six tonight.

“He had some great opportunities. He showed three great finishes but missed three easier chances. But he’s always in the right place.

“Jermain has always scored goals ever since he was a little boy and he’s up there with the best.

“He’s a terrific finisher and his confidence is good at the moment. He got good service from wide positions and Peter Crouch can flick things on for him. There aren’t many better than him at the moment.”

Redknapp was also pleased by Wednesday’s return to form of former Arsenal and Blackburn winger David Bentley, which threatened to leave the Spurs manager with a welcome dilemma.

“David Bentley was outstanding. He’s a great player and I thought he did really well. It will be a nice problem to have when everyone is fit.

“Those who came in showed the right attitude and got on with it. This is one defeat in 13 games now and players are doing their jobs.

“We’ve got a chance (of winning the FA Cup), but we’ve got some tough games coming up,” insisted Redknapp, who took Pompey to FA Cup glory two years ago.

He also readily conceded Spurs had come through two tough encounters with Leeds, who belied their third division status to draw 2-2 at White Hart Lane after producing the shock of this season’s FA Cup by knocking out English champions Manchester United at Old Trafford in the previous round.

“This is a massive club,” Redknapp said of Leeds. “Their fans were incredible and it was a great atmosphere.

“People were hoping to come here and see an upset but it didn’t happen and now we have a big game with Aston Villa this weekend,” added Redknapp whose side are vying with Villa for a top four finish that would guarantee a place in next season’s Champions League.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson said he was proud of his players and insisted their two games with Tottenham could inspire them to win promotion – they presently lie second three points behind leaders Norwich but with two games in hand.

“To win at Old Trafford and draw at White Hart Lane isn’t a bad effort for a team in League One,” Grayson said

“Nights like this motivate you even more and give you memories of when this club was in the Premier League and Champions League.

“Over the two games we have pushed them hard and the players have got to have that belief now that they can go on and play at a higher level.”

LEEDS, England (AFP)

Tags: blushes, bolton wanderers, David Bentley, Elland Road, England, fabio capello, front man, Harry Redknapp, Hart Lane, hat trick, leading goalscorers, league rivals, LEEDS, leeds england, Manchester, nice problem, Norwich, old england, peter crouch, Portsmouth, premier league, scored goals, Simon Grayson, South Africa, west ham, winger, world cup squad

Moyes confirms Huntelaar interest

January 25, 2010

Everton manager David Moyes has confirmed his interest in AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as he attempts to bring the out-of-favor Dutch hitman to Goodison Park.

The 26-year-old has slipped down the pecking order at the San Siro and is in search of regular football ahead of the World Cup this summer.

The former Ajax front-man had only joined Milan in the summer after a brief and frustrating spell with Real Madrid.

And now it seems he could be on the move again with a number of clubs keeping tabs on his situation in Italy.

And Moyes, who recently ended Jo’s loan spell from Manchester City, has confirmed he is keen to improve Everton’s goalscoring record.

“I don’t talk about players at other clubs, but if Huntelaar was available I would be interested, certainly,” the Scot admitted.

“I think we are lacking firepower at this present time. We’re creating plenty of chances but we’re not finishing games off like I think we should be.”

Huntelaar’s agent Arnold Oosterveer confirmed over the weekend there was interest from England, with Liverpool, Tottenham and West Ham also mooted to be suitors.

He said: “Klaas-Jan wants to have playing time. He wants to go to the World Cup and wants to be involved.”

Tags: ac milan, Ajax, Arnold Oosterveer, David Moyes, England, firepower, front man, Goodison Park, hitman, Italy, klaas jan, Liverpool, MADRID, manchester city, Milan, pecking order, playing time, present time, real madrid, San, san siro, Scot, striker, tottenham, west ham, World Cup

Eto’o to miss Inter-Chievo clash and join Cameroon

January 2, 2010

Inter striker Samuel Eto’o will miss his side’s Serie A game at Chievo on Wednesday. The Italian champions failed to persuade Cameroon to let the front man join their squad late for the African Cup of Nations.

Eto’o will meet up with Cameroon as planned on January 4, Inter said. Inter coach Jose Mourinho had wanted Eto’o to be available for the match at Chievo since Cameroon’s first match in the tournament in Angola is on January 13 against Gabon.

The Serie A leaders are likely to move quickly and sign Macedonia striker Goran Pandev in time for Wednesday’s game after letting reserve striker David Suazo join Genoa on loan despite Eto’o’s impending month-long absence.

Tags: absence, african cup of nations, Angola, clash, front man, Gabon, game, Goran Pandev, inter chievo, italian champions, january 4, jose mourinho, match, samuel eto o, striker

Ancelotti suffers first defeat as Chelsea slump to Wigan

September 26, 2009

Wigan handed 10-man Chelsea a first defeat under Carlo Ancelotti as the Latics took advantage of Petr Cech’s dismissal to win 3-1 at the DW Stadium on Saturday.

The Blues had won all six of their Premier League matches since Ancelotti arrived from AC Milan in the close-season.

But Wigan over-powered Chelsea with a dominant display. Roberto Martinez’s side, who had won just twice so far this season, took the lead through Titus Bramble.

Didier Drogba looked to have restored order when he levelled just after the restart with his 100th Chelsea goal.

But the key moment came when Cech tore out to trip Rodallega, earning himself a red card. The Columbian lashed in the spot-kick before Paul Scharner added a late third.

Chelsea, who surrendered top spot to Manchester United, were first to threaten when Frank Lampard skipped a free kick through the wall only for Chris Kirkland to save.

At the other end Hendry Thomas gave Cech an early test with a rifled free kick that the Czech goalkeeper held with a scrambling save.

Just before the quarter of an hour mark, Charles N’Zogbia cut on fro the right and slipped Jason Scotland through but the Trinidad front-man’s strike thumped away off Cech.

And shortly after that Chelsea went to sleep at a Wigan corner and the Latics took a shock lead.

Ancelotti’s side failed to react as N’Zogbia was given the time and space to cross for an unmarked Bramble to guide in a header.

The Londoners looked for an immediate response but Florent Malouda’s through-ball saw Drogba waste the opening.

Wigan looked confident and slick on the ball and Scharner fired straight at Cech after another classy passing move.

And Cech had to be alert again to hold a stinging N’Zogbia drive from another free kick.

Another opening passed for the hosts when strong play from Scotland saw the front-man off-load to Scharner, who scooped over the bar.

Scharner slipped as he was about to shoot after swapping passes with N’Zogbia and bursting into the area.

Only a well-timed slide from John Terry stopped Scotland firing in after the ex-Swansea man seized on hesitation from Ricardo Carvalho.

From the corner that followed, Wigan again played short and N’Zogbia’s hanging cross was knocked back in for Emmerson Boyce to force a fine block from Cech.

Just two mintues after the restart, Chelsea pulled level.

Malouda found space down the left and crossed for Drogba to scuff his shot through Kirkland’s legs for his sixth goal of the season.

The Blues almost pulled in front when Carvalho found Terry and his snap-shot deflected wide off Bramble.

But five minutes later, the match was blown wide open once again when Cech was given a straight red for clipping Rodallega after the Columbian was sent through by N’Zogbia.

And substitute goalkeeper Hilario’s first action was to pick the ball out of the back of his net after Rodallega blasted the spot-kick straight down the middle.

Scharner could have added a third for Wigan but dragged his shot wide from just outside the area.

When substitute Salomon Kalou swung at thin air and then lashed over the bar in the space of a couple of minutes, Chelsea must have realised it would not be their day.

And after Ashley Cole was carried off, Scharner tapped in Maynor Figueroa’s cross to complete Chelsea’s misery in the 90th minute.

WIGAN, England (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Boyce, carlo ancelotti, CHELSEA, chris kirkland, Cole, columbian, czech goalkeeper, didier drogba, DW Stadium, England, florent malouda, frank lampard, free kick, front man, hendry, latics, londoners, Manchester, manchester united, Milan, Paul Scharner, Petr Cech, premier league, ricardo carvalho, roberto martinez, scotland, Swansea, Thomas, time and space, Titus Bramble, Trinidad, win 3

Elmander given warning from Megson

August 26, 2009

Gary Megson has told record signing Johan Elmander that he must toughen up both mentally and physically if he is to succeed in the Premier League.

The Trotters boss had previously called for the striker to score more goals but the former West Brom boss admitted that some home truths were said after the front man produced another ineffective first-half display at Tranmere, in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

The Sweden international, who was signed for £10million last summer, has failed to find the net in his last 21 games for the club, with his last strike coming against Aston Villa on 13th December.

Elmander’s barren run in front of goal has caused some supporters to turn their backs on the 28-year-old but Megson is confident the player has the ability to win them over.

“Johan and myself are intrinsically linked and I’ve told him that,” he said.

“At half-time last night there were a few strong words and he has to step up to the plate but he looked much more like it yesterday.

“He got hold of it and must have had three or four opportunities at goal – although I must say he is not the luckiest player in the world.

“His header from six yards, the goalkeeper just threw his arm up in the air and it went over and his shot went around the post but he has to keep plugging away.

“He gets criticism because of the amount of money he costs and the way he plays when he sometimes looks a bit mardy but he has got to get over that.

“He works his socks off, he has a great deal of pace and ability but he has got to get stronger. He has to be strong enough mentally and physically to get through this run that he is in.

“We have played three games so far and Mark Davies is the only player to score. But I know Johan has got a decent goalscoring record and a fantastic amount of ability.

“He’s decent in the air without being Kevin Davies, has pace and he’s 6ft 2in and built really strongly so I think he has all the pre-requisites to do it in England.

“He has to accept there is a physical contact in this country and he has got to deal with it.”

Meanwhile Sweden assistant manager Roland Andersson insists Elmander does not suffer a crisis of confidence when he joins up for international duty.

“He scores for us,” he told Fotbollskanalen. “Of course it affects him. It is a tough situation for him, and it was tough last year when he went for a long time without scoring.

“Of course you feel it, when you’ve been bought for a lot of money. It’s just to hope that things loosen for him.

“We all know how hard he works and that he scored for us last game.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: amount of money, barren run, boss, Carling Cup, England, front man, gary megson, Goalkeeper, home truths, johan, Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies, mardy, mark davies, pace, pre requisites, premier league, Roland Andersson, socks, striker, Sweden, sweden international, three games, tranmere, west brom

Julio Baptista fires Roma back into CL contention

January 15, 2009

ROME (AFP) – Two-goal Brazilian forward Julio Baptista was the star of the show in AS Roma’s 2-0 home victory against Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday as the Cup holders reignited their Champions League challenge.

Two individual efforts from Julio Baptista moved Roma up to eighth place in Serie A following a sixth win in eight matches in a game that was originally due to be played in October.

They are now just six points behind Napoli in fourth place, the final Champions League qualification position.

It means their disastrous start to the season, in which they lost six and won just two of their opening 10 matches, is well and truly behind them.

The game had previously been postponed soon after kick-off back in October due to a waterlogged pitch after storms and a torrential downpour made the surface unplayable.

But instead of simply restarting the game, this match somewhat bizarrely began 5min 51sec in with a free-kick to Roma on their right-hand side, just inside the Sampdoria half.

Very little happened in the opening stages other than Sampdoria’s former Roma striker and bete noire of Italian football Antonio Cassano being jeered mercilessly by the home faithful.

The game needed a goal to liven it up and it got one on 21 minutes, although after only a quarter of an hour of actual play on the day.

Julio Baptista, who usually plays behind the lone front man in coach Luciano Spalletti’s 4-2-3-1 formation but was playing up front on his own due to an injury to Francesco Totti and the suspension of Mirko Vucinic, was fouled on the edge of the box by Daniele Dessena.

He dusted himself down and then stepped up to curl a sumptuous free-kick into the top corner, leaving Luca Castellazzi helpless in the Sampdoria goal.

The hosts began to dominate and Julio Baptista stung Castellazzi’s hands moments later with a fierce drive that was too close to the goalkeeper, who could nonetheless only parry the strike.

The former Real Madrid and Arsenal forward, known as ‘The Beast’ from his Sevilla days, was a constant menace and on 32 minutes he bulldozed through two challenges before bringing another smart save out of Castellazzi.

At times Castellazzi was fighting a lone rearguard action but up the other end Cassano released Paolo Sammarco, who should have done better than firing wide.

Julio Baptista’s second came just eight minutes into the second half as once again he bundled his way past two powder-puff challenges before curling the ball low into the bottom left corner.

That goal killed the game off both as a spectacle and a competition, after which the closest Samp came to salvaging something was late on when Marco Padalino burst through only to set his sights nearer the corner flag than the goal.

Written by: AFP